Radical Stepmoms

Christina and Marykate discuss the complexities surrounding the relationships with Mother In Laws. Marykate shares her story of navigating her high conflict MIL, the ways it impacted her relationship with the ex and the boundaries necessary to honor herself, her partner and her step-daughter. We may not get to pick our family, but we have a choice in our boundaries. If you have a difficult relatio...

Christina chats with Kisha who shares her unique story of how she stepped up when the ex wouldn't and the double standards that followed. Listen to this stepmom's story of being labeled the "homewrecker", being a full-time stepmom, and how she supported her stepson through his heartache, teenage years and beyond. Listen in!  Find her on Instagram: @kisha.paloma.lani So much more than a podcast!!!...

Christina chats with Scarlett who shares her journey of blending families, raising teens and going from fulltime to minimal contact. When the kids left the house to live with their mom, how did Scarlett and her husband cope? What lessons did she learn along the way? What has she done to rebuild the relationships with her kids?  Listen in to a story of vulnerability, redefining your role as "stepmo...

Christina chats with Kelly who shares her story of becoming a full-time stepmom and navigating chronic illness, infertility and grief. How do you move through the emotions of wanting an "ours baby" with your partner, while managing your health and being a full-time stepmom? Kelly shares her insights on how she handles seeing baby announcements and picture-perfect holiday photos. Stepmoms can be bo...

In this episode, Christina chats with Alan, a dad who shares his story of high-conflict, alienation, family court, self-representation and out of state custody. Like many dads, Alan wasn't seen as an equal parent by his son's mom and had to overcome numerous obstacles to remain in his son's life. Alan has now become an advocate for dads around the world, amplifying their voice and their rights as...

We know and understand our side of the story, but what about the ex/bio-mom perspective? In this episode Christina chats with Katie, a single-mom who unpacks the feelings behind her previous high-conflict tendencies. Katie shares the hard work she's done to find peace within herself and her co-parenting relationship. Why does the ex react like that? Does she really hate you? Listen in! About My Gu...

Welcome to Season FOUR! Christina kicks off the season with psychotherapist Deana Panza to discuss the important topic of boundaries. Boundaries is a big word that gets thrown around a lot, but what does it mean? What doesn't it mean? How do we enforce boundaries with those we love without disrupting all the "blending"? Deana and Christina discuss hot issues like no kids in the bedroom, resentment...

Welcome to the Season Three Finale!! Christina chats with Sam and Jenny, the husband and wife who are the definition of blended! They are both bio-parents, stepparents, she adopted and they foster! There is never a dull moment with a house full of kids, co-parenting with multiple exes and yup - a high conflict one to boot. Listen in as this inspiring couple shares their love story and how even thr...

Christina chats with Michelle, a high-conflict resolution coach and attorney who helps parents disengage from high conflict relationships, getting them out of court, and stepping back into their lives. When you're attempting to parent with a high conflict person, you feel like you're walking on eggshells. How do you protect your peace? What are the best ways to communicate? What shouldn't you do?...

As part of the Court Series, Christina chats with Stacy the supervisor of Pacific Northwest Guardian ad Litem in Washington State. She answers what exactly a GAL does, what to know and how to prepare if you happen to work with one. Stacey not only shares her professional wisdom, but also shares her personal blended family story. Listen in to hear her insights as a bio mom, an ex-stepmom and how sh...

One of the many stressors of blended family life can be navigating the court system. In this episode, Christina chats with Diane Broderson a Family Law Attorney in Washington State. Diane shares her expertise on navigating Family Court and things you can do to be prepared. What are her "must haves" for Parenting Plans? What should you avoid? What's a good holiday schedule? When should you modify t...

Communication is key, right? How do we talk about different parenting styles? Or if our partner has zero boundaries with the ex?? In this episode Christina chats with Gabby, a bio-mom to 2 and a stepmom to 1. Gabby shares her personal journey of divorcing her toxic ex-husband and later meeting her new love. Using her wisdom as a Relationship Coach Gabby shares how to have the hard conversations wi...

Christina chats with Maarit from Blended Family Frappè who shares her story of how she decided not to have an ours baby with her beloved husband. What did she consider? What were her fears? How does she feel now, years later? Christina also opens up about the decision to have her daughter and the crossroads her and her husband are now at in deciding if they'll close the door to having more childre...

