Content Warning: This episode discusses the loss of a child. Please check in with your heart and listen in only if you have the time and space. Christina welcomes Courtney to share her story of stepmotherhood. Like many stepmoms, Courtney struggled with the role she played in her stepdaughter's life. After years of navigating a long distance relationship Courtney and her husband started building a case and filed for custody. Sadly, Courtney's stepdaughter's life was cut way too short. Courtney o...
Feb 22, 2023•52 min•Season 6Ep. 4
Christina chats with Jill, a Divorce Attorney who shares what to look for if you're headed to family court. In her book, "No One Dies From Divorce" Jill discusses what it takes to co-parent well and how to manage an alienating parent. What's the "right" way to divorce and where did our partners go wrong? What's her experience in working with stepmoms? Is the legal system changing how stepmoms are represented? Listen in! About My Guest: Jill L. Coil dually licensed in both Texas and Utah where sh...
Feb 15, 2023•45 min•Season 6Ep. 3
Christina chats with Anna a full-time stepmom who has been through high conflict, custody battles, control issues with communication, self esteem and guilt. Any of this sound familiar? Anna shares her experience with full custody stepmom life, the pros and cons, what helps and doesn't help and what she struggles with most. They chat how to support stepkids who don't see their other parent often and the ever changing "seasons" of stepmotherhood. Grab your beverage of choice and listen in! About M...
Feb 08, 2023•49 min•Season 6Ep. 2
Welcome to Season SIX!!! Christina kicks off the season by discussing the most important topic when it comes to blended family life: your relationship. On this episode you'll meet April, a marriage and family therapist and stepmom. April discusses the common issues she sees blended couples and stepmoms struggling with most and shares the advice and tips she often provides. How do we make an effort to not be another statistic? April also chats about the workbook she designed specifically for our ...
Feb 01, 2023•42 min•Season 6Ep. 1
Christina welcomes Elizabeth, to chat gaining primary custody, parallel parenting and when the ex lights the olive branch on fire. As a Behavioral Specialist, Elizabeth shares her wisdom in being able to respond to difficult behaviors from....everyone. Listen in! This episode wraps up Season 5! We'll take a short break and Season 6 will start in a few weeks! About My Guest: My name is Elizabeth Taylor, I am a behavior specialist for elementary aged children. I specialize working with children wi...
Jan 11, 2023•58 min•Season 5Ep. 20
Christina welcomes Dr. Amy Baker to discuss parental alienation, what it is and best practices on how to navigate it. What does the research say about alienation and how to stay connected to the kids? How do grown kids reconcile with their alienated parent? Amy discusses her work and the books you can read now to help guide you through this difficult road. Listen In! About My Guest: Dr. Baker has a PhD in developmental psychology and is the author or co-author of 9 books and over 100 journal art...
Dec 14, 2022•46 min•Season 5Ep. 19
Christina is answering listener's questions in a rapid fire Q&A. Will she be getting a gift for BM this year? Is it normal to feel protective over your ours baby? Christina chats parallel parenting, when and if you stray from the parenting plan... BANANAS and more! Listen in! So much more than a podcast!!! Find me on the Gram @radicalstepmomspodcast Want a little more support? Schedule a 1:1 session or become a Radical Member? Head to my website! **This episode is sponsored by Equilibria. Us...
Dec 07, 2022•56 min•Season 5Ep. 18
Christina chats with Ashley-Nichole who shares her experience of having multiple stepmoms and how it's shaped her role as a stepmom to her two bonus-daughters. They discuss holding the title of "stepmom" without a marriage certificate, finding her "place" in her home and what led her to writing a children's book, "Wicked Awesome Stepmother". Disney did us dirty, but Ashley-Nichole is confronting that narrative! Listen in! About My Guest: Ashley-Nichole was raised by her mother and stepmother in ...
Nov 30, 2022•45 min•Season 5Ep. 17
Christina welcomes Ryan to discuss two topics that impact many stepmoms: step-parent alienation and trying to conceive. When the ex is committed to hating on the stepmom, what can you do? How do you respond when your stepkid says, "my mom doesn't like you?" Ryan also shares her story of trying for an ours baby. As a stepmom navigating fertility, Ryan gives her insights and words of validation and hope to others also waiting for their exciting news. To all the stepmoms who resonate with this epis...
Nov 16, 2022•46 min•Season 5Ep. 16
Christina chats with Anna, a child and family advocate, a conscious parenting coach and STEPMOM. Anna shares her story of meeting her partner and kids, how her background grounds her in the stepmom role and ways to thoughtfully connect with our stepkids. Anna also shares her beautiful engagement story and how taking on the title "stepmom" feels to her and her family. Listen in! About My Guest: I am a children and family advocate. Alongside my work directly aimed at helping children develop socia...
