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!

Read more: 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://femininegeniuspodcast.substack.com/p/conversion-art-and-christ-found-in

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.