Send us a text In this solo Stacey episode, we cover: How childhood birthday celebrations raise the bar on birthday expectations, making it difficult to swallow a low-key, adulthood birthday. What do birthdays look like when you become a mom? (Especially in those early days). Stacey’s perfect birthday “me day” + Dozens of ideas from listeners on how to indulge yourself on your birthday, even when you’re a mom. How can we change perspective on our birthdays and make it more about celebrating ours...
Oct 31, 2022•25 min•Season 2Ep. 38
Send us a text In this episode, we cover: When we experience an unexpected career pivot, why does the guilt and shame show up? Bri describes feeling a need to "Explain things to someone who doesn't exist." Does social media trigger our inner critics in a more intense way? When preoccupation with making money derails our creativity and curiosity, and how a more traditional, stable job took the pressure off and opened Bri up to prioritizing her art in a different way. A simple mindset shift from "...
Oct 24, 2022•53 min•Season 2Ep. 37
Send us a text In this episode, we cover: Why are we obsessed with all things fall and pumpkin? It's not really about the pumpkins: Fall is the beginning of cozy season, and we naturally want to cocoon and nurture ourselves with all our favorite sensory treats. Learn our new favorite word—Hygge—which means a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being. How can we dig into all the seasonal delights without being sucked into consumerism an...
Oct 17, 2022•41 min•Season 2Ep. 36
Send us a text Join Stacey in this mini episode as she remembers why she started this podcast in the first place, how it came to be, and what it felt like to lose herself in motherhood, and then find herself again. In it, she reads a piece that she wrote for the live stage show, Listen To Your Mother called "Remembering Her." Join Stacey in remembering: Saturday night karaoke and the "going out" days Dining out with her husband without kids Farmer's Market trips when her time there was slow and ...
Oct 10, 2022•14 min•Season 2Ep. 35
Send us a text In this episode, we cover: How being on a "success treadmill" caused Autumn to hit rock bottom with her health—and how she flipped the switch to get out of that stress state prior to motherhood. Autumn's pursuit of wellness—not just being fit but feeling good— and desiring a schedule that worked for her led to the creation of Paleovalley, a company that nourishes families with accessible whole foods. Balancing motherhood with being a multi-business owner: how Autumn's company crea...
Oct 03, 2022•42 min•Season 2Ep. 34
Send us a text The after-school transition to being with our kids again can be all-consuming, even when we are practicing good self-care. How can we be OK when our kids aren't OK? Having healthy boundaries between their crises and our crises is easier said than done. The more sensitive and emotional we are, the harder it can be to shift between alone time/work time and parenting time. Our parenting journey is not linear—we get better at some things and worse at others and have to ride the waves ...
Sep 26, 2022•17 min•Season 2Ep. 33
Send us a text In this episode, we cover: Why it's important to keep our back-to-school expectations and ambitions in check. Parenting can still be a full time job even when your kids are in school—don't underestimate the workload in managing a family calendar and daily transitions. Carrying our children's back-to-school emotional burdens is a heavy weight—give yourself grace and recognize how hard it is! Allow for some extreme decadence at the beginning of the school year—whatever that looks li...
Sep 19, 2022•40 min•Season 2Ep. 32
Send us a text In this episode, we cover: Information overload: there are two different kinds—the active, intentional information we seek out (online courses, podcasts) and the mindless stimuli that bombards us daily (social media notifications, message alerts, etc) The internet can be an accelerant for the addiction to learning: with digital courses, influencers, podcasts, and workshops at our fingertips (and social feeds), we are constantly consuming information. Being constantly “on call” and...
Aug 01, 2022•47 min•Season 1Ep. 31
Send us a text In this episode, we cover: When you finally claim something for yourself after years of telling yourself there was something wrong with you The “got myself back moment”: finding your creative outlet and feeling attractive while doing it The guilt around doing something for yourself that doesn’t make money Find your "plus" as soon as you can because you’re going to need to have all your reserves when your kids turn into teenagers The slippery slope between finding yourself and stay...
Jul 01, 2022•25 min•Season 1Ep. 30
Send us a text In this episode, we cover: When being an empty nester isn’t sad: How Lisa embraces her new found freedom When you continue your creative pursuits while doing ALL the activities, it’s a quick road to burnout Slow down and take a breath and teach your kids to be bored in a world where “activities” are an all-encompassing portion of their life The unconventional decision to become a stay at home mom when her kids were teenagers How Lisa brought her research and ideas about parenting ...
