Influential Motherhood

In July 2018, April Robson and her husband received the news their middle daughter, Charlotte, had a genetic terminal illness. At the time, they had an 8 week old son and a toddler (Charlotte's big sis). With grace and strength, April has poured into her family for the last 18 months, creating special memories for her family and encouraging them - and those of us watching their story unfold - to choose joy.  Today April is sharing her family's story and how they navigate the holiday season with a chronically ill child and make memories for the whole family, including their two other children.  Follow April online at @smidgeofthis and @charlottesjoy to learn more about their story and support them in their journey.  Be sure to connect with Melissa online at @influentialmotherhood - come say hello! 

Whitney Meade is a mom of two (her girls have royal names, btw!) and is based in Charleston, South Carolina. With her husband, Whitney manages a Christian pop rock FM radio station, a DAILY YouTube channel, a speaking ministry, and so much more. This week, I'm chatting with Whitney about her journey through Lyme Disease and other autoimmune disorders, how she manages daily videos on her Daily Devo YouTube channel, and what she loves about working with her husband full-time. Check out Whitney's YouTube channel here and follow her on Instagram at @whitneymeade. You can find Whitney's free 21-day devotional series, Fitness & the Father, here! Don't forget to follow Melissa on Instagram at @influentialmotherhood and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/influentialmotherhood.

Heather Brooker is the entertainment reporter at NBC-LA, and is an Emmy award winning journalist who has also had scenes in shows like The Office, The Mindy Project, Grey's Anatomy, and The Middle.  Heather is taking us through the major career shifts she's experienced and her thoughts on risk-taking, having a backup plan, the good and bad parts of being a journalist, and how her husband has been her encourager through her career. She's taken some major risks but has blossomed every step of the way. You can listen to Heather's podcast at Motherhood in Hollywood, and follow her on Instagram at @theheatherbrooker.  Don't forget to follow Melissa on Instagram at @influentialmotherhood and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/influentialmotherhood. 

My long-time friend Lauren Palmer is on the show today to share her family's incredible story. In 2017, she announced her twin pregnancy with her husband Joel. Big sister Caroline and big brother Jennings were thrilled to be welcoming two Christmas blessings to their busy household. But everything came to a screeching halt when 2.5 year old Jennings was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) when Lauren was 36 weeks pregnant with the twins.  Lauren is sharing the story of a twin pregnancy, Jennings' diagnosis and fight against cancer, how big sister Caroline saved Jennings' life, and what life - and Lauren's faith - is like at this point in their journey.  Be sure to follow Melissa on instagram at @influentialmotherhood and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/influentialmotherhood. Check out www.influentialmotherhood.com for more inspiring stories and podcast episodes.

My husband Damon is joining us this week to share his perspective as a dad and as my husband on all things fatherhood, husbandhood, and working motherhood. He thinks the Melissa Duncan experience is just as great as the Joe Rogan experience, and is giving us insight on the dad's perspective - and turning the tables on me to ask me some questions, too. You'll learn why going to Costco will remain in our children's fondest memories and what he thinks about this whole podcasting thing. He's also sharing his biggest challenges and surprises about fatherhood and what he loves most about being a dad. And we're answering some listener questions! Don't forget to follow me on Instagram at @influentialmotherhood and on Facebook at @influentialmotherhood, too. Check out more episodes at www.influentialmotherhood.com.

Lindsey Paoli is a Marriage & Family Therapist Intern and recently opened her own practice where she meets with individuals, couples, and families to talk through some of life's biggest challenges. In this episode, I'm asking her what we've always wanted to know about therapy - who should go, when they should go, and what happens when you go to therapy! In addition to her work, Lindsey is a mom of two little ones (18 months and 6 months) - and she had both kiddos while she was in graduate school. She's also talking about her own experiences with therapy, her amazingly supportive husband, and how she left a career working on the Las Vegas strip to pursue her dream of supporting individuals and families through marriage and family therapy.  Check out more from Lindsey on Instagram at @lindsey_paoli and Facebook at @fundamentalhealthLV. Don't forget to follow Melissa on Instagram at @influentialmotherhood! For more inspiring stories and episodes with moms making a difference, visit www.influentialmotherhood.com.

Hillary Wilkinson is a mom and former teacher who realized we have a problem with screen time. She joined forces with moms in her community to educate families on the importance of healthy screen habits. Together they created the nonprofit organization Healthy Screen Habits, and are on a mission to educate and empower families to get control over screen time and use our devices in a healthy way. In this episode, Hillary is sharing tips and resources to manage our devices in the home, in the car, and at school. We're talking about the benefits of screen time and the scary dangers that happen when we have too much of a good thing. Hillary is sharing resources (links below!) and you won't believe how early we should be talking to our kids about what they might see online. Resources mentioned in this episode: Tristan Harris TED Talks Wait Until 8th Campaign Better Screen Time Gabb Wireless phone Protect Young Minds Don't forget to follow Melissa on Instagram at @influentialmotherhood! For more inspiring stories and episodes with moms making a difference, visit www.influentialmotherhood.com.

Alyssa Daniel, M.D. is a mom of two, wife, and a dermatologist in Charlotte, NC. She's sharing her story of deciding to go to medical school, why she's passionate about helping women with skin and hair issues, and what it was like to have a baby while she was Chief Resident. She's also sharing her goals, her favorite mom hack, and how mentors made a difference for her as a working mom in the medical field. Plus, she's breaking down "skincare over 30" for busy moms and giving us what we need to know about wrinkles (from creams to Botox!), sun prevention, whether vitamins can help our skin, and a good reminder for us about drinking plenty of water.  Keep learning from Alyssa by following her on Instagram at @remedy.skin.hair.wellness and at www.remedyskinandhair.com.  Don't forget to follow Melissa on Instagram at @influetialmotherhood! For more inspiring stories and episodes with moms making a difference, visit www.influentialmotherhood.com.

