The NFP Podcast

The baby has arrived. Everyone asks how the baby is doing. But who is asking about you? This week on The NFP Podcast, hosts Amylynn Smith and Emily Appeldorn welcome back Dr. Monica Minjeur, board-certified family medicine physician and founder of Radiant Clinic, for an honest, practical conversation about postpartum recovery. Together, they explore why recovery extends beyond the six-week checkup, how changing hormones and interrupted sleep can affect a mother’s well-being, and why nourishment, realistic expectations, and practical support matter. Amylynn and Emily share their own postpartum experiences, including recognizing when they needed help and what they learned fo...

What if the symptoms you’ve learned to live with are worth a closer look? This week on ⁨@thenfppodcast⁩ , Emily sits down with Rita Johnson, a Creighton FertilityCare practitioner, nutritional therapy practitioner, and host of the Health and Hormones podcast, to explore the connections between gut health, hormones, and caring for the whole woman. Rita shares her personal journey through nearly five years of secondary infertility, persistent digestive symptoms, and a search for support that honored her Catholic faith. She reflects on how that experience shaped her work helping women better understand their bodies—and why she encourages women to ask deep...

What happens when a secret carried for years becomes a doorway to healing? As we continue our “Life Is a Gift” series, Amylynn and Emily welcome Vicky, a wife and mother who shares her deeply personal experience of abortion, the shame she carried in silence, and her journey toward God’s mercy. With honesty and courage, Vicky reflects on the fear that shaped her decision, the effects on her marriage and family, and the healing she and her husband experienced together through a Rachel’s Vineyard retreat. She shares how returning to the Catholic faith, receiving the sacraments, and encountering compassi...

What does it mean to have a good death? In this episode of The NFP Podcast, Amylynn and Emily continue their conversation about the sacredness of human life from conception to natural death with Sheila Pursell, Director of the Northwest Arkansas Respect Life Council and a longtime advocate for the dignity of human life. Sheila invites us to consider an aspect of family planning we don't often talk about: planning for the end of life. What does the Catholic Church actually teach about end-of-life care? When is medical treatment morally required—and when can we allow the natural process of dy...

What happens when you do everything “right”—learn NFP, seek restorative reproductive care, pursue answers, pray faithfully—and the baby you long for still doesn’t come? In this deeply honest episode of The NFP Podcast, Emily and Amylynn sit down with Paula Gallagher, founder of Catholic Infertility Coaching, to talk about the physical, emotional, marital, and spiritual realities of infertility. Paula shares her own journey through more than a decade of primary infertility: learning to chart with the Creighton Model, receiving diagnoses including endometriosis and hormonal concerns, undergoing surgery and years of treatment, and eventually confronting the painful reality that medic...

What does it really mean to believe that every human life is sacred—from the moment of conception until the moment of natural death? In this episode of The NFP Podcast, Amy and Emily welcome back Fr. Jason Tyler, bioethicist for the Diocese of Little Rock, for a conversation about the dignity of human life at its very beginning, at its end, and throughout every moment in between. Beginning with the Incarnation, Fr. Tyler explores why the Church places such profound importance on the moment of conception and how Catholic theology and human biology help us understand the beginning of a...

What happens when you and your spouse have prayerfully discerned that now is not the time to welcome another child—but then the fertile window arrives, desire increases, and suddenly that decision doesn't seem so certain? Is this a genuine invitation from God to reconsider, or are we allowing the desires of the moment to override a decision made in prayer and peace? In this candid episode of The NFP Podcast, Amylynn and Emily explore one of the more challenging aspects of Natural Family Planning: honoring discernment when practicing self-mastery requires sacrifice. Drawing on Catholic teaching, Ignatian principles of discernment, an...

In this special episode of The NFP Podcast, Emily and Amylynn sit down with Lauren, Mary-Grace, and Claire, the three oldest daughters of the Gramlich family, for an honest conversation about what it was like to grow up in a home where menstrual cycles, fertility, and women's health were talked about openly. Their mother began these conversations when they were young, answering questions honestly and eventually teaching her daughters how to chart their cycles. What began as simple lessons about their changing bodies became something much deeper: a lifelong understanding of their health, femininity, fertility, and dignity. The sisters share...

