Shows
Becoming Beauty038 | Getting outside more changed my life.I wouldn't consider myself to be an "outdoorsy" person, but that is changing rapidly. Over the last few years, I've made a concerted effort to spend a lot more time outside, and it has transformed our family and my personal life. In this episode, I share what prompted me to spend more time outside, how that initiative unfolded, and some practical tips to spend more time outside. So put in your headphones and head outside as we dig into the wonders of spending more time outdoors!
Read: There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather (Linda Åke...
2025-02-1933 minBecoming Beauty037 | Why I'm not setting goals this yearI love a good goal. I've always been a high-achiever, someone who looks for the next way she can grow and get ahead. But this year, something is different. The Lord made it very clear he didn't want me to set goals or use a goal planner for 2025. How did he reveal this, and what is he trying to teach me? What is the value in not setting goals? Let's talk about it.
Read: Time for God (Fr. Jacques Philippe)
Listen: Episode 036 | Word of the Year (Spotify, Apple)
L...
2025-01-2921 minBecoming Beauty036 | Word of the Year (and what God wants to teach me)For many years, I've chosen a "word of the year" to help guide me through the coming year. As I've learned how to walk with the Lord, this process has become more about receiving a word from him as opposed to picking something that sounds nice. In this episode, I reflect on my word from 2024 (and how much work I still have to do in that arena) and share my word for 2025 and what God is trying to teach me as we start a new year.
How to choose your word of the year: Podcast 009 (A...
2025-01-1522 min
Becoming Beauty035 | My "Joy" List: 20 Things Sparking JoyIt's the third week of Advent, which means we are focusing on joy! Last year during this week, I released what became one of my top episodes: a list of 20 simple things bringing me joy. So I decided to keep the fun going with a new list for this year. Everything I mention in the show that can be linked is linked below. I hope you have a joyful third week of Advent!
⭐ Support the podcast in my NEW Patreon community! ($5/month)
Links:
WHITIN barefoot shoes (order a size up...
2024-12-1830 min
Becoming Beauty034 | Holding sorrow and joy together at ChristmasThe Christmas season is rightfully a time for great rejoicing: our Savior has come to us! But what do we do when the season feels hard or we're grieving in some way? How can we hold sorrow and joy together?
The story of Christmas, though one of great joy, is also rife with treacherous journeys, rejection, survival, and poverty. There is room for sorrow and grief in the celebration of Christmas, and the Lord does not ask us to cover up our sorrow with glittery wrapping paper and big red bows. He meets us in i...
2024-12-1122 min
Becoming Beauty033 | How to not be tired of Christmas before ChristmasImportant celebrations demand preparation before the party. And that is why the Church, in her wisdom, gives us Advent to prepare our hearts and minds for Christmas. Our culture tends to hop from one holiday party to the next (Halloween to Thanksgiving to Christmas) without much emphasis on time for preparation, preparation that involves a quieting of our hearts and minds so we can fully celebrate the magnanimity of Christmas and what it means for our lives.
In this episode, I share 7 ways you can simplify this holiday season to keep your eyes focused on t...
2024-12-0424 minBecoming Beauty032 | God becoming man is a HUGE deal.Have you ever thought about how truly mind-blowing it is that God, the Creator of the universe, became a human being? The Incarnation, a foundational truth of our faith, has become so normal to us, but we cannot let another Advent and Christmas go by without reflecting on what the Incarnation truly means.
After a long break, the podcast is back with an episode to prepare your heart for the Advent and Christmas seasons. We're breaking open the Incarnation and looking at what it reveals about God's life-giving love, our bodies as gifts from the F...
2024-11-2726 minBecoming Beauty031 | When God Asks You to Let GoI believe that the Lord is trustworthy, that his plans are good. But I've realized that there are still areas of my life I have yet to fully surrender to the Lord, and that realization has shaken some things up on my end. In this episode, I share the effects of grasping versus surrendering and discuss what letting go looks like in my life right now. I also encourage you to consider areas of your life where more surrender may be necessary (spoiler: we are ALL holding on to something!).
