Generation.Mom

Are you looking for natural ways to boost your fertility? If so, we’ve got just the episode for you! In this episode, we had Liz Shaw, Founder of Shaw Simple Swaps, registered dietitian nutritionist and certified personal trainer.  Liz shares with us the role that our nutrition plays in our fertility and how you can help support your fertility and overall health with simple nutritional changes! She shares why she loves the Mediterranean diet for aspiring and postpartum mamas and how good nutrition can support you through an IVF journey.  She shares so much incredible advice in our conversation around avoiding toxins, postpartum nutrition and using supplements to support both you and your partner’s fertility!  WHAT’S IN THIS EPISODE: How she dove into nutrition when she was having fertility issues What the Mediterranean diet is like and what options you have How nutrition supports you through IVF Liz’s tips on implementing supplements for men and women Why nutrition is important for postpartum  Why Liz is passionate about secondary infertility

Have you ever wondered if your kid’s behavior is due to sensory preferences? In this episode, we had on Wendy Bertagnole of the Exceptional Parenting Podcast. Wendy talks about a book on sensory preferences that changed her life and helped her to understand exactly what her child was going through. We dive into what sensory preferences are and how they show up in our children. She shares how you can become more aware of what sensory preferences your little one might have and how to help them overcome things that might trigger their sensory system. She also gives her advice for navigating the sensory system, figuring out what activities calm your child’s sensory system and so much more! WHAT’S IN THIS EPISODE: What made her realize that she needed to figure out sensory preferences What sensory processing is and how it comes up in your daily life How to be more aware of your kid’s sensory preferences and adapt to them What you can do to help kids process for experiences that may trigger their sensory system Her advice for navigating the sensory system

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the little choices you have to make every day for your kids?  In this episode, we were joined by Stephanie Leshney, founder of Dabble & Dollop, a clean product line designed for families who want to have more fun in the tub! With over 20 years of experience in the cosmetic industry, Stephanie walked us through behind the scenes information on cosmetic and personal care ingredients (and tips for which ingredients to use on children).  She shares different things you can look out for and be cognizant of when shopping for personal care items. You’ll learn more about what it means for products to be “clean”, how innovation is driven in the industry and what you should know about essential oils and fragrance in your products!  WHAT’S IN THIS EPISODE: Label tricks to be aware of and things to keep on your radar when shopping for cosmetics The pros and cons of essential oils and fragrance is products Tips for finding products for your child under the age of 2 How she came up with her business, Dabble & Dollop Her advice on showing your kids vulnerability and imperfection

Today we’re chatting with Dr. Jacqueline Worth, an ob/gyn and a passionate advocate for women’s health especially surrounding pregnancy. In her practice, Jacqueline specifically works with women who are pregnant. She also just released a new book, The New Rules of Pregnancy: What to Eat, Do, Think About, and Let Go Of While Your Body Is Making a Baby. She shares her candid advice to help expecting mothers learn what they really need to know about during their pregnancy. You’ll walk away from this episode feeling a lot less stressed about pregnancy and having the tools and knowledge to be able to experience your pregnancy with more joy. What’s In This Episode: Helping moms to see the joy of pregnancy How the pain of labor is managed differently now The higher rates of c-sections  Bringing a doula for spontaneous labor The new rules of pregnancy Asking for support and focusing on your own wellbeing and health

We can’t deny that 2020 has been a whirlwind of emotions and challenges. In this episode, I was joined by Dr. Heather Maguire, host of the Prism Parenting podcast and the founder of Prism Behavior.  Heather and I talked about how we got started in our respective careers before diving into how you can thrive as a family during this challenging time. We talked about creating structure during COVID, our experiences with homeschool and at-home preschool and tips on using a reward system to change the dynamic at home.  We also explored ways you can find balance in your life and why you need to ditch mom guilt (and prioritize me-time). You’ll hear the importance of taking care of yourself as a mama and our advice on living in the present moment.  WHAT’S IN THIS EPISODE: Why Heather started Prism Parenting and Prism Behavior Heather’s thoughts on the transition of putting structure back into our lives during the pandemic (and how this affects our kids) How to use a rewards system to change the dynamic in your home What you can do to prioritize me-time without mom guilt  Why we have to stop living for the future and capture joy in the present moment

Are you ready to design a life that fuels your soul?  In this episode, I was joined by the host of the Mompreneur Mastermind Show, Stefanie Gass. Stefanie is also the founder of two six-figure businesses all while being a mama. She is passionate about helping women follow in her footsteps to create a life that they love. She shares her wisdom about tapping into source (whether that be God or the universe for you) for direction and fulfillment. You’ll also hear why managing your relationship with social media is important, how to navigate the pressure of mom guilt and her advice on looking at life through a filter of love. WHAT’S IN THIS EPISODE: How she balances being an entrepreneur of two six-figure businesses and a mama Her suggestions for defining your success without societal pressure Personal expectations we place on ourselves and how this plays into mom guilt Why you should incorporate your children into your dreams  How she’s learned to be authentic and show up as herself

