Plugged In - The Official Podcast for JSerra Catholic High School
Plugged In is a monthly podcast offering personal and professional insights from guests with hands-on involvement in the life of adolescents and expertise in education and related fields. Our goal is to partner with parents and adults involved in the formation of young men and women by inviting them to tune into ongoing and engaging conversations that offer insight into the lives, habits, culture, gifts, and challenges of the current generation of adolescents. We hope these insights will enable all of us to raise young men and women of deep faith, sound intellect, and exceptional character.
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Gentle Parenting: The Winning Formula?
09/04/2025
Gentle Parenting: The Winning Formula?
Citing the latest and most thorough scientific research, Dr. Leonard Sax discusses the differences between the four major parenting styles and compares them based on their proven outcomes. One of them takes the lead in mental wellness, security, attachment, health, and happiness. What are the benefits of gentle parenting compared to authoritarian, neglectful, and authoritative and which one has the best impact on children and future adults? Dr. Sax explains in this insightful podcast. Dr. Leonard Sax graduated in three years from MIT and went on to obtain his MD and PhD simultaneously from University of Penn. Since 1990, he has provided care for children and adults in a family practice outside Washington, D.C. He has spent more than two decades visiting over 500 schools to research the causes of American adolescent’s decline in academic performance and social-emotional well-being. He has put his gifts at the service of young people, families, and schools. [He has spent over 20 years visiting schools around the country and world to determine what is behind the unique American adolescent challenges he has encountered in his practice. For the past 20 years, Dr. Sax has lead workshops, authored books, and given keynotes to address the conclusions of his research. He has been a guest on countless national and international media sources, including the TODAY Show (five times), CNN (three times), Headline News, PBS, Fox News (four times), , and the BBC. His books include Girls on the Edge, Boys Adrift, Why Gender Matters, and The Collapse of Parenting, a .
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Five Years, One Hundred Converts - With Sr. Miriam, O.P.
06/02/2025
Five Years, One Hundred Converts - With Sr. Miriam, O.P.
JSerra Catholic High School has had nearly tripled its average number of student converts to the Catholic faith in the past five years, with 130 baptisms since 2016 and almost 100 of those since 2021. In this insightful podcast, JSerra’s OCIA leader, Sr. Miriam, shares her five essential ingredients to building a culture of discipleship in a Catholic school that teens find attractive and that maximize their determination to give their lives to Christ.
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Never Give Up on God - with Jonathan Roumie of "The Chosen"
03/06/2025
Never Give Up on God - with Jonathan Roumie of "The Chosen"
Host Pat Reidy had the unique opportunity to sit down to an intimate conversation with Jonathan Roumie in front of a small, live JSerra audience while Jonathan was on campus in August of 2024. The audio of their interview is presented here in its entirety. With both laughter and poignancy, The Chosen actor explains his work and hobbies prior to acting, the crisis moment that led to his total surrender to Christ, and how God’s miraculous response to that prayer landed him his first lead role after a 20-year struggle in Hollywood. With humility, sincerity, and approachability, Jonathan discusses why his faith is the center of his life and how playing the role of Jesus has revolutionized not only his career, but his entire life. Jonathan Roumie spent 20 years in Hollywood playing minor roles and doing voice overs when the creator of the hit Christian series, The Chosen, with whom Jonathan had previously work, called and asked Jonathan if he was, “ready to put the sandals back on.” That moment changed the struggling actor’s career. The Chosen is the first ever crowdfunded streaming series and has come to be known and loved by Catholics and Christians across the world. Many fans and critics call Jonathan’s version of Jesus “the best in any film or television depiction.” Jonathan grew up in a first-generation American family on the east coast and was raised Catholic. His depiction of Jesus demonstrates a personal intimacy with Christ that comes through in the humanity and accessibility he lends to the role. Jonathan talks about this aspect of learning how to play Jesus, from his prayer life to his being overwhelmed to be associated with the God whom he loves and serves. Besides The Chosen, the actor is also known for his role as evangelist in the 2023 film and in the soon-to-be-released Heart of a Servant. He is also a voice artist and a sought-after public speaker, particularly on the Catholic Conference circuit.