We remember Shannon Miller as a teenager on the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Team (you know, the Magnificent Seven?) - but these days, she's a wife, mom of two, lawyer, women's health advocate... and cancer survivor. In the time that has passed since those moments when we all held our breaths as we watched our televisions with anticipation, Shannon Miller has had some defining moments in her life. Her company, Shannon Miller Worldwide, advocates for women to prioritize their health - and to not feel selfish for doing so. But you'll be surprised to hear the story of her cancer diagnosis and how she navigated her cancer treatment with a 14 month old at home. In this episode of the Influential Motherhood podcast, Shannon is giving us an update on her life since the Olympic games, what it was like to be a teenage athlete under pressure, why she went to law school, and how she used her training in sport to beat cancer. Shannon is every bit as lovely as you might guess, and I'm grateful that she's sharing her story. For more inspiring stories and episodes with moms making a difference, visit www.influentialmotherhood.com.

Photographer Laura Foote is married to high school sweetheart and lives in Tampa FL with her husband, an actor, and cute daughter Mac. She's sharing her story of working at Disney World, working in the non-profit and higher ed worlds, and then unexpectedly becoming an entrepreneur and full-time photographer. Laura was working in nonprofits when she started using a point-and-shoot camera to take pictures. Eventually, she had clients and bought an SLR camera. As she moved around the country for jobs and education, business kept ballooning as she moved. She thought it was fun to do as a side gig, and didn't realize how it was ballooning. "I just never really had my head around being an entrepreneur. I liked that I had walls, and an office, and a title and a nametag and letters behind my name." In this episode, Laura also shares her knowledge of the StrengthsFinder personality inventory. The StrengthsFinder inventory looks at 34 talents, which we all carry, and breaks them into your top 5 and top 10. Each of the 34 talents fits into a category: influencing, executing, strategic thinking, and relationship building. To take the assessment, you can purchase a book, which comes with an access code, or you can just buy the inventory online. Laura shared that she is a certified facilitator and provides StrengthsFinder education to businesses and grops (visit Laurafoote.com/education) As a full-time photographer, Laura has learned a lot about making the "magic" happen for the people in front of the camera. Here is some of our Q&A about taking great family photos: When is the best time of day for photos? Golden hour is the best time of day; it is the 1.5 before sunset. However, morning can also be a great time and is sometimes better for families because the children are fresh.  Would a photographer prefer to change locations or let the family change outfits? Often, it may be easier to change locations rather than change outfits for everyone in the family - most photographers fully support changing locations.  Give us a "what not to wear during family photos" rundown.  No logos, loud patterns, color, and anything with words. No tennis shoes, even on the kids. Think about the colors in your home and that you like generally, and those are the colors you should have in your photo. Pick a color palette so you don't have to be matchy-matchy; everyone can wear colors from within the palette.  How can we make it easier on the kids so it is less stressful for everyone? Hire a photographer that is really going to make it fun for the kids. Create a family experience out of it. Get ice cream afterwards or even spend the night at a hotel! Snacks and water are hugely helpful. Gummy bears and fruit snacks are great because they are things they can chew individually and quickly. What other tips do you have for moms? Give yourself grace. Get a village. even if it is paid! Where can we find Laura? Find Laura's photography business online at www.laurafoote.com, and follow Laura on Instagram at @laurafoote.

When her kindergartener died of the flu in October 2009, former environmental scientist Serese Marotta knew she had to do something about it. Eventually she connected with the nonprofit organization Families Fighting Flu and now serves as the COO, directing the organization's efforts to spread information and awareness about the severity of influenza.  According to Serese, around 50% of kids who lose their lives to flu are otherwise healthy. She says there is no replacement for the flu vaccine, and it provides both individual and community immunity.    Her son, Joseph, had received the vaccine but the pandemic (H1N1) was not in the vaccine that year, so he had no protection against the pandemic strain. At the time of his illness, the monovalent (1 strain) vaccine became available to help prevent the h1n1 strain but was not available where the Marotta family lived until two weeks after Joseph had died. In this episode, Serese address common misconceptions about the flu and the flu vaccine, including whether you can get the flu from the vaccine. The vaccine isn't perfect - but if you get it you probably won't get hospitalized or die. But the flu virus knows no calendar, and the only thing we can predict about flu is that it will be unpredictable. According to Serese, everyone 6 months or older should be vaccinated against the flu annually.    Flu is the deadliest vaccine-preventable disease: 650,000 people globally every year lose their lives to flu. Serese also says the flu costs the US economy 87 billion every year. 80% of the children who lose their lives to flu are not vaccinated. "Sometimes i feel like i have the weight of the world on my shoulders because if I stop, people are going to die." - Serese Marotta, COO of Families Fighting Flu To learn more about Families Fighting Flu and the statistics and information for preventing the flu, visit www.familiesfightingflu.org.  For more inspiring stories of moms making a difference, visit www.influentialmotherhood.com. 

She came back from maternity leave and was asked to become the Chief Operating Officer for the Tory Burch Foundation. How's that for a boost of confidence as a new mom?! Gabrielle Raymond McGee has worked in professional sports and the fashion industry, and this week we're chatting about what she's learned from those industries, how motherhood is a lot like starting a business, and how women need to disrupt the playing field for future generations. She's wise beyond her years and is absolutely brilliant. I'm honored to know Gabrielle and you're going to love hearing her down-to-earth and inspiring approach to work and parenting. The #ToryBurchFellows program is currently accepting applications, and you can learn more about that HERE. Follow Gabrielle online at @GabrielleRaymondMcGee on Instagram and @GabrielleRMcGee on Twitter. Check out the Influential Motherhood podcast in your favorite podcast app!

When she had 3 little kids and was at the end of her rope, Miranda Anderson (@livefreemiranda) and her husband decided to try essentialism for a year - buying only what they needed. This meant not buying non-consumable items for an entire year. In this episode she's telling us all about how she navigated Target trips, birthdays, holidays, and educating her kids about money during her family's year of "practical minimalism."  Miranda also shares what her family learned during the process, and what values were instilled or reinforced during that year.  You can find Miranda on Instagram at @livefreemiranda, or at her blog - or listen to her podcast at Live Free Creative. Be sure to check out her book, “More than Enough: How One Family Cultivated A More Abundant Life Through A Year Of Practical Minimalism” to learn more! Listen to more Influential Motherhood episodes in your favorite podcast app or visit www.influentialmotherhood.com. 

