Explore every episode of the podcast Delay and Pray
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temperaments and Fasting with Rosemary Berry | 07 Aug 2025 | 00:40:47 | |
Why does spiritual fasting feel easy for some and incredibly difficult for others? In this episode, Beth interviews Catholic author and storyteller Rosemary McGuire Berry to explore how your God-given temperament can shape your journey toward holiness—and how understanding it can transform your approach to fasting, prayer, and virtue. Drawing from Rosemary’s new book, Piety and Personality: The Temperaments of the Saints, they discuss how saints like St. Paul and St. Thomas Aquinas lived out their vocations in alignment with their unique personalities. Whether you're choleric, melancholic, sanguine, phlegmatic—or have no idea what any of that means—this episode will give you new tools for both spiritual insight and practical growth. Help Beth reach her goal of bringing 1 Million Catholics back to the Church: Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! Resources in Today's Show: Learn more about Rosemary through her website Connect with Rosemary on Instagram @rosemary.writer Delay and Pray Links: | |||
| Freedom, Fraternity, and the Fight for Virtue: Inside Exodus 90 with Jamie Baxter | 31 Jul 2025 | 00:39:59 | |
Many of you ask me if I coach men, and I'm sad to say I do not at this time, but today I want to focus on men and the spiritual battle they face. I am joined by Jamie Baxter, founder of Exodus 90: a spiritual formation program that’s helped over 250,000 men across 80 countries grow in freedom, discipline, and communion with Christ. Jamie shares how Exodus 90 began and why its focus on prayer, asceticism, and fraternity is more needed than ever. If you’ve ever wondered how to support the men in your life spiritually, this episode is for you. Discover how Exodus 90 and Delay and Pray® complement each other in leading men and women back to the Church, the sacraments, and a vibrant, faithful Catholic life. Help Beth reach her goal of bringing 1 Million Catholics back to the Church: Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! Resources in Today's Show: Learn more about Exodus90 Delay and Pray Links: | |||
| Chapter 3 - Happy, Thin, and Rich Right Now | 29 May 2025 | 00:18:48 | |
In this episode, Beth unpacks Chapter 3 of her book, Delay and Pray®, and tackles the idea of being "Happy, Thin, and Rich Right Now." Rather than chasing happiness or peace as distant rewards, Beth reveals how they’re available in the present, regardless of your weight, finances, or circumstances, by rooting yourself in God’s mercy and peace. With honest stories and practical tips, she shares how spiritual fasting, prayer, and a shift in mindset can help you find joy and richness today, not just when you meet your goals. If you’re tired of waiting for happiness to arrive "someday," this episode offers encouragement and a roadmap to experiencing it now - no perfection required. Help Beth reach her goal of bringing 1 Million Catholics back to the Church: Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! Delay and Pray® Links: Join the Delay and Pray® Group Coaching Experience Today | |||
| Sleeping and Overdrinking | 31 Aug 2023 | 00:24:57 | |
Did you know that a few glasses of wine before bed can throw off your sleep schedule for days? In today’s episode, Beth is explaining the science behind alcohol’s effect on the human brain. “With good sleep, everything is better.” - Beth Bubik The glass of wine that you ‘need’ to relax in the evenings isn’t helping you relax - it’s actually stimulating your fight-or-flight response, shutting down the regenerative process of your brain, and ruining your sleep. Luckily, Beth has a few tips for improving the quality of your sleep, and it starts with fasting from alcohol in the evenings. She’s also sharing ways to create a quality sleep environment in your bedroom, and a bedtime routine that will optimize your sleep experience. And of course, she’s giving you fair warning of the habits that are most likely to damage or even completely ruin your chances of rejuvenating rest. Beth reminds us that good habits beget good habits: for example, quality sleep will lead to quality days! The reverse is also true: a few drinks or some caffeine before bed will rob you of good sleep, which will in turn rob you of your best life tomorrow. If you’re ready to reclaim your right to dream, don’t miss this episode! Help Beth reach her goal of bringing 1 Million Catholics back to the Church: Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! Delay and Pray Links: | |||
| Sleeping and Overeating | 24 Aug 2023 | 00:23:35 | |
Anyone else feeling tired? Today, Beth is talking about how sleep-deprivation can inhibit your ability to achieve the vibrant life you desire. “Sleep is as important as exercise and nutrition.” - Beth Bubik She explains different sleep rhythms, describes what good sleep actually looks like, shares scientific explanations of what sleep (and the lack thereof) does to your brain and body, and suggests various ways to optimize your sleep in order to live a more fruitful life. Did you know that you may be genetically predisposed to stay up later or get up earlier than other people? Beth encourages everyone to discover their natural sleep rhythm, and make a plan to honor it. She also shares how just a few more hours of sleep could affect your weightloss journey, and how sleep-deprivation can awaken the primitive brain’s desire for fast-acting carbs, rather than healthy foods. And for any new parents out there: Beth understands that sleep may not always be easily accessible. Even with that, she encourages everyone to keep this information handy, and create a lifestyle that promotes sleep as much as possible. Maybe that’s reading Scripture before bed, instead of binging Netflix. Maybe it’s avoiding excessive caffeine intake, or journaling to work through your stress. Or maybe it’s simply honoring your natural circadian rhythms: eating when it’s daylight, and sleeping when it’s dark. Making changes in your sleep schedule can be challenging. If you’re feeling discouraged, try Beth’s new motto: “Wrestle. Pray. Trust. And then Repeat.” Three steps forward and two steps back still results in a trajectory towards sainthood: you just have to be willing to get back up and try again. Help Beth reach her goal of bringing 1 Million Catholics back to the Church: Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! Resources: Dr. Matt Walker: “Why We Sleep” Delay and Pray Links: | |||
| Friday Night Drinking | 17 Aug 2023 | 00:24:14 | |
Friday night happy hour? Count Beth… out! In today’s episode, she’s challenging the idea that Friday night fun begins with a drink. “Alcohol is small and irrelevant in my life.” - Annie Grace, This Naked Mind Thought shifts, scientific proof, and her own personal testimony combine into a provocative episode that boils down to answering one simple question: “Do you really need to drink to have fun?” Beth shares a recent story about a family weekend when she was tempted to have a drink, and the thoughts and motivations that kept her strong in spite of that desire. She gives a few excellent examples of motivating thought shifts and even shares a deliverance prayer that she has found helpful in the face of temptation. Using her own struggles as an example, Beth reassures her listeners that giving up alcohol does get easier and more rewarding: she hasn’t had a drink on Friday night throughout 2023! And if, after all that, you’re still reaching for a glass of wine, Beth shares some pretty fascinating scientific facts about the cyclical havoc that alcohol can raise in your brain, and the destructive power of your own habitual thoughts about alcohol. You don’t need to be stuck in these cycles: using the delay-and-pray protocol, you can break these patterns and begin a fun, rewarding life without needing alcohol. You just have to be willing to question your own mind the next time it says, “I need a drink.” Help Beth reach her goal of bringing 1 Million Catholics back to the Church: Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! Resources Mentioned: The Alcohol Experiment - Annie Grace Deliverance Prayers: For Use by the Laity - Fr. Chad Ripperger Delay and Pray Links: | |||
| Your Thoughts Determine Your Results | 10 Aug 2023 | 00:22:58 | |
What is the easiest way to do hard things? In today’s episode, Beth is answering that question with insights from multiple great saints, theologians, and her own mindset coach. “Our thoughts determine our lives.” - Elder Thaddeus If you think the pursuit of virtue is difficult, you’re right! But maybe it doesn’t have to be quite as difficult as you think it is. Beth is explaining a two-tiered approach to creating lasting, virtuous change in your life. The first tier is self-knowledge, and the second tier is Divine Grace, through the Sacraments. She cites great thinkers like St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Paul, Elder Thaddeus, and Fulton Sheen, to explain that your interior life dictates the results of your external life. If you want to experience real change in your life, the first step is to start noticing your thoughts and taking them to God. She also addresses the way that the material world can affect our interior life. How often do we allow the culture’s ideas of fun to creep in and fill us with FOMO if we choose to live a countercultural life through prayer and fasting? Beth counters this by describing the “smells and bells” of the Mass as an example of the lovely ways that God reaches us through our senses, and she shares her personal relationships with nuns and priests to exemplify how fun holiness can truly be. Furthermore, she quotes Fulton Sheen, who explains that the Sacraments are the spiritual manifestation of our physical lives. Internally and externally, God is constantly offering us the truths and graces we need to shift us into a life of abundance and love. So… What do you need to be thinking to create lasting spiritual, mental, and physical changes in your life? Your results all begin in your thoughts!! Help Beth reach her goal of bringing 1 Million Catholics back to the Church: Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! Delay and Pray Links: | |||
| Stop the Overeating: Part 2 | 03 Aug 2023 | 00:19:43 | |