Nov 09, 2022•41 min•Season 5Ep. 15
Christina welcomes Julie Menanno, Marriage and Family Therapist and content creator of Instagram's The Secure Relationship. Our success in stepmotherhood begins with the relationships with our partners. In this episode, Julie discusses attachment styles and how we can notice and overcome our negative cycles. How can we communicate better with our partners? How can advocate for ourselves and hold space for others? Can a stepmom stop being a "fixer"? Listen in! About My Guest: Julie Menanno MA is ...
Nov 02, 2022•36 min•Season 5Ep. 14
A re-release from Season 3 incase you missed this awesome chat with Dr. Michelle Logvinsky! Christina chats with Dr. Michelle Logvinsky, a licensed clinical psychologist (AND stepmom) to unpack the terms "high-conflict" and "narcissism". Michelle discusses her profession and how it overlaps with your personal life, and the struggles stepmoms face when dealing with the traumas of a high-conflict "co-parent". What are best practices when interacting with a high conflict person? Boundaries? They di...
Oct 26, 2022•1 hr 13 min•Season 5Ep. 13
Christina is back for another Q&A AND offering her insights on a topic we HAVE to discuss as stepmoms. She answers how she introduces herself, are drop offs better at school or in person, how her family manages holidays and more! What's her hot take? Listen in! So much more than a podcast!!! Find me on the Gram @radicalstepmomspodcast Want a little more support? Schedule a 1:1 session or become a Radical Member? Head to my website! **This episode is sponsored by StepMom Magazine. Use discoun...
Oct 19, 2022•38 min•Season 5Ep. 12
Christina welcomes back Jenny and Sam (S3:E33) to get an update on their full house of crazy and love. Jenny chats her many hats of being a mom, stepmom, adoptive mom, foster mom and wife. Sam shares his tips for preparing for court and how to maintain a happy and healthy relationship with your partner (grab your partner for this one!) Jenny and Sam are a power couple who knows the ups and downs of alienation, courts and all corners of a big blended life. How does Jenny balance it all? What's Sa...
Oct 12, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Season 5Ep. 11
Christina chats with Jessica, a mom, stepmom and Behavior Analyst who shares her insights on how she uses acceptance and mindfulness to navigate negative behaviors. Whether it's kid behaviors, partner or the ex...how can we accept the situation and begin to make necessary changes? They also chat about Jessica’s experience being mom and stepmom, and how she defined what those roles would mean. How did she respond to her ex’s new girlfriend? How does she find balance? Listen in! About My Guest My ...
Oct 05, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Season 5Ep. 10
Christina answers questions submitted by YOU! In a rapid Q&A Christina give words of advice and a few pep talks. Later in the show she welcomes back her husband to help with a few questions! Get ready to feel validated, laugh and say “hell yea”. Listen in! Topics Discussed: The difference between setting boundaries and leading with insecurity How she defined her role as a stepmom How to reclaim your identity What was the ex's big news How to handle the ex doing things differently Managing in...
Sep 28, 2022•42 min•Season 5Ep. 9
Christina chats with Brandi, a stepmom who fell in love with a man who experienced great loss and stepped in to care for their children. At 26, she is raising two kids full-time and shares her story of finding balance, identifying her role and doing a lot of growing up, really quickly. Brandi chats insecurity, talking to the kids about their mother who's passed and how she finds time for romance. Listen in! About My Guest: Brandi is a 26 year old full time step mom to 2 children, ages 4 and 6, a...
Sep 21, 2022•36 min•Season 5Ep. 8
Christina welcomes Lauren, a stepmom who knew from a young age she never wanted children. When she started dating her now husband, she was honest about what she wanted her stepmom role to look like. Lauren is a happily disengaged stepmom who shares how she supports her husband, how she decides when to step in, her relationship with her stepdaughter and her advice for those wanting to edit their role and expectations. Christina and Lauren also chat about how to find compassion for the ex when the...
Sep 14, 2022•49 min•Season 5Ep. 7
Christina welcomes Madison, a stepmom whose special hobbies include: micromanaging, getting too involved, learning to step back and a whole bunch of WTF?! Can you relate? Madison shares her story of falling in love with "Dad of the Year", how she finds her role among 2 other Type A co-parents, being the house with consequences and oh-yes.... family therapy. What has drove Madison crazy and what keeps her sane? What was family therapy like? Listen in! About My Guest: Dr. Madison Kackley is resear...
Sep 07, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Season 5Ep. 6
Christina chats with Catherine, a seasoned stepmom who shares her story of becoming a young stepmom, giving it your all, learning the truth about the ex (this might surprise you), and how she eventually walked away. What feedback does she get from her step-kids 23 years later? What has she done differently now that she's remarried and a stepmom...again? Catherine keeps it real, shares her wisdom and leaves you feeling empowered! Listen in! Meet My Guest: Catherine Shanahan is the Co-Founder of M...
