In Goodfaith

In this episode of Goodfaith, hosts Maggie Smith and Stephanie Peddicord welcome Sharon Browning and Brenna McGinnis, co-leaders of the Just Listening initiative. Together, they explore why deep listening isn’t just a social nicety, but a practice rooted in justice, love, and transformation. Through stories, research, and honest reflections on parenting and community, they invite us to consider how genuine listening can ripple out to transform our lives, families, and the wider world—even when it’s challenging, and especially when it feels most urgent.
Key Quotes with Timestamps
On the roots of Just Listening “I was… running the pro bono branch of legal services in Philadelphia and realized… even those of us who are engaged deeply in service work and justice work were not listening to each other and didn’t know how…not for want of, really a strong desire to connect, but not really having the skills and also feeling the pressure of time in the work that we do, not taking the time to actually listen to each other.”— Sharon Browning [00:03:00]
On listening as a radical act “For me, just listening is yes. It’s something…simple that each of us can do, once we kind of learn how to how to engage with one another. And it can be so, so powerful and bring about this beautiful world that’s characterized by justice and love.”— Brenna McGinnis [00:11:18]
On parenting, mutuality, and power “I have certainly learned more from my children possibly than I even have passed on to them. They are primary teachers for me…There was mutuality in it.”— Sharon Browning [00:20:12]
On the hardest parts of listening as a parent “My intention for creating that right relationship with my kids has been to notice the moments when, like, they’re telling me something. I’m like, this is not a big deal…And then she says to me, it’s a big deal to me, that helps me click into my listening mode.”— Brenna McGinnis [00:22:21]
On shifting away from judgment and fear “So much of our parenting, I think, is rooted in our fear, and we don’t know it…We act on our fear and not our love. Love has no condition. It’s not, well, if you do this, I’ll love you. No. It’s I love you as you are.”— Sharon Browning [00:31:33]

In Part 2 of our inspiring conversation with Marisally Santiago, Director of the Office for Ministry with Youth in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, hosts Stephanie Peddicord and Maggie Smith dive into the nuts and bolts of youth ministry done differently. Discover how the YCAPI (Youth Co-Leadership, Protagonism, and Initiative) initiative empowers teens to identify community needs, step into their agency, and experience lifelong discipleship—all while challenging adults to embrace new, collaborative roles. Hear stories of transformation, candid reflections on church culture, and get practical for parishes eager to foster authentic youth engagement.
Key Quotes:
“It’s building something alongside this adult that’s gonna help them. And we eventually, we make them, they have to put together a presentation for their pastor, for the pastoral staff, so they do have to present what this is.”— Marisally Santiago
“We wanted to do—I wanted to really emphasize the word mission—because that’s who we are. …We are the missionary militant church here on Earth.”— Marisally Santiago
“How do we help them to engage in a life that is, my actions are driven by faith? And that’s really what we want to cement.”— Marisally Santiago
“How do we create a culture within parish settings that allows for these two pieces to happen? I would say the two pieces are accompaniment, right, and protagonist.”— Stephanie Peddicord
“It’s about young people being church in the parish community. So it’s a lot bigger than that.”— Marisally Santiago
“It is the process of transformation that, to the extent that we transform your heart and your mind and your hands to go forth and change the world, that is what will keep you tethered to your faith for the long haul.”— Stephanie Peddicord
“It’s as simple as walking with someone so they don’t go by themselves. … If we can recognize…Christ is present in every person…how do I just walk with someone?”— Marisally Santiago

In this episode of In Goodfaith, hosts Stephanie Peddicord and Maggie Smith open the floor to a candid and heartening conversation with Marisally Santiago about “youth protagonism” within the Catholic Church—what it looks like, where it comes from, and why it matters now more than ever.
Drawing inspiration from Pope Francis’ exhortation Christus Vivit, the three of them discuss how shifting the Church’s attitudes about youth, leadership, and faith transmission can bring new life to parishes and communities everywhere.
5 Key Quotes & Takeaways
Pope Francis’ Mandate:“The young want to be protagonists of change… You are the ones who hold the key to the future.”
Walking Together (Accompaniment):“Accompaniment… means to go with someone so they don’t go by themselves.”
Faith as Empowerment, Not Just Education:“We’ve, you know, really looked at faith transmission as a dumping out of information… but we’re gonna walk with you so that you don’t have to process that alone.”
Youth Are Already Church — Now:“I am church by virtue of my baptism… By that, I am already commissioned… to go and… preach the gospel.”
Why Copy? Be Original!“Why copy someone else when God has made you unique in the world with a unique mission… the teens that went through [YCOPI] identify themselves as white copy, which is fantastic.”

