Girlfriends (a Podcast For Catholic Women)

Melissa Girard joins us on Girlfriends to talk about the power of sacred art to reveal universal truths about humanity, the sacred, and man’s relationship with God. **_Snippet from the Show: _ Works of sacred art don’t simply draw you into themselves—they draw you into the greatness of God. We discuss the book, Looking at a Masterpiece by Madelynn Stebbins, a collection of reflections that explore the themes of more than forty of the world’s finest artistic treasures—from masters such as Piero della Francesca, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, and more. The book includes full color, high-quality reproductions of these great works of art. Stebbins writes about the universal truths these classic works illuminate, infusing her commentary with the wisdom of saints, popes, theologians, historians, and poets. Melissa shares about the importance of incorporating inspiring art in our everyday lives and in our children’s lives. The companion book, aimed at children, is Let’s Look at a Masterpiece. Melissa Girard is editor fo

I was inspired to take on this topic by my recent reading of Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds by David Goggins. (I did not finish reading because of the insane levels of foul language, so I do not necessarily recommend it!). In it, the author tells his life story of overcoming many obstacles and accomplishing great things. In my reading, I found myself agreeing that many of us can do hard things—sometimes much harder things than we think we can—but I was bothered that God seemed to be left out of the equation. And so I thought we might talk about how to do difficult things, why we do them, and how God is part of that process. You have already done hard things. I know you can do hard things because you have already done some: going to college, getting married, having children, working a job, buying a house, etc. I know you can do hard things. Sometimes, though, we need someone to say that out loud so we can recognize what we are capable of. Break down hard things into smaller steps. Do you w

It’s easy to downplay the art of homemaking as home decor, but it’s so much more. In fact, one of the greatest capabilities of the feminine genius is the ability to make a place feel like home. Today I’m sitting down with Dr. Carrie Gress, author of Theology of Home: Finding the Eternal in the Everyday to discuss the power of creating a home both physically and spiritually and how we can more fully embrace our ability to build our homes for the sake of our families. Learn more about Dr. Carrie Gress at her website (http://www.carriegress.com). Snippet from the Show Home doesn’t happen because you have beautiful throw pillows, it happens because there are people making sacrifices and giving of themselves to their loved ones. See more at ascensionpress.com/girlfriends Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

After our recent episode on "Toddler Hacks for Weary Moms," I heard from listener Cathy in the Girlfriends facebook group (join the group here (https://www.facebook.com/groups/1139431999546566/)!). Cathy writes: “Danielle - I just listened to the podcast on Toddler Hacks. You had a lot of good suggestions. I used to do the reading and the quiet time with my kids. We read about 30-45 min twice a day. They loved me reading to them. So I have a podcast idea for the other end of the spectrum. I am an empty nester now. I have been for a while (my children are 29, 31 and 33). Sometimes I get this empty feeling. As hard as it was raising them there was a structure to it. I knew where I was supposed to be and what I was supposed to be doing. It was preset for me. Now sometimes I feel a little lost. I have a full life. I work full time, exercise, play golf, teach religious formation, spend time with my kids and Mom. Yet I still miss the comfort of the schedule when all the kids were home. So any thoughts?” I can reall

It can be so hard to pray for something very good and very specific and then feel like God is letting your prayers go unanswered. Or worse, like he is ignoring our prayers altogether. How can we handle feelings of discouragement and frustration when this happens? Was Jesus lying when he told us, “Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7)? Well, no, but prayer is not like a gumball machine in the sky where you put your money in, turn the handle, and collect your prize. It’s more complicated than that. In this week’s show, I encourage you to consider that our prayer petitions need to be in accordance with God’s will, that we must trust in God’s goodness, and that our lives on earth will never be free from suffering. In addition, I invite you to consider 3 things when it seems that your prayers are going unanswered: 1) God might be answering a bigger prayer. God’s ways are not our ways, and he knows what we need and what is good for us even better

