Letters to Women - Exploring the Feminine Genius

Should we care about what we wear? The short answer is “yes”—but don’t pull out your headphones just yet. There’s more to the conversation than that.

What about style? What do you think of when you hear that word? Maybe the pages of fashion magazines or reruns of Project Runway flash through your mind. Or maybe you wonder if style should even be something you think about—how many of us have felt guilty after splurging on a gorgeous dress, wondering how a piece of fabric can capture our imagination and desire.

We scold ourselves and say “I should bought something practical.” Or maybe you’ve even wondered if you’re vain if you care about how you look.

But what if that pull towards certain items of clothing is actually a sign of being made in the image and likeness of God? What if instead of finding a new “cool,” “fancy,” or “stylish” wardrobe, or becoming a “new” version of ourselves, we focused on how we can grow in an understanding of how we were made? 

In this episode, I’m sitting down with Lillian Fallon. She's a Catholic writer with a passion for helping women express their unrepeatability through style.

Lillian and I are talking about living life as an affirmed woman and daughter of God, how wisdom from St. Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body relates to clothing, and how to dress in a way that expresses who we are. 

If you’ve ever wondered if your love of style is incongruent with your Catholic faith, sister, this letter is for you. 

Topics we talked about in this episode:

• Lillian’s story as a Catholic woman

• The origin story behind Lillian’s new book, Theology of Style: Expressing the Unique and Unrepeatable You

• How an epiphany moment in a Theology of the Body class gave Lillian the freedom to pursue her passion for style

• What Theology of Style is and how it can transform the way we see ourselves and God

• What an understanding of modesty informed by Theology of the Body looks like—and why it is so much more than the length of a skirt

• Living life as an affirmed person who is confident in her identity, gifts, and passions

• How Lillian lives out the feminine genius in her daily life

Resources you should check out after listening to this episode:

It’s time we get honest with ourselves as women today—we’re being lied to. Today’s cultural beauty standards are messed up. We all know it, and we all think we can resist the pull to look a certain way. But most of us—and our sisters, daughters, and nieces, too—are still striving for a broken kind of beauty while feeling like we’re not good enough.

In this episode, I’m sitting down with Melissa Johnson, a marriage and family therapist. The lie of today’s beauty standards eventually led her to battling an eating disorder. Through that experience, she saw that chasing broken beauty breaks us as women in so many ways. And she also realized that true, soul-deep beauty is not impossible—it abounds in us and all around us. 

Melissa and I are talking about how to uncover the hidden damage cultural lies about beauty have on your mind and soul, how to reconnect with God, in whose image you are made, and how to walk away from shame and striving.

If you find yourself wishing that you were thinner or smaller, have a list of things you wish you could change about your appearance, or compare your body to other women’s bodies, and you’re longing for a more self-compassionate relationship with your body, sister, this letter is for you. 

Topics we talked about in this episode:

• Melissa’s story as a Christian woman

• The origin story of Melissa’s new book, Soul Deep Beauty: Fighting for Our True Worth in a World Demanding Flawless and what you’ll find when you open the cover

• The unhelpful (but normalized) beliefs we are buying as women when it comes to beauty

• What happens when we embrace our bodies as miracles and what it looks like to practice gratitude for our aging bodies

• What living in loving community with other women looks like

• How Melissa defines true beauty

• The ways that Melissa lives out the feminine genius in her own daily life

Resources you should check out after listening to this episode:

We’re living in a world of filters and photoshop. Thanks to the constant pull from the smartphone in your pocket, you might be experiencing internet overwhelm and social media fatigue. Is there any relatable women’s media out there that gives an accurate representation of what it means to be a women, reminds you of your belovedness, and encourages you to be authentic?

The world needs more of who women ARE. Not a long list of expectations of what we should be doing and what our bodies look like while we’re doing it. 

That, and more, is what we’re diving into today in this episode of the Letters to Women podcast.

In this episode, I’m sitting down with Mary Rose Somarriba,. Mary Rose is the editor of Verily Magazine. True to their name, Verily sifts through the noise of the world to elevate what is honest, real, and beautiful for the modern woman—facilitating her connection with the things that matter the most to her through our production of original media, curation of quality content across the web, and in-person events.

Mary Rose and I are talking about the mission of Verily, what it’s like for them to totally reject photoshop, and why they’re returning to a print magazine in our digital world.

If you’re exhausted from a constant barrage of media that tells you what the “ideal” body type, image, or status is and you're ready to be empowered to be more of who YOU ARE, sister, this letter is for you.

Topics we talked about in this episode:

• Mary Rose’s story as a Catholic woman

• The origin story of Verily Magazine and what sets it apart from other fashion and lifestyle magazines

• What has changed and what has stayed the same since the first issue of Verily was published in 2012

• Why being a non-profit fits the mission of Verily

• The false expectations that we’re sorting through as women today and how Verily encourages women to live authentically

• How editing Verily has impacted Mary Rose as a mother

• The ways the Mary Rose lives out the feminine genius in her daily life

Resources you should check out after listening to this episode:

Have you ever wished you prayed more with your spouse, but you don’t know where to start? Maybe you’re confident in praying FOR your spouse, but WITH them?

