In this episode of The NFP Podcast, hosts Amy and Emily sit down with Mikayla Dalton, a certified instructor of the Boston Cross Check Method of Natural Family Planning. Together, they dive into what makes the BCC method unique, how it integrates multiple biomarkers, and why it might be a great fit for women and couples seeking clarity and confidence in their fertility journey.

Mikayla shares her insights on who the Boston Cross Check method is designed for and how it can be tailored to meet a variety of family planning goals. The conversation places special emphasis on the postpartum season—often one of the most confusing and challenging phases for NFP users. Whether you're looking to postpone pregnancy, conceive, or just better understand your body during this transitional time, this episode offers practical guidance and heartfelt encouragement.

If you've ever wondered whether BCC might be the right method for you—or if you're simply curious about how different NFP methods support women through postpartum—this interview is full of helpful wisdom and real-world application. Tune in and learn how the Boston Cross Check method can offer clarity, flexibility, and support when you need it most.

Resources:

Boston Cross Method: https://www.bostoncrosscheck.com/

USCCB NFP Website: https://www.usccb.org/topics/natural-family-planning

In this episode of The NFP Podcast, hosts Amy and Emily are joined by Fr. Cassidy Stinson of the Diocese of Richmond for a rich and down-to-earth conversation on family prayer. Together, they explore what family prayer truly is—and what it’s not. Fr. Cassidy offers insight into how prayer can look different from family to family and encourages listeners to embrace the diversity of personalities and spiritual styles within their homes.

The discussion touches on the common struggles families face when trying to pray together, such as mismatched expectations, kids' ages and attention spans, or even spouses having very different approaches to prayer. Fr. Cassidy shares practical wisdom and pastoral encouragement for finding unity amidst the differences, fostering a family culture rooted in peace, love, and prayerful connection.

Whether your family prays the Rosary nightly or is still figuring out how to start praying together at all, this episode will leave you feeling hopeful, seen, and inspired to take one step closer to a more intentional family prayer life.

Tune in and be encouraged—your family’s prayer life doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful.

Follow Fr. Cassidy on Social Media

Instagram and X....@thehappypriest

Resources:

Fr. Cassidy Recommendations....

1. In The Trenches - Finding God Through Parenting Littles

Kelsey Gillespy....https://a.co/d/8oydoUX

2. Real Life with Mary: Growing in Virtue to Magnify the Lord by Kelsey Gillespy...https://a.co/d/dkeDvjp

Vatican Document....Familiaris Consortio....https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_jp-ii_exh_19811122_familiaris-consortio.html#:~:text=The%20Precious%20Value%20of%20Marriage%20and%20of%20the%20Family&text=The%20Church%20is%20deeply%20convinced,of%20the%20People%20of%20God.

In this heartwarming episode of The NFP Podcast, host Amy shares some deeply personal and joyful news—she's pregnant! With honesty and gratitude, Amy opens up about discovering she's expecting and the emotional, physical, and spiritual journey of early pregnancy.

She reflects on the awe of new life, the power of saying “yes” to God’s plan, and the beautiful, sometimes challenging realities of those first weeks—from the surprise, the symptoms, and the support she’s received, to the quiet moments of surrender and trust. This episode is a tender invitation into Amy’s journey as she shares how Natural Family Planning continues to shape her understanding of fertility, motherhood, and the gift of life.

Whether you're in a season of waiting, parenting, or hoping, Amy’s reflections offer encouragement, connection, and a reminder that each “yes” to life is a step toward love. Tune in for a beautiful testimony of faith, joy, and the beginnings of new life.

n this heartfelt episode of The NFP Podcast, host Emily Appeldorn sits down with certified nurse midwife Brennan Straka for an inspiring and deeply personal conversation about midwifery, vocation, and the sacred journey of motherhood. Brennan shares how she first felt called to the midwifery profession, what that journey has looked like over the years, and how becoming a mother herself has profoundly shaped the way she walks with women through pregnancy and birth.

Brennan opens up about what it means to return to midwifery with a renewed perspective, balancing her professional calling with her role as a mother and wife. This episode offers a beautiful blend of clinical wisdom, personal testimony, and the heart behind midwifery care that honors the dignity of both mother and child.

Whether you're curious about birth, discerning a vocation in women's health, or simply love hearing stories of faith and purpose, this episode will encourage and uplift you. Tune in for a rich dialogue about the intersection of natural family planning, holistic women’s care, and the powerful witness of women supporting women.

