Girlfriends (A Podcast for Catholic Women)

Are you ready to have another baby? Danielle dives into this question after hearing from listener Catherine who is struggling to come to terms with a new and unexpected pregnancy. Danielle discusses helpful ways to address the different feelings women may have in response to getting pregnant. Snippet From the Show You were made for this. It is not easy, but God will give you the grace you need. Fo...

How can we bring our faith more into our daily lives? Danielle is joined by guest Kendra Tierney who is the founder of Catholic All Year and the author of The Catholic All Year Compendium. Together they discuss the different ways you can make liturgical living do-able in your home. Snippet From the Show When you incorporate liturgical living into your home, the point isn’t perfection, the point is...

How do you manage being a mom who works from home? Sometimes it can be very difficult to balance mom life and work life. Danielle offers six tips to help you thrive as a work-at-home mom. Snippet From the Show All things should be done for the glory of God. For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends . Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at...

Let’s talk about hormones! Danielle Bean is joined by guest Jamie Rathjen to discuss fertility, Natural Family Planning, hormones, and more. Jamie shares her positive outlook on these topics and provides a refreshing and realistic understanding of them. Snippet From the Show In order to accept that fertility truly is a gift, we must understand why it is a gift. For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIE...

Are you a creative person? Don’t say no! All of us are meant to be creative. But in case you don’t feel creative, Danielle shares nine ideas for how to be more creative in your everyday life. Snippet From the Show We are made in the image and likeness of the Creator. We too are meant to be creative. For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends . Get...

Do you have questions about Mass? Danielle is joined by guest Fr. Dave Dwyer CSP to discuss his new book Mass Class: Your Questions Answered. Danielle and Fr. Dwyer answer some of the questions he has been asked about the Mass on his radio show. They also discuss Fr. Dwyer's journey to the priesthood. Snippet From the Show “It would be easier for the world to survive without the sun than to do so...

Holy Week is here! Whether Lent went well for you or not, Danielle brings eight small ideas for you to consider doing this Holy Week. Hopefully, acting on one of these ideas will help you enter more deeply into this Holy Week so that you can grow closer to the Lord. Snippet From the Show Going to confession and receiving God’s mercy is a wonderful way to prepare yourself for Easter, for Jesus. For...

Danielle is joined by guest Lauren Costabile. Lauren is the founder of Hearts of Joy International, a non-profit that provides life saving surgery to individuals with Down Syndrome. Lauren shares the story of how she began the organization and the incredible impact it has had on many. Snippet From the Show Every person has value and dignity because each person is created and loved by God. For epis...

Do you ever feel helpless or anxious? It is common to face difficult situations and feel helpless in the face of them. Today, Danielle shares five things you can do in these situations. She offers advice and encouragement for times of anxiety or discouragement. Snippet From the Show We can have peace in fulfilling our duty of the present moment. For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or...

Danielle is joined by Kathleen Billings, a wife, a mom, and co-author of the new book Simply Love: Catholic Marriage Day by Day. Kathleen shares the harrowing story of how she came to write the book. Danielle and Kathleen also discuss simple ideas for improving your marriage and getting started with prayer as a couple. Snippet From the Show It is so important to take time for prayer as a couple. I...

Are you tired of winter or feeling a little blue? Throughout life, we all experience times where we feel down or lethargic, sometimes for no apparent reason. Danielle offers ideas to “pick yourself up” when you are feeling down. She offers both spiritual and practical advice. Snippet From the Show Prayer can give us the proper perspective on whatever it is we are going through in life. For episode...

How do you make a house a home? Today, Danielle is joined by special guest Blair Saiz. Along with her husband, Blair is founder of The Village Green, an online shop for beautiful handmade goods and decor for your home. Blair and Danielle talk about the importance of filling your house with beautiful things and creating a home. Snippet From the Show It is so important to fill our homes with goodnes...