There’s no one route to getting a family. The path to conceiving can look very different for many women. Today we had Megan Bendinelli on for part two of our series on infertility. Megan is the CEO of Fertility Framework and a board-certified family nurse practitioner specializing in the area of fertility and assists many men and women with the miracle of starting their family. In part two of this interview, Megan discusses different fertility treatment options such as IUI and IVF. We talk about how a diagnosis can help you get closer to the path of success (and ultimately starting your family). She also dives into the topics of third party reproduction and what that can look like for couples when deciding to use an egg donor or surrogate. She shares her candid advice on how to support a friend navigating through infertility and her favorite part about her career.  WHAT’S IN THIS EPISODE: How a diagnosis can help you distinguish the paths to success Reframing how you look at the infertility journey and focusing in on the missing pieces of the puzzle What IVF is and how it differs from an IUI What third party reproduction is and going through the process of using an egg donor or surrogate   Tips on supporting a friend who’s dealing with infertility and what you should or shouldn’t say to someone going through infertility Getting to that end-stage of acceptance and peace, with or without conceiving 

As mamas, one of our biggest dreams is that our children will love themselves just as much as we love them. In this episode, I was joined by Carly Anderson. Carly is the motherhood blogger behind Lipgloss and Crayons and the founder of the #justwearthesuit movement on Instagram.  We talk about why she got into body positivity and how she came to the realization that she was equipped to empower herself and her daughter.  Carly shares why our world needs a diverse representation of beauty, what the community of moms behind the #justwearthesuit is like and what women can do now to help impact our future generations in a positive way.  WHAT’S IN THIS EPISODE: How her work is inspired by empowering her daughter and herself Why Carly is passionate about body positivity  What women can do now to help cause change for future generations Why a diverse representation of what beauty is in our world is needed The messages she received from other moms around her campaign, #justwearthesuit

The process of trying to conceive can be overwhelming and daunting.  That’s why in this episode we decided to bring on Megan Bendinelli, the CEO of Fertility Framework and a board-certified family nurse practitioner specializing in the area of fertility.  She shares what prompted her to start the Fertility Framework after her own struggles to conceive. We discuss everything from infertility to secondary infertility, what a regular period looks like and the steps you should take when you’re ready to start your family.  She talks about the differences between an OBGYN and a reproductive endocrinologist, the types of testing that help medical professionals piece together the puzzle of your fertility journey and why it’s necessary to lean on the advice and guidance of a professional instead of using Dr. Google. WHAT’S IN THIS EPISODE: Why Megan started Fertility Framework after her own struggles trying to conceive  What infertility is and how it’s different from secondary infertility Her advice for steps to take if you’re ready to conceive  What a reproductive endocrinologist does and how that differs from an OBGYN What types of testing they do to guide them in doing fertility treatments

Do you ever feel like life is too good to be true? Find yourself just waiting for the other shoe to drop?  In this episode, we’re chatting all things imposter syndrome and how it comes up in motherhood with Emme Estacio. Emee is a psychologist, author, speaker, leadership coach and founder of The PAME Code. Emee has authored three books on imposter syndrome and she shares so much about what it is, how it comes up in motherhood and how you can overcome it. She shares two techniques that you can use whenever you feel imposter syndrome creeping up. You’ll also hear what advice she has for mamas who are suffering from imposter syndrome and her tips on why you need supportive people around you.  WHAT’S IN THIS EPISODE: How imposter syndrome comes up in motherhood When imposter syndrome usually gets triggered for people The characteristics to look for that you may be suffering from imposter syndrome Consequences of imposter syndrome specifically in motherhood Her advice for moms who are suffering from imposter syndrome

Do you feel like you need a translator to understand your toddler? If so, then this is the episode for you.  Today we’re speaking with Carly Tulloch, a pediatric speech-language pathologist and the founder of WeeTalkers, a platform that helps parents navigate all things speech with their kiddos.  Carly shares how music and singing can help kids as they learn speech and why you should follow your child’s lead of what they’re interested in when communicating with them. We ask all of our questions on what mamas should be looking out for to make sure their little one is on track and what to do to help support your child’s foundational language skills. She gives us a clue on what we could expect from an appointment with a speech-language pathologist plus how to approach teaching your child language in a two-language household.  WHAT’S IN THIS EPISODE: What speech-language pathologists do to help people communicate The benefits of music and singing as it relates to speech What you can do to help support your child’s foundational language skills  What you should look for to make sure your child is on track at each age range What you can expect from an appointment with a speech-language pathologist

Have you ever found yourself comparing your motherhood to another mom on Instagram? It’s no secret that social media has an effect on the business of being a mom. In this episode, we brought on Bethany Johnson and Maggie Quinlan, the researchers and authors behind You’re Doing It Wrong! We dive into the comparison trap that comes with Instagram. It’s so easy to get sucked into comparing your life to the glossy, seemingly-perfect feed of someone else. However social media isn’t always the best place to turn to for advice around mothering. We chat about making decisions based on social media and parenting advice from history that is found on social media today. You’ll hear all about the research they did, what they’ve found out and why they decided to write this book and research the correlation of media and motherhood. WHAT’S IN THIS EPISODE: How Maggie and Bethany’s career and life has shifted since motherhood What inspired them to begin their research How they researched and found data for their book  An example of poor advice that ties together history and social media Why they set out to do this to help eliminate shame  Positive outcomes they’ve noted from their research and social media  Negative things they noted about the way people mother and the portrayal of mothering in media How doctors and medical practitioners can support their patients who are getting information from social media Maggie’s takeaways on their chapter around fertility and pregnancy Their thoughts on sleep development programs Bethany’s takeaways from their chapter on babies How we’re doing postpartum care wrong and things to keep in mind when taking advice from social media

