The NFP Podcast

In this episode of The NFP Podcast, hosts Emily and Amy sit down with Dr. Tracey Parnell and Dr. Monica Minjeur to explore the mission and impact of the International Institute for Restorative Reproductive Medicine (IIRRM). Together, they unpack what restorative reproductive medicine (RRM) is, how it differs from conventional approaches to women’s health, and why more women are seeking out this in...

This week on The NFP Podcast, hosts Amy and Emily sit down with Jacob and Mikayla, a young Catholic couple and parents to four beautiful little ones. In a culture saturated with hookup culture and distorted messages about sex, Jacob and Mikayla share their powerful love story—how they met, dated, and entered into marriage while choosing to honor each other and their faith by abstaining from sexual...

n this episode of The NFP Podcast, hosts Amy and Emily sit down with Christina Valenzuela, the owner and creative director of Pearl & Thistle, LLC. Christina brings a powerful combination of theological depth and scientific insight to the conversation as she shares her passion for body literacy rooted in faith. A certified Boston Cross Check™ instructor since 2013, Christina has spent over a decad...

In this episode of The NFP Podcast, hosts Amy and Emily sit down with Mikayla Dalton, a certified instructor of the Boston Cross Check Method of Natural Family Planning. Together, they dive into what makes the BCC method unique, how it integrates multiple biomarkers, and why it might be a great fit for women and couples seeking clarity and confidence in their fertility journey. Mikayla shares her...

In this episode of The NFP Podcast, hosts Amy and Emily are joined by Fr. Cassidy Stinson of the Diocese of Richmond for a rich and down-to-earth conversation on family prayer. Together, they explore what family prayer truly is—and what it’s not. Fr. Cassidy offers insight into how prayer can look different from family to family and encourages listeners to embrace the diversity of personalities an...

In this heartwarming episode of The NFP Podcast, host Amy shares some deeply personal and joyful news—she's pregnant! With honesty and gratitude, Amy opens up about discovering she's expecting and the emotional, physical, and spiritual journey of early pregnancy. She reflects on the awe of new life, the power of saying “yes” to God’s plan, and the beautiful, sometimes challenging realities of thos...

n this heartfelt episode of The NFP Podcast, host Emily Appeldorn sits down with certified nurse midwife Brennan Straka for an inspiring and deeply personal conversation about midwifery, vocation, and the sacred journey of motherhood. Brennan shares how she first felt called to the midwifery profession, what that journey has looked like over the years, and how becoming a mother herself has profoun...

In this thoughtful and heartfelt episode of The NFP Podcast, hosts Amy and Emily take on a sensitive yet important topic: conjugal rights within the context of a Christian marriage. Prompted by a recent YouTube video from Timothy Gordon, the hosts reflect on the content and tone of his presentation—addressing what they found to be a crude and uncharitable handling of an issue that deserves care, n...

In this heartfelt episode of The NFP Podcast, hosts Amy and Emily sit down with Kari and Rob, a lovely couple from New England whose love story is a moving testament to the beauty and depth of vocation. From their first meeting to the winding road of marriage and family life, Kari and Rob open up about the joys, sorrows, and sanctifying moments that have shaped their journey together. With vulnera...

In this episode of The NFP Podcast, Emily and Amy take listeners back to the basics of Natural Family Planning. Whether you're brand new to NFP or looking for a refresher, this conversation lays the foundation for understanding both the why and the how behind NFP. First, they explore the essential sexual worldview needed to authentically live out NFP—one rooted in respect for the dignity of the hu...

In this episode of The NFP Podcast, Amy and Emily sit down with Substack writer, homeschooling mother of three, and Catholic convert Amber Adrian for a rich and heartfelt conversation about motherhood, Catholic sexuality, and the beauty of God’s design for men and women. Amber shares her journey to the Catholic faith and her understanding of the female body, identity, and vocation. Together, they...

In this episode of The NFP Podcast, hosts Amy and Emily sit down with the wonderful Joy Stay—Registered Nurse (RN), International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), wife, and mother of five. While her professional experience spans hospitals, birth centers, home births, and even third-world countries, Joy considers her greatest education to be the lessons learned in motherhood and marria...

