Talking Catholic

Talking Catholic brings the heartbeat of the Catholic faith to life through engaging, thoughtful conversations with leaders, ministers, educators, and everyday witnesses from across the Diocese of Camden and beyond.

Each week, co-hosts — including Jen Mauro, Marianela Núñez, Kari Janisse, Mike Bress, and Mike Walsh — sit down with guests to explore what brought them to where they are today and how they are living out and sharing the Catholic faith in their families, parishes, schools, ministries, and communities.

From deep-dive interviews with Catholic educators and ministry innovators to personal stories of conversion, service, and vocation, Talking Catholic showcases the diversity of voices and experiences that shape the life of the Church. Episodes illuminate the joy, challenges, and beauty of discipleship — offering listeners inspiration, insight, and a deeper understanding of how faith intersects with everyday life.

Available wherever you get your podcasts, Talking Catholic is more than a conversation — it’s a companion for Catholics seeking to grow in faith, understand the Church’s mission more deeply, and encounter the real-world stories of people living their Catholic identity with conviction and compassion.

Intro and outro music provided by A.J. Mee.


Our Latest Episodes

  • Talking Mary with Father Tim Byerley

    This week, Talking Catholic holds its first-ever “MaryCast,” as the complete hour is devoted to Our Blessed Mother.  With Mike on assignment, Pete is joined by guest co-host Kim Pesotski, Youth Director of Saint Mary of Mount Carmel Parish, Hammonton, and Father Tim Byerley, Pastor of Merchantville’s Saint Peter Parish to speak on the Mother…

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  • Nicole Keefer and Rosemary Love

    We’re back to our normal programming and celebrating National Nurses Week by saluting the hardworking women and men providing support to individuals and families, in a myriad of ways, through times of physical and/or mental hardship.  Joining Mike & Pete this week are two valued members of VITALity Catholic Healthcare Services – and RN’s themselves…

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  • Talking Movies: a spolier-filled Marvel: Endgame review

    Spoiler alert! Pete, Mike, and two of Mike’s Marvel Cinematic Universe-loving pals – Phil Huesser and Jay Rhinehart – spent 2+ hours talking about Avengers: Endgame. It may not be the spiritual content you’ve come to expect from the podcast, but we do talk about pop culture movies A LOT so it seems only appropriate…

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About our hosts:

Jen Mauro

Jen is the managing editor of the Catholic Star Herald, the official Catholic newspaper of the Diocese of Camden. She has worked in Catholic media for 6 years and prior to that was a secular newspaper reporter for several publications in Texas, Germany and New Jersey. Jen is an avid traveler, reader, games player, wife and mother to several cats.

Mike Walsh

Mike is the Director of Communications for the Diocese of Camden and the Associate Publisher of the Catholic Star Herald newspaper. He joined the diocese in the fall of 2015. A photojournalist, Mike worked as a newspaper and medical publication reporter and a high school English and History teacher before switching to public relations for non-profits and law firms. A devoted podcast listener, he started the Talking Catholic as a weekly show with co-host Pete Sanchez in the winter of 2016. Mike is also a dutiful husband and father.

Marianela Nunez

Marianela is the Director of Enrollment for the Office of Schools, Diocese of Camden. In her role she oversees all enrollment initiatives at the 30+ schools in the diocese. A native of the Dominican Republic, she is also a wife and mother of two young children.

Kari Janisse

Kari graduated from Rowan University in 2004 with a degree in Graphic Design. After a few years of designing, she felt called to change careers and began working as a Youth Minister in the Camden Diocese in 2008. She worked at St. Bridget’s Church as the Youth Minister from 2008-2009. She went on to be the Coordinator of Youth and Young Adult Ministries at Our Lady of Peace Parish in Williamstown from 2009-2022.

In August of 2022 she returned back to her roots at Rowan University as the Campus Minister at the Newman House at Rowan University through St. Bridget’s University Parish. Kari currently serves the college students sharing the Catholic faith with them at the public college campus.

Kari also is the host of two of Talking Catholic’s YouTube series, “Youth Ministry Insights” and “Young Adult Ministry Insights”. She is also a podcast co-host of the “Talking Catholic” podcast for the Camden Diocese.

Throughout the last fifteen years, Kari has spoken to thousands of youth, young adults and adults on many topics of the faith. Kari also runs an entertainment business where she performs as a stilt-walker, balloon artist and face painter. She has been married to her wonderful husband, Phil, for sixteen years and she is a proud mom of her five-year-old son, JohnPaul! Her deepest passion is sharing the Catholic faith with others and touching the hearts and lives of the young Church!