Girlfriends (A Podcast for Catholic Women)

Are you familiar with the Five Love Languages, a concept popularized by author Dr. Gary Chapman? Today, let’s look at the love languages in terms of our relationship with Jesus. Jesus is fully God and fully human. We sometimes forget that Jesus is truly human, though. It can be helpful sometimes to reflect on the very human ways that he loves us and wants to connect with us. Let’s do that today with the idea of the five love languages. How does Jesus want you to love him in each of these ways? Snippet From the Show Do we ever stop to realize that Jesus delights in being loved back? Jesus is fully God and fully human, our love consoles his heart. For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Today’s special guest is Nicole Caruso, a professional makeup artist and beauty consultant, former Beauty Editor of Verily Magazine, and homeschooling mother of 3. Nicole’s mission is to inspire women to invest in their self-worth with her movement #worthyofwearing. She wants women to live an integrated life where faith and style meet. Snippet From the Show Personal style can be a beautiful expression of a woman's unique feminine genius. For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Are you feeling stressed? Stress has a way of creeping up on you. Family and work obligations can pile up and increase our workload until suddenly we find ourselves maxed out and losing our patience or experiencing physical symptoms like headaches or neck pain. Stress affects our physical and emotional health in many ways! So let’s talk about some healthy easy to manage it. Snippet From the Show "Remember Jesus’ agony in the garden? He knows about stress and anxiety. Turn to God in your moments of stress and find peace and stillness inside of your relationship with your Creator." For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

My guests this week are Sam and Rob Fatzinger. Sam and Rob are parents of 14 kids and co-authors of the new book, A Catholic Guide to Spending Less and Living More: Advice From a Debt-free Family of 16. Sam and Rob share about what writing this book together was like, as well as some inspiring stories of life together as a frugal family. Snippet From the Show "There is great joy in letting God provide." For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

I am not an expert in this week’s topic -- personal finances. But I think that’s why it’s important for me to share my perspective. There are some basic ideas about ways we think about and manage our money that can apply to all of us -- even those of us who are not financial geniuses or Dave Ramsey graduates. Snippet From the Show Remember that God is the source of every good thing,and everything we own, from our homes to our cars to our clothes, comes from him and belongs to him. For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

My guest this week is Erin Thielman, a disabled veteran who served in the U.S. Air Force before and after 9/11. She later met her husband Jason and they have been married for almost 13 years. Together, they have three children- Alexander, Abby and Andrew. Erin was a teacher until her youngest child, Andrew was prenatally diagnosed with Down Syndrome. Erin is a Down syndrome advocate, a pro-life advocate and especially enjoys speaking to youth and young adults. You can learn more about Erin by visiting her website at ErinThielman.com. (http://www.erinthielman.com/) Snippet From the Show A child with Down Syndrome is a precious gift from God that softens the heart of humanity. For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

My guest this week is Danielle Lerner, a wife, mom, and Emmy-award winning broadcast journalist currently working as a news anchor and reporter in her hometown of Phoenix, Arizona. After telling other people's stories for more than a decade, Danielle felt compelled to share her own family's story navigating postpartum depression and anxiety after the birth of their younger daughter, Harper. She is a passionate advocate for maternal mental health and credits her recovery to professional treatment, an incredible support system and her Catholic faith. Snippet From the Show The Blessed Virgin Mother's visit to her cousin Elizabeth reminds us that the joyful and sorrowful parts of motherhood should never be experienced in isolation. For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Our discussion this week is about “interrupting your marriage.” What does that mean and why do I think it’s a good idea? I share about a recent impromptu overnight “getaway” Dan and I had, and how it reminded me of the importance of disrupting our relationship sometimes. Snippet From the Show Marriage is more than a business partnership, it's a covenant of love that needs to be nourished intentionally. For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Anna Mitchell, host of the Son Rise Morning Show on Sacred Heart Radio, joins me to talk about daily prayer. Anna shares an innovative idea for making a habit of daily prayer -- an audio recording of simple prayers she created with her co-host Matt Swaim. Snippet From the Show We don't have to have it all together when we approach the Lord in prayer, he receives us just as we are. For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Are you ready for Holy Week? Here it is, ready or not! This week we are sharing some simple ideas for ways you can make Holy Week a sacred and meaningful time, even inside of your own home with your family. Nothing, fancy, no stressful crafts or complicated prayer practices! These are do-able ways to set this season apart. Snippet From the Show Holy Week is a sacred time when we remember that no matter what our lent was like, Jesus will still rise from the dead. For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

