Posts by Bridget Richardson
Around the Halo: Season 2, Episode 8
Here is episode 8 of Around the Halo!
Inspired by the popular show on ESPN, Around the Horn, Around the Halo features four guests who weigh in on topics about sports, pop culture and the news.
In this episode, Little Flower Media COO Matt McClure is the host. Guests are Jonathan "Bearded Blevins," CEO of Little Flower Media, Darnell Miller, Creative Director of MAX Studios at University of St. Thomas-Houston, Joel Stepanek, Chief Mission Officer for the National Eucharist Congress, author and speaker. Our is special guest Jacob Imam, a former Muslim,, former agnostic and Catholic convert. He is also an economist and serves as the Executive Director of New Polity.
Here are the chapters:
1:05 Intros
5:02 Grounded
13:30 Dead Frogs
22:42 In Exodus
36:08 Gas-X
How to Move to a New Country
As an International Student, Tchissola Silva discusses her journey from Angola to the University of St. Thomas to receive her Master's in Diplomacy and Strategic Affairs. In this episode of BOLD, she talks about adapting to the United States while still maintaining her own culture. Tchissola also talks about how welcoming the UST community has been.
Takeaways
- Getting out of your comfort zone is crucial to make new friends.
- Maintaining your culture is important.
- Never take for granted the opportunities that you have.
Reflections
- What are some ways that you can learn about new cultures
- How can you challenge yourself in your daily life?
- Think about what opportunities you have that not everyone else has.
Navigating Nursing, Soccer and School
As Isabella Rivera walks us through her busy schedule, she explains how she balances being a part of the soccer team, a member of the Filipino Student Association (FSA), studying nursing, and working at a hospital. In this episode of BOLD, we discover the methods that facilitated Isabella’s success while still maintaining her mental health. She also provides advice to students about time management and organization.
Isa and Isabel visit the JAAC’s soccer field to talk about her victories and struggles with soccer.
Takeaways
- Time management and planning are key.
- Prioritize mental health.
- Having people to rely on is necessary when you are as busy as Isa is.
Reflections
- How do you balance your responsibilities?
- What are some ways that you can manage your time better?
- If you are a student, how can you connect with alumni?
Success, Stocks, and Struggle
In this episode of BOLD, Ibrahim Akhtar talks about how investing is not limited to financial decisions but extends to personal relationships, education, and community, which is why he founded the UST Investment Club. As he faced obstacles in graduating, Ibrahim expanded his skill set to maximize his college experience, which fueled his passion for investments.
Ibrahim provides insight into the Bloomberg Terminal in Welder Hall, which he used to build his financial understanding.
Takeaways
- Investing, even at an early age, is important.
- Obstacles lead us to an even better path.
- Bloomberg Terminal is a software that dives into different markets.
Reflections
- When you face adversity how do you respond?
- What are some ways that you can invest in yourself?
- Think about a time that you faced an obstacle and what was the result.
The Royal Treatment
In November of 2022, Calen Anderson and Kailee Mann were selected as Mr. & Ms. UST, students who exemplify the values of the University of St. Thomas, serve their community and standout as examples of character. In this episode of BOLD, Isabel gets the inside scoop, how did Calen and Kailee win the titles, their reactions on winning and what their UST experience has been like.
They also explore the locations important them. We visit the Nursing Simulation Lab with Kailee and dive into life as a nursing student. We also visit the Jerabeck Athletic and Activity Center - the JAAC - to talk winning four men's basketball conference championships with Calen.
Grit, Determination, and the Draw of Sacred Music
In this episode of BOLD, we talk to Nathan Schafsnitz, a UST Music major who plays the organ. Host Isabel Garcia talks about his experience of finding the organ, its highs and lows, and how playing has impacted his faith life. They also talk about his experience at UST and how he continues to grow in his talent and as a person.
Episode 3 – Final Episode: The Cultivation of Purpose with Leah Darrow
We've gone on this journey with Leah and Ricky and now it's time for some fun - Pumpkin Day!
We witness the culmination of their work week in and week out during the fall season. Darnell and Bridget also get to take in Pumpkin Day and all that it means for this family to celebrate with one another and their community. Leah and Ricky's mission at work is a marvel to watch. They are so joyful and proud of the fruits of their labor and they continue to work hard to make things better and better year after year - all for the love and glory of God to be proclaimed through their actions.
See the beauty of mission alive and see how Leah and Ricky articulate their immense joy in serving others through this joyous event.
Trailer: Upcoming Series on Big Family Farm
God has a plan for your life, but sometimes His path takes you on twists and turns you didn’t see coming. Check out the trailer for the three-part series, produced by University of St. Thomas Houston’s MAX Studios, featuring Leah Darrow sharing about the immensely different changes she’s made in her life and why.
Leah and her husband Ricky decided to radically change everything - moving from the suburbs of St. Louis to create “Big Family Farm,” an 80-acre property near Fordland, Missouri - pretty much in the middle of nowhere.
The powerful film series is a raw look at life that is intended to be both refreshing and empowering. Leah and Ricky hope that by sharing their own story, the triumphs, failures and unforeseen suffering, they might inspire others to dedicate their lives to be aware of what God may be calling them to in their lives.
How Faith and Science Complement One Another w/ Deacon Robert Hesse, Ph.D.
Faith and science are always juxtaposed as opposites when, in fact, they complement one another. Dr. Richard Ludwick, President of University of St. Thomas-Houston, talks with Deacon Robert "Bob" Hesse, Ph.D., speaker, scientist, UST professor, Chairman and President of The Contemplative Network, and author of "Faith and Science: A Journal into God's Mystical Love."