What if it’s not you… What if it’s your hormones? In today’s episode, Beth is continuing her two-part series, “Stop the Overeating,” and de-escalating the emotional pressure of your weight loss journey with a simple, biological fact: your hormones aren’t playing nicely together. “Trade your cheap desire for sugary foods and alcohol for the true desires that God has written on your heart.” - Beth Bubik Tackling both the mental strain of indulgent thoughts and the hormonal imbalances triggered by our stressed, exhausted lifestyles, Beth is offering simple, straightforward suggestions to win the weight loss battle once and for all. She begins by discussing ‘indulgent’ thoughts and ‘opportunity’ thoughts, replacing “This isn’t working” with “This just might work!” She also explains the effect that the three hunger hormones - insulin, leptin, and ghrelin - have on your weight loss journey. Insulin is a fat storage hormone, and an excess of insulin contributes to diabetes and weight gain. Leptin is the hormone that tells us when we’re full and need to exercise, but insulin blocks that receptor to our brains. Ghrelin tells us when we’re hungry and need to find food, but insulin causes ghrelin to escalate, creating even more desire for food. In order to get all of these hormones balanced, Beth is offering a simple, effective plan to her listeners, including food choices, sleep recommendations, and tips for controlling the stress responses that make us reach for cookies when we really ought to reach for a pillow. Finally, Beth gently affirms that the first few weeks are the hardest, but they will result in a deeper awareness of your interior life. From that space, call out to the Lord to shine a light on the true desires of your heart that have gotten buried under the sweets and processed foods. This is the path to permanent healing. As Beth says, “Don’t shoot for purgatory - Shoot for heaven.” Help Beth reach her goal of bringing 1 Million Catholics back to the Church: Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! Delay and Pray Links: | |||
| Stop the Overeating: Part 1 | 27 Jul 2023 | 00:19:29 | |
What if the best way to stop overeating and to start enjoying the best days of your life had literally nothing to do with food itself? “Take the pressure off yourself. This is not a diet. It is a spiritual lifestyle.” - Beth Bubik In this episode, Beth is exploring practical ways to overcome common food struggles, but more importantly, she’s tackling the interior thoughts and desires that create the chaos that ultimately lead to overeating. If you have struggled with diets in the past and you’re frustrated by the numbers on the scale, you don’t want to miss this episode! Beth begins by defining overeating, and challenging the diet mentality. By shifting our focus from deprivation to experimentation, Beth unearths a new way to view the impact that food has on both our bodies and our minds. She even debunks some myths about foods that have been wrongly labeled “unhealthy,” while simultaneously explaining why no foods should be eaten with reckless abandon. Have you heard of the motivational triad? “Seeking pleasure, avoiding pain, and reducing effort” is a default setting in the human brain, but it can have catastrophic results on the mind and body when we allow it to influence our food choices. To undo the damage done by these brain habits or “neural pathways,” Beth suggests identifying the scenarios that lead to overeating, and making a plan to address them in the future. The same repetitive process that created the unconscious bad habits can be used to create unconscious virtuous habits! And finally, if you’re struggling, Beth suggests praying for the virtue of longanimity: the willingness to wait for the good. As Beth says, “This is the ticket to heaven for the whole Body of Christ.” Help Beth reach her goal of bringing 1 Million Catholics back to the Church: Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! Delay and Pray Links: | |||
| Metabolic Flexibility for God: Part 2 | 20 Jul 2023 | 00:26:25 | |
Welcome to Part 2 of Metabolic Flexibility for God! In today’s episode, Beth uses the parable of the Sower and the Seed to explain the Delay and Pray Spiritual Fasting Course. “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12 She introduces her listeners to the desired results (the ‘seeds’) of spiritual fasting, and uses the parable to illustrate four different ways that our brains pursue those results. Do you stop before you start? Cave to perfectionism? Buffer with other foods and entertainment? Or fail your way to success? Addressing these four tendencies, Beth uses beautiful, Biblical symbolism to illustrate this epic journey into spiritual fasting. She’s also sharing purely practical information, by offering you a list of pantry staples, recipes, and even a 7 Day Meal Plan to help you become metabolically flexible for God. And finally, if you love the idea of spiritual fasting but you don’t want to make this journey alone, the next Delay and Pray cohort starts soon! There’s a free waitlist on Beth’s website! Help Beth reach her goal of bringing 1 Million Catholics back to the Church: Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! Resources Mentioned: Jim Rohn: The Parable of the Sower and the Seed Delay and Pray Links: | |||
| Metabolic Flexibility for God: Part 1 | 13 Jul 2023 | 00:20:18 | |
The fourth of July was last week, and the feasting and parties were glorious! But how many of us are worried about returning to “normal” life now that the feasting is over? “I know indeed how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance. In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need.” (Phillippians 4:12) On today’s episode, Beth is introducing her listeners to the concept of metabolic flexibility, a skill that can help you feast joyfully without losing your ability to return to the eat/fast/feast cycle as soon as the holiday ends. To achieve this kind of freedom, she offers five suggestions for achieving and maintaining metabolic flexibility even during celebratory seasons throughout the year. Beth shares a few minimum baseline plans for staying on target spiritually and physically during holiday weeks, even while the sugar consumption goes up. She also shares a few of the devastating side-effects that over-consumption of sugar/flour/alcohol have on the body, mind and soul. With this in mind, she taps into the science of glucose and ketones, and explains how the eat/fast/feast cycle leads to a metabolic flexibility that processes carbs and fats more efficiently. Finally, she shares her personal testimony of the life-changing daily affects that the eat/fast/feast cycle has had on her, both physically and spiritually. She ends her podcast by listing her five ways to be metabolically flexible with God during any holiday: take notes, because these steps are simple, effective, and fully doable even during the busiest holiday seasons! Help Beth reach her goal of bringing 1 Million Catholics back to the Church: Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! Delay and Pray Links: | |||
| Fighting for Freedom in the Military with Megan Gephart | 06 Jul 2023 | 00:48:50 | |
As we celebrate the Fourth of July this week, Beth is interviewing Megan Gephart, an active-duty Army officer, life and fitness coach, and the host of the podcast, “Armed to the Heart.” “Our calling oftentimes is really born of our pain: it’s born of our wounds and those challenges we’ve walked through.” - Megan Gephart For the past three years, Megan has coached prenatal, postnatal, and high-achieving women in the military and other male-dominated environments. Today, Beth and Megan are discussing the challenges women face in the military, and Megan’s advocacy for pregnant military women. As an Army officer, wife, and the mother of two small boys, Megan has personally experienced pregnancy discrimination, and has also been privy to the deeply disturbing abortion policies currently in effect in the military. She has already fought for and won some policy battles, and she is now on a mission to help military women understand their options, fight for their motherhood, and understand their value as women in male-dominated environments - all while she continues to fight for necessary policy change. Armed with the teachings of the Catholic Church and her mindset coaching tools, Megan is helping military women understand the true power of their feminine genius, and how motherhood can change them into the leaders they are meant to be. Help Beth reach her goal of bringing 1 Million Catholics back to the Church: Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! Megan Gephart’s Links: Free Guide: Overcome the Overwhelm Delay and Pray Links: | |||
| Becoming a Thriving Catholic with Jessica Castillo | 29 Jun 2023 | 00:40:43 | |
In today’s episode, Beth is interviewing Jessica Castillo, a Catholic personal development and health coach, and the host of the podcast, “A Thriving Catholic.” “The goal is not perfection. The goal is resilience.” - Jessica Castillo Her mission is to help Catholic women thrive in every aspect of their lives, body, mind, and soul, so that they have the energy, the strength, and the focus to do the important work that God has created them to do. In this episode, Beth and Jessica are discussing the connection between physical and spiritual health, and how better health leads to increased capacity for mission. Jessica begins by describing her childhood pursuit of health in a stressful home environment, creating an exercise routine with the help of water bottles and library books, and teaching herself to pray, inspired by movies and a Gideon Bible. A difficult diagnosis for her mother, a combat deployment to Iraq, and dating her Catholic husband ultimately led her to RCIA and Catholicism. Jessica began making connections between food, exercise, and prayer, and how vital all three were to showing up as her best possible self. Finally, she shares her journey into motherhood, and how a bout with depression brought her into a deeper understanding of who she is and what she needs to thrive. Listen as Beth and Jessica discuss how to find meaning in life, and the importance of intentional, holy routines. They also discuss the mission God has in store for each one of us, and how it does not include fitting into a preconceived mold. They challenge us all to see food and exercise as choices totally within our control, and encourage us to simply decide on a plan and then act: don't stay in decision-mode. Finally, in light of the upcoming Fourth of July and Jessica’s military background, they discuss the virtue of patriotism, and invite all of us to fast and pray for freedom. Help Beth reach her goal of bringing 1 Million Catholics back to the Church: Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! Jessica Castillo’s Links: Delay and Pray Links: | |||
