The Catholic Money Show from WalletWin

What happens when the year you carefully planned gets completely rearranged three months in?
For us, it started with a phone call on March 3rd that changed everything. We had plans for our family, our business, our 15th anniversary, and the year ahead. Then, suddenly, we were traveling to Texas to meet our newborn son, Peter—and dealing with a very different reality than the one we'd planned for.
So what happens to all those plans when life throws you a major curveball?
In this episode, we look back at our 2026 plans and talk about what stayed, what shifted, and what completely fizzled. We also talk about the financial side of having your plans disrupted, and why having a budget and clear priorities helped us take some pretty big hits without getting knocked down.

IN THIS EPISODE:
How we approach our annual family planning and discernment

The plans we made for 2026—and what happened to them

Why our Yellowstone trip stayed on the calendar

How our decision to send the girls to school turned out to be providential

Why Jonathan had to significantly scale back his business goals for the year

What happened to our plans for our 15th anniversary trip

How adoption and unexpected medical expenses affected our budget

Why planning is an act of prudence rather than an attempt to control the future

What it means to make plans while remaining abandoned to God's providence

James 4:13–15 and the importance of saying, “If the Lord wills”

Why we need to create space to ask God what He wants us to protect and pursue

How we're approaching our 2027 plans—with plenty of ambition and an open hand

We're already making some big plans for 2027. Italy is on the calendar, and we're dreaming about the Camino in 2028. God willing.
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Thanks for listening to the Catholic Money Show. God bless!

We’ve reached the conclusion of our Magnifica Humanitas series, and this final chapter made us realize we may have been asking the wrong question. Is this encyclical really about when and how Catholics should use AI? Or is it about how to remain human as we enter this new era?
We talk about the Incarnation, the Eucharist, human weakness, education, relationships, Mary’s Magnificat, and Nehemiah rebuilding Jerusalem brick by brick. We’re called to get in there and help build.

This episode is sponsored by Alto, Ascension’s new Catholic periodical, delivered to your door each month. It brings together the daily Mass readings, Liturgy of the Hours, saint features, reflections, prayers, and more, so you can put the phone down and just open Alto and pray.
Use code WALLETWIN at walletwin.com/alto.

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What happens when artificial intelligence and other powerful technologies enter the world of war?
In Chapter 5 of Magnifica Humanitas, Pope Leo XIV turns his attention to war, peace, power, and the possibility of building what he calls a “civilization of love.” Amanda and Jonathan talk through some challenging questions about AI and warfare, the dehumanizing effects of technology, the normalization of conflict, and what it means to keep human responsibility at the center of decisions that can have irreversible consequences.
They also discuss just war theory, nuclear weapons, economic interests behind conflict, the importance of diplomacy and dialogue, and why peace requires more than simply avoiding war.
And as the chapter moves from the global to the personal, they consider something much more practical: What can ordinary Catholics actually do when the problems of the world feel too big for us?
The answer isn't resignation. We can begin where we are—through our choices and the small acts of faithfulness that help build a civilization of love.

Resources mentioned:
🎵 “Shine On” — Daisy May Erlewine
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🤝 THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY CATHOLIC FINANCIAL PLANNERS NETWORKYou work hard to earn your money—but are you managing it in a way that reflects your Catholic faith?The Catholic Financial Planners Network can help you find a financial advisor who understands that faith and finances belong together.Whether you’re:Investing according to Catholic valuesPlanning for a growing familyPreparing for retirementThinking about the legacy you want to leaveA Catholic financial planner can help you make wise financial decisions aligned with what matters most.Faithful stewardship starts with wise counsel.Find a Catholic financial advisor:https://catholicfinancialplanners.com/

Artificial intelligence is changing how we work, learn, communicate, and even how we spend our attention. But as AI becomes more powerful, Pope Leo XIV asks us to look beyond what the technology can do and consider who bears the cost of that progress.
In Chapter 4 of Magnifica Humanitas, Amanda and Jonathan unpack what the Church has to say about the human consequences of technological transformation—from disinformation and attention-based business models to job displacement, hidden workers, data exploitation, and new forms of inequality.
They talk about:
Why truth and human attention should be treated as goods worth protecting
How technology and social media can shape culture, especially for young people
The impact of AI and automation on meaningful work
The hidden workers behind AI systems and the conditions they may face
How data extraction can create new forms of exploitation and colonialism
Why families, workers, and vulnerable people need to be considered when technology changes
The responsibility of businesses, investors, and technology designers
What it means to pursue technological progress while protecting human dignity

When technology creates new opportunities and wealth, who gets to share in the benefits—and who is carrying the hidden costs?
Join us as we continue our journey through Magnifica Humanitas and consider what it looks like to put the human person at the center of technological and economic progress.

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What does the Catholic Church actually teach about money, wealth, debt, generosity, and financial stewardship?
In this conversation, Amanda joins Angela  Schnieders on Integrated Wholeness for Body, Mind, and Soul to unpack the Catholic approach to money—and why financial freedom should ultimately give us greater freedom to respond to God's will.
They talk about:
Why Catholics need a clearer understanding of financial stewardship

How money can serve our vocation rather than become an end in itself

Getting out of debt and the freedom that can create

Generosity, detachment, and what it means to hold wealth with open hands

Why financial planning and trusting in God's providence can—and should—coexist

Building wealth and businesses for the good of families, communities, and the Church

Why financial education belongs in Catholic formation and marriage preparation

The importance of wills, trusts, guardianship, healthcare directives, and other estate planning

How to approach financial hardship without losing hope

Amanda also shares part of her and Jonathan's story of paying off $25,000 of debt in seven and a half months—and how becoming financially free gave them greater capacity to say yes to the vocation God was giving them.
At the heart of the conversation is a simple question: What if financial freedom isn't ultimately about having more freedom for ourselves, but having greater freedom to say yes to God?

Resources Mentioned
Catholic Money Academy — Catholic financial education: https://walletwin.com/academy

Catholic Money Show — The WalletWin podcast with Amanda & Jonathan: https://walletwin.com/

Support for your journey of faith, leadership, and personal growth with Angela  Schnieders https://www.viriditasliving.com/