The NFP Podcast

What happens when a secret carried for years becomes a doorway to healing?

As we continue our “Life Is a Gift” series, Amylynn and Emily welcome Vicky, a wife and mother who shares her deeply personal experience of abortion, the shame she carried in silence, and her journey toward God’s mercy.

With honesty and courage, Vicky reflects on the fear that shaped her decision, the effects on her marriage and family, and the healing she and her husband experienced together through a Rachel’s Vineyard retreat. She shares how returning to the Catholic faith, receiving the sacraments, and encountering compassionate support helped her begin to move beyond secrecy and shame.

Today, Vicky volunteers with abortion healing ministries and participates in 40 Days for Life, offering others the hope she once needed herself.

Together, we explore the importance of talking with our children about sexuality, dignity, and faith; recognizing the wounds others may carry quietly; and accompanying those who are hurting with truth and tenderness.

Whether abortion is part of your story, someone you love has been affected, or you want to better understand how to offer compassionate support, this conversation is an invitation to remember: you are loved, you are not beyond God’s mercy, and healing is possible.

Listener note: This episode includes a personal account of abortion and discussion of grief and shame.

Resources:
1. Project Rachel: https://www.projectrachel.ca/
2. Rachel's Vineyard: https://www.rachelsvineyard.org/
3. Abortion Pill Reversal Hotline: Call 1-877-883-8497 or 1-855-209-4848 for 24/7 assistance.
4. PROLIFE Across AMERICA Pregnancy Hotline: Call 1-800-366-7773 for immediate pregnancy or post-abortive support
5. Spanish-Speaking Support Line: Call 1-888-434-2748.

What does it mean to have a good death?

In this episode of The NFP Podcast, Amylynn and Emily continue their conversation about the sacredness of human life from conception to natural death with Sheila Pursell, Director of the Northwest Arkansas Respect Life Council and a longtime advocate for the dignity of human life.

Sheila invites us to consider an aspect of family planning we don't often talk about: planning for the end of life.

What does the Catholic Church actually teach about end-of-life care? When is medical treatment morally required—and when can we allow the natural process of dying to take its course? What is the difference between proportionate and disproportionate care? And how can we prepare now so that someone we trust can advocate for us if we're no longer able to speak for ourselves?

Together, Amylynn, Emily, and Sheila discuss euthanasia and assisted suicide, the difference between prolonging life and prolonging the dying process, the importance of food, water, pain management and palliative care, and why a health care proxy may be one of the most important end-of-life decisions we make.

But this conversation goes deeper than medical decisions.

It's about human dignity.

Our worth does not disappear when we can no longer work, walk, speak, remember, or care for ourselves. We are not valuable because of what we produce or because we remain independent. We are valuable because we are human beings created in the image and likeness of God.

And sometimes allowing another person to care for us—and allowing ourselves to care for them—is one of the final ways we learn what love really means.

Sheila also challenges listeners to consider the lonely and forgotten elderly in their own communities. Could visiting someone in a nursing home or volunteering with hospice become a ministry for you or your family?

This is a conversation about death—but even more, it is a conversation about how we value life, how we love one another, and how we prepare to accompany the people we love all the way home.

In this episode:

• What Catholics mean by a “natural death”
• Why human dignity never depends upon someone's “quality of life”
• Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide
• True compassion versus simply eliminating suffering
• Proportionate vs. disproportionate medical care
• When declining or withdrawing treatment can be morally appropriate
• Food, water, pain management and palliative care
• Why you should consider choosing a health care proxy
• How to choose someone who can advocate for you
• The spiritual privilege of accompanying someone through death
• Serving the elderly, disabled and forgotten members of our communities
• Having end-of-life conversations with your spouse and family before a crisis occurs

Because being pro-life doesn't end at birth.

Every human life is sacred—from conception to natural death—and every person deserves to be loved and accompanied until the very end.

Resources:
1. In emergency situations, an NCBC ethicist is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by calling 215-877-2660. NCBC ethicists do not provide legal or medical advice.
2. NCBC website: https://www.ncbcenter.org/
3. Catholic Healthcare Proxy Paperwork: https://www.dor.org/tasks/sites/home/assets/File/Charities/Health%20Care%20Proxy%20-%20Catholic%20Guidelines.pdf

What happens when you do everything “right”—learn NFP, seek restorative reproductive care, pursue answers, pray faithfully—and the baby you long for still doesn’t come?

In this deeply honest episode of The NFP Podcast, Emily and Amylynn sit down with Paula Gallagher, founder of Catholic Infertility Coaching, to talk about the physical, emotional, marital, and spiritual realities of infertility.

Paula shares her own journey through more than a decade of primary infertility: learning to chart with the Creighton Model, receiving diagnoses including endometriosis and hormonal concerns, undergoing surgery and years of treatment, and eventually confronting the painful reality that medicine may not provide every answer. Along the way, infertility became about far more than achieving a pregnancy—it challenged Paula’s understanding of her body, her identity, her marriage, and even her relationship with God.

Together, Emily, Amylynn, and Paula have an honest conversation about the questions many women carry quietly: Why would God give me the desire for motherhood and not fulfill it? Is it okay to be angry with God? How do I celebrate someone else’s pregnancy while grieving what I don’t have? Do I have to attend the baby shower? When is it okay to stop pursuing treatment? And who am I if motherhood doesn’t happen the way I imagined?

