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

Looking for meaningful ways to deepen your family’s connection with God outside of Sunday Mass? Download our free guide to discover 10 practical and fun faith-based activities that will bring your family closer to Christ—no matter how busy life gets. From sharing gratitude at the dinner table to watching faith-filled media together, these ideas make living your faith easy and enjoyable.