| Chapter 2 - Motivation for the Great Experiment | 22 May 2025 | 00:20:17 | |
Beth discusses Chapter 2 of her book Delay and Pray®: Permanent Weight Loss Through Spiritual Fasting. This chapter introduces what she calls The Great Experiment - a transformative approach to weight loss that centers on grace, purpose, and spiritual renewal. Rather than relying on willpower alone, this method helps you create a "new wineskin" mindset rooted in love, abundance, and sacramental commitment. Learn how to identify your spiritual purpose goal (aka “the why that makes you cry”) and physical purpose goal to stay focused and inspired on your journey. You'll also hear a real-life coaching story from Nikki, a client who found freedom from sugar and deeper peace in her marriage. You can listen to her full story in Episode 52. Help Beth reach her goal of bringing 1 Million Catholics back to the Church: Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! Delay and Pray® Links: | |||
| The Power of the Female Body with Mama Jane | 22 Jun 2023 | 00:47:30 | |
In today’s episode, Beth is interviewing Jane Snyder, the founder and CEO of Wisdom Wellness Coaching, and the host of the podcast, “Cycles and Sanctity.” “We have to shift our mindset into love and abundance.” - Beth Bubik Affectionately named “Mama Jane” by her clients, she combines her knowledge of the Billings Ovulation Method with Catholic mindset coaching to mother her clients and help them embrace the unique beauty of their bodies. Today, Beth and Jane are contemplating the miraculous intricacies of a woman’s cycle, and how those intricacies can complement the Eat, Fast, Feast cycle. Mama Jane shares her own unique NFP experiences, both with seven years of infertility, and with managing her fertility during her husband’s deployment. She shares beautiful ways that women can offer up the different phases of their cycles for others, and she and Beth compare the fasting and feasting encountered in the woman’s cycle with the fasting and feasting of the Delay and Pray lifestyle. They also discuss the unitive and procreative aspects of the marital act, and how both NFP and fasting honor the full integration of the human person: body, mind, and soul. They end their discussion by sharing Mama Jane’s “two holy duties,” emphasizing the importance of shifting into an abundance mindset toward the female body. If you would like to hear more from Mama Jane, check out the links below! Help Beth reach her goal of bringing 1 Million Catholics back to the Church: Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! Mama Jane’s Links: Delay and Pray Links: Resources Mentioned: | |||
| Desperate for Change | 15 Jun 2023 | 00:22:12 | |
In today’s episode, Beth shares how a desperate desire for change brought spiritual fasting into her life. “Grace is not cheap, my friends.” - Archbishop Fulton Sheen Are you desperate to lose weight, to bring your spouse/children back to Church, or to heal our nation? Maybe that desperation is the final push you need to finally unite your sufferings with Christ, embrace spiritual fasting, and watch your life change miraculously before your eyes. Beth is reminding her listeners that we are an indulgent nation, and that what we really need is to cry out to the Lord and allow Him to push us off the high dive of our indulgence and into the pool of His mercy. She challenges our definition of the word fun, suggesting that it isn’t really “fun” to overeat to the point of having a painful sugar crash, or to drink to the point of a hangover. She describes the effects of food addictions, and offers a straightforward path towards a life of freedom. You have to want it. You have to pray for it. And you have to be willing to be in discomfort. What if feeling a little discomfort in the moment is the currency to your dreams? Are you willing to take the plunge? Help Beth reach her goal of bringing 1 Million Catholics back to the Church: Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! Delay and Pray Links: | |||
| Nunc Coepi! Now I Begin! | 08 Jun 2023 | 00:25:06 | |
What if you had permission to fail and start over 1000x every single day? Today, Beth is offering her listeners the hope to begin anew, regardless of where they are in their journey, or how often they’ve failed. “This will be then the remedy for all your feelings of sadness and of fearfulness of heart: the thought that, with the grace of God… you can do anything.” - Venerable Bruno Lanteri Whether it’s fasting to lose weight, or buying a course to help you achieve a goal, Beth is talking about the necessity of an all-in commitment to create change in your life. You have to want it enough to suffer for it. You have to be willing to stand back up and try again when you fall. Using Biblical references, saint quotes, and real-life experience, Beth shares the pain of growth, reminding you to cry out to God for help, and check your self-reliance at the door. She reassures you that when you start on the path to achieve your dreams, it will reveal every weakness you have. But you can start again, even if it takes 1000x a day. This journey towards health, earthly happiness, and eternal glory is not for the faint of heart. Ready to invest in the “you” God has in mind? Join the Delay and Pray Program, and experience the freedom of failing forward to the life you desire! Help Beth reach her goal of bringing 1 Million Catholics back to the Church: Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! Beth’s Links: | |||
| The Power of a Woman | 01 Jun 2023 | 00:28:45 | |
In today’s episode, Beth is focusing on the power of womanhood, primarily because she’s also sharing some exciting news: she’s a grandma now! “Sanctify yourself, sanctify the world.” - St. Francis of Assisi She begins this episode by sharing a little about the birth of her granddaughter, her thoughts on grandmotherhood, and the wisdom of her own mother. She also shares the witness of several powerful women, both in heaven and on this side of eternity, and reminds her listeners that women are strong, and through prayer and spiritual fasting, they can change themselves and the world. Beth recalls the message of the most powerful woman in history - the Blessed Mother - to remind us to pray, fast, and frequent the Sacraments. She also discusses another powerful Mom - St. Monica - whose prayer and fasting eventually led her son to become a great saint and doctor of the church. Beth shares the story of a former student, Jordan Dooley, who continued to love and serve others while going through the heartbreak of multiple miscarriages, and how prayer and fasting is leading her to the happily-ever-after of her dreams. In short, Beth is reminding us that strong women fast, pray, and see miracles abound. Under the Blessed Mother’s guidance, women can change the world with their loving self-sacrifice. Today, Beth is encouraging all women to enter into this delay and pray lifestyle, opening themselves up to failing forward and trusting in the miraculous interventions of God. And her final tip? Give Our Lady your prayers. Christ can’t turn down any request from His Mother. Help Beth reach her goal of bringing 1 Million Catholics back to the Church: Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! Beth’s Links: | |||
| Pursue Your Dream | 25 May 2023 | 00:14:35 | |
Today, Beth is talking about pursuing your dreams, and she starts by sharing some good news about one of hers: the first draft of her book on spiritual fasting is complete! “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” - Psalms 139:14 With the help of an amazing coach, Nika Maples, Beth was able to overcome her unhelpful thoughts and find the determination to complete the hardest part of this dream project. Today, Beth is sharing the vital steps you need to take to achieve the dreams God has placed on your heart. First, Beth talks about the importance of thinking thoughts that are fueled by the feeling of determination. She explains the power of your mind, and how important it is to look at your thoughts objectively to see which are serving you, and which are not. She shares the impact that Nika Maples’ reel on determination had on her own determination, and also explains a technique involving a chair that Nika shared with her to help her continue on her road to authorhood. Finally, Beth talks about how the tactics she learned in writing her book are the same needed for pursuing weight loss and spiritual growth through fasting. She talks about the way diet mentality can creep into your mind, and how important it is to shift back into divine awareness. She discusses strategically conquering your mental battlefield, suggesting that prayers are healthy and abundant thoughts. But she warns that, left unchecked, your negative thoughts can harm you and others, producing a reality contrary to your dreams. Beth also brings out that famous buzz-word, self-care, and suggests that true self-care is not so much manicures and massages as it is managing our minds. And don’t miss the story Beth tells at the end, about how a prayerful post-it note on a nightstand can change your life. Help Beth reach her goal of bringing 1 Million Catholics back to the Church: Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! Nika’s Links: Beth’s Links: | |||
| Praying Through Miscarriage with Pam Stanford | 18 May 2023 | 00:45:42 | |