Paula also offers practical wisdom for navigating pregnancy announcements, baby showers, insensitive comments, friendships, family relationships, and the loneliness that can accompany infertility—especially within Catholic communities where large families and openness to life are so deeply valued.

But this episode is ultimately about something even deeper: learning that infertility can be part of your story without becoming your entire identity.

Today, Paula accompanies other women through Catholic Infertility Coaching, offering the kind of support she wishes she had during the hardest years of her own journey. She and her husband have also recently welcomed a son through adoption, entering a beautiful new chapter of their family’s story.

Paula reminds us that surrender does not mean pretending the cross doesn’t hurt. Grief and gratitude can exist together. We can desire the good of motherhood while still recognizing the goodness already present in our lives. And even when God's plan looks nothing like the one we carefully imagined for ourselves, He can still bring tremendous fruit from our suffering.

As Paula beautifully shares: “The Lord can make your life abundant no matter what that life looks like.”

If you are walking through infertility—or love someone who is—this conversation is for you.

Paula is the founder of Catholic Infertility Coaching and the author of the forthcoming book Navigating Infertility: The Catholic Woman’s Guide to Hope and Healing, scheduled for publication by Ave Maria Press in March 2027.

Resources:
1. Creighton Model: https://www.fertilitycare.org/about-fcca/
2. Paul Gallagher's Website: https://www.catholicinfertilitycoaching.com/
3. Follow Paula on Instagram: @catholic.infertility.coaching https://www.instagram.com/catholic.infertility.coaching/
4. Pre-order Paula's New Book: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/navigating-infertility

What does it really mean to believe that every human life is sacred—from the moment of conception until the moment of natural death?

In this episode of The NFP Podcast, Amy and Emily welcome back Fr. Jason Tyler, bioethicist for the Diocese of Little Rock, for a conversation about the dignity of human life at its very beginning, at its end, and throughout every moment in between.

Beginning with the Incarnation, Fr. Tyler explores why the Church places such profound importance on the moment of conception and how Catholic theology and human biology help us understand the beginning of a new human life. The conversation also considers how this understanding shapes the way Catholics approach difficult questions surrounding contraception, miscarriage, IVF, embryonic research, and the language we use when speaking about life in its earliest stages.

Then the conversation turns to the other end of life: natural death. What does the Church mean when she speaks about the separation of body and soul? Why does the Church oppose euthanasia while still allowing families, in some circumstances, to discontinue disproportionate medical treatment? And what does it look like to accompany someone through suffering rather than trying to control the moment of death?

Amy also shares deeply personal reflections on being present during the deaths of loved ones and the surprising beauty, intimacy, and even peace that can exist alongside grief and suffering. Together, Amy and Fr. Tyler reflect on redemptive suffering, memento mori, the corporal work of accompanying the dying, and what we lose when modern life separates us from the realities of birth, aging, suffering, and death.

Ultimately, this episode is an invitation to recover a distinctly Catholic vision of the human person: life is not something we manufacture, own, or control. It is a gift entrusted to us by God.

From conception to natural death, every human life is worthy of dignity, protection, love, and care.

Join Amy and Emily for this important beginning to a month of conversations about the gift of fertility, the gift of human life, and what it means to truly live as a people of life.

Resources:
1. Fr. Jason Tyler on The NFP Podcast: https://youtu.be/Ux_T8oM4fcg?si=pT8z8qRKGGkTOSee
2. National Catholic Bioethics Center: https://www.ncbcenter.org/contact-us
3. Fr. Tyler's Secrets of Star Trek Podcast- • Sisko’s Fate Revisited & Starfleet Academy...

What happens when you and your spouse have prayerfully discerned that now is not the time to welcome another child—but then the fertile window arrives, desire increases, and suddenly that decision doesn't seem so certain?
Is this a genuine invitation from God to reconsider, or are we allowing the desires of the moment to override a decision made in prayer and peace?
In this candid episode of The NFP Podcast, Amylynn and Emily explore one of the more challenging aspects of Natural Family Planning: honoring discernment when practicing self-mastery requires sacrifice.
Drawing on Catholic teaching, Ignatian principles of discernment, and their own experiences in marriage, they discuss the relationship between openness to life and responsible parenthood—and why these two beautiful responsibilities should never be separated.
Together, they explore:
- Why the fertile window may not be the best time to reconsider a previously discerned decision to avoid pregnancy.
- The difference between genuine openness to life and allowing heightened desire to direct our decisions.
- How the virtue of chastity and the practice of self-mastery strengthen marriage.
- Why the needs of our existing children, our health, and our current season of life deserve thoughtful consideration.
- How couples can revisit their discernment with greater peace and intentionality.
- Why abstinence, though difficult, can become an opportunity for spiritual growth and deeper marital love.
This conversation isn't about diminishing the goodness of sexual intimacy or the extraordinary gift of a new child. It's about recognizing that both are gifts worthy of thoughtful, prayerful discernment.
NFP isn't merely fertility awareness. It's an invitation to grow in virtue.
Whether you're navigating the challenges of periodic abstinence, wondering if your family is complete, longing for another baby, or simply seeking to live your marriage more faithfully, this episode invites you to consider what it means to love responsibly.
Join Amylynn and Emily for an honest conversation about desire, sacrifice, discernment, and the beautiful—and sometimes difficult—call to seek God's will in marriage.
Subscribe to The NFP Podcast for new episodes every Wednesday.
Have a question or a story to share? We'd love to hear from you at thenfpshow@gmail.com. Love responsibly!

