Meet Our Speakers

Have us speak at your next in-person or virtual event

Lisa Brenninkmeyer, Mallory Smyth, and Laura Phelps are authors and speakers who would love to share their hearts with women of any age at your conference or event. Speaking on topics from finding joy, overcoming anxiety, and staying grounded in hope to saving your marriage and developing a Catholic worldview, Lisa, Mallory, and Laura will provide engaging, authentic, Catholic content to help make your next event a success.

If you're looking for Walking with Purpose national events, please visit our events page. To book a speaker directly for your event, select a speaker below.

Lisa Brenninkmeyer

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Mallory Smyth

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Laura Phelps

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Lisa Brenninkmeyer

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Lisa Brenninkmeyer is the founder and chief purpose officer of Walking with Purpose. A convert to Catholicism, Lisa created her first Bible study in 2002 out of a desire to see Catholic women come to know Christ personally. In 2008, Walking with Purpose became a fully independent non-profit organization with 501c(3) status and a mission of helping every Catholic woman and girl in America to open her heart to Jesus Christ. Today, more than 49,000 women, young women, and girls participate in WWP each year. Bible study programs take place both in and outside of the parish setting in 44 states, Canada, and beyond.

Lisa has authored 16 Walking with Purpose Bible studies that have received the Imprimatur through Archbishop Lori of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Her first book, Walking with Purpose: Seven Priorities that Make Life Work, has sold more than 80,000 copies. In addition, Lisa has written two devotionals and a prayer journal, and developed a program for tween/teen girls called BLAZE with its own set of study offerings.

Lisa has been recognized by the Catholic Leadership Institute as a National Catholic Leader, and was a presenter at the USCCB Convocation of Catholic Leaders. She has presented the unique model of Walking with Purpose at national conferences throughout the country, and has been a guest on a number of radio, television, and podcast shows as well.

Lisa holds a B.A. in psychology from St. Olaf College and is pursuing her master’s degree in Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville. She and her husband Leo (pronounced Lay-o) have seven children and three grandsons and reside in St. Augustine, Florida.

Speaking Topics

Ordering Your Priorities

Another glass of wine, just one more episode on Netflix, a little more scrolling on Instagram...Women are numbing out at ever-increasing rates. Why? What is it about our lives that makes us feel so overwhelmed? What might change if we figured out how to build lives that we like? This talk explores how we can put the most important things first. We begin by paying attention to the One who made us, because He can best tell us what we need for our lives to run well.

Hallelujah Anyway: Discovering Good Despite Anxiety

Recent research shows that almost 40% of Americans are more anxious now than they were at this time last year. Anxiety affects 1 in 8 children in the US and 18% of adults. If you don't personally struggle with it, then someone close to you does. Is it possible to find good in this current state of reality without sticking your head in the sand? This talk equips us to discuss anxiety, face it, and move forward. When God promised His people a peace that passes understanding, He didn't say, “unless you live in 21st century America.” This is a profound issue and the questions surrounding it aren't easily answered. But together, we can move forward to a place of emotional rest and spiritual security.

Shining a Light in the Darkness

God has promised us that light shines in darkness, and that darkness will never overcome it. This means that we can live triumphantly even when shadows fall on our hearts, families, and communities. This talk explores how we can win the battle in our minds, stand firm in the face of struggle, and live out of our true identity in Christ.

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Brave and Beloved

This talk is tailor made for women who fear losing control, being rejected, experiencing suffering, and stepping out in obedience to God. Our circumstances will differ, but underneath our fears are very similar questions. This talk draws on the riches of St. Ignatius’ Discernment of Spirits, the Israelites’ fears of entering into the Promised Land (Numbers 13), the example of the Blessed Mother, and Lisa’s own story. Through this teaching, women will be reminded of how beloved they are, of God’s present help, and the truth that they can be brave in the scared.

Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts

Want a healthy and happy relationship? This talk unravels the truth from the lies about marriage, setting you up for success before you say I do.
*Getting married will fix what's broken in my heart.
*It doesn't matter if he/she shares my faith if he/she is a good person.
*You should wait to settle down.
*My porn use won't damage my marriage.
*Dating apps are a good way to find a life-partner.
*Living together before getting married is a good way to see how compatible you are.
All these lies are countered with the truth that comes from God's perspective on healthy relationships.
Intended audience: young adult.

A Battle Plan for Ministry and Motherhood

You do not need to choose between ministry and motherhood, but embracing those dual calls requires a game plan. The season before motherhood is the ideal time to prepare. Learn what you can do now and the right choices to make later to make disciples in and outside your home.
Intended audience: young adult.

Mallory Smyth

Invite Mallory to Speak

Mallory Smyth joined Walking with Purpose out of a deep desire to help women come to know Christ personally through the transforming power of His Word. Mallory experienced a powerful conversion of heart in college when she came to know God personally through Scripture. Having worked with college students as a FOCUS missionary and now in women's ministry, it is her dream to see Catholics fall deeply in love with God and grab hold of the joy offered in the Gospel.

Mallory has spoken around the nation including conferences such as SEEK and FOCUS Greek conferences. She has been a guest on EWTN's "Life on the Rock," The Catholic Feminist, Ave Explores, and a number of other podcasts and radio shows. Her book Rekindled won second place in the faith category for the Catholic Media Association Book awards.

Mallory's talks bring Scripture to life and help women to apply Scripture to what they are going through in the here and now. A lover of history, you will always learn something new that will awaken you to the wonder of serving such an incredible God.

Speaking Topics

Living your faith with joy in a messy Church

(Based on her book Rekindled.)
In this talk, Mallory highlights the deep beauty that exists in Catholicism. She also offers practical ways to live focused on Jesus and the beauty of His Church despite the fact that being Catholic can feel messy.

God's purpose for friendship

(Based on her Bible study Reclaiming Friendship.)
In this talk, Mallory presents the Biblical understanding of friendship and how we are called to live out Christian friendship in our everyday lives.

Embracing the beauty that God has placed within us

Although it is easy for women to recognize beauty within other women, they often have trouble recognizing their own God-given beauty. In this talk, Mallory presents the scriptural understanding that beauty is part of the nature of women and how we are called to use our beauty to lead others to God.

Taking control of our thought life

In this talk, Mallory helps the audience to understand what it means to "be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2)." She also gives practical tools for women to take their thoughts captive everyday.

Laura Phelps

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Laura Phelps joined Walking with Purpose in 2016 after a personal encounter with Christ and an undeniable call on her heart to share her story with others. Beginning her journey as a pastoral parish coordinator, Laura has served the women of WWP as a regional area coordinator, blogger, and content creator. In 2019 Laura took to the main stage at the WWP leader’s gathering and has spoken to countless women across the country, at parishes and women’s conferences, ever since.

Relatable, honest, and often hilarious, Laura generously shares the pain of her life, offering you the hope and healing she has found through Jesus and Mary. You will undoubtedly walk away feeling lighter, stronger, and not so alone. Author of Victorious Secret: Everyday Battles And How To Win Them, and Sweet Cross: A Marian Guide To Suffering (highlighted on The Abiding Together podcast as Michelle Benzinger’s “one good thing”!), Laura is on a personal mission to wake women up to the battle and to hold fast to the truth we try so hard to ignore: that there is no way around your cross, so you might as well embrace it.

Laura’s Our Sunday Visitor Innovative Talk, “How To Cope With Unjust Suffering” released May 2022. She has been a guest on many radio shows and podcasts, including The Katie McGrady Show on Sirius XM and Danielle Bean’s, Girlfriends, which you can listen to here.

Speaking Topics

The Everyday Battle

Based on her book Victorious Secret: Everyday Battles And How To Win Them, Laura shows you how to put on your spiritual armor and face the fight every day.

Finding the Sweetness in Suffering

Based on her book Sweet Cross: A Marian Guide To Suffering, Laura reveals not only why suffering is a necessary part of our Christian life, but how we can learn to carry our cross without fear or complaint—and even to find that it is sweet. The secret is Mary.

Serving in the Midst of the Battle

Based on 2 Timothy 1:6, Laura shares her personal battle and encourages others to bear their share of hardship for the gospel.

Radical Discipleship

How to set the world on fire.

