Better Preach

DescriptionSt Vincent de Paul developed what he called his ‘little method’ of preaching for his fellow ‘mission priests and brothers’ in 17th century. France.  We know that St Vincent de Paul is a champion of the materially poor, but did you know he was also deeply engaged in helping the materially poor out of spiritual poverty, as well.  He dedicated his life to preaching Parish missions to poor and rural areas throughout France, as well as great clerical reform for French priests, as well.  And his ‘little method’ of preaching which is threefold, was at the center of both - his parish missions in poor communities as well as updated instruction on preaching for Priests after ordination.  Today, we are going to jump into this ‘method’ and see how it might still apply to us almost 400 years later in our ministry today…Here’s a link to the document that includes his teaching on the “little method”. It starts on actual page of PDF (270) and concludes on actual page of PDF (293). The internal pagination runs from p 237 to p 260. https://via.library.depaul.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1037&context=vincentian_ebooksLinksFor more information about the Better Preach Podcast visit: www.ryanohara.org/betterpreachBetter Preach Podcast is now on YouTube. Here’s a link to the channel.Check out Ryan’s FREE course on “sharing your faith as a Catholic.”Follow Ryan on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, or FacebookJoin the Better Preach email list. 

DescriptionBeing in the US military affords many unique work and life experiences. Adhering to the chain of command, moving around the world, maybe many times at the drop of a hat, and jumping out of a perfectly good airplane. These are all experiences that shape those in the military in a variety of unique and powerful ways. And today, my guest and I talk about this overlap of the lessons learned while serving in the US military in active duty and now in the reserves, but also particularly how that applies to teaching and preaching the gospel. There are some really powerful lessons that we can take away there. We also get into this question around testimonies for Catholics. The relationship between evangelization and catechesis, and also why it's so important to have live presentations and not just turning on a video in our work in ministry. Great stuff all around today. Colleen Vermeulen is now a leader in the Catholic Biblical School Ministry but she spent her first six years after college on active duty in the U.S. Army. The U.S. military thrives on being an organization that seeks to develop leaders. Today we discuss how embracing the leadership inherent in speaking can motivate us to step out of our comfort zones as a teacher, catechist, or speaker…And just a quick note, because Colleen is actively serving in the military, know that her views today are hers alone and do not necessarily represent the views of the Department of Army, Department of Defense, or the US government. Check out Catholic Biblical School Ministry website right here: www.catholicbiblicalschool.orgLinksFor more information about the Better Preach Podcast visit: www.ryanohara.org/betterpreachBetter Preach Podcast is now on YouTube. Here’s a link to the channel.Check out Ryan’s FREE course on “sharing your faith as a Catholic.”Follow Ryan on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, or FacebookJoin the Better Preach email list. 

DescriptionYour next talk will be better if…Love to hear your thoughts! www.ryanohara.org/betterpreach.LinksFor more information about the Better Preach Podcast visit: www.ryanohara.org/betterpreachBetter Preach Podcast is now on YouTube. Here’s a link to the channel.Check out Ryan’s FREE course on “sharing your faith as a Catholic.”Follow Ryan on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, or FacebookJoin the Better Preach email list. 

DescriptionA shift I am making in the podcast is NOT only to speak with speakers about the art and science of preaching, I am also looking to interview thought leaders ADJACENT to preaching and teaching. Well today, my guest Julianne Stanz, is both! She is a gift to the Church and I’m so grateful to get a chance today to hear beautiful stories from the heart of the Church: from her first time meeting Pope Leo to sharing what, in her opinion, has led to such growth in the Church, and also where ‘the puck is headed’, if you will. Julianne Stanz is a storyteller, bestselling author, and encourager whose heart for ministry has inspired and equipped audiences across the globe. With more than two decades of distinguished service in church leadership, both nationally and internationally, she has partnered with dioceses, bishops, clergy, and lay leaders to advance the mission of the Church. She currently serves as the Director of Outreach for Evangelization and Discipleship at Loyola Press and as a consultant to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), providing strategic guidance on evangelization, missionary discipleship, and pastoral leadership. She is the author of several acclaimed books, including her latest: The Catholic Parent’s Survival Guide: How to Answer Your Children’s Toughest Questions about Faith (all published by Loyola Press). Julianne is married to Wayne, a Catholic school teacher, and together they are raising three children.Check out Julianne’s website right here: www.juliannestanz.comAnd here’s the ink to her latest book, “Catholic Parents Survival Guide.”  Check it out!LinksFor more information about the Better Preach Podcast visit: www.ryanohara.org/betterpreachBetter Preach Podcast is now on YouTube. Here’s a link to the channel.Check out Ryan’s FREE course on “sharing your faith as a Catholic.”Follow Ryan on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, or FacebookJoin the Better Preach email list. 

DescriptionI recently put together a reflection on “Jesus as Savior” that featured, prominently, a story from Father’s Day. So, in that spirit, on Father’s Day, I thought I’d share it. Love to hear your thoughts! www.ryanohara.org/betterpreach.LinksFor more information about the Better Preach Podcast visit: www.ryanohara.org/betterpreachBetter Preach Podcast is now on YouTube. Here’s a link to the channel.Check out Ryan’s FREE course on “sharing your faith as a Catholic.”Follow Ryan on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, or FacebookJoin the Better Preach email list. 

