Thriving In The Trenches A Catholic Podcast

This is the portion of the podcast where we follow up with what YOU, our listeners, have given us to talk about. We are following up on our conversation with Emily Stimpson Chapman from episode 28. We continue to talk about the female body imange and how really all issues must lead us back to the wonderful counselor, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Though some struggle with a negative view of their bodies, others may see how they can manipulate others with their beauty. We talk about how we all just need to focus on how all beauty is of the Lord and is for the Lord and to share the Lord with the very hungry souls world around us.  Happy Thanksgiving from Thriving in the Trenches!! We are so THANKFUL for YOU!! Please consider supporting our Podcast     Show Notes: Episode 25: Candice Duryear speaking of Christ’s wounds Emily’s Journey Home Episode

In-law jokes and in-law bashing seems to be en vogue among the married population. When Megan and Becky were asked to do an interview by best-selling author and speaker, Carrie Gress, about the role of in-laws in our lives, we realized how much this topic is not covered in the media and decided to do an extra podcast on the topic. With the holidays coming and more time with family, the topic seems even more timely. You can read the original article here and then listen to us expound on the interview and share more of our hearts on the topic. Please consider supporting our Podcast ***Disclaimer – there are some family dynamics that do absolutely require safe boundaries and that may include distance and limited time together. We are not professionals and are not addressing these types of situations

Many of us are likely very familiar with this week’s guest, but you may not know all of her story. Emily Stimpson Chapman shares with us how she went from being terrified to eat at all to one who throws the best of parties with the best of  foods and the best of beverages. Emily’s view on the role and nature of woman, whether single or married, is so beautifully woven through the truths our Church teaches. If you have not checked out her new book, The Catholic Table, we suggest you do! So let’s talk about our bodies, food, wine, and hosting the best parties. This is the most delightful conversation with some jaw-dropping truths sprinkled throughout the episode. Please consider supporting our Podcast Our Guest:   Emily Stimpson Chapman is a freelance Catholic writer based in Pittsburgh, PA, and the creator of The Catholic Table, a blog about food, friendship, and hospitality. Her books include The Catholic Table: Finding Joy Where Food and Faith Meet (Emmaus Road, 2016), These Beautiful Bones: An Everyday The

“The Lord says to Peter: ‘I say to you,’ He says, ‘that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church’…On him He builds the Church, and to him He gives the command to feed the sheep; and although He assigns a like power to all the Apostles, yet He founded a single chair, and He established by His own authority a source and an intrinsic reason for that unity. Indeed, the others were that also which Peter was; but a primacy is given to Peter, whereby it is made clear that there is but one Church and one chair. So too, all are shepherds, and the flock is shown to be one, fed by all the Apostles in single-minded accord. If someone does not hold fast to this unity of Peter, can he imagine that he still holds the faith? If he desert the chair of Peter upon whom the Church was built, can he still be confident that he is in the Church?” —St. Cyprian of Carthage The Unity of the Catholic Church, 1st edition, A.D. 251 Show Notes: Washington Post Article on the Reformation noted in episode. Acts 1:12 – Thi

Why is the Catholic Church who She says She is? When Paul wrote to Timothy in Chapter 3 of 1 Timothy, why did he tell him that “the church” was the pillar and foundation of truth and it would tell how one ought to behave in the household of God? Who is this church? Who leads it? Who protects the teachings? How can we trust it? On the 500th anniversary of the protestant revolution, we knew Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers was the man for the job to answer these questions. As Catholic women striving to thrive in our trenches of our feminine vocations, why is submitting to Mother Church, The Catholic Church, a vital piece of our lives? Our Dynamic Deacon does not shy from the Truth nor does he speak without charity. We humbly pray that all will be touched by the beauty and fullness that our Catholic faith offers us. We have a great gift, let us treasure it and share it with all of our seperated brothers and sisters and call for the unity that has been protected and upheld in the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Chur