Also, I'm not very active o...
2024-09-1124 minBecoming Beauty030 | How to Accompany Others in GriefLoss is a shared, common human experience. But it's hard and uncomfortable, and we're often left unsure of what to say or do when someone we love is grieving a loss. I've been the receiving end of incredible love and encouragement in my grief, and I've also received some extremely unhelpful words. In this episode, I'm sharing my tips for accompanying people in grief, including things to say (and not to say), things to remember, and things to do.
Recipe: Sourdough Dutch Baby Pancake
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2024-08-2831 minBecoming Beauty029 | Learning How to Live With GriefThis month marks five years since my mom's passing. I was 26 and she was 59. In the days and months and years since that loss, I've learned something important about grief: I will never get over it, so I must learn how to live with it. In this week's episode, I share my story of losing my mom and how I've navigated that ongoing grief journey, especially while celebrating milestone moments like getting married and becoming a mother. I pray this episode helps others process their own grief journey and makes grieving people feel less alone as they navigate these...
2024-08-2143 minBecoming Beauty028 | Vacation Shouldn't Be ExhaustingI recently returned from a two-week tour of Italy, where I performed several concerts with a large ensemble and visited some of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. So why weren't those two weeks the best weeks of my life? On this week's episode, I'm sharing my thoughts on why we often feel so exhausted after vacations that should be restorative and how we can approach travel differently.
I also take some time to gush about the magical moments, which were truly spectacular. But perhaps my greatest takeaway is what has inspired me to p...
2024-08-1442 minBecoming Beauty027 | My Summer FavoritesIt's a fun and practical "list" episode! This week, I'm sharing my favorite summer products, books, music, and recipes. Some are helpful. Some are hilarious. I even threw in an embarrassing story or two. I wanted to leave you with a lighthearted episode before taking a month-long break on the podcast. I hope these things bring a smile to your face and also give you some new ideas for summer enjoyment. Don't fill up your shopping cart too quickly 😉
Products
Little Seed Farm deodorant
*Order free samples here!
*Use this...
2024-06-2631 minBecoming Beauty026 | The Best Dating Advice I Ever ReceivedA few months before meeting my husband, a priest friend of mine shared some dating advice with me. And it changed my life. The dating world is a mess, even within the Church, and this priestly advice has the potential to crack open some hearts and change the dating mindset for many people (in my humble opinion). This episode is designed to help people confront some of this issues within the Church's dating culture and encourage people to broaden their horizons a bit. Will it work? You'll be the judge of that.
Listen:
T...
2024-06-1929 minBecoming Beauty025 | Savoring Summer Through Our SensesHave you ever thought about what summer tastes like to you? Or sounds like or feels like to the touch? It's easy to let the summer fly by in a whirlwind of nonstop activities, over-filled calendars, and complaints about the heat. But it doesn't have to be like this (for us or our children).
We can shift our mindset and approach to summer by learning how to savor the summer through our five senses (and praise God for his many gifts that are unique in this season). Recording this episode made my mouth water (no j...
2024-06-0527 minBecoming Beauty024 | The Lie: We are made for individuality.We live in a "selfie" culture, and I'm not just talking about pictures. Words like autonomy, self, and individuality are plastered across media platforms, spreading the gospel of self-fulfillment. But is this what we're made for? In this episode, we're breaking open the idea that we're made for individuality by seeing what our bodies (and the One who created them) have to say about this.
This is the final episode in our four-part series on femininity, lies women believe, and how our bodies speak the truth.
The Series:
021 | Why I...
2024-05-2934 minBecoming Beauty023 | The Lie: Women must be more like men to be fulfilled.Throughout much of history, women have experienced oppression at the hands of men. In response, when women grew tired, they attempted to solve this problem by becoming more like the men they didn't like. Has that worked out in their favor? I would say no.
In order for men to be the best and most authentically masculine versions of themselves, women need to be authentically feminine (the way God defines femininity, not the way the world does). How do our bodies teach us about our femininity? How can living in our true feminine identity create s...