This week my guest is Chloe Langr, mom, wife, author, and podcaster. Chloe is author of the recently published journal for Catholic brides, Created For Love: Reflections for the Catholic Bride-to-Be. (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1681923777?pf_rd_p=183f5289-9dc0-416f-942e-e8f213ef368b&pf_rd_r=6VPSBDM6152JDG7G6M45) Chloe shares her own experiences as a young bride preparing for her wedding day, as well as her experiences in early marriage and motherhood. "There are as many ways to live the Feminine Genius as there are women walking the earth, each as beautiful as the next." Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

This week my guest is Kathryn Jean Lopez, a senior fellow at the National Review Institute and author of many books, including her most recent, [A Year With the Mystics: Visionary Wisdom for Daily Living](https://www.amazon.com/Year-Mystics-Visionary-Wisdom-Living/dp/1505109043/ref=sr11?keywords=a+year+with+the+mystics&qid=1569515744&sr=8-1). Kathryn shares how she came to write this inspirational, page-a-day spiritual resource, and the ways in which her own faith life was enriched by her work on the book. She also discusses the idea of mysticism itself, what that means, and the ways in which we are all called to nurture our relationship with God every day. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Are you a mom of a toddler? Are you exhausted? I recently asked for people to send me questions on Instagram, and more than one listener requested that I do a show about surviving the toddler years. So I spent some time thinking about what things I would share that helped me the most when my kids were small and ended up with six hacks that can help! "God made you the parent of your child on purpose. He picked you and that child from all of eternity for each other. He knows all about your weaknesses and your flaws and your failures and all the unique ways your child is challenging you. He knows all about it and he called you to it anyway.” SHOWNOTES 1. Make a sleep space in your bedroom. Small children have a way of disrupting our sleep even long after the baby years are over. When I found myself struggling with kids who would wake up at night and want to come into our bed, I put a crib mattress on the floor in our room. Any small person who wanted to was welcome to come to our room at night and sleep near us

This is a scary topic for many parents—how can we manage our teens on social media? I am here to offer some help and encouragement, first of all that you can be of help to your kids with regard to social media, and second of all, it is your right and your responsibility to do so as their parents. I also share feedback from listener Marisa who found the confidence she needed to make a lifestyle change after our episode on being more confident. Way to go, Marisa! “We worry all the time about what kinds of media our kids are being exposed to … There is a very real challenge Catholics parents have in this culture that is so opposed to many of our values.” SHOWNOTES 1. Start with their phones. Do they need a phone? Should they have a smart phone? What kind of phone, with what kind of access, and when are they allowed to use it? All legitimate questions, and the answers will vary kid by kid, but please know that your child does not need to have a smartphone simply because everyone else their age has one. You are t

My guest this week is Jackie Angel, singer/songwriter, wife, mother, worship leader, and now co-author of Pray, Decide, and Don’t Worry: 5 Steps to Discerning God’s Will (https://ascensionpress.com/products/pray-decide-and-don-t-worry-five-steps-to-discerning-god-s-will?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=discernment&utm_content=gfangel). This book is available for pre-order now at ascensionpress.com. Jackie co-wrote the book with her husband Bobby Angel, as well as Fr. Mike Schmitz! The book is a practical and encouraging look at how to make important decisions and get over the fear and paralysis that sometimes hold us back. For more information about Jackie’s work in music and ministry, check our her website: JackieFrancois.com (http://www.jackiefrancois.com) In this show, I also respond to listener feedback from Cassi who is opening her home and building a family in a unique way, and Jill who is considering re-entering the workplace after twenty years as an at-home mom. Snippet fr

My guest this week helps us take on an important topic that many of us avoid—personal finances. Victoria Sechrist is a financial trainer and a newly-married Catholic (she and her husband met on CatholicMatch!). She and I discuss planning for retirement, managing debt, making investments, and talking about money in marriage. Victoria’s website is ConsumerCatholic, and she also recommends many of the tools and resources available at Compass Catholic Ministries. This week I also respond to listener feedback from Sarah who is a new aunt and godmother to Matthew and wanting to be the best aunt and godmother she can be. _Snippet from the Show “Everything in finances is fixable. There’s always a solution, there’s always a strategy.” _ RESOURCES * Compass Catholic Ministries (https://compasscatholic.org/) * Consumer Catholic (https://www.consumercatholic.com/) * Nerdwallet (https://www.nerdwallet.com/) * Credit Karma (https://www.creditkarma.com/) Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.

