In this episode, I sit down with Sarah Steele (aka The Corporate Mama) to talk about the myth of work-life balance and how Sarah strives for work-life fulfillment, the differences between being a working mom versus a working dad in the corporate world, and why a mandated parental leave across all workplaces would be a gamechanger. Sarah shares her best efficiency and self care advice for parents working from home, tools she implements to self-regulate intense emotions and manage ADHD as a parent...
May 31, 2023•44 min•Ep. 187
In this solo episode, I recap my son Liam’s second birthday and reflect on the past two years of being his mother. After a special appearance from Liam himself, I dive into the deep connection I feel with him, my postpartum experience and why I think it bonded us, and how Joe and I have increasingly loved each of his phases. I share my feelings on saying goodbye to Liam as my only child, explain our hosting philosophy on keeping joy the priority, and recap how his birthday party went, from ice c...
May 24, 2023•39 min•Ep. 189
In this live show recording of my conversation with Katie Couric at City Winery, we discuss everything from Katie’s experience writing her memoir Going There ; to what it was like being the first female anchor in evening news; to being labeled “America’s sweetheart” and the shortcomings of categorizing women with single adjectives. Katie shares how she juggled being a single mother and a full time news anchor, what it was like working with Matt Lauer and how she reacted to his #MeToo reckoning, ...
May 17, 2023•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 188
In this solo episode, I dive into all things dog-related: how we decided it was the right time to get a dog, what the adoption and training process looked like, and how we introduced our dog, Charlie, to our newborn baby in a safe and controlled way. I discuss the importance of knowing when you’re ready to adopt a dog, how I came across our adoption shelter, and what the learning curve was like once we had our new puppy. I also discuss why dogs are a good test for having a child with your partne...
May 10, 2023•44 min•Ep. 187
In this episode, I sit down with Katina Bajaj, the author of “On Adulting” and cofounder of Daydreamers: a wellbeing startup that utilizes creativity as a health modality. Katina and I discuss her trajectory from investment banking and why she left the corporate world, how she started the “On Adulting” blog which later became a book, and how motherhood can instill childlike wonder. We also discuss the baggage around the word “creativity,” actionable ways to create “transition times” in your day ...
May 03, 2023•47 min•Ep. 186
In this episode, I sit down with Nicole Walters, CEO, entrepreneur, and self-made power woman whose story is as remarkable, resilient, and inspiring as she is. Nicole and I discuss her incredible experience of adopting her three daughters ten years ago, the overwhelming shift of going from mentor to mother of three in under 30 days, and how she frames parental commitment and healthy attachment. She shares how her poor upbringing shaped her relationship with humanity, what both poverty and wealth...
Apr 26, 2023•52 min•Ep. 185
In this solo episode, I share how I’ve been feeling with first trimester symptoms, our current house progress and setting timelines for ourselves, and how my recent Vampire Diaries obsession has been getting me through this pregnancy. I also share some wild pregnancy dreams I’ve had lately and answer listener questions on moving in with your partner, best advice for early pregnancy symptoms and discomfort, making friends in the suburbs as a mom, and how to handle mommy or daddy phases with your ...
Apr 19, 2023•44 min•Ep. 185
TW: The beginning of this episode contains details of fertility struggles and pregnancy losses — fast forward to 10:00. In this episode, I sit down with Katrina Scott: entrepreneur, author, and the first visibly pregnant model to be in a Sports Illustrated publication. Katrina and I discuss her emotional fertility journey and the pregnancy losses she and her family have experienced in the past few years. She shares the balancing act of publicly sharing her fertility experiences, moving through g...
Apr 12, 2023•54 min•Ep. 184
In this episode, I sit down with human design coach, author, and mother Alexandra Cole. We discuss all things human design: what it is, how it works, and the five energy types that differentiate people. Alexandra explains how knowing your child’s energy type is so valuable in parenting, how to work based on your energy’s consistencies and inconsistencies, and how knowing your Ego, Identity, and Decision-Making Centers can help you further align with your true self. We also unpack a recent “good ...
Apr 05, 2023•47 min•Ep. 183
TW: fertility discussion and pregnancy announcement In this solo episode, I announce my shocking (or not) news that…I’m pregnant! Baby #2 is officially on the way, and I dive into all the details, from whether we planned this pregnancy; to how I instantly knew I was pregnant; to how the first trimester has been so far. I share how I’ve been feeling both mentally and physically, why I feel different about being pregnant than I did several months ago, and what I’m looking forward to in the second ...
Mar 29, 2023•37 min•Ep. 182
In this episode, I sit down with Tefi to discuss everything from the concept of struggle and “deserving” success; to how she knows so much about pop culture and how that became a shared language in her family; to how pop culture knowledge helped develop her empathy when she was young. We talk about being “known” by social media followers and selective vulnerability, Tefi’s best friend vibe and not always being a “nice” person, and the idea of feeling unlikable. Finally, Tefi shares how her menta...
Mar 22, 2023•51 min•Ep. 181
In this episode, I sit down with Madison Utendahl, Founder of Utendahl Creative, to discuss recovering from burnout in an accolades-driven society. Madison shares her history with overachievement and excellence over the years, how her burnout manifested throughout several periods in her life, and the tools and practices she uses now to prioritize her mental health. We discuss learning to love not being “the best,” what Madison’s experience with making 30 Under 30 was actually like, and why “the ...
Mar 15, 2023•54 min•Ep. 180
In this episode, I sit down with Alli Schaper, co-founder of Super Mush, Into the Multiverse, and the Microdosing Collective, and an encyclopedia for all things functional and psychedelic mushrooms. We discuss everything from the distinction between mushrooms and fungi; to our human connection and long history with mushrooms; to how the mycelium network connects every living organism. Alli explains how she came to use functional mushrooms for her health, what is happening legally right now in th...
Mar 08, 2023•45 min•Ep. 179
In this episode, I sit down with Michelle, Freckled Foodie Family member, mother, and brave and beautiful human being, to discuss her experience with postpartum depression and psychosis. We discuss how Michelle came to be on the podcast, Michelle’s early postpartum experience in the few days after her daughter’s birth, and the confusion and shame that so often permeate the postpartum experience. Michelle shares how her postpartum depression developed upon returning to work, how her psychosis man...
Mar 01, 2023•57 min•Ep. 178
In this episode, I sit down with Katie Austin: fitness expert, health coach, creator, and so much more, to discuss everything from our fitness journeys to our attachments to certain identities. We talk about our intense experiences as Division I athletes, our relationships with movement now, and how Katie’s upbringing was influenced by her parents, who are both athletes. We also discuss losing our competitiveness as we get older, Katie’s perspective on her mother’s success, and what it was like ...
Feb 22, 2023•55 min•Ep. 177
In this solo episode, I share where I’m at emotionally, what I’ve been loving, and what I miss about NYC two and a half weeks into suburban living. I talk about how our basement and backyard have truly been game changers for our family, how I did *not* get my shit together with furniture for the new house, and how I feel generally calmer in the suburbs versus the city. I also discuss the features in the house that I love (hello double vanity), things I’m still getting used to (hidden homeownersh...
Feb 15, 2023•45 min•Ep. 176
In this episode, I sit down with mortgage advisor and my old high school friend, Tyler Howe, to discuss the financial must-knows of the home buying process, the basics of mortgages and loans, how pre-approvals work, and much more. Tyler walks us through the steps of a hypothetical home buying situation from pre-approvals to closing and explains typical down-payment amounts, common red flags with realtors, and how taxes come into play. He also discusses what sellers look for in offers, how to use...
Feb 08, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 175
In this episode, I talk about my journey with food, from my childhood of thoroughly loving and enjoying it; to using it as fuel for my Division I college sport; to the shift that occurred post-college to an orthorexic mindset. I get into my nutrition-obsessive behavior that arose from digestive issues, the feelings of anxiety and isolation around food that permeated my early twenties, and how working with a therapist immensely helped me recover. I discuss how I backed away from perfectionism, th...
Feb 01, 2023•38 min•Ep. 174
In this episode, I sit down with Anicia Anya, founder and CEO of Kid’s Table: New York City’s meal delivery service for kids. Anicia and I discuss her journey from working in corporate tech to nannying for high profile families, how she became a private chef, and why and how she built Kid’s Table. We talk about the importance of treating children as human beings first, children second, how asking for help and putting aside your ego is a beautiful thing, and what Anicia envisions for Kid’s Table’...
Jan 25, 2023•57 min•Ep. 173
In this solo episode, I dive into how we have navigated sex as parents both during pregnancy and postpartum. I discuss why it’s completely normal not to feel ready for sex after the six week postpartum check-up, how my relationship with my post-baby body affected my sensuality, and why it’s so challenging shifting from mom mode to sexual mode. I also get into why communication between partners is crucial during post-baby sex, which tools have been useful for reclaiming my sexuality post-baby, an...
