Send us a text

A high-pressure desk at JP Morgan. A meal-prep side account called Freckled Foodie. A car accident that made everything loud and urgent. Cameron Rogers takes us through the leap from finance to full-time creator and the even bigger transition that came with becoming a mother during a global pandemic. We get candid about how identity can fracture and reform in those first months, why postpartum depression doesn’t always look like you expect, and how honest help—childcare, a cleaning routine, and a truly shared division of labor—keeps families and careers afloat.

We dig into the mental health side that rarely shows up on glossy feeds: intrusive thoughts that arrive like movie scenes you never asked to see, anxiety that clings to every doorbell, and the slow recalibration of medication, sleep, and boundaries that make days feel doable again. Cameron shares how she set guardrails around her kids’ privacy while still speaking openly about motherhood’s hardest edges, and why transparency about support matters. You’ll hear how she reframed “real work,” built a financial runway, and grew a sustainable creator business—with a podcast schedule, a team, and a product designed for busy, buzzing minds: Quiet Your Mind and Busy Your Hands.

There’s practical wisdom here too: swapping but for and to hold two truths without guilt, carving out time that belongs only to you, and using small joys like romance novels to reset attention and rekindle desire. We also talk Fair Play, the realities of entrepreneurship, the loss of corporate stability, and the joy of building your own team. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re allowed to love your kids and need space, to be grateful for work and still crave rest, this conversation offers language, tools, and relief.

If this resonated, follow and subscribe for more real talk on motherhood, mental health, and creative work. Share the episode with a friend who needs permission to say and instead of but, and leave a review to help others find the show.

Support the show

Website: https://www.doyouwantthetruthpod.com

Connect with Sam:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/samanthastrom

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@samanthastorms

Connect with Zara:

Zara Hanawalt https://www.linkedin.com/in/zara-hanawalt/

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@zarahanawalt

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zarahanawalt/

Send us a text

From Blake Lively to Bank Accounts: Casting Kids, Quitting Hollywood & Making Money Online

What happens when a former Hollywood casting director walks away from Disney, kid actors, and a very dark industry… and accidentally builds a wildly profitable pop-culture media empire?

In this episode, @thisisdanabowling (TT/YT) pulls back the curtain on everything — from casting Zendaya and Jenna Ortega to why she would never let her own kids enter the entertainment industry. We talk Blake Lively headlines, the uncomfortable truth about child actors, and how millennial women were sold a How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days fantasy career that never actually existed.

Dana opens up about hitting financial rock bottom while “keeping up with the LA mom crowd” (that included actually Real Housewives like Teddi Mellencamp) while quietly drowning in debt, and the exact pivot that helped her rebuild — fast. She breaks down how Daily Dose of Dana really makes money (YouTube, podcast ads, Patreon, brand deals), why content creation is not a get-rich-quick scheme, and what most people don’t understand about going viral.

We also get real about:

• The hidden power (and emotional cost) of being able to pivot
• Why your friends won’t support you when you start posting online
• The Blake Lively coverage that sent her views through the roof
• Why women are better at reinvention than men (sorry, not sorry)
• Raising kids in a world where everything is content
• And what it means to be unapologetically Jewish in today’s pop-culture landscape

If you’ve ever fantasized about quitting your job, side-eyed influencer money, or wondered what actually happens behind the scenes in Hollywood — this episode is the reality check you didn’t know you needed.

🎧 Listen now — especially if you love pop culture, money talk, and the truth about motherhood no one says out loud.

#BlakeLively
#BethennyFrankel

#motherhood

Support the show

Website: https://www.doyouwantthetruthpod.com

Connect with Sam:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/samanthastrom

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@samanthastorms

Connect with Zara:

Zara Hanawalt https://www.linkedin.com/in/zara-hanawalt/

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@zarahanawalt

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zarahanawalt/

Send us a text

Parenthood didn’t just change our guest’s calendar; it rewired her relationship with work. Kaleana Quibell spent years inside Bay Area benefits, rolling out wellness, mental health, and family programs for marquee tech companies. Then two kids, an eight-minute delivery room sprint, and a parade of sick days revealed what the slide decks missed: policies don’t parent; people do. She chose a different path—part-time caregiving, part-time consulting, and a new platform, Both And, that maps real options for working families.

We dig into the practical moves that make flexibility real. Kaleana explains why to set up an LLC before you “need” it, why a simple website and scope template save hours, and how to quote your first “pick your brain” call without flinching. We unpack health insurance for independents, state leave programs, and the growing set of platforms bundling coverage with invoicing. If benefits have kept you tethered to a job that no longer fits, this is your permission slip—and your playbook—to build a safety net outside the org chart.

Care gets reimagined, too. Instead of outsourcing the moments that matter, Kaleana shows how to offload everything else: a mother’s helper for two hours, a retired neighbor for errands, targeted help for laundry or car seats. That patchwork approach turns invisible labor visible, lowers stress, and catches the inevitable surprises—school closures, coughs, and last‑minute travel—without blowing up your week. We also confront culture head-on: how “above and beyond” rewards availability over outcomes, how moms are judged on extras, and why consulting can flip the power dynamic to pay for results.

By the end, you’ll have a clearer map for stay, shift, or step away: negotiating part-time or IC roles, keeping a toe in your craft, and measuring success by time, health, and presence—not just salary. Ready to design a career that fits your family and your ambition? Listen, share with a friend who needs options, and subscribe for more real‑world playbooks. Then tell us: what’s the first lever you’ll pull to reclaim your time?

Support the show

Website: https://www.doyouwantthetruthpod.com

Connect with Sam:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/samanthastrom

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@samanthastorms

Connect with Zara:

Zara Hanawalt https://www.linkedin.com/in/zara-hanawalt/

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@zarahanawalt

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zarahanawalt/

Send us a text

The cracks in the system aren’t hairline—they’re chasms you feel every school morning and late-night Slack. We sit down with filmmaker and producer Melissa Panzer (WABE’s The Work Behind the Work) to unpack why so many women who could be leading are instead leaving, and what it would take to make work and family actually coexist without breaking us.

Melissa traces her path from ESPN’s storytelling culture to a decade documenting the labor market, then into the frontline of pandemic-era motherhood. She interviewed 200 moms and kept hearing the same theme: corporate structures weren’t made for two demanding careers and kids, and the nine-to-five still assumes a spouse in the shadows. We explore universal design—solve for moms and you lower friction for everyone—and why Fair Play-style rebalancing at home fails without top-down policy that respects soccer drop-offs as much as sales calls.

We go there on return-to-office mandates, the quiet exodus from leadership, and the real economics behind “flexibility.” The conversation pulls apart social media’s romanticized stay-at-home aesthetic and how MLMs exploit a genuine desire for income and independence. We examine the childcare math that eats entire salaries, the public vs private school squeeze, aftercare lotteries, and what kids actually learn from what we model—who uses the broom, who makes lunch, who gets to rest. Melissa shares how research changed her marriage: loosening control, letting help in, and learning kids do just fine when care is shared, even if the sandwiches look different.

This is a candid, data-aware, and deeply human look at work, caregiving, and the small wins that keep us going—the bedtime finally won, the book finally read, the moment a child says, I did it, and we whisper back, so did I. If this conversation moves you, subscribe, share with a friend who needs the solidarity, and leave a review with the one policy change you think would move the needle. We’re listening.

Support the show

Website: https://www.doyouwantthetruthpod.com

Connect with Sam:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/samanthastrom

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@samanthastorms

Connect with Zara:

Zara Hanawalt https://www.linkedin.com/in/zara-hanawalt/

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@zarahanawalt

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zarahanawalt/

Send us a text

What if your child isn’t “difficult” — just wired differently?

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Jessie Stern, assistant professor of psychology at Pomona College and co-author of Beyond Difficult, to break down what attachment theory really means, how child temperament works, and why so much parenting advice oversimplifies complex human behavior.

We talk about secure, anxious, avoidant, and disorganized attachment styles — what they are, what they aren’t, and why they’re not permanent labels. Dr. Stern explains how attachment forms through early relationships, how it can change over time, and why attachment styles are adaptive strategies, not diagnoses.

We also explore why children are often born with distinct temperaments, including sensitivity and emotional reactivity, and how parents can respond without shame or self-blame. This conversation is especially helpful for parents raising highly sensitive kids or navigating emotional regulation when both parent and child are overwhelmed.

This episode covers:

• The science behind attachment theory and parenting
• Why temperament is largely innate — and how environment shapes outcomes
• Emotional regulation strategies for parents and kids
• The neuroscience of “mom brain” and parenthood
• Why attachment parenting trends don’t always reflect attachment research
• How community and support impact parenting and mental health

A must-listen for parents, caregivers, educators, and anyone interested in child development, attachment, and evidence-based parenting.

We hope you enjoy the episode!

Guest: Dr. Jessie Stern, PhD
Assistant Professor of Psychology, Pomona College
Co-author of Beyond Difficult: An Attachment-Based Guide to Dealing with Challenging People
Instagram: @drjessiestern | @australianpsychologist

Topics Covered:

• Attachment theory explained (secure, anxious, avoidant, disorganized)
• Nature vs. nurture in child behavior
• Sensitive children and emotional regulation
• Parenting without shame or labels
• Brain changes in parenthood
• Why community matters more than perfection

Support the show

Website: https://www.doyouwantthetruthpod.com

Connect with Sam:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/samanthastrom

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@samanthastorms

Connect with Zara:

Zara Hanawalt https://www.linkedin.com/in/zara-hanawalt/

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@zarahanawalt

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zarahanawalt/

Send us a text

In this episode, we sit down with Olivia Howell, CEO and co-founder of Fresh Starts, the world’s first divorce registry and divorce education platform, to talk honestly about divorce, emotional abuse, financial control, and what women actually need before, during, and after separation.

Olivia shares her personal story of leaving an emotionally abusive marriage, becoming a single mother of two, and rebuilding her life — not through shame or secrecy, but through support, education, and community. We unpack why emotional abuse is often invisible, how gaslighting and financial control slowly erode self-trust, and why so many women don’t recognize abuse until years into a relationship.

We also explore why divorce is one of the most misunderstood life transitions, especially for mothers. Olivia explains why “just leave” advice is often dangerous, how lack of access to money keeps women stuck, and why divorce education is frequently gatekept behind legal and financial barriers.

This episode covers:

• Financial abuse, surveillance, and control inside marriage
• How Fresh Starts connects women to divorce coaches, financial analysts, mediators, and co-parenting support
• Why divorce isn’t a failure — but a transition that can lead to stability and clarity and an amazing co-parenting relationship

This conversation is essential listening for anyone navigating divorce, separation, emotional abuse, financial independence, single motherhood, or co-parenting, as well as friends and family who want to better support someone going through it.

divorce podcast, emotional abuse, financial abuse in marriage, divorce support for women, single motherhood, life after divorce, co-parenting, divorce education, gaslighting, domestic inequity, married single mom, women and divorce, abusive relationships, Fresh Starts divorce, divorce recovery, modern motherhood, coparenting

Support the show

Website: https://www.doyouwantthetruthpod.com

Connect with Sam:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/samanthastrom

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@samanthastorms

Connect with Zara:

Zara Hanawalt https://www.linkedin.com/in/zara-hanawalt/

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@zarahanawalt

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zarahanawalt/

Send us a text

From NICU trauma to a homestead with donkeys—and a construction empire bringing in $6 million in a single month. Angela Artymovich’s story is the kind of entrepreneurial rollercoaster moms rarely get to hear told honestly. In this raw and deeply human conversation, Angela shares how becoming a NICU mom, battling HELLP syndrome, and navigating four miscarriages changed her life, her marriage, and her career path.

She opens up about launching a reselling business with a newborn at home, scaling multiple construction companies with her husband, and eventually walking away from the reselling world to build companies that now generate more than $6M this month alone.

Angela also talks about the unexpected joy of homesteading, raising two boys, learning to love slowness, and redefining ambition outside the algorithm. Her story is packed with real-life advice for moms trying to build something of their own while holding the tenderness and chaos of motherhood.

This episode touches on: NICU trauma recovery, HELLP syndrome, emergency C-sections, infertility and recurrent miscarriage, navigating identity shifts as a mom, growing a construction business, homesteading life, content creation pivots, and how to trust yourself when your whole life is changing.

Learn more about Angela on Tiktok

Support the show

Website: https://www.doyouwantthetruthpod.com

Connect with Sam:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/samanthastrom

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@samanthastorms

Connect with Zara:

Zara Hanawalt https://www.linkedin.com/in/zara-hanawalt/

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@zarahanawalt

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zarahanawalt/

Send us a text

In today’s conversation, we sit down with clinical psychologist Dr. Rachel (@drrachelnyc) to unpack something so many of us wrestle with but rarely name out loud: food noise—that constant mental chatter about eating that overwhelms our cues, our joy, and our presence. We explore why this noise gets especially loud during postpartum and perimenopause, and why obesity is a complex metabolic disease, not a willpower issue. Dr. Rachel breaks down how GLP-1 medications, paired with cognitive behavioral tools, can quiet the shame spiral, restore choice, and shift our actual health markers in meaningful ways.

We also get into the messy middle of motherhood and womanhood—body comments, shifting hormones, boundary-setting, and the emotional whiplash of not feeling at home in your own body. Dr. Rachel offers quick scripts for shutting down unwanted commentary (perfect for the holidays), guidance for talking to kids about bodies with compassion and clarity, and concrete ways a quieter mind frees up space for strength training, protein-forward meals, hydration, sleep, and simply living with more ease. If you’re navigating postpartum changes, perimenopause, or the heavy mental load around food, this episode brings both science and soul.

Links & Resources

Ro (mention our podcast!) - we're working on a discount code

You can learn more about Dr. Rachel on her website and give her a follow on Instagram.

If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love for you to rate, follow, share, and leave a review. It helps more listeners find the show—and I always love hearing what resonated most with you. ❤️

Support the show

Website: https://www.doyouwantthetruthpod.com

Connect with Sam:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/samanthastrom

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@samanthastorms

Connect with Zara:

Zara Hanawalt https://www.linkedin.com/in/zara-hanawalt/

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@zarahanawalt

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zarahanawalt/