The Honest Mom Podcast

It's hard to talk about, hard to admit, and embarrassing to acknowledge that sex can... how do I say it... SUCK after you have a baby? You don't want to, you're exhausted, perhaps it's painful, or you simply find it awkward and the furthest thing from sexy. That's why I am introducing you to my dear friend and Women's Health Physical Therapist, Carrie Koziol. Carrie is one...

Social media isn't "evil" and I'm here to talk about how the key to a healthy relationship with anything in life is moderation. Using or ingesting in the ways that fuel you, challenge you, and create learning opportunities. It doesn't have to be perfect but even with things that are "healthy" for you, let's say an orange, if you eat too much of it, it can be har...

Hello everyone! Welcome back to a tell-all episode featuring one of THE most honest moms I know, and an incredible close friend of mine, Brandi Wiatrak. She is the host of the Mom After Hours podcast, which she needed to take a break from (I'm in denial and feel she will be going back to it in some capacity!) when she returned to work full time. She is the incredible mother to her daughter, Vi...

If the word "Balance" has your eyes rolling or you're already overwhelmed about it, then this episode is for you. Today Sarah Otto and I chat about the meaning of balance and how there's not a one-size-fits-all version that fits everyone's needs. Balance has many meanings and we talk about the true test and feelings to look for when achieving your own unique version. Our miss...

This is my passion chapter about friendships in motherhood. Those lost, gained, maintained and how to navigate through the seasons of motherhood. Enjoy this week's reading with snippets from Chapter 9 of my book, "The Honest Mom Podcast: Acknowledge Your Feelings. Break Free From Expectations. Build Your Beautiful Life as a Mother." available on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/Hone...

Get your copy of my new book (an Amazon Best Seller!), The Honest Mom Project: Acknowledge Your Feelings. Break Free From Expectations. Build Your Beautiful Life as a Mother. on Amazon TODAY!   https://www.amazon.com/Honest-Mom-Project-Acknowledge-Expectations/dp/1667875094/   OFF TO TODAY'S EPISODE! Make new friends. But keep the old. One is silver and the other gold. That was easy to s...

I don't know about you, but I believe that as human beings we have cravings beyond sex and a bag of Doritos. We, as humans, also have emotional cravings. We yearn to feel loved, to feel wanted, appreciated, validated, and included. I desire to be a part of something, to be in a community, to have experiences that I create and am invited to. When we become mothers, that connection is needed even mo...

Katie has been my BFF since I started with SPENGA in 2018. She was also at the heart of some friendship breakups and was such an incredible part of my healing- and what it means to be a true friend. I've always appreciated her honesty and how she delivers it which is why I knew you would love her on the podcast. Katie was dating her high school sweetheart where they were both seniors in college, p...

Intuition can be this woo-woo thing that many don't take seriously. Or aren't able to connect with. As moms we are distracted. We are BUSY. We are getting busier by the month after being forced to slow down the last few years. It's like we are making up for lost time. But as this happens, we seem to be getting further and further from our intuition. Our brains are clouded. Our gut instincts are ig...

This week in my Local Mom Series, I sat with Jessica Segreto where we chatted about having one child. We shared our unique decision and reasons behind having our daughters. How we gained confidence in our motherhood and families. There were some struggles and questioning but we talk about how we got through these weeds and honored the lives that worked for us.  It's definitely getting more co...

I said it so you don't have to. But know you're still an awesome mom if you do say it out loud. Infancy wasn't my thing. Staring at my baby waving things in her face wasn't my jam. Playing Tea Party Princess had me looking at my watch and yawning. My days were so f'in long and I was bored out of my mind. Why? Isn't motherhood supposed to be exciting, fulfilling, and packed with action?  I nev...

There is a resistance for people to ask difficult questions. Fear of the answer. That they can't "fix" it. Fear that the answer will be really uncomfortable.  You may find yourself alone in your postpartum feelings. Those unmarketable feelings. Because people around you are scared to ask you, "How are you doing?" You may be like me and not want to tell your partner or mom your feelings becaus...