Do you feel like you need a reset on your to-do list and your daily demands? Us, too. Today on the show, Katelyn Denning of The Mother Nurture is giving us practical tips for letting go of expectations, getting control of our to-do lists, and simplifying our lives.  Katelyn is a mom of 3, she works full-time in sales, and she coaches moms in her "spare" time! She's learned that she has to let go of expectations and shares how a time audit opened her eyes to her time management reality.  More of what's mentioned in this episode: the Toggle app, the Trello app, Simplicity Parenting, and Do Less. Be sure to follow Katelyn on instagram @lovemothernurture. I’m so thankful for the moms who share their stories here on the show and in our fun Instagram community. I’d love for you to connect with me online at InfluentialMotherhood on Instagram and Facebook to continue the conversation or just say hello! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5 star rating and a written review in the Apple Podcasts app – it helps get the show in front of moms looking for episodes like this one! I hope you’ll find a way to influence your work or community for good this week. Don’t forget, you can listen to other episodes or learn more about the show at www.influentialmotherhood.com. See you next week!

Dawn Barton has faced the loss of a child to pneumonia, rape, breast cancer, the loss of her sister to breast cancer, her mom's burst brain aneurysm, and more - but she somehow remains one of the most joyful women I've ever come across. How does she do it? In this episode, Dawn shares how she made the decision to leave her sales business at its height, the changes she's made since, and how her upcoming book, "Laughing Through the Ugly Cry and Finding Unstoppable Joy" shares the moments of her life where she should have been sobbing but was crying tears of joy and laughter instead.  You can follow Dawn online at www.dawnbarton.com or @dawnrbarton on Instagram and Facebook.  I'm so thankful for the moms who share their stories here on the show and in our fun Instagram community. I'd love for you to connect with me online at InfluentialMotherhood on Instagram and Facebook to continue the conversation or just say hello! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5 star rating and a written review in the Apple Podcasts app - it helps get the show in front of moms looking for episodes like this one! I hope you’ll find a way to influence your work or community for good this week. Don’t forget, you can listen to other episodes or learn more about the show at www.influentialmotherhood.com. See you next week!

Stacey Simms' second child, Benny, was just under two years old when she suspected he might be showing signs of Type 1 diabetes. As a former health reporter for WBTV news in Charlotte, Stacey knew enough to suspect diabetes and called her pediatrician. The pediatrician agreed to see Benny to "rule out" diabetes... but it turned out Stacey was right - and they left the doctor's office with a diabetes diagnosis. Today, Stacey hosts the Diabetes Connections podcast, where she highlights news in the diabetes world to help other families who are managing a diabetes diagnosis. During our chat, Stacey shared helpful information about the differences between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, how she knew her son was ready for autonomy (going to friends' houses and pizza parties suddenly became scary!), and her advice for moms who are dealing with a pediatric diabetes diagnosis. I was also surprised to hear Stacey say that the price of insulin is increasing, and she encourages us to follow and support a campaign called #insulin4all to help ensure families and adults don't have to ration their insulin, which is crucial to health and life for many people. If someone you love is managing diabetes, check out Stacey's podcast, Diabetes Connections, or follow her online at @staceysimms. She's also releasing a book soon, entitled "The World's Worst Diabetes Mom." Is that a great title or what!? You can follow me online at @InfluentialMotherhood on Instagram and Facebook - I'd love for you to say hello! For more episodes and inspiring stories of moms making a difference, visit www.influentialmotherhood.com.

When Laura Tremaine started blogging a decade ago, she was sharing stories about her kids and quickly became a favorite among mommy bloggers. But as the internet exploded and Instagram, Facebook, and podcasting came along, Laura swiftly adjusted her sails and stayed the course. She's hosted Instagram challenges and several podcasts, and feels like she's just getting started. Now, Laura hosts the podcast 10 Things to Tell You (and has a blog by the same name). In this episode we chat about her hopeful return of blogging, why she hopes moms of teenagers will continue sharing their story online, and how she navigates privacy online with her kids. She also shares her own goals for the rest of 2019, and where she thinks the podcasting boom is headed next.  Follow Laura online at @laura.tremaine and @10thingstotellyou on Instagram.  For more episodes and inspiring stories of moms making a difference, visit www.influentialmotherhood.com.

Lauren Smith Brody went back to work after her first baby, and thought she could "organize herself" through her maternity leave and her return back to work after baby. While working in the magazine industry in NYC, Lauren was thankful for a healthy delivery and baby but felt like her emotions about work were "off."  In this episode, we talk about the issues around a working mom's return to work, including: privilege and access to FMLA (only 56% of American workers have access to taking 12 unpaid weeks) 25% of American moms take two weeks or less of maternity leave how partners can help moms who are on maternity leave helping your kids understand your job and why it's good to bring your work home where we're making the most progress for working moms where we have the most work to do for working moms and a lot more! Prior to launching T5T, Lauren had a 16-year career in magazine publishing, most recently as the longtime executive editor of Glamour magazine at Condé Nast, where she produced the Women of the Year awards, honoring luminaries like Dr. Maya Angelou and Hillary Clinton. As both an executive-level manager and a content expert, she led colleagues and 12 million monthly readers through career and life transitions with empathy and vital information. Raised in Ohio, Texas, and Georgia, she now lives in New York City with her husband and two young sons. (from www.thefifthtrimester.com) For more episodes and inspiring stories of moms making a difference, visit www.influentialmotherhood.com. 