In today’s episode, Beth is interviewing Pam Stanford, a mom of eight and grandma of six, who also serves as a board member and in leader formation for Red Bird Ministries, and actively participates in the Cursillo Movement. Join Beth and Pam as they discuss the journey of faith, and how the lows can be intense moments of encounter with the merciful love of God. “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) First, Pam describes her personal struggles with food as a diabetic, and how her search for health ultimately led her to Beth’s Delay and Pray Program. Beth and Pam discuss everything from re-evaluating treats on the holidays, to the grace needed to stick with food protocols during the second-half of the day. They emphasize the importance of community on this path to holiness: your guardian angel alone is proof that you were never meant to take this journey by yourself. Finally, they discuss the miscarriage experiences of Pam and her daughter, and how fasting and a vibrant sacramental life can help child loss become an opportunity to be transformed by God’s grace and mercy. They particularly dwell on the imagery of the woman at the well, reminding their listeners that God can take anything you give Him and transform it so beautifully that you’ll want to tell everyone. For more information about Red Bird Ministries, as well as links to all the books mentioned in this episode, please check out the links below! Help Beth reach her goal of bringing 1 Million Catholics back to the Church: Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! Resources Mentioned Beth’s Links: | |||
| Fasting through Crisis with Karen Doyle | 11 May 2023 | 00:31:17 | |
In today’s episode, Beth is speaking to Karen Doyle, the founder of the Genius Project and Podcast, and the co-founder of both Choicez Media and of Sisterhood. “Who knows—perhaps it was for a time like this that you became queen?” Esther 4:14 Join them as they travel back to the early days of the Covid 19 pandemic, and the impact that it initially had specifically on Karen’s mind, emotions, relationships, and businesses. Together, they share the ways that mindset coaching helped them understand that God made them for “a time like this.” They also discuss the power of prayer and fasting, for both spiritual and physical trials. If you are a business owner who was impacted by the pandemic, you will find a kindred spirit in Karen. She discusses the entrepreneurial struggles of herself and her husband when their speaking engagements and school-related resources lost traction during the lockdowns in Australia. She explains the mindset shift that occurred through coaching, and how learning to manage her mind helped her shift out of the paralysis of fear and into productive action. Beth and Karen also discuss how the pandemic seemed to escalate many issues of mental health and spiritual fall-out that can best be addressed by prayer and fasting. Karen particularly recounts how Beth helped her incorporate fasting into her life despite having celiac disease. They discuss the spiritual fruits of fasting for others, and Karen describes the physical healing she has experienced through fasting, exercising, and celery juicing. Finally, Karen shares the work of her husband in Catholic teacher formation, and her own work in supporting Catholic women spiritually and personally. For more information on this couple and their incredible efforts to bring Catholic thought into an anti-Christian era, check out the links below! Help Beth reach her goal of bringing 1 Million Catholics back to the Church: Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! Karen’s Links: Beth’s Links: | |||
| Planning with Dr. Amruti Choudhry | 04 May 2023 | 00:36:00 | |
In today’s episode, Beth is speaking to her own coach, Dr. Amruti Choudhry, an Advanced Certified Life and Weight Loss Coach, who teaches professional women how to lose weight permanently by getting to the root cause of their weight struggles: their minds. “You can never out-action a negative emotion..”- Dr. Amruti Choudhry Today, Beth and Dr. Amruti are discussing the importance of planning: how to plan, how to execute the plan, and how to evaluate the plan, in order to successfully achieve your weight loss goals. They also discuss the power of processing your emotions and evaluating your thoughts in order to root out the cause of your dieting struggles. First, Dr. Amruti shares the incredible story of her own weight loss journey, and how coaching accomplished what no amount of dieting was able to attain for her. She discusses the importance of planning, and suggests ways to create a protocol that you can trust yourself to follow. She and Beth also discuss the phenomenon of losing your taste for unhealthy foods as you begin to eat foods that feel good in your body. This episode is brimming with practical tips to achieve the results you desire. From using a different colored pen to note when you eat off-plan, to turning off screens while you eat in order to actually taste your meals, Beth and Dr. Amruti are offering you multiple easy steps towards a life of peace and deeper fulfillment. But they’re going to be real with you, too: your brain doesn’t like change, and it will resist your plans and protocols. By writing everything down and taking a few minutes every day to evaluate your progress, you will slowly learn to feel your emotions, and to make the choices you really want to make in order to permanently change your life. Help Beth reach her goal of bringing 1 Million Catholics back to the Church: Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! Dr. Amruti Choudhry’s Links Beth’s Links: | |||
| Fasting for Men with Marty Thompson | 27 Apr 2023 | 00:42:44 | |
In this episode, Beth is interviewing Marty Thompson, a Catholic homeschooling Dad and a Resident Coach at Metanoia Catholic Academy. Today, Marty is sharing the powerful story of his conversion from a life of addiction to one of passionate faith. “Jesus is the greatest example of true masculinity.”- Marty Thompson Through years of struggle, first with addiction, and then with the crosses of illnesses, deaths, and potential divorce, Marty describes how prayer, fasting, and the Sacraments gave him strength and even performed miracles along the way. His mission as a coach is to reach other men who have struggled in similar ways and to help them to step into true masculinity. Throughout this episode, Beth and Marty discuss the many struggles that men face in our world today, and the deep need they have for good resources, a community of faith, and strong role models, as well as prayer, fasting, and the Sacraments. Though several resources are mentioned in this episode, Marty shares the particularly deep impact that the regimen and community of Exodus 90 had on the deathbed conversion of his stepdad. Beth and Marty also encourage men to begin following the two greatest masculine role models in history: Jesus and St. Joseph. Finally, if you know of any men who are struggling with the numerous temptations of our society, check out Marty’s upcoming virtual bootcamp. In seven weeks, men will learn seven ways to become stronger, better men for their families, while receiving support from a community that understands and supports them in their struggles. Check out the link below for more information and resources from Marty! Help Beth reach her goal of bringing 1 Million Catholics back to the Church: Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! Marty’s Links Fr. Donald Calloway: Encouraging Men to Know their Faith and Battle the Forces of Evil Beth’s Links: | |||
| Praying and Fasting for Husbands | 20 Apr 2023 | 00:19:10 | |
In this episode, Beth is talking about the theme for the latest Delay and Pray Group Coaching experience: Fasting for Father. “If you are going to successfully spiritually fast, you will need a ‘why that makes you cry.’” - Beth Bubik For twelve weeks, Beth and her clients are fasting for every version of “father”: clergy, husbands, and men as a whole. Today, Beth is particularly talking about the importance of fasting for our husbands, and how it can change them - and us - for the better. Beth describes her marriage to her own husband, and shares the incredible fruits she has seen in their relationship since she began fasting for him three years ago. She explains that in spiritual fasting, it is deeply motivating to have two goals: a weight loss goal, and a spiritual goal. Let your husband be that spiritual goal: “the why that makes you cry.” She encourages us to join her in fasting, praying, and frequenting the sacraments with and for our husbands. As time goes by, you will see your weight drop, your marriage soar, and your dreams come to life. After all, God will not be outdone in generosity. Help Beth reach her goal of bringing 1 Million Catholics back to the Church: Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! Today’s Links: | |||
| Chapter 1 - The Promise of Delay and Pray® | 15 May 2025 | 00:25:05 | |
This episode explores Catholic spiritual fasting as a lifelong, sustainable practice. Beth introduces key themes from Chapter One of her book, Delay and Pray®, emphasizing the importance of overcoming ingrained habits and shifting our mindset to experience lasting food freedom in Christ. By detaching from sugar and daily indulgence, fasting becomes a transformative act of sacrifice, strengthening our physical and spiritual well-being. The episode highlights the role of suffering in personal growth, drawing parallels to Simon of Cyrene’s journey with Christ. Help Beth reach her goal of bringing 1 Million Catholics back to the Church: Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! Delay and Pray® Links: | |||
| Feasting vs. Binging | 13 Apr 2023 | 00:21:53 | |
Happy Easter! We have officially entered into the Easter Octave, and Beth is encouraging all of her listeners to stop delaying and to enter fully into this time of feasting. But wait! She said feasting: Not binging. What’s the difference? You’re about to find out. “Try redefining Feasting for yourself. Your life will change immensely.” - Beth Bubik Beth begins this episode warmly applauding your Lenten journey, and reassuring you that God is pleased with all of your efforts, even if they weren’t “perfect.” She also discusses the deep significance of this Octave of feasting in the Church, and gives her listeners a better understanding of the complementarity of fasting and feasting. But what is feasting? Feasting is “to dwell with gratification or delight,” and “to eat sumptuously.” Doesn’t sound like drive-thru burgers, does it? Binging, on the other hand, is to “indulge in an activity, such as eating to excess.” It seems counterintuitive to eat to excess while feasting for Christ, doesn’t it? In order to guide your feasting, Beth suggests having a Feasting Plan.
