Catholic Momcast
326 episodes - English - Latest episode: 13 days ago - ★★★★★ - 126 ratingsThe Catholic Mom team brings you all things faith, family, and fun!
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Episodes
Keeping Jesus in Advent #169
December 02, 2021 12:00 - 35 minutes - 68.6 MBThis week Danielle Bean and Allison Gingras discuss the newly-launched season of Advent. In what simple ways does your family observe this season? We share ideas for simple ways to add more prayer, quiet, and sacrifice to the days leading up to Christmas. In our secular culture of noise and busyness, this can be a challenging task! One way to add more Advent (not Christmas!) music to your driving, chores, and daily routines is with the Catholic Mom Advent playlist. It's free to download...
Happy Thanksgiving From Catholic Mom
November 25, 2021 12:00 - 41 seconds - 2.89 MBWe are taking a break from the podcast this week as we celebrate with family, but we will be back next week with an all new episode for you. In the meantime, know that we are praying for you and wishing you a Blessed Thanksgiving with your family. God bless you!
Fiction for Catholic Teens and Tweens (with Antony Kolenc) #169
November 18, 2021 12:00 - 29 minutes - 57.3 MBThis week we sit down with fiction author Antony Kolenc to talk about the importance of fiction for Catholic teens and tweens. Antony is a law professor, podcaster, speaker, and author of the award-winning series, The Harwood Mysteries, a medieval historical fiction series for teens from Loyola Press. Learn more about Antony Kolenc's work at his website. Listen to Antony's podcast, The Shepherd's Pie. Thanks so much for listening to this week's episode of the Catholic Momcast! Send an...
Find Your Motivation! #167
November 11, 2021 12:00 - 32 minutes - 62.8 MBThis week, Lisa Hendey and Danielle Bean talk about the recent time change and how changes in daylight can affect your mood and energy levels this time of year. Are you feeling tired and low energy? Are you struggling to set goals and follow through on commitments? Danielle and Lisa discuss how this kind of feeling, especially after a busy time, can be normal, but it's important to not get "stuck" in those feelings of no motivation. One book Lisa recommends is Stop Self-Sabotage by Judy ...
Spiritual Graces of Later Life with Barbara Lee #166
November 04, 2021 16:42 - 30 minutes - 59.1 MBOur guest this week is Barbara Lee, author of God Isn't Finished With Me Yet and the newly-released Answering God's Call: a Scripture-Based Journey for Older Adults. Danielle Bean chats with Barbara about how she came to focus on ministry with older adults and the inspiration for her newest book. Barbara shares stories from the Bible that encourage us all to know that God has a plan for every one of us, even as we grow older and may be "counted out" by society. Her book contains so many Sc...
Learning the Basics About Spiritual Direction #165
October 28, 2021 11:00 - 33 minutes - 64 MBDo you have a spiritual director? This week, Allison Gingras and Danielle Bean discuss the basics about spiritual direction? What is it? How do you do it? How do you find a spiritual director? And why should you consider it? Allison shares her varied experiences of spiritual direction and Danielle shares about some of the ways that friends and spouses and even the teachings of the saints can offer us a form of spiritual direction as well. Join us for an interesting discussions, and then ...
Encouraging Our Kids #164
October 21, 2021 11:00 - 35 minutes - 69.1 MBThis week Danielle Bean and Lisa Hendey discuss ways we can encourage our kids. As parents, we have so many opportunities to help our kids discover their gifts and strengths and learn how best to use them in the world. Lisa shares lessons she learned from her own mom and the ways her mother supported her work at Catholic Mom through the years. Danielle discusses large family dynamics and the powerful role parental support and expectations can play in helping our kids thrive. Join us for ...
Real Life Rosary Help for Moms #163
October 14, 2021 11:00 - 28 minutes - 54.4 MBThis week's guest is Shannon Wendt, founder and CEO of Chews Life, a small business that creates Rosaries, jewelry, and other prayer aids for moms and their babies. Shannon share about how she came to found this business, why moms need the Rosary, and what can make it easier to pray throughout our busy days. Join us for an encouraging conversation!
