Wannabe Saints

In this episode, we sit down with our good friend Francesca Janssen for an honest conversation about what charity actually looks like in marriage, motherhood, friendship, and everyday life.

Francesca shares what it was like getting married and becoming pregnant with twins just a few months later—and how learning to be a wife and mother at the same time challenged her understanding of love, sacrifice, and relying on both her husband and the Lord.

We talk about the small acts of charity that make up a vocation, comparison and resentment in marriage, learning to ask for help, and the temptation to believe that taking care of yourself is selfish. Francesca also shares how exhaustion in those early months with twins taught her and her husband to stop keeping score and start working together.

We also dive into friendship across different seasons of life and what those of us who are single can learn now about selflessness, discipline, and preparing for whatever vocation God may be calling us to. Because no matter our season of life, we're all called to love and serve the people God has placed in front of us—and ultimately help one another get to Heaven.

More from Francesca Janssen
📸 Instagram: @francesca_janssen

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In this episode, we sit down with Catholic psychologist Dr. Matthew Breuninger for a powerful conversation on healing, virtue, and what it actually means to live in the freedom Christ promises.

We unpack the ways our wounds can lead us to live out of self-protection and self-preservation—and how those patterns can quietly keep us from loving freely and growing in virtue. Dr. Breuninger shares practical wisdom on identifying our own self-protections, understanding virtue signaling, and recognizing how our attachment styles and childhood experiences can shape the way we relate to God and others.

We also dive into parenting, healthy attachment, and how parents can create safety for their children while still holding boundaries and teaching virtue.

This conversation is packed with practical wisdom for understanding ourselves more deeply, healing the places that keep us stuck, and becoming more free to love God and others well.

Resources Mentioned
📖 The Whole-Brain Child — Dr. Daniel J. Siegel & Dr. Tina Payne Bryson
https://www.tinabryson.com/thewholebrainchild

📖 No-Drama Discipline — Dr. Daniel J. Siegel & Dr. Tina Payne Bryson
https://www.tinabryson.com/nodramadiscipline

📖 Finding Freedom in Christ: Healing Life’s Hurts — Dr. Matthew Breuninger
https://stpaulcenter.com/product/finding-freedom-in-christ-healing-lifes-hurts/

Connect with Dr. Matthew Breuninger
📸 Instagram: @askacatholictherapist
https://www.instagram.com/askacatholictherapist/

🌐 Wellspring Counseling & Coaching
https://www.wellspringccc.com/

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💛 Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/WannabeSaints

In the final episode of our Built on Virtue mini-series, we're exploring temperance, the virtue that helps us rightly order our desires and enjoy the good things God has given us without allowing them to control us. Together, we'll unpack why temperance is about far more than simply saying “no,” how it brings freedom and balance into our lives, and the practical ways we can grow in self-mastery each day. Whether you're struggling with excess, learning to discipline your desires, or simply striving to grow in holiness, this episode offers practical wisdom for living with greater freedom and becoming the person God created you to be.

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📩 Email us: wannabesaintspodcast@gmail.com

📸 Follow us: @Wannabe_Saints

💛 Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/WannabeSaints

In the third episode of our Built on Virtue mini-series, we're exploring fortitude, the virtue that gives us the strength to persevere in the pursuit of the good, even when it's difficult. Together, we'll unpack why fortitude is far more than bravery, how it enables us to face fear, endure suffering, and remain faithful in the midst of trials, and the practical ways we can grow in courage each day. Whether you're carrying a heavy cross, facing uncertainty, or simply striving to follow Christ more faithfully, this episode offers practical wisdom for living with true fortitude.

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💛 Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/WannabeSaints

In the second episode of our Built on Virtue mini-series, we're exploring justice, the virtue that teaches us to give God and others what is rightfully due to them. Together, we'll unpack why justice is far more than fairness, how it orders our relationships with God and neighbor, and the practical ways this virtue shapes how we love, serve, and honor those around us. Whether you're striving to love others more authentically, grow in holiness, or strengthen your relationship with God, this episode offers practical wisdom for living justly each day.

More from Wannabe Saints
🔗 Linktree – All Our Links

📩 Email us: wannabesaintspodcast@gmail.com

📸 Follow us: @Wannabe_Saints

💛 Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/WannabeSaints