Amanda Martinez Beck is a storyteller and fat activist on a mission to help people embrace the goodness of their bodies. She is the co-founder of the Ruah Storytellers Podcast. In addition to cohosting the Fat & Faithful Podcast, she is the author of Lovely: How I Learned to Embrace the Body God Gave Me. Follow her on Instagram(@your_body_is_good) …

Jules Miles is a wife and mom with a Masters Degree in Catholic Theology. She is the creator and host of the podcast, Mystery Through Manners, and co-founder of Ruah Storytellers. Featured Music: Ocean Wild Words and music by Nick and Alina De La Torre. © 2019 DLT Productions. As recorded on Only You. Used by permission. https://nickandalina.com…

Cathy Torrez is a wife, stepmother, and mother. She spends her days at a salt plant and her nights snuggling her two small children. She takes those aforementioned children to Adoration each week (by choice!) and prays with them for others each night. You can find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as Adventures in Adoring. Featured Music: Oce…

Monique Ocampo is an English tutor from Houston, Texas who loves finding connections between her Catholic faith and her many fandoms. She sees God as the Divine Artist and considers herself an apprentice with the written word. You can find her blog at msocampowrites.com and check out her podcast Tales, Rambles, and Reactions where she talks about s…

Sister Anne Higgins is a daughter of Charity for close to 50 years, and a professor of English at Mount St. Mary’s Univeristy in Emmitsburg, Maryland. She is also the author of many selected works of poetry. Featured Music: Ocean Wild Words and music by Nick and Alina De La Torre. © 2019 DLT Productions. As recorded on Only You. Used by permission.…

Catherine currently lives in Hawaii, but is preparing to move to Bahrain soon with her 4 young children. She is married to a Naval Officer who's career has taken them to many interesting places. Both Catherine and her husband insist the best parts of living around the world are the wonderful people they have met, and the Catholic parishes that feel…

Courtney Kiolbassa is a freelance writer and poet based in Dallas, Texas. She has worked on projects like the Catholic Creatives podcast, the OSV Innovation Challenge, and a thesis on pilgrimage in the American Southwest. You can find Courtney's work at courtkiol.com. This episode of Ruah Storytellers Podcast is brought to you by Catholic Family Cr…

Alissa loves being a wife and mom. Her family of seven lives just outside of Austin, Texas where in between packing lunches and finding matching socks, she thinks a lot about how to become a saint by loving well. Alissa is passionate about Catholic social teaching, youth ministry, and building community. She loves to give presentations and speak on…

Chloe Langr is a writer, podcaster, and the author of "Created for Love: Reflections for the Catholic Bride-to-Be." She is passionate about the feminine genius, which she explores on her podcast, "Letters to Women." When she isn't buried under a growing stack of books, you can find her in a local coffee shop, spending time with her husband, Joseph,…

Victoria Mastrangelo is a wife, mother of three, and high school theology teacher in Houston. She loves to read, research, write, drink coffee, and travel. Her dream job is to be a perpetual student. She is a contributor at FemCatholic and can be found on instagram @vimastrangelo. This episode of Ruah Storytellers Podcast is brought to you by Catho…

Laura Pittenger is a writer and director creating theater in New York City. Her plays are published at YouthPLAYS and Smith & Kraus, and her work has been produced in the U.K. and across the country. Learn more at her website: www.laurapittenger.com and on Instagram/Twitter @lapittenger. This episode of Ruah Storytellers Podcast is brought to you b…

Beth Williby is a wife of 20 years to her college sweetheart and the mom of 4 kids, ages 8 to 18. She is a singer and writer for her own blog, A Welcome Grace, and is a regular contributor to the Blessed is She blog. Having grown up in the Midwest, Beth now calls Northeast Florida home. You can find her at @bethwilliby on Instagram, A Welcome Grace…

