Letters to Women - Exploring the Feminine Genius

Chloe Langr
  • 4.8 (186)
  • CHRISTIANITY

Join Chloe Langr as she explores how Catholic women embrace their unique feminine genius in their ordinary, daily life.

  1. The Last Letter to Women

    02/06/2025

    The Last Letter to Women

    This is the last episode of the Letters to Women podcast — what an honor to journey with you over the past eight years! Listen to discover why I’m hanging up the podcast mic and what’s next for you as you explore the feminine genius in your ordinary, daily life. Resources for you: Listen to A Drink with a Friend, hosted by Tsh Oxenreider Listen to Visitation Sessions, hosted by Emily and Chris Chapman as well as Kate and Casey Stapleton Listen to Charting Towards Intimacy hosted by Ellen Hollaway Browse close to 200 episodes in the Letters to Women archive Send me an email! Letterstowomen@gmail.com Subscribe to Naptime Notes, my monthly newsletter over on Substack

    10 min
  2. A Letter to the Daughter Befriending Her Inner Child // Brya Hanan

    01/20/2025

    A Letter to the Daughter Befriending Her Inner Child // Brya Hanan

    My guest today in this final episode of the Letters to Daughters season is Brya Hanan. She’s a wife, mother, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Life Coach, and fellow pilgrim on the healing journey. Brya brings her Catholic tradition, professional and personal insights, and understanding of trauma to offer accompaniment and tools for interior integration and wholeness. She weaves together Church teaching, Psychology, and Inner Child work and hopes to provide encouragement through children and non-fiction books, her personal blog, and webinars to help people live a fulfilling and authentic life. In this conversation, we’re talking about Brya’s own healing journey, who our inner child is, how to embrace them, and how this approach to healing is integrated and Catholic. If you're longing for healing, deeper self-awareness in your identity as daughter, or a closer relationship with God as Father, sister, this episode is for you. Topics we cover: Brya’s story as a Catholic woman The story behind Brya’s new book, Befriending your Inner Child: A Catholic Approach to Healing and Wholeness Brya’s advice for listeners who have no idea what it means to befriend their inner child and no longer try to erase or abandon themselves How learning about attachment styles impacts the way that we claim the reality of being made in the image of God Brya’s ADULT acronym and how it can help us rise above wounds and fractures in our lives How we can be better tuned into the sensations of our body and how that attunement can bring healing What attunement is and why it’s so important when it comes to befriending our inner child How Brya lives out the feminine genius in her ordinary, daily life as a daughter of God Resources for you: ⁠Pick up a copy of Brya’s new book, Befriending your Inner Child: A Catholic Approach to Healing and Wholeness⁠ ⁠Follow Brya on Instagram⁠ ⁠Check out Brya’s website ⁠ ⁠Subscribe to Naptime Notes and get early, ad free access to all the Letters to Women episodes for just $5 a month⁠

    31 min
  3. A Letter to the Daughter Who Wants to Believe the Father Is Faithful

    12/30/2024

    A Letter to the Daughter Who Wants to Believe the Father Is Faithful

    My guest today is Meg Hunter-Kilmer. Meg has been on the podcast so many times -- sometimes sitting at my table, sometimes from someone else’s home, this time from her OWN home! I first met Meg ten years ago at a Kansas Catholic College Student Convention and her love for Christ and his Church is such a joy to witness. When I started putting together the shows for this Letters to Daughters season, I knew I wanted Meg back on the show to talk about what living her daughterhood looked like.  In this conversation, we’re talking about the saints, Meg’s recent trip to South Korea, what it’s like to write about the hard parts of saints stories so even the littlest can meet these Heavenly friends, and what it’s like for Meg to OWN a home after years of life as a hobo for Christ. If you're ready to embrace your identity as a beloved daughter of God and be inspired by the lives of the saints, sister, this letter is for you. Topics we cover: Meg’s new adventures as a homeowner in South Bend Why we should throw out perfectionism when it comes to hosting and how to embrace scruffy hospitality Meg’s recent pilgrimage to South Korea How Meg started writing about the lives of the saints, how she’s grown in friendship with them over the years, and how that heavenly friendship impacts how she views herself as a daughter of God The universality of the Catholic Church What it was like for Meg to adapt her saint book for older children into a six part series for little kids How Meg lives out the feminine genius in her ordinary, daily life as a daughter of God Resources for you: Pick up a copy of Meg’s new Saints Around the World for Little Ones Collection Follow Meg on Instagram Modern Saints by Ann Ball Subscribe to Naptime Notes and get early, ad free access to all the Letters to Women episodes for just $5 a month