Dr. Sara Karner, DDS is a busy mom of 3 young boys and a dentist in Shelby, NC at Cornerstone Dental Associates. As if that weren't enough, she stays involved in her local community: Dr. Karner serves on the Board of Health, co-chaired the American Heart Association’s Heart Ball event where she led efforts to raise over $100,000, and she's an active member of Junior Charity League of Shelby! WHEW. I'm exhausted just hearing all of that! And one of my favorite things about her is her authenticity - she's a dentist and admitted one of her young boys had a cavity! In episode 30, Dr. Karner talks about her journey to dentistry and how she has incorporated motherhood and community involvement into her busy work schedule (from 0:00 to minute 40:00). She shares plenty of valuable tips about kids' dental health, too: how to pull a tooth, when to take your kid to the dentist for the first time, the going rate for the Tooth Fairy these days, when kids "should" lose their first tooth, and more (go to minute 40:00).  You can follow Sara & her dental practice on Instagram at @cornerstone_dds. For more inspiring stories of moms making a difference, visit www.influentialmotherhood.com.

In this third installment of the How Mom Series, we're going to be talking about how mom stays organized. I'm not a particularly organized person by nature, but I've found some things that really work for me and one of those is my Plum Paper planner! In this special bonus episode for the #howmomseries, you'll learn how I use both paper and electronic calendars & how I manage to-dos and shared lists with my husband. I'll be posting some photos to go along with this episode over on Instagram at @influentialmotherhood, and you can post about how YOU sleep using the hashtag #howmomseries. I can't wait to learn about your sleep routine - and get ready for next week's episode, which will be all about how mom grocery shops! To learn more, visit www.influentialmotherhood.com 

Kasey Smith is a travel agent who specializes in Disney destinations, and she is here with all of the best insider tips and tricks for planning a fantastic Disney trip for your family! She helped plan our trip last October, so I have firsthand experience with Kasey's knowledge and care for her clients. The Influential Motherhood instagram community submitted some great questions for Kasey, and she answered all of those in addition to telling us how she became a travel agent, what her hours are like, and what she loves about helping other families plan amazing trips! Some of the questions Kasey answered: How to plan a Disney trip with a kid who needs accessibility accommodations Best character dining Her personal favorite place to stay When is the least crowded time of year to go? Best ways to save money Plan for a nap for a 4 year old or not? Fireworks or not, if the kid is usually in bed by 8? On average, what is the total cost of a Disney trip? What is a good length of time for a trip? Deciding between Disney World or Disney Cruise… how to pick! You can find Kasey online at @disneykaseyk on Instagram! For more inspiring stories of moms making a difference, visit www.influentialmotherhood.com. 

In this second installment of the How Mom Series, we're going to be talking about how mom eats breakfast. Breakfast can be the "make it or break it" meal of the day - are YOU getting your protein in before you start wrangling small humans? In this special bonus episode for the #howmomseries, you'll learn what I eat for breakfast, when I eat my breakfast, and all of the ways I'm NOT saving the planet - oops. I'll be posting some photos to go along with this episode over on Instagram at @influentialmotherhood, and you can post about how YOU sleep using the hashtag #howmomseries. I can't wait to learn about your sleep routine - and get ready for next week's episode, which will be all about how mom stays organized! To learn more, visit www.influentialmotherhood.com 

Lauren Widrick runs a performance coaching business - on top of raising 2 daughters with her husband in the suburbs of Charlotte, NC.    After college, Lauren moved up the leadership ranks at a large bank during the financial crisis a decade ago. But she eventually felt "lost," as though her career was great on paper but her passion was gone.   She was then introduced to a life coach and felt like it might be a "thing" but was skeptical about it. After some research and reflection, she took the world's most rigorous coach training program (a year of training) with 12 trips to NYC.   In this episode, Lauren shared some of her core principles she teaches to clients, and answered our Influential Motherhood instagram community's top questions about women in leadership: - How women in the workplace are an advantage rather than a disadvantage - Using an enrollment strategy with managers - Finding your confidence - Whether to show or hide emotions - How to handle the day-to-day "chaos" that comes along with being a working mom - Tips for asking for a raise You can find more from Lauren online at www.laurenwidrick.com. You can also connect with Lauren on LinkedIn and can email her directly at lauren@thewidrickgroup.com.  You can find more stories and episodes featuring moms making a difference at www.influentialmotherhood.com. 

In this first installment of the How Mom Series, we're going to be talking about how mom sleeps. We ASSUME all moms sleep... but what does that actually look like? When is bedtime, what's the bedtime routine, and when do they wake up? In this special bonus episode for the #howmomseries, you'll learn when I go to bed and where I love to nap, my bedtime routine, what my blanket situation is like, and how I wake up in the mornings.   I'll be posting some photos to go along with this episode over on Instagram at @influentialmotherhood, and you can post about how YOU sleep using the hashtag #howmomseries. I can't wait to learn about your sleep routine - and get ready for next week's episode, which will be all about how mom eats breakfast! To learn more, visit www.influentialmotherhood.com 

She's a nighttime ER doctor who was terrified of public speaking.  Charmaine Gregory, M.D. realized when she was asked to speak in front of groups, she couldn't sleep and had sweaty palms, a racing heart, and anxiety attacks. She considered putting herself on a beta blocker in advance of speaking events.  As a mom of 3 kids (ages 7, 9, and 10) - she knew something had to change.  Charmaine discovered her fear of public speaking when she was trying to overcome burnout. I asked Charmaine what was she afraid of, and you'll probably identify with her fears: that she'd have food in her teeth, or she'd trip and fall on stage, or the audience would hate her... the list went on. Burnout hit its peak for Charmaine when she started running after having 3 kids. After a few races, she had to have surgery for a meniscus tear. She had to stop exercising while she healed, and finally had her moment of realization when she tried on a suit and it didn't fit. She realized she had to make some changes, and looking back, realized she was living in a way she didn't have to live.  Charmaine started exercising again, practicing mindfulness, and listening to podcasts on personal development. She decided to become a public speaker, and started telling colleagues about her goals. As Charmaine says, "You can find a few minutes a day to take care of yourself and deposit into your 'joy bank'."  On top of working in the ER, parenting 3 kids, public speaking, and hosting a podcast, Charmaine and her husband also homeschool their kids, so we chatted about how they have fit that into their busy schedules. Fear of public speaking - You can find Charmaine online at her podcast, Fearless Freedom with Dr. G, @charmainegregorymd on instagram, @charmsfitdoc on twitter, Charmaine Gregory MD on LinkedIn, and Charmaine Gregory MD on Facebook. 

