Discerning Marriage

A podcast to help you discover if marriage is God’s will for you!

About the show

Listen to Elizabeth's intro episode here!

Discerning Marriage is a weekly podcast hosted by Elizabeth Busby, MTS, MS, LMFT. She is co-founder with her husband Ross of Discerning Marriage Ministries and the Next Step program. Regardless of your state in life, you can begin preparing for marriage right now. Whether you are single, dating, seriously dating, engaged, on a break, or grieving a breakup, you can make use of this time for fruitful growth toward becoming a healthy and holy spouse. Intentional discernment of marriage starts today, even if you haven't given or received an engagement ring.

This podcast is also great for clergy and laypeople who prepare couples for marriage and parents who have teens and adult children who are dating and pursuing marriage!

Elizabeth has an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Texas A&M University (whoop!), and she earned a Master's degree in Theological Studies from Ave Maria University, where she wrote her thesis on how St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body can aid in the discernment of a vocation to marriage. Additionally, she holds a Master's degree in Counseling with a focus on marriage and family therapy from Southern Methodist University, and she works as a Marriage and Family Therapist. She has a passion for helping people fall in love with Jesus and helping people discern and live God’s joyful plan for holy marriages and family life.

Next Step is a parish-based course written for seriously dating couples who want to discern more intentionally with each other. There is a lot of structure in place for people who are discerning a vocation to celibacy, but there isn’t a similar support network for people discerning marriage. Since the majority of the population is called to marriage, there is a glaring need for resources that can be used to help guide this discernment. Elizabeth and her team seek to fill that need with the Next Step program. Learn more here: https://www.discerningmarriage.com/next-step-program.

This podcast is presented by Theology of the Body Institute, which promotes around the world John Paul II's revolutionary teaching on human life and love — the Theology of the Body. Learn more about the Institute's offerings here: https://tobinstitute.org.

Endorsements

"I first met Elizabeth Busby in 2009 when she was a college student working with a TOB ministry at Texas A&M. Now she’s not only a loving wife and mother, but also an accomplished professional counselor bringing John Paul II’s TOB to bear in all she does. She has worked alongside my colleagues and me since 2014 coordinating our network of intercessors and has become a trusted partner in our ministry. We are delighted to be launching her podcast Discerning Marriage under the TOB Institute umbrella. Having already been interviewed by Elizabeth about my own vocational discernment for the show, this podcast is going to be a great gift both for those looking for answers to questions about vocational discernment, and for those who just love hearing how God works in other people’s lives."
Christopher West, Th.D.
President, Theology of the Body Institute

Discerning Marriage on social media

Episodes

  • Episode 38: Discerning Your Vocation is HARD (Sometimes)

    February 16th, 2023  |  Season 4  |  16 mins 52 secs
    catholic, catholic dating, catholic formation, catholic podcast, catholic women, dating advice, discerning marriage, discernment, family, marriage, marriage and family, vocation, vocational discernment

    People often look back on being young and going out on dates with nostalgic fondness, but the reality is the process of discerning your vocation can be really difficult and painful! The good news is, this is an opportunity for you to grow in holiness.

    On The Discerning Marriage Podcast, we accompany you on the journey to discover if marriage is God’s will for you, and if you already know that you’re called to marriage, we want to help you bring glory to God in your vocation.

  • Episode 37: Marrying My High School Sweetheart (Discernment Story with Katie Schmitt)

    February 9th, 2023  |  Season 4  |  33 mins 10 secs

    Elizabeth Busby chats with Katie Schmitt about how she discerned marriage her high school sweetheart, Daniel.

    On The Discerning Marriage Podcast, we accompany you on the journey to discover if marriage is God’s will for you, and if you already know that you’re called to marriage, we want to help you bring glory to God in your vocation.

  • Episode 36: The Research-Based Keys to a Happy Marriage (with Regina Boyd)

    February 2nd, 2023  |  Season 4  |  34 mins 16 secs

    Elizabeth Busby chats with Catholic marriage therapist, Regina Boyd, to discuss the research proven keys to a successful, happy marriage.

    On The Discerning Marriage Podcast, we accompany you on the journey to discover if marriage is God’s will for you, and if you already know that you’re called to marriage, we want to help you bring glory to God in your vocation.

  • Episode 35: Valentine's Day!!! with Liv Harrison

    February 14th, 2022  |  Season 3  |  29 mins 13 secs

    Valentine's Day can be such a difficult day when you're single, and I want you to know that you're seen and known and loved in that space. So I've invited Liv Harrison back onto the podcast to talk with yall about the longing that you may feel today and what to do with it. We also tell some lovely Vday stories shared by my Instagram followers that will fill you with hope and laughter today. Stay close to Jesus today, sweet friends. He has you!!

    On The Discerning Marriage Podcast, we accompany you on the journey to discover if marriage is God’s will for you, and if you already know that you’re called to marriage, we want to help you bring glory to God in your vocation.

  • Episode 34: New Years Resolutions with Life Coach Steve Motyl

    December 31st, 2021  |  Season 3  |  23 mins 19 secs

    I don't know about you, but I love New Years resolutions...but very rarely am I able to keep them up all year! In case this is your situation, too, I've invited Steve Motyl, a Catholic relationship and lifestyle coach, to give us some tips to make good resolutions and stick to them. Cheers to a great 2022, yall!