Walking through Advent with Our Lady

Perfect for your Advent event, Laura will take you on a journey to Bethlehem with Mary.

Kristy Malik

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Kristy Malik is a cradle Catholic who experienced a conversion of heart once encountering Walking with Purpose in 2011. She jumped in with both feet, starting a Walking with Purpose program at her parish and then becoming a regional area coordinator a few years later. She is now a blogger and content creator for the ministry. You may have seen her leading live Bible studies on Instagram and Facebook or on the YouTube series "Truth with Handles: The Conversation." She has spoken at various parishes in the Washington, DC, area where she lives, and she was featured on the Embrace: Catholic Moms Conference in 2021. She and her husband live in the country with their five children, ages preschool to high school. Her hope is that every woman can experience God's healing love and redemption—and fully embrace the amazing plan He has for your life.

Speaking Topics

The power of community

Perfect for your kickoff or send-off, Kristy will share how the gospel message is intended to flourish within the context of community. Women will leave feeling ready to be the apostles they were meant to be.

Treasure bearers—Evangelizing outside the walls

Family, friends, spouses, children. We long for those we love to encounter the Lord in a deep way. But how? Kristy shows you how your Walking with Purpose small group and Bible study have equipped you to effectively evangelize those outside the church walls.

Freedom from shame

So many of us are walking around with wounds from our past. Whether it’s a result of our own past sin or from something that happened to us, women often carry shame that we would much rather like to dismiss or ignore. This is a delicate and often painful topic that too many women are dealing with today. Kristy will share her personal journey of how facing her shame in the light of God’s healing peace gave her freedom, and how He wants to do the same for you.

What makes a “good” Lent?

The season of Lent is a gift, and the Scriptural roots are many. Walk away with a new perspective on how your heart can be transformed during this penitential season.

Jodi Dauses

Invite Jodi to Speak

Jodi Dauses is a former ABC-affiliate television news anchor and reporter turned speaking ambassador for Jesus Christ. Growing up in a strong Evangelical family, God called Jodi into the Catholic Church more than 14 years ago, and Jodi's friendship with Lisa Brenninkmeyer (founder of Walking with Purpose) played a critical part in her conversion. Jodi worked for several years as a WWP regional area coordinator. She now serves on the WWP speaking team sharing the story of God's redeeming love with women around the country. Her popular blog, "The Irreplaceable Mother" encourages women to serve first and best where they matter most. Jodi lives on a small homestead in Maryland, on the Chesapeake Bay, with her husband D.J. and their four children.

Access Jodi's Promo Toolkit

Speaking Topics

Let's Get Overwhelmed

Are you upset over what's happening in our world today or heartbroken over the division we see on our social media feeds? As a former ABC-televison news anchor, Jodi understands what it means to feel discouraged from all of the negative news cycles! In this talk, Jodi explains how calling on the Sacred of Heart of Jesus can radically change our perspective, helping us not get overpowered by the culture, but overwhelmed with the Good News.

How to Blossom in the Midst of Anxiety

Sharing details of how she secretly struggled for over a decade with panic attacks, Jodi unlocks the origin of worry and teaches practical ways of how we as women can overcome it.

Mama, Go. Home.

As a woman are you feeling torn in so many directions and confused about where to spend your energy? In this heartwarming talk, Jodi invites us to discern how to "serve first and best where we matter most" in our current season of life. Drawing insight from her popular blog "The Irreplaceable Mother," Jodi unlocks five ways God is inviting women to serve wholeheartedly in our most sacred roles.

Battling Burnout

With a touch of humor and a big dose of authenticity, Jodi guides women through how to identify what drains us and how we can purposefully live radically free from the rat race of our culture.

The Rescue

With powerful storytelling, Jodi teaches on the sacred story of the Kerygma (the "Good News") and how Jesus came to courageously fight for each of our souls. Jodi's prayer is that every woman in the audience will have an encounter with the gospel of Jesus Christ, leaving equipped and inspired to share her faith with others.

For WWP Coordinators

When Jodi visits your parish she is able to provide the following: private personal prayer/time of encouragement with you and/or your team, talk outline, small group discussion guide, and Q&A time following the talk. Talks are generally 45 minutes and can be modified to fit the needs of your group.