Embracing Hope as a a Pediatric Oncologist ft. Dr. Melissa Mark

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Weep with those who weep. St. Paul reminds us in Scripture to participate in the sorrow of others, and today’s guest, Dr. Melissa Mark, is a pediatric oncologist with no shortage of grief. But when I went into today’s interview, I expected to be chatting about how she stays strong and bringing Jesus into dark places. Instead, she blew my mind with her wisdom on why witnessing death is an honor and how Jesus is already present in every place imaginable. We also chat about being a working mom, how she evangelizes in her workplace in an ethical, loving way, and how she makes it work being married to another doctor. WARNING: WE DISCUSS THE MAN IN THE RED SUIT WHO MAY OR MAY NOT COME TO YOUR HOUSE ON DECEMBER 25. Be warned—this episode may spoil some things for those with little ears! Thanks for tuning in to our SEASON TWO FINALE—see you in February!

Today's episode is brought to you by the Meaningful Market. For 20% off gifts for friends, family, or yourself, enter TCFpod20 at checkout at meaningfulmarketshop.com.

Today's episode is also brought to you by the Catholic Relief Services Ethical Trade Holiday Gift Guide. You can be sure the gifts you give are well received and well made by shopping here.

Topics discussed:

  • Why Melissa decided to become a doctor

  • What it’s like to interact with so much grief every day

  • The Catholic definition of hope and how to incorporate it into the medical field

  • How she brings Jesus into her workplace

  • How she fosters a faith life in her family

  • Her thoughts on Santa

  • How journaling has been bringing her closer to God lately

We mentioned: 



Literacy Advocacy and Inspiring Young Girls ft. Shanel Adams

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Studies show that reading isn’t just a fun hobby—it makes you more empathetic, increases your intelligence, and opens doors that were previously closed. That’s why today’s guest is such an inspiration to me! Shanel Adams is the founder of Progressionista, a Detroit-based non-profit aimed at increasing literacy among young girls, introducing them to literature, and helping them learn about different career opportunities available to them. All of our guests have amazing stories to share, and Shanel is no different, but her story in particular is timely for me—I recently achieved a life-long dream and signed a 2-book deal with HarperCollins for two children’s books that will be coming out in 2020 and 2021. Shanel and I geek out about our favorite books, why she loves Detroit, and how journaling is bringing her closer to God. Also, I frequently get emails asking for more conversion stores—Shanel became a Catholic THIS YEAR, and the story of her journey to Catholicism is beautiful. Enjoy!

PS: Today's episode is brought to you by the Meaningful Market. For 20% off gifts for friends, family, or yourself, enter TCFpod20 at checkout at meaningfulmarketshop.com.

PPS: Today's episode is also brought to you by the Catholic Relief Services Ethical Trade Holiday Gift Guide. You can be sure the gifts you give are well received and well made by shopping here.

Topics discussed:

  • Why Shanel created Progressionista

  • Her journey to becoming a Catholic

  • What women have made an impact in her life

  • Why she decided to return to Detroit

  • How journaling is bringing her closer to God

We mentioned: 

Find Progressionista: 

The Importance of Women in Leadership ft. Elise Italiano

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Women don’t need a collar to lead.

That’s just ONE of the wisdom nuggets today’s guest drops. Elise Italiano is the director of the GIVEN Institute, a non-profit aimed at activating the gifts of young adult women for the Catholic Church and the world.  A former theology and bioethics teacher, Elise is on the show to chat about the necessity of women as leaders in the Church. We chat about what women bring to the table, why so many millennial women are leaving the Church, and what forces we need to combat to ensure women have a seat at the table. Enjoy!

PS: Today's episode is brought to you by Pink Salt Riot. Design the perfect gift and get free shipping + 10% off orders over $30 with code catholicfeminist. Head to http://pinksaltriot.com.

PPS: Today's episode is also brought to you by the Catholic Relief Services Ethical Trade Holiday Gift Guide. You can be sure the gifts you give are well received and well made by shopping here.

