Discerning Marriage

What should dating actually look like if you’re discerning marriage? Elizabeth breaks down the six stages she recommends: singleness, friendship, dating, committed relationship, pre-engagement, and engagement. She explains when to become exclusive, why multiple first dates can be appropriate, when physical intimacy should enter the picture, and why commitment shouldn’t be taken lightly. She also e...

What if the patterns sabotaging your relationships began long before you met the person you want to marry? Dr. Gerry Crete shares how trauma, attachment styles, and unresolved wounds can shape the people we pursue, the relationships we struggle to sustain, and even the ways we turn to pornography or other behaviors for comfort. Elizabeth and Dr. Crete also unpack Internal Family Systems and its co...

Lance and Nicole have been married for 30 years, but their story of marriage and family didn't unfold the way they expected. They open up about infertility, miscarriage, grief, and the temptation to become bitter when the future you've imagined disappears. They also challenge the common advice to simply “adopt” and explain why adoption and infertility require very different discernment. Al...

How do you raise children who don’t just inherit your faith, but actually choose it for themselves? Angèle and André Regnier share what they learned raising five children while building a Catholic movement for university students. We talk about why parents should model prayer instead of simply demanding it, what to do when your children don’t want to pray, why the people your kids admire can shape...

What can Hamilton teach us about dating, chastity, suffering, forgiveness, and marriage? Fr. Joseph-Anthony Kress joins Elizabeth Busby to explore why discernment is about faithfully taking the next step, not having your entire future figured out. They discuss why marriage is not a finish line, how couples can avoid waiting until temptation becomes overwhelming, and why we should not be scandalize...

Kim Zember shares the extraordinary story of searching for love everywhere she could find it—same-sex relationships, success, missions, marriage, and even becoming someone she no longer recognized. She opens up about cheating on her husband, living with deep shame, and why none of it brought the peace she longed for. In this conversation with Elizabeth Busby, they explore unwanted singleness, same...

What does it actually mean to live for truth when it costs you something? In this conversation, we explore one of the most misunderstood figures in Scripture: John the Baptist. From his courage to confront powerful people to his willingness to die for the sanctity of marriage, his life challenges our understanding of discipleship, masculinity, and holiness. Along the way, we also hear Fr. Sean’s p...

What keeps good people single? In this candid conversation, Catholic matchmaker Madigan shares the hard truths she's learned from working with thousands of singles. We discuss unrealistic expectations, dating app culture, ghosting, attraction, self-improvement, and why so many people struggle to find a spouse despite deeply desiring marriage. Madigan also shares her own unexpected love story,...

What does it actually take to build a marriage that lasts? In this episode, Dr. Gregory Popcak shares the surprising story of proposing after just two months of dating, how he and his wife Lisa built a 37-year marriage, and why prayer became the foundation of everything they created together. We discuss why so many faithful Catholics struggle to find someone to marry, the difference between piety...

What do you do when you keep making eye contact with someone at Mass… but he never talks to you? Should you wait for someone who “isn’t ready yet”? Can you discern marriage and religious life at the same time? And how do you know if the peace you feel in a relationship is actually from God — or just emotions? In this Q&A episode, we dive into modern Catholic dating, discernment, masculinity, r...

In this powerful episode, Father Gregory Pine joins Elizabeth Busby to tackle the "spicy" reality of divorce and the permanence of marriage. They navigate the painful process of discerning a breakup, offering a "home run" of practical advice for anyone currently in the trenches of heartbreak. By exploring Thomistic wisdom and the necessity of "training the tongue," Fr...

In this unscripted “devil’s advocate” Q&A, we respond to real questions challenging Catholic perspectives on dating and physical intimacy—especially kissing during engagement. Is it helping discernment or sabotaging it? Drawing from St. John Paul II and real-world counseling experience, this conversation unpacks the stages of dating, the purpose of engagement, and the difference between emotio...

What if the way you’ve been “discerning marriage” is actually keeping you stuck? In this episode, Fr. Ambrose Criste breaks open a radically freeing vision of vocation, relationships, and spiritual warfare. We unpack how to tell the difference between real red flags and emotional or spiritual attacks, why fear and overthinking can paralyze your discernment, and the surprising truth that you may no...