Helping Children Discover Their Gifts (with Joellyn Cicciarelli) #162
October 07, 2021 11:00 - 28 minutes - 55.5 MBThis week our guest is Joellyn Ciciarelli, president of Loyola Press. Joellyn shares about two books she has written for children, Leo's Gift and Meredith's Gift. Joellyn chats with Danielle Bean about how to help kids discover their gifts and learn to adapt when life changes and things do not go as we originally planned. These charming books for grade school children will make great gifts for nieces, nephews, grandchildren and Godchildren this Advent and Christmas season. Joellyn also s...
What Makes a House a Home? #161
September 30, 2021 11:00 - 38 minutes - 73.9 MBJoin Allison Gingras and Danielle Bean for fun discussion about homemaking. What does homemaking mean to you? What parts of cleaning, organizing, de-cluttering, meal planning or decorating do you enjoy? What parts would you -- or do you-- outsource to others? We discuss ways to share the load in splitting up chores in a family as well as ways to manage those tasks that sometimes overwhelm us. Finally, we talk about the idea of "entertaining" and what it means to be a good host. In what way...
Women & Scripture (with Sarah Christmyer)
September 23, 2021 11:00 - 29 minutes - 42.1 MBIn this reprised episode of the Catholic Momcast, Danielle Bean and Lisa Hendey sit down with Sarah Christmyer, author of Becoming Women of the Word: How to Answer God's Call With Purpose and Joy. In her book, Sarah looks at women of the Bible and shares their stories, interwoven with stories of the women in her family history. A beautiful and inspiring read! Share your thoughts and questions with us, right here in the comments or by email. You can contact us at [email protected]
Taming the Beast of Screen Time #160
September 16, 2021 11:00 - 40 minutes - 77.5 MBAllison Gingras and Danielle Bean have an enlightening and encouraging conversation about how we can better empower ourselves as parents keep videos, movies, computers, and smart phones from controlling our lives. It's not easy, but there are some tricks they share, and they also offer some solutions for parents worried about how their kids are spending time online. Danielle discusses Canopy, a new tool that can block explicit content in real time. Allison shares about curating her feeds...
Preparing for the Future #159
September 09, 2021 11:00 - 30 minutes - 58.9 MBDanielle Bean and Lisa Hendey discuss making plans for the future, as inspired by Lisa'a recent experience in losing her mother and visiting with her father. This may not be a topic we love to talk about, but making sure our families are prepared to make decisions for us as we age and to make choices about our burial arrangements and other personal affairs after we die, is an act of great love. Lisa explains how this topic is actually one that inspires her with a great deal of hope and j...
Back to School Feelings & Challenges #158
September 02, 2021 11:00 - 33 minutes - 64.4 MBThis week, Danielle Bean and Allison Gingras chat about the back-to-school season. This is a time of year that can be extra stressful, as many families are going through changes. Whether you have little kids starting kindergarten for the first time, or big kids leaving home for college, there are many ways we as moms need to adapt and care for our children in new ways. Many of us have mixed feelings as we watch our children grow and change. It helps to talk with one another about it and...
Thriving at Mass with Kids (with Jennifer Sharpe) #157
August 26, 2021 11:00 - 25 minutes - 48.1 MBThis week, children's book author Jennifer sharpe joins Danielle Bean for a discussion of how to not just survive but THRIVE with kids at Mass. Jennifer's unique, award-winning book is My First Interactive Mass Book from Ascension. This hands-on book helps kids learn more about the church, the Mass and their Catholic faith, all while keeping little hands busy. Jennifer shares ideas abut ways to use the book as well as tips for managing even unruly children at Mass. We also discuss ways t...
Ideas and Inspiration for Catholic Grandparents #156
August 19, 2021 11:00 - 33 minutes - 62.4 MBThis week, Lisa Hendey and Danielle Bean talk about the importance of grandparents and the pivotal role they are called to play in their grandchildren's lives. Lisa shares about how she recently became a grandmother and they joy this sweet little girl is already bringing to her life. They also shares thoughts on what opportunities we have as grandparents to be a good role model and source of encouragement for the next generation. Lisa shares some tips readers have offered her on Facebook ...
Home Decorating, Catholic Style #155
August 12, 2021 11:00 - 39 minutes - 74 MBAllison Gingras and Danielle Bean share ideas about making your home a "domestic church." What does that mean, and what is the value and importance of Catholic "stuff" like statues, pictures, medals, crucifixes, and holy water? Some links to some of the favorites they mention: The Catholic Company Smith Catholic Art Brightly Hued That Catholic Design How about you? In what ways is your home a Catholic space that inspires thoughts of God, Mary, and the saints? What are some of yo...
