The Feminine Genius Podcast

When the Lord calls, He calls! The Feminine Genius Podcast has been quite quiet ever since the end of season 4, and after a lot of prayer and reflection I feel that it's time to bring the podcast to a close. After spending 3+ years hearing and sharing the stories of some incredible feminine geniuses from all over the world, I take some time to reflect on this honour and responsibility by sharing my own story with all of you, something that I've never been able to do in full with this podcast until now. I also take some time to share some news about what's next for me... and I'll let you tune in to hear more! More about my news: https://rachelwong.substack.com/p/the-lord-has-moved-heaven-and-earth You can follow the Daughters of St. Paul on Instagram and Twitter @daughterstpaul. Learn more about the Daughters of St. Paul here: https://daughtersofstpaul.com/Who-We-Are They also have a really great podcast called The Daughters Project, which you can listen to wherever you listen to your podcasts. The Feminine Genius Podcast will still be available to listen to wherever you find your podcasts, though our web presence will be changing. Keep following @femgeniuspod on Instagram for more updates! Our theme music is by Theresa Ambat, and our cover art is by Mariel Pahayahay. A big thank you to them both for sharing their gifts and talents with all of us through the duration of the podcast!

This season has truly been the most international season, complete with the 100th episode milestone and a lot of incredible stories of different feminine geniuses from (literally) across the globe! I take some time to reflect on the season that's happened and share a little bit of insight into what's next for the podcast. Here are the show notes for this week's finale episode: https://femininegeniuspodcast.substack.com/p/a-look-back-on-season-4-whats-next A big thank you to Theresa Ambat for her help on editing the last few episodes of the season, and to all the women who came on as guests this season (in order of appearance): Vivienne Boddy, Chenele Shaw, Krista Corbello, Lauren Costabile, Alexandria Glaudé, Sophia Lebano, Rachel Harkins Ullmann, Sr. Josephine Garrett, Nicole Caruso, April Garcia, Trisha de Souza, Claire Ellendson, Joy Katigbak, Liv Harrison, Elizabeth Varga, Whitney Maslak, Maria Raissa Espinoza, Rakhi McCormick, Jill Simons, and Micole Amalu. If you enjoyed listening to this season of The Feminine Genius Podcast, I invite you to share your favourite episode (or episodes!) with a friend and to leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. It helps others find the show, and your contribution makes a difference! Our theme music is by Theresa Ambat, and our cover art is by Mariel Pahayahay.

“There’s something they have to offer from the struggles and the shape of their lives that the Church needs.” During her time as a campus missionary, Micole Amalu found herself journeying with students who struggled with their mental health, and helped them in their journey of healing. These experiences as well as her own journey led her to start The Face of Mercy, a nonprofit organization that aims to help provide mental health advocacy and education in the Church. In this episode, Micole and I talk about the experiences that helped her see this need, how The Face of Mercy carries out this mission, and what we as a Church can do to support others struggling with their mental health. Here are the show notes for this week's episode: https://femininegeniuspodcast.substack.com/p/mental-health-in-the-church-and-the You can learn more about The Face of Mercy by visiting thefaceofmercy.org and by following them on Instagram @thefaceofmercy. There are additional mental health resources linked in the show notes. Your mental health matters!! This episode was edited by Theresa Ambat, who also created our theme music, and our cover art is by Mariel Pahayahay.

“The fullness of truth breeds joy, and living out of that and not allowing these lies about our identity to really percolate in our souls is something that then allows us to access that joy so much more easily.” Jill Simons shared some major truth in this episode, discussing how the Lord invited her to trust Him more and stop hurrying and worrying. Jill is a wife, mother and the owner and creative director of Pink Salt Riot, but above all she’s come to rest in the truth of her identity as God’s daughter. Through her work and ministry, Jill’s mission is to help other women recognize this identity in themselves. In this episode, Jill shares how she’s come to see her identity as God’s daughter, the story behind Pink Salt Riot, and how we can all stop hurrying and worrying, resting first in God’s love for us. Here are the show notes for this week's episode: https://femininegeniuspodcast.substack.com/p/our-first-identity-is-daughter-of Be sure to check out Pink Salt Riot online at their website, pinksaltriot.com and by following them on Instagram @pinksaltriot. If you ever find yourself in Tulsa, Oklahoma, go and drop by their storefront The Riot House! As Jill mentioned, she is the host of the podcast The Authentic Uprising Show, which you can listen to wherever you listen to your podcasts. This episode was edited by Theresa Ambat, who also is the genius behind our theme music. Our cover art is by Mariel Pahayahay.