Resources:
1. Fr. Tad: https://youtu.be/yzTyMxERhlg?si=blOUB8hcSj_BUOeF
2. Fr. Mark: https://youtu.be/37W_ICkzsz4?si=diulSr6sHAMQACnN
3. Ignatian principles of discernment: https://www.discerninghearts.com/catholic-podcasts/dos1-fr-timothy-gallagher-discernment-of-spirits-part-1-introduction-to-the-spiritual-exercises-of-st-igantius-of-loyola/

In this special episode of The NFP Podcast, Emily and Amylynn sit down with Lauren, Mary-Grace, and Claire, the three oldest daughters of the Gramlich family, for an honest conversation about what it was like to grow up in a home where menstrual cycles, fertility, and women's health were talked about openly.

Their mother began these conversations when they were young, answering questions honestly and eventually teaching her daughters how to chart their cycles. What began as simple lessons about their changing bodies became something much deeper: a lifelong understanding of their health, femininity, fertility, and dignity.

The sisters share three different journeys. Lauren discusses beginning her cycle at a young age, later navigating endometriosis and polycystic ovaries, and how years of charting helped her recognize patterns in her health before eventually entering marriage and becoming pregnant. Mary-Grace shares her experience with irregular cycles and polycystic ovaries and how her fascination with fertility awareness eventually influenced her academic interests and desire to work in women's health and bioethics. Claire explains how charting—even without significant reproductive health problems—has helped her better understand her body and become more compassionate toward herself.

Together, they reflect on what happened when they left home and discovered how many of their peers knew very little about their own cycles—and how often severe menstrual pain, irregular cycles, and hormonal problems were simply accepted as normal.

The conversation also goes somewhere we don't often hear young women speak so candidly: dating, chastity, attraction, and self-mastery. Lauren and Mary-Grace explain how understanding the hormonal changes occurring throughout their cycles helped them better understand their own desires, respect their bodies, and navigate romantic relationships with greater intentionality.

And perhaps most beautifully, the sisters reflect on the gift their mother gave them—and how they hope to pass that gift on to another generation.

For the mother wondering whether she waited too long to begin these conversations, and for the young woman who feels like she doesn't understand her own body, Claire offers a wonderfully simple encouragement: don't worry about catching up. Just start.

Because your cycle isn't merely about whether you can become pregnant.

It's part of your health. It's part of your story. And it's worth getting to know.

Join Emily and Amylynn for this beautiful intergenerational conversation about mothers and daughters, puberty, cycle charting, reproductive health, dating, fertility, faith, and learning to see the female body as something beautifully and intentionally created.

Resources:
1. Creighton Model Charting Method: https://creightonmodel.com/
2. What Women Aren't Told: Cycles and The Pill w/Dr Sarah Hill | E271 Lila Rose Show: https://youtu.be/LFrGtyOZJtA?si=X5eW-e8fpJejSSZa
3. How Eucharistic Faith Aided Recovery of My Eating Disorder: https://www.ncregister.com/commentaries/how-eucharistic-faith-aided-recovery-of-my-eating-disorder
4. The Catholic Table: Finding Joy Where Food and Faith Meet: https://a.co/d/0g78oCui
5. Made for This: The Catholic Mom's Guide to Birth: https://a.co/d/09TVN5yS
6. The Care and Keeping of You 1: The Body Book for Younger Girls (American Girl® Wellbeing): https://a.co/d/0eNDP8nD

What if infertility isn't really "unexplained"?

In this episode of The NFP Podcast, Emily welcomes Naomi Davis, Creighton Model FertilityCare Practitioner, NaProTECHNOLOGY Medical Consultant, and co-creator of The Fertile Hive, a new online community designed to support women and couples navigating infertility through restorative reproductive medicine.

Naomi shares her own journey with irregular cycles and PCOS, how she discovered NaProTECHNOLOGY, and why she is passionate about helping women uncover the root causes of infertility instead of simply managing symptoms or being told their only option is IVF.

Together, Emily and Naomi discuss:

Why so many cases labeled "unexplained infertility" actually have identifiable causes
How the Creighton Model serves as the foundation for NaProTECHNOLOGY
The importance of understanding cervical mucus and the menstrual cycle as vital health signs
The strengths—and limitations—of today's fertility technology, apps, and wearable devices
Why education should always accompany technology so women understand what their bodies are communicating
How NaPro physicians use individualized hormone testing, ultrasound, and restorative treatments to address underlying health conditions
The different levels of NaProTECHNOLOGY training and why surgical expertise matters
How The Fertile Hive provides trustworthy education, expert guidance, and a supportive community for women seeking natural, restorative fertility care

Whether you're just beginning to ask questions about your fertility, have recently received an infertility diagnosis, or have been searching for answers for years, this conversation offers hope, practical guidance, and encouragement that you are not alone.

God designed the female body with incredible wisdom. Every woman deserves to understand her fertility, receive compassionate care, and have access to treatments that seek to restore health rather than simply bypass it.

Join us for this encouraging conversation about faith, science, restorative medicine, and the hope that comes from treating the whole person—not just the diagnosis.

References:
1. The Fertile Hive- https://thefertilehive.com/
2. The Creighton Model FertilityCare System- https://creightonmodel.com/
3. FertilityCare Charting System- https://www.fertilitycare.org/

How effective is Natural Family Planning—and why do some couples experience unexpected pregnancies despite faithfully following their method?