Has motherhood ever inspired you to start a business of your own? Today we’re chatting with Mary Clavieres, the owner and CEO of Brief Transitions about how one of the most challenging and overwhelming parts of the postpartum experience led her to start a new business venture.   Mary started an underwear line specifically for postpartum women after she realized how much the product was desperately needed and not easy to find outside of the white mesh ones that we all steal from the hospital.  She shares some time blocking strategies she uses for juggling being a momma and entrepreneur and why she does something each morning to fill up her cup before getting started on her workday.  We also talked about how she made the leap from her corporate job to entrepreneurship, how motherhood influences her business and tips for building your career outside of motherhood.  WHAT’S IN THIS EPISODE: Her product’s recent feature in What to Expect How a difficult postpartum experience resulted in her starting her business How her life and career has shifted due to motherhood What she would tell an expectant mother about postpartum life Mary’s journey of launching her business and how she hopes to support new moms How she came up with the idea for her product and the process for bringing it together What Mary did to make it work while juggling her corporate job, starting her business and being a mom to a newborn How she manages her inventory using a fulfillment center and what she did before getting the fulfillment center up and running What surprised her about the transition away from corporate and building her business Her tips for staying focused and managing your schedule to get work done efficiently  Why she does an activity to fill up her cup before starting her workday The most appreciative lesson she’s learned while growing her company Common fears and roadblocks she sees other women in business face What parenthood has taught her about being a business owner Mary’s thoughts on what a self-made career path is teaching her girls What she hopes to be most proud of looking back Her tips on media relations for your business and getting placements in publications and podcasts

Lara Schulte shares a special announcement on behalf of herself and Jenn Rout. These have been unprecedented times of challenge and change. Generation.mom wants to address the events and commit to learning, growing and doing better.

Does your family have food issues? If so, you’ll love this episode with Jennifer Anderson of Kids Eat in Color. Today we’re exploring all of the feelings that go along with food and family meals with little ones. Have you experienced mom guilt in relation to what you’re feeding your kids? Too much mac n’ cheese, not enough veggies, the list goes on!  Jennifer shares the nuances and best practices around how and what we should be feeding our kids, without the guilt.  We chat about everything from how to help your kid eat intuitively, what diet culture is teaching our kids and how to help picky eaters who are experiencing anxiety around food. You’ll definitely want to hear all of the tips she shares about incorporating play into meals and being present during meals.  WHAT’S IN THIS EPISODE: Her feelings about being a mom and the CEO of her business How Jennifer’s passion for food and family influenced the start of her business What you should focus on besides just the food How mom guilt plays into meal choices while eating out How you can incorporate food play into mealtime What you can do to be more present during meals without mom guilt The challenges of dealing with picky eaters and helping them overcome anxiety around food choices What intuitive eating is and how it helps people regain the ability to eat intuitively  Why parents have to protect their kid’s instincts to maintain their ability to eat intuitively The 3 best practices to help encourage your kid’s instincts

Are you dreaming about creating an online business with real income? Today we’re discussing building a business based on community. We brought on the Boss Mom, Dana Malstaff to share how to cultivate an online community and in turn generate profits for yourself and your family. We discuss how not getting the job she wanted led her to start a business. She shares her goals for the community and how she wants to use it to impact other women, why you can absolutely “have it all” and how lack of communication can have an effect on your relationships. She also dives into tackling challenges and recognizing that you don’t have to play all of the roles and being comfortable with letting other people handle tasks and responsibilities.  What’s In This Episode: Feeling isolated and unsure of what to do which led to the birth of Boss Mom Her advice on how to tackle changes and move forward How community can help you in life and business Building your brand around your product or offering Dana’s advice for entrepreneurs working on building their business

This episode is for you if you’re looking for some data-driven answers about the many decisions made during pregnancy and parenthood. There’s so much information out there about what you should or shouldn’t do during pregnancy, delivery, and those early parenting years that it can be really challenging to determine what is right for you and your family and what is fact versus fiction. For this episode, we brought on Emily Oster, an Economist, author and New York Times contributor. She shared how we can make measured approaches to decision making in parenting. We talked about a few of the do’s and don’ts in pregnancy and motherhood, using evidence to determine what is important to you and your family and some of the common misconceptions that come with breastfeeding, cosleeping, sleep training and more.  What’s In This Episode: Using data and determining what is important to you and your family Accepting that there is no absolute right choice To do’s and not to do’s in pregnancy and motherhood Being a stay-at-home mom or a working mom Her best piece of advice for parents in the decision-making process

In parenthood, sometimes the mistakes we make are just as important as the successes. On today’s episode, we are diving in deep with guest, Wendy Snyder, a parenting coach who teaches people about Positive Parenting. She shares how to get to the root cause of your child’s misbehavior and how to work with your child instead of trying to change them. It’s time to get intentional with empowering your kids and learn how to navigate the parenting challenges that come your way with integrity. What’s In This Episode: Working with your children instead of trying to change them Incorporating new habits into parenting and staying on track How parenting mistakes are just as important as successes The fear and force model and how this affects children Getting intentional with empowering your kids

