168 episodes

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

Letters to Women - Exploring the Feminine Genius Chloe Langr

    • Religion & Spirituality
    • 4.8 • 185 Ratings

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

    A Letter to the Mother Wondering about Foster Care and Adoption

    A Letter to the Mother Wondering about Foster Care and Adoption

    In this third episode of the Letters to Mothers series, Kimberly Henkel of Springs of Love joins me to discuss foster care and adoption.

    We’re talking about how Kimberly and her husband Greg discerned the call to foster care. We’re also busting myths around adoption that might be holding you back from discerning that call as a family, and both of us are sharing our experiences as adoptive mothers. 

    Whether you’re exploring the possibility of adoption or foster care, you’re already an adoptive or foster mother, or you’re wondering how to better support adoptive and foster families in your community, this letter is for you.

    Topics we cover:


    Kimberly’s story as a Catholic woman


    How Kimberly and Greg discerned the Lord’s call to foster care and adoption


    The origin story of Springs of Love, Kimberly and Greg’s ministry that encourages, educates, and equips Catholics to discern and live out the call to foster and adopt


    The differences between foster care and adoption


    Spiritual maternity and the adoption triad


    Kimberly’s advice to couples hesitant to discern foster care or adoption because of the cost


    Why open adoptions can be healthy for everyone involved in the adoption triad



    Resources for you:




    Find Springs of Love online


    Watch the Springs of Love video series


    Ten Myths about Adoption from the Springs of Love website


    Check out my monthly newsletter, Naptime Notes


    Discussion questions:




    Have you felt called by the Lord to discern growing your family through adoption or fostering children? What has that discernment looked like for you both as an individual and in your marriage?


    What myth surrounding adoption that Kimberly mentioned in the show is something you’ve believed to be true before?


    Romans 8:15 says that “You did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, through which we call ‘Abba, Father!’” How does reflecting on this theological reality of adoption in all of our lives as children of God through baptism impact the way you think about adoption and foster care?


    What are ways that you can accompany birth mothers and families in the adoption triad?


    Does your parish community support adoptive and foster families well? What are things you can do to encourage a culture of life for families who are called to foster or adopt?

    • 40 min
    A Letter to the Mother Discerning Family Size with Her Spouse // Grace Stark

    A Letter to the Mother Discerning Family Size with Her Spouse // Grace Stark

    In this second episode of the Letters to Mothers series, Grace Stark from Natural Womanhood joins me to discuss fertility awareness and motherhood.

    This is a conversation about authentic womens’ healthcare, how to grow in an appreciation of your fertility as a gift, and discerning the size of family that the Lord wants to build with and for you—and what to do if you’re not on the same page as your spouse in that discernment.

    We also talk about what it means to be mothers to daughters, and how the conversations we have from a very young age shape the way our daughters see their bodies. 

    If you’re ready to get to know and appreciate your cycle and fertility this letter is for you.


    Topics we cover:


    Grace’s story as a Catholic woman


    The origin story of Natural Womanhood and their mission to help women work with their body, not against it


    What authentic women’s healthcare looks like and how we can grow as women in accepting our fertility as a gift


    What the Catholic Church teaches about using Natural Family Planning and family size


    Grace’s advice for couples in seasons of discerning adding another child to their family


    What to do when you’re not on the same page as your spouse about having more children


    How Natural Womanhood is helping mothers of pre-teen girls learn about ther bodies, cycles, and fertility


    How Shelby lives out the feminine genius as a mother



    Resources for you:


    Discover Natural Womanhood online


    Natural Womanhood podcast


    Charting Towards Intimacy podcast hosted by Ellen Holloway


    Check out the sponsor for today’s episode, Interior Kingdom! Use the code LTW15 for 15% off the full Interior Kingdom program.


    Check out my monthly newsletter, Naptime Notes



    Discussion questions:


    Have you ever felt angry or ashamed of your cycle as a woman? What were some messages that you received about your body as a girl, especially around your fertility and cycles?


    Do you feel pressure to have a certain number of kids as a Catholic woman? Or for your family to look a certain way? What are some ways you can grow in confidence about how the Lord is calling you specifically to mother?


    Are you and your spouse of one heart and mind when it comes to having children? What advice that Grace shared in this episode about discerning a family with your spouse struck you?


    If you’re a mother to a daughter, how have you approached conversations with her about fertility and puberty? Are there things you want to change about how you talk about those subjects after listening to this episode?


    What dreams do you have for your family and your motherhood? How can embracing your fertility as a gift impact those dreams?

    • 37 min
    A Letter to the Mother Who Has a Love/Hate Relationship with Her Postpartum Body // Shelby Hirschman

    A Letter to the Mother Who Has a Love/Hate Relationship with Her Postpartum Body // Shelby Hirschman

    In this first episode of the Letters to Mothers season we’re talking about a topic that so many of us are familiar with—body image. It’s a topic we’ve talked about on the show, but I wanted to revisit it with a specific focus on that experience as mothers.

    Joining me on the show today is Shelby Hirschman. She’s a nutrition therapist who specializes in intuitive eating, body acceptance, and recovery from chronic dieting and disordered eating.

    We’re talking about postpartum discomfort, the societal pressure to “bounce back” and why that isn’t helpful for us as women, and some actual practical behaviors and tools to put into place that I think can be a huge help. 

    If you’ve ever looked in the mirror and felt frustrated, uncomfortable, disappointed, or unattractive, this letter is for you.


