The Catholic Feminist

Latest Episodes:

139: Healing After Abortion ft. Gracey Mar 11, 2020

Show notes

#ShoutYourAbortion. That's what we're told, right? That abortion is a powerful, important procedure. It empowers women. It gives them strength. It gives them autonomy.

Today's guest says hell no.

Gracey is a wife, mother, and post-abortive woman. She's here to share her incredibly vulnerable story of getting her abortion, how she sought and received forgiveness from the Lord, and what she thinks could have possibly prevented her abortion in the first place. Gracey says we need a change of HEART to change this issue, and I couldn't agree more. I think the pro-life movement has much to learn from women who have been through the procedure—like how we can best help women in crisis pregnancy situations.

*Note: this episode mentions suicidal thoughts. If you're experiencing these thoughts for any reason, please call 1-800-273-8255 immediately.

Today's episode is brought to you by Select International Tours. Learn more about the phenomenal trips they have planned for 2020 at selectinternationaltours.com/feminist.

Today's episode is also brought to you by Every Sacred Sunday. This beautiful Mass journals make the perfect gift for the Catholic woman in your life. Head to everysacredsunday.com.

Saint Spotlight: Dorothy Day Mar 06, 2020

Show notes

Learn about the life and legacy of "almost-saint" Dorothy Day, a Catholic feminist we should all admire, to celebrate Women's History Month.

138: Catholic Feminism and the Military ft. Brianna Hughes Mar 04, 2020

Show notes

When we hear "the troops", we probably all have things pop into our head. From Colin Kapernick to WMD to Dorothy Day's pacifism, how Catholics interact with "the troops" can be fraught with confusion. Today's guest, Brianna Hughes, is a member of our armed forces and it was so interesting to hear why she hates when people refer to "the troops" as one giant monolith. We talk about what it's like to face sexism in the workplace, who "the troops" support politically, how trust in God plays into her ability to serve in the military, and what's been bringing her closer to God lately. I especially loved her passion surrounding the topic of whether or not some positions in the military should be men-only, and I think you will too. Enjoy!

Today's episode is brought to you by Every Sacred Sunday. Head to everysacredsunday.com to snag one of their beautiful Mass journals today.

Today's episode is also brought to you by Select International Tours. Going on pilgrimage this year? Travel with Select at selectinternationaltours.com/feminist.

137: The Sacrifice of Being a Birth Mother ft. Martha Farnsworth Feb 26, 2020

Show notes

When we're engaging in pro-life discourse, we often hail adoption as a beautiful, healthy choice—which it is. But it's easy to forget that adoption at its core *begins* with a loss, with grief, and with suffering. Today's podcast guest, Martha Farnsworth, is both an adoptee and a birth mom. We talk about both of those experiences and why we should never use the phrase "just" when speaking of adoption (ie., "Just pursue adoption!!!") My heart broke when she talked about the church's response to her pregnancy as a teenager and what she wishes they would have done differently. Martha's wisdom and vulnerability were incredibly inspiring to me and I hope our chat resonates with you!

Today's episode is brought to you by Select International Tours. Learn more about the phenomenal trips they have planned for 2020 at selectinternationaltours.com/feminist.

Today's episode is also brought to you by Every Sacred Sunday. This beautiful Mass journals make the perfect gift for the Catholic woman in your life. Head to everysacredsunday.com.

136: Thriving as a Special Needs Mama ft. Vania Deeney Feb 19, 2020

Show notes

Parenting is hard, no matter who you're parenting. But parenting a child with special needs is a task that some people hold up as the most heroic act of them all. Not so, says today's guest—and she explains why. Vania Deeney is a mom, engineer, and Catholic Latina whose daughter was diagnosed with a genetic condition in her third trimester. Vania and I chat about what it was like to receive her daughter's diagnosis, her advice for mothers of able-bodied kids to make our church more inclusive, and her devotion Our Lady of Guadalupe. We also talk about her work as an engineer and being a woman in a male-dominated field. Enjoy!

Today's episode is brought to you by Every Sacred Sunday. Head to EverySacredSunday.com today to snag one of their beautiful 2020 Mass journals.

Today's episode is also brought to you by Select International Tours. Selectinternationaltours.com/feminist is the place to go if you want to go on a life changing pilgrimage in 2020!

135: Overcoming Pornography to Find Uncompromising Purity ft. Kelsey Skoch Feb 12, 2020

Show notes

Pornography has been a "men's issue" for as long as I've been involved in ministry. Anti-porn talks are for the men. The accountability apps are aimed at men. The speakers willing to Go There are men.

I am so, SO thankful for women like author Kelsey Skoch. Kelsey is boldly sharing her story of overcoming a pornography addiction in order to help other women find a way out. In today's show, we talk about WHY pornography is immoral, if there's any room for porn in a healthy sexual being's life, and what she recommends for women currently struggling with this topic. But my favorite part of the conversation is when Kelsey helped me reframe the very idea of "purity". That it's NOT being a high school girl wearing a Jesus Is My Homeboy bracelet being told she's a piece of tape that loses its stickiness after too many uses. It truly changed some of my views about the word and I hope it makes you think as well. Enjoy! (Just a note on little ones—this is one of our sensitive topics you probably want headphones for; we drop some words. Also, speaking of little ones, my three year old was losing his MIND that Dad had to play Candy Land instead of Mom so…you hear him for just a minute, ha! Thanks for understanding that #workingmom life!)

Today's episode is brought to you by Select International Tours. Learn more about the phenomenal trips they have planned for 2020 at selectinternationaltours.com/feminist.

Today's episode is also brought to you by Every Sacred Sunday. This beautiful Mass journals make the perfect gift for the Catholic woman in your life. Head to everysacredsunday.com.

134: Are Mission Trips Beneficial? ft. Ellen Courchane Feb 05, 2020

Show notes

Our first guest of season 4? My own sister! Ellie Courchane is a nurse, a fiancee, and a frequent attender of mission trips to developing nations. Ellie and I are chatting about what makes a GOOD mission trip, why so many mission trips are actually harmful, and why we sometimes use humor to view things through a different lens. I love Ellie's perspective on why mission trips can truly be a good thing when done well and why your impact matters just as much as your intent. We also talk about if it's better to try and do something even though it may potentially be harmful, or if it's better to do nothing at all. If you're considering going on a mission trip this year, make sure to listen in!

BTW: want to win an audio copy of Girl, Arise for World Read Aloud Day AND be gifted a cute new phone background by Catholic artist Emily Runyan?! All you have to do is request that your library carry What Happens Next, my new middle grade novel coming May 19. Shoot proof of your request to hello@thecatholicfeministpodcast.com and I'll send you the background + make sure you're entered to win.

Today's episode is brought to you by Select International Tours. Learn more about the phenomenal trips they have planned for 2020 at selectinternationaltours.com/feminist.

Today's episode is also brought to you by Every Sacred Sunday. This beautiful Mass journals make the perfect gift for the Catholic woman in your life. Head to everysacredsunday.com.

133: Pelvic Floor Postpartum Recovery ft. Chelsea Harkins Nov 27, 2019

Show notes

Things I learned during this episode: most people do kegals wrong, having issues with peeing yourself at ALL is not considered normal postpartum, and what a pelvic floor even is. Dr. Chelsea Harkins is a physical therapist here to walk us through what our body is supposed to do after childbirth, how she helps women who have never properly healed, and how Theology of the Body plays into her work. Listen, y'all: even if you've never birthed a child, this episode IS for you. Because women straight up are not taught enough about their body parts or how they work. (PS: we say hymen and anus and all kinds of words in this episode. They're just body parts but if you have a 2-year-old who repeats everything loudly + in public maaaaaybe put some headphones in!) It's our season 3 finale, y'all, and I'm so glad Chelsea was able to join us. Enjoy!

Today's episode is brought to you by Select International Tours. Learn more about the phenomenal trips they have planned for 2020 at selectinternationaltours.com/feminist.

Today's episode is also brought to you by Every Sacred Sunday. This beautiful Mass journals make the perfect gift for the Catholic woman in your life. Head to everysacredsunday.com.

132: Embracing Global Sisterhood ft. Gail DeGeorge Nov 20, 2019

Show notes

There are only 2️⃣ episodes left in season 3 of the Catholic Feminist Podcast! 🙌🏻 Today's guest, Gail DeGeorge, is the perfect penultimate* show for y'all. Gail is the editor of the Global Sisters Report, a project that features stories about Catholic sisters and the critical issues facing the people they serve. The GSR journalists report about their lives and works, and sisters write commentary from their perspective. Gail is here to talk to us about the importance of supporting our sisters around the world, what sisters' stories she's been most inspired by lately, and how to balance a love of serving globally with the importance of serving locally. I loved chatting with her and I pray our conversation resonates with the part of you that's motivated to get out there + live a life of sacrifice, service, + sisterhood.

Today's episode is brought to you by Every Sacred Sunday. Snag one of their beautiful Mass journals by heading to everysacredsunday.com.

Today's episode is also brought to you by Select International Tours. Going on pilgrimage in 2020? Trust Select to help plan your trip and do all the heavy lifting. Learn more at selectinternationaltours.com/feminist.

*Does anyone else only know what "penultimate" means because of the Series of Unfortunate Events? …Bueller? 😂

MINISODE: How I Advent! Nov 15, 2019

Show notes

Honestly, just a fun mini episode on the books I'm reading, my prayer routine, and how I'm trying to impart the feeling of "joyful anticipation" onto my kids!

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