The NFP Podcast

In this inspiring episode of The NFP Podcast, hosts Amy and Emily sit down with Shannon Leach—wife, mother, nurse practitioner, and former IVF patient—who shares her deeply personal journey from pursuing in vitro fertilization to embracing fertility awareness. Shannon opens up about the challenges, lessons, and hope that shaped her path, and why she is now passionately dedicated to educating women and couples about fertility awareness charting. With a heart for empowering others, Shannon is moving full steam ahead to bring this life-changing knowledge to as many people as possible.

Resources:

1. FACTS- https://www.factsaboutfertility.org/what-is-charting/

2. Shannon's Everett Practice- https://www.cascadewh.com

3. Shannon's Seattle Practice- https://www.3wmedical.org/

4. FEMM Health- https://femmhealth.org/

5. Shannon's FACTS Blog- https://www.factsaboutfertility.org/my-journey-through-infertility-to-restorative-reproductive-medicine/

In this inspiring episode of The NFP Podcast, hosts Amy and Emily sit down with Haley Yeager — a patient, Natural Family Planning teacher, and fellow podcaster — to hear her powerful story of hope and healing. Haley opens up about her journey from struggling with PCOS and irregular cycles to experiencing restored reproductive health, regular ovulation, and, ultimately, the joy of achieving pregnancy. Along the way, she shares the science, faith, and perseverance that made her transformation possible, as well as practical insights for women walking a similar path. Whether you’re navigating your own fertility challenges or simply seeking encouragement, Haley’s testimony will uplift and remind you of the body’s God-given capacity for restoration.

Resources:

1. Connect with Haley: https://truthandfertility.com/

2. Truth & Fertility Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1cR3m3Uiss19pDaFiUOiee?si=70bb083de0cd44e0

3. BOOK This is Your Brain on Birth Control by Sarah E Hill PhD https://www.amazon.com/This-Your-Brain-Birth-Control/dp/0525536035

4. BOOK NaProTechnology Revolution https://www.amazon.com/NaPro-Technology-Revolution-Unleashing-Womans-ebook/dp/B08N39QLDY/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.1STUUMtU2hWNXzIUfQb6iS3IdhluiEKlp2oauWWICYE.rj9ha_QrdljjCc6WMCgrnJ6UGLD6ozq3txcjI7lsu60&qid=1753663992&sr=8-1

5. FACTS Blog: https://www.factsaboutfertility.org/fabms-in-pcos-management-a-patients-perspective/

In this episode of The NFP Podcast, hosts Emily and Amy sit down with Dr. Tracey Parnell and Dr. Monica Minjeur to explore the mission and impact of the International Institute for Restorative Reproductive Medicine (IIRRM). Together, they unpack what restorative reproductive medicine (RRM) is, how it differs from conventional approaches to women’s health, and why more women are seeking out this integrative and evidence-based model of care.

Dr. Parnell and Dr. Minjeur share their personal journeys into RRM and how their work through the IIRRM supports both medical professionals and patients in identifying and addressing the root causes of reproductive health concerns—rather than simply masking symptoms. They discuss the importance of cycle tracking, individualized care, and collaborative, multi-disciplinary methods for managing conditions like PCOS, endometriosis, infertility, and more.

Whether you're a woman looking for answers about your health, a medical provider interested in alternative approaches, or simply curious about what “restorative” medicine really means, this episode offers a hopeful and empowering look into a growing field that respects the complexity and dignity of the female body.

Learn more about IIRRM and how to find or become a provider at www.iirrm.org.

This week on The NFP Podcast, hosts Amy and Emily sit down with Jacob and Mikayla, a young Catholic couple and parents to four beautiful little ones. In a culture saturated with hookup culture and distorted messages about sex, Jacob and Mikayla share their powerful love story—how they met, dated, and entered into marriage while choosing to honor each other and their faith by abstaining from sexual intimacy until their wedding day.

With honesty, humor, and grace, they talk about the challenges they faced, the intentional boundaries they set, and the joy that came from putting God at the center of their relationship. This conversation is a hopeful witness to the beauty of chastity, the strength of authentic love, and the freedom found in trusting God’s design for relationships. Whether you're single, dating, or married, this episode will inspire you to seek love that is faithful, sacrificial, and deeply rooted in truth.

Tune in for a heartfelt conversation on countercultural love, marriage, and the grace to live with integrity and joy.

References:

Jason Everet: https://chastity.com/speakers/

Creighton Model FertilityCare System: https://www.fertilitycare.org/creighton-model-system/

n this episode of The NFP Podcast, hosts Amy and Emily sit down with Christina Valenzuela, the owner and creative director of Pearl & Thistle, LLC. Christina brings a powerful combination of theological depth and scientific insight to the conversation as she shares her passion for body literacy rooted in faith.

A certified Boston Cross Check™ instructor since 2013, Christina has spent over a decade equipping Catholics of all ages with the tools to understand their bodies through the lens of both faith and reason. Her new book, The Language of Your Body: Embracing God's Design for Your Cycle, published by Our Sunday Visitor, invites readers to deepen their understanding of the female cycle as something good, meaningful, and divinely designed.

Together, Amy, Emily, and Christina explore what comprehensive NFP education can look like for the whole Church—children, teens, young adults, engaged couples, married couples, and even those in religious life. They also reflect on their personal journeys as educators and women of faith navigating the call to live and teach the Church’s vision of fertility with truth, beauty, and love.

Whether you're a parent, a catechist, a curious Catholic, or someone simply wanting to better understand your body and God’s plan for it, this episode will inspire and encourage you.

Resources:

Website: pearlandthistle.com

Instagram: instagram.com/pearlandthistle/

Book Information: pearlandthistle.com/language-of-your-body/

Monthly general newsletter: https://pearlandthistle.kit.com/6bc9755a22

Weekly "Body Lit Library" newsletter: https://pearlandthistle.kit.com/f58b4e8db0

Book links:

https://pearlandthistle.com/language-of-your-body/

https://pearlandthistle.com/cycle-charting-for-girls/

https://pearlandthistle.com/cycle-charting-for-single-women/

All courses:

https://pearlandthistle.podia.com/a/zjhqb

For NFP instructors and cycle educators:

https://pearlandthistle.com/for-educators/

Just the Charts:

https://pearlandthistle.podia.com/printable-teen-charting-pdfs/zjhqb

Quick Guide: Basic Cycle Changes During Perimenopause:

https://pearlandthistle.podia.com/perimenopause-basics/zjhqb

Mother-Daughter Prep Package:

https://pearlandthistle.podia.com/mother-daughter-prep-package/zjhqb

Cycle Prep: First Period Course for Girls:

https://pearlandthistle.podia.com/cycle-prep-first-period-course-for-girls/zjhqb

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