Creative Catholic Resources for Kids #184
August 05, 2021 11:00 - 19 minutes - 37 MBOur special guest this week is illustrator and graphic designer Ted Schluenderfritz. Ted is the illustrator for the book, Portrait of the Son, which we featured in last week's podcast interview with author Josephine Nobisso. But today, Ted is sharing about a new initiative he and his family have begun: 5 Sparrows is a website chock-full of creative tools, games, reflections, and puzzles to help encourage Catholic kids in their faith. Ted shares how he and his family came to build the sit...
Beauty and Meaning in Children's Literature #153
July 29, 2021 13:33 - 28 minutes - 53.5 MBThis week our special guest is children's book author Josephine Nobisso. Josephine chats with Danielle Bean about beauty and truth and ways we can use children's literature to reach young people's hearts and build them up in their faith. Josephine shares about working with illustrator Ted Schluenderfritz and their new project together, Portrait of the Son. To learn more, check out Josephine's author page on Amazon to learn more, or visit her publishing website, Gingerbread House Books.
Everyday Ideas for Prayer with Barb Szyszkiewicz #152
July 22, 2021 11:00 - 23 minutes - 43.5 MBThis week, our guest is Barb Szyszkiewicz, author of The Handy Little Guide to Prayer. Barb chats with Danielle Bean about what prayer is and why it is important. Barb and Danielle discuss ways to make prayer a regular part of your everyday routines and share ideas for new ways to pray and encouragement for those who struggle with prayer. The Handy Little Guide to Prayer is an excellent resource that can support you in your daily prayer life and inspire you to pray more, but it is als...
Summer is for Reading #151
July 15, 2021 11:00 - 39 minutes - 73.4 MBWhat's in your book bag this summer? This week, Danielle Bean and Allison Gingras discuss what recent books they have read or are reading so far this summer along with suggestions for non-fiction, fiction, and spiritual reading. Also, we share ideas for ways to make more time for reading, as well as ways to encourage kids to read even when school is out for the summer. How about you? What are you reading this summer? We would love to hear from you with your ideas and questions. Send us a...
Liturgy of the Domestic Church (with Dr. Greg and Lisa Popcak) #150
July 08, 2021 11:00 - 33 minutes - 62.2 MBOur guests this week are Greg and Lisa Popcak, co-directors of the Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life. Greg and Lisa share about the founding of the Institute and the good work it is doing to help support families in raising kids in the Faith. We discuss the idea of the "Liturgy of the Domestic Church," what that means and some easy ways we can implement it in our homes and families as we raise our kids to love their Catholic faith. Join us for an enlightening and helpful conve...
Make Room for Fitness #149
July 01, 2021 11:00 - 31 minutes - 59.3 MBJoin Lisa Hendey and Danielle Bean for a discussion of how moms can make room for fitness in their everyday lives. Lisa shares ways that even very normal activities, like cleaning, waking, or caring for small children can "count" as daily exercise. The important thing is to keep moving! Some tools we mention: Silver Sneakers Peloton app How about you? How do you make room for physical fitness in your life? How do you find time and motivation to keep moving? we would love to hear fro...
Easy Ideas for Summer Family Fun #148
June 24, 2021 11:00 - 34 minutes - 65.3 MBWhat are your family's plans for fun this summer? Vacation? Relaxation? A break from typical routines? Danielle Bean and Allison Gingras share some ideas from their own family plans for fun this summer,as well as some things they have enjoyed in the past, when all their kids were younger. Having fun together as a family does not have to overwhelm moms with work or break the budget. We discuss how sometimes the simplest of ideas make the most lasting memories. How about you? Let us know w...
Summertime Movie Picks
June 17, 2021 11:00 - 35 minutes - 66.4 MBWe are going to the movies! This week, Danielle Bean and Lisa Hendey share some movies they have enjoyed recently, along with some that they are looking forward to seeing this season. Here are our picks: For family movies, Danielle recommends Yesterday, and Lisa recommends Finding Ohana. For girls' night movies, we recommend Always be My Maybe, Our Friend, and The House That Rob Built. For date nights, we recommend News of the World, Minari, The Woman in the Window, Fear of Rain, an...
