Two Become Family with Renzo and Monica Ortega

Renzo and Monica Ortega
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  • CHRISTIANITY
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Renzo and Monica share stories, advice, and encouragement for everyday Catholics navigating the human side of a faith-filled marriage. They both bring a voice of joyful solidarity from their experience living in the trenches with a growing family. Their honesty and witness offer hope to couples who want to find confidence in their vocation to marriage through a candid and faithful discussion. Renzo and Monica Ortega are Catholic ministry leaders, podcast hosts, authors, and national speakers. Their latest title, Lovemaking: How to Talk about Sex with Your Spouse was published through Ave Maria Press. They host the popular marriage podcast Two Become Family and speak nationally for the St. John Paul II Foundation’s Together in Holiness conference series.   Their testimonies of faith, marriage, and parenting have been featured by the National Catholic Register, the Knights of Columbus, and Augustine Institute. They are coauthors of the children’s devotional Go to Joseph for Children, and Renzo is also the author of the men’s devotional Go to Joseph: 10 Day Preparation for Consecration to St. Joseph.

  1. 181. Lent - Missing the Mark

    6H AGO

    181. Lent - Missing the Mark

    This is part 3 of our Lenten series, where we’re walking with Catholic parents through the real struggles of family life during the season of repentance, mercy, and renewal. Parenting often feels like a daily examination of conscience. We lose our temper. We forget a commitment. We say the wrong thing, again. Many Catholic parents quietly carry guilt and shame after these moments, fearing that repeated missteps mean they are failing their children or falling short of God’s call. In Missing the Mark, we explore failure, sin, and imperfection through a deeply Catholic lens. Lent reminds us that “missing the mark” is part of the human condition, but it is never the final word. Through humility, repentance, and grace, our failures become invitations to growth rather than sources of despair. If you’ve ever worried about being a “bad parent,” struggled with shame after losing patience, or wondered how holiness is possible in the chaos of family life, this episode is for you. We wrote a Catholic sex book! Check it out: Order LOVEMAKING!   Our other books Go To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. Joseph Go To Joseph For Children SUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATE Thank you all for your ongoing support. We love what we do and pray that it is a blessing to you and your families. If you are benefitting in some way from what we're doing read and subscribe to our Substack: https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/ Our Apostolate About Us Connect with us and send us a message on Instagram YouTube Channel Support the show

    32 min
  2. 180. Lent - Changing Our Aim

    FEB 24

    180. Lent - Changing Our Aim

    Why does parenting feel so overwhelming, even when we’re trying to do everything right? In this episode of Two Become Family, we explore how much of our stress, guilt, and burnout as parents comes from aiming at the wrong goal. When success is measured by calm children, good behavior, or having everything under control, everyday family life can quickly feel like failure. “Changing Our Aim” invites Catholic parents to rediscover the virtue of magnanimity, the call to live with a greatness of soul that aims beyond perfectionism and control. Rather than shrinking our expectations out of fear or comparison, magnanimity helps us set our sights on the true goal of parenting: forming hearts for love, virtue, and holiness. Through the lens of Lent, we talk honestly about missing the mark, feeling discouraged, and how re-aiming our hearts allows God’s grace to do the real work. This episode lays the foundation for the entire Lenten series by reframing parenting not as performance, but as participation in God’s slow, faithful work of transformation in family life. In this episode, we discuss: •Catholic parenting during Lent •What magnanimity really means for parents •Why control and perfection increase parental burnout •How changing your aim reduces guilt, shame, and comparison •Raising children with faith, hope, and trust in God Support the show

    27 min
  3. 179. Lent - Saying the Quiet Part Out Loud

    FEB 17

    179. Lent - Saying the Quiet Part Out Loud

    Parenting has a way of exposing our limits. The moments we lose our temper, feel overwhelmed by the noise, or realize we don’t have the patience we hoped we would can quickly turn into shame. In this episode, we begin our Lenten journey by reclaiming humility, not as self-condemnation, but as truth. Humility isn’t thinking less of yourself; it’s seeing yourself clearly and letting God meet you there. We talk honestly about why parenting feels so personal when we fall short, why our culture equates control with competence, and how humility frees us from the pressure to be perfect. Drawing from real parent struggles, Catholic wisdom, and lived experience, this conversation reframes failure as the starting point of grace,not the end of the story. This episode sets the foundation for the entire series: Lent doesn’t ask parents to try harder, but to lower their defenses, tell the truth, and let God work in the middle of the mess. In this episode: Why feeling overwhelmed doesn’t make you a bad parentHow humility opens the door to grace instead of shameWhat Lent teaches us about letting go of controlHow honest self-assessment leads to freedom, not discouragementSupport the show

