Podcasts about mamafuel

Before I tell you anything, let me say this: today's conversation with Christa Couture will move you. Take time. Listen closely. Of the nearly 70 episodes in MamaFuel, all of which I've loved, THIS is the one. THIS is the conversation I'd urge you to listen to again and again.Not only because it's not every day you can listen to a cancer survivor cyborg amputee chanteuse mama of three (as she says "two have died and one is here") mixed indigenous Cree Scandinavian queer radio host non-fiction author and singer-songwriter. Not only that. But also because Christa is a sensitive, generous, warm, kind and thoughtful woman whose intelligence and talent seep through everything she creates, including this conversation.  Given the name "Singing Woman" as a child, Christa weaves and shares stories about grief, loss and life as she processes how life is unfolding. I loved hearing how, at time of recording, Christa was reworking her narrative around Christmas, making space for both grief for her absent sons and delight for her vivacious and very present daughter.  I appreciated learning more about the importance of representation and how critical it is for us to share and talk about our differences. When Christa decided to showcase her "cyborg" limb in its full floral glory, she and the world started interacting differently. It's an important reminder that it's critical for us to share and celebrate difference. There's so much more, but these are "show notes" and not "show encycopediae" so I'll leave you with this: listen and share this conversation far and wide, and support Christa and her work by pre-ordering her book AND ordering her record. You can find her on www.christacouture.com and you'll find links to everything we talk about in the episode when you read the full show notes here.  If you loved this episode, remember to head to the MamaFuel Virtual Village to tell me what you'll keep in your heart from this conversation. Even better, leave us a review and a rating over on iTunes so as many people as possible can hear and share this conversation. Be well!

Ever felt conflicted about wanting recognition, fulfilment and challenge outside your family context? Get ready to feel a warm wash over your heart and a burst of inspiration as you get to know my guest this week on the MamaFuel podcast.  Valerie Knopik has navigated the guilt-ridden conflictual waters of maternal love and personal aspiration and, with her husband and children, has forged a life she and her family love. I love hearing how her she and her post-doctorate thesis advisor got creative to cobble together a maternity leave for her. I love how she and her husband waded through all the ICK they faced individually and as a team to land here, twenty years into their marriage, in a solid, mutually-supportive place. I love how Valerie, her dreams, her talent and her career get to fully breathe, expand and flourish in the container of her family. A container where everyone’s dreams have a place and enough space to grow. If all of that wasn’t enough, those of you who are curious about how and why our brains work the way they do will LOVE hearing Valerie talk about epigenetics (her speciality), brain plasticity and how it’s hard but entirely possible to rewire your brain, and in doing so change your life. If you’d like to connect with any of the resources we mention during our talk or quickly find any of the podcast episodes I mention, click here for all the goodies. And if you’d like to be part of the ongoing conversation about this podcast and so much more, join us in the MamaFuel Virtual Village here.

Overcoming Overwhelm: Dismantle Your Stress from the Inside Out is the title of the book written by my guest for this episode of the podcast, Dr. Samantha Brody. Dr. Samantha, as she is frequently called, is a licensed naturopathic physician and acupuncturist, and the founder of Evergreen Natural Health Center in Portland, OR. For decades in her private practice and virtual consulting business, she has helped thousands of people transform their lives with her innovative, personalized approach.  I love how the right podcast guest presents herself to me every time. Because the truth is, I have been feeling pretty overwhelmed in my life right now. A new puppy, challenges with our younger son in relationship with the puppy, a traumatic experience with an active shooter scare at a theme park with my son Ryan, and a cold and cough that I couldn’t shake was definitely creating a sense of overwhelm.  But, inspired by this conversation, I decided to take a pause and start to take steps that are already helping me feel better. I said no to some things on my to do list, I pushed out the date of this episode’s release and I started shutting down my computer in the evenings. I reached out to Dr. Samantha for a consultation about my health and my friend, Casey O’Roarty of the Joyful Courage Podcast, for a positive parenting coaching session. I also posted in the Mother’s Quest Facebook Group to share what was happening and was met with an outpouring of support. One mother who responded with compassion and to tell me I was not alone in how I was feeling was Anne Ferguson of MamaFuel, the perfect person to bring us this episode’s dedication about the importance of saying no and caring for ourselves. Anne’s dedication, this conversation on the podcast, and the challenge and tools that Dr. Samantha invites us to explore have been powerful invitations for me to slow down, to look at what I value most, and to realign with a focus on self-compassion and self-care, to those things. I invite you to press pause, to release something from your to do list today, so that you have a little more space to listen in to this reflective conversation with Dr. Samantha. Then follow through as I will with the “values” exercise she gives us as our challenge, share what you discover in the Mother’s Quest Facebook group where Samantha will be following up with us, and join me in taking more steps toward overcoming overwhelm. Much appreciation, P.S. Know someone who would love this conversation? Pay this forward to a friend who may be interested.   This  Episode is Dedicated by: Anne Ferguson of Mamafuel  This episode is dedicated by Anne Ferguson to every mama who has said no to the overwhelm and lovingly took the time to take care of themselves, so they can show up strong and whole in their lives and with the people they love. Anne is the founder of MamaFuel, a global community of mamas who are learning to put themselves first, so they can enjoy happier relationships with their kids and thrive in every part of their lives. Anne hosts amazing urban retreats for mamas across Switzerland, where she lives with her husband, two daughters and one very demanding dog.   Anne is also the host of MamaFuel: The Podcast in which she shares raw, real and often funny conversations with mamas who are doing great things in ways large and small. Her mission is to change the way mamas treat themselves and each other so we can live in a more connected, harmonious world where mamas are thriving. Anne’s passion for words and how we talk to ourselves and each other expands beyond MamaFuel. Anne recently founded Your Process Lab, a company that’s revolutionizing the way organizations train and motivate their people by ditching stiff, archaic language and communicating in ways that make today’s workforce take action. Anne consults to the United Nations on language and communication and is expanding her activities to include public speaking across Europe.   Visit the MamaFuel website: https://www.mamafuel.me/ Follow Anne Ferguson on Social Media: Instagram Facebook MamaFuel’s free Virtual Village   In This Episode We Talk About: How Samantha’s medical trauma and experience being bullied may have impacted her healing career path  Samantha’s commitment to empowering and supporting her patients to express their needs and advocate for themselves.   Living in integrity with your values and the “tells” our body gives us when we are out of alignment Conversations with Samantha’s son about his adoption and about race (he is biracial and Samantha and her husband are white) from the time he was young and how that set up an openness and honesty about all kinds of conversation  What is overwhelm and Samantha’s four-step process for overcoming it  How so many things in our lives can come in "seasons" and how in this season for Samantha, slowing down to pause is serving her most Resources from Dr. Samantha: Overcoming Overwhelm: Dismantle Your Stress from the Inside Out Values Exercise  from Overcoming Overwhelm Sample Chapter from Overcoming Overwhelm Resources mentioned in this episode: Ep 27: Courageous Conversations About Race with Nicole Lee Ep 10: Choosing Gratitude and Glitter with Nancy Netherland Modern Mystics Institute Casey O’Roarty’s Joyful Courage - a resource for positive parenting This Week's Challenge: For this week’s challenge, Dr. Samantha challenges us to do the values exercise from a chapter in her book. This exercise is designed to help you understand what aspects of your inner and outer worlds are most important to you. You'll discover what values and ideals you want your life--and your choices-- to be lining up with on a daily basis. This is the first step, Dr. Samantha says, in finally overcoming overwhelm; if you're trying to have less stress and/or if you want to be less overwhelmed, lining your choices up with your values is the key to making that happen. Learn More About Dr. Samantha: Dr. SAMANTHA BRODY is a licensed naturopathic physician and acupuncturist, and the founder of Evergreen Natural Health Center in Portland, OR. For decades in her private practice and virtual consulting business Dr. Samantha has helped thousands of people transform their lives with her innovative, personalized approach. She is the author of Overcoming Overwhelm: Dismantle Your Stress from the Inside Out (Sounds True Publishing). You can find her online at www.DrSamantha.com and on social @drsamanthand. Connect with Dr. Samantha: www.drsamantha.com Instagram Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Announcements: Mother’s Quest is turning 3! It's hard to believe but on December 1, Mother's Quest Podcats will be turning 3 years old. In honor of that milestone, I'm going to record a special episode with some of the key takeaways and reflections I've had on my journey over the last 3 years. I would also love to share your voice and your reflections on things that you've been able to take away from these conversations. Please take a moment to either send me an email at juile@mothersquest.com or leave me a voice message by using the speak pipe tool on the podcast page at www.mothersquest.com. I look forward to hearing all you have to share and celebrating this milestone with you!  Join Speaker Coach Alexia Vernon as Ambassador in the Mother's Quest Facebook Group Last weekend, I had an amazing experience hosting an Improv for Speakers Master Class with the incredible speaker coach Alexia Vernon. Even though many of you wanted to join us in person but couldn’t, you can still benefit from an opportunity to learn from Alexia. This month in the Mother’s Quest Facebook Group, Alexia is our “ambassador” and will be sharing tips and resources and answering your questions about public speaking. So, if you’re not yet a member of the group, come on over to www.mothersquest.com/community to request to join us.  Want More Reflection in Your Life? Book A Discovery Call Some key themes that emerge from all my conversations, is the power of reflection and the power of being seen. These are elements that I bring, not only to every podcast interview, but to my one-one-one coaching and Mother’s Quest Circle facilitation. If you’re seeking more space for pause and reflection in your life, I encourage you to reach out to me for a discovery call to learn how we might work together.  Visit mothersquest.as.me/discoverysession to schedule a time to talk. Click here to book a discovery call One Minute Mom Manifesto ⚡️Have you been feeling a nudge to say "yes" to create your Mother's Quest Manifesto? The official challenge and giveaway may be over, but the invitation and content is always there for you to create your #oneminutemommanifesto  Here are some easy steps you can follow...

Get ready for a blast of delight in the form of this week’s guest, Emma Stroud. Em is serious about having fun. So much so that she’s made it (part of) her business to teach adults how to laugh and think in ways many of us have forgotten. She also occasionally gets told off by her son for being too silly. That’s a win in my book! Emma never wanted to be a mum -- until she did. Her journey to holding baby William in her arms was as refreshingly creative as she is. I loved hearing how Emma and her friend and business partner Deon consciously created a family that worked for them. For a while it included two loving couples living in "one big gay house” and sharing coparenting equally. I was fascinated and a little envious of the set-up Emma had then and still has now. It’s every parent’s dream: having someone else fully share the coparenting and having an entire tribe to raise her son. It's meant that when she's mum, she's mum. And the rest of the time, she's Em. Period. I’d definitely be up for that! I loved talking to Emma about the power of words, why it drives me bonkers to hear women say they’re “just mum” and what Emma thinks is behind that. I agree fiercely about the importance of bravery, and how it’s the precursor to curious and open connection.  In fact it’s got me musing, for all of us: where are you curious? Where do you meet other people with preconceived judgements? Where could you be more open? Where could I? Where and how do you put yourself or other women into the "mum box?" I hope this conversation leaves you wondering about the roles you play of have had foisted upon you. About how you meet yourself and other mothers. And about how you might make big, brave decisions to help bump your life out of conventionality so it starts to look and feel the way you want it to, so you can truly be yourself.  I’d love to hear what comes up for you as you listen. The conversation will continue over in the MamaFuel Virtual Village, which is our free Facebook home, and I’d love to read your tuppence. Click here to join us. And if you haven’t yet, please leave a review of this podcast wherever you’re listening. It helps so much to know that these conversations are landing, and it makes the little internet robots share conversations like these with more mamas. If you’d like to learn where to find Emma and discover the resources, films and more that we talk about during this conversation, head over here to the MamaFuel web site for all the goodies.

Buckle up, you’re about to meet a mindful, conscious force of nature who’s carved her own non-traditional path and is ROCKING being a mama to six high-energy kids, running two businesses and enjoying a happy, thriving marriage. I first met Jamie Swanson a year ago, and her brightly-coloured unicorn hair and sparkling eyes had me at hello. I’m thrilled to share this conversation with you this week following a little summer break. Jamie humourously describes her life as “loud” and “like living with six blenders without lids,” which feels like an apt description of homeschooling six vibrant children while running multiple businesses and offering rest and refuge to community leaders in need. She and her husband have made sometimes unexpected decisions that have made it all work, and they’re happier than ever. Those decisions have always been inspired by Spirit and supported by their faith, but they haven’t always been easily accepted within their families or community as they switched traditional roles and often stepped away from prescribed paths. In this week’s conversation, Jamie and I talk about how they make it all work, how she’s navigated mama guilt, why she now feels striking out and living fully into her dreams is the best thing she can do for herself and her children in their current season in life, and so much more. There’s so much goodness in this conversation, but one nugget that stands out for me is this: “If I don’t want things for my kids, why am I accepting that they’re happening to me or that I’m living my life that way?” Why, indeed. Listen all the way to the end and then head into the MamaFuel free Facebook community to tell me what you thought of the episode and Jamie’s beautiful family and life. If you’d like to learn more about Jamie, check out her business page here, and her amazing quilting Instagram account here.And click here to find the comic about maternal mental load that Jamie and I talked about. It's a must-read. 

A little over a year ago the MamaFuel podcast was just a dream. Today I'm celebrating publishing 50 amazing episodes by turning the tables and having a dear friend interview me, asking the questions I usually ask my guests. Things get pretty personal, so if you've been tuning in for a while and you'd like to get to know the person behind the questions, this is your chance. Huge thanks to Noomi Natan for stepping into the interviewer role and having fun with it all!If anything strikes you in this episode, tell me about it in our free Facebook group where the conversation is always ongoing. Click here to join the conversation in our free Facebook group!

Have you ever had a moment where the way you see the world shifts? Like a giant kaleidoscope unexpectedly moves and the clarity you took for granted is gone forever, as a new vision takes shape?That's what happened to this week's guest, the lovely Claire Farrington. Her first son, Theo, was born very prematurely. As she and her partner adjusted to the realities of life in the NICU, they received another unexpected piece of news: Theo had Down's Syndrome.In this touching conversation, Claire openly shares how little she knew about Down's Syndrome and how sad she feels now that her initial reaction to the news of Theo's extra chromosome was so frightened and negative. In the three years since Theo was born, Claire has become a campaigner for families with Down's Syndrome, sharing her story and educating people across the UK and beyond.  Through her blog, Claire candidly shares all the stages of adjusting to life with Down's Syndrome. I'm still struck, weeks after recording, by Claire's deep wish that prospective parents of all ages might hear her message that a Down's diagnosis isn't negative. It's just different. I'm grateful to Claire sharing her story with our community, and even more so because at time of recording, Claire was less than 24 hours away from a scheduled c-section. Her son Freddy was born healthy and on-schedule, and Claire has told me since that this second delivery has helped heal some of the terror she experienced around Theo's much-too-early arrival. When you've listened to this episode, please share it. And if you liked hearing our conversation, I'd be super grateful if you could rate the podcast and leave a review. The more people hear Claire's story, the more perspectives might shift for the better around Down's Syndrome. To follow Claire's family's story, visit her blog here or check out her beautiful Instagram account here. Don't forget that the conversation continues over on the free MamaFuel Virtual Village! Check it out and join in! I can't wait to hear what you think of this and all other episodes of MamaFuel. 

We all know that taking care of ourselves first is important. The whole oxygen mask in the airplane explanation. Thing is, we hear it so much that some of us may feel it's over-stated and exaggerated; that we can keep pushing ourselves to the bottom of a to-do list when something feels a bit off.This week's guest on MamaFuel is living proof that putting yourself last can have grave consequences for you and your family. Hannah Corne is an accomplished marathon runner and triathlete, the founder of the UK's branch of the Mini Mermaid Running Club, a mum of two and so much more. Earlier this year she started to notice her eyesight changing, and when she eventually went to have it checked, was told she had cancer in her eye. Within three weeks her eye (and the cancer) had been removed.Our conversation was moving, raw and so beautiful. I admire Hannah for her courage facing into the terrifying prospect of cancer, learning to live without her left eye and for her willingness to share her story so soon after living through it. What really sticks with me from our conversation is that Hannah finally got her eyes checked out of a feeling of responsibility to others on the road and to her children -- not a feeling of responsibility for herself or her own well-being. It highlighted for me how DEEP is the learning that we must care for others first and always, no matter the cost to ourselves. It's such a toxic belief, and it's got to stop. Hannah is contributing to changing the messages women get about their self-care through her work with girls aged 7 - 11. Together with her coaching team at Mini Mermaid Running Club UK, Hannah helps the next generation develop emotional resilience, self-love and a passion for fitness. I wish such a programme had been around when my oldest was seven, and hope you'll take Hannah up on her generous offer to reach out to her for more information about the Club or anything else that sparked your interest during our conversation. You can reach Hannah directly here.  If you'd like to learn more about the work the Mini Mermaid Running Club is doing to foster self-belief and resilience in young girls, click here to reach them in the UK, here to reach them in the US and here to reach them in Switzerland.  I hope you'll go have all your checkups after this episode. I hope you'll look at yourself as the precious being that you really are. I hope that you'll hear your body's plea to take loving care of her. I certainly heard mine as I spoke to Hannah. And I hope that you'll reach out and share your story with others, and ask for help when you need it. It really could save your life. 

At the time of recording, it’s the end of Global Maternal Mental Health Week (early May 2019). This is an episode with a difference, and it feels vulnerable and frightening to share it with you. But I’m doing it because this story matters. My mental health journey matters, and as I’ve been sharing it this week online, the response has been incredible. So many women are suffering silently, convinced they’re alone. They aren’t. You aren’t. In this week’s episode you’ll learn why I know first-hand that we must keep conversation and education growing around maternal mental health. I learned about it the hard way, and I wish I’d known of people talking about it at the time. Maternal mental illness is an epidemic that must be stopped. If you know me outside of motherhood, this episode might surprise you. If you know me as a mama, you might still be surprised because I present as (and am) fiercely smart, sharp-minded and quick-witted. I’m also incredibly fragile, just like everyone else out there. Some people sail through life without any mental wobbles. Many don’t. Those of us in the latter camp need support, visibility and most of all, we need the shame and stigma associated with mental illness to be dropped. If you’re a return listener to MamaFuel, you’ll know that mental health struggles come up often during our conversations. We’ve talked about depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive behaviour, post-natal bi-polar and more. If any of those topics speak to you, click on the links above and you’ll find much to comfort and possibly educate you. If you haven’t ever wrestled with your mental health, I’m so happy for you. But chances are you know a mum (likely many) who are struggling and aren’t talking about it. For them, please listen to this episode and share it broadly. We all need to be part of the conversation. If you’d like to join the MamaFuel-Up Sessions, starting May 7th, 2019, please click on this link to join us. We’ll be gathering for five consecutive days, one hour per day, to start sharing stories, shifting perspectives and collecting tools to help us lead our best life, even when it feels impossible. I’d love you to join us, it’s absolutely free. If you’re struggling, please reach out to your local community, a friend or a health professional near you. Nothing is unsolvable, once we find the right help.Here are some resources in the UK, Canada, South Africa, the US and Switzerland. If you have any more to share for your country, please email me here and I'll gladly add them to list list. Thank you. Here's the link to the MamaFuel Virtual Village, where the conversation about this episode will continue!

A few months ago I was awe-struck, watching magic in motion. The woman who orchestrated this particular piece of real-life magic is my guest on this week's episode of MamaFuel. Sally Wyatt is an adventurer, a kind, energetic and intelligent woman who happens to be a mama to two tiny human girls, a writer, a dreamer and a courageous soul who spends a lot of time outside her comfort zone. Sally moved to Switzerland less than a year ago (at time of recording) and has already built up a deep network of close friends and soul sisters through a H-U-G-E leap of faith she took late last year. Her willingness to make things happen and to find ways of making things work is inspiring me, and I know it'll inspire you too.  In this week's episode we talk about the benefits of living outside your comfort zone (where Sally is happiest), finding your way back to yourself in the midst of mothering and all the things life throws at you, life as an expat, how moments of change and failure remind you that you're alive, why teaching kids that failure is a natural part of life sets them up for success in life, what it's like to be part of the volunteer team creating a massive event for TEDxLausanneWomen, and so much more.  If you'd like to find out more about Sally and read some of her beautiful and poignant writing, click here to read full show notes and connect with Sally.  When you've finished listening I'd love you to join our free Facebook community, where we'll continue the conversation and where Sally is available to answer any questions or expand on what we talked about in this week's episode. Click here to join the Facebook group.  

Welcome to this special bonus episode of The Mother’s Quest Podcast, an interview I had on my friend Anne Ferguson’s podcast – MamaFuel. In this conversation, Anne turns the tables on me, as she asks how the epic guideposts showed up in my life. I’m delighted to share this episode with you and use this as an opportunity to share some announcements and invitations for getting involved with Mother’s Quest in the new year.    I hope you enjoy this conversation I had on Anne’s Podcast.  I’m excited to be back in a few short weeks with the start of a new incredible season of conversations! Until then, seize the day, love your people, and honor your gifts. Much appreciation,  P.S. Be sure to check out the announcements below, including the news that TODAY is the last day to contribute to the GoFundMe campaign to support Trayvon Martin’s mother Sybrina Fulton’s Circle of Mothers. Hope you’ll join us! Show Notes from MamaFuel the Podcast From Anne Ferguson: OOOOhhh am I excited to share THIS ONE! My guest this week is Julie Neale, founder of the amazing Mother’s Quest podcast, coach and mama of two exceptional and amazing boys. She’s a sparkling soul whose podcast gave me the courage to start hosting these MamaFuel conversations. Julie and I cover a lot of ground, from raising differently-wired kids to discovering your strengths and the support you have in community. I turn the tables on Julie and ask her to walk us through the guideposts that she follows in her own life and asks all of her guests to talk about – I really valued the insight into how Julie is living her E.P.I.C. life, sparked to the max with joy and delight at leading other mothers in discovering their version of epic living.   Julie spoke movingly about her interview with Sybrina Fulton, whose son Trayvon died as a result of racial profiling and gun violence. Julie and her community are supporting Sybrina’s incredibly important initiative “Circle of Mothers” which allows mothers who have lost their children to gun violence to gather and heal in community. If you’d like to help send some of these grieving mothers to Sybrina’s retreat, click this link: www.mothersquest.com/circleofmothers. Every contribution helps. Julie’s hoping that her community will be able to raise $15,000 and they’re two-thirds of the way there. I’d love our community to help her get to her goal. Please click on the following link to hear Julie’s conversation with Sybrina Fulton and to find out more about their fundraising activities: http://mothersquest.com/ep55-sybrinafulton/ This is where you can listen to Julie’s episode with her son Ryan: http://mothersquest.com/ep-18-yolo-you-only-live-once-and-other-milestone-reflections-with-ryan-neale/ Julie’s conversation with Kristina Kuzmić is here: http://mothersquest.com/ep-11-flawed-with-truth-bomb-mom-kristina-kuzmic/ Listen to her conversation with Elizabeth Cronise McLaughlin is here: http://mothersquest.com/ep-24-elizabeth-cronise-mclaughlin/ And to her chat with Debbie Reber of TILT Parenting here: http://mothersquest.com/ep26-debbie-reber/ In this episode we also mentioned Jonathan Fields and his Good Life Project quite a few times. Jonathan was our common link and his Camp Good Life Project is where Julie and I met in real life. Jonathan is the creator of so much goodness that I can’t encourage you enough to go to his page and drink it all in. Go: you’ll be so glad you did. Here’s where you can learn about Jonathan’s work and discover his incredible (and my all-time favourite) podcast: https://www.goodlifeproject.com and here’s where you can take your own Sparketype test: https://www.goodlifeproject.com/sparketest/ and start thinking and having conversations about what really sparks you. Announcements: Celebrate Int’l Women’s Day with a Contribution for Sybrina Fulton & her Circle of Mothers GoFundMe Closes TODAY!!! Today, on International Women’s Day, join us in contributing to the GoFundMe campaign to support an amazing woman, Trayvon Martin’s mother Sybrina MsCandy Fulton, and her Circle of Mothers healing retreat.  Already, it’s been amazing to see so many of you listen to the episode with Sybrina, contribute to the campaign, and invite others to do so too. With your support, we have raised over $10,000 of our $15,000 goal. I want to close the campaign out so that we can get the funds dispersed to the Trayvon Martin Foundation in time to help 10 mothers attend the healing retreat, for mothers who have lost a child to gun violence, this May. I hope you’ll listen if you haven’t and then take a look at the campaign and contribute in an amount meaningful to you. You can also help us spread the word. It would mean so much to mothers who are grieving if we can hit the goal and help them get to the event. Your donation is tax-deductible. Contribute here   https://www.gofundme.com/mq-circleofmoms Listen to the episode here  This intimate conversation with Sybrina Fulton, over a year in the making, was a unique opportunity to delve into her own journey, how the E.P.I.C. guideposts show up in her life and in her activism, and to hear her powerful call to action to invest in mothers, by reaching out to mothers grieving in our own communities and by contributing to her “Circle of Mothers,” a labor of love that came to her in her dreams. Listen here – http://mothersquest.com/ep55-sybrinafulton/ Spark Your E.P.I.C. Year Anyone else not have your year start the way you hoped?  A few weeks ago, I declared February the new January and facilitated a Mother’s Quest Workshop/Virtual Milestone Hike experience to help us all start again. Using photos from my favorite local hike, I took a small group on a journey to: Reflect on our last chapter (as we ascend)  Decide what we want to release (using an image of a big bad bonfire!) and what we want to carry forward Then, set intentions along the E.P.I.C. guideposts for our new chapter.  There’s a special planning sheet we created to guide you and help you document the whole process.  Truthfully, we can start fresh any time we choose. If you decide you want to reset and begin again, today, this afternoon or this weekend, using this experience and worksheet to support you, reply to this email and I”ll get it to you. Mother’s Quest Circle APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR MARCH 2019!! If you’re on a quest to live an E.P.I.C. life, on the threshold of a new chapter, but you’ve been feeling challenged by the path ahead, and want to be in community on your journey, the Virtual Mother’s Quest Circle may be the source of connection you’re looking for. The Mother’s Quest Circle provides inspiration, coaching and community for an intimate group of no more than 8 women who are ready to say “yes” to: Reflect together, in a community of like-minded mothers, on what matters most To consciously live their version (not someone else’s) of an E.P.I.C. life To take bold action toward one of the E.P.I.C. life guideposts before the end of the sessions To hold space for sharing, coaching, and championing one another  If you’re looking to create big shifts in your life or impact in 2019, the Circle is a great way to make an investment in yourself and what matters most to you. Apply here. Watch out for Season Four Season Four is right around the corner! Until then, I invite you to subscribe if you haven’t already to catch up on any episodes you’ve missed. And would love to see you in the private Mothers’ Quest Facebook Group where we will continue to build community and connection. Visitwww.mothersquest.com/community to join. Acknowledgements: A big THANK YOU to our “patrons” for helping to bring these conversations to myself and other mothers through financial and/or in-kind support: Democracy Clothing Michael Skolnik Helgi Maki Kari Azuma Tamara Sobomehin Katie Krimitsos Carrie Caulfield Arick Rachel Rosen Chandra Brooks Jen Simon Monisha Vasa Celia Ward-Wallace Vanessa Couto Desiree Adaway Rachel Steinman Katie Hanus Denise Barreto  Sage B. Hobbs  Samantha Nolan-Smith Jody Smith Emily Cretella Collette Flanagan Titilayo Tinubu Ali  Carly Magnus Hurt Lizzy Russinko  Suzanne Brown Mara Berns Langer Mallory Schlabach  Katharine Earhart Jessica Kupferman Jen Jenkins Dohner Genese Harris Tonya Rineer Liane Louie-Badua Cristin Downs  Erin Kendall  Niko Osoteo  Erik Newton  Claire Fry Divya Silbermann Rachel Winter Caren and Debbie Lieberman Cameron Miranda Fran and David Lieberman Debbie and Alan Goore The Sustainable Living Podcast Support the Podcast If you’d like to make a contribution to Mother’s Quest to support Season Three of the Podcast and/or help provide coaching scholarships for mothers, follow this link to make a contribution. If you would like to “dedicate” an upcoming episode to a special mother in your life, email me at julie@mothersquest.com   Mother’s Quest is a podcast for moms who are ready to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Join in for intimate conversations with a diverse group of inspiring mothers as they share how they are living an E.P.I.C. life, Engaging mindfully with their children (E), Passionately and Purposefully making a difference beyond their family (P), Investing in themselves (I), and Connecting to a strong support network (C). Join our community of mothers to light the way and sustain you on your quest at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mothersquest/

OOOOhhh am I excited to share THIS ONE! My guest this week is Julie Neale, founder of the amazing Mother’s Quest podcast, coach and mama of two exceptional and amazing boys. She’s a sparkling soul whose podcast gave me the courage to start hosting these MamaFuel conversations. Julie and I cover a lot of ground, from raising differently-wired kids to discovering your strengths and the support you have in community. I turn the tables on Julie and ask her to walk us through the ways she's living her E.P.I.C. life, sparked to the max with joy and delight at leading other mothers in discovering their version of epic living. You'll want a pen and paper to note down each of the guideposts Julie talks about! Later in the interview Julie speaks spoke movingly about her interview with Sybrina Fulton, whose son Trayvon died as a result of racial profiling and gun violence. Julie and her community are supporting Sybrina’s incredibly important initiative “Circle of Mothers” which allows mothers who have lost their children to gun violence to gather and heal in community. I'd like to help and will be contributing to the fundraising campaign. If you’d like to join us in helping to send more mothers to Sybrina’s retreat, click this link: www.mothersquest.com/circleofmothers. Every contribution helps. Julie’s hoping that her community will be able to raise $15,000 and they’re two-thirds of the way there. I’d love our community to help her get to her goal. Here's where you can hear Julie’s conversation with Sybrina Fulton and to find out more about their fundraising activities: http://mothersquest.com/ep55-sybrinafulton/ For full show notes and links to everything we talked about during our conversation, head to https://thecenteredmamaproject.com/podcast/ep035julieneale/ And if you liked this conversation, then I'd love you to rate, review and SHARE it far and wide so we can support Julie's fundraising efforts for Sybrina Fulton and, by extension, contribute in some small way to supporting mamas whose hearts have been well and truly broken. Thank you, beauties, for participating if you can.

Today’s conversation is being published a week later than planned because I decided to take a REAL break. From the Internet, from work, from everything. But I’ve stepped back into the digital world to share with you a juicy and thought-provoking interview to carry us into the new year. Dr Stephania Sciamano is a healer, a naturopathic doctor, a shaman, a mother and one hell of a perspicacious woman who talks straight about our relationship with money, wealth and receiving being a direct result of how we care for and think of ourselves. In this wide-ranging conversation Stephania and I talk about radically evolving the feminine AND the masculine to create a beautiful dance within ourselves and with the Divine. She shares how her path from pre-med student to shaman was anything but straight, what radical evolution looks like in her daily life and how we can radically evolve ourselves. If talking soul, energy and trust is your jam, buckle up… this conversation is packed with gems about listening to the whispers of your soul, rebuilding your connection with the Divine and achieving a magical union between your inner feminine and masculine. Stephania talks about something she frequently sees in women: our separation from the Divine and our belief that we’re not worthy to receive. I was hooked by her explanation of how she’s seen countless women find their way back to Source, union, wealth and easeful joy once they become aware of their unconscious willingness to be separate and heal that at its core. I’ll have some of that. How about you? If you draw nothing else from this episode, remember this: once you create space and become in full approval of yourself, THEN (and only then) you begin to radically evolve your feminine, and you can reconnect with your healthy feminine and masculine incredibly strongly. I suspect we’ll be back with a sequel to this conversation, but for now if you’d like to find out more about Stephania, check out her web site here and join her on Facebook here. Join the MamaFuel community online in our Virtual Village on Facebook here and click here to join the Centered Mama’s Self-Lovathon for $199 (special price) using coupon code SELFLOVE2019 to get $80 off!

This podcast was a dream for months, and suddenly here we are with 20 published episodes, listeners all over the world and amazing feedback that these conversations really are reaching your hearts. I couldn't be happier, so to celebrate I've done something absolutely terrifying: a solo show.  Just me, sharing the what, why and how of MamaFuel, telling you what's in my heart and hoping it reaches yours. Thanks for listening, lovely. Here's to 20 more!