Managing Your Fertility

I'm joined by Mary Bruno, author, speaker, Certified Creighton Practitioner, cofounder of the nonprofit FAM Base (fabmbase.org), and founder of White Lotus Blooming. Today we're discussing her pilot program, Catechism Caviar. We talk about how it helps women and couples navigate NFP, IVF, adoption, and sexual intimacy while fostering a deeper understanding of Church teaching. In this conversation,...

What if the reason you don’t want to be touched at the end of the day… isn’t rejection - but nervous system overload? In this honest, hope-filled conversation, I sit down with Dr. Sarah Bartel, moral theologian and Catholic sex & marriage coach, to talk about what it really means to feel touched out - especially as a wife and mom - and how couples can rebuild loving intimacy without pressure,...

A new adaptation of Wuthering Heights has sparked conversation — but is it truly reflective of Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, or something else entirely? In this episode, I explore the difference between intimacy and spectacle, why hyper-sexualized reinterpretations of classic literature matter, and what this says about what we’re really hungry for as women. If you’ve ever felt drawn to steamy...

What if the Church wasn’t behind the times - but actually ahead of them? In this powerful conversation, chemist, wife, and mom Katelyn Capistrant joins me to unpack what it really means to integrate faith and science - and why rethinking cultural narratives around feminism, career, and birth control might be one of the most forward-thinking moves we can make. We talk about the hidden costs of horm...

Curious about restorative reproductive medicine (RRM) and how it can transform women’s healthcare? In this episode, Dr. Marguerite Duane, a physician and co-founder of FACTS about Fertility, explains what RRM really is, how it works, and why it’s an empowering approach for women seeking answers about their reproductive health. We explore the principles of restorative reproductive medicine (RRM), w...

Welcome to Managing Your Fertility - the podcast where women’s health meets hope and integration. Hosted by Bridget Busacker , each episode explores how your menstrual cycle is more than a monthly event - it’s a fifth vital sign that reflects your whole-body health. Here, we take a holistic approach to women’s wellness, connecting the dots between your cycle, hormones, mental health, digestion, an...

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Marguerite Duane, a board-certified family physician and co-founder of FACTS about Fertility. Dr. Duane draws on her extensive expertise to explain how hormonal contraception works, its impact on women’s health, and evidence-based alternatives like fertility awareness-based methods (FABMs). We dive into the rising dissatisfaction with hormonal birth control, as m...

I'm joined by Sarah Bartel, PhD, a moral theologian and Catholic sex and marriage coach, to dive deep into some challenging and enlightening topics about sex and marriage. Sarah and her husband, Nathan, have served thousands of Catholic couples through their CanaFeast online ministry, offering courses like the Abundant Marriage course and the Little Way of Marriage Workshop. In today’s episode, we...

In this special episode, I’m sharing a prayer I wrote a few years ago for all of us on our fertility journeys. Whether you're facing infertility, pregnancy loss, or navigating family planning, this prayer invites Mary, our Blessed Mother, to be with us, offering her loving intercession as we dedicate ourselves to Her Son. With the guidance and support of Fr. Alvaro Perez, PES, this prayer has...

I'm joined by Mary Bruno, Creighton Practitioner, author, and co-founder of FAbM Base, to discuss her newest book, "Missing Pieces: Female Perspectives on Sex for Catholic Women", which I am also very honored to have contributed to! This book bridges the gap between your high school sex talks, male and female differences, and a healthy marriage with holy sex that is pleasurable for both spouses an...

I'm joined by Mary Bruno, Creighton Practitioner, author, and fo-founder of FAbM Base, to discuss restorative reproductive medicine (RRM) in-vitro fertilization (IVF), and IUI from a personal perspective in her own fertility journey and her insights and training as a Creighton Pracitioner to many clients. We discuss various aspects of the process of navigating treatment options for infertility dia...

I'm joined by Marguerite Duane to discuss restorative reproductive medicine (RRM) options for women, men, and couples navigating infertility or "unexplained infertility" diagnoses, who are then recommended in-vitro fertilization (IVF) as an option to conceive a child(ren). While we identify what IVF is and how it works, we spend the majority of our time discussing viable options for couples to con...

This is part 3 of the 3-part series on marital debt. Listen to part 1 & part 2 . Tim Pawl is a professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN. He works on metaphysics, philosophical theology, and moral psychology. In metaphysics he works on truthmaker theory, modality, and free will. In philosophical theology, he has published on transubstantiation, C...

This is part 2 of the 3-part series on marital debt. Listen to part 1 & part 3 . Tim Pawl is a professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN. He works on metaphysics, philosophical theology, and moral psychology. In metaphysics he works on truthmaker theory, modality, and free will. In philosophical theology, he has published on transubstantiation, C...

This is part 1 of the 3-part series on marital debt. Listen to part 2 & part 3 . Tim Pawl is a professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN. He works on metaphysics, philosophical theology, and moral psychology. In metaphysics he works on truthmaker theory, modality, and free will. In philosophical theology, he has published on transubstantiation, C...

Should we watch sex scenes in movies? Could they negatively or positively impact marital sex? Today, I sit down with David and we talk about our own experiences navigating sex scenes in movies and the movie that challenged us to discuss how we would approach this issue in our own marriage moving forward. We don't have all the answers and we certainly aren't providing an extended dissertation with...

What if you could talk to your medical professional with confidence about charting your cycle?! In today's episode, I sit down and talk about the current state of women's health care, the challenges we face as women to navigate our care and what we need, and practical strategies for how you can approach your next visit with confidence! I've got a freebie for you, too (just check the shownotes!). S...

Does body literacy matter? I'm sitting down with Christina Valenzuela, founder of Pearl & Thistle, and author of the book, "Cycle Charting for Single Women: The Catholic woman's guide to charting your menstrual cycle for health and wholeness". We discuss the need for body literacy, what it is, and how charting can help women embrace who they are & who they are called to be. We get into the...

We're coming back at ya with a Q&A all about functional nutrition by answering your questions from Instagram! Here's what we cover in today's episode - What are general signs of hormonal imbalances? Can healthy eating heal chrons How do you do supplements? Are they safe? It can seem sketchy online with influencers promoting random health products What about the 80/20 rule for food? What if I e...

Have you ever wondered if food can help the body heal? Do some foods negatively impact your health (sleep, cycle, etc.)? What if you could eat differently and achieve the results you want for your hormonal health? Today, I'm talking with Ginny Noce, MS, RN, CNC, Certified FEMM Instructor and founder of The Women's Health RN. She helps women learn how to optimize their hormonal health through funct...

If you're wondering how you can build deeper connection in your marriage, but don't know where to start, this episode is for you!! Today, I'm talking with Melissa Tablada, licensed marriage & family therapist, to talk about practical strategies, ideas, and opportunities for you to grow in your marriage and deepen your connection with your spouse. We hear it so often in the NFP space: great sex...

What do you think about the idea of women saying "yes" to what God calls them to and not fitting into a particular box or stereotypical role? In this episode, I take a deep dive with my guest, Elise Gallagher, into what it means to be a Catholic woman who lives out her YES to God's calling in her life, while navigating the challenges of the often questionable "having it all" lifestyle. We don't st...

How do you integrate your physical, mental, & spiritual wellbeing? In this episode, I breakdown what it means to live a life of integration and how to practically do this in your own life. Paired with this episode is a workbook that you can download to journal, explore different questions, and invite the Holy Spirit in to see what areas God is calling you to go deeper into with Him. Did I ment...

I asked for YOUR questions about sex & intimacy and you all delivered! I am sitting down with Dr. Sarah Bartel, moral theologian, to answer your questions. We are unafraid to get specific, honest, and address the nuances that can come from these kinds of questions, so we don't recommend this for young listeners. List of questions we address: Using vibrators okay? (many questions about this!) C...

What is priest's role when it comes to NFP? Here's my hot take. We rely too heavily on our priests. We think priests should take care of everything. We expect this in many areas of parish life and spiritual life, which I think is problematic because we are the church. We need to show up and support our priests and support our parish & our community. Don't get me wrong: We NEED our spiritual fa...