This Whole Life
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How does our mental health relate to our faith? How can we become whole while living in a broken world? Every day, we all strive to encounter God amidst the challenges of balancing faith and family, work and leisure, our sense of self and complicated relationships. Pat & Kenna Millea bring joy, hope, and wisdom to those who believe there *is* a connection between holiness and happiness. Kenna is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist; Pat served for 15 years as a youth minister; together they have 7 children and a perfectly imperfect marriage. From their education and experience, they share tools, resources, interviews, and stories that point the way to sanity and sanctity. (Music: "You're Not Alone" by Marie Miller. Used with permission.)
93 Episodes
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"If you find that you have wandered away from the shelter of God, lead your heart back to Him quietly and simply." ~ St. Francis de Sales What is wrong with me that I feel so overwhelmed sometimes? Why do I freeze up and struggle to process stress? How can I get back to my authentic self and respond instead of react? In Episode 88 of This Whole Life, Pat & Kenna dive deep into the concept of the “Window of Tolerance” — a foundational model for understanding emotional regulation ...
People have different ways of approaching the holidays and holy days. Even people who are sacramentally vowed to one another. And sometimes that's really tricky - but pretty funny in retrospect. Send us a text. We can't respond directly, but we're excited to hear what's on your mind! Click here to register for the DBT group from Jan. 20 - March 24, 2026 (MN & WI residents only) Support the show Thank you for listening, and a very special thank you to our community of supporters! Visit us...
"So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God." ~ 1 Corinthians 10:31 Is it really possible to stay sane around the holidays? What if I have real baggage from past holidays & celebrations? How do I hold onto my values when the routine is thrown out the window? In episode 87 of This Whole Life, Pat and Kenna dive into the highs, hards, and heartfelt moments that come with holidays and celebrations. Together, they explore personal and family traditions...
What a difference a year can make. You'll be wowed by Fr. Nathan LaLiberte's story of conversion and vocational discernment, going from occult practices to the seminary. Who in your life needs to hear Fr. Nathan's story? Take one moment to share it with them. Send us a text. We can't respond directly, but we're excited to hear what's on your mind! Click here to register for the DBT group from Jan. 20 - March 24, 2026 (MN & WI residents only) Support the show Thank you for listening,...
In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Why is it so easy to feel entitled? How am I supposed to be grateful when things are so flawed? Does gratitude really make a difference? In this episode of This Whole Life, Pat, Kenna, and recurring guest Fr. Nathan LaLiberte dive deep into the transformative power of gratitude. They explore why gratitude isn’t optional for Christians, how it supports both mental health and spiritual ...
"Monsignor James Shea stopped using email in 2013." What?! In this inaugural Storytellers episode of This Whole Life, hear about this University president's story of deleting his email entirely: his reasoning, what he's learned, and what you can gain from his story. Send us a text. We can't respond directly, but we're excited to hear what's on your mind! Click here to register for the DBT group from Jan. 20 - March 24, 2026 (MN & WI residents only) Support the show Thank you for listening...
"The Christian faith does not destroy culture, but purifies and uplifts it. It takes away nothing of genuine value from a society or nation, but strengthens whatever is good for the betterment of all." ~ St. John Paul II What does it mean to live a beautiful life? How can I create a Catholic culture in my own life, family, school, or work? Should I be aiming to create a utopia on earth? In this insightful episode of This Whole Life, hosts Pat and Kenna sit down with Monsignor James Shea, pres...
"Each family finds within itself a summons that cannot be ignored, and that specifies both its dignity and its responsibility: family, become what you are." ~ St. John Paul II, Familiaris Consortio, §17 How do I acknowledge and communicate my sexual desires & needs? What do I do when my expectations about sex in marriage are unmet? Is it possible to keep the spark alive while practicing NFP? In episode 84, Pat and Kenna welcome Monica & Renzo Ortega for the final installment of their ...
"Love should be seen as something which in a sense never ‘is’ but is always only ‘becoming’, and what it becomes depends up on the contribution of both persons and the depth of their commitment.” ~ Karol Wojtyła Why doesn't arousal come as easily as we expected? How do we make opportunities for intimacy when life is so busy? How can I have honest conversations with my spouse about arousal and our sex life? In Episode 83 of This Whole Life, Pat & Kenna are joined by guest Trisha McKeever, ...