In this episode, I’m sitting down with Dr. Sarah Bartel and we’re talking about Cana Feast, the marriage ministry she founded with husband, Nathan, and she’s giving some really practical, nitty-gritty ways that they’ve found make a difference in couple’s marriages - from how to get over the awkwardness of praying together to making time for each other in seasons of change and prioritizing your marriage when schedules are tight or babies are little. Or teenagers are up at all hours of the day.

Regardless of the season of marriage you find yourself in, there’s something here for you. 

Topics we talked about in this episode:

• The origin story of Cana Feast, an online enrichment community for couples

• Navigating seasons of change in your marriage with grace

• Practical, daily practices for couples to strengthen their marriages

• How Cana Feast makes retreats-in-place possible for couples with busy schedules

• Sarah’s top advice for women who aren’t married yet but feel God’s call to the vocation of marriage

Resources you should check out after listening to this episode:

Have you ever had the experience that life is flying by you at lightning speed and you’re just an observer? The year is already over halfway done, you’re not sure really what you’ve even done for the past six months. You’re just along for the ride.

But what if there was a daily practice that helped you grow in your ability to focus, to be grateful, and to be present?

In this episode, I’m sitting down with Tsh Oxenreider. I love Tsh—her writing is absolutely fantastic, her podcast is one of the few that I listen to on long drives or as I work through mountains of laundry. And she’s just written a brand new book called First Light and Eventide, which is a daily gratitude journal. When you open up the cover, she guides you through a short, twice-daily thought exercise to help you better focus on gratitude, grace, and greater truth. 

If you’re looking for a thoughtful way to bookend your day and you wish someone would just take you by the hand and help you navigate some of life’s uncertainty, this letter is for you.

Topics we talked about in this episode:

• Tsh’s story as a Catholic convert

• The story behind her new book, First Light and Eventide: A Daily Gratitude Journal

• Tsh’s advice for building the habit of morning and evening bookends

• How Tsh has encountered truth, goodness, and beauty on pilgrimage (and how you can join her on upcoming trips!)

• How stepping away from Instagram has impacted Tsh’s ability to notice, focus, and be grateful

• Why Tsh curates playlists to pair with all of her books

• How Tsh lives out the feminine genius in her daily life

Resources you should check out after listening to this episode:

When Sarah Swafford first started talking to college students about friendship, it was 2007. They were trying to figure out cellphones, dorm life, emotions, and virtue. Sixteen years later, Sarah is still talking about friendship—and it hasn’t gotten any easier with the rise of social media, smart phones, and a world pandemic.

Sarah fist came on the podcast way back in 2018 to talk about emotions and virtue. She’s back for another conversation about virtue, a brand new book called Gift and Grit that she just wrote with her husband, Swaff, and a deep dive into the topic of friendship, especially as you navigate changing seasons of life.

Whether you’re blessed with an incredible community of friends around you and you want to grow deeper in relationship with them, or you’re starting out in a new season of life and you’re hungry for authentic friendship, sister, this letter is for you. 

Topics we talked about in this episode:

• Sarah’s story as a Catholic woman

• The story behind Gift and Grit: How Heroic Virtue Can Change Your Life and Relationships and what it was like for Sarah to write a book with her husband

• What Środowisko is, what it looked like in the life of Saint Pope John Paul II, and what it means for us as Catholic women today

• Why finding meaning in life isn’t enough and why we need grit, too

• How to navigate friendship in changing seasons and how to be truly vulnerable with women you trust

• Sarah’s three ingredients for healthy and holy friendship

• How Sarah lives out the feminine genius in her daily life

Resources you should check out after listening to this episode:

We all know someone struggling with substance use disorder. We might not know it, but since nearly one in five Americans older than twelve reported illicit drug use in 2018, someone in our life is struggling. And those numbers were before a pandemic threw our culture into further isolation. With those kinds of numbers, if you live in the United States, it’s nearly impossible for you to not know someone battling an addiction to drugs or alcohol.

It could be your aunt, cousin, neighbor, your high school classmate, or your best friend’s sibling, son or daughter. Or, it might be you. One way or another, substance use disorders impact our society as a whole, and each and everyone of us as individuals.

So first, why do so many of us still think that this crisis is someone else’s problem? And how can we shift that mentality and become members of the Church who bring Christ’s love and mercy to the souls most in need of it? Souls in our communities, our parishes, and our families?

In this episode, I’m sitting down with Keaton Douglas. She’s the co-author of a brand new book on responding to the crisis of addiction and we’re talking about what sets today’s suffering of addiction apart, what we can learn from St. Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body when it comes to accompanying someone struggling with an addiction, and practical ways that we can grow in our understanding of addiction as Catholic women today.

Accompanying those we love who are struggling with addiction is messy, challenging, and unfortunately too often, it’s devastating. But as Catholic women today, we need to do it. And for the sake of those we love, we need to start today.

So whether you’re tuning in to learn more about the epidemic of substance use disorders and come to understand it better or you’re wondering how to start making some real change in your family and community, sister, this letter is for you.