Description You’re gonna, love this conversation. Gian Gamboa is a youth ministry leader and Catholic speaker with more than 10 years of experience serving parishes, Catholic schools, and youth conferences across the country. He previously served as a full-time missionary with The Culture Project International for over two years and has collaborated with major Catholic organizations, including LifeTeen, FOCUS, NFCYM, and EWTN. Gian is currently completing his master's degree in theology and sacred scripture through the Augustine Institute. He is deeply passionate about discipleship-based evangelization and helping Catholics fall in love with Jesus by sharing the gospel with clarity, confidence, and authenticity. Gian lives in Hutto, Texas, with his wife and three children, And is the world's self-proclaimed number one fan of Taco Bell. Connect with Gian at his website: www.giangamboa.comAnd in his speaking coaching community for youth ministers at: www.skool.com/micLinksFor more information about the Better Preach Podcast visit: www.ryanohara.org/betterpreachBetter Preach Podcast is now on YouTube. Here’s a link to the channel.Check out Ryan’s FREE course on “sharing your faith as a Catholic.”Follow Ryan on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, or FacebookJoin the Better Preach email list. 

Description This is sort of public speaking, preaching, teaching 101, but is often overlooked, in our circles as, as something that's critical. It's the idea that there's a reason why we give talks rather than sending emails. It's because a talk is an embodied message, both in our body language, which we may talk about more another time but primarily and first, it's this embodied message that comes through our voice.And so today I wanna look at the ways in which we use our voice, and that there are four different levers that we can adjust that need to be considered each time we're handed a microphone. As always, I would love to hear from you at ryanohara.org/betterpreach.LinksFor more information about the Better Preach Podcast visit: www.ryanohara.org/betterpreachBetter Preach Podcast is now on YouTube. Here’s a link to the channel.Check out Ryan’s FREE course on “sharing your faith as a Catholic.”Follow Ryan on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, or FacebookJoin the Better Preach email list. 

DescriptionIn this bonus episode Pete shares with Ryan about his new book, as well as the experience of giving a keynote to 20,000 people at SEEK 2026. Link to his book: https://www.amazon.com/Man-Purpose-Rules-Faithful-Father/dp/1646804414Link to SEEK Keynote: https://seekreplay.com/video/471Hit me up on Instagram @betterpreach or on my website www.ryanohara.org/betterpreach - there’s a contact form there. Also, if you want to connect with Pete online, check out www.renewalministries.netPete Burak is the vice president of Renewal Ministries, a ministry dedicated to Catholic renewal and evangelization around the world. He is a graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville and has a master’s degree in theology from Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, Michigan. Pete is a frequent speaker on discipleship and evangelization and the co-director of Pine Hills Boys’ Camp. He is a monthly columnist for Faith Magazine and the host of two podcasts: Spirit-filled Leadership and The Hour. Pete and his wife, Cait, have five children.LinksFor more information about the Better Preach Podcast visit: www.ryanohara.org/betterpreachBetter Preach Podcast is now on YouTube. Here’s a link to the channel.Check out Ryan’s FREE course on “sharing your faith as a Catholic.”Follow Ryan on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, or FacebookJoin the Better Preach email list. 

DescriptionIt is an incredible honor to be invited to a Parish or a Conference or a Retreat Center to give a talk (or multiples talks) to a Catholic audience. Whether it is across town or across the country, it is a privilege that should never be taken for granted. And along the way - the more times you are entrusted with a microphone and a message - the more opportunities you have to level up, or better yet to be humbled, to learn, and to grow. And today is an episode to celebrate some of those unusual, hard, and/or joyful milestones along the journey. Merit Badges for Catholic Speakers - the brain child of my guest today Pete Burak. He and I share our Top 5 Merit Badges for Catholic Speakers and stick around to the end for a couple doozy Honorable Mentions. As Pete says in the episode - we are just making stuff up here, but all of it is “based on a true story”, if you know what I mean. And we want to hear from you - What Merit Badges have you earned? Which obvious ones (or not so obvious ones) did we miss? Hit me up on Instagram @betterpreach or on my website www.ryanohara.org/betterpreach - there’s a contact form there. Also, if you want to connect with Pete online, check out www.renewalministries.netPete Burak is the vice president of Renewal Ministries, a ministry dedicated to Catholic renewal and evangelization around the world. He is a graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville and has a master’s degree in theology from Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, Michigan. Pete is a frequent speaker on discipleship and evangelization and the co-director of Pine Hills Boys’ Camp. He is a monthly columnist for Faith Magazine and the host of two podcasts: Spirit-filled Leadership and The Hour. Pete and his wife, Cait, have five children.LinksFor more information about the Better Preach Podcast visit: www.ryanohara.org/betterpreachBetter Preach Podcast is now on YouTube. Here’s a link to the channel.Check out Ryan’s FREE course on “sharing your faith as a Catholic.”Follow Ryan on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, or FacebookJoin the Better Preach email list. 

DescriptionIn honor of Pentecost that launched some of the greatest preaching this world has ever seen, would you agree with me that the Holy Spirit has something to say And if the Holy Spirit, as the Church says, is the principal agent of evangelization, It would stand to reason that the Holy Spirit wants to speak through you more than you want the Holy Spirit to do that. So today I wanna share five attributes of Spirit-led speaking that I think can help you evaluate your talks, as well as beg the Holy Spirit to do these things in the midst of your speaking whenever you are entrusted with a microphone. Happy Pentecost, folks. I'm so excited to share this incredible moment in the church, uh, this year with you If you have thoughts on the show or just want to stop by and say “hi”, please fill out the contact form at www.ryanohara.org/betterpreachLinksFor more information about the Better Preach Podcast visit: www.ryanohara.org/betterpreachBetter Preach Podcast is now on YouTube. Here’s a link to the channel.Check out Ryan’s FREE course on “sharing your faith as a Catholic.”Follow Ryan on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, or FacebookJoin the Better Preach email list.