Episode 3: The Importance of Being Present

Episode 3: The Importance of Being Present

InFormation is hosted by Carolyn Noll Sorg. This is Episode 3.   ABOUT THE GUEST Alan R. Miciak is the 26th President of John Carroll University. During his presidency, the University experienced significant enrollment growth, institutional momentum, and continued investment in its Jesuit mission and student experience. As his time in the role comes to a close, this conversation focuses less on accomplishments and more on perspective. Reflecting on the demands of leadership, Dr. Miciak shares why he made a conscious effort this past year to be more present — to fully experience the people, moments, and relationships that can easily be overshadowed by constant planning and responsibility. In this episode, he reflects on leadership not only as strategy and decision-making, but as attention, listening, and learning how to truly be where you are.   IN THIS EPISODE * Why leadership constantly pulls attention toward the future * Learning to slow down and notice important moments in real time * The difference between managing responsibilities and being fully present * How presence changes conversations, decisions, and relationships * Recognizing when you’ve drifted into “next thing” thinking * Why listening is one of the clearest forms of presence * The role intentionality plays in leadership and everyday life * What people miss when they move too quickly through meaningful experiences * Treating presence as a practice instead of a personality trait * Reflecting on leadership through moments, not just milestones   ONE THING TO TRY Inspired by this episode, take a moment to reflect: * When was the last time I felt fully present in a conversation or experience? * What most often pulls my attention away from the moment I’m in? * What’s one small way I could slow down and become more intentional this week? Dr. Miciak reminds us that presence is rarely automatic. It’s something we return to — moment by moment, conversation by conversation — by choosing to fully engage with the life that’s happening right now. EPISODE CREDITS Hosted by Carolyn Noll Sorg Directed by Carmen Ferrante Produced by Aaron Bennett Associate Producer Joe Bilas Creative by Danielle Dunne Web & Distribution by Kara Kraus Special thanks to Dan Slentz, Jasen Sokol, Blue Streak Media [https://bluestreakmedia.org/], and WJCU 88.7 FM [https://www.wjcu.org].

Episode 2: Moving Beyond Fear

InFormation is hosted by Carolyn Noll Sorg, President-Elect of John Carroll University. This is Episode 2. ABOUT THE GUEST Dr. Martina Moore is a faculty member and leader in John Carroll University’s counseling program. Before coming to JCU full time, she spent 15 years building her own practice. Over time, she found herself most energized when working with and mentoring students, and began to notice a quiet but persistent sense that she was meant to do more of that work. That realization led her to make a bold and deeply personal decision: to return for her Ph.D. and step fully into teaching. In this conversation, she reflects on what it means to listen to that inner voice, to trust it, and to say yes to what comes next. IN THIS EPISODE * Starting from gratitude instead of fear * Recognizing moments when something just feels right * Saying yes before you have everything figured out * Understanding how your calling shows up over time * Reframing a “step back” as a step forward * Moving through doubt, discomfort, and outside expectations * Choosing what’s true for you, even when it’s not obvious to others * Building the self-trust to take your next step ONE THING TO TRY Inspired by this episode, take a moment to reflect: * When have I felt a sense of “this is right” in my life? * Where might fear be holding me back right now? * What is one small step I could take toward what feels true? Dr. Moore reminds us that clarity doesn’t always come all at once. Sometimes, it begins with a feeling — and grows when we have the courage to follow it. EPISODE CREDITS Hosted by Carolyn Noll Sorg Directed by Carmen Ferrante Produced by Aaron Bennett Associate Producer Joe Bilas Creative by Danielle Dunne Web & Distribution by Kara Kraus Special thanks to Dan Slentz, Jasen Sokol, Blue Streak Media [https://bluestreakmedia.org/], and WJCU 88.7 FM [https://www.wjcu.org].

Episode 1: Making Good Decisions

InFormation is hosted by Carolyn Noll Sorg, President-Elect of John Carroll University. This is Episode 1. ABOUT THE GUEST Brother Matt Wooters always wanted to be brave and make a difference in the world. A service trip to the Dominican Republic at 16 sparked a lifelong passion to serve others. Today, he is a Jesuit Brother, a trained therapist, and the Assistant Director of Campus Ministry at his alma mater, John Carroll University. He founded Brothers Keeper to create honest spaces for young men to talk openly about their lives, and he teaches Ignatian Spirituality to students navigating some of life’s biggest decisions. IN THIS EPISODE * Who was St. Ignatius of Loyola — and why is he sometimes called the world's first psychologist * The difference between making a decision and practicing discernment * The Examen: a twice-daily reflective practice you can adapt for any context * Consolation and desolation — what these Jesuit concepts reveal about your choices * What to do when fear is the loudest voice in the room * Three practical questions Ignatius recommends for any major decision * Why discernment is a camping lantern, not a flashlight * How serving others connects to your own sense of fulfillment ONE THING TO TRY  Inspired by this episode, take a moment to reflect: * I felt most alive when... * I felt afraid when... Brother Matt explains how noticing these moments can clarify your choices, and this simple exercise is a great place to start. EPISODE CREDITS Hosted by Carolyn Noll Sorg Directed by Carmen Ferrante Produced by Aaron Bennett Associate Producer Joe Bilas Creative by Danielle Dunne Web & Distribution by Kara Kraus Special thanks to Dan Slentz, Jasen Sokol, Blue Streak Media [https://bluestreakmedia.org/], and WJCU 88.7 FM [https://www.wjcu.org].