Topics we talked about in this episode:

• Keaton’s story as a Catholic woman

• The inspiration behind The Road to Hope: Responding to the Crisis of Addiction

• Why it’s tempting to think that addition is “someone else’s problem” and why we have a responsibility as Catholics to move beyond that mentality

• What makes opiod addiction different from other suffering

• The important element that’s missing from most resources available for people suffering from addiction—and what the Catholic Church can provide

• How to tap into St. Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body as Catholics accompanying those who are addicted

• How to communicate the dignity of those who die of substance abuse and how to acknowledge (and eliminate!) social stigmas around addiction

• Keaton’s advice for how to grow in our understanding of addiction and accompany those we love through this particular type of suffering

• How Keaton lives ou the feminine genius in her daily life

Resources you should check out after listening to this episode:

Have you ever wanted to sit down with a woman who is a few season of life ahead of you, settle in on her couch with a big cup of coffee, and pick her brain about all of the joys and challenges of the season of life you’re in now -- and the seasons you’re looking forward to? To hear her advice and learn from the wisdom she’s gained over the years?

That’s exactly what today’s episode from the archive is all about.

These past weeks have been really full here at the Langr house -- spring weddings, endless little house projects we can tackle now that the weather is getting warmer, and the last steps of our adoption home study before we move into a season where we’re just waiting to be matched.

So today, I’m pulling one of my favorite episodes from the archives to share with you — this is a listener favorite too, so there’s a chance you’ve already listened. But it’s so packed full of practical advice that you might discover something you missed the first go-around.

Kimberly and I are talking about her brand new Bible study, “Graced and Gifted,”  which is all about how we can tackle the seemingly endless demands of caring for our families and our homes all from the perspective of the woman described in Proverbs 31. She also shares her tried and true tips for things like time management, her secrets for meal planning, and how she creates a peaceful and beautiful home for her family and friends. 

If you are looking for not only useful tips but some inspiring help from a woman who has been there done that when it comes to taking care of the domestic church - no matter what season of life you’re in - sister, this letter is for you.

Topics we talked about in this episode:

• Kimberly’s story of conversion

• What we can learn from the woman described in Proverbs 31 about marriage and homemaking

• Why (and how!) to prioritize prayer in your life as a Catholic woman

• Remembering that marriage (not motherhood!) is a sacrament and making space to encounter your spouse

• How to create a rule of life and why that matters for our lives as Catholic women

Resources you should check out after listening to this episode:

There are so many tasks on our to-do lists as women, wives, and moms that are repetitive—and hidden. You plan meals every week and wander the aisle of your grocery store, only to be back again the week after to do the exact same thing all over again. You fold a massive pile of laundry and as you’re putting clean clothes in dressers, you find the laundry baskets are full again and ready for the next load. You make a meal, only to be faced with a pile of dirty dishes and a full dishwasher ready for unloading…again.

It can be easy to get discouraged in the monotony of taking care of your home, your family, and yourself. So how do we find meaning in these daily tasks that we’re going to do all over again tomorrow?

In this episode, I’m sitting down with Thérèse Desilets. Thérèse is the founder of Lovely Lady Linens, a Marian inspired home textile company. Her and I are talking about how the Blessed Mother can encourage us in our daily chores, the importance of beauty in our domestic churches, and how Thérèse integrates her work and vocation.

If you’re exhausted from the constant to-do list of taking care of your home and are needing some encouragement and inspiration, sister, this letter is for you.

Topics we talked about in this episode:

• Thérèse’s story as a Catholic woman

• The origin story of Lovely Lady Linens and the beautiful work of handblocking

• How designing Marian-inspired linen collections has impacted Thérèse’s relationship with the Blessed Mother

• Why domestic work is meaningful, even though so much of it goes unseen

• How Thérèse’s business and work as an attorney is at the service of her family (not the other way around)

• The story behind Mariamante Academy, where Thérèse donates a portion of her business proceeds

• How Thérèse lives out the feminine genius in her current season as a mother of three kids under five

Resources you should check out after listening to this episode:

Every single one of us has a feminine genius -- a particular way that the Lord is inviting us to bring forth new life into the world. But embracing that feminine genius in your daily life can be incredibly challenging if you’re facing something challenging in your life….but you’re pretending everything is fine, that you’re okay, and that you don’t need any help.

Maybe it’s hard to admit to a friend that you’re really struggling in your marriage or in your motherhood. You might be experiencing tension at work, or going through a big transition like moving or changing careers. Or maybe you are noticing tendencies in yourself that you’re ready to change -- people pleasing, perfectionism, pessimism.

Maybe you’re ready to take the next steps towards healing. Maybe you’re ready to open the door to your heart just a crack to the Lord, to a trusted friend, to a mentor, and share what’s really going on.

But what does it look like practically to experience healing from wounds, overcome self-doubt, reignite your faith life, and discover who you are on the journey to wholeness and holiness? 

In this episode, I’m sitting down with Crystalina Evert. I remember sitting in the audience at a National Catholic Youth Conference over a decade ago and hearing Crystalina speak for the first time—and then that evening, in the elevator of our hotel, bumping into her and Jason and just being such a Catholic fangirl.