And finally, be patient with yourself - learning to place God at the center of our feasting and fasting takes time. If you’d like a guide through this process, join Beth’s Delay and Pray Coaching Experience. Through this program, you won’t just learn to fast well: you’ll learn to feast more fully than you’ve ever feasted in your life. Help Beth reach her goal of bringing 1 Million Catholics back to the Church: Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! Today’s Links: The Easter Octave - Article by Jennifer Gregory Miller | |||
| Fasting and Praying for Priests | 06 Apr 2023 | 00:19:18 | |
As we enter into Holy Week, Beth is suggesting a special intention for your fasting and prayers - namely, priests. “By virtue of the cross alone must the priest-apostle, with the lively faith of Saint Peter, let down his net into the troubled sea of this life, certain that sooner or later the divine Master will make him an instrument of salvation to many.” - Fr. Samuel Mazzuchelli Beth begins the episode by meditating on the profound healing and hope that comes from pondering the love of a God Who underwent such a humiliating death to bring us closer to Him. She particularly dwells on St. Peter, suggesting that, in him, we can find a representation of our own relationship with the Lord, as well as a symbol of priests everywhere. She reminds us that priests are humans, called to mission, fighting to keep their gaze on the Lord, just as St. Peter frequently did in the Gospels. Beth shares her personal experiences of the priests she has in her own family, describing them as human beings who live for the glory of God, but also need friendship and prayers. In particular, she shares the inspiring story of her nephew, Fr. Jacob, who overcame his sugar addiction and became capable of fulfilling his heart’s desire to go on mission for the Lord through the graces of spiritual fasting. But not just his own spiritual fasting - His mother, grandmother, aunt, and others were also fasting for his healing. The power of fasting is profound! In light of this, Beth suggests two courses of action for you to incorporate for priests. First, consider offering up your Friday fasts/abstinences for them. Second, dedicate at least one hour a month of Eucharistic Adoration for priests. And if you want to learn more about fasting for priests, join the Delay and Pray Program! Fasting for priests can change the world. A Prayer for Priests Divine Savior Jesus Christ—thank you for the Eucharist and Priests who are inflamed with the fire of your love—seeking nothing but your greater glory and the salvation of our souls. Protect them, Lord. And, cover them with your Love. Saint Peter—pray for us. Holy Mother of God—intercede for your Priests and pray for us all. Amen. Help Beth reach her goal of bringing 1 Million Catholics back to the Church: Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! Delay and Pray Links: | |||
| Fasting Children Back to Mass | 30 Mar 2023 | 00:24:44 | |
Today, Beth is talking about fasting our loved ones back to the Church, or into the Church for the first time. “The Catholic Church is hemorrhaging young people.” - Brandon Vogt In this episode Beth is discussing the statistical anomaly that we are facing with our young people in the Church today: namely, that 50% of young people are leaving the Church before the age of 23. She also touches on the topic of the older adults who have not returned to the Church since the pandemic began. This crisis in the Church concerns all of us, and Beth is talking today about the steps you can take, with the Lord’s grace, to turn the tide back in favor of Sacramental lives. Social and mainstream media, politics, music… we are constantly consuming information that works to erode our relationship with God. But there is an answer. The results of society’s influence can be reversed through Spiritual Fasting. In her own personal experience of coaching her Delay and Pray Program, Beth is watching her clients fast their children and husbands back into pews, and their grandchildren into baptism. Just as Christ was willing to suffer intensely on the Cross for the sake of all of us, these men and women are finding that the sacrifice of food and drink is well worth the reward of seeing their loved ones come fully back to the Lord. In his book, “Return,” Brandon Vogt lists seven ways that parents can help their children rediscover the Church, and emphasizes the need for a plan to go along with this goal. Today, Beth is helping you devise that plan. First, she outlines a simple prayer plan that you can begin implementing today, followed by a fasting plan for delaying sugar, flour and alcohol on specific days during the week. Finally, Beth is offering a few thoughts that you can practice thinking that will keep you leaning into peace and trust in the Lord, no matter what is happening with your loved ones. These steps won’t just save you and your children - they can save the world, too. Help Beth reach her goal of bringing 1 Million Catholics back to the Church: Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! Delay and Pray Links: | |||
| The Mystical City of God and Spiritual Fasting: An Interview with Michelle Dunne | 23 Mar 2023 | 00:35:41 | |
In today’s episode, Beth is interviewing Michelle Dunne, a Catholic strengths and mindset coach who helps her clients claim their abilities so that they can focus on their unique contribution to their family and the world. Beth and Michelle are discussing “The Mystical City of God” by Venerable Mary of Agreda, a mystic who received private revelations about the life of the Blessed Mother. They also discuss the link between this book and the Delay and Pray program, and how Our Lady can propel you forward on your spiritual fasting journey. Beth and Michelle begin by discussing their personal impressions of the Blessed Mother, and how their devotions have shifted and deepened while reading The Mystical City of God. With her fierce obedience and her balanced temperament, Our Lady reveals the secrets to self-denial and emotional stability. Along with these deeper truths, the book also shares little nuggets of insight that fire the imagination around the home life of St. Joseph, his lovely Spouse, and their beautiful Child. Can you imagine being given 10,000 angels at birth? Beth and Michelle discuss Our Lady’s intercessory prowess, gifted to her because of her obedience. They also talk about the Sacraments - Do you know how many were actually founded on Holy Thursday? You might be surprised! A tunic that grew with the Christ Child, the timing of His first words… This book transports you back in time and gently lifts the curtain on the hidden lives of the members of the Holy Family. It’s impossible to witness these moments and walk away unchanged. Help Beth reach her goal of bringing 1 Million Catholics back to the Church: Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! Delay and Pray Links: Mystical City of God: Michelle’s Links: | |||
| Don’t Let Emotions Get in Your Way | 16 Mar 2023 | 00:26:12 | |
Today, Beth is talking about emotions: the truths, the myths, and everything in between. If you want to know how to create the emotions you really want, and how to deal with the emotions that you really don’t want, this is the episode for you. “A goal is not achieved by one Massive Action, but by one Thought Model at a time.” - Beth Bubik Beth begins with a review of the Thought Model, and how five simple letters can change your life. She also explains the science behind emotions, and why they can drive us so powerfully if we let them. Referencing St. Thomas Aquinas and Fr. Chad Ripperger, she explains the way our intellects work and how putting emotions through reason results in interior freedom. Did you know there are three types of emotions, but only one that Christ and His Blessed Mother utilize? Beth is also debunking three myths about emotions, and explaining why your feelings can resemble a beach ball. Using the example of a time when she spent thousands of dollars on a program that did not meet her expectations, Beth offers practical tips on dealing with your feelings in the moment, and preparing for similar emotional experiences in the future. In short, Beth is giving you back control over your own emotions - a control you might not have realized you could have. You just need to ask yourself this question: “How do I want to feel?” Help Beth reach her goal of bringing 1 Million Catholics back to the Church: Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! Delay and Pray Links: | |||
| Almsgiving as Time, Talent, and Treasure | 09 Mar 2023 | 00:25:07 | |
Almsgiving is the topic of this week's Delay and Pray podcast. Listen as Beth explains how almsgiving is greater and much more than something we just do during Lent. “Almsgiving is a form of Charity that helps us to get out of ourselves and give to others in creative and generous ways.” - Beth Bubik In today’s episode, Beth is talking about the last and least considered pillar of Lent: Almsgiving. The biggest takeaway? This isn't just about money. It’s about self-gift: serving others with your wealth, your time, and your God-given talents. Throughout this episode, Beth offers examples of unique ways to incorporate this pillar of Lent into your life. In one story, an ink cartridge becomes a chance to encounter the Lord through financial almsgiving. She also shares a beautiful memory of her father, who taught her the true meaning of almsgiving through his words and actions toward her grandfather. Even silently entering into a friend’s pain can be a form of almsgiving. This Lent, Beth is inviting you to allow yourself to be a gift to others. Don’t just write God a check and call it good. See how He might be calling you to give creatively with your time and your talents as well. And remember: He is the God who multiplies loaves and fishes. Whatever you give, He’ll give back more. Help Beth reach her goal of bringing 1 Million Catholics back to the Church: Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! Delay and Pray Links: | |||
| Spiritual Fasting is the Key to Happiness | 02 Mar 2023 | 00:16:22 | |
