The Catholic Leaders Podcast

Michael Steele: Shut Up and Listen

ABOUT THIS EPISODE In this episode, Michael Steele shares a personal and thought-provoking conversation on faith, leadership and public service. Reflecting on his formation with the Order of Saint Augustine and his career in politics, Steele reflects on the “constant process of formation” in his life, the moral responsibilities of leadership and our obligation to care for the poor and vulnerable. Join hosts Kim Smolik and Kerry Alys Robinson as they welcome Michael and share lessons on faith and leadership with our listeners. Special Spotlight: The episode also highlights the leadership of Jim Malloy, president and CEO of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington, who shares how service organizations are responding to growing need with collaboration, compassion and hope. KEY TAKEAWAYS * How Michael’s early formation as a seminarian shaped his vocation in public service * The Augustinian charism and its call to education and service * Reflections on the leadership and example of Pope Leo XIV * The challenges of addressing issues of selfishness, poverty and division in our country * The role of Catholic Charities as “agents of hope” in a time of rising need * How listening is a spiritual discipline and the foundation of leadership EPISODE CHAPTERS * 00:00 [https://the-catholic-leaders-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/tim-shriver-seeing-with-the-heart] Introduction * 04:09 [https://the-catholic-leaders-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/tim-shriver-seeing-with-the-heart?t=4m09s] Faith formation and journey from seminary to public life * 08:17 [https://the-catholic-leaders-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/tim-shriver-seeing-with-the-heart?t=8m17s] Augustinian spirituality and Pope Leo’s leadership * 11:50 [https://the-catholic-leaders-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/tim-shriver-seeing-with-the-heart?t=11m50s] Catholic Charities and a responsibility to serve those in need * 17:20 [https://the-catholic-leaders-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/tim-shriver-seeing-with-the-heart?t=17m20s] Addressing challenges of selfishness, poverty and societal division * 25:37 [https://the-catholic-leaders-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/tim-shriver-seeing-with-the-heart?t=25m37s] The spiritual and moral implications of inequality * 30:12 [https://the-catholic-leaders-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/tim-shriver-seeing-with-the-heart?t=30m12s] A sign of contradiction: the call to service in a selfish society * 31:45 [https://the-catholic-leaders-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/tim-shriver-seeing-with-the-heart?t=31m45s] Lessons in faith and leadership: the discipline of listening * 37:54 [https://the-catholic-leaders-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/tim-shriver-seeing-with-the-heart?t=37m54s] The discipline of listening and its essential role in leadership * 43:53 [https://the-catholic-leaders-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/tim-shriver-seeing-with-the-heart?t=43m53s] God in a whisper: The connection between listening, prayer and action * 47:29 [https://the-catholic-leaders-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/tim-shriver-seeing-with-the-heart?t=47m29s] The final question: Steele’s personal inspiration * 52:20 [https://the-catholic-leaders-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/tim-shriver-seeing-with-the-heart?t=52m20s] Spotlight: Jim Malloy, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington  ABOUT OUR GUESTS MICHAEL STEELE Host, MS Now’s the Weeknight Michael Steele is a political leader and commentator who made history in 2003 as the first African American elected to state office in Maryland as Lieutenant Governor. In 2009, he became Chairman of the Republican National Committee, leading record fundraising efforts and significant Republican electoral gains nationwide.   Steele is a political analyst and co-host on MS Now’s the Weeknight. He holds the Gwendolyn S. & Colbert L. King Endowed Chair in Public Policy at Howard University. Steele has written extensively on law, business and politics and serves on numerous advisory boards in the areas of business and election reform. Education: B.A. from Johns Hopkins University | J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center Connect with Michael: LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-steele-116b0436/] | X [https://x.com/MichaelSteele] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/chairman_steele/] More Resources * The Weeknight: https://www.ms.now/the-weeknight * Order of Saint Augustine: https://www.augustinianorder.org/ JIM MALLOY President and CEO, Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Washington A native of Silver Spring, Maryland, Jim Malloy’s connection to the greater Washington, D.C. community runs deep. The youngest of four, he completed elementary school at St. John the Baptist and is a proud 1981 graduate of St. John’s College High School.   Jim proudly served our country as an Officer in the United States Navy, at home, at sea, and abroad, commanding two ships, a squadron, and culminating in command of the United States Fifth Fleet in Manama, Bahrain. Jim’s distinguished career in the U.S. Navy helped instill in him a deep commitment to servant leadership — a deeply held belief that for any organization to thrive, leaders must empower those they lead. He retired from active-duty service in October 2022 as a Vice Admiral and joined Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington as president and CEO in 2023.   Jim serves on the Board of Directors at Naval Sea Cadets and has been an active mentor for NJROTC students at high schools in locations he has served. Additionally, he has been an active volunteer through Helping Hands at VA hospitals in the Tampa area. Across his naval career, Jim was a Catholic Lay leader aboard various Navy ships on which he served. Education: United States Naval Academy Connect with Jim: LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-malloy-02a82827/] More Resources * Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington: https://www.catholiccharitiesdc.org [https://www.catholiccharitiesdc.org/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/catholic-charities-of-the-archdiocese-of-washington/] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ccadw]| X [https://x.com/CCADW] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ccb_staug/] JOIN THE CONVERSATION Love this episode? Leave us a review and share it with someone who needs to hear Michael's message on service, listening and leadership. Also, be sure to follow Catholic Charities USA on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/catholiccharitiesusa], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ccharitiesusa] and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/catholic-charities-usa/]. The Catholic Leaders Podcast is a space where we host conversations with inspirational leaders to talk about their leadership and how faith informs it. The Catholic Leaders Podcast is hosted by Kim Smolik and Kerry Robinson, CEO and President of Catholic Charities USA.

