Episode 201: Is Leadership of the Family a Man's Job? with Special Guest Barbra Bottaro

Being Human

This week, Dr. Greg is joined by his wife, Barbra, to explore the often-misunderstood concept of mutual submission in marriage. Together, they share how they navigate leading their family—the joys, the messiness, and everything in between. Don’t miss this candid discussion tackling the question: “Is Leadership of the Family a Man’s Job?”

Discussed in this episode:

• Dr. Greg and Barbra Bottaro’s candid discussion on mutual submission in marriage;
• Common misunderstandings about leadership roles in Catholic families;
• Exploring the question: “Is leadership of the family a man’s job?”
• Reflecting on the traditional narrative of “man as the head” and what it means today;
• What “mutual submission” really looks like when there’s conflict or big decisions;
• Practical examples of how they apply mutual submission in everyday family life;
• Why mutual submission in marriage isn’t just an ideal, but a daily practice;
• The cultural challenges of viewing submission as a shared responsibility;
• How we’re called to heal outdated, often misogynistic, views in marriage;
• Why mutual trust and dialogue are essential in decision-making;
• Why submission doesn’t mean “one person always gets the final say.”

Resources mentioned or relevant:

• Being Human episode 200: Leaked Audio from a Groundbreaking Franciscan University Conference Keynote to Celebrate Our 200th Episode!
• Further reading: The Catholic Genius of Integrated Masculinity and Femininity
• Mulieris Dignitatem by Pope St. John Paul II
• Flight from Woman by Karl Stern
• Learn more about gender complementarity:
  • Blog article: Celebrating the Differences of Men and Women
  • Blog article: God Created Us to Need Each Other
  • Episode 149: A New Approach to the Gender Crisis
  • 4-part series on Gender Fluidity or Complementarity?
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