“I’d been searching in all different faiths. I think then it was very much an encounter with Christ in the least, with the explanation especially from this young man.” Rakhi McCormick’s journey to the Catholic faith was one of continual encounter. She was raised Hindu in a small town, and for much of her life she sought out belonging and identity. Through various points of encounter, she met Jesus in different people and experiences. Rakhi entered the Catholic Church as a young adult, and now walks with other people through a variety of ministries that she serves. In this episode, Rakhi shares her story of conversion, how she started using her art to serve God, and what it means to encounter Christ in the least. Here are the show notes for this week's episode: https://www.femininegeniuspodcast.com/post/episode-104-encountering-christ-in-community-and-in-the-least Be sure to follow Rakhi on Twitter @RakhiMcCormick and on Instagram @rakstardesigns. You can learn more about Rakhi and her artwork by visiting her website, rakstardesigns.com. Our theme music is by Theresa Ambat, and our cover art is by Mariel Pahayahay.

“What is youth ministry? I get paid to love teens where they are and create community and show them literally the way, the truth and the life.” Joy is the word that come to mind when I think of Maria Raissa Espinoza. Maria is a youth minister and the host of the podcast Saintly Not Salty. After receiving a call from the Lord to evangelize to youth, Maria devoted her life to the calls to mission and holiness. A lot of her ministry revolves around bringing people closer to Christ and encountering Him and His love. In this episode, Maria shares the call that changed her life, her ministry as a youth minister, and the inspiration behind her podcast Saintly Not Salty. Here are the show notes for this week's episode: https://femininegeniuspodcast.substack.com/p/journeying-to-sainthood-with-joy You can listen to Saintly Not Salty on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever else you find your podcasts! You can also follow along on Instagram @saintlynotsalty. In an episode of Saintly Not Salty, Maria shared the story of how we met on Valentine's Day 2022, which is an incredible story! You can listen to that specific episode (and all episodes of the pod) here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6nxkw6EauuGzgdfLzS7yh7?si=cf388ce5e30a4b01 Our theme music is by Theresa Ambat, and our cover art is by Mariel Pahayahay.

“In following my vocation and doing my best to focus on my family’s needs, I think God has been able to speak to me and bring out this career of being a recording artist.” Whitney Maslak was encouraged from an early age to share her musical gifts with her community. While going professional with her music wasn’t seen as a practical path, Whitney never stopped singing. Through an inspired moment in prayer, she received assurance from the Lord to pursue music, and from there, while caring for her family as a stay at home mom, she went on to release an album, working on it in her home and sharing it with the world. In this episode, Whitney and I talk about her love for music and cantoring, how Gregorian chant helped her through some challenging times, and the balance of motherhood while pursuing her music dreams. Here are the show notes for this week's episode: https://femininegeniuspodcast.substack.com/p/serving-as-a-stay-at-home-mom-and Be sure to follow Whitney on Instagram @whitneymaslakmusic. You can learn more about her music and stay up to date with Whitney’s latest releases by checking out her website, whitneymaslak.com. Whitney's Youtube channel can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/c/whitneymaslak Our theme music is by Theresa Ambat, and our cover art is by Mariel Pahayahay.

“You should love your God-given body, but you should also desire for that body to be how God desires for it to be.” Elizabeth Varga has a very special relationship to faith and food. In college, she was the one who had all the unique snacks — and now, she shares her plant-based recipes and the intersection of faith and food on her blog, “At Elizabeth’s Table”. In this episode, Elizabeth and I talk about her desire to share the good news with the people she meets, her journey on becoming a plant-based Catholic, and how food plays into our relationships with God and others. Here are the show notes for this week's episode: https://femininegeniuspodcast.substack.com/p/bringing-faith-and-food-to-the-table Be sure to follow Elizabeth on Instagram @elizabeths_table, and you can check out her recipes and writing on these topics and more at her website, atelizabethstable.com! Our theme music is by Theresa Ambat, and our cover art is by Mariel Pahayahay.