If you are looking for happiness then consider spiritual fasting. Follow Beth in this episode as she explains how spiritual fasting can help you achieve goals of happiness and more. “If feeling our hunger can awaken our spiritual senses, never feeling hunger can dull them.” - Christopher West In today’s episode, Beth is discussing the second pillar of Lent: Spiritual Fasting. Through the redemptive suffering of spiritual fasting, we can win souls for the Lord and deepen our relationship with Christ… all while reaching our weight loss goals. Do you want to be rich, happy, and thin? Beth shares some interesting insights on that desire, and the indispensable role of spiritual fasting in achieving it. She also shares why dieting doesn’t work, and uses the example of a pregnant mother to emphasize the power of willingly delaying gratification for the good of someone else. Whether you’re on a specialized diet for health reasons, or want to experience the joy of feasting more fully, Spiritual Fasting is the key to finding happiness in every area of life. Who wouldn’t want that? Help Beth reach her goal of bringing 1 Million Catholics back to the Church: Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! Links for Lent Are You Missing Out on the Real Benefits of Lenten Fasts? Delay and Pray Links: | |||
| Prayer as the Hinge to Eternal Life | 23 Feb 2023 | 00:19:38 | |
During the season of Lent, prayer is a powerful and necessary part of the journey. Tune in to the episode to discover ways of using prayer during Lent. “Try shifting the mindset of the hinges of your day from breakfast, lunch, and dinner to morning, evening and night prayer… eventually you will find yourself eating at God’s table in the kingdom.” - Beth Bubik Lent has begun! Today, Beth is dedicating the episode to an in-depth look at the first of the three pillars of Lent: Prayer. Prayer is our “vital and personal relationship with the living and true God,” (CCC, no. 2558) and today Beth is going to suggest various ways to pursue this personal encounter with the Lord. She relates her own journey into a deeper prayer life, when her nephew, a client, and a book in a pew led her to discover the Liturgy of the Hours. She also shares a unique interpretation of the parable of the wise and foolish virgins, and how the mechanism of a door can be a symbol of your relationship with God. Starting small is the key to building up your prayer life. This Lent, Beth is encouraging you to start small, get creative, and find the prayer life that moves you. Help Beth reach her goal of bringing 1 Million Catholics back to the Church: Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! Episode Links: https://www.wordonfire.org/pray/ Delay and Pray Links: | |||
| Going into the Desert this Lent | 16 Feb 2023 | 00:30:41 | |
The desert of Lent is a journey that leads us closer to Christ. Beth opens up how her personal journey through Lent has helped shaped her own life. “Hide yourself in a love more penetrating than a brush fire, more overwhelming than a deluge.” - Fr. Patrick Reidy, C.S.C. The countdown to Lent begins! In this episode, Beth is preparing for the approaching Lenten season by giving her listeners a clear explanation of what Lent requires, as well as optional (but dynamic!) practices. She is discussing the requirements of fasting and abstinence, the redemptive power of uniting our personal sacrifices to the Lord’s sufferings, and the life-changing results that can come from allowing Christ to fill the desert within us. Beth shares her first experience of “going into the desert” during Lent 2020, and how fasting opened doors that seemed impenetrable. She also describes the immense power of Lent 2021, as she led her first Lent Course with Coaching, and began fasting for healing in her family relationships. Listen in as she shares a deeply personal story about an encounter with Christ’s wounds during Holy Week, and reassures her listeners that the mortifications of Lent will always result in greater delight on Easter morning. Help Beth reach her goal of bringing 1 Million Catholics back to the Church: Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! Links for Lent: Is It A Mortal Sin Not To Fast Or Abstain from Meat During Lent? Delay and Pray Links: | |||
| 3 Ways to Plan for a Transformative Lent | 09 Feb 2023 | 00:21:05 | |
The season of Lent can be an amazing and transformative experience. But we have to plan for it. With proper planning and spiritual preparation, Lent can be a time that we look forward to and embrace, instead of a time that we dread and want to avoid. “These forty days are just the beginning of a new you in body and soul.” - Beth Bubik In Episode 12 of the Delay and Pray Podcast, Beth is helping you prepare for the best Lent of your life. Transformation comes through Christ, but Beth encourages you to make a few plans to commit to this journey with Him. With insightful questions and personal testimonies, she’s offering three specific ways to plan for a transformative Lent.
Can weakness motivate you during Lent? Beth thinks so. She also discusses her personal experience in using a calendar during Lent, planning everything from Mass/Confession times to what books/movies she wants to enjoy. And in learning to delay sugar, flour, and alcohol, Beth has a pro-tip: delaying is hard - don’t make it harder during this learning process. Let your healthy options be well-seasoned and delicious. Immerse yourself in Lent, and watch as it gets easier year by year. And one day, you’ll find yourself saying with Beth, “I can’t wait for Lent. I love it.” Help Beth reach her goal of bringing 1 Million Catholics back to the Church: Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! Delay and Pray Links: | |||
| Mindset, Meals & Miracles: Cindy’s Delay and Pray Testimony | 08 May 2025 | 00:35:29 | |
This week, Beth is joined by her client Cindy, a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, as she shares her story of transformation through the Delay and Pray Group Coaching Experience. After years of ineffective diets and constant processed eating, Cindy found her breakthrough by combining spiritual fasting with prayer, whole foods, and a new mindset. Tune in to hear how Cindy lost 12 pounds, found freedom from cravings, and deepened her faith, discovering that spiritual purpose is the true key to lasting change. Whether you’re curious about fasting or seeking a more meaningful way to approach health, this episode is full of insight and inspiration on uniting body and soul for lasting results. Help Beth reach her goal of bringing 1 Million Catholics back to the Church: Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! Delay and Pray® Links: | |||
| Journaling through the Thought Model / An Interview with Skye Angioletti | 02 Feb 2023 | 00:41:01 | |
Journaling through The Model is key to Spiritual Fasting. Today I've invited one of my most successful clients onto to the podcast to tell us how she does it quickly while commuting on the train to work. Listen in as we learn that once you learn it--10 minutes is all you need to sort out all those sticky thoughts that are keeping you stuck! “If I want to stop eating meat on Wednesdays, then I have to stop eating meat on Wednesdays.” -Skye Angioletti In today’s episode, Beth is interviewing her client Skye Angioletti, a theology teacher at the Notre Dame School of Manhattan, who was introduced to the Thought Model and Spiritual Fasting in 2022. Together, they are discussing the importance of journaling, as well as Skye’s journey through the Delay and Pray Program. Beth begins by giving a brief introduction to journaling. Using Biblical imagery, she explains the importance of sorting through thoughts with Christ, reminding listeners that their thoughts produce their results. She then begins her conversation with Skye, journeying back through Skye’s momentary successes with other programs and intermittent fasting, and ultimately reaching long-term success through journaling, coaching, and spiritual fasting. With the skills she has learned, Skye can now confidently say, “I know I won’t gain this weight back, and if I did, I’d know exactly why.” Skye shares some of the unhelpful thoughts that she had when she first began coaching with Beth, particularly surrounding the emotional difficulty of relinquishing donuts. Listen in as Skye relates the power of the thought, “It’s not that great,” when faced with the food options at a faculty training. She describes her ability to remain calm when her son’s emotions, a text, and a scale created a situation that would formerly have led to over-eating. She also shares some of the health issues she used to struggle with that have been greatly reduced by this new lifestyle. Help Beth reach her goal of bringing 1 Million Catholics back to the Church: Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! Delay and Pray Links: | |||
| Lovability | 26 Jan 2023 | 00:28:30 | |
Delay and Pray Podcast Episode #10: Lovability “The shape of your body often obeys the shape of your beliefs about yourself, about love, your value, possibility, and God.” -Geneen Roth In today’s episode, Beth is discussing the innate lovability of each human being, regardless of his/her habits, thoughts, or the number on the scale. Many of us let the scale determine our lovability. Beth explains why we are lovable regardless of our eating habits, and how the transformative process of Spiritual Fasting (with the irreplaceable help of the Sacraments) can teach us to love ourselves with deeper compassion, even in the midst of our weaknesses. She explains that Spiritual Fasting can strengthen our understanding of our own self-worth, deepen our desire for Christ, and even love others more fully, without demanding their love in return. Listen to Beth talk about a life-changing moment when God explained her own lovability to her through a secular podcast. She also shares a story about a client whose father never told her he loved her, and how Spiritual Fasting helped her rediscover her own lovability - and even the lovability of her father. And there’s a little homework for this week: study the word “lovability,” and see where it takes you! Help Beth reach her goal of bringing 1 Million Catholics back to the Church: Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! Delay and Pray Links: Podcast Links: | |||
| Delaying Alcohol with Lisa Canning | 19 Jan 2023 | 00:38:56 | |
