Episodes

Tuesday Nov 12, 2019
Thriving in the Trenches - Truth Bombs and Fairy Godmothers 2
Tuesday Nov 12, 2019
Tuesday Nov 12, 2019
2nd Installment – If Part 1 left your heart aching, do not wait another minute to continue to listen to the rest of the story. Well, the story as it is up to this point in our lives. Ladies, God is Good; God loves us; God redeems all things and heals all things. Yes, YOU are worthy of God’s mercy and love and redemption.
And now – I tell you that I am taking an extended holiday break – May you and your loved ones be richly blessed this Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas Season. Thank you for all that you have done in support and for listening to what God has placed on my heart to share with each of you. I pray you have all grown closer to the Lord in even some small way because of this podcast. I have given you my heart in so many ways and on so many occasions and topics. BLESSINGS!!!

Monday Nov 11, 2019
Thriving in the Trenches - Truth Bombs and Fairy Godmothers 1
Monday Nov 11, 2019
Monday Nov 11, 2019
This first installment of a downright real conversation between Mary and host, Becky Carter, goes through the gambit of fertility, infertility and voluntary sterility. Both Becky and Mary share very intimate parts of their life stories with you during this very beautiful conversation that leads back to our never-ending hope — God’s redemption — through sin and also through suffering.

Monday Nov 04, 2019
No Spin Homilies - 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time
Monday Nov 04, 2019
Monday Nov 04, 2019
In the Gospel, we hear the great spiritual story of Zacchaeus. | ||
To read this week's readings, go to: usccb.org |

Monday Nov 04, 2019
Thriving in the Trenches - A Clumsy Love Story
Monday Nov 04, 2019
Monday Nov 04, 2019
What a fun conversation on love and conversion and Theosis – whatever that word even means? Don’t worry, you get all of that and more in this interview with my young, knowledgeable and vibrant guest.

Tuesday Oct 29, 2019
Thriving in the Trenches - The Anti-Mary Is A Spirit Not A Person
Tuesday Oct 29, 2019
Tuesday Oct 29, 2019
This is not your typical interview with Carrie Gress about her book The Anti-Mary Exposed. I really tried to take this discussion with Carrie in a different direction than how other interviews go. Carrie allowed me to dig deeper and focus on the spiritual aspect of this movement rather than it being an attack on any one type of person. We reveal the issue and offer the answer, the Blessed Virgin Mother. Also, we are reaching out our hands and hearts to offer healing and encouragement for those who have been hurt by these lies.

Monday Oct 07, 2019
Thriving in the Trenches - Words of Wisdom We Ought to Just Ignore
Monday Oct 07, 2019
Monday Oct 07, 2019
Have you ever heard a piece of “wisdom” that has been passed on for generations? For example, “You can do anything you put your mind to” or “Do what makes you happy”. While these words can feel encouraging in a moment of stress, they may not be the most sound and virtuous ways to go about discerning life decisions.
Laura Hudgens, a writer, junior high teacher, momma, and my friend, sits down with me as we talk through several of these little sayings. As referenced in one of her Grown and Flown articles, these phrases have become ingrained into our culture of encouragement.
Of course, I always enjoy my friendly conversations with Laura, this interview is no different. So, I hope you sit back and enjoy – or fold your laundry – or drive to work — but nonetheless, ENJOY! This one will have you smiling, shaking your head and even singing, Amen!

Monday Sep 23, 2019
Thriving in the Trenches - Heart of Perfection
Monday Sep 23, 2019
Monday Sep 23, 2019
Do you ever feel like you are never good enough? You strive and strive. You make the tough choices. You practice virtue but can’t find the joy of obedience you have been promised? What have we been missing all along? I have got a podcast for you!
Sometimes there are books that just pierce the heart. Sometimes there are authors that instantly connect to readers. For myself, this is the book and this is the author. I could not wait to interview Colleen and dig, all the more, into what it looks like when our needs to be perfect in the eyes of the world and even in our spiritual lives become toxic and downright debilitating. Please do not miss this episode – and share it with a friend. It is time we seek God’s version of perfection — not the world’s.

Monday Sep 09, 2019
Thriving in the Trenches - Season 6 Is Here With Leah Darrow
Monday Sep 09, 2019
Monday Sep 09, 2019
We are starting this new season off with the fire of evangelization. Leah is a lover of Jesus and has a gift and a love for sharing the truths of our Catholic faith. With God’s grace, that sure is a powerful combination. Leah also shares with us how you can get involved with her Lux U community (which is open for a limited time this month for new registrants). After this episode, you may just feel compelled to go out and share the good news!

Monday Jun 10, 2019
Thriving in the Trenches - Closing Our Homeschool
Monday Jun 10, 2019
Monday Jun 10, 2019
I love homeschooling. I have been so thankful for all the years we had together, as a family, in that particular way. We had many successes and also many bumps along the way. It was such a blessing until it wasn't anymore. Our family needed to close up shop and pursue other avenues of education. In this episode, I am NOT preaching school choice -- that choice is a specific privilege for each family. Rather, I do share that what God has shown me, how he has consoled me, and the ways he has helped me grow in faith as I obediently let go of my own ideals and expectations.

Monday May 20, 2019
Thriving in the Trenches - Living the Vows
Monday May 20, 2019
Monday May 20, 2019
On this episode, we talk many things marriage during an interview with Cassie Kent and Megan Hjelmstad, two of the founders of The Vows Project.