    27 min

  4. FEB 10

    178. 5 Things to Focus On During Marriage Prep

    Getting married is more than planning a wedding — it’s preparing for a lifelong vocation. In this episode, we walk engaged couples through the conversations and habits that build a strong, lasting marriage. From finances and family expectations to conflict resolution and shared life vision, we explore the practical and spiritual foundations every couple needs before saying “I do.” We also discuss how to recognize the difference between genuine discernment and emotional attachment, how to surface hidden concerns before they become future wounds, and why praying together is one of the most powerful ways to stay aligned. In this episode we cover: • The essential pre-marriage conversations • Building a shared vision for your future • Navigating disagreements in a healthy way • Recognizing red flags early • Money, family, and expectations • Creating a meaningful prayer life together Whether you’re newly engaged or seriously discerning marriage, this episode will help you prepare not just for a wedding day — but for a lifetime together. Support the show

    26 min
  5. 177. The Non-Expert Guide to living with PCOS

    FEB 3

    177. The Non-Expert Guide to living with PCOS

    Living with PCOS can feel overwhelming, confusing, and deeply isolating, especially when you’re told to “just lose weight” or given unclear answers about fertility and hormones. In this video, I share the non-expert guide to living with PCOS, from personal experience, research, and walking this journey alongside my spouse. This is not medical advice, but an honest breakdown of what PCOS looks like in everyday life, how it affects marriage and fertility, and what helped us move forward. In this video, you’ll learn:  • My personal struggle with PCOS and the emotional toll it took  • What PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) is and how it shows up in daily life  • How PCOS is diagnosed and why it’s often missed or delayed  • Why PCOS affects weight gain and weight loss differently  • How PCOS impacts marriage, intimacy, and fertility  • How couples can navigate PCOS together instead of letting it create distance  • Why finding a NaPro / restorative reproductive doctor changed everything  • What to do next if you’ve been diagnosed with PCOS If you’ve ever wondered:  • “Why is my body not responding like it should?”  • “Is infertility inevitable with PCOS?”  • “How do we stay united as a couple through this?”  • “What happens after the diagnosis?” This video is for you. Support the show

    24 min
  6. 176. Is Marrying Young A Bad Idea? The 5 Questions Every Young Couple Faces

    JAN 27

    176. Is Marrying Young A Bad Idea? The 5 Questions Every Young Couple Faces

    Is marrying young too soon? In this honest conversation, we tackle the 5 core questions every couple faces before tying the knot — from emotional readiness to financial responsibilities and future growth as individuals and partners. Whether you’re in a serious relationship or thinking about the future, this video helps you feel less alone in making such a big decision. 💍 🔥 What we cover in this episode: Why this matters Are we emotionally mature enough? Should we wait to travel or build careers? What if our parents are right? What happens if we change in our 20s? Is it financially responsible to marry young? We wrote a Catholic sex book! Check it out: Order LOVEMAKING!   Our other books Go To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. Joseph Go To Joseph For Children SUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATE Thank you all for your ongoing support. We love what we do and pray that it is a blessing to you and your families. If you are benefitting in some way from what we're doing read and subscribe to our Substack: https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/ Our Apostolate About Us Connect with us and send us a message on Instagram YouTube Channel Support the show

    25 min
  7. 175. 5 Ways NFP Can Break Your Marriage (And How to Fix It)

    JAN 20

    175. 5 Ways NFP Can Break Your Marriage (And How to Fix It)