Delay and Pray Podcast Episode #9: Delaying Alcohol with Lisa Canning “I thought I couldn’t do this… I wonder what other things in my life I have been telling myself I cannot do?” -Lisa Canning Today on the Delay and Pray Podcast, Beth Bubik is interviewing Lisa Canning. Lisa is a former interior designer on HGTV, a mom of ten, and a Catholic life coach and business coach. In this episode, Beth and Lisa are discussing Lisa’s journey with delaying and praying, specifically in delaying alcohol. Lisa shares that she enjoys a nightly glass of wine and initially struggled with following a protocol for delaying alcohol. But her success in delaying made her wonder: where else might she be limiting herself in her own thinking? Come along for the conversation as Beth and Lisa explore Lisa’s journey with delay and pray through a difficult life event, and even experience a mini-coaching session as Beth coaches Lisa on her date night desire for a “beautifully crafted cocktail.” Listen in as they discuss the importance of planning, not only the delay, but even the feasting involved in Delay and Pray. Lisa’s final advice? “The work is worth it.” Get to Know Lisa! Delay and Pray Links | |||
| The Best Year Yet | 12 Jan 2023 | 00:21:07 | |
Delay and Pray Podcast Episode #8: The Best Year Yet “Sanctify yourself, sanctify the world.” In today’s episode, Beth is claiming 2023 as the Best Year Yet. She’s explaining the transformation that happens through spiritual fasting, and how trusting the Lord with your desires will become easier and make every successive year better than the last. She’s also outlining a few Spiritual Fasting themes for 2023, starting with Fasting for Life. Transformation through Redemptive Suffering
Spiritual Fasting = More Suffering?
Scripture for the Year - Isaiah 45:2-3
Fasting with A Purpose
Fasting for Life
The Body-Soul Composite
The Battle
Links | |||
| Top 10 Spiritual Fasting Wins and Fails | 05 Jan 2023 | 00:31:07 | |
Delay and Pray Podcast Episode #7 Shownotes Top 10 Spiritual Fasting Wins and Fails “You can’t have grand wins without some epic fails: it’s just how life works, this side of heaven.” - Beth Bubik In today’s episode, Beth is reviewing the amazing accomplishments and epic fails that culminated in the most spiritual Christmas of her life. Two Basic Parts of Her Journey
The Journey: Adventurous and Dangerous
“I am patient”
“Easy Choices, hard life. Hard choices, easy life.” - Juzy Gregorek
The Top 8 Wins of 2022
2 Epic Fails
The Best Thing Ever About 2022:
Beth’s Scripture Verse of 2022
2022 has been the best year of Beth’s life… until 2023 happens! It is going to be grand! Want your own Top Ten list this time next year? Join the Delay and Pray Group Coaching and Course! Lose the weight permanently and bring miracles into your life. Check out the links below for more info. Links | |||
| Food Freedom through Spiritual Fasting with Sr. Josephine Garrett | 29 Dec 2022 | 00:34:34 | |
Delay and Pray Podcast Episode #6: Food Freedom through Spiritual Fasting with Sr. Josephine Garrett “If we fail, we figure it out and go forward.” -Sr. Josephine Garrett Welcome to the sixth episode of the Delay and Pray Podcast! In this final episode of 2022, Beth is interviewing her favorite nun, Sr. Josephine Garrett, CSFN. They first met during the Our Sunday Visitor $100K Challenge; afterwards, Sr. Josephine joined Beth’s Delay and Pray Program. Sr. Josephine is a Sister of the Holy Family of Nazareth and a licensed therapist. Goals Lose weight! Sr. Josephine explains that her experiences with weight and food have been a concern since childhood. She was attracted to Beth’s Delay and Pray Program as a way to lose weight while including God in the process. Results Over the twelve weeks of the program, Sr. Josephine did experience some weight loss, but she emphasizes that the real takeaway was the richness of spiritual fasting, and understanding how involved God is with her experiences with food. CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) Sr. Josephine admits that, as a therapist, she was initially prejudiced against the thought model of the Delay and Pray Program, which she recognized as a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) model. However, as she began journaling, she gained a new respect for this process. Intermittent Fasting Sr. Josephine discusses how powerful the intermittent fasting portion of the Delay and Pray Program was for her. Her mornings of fasting became her richest time of prayer. She did experience slight hunger, but more than that, she experienced a spiritual and mental tension that created a desire for the chapel. Beth refers this back to a quote from Fr. Ripperger, who says that mortification leads to delight. Group Sessions Sr. Josephine says she found the group to be equally helpful, whether she was being coached or listening to someone get coached. She still thinks of some of the reframed thoughts from those sessions. She particularly thinks the thought “slow is the only way” when she is tempted to try a program that promises significant weight loss in a short amount of time. She also mentions how journaling helped her uncover the shame that was crippling her weight loss journey. Beth describes her own goals for 2023 as a pilgrimage, during which she will embrace failure multiple times. Sr. Josephine offers that, entering in a spirit of prayer, sacrifice and receptivity, we can look up from this journey and realize that we’ve been given a gift from God, rather than drudging through a journey of our own manufacturing. Holy Days, Solemnities, and Sundays Beth brings up the Eat Fast Feast cycle, and the importance of truly celebrating the historical and deeply important mysteries listed in our liturgical calendar. Sr. Josephine admits that she had initial fear around the Feast days, worrying that celebrating on a Feast day would challenge her ability to moderate her feasting or to return to the fast the following day. In recognizing this fear, she became aware of her struggles with food, the limits she’s placed on God, and the self-sufficiency she was practicing. Over time, she has learned not to be afraid of her failures, because she knows how to look at the failure with God. Conclusion In the spirit of failing forward, Beth comments that she was initially afraid to publicly speak about the Faith, because she didn’t want to say anything incorrect. A YouTube video by Sr. Josephine challenged her to confront that fear, and she now credits Sr. Josephine as... | |||
| Resetting Your Health in Both Body & Soul with Jenay Franco | 22 Dec 2022 | 00:41:19 | |
Delay and Pray Podcast Episode #5: Resetting Your Health in Both Body & Soul with Jenay Franco “If you’re really opposed to (spiritual fasting), still take that chance. If anything, it might be a sign that it’s something that God really, really wants for you to be able to detach, to prune in the vineyard.” -Jenay Franco Welcome to the fifth episode of the Delay and Pray Podcast! Today, Beth is interviewing Jenay Franco, a certified Catholic coach who helps driven Catholic moms let go of perfectionism. In this interview, Beth is asking Jenay about her journey into spiritual fasting, from the initial resistance to the many benefits she has experienced over the past several months. Resistance Following a very difficult summer, Jenay felt the call to dive into spiritual fasting but experienced resistance towards it. She explains that she didn’t want to “add any more suffering to her life,” admitting that she didn’t believe it when Beth told her that she could actually experience joy in this process. The Experience Beth and Jenay discuss the various components of the Delay and Pray program, such as:
Beth also explains how to train your brain as you transition into this delayed way of dealing with food, so as not to lead your brain into a devastating feeling of deprivation. The Results Spiritually, Jenay realized that her choice to fast for her husband, her marriage, and her kids revealed many more opportunities for sacrifices in her daily life. She and Beth discuss how learning to fast helps you to sacrifice for others while making the task at hand easier. Physically, Jenay is feeling more balanced, her anxiety has decreased, and she has lost nearly thirty pounds. The Scale Beth and Jenay talk about how the scale is simply data: an objective measurement of progress. Checking every day helps you to divorce your self-worth from the number on the scale, and to become curious about why that data fluctuates. It helps pinpoint variations in sleeping and eating patterns, and is a reminder that this is not a diet: it’s a regimen of Eat, Fast, Feast that helps you experiment with what is best for your body. Failing Forward Jenay and Beth discuss the concept of failure while incorporating the Delay and Pray regimen. Jenay suggests that Christ would avoid the shaming speech that we inflict on ourselves, and would speak to us with mercy and compassion. She also mentions that the word “fail” feels heavy, and Beth suggests replacing the word “failing” with “learning.” The Sacraments Jenay shares a beautiful testimony of the power of frequenting the Sacraments during the Delay and Pray program: she describes a day of fasting when her hunger disappeared after receiving the Eucharist. Beth talks about how the health benefits of spiritual fasting become a side benefit as the spiritual benefits grow. She points out that you can get enough of food, but you can never get enough of Jesus. Conclusion Don’t wait until January 1st or Lent: start fasting now! It benefits you and teaches your children virtuous habits. Jenay encourages everyone listening, whether they’re hesitant or downright opposed,... | |||
| Eating to Enough | 15 Dec 2022 | 00:23:21 | |
Delay and Pray Podcast Episode #4: Eating to Enough “Spiritual Fasting is the spiritual weapon of our times.” Welcome to the fourth episode of the Delay and Pray Podcast! In this episode, Beth is explaining the concept of “eating to enough” by incorporating the “Eat Fast Feast” Calendar into your week. Sharing examples from her own life, Beth reveals how following this calendar can not only help you attain the health benefits you crave, but can also lead to profound spiritual growth for both yourself and your loved ones - and like everything else, it gets easier with practice! Eating “Enough”
The “Eat Fast Feast” Calendar
Delay AND Pray
Make Your Calendar
The Church Has Always Been Calling Us To Spiritual Fasting.