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Catholic Education: Total Integration
01/08/2025
Catholic Education: Total Integration
Dr. Brett Salkeld has become a leader in the work of integrating Catholic principles across disciplines within Catholic schools. But what does that actually look like? And why is it important at all? As Dr. Salkeld asked these questions himself and tried to articulate a response, he realized that although a lot of people were already doing this work in Catholic schools, there was no written resource to assist them. Embracing the challenge, he wrote the book himself. Since then, he has been visiting dioceses and schools across the country conducting workshops on how to involve God in every discipline, which he discovered, not only increases students’ joy for learning, but connects every subject back to its source, the person of Jesus Christ. In this podcast, Dr. Salkeld explains how teachers and school leaders can embark upon this critical project for the good of their students, and how parents can parallel the school’s work at home. Together, he shows us enthusiastically how to cultivate virtuous young men and women who will have a transformational impact on the culture.
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Choose Well - Where You Study Matters
11/18/2024
Choose Well - Where You Study Matters
Steve Minnis took over a struggling Catholic college with not much more than a lot of vision and a lot of prayer. Twenty years later, Benedictine College has made its mark as one of the top Catholic schools of higher education in America. In this candid podcast, President Minnis shares the three major decisions recent sociological findings show young people make while in college and explains why some colleges have a better influence on those three decisions than others. You don’t want to miss Steve Minnis’ experience-driven wisdom and his practical college-application-worthy advice.
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The Real Backbone of Catholic Education with Mother Assumpta and Sr. Joseph Andrew
10/15/2024
The Real Backbone of Catholic Education with Mother Assumpta and Sr. Joseph Andrew
Mother Assumpta and Sister Joseph Andrew, two of the four foundresses of the Dominican Sisters of Mary Mother of the Eucharist in Ann Arbor, Michigan, join the podcast to talk about the beauty of Catholic education and what makes their Sisters so apt for teaching in and transforming Catholic schools not only in theology classrooms but in every discipline. The Sisters explain what makes Catholic education so essential today and why religious sisters as spiritual mothers have a unique charism for leading young people to Jesus Christ, the ultimate goal and purpose of Catholic schools. Mother Mary Assumpta Long, OP, is a Dominican Sister of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, and the former (and first) prioress general of the order, ensuring the sisters' spiritual, physical, and educational needs were met. She was a driving force behind the founding of the order in 1997 and led the community for nearly 25 years. She has a STL in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. She has also taught at the elementary, secondary, and junior college levels. Sr. Joseph Andrew is one of the four founders of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist in Ann Arbor, Michigan and serves as Vocations Director of the community. Sister Joseph Mary lectures on topics related to religious life and theology, speaking at youth conferences, parishes, and on Catholic radio and social media to high school and university students, religious women, priests, and seminarians alike.
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The "It Factor" of Catholic Education
09/18/2024
The "It Factor" of Catholic Education
According to Dr. Peter Kilpatrick, Catholic Education is distinct not only in that it offers classes in theology or “religion.” Integration of the curricular and co-curricular is the true hallmark of Catholicism. That means that in Catholic schools – and especially Catholic universities – the goal should be much more than skills building for a future profession and even more than character formation. The ultimate purpose of Catholic education is to guide students into a deeper recognition and understanding of God’s revelation of the true, good, and beautiful across all disciplines and in every arena of human life. Dr. Kilpatrick articulates this and discloses the unique way that the Catholic University of America executes on this noble educational venture. ABOUT THE GUEST Dr. Peter K. Kilpatrick was appointed president of The Catholic University of America in March 2022 and took office on July 1, 2022. His prior roles are numerous. He served as provost and senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Illinois Institute of Technology and previously as professor and McCloskey Dean of Engineering for ten years at the University of Notre Dame. He launched Notre Dame’s first joint Ph.D. program with the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, later expanding to programs with universities in Brazil and Hungary. Dr. Kilpatrick also served on the faculty of North Carolina State University in chemical engineering for 24 years, from 1983 to 2007, the last eight-plus years as the department head. Dr. Kilpatrick also served as the founding director of the North Carolina Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center. He is the author of more than 100 refereed journal articles in the areas of colloid and interfacial science, emulsion science, and molecular self assembly, particularly as they apply to energy and to bioseparations. His work has been cited more than 5,300 times and he holds or shares 12 patents. He received his A.B. in chemistry from Occidental College (summa cum laude) in 1978 and his Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Minnesota in 1983. He and his wife, Nancy, are the parents of four adult children.