This week I am sharing 5 skills I think every young person should work on now, if they want to get married later. These are skills that will be helpful to you no matter what vocation you are called to, but I think especially to those who are planning to be married and have families. Snippet From the Show Your worth does not come from being in a relationship or being married, and your “real life” does not begin at some point in the future. For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

This week, we have a Girlfriends first -- our very first guest who is a bishop! Bishop Joseph Strickland, Bishop of Tyler, joins me for a great conversation about his new book, Light and Leaven: The Challenge of the Laity in the Twenty-First Century. We discuss ways that families can create domestic churches in their homes, how we can find more reverence and quiet in our busy lives, and what exactly it means to have “a personal relationship with Jesus.” Bishop Strickland also shares thoughts on good ways we can use social media, and why the world needs the gift of the truth more than ever. Join us for an encouraging and inspiring conversation! Snippet From the Show "Jesus Christ in the Eucharist feeds us. We are not to only look at him, we are to consume him." - Bishop Strickland For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Are you feeling BLAH these days? The end of winter can be a tough time to feeling joyful. The days are still cold and dreary in many parts of the country, Lent is dragging on, and we can begin to feel restless and unhappy. This week I am offering 6 ideas for ways to add just a little brightness to your days. Snippet From the Show "We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose."- Romans 8:28 For episode shownotes visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Today my guest is Claire Dwyer, author and editor at the Avila Institute. Claire writes for CatholicMom.com (https://www.catholicmom.com/) and is a contributor at SpiritualDirection.com (https://spiritualdirection.com/). Her new book is This Present Paradise: A Spiritual Journey with St. Elizabeth of the Trinity (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1644132877/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1644132877&linkCode=as2&tag=daniellebea07-20&linkId=9cf7b4e3912d1723ed6866e7b69c669a). In our conversation, Claire shares why she feels like St. Elizabeth of the Trinity is a great saint for our times, and the ways in which we are all called to holiness. Ascension is proud to partner with authentically Catholic institutions and organizations committed to spreading the Gospel. Learn more about the sponsor of this episode, Ave Maria University (https://tinyurl.com/yyh7bodr) Snippet From the Show The communion of saints shows us that no two saints were they same. Each saint bloomed right where they were planted and told their own story. For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Do you have a space in your home that is devoted to prayer? A quiet spot you can retreat to daily and spend time with God? This week, I am encouraging you to make one if you don’t already have such a place. It doesn’t need to be fancy, but it can be a wonderful way to enhance your habit of daily prayer. Ascension is proud to partner with authentically Catholic institutions and organizations committed to spreading the Gospel. Learn more about the sponsor of this episode, Ave Maria University (https://tinyurl.com/yyh7bodr) Snippet From the Show Just as Jesus withdrew to pray in a quiet place, we too can make a personal prayer space where we can rest in God. For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

My guests this week are Catholic fiction authors Carolyn Astfalk and Leslea Wahl who can’t wait to share about some fantastic literature options for Catholic teens. We discuss why it’s important to have a genre of fiction devoted to Catholic teens, what that means, and what some of the best resources are for teens and young adults who love to read. CatholicTeenBooks.com is a great place to learn more about the variety of works available for teens and find out more about the new anthology of books on the subject of St. Patrick. Do yourself and your teens a favor, and check it out! Ascension is proud to partner with authentically Catholic institutions and organizations committed to spreading the Gospel. Learn more about the sponsor of this episode, Ave Maria University (https://tinyurl.com/yyh7bodr) Snippet From the Show We need stories that are fun, well-written, and rooted in the truth God reveals to us. For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Are you ready for Lent? This week, I thought it might be helpful to look at the 3 aspects of Lent, read some Scripture on each of them, and ask ourselves how God might be calling us to grow closer to him through them this Lenten season. Snippet From the Show "Our time doesn't belong to us, it belongs to God." For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

My guest this week is Genie Shaw, a wife, mom,and liturgical loving coach who shares the inspiring story of her life and work. Genie offers encouragement and support to moms who are juggling many responsibilities but also looking for ways to encourage and enrich their children’s faith lives. Snippet From the Show "It's really about recognizing that you are a domestic church, and bringing some of those faith practices into your own little church inside of your home and family." For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Kimberly Cook and I chat about her personal experience of feminism as well as some of the history of the feminist movement in the United States. Snippet From the Show "At the heart of authentic feminism, is motherhood." For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