What exactly is a hormone and what role does it play in our health? Today we’re joined by Dr. Lauren Noel, a naturopathic doctor, and expert in natural medicine. Lauren, also known as “Dr. Lo”, is the host for the podcast, The Dr. Lo Radio Show and owns Shine Natural Medicine where she focuses on hormonal health and fertility. She shares how her own personal health journey led her to her work as a naturopathic doctor, everything you need to know about hormones and your health, and how the brain and gut are connected. This episode will leave you feeling inspired to make small changes to your lifestyle that will benefit your health in a big way.  What’s In This Episode: What hormones do for the body The correlation between your hormones and how you feel Understanding your fertility and ovulation The role that estrogen and progesterone play in pregnancy What Lauren wishes more women knew about their hormones Setting time aside to do what makes you happy

If you’re looking for an operation manual on motherhood, then today’s episode is for you. On this episode, Jenn talks to Lara about a tool that has changed her life, The Ultimate Life Tool. This tool is something that she uses in her coaching business for leaders, teams and professionals in identifying how to best play to their strengths in the workplace. Now, Lara is using this tool to help mothers identify the parent they want to be and how to pair it to their skillset. She explains how this tool can help you identify your natural talents, strengths, weaknesses, tolerance levels, communication styles and more. This episode will help you to better understand who you are and help you in becoming the mother and partner you dream of being. What’s In This Episode: What the Ultimate Life Tool or ULT is and how Lara’s uses it for her career and motherhood Becoming a mother and how this has shifted her perspective on coaching clients Natural talents vs. learned talents Figuring out your communication style Using the ULT as your life’s operation manual Understanding your strengths and what you excel in

Are you looking for your mom tribe? Today we’re talking about community and how this is an integral part of motherhood, business and all aspects of life. We brought on professional community builder, Katie Saffert to help us dive into this topic. We chat about Katie’s experience with entrepreneurship and the pivots she’s made over the last decade. She shares why building community in your life is important and how to tap into that community for support when you need it. She also discusses how community has impacted her, the importance of learning to say no and why you need to show up for what you want.  What’s In This Episode: How she ended up launching the Hatched Collective Why community is needed in motherhood How serving people will make you feel better Going inward before being able to give Connecting with other people on Instagram

We brought on Vienna Farlow, a holistic reproductive health practitioner intern and founder of the Cvntsultant. She focuses her work on demystifying the female body and teaching women better ways to connect with themselves. We discuss what body literacy is and how to become your own expert for your health. She shares the stigmas that there are about the female body, misconceptions there are around feminine health and how to determine what your body is telling you. What’s In This Episode: Learning more about natural birth control methods and deciphering your health through the menstrual cycle Why there is a stigma about the female body What the term cvntsultant means to her How your menstrual cycle is a window into your overall health What you should expect your cycle to look like after birth

Have you ever heard the phrase, “there’s an oil for that”? On this episode, we’ve enlisted Kelowna Giuliano, a holistic health practitioner and owner of Drop into Wellness who has over two decades of experience on healing from within. She breaks down all of the benefits and uses for essential oils including how to use it to support sleep, digestion, immunity, libido and even to clean your home. We chat about living a toxic-free lifestyle, how to use essential oils to benefit your health and wellness and precautions to take when using essential oils. If you want to ditch the chemicals from your life, then this is the episode for you. What’s In This Episode: Wanting to raise her family holistically and help clients with healing Ditching the toxic chemicals and upgrading to products that come from plants Knowing the difference between higher quality oils and synthetic oils How to use the oils on a wound, to support sleep, for babies, etc. How to get started using essential oils

Have you had issues with your children fighting or bickering? Or are you about to bring home baby number two and want to stop sibling rivalry in its tracks before it has the chance of forming? Today we brought on Dr. Sheldon Zablow, a child and adult psychiatrist with an extensive background in sibling rivalries. He gives some of his best advice on how to navigate difficult sibling relationships and how to set a good foundation for children to eliminate the chances of developing a sibling rivalry from the beginning. We discuss how the family dynamic plays a role in sibling rivalries, why 1-on-1 time with your children is so important, and how to be inclusive and avoid showing favoritism to children.  WHAT’S IN THIS EPISODE: How he defines siblings and step-siblings and why sibling relationships are so important What sibling rivalry is and how to know when it’s gotten out of control How to set up a good foundation to eliminate the chances of developing a sibling rivalry Empowering children to resolve sibling rivalry on their own without stepping in as parents The worst and best things you can say to children and siblings

Have you ever found yourself struggling with the juggling?  Our guest for today’s episode joined us to discuss her movement, #thejuggleisreal. As a mama, entrepreneur and wife - Nina wanted to find something that could express what most of us mothers feel on the day to day: which is the constant need to manage the juggle of our mental load and our mental to-do list that is always piling up.  The constant juggling that often leads us moms burnt out. Nina works to help create realistic conversations around motherhood without the sugarcoating you might see in your Instagram feed. She shares practical, real-life solutions to help you lighten your mental load. We discuss maternal gatekeeping and how this can contribute to an even larger mental load and how the mental load affects your partner dynamics.  WHAT’S IN THIS EPISODE: The realities of juggling the mental load on a daily basis in motherhood How technology has changed our generation of moms and the impact this has on our mental load How the #thejuggleisreal came about Real-life solutions for easing your mental load such as hiring a mother’s helper, using Amazon and delegating tasks to others Why being connected and present with your support network will help with your mental load

