mom stories

This time of year, there’s so much pressure to be better.

There’s a whole industry that capitalizes on personal growth and change, and in December, there’s so much focus on goal setting with this “new year, new you” idea.

Now, I’m not saying you should rest on your laurels and sit here indefinitely. But movement forward should be honoring you and your life, not driven through “shoulds” or comparisons.

That way, we’re INTENTIONAL about the choices we make and the goals we set instead of getting wrapped up in the pressure to make big changes during this holiday period.

Resources & Links

Learn more about Project: Mom and follow us on Instagram at @projectmompodcast.

Do you want to share your motherhood journey on the podcast? Email me at projectmompod@gmail.com. 

Do you have a sacred time of day? A time that’s for just you?

Personally, I think there’s something to be said about taking the time to sit in stillness – to intentionally decide where our day should lead instead of running around from 0 to 60 in total chaos!

For today’s guest Miranda Cheney, a mother of two young kiddos and a personal branding photographer, her morning routine is when “her soul gets fed” – which as a mom, is critical, because, in her words, she can’t pour from an empty cup.

My conversation with Miranda is beautiful and honest, and I think we can all benefit from hearing her story and reflecting on how we can feed our own souls every day.

Resources & Links

Check out Miranda’s Instagram highlights for a glimpse into her postpartum photography exhibition. 

You can find Miranda’s work at Miranda Cheney Photography and on Instagram.

Learn more about Project: Mom and follow us on Instagram at @projectmompodcast.

Do you want to share your motherhood journey on the podcast? Email me at projectmompod@gmail.com. 

When we become mothers, we go through a transition similar to adolescence called matrescence, which is the physical, emotional, hormonal and social transition of becoming a mother. 

A lot of us are juggling grief, joy, internal struggles, even sometimes anger as we reconnect with ourselves. And while this is all completely normal, it feels overwhelming, even impossible, to navigate at times.  

In today’s episode, I go really deep with Alison Ryan, a mentor to mothers as they navigate early motherhood and help them prioritize mental health and well-being. 

I have been looking forward to this episode for WEEKS, and am so excited for other moms to hear her story.  Perhaps we can ask ourselves the question Alison asked herself that made all the difference in her own matrescence:

What if I put myself first?

Resources & Links

You can learn more about Alison and her mission to help mamas navigate early motherhood on her website, on Instagram, and Facebook, and for more information about matrecense, you can check out Mama Rising.

If you’re interested in working with Alison, join her in Reconnected, an 8 week group practice to help you reconnect with who you are as a mom and heal in your mind, body, and spirit.   Her next program starts this week, July 8th! 

Learn more about Project: Mom and follow us on Instagram at @projectmompodcast.

Do you want to share your motherhood journey on the podcast? Email me at projectmompod@gmail.com. 

If you have even an ember of desire to start a business or nurture your ambitions, this episode is for you. Guilt is one of the most difficult obstacles working moms face, but we can still choose our careers AND our children. It’s a myth as old as time itself – but today’s guest, Corina Tripon, has beautiful advice to share for working around it.

Corina is a growth coach, empowerment speaker, community builder, and founder of the Ginger Root Society, a coaching community for female entrepreneurs looking to build businesses that align with their faith. She’s also the mom to two sweet, charming boys.

Her biggest piece of advice for fighting the ever-encroaching mom guilt? Surround yourself with other women like yourself. We are worth the investment. It is safe to ask for help!

Resources & Links

Visit Ginger Root Society, a bold community for women pursuing audacious success, and follow them on Instagram. You can connect with Corina on her Instagram at @corina_tripon. 

Learn more about Project: Mom and follow us on Instagram at @projectmompodcast.

Do you want to share your motherhood journey on the podcast? Email me at projectmompod@gmail.com. 

When we become parents, it’s easy to latch onto the unhealthy expectation that our lives will be exactly the same. We’ll get our bodies back and re-enter the workforce, the only difference being the baby sling across our chest. 

Today I’m speaking with Christa Sisson, Speech Language Pathologist and owner of TideSpeak Language & Speech Therapy about letting go of that expectation and creating new boundaries. What we bring to the table as women in our professional careers is only STRENGTHENED as we become moms.

Christa, the mother of a baby boy (plus two fur babies!) and wife to a general surgery resident, specializes in parent education and sensory communication, with the goal of helping to support parents so they can support their loved ones. Trust me when I say Christa brings it on this episode.

In the midst of starting her own practice, she made a fulfilling discovery: that becoming a mom made her innately better at her job!

Notable Quote from Christa

“Following pregnancy, I don’t want to say it was disappointing.  But none of it was what I thought it would be. I remember having this child and texting my friends in the middle of the night being like, “what the hell? Why have none of you told me this?”

Resources & Links

Learn more about Project: Mom and follow us on Instagram at @projectmompodcast.

