Still Talking About It

This week, Janelle is talking about the kind of moments that make you pause and think… did that really just come out of your mouth?   It starts with a very real decision. Whether or not to invite extended family to her daughter's dance competition, knowing there's a history there, and knowing that what should be a fun, supportive event can easily turn into something else.   Because sometimes it's...

This week, Janelle is joined by a follower to talk about what happens when you marry into a family that feels… completely different from your own.   What starts as a few uncomfortable dynamics quickly turns into something much bigger. Ongoing tension, unspoken rules, and the kind of behavior that everyone else seems to expect you to just accept.   They talk about what it looks like when setting bo...

This week, Janelle is talking about a concept she shared online recently… "yes ma'am moments."   What does it actually mean? And why does it seem to hit such a nerve, especially when it comes to in-laws?   Janelle breaks down the idea of accepting feedback or instructions without pushback, and how this shows up in family dynamics, particularly once you have kids and step into your role as the deci...

This week, Janelle is joined by Erin Junker, mom and pediatric sleep consultant from The Happy Sleep Company , to talk about something that causes a surprising amount of tension in families… baby sleep.   Because why does it seem like everyone suddenly has an opinion on YOUR baby's schedule? And does your MIL always insist "it's fiiiiiiine" for your baby to skip a nap when it's really not?!   Jane...

Hey, it's April Fool's Day! Janelle briefly considered pulling off some sort of elaborate April Fool's prank on the pod… but decided instead to read some of the meanest, most unhinged comments she's received across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube… and react to them.   From being called every name in the book, to being told that SHE'S the problem, Janelle reacts in real time and unpacks what's reall...

This week, Janelle is joined by another follower, Vanessa, to talk about something that comes up more often than people want to admit… low-effort grandparents.   What do you do when your kids want them at an event, like a birthday party, but your experience tells you they might not show up the way your kids are hoping?   They talk about the tension between protecting your kids from disappointment...

This week, Janelle is talking about something that happened in her own neighbourhood.   What started as a normal school pickup turned into a very uncomfortable interaction with a woman walking several dogs… and somehow ended with that same woman following Janelle home.   The experience got Janelle thinking about something bigger. How some people react when you set even the smallest boundary, and h...

This week, Janelle does something a little different and invites a follower onto the podcast to share her own story. And, it's one that so many women will quietly recognize…. What happens when you slowly pull back from your husband's family group chat… and suddenly you're blamed for "ruining" the family dynamic?   In modern families, there's often a pressure to perform closeness in digital spaces....

This week, Janelle is talking about a word that keeps popping up in her DMs lately… enmeshment.   What does it actually mean? And how is it different from just being close with your family? Janelle breaks down what enmeshment can look like in adulthood, why boundaries often feel like personal attacks in enmeshed families, and how growing up feeling responsible for a parent's emotions can quietly f...

This week, Janelle is flying solo and talking about something that a lot of followers have been asking her about lately… "low-effort families."   What happens when you marry into a family that doesn't reach out, doesn't anticipate needs, and doesn't show up the way you expected extended family would? And what happens when those same people suddenly start complaining about not seeing you or your ki...

This week, Janelle is joined by her first-ever guest, Madison LeBlanc Barbosa , creator, mom of two with a third on the way, and the woman behind the viral Monster-In-Law series.   They talk about how Madison unexpectedly built an online community, why so many women feel isolated after becoming mothers, and how her Monster-In-Law stories completely took on a life of their own.   Janelle and Madiso...

Before we get into this episode, trigger warning. Part of this conversation includes discussion of suicide and suicidal ideation.   This week, we're still talking about emotional manipulation. Janelle answers a deeply layered follower question about misaligned expectations between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, and how quickly things can escalate when boundaries are ignored.   The follower s...

Okay, we HAVE to talk about the Beckhams.   Since EVERYONE AND THEIR MOTHER has been asking… What is going on with Brooklyn Beckham and his parents?!   After Brooklyn shared some very pointed messages about his relationship with his mom and dad, the internet exploded. And a lot of women immediately recognized the dynamic. A famous mom, a powerful family, and a daughter-in-law who suddenly becomes...

This week, it's all about you and your questions.   Janelle is answering some of the most common and deeply personal questions she gets from her followers, including whether she's ever considered ending being no contact with her mother-in-law, if she worries about how her kids might one day understand that decision, and whether therapy has played a role in navigating mother-in-law issues as a coup...

There's no one-size-fits-all rulebook when it comes to navigating your relationship with your in-laws… and this episode proves it.   This week, Janelle answers a round of follower questions covering some of the trickiest, most uncomfortable situations women find themselves in. From being no contact with your in-laws while your husband and kids still see them, to navigating wildly inappropriate com...

The holidays are over… and if you're still recovering emotionally, you're are most DEFINITELY not the only one.    This week on Still Talking About It, Janelle has a full holiday season post-mortem for you. Because we all need it. What went well, what absolutely did not, and why family dynamics somehow feel even louder when there's a tree involved.   She's also sharing some of the worst (and funni...

Some grandparents think that when they say "I want to see the kids", it means you should immediately pack everyone up, drive across town, clear your schedule, and magically make it happen.   This week, Janelle answers a follower question about dealing with grandparents who feel entitled to time with their grandkids, and who expect visits to happen on their turf… at their convenience… on one of you...

'Tis the season for side-eyes, shady comments, and awkward family photos that don't include you.   If you're MIL has ever tried to stage a photoshoot with your husband and kids WITHOUT YOU IN IT, you're going to want to listen this week.   We're diving into the chaos of family get-togethers, from the weird things relatives say at dinner, to the in-laws who insist on "just one picture" that mysteri...

So you finally cut off your toxic mother-in-law… but what happens when you might have to see her again? This week, Janelle shares a story from a follower who has been no contact with her MIL for over a year, and is now TERRIFIED to attend a family event where she'll be in the same room. Janelle also opens up about hearing from the wife of someone she went to school with… Who turns out to have a ni...

Tis the season for stuffing, stress, and subtle shade from your in-laws.   This week, Janelle is talking all things holidays: deciding whether to pack up and spend the season with your in-laws, having those tough "we're doing our own thing this year" conversations, and redefining what the holidays look like for your family.   From guilt trips to wish lists, Janelle talks about why this time of yea...

Some mother-in-laws just don't know the meaning of "stay in your lane."   This week, Janelle shares one of her most jaw-dropping follower stories yet… a MIL who secretly booked flights and arranged for her own mother to move in with her son and daughter-in-law for an entire month. Without asking. Without warning.   So, what happens when boundaries are ignored? And, how should you handle any simila...

Vacations are supposed to be relaxing. And they usually are… Until the in-laws get involved.   This week, Janelle is talking about the chaos that ensues when a family "vacation" turns into a passive-aggressive competition. Who sleeps where, who pays for what, and who gets the kids' attention first… it's all on the table.   From beach trips gone bad to why your MIL suddenly thinks she's co-parentin...

Welcome to the club; we've been waiting for you. In the debut episode of Still Talking About It, host Janelle Riddell kicks things off by sharing a little bit about her own story: how her relationship with her mother-in-law went from "polite small talk" to full-on emotional warfare. Then, Janelle answers a few wild listener questions; including one about a MIL who quite literally threw an adult te...

If you've ever had a mother-in-law who made your life miserable, YOU'RE NOT ALONE!!! Still Talking About It is the podcast where we finally say the quiet part out loud. Hosted by Janelle (yes, THAT Janelle from TikTok ), Still Talking About It is the podcast ALL about toxic mothers-in-law, impossible family expectations, and the emotional gymnastics required to keep your sanity. From jaw-dropping...