The Springs in the Desert Podcast: Catholic Accompaniment Through Infertility

A lot of what we hold as proper for friendships is learned from the culture. But is what it's saying regarding friendship accurate? Licensed psychotherapist, Clare Kane, returns to the podcast to shed light on some of these lies so that we can enjoy friendships the way God intended them to bless us. Links: Clare's practice

This week, Jillian takes you and your spouse through a guided Dream Date with God. Grab your journal, find your favorite place to dream, and open your heart to receive all that the Lord desires for you in this season! From your relationship with God and your spouse to knowing your community and yourself, the Lord has big dreams for you!

Today, your podcast host, Jillian, leads you through a guided prayer experience. Grab your journal, your spouse, or even a friend, and find 10 minutes to pause in the midst of your busy day to pray along with us. It's an honor to pray with you! Links: Submit a Prayer Request

The beginning of a New Year is a popular time to look at the year ahead and ask ourselves what are goals or dreams we'd like to achieve or realize. We suggest including your spouse in this practice by going on a  'Dream Date!'  Set some time aside for the two of you to connect where you can enter into one another's plans and hopes for the new year. Links: Stephanie Weinert's Website Weinert Dream...

Now that the busyness of the holidays is over, schedules have cleared and distractions have lessened, we are reminded again of the cross of infertility we carry.  Licensed counselor, Edward Luersman, joins team member Jillian to get back to the basics.  Let's challenge some of those inaccurate thoughts that maybe have returned.  Let's remember that our family started the day we were married and we...

As is tradition at Springs, we like to start the New Year off with a podcast on the Saint and Word of the Year. There is a fun online tool that can inspire and enrich our prayer lives while offering another opportunity to grow in friendship with a certain Saint.  Let us know what word and Saint you received, we'd love to hear! Links: Saint's Name Generator Word of the Year Generator

Merry Christmas, Springs Community! We are blessed to have Fr. Paul join us for another episode, this time focusing on Christmas and how in our infertility journeys, we can ponder all of these things in our hearts like Mary did. 

Advent is a time of preparation, but what does that really mean and why are we preparing for Christ who has already come? Father Paul takes us through a beautiful Advent reflection and helps unpack questions like these as well as advising us on how to tailor our Advent plans when we are feeling burdened by the cross of infertility.  Even if it seems Advent took you by surprise this year, it's neve...

Advent may look differently this year than you imagined when struggling with the cross of infertility or loss., but Advent living doesn't isn't just for children; it's for you too! Team members Katie and Jillian share some of their favorite Advent traditions that you could begin in your home or with your spouse.  We'd also love to hear yours! Please share your ideas with the Springs community so w...

Amy Brooks from, 'Prayer, Wine, Chocolate' shares her infertility story with Jillian this week.  Amy has a real gift of networking and connecting with the Catholic community.  Amy explains how her life of prayer, friendship, and work all weave together, which may even inspire you to speak candidly with others during a season of infertility.  You never know what connections God will use! Links: Amy...

Our Lord tells us in the Gospel of Matthew 18:3 that, in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, we need to become like children.  This advice also holds true for those of us grieving infertility or loss.  Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Bryan Hanan, joins the Durnan's on the podcast this week to unpack what it means to heal by connecting with our inner child. Links: Brya's Website Brya's Bo...

As we approach holiday gatherings, we wanted to air the second episode in a two-part series dedicated to boundary setting.  We welcome back our dear friend and licensed psychotherapist, Clare Kane, to answer the questions we ran out of time for on the first episode. For instance, how do we figure what our boundaries are? And what do we do when others don't respect the boundaries we set?  Links: Pa...

Knowing healthy relationship boundaries and setting them can be an invaluable strategy when carrying the cross of infertility or loss. Licensed psychotherapist, Clare Kane, sits down with Jillian and helps us unpack this. What are boundaries? Can Christians set boundaries? What do I do if it's uncomfortable to set them? All of these questions and more will be brought to the table. Links: Clare's P...

Life isn't easy, as most of us would agree. Our special guest this week, Eileen Tully, has lived through her own share of traumas and sorrow. But she is still full of exuberance and joy and shares with us some wisdom she has picked up along the path of grief.  Maybe even with a quote from The Office thrown in! Links: Eileen's Website

As we move into a more festive season of the year, the idea of inviting friends and family over for a party or get-together may be a common thought. With her wealth of wisdom on what hospitality means and what it can look like, return guest, Steffani Aquila, shares her insight. Remember, the evil one wants to isolate us, but God knows our hearts need community, so the holidays might look like thro...

Did you hear? Springs in the Desert Small Groups are now live! Don't miss this episode all about starting a small group, and don't worry, we will be back with a brand-new, full-length episode next week! We have a dynamic duo on the podcast this week to share with us their experience facilitating a small group. They are Meg Reister and Bernadette Juliano, and their story is uplifting and inspiring....

Jillian sits down with our good friend, Mary Bruno, to discuss that, although prayer can be difficult in a season of infertility, there are so many ways to speak to and hear from God! If you are looking for new ways to prayer, be sure to check out Mary's newest book, Holding Space for Joy , which just might be the companion you are looking for in your life of prayer! Links: Holding Space for Joy b...

We explore the topic of infidelity on the podcast this week with licensed psychotherapist, Clare Kane. Clare joins us again to navigate how we can address infidelity in our marriages if that is something we are suffering through. Even if infidelity isn't a cross we have to deal with, Clare brings additional insight into leaning into our spouse to create an abundantly beautiful marriage.  Links: Cl...

On today's episode, Jillian is joined by a fan favorite: Clare Kane, Professional Contributor for Springs in the Desert and Psychotherapist to have an important conversation about intimacy after medical trauma has been experienced. If you are struggling to reapproach intimacy in this season of infertility, this episode might be a helpful start. Clare not only explains medical trauma, but shares ti...

We are immensely grateful to Katie Axelson for coming on the podcast this week to share her astonishing story. It’s more than just a story of survival. It’s a story of God touching and healing our wounds with such tender mercy and love. Katie is hopeful her story will help others not feel alone as God uses it for His glory.

It’s a real gift to have Fr. Elias Dorham on the podcast this week to talk about how to practice gratitude and forgiveness in our marriages. Fr. Elias has a strong background in marriage related ministry, and you will find lots to savor and meditate on from the discussion. Please listen and be blessed by his gentle words of encouragement and please let us know how you practice gratitude and forgiv...

We wanted to bring Meg Reister and Bernadette Juliano back on the podcast to dive a little deeper into small groups. The first episode they recorded with us brought up so many great ideas for why and how to start a small group that we wanted to take more time to hear more of the nuts and bolts of how small groups function. If leading or participating in a small group has piqued your interest, you&...

In celebration of our upcoming Founding Day, the two women who started this ministry, Kimberly and Ann, take us back in time to when it all began. It's a beautiful story of two women, united by a common cross, who found each other, and then carried that cross to build a community where couples walking the path of infertility would feel seen and heard. You'll even hear the story of how the...

Jillian and Cassandra sit down with Suzy Younger, Notre Dame Marriage Prep Coordinator and Certified FertilityCare Practitioner, to discuss what it is like to undergo a hysterectomy. We discuss what it is like to receive a diagnosis that would lead to a hysterectomy, what it might be like to prepare for and recover from the procedure, and how this procedure can affect a woman and her spouse both s...

We have a dynamic duo on the podcast this week to share with us their experience facilitating a small group. They are Meg Reister and Bernadette Juliano, and their story is uplifting and inspiring. They share what gifts and graces the Lord has brought into the world through their small group and how it has helped them carry the cross of infertility.  Please see the link below to find a small group...