The Luella Jonk Show

In this episode, I sit down with Sr Orianne Pietra René, a Winnipeg-born religious sister with the Daughters of Saint Paul who's bridging ancient faith and modern technology in the most unexpected ways. From her conversion to Catholicism at age 12 to a chance confession that changed everything, Sister Orianne's journey into religious life—and social media ministry—is anything but conventional.I'll walk you through:✅ How a random priest at a youth conference asked one question that redirected her entire life✅ What it really means to "feed the spiritually hungry" through Instagram and digital platforms✅ The deepest spiritual hunger women face today: the fear of not belonging and not mattering✅ Why social media amplifies what's already broken in our society—and how to navigate it with grace✅ The dangerous temptation of believing you're the savior instead of pointing people to Christ✅ Setting boundaries in online ministry when vulnerability crosses into inappropriate territory✅ How to "offer up" your suffering and make it redemptive instead of wasted pain✅ The critical difference between virtual connection and incarnate, sacramental relationshipWhether you're struggling to find authentic connection in a screen-saturated world, wondering how to integrate faith into your digital life, or searching for meaning in your own seasons of suffering, Sister Orianne offers profound wisdom on bringing intentionality to every space we inhabit—online and off.🔔 Remember: We are incarnate beings who need incarnate relationships. Social media is powerful in its place, but it will never replace the fullness of what we're called to. The dose makes the poison—or the medicine.========================================================Sister Orianne's relevant links:Website: https://daughtersofstpaul.com/Podcast: Dare to Dwell: A Podcast with the Daughters of St PaulInstagram: @orianne_jn

Fr. Thomas Morrow, a Catholic priest, theologian, and author who studies marriage and family. He discusses how anger and pride harm relationships. Short practices and small rituals to rebuild intimacy are highlighted. He explains sacrificial love, humility, and faith-based approaches to conflict. Practical patterns for perseverance, praise, and daily habits are explored.

In this deeply informative episode, I sit down with Michael Podhajsky, a canon lawyer who brings compassion and clarity to one of the most misunderstood processes in the Catholic Church—annulments. As someone who's been married for nearly 28 years and has walked alongside friends and family through divorce, I realized how little I actually understood about this process, which is why I sought out Michael on LinkedIn.What struck me most about Michael isn't just his expertise in canon law—it's how deeply he cares about the people navigating one of life's most painful chapters. He approaches each case not just as a legal matter, but as an opportunity for healing, reflection, and ultimately, freedom.I'll walk you through:✅ What an annulment actually is (and what it isn't)—clearing up common misconceptions about the process✅ Why annulments focus on the sacramental bond, not invalidating your entire relationship or lived experience✅ The step-by-step process of seeking an annulment and what to realistically expect in terms of time and cost✅ How children are never considered "illegitimate" regardless of the annulment outcome✅ When you might need a canon lawyer versus working directly with your parish tribunal✅ Why the annulment process, though difficult, can actually be profoundly healing and provide closure✅ How truth-seeking through reflection helps people understand what went wrong and move forward differentlyWhether you're Catholic and wondering if you need an annulment, supporting someone through this process, or simply curious about how faith intersects with the painful reality of broken marriages, Michael offers grounded wisdom and pastoral care. His reminder that canon law exists to serve people—not punish them—is a message of hope for anyone feeling stuck between their past and their future.🔔 Remember: The annulment process isn't something to fear or avoid. With the right support, it can bring the closure and freedom you need to begin again.========================================================Michael's relevant links:Website: https://podhajskylaw.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-podhajsky-a04aa647/

In this vulnerable solo episode, I'm getting real about what it means to truly trust when life feels fragile and you're hanging on by a thread. We've all heard the beautiful spiritual advice to "trust God's plan," but what does that actually look like when you're anxiously checking your phone for that email, dreading an upcoming confrontation, or second-guessing a major decision you've made?I'm opening up about my own journey with trust—including the news I'm currently waiting on and how differently I'm handling uncertainty now compared to years ago. Because here's the truth: I used to pray like I was God's project manager, presenting Him with detailed plans and validating why my preferred outcome just made the most sense. Sound familiar?I'll walk you through:✅ Why anxiety is simply your cue to pray—not a sign you're broken or faithless✅ The difference between "occupying" your mind with the future versus "preoccupying" it with fear disguised as responsibility✅ How to recognize when you're the fly banging against the window or the cat clinging to the branch—and what to do instead✅ Why "do your best and let God take care of the rest" is more than just a catchy phrase✅ The shift from telling God what's best for you to asking for courage to accept whatever He provides✅ How pride—not love—is often driving that "responsible" behavior of checking the locks three times or rehearsing conversations endlessly✅ Why suffering isn't abandonment but God's way of purifying our prideful little selvesWhether you're a business owner struggling with control issues, a parent trying to let your adult children find their own way, or anyone wrestling with the uncertainty that comes with being human, this episode is for you. Because trust isn't passive—it's the most active decision you can make to release control while still showing up with love and courage.🔔 Remember: Trust at its core is faith in motion. Faith says "I believe You exist." Trust says "I believe You are working for my good"—even in all the messy middle between uncertainty and peace.

In this powerful episode, I sit down with Anitial'A Ware, whose story isn't theory—it's lived experience. As a former Division 2 All-American athlete, collegiate coach, and master's-educated science teacher who once identified as a lesbian for a decade, Anitial'A's journey from darkness to divine purpose is nothing short of miraculous.What struck me as a therapist wasn't just her courage, but her absolute clarity. She's not speaking from a place of uncertainty—she's speaking from transformation. And when I heard her story, I knew I had to share it with you.Here's what we unpack in this conversation:✅ How a prophetic text message and an encounter with the Holy Spirit in a Florida hotel room changed everything✅ The dangerous lie of "you're not hurting anyone" and who she was actually hurting by living outside God's design✅ Why childhood media exposure plants seeds that grow into confusion about sexuality and identity✅ The dark reality of love spells, crystals, and witchcraft disguised as harmless spiritual practices✅ How secular music, mantras, and "safe spaces" kept her in bondage—and how Scripture set her free✅ The difference between manipulation disguised as love and Christ's true, unconditional love✅ Why she chose to put her successful career aside to become a stay-at-home mother of three (ages 3 and under!)✅ Meeting her husband as a "Savior Warrior"—a divine appointment orchestrated by the Holy SpiritAnitial'A doesn't sugarcoat the hard parts. She openly discusses the shame that comes with sin, the cultural pressure to embrace autonomy and independence, and how the enemy uses half-truths to lead us away from God's design. From losing her father to gun violence at age four, to being raised by a single mother working in a factory, to navigating false accusations and identity confusion in eighth grade—her story is raw, real, and remarkably redemptive.As someone who's sat in the therapy room for 25 years, I can tell you: true transformation doesn't come from self-help mantras or crystals in your pocket. It comes from intimacy with Christ. Anitial'A learned this the hard way, and her testimony is a warning and a beacon of hope for parents, young adults, and anyone who's been deceived by the enemy's counterfeit version of love and acceptance.The most profound moment? When she explains how God told her "you are a wife and a mother" while she was praying in her mom's backyard during COVID—and how everyone laughed at her because all they'd ever heard was that she was a lesbian who never wanted marriage or children. Now she's living that identity fully, and her husband's face radiates pure joy.If you're a parent worried about cultural influences on your children, if you're struggling with identity confusion yourself, or if you're simply seeking truth in a world that celebrates pride over humility—this episode is for you.🔔 Remember: You cannot give true love until you've received it first. And the ultimate love—the only love that transforms—comes from Christ, who laid down His life so we could be reconnected to the Father.========================================================Anitial'A's Links:Website: https://tswb.shop/Instagram, TikTok & YouTube: @hisanitialhourFacebook: Anitial'A WareBook: Receiving Glory: An Ex-Lesbian's Journey from Godless to Godly (Available November 1st - Pre-order now!)The Savior Warrior Brand LLC - Christian clothing that displays the love of God and makes people question, wonder, and encounter truth.

