That Mom

In Part 2 of my conversation with parenting and executive function coach Nicole Gambino, we get practical. Nicole walks through real, age-specific summer routines she's built with families — down to the exact tasks kids as young as five and as old as middle schoolers can own on their own, no reminders required. We talk about the difference between "motoring" your kids through their responsibilitie...

Nicole Gambino is back — and if her last episode on raising responsible kids resonated, this one's the summer-specific follow-through. The problem isn't your kid. It's that executive functioning (initiating, following through, self-regulating) is treated as something kids should already have, instead of a skill that has to be explicitly taught. Nicole walks through the system: realistic expectatio...

What does it actually look like to follow your instincts in motherhood — even when experts, teachers, and society tell you otherwise? In this episode, Maria sits down with Colleen Esposito, daughter of Boston radio icon Candy O'Terry, to talk about the courage it takes to live life on your own terms. Colleen left a high-powered advertising career after her first daughter was born — not because she...

The Myths of Motherhood: Why "Good Mother" Has Never Meant One Thing ft. Dr. Shari Thurer What if everything you think you know about what makes a "good mother" isn't instinct, isn't biology — it's just the story our culture happens to be telling right now? In this episode of That Mom , I talk with Dr. Shari Thurer, a psychoanalytically trained psychologist and author of The Myths of Motherhood: H...

Anxiety, Identity, and Becoming Who You Actually Want to Be (Part 2) ft. Dr. Risa Weisberg In Part 2 of my conversation with behavioral scientist Dr. Risa Weisberg, we shift from goals and motivation into something almost every mom feels but rarely understands: anxiety. Risa breaks down why anxiety isn't a flaw to eliminate but an alarm system that's actually doing its job — and why motherhood its...

What if the secret to becoming the person you want to be isn't trying harder — but getting clearer about what actually matters? In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, I sit down with behavioral scientist and psychologist Dr. Risa Weisberg to explore why even the most capable, high-achieving women struggle to follow through on the goals that matter most to them. Risa has spent decades studying ho...

What if the goal isn't doing more—but doing what matters most? On this special episode of That Mom , the tables are turned as my friend Marissa interviews me about the story behind the podcast, the lessons motherhood has taught me, and why I believe moms deserve more than validation for how hard things are. We talk about the realities of modern motherhood, the impossible standards many women feel...

What if the stress of planning celebrations has less to do with logistics—and more to do with losing sight of what actually matters? On this episode of That Mom , I sit down with attorney, entrepreneur, and self-described "Party Therapist" Jessica Lerner Halprin, founder of Swanky, a platform designed to simplify event planning and help families celebrate life's meaningful moments. Jessica shares...

What if the way you're thinking is shaping far more of your life than you realize? On this episode of That Mom , I sit down with author and coach Laura Clifton, whose book Prosperous explores the connection between mindset, neuroscience, and personal success. Laura shares how a difficult season during the pandemic sparked a deep dive into neuroplasticity, manifestation, and the science of how our...

If you've ever felt like you're constantly taking care of everyone else while quietly running on empty yourself—this conversation is for you. Not because you're doing motherhood wrong. Not because you need to try harder. But because somewhere along the way, many mothers learn to ignore their own needs while becoming experts at caring for everyone else's. In this episode, therapist, yoga teacher, a...

If you've ever looked around at your life and thought, "How did I get here?"—this conversation is for you. Not because your life is bad. Not because you've failed. But because somewhere between work, motherhood, responsibilities, and caring for everyone else, it's easy to lose touch with yourself. In this episode, development coach Charlotte Kovacs shares why so many women find themselves living o...

If you've ever felt overwhelmed, intimidated, or even ashamed when it comes to money, this conversation will help you see financial confidence in a completely different way. In this episode, financial planner and podcast host Megan Dwyer shares why money feels so emotional for so many women—and how understanding your finances can become a powerful tool for reducing anxiety, increasing confidence,...

If motherhood has started to feel more like survival than joy, this conversation offers a gentler, more sustainable way forward. In this episode, holistic health expert Derenda Jeffrey shares thoughtful insights on emotional well-being, perfectionism, nervous system health, gratitude, and the small daily practices that help mothers feel more grounded, energized, and emotionally supported. This con...