This week we are focused on ways to enjoy romantic time together as a couple -- without having to leave your home or spend a lot of money. Snippet From the Show "The idea of creating together is a really beautiful and inspiring way to truly connect with your spouse and remember who you are." For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

My guest this week is Samantha Stephenson, host of the Brave New Us podcast all about faith and bioethics. At the end of today’s show, I answer a question from Listener Kate who wonders about getting started as a freelance writer while she is a busy mom. Snippet From the Show "All creativity contributes to the image of God." For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

My guest this week is author and radio show host Teresa Tomeo. We talk about some of the stories from her new book and ways we can all pay more attention to the ways God intervenes in our lives and communicates his will for us. Snippet From the Show "God didn't promise he'd lay it all out for us, he promised us his daily bread." For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Do you struggle to make family prayer time happen in your home? 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. 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.” For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

It’s easy to think we’re being humble when we’re really just being down on ourselves. Don’t hide your light! Let’s talk about some of our struggles in embracing the talents God has given us and allowing him to work through us to inspire and bless others. For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Can we give meaningful gifts that won’t cost too much? This week I’m sharing 6 ideas for doing just that. Snippet From the Show "When you're struggling with a low budget, and you want to give people gifts, and you want them to be meaningful, that's okay! It's really encouraging to remember that it's the thought that counts." For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

How does your Advent look different this year? Many of us are dealing with being flexible in the face of an Advent season that is limited in many ways. Here are some ideas I want to share to help you find more joy this season. Snippet From the Show Never more so than in the year 2020 have we had the opportunity to let go of what should be, and embrace instead, what is and what can be. For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Kimberly is a Catholic convert married to Catholic theologian and apologist Scott Hahn. In today’s show, she shares about her series of Biblical Wisdom books that are being re-published, her new podcast Beloved and Blessed, and her upcoming radio show on EWTN that will be launching in January 2021. Snippet From the Show We need to choose Christ, every day, to make that ongoing conversion, and then I would really encourage us to choose our spouse, every day, and say "Lord, he is your gift to me." For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

My guest this week is Nancy Bandzuch, host of the Catholic Sprouts podcast for kids. She and her husband have been hard at work creating a brand new resource for Catholic families -- the Domestic Church Project. This project is a 6-week program to help young families have real conversations about their faith and answer kids’ questions as together they build their domestic church. If you are not even sure what that means, this program is for you! It’s for Catholic families of all different experiences and backgrounds. It was so innovative, in fact, that it won this year’s OSV Catholic Innovation Challenge. Nancy shares about the need for a program like this one, especially in the age of Covid when many religious education programs are no longer meeting in person. You can learn more about this new project and how your family can benefit from it at DomesticChurchProject.com. Snippet From the Show "Catholic parents must learn to form their family as a "domestic Church", a church in the home as it were, where God is honored, his law is respected, prayer is a normal event, virtue is transmitted by word and example, and everyone shares the hopes, the problems and sufferings of everyone else. "- Pope St. John Paul II For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

I recently realized that I had been neglecting to care for myself in some pretty basic ways. The end result was that I was suffering chronic headaches and neck and back pain. This is unusual for me, and so I thought a bit about what might be causing it. That was when I realized that I have been avoiding working out and not getting enough rest. This is easy to do when life gets stressful, but sometimes we all need a nudge to do better for ourselves. Sometimes, self care looks more like everyday discipline in caring for ourselves so that we are well enough to care for others. Snippet From the Show Sometimes, self care looks more like everyday discipline in caring for ourselves so that we are well enough to care for others. For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

My guest this week is Rachel Balducci, my longtime friend and colleague (and co-host on CatholicTV’s The Gist!). Rachel is author of How to Tuck in a Superhero, Make My Life Simple, and Overcommitted. She and I chat about the intentional Christian community that she and her family are part of, but also everyday ways all moms can foster community and make meaningful personal connections in everyday life. We discuss some of the challenges of social media as well as some of the distractions that can get in the way of friendships among women, especially inside of the Church. Snippet From the Show We live in a world where it is much easier to be alone and to be focused on ourselves. God invites to something much greater though- to love in community where we grow into saints. For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

