The Tammy Peterson Podcast

178. Why Modern Education Is Failing Our Children | Michael Van Hecke

Modern education has lost its sense of history, meaning, and moral orientation—and I believe that loss is shaping how our children see the world and themselves. In this episode, I sit down with Michael, a lifelong educator and the Founder and President of the Catholic Textbook Project, to explore why history must be taught as story rather than fragmented facts, and why faith, imagination, and truth are essential to real education. Drawing on his 35 years in Catholic education, his background in classical liberal arts, and his work as a former headmaster and educational leader, Michael explains how removing Christianity from the teaching of Western civilization distorts our understanding of culture, virtue, and human purpose. We discuss the dangers of modern social studies models, the importance of teaching children through flawed but redemptive historical figures, and how parents and educators can help restore wisdom, courage, and hope in the next generation. I invite you to listen thoughtfully, share your reflections in the comments, and subscribe if you value meaningful conversations about faith, culture, and the formation of the human person. Find more from Michael: Catholic Textbook Project: https://www.CatholicTextbookProject.com/Tammy Catholic Liberal Education: www.CatholicLiberalEducation.org LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/michael-van-hecke-447ba8a Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tammy.m.peterson Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TammyPetersonPodcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tammypetersonpodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tammy1Peterson

177. How Letting Go of Sugar Changed His Body, Mind, and Faith | Carnivore Me

What happens when a 200 pound weight loss, a radical health transformation, and a renewed faith collide in one life changing journey? In this episode of the Tammy Peterson Podcast, I sit down with Bruce Langworthy to explore how removing sugar, simplifying his diet, and committing to disciplined daily habits helped restore his body, sharpen his mind, and deepen his spiritual clarity. Bruce shares his experience with chronic illness, inflammation, brain fog, and how a carnivore-based approach, combined with gratitude, prayer, and personal responsibility, reshaped not only his physical health but his entire outlook on life. As a longtime software professional, Bruce brings a thoughtful and grounded perspective to healing, discipline, and modern living. This conversation is about far more than weight loss, it is about reclaiming agency, purpose, and hope. I invite you to listen, reflect, share your thoughts in the comments, and subscribe for more honest conversations about healing, faith, and personal transformation. Find more from Bruce: Twitter: https://twitter.com/BruceLangworthy Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tammy.m.peterson Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TammyPetersonPodcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tammypetersonpodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tammy1Peterson Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/TammyPetersonPodcast  

176. He Was Misdiagnosed for 9 Years — Here's What Doctors Missed | Otto Rothmund

What happens when chronic illness, autoimmune disease, and medical misdiagnosis collide with a healthcare system that refuses to listen? In this episode, I sit down with Otto Rothmund, a 23-year-old entrepreneur who spent nine years being misdiagnosed while battling autoimmune encephalitis, Lyme-related complications, and debilitating panic and isolation, and we explore what it feels like to be told your suffering is psychosomatic when your life is falling apart. Otto shares how chronic pain, medical gaslighting, insurance barriers, and missed diagnoses shaped his childhood, education, relationships, and identity, as well as the turning points that finally helped him reclaim energy, hope, and direction through diet, mindset, and perseverance. His story offers insight into invisible illness, patient advocacy, and the emotional toll of long-term illness while reminding us why validation, compassion, and honest inquiry matter so deeply in healthcare. Otto's courage, clarity, and willingness to speak openly about loneliness, resilience, and rebuilding make this conversation both sobering and deeply hopeful. If this episode resonates with you, please leave a comment with your thoughts, subscribe for more meaningful conversations, and share this with someone who needs to feel seen. Find more from Otto: Otto Rothmund: https://www.instagram.com/ottorothmund/ Convent PHL: https://www.instagram.com/conventphl/ DJBumpStock: https://x.com/DJBumpStock Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tammy.m.peterso Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TammyPetersonPodcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tammypetersonpodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tammy1Peterson Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/TammyPetersonPodcast

175. Why This Author's Children's Books Are Captivating Adults | Anthony DeStefano

What does it really mean to pray for a miracle, and why do sincere prayers sometimes seem to go unanswered? In this episode, I sit down with Anthony DeStefano to explore faith, prayer, miracles, and the tension many Christians feel between trust in God and disappointment when outcomes don't unfold as hoped. We talk about how miracles are understood in Christian theology, why anxiety can quietly undermine faith, and how prayer often requires holding paradoxes at the same time—action and surrender, courage and fear, precision and openness to God's will. Anthony draws from decades of writing, teaching, and theological reflection to offer a grounded, compassionate framework for praying with honesty, peace, and perseverance, even in suffering. If you've ever struggled with unanswered prayer or wondered how faith works in real life, I invite you to listen, reflect, and share your thoughts in the comments—and don't forget to subscribe for more thoughtful conversations on faith, meaning, and the inner life. Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tammy.m.peterson Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TammyPetersonPodcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tammypetersonpodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tammy1Peterson Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/TammyPetersonPodcast

174. Raising Strong Children: The Values That Build a Better Future | Louise Kirk

What if the lessons children need most have quietly disappeared from our classrooms? In this conversation, I speak with Louise Kirk, UK Coordinator for *Alive to the World*, an international character-education program using storytelling to teach children the virtues and life skills that shape a meaningful future. Louise has spent years researching how modern sex and relationships education took root in the UK—and how a return to grounded, family-centered wisdom could restore clarity and confidence to young people today. Together, we explore the power of story, the importance of early formation, the role of parents as primary educators, and why understanding our own biology and purpose can give children deeper self-respect and healthier relationships. Find more from Louise: Alive to the World: www.alivetotheworld.co.uk Sexuality Explained: https://alivetotheworld.co.uk/product/sexuality-explained-a-guide-for-parents-and-children/ Connect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tammy.m.peterson Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TammyPetersonPodcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tammypetersonpodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tammy1Peterson Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/TammyPetersonPodcast