What if infertility isn't really "unexplained"? In this episode of The NFP Podcast, Emily welcomes Naomi Davis, Creighton Model FertilityCare Practitioner, NaProTECHNOLOGY Medical Consultant, and co-creator of The Fertile Hive, a new online community designed to support women and couples navigating infertility through restorative reproductive medicine. Naomi shares her own journey with irregular cycles and PCOS, how she discovered NaProTECHNOLOGY, and why she is passionate about helping women uncover the root causes of infertility instead of simply managing symptoms or being told their only option is IVF. Together, Emily and Naomi discuss: Why so many cases labeled "unexplained infertility" actually...

How effective is Natural Family Planning—and why do some couples experience unexpected pregnancies despite faithfully following their method? In this thought-provoking episode of The NFP Podcast, Amy and Emily welcome Allison Dreher—former Billings Ovulation Method instructor, international speaker, fertility awareness advocate, and women's health educator—for an honest conversation about one of the most important (and often least discussed) topics in the NFP community. Together, they explore the science behind cervical fluid, why it is one of the body's most valuable biomarkers of fertility, and how understanding the body's natural signs can empower women to better understand their reprod...

How do faithful parents prepare their children to navigate today's confusion surrounding identity, sexuality, and relationships without fear? In this powerful episode of The NFP Podcast, Amy and Emily welcome Dr. Anna Samuel—academic director of CanaVox, former executive director of the Witherspoon Institute, and co-author of Courageous Conversations: Tips for Talking to Your Kids About Sexual Identity and Attraction. Together they explore why conversations about sexuality are uniquely challenging in today's culture, why parents must be the first and most trusted voices in their children's lives, and how mothers and fathers can confidently lead their families with both truth an...

How accurately can an at-home fertility monitor actually tell you when you're ovulating? In this episode of The NFP Podcast, Amy sits down with Dr. Thomas Bouchard, family physician, clinical assistant professor at the University of Calgary, and researcher in menstrual cycle monitoring, to unpack his newly published research validating the Mira fertility monitor against ultrasound-confirmed ovulation and serum hormone measurements. Dr. Bouchard takes us behind the scenes of the study, which followed regularly cycling women through intensive hormone testing, bloodwork, and follicular ultrasounds. The result is a fascinating look at what is actually happening inside the body when our...

Egg freezing is increasingly promoted as a way for women to take control of their reproductive futures—but does freezing your eggs really preserve your fertility? In this episode of The NFP Podcast, Amy welcomes back Dr. Phil Boyle, founder of NeoFertility and a longtime physician in restorative reproductive medicine, for a thought-provoking conversation about egg freezing, fertility preservation, and the realities of female reproductive aging. Dr. Boyle explains what actually happens during the egg-freezing process—from ovarian hyperstimulation and egg retrieval to freezing, thawing, fertilization, and ultimately IVF. He also discusses an important distinction that can easily get lost in c...

How well do fertility monitors really work during the postpartum period? In this episode of The NFP Podcast, Amy welcomes back Anne-Marie Williams, host of the Postpartum on Purpose podcast and longtime writer for Natural Womanhood, for an honest and thought-provoking discussion about her experience using the Mira Monitor with the Marquette Method after the birth of her fifth child. Anne-Marie shares why she initially believed the Mira Monitor would provide clear answers about her fertility—and what surprised her most once she began using it. Together, Amy and Anne-Marie explore the strengths of hormone-monitor technology, the challenges unique to po...

How should Catholics navigate some of the most difficult ethical questions surrounding marriage, family planning, infertility, and sexuality? In this episode of The NFP Podcast, Amy and Emily are joined by Fr. Tad Pacholczyk, Senior Ethicist at the National Catholic Bioethics Center, for an honest and compassionate conversation about the Church's moral teaching on some of the questions couples wrestle with most. Drawing from his background in neuroscience, priestly ministry, and more than two decades of bioethics work, Fr. Tad explains not only what the Church teaches—but why those teachings are rooted in the dignity of the human person an...

Parents are the primary educators of their children—but how do we actually prepare for the conversations that matter most? In this special episode, Amy and Emily introduce an exciting new project they've developed alongside psychologist Dr. Julia Sadusky: The Courageous Parent, a 12-week virtual small-group experience designed to equip Catholic parents to confidently discuss sexuality, relationships, puberty, pornography, boundaries, and God's beautiful design for the human person with their children. Building upon Dr. Sadusky's outstanding course, Talking with Your Teen About Sex: A Practical Guide for Catholics, this new small-group experience combines expert instruction with authentic community. Each week, pa...

