Ever catch yourself comparing your motherhood to someone else’s? In this heartfelt episode, my friend and motherhood mentor, Julie Bastedo, shares how a simple moment of comparison while cooking dinner led her to a powerful mindset shift: you don’t have to be all the things—you just have to be yourself. This conversation is a beautiful example of the second principle in my Self-Assured Motherhood framework: Celebrate Your Strengths. When we stop trying to be the mom we think we should be, and st...
Jun 30, 2025•34 min•Ep. 436
If you’ve ever felt paralyzed by a decision–spinning in circles, overanalyzing every possible outcome, and feeling like you can’t move forward until you get it just right–I'm here to tell you that the struggle is SO real. I’ve been there. In fact, decision-making used to be one of my biggest struggles as a mom. But over the past few years, I’ve been on a quiet quest to become a more confident, grounded, and calm decision maker. And one of the people who has helped me the most on this journey is ...
Jun 23, 2025•32 min•Ep. 435
Summer can be such a gift—but it can also feel like a lot. Whether you're a few days in or several weeks deep, this season tends to stretch us in new ways as moms. We want to make memories, stay present, and still meet our own needs—but how? In this solo episode, I’m introducing you to the SAM 6, a new streamlined version of the Self-Assured Motherhood framework that I’ve been teaching for years. These six principles are designed to help you feel more grounded, fulfilled, and confident in your m...
Jun 16, 2025•28 min•Ep. 434
Making new friends as an adult is challenging—and motherhood often makes it even harder. Between family responsibilities, full schedules, and emotional fatigue, it can feel like there’s no space left for connection. And even when we do show up, it’s not always easy to know how to move from polite small talk to real, meaningful friendship. In this episode, psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Marisa G. Franco joins me to unpack why friendship often feels so complicated in adulthood—and how we ...
Jun 09, 2025•31 min•Ep. 433
We want to raise kids who are responsible, capable, and financially wise—but it’s hard to know where to start. It can feel especially tricky to teach life skills like money management and personal responsibility without constant reminding or frustration. In this episode, I’m joined by Saren Eyre Loosli, founder of Power of Families and one of my earliest parenting mentors. Saren is a mom of five and a family systems expert who shares a simple, sustainable way to teach these skills within the flo...
Jun 02, 2025•37 min•Ep. 432
Summer is almost here… which means it’s road trip season! If you’re gearing up for some long drives with your kids in tow, this episode is packed with practical tips to help make those hours in the car smoother, more fun, and a little less chaotic. Brittney Hanks—mom of four and the genius behind Home and Kind—is here to share her favorite road trip hacks that she’s developed over years of cross-country drives with her kids. She’s all about simple systems that ease the mental load for moms and b...
May 26, 2025•38 min•Ep. 431
What if your next family trip wasn’t about packing in more—but about slowing down, connecting, and actually enjoying your time together? This week, I'm joined by family travel expert Meggie Busath, who shares practical ways to bring more intention, connection, and joy to your trips—without overcomplicating things or blowing your budget. In this episode, you’ll learn: 🫶 How to stop overcomplicating travel—and focus on what actually matters to your family 🫶 Why your attitude as the parent is the...
May 19, 2025•36 min•Ep. 430
If you’ve ever felt like the problems of the world are too big, and your influence is too small to matter, this conversation with Sharon McMahon will help you realize how powerful even just your small actions can be. Sharon is a former high school government teacher turned trusted online educator and advocate. In her new book The Small and the Mighty, she highlights 12 lesser-known Americans whose quiet courage changed history. In this episode, she shares the stories of three women whose steady ...
May 12, 2025•41 min•Ep. 426
I've never considered myself a person who cares about fashion or "style" so when I first stumbled across Julie Allen on Instagram, I didn’t expect to stick around. But something about the way she talked about clothes felt different. It was kind, approachable, and freeing. Julie teaches women how to embrace style tools instead of style rules, and as I listened to her, I realized how much that philosophy overlaps with how I think about motherhood. There’s no one right way to be a mom—or to get dre...
May 05, 2025•35 min•Ep. 428
As moms, summer can feel like both a dream and a juggling act. We want to make magical memories for our families… but we also crave order, rest, and a little bit of time for ourselves. So, how do we actually find balance in the chaos of summer break? In this episode, I’m joined by Jenny Layton—professional organizer, time management coach, and mom of five—who shares a beautifully simple framework that will change the way you think about your summer rhythm. Jenny introduces the idea of “family an...