    36 min
  4. A Letter to the Daughter Caring for Her Parents // Dr. Natalie King

    12/16/2024

    A Letter to the Daughter Caring for Her Parents // Dr. Natalie King

    My guest today is Dr. Natalie King. She’s a palliative care physician. Many of us are in a season where we are caregivers - maybe to a grandparent, a parent, another family member. But others of us are in a season where we can see that role of caregiver on the horizon Maybe you're noticing your parents health starting to decline, or you're seeing them make medical decisions and invite you into that process. But regardless of the season you find yourself today, for all of us, we either are caregivers, will be, or will receive care at some point in our life. This conversation on suffering, having hard conversations about hard decisions with those we love, and living out the feminine genius as a Catholic woman praying for a good death  is for each and every one of us. So, if you want to think through caregiving issues and align those big decisions for yourself and loved ones with the Catholic faith in a way that safeguards the sacred dignity of human life, sister, this letter is for you. Dr. King’s story as a Catholic woman The origin story of Dr. King’s new book, Intensive Caring: A Practical Handbook for Catholics about Serious Illness and End-of-Life Care What suffering looks like as Catholics and why a Catholic understanding of suffering stands at odds against a secular culture What palliative care is and how it differs from hospice care Dr. King’s advice for successful conversations about death and dying with parents who are navigating serious illness and end-of-life care decisions How Catholics can advocate for themselves and their loved ones to ensure that they’re getting care that is respectful of their dignity What a good death is and how we can prepare for it How Dr. King lives out the feminine genius in her daily life as a daughter of God Pick up a copy of Dr. King’s new book, Intensive Caring: A Practical Handbook for Catholics about Serious Illness and End-of-Life Care Connect with Dr. King online Read an article talking about the benefits of palliative care support Example guide to help conversations with loved ones about health care from The Conversation Project Five Wishes Compilation of states with Catholic versions of advance directive forms (even if your state doesn’t have one, you can use other states as examples!) A beautiful Church document from Saint Pope John Paul II on teaching A Church document teaching on palliative care Subscribe to Naptime Notes and get early, ad free access to all the Letters to Women episodes for just $5 a month

    32 min
  5. A Letter to the Daughter Learning to Be Little and Dependent on the Father // Heather Khym

    12/02/2024

    A Letter to the Daughter Learning to Be Little and Dependent on the Father // Heather Khym

    Welcome to the Letters to Daughters season! . I love the line from Saint Pope John Paul II’s original Letter to Women: “Thank you, women who are daughters and women who are sisters! Into the heart of the family, and then of all society, you bring the richness of your sensitivity, your intuitiveness, your generosity and fidelity.” This season, we’re exploring what living out the feminine genius in this vocation of daughter -- daughters to our Heavenly father as well as daughter within our human families.  My guest today is Heather Kym. For years, I’ve loved learning about the importance of story, identity, and healing from Heather. Whether that’s reading books she’s written or listening to her in conversation with friends over on the Abiding Together podcast, I’m so excited for this conversation to not only start of this new season of Letters to Daughters, but also to start off this liturgical season of Advent.  So, if you’re ready for encounter the Lord in a new way as we prepare for Christmas, sister, this letter is for you.  Topics we cover: Heather’s story as a Catholic woman and her story of living the paschal mystery of dying and rising A brand new Advent journal and meditation collection Heather wrote called Encountering Emmanuel How to recognize areas of self-reliance in our lives and what it looks like practically to open ourselves up to God’s life and power How Heather’s journey of healing has impacted the way she views God as Father and herself as His beloved daughter Heather’s advice for listeners who struggle in their relationship with Mary and have a desire to grow in relationship with her this Advent Why it’s crucial that we don’t miss sitting at the feet of Jesus this Advent and how to practically be with the Lord in this season How Heather lives out the feminine genius in her ordinary, daily life as a daughter of God Resources for you: Heather’s new Advent journal, Encountering Emmanuel The pause app that John Eldridge created to help you create a habit of coming into God’s presence throughout the day The Abiding Together podcast Visit Heather on Instagram Discussion questions: Jesus wants to come right now into every moment and situation you find yourself in. Where do you long for him to show up in your life this Advent? In what ways do you rely on yourself and reject the providence of the Father? Do you trust Him to provide everything you need? Heather mentioned the importance of becoming little and dependent in our relationship with the Lord. What is your first reaction to that statement? Would you describe yourself as little and dependent in your relationship with the Lord? What is your relationship with Mary like? Do you have a desire to grow in relationship with her this Advent? What is one practical way that you can make a plan to simply be with the Lord this Advent?