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School Cell Phone Bans: Brilliance or Bunk
08/22/2024
School Cell Phone Bans: Brilliance or Bunk
From Florida to Los Angeles, from public schools to private, school cell phone bans are on the rise. Is this just fear mongering? Is there any sound evidence to support radical school policies such as secure cell phone lockers for all students? Dr. Leonard Sax and his 17-year old daughter, Sarah,s share their opinion on no-cell-phone zones and answer the most common objections from students, parents, and teachers.
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Ending the Mean Girl Era - With Cara Morales
06/24/2024
Ending the Mean Girl Era - With Cara Morales
Cara Morales returns to the JSerra podcast studio, this time to share with parents of teen and tween girls the causes of and solutions to a growing social epidemic: mean girls. Having spoken to the entire JSerra female student population, Cara shares her approach to reaching the hearts of young women who are often both suffering from and contributing to the mean girl culture. In her trademark manner, Cara analyzes some of the major causes of the sharp spike in nastiness among young female teens with laser-like precision and offers insights that can help parents and educators curb this ever-growing American phenomenon.
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Parents as Primary Educators, Part 4 - with Dr. Leonard Sax
04/23/2024
Parents as Primary Educators, Part 4 - with Dr. Leonard Sax
In his sixth appearance on the podcast, Dr. Leonard Sax takes on what it means for parents to be the first and most important educators of their children. “Kids are not born knowing what’s right and what’s wrong,” attests Dr. Sax. Accordingly, parents serve the foundational role in the life of their sons and daughters of teaching them how to live well, that is, how to live virtuously. As always, Dr. Sax offers insights that will embolden parents of adolescents and younger children alike to embrace the primacy of their God-given role as their kids’ most necessary and respected role models, while suggesting practical tips for shaping the minds and hearts of their sons and daughters with confidence.
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High School is Not the Finish Line
02/14/2024
High School is Not the Finish Line
Adolescence does not end when young men and women go off to college. In a sense, their education for life has only just begun. That’s why it is crucial to send our sons and daughters to universities that understand how to complete the comprehensive education they need to live a flourishing life. Join University of Dallas President Jonathan J. Sanford as he talks to parents about the essential role the college years play in forming young men and women of virtue, and what makes some Catholic colleges and universities more suited for that than others.
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Helping Teens Pray with Hallow
01/31/2024
Helping Teens Pray with Hallow
Every parent and every educator who has tried knows that getting teenagers interested in daily prayer requires perseverance and a commitment to the long game. Getting Gen Z-ers to put down the cell phones and turn to contemplation makes that task even more daunting. Now they don’t have to give up one for the other. Hear Hallow App co-founder, Alessandro DiSanto, walk us through the genius of the technology that is marrying social media and the interior life and helping millions to return to Christ through prayer. Alessandro explains the personal crises that led him and two friends to begin seeking God at a deeper level, why he believes they were able to create a platform that would resonate with over 14 million subscribers, and the warp speed with which Hallow has taken not only the Catholic world, but the digital world by storm.
