The Stepmom Diaries Podcast

Parenting is hard - but it can help when you're able to lower the temperature. If you've followed me for a while, you know I subscribe to the research-based "connection before correction" philosophy when it comes to stepparents getting involved in discipline. My guest for this episode has an expertise in what she calls "compassionate discipline," which is a great option for parents looking for a way to be more responsive and less reactive. Wendy's work on positive parenting strategies is inspiring - and should give us all some food for thought as we work to create strong relationships with our kids and stepkids. About Wendy: Wendy Snyder is a mom of two, certified parenting educator & family life coach, who inspires parents to learn & grow through connection based positive parenting strategies. As the host of The Fresh Start Family Show & Founder of FreshStartFamilyOnline.com, she helps parents ditch the threats, yelling & harsh punishments so they can live life as a joyful & confident parent (with kids that listen & cooperate great!). Families who take part in her learning & coaching programs experience radical shifts in their hearts, minds & souls - that help them to create rock solid relationships with their kids, while at the same time teaching important life lessons & helping to raise the next generation of leaders, change makers & important human souls.  You Can Find Wendy: freshstartfamilyonline.com The Fresh Start Family Show podcast Instagram: @freshstartwendy YouTube:@wendysnyder-freshstartfamily Facebook: @freshstartfamily Links Mentioned In This Episode: FREE Quick Start Learning Bundle: 3 Secrets to Thriving with Strong-Willed Kids Firm and Kind Parenting Blueprint  Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best! And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I'll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It's normally $49 and it's a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you'll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!

Today we're talking about something that can be an unexpected complication in blended family life - and that's mealtime. Getting kids to eat nutrient-packed food is hard enough, but add in a two-house dynamic where kids may have different rules and expectations around what they eat and it can get downright thorny. That's where Katie Kimball comes in. Mom of four and founder of Kitchen Stewardship, Katie and I talk about how to navigate picky eaters and encourage good habits, even when the other house has different rules.  And she tells us about her FREE Life Skills Camp coming up this summer, where CEOs, chefs, tv hosts, and others will teach your kids and teens all kinds of useful skills that they'll use in everyday life. It's a phenomenal resource to help kids feel (and become) more self-sufficient.  About Katie: Katie Kimball helps change kids' relationship to food, both through work in the kitchen and helping parents of picky eaters. She's a former teacher, two-time TEDx speaker, writer, and mom of 4 kids. She created the Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, which was recommended by The Wall Street Journal as the best online cooking class for kids. Her blog Kitchen Stewardship helps families stay healthy without going crazy, and she's on a mission to connect families around healthy food, teach every child to cook, and instill those all-important life skills! Links Mentioned In This Episode: Life Skills Camp Kids Cook Real Food, which the Wall Street Journal praised as the top online cooking course for kids Free Knife Skills Class Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best! And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I'll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It's normally $49 and it's a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you'll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!

Ever Wondered What Your Stepchildren Think About You? Kids can be tricky for stepparents to navigate. Their behavior isn't rational, they don't know how to express their emotions, and sometimes they can take out their frustration on the person who can be the easiest target: stepmom. But there's more to the story, and that's what we're talking about in this episode. We've got one of the top stepfamily researchers with us, and he's recently released a new look at the stepfamily dynamic - from the kids' perspectives.  He's got some really interesting, insightful, and surprising, findings that stepmoms should definitely pay attention to.   About Dr. Todd Jensen: Todd Jensen, PhD, MSW is an Assistant Professor of Human Development and Family Science and Director of the Thriving Through Family Transitions Research Lab in the School of Education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Much of his research focuses on identifying factors that promote high-quality stepparent-child relationships, particularly those involving adolescent children. Dr. Jensen's professional activities are connected to more than 34 million dollars in funding, including support from the National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, The Duke Endowment, the William T. Grant Foundation, The Annie E. Casey Foundation, and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Jensen is a Faculty Fellow of the Carolina Population Center, a Fellow of the Society for Social Work and Research, Deputy Editor for the Journal of Family Theory & Review, and co-founder and co-chair of the Diverse Family Structures Focus Group of the National Council on Family Relations. As an educator, Dr. Jensen specializes in teaching courses on family theory and practice, human development, program evaluation, and advanced quantitative methodology. You can find Todd Jensen: On Instagram HERE  On his website, toddjensen.com, where you can also find links to many of his journal articles Have You Ever Thought About Coaching? On Wednesday, May 7th, I'm hosting a masterclass: The 5-Step Framework To Becoming A Stepfamily Coach (even if you've never coached before.  This FREE class is for you if you've ever thought about turning your stepfamily experience into a meaningful career or side hustle - but you're unsure where to start, how to get clients, or if you're even “qualified.” Here's what you'll learn: ✅ How I turned my own stepfamily challenges into a career that fuels me daily ✅ What you really need (hint: not a counseling degree or a “perfect family”) ✅ The biggest myths that hold amazing women back from making a real impact Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best! And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I'll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It's normally $49 and it's a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you'll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!

Family Law Insights From a Real Housewives' Lawyer In today's episode, we're getting into all the legal things around stepfamily life with an award-winning family law expert who has represented many high-profile clients in their divorces, including Ashley Darby of the Real Housewives of Potomac. About Maria: This week, I'm talking to a rockstar and award-winning attorney in the family law area. She is Managing Partner at the Geller Group and specializes in family law, divorce, custody disputes, collaborative divorce, and litigation.  Maria has been continually recognized as Virginia Business' Legal Elite and selected as a Super Lawyers Rising Star for Virginia and the District of Columbia. She's a frequent speaker and is a member of the Collaborative Professionals of Northern Virginia (CPNV), the D.C. Academy of Collaborative Professionals (DCACP), and the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. Maria graduated cum laude from the Honors Program at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and cum laude from the American University Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C. She is active in the DC community and served two years as General Counsel for Crispus Attucks Development Corporation. Our worlds have overlapped along the way, too. Maria was General Counsel for the Taste of the South Charity, which I was involved with for years, and she's a member of the Junior League of Washington, where I served as President.  Along with Maria's zeal for the practice of law, she is an avid runner and yoga practitioner, and loves cooking and spending time with her husband and three sons.  You Can Find Maria: Thegellerlawgroup.com On Instagram Want Your Question Answered On The Podcast? Got a question for me or something you're struggling with in your stepfamily life? Submit a question to be answered on a future podcast episode HERE If you're looking for some help with stepfamily communication, make sure you grab Smooth Talking: 10 Essential Stepmom Scripts - it will give you the exact words to use when you're trying to talk about some of the tricky stepfamily topics that come up on the regular. Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best! And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I'll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It's normally $49 and it's a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you'll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!

Stepfamily Life From A Son's Perspective This week's guest isn't a stepmom. But he does have an interesting take on stepfamily life. Judge and author Anthony J. Mohr grew up with a father who had been a well-known radio actor who descended to the Hollywood B-list with the advent of television, and a stepfather who was a wealthy and successful businessman. In his award-winning book, Every Other Weekend: Coming of Age With Two Different Dads, Anthony discusses how he found his place between the two contrasting worlds while coming of age during a time when divorce was rare and often viewed as shocking. About Anthony: Anthony J. Mohr served for 26 years as a judge on the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles. He also sat as a judge pro tem on the California Court of Appeal. In January 2021, he became a fellow at the Advanced Leadership Initiative at Harvard University and is now a senior editor of the Harvard ALI Social Impact Review. His stories and essays have received six Pushcart Prize nominations. He has worked on the staffs of Evening Street Review, Fifth Wednesday Journal, Hippocampus Magazine, and Under the Sun. You Can Find Anthony: anthonyjmohr.com Want Your Question Answered On The Podcast? Got a question for me or something you're struggling with in your stepfamily life? Submit a question to be answered on a future podcast episode HERE If you're looking for some help with stepfamily communication, make sure you grab Smooth Talking: 10 Essential Stepmom Scripts - it will give you the exact words to use when you're trying to talk about some of the tricky stepfamily topics that come up on the regular. Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best! And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I'll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It's normally $49 and it's a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you'll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!

How does "mommy wine culture" impact stepmoms? This week's episode is different than others - in the most interesting way! We're talking to top Life & Sobriety Coach Casey Davidson about drinking. It felt like a timely topic given the U.S. Surgeon General's recent advisory around alcohol - plus, Casey has a refreshing, non-"preachy" take on sobriety. We talk about how to hit pause on reaching for that glass of wine at the end of a hard day - and why it might just be the best thing you do for yourself. About Casey: Casey McGuire Davidson is a Life & Sobriety Coach and the host of the Top 100 Mental Health Podcast, The Hello Someday Podcast for Sober Curious Women. As an ex-red wine girl who spent 20 years climbing the corporate ladder while holding on tightly to her love of wine, Casey's passionate about helping busy women stop drinking and create lives they love without alcohol. Her work has been featured on Good Morning America, CNN, NPR, HuffPost and The New York Times. You Can Find Casey: Hello Someday Coaching The Hello Someday Podcast For Sober Curious Women You can grab her free 30-Day Sober Guide here or take her free Masterclass Take A Break From Drinking With These 5 Secrets On Instagram On Facebook On YouTube On Pinterest  Want Your Question Answered On The Podcast? Got a question for me or something you're struggling with in your stepfamily life? Submit a question to be answered on a future podcast episode HERE If you're looking for some help with stepfamily communication, make sure you grab Smooth Talking: 10 Essential Stepmom Scripts - it will give you the exact words to use when you're trying to talk about some of the tricky stepfamily topics that come up on the regular. Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best! And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I'll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It's normally $49 and it's a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you'll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!

"If you want a better marriage, it starts with a better you" (there may be affiliate links in this post - for more about what that means, click here) Our guests this week are known for their clever and relatable social media videos - but they are much more than that. Casey and Meygan Caston, founders of Marriage365, offer up some great relationship advice for couples. In today's episode, they give us their top tips for good communication, and you'll enjoy hearing their story.  And they've offered a special $250 discount for our listeners to their annual marriage retreat happening October 2-5, 2025. You can check it out HERE and put the code STEPFAMILY SOLUTIONS in the comment field to apply the discount.  About Casey & Meygan: Casey and Meygan Caston, founders of Marriage365, fell in love, got married, and started their happily ever after. They quickly found themselves facing deep challenges in their marriage due to childhood trauma, stubborn personalities, and poor communication. By year three, they were on the brink of divorce. Determined to turn things around, Meygan embraced the advice: “If you want a better marriage, it starts with a better you.” She focused on her own healing, habits, and boundaries, sparking a dramatic shift in their relationship. Frustrated by ineffective and costly therapy, the Castons created practical tools and resources to help couples strengthen their marriages. This inspired the launch of the Marriage365 app offering affordable and convenient support for relationships that has helped over 100,000 couples reconnect and reignite their love. They've authored five books, lead global marriage retreats, and offer one of the top premarital courses in the U.S. Married 21 years, Casey and Meygan live in Southern California with their two teenagers, enjoy the beach, card games, and walks with their dog. You Can Find Casey & Meygan:  On their website: marriage365.com  On Instagram: @marriage365 You can grab their book, 365 Connecting Questions For Couples, on Amazon! And Join Me In January! For additional support, join me in Alexandria, VA January 24-25th for Stepmom Live! - it will be a transformative 2 days of diving into stepfamily challenges like communication, conflict, and most of all, how to tame the chaos and save your sanity. And follow me on Instagram and TikTok for all my latest. Got a question for me or something you're struggling with in your stepfamily life? Submit a question to be answered on a future podcast episode HERE If you're looking for some help with stepfamily communication, make sure you grab Smooth Talking: 10 Essential Stepmom Scripts - it will give you the exact words to use when you're trying to talk about some of the tricky stepfamily topics that come up on the regular. Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best! And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I'll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It's normally $49 and it's a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you'll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!  

The Stepfamily Holiday season can be filled with landmines. Let's tackle them one at a time. If you've ever felt like the holidays in a stepfamily are more stress than joy, this episode is for you. We're going to talk about some of the hardest things that come up for stepmoms during the holidays - and I'm going to give you some tips to help make it through. And if you'd like more support for the holidays, I'm hosting a special live class called From Humbug To Happy next week inside the Stepfamily Circle. It will be an interactive hour filled with Q&A - and you'll walk away with practical strategies to navigate the stepfamily holiday season. To claim your spot, just pop over and Join the Circle HERE For additional support, join me in Alexandria, VA January 24-25th for Stepmom Live! - it will be a transformative 2 days of diving into stepfamily challenges like communication, conflict, and most of all, how to tame the chaos and save your sanity. And Don't Forget: Follow me on Instagram and TikTok for all my latest. Got a question for me or something you're struggling with in your stepfamily life? Submit a question to be answered on a future podcast episode HERE If you're looking for some help with stepfamily communication, make sure you grab Smooth Talking: 10 Essential Stepmom Scripts - it will give you the exact words to use when you're trying to talk about some of the tricky stepfamily topics that come up on the regular. Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best! And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I'll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It's normally $49 and it's a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you'll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!

Stepfamily Communication Is Complicated. But Does It Have To Be? In this episode, we go back to a topic that comes up over and over again with the stepfamilies I work with: communication. We'll talk about why communication is so much more challenging in a stepfamily than in a first family, and a few things you can do to improve it.  And I've got a freebie for you to help with your communication. Smooth Talking: 10 Essential Stepmom Scripts will give you the exact words to use when you're trying to talk about some of these tricky stepfamily topics. For additional support, join me in Alexandria, VA January 24-25th for Stepmom Live! - it will be a transformative 2 days of diving into stepfamily challenges like communication, conflict, and most of all, how to tame the chaos.  And Don't Forget: Follow me on Instagram and TikTok for all my latest. Got a question for me or something you're struggling with in your stepfamily life? Submit a question to be answered on a future podcast episode HERE Want to go deeper into coparenting, dealing with your partner's ex, finding your own peace, and other blended family challenges? Join the Stepfamily Circle HERE Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best! And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I'll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It's normally $49 and it's a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you'll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!  

What Do We Know About What DOES Work In Stepfamilies? In this episode, I'm joined by one of the preeminent stepfamily scholars in the world, Larry Ganong, Ph.D., who is out with a new book, called What Works In Stepfamilies: Creating And Maintaining Satisfying And Effective Relationships.  He also happens to sit on the Stepfamily Solutions advisory board and if you've attended any of our past Stepmom Summits, you'll remember him as one of our speakers.  The two coauthors of What Works In Stepfamilies are his wife, Marilyn Coleman, Ed.D., who is a celebrated researcher with an international reputation for her work on stepfamilies, and Caroline Sanner, Ph.D., an award-winning family scientist and one of the leading stepfamily scholars of her generation. The book uses a strengths-based approach and resilience perspective to offer guidance on what works in creating effective stepfamily relationships. It draws from over 2500 studies and gives a comprehensive overview of the research and best practices around what works to create positive and satisfying stepfamily relationships. It's a great discussion - and the book comes out November 21st, so definitely go check it out! About Larry: Lawrence Ganong, Ph.D. is a Chancellor's Professor and Emeritus Professor of Human Development and Family Science and Nursing at the University of Missouri. He has co-authored over 350 journal articles, chapters, and 10 books, and has received 12 research grants from public and private institutions. Ganong is a Fellow at the National Council on Family Relations and the Gerontological Society of America. He has served on the Board of Directors of the National Council on Family Relations, the Council on Contemporary Families, and The Stepfamily Association of America. Ganong's research program has focused on how post-divorce families develop and maintain satisfying and effective relationships. And Don't Forget: Follow me on Instagram and TikTok for all my latest. Got a question for me or something you're struggling with in your stepfamily life? Submit a question to be answered on a future podcast episode HERE Want to go deeper into coparenting, dealing with your partner's ex, finding your own peace, and other blended family challenges? Join the Stepfamily Circle HERE Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best! And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I'll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It's normally $49 and it's a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you'll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!

How Does The Daily Trauma of War Impact Stepfamilies? The trauma inflicted on stepfamilies is an aspect of war not often considered - but has a very real impact. In this episode, we are talking with Sigal Kaplan, a family counselor in Israel specializing in blended families. Sigal has done groundbreaking and captivating work around the impact of the ongoing war on Israeli stepfamilies. About Sigal: Sigal Kaplan is a family counselor specialist who works with stepfamilies, as well as families dealing with divorce. She teaches a course at Kibbutzim College for counselors and educators about divorce and stepfamilies. Sigal also founded the "Children First" project (2014-2018), supporting children and families dealing with divorce.   She has a B.A in Education and M.A in Organizational Consulting. Sigal is certified in parental coordination and EFT (Emotionally Focused Therapy), and has certifications from the Adler Institute, the Ministry of Education, and the Step Family Foundation.  She is married to Aaron, stepmom to Noa, and mom to Ariel, Ben, and Zoe. You Can Find Sigal: sigalkaplan.com On Instagram And Don't Forget: Follow me on Instagram and TikTok for all my latest. Got a question for me or something you're struggling with in your stepfamily life? Submit a question to be answered on a future podcast episode HERE Want to go deeper into coparenting, dealing with your partner's ex, finding your own peace, and other blended family challenges? Join the Stepfamily Circle HERE Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best! And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I'll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It's normally $49 and it's a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you'll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!

What Happens When You Stop Caring So Much About Your Expectations? In this episode, we welcome back our old friend and amazing stepmom and life coach, Naja Hall. Naja and I always have fun catching up - and then we have a great discussion about her journey to finally become "unbothered" and what happens when you can finally get there.   About Naja: Naja is the founder of  VIPStepmom and Blended and Black. As a Certified Coach and Educator, she understands that the family is THE MOST influential entity of human development, and her work centers around helping individuals, couples, and families navigate some of life's toughest transitions. As the host of  popular podcast, I know I'm Crazy with Naja Hall and author of the Amazon best-seller Girl, Bye! book series, Naja's life's work is to teach empathy, accountability, and emotional intelligence through the art of story-telling and genuine human connections. She's a Stepmom of 3. You Can Find Naja: najahall.com blendedandblack.com VIPStepmom.com On TikTok On Instagram And Don't Forget: Follow me on Instagram and TikTok for all my latest. Got a question for me or something you're struggling with in your stepfamily life? Submit a question to be answered on a future podcast episode HERE Want to go deeper into coparenting, dealing with your partner's ex, finding your own peace, and other blended family challenges? Join the Stepfamily Circle HERE Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best! And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I'll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It's normally $49 and it's a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you'll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!

What Is Stepfamily Coaching, And Can It Help You?  Today we're going to talk a bit about coaching. What it is, how it can help stepfamilies, and how to find a good coach. I was actually a coach skeptic for a long time, but I'll tell you how my mind was changed. And if you're interested in paying it forward and becoming a coach, or even if you're just a little “coach-curious” I'll let you know that the doors are open this week to the Stepfamily Coach Academy.  Links Mentioned In Today's Episode If you're interested in giving back to other stepfamilies as a stepfamily coach, the doors are open for our next class of students inside the Stepfamily Coach Academy next month. Spots are limited, but you can find out more and apply HERE.  Follow me on Instagram and TikTok for all my latest. Got a question for me or something you're struggling with in your stepfamily life? Submit a question to be answered on a future podcast episode HERE Want to go deeper into coparenting, dealing with your partner's ex, finding your own peace, and other blended family challenges? Join the Stepfamily Circle HERE Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best! And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I'll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It's normally $49 and it's a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you'll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!

Stepmom Guilt Is Just The Symptom I don't know about you, but when I became a stepmom, I put a huge amount of pressure on myself. To be clear, I put a lot of pressure on myself in general, but it got worse when I became a stepmom. Because even if you aren't the type who puts pressure on themselves already, you'll start to when you marry or parter with someone who has kids.  So in this episode, I'm chatting about something that I have struggled with for a long time, and I thought it might resonate with you. And that's stepmom guilt. We'll talk about what it is and a few things you can do to banish it! Links Mentioned In Today's Episode If you're interested in giving back to other stepfamilies as a stepfamily coach, we'll be opening doors for our next class of students inside the Stepfamily Coach Academy next month. You can get on the waitlist HERE.  Got a question for me or something you're struggling with in your stepfamily life? Submit a question to be answered on a future podcast episode HERE Want to go deeper into coparenting, dealing with your partner's ex, finding your own peace, and other blended family challenges? Join the Stepfamily Circle HERE Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best! And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I'll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It's normally $49 and it's a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you'll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!

Back-To-School Isn't Always What It Seems It's back-to-school time, which always leaves me with mixed emotions. On one hand, it can feel GREAT to get the kids back on the bus and out of the house all day every day. But on the other, the school year brings its own nuttiness with themed days, sports and other activities starting, and packed schedules.  So what's the best way to cope as a stepmom and look for your own fresh start? That's what this quickie episode is all about. Links Mentioned In Today's Episode If you're interested in giving back to other stepfamilies as a stepfamily coach, we'll be opening doors for our next class of students inside the Stepfamily Coach Academy next month. You can get on the waitlist HERE.  Got a question for me or something you're struggling with in your stepfamily life? Submit a question to be answered on a future podcast episode HERE Want to go deeper into coparenting, dealing with your partner's ex, finding your own peace, and other blended family challenges? Join the Stepfamily Circle HERE Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best! And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I'll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It's normally $49 and it's a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you'll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!

Can You Actually Have It All In A Stepfamily? Today I'm sharing an interview I did for this year's Stepmom Summit because it's the kind of story that we don't get to hear enough of as stepmoms: a stepmom and mom who not only get along, but are real-life friends, work together, and have made co-parenting virtually seamless for their kids. I'm talking with Emmy Award-winning journalist Catt Sadler and Digital Dept. CEO Sarah Boyd. These women are each superstars professionally, and both vowed to put the kids in the stepfamily first. It's a wonderful story of how the dynamics can come together in a loving and positive way.  About Catt: Catt Sadler is a three time-Emmy winning journalist, renowned for her work on E! Entertainment, where she spent more than a decade contributing to E! News, E! News Weekend, Daily Pop, Live From E! and hosting various network specials. She's also been a fixture on the red carpet covering high-caliber events and interviewing celebrities during awards season. She has been co-host of the Vanity Fair Oscars Party show for the last several years. Today, she is the host and EP of her weekly podcast: CATT SADLER Now. Catt has appeared on The View, The Talk, The Tamron Hall Show, and many other programs. After choosing to leave E! over a wage gap issue and receiving an outpouring of support, Catt became a prominent voice for the equal pay movement. She has spent much of her time contributing to the cause by taking part in the LA Women's March, speaking at the Equal Pay Day rally at City Hall in New York, and starring in LUNA Bar's Equal Pay Day campaign. Catt was also selected for the NYDJ Denim campaign highlighting women leading change. She starred in the SECRET deodorant “I'd Rather Get Paid” initiative and MM.Le.Fleur's “What Are You Made Of?” fashion campaign. In 2021 she was featured with a diverse group of women in Summersalt's swimwear campaign celebrating an eclectic group of confident and successful women who love their bodies – in all forms, at any age. Championing women has always been her passion. About Sarah: Sarah Boyd is the co-CEO of The Digital Dept., which represents the most sought-after celebrity influencers. Her current/past clients roster includes Alessandra Ambrosio, Jamie Chung, Olivia Culpo, Julianne Hough, Lauren Bushnell Lane, Jana Kramer, and many more who look to Sarah to help them capitalize on their influential status in the entertainment industry to make their mark in the influencer world. Sarah started her career in Fashion PR and in 2012, she decided to channel her expert industry know-how, her extensive list of contacts, and relationships into starting her own business, SIMPLY, a collective with one goal in mind: connecting. The SIMPLY ‘Do What You Love' event is an annual Fashion and Beauty Conference in cities such as LA, NY, Chicago, and Dubai. Since 2012, SIMPLY has hosted tens of thousands of attendees. Sarah has secured partnerships with prestigious brands like CITI, Topshop, Barney's NY and many more. She's been featured in Marie Claire, People Style Watch, Fox News, E!, LA Business Journal, to name a few. She was named a “Female Founder to Watch” by Forbes and is now a Forbes Fashion and Beauty contributor. In 2017, Sarah completed a successful acquisition for SIMPLY with Socialyte (under the NYLON LLC parent company) and Sarah held the position of President of Socialyte. In 2018, Sarah co-founded the Moms + Babes Box with partner Jana Kramer which is a quarterly subscription box filled with 6+ full sized products for moms and their babes. In 2020, Sarah and Jana sold the business. In 2022, Socialyte was acquired by Dolphin Entertainment, and in 2023, Socialyte and Be Social merged to become The Digital Dept. where Sarah was installed as co-CEO. You Can Find Catt and Sarah: On Instagram: @iamcattsadler @sarahpboyd On their websites: thecattwalk.com thedigitaldept.com Links Mentioned In Today's Episode Sarah appeared on the podcast back in episode 75, which you can listen to HERE.   Got a question for me or something you're struggling with in your stepfamily life? Submit a question to be answered on a future podcast episode HERE Want to go deeper into coparenting, dealing with your partner's ex, finding your own peace, and other blended family challenges? Join the Stepfamily Circle HERE Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best! And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I'll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It's normally $49 and it's a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you'll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!

Navigating Stepfamily Life After Tragedy Strikes Today we are taking on a tough, but important, topic: picking yourself (and your stepfamily) back up after your worst nightmare comes to life. I'm talking to stepmom and grief expert Krista St-Germain, who moved through unthinkable tragedy to learn how to thrive again. She's got an inspiring outlook and some amazing insights for stepfamilies who may be dealing with grief. About Krista: Krista St-Germain is a Master Certified Life Coach, Post-Traumatic Growth and grief expert, widow, mom and host of The Widowed Mom Podcast. When her husband was killed by a drunk driver in 2016, Krista's life was completely and unexpectedly flipped upside down. After therapy helped her uncurl from the fetal position, Krista discovered Life Coaching, Post Traumatic Growth and learned the tools she needed to move forward and create a future she could get excited about. Now she coaches and teaches other widows so they can love life again, too. Krista has been featured online and in print in Psychology Today, Medium, Thrive Global, Bustle, Psych Central, and Parents Magazine and on select podcasts such as The SelfWork Podcast, Seek The Joy, Life Check Yourself, and You Need A Budget to name a few. You Can Find Krista: On Instagram: @lifecoachkrista On her website, coachingwithkrista.com/ Links Mentioned In Today's Episode Krista is generously offering a course on navigating grief to our listeners for FREE - You can access it right HERE.   Got a question for me or something you're struggling with in your stepfamily life? Submit a question to be answered on a future podcast episode HERE Want to go deeper into coparenting, dealing with your partner's ex, finding your own peace, and other blended family challenges? Join the Stepfamily Circle HERE Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best! And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I'll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It's normally $49 and it's a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you'll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!

A rockstar journalist navigates stepmom life in real time Today I'm talking to Jamie Yuccas, Emmy-Award-winning journalist - and stepmom. I first met Jamie a few months ago when she reached out to cover The Stepmom Summit for KCAL/CBS News Los Angeles. I enjoyed chatting with her so much I knew we had to have her on the podcast!  About Jamie:  Jamie Yuccas is a CBS News correspondent known for her coverage of high-profile stories, including the 2022 Olympics in Beijing, the wildfires across the Western United States, and the social justice protests following the murder of George Floyd. She is a co-anchor for KCAL News Mornings, a seven-hour weekday morning news program. Yuccas joined CBS Newspath from WCCO-TV, the CBS-owned and operated station in Minneapolis, where she won two Emmy Awards and contributed reporting to the CBS Evening News and CBS This Morning for breaking news stories in the Midwest. She also won an Emmy Award for coverage of Hurricane Sandy. As an anchor, reporter, and producer at WBBH-TV in Fort Myers, Florida, Yuccas won a Florida Associated Press award for a feature story about a U.S. Marshals operation. You Can Find Jamie: On Instagram: @jamieyuccas On her website, KCaLnews.com Links Mentioned In Today's Episode Got a question for me or something you're struggling with in your stepfamily life? Submit a question to be answered on a future podcast episode HERE Want to go deeper into coparenting, dealing with your partner's ex, finding your own peace, and other blended family challenges? Join the Stepfamily Circle HERE Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best! And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I'll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It's normally $49 and it's a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you'll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!  

How to break the cycle of relational trauma Today I'm talking to Abbey Williams, LSW about estrangements and healing to break the cycle of generational trauma. Abbey spoke at our recent Stepmom Summit (the Summit is over but you can still access the presentations for a few more days with an Ultimate Access Pass) About Abbey: Abbey is a Trauma Therapist + Estrangement Expert, Founder of You, The Mother, Coach, Co-Founder of The Estrangement Project, Co-Founder of The Parenting with Trauma Project, and mother of 4. For over 10 years, Abbey has provided direct clinical and coaching services to individuals seeking healing from relational trauma. She writes and speaks about various parenting, relational, and mental health topics.  Abbey focuses on helping moms heal from their childhood wounding, navigate difficult family dynamics, estrangement, and breaking generational trauma. She is committed to supporting, empowering, and connecting with her community by providing accessible information on her podcast, "You, The Mother Podcast," social media platforms, coaching, support groups, healing book club, retreats, and webinars for people all over the world.  She has been featured by PopSugar, Parents, SheKnows, and Romper, and was named a top 50 parenting podcast by Podcast Magazine.  Abbey navigates her blended family/coparenting life in Cincinnati, OH with her husband, four kids, and two sister labs. You Can Find Abbey: On Instagram: @youthemother On her website, youthemother.com Links Mentioned In Today's Episode Get your Ultimate Access Pass and get access to the Stepmom Summit HERE! Got a question for me or something you're struggling with in your stepfamily life? Submit a question to be answered on a future podcast episode HERE Want to go deeper into coparenting, finding your own peace, and other blended family challenges? Join the Stepfamily Circle HERE

What happens when you realize you're in a high-conflict situation? All too often, stepmoms get into their stepfamily only to realize their spouse's ex is way more high-conflict than they realized or that there is some pretty nasty parental alienation happening. That's exactly what happened to Maarit Miller and we're talking all about her experience and how it led her to start coaching others through similar situations. Maarit spoke at our recent Stepmom Summit (the Summit is over but you can still access the presentations for a few more days with an Ultimate Access Pass) About Maarit: Maarit has been a mom for 20+ years, a stepmom for 15+, and was one of the founding moderators over at the stepparent support subreddit. She's been nominated for Best Stepmom Blog and named a Top 10 Blended Family Blog. Blended Family Frappé was also listed as one of the best blended family Instagram accounts to follow. And she says when she's running her site, she's probably eating tacos while watching Star Wars. You Can Find Maarit: On Instagram: @blendedfamilyfrappe On her website, blendedfamilyfrappe.com  Links Mentioned In Today's Episode Get your Ultimat Access Pass and get access to the Stepmom Summit HERE! Got a question for me or something you're struggling with in your stepfamily life? Submit a question to be answered on a future podcast episode HERE Want to go deeper into coparenting, finding your own peace, and other blended family challenges? Join the Stepfamily Circle HERE Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best! And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I'll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It's normally $49 and it's a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you'll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!

Does High Conflict Coparenting Ever Get Better? That's what we're talking about in today's episode with CEO and co-founder of the High Conflict Institute, Megan Hunter, another "three-peat" guest (Episode 27 and Episode 59) and speaker at this year's Stepmom Summit (which is coming up April 25-28th - you can get on the waitlist for doors to open HERE).  Megan will give us a bit of a preview of what she and Bill Eddy will discuss when they appear together at the Summit in a few weeks - and, as always, some great tips for handling any high conflict personalities you may have in your life.  About Megan: Megan Hunter, MBA, is the co-founder and CEO. She developed the concept of the Institute after 13 years in policy, legislation, and judicial training with the Arizona Supreme Court and five years with the Dawes County Attorney's Office in Nebraska. She is founder and publisher of Unhooked Books, a U.S.-based media company. Megan has trained professionals in business, public service, law, education, and mental health in the U.S. and seven  other countries. She holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix and a Business and Economics degree from Chadron State College. She has served as President of the Arizona Chapter of the Association of Family & Conciliation Courts, the Arizona Family Support Council and Nebraska Child Support Enforcement Association. She served five  years on the Arizona Board of Psychologist Examiner, and is one of our experts serving on the Advisory board of Stepfamily Solutions. You Can Find Megan: On Instagram @highconflictinstitute On her website, highconflictinstitute.com Links Mentioned In Today's Episode Get your FREE ticket for the Stepmom Summit HERE! Got a question for me or something you're struggling with in your stepfamily life? Submit a question to be answered on a future podcast episode HERE Want to go deeper into coparenting, finding your own peace, and other blended family challenges? Join the Stepfamily Circle HERE Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best! And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I'll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It's normally $49 and it's a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you'll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!  

Is it possible to stepmom without losing yourself? That's what we're talking about in today's episode with relationship crisis coach Jessica Frew - a "three-peat" guest (Episode 29 and Episode 65) and speaker at this year's Stepmom Summit (which is coming up April 25-28th - you can get on the waitlist for doors to open HERE). And spoiler alert, Jessica has some great advice. About Jessica: Jessica Frew is a wife, ex-wife, mom, stepmom, and BOLD action taker. She has a successful podcast called “Husband in Law” that she records with her husband, Matt, and her ex-husband, Steve. Together they are sharing their stories of love, marriage, coming out, divorce, remarriage and co-parenting to help others know they are not alone. She owns The BOLD Logic, a company devoted to helping people figure out the “What NOW?!” after crisis in their relationship or having a partner come out. Jessica is a firm believer that by knowing and understanding what it is you really want in life you can BOLDly create a life you love, no matter what your circumstances. You Can Find Jessica: On Instagram @heyjessicafrew On her podcast, Husband In Law On her website, theboldlogic.com Links Mentioned In Today's Episode Hop on the waitlist for the Stepmom Summit HERE Got a question for me or something you're struggling with in your stepfamily life? Submit a question to be answered on a future podcast episode HERE Want to go deeper into coparenting, finding your own peace, and other blended family challenges? Join the Stepfamily Circle HERE Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best! And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I'll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It's normally $49 and it's a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you'll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!

Let's Get Comfortable . . . In Your Own Skin. Today's episode is about getting more comfortable in your own skin. Specifically as it relates to your partner's ex and comparing yourself to her. This is something that I hear ALL THE TIME from stepmoms. And it can take various forms.  It can be overt, like wondering if your spouse thinks she's prettier or smarter than you.  But it can also be sneaky and lead to even more insecurities, like when you wonder why your partner married her to begin with.  Whatever way it comes, you can find yourself down an unhealthy rabbit hole real quick. And you can find yourself obsessing over her. Her looks, her parenting skills, why she doesn't like you. On and on and on.  I'll walk you through some of the most common comparisons - and we'll talk about how you can reset your outlook the next time you find yourself wondering if you're measuring up. Links Mentioned In Today's Episode If you'd like more on this topic, you can check out Linda Black's piece in Stepfamily Magazine: Stepmoms, Quit Comparing Yourself To Your Partner's Ex. Got a question for me or something you're struggling with in your stepfamily life? Submit a question to be answered on a future podcast episode HERE Want to go deeper into coparenting, finding your own peace, and other blended family challenges? Join the Stepfamily Circle HERE Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best! And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I'll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It's normally $49 and it's a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you'll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!

Are you a people pleaser? If so, this episode is for YOU. Our guest today has been here before, back on episode 61. And she recently published her first book, The People Pleaser's Guide to Coparenting Well.  About Mikki: Mikki Gardner is a Certified Life and Conscious Parenting Coach, a mom, a speaker, host of the Co-Parenting with Confidence Podcast, and author of the People Pleaser's Guide to Co-Parenting Well. Mikki's personal struggles with divorce motivated her to become a “better mom” so that she could better help her son overcome the challenges of their new family dynamic. Drawing on her academic background, professional training, and personal experience, she empowers other moms to move beyond the overwhelming obstacles of co-parenting and thrive after divorce. Mikki strives to guide moms to navigate the divorce & co-parenting drama by becoming calm, confident co-parents, even without their ex's participation. Mikki is on a mission to help children by helping their moms learn to handle the emotional and practical difficulties of divorce and co-parenting while creating an intentional, joyful, and ease-filled life for both themselves and their children. You can find Mikki:  On her podcast, Co-Parenting With Confidence  You can grab her book HERE  Follow her on Instagram Visit her website: www.mikkigardner.com Links Mentioned In Today's Episode Listen to my first interview with Mikki back in Episode 61 HERE. Got a question for me or something you're struggling with in your stepfamily life? Submit a question to be answered on a future podcast episode HERE Want to go deeper into coparenting, finding your own peace, and other blended family challenges? Join the Stepfamily Circle HERE Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best! And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I'll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It's normally $49 and it's a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you'll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!

In today's episode, I'm answering your questions! I put out a call before the holidays for questions and boy, did you respond! I'm so excited to tackle these and hope today is just the first of many Q&A episodes.  Today's question is from Lauren, who wants to know if feeling like an outsider ever really gets better and how she can cope with it. If you've got a question you'd like me to answer, head HERE and ask away!  Links Mentioned In Today's Episode Submit a question to be answered on a future episode HERE Join the Stepfamily Circle HERE Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best! And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I'll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It's normally $49 and it's a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you'll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!

Today I'm talking to another veteran stepfamily coach, Amelia Lane, all about how to get "okay" with it when you realize your expectations do not line up with your stepfamily reality.  Amelia has been a guest expert inside the Stepfamily Circle membership, which you can learn more about HERE. And she's got some great insights for you - no matter what stage of stepmom life you're in! About Amelia Amelia Lane is a Certified Stepparent Coach and the co-founder of The Art of Blended Chaos, based out of a small town in Ontario, Canada. As a {second} wife, mother of two, and stepmom of one, Amelia draws on 13 years of partnership, 8 years of marriage, and a lifetime of navigating stepfamily dynamics when working with clients. Her personal journey, from a child of divorce to a blended family maven, fuels her coaching. Amelia doesn't just bring certification; she brings a lifetime of lived experiences, having triumphed over jealousy, insecurity, parenting differences, communication blocks and a handful of other stepfamily challenges. Before coaching, Amelia spent 12 years in long-term care as a Personal Support Worker, caring for the elderly and assisting psychiatric patients in a group-homes. Now, with a continued passion for helping others, she leverages her unique insights to guide clients through the maze of stepfamily life. You Can Find Amelia: On Instagram @amelia.lane.stepparentcoach and @theartofblendedchaos  You can learn more about all of the ways Amelia On her website www.theartofblendedchaos.com  Amelia has offered listeners of the podcast 50% of her eBook: The {Un}Official Guide to Becoming an Empowered Stepmom. Just head HERE and use the code: STEPMOMDIARIES at checkout.  Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best! And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I'll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It's normally $49 and it's a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you'll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!

Today I'm talking to a veteran stepfamily coach and one of last year's Stepmom Summit speakers, Mindy Kyle. We are talking about how it feels when you realize you've gone from dating to the deep end of stepfamily life and feel like you are barely staying afloat.  Mindy has a wealth of experience in that very subject and some great insights for stepmoms who might be struggling right now. About Mindy Mindy Kyle is no stranger to the struggles that often come with the title of stepmom. She became a stepmom to 4 kids at the early age of 24.  Because of her struggles through her own stepmom journey, she focuses solely on helping other stepmoms who feel they are barely surviving their stepmom roles and instead create the kind of deeply connected, harmonious, and purpose-filled lives they have always dreamt of living. You Can Find Mindy: At mindykylecoaching.com On Instagram: @mindykylecoaching Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best! And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I'll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It's normally $49 and it's a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you'll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!

In this episode, I'm talking to a rockstar in the influencer marketing world, but one who also happens to be a stepmom and has one of the best relationships with her stepchildren's mom that I've ever seen. Sarah Boyd and I actually met sitting next to each other at a dinner hosted by a mutual friend, Susie Moore, in Miami. And the more I talked to her about her family life and what a rockstar she is, the more I thought, I've got to have her on the podcast! The mom of Sarah's stepkids is journalist and influencer Catt Sadler, and it's amazing how they have navigated their situation. I can't wait for you to hear from her. About Sarah Sarah Boyd is the Founder and creative force behind SIMPLY, a collective with one goal in mind: connecting. Sarah started her career in Fashion PR and in 2012, she decided to channel her expert industry know-how, her extensive list of contacts, and relationships into starting her own business. The SIMPLY 'Do What You Love' event is an annual Fashion and Beauty Conference in cities such as LA, NY, Chicago, and Dubai. Since 2012, SIMPLY has hosted tens of thousands of attendees. In 2016, with the rise of influencer marketing, Sarah started managing some of the most sought-after celebrity influencers. Her current/past clients roster includes Alessandra Ambrosio, Jamie Chung, Olivia Culpo, Julianne Hough, Lauren Bushnell Lane, Jana Kramer, and many more who look to Sarah to help them capitalize on their influential status in the entertainment industry to make their mark in the influencer world. Sarah's reach is undeniable and she has been able to secure partnerships with prestigious brands like CITI, Topshop, Barney's NY and many more. She's been featured in Marie Claire, People Style Watch, Fox News, E!, LA Business Journal, to name a few, and she was named a "Female Founder to Watch" by Forbes and is now a Forbes Fashion and Beauty contributor. In 2017, Sarah completed a successful acquisition for SIMPLY with Socialyte (under the NYLON LLC parent company) and Sarah held the position of President of Socialyte. In 2018, Sarah co-founded the Moms + Babes Box with partner Jana Kramer which is a quarterly subscription box filled with 6+ full sized products for moms and their babes. In 2020, Sarah and Jana sold the business but remain advisors and the face of the brand. In 2022, Socialyte was acquired by Dolphin Entertainment and in 2023, Socialyte and Be Social merged to become The Digital Dept. where Sarah is currently the co-CEO. You Can Find Sarah: At The Digital Dept On Social: Instagram @sarahpboyd // @thedigitaldpt  LinkedIn @sarahpboyd And don't forget to save your seat for the Jan. 24th Masterclass: 6 Simple Steps To Stepfamily Peace: The blueprint happy stepmoms use to achieve harmony in their stepfamily life - even when it feels like a chaos-free home is just a pipe dream.  Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best! And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I'll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It's normally $49 and it's a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you'll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!  

It's a brand new year and we're back with all new episodes! Today, we're talking about the new beginnings that come with a new year. To include word of the year. And resolutions. We're talking about the differences between stepfamily life and first-family life and why they matter.   AND I'm going to fill you in on some big and exciting changes I've got going on for you.  The first one - and the biggest - is that This Custom Life has officially merged with Stepfamily Magazine! We have formed Stepfamily Solutions.  Stepfamily Solutions is the new home of The Stepmom Diaries podcast, all of the This Custom Life courses, Stepfamily Magazine, The Stepmom Summit, The Stepmom Retreat, and the Stepfamily Circle membership. With our curated content, research-backed tools, and expert advisory board, we are truly your one-stop shop for all of your stepmom and stepfamily needs.  The other big news we've got is that our Stepfamily Circle membership is getting a huge overhaul. Later this month, we're launching a brand new custom site for our members. We're putting the finishing touches on the site, which will house our exclusive community off social media for stepmoms and stepfamilies to access experts, tools and resources, and coaching. Every single month.  In addition to a brand new site and portal, we are launching a brand new custom app for the membership so that you'll have all of our resources on the go. It's honestly amazing and we're so excited to unveil it this month.  AND to celebrate the new site and app, we're adding hundreds of dollars of additional exclusive courses and resources into the membership.  Check out the site HERE and follow me on social ⬇️ to stay up to date on all the things!  Links Mentioned: Stepfamily Solutions: www.stepfamilysolutions.com Stepfamily Circle membership: www.stepfamilycircle.com Instagram: @stepfamilysolutions Facebook: @stepfamilysolutions TikTok: @stepfamilysolutions Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best! And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I'll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It's normally $49 and it's a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you'll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!

Today I'm talking to Beth McDonough, my partner in Stepfamily Magazine, which includes the Stepmom Summit, the Stepfamily Circle Membership, and our upcoming Stepmom Retreat (we still have one spot for you if you're looking for a getaway!). In this episode, you'll get a sneak peek into how we work, as we shoot the breeze talking about all the things - especially what we'd go back and tell our younger selves as new stepmoms. About Beth: Beth McDonough is a badass stepmom coach and happens to be my business partner over at Stepfamily Magazine. We started our partnership when we co-founded The Stepmom Summit a few years ago and have been working together ever since to create more resources for stepfamilies. Beth runs The Inclusive Stepmom, where she takes stepmoms from hopeless to happy through 1:1 and group coaching and courses.  Her work has been featured in NPR, Good Morning America, SheKnows Parenting, BabyCenter, Bustle, Romper, Mom2.0, and ParentMap. The Inclusive Stepmom was also named one of the best stepparenting blogs by Healthline in 2020. Beth has a Master of Arts degree in English Literature from Gannon University in Erie, PA. Currently, she works as the Director of Content at digital marketing agency &Marketing and serves on the Marketing Committee for the Crawford County Housing Coalition. YOU CAN FIND BETH: On her website, theinclusivestepmom.com Instagram: @theinclusivestepmom Facebook: @theinclusivestepmom LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: The 2023 Stepmom Retreat [November 9-11, St. George, Utah] Stepfamily Magazine The Stepfamily Circle Membership Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best! And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I'll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It's normally $49 and it's a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you'll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!

I am so excited about today's guest. She is a family friend of my husband Craig's and has become a friend and mentor of mine. She happens to also be a stepmom and a Kickass one at that. This post contains affiliate links. For more about what that means, click here. Gay Gaddis is an entrepreneur, author, artist, and trailblazer. She's the founder of T3, one of the largest woman-owned independent advertising agencies in the U.S., which she led for over 30 years. She's a popular speaker on women's leadership, company culture, and entrepreneurship, and wrote the book Cowgirl Power: How to Kick Ass in Business & Life. She's a contributor to Forbes and founded Women Who Mean Business, a women's development program that she co-teaches at the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas. Gay has received numerous awards including the 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award by the University of Texas, 2021 Hall of Fame Award by the McCombs School of Business, the Liz Carpenter Lifetime Achievement Award, Fast Company's Top 25 Women Business  Builders, Inc. Magazine's Top 10 Entrepreneurs of the Year and C200's Luminary Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence. Gay is also an amazing artist and her bold and vibrant paintings have been shown in a number of prestigious galleries around the country including New York City and Santa Fe. Texas Monthly magazine named Gay as one of “10 Artists to Collect Now.” Gay and her husband own and operate the historic Double Heart Ranch in the Texas Hill Country, home to Gay's private art studio and gallery, Fossil Ridge. You can snag a copy of Gay's book HERE, and you can find Gay: LinkedIn: GayGaddisInstagram: @GayGaddis                              Facebook: @Gay.Gaddis Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best! And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I'll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It's normally $49 and it's a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you'll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!

In case no one told you, stepmom life can be really tough (duh, right?). But I've got your back in today's bonus mini-episode. I'm excited to tell you about this free bootcamp I'm doing NEXT WEEK. This is something I've wanted to do for a while and the time finally felt right, so I hope you're excited too.  I'll be helping you uncover:  The 3 Steps that have helped stepmoms around the world understand their role in order to let go of the guilt, frustration, or shame that comes with being a stepmom in today's society.  How to improve your relationship in blended, new, or complex families - even if you're dealing with a difficult ex, without sacrificing your relationships with your partner or your kids.  The keys to dealing with conflict in the unique power dynamics that blended families create, without stepping on anybody's toes or creating more chaos.  . . . and MORE! You can find out more and sign up here: www.thiscustomlife.com/bootcamp Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best! And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I'll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It's normally $49 and it's a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you'll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!

Today's topic is one I haven't talked much about before: stepmom infertility and the challenges around being a childless stepmom. Many stepmoms struggle with infertility and how to cope with being childless. I've spent a lot of time thinking about this over the years. And if I'm being honest, a lot of time trying to understand it all for myself. And coaching myself around my obstacles and mindsets, too.  Childless stepmoms can be childless by choice or by circumstance. Either way, it can be a difficult experience. But in today's episode, I'm talking specifically about being childless by circumstance - meaning not because you chose to be.  I'll walk through the challenges around stepmom infertility, including the challenges I have faced, and I'll discuss a few coping strategies that have helped me over the years. If you're struggling with being childless by circumstance, I hope this will help you, too. Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best! And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I'll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It's normally $49 and it's a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you'll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint! 

Stepfamily finances and the issues around them are some of the most important but least talked about (at least in advance) landmines that must be navigated in a new blended family. When I met my husband, Craig, we talked about all kinds of things when we were planning to marry and move in together. But you know what we didn't talk about? Stepfamily finances. We did sit down right around when we got engaged to go through each of our assets and debts. And we talked about our philosophy around debt…But that was about the extent of it.  There are a ton of things to consider around stepfamily finances. Way too much for just one podcast episode. So today I'm covering my top pieces of advice. These are things that are great to do before you tie the knot or merge your households, but if you're like me and didn't - it's never too late! Links Mentioned In This Episode:  Stepfamilymoney.com: Snag your FREE copy of The Top 10 Conversations Every Stepmom Needs To Have About Money. Stepfamily Finances Can Get Sticky: 3 Tips for Parenting Peace, by Cameron Normand for CNET 5 Must-Have Money Conversations Before Becoming A Stepmom, by Cameron Normand for Insider Episode 54, Raising Financial Grownups with Bobbi Rebell Episode 1442, So Money Podcast With Farnoosh Torabi:  Financial Advice for Step Parents and Blended Families Financial Tips For Grownups Podcast With Bobbi Rebell: Money Tips For Complicated Families Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best! And follow me on Instagram for even more stepmom content!

Dear stepmom, please know you are not alone when you're overwhelmed by big life changes. Whether you've got kids moving away to school, you have a new job, or you're just changing in your season of life, transitions can be tricky for everyone - but especially when you factor in stepfamily dynamics. This episode is all about how to get through those life changes. And I'll walk you through a couple of recent life transitions I experienced this summer and how I dealt with them.   Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best! For more stepmom resources, visit me at thiscustomlife.com or follow me on Instagram! 

Michelle Dempsey-Multack likes to say that her mission in life is to help her clients ensure their children have a co-parenting experience they won't need to recover from. And as a child of divorce who experienced a fairly terrible coparenting dynamic, I so appreciate having her out in the world.  About Michelle: Michelle Dempsey-Multack is a Certified Divorce and Co-Parenting Specialist, bestselling author, educator for divorce coaches, and top 1% podcaster known for her ability to inspire and empower moms through their divorce and co-parenting journeys. Michelle's passion for “putting the child first” in the divorce process while helping everyone she reaches feel supported and empowered, makes her a sought-after coach by clients as well as divorce industry professionals from around the globe.  Michelle has helped thousands of women find the permission to move on confidently after divorce as they move towards a more intentional and holistic co-parenting experience – one that their kids can be proud of one day.  Michelle is the author of Moms Moving On: Real Life Advice on Conquering Divorce, Co-Parenting Through Conflict, and Becoming Your Best Self from Simon and Schuster. Michelle was also a speaker at this year's Stepmom Summit, which if you missed it - it's not too late. You can still access her presentation and all the others HERE. You can find Michelle: On her website: www.michelledempsey.com On Instagram: @themichelledempsey Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best!

Last week, we talked about new stepmoms - This week, I'm chatting with one of the OG stepmom coaches, Barb Goldberg, about how to stepmom through life's transitions. I've known Barb, aka the "evil stepmother," for several years. She's an accomplished writer, executive, and coach, and has been one of our most popular speakers at The Stepmom Summit every year. And when I was out in Arizona in May with Beth McDonough, we got to finally meet Barb in person and enjoy a wonderful dinner.  We talked about stepmom life, our businesses, and everything in between. And you're going to get a sample of all her amazingness in this episode. About Barb: Barb Goldberg is the author and owner of The Evil Stepmother Speaks website, blog, book, and podcast. As the stepmother to three children and the biological mom to one son, Barb has been through the trenches and understands the challenges of stepmother life. Now, her children are grown and she can look back and teach practical solutions while keeping you laughing along the way. Barb has a Bachelor's degree in Special Education, a Master's degree in Business Administration, and is a certified Dr. Martha Beck life coach. Barb spoke again at this year's Stepmom Summit. [and by the way, if you missed the Stepmom Summit, you can still access presentations from this (and past) years HERE].  You can find Barb: On Instagram: @evilstepmom At theevilstepmotherspeaks.com and StepmomSanctuaryRetreat.com Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best!

If you're a new stepmom (or even a not-so-new stepmom) who has struggled, today's guest will speak to you.   Because I'm talking to a stepmom coach about how to find your footing. My guest this week is Bee Chatman, a stepmom coach and Operations Manager at the Naja Hall Coaching Agency who helps her stepfamily clients with all the things. About Bee: Bee is an experienced coach and serves as Operations Manager at The Naja Hall Coaching Agency. With 6 years of dedication in the field of coaching, Bee is knowledgeable in life transitions, empathy, and reflective thinking. As a custodial stepmom and military spouse, Bee brings a unique perspective to her stepfamily coaching and has helped stepmoms worldwide.  Bee also spoke at our third annual Stepmom Summit back in April about the "ABCs" of how to be an unbothered stepmom. [and by the way, if you missed the Stepmom Summit, you can still access presentations from this (and past) years HERE].  You can find Bee: On Instagram: @chatwithbee On VIP Stepmom HERE Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best!

If you've ever felt like you've gotten lost in your relationship or your stepfamily, today's conversation will resonate with you. My guest is relationship crisis coach, Jessica Frew. Jessica is an expert at helping her clients deal with betrayal - recognizing it and coming back from it, all while making sure to keep their sense of self.  About Jessica: Jessica Frew is a wife, ex-wife, mom, stepmom, and BOLD action taker. She has a successful podcast called “Husband in Law” that she records with her husband, Matt, and her ex-husband, Steve. Together they are sharing their stories of love, marriage, coming out, divorce, remarriage and co-parenting to help others know they are not alone. She owns The BOLD Logic, a company devoted to helping people figure out the “What NOW?!” after betrayal or having a partner come out. Jessica is a firm believer that by knowing and understanding what it is you really want in life you can BOLDly create a life you love, no matter what your circumstances. Jessica was once again a popular speaker at this year's Stepmom Summit. [and by the way, if you missed the Stepmom Summit last month, you can still grab an all-access pass HERE].  You can find Jessica: On Instagram: @heyjessicafrew On her podcast, husband-in-law On her website: theboldlogic.com Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best!

Today's guest is one of my favorite stepmom coaches. She's seen it all and her down-to-earth (and sometimes blunt, but in the best possible way) advice is always spot-on. And regardless of what you may be struggling with in your stepmom life, you'll get great advice from Anita in this episode. About Anita:  As a step-child, divorced mother, and step-mother Anita has been part of a step-family for most of her life. This gives her important insight into the varied and complex dynamics at play within step- and divorced families and brings her personal experience and years of mentoring along with graduate and post-graduate qualifications in psychology to her work. As a survivor of childhood trauma she understands the additional challenges being a trauma survivor adds to the step-family dynamic. Feelings of entitlement, not belonging, and negativity from other parties within the dynamic can all be triggering for trauma survivors. Having experienced a very high conflict custody situation and pathogenic parenting, Anita is well versed in how to maintain relationships with children who are experiencing pressure to reject the targeted parent and family. Anita operates from a narrative therapy perspective, believing that the stories we tell ourselves, the stories that are told about us, and the stories of those we interact with, are all key in determining how happy our relationships are. Anita is always one of our most popular speakers at the Stepmom Summit and this year was no exception. [and by the way, if you missed the Stepmom Summit last month, you can still grab an all-access pass HERE]. And Anita is the founder of the Institute of stepfamily dynamics. Anita was also the co-founder of Stepfamily Magazine, which Beth McDonough and I acquired from her last year.  You can find Anita: On Instagram: @stepfamilydynamics On her website: step-familydynamics.com  Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best!

Today's guest is truly "radical." If you haven't listened to her podcast, you've probably seen her relatable, raw, and often funny stepmom posts on Instagram. It's a delight to get to chat with Christina Nelson of Radical Stepmoms about all the things. And Christina gives us a preview of her talk at the Stepmom Summit, the free 3-day event I host for stepmoms, which is THIS WEEK! If you haven't heard me talk about the summit, it's a live, online (did I mention free?) event for stepmoms. We've got 25 of the world's top experts in stepfamily issues talking about all. the. things. You'll walk away with actionable tips and advice that will help your stepmom life - today. Grab your free spot HERE.  About Christina:  Christina Nelson is a clinical social worker and therapist in Seattle, Washington. As a stepmom, mom and wife, she created the Radical Stepmoms Podcast and is committed to sharing the raw stepmom experience, letting others know they aren't alone. Christina creates a space to support stepmoms and their partners, assisting them in getting unstuck and building the love and life they desire. You can find her:  On Instagram: @radicalstepmomspodcast On her website: radicalstepmomspodcast.com

Today we're kicking ass and taking names. Just kidding (kind of) - I'm actually having a discussion with one of the OG's in the online stepmom space, Jamie Scrimgeour, host of The Kickass Stepmom podcast. I always enjoy a chat with Jamie and we are talking about all. the. things.  Jamie is also a speaker at our third annual Stepmom Summit next week. The Stepmom Summit will feature presentations, live panels, and coaching with 25 of the world's top stepfamily experts. You can grab your FREE ticket to hear her speak HERE!  About Jamie: Jamie is wife, stepmom, and mom to four kids ranging in age from 8 to 20. When she first became a stepmom, she quickly realized that she was in over her head. Disappointed in the type of support available for stepmoms, she decided to create the type of support she was looking for. Now, Jamie is a top charting podcast host, digital creator and Life Coach with a Specialization in Stepfamily Dynamics and the internet's go to for stepmom support. Jamie's loyal community of followers see her as the go to for parenting, lifestyle and personal growth content. Through her podcast, The KICK-ASS Stepmom Podcast and membership, The Exclusive Stepmom Community, Jamie's goal is to inspire women to live their own version of a KICK-ASS Life, while bringing them along as she creates her own. Jamie is a Certified life Coach with a specialization in Stepfamily Dynamics. She has a BA Honors in Psychology, a post grad in Social Service Work, and prior to starting her digital platform, she enjoyed a career in Child Protection. Where You Can Find Jamie:  Her website: www.jamiescrimgeour.com Her podcast: www.jamiescrimgeour.com/podcast On Instagram and Facebook   At the 2023 Stepmom Summit - grab your ticket HERE! Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best!

I've had some amazing podcast guests the last few months, and have even more coming up in the next few months - but I thought I'd take a beat and record a quick bonus episode for you to talk about some of the things going on in my world and some things I've been working on for you. It can be hard to find resources that apply to your specific stepmom situation. I've got access to so many resources that are helpful for stepmoms, so I wanted to highlight just a few that are coming up that you might enjoy. And the great part is that they range in price from free to kind of pricey so there are options no matter where you are in your journey and what is realistic for you.  Links Mentioned In This Episode The Stepmom Summit - happening April 20-22 with more than 25 of the top stepfamily experts in the world providing actionable tools and advice on every stepmom topic you can imagine. You can get your FREE ticket HERE. The Stepfamily Circle - a monthly membership that gives you regular access to group coaching, top experts, and resources to help you no matter what stage of stepfamily life you're in. Doors will re-open during the summit for the first time this year. You can get a free trial when you upgrade your summit ticket, or you can keep an eye out on my Insta April 20-22 for more info. The Stepmom Retreat - coming up in the fall, we'll take a small group of stepmoms to southern Utah for 3 days of wellness, fellowship, and coaching. It's going to be magical - you can learn more hop on the waitlist HERE so that you're the first to know when we open registration. Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best!

Last episode, we had a great chat with Katie Davie about coparenting - and it's such an important topic, we're continuing the discussion this week. Coparenting, both in your household and with your partner's ex, can be loaded with stress. Today's guest, stepmom Mikki Gardner, talks about what "conscious parenting" is and how you can be more intentional in your relationship with your spouse - and their ex.  About Mikki Mikki Gardner is the host of the Co-Parenting With Confidence Podcast and a mom of 3 (her son and 2 bonus sons). After learning how to navigate life post divorce and using it as a catalyst to her own transformation, Mikki now helps moms move past the divorce drama to become calm, confident co-parents, even without their ex's participation.   Mikki has built a wonderful relationship with her ex's new partner and created a blended family where they can vacation together and raise happy children. She is on a mission to help women navigate the emotional and practical difficulties of divorce and co-parenting while creating an intentional, joy and an ease-filled life after divorce.   Mikki has offered my listeners a free masterclass on conscious coparenting, which you can find HERE.    You Can Find Mikki on Instagram and on her website.    Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best!

Supporting your spouse as they coparent with their ex can be one of the hardest parts of stepmom life. Today's guest, Katie Davie, has found a way to help coparents that doesn't require the high conflict coparent to even be a part of the process. She founded Coparenting Peacefully in 2021, where she helps coparents, biological parents, and stepparents become the best versions of themselves - and protect their peace.  Katie has an undergraduate degree in psychology, has studied at the High Conflict Institute, and is a certified coach. Her ebook, Your Guide To Coparenting With Boundaries is available online - and you can access it HERE.  Katie also offers The Big Book of Boundaries and Scripts: 200+ scripts, which comes with advice around specific boundary areas, examples, and enforcements. You can access it HERE. You Can Find Katie on her website HERE and follow her on Instagram.  Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best!