In this unique episode, I'm switching chairs—I'm the guest! Rip Esselstyn invited me onto his PLANTSTRONG Podcast to discuss marriage, relationships, and how couples navigate health changes together. If you've been following my show, you know I don't subscribe to just one way of doing things, whether it's diet or relationships. So when Rip reached out, I was thrilled to share my perspective with his plant-strong community.This conversation was particularly meaningful because we tackled something many of his listeners face: the household divided. What happens when one partner is ready to embrace a whole food, plant-based lifestyle, but the other wants to keep eating "like a man"? How do you navigate that without turning dinner into a battleground?I'll walk you through:✅ My 12 core principles for lasting marriage—from partnership over individualism to sacrifice and mercy✅ Why marriage is about "we" not "I" and how modern culture's obsession with individualism is sabotaging relationships✅ The real meaning of commitment as a covenant (not a contract you can negotiate your way out of)✅ Why intimacy goes far beyond the physical and how to avoid transactional relationships✅ How to rebuild trust after infidelity and why longer relationships have better odds of healing✅ The importance of parenting as a unified team (even when you were raised completely differently)✅ Why financial unity means "our money"—not "my money" or doling out allowances✅ The power of modeling behavior and curiosity when partners are divided on lifestyle changes✅ Why acts of love matter more than grand gestures and how forgiveness is always a choice🔔 Remember: Marriage requires constant sacrifice. It's not 50/50—it's 100/100. And when couples stop focusing solely on "me" and start serving each other, that's when the flywheel of love, mercy, and sacrifice begins to turn beautifully.Whether you're navigating dietary differences with your spouse, struggling with parenting decisions, or simply trying to keep your marriage thriving in our hyper-individualistic culture, this conversation offers practical wisdom grounded in 25 years of counseling thousands of couples.========================================================Follow Rip Esselstyn and PLANTSTRONG: Website: https://plantstrongpodcast.com Instagram: @ripesselstyn, @goplantstrong

In this powerhouse roundtable, three previous guests return to tackle the confusion eroding modern marriages and families. Children's rights advocate Katy Faust, philosopher Carrie Gress, and Catholic educator Ester Munt-Brooks bring decades of combined wisdom on what happens when we abandon the complementary nature of masculine and feminine roles—and why getting this right is essential for thriving relationships.From my therapy room, I'm witnessing a pattern: women burnt out from trying to be everything, men who've lost their sense of purpose, and children caught in the chaos of blended families and broken homes. This conversation cuts through the cultural noise to reveal timeless truths about how men and women are designed to work together, not against each other.I'll walk you through:✅ Why autonomy has become an idol for women—and how feminism functions as a "shadow church" promising fulfillment through independence✅ The essence of masculinity and femininity: men as initiators, women as justifiers—and how this pattern plays out in everything from marriage to work to faith✅ How women can reclaim their role without becoming dependent—the difference between weakness and wise interdependence✅ Why men need admiration and women need adoration—and what happens when these fundamental needs go unmet✅ The devastating impact on children when mothers and fathers are treated as optional or interchangeable✅ Practical wisdom for single parents navigating the reality of a missing parent figure✅ Why male headship in the home and church isn't about domination—it's about Protection, provision, and creating spaces where families can flourishWhether you're exhausted from trying to "retire your husband," feeling like you've lost yourself in your marriage, or wondering if there's a better way to structure your home life, this conversation offers a radically counter-cultural vision. These three women remind us that the path to peace isn't found in erasing differences between men and women—it's found in celebrating and leveraging them.🔔 Remember: You can be educated, accomplished, and passionate about your work while honoring the distinct design of masculinity and femininity. The question isn't whether women are capable—it's whether we're willing to embrace what actually leads to fulfillment.========================================================Katy Faust's relevant links:Website: https://thembeforeus.com/X: @Advo_Katy and @ThemBeforeUsInstagram: @katyfaustofficial and @them_before_usBooks: "Raising Conservative Kids in a Woke City" and "Pro-Child Politics"Ester Munt-Brooks' relevant links:Website: https://fevaloryalegria.orgInstagram: @faithwithjoytalksCarrie Gress' relevant links:Instagram: @theologyofhome and @carrie.gressWebsites: https://www.carriegress.com/ and https://www.theologyofhome.com