Topics discussed:

  • How Elise became passionate about the Church’s teachings

  • What the GIVEN Institute is

  • Why she believes so many women are leaving the Church

  • What makes her nervous about the phrase “feminine genius”

  • Why she thinks women in leadership roles is so important

  • How silence is bringing her closer to God

We mentioned: 

Find GIVEN: 


Emotionally Healthy Spirituality ft. Lisa Brenninkmeyer

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For us Americans, tomorrow is Thanksgiving. That means turkey, parades, football, (whitewashed stories about pilgrims and Native Americans that aren’t 100% accurate and should probably be looked at much deeper than they are but that’s a post for another time), and family. For some of us, being with our families is a true joy that we look forward to all year. But for some of us, being with family is very difficult and can bring out some tough emotions. That’s why there’s no better time for a chat about emotionally healthy spirituality. Today on the show, we’re chatting with Lisa Brenninkmeyer, the founder of Walking With Purpose. Lisa and I talk about what emotionally healthy spirituality looks like, how to take care of yourself during emotionally volatile times, how to build up a community around you that you can be 100% yourself with, and how to seek healing from emotional wounds. So if you’re currently driving to your in-laws or cousins or grandparents for Thanksgiving, I hope we can keep you company for the car ride!

Also, there’s no better time to express my immense gratitude for you, dear listener, for allowing me to have my dream job. To show my appreciation, we'll be joining in the good ole fashioned tradition of discounts this holiday shopping weekend. From today to Cyber Monday (11/21, 11/22, 11/23, 11/24, 11/25, and 11/26) you can take 20% off anything in the Catholic Feminist Shop with the code THANKSGIVING. I'm also bringing back our book preorder deal for those days only--if you shoot me a proof of purchase (Amazon, AveMariaPress.com, or Barnes and Noble confirmation) of Girl, Arise to claire@thecatholicfeministpodcast.com with the EXACT subject line PREORDER, you'll receive a discount code for 25% off 40 Days to a Feminist Faith, a free copy of our social justice Bible study, and our bonus episode with Mallory Smyth of Endow.

Today's episode is brought to you by the Catholic Relief Services Ethical Trade Holiday Gift Guide. You can be sure the gifts you give are well received and well made by shopping here.

Today's episode is also brought to you by Pink Salt Riot. Design the perfect gift and get free shipping + 10% off orders over $30 with code catholicfeminist.

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    Topics discussed:

    • How Lisa’s background has an Evangelical inspired her to write Bible studies

    • Why the Bible is so important for Catholics

    • How to stay emotionally steady in emotionally volatile situations

    • The importance of fostering authentic community

    • Our mutual love for Sr. Miriam

    • How to seek emotional healing

    • How reading the entire Bible has brought her closer to God

    We mentioned: 

    Find Walking With Purpose: 


    Influencing the Culture Through Media and Art ft. Jessamyn Anderson

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    Sign up for the #GreaterThanGold challenge to give ethical, meaningful gifts this year!

    “These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

    Sometimes at the end of the day, I just need to curl up with some Food Network. But is zoning out like that okay, or am I supposed to be, like, reading the Bible and listening to Hillsong? That’s what today’s guest, Jessamyn Anderson, has come on the show to discuss. Jessamyn works in communications for Love Good Culture, a gift service focused on building a better culture through media. She’s also a singer and jewelry designer with a love for art, the BBC, and historical fiction. Jessamyn and I chat about how our media influences our culture and whether or not there’s even such a thing as “good” or “bad” media. Enjoy!

    Today’s episode is brought to you by Meaningful Market, a shop that believes beauty and justice go hand in hand. For 20% off your first order, head here and enter TCFpod20 at checkout.