What sticks with me from that memory is being struck with the (probably obvious) fact that the Everts, this couple who have very much shaped my ideas around chastity and virtue and relationships, are human beings. And something that is such a gift about hosting this podcast is that I get to sit down one-on-one with women and hear their stories—women who might be sharing their story for the first time, or who have shared their story with millions of people.

Crystalina and I are talking about her journey of healing, this incredible resource that she’s put together in a new book for women who are ready to take the first steps in their own healing, and how a heavenly friendship with St. Therese helps remind Crystalina of her mission.

If you’re ready to experience healing in your life, sister, this letter is for you.

Topics we talked about in this episode:

• Crystalina’s story as a Catholic woman and how Christ brought healing through both adoration and counseling

• How Crystalina created a resource to help women show up to their own healing process with the help of other women and their ministries

• Why all of us need to ask ourselves what is keeping us back from becoming the women God created us to be

• What happens in our culture and in our lives when we share our story—hard parts and all, with those we trust

• How a heavenly friendship with St. Therese of Lisieux inspired Crystalina on her journey of healing

• The first step that everyone needs to take on their healing journey

• Crystalina’s advice and encouragement for women as they ponder those questions and discover who they are and the healing the Lord desires in their lives

Resources you should check out after listening to this episode:

It’s an incredible gift to share the beauty of the Catholic faith with the kids in our lives. Whether you’re sharing about Christ in the Eucharist with your toddler, diving into Scripture together, or preparing children for their first reconciliation or first communion, there’s a lot that goes into evangelizing the littlest people in our lives.

How can we explain the faith, the realities of sin, and the incredible gift of the Eucharist in ways that resonate with little kids? How do we live our lives so that the children we love know that the sacraments matter and the sacraments change us? 

In this episode, I’m sitting down with Jackie Angel. I first saw Jackie speak at a youth conference over a decade ago, and it’s so much fun to sit down with her one-on-one today. Jackie and her husband Bobby are both presenters in the Parent’s Guide for Renewed and Received, a new resource for First Communion and First Reconciliation preparation from Ascension.

Jackie and I are talking about her experience preparing two of her children to receive first communion and first reconciliation, what it looks like to create a culture in our homes where conversations about the Eucharist and forgiveness are ongoing, and how teaching children about the beauty of the Catholic faith has impacted her own interior life.

If you’re helping children discover Christ mercy and experience his real presence in the Eucharist, sister, this letter is for you. 

Topics we talked about in this episode:

• Jackie’s story as a Catholic woman

• What sets Ascension’s band new programs, Received: Your Journey to First Communion and Renewed: Your Journey to First Reconciliation apart

• Jackie’s experience preparing two of her children for First Communion and Reconciliation

• How to take big concepts like transubstantiation, sin, and forgiveness and explain them in a way that kids understand

• What it looks like to create a culture in our homes where the sacraments are part of ongoing conversation and our daily lives with our families

• Jackie’s evangelization advice for mothers of toddlers

• How Jackie lives out the feminine genius in her daily life through tender motherhood

Resources you should check out after listening to this episode:

For 2,000 years, Catholics have been at the heart of the culinary arts. Maybe this shouldn’t come as a surprise, considering the sacred feast of the Eucharist and how it gives life to our faith.

But, like so many other things in our lives today, our relationship with food has become compromised, cheapened, and robbed of its wholesomeness and purpose. And it’s so easy to lose the sacramental nature of eating and the sense of community that comes from a good meal.

In this episode, I’m sitting down with Alexandra Greeley. She’s a convert to Catholicism, a trained chef, and the author of a brand new book, Catholics in the Kitchen.

Alexandra and I are talking about sacramental eating, the beauty and diversity of the Catholic Church, and how much we’re looking forward to farmer’s markets this spring.

Whether you’re looking for new recipes to add to your meal rotation or you want to discover the connection between food, faith, and farms, sister, this letter is for you.

Topics we talked about in this episode:

• The lightning bolt moment that brought Alexandra home to the Catholic Church
• The inspiration behind Alexandra’s new book, Catholics in the Kitchen and what you’ll find when you open up the cover
• What putting together this book taught Alexandra about the universality of the Catholic Church
• How to rediscover the beauty of sacramental eating
• The ways that food creates opportunity for evangelization
• Practical ways we can support farmers and be reminded of the origin of food

Resources you should check out after listening to this episode:

In my home growing up, we said a family Rosary every morning at 9am—my mom, dad, and seven siblings gathered in the living room and prayed together. We took turns leading decades and corralling toddlers.

But when I moved out, I got out of the habit of the daily Rosary. And I have a growing desire to get back into it now that my little crew of kids is able to say a few words of the Hail Mary themselves. But building that habit back is challenging, which is why I was so excited for the chance to record this perfectly timed podcast and get some encouragement—and I hope it’s encouraging for you, too!

In this episode, I’m sitting down with Shannon Wendt. Shannon is the founder and CEO of Chews Life—you might know them for their baby silicone rosaries or, my favorite, their rosary bracelets with a moveable charm that helps you keep track of what number of Hail Mary’s you’re on if you’re praying the Rosary throughout the day.

