Always A Raven Podcast

On this episode of Always a Raven, host Janelle Menz sits down with Blaise Hochul, a 2014 Benedictine College graduate and headmaster of Our Lady of the Pillar Academy in California. After beginning his college journey at UC Santa Cruz, Blaise made an unexpected transfer to Benedictine in search of something he felt was missing: genuine friendships, meaningful community, and a place where faith was part of everyday life. Blaise reflects on how the relationships he formed with classmates, professors, and the Benedictine monks shaped his understanding of faith, education, and the importance of investing in others. He also shares the story of meeting his wife, Kristen, on campus and how his Benedictine experience helped prepare him for a career in Catholic classical education. Today, he is passionate about helping students think critically, recognize truth and beauty, and develop a foundation that extends far beyond the classroom. As a husband, father, and educator, Blaise discusses the responsibility parents have in shaping their children’s education and the importance of surrounding young people with a community that supports their growth. For Blaise, being a Raven means more than earning a degree. It means belonging to a family that continues to shape your life long after graduation—a community that will always welcome you home.

On this episode of Always a Raven, host Janelle Menz reconnects with Randy Lewis, a fellow 2006 Benedictine College graduate, former rugby player, and founder of Party Safari in Colorado. From helping build Benedictine’s Black Monks rugby club to pursuing his passion for biology, Randy reflects on how unexpected setbacks, lifelong friendships, and a willingness to embrace new opportunities shaped the path he follows today. Randy shares how being cut from the national rugby team ultimately opened the door to something greater: building a brotherhood at Benedictine that continues to influence his life. Through rugby, biology research, and unforgettable experiences exploring Costa Rica and the Amazon, he discovered the importance of community, perseverance, and finding purpose in the unexpected. Those experiences eventually led him to create a career introducing children to the wonders of wildlife through hands-on education. Now a husband, father, and business owner, Randy reflects on the challenges of following his passion, the evolution of his faith, and the joy of helping children discover the natural world. His story is a reminder that life’s closed doors can lead to unexpected blessings, and that the friendships, shared experiences, and sense of belonging found at Benedictine provide a foundation that lasts a lifetime

On this episode of Always a Raven, host Janelle Menz sits down with Nikki Tabor, a 1994 Benedictine College graduate, former Raven basketball player, and wife of NFL coach and fellow alumnus Chris Tabor. From an unconventional childhood growing up in a children’s home to a college decision that changed the course of her life, Nikki reflects on the experiences, relationships, and lessons that prepared her for a future she never could have imagined. Nikki shares how Benedictine’s professors, teammates, and close-knit community helped shape her confidence, resilience, and appreciation for meaningful relationships. Those lessons would prove invaluable as she and Chris navigated the unpredictable world of professional football, moving between cities, raising their daughters, and learning to embrace uncertainty while trusting God’s plan. Through it all, faith, family, and lifelong friendships have remained their foundation. Looking back on decades of change, Nikki reflects on the importance of staying grounded, making the most of every experience, and building a sense of home wherever life takes you. Her story is a reminder that being a Raven means belonging to a family that extends far beyond Atchison—a community of lasting friendships, unwavering support, and connections that remain strong no matter how far the journey takes you.

On this episode of Always a Raven, host Janelle Menz sits down with Renee Nugent, a 1992 Benedictine College graduate and Deputy Commissioner of Learning Services for the Kansas State Department of Education. From classroom teacher and counselor to principal, superintendent, and state-level leader, Renee’s career has been guided by one constant: keeping students at the center of every decision. Renee reflects on how her Benedictine professors helped shape not only the educator she became, but the way she sees people. They taught her to look beyond behavior, circumstances, and first impressions to recognize the person behind them—a perspective that has guided her throughout her career. Today, she continues to champion students, support educators, and help shape an education system focused on preparing young people for more than just a diploma. Now back in Atchison after a career that took her across several states and every level of education, Renee shares what she’s learned about servant leadership, the power of community, and the importance of simply showing up for others. Her story is a reminder that Benedictine’s impact doesn’t end at graduation. It stays with you, shaping how you lead, serve, and see the world. As Renee puts it, “Benedictine will never leave you.”

On this episode of Always a Raven, host Janelle Menz sits down with Jason Riley, an adjunct professor who has spent 30 years—and 60 consecutive semesters—teaching guitar at Benedictine College. What began as a young musician’s part-time teaching opportunity became a decades-long connection to Benedictine, its students, and a campus Jason has watched transform around him. Jason reflects on a life built around music, from performing and recording with bands to mentoring generations of guitar students. Along the way, he shares how his own teachers shaped his approach to education, particularly the lesson that music should never become simply a chore. For Jason, teaching is about patience, encouragement, and helping students keep music in their lives—whether they pursue it professionally or simply play because they love it. After three decades at Benedictine, Jason has seen buildings, technology, and generations of students change, but the heart of the college remains familiar. For him, being a Raven means belonging to a family built on loyalty, encouragement, and lifelong relationships—a community where people continue to show up for one another long after their time on campus ends.

