The Springs in the Desert Podcast: Catholic Accompaniment Through Infertility

In this episode, Allie welcomes new guests Michele Chronister and Danielle Abril, who both work in the Office of Natural Family Planning within the Archdiocese of St. Louis. We share personal stories of infertility and loss and discuss how the Archdiocese of St. Louis is currently reaching out to couples experiencing these crosses. If you are looking for support locally within your own church or D...

In this episode, Allie and Cassandra welcome new guest and Springs in the Desert team member Jillian Kubik to share her story of how the Lord is helping her grow in her vocation as a wife, through her adventures as a “roamin' ” Catholic, and through the experiences of infertility and loss. In our discussion, we recall the importance of rest: from the Spanish siesta to God the Father Hims...

Lent has arrived and we are reminded that we must begin all things with rest in the Lord! In this episode, Allie, Stacey and Abby discuss the importance of physical, spiritual, and emotional rest and the lies we sometimes believe about rest, especially around the experience of infertility. We also talk about simple ways that we’re learning to rest more fully in the Lord through both prayer an...

This month, we welcome new guest Sterling Jaquith to discuss how her work as a Catholic life coach can help those of us struggling with infertility, particularly when it comes to our thoughts. We explore the idea of “managing your mind”, which is not the same thing as non-Catholic practices such as “mindfulness”, but instead encourages us to see ourselves the way God sees us, so that we can rest m...

This month, Ann, Allie, and Cassandra talk about the one event that brings some of the most intense feelings for those of us women who experience infertility: the baby shower. Whether you’ve struggled with the decision to attend, felt guilty for declining to attend when you’ve needed space to grieve, or failed to make it through without crying, this episode is for you. We share honestly about the...

This month, we warmly welcome new guest Sydnee to the podcast to discuss some of our expectations going into marriage, particularly around our visions for our jobs and careers when it came to our hoped-for children. We talk about how we’re working through some of those unmet expectations and challenges, and finding fruitfulness in our work  now , whatever it looks like, even though it mi...

This month, we welcome back Abby Kyle to chat with Stacey and Allie about the blessings and spiritual fruitfulness that can come through our jobs and careers. We also talk honestly about some of the unique challenges around working, especially in ministry, when struggling with infertility. If you love your job or career, or if you sometimes feel pressure to “work more hours” when you don’t have ch...

In our last episode for 2021, Ann is joined by Springs in the Desert team members Cassi and Ian for an open conversation about Advent and Christmas in a season of infertility. Waiting for Jesus can be hard when accompanied by waiting for a gift (a biological child) that we may never receive. Cassi and Ian share their infertility story, including the moments of emptiness that can still challenge th...

In today’s episode Ann welcomes two special guests, Stacy and Todd Stephenson, who are members of our Springs in the Desert community. Stacy and Todd share their story of love, marriage, and infertility, and we chat about experiencing the holidays during a season of infertility. Though the holidays are a time of joy and celebration, they can be difficult to navigate and elicit sadness fo...

This month, we warmly welcome new guest Jen to the podcast. Jen and Kimberly share from the heart about their experiences of adoption and how they discerned this calling from God. Please join us for this uplifting conversation as we explore how we can trust in the Lord, even it times of great uncertainty and through the grief of infertility, that He has a good plan for each of us. You’ll hear abou...

This month, we warmly welcome new guest Natalie to the podcast to hear her story of unexplained secondary infertility. We talk about the upcoming holiday season and how pregnancy announcements can be especially difficult during this time. We share how God is helping us hold onto joy amidst the sorrow and pain we feel, and how He has a good plan for each of us and for everyone who struggles with in...

This month, James welcomes Ian back to the podcast for a fun chat about the importance of pursuing hobbies as men, especially when dealing with infertility. Join us for this light-hearted discussion about how infertility has presented us with new opportunities for growth with the Lord and for creativity as sons of God. The Lord continues to stretch us and draw us to Him in so many ways, and our ho...

Today, we talk honestly about healing and infertility. For some of us, healing in a season of infertility may mean eventually conceiving and giving birth to a child. But many of us are trying to conceive and becoming exhausted and discouraged. Some have received a definitive diagnosis that makes the possibility nearly, or absolutely, impossible. Others are entering menopause or are now past childb...

