Stepmom Side Chats

In this episode, we're joined by Christina Nelson of Radical Stepmoms Podcast for an honest conversation about the realities of stepmotherhood. We discuss what it's really like entering a relationship with someone who already has a child, navigating difficult co-parenting dynamics, advocating for stepchildren with ADHD, and the grief many stepmoms experience when their blended family doesn...

We’re back with Part 2 of our Ours Baby series, and this time we're answering the questions everyone really wants to know. Did your stepkids get jealous? Did bio mom get worse? Were the kids at the hospital? Do dads overcompensate out of guilt? And is "fairness" in a blended family even possible? In this episode, we get real about the practical side of having an ours baby...from step...

What happens when the person you trust most shapes your entire reality and that reality isn’t true? In this deeply personal episode of Stepmom Side Chats, Alyssa & Becca sit down with Meghan, a woman who spent decades believing her father abandoned her. Raised in a high-conflict home, Meghan shares what it was like growing up caught in the middle of divorce, manipulation, fear, loyalty binds,...

In high-conflict stepfamily dynamics, it can feel like every text, exchange, or disagreement pulls you into emotional chaos. In this episode, Alyssa and Becca unpack the hidden power of emotional neutrality and why learning not to emotionally enter every conflict can completely shift your experience as a stepmom. We dive into selective involvement, grey rocking, behavioral psychology, and the ABC...

In this powerful episode, Alyssa and Becca sit down with for one of the most honest conversations we’ve had about high-conflict co-parenting, loyalty binds, and what happens when being the “nice” stepmom stops working. Naja shares her own journey through parental alienation, conflict, and the emotional toll of loving children who may have been taught to keep their distance. Together, we unpack how...

Summer always sounds magical… until the custody schedules change, the kids are home 24/7, your routines disappear, and suddenly your house feels louder, messier, and a lot less like your own. In this episode, Alyssa and Becca open up about what summer really feels like as a stepmom, the pressure to make memories, plan activities, keep everyone entertained, manage different parenting styles, and so...

In this powerful episode of Stepmom Side Chats, Alyssa & Becca sit down with somatic healing coach Meggie, a mom of four, who shares how severe burnout, mysterious health symptoms, and nervous system dysregulation completely changed the course of her life. After losing her hair, gaining weight, battling unexplained physical symptoms, and feeling completely disconnected from herself, Meggie dis...

Friendships as a stepmom can feel... complicated. In this raw and honest episode of Stepmom Side Chats, Alyssa and Becca dive into one of the most isolating parts of stepmom life, how friendships shift when your reality becomes blended family drama, court dates, co-parenting chaos, and emotions your friends simply may not understand. We’re talking about losing friendships, feeling judged, overshar...

Disclaimer: This episode includes discussion of suicide, domestic violence, and mental health crises. Please take care while listening. In this episode of Stepmom Sidechats, Alyssa & Becca sit down with Randy Keith, also known as Present Father, a fatherhood advocate, creator, and founder of the Present Father Movement. Randy shares his deeply personal story of divorce, navigating a high-confl...

In this episode, Alyssa and Becca sit down to unpack what this holiday really feels like as stepmoms, especially when you’re doing all the “mom things” but don’t always get the recognition that comes with it. They reflect on where they started, navigating Mother’s Day as childless stepmoms, and how their experiences have evolved over time. From awkward first holidays to now balancing life as both...

In this episode of Alyssa & Becca, we sit down with Ashton Whitmoyer-Ober, an Enneagram coach and speaker, to talk about how understanding your Enneagram type can help you navigate stepmom life with more self-awareness, clarity, and compassion. We get into how different Enneagram types respond to conflict, triggers, boundaries, people-pleasing, resentment, and relationship dynamics, especially...

Season 2 is here and we’re starting with a conversation so many stepmoms know by heart. In this first episode, Alyssa & Becca talk about the exact moment they realized stepmom life was not what they thought they signed up for. From overfunctioning, unrealistic expectations, and feeling invisible in your own home, to the emotional labor, criticism, and identity shifts no one prepares you for, w...