    Today’s episode is also brought to you by Branded Beauty, an e-course on branding for the new evangelization by Pink Salt Riot founder Jill Simons. Enter CATHOLICFEMINIST for 25% off your course. Jill will be actively leading the course in the Facebook group from Jan 14- Feb 22, but people that sign up will have immediate access to the whole thing immediately just in time to put some new branding into practice before the holidays. Head here!

    Don’t forget to preorder GIRL, ARISE: A CATHOLIC FEMINIST’S INVITATION TO LIVE BOLDLY, LOVE YOUR FAITH, AND CHANGE THE WORLD.

    Topics discussed:

    • Why Jessamyn wound up in Nashville

    • How she learned to give it all to God + trust His plans

    • Whether she thinks media is “good” or “bad”

    • Some suggestions for media to consume if you’re looking for a “cleaner” media diet

    • Her thoughts on “zoning out” with media

    • What book in the Bible has been bringing her closer to God

    We mentioned: 

    Find Jessamyn: 

    Theology of the Body from a Feminist Perspective ft. Christopher West

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    If we believe that men + women are inherently different, how can we discover the reality about womanhood without falling into harmful stereotypes? How do women who AREN’T mothers fit into God’s design for gender? How does God’s design for women’s bodies relate to deeper meanings about our world? How can women who don’t fit into your typical “meek and mild” box live out Theology of the Body and take part in salvation history when sometimes in the Church we’re smacked in the face with judgement and outdated gender roles?

    These are just SOME of the questions I had about TOB. There’s nobody better to chat about them with than Christopher West, the president of the Theology of the Body Institute. It was an honor to talk with a world-renowned Catholic speaker and educator and to join forces on the truth behind Catholic feminism. Enjoy!

    Today’s episode is brought to you by Meaningful Market, a shop that believes beauty and justice go hand in hand. For 20% off your first order, head to meaningfulmarketshop.com and enter TCFpod20 at checkout.

    Today’s episode is also brought to you by Branded Beauty, an e-course on branding for the new evangelization by Pink Salt Riot founder Jill Simons. Enter CATHOLICFEMINIST for 25% off your course. Jill will be actively leading the course in the Facebook group from Jan 14- Feb 22, but people that sign up will have immediate access to the whole thing immediately just in time to put some new branding into practice before the holidays. Head here!

    Don’t forget to preorder GIRL, ARISE, a Catholic feminist manifesto being published by Ave Maria Press this February.

    Topics discussed:

    • Why Christopher loves TOB

    • How we can embrace TOB without putting women in a box

    • How women who aren’t mothers can still embrace womanhood in a very pro-mother Catholic society

    • How the biology of women fits into God’s greater plan for the universe

    • How secular feminism and Catholic feminism contrast one another

    We mentioned: 

    Find Christopher West: 

    Memento Mori and Death as Catholics ft. Sr. Theresa Aletheia Noble

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    Remember you will die. ☠️

    When Sr. Theresa Aletheia Noble started keeping a skull on her desk, she thought it would look cool. But she had no idea the impact the constant reminder of death would have on her faith life. As Catholics, we live in a world that constantly fears death, avoids death, and dreads death. But if we truly understand what Heaven is, death should be something we rejoice—something that powers us forward and fills us with peace and comfort. I thought there was no better day than All Hallow’s Eve to chat with Sr. Theresa about death, her journey from atheism to becoming a religious sister (a journey she’s still on!) and what the Daughters of St. Paul are all about. So whether you’re spending tonight hauling kids from door to door for candy or snuggled up with It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, I hope our episode brings a little Catholic flavor to your Halloween!

    This episode is brought to you by Girl, Arise: A Catholic Feminist’s Invitation to Live Boldly, Love Your Faith, and Change the World. Preorder from Amazon or Barnes and Noble. Three things you can do to help the book that cost ZERO dollar bills: 1️⃣ Add the book to your to-read list on Goodreads 2️⃣ Share a photo of the cover image on social media 3️⃣ Ask your librarian to order it for their collection! 📚

    Enter to win!

