Mom After Hours

Hi there, mama. It's been a minute. How ya doin'? It's been "cray-otic" in my world, but I wanted to let you know I've been thinking about you, and I've got some news to share... Mom After Hours is going dark. Drop in on this ultra-short episode for the deets. P.S. I'll be back...someday. But until then, stay wild, happy, and free! Stay in touch on IG: @brandiwiatrak or @momafterhours --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/momafterhours/message

Today is the one-year anniversary of when my mommy sidekick and former co-host had to ditch the Mom After Hours podcast. But it was for a good reason.In this episode, I catch up with Emily on what she’s been up to since she left the podcast in June 2020. We talk about that ambitious working mom life, growing a business alongside a growing family, and what she will be doing differently in her family and business life moving forward.It’s like the Friend’s reunion special, complete with a big REVEAL! Connect with Emily at:www.emilyobroderick.comhttps://www.instagram.com/emilyobroderick/Bio: Emily Broderick is the former co-host of Mom After Hours and a Marketing Extraordinaire who helps small businesses convert their ideal clients with marketing that sells. She's an outdoorsy mama of two beautiful little girls and a dog mom to an old yellow lab. She resides in the small New England town of Essex, MA, with her hard-working hubs and family.  Follow Mom After Hours on FacebookFollow Mom After Hours on InstagramSubscribe to the Mom After Hours e-love letter

Remember all those personality tests we used to take in YM, Cosmo, and Seventeen magazine? Well, today, we’re talking about one of the most popular personality tests out on the scene, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.  For those who are unfamiliar, Myers-Briggs is a bit different than an Enneagram test. The enneagram is based on how you deal with trauma, whereas the Myers-Briggs test assesses how you judge and perceive the world.  Based on the psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Carl Jung’s theories, the Myers-Briggs personality test is a robust tool that helps you better understand yourself and how to navigate your relationships, parenting, and even your mental health.In this episode, I talk with Myers Briggs Expert and co-host of Family Personalities podcast, Sandra Etherington, about what the Myers-Briggs personality test is all about, the different dichotomies, and how knowing your Myers-Briggs personality type can help you thrive at home, work, and in life.  It’s not a must, but I do recommend taking the Myers-Briggs personality test at www.truity.com for FREE before listening to this episode. Even better, if you have the resources, talk with a Myers-Briggs expert like Sandra to make sense of yourself and others around you.  Connect with Sandra at:www.familypersonalities.com  www.instagram.com/familypersonalitiesBio: Sandra is a mom of a 5-year-old and an 8-year-old. She is the owner of Family Personalities and the co-host of the Family Personalities podcast, a fun and sometimes cheesy podcast that uses personality type to help change the way you see your family. Sandra uses her experience and training in the Myers-Briggs personality type to work one-on-one with families, helping them parent more effectively and compassionately based on their children's unique wiring and needs.  

A woman's relationship with sex becomes complicated once she's a mother.When naked and oiled up on the cover of Paper Magazine, our fellow mother-in-arms Kim Kardashian was attacked and told to “cut it out and act like a mother."Not long after, a mom I know posted a cleavage-bearing photo on Facebook, and the same statement arose. Act like a mother.As mothers, are we expected to ditch our sexuality and exude ourselves as matronly, proper, and unsexy?We answer this question and more with "sexpert supreme," Sarah Forbes, former sex curator for the Museum of Sex and author of the upcoming book, Mama Sex. We dig into her experience working at "New York's most provocative museum,” the taboos of being a sexual mother, and the conflict between our parental and sexual selves.Connect with Sarah at:www.mamasexbook.comIG @mamasexbookIG @curatorofsexBio: Dubbed a "sexpert supreme" by Cosmopolitan Magazine, Sarah Forbes is a curator and sexual culturalist. Her memoir, "Sex in the Museum: My Unlikely Career At New York's Most Provocative Museum," is based on her decade as the Curator of the Museum of Sex in New York. Sarah is writing her second book, "Mama Sex," an anthropological look at motherhood and sexuality.***Follow Mom After Hours on Instagram @momafterhours or Facebook at @momafterhourspodcast. If you’re craving a little love and behind-the-scenes action, subscribe to the e-love letter here. 

In 2020, the CDC reported that approximately 1 in 54 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). And the rates are rising higher each year.Autism spectrum disorder impacts not just the life of the child but their family too. Children on the autism spectrum typically require a level of special services or modifications of educational programs. And it's often left to moms to direct these services, pursue a diagnosis, and establish a plan for their developmentally delayed child.Not an easy road to walk by any means. As we close on Autism Awareness Month, a time dedicated to increasing understanding and acceptance of people with autism, I spoke with Hayley Augusta, a mother of a son with autism and hyperlexia. Hayley talks about leaving her dream career and luxe lifestyle in Dubai to care for her son on the autism spectrum and what she wished parents of neurotypical children understood about this disorder. As she shares her experience navigating the autism diagnosis process, Haley also covers the best tools, services, and resources for moms of autistic children to consider.  If you're a parent of a neurotypical child, have a child who is autistic, or curious about a disorder that is becoming more prevalent each year, you need to hear this episode!Connect with Hayley at:https://nosexinthesuburbspodcast.com/IG @nosexinthesuburbshttps://www.facebook.com/nosexinthesuburbsBio: Hayley Augusta is a suburban mom of two. One has autism, and the other is neurotypical. She had a 15+ year career in global media and worked with big clients like Facebook and Emirates Airlines. But when her son was diagnosed, she decided to quit her job to learn more about autism and help him with his special needs. It turns out not only did he have autism, he is gifted. That's called twice-exceptional; 0.5% of kids fall into this category. So there is a lot of work to be done! She hosts the No Sex in the Suburbs podcast as a spoof on what happens after you marry your Big Love and live out your Sex in the City phase of life. It deals with mom identity and all the challenges that come with a husband, a mortgage, and a couple of kids.***Follow Mom After Hours on Instagram @momafterhours or Facebook at @momafterhourspodcast. If you're craving a little love and behind-the-scenes action, subscribe to the e-love letter here. 

Debt kills the dreams of so many people and often wreaks havoc on relationships, too.  A recent study showed that 80% of Americans are living under a stinky pile of debt. But here's the good news: You can get out from under it and live a fun and full life if you have a financial plan. In this episode, I talk with Rho Thomas, an attorney, and financial coach, about the birth of her first child and how it sparked her family's journey to get out of $670,000 of debt. She talks about how managing your mindset and money to reach financial independence is a form of self-care. Rho also guides you on the words to use to get your partner on the same page with money and what will keep you motivated and on track with reducing household debt. Connect with Rho at:https://www.rhothomas.comhttps://www.instagram.com/iamrhothomasBio: Rho Thomas is an attorney and financial coach who believes that true wealth is having control of your time. She helps lawyers make intentional lifestyle and money decisions to regain control of their time, build wealth, and live the lives of freedom and choice they deserve. She has been featured in Yahoo! Finance, Refinery29, and Mic. She hosts the Wealthyesque podcast, which explores how lawyers can achieve lifestyle freedom by reframing their mindset and managing their money to achieve financial independence.***Follow Mom After Hours on Instagram @momafterhours or Facebook at @momafterhourspodcast. If you’re craving a little love and behind-the-scenes action, subscribe to the e-love letter here. 

10 years ago, Joy Hoover, a college dropout, and her partner Phil, a software geek, arrived in Las Vegas with no experience, no money, and no plan. But what they lacked in planning and resources, they made up for with heart, determination, and an overwhelming desire to serve. Confronted with stories from local sex workers, individuals in the adult entertainment industry, and others affected by sex trafficking, they knew they had to take action to help this important yet marginalized community. So they set up shop in their minuscule apartment and went to work. At one point, nearly 20 people had keys to their apartment!In this fun and uplifting episode, Joy and Phil share how a box of cupcakes evolved into a nationally-recognized nonprofit with a staff of 10 and a volunteer team of 150, the importance of loving without an agenda, and how they are raising their two girls to be inclusive and, like their parents, "humans who give a shit." Joy spills what helps her stay centered in work and family life, and Phil dishes out what all men need to do to keep their partner happy and satisfied.Connect with Joy & Phil at:www.joyhoover.comwww.thecupcakegirls.orgwww.instagram.com/@joyehooverwww.instagram/humanswhogiveashitAbout The Cupcake Girls: The Cupcake Girls™ is a national nonprofit with a staff of 10 and a volunteer team of 150 that has raised over $1.5 million in cash in the last four years. Joy has provided over $1.3 million in holistic resources and aftercare to individuals who have been sex trafficked and those in the adult industry through The Cupcake Girls' in-house team and referral partners. Joy's Bio: As Founder and CEO of The Cupcake Girls, partner to her husband of 15 years, and mama to two fierce little ladies, Joy's goal is to empower others through her personal journey of social entrepreneurship. Joy (she/her) and her family have had the privilege of holding space with folks working in the adult industry and those who have been sex trafficked for over 10 years. They are honored to stand in solidarity and link arms with this important and valuable community.Equipped with her personal experiences of choosing to heal herself while growing a national organization, Joy shows up each day with heart, passion, and a deep love for marginalized communities ready to heal the world around her.Joy's core belief is that every person has inherent dignity and is worthy of respect. With a passion for creating sustainable impact, Joy embraces the scare-cited (scared + excited) mindset as she continues to help The Cupcake Girls grow through a community of humans who give a sh*t.***Follow Mom After Hours on Instagram @momafterhours or Facebook at @momafterhourspodcast. If you’re craving a little love and behind-the-scenes action, subscribe to the e-love letter here. 

