God Is Heartbroken Too: Emily Frase on NFP, Trauma, and Catholic Motherhood

***This podcast deals with mature topics such as personal struggles, abuse, or trauma. Certain episodes may not be appropriate for sensitive ears.*** 

When Emily Frase started blogging, she didn’t expect to become one of the boldest voices challenging the way the Catholic Church talks about Natural Family Planning (NFP). In this episode, Emily sits down with Sister Josephine to share the deeply personal story behind her ministry, Total Whine, a story marked by traumatic births, spiritual darkness, raw honesty, and a long road toward healing.

Emily speaks candidly about:

• Leaving the Church as a college student and her return
• Feeling abandoned by God after two traumatic C-sections
• How well-meaning NFP messaging left her feeling ashamed, isolated, and broken
• Her struggle with a distorted image of God as a “sadist”
• Finding healing through therapy, community, and a powerful encounter with the Blessed Mother

This is not a neat testimony. It’s messy. It’s honest. And it’s full of the kind of grace that only comes when shame is scattered by the light of truth.

Whether you’ve wrestled with NFP, struggled with Church teaching, or sat in the ache of unanswered prayers, this story will stay with you.

Links: 

• Website: totalwhine.com
• Substack: totalwhine.substack.com
• Instagram: @totalwhine_
• Coaching and NFP Resources: totalwhine.com/coaching, USCCB NFP Resources
• Listen to Emily on Like A Mother with Katie McGrady 

This episode is sponsored by Sister Josephine's alma mater: The University of Dallas. Click here to listen to Sister Josephine’s Commencement Address and for more information from the University of Dallas.

Journey to a new depth of hope, even in seemingly impossible circumstances, with Sr. Josephine in her new book HOPE: An Invitation. Available at osvcatholicbookstore.com.

Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

Learn more about Sr. Josephine at:
https://nazarethcsfn.org/
https://www.instagram.com/sr_josephine/