Brooke Buffington is a mom, wife, and full-time career services professional working in higher education. When I learned she also found time to write a feature film, I was stunned. When did she have time to do that?! In this episode, Brooke tells the story of how she and her best friend from college followed a calling from the Lord to write movies. Oh, and by the way: Brooke had ZERO screenwriting experience. In fact, she was in graduate school for counseling! Her story of faith, daily prayer with her co-writer, Maddy Curley, and pursuit of a goal she didn't know she had will leave you feeling inspired. We had lots of fun chatting about her journey to writing a feature film, including: Why she said "yes" to co-writing a movie when she had no experience Her daily prayer ritual with her writing partner How they secured funding for a feature film The time Brooke and I were in a movie together and didn't realize it How their faith was strengthened during the filming process Brooke's mom hack for balancing writing with her family & career Check out Brooke's movie, Chalk It Up, and follow Brooke's co-writer, Maddy Curley, on Instagram at @maddycurley.

Lindsay Northen finished her 7pm Wicked show, came home, paid the babysitter, and we were on the interview by 10:30 p.m. Lindsay's husband is also an actor, and their five year old daughter, Georgia, just finished kindergarten. Lindsay is in the ensemble in Wicked and is a Glinda understudy! I couldn't wait to hear how in the world Lindsay and her husband, Jared Bradshaw, made everything work so seemingly smoothly.  Lindsay insists it's just a "different kind of hard" compared to other working moms. She insisted it requires an "army of super-awesome babysitters" and sometimes tag-teaming sleep schedules with her husband.  I was pretty curious, and probably a little nosy, but loved hearing about Lindsay's life in NYC, in Wicked, auditioning and landing TV opportunities, and more. Just a few of the questions I asked Lindsay: Is Georgia interested in acting? What support system do you have with other broadway moms? What happened to Glinda when Lindsay had to become Glinda in the middle of the show What is it like living in NYC with a young child Her favorite mom hack and Disney tips What she hopes is next for her career What it's like to be pregnant in a Broadway show Check out Lindsay on Instagram at @lindsaynorthen and learn more about her at www.lindsaynorthen.com. And, of course, go see her on Broadway in NYC in Wicked!  

In June 2018, three-year-old Levi Hughes drowned in the beach house pool while his family vacationed on their annual beach trip. Now, his mom Nicole is working through her grief to spread the word about drowning prevention, drowning statistics, and the story of Levi's life and his drowning. As Nicole says, everything happened so fast. She gave Levi a half of a brownie and when she found him in the pool moments later, she still had the other half of the brownie in her mouth. After his death, Nicole created Levi's Legacy, a nonprofit to share information about drowning and to provide water guardian tags, which serve as tangible reminders of who is the responsible adult when you're near water with your child(ren). Listen in to this episode as Nicole shares her story, so you can learn more and safe a life. Check out the following drowning prevention resources: Levi's Legacy American Academy of Pediatrics' Drowning Toolkit Parents Preventing Childhood Drowning For more inspiring stories of moms making a difference, check out Influential Motherhood at www.melissaduncan.com/podcast, and follow Nicole online at @nicolehughes8.

Scarlet Hiltibidal wrote "Afraid of All the Things." But many years before - as a first-grader - Scarlet read "Madeline" and became overwhelmingly afraid that she was having appendicitis.  When she wrote "Afraid of All the Things," Scarlet began to unpack her life experiences and realized the many ways fear almost overcame her completely - through many cross-country moves, meeting and becoming engaged to her husband, cancer, tornadoes, sinkholes, adoption, and one big thing Scarlet and I have in common: ectopic pregnancy. When Scarlet met her husband, Brandon, and they started dating, Scarlet says she "traded [her] fear of not being good enough for fear of not being pretty enough" and she managed to get engaged and married without Brandon knowing she was anorexic-bulimic. Finally, though, Scarlet realized she was going to die one day when she was drinking a double shot of espresso so she wouldn't pass out. It became clear to her that God kept putting His word in her face (specifically Proverbs 28:13, Jeremiah 17). Scarlet says the day she confessed her anorexia-bulimia to her husband, was the day she was healed.  Some other topics we chatted about: How the Lord speaks to her Her thoughts in what she thought were her dying moments during an ectopic pregnancy, and how that experience with the ectopic pregnancy changed her life and her faith Her fears around adoption, and how God put people in her life to get her past those fears Scarlet's current "ammunition" against fear We also chatted about her daughter's "Jesus Cheese" and how her entire family learned sign language when they adopted Joy. I'm thrilled that Scarlet is releasing another book in July 2019: "He Numbered the Pores on My Face", which is focused toward teenage girls and is all about finding your identity in Christ.  Scarlet and her three daughters and husband Brandon are the reason the internet is still a happy place so go follow her over on Instagram at @scarlethiltibal and be sure to read her books! For more inspiring stories of moms making a difference, check out www.influentialmotherhood.com. 

Becca Stevens' first memory is of her dad being killed by a drunk driver. She later recalls childhood sexual abuse. When I asked Becca what she wanted to be as a young girl, her response is simple: She wanted safety, a sanctuary, and grew up to offer that to people. "I became the things I longed for - it wasn't a 'job'," Becca says. "I became the things I longed for even when I was little and didn't have the words for it." For Thistle Farms founder Becca Stevens, motherhood came first. She's been married for 30 years to a singer-songwriter. She knew she wanted to create a sanctuary for women survivors, but she also knew there was no time.  But one day, as she buckled her 4 year old into his car seat, she realized she was going to take action on her dream of helping women survivors, and committed to doing whatever it took to meet the community need.  In this episode, Becca and I discussed so many important topics for moms: How motherhood and the birth of each of her three children launched a new stage in her career The challenges she faced as a working mom running a residential center for women survivors and a church Identifying and embracing her "weaknesses" and finding volunteers or interns who can do that area of the business well The hardest stage in creating an organization (hint: lots of sweat equity and not a lot of glamour!) What she learned from saying 'no' to certain requests and opportunities. Becca's down-to-earth attitude is something that will resonate with the busy moms listening to the show. You can learn more about the mission of Thistle Farms and Becca Stevens on Instagram. Be sure to check out their candles and soap products in your local Whole Foods store!