With a staggering 424,000 foster youth nationwide, the demand for foster families is at an all-time high. According to ifoster.org, factors like parental opioid addiction are forcing children to be removed from their homes in alarming numbers. And the number of foster parents needed far outweigh the supply. In this episode, the founder of the Boss Mom crew, Danielle Melton, talks about the foster parenting process, what your family needs to consider before committing to becoming a foster parent, and offers tips on making that first day with your foster child or children run smoothly. She talks first-hand about her foster parenting experiences and even how her partner went from "being on the fence" with fostering children to what are we waiting for?Connect with Danielle Melton and the Boss Mom Crew at:bossmomcrew.cominstagram.com/bossmomcrewfacebook.com/bossmomcrewInterested in becoming a foster parent? Learn more here.Bio: Danielle Melton is an acclaimed educational leader, foster care & adoption advocate, and working-mom visionary. By trade, she works in school administration at an Early Childhood School and is also a college instructor at a local community college where she teaches Child Development. She obtained her Master's Degree in Education, where she graduated from Northeastern State University with honors (4.0 GPA). Danielle knows first-hand about juggling work, life, and family. This wife, mother, and school administrator lends her spirit, passion, and voice to advocate for the working mom community. What started as a mission to solve a deep personal need to feel connected to other working mothers propelled Danielle to create Boss Mom Crew. Boss Mom Crew embodies all types of professional working moms seeking sisterhood and connection while propelling them in fulfilling their purpose and passion in work and life. Danielle continues to use her platform to advocate, educate, and reimagine how career-driven women thrive in motherhood. ***Follow Mom After Hours on Instagram @momafterhours or Facebook at @momafterhourspodcast. If you're craving a little love and behind-the-scenes action, subscribe to the e-love letter here.  

Every mom has likely felt as though she can't take on one.more.damn.thing. Being stressed with children who require your help from sunrise to sundown is typical.But feeling like you're on the edge of losing your mind or like the weight of everything is on you is called burnout—a state of mental, physical, and emotional depletion.Studies suggest about 14 percent of parents feel this way, and research finds societal pressure to be the "perfect" mother can deepen the feelings. In 2014, Dr. Errin Weisman was that statistic, which left her feeling empty, sad, trapped, and desperate for change. Luckily, she took action. In this episode, Errin vividly shares her story of rising from the ashes of burnout and how a life coach helped her torch the past and start over. Errin offers sage advice to high-achieving women to rediscover their purpose, find happiness, and achieve badass status. Looking to go from burntout to badass? Experience Errin's FREE masterclass here. Connect with Errin Weisman, DO on:https://www.instagram.com/burntout_to_badass/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/errin-weisman-do-77a890103/www.burntoutobadass.com https://twitter.com/TruthRxsBio: Errin Weisman, DO is a life coach, podcaster, and mother of three. She faced professional burnout early in her career and speaks openly about her story to help women and physicians find their calling within medicine and beyond. She lives and practices in rural Southwestern Indiana and believes that to be a healer, you must first fill your own cup.***Follow Mom After Hours on FacebookFollow Mom After Hours on InstagramSubscribe to the Mom After Hours e-love letter

As many as 50 to 75% of new moms experience a monumental shift in their emotions called the "baby blues" after delivery. According to the Cleveland Clinic, up to 15% of these women will develop more severe and longer-lasting depression, called postpartum depression (PPD). But some believe the figures may be even higher — researchers have suggested as many as 50% of women with PPD do not report it.In this episode, Dr. Walker Ladd, a thought leader in the field of maternal mental health for nearly two decades, offers a timely and critical look at the current start of maternal mental health in America and discusses the challenge paradigms of motherhood and mental illness. She even shares her past struggles with postpartum depression and how it inspired her to write, Transformed by Postpartum Depression: Women's Stories of Trauma and Growth. Connect with Dr. Walker Ladd at:Website: http://walkerladd.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrLadd1Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drwalkerladd/ Bio: Walker Ladd, Ph.D., has been a thought leader in the field of maternal mental health for nearly two decades. Her writing and research challenge paradigms of motherhood and mental illness, using women's stories to reveal the hidden truths and extraordinary dimensions of the lived experience of motherhood. Dr. Ladd's personal experience with traumatic childbirth, breast cancer, postpartum depression, and major depressive disorder drives her passion for bold, soulful, and transformative work. Her much-anticipated Second Edition of Transformed by Postpartum Depression: Women's Stories of Trauma and Growth offers a timely and critical look at the current state of maternal mental health in America. She delves into the language of postpartum depression and argues that by changing the language, we change the meaning and thus, can relate to the real stories of women's struggles and survival through the most common complication in motherhood. She lives in Los Angeles and is the proud mother to her son Ziggy, a freshman at the Berklee School of Music, and her daughter Miles, a junior in high school with plans of becoming a comedian. Walker is a 16-year breast cancer survivor.***Follow Mom After Hours on FacebookFollow Mom After Hours on InstagramSubscribe to the Mom After Hours e-love letter Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. 

Often the first image that comes to mind when one hears “stepmom” is Cinderella’s evil stepmother, Lady Tremaine, who punishes and abuses Cinderella psychologically, motivated by her jealousy.It’s no wonder why most women don’t relish that title or fear being part of a blended family. Today’s guest, Yolanda Ridley, however, was the contrary.Yolanda was completely unfazed about becoming a stepmother, but she learned some valuable lessons as her journey wore on.In this episode, Brandi and Yolanda Ridley, a personal growth writer and mental health advocate, share their step-parenting wins and struggles and lessons they’ve learned along the way. Yolanda also shares several important truths she wished biological moms understood.Connect with Yolanda at:Personal Development & Mental Health Website: www.putthekettleon.caDigital Marketing  & Blogging Tips: www.fullcircledigital.caFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/PutTheKettleOnBlogInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/putthekettleonca/Use MOM during checkout for 50% of Yolanda’s new personal growth planner journalBio: Yolanda Ridley is a personal growth blogger and mental health advocate who focuses on helping women create the life they love. As a stepmom and infertility warrior, she’s faced certain challenges she’d never expected from life - but with this, she has found great love and happiness too - and this is what she’s passionate about sharing on her blog, Put the Kettle On. She believes no matter what path we find ourselves on in life - joy, passion, and happiness can be created. She resides in Toronto, Canada with her soulmate and is the proud stepmom of two handsome, smart boys (14 and 18).

Change, change, changggggge. Hey, mama! Hey! If you have a few minutes, please peep this important update about the Mom After Hours podcast. Thanks, girl!  

Today, we are talking about the down and dirty deed: SEX. Sex is often left on the back burner once you become a parent, but it is essential for maintaining a happy and healthy relationship. And we're not just talking penetration here, mamas.In this episode, sexologist Dr. Celeste Holbrook talks about foreplay, intimacy, sexual fantasies, everything that encompasses sex as we know it. She teaches how to communicate our needs and sexual desires, create a better connection with our partner, and strategies to elevate our sex life.  Connect with Dr. Celeste Holbrook:Website: www.drcelesteholbrook.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/drcelesteholbrookInstagram: www.instagram.com/drcelesteholbrookBio: Dr. Celeste Holbrook is a sexologist, speaker, and author. Through her work, designing sexual and spiritual strategies, she helps her clients evolve into the woman they were created to be. She covers various topics from sex drives, sexual shame, creating better connections, wellness, and so much more. Her mission is to educate women on how to improve their relationship and sex life and grow in confidence, spirituality, and love. Dr. Celeste has been featured in Women's Health Magazine, Mothers of Preschoolers, Reader's Digest, and many more. To book a free 30 Minute Discovery Call to see Dr. Holbrook can serve you, click here.Follow Mom After Hours on FacebookFollow Mom After Hours on InstagramSubscribe to the Mom After Hours e-love letter

This year, moms around the world were pushed to their limits. We were kicked around, spit out, and some days it felt like we were hung out to dry.Despite a few scratches, we're still standing.And that my fellow warrior mama, calls for a celebration.Cheers to you and all that you have accomplished and endured this year.Together, let's say goodbye to the year of isolation and hello to the year of connection.Next season, join me, Brandi Wiatrak, alongside sex experts, marriage counselors, sobriety coaches, authors, and interesting moms just like you.We'll laugh, cry, and sometimes get pretty pissed off as we learn from one another's stories while discovering answers to the hot topics we often encounter in work, life, and love.Buckle up, mama. It's time to leave 2020 in the dust. The new season of Mom After Hours kicks off on January 14, 2021.Are you ready? 