Paige Rien is a designer, former HGTV-host, author, speaker, mother to four, and convert to the Catholic faith, not necessarily in that order. She is chiefly interested in the intersection of the home and our personal path to holiness. Her first book, Love the House You're In, (Roost Books, March 2016) encouraged readers to treat their homes as sac…

Nell O’Leary is the Managing Editor for Blessed is She, wife, mother of four, attorney-turned-editor, speaker and writer. She loves her chocolate in hot milk, her grilled cheese partially charred, and her laundry folded (preferably by someone else). She and her family live in Saint Paul, Minnesota and you can find more about her on wholeparentingfa…

Kara Dixon is a TV reporter based in Hampton Roads, Virginia. Kara's mission in life is to bring awareness to the beauty and diversity of the world through her stories. When she's not reporting, stockpiling books for her library, or belting our her favorite Hamilton show tunes at karaoke, you can find Kara at church teaching religious education or …

Liv is a professional speaker and emcee with a gift for humor, storytelling and wisdom. She works with youth from junior high to young adult, including work in marriage ministry. Liv has been featured on EWTN, Forte Catholic, Sirius XM, and various other podcast programs, and is currently serving the Junior League of The Woodlands as an active lead…

Meg Hunter-Kilmer is a hobo missionary. After 2 theology degrees from Notre Dame and 5 years as a high school religion teacher, she quit her job in 2012 to live out of her car and preach the Gospel to anyone who would listen. 50 states and 25 countries later, this seems to have been a less ridiculous decision than she initially thought. She blogs a…

Mary Jo Gerd traded in her media career interviewing celebrity actors and filmmakers for the more rewarding, albeit less glamorous vocation of full-time wife and mother. She hasn't looked back since. Well, maybe once or twice. She lives in Denver and enjoys blogging about family life and her reversion to the Catholic faith on lateforchurch.blog. Th…

Heather is a Colorado girl who is happiest in the mountains. She fell in love with her Midwest-hunk-of-a-husband during her higher ed study of theology; earning an undergraduate degree in theology from The Collage of St Benedict followed by a Masters degree in Systematic Theology from St John’s University. Heather recently went from a decade long c…

Meg Matenaer is a writer from Madison, Wisconsin, where she lives with her husband and six children. Her book, Write in Time, is available on Amazon. You can find her at megmatenaer.com. Today's Featured Sponsor: Today’s episode is sponsored by Sock Religious, offering fun and holy socks for everyday use or special occasions. Popular designs featur…

Beth Sri is the mother of eight children ages 19 to 3, and is married to Catholic theologian Edward Sri. A graduate of Benedictine College, she was among the first FOCUS missionaries. Beth continues to lead and invest in those around her, encouraging fellow wives and mommas in their call to marriage and motherhood through mentorship, small group ga…

Lindsay Schlegel is a daughter of God, wife, mother, and believer in the life-giving power of words. She's the author of "Don't Forget to Say Thank You: And Other Parenting Lessons That Brought Me Closer to God" and the host of the weekly podcast, Quote Me. She has also contributed to a number of other Catholic and secular publications, including V…

Rachel Lamb, a lifelong Texan, earned her Master of Divinity degree with a certificate in Anglican Studies from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in 2011. After being offered a position as a pro-abortion chaplain with the Episcopal Church, she began volunteering with the pro-life movement, and entered the Catholic Church i…

Karianna Frey is a wife, mother, and Classical Educator based out of Pasadena California. Originally from the Midwest, she adores red lipstick, vintage style, champagne, and Jesus. You can find her on Instagram at @kariannafrey posting about faith and family, all in an effort to avoid the inescapable, yet sanctifying, chore of housework. Today's Fe…

Ellen Virginia is a devoted wife and homeschooling mother who loves to share her gift of hospitality with everyone she meets. A natural cheerleader of the heart and a passionate advocate for time spent with Jesus, Ellen delights in encouraging women to choose joy each day. Follow her on Facebook and Instagram: @yokedtothehealer. Todays Sponsors: ht…