    Enter to win a copy of the Memento Mori journal, a notebook with journaling prompts that will help you remember you will die and hopefully change the way you live.

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      Topics discussed:

      • How Sr. Theresa became a Catholic

      • Why she started keeping a skull on her death

      • What inspired her to create a journal

      • The Catholic view of death

      • Her thoughts on dressing kids up for Halloween

      • How trust in Jesus is bringing her closer to God

      We mentioned: 

      Find Sr. Theresa: 

      Addiction Recovery and Freedom in Christ ft. Tori Vissat

      Our world has one idea of what “freedom” looks like: doing whatever the eff we want. But is that TRULY being free…or just being a slave to our whims and wants? Today’s (returning) podcast guest, Tori Vissat, works in international missions and is here to share her story of discovering what true freedom was after entering a 12-step program for alcohol addiction. Tori’s story is brave, bold, and beautiful as she describes realizing she had a problem, being challenged by peers, and taking the daring step to go to an AA meeting where she was pretty sure everyone there was going to be a hot mess. She walks us through what 12-step programs are and aren’t, the meaning of true freedom, and what to do if you feel like someone in your circle may have a problem with alcohol. Enjoy!

      This episode is brought to you by Pio Prints. For 15% off your first order, enter allsaints15 at checkout at pioprints.com.

      This episode was also brought to you by Rose Harrington. Katrina delivers stunning beautiful botanical rosary art for your home and you can sneak a peek at roseharrington.com.

      BTW: Have you pre-ordered The Catholic Feminist book yet?!

      Topics discussed:

      • When Tori realized she had a problem with alcohol

      • How she tried to solve the issue on her own

      • What her first AA meeting was like

      • How the 12 steps intertwined with her faith

      • What her relationship to alcohol looks like now

      • What to do if someone in your circle seems to have a problem with addiction

      • What to do if you feel hopeless

      • How praise and worship music has been bringing her closer to God

      We mentioned: 

      Find Tori: 


      Healing Our Broken and Blessed Church ft. Father Josh Johnson

      I never thought I’d talk to a priest about sex scandals, periods, and Taylor Swift, but here we are.

      Today is our first PRIEST INTERVIEW! I’m so excited to be chatting with Father Josh Johnson, a priest in the diocese of Baton Rouge. Father Josh is a podcaster and the author of the new book Broken & Blessed. I really wanted to hear a priest’s perspective on how the priesthood can minister to women when its entirely made up of men. We also talked about the recent horrific scandals within the Church and how they’ve impacted him as a priest.

      Today’s episode is brought to you by Pio Prints. For 15% off your first order on holy workout gear or modern religious greeting cards, head to pioprints.com and enter allsaints15 at checkout.

      Today’s episode is also brought to you by Rose Harrington. Head to roseharrington.com to snag some of Katrina’s beautiful botanical rosary art.

      Topics discussed:

      • How Father Josh met Jesus

      • How the recent scandals are affecting him as a priest

      • How he’s able to minister to women as a man

      • What he wishes more laypeople understood about the priesthood

      We mentioned: 

      Find Father Josh: 


      Revolutionary Joy and Building a Business ft. Jill Simons

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      “Your life is too short to be this miserable this much of the time.”

      That’s what today’s guest’s husband told her + it inspired her to start her own shop. Jill Simons is the founder of Pink Salt Riot, and y’all know how much I love interviewing Catholic makers. Jill + I are talking all about revolutionary joy—how we can find hope in the midst of a world that’s full of suffering. It can seem kind of silly or shallow to take such pleasure in things like pretty art, but as we’ve discussed many times on this show, sometimes earthly pleasures can truly point us more towards God. When we’re stopping and feeling a sense of awe at beauty, happiness, and light, we’re celebrating the gift of life He’s given us, which in turn should empower us to improve the lives of others. We also talk about Jill’s entrepreneurial spirit, mistakes she sees Catholic small business owners making, and the difference between a “business” and a “hobby”. And of course, we tackle that age-old idea of “Am I a jerk for trying to make money?” Enjoy!