It’s our season finale, and we are showing up caffeinated, chaotic, and completely unfiltered. Alyssa and Becca playing “Would You Rather: Stepmom Edition”, from sports practices vs. parent-teacher conferences to stepping on Legos vs. reading a six-paragraph text from the ex. They also tackle listener-submitted questions about dating a partner with a toddler, long-distance stepkids, and what it’s...

This week on Stepmom Side Chats , we sit down with co-parent coach Jay Skibbens for a conversation that goes deep, like identity-shifting, nervous-system-resetting deep. Jay shares his powerful personal story of discovering that the children he had been raising weren’t biologically his and how that experience reshaped his understanding of resentment, emotional regulation, and what co-parenting rea...

In this episode of Stepmom side chats, Alyssa and Becca sit down with Gabriella Pomare Australian family lawyer, co-parent, and author of The Collaborative Co-Parent for a real conversation about what actually makes co-parenting and blended family life work. We talk about how co-parenting changes over time, why communication and boundaries are everything, and what to do when repartnering shifts th...

Teenagers are already a lot… and stepmomming a teenager can feel like the difficulty level just jumped to “expert.” In this episode, Becca (who’s lived through the teen stage firsthand) and Alyssa (entering the preteen years and slightly terrified) break down what’s developmental vs. what’s actual disrespect and how to respond without escalating into a full-blown power struggle. They talk about th...

Most stepmoms struggle with feeling never enough, constantly comparing, overextending, and risking burnout. But what if your confidence and boundaries could transform your experience? Discover the secret to breaking the cycle of guilt and comparison, and learn how to create peace and security in your role, even amid the chaos of co-parenting. In this eye-opening episode, Alyssa and Becca share hon...

Most stepmoms feel unseen and overwhelmed, but what if your partner truly understood what you’re carrying? This episode Alyssa and Becca dive deep into the silent struggles and unmet needs in blended families. Discover how communication, boundaries, and emotional safety are the keys to transforming chaos into connection. We uncover the core issues that fuel resentment between spouses, revealing su...

In this episode, hosts Alyssa and Becca welcome Kristen Skiles, founder of Stepmomming , to share her honest journey into stepmom life and how it unexpectedly led to building a supportive platform for blended families. Kristen opens up about her initial hesitation to date a single dad, the realities she faced stepping into motherhood, and how both the challenges and joys shaped her personal and pr...

In this episode of Stepmom Sidechats, Alyssa and Becca dive into the myths surrounding stepmotherhood, sharing personal anecdotes and insights. They discuss common misconceptions, such as stepmoms trying to replace biological moms, and the challenges of navigating family dynamics. The conversation also touches on the importance of setting boundaries, the emotional impact of custody changes, and th...

In this episode of Stepmom Side Chats, Alyssa and Becca unpack one of the most common struggles in stepmom life: triggers: why they happen, how they show up, and what we can do about them. From the emotional weight of court and mediation to everyday moments like co-parent communication and kid transitions, they explain why stepmom life can send your nervous system into overdrive. They explore what...

In this insightful episode, we welcome Emily Ray, a dedicated parenting coach, to discuss the complexities of co-parenting relationships. Emily shares her journey from early childhood education to becoming a parent coach, emphasizing the importance of supporting parents to foster healthier family dynamics. Tune in as we explore the challenges and solutions in high-conflict situations, the role of...

Having an “ours” baby in a blended family is beautiful… and complicated. In this episode, Rebecca and Alyssa open up about the emotions stepmoms are often too afraid to admit — the grief of not being your partner’s first experience, the guilt of wanting something that’s just yours, the fear of your baby being treated differently, and the pressure of navigating all of it inside stepfamily dynamics....

In this episode Alyssa and Becca dive into the complexities of step-parenting, challenging the common advice to "treat them like your own." Alyssa and Becca share personal experiences and insights on why this well-meaning guidance can be harmful, exploring the emotional costs and unrealistic expectations placed on stepmoms. Join the conversation as they discusses the importance of authenticity, se...

In this episode of Alyssa and Becca dive into the emotional rollercoaster of "Transition Day": the day when stepkids return home. Join them as they share personal stories and insights on managing the emotional whiplash that comes with these transitions. From the challenges of co-parenting to the unique dynamics of blended families, this episode offers heartfelt advice and practical tips for stepmo...