"If God wants me to adopt, He's going to have to drop a baby in my lap." Amy Williams can laugh now, but she meant that statement several years ago when she was going through infertility and friends were suggesting adoption.  Spoiler alert: God practically did drop a baby in her lap through adoption, and then surprised Amy with two pregnancies! Now, Amy is a full-time working mom to three girls, wife to her husband Matt, and she's the founder of the Custom Made Kid Foundation, which began when Amy wrote a book (Custom Made Kid) to explain adoption to her oldest daughter.  In this episode, Amy shared her fears and reasons for resistance to adoption, the incredible story of adopting her oldest daughter, and God's answers to prayers with the surprise pregnancies of her second and third daughters. Amy is now an advocate for adoption, and believes there are no mistakes - every part of a child's story is custom made. Amy recognizes the needs of families who are seeking to grow their family through adoption, so the Custom Made Kid Foundation was created to provide financial support for families who hope to adopt. You can purchase the Custom Made Kid book, coloring book, t-shirts, or make a direct donation to the Custom Made Kid Foundation here.  And, in some of the very best kind of exciting news, Amy has recently announced she'll be starting a podcast to help share stories of adoption. Stay tuned and follow Amy at @custommadekid on Instagram! For more inspiring stories of moms making a difference, check out www.influentialmotherhood.com.  Follow me on Instagram at @influentialmotherhood!

It's EPISODE 20, friends! This is so hard to believe but I'm so incredibly thankful and excited. I heard a statistic when I started my show that most podcasts submitted to iTunes/Apple Podcasts don't make it longer than seven or eight episodes before they stop. For me, this journey has been one where I've listened closely to the Lord each step of the way, and I'll keep going until He says "stop." I pray there are moms who are learning and feeling inspired from the show. I want to normalize the chaos of being a working mom.  Lots of folks were asking me to do a more personal type of "Q&A" episode, so here we are! When I asked for questions via submission on social media, I got a lot of responses, so I've selected some of the questions and answered them here in episode 20. (Follow me on social media at @influentialmotherhood on Instagram and Facebook!).  Here are some of the questions I'm answering in this episode: "How do you do it all?" "What is your favorite mom hack?" "Do you miss being in private law practice or prefer being in education?" "Do you still ice skate?" "Any tips for buying a Peloton?" "How do you get your guests?" "How did I learn how to start a podcast?" I'd love to hear your feedback about this episode, the show generally, or I'd be happy to take your questions for future Ask Me Anything episodes.  Thanks, as always, for listening! For more inspiring stories of moms making a difference, check out www.influentialmotherhood.com. 

In 2014, Sarah Baucom and her high school classmate, Carrie Barker, founded Girl Tribe Co. Both women were starting families, and their brand came before their product. They knew they wanted a brand that would empower women, but were not sure what their product would be.  Fast forward 5 years, and Sarah now has two young daughters and a thriving business. Sarah and Carrie's business started with graphic t-shirts, and has become a retail shop and a traveling pop-up show featuring women-owned businesses.  Sarah and I shared a lot of laughs as we talked about Girl Tribe's famous van (named Becky), the unique away message Sarah used during her last maternity (she totally channeled her inner royal princess), and the beginnings of the businesses. But we also talked about the pressures small businesses face in our current digital world, and the difficulties in transitioning from our "work energy" to our "mom energy" levels at home.  When it comes to leaving a legacy, Sarah has a vision and a goal, and as a 30-something entrepreneur, there is no doubt she'll reach her goals.  You're going to find Sarah to be a fun bundle of energy with clear focus and dedication to her work, her business partner, and, most importantly, her family.  Check out Sarah on Instagram at @sarahbaucom and Girl Tribe on Instagram at @girltribeco and online at www.girltribeco.com.  For more inspiring stories of moms making a difference, check out www.influentialmotherhood.com, and follow Melissa Duncan online at @influentialmotherhood on Instagram and Facebook. 

It all started with a 15 day clean eating challenge. Zakkiya Miller wasn't a "clean eater" but she realized she enjoyed the challenge and loved the way she felt after a couple of weeks of clean eating. She made major lifestyle changes for herself and her family, and is now "vegan-ish" - trying to equip her family with healthy habits in their daily lifestyle, including mindfulness, clean beauty, and, of course - clean eating. In this episode, I asked Zakkiya the questions we wonder about "clean eating" that we're too embarrassed to ask. How does one get enough protein without eating meat? How can we introduce healthy foods to picky eaters in our house? Why is a healthy, clean lifestyle especially important for women of color? How can busy moms implement mindfulness in their daily lives? Zakkiya has taught herself and her family how to embrace a clean, healthy lifestyle, and you're going to love her practical tips for changing the habits in your own home! Follow Zakkiya online at @zakkiya.miller on Instagram or at www.zakkiyamiller.com. For more inspiring stories, check out https://www.melissaduncan.com/podcast. Follow the Melissa and the podcast on Instagram at www.instagram.com/influentialmotherhood. 