Do you struggle to make family prayer time happen in your home? Is it a goal of yours to pray together as a family, and yet you find yourself failing to make it happen? This week, I answer a question from listener Amy who is struggling to make family time happen, especially with a change in schedules as the kids have gone back to school. I also respond to listener feedback about getting started with running (Jillian), and about coping with hard changes (Eleanor). Snippet from the Show “Prayer is a very intimate thing. Sometimes people struggle to pray as a family or as a couple because it’s very intimate. There are parts that will remain very personal, but family prayer is a beautiful way to bond together as a family.” SHOWNOTES Here are my thoughts for ways to make family prayer happen in your home and your family on a regular basis: 1) Plan ahead. It’s not going to happen if you don’t schedule it and make a plan for when it can happen in the first place. Take a look at your daily schedule and find a place

Author Lindsay Schlegel joins us this week for a show where we discuss how parenting can help us grow closer to God. That is the theme of Lindsay’s book, [Don’t Forget to Say Thank You: And Other Parenting Lessons That Brought Me Closer to God](https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Forget-Say-Thank-CatholicMom-com/dp/1594718091/ref=sr11?crid=3QCGKARKIO9VS&keywords=don%27t+forget+to+say+thank+you&qid=1565968942&s=gateway&sprefix=don%27t+forget+to+say+%2Caps%2C194&sr=8-1). You can learn more about Lindsay and her work at her website, LindsaySchlegel.com. Also, look for a new podcast Lindsay will be launching very soon, called Quote Me. I also share feedback from listener Ann-Marie who shared pictures of her Mary garden and a Litany of Kindness that she wrote. Check out her prayer below. Snippet from the Show “All of the things we want for our kids, God wants for us in an even more perfect way.” SHOWNOTES LITANY OF KINDNESS . . . When I meet with those I have an aversion towards, Jesus help me to c

This week we are talking about seasons of change in motherhood, and how we can best cope with them. Whether you are sending a child off to college or to kindergarten, moving into a new neighborhood or starting a new job, change can be a challenging thing to cope with. Snippet from the Show “A change may be hard, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing. The more we focus on our gratitude, the more we can see the positives of that change.” SHOWNOTES Here are some ideas that can help: Let yourself feel the feelings. Don’t “stuff” your feelings, but allow yourself to feel them. Be honest about the fact that when a child moves out, there are parts of that change that are a loss to you, and it hurts. But don’t “sit down” in there. Do not wallow in your feelings. Make sure you know that your thoughts are the boss of your feelings. In other words, you cannot control how you feel, but you can control how you think and act on those feelings. Be gentle with yourself. Build margin into your days, let go of some more dema

This week’s guest is my friend Kathryn Whitaker, author of Live Big, Love Bigger: Getting Real with BBQ, Sweet Tea, and a Whole Lotta Jesus (https://www.amazon.com/Live-Big-Love-Bigger-Getting/dp/1594719144/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=live+big+love+bigger&qid=1565106842&s=gateway&sr=8-1). Kathryn shares beautifully about how this book came to be, and also about her struggles with faith, marriage, parenting, and trusting in God’s goodness. Kathryn is such a real and authentic voice in the Church today; you are not going to want to miss all that she shares in her book, on social media, and in this conversation. When you pre-order her book, be sure to get all your bonus content (https://teamwhitaker.org/live-big-love-bigger-book/)! Snippet from the Show “Sacrifice is an important component of love. Teaching our kids about sacrifice is a countercultural (but necessary) part of living a Christ-centered life.” Connect with Kathryn Whitaker: * Kathryn’s website (https://teamwhitaker.org) * Kathryn on Instagram