In this thought-provoking episode of The NFP Podcast, Amy and Emily welcome Allison Dreher—former Billings Ovulation Method instructor, international speaker, fertility awareness advocate, and women's health educator—for an honest conversation about one of the most important (and often least discussed) topics in the NFP community.

Together, they explore the science behind cervical fluid, why it is one of the body's most valuable biomarkers of fertility, and how understanding the body's natural signs can empower women to better understand their reproductive health. Allison also introduces Isvara, a new fertility awareness app developed through the Saint Augustine Foundation that focuses on body literacy, cycle tracking, and connecting women with restorative reproductive healthcare providers and certified NFP instructors.

But this conversation goes far beyond charting.

Amy, Emily, and Allison candidly discuss the emotional realities many couples experience when practicing NFP—including the grief, frustration, and isolation that can accompany an unexpected pregnancy or years of abstinence while trying to avoid pregnancy for serious reasons. Together they reflect on why these stories deserve more compassionate discussion within the NFP community and how we can better support couples carrying these crosses.

Throughout the episode, the hosts also examine why ovulation is a vital sign of women's health, the importance of body literacy from adolescence through menopause, the differences between various fertility awareness methods, and why learning to recognize your body's unique patterns can deepen both your confidence and your conversations with healthcare professionals.

Whether you're brand new to fertility awareness or you've been charting for years, this episode offers an encouraging reminder that understanding your body is about far more than family planning—it's about recognizing the incredible wisdom built into the female body and learning to approach it with confidence, curiosity, and compassion.

Join us for a conversation that combines cutting-edge science, practical wisdom, and heartfelt encouragement for every woman seeking to better understand her fertility journey.

Resources:
1. URL to the web based platform for Evaria: https://evaria.cwcnfp.org
2. Fertility Awareness 101- https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRlFvKP4gYQU&si=KIUKxF_y-xx2KaI9
3. Body Literacy 101 videos- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQUsSo8B32K0
4. St. Augustine Foundation- https://www.thestaugustinefoundation.com/

How do faithful parents prepare their children to navigate today's confusion surrounding identity, sexuality, and relationships without fear?

In this powerful episode of The NFP Podcast, Amy and Emily welcome Dr. Anna Samuel—academic director of CanaVox, former executive director of the Witherspoon Institute, and co-author of Courageous Conversations: Tips for Talking to Your Kids About Sexual Identity and Attraction.

Together they explore why conversations about sexuality are uniquely challenging in today's culture, why parents must be the first and most trusted voices in their children's lives, and how mothers and fathers can confidently lead their families with both truth and compassion.

Drawing from philosophy, developmental psychology, natural law, and years of practical experience helping parents around the world, Dr. Samuel offers a refreshing and deeply hopeful vision for forming children who know who they are, understand God's design for the human person, and can engage today's culture with clarity and charity.

Throughout the conversation, Amy and Emily unpack some of the book's most practical insights, including the importance of establishing a child's identity before cultural confusion takes root, explaining difficult topics in age-appropriate ways, protecting childhood innocence without keeping children ignorant, and preparing teenagers to confidently navigate the realities they'll encounter in school, friendships, dating, and beyond.

Resources:
1. Courageous Conversations: Tips for Talking to Kids About Sexual Identity and Attraction, Parenting Guide - https://a.co/d/0dcYayK6
2. Canavox- https://canavox.com/
3. Sex, Gender and Identity Video- https://vimeo.com/266942512?share=copy&fl=cl&fe=ci
4. The Witherspoon Institute- https://winst.org/

How accurately can an at-home fertility monitor actually tell you when you're ovulating?

In this episode of The NFP Podcast, Amy sits down with Dr. Thomas Bouchard, family physician, clinical assistant professor at the University of Calgary, and researcher in menstrual cycle monitoring, to unpack his newly published research validating the Mira fertility monitor against ultrasound-confirmed ovulation and serum hormone measurements.

Dr. Bouchard takes us behind the scenes of the study, which followed regularly cycling women through intensive hormone testing, bloodwork, and follicular ultrasounds. The result is a fascinating look at what is actually happening inside the body when our fertility monitors show estrogen, LH, and progesterone changes.

And one of the findings may challenge the way you think about the familiar “LH peak.”

Amy and Dr. Bouchard discuss how ovulation can sometimes occur while LH is still rising, why an obvious LH peak isn't a perfectly precise marker for the moment of ovulation, and how quantitative hormone monitors can reveal changes that simpler “low, high, peak” systems may miss.

They also explore the value of progesterone (PdG) for confirming that ovulation has occurred, the importance of first-morning urine and testing timing, and why hormone levels in urine don't necessarily correspond perfectly with a blood sample taken many hours later.

For NFP users, the conversation raises an especially important question: Does having more hormone data make avoiding or achieving pregnancy easier?

Dr. Bouchard explains why a fertility monitor should not be confused with an NFP method. The monitor provides biological information—but couples still need an evidence-based framework for identifying the fertile window and applying that information to their family-planning intentions. He discusses the Marquette Method, the importance of multiple fertility indicators, and why couples who are highly motivated to avoid pregnancy may benefit from more conservative rules and guidance from a trained instructor.

Finally, Amy and Dr. Bouchard look toward the future of fertility technology—including the possibility of continuous hormone monitoring—and ask whether more data will necessarily translate into better decisions.

Whether you use Mira, Clearblue, the Marquette Method, another fertility-awareness method, or simply want to better understand the incredible hormonal dynamics surrounding ovulation, this conversation offers a fascinating glimpse into what the latest research is teaching us about reading the language of the female body.

