Hi friends,After more than 500 episodes of Girlfriends (I still can’t believe that number myself!), it feels like the right time for something new. I’ll be taking a short break from the podcast—but on October 15, I’ll be back with a brand-new series: Grace Unfiltered.This is going to be different from what we’ve done before. Instead of weekly advice or short interviews or reflections, Grace Unfiltered will be an 8-part series of longform interviews with women who’ve walked through really hard, messy, and very real life experiences. Together we’ll discover the ways God’s grace showed up right in the middle of it all.Their stories are raw and powerful, but also deeply relatable. You’ll find yourself nodding along as they share both the extraordinary and the ordinary moments of grace that remind us we are never alone.Here’s how it will work:* 🎧 Audio: Beginning October 15, episodes will drop weekly in the Girlfriends podcast feed, just like always.* 🎥 Video: Full episodes will also be available on Substack.daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe* ✨ Bonus for paid subscribers: A companion journal + bonus podcast episodes where I dive deeper into the themes we’re uncovering together.The main series will always be free. But if you’ve been blessed by Girlfriends and want to support me in creating meaningful content for Catholic women, becoming a paid subscriber is a beautiful way to do that. Your support means this work can continue—without ads—and with even more depth and value for you.I can’t wait to share Grace Unfiltered with you, starting October 15. Until then, make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss the first episode.Sign up now at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe
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Adoption, the Eucharist, and the Relentless Love of God
What does adoption teach us about the way God loves? How can the Eucharist draw us closer to heaven even while we’re still on earth? In this week’s episode of Girlfriends, I’m joined by Jamie McAleer—wife, mom, grandmother, and author of I Will Come to You: A Story of Adoption and the Relentless Love of God.Jamie shares her powerful conversion story, beginning with her very first Mass as a college student, and how God used that moment to plant seeds of faith that would grow over decades. She also opens up about the journey to adopt her son from Russia, the challenges and joys of raising a child through adoption, and the way that experience deepened her understanding of our own adoption as children of God.We also talk about:* The connection between the Eucharist and Heaven* How Mary interceded for Jamie’s family in a time of great need* What it’s like to be a grandmother to fifteen grandchildren* Practical ways busy moms can deepen their Eucharistic devotion* Why sharing your personal story can open the door for others to share theirsLinks and Resources:* I Will Come to You * Learn more about Jamie’s work in media: 4pmmedia.com* Subscribe to the Girlfriends newsletterIf you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend and leave a review wherever you listen. Your support helps more women discover the hope, joy, and encouragement they need to live their faith in the middle of real life. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe
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Real Moms of Real Saints
What does it really look like to raise children in the faith—not in a perfect Pinterest-ready way, but in the messy, ordinary moments of family life? In this week’s episode of Girlfriends, I’m joined by Colleen Pressprich, author of Real Moms of Real Saints, Marian Consecration for Families with Young Children, and The Women Doctors of the Church.A former missionary and Montessori teacher turned homeschooling mom, Colleen shares how her faith journey, her teaching background, and her passion for the saints come together in her vocation. We talk about weaving faith into everyday family life, finding confidence as a parent, and the surprising and inspiring stories she’s uncovered about the mothers of saints—real women who faced brokenness, challenges, and ordinary struggles, yet raised children who became holy.In this episode, you’ll hear:* How to grow the domestic church in small, daily ways* Why authenticity matters more than perfection in family faith life* The surprising real story of Lucia of Fatima’s mother—and why it matters* What researching saints’ mothers taught Colleen about courage and grace* Practical ideas for helping your children encounter the faith in natural, memorable waysLinks and Resources:* Connect with Colleen* Subscribe to the Girlfriends newsletter for weekly encouragementIf you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend and leave a review wherever you listen. Your support helps us reach more women with hope, encouragement, and real-life faith stories. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe
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From Midnight Mass to Mission
A single encounter with God can change everything. In this week’s episode of Girlfriends, I’m joined by Bobby Frederickson, a former missionary and co-host of The Catholic Couple Podcast, whose journey to the Catholic faith began with an unexpected invitation to midnight Mass. That night set him on a path from skepticism to wholehearted discipleship.Bobby shares his powerful conversion story, the role of confession in his ongoing growth, and the ways he and his wife are building a family mission statement that keeps Christ at the center. We talk about the importance of intentional family life, how to live your faith in a culture that pushes against it, and why evangelization starts at home.What you’ll hear in this episode:* The surprising moment that sparked Bobby’s conversion* Why the Sacrament of Reconciliation remains central to his spiritual life* How to create a meaningful family mission statement* Practical tips for living your Catholic faith in daily family life* The importance of keeping evangelization simple and authenticLinks and Resources:* Listen to The Catholic Couple Podcast* Connect with Bobby Frederickson* Subscribe to the Girlfriends newsletter for weekly encouragementIf you enjoy Girlfriends, please share this episode with a friend and leave a review wherever you listen. Your support helps us reach more women with hope, encouragement, and truth. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe
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Forgiveness, Foster Care, and Faith
Forgiveness is never simple—but it is always transformative. In this week’s episode of Girlfriends, I’m joined by Los Angeles-based screenwriter, filmmaker, and speaker Erin Dooley. Erin’s work focuses on what she calls “the good F words”: forgiveness, family, and faith.Erin shares the personal story behind her raw, heartfelt documentary A Way to Forgiveness, filmed during her pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago after a painful divorce. She opens up about what it was like to document her own healing journey, the surprising ways God used her story to help others, and why forgiveness is a gift you give yourself as much as to someone else.We also talk about her latest short film, Adopting Faith, which shines a light on the joys and challenges of foster care. Erin draws on her own experience as a former foster mom and current advocate to address common misconceptions, practical ways to support foster families, and how churches can step up to meet the needs of vulnerable children.What you’ll hear in this episode:* How Erin’s love for storytelling began and why she’s drawn to themes of reconciliation* The unexpected encounter on her pilgrimage that shaped her understanding of forgiveness* Why she decided to share her divorce journey on film—and the response she’s received* The realities of foster care and how anyone can help, even if they’re not fostering* How faith fuels Erin’s work in the entertainment industry and her commitment to telling hopeful, truth-filled storiesLinks and Resources:* Watch A Way to Forgiveness* Watch Adopting Faith on YouTube* Connect with Erin Dooley* Subscribe to the Girlfriends newsletter for weekly encouragementIf you enjoy Girlfriends, please share this episode with a friend and leave a review wherever you listen. Your support helps us reach more women with hope and encouragement. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe
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