Girlfriends (A Podcast for Catholic Women)

BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE, a brief update on Danielle! She is home from the hospital and doing much better. She is gaining strength every day and is so grateful for all of your prayers and good wishes. This episode was recorded before she got sick, so there is no mention of her illness in this week's show. Thank you for all your support and encouragement. You can et all the latest updates and details a...

A quick explanation on Danielle's absence this week from her daughter, Gabby. Please pray for Danielle's healing and recovery, as she still is in the hospital in NYC. Updates later this week will be available at daniellebean.substack.com . Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'...

In this conversation, Sarah Mackenzie discusses the life and work of Barbara Cooney, a renowned author and illustrator of children's books. Sarah shares her fascination with Barbara's illustration style and her discovery of Barbara's life as a mother of four who placed her drawing table in the busiest room of her house. Sarah also highlights Barbara's commitment to detail and precision in her illu...

In this episode, Danielle Bean talks to Maria Marianyagam, a children's book author, about teaching kids virtue. Maria shares her journey of becoming a children's book author and the importance of starting to teach virtues at a young age. They discuss Maria's board book series, which focuses on virtues like hope and courage, and how parents can engage with the series. Danielle also addresses the t...

Do you know that next Sunday we will observe Divine Mercy Sunday ? This time of year is a wonderful opportunity to focus on Jesus’ gift of Divine Mercy. A great way to celebrate Easter for all 50 days is to plan to practice the Corporal Works of Mercy in your family and in your community. In this week’s show, Danielle shares ideas for creative ways to practice each of the works of mercy: Feed the...

In this episode, Danielle Bean shares five things to inspire your Holy Week. She encourages listeners to add more quiet to their lives, make Holy Week different, engage in interactive prayer experiences, consider Holy Week creative projects, take a pilgrimage, plan for a special Good Friday, and attend additional liturgies at church. At the end of this week's show, Danielle offers advice and encou...

In this episode, Danielle Bean discusses how to handle family drama. She emphasizes the importance of setting realistic expectations, thinking ahead and planning ahead, picking your battles, and setting boundaries. She also shares listener feedback on cultivating joy and offers advice on embracing your temperament, faking it till you make it, and praying for the grace to be more joyful. Takeaways...

In this episode, Danielle Bean interviews Erika Ahern from CatholicVote and The Loop . They discuss the importance of engaging in deep conversations about politics and religion, teaching children to navigate these topics, and the mission of The Loop to "become the media." They also share insights on balancing work, home, and relationships, and offer advice on seeking forgiveness and navigating dif...

In this episode, Danielle Bean discusses what to do when feeling unmotivated. She provides 10 different strategies to consider, including reflecting on the root cause of the lack of motivation, setting small goals, finding inspiration, changing your environment, being kind to oneself, taking breaks in your work, seeking support, focusing on the why behind the goal, trying something new, and celebr...

You know you love candles! How about some free CATHOLIC candles? Michael and Anna Camacho, the husband and wife team behind CORDA Candles , join Danielle Bean on the Girlfriends podcast. They share their journey of starting a faith-based candle business and the inspiration behind their unique scents. The couple discusses the challenges and rewards of working together as a married couple and the im...

In this episode, Danielle Bean interviews Emily Stimson Chapman about her work as a writer and her collaboration with Scott Hahn in creating Catholic children's books. Her newest book is The Supper of the Lamb . They discuss the importance of engaging children in theology and finding balance in motherhood. Emily shares her experience of saying no to opportunities and the challenges of managing wri...

In this episode, Danielle Bean discusses the upcoming season of Lent and provides ideas for how to approach it. She encourages listeners to do something more, do something less, and love someone better during Lent. She shares personal stories and examples to illustrate these concepts. Additionally, she reads listener feedback about forgiveness and concludes by inviting listeners to join her Lenten...

Father Basil Nortz, author of Holy Silence , joins the Girlfriends podcast to discuss the importance of silence in a noisy world. He shares the inspiration behind writing his book, Holy Silence: A Practical Guide to Recollection in God , and the different types of silence, including silence of the body, silence of the senses, silence of the memory, silence of the imagination, silence of conversati...

