The Total Whine Podcast

Episode 33: Work Life/ Mom Life 27.01.2024 43min

I share my four non-negotiables for balancing work and motherhood successfully. Here "successfully" is understood to mean "staying sane".

Episode 32: Sexual Pleasure, Word of the Year 20.01.2024 36min

Contrary to the order of the title, I discuss my Word of the Year first in today's episode, then I take a look at Pope Francis' latest comments about the goodness of sexual pleasure. Obviously, I listed the latter first because click bait. See more on Pope Francis' comments here.

Episode 31: Cussin' 14.01.2024 30min

Way back, someone asked whether cussing was a sin. Naturally, I thought it would make a great podcast episode. Mentioned in today's episode: Catholic Answers Article Father Mike Schmitz video

Episode 30: Tradwives, Nostalgia, and Happy Grandmas 06.01.2024 42min

Were our grandmothers happier? Were things in general better in the past? Should we adopt lifestyles or hobbies from days gone by to be happier or even holier? In today's episode, I answer these questions using lots of non-cuss words.

Episode 29: Nostalgia 29.12.2023 30min

An introspective look about where I started with Total Whine, where I am now, and where I hope to go. If you're new to the podcast, I recommend skipping this one in favor for one of my sex episodes first ;)

Episode 28: A Nuanced Look at Suffering 20.11.2023 47min

Suffering sucks, but it's part of life. Unhelpfully, most conversations talk about it in terms of needing to embrace it, smile through it, or avoid it like the plague. If none of those have worked for you, good news, there's another option. If you've ever wanted to have your pain taken away, or wondered why we suffer at all, this episode is for you.

Episode 27: The Supper of the Lamb with Emily Stimpson Chapman 02.11.2023 41min

Dream come true, I got to have a chat with Emily Stimpson Chapman about her new book, The Supper of the Lamb, a children's book about the mass adapted from Scott Hahn's The Lamb's Supper. It's an exquisite book that will capture your child's imagination, and probably yours too. Of course, I had to talk to Emily about motherhood as well, and she shared some wonderful words of wisdom on how to pass the faith on to kids, and to cultivate a rich prayer life in the chaos of motherhood. You can purchase the book at 10% off using code "Frase10" directly from the publisher St Paul Center: ⁠https://stpaulcenter.com/product/the-supper-of-the-lamb/⁠

Episode 26: Christina Valenzula and Charting for Single Women 19.10.2023 1h 3min

It's an absolute delight to bring you such a fun conversation with my dear friend, Christina Valenzuela, about her new book, Cycle Charting for Single Women. You can purchase the book here And be sure to follow Christina on Instagram @pearlandthistle Christina Valenzuela is the owner and creative director of Pearl & Thistle, LLC, where she offers a unique blend of theology and science to bring better body literacy to Catholic families and parishes. She has been a certified instructor in the Boston Cross Check™ method of Natural Family Planning since 2013 and her signature course, Cycle Prep, was a 2021 OSV Innovation Challenge finalist. She holds an undergraduate degree in Philosophy and Theology from the University of Notre Dame as well as a Masters in Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School. She is a life-professed member of the Lay Fraternities of St. Dominic and resides with her husband and four children outside of Boston.

Episode 25: My Marian Testimony 07.10.2023 1h 4min

It's the Feast of the Our Lady of the Rosary, my 11th renewal of Marian consecration, and I want to talk about my relationship with my Heavenly Momma. I think most Catholic women have struggled in their relationship with Mary at some point, and I want to share my experiences with her, not as a way to tell you where you need to be, but to invite you to think about Mary maybe in a way you haven't before.

Episode 24: Catherine of Siena, Trad Bros and Ayn Rand 05.10.2023 41min

In this episode, you are treated to the big ball of wire that is my brain where these wildly un-connectable dots - Catherine of Siena, Trad Bros and Ayn Rand - somehow connect. Find out how a conversation with a friend about the woman's experience of sex got my wires buzzing.

Episode 23: Instagram Q&A 28.09.2023 48min

I asked my Instagram followers for topics they'd like me to discuss, and they delivered. I answered 3 questions: 1. Is it ok for Catholics to say "we're done" having kids, while still using NFP? 2. How to combat the "priests on a pedastal" mentality? 3. How to find supportive family/ couple friends and community in your parish? The link I mentioned in my opening story: https://spermmeetseggplan.com/

Episode 22: Birth Wars 24.09.2023 56min

The topic that only took me a year or so to tackle. My pitch can be summarized like so: yes, there are big issues with maternal care, but moralizing birth methods is not the solution. If you have no idea what birth wars are, you'll find out in the second half of the episode. The first half is just me going off about how we need to treat all birth with a deep sense of awe. Enjoy!

