Girls Gone Bible – "Girly Convo: PMS & PCOS"
Hosts: Angela Halili & Arielle Reitsma
Date: March 20, 2026
Episode Overview
This episode of Girls Gone Bible dives deep into women's health, focusing specifically on PMS (premenstrual syndrome), PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), and the intersections of faith, mental health, and lifestyle. Angela and Arielle share candid stories—from hilarious mishaps at a business panel to raw, vulnerable reflections on healing, singleness, and living with chronic illness—while grounding the conversation firmly in their love of Jesus. The episode is both informative and encouraging, embracing the messiness of life as Christian women.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Faith, Ministry, and Identity
- Purpose of the Podcast:
- The hosts reiterate their mission: sharing the gospel and fostering authentic conversations about spirituality, relationships, and mental health.
- "We are all united in the one one thing that is more important than anything, and it's the death, the burial, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ." (Angela, 04:10)
- Ministry over Fame:
- Joking about the idea of a “Christian Love Island” type reality show, they affirm they'd rather impact lives for Jesus than chase public spectacle. (02:25–03:56)
2. Personal Stories: Humor & Vulnerability
- South by Southwest Panel Experience:
- Angela and Arielle narrate their experience at SXSW, including the challenges of answering business-focused questions outside their comfort zone.
- Memorable moment: Angela zones out during a question and has to ask what a "hobbyist" is, which brings comic relief and audience engagement.
- Arielle: "He explained the whole thing, what a hobbyist is and what the other thing is. And when I looked at Angela, I could tell she was...she was gone." (14:02)
- The audience appreciated their authenticity, with some saying they only started paying attention once the GGB girls took the stage. (15:13–15:24)
3. Singleness, Dating, and Healing
- Arielle’s Season of Singleness:
- Arielle shares about a long healing phase where she didn’t feel ready to date, and the bittersweet intimacy between herself and Jesus.
- "There's nothing like just being with Jesus. That's why we, like...singleness...it's the greatest gift we have. If we just lean into it." (20:37)
- Fear of Compromising Faith in Relationships:
- Arielle discusses her anxiety about being "taken away" from Jesus by a new relationship.
- She finds comfort in a vision from God confirming that her future husband will love Jesus deeply. (21:08–22:50)
- Encouragement for Those Waiting:
- Angela uplifts Arielle (and listeners), affirming God's kindness and the importance of not settling in relationships. (23:08)
4. Living with PCOS: Nutrition, Flare-ups, and Hope
- Lifestyle Changes & Diet:
- Arielle explains how her PCOS has pushed her toward radically healthier eating: home-cooked meals, good oils, fruits, meats, veggies, and avoiding processed foods.
- "I didn't realize. Why do I feel so groggy? Why am I so bloated all the time? Why am I always so tired? It's because I was eating over processed foods...you can't eat that when you have PCOS." (28:00)
- She also recommends celery juice, a "Heavy Metal Detox Shake," and consistent exercise as key factors improving her symptoms. (28:27–29:02)
- Challenges of PCOS:
- Irregular periods, bloating, fatigue, mood swings, and the emotional toll of chronic illness are openly discussed.
- Angela affirms the importance of grace and compassion toward oneself during difficult health seasons. (30:46–31:02)
- "It inhibits your daily functioning and decreases the quality of your life. It's so important to give yourself so much grace." (30:58, Angela)
- No Medication "Cure":
- Arielle emphasizes that management is holistic—diet, movement, rest—since there’s no magic pill for PCOS. (29:02)
- Notable advice: "Managing it with food, and not being so hard on yourself." (30:49, Arielle)
- Male Listeners Encouraged to Learn:
- Angela calls on men to listen and understand women’s health issues. (30:00)
5. PMS, Emotions, Lust, and Mental Health
- Hormonal Impact:
- Both hosts discuss the emotional instability brought on by PMS: anger, sadness, insecurity, even hopelessness and, for some, suicidal thoughts. (32:03–32:18)
- Angela: "Every single month, I would have like two days of absolute hopelessness because I couldn't see anything outside of what I was feeling in that moment." (32:18)
- Navigating Lust and Purity in Christian Life:
- Hormonal cycles can intensify temptation.
