The Return of Faith Fondue and Lessons in Caring for Oneself

When my mom was diagnosed with cancer in December, overnight I became much more than her daughter. I stepped into the role of primary caregiver — the CEO of a very important operation. In these months, I have received countless heartfelt messages of love and support for my mom, my family, and me. And almost always, they come with the same gentle reminder from those who have walked this road before: take care of yourself. I’m here to say that I found one way to head that advice: the return of a podcast I co-host. Welcome back, Faith Fondue.

Thanks to this special weekend on campus, Haley and I reignited the flame and our podcast is back.

Haley Scott DeMaria and I launched Faith Fondue in 2019. Although we completed 24 episodes in 2024, somehow 2025 got away from us. However, we recorded our first episode of Season Five this past weekend—We are back! 

Our format will remain the same—we begin with The flame—What's Hot, followed by our Spiritual Stew—Reflections on the Gospel and concluding with The Melting Pot—our take-aways. However, we have an added twist. This season, we’ll dip a shared read, movie, or podcast into the melting pot — and let the conversation simmer. I'm excited to discover how the Spirit stirs through our shared stories.

But how does creating a podcast amount to caring for oneself? Certainly, a podcast requires preparation, time, and effort. The answer came to me only through the process of asking a deeper question: What does it mean to take care of oneself?  I understand the sentiment, but I haven’t always been sure how to live it out.

I've consulted people who have walked similar paths. Sadly, I haven't had to look too far or too hard—this is a journey that too many others have taken. But they have hard earned wisdom and I hope this blog will serve as another source for others in the future.

Rest: A dear friend and classmate told me, "I think rest is super important…especially as the caregiver is challenged with life 'going on as usual' when nothing is really as it was. You get to carry both. 🤷🏼‍♀️ You may find that the things that relaxed you before, don’t fit the bill. Make time to rest."

Because of her answer, I was able to hit pause on working late at night. I turn out the lights a little earlier than usual. These words gave me permission to slow things down. There is rest for the weary.

Exercise: I am a person who plans where and when I will exercise. I seldom if ever let more than a day go by without some form of physical activity. To me, exercise is a sure fire way to maintain not only my physical health, but my mental health too. Therefore, it should be prioritized as a way to take care of oneself. 

I stopped playing golf. I could care less about my step count; my walks became sporadic. I told a friend that I lost the edge—the edge that gets me out of bed in the morning to join the workout crew on the sixth floor of my gym at 0600. When I finally made it back, another friend admitted that there were times in his life when things spun out of control. Amidst the chaos he noted "don't let this go. Commit to some form of exercise. It's just too important." I know he's right.

Prayer: During this challenging and scary time I have leaned into prayer in a number of ways. I have found comfort in morning mass. I have gotten to know Saint Peregrine, the patron saint of those with cancer and continue to ask for his intercession for my mom and countless others.

I’ll admit there are moments when it feels as though God is answering everyone else’s prayers and not my own. And yet, I’ve found deep comfort in knowing that others are praying the same words I am. Somehow, that shared prayer eases the burden. It reminds me that I don’t have to pray more, pray harder, or pray in any particular prayer. God loves us. God knows. us. Those are two good reasons to pray: we grow in our love of God and in our knowledge of God—not the other way around.

Creativity: No one has told me to make time to be creative or find that creative outlet but for me, the creative process has always been a way for me to take care of myself. How? Why?

For one, I believe creativity keeps us alive on the inside, not just functional on the outside. It amazes me how creativity allows for what’s stirring beneath the surface to come into the open, where it can be seen, shared, and healed. Furthermore, creativity relieves pressure. In order for me to be creative, I must pause, pay attention and listen. That shift—from control to curiosity—can be deeply restorative, especially in a time like this when answers don’t come easily.

And as a spiritual practice, creativity makes us co-creators. All comes from God. All is gift. Creating something—writing, praying, making, imagining—becomes a form of participation rather than performance. I don’t have to get it “right.” I just have to show up. And that's exactly what I get to do in front of my laptop with Haley as we create Faith Fondue. I'm so grateful we're back. I told Haley it's one of the few things I have been truly excited about in 2026. She believes reaching out to me was the work of the Holy Spirit. That flame is pretty powerful.

So give it a listen. Take care of yourself. One way might be to give us a listen! And after the second episode, you can take care of yourself by reading "Pray Like a Champion Today" by Father Nate Wills, C.S.C. and beyond....by praying like one, too.

Photo Credits
Cheer her name
Saint Peregrine

How Does Someone Become a More Interesting Person? One Good Answer

Given that Dos Equis retired its "Most Interesting Man in the World" ad campaign in 2018, the title is up for grabs. Perhaps this is why Matthew Kelly, an internationally acclaimed speaker, author, and the founder of The Dynamic Catholic Institute created a video that helps someone become a more interesting person. No beer required.

Upon hearing a friend say "I don't feel very interesting," Kelly started to wonder, "How does someone become a more interesting person?" Whether a person is interesting is in no way predetermined. Fixed mindset be gone! I like his question; I find it invitational and empowering. Should we want to be an interesting person, the opportunity awaits. But how? 

The search led Kelly to think about the most interesting people he knows. He realized a singular question has served him best in the conversations he has had with said people: What are you reading at the moment? Don't know where I rank on the interesting scale but I think my answer is compelling—if you're a sports fan. I am reading "Rafa" The Autobiography of Rafael Nadal. At the conclusion of each year, President Barack Obama posts his favorite books of the year. Safe to say he is an interesting person!

In recent times, Matthew Kelly has discovered people don't read books. Though I am not surprised to hear that we are reading less and less, I find it alarming that this is true even among those considered the most interesting! 

Given that reality, Kelly developed another mechanism to determine what makes a person interesting. He now asks "What's your favorite podcast?" The New York Times finds this question a worthy one as they posted their 10 Best Podcasts for 2021. Check it out for "Shows about Chippendales, a notorious Hollywood bomb, the search for the perfect pasta shape and the immediate aftermath of 9/11 are among those worthy of your attention.A personal take on divorce. A love letter to Puerto Rico. These shows are among our pop culture reporter’s favorites of the year."

If I was to offer one suggestion for The New York Times of Catholic journalism, I hope it would include Faith Fondue! 

Faith Fondue is a new podcast by author and speaker Haley DeMaria and teachers and blogger Anne Stricherz. Faith Fondue features a melting pot of topics, ignited the flame of faith and guided the Holy Spirit. No politics, as fondue is a Swiss cheese, and therefore neutral. Anne & Haley are equal opportunity prayers; we pray for everyone. Hit that purple airwaves icon on your iPhone or desktop and you can access it!

I think it's pretty interesting. It has three "chapters." We begin with "The Flame"—what's hot. The "meat" of our program can be found in our "Spiritual Stew." From what we have cooked, we garner "Take-Aways." Lessons learned, ideas to sow, questions to answer. I believe Haley and I create something that is much greater than the sum of its parts.

Kelly concludes with his belief: If you want to become a more interesting person, get interested. Get interested! Ignite your curiosity! Keep learning.

I don't think we can ever learn enough about God. There is so much to know about discipleship and the holy life. What does it mean to be Catholic? I hope Faith Fondue is but one way to get interested....and become more interesting.

Photo Credits
Most Interesting Man in the World
Best Podcasts
Obama's Reading List: Instagram