Resources:

Hope Mommies: https://hopemommies.org/

Mend Ministries: https://www.facebook.com/Mendnwa/

Book: Naming the Child: Hope-Filled Reflections on Miscarriage, Stillbirth, and Infant Death by Jenny Schroedel

Eden Birth and Wellness: https://www.edenbirthandwellness.com/

BreastCare is the state program to provide free coverage of pap smears and mammograms - we help people enroll at Community Clinic: https://healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/prevention-healthy-living/breastcare-program/

Community Clinic: https://www.communityclinicnwa.org/

American College of Nurse-Midwives - About Midwifery: https://midwife.org/about-midwifery/

American College of Nurse-Midwives - Find a midwife (kinda dumb because no one in our area is on here!): https://ams.midwife.org/web-directory/1?_gl=1*1k8b1gg*_ga*NzQ5MTE2MjkxLjE3NDg2NDA5MjQ.*_ga_7V4BFHR9VL*czE3NDg2NDA5MjMkbzEkZzEkdDE3NDg2NDA5OTAkajU1JGwwJGgw*_ga_YTJD6NM3NH*czE3NDg2NDA5MjMkbzEkZzEkdDE3NDg2NDA5OTAkajU1JGwwJGgw*_gcl_au*MTQzNTIxOTA4NS4xNzQ4NjQwOTI0

NARM - the registry organization for Professional Midwives (also not very good place to find a midwife!): https://narm.org/

Link to a beautiful explanation of the Nativity Icon. I'm sure you could use that thumbnail I have included below as well: https://www.orthodoxroad.com/nativity-icon-explained/

In this thoughtful and heartfelt episode of The NFP Podcast, hosts Amy and Emily take on a sensitive yet important topic: conjugal rights within the context of a Christian marriage. Prompted by a recent YouTube video from Timothy Gordon, the hosts reflect on the content and tone of his presentation—addressing what they found to be a crude and uncharitable handling of an issue that deserves care, nuance, and compassion.

With grace and honesty, Amy and Emily unpack the concept of conjugal rights from a Catholic perspective, highlighting the beauty and dignity of marital intimacy as a mutual, loving gift—not a demand or entitlement. They gently offer an alternative view grounded in Scripture, Church teaching, and the lived reality of Christian marriage, aiming to speak truth in love while fostering understanding and unity.

Whether you’ve seen the video or not, this episode invites listeners into a deeper reflection on how we talk about marriage, sex, and mutual respect in the light of faith.

Resources:

1. Tim Gordon Video: https://www.youtube.com/live/SwNqGm35FHE?si=nm3R5WauOsmrfVEs

2. Examine: https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/sacraments-and-sacramentals/penance/sacrament-reconciliation-married-persons-examination-of-conscience

3. Catechism: https://www.vatican.va/content/catechism/en/part_three/section_two/chapter_two/article_6/iii_the_love_of_husband_and_wife.html

In this heartfelt episode of The NFP Podcast, hosts Amy and Emily sit down with Kari and Rob, a lovely couple from New England whose love story is a moving testament to the beauty and depth of vocation. From their first meeting to the winding road of marriage and family life, Kari and Rob open up about the joys, sorrows, and sanctifying moments that have shaped their journey together.

With vulnerability and grace, they share how God has led them through seasons of laughter, loss, hope, and healing—revealing a vocation that is as much about carrying the cross as it is about celebrating the gift of love. Whether you're discerning marriage, living it, or walking through your own valleys and victories, this conversation will encourage you to trust in God’s faithful plan.

Tune in for a powerful story of vocation, love, and the grace found in both sunshine and storms.

In this episode of The NFP Podcast, Emily and Amy take listeners back to the basics of Natural Family Planning. Whether you're brand new to NFP or looking for a refresher, this conversation lays the foundation for understanding both the why and the how behind NFP.

First, they explore the essential sexual worldview needed to authentically live out NFP—one rooted in respect for the dignity of the human person, the meaning of the marital act, and the call to love freely, totally, faithfully, and fruitfully. Then, they shift gears into the daily practice of NFP, breaking down the biology and physiology of the female cycle and how that intersects with charting methods, fertility signs, and practical applications for couples.

From mucus and temperature tracking to apps and charting systems, Emily and Amy review popular NFP methods and offer resources to support couples in their journey. Whether you're trying to conceive, space children, or just better understand your body, this episode is packed with clarity, encouragement, and a call to see human sexuality as a gift that points us to something greater.

Tune in for a thoughtful review, practical tips, and helpful resources to grow in knowledge and love.

Resources:

1. https://www.usccb.org/topics/natural-family-planning

2. https://www.vatican.va/content/catechism/en/part_three/section_two/chapter_two/article_6/iii_the_love_of_husband_and_wife.index.html

3. https://saintpaulvi.com/

4. Creighton- https://www.fertilitycare.org/creighton-model-system/

5. Sympto-Pro- https://symptopro.org/

6. Marquette- https://www.marquette.edu/nursing/institute-natural-family-planning/model.php

7. Billings Ovulation Method: https://www.billings.life/en/

8. Boston Cross Check- https://www.bostoncrosscheck.com/

In this episode of The NFP Podcast, Amy and Emily sit down with Substack writer, homeschooling mother of three, and Catholic convert Amber Adrian for a rich and heartfelt conversation about motherhood, Catholic sexuality, and the beauty of God’s design for men and women.

Amber shares her journey to the Catholic faith and her understanding of the female body, identity, and vocation. Together, they discuss The Cycle Show—an engaging, age-appropriate educational program that helps young girls understand their fertility with dignity and wonder—and reflect on how early education rooted in truth, goodness, and beauty can reshape how we view sexuality.

From the domestic church to the global stage, this episode celebrates the vastness of the roles of men and women in the world, highlighting the harmony and complementarity found in God's plan. Whether you're deep in the trenches of parenting or exploring the Church’s vision of human love, this conversation is filled with wisdom, encouragement, and hope.

Resources:

1. One Tired Mother: Amber's Substack - https://onetiredmother.substack.com/

2. Wholistic Feminism: Healing the Identity Crisis Caused by the Women's Movement....https://a.co/d/axGXvlp

3. The Big Lie book...https://a.co/d/8fZ8PoL

4. The Rights of Women - Reclaiming a Lost Vision book...https://a.co/d/e2ch6R6

5. Erika's Wall Street Journal op-ed...https://www.wsj.com/opinion/john-paul-ii-the-feminist-pope-women-equal-dignity-theology-22954069

6. Carrie's Wall Street Journal response op-ed...https://www.wsj.com/opinion/what-john-paul-ii-thought-about-feminism-catholic-church-women-5a21bbc2

7. U.S. Cycle Show website...https://guidingstarproject.com/cycle-show/

8. Do We Need a Pronatal Approach to Sex Education?....https://ifstudies.org/blog/do-we-need-a-pronatal-approach-to-sex-education

9. The Reproductive Justice All Women Need...https://fairerdisputations.org/reproductive-justice/

In this episode of The NFP Podcast, hosts Amy and Emily sit down with the wonderful Joy Stay—Registered Nurse (RN), International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), wife, and mother of five. While her professional experience spans hospitals, birth centers, home births, and even third-world countries, Joy considers her greatest education to be the lessons learned in motherhood and marriage.

With a deep passion for equipping families with knowledge about holistic health, Joy shares her wisdom on breastfeeding, its connection to overall well-being, and how parents can find peace and joy in the journey. She reminds us that breastfeeding doesn’t have to be stressful or complicated—it can be a natural, grace-filled experience.

Join us as we dive into Joy’s inspiring story, her work as an advocate and educator, and how faith, family, and health are intricately woven together in her mission to serve others.

Don’t miss this encouraging and insightful conversation!

Resources:

Ina Mays Guide To Breastfeeding, by Ina May Gaskin

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding

In this heartfelt episode of The NFP Podcast, hosts Amy and Emily dive into a common — but often unspoken — challenge in marriage: what happens when one spouse longs for more children and the other feels the family is complete? With honesty, empathy, and a touch of humor, Amy and Emily explore the emotional, spiritual, and practical tensions that can arise when couples find themselves on opposite sides of the family planning conversation.

Tune in for thoughtful insights, compassionate encouragement, and real-life suggestions for how to seek unity, peace, and hope — even when the road feels uncertain. Whether you’re in the middle of this conversation or just want to be prepared, this episode offers a reminder that you’re not alone.

Resources:

EWTN: https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/just-cause-and-natural-family-planning-9730

Catholic Answers: https://www.catholic.com/qa/what-are-some-reasons-that-justify-avoiding-pregnancy

Catechism: https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P86.HTM