Apr 28, 2025•37 min•Ep. 427
This is one of those episodes I felt called to record because I know so many of us have been here. You love your child with your whole heart, and yet, in certain seasons, you find yourself thinking, I just don’t like them very much right now. That doesn’t make you a bad mom. It makes you human. In this solo episode, I’m sharing three tools that have helped me move through those really hard parenting stretches—when one child is pushing every button I have—and find my way back to affection, connec...
Apr 21, 2025•32 min•Ep. 426
What happens when your child's story looks nothing like the one you had imagined? This heartfelt encore episode features my dear friend, Michelle Barrow—a mother of four and grandmother of six—who generously shares the wisdom she’s gained from raising teenagers and supporting her adult children through life’s unexpected twists. This conversation is a powerful companion to last week’s episode with author Jessica N. Turner on moving forward when life doesn’t turn out as planned. In this episode, M...
Apr 14, 2025•39 min•Ep. 425
When you were younger, did you imagine your life turning out a certain way? Maybe you thought you’d have a house full of children, a forever kind of love, or a career that lit you up. But what happens when the reality of your life looks nothing like the dream? In this heartfelt and hope-filled episode, I sit down with bestselling author Jessica N. Turner to talk about how to rise from life’s deepest disappointments and rebuild something beautiful. Jessica vulnerably shares her personal story of ...
Apr 07, 2025•37 min•Ep. 428
If you have a strong-willed child, you know that traditional parenting strategies just don’t work. No amount of reasoning, bribing, or threatening seems to move the needle—and sometimes, the more you push, the harder they push back. So what does work? In this episode, I’m joined by Kirk Martin, founder of Celebrate Calm and host of the Calm Parenting Podcast. With his signature humor and straight-talking style, Kirk shares practical strategies for understanding and guiding strong-willed kids—wit...
Mar 31, 2025•38 min•Ep. 423
Have you ever asked your kids about their day, only to get one-word answers in return? Or sat across from your spouse on a long-awaited date night and struggled to find something meaningful to talk about? Communication can feel hardest with the people we love the most—but what if we could change that? In this episode, I sit down with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and bestselling author Charles Duhigg to explore what makes someone a super communicator and how we can apply these insights to de...
Mar 24, 2025•36 min•Ep. 422
If you’ve ever looked around at a sink full of dishes or a pile of unfolded laundry and felt like you were drowning, you’re in good company. I know that feeling well. As a recovering perfectionist and all-or-nothing thinker, I used to struggle with self-compassion when it came to housework. But through therapy and learning from experts like KC Davis, I’ve discovered a new way to approach it—one that’s kinder, more sustainable, and rooted in self-care. If you can relate, you're going to love this...
Mar 17, 2025•38 min•Ep. 423
Are you raising a neurodivergent child? If so, you know the journey can often feel isolating, exhausting, and uncertain. How can you teach them the essential skills they need? How do you build a strong relationship with them? Are there other moms who share your struggles? In this episode, I’m thrilled to share an inspiring conversation with Kim Gameroz, the founder of Teaching Inside Out and a leading expert in helping parents and teachers cultivate social and emotional skills in children. Kim's...
Mar 10, 2025•38 min•Ep. 422
When someone we love has a child with intellectual or physical disabilities, we want to be there for them—but sometimes, we’re unsure how. What should we say? What if we say the wrong thing? How can we genuinely show up in ways that matter? In today’s episode, I’m joined by Katie Blackburn, a mom of children with disabilities, who’s here to share practical, heartfelt ways to support families in the disability community, including: 💛 Thoughtful scripts to help your neurotypical kids understand a...
Mar 03, 2025•38 min•Ep. 417
Spring Break is coming up, and if travel isn’t an option this year, don’t worry—you can still make it a fun and memorable week for your kids and yourself at home! In this episode, Abby, Stacey and Steph, three members of the 3 in 30 team, share simple, stress-free strategies to make your staycation special—without feeling like you have to entertain your kids 24/7, including: 🌷 Creative, low-prep activities that keep kids engaged without draining your energy. 🌷 The one sanity-saving strategy ev...
Feb 24, 2025•36 min•Ep. 418
It’s amazing how just one small word can shift an entire conversation—for better or worse. Without realizing it, we often invite comparison into our discussions, creating unnecessary tension or discomfort. That’s why I’m thrilled to have Kathie Gwilliam on the podcast this week! Kathie is an expert at identifying the subtle ways comparison sneaks into our language, and she’s here to help us become more self-aware. In this episode, you’ll learn: ✅ Three common phrases that unintentionally fuel co...
Feb 17, 2025•31 min•Ep. 417
If you ever feel at a loss for how to support your partner, friend, or family member who struggles with mental illness, this special episode is for you. My brother-in-law Logan has been a loving and sturdy support for my older sister Sarah through decades of mental health challenges. Over their 20 years of marriage, he has learned a lot about how best to support someone who is struggling, and he's joining me in this episode to share those insights with us, including: - What to do when frustratio...
Feb 10, 2025•40 min•Ep. 416
After my daughter Sally was born, I stopped sleeping. During the day, I had a hard time looking at my baby because I didn’t feel like I could take care of myself, let alone her. Up to this point, I had managed my natural melancholy okay on my own, but after a terrifying panic attack, I reached out for professional help. I attribute my quick decision to get help to my older sister, Sarah, who has fought mental illness since she was a young teenager. This time of year can be especially difficult f...
Feb 06, 2025•38 min•Ep. 415
This time of year, I struggle more with depression. The winter months can be a really hard time - and I know it’s just not me! That’s why I truly feel like it’s important this time of year to talk about mental illness in motherhood. To give this topic the full focus it deserves, I’m dedicating the next three episodes to focusing on mental health in motherhood. This week, you’ll hear previous episodes I aired with my beloved older sister, Sarah, where we discuss depression in motherhood and how t...
Feb 03, 2025•36 min•Ep. 414
Feeling maxed out? But also feeling like it’s YOUR fault you feel that way? You’re not alone! If you're caught in a cycle of overcommitment, self-criticism, and the struggle to say "yes" when you really want to say "no," this episode is for you! Join me as I chat with Amy Wilson, who shares invaluable insights for women navigating the challenges of over-commitment. In this episode, you’ll hear: - The best question to ask yourself to create more margin in your life (it's definitely not what you t...
Jan 27, 2025•36 min•Ep. 413
As we enter this time of year, I find myself reflecting on clutter—both the physical clutter in my home and the mental clutter in my mind. I'm especially focused on those areas that feel disorganized and overwhelming. Can you relate? Last week, I shared an insightful interview with Erica Layne, discussing mindset shifts that can help us declutter our homes in lasting ways. This week, I want to dive into the topic of decluttering our mental spaces. To guide us, I've decided to share a recording o...
Jan 20, 2025•49 min•Ep. 412
With the new year comes a new surge of energy for me to GET MY LIFE IN ORDER! My kids always laugh at me when I get these bursts of motivation because they never last. They roll their eyes and humor me as I declare plans to declutter our home and patiently wait for my resolve to fizzle. Is this cycle familiar to you too? Well, if so, you’re in for a treat. I truly believe that with some mindset shifts and a deeper commitment to our WHY for decluttering our homes, this can be the year that declut...
Jan 13, 2025•39 min•Ep. 411
As we dive into the season of goal-setting and resolutions, I want to start with an episode focused on honoring and understanding our female bodies and how that relates to goal-setting. Because guess what? As women, we are physiologically unable to have the same level of energy and motivation every single day of the month due to our menstrual cycles, and that TRUTH should absolutely change the way that we set goals. We will not be exactly consistent with goals because our bodies are not exactly ...
Jan 06, 2025•37 min•Ep. 412
Happy Monday, my friends! I am truly so grateful to be with you on this final Monday of 2024. Today's episode is going to be a bit more personal than usual, as I spend some time talking through the highs and lows of my year. As I shared in last week's encore episode with Chatbooks co-founder Vanessa Quigley, I love to spend time at the end of the year reflecting on questions my mom used to ask me when I was growing up. I've done it pretty much every year for 25 years, and I am honored to bring a...
Dec 30, 2024•29 min•Ep. 409
As we wrap up another year, it’s the perfect moment to reflect as a family and set intentions for the upcoming year. In this episode, I’m thrilled to welcome rockstar mom and business owner Vanessa Quigley of Chatbooks. Vanessa shares insightful ways to help your family make the most of this transitional time of year, including: 1. Six end-of-year questions to ask each family member to reflect on and share. 2. How to choose a "family theme" for the upcoming year. 3. A simple way to capture and l...
Dec 23, 2024•34 min•Ep. 408
Feeling overwhelmed and in need of a mental health boost? Join me as I share a simple daily practice that takes just two minutes! In this episode, I’ll explore three transformative benefits of a 2-minute journaling routine, including: Discovering “glimmers” in your day to promote healing. Harnessing the power of gratitude to build resilience. Embracing positive moments to help quiet anxiety. For full show notes and a deeper dive into these takeaways, click here. *** Announcement: On Dec 16, take...
Dec 16, 2024•30 min•Ep. 432