We’re talking about how the Rosary has impacted Shannon’s life as a woman, a wife, and a mom, the origin story of Chews Life, and Shannon’s advice for getting in the habit of praying a daily rosary—as well as the “why” behind this devotion in our Catholic faith.

Regardless of whether you pray the Rosary every day, you’ve never prayed the Rosary, or you find yourself somewhere in between, sister, this letter is for you

Topics we talked about in this episode:

• Shannon’s story as a Catholic woman
• The origin story of Chews Life and how it’s grown since launching in 2008
• How praying the Rosary has impacted Shannon’s life as a Catholic woman, wife, and mother
• The biggest roadblocks Catholics face when it comes to praying the Rosary regularly
• The fifteen promises of the Rosary and what they mean for our daily life
• Shannon’s advice for praying the Rosary with your kids—everyone from toddlers to teenagers!
• How Shannon lives out the feminine genius in her daily life

Resources you should check out after listening to this episode:

Valentine’s day is around the corner, and that means that you might be encountering a lot of Instagram-worthy pictures and posts about marriages over the next few days. And the vocation of marriage is incredible. God draws spouses closer to the ultimate Heavenly marriage through the powerful sacrament of marriage.

That doesn’t mean that marriage is always easy, and it isn’t always like what I imagined when I was a newlywed. The reality of marriage involves communication (and miscommunication!), healing, and intimacy. It’s messy AND good.

So what I want to do today as we get close to a day set aside for celebrating the beauty of love is sort through what struggles we can expect in healthy marriages and introduce you to a women who has practical advice on how to grow deeper in relationship to our spouse and the Lord through the incredible vocation of marriage

In this episode, I’m sitting down with Beth Sri. Beth’s been married to her husband, Edward, for more than twenty years and together they’ve written a book called ‘The Good, The Messy, and the Beautiful: The Joys and Struggles of Real Married Life”

Beth and I are talking about how to resist the temptation to build up walls in your marriage, why it’s important to build individual prayer time for the good of your marriage, and the real life differences between men and women and what that means for marriage.

So regardless of whether you’re single, preparing for marriage, or you’ve had a wedding ring on your finger for years, sister, this letter is for you.

Topics we talked about in this episode:

• The inspiration behind Beth’s new book and her experience writing a book with her husband, Edward
• Different walls that we build up in our marriage and how we can tear down the barriers to unity
• How marriage has made Beth more aware of areas that God wants to heal
• What to keep in mind if you’re realizing something from your past is impacting your marriage today
• The differences between men and women and how to honor those differences
• How to build the habit of daily individual prayer to strengthen our marriage
• What Beth has learned over the years that has helped her and Edward have a consistent daily prayer life
• How Beth lives out the feminine genius in her daily life as a Catholic woman

Resources you should check out after listening to this episode:

We’ve all experienced moments of pain and suffering. And while all of us carry different crosses, suffering is something that is part of every one of our stories. But how do you pray when you struggle to find words to express your pain and trauma?

How do you validate the emotions you experience in the valleys of life and embrace them as a gift instead of stuffing them down some place deep inside you? And in those hard seasons that seem to stretch on forever, how can you refresh your faith and find peace that lasts?

In this episode of Letters to Women, I’m sitting down with K.J. Ramsey. She intimately understands the reality of fear and the reward of courage. A survivor of spiritual abuse and religious trauma who suffers from chronic illness, KJ is a licensed counselor who recognizes the chasm that opens between our hearts and hope when life hurts. Through her struggle with emotional and physical pain, K.J. discovered a route to connection and joy:courage— the practice of trusting we will be held and loved no matter what.

We’re talking about praying the Psalms word by word, how courage has impacted KJ’s journey of trauma and chronic pain, and the importances of witnesses in our lives as women.

If you’re walking through a valley or a challenging season and want to cultivate courage and compassion and reignite joy, sister, this letter is for you.

Topics we talked about in this episode:

• The inspiration behind KJ’s new book, The Book of Common Courage: Prayers and Poems to Find Strength in Small Moments and what it was like to write a book on courage while experiencing chronic illness
• What courage looks like as a practice
• How encountering poetry both from the Psalms and other authors helps us enter into prayer—especially in seasons when it’s difficult to find words
• Why the presence of witnesses and the experience of with-ness crucial in seasons of suffering
• How KJ has witnessed the co-existing of courage and suffering
• KJ’s encouragement to you if trusting others with your story is challenging
• How KJ lives out the feminine genius in her ordinary, daily life as a woman encouraging others in the practice of finding courage to heal

Resources you should check out after listening to this episode:

Hey friends, Merry Christmas season! I love that this episode drops in your podcast feed the day after Christmas, and I hope it finds you well rested and joyful. Our little Langr crew has been sick this past week, so we’re enjoying quiet family time and praying for everyone soon.

But this episode also finds you just a few days before the first day of 2023. There are many resolutions that I’ve made throughout the years, but one that I keep making ….and failing…is reading the Bible from cover to cover.

Some years, I’ve tried to read from Genesis to Revelations, falling off the wagon sometime around Leviticus. Then, I tried reading through with Fr. Mike Schmitz and his podcast and I made it PAST Leviticus, and then just stopped listening.