Tim Shriver: Seeing with the Heart

ABOUT THIS EPISODE To grow up in Tim Shriver’s family — populated by senators, ambassadors, best-selling authors, illustrious awardees, a president — one was constantly measured by how fast, how smart, how successful. But through personal experience with his Aunt Rosemary, who had an intellectual disability, Tim and his family gained a priceless lesson in human dignity and unconditional love. “You have to be able to see the dignity in another person, but you can't see that dignity in another person with your head. You have to see it with your heart.” Join hosts Kim Smolik and Kerry Robinson as they welcome Tim to share his inspiring story of faith, leadership and service with our listeners, including:  * Tim's family legacy of faith and service, * How Special Olympics athletes teach us to be fully alive, * The groundbreaking tool to fight contempt with dignity, and * Finding leadership in the little things. Special Spotlight: New this season, we highlight a Catholic Charities leader whose work champions a theme of our episode. Anita Hassell, who leads Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Augustine, shares the inspiring program, Camp I Am Special, which has brought a joyful summer camp experience to those with intellectual and developmental disabilities in northeast Florida for more than forty years. KEY TAKEAWAYS * "You can't see dignity with your head. You have to see it with your heart." — Tim Shriver's core philosophy shaped by his Aunt Rosemary * Special Olympics has expanded to 6+ million athletes in 170+ countries, creating a movement of inclusion and community, where every person is accepted and welcomed, regardless of ability or disability * The Dignity Index offers practical tools for Americans to bridge divides and disagree respectfully, using the power we each have to heal our country and each other * Camp I Am Special, a program of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Augustine, has served northeast Florida families for 40+ years, proving that joyful inclusion can transform communities EPISODE CHAPTERS * 00:00 [https://the-catholic-leaders-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/tim-shriver-seeing-with-the-heart] Introduction * 04:47 [https://the-catholic-leaders-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/tim-shriver-seeing-with-the-heart?t=4m47s] A Family Legacy and a Different Measure of Success * 11:10 [https://the-catholic-leaders-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/tim-shriver-seeing-with-the-heart?t=11m10s] A Lesson in Dignity * 17:51 [https://the-catholic-leaders-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/tim-shriver-seeing-with-the-heart?t=17m51s] The Dignity Index: Disagreeing without Demonizing * 31:34 [https://the-catholic-leaders-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/tim-shriver-seeing-with-the-heart?t=31m34s] Leadership Practices that Support and Sustain * 44:07 [https://the-catholic-leaders-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/tim-shriver-seeing-with-the-heart?t=44m7s] An Inspirational Leader * 50:33 [https://the-catholic-leaders-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/tim-shriver-seeing-with-the-heart?t=50m33s] Spotlight: Anita Hassel, Camp I Am Special and Leading with Hope ABOUT OUR GUESTS TIM SHRIVER Chairman, Special Olympics | Chairman, UNITE | Chairman, CASEL | Best-Selling Author Tim Shriver is a husband, father, grandfather, educator, and social entrepreneur who has dedicated his life to advancing human dignity. As Chairman of Special Olympics, he drove the largest expansion in its history—growing the movement from one million athletes to over six million athletes in more than 170 countries around the world. After passing the CEO torch, Tim co-founded UNITE and pioneered the Dignity Index—a groundbreaking tool to help Americans disagree without demonizing each other. Before joining Special Olympics in 1996, Shriver co-founded and currently chairs the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), the leading school reform organization in the field of social and emotional learning. Education: B.A. from Yale University | M.A. from Catholic University | Ed.D. from University of Connecticut Books: Fully Alive: Discovering What Matters Most (NYT Bestseller) | Co-editor of The Call to Unite: Voices of Hope and Awakening Films: Executive producer of Amistad, The Loretta Claiborne Story, The Peanut Butter Falcon, Front of the Class, The Ringer and more films that spread hope and connection across differences. Connect with Tim: LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-shriver-38661/] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/timshriver/] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/timothyshriver] More Resources * Special Olympics: www.specialolympics.org [https://www.specialolympics.org/] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/SpecialOlympics] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/specialolympics/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/special-olympics/] * Dignity Index: www.dignity.us [https://www.dignity.us/] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Dignity-Index-100086269603797/] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/TheDignityIndex] * CASEL: casel.org [https://casel.org/] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/CASELorg/] | Instagram [https://x.com/caselorg] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/caselorg/] ANITA HASSELL CEO, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Augustine Anita Hassell brings over 30 years of nonprofit leadership experience to her role as CEO, where she has served for the past decade in progressively senior positions. Her career spans program development, human resources, fiscal management, strategic planning and accreditation oversight. Before moving to Fernandina Beach in 2006, Anita served as Executive Director of Deaf Services Bureau, Inc. in Dade County and spent 10 years at Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami, ultimately overseeing a division with an annual budget exceeding $13 million. Education: M.S.W. (Social Work) | M.B.A. (Business Administration) Credentials: Peer Reviewer, Council on Accreditation Connect with Anita: LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/anita-hassell-5ba22a10/] More Resources * Catholic Charities St. Augustine: www.ccbstaug.org [https://www.ccbstaug.org/] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ccbstaug.org] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ccb_staug/] JOIN THE CONVERSATION Love this episode? Leave us a review and share it with someone who needs to hear Tim's message about seeing from the heart. Also, be sure to follow Catholic Charities USA on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/catholiccharitiesusa], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ccharitiesusa] and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/catholic-charities-usa/]. The Catholic Leaders Podcast is a space where we host conversations with inspirational leaders to talk about their leadership and how faith informs it. The Catholic Leaders Podcast is hosted by Kim Smolik and Kerry Robinson, CEO and President of Catholic Charities USA.

