In this Say Yes to Holiness podcast conversation, Christina Summary has a conversation with Leah Jacobson. She discusses her journey and the new program she is managing called Catholic Women's and Gender Studies. She shares how her upbringing on a dairy farm and how her Catholic faith shaped her understanding of the natural order and the importance of women's bodies. Leah also talks about her experience in college, where she realized the differences in perspectives on gender and women's rights which led her to question the mainstream feminist movement and advocate for a Catholic feminism that aligns with the teachings of the Church.

Leah founded the Guiding Star Project, a nonprofit that focuses on holistic women's health and supports women's bodies. She then explains the new Master's program in Catholic Women's and Gender Studies at the University of St. Thomas, Houston, which aims to provide a Christian anthropology and worldview in the study of gender and sexuality.

The program is divided into four certificates: Catholic feminism, women's health and wellness, gender and family policy, and sexuality and gender. Leah hopes that graduates of the program will be able to speak truthfully and charitably about women's issues and contribute to the restoration of the natural order in society.

Takeaways

Sound Bites

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

03:41 Questioning the Mainstream Feminist Movement

08:55 Advocating for Catholic Feminism

12:47 The Guiding Star Project: Supporting Holistic Women's Health

16:35 The Master's Program in Catholics, Women's, and Gender Studies

25:42 The Rewards and Challenges of the Work

28:37 Finding Grounding in Nature

29:33 Advice to Her 18-Year-Old Self

31:27 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

To learn more about the Master's in Catholic Women's & Gender Studies, go to: www.catholicgenderstudies.com