Friends, today's episode is the 100th episode of The Feminine Genius Podcast! It is surreal to be here and this would not have been possible with all of you: this community of sisters and friends who I am so fortunate to journey with as we all learn what it means to live out our unique feminine genius. Today's episode features some short reflections submitted by some listeners and dear sisters in Christ, and I am so excited for you to hear how they live out their feminine genius in a tangible way that makes sense in their life and context. In this episode, in order of appearance, you hear from Lorraine Abagatnan, Rosanne Bajao, Eula Chua, Louisa Florentin, Marystella Ramirez Guerra, Gabrielle Raymond, Melissa Siu-Chong, Nyasha Thandi, and Christine Tolentino. A big thank you to each of them for sharing so beautifully and vulnerably! Here are the show notes for this week's episode: https://femininegeniuspodcast.substack.com/p/100-episodes-of-the-feminine-genius Our theme music is by Theresa Ambat, and our cover art is by Mariel Pahayahay.

“I want people to fall in love with people, and then they’ll want to know the creator because they’re falling in love with the art.” Liv Harrison is a powerhouse of a woman who has endured a number of crosses in her life. She is a captivating speaker and storyteller with a killer sense of humour, but above all, she is rooted in the truth of God’s love for her. Her goal is to encourage, inspire, and connect people to Jesus — and she does so with joy, laughter, and incredible courage. In this episode, Liv shares the relationship between her faith and weight loss journey, her desire to connect people together through the work she does, and why it’s so important to give ourselves permission to be extraordinary. Here are the show notes for this week's episode: https://femininegeniuspodcast.substack.com/p/giving-permission-to-be-extraordinary Be sure to follow Liv Harrison on Instagram @thelivharrison and @lhmedia.productions, and check out her website: thelivharrison.com. You’ll find all the links to listen and watch “It’s Not That Late with Liv Harrison” and “Liv Every Day” from all those places! Special thanks to Anna Lincoln for her help in coordinating and making this interview happen! Our theme music is by Theresa Ambat, and our cover art is by Mariel Pahayahay.

“As a human person, made male or female, your body tells you something. Your body tells you that you are created to be a gift: you are made for relationship.” Growing up in a culturally Catholic country, Joy Katigbak knows very well what it means to serve. As the Lord called her to work in ministry, she was invited to be docile and more open to Him. This openness made her instrumental in bringing Theology of the Body to her home country of the Philippines. Now, she shares this important message as a TOB speaker both locally and abroad. In this episode, Joy shares how ministry is deeply woven into her marriage and family life, how she first came to learn about Theology of the Body, and the importance of making a gift of ourselves to others. Here are the show notes for this week's episode: https://femininegeniuspodcast.substack.com/p/sharing-the-gift-of-theology-of-the I’ve linked a number of TOB resources for you to check out if you want to learn more! Be sure to follow Joy on Instagram @joybkatigbak. Our theme music is by Theresa Ambat, and our cover art is by Mariel Pahayahay.

“The diversity of saints speaks to how big God is.” Claire Ellendson has a profound love for the saints, and aspires to learn as much as she can about her friends in heaven. One of the things that she’s come to appreciate is the ordinary-ness of some of these holy men and women, and through this appreciation, she’s grown in love of service and meeting people where they’re at, learning more about God’s unconditional love for us. In this episode, Claire shares her background in serving with NET Ministries, what she’s learned from working with folks with different abilities, and what inspired her to befriend the saints. Here are the show notes for this week's episode: https://femininegeniuspodcast.substack.com/p/saint-friends-from-heaven-and-earth Be sure to follow Dead Friend Saints on Instagram, @deadfriendsaints! I was lucky enough to be a guest on Dead Friend Saints and we talked about one of my favourite saints, Pope St. John Paul II! You can listen to that episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and beyond. Be sure to subscribe on your favourite platform so you never miss an episode! Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6KGXTRTS2WgvqWlwiznJjx?si=3447312d9f83422a Our theme music is by Theresa Ambat, and our cover art is by Mariel Pahayahay.

