Dominican sisters reach wide audiences by sharing ordinary conversation on a podcast

# What the show is

Dominican Sisters Open Mic is a weekly podcast recorded in a studio next to the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist motherhouse in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Each episode features sisters talking around a table with microphones about topics such as prayer, religious life, teaching science or catechism, and occasional pastimes like basketball or Ultimate Frisbee.

# Who leads it

Sr. Miriam Holzman, 44, is the podcast's host. She was a pharmacist in Toronto before entering religious life about 20 years ago. Miriam does not use a smartphone and is not on social media, yet she agreed to host because of her natural, approachable way of speaking. Sr. John Dominic Rasmussen, a founder of the order and executive director of Openlight Media, created the concept to give sisters an opportunity to sit down and talk.

# Why listeners respond

The appeal is simple and specific: the conversations feel genuine and supportive. Miriam's responses to fellow sisters — quick, affirming praise when someone mentions a hobby or skill — became a focal point in short-form clips edited for social platforms. Listeners on TikTok and Instagram praised the sisters' vibe across a broad audience that included many non-Catholics.

# Growth and metrics

By mid-September the program had about 100,000 weekly listeners across podcast platforms, more than 8 million TikTok likes and over 450,000 followers on social media. The reaction included viral short clips and coverage in news outlets worldwide, and social trends linked the show to phrases such as "nun girl summer." Miriam treats the attention with caution: she prays about the show and its reception and does not base ministry on follower counts.

# How the sisters integrate the podcast with religious life

The sisters' daily rhythm remains rooted in communal prayer, starting together at 5 a.m. and ending with evening prayer. Most sisters spend time teaching in schools across multiple states, and many live in silence outside those duties. The production team at Openlight Media edits clips for social platforms, while the sisters collectively pray for people who bring questions and concerns to comment sections.

# Production and format

Episodes run about an hour. The recording space is described as a wooden table in a room with blue-gray walls and a neat built-in bookshelf. The table is sparse—two microphones and cups with the Openlight Media logo—so the focus stays on conversation. Editors create shorter clips for TikTok and Instagram, which have helped the podcast reach audiences who might not otherwise seek out Catholic programming.

# The hosts' approach to attention

Miriam says she did not expect to go viral and interprets the unexpected reach as an example of how events can unfold in surprising ways. She prays about each episode and for listeners, sometimes during bike rides or in the chapel. The podcast is described by Miriam as an extension of spiritual motherhood: a way for the sisters to be present to people who tune in.

# Where the sisters serve

# Bottom line