Welcome to the first episode of the Method Conversation series! You'll hear from trained instructors who represent a variety of organizations that provide scientifically-proven, methodologically-sound, and Catholic Church-approved fertility awareness based method (FABM) instruction that are well-respected in the fertility awareness and medical community. Remember, don't work with an instructor who creates their own rules & methods! Work with trained experts. 

In this episode, Bridget sits down with Melissa Tablada, who is a trained Creighton Fertility Care Practitioner who teaches women and couples how to chart. She'll get into the history of the Creighton Model, how it works, effectiveness rates what it looks like to work with an instructor, how to find an instructor, and important aspects to consider before picking a method and instructor. Don't miss this series and this helpful conversation! 

Shownotes: 

Melissa Tablada is now offering a bundled package of one year worth of Creighton Fertility Care Support PLUS six coaching sessions based on your season of life. For couples this will entail martial coaching & for single women the sessions will focus on life coaching. This new service provides the opportunity for clients to receive support in a more complete way, addressing the whole person rather than just one part. You'll have the chance to customize your sessions based on your personal and unique goals. Please email [email protected] for more information & to sign up!

Interviewee Bio: 

Melissa Tablada is a Catholic wife & mama living in Miami, Florida. She works as a Creighton Fertility Care Practitioner teaching women and couples to chart their cycles to achieve or avoid pregnancy, or manage their reproductive health. She is also a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, as well as a Life and Relationship Coach. Melissa is passionate about supporting women in becoming healthy and whole in mind, body and soul!

Do you feel drained in your motherhood?

Are you struggling with mom guilt weighing you down?

Ever wondered if you lean into joy you might be participating in toxic positivity?

Bridget sits down for part II of this series with Alex DeRose discussing the joy of motherhood and tangible, practical ways to create joy in your life and motherhood. We get into the nitty gritty: why so many women are leaning into fear instead of fearlessness in motherhood, how to embrace motherhood practically (whether single, engaged or married), and how embracing ourselves in wholeness actually helps us lean into our lives and leaning into real, authentic joy.

Additional resources discussed:

• JoyMama Blog: https://www.joymamablog.com/
• Follow Alex on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexandriaderose/

Interviewee bio:

Alex DeRose is a Family Nurse Practitioner & Fertility Care Practitioner turned SAHM homeschooling mom to four sons. She's passionate about empowering women with knowledge for fertility awareness, joyful encouragement and the dignity of motherhood.

How do you create a joyful marriage?

Can that joy include the bedroom (ahem, or wherever you might find yourselves)?

What mindset work do we need to do in order to give & receive love in marriage?

Joyful marriages don't just happen. Today, Bridget is talking with Alex DeRose all about why joyful marriages matter and what it looks like to practically live it out. This episode is about authentic joy, sacrifical love, and how leaning into virtue, grace, and seeing the best in your spouse can have serious impact on your marriage and your sex life. Bridget and Alex get into the challenges of intimacy and how what takes place outside of the bedroom directly impacts connection and having great sex with your spouse. You don't want to miss it! This is part 1 of a two-part series centering around joyful marriages & motherhood.
Shownotes:
Joy Mama Blog: https://www.joymamablog.com/
The Best Marriage Advice: https://www.joymamablog.com/new-blog/2021/11/21/the-best-marriage-advice
Laugh & Date Night Challenge: https://www.joymamablog.com/new-blog/2021/1/17/laugh-amp-date-night-challenge
Husband Gratitude Challenge: https://www.joymamablog.com/new-blog/2021/1/17/husband-gratitude-challenge
Choosing Joy in Marriage: https://www.joymamablog.com/new-blog/2020/6/2/choosing-joy-in-marriage
Marriage Advice I Need to Take: https://www.joymamablog.com/new-blog/2018/10/15/best-marriage-advice

Interviewee bio:
Alex DeRose is a Creighton & nurse practitioner recently turned SAHM who is passionate about empowering women with knowledge for fertility awareness, joyful encouragement and the dignity of motherhood. You can find her at joymamablog.com and @alexandriaderose on social media.

