Renzo and Monica Ortega: Catholic marriage, intimacy, and family life

Two Become Family

Religion EN ↓ 210 episodes

Welcome to the podcast that talks about Catholic marriage, without pretending it's easy. We are Renzo and Monica Ortega, we've been married 13 years, we have 5 kids, and our apostolate, Two Become Family, helps Catholics who love the Church, love each other, and still have no idea why marriage feels so hard sometimes. Through our very candid, and sometimes uncomfortably vulnerable, conversations about sex, NFP, conflict, family life, we hope to spark conversations between you and your spouse. Visit us at https://twobecomefamily.substack.com for more resources for your marriage

Author

Renzo and Monica Ortega: Catholic marriage, intimacy, and family life

Episodes

167. making meals, building community (with Emily Stimpson Chapman) 28.10.2025 35:49

Send us Fan Mail Buy Emily’s book: http://stpaulcenter.co/AroundtheCatholicTable use code Monica20 for a discount! We wrote a Catholic sex book! Check it out: Order LOVEMAKING! Our other books Go To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. Joseph Go To Joseph For Children SUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATE Thank you all for your ongoing support. We love what we do and pray that it is a blessing to you and your fa...

166. 6 hidden dangers of kids having smartphones (and our favorite alternative) 21.10.2025 33:28

Send us Fan Mail What are the top 6 reasons we don't give our kids smartphones or personal devices? In today's episode we lay them out and then we give you our *new* favorite alternative! Check out the Gabb Phone 4 use code TWOBECOMEFAMILY at checkout! Read "Anxious Generation" by Jonathan Haidt Read "The Tech Exit" by Clare Morell We wrote a Catholic sex book! Check...

165. getting ready for confession (with Tommy and Katie McGrady) 14.10.2025 45:52

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164. the best conflict resolution strategies part 2 07.10.2025 30:12

Send us Fan Mail What are the best ways to resolve conflict in a marriage? In this episode we round out the previous list and give you the TOP 3 ways to revolutionize your conflict resolution. What do you think? Is our list accurate? Mentioned in this episode: Inito Monitor use code MON15! We wrote a Catholic sex book! Check it out: Order LOVEMAKING! Our other books Go To Joseph: 10 Day Consecra...

163. manosphere red flags to look out for in your marriage 30.09.2025 31:11

Send us Fan Mail We wrote a Catholic sex book! Check it out: Order LOVEMAKING! Mentioned in this episode: Inito Monitor use code MON15! Our other books Go To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. Joseph Go To Joseph For Children SUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATE Thank you all for your ongoing support. We love what we do and pray that it is a blessing to you and your families. If you are benefitting in some wa...

162. who gives better s3x advice: Catholic couple vs artificial intelligence 23.09.2025 29:27

Send us Fan Mail Who would give better advice when things aren't ideal in the bedroom? AI or a real Catholic couple? In this episode, we take on ChatGPT and see if AI can actually give good advice to couples who are struggling to connect in the bedroom. Can the authors of Lovemaking give better lovemaking advice?! We wrote a Catholic sex book! Check it out: Order LOVEMAKING! Mentioned in th...

161. the truth about NFP that we need to tell newly weds 16.09.2025 29:15

Send us Fan Mail Here are the 8 things NO ONE told us about NFP when we were newly weds. These 8 points were completely off the top of my head, BUT we believe that they should be told to all couples before they get married and should be part of every NFP conversation with couples who are new to NFP and fertility awareness. Did we miss anything? Learn all about the different methods of NFP and mor...

160. we tried the best & worst conflict resolution strategies here's what we think works 09.09.2025 30:03

Send us Fan Mail What are the best ways to resolve conflict in a marriage? Well we're still figuring that out, but we can at least judge whether or not the most popular strategies you learn in marriage prep work. What do you think? Is our list accurate? We wrote a Catholic sex book! Check it out: Order LOVEMAKING! Our other books Go To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. Joseph Go To Joseph...

159. WE'RE BACK! and we spoke to 4000+ people in Rome! 02.09.2025 22:20

Send us Fan Mail In our first episode back from Summer break we talk about all the things that kept us busy this Summer. We're so happy to be back with you. Let's jump in! We wrote a Catholic sex book! Check it out: Order LOVEMAKING! Our other books Go To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. Joseph Go To Joseph For Children SUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATE Thank you all for your ongoing support....

SUMMER REWIND: Finding Freedom in Christ with Dr. Brueninger 12.08.2025 1:13:44

Send us Fan Mail Buy Dr. B's book: Finding Freedom in Christ -- We wrote a Catholic sex book! Check it out: Order LOVEMAKING! Our other books Go To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. Joseph Go To Joseph For Children Read and Subscribe to our Substack: https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/ SUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATE Thank you all for your ongoing support. We love what we do and pray that it is...

SUMMER REWIND: Interviewing One of Our Mentors, Jen Doherty 05.08.2025 1:13:09

Send us Fan Mail - We wrote a Catholic sex book! Check it out: Order LOVEMAKING! Our other books Go To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. Joseph Go To Joseph For Children Read and Subscribe to our Substack: https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/ SUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATE Thank you all for your ongoing support. We love what we do and pray that it is a blessing to you and your families. If you are be...

SUMMER REWIND: Lessons from the School off Love with Peter and Debra Herbeck 22.07.2025 48:56

Send us Fan Mail In today's episode we sit with the Herbecks and discuss how marriage is a School of Love! Let's jump in! - We wrote a Catholic sex book! Check it out: Order LOVEMAKING! Our other books Go To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. Joseph Go To Joseph For Children Read and Subscribe to our Substack: https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/ SUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATE Thank you all...