This week on the Influential Motherhood podcast, I'm chatting with Joey Schewee, an Enneagram expert and teacher, and daughter of the Enneagram "master teacher" Suzanne Stabile, host of The Enneagram Journey Podcast! If you don't know anything about the Enneagram, it is an ancient personality typing test and a tremendous asset at home, at work, and in everyday life as you make decisions, approach problems, and navigate both happy and challenging times with others. Joey says it is really gaining traction in recent years because it focuses on your motivations instead of only your behavior. To learn more about your number, Joey suggests you read her mom's book with Ian Morgan Crohn, The Road Back to You, and visit Life in the Trinity Ministry to learn more about how to find your Enneagram number.  In addition to teaching the Enneagram with her husband Billy, Joey is a full-time working mom - she serves as Vice President of Admissions, Financial Aid, and Alumni at John Paul II High School in Plano, Texas. Joey is the mom of two boys, and says she is an eight on the Enneagram, while her husband Billy is a nine on the Enneagram.  In this episode, Joey gives us lots of practical tools about how and when to help your child determine their enneagram number, how parenting styles are affected by the Enneagram, and challenges some combinations of parent numbers and child numbers might face - and how to work through those challenges.  If you're local to the Dallas, Texas area, Joey will be teaching a live session on the Enneagram and Parenting this fall, so visit Life in the Trinity Ministry to grab your spot! To learn more about other upcoming sessions and how the enneagram impacts our daily lives, follow Life in the Trinity Ministry on Instagram.  For more inspiring stories of moms making a difference, visit https://www.melissaduncan.com/ 

In 2006, after 12 years of being a stay-at-home mom to FIVE BOYS, Alli Worthington walked into a bookstore and was overwhelmed by the desire to write a book. But about what? She had no idea where to start, so she went home to her computer, got on her dial-up internet (ah, the nostalgia!) and began googling "how to get a book deal."  One of the results told her she could get a book deal if she had a blog and a large following. So... she googled, "what is a blog?" Now, 13 years later, Alli has authored two books, "Fierce Faith" and "Breaking Busy." She's also a podcaster ("the Alli Worthington Show"), an entrepreneur, and co-founded The Blissdom Conference. P.S. - I attended Blissdom in 2013 in Dallas and loved it so much I'm returning this year (2019) in Nashville, and will be a Community Leader again!  In this episode, I asked Alli what gets her up in the morning (she has a very "real-life" answer!); how she stays organized; how she builds community; how she sets boundaries online; and how she decides when to take a risk in her business. Alli also tells us about Blissdom's beginnings, its hiatus, and what we can expect from the conference in 2019. I just love Alli to pieces. She's so down to earth and as a fellow boy mom, I'm inspired by her relationships with her boys.  Follow Alli on Instagram and visit her website at www.alliworthington.com. 

As a Chief Financial Officer to multi-million-dollar non-profit organizations, Stephanie Skryzowski has had opportunities to travel the globe to work with purpose-driven organizations.  Although she once thought she would become a lawyer, the universe had different plans. After working for a huge law firm in midtown Manhattan, Stephanie became involved with a global nonprofit.  But as she traveled the world for her job, she also began trying to start a family with her husband. As they began dealing with infertility, Stephanie changed jobs in an effort to eliminate stress. She eventually found a business coach, started her consulting business, began the IVF process, and quit her job to pursue her consulting business full-time.  Stephanie and I chatted about how managers, colleagues, friends, and family can support someone who is dealing with infertility. We also chatted about maternity leave, why she hired a business coach, and how fear impacted her business last year.   

When Tancy Campbell became pregnant with her first child, she couldn't imagine going back to work. But at the time, she was at the end of her second year of graduate school. She never imagined she would be a stay-at-home-mom, but here she was, and her family was transitioning to one income. We knew we had to make a change with how we dealt with money. Tancy found $20 in a graduation card as a gift from a friend, and used the money to buy Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover. She realized big changes were needed after reading the book. At the time, Tancy and her husband had been married for seven years and were trying to keep up with a car loan and student loan debt. Despite a few hiccups along the way, Tancy and her husband have paid off $100,000 in debt in two years - on ONE income! Tips, Tricks, and Getting Kids Involved In this episode, Tancy shares her tips and tricks for saving money as a stay-at-home-mom (hint: look for free activities in your town, and ask for experiences instead of gifts!). She shares how important it is to get everyone in the family involved, even the kids. Tancy's dream is to coach women about finances, teach young girls about money, and she wants to love on people when it comes to finances. "People are scared to talk about it. You don't have to be ashamed of any part of your financial journey. Just start one and have positive thoughts." I can't wait for you to listen to this episode - you're absolutely going to love Tancy Campbell. Check her out on Instagram @herwellspentlife! *** For more inspiring stories of moms making a difference, check out https://www.melissaduncan.com/podcast. 

As executive editor of Good Housekeeping magazine, mom of 3 Meaghan Murphy has lots of great tips for women to manage their home, their work, and their family. In this episode, we talk about the importance of highlighting the good, and how she finds the yay in every day. We also discussed her mentor, where the magazine industry is headed, and the two things every mom needs in her home.  You'll love this episode with @meaghanbmurphy so check it out below and add us to your list by subscribing in Apple Podcasts.  For more inspiring stories of moms making a difference, check out Influential Motherhood online. 

Anne Smith has something to say. She's especially great with words when no one else knows what to say, and is on a mission to help us know what to say - and what NOT to say - in life's "ickiest" moments. As a mom of four kids, she has dealt with difficult pregnancies and life-threatening conditions - but remembers the crazy things people said to her during those scary times. In an effort to make the world a better place, Anne is here to help us find the right words when no one seems to know what to say. "Help, encourage, or hush." In this episode, Anne shares her scary pregnancy stories, about having a miscarriage after her oldest daughter was born, how she and her husband handled her daughter's diagnosis and treatment of intestinal malrotation when she was just a few weeks old, and how we can respond more appropriately in life's icky situations. In April 2019, Anne is launching a podcast - But Not All At Once - where she'll share encouraging stories and remind us that we can do it all, but not all at once. Check her out on Instagram at @butnotallatonce to follow the launch of her podcast! For more inspiring stories of moms making a difference, check out www.influentialmotherhood.com. 