Are you navigating infertility or have questions about how to know if you're infertile?
Are you struggling to know what to say to a friend who is navigating infertility?
Are you tired of being told birth control is the only option and you're worried it may impact your health long-term?

Bridget sits down with Mary Bruno, founder of White Lotus Blooming, Creighton Practitioner, and co-founder & Executive Director of the non-profit, FAbM Base, to discuss a topic that often gets overlooked or met with awkward silence out of fear of saying something wrong: infertility. Mary shares her own story, including her late diagnosis of endometriosis and her even later diagnosis of adenomyosis. Mary's late diagnoses inspired her to improve fertility awareness and they discuss the approach of "one size fits all" in women's health care, the power of women charting their cycles to uncover medical conditions that require treatment & care, changes to women's health care around this diagnosis, what to say to a friend navigating infertility, and so much more!

Additional resources discussed: 

• Fabmbase.org: https://fabmbase.org/resources/external-resources/#hfaq-post-711
• White Lotus Blooming: https://marygbruno.wordpress.com/ 
• “The Upside of Infertility” by Dr. Susan Caldwell: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.drsusancaldwell.com/post/the-upside-of-infertility&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1644962408670374&usg=AOvVaw35TrozFcdzjNb9QPKfSh0m
• Facts About Fertility: https://www.factsaboutfertility.org/ 

Interviewee bio:
Mary grew up right outside of New Orleans and married a Southern Louisiana boy in 2013. After 12 years of severely painful periods, she was finally diagnosed with endometriosis, followed by an adenomyosis diagnosis 7 years later. Now infertile, she and her husband have a beautiful adopted daughter who is now 5 years old, and they are waiting to adopt again. Mary's late diagnoses inspired her to improve fertility awareness and women's health education and access through speaking, writing, and social media. She is a Creighton Practitioner, founder of Taking Back the Terms, and co-founder & Executive Director of the new non-profit organization, FAbM Base.

Have you ever wondered how an instructor is trained?
Are you nervous about getting a psycho instructor who's secretly (or maybe, not-so-secretly) trying to make sure you have millions of babies?
Do you wonder what a reporting structure looks like if you need to address unethical issues with your instructor?

Oh, this episode is for you! I'm excited to be joined by Lauren Vitale, co-founder of Whole Mission, an online NFP education service, registered nurse, and Marquette Method instructor. We talk about the ethics of FA/NFP instructors, how an FA/NFP instructor is supposed to work, what are red flags to look out for in an instructor, hat to do if you think your instructor is behaving inappropriately, and how to break-up with an instructor if it's not a good fit. Lauren shares so much practical insight and gives great tips about how you can have a GREAT instructor relationship and find freedom in charting by avoiding the crazies and knowing what to look for when you're trying to find an instructor that works for you.

Additional resources discussed:

• USCCB Standards for Instructors: https://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/marriage-and-family/natural-family-planning/diocesan-ministry/standards-full-text
• Marquette Method Instructor Organization: https://marquettemethodprofessionals.com/ 
• Importance of Responsible Parenthood & Couples Ability to Discern: https://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/marriage-and-family/natural-family-planning/catholic-teaching/upload/Responsible-Parenthood.pdf
• Resource for Couples with Medically Complex Situations: https://www.ncbcenter.org/
• Institute for Natural Family Planning Model: https://www.marquette.edu/nursing/natural-family-planning-model.php

Whole Mission: https://www.mmnfp.com/


Interviewee bio: 

Lauren is a registered nurse and Marquette Method Natural Family Planning instructor. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Madonna University in 2009, practiced as a pediatric nurse until 2015, and has been teaching couples the highs, lows, and peaks of the Marquette Method since 2017. Lauren and her husband, Giovanni, co-founded Whole Mission, an online Natural Family Planning education service. Lauren continues to provide fertility education to couples and women around the world, all while she follows her true calling of raising five fantastically-unique children to (hopefully) become saints.