This Q&A episode with Elizabeth dives into some of the most honest and difficult questions around love, marriage, and personal struggle. From navigating depression while remaining open to life, to the deep ache of unwanted singleness, to breaking free from pornography and building a life of virtue—this conversation doesn’t shy away from the real battles. We explore how to approach dating with...

In this Q&A episode of Discerning Marriage , Elizabeth answers questions about heartbreak, waiting for marriage, and dating with intention. What do you do when someone you love moves on without giving closure? How do you keep hope when waiting for marriage feels harder with time? And how should couples approach physical affection while living chastely? Elizabeth discusses forgiveness vs. recon...

What if many conflicts between men and women come from misunderstanding—not bad intentions? In this episode of Discerning Marriage , Elizabeth Busby sits down with relationship researcher Allison Armstrong to explore what decades of studying men reveal about how men and women think, communicate, and experience love. They discuss why men often prioritize respect while women seek connection, how mis...

Adrian Lawson from Sips with Serra joins Elizabeth to share the full story behind his marriage journey: meeting his wife in high school, dating for seven years, converting from atheism to Protestantism to Catholicism, and navigating major moral disagreements along the way. They discuss what actually changed when he became Christian, why marriage is more than “just a piece of paper,” how to handle...

What does it look like to discern marriage in a world confused about masculinity, femininity, and commitment? In this deeply personal conversation, we explore vocational loneliness, the surprising story of the “24-year-old saints,” intentional dating, dropping the hankie with courage, and the lost art of masculine pursuit. We talk honestly about infertility, miscarriage, surrender, and how God oft...

Mari and Trey Wagner (West Coast Catholic / Ever Be Podcast) share their “behind-the-veil” discernment story—from an iconic meet-cute that started with Catholic mission and Bible studies, to the deeper spiritual battle underneath dating: learning to trust the Father, surrender the dream, and receive it back as a gift. Along the way, they get practical about emotional chastity before “official” dat...

What if the “worst thing” that happened to you was actually God protecting your future? In this episode, Elizabeth sits down with Taylor from Candid Dating to talk about a broken engagement, the freedom to keep discerning even after the invites are sent, and how healing in front of the Eucharist can rebuild hope. Then they go straight at modern dating culture—why we’ve lost the art of conversation...

What if the “spicy” parts of marriage were never the point—and the real battle was for your heart? In this episode of Discerning Marriage , Elizabeth sits down with Emily & Daniel to talk spiritual warfare (and Stoneheart ), long-distance discernment, why “awkward” is the wrong frame for purity and intimacy, and the practical habits that protect real love—like presence, teamwork, and a home wh...

What happens when you meet “the one” while he’s still discerning the priesthood? Elizabeth Busby sits down with Jackie & Bobby Angel to unpack their wild Theology of the Body Institute meet-cute, the moment “scales fell from my eyes,” and the prayer-story that includes a 54-day novena and a “future husband” journal. Plus: their most bracing dating advice—how to tell “reality vs. romance,” why...

A conversation to wake the sleeping giant inside men and women. From discernment, vocation, prayer, and sacrifice — this episode is a rallying cry to stop drifting and step into the mission God built you for. 📸 Elizabeth’s Instagram 👩‍❤️‍👨 If you’re seriously dating and thinking about getting engaged, check out our Next Step course to help discern if you’re both ready for engagement. Theology o...

Link to book: stpaulcenter.co/Jubilee Link to free companion: stpaulcenter.co/jubileecompanion Instagram accounts: @stpaulcenter @emmausroadpublishing and @john.s.bergsma 📸 Elizabeth’s Instagram 👩‍❤️‍👨 If you’re seriously dating and thinking about getting engaged, check out our Next Step course to help discern if you’re both ready for engagement. Theology of the Body Institute Resources: 🔥 ⁠3...

Join us in this episode of Discerning Marriage for a deep dive into Brian's discernment story, how he and his beloved wife devote themselves to their eight children and how they have been able to limit technology in today's tech-driven culture. Stay until the end for a very practical discerning marriage advice drawn from Brian's experience as passionate Catholic and committed husband &...