Tuesday May 07, 2019
Thriving in the Trenches - God Is Always There Waiting
Tuesday May 07, 2019
Tuesday May 07, 2019
A story of many loves, yet only one love that would finally fill this woman's heart after her father's death. When Kellie Sheehan moved across the country to work at the New York City Ballet, she found herself wandering and unknowingly looking for God's love while on the wrong path. This is a love story of a woman, pursued by her Heavenly Father. A Heavenly Mother, a twin sister, and an earthly mother that all persevered in love and prayer - until this prodigal daughter found her way back

Tuesday Apr 16, 2019
Thriving in the Trenches - Struggling onto Freedom with Virtue
Tuesday Apr 16, 2019
Tuesday Apr 16, 2019
This week I welcome back previous guest, Susan Husband-wife, mom of seven boys, and a woman after God's own heart. Susan's conversation does focus on training up children in virtue, but all that we speak of is applicable to all of us as we struggle on to freedom in Christ through the virtues that God graces us with. Take a listen, share with a friend, and let us persevere as we carry our crosses in life and finish out this Lenten season. Come on Easter!

Friday Apr 05, 2019
Thriving in the Trenches - Kessie Thomas
Friday Apr 05, 2019
Friday Apr 05, 2019
God has created in each one of us uniqueness and beauty that reflects his goodness and calling -- our creator's fingerprint on our souls. From a young age, Kessie Thomas was gathering people into communities with the purpose to grow others in faith. Hear how this south Louisiana woman said, "yes", gathered other willing co-founders, and allowed God to grow it all into a women's conference that reached the hearts of 700 women.

Tuesday Mar 19, 2019
Thriving in the Trenches - Relaunch
Tuesday Mar 19, 2019
Tuesday Mar 19, 2019
Welcome Back! Host, Becky Carter, relaunches the podcast by sharing how God led her back to the microphone and how she plans to continue on with the original mission of encouraging women to serve Christ in their feminine vocation. Check out the new look and the new sound!

Monday Oct 22, 2018
Monday Oct 22, 2018
Do you wrestle with the hot topic issues in our culture? Do have a hard time wrapping your own mind around them? Are you looking for ways to start having these conversations with your children of any age? If you answered yes to any of those questions, this is an episode we hope you will find very helpful. Leila Miller, our guest, considers this day and time an age of unreason. Far too many issues of the day are looked at and judged using human feelings in the name of mercy. We need to use our reason and most importantly, we need to teach our children to use theirs. The understanding of the objective truths in today’s tough moral issues will keep us rooted in Christ, our Catholic faith, and freed from the yoke of secular slavery.

Monday Oct 08, 2018
Monday Oct 08, 2018
Becoming a parent typically takes one on a bit of a roller coaster ride. This journey of being a parent has many ups and downs and even some sharp turns and stomach losing drops that can really take us off guard. Motherhood has brought innumerable lessons to many of us including a few surprising twists. Raising our children is not just about them growing in faith but also our sanctification. Lindsay Schlegel shares some of the points from her new book that have begun to shape her as a mother and a child of God. The conversation was a very sweet opportunity to encourage all of us in our individual vocations.

Monday Sep 24, 2018
Thriving in the Trenches - Good Enough is Good Enough With Colleen Duggan
Monday Sep 24, 2018
Monday Sep 24, 2018
Do you ever wonder why you are so quick to anger? Do you ever stop and listen to what you are telling yourself in the way of self-talk? Colleen Duggan, wife and mother of 6, shares with all of us how she has worked to overcome this notion that she is supposed to be perfect, have a perfect spouse, perfect children, and be in control of everything in her life. Our life journey is our calling to walk out this path of sanctification while realizing that God loves us right where we are and that it is only by his grace and in his timing that we will overcome our sins.

Monday Sep 17, 2018
Thriving in the Trenches - The Sexual Revolution Movie with Alana Newman
Monday Sep 17, 2018
Monday Sep 17, 2018
Living the lifestyle of an Atheist for many years on the west coast, then moving to New York and meeting a few joyfully married Catholics, Alana and her husband fell head over heels for the Catholic faith. The Catholic teachings on the human person, specifically, NFP, was a powerful driving force in their conversion. As a donor-conceived child, Alana knows first hand the implications of third-party reproduction. Through this episode, Alana shares more about The Sexual Revolution Movie, the history of the pill, the contribution of the Billings, and her own personal life with Christ.

Monday Aug 27, 2018
Thriving in the Trenches - Heather Khym
Monday Aug 27, 2018
Monday Aug 27, 2018
We ladies at Thriving in the Trenches love to be able to inspire and encourage others in their Catholic faith. But even as much as we love to encourage others, we always appreciate being encouraged ourselves. The ladies over at the Abiding Together Podcast are a faithful Catholic voice full of encouragement and wisdom for all of us in the trenches. On this week’s episode we get to interview one of the three hosts, Heather Khym. It was such an uplifting conversation hearing the way the Lord has worked in Khym’s life and also through the lives of the other hostesses, Michelle Benzinger and Sr. Miriam James. You will want to make sure you are subscribed to this podcast, ladies. Enjoy the show.

Monday Aug 27, 2018
Thriving in the Trenches - Special Episode - Reparation. I Just Can't
Monday Aug 27, 2018
Monday Aug 27, 2018
We have gone through many emotions, likely similar to many of you. In this episode, we just want to connect with you and share with you what has been on our hearts and in our minds during this most horrific time in our Church. This is by far not an exhaustive expression of our feelings, but we wanted to answer those who had reached out to hear from us. Maybe, hopefully, we can also share some words of encouragement during these very difficult times through this episode. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
**PHOTO CREDENTIALS: NANCY EWING OF @EMMANUEL_STUDIO
YOU MAY ALSO WANT TO VIEW:
- A lovely reflection from Elizabeth Foss, titled Now What?
- Powerful words, Enough Already, by Anthony Esolen at First Things
- A priest’s response, The Pennsylvania Sex Abuse Scandal, by Fr Mike Schmitz at Ascension Press