How do faithful Catholic parents talk to their children about human sexuality with confidence, clarity, and hope? In this episode of The NFP Podcast, hosts Amy Smith and Emily Apeldoorn welcome back licensed psychologist, author, and speaker Dr. Julia Sadusky to discuss her brand-new Talking to Teens Course—a practical, faith-filled resource designed to equip parents to become the primary educators of their children in matters of sexuality. Drawing from years of clinical experience working with individuals, couples, and families, Dr. Sadusky explains why the most important conversations begin long before "the talk." Together they walk through each of the co...

What happens when years of frustration with Natural Family Planning become the very thing that leads you to teach it? In this episode of The NFP Podcast, hosts Amylynn and Emily welcome Nichole Ussery—registered nurse, certified FEMM instructor, and Fiat Hormone Coach—to share her deeply personal journey through miscarriage, postpartum family life, perimenopause, and ultimately discovering the beauty of fertility awareness. Nichole shares how her experiences with hormonal health challenges, pregnancy loss, and navigating different NFP methods transformed her perspective on women's health. Together, they discuss the importance of treating the root cause—not just symptoms—why ovulation is a vit...

This week on The NFP Podcast, hosts Amylynn and Emily welcome one of the most influential figures in modern Natural Family Planning, Dr. Richard Fehring. As the developer of the Marquette Method, Professor Emeritus at Marquette University, and one of the world's most highly cited fertility researchers, Dr. Fehring has spent decades advancing the science of fertility awareness while remaining deeply rooted in the Catholic understanding of marriage and human sexuality. Together they discuss: Dr. Fehring's remarkable journey into nursing and Natural Family Planning How the Marquette Method was developed and why it is unique What makes a high-quality NFP...

How can Catholic parents faithfully prepare their children—not just spiritually, but financially? In this special episode of The NFP Podcast, Amylynn welcomes her husband, Dr. Joey Smith, finance professor at Washington and Lee University, for a practical conversation on raising financially responsible children. Together they explore how good stewardship is an important part of responsible parenthood and how small decisions today can make a lasting impact on your children's future. Joey shares simple, practical strategies for teaching children about saving, investing, generosity, and delayed gratification. He also explains powerful financial tools available to families—including 529 College Savings Plans, Custodial Roth...

What if NFP Awareness Week isn't just about learning Natural Family Planning—but about allowing God to reveal something new in your own heart? In this special NFP Awareness Week episode, Amylynn and Emily reflect on what it truly means to become aware. Whether you're hearing the Church's teaching for the first time, have practiced NFP for years, or are carrying wounds from your past, this conversation is an invitation to let God gently lead you toward greater healing, freedom, and trust. Together they discuss the role of awareness, contrition, and conversion in the Christian life, why God is patient wi...

What happens when two childhood friends grow up, fall in love, and continue saying "yes" to God through every season of marriage? In this heartfelt episode of The NFP Podcast, Amylynn and Emily sit down with Chris and Stephanie to share a remarkable story of faith, discernment, and God's providence. From meeting in elementary school and reconnecting in college to discovering the beauty of Theology of the Body and Natural Family Planning, their journey has been one of continual trust in God's plan. Together they discuss what it's been like to navigate marriage, difficult pregnancies, raising four children (with a...

BONUS CONTENT: NFP Awareness Week 2026 What does it really mean for a Catholic couple to be open to life? Does being open to life mean having as many children as possible? And is it ever okay to say your family is "complete"? In this listener-requested episode, Amylynn and Emily unpack one of the most misunderstood teachings of the Catholic Church. They explore the difference between having an "I'm done" mentality and prayerfully discerning that your family may be complete while remaining open to God's will. Together they discuss: The Church's teaching on responsible parenthood Why openness to life is an...

As fertility technology continues to advance, Catholic couples and Natural Family Planning instructors are being faced with important new questions. Can Catholics morally use fertility monitors developed by companies whose values don't align with Church teaching? How should NFP instructors navigate affiliate relationships, product recommendations, and emerging reproductive technologies? Where should we draw the line? In this thought-provoking episode of The NFP Podcast, Emily and Amylynn welcome back Louise Boychuk, President of the Marquette Method Professional Association, along with veteran Marquette instructor Sara Flood, to discuss the ethical challenges surrounding modern fertility technology ("FemTech") and Natural Family Planning. Drawing from...

