Rooted and Rising 8/24/2026 - True beauty isn’t a filter. It’s how you show up.

On this episode of Rooted and Rising, Julie Shore and Father Michael Prey dig into Pope Leo XIV’s recent homily and the Feast of the Assumption—and what it means for anyone navigating campus life, social media pressure, and the constant noise about how you “should” look or perform. They unpack why Mary isn’t just a statue that always looks young and perfect. She’s a model of lasting beauty rooted in faithfulness, kindness, sacrifice, and real relationship with Christ. From helping a stressed roommate move in, to choosing presence over perfection, to noticing the people around you instead of scrolling past them—this conversation gets practical about what beauty in action actually looks like on a college campus. If you’re tired of the highlight reel and hungry for something more grounded, this one’s for you. Listen now.