I WANT to read through the Bible, and you might too - but how?! And where do we find the motivation to get past the boring parts (I’m looking at you, descriptions of the ark of the covenant), the run-on sentences from St. Paul, and the parts that just leave you confused?

In this episode, I’m sitting down with Meg Hunter-Kilmer. She’s an itinerant missionary and the author of a brand new Bible Journal. Oh, and she’s just wrapping up her 21st read through the entire Bible, so she has some great advice if that’s your goal this upcoming year, to!

We’re talking about what Meg’s very first read through scripture looked like (she was thirteen! It took her five years!) and the unique way she recommends reading the Bible so you don’t get bogged down in 1st and 2nd chronicles and Meg shares one of my new favorite saint quotes on scripture that I hadn’t heard until our conversation today.

If you want to spend time in God’s word every day and grow in your knowledge and love of Scripture, sister, this letter is for you.

Topics we talked about in this episode:

• Meg’s life as a hobo missionary and how she surrenders and trusts God to provide
• How Meg wrote her new book, A Year in the Word Catholic Bible Journal on Instagram
• How Scripture has impacted Meg from her first read through at age 13 to today
• Meg’s recommended reading plan to help you make it from Genesis to Revelations
• What to do with Scripture passages that confuse (and bore!) you
• The Bible verses Meg keeps close to her heart
• How Meg lives out the feminine genius

Resources you should check out after listening to this episode:

Have you ever witnessed the Lord do something incredible in your life? And when you see him at work, what is your response? Do you share it with everyone who will listen, or do you keep it to yourself?

So often, we make evangelization too complicated. It’s not about knowing just the right thing to say, or having all the answers. The most potent evangelization is the personal testimony of what Jesus has done in our lives.

In this episode, I’m sitting down with Allison Gingras, the author of the brand new book Encountering Signs of Faith: My Unexpected Journey with Sacramentals, the Saints,and the Abundant Grace of God. And while this conversation is full of information about the sacramentals we have in our lives as Catholic women, it’s also a heart story about motherhood, evangelization, and adoption.

I’m so excited to share this conversation with Allison today for so many reasons. First, I’ve known her for years, and it’s so fun to introduce you as the listener to my dear friends. Second, Allison is a woman who has walked and prayed with our family for months.

One evening after a conversation with her on her podcast, A Seeking Heart, I asked Allison for prayers. I knew she and her husband adopted their daughter who has special needs from China, and Joseph and I were in the very beginning stages of exploring special needs adoption. That night, Allison encouraged me to pray boldly and specifically for God’s will with this adoption.

We’re about halfway through the home study process and have the specific hope and prayer to adopt a child with Down syndrome, and Allison's prayers and witness to bold faith have played such a part in that discernment.

Today, I’m talking with Allison about how the sacramentals helped her and her profoundly deaf daughter connect with God, the spiritual motherhood of Mary, and the beauty and depth of those tangible signs of faith in our lives today.

If you’re curious about the incredible amount of sacramentals we have as Catholics and what they mean for our daily lives and relationships with others, sister, this letter is for you.

Topics we talked about in this episode:

• The inspiration behind Allison’s new book, Encountering Signs of Faith
• How Allison and her husband brought their daughter, Faith, home through adoption
• Why each and every one of us is an adopted child of the Father
• Exactly what a sacramental is and how Allison uses them to teach her daughter who is profoundly deaf the Catholic faith
• Allison’s personal saint posse who accompanied her along the journey of adoption
• The promises associated with the Miraculous Medal and the spiritual motherhood of Mary
• How Allison lives out the feminine genius through spiritual sensitivity

Resources you should check out after listening to this episode:

The Lord wants to draw you ever closer to himself. He wants to transform you, and in doing so, transform every single relationship in your life—he’s leaving no stone unturned.

But growing in deeper relationship involves the hard and holy work of examining both sides of the struggles and the joys, the good memories and the awful memories in those relationships.

You don’t have to walk that journey alone.

In this episode, I’m sitting down with Nell O’Leary, the managing editor for Blessed is She.  She’s also one of six women behind a brand new book, Loving God, Loving Others: 52 Devotions to Create Connections that Last

We’re talking about all kinds of relationships and why it’s important to prioritize prayer and reflection in our lives as women today. Nell is also sharing her encouragement for you if you’re cautious to explore the parts of your story you just wish weren’t there.

If you want to prayerfully examine your relationship with God, with yourself, your family of origin, your loved ones, your friends, your work, sister, this letter is for you.

Topics we talked about in this episode:

• The inspiration behind the new Blessed Is She Devotional, Loving God, Loving Others
• Nell’s encouragement if you’re cautious to explore the parts of your story you just wish weren’t there
• How to examine our story in a holistic way that takes both the joy and sorrow into account
• Nell’s section of the devotional on her family of origin and how it has shaped her identity
• How writing alongside women like Beth Davis, Megan Hjelmstad, Bonnie Engstrom, Sarah Erickson, and Emily Stimpson Chapman deepend Nell’s appreciation for their feminine genius
• Why to prioritize daily prayer in your life as a Catholic woman
• The incredible resources that Blessed is She offers for both in-person and online community
• How Nell lives out the feminine genius

Resources you should check out after listening to this episode:

In his Letter to Artists, St. Pope John Paul II said that “Human beings, in a certain sense, are unknown to themselves.” Jesus reveals who God is, but he also fully reveals us to ourselves. Yet we often find ourselves asking “Who am I” and “What is real”?