"Our suffering sometimes gives us the capacity to understand what it means to be in heaven one day." Trisha de Souza had plans to work in politics and worked extremely hard towards that goal. But a series of health issues led to a major career shift and gave new life to an old hobby. This dramatic change led Trisha to grow in her dependence on God in the midst of life's challenges, as well as the reminder that this world is our ship, and not our home. In this episode, Trisha and I talk about the difficult health challenges she's had to endure, how she came to start her art business, and the important prayer that changed her perspective on God and His providence. Here are the show notes for this week's episode: https://femininegeniuspodcast.substack.com/p/surrender-dependence-and-when-dreams To check out Trisha's art and get in touch with her for commissions, check out her Instagram @mademarionillustrated! As mentioned in the episode, I first heard Trisha's story on the podcast In The Thicket! Take a listen to that episode featuring Trisha here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1s7EE6hG56IKxiLnqhaCfv?si=W5aV5p_ERCOgtKCSwXJC8A Our theme music is by Theresa Ambat, and our cover art is by Mariel Pahayahay.

"We need to really be naked before the Lord. We really need to bear everything before the Lord. He is ready to take every pain, every suffering, every blemish that you have, and He will turn it into grace. He will give you grace to go through that." April Garcia was raised Catholic but spent many years away from God and her faith. Her journey and searching brought her to a variety of different places, but ultimately she landed on the front lines of the New Evangelization. She now shares stories of conversion and uncovers the truth, beauty and goodness of the Catholic faith through the show Unmasked. In this episode, April shares about her journey back to the Catholic faith, why she felt called to start Unmasked, and the need for all of us to participate in the New Evangelization. Here are the show notes for this week's episode: https://femininegeniuspodcast.substack.com/p/unmasking-the-truth-goodness-and You can watch all episodes of Unmasked on Facebook by visiting their page, facebook.com/theunmaskedlife and you can also follow Unmasked on Instagram, @theunmaskedlife. Our theme music is by Theresa Ambat and our cover art is by Mariel Pahayahay.

"God is the author of beauty, and He gives us our feminine genius. He gives us our gifts and our mission, and it's so much bigger than just one industry." Nicole Caruso has always had a love for style, art and media. The intersection of her background working in the fashion industry along with her vocation of motherhood challenged her perceptions of beauty and what it means to be worthy, and this led her to start Worthy of Wearing, a movement that reminds women of their God-given worth that goes beyond output and productivity. In this episode, Nicole and I talk about her experiences working in fashion, how God brought together her love of her faith and fashion, and how Worthy of Wearing came to be. Here are the show notes for this week's episode: https://femininegeniuspodcast.substack.com/p/embracing-our-god-given-worth-with You can check out more of Nicole's work, including purchasing your own copy of Worthy of Wearing, on her website, nicolemcaruso.com! You can also follow Nicole on Instagram: @nmcaruso. Special thanks to Sarah Lemieux from Sophia Institute Press for her help in coordinating this interview and making it happen! Learn more about Sophia Institute Press and the wonderful books they have available here: sophiainstitute.com Our theme music is by Theresa Ambat and our cover art is by Mariel Pahayahay.

"I thought it had to be lost and left in order for me to move forward, and it was more like it had to be given over, to be transformed and made new for what was ahead." Sr. Josephine Garrett is a Sister of the Holy Family of Nazareth with an incredible story and journey. She was raised Baptist, studied Political Philosophy, and worked in banking. During her time in banking, she had a desire to be a woman of God, and through this entered into the Catholic Church. With an even deeper desire to serve God, she began discerning and became a religious sister, and now works as a licensed counselor. In this episode, Sr. Josephine shares her incredible journey of becoming Catholic and a religious sister, her passion for serving children as a counselor, and the important truth that our God is a God of abundance, and not scarcity. Here are the show notes for this week's episode: https://femininegeniuspodcast.substack.com/p/finding-god-in-the-abundance-with You can follow Sr. Josephine on Instagram @sr_josephine. You can also learn more about the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth by checking out their website, https://nazarethcsfn.org/, and by following them on Instagram @csfn.usa. Our theme music is by Theresa Ambat, and our cover art is by Mariel Pahayahay.

