Joyful Seriousness explores the sacred work at the heart of Lasallian spirituality and ministry—the call to participate in God’s saving work through education. The podcast reflects on the profound responsibility of forming young people while also celebrating the deep joy that comes from working in schools and accompanying students in their growth.
This spirit of joyful seriousness emerges when the professional and spiritual dimensions of our vocation come together in service to something greater than ourselves: the building up of the Kingdom of God through our ministry, our relationships, and our shared commitment to the young people entrusted to our care.
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In this episode of Joyful Seriousness, we are joined by Armando Diaz — or “Mondo” to those who know him well — a beloved colleague, mentor, and deeply thoughtful Lasallian educator. Reflecting on years spent teaching alongside one another at Christian Brothers High School, this conversation explores the kind of wisdom that often reveals itself most clearly in hindsight: steady, grounded, compassionate, and deeply committed to students and community.
Mondo shares insights from his journey as an award-winning educator at both the high school and college levels, as well as his work mentoring and supporting Latino educators through the Alliance for Catholic Education LEAD program at University of Notre Dame. Together, the episode reflects on vocation, accompaniment, leadership, and the future of DEI in Catholic and Lasallian education.
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30 Apr 2026
Joyful Seriousness Ep. 8 - Tim Joy - The Value of the Story in Lasallian Education
In this episode, I talk with Lasallian educator, administrator and author Tim Joy, whose work reflects a deep attentiveness to the value of stories and the quiet unfolding of a life’s calling. With warmth and clarity, Tim shares the story of his vocational journey from student to teacher to administrator.
This conversation is rich with wisdom and keeps getting better and better as it goes on. We reflect on teaching, purpose, and the subtle ways we come to understand who we are meant to be. Tim invites us to consider vocation as a lifelong process of becoming rooted in relationship, curiosity, and trust.
Thanks for listening!
https://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Work-Contemplations-Why-Teach/dp/B0GN2TGCYT (https://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Work-Contemplations-Why-Teach/dp/B0GN2TGCYT)
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23 Apr 2026
Joyful Seriousness - Ep 7 - Dave Desmond - Continuing in the Spirit of the Work of the Brothers
Today's episode of Joyful Seriousness features Dave Desmond of Christian Brothers High School, Sacramento. He has heroic status on the CBHS community for his tireless leadership to the school during periods of leadership transition and the COVID-19 pandemic.
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16 Apr 2026
Episode 6 - Dr. Jan Mines, AFSC - Leading with Humility and Grace
Episode 6 features Dr. Jeanette "Jan" Mines, AFSC, a prominent educator and former administrator at Lewis University known for her contributions to the Lasallian mission. As the Dean Emeritus of the College of Education, she has dedicated over 25 years to the university, fostering Lasallian education and values. We met at Mount La Salle during the final session of Cohort V of the John Johnston Institute for the SFNO District. Thanks for listening!
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9 Apr 2026
Joyful Seriousness Ep. 5 - The Unspoken Virtue of 'Attention' with Tom English
Today’s episode features a true legend of Christian Brothers High School, Sacramento. Even today, despite being 40 years old and having nearly 20 years of teaching experience under my belt, I remain a bit in awe of this educator. He will always stand out to me as the standard by which all teachers are measured. His robust knowledge of history made his classes engaging even if they went against today’s best practices, featuring hours of lectures and old-fashioned slide reels from his travels around the world. Alongside his vast knowledge of the subject matter, his primary and unique gift was connecting with students — making each person he encountered feel seen, known, and understood.
At around minute 15, we discuss the salvific power of Lasallian education as it takes shape in relationships. He describes seeing a student in need after the loss of a parent, and in expressing love as simply attention, Tom shows how that attention — being named, known, and understood, in today’s language — has the power to heal, if not save, lives.
As educators, we are called to see the perfection in young people that dwells within them by way of their innate human dignity — their Imago. This is a perfection that sometimes only we can see in a way that is meaningful to that young person. In this, we truly do act as guardian angels, as ministers of grace through the sacramental dimension of care-centered relationships.
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2 Apr 2026
Joyful Seriousness Ep. 4 - The Lasallian School as Home with Stephanie Roybal and Mary Alice Spinelli
In this episode we hear from Stephanie Roybal and Mary Alice Spinelli on their career in Lasallian Education. Bother are department chairs and have been friends for a long time in this Lasallian world.
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26 Mar 2026
Joyful Seriousness Ep. 3 - Anchored in the Lasallian Mission with Megan Alexander-Short
In this episode we learn from Megan Alexander-Short what it means to exist joyfully anchored to the Lasallian mission. Megan is Director of Lasallian Student Life at Justin-Siena High School.
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19 Mar 2026
Joyful Seriousness - Ep. 2 - Walking in the Footsteps of De La Salle with Thomas Guro
This episode features Religious Studies educator, Thomas Guro instructor and department chair at Christian Brothers High School.
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12 Mar 2026
Joyful Seriousness - Ep. 1 - Joy, the Unspoken Virtue with Georgine Clarke
Joyful Serious is a podcast centering the voice of the Lasallian educator. In this episode, "Joy, The Unspoken Virtue" we hear from Georgine Clarke on her journey from life with Dominican Sisters to teaching as a lay professional at Justin-Siena High School in Napa, Ca.
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