Episode 29: Mary Coyne Wessling - outspoken, empathy, advocacy

Welcome to episode 29 of the lilylist podcast! Today, we're joined by the insightful and dynamic Mary Wessling. In this engaging conversation, Mary takes us on a journey through her life, from her upbringing in a large Irish Catholic family in Cleveland to her impactful work in journalism and social advocacy. Get ready to hear about her early experiences shaping her empathetic and outspoken nature, the pivotal moments that defined her career and personal life, and her ongoing passion for connecting with people and making a difference.

Here are some highlights from this episode:

* Early Life and Family Dynamics: Mary discusses being the fifth of six children and how that influenced her, leading to a sense of independence and a tendency to challenge norms, even when it caused friction with her mother. She also shares the profound impact of her Irish Catholic grandmother.

* Discovering Her Voice and Path to Journalism: A key realization during her first week at Marquette University was the freedom to express her opinions without negative repercussions, a stark contrast to her earlier schooling. This, along with early encouragement from her father for her writing, guided her towards a career in journalism.

* Career Beginnings and a Notable Scoop: Mary recounts her early journalism career, including a memorable moment while working for the Catholic News Service where she broke the story of John Wayne's deathbed conversion to Catholicism, beating national news services.

* Balancing Work, Family, and Evolving Faith: Mary shares her experiences as a working mother, including bringing her son to work at the Catholic newspaper, and how she managed a freelance writing career while raising her children. She also candidly discusses her evolving relationship with the Catholic Church, culminating in her decision to leave due to the handling of the priest scandal.

* Lifelong Commitment to Social Impact and Human Connection: The episode highlights Mary's continuous involvement in social causes, from helping resettle Afghan refugees to visiting detained immigrants. She emphasizes the importance of meeting and understanding people from all walks of life and her belief in the power of kindness and patience.

As always, visit lilylist.com for more information on the podcast and platform. You can also contact us from the website, if you have questions or ideas for people or topics you’d like to see us cover in the future.

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Outro music: Denouement by Sift - https://siftmusic.com