"Because of my vulnerability in sharing my story I am privileged to hear other people's stories." Lisa Rumpel was nothing short of open and vulnerable when it came to sharing her own faith journey and life with mental health. Despite the difficulties that she has gone through, Lisa fights through it with her faith and God's grace. Her goal is to shed light and spread hope on an often invisible and isolating battle with mental illness. Lisa does that through speaking publicly as well as blogging about it on her site, aptly named The Resilient Catholic. In our conversation, we talk about mental health from a Catholic perspective, how to understand suffering, and how we know that God loves us despite all the difficulties that we face in our day to day life.

Check out this week's show notes: https://femininegeniuspodcast.substack.com/p/even-in-the-darkness-there-is-light

You can check out Lisa's blog, The Resilient Catholic, at resilientcatholic.home.blog.

Thanks also to Scott Holmes for our theme music, which is called "Our Big Adventure".

"As much as Instagram can be used for aesthetic and beauty, it should portray something larger than yourself." Celeste Villanueva is no stranger to online personas and content creation. But as Celeste has grown in her faith, she started to question the bigger 'why' behind social media and what its potential could be. Social media, when used correctly and positively, can shed light and bring about goodness in a world that sometimes feels very negative or grim. It can also be used to lift up other people and bring joy to others, and that's what Celeste aims to do with her own content as well as that of Cursive Grace. In this episode, we talk to Celeste about intentional content on social media, the pros and cons of living in the digital age, and how we can be a light to others through our screens.

Here are the show notes for this week's episode: https://femininegeniuspodcast.substack.com/p/pursuing-god-on-and-offline-with

You can find Cursive Grace at their website, cursivegrace.blogspot.com. Follow Celeste on Instagram, @ccelestediaz.

Thanks also to Scott Holmes for our theme music, which is called "Our Big Adventure".

"He was saying, 'Jacqueline, slow down, I've got a plan for you. I've got something special I want to show you.'" Jacqueline Loh was poised to be a successful architect and work her way up the professional ladder. But like many before her, God had something else in mind, something that would take her out of her comfort zone and away from the prestige that she dreamed of. After many years of running, Jacqueline found herself stopping before God and listening to what He had to say. This led her to found Grace That Reigns, and through this she met her now partner in mission Bishop Ronald Gilmore. In our conversation, we hear about Jacqueline's story from architecture to ministry, how she came to trust the Lord, and how she - a woman from Ontario - wound up partnering with a bishop from Kansas.

Here are the show notes for this week's episode: https://femininegeniuspodcast.substack.com/p/gods-grace-always-reigns-with-jacqueline

Learn more about Grace That Reigns by checking out their website, gracethatreigns.com. You can also find them on Facebook, @gracethatreigns. 

Thanks also to Scott Holmes for our theme music, which is called "Our Big Adventure".

"If we don't actually use the gifts that we have—the strengths and talents that we have as women that men might not have—it actually does a disservice to what we've been given as women." As a CCO missionary, Angela Wong has found her own unique way to grow as a missionary and meet people where they're at. Being on campus has pushed her to grow in a lot of these feminine gifts like empathy and understanding so that she can better meet people where they're at and minister to them more effectively. In this episode, we talk to Angela about owning her faith, growing in her missionary identity, and how to live our femininity to the fullest with the gifts God has given us.

Here are the show notes for this week's episode here: https://femininegeniuspodcast.substack.com/p/living-our-best-femininity-with-angela

To learn more about Catholic Christian Outreach, you can find them at cco.ca.

Thanks also to Scott Holmes for our theme music, which is called "Our Big Adventure".

"I think that pursuing such a different route demands that I trust Him more." This was Alyssa Gutierrez's reaction to a snag in her initial plans as well as pursuing a field that is radically different from what many thought she was going to pursue. Alyssa is currently a student at the University of British Columbia studying a combined major of science, consisting of computer science, life sciences, and earth sciences. She is also a very talented singer, multi-instrumentalist, and performer who began singing at the age of 3! Though she had considered pursuing music professionally at one point, she decided to pursue her interests in the sciences, knowing that God had given her these gifts and talents for a reason. We talk about her journey in music, science, and how all throughout, God has pulled it all together to help her grow as a daughter of God.