“Choose Your Hard”
Links: | |||
| Trading Sugar for the Sweetness of Jesus | 08 Dec 2022 | 00:19:02 | |
Delay and Pray Podcast Episode #3: Trading Sugar for the Sweetness of Jesus “I imagine my body as a spacious stable open to the dwelling of the Infant King, as opposed to all the inns of Bethlehem that had no room for Him.” Welcome to the third episode of the Delay and Pray podcast. At the time of this episode’s release, we are in the middle of Advent, the season of longing and preparing for the birth of Christ. In this episode, Beth is discussing ways to prepare our bodies and souls for the celebration of Christmas through Spiritual Fasting, and how this heightens our desire for the one, true sweetness of the Christ Child. Preparing
Waiting
Celebrating
Powerful Reasons to Delay and Pray During Advent
Make your body the Christmas Stable with your Spiritual Fasting this Advent. You won’t regret it. Links in Today’s Show: Video: What Happens If You Stop Eating Sugar For TWO Weeks Video: Exorcisms: What Catholics Need to Know w/ Fr. Chad Ripperger Book: | |||
| From the Wastelands of Want to the Promised Land of Desire | 01 Dec 2022 | 00:16:46 | |
Episode #2: From the Wastelands of Want to the Promised Land of Desire “When your goals and dreams are based on how you can improve the lives of others, the whole universe conspires to make them come true.” Welcome to the second episode of the Delay and Pray Podcast! In this episode, Beth is exploring motivation, the “key to success,” and the role it plays in helping us to attain our goals. She explains that, to be successful, motivation must be integrated into the very meaning of our existence, or the well-being of others. So, How Do You Begin?
Deciding Goals? Ask Yourself These Questions:
Your “Delay and Pray” Goals:
The Benefits of Delay and Pray in Spiritual Fasting:
Invite Jesus into your goals. He is waiting for you. Those who genuinely wait on the Lord will not be disappointed. | |||
| Self-limiting Thoughts with Client, Erin Smith | 01 May 2025 | 00:55:43 | |
Have you felt called to do something, but your mind was immediately flooded with limiting thoughts that held you back? My client, Erin Smith, shares the quiet, self-limiting beliefs and fears that held her back from joining the Delay and Pray® Group Coaching Experience and how changing her mindset, not just her habits, led to real progress in her health and spiritual life. Through a deeply honest conversation, Erin reflects on her journey to permanently lose 25 pounds—not by chasing a diet, but by cultivating discipline and trust in God. Her story reveals how fasting became more than a physical act; it became a spiritual breakthrough. Along the way, she rediscovered her strength, reignited her joy, and found renewed purpose alongside her husband, who is currently in diaconate formation. Help Beth reach her goal of bringing 1 Million Catholics back to the Church: Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! Delay and Pray® Links: | |||
| Losing Weight through Spiritual Fasting | 24 Nov 2022 | 00:27:32 | |
Ep. #1 -Losing Weight through Spiritual Fasting- Show notes “Prayer knocks, fasting obtains, and mercy receives,” St. Chrysologous Welcome to the Delay and Pray Podcast! Join Beth Bubik, The Catholic Fasting Coach, as she shows you how to shift your thoughts away from deprivation and dieting, and to achieve permanent weight loss through Spiritual Fasting. All you need is commitment, motivation, organization, and prayer - and Beth can guide you through it all. Permanent weight loss through spiritual fasting is not only possible, but it is OPTIMAL for your health. This is all about increasing the health of your body and soul while praying for others—especially your family. Learning to Fast In her first episode, Beth shares her background in Catholic coaching, as well as her personal experience with Spiritual Fasting. Inspired by her own mother and Our Lady, she uncovered the deeper meaning in fasting, as well as three of the main struggles Catholics face in learning to fast:
Beth’s carefully developed program, Delay and Pray, is a powerful tool to teach Catholics how to spiritually fast and lose stubborn weight with a 4 Step Method, or the “4 T’s to Delay and Pray.”
But what IS Spiritual Fasting? Spiritual Fasting is simply delaying food for a period of time for a spiritual purpose, or abstaining from a particular type of food for a period of time. As a Spiritual Fasting and Weight Loss Coach, Beth will use the mindset coaching tools she has acquired through her training in the Life Coach School and Metanoia Catholic to reflect your own thoughts back to you, and help you unearth the indulgent emotions and sticky thoughts that are keeping you stuck on your weight loss journey. And she will do it all while helping you deepen your faith and lead a more fulfilling and fruitful life. Interested in diving in and learning more? | |||
| Feasting During the Easter Octave | 24 Apr 2025 | 00:24:04 | |
Happy Easter! Today, we are unpacking the true meaning of feasting during the Easter Octave after a season of spiritual fasting, and Beth highlights the miracles and family blessings that came from fasting and prayer. Discover how to celebrate Easter with intention - not through overindulgence, but by embracing gratitude, connection, and mindful enjoyment of food and family. Beth offers practical tips for making the most of the Easter Octave, celebrating the sacraments, and finding joy in both body and soul. “Try redefining Feasting for yourself. Your life will change immensely.” - Beth Bubik Help Beth reach her goal of bringing 1 Million Catholics back to the Church: Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! Resources mentioned: The Easter Octave - Article by Jennifer Gregory Miller With Christ Through The Year - Book by Bernard Strasser Delay and Pray® Links: | |||
| Holy Week with Fr. Logan | 17 Apr 2025 | 00:41:54 | |
In this special Holy Week episode, Beth welcomes back her pastor, Fr. Logan Parrish. They discuss the spiritual depth and rich traditions of Holy Week, exploring how spiritual fasting can transform our hearts in anticipation of Easter's joy. From the significance of Palm Sunday’s processions and the emotional intensity of Good Friday to the communal and personal power of Lenten sacrifices, Beth and Fr. Logan share personal stories, priestly perspectives, and practical encouragement for entering fully into this most sacred season. Whether you’ve kept your Lenten commitments or are just now feeling called to start, this episode offers inspiration and practical tips for making Holy Week and the Triduum truly holy - and ensuring your Easter feast is spiritually nourishing. Let this conversation guide you into a deeper encounter with Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection. Help Beth reach her goal of bringing 1 Million Catholics back to the Church: Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! Delay and Pray® Links: | |||