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Parents as Primary Educators, Part 3: It Starts with You
01/18/2024
Parents as Primary Educators, Part 3: It Starts with You
“You don’t build the house; you give them the foundation.” In this inspiring podcast, the “Dynamic Deacon” and father of five outlines practical tips for how to build your sons’ and daughters’ spiritual muscle memory. Engaging, entertaining, deep, and practical! Listen to Deacon Harold, the “Dynamic Deacon,” as he coaches parents in concrete ways to lay the foundation for their sons’ and daughters’ growth in personal maturity. Pulling from talking points he shared the evening before in his presentation to JSerra parents, Deacon extrapolates on: What ;”e Church means when it calls parents “educators”; the importance of one-on-one time with children as well as weekly family time; modelling Christ-like behavior; taking full advantage of “teachable moments”; and the what and the why of discipline in the life of our kids. You will walk away from this conversation edified, inspired, and full of ideas for how to be the primary educator your children need… and God made you to be!
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Parents As Primary Educators, Part 2: What is a "Primary Educator?"
12/19/2023
Parents As Primary Educators, Part 2: What is a "Primary Educator?"
In this second part of our series on, “Parents as Primary Educators,” Catholic school leader, Debbie Nearmeyer, shares some basics on how to move forward confidently in our vocation as mothers and fathers. In this second episode of “Parents as Primary Educators,” mother of five and Vice President of Faith and Mission, Debbie Nearmeyer, elucidates with detail the meaning of being a “primary educator.” With gentleness, depth, and humor, Debbie explains what it means to educate in the real sense of the word , while sharing examples from home and school life that serve to make the task realistically accessible. Tune in to this month’s podcast and hear how Debbie steers parents towards success and fulfillment in their number one vocation.
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Parents As Primary Educators, Part 1: Powerfully Connected Parenting
11/08/2023
Parents As Primary Educators, Part 1: Powerfully Connected Parenting
In this first episode in our series on “Parents as Primary Educators,” former JSerra teacher and personal counselor, Cara Morales, LMFT, explains why that is more than an overused cliché. Cara attests that God has chosen all moms and dads as the ones he has specifically ordained to raise the children he has given them. And she assures them that He will also provide the help needed to fulfill that unique responsibility. With an eye to the practical, Cara shares tips on how to parent through the trying teenage years with confidence, serenity, and fruitful results. Always original and engaging, Cara recommends concrete steps parents can take to stay connected to their teens even while they seem to be pulling away, and to ensure they remain their kids’ number one confidants.
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Navigating College Confidently
09/05/2023
Navigating College Confidently
On this month’s episode of Plugged In, Emily Wilson talks about the difficulties she faced as a young Catholic woman going off to an enormous public university with the goal of keeping her faith and her ideals intact. As she faced those difficulties head on and navigated those challenges, Emily found her faith and her convictions intensifying. Those experiences shaped a desire in her to help other young women prepare for the onslaught of temptations and the assaults on faith and moral principles that characterize so much of college campus life today. Emily’s practical advice for parents of young women (and for high schoolers themselves) inspired hope that it is indeed possible to thrive in college without forsaking the Christian beliefs and values you hold dear.
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Risk Reaps Rewards with Dr. Leonard and Sarah Sax
08/22/2023
Risk Reaps Rewards with Dr. Leonard and Sarah Sax
Is resilience as important as everyone is saying? According to the studies, yes, but perhaps not in the way you think. Why are so few teens unwilling to take risks? And what are the consequences for a generation that lives by the fabricated rules of “safety-ism”? How does the lack of resilience in teen boys play into their susceptibility to today’s most paralyzing addiction: pornography use? Join renowned author, speaker, physician, and psychologist, Dr. Leonard Sax, and his daughter Sarah Sax on this special edition of Plugged In, as they share about Sarah’s extreme summer adventure and the real-life lessons that pushing a teen to such limits provides.