"F the Mom Guilt!" "You don't deserve to feel Mom Guilt!" Or at least that's what we are told on social, in books, podcasts and sometimes by friends around us. But what if simply "F the Mom Guilt!" doesn't work? What if you STILL feel it? What then?  Pushing my feelings under the rug, ignoring them or telling them to F off just wasn't working. In fact it was crippling me. What did work? Liste...

Today's episode is another in my series with local moms and friends. I met Tori at Spenga, first as a rock star member and now she works there as an instructor. Tori recently became a new mom (her daughter, Emma is 4 months old) and she opened up about her postpartum journey. We laughed some about how her experience as a dog mom semi-prepared her and her husband (a lot of poop is involved wit...

Motherhood is overwhelming with all the information you learn before your baby is born- and then it arrives and you get thrown even MORE information your way. This week's chapter series goes into the boundary world and all those well-intentional people in your life that want to tell you "the best" way to do something. You've probably heard "breast is best" (can we stop this one already?!) or judgm...

Last year I tried something new for the new year and my goals. Instead of a New Year's Resolution, I chose a WORD OF THE YEAR. My best friend, Bridgett, shared this technique with me as she went through her yoga teacher training (which a huge part of it is self discovery) and I loved the idea. Last year my word of the year was TRUTH. This year, my word of the year is... EXPAND This new goal worked...

If you feel insecure when the question of “What do you do?” comes up or if you assume people don’t value all you do as a mom, this episode is for you if you want to feel confident about your role in this life. Maybe you left your career, perhaps you’re part time, or want to be at home but feel so insecure about justifying your worth. Does your spouse make you doubt your days? Do you overhear peopl...

So excited to be kicking off Season 2 with Meghan Cox and Bridget Nolan of Sunshine Social Media!!! Meghan got her start working in television and advertising, and eventually took her love of social media to create Sunshine Social Media. Bridget was a teacher for 10 years, and after becoming a mom she used her creative, communication, and management skills to become a social media manager. They ev...

PRESALE of “The Honest Mom Project: Acknowledge Your Feelings. Break Free From Expectations. Build Your Beautiful Life as a Mother.” is available for presale on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3WqmTxc There are so many mixed emotions that can happen with you and your partner once that baby comes into your life. If you’re like me, maybe you had rose colored glasses about what your partnership would be...

I hope you enjoy this week’s chapter read about the struggle with our identity as soon as we become mothers. Thank you so much for listening, sharing, and supporting this book as it comes to your hands at the end of January!

The word "boundary" doesn't have to be a scary one, but often setting boundaries goes against what we were modeled growing up so it feels scary to broach the subject with family and friends.  My conversation with Dr. Jessica increased my understanding of boundaries and the importance of talking about this topic. Everyone has to encounter setting boundaries at some point in their life. Boundar...

This is the first episode in my "The Honest Mom Project" chapter series where I will be reading excerpts from each of my 10 chapters in my NEW book that is available for presale. "The Honest Mom Project. Acknowledge Your Feelings. Break Free From Expectations. Build Your Beautiful Life as a Mother" officially arrives January 27, 2023!!! If you're interested in supporting the book in its presale st...

I typically keep topics geared toward the new mom or toddler phase, but realized that a lot of my friends are already in the tween/teen stage with their kids and that this info could definitely be useful as my own daughter grows up. So glad I followed my gut!! Elise Knox is a life and wellness coach and former middle school teacher who works with teens and moms. The #1 thing she sees with her coac...

Happy 1-Year Anniversary to The Honest Mom Podcast!  Thank you all for sticking with me and supporting me throughout 2022. I am beyond grateful to all the incredible guests, those that subscribed, listen when they can, recommend, share and talk about the podcast.  This week I talk about how heavy metal has kept me going and motivated me to get my book into your hands. Stay tuned througho...

We are often encouraged, whether it's through the media, cultural expectations or our own thinking that we have to "get our body back" quickly after having a baby. This may lead us to working out too soon and too hard, and often results in burnout.  I'm so grateful for my conversation with Lisa Dienes, where we talked about the misunderstandings of our bodies and working out after the birth o...