Female by Design

• 241. Lies of Purity

  God’s heart for purity is beautiful. It’s about being filled with His presence — shaped by love, truth, and freedom. But many of us grew up believing something else entirely. In this final episode of the Lies I Believed series, Francie shares how her desire to honor God was shaped by teachings that defined purity by what you don’t do, don’t know, or don’t feel. Over time, those well-meaning messages created a type of “purity” rooted in fear, ignorance, and self-protection — not love or connection. This episode gently names the distortion and offers a new vision: one where purity is not about fear or control, but about joyful formation, honest connection, and celebrating God’s good design. What you'll hear: - Why purity is not the same as ignorance or inexperience - How purity messages disconnected us from our bodies and desires - The dangerous link between “purity” and personal worth - Why education and relational connection are crucial to healthy formation - A vision of purity that is about presence, maturity, and embodied joy Whether you’re raising daughters, walking your own journey of healing, or reframing what purity means in your adult life, this conversation will help you shift from shame-based silence to redemptive clarity. Resources and Invitation to Go Deeper: Growth Courses 101 Strong Foundations for Married Sex, here 201 Pleasure and Orgasm: Passion and Practicals, here Before (And After) I Do, here   Get Connected Inside the Circle Group Mentorship Keep learning and get direct access to Francie! Join the Circle group mentorship. Inside the Circle, we talk practicals and get support to grow. Learn more here:  The Circle   Donate to keep the message moving: Your one time donation will allow us to continue to produce and distribute teaching and resources. Thank you for partnering with us! Donate here.   Connect with Francie: Receive Francie’s weekly newsletter  

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• 240. Lies of Submission

  God designed marriage as a picture of mutual love, service, and oneness — a reflection of Christ and the Church. Within that, submission is meant to be life-giving: a way we honor and serve one another in love. But for many women, especially those raised in conservative or evangelical traditions, the teaching of submission took on a very different tone — one marked by fear, silence, and shrinking back. What was intended to be a beautiful expression of trust became, for some, a justification for control or erasure. In this episode of Female by Design, Francie explores the ideas of submission with humility and curiosity — and how distorted interpretations can affect not only our marriages, but our relationship with our own voice, body, and identity. This is not a rejection of submission, but a reclamation of it — returning to the kind of mutual, honoring partnership that reflects God's heart. What you'll hear: - A biblical vision of submission rooted in love, not hierarchy - The cultural and theological misapplications that cause harm - How false teachings of submission can lead to disembodiment and numbness - What healthy, joyful submission looks like in a thriving marriage - How reclaiming your voice is part of reclaiming your design Whether you’ve struggled with feeling “too much” or “not enough,” this episode is an invitation to come out of hiding, and into wholeness — in your faith, your marriage, and your femininity. Resources and Invitation to Go Deeper: Growth Courses 101 Strong Foundations for Married Sex, here 201 Pleasure and Orgasm: Passion and Practicals, here Before (And After) I Do, here   Get Connected Inside the Circle Group Mentorship Keep learning and get direct access to Francie! Join the Circle group mentorship. Inside the Circle, we talk practicals and get support to grow. Learn more here:  The Circle   Donate to keep the message moving: Your one time donation will allow us to continue to produce and distribute teaching and resources. Thank you for partnering with us! Donate here.   Connect with Francie: Receive Francie’s weekly newsletter  

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• 239. Lies of Modesty

  If you grew up in church communities shaped by evangelical or conservative values, chances are you were taught a version of modesty that sounded holy — but left you feeling ashamed, disconnected from your body, or even afraid of your own beauty. In this episode, we're naming what many of us lived: the modesty messages that told us our bodies were dangerous, that our presence might cause someone else to stumble, and that it was up to us to manage everyone else’s purity. It’s the start of a new series — Lies I Believed — and we're beginning by gently unpacking the messages that formed us, and opening the door to healing and renewal. Inside this conversation: - Why modesty became more about fear than freedom - The roots of shame many of us inherited from purity culture - How these beliefs still show up in our bodies, marriages, and parenting - What it means to reclaim a biblical vision of beauty, dignity, and pleasure This episode isn’t about swinging the pendulum or pushing a new dress code — it’s about rethinking how we see our bodies through God’s eyes, and creating space to disciple our daughters differently. Resources and Invitation to Go Deeper: Growth Courses 101 Strong Foundations for Married Sex, here 201 Pleasure and Orgasm: Passion and Practicals, here Before (And After) I Do, here   Get Connected Inside the Circle Group Mentorship Keep learning and get direct access to Francie! Join the Circle group mentorship. Inside the Circle, we talk practicals and get support to grow. Learn more here:  The Circle   Donate to keep the message moving: Your one time donation will allow us to continue to produce and distribute teaching and resources. Thank you for partnering with us! Donate here.   Connect with Francie: Receive Francie’s weekly newsletter

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• 238. Why I Struggled to Read Sex Books (and How I Healed)

  As a newlywed, I wanted to grow in intimacy—but even reading a sex book felt terrifying. In this episode, I share how my early years of marriage were marked by fear, shame, and resistance around learning about sex. Even though my heart longed for connection, my nervous system was on high alert. I used to hide sex books inside other books at the bookstore—because I was afraid someone would see me learning. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed or ashamed when it comes to sex ed (even in marriage!), you’re not alone. This episode is full of honesty, healing, and hope. What you’ll hear: The cultural messages that made sex feel scary and shameful Why I dissociated from my body—and how I began to reconnect How sex books became a surprising tool for healing The power of patient love and growing vocabulary in marriage Mentioned Resources: Enjoy! The Gift of Sexual Pleasure for Women – Joyce & Cliff Penner Getting Your Sex Life Off to a Great Start – Cliff & Joyce Penner Resources and Invitation to Go Deeper: Growth Courses 101 Strong Foundations for Married Sex, here 201 Pleasure and Orgasm: Passion and Practicals, here Before (And After) I Do, here   Get Connected Inside the Circle Group Mentorship Keep learning and get direct access to Francie! Join the Circle group mentorship. Inside the Circle, we talk practicals and get support to grow. Learn more here:  The Circle   Donate to keep the message moving with Francie Winslow: Your one time donation will allow us to continue to produce and distribute teaching and resources. Thank you for partnering with us! Donate here.   Connect with Francie: Receive Francie’s weekly newsletter  

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• 237. Back to the Garden of Pleasure

  What if pleasure isn’t a problem, but part of God’s design? In this foundational episode of Female by Design, I’m taking us back to the beginning—back to the garden. We’ll explore God’s original blueprint for our bodies, our senses, and our experience of intimacy, all rooted in the creation story. I’ll also share more of my personal journey of healing and how the word “pleasure” went from feeling shameful… to sacred. What you'll hear: Why I renamed the podcast and what’s shifting How God began renewing my mind about pleasure What Genesis 2 really reveals about our design Why understanding the garden is key to healing our sexuality This is a vulnerable, Scripture-soaked, hope-filled episode—and a powerful reset for where we’re headed together. I’m so glad you’re here. Resources and Invitation to Go Deeper: Growth Courses 101 Strong Foundations for Married Sex, here 201 Pleasure and Orgasm: Passion and Practicals, here Before (And After) I Do, here   Get Connected Inside the Circle Group Mentorship Keep learning and get direct access to Francie! Join the Circle group mentorship. Inside the Circle, we talk practicals and get support to grow. Learn more here:  The Circle   Donate to keep the message moving with Francie Winslow: Your one time donation will allow us to continue to produce and distribute teaching and resources. Thank you for partnering with us! Donate here.   Connect with Francie: Receive Francie’s weekly newsletter  

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