      Today’s episode is brought to you by Pio Prints. For 15% off your first order, just enter allsaints15 at checkout at pioprints.com.

      Today’s episode is also brought to you by Rose Harrington Art. Check out roseharrington.com for beautiful botanical rosary art that will make your home feel holier.

      Topics discussed:

      • Why Jill launched her company

      • What the concept of joy means to her

      • The difference between a business and a hobby

      • Her advice to other Catholic artists, makers, and businesswomen

      • Her money mindset

      • Which worship song she’s loving right now

      We mentioned: 

      Find Pink Salt Riot: 

      Pro-life Activism and Tragedy in Ireland ft. Kate Bryan

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      This spring, Ireland voted to appeal the 8th amendment that had been banning abortion. That means one of the last pro-life countries now embraces abortion and while that sounds tragic (it is), I’m so excited to be bringing you a conversation that might actually uplift your heart.

      Kate Bryan is a communications strategist who was boots-on-the-ground in Ireland during the vote. You’ll be so empowered after hearing about the small and mighty team that worked tirelessly to try and keep abortion out of Ireland. When she talks about how they felt the morning after the vote, you’ll feel more encouraged than ever and hopefully be inspired to take on the pro-life cause in your own unique way.

      Are we “losing” the pro-life/pro-choice battle? Eh. It can feel that way. But is it even a battle, or just a constant call to love our neighbor? Why are so many women drawn to abortion in the first place? Why is our culture failing them? These are the bigger questions that women like Kate are asking and it was an honor to have her on our show. We also chat about how her mom inspired her to be a feminist, why Catholics need to embrace their courageous side, and how structure is bringing her so much closer to God. Enjoy!

      Today’s episode was brought to you by Rose Harrington. Check out roseharrington.com to snag some of Katrina’s stunning botanical art!

      Today’s episode was also brought to you by Pio Prints, religious greeting cards with a contemporary, modern feel. Head to pioprints.com and enter allsaints15 for 15% off your first order.

      Topics discussed:

      • How Kate became a feminist

      • What recently happened in Ireland

      • How Ireland was able to keep abortion out of their country for so long

      • Different ways we can and should get involved in the pro-life movement

      • How to have hope in the face of despair

      • How structure is bringing Kate closer to God

      We mentioned: 

      Find Kate: 

      Intersectional Feminism ft. Daniela Kopado

      Being a woman is a particular experience. Being Mexican-American is a particular experience. But being a Mexican-American woman is its own unique experience. And that’s what our guest today is here to discuss!

      Daniela Kopado is a medical student in Texas who’s bringing some wit + wisdom about intersectional feminism to the table. Intersectional feminism is understanding how different aspects of your life intersect to create unique traits and marginalization. Every single human being is made by God + designed by Him, and it’s important not to view people as a monolith. By embracing intersectional feminism, we start to see women as individuals who bring different experiences, strengths, and needs to the table.

      We also chat about WHY diversity is so important, the beauty of her multiracial relationship and what she and her boyfriend have learned from each other, why we think priests NEED to be talking about racism from the pulpit, and how one diocese is rockin’ it with its vibrant, diverse community. (Hi Houston!)

      PS: Today’s audio quality is not up to my usual standards due to some technical issues. They’ve been sorted out and next episode will be back to 100% normal, but I apologize if it’s a bit “blippy”!

      Today’s episode is brought to you by the Light series by Jacqueline Brown. For a free copy of her first book in the series, head here. Who do you become when the world falls away? Make sure to follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

      Today’s episode is also brought to you by Audible. Snag a FREE audio book—like The Light by Jacqueline Brown!—by heading to audibletrial.com/catholic.

      Topics discussed:

      • What intersectional feminism is

      • Why white people hate the word “privilege”

      • The forms of privilege that are seen within the Church

      • What Daniela and her boyfriend have learned being in a multiracial relationship

      • How change has been bringing her closer to God lately

      We mentioned: 

      Find Daniela: 

      This post may contain Amazon affiliate links.

      The Grace of Enough ft. Haley Stewart

      When is enough…ENOUGH?

      Enough money. Enough time. Enough accomplishments.

      It isn’t always easy to know. Today’s guest is a fan favorite repeat: blogger, podcaster, and author Haley Stewart. Haley + I dive deeper into our previous discussion about throwaway culture in light of her new book, The Grace of Enough, and how to live more intentional lives with less. Not just less possessions, but less stress and time away from our families as well. We talk about aaaaaall kinds of things, including how to handle criticism from creative work, dealing with HG pregnancies, and why her podcast makes me want to read smarter books. (Can you hear Tess in the background yet again as her father tries to handle her crazy self? Aaaaaabsolutely. Now seeking a new TCF Podcast Team Member: baby wrangler. 🙄)

      Interested in a free audio book? Head here to check out Audible, today’s episode sponsor.

      Today’s episode is also brought to you by the Light series by Jacqueline Brown. If you’re looking for an intriguing, adventurous series that has the Catholic Writers Guild Seal of Approval, look no further! Jacqueline is offering a FREE copy of the first book in her series—just head here to snag it!

      Topics discussed:

      • How Haley’s pregnancy is going (she’s since had her baby…head to her Instagram to see some adorable pics!)

      • The struggles of HG pregnancies

      • Why she felt inspired to write her book, The Grace of Enough

      • How she thinks our generation needs to shift culturally

      • The balance between creating good work and accepting criticism for it

      • Good books to read for any season of life

      We mentioned: 

      Find Haley: 

      This post may contain Amazon affiliate links.

      Enter to win a copy of The Grace of Enough!

      Giveaway is open until 9/25/18.

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        Q & A ft. Claire Swinarski

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        Surprise! I’m on the other side of the mic with a guest host this week. 🎙 It is a true joy to answer questions for you about things like discernment, soulmates, confirmation saints, and Hogwarts houses. If you’ve wondered what some of the hardest episodes for me to do are, what’s on my bookshelf lately, or what’s bringing ME closer to God, this is the perfect episode for you. I also share a little bit more of my story and how I went from cray-cray college freshman to campus missionary to podcaster. Enjoy!

        Today’s episode is brought to you by the Light series by Jacqueline Brown. If you’re looking for an intriguing, adventurous series that has the Catholic Writers Guild Seal of Approval, look no further! Jacqueline is offering a FREE copy of the first book in her series—just head here to snag it! Make sure to follow her on Facebook and Instagram as well. 

        Today’s episode is also brought to you by Audible. For a free audio book—like The Light by Jaqueline Brown—head to audibletrial.com/catholic.

        We mentioned: 

        Find The Catholic Feminist: 

        This post may contain Amazon affiliate links.

        Loss and the Power of the Rosary ft. Shannon Wendt

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        Raise your hand if you’ve ever felt “rosary dread”—that feeling of “noooot again” that happens when someone pulls out their beads. 😂🤦🏿‍♀️ The truth is, I’ve felt that way more than a few times, and so has today’s podcast guest, Shannon Wendt. Shannon is the founder of Chews Life, a shop for rosaries and rosary bracelets. We chat all about how her multiple miscarriages shook her faith, how clinging to Mary gave her hope in dark times, and how she realized she needed to niche down in her business even though it made her nervous to focus on religious products. Shannon’s story is incredibly inspiring and it was an honor to chat with her!

        Today’s episode is brought to you by the Light series by Jacqueline Brown. If you’re looking for an intriguing, adventurous series that has the Catholic Writers Guild Seal of Approval, look no further! Jacqueline is offering a FREE copy of the first book in her series—just head here to snag it!

        Today’s episode is also brought to you by Audible. For a free audio book—like The Light by Jaqueline Brown—head to audibletrial.com/catholic.

        Topics discussed:

        • How Shannon's miscarriage impacted her faith life
        • How she fits the Rosary into her crazy busy life 
        • The relationship between joy and suffering
        • How she overcame her "Rosary dread"
        • Her nerves about introducing more religious products into her shop

        We mentioned: 

        Find Chews Life: 

        Pornography as a Feminist Issue ft. Patty Breen

        Did you know that porn plays a role in at least HALF of divorces? Or that the average age people are first exposed to porn is 11?! Pornography is truly attempting to destroy families, culture, and healthy sexual behavior. That’s why the work of today’s guest, Patty Breen of Whispered in the Dark, is SO important. After realizing her husband had a sex and pornography addiction, their failed attempts at healing led Patty to pursue an annulment. Today on the show, she’s teaching us what we should know if we discover our significant other has a porn habit, what questions we NEED to be asking them, and what to do if you’re a woman who struggles with porn (which we both agree is never talked about). We also geek out over a shared love of Shauna Niequist. Enjoy!

        Today’s episode was brought to you in part by Audible. For a free audio book, like The Porn Myth by Matt Fradd, head to audibletrial.com/catholic.

        Topics discussed:

        • What an annulment is
        • How Patty knew the relationship had to end
        • What questions women need to be asking their partners
        • What to do if you're a woman who struggles with porn
        • Why porn is a feminist issue
        • What to do if you find out your significant other has a porn habit or addiction

        We mentioned: 

        Find Patty: 

        This post may contain Amazon affiliate links.

        Authentic, Wholehearted Evangelization ft. Sair Del Toro

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        It can be hard to find God in the midst of hopelessness. We've all felt that way at one time or another--some of us in the past few weeks. Maybe some of us today. Today's podcast guest, Sair, works with women who are in devastatingly difficult situations. She walks us through how to share the faith in very dark situations, the importance of perseverance, and how the greatest gift we can give other women is a sense of who they truly are. 

        Sair Del Toro is the director of Endow's Spanish-language apostolate, Magnifica. In addition to talking about evangelization, she shares with us how Spanish-speaking Catholic women are being affected by the current political climate and what's been bringing her closer to God lately. Enjoy!

        Today's episode is brought to you by Tiny Saints. From adorable keychain charms to educational board books, Tiny Saints has you covered with some amazing goodies that will remind you of all the Catholic Feminist saints praying for you up in Heaven. Just head to tinysaints.com and enter CF20 at checkout for 20% off your first order. Pretty much the coolest saint charms ever! 

        Today's episode is also brought to you by Date Night In. Bring a little life back into your vocation with curated, themed date boxes, or check out their Faith Night In boxes! They also have fun options for littles. Head to thecatholicfeministpodcast.com/datenightin to check them out.

        Topics discussed:

        • What brought Sair to the US
        • What difficulties she thinks are facing women today
        • How to introduce someone to God when they're in impossible situations
        • Why it's so important to be yourself and know YOUR mission
        • The importance of living over talking
        • Mistakes we're making when it comes to evangelization
        • How Mexican American Catholics are feeling in today's political climate

        Find Endow: 

        This post may contain Amazon affiliate links.

         

        The Upside of Social Media ft. Emily Mentock

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        I think we've all gone through seasons where we want to delete our social media accounts and go live in a hut. That's how I was feeling before this conversation with social media guru Emily Mentock, but after chatting with her, I suddenly saw quite a few bright sides to everyone's love-to-hate social media platforms. Emily met her husband on Tinder and was reintroduced to her faith through a Tweet, so believe me when I say she's the perfect person to chat about this with! Emily discusses how to stay positive on social media, how to know when a "digital detox" is necessary, and when you should (more like shouldn't, usually) jump into a Facebook fight. It was such a joy to chat with her and I hope our conversation resonates with you!