Do you want to share your motherhood journey on the podcast? Email me at projectmompod@gmail.com. 

Visit TideSpeak.com to learn more about Christa Sisson, M.C.D., CCC-SLP, and her company, TideSpeak.

For more about Christa’s therapist Bethany Warren, visit her website,  or check out her postpartum workbook, The Pregnancy and Postpartum Mood Workbook.

While all of our experiences with motherhood and entrepreneurship can look quite different, we can all benefit from taking a breath, a pause to get really clear on what it is we truly need.

For many of us – including today’s guest, Hannah Abad, head coach and founder of Prime Collaborative – it’s one of the hardest things to do, but it’s also one of the most necessary.

Hannah is a wife, mama of two boys, and a former workaholic and perfectionist who helps high achievers break through roadblocks and launch themselves into the lives they always dreamed of through a signature 3-step process that we’ll dive into today. 

Her own story of resilience from a bad car accident to a high complication pregnancy gives me goosebumps and I have a feeling it will resonate with so many of us out there.

Notable Quote from Hannah 

“I believed my worth as a wife, a mom, a business owner, completely relied on me being able to handle it all. I was crushed under the weight of it.”

Resources & Links

Learn more about Project: Mom and follow us on Instagram at @projectmompodcast.

Do you want to share your motherhood journey on the podcast? Email me at projectmompod@gmail.com. 

Visit Hannah’s website, primecollaborative.com,  or email her at hannah@primecollaborative.com and learn about her individualized coaching that helps clients overcome obstacles preventing them from achieving fulfillment.

Follow @primecollaborative on Instagram.

Welcome to the Project: Mom Podcast,  where we share the unedited journeys of new moms as they navigate motherhood and the call to entrepreneurship! I’m Emily - a Mom, a wife, a sister, a friend, a woman with a passion or two or three, who challenges the status quo.

Today’s episode is about my story. The first year of my daughter’s life was raw and challenging. I didn’t experience the instant Mama/Baby connection. I had a rough post-delivery experience. It was a rude awakening when my life didn’t find its way back into the normal rhythm I once had. 

But I discovered there’s so much hope and inspiration on the other side. It’s time to break down the walls that keep us from one another. We can find our identity within. We can listen to our own truth and follow our dreams and passions and trust that they’ll come to fruition when the time is right.  Can we surrender to this journey? 

I welcome you to listen alongside me every week as we hear the stories of strangers that are very eerily similar to our own. As you fold laundry or walk that sweet baby around the block or do dishes for the millionth time, I hope you’ll join me.

Notable Quote from Emily

“The Mama - Baby connection took a lot of time. I wasn’t prepared for the body shifts, the hormone shifts, the mental, emotional shifts, and it wasn’t talked about or shared with me ahead of time.”

Resources & Links

What topics would you love for me to explore on Project: Mom next? Or do you want to share your story? Email me at projectmompod@gmail.com. 

Learn more about Project: Mom and follow us on Instagram at @projectmompodcast.

Country artist Payton Howie has released singles this year, including the heartfelt tune "Freedom" and the upbeat party anthem "Never Go Home." She talks about the stories behind those and gives some details on her latest upcoming music video that she says will be a bit different. She also gives some surprising answers to personal questions!

Hear Payton's music and follow her on social media here:
https://paytonhowie.com/home

Listen to and follow the Bored and Curious Podcast here:
https://linktr.ee/boredandcuriouspodcast

Bio: 
With backwoods bathed vocals and bona fide southern swagger, Payton Howie is leading the next generation of redneck women. Branded as the ultimate ‘All American Girl’ by Scenes Media, Howie unapologetically embodies the untamed tradition that country music was built on, and she’s hellbent on bringing her own grit to the honky tonk. Not many can say they’ve shared the stage with the likes of Carrie Underwood, and Howie is one of even fewer who can say they were handpicked to do so at the age of 5; while other kids were learning how to ride a bike, she was teaching people to expect the unexpected whenever they hear the name Payton Howie. Her most recent single “Freedom” was featured on several of Spotify’s sought after editorial playlists, and the accompanying music video bleeds red, white and blue. On the verge of releasing her debut EP, Payton Howie is prepared to scorch country music with a brand that’s hers alone.

Intro music artist credit: Short Guitar Clip by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Artist: http://audionautix.com/

On this episode of Pop Culture Junkees, we interview Ashley, aka Sew Ashtastic, about her thriving independent sewing business, her favorite comic books, cosplays and celebrity photo ops at comicon. How did she become an accomplished sewer, and what comic books should we be reading right now? Join us to find out!

Find Ashley:

• https://www.sewashtastic.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/sewashtastic/
• https://www.facebook.com/SewAshtastic/

• Twitter: @junkeespop
• IG: @popculturejunkees
• Facebook: @popculturejunkees
• Linktree: @PopCultureJunkees
• Email: popculturejunkees@gmail.com

Relatable. Grateful. Cookie thief? Those are three ways to describe emerging country artist, the Florida native who is making waves in Nashville! In this episode of Bored and Curious, we talk about her music career, what it was like growing up with 15 siblings, and the stories behind her songs.

From confessing romantic feelings to a friend in "Would've Gone Home" and being perfectly content with your significant other in "Sunshine State," to paying tribute to her late father in "Raised by a Working Man," this episode has the potential to be an emotional rollercoaster. She also performs those songs during the podcast! “Sunshine State” will be released Friday, June 4th on streaming platforms! We then get to know Chandler a little bit more with some personal questions and let's say it takes a turn from adorable to don't-try-this-at-home.

Chandler's Links:
Get Chandler's music here- https://www.chandlerstephens.com/
Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/chandlerstephensmusic/
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/ChandlerStephensMusic
TikTok- https://www.tiktok.com/@chandlerstephensmusic?lang=en
Twitter-  https://twitter.com/ChanStephMusic

Listen to and follow the Bored and Curious Podcast on social media and podcast platforms here: https://linktr.ee/boredandcuriouspodcast

Bio:
Chandler Stephens was born with the love of music in her soul. Her musical influences come from a wide range of genres including pop, rock, and Motown, but she felt the biggest connection to the country music genre.

With 14 adopted siblings, Chandler's family gave her a broad world view. “I grew up understanding and knowing we are all human beings deserving of love and kindness and equality. I learned quickly that hate is taught but so is love. It is definitely something I draw from for my songwriting and a firm platform for my life.”

Married with a four year old daughter, “life gets even more real and takes on an entirely different perspective when your responsible for another human being,” says Chandler. “I love my life with my daughter Layla, and my husband, Cliff. I also love the unconditional support and encouragement they both give me to spread my wings and follow my musical dreams. This new music has definitely progressed to another level as I have reached these milestones of motherhood and marriage. My songs are like book marks for my life." 

Episode Guide:
0:00 Intro / childhood dream job 
1:10 15 siblings! (with comment prompt)
2:30 Patience in artistry
3:22 Dream collab & ultimate goal
4:21 Performance "Would've Gone Home"
8:15 Story behind "Would've Gone Home"
8:57 Comment prompt: Have you had a crush on a friend?
9:14 Performance "Sunshine State"
12:55 Story behind "Sunshine State"
13:14 Performance "Raised By a Working Man"
16:09 Story behind "Raised By a Working Man"
16:50 Comment prompt: What songs make you emotional?
17:20 Favorite story of her daughter
18:33 Star struck by ADELE!
19:00 Bucket list (with travel comment prompt)
19:25 Worst thing you did as a kid
20:19 Most adventurous / riskiest thing you've done
21:07 Could ya not? (with comment prompt)
21:45 Upcoming song release! "Sunshine State" June 4th!

Intro music artist credit: Short Guitar Clip by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Artist: http://audionautix.com/

WE WANT MORE ENOLA HOLMES! Geek out with Stef and Michelle over Netflix's newest installation in the Sherlock multiverse, and help us get in the fall mood by picking spooky books to read. Celebrate #InternationalPodcastDay with us!

• Twitter: @junkeespop
• IG: @popculturejunkees
• Facebook: @popculturejunkees
• Linktree: @PopCultureJunkees
• Email: popculturejunkees@gmail.com

Abby and Alan hear first hand paranormal experiences from Abby's Mom.

Lunatics merch, available here!

Music by Michaela Papa & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by @pilar.kep.

Lunatics Magazine is available here. Subscribe to our newsletter! 

Follow us on Instagram @thelunaticsproject and on YouTube - Films About Lunatics

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We are celebrating Moms in this episode. This is our opportunity for us to recognize the heroes in our lives. edu-Me invited several family and friends into the studio to share stories about their amazing moms. You'll be inspired! 

Our guests in this episode: 
Terri, Mixing Up Midlife podcast host, @mixingupmidlife
Reshma, Functional Medicine physician, @reshmapatelmd
Kathy, Women Who Sarcast podcast host, @womenwhosarcast
Sangeeta, Professor of Electronics, @sangeetas23
Neera, Accountant and HR Director, @neera321

This is our most RAUCOUS episode yet! Stef and Mich invited their sisters to join this episode so we can geek out on a choose your own adventure story, Halloween, WWE and Olive Garden. We also had two little monsters (Stef's nephew and Mich's niece) causing havoc in the background. Despite the attempted jailbreak by the nephew, no children were harmed in the making of this podcast.

• Twitter: @junkeespop
• IG: @popculturejunkees
• Facebook: @popculturejunkees
• Linktree: @PopCultureJunkees
• Email: popculturejunkees@gmail.com