Aug 31, 2022•55 min•Season 5Ep. 5
Christina chats with Sam, a stepmom who became a fulltime stepmom after her stepdaughter's mom decided to move to another state. How has her role changed now that she's doing the "mom" thing 100%? How has she supported her stepdaughter through the transition? Sam shares the advantages, disadvantages, and some words of wisdom every stepmom needs to hear. Listen in! So much more than a podcast!!! @radicalstepmomspodcast Want to schedule a 1:1 session or become a Radical Member? Head to my website!...
Aug 24, 2022•43 min•Season 5Ep. 4
Christina chats with Esmerelda, a fellow social worker stepmom who shares her story of leading by example. Esmerelda discusses how to notice when the ex is acting out of insecurity, how to not take things personally and how she manages her complicated in-law dynamics. Listen in as Esmerelda describes her radical way of being a stepmom! So much more than a podcast!!! Instagram: @radicalstepmomspodcast Want to schedule a 1:1 session or become a Radical Member? Head to my website! www.radicalstepmo...
Aug 17, 2022•30 min•Season 5Ep. 3
Christina welcomes Sydney, a stepmom who is navigating the challenges of being long distance from her stepkids. How do you develop and maintain relationships? How do you plan trips and manage important events? Sydney also shares how the age gap with her partner impacts her stepmom role and relationship. They chat awkward moments with the ex, boundaries and more! Grab your beverage of choice and listen in! About My Guest: Wife, stepmom, and beach lover – Sydney is a stepmom of two with a creative...
Aug 10, 2022•45 min•Season 5Ep. 2
Christina kicks off Season 5 with Michelle, a full-time stepmom who strives to help others with their mindset, self-development, health and wellness. Michelle shares her story, struggles and insight into her unique situation of raising her stepdaughter after the passing of her mother. How does your own childhood impact your role as a stepmom? How can you heal while also supporting your stepkids? Listen in as they discuss how to shift your mindset, find gratitude and lean into your growth! Cheers...
Aug 03, 2022•49 min•Season 5Ep. 1
Christina wraps up Season 4 with Jenifer, a stepmom who was rushed into being a full-time stepmom during a pandemic. Jenifer shares her story of stepmotherhood, holding compassion for the ex, trying to conceive and the awkward pregnancy moments with the ex - yikes! They also share their MIL stories and the relationship between stepkiddo and ours babe. Listen in! Thanks for an awesome season and I look forward to Season 5 in August! About My Guest: Jenifer has worked in government affairs (politi...
Jun 29, 2022•53 min•Season 4Ep. 34
Christina chats with Chelsea who shares how she supports and celebrates her gay stepson. After spending years trying to fine tune their up and down relationship Chelsea shares it's never been better. In a world that isn't always welcoming to the LGBTQ+ community, how does a parent show up for their kid when they need them most? Listen In! Resources: https://itgetsbetter.org/ https://pflag.org/family https://www.thetrevorproject.org/resources/ About My Guest: A stepmom of two boys, dog momma of t...
Jun 22, 2022•32 min•Season 4Ep. 33
Have you ever asked yourself if you would choose stepmom life all over again? In this episode Christina chats with Cynthia, a radical stepmom who shares her story of becoming a stepmom AGAIN. After breaking off her engagement with her ex, Cynthia had to navigate the relationship with her stepkids and find her balance again. Who helped her? What did she learn? What is she doing differently as she has found love and is once again a stepmom? There's some twists and turns in this one - buckle up and...
Jun 15, 2022•45 min•Season 4Ep. 32
Christina chats with Melissa and Todd, high school friends who 20 years later reconnected through social media and are now living that blended life. Listen in as they share how they are managing a new marriage, a HCBM, parallel parenting, court and more! So much more than a podcast!!! Instagram: @radicalstepmomspodcast Want to schedule a 1:1 session or become a Radical Member? Head to my website! www.radicalstepmomspodcast.com
Jun 08, 2022•59 min•Season 4Ep. 31
Christina chats with Rachel about her blended family, zero to high conflict and how to find the humor amongst the WTF's?? Rachel and her ex-husband were able to co-parent and keep their issues out of the courtroom, but unfortunately Rachel couldn't avoid the conflict when she became a stepmom. How does Rachel manage her husband's ex? How does she battle the "how could she do that?" thoughts? What choices did Rachel make to not be high conflict herself? How does a stepmom's presence influence the...
Jun 01, 2022•51 min•Season 4Ep. 30
Christina welcomes Mandy, a stepmom who had a slow start into her role and led with optimism about what her blended life would be like. They discuss what it's like to be a stepmom when your close friends can't relate, having a higher needs stepkid who doesn't like you, parallel parenting and step-parenting in a multi-racial/cultural dynamic. Mandy didn't always feel connected to her stepson and struggled to find her "place"...listen in as she shares her story of adjustment, disengaging, and find...
May 25, 2022•44 min•Season 4Ep. 29