While the body positivity movement started with good intentions, lately, people are using the term "body positivity" to shame.From Adele to Rebel Wilson to the young mother down the street, women worldwide are being shamed for either losing weight or deciding to lose weight. And it's started a Great Body Positivity Divide. You have one group who says if you're genuinely body positive, you shouldn't want to lose weight. On the other side, you have people saying, why can't I be body positive and still lose a few pounds?In this episode, Brandi talks with fitness pro Jennifer Nagel about diet culture, the body positivity movement, and the reverse shaming happening nowadays when women decide to lose weight. Connect with Jennifer at:www.therealjennifernagel.com/bodyblueprintwww.instagram.com/therealjennifernagel https://www.facebook.com/groups/modernfitwomenBio: Jennifer Nagel is a 40-something former executive turned fitness pro ready to help you invest in your health and transform your life! After a divorce and health scare in my early 30s, she turned to health and fitness to get my life back. Now she pays it forward by helping super busy ladies like you learn how to find simple solutions to be at your best in every aspect of your life. Her practical advice has been featured in MyFitnessPal, POPSUGAR Fitness, Well + Good, and Thrive Global. She loves obscure 90s references, long massages, and embarrassing my kids by shouting, "I LOVE YOU!" really loudly from the car window. ****Sign up for the Mom After Hours e-love letter Follow Mom After Hours on InstagramFollow Mom After Hours on Facebook 

When you experience a loved one's loss, it can turn your life upside down and inside out.   It can also serve as a blatant reminder of how short life can be and the importance of embracing each day as if it's your last.   Today's guest Michelle was a harrowing overachiever and perfectionist for most of her life. But after losing several of her loved ones to cancer, including her younger brother, she woke up and said, no more.   So she kicked her corporate job to the curb, said goodbye to the white picket fences, and jumped in an RV to live life on the road with her husband and baby boy.   In this episode, Michelle Knight talks about what to consider if you want to live in an RV full-time with your family and the pros and cons of nomadic life. She also teaches us how to reframe our perspective of time if we want to succeed in life and business.Connect with Michelle at:Website: www.michelleknight.coInstagram: https://instagram.com/michelleknightcoBio: Michelle Knight is a mother, wife, world traveler, and storyteller. She is also a Personal Brand Coach and Marketing Strategist and the founder of Brandmerry.com. She is also the host of the Beautiful Climb Podcast.She works with female entrepreneurs to create an authentic, captivating, and money-making brand through the power of story. Michelle supports women at various stages of their business who share one common goal - creating an authentic brand that allows them to show up as they are, build a loyal community, and experience time, financial, and location freedom as a result of their work.In just nine months, Michelle launched her freedom-based business and left her 9 to 5 while raising a new baby. Just one year into her coaching business, Michelle created a 6-figure business and thriving community of women ready to share their stories.Now she travels full-time with her family around the US and Europe and spends her time supporting women to achieve time, financial, and location freedom.***Thank you so much for listening to Mom After Hours. If you enjoyed listening to this episode, consider leaving me a rating or review on Apple.  Your support means the world to me. ***Follow Mom After Hours on FacebookFollow Mom After Hours on InstagramSubscribe to the Mom After Hours e-love letter

As mothers, our work is perpetual.From late-night feedings to early morning lunch-packing, some days it is damn near possible to sit still and rest. Our neverending to-do lists, demanding jobs, and family time always compete for our time and attention. It's no wonder we break, or in Christina Dunbar's case, develop a stress-induced illness.As a working mother of three children, including one child with a rare genetic disorder and another with special needs, it took Christina's health hitting rock bottom to realize she had to redesign her life to improve her mental and physical health.In this episode, Christina, host of the Intentional Ten podcast, shares how a stressful job combined with a tough early motherhood experience sent her into a downward spiral  and the life-changing habits she incorporated that turned her life right side up. Mom After Hours listeners receive 10% off the January Intentional Living Challenge by using promo code MAH at www.intentionalten.com/events   Connect with Christina at:Website: www.intentionalten.comInstagram @intentionaltenIntentional Ten Community Facebook group: www.intentionalten.com/communitySnag your FREE Starter Journal here.Bio: Inspired to change her lifestyle after a stress-induced illness, Christina Dunbar slowed down and redesigned her life to improve her mental and physical health. She created the Intentional Ten Podcast, Blog, and Journal to share these life-changing habits with others, focusing on Mindfulness, Gratitude, and Intentional Living. When she's not recording episodes or writing posts, Christina enjoys a hot cup of coffee, sitting outside in the rain, and dance parties with her kids.***Connect with Mom After Hours on Instagram! You’ll get a dose of humor, motivation, and love all in one spot. ***If you enjoyed this episode, please send me a virtual hug by giving Mom After Hours a rating or review on Apple. I’ll love you forever and even share your review on air! ***Ask questions or share episode ideas by emailing hello@momafterhours.com. We love audio feedback, too, so record your voice via voice memo in your smartphone and send it on over! 

When your emotional health breaks down, and you “suck it up” without resolving the trauma that happened, your wounds will continue to fester.You might think you’ve “gotten over it,” but in reality, it’s likely you haven’t. These unresolved traumas can subconsciously affect the way we mother and how we show up in relationships.And The Mommy Therapist, Allyson, is here to talk to us all about it. Back by popular demand, Allyson Pitre MA, LPC, returns to discuss how unresolved traumas impact the mothering experience and relationships and why you need to work through these traumas.Allyson even breaks down some of Brandi’s childhood traumas and exposes how she is both reacting and reenacting these past traumas in both motherhood and her marriage.Connect with Allyson at:Website: themommytherapist.home.blogInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_mommy_therapistBio: Allyson Pitre MA, LPC brings a passion for people coupled with a longtime desire to help them find peace amid turmoil, trauma, or dysfunction. Growing up, she often longed to help those around her who seemed to have lost their way. Those longings in her formative years led her to seek a career path in counseling. She attended Louisiana State University and graduated in 2009 with her B.A. in History with a minor in Psychology. Because she wanted training that would merge her passion for working with hurting people with her devotion to Jesus Christ, she received an M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Denver Seminary in 2011.Her experience has included various roles at the Eating Disorder Center of Denver and individual therapy with several counseling agencies. Believing that the family system is often an obstacle or avenue for emotional healing, she has worked for over three years as a community-based counselor working with both children and their parents.Mentioned on the show:The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk M.D.It Didn't Start with You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycle by Mark Wolynn.Keeping Your Marriage Healthy During Quarantine  with Allyson PitreOvercoming Isolation in Motherhood with Allyson Pitre***Let's be buddies on Instagram!  You'll get lots of inspiration, humor, and mama motivation to keep you fueled throughout the day.  ***Thank you so much for listening to Mom After Hours! If you have a friend in need of hearing this message, please share this episode with her! 

When we think about infertility, we often don't talk about the impact it has on our relationships. More especially, our romantic relationship.The hormones, shots, tests, and timed sex can leave you and your partner feeling stressed, frustrated, and disconnected.Today's guest Amanda knows this first-hand.She was diagnosed with unexplained infertility several years ago, endured seasons of failed fertility treatments, and was eventually able to conceive a child in 2019 via a frozen embryo transfer.  She is currently trying to conceive baby #2 by way of in vitro fertilization. In this episode, Amanda Osowski MPH, CD, CPLC highlights her struggles with infertility, then dives into fun, tried and true ways couples can increase intimacy and connectedness during this vulnerable time. Connect with Amanda at:Website: www.heartfeltbeginings.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heartfeltbeginningsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heartfeltbeginningsBio:  Amanda Osowski MPH, CD, CPLC is a mama of one, an Infertility and Postpartum Doula, Bereavement Preparation & Loss Specialist, and Coach, passionate about sharing her education and experiences with new parents and parents-to-be. After struggling to get pregnant on her own, she finally had a successful FET in September 2018, which led to the birth of her daughter in May 2019. After her arrival, she thought about all of the ways in which her journey would have felt more educated and supported, and she became an infertility and postpartum doula and coach and founded Heartfelt Beginnings. Her passion is supporting the intersection of infertility and community, facilitating honest and candid conversations about infertility, advising how to navigate the professionals you may work with, determining which options are available to your family, and providing local resources for women and couples standing right where she once stood.***Connect with Mom After Hours on Instagram! You’ll get a dose of humor, motivation, and love all in one spot. ***Thank you so much for listening to Mom After Hours. If you enjoyed listening to this episode, drop us a rating or review on Apple.  Your support means the world to us. 