SUMMER REWIND: Discernment of Spirits For Married Couples with Fr. Tim Gallagher 08.07.2025 1:03:54

Send us Fan Mail Today's rewind is our interview with Fr. Timothy Gallagher on his book Discernment of Spirits in Marriage. Let's jump in! - We wrote a Catholic sex book! Check it out: Order LOVEMAKING! Our other books Go To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. Joseph Go To Joseph For Children Read and Subscribe to our Substack: https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/ SUPPORT OUR APOSTOL...

SUMMER REWIND: Choosing Forgiveness with Dr. Tim Lock 01.07.2025 1:25:32

Send us Fan Mail Today's rewind is our interview with Dr. Tim Lock on his book Choosing Forgiveness . Let's jump in! - We wrote a Catholic sex book! Check it out: Order LOVEMAKING! Our other books Go To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. Joseph Go To Joseph For Children Read and Subscribe to our Substack: https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/ SUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATE Thank you all for y...

SUMMER REWIND: My Marriage Before Jesus with Laura Phelps 24.06.2025 1:12:45

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we interviewed the now co-host of Hope For Right Now podcast Laura Phelps ! This was such a fun interview with our friend Laura and we hope you're blessed by the conversation. Let's jump in! We wrote a Catholic sex book! Check it out: Order LOVEMAKING! Our other books Go To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. Joseph Go To Joseph For Children Read and S...

SUMMER REWIND: Walking with our LGBTQ Family Members with Kim Zember 17.06.2025 1:05:48

Send us Fan Mail Kim Zember has a brand new podcast with EWTN called "Here I am Stories" were she interviews and shares stories of people coming to know the love of Jesus Listen here In this rewind we interviewed her and learned all about here story. She is a blessing to the Church and we are so happy you're able to listen. Let's jump in! _ Buy our new book on how to talk abou...

SUMMER REWIND: How Heroic Virtue Can Change Your Life and Relationships with the Swaffords 11.06.2025 1:11:19

Send us Fan Mail In our first rewind of the summer we are sharing one of our favorite interviews with the Swaffords! It's all about heroic virtue and how virtue can change your life and your relationships. Let's jump in! Buy the Swaffords book! Buy our new book on how to talk about sex with your spouse: Order LOVEMAKING! Our other books Go To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. Joseph...

158. From Maintenance to Mission: Resurrected Marriage Series Part 5 03.06.2025 36:54

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to part 5 of our new series Resurrected Marriage ! In today's episode, we talk about how, as God's grace heals us, we need to respond by moving from maintenance to mission. What is the mission your marriage is living out? We're so happy you're here with us! Let's jump in! Buy our new book on how to talk about sex with your spouse: Order LOVEMAKING...

157. From Temperament to Character: Resurrected Marriage Series Part 4 28.05.2025 31:47

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to part 4 of our new series Resurrected Marriage ! Let's jump in! Buy our new book on how to talk about sex with your spouse: Order LOVEMAKING! - Use code LOVE10 Our other books Go To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. Joseph Go To Joseph For Children Read and Subscribe to our Substack: https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/ SUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATE Thank you all for...

156. ADHD Diagnosis Is Not a Label 21.05.2025 30:23

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we apologize profusely for missing yesterday's post and come to you to de-influence and share what's going on in our lives. We hope you enjoy the episode and hop over to our substack to continue the conversation! ADHD Diagnosis is Not a Label on Substack Buy our new book on how to talk about sex with your spouse: Order LOVEMAKING! - Use code LOVE10 Ou...

155. Infertility and Unexpected Fruit of Marriage With Mary Bruno 13.05.2025 59:50

Send us Fan Mail In today's episode we sit down and chat with Mary Bruno. We are so happy you are here to join us to hear her testimony and witness! Let's jump in The intimate experiences with suffering and joy Mary shares inspired her to write two books! You can learn more about Missing Pieces: Female Perspectives on Sex for Catholic Women and Holding Space for Joy: A Prayer Companion f...

154. From Lust to Love: Resurrected Marriage Series Part 3 06.05.2025 46:07

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153. From Fruit to Root: Resurrected Marriage Series Part 2 29.04.2025 46:02

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to part 2 of our new series Resurrected Marriage ! In today's episode, we talk about how grace can allow us to move from tackling the bad fruit in our marriage to tackling the bad roots in our marriage. We're so happy you're here with us for this let's jump in! Buy our new book on how to talk about sex with your spouse: Order LOVEMAKING! - Use code L...

152. From Grit To Grace: Resurrected Marriage Series Part 1 22.04.2025 45:59

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to part 1 of our new series Resurrected Marriage ! In today's episode, we talk about how we can live a in the resurrection by moving from relying on grit to relying on grace. We're so happy you're here with us for this let's jump in! Buy our new book on how to talk about sex with your spouse: Order LOVEMAKING! - Use code LOVE10 Our other books Go To...

151. Lenten Series Part 5: Stewardship of your Time 08.04.2025 34:08

Send us Fan Mail Buy our new book on how to talk about sex with your spouse: Order LOVEMAKING! - Use code LOVE10 Our other books Go To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. Joseph Go To Joseph For Children Read and Subscribe to our Substack: https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/ Learn more about Together in Holiness: https://forlifeandfamily.org/together-in-holiness/ SUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATE Thank y...