Introduction
What does it truly mean to accompany the most vulnerable among us? In this pivotal episode of Goodfaith, Stephanie Peddicord sits down with Marlene Lao Collins, a leader with decades of experience in social justice and advocacy, to spotlight the very real challenges facing communities in New Jersey—and the hope that faith and action can bring.
Podcast Highlights
1. The Local Impact of National Decisions
Much of our news cycle focuses on national headlines, but Marlene—drawing on her background in public policy and service—reveals just how closely these decisions hit home.
“What happens at the federal level—budget cuts, executive orders—ripples down painfully fast for organizations like Catholic Charities. People are forced to go without food, housing, health care. That’s not abstract. That’s our neighbors.”[00:20:43]
2. Beyond Charity: The Call to Accompaniment
Marlene’s journey, rooted in her Franciscan upbringing, is all about “accompaniment”—walking beside those in need through crisis, not just providing handouts, but holistically meeting people where they are.
“Our mission focuses on poverty, individuals that are poor and vulnerable. That’s our primary population… we try to address their needs holistically.”[00:12:30]
3. The Fabric is Fraying—And So Is Hope
As government support wanes and needs spike post-pandemic, Marlene paints a vivid picture of what’s at stake:
“The supportive programs… disappear/slash are vastly reduced, and the ability for you to access federal and state funds to provide these services is going down—way down—potentially, at the same time that the need is spiking.”[00:30:33]
4. A Lived Faith
Marlene’s personal story interweaves her work and spiritual journey, modeling what it means to “cling to Jesus like a child” even when facing overwhelming odds.
“Our Catholic faith is awesome and calls us to do the best things, in our communities… There’s a lot that’s happened in my personal life. My go-to is Jesus.”[00:45:18]
5. What Can We Do?
You don’t have to be a social worker to make a difference. Marlene challenges parishes and individuals alike to step up:
“If you have a plan, it’s a little bit better… Be a reflective listener, encourage [immigrant families], learn their stories. If you want to talk about doing something—pick a topic. Be intentional.”[00:53:17]
Key Quotes
“It is our faith in Jesus, first and foremost, and our belief in the gospel that should guide our actions.” — Stephanie Peddicord [00:01:59]
“When you have a personal relationship, it’s a lot less easier to go by the rhetoric and demonize a group of people as if they were all the same, when they are not.” — Marlene Lao Collins [01:00:48]
“That accompaniment process that our human service organizations have honed over decades of work… you start to pull the pieces out and the whole thing comes unraveled.” — Stephanie Peddicord [00:37:36]
“Name them.” — Marlene Lao Collins, reflecting on knowing the poor personally [01:01:27]
“Let God worry about it. We gotta go to work. We gotta continue to do what we do best.” — Marlene Lao Collins [00:43:08]

In this insightful episode of “In Goodfaith,” hosts Stephanie Peddicord and Maggie Smith engage with Keith Cieplicki, the executive director of the Jail Ministry of Onondaga County, New York. They explore themes of service, social justice, and the profound impact of simply being present. Keith shares personal stories and the ministry’s compassionate approach, unfolding how small acts of kindness, like letter writing, can transform lives both inside and outside the jail. This episode invites us to challenge our perceptions and live the gospel in our daily interactions.
Key Quotes with Timestamps:
Maggie Smith [00:00:23]: “After some internal debate… we decided to lean into and embrace the corporal works of mercy as our primary lens.”
Stephanie Peddicord [00:02:45]: “We really want to challenge families to break out of their comfort zones, and to stretch themselves spiritually, imaginatively.”
Keith Cieplicki [00:10:04]: “A lot of people don’t understand that, the majority of people in jail are there because they’re poor.”
Keith Cieplicki [00:21:40]: “Our success is being with a person.”
Stephanie Peddicord [00:34:45]: “True faith in the incarnate Son of God is inseparable from self giving, from membership and community, from service, and from reconciliation with others.”
Maggie Smith [00:56:54]: “And to all of our listeners, we’ll be back soon with another episode of In Good Faith.”