On this episode of Always a Raven, host Janelle Menz sits down with Jim Jansen, a 1999 Benedictine College graduate, founder and CEO of Anchor Consulting, and longtime leader in Catholic evangelization. Jim reflects on the Benedictine experiences that shaped his faith, including a profound season of loss that led him back to confession, prayer, and a deeper relationship with God. What began with a small FOCUS Bible study eventually became an 18-year career with the organization, followed by work with the Archdiocese of Omaha and his current mission helping parishes and dioceses build cultures of evangelization. Through each chapter, Jim has carried one lesson from Benedictine with him: the importance of accompaniment—meeting people where they are, building genuine relationships, and walking with them rather than simply giving them a plan to follow. Now watching his own children experience Benedictine, Jim reflects on how the college has grown while retaining the community that first formed him. For Jim, being a Raven means recognizing the people God places in our lives at the moments we need them most—and being willing to become that person for someone else. Learn more about Jim’s work and his approach to helping Catholics and parishes live out the mission of evangelization at  ⁠Everyday Evangelization.

On this episode of Always a Raven, host Janelle Menz sits down with Dr. Sarah Weiss, a Benedictine College professor whose path to becoming a Raven began in an unexpected place: the softball field. From coaching and teaching to converting to Catholicism and earning her master’s at Benedictine, Sarah reflects on how God used each step of her journey to eventually lead her back to Atchison as an educator.  Sarah shares how her experiences as a coach, missionary, and teacher have shaped the way she approaches her students today. Whether serving alongside Benedictine students on mission trips or preparing future educators for their own classrooms, she sees teaching as more than a profession—it is an opportunity to build community, show up for others, and help students recognize the gifts God has placed in their hands.  Through personal trials, Sarah has also experienced that Benedictine community from the other side—learning to accept help, lean on others, and find joy even in difficult seasons. For her, “once a Raven, always a Raven” ultimately means family: a community that celebrates together, supports one another, and continues showing up no matter where life leads. 

On this episode of Always a Raven, host Janelle Menz sits down with Kevin Cotter, a 2005 Benedictine College graduate whose career has brought together two passions he first pursued as a student: faith and media. Now Head of Story at Hallow, Kevin reflects on the unexpected path that led him from Benedictine to missionary work, Catholic leadership, and ultimately helping create prayer content that reaches people around the world.  Kevin shares how transferring to Benedictine during his junior year gave him the community and theological formation he had been searching for. Through friendships, professors, FOCUS, and the spiritual life of campus, he developed a deeper understanding of his Catholic faith and a desire to share it with others—formation that continues to influence how he approaches storytelling and digital evangelization today. From writing prayer experiences to working with voices from around the world and even directing a project in the Holy Land, Kevin sees his work as an opportunity to meet people wherever they are and help create space for an encounter with God. His story is a reminder that Benedictine can become more than somewhere you went to school—it becomes part of who you are, shaping the way you think, serve, create, and carry your faith into the world.

On this episode of Always a Raven, host Janelle Menz reconnects with Rusty Welch to share the deeply personal story behind his enduring love for Benedictine College. Rusty reflects on the loss of his parents and sister in a tragic 2018 car accident and how their memory remains intertwined with the college experience his entire family came to embrace.  What began with Rusty leaving Louisiana to play football in Kansas quickly became a family adventure. His parents traveled 12 hours for games, cooked meals for teammates, joined the Ravens on trips overseas, and became part of the Benedictine community themselves. Through those experiences, Rusty learned to step outside his comfort zone, take chances, and view setbacks not as failures, but as opportunities to find another way forward. Today, Rusty carries that legacy on through a scholarship established in his family’s memory, helping future Ravens pursue opportunities of their own. His story is a powerful reminder that Benedictine’s impact can extend far beyond one student — bringing families into the Raven community, shaping generations, and creating a connection that endures through both life’s greatest adventures and its deepest losses.

On this episode of Always a Raven, host Janelle Menz sits down with John Bishop, a 2012 Benedictine College graduate and founder and executive director of Forge, an organization dedicated to building men, marriages, and families that are fully alive. John reflects on how Benedictine gave him the space to wrestle deeply with his Catholic faith, ask difficult questions, and ultimately discover a conviction that would shape his life and work.  John shares how professors, friendships, and spiritual direction at Benedictine helped guide him through a period of questioning and back toward a deeper, more personal faith. That foundation eventually led him through graduate studies, seminary, years of service with FOCUS, and ultimately to founding Forge. Today, Forge is building communities of men through small groups, mentorship, and authentic brotherhood, helping strengthen faith, marriages, and families across multiple cities. John’s story is a reminder of the lasting impact of a Benedictine education: a place where questions can lead to conviction, formation becomes mission, and Ravens are prepared to carry their faith into the world.