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Their Story Isn’t Over with Fr. Mike Schmitz
03/14/2023
Their Story Isn’t Over with Fr. Mike Schmitz
“Parents," says Fr. Mike Schmitz, “are the prototype.” In this lively conversation, Fr. Mike shares about what inspired his vocation and gives parents advice on how they can best equip their children to be life-long disciples of Christ. With his well-known wit and wisdom, Fr. Mike talks about his call to the priesthood, his work with college students, and the origins of his media ministry and #1 Spotify podcasts. Always determined to lead by example, he explains how parents can best pass on the faith by looking at their own practice and devotion, and by trusting in the God who loves their children more than they do. Don’t miss this special edition on Plugged In! ABOUT THE GUEST Fr. Mike Schmitz is the Chaplain of the Newman Center at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. He is best known for his series of short videos on faith and culture by Ascension Press and for being the host of two of the top religious podcasts of all time: The Bible in A Year and The Catechism in a Year. He has published several books, including How to Make Great Decisions and Untroubled by the Unknown: Trusting God in Every Moment. Fr. Mike speaks around the country to a variety of audiences but places a high priority on the young adults he is called to serve on campus.
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Sacred Balancing Act with Lisa Hendey
02/15/2023
Sacred Balancing Act with Lisa Hendey
Parents have never been busier. Professional responsibilities, kids' schedules, and non-stop extracurricular events can make the idea of creating a family culture seem almost impossible. Lisa Hendey came to that same conclusion. Married to a successful doctor, flourishing in her own career, and trying to raise two children, she realized something had to give. In fact something had: it was family time. On this episode of Plugged In, full-time professional and fuller-time mom Lisa Hendey explains what it took to "put first things first" in her own family life and walks us through the struggles, challenges, and ultimate triumphs she speaks and writes about across the nation. Sober, humble, and hopeful, she shares how she and her husband prioritized family without compromising a full life outside the home. ABOUT THE GUEST Lisa Hendey is a best-selling author, speaker, radio producer, and podcast host. She is the founder of CatholicMom.com, the host of "Lisa Hendey and Friends" and the co-host of "Catholic MomCast." Her books include The Grace of Yes, I'm a Saint in the Making, The Handbook for Catholic Moms, and I Am God's Storyteller. Lisa's fiction series for children, called Chime Travelers, has been read in elementary schools and Church groups worldwide. While maintaining a thriving career, Lisa raised two children in a faith-filled home -- something she sees as her greatest joy and accomplishment.
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Arthur C. Brooks on the Science of Happiness
01/24/2023
Arthur C. Brooks on the Science of Happiness
Arthur C. Brooks has done the homework on happiness. The tenured Harvard Business professor, who is also a best-selling author and sought-after speaker, shares with us the secrets to finding true and lasting happiness — the scientific way. In this full-length recording of a talk he delivered recently to the JSerra community, Brooks lays out the facts about happiness according to brain science, facts that may surprise many of us. The good news is happiness is not as hard to attain as we imagine. Tune in to this entertaining and transformational presentation with the potential to change your way of looking at life. ABOUT THE GUEST Arthur C. Brooks is the William Henry Bloomberg Professor of the Practice of Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School, and Professor of Management Practice at the Harvard Business School, where he teaches courses on leadership and happiness. He is also a columnist at The Atlantic, where he writes the popular weekly “How to Build a Life” column. Brooks is the author of 12 books, including the 2022 #1 New York Times bestseller . He speaks to audiences all around the world about human happiness, and works to raise well-being within private companies, universities, public agencies, and community organizations. His upcoming book, co-written with Oprah Winfrey, will explain why suffering is necessary for ultimate happiness.