Shannon DeGrave: Shannon DeGrave is a senior at Holy Family College in Manitowoc, WI, studying Theology & English. Shannon enjoys hiking, singing in their college’s chorale, and listening to opera. Shannon has been published with Engage the Culture, The Novice, and America Magazine. You can find Shannon at Instagram at @Shandegrave and at Twitter a…

Kristin is a wife, mother, and nurse living in Dayton, OH with her precious brood of four rascals five and under. She has many interests but spends most of her scarce free time trying to decide between napping and making a dent in her book stack. She finds God most easily in a well-crafted plate of food. Todays Sponsors: https://gloryandshine.com/d…

Chika Anyanwu is an international Catholic evangelist and author currently based in Anaheim, California. She has shared her love for Jesus as a confirmation coordinator and young adult minister in Southern California, is a two-time alumna of the National Evangelization Teams Ministries, is a devotional writer for Blessed Is She, and was an area con…

Kerry Weber is an executive editor at America, where she has worked since 2009, and the author of Mercy in the City: How to Feed the Hungry, Give Drink to the Thirsty, Visit the Imprisoned and Keep Your Day Job. Todays Sponsors: https://gloryandshine.com/discount/Ruah Today’s episode is sponsored by Glory and Shine, offering lotions, soap bars, lip…

Peggy Weber is an award-winning Catholic journalist and the author of Enough as You Are (Loyola Press). She holds degrees from Providence College and Marquette University. She is most especially a wife, mother of three and grandmother of seven. You can find her on Facebook at Peggy Weber and on Twitter at @spunfromtheweb. Todays Sponsors: https://g…

Theresa Zoe Williams is a freelance writer with bylines at EpicPew, FemCatholic, and CatholicSingles, among others. She has contributed to the books The Catholic Hipster Handbook: The Next Level and Epic Saints: Wild, Wonderful, and Weird Stories of God’s Heroes. She blogs at Patheos at Contemplatio Culture and her personal blog Principessa Meets W…

Cameron Bellm is a Seattle mom of two young boys. After finishing her PhD in Russian literature, she traded the academic life for the contemplative life (well, as contemplative as chasing two small kids can be!). She is a great lover of Ignatian spirituality, Catholic social teaching, and strong black coffee. You can find her on Instagram at @krugt…

Julia Marie Hogan is a counselor in Chicago who, in addition to owning her own private practice, leads workshops and writes on topics related to self-care, relationships and mental health. Her book, It's Ok to Start with You is all about the power of embracing your authentic self through self-care. She is passionate about empowering individuals to …

Lauren Montgomery is cradle Catholic, wife and mother of three kiddos. She holds a Master of Art in Theology from the University of Dallas, and is an RCIA coordinator and teacher at a parish in Kansas City, KS. She is passionate about her faith, and has contributed to a number of publications, including Catholic Match and Radiant Magazine. She is c…

Alli is a part time freelance writer for nonprofit organizations and self taught artist. She is also a childhood cancer advocate, and among the stranger things in her life, she will be a character in the movie Clouds, a Warner Bros. movie based on her younger brother, Zach Sobiech. She lives in the hearty Midwest with her husband and two little boy…

Christina is a mom of three living in the Chicago suburbs who spends her free time reading novels, baking up sourdough bread, and doing insane things with homemade pizza. After going through a divorce, she teamed up with her friend Patty to create a community of divorced or separated women who may be struggling to find their place in the Church, ca…

Gabriela is a 21 year old cradle Catholic from Georgia who is attending University for a degree in Nursing. She loves music and singing, and is currently in a season of life dating her boyfriend of almost a year and a half. She has a passion for listening and helping others, and loves to go on outdoor adventures, like hiking and discovering new pla…