Are you ready for Lent? Ready or not, here it comes! Danielle shares some of her plans for this Lent and offers encouragement for others to plan their Lent as well. She also shares advice on how to think about Lent and setting expectations for it. Snippet From the Show We need to open ourselves up to the work God wants to do in our hearts and in our souls. For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS t...

What is spiritual direction? Who is it for? Does it cost money? Spiritual direction can be incredibly beneficial, but a lot of us don’t understand all that it entails. To help you gain a better understanding, Danielle is joined by Deanna Bartalini to discuss some of the basics of spiritual direction. Snippet From the Show A good spiritual director strives to serve the Lord by always willing your g...

Are you having a hard time surviving Mass each Sunday with your kids? Today, Danielle responds to a listener question asking for tips and ideas on how to survive Mass with young children. She shares encouragement for every family out there that is struggling through Mass. Snippet From the Show You and your kids belong at Mass. Some days may be better than others, but trust that God loves you and y...

Danielle is joined by special guest Crystalina Evert. Crystalina shares about her new book titled Women Made New: Reflections on Adversity, Transformation, and Healing. She shares about what led her to write this book and why she believes it is such an important topic. Snippet From the Show To be a force for God on earth, we need to be obedient and say “Yes” to him. For episode shownotes, text GIR...

There is power in showing up. Today, Danielle shares about a recent experience in her own life where she felt God calling her to show up. She shares some of the ways God might be asking us to show up and how we can trust in him and his graces. Snippet From the Show When we step out to do the will of God, we have to trust that God will be there and will give us the graces we need. For episode shown...

Danielle is joined by special guest Anna Camacho. Anna is the founder and owner of CORDA Candles. The company makes beautiful scented candles in honor of the saints. Anna shares how the company came into existence. Danielle and Anna also share their experiences of keeping a work-life balance. Snippet From the Show We have to learn more than a soundbite about a person, even a saint, before we make...

Do you make New Year’s resolutions? Danielle shares about a different method for setting goals in the new year. Not only does Danielle share the method, but she also shares some of her own goals for this year. Snippet From the Show Make your goals deliberately doable. For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends . Get full access to Girlfriends Afte...

Danielle is joined this week by Sarah Swafford. Sarah shares about how she came to love her Catholic faith and what she has done in her life to help others do the same. She also shares about her brand new series called What We Believe. Snippet From the Show God does not judge you based on your performance. He wants you to sit with him and live in his love. For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS t...

Does peace seem especially illusive this time of year? Amidst the business of the season with shopping, cooking, baking, hosting and more, how are we supposed to find peace? Danielle shares six ideas to find peace during this Advent season. Snippet From the Show We all need to take a moment away from being “Martha’s” and be like Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus. For episode shownotes, text GIRLFR...

This week’s guest is Anna Mitchell, producer and host of the Son Rise Morning Show on Sacred Heart Radio. Anna is a dear friend and longtime colleague, and today she shares about Our Lady of Sorrows, teaching kids about redemptive suffering and more! Snippet From the Show If we know how God has operated in the past, if we know how his faithful have operated in the past, we can more easily recogniz...

Ready or not, here is Advent! This week, Danielle shares six simple ideas to encourage you not to look at Advent as an exhausting season that you need to create, but as an invitation from God to grow deeper in your relationship with him. Snippet From the Show How are you going to prepare your heart to receive Jesus? In what ways is God calling you closer to him during the season of Advent? For epi...

To support Ascension’s free media, please click here! To find out more about how your gift will be used, please click here! This week’s special guest is Dr. Jordan Almanzar, a professor at Magdalen College in Warner, New Hampshire, who also teaches Greek and Latin at Kolbe Academy. He is author of When the Earth Was Flat : One Boy’s Life at the Edge of the Millennium. Jordan and I discuss homescho...

In anticipation of Thanksgiving next week, we are focusing on gratitude. How can we be more grateful for the many blessings we receive from God? How can we practice gratitude for the many ways people love us and serve us? In this episode Danielle leads us into the holiday season reminding us of four practical ways we can give thanks to God and give back to others. Snippet From the Show It's not ha...