    Can Natural Family Planning actually damage a marriage? Many couples quietly struggle with NFP — feeling disconnected, frustrated, or even resentful — and wonder if something is wrong with them, their marriage, or the Church’s teaching. In this episode, we respond honestly and pastorally to five of the most common objections to Natural Family Planning and offer practical guidance for couples who want unity, intimacy, and peace — not pressure or guilt. In this episode, we cover: 1️⃣ “Feeling that NFP doesn’t really work — it’s too complicated or unreliable.” 2️⃣ The emotional and sexual strain caused by long abstinence periods. 3️⃣ What to do when spouses disagree on when or why to use NFP. 4️⃣ Is NFP basically the same as contraception? 5️⃣ How to navigate marriage when one spouse struggles to accept NFP. Rather than defending NFP with theory alone, we focus on how NFP is lived inside real marriages — including communication, sacrifice, desire, resentment, and love. This conversation is especially for couples who feel exhausted by oversimplified answers and want something deeper, more human, and more faithful. If you’re asking:  • Why does NFP feel so hard in our marriage?  • Is abstinence damaging our intimacy?  • Are we using NFP for the right reasons?  • How do we stay united when we disagree? — this episode is for you. We wrote a Catholic sex book! Check it out: Order LOVEMAKING!   Our other books Go To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. Joseph Go To Joseph For Children SUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATE Thank you all for your ongoing support. We love what we do and pray that it is a blessing to you and your families. If you are benefitting in some way from what we're doing read and subscribe to our Substack: https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/ Our Apostolate About Us Connect with us and send us a message on Instagram YouTube Channel Support the show

    27 min
  8. 174. Husbands Don’t Need Sex… But Does Your Marriage?

    JAN 13

    174. Husbands Don’t Need Sex… But Does Your Marriage?

    What does every married couple need to understand about sex—especially when conversations online say things like “men don’t need sex”? In this episode, we unpack 5 essential truths about sex in marriage that are often misunderstood, oversimplified, or argued about without enough clarity. While it’s true that no one needs sex to physically survive, reducing sexual intimacy to something optional—or purely personal—can quietly damage a marriage over time. We explore why sexual desire isn’t just about pleasure, release, or pressure, but about desiring the spouse as a whole person. We also address the real fears many people carry into conversations about sex—fear of being used, objectified, or reduced to a body—and why those fears are sometimes justified and sometimes misplaced. Most importantly, we present a vision of marital sexuality that’s bigger than both obligation and autonomy. When rightly understood, male sexual desire can reflect Christ’s self-giving love and pursuit of His Church, transforming sex from a battleground into a place of unity, trust, and mutual gift. In this episode, we cover:  • Why men don’t need sex to survive—but marriages do need sexual intimacy  • How sexual desire goes beyond pleasure and points toward the spouse as a person  • Why the phrase “men don’t need sex” can confuse the lived experience of male sexuality  • How fear of being used or objectified shapes misunderstandings about sex  • How male desire, properly ordered, can mirror Christ’s love for His Church We wrote a Catholic sex book! Check it out: Order LOVEMAKING!   Our other books Go To Joseph: 10 Day Consecration to St. Joseph Go To Joseph For Children SUPPORT OUR APOSTOLATE Thank you all for your ongoing support. We love what we do and pray that it is a blessing to you and your families. If you are benefitting in some way from what we're doing read and subscribe to our Substack: https://twobecomefamily.substack.com/ Our Apostolate About Us Connect with us and send us a message on Instagram YouTube Channel Support the show

    25 min
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5
out of 5
163 Ratings

About

Renzo and Monica share stories, advice, and encouragement for everyday Catholics navigating the human side of a faith-filled marriage. They both bring a voice of joyful solidarity from their experience living in the trenches with a growing family. Their honesty and witness offer hope to couples who want to find confidence in their vocation to marriage through a candid and faithful discussion. Renzo and Monica Ortega are Catholic ministry leaders, podcast hosts, authors, and national speakers. Their latest title, Lovemaking: How to Talk about Sex with Your Spouse was published through Ave Maria Press. They host the popular marriage podcast Two Become Family and speak nationally for the St. John Paul II Foundation’s Together in Holiness conference series.   Their testimonies of faith, marriage, and parenting have been featured by the National Catholic Register, the Knights of Columbus, and Augustine Institute. They are coauthors of the children’s devotional Go to Joseph for Children, and Renzo is also the author of the men’s devotional Go to Joseph: 10 Day Preparation for Consecration to St. Joseph.

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