This week I’m sharing 9 little ways that you can make every day more Catholic. With sacramentals and small prayers, every day we can work at growing closer to God. Snippet From the Show Praying the Angelus during the day gives us the beautiful opportunity to pause, remember our the mystery of the Incarnation, and honor our Blessed Mother. For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

My guest this week is Fr. Jim Phalan, CSC, national director of Family Rosary with Holy Cross Family Ministries. Fr.Jim is my boss in the work I do over at CatholicMom.com. Together, we discuss family prayer, unique spiritual needs of Catholic moms in the world today, and PRAY, the newly-released film about the life of Ven. Patrick Peyton. Snippet From the Show The family is meant to be a relflection of the Holy Trinity and when the family prays together, it opens the door for Christ to be born in the hearts of each of its members. For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

My guest this week is Deanna Bartalini, a wife, mom, writer, speaker, retreat leader, and educator. Deanna and I talk about growing in faith, the struggles moms sometimes face in establishing a daily prayer life, and the benefits of having a spiritual director. At the end of our conversation, Deanna shares a beautiful prayer from Thomas Merton. It’s called the Prayer of Abandonment. Deanna’s podcast is Not Lukewarm where she shares her faith life and encourages others to grow in theirs. Her website is DeannaBartalini.com where you can learn more about her courses and connect with her about retreats, both virtual and in person. Snippet From the Show Spiritual direction is a place where we can learn to identify the invitations of Christ in our lives For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Snippet From the Show For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

This is an evergreen topic for us, isn’t it? This week we are talking about how to survive when you are sleep-deprived. Whether it’s a newborn, toddler, teenager or work situation that is robbing you of sleep these days, we will share some strategies for how to cope when you are just plain exhausted. Snippet From the Show "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."- Matthew 11:28 For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

My guest this week is Jessica Ptomey, author of Home in the Church: home in the church Living an Embodied Catholic Faith. Jessica and I chat about her conversion and her journey to a more embodied Christian faith inside the Catholic Church. Jessica shares the miraculous story of her son’s healing and we grapple with the idea that God hears our prayers but does not always answer them as we wish he would. What can we learn about the nature of God, his unfathomable love, and our place in the universe from unanswered prayers?Jessica also recommends another book during our conversation: Abandonment to Divine Providence. Snippet From the Show The Catholic faith is not a distant intellectual idea, it is an embodied faith that is lived in the heart and body through the physical realities created by prayer and the sacraments. For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

This week we are talking about female friendships -- this is a topic I hear from women about all the time. We struggle inside of our relationships with other women. We struggle to find friends, make friends, and maintain meaningful friendships with other women. Things like jealousy and competition and cattiness can get in the way. But God wants you to have meaningful friendships with other women! Snippet From the Show Don't be afraid to be vulnerable in friendships, God wants us to know that we are not alone. For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

My guest this week is Sonja Corbitt, wife, mom, author, speaker, podcaster, retreat leader, television show host and more. Sonja is a woman on fire with her faith and in love with God’s word, with a passion for sharing that love with others. Snippet From the Show Mary herself is the magnificat, her whole life is a song that glorifies the Lord. For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

My guest this week is Abby Fredricksoon, Head of Content at Hallow, a Catholic meditation app. Abby is a wife and mom, and one of the prayer guides you will hear on the innovative prayer app, Hallow. I have shared about my love for this app on the show before, so I am thrilled to bring you this conversation about all the ways that Hallow can support you in your daily prayer life. Snippet From the Show Prayer doesn't have be separate from other parts of our lives, we can integrate prayer in our daily activities by speaking to God in the silence of our hearts. For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

My guest this week is Chaira Finaldi, wife, mom, and creator of the Catholic Mother’s Planner. Chiara shares about how she felt called to begin a ministry for Catholic women who were devoted to their vocations as moms. From her ministry with mothers she was inspired to create the Catholic Mother’s Planner, a beautiful resource that can help you get organized, but so much more than that -- this planner will teach you about your Catholic faith, and inspire you to grow in virtue every day. You will want to check out this gorgeous resource for yourself or consider giving it as a gift to a friend. To get a copy of the Catholic Mother's Planner, visit: https://ascensionpress.com/products/catholic-mothers-planner-2021 Snippet From the Show To be a mother is to nurture mankind, it is an honorable and heroic vocation. For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

