The Creative Catholics Podcast

What if some of the burdens weighing us down aren’t crosses God has asked us to carry—but stories we’ve created around the life we wish we had?
In this vulnerable and deeply personal episode, Alex reflects on the difference between real suffering and the additional weight we can create through comparison, expectations, resistance, and attachment to a particular outcome. Drawing on the wisdom of St. Francis de Sales, St. Thérèse, Job, the three young men in Daniel, and Christ in Gethsemane, she explores what it means to desire good things without allowing our peace to depend on receiving them.
Using the image of the wooden cup and the silver cup, this episode is an invitation to stop waiting for the “perfect” circumstances to begin living faithfully—and instead to recognise the grace, love, and life God is offering us right now.
Can we still hope, pray, dream, and work towards change while surrendering the outcome to God? Can we want the silver cup, while still gratefully drinking the water?
A reflection on surrender, spiritual freedom, unnecessary suffering, and learning to become holy in the life we actually have.
Thank you to Marie Miller for her music for the intro and outro
Thank you to Riverside for sponsoring this episode - check out Riverside if you want to record or edit audio files. 
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What does it look like to follow God’s call while raising a family, homeschooling, and creating something meaningful?
In this episode of The Creative Catholics, Alex sits down with Olivia Spears, founder of Into the Deep, to talk about the intersection of faith, motherhood, creativity, and work.
Olivia shares the story behind Into the Deep and how what began as a resource for her own children grew into a mission serving Catholic families. Together, they explore the difference between simply teaching the faith and helping children truly fall in love with it, the tension mothers can feel between family life and creative work, and what it means to recognize that these different parts of ourselves can coexist.
They also dive into discernment, perseverance, failure, social media, and the hidden ways God uses our work to refine us. Olivia offers a beautiful reminder that when we prayerfully make the best decision we can, we don't have to be afraid of getting it wrong—God's grace goes with us.
This is a conversation about trusting God with the things we're building, learning to steward rather than control our work, and remembering that holiness can be found in every part of our lives.
Plus, Olivia shares what's new at Into the Deep, including Virtus: A Treasury for the Good Life, an upcoming study on Confession, and the next level of their full-year catechesis curriculum.
 
Thank you to Marie Miller for sharing her music
Check out Riverside to record or edit audio files
 
Connect with The Creative Catholics on Instagram @thecreativecatholics
Read the show notes at creativecatholicspodcast.com
 
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Check out Into the Deep's Curriculum on their website
 
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In this episode of Creative Catholics, Alex continues the mini-series on Our Creative God by reflecting on the mysterious beauty of the famous staircase in the Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Through the story of an unknown carpenter, a novena to St. Joseph, and a staircase that seems to rise without visible support, Alex explores why beauty can move us before we understand it. From Scripture and St. Augustine to C. S. Lewis and St. Bonaventure, this episode considers how creation points beyond itself toward its Creator—and why every beautiful thing can awaken in us a longing for something more.
Beauty doesn't simply satisfy us. It lifts our eyes. It reminds us of Eden, points us toward heaven, and whispers that we were made for home.
Perhaps the greatest work of the Master Carpenter isn't a staircase at all, but the human soul.
A reflection on beauty, wonder, mystery, creativity, and the God who is still making all things new.
Sponsor/LinksCheck out Riverside for recording/editing audio files!Huge thank you to Marie Miller for letting us use her music for the intro and outro!
Connect with The Creative Catholics!Website: creativecatholicspodcast.comInstagram: @thecreativecatholics

In this episode of The Creative Catholics, I sit down with Catholic cartoonist Josh Masterson, creator of the beloved Father Otto comics, to explore how humor, creativity, and faith can come together to reveal the beauty of ordinary parish life.
Josh shares the story of how he discovered his creative calling, why he chose cartoons over fine art, and how following the gifts God had already given him brought a deep sense of peace. We also talk about the role of joy in evangelisation, using creativity to share the faith, and why laughter can be a powerful bridge to God.
Whether you're an artist, writer, musician, or simply someone discerning how God is calling you to use your gifts, this conversation is a wonderful reminder that creativity can become a joyful path to holiness.
In this episode, we discuss:
Josh's journey to becoming a Catholic cartoonist
The inspiration behind Father Otto
Why humor is a powerful tool for sharing the faith
Creative calling, discernment, and trusting God's plan
Finding joy in the creative process
Josh's upcoming animated Christmas special
If this episode encouraged you, please consider following the podcast and leaving a review—it helps more people discover conversations on creativity, faith, and the hidden life.
Connect with The Catholic Cartoonist
On Instagram: @the_catholic_cartoonist
https://www.the-catholic-cartoon.com/
Sponsor/Links
Check out Riverside for recording/editing audio files!
Huge thank you to Marie Miller for letting us use her music for the intro and outro!
Connect with The Creative Catholics!
Website: creativecatholicspodcast.com
Instagram: @thecreativecatholics

What does it mean to embrace holy rest in a world that never stops? If you're experiencing creative burnout, struggling to balance your work with your faith, or wondering how Catholic creativity fits into God's plan, this episode is for you.
In this episode of Creative Catholics, we explore the biblical and Catholic understanding of Sabbath, rest, prayer, and the creative life. Looking to Scripture, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and the wisdom of saints like St. Augustine and St. Francis de Sales, we discover that rest isn't the opposite of creativity—it's an essential part of it.
Whether you're a writer, artist, musician, designer, content creator, or simply someone seeking to integrate faith and creativity, you'll be encouraged to step away from the pressure to constantly produce and rediscover the peace that comes from communion with God.
Alex also shares a personal story about praying the 54-Day Rosary Novena during a season of uncertainty, reflects on the witness of a holy parish priest in his final months of life, and offers practical encouragement for building a rhythm of prayer and rest that nourishes both your soul and your creative work.
In this episode, you'll discover:
Why God rested after creation—and what that teaches us about Catholic creativity
How Sabbath and prayer renew our hearts and our creative work
Why Christian artists and creatives need rhythms of rest
How to overcome creative burnout without guilt
What the saints teach about prayer, surrender, and trust in God's providence
Why your identity is found in Christ, not in what you produce
Practical ways to cultivate a healthier relationship between faith and creativity
If you've ever felt exhausted by the pressure to keep creating, this conversation is a gentle reminder that before you were a creator, you were created—and infinitely loved.
Sometimes the holiest thing you can do is rest.
Sponsor/Links
Check out Riverside for recording/editing audio files!
Huge thank you to Marie Miller for letting us use her music for the intro and outro!
Connect with The Creative Catholics!
Website: creativecatholicspodcast.com
Instagram: @thecreativecatholics

In this episode of Creative Catholics, I'm joined by artist, author, and founder of January Jane Shop, Jana Pingle, for a heartfelt conversation about creating with hope.
Jana shares how prayer shapes her creative process, why beauty has become an anchor in seasons of waiting, and what it means to co-create with the Holy Spirit. Together, we explore the hidden work of faithfulness, the stories behind her beloved saint collections, and how creativity can become an act of surrender, even in the midst of grief and uncertainty.
We also discuss:
How Jana's childhood nurtured a lifelong love of creativity
The inspiration behind Humans of Heaven and the January Jane Shop
Finding hope through her Land of the Living collection
The role of beauty in suffering and waiting
Protecting a prayerful heart while running a creative business
Encouragement for artists who feel weary, discouraged, or stuck
Please note: This episode includes a conversation about infertility and miscarriage.
Whether you're an artist, a maker, or simply someone longing to find God in the ordinary moments of life, this conversation is a beautiful reminder that the Lord is at work—even in the hidden seasons.
Connect With The Creative CatholicsFollow along for future episodes, guest interviews, and reflections on faith, creativity, craftsmanship, beauty, and the hidden life.
Instagram: @thecreativecatholicsWebsite: https://www.creativecatholicspodcast.com/
Sponsors/LinksIntro/outro music by Marie MillerThis episode is sponsored by Riverside
Thank you for listening. If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another creative who might need a little inspiration this week.
 

God mean stepping back and waiting for Him to act, or does it mean working as though everything depends on us?
In this episode, Alex explores the tension between surrender and responsibility, challenging the common misconception that trust in God requires passivity. Drawing on Scripture, the Catechism, the Parable of the Talents, and the wisdom of St. Augustine, she unpacks what it means to be a faithful steward rather than an owner of the gifts God has entrusted to us.
Whether you're an artist, writer, entrepreneur, parent, or simply trying to discern God's will for your life, this conversation offers a freeing perspective on creativity, ambition, and faith. You'll discover why Christian surrender isn't about caring less—it's about holding your work, your dreams, and your gifts with open hands, trusting God with the outcome while giving Him your wholehearted effort.
In this episode, we explore:
Why "letting go" doesn't mean giving up.
The difference between stewardship and ownership.
What the Parable of the Talents teaches about creativity and vocation.
How our deepest fears are often revealed by what we struggle to surrender.
Why God calls us to faithfulness rather than worldly success.
If you've ever wrestled with perfectionism, control, or the fear of whether your work matters, this episode is an invitation to work wholeheartedly, trust deeply, and remember that while we steward the gifts, God always owns the harvest.
Connect With The Creative CatholicsFollow along for future episodes, guest interviews, and reflections on faith, creativity, craftsmanship, beauty, and the hidden life.Instagram: @thecreativecatholicsWebsite: https://www.creativecatholicspodcast.com/
Sponsors/LinksIntro/outro music by Marie MillerThis episode is sponsored by Riverside
Thank you for listening. If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another creative who might need a little inspiration this week.

Why does beauty move us so deeply?
Why can a piece of music, a work of art, or a breathtaking landscape leave us longing for something we can't quite put into words?
In this episode of The Creative Catholics, I'm joined by singer-songwriter Marie Miller for a thoughtful conversation about beauty, creativity, and the human longing for God.
Together, we explore how music can become a form of prayer, why the writings of the saints continue to inspire new creative work, and what St. Thérèse of Lisieux taught Marie about letting go of the pursuit of success in order to faithfully follow God's will.
We also discuss the hidden seasons of the creative life, the tension between excellence and ambition, and why our greatest creative work isn't about building an audience—but about leading souls closer to Christ.
Whether you're an artist, musician, writer, homemaker, entrepreneur, or simply someone longing to create with greater purpose, this conversation is a beautiful reminder that every genuine encounter with beauty can awaken within us a hidden nostalgia for God.
In this episode, we discuss:
How beauty awakens our longing for God
Music as prayer and the wisdom of the saints
St. Thérèse of Lisieux and the Little Way
Moving from performance to purpose
Creating through hidden and ordinary seasons
Excellence without chasing recognition
The importance of personal prayer for creatives
Why all authentic creativity ultimately points back to the Creator
Resources Mentioned
Letter to Artists - John Paul II
“Ash Wednesday” Poem - TS Eliot
The Letters of JRR Tolkien
The Great Divorce - CS Lewis
The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien
Connect With The Creative Catholics
Follow along for future episodes, guest interviews, and reflections on faith, creativity, craftsmanship, beauty, and the hidden life.
Instagram: @thecreativecatholicsWebsite: thecreativecatholics.com
Sponsors/Links
Intro/outro music by Marie MillerThis episode is sponsored by Riverside
Thank you for listening. If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another creative who might need a little inspiration this week.