The Magdala Podcast

Feb 03 2025 40 ep. 51 mins 7
The Magdala Podcast artwork

A place of honesty, hope, and healing for women of faith struggling with sexual addiction. You are welcome at this table.

  Religion & Spirituality  Education
RSS feed Share
Copy RSS


Subscribe on Podcast Addict


All About Small Groups (and why you should join!)

Feb 03 2025 54 mins  
In this episode, Annie is joined by Paige, one of our small group moderators, to discuss everything you need to know about joining a small group. The ladies share their own journeys toward healing, and answer practical questions such as “what is group like”, “is the cost worth it”, “what if I’m afraid to talk about it”, and more. Welcome to a place of honesty, hope, a

Dating and Discernment After Addiction

Jan 20 2025 44 mins  
In this episode, Rachael and Shelby have a candid conversation about dating in recovery, and when to tell your significant other about your story. They also discuss how healing is a lifelong journey, and how to strive for healing in different seasons of your life. Welcome to a place of honesty, hope, and healing for women struggling with sexual addiction. We’re so glad you’re h

Processing Purity Culture

Jan 06 2025 40 mins  
In this episode, Rachael kicks off season 5 with a solo episode on purity culture. She shares her research on the roots of purity culture, its popular voices, survey results from women in our community, and addresses three core lies offered by purity culture: (1) sexuality is the locus of either the gravest sin and the greatest joy, (2) men are inherently more lustful, and (3) marr

The Importance of Sexual Education ft. Dr. Julia Sadusky

Apr 05 2024 35 mins  
In this episode, Rachael is joined by Dr. Julia Sadusky, a mental health therapist and author of several books including her recently released "Talking to Your Teens About Sex". Rachael and Dr. Sadusky discuss the damage done by a lack of or inadequate sex education, the ties between those experiences and compulsive behavior, and how to educate in a healthy, loving way. Welcome to

Feminism and Women's Sexuality ft. Abigail Favale

Mar 29 2024 53 mins  
In this episode, Rachael is joined by Dr. Abigail Favale from the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame. They discuss feminism and its effects on women's sexuality, what aspects are beneficial and which need to be left behind, and how to find healing and solace in the teachings of the Catholic Church. Welcome to a place of honesty, hope, and healing for

How Free Do You Want to Be? ft. Andrew Laubacher

Mar 22 2024 75 mins  
In this episode, Rachael is joined by Andrew Laubacher, executive director of Humanality: an organization dedicated to freeing young people from phone, screen, and social media addiction and helping them live intentionally in the technological age. They discuss the dangers of phone and screen addiction, how deeply it interplays with addiction to pornography, and how freedom is poss

Redeeming Heartache: Stranger and Prophet

Feb 09 2024 24 mins  
In the second part of this two-part series, Rachael continues exploring "Redeeming Heartache" by Dan Allender and Cathy Loerzel. Today, she examines the wound of "stranger" who is "outside the circle of calling" and the nature of the "prophet" to become a bringer of hope. Welcome to a place of honesty, hope, and healing for women struggling with sexual addiction. We’re so glad yo

Redeeming Heartache: Orphan and Priest

Dec 15 2023 26 mins  
This week, Rachael begins an overview of the biblical archetypes in "Redeeming Heartache" by Dan Allender and Cathy Loerzel. She explores the wounds of "orphan", the calling of "priest", and how they pertain to our experiences of sexual addiction. Welcome to a place of honesty, hope, and healing for women struggling with sexual addiction. We’re so glad you’re here. ⎯⎯⎯ Bu

Why 'Men are Visual, Women Want Romance' is a False Dichotomy

Dec 08 2023 24 mins  
We've all heard the assumption: "Men are visual and women desire romance." But is this actually true, or is it a false assumption that can be harmful? Learn about the industries preying on this belief, the truth about female sexuality, and the damage this distortion can have on young women. Welcome to a place of honesty, hope, and healing for women struggling with sexual addiction.

Choosing Reality Over Sexual Fantasy ft. Annie Heyen

Dec 01 2023 70 mins  
This week, Rachael is joined by Annie to talk about the often-overlooked struggle of sexual fantasy. Why do we fantasize in the first place? What should we do about it? Rachael and Annie open up about their own struggles with fantasy and give practical tips on how to stop. We also learn about the negative feedback loop that connects pornography and fantasizing. Welcome to a place o