Advertise on podcast: The Aligned Podcast with Audrey Diaz

In honor of the Church recently celebrating All Saint's Day, I wanted to rerelease this episode on the saints and why we venerate them.

On October 24th, I co-hosted an event with my good friends Jessica Diaz and Nikki Mariano called Craving Connection. In this episode, Nikki and I recap our call to create this event and the beautiful time we had together. Want to attend a Craving Connection event and know of a good spot for our next one? Inbox me and let me know! Click here to connect with Nikki.

On this week's episode, I have the honor of speaking with Kelvis & Julissa Diaz. They have been married for a little over 20 years, but Kelvis' personal encounter with Christ changed everything for them. Listen in on how the enemy was trying to harm their marriage before Kelvis' encounter and what God is doing now. If you would like to contact Kelvis & Julissa, you may email them at [email protected].

My good friend Father Henry Torres joins me to talk about vocation, the things couples don’t discuss, and the grace of confession and the Eucharist. I said priesthood was hard. He said marriage was, too. Fair enough, Father! Father Henry is Pastor of Mary of Nazareth Church in Brooklyn and Chaplain of Young Catholic Professionals.

Unserious title, but very serious conversation. In this episode, I dive into the Church's teaching on sexuality and marital love. Resources: St. John Paul II, Theology of the Body (Wednesday catecheses, 1979–1984); Genesis 1–3; Matthew 5:27–28, 19:3–8, 22:23–33; John 21; Ephesians 5:21–33; Romans 12:2; 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 and 15; Gaudium et Spes 24; Catechism of the Catholic Church 2337–2350; Pope Pius XI, Casti Connubii (1930); Pope Paul VI, Humanae Vitae 9–17 (1968); Lambeth Conference Resolutions (1920 and 1930, especially Resolution 15); Christopher West, Theology of the Body for Beginners; Jason Evert, Theology of the Body in One Hour.

Christianity isn’t about escaping the body. God created matter, entered into it, and still uses it to meet us today. In this episode, we explore the Incarnation, St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body, and the deeply physical nature of the Catholic faith, from water, oil, touch, and confession to the Eucharist itself. If the Word became flesh, then our bodies aren’t incidental to our faith. They’re part of the story of redemption.

What does it really cost us to love? In this episode, I’m talking about the way our culture teaches us to prioritize our own happiness and fulfillment, while Christ calls us to something completely different: self-gift. From Mary’s fiat to marriage, motherhood, vocation, and the everyday opportunities to love the people in front of us, we look at how God uses our relationships to teach us how to love more like Him.

What happens after God forms us, we fall, and He restores us? We learn to cooperate with grace. In this episode, I’m talking about what grace actually is, the difference between sanctifying and actual grace, mortal and venial sin, and the practical ways we can live the life of grace through examination of conscience, Confession, the Eucharist, and the daily choice to begin again. Because holiness isn’t something we manufacture. God gives the grace. We learn to say yes.

What happens when failure makes you question who you are and what comes next? In John 21, Peter returns to fishing after his greatest failure, but Jesus meets him there and reminds him that his failure didn’t cancel his calling. In this episode, I’m talking about identity, vocation, failure, and learning to recognize the thread God has been weaving through every season of our lives. Reflect: 1. What thread has God been weaving through every version of your life? 2. What if the failure you thought disqualified you is actually part of your formation? 3. Are you asking God what’s next when He may simply be saying, “Follow me”?

What if the life you’re waiting to get through is the very life God is using to form you? In this episode, we’re talking about the lies that convince us our lives should look different than they do, and asking the Holy Spirit for the grace to see the now differently. Because your life isn’t interrupting your formation. It is your formation. If you want to go in deeper with scripture and go 1:1 with me, make sure you join The Daily Thread. Click here for more information.

In this episode, I sit down with Aaron Myler to discuss the importance of serving others and how families can make the corporal works of mercy a natural part of everyday life. Aaron shares how he and his family intentionally create opportunities to serve, forming habits of compassion, generosity, and faith in the next generation. Whether you’re a parent, ministry leader, or simply looking for practical ways to put your faith into action, this conversation will inspire you to see service not as another task on your to-do list, but as a way of life. To connect with Aaron and learn more about his ministry, please visit Service On The Schedule

Maralee Bisono from Society of the 12 joins me for a conversation about singleness, surrender, and learning to trust God’s timing. We discuss the challenges of waiting, the work God does in the hidden seasons, and how to remain hopeful while longing for something good. Click here to connect with Maralee Resources mentioned by Maralee: Dating For Marriage Coaching Irresistibly Feminine Keys to the Kingdom The Queens' Code

The Holy Spirit is often the Person of the Trinity we understand the least—yet Jesus promised it would be better for us that He come. Audrey and returning guest Ivette Guzman explore who the Holy Spirit is, why His presence matters, and how He meets us as Advocate, Guide, and peace in the middle of life’s storms. The June Workbook for The Daily Thread is almost here. Click here to sign up!

Holiness isn’t just for saints in stained glass—it’s for your ordinary, everyday life. In this episode, I sat down with my parish priest, Pastor Jim Stachacz (Our Lady of Lourdes, Malverne), to break down what the Church actually teaches about virtue—starting with the cardinal virtues (how we live well) and the theological virtues (how we live with God). But we didn’t stop there. We also talked honestly about what he hears most in confession… the patterns, the struggles, the things that quietly pull us away from God more than we realize. This conversation gives you clarity: – What virtue really looks like in daily life – Where we tend to fall the most – And how to begin living with more intentional sanctity, starting now If you’ve ever felt stuck, discouraged, or unsure how to grow spiritually—this episode is for you. To learn more about the Daily Thread, click here

In this powerful episode, I sit down with Jessica Gutierrez Arias, a young woman currently battling cancer, whose diagnosis became the turning point of her faith journey. Jessica shares how, in the middle of fear, suffering, and the unknown, she encountered Jesus in a deeply personal way. What could have led to despair instead became an invitation—to surrender, to trust, and to believe in God’s presence even when healing doesn’t look the way we expect. To connect with Jessica, click here. To join The Daily Thread, click here.