This month Allie and Stacey welcome new guest Abby to discuss femininity in infertility. They share from the heart about their own struggles and the easily believed lie that equates womanhood with bearing children. They chat about the truth that God calls each of us to a deeper understanding of our femininity, and the many ways we can live it out. We hope you’ll join us to be blessed and uplifted...

Although we may not think of it in this way, infertility is often as much a spiritual battle as it is a physical and emotional one. Even as we are told to “relax” and “just enjoy ourselves,” we do all the things to try and conceive, which puts pressure on us, causes stress, and perhaps leads to lack of faith in the God who loves us and wants what is good for us. In this episode Ann, Cassandra and...

Stacey is joined by Katie and Anna for Natural Family Planning Awareness Week 2021. We discuss the good, bad, and the ugly when it comes to using NFP when you're having difficulty conceiving.  Language matters and we discuss the different NFP lingo (including the term Natural Family Planning itself) and the connotations we have with them.  Finally, we talk about the importance of allowin...

James welcomes Ian to this “A Man’s Take” podcast episode to discuss Father’s Day and marriage as men experiencing infertility. They share insights into how infertility has impacted their marriages: some of the challenges and opportunities it has presented, how it’s provided a unique path to holiness, and with their wives, they’re moving forward with the Lord into new life after infertility. Pleas...

This month Cassi and Allie continue our discussion on spiritual motherhood with two very special guests: Sister Anna Rose and Sister Mary Gemma, Franciscan Sisters Third Order Regular of Penance of the Sorrowful Mother! They share from the heart about their experiences of spiritual maternity and the very real desire for physical motherhood, and they provide encouragement for women walking the diff...

It’s National Infertility Awareness Week, and we warmly welcome Katie and Alissa to the podcast to chat with Allie about times we’ve felt supported by others through the experience of primary or secondary infertility. We share examples of how family, friends, clergy, and others have prayed, loved, and cared for us through the difficulties and grief we’ve faced. Through this support, we’ve received...

This month, James welcomes Fr. Paul Varchola West to the podcast to chat about the man of the year, St. Joseph! The life of St. Joseph is profoundly inspiring for those of us experiencing infertility and loss. Listen in as James and Fr. Paul discuss what we know about St. Joseph from the Bible, how we can relate to him through the experience of infertility, and how we can better devote ourselves t...

This month we warmly welcome Cassi to the podcast to chat with Stacey and Allie about the truth that God made each and every woman – regardless of whether she bears biological children – to be a mother; that is, to love, nurture, and raise others up to God in a way that is uniquely feminine.  We call this “spiritual motherhood”. We chat about our own misconceptions about spiritual motherhood, what...

We begin the New Year welcoming Cassandra Taylor to the podcast to tell her story of romance, marriage, travel – and a cancer diagnosis that dashed her hopes of ever bearing a child. Allie, Ann and Cassandra talk about how our hopes and dreams for marriage and the expectations we bring into that relationship can be turned upside down, either breaking us or becoming an opportunity to build a strong...

This special episode of the Springs in the Desert Podcast was recorded as part of our Advent virtual mini-retreat, "Praying Through Infertility." Several members of our team got together to talk about their experiences with prayer and their relationship with God as individuals, and in marriage. They shared struggles and challenges, as well as the good fruits of prayer for their marriages, and in c...

This book, Under the Laurel Tree: Grieving Infertility with Saints Joachim and Anna by Nicole M. Roccas, has so much wisdom to offer anyone suffering with infertility! Join Ann, Allie, and Stacey as they discuss thanksgiving in infertility: how we can actively choose to be grateful for God's blessings even in the midst of pain, uncertainty, and fear of the future. They share how the marriage o...

This book, Under the Laurel Tree, Grieving Infertility with Saints Joachim and Anna by Nicole M. Roccas, has so much wisdom to offer anyone suffering with infertility! Join Ann, Allie, and Stacey as they discuss some of the "tough stuff" of infertility, including challenges in prayer and strong emotions like anger and despair. They share how wisdom from the book provides hope for moving from their...