        Today's episode is brought to you by Tiny Saints. From adorable keychain charms to educational board books, Tiny Saints has you covered with some amazing goodies that will remind you of all the Catholic Feminist saints praying for you up in Heaven. Just head to tinysaints.com and enter CF20 at checkout for 20% off your first order. Pretty much the coolest saint charms ever! 

        Today's episode is also brought to you by Date Night In. Bring a little life back into your vocation with curated, themed date boxes, or check out their Faith Night In boxes! They also have fun options for littles. Head to thecatholicfeministpodcast.com/datenightin to check them out.

        Topics discussed:

        • How Twitter brought Emily closer to her faith
        • What the Grotto Network is
        • How to use social media as a faithful Catholic
        • How to handle negative people online
        • How spiritual reading is bringing Emily closer to God

        We mentioned: 

        Find Grotto Network: 

        This post may contain Amazon affiliate links.

        How to Live Liturgically ft. Lisa Kirk

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        One of my favorite parts of being Catholic? The endless supply of feast days + holidays. Too bad I usually only realize it the day after it occurred! Today's podcast guest is a writer, wife, mama, and liturgical living lover. Lisa Kirk walks me through her four pillars of liturgical living, how she stays organized with feast days, and how a crazed Advent season gave her a passion for slowing down and embracing the Church calendar. I love Lisa's wisdom about the saints and you'll also find her story of leaving her "dream job" to pursue a more intentional work-at-home-mom career interesting. If you've ever wanted to live a more seasonally liturgical life, no matter your current vocation or life stage, this episode is perfect for you. 

        Today's episode was brought to you by Tiny Saints. Liturgical living just got a whole lot cuter--spread that happy kind of faith! For 20% off your first order, head to tinysaints.com and enter CF20 at checkout. 

        Today's episode was also brought to you by Audible. For a free audio book, like Story of a Soul by St. Therese, go to audibletrial.com/catholic. 

        Topics discussed:

        • How Lisa came back to the faith after living abroad
        • Why she left her "dream job" to open a business
        • How skipping Advent lead her to live more liturgically
        • Why the saints are such a great part of our faith
        • Ideas for celebrating the feast days of saints
        • Lisa's favorite saints
        • How the diary of St. Faustina has been bringing her closer to God

        We mentioned: 

        Find Lisa: 

        This post may contain Amazon affiliate links.

        Being a Young Catholic Professional ft. Jennifer Baugh

        Y'all, today's episode is one you won't want to miss! 

        You know what conversation I’m tired of? The are-Catholic-women-allowed-to-work-outside-the-home one. I explain why in today’s conversation with Jennifer Baugh, the founder of Young Catholic Professionals. Jennifer has amazing insight on being a working Catholic woman, how being a woman has helped her to flourish as a leader, and how to let a love of Christ permeate everything you do. We also chat about why we still need to have the above-mentioned conversation and talk about if it REALLY matters what some rando blogger thinks about your life choices (spoiler alert: nope! 😉) Her dedication to the Rosary inspires the heck out of me and I’m head over heels in love with her passion for the Catholic faith. Whether you work outside the home or your work is your kids/studies/convent, I hope you’ll enjoy my chat with Jennifer!

        Today's episode is brought to you by Tiny Saints. From adorable keychain charms to educational board books, Tiny Saints has you covered with some amazing goodies that will remind you of all the Catholic Feminist saints praying for you up in Heaven. Just head to tinysaints.com and enter CF20 at checkout for 20% off your first order. Spread the happy kind of faith!

        Today's episode is also brought to you by Audible. For a 30-day trial and free audio book (I recommend One Beautiful Dream by Jen Fulwiler, which we discuss in the episode!) head to audibletrial.com/catholic. 

        Topics discussed:

        • Why Jennifer decided to pursue an MBA
        • How she founded Young Catholic Professionals
        • The purpose of YCP
        • Why we're over talking about "women in the workplace"
        • How to evangelize in a secular workplace
        • How the Rosary is bringing her closer to God

        We mentioned: 

        Find YCP: 

        This post may contain Amazon affiliate links.