In this episode of The NFP Podcast, Amy and Emily welcome Louise Boychuk, registered nurse, certified Marquette Method instructor, author, and director of Vitae Fertility, for an honest and thought-provoking conversation about natural family planning, fertility awareness, and accompanying couples through every season of marriage. Louise shares her deeply personal journey into the world of NFP—from unexpected pregnancies and heartbreaking pregnancy loss to discovering the Marquette Method and eventually helping thousands of couples navigate their own fertility journeys. Her story is one of faith, perseverance, and allowing God to transform difficult experiences into a ministry of hope. Together, Amy, Em...

In this special episode of The NFP Podcast, hosts Emily and Amy conclude their journey through the Catechism of the Catholic Church on the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony by reading and discussing the final sections on the goods and requirements of conjugal love and the domestic church. What does authentic conjugal love look like? Why does the Church describe marriage as faithful, fruitful, and total? And what does it mean for the family to become a "domestic church"? As they reflect on these beautiful concluding passages of the Catechism, Emily and Amy explore God's vision for marriage as a lifelong...

In Episode 109 of The NFP Podcast, hosts Amy and Emily continue their journey through the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Church's rich teaching on the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. In this episode, they read and discuss the section on the effects of the sacrament, exploring the unique graces God pours out upon married couples. What does the sacrament of marriage actually do? How does God strengthen husbands and wives through sacramental grace? And how does marriage help spouses grow in holiness and prepare one another for heaven? As they unpack these beautiful teachings from the Catechism, Amy and...

In Episode 108 of The NFP Podcast, hosts Amy and Emily continue their journey through the Catechism of the Catholic Church as they explore the Church's beautiful teaching on Matrimonial Consent (CCC 1625–1632). What does it mean to freely give yourself to another person for life? Why is consent at the very heart of the Sacrament of Matrimony? And what conditions must be present for a valid Catholic marriage? As they read and discuss these important paragraphs from the Catechism, Amy and Emily also share personal stories from their own childhoods, reflecting on the challenges and blessings of growing up in homes wh...

In this episode of The NFP Podcast, Amy and Emily continue their journey through the Catechism of the Catholic Church as they explore the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. Together, they read and discuss the Church's teachings on virginity for the sake of the Kingdom and the celebration of marriage, reflecting on the unique and complementary vocations to marriage and consecrated life. What does it mean to freely renounce marriage for the sake of Christ and His Kingdom? How does the witness of consecrated virginity illuminate the beauty and purpose of Christian marriage? Amy and Emily unpack these profound teachings while...

In this episode of The NFP Podcast, hosts Amy and Emily continue their journey through the Catechism of the Catholic Church as they explore the beautiful and challenging teachings on the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. They unpack what it means for Christian marriage to be elevated by Christ into a sacrament and a path to holiness. Drawing from the wisdom of the Catechism, Amy and Emily discuss how the grace of the sacrament strengthens husbands and wives to love as Christ loves the Church—faithfully, sacrificially, and fruitfully. They also reflect on the Church's teaching that marriage is a lifelong co...

In this episode of The NFP Podcast, hosts Amy and Emily begin a new series walking through the Church’s teaching on the Sacrament of Matrimony by reading and discussing paragraphs 1601–1608 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Together, they reflect on the Church’s definition of marriage as a covenant by which a man and a woman establish a partnership of the whole of life, ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of children. Amy and Emily unpack how marriage was written into God’s plan from the very beginning, rooted in creation itself, and elev...

In this insightful episode of The NFP Podcast, hosts Amylynn and Emily sit down with Fr. Kyle O'Connor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church to discuss the beautiful and intentional process of preparing couples for the Sacrament of Matrimony in the Catholic Church. Fr. Kyle shares what makes Catholic marriage preparation so unique, from the initial conversations with engaged couples to the spiritual, relational, and practical steps designed to help them build a strong foundation for a lifelong covenant. Amylynn and Emily also explore the Church’s wisdom in guiding couples through topics such as communication, prayer, fertility aw...