The bottom line: Fertility monitors are giving women unprecedented access to their hormonal patterns—but understanding those numbers, and using them responsibly for family planning, requires more than simply waiting for a monitor to say “peak.”

Resources:
1. Recent journal article: https://www.rbmojournal.com/article/S1472-6483(26)00422-0/fulltext
2. Learn the Marquette Method: https://www.vitaefertility.com/
3. Marquette Method on The NFP Podcast: https://youtu.be/--jJB7m5Bfs?si=oDrqaNBavE5oN0Rn

Egg freezing is increasingly promoted as a way for women to take control of their reproductive futures—but does freezing your eggs really preserve your fertility?

In this episode of The NFP Podcast, Amy welcomes back Dr. Phil Boyle, founder of NeoFertility and a longtime physician in restorative reproductive medicine, for a thought-provoking conversation about egg freezing, fertility preservation, and the realities of female reproductive aging.

Dr. Boyle explains what actually happens during the egg-freezing process—from ovarian hyperstimulation and egg retrieval to freezing, thawing, fertilization, and ultimately IVF. He also discusses an important distinction that can easily get lost in conversations about fertility preservation: freezing eggs is not the same thing as guaranteeing a future baby.

Dr. Boyle also introduces ovarian tissue cryopreservation, particularly in the context of cancer treatment, as an approach that may allow women to preserve ovarian tissue while retaining the possibility of natural conception later.

But this conversation goes beyond medicine and statistics. Amy and Dr. Boyle consider the deeper cultural and philosophical questions surrounding fertility: Has technology given women a false sense that childbearing can simply be postponed? What happens when fertility becomes something we attempt to control technologically rather than understand and care for? And what would it look like for our culture to once again recognize that human fertility has a natural season?

The episode returns to a beautiful idea Dr. Boyle shared during his previous appearance on the podcast: children are a fruit of our love, not our labor.

Whether you are considering egg freezing, working with women who are concerned about their future fertility, teaching NFP, or simply trying to better understand the conversation surrounding fertility preservation, this episode offers an important perspective you won't want to miss.

Resources:
1. Dr. Boyle's Medical Practice- https://neofertility.us/about
2. The Birth Gap- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2GeVG0XYTc
3. Ovarian Tissue Freezing- https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/ovarian-tissue-freezing-cryopreservation
4. Previous Episode on The NFP Podcast- https://youtu.be/MB1cgPWn-hk?si=TpNZGLIE6dUpWDW9

How well do fertility monitors really work during the postpartum period?

In this episode of The NFP Podcast, Amy welcomes back Anne-Marie Williams, host of the Postpartum on Purpose podcast and longtime writer for Natural Womanhood, for an honest and thought-provoking discussion about her experience using the Mira Monitor with the Marquette Method after the birth of her fifth child.

Anne-Marie shares why she initially believed the Mira Monitor would provide clear answers about her fertility—and what surprised her most once she began using it. Together, Amy and Anne-Marie explore the strengths of hormone-monitor technology, the challenges unique to postpartum fertility, and why no monitor is a "magic bullet."

The conversation also dives into several important questions facing the NFP community today:

What can fertility monitors accurately tell us—and where do they still fall short?
Why is postpartum fertility often more complicated than couples expect?
How should NFP instructors communicate uncertainty while still providing confidence in the methods they teach?
Are women receiving enough information to make truly informed decisions?
How do couples navigate long periods of abstinence with honesty, charity, and hope?

Throughout the episode, Amy and Anne-Marie advocate for continued research into women's health, greater transparency in fertility education, and a compassionate approach that acknowledges both the beauty and the genuine difficulty many couples experience while practicing Natural Family Planning.

Whether you're currently postpartum, considering the Marquette Method, or simply interested in the future of fertility awareness, this conversation offers a balanced, thoughtful perspective grounded in both science and faith.

In this episode, you'll learn:
-Anne-Marie's firsthand experience using the Mira Monitor postpartum
-How Mira differs from the Clearblue Fertility Monitor
-Why hormone trends matter more than individual numbers
-The current state of Mira research and Marquette protocols
-Challenges unique to breastfeeding and the return of fertility
-Why transparency and ongoing research are essential for serving couples well
-Encouragement for couples navigating difficult seasons of abstinence

Resources Mentioned:

1. Anne-Marie Williams Postpartum on Purpose Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6tCRiJxfKYyOZcMyRYOQ5E?si=d9782f1c4c844fcf
2. Natural Womanhood- https://naturalwomanhood.org/
3. Marquette Method of Natural Family Planning- https://www.vitaefertility.com/marquette-method-explained/
4. Louise Boychuk interviews on The NFP Podcast- https://youtu.be/--jJB7m5Bfs?si=tahTffpgjlJaDAeL
5. Anne Marie on Abby's Podcast- https://youtu.be/VWqmyYEvM-U?si=ElBeikTlhKctr4Ef
6. Dr. Lara Briden's Blog- https://www.larabriden.com/blog/

How should Catholics navigate some of the most difficult ethical questions surrounding marriage, family planning, infertility, and sexuality?

In this episode of The NFP Podcast, Amy and Emily are joined by Fr. Tad Pacholczyk, Senior Ethicist at the National Catholic Bioethics Center, for an honest and compassionate conversation about the Church's moral teaching on some of the questions couples wrestle with most. Drawing from his background in neuroscience, priestly ministry, and more than two decades of bioethics work, Fr. Tad explains not only what the Church teaches—but why those teachings are rooted in the dignity of the human person and the natural law.