This is our final episode of peeling back the onion of the father wound. If you’ve listened to the previous episodes, a father wound can really relate to any wound from many different types of trauma. Since this is the Lead the Conversation piece of our podcast series, this is where we address questions and comments from our treasured listeners. And because neither Megan nor Becky are licensed professionals, they decided to bring in a little bit of back-up. Well, alot of back-up. Candice Ruttner-Duryea is a licensed marriage and family therapist/psychologist specializing in trauma care. She has done an amazing job partnering with Sonja Corbitt and walking through the science behind what Sonja shares in her Healing the Father Wound series. From denial to playing the victim, we get down to the nitty gritty this week with Candice. Please make sure you watch the youTube videos in the show notes along with catching Sonja’s series on the father wound. Please consider supporting our Podcast Our Guest: Candice Ruttn

Last week we introduced you all to the topic of what is called a father wound.  John Finch talked about this father effect and shared how his absent father caused a wound that led to very unhealthy coping mechanisms. This week, we are so thankful to have Sonja Corbitt with us to start the journey of healing the father wound. Sonja is currently running a radio series (also available via podcast) about healing the father wound. Ladies, this part of the conversation is what will help us to move forward but first, we have to go backward. Please remember that this pain is meant to heal, so do not lose hope friends. There is hope in the One and the Only, Jesus Christ. There is no redemption without the cross.  There is no Easter Sunday without Good Friday. Rest in Christ and His love for you through this process. Please consider supporting our Podcast Our Guest: Sonja erupted on the scene with her explosive book, Unleashed, where she shared how the Holy Spirit is freeing her from her patterns of toxic relationships

As seen on EWTN, John Finch has launched into a ministry of bringing to light The Father Effect. The father wound is no small topic and we here in the trenches feel like it is such an important one.  This interview with John Finch is very powerful and we hope it reaches out to all who need to hear it, men and women. Many people are wounded and hurting dearly but not really sure what is at the root of that pain. We are all wounded on some level because of some one and there is only One that can provide complete healing, Jesus Christ. We are God’s children and He sent the Word Incarnate to bring about our healing and as He has promised over and over in Scripture that He will never leave us nor forsake us. Please consider supporting our Podcast Our Guest:   John Finch,  grew up the youngest of 3 boys in a suburb of Dallas where he lost his father to suicide at age 11. As a young man, John did anything he could to avoid confronting the wounds he suffered as a result of being fatherless. His craving for affirmatio

We sure have been mulling over this word, meekness.  Have you?  For the most part, that virtue has been a bit of a challenge for us women to fully and freely accept and practice. On Episode 22 Megan and Becky recap some of the high points and some of the listener comments from our interview with Dr. Carrie Gress.  We hope you join us as we pull out and work though some of these topics like meekness and sweetness and more.      Show Notes: If There is an AntiChrist what about an Antimary? “What, then, would an antimary movement look like, exactly? Well, these women would not value children. They would be bawdy, vulgar, and angry. They would rage against the idea of anything resembling humble obedience or self-sacrifice for others. They would be petulant, shallow, catty, and overly sensuous. They would also be self-absorbed, manipulative, gossipy, anxious, and ambitious. In short, it would be everything that Mary is not.” –Carrie Gress “The devil knows that all these marks of the antimary – rage, indignation,

Living in this post Christian culture, many have offered options for us to live out the Gospel and to fight this civilization of decay. This week’s guest, Dr. Carrie Gress, offers us an option with plenty of historical success. The Marian Option is rooted in the tradition of going to Our Blessed Mother who has fought and won plenty of wars in the past and brought about massive conversion through her intercession. We know we can’t all head to the hills and ignore what is going on in the world, but we can choose to live out our dynamic feminine gifts focusing on this virtue of meekness. We are not talking about becoming a doormat as the culture wrongfully imposes on this Christian idea of meekness – meekness is certainly not weakness. We hope you are encouraged and exhorted to go to Mary to see how she is asking you to become more like her son, Jesus. Please consider supporting our Podcast   Our Guest: Carrie Gress has a doctorate in philosophy from the Catholic University of America and is a faculty member at