John Paul II goes on to say that “humanity in every age, and even today, looks to work of art to shed light upon its path and its destiny.” But what does it look like to create and encounter art that answers those deep questions of identity and longing?

In today’s episode of the Letters to Women podcast, I’m sitting down with Kate Marin. Classically trained in Florence, Italy, Kate is an artist who works to create sculptures—large and small—that tell our human stories, that reveal the Divine, and that always uphold the dignity of each human person.

We’re talking about how the moment Kate fell in love with the creating and how she’s grown as an artist, the way that Theology of the Body influences her sculpting, and how becoming a mother has impacted the way she creates.

John Paul II says that “Not all are called to be artists in the specific sense of the term. Yet, as Genesis has it, all men and women are entrusted with the task of crafting their own life: in a certain sense, they are to make of it a work of art, a masterpiece.”

Whether you’re tuning into this episode to connect with Kate as a fellow artist or you’re a woman who desires to encounter the beauty of God and learn more about the masterpiece of your own life, sister, this letter is for you.

Topics we talked about in this episode:

• How Kate as grown as an artist throughout the course of her life and training
• The moment in Kate’s story where she fell in love with art and the creative process
• Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body and how it’s influenced Kate’s work as an artist
• How Kate went about finding models for her sculpture of the Holy Family
• The way that prayer and the artistic process intertwine when Kate creates
• How creating art helps Kate answer the big questions that so many of us wrestle with today
• How becoming a mother has changed the way that Kate creates and what Kate is looking forward to teaching her children about art
• How Kate lives out the feminine genius as a woman creating works that help call people deeper into the truth of their own mystery

Resources you should check out after listening to this episode:

What does it mean to think deeply as Catholic women today?

When you hear that question, do you worry that it means spending endless hours reading and writing academic papers?

Do you wonder if pursuing the intellectual life isn’t for you because you don’t consider yourself a thinker?

Or have you thought that maybe the intellectual life is for another season of life, one where you’re not as busy, not covered in spit up, or at least get full nights of sleep?

In this episode, I’m sitting down with Rachel Bulman. She’s the editor behind the newly released book, With All Her Mind: A Call to the Intellectual Life

We’re talking about the feminine genius and how that impacts both our affectivity and our intellect, what to do if the idea of growing in your intellectual life seems daunting, and how we can learn from the Blessed Mother as the Seat of Wisdom.

If you are a woman who wants to follow the first and greatest commandment: to love the Lord with all your soul, all your heart, and with all your mind, sister, this letter is for you.

Topics we talked about in this episode:

• How a witness of hospitality and authenticity sparked Rachel’s interest in Catholicism
• The inspiration behind With All Her Mind: A Call to the Intellectual Life
• Rachel’s encouragement if you think the intellectual life isn’t for you
• Getting to know Our Lady as the Seat of Wisdom and first philosopher
• Fostering the intellectual life in our daily lives as women
• How Rachel witnessed the feminine genius during the editing process of With All Her Mind
• Cultivating a sense of wonder in a world ripe with distractions
• How Rachel lives out the feminine genius in her roles as daughter, wife, and mother

Resources you should check out after listening to this episode:

Today’s episode contains a conversation on sexual addiction and healing. If you listen around little ears, you might want to grab a pair of headphones.

No one intends to get addicted to pornograpy, masturbation, or other disordered sexual desires. And it doesn’t help that we live in a world that has ingrained into our minds the idea that pornography is a ‘guys issue’.

Yes, many men do struggle with an addiction to pornography.But the reality of the situation, the reality that you yourself might be living, is that women also struggle with addictions to sexual addiction, pornography, and masturbation.

But there is healing. You don’t have to hide and pretend that everything in your life is going perfectly. It’s time that we stop thinking about pornography as a problem only men deal with.

In today’s episode, I’m sitting down with Rachael Killackey. She’s the Founder and Executive Director of Magdala, a space where women can find hope, healing, and freedom alongside each other from sexual addiction.

We’re talking about just what pornography is, how is Magdala shifting that narrative so women can find healing from sexual wounds, and the importance of healing from sexual wounds in community, even though things like pornography and masturbation are considered private struggles.

If you’re a woman who has struggled with pornography, masturbation, lustful thoughts, sexual daydreaming, or any other disordered desire, sister, this letter is for you.

Topics we talked about in this episode:

• How Rachael started Magdala to answer a need for ministry to women impacted by sexual addiction
• Why having an all-encompassing definition of pornography matters when it comes to breaking free from addiction
• The different ways that pornography impacts womens’ creativity and imagination and how is Magdala shifting that narrative so women can find healing from sexual wounds
• Why pornography and mastrubation are symtoms of deeper wounds
• How pornography can drive women to obsession or suppression when it comes to body image
• The ways that physical motherhood has impacted Rachael’s mission and the conversations we need to be having with our daughters about pornography
• How Rachael lives out the feminine genius in her daily life through the grace  of acceptance

Resources you should check out after listening to this episode:

About a year ago, when I’d find myself with nothing left to give, I started asking Jesus for His Sacred Heart. I asked him to give me his heart to love those around me, because my little heart was so exhausted. But in the back of my head, I wondered if Jesus was disappointed in me for not being able to love well, for having to return to him over and over to ask for help, to ask for his Sacred Heart. Wouldn’t it be more ideal if I could get my stuff together and love others well without having to ask for his help?