"We all should strive to be a leader in our own sphere of influence, wherever it is that God has placed us, wherever it is that we can be a gift of self to others." When Rachel Harkins Ullmann was young, she received a powerful vision from the Lord. She felt a call to step out of her comfort zone, serve others, and be a leader. With many years of experience working in ministry, Rachel now serves as the Executive Director for the GIVEN Institute, an organization that empowers young women to be leaders in the Church and society. In this episode, Rachel and I talk about her unique faith journey, how she got involved with the GIVEN Institute, and the important gift that Catholic women are as servant leaders in the world. Here are the show notes for this episode: https://femininegeniuspodcast.substack.com/p/leading-through-the-gift-you-are You can learn more about the GIVEN Institute by checking out their website, giveninstitute.com, and you can also find them on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @giveninstitute. You can also follow Rachel on Instagram @catholicexcel. Our theme music is by Theresa Ambat and our cover art is by Mariel Pahayahay.

"[Hearing loss] was something that became positive for me, knowing that whatever I was given, I would find a way through God's grace, obviously, to transform it into something good." As a girl growing up with progressive hearing loss, Sophia Lebano didn't always feel supported. Through a number of trials and moving schools, Sophia found that the one constant in her life was God and her faith, and she knew that to get through the challenges she would need to surrender everything to Him. God heard her prayer, and this sparked Sophia's life mission to spread the Gospel and advocate for those with hearing loss. In this episode, Sophia and I talk about her conviction in the Catholic faith, her work as an entrepreneur and the host of the podcast Hear and Now, and the movements of the Holy Spirit in her life. Here are the show notes for this week's episode: https://femininegeniuspodcast.substack.com/p/sharing-the-gospel-hear-and-now-with You can listen and subscribe to Sophia's podcast Hear and Now on Apple Podcasts or wherever else you find your podcasts. Learn more about her work by checking out sophialebano.com and by following her on Instagram @sophialebano. Our theme music is by Theresa Ambat and our cover art is by Mariel Pahayahay.

"Wrestling is what allowed me to come into my own and embrace who I am as a woman, and appreciate my body in the way that God made it." Alexandria Glaudé didn't seek out wrestling at first. In her words, "God wanted her to wrestle." She started wrestling in high school and quickly excelled in the sport, and has her sights set on wrestling for Team USA in the Olympics. Through the sport of wrestling and her biracial identity, she's come to learn a lot about herself, her femininity, and the ways God is calling on her to set the world on fire. In this episode, Alexandria and I talk about how God brought her into the sport of wrestling, how she's seen her femininity flourish within the sport, and how her multi-faceted identity puts her in a unique position to evangelize to those in the margins. Here are the show notes for this week's episode: https://femininegeniuspodcast.substack.com/p/embracing-femininity-through-wrestling You can follow Alexandria on her wrestling and faith journey on Instagram @glaudealex. Our theme music is by Theresa Ambat, and our cover art is by Mariel Pahayahay.

"There's such beauty in that trust and faithfulness in saying 'yes' amidst those unknowns." Lauren Costabile remembers a summer serving at a camp for children and youth with special needs. In her nervousness, she connected with a camper with Down Syndrome, and she says that this was like a hug from God. As she learned more and grew in her desire to serve this community, she founded the organization Hearts of Joy International, which provides heart surgery for children with Down Syndrome in countries where families can’t afford medical care. In this episode, Lauren and I talk about how she founded Hearts of Joy International, her deep desire to serve others, and how our little 'yeses' help us live out our God-given plan and mission for our lives. Here are the show notes for this week's episode: https://femininegeniuspodcast.substack.com/p/saying-yes-to-gods-mission-for-us You can learn more about the important and life-changing work that Hearts of Joy International does by visiting heartsofjoyinternational.com. You can also find them on Instagram and Facebook @heartsofjoyinternational. Please also consider supporting their current #Hug4Hearts Challenge! Learn more: heartsofjoyinternational.com/hug4hearts Our theme music is by Theresa Ambat, and our cover art is by Mariel Pahayahay.