Season 2 Finale: The Joy of Living Our Call

In the midst of polarization and disharmony, we as a Church are called to seek and share joy, charity, and generosity. On the Season 2 finale of The Catholic Leaders Podcast, our hosts Kerry Robinson and Kim Smolik sit down to reflect on this past season of conversations with esteemed and diverse leaders making a difference in the Catholic Church and the world. Kerry and Kim discuss ways to overcome division in the Church, our families, and the world through seeking the common good. You can learn more about Catholic Charities USA at https://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/ [https://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/] or on social media at: Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/catholiccharitiesusa]: @catholiccharitiesusa Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ccharitiesusa]: @ccharitiesusa LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/catholic-charities-usa/posts/?feedView=all]: @catholic-charities-usa X [https://x.com/CCharitiesUSA]: @CCharitiesUSA You can learn more about Collegeville Institute https://collegevilleinstitute.org/ [https://collegevilleinstitute.org/] or on social media at: Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/CollegevilleIns]: @CollegevilleIns Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/collegevilleins/]: @collegevilleins LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/colllegeville-institute/]: @collegeville-institute X [https://x.com/collegevilleins]: @collegevilleins You can also find Kerry on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerry-alys-robinson-914507/]. The Catholic Leaders Podcast is a space where we host conversations with inspirational leaders to talk about their leadership and how faith informs it. The Catholic Leaders Podcast is hosted by Kim Smolik and Kerry Robinson, CEO and President of Catholic Charities USA.