Together they discuss how NFP instructors, marriage mentors, and engaged couples can faithfully communicate the truth with both courage and charity. Fr. Tad offers practical guidance for teaching chastity, accompanying couples who are cohabitating, and recognizing the delicate balance between pastoral sensitivity and speaking the truth in love.

The conversation also tackles several challenging topics that many Catholics have asked about but rarely hear discussed openly, including:

What the Catholic Church actually teaches about Natural Family Planning and responsible parenthood
Why the Church approaches bioethical questions through the lens of natural law
How NFP educators should approach couples who are sexually active before marriage
The role of prudence in accompanying couples toward holiness
The ethics of ectopic pregnancy and morally permissible medical treatment
How spouses should respond when one spouse chooses sterilization against the wishes of the other
Whether sterilization reversal is required
The importance of communication, sacrifice, and growth within marriage
Why Humanae Vitae remains one of the Church's most prophetic documents on marriage and family life

Throughout the episode, Fr. Tad reminds listeners that the Church's teachings are never arbitrary rules—they are an invitation to human flourishing. Rather than focusing simply on what Catholics cannot do, he explains how the Church's moral vision ultimately points every couple toward authentic freedom, deeper communion, and greater holiness.

Whether you're preparing for marriage, practicing Natural Family Planning, working in marriage ministry, or simply seeking to better understand the Catholic vision of human sexuality, this conversation offers wisdom, clarity, and hope.

Resources:

Free Consultation with the NCBC
https://www.ncbcenter.org/consultation-form

Humanae Vitae
https://www.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_25071968_humanae-vitae.html

Vademecum For Confessors Concerning Some Aspects of the Morality of Conjugal Life
https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/family/documents/rc_pc_family_doc_12021997_vademecum_en.html

When Pregnancy Goes Awry: The Moral Ending to an Ectopic Pregnancy
https://www.ncregister.com/blog/when-pregnancy-goes-awry-the-moral-ending-to-an-ectopic-pregnancy

Fr Tad Writings: https://www.fathertad.com/writings/

Parents are the primary educators of their children—but how do we actually prepare for the conversations that matter most?

In this special episode, Amy and Emily introduce an exciting new project they've developed alongside psychologist Dr. Julia Sadusky: The Courageous Parent, a 12-week virtual small-group experience designed to equip Catholic parents to confidently discuss sexuality, relationships, puberty, pornography, boundaries, and God's beautiful design for the human person with their children.

Building upon Dr. Sadusky's outstanding course, Talking with Your Teen About Sex: A Practical Guide for Catholics, this new small-group experience combines expert instruction with authentic community. Each week, parents will watch a course module together, participate in guided discussion, receive practical conversation tools, and leave with simple activities to help bring these important discussions into their own homes.

Throughout the episode, Amy and Emily reflect on why God has entrusted parents—not schools, not youth ministers, and not even experts—with the primary responsibility of forming their children's understanding of human sexuality. They also discuss overcoming fear, learning from previous generations, healing our own experiences, and becoming proactive rather than reactive as our children grow.

Whether you're raising a curious nine-year-old or navigating the teenage years, this episode is an invitation to embrace your vocation with greater confidence, clarity, and courage.

If you've ever wondered, "Am I ready to have these conversations?"—this episode is for you.

Registration for The Courageous Parent is now open. We'd love to walk alongside you as we grow together in wisdom, confidence, and the courage to faithfully lead our families.

Resources:
1. The Courageous Parent Registration Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSejKV0WTqa8rAwe1ra9zS1milUe_-BWQC1AOGuZ0Au5iEdaAw/viewform?usp=header
2. Dr. Sadusky's Teen Course: https://talkingtoyourteencourse.com/
3. Dr. Sadusky on The NFP Podcast: https://youtu.be/y_1FIaatu0A?si=8PfBi6VZF2aERstE

How do faithful Catholic parents talk to their children about human sexuality with confidence, clarity, and hope?

In this episode of The NFP Podcast, hosts Amy Smith and Emily Apeldoorn welcome back licensed psychologist, author, and speaker Dr. Julia Sadusky to discuss her brand-new Talking to Teens Course—a practical, faith-filled resource designed to equip parents to become the primary educators of their children in matters of sexuality.

Drawing from years of clinical experience working with individuals, couples, and families, Dr. Sadusky explains why the most important conversations begin long before "the talk." Together they walk through each of the course's twelve modules, discussing how parents can confidently navigate conversations about:

Preparing yourself before talking with your children
Building a positive Catholic vision of sexuality
Puberty and healthy body development
Attraction and dating
Sexual intercourse within God's plan for marriage
Protecting teens from boundary violations
Addressing masturbation with both truth and compassion
Pornography and how to respond when exposure happens
Sexual orientation and gender questions
Healthy technology habits in a digital world

Throughout the conversation, Dr. Sadusky offers practical scripts, encouragement for parents who feel "behind," and a refreshing reminder that these conversations don't require perfection—they require presence.

Amy and Emily also discuss why Catholic parents should intentionally prepare for these conversations years before adolescence, how families with multiple children can approach these topics, whether moms and dads have different roles, and why creating an open, trusting family culture is one of the greatest gifts parents can give their children.

Whether your children are toddlers, teenagers, or somewhere in between, this episode will leave you feeling encouraged, equipped, and inspired to embrace your God-given role as the primary educator of your children in the beautiful truth of human sexuality.

