The Catholic Leaders Podcast is a space where we host conversations with inspirational leaders to talk about their leadership and how faith informs it. The Catholic Leaders Podcast is hosted by Kim Smolik and Kerry Robinson, CEO and President of Catholic Charities USA.
In this episode of the Catholic Leaders Podcast, Kim Smolik and Kerry Alys Robinson sit down with Sister Mary Haddad, RSM, president and CEO of the Catholic Health Association of the United States. Sister Mary shares the story of her early journey into leadership, beginning when she was called to serve as a Catholic school principal at just 22 years old.
The conversation explores how discernment, relationship, and a willingness to step forward can shape a life of meaningful service and lived faith. Sister Mary discusses the shared early history of Catholic ministries in the United States and how Catholic ministries have successfully continued to work together, including through the collaborative and innovative Healthy Housing Initiative.
She also reflects on the charism of mercy, what drew her to the Sisters of Mercy, and how her leadership is strengthened by synodal listening and decisionmaking rooted in the impact on the poor and marginalized. To Sister Mary, the distinction between service and Catholic ministry is the call to act with deeply rooted faith, rather than simply to provide a service. Catholic ministry is also rooted in relationships: accompanying people in their most vulnerable moments and recognizing the interconnectedness of physical, spiritual, and emotional health.
The episode concludes with Sister Mary’s reflections on caring for caregivers, her advice for those discerning their career paths and leadership roles, and the women who shaped her own life of service, particularly her mother and Catherine McAuley, founder of the Sisters of Mercy.
28 Aug 2026
Abbot Gregory Polan: Language of the Heart
What can ancient monastic wisdom teach today’s Catholic leaders about hospitality, listening, prayer, and hope? In this episode of the Catholic Leaders Podcast, Kerry Alys Robinson and Kim Smolik welcome Abbot Gregory Polan, O.S.B., for a conversation that feels like a “mini-retreat” on the spiritual foundations of leadership.
Abbot Gregory reflects on his Benedictine vocation, the ongoing call to conversion, and the transformative power of prayer and listening. He shares how the Benedictine charism of hospitality — welcoming every person as if he or she were Christ — recognizes human dignity and provides a powerful way to encounter others.
The conversation also explores how memorizing and praying the Psalms, “the heartbeat of the Bible,” has shaped Abbot Gregory’s life and his perspective on the world and the church. Abbot Gregory shares lessons he learned from his years of leading the Benedictine Confederation in Rome and working with Pope Francis. He offers practical wisdom for leaders: cultivate sources of life-giving renewal so that you can face difficult responsibilities with greater strength and freedom.
7 Jul 2026
Anne Thompson: Writing the First Draft of History
On this episode of the Catholic Leaders Podcast, we welcome Anne Thompson, chief environmental affairs correspondent with NBC News, for a thoughtful conversation about journalism, leadership and resilience. With hosts Kim Smolik and Kerry Alys Robinson, Anne draws on her decades of reporting to reflect on finding God’s presence in ordinary people, the power of forgiveness, and the leaders who shaped her career. From 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina to the Oklahoma City bombing and papal elections — Anne’s career informs her powerful perspective on the human spirit, the mission of journalism, and her own faith. This episode concludes with a spotlight on Catholic Charities Boston, as president and CEO Kelley Tuthill shares how her journalism background continues to inform her leadership and reflects on what gives her hope.
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