In this episode of “In Good Faith,” hosts Maggie Smith and Stephanie Peddicord continue their insightful conversation with Dr. Josh Packard and Megan Bissell from Future of Faith. They dive deeper into the concept of sacred listening, exploring how it can transform ministry, community, and personal relationships. Throughout the episode, the discussion highlights practical applications and the importance of creating meaningful connections within church communities and beyond.
Key Quotes with Timestamps:
Maggie Smith [00:01:04]: “How do we give them the tools to find, invite, bring in the community of folks who can help them do that listening so that, yeah, we don’t perpetuate the model where there’s one youth minister ministering in a youth group setting to all of these young people.”
Dr. Josh Packard [00:07:11]: “We made a commitment to just actually start talking about them by name during our faculty meetings. It was sort of stunned when we look back at the minutes at the end of the year about how many of those 500 we had actually discussed by name in a faculty meeting.”
Megan Bissell [00:11:44]: “The key piece of it is the thing you’re never in practice of doing, the information piece is the first step.”
Dr. Josh Packard [00:18:15]: “We don’t really care about cups of coffee. We also don’t really care about pizza parties. What we really care about is our young people getting closer to God.”
Stephanie Peddicord [00:19:11]: “What really transforms hearts and minds in the long term is where we want to be, and how do we get there?”

In this episode of In Goodfaith, Maggie and Stephanie explore the concept of accompaniment, focusing on sacred listening, in their ongoing series about the pathways framework. They welcome esteemed guests Dr. Josh Packard and Megan Bissell, cofounders of Future of Faith, an organization dedicated to deepening relationships through sacred listening. With a backdrop of rich research and actionable insights, Josh and Megan share their journey of transforming data into practical tools that are pivotal for genuine relationship-building, particularly with young people. The conversation dives into the importance of redefining traditional models of ministry, emphasizing the need for intentional listening and forming authentic connections. Join us as we unpack these significant themes and discuss actionable steps to embrace a culture of listening and relational ministry. Don’t miss part one of this insightful discussion!
Key Quotes:
Maggie Smith [00:00:38]: “We are defining accompaniment as a posture of forming and being in genuine relationship with others rooted in the patient, compassionate, and enduring love modeled by Jesus and the gospel.”
Dr. Josh Packard [00:05:09]: “Do we need to do some secret listening sessions across your family where we can talk about this and hash it out?”
Stephanie Peddicord [00:08:53]: “One of the challenges of the church of the last twenty-five years is that we’ve not faithfully listened to the data… we’re trying to climb back out.”
Maggie Smith [00:20:24]: “The purpose was stop, pause, think now so you can be present to and listen to what each person shares.”
Megan Bissell [00:25:57]: “The intentionality piece of it is everything… sacred listening is learning, replicable.”

In the second episode of “In Goodfaith”, hosts Stephanie Peddicord and Maggie Smith introduce us to the “Pathways to Discipleship,” a transformative framework designed to deepen the faith experience for individuals and communities. Drawing on years of research and first-hand experiences, they emphasize the need for authentic relationships and community-building in faith practices.
Accompaniment emerges as a crucial factor, described by Stephanie as “really walking with instead of talking to,” fostering a communal faith journey through deep listening and relational approaches. The concept of encounter is highlighted as a necessary first step that “breaks down barriers” and invites personal transformation through service and interaction with others.
Stephanie passionately discusses protagonism, a term inspired by Pope Francis, to describe an individual’s active role in their faith journey. This involves a deep understanding of one’s purpose and potential impact in the world, transcending mere leadership.
Moreover, the concept of spiritual imagination challenges believers to envision and work towards a hopeful future, even amidst current challenges. Stephanie articulately conveys this as the Catholic call to see “the world from a position of hope and of potential.”
Finally, the hosts advocate for a shift from a transactional to a transformational approach in ministry. As community leaders, they urge listeners to question, adapt, and innovate traditional practices, ensuring that they genuinely meet the spiritual and emotional needs of the modern church.
For listeners eager to deepen their understanding of this dynamic faith framework, this episode paves a profound path forward.
Key Quotes with Timestamps:
On the Importance of Accompaniment:
Stephanie Peddicord [00:22:24]: “What does that posture of deep listening look like? What does that posture of really walking with instead of talking to look like? And we we put a process and a tangible framework in place for parish communities to live that.”
On Encounter as a Path to Entry:
Stephanie Peddicord [00:25:16]: “We always lead with encounter. It breaks down so many barriers. It just opens young people up to perspectives and experiences and moments of discomfort in a way that in a way that nothing else does.”
On Protagism and Leadership:
Stephanie Peddicord [00:26:11]: “We were very specific about using protagonism. It’s Pope Francis’s word… it’s a deep knowing and lifelong exploration of who am I, what’s my place in this world, and who am I called to be?”
On Spiritual Imagination and Hope:
Stephanie Peddicord [00:36:34]: “How does it what an extraordinary thing that as Catholics, we are called even in our darkest moments of despair… to see the world from a position of hope and of life and of potential and of what could be.”
On the Importance of Transformation vs. Transactional Faith:
Stephanie Peddicord [00:44:16]: “As a church, we are very comfortable in doing what we’ve always done, whether or not it’s transforming hearts and minds.”