Genet joins to give an update on what's she's been up to and really, just to say hi and have some fun! Christina and G answer listeners' questions and discuss the decisions they wouldn't make again, how to handle a "Sour Patch" ex ... to name a few. Then they dive into a little truth or dare. Listen in for some real and raw honesty and lots of laughs! Cheers!  Find Genet on Instagram: @g_heaven11...

Christina chats with Caley, a stepmom who knows the woes of ineffective attempts at co-parenting. We chat how and when to make the shift to parallel parenting, how to navigate the differences in households, stepkid jealousy and so much more. When do you choose to confront the ex? How do you handle comments like, "well, my mom..."? Grab your beverage of choice and listen in!  So much more than a po...

Christina chats with Laurie, a seasoned and full-time stepmom. Just after their wedding day, Laurie became a full-time stepmom when her stepson's mom moved out of the country.  Laurie shares her story of bonding with her stepson, the teen years, being called "mom" and how she kept her marriage strong with a non-traditional "honeymoon" stage. Laurie has wisdom, wit and a massive heart which led to...

Christina chats with Karen, a mom who can speak to the complexities of sharing custody of her daughter, navigating a relationship with a stepmom and...this is where it gets juicy... what happens when you fall back in love with your ex and now YOU'RE THE STEPMOM to your child's half sibling? WHAT?! That's right, listen in as Karen shares her story of love, being a mom, divorce and reuniting with he...

Christina welcomes Beth to chat about co-parenting dynamics and how a rocky start can lead to shared vacations. Beth discusses how she's navigated being the third mom figure while finding freedom in her role as a stepmom. We discuss fertility, being child-free and how to survive stepmotherhood while also being an introvert! Listen in! About My Guest: As a Certified Stepparent Coach, owner of The I...

Christina chats with Erin who opens up about her journey through stepmotherhood, including the decision to leave her relationship and ultimately her official role as "stepmom". We all have our threshold. The invisible line of when too much is too much and we're presented with the choice to walk away. Erin shares when she knew it was time to leave, how her relationship with her stepkids has evolved...

Christina chats with Michaele-Lynne, a stepmom to two teenage girls and a mom to her 3 year-old ours baby. Michaele-Lynne discusses her battle between disengaging and being a people pleaser, and how writing about stepmotherhood has helped her process the hard times and the good times. We chat the teen years, hands-off discipline, and raising an ours baby. What helps us grow through what we go thro...

Meet Casey, a “late in life” lesbian, who left her husband at 32 after having an affair with her now partner. Casey explains how they've been living through the pandemic while in the throes of a custody battle and blending their family. What can be done when the ex refuses to go through with the second parent adoption? How are LGBTQ families represented in the blended world? What needs to change l...

Many stepmoms have felt the pressures and expectations to fit into an already established family unit. Do you want to spend every holiday with the ex? What if you don't want the photo-op blended life? What if it's feeling a little too "sister-wife" and you're needing to create some boundaries? Meet Miranda, a stepmom who had to alter the expectations placed on her to fit her own comfort level. How...

Christina welcomes the lovely Naja Hall to discuss how to manage a high conflict ex on social media, navigating the impacts of child support, insecurities and more. Naja is a force, and her stepmom energy is inspiring. Listen in and learn how to be "unbothered".  About My Guest:  Naja is a stepmom to 3 and knows the hardships of parental alienation and unsuccessful attempts at justice in family co...

Grab your beverage of choice and get excited... Christina welcomes back Genet and she's ready to give an update on where she's at in her stepmom journey.  It's no secret, blended family life is hard and being a stepmom is one one of the hardest things we've taken on. What keeps us strong? When is too much, too much? How do we know if we're making the right choice, and for the right reasons? G...

How has our own childhood impacted our experience as a stepmom? On this episode, Christina welcomes Lindy who shares her story of being a stepdaughter turned stepmom. What was her experience like being in a blended family? How has her relationship with her own stepmom shaped how she is with her own stepdaughters? Listen in as Lindy also shares about her fertility struggles, how her partner support...