    On The Discerning Marriage Podcast, we accompany you on the journey to discover if marriage is God’s will for you, and if you already know that you’re called to marriage, we want to help you bring glory to God in your vocation.

  • Episode 33: Joseph and Mary's Marriage with Christopher West

    December 24th, 2021  |  Season 3  |  24 mins 5 secs

    Merry Christmas!!! In honor of my favorite feast day, I invited Christopher West to talk with us about Mary and Joseph's marriage and what that marriage in particular has to do with Jesus's BIRTHday, that holy night around the manger! This was a really fun conversation; I hope you love it!

    On The Discerning Marriage Podcast, we accompany you on the journey to discover if marriage is God’s will for you, and if you already know that you’re called to marriage, we want to help you bring glory to God in your vocation.

  • Episode 32: Surrender with Stacey Sumereau

    December 17th, 2021  |  Season 3  |  31 mins 9 secs

    Surrender to his will and God's timing is the beginning to every good discernment - this is so true, but at the same time, so difficult! I'm joined by Stacey Sumereau to discuss this important topic and some tips for implementing it into your life!

    On The Discerning Marriage Podcast, we accompany you on the journey to discover if marriage is God’s will for you, and if you already know that you’re called to marriage, we want to help you bring glory to God in your vocation.

  • Episode 31: Healing from Sexual Abuse - An Interview with Kiki Rocha

    December 13th, 2021  |  Season 3  |  30 mins 57 secs

    If you're a sexual abuse survivor, dating and or in deep desire of changing generational patters, listen in! Kiki Rocha talks about her coaching mission that is anchored by her own story of much brokenness— incestual sexual abuse by her father, cheating, divorce, single parent mother, among other wounds. She gives you practical tips for how to begin this journey yourself. The more a woman knows who she is, the more she can help man, her earthly counterpart, understand who he is and in this way redeem eachother's glory.

    On The Discerning Marriage Podcast, we accompany you on the journey to discover if marriage is God’s will for you, and if you already know that you’re called to marriage, we want to help you bring glory to God in your vocation.

  • Episode 30: Discerning Through Cancer and a Breakup with Maggie Eckburg

    December 3rd, 2021  |  Season 3  |  30 mins 41 secs

    On this episode, Maggie shares her unique journey toward marriage with her now husband of ten years and father to her three children, Jacob. This couple knows suffering. Before they were even engaged, they faced Maggie's cancer diagnosis, as well as Jacob's own health scares that led to them both having spent time at each other's hospital bedside. Once the physical healing came, the need for spiritual and emotional healing became evident and it was clear that more discernment work was needed, including even a breakup. In their journey, we see that trust in God, our posture of openness toward suffering, and a willingness to recommit ourselves to one another with patience, understanding, and love is instrumental to the success of anyone's love story.

    Come listen as Maggie, lover of music, books, comedy, and seeing God in all things, shares this story with us!

    On The Discerning Marriage Podcast, we accompany you on the journey to discover if marriage is God’s will for you, and if you already know that you’re called to marriage, we want to help you bring glory to God in your vocation.

  • Episode 29: Jeanette Clark's Discernment Story

    November 12th, 2021  |  Season 3  |  33 mins 40 secs

    Jeanette Clark, classmate with Christopher West in her Master's of Theological Studies degree from the JPII Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family and wife of the Executive Director of the TOB Institute, got married in her late 20s after a cross country move and a breakup with her future husband. Join us as we discuss her full discernment story!

    On The Discerning Marriage Podcast, we accompany you on the journey to discover if marriage is God’s will for you, and if you already know that you’re called to marriage, we want to help you bring glory to God in your vocation.

  • Episode 28: Beauty and Your Wedding Day with Spoken Bride's Stephanie Calis

    October 29th, 2021  |  Season 3  |  35 mins

    All brides and grooms want their wedding day to be special and beautiful, but did you know that this can actually be a way to glorify God with your relationship?? Join me as I talk with Stephanie Calis {of Spoken Bride Ministry!} about how to press deeply into your desire for a beautiful wedding day and how that can be a powerful witness to your guests! We also talk about her wedding planning book, which is a wonderful tool for you and your significant other to use when the time comes and a wonderful gift for people whom you love who are getting married soon!

    On The Discerning Marriage Podcast, we accompany you on the journey to discover if marriage is God’s will for you, and if you already know that you’re called to marriage, we want to help you bring glory to God in your vocation.

  • Episode 27: Original Solitude with Bill Donaghy

    October 22nd, 2021  |  Season 3  |  25 mins 52 secs

    The ache of longing to be in your vocation can be agonizing. Amazingly, Pope St. John Paul II pressed into this theme in his discussions on what he calls original solitude. Renown Theology of the Body expert Bill Donaghy joins me as we discuss what original solitude is and why it matters to you!

    On The Discerning Marriage Podcast, we accompany you on the journey to discover if marriage is God’s will for you, and if you already know that you’re called to marriage, we want to help you bring glory to God in your vocation.