But after growing in devotion to the Sacred Heart this summer, that fear is gone. I’ve stopped treating the Sacred Heart like a safety net to catch me when I’ve tried and white-knuckled my way through the day and just need help for the last few hours. Instead, I start my day with a morning offering and ask Jesus for His Sacred Heart from the beginning, before I even start into the day. And I know now that he isn’t disappointed with that, but that when I share that I’m weak, it’s then that his power is made perfect in that weakness.”

In today’s episode, Emily Jaminet and I are talking about why now is the perfect time to revisit a classic Catholic devotion—the Sacred Heart.

You may remember a picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus hanging in your grandparents or parents' home, but what does devotion to the Sacred Heart really mean for our daily lives as Catholic women? Not only are we talking about some amazing promises Christ made to accompany devotion to The Sacred Heart, Emily and I even dive into our favorite depictions of the Sacred Heart and why art is important in your home.

So if you’re feeling like you have nothing left to give, that the demands of your day are taking more resources than you have, sister, this Letter is for you.

Topics we talked about in this episode:

• Emily’s grandfather and how he provided images of the Sacred Heart for Mother Teresa
• Why now is the perfect time to discover a devotion to the Sacred Heart
• What it means to enthrone the Sacred Heart in your home and in your life
• Receiving grace from the Sacred Heart and the sacrament of confession
• How to prepare our hearts to meet Christ in the final moments of life
• How the feminine genius impacts the way that Emily loves Jesus and his Sacred Heart

Resources you should check out after listening to this episode:

I’d just like to start this episode off with a moment of total honesty in which I reveal to you that one of my biggest fears is fish. I can’t stand them. I don’t swim in the ocean, I don’t swim in the lake, I don’t go to aquariums with my kids. Even talking about fish is making my skin crawl.

But today’s episode is all about the beauty, mystery, and depth that we can encounter when we revisit the familiar—with a special focus on the sea.

So you know it’s going to be good if I put aside my fish fears for thirty minutes to explore this.

In this episode, I sit down with Noelle Merring. She’s the editor of TheologyofHome.com and the co-author of the Theology of Home book series—the third installment of that series just launched this summer and it’s all about the sea. We’re talking about the feminine beauty and mystery of the sea, what the sea can reveal to us about our femininity and motherhood, and the beauty that we can discover when encountering the familiar things in our lives with new attention and depth.

If you want to bring the beauty, mystery, and depth of the sea into your home—and even into your soul, this letter is for you.

Topics we talked about in this episode:

• How the most basic element of water inspired the newest Theology of Home book
• The beauty of friendship (rekindled and new!) in the creation of Theology of Home
• What the intertwining of the feminine and water reveals to us about what it means to be women—and how view of the feminine compares to the present view that we have of womanhood as a society
• How we can grow in an appreciation of the mystery of our femininity without falling into the cultural battle of the sexes
• The history of the Marian title “Stella Maris” and what it means for our own maternity today
• What can happen in our interior lives as women when we take a fresh look at the familiar
• How Noelle lives out the feminine genius in her writing on home, ideologies, and with her family

Resources to check out after listening to this episode:

This summer, I’m focusing in on the topic of friendship with other women, and in this third episode of the series, I’m sitting down with Elizabeth Vargas.

Elizabeth is the recipe developer and photographer behind the blog “Elizabeth’s Table”. She was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, studied Economic Consulting and Business Analytics at India University, and currently lives in Ohio. In her free time, when she’s not cooking for her blog, Elizabeth enjoys drinking coffee, eating bananas, working out, listening to podcasts, and attending Mass.

You’ll recognize Elizabeth’s voice from a past episode of this podcast, “A Letter to the Woman Struggling With Body Image,” which I’ll link in today’s show notes so you can get to know Elizabeth’s story as a Catholic woman and hear her reflections on the feminine genius.

When you open the new Sisterhood book, you’ll find Elizabeth’s reflection on friendships that grow online, which kicks off the chapter on navigating the digital world when it comes to our friendships with other women.

If you have a desire not only to take your digital friendships to the next level, sister, this letter is for you!

Topics we talked about in this episode:

• How a podcast that never came to be was the start of a friendship between Elizabeth and her friend, Lauren
• How to take the next steps in friendship with the women you know online
• Elizabeth’s advice for being authentic when you share things online
• The unhealthy pressure to post your opinions about current events online and what to do before you make that post
• Whether or not friendships that start online are especially prone to comparison and competition

Resources you should check out after listening to this episode:

This summer, I’m focusing in on the topic of friendship with other women, and in this second episode of the series, I’m sitting down with Lindsay Schlegel.