Jun 20, 2022•38 min•Season 1Ep. 29
Send us a text In this episode, we cover: How bullying for teenage girls can be subtle and insidious: It may look more like relational or indirect aggression than traditional bullying, but that doesn't make it any less serious. Social media has acted as an accelerant for social problems amongst adolescence: externalizing their public identities makes it harder to be authentic and empathetic. Why fear of being a "helicopter parent" has led many parents to be too hands-off when it comes to their c...
Jun 06, 2022•48 min•Season 1Ep. 28
Send us a text In this episode, we cover: The reality of pregnancy discrimination and the damaging narrative that "having babies means you aren't serious about your career." What it looks like to be a mother + writer, and how having kids can actually enhance our creative process. Balancing the good and bad of modern motherhood: more honest, candid conversations paired with unrealistic expectations and overwhelm. The tempting trap of parenting trends that ultimately make moms feel worse about the...
May 30, 2022•45 min•Season 1Ep. 27
Send us a text In today’s episode, we talk about: Getting out of the box of what you think your business and life "should" look like, and step into your own space. Stop thinking about "balance" and start thinking about "flow" to avoid guilt and overwhelm. How to overcome limiting beliefs by getting quiet and re-examining your thoughts. Are you avoiding certain tasks you don't like? Instead of procrastinating and worrying, time how long it takes you to complete it, then focus your intention and w...
May 23, 2022•38 min•Season 1Ep. 26
Send us a text In this episode, we cover: Why do we judge moms for using childcare? Accepting the type of mother we are, even if we are different from other moms, and find people who understand and support you. The mother needs to be as happy as her kids: changing the definition of "selfishness" to be "filling" self and caring for self. It's important to acknowledge and accept that ambivalence—even hating motherhood at times— is normal. Mothers are often stretched to the breaking point: asking f...
May 09, 2022•32 min•Season 1Ep. 25
Send us a text In this episode, we cover: What happens when you feel like you're a "different kind of mom?"Our guest Laura shares that early on, she knew she needed more—more time away, more of her own interests. Learn about Mothers and More—a national club Laura was a part of whose focus was simple: Mom needs to be happy, whatever that looks like. Why we need to have real conversations about our ambivalent feelings about motherhood AND find other moms who understand us. Why you are allowed to h...
May 02, 2022•27 min•Season 1Ep. 24
Send us a text In this episode, we cover: Why we are nostalgia junkies and have an obsession with all things 1980s and 90s... We are drawn to music, movies, TV shows, and books from our past now because they bring us comfort and remind us of a simpler time. Bringing our own childhoods into our lives with our children is a way to light us up and make "play" more fun. Ideas to bring our 80s-90s culture to our kids: read-aloud book club with our favorite childhood books; taking back the radio with ...
Apr 25, 2022•43 min•Season 1Ep. 23
Send us a text In this episode, we talk about: Getting curious and becoming an observer: Start noticing how you feel when you enter a space, then ask yourself "How do I WANT to feel in here?" Starting from a place of gratitude and appreciation—what do you love about the rooms in your home? How motherhood changes our spaces, and how we can take small steps and get the whole family involved. Rather than a major overhaul once a year, make "letting go" a regular part of your family's routines. Micha...
Apr 18, 2022•52 min•Season 1Ep. 22
Send us a text In this episode, we cover: Why this mom went from a successful career to becoming a stay-at-home mom Working moms cannot have it all: how society sets us up for failure to juggle careers and our families. Having a flexible career and balanced work-family life should not feel like an unachievable utopia . . . but it does. Delegation is everything: get your family on board so you can truly take care of yourself. Why it’s important to have honest conversations with women about what b...
Apr 11, 2022•58 min•Season 1Ep. 21
Send us a text In this episode, we cover: Raising kids in the 1980s vs. now--was it easier and less high-pressure to be a mom then? The importance of raising independent children who don’t think the world revolves around them. How Barb and Suzanne teamed up to get their MD/doctorate degrees while raising young kids. Identifying your values and priorities and remembering you cannot do it all: “getting our educations was our self-care.” Ask for help to achieve your goals: Find a Barb/Suzanne, team...
Apr 04, 2022•57 min•Season 1Ep. 20
Send us a text In this episode, we talk about: You don’t have to be a “real writer” to learn how to present yourself in writing in your own words. How to write like you talk and use your authentic voice to reach your target audience. Overcome impostor syndrome by remembering the value of your own voice--nobody else is exactly like you, with your skill set and life experiences. It’s okay to pursue a job you love, whatever that looks like--your family will be okay. Why we don’t have to let motherh...