In This Episode You'll Learn:

Why age 7–8 is an ideal time for parents to begin preparing
How to move beyond "the sex talk" toward lifelong conversations
Why proactive conversations are more effective than reactive ones
How to discuss difficult topics without fear or shame
Practical ways to foster trust so your children come to you first
How Catholic teaching and modern psychology beautifully complement one another

If you've ever wondered, "Am I doing enough?" or "Where do I even begin?"—this episode is for you.

Be sure to check the show notes for Dr. Julia Sadusky's Talking to Teens Course, available handouts, and an exclusive discount for NFP Podcast listeners.

Discount Code for Teens Course: THENFPPODCAST25
Online Course - Talking With Your Teens About Sex - Dr Julia Sadusky
***There is an extended supplemental handbook (to be used for extended journaling/reflections/conversations WITH your teen) that's available in English and Spanish for download, included in the cost of the full course.

Resources:
1. Talking to Your Teens about Sex Book: https://a.co/d/08XvOhpP
2. Dr. Sadusky Website-https://www.juliasadusky.com/
3. YouTube Advertisement for Course- https://youtu.be/VUYq6pqSnes?si=7uxOMAnOxPObWjK-
4. Previous Dr. Sadusky Appearance on The NFP Podcast- https://youtu.be/AniIXlzNaaQ?si=M5253o5-yWhHfaXE

What happens when years of frustration with Natural Family Planning become the very thing that leads you to teach it?

In this episode of The NFP Podcast, hosts Amylynn and Emily welcome Nichole Ussery—registered nurse, certified FEMM instructor, and Fiat Hormone Coach—to share her deeply personal journey through miscarriage, postpartum family life, perimenopause, and ultimately discovering the beauty of fertility awareness.

Nichole shares how her experiences with hormonal health challenges, pregnancy loss, and navigating different NFP methods transformed her perspective on women's health. Together, they discuss the importance of treating the root cause—not just symptoms—why ovulation is a vital sign of health, and how restorative reproductive medicine is changing the way women receive care.

Amylynn and Emily also have an honest conversation about the realities of practicing NFP during difficult seasons of marriage, the role of informed consent when prescribing hormonal contraception for medical conditions, and the hope that comes from working with healthcare professionals who truly listen to women.

Whether you're new to fertility awareness, navigating hormone concerns, or looking for restorative reproductive healthcare, this episode offers encouragement, practical insight, and hope.

In This Episode
Nichole's journey from NFP frustration to becoming a FEMM instructor
Miscarriage, infertility, and finding hope
Perimenopause and recognizing hormone changes
Why ovulation is a sign of whole-body health
FEMM and restorative reproductive medicine
Informed consent and hormonal birth control
Supporting women through every stage of reproductive life

Love responsibly.

Resources:
1. FEMM Health- https://femmhealth.org/
2. Nichole's Email- essencenu2911@gmail.com
3. Discovery Call- Essence NU- https://www.essencenu2911.com/booking-calendar/discovery-call
4. Work with Nichole- https://www.essencenu2911.com/
5. Nichole's Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/essencenu2911/
6. Nichole's Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577722655687

This week on The NFP Podcast, hosts Amylynn and Emily welcome one of the most influential figures in modern Natural Family Planning, Dr. Richard Fehring.

As the developer of the Marquette Method, Professor Emeritus at Marquette University, and one of the world's most highly cited fertility researchers, Dr. Fehring has spent decades advancing the science of fertility awareness while remaining deeply rooted in the Catholic understanding of marriage and human sexuality.

Together they discuss:

Dr. Fehring's remarkable journey into nursing and Natural Family Planning
How the Marquette Method was developed and why it is unique
What makes a high-quality NFP effectiveness study
The science behind fertility biomarkers and hormone monitoring
Why postpartum fertility is so challenging—and how Marquette approaches it
The future of fertility technology, AI, and hormone monitors
Why Natural Family Planning is far more than fertility awareness alone
The importance of marriage preparation, openness to life, and stronger formation for Catholic couples

Throughout the conversation, Dr. Fehring shares decades of research, practical wisdom, and hopeful insights into where fertility care is headed while reminding us that authentic Natural Family Planning respects both the science of human fertility and the beauty of God's design for marriage.

Whether you're brand new to NFP, currently using the Marquette Method, or simply interested in the intersection of faith, medicine, and fertility, this episode is packed with practical knowledge and inspiring conversation.

Love responsibly.

Resources
1. https://www.marquette.edu/nursing/institute-natural-family-planning/model.php
2. AAPLOG Interview- https://aaplog.org/episode/the-menstrual-cycle-as-a-vital-sign-richard-fehring-phd/
3. Dr. Fehring CV- https://www.marquette.edu/nursing/directory/richard-fehring.php

How can Catholic parents faithfully prepare their children—not just spiritually, but financially?

In this special episode of The NFP Podcast, Amylynn welcomes her husband, Dr. Joey Smith, finance professor at Washington and Lee University, for a practical conversation on raising financially responsible children. Together they explore how good stewardship is an important part of responsible parenthood and how small decisions today can make a lasting impact on your children's future.

Joey shares simple, practical strategies for teaching children about saving, investing, generosity, and delayed gratification. He also explains powerful financial tools available to families—including 529 College Savings Plans, Custodial Roth IRAs, Trump Accounts, and UTMA/UGMA investment accounts—and discusses when each may be appropriate.