Episode 21: A Devotional for the Overwhelmed 13.09.2023 19min

This episode is a bit different - I read one of my favorite scripture passages from the book of Numbers, an epic hissy fit thrown by one of the great prophets. It's a blueprint for prayer for those of us tired and overwhelmed to pray honest prayers, and as you'll hear, it's those kind of prayers that get quick and thorough (perhaps even a little sassy) responses.

Episode 20: Homeschooling and School Choice 05.09.2023 44min

The episode in which I share our decision to homeschool this year. I also talk about why the urge to paint homeschooling as the morally superior decision in all situations because we live in a crazy world is, well to put it frankly, dumb.

Episode 19: Ladies Talking Sex with Dr. Sarah Bartel 01.09.2023 1h 5min

I loved having Dr. Sarah Bartel on the show to share about her program My Delight, a 3 month coaching course for Catholic women to navigate issues and understanding of sexuality. It is both practical and theologically sound, and so so needed! Dr. Bartel and I spent the majority of the time talking about Catholic teaching regarding sex, so this is an episode that any woman would find helpful. She even shared some teachings about the necessity of the female orgasm that date back to 1850 - yea you read that right - teachings I heard for the very first time in this episode! The fall course of My Delight is open for enrollment Mon-Thurs, September 11-14, 2023 and you can sign up by using my affiliate link here: https://emilyfrase.krtra.com/t/zjtED7YVcCa4

Episode 18: Discernment with Fr. Andrew Clark 25.08.2023 1h 24min

You're going to love this conversation I have with my friend Fr. Andrew Clark of the Diocese of Arlington, VA about discernment. I saw a video of him talking about discernment in a way I'd never heard before and instantly new you needed to hear what he shared. In talking about NFP, one thing that comes up constantly is confusion over what discernment is, how to discern well, etc. Fr. Clark shares a beautiful, practical way to think about discernment, whether you're wondering if you should add a child to your family, or if you just need to log off Instagram - all synthesized from the wisdom of the saints. And for those who know Fr. Clark and are wondering how we know each other, we kick off our conversation by answering that question.

Episode 17: Why NFP? 14.08.2023 47min

It is definitely my passion to make space for people to talk about how NFP can be super sucky. But maybe I have some of you wondering: If NFP is so rough, why do it at all? Why not use some form of contraception instead? In this episode, I answer this by sharing the question that led to my fully embracing NFP - Which means of avoiding or achieving pregnancy will help me and my spouse work towards wholeness in our marriage? Not the best sex or the most sex or the fewest fights or the most bliss. Rather wholeness, integration and Heaven.

Episode 16: The Barbie movie, Leadership and the Our Lost Sense of Humor 30.07.2023 33min

I watched the Barbie movie and I laughed out loud. So many times! And I needed to spend a little time adding that to the noise. I also add my own critique on what the film has to say about masculinity. But mostly, this is me saying that if you enjoyed the movie as fun entertainment, you weren't alone.

Episode 15: My Story, an NFP Week Special 24.07.2023 1h 17min

Since I started sharing about NFP, I've heard a lot of pushback about how I focus too much on the negative, how my approach will turn people off from practicing NFP, and I should talk more about the blessings and benefits. It's a fair judgment, but one I don't agree with. Because it was precisely that approach that made the practice of NFP so needlessly miserable for me. In today's episode, I'm getting super vulnerable to share my story, no sugarcoating, just honesty. It's painful and brutal at times, and beautiful as well. For me, those aspects coexist side by side. And that's why I share my story. I want other women to know that they can have a complex experience and complicated relationship with NFP, and it doesn't make them bad or broken Catholics. It makes them normal humans, and there is a way to process that and live NFP to the fullest, with joy and honesty about what it looks like in a fallen world. It feels weird sometimes to share my story, but ultimately it is why I do all I do - why I speak the way I do, why I co-founded the nonprofit fabmbase.org, why I offer one-on-one coaching, and why I will unapologetically always try to make space for the messiness of what it means to live our beautiful faith in this way.

Episode 14: Can you say no to your spouse? 17.07.2023 21min

And yes I'm talking about seggs. Algorithms don't like that word though, so here we are. I can't believe I have to explain this, but I did.