The Catholic Woman Podcast

You've heard it a thousand times: work-life balance. But what if that phrase is actually working against you? 
In this episode, Marie Hanson sits down with Carolyn Espinoza, co-founder of Sole Atelier, to have the honest conversation about what it actually looks like to live an integrated life as a Catholic woman; one where your work, your faith, your family, and your interior life aren't competing, they're unified.

In this episode, we discuss:
- Why "work-life balance" is a myth and the more life-giving framework Catholic women should embrace instead
- The critical difference between a distraction and an interruption and how knowing the difference will transform your focus and your peace
- How to build a realistic daily schedule that actually works, even in the exhausting seasons of motherhood with little ones
- The power of choosing just three priorities for your week and why more goals actually means less gets done
- How to set concrete, positive goals in areas that are hard to measure like virtue, patience, and prayer
- Why women who work outside the home shouldn't carry shame, and what the saints show us about women, vocation, and work
- How to find meaning and spiritual value in tasks that no one sees or celebrates: the laundry, the diapers, the invisible work
- The role of goal-setting in sanctity and why Pope Francis says dreaming is a deeply human and spiritual act
- Why starting and ending on time is actually a virtue (and the beautiful example of Blessed Alvaro del Portillo at Vatican II)
- The one thing Carolyn says to do first when you feel like peace and order are completely out of reach

Connect with Carolyn Espinoza:
Website: https://www.soleatelier.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/soleatelierllc

The Catholic Woman Podcast:
Presence Texts: https://catholicwoman.co/presence (Use code CWP for your first month free!)
Newsletter & show notifications: https://catholicwoman.co/newsletter
Substack: https://substack.com/@thecatholicwoman
Facebook Group: https://facebook.com/share/g/1GeKDTt7WA/
Website: https://catholicwoman.co
Instagram: https://instagram.com/thecatholicwomanpodcast
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheCatholicWomanPodcast

Thank you to our show sponsors!
Reclaiming Catholic Intimacy — The honest, faithful resource for Catholic women navigating intimacy in marriage. Get your free download at https://reclaimingcatholicintimacy.com/cwp
Contemporary Saints — Modest, feminine fashion rooted in beauty and faith. Shop at https://contemporarysaints.com and subscribe to their emails for 15% off your first order.
Those Who Mourn — A monthly Catholic magazine for those walking through grief. Visit https://thosewhomournmag.com
Trinity Tree Publishing — Helping Catholic authors write, edit, and self-publish. Visit https://trinitytreepublishing.com

What if your outfit could spark a conversation about the faith? This week I'm sitting down with Sary, the Catholic content creator behind Outfit Diary of the Saints and this episode is exactly the kind of girls-chat-over-coffee conversation I love having on this show.
Sary is a third-grade dual immersion teacher, a Franciscan University grad, and a deacon's daughter who went from soccer sweats to saint-inspired style and built a 53,000-follower Instagram account in the process. More than fashion, this is a conversation about evangelization, befriending the saints, and what it looks like to let God use you, even when you're an introvert who would rather not be seen.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How Sary went from soccer sweats to saint-inspired style and what her dad had to do with it
- The story behind Outfit Diary of the Saints and how a conversation with God turned into a 53K following
- Her step-by-step process for choosing a saint and building an outfit inspired by her life
- How to actually befriend the saints including a simple prayer approach and why novenas are a game-changer
- Why Sary recommends starting with your confirmation saint (and how to find one that fits your life)
- What happened to Sary's fear of being seen when she said yes to God's call
- How dressing like the saints opens doors for natural, non-awkward evangelization conversations
- Practical thrift store tips for building a saint-inspired wardrobe without breaking the bank
- How she navigates rude comments and difficult conversations online as an introvert and Catholic creator
- Her one piece of advice for Catholic women who want to live boldly as the saints they were created to be

Connect with Sary:
Instagram: @outfitdiaryofthesaints

The Catholic Woman Podcast:
Be present for your actual life, 3 texts a week that change everything: htps://catholicwoman.co/presence (Use code PODCAST to join for free!)
Subscribe to the newsletter & show notifications: https://catholicwoman.co/newsletter
Substack: https://substack.com/@thecatholicwoman
Join The Catholic Woman Facebook Group: https://facebook.com/share/g/1GeKDTt7WA/
Website: https://catholicwoman.co
Instagram: https://instagrm.com/thecatholicwomanpodcast
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheCatholicWomanPodcast

Thank you to our show sponsors!
Reclaiming Catholic Intimacy: https://reclaimingcatholicintimacy.com/cwp
Contemporary Saints: https://contemporarysaints.com
Those Who Mourn: https://thosewhomournmag.com
Trinity Tree Publishing: https://trinitytreepublishing.com

Outfit Diary of the Saints, Catholic fashion creator, dressing like the saints, how to befriend the saints, Catholic modest fashion, saint-inspired outfits, Catholic women podcast, confirmation saint, thrift store Catholic style, Catholic evangelization through fashion, Catholic content creator, novena to the saints, Catholic Instagram influencer, living boldly as a Catholic woman, saints and spiritual life

If you've ever sat in the back of Mass wondering why your family can't just hold it together, this episode is for you. Ginny Cochis, Catholic author, educator, and neurodivergent parent coach, joins Marie Hansin to have the honest, compassionate conversation Catholic moms raising "quirky" kids have been desperately waiting for. Spoiler: your child isn't broken, behavior isn't always a discipline problem, and holiness is absolutely still on the table.

In this episode, you'll learn:
- What "neurodivergent" actually means and which diagnoses fall under that umbrella, including ADHD, autism, OCD, dyslexia, Tourette's, giftedness, and more
- The most common signs of neurodivergency in children and adults, and how to tell the difference between a meltdown and a tantrum
- How to know when it's time to seek a professional evaluation and the two paths available to you (private practice AND through your public school district, even if you homeschool)
- The critical difference between a behavior that is a discipline issue vs. a developmental one, and why confusing the two leaves your child's real needs unmet
- What "asynchronous development" means and how to support a child who is advanced in some areas and delayed in others
- How the lives of the saints, including St. Thérèse's sister Léonie and Bl. Carlo Acutis, reveal that neurodivergency has always been part of the human story
- Practical advice for Catholic moms who suspect their spouse may also be neurodivergent and how to approach it without conflict
- Whether neurodivergency is genetic, environmental, or both, and what supplements have actually helped Ginny's family
- How to respond when someone at Mass or dance class implies your child just needs more discipline
- The message every overwhelmed Catholic mom needs to hear: right now is not forever

Connect with Ginny Cochis: 
Website & Community: https://quirkycatholickids.com 
Book: Quirky Catholic Kids: Navigating Neurodivergence with Faith and Joy 

The Catholic Woman Podcast: 
Be present for your actual life..3 texts a week that change everything: https://catholicwoman.co/presence 
Newsletter & show notifications: https://catholicwoman.co/newsletter 
Substack: https://substack.com/@thecatholicwoman 
Facebook Community: https://facebook.com/share/g/1GeKDTt7WA/ 
Website: https://catholicwoman.co 
Instagram: https://instagram.com/thecatholicwomanpodcast 
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheCatholicWomanPodcast

Thank you to our show sponsors! 
Those Who Mourn Magazine — https://thosewhomournmag.com 
North Idaho Tallow — https://idahotallow.com | Use code MARIE10 for 10% off 
Trinity Tree Publishing — https://trinitytreepublishing.com

SEO KEYWORDS
Catholic neurodivergent parenting, Raising neurodivergent children Catholic, ADHD Catholic kids, Autism and Catholic faith, Catholic mom overwhelmed, Neurodivergent signs in children, Catholic special needs parenting, Meltdown vs tantrum Catholic parenting, Asynchronous development children, Saints and neurodivergence, Léonie Martin autism, Quirky Catholic Kids Ginny Cochis, Catholic parenting podcast, Neurodivergent diagnosis kids, Catholic homeschool neurodivergent support

What if the distractions pulling you away from your life aren't just bad habits but symptoms of something deeper? In this mic swap episode, Marie Hanson shares a raw, vulnerable conversation from the Thriving in the Space Between podcast that will make you rethink how you're spending your attention, your money, and your moments.

In this episode, we cover:
- What a near-death experience after childbirth taught Marie about living on autopilot and the wake-up call that changed everything
- Why distraction isn't just a technology problem; it quietly shows up in your finances, your relationships, and your prayer life too
- The "roadblock" strategy that breaks autopilot habits without relying on willpower alone even when you're exhausted and overwhelmed
- How Marie and her husband paid off debt scorched-earth style with a newborn and toddler at home and the exact systems they still use today
- The deeply painful regret of missing her last chance to see her grandfather and what it taught her about letting her yes mean yes
- What true presence actually means from a Catholic perspective: being so attuned to God that you can hear His voice even in your most chaotic days
- Why silence feels deafening and why that discomfort is actually pointing you toward something important
- The simple phone habits Marie put in place that finally helped her stop mindless scrolling for good
- Why women in the "in-between" seasons of life are especially susceptible to distraction and how to thrive right where you are
- How going to Adoration regularly transformed Marie's interior life and gave her the courage to say yes to what God was calling her to