    26 min
  6. A Letter to the Wife Who Wants to Talk about More than Kids and Calendars on Date Night // Melissa Tablada

    10/28/2024

    A Letter to the Wife Who Wants to Talk about More than Kids and Calendars on Date Night // Melissa Tablada

    In this is the fourth and final episode in the Letters to Wives season, my guest is Melissa Grace Tablada. She’s a Catholic psychotherapist and fertility care practitioner. Throughout this Letters to Wives series, many of my guests have mentioned how marriage therapy radically changed their marriage for the better. Melissa and I are talking about what you should be looking for in a marriage therapist, the lies that keep you from therapy, and how to love your spouse in challenging seasons. But we’re also talking about connecting with your spouse while raising a family, how to make date nights intentional, and how to have good, quality conversations with your husband.  Whether you’re looking for a quality marriage therapist to help your marriage thrive or you want some tips for having a quality conversation on your next date night, sister, this letter is for you.  Topics we cover: Melissa’s story as a Catholic woman Why you shouldn’t wait for a crisis to consider marriage therapy How to go about choosing a good therapist for you and your marriage Some of the reasons that women and couples stay away from marriage therapy Bringing up your desire for marriage therapy with your spouse What to do if your spouse is hesitant to go to therapy with you Melissa’s advice for what to do if you’re feeling disconnected from your spouse while raising a family How to connect with your spouse on date night and Melissa’s surprising advice about how to get into deeper connection Why Melissa and her husband go on a marriage retreat every year and Melissa’s advice for going on a retreat with your spouse How Melissa lives out the feminine genius in her daily life as a wife Resources for you: Follow Melissa on Instagram Check out Melissa’s website Melissa’s (free!) 25 questions for better connections in your marriage 14 Day Marriage Connection Challenge (use the code LETTERS for 15% off!) Subscribe to Naptime Notes and get early, ad free access to all the Letters to Women episodes for just $5 a month Discussion questions: Have you been to marriage therapy? If yes, how has it impacted your marriage? If not, what are your thoughts on reaching out to a therapist after listening to this conversation with Melissa? Have you believed the lie that your marriage “isn’t that bad” or the lie that your marriage is “beyond saving”? How do you think the Lord desires to speak truth over your relationship and sacrament? Does your marriage have a support team? If not, what is the first step that you could take today to creating a community around your marriage to support and encourage you? What are three questions you can ask your spouse on a date night or as you connect at the end of the day that can facilitate connection?

    35 min
  7. A Letter to the Wife Wanting a Marriage That Lasts a Lifetime // Kathryn Whitaker

    10/15/2024

    A Letter to the Wife Wanting a Marriage That Lasts a Lifetime // Kathryn Whitaker

