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Sometimes it’s easier to cover up the cracks than to face what’s really broken. In this week’s Grace Unfiltered bonus episode, we’re talking about the hard—but holy—work of letting God heal what we’d rather hide.In this bonus reflection following my conversation with Laura Phelps, I share the first of three key takeaways from her powerful and unfiltered…

Exclusive for paid subscribers: Download the Grace Unfiltered companion journal

Publishing tomorrow: My personal takeaways from this episode. Stay tuned for this BONUS epsiode!

Is it sometimes harmful to keep the peace?

In this candid and deeply honest conversation, Laura Phelps opens up about the quiet healing work God is doing in her life right now. Together we talk about the hidden struggles behind codependency, the temptation to “spackle” over wounds instead of addressing them, and what it really means to let go of control.

Laura shares stories from her own childhood, her battle with an eating disorder, the ups and downs of nearly three decades of marriage, and yes—even what chickens have taught her about slowing down, paying attention, and letting God work.

If you’ve ever struggled with perfectionism, keeping the peace at all costs, or defining yourself by productivity, this episode will resonate with you. Laura’s unfiltered witness is full of humor, vulnerability, and hard-won wisdom that reminds us we’re never alone in the mess.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

* The surprising spiritual lessons Laura has learned from raising backyard chickens

* How childhood coping mechanisms can quietly shape adult relationships

* Why “keeping the peace” isn’t always the loving choice

* The role of codependency in so many of our hidden struggles

* What nearly three decades of marriage has taught her about love, respect, and letting God lead

* The prayer practice that’s grounding Laura’s healing journey today

? Laura’s story is unfiltered, vulnerable, and full of grace. If you’ve ever wrestled with control, codependency, or the pressure to keep everything “just fine,” her witness will remind you that God meets us in the mess and gently leads us toward healing and freedom.

Download the Grace Unfiltered companion journal

Publishing tomorrow: My personal takeaways from this episode. Stay tuned for this BONUS epsiode!

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit daniellebean.substack.com

Free preview for free subscribers, full episode for paid subscribers! Subscribe at daniellebean.substack.com

What does it really mean to be resilient? In this week’s Grace Unfiltered bonus episode, we’re talking about the difference between self-reliance and God-reliance—and how grace meets us when our strength runs out.

In this bonus reflection following my conversation with Mary Lenaburg, I go deeper with the first of three takeaways from her powerful story:…

Exclusive for paid subscribers: Download the Grace Unfiltered companion journal

Publishing tomorrow: My personal takeaways from this episode. Stay tuned for this BONUS epsiode!

What does it mean to get back up when life knocks you flat?

In this episode of Grace Unfiltered, I sit down with my dear friend Mary Lenaburg—wife, mom, speaker, and author—whose life has been shaped by both tremendous sorrow and unexpected grace. Mary shares the story of raising her daughter Courtney, who lived with profound disabilities for 22 years, and how that journey changed everything about her faith, her marriage, and her understanding of resilience.

We talk about:

* What resilience really means (hint: it’s not doing it on your own)

* How to find God’s presence in suffering and grief

* The cultural lies that discourage women from leaning on Him

* Why nothing is wasted with God—even our biggest mistakes

* Practical habits that help Mary stay rooted in hope

? Mary’s story is raw, real, and filled with hope. If you’ve ever wondered how to keep trusting God when you don’t have the answers—or how to love right where you are—you’ll find encouragement here.

Download the Grace Unfiltered companion journal

Publishing tomorrow: My personal takeaways from this episode. Stay tuned for this BONUS epsiode!

Subscribe now at daniellebean.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Real women. Real stories. Real grace.

In the upcoming special Girlfriends series, I’ll be sitting down with women who have faced heartbreak, loss, doubt, and transformation—and found God’s grace right in the middle of it all. These honest, hope-filled conversations will remind you that you’re never alone and that God is always at work, even in the messiest parts of life.

New episodes release weekly beginning October 15.

? For paid subscribers, I’ve created some special resources to help you connect more personally with each story:

The Companion Journal — Weekly Scripture, reflection questions, and prayer prompts that tie directly to each woman’s story.

Bonus Podcast Episodes — My own personal takeaways and insights following each interview, so you can process right alongside me.

These extras are only for paid subscribers—and the first one drops when the first episode airs. Upgrade now to experience the full journey.

Don’t miss a thing! Subscribe today: daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit daniellebean.substack.com

Do you ever feel like peace is just out of reach—buried under all the pressure to do it right and hold it all together? In this (bonus podcast!) Girlfriends Live session for paid susbcribers, we got honest about how perfectionism steals our joy, and how God invites us into something better: His peace that “guards our hearts and minds” (Phil 4:6–7).

Free subscribers can listen to a short clip. Paid susbcribers get access to the whole recording.

Subscribe here –> daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Hi friends,

After more than 500 episodes of Girlfriends (I still can’t believe that number myself!), it feels like the right time for something new. I’ll be taking a short break from the podcast—but on October 15, I’ll be back with a brand-new series: Grace Unfiltered.

This is going to be different from what we’ve done before. Instead of weekly advice or short interviews or reflections, Grace Unfiltered will be an 8-part series of longform interviews with women who’ve walked through really hard, messy, and very real life experiences. Together we’ll discover the ways God’s grace showed up right in the middle of it all.

Their stories are raw and powerful, but also deeply relatable. You’ll find yourself nodding along as they share both the extraordinary and the ordinary moments of grace that remind us we are never alone.

Here’s how it will work:

* ? Audio: Beginning October 15, episodes will drop weekly in the Girlfriends podcast feed, just like always.

* ? Video: Full episodes will also be available on Substack.

daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

* ? Bonus for paid subscribers: A companion journal + bonus podcast episodes where I dive deeper into the themes we’re uncovering together.

The main series will always be free. But if you’ve been blessed by Girlfriends and want to support me in creating meaningful content for Catholic women, becoming a paid subscriber is a beautiful way to do that. Your support means this work can continue—without ads—and with even more depth and value for you.

I can’t wait to share Grace Unfiltered with you, starting October 15. Until then, make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss the first episode.

Sign up now at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

What does adoption teach us about the way God loves? How can the Eucharist draw us closer to heaven even while we’re still on earth? In this week’s episode of Girlfriends, I’m joined by Jamie McAleer—wife, mom, grandmother, and author of I Will Come to You: A Story of Adoption and the Relentless Love of God.

Jamie shares her powerful conversion story, beginning with her very first Mass as a college student, and how God used that moment to plant seeds of faith that would grow over decades. She also opens up about the journey to adopt her son from Russia, the challenges and joys of raising a child through adoption, and the way that experience deepened her understanding of our own adoption as children of God.

We also talk about:

* The connection between the Eucharist and Heaven

* How Mary interceded for Jamie’s family in a time of great need

* What it’s like to be a grandmother to fifteen grandchildren

* Practical ways busy moms can deepen their Eucharistic devotion

* Why sharing your personal story can open the door for others to share theirs

Links and Resources:

* I Will Come to You

* Learn more about Jamie’s work in media: 4pmmedia.com

* Subscribe to the Girlfriends newsletter

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend and leave a review wherever you listen. Your support helps more women discover the hope, joy, and encouragement they need to live their faith in the middle of real life.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe