Mom School

Tracy Litt is a Mother, Rapid Transformational Therapist, Certified Mindset Coach and Founder of The Litt Factor. Kristen fell in love with Tracy and tracked her down after reading her book "Worthy Human", only to become more deeply obsessed with her after this conversation. Kristen and Tracy discuss self-worth and how our belief of our own deserving and wholeness is at the root of all of our problems. Tracy chronicles step by step how to take your power back, meaning/meaninglessness & the mind, the art of change, reprogramming your nervous system and how to take radical personal responsibility in motherhood and beyond. They discuss guilt, fear, how women have been duped by society and Tracy's piece on "expander parenting" (via Forbes linked below) which empowers mothers to embody the truest, strongest and most fulfilled version of themselves. Tracy's passion for personal development infuses everything she does and her positive energy is powerful and contagious - Enjoy! Tracy Litt Links: The Litt Factor TEDxtalk on Fear Forbes Article, Expander Parenting

Chelsea Bodie is one half of the wildly popular @MamaPsychologists. She and her best friend Caitlin started sharing resources with moms after they each experienced their own struggles in early motherhood. The two registered psychologists now work to help mothers everywhere transform from "exhausted and angry to calm and empowered" by sharing their wisdom and encouragement with nearly half a million fellow moms on social media. Kristen and Chelsea discuss the most common issues moms are facing today and how to combat them. They dive deep into burnout, anxiety, anger, rage, values, boundaries and practical ways to care for your mental health while you're caring for littles. Chelsea's expertise and calm demeanor assures us that all of our emotions are valid, there are many ways to be a good mom and none of us is alone. You can find more information on The Mama Psychologists and purchase their book Not Your Mother's Postpartum Book: Normalizing Post-Baby Mental Health Struggles, Navigating #MOMLife, and Finding Strength Amid the Chaos here: https://www.mamapsychologists.ca/

This episode of Mom School, originally recorded in 2021, is dedicated to Black Maternal Mental Health Week featuring guest Kay Matthews. Kay delivered her daughter stillborn in 2013 after being rushed to the hospital at 9 months pregnant. She was given no answers and no resources to cope with her trauma post delivery. She candidly shares her personal birth story with the hope of continuing to break down cultural barriers in maternal mental health. Kay has spent the years since advocating for women through The Shades of Blue Project. Learn more at: https://blackmamasmatter.org/2023-black-maternal-health-week/

Parenting is both the most rewarding and difficult work we will ever do. Myla Leinweber, M. Ed, B. Ed, PCI Certified Parent Coach, Founder of The Joyful Parenting Collective and mother of two is passionately dedicated to teaching parents how to extract more joy from our experience. From gentling our expectations, living in the "both/and" space, concepts and frameworks like 'needs boxes' and 'marble jars' for emotional & nervous system regulation to the exact move to take when all hell is breaking loose. Kristen and Myla discuss the beauty and importance of co-regulation, 'spicy kids' and how to call on the 'best parenting part of yourself' during those really hard moments. Myla candidly shares the one mistake she made during a melt-down, the detriment to being a 'perfect parent' and the benefits to not getting it right all the time. Myla is a treasure trove of information delivered in the most non-judgmental, comforting way. Her tone and approach give parents more hope, more peace and fittingly, more joy. You can connect with her at the links below and be sure to rate and subscribe to Mom School wherever you get your podcasts! Myla Leinweber Website Myla Leinweber Instagram

Rachel Pally: Fashion Designer and Mother. If you've ever dreamt of starting your own fashion label, Mom School's chat with Rachel Pally is a must listen. Right out of college Rachel founded her namesake brand @rachelpally and soon found her designs splashed all over the 'Best Dressed' lists of the most noted style magazines. While managing her skyrocketing business she and her husband also welcomed their two sons Tao and Luca. Our chat is a candid exploration of new motherhood as a passionate designer and entrepreneur - we talk in depth about her entrepreneur journey, balancing new motherhood, guilt, privilege, emotional labor and needing more than what's under your roof to fulfill you as a woman. Rachel is honest, blunt, fiercely ambitious and unapologetically herself. Thank you @rachelpally - Listen with link in bio! Rachel Pally Collection SHOP: Ethical & Feminine. Made in LA, (recorded in late 2020.)

'The Medicated Mommy' aka Jen Schwartz is the CEO and Founder of Motherhood Understood, a community organization dedicated to shining light on the darkest areas of motherhood and providing women with the education and support needed to heal from Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs). In this episode, Jen shares her first hand account of crippling PPD and the steps she took to become whole again. If you are a PMAD sufferer, survivor or expecting and looking to put guardrails in place to protect your mental health postpartum, her story is one of hope, strength and the remarkable good that can come on the other side of depression. Motherhood Understood:  https://www.motherhood-understood.com Maternal Mental Health Minutes:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3RhSxNGKnJmQ-VtHcfK7Lg?view_as=subscriber Become a Patreon of Motherhood Understood:  https://www.patreon.com/motherhoodunderstood The Motherhood Understood Postpartum Planning Guide:  https://www.motherhood-understood.com/postpartum-planning/p/the-motherhood-understood-postpartum-planning-guide Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/motherhoodunderstood/   Jen Schwartz Bio: Jen Schwartz, also known as “the medicated mommy,” is the founder and CEO of Motherhood Understood, a platform, community, and story-sharing hub for women affected by pregnancy and postpartum mental health issues that she created after surviving postpartum depression and anxiety with the birth of her son, and realizing just how many mothers suffer in silence like she did. She built Motherhood Understood to provide women and their families with education, resources, connection, and support so that no mother has to experience a mental health illness in isolation and all mothers get the help they need to feel well and thrive in motherhood. Jen is a professional speaker, writer, moderator, consultant, spokesperson, and thought-leader committed to shining the light on the darkest of places, where maternal mental health taboos have been hiding out, trying to make mothers believe they are not enough and all alone. In addition to running Motherhood Understood, a highly-engaged community of over 85,000 women, Jen recently launched Maternal Mental Health in Minutes, an educational video library breaking down pregnancy and postpartum mental health illnesses and their treatments, and her work and expert commentary can be found all over the mommy blogosphere and on popular websites such as Forbes, Healthline, The Mighty, Romper, Motherly, The Bump, Happiest Baby, and more. 

Only rarely do you find a woman who is so open and honest about their struggles in an effort to make it easier for the next woman. Jana and her husband Mike have been through their fair share of ups and downs, and unlike those of us who want to suffocate their husband with a pillow while they sleep but then post a gushy lovey #husbandgoals! Instagram the next morning - Jana and Mike keep it REAL. I read Jana and Mike’s book The Good Fight and felt like I had been on a cleansing couple’s therapy retreat. In one of the first pages Jana mentions that when she first met Mike she wondered what in the world they would ever fight about - they were so in love and life was perfect. I was taken back to when I first met my husband... I had that very same thought ️... HA! What a naive little twit I was. As any of us in a marriage or any partnership know - there is a honeymoon phase and then reality sets in. Life happens. Shit goes down and stress levels go up. To maintain a marriage you have to work at it every single day. There are good days and there are bad days. There are days when every little thing makes you want to slap the person upside the head and there are days where you’re overflowing with gratitude that God led you to this person - and that is NORMAL. Before I got married I thought a lot about what marriage MEANS. Coming from a broken home I even listened to The Meaning of Marriage audiobook after I got engaged to make sure I understood exactly what I was getting into here (but then turned it off when the guy said “a wife should serve her husband” or some shit like that I was like nah we ain’t about that life) But my point is — I think a lot of people get married for the wrong reasons and without fully knowing what they’re committing to. They want to check a box, make their parents happy, align with societal expectations or get a VISA a la @90dayfiance - we make a vow for better or for worse - but half of our population doesn’t make it until death do us part. Jana says people are so quick to “eject” from a relationship these days, but unless you own your part in the trouble, then your next relationship will be the same story - just with a different cast of characters. AIN'T THAT THE TRUTH. This isn’t to say if you split ✂️ it’s wrong or you’ve failed - not at all - I think there are many cases where peacing out is the move, I just also think we live in a grass is greener / shiny object chasing society and taking a good look in the mirror and a healthy dose of empathy can do any couple good. We all read tabloids and think and judge and create ill informed-opinions, and that sucks for people in the spotlight (who are human beings... with feelings...FYI) but for the record - it is admirable and refreshing that after everything this couple has suffered through, they are CHOOSING to day in and day out work on themselves, learn about their partner, better their relationship and fighting The Good Fight.

Meredith Masony is the founder of the wildly popular mommy blog "That's Inappropriate". The Mom of 3 is an unfiltered, ridiculously hilarious YouTube/social media star who just released a new book, "Ask Me What's for Dinner One More Time." I NEVER read comedy books - I am strictly a self-help, murder-mystery person, but I flew through this book so damn fast. Meredith had me in stitches laughing (and then I cried towards the end and woke my son up from his nap just to hug him - so, clearly this book is powerful). During our chat we talk about mommy martyrdom, pandemic parenting, the cancer scare that changed her perspective on just about everything, marriage and not giving two fugs what anyone thinks about how you do you. Check Meredith out on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and go get her book, hide from your kids, pour a glass of whatever you want and laugh your ass off.

Liz Vaccariello is the current Editor in Chief of Real Simple and former EiC of Parents Magazine. I met Liz while shooting an episode of People Magazine's show People Now and quickly realized this woman was a force to be reckoned with. During our episode she shares how she climbed the ranks in her career eventually landing in the top seat all while raising identical twin girls. She opens up about her struggles, the trade-offs and the mindset/mental shifts she needed to make in order to succeed. Liz's stance on government mandated childcare and her prophecy for working families post-pandemic is a must-listen. Liz is grounded, honest and unapologetic about her journey. She is the mentor mama we all need as she is living proof that a woman can be an incredible mother and wife while being a badass career woman.

Molly Sims is a supermodel, actress, wife and mother to 3. During this episode of Mom School she chronicles her unconventional route to motherhood: IVF, egg freezing, thyroid cancer scare, severe postpartum anxiety, struggles breastfeeding and the recent loss of her beloved mother. Molly is candid, open, honest, real and says the things many of us think but are hesitant to share. Molly is relaunching her website https://www.mollysims.com/ and has a new show and podcast releasing soon. She is also our very favorite Instagram follow @ https://www.instagram.com/mollybsims/

Kay Matthews, founder of The Shades of Blue Project, works tirelessly to break down cultural barriers when it comes to maternal mental health. After welcoming her daughter stillborn she was offered little to no mental health support and was told by some in her community that because she did not have a live baby, she could not be suffering from postpartum depression (how's that for ridiculous?) Kay has since reflected on how her race played a role in the treatment she received in the hospital and has vowed to help other women who have experienced infant loss. During this episode she shares details of her pregnancy, the insane cost of an ultrasound out of pocket (because we are one of the only developed countries in the world without Universal Healthcare), details of her traumatic delivery and the postpartum period and info about the organization she has created to support mothers. You can find the awesome Kay Matthews and support The Shades of Blue Project here: https://shadesofblueproject.org/index.html

Arianna Bradford is the founder of Not Your Average Mom Project and the author of the awesome book Shame On You: Big Truths from a Bad Mom. She is one of the most open, honest, real and raw mothers you can come across. Anything you may have thought and hesitated to admit when it comes to parenthood she has said and shared with the world. During their convo Kristen and Arianna discuss the BS that is mom guilt, wanting more than motherhood, boundaries, racism, selfishness, isolation, comparison and more. Arianna's candor and insight make this conversation fly by and leaves you knowing whether or not you are an average mom ;-) Read her awesome book here: https://www.amazon.com/Shame-You-Big-Truths-Bad/dp/0578652714

Colin has loved Elsa from Frozen since he was 3 years old. So when Frozen II came out you can imagine how pumped he was to go to the theatre. A true Frozen fan, he wanted to dress the part and wear his Queen Elsa dress, but he began to worry about what the other kids would say. This is where his Dad came in, and this is why Scott’s been featured on Mom School's special Father's Day episode. Scott went online and ordered the largest Elsa dress he could find, and off they went to the cinema together. The video of the two of them has since gone viral, but this conversation is so much more than a sweet social media post. I believe that one of the most crucial responsibilities we have as parents is to embrace and protect our children's authentic self. Scott and I talk about the nonsense of gender stereotypes. We talk about how to handle critical and judgmental family members who are acting out of their own fear and cultural conditioning. If you are one of those fearful family members - We talk about WHY these things make people uncomfortable, what that says about you and the need to reframe your perspective. And, maybe most importantly, Scott mentions the dangers of repressing your child's true self, and the joy and power that come from embracing your baby just as they are. For a father to challenge his own fear, go against his deep rooted conditioning and confront his own uncomfortability (and his own mother!) in order to protect his son is the epitome of an excellent parent. I am so proud of this conversation and I hope you guys enjoy it.

“I’m surprised you didn’t get blueberries" - The text @everodsky received from her husband that left her on the side of the road in tears. Rodsky is a Harvard trained attorney who after welcoming her first baby was (like many of us) struggling to juggle it all. After taking "time off" to focus on motherhood, she began feeling like a shell of her former self. She had also become the “she-fault” parent for nearly everything in her household. Exhausted and overwhelmed, she put her organizational management expertise to use and crafted a solution - Fair Play. If you have ever found yourself annoyed while doing the dishes as you hear the whack of a golf club echoing from the TV, or bickering about who will take out the garbage - Or if one too many times you've helped a stray sock find its home in the hamper that is literally 3 inches away - You must listen to this episode. It does not matter if you are a full-time stay at home mom or if you work outside of the home - this book will revolutionize your life. Big statement for a big truth. Subscribe, rate and review. ENJOY!

Hilaria Baldwin stops by Mom School to talk life, love, loss and a whole lot more. If you've ever checked out her Instagram you may be asking yourself, 'How in the hell does this woman look like that with so many babies?' 'What do you feed 4 (mostly) vegetarian kids?' and 'How do you stay so Namaste with all these humans and dogs??' So, I asked her. The fitness expert and co-host of fellow parenting podcast Mom Brain shares what makes her get her butt into her bathroom at 9:30PM to workout after a long day, how she does not allow other people's judgments and opinions affect her and how she keeps perspective and holds gratitude amidst the chaos. From pregnancy during a pandemic to marriage advice to her thoughts on having more babies, Hilaria is authentic, unapologetic and inspiring.

In the first episode of Mom School former People Magazine Correspondent, Kristen Kelly chats with Dr. Ashurina Ream. Dr. Ream, who goes by @psychedmommy on Instagram is a clinical psychologist specializing in perinatal mental health who has amassed over 100k followers for her refreshingly relatable, honest and insightful content. Episode 1 covers: What a 'good mom' ACTUALLY is. How to cope with identity loss in motherhood Boundaries - What they are, why they're crucial and how to set them The mommy comparison trap and how to end it for good Keeping Mommy in Mind - Everything you need to know about your mental health as a mom. Be sure to rate and review this episode and subscribe to Mom School for future content. Follow Kristen on Instagram @kristenckelly for updates and more,

Mom School is hosted by former People Magazine Correspondent, Kristen Kelly. After a surprise pregnancy turned this passionate entertainment news journalist into a depressed and overwhelmed stay at home Mom, she became determined to break through the many roadblocks new mothers face. From mental health to family leave, partnership equity to mom-guilt, this series interviews renowned authors, psychiatrists, activists, actors & SAHMs all with the goal of challenging the status quo behind modern day motherhood. Mom School is for all of the women who dare to rethink what they've been taught a "good mom" looks like - We believe that to be a "good mom," you must be a fulfilled woman. Our community teaches themselves how to unapologetically embody their most authentic self with the ultimate goal their children one day do the same. Come join our village.