Ever wondered if fatherhood & motherhood matter?
Do you ever struggle with definitions of what a mother or father "should" be and get frustrated?
How about those specific definitions that put dads in a box of long work hours and moms in a box of exhausting, never-ending laundry and messes?

Today, Bridget is is talking with Tim Lucchesi, husband, father of three, and stay-at-home dad and founder of Love Worth Chasing. They get into a conversation about weak arguments, especially around fatherhood & motherhood, and how this can be detrimental to us living out our calling as individuals and in marriages. Tim breaks down what a specific versus universal definition is and argues that universal definitions offer a better framework and opportunity to live out our unique callings, too. This episode doesn't have all the answers, but it gets at the hard parts of this topic that often gets missed at those fun, large young adult gatherings (you know what we mean).

Additional resources discussed:

• Love Worth Chasing: www.loveworthchasing.com
  Should a Wife Be Submissive to Her Husband?: https://loveworthchasing.com/2021/08/14/should-a-wife-be-submissive-to-her-husband/
• Identity of Motherhood and Fatherhood:
  https://www.meandmyhouse.net/post/made-in-god-s-image-the-identity-of-a-stay-at-home-dad
• The Supreme Vocation of Women (According to St. John Paul II):
  https://www.sophiainstitute.com/products/item/the-supreme-vocation-of-women
• Three to Get Married by Ven. Fulton J. Sheen:
  https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/three-to-get-married-11222
• BONUS article - Awesome tips for a healthy sex life:
  https://loveworthchasing.com/2021/05/05/ten-awesome-tips-for-a-healthy-sex-life/
  
  
  Interviewee bio:
  
  Tim is a husband, father of three, and an aspiring superhero. He loves cheesecake, although it doesn't always love him back. In 2017, after six year as a parish youth minister, Tim became a stay at home dad and developed the ministry Love Worth Chasing with his beautiful bride. Tim believes that most of the world's problems are caused by a failure to recognize the dignity of the self and the dignity of the other, and by not enough people wearing comfy pants. Follow Tim @loveworthchasing on Facebook and Instagram.

Have you ever wondered if you could get really specific about your hormones?
Do you know how to specifically identify ovulation?
Wondering if it's possible to capture your body's data from home?

Today's guest is Dr. Amy Beckley, founder & CEO of PROOV, the first FDA cleared test to confirm ovulation and ovulation quality at home. Bridget and Amy sit down to discuss Amy's personal story and struggle with infertility, her desire to learn more about her body and figure out what the heck was going on with her cycle, and how she founded PROOV. They get into the specifics of what PROOV is, how it works, who it's for, and how you can access your own kit to begin testing at home. Amy's story and the growth of this incredible business is one you don't want to miss! Women's healthcare is changing and this interview shows us just what it looks like to have boots on the ground and making changes.

Additional resources discussed:

• For 20% off your first purchase, use code MYF20 or click this affiliate link: https://proovtest.com/?wly=57893. Managing Your Fertility is proud to be an affiliate with this amazing company!
  
• USA Today interview: https://www.today.com/video/how-the-pandemic-is-impacting-family-planning-and-ivf-102026821986

Interviewee bio:
Amy Beckley holds a PhD in Pharmacology with a focus in hormone signaling. Her personal battle with infertility led her to invent Proov, the first FDA cleared test to confirm ovulation and ovulation quality at home.@infertile_scientist; @proovtest

How do you love your spouse during times of abstinence?
What does chastity look like in marriage?
How can husbands stay supportive when practicing NFP?

Bridget talks to her friend, John Capistrant, about the joys and struggles of using Natural Family Planning (NFP) in marriage and how to love your spouse when NFP feels hard and challenging. They talk about what it looks like for husbands to love their wives, especially when NFP is an integral part of marriage, and how to be a supportive spouse when NFP requires abstinence.

