Girlfriends (A Podcast for Catholic Women)

Are you familiar with the Five Love Languages, a concept popularized by author Dr. Gary Chapman? Today, let’s look at the love languages in terms of our relationship with Jesus. Jesus is fully God and fully human. We sometimes forget that Jesus is truly human, though. It can be helpful sometimes to reflect on the very human ways that he loves us and wants to connect with us. Let’s do that today wi...

Today’s special guest is Nicole Caruso, a professional makeup artist and beauty consultant, former Beauty Editor of Verily Magazine, and homeschooling mother of 3. Nicole’s mission is to inspire women to invest in their self-worth with her movement #worthyofwearing. She wants women to live an integrated life where faith and style meet. Snippet From the Show Personal style can be a beautiful expres...

Are you feeling stressed? Stress has a way of creeping up on you. Family and work obligations can pile up and increase our workload until suddenly we find ourselves maxed out and losing our patience or experiencing physical symptoms like headaches or neck pain. Stress affects our physical and emotional health in many ways! So let’s talk about some healthy easy to manage it. Snippet From the Show "...

My guests this week are Sam and Rob Fatzinger. Sam and Rob are parents of 14 kids and co-authors of the new book, A Catholic Guide to Spending Less and Living More: Advice From a Debt-free Family of 16. Sam and Rob share about what writing this book together was like, as well as some inspiring stories of life together as a frugal family. Snippet From the Show "There is great joy in letting God pro...

I am not an expert in this week’s topic -- personal finances. But I think that’s why it’s important for me to share my perspective. There are some basic ideas about ways we think about and manage our money that can apply to all of us -- even those of us who are not financial geniuses or Dave Ramsey graduates. Snippet From the Show Remember that God is the source of every good thing,and everything...

My guest this week is Erin Thielman, a disabled veteran who served in the U.S. Air Force before and after 9/11. She later met her husband Jason and they have been married for almost 13 years. Together, they have three children- Alexander, Abby and Andrew. Erin was a teacher until her youngest child, Andrew was prenatally diagnosed with Down Syndrome. Erin is a Down syndrome advocate, a pro-life ad...

My guest this week is Danielle Lerner, a wife, mom, and Emmy-award winning broadcast journalist currently working as a news anchor and reporter in her hometown of Phoenix, Arizona. After telling other people's stories for more than a decade, Danielle felt compelled to share her own family's story navigating postpartum depression and anxiety after the birth of their younger daughter, Harper. She is...

Our discussion this week is about “interrupting your marriage.” What does that mean and why do I think it’s a good idea? I share about a recent impromptu overnight “getaway” Dan and I had, and how it reminded me of the importance of disrupting our relationship sometimes. Snippet From the Show Marriage is more than a business partnership, it's a covenant of love that needs to be nourished intention...

Anna Mitchell, host of the Son Rise Morning Show on Sacred Heart Radio, joins me to talk about daily prayer. Anna shares an innovative idea for making a habit of daily prayer -- an audio recording of simple prayers she created with her co-host Matt Swaim. Snippet From the Show We don't have to have it all together when we approach the Lord in prayer, he receives us just as we are. For episode show...

Are you ready for Holy Week? Here it is, ready or not! This week we are sharing some simple ideas for ways you can make Holy Week a sacred and meaningful time, even inside of your own home with your family. Nothing, fancy, no stressful crafts or complicated prayer practices! These are do-able ways to set this season apart. Snippet From the Show Holy Week is a sacred time when we remember that no m...

This week I am sharing 5 skills I think every young person should work on now, if they want to get married later. These are skills that will be helpful to you no matter what vocation you are called to, but I think especially to those who are planning to be married and have families. Snippet From the Show Your worth does not come from being in a relationship or being married, and your “real life” d...

This week, we have a Girlfriends first -- our very first guest who is a bishop! Bishop Joseph Strickland, Bishop of Tyler, joins me for a great conversation about his new book, Light and Leaven: The Challenge of the Laity in the Twenty-First Century. We discuss ways that families can create domestic churches in their homes, how we can find more reverence and quiet in our busy lives, and what exact...