Family relationships can be complicated, especially the relationship you hold with your in-laws.Some of us have a supportive mother-in-law who doubles as a shopping buddy and a father-in-law who is as fun and loving as the person we married.And we are incredibly fortunate.However, when you have in-laws who dish out disrespect like hotcakes and cause unnecessary drama, it sucks BIG TIME.You may find yourself wondering if the relationship is even worth the pain and troubles.For today's guest, Dana, it just wasn't worth it. But things weren't always dismal with the in-laws. It seemed only to change the moment the engagement ring landed on her finger.In this episode, Dana Moss of Millennial Mom Confessions shares what ultimately caused her and her husband to part ways with his side of the family, the impact it’s had on her family, and when it’s time for you to kick your in-laws to the curb.Connect with Dana at:Website: www.millennialmomconfessions.comFacebook: www.facebook.com/millennialmomconfessionsInstagram: www.instagram.com/momsconfession Bio: Dana Moss is a first-time mama to the coolest little dude and a self-proclaimed horrible housewife to her husband of almost six years. She's a full-time stay-at-home mom that spends each day just trying to survive. Dana admits to fumbling her way through motherhood, living solely by trial and error. She prefers iced coffee, so she never has to worry about her coffee getting cold and running on her kid's uneaten chicken nuggets, parenting humor, and making memes that my husband never thinks are funny (but they are)!***Connect with Mom After Hours on Instagram! You’ll get a dose of humor, motivation, and love all in one spot. ***If you enjoyed this episode, please send me a virtual hug by giving Mom After Hours a rating or review on Apple. I'll love you forever and even share your review on air! ***Ask questions or share episode ideas by emailing hello@momafterhours.com. We love audio feedback, too, so record your voice via voice memo in your smartphone and send it on over! 

When you welcome a baby into the world, you're a messy ball of emotions.We expect the excitement, happiness, and a little nervousness over having to take care of this ultra-fragile being, but what happens when that anxiety doesn't go away after a few weeks? What happens when you start craving your old life and don't feel a strong connection to the infant lying in your arms?Sadly, many new moms go through this experience, including today's guest Chiara. In this episode, writer and spiritual counselor, Chiara Townley, opens up about why it took her months to love her baby and how embarking on a spiritual journey not only taught her about her body but cultivated a stronger relationship with her child. Bio: Chiara Townley is an Italian-born writer specializing in health and wellness and is passionate about helping others improve their lives. Her writing has been featured on Medical News Today, Thrive Global, and in Good Housekeeping magazine, among many others. She owns a spiritual counseling business and uses writing and intuition to provide guidance. She lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband, son, and puppy.Connect with Chiara at:Website: https://www.chiarabtownley.com/guidanceFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/cbtwriting/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chiarabtownley/Other links mentioned in this episode: Anatomy of the Spirit: The Seven Stages of Power and Healing by Carolyn Myss***Connect with Mom After Hours on Instagram! You'll get a dose of humor, motivation, and love all in one spot. ***Thank you so much for listening to Mom After Hours! If you enjoyed listening to this episode, drop us a rating or review on Apple.  We'll love you FOREVER! Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Psychology Today describes resilience as: “that ineffable quality that allows some people to be knocked down by life and come back stronger than ever. Rather than letting failure overcome them and drain their resolve, they find a way to rise from the ashes.”Whether it is bouncing back from trauma, tragedies, health problems, or stress, it takes a special kind of person to remain positive and optimistic when your journey encounters endless hardship and pain.Today’s guest, Josephine, is one of those special people with the gift of mental fortitude.In this episode, Josephine Atluri, a meditation expert and host of the  Responding to Life podcast, opens up about her difficult journey of becoming a mom to five using IVF, surrogacy, and international adoption. She shares how her challenging circumstances propelled her forward and ultimately led her to a place of peace.Josephine also shares some stress-reduction techniques moms can use to keep a calmer and happier home and ways to boost your self-esteem. Josephine is offering all Mom After Hours listeners 50% off any upcoming workshop or meditation session by using the promo code WARRIOR on her website, www.jatluri.comConnect with Josephine at: Website: www.jatluri.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/josephineratluri/Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/respondingtolifepodcast/Bio: Through her unique journey to becoming a mom of five, Josephine Atluri weathered many ups and downs with IVF, international adoption, and surrogacy. Channeling her experience to find calm and courage and focus on perseverance, she now helps others navigate life’s curveballs through group and individual online meditation training and her podcast, Responding to Life. Josephine teaches weekly classes at Unplug in Santa Monica, CA, where she trained under the renowned guru davdji, former COO of the Deepak Chopra Center. She also does group meditation training for staff of prestigious entities like Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. She is a regular content contributor to Motherly, Red Tricycle, The IVF Warrior,  and The Fertility Circle.***Connect with Mom After Hours on Instagram! You’ll get a dose of humor, motivation, and love all in one spot. ***Thank you so much for listening to Mom After Hours! If you learned something new from this episode, please consider dropping us a rating or review on Apple.***Ask questions or share episode ideas by emailing hello@momafterhours.com. We love audio feedback, too, so record your voice via voice memo in your smartphone and send it on over! 

We are dynamic, multi-faceted women.We are writers, artists, entrepreneurs, dancers, comedians, sales professionals, athletes, daughters, teachers, lawyers, doctors, sisters, and so much more.These unique pillars of our identity can bring us much joy and a sense of accomplishment. With motherhood, however, sometimes that sense of fulfillment never arrives. In this episode, Brittany Bergman, author of Expecting Wonder: The Transformative Experience of Becoming a Mother, provides an insightful glimpse into early motherhood,  struggles with mom rage, and how she doesn't feel fulfilled by motherhood, despite loving her two children more than the world.Connect with Brittany at:Website: https://www.brittanylbergman.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brittanylbergman/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brittanylbergmanBio: Brittany L. Bergman is the author of the book Expecting Wonder: The Transformative Experience of Becoming a Mother, which she wrote while she was pregnant with her second child. Her kids are now 4 and 1, and she works as a copyeditor of nonfiction books at a publishing house. Her motherhood essays have been featured on Coffee + Crumbs, Motherly, The MOPS Blog, (in)courage, and TODAY Parents.***Connect with Mom After Hours on Instagram! You'll get a dose of humor, motivation, and love all in one spot. ***Thank you so much for listening to Mom After Hours! If you learned something new from this episode, please consider dropping us a rating or review on Apple.***Ask questions or share episode ideas by emailing hello@momafterhours.com. We love audio feedback, too, so record your voice via voice memo in your smartphone and send it on over!  Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

From childcare to remote learning, meal planning, and beyond, moms are often the "designated doers" of most parenting and household duties. Need a snack?Ask mom.Can't log in to your computer?Ask mom.Need help wiping your ass?Ask mom.It's hard, tiring, and overwhelming as hell.And we need help! In this episode, Rosanna Berardi, a lawyer, entrepreneur, and ultimate queen of the household, shares her top hacks and tips for tackling remote learning, meal planning, and all those minor annoyances that pile up on mom's plates.  Connect with Rosanna at:Website: www.highwirewoman.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/highwirewoman/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/highwirewoman/ Bio: Rosanna Berardi is a lawyer, mother, and entrepreneur. She built her immigration law firm, Berardi Immigration Law, from her home apartment to a multi-million-dollar company in 15 short years. She is a sought-after speaker and has been featured in Forbes, The Los Angeles Times, Politico, and The National Post. She is an Adjunct Professor at SUNY Buffalo School of Law. Rosanna is also the CEO of High Wire Woman, a consulting firm that provides systems and solutions to working women.***Connect with Mom After Hours on Instagram! You'll get a dose of humor, motivation, and love all in one spot. ***Thank you so much for listening to Mom After Hours! If you learned something new from this episode, please consider dropping us a rating or review on Apple.***Ask questions or share episode ideas by emailing hello@momafterhours.com. We love audio feedback, too, so record your voice via voice memo in your smartphone and send it on over! 