Passing On the Faith #146
June 10, 2021 11:00 - 36 minutes - 68.7 MBThis week, Allison Gingras and Danielle Bean take inspiration from Catholic Mom contributor Mary Lou Rosien's recent article about practicing the faith and passing it on to your kids. Mary Lou uses the word PRACTICE to share eight ways parents can share the faith with their kids. Danielle and Allison discuss each of these, adding their own ideas and sharing experiences as Catholic parents themselves. We hope that you will join us for this inspirational episode of the Catholic Momcast! Se...
Beginning Again #145
June 03, 2021 11:00 - 36 minutes - 68.4 MBThis week, Lisa Hendey and Danielle Bean discuss the idea of "beginning again." We all have moments in life where our regular routines and commitments get interrupted and then, after a time, we need to come back to our old ways and assess which things we want to pick up again. Lisa shares about the process of doing this after being away and mourning the recent loss of her mother. After a time of grieving, it can be good to get back to old routines, but also good to decide which ones are mo...
Living With the Bible #144
May 27, 2021 11:00 - 36 minutes - 67.5 MBHow can we make Scripture part of our everyday experiences? Danielle Bean and Allison Gingras share ideas and resources for ways to make Bible study a daily habit as well as creative ideas for praying with Scripture. Some resources they share include: Stay Connected journals The Better Part series by Fr. John Bartunek Courageous Virtue Ave Catholic Notetaking Bible WINE: Women in the New Evangelization Join us for a fun and inspiring conversation, and then be sure to share ...
All Things New with Erin McCole Cupp #143
May 20, 2021 11:00 - 27 minutes - 52.5 MBDanielle Bean sits down with Catholic Mom contributor Erin McCole Cupp, author of the upcoming new book, All Things New: Breaking the Cycle and Raising a Joyful Family. Erin shares about her own difficult upbringing and how overcoming the wounds of her past has been a help to her as she learns to parent her own children. Please join us for a moving and insightful conversation. And share your own thoughts and questions in the comments. We would love to hear from you!
In the Garden with God #142
May 13, 2021 13:08 - 24 minutes - 46.1 MBAllison Gingras and Danielle Bean share ideas about gardening and how outdoor spaces can be beautiful places to connect with God. An especially lovely way to celebrate the month of Mary would be to create a Mary Garden. Allison and Danielle talk about praying with Mary in the garden, different ways to plant a Mary garden, and introduce a fun new way to celebrate gardens while honoring Mary: The annual Mary Garden Contest hosted by Family Rosary. How about you? Do you plant a garden, eit...
Spend Less and Live More (with Sam Fatzinger) #141
May 06, 2021 11:00 - 25 minutes - 48 MBOur guest this week is Sam Fatzinger, co-author with her husband Rob Fatzinger, of the new book A Catholic Guide to Spending Less and Living More: Advice from a Debt-Free Family of 16. Sam chats with Danielle Bean about what it was like to write this book with Rob and what motivated them to share financial advice with other Catholic families. Together, they discuss ways to save money, how to have kids goto college without taking on debt, and the benefits of living within your means, even ...
Revisiting Spiritual Classics #140
April 29, 2021 11:00 - 41 minutes - 77.6 MBDanielle Bean and Lisa Hendey discuss reading spiritual classics. Working from a list of must-read Catholic classics, they discuss the fact that the way we read spiritual works can shift and change as our lives change and we grow older. Sometimes, we need to be a bit discerning when reading spiritual books, as some of the advice may not apply to our modern lives. How do we strike a balance between challenging ourselves and not setting unreasonable expectations for ourselves? Are there bo...
Bible Study Basics (with Sarah Christmyer) #139
April 22, 2021 11:00 - 24 minutes - 45.9 MBThis week we are chatting with Sarah Christmyer, a Catholic author, Bible teacher, and speaker with a special love for lectio divina and journaling as ways to draw close to Christ in Scripture. Sarah's latest book is Becoming Women of the Word: How to Answer God’s Call with Purpose and Joy (Ave Maria Press). Sarah blogs at ComeIntoTheWord.com. Sarah comes on the show today to share more about the Ave Catholic Notetaking Bible. She and Danielle Bean discuss ways to begin with Bible study...
