Should You Pursue Him First? + Men Who Aren’t Ready to Date + The Problem With “Trust Your Feelings”

Kim Zember shares the extraordinary story of searching for love everywhere she could find it—same-sex relationships, success, missions, marriage, and even becoming someone she no longer recognized. She opens up about cheating on her husband, living with deep shame, and why none of it brought the peace she longed for. In this conversation with Elizabeth Busby, they explore unwanted singleness, same-sex attraction, healing, the difference between knowing about God and truly encountering Him, why so many people see God as a judge instead of a Father, and how discovering Christ transformed every desire without erasing the struggle.Restless Heart by Kim ZemberKim Zember’s IGKim’s website Ignite Hope Discerning Marriage Retreat Info📸 Elizabeth’s Instagram👩‍❤️‍👨 If you’re seriously dating and thinking about getting engaged, check out our Next Step course to help discern if you’re both ready for engagement.Theology of the Body Institute Resources: 🔥 ⁠3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on the TOB⁠ 💬 Text TOB to (404) 647-7682 ⚡️ ⁠Support us & get access to leading TOB formation⁠ 📚 ⁠Course schedule⁠ 🏔️ ⁠Pilgrimages⁠ 🛍️ ⁠Store⁠

What does it actually mean to live for truth when it costs you something? In this conversation, we explore one of the most misunderstood figures in Scripture: John the Baptist. From his courage to confront powerful people to his willingness to die for the sanctity of marriage, his life challenges our understanding of discipleship, masculinity, and holiness. Along the way, we also hear Fr. Sean’s personal story, discuss discerning God's will, overcoming fear, and discovering joy through prayer. Whether you're wrestling with faith, searching for purpose, or wanting to understand why truth matters, this conversation will leave you thinking differently.Get Fr. Sean's "Prophet of Fire" hereIgnite Hope Discerning Marriage Retreat Info📸 Elizabeth’s Instagram👩‍❤️‍👨 If you’re seriously dating and thinking about getting engaged, check out our Next Step course to help discern if you’re both ready for engagement.Theology of the Body Institute Resources: 🔥 ⁠3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on the TOB⁠ 💬 Text TOB to (404) 647-7682 ⚡️ ⁠Support us & get access to leading TOB formation⁠ 📚 ⁠Course schedule⁠ 🏔️ ⁠Pilgrimages⁠ 🛍️ ⁠Store⁠

What keeps good people single? In this candid conversation, Catholic matchmaker Madigan shares the hard truths she's learned from working with thousands of singles. We discuss unrealistic expectations, dating app culture, ghosting, attraction, self-improvement, and why so many people struggle to find a spouse despite deeply desiring marriage. Madigan also shares her own unexpected love story, practical advice for discerning marriage, and her framework for knowing when you're choosing wisely versus settling. Whether you're single, dating, or helping someone discern their vocation, this episode offers hope, challenge, and a fresh perspective on modern Catholic dating.commitmentism.com/📸 Elizabeth’s Instagram👩‍❤️‍👨 If you’re seriously dating and thinking about getting engaged, check out our Next Step course to help discern if you’re both ready for engagement.Theology of the Body Institute Resources: 🔥 ⁠3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on the TOB⁠ 💬 Text TOB to (404) 647-7682 ⚡️ ⁠Support us & get access to leading TOB formation⁠ 📚 ⁠Course schedule⁠ 🏔️ ⁠Pilgrimages⁠ 🛍️ ⁠Store⁠

What does it actually take to build a marriage that lasts?In this episode, Dr. Gregory Popcak shares the surprising story of proposing after just two months of dating, how he and his wife Lisa built a 37-year marriage, and why prayer became the foundation of everything they created together. We discuss why so many faithful Catholics struggle to find someone to marry, the difference between piety and genuine devotion, how to identify humility while dating, and the single best predictor of future marital success.We also dive into parenting, why treating children like projects backfires, what causes adult children to drift away from their parents, and the habits shared by families who successfully pass on the faith. This conversation is packed with practical wisdom for discerning marriage, building strong relationships, and creating a home where faith truly comes alive.Dr. Gregory Popcak's WebsiteIgnite Hope Discerning Marriage Retreat InfoSpotify📸 Elizabeth’s Instagram👩‍❤️‍👨 If you’re seriously dating and thinking about getting engaged, check out our Next Step course to help discern if you’re both ready for engagement.Theology of the Body Institute Resources: 🔥 ⁠3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on the TOB⁠ 💬 Text TOB to (404) 647-7682 ⚡️ ⁠Support us & get access to leading TOB formation⁠ 📚 ⁠Course schedule⁠ 🏔️ ⁠Pilgrimages⁠ 🛍️ ⁠Store⁠

What do you do when you keep making eye contact with someone at Mass… but he never talks to you? Should you wait for someone who “isn’t ready yet”? Can you discern marriage and religious life at the same time? And how do you know if the peace you feel in a relationship is actually from God — or just emotions?In this Q&A episode, we dive into modern Catholic dating, discernment, masculinity, red flags, vocation anxiety, spiritual clarity, pornography, confession, desire, and the very real fear of making the wrong life decision. This conversation is honest, practical, deeply personal, and full of the kind of advice most people are too afraid to say out loud.Ignite Hope Discerning Marriage Retreat InfoFr. Ambrose Criste episode link📸 Elizabeth’s Instagram👩‍❤️‍👨 If you’re seriously dating and thinking about getting engaged, check out our Next Step course to help discern if you’re both ready for engagement.Theology of the Body Institute Resources: 🔥 ⁠3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on the TOB⁠ 💬 Text TOB to (404) 647-7682 ⚡️ ⁠Support us & get access to leading TOB formation⁠ 📚 ⁠Course schedule⁠ 🏔️ ⁠Pilgrimages⁠