Nowadays, women are delaying motherhood until their 30s and 40s. Instead of craving those two blue lines, we focus on our goals, careers, traveling the world, and waiting not only for the perfect person but also for the ideal blend of financial and emotional stability.Studies have determined that—though it can be more difficult, biologically—"when women are able to get pregnant and have children later in life, there are significant benefits to both moms and their children."And Michelle has plenty to say about all of that. After all, by society’s standards, she’s an “old mom.”In this episode, Michelle Mansfield talks openly about why she doesn't regret waiting until her late thirties to have a child, how a gay man at a pool party in Mexico changed her motherhood trajectory, and the importance of living by your own rules. You can find Michelle at:Website: www.michellemansfieldauthor.comInstagram: www.instagram.com/happy_family_projectThe Honest Mom Project Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1763082143989755Michelle is offering the first 20 Mom After Hour listeners the chance to be beta readers of her new book, The Honest Mom Project. Learn more here! Bio: Michelle Mansfield is a board-certified Health Coach, author, and mother. After her daughter Brooklyn was born, she began her Health Coaching career, working with women with fertility challenges through pregnancy and postpartum wellness. Michelle has certifications from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, Cadence Health, Dr. Sears Wellness Institute, and is currently taking a Maternal Mental Health certification course with the Postpartum Support International and 2020 Mom. Her book, The Honest Mom Project, comes out later this year. ***Connect with Mom After Hours on Instagram! We post a lot of funny, encouraging, and weird stuff. ***Are you craving some mom to mom chats? Mom After Hours now has a FREE virtual video support group to help mamas just like you! If you're interested in growing your village and connecting with other mamas, please complete the Mom After Hours Support Group survey. ***Ask questions or share episode ideas by emailing hello@momafterhours.com. We love audio feedback, too, so record your voice via voice memo in your smartphone and send it on over! 

In the United States, over 700 women a year die of complications related to pregnancy, one of the highest maternal death rates in the developed world.And those numbers continue to climb. Childbirth complications don't discriminate. It can kill women of every race and ethnicity, education, and income level, in every part of the U.S. But it is Black and nonwhite women that have almost three times the risk of death from hemorrhage than white women.In 2016, Aliette Silva nearly became one of those women. With vivid recollection, Aliette Silva recounts the day she nearly died during childbirth, how her near-death experience significantly impacted her life, and why it's vital for women to endlessly advocate for their health.Connect with Aliette at:Instagram: www.instagram.com/shepensblog/Facebook: www.facebook.com/shepensblog/ Bio: Aliette Silva is a mom and a writer that lives for a good Cuban sandwich. Her work has been featured in Today Parents, Her View from Home, Filter Free Parents, and Scary Mommy. She writes posts, shares stories, and snaps pictures of the daily mama grind. Raised by Cuban parents and married into a multiethnic family, she values diversity. She is raising her two girls to embrace their Hispanic roots. When she is not writing, you can find her chasing sleep or her two girls all over Disney World.***Connect with Mom After Hours on Instagram! We laugh, play, and connect with our screaming kids in the background, too!***Thank you so much for listening to Mom After Hours! If you enjoyed this episode, please consider giving us a virtual hug through a rating or review on Apple.***Ask questions or share episode ideas by emailing hello@momafterhours.com. We love audio feedback, too, so record your voice via voice memo in your smartphone and send it on over! 

Cheating is one of the top marriage killers. Upwards of 40% of married couples are impacted by infidelity. And for unmarried peoples, research indicates cheating almost doubles  the rate of married couples. It's obscene. Nothing can ever prepare you for the heartache, feelings of betrayal, and confidence shattering effects an extramarital affair brings. However, according to today's guest, Keisha Brooks, it is still possible to become whole again.In this episode, Keisha Brooks, a self-proclaimed "open-book" and twin mom, speaks candidly with Brandi about her non-traditional relationship with her ex-partner of 23 years, the trials and tribulations experienced, and her journey of healing after infidelity. Connect with Keisha at:Website: https://www.keishambrooks.com/Facebook: www.facebook.com/keisha5150Instagram: www.instagram/kbrooks1974Bio: Keisha Brooks is a funny, real, and truthful mother of twins, who will "tell it like it is while everyone else lies to you." When she's not navigating life's traumas and dramas as a 911 Operator and dabbles in acting and is the host of Keeping It Real TV on Facebook. She also starred on Nickelodeon's first season of, Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader,  alongside John Cena! ***Connect with Mom After Hours on Instagram! We post a lot of funny, encouraging, and weird stuff. ***Craving some mom to mom chats? Mom After Hours is starting a virtual video support group to help mamas just like you! If you're interested in growing your village and connecting with other mamas, please complete the Mom After Hours Support Group survey. ***Ask questions or share episode ideas by emailing hello@momafterhours.com. We love audio feedback, too, so record your voice via voice memo in your smartphone and send it on over! 

Before you become a mom, your girlfriends tend to rule your world.From nights out on the town to girl’s weekends and endless texts and calls, it’s our besties that take center stage.Then… a baby, or two, arrives.And shit changes. A lot.In this episode, Brandi, and host of Bottomless MOMosa podcast, Elisabeth Allen, talk about the impact motherhood has on friendships, how friendships change through life's seasons, and signs that it's time to kick a friendship to the curb. Connect with Elisabeth AKA Liz at:Website: https://bottomlessmomosa.blog/Podcast: https://bottomless-momosa.simplecast.com/Instagram: www.instagram.com/bottomless__momosaFacebook:  https://www.facebook.com/bottomlessmomosablogBio: Elisabeth Allen is the host of the working motherhood podcast, Bottomless MOMosa. She resides in the Chicago burbs with her husband, labradoodle Rafa and 2-year-old son Wesley. She's a full-time working mother, total extrovert, and realist, who sometimes tends to be a little blunt. She knows there is an ugly and beautiful truth behind new working motherhood so she created a space where we, as working moms, can learn, laugh, and grow together.***Connect with Mom After Hours on Instagram! You’ll get a dose of humor, motivation, and love all in one spot. ***Thank you so much for listening to Mom After Hours! If you learned something new from this episode, please consider dropping us a rating or review on Apple.***Ask questions or share episode ideas by emailing hello@momafterhours.com. We love audio feedback, too, so record your voice via voice memo in your smartphone and send it on over! 

When you discover you're pregnant, you're eager to spread the news of your growing family with the world. You come to expect well-wishes and celebrations because after all, that's what's supposed to happen, right?  But what do you do when you're met with disapproval, resentment, then immediately released from your job?Sadly, this is precisely what happened to the well-respected, top-performing executive, Kiley Taslitz Anderson. According to the National Partnership for Women's and Families, being discharged from employment is the most common reason women file pregnancy discrimination charges. In this episode, Brandi talks with Kiley Taslitz Anderson, co-founder of Jetson and Jettie, about her life-changing experience with pregnancy discrimination, her lawsuit against her former employer, and how this and her c-section experience prompted her to launch her own mom-friendly company.Mom After Hours listeners receive 35% off monthly subscriptions with Jetson and Jettie, the world's first seasonal probiotic, by using the promo code: JETTIEMOMS35Connect with Kiley at:Website: www.wearejetson.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jettie/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kiley_t_anderson/Bio: Kiley Taslitz Anderson was fired for being pregnant. She is the managing director of '87 and the co-founder of Jetson, the world's first seasonal probiotic. Mother to two young boys, she splits her time between California and Chicago. Inspired in part by her experience with having her babies via c-section, Kiley recently launched Jettie, the only seasonal probiotic for babies and kids.***Connect with Mom After Hours on Instagram! You’ll get a dose of humor, motivation, and love all in one spot. ***Thank you so much for listening to Mom After Hours! If you learned something new from this episode, please consider dropping us a rating or review on Apple.***Ask questions or share episode ideas by emailing hello@momafterhours.com. We love audio feedback, too, so record your voice via voice memo in your smartphone and send it on over! 

How are you doing, mama?It's rough out there, isn't it? The U.S. Census Bureau recently reported that a third of Americans show signs of clinical depression and anxiety. And these and other mental conditions are increasing even more so during the pandemic. Many mothers are trying to manage it all, but we feel defeated and emotionally and mentally exhausted.In this episode, a popular mental health advocate, Kristen Gardiner, highlights her struggle with depression, the steps to take if you're struggling mentally and emotionally, and much-needed encouragement and tips for moms during these challenging times. Connect with Kristen at:Website: http://drivingmomcrazy.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drivingmomcrazy/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drivingmomcrazy/Bio: Kristen is a writer & stay-at-home mom to three wild and crazy boys, ages 10, 7, and 4. Kristen loves to write about motherhood, mental health, and child safety. She is a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician and has a passion for contributing hands-on car seat education to her community. Kristen has a Bachelor's degree in Marketing from Texas A&M and an M.B.A. from Texas A&M-Corpus Christie. ***Connect with Mom After Hours on Instagram! We laugh, play, and connect with our screaming kids in the background, too!***Thank you so much for listening to Mom After Hours! If you enjoyed this episode, please consider showing us some love by leaving a rating or review on Apple.***Ask questions or share episode ideas by emailing hello@momafterhours.com. We love audio feedback, too, so record your voice via voice memo in your smartphone and send it on over! 