In the last episode of our summer series, we had the most delightful conversation with writer, blogger, and foodie, Katie Curtis.  We definitely talk about more than food, but Katie shares with us how food has become a source of memories. Both from her childhood and also as a way to make memories with her own family, food is at the root of these memories.  Living in a liturgical paradigm also helps us eat with the seasons in a way that connects us to God’s beautiful and plentiful bounty.  Katie shares how God used times of isolation to grow her in her love of others, whether family or neighbors, and use food and fellowship to build friendships and family relationships.  So, pull out your old cookbooks, find a family favorite recipe, put on some good music, pour a glass of wine, invite your friends or neighbors, and eat and laugh and commune together.  Break bread together friends, delight in God’s gift of food and relationships. Please consider supporting our Podcast Our Guest: Katie Curtis started blogging w

LTC is when we take our listener comments and let them “lead the conversation”.  So, we thank you for all of your feedback this week and for giving us plenty to talk about.  Dwija and her husband’s sacrifices are a beautiful witness to all of us, regardless of our state in life.  God is calling us all to sacrifice during our everyday life and get out of our comfort zones so that we can grow in sanctity.  Be encouraged sweet ladies, we are all on a journey and we are on it together and by God’s Grace, we will thrive. Let us take every moment of desolation and ask the Lord, “where are you in this moment?”. Show Notes: “destines them to eternity. He therefore, I believe, wants them to attend chiefly to two things, to eternity itself, and to that point of time, which they call the Present. For the Present is the point at which time touches eternity. Of the present moment, and of it only, humans have an experience analogous to the experience which [God] has of reality as a whole; in it alone freedom and actuali

If you would like to hear how in the world a Hare Krishna grows up to be a Catholic homeschooling momma of 7 beautiful children on a farm in Michigan, then you need to check in this week for our summer series.  Dwija B0robia share with us about her life in a very real way giving all of us in the trenches the reminder that no one’s life is picture perfect nor even easy.  We all have our strengths and our weaknesses, but without Christ, none of it is even possible.  Moving from self reliance to God reliance is pivotal to our journey in happiness. We hope you enjoy this sweet conversation we were so privileged to have with @houseunseen Please consider supporting our Podcast Our Guest:     Dwija B0robia lives on 13 acres in rural Southwest Michigan with 14 chickens, 7 kids, 2 dogs, 1 duck and 1 very patient husband. In her plentiful down time, she homeschools, gardens badly, and finds good deals on dansko clogs on the internet.  She likes her sacraments Catholic and her beer cold.  Blog: www.houseunseen.com   Bu

We had so much fun talking with Christy Brunk on Episode 16 and appreciate the points she brought up about persevering and being real.  On this week’s episode, Megan and Becky share some listener comments and explore more ways we can see the beauty in our days while keeping it real.  Especially with social media having such an influence in our lives, how might we be authentic yet not overly pessimistic or unrealistically positive.  Rather than celebrating failures, knowing that we need to practice seeing that we should celebrate the redemption of our failures by a loving Father who is molding us more into who He created us to be. Show Notes: “The great thing, if one can, is to stop regarding all the unpleasant things as interruptions of one’s ‘own,’ or ‘real’ life. The truth is of course that what one calls the interruptions are precisely one’s real life — the life God is sending one day by day.”  –C.S. Lewis Teaching From Rest  by Sarah Mackenzie “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorabl

This humidity dwelling, sponge roller wearing, cute kid birthing, wisdom preaching, video making, beauty seeking, southern instagram gem, Christy Brunk, spends some time sharing with us about being a mom to six kids, her conversion to the Catholic faith, and what it looks like in her feminine vocation to surrender her life and her family’s lives to the Lord through Our Blessed Mother. You will love getting to know our sweet southern belle in all of her Georgian twang. Please consider supporting our Podcast Our Guest:   Christy Brunk  is a Catholic convert, wife and mother of six.   She enjoys staging photos, writing novel-length IG captions, and making videos with her children.  She spent her pre-nuptial life teaching elementary Spanish & French.  She stinks at chemistry, meal planning, and making friends with cats.  She comes from a long line of farmers: some saints, some sinners.  All of them with a healthy fear of the Almighty and Georgia red clay stains on their hands.  She believes that living authe