2024-05-2224 minBecoming Beauty022 | The Lie: Fertility & Motherhood are a burden.Fertility and motherhood are often viewed as obstacles to fulfillment for women. We would be so much happier if we could just shut off our pesky cycles, right? We would be able to chase our dreams if kids didn't get in the way, right? This week's episode explores why these ideas are complete lies and how our fertility and motherhood are enormous gifts bestowed upon us by a loving God.
Links:
*PLEASE read: What the Church Actually Teaches on Responsible Parenthood (Christopher West)
Catechism - children are a gift
C...
2024-05-1543 minBecoming Beauty021 | Why I Left Feminism BehindThis episode kicks off a series on femininity, lies women believe about themselves, and how our bodies speak the truth. My understanding of femininity has changed dramatically over the last decade of my life due to a myriad of life experiences and the witness of women in seasons ahead of me. On this episode, I share the story of how I've left modern feminism behind for the much more life-giving option of embracing my God-given femininity.
Upcoming Episodes:
Lie #1: Fertility and motherhood are a burden.
Lie #2: Women must be more like m...
2024-05-0837 minBecoming Beauty020 | My Breastfeeding Story: Surrender & PerseveranceMy breastfeeding journey started with immense pain, desperate prayers, and a more personal relationship with my pump than I had ever imagined possible. But it turned into a story of hope, perseverance, and the freedom that comes from true surrender. In those early months after giving birth, I felt really alone in the difficulties of my breastfeeding journey, so my hope is that my story will help other women feel less alone if they are struggling.
Please share this episode with any of your friends who are pregnant or hope to be pregnant soon (whether i...
2024-04-2439 minBecoming Beauty019 | 31 Things I've Learned (so far)Today is my 31st birthday! I find myself at an age where I still have much to learn but have lived enough life to share bits of wisdom and perspective. So I'm sharing 31 things I've learned so far, including spiritual truths and practical tips for baking and makeup removal. If you'd like to be inspired and laugh along the way, you'll enjoy this episode.
Podcast Episodes Mentioned:
Topic - seeing God in all things: 002 (Spotify, Apple) and 003 (Spotify, Apple)
Topic - clothing and getting dressed every day: 011 (Spotify, Apple)
...
2024-04-1740 minBecoming Beauty018 | A Prayer Life is Non-NegotiableWe have discussed before that God is personally pursuing each of us. Through that pursuit, he invites us into relationship with him. How do we respond to that invitation? Prayer. If we desire to grow closer to God, a prayer life is non-negotiable. This week, I'm sharing wisdom I've received about cultivating a consistent prayer life and how we can persevere despite our inevitable failures.
Read:
Time for God (Fr. Jacques Philippe)
Listen:
Principium (The Arcadian Wild) (Listen on Spotify, Apple Music)
Quote: Hol...
2024-04-1025 minBecoming Beauty017 | Suffering With JesusAs much as we'd like to avoid suffering, we can't have Easter without Good Friday. This week, we're talking about how to grow closer to Jesus through our suffering, and I'm offering my perspective on this by reflecting on the suffering of childbirth and how the Lord prepared me for that experience. I still have a long way to go before suffering "well," but I hope this week's episode nonetheless encourages you as you abide with Jesus in the coming days.
Links:
Episode 006 | Living with Hope (even when life is hard) (Spotify, Apple)
2024-03-2726 minBecoming Beauty016 | My Favorite Books, Movies, and TV ShowsAfter encouraging you to see the true, good, and beautiful in the media you engage with, I wanted to share some of my favorites! This is another "list" episode that is fun and lighthearted and will hopefully make you smile. And I can guarantee you'll walk away with some new things to watch and read. Happy listening!
Want a list of everything mentioned in this episode? Here's a link to my website.
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🎶 Listen to my music on Spotify and Apple Music...