Women in today’s working world have it tough, especially working moms.According to a recent study published by WerkLabs, the insights division of The Mom Project “not only are women and working moms balancing a plethora of responsibilities, but they are also fearing for their jobs- approximately 60% of the jobs eliminated in the first wave of the pandemic-induced layoffs were held by women.”These layoffs mean tons of women are now on the market looking for work, while those gainfully employed attempt to reinforce their value to employers.Believe it or not, companies are still hiring despite the drastic state of our economy. But you have to show up and be seen.In this week’s episode, Brandi talks with Monica Rockstroh, professional career pep talker, about the changes women are facing today in the working world, why it’s crucial women negotiate their salaries, and the steps we need to take to spruce up our online presence and ace that interview.Connect with Monica  at: Website: www.monicarockstroh.comInstagram: www.instagram.com/monicarockstrohPrivate (free) Facebook group for women to discuss careers and money: www.facebook.com/groups/monicascommunityBio:Monica Rockstroh is a professional career pep talker based in Chicago, Illinois. Her online consultancy prepares women to negotiate salaries and job offers, all while working to close the gender pay gap.Interviewing well and negotiating hard have been vital career skills for Monica as she routinely moves across oceans to somewhere new, leaving her established connections behind. With the right strategy, she has out-competed fellow candidates and negotiated her way up the salary ladder, opening the door for women after her.By training, Monica is a water resources scientist with a master’s degree in climate change & sustainable development. She has worked on stormwater and urban flooding issues in Cape Town, New York, and Chicago. For salary negotiation and interview expertise, her knowledge comes from real-life experiences around the globe. Nonprofits, to universities, to engineering firms, she has negotiated her salary and received promotions through strategizing, practicing, and then asking her worth.In 2019, she resigned from her role in water resources to scale up her business where she prepares women around the globe to negotiate salaries and job offers. She also empowers women to ace interviews for promotions and career pivots. Her days are filled with cups of earl grey tea, female-run entrepreneur podcasts, and women like you – where she helps you get more out of your career path by giving you the pep talk you need to ask for more.***Connect with Mom After Hours on Instagram! We post a lot of  funny, encouraging,  and motivational stuff. ***Craving some mom to mom chats? Mom After Hours is starting a virtual video support group to help mamas just like you! If you're interested in growing your village and connecting with other mamas, please complete the Mom After Hours Support Group survey. ***Ask questions or share episode ideas by emailing hello@momafterhours.com. We love audio feedback, too, so record your voice via voice memo in your smartphone and send it on over!  

No matter where you turn online, men are trying to connect with you.One might be a military leader.Another a hot single doctor. One may be a seemingly sweet admirer. While their messages may seem heartfelt, or at times, downright creepy, often, these men online aren't after your heart. They're after your bank account. Catfishing is typically used for romance scams on dating websites; however, catfishing often takes place on Facebook, Instagram, and many other social platforms, too. Brandi talks with ex-FBI, cybersecurity expert, Stacy Eldridge, about catfishing, a deceptive activity where a person creates a fake identity on a social networking platform to lure their victim into fraud or abuse. In this show, you will learn:different ways you can be phishedhow to spot a catfishthe first thing to do if you think you're being catfishedwhat to do if you've been scammed alreadydifferent ways you can protect yourself and your children onlineIf you have ever received a flirtatious message from a man online, have been a victim of catfishing, or spend a lot of time on social media, you won't want to miss this episode.Connect with Stacy at: Website: https://siliconprairiecyber.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SiliconPrairieCyberServicesInstagram: https://instagram.com/siliconprairiecyberservicesBio: Stacy Eldridge began her security career nearly 20 years ago with the FBI as a digital investigator. But it wasn't until the birth of her son that she realized she needed more flexibility in her career. Shortly before her son's first birthday, Silicon Prairie Cyber Services was born, a woman-owned company designed to help small businesses and entrepreneurs protect their business and customer data. Stacey's mission is to raise awareness in this area while providing businesses with the services they need without breaking the bank. Stacy has the following certifications: GSEC, GCCC, GCFE, ACE, and CFCE and received her Masters of Science from Bellevue University in 2006.Mentioned on the show:FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center - www.ic3.govReverse Image Search - www.tinyeye.com***Come play with Mom After Hours on Instagram! You'll get a dose of humor, motivation, and love all in one spot. ***Thank you so much for listening to Mom After Hours! If you learned something new from this episode, please consider dropping us a rating or review on Apple.***Ask questions or share episode ideas by emailing hello@momafterhours.com. We love audio feedback, too, so record your voice via voice memo in your smartphone and send it on over! 

Changes are hard to accept when they are forced upon you. You're working a 9-5 job, tending to kids full-time, or just living life, when all of a sudden, a boulder appears in your path.⁣⁣And you have no choice but to pivot.You have to do things differently. You may even have to learn  how to do things differently. And sometimes you might not want to.Change can be seen as a positive when it is something you've been working towards. Like, a college degree, fitting into those pre-kids clothing or buying a new home. But when you're not expecting change, it can be intimidating, scary, and even downright upsetting.In this episode, Brandi talks with Patience Riley, CPC, LPC, the mom coach, therapist, and blogger behind WHOA MAMA, about how to become more comfortable with change and ways to cope with change during unprecedented times. ⁣⁣Connect with Patience Riley, therapist, and motherhood coach on: Instagram: www.instagram.com/whoamama_blogFacebook: www.facebook.com/whoamama_blogWebsite: www.whoamamas.comIf you are a mama interested in 1 on 1 mental health support or are an expecting mama who is interested in learning more about Patience's  6-week group, A Postpartum State of Mind, please visit the link below to set up a time to chat with her:https://calendly.com/whoamama/15min***Like this episode? Please give us a virtual hug by leaving a rating or review on Apple! ***Thank you so much for listening to Mom After Hours! If you know a mom facing significant changes or obstacles, please share this episode with her. ***Ask questions or share episode ideas by emailing hello@momafterhours.com. We love audio feedback, too, so record your voice via voice memo in your smartphone and send it on over! 

It's not easy to date in today's generation of "swipe left, swipe right." You put yourself out there, and you either get crickets, or your inbox is overwhelmed with creepers who just want a tit pic or a hook-up. Despite multiple dates, you still can't seem to find the one.You might find yourself asking: What am I doing wrong? What do men or women even want? How do I find the right person for me?Don't worry, mama and friends. We got you. In this episode, Brandi and celebrity matchmaker, Tammi Pickle, provide dating strategies to help single moms rock the dating scene and tips on how to better support your single friends looking for love. You'll even learn a little insight into how professional matchmaking works too!Tammi Pickle, VP of Elite Connections, is a celebrity matchmaker, dating coach, and devoted mom of two young boys. She has been featured as a relationship expert on OWN, TLC, Bravo, and countless other radio programs and magazine publications. You can connect with Tammi and Elite Connections at: Website: www.eliteconnections.comFacebook: www.facebook.com/tammipickleeliteconnections/Instagram: www.instagram.com/EliteConnections_ Email: tammi@eliteconnections.com Phone: (805) 907-1492***Connect with Mom After Hours on Instagram! We share the weird, funny, and not so pretty sides of motherhood. ***Thank you so much for listening to Mom After Hours! We appreciate your love and support. In lieu of a bear hug, please consider dropping us a rating or review on Apple.***Ask questions or share episode ideas by emailing hello@momafterhours.com. We love audio feedback, too, so record your voice via voice memo in your smartphone and send it on over! 