In celebration of Father’s day, we are doing something a little different on the podcast these next few weeks. For the first time ever, we are going to be bringing on dads to hear their perspective on fatherhood. Today’s guest is Sean Donahue of Parenting Modern Teens. We discuss how parenting children in today’s age looks different than in prior generations and how we can better parent teens and children. This episode will help you step away from fear-based parenting and feel encouraged to talk to your kids about feelings and emotions rather than teaching them right from wrong. What’s In This Episode: Why parenting looks different today than it did in previous generations Sean’s advice for embracing the behaviors of adolescence False beliefs that parents have Where influences on our children come from Why presence is crucial in parenting

Are you looking for activity ideas for your children but feeling like you just aren’t that creative? That’s where today’s guest and her business comes in. Beth is the founder and creator of Days with Grey where she developed creative, fun activities called Breakfast Invitations that help your child get engaged and learning during play. She explains what the Breakfast Invitations are, how they can be modified as your children grow and how you can differ the activity for children of different ages depending on their skill set. She shared how children can use these activities to explore concepts rather than worrying about mastering and perfecting them. What’s In This Episode: Making playtime more functional and educational Being a stay-at-home mom and figuring out how to prepare her children for school How to use the Breakfast Invitations activities with your children How projects help with sibling relationships and interactions Key supplies that you need to start Giving yourself grace as a parent

As we’re all learning how to navigate through a global pandemic, we wanted to share our experiences with social distancing, the joys we’ve had from this time at home and how we’ve personally been navigating the challenges of balancing parenting while staying up to date on information regarding COVID-19. In this episode, we talk about the biggest resources for parents during this pandemic, how it’s okay to take a step back and do less and how this is similar to what a lot of our grandparents and parents went through with the 1918 Pandemic and Great Depression. We also share where the Generation.Mom podcast is headed next including a short break we’re taking (and how you can stay connected with us during the break). Although we’re taking a break we are going to be re-releasing some of our very favorite episodes so you can continue to enjoy past episodes. WHAT’S IN THIS EPISODE: Managing the balance of parenting and learning information about the pandemic  Navigating the weight on the pandemic Resources for helping parents with their kids during this time The biggest joys they’ve had during this time at home Where Generation.Mom is headed next

Raising children in today’s world, it’s important that we have these needed conversations about race, inclusion and being tolerant of everybody no matter their skin tone and background. We’re very excited to have someone on the podcast who is helping to bridge this gap and is creating a community that supports black families and people of color in parenthood. We brought on Jackie Douge, pediatrician, children’s health advocate and the host of What Is Black? In this episode, Jackie shares how we can start these open and honest conversations with our kids. She talks about the importance of creating a lived, shared experience with people of all races and the themes her podcast explores including the misperceptions of race that occur in the world. She explains how adverse childhood experiences such as racism can impact a child’s wellbeing and how she hopes her podcast will help inform and educate parents on how these issues can impact their children in the long term while providing them with helpful insight to navigate these concerns as they come up.  WHAT’S IN THIS EPISODE: Informing and educating your children about racism and prejudices that happen in the world Having open and honest discussions about tolerance and inclusion How she uses the knowledge she learns from podcast guests to influence her parenting and work as a pediatrician  Lifting up your kids and sharing positive messages with them  Providing information to your kids and continuing to have conversations about race, intimacy and other important topics as they grow developmentally

Do you feel like you need a translator to understand your toddler? If so, then this is the episode for you.  Today we’re speaking with Carly Tulloch, a pediatric speech-language pathologist and the founder of WeeTalkers, a platform that helps parents navigate all things speech with their kiddos.  Carly shares how music and singing can help kids as they learn speech and why you should follow your child’s lead of what they’re interested in when communicating with them. We ask all of our questions on what mamas should be looking out for to make sure their little one is on track and what to do to help support your child’s foundational language skills. She gives us a clue on what we could expect from an appointment with a speech-language pathologist plus how to approach teaching your child language in a two-language household.  WHAT’S IN THIS EPISODE: What speech-language pathologists do to help people communicate The benefits of music and singing as it relates to speech What you can do to help support your child’s foundational language skills  What you should look for to make sure your child is on track at each age range What you can expect from an appointment with a speech-language pathologist

There’s no one route to getting a family. The path to conceiving can look very different for many women. Today we had Megan Bendinelli on for part two of our series on infertility. Megan is the CEO of Fertility Framework and a board-certified family nurse practitioner specializing in the area of fertility and assists many men and women with the miracle of starting their family. In part two of this interview, Megan discusses different fertility treatment options such as IUI and IVF. We talk about how a diagnosis can help you get closer to the path of success (and ultimately starting your family). She also dives into the topics of third party reproduction and what that can look like for couples when deciding to use an egg donor or surrogate. She shares her candid advice on how to support a friend navigating through infertility and her favorite part about her career.  WHAT’S IN THIS EPISODE: How a diagnosis can help you distinguish the paths to success Reframing how you look at the infertility journey and focusing in on the missing pieces of the puzzle What IVF is and how it differs from an IUI What third party reproduction is and going through the process of using an egg donor or surrogate   Tips on supporting a friend who’s dealing with infertility and what you should or shouldn’t say to someone going through infertility Getting to that end-stage of acceptance and peace, with or without conceiving 