Pediatric nurse Laura Hunter's fifth (5th!) baby was one week old when she informally launched the now-successful Moms on Call business with her coworker Jennifer. Moms on Call has helped hundreds of thousands of parents get their kids on a routine and has helped parents gain confidence. The business has now sold over 150,000 books, and has 2 apps and consultants all over the country. Laura uses her experiences as a pediatric nurse and mom of five (including a set of twins!) to provide guidance to parents as they navigate parenting babies, toddlers, and even older children. In this episode, Laura shares the hardest part of her own journey as a working mom, and how parents can get their child on a routine to improve sleep and overall health for both the parents and the child!  You'll love hearing Laura's infectious spirit and her practical tips to get your child - no matter the age - on a routine.  Learn more about Moms on Call and buy the books at www.momsoncall.com.  For more inspiring stories of moms making a difference, check out www.influentialmotherhood.com. 

Monique Melton has answered a call to educate white women on issues around race, diversity, equity, and inclusion. As a mom of two and wife to her high school sweetheart, Monique has been able to build a business where she works with individuals on relationship coaching and diversity education. In this episode, Monique and I talked about how prioritizing relationships is essential for all relationships, not only your relationship with your spouse or significant other. It's important to prioritize relationships with God, family, and friends, and she shares her ideas on how busy women can prioritize their important relationships. Monique and I also talked about why educating our children about race is important, and what misconceptions many parents have about when and how to discuss race and diversity with our children. This is an incredibly important episode, and I hope you will learn from Monique's knowledge and experience, as I did during our conversation. I'm signing up for her Diversity mastermind course so I can be better prepared to educate my friends, family, colleagues, and children about issues regarding racial unity. For more information about Monique's courses and coaching, email her at hello@moniquemelton.com and check her out on Instagram at @moemotivate! For more inspiring stories of moms making a difference, check out www.influentialmotherhood.com. 

Deirdre Fitzpatrick wakes up at 2:15 to host the morning news at KCRA in Sacramento. She's covered the last 10 Olympic games and regularly runs 50K races. In this episode, we talk about how she uses structure in her home to keep everyone on schedule, how she finds time with her friends through running, the importance of finding mentors and the three types of professional relationships all women should have, and what podcasting has brought to her work as a news reporter. Check out more at www.melissaduncan.com/podcast. 

Actress (Grace & Frankie) and entrepreneur (Finery) Brooklyn Decker tells us all about her challenges and tips in motherhood and business. In this episode of Influential Motherhood, we chatted about... How Brooklyn's and Andy's schedules are a "logistical nightmare," What it was like starting a business while pregnant with her first child, How the Finery app can save moms precious time in picking out clothes, Self-care as a busy working mom, and Being authentic online! For more inspiring stores, check out www.influentialmotherhood.com. 

A mom of 4 kids (with Irish triplets!), Jess says one of the biggest challenges she has as a working mom is not always realizing she's a working mom. And yet, she runs a scripture print business, hosts a podcast, coaches women in ministry, planted a church, and writes books. She shares her thoughts on living abundantly, common roadblocks she sees with women pursuing ministry or other passions, and how moms can get involved in ministry and missions work. For more inspiring stories of moms making a difference, check out www.influentialmotherhood.com. 

Molly has two kids on earth and two in heaven; in just a matter of months, Molly experienced two second-trimester miscarriages. We talked about the ways Molly's faith has impacted her journey through grief, how she has responded to questions and comments, and how she and her husband have handled grief in their marriage. Molly also shared how she became involved in writing during her early years of blogging, and how a trip to Kenya sparked her interest in the ethical brand conversations, shaping the way she shops and how she spends her money these days. You'll also learn Molly's number one "life hack" as a busy working mom - and it is such a fabulous idea that I'm working on implementing it in my own home! Molly's episode highlights important issues surrounding women, the shopping industry, motherhood, and grief. For more inspiring stories of moms making a difference, check out https://www.influentialmotherhood.com. 

At her 20-week ultrasound, Hilary Yancey and her husband learned their son Jack would be born with craniofacial microsomia. He would require special care from the moment he was born. For a young grad student, this diagnosis was a life-changing moment. Hilary discusses the NICU, how we can work together to share our stories and define what "a good life" looks like, how she and her husband find time for one another, and how she ended up writing a book ("Forgiving God").  For more stories of inspiration through motherhood, check out www.influentialmotherhood.com. 

Business educator and podcaster Shunta Grant shares how she manages a thriving hairbow business, podcast, and business coaching group with a newborn at home and a daughter in preschool. Shunta shares what motherhood has taught her about being a business owner, and what hurdle she sees for women who are trying to "get past busy."  Check out more inspiring stories of moms making a difference at www.influentialmotherhood.com. 

Jen Hoverstad is a lawyer in North Carolina and in 2018, experienced the challenge of a lifetime when she was diagnosed with breast cancer with a husband and two young girls at home to cheer her on. In this episode, Jen talks about her battle with infertility, her self-proclaimed "chaotic" mornings as a working mom, including her kids in her breast cancer journey, and the importance of moms investing in themselves and volunteering for leadership roles. Hear more inspiring and down-to-earth stories with practical tips at www.influentialmotherhood.com. 

Maghon Taylor = JOY. She lives in North Carolina and runs the best and brightest hand lettering/calligraphy studio. Maghon has worked hard to develop an authentic online presence that has brought success to her business through several personal life stages, including being newly married, a new mom, and now being a mom to a toddler. Maghon works from home and if you work from home too, you'll enjoy hearing her secrets to maintaining boundaries so you can enjoy your time with your family. I can't WAIT for you to listen in on this conversation with Maghon, and be inspired by her down-to-earth outlook on motherhood and business. Every day, Maghon encourages thousands of women online and you'll love hearing her talk about her journey to success! For even more inspiration: www.influentialmotherhood.com

Molly Grantham is an award-winning journalist and author. She's a mom to two young kids and has built an online community for children with terminal diseases ("Molly's Kids"). This episode provides insight into how Molly juggles parenting while anchoring the 11pm news in Charlotte, NC. For more inspiring stories of moms making a difference, check out www.influentialmotherhood.com.