12 Podcasts To Listen To While You're Celebrating Mother's Day
Mother’s Day is a loaded holiday for me. Maybe it is for you, too.
I’ve cringed in the pew at church on Mother’s Day, unsure of whether I should stand for the blessings, since my baby was in Heaven. I’ve cried at negative pregnancy tests near Mother’s Day, thinking I was a total failure of a woman, my body seemingly betraying me. I’ve sat on the couch with a one day old baby in my arms on Mother’s Day, wondering how I was going to raise this sweet girl to know she is loved and good, not because of what she does, but because of who she is.
It’s been a roller coaster, to say the least.
What I’ve learned over the years is that mothers come in all forms and seasons. And if there’s one thing that I’m praying I’ve captured in these episodes of Letters to Women, it’s this: Motherhood doesn’t always look like what we expected, or what we wanted. But we’re all called to mother in different ways - and there’s a beauty in that diversity.
Whether you’re a woman who is up at all hours of the night, a woman who longs for physical children but carries the cross of infertility, or a woman whose journey to motherhood looks so different than what she expected, here are twelve of my favorite episodes of Letters to Women about the joys and challenges of motherhood.
A Letter to the woman who made me
Wow, friends. This one is truly a #ThrowBackThursday. This was one of the first ever episode of Letters to Women that I recorded (and you’ll have to forgive the beginner audio quality). I sat down with my mom and talked about her experience as a mom, my parents decision to homeschool my siblings and I, and my mom’s tried and true budgeting tips. If you ever wanted a sneak peek into what life in the Mooradian house looked like growing up, this episode is for you. Listen now!
A Letter to the woman with littles in heaven
Maybe you dread mothers day. I know that after losing Marion, that holiday felt like a stab in the heart. In this episode, Amy Thomas and I talked about her experience with miscarriage, grief, and hope. If you are longing for the day when you’ll be reunited with your sweet littles again, this letter is for you. Listen now!
a letter to the woman raising twice exceptional children
Sometimes motherhood doesn’t look like what we’d expected or what we’d planned for. In this episode, Ginny Kochis and I talk about what it looks like to parent twice exceptional children, discerning education choices for your children, and surrendering your plans for your family to God. If you’re struggling with motherhood that doesn’t look the way you thought it would, this letter is for you. Listen now!
a letter to the woman experiencing infertility
Does your heart long for motherhood, but it’s not possible in the way you’d hoped and dreamed of? In this episode of Letters to Women, Connie Poulos and I discuss infertility, discerning adoption, and how infertility can be a blessing. If you’re heartbroken by the experience of infertility, this letter is for you. Listen now!
a letter to the imperfect catholic mom
Self-care. Loving your spouse. Growing close to Christ through your experience of motherhood. Letting go of perfectionism and embracing the idea that good enough is . . . good enough. This conversation with Colleen Duggan is a great listen if you’ve wanted to lean into the hard seasons of motherhood while still taking care of yourself and your marriage. If you’ve struggled with the lie that you have to have it all together as a mom, this letter is for you. Listen now!
a letter to the woman experiencing pregnancy after loss
There are some episodes of the Letters to Women podcast that I have gone back and listened to over and over again because each time I listen, I learn something new from the guest. This episode with Laura Kelly Fanucci is one of those episodes. During my pregnancy with Maeve, I went back and rested in Laura’s wisdom time and time again. If you’re discerning pregnancy after loss or are pregnant with a rainbow baby, this letter is for you. Listen now!
a letter to the woman who keeps telling her kids to say thank you
Do you feel like all you say anymore is “no,” “say thank you,” and “slow down”? I loved talking about motherhood with Lindsey Schlegel in this episode of Letters to Women. One of my favorite parts of this conversation is when we talked about the impact of your words in the lives of your children when it comes to body image. If you’re in a season where you keep repeating yourself and answering “Why?” all the time, this letter is for you. Listen now!
a letter to the woman who’s a working mom
Do you feel like you’re totally alone as a Catholic working mom? Do you go to bed at night sometimes wishing you had 4.5 more hours in the day to be able to finish everything that needs done? I loved this conversation with JoAnna Wahlund about her experience as a working Catholic mom. If you’re discerning whether to return to work or trying to figure out how your job can support your vocation of marriage, this letter is for you. Listen now!
a letter to the woman facing the unexpected
Are you a surprise mama? Maybe your pregnancy was totally unexpected and unplanned. This conversation with Alexa Hyman from Back in February was one of the last podcasts I recorded before giving birth to Maeve, and I will forever remember her calming presence and wisdom. If you are facing an unexpected pregnancy, this letter is for you. Listen now!
a letter to the woman who thinks spiritual motherhood is a consolation prize
Danielle Bean is like a mom to me. I’ve learned so much from her wisdom and steady presence through our podcast conversations we’ve had together. This podcast brought so much consolation to my life around the subject of spiritual motherhood - which gets a bad rap as a consolation prize for women who don’t have children. If you’ve thought that your spiritual motherhood is somehow less-than, this letter is for you. Listen now!
a letter to the woman worried she isn’t mom enough
Are you worried that no matter what you do, you’ll never add up? Do you struggle with the unattainable perfect motherhood that you see on Instagram and Pinterest? This episode with Kim Cameron-Smith will equip you to reject those lies and embrace the guilt (yep, you heard me right). If you’re wrestling with the lie of worthlessness as a mom, this letter is for you. Listen now!
a letter to the woman with an emptying nest
Is your home emptying? Once filled with the sound of littles running around, you’re finding yourself with more time alone or with your spouse - maybe more time than you’ve had in years! I loved my recent conversation with Danielle Bean, where she shares the challenges and joys of having an emptying nest. If you’re celebrating Mother’s Day this year with an emptying house, this letter is for you. Listen now!
Happy Mother’s Day, friends! What has been your favorite Letters to Women episode about being a mom (whether spiritual or physical!) and the joys and challenges that come with motherhood?