Connect with the Thriving in the Space Between Podcast:
Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6xTorQrSlbq7gJUbdI8B97?si=65ab5b1f07b94300
Newsletter: https://theintentionalsingle.myflodesk.com/tis-waitlist
Website: https://www.theintentionalsingle.com/

The Catholic Woman Podcast:
Presence Texts: https://catholicwoman.co/presenceNewsletter/
Show Notifications: https://catholicwoman.co/newsletter
Substack: https://substack.com/@thecatholicwoman
Facebook Group: https://facebook.com/share/g/1GeKDTt7WA/
Website: https://catholicwoman.co
Instagram: https://instagram.com/@thecatholicwomanpodcast
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheCatholicWomanPodcast

Thank you to our show sponsors!
North Idaho Tallow — northidahotallow.com | Code: MARIE10 for 10% off
Party Like a Saint — https://partylikeasaint.com
Happy Nest Home Goods — https://happynesthomegoods.com | Code: CATHOLICWOMAN for 10% off

If this episode blessed you, please rate, review, and subscribe...it's one of the simplest ways to help more Catholic women find encouragement and truth.

EPISODE KEYWORDS (SEO):
Breaking the distraction cycle
Practicing the presence of God
Catholic women and technology
Living on autopilot Catholic
Catholic financial freedom
Presence of God in daily life
Catholic mindfulness
Distraction and emotional wounds
Catholic women podcast
Hearing God's voice in everyday life
Catholic discernment single women
Catholic wife and mother podcast
Autopilot habits Catholic faith
Spiritual presence Catholic women
Thriving in waiting seasons Catholic

If you're a single Catholic woman wondering why no one is asking you out, or you're dating someone and you're not sure if he's actually marriage material, this episode is going to be a game-changer. Catholic therapist, relationship coach, and author Dana Nygaard is not here to sugarcoat it. She's here to help you stop wasting your time and start dating with clarity, confidence, and faith.
In this episode, we discuss:
Why so many Catholic men aren't directly asking women on dates and what you can do to become more approachable without compromising your femininity

The difference between "hanging out" and being genuinely pursued, and how to call it out with confidence (and a little flirting)

Why leading with "boss babe" energy is actually a turnoff and what to lead with instead

Whether you should date a non-Catholic and the real risks Dana sees play out in marriages with faith differences, especially around NFP and baptizing children

The powerful advice from St. Ambrose to St. Monica that every woman married to a non-Catholic needs to hear

Dana's four pillars of trust — ability, integrity, benevolence, and consistency — and how to evaluate a man's character while you're dating

What emotional chastity actually looks like in practice and why sharing too much too fast puts you in danger

Why so many men in their 20s and 30s are stuck in immaturity and what parents can do right now to stop enabling it

How to bring up the pornography conversation in dating without shame and the warning signs that someone is not marriage-ready

Daily rituals of connection that keep marriages strong even in the busiest seasons of life

Connect with Dana Nygaard:
Website: https://clarityplease.com

Instagram: @dananygaard_lpc

Miss to Mrs's Program: https://dananygaard.com

The Catholic Woman Podcast:
Be present for your actual life…get 3 texts a week that change everything: https://catholicwoman.co/presence

Never miss a show! Get text or email updates - https://catholicwoman.co/newsletter

Check out The Catholic Woman on Substack - https://substack.com/@thecatholicwoman 

Join The Catholic Woman Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1GeKDTt7WA/

Watch full episodes on YouTube: youtube.com/@TheCatholicWomanPodcast 

Visit: https://catholicwoman.co 

Instagram: https://instagram.com/thecatholicwomanpodcast 

Thank you to our show sponsors!
Chews Life — Catholic rosaries for every age and season | https://chewslife.com | Code: TCW15 for 15% off

Crux Invicta — Bold rosary bracelets for men | https://cruxinvicta.com | Code: TCW15 for 15% off

Party Like a Saint — Christ-centered sacrament celebration supplies | https://partylikeasaint.com

Happy Nest Home Goods — Catholic gifts, sacrifice beads & more | https://happynesthomegoods.com | Code: CATHOLICWOMAN for 10% off

If this episode blessed you, please rate, review, and subscribe…it's one of the simplest ways to help more Catholic women find encouragement and truth!