Jan 18, 2023•50 min•Ep. 172
In this episode, I sit down with Kelsey Kreppel to discuss her path from preschool teacher to creator, what she took away from her experiences as a nanny and a teacher, and the value of not changing who you are around children. We get into Kelsey’s journey with imposter syndrome in her work and why she prefers that over complacency, the joy she felt as a teacher engaging in childlike wonder, and how she has structured her podcast around the inner child experience. Finally, we dive into how Kelse...
Jan 11, 2023•46 min•Ep. 171
In this solo episode, I make a very exciting announcement...that we’re moving to New Jersey! I discuss the details of our housing search, on always knowing we’d make it back to New Jersey, and what we’re looking forward to most with life in the suburbs. I also get into the housing inspection journey and how it can be overwhelming for first-time homeowners, our future plans for organization and decorating, and an especially helpful exercise my therapist recommended for whenever I’m feeling overwh...
Jan 04, 2023•36 min•Ep. 170
In this episode, I sit down with stylist, closet therapist, and wardrobe specialist Allison Bornstein to talk about all things style and the emotional significance of what we wear. We discuss the identity shift that comes with motherhood and how style fits into that, Allison’s wild and experimental fashion sense as a child, and how both of our mothers have influenced our style journeys to this day. Allison takes us through her coined “three word method” and defines my three words, she explains w...
Dec 28, 2022•41 min•Ep. 169
In this solo episode, I discuss all things overstimulation, anger, and how to navigate the often-triggering holiday season in a mindful and healthy way. I unpack the confusing dichotomy of wanting to spend time with your family but not always being your best self when you’re with them, my recent overstimulated Thanksgiving and how I handled it, and where I believe my overstimulation comes from. I also discuss mourning the “childhood” holiday experience and adjusting to being an adult during the ...
Dec 21, 2022•32 min•Ep. 168
In this episode, I sit down with Ella Halikas to discuss how she has honed her confidence mindset, how she began her modeling career from taking photos on the beach, and why she hopes the term “curve model” will be irrelevant in the future. We dive into Ella’s storied and relentless pursuit of becoming a Sports Illustrated model, how timing is everything when it comes to your dreams coming true, and why failure excites her more than anything. We also get into what happened when she and a friend ...
Dec 14, 2022•47 min•Ep. 167
In this solo episode, I share all of the raw and overwhelming feelings I’m experiencing right now while grieving my son’s baby stage at eighteen months. I explore the heartache and anxiety around the passage of time, the confusion of feeling nostalgic for the present, and explain why the newborn phase wasn’t exactly my thing. I also give my mother an impromptu call and get her perspective on embracing the simultaneous sadness and joy of time passing with children. Finally, I discuss still feelin...
Dec 07, 2022•24 min•Ep. 166
In this episode, I sit down with content creator Lucie Fink to talk about Lucie’s creative trajectory, how motherhood transformed her into “Lucie 2.0,” and much more. Lucie gets into how she handles dealing with online trolls, what happened when she Zoomed with one of them, and how she has navigated the confusion of unintentional postpartum weight loss. Key Takeaway / Points: What lights Lucie up in her work Lucie’s creative trajectory How motherhood transformed her into “Lucie 2.0” How Lucie co...
Nov 30, 2022•39 min•Ep. 165
In this solo episode, I dive into the ongoing conversation around sharing children on social media. I discuss how Joe and I navigate sharing Liam now, how that has evolved over time, and how it might change as he gets older. I also unpack the feeling of being out of control of your child’s image, feeling exploitative of your child, and recent experiences that have shifted the way I view this topic. Finally, I share listener comments and questions about my process with protecting Liam’s privacy, ...
Nov 23, 2022•37 min•Ep. 164
The episode you all have been requesting since the beginning! In this episode, I sit down with my two sisters, Lucy and Madi. We discuss respecting their varying boundaries on social media, whether our birth order accurately reflects who we are, and how our personalities differ. We also get into each of our relationships with anxiety, how our relationships with each other have evolved over time, and whether we deal with competition in our relationships and as mothers, since Madi and I have sons ...
Nov 16, 2022•46 min•Ep. 163
Welcome to Season Five, FF Fam! In this solo episode, I announce the incredibly exciting news that I’ve signed with Dear Media for all things podcasting! I share my two-year journey leading up to this career milestone, what this means for the podcast moving forward, and what’s in store for Season Five, including some amazing guests. I also dive into my recent trip to Italy with Joe for our anniversary, my intense travel anxiety in the past versus this experience, and why our trip home would’ve s...
Nov 09, 2022•38 min•Ep. 162