    In this third episode of the Letters to Wives season, my guest is Kathryn Whitaker. She’s been married to her husband, Scott, for almost thirty years. We’re talking about the advice she wishes she would go back and give herself, how hard seasons have impacted her marriage, and what she’s looking forward to in her marriage as her kids all grow up and leave the house.  She’s also giving her advice on how to disagree with your spouse in a way that still honors them and your marriage, as well as when and how to reach out to a good marriage therapist for help healing your marriage.  So, if you’re looking for advice and encouragement when it comes to building a marriage that not only lasts, but is truly joyful, life-giving, and authentic, sister, this letter is for you. Topics we cover: Kathryn’s story as a Catholic woman The advice Kathryn would give to herself at the beginning of her relationship How a 44 day NICU stay imploded Kathryn’s marriage and how she and Scott have found healing How to make time to connect with your spouse so you don’t wake up twenty years from now realizing you don’t know your spouse Knowing when you need the help of a marriage therapist and what to do if your spouse isn’t interested in therapy together Three ways to work through disagreements in a way that honors your spouse and your marriage together What Kathryn is looking forward to in this next season of her marriage as her kids head off to college How Kathryn lives out the feminine genius in her ordinary, daily life as a wife Resources for you: Check out Kathryn’s book, Live Big, Love Bigger Visit Kathryn’s website Listen to Kathryn’s radio show and NICU support podcast Follow Kathryn on Instagram Subscribe to Naptime Notes and get early, ad free access to all the Letters to Women episodes for just $5 a month Discussion questions: As you reflect on your own marriage, what are some things about your spouse, yourself, and your marriage that you’ve learned along the way? How can you make time to connect with your spouse if you’re in a busy season of life? When you disagree with your husband, do you handle the conflict in a way that honors your spouse and your marriage? If not, what changes can you make the next time an argument arises? What are you looking forward to in this current season of your marriage?

    34 min
  8. A Letter to the Wife Struggling to Believe Her Body is Fearfully and Wonderfully Made // Rebekah Olson

    09/30/2024

    A Letter to the Wife Struggling to Believe Her Body is Fearfully and Wonderfully Made // Rebekah Olson

    In this second episode of the Letters to Wives season, Rebekah Olson and I are talking about what it looks like to run a business with your spouse—and her business, Ginger and Peach, happens to be a model-free lingerie company that she started out of her one room bedroom apartment. Now she and her husband run a team of seamstresses all sewing from their homes in the US - and they partner with an ethical manufacturer in Nepal to bring fresh starts and fulfilled lives to women living in the margins. We’re talking about her company, her advice if you’re listening in and think that there’s no way you could ever be confident in lingerie, and she’s dismantling some of the lies that we believe about our bodies as wives.  So if you’ve a wife looking to ditch the comparison and embrace your true worth as wonderfully made and loved, this letter is for you. Topics we cover: Rebekah’s story as a woman and a wife The origin story of Ginger & Peach Lingerie How Rebekah honors the dignity and beauty of each woman by running a model-free lingerie company Why you don’t actually need lingerie to heal your body image or to have a great marriage - and what DOES bring healing in your heart Body image as one of the very first issues women face after the fall and how Jesus brings relationship and redemption How Rebekah’s husband, Andrew, spoke the truth over her desire to start a business and inspired her to become a lingerie designer The lies that we believe as women when it comes to our bodies and shame Resources for you: Explore Ginger & Peach collections on their website and use the code LETTERSTOWOMEN for 10% off any purchase Follow Ginger & Peach on Instagram Habits for a Sacred Home by Jennifer Pepito Subscribe to Naptime Notes and get early, ad free access to all the Letters to Women episodes for just $5 a month Discussion questions: Rebekah chose to have Ginger & Peach be a model free lingerie company to combat comparison. Do you struggle with comparing your body to other women around you (in real life and online)? What would it look like to live confidently as the woman God created you to be? You don’t need lingerie to heal your marriage, you need Jesus. What is one area of your marriage that you can invite the Lord into today? Rebekah shares about how Andrew spoke the truth about her gifts and helped point her towards the mission of Ginger & Peach. In your marriage, when has your husband spoken truth over you and revealed something about who you are to yourself? Do you believe that you are fearfully and wonderfully made? In what areas of your life have you believed the lies from the devil that say you are not loved, not good, and not created with purpose? Rebekah shared how she creates because she is made by God who is a creator. What are some ways you enjoy being creative — and if you can’t think of any, what creative pursuits could you make space for in your daily life?

    34 min
See All (183)

4.8
out of 5
186 Ratings

About

Join Chloe Langr as she explores how Catholic women embrace their unique feminine genius in their ordinary, daily life.

Information