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Reading the Right Books with Dr. John Boyle
10/29/2022
Reading the Right Books with Dr. John Boyle
For Dr. John Boyle, co-founder of the Catholic Studies program at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN, not all books are made equal. Tune in as he explains why reading for reading's sake is not enough, and why reading the right books matters. In this extraordinary insightful conversation, Dr. Boyle explains why books impact who we become, and gives parents tips for determining what makes a book "good." His explanation may surprise you! ABOUT THE GUEST Dr. Boyle is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Catholic Studies at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. He holds a Licentiate in Mediaeval Studies from the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies in Toronto and a Ph.D. in Medieval Studies from the University of Toronto. His published works on the thought of Thomas Aquinas are many; among them are Master Thomas Aquinas and the Fulness of Life and The Order and Division of Divine Truth: St. Thomas Aquinas as Scholastic Master of the Sacred Page. Aquinas on Scripture: A Primer will be available later this fall from Emmaus Academic. His awards and honors include a National Endowment for the Humanties Fellowship, the Aquinas Medal from the University of Dallas, and he has delivered the Aquinas Lecture at the National University of Ireland. Dr. Boyle lives in St. Paul with his wife, Dia; they have three grown children.
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The Rise of Fentanyl with Sgt. Brian Gunsolley
10/10/2022
The Rise of Fentanyl with Sgt. Brian Gunsolley
Fentanyl is now the number one cause of death among American adolescents. Declared a national emergency by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the alarming rise of this drug is that much more precarious due to its deceptive nature and its overpowering addictive qualities. Fifty times more potent than heroine and one hundred times stronger than morphine, the tiniest dose of Fentanyl has lethal implications. Tune into this sobering interview with Orange County Sheriff’s drug education expert and learn what parents can do to protect their sons and daughters from this growing threat. ABOUT THE GUEST Sergeant Brian Gunsolley is a 23-year Orange County Sheriff’s Department veteran with experience working in Corrections, Patrol, and Critical Incident Response Team, as well as serving as a Field Training Officer, Drug Liaison Officer, DUI Task Force member, and School Resource Officer. Sergeant Gunsolley currently supervises the Community Engagement Unit, responsible for providing safety education for schools and the general community. Sergeant Gunsolley has a BA in Economics from UCLA and a Master of Science degree in Law Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership from the University of San Diego.
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Making the Case for Morality with Fr. Robert Spitzer
09/22/2022
Making the Case for Morality with Fr. Robert Spitzer
In this recording of a recent talk given by Fr. Robert Spitzer, the famed author, television host, and international advisor gets into the nitty gritty of the most contentious moral controversies confronting American young people today. With his trademark brilliance-made-simple, Fr. Spitzer identifies the undergirding bases of several modern moral stances and counters each one point by point with clarity and persuasion. Buckle up for this exhilarating, high-speed presentation that will have you on the edge of your seat and eager for more! About Fr. Robert SpitzerFr. Robert Spitzer is a Jesuit priest, the former president of Gonzaga University, and former Rector of JSerra Catholic High School. Fr. has authored over 10 books and made innumerable media appearances including The History Channel PBS series (multi-part series entitled Closer to the Truth), the Today Show (debating euthanasia), and Larry King Live(debating Stephen Hawking). His myriad of published articles has appeared in major publications Philosophy and Science and the Business and Professional Ethics Journal. Fr. Spitzer has spoken the world over, including addressing government officials in Costa Rica, Tony Blair's Cabinet in London, and on both sides of the conflict in Northern Ireland. He is the founder of numerous major national institutes such as Magis Center, Spitzer Center, and Healing the Culture. Additionally, Fr. has produced multiple television series for EWTN, most recently Fr. Spitzer's Universe. Fr. Spitzer has been a frequent speaker at JSerra and a regular presider at our all-school and Baccalaureate Masses.
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What You Need to Know About Your Teen’s Culture with Dr. Leonard Sax
08/16/2022
What You Need to Know About Your Teen’s Culture with Dr. Leonard Sax
In this episode of Plugged In, Dr. Leonard Sax and his 16-year old daughter Sarah explore the factors contributing to America's current "culture of disrespect." They answer questions such as: What's different about today's teen culture and why does it matter? How much social media is too much? Does limiting your child's social media use make any significant impact? Is TikTok good for my son or daughter? Is there evidence to support decisions around these issues or is all just guesswork? Tune in for the answers to these questions and many more on this month's episode of Plugged In.