Have you ever wished stepmom life could just be easier? This week's guest is going to tell us how you can “let it be easy.”  A few weeks ago in Episode 56, I got to chat with one of my business mentors, Amy Porterfield, about her stepmom life and this week I'm talking to one of my other business mentors (and really one of my favorite people around), Susie Moore, who's got some amazing lessons around mindset.  Susie grew up living on welfare in a variety of women's shelters, often on the run from her abusive, alcoholic, drug-addicted father. Getting approval from others - because she picked the right jeans or got the right haircut - gave her the illusion of safety and love, but she quickly realized those were “approval traps' and began watching and studying what truly self-assured people were like. She started work as a receptionist, worked her way up to being a top sales director at a Silicon Valley startup, and today, Susie Moore is a life coach and advice columnist for some of the world's biggest media outlets. Her work has been featured on the Today show, Oprah, Business Insider, CNN, Forbes, Time Inc, Entrepreneur, Marie Claire, and the Huffington Post. Her insights have been shared by celebrities and thought leaders including Arianna Huffington, Paulo Coelho, Kris Jenner, and Sara Blakely.  Her first book What if It Does Work Out? was named by Entrepreneur as one of the 8 Business Books Entrepreneurs Must Read to Dominate Their Industry and her second book, Stop Checking Your Likes debuted as an Amazon bestseller in April 2020. Her most recent book, Let It Be Easy: Simple Ways To Stop Stressing And Start Living, was published in 2021. And of course, Susie has been a mentor of mine for a few years now and I just adore her. She is like a ball of sunshine everywhere she goes - and it's not because she lives in Miami. Her motto, to always "let it be easy" has given her the best outlook on life, which is what we're talking about in this episode.  Susie lives in Miami with her husband Heath and Yorkshire Terrier, Coconut.  You Can Find Susie on her website HERE and follow her on Instagram HERE.  Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best!

In this episode, I'm bringing back my guest from Episode 27, Megan Hunter, to talk about high-conflict relationships. This is a topic that just can't be discussed enough and as CEO of the High Conflict Institute, Megan's expertise is unmatched.  About Megan: Megan Hunter, MBA, is co-founder and CEO of the High Conflict Institute and founder/publisher at Unhooked Books. Megan is a keynote speaker and trainer on high-conflict interactions and disputes, and conflict influencing. She is the author of several books and serves on several boards throughout her career. She is a mom of 3, stepmom of 5, nana of 4, and wife of the world's best husband. Resources Mentioned In This Episode The Stepmom Diaries Episode 27, A Conversation With Megan Hunter, CEO of the High Conflict Institute The Stepmom Summit - we're hosting our third annual Stepmom Summit next month and could not be more thrilled that Megan will return as a speaker. You can grab a spot on the waitlist HERE!  The BIFF Response® Template - Megan has provided a great free template to my listeners that will help you formulate a "BIFF" response when you're dealing with a high-conflict personality. You can download it HERE. Megan has written a number of helpful books related to high-conflict personalities, relationships, and coparenting. You can find them, and others, HERE.   Did you like this episode? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy - all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "write a review." Then just let me know what you like best!

In this episode, we're talking about something we haven't tackled yet: relationships and marriage after 60. Settling down in your later years presents totally different blended family issues than what you face in your younger or midlife years.  There are 73 million people over the age of sixty in the United States, or twenty-two percent of the total population – and that number is only growing. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, by 2050, the number of people aged sixty-five to eighty-nine will double, while the number of Americans over the age of ninety is expected to quadruple. And while much has been written about the economic needs and impacts of this aging population, there's not much out there about the emotional lives of the age group.  My husband's parents are in this demographic and they both got remarried the same summer we did. They had been divorced 16 years. And they both remarried the most wonderful people. I really hit the inlaw jackpot - and I'm not just saying that because they might listen to this!  But getting married after sixty - and in their case in their seventies - presented totally different blended family issues than what I faced when I married their son. They all had lived very full lives before they married. And they all had adult children - and while that certainly makes some things easier, it can present other issues that just weren't top of mind for me and Craig. Which is what we're talking about in this episode. My guest, Nan Bauer-Maglin, is Professor Emerita at the City University of New York. She has published eight collections (six with coeditors) on topics such as stepfamilies, retirement, feminism, death, dying and choice, and older parenting. Her latest book is Gray Love: Stories About Dating and New Relationships After 60. In Gray Love, Nan and her co-editor, Daniel E. Hood, have compiled a series of essays that provide a fascinating first-hand glimpse into the love lives of older Americans as they face the twilight of their lives. Did you like this episode? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy - all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "write a review." Then just let me know what you like best! 

This is a special episode because I am interviewing one of my favorite business mentors, Amy Porterfield - who also happens to be a stepmom. And Amy doesn't hold back. She talks all about how she balanced stepmom life with building her multimillion-dollar business. And how she dealt with the struggles of not feeling like a "real mom." And she gives us a sneak peek into her brand new book, Two Weeks Notice - a handbook for any woman who's thought about starting her own business. The book is already a bestseller and will make a difference in the lives of thousands of women. About Amy: Amy Porterfield is an ex-corporate girl turned online marketing expert and CEO of a multimillion-dollar business. During her corporate days, Amy worked with mega-brands like Harley-Davidson, as well as Peak Performance Coach Tony Robbins. After one fateful boardroom meeting and witnessing the lifestyle, financial, and work freedom an online business has to offer, Amy developed her nine-to-five exit plan and never looked back. Through her best-selling courses and top-ranked marketing podcast Online Marketing Made Easy, Amy has helped hundreds of thousands of entrepreneurs turn in their two weeks' notice and trade burnout for freedom, income, and impact. Amy's action-by-action teaching style provides aspiring business owners with the tools they need to bypass the overwhelm and build a business they love. Amy empowers women across the globe to take their futures into their own hands and find professional autonomy, independence, achievement, and success far beyond what a corporate glass ceiling would traditionally allow. Amy's work has been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, CNBC, Business Insider, Entrepreneur, and more. Her company has twice been awarded the Inc. 5000 Award as one of the fastest-growing privately held companies in the U.S. Today, she runs her growing business from Nashville, Tennessee, where she lives with her husband, Hobie, and their Labradoodle, Scout.  You can find Amy:  amyporterfield.com Instagram: @amyporterfield Facebook: @amyporterfield TikTok: @amy.porterfield About Two Weeks Notice:  Ever wish there was a step-by-step blueprint for designing your life for financial freedom, lifestyle flexibility, and major impact? No more wishful thinking is necessary, the blueprint exists, and it's backed by solid proof that all of the above is possible (even if you have no idea how to get started, no advantages, and no secret bank account to serve as a backup plan). In her highly anticipated book, award-winning entrepreneur, Amy Porterfield, delivers a practical, proven plan that's helped thousands of women design their own destinies. Two Weeks Notice is a guide to online business building that leaves no stone unturned for those looking to go all in on the life of their dreams. You can buy Two Weeks Notice at Amazon or wherever you buy books. And I've added Two Weeks Notice to my book recommendations HERE. Did you like this episode? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy - all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "write a review." Then just let me know what you like best!  And if you haven't already, make sure you follow The Stepmom Diaries. If you're not following me, you'll miss out on all the goodness to come!   

How Do You Move Forward When Things Get Tough?  Balancing all the stepfamily things can be really overwhelming. And if you're like me, sometimes you just want to crawl back into bed and hit the "fast forward" button until things are calmer. Except they don't ever really get calmer, do they?  Today's guest, Michelle Wolfe, is in tune with that emotion. She's the host of the Muve Forward podcast, investor, and founder of MUVE Life Activewear.  If you like The Stepmom Diaries, can you do me a favor? Head to iTunes and leave me a review? It will just take a second and will help me reach even more stepmoms.  About Michelle: Losing her Mom to cancer as a child inspired Michelle to dedicate her life, to learning as much as possible about how to live a life that is both healthy and fulfilled. She's made it her mission to inspire others to take time to slow down and get in tune with their body, mind, and soul so that they too, can learn what it is that they need to move through any challenge they may be facing.  And she's done just that through her podcast, her amazing activewear line, and in her stepmom life. Michele knows that when we can relate to others and feel their heartache, but also receive the energy from their light, we can start on our own healing journey.  Throughout her 11 years as a Massage Therapist and years of self-development and mindset work, she's learned that one of the best ways to adapt to our ever-changing lives, is to just keep moving forward. Making one decision at a time, and taking one step at a time. She's the first to admit though, that it's not always an easy road. That's why she created a community where people can feel safe to share their stories of struggle and also what they found helped them grow and shift to get through it. Because when we can relate to others and feel their heartache, but also receive the energy from their light, we too can start on our own healing journey. Michelle is the host of The MUVE Forward Podcast, the founder of MUVE Life Activewear, a Stepmom, partner, and an investor. She speaks on topics such as mindset, self-development, health and wellness, and more. Michelle likes to deploy a good-vibes-only mindset wherever she goes. You can find Michelle:  Her website: www.themichellewolfe.com Her Muve Life Activewear Line: www.muvelife.com Instagram @themichellewolfe