Do you ever wonder if you're doing this mothering thing right?You talk to your doctor, read the posts in parenting Facebook groups, stalk the mom blogs, and scroll the lovely oh-so curated Instagram feeds of mommy influencers, and you still have no clue.One person says to do this, another person says to do that. Some even tell us we must look a certain way to earn the "good mother" label.Are mothers being set up for failure? What is a good mother anyway? Join Brandi, along with guests Bethany Johnson and Margaret Quinlan, the authors of the book, "You're Doing it Wrong! Mothering, Media and Medical Expertise,"  as they chat about the history of mothering advice in the media, from the Victorian age to the present day, and how social media has placed extraordinary pressures on new moms from pre-conception through early toddlerhood.Mom After Hours listeners receive 30% off when purchasing, You're Doing It Wrong! Mothering, Media, and Medical Expertise  by using coupon code: 02AAAA17 athttps://cdcshoppingcart.uchicago.edu/Cart2/Cart?PRESS=rutgers&ISBN=9780813593784 You can find Margaret and Bethany onFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/JohnsonQuinlanResearch/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnsonquinlanresearch/Twitter: https://twitter.com/JQ_ResearchWebsite: https://johnsonquinlanresearch.com Margaret M. Quinlan (Ph.D.) is an associate professor in the department of communication studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She explores how communication creates, resists and transforms knowledges about bodies. She critiques power structures in order to empower individuals who are marginalized inside and outside of healthcare systems. She has authored approximately 40 journal articles, 17 book chapters and co-produced documentaries in a regional Emmy award-winning series.Bethany L. Johnson (MPhil, M.A.) is an instructor in history and an associate member to the graduate faculty and research affiliate faculty in the department of communication studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She studies how science, medicine, and health discourses are framed and reproduced by institutions and individuals from the 19th century to the present. She has published in interdisciplinary journals such as Health Communication, Women & Language, Departures in Critical Qualitative Research and Women's Reproductive Health.Other works mentioned:Killing the Black Body: Race, Reproduction, and the Meaning of Liberty, by Dorothy RobertsMedical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present, by Harriet WashingtonSex, Sickness, and Slavery: Illness in the Antebellum South, by Marlie Wiener and Mayzie Hough***Connect with Mom After Hours on Instagram! We're not afraid to share the dirtier side of motherhood. ***Thank you so much for listening to Mom After Hours! If you know a mom questioning if she is a good mother or is struggling with motherhood advice overload, please share this episode with her.***Ask questions or share episode ideas by emailing hello@momafterhours.com. We love audio feedback, too, so record your voice via voice memo in your smartphone and send it on over!  

Hear how Brandi and Emily are dealing with mom-life in the middle of the COVID quarantine. It involves lots of feeling all the feels to be quite honest. And big changes ahead. Brandi shares her top tricks for getting unstuck in the never-ending groundhog day. And Emily shares why she's needing to restructure her time and step away from the Mom After Hours podcast to dedicate time to her family and growing business. ***Connect with us on Instagram! We're always keeping it real while laughing at ourselves.***Thank you so much for listening to Mom After Hours! If you know a mom in need of hearing some real talk when it comes to the trials and tribulations of motherhood, please share this episode with her! ***You can ask us questions  or share episode ideas by emailing  hello@momafterhours.com. We love audio feedback too! Record your voice via voice memo in your smartphone, and send it on over.

When we decide to embark on our motherhood journey, we often expect everything to go as planned: conceive quickly, then deliver a baby in 9 months.But, sometimes, our bodies can face health issues and challenges beyond our control, forcing us to take a bumpier route to motherhood.In this episode, Kelly McLay, a two-time seven continent marathon finisher, and founder and owner of Fitness International Travel, a travel agency focused on bringing runners to marathons around the world, shares her inspiring journey overcoming major fertility struggles after undergoing early menopause in her twenties.With strength and resilience, Kelly shines a light on the psychological impact of infertility, insight on the in-vitro fertilization process,  and how one doctor made the egg donor selection process a thousand times easier with nine simple little words.  As you listen to this episode, you'll hear Kelly's message loud and clear: we are "in" fertility together.You can learn more about Kelly and Fitness International Travel at:www.fitnessinternationaltravel.com https://instagram.com/kmclay13***Find us on Instagram, and let’s become mom friends! We promise to show you just as much ugly as we do filtered pictures. ***Thank you so much for listening to Mom After Hours! If you have a friend experiencing fertility struggles, please share this uplifting episode with her! ***You can ask us questions by emailing us at hello@momafterhours.com. We love audio feedback too! Record your voice via voice memo in your smartphone, and send it on over.

Rarely, do you hear someone say they want to remarry their ex. After all, they divorced for a damn good reason, right?He cheated with the girl next door.He got tired of his anger issues.She craved more excitement in  his life. The stories are endless.But, there are times when remarriage does occur. Surprisingly, 10% to 15% of all divorced couples will reconcile. And, popular motherhood and lifestyle writer, Amy Blair and her partner were one of them. Listen in as Amy Blair gets candid about the real reason she divorced her husband, and what made them decide, after several years apart, to tie the knot once again. In contrast, Brandi opens up about her divorce, and how it ultimately led her to a better, more fulfilling life. Juicy, yet informative, this episode will highlight the complexities of relationships, including the big "D" word, and all that comes a long with it. Want to learn more about Amy Blair? Connect with her at:www.northfourthst.comhttps://www.facebook.com/northfourthst/https://www.instagram.com/amyblair2.0/ ***Find us on Instagram, and let’s become mom friends! We post lots of cool things, like how to annoy your partner and kids...and other pointless information. ***Thank you so much for listening to Mom After Hours! If you know a mom in need of hearing some down and dirty conversations, please share this podcast with her! ***You can ask us questions or share episode ideas by emailing us at hello@momafterhours.com. We love audio feedback too! Record your voice via voice memo in your smartphone, and send it on over.

This new normal is tough.Kids are at home 24/7. Parents' work environments have been flipped upside down. Moms everywhere have become home school teachers overnight and are running on yesterday's coffee fumes.It's a tough time to be  a mom, ya'll. These unexpected changes can take a huge toll on relationships, and marriages. Even worse, research is claiming divorce rates will likely spike in light of the quarantine.And, to be frank, that royally sucks! So, we welcomed back Mommy Therapist, Allyson Pitre, MA, LPC, to discuss the impact the quarantine is having on our relationships. In this episode, Allyson enlightens  us with the best way to craft conversations with our partner,  how to show grace, and other much needed guidance for keeping  our marriages safe and sound. You can find Mommy Therapist, Allyson Pitre MA, LPC, on Instagram at:https://www.instagram.com/the_mommy_therapist Check out Episode 5 to hear Allyson's episode on Overcoming Isolation in Motherhood.***Find us on Instagram, and let’s become mom buds! You'll see us sharing our lackluster meals of chicken nuggets and pizza, and shucking tips on how to keep your sanity levels above empty. ***Thank you so much for listening to Mom After Hours! If you have a friend in need of hearing this message, please share this episode with her! ***You can ask us questions or share show ideas by emailing us at hello@momafterhours.com. We love audio feedback too! Record your voice via voice memo in your smartphone, and send it on over. 

Chelsea Skaggs, Founder of Postpartum Together, dishes up the truth about the impact that birth and early motherhood can have on your sex life and romantic relationship.Just because you may get the all-clear to start having sex again after your six-week postpartum check-up, you may not even feel close to ready. Many new moms (and new dads!) face a decreased sex drive after welcoming a baby into their homes. Blame lack of sleep, the pressure of new childcare responsibilities, and possibly higher anxiety. Chelsea helps us understand the shared experiences that many moms are having in the bedroom and gives us practical tips on how to get our emotional and physical needs met in nonconventional ways.Get access to Chelsea's Back in the Sack freebie:https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5e9b85acdeb00300266fe1e0Learn more about Chelsea: https://www.postpartumtogether.com/https://www.instagram.com/postpartumtogether/***Find us on Instagram, and let's become mom friends! We feel and share all the feels. ***Thank you so much for listening to Mom After Hours! If you know a mom in need of hearing some real talk when it comes to the trials and tribulations of motherhood, please share this episode with her! ***You can ask us questions by emailing us at hello@momafterhours.com. We love audio feedback too! Record your voice via voice memo in your smartphone, and send it on over.

Several years ago, Celeste Yvonne, a mom and writer, dropped out of the “mommy needs wine” club to begin her sober-living journey.  In the process, she accidentally became a spokeswoman for sober moms everywhere. Celeste's honesty, wit, and unfiltered view on sobriety have landed her in the Huffington Post, US Weekly, Washington Post, and The Today Show.In this episode, Celeste talks with Emily and Brandi about her journey to living an alcohol-free life, the importance of listening to your body, and how to stay sober in an alcohol-infused world. If you are sober-curious or interested in beginning your sober-living journey,  you won't want to miss this. You can find Celeste Yvonne supporting fellow moms and sharing her story at:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theultimatemomchallenge/Website: http://www.theultimatemomchallenge.comRESOURCES:Books: We Are the Luckiest , This Naked Mind, and Quit Like a WomanWebsite: www.alcoholexperiment.com***Connect with us on Instagram! You’ll see what we REALLY look like without visits to the salon and gym, or free-time away from our children #quarantinelife***Thank you so much for listening to Mom After Hours! If you know a mom nose-deep in the mommy wine culture, send her hugs, and please share this episode with her! ***You can ask us questions by emailing us at hello@momafterhours.com. We love audio feedback too! Record your voice via voice memo in your smartphone, and send it on over.