"I belong to my lover, and my lover belongs to me; he feeds among the lilies." ~ Song of Solomon 6:3 Why isn't my sex life going the way I hoped it would? How do I talk to my spouse about sex after we've gotten into ruts? Is it possible to have more sex and better sex in our marriage? In Episode 82 of This Whole Life, Kenna is joined by Vonda Tiede, LMFT and Daniel Merboth to kick off a powerful three-part series on “Holy Sex” in marriage. Together, they dig deep into the “good news” about se...
"For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery." ~ Galatians 5:1 What if I didn't sign up for the life I have? What does my life feel so out of control? Why do I feel trapped in the life I'm leading? In Episode 81 of This Whole Life, hosts Pat & Kenna Millea dive deep into what it really means to take control of your life — especially when things aren't going the way you thought they would. This episode explores the broader theme of agency: w...
"A mild answer turns back wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." ~ Proverbs 15:1 Is it possible to fight fair? How can someone who hates conflict approach it better? How do you turn conflict into connection? In this episode of This Whole Life, Pat and Kenna Millea dive deep into the heart of fighting well with the "Four Cs of Conflict." Drawing from real-life family stories, faith, and the practical tools of therapy, they lay out a step-by-step process to approach disagreements in he...
“For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, ‘Abba, Father!’” ~ Romans 8:15 Why are so many fathers struggling? Is it possible for fathers to live peaceful lives today? How can a man change the world through his identity as a father? In episode 79 of This Whole Life, Pat Millea sits down with Devin Schadt, founder and executive director of the Fathers of St. Joseph, to dive deep into the challenges and opport...
"Love should be seen as something which in a sense never ‘is’ but is always only ‘becoming’, and what it becomes depends upon the contribution of both persons and the depth of their commitment.” ~ St. John Paul II In episode 78 of This Whole Life, hosts Kenna and Pat Millea welcome Dr. Mario Sacasa, a seasoned marriage and family therapist and host of the Always Hope podcast, for an honest and hope-filled conversation about dating well—both before and after marriage. Together, they explore t...
“This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” ~ John 13:35 Am I really "pro-life"? How does loving others impact my mental & spiritual health? How am I supposed to treat the people who are hard to love? In Episode 77 of This Whole Life, Pat Millea welcomes Fr. Nathan LaLiberte for a powerful conversation about living out the pro-life message in our daily interactions and relationships. Together, they go beyond the usual political rhetoric, explor...
“See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." ~ Matthew 10:16 Is there any way to make parenting less stressful? What can I do to make our life less chaotic? How can our family be a little more sane & connected? Let's face it - parenting in the 21st century is not for the faint of heart. In episode 76 of This Whole Life, Kenna and Pat dive into their top 10 parenting hacks, offering real-life tips for bringing sanity and san...
"Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win." ~ 1 Corinthians 9:24 Are youth sports helping or hurting our kids? Can sports be a healthy way of honoring God? How can my children and I stay grounded in the midst of their sports? In Episode 75 of This Whole Life, hosts Pat and Kenna sit down with Super Bowl champion Matt Birk for a lively, honest, and heartfelt conversation about the realities of youth sports today. From h...
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone." ~ Matthew 18:15 Why do I get caught in the middle of arguments in my family? Why is it so tempting to bring someone else into a tense situation? How do I break the cycle of being brought into triangles among my family & friends? In Episode 74 of This Whole Life, Kenna Millea welcomes Ben Baker, LMFT and Addy Diaz for a lively Relationship Roundtable all about “triangulation”—that sneaky dynamic that c...
Jesus said to him, “What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours? You follow me.” ~ John 21:22 Why do I get so angry at others' opinions & actions? How am I supposed to handle the evil & falsehood in the world? Why is it easier for me to explain what I'm against than what I'm for? In episode 73 of This Whole Life, hosts Kenna and Pat Millea welcome back Fr. Nathan LaLiberte for a candid conversation about identity, vulnerability, and the subtle trap of living...
"Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." ~ 1 Corinthians 13:7 Why do I get so hurt by others' actions? Why is it so hard for me to let things slide? How can I give people close to me the benefit of the doubt? In episode 72 of This Whole Life, Kenna and Pat dive into the concept of Positive Sentiment Override, a game-changing mindset for building stronger, more joyful relationships. Kicking things off with some spirited candy rankings for the Easter s...
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