The process of trying to conceive can be overwhelming and daunting.  That’s why in this episode we decided to bring on Megan Bendinelli, the CEO of Fertility Framework and a board-certified family nurse practitioner specializing in the area of fertility.  She shares what prompted her to start the Fertility Framework after her own struggles to conceive. We discuss everything from infertility to secondary infertility, what a regular period looks like and the steps you should take when you’re ready to start your family.  She talks about the differences between an OBGYN and a reproductive endocrinologist, the types of testing that help medical professionals piece together the puzzle of your fertility journey and why it’s necessary to lean on the advice and guidance of a professional instead of using Dr. Google. WHAT’S IN THIS EPISODE: Why Megan started Fertility Framework after her own struggles trying to conceive  What infertility is and how it’s different from secondary infertility Her advice for steps to take if you’re ready to conceive  What a reproductive endocrinologist does and how that differs from an OBGYN What types of testing they do to guide them in doing fertility treatments

Have you been looking for an alternative approach for teaching your children? Today on the podcast we brought on Simone Davies to talk about the Montessori method of education. Simone is an international educator and AMI Montessori teacher. She has been working in Montessori education for 15 years and is passionate about how its methods help parents garner greater happiness and fulfillment with their children. She shares specific activities they use in the Montessori school, why it is important to let children make their own decisions and how this method will make your home life run smoother. What’s In This Episode: What the Montessori approach to education is How the Montessori classroom is set up Letting children guide their own experience Reinforcing good behavior to build their intrinsic motivation Modeling behavior for children

Does the thought of a medical emergency for your little one bring you fear?  For most moms, the answer is without a doubt yes. That’s why we wanted to bring on today’s guest, Shannon Tripp. Shannon is a pediatric ER nurse, birth coach and the founder of a course for mommas called, “Mastering Medical Emergencies for Moms”. We talk about leaning into your intuition as a mama, how to know when you should or shouldn’t take your kids in for emergency care, why education is so powerful and how to help educate others who care for your children on what to do in emergency situations. She shares tips for keeping your kids safe at home, why she decided to move her family to Hawaii and why she’s so passionate about empowering other moms with this education for their families.  WHAT’S IN THIS EPISODE: How her career as a nurse made her want to help other moms Why education is so important to know what to do in emergencies Following your intuition when deciding whether or not to go to the doctor How to know when to pause and call for medical emergency responders Techniques and tips for keeping your kids safe at home

Motherhood can be lonely. That’s exactly why today’s guest Kate Turza and her co-host Liz Sanicola set out to start a podcast for moms. The two wanted to help create a sense of community in motherhood.  In this episode, she comes on to chat about her experience of being a podcast host and what inspired her to start a podcast about motherhood. We dive into her career as a postpartum doula and how as moms, we don’t know what we’re doing from time to time and how that’s completely okay.  She shares a few of the common themes she's seen emerge on her own podcast and what she hopes to build within her community as she and Liz continue to grow their podcast.  WHAT’S IN THIS EPISODE: What inspired her and Liz to start the podcast Common themes about motherhood today that she’s noticed from her podcast including how motherhood has changed from previous generations of moms What she hopes people will gain from her show A few of her favorite and most memorable episodes (and why they stood out to her) What she hopes listeners will gain from her podcast including a sense of community

Do you want to feel amazing naked? Why wouldn’t you? As moms, it can be hard to cultivate confidence and feel great about who we are in our own body. Today’s guest Amanda Walker, the founder of Feel Amazing Naked, a company that helps women squash their inner mean girl and start owning their confidence. She came on to discuss how self-awareness can help you to get past the mindset problems that may be holding you back. She shares her tips for overcoming your inner mean girl and getting to the root causes of your problems to make real and lasting changes. We also chat about using self-care to make a greater transformation and enjoying the journey of becoming happier and more confident in your own skin.  WHAT’S IN THIS EPISODE: The first steps to take to start feeling like yourself again and becoming reconnected with you How we have weight loss all wrong and where you should start instead with your fitness goals How Amanda came up with the Feel Amazing Naked Program Practices to overcome your inner mean girl  Doing what you can each day to pour into yourself so you can be present for loved ones

How can you make sure that the time you spend with your children during their first 18 years of life is substantial enough to have a positive impact on both your life and theirs? Today’s guest is Jim Sheils, founder of 18 Summers and the author of The Family Board Meeting. In this episode, we talk about creating relationships and memories with your children while teaching them to become responsible, kind and fulfilled adults. He shares how he compartmentalizes business and family (and why he always puts family first), the importance of having a standing date scheduled in with your spouse and what weekly team meetings look like for his family. He shares how an “intermittent tech fast” can improve family relationships and the importance of having one on one time with each of your children.  WHAT’S IN THIS EPISODE: Making the most of every day with your family and setting consistent rhythms in your family life Relationship health benefits of “intermittent tech fasting” What a weekly team meeting looks like for a family Prioritizing and making time for date night with your partner His biggest piece of advice for building stronger families