In this solo episode, I'm sharing something close to my heart - a core teaching from my new Conjugal Love course that challenges everything our culture tells us about marriage and relationships. If you think marriage is supposed to be all roses and rainbows, I have news for you: you're setting yourself up for failure.I dive deep into the dangerous myth of individualism in marriage and why the moment you said "I do," it actually transformed into "we do." Yet most of us slip back into "I" thinking faster than we can blink, and our culture is constantly reinforcing this independence mentality that's poisoning our marriages.Here's what I unpack in this episode:✅ Why suffering and love are inseparable - and why I'd be worried if your relationship doesn't have challenges✅ The truth about marriage as a covenant, not a contract - it's actually a triad with God at the center✅ Real-life examples of where "I vs We" shows up: quality time, finances, parenting decisions, and household responsibilities✅ Why keeping score in your marriage will destroy it - and what to do instead during different seasons of life✅ The powerful puzzle piece analogy that changed how I view Christian marriage✅ A practical Gottman exercise called "Dreams Within Conflict" that moves you from "I" to "we" thinking✅ Why partnership doesn't mean sameness - it means unity through differencesAs a therapist for 25 years, I've seen too many couples trying to outdo each other instead of carrying the cross together. Our strengths aren't meant to make us independent - they're designed to complement each other. I'm not ashamed of my weaknesses (don't put me near IKEA furniture!), and you shouldn't be either.This episode will challenge you to catch yourself when you slip into modern "I" thinking and ask instead: "How can I turn this into a moment of we?" Because marriage isn't two people trying to win - it's two people becoming one flesh, interlocked like puzzle pieces that can't move without affecting the other.If you're tired of the cultural lie that you can "do it all on your own," this episode is for you. And yes, I tell you the truth even when it sounds grim - that's just who I am.🔔 Remember: You cannot live as one flesh if you keep protecting your own turf. Unity demands sacrifice, humility, and daily surrender to what's best for "us," not just "me."========================================================Ready to see your marriage completely differently?My new 12-module course on conjugal love isn't about fixing your relationship - it's about discovering what marriage actually is. For less than the cost of one therapy session ($140 Canadian), you and your partner get lifetime access to transformational content that reveals marriage as God intended it: a sacred mystery that sanctifies you both.Each module includes a short video, digestible reading, discussion prompts, and practical exercises, plus live Q&A sessions with me. This is for busy couples who want to reconnect in the evenings and turn their ordinary moments into extraordinary grace.Once you see marriage as a sacrament rather than a contract, you can't unsee it - and everything changes.Course Information:12 modules released every three weeks starting October 1stIncludes live Q&A sessions and lifetime accessClick here to access the link to the course!Alternative Link: https://luellajonk.thrivecart.com/introduction-a-course-in-conjugal-love/