Are you feeling BLAH these days? The end of winter can be a tough time to feeling joyful. The days are still cold and dreary in many parts of the country, Lent is dragging on, and we can begin to feel restless and unhappy. This week I am offering 6 ideas for ways to add just a little brightness to your days. Snippet From the Show "We know that in everything God works for good with those who love h...

Today my guest is Claire Dwyer, author and editor at the Avila Institute. Claire writes for CatholicMom.com ( https://www.catholicmom.com/ ) and is a contributor at SpiritualDirection.com ( https://spiritualdirection.com/ ). Her new book is This Present Paradise: A Spiritual Journey with St. Elizabeth of the Trinity ( https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1644132877/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&...

Do you have a space in your home that is devoted to prayer? A quiet spot you can retreat to daily and spend time with God? This week, I am encouraging you to make one if you don’t already have such a place. It doesn’t need to be fancy, but it can be a wonderful way to enhance your habit of daily prayer. Ascension is proud to partner with authentically Catholic institutions and organizations commit...

My guests this week are Catholic fiction authors Carolyn Astfalk and Leslea Wahl who can’t wait to share about some fantastic literature options for Catholic teens. We discuss why it’s important to have a genre of fiction devoted to Catholic teens, what that means, and what some of the best resources are for teens and young adults who love to read. CatholicTeenBooks.com is a great place to learn m...

Are you ready for Lent? This week, I thought it might be helpful to look at the 3 aspects of Lent, read some Scripture on each of them, and ask ourselves how God might be calling us to grow closer to him through them this Lenten season. Snippet From the Show "Our time doesn't belong to us, it belongs to God." For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfri...

My guest this week is Genie Shaw, a wife, mom,and liturgical loving coach who shares the inspiring story of her life and work. Genie offers encouragement and support to moms who are juggling many responsibilities but also looking for ways to encourage and enrich their children’s faith lives. Snippet From the Show "It's really about recognizing that you are a domestic church, and bringing some of t...

Kimberly Cook and I chat about her personal experience of feminism as well as some of the history of the feminist movement in the United States. Snippet From the Show "At the heart of authentic feminism, is motherhood." For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends . Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To...

This week we are focused on ways to enjoy romantic time together as a couple -- without having to leave your home or spend a lot of money. Snippet From the Show "The idea of creating together is a really beautiful and inspiring way to truly connect with your spouse and remember who you are." For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends . Get full ac...

My guest this week is Samantha Stephenson, host of the Brave New Us podcast all about faith and bioethics. At the end of today’s show, I answer a question from Listener Kate who wonders about getting started as a freelance writer while she is a busy mom. Snippet From the Show "All creativity contributes to the image of God." For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionp...

My guest this week is author and radio show host Teresa Tomeo. We talk about some of the stories from her new book and ways we can all pay more attention to the ways God intervenes in our lives and communicates his will for us. Snippet From the Show "God didn't promise he'd lay it all out for us, he promised us his daily bread." For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascens...

Do you struggle to make family prayer time happen in your home? This week, I answer a question from listener Amy who is struggling to make family time happen, especially with a change in schedules as the kids have gone back to school. Snippet From the Show “Prayer is a very intimate thing. Sometimes people struggle to pray as a family or as a couple because it’s very intimate. There are parts that...

It’s easy to think we’re being humble when we’re really just being down on ourselves. Don’t hide your light! Let’s talk about some of our struggles in embracing the talents God has given us and allowing him to work through us to inspire and bless others. For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends . Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at dan...

Can we give meaningful gifts that won’t cost too much? This week I’m sharing 6 ideas for doing just that. Snippet From the Show "When you're struggling with a low budget, and you want to give people gifts, and you want them to be meaningful, that's okay! It's really encouraging to remember that it's the thought that counts." For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionp...