The Momversation Podcast

In this mini-episode, Leah and Melissa announce their plans to take a break from podcast production for the month of October, and explore the benefits of taking time and space away from even the most exciting and enjoyable projects.The Book Blurb in this episode comes from Casper Ter Kuile's book, The Power of Ritual: Turning Everyday Activities into Soulful Practices.  For more on Ter Kuile, visit his website.  To listen to his podcast, Harry Potter and the Sacred Text, visit www.harrypottersacredtext.com.One other noteworthy mention is this blog post about what to do when you're feeling “Creatively Flat and Uninspired.”

In this episode, Leah and Melissa welcome physical therapist and pelvic health expert, Dr. Kamaria Washington to the podcast.  Dr. Washington begins by telling about her educational background and her love of travel, which she uses as a means for practicing self-care and maintaining a sense of identity beyond her career.  She then shares her wealth of knowledge regarding pelvic health and physical therapy, specifically as it pertains to pregnant or postpartum moms.  Dr. Washington is also an advocate for Black mothers and discusses the many factors that impact the United States' despicably high maternal mortality rate among Black mothers.The Book Blurb in this episode is from Kathy Wang's recent novel, Imposter Syndrome.  For more about this author and her work, visit www.bykathywang.com.A few other noteworthy mentions include the MOMMIES Act (Maximizing Outcomes for Moms through Medicaid Improvement and Enhancement of Service Act), spearheaded by Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley and Senator Cory Booker, and this information from the CDC about reproductive health and maternal mortality.  Make sure to follow Dr. Washington on Instagram to see all of her incredible content on pelvic health and physical therapy.If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and follow us on Instagram!

Warning: This episode contains conversation about eating disorders.  We recommend skipping this episode if such content is likely to be problematic for a listener's mental or physical health.In this episode, Leah and Melissa tackle an issue that many women (and people of every gender) face, including moms: body image. The way we're trained to view our bodies as young people translates into adulthood, and often stems from the way we heard other women talking about their bodies. Both Moms share their individual experiences, anxieties, relationships with their appearances, the messages they received as adolescent girls, and how their own body image has changed after having children.The Book Blurb in this episode is from Love Warrior by Glennon Doyle.  For more about Doyle's work, visit her Simon and Schuster page.One other noteworthy mention is previous Momversation Podcast episode, Thriving in the 4th Trimester: How Postpartum Doulas Support New Moms with Ali Batwin.

In this episode, The Moms cover a topic that's inevitable when raising kids, regardless of our attempts to negate it: chaos. We've all experienced it. Whether it's the chaos on the playroom floor after a day at home, the chaos of packing, planning, supervising, and recovering from an adventurous outing with kids, or our own internal chaos, when it comes to motherhood, chaos is a given. This particular Momversation is all about when to lean into chaos, when to manage it, and how these Moms' responses to chaotic environments or emotions differs from their husbands' responses.The Book Blurb in this episode comes from book six of the timeless Young Adult fantasy series, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling.  One noteworthy mention is an episode of Glennon Doyle's podcast, We Can Do Hard Things, on Overwhelm.

In this episode, the hosts get together for a lighthearted chat about friendships.  Making friends and maintaining friendships can be so challenging as an adult, especially after the massive identity shift that comes with becoming a mother.  Mom friends, the changing tides of friendships with those who knew us pre-motherhood, the “Mom coaches” in our lives, and the friends who share similar hobbies all come up as points of discussion in this episode.  The Book Blurb in this episode is a Yung Pueblo poem called “an irreplaceable friend is someone who.”  For more on the poet, visit his website or Instagram account.A few noteworthy mentions include previous Momversation Podcast episodes, Evelyn and Jourdy: Birth and Postpartum Stories from Laura LaBeau, Sacred Spaces: Observing and Attending Birth with Tiana Johnson, and Just for the Fun of It: Considering the Role of Leisure in Parenting, Relationships, and Womanhood.If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and follow us on Instagram!

In this episode, the Moms welcome Lauren Raymond, mother of two and lifelong educator, to speak about joy in parenthood.  Though children feel joy deeply, freely, and often, it's an emotion that many adults forget to keep in touch with.  Lauren suggests that the best way to practice joy daily is to consider the patterns in our lives that hinder joy, and then to shift those patterns to intentionally make space for joyful experiences with our families.  Dance parties, hugs and snuggles, or friendly competition among siblings can all be ways to ignite joy in our homes.The Book Blurb in this episode, "Remembering Childhood Joys," was written by  Madisyn Taylor.Be sure to check out Lauren's business, Daily Joy as well as her Instagram account and Facebook group.

In this episode, The Momversation Podcast's own co-host, Melissa Statler, shares her second birth story.   After several days of prodromal labor, a six mile walk with her mother-in-law, and one round of golf for her husband, Melissa decided it was officially time to head to the hospital, where she was met with doubt from the nursing staff.  Thankfully, she was admitted, but struggled through her labor as fear took over and a messy, primal, far-from-bougey event ensued with her midwife walking in just in time to catch the baby as he arrived.  Melissa notes how very different her two birth experiences were, and how her second delivery shaped her perspective on the diversity of motherhood experiences. The Book Blurb in this episode, "Birth is Not Bougey" is from an Instagram caption by Karen Welton.  To view the mentioned post, click here.One other noteworthy mention includes Melissa's previous birth story, Claire Leanne: Birth Preparation and Labor Stories with Melissa Statler.If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and follow us on Instagram!

In this episode, Leah and Melissa are joined by Texas mother of ten, Laura Hernandez.  Like many mothers, Laura was frequently finding herself in need of simpler household management strategies.  After discovering many ways to create a more structured and peaceful home, Laura decided to share her expertise with others.  Thus, she created Mama Systems, a customized coaching service for moms in need of help creating routines and expectations within their families and their homes.  Laura's description of her own family's routines and rhythms puts systems into a new perspective, including schedules, emotional regulation, household duties, spatial organization, and managing the needs of children with disabilities. The Book Blurb in this episode comes from Thinking in Systems by environmental scientist, Donella H. Meadows.  For more on this author, visit The Donella Meadows Project.If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and follow us on Instagram!

In this episode, expert guest, Kimberly Harris, joins the Moms to share about her unique career: potty training consultant.  Experience in early childhood education, public school teaching, and homeschooling/mothering seven children led Kimberly to consider the needs of parents and how she could help meet that need by supporting both children and parents.  Kimberly serves parents of potty training children by providing individualized support to better facilitate the needs of each family and each child.  Hers is the voice of expertise for parents navigating a difficult developmental stage in their children's lives. The Book Blurb in this episode is from Kimberly's own children's book, Where's the Potty?   To find more of Kimberly's books and other merchandise, visit her website.If you have the means, The Momversation Podcast would like to encourage listeners to contribute to the Potty People Stop's campaign to launch a 24-hour potty training helpline.  This is a service that will not only provide jobs for moms in need of flexible employment, but will provide additional support for parents who are potty training their kiddos.  To help out with this launch, click here.

In this episode, Melissa and Leah break down the importance of unstructured play.  Play is, of course, essential for our children, but it's easy to overlook as a parent.  Here, the Moms unpack elements of open-ended play such as simplistic toys, the opportunities for imagination and creativity, and the possibilities for growth and independence.The Book Blurb in this episode is a poem by The Momversation Podcast co-host, Melissa Statler, titled, "The Montessori Mom Club."  For more of Melissa's writing, visit her website.A few other noteworthy mentions include The Montessori Toddler, a book which Melissa mentions in the episode, and Untamed, a book which Leah mentions in the episode.  Additionally, here is a comparison of Montessori vs. Waldorf schooling and childrearing.  Last, feel free to view these links to the toys discussed in this episode: Grimm's Rainbow StackersPlay Silks from Sarah's SilksMagnatilesIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and follow us on Instagram!

In this episode, the Moms dig deep into an issue that mothers have faced for decades: the mental load.  If you're a mom, you know exactly what we mean.  The constant juggling of tasks, lists, requirements, details, inventories, and schedules for an entire household falls disproportionately on the shoulders of moms, but shouldn't dads be asked to carry some of that weight?  Though addressing this particular topic can sometimes devolve into an opportunity to complain about husbands, listeners will be delighted to hear Melissa and Leah take a much more productive approach to managing the mental load by asking partners to collaborate.The Book Blurb in this episode is from Fair Play: A Game-Changing Solution for When You Have Too Much to Do (and More Life to Live) by Eve Rodsky.  For more on the author and her Fair Play products, visit everodsky.com.A few other noteworthy mentions include The Fair Play Deck of cards for dividing up household responsibilities, Eve Rodsky's episode on the Mimosas with Moms podcast, the Overwhelm episode of Glennon Doyle's new podcast, We Can Do Hard Things, and a Harper's Bazaar article on emotional labor, Women Aren't Nags -- We're Just Fed Up.

In this episode, Leah and Melissa unpack the elements of summer that impact mothers: the nostalgia that comes with extended daylight hours, playing outside, swimming lessons (and water safety!), gardening, and the mental load of managing everyone's busy schedules.  Just like the holidays, summer brings with it heaps of fun, magic, and joy, coupled with exhaustion.The Book Blurb in this episode is Shel Silverstein poem, 'It's Hot!' from A Light in the Attic.  For more about this poet, visit www.shelsilverstein.com.A few other noteworthy mentions include Avatar: The Last Airbender, a shared favorite children's television show of both Moms, and Stōk Cold Brew Coffee.

In this episode, Leah is joined by returning guest, Heidi Lindeman.  After speaking on a previous Momversation Podcast episode, Answering the Call: Becoming a Single Mom by Choice with Heidi Lindeman about her journey to become a single mother by choice, Heidi has a birth story to share!  Determined to have her baby on a very specific date, Heidi struggled to accept that she was truly in labor when it started several days before her due date.  Despite her internal denial of being in labor, Heidi surrounded herself with community: a doula, midwives, and her mother, who all supported her in a beautiful, unmedicated birth in a Denver birth center.The Book Blurb in this episode is from The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy: Or Everything Your Doctor Won't Tell You by Vicki Iovine.  For more on this author, visit her Simon and Schuster  author page.

In this episode, Melissa and Leah converse, not via the internet, but in the same closet!  The Moms discuss the major differences between their first and second postpartum experiences, and Melissa updates the listeners on her new life as the mother of two.  Topics such as balancing roles as postpartum mom and toddler mom, navigating changing marital relationships, birth recovery, and more are covered in this laid back conversation.The Book Blurb in this episode is William Shakespeare's 27th Sonnet.  For more on The Bard and his many poems and plays, visit this Britannica page.A few other noteworthy mentions include previous Momversation Podcast episodes and guests, Evelyn and Jourdy: Birth and Postpartum Stories with Laura LaBeau, Fed is Best: Making the Decision to Formula Feed with Brittany Freeman, and To Work or Not to Work: One Mom's Perspective on the Best (and Worst) of Both Worlds with Anika Pepper.  Leah also references the work of Katie Hinde, a researcher who studies breastmilk composition. 

In this episode, Melissa returns (with Baby Carter!) from her maternity leave for a conversation about self-care: what it looks like for moms, why it can be hard to make time for self-care, and how we can simplify what it means to care for ourselves.  The two Moms break down self-care into several categories, and explore how this approach can help parents recognize all that they are already doing to practice self-care.  Both consider a few things that they are doing to take care of themselves, such as paying someone to help with housework, going to therapy, drinking more water, doing something creative, and making time to socialize with other adults.  It turns out, self-care might just be a little more within reach than it seems!    The Book Blurb in this episode is a poem titled “The Guest House” by Jalaluddin Rumi.  To read more about this famous Persian poet, visit this Britannica page.A few other noteworthy mentions include Kristi Yeh's book, Self-Care 101: Self-Care Inspiration for Busy Parents, her blog, Parent Self-Care, and her Instagram account, @parentselfcare.  Leah also mentions two apps that have helped her be intentional about self-care: the Sanvello app, and the Sparkle app.  Also, one of both Moms' favorite books, Untamed by Glennon Doyle, Armchair Expert episode with Laurie Santos, and previous Momversation Podcast episode, "EP46: Keeping it Real: Making the Most of Postpartum with New Mom Coach Chelsea Skaggs" Keeping It Real: Making the Most of Postpartum with New Mom Coach Chelsea Skaggs.  

In this episode, Leah speaks with mental health professional and PhD candidate, Sydney Cople.  Sydney is here to talk about all things play therapy.  Though our children have complex minds, emotional needs, and a desire to understand the world around them, sitting down with a therapist to process doesn't work for our youngest members of society.  Instead, children (and adults!) can benefit from playing.  Yes, playing.  Sydney discusses everything from the minute details of how a play therapy space is organized, to the many reasons a caregiver might elect to send their child to a play therapist.  The bottom line?  Allowing our children to play can have massive benefits for their social skills, mental health, and attachment to family members.  To find a certified play therapist near you, check out the Association for Play Therapy directory!  The Book Blurb in this episode is from Year of Yes, a memoir by Shonda Rhimes.  To learn more about Rhimes and her work, visit shondaland.com.

In this episode, Leah is joined by the podcast's first mother of twins, Danica Ramgoolam.  Several years ago, when met with difficulty conceiving children, Danica and her husband Arvin turned to science for help.  Here, Danica tells her story of IVF, including her initial urge to have babies, the multitude of daily shots required for egg retrieval and early pregnancy, and the smooth C-section that marked her twin daughters' entrance into the world.  Danica also gives us a glimpse into the life of a twin mom: tandem breastfeeding, the co-sleeping sandwich, double the cuteness, and double the work!  The Book Blurb in this episode is an Emily Dickinson poem titled, “Hope is the Thing with Feathers.”  You can find more of this 19th Century poet's work on the Emily Dickinson Museum website.A few other noteworthy mentions include the Ramgoolam's small business, Rumors Coffee and Tea House/Townie Books, Danica's recommendation for twin moms who breastfeed called the Twin Z Pillow, an online course from Positive Parenting Solutions, and Rocky Mountain Fertility Center in Parker, Colorado, which Danica and her husband used for their IVF treatments. 

This episode kicks off Melissa's podcast maternity leave and Leah takes on hosting responsibilities.  In honor of Mother's Day, Leah welcomes her own mother, Kim Wrisley, as a guest.  Together, these two explore the changes in relationship dynamics when Daughter becomes Mom and Mom becomes Grandma.  Kim reminisces on her time as a young mother, shares her insight, and discusses the highlights and challenges of being a grandparent.  This episode is a tear-jerker, and sheds some light on the grandmotherhood experience.The Book Blurb in this episode is from Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng, a gripping novel about a family recovering from trauma and finding their back to each other.  To read more about the author and her work, visit her website.

In this episode, Melissa and Leah dig into the topic of boundaries.  What are they?  How do we establish and uphold them?  How do we teach our kids about boundaries?  And why is it so intimidating to say what we need?The Book Blurb in this episode comes from psychotherapist Nedra Glover Tawwab's recent book, Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself.  For more about this author, visit her website or her Instagram account.

In this episode, the Moms invite Deborah Dunlevy to The Momversation to discuss her upcoming book, Laughing at the Dark: A Memoir of Motherhood and Mayhem.  As indicated by the title, Deb's book of parenting vignettes highlights the importance of finding joy in even the roughest parts of motherhood.  During the episode, Deb discusses her life as a missionary in Argentina, previous books she has written, her writing process, her experience as the mom of teenagers, and how she has used humor, joy, creativity, and mindfulness to traverse life's darkest moments.  Laughing at the Dark will be out in April 15th, 2021.  To purchase a copy or to read more about Deborah and her work, visit her website, and/or follow her on Instagram.The Book Blurb in this episode, of course, comes from Laughing at the Dark: A Memoir of Motherhood and Mayhem by Deborah Dunlevy.A few other noteworthy mentions include Deb's young adult fantasy and science fiction novels, and previous Momversation Podcast episode, Man's Best Friend, Mom's Worst Nightmare: Where Pets and Parenthood Meet.

In this episode, Melissa and Leah give listeners an opportunity to get to know them even better!  After taking a poll from listeners on Instagram, the Moms unpack the answers to several questions about which host is "most likely to . . . . "  Though the questions are light hearted and surface level, this episode considers each mom's motivations and personalities more in depth.  For example, we learn that Melissa takes an all-or-nothing attitude into her everyday decisions, and Leah holds tightly to traditions and nostalgia.The Book Blurb in this episode is a short personal essay titled "Boxes to Unpack" written by The Momversation Podcast host, Leah Wrisley.  To read more of her writing, visit her blog, This American Housewife.

In this episode, Melissa and Leah are joined by Chloe Bowman, early childhood educator and social activist, in a conversation about antiracist parenting.  After years of struggling with the lack of opportunity to speak openly about racism, Chloe was motivated by the 2020 protests to start a movement in her own community.  She is the founder and director of Melanin Mountain Project, a nonprofit organization striving to educate about antiracism and create antiracist policies in Crested Butte, CO.  Chloe discusses how parents and teachers can approach the integration of antiracist thought into their children's worldview, starting by doing away with the "tolerance" model and the concept of color blindness, and replacing them with empathy and highlighting social constructs that benefit some but harm others. The Book Blurb in this episode is from How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi.  To read more about Kendi and his work, visit his website.A few other noteworthy mentions include This is Water, a TED Talk by Anthony Peterson titled What I Learned from My White Grandchildren, the Nice White Parents podcast, and two books for teaching children about race: Antiracist Baby by Ibram X. Kendi, and Power Means Who the Police Believe: Talking with Young Children about Race and Racial Violence by Emma Redden.  To follow along with Melanin Mountain Project and their work, follow them on Instagram.

In this episode, Melissa and Leah open up the Momversation to nurse practitioner and biological researcher, Lauren Wright, who serves as the founder and CEO of The Natural Nipple.  Lauren describes her introduction to the infant feeding industry, which began with her research in infant gut microbiomes.  Her studies led her to question why traditional bottle nipples weren't more conducive to providing life-sustaining breast milk to newborns without a complication called nipple confusion.  Lauren then tells listeners about the creation of her company's product, including the process of scanning lactating breasts, creating four general shapes, and working to ensure that their nipples are developmentally appropriate for each stage of infancy.  From supporting babies' overall health, to empowering new mothers, to taking a holistic approach to lactation support, The Natural Nipple is so much more than just a bottle company.The Book Blurb in this episode is a poem by New Zealand poet, Jessica Urlichs.  To read more from her, visit her Instagram account or her website.A few other noteworthy mentions include Five Things Every Mom Should Know Before Giving Birth, a previous conversation between Leah and Lauren, and previous Momversation Podcast episode, Great Expectations: Reflecting on the Pressures and Assumptions Surrounding Breastfeeding.  To be matched with your baby's ideal bottle nipple, you can take this Latch Match Survey, which Lauren references in the episode.  And don't forget to follow The Natural Nipple on Instagram! 

In this episode, Melissa and Leah hear a birth story from first-time mom, Abby Davis.  Abby discusses the stress of being pregnant during a pandemic, her "loose grip" on her birth plan, and her last moments of pregnancy, which she remembers fondly, despite the discomfort.  She then shares her birth story: her cervidil induction, a fast transition in cervical dilation, an epidural, pushing, and finally the Caesarean section that allowed her to meet her son.  Abby beautifully describes the bond between herself and her baby, and the magical first moments of postpartum bliss.The Book Blurb in this episode is a poem titled 'Make the Ordinary Come Alive,' from William Martin's book, The Parent's Tao Te Ching: Ancient Advice for Modern Parents.  For more about this author and his work, visit his website.

In this episode, the Moms chat about their relationships to their furriest family members.  After getting listeners up to speed on Melissa's successful remodel and newly functional kitchen and Leah's hopes for returning to work as an educator in the fall, they dive into all things Dogs.  They each introduce their respective canine companions before describing the many challenges and joys of including dogs in their family dynamics, providing suggestions for getting dogs ready for a new baby, and discussing why these Moms love their pets despite the headache they so frequently create.The Book Blurb in this episode is from Marley and Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog by John Grogan.  For more about the author, click here.

In this episode, Melissa and Leah chat with mama of two and postpartum coach, Chelsea Skaggs.  After experiencing new motherhood and its many challenges, Chelsea put her certification as a life coach to use for a very specific demographic: new moms.  She shares a bit about what sort of topics she focuses on in her coaching, most notably, intimacy and identity.  Postpartum is undeniably hard, but people like Chelsea can help lift the burden, even if slightly.  For information about Chelsea and her online community, visit the Postpartum Together website, or follow her on Facebook and Instagram.The Book Blurb in this episode is from Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily and Amelia Nagoski.  This book, and concepts from it, have been referenced in several other Momversation Podcast episodes.  Click here to learn more about the authors and their work.One additional noteworthy mention is previous Momversation Podcast episode, Let's Talk About Sex . . . Maybe: Intimacy and Romance After Baby.

In this episode, the Moms speak with Ariel Taylor of London, Ontario.  Ariel is a four-time gestational surrogate who carries babies for parents-to-be who are unable to conceive on their own.  She tells her story of becoming a surrogate, experiencing a miscarriage, then having three more surrogate pregnancies.  She brings a much needed voice to the conversation about infertility, IVF, and the many ways to begin a family.  If you'd like, you can follow along with her current pregnancy on her Instagram account.The Book Blurb in this episode comes from young adult novel, Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan.  To read more about this author, visit her website.A few other noteworthy mentions include Ariel's appearance on The Messy Mama podcast, and previous Momversation Podcast episode, Holden and Hayes: Birth and Postpartum Stories with Anika Pepper.

In this episode, the Moms discuss The Enneagram, a system for analyzing personality types. They consider each of their respective types and how their personalities and behaviors play a role in parenting and partnerships. The Moms explore their own experiences using the enneagram for introspection and self-improvement, including an in depth conversation about stress and growth numbers, "deadly sins," and how personality strengths show themselves in Leah and Melissa's different approaches to parenting and interacting with others. The Book Blurb in this episode is from Anxious People by Fredrik Backman. For more on this best selling Swedish author, visit his website.For more on each enneagram type and to take the RHETI assessment, visit the Enneagram Institute. Leah references Jen Hatmaker podcast series, For the Love of the Enneagram, and a Peter Krause quote shared by Ian Morgan Cron on his video series titled The Enneagram and Parenting. Melissa recalls previous Momversation Podcast episode Big Races and Small Spaces: Postpartum Distance Running and Tiny House Living with Ashlyn Rogers.

In this episode, Melissa and Leah are joined by new mother, Ashlyn Rogers, a massage therapist, competitive runner, and tiny-house dweller.  Ashlyn begins by sharing her and her husband's multi-year experience living in a 200-square-foot tiny house, including the discomfort of loft-entry while nine months pregnant, the stress of navigating life with a newborn while in close quarters, and also the value of having an intimate postpartum experience together as a new family.  She also shares her journey as a runner, which changed significantly after becoming a mother.  Factors such as lack of time and post-delivery recovery have made running a challenge, but its positive impact on her mental health has made it a necessity.The Book Blurb in this episode is from Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen, a memoir by Christopher McDougall.  For more about McDougall and to watch his TED Talk, click here.A few other noteworthy mentions include nonfiction book, Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily and Amelia Nagoski, a parenting course on supporting toddlers' social emotional development and emotional regulation created by Big Little Feelings, and Ashlyn's experience competing in the Audi Power of Four trail race in Aspen, Colorado.

No episode this week! Following the publishing of each future birth story episode (every 6 episodes) the moms will be taking a week off from publishing new content to work on managing the podcast and being with their families.We hope you all have a wonderful week.

In this episode, the Moms welcome a returning guest to the podcast.  Anika Pepper, mama of two boys, tells the story of how her babies arrived in her life.  Anika begins her motherhood story with her use of fertility treatments through the Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine.  She then describes the stressful events of her first induction, labor, birth, and postpartum experience, followed by a much more positive experience with her second-born.  Anika's story is simultaneously vulnerable, empowering, and healing.The Book Blurb in this episode is from Yes, Please by Amy Poehler.

It's universally assumed that being a mom means being calm, cool, and collected, patient, gentle, and keeping it together at all times.  In this episode, Melissa and Leah unpack this harmful narrative with a truthful and deep Momversation about Mom Rage: when and why it happens, what triggers moms' anger, and how we can strive to practice emotional regulation.The Book Blurb in this episode is titled Go the Fuck to Sleep by Adam Mansbach, illustrated by Ricardo Cortés.  To listen to an audio reading of this book by Samuel L. Jackson click here.A few other noteworthy mentions include Unlocking Us episode Emily and Amelia Nagoski on Burnout and How to Complete the Stress Cycle, a parenting course on supporting toddlers' social emotional development and emotional regulation created by Big Little Feelings, and the website for the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome.

In this episode, the Moms wish listeners a happy New Year and consider their own intentions for the year to come.  Melissa hopes to maintain a peaceful and organized home, while Leah plans to focus on self-care and mental health.  This particular Momversation is meandering and full of tangents, covering such topics as Pixar's newest movie, Soul, the most recent changes in recording location for both Moms, and the meditative practice of washing the dishes.  The Book Blurb in this episode is from Thrawn: Heir to the Empire, the first in a trilogy of Star Wars novels authored by Timothy Zahn.  This Wookiepedia page provides more information about the books and author.A few noteworthy mentions from this episode include two children's movies: Soul (Disney Pixar) and Klaus (Netflix).  Additionally, they discuss Vietnamese monk, Thick Nhat Hanh and his book, The Miracle of Mindfulness.  Melissa also references Where My Mom's At with Christina P., another parenting podcast.  Leah mentions a supplement called NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine) which, along with other benefits, helps regulate neurotransmitters and stabilize mood, as well her involvement in a virtual motherhood community/learning platform called Momfully You Academy.

This episode is comprised of the closing affirmations from each 2020 episode (episodes 1-38, excluding the compilation of affirmations from the Mother's Day special). Happy New Year!

In this episode, Melissa and Leah get real about what the holiday season means for mothers.  As if moms don't put enough pressure on themselves day-to-day, the addition of creating the perfect, magical Christmas for our children simply exacerbates said pressure.  Here, the Moms unpack how they navigate holiday stress when it comes to traditions, gift-giving, budgeting, and prioritizing how time is spent.The Book Blurb in this episode is a short story from David Sedaris's collection, Me Talk Pretty One Day.  To hear Sedaris read his story, follow this link.

In this episode, Melissa and Leah welcome Holly Lo, mother of three and one of the Canadian founders of dōTERRA, the world's largest essential oil company.  Holly shares about her background as a doula and childbirth educator, and her experience using essential oils to help mothers and babies through various challenges that arise during pregnancy and postpartum.  Oils, she tells the Moms, can be used to calm babies' tummies, sooth teething aches, ease postpartum cramping, balance our hormones, and so much more!  Please feel free to learn more about Holly's work with oils on the Oil Babies website, or follow along on Instagram.The Book Blurb in this episode is read by Holly herself and comes from her book, Essential Oil Guide: From Pregnancy to Postpartum.  A few other noteworthy mentions include dōTERRA's co-impact sourcing, and the Oil Babies dilution chart, which guides parents in diluting oils for use on sensitive babies and toddlers.

In this episode, the Moms welcome another birth story guest, Jesse Goosen, mama of two and Melissa's neighbor!  Jesse begins by sharing the disappointing news she received as a teenager: she would be unable to conceive children.  However, this proved untrue.  Jesse tells listeners about her difficult pregnancies, starting with the joy of sharing her pregnancy test moment with her mom.  She then goes on to talk about her two eventful, unmedicated births, and emphasizes the importance of mantras, affirmations, and positive self-talk when laboring.The Book Blurb in this episode is a Maggie Smith poem, "Good Bones."  Read more from Smith on her website.A few other noteworthy mentions include previous Momversation Podcast episode, Claire Leanne: Birth Preparation and Labor Stories with Melissa Statler, and The Birthful Podcast episode, The Purpose of Childbirth Pain with Rhea Dempsey.

In this episode, the Moms are joined by postpartum doula, Ali Batwin, who serves moms in Boulder, Colorado and Crested Butte, Colorado.  Ali explains the role of a postpartum doula, which involves care for new mothers through provision of functional and nutritious meals, advice and help with nursing, an extra set of hands to hold baby, or someone to listen as a mother processes her birth experience.  Ali also emphasizes the importance of modeling as means of teaching new moms how to effectively care for their new baby and their homes.  Postpartum doulas serve as the ultimate support person for new parents as they bring knowledge and resources in addition their enthusiasm for helping moms through the 4th trimester.The Book Blurb in this episode is from Year of Yes, written by Shonda Rhimes, known best for her multiple popular television series.  Learn more about Rhimes and her work on shondaland.com.Feel free to explore Ali's website and Instagram account for more about her doula work.

In this episode, Melissa and Leah break down the concept of what it means to be a "good mom."  Does such a thing exist?  How are we measuring?  The Moms consider the many ways that we analyze our own parenting abilities, like comparison, the "negative compass" (what you're not doing in order to avoid being a "bad" mom), and intentionally avoiding the harmful patterns in their own parents' childrearing.  Their conclusion is that no mom can ever be the "perfect mom" but that if we love our kids and we put in our best effort, we are succeeding.The Book Blurb in this episode is a poem titled, "This Be the Verse" by Philip Larkin.  Click here for more about the poet and his works.A few other noteworthy mentions include Psychology Today article, "What Makes a Good Mother, Anyway?", another small podcast called A Woman's Why, and Momfully You, a Texas therapist with an online parenting education platform.

In this episode, the Moms chat with Heidi Lindeman, currently pregnant, and a single-mom-by-choice.  Heidi walks the hosts through her path to motherhood, starting with a spiritual calling to become a mother, followed by vigorous research, finding a suitable sperm donor, two miscarriages, and finally a sustained pregnancy and excitement for her future daughter.  Heidi is open and honest about everything from her miscarriage experiences to her detailed research process.  In closing, she encourages other moms, especially those embarking on a journey as a single-mom-by-choice, to trust themselves to know what's right for them.The Book Blurb in this episode, read by the guest, is called For Those Who Want to Fly by Scandinavian author-illustrator Pirkko Vainio.  Click here for more about the book its author.A few other noteworthy mentions include the Single Mothers by Choice website and Facebook page, as well as the Just a Baby app which is used to match egg donors, sperm donors, or surrogates with couples or individuals looking to have a baby.  Heidi also mentions her private therapy practice, Self Grounded Therapy, located in Denver, Colorado.  This episode also references previous Momversation Podcast episode, Catching Z's: Meeting Your Family's Sleep Needs with Elizabeth Bine.The Momversation Cookbook is officially available for pre-order on our website: themomversationpodcast.com/cookbook.   

In this episode, the Moms return from a month-long break to discuss social media, as both a stressor and luxury of modern life.  They tackle the subject from many angles, like the impact of influencer accounts and comparison, and the anxiety that can come from political posts and discussions on social media platforms.  Though the effects of social media usage can sometimes be negative, Melissa and Leah both close with commentary on what they each appreciate about social media.The Book Blurb in this episode is from Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, a mid-nineteenth century fantasy novel which remains a notable piece of children's literature.  Read more about Carroll and his works here.A few other noteworthy mentions include Oscar Wilde and his witty phrases, the Happy as a Mother Instagram account, and this photo of Mindy Kaling's toy shelf (and proof that even celebrities occasionally take their kids to fast food chains).  Melissa also references Unlocking Us episode, Brené with Joe Biden on Empathy, Unity, and Courage.  Lastly, peep this priceless set of photos of Claire dressed as Steve Jobs.The Momversation Cookbook is officially available for pre-order on our website: themomversationpodcast.com/cookbook.  

In this episode, the Moms chat about second babies: from the joy of having siblings to the differences between first and subsequent pregnancies.  The Book Blurb in this episode is from The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles by Julie Andrews Edwards.  Read more about the author's writing and acting careers here.Some noteworthy mentions from the episode are Philip Larkin poem, This Be the Verse, and Sneak Peek, an at-home blood test for determining the sex of an unborn baby.Following this episode, The Momversation Podcast will be taking a break for the month of October while we focus on the creation of The Momversation Cookbook!  Thank you for listening.  We look forward to returning in November.

In this episode, the Moms speak with another birth story guest, Lexzi McGreer.  After sharing a bit about her daughters, her career as a social worker, and her "Yes And" attitude toward parenthood, Lexzi discusses her first pregnancy and home birth, followed by a much faster, caster-oil-induced birth center birth.  Lexzi's story also includes her breastfeeding and postpartum experiences with both girls, as well as speculation on how life-altering motherhood can be. The Book Blurb in this episode is from Little Gods by Meng Jin, a Chinese author and academic.  For more on this author and her book, read this interview.A few noteworthy mentions include midwifery book, Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, and Melissa's (other) favorite podcast, The Birthful Podcast.Don't forget about The Momversation Cookbook, coming your way in December 2020!  We are accepting recipe submissions through September 30, 2020.  To submit a recipe (or multiple!) and receive 25% off your first copy, follow this link to our website.

In this episode, the Moms discuss hobbies -- and lack thereof -- for moms. They cover a plethora of topics, such as the challenge to find time for hobbies, the pressure for women to monetize their hobbies, and the significant difference between moms' and dads' abilities to have hobbies. They also tap into the desire for moms to find interests and passions outside of their role as mothers.The Book Blurb in this episode is from Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.  Click here for more about Elizabeth and her writings.For reference, consider reading this LA Times article which Melissa mentions in the episode.Don't forget about The Momversation Cookbook, coming your way in December 2020!  We are accepting recipe submissions through September 30, 2020.  To submit a recipe (or multiple!) and receive 25% off your first copy, follow this link to our website.

In this episode, previous guest, Elizabeth Bine returns to the Momversation, this time to discuss the timely topic of back-to-school during the current pandemic.  The conversation opens with a recap of the transition to distance learning for her six-and nine-year-old in the spring of 2020, the anxious anticipation over the summer, then a description of what school looks like for Elizabeth's two kids this year.  The Moms discuss the benefits of virtual and independent learning for older students, and the necessity of school for younger students' development -- both academic and social-emotional.  Elizabeth offers appreciation for the teachers and administrators who are dedicated to making this school year successful, and to the resilient kids who are making the most of their new normal.The Book Blurb in this episode is a song by The White Stripes called 'We are Going to Be Friends.' To listen, follow this link. One noteworthy mention is Unlocking Us episode, Judd Apatow on Vulnerability and Laughter.Don't forget about The Momversation Cookbook, coming your way in December 2020!  We are accepting recipe submissions through September 30, 2020.  To submit a recipe (or multiple!) and receive 25% off your first copy, follow this link to our website.

In this episode, the Moms are joined by Brittney Freeman, mother of one and author of the Honest Mom blog.  Brittney opens up and tells her breastfeeding story, which ultimately resulted in her decision to feed her son with formula -- for both of their benefits.  She begins by recounting the stressful end of her pregnancy and delivery before sharing her experience with breastfeeding struggles -- a painful latch, pyloric stenosis, mastitis, and reflux due to an allergy to name a few.  For more about Brittney and her son Emmett, check out her blog or her Instagram account.The Book Blurb in this episode is an excerpt from Brittney's blog!  The entry is titled, Why Breastfeeding was the Hardest (and Quite Frankly the Worst) Experience of My Life and is absolutely worth the read.A few noteworthy mentions include Leah's reference to the Unlocking Us podcast episode on FFTs, and several medical references throughout the episode, such as the Foley bulb catheter used to manually progress Brittney's labor during induction, pyloric stenosis, which required surgical intervention for her son, and mastitis, an infection in the milk ducts which Brittney experienced twice in her first month postpartum.Don't forget about The Momversation Cookbook, coming your way in December 2020!  We are accepting recipe submissions through September 30, 2020.  To submit a recipe (or multiple!) and receive 25% off your first copy, follow this link to our website.

In this episode, the Moms talk mental health.  Both Leah and Melissa share some of the strategies they use to maintain their health and regulate emotions.  Among other things, they discuss the importance of setting realistic expectations for ourselves, the usefulness of therapy, and how to model healthy emotional responses for our children.The Book Blurb in this episode is from Suzanne Lang's children's book, Grumpy Monkey, which takes a gentle approach to understanding mental health.  Learn more about the author and the book on Lang's Linkedin Page.A few noteworthy mentions include helpful mental health orientated Instagram accounts -- Happy as a Mother, and MomBrain.Therapist -- and Brené Brown's podcast, Unlocking Us.  For some content that may help both moms and kids, watch this clip from Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, and the Super Simple Songs video, If You're Happy and You Know It.Don't forget about The Momversation Cookbook, coming your way in December 2020!  We are accepting recipe submissions through September 30, 2020.  To submit a recipe (or multiple!) and receive 25% off your first copy, follow this link to our website.

In this episode, Leah and Melissa invite labor and delivery nurse, Chelsea Clark, of Dallas, Texas, to speak about her experience working with laboring mothers.  Not only does Chelsea answer the Moms' questions about her occupation, she also answers several questions from listeners, ranging from requests to share delivery stories to inquiries about the frequency of defecation during pushing.  Chelsea shares about her own draw to the profession and her approach to helping women by reading their signals, discusses the importance of preemptive communication between mothers and delivery staff, and provides advice to those also seeking a career in maternal hospital care. The Book Blurb in this episode is from best selling novel, The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah.  To learn more about Hannah and her books, visit kristinhannah.com.Thank you to all of our listeners who submitted questions for this episode! Don't forget about The Momversation Cookbook, coming your way in December 2020!  We are accepting recipe submissions through September 30, 2020.  To submit a recipe (or multiple!) and receive 25% off your first copy, follow this link to our website.

In this episode, Leah tells her two birth stories and examines the differences between her labors, her doctors, and her support team.  While her first birth was long and uncomfortable, with a team of four support people and two hours of pushing, her second birth was much faster, easier, and involved only one support person: her husband Anthony.  The Moms offer a huge shout out to the dads who support their birthing partners through incredibly intense, sometimes scary, birth experiences, despite feeling even less prepared for birth than most moms.  Most importantly, Leah points out the advantage of entering a birth experience feeling knowledgeable, comfortable, and ready to talk yourself through the pain with mantras. The Book Blurb in this episode is a Kahlil Gibran poem from his collection of writings called The Prophet.  Follow this link to read more about this 19th century poet and his works.A few noteworthy mentions include references to previous Momversation episodes, Sacred Spaces: Observing and Attending Birth with Tiana Johnson, and Claire Leanne: Birth Preparation and Labor Stories with Melissa Statler.  Don't forget about The Momversation Cookbook, coming your way in December 2020!  We are accepting recipe submissions through September 30, 2020.  To submit a recipe (or multiple!) and receive 25% off your first copy, follow this link to our website.