    Topics we cover:


    Why so many of us feel at war with our bodies as mothers


    Defining the postpartum season


    The pressure women feel to “get their body back” or “bounce back” after giving birth


    What body checking is and why (and how!) to reduce that habit in your life


    Compassionate closets


    What is happening on a biological level to our bodies during the postpartum season


    How to prioritize consistent and adequate nutrition


    Habits to form in our lives as women during seasons of change to remind ourselves that our body is good


    How Shelby lives out the feminine genius as a mother




    Resources for you:


    Tune into Shelby and I’s first conversation on the Letters to Women podcast, A Letter to the Woman Struggling to Believe Her Body Is Unconditionally Good


    Visit Shelby’s website to learn about her work as a nutrition therapist


    Subscribe to Shelby’s substack, Good Body Notes


    Shop Good Body Nutrition on Etsy


    Learn more about Catholics Online, the sponsor for today’s episode


    Check out my monthly newsletter, Naptime Notes



    Discussion questions:



    Have you ever felt at war with your body? What are some moments you’ve noticed postpartum discomfort in your own story as a woman?


    In what ways has motherhood impacted the way that you view your body? Do you feel a tension between being in awe of what your body is capable of and discomfort or frustration with your postpartum body?


    As a mother, have you felt pressured to “bounce back” after giving birth? Where have you received those messages from and how have they impacted the way you view your body today? 


    Do the clothes in your closet honor the reality of your season of life? What would getting dressed in the morning look like if your closet had pieces in it that honored your postpartum experience as a mother?


    What are some practical ways you can begin to be more gentle and compassionate when it comes to the way you view and talk about your body as a mother? Make one resolution today to help you remember that your body is good. 

    • 37 min
    Introducing Letters to Mothers

    Introducing Letters to Mothers

    Letters to Women returns February 13th with a season dedicated to motherhood. Plus, Chloe shares her favorite part of Saint Pope John Paul II’s original Letter to Women and reveals a few other surprises. 

    Stay in touch and learn about upcoming episodes by signing up for the email list at naptimenotes.substack.com

    • 8 min
    A Letters to Women Update

    A Letters to Women Update

    A quick update about why there hasn't been a new episode of Letters to Women in your podcast feed lately ... and an announcement about the future of the podcast.

    • 5 min
    A Letter to the Woman Wondering How Theology of the Body Practically Applies to Her Life // Lillian Fallon

    A Letter to the Woman Wondering How Theology of the Body Practically Applies to Her Life // Lillian Fallon

    Should we care about what we wear? The short answer is “yes”—but don’t pull out your headphones just yet. There’s more to the conversation than that.

    What about style? What do you think of when you hear that word? Maybe the pages of fashion magazines or reruns of Project Runway flash through your mind. Or maybe you wonder if style should even be something you think about—how many of us have felt guilty after splurging on a gorgeous dress, wondering how a piece of fabric can capture our imagination and desire.

    We scold ourselves and say “I should bought something practical.” Or maybe you’ve even wondered if you’re vain if you care about how you look.

    But what if that pull towards certain items of clothing is actually a sign of being made in the image and likeness of God? What if instead of finding a new “cool,” “fancy,” or “stylish” wardrobe, or becoming a “new” version of ourselves, we focused on how we can grow in an understanding of how we were made? 

    In this episode, I’m sitting down with Lillian Fallon. She's a Catholic writer with a passion for helping women express their unrepeatability through style.

    Lillian and I are talking about living life as an affirmed woman and daughter of God, how wisdom from St. Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body relates to clothing, and how to dress in a way that expresses who we are. 

    If you’ve ever wondered if your love of style is incongruent with your Catholic faith, sister, this letter is for you. 

    Topics we talked about in this episode:


    Lillian’s story as a Catholic woman


    The origin story behind Lillian’s new book, Theology of Style: Expressing the Unique and Unrepeatable You


    How an epiphany moment in a Theology of the Body class gave Lillian the freedom to pursue her passion for style


    What Theology of Style is and how it can transform the way we see ourselves and God


    What an understanding of modesty informed by Theology of the Body looks like—and why it is so much more than the length of a skirt


    Living life as an affirmed person who is confident in her identity, gifts, and passions


    How Lillian lives out the feminine genius in her daily life



    Resources you should check out after listening to this episode:


    Pick up your copy of Theology of Style: Expressing the Unique and Unrepeatable You


    Saint Pope John Paul II’s Letter to Artists


    Check out Lillian’s website and connect with her on Instagram


    Check out the sponsor for today’s episode, CORDA, and use the code LETTERS to get 10% off your purchase at checkout


    Pick up a copy of the Letters to Women book (and use the code LETTERS at checkout to receive 15% off your purchase!)


    Check out my monthly newsletter, Naptime Notes



    Subscribe and Review Letters to Women in iTunes

    Are you subscribed to Letters to Women? If not, you should subscribe today! You don’t want to miss any of the upcoming episodes. Click here to subscribe in iTunes.

    • 34 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
185 Ratings

185 Ratings

Laila, Learning To Mom Podcast ,

Great podcast!

I always feel so encouraged and INSPIRED to live out the call of holiness when I listen to one of these episodes. Chloe does an amazing job deepening the conversation and making us all feel like we’re friends!

- Laila from the Learning To Mom Podcast

Cajun65 ,

I love this podcast!

Beautiful woman sharing and inspiring and loving other women right where they are. This is such a testament to women and men about the beauty that is in each of us because we are a reflection of the one, true God.

Rissaroo ,

Inspiring!

Found this podcast after receiving the book Created for Love. Im a new Catholic and newly engaged. I love finding this little gem and the inspiration that comes with it ❤️ Thank you Chloe!

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