Do you struggle with confidence? I think many of us feel alone in our anxieties and insecurities, but it’s very common to lack confidence sometimes. Whether you are starting a new work project, or building a friendship, or growing in your marriage or spiritual life, or setting health goals, many of us worry that we will fail and struggle to feel like we are in control of our circumstances. Snippet from the Show “We think people who are confident don’t feel afraid. But that’s not true. Confident people feel afraid, but they don’t let it stop them.” Shownotes This week, I am sharing five things I think can help you feel more confident: 1) Be discerning about which opinions matter. Some people you will never please, and some people do not share your values and so you wouldn’t want to please them. Be discerning about which opinions and feedback you pay attention to, and don’t waste time on opinions that don’t matter. 2) Take responsibility for yourself. You are in charge of you! Don’t think of yourself as a vic

Are you working on organization this summer? Or thinking about ways to approach the fall season with a fresh, new, de-cluttered home or workplace? Today’s guest is here to help. Without guilt or any measure of negativity, Lisa Lawmaster Hess gives you the tools you need to get organized at last. Lisa’s new book is Know Thyself: The Imperfectionist’s Guide to Sorting Your Stuff (https://www.amazon.com/Know-Thyself-Imperfectionists-Guide-Sorting/dp/1681923238), newly available from Our Sunday Visitor. In the book, Hess outlines different personalities and the varying ways we approach working and organizing our stuff. With humility, humor, and a healthy dose of realism, Lisa encourages us all to learn more about ourselves so we can have happier, more functional homes and work spaces. Snippet from the Show “It [organization] is not about beating yourself up, it’s about figuring out what system is going to work to have a more functional life. Find Lisa online in these places: The Porch Swing Chronicles (http://l2h

I can’t wait for you to meet Olivia Colombo! She is going to encourage you! Olivia is a young adult podcaster, speaker, and activist who is making changes and encouraging others with her positive energy in the Church and in her community. She and I chat about young adults in the Church, being a pro-life witness on college campuses, and the importance of striving for holiness, no matter what your age or stage of life. I also answer listeners’ feedback about handling failure and how to deal with anxiety over our children’s health. Snippet from the Show “We’re thirsting for truth. We don’t want the watered-down Faith, we want the full truth of the Faith.” Connect with Olivia * Olivia on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/oliviarose_art/) * Olivia’s blog (https://www.oliviaroseart.com/blog) * Olivia on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYoJ6DEtdJRW6nOxGl3YYzg?sub_confirmation=1) * Olivia’s podcast: To the Heights (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/to-the-heights/id1467991891) EVENTS * July 30-August

Who among us doesn’t want to influence our significant other? And this is not always a bad thing! We want good things for our husbands and we want them to become all that God has planned for them to be, and so we … nudge, nag, suggest, and criticize. But these are not great ways to communicate. Let’s talk about some ways you can work with your husband to unite you both in common goals, instead of dividing you. Snippet from the Show "Whatever your goal is for your husband, it's not a greater good than him knowing that you love him and accept him." 1) Make a deal. Especially for smaller topics, this can be a light-hearted way to encourage and motivate your husband to do something you want by doing something HE wants in exchange. Make a deal! Tell him if he brings the boys to soccer practice tonight, he can sleep in while you cover rides tomorrow morning. This is especially helpful in encouraging you to consider your husband’s perspective, instead of only your own. 2) Find out what he wants. You know what your

Should you homeschool, or send your kids to public school, private school, online school, charter school, or some combination of these things? These are hard decisions we have to make as parents, and at the end of this school year is an opportune time to think about how you will educate your children in the coming year. Listener Carol recently asked if I would share the reasons why we chose to homeschool our kids, and I share those thoughts at the beginning of this episode. Snippet from the Show “Whether you’re deciding to homeschool or send your child to school, we have a lot of emotion attached to these decisions because they matter. Because we love our kids so much and we want what’s best for them.” SHOWNOTES Regardless of what educational choices you are making for your kids, here are some helpful things to keep in mind. 1) Pray about it. You absolutely need to ask for God’s grace when it comes to making important parenting decisions. Also, consider praying to Mary for guidance as well. 2) Get on the sam