Midway through Lent, when the desert feels long and Easter still seems distant, the Church gives us one surprising command: Rejoice.

In this deeply reflective conversation, Kimberly Souba sits down with nationally known Catholic speaker, musician, and comedian, Doug Brummel, who uses storytelling to bring joy and catechesis to all. Together, they will explore what intentional joy truly means — not as personality, performance, or positivity, but as a theological choice rooted in worship.

Through Doug’s early ministry, Lighten Up, and now through The Doug and Dave Show, he has helped countless teens and adultsencounter a faith that sings, thinks, and breathes. But this episode moves beyond the stage into the personal: vocation, suffering, fatherhood, prayer, and the Eucharistic heart of joy.

Together, Kimberly and Doug reflect on how joy is not postponed until relief comes. It is chosen — even in the desert.

If you feel dry this Lent — not angry, not rebellious — just tired, this episode is for you.

Together, they explore:

• Joy as vocation and response to a personal encounter with Christ
• The relationship between theology and joy
• What happens when theology loses joy — and when joy loses truth
• Worship and weakness after Doug’s West Nile virus diagnosis
• Choosing joy in suffering and spiritual limitation
• Marriage and fatherhood as formation in faithful joy
• The domestic church and everyday endurance
• Whether intentional joy is Eucharistic — thanksgiving before circumstances change
• How to begin again when prayer feels dry
• Practicing joy when it feels fragile

This Week’s Reflection:

• Where is God inviting you to choose joy intentionally right now
• Is your joy rooted in circumstances — or in Christ?
• What small act of thanksgiving can you practice this week before anything changes?

Invitation:

Intentional joy may not begin with emotion. It may begin with practice:

• Sing if you can.
• Pray even when it feels thin.
• Give thanks before circumstances change.
• Trust God more than the chapter you are currently living.

Listen to The Butterfly Girl Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Pandora, and wherever you stream podcasts.

Learn more about Kimberly Souba:

Website: ⁠⁠www.ksouba.com⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/FaithAndWonderBooks⁠⁠

Instagram: @adventuresinfaithandwonder