Katie McGrady is one of my all time favorite people to learn about the faith from. It was an absolute joy to speak with her about soon-to-be Saint Carlo Acutis!
Join us and learn more about this millennial young man that continues to change the world!
Katie Prejean McGrady is a wife, mom, award-winning author, international speaker, podcaster & daily radio show host.
After working in youth ministry and high school education for a number of years, Katie began speaking full time in 2017, averaging over 100,000 miles a year traveling to speak at events for young people, parishes, parent groups, fundraisers, retreats, religious education conferences, and more.
Katie is the author of four books with Ave Maria Press. She began working with Ave Maria Press in 2019 to help create digital and audio content for Ave Explores, a multi-media project digging into various Catholic topics relevant to people who want to learn more and live their faith in a real, practical way. She hosts the Ave Explores podcast, a long-form interview style podcast that topics relevant topics each season. Katie also hosts Like a Mother, a podcast about the joys, struggles, and ins and outs of motherhood. Like a Mother is an OSV podcast production. Katie and her husband, Tommy, are the hosts of Family Mass Prep on Hallow, a weekly podcast for families to get ready to hear and pray with the Sunday Mass readings.
Katie regularly writes for Blessed is She, Our Sunday Visitor, Aleteia, and the Grotto Network. She appears as a Catholic commentator on CNN, and is a consultant for the USCCB working group on youth and young adult ministry. Katie is an op-ed columnist with La Croix International, a French Catholic newspaper distributed daily in print and online.
In March of 2021, Katie began hosting The Katie McGrady Show, a daily radio program on The Catholic Channel on Sirius XM 129 that talks about pop culture, current events, Catholic news, how to live a life of abundant joy, and introduces listeners to a variety of engaging, dynamic, and profoundly inspiring guests.
Katie makes her home in Lake Charles, LA with her husband, Tommy, and daughters, Rose and Clare.
I signed up to make cookies for the PTA teacher cookie exchange.
I was feeling festive and joyful, and in a moment of holiday delusion, I said ‘yes’ to adding another thing to the final week of Advent and the weekend of Sebastian’s first communion. Alas, myself thanked me this morning when I had cookies for breakfast.
This is seriously my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe, especially when I don’t make them myself – ha! Enjoy! They are chocolatey and crispy and buttery!
First, the urban legend:
Supposedly a woman was dining at the Neiman Marcus Cafe in Dallas, Texas and loved their chocolate chip cookies so much that she asked for the recipe. She was told by the waitress that for two fifty she could have it. She agreed. Later the credit card bill arrived and that was $250.
Is it true? Not sure, but either way these Neiman Marcus chocolate chip cookies are so unbelievably good!
Recipe
Ingredients:
Rolled oats
All-purpose flour
Baking soda and baking powder
Salt
Unsalted butter
Dark brown sugar
Granulated sugar
Eggs
Vanilla
Semi-sweet chocolate chips
Milk chocolate bar
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line baking sheets.
Grind outs in a food processor. (Brian was really, really excited about using the food processor. Let people help you! It makes it silly and fun.)
In a bowl whisk together ground outs, flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
In an electric mixer cream butter and sugars.
Mix in eggs one at a time then blend in vanilla.
Blend in flour mixture, then mix in chocolate chips and chocolate, and walnuts if using.
Scoop dough out using a cookie scoop and roll.
Transfer to baking sheets and bake until set.
Tips:
If you do not have unsalted butter, do not add the salt.
If you don’t have a chocolate bar handy, don’t worry – just add 1/4 more chocolate chips.
And pro-tip – underbaking these slightly is the way to go! Crispy edges with a chewy, yummy center is the key to these amazing cookies.
Join me as I talk with Rob Kaczmark, CEO at Spirit Juice Studios, about Saint Joseph! Rob had so many mic drop moments during this interview. I know you will feel encouraged and inspired!
About Rob Kaczmark:
As the co-founder and CEO of Spirit Juice Studios, an internationally recognized, Emmy award-winning video production house, I have been passionately creating and delivering high-quality and authentically Catholic content for over 16 years. I am a self-taught camera operator and editor, with a keen eye for cinematography, direction, and style. I have worked with clients from 15 countries, amassed over 20 million online views, and completed hundreds of projects every year, ranging from documentaries and music videos to podcasts and commercials.
I also serve as the president of Behold, a new media company that leverages the infrastructure and resources of Spirit Juice Studios to produce and distribute original and engaging Catholic content for a global audience. Additionally, I am the executive director of Spirit Juice Entertainment Group, the non-profit arm of Spirit Juice Studios that provides free online access to inspiring and informative Catholic media, with the support of our generous donors. My mission is to evangelize the culture through the power of visual arts and the ever ancient, ever new beauty of the Catholic faith.
Oh friends – it is an honor to talk with Margaret Bereit. We have known each other for years – she was Brian and my marriage mentor at Saint Mary’s in College Station, Texas. Anyone who attended Saint Mary’s in the 90’s could tell you about her smile and her loyal encouragement! Join me as we have a beautiful talk about joy and Saint Philip Neri.
About Margaret:
Margaret Bereit is a seasoned educator with over two decades of experience in homeschooling, classroom teaching, and tutoring. She mentors mothers and children at Mary’s Shelter, a nationally recognized maternity ministry, and is actively involved in her church and local community. Through her passion for education and mentorship, Margaret has empowered women to embrace the blessings and navigate the challenges of faith, relationships, motherhood, and family life. She has been married for 32 years to her husband, David—the founder and former CEO of 40 Days for Life—and together, they co-lead marriage preparation retreats, relationship courses, and marriage enrichment programs. They speak on topics of faith, life, and family to audiences across the U.S. and internationally. The Bereits reside in the Washington, DC area and are the parents of two adult children: Sr. Gloria Christi, a Nashville Dominican, and Patrick, who teaches English and serves the Church in Fez, Morocco.
You can connect with her on Facebook to see her wonderful book recommendations for children!