“Therefore it is said, ‘Awake , O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.’  Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.  And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, always and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.”  -Ephesians 5:14-20 This week we get to follow up with listener comments from our beautiful conversation on Episode 14 where Teresa Peterson shared her struggles and the ongoing redemption of her journey. Megan and Becky will dig deeper into the Scriptures and reflect further into the beauty of fully surrendering our lives to our Loving Father in heaven.  All the while, encouraging their listeners to remember salvation is a

When singer and songwriter, Teresa Peterson, realized that the sure calling of God on her life to sing and to share her songs had died, she had no idea that the Lord was preparing her to be resurrected.  Teresa sought after a secular career in the music industry for years and one day found herself exhausted and done.  Teresa shares with us the journey that she has been on with the Lord and how when His ways are not our ways this can feel like a real death. A death not to be left in the grave.  It was such treat to have Teresa share with us the inspiration for her new songs on her new album. Please consider supporting our Podcast Our Guest: Teresa Peterson is a worship leader, speaker and singer/songwriter based out of Philadelphia, PA.  She recently opened for Dove Award winning group, Sidewalk Prophets and Stars Go Dim at the music festival, AbbeyFest.  Teresa has been featured on Relevant Radio, The Catholic Playlist, Immaculate Heart Music, Aleteia: Cecilia and more.  She has led worship at events in asso

We had such a beautiful conversation with blogger, Susan Husband.  Raising seven boys can’t be an easy task, but forming boys to have dignity and respect for women in today’s hyper sexualized culture brings another set of  opportunities.  Let’s use the word opportunities instead of challenges cause we gotta start seeing the positive beauty of who we are again.  Susan speaks to the beauty to which women are drawn to and their role to share that beauty to the world.  Rightly ordered beauty and appreciation of beauty is a wonderful gift to be cherished.  We’d love to hear how you have found ways to walk in modesty as a woman, to encourage your girls to be modest, and to teach your boys to uphold and fight for the dignity of women. Please consider supporting our Podcast Our Guest: Susan Husband is a farm wife and mama to seven ornery boys.  Cold beer, long country runs, and Jesus rescue her from the dirt, testosterone, and laundry that breeds while she sleeps. When she isn’t cooking, homeschooling, cooking, runn

“Let no one come here, who with his lips can say, ‘We lift up our hearts to our Lord’, but in his mind employs his thoughts on worldly business.  God indeed should be in our memory at all times, but if this is impossible because of human infirmity, at least in this hour this should be our earnest endeavour.” –St. Cyril of Jerusalem (c.315 – 387) Last week we heard from professor and author, Timothy O’Malley of Notre Dame.  He shared from his book, Bored Again Catholic, and those words really spoke to not only Megan and Becky but also to their listeners.  On this week’s episode, Megan and Becky again Lead the Conversation.  We take some insights and comments from listeners and dig in deeper with more Scripture, early church fathers, and Saints.  We are so blessed with a beautiful and rich and full Tradition.  Being bored at Mass (or prayer or other  spiritual discipline) is an invitattion to walk in faith knowing that Jesus is meeting all of us on that alter. Every day, every Mass, regardless of how we feel an

“I want to believe. I want to give everything to the Lord. But I want new signs and wonders. I want what is hidden to be revealed.” Tim O’Malley chats with Megan in an inspiring and thought provoking conversation where we are all invited to use boredom as an invitation to go deeper into relationship with Christ. Author of Bored Again Catholic – How the Mass Could Save Your Life, Tim O’Malley gives some great nuggets for us to all chew on in regards to the Sacred Liturgy and our Domestic Churches. Please consider supporting our Podcast Our Guest: Timothy O’Malley, Ph.D., specializes in a historical-theological approach to liturgical studies.   He has specific interests in liturgical homiletics (with an emphasis on Augustinian thought), the biblical and liturgical foundations of Christian doctrine, theological aesthetics, and the role of liturgical renewal in the ressourcement movement.  As director of the Notre Dame Center for Liturgy, he engages in scholarship that seeks to retrieve biblical, catechetical,