In this week's episode, Danielle discusses the important topic of forgiveness, even in the face of terrible things. She emphasizes the need for flexibility in our plans and goals, as well as the importance of recognizing our own need for forgiveness. Danielle shares personal stories and insights from Scripture to highlight the challenges and rewards of forgiveness. She encourages listeners to choo...

In this episode, Danielle Bean interviews licensed marriage and family therapist Melissa Tablada about resolving conflict in marriage. They discuss the importance of deep connection, practical guidelines for resolving conflict, the value of date nights and couple prayer, and the myth of not going to bed angry. Melissa provides practical advice for couples to communicate effectively and maintain a...

This week we are thrilled to be launching the Dan & Danielle Bean podcast, exclusively available through subscription at daniellebean.com . After more than 7 years of podcasting on her own with Girlfriends, Danielle is overjoyed to be working on this project with her husband Dan and can’t wait to share it with you! Dan and Danielle have been married almost 30 years (this July!) and they have e...

Danielle Bean chats with Dr. Bob Schuchts, the bestselling author of Be Healed and the founder of the John Paul II Healing Center in Tallahassee, Florida. Danielle and Dr. Schuchts discuss every person's need for healing, some ways that we sometimes seek healing in all the wrong places, and Jesus as the source of all healing. They also explore the importance of belief in God's healing power and th...

Did you make any resolutions this year? In case you need a little inspiration and encouragement, Danielle shares her idea for the ONLY resolution you need to make. If you do nothing else this year, consider working on this--letting God love you. Three things to keep in mind as you do that: 1. Take the time. It takes time to get to know God and let him enter more deeply into your life. Time and aga...

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We are taking a break and using this opportunity to revisit this popular episode where Danielle shares 5 innovative ideas for things to give up in the new year. 1. Undisciplined phone use Are you constantly checking your phone throughout your day? Do you spend too much time mindlessly scrolling through social media? Consider setting limits to when, where, and ho...

“Your marriage is the foundation on which your entire family life is built. Anytime you've got extra pressure in your outside lives, it can really add to the pressure that you experience in your relationship.” In the weeks that lead up to Christmas, financial stress, social pressure, and endless to-do lists can add up to a tense situation in your marriage. We need to take steps to protect and nurt...

“Give your kids the gift of Scripture that's going to be imprinted on their hearts forever. Put it into their hearts and minds. Make that what's filling their little hearts during this season of Advent.” Here we are, in the thick of Advent! Are you stressed yet? Let’s stay focused on the things that are truly important and help our kids to do the same. Danielle is sharing 6 ideas for ways to nurtu...

Snippet From the Show “I do this podcast for you, so it makes sense that I would answer your questions to celebrate the 400th episode. I’m so grateful you’re here. ” Crazy, but true! This is the 400th episode of the Girlfriends podcast and to mark the occasion, Danielle asked for your questions and she answers many of them in today’s show. From work/life balance to raising Catholic kids, Danielle...

Snippet From the Show “The holiday season can be a hard time for many people. If you are grieving or struggling, it can be hard to feel pressured to be joyful.” Ready or not, Advent is here! Are you looking forward to this crazy-busy season, or approaching the holidays with some sadness this year? The good news is that joy is not something that depends on your outer circumstances or even your feel...

Snippet From the Show “I think that the question of love is something really pressing today and the hearts and minds of everyone, especially of young people.” – Anne Marie Bollman Today’s special guest is Anne Marie Bollman, a senior at the University of Notre Dame studying the Program of Liberal Studies and Theology with a minor in history. On campus, she is a student worker for the de Nicola Cen...

Snippet From the Show “When it comes to our spending habits, sometimes the most important thing we need is information.” Whether it’s because of inflation or your growing family, as we look ahead to Thanksgiving and Christmas, many of us are facing tighter budgets this year. Danielle is sharing some reminders of simple ways that we cut back a bit and save some money this month: No-Spend Challenge...