It’s Dad Season so I wrangled two of my favorite dads, Ken Carlson and Jefferson Denim, with a combined experience of over 58 years of fatherhood to candidly share their own wins, losses, tips, tricks and insights. I know that everyone has unique experiences around this topic - some dads are great, some are toxic, and then there’s everything in bet…

If you or anyone you love needs a pick-me-up or has ever experienced a mental health challenge, then this podcast is for you. In highlighting Mental Health Awareness Month, our guests Brenda Sarai Zuniga and Elizabeth Stephens from NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Illness) share their expertise and lived experiences to give us helpful tools to…

We can’t wait for you to meet our guest, Jake “Body by Jake®” Steinfeld, a guiding light for health & wellness in lifestyle, sports, and entertainment for over four decades. Fueled by his "Don't Quit" mindset, Jake will motivate you, inspire you and have you laughing throughout our entire conversation. Jake has trained a myriad of well-known client…

Buckle up, this episode is wild! Our guest on this adventure is Ryan Boyette, a regular guy from Florida who was inspired to move to a war-torn region of Sudan during a mass genocide. He's being bombed, he's living through atrocities and instead of running back to America, he goes…I'm not going anywhere. This is my home. This is where I’m meant to …

With all the division we see in the world, is coexistence even possible? A recent article in Psychology Today on this topic pointed out how we are constantly reminded of our differences, but in reality we are all very much the same. We all want love, we all want purpose, we all want the best for our children, etc... But the #1 thing we have in comm…

As we wait in joyful hope, it’s time for our year-end gift to you, highlighting a few memorable moments from this year’s Think. Pair. Share. conversations, as we talked all things modern education with some of the best minds—and hearts—in the field. Thank you to our listeners, the team at the Institute for Educational Initiatives and the Alliance f…

From following in Rev. Edward Sorin, C.S.C.’s clarinet playing footsteps, to leading others in the mission to educate by embracing one’s belovedness and radiating it out to a world in need Taylor Kelly, an associate director of the Institute for Educational Initiatives at the University of Notre Dame, discusses her role walking alongside others as …

We’re beyond excited to share this exclusive and candid interview with the ultimate girl boss of the ultimate girl brand, Lisa McKnight, Executive Vice President and Chief Brand Officer at Mattel. Recently, Forbes recognized Lisa McKnight as one of the top brand marketers in the world for 2023 and after listening to this podcast, you’ll know why! W…

Our guest is The Right Honourable Kim Campbell, former Prime Minister of Canada. Kim is a powerhouse whose life has been a life of firsts: from the age of 16 when she became the first female student body president at Prince of Wales Secondary School, to the first female president for her freshman class at University of British Columbia, to holding …

From Fr. Ted Hesburgh hand-in-hand with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to providing radical accompaniment, opportunity, and formation to students, in order to help enable their fullest flourishing Alec Torigian, national coordinator for ACE’s Pursuing Achievement Through Higher Education initiative, discusses his role walking with middle to high school…

Our guest for this episode is Nikki Mark, founder of the TM23 Foundation and Tommy’s Field. Nikki’s son, Tommy, died unexpectedly in his sleep at the age of 12. Her story and this conversation is about processing grief and loss - and, ultimately, discovering ways to heal. Her principles not only apply to the loss of a loved one, but also help anyon…

From the Grotto and St. Bernadette to Breen-Phillips Hall and Coach Leahy, envisioning a future for Catholic schools that fully integrates faith formation with the disciplines, increases academic rigor, and deepens clinical partnerships for the betterment of all students Dr. Kati Macaluso, the academic director for ACE Teaching Fellows, discusses h…

Hey Crazy Amazing Humans! As you know, one of our biggest goals is to always provide helpful and practical information for your life. With that in mind, here are some startling facts: -Kidney disease is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. -Kidney disease is known as a “silent killer” and it is very hard to detect until it is almost too late…

From seminary life in Old College and full house Masses at Keough Hall, to leading team prayer in the storied locker room of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Fr. Nate Wills, CSC, director of the Alliance for Catholic Education’s Blended Learning Initiatives and faculty in the Mary Ann Remick Leadership Program, discusses his vocation within a vocation…

Being musicians, Crazy Amazing Humans hosts Katrina and Jefferson are always ready to celebrate the artistic gifts of others. In this episode they feature Ricky Kej, a 2x Grammy Award winner, U.S. Billboard #1 artist, GQ Hero 2020 and an internationally renowned Indian Music Composer and Environmentalist. Ricky has won over 100 music awards in 20 c…

We're starting off the year with some helpful information and reminders with regards to safety for ourselves and our loved ones that you won’t want to miss! January also happens to be Human Trafficking Awareness Month so in this episode, we are featuring Keelin Washington and Jeff Wohler, experts in both of those fields. Keelin Washington, a human …

Our year-end compilation of a few fun and memorable moments from this year’s conversations, as we talked all things modern education with some of the best minds—and hearts—in the field. Thank you to our listeners, the team at the Institute for Educational Initiatives and the Alliance for Catholic Education, and of course to our guests: Fr. Lou DelF…

Join us as we wrap up 2022 by sharing insightful and uplifting highlights with each of our guests as identified by YOU, our Crazy Amazing Humans community, along with a special "follow-up treat (or trick?)" from our Halloween Spooktacular in Santa Monica, CA. We feature and discuss highlights from each of our guests; Sister Rose Pacatte (The Media …

From Thanksgiving family traditions like tropical turkey, secret stuffing, and pleasant pumpkin rolls, to becoming agents of change by building empathy and designing pathways through STEM and engineering to make the world better Dr. Gina Svarovsky, founding faculty director of the Center for Broader Impacts and associate professor in Notre Dame’s C…

From jack-o-lantern tales and top-o-the-chart treats, to the authentic power of truth and healing in the Indigenous experience Will Newkirk, Director of the American Indian Catholic Schools Network, discusses standing together as co-conspirators of hope—at the intersection of Indigenous culture and Catholic identity—looking to the future by witness…

For this fun and festive episode, we’re on location at the Carlson’s haunted home with all their Halloween decor-–monsters, vampires, ghosts, oh my! You’ll get the real, behind-the-scenes story of why Ken and Katrina Carlson have decided to put in the effort to make Halloween a magical time for kids of all ages. You’ll hear how it has grown organic…

From coffee ice cream and hoagies, submarines, or po’boys, to how designing instruction that optimizes motivation over memorization in the classroom also optimizes learning. Dr. Andrea Christensen, Director of Education, Schooling and Society, shares why teaching her students is the privilege of her life and how we all have a role to play in affect…

From banter, bits, and doing it all for the music and the fans, to the animating power of STEM education as a force for good in the world Dr. Matt Kloser, founding director of the Center for STEM Education, shares how “The Story of Science” is an unfinished narrative we can all help write, as well as, S’more Than Coffee playing tennis with John McE…

Did you know that a girl’s self-esteem peaks at the age of 8 and then rapidly declines by 64% by the age of 9? Sonali Perera Bridges does and she is doing something about that and much more with an organization she co-created and runs called Shero’s Rise! Get it? It’s like hero, but “she”ro. Sonali Perera Bridges is an award-winning, dynamic and in…

From summertime foods, frisbees, and exploring Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, to the transformational power of finding the “secret sauce” at St. Procopius and all Catholic schools Kate Schuenke-Lucien, the Director for Haiti in the Global Center for the Development of the Whole Child, shares how the universality of loss connects us and how being a …

We're at the Ukraine-Poland border with Maxwell Eaton, an entrepreneur and restaurateur from New Orleans, who signed up to travel halfway around the world and volunteer to work with World Central Kitchen to help feed displaced Ukrainian families. Maxwell is the epitome of someone who asked the question "How can I best help?" and then dropped everyt…

From handmade Father’s Day gifts and the origin stories of “Cup of Joe” and FJ’s cookies, to the fine art of welcoming people on the journey and building community for all Fr. Joe Carey, CSC, the chaplain for the Alliance for Catholic Education, discusses being called to love everyone he meets and serve others in the imitation of Jesus; listening, …

In this episode we take you inside The Montgomery Summit presented by March Capital, a premier tech conference. Katrina interviews Jamie Montgomery, the founder and host of the summit. Jamie is a successful businessman who Co-Founded and is Managing Partner of March Capital. Previously, he was the Founder and CEO of Montgomery & Co., an L.A.-based …

From graduation trivia and Roberto Clemente, Jerome Bettis and all things Pittsburgh athletics, to leading the revitalization of Catholic schools Dr. John Staud, the executive director of the Alliance for Catholic Education program discusses choosing hope and the example of Christ and the body of Catholic Social Teaching as the radical animating pr…

Shirin Yadegar, journalist, publisher, TV host, mother and CEO/Creator of L.A. Mom Magazine, shares all her best tips, tricks, advice and hacks that will help anyone in a parenting role and will inspire you to live a healthier, balanced and more meaningful family life. Shirin is on a mission to provide as much practical and useful information to pa…

From Easter traditions and proper chocolate-bunny-eating etiquette to embracing and empowering the transformative power of the Latino community within Catholic schools Dr. Katy Lichon, Director of Catholic School Advantage and the English as a New Language Program, discusses the domestic Church and how the legacy of Catholic education can inform ou…

Rebecca Alexander inspires, empowers and entertains us with hilarious anecdotes; candid insights and expert advice that will help you overcome any obstacle and encourage you to live life to its fullest in this lively conversation with Katrina Carlson and Jefferson Denim. Rebecca is the perfect guest with whom we celebrate “National Month of Hope” b…