Joanne Jarrett, a family physician, turned stay-at-home mom, writer, and cozy clothes designer, talks about how motherhood reinvented her career. In this episode, she shares her journey and talks about the importance of staying creative and inspired as a mom.We're guilty of feeling pigeon-holed by societal norms and expectations. That's why Joanne's zest for life is so infectious. She proactively left a highly esteemed and highly exhausting career in family medicine to take care of her children. Then, as a stay-at-home mom, she launched multiple side hustles to keep her creativity alive. After talking to Joanne, we're considering what creative outlets we can find to blend in with our mom and work lives. You can find Joanne on social media, her podcast (where she shares funny, embarrassing, humbling stories to make you feel less alone in your imperfections), and shortly in stores!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivegotdishues/Podcast: http://fancyfreepodcast.com/Shoppe: https://shelfieshoppe.com/Brandi's guest spot on the Fancy Free podcast where she dished about her most embarrassing moments: http://fancyfreepodcast.com/31-brandi-wiatrak-on-how-to-thrill-the-it-guys/***Connect with us on Instagram! You'll see the good, the bad, and the straight-up ugly as we share what #realmomlife is like for us in Chicago and Boston.***Thank you so much for listening to Mom After Hours! If you know a mom in need of hearing some real talk when it comes to the trials and tribulations of motherhood, please share this episode with her! ***You can ask us questions by emailing us at hello@momafterhours.com. We love audio feedback too! Record your voice via voice memo in your smartphone, and send it on over.

Emily and Brandi take time out of their "busy" quarantined lives to laugh about the crazy shit we're all going through, share some corny AF jokes, as well a tip or two to keep you semi-sane while being trapped indoors with your loud ass kids. UNCUT and EDITED so don't judge us on all the ummms.....interruptions...and Brandi's lame ass jokes.  Mmmmmkkkkk. Love ya'll! ***Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram! You’ll see us being our “good-enough” mom selves for real – the messy houses,obnoxious children, and moments of peace (when we're hiding in the bathroom, of course).***Thank you so much for listening to Mom After Hours. We know you are one busy mama and have many listening options, so it means a lot to us that you are here. If this episode hit home, please share it with a mom friend so we can all navigate the beautiful chaos of motherhood together.***You can ask us questions by emailing us at hello@momafterhours.com. We love audio feedback too! Let your voice be heard! Record your voice via voice memo in your smartphone, and send it on over.

Brandi and Emily talk about what they DON'T do with their kids, at home, and in their lives. In this episode, they talk about the importance of identifying your personal and family values and then prioritizing what they do, what they ask for help with, and what they opt-out of altogether.As moms, we focus a lot on what other moms are doing when it comes to raising their kids, maintaining their household, and managing their work lives. Well, how about what they're NOT doing to make it all work? We know that it's impossible to do-it-all, so we have to be clear on what we want to do, what we're good at, and what we can let go of. Brandi and Emily cover getting help around the house, letting the laundry pile up, throwing together prepared meals, and being terrible at arts and crafts.***Connect with us on Instagram! You'll see the good, the bad, and the straight-up ugly as we share what #realmomlife is like for us in Chicago and Boston.***Thank you so much for listening to Mom After Hours! If you know a mom in need of hearing some real talk when it comes to the trials and tribulations of motherhood, please share this episode with her! ***You can ask us questions by emailing us at hello@momafterhours.com. We love audio feedback too! Record your voice via voice memo in your smartphone, and send it on over.

Allyson Pitre, M.A., LPC, The Mommy Therapist, talks about isolation and loneliness in motherhood. In this episode, she shares warning signs on when spending too much time alone may be a problem and advice on how to overcome our fears and build relationships and community with other moms.As new moms, we both struggled with isolation, loneliness, and postpartum depression or anxiety. And we wish we had heard some of Allyson's advice in those early months of being a new mom. But even now that we're out of the newborn months and into the toddler years, we were able to see opportunities of how we could work on strengthening friendships with mom and non-mom friends.RESOURCES:Allyson brings a passion for people coupled with a longtime desire to help them find peace in the midst of turmoil, trauma, or dysfunction. You can find her at https://themommytherapist.home.blog/and https://www.instagram.com/the_mommy_therapist/***Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram! You'll see the good, the bad, and the straight-up ugly as we share what #realmomlife is like for us in Chicago and Boston.***Thank you so much for listening to Mom After Hours! If you know a mom in need of hearing some real talk when it comes to the trials and tribulations of motherhood, please share this episode with her! ***You can ask us questions by emailing us at hello@momafterhours.com. We love audio feedback too! Record your voice via voice memo in your smartphone, and send it on over.

Juggling motherhood, household management and career demands is no easy feat. And while our pre-mom selves thought it might be easy to compartmentalize these roles and responsibilities, that hasn't been the reality.A few years into our motherhood journeys, we've found that keeping everything afloat requires clarity about our values, creativity, resetting expectations and letting ourselves off the hook.MENTIONED:The Joy of Missing Out: Live More by Doing Less***Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram! You'll see us being our "good-enough" mom selves for real - the messy houses, rabid children, and moments of peace (when the kids are sleeping, of course).***Thank you so much for listening to Mom After Hours. We know you are one busy mama and have many listening options, so it means a lot to us that you are here. If this episode hit home, please share it with a mom friend so we can all navigate the beautiful chaos of motherhood together.***You can ask us questions by emailing us at hello@momafterhours.com. We love audio feedback too! Let your voice be heard! Record your voice via voice memo in your smartphone, and send it on over.

How do you treat your postpartum body? If you're like us, it's complicated. Sometimes, we're in awe and totally love and respect our bodies for everything they've done. And other times, we're beating up on ourselves and not being very nice, to be honest. On today's show, we unpack our feelings of ambivalence and talk about how we want to improve our relationship with our bodies. Mentioned: You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an AwesomeBringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting***Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram! You'll see us momming for real - the messy houses, rabid children, and moments of peace (when the kids are sleeping, of course).***Thank you so much for listening to Mom After Hours. We know you are one busy mama and have many listening options, so it means a lot to us that you are here. If this episode hit home, please share it with a mom friend so we can all navigate the beautiful chaos of motherhood together.***You can ask us questions by emailing us at hello@momafterhours.com. We love audio feedback too! Let your voice be heard! Record your voice via voice memo in your smartphone, and send it on over.

Motherhood is hard, yo. We love our children dearly, but sometimes we can resent the responsibilities of our role as a mom. In this episode, we talk about the push and pull of motherhood, overcoming the guilt moms experience when we just want to be left alone, and why it's so damn important moms set aside time for themselves.***Mamas, connect with us on Facebook and Instagram! You'll see us momming for real - the messy houses, rabid children and moments of peace (when the kids are sleeping, of course).***Thank you so much for listening to Mom After Hours. We know you are one busy mama and have many listening options, so it means a lot to us that you are here. If this episode hit home, please share it with a mom friend so we can all navigate the beautiful chaos of motherhood together.***You can ask us questions by emailing us at hello@momafterhours.com. We love audio feedback too! Let your voice be heard, record your voice via voice memo in your smartphone and send it on over, mama.

Today's episode reveals the realities of mom rage. If you're a mom and you experience instances of overwhelming feelings of frustration and anger that lead to fits of rage, you're not alone. We share our experiences with mom rage, our triggers and how we're dealing with it today.***Mamas, connect with us on Facebook and Instagram! You'll see us momming for real - the messy houses, rabid children and moments of peace (when the kids are sleeping, of course).***Thank you so much for listening to Mom After Hours. We know you are one busy mama and have many listening options, so it means a lot to us that you are here. If this episode hit home, please share it with a mom friend so we can all navigate the beautiful chaos of motherhood together.***You can ask us questions by emailing us at hello@momafterhours.com. We love audio feedback too! Let your voice be heard, record your voice via voice memo in your smartphone and send it on over, mama.

Here on Mom After Hours, we talk about it ALL: uncertainty about motherhood, sex struggles after kids, and figuring out whether or not climbing the corporate ladder is or isn't for you.We're two 30-something moms here to discuss taboo topics with each other, and sometimes guests, to provoke the conversations that modern moms want and need to have.Think of us as the girlfriends you want to get together with, but life happens, and sometimes it's easier to listen to a podcast than it is to schedule a coffee date. ⁣⁣⁣Moms, get ready for lots of laughs, encouragement, and honest conversations! Subscribe to receive fresh, raw, and real episodes every other Thursday starting January 16, 2020.FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/momafterhourspodcast