Mar 28, 2022•46 min•Season 1Ep. 19
Send us a text In this episode, we discuss: Encanto as a metaphor for moms giving themselves permission to take care of their needs. Louisa represents the pressure we feel every day as moms to do everything for our families and still take care of ourselves. Isabella is a metaphor for perfectionism and expectations. Bruno represents our tendency to repress our intuition, especially if it makes other people uncomfortable. The townspeople remind us that it’s ok to lay down our load and rely on othe...
Mar 21, 2022•21 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Send us a text In this episode, we talk about: Writing during early motherhood as an avenue for creativity and connection The birth of Listen to Your Mother and the creation of an unparalleled community. The beauty of using your strengths to follow your ease, instead of your joy. The impact of positive psychology on Ann’s life and career. “I am not an expert, but I have something to share.”: the value of beginner’s mind, staying curious, and finding your “why.” Ann Imig is a writer, speaker, per...
Mar 14, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Send us a text In this episode, we talk: Why is *everything* a special occasion, and how did we get here? What happens if you don’t find joy in going over the top on all the things? Handing our kids the reins to take ownership of some of these special occasions. Let them be bored: why we struggle to tolerate the ordinary and mundane. Being unapologetic about your family values and giving yourself permission to NOT be extra unless you want to. We think you’re either going to love this Stace + Ste...
Mar 07, 2022•28 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Send us a text This episode covers: Timid vs. reckless: not asking for what you’re worth can create a reckless lifestyle Mohawks and couch hopping: Putting on a tough exterior so that people respect you Hitting rock bottom before finding a path that honors you When the “crazy artist life” meets motherhood When you follow your dreams for your career, you reduce mom guilt because aren’t pulled between an unfulfilling job and your family Combining all of your passions together to create the life yo...
Feb 28, 2022•58 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Send us a text What is Listen To Your Mother, and how does it link Stace & Steph? LTYM brings a realness to motherhood that gives women permission to express ALL of it: the good, the bad, and the ugly? What is the value of moms sharing their stories about motherhood? How can YOU get involved in sharing your stories or connecting with LTYM? In this Stace + Steph episode, Stacey interviews Stephanie about her experience as Executive Producer of Listen To Your Mother Boulder. Listen To Your Mot...
Feb 21, 2022•45 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Send us a text In this episode, we talk about: The undeniable impact of pandemic parenting on our mental health Remembering to help yourself when you’re a constant “helper” Don’t underestimate the toll of the postpartum period and early childhood parenting Stop making excuses: you deserve a break and the benefits are huge! How to give yourself a “momcation” and work within your limits In this episode, Stace and Steph have a conversation with Laura Guska, a stay-at-home mom to two small children,...
Feb 14, 2022•52 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Send us a text In this episode, we cover: What happens when your dream doesn’t look the way you envisioned it? Finding a balance between drive/ambition and allowing space and grace for your own sanity, pace, and challenges in your path. Make your list of “Why I shouldn’t do the thing” and then figure out what’s actually true. Shift your mindset from perfectionism to acceptance: “I’m pursuing my dream, but I accept that it’s happening more slowly or differently than I wanted.” In this Stace and S...
Feb 07, 2022•42 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Send us a text In this episode, we talk about how to: Get curious about what you desire, and follow your curiosity like breadcrumbs Ask yourself: what is holding me back from doing what I want to do? Question your thoughts; interrupt the process; rewire Why feminine energy is so revolutionary and why honoring ourselves is not "woo-woo" Your new motto; "I Matter." Start where you are and take small steps. Melissa Bauknight is a life and business coach, the founder of The Ripple Connection, and a ...
Jan 31, 2022•54 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Send us a text In this Stace and Steph mini-episode, we talk about meltdowns: mother meltdowns Why it helps to accept this side of ourselves, talk about our meltdowns, and find compassion when we #FailLikeAMother Understanding what pushes our buttons and triggers our feelings of frustration. The lost cause of trying to find reason amidst an unreasonable situation. Accepting the type of mother we are instead of trying to be someone we’re not, and finding fulfillment as a path to avoid meltdowns. ...
Jan 24, 2022•29 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Send us a text In this episode, we cover: How Kalindi uses hypnosis to help women overcome trauma that is holding them back Understanding the power of our subconscious mind and how to tap into it Shifting the cultural paradigm of guilt and imbalance that negatively impacts mothers Fulfilled motherhood: make yourself a priority and put your identity back on the table Kalindi Conaway is a certified Rapid Transformational Therapist Practitioner (RTTP). She is also trained in Neo-Ericksonian hypnosi...
Jan 17, 2022•41 min•Season 1Ep. 9