Here are the show notes for this week's episode: https://femininegeniuspodcast.substack.com/p/trusting-in-gods-process-with-alyssa

Thanks also to Scott Holmes for our theme music, which is called "Our Big Adventure".

"God turned that desire around. He said, 'You want to go to Asia? Do it for me!'" Mariel Conti had always thought that she would one day vacation in Asia, but God had even bigger plans for her. This year, Mariel spent three months in Hong Kong serving with the St. Francis Xavier Lay Missionary Society. Her mission was to help build up a faith community for the English-speaking young adults who lived there. In a city that is big and fast paced, the culture definitely took some getting used to, but the one thing that kept her grounded was her faith in God. This episode features a conversation with Mariel about her desires to travel to Asia, how God challenged her, and how her surrender to the mission helped her discover the importance of community life in faith.

Here are the show notes for this week's episode: https://femininegeniuspodcast.substack.com/p/building-up-leaders-in-foreign-lands

Learn more about Catholic Christian Outreach by checking out their website, cco.ca.

Learn more about St. Francis Xavier Lay Missionary Society by checking out their website, laymissionary.org.

Thanks also to Scott Holmes for our theme music, which is called "Our Big Adventure".

"I see myself as an instrument of God...for Him to speak His words through me." In her work as a teacher, Gail Imoo witnesses Christ to her students every day. For children who are in their critical formative years, Gail makes sure that students not only have a strong education, but also a solid relationship with God that they can continue to build as they continue to live their lives beyond the classroom. Gail has worked as a teacher in the Catholic school system for over 20 years, and also has experiences serving in youth ministry. In this episode, we talk to Gail about how she became a teacher, what she loves about the Catholic school system, and how she helps her students grow in their faith through her example.

Here are the show notes for this week's episode: https://femininegeniuspodcast.substack.com/p/a-christ-centred-classroom-with-gail

Thanks also to Scott Holmes for our theme music, which is called "Our Big Adventure".

When I studied music history, I did not enjoy learning about medieval music. I really didn't come to appreciate it until I had my reconversion back to the faith. Interestingly, I had to study some of the works by St. Hildegard von Bingen back then, and it was only while I was researching for this episode that I not only learned how to appreciate her music, but more about this extraordinary saint, mystic, and Doctor of the Church.

Here are the show notes for this week's episode: https://femininegeniuspodcast.substack.com/p/sisterhood-of-saints-st-hildegard

Thanks also to Scott Holmes for our theme music, which is called "Our Big Adventure". Here is the music that was featured in this week's episode: 

"Poseidon" by Dee Yan-Key

"Spiritus Sanctus Vivificans Vite" by St. Hildegard von Bingen

"The Bluff Trail" by Chad Crouch

"Canticles of Ecstasy" by. St. Hildegard von Bingen

"O Euchari, in leta via"by St. Hildegard von Bingen

"What is it that we are called to do, and how are we called to respond to this kind of suffering?" This is a question that Sheena Devota, a nurse in Vancouver, asks herself. In a culture that is constantly tempted by death and playing God, medicine and health care are particularly tricky fields to navigate, especially if you have a Catholic faith background. But Sheena sees this challenge as an opportunity for her to live out her faith and be a witness of God's love to everyone she meets. In this episode, we talk to Sheena about what it's like to be a Catholic in the health care field, how to witness during difficult moments, and what continues to inspire her as she continues down this vocation.

Here are the show notes for this week: https://femininegeniuspodcast.substack.com/p/healing-with-love-and-care-with-sheena

Our theme music is by Scott Holmes, and the track is called "Our Big Adventure".

"You are so uniquely gifted, that even though you might think that someone else could do the same thing, actually no! God gave you this specific gift, and you are the only one who can give this gift to the world." After her reconversion back to the Catholic faith, Nicole Schmidt found herself opening up herself to God. This openness helped her to use her God-given talents in a variety of ways, and further helped her to grow in her value and worth as a daughter of God. In this episode, Nicole shares her faith journey, her mission with CCO in New York, and the Upper Room, a faith formation program for young people in her parish inspired by the events at Pentecost.

Here are the show notes for this week's episode: https://femininegeniuspodcast.substack.com/p/sent-forth-from-the-upper-room-with

Our theme music is by Scott Holmes, and it's called "Our Great Adventure".