Whether you're just beginning your financial journey or looking for ways to give your children a strong foundation, this episode offers encouragement and practical ideas to help your family become faithful stewards of the gifts God has entrusted to you.

In this episode:
Why responsible parenthood includes financial stewardship
Teaching children healthy money habits
The power of compound growth
529 Plans for education
Custodial Roth IRAs for working teens
Trump Accounts and how they work
UTMA/UGMA investment accounts
Practical ways to build generational financial wisdom

Love responsibly.

Resources:
1. Connect with Dr. Joey Smith- https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-joey-smith-cfa-0bb38a53/
2. 529 Plan | College Savings Account | Vanguard- https://investor.vanguard.com/accounts-plans/529-plans?msockid=205ee2fb3a22653939d1f2d43b7064a9
3. 529 Plans - College Savings Plans - Fidelity- https://www.fidelity.com/529-plans/overview?selectTab=5&imm_pid=92206297623&immid=100833_SEA&imm_eid=ep482887995324&utm_source=MICROSOFT&utm_medium=paid_search&utm_account_id=8528177315&utm_campaign=NAT&utm_content=92206297623&utm_term=fidelity+529+application&utm_campaign_id=100833&utm_id=9223640349&gclid=a7db42688aa11b97131d2837d124a77f&gclsrc=3p.ds&;
4. Schwab 529 Plan | Charles Schwab - https://www.schwab.com/529-plan?msockid=205ee2fb3a22653939d1f2d43b7064a9
5. Roth IRA: What it is and How to Open an Account | Vanguard- https://investor.vanguard.com/accounts-plans/iras/roth-ira?msockid=205ee2fb3a22653939d1f2d43b7064a9
6. Roth IRA | Grow Your Retirement Savings | Fidelity Investments- https://www.fidelity.com/retirement/roth-ira?imm_pid=169651397728&immid=100724_SEA&imm_eid=ep343248515473&utm_source=MICROSOFT&utm_medium=paid_search&utm_account_id=4877339293&utm_campaign=RET&utm_content=169651397728&utm_term=open%20roth%20ira%20fidelity&utm_campaign_id=100724&utm_id=21419194274&gclid=6c90012c377f17cef7fb6b736b5b5e92&gclsrc=3p.ds
7. What are Inherited and Custodial IRAs? | Charles Schwab- https://www.schwab.com/ira/inherited-and-custodial-ira?src=SEM&s_kwcid=AL!5158!10!78821460456308!!!!78821871557002!!62077778!5439996897&ef_id=a3550ca4fbc31e20376166fba0396fdb:G:s&keywordid=78821871557002&msclkid=a3550ca4fbc31e20376166fba0396fdb
8. Trump Accounts- https://trumpaccounts.gov/

What if NFP Awareness Week isn't just about learning Natural Family Planning—but about allowing God to reveal something new in your own heart?

In this special NFP Awareness Week episode, Amylynn and Emily reflect on what it truly means to become aware. Whether you're hearing the Church's teaching for the first time, have practiced NFP for years, or are carrying wounds from your past, this conversation is an invitation to let God gently lead you toward greater healing, freedom, and trust.

Together they discuss the role of awareness, contrition, and conversion in the Christian life, why God is patient with our journey, and how NFP is about far more than charting fertility—it's about transforming our hearts. They also offer encouragement for couples discerning family life, those struggling with past decisions, and anyone wondering where God is inviting them to take the next step.

No matter where you are in your journey, this episode is a reminder that God never stops pursuing us with mercy, truth, and love.

In this episode:
What NFP Awareness Week is really about
Why awareness comes before action
The gift of contrition and God's mercy
Discernment, generosity, and openness to life
Healing from past choices with hope
Why every step toward Christ begins with trust

Love responsibly.

What happens when two childhood friends grow up, fall in love, and continue saying "yes" to God through every season of marriage?

In this heartfelt episode of The NFP Podcast, Amylynn and Emily sit down with Chris and Stephanie to share a remarkable story of faith, discernment, and God's providence. From meeting in elementary school and reconnecting in college to discovering the beauty of Theology of the Body and Natural Family Planning, their journey has been one of continual trust in God's plan.

Together they discuss what it's been like to navigate marriage, difficult pregnancies, raising four children (with a fifth on the way!), career changes, medical school, and the monthly discernment that comes with faithfully living NFP. Along the way they reflect on how God has remained faithful through uncertainty, sacrifice, and unexpected twists, revealing His goodness one step at a time.

They also share practical wisdom about raising children in a home where conversations about faith, love, and human sexuality happen naturally and age-appropriately, helping build a culture of openness rooted in the truth of the Catholic faith.

Whether you're engaged, newly married, raising a family, or simply wondering how to trust God more deeply in your own vocation, this conversation is a beautiful reminder that His plans are always worth following.

In this episode you'll hear:
How Chris and Stephanie's love story began in elementary school
Discovering Theology of the Body and the Church's teaching on NFP
Learning the Marquette Method and discerning family life together
Navigating difficult pregnancies with faith and trust
Leaving engineering to pursue medicine through God's guidance
Raising children with openness, honesty, and Catholic values
Why discernment is a lifelong conversation—not a one-time decision

Love responsibly.

Resources:
1. Vitae Fertility: https://www.vitaefertility.com/
2. Good News About Sex and Marriage: https://a.co/d/06o7umtE
3. Humanae Vitae: https://www.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_25071968_humanae-vitae.html