This week we are talking about some ways we waste our time -- and it’s not Netflix! Here are some things you might be doing that are robbing you of joy, along with ways to break these bad habits. Snippet From the Show “Worrying is talking to yourself about things you cannot control while prayer is talking to God about things he can control” For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Are you freaking out about the school year? What will it look like? How will you manage? How can you possibly make it work? With masks and social distance at school? With homeschooling for real for the first time? With managing your kids’ remote learning while also working and running your household? With … you fill in the blank with your own anxiety-producing scenario? Snippet From the Show "Whenever you are making important decisions, you will find peace by connecting with God about them. Bring your worries and dilemmas to prayer and ask God for wisdom and guidance." For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

My guest this week is Karen Edmisten, my dear friend and colleague for many years, writing together and sharing about Catholic family life and homeschooling online. One of Karen’s multiple published books is After Miscarriage: A Catholic Woman’s Companion to Healing and Hope. Karen and I share a conversation about a Catholic approach to miscarriage, and she shares from her own experiences of multiple losses. Why is this a rare conversation in the Church today? What are there so few resources available to support women through the grief of miscarriage? We also discuss family size and some of the ways women might tend to compare themselves to others or judge people based on family size. We talk about ways we can avoid hurting ourselves and others in these ways. Snippet From the Show "Although there was great suffering in these losses, there was also incredible growth in my faith and in my relationship with God." For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

My guest this week is Amy Smith, author of The Plans God Has for You: Hopeful Lessons for Young Women. Amy speaks to the hearts of young women about God’s unique love for them and the plans he has for their lives, all based on her favorite Scripture passage, Jeremiah 29:11. Snippet From the Show “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”- Jeremiah 29:11 For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

I’m back from our family trip to Cape Cod with lots of ideas for ways you can plan a fun family trip this summer, even if your other plans have been changed or cancelled because of Covid. Snippet From the Show “Enjoying what you’re doing in the moment and having a positive mindset is huge.” For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

My guest this week is Rachel Smith, host of the To Grow Good podcast. In To Grow Good, Rachel shares her guests’ stories of conversion and their personal encounters with God. In our conversation, she discusses her own story of reversion to the Catholic faith and ways that the Holy Spirit has led her to make new connections and grow in her faith since that time. Together, we talk about the life-changing idea of the Feminine Genius and simple ways to begin exploring a personal relationship with God. Learn more about Rachel Smith and her work at ToGrowGood.com (https://www.togrowgood.com/)and follow her on Instagram. (https://www.instagram.com/togrowgood/) Snippet From the Show “ I just had a restless heart, something was missing and I couldn’t place it.” For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Are you all in for Jesus? Or is there something you are keeping from God? It has been my experience that we like to think we’re doing God’s will, but when it comes down to it, we struggle to turn over our lives to God and accept his will over our own. I share some of my recent struggles with this, along with some thoughts about various areas of life where you might be tempted to hold something back from God and keep control for yourself. Snippet From the Show "Jesus is asking for everything, he wants us to give all to him." For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

My guest this week is wife, mom, and fitness professional, Brittany Pearson who runs a health coaching business at FitMomLifetotheFullest.com. Brittany and I talk about some of the obstacles that get in the way of women caring for themselves and having a healthy relationship with their bodies. We also discuss how to find time for fitness, why it’s important to do so, and where to start if you are completely out of shape. My favorite takeaways were how to break up with your scale and why BMI charts are truly evil (just kidding … kind of!). Join us for an encouraging and inspiring conversation about how real-life women can make real-life fitness an everyday reality. Snippet From the Show The reason for fitness and to take care of your physical body, is to enhance your quality of life and to be able to serve others. However, it is not the end all be all, we know we are leaving these physical bodies. For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

This week we are talking about how we can be Jesus in our lives today. This is what every one of us is called to do -- be Jesus to the people God places in our life. Here are 4 ways I am thinking about these days. How might they apply to your life, starting right now? Snippet From the Show “The people that God places in your life are living, breathing manifestations of God’s will for you, he speaks to us through the people that he puts in our lives” For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Sometimes, because of unrest in the world or unrest in our souls or unrest in our personal lives, it can feel like God is far away. Where is God when we suffer a global pandemic, racial injustice, political violence, and war? We all sometimes feel that God is distant, or it is hard to see his presence in our lives. This week, I am sharing three things we can do when we feel God is far away. Snippet From the Show Wherever you are in your life, if you are feeling like God isn't there for you, God isn't with you, I invite you to read the passage of Jesus in the garden. He speaks these words when he felt alone: "Not my will, but your will be done." For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe