Episodes

  • Jenna Johnson on Mom Guilt, Infertility, and Finding Balance in the Chaos

    Jenna Johnson on Mom Guilt, Infertility, and Finding Balance in the Chaos
    Aug 14 2025
    Jenna Johnson—professional dancer, Emmy nominee, and mom—joins me for a heartfelt conversation about motherhood, career, and what it really takes to do both. We talk about the chaotic beauty of raising a child while competing on Dancing With the Stars, how she and her husband Val navigate parenting as a team, and the real emotions that come with being a working mom—like mom guilt, comparison, and the pressure to keep it all together.

    Jenna also opens up about her journey through infertility and miscarriage, how therapy helped her reclaim her joy, and what she’s learned about listening to her body, honoring her emotions, and letting go of timelines. She shares what it means to compartmentalize as a parent and performer, the role her big family played in shaping her approach to motherhood, and how becoming a mom has changed everything—from the way she works to the way she loves.

    Whether you’re navigating the early days of parenting, balancing ambition with family, or healing from loss—Jenna’s honesty and strength in this episode is a reminder that you’re never alone.

    Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!
    Show More Show Less
    32 mins
  • John Kanell of Preppy Kitchen’s Journey to Fatherhood

    John Kanell of Preppy Kitchen’s Journey to Fatherhood
    Aug 11 2025
    John Kanell of Preppy Kitchen joined us a few years back for this episode all about fatherhood. John shares his and his husband’s journey to fatherhood, and how they chose surrogacy. John and his husband eventually welcomed twins, and we walk through all the highs and lows that come along with parenting twin toddlers. We also get into how John balances work and family, and the joy of baking with kids! He tells us that getting kids involved in the kitchen is a great way to bond while teaching them important skills at the same time.
    Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!
    Show More Show Less
    31 mins
  • Redefining the Role of a Stepparent with Tanya Rad

    Redefining the Role of a Stepparent with Tanya Rad
    Aug 7 2025
    Radio and TV personality, author, and podcast host Tanya Rad joins for a deeply personal and refreshingly honest conversation about step-parenting—a role both of us have stepped into and are still learning to navigate.
    Known for co-hosting On Air with Ryan Seacrest on KIIS FM and podcast Scrubbing In, Tanya opens up about her journey as a stepmom to two boys after marrying her husband. She shares how she built her own support system, found her rhythm in a role with no clear blueprint, and learned to embrace both the beauty and the challenges that come with it.
    Together, we dive into the emotional complexity of blending families, the lack of resources and representation for stepparents, the power of communication, respecting parental boundaries, working through insecurities, and why it’s time to change the narrative around stepmothers. Whether you’re a stepparent yourself, co-parenting with one, or curious about what this role really looks like, this episode offers a heartfelt, honest look at what it means to show up for a child who isn’t biologically your own.
    Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!
    Show More Show Less
    30 mins
  • Soraya Sutherland and Simon Huck on the Importance of Disaster Preparedness

    Soraya Sutherland and Simon Huck on the Importance of Disaster Preparedness
    Aug 4 2025
    Simon Huck and Soraya Sutherland joined us in this episode to talk all about disaster preparedness. Be prepared for the worst is so important, especially with young children. However, it can be hard to find ways to talk through preparedness with our kids without feeling like we’re scaring them. Soraya’s book A Kids Book About Safety addresses this issue and helps parents have kid friendly conversations about emergency preparedness. Simon and Soraya also stress the importance of creating a go bag, and how to include your children in the process. This episode is full of great tips, and Simon and Soraya hope they can help get more families to start the conversation about their emergency plans.

    Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!
    Show More Show Less
    26 mins
  • All Things Step-Parenting with My Coach and Therapist Ashley Graber

    All Things Step-Parenting with My Coach and Therapist Ashley Graber
    Jul 31 2025
    Like parenting, step-parenting doesn’t come with a manual—but unlike parenting, your role is much less defined. You’re not a parent, nanny, or assistant, but you might share responsibilities in those areas. At the end of the day, though, you’re none of those roles.

    I feel very lucky that I get to experience both step-parenting and parenting. One of the best decisions I’ve made was seeking out the help and guidance of a step-parenting therapist, whom I sit down with in this episode: Ashley Graber, LMFT. Together, we talk about a role that so many of us are navigating and one that often comes with more questions than answers.

    Six and a half years into this journey, I’ve learned that being a step-parent can feel like parenting, assisting, supporting, and sometimes stepping back all at the same time. I’ve also learned that there just aren’t enough resources or real conversations out there for those of us in this role. That’s why I opened up the conversation to all of you and I’ve never received more questions for a single topic.

    Ashley and I dive into the big and most commonly asked topics: discipline, defining your role, communicating with co-parents, and the emotional gymnastics of blending families. We talk about the importance of putting the child first, but also how to honor your own experience and feelings along the way.

    This is a conversation I wish I could have listened to years ago, and I hope it offers support, perspective, and maybe even a little peace for anyone walking this path.
    Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!
    Show More Show Less
    52 mins
  • Carrying the Mental Load with Mama Psychologists Chelsea Bodie and Caitlin Slavens

    Carrying the Mental Load with Mama Psychologists Chelsea Bodie and Caitlin Slavens
    Jul 28 2025
    Caitlin Slavens and Chelsea Bodie of Mama Psychologists joined us in this episode and shared great insights into balancing mental health with being a mom. Caitlin and Chelsea explain that mothers often carry a huge mental load, and it is important to emphasize self-care and open communication. We also get into managing mom guild, and how we can manage the complex emotions that come up around being a busy mom. Chelsea and Catilin encourage all moms to practice self-compassion and self-care. Even small steps can make a big difference!
    Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!
    Show More Show Less
    27 mins
  • Supporting Families from the Start: Special Olympics, Early Childhood, and the Power of Play

    Supporting Families from the Start: Special Olympics, Early Childhood, and the Power of Play
    Jul 24 2025
    This week’s episode is deeply personal and incredibly meaningful to me. I’m joined by Rebecca, an early childhood expert at Special Olympics, and Jennifer Pittman, a Special Olympics parent and manager of Healthy Families, for a conversation about the organization closest to my heart.

    We talk about how Special Olympics is changing the game in early childhood development, providing crucial support to kids with intellectual and developmental disabilities before they even receive a formal diagnosis. We also dive into their new Young Athletes app, which empowers parents to support their child’s growth through play, wherever they are.

    Jennifer shares her powerful story of navigating her son Shalom’s early diagnosis and how Special Olympics became a place of community, support, and strength for her whole family. This conversation is filled with practical advice, hope, and a reminder that none of us are alone in this journey.

    Whether you're a parent, educator, or someone who cares about inclusive communities, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

    Download the Young Athletes App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/young-athletes/id1629555324

    Learn more at specialolympics.org

    Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!
    Show More Show Less
    30 mins
  • Scarlett Lewis Teaches us to Choose Love

    Scarlett Lewis Teaches us to Choose Love
    Jul 21 2025
    In this episode, we sat down with Scarlett Lewis to discuss her Choose Love Movement. Scarlett founded the movement in honor of her son Jesse who was tragically lost in the Sandy Hook shooting. The Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement promotes fostering nurturing, healing love. They also provide free programs for violence prevention and emotional wellbeing. Scarlett hopes that through her movement, more children can learn forgiveness and compassion. It is so important that we teach our kids how to be emotionally intelligent people who can navigate their feelings and be caring to others.
    Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!
    Show More Show Less
    29 mins