Does the thought of introducing allergenic foods to your kids terrify you? We wanted to bring on an expert to help us understand food allergens and children so we brought on Katie Marks-Cogan, a board-certified allergist and the chief allergist at Ready, Set, Food!, a company that has created a way to introduce common food allergens to your kids. Katie breaks down a lot of the myths we hear about food allergies. She shares how food allergies are developed over time and the differences between an intolerance and an allergy. You’ll hear how food allergies have become more of an epidemic compared to previous generations and how you can use Ready, Set, Food! to prevent food allergies for your little ones. WHAT’S IN THIS EPISODE: Katie’s experience of being on Shark Tank and getting a deal with Mark Cuban How food allergies have changed over the past generations Managing the differences between an allergen and an intolerance  Myths and facts about early allergen introduction  How Ready, Set, Food! was founded and what it does for babies

When you become a mom, you may find yourself wondering, “Why didn’t anyone tell me about this beforehand?” That is exactly what we will be discussing today with Andrea Madril. Andrea is the founder of Sunflower Motherhood, a company that helps new and expecting moms with pre and postnatal care packages that support physical and mental healing throughout their recovery period. In this episode, you’ll find out what you should really expect in those first few days of motherhood and what you can do to prepare for this season of life. We chat about how to support yourself and other mamas in their postpartum period and share all of the things that we wish we would've known but no one told us about becoming a mom.  What’s In This Episode: How first-time moms are blindsided after childbirth What Sunflower Motherhood offers for new moms Preparing yourself for postpartum The mental and emotional parts of postpartum they wish they would’ve known about The changes in your relationship with yourself Listen to the full episode here: https://generation.mom/sunflower-motherhood/

Do you have a dragon of self-doubt looming over you? Today we spoke with Katherine Wintsch, founder of the Mom Complex and author of Slay Like a Mother. Katherine came on to discuss why so many moms struggle with what she calls, “dragons of self-doubt” and what we can do to slay these dragons. She talks about the differences between struggling and suffering and why you need to give yourself grace as you grow as a mother. She dives into how modern-day motherhood is so vastly different from previous generations and the effects this has on us as moms. WHAT’S IN THIS EPISODE: How Katherine overcame her “dragon of self-doubt”  How technological advances have changed modern-day motherhood Acknowledging the success of other mothers without internalizing it Giving yourself grace as you grow as a mother Steps you can take if you’re dealing with self-doubt

Do you need help figuring out your work-life balance? Today we brought on guest Julie Finn for our bonus episode where we highlight other mamas in the podcasting space. Julie is a podcast host, executive coach, speaker, thought leader. Julie has mastered the art of creating balance in her career that gives her freedom, income all while helping other mamas do the same. In this episode, she shares how to create a career that supports a life you love and aligning your vision with what you do. She dives into what it means to “play big” and why you have to make pivots that align with your joy and the bigger purpose you hope to accomplish. She also shares what you can expect from her podcast and how she hopes motherhood will evolve for the working mother.  WHAT’S IN THIS EPISODE: Julie’s thoughts on goal setting and New Year’s resolutions What it really means to “play big” Aligning your vision for your life with what you do Making pivots that align with your joy and the bigger picture of what you want in your life What people can expect from Julie’s podcast, the Working Mother’s Mentor

It’s time to shift your thinking from “I don’t have time for that,” to “this is just not a priority for me.” Today we brought on Marisa Lonic, founder of Mama Work It and author of Time Momagement. Marissa loves helping other mamas find the time they need to do want they want. You’ll hear why multitasking can be self-sabotage if you’re not doing it right. She also shares how you can use time journaling to make sure you are making time for what truly matters. We discuss why moms need a tribe of support, how to identify areas where you can improve your own time management and the 4 most common words that moms say when it comes to time management. WHAT’S IN THIS EPISODE: Why self-care needs to be a priority for moms Using your time to do activities that fuel you rather than indulging in time wasters Identifying areas where you can improve your time management  The 4 most common words that moms say when it comes to time management Why you need a tribe of support as a mom

Do you ever find yourself hovering over your kids’ every move and sheltering them from life? Today’s guest, Michelle Carlson, is the founder of Peace and Parenting. Michelle helps parents navigate through what it really means to be a connected parent.  In this episode, you’ll hear what helicopter parenting is and why you should strive to be a less reactionary parent and how sometimes, it’s okay to let your kids fail.  She shares how to recognize if you’re inadvertently subjecting your kids to helicopter parenting, how to manage your anxieties without projecting them onto your kids and how dynamics from past relationships affect you as a parent. WHAT’S IN THIS EPISODE: What helicopter parenting is and what it looks like  Becoming a less reactionary parent and knowing you don’t have to “fix” everything Reflecting back on your childhood to unpack issues that are brought to the surface in parenting How overprotective parenting can affect children in the long run  Giving your kids the tools to do the right thing without the promise for rewards

Are you setting an example for your children that they should do work that they love?  Today’s guest is Katya Libin, CEO and co-founder of Hey Mama, a community for mothers. Katya started her business with a friend and another past guest of Generation.Mom, Amri Kibbler. In this episode, we talk about leading by example and showing our children that work should be something that brings you joy and fulfillment rather than something you “have” to do.  We dive into her experience of running Hey Mama with Amri including what it was like raising capital for her business, what she’s learned from bootstrapping her company for 4+ years and her experience of running a business as a single mom.  WHAT’S IN THIS EPISODE: Why she created a community-based platform and how it’s helped Katya with being a single mother The advantages of running her business as a single mom Setting an example for your children that work should be something that brings you joy and fulfillment Katya’s experience with raising capital and crowdfunding for HeyMama Navigating the ups and downs of building a business to make the best decisions for your team, family and company

Nowadays, we’re constantly bombarded with the educational gimmicks that our children “need” to prepare them for school and as they grow. On today’s episode, we’re discussing the actual skills your child needs for success in school and life. We are joined by Susie Allison of Busy Toddler, a former teacher turned blogger who helps parents to discover play-based learning activities for their children (of all ages!). We discuss why play-based learning is so important and how to encourage play-based learning. She also shares what our kids really need in their toddler years to help to set them up for success, what skills are most important for children to learn in early childhood years, which toys are essential for play and learning and the top 3 things you can be doing as a parent everyday.  What’s In This Episode: Play-based learning vs. direct instruction When to start encouraging play-based learning Creating dedicated time for play and an environment that supports play Toys that help kids with play-based learning How Susie creates activities that incorporate different ages Listen to the full episode here: https://generation.mom/busy-toddler/

Have you ever felt shamed by a healthcare provider, especially during pregnancy? Today’s guest is Jen McLellan, founder of Plus Sized Birth. She started her blog after her own pregnancy when she realized there weren’t enough resources out there for pregnant plus-sized women. In this episode, Jen talks about her experience of using a midwife and the misconceptions that many plus-sized women face during their pregnancy, labor and delivery.  We also chat about the shame that many women feel from healthcare providers and why the language that healthcare providers use when speaking with patients matters. She shares how to teach children to embrace people of all sizes and what “body love” means to her. WHAT’S IN THIS EPISODE: Why Jen opted to go with natural birth and how her pregnancy led her to start her blog  How important the language that care providers use with patients is What you should look for from a care provider for your pregnancy Misconceptions that plus size women face during their pregnancy, labor and delivery What “body love” means to Jen

We are taking a break till January 8, 2020. If you are traveling and have some downtime over the holiday break, tune in to some popular episodes from this year. Listen in for more info!

We’re wrapping up this year and this decade with a big bow and looking forward to what’s to come with this amazing community we have here at Generation.Mom in 2020.  Today we’re reflecting on all of our wins and losses this year, talking about holiday traditions and what we’re looking forward to as we wrap up 2019.  We have so many episodes with amazing mama’s and experts lined up for the new year to help to continue to guide us through navigating modern-day motherhood and we cannot wait to share them all with you next year.  It’s time for a short holiday break but we’ll be back January 8th, 2020. In the meantime, be sure to relisten or tune into any episodes you missed in 2019 and take some time for yourself to enjoy this holiday season. If you’ve enjoyed listening this year, it’d be a gift to us if you could take a few minutes to rate and review the podcast - it would mean so much to us.  WHAT’S IN THIS EPISODE: Jenn being back from maternity leave and the challenges of having more than one child What challenges they’ve faced over the course of the year  The surprises they’ve faced in 2019 including being able to quit her corporate job, navigating a miscarriage and being able to travel How Jenn and Lara prepare for the new year (and the new decade) by goal setting, manifesting and trusting in her spirituality  Reflecting on the words that they chose for 2019 and what words Jenn and Lara have chosen for the new year

How do our children’s nutrition needs change as they grow? Today’s show is part 2 of a two-episode series with Jessica Gust, pediatric dietitian and founder of Element Nutrition Co.  In this episode, we continued with our conversation on childhood nutrition and discussed how to handle mealtime for kids of all ages from toddlers to teenagers. She shares the importance of figuring out a schedule, how much food to serve based on your child’s age and how to make sure your child is staying hydrated. Jessica also shares how to get kids involved with packing their own lunches, encouraging kids to make healthy food choices as they grow up and meeting them where they’re at when they hit their teen years.  WHAT’S IN THIS EPISODE: How to deal with a toddler who just won’t eat and the importance of a meal and snack schedule How meals will change when a child moves into their elementary school years How to encourage teenagers to continue eating healthy How family meals can make a huge impact on your The calculation that lets you know how much water your child needs per day

Do you often wonder what your child really needs to be eating?  Today we had on Jessica Gust, a pediatric dietitian and the founder of Element Nutrition Co. to talk about child nutrition and how to handle picky eaters.  Some children are extremely particular about their food, which let’s face it, can be really exhausting for us mamas. But why are kids picky about eating and how do we get them to learn to like the foods that offer the nutrients and vitamins they need for growth and development? Jessica shares how to teach kids to like certain foods and why family meals are crucial for our children from a very young age. She discusses the differences of baby-led weaning vs. traditional weaning, how to use comfort foods at mealtime and how to know when it's time to start your baby on solid foods.  WHAT’S IN THIS EPISODE: What a pediatric dietitian is and how they help families with their child’s nutrition Key factors to consider when raising “healthy” children Why family meals are essential for teaching kids socialization, role modeling and table manners Letting your children make choices around meals and giving them the structure to make good choices How to know if you’re dealing with a picky eater and when to seek out extra help

This week we are off for a much-needed break for the Thanksgiving holiday. If you are traveling and have some downtime, tune in to some popular episodes from this year. Listen in for more info!