They discuss Hesse's book and the forward written by Fr. Robert Spitzer, how Hesse came back to the Catholic Church, the role suffering played in his journey with his wife's bi-polar disorder, and the work and research of The Contemplative Network, an organization that promotes and engages an interfaith contemplative prayer practice and its healing power to advance the whole being.
Deacon Robert "Bob" Hesse, Ph.D.
"Faith and Science: A Journey into God's Mystical Love" by Deacon Robert Hesse, Ph.D.
The Great BIG Christmas Show
Happy Advent and Merry Christmas! We are so excited to share this incredible show with you!
This half-hour special is brimming with traditions and on-location vignettes that offer a behind-the-scenes glimpse into how these influencers celebrate Advent and Christmas. We hope this video fills you with the warmth of family, faith, and joy for a more intentional celebration of the season. We feel blessed to be able to share these beautiful Advent/Christmas messages as we prepare for the coming of our savior, Jesus Christ.
The show will be a joyful performance of both original and classic music, poetic compositions, and recipes from Catholic artists, friends, and family. Decorate cookies with the kids in the rustic farm kitchen of former model Leah Darrow and her family. Reflect on the beauty of the Incarnation with James Matthew Wilson, an influential Catholic philosopher and poet who has been featured in countless publications. Make a joyful noise with Fr. Rob Galea and Fr. David Michael as they sing songs to get you into the Christmas spirit. Also, see some Houstonians share their traditions and help you ponder the true meaning of these seasons.
Experience all this and much more while learning the beauty of living the rhythm of the liturgical Year during this heartfelt special.
Meet the Host - Fr. David Michael Moses
Fr. David Michael Moses is a priest in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. A quick and avid learner, Fr. David Michael graduated with his Bachelor’s degree at 18, an age when most students graduate from high school. After being accepted into several law schools, Fr. David Michael ultimately felt called to the priesthood and was ordained in 2019 at the young age of 25. He currently serves as the parochial vicar at Christ the Good Shepherd in Spring, TX. He enjoys writing music, and his “Concerts for Life” have collectively raised over $640,000 to assist women in crisis pregnancies. He is also active on social media, with a collective following of over 140,000, where he shares stories from priestly life.
Other Guests
Leah Darrow is the founder of Power Made Perfect, an acclaimed personal development program, where she uses her decades of mindset coaching and experience in creating lasting change to help others find the time and courage to lead lives of true freedom, contribution, and mission with God. A former model on reality TV, Leah experienced a life-changing conversion back to the Catholic faith in 2005. An entrepreneur at heart, Leah has a driving passion to lead and inspire others to embrace Christ’s mercy and has created a beautiful sisterhood of women striving to be a light in the world. A sought-after speaker, Leah has been featured on numerous top podcasts, as well as appearances on Fox News, Yahoo Finance, Daily Wire, The Blaze, EWTN, and The Christian Post.
James Matthew Wilson is the Cullen Foundation Chair of English Literature and the Director of the MFA program in Creative Writing at the University of Saint Thomas Houston. The author of eleven books, including his most recent collection of poems, "The Strangeness of the Good" (Angelico, 2020), Wilson is the recipient of numerous awards for his writings on art and culture, including the Hiett Prize and the Parnassus Prize. Wilson serves also as the poet-in-residence of the Benedict XVI Institute for Sacred Music and Divine Worship, the editor of Colosseum Books, and the poetry editor of Modern Age magazine.
Deacon Phillip Jackson is the Director of the Permanent Diaconate for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. His office is responsible for all aspects associated with the formation of deacon candidates and the ongoing formation and coordination of the Archdiocese's permanent diaconate community, which is the largest in the United States. He is also a deacon at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church in Houston.
Steffani Aquila is the Director of Liturgical Life at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in downtown Houston. A former youth minister, she is the founder and creator of His Girl Sunday, a popular blog about liturgical living. Her desire is to share how we live the Catholic faith and tradition in our home and with our community. She is an alumna of University of St. Thomas-Houston and has her undergraduate degree in Education and Theology, and a Master's Degree in theology. Over the span of about 12 years I was given unique experiences to teach or minister to every age group between 1st and 12th grade.
Fr. Rob Galea is an ordained Catholic Priest and is currently serving in Sandhurst Diocese, Victoria after moving to Australia from Malta, his home country. He is a singer and songwriter with an international fan base, has written songs for World Youth Day 2016 and 2019, and has performed for Pope Francis. Apart from a series of recordings and CD releases, Fr. Rob has 73,000 subscribers on YouTube where he features many of his songs and homilies. He was a contestant in Australia's 2015 The X Factor and is the the founder and serving director of FRG Ministry.
Jonathan Blevins is a Catholic husband and father of three. He began live streaming his favorite video game, Fortnite, in 2018. He is the founder of the Bearded Blevins Stream Team to take his Twitch channel full time with the mission to build a positive community. He is also the founder and CEO of Little Flower Media Company. He is the first partnered streamer to be sponsored by a university (University of St. Thomas-Houston) and he is in the top 1 percent of streamers with 57,000+ followers on Twitch.
Dr. Richard L. Ludwick is the 9th president of the University of St. Thomas Houston. He received his BA in history from the University of Evansville, an MA in higher education administration from Teachers College of Columbia University (New York), a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Indiana University’s Robert H. McKinney Law School, and a Doctor of Education in policy management and organization of higher education administration from the University of Oregon (Eugene). He and his wife reside in Houston and are the proud parents of two adult children and four grandchildren.
Darnell Miller is the Creative Director of MAX Studios and is an alumnus (undergraduate and graduate) of University of St. Thomas-Houston.
