Regaining the Peace of the Interior Gaze
Pope Saint John Paul II once described how Adam and Eve, before the fall, could look at one another with total peace, free of shame or doubt. Jim and Meghan sit down with Catholic evangelist, author, and speaker Tanner Kalina to talk about what it means to reclaim that same peace today. A former actor and comedian who left Hollywood behind, Tanner shares how baseball, acting, and finally Christ became the true search of his heart. With honesty and humor, he opens up about surrender, authenticity, and the daily choice to make God first.
What’s in this episode:
The meaning behind Tanner's masterclass title, Regaining the Interior Gaze
Pope Saint John Paul II's teaching on Adam and Eve's original peace
Tanner's journey from baseball and Hollywood to full conversion
Saint Augustine's reminder that our hearts are restless until they rest in God
Why today's youth crave authenticity in a culture of noise
The origin story behind the Saints Alive podcast on Hallow
How saints' stories differ from Hollywood's celebrity narratives
Lessons in humility from Tanner's time as an older FOCUS missionary
The theme of surrender running through Tanner's whole story
Advice for young Catholics who want to evangelize through new media
One resource every Catholic family should know: Ascension Press
Book he is currently reading: The Fulfillment of All Desire by Dr. Ralph Martin, his own book All Your Heart, and a novel called Laurus
Advice to his younger self: Do the hard thing and trust the long, slow game; the Lord's goodness will prevail
Final wisdom for listeners: Regaining the peace of the interior gaze is a lifelong process that begins with a firm commitment to the Lord
Resources Mentioned:
Saints Alive (podcast on Hallow) – Radio dramas that bring the stories of the saints to life for kids
Ascension Press – Faith formation resources and video series for Catholic families
Tanner Kalina's website – Personal site with links to his resources, videos, and speaking
The Fulfillment of All Desire by Dr. Ralph Martin – A study of the mystics of the Catholic faith
All Your Heart by Tanner Kalina – Tanner's own book on how the heart is transformed in Christ