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From Coven to Convent with Sr. Maria Catherine
03/19/2022
From Coven to Convent with Sr. Maria Catherine
Sr. Maria Catherine wasn't always a Jesus fan. Far from it. Before meeting Christ, she was an actress who was involved in a host of non-Christian practices and thought Christianity and its "superstitious belief system" would be the last thing she would ever give in to. Then something changed — dramatically. Tune in to hear how this now deeply committed religious sister took the long road to Christ. In this dynamic podcast, Sr. Maria Catherine shares in depth about her miraculous journey from black magic to the foot of the Cross. You won't believe it until you hear it! ABOUT THE GUEST Sr. Maria Catherine, O.P. is from the great state of Texas. After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin, she worked in various industries but mainly banking and administration before entering the convent. Sister has traveled widely and has been one of a few representatives of her community on The Oprah Winfrey Show. She is a published author in the Catholic San Francisco, The Imaginative Conservative, and Homiletic and Pastoral Review. She loves teaching English and Theology and continues to be grateful for the opportunity to study Aquinas at Ave Maria University. She is currently teaching English at JSerra Catholic High School.
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Mentoring Struggling Students with Drew Clute
03/10/2022
Mentoring Struggling Students with Drew Clute
Students struggle in school for a variety of reasons. How do parents recognize when their son or daughter's academic struggle deserves expert attention? How do they help their teenage child to overcome the stigma associated with learning challenges? In this mini-podcast, JSerra's Director of Learning and Academic Support, Drew Clute, tackles a topic which is touching upon more and more parents via their teenagers' academic experience. Drew steps us through the methods and the means parents and teachers can use together in order to hearten young people facing academic trials and arm them with the tools to bring them through with confidence and success. ABOUT THE GUEST Drew Clute is the Director of Learning and Academic Support at JSerra where he oversees multiple programs that provide support for various student groups on campus. Drew earned a bachelor's degree in Recreation Administration Fresno State University (2006) and a certificate in serving under-privileged and at-risk youth. In 2010 he complete his M.A. in Secondary Education, as well as two credentials in social studies and mild-moderate special education. Drew spent six years teaching special education, History, Economics, and US Government in Fresno before coming to JSerra. He and his wife, Kristen, live with their two daughters, Chloe and Nora, in Laguna Beach, Calif.
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Finding Joy in Waiting with Cara Morales
12/15/2021
Finding Joy in Waiting with Cara Morales
Cara Morales is back! Join her in this mini-podcast as she shares her thoughts about how to prepare well during the days leading up to Christmas so we can experience the fullness of joy this season is meant to offer.
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Why We Teach Virtue with Sr. John Michael
11/29/2021
Why We Teach Virtue with Sr. John Michael
With a vibrant Catholic curriculum already in full stride, why would a school like JSerra feel the need to add a campus-wide virtue program? Dominican Sister John Michael explains in this brief mini-podcast.
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How to Discipline with Dignity with Dean Bridget Desmond
11/09/2021
How to Discipline with Dignity with Dean Bridget Desmond
Bridget Desmond is a woman who sees her role of disciplinarian at a Catholic school as exactly that: a call to equip young people with the disciplines — the habits and virtues — that will enable them to achieve the greatness for which they are made.
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American Teens At Risk with Dr. Leonard Sax
08/30/2021
American Teens At Risk with Dr. Leonard Sax
Always informative, our most popular guest, Dr. Leonard Sax, returns to the podcast this year with a special guest in tow: his daughter. Join Dr. Sax and Sarah as they detail what it is that puts American teens today at risk and what parents can do to fortify them against those risks, with proven success.
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