Anna Bonnema is an open-armed Catholic, a lover of words and nature, fueled by tea, lattes, and dog snuggles. She is a wife to a man with a contagious laugh, a mom to amazing teenage triplets, an introvert, and always up for gathering around the table or around the fire, or small celebrations and glitter. You can find her on Instagram at @annabonne…

Becca Crooks likes to ask questions, wrestle with words, and drink good coffee. She lives with her husband and two dogs in North Dakota where they spend as much time as they can outside. She shares her thoughts online at www.becwrites.com and can be found on Instagram under @beccrooks. Featured Music: Ocean Wild Words and music by Nick and Alina De…

Alina has been playing fiddle/violin since she was 7 and has been singing and songwriting since before she can remember. Her performance experiences range from worship conferences, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, sacred liturgies, bluegrass and country music on national stages, and in-studio work for all genres. Alina is a convert to Catholicis…

Welcome to Ruah Storytellers, a daily Catholic storytelling podcast to accompany you through the season of Lent. Each day (Sundays excluded), a different woman of faith will journey with you to the Cross and Resurrection through the power of story. Through the gift of poetry, spoken word, oral storytelling, and song, listeners can deepen their fait…

Tara K. E. Brelinsky is a home schooling mother of 8 living children, with 6 more heavenly ones. Married to her childhood sweetheart, they make their home in NC where they own/operate a restaurant, and raise a small menagerie of critters (in addition to all those wonderful kids). In her spare time, Tara freelances a writer and speaker. She’;s been …

Catherine Barnwell is a historian living and working in Montreal. She spent the last two years studying in Ireland, where she earned her master’s degree in 2019. She is now back in her home parish in Montreal, and reacclimating to Canadian winters. You can reach her onInstagram at @dearflannery.

Rebecca Slocum is a lifelong Catholic, a wife, and a mother of 3: one on earth, one on the way, and one saint in Heaven. She is a former teacher, turned stay at home mom, who happily spends most of her day playing cars and trucks, fetching snacks, and repeating herself. In her free time, Rebecca likes to read, write, run, and roam the world. While …

Nicole Bazis is the Coordinator of Parish Services at St. Margaret of Antioch Parish, a suburban parish within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. As a staff member in full-time parish ministry, she wears many varied and unique hats. Her days are spent as an RCIA instructor, youth minister, committee leader, communications specialist, pastoral caregiv…

Maria Morera Johnson is the author of the award-winning books Super Girls and Halos and My Badass Book of Saints. Her new book Our Lady of Charity, a spiritual memoir, shares stories of how Our Lady of Charity helped her deepen her faith and led her to Jesus after she moved to the United States. Find links to her social media and other writing on t…

Lindsay Schlegel is a daughter of God, wife, mother, and believer in the life-giving power of words. She is the author of Don't Forget to Say Thank You: And Other Parenting Lessons That Brought Me Closer to God and the host of the weekly podcast, Quote Me. She has also contributed to a number of other Catholic and secular publications, including Ve…

Amanda Martinez Beck is a storyteller and fat activist on a mission to help people embrace the goodness of their bodies. She is the co-founder of the Ruah Storytellers Podcast. In addition to cohosting the Fat & Faithful Podcast, she is the author of Lovely: How I Learned to Embrace the Body God Gave Me. Follow her on Instagram(@your_body_is_good) …

Amanda Martinez Beck is co-founder of Ruah Storytellers and lives in East Texas. She is passionate about the power of storytelling, particularly through podcasting. She and her husband Zachary cohost the Arkeo Camino podcast (pronounced "ark-a-o ca-mee-no") and she is also the cohost of the Fat & Faithful podcast. She is the author of Lovely: How I…

Liz Schleicher is an opinion columnist and stay-at-home mother from rural Missouri . You can find her on Twitter as @Punky Mantilla, telling tales of Catholicism, country folks, children and cancer. Music for Today's Episode: "In Need of a Savior (feat. Andrea Thomas)". Words and Music by Andrea Thomas and the Vigil Project. © 2016 Papercastle Reco…