In this episode of The NFP Podcast, host Amy sits down with Dr. Marguerite Duane for a rich and inspiring conversation on women’s health, fertility awareness, and the beauty of understanding the female body. As co-founder and Executive Director of FACTS about Fertility, Dr. Duane has dedicated her career to educating medical professionals and families on the science supporting fertility awareness-based methods (FABMs) and restorative reproductive medicine (RRM). Amy and Dr. Duane discuss the inaugural HHS Women’s Health Conference, the growing national conversation surrounding women’s healthcare, and the exciting initiatives currently underway through FACTS. Together they explore how fe...

In Part 2 of this important and heartfelt conversation, Amy and Emily continue their discussion on infertility, IVF, and the deeper questions raised by the viral interview with Abbey Sharp and Kathryn Blaze Baum. Building on the foundation of Part 1, they move beyond analysis into a more personal and pastoral reflection—walking with listeners through the tension between deep longing and faithful discernment. Amy and Emily gently but clearly unpack the emotional and spiritual aftermath that can accompany the pursuit of IVF, sharing stories, patterns, and common struggles they’ve encountered in their work with women and couples. They address the ofte...

In this deeply honest and compassionate episode of The NFP Podcast, hosts Amy and Emily reflect on a recent viral interview featuring YouTube dietitian and influencer Abbey Sharp and author Kathryn Blaze Baum, who openly share their personal experiences with infertility and IVF. Amy and Emily begin by acknowledging the real and profound sorrow that accompanies infertility—a cross carried by many couples in silence. With empathy and care, they enter into the conversation, affirming the dignity of every person and the deep desire for motherhood that underlies these journeys. At the same time, they courageously speak truth about the mo...

In this milestone 100th episode of The NFP Podcast, hosts Amy and Emily take it back to the basics—revisiting the heart of Natural Family Planning and why it matters now more than ever. Whether you’re brand new to NFP or have been practicing for years, this episode offers a fresh, grounding perspective on the beauty and purpose behind it all. Amy and Emily walk through the different methods of NFP, breaking down how they work and who they serve, while also unpacking the richness of Church teaching on marriage, openness to life, and the dignity of the human pers...

In this episode of The NFP Podcast, hosts Amy and Emily sit down with Christina Valenzuela, owner and creative director of Pearl and Thistle, for a thoughtful and much-needed conversation on forming young men in the truth and beauty of the human body. Together, they explore Christina’s newest resource, Understanding the Menstrual Cycle: A Guide for Catholic Boys, a unique and engaging PDF e-book designed to help boys better understand the dignity, purpose, and design of the female body. Christina shares the inspiration behind the project, walks through the content of the guide, and explains why it’s so impo...

In today’s episode of The NFP Podcast, hosts Emily and Amy sit down with renowned naturopathic doctor and women’s health expert Dr. Lara Briden to explore the often-overlooked topic of adolescent cycle health. With nearly 30 years of clinical experience, Dr. Briden brings both scientific depth and practical wisdom to a conversation that every parent, young woman, and healthcare-minded listener needs to hear. As the bestselling author of Period Repair Manual, Hormone Repair Manual, and Metabolism Repair for Women, Dr. Briden shares what a healthy cycle should look like during the teenage years—and how to identify when something is off...

In this episode of The NFP Podcast, hosts Amy and Emily sit down with Dr. Teresa Hilgers of the Saint Paul VI Institute for a deep dive into endometriosis—one of the most misunderstood and often misdiagnosed conditions affecting women today. Dr. Hilgers brings clarity, compassion, and scientific expertise as she unpacks the root causes of endometriosis, common symptoms, and why so many women struggle to receive accurate diagnoses. She also explores the innovative approaches behind NaProTechnology and the Creighton Model FertilityCare System, explaining how these methods work with a woman’s natural cycle to both identify and treat underlying repr...

In this tender and powerful episode of The NFP Podcast, hosts Amy and Emily invite listeners into one of life’s most intimate and sacred moments as Amy shares the birth story of her fourth son, Moses. With honesty and heart, Amy recounts the journey of labor—the challenges, the intensity, and the moments that stretched her strength and surrender. She beautifully captures both the physical trials and the deep grace that carried her through. Surrounded by the quiet comfort of home and the joyful presence of her sons, Amy experienced a birth that was not only safe, but profoundly mean...