If you’ve ever felt like you’re constantly managing everyone else’s needs while slowly losing connection to yourself, this conversation will help you rethink what it actually means to build a sustainable life. In this episode, leadership and burnout coach Laurel Boivin shares practical insights on capacity, emotional regulation, perfectionism, and why so many high-achieving women end up stuck in c...

Becoming a mother changes far more than your schedule. It changes your brain, your nervous system, your identity, your relationships, and the way you move through the world. In this episode, I sit down with El Fort of Mindful Healing Mama to talk about the invisible transition women go through when they become mothers. El introduces the concept of matrescence —the developmental transition into mot...

If you’ve ever felt like motherhood put your dreams on pause, this conversation will remind you that your story is still unfolding—and that success can grow alongside motherhood, not after it. In this deeply inspiring conversation, legendary Boston radio personality and storyteller Candy O'Terry shares what interviewing nearly 1,000 women has taught her about ambition, motherhood, resilience, joy,...

You might feel overwhelmed by AI—but avoiding it may be riskier than learning it. Right now, AI is changing the way we work, communicate, parent, and make decisions. And while many women are still hesitant to engage with it, the people learning how to use these tools today are helping shape the future for everyone else. If you’ve ever thought: “AI feels intimidating.” “Is this something I actually...

You don’t need to overhaul your life to feel better. Most moms don’t need more wellness information—they need realistic changes that actually fit into real life. In this episode, I sit down with wellness consultant Danielle D’Ambrogio to talk about the small everyday swaps that can have a surprisingly big impact on your energy, sleep, hormones, and overall health—without adding overwhelm. If you’v...

You’re not fighting about what you think you are. Most high-functioning couples aren’t stuck because they’re incompatible—they’re stuck in a pattern they don’t see. If you’ve ever thought: “How are we having this exact same argument again?” —this episode is for you. Because it’s not about the dishes, the tone, or even what was said. It’s about the cycle you’re stuck in—and how to get out of it. In...

Parenting isn’t instinctual—but most of us were never taught that. In this episode, I sit down with parenting coach Mel Pierce to break down what’s actually driving your child’s behavior—and how to respond in a way that is calm, effective, and grounded. If you’ve ever felt reactive, overwhelmed, or like you “should” be handling things better—this conversation will give you a more intelligent frame...

Motherhood today can feel incredibly lonely—even when it looks like you have everything together. In this episode, Crissy Fishbane, co-founder of HER Health Collective, shares how community and trusted experts can help moms navigate the overwhelm of not knowing who to turn to—and why what moms really need isn’t more advice… it’s to be witnessed. What We Cover: Why moms don’t need to be solved —the...

If you feel like you’re carrying the entire mental load of your family—this episode will change how you think about parenting. Nicole Gambino shares a simple but powerful shift: moving responsibility from the mom back to the child… and what happens when you do. What We Cover: Why moms end up managing everything in the household The hidden cost of over-functioning for your kids What “rituals and gu...

If you’ve ever thought, “I know something needs to change—but I don’t even know what I want or where to start,” this episode is for you. Former Harvard Business School career coach Becca Carnahan shares practical, actionable tools to help moms get clarity—and actually ask for what they need at work and in life. What We Cover: Why career confusion is so common after having kids How to define your p...

If you’ve ever felt like what used to work in your life just… doesn’t anymore—you’re not alone. In this episode, burnout coach Christine Anastasia explains why motherhood changes everything—and why you can’t problem-solve your way out of burnout. What We Cover: Why burnout in motherhood is different The breaking point: when old strategies stop working Why you can’t logic your way out of burnout Th...

Many moms are quietly asking themselves the same question: Am I doing a good job? In this episode, Karen Johnson—known as the “21st Century Stay-at-Home Mom”—shares a perspective that challenges the pressure, the expectations, and the constant feeling that we should be doing more. What We Cover: Why so many moms feel like they’re not “doing enough” The cultural pressure behind perfection in mother...