From St. Patrick and his feast day to five-day cricket extravaganzas and adopting a human-centered approach to research application in the lived experience of children and teachers Nikhit D’Sa, Assistant Professor and Senior Associate Director for Research at the Global Center for the Development of the Whole Child discusses social emotional learni…

In honor of International Women’s Day, we have a very special guest, Sheryl WuDunn, who reminds us that women hold solutions to our world’s greatest challenges and that empowering women and girls is the most effective way to fight poverty and extremism. Selected as one of Newsweek’s “150 Women Who Shake the World” and listed as one of 60 notable me…

From The Shamrock to The Dome, traveling a providential path to understanding how children learn and what role education plays in the development of a just society Nicole McNeil, professor of psychology and Director of the Education, Schooling, and Society program considers the science behind children’s cognitive development and the duality of the …

There is not one human being who feels happy when they see another human being living on the street– it’s safe to say that we all agree homelessness is something everyone cares about and no one is for. If you’ve ever been moved with compassion for families with children experiencing homelessness and wondered what can be done, then this inspiring ep…

From Philly soft pretzels and New Year’s celebrations to the essential role of lay people as “Agents of Spirituality” in our Church. Fr. Lou DelFra, CSC, faculty member and Director of Pastoral Life for the Alliance for Catholic Education, reflects on ACE as a movement of the Holy Spirit and its culture of discernment, as well as middle schoolers a…

If you love movies, want a deeper understanding of media - and have a cool Catholic nun explain it all - then this episode is for you! Sister Rose Pacatte, founder of the Pauline Center for Media Studies, opens our eyes to seeing our favorite media in a new light! She is an award-winning author, film journalist, well-regarded film reviewer and a “t…

A year-end compilation of just a few of the fun and memorable moments from our inaugural year of conversations. Thank you to our listeners, the team at the Institute for Education Initiatives and the Alliance for Catholic Education, and of course to our guests: John Schoenig, Chrissy Trinter, Ernest Morrell, Neil Boothby, Maria McKenna, Kevin Baxte…

From reflections on being the Notre Dame leprechaun to inspiring lifelong, engaged readers. Dr. Michael Macaluso, faculty member of the Alliance for Catholic Education and fellow of the Institute for Educational Initiatives, explores the implications literacy has on how we understand and therefore interact in the world, the origins of the new Alexa…

Have you ever felt frazzled, overwhelmed, and just plain tired from all the things you juggle in your life? If so, then we think you are going to love this episode! Our guest is an expert in this arena, Mallika Chopra--mom, media entrepreneur, author and public speaker. Listen as we discuss her book “Living with Intent” and apply it to taking on an…

Listen to Dr. Anna Haskins talk about her current research process when it comes to working with working with parents and school personnel when it comes to the long-reaching consequences of parental incarceration on children.

From apple picking and pumpkin patches to community building and examining the economics of education in pursuit of better outcomes for disadvantaged children and families. Dr. Chloe Gibbs, Director of Notre Dame's Program for Interdisciplinary Educational Research (ND PIER) and Assistant Professor of Economics, discusses the importance of rigorous…

From stamp collecting and favorite numbers to examining how the education system, the family, and the criminal justice system connect and interact—both preserving and mitigating social inequality. Dr. Anna Haskins, Associate Professor in Sociology and the Center for Research on Educational Opportunity (CREO) considers the role of schooling in socie…

Meet James Kanoff, Ben Collier, Will Collier and Aidan Reilly. Learn how they created The Farmlink Project to combat hunger and heal the planet by linking farmers to food banks. The nonprofit, grassroots organization run by 250 volunteers, was just awarded the 2021 Congressional Medal of Honor Service Award. Due to the effects of COVID-19, over 54 …

Listen to Dr. Luis Fraga talk about his experience of testifying before the House Judiciary Committee (with his son!) about the United States' history of voting rights suppression and voter disenfranchisement as a way of providing context for the current legislation being considered to transform the Voting Rights Act.…

Listen to Dr. Luis Fraga explain the Latino Studies Scholars Program, where this year 10 Notre Dame students who have shown leadership in working on behalf of Latino communities will receive $25,000 merit-based scholarships. Learn more at https://latinostudies.nd.edu/undergraduate/latino-studies-scholars-program.…

Listen to Dr. Luis Fraga discuss how Notre Dame's Institute for Educational Initiatives is an ideal place for him to pursue his scholarly goals, particularly his work in Catholic schools. Learn more at iei.nd.edu.

From illuminating the artistic side of a political scientist to two-way immersion and empowering and serving communities of understanding and tolerance Dr. Luis Fraga, Director of the Institute for Latino Studies at the University of Notre Dame, reflects on the transformative nature of Catholic education and the potential lasting legacy of building…

Listen to Dr. Mark Berends discuss his research findings when working with the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program.