- They candidly discuss how ovulation might increase sexual desire, and the unique difficulty this poses in Christian dating.
- "It's a real thing that a lot of us struggle with—even following Jesus and especially around your period. It's so intense." (33:29, Arielle)
- Angela gives practical tips: track your cycle, communicate with your boyfriend, avoid alone time during vulnerable phases, and “flee” temptation. (34:18–35:13)
- Victory Over Temptation:
- They emphasize not using PMS as an excuse for poor behavior, and relying on accountability and spiritual discipline during hard days. (42:03)
- Arielle: "When you fight off that temptation, it is so powerful...the power I feel when you fight off that temptation…oh, the best." (36:05)
6. Holistic Wellness: Exercise, Rest, and Listening to Your Body
- Movement & Sunlight:
- Exercise is touted as essential for mental, hormonal, and emotional health—they both use tools like ClassPass for accountability. (44:39–46:08)
- "If you're wondering why you're constantly depressed, fatigued, tired—you have to look at your eating habits." (46:57, Arielle)
- Rest and Sabbath:
- Real rest is spiritual: Angela and Arielle share moments of intentional rest with God, referencing Psalm 23—"He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters."
- Arielle: "Sometimes I'll be praying and I'll fall asleep, and I don't feel bad about it...I have this...I'm refreshed, you know." (52:18)
- Diet in the U.S. vs. Abroad:
- Angela contrasts feeling energetic and vibrant eating fresh, whole foods in Albania with feeling sluggish on returning to heavily processed American food. (48:23–49:42)
7. Faith, Healing, and Hope for Chronic Illness
- Role of Prayer and the Holy Spirit:
- Angela encourages listeners to pray boldly for healing, referencing 2 Corinthians 10:5 and James 5:13.
- Angela: "We at GGB believe in the miraculous healing of Jesus Christ by the blood of the Lamb and the power of the Holy Spirit...Do not stop praying for whatever it is that's in your body." (55:17)
- No Fear, No Condemnation:
- Arielle testifies to losing her fear about the long-term effects of PCOS, trusting in Jesus' healing power for herself and others.
- God’s Mystery in Suffering:
- They acknowledge that not all prayers for healing are answered as hoped, referencing Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” and the sufficiency of God’s grace. (57:45–59:43)
- Community in Hardship:
- Both hosts stress the importance of community prayer, laying on of hands, and not struggling alone. (60:03–61:14)
- Ultimate Hope:
- Reminding listeners of the promise of heaven—full restoration and no more suffering.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On Encouraging Women in Singleness:
- "There's nothing like just being with Jesus." (20:37, Arielle)
- On PCOS Diagnosis:
- "I look at this woman, I grab her, I go, what? I go, how much time do I have? Seriously, how much time do I have? Just tell me." (54:13, Arielle, joking about misunderstanding her diagnosis)
- On Purity in Relationships:
- "I'm more passionate about physical purity because it's what our society runs on...So imagine how much more we should literally run the other way from that." (39:05, Angela)
- On the Power of Shared Struggle:
- "You are really not alone. And this life is here today, gone tomorrow. But we have eternity and full bliss with Jesus." (59:43, Arielle)
Important Timestamps
- Purpose & Gospel Foundation: 04:10–05:23
- SXSW Business Panel Story: 08:43–15:13
- Arielle’s Healing/Singleness Journey: 17:38–23:08
- PCOS Management & Diet: 24:07–30:00
- Impact of PMS & Hormones on Emotions: 32:03–32:18
- Purity, Dating, and Lust: 33:29–36:55
- Cycle-Aware Self-Care: 42:03–44:39
- Rest & Psalm 23 Moments: 49:42–52:18
- PCOS Misdiagnosis Anecdote: 54:13–54:17
- Faith, Prayer, and Healing: 55:17–61:14
Conclusion
Angela and Arielle deliver a heart-filled, faith-soaked, yet unfiltered look at what it means to be Christian women navigating PMS, PCOS, singleness, and the pressures to live authentically and healthily. The episode brings humor, vulnerability and hope, always circling back to the transforming love of Jesus, the importance of spiritual and physical wellness, and the encouragement to keep pressing on—never alone.
For further resources, PCOS-friendly recipes, and upcoming tour dates, visit girlsgonebible.com.