Welcome to the first episode of our podcast “In Goodfaith!” As we embark on this new journey, hosts Maggie Smith and Stephanie Peddicord offer insights into the dynamic transformations happening within New Jersey’s faith communities. Guided by key themes from Pope Francis’s “Christus Vivit,” we are excited to explore a holistic approach to faith that emphasizes engaging young people as active participants in change.
Program Initiatives: The “Next Level” program is a cornerstone of this initiative, emphasizing year-round engagement with both young people and adult mentors. It invites participants to dive deep into addressing local issues like mental health and racial justice, grounded in the Catholic social tradition. Meanwhile, the “Family Matters” initiative aims to weave faith into the fabric of everyday family life, creating a supportive community for parents and children alike.
A New Era of Faith Integration: Gone are the days of short-lived impact; the Goodfaith organization is embracing long-term community involvement. With a focus on head, hands, and heart, these programs look to cultivate experiences rooted in the Gospel, encouraging profound personal transformation for everyone involved.
Join the Conversation: Listeners are encouraged to connect with the podcast through newsletters, social media, and other communication channels. Engage with the stories of transformation and share your questions for future episodes.
Closing Prayer: As is customary, each episode concludes with a prayer to strengthen our spiritual mission and community connection, inviting all listeners to reflect on their faith journeys.
Stay tuned for more inspiring stories and actionable insights in upcoming episodes of “In Goodfaith.”
Key Quotes and Timestamps:
On Empowerment and Agency (00:10:35):
“When young people are empowered to take the lead, extraordinary things happen—change that ripples through communities and hearts alike.”
Protagonism in Action (00:18:12):
“Protagonism isn’t just about being the main character; it’s about young people owning their faith journey and creating real change.”
On Fostering Community (00:27:48):
“Our program, ‘Next Level,’ is not just about summer involvement. It’s about creating a sustained community that supports and grows together year-round.”
Integration of Faith in Daily Life (00:34:05):
“Faith isn’t isolated to Sunday services; it’s woven into the daily fabric of who we are and how we live.”
Challenges in Faith-Based Parenting (00:41:50):
“One of the biggest challenges for parents today is to integrate faith into everyday activities, not just rely on traditional education.”

Welcome to “In Goodfaith,” a podcast dedicated to exploring the powerful intersection of faith, justice, and purposeful living. In this introductory episode, hosts Maggie Smith and Stephanie Peddicord provide a glimpse into the heart of the podcast, their mission, and what listeners can anticipate from future episodes.
The podcast’s mission is clear—to build a vibrant community of active faith that contributes to stronger and more equitable communities. As Maggie eloquently states, the journey of transformation, both inside and out, is rooted in the goodness of the gospel (00:00:29).
Stephanie adds depth by inviting listeners to approach the podcast with curiosity, embracing questions that matter for personal and communal growth (00:00:53). Together, they aim to explore stories of transformation, young people’s empowerment, and how these elements can effect positive societal change.
Listeners will journey through “the 4 pathways” outlined by Maggie: experiencing Christ through action and community, walking together in faith, empowering youth, and envisioning a hopeful future (00:01:28). These pathways encourage living faith actively across generations.
Aligned with the teachings of Pope Francis, this podcast advocates for embodying faith in the present—shaping lives and the world in the now (00:02:14).
As “In Goodfaith” prepares for its official launch, Maggie and Stephanie invite listeners to share their stories, questions, and ideas, emphasizing community shaping future episodes. Subscribe and follow them on social media to join this transformative journey in good faith.
Stay tuned for upcoming episodes that promise engaging conversations and practical insights for living a life of faith with purpose and impact. Join Maggie, Stephanie, and the growing Goodfaith community as they navigate this path together.
Key Quotes:
“At Good Faith, our mission is to build a vibrant community of faith in action, working to foster stronger communities and a more just and equitable world.”
Timestamp: 00:00:29
“We’re here to be curious and hold important questions with you.”
Timestamp: 00:00:53
“You’ll hear about what we call the 4 pathways, encountering Christ through service and community, walking alongside one another in faith, empowering young people as agents of change, and discerning a hopeful vision for the future.”
Timestamp: 00:01:28
“We’ll take our lead from pope Francis who once said, you are not the future, but the now of God.”
Timestamp: 00:02:14