Praying with the Psalms (with Maureen O'Brien) #138
April 15, 2021 11:00 - 26 minutes - 49.1 MBOur guest this week is Maureen O'Brien, author of What Was Lost: Seeking Refuge in the Psalms. Maureen shares with host Danielle Bean how she came to write this book which chronicles a very hard and difficult time in her life. Maureen O'Brien was facing divorce, cancer, and a major personal injury when she began the daily practice of praying with the Psalms. She shares the ways in which this prayer practice brought her peace, hope, and healing in ways she never expected. Join us for this ...
Changing Our Spiritual Lives for Easter #137
April 08, 2021 11:00 - 26 minutes - 50.1 MBHe is risen! He is truly risen! The long days of Lent are over, and it is time to celebrate and rejoice. This week, Danielle Bean and Allison Gingras share some thoughts on ways that we can change our spiritual practices from Lenten penance to Easter joy. What good habits did you establish during Lent that you will want to hold onto through Easter? What prayers and practices will you be using in your family's celebration of Easter? We love hearing from you. Please send your feedback t...
Easter Greetings from Catholic Mom!
April 01, 2021 11:00 - 53 seconds - 1.2 MBWishing you and your family a Blessed Easter from all of us at Catholic Mom. God bless you and we will see you next week!
The Importance of Rest #136
March 25, 2021 11:00 - 40 minutes - 75.8 MBDanielle Bean and Lisa Hendey talk about getting enough rest -- why is this important and how can we take better care of ourselves when it comes to getting the rest we need? Lisa shares some ideas she is learning while reading Keep Sharp: Build a Better Brain at Any Age by Sanjay Gupta. We also mention some stats on how people sleep and discuss some ways to cope when you have trouble sleeping or your nights are interrupted by the needs of others. Finally, we discuss how prayer can be a ...
How to Boost Your Mood! #135
March 18, 2021 11:00 - 36 minutes - 68.1 MBAre you feeling the winter blahs? Does it feel like this Lent has gone on forever? This week, Allison Gingras and Danielle Bean share some simple ideas for ways you can boost your mood. They discuss some easy ways to add a bit of color, joy and beauty to your everyday living spaces, as well as enliven your spiritual life. Tune in for fun conversation, and then share your thoughts. You can always email us at [email protected]. We love hearing from you!
How Can We Learn to Trust God? #134
March 11, 2021 12:00 - 30 minutes - 57.4 MBDanielle Bean and Lisa Hendey host a conversation about ways we can learn to trust in God. How can we grow in trust? This is one of the hardest things we ever need to do -- let go of control and let God work in our lives.Turning over our lives to God and praying those words "Thy will be done," can a serious challenge, especially when we suffer through hard times. One prayer we recommend is the Litany of Trust from the Sisters of Life. What helps you remember to trust God? In what ways ...
Growing to Love the Mass During Lent #132
March 04, 2021 12:00 - 24 minutes - 45.4 MBThis week, our guest on the Catholic Momcast is Nicole O'Leary. Nicole sits down with Danielle Bean for a discussion of the Mass with a special focus on ways we can grow in our understanding of it and love for it during the season of Lent. What really happens at Mass? The pandemic forced many of to come to terms with some ways we have been taking the Mass for granted. How can we show greater reverence for Jesus' real presence in the Eucharist and the great gift that the Holy Mass is, even ...
Living Lent as a Young Family (with Alex Dee) #131
February 25, 2021 12:00 - 34 minutes - 64.7 MBThis week on the Catholic Momcast, our special guest is Alex Dee, digital content creator and manager at Family Rosary with Holy Cross Family Ministries. Alex shares thoughts about observing Lent for the first time as a dad, as well as ways to establish habits of prayer in your family. Lent is the perfect time to work on making family prayer a habit and Alex shares about some of the very real challenges many of face when trying to do that. Finally, we discuss the Family Rosary theme of ...
Lent in the Family #131
February 18, 2021 12:00 - 29 minutes - 54.7 MBHow are you planning to observe Lent in your family this year? This week, Danielle Bean and Allison Gingras share ideas for observing Lent together with your family. They discuss how family traditions and practices change as children grow older as well as ways to make Lent a meaningful season in your marriage. Allison shares about a recent video conversation she had about using social media to evangelize during Lent. You can see that video here. How is Lent going to be different for you...
The Power of Positivity #130
February 11, 2021 12:00 - 33 minutes - 62.7 MBThis week Lisa Hendey and Danielle Bean are taking on all the negativity in the world and Church today and recommending a powerful dose of positivity instead. How might your relationships benefit from a focus on the positive? As a wife, and as a mother, do you have a bad habit of focuses on the negative? Building up and encouraging the people we love is an important kind of"super power" we have as women in our homes and families. Danielle and Lisa share ideas for ways to spread more positi...
Celebrations of Love: Ideas for Valentine's Day #129
February 04, 2021 12:00 - 35 minutes - 65.9 MBThis week, Allison Gingras and Danielle Bean share some ideas for celebrating Valentine's Day as a couple and as a family. Is Valentine's Day important to you? What do you and your husband usually do to celebrate? How might this year look different in terms of going out or having a special date night? We share some fun ideas for in-house date nights as well some other ways to enjoy the day celebrating love in your family, in your neighborhood, at your kids' school and in your parish. ...
Staying Connected to Your Parish During a Shutdown #128
January 28, 2021 12:00 - 32 minutes - 61.3 MBThis week, Lisa Hendey and Danielle Bean talk about ways that parish communities can stay connected with one another, even when many people are attending Mass online. Lisa shares about how her parish is currently closed, but she still participates in a women's group on Zoom. Online connections have their limitations, but they have advantages as well -- like being able to attend events from your own home. One idea they discussed was the importance of reaching out to older people who migh...
Secrets of the Sacred Heart (with Emily Jaminet) #127
January 21, 2021 12:00 - 22 minutes - 42.4 MBOur guest this week is Emily Jaminet, author of Secrets of the Sacred Heart: Twelve Ways to Claim Jesus' Promises in Your Life. Emily shares with us about the Secrets of the Sacred Heart Book Club she is hosting at Catholic Mom. It's not too late to join us! She also shares about her devotion to the Sacred Heart and ways it has blessed her home and family. The book also shares stories from others as well as giving greater detail about the promises Jesus makes to those who practice devo...
Life Hacks for Catholic Moms #126
January 14, 2021 12:00 - 49 minutes - 91.5 MBThis week, Allison Gingras and Danielle Bean take inspiration from the book Holy Hacks: Everyday Ways to Live Your Faith and Get to Heaven, written by Catholic Mom contributor Patti Maguire Armstrong. Patti's book is chock full of small ideas for ways to practice virtue and grow in holiness that can move you closer to God every minute of every day. We discuss Patti's book and share some "holy hacks" of our own. Then we share some more "everyday" hacks in the areas of health, housework, pa...
Setting Goals for 2021 #125
January 08, 2021 18:54 - 38 minutes - 71.7 MBAre you setting goals in the new year? This week, Lisa Hendey, Allison Gingras, and Danielle Bean sit down to talk about goals (not necessarily resolutions) they have in the new year. They each share some goals in the areas of spirituality, health, relationships, and work. We hope we can inspire and encourage you in your goals for 2021 as well! Let us know what your hopes and dreams are in this new year. Send us an email at [email protected] or connect with us on social media. We woul...
Learning from Mary's Yes (with Nicole O'Leary) #124
December 17, 2020 12:00 - 25 minutes - 47.7 MBDanielle Bean sits down with Nicole O'Leary, mission coordinator for Family Rosary, to talk about Mary. Nicole shares thoughts about Mary as our mother and what we can learn from her openness to God's will. Especially during the season of Advent, in what ways are we called to imitate Mary's Yes to God, and how can our obedience yield great fruit in our lives? Join us for this encouraging and inspiring conversation!
Simplifying Christmas #123
December 10, 2020 12:00 - 28 minutes - 53 MBDanielle Bean and Lisa Hendey discuss some of the ways thatChristmas will look different this year, with fewer family gatherings and school events, and with some businesses and churches closed. They share ideas for ways to enjoy simple celebrations this year and still make the holidays meaningful for ourselves and our families. Lisa also shares about her new book for children, I'm a Saint in the Making. It would make a lovely gift for a child, Godchild, grandchild, niece or nephew this Ch...