Elevate Ordinary
Hosted by JonMarc & Teresa Grodi
Find a renewed vision of how the seemingly small, common aspects of our day-to-day lives and vocations are in reality the raw material out of which God wants to raise up saints.
JonMarc & Teresa Grodi
Teresa Grodi
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Teresa is a member of the Body of Christ, a wife, and a mother of five. She was born, raised, and resides in the Diocese of Toledo, OH. Teresa received her B.A. and M.A. in History at Bowling Green State University, where she met her husband JonMarc. She has been involved in ministry in many capacities and currently organizes pilgrimages for Catholic Faith Journeys. Teresa and JonMarc love to take walks and to discuss faith, philosophy, culture, food, the Domestic Church, the Feminine Genius, and the C.S. Lewis Space Trilogy, among other things.
JonMarc Grodi
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JonMarc is the Chief Operating Officer of the Coming Home Network International and has been interviewed on EWTN programs such as Life on the Rock and The Journey Home, as well as various radio programs. A graduate student of philosophy at Franciscan University of Steubenville, JonMarc resides in Perrysburg, OH, with his wife and five young children. Some of his favorite topics for discussion & writing are the nature of religious faith, aesthetics, Catholic Social Teaching, the writings of G.K. Chesterton, C.S. Lewis, and J.R.R. Tolkien, and various intersections of philosophy and theology in family life. You can connect with JonMarc via the Coming Home Network, on social media, or where he occasionally writes at www.RestatementOfTheObvious.com.
Ep25. The Spirituality of the To-Do List
“The gift of the freak-out.” In this episode, Teresa and JonMarc praise God for the gift of Teresa’s hysterics and discuss the ways in which you can take your subconscious worries to conscious prayer through the to-do list.
Ep24. Gardening- God Made Creation for ABUNDANCE
What do our human relationships tell us about how we should build a relationship with GOD?
Ep23. Freedom vs. The Bandwagon
Bandwagons are the height of SOCIAL IMPRUDENCE. They seek to capture and control the interior lives of everyday people.
Why do we jump on bandwagons? God gave us freedom of thought, so why do so many people fall for a group think mentality that restricts freedom? JonMarc and Teresa discuss movements that try to use and abuse our interior lives and what the Catholic Church has to say about man’s FREE WILL.
Ep22. Relationships & Prayer
What do our human relationships tell us about how we should build a relationship with GOD?
Ep21. “Let him deny himself…” - Giving up CONTROL for LENT
In this episode of Elevate Ordinary, JonMarc and Teresa usher us into Lent with a reflection on the crisis that Lent presents for each Christian: the battle with self-will.
Ep 20. Overcoming Gossip and Slander
This episode will blow your mind! JonMarc and Teresa discuss the Church’s teaching on gossip, slander, and the revelation of the interior life.
Ep19. Elevate RE-reading Books
JonMarc and Teresa discuss the merits and value of different methods of re-reading great books. How does re-reading, Lectio divina, audiobooks, movie-versions enhance the ways in which we great works of literature.
18. The Litany of Humility
In this episode, JonMarc and Teresa examine one of the most powerful prayers for self-reflection and growth in virtue, The Litany of Humility.
17. Messy Hospitality & Third Spaces - with Leah Libresco
“What do you do alone that you wish you could do with someone else?” In this second episode in the Elevate Ordinary series on Hospitality, Catholic writer and speaker Leah Libresco joins JonMarc and Teresa to discuss the desperate need for messy hospitality and why third spaces are so important for forming community.
Ep16. Embrace the Contrast — Three EASY Ways to Elevate Advent
In this episode of Elevate Ordinary we share THREE simple things you can embrace in order to observe a more fruitful and prayerful Advent in preparation for Christmas. We also have fun recounting some of trials and tribulations that involved in the development of our own Advent traditions. Enjoy!
Ep15. Handiwork with Fr. Peter Grodi
In this episode of Elevate Ordinary, we welcome a special guest, JonMarc's brother, Father Peter Grodi to discuss working with your hands — how manual labor and the fruit of artistic labor are deeply tied to our human nature and are thus indispensable aspects of life.
Ep14. Sleep
How do parents of 5 children under the age of 10 get good sleep?!! JonMarc and Teresa cozy up in their robes and blue-blocking glasses to talk about their obsession with getting good SLEEP. Tips, tricks, and theological analysis ensue…
Ep13. The Office - with Leah Darrow
JonMarc and Teresa are joined by Catholic speaker, author, and fellow podcaster, Leah Darrow, to geek out on their favorite show THE OFFICE. The trio discusses personalism, community, and how this American sitcom has deepened their ability to live out the Gospel.
Ep12. Imperfect Hospitality Pt. 1
Elevate messy hospitality! Imperfect hospitality is the way we are going to get back our parishes, revive the role of the laity, and fulfill the desire for friendship. In this introductory episode on hospitality, JonMarc and Teresa share a bit about how the hospitality of fellow Christians opened their hearts to intentionally living hospitality. This is Part 1 of many future episodes on hospitality.
11. Not a Tame Lion - Understanding Fear of the Lord
The gifts of the Holy Spirit "complete and perfect the virtues of those who receive them. They make the faithful docile in readily obeying divine inspirations." JonMarc and Teresa discuss this gift of Fear of the Lord.
10. Property, Democracy, and Art: How Owning Land Positively Affects The World
What is the value in owning land? How does democracy and ownership artistically add to the beauty of our world? In this episode Brandon Vogt joins us to discuss the Catholic worldview of personal property and the sacramental nature of our homes. We share insights from GK Chesterton and Josef Pieper, discussing how man's home is his masterpiece, and why modern society should return to the home as the focal point for building meaningful community.
9. A Boundary Unites: Practical ideas for difficult conversations
How well do YOU think Americans communicate and share ideas? Do you ever come out of a heated conversation with regrets? A society is only good as its ability to communicate effectively. In this episode, JonMarc and Teresa discuss practical ideas for having difficult conversations.
8. Pride and Sloth: Fleeing From Reality
How fast do sloths REALLY move? Just kidding. Join Teresa and JonMarc Grodi for a discussion about the ways in which we are tempted to flee from reality as they examine the vices of pride and sloth.
7. COFFEE BREAK: What coffee can teach us about Christian living
JonMarc and Teresa host special guest Seth Paine of That Nerdy Catholic to talk about the connoisseurship of COFFEE, fighting FOMO in order to go deeper into every day experiences, and appreciating the created world.
6. Serenity Now: The Hardest Virtue is Patience
How do you find lasting serenity in your life? St. Thomas Aquinas says, “Through patience, man possesses his soul.” But why is patience such a hard virtue to cultivate? JonMarc and Teresa discuss the Virtue of Patience; not a white-knuckled avoidance of lashing out, but true serenity of mind and soul.