Additional resources discussed:
Is NFP Just "Catholic Birth Control"?: https://www.spokenbride.com/blog/2020/10/26/is-nfp-just-catholic-birth-control https://totalwhine.com/2020/09/26/why-i-dont-refer-to-fertility-awareness-as-contraception/
Catechism of the Catholic Church #2337
Holy Sex!: A Catholic Guide to Toe-Curling, Mind-Blowing, Infallible Loving: https://www.amazon.com/Holy-Sex-Toe-Curling-Mind-Blowing-Infallible/dp/0824524713
Good News About Sex & Marriage (Revised Edition): Answers to Your Honest Questions about Catholic Teaching: https://www.amazon.com/Good-News-About-Marriage-Revised/dp/0867166193

Interviewee bio:
John is a Catholic husband and father. He and his wife, Katelyn, celebrated their 5th wedding anniversary in July. John teaches middle school language arts and religion at Community of Saints Catholic School in West St. Paul, MN. John enjoys sports, doing escape rooms, watching classic films, making people laugh (especially his 1 year old son, Anthony), and playing strategic board games.

Do you want to have a healthier marriage? 

Are you wondering how you can incorporate intimacy into your marriage? 

Does sex feel more like a chore, but you want it to be more enjoyable? 

In this episode, Bridget sits down with Dr. Sarah Bartel, a moral theologian and mom of five, she and her husband of twenty years created the Cana Feast virtual marriage ministry to help bring the benefits of marriage retreats to more couples. She is passionate about helping women understand their bodies, specifically body literacy around reproductive health, and helping couples create healthy, holy marriages. Bridget and Sarah discuss what it looks like to cultivate a healthy marriage, why NFP is so helpful to women and couples, and why sex isn't the "dessert" of marriage, but an integral point of connection and intimacy together.

Additional resources discussed: 

• Familiaris Consortio: https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_jp-ii_exh_19811122_familiaris-consortio.html
• Holy Sex: A Catholic Guide to Toe-Curling, Mind-blowing, Infallible Love: https://www.amazon.com/Holy-Sex-Toe-Curling-Mind-Blowing-Infallible/dp/0824524713
• Cana Feast Blog - Joy Filled Catholic Marriages: https://blog.canafeast.com/
• FREE Communication Virtual Retreat: https://www.canafeast.com/communicationtips
• Couple's Prayer Guide: https://www.canafeast.com/pray

Interviewee bio: 

Sarah Bartel helps married Catholics grow closer to God and closer to their beloved at CanaFeast.com. A moral theologian and mom of five, she and her husband of twenty years created the Cana Feast virtual marriage ministry to help bring the benefits of marriage retreats to more couples. She co-edited A Catechism of Marriage and Family Life for CUA Press. She hikes, reads Jane Austen, and has adventures with her family in the Seattle area. You can find her on Instagram and Facebook @canafeast and @drsarahbartel.

What's it like to live out Fertility Awareness (FA) in everyday life? 

How can Natural Family Planning (NFP) help your marriage? 

What can we do to broaden the conversation around FA/NFP? 

Bridget sits down with Cami Berthiaume, Digital Content Coordinator for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Fertility Awareness Advocate, to talk about what it's like to live out FA/NFP in everyday life. She shares more broadly about why FA/NFP is so valuable for women and how her own personal journey led her to become an advocate for holistic women's health. Cami also shares the realities of living out NFP in marriage and why couples need more support to thrive (not just survive) in this space.

Interviewee bio: 

Cami works as Digital Content Coordinator for the Archdiocese of St. Paul's Office of Communications, which encompasses her role as Producer for Practicing Catholic - a radio show collaboration between the Archdiocese and Relevant Radio 1330AM. Her love for authentic evangelization also led to the creation of her side business, Cookies by CJ: a custom cookie business catering to celebrations of the Sacraments, and all events in between! Cami married her high school sweetheart, Ryan, in the summer of 2019 and her love for women's health stems from her own deep dive into the world of NFP during their engagement. When she's not baking cookies, you can find her visiting new breweries around the Twin Cities, hosting game nights in her tiny apartment, and volunteering with the youth ministry and Confirmation programs at her parish (not simultaneously). You can follow Cami on Instagram @cj.berthiaume and @cookiesbycj1.