Tania Tetlow: Ambition for the Good

Tania Tetlow grew up in a uniquely Catholic and Jesuit-influenced household, where dinner conversation centered around intellect, scripture, and justice. Throughout her career, Tania’s Jesuit formation and devotion to justice have guided her, whether she was prosecuting violent crimes, helping lead recovery efforts for the New Orleans Library system post-Hurricane Katrina, or serving as the first female and lay president of a major Catholic university. On this episode of The Catholic Leaders Podcast, hosts Kerry Robinson and Kim Smolik sit down with Tania Tetlow, the current president of Fordham University. Tania grew up in New Orleans and spearheaded efforts to raise millions to rebuild and reimagine the city’s libraries after Hurricane Katrina as chair of the New Orleans Library board. She is a trailblazer in Catholic higher education, having served as the first female president of Loyola University New Orleans before becoming the first female president of Fordham in 2022. Join us as Tania shares from her experience surrounding hurricane recovery and leading in the face of natural disasters and financial hardship, as well the lessons she’s learned as a Catholic woman serving in leadership positions previously only held by clergy. You can learn more about President Tetlow on her social media platforms: Facebook: @presidenttaniatetlow [https://www.facebook.com/PresidentTaniaTetlow/] Instagram: @president_tetlow [https://www.instagram.com/president_tetlow/?hl=en] LinkedIn: @tania-tetlow-762807167 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tania-tetlow-762807167/] X: @tetlowtania [https://x.com/tetlowtania] You can learn more about Fordham University at https://www.fordham.edu [https://www.fordham.edu/] and on social media: Facebook: @FordhamUniversity [https://www.facebook.com/FordhamUniversity] Instagram: @FordhamUniversity [https://www.instagram.com/fordhamuniversity/] LinkedIn: @Fordham-University [https://www.linkedin.com/school/fordham-university/] X: @FordhamNYC [https://x.com/FordhamNYC] The Catholic Leaders Podcast is a space where we host conversations with inspirational leaders to talk about their leadership and how faith informs it. The Catholic Leaders Podcast is hosted by Kim Smolik and Kerry Robinson, CEO and President of Catholic Charities USA.

Chris Lowney: Integrating Our Spiritual and Work Lives

Throughout his life and career in both corporate and nonprofit settings, Chris Lowney has learned that one of the most important pieces of leadership is avoiding what he calls “split life-ism,” where someone’s spirituality and personal life is left at the door when they enter the work place. “Nobody can live their whole life in a split way,” Chris shares. On this episode of The Catholic Leadership Podcast, Chris Lowney joins us to discuss integrating spirituality and work together, practicing love-driven leadership, and how to handle leadership transitions. Chris shares leadership lessons learned both from his unique life journey through Jesuit seminary, J.P. Morgan, and in his leadership coaching and consulting. About Chris Chris Lowney, a one-time Jesuit seminarian, now chairs the board of CommonSpirit Health, a Catholic hospital system that is the largest nonprofit healthcare system in the USA, with more than 140 hospitals and 150,000 employees. Previously, Chris served as a Managing Director of J.P. Morgan & Co. on three continents. He has authored some half-dozen books, including the bestselling, “Heroic Leadership: Best Practices from a 450-Year-Old Company that Changed the World,” which has been translated into eleven languages. His other award-winning books include “Pope Francis: Why He Leads the Way He Leads” and "Everyone Leads: How to Revitalize the Catholic Church." He also chairs the board of Commonweal magazine. His B.A. and M.A. are from Fordham University, and he holds eleven honorary doctoral degrees (But, Chris adds: "I don't have the intellect to earn one the real way!") He grew up in New York City, hates the New York Yankees, and roots for the New York Mets. You can learn more about Chris and his work and books at https://chrislowney.com/wp/ [https://chrislowney.com/wp/]. You can follow Chris on: Facebook @ChrisLowneyAuthor [https://www.facebook.com/ChrisLowneyAuthor] X @chrislowney [https://x.com/chrislowney] You can learn more about CommonSpirit Health at https://www.commonspirit.org/ [https://www.commonspirit.org/] and on social media: Facebook @commonspirithealth [https://www.facebook.com/commonspirithealth] LinkedIn @commonspirithealth [https://www.linkedin.com/company/commonspirithealth/] Instagram @commonspirithealth [https://www.instagram.com/commonspirithealth/] X @commonspirit [https://x.com/commonspirit] McKinsey & Co. study: “Decoding leadership: What really matters” [https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/leadership/decoding-leadership-what-really-matters?cid=other-eml-mtg-mip-mck&hlkid=62271661ff5544e9b5cd28cf2ada7d70&hctky=1926&hdpid=2ac69b21-9396-4ba8-8c76-8904758e3278] The Catholic Leaders Podcast is a space where we host conversations with inspirational leaders to talk about their leadership and how faith informs it. The Catholic Leaders Podcast is hosted by Kim Smolik and Kerry Robinson, CEO and President of Catholic Charities USA.