In this powerful episode, Father Gregory Pine joins Elizabeth Busby to tackle the "spicy" reality of divorce and the permanence of marriage. They navigate the painful process of discerning a breakup, offering a "home run" of practical advice for anyone currently in the trenches of heartbreak. By exploring Thomistic wisdom and the necessity of "training the tongue," Fr. Gregory reveals how to stop catastrophizing and start "recollecting" your soul during times of loss. Ultimately, this conversation calls you higher—challenging you to look beyond your current relational status and anchor yourself in your "uppercase V vocation": partaking in the eternal bliss of the Trinity.Ignite Hope Discerning Marriage Retreat Info📸 Elizabeth’s Instagram👩‍❤️‍👨 If you’re seriously dating and thinking about getting engaged, check out our Next Step course to help discern if you’re both ready for engagement.Theology of the Body Institute Resources: 🔥 ⁠3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on the TOB⁠ 💬 Text TOB to (404) 647-7682 ⚡️ ⁠Support us & get access to leading TOB formation⁠ 📚 ⁠Course schedule⁠ 🏔️ ⁠Pilgrimages⁠ 🛍️ ⁠Store⁠

In this unscripted “devil’s advocate” Q&A, we respond to real questions challenging Catholic perspectives on dating and physical intimacy—especially kissing during engagement. Is it helping discernment or sabotaging it? Drawing from St. John Paul II and real-world counseling experience, this conversation unpacks the stages of dating, the purpose of engagement, and the difference between emotional bonding and intentional formation. If you’ve ever wondered how far is too far—or how to date with clarity, freedom, and purpose—this episode offers a vision that calls you higher, not just further.Ignite Hope Discerning Marriage Retreat Info📸 Elizabeth’s Instagram👩‍❤️‍👨 If you’re seriously dating and thinking about getting engaged, check out our Next Step course to help discern if you’re both ready for engagement.Theology of the Body Institute Resources: 🔥 ⁠3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on the TOB⁠ 💬 Text TOB to (404) 647-7682 ⚡️ ⁠Support us & get access to leading TOB formation⁠ 📚 ⁠Course schedule⁠ 🏔️ ⁠Pilgrimages⁠ 🛍️ ⁠Store⁠

What if the way you’ve been “discerning marriage” is actually keeping you stuck?In this episode, Fr. Ambrose Criste breaks open a radically freeing vision of vocation, relationships, and spiritual warfare. We unpack how to tell the difference between real red flags and emotional or spiritual attacks, why fear and overthinking can paralyze your discernment, and the surprising truth that you may not need to “discern marriage” at all.We also dive into tough, practical questions—pornography in relationships, what you can (and can’t) compromise on, why “lowering your standards” might actually mean reordering them, and how to move forward with clarity and peace instead of anxiety.If you’ve ever felt stuck, afraid of making the wrong choice, or unsure how to move forward in love, this conversation will challenge you, ground you, and call you higher.📸 Elizabeth’s Instagram👩‍❤️‍👨 If you’re seriously dating and thinking about getting engaged, check out our Next Step course to help discern if you’re both ready for engagement.Theology of the Body Institute Resources: 🔥 ⁠3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on the TOB⁠ 💬 Text TOB to (404) 647-7682 ⚡️ ⁠Support us & get access to leading TOB formation⁠ 📚 ⁠Course schedule⁠ 🏔️ ⁠Pilgrimages⁠ 🛍️ ⁠Store⁠

This Q&A episode with Elizabeth dives into some of the most honest and difficult questions around love, marriage, and personal struggle. From navigating depression while remaining open to life, to the deep ache of unwanted singleness, to breaking free from pornography and building a life of virtue—this conversation doesn’t shy away from the real battles.We explore how to approach dating with courage, how to grow during seasons of waiting, what it actually means to live out God’s design for marriage and intimacy, and how to make wise, intentional decisions about work, family, and relationships.If you’ve ever felt stuck, discouraged, or unsure how your desires fit into God’s plan—this episode is an invitation to rise higher, think deeper, and walk forward with purpose.

In this Q&A episode of Discerning Marriage, Elizabeth answers questions about heartbreak, waiting for marriage, and dating with intention.What do you do when someone you love moves on without giving closure? How do you keep hope when waiting for marriage feels harder with time? And how should couples approach physical affection while living chastely?Elizabeth discusses forgiveness vs. reconciliation, why suffering can deepen hope, the importance of physical boundaries, and practical ways to stay connected in long-distance relationships.If you're discerning marriage or healing from heartbreak, this conversation offers wisdom, encouragement, and a Christ-centered vision for love.📸 Elizabeth’s Instagram👩‍❤️‍👨 If you’re seriously dating and thinking about getting engaged, check out our Next Step course to help discern if you’re both ready for engagement.Theology of the Body Institute Resources: 🔥 ⁠3 FREE sessions of our flagship course on the TOB⁠ 💬 Text TOB to (404) 647-7682 ⚡️ ⁠Support us & get access to leading TOB formation⁠ 📚 ⁠Course schedule⁠ 🏔️ ⁠Pilgrimages⁠ 🛍️ ⁠Store⁠