2024-03-2031 minBecoming Beauty015 | Navigating Secular Media (instead of rejecting it)Stop rejecting media without a "Christian" label on it. Fighting words, I know, but I feel strongly about this. Instead of rejecting the world we live in and the media in that world, we must learn how to navigate it. That's why we need to develop "virtue lenses." In this week's episode, I share why outright rejection of the world is unhelpful, my experience with finding the good in secular media, and how to develop (and help the next generation develop) the skills necessary to see the true, good, and beautiful in movies, books, and TV shows.
2024-03-1329 minBecoming Beauty014 | How to Give Well (beyond money)When we think about giving alms, our minds most often go to "money." But almsgiving encapsulates much more than writing a check (though monetary giving is a good and important practice); it's about giving of ourselves. In this episode, I offer a few non-monetary almsgiving ideas that will hopefully inspire you to give in a new way and bless those around you.
Resources:
Corporal Works of Mercy
Spiritual Works of Mercy
Listen:
Spirituals Volume 2 (Barbara Hendricks, The Moses Hogan Singers)
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2024-03-0622 minBecoming Beauty013 | Why I Chose a Home Birth (and my story)People often ask me why we chose a home birth, especially with our first birth. So I thought I'd share that with you! On this week's episode, I share why we chose this route and how that experience unfolded. Spoiler: it was amazing, and I will choose this every time if I can. Listen in!
Resources:
Baby Favorites Spreadsheet (my something beautiful!)
Built to Birth (the birth course we took)
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🎶 Listen to my music on Spotify and Apple...
2024-02-1432 minBecoming Beauty012 | What I Want Women to Know About BirthLet's just say I have a few opinions on the topic of birth. This week, I'm sharing some encouragement for women about birth, reminding them that they are made to do this and are worthy of knowledge, support, and the ability to make their own decisions. This is a topic I've become extremely passionate about because I believe women deserve better than what they usually receive during their birth experience. Buckle up, friends! It's a bit of a fiery ride this week.
Links:
Bridget Teyler's YouTube channel
Built to Birth - B...
2024-01-3128 minBecoming Beauty011 | Why Your Wardrobe MattersWe often view clothing as a necessary annoyance or fashion as frivolous, but I would argue that what we wear matters more than we think. In this episode, I share about the personal impact of being more intentional in my wardrobe and invite you to consider a few questions about your own wardrobe. We'll discuss the importance of honesty, reality, self-awareness, and beauty, all of which pertain to the fact that what we wear really does matter.
Links:
Absolute Color System
Imogen's Blog (founder of the Absolute Color System)
W...
2024-01-1732 minBecoming Beauty010 | Shifting Your Goal-Setting MindsetNew Year's resolutions not working out for you? Let's talk about a new approach to setting goals. Over the last several years, I've intentionally planned goals for the coming year, and this process has helped me uncover what truly matters and redirect my life accordingly. I'd love to help you do the same by sharing my favorite resources, a bit of my story, and some tips for helping you shift your mindset toward life-giving goal-setting.
SHOW NOTES:
Shop:
Cultivate What Matters
Powersheets
Listen:
...
2024-01-0325 minBecoming Beauty009 | My Word of the Year (and how to find yours!)Have you ever chosen a word of the year? I've been choosing a word of the year for the last few years, and the process for choosing one has changed immensely. In this episode, I reflect on words from past years, share about my word for 2023, and give some ideas on how you can find your own word of the year. Choosing a word can be a fun and intentional way to cultivate the year ahead — let's explore the possibilities together.
Read:
The Lifegiving Home (Sally Clarkson)
These Beautiful Bones (Emily Sti...
2023-12-2727 minBecoming Beauty008 | 20 Things Bringing Me JoyDuring the third week of Advent, we're invited to REJOICE! I wanted to do something fun and lighthearted to celebrate this joyful week, so I'm sharing 20 things that are bringing me joy right now. It's a very random list, but I hope it makes you smile — it sure made me smile to write these things down. And perhaps it will inspire you to think of some of the simple things bringing YOU joy right now. Happy listening!
Read:
Mass Readings from Gaudete Sunday
Call Me Mama board book
Li...