In this heartfelt episode of The NFP Podcast, hosts Amy and Emily dive into a common — but often unspoken — challenge in marriage: what happens when one spouse longs for more children and the other feels the family is complete? With honesty, empathy, and a touch of humor, Amy and Emily explore the emotional, spiritual, and practical tensions that can arise when couples find themselves on opposite...

This week on The NFP Podcast, Amy and Emily are back at the mic to reflect on a thought-provoking virtual debate between Megan Kelly and Matt Walsh exploring the roles of men and women in marriage. With honesty, humor, and friendship, your hosts unpack the most compelling moments from the conversation—where they agreed, where they cringed, and where they think the Church and culture are still wres...

In this episode of The NFP Podcast, Amy sits down with Elizabeth and Seth, a married couple who practice and teach the Sympto-Thermal Method through the Couple-to-Couple League. Elizabeth and Seth share their beautiful love story—from how they met and fell in love to their journey into engagement and marriage. They open up about their experience learning Natural Family Planning (NFP) and how it ha...

In this episode of The NFP Podcast, Amy and Emily sit down with Jackie Aguilar, the Director of Education for Natural Womanhood. Jackie shares her personal journey with Natural Family Planning and how it led her to become a trained FertilityCare Practitioner in the Creighton Model and a certified Sympto-Thermal Method instructor with the Couple to Couple League. Jackie’s passion for women’s health...

In this final installment of our Lenten reflection series on Familiaris Consortio, Amy and Emily wrap up their journey through St. John Paul II’s landmark apostolic exhortation on the Christian family. As Lent draws to a close, they reflect on how the Holy Father’s timeless vision for marriage and family life continues to challenge, inspire, and guide us today. Join us as we discuss the Church’s m...

In this episode of The NFP Podcast, hosts Amy and Emily continue their reading and reflection on Familiaris Consortio, St. John Paul II’s beautiful apostolic exhortation on the role of the Christian family in the modern world. Building on their previous discussion, they dive deeper into the document’s wisdom on marriage, parenthood, and the family’s mission to love and serve. Join Amy and Emily as...

In this fifth installment of our Lenten reading series, Emily and Amy continue their journey through Familiaris Consortio, reflecting on another powerful section of St. John Paul II’s apostolic exhortation on the role of the Christian family. As they read and discuss, they share personal insights on how the document speaks to modern family life, marriage, and the mission of love entrusted to husba...

In this episode of The NFP Podcast, hosts Amy and Emily continue their Lenten reflection on Familiaris Consortio, St. John Paul II’s apostolic exhortation. This week, they focus on parents' vital role in educating their children in the faith and forming them in human virtue. As the first and primary educators, parents are entrusted with the responsibility of shaping their children’s moral and spir...

In this episode of The NFP Podcast, hosts Emily and Amy continue their Lenten journey through Familiaris Consortio, St. John Paul II’s profound apostolic exhortation on the role of the Christian family in the modern world. In Part 3 of this series, they dive deeper into the Church’s vision for marriage and family life, reflecting on the call to love, the importance of formation, and how families c...

In this episode of The NFP Podcast, hosts Amy and Emily continue their discussion on Familiaris Consortio, St. John Paul II’s seminal document on the role of the Christian family in the modern world. Building on their previous conversation, they explore the Church’s vision for marriage, family life, and the call to love within God’s divine plan. Join us as we unpack key themes, reflect on their re...

In this episode of The NFP Podcast, hosts Amy and Emily begin their Lenten reading and reflection on Familiaris Consortio, St. John Paul II’s landmark encyclical on the role of the Christian family in the modern world. Join them as they explore the Church’s teachings on marriage, family life, and the mission of the domestic church. With personal insights and practical takeaways, Amy and Emily invi...

In this episode of The NFP Podcast, hosts Amy and Emily sit down with Anne Marie Williams, Managing Editor at Natural Womanhood and host of the Grit. Growth. Grace. podcast. With ten years of experience as an ICU nurse and a deep passion for women’s health, Anne Marie shares her journey of practicing Natural Family Planning (NFP) and advocating for fertility awareness. As a wife and mother of four...

In this episode of The NFP Podcast, host Amy sits down with Anna Halpine, founder of the World Youth Alliance and current CEO of FEMM (Fertility Education & Medical Management). With a background in music and philosophy of religion, Anna shares her journey into advocating for women's reproductive health. Together, Amy and Anna dive into the mission of FEMM Health, the services they provide, and th...