In this special solo episode, I'm sharing the most transformative moments from my new 12-module course on conjugal love. After 25 years as a therapist and coach, I've discovered that most of us have been viewing marriage completely wrong - and once you see it as God intended, everything changes.I'll walk you through:✅ Why trust is the holy cornerstone of marriage, not performance or perfection✅ How to give from your strengths instead of burning out trying to be both sexes✅ The counterintuitive truth that sacrifice deepens love and creates fulfillment✅ Why the "acts of love" matter more than passion during life's daily grind✅ How to offer up your suffering instead of resenting difficult seasons✅ The difference between respectful accountability and toxic controlling behaviors✅ Why silence with your spouse is sacred space where God speaks most clearly✅ How to navigate financial independence while building complete marital trustThis isn't about fixing your relationship - it's about discovering what marriage actually is. When you stop seeing marriage as a contract and start experiencing it as a sacrament, the transformation is undeniable. Your ordinary moments become extraordinary grace.Whether you're in the exhausting middle years juggling careers and young children, struggling with perpetual conflicts, or feeling disconnected from your spouse, these insights reveal how to find the sacred in the everyday chaos of married life.🔔 Remember: Marriage is not broken because it's hard - it's working. God doesn't call you to feelings; He calls you to faithfulness. Your marriage was never meant to be ordinary.========================================================Ready to see your marriage completely differently?My new 12-module course on conjugal love isn't about fixing your relationship - it's about discovering what marriage actually is. For less than the cost of one therapy session ($140 Canadian), you and your partner get lifetime access to transformational content that reveals marriage as God intended it: a sacred mystery that sanctifies you both.Each module includes a short video, digestible reading, discussion prompts, and practical exercises, plus live Q&A sessions with me. This is for busy couples who want to reconnect in the evenings and turn their ordinary moments into extraordinary grace.Once you see marriage as a sacrament rather than a contract, you can't unsee it - and everything changes.Course Information:12 modules released every three weeks starting October 1stIncludes live Q&A sessions and lifetime accessClick here to access the link to the course!Alternative Link: https://luellajonk.thrivecart.com/introduction-a-course-in-conjugal-love/

In this special solo episode, I'm sharing the introduction to my new course on conjugal love - because I believe it could completely transform how you see your relationship. After 25 years as a therapist and coach, I've realized most of us enter marriage with no clue what it actually is, and it's so much more profound than we imagine.This course introduction covers:✅ Why my priest insisted I charge for this course (spoiler: free doesn't create commitment)✅ How discovering what the Catholic Church truly teaches about marriage changed everything for me✅ Why marriage isn't primarily about personal happiness - it's about becoming a saint✅ The revolutionary concept of your home as a "domestic church" where ordinary tasks become extraordinary✅ How every act of forgiveness, every exhausted meal prep, every moment you stay when leaving feels easier becomes a channel for God's grace✅ Why your dinner table can literally become an altar and your daily sacrifices participate in redemption itselfThis isn't another communication skills program or date night checklist. This is about stepping into what Saint Paul calls the mystery of marriage - something so profound it can only be compared to Christ's love for the church. When we understand marriage as a sacrament, even our struggles have deep meaning.The course is designed for busy couples who want to reconnect - 12 modules for $140 Canadian, easily digestible, with live Q&As and lifetime access.🔔 Remember: We live in a discipline-deficient world. Maybe the challenge you need is surrendering to see your marriage not as a contract, but as a pathway to holiness. Once you see it, you can't unsee it.========================================================Ready to see your marriage completely differently?My new 12-module course on conjugal love isn't about fixing your relationship - it's about discovering what marriage actually is.For less than the cost of one therapy session ($140 Canadian), you and your partner get lifetime access to transformational content that reveals marriage as God intended it: a sacred mystery that sanctifies you both.Each module includes a short video, digestible reading, discussion prompts, and practical exercises, plus live Q&A sessions with me.This is for busy couples who want to reconnect in the evenings and turn their ordinary moments into extraordinary grace.Once you see marriage as a sacrament rather than a contract, you can't unsee it - and everything changes.Course Information:12 modules released every three weeks starting October 1stIncludes live Q&A sessions and lifetime accessWebsite: https://luellajonk.com/the-course-in-conjugal-love/