2023-12-2017 minBecoming Beauty007 | A Deeper Look at ”O Holy Night”The song "O Holy Night" has rightly gained a special place in the hearts of many people. With magnificent lyrics and a soaring melody, it stands out amongst many lighthearted or comedic Christmas songs in our modern times. In this week's episode, I'm sharing why this song means so much to me as well as its history and an invitation to take a deeper look at the words. I hope you fall even more in love with "O Holy Night" this Advent and Christmas season!
Watch:
My recent performance of "O Holy Night"
2023-12-1325 minBecoming Beauty006 | Living with Hope (even when life is hard)Despite its many sparkly festivities, this time of year can be difficult for people who are grieving, lonely, or far from home. At its heart, the Advent season is a time for great hope as we await the birth of our Savior. How do we live in both these spaces at the same time?
This week, we're digging in to the virtue of hope and learning how we can direct our hearts toward the hope of Heaven and the hope of Christmas, even when we're facing great difficulties in our lives.
Read:
2023-12-0631 minBecoming Beauty005 | How to Have an Intentional AdventOverwhelmed and overstimulated by all the Christmas craziness? Looking for some ways to actually celebrate Advent? You're in good company.
In her wisdom, the Church gives us the holy season of Advent so we can prepare our hearts to welcome Jesus on Christmas Day. But our culture has gotten things out of whack, and many of us are burned out on Christmas before Christmas is even here. This week, I'm sharing several ways you can bring greater simplicity and peace to your life during this season.
Recipe: Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies
L...
2023-11-2926 minBecoming Beauty004 | Gratitude: What, Why, and How We Do ItIn honor of Thanksgiving and in preparation for a season typically fraught with long wish lists and consumerism, we're talking about gratitude this week.
We'll first define gratitude (and talk about what it isn't), discuss why it's important, and turn to scripture to learn practical ways we can develop the important skill of maintaining a spirit of gratitude in seasons of both celebration and sorrow.
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Recipe: Beth's Sweet Potato Casserole
Listen: Abiding Together - episode on gratitude
Read:
2023-11-2224 minBecoming Beauty003 | A New Perspective on Childhood FavoritesLet us welcome in our friend "nostalgia" for this week's episode.
We are building on our discussion from last week about God's personal pursuit by looking more deeply at how the Lord was loving us in our childhood before we were even aware it was him. We'll look back at music, books, movies, and more that were teaching us all about God, even if we weren't aware of that truth while singing into a hairbrush in front of our mirrors.
Prepare for your eyes to be opened to God's sense of hu...
2023-11-1519 minBecoming Beauty002 | God’s Personal PursuitWe're often told that God is pursuing our hearts, but what does this actually look like? Because we are uniquely made, his pursuit is specific to each of us. In this week's episode, we'll explore the idea of God's personal pursuit, and I'll share some ways you can more intentionally ponder the ways God has been pursuing you throughout your life.
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Book: God is Beauty (Karol Wojtyla/St. John Paul II)
Reflection Questions:
Is there something that brings you a lot of joy that may...
2023-11-0830 minBecoming Beauty001 | What is ”Becoming Beauty?”Welcome to Becoming Beauty!
This is a podcast where we're learning how God is encountering us in our everyday lives so we can better receive him into our hearts and become more like him, Beauty himself.
C.S. Lewis said, "We want to be united with the beauty we see...to become part of it."
Our hearts ache for this beauty because they were made for the infinite, so let's journey into that ache together and "be not afraid" of what we'll find along the way.
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2023-10-2512 min
Letters to Women - Exploring the Feminine GeniusA Letter to the Woman Wishing She Could Take a Break From Instagram // Jessamyn Anderson FrainHave you ever wanted to logout of Instagram for a day, maybe the weekend, but held off because you were afraid you were going to miss out on something?
Are there clothes hanging in your closet or beauty products in your bathroom, or decor in your house that you bought (maybe influenced by an Instagram ad or someone sharing about it on Facebook) that you thought was going to solve all your problems . . . only for you to still feel empty and restless?
Do you find that your creativity, clarity of mission, and just your ability to focus on something has...
2021-10-1844 min