De-Stress the Nest

Self-care isn't about bubble baths—it's about making sure you have the capacity to care for yourself before burnout takes over. This week, Hannah sits down with Ajantha Suriyanarayanan , founder of Mental Load, to discuss why self-care falls to the bottom of the list for so many parents and how intentional systems can help change that. ✨ Key Takeaways Self-care is different for everyone—a...

What if the first few minutes of your morning could change the way you show up for the rest of your day? In this episode of De-Stress the Nest , Hannah Morgan talks with Dr. Michelle Machado, speaker, author, and mom of two, about creating a “sacred morning” before the house wakes up. Michelle shares how starting the day with reflection, prayer, meditation, and nervous system regulation helps her...

Family logistics can quickly become overwhelming when appointments, activities, school schedules, and household tasks are all competing for attention. In this episode of De-Stress the Nest, Hannah Morgan talks with Amy Briggs , founder and CEO of Aviva, about practical ways families can simplify scheduling, reduce mental load, and create systems that make everyday life easier. Amy shares why recur...

Movement isn't just about physical health. In this episode of De-Stress the Nest , Hannah Morgan talks with entrepreneur and City Mouse founder Alex Rutkay about how movement helped her navigate grief, build resilience, and prioritize her mental health during difficult seasons. Alex shares how exercise became a powerful tool for processing life's challenges and why even a few minutes of mo...

Think delegation means giving up control? Think again. In this solo episode, Hannah Morgan shares the delegation framework she uses as a working mom of three and founder of Heron House Management. Learn how to identify what should stay on your plate, what should come off, and how systems can help you reduce mental load while creating more time for what matters most. 🔑 Key Takeaways Focus on what...

Living abroad gets plenty of attention. Coming home? Not so much. In this episode of De-Stress the Nest , Hannah Morgan welcomes back David Schnurman , author of Eleven Suitcases , to discuss the unexpected realities of returning to the United States after spending several years living in Barcelona with his family. David shares lessons learned from reverse culture shock, reconnecting with communit...

Childcare and paid leave aren’t “nice to have” benefits. They are essential supports for working families. In this episode of De-Stress the Nest, Hannah Morgan talks with Paige Connell, content creator and advocate in the motherhood space, about the childcare affordability crisis, the lack of paid parental leave in the U.S., and how both issues disproportionately impact women and working parents....

If you’ve ever spent hours organizing your kids’ rooms only for them to explode again by the next afternoon… this episode is for you. In this episode of De-Stress the Nest , Hannah Morgan talks with Lisa Woodruff, founder of Organize365, about why so many parents are pouring energy into organizing the wrong spaces in their homes — and how shifting your focus can dramatically reduce stress and crea...

Episode 83 – Naming the Heavy Expectations with Amy Bonsall So much of what feels heavy… isn’t actually the workload. It’s the expectations we’re carrying—often without even realizing it. In this episode of De-Stress the Nest , Hannah Morgan talks with Amy Bonsall , founder of Light Actions, about what it means to name the heavy expectations out loud —and why doing so can immediately reduce their...

Episode 82 – Using Your Systems to Create Rest (Not Just More Work) with Caroline Dilbeck Systems are supposed to make life easier, but what happens when the space they create just gets filled with more work? In this episode of De-Stress the Nest , Hannah Morgan talks with Caroline Dilbeck, founder of Home Team Playbooks, about using systems to create real margin and restorative rest. Caroline sha...

Episode 81 – Leaning on Your Village with Alex Rutkay Most of us say we want a village… but are we actually using it? In this episode of De-Stress the Nest , Hannah Morgan is joined by Alex Rutkay , founder of City Mouse, to talk about what it really means to lean on your village — not just build one. Alex shares her personal experience navigating early motherhood, health challenges, and life with...

Episode 80 – The Importance (and Reality!) of Building a Village as Working Parents with Hannah Morgan We all say we want a village… but how do you actually build one? In this episode of De-Stress the Nest , Hannah Morgan dives into the reality of building community as a working parent — why it matters more than ever, and how to actually make it happen in real life. From neighbors and school picku...

Episode 79 – The Good Enough Standard with Steph Koenig What if “doing it all” isn’t the goal? In this episode of De-Stress the Nest , Hannah Morgan is joined by Steph Koenig to talk about embracing the good enough standard — and why letting go of perfection can actually reduce stress, improve your systems, and make life feel more manageable. Steph shares how many parents get stuck chasing unreali...

Episode 78 – Do What Matters (And Let the Rest Go) with Carly Buxton When life feels overwhelming, how do you decide what actually deserves your time and energy? In this episode of De-Stress the Nest , Hannah Morgan sits down with returning guest Carly Buxton, founder of Parent Swarm, to talk about how one simple phrase — “do what matters” — can completely shift the way you make decisions as a par...

Episode 77 – How a Digital Calendar Can Save Your Sanity with Amy Briggs If you’re the one in your household keeping track of everything — school events, appointments, childcare logistics, and the endless mental checklist — this episode is for you. In this episode of De-Stress the Nest , Hannah Morgan is joined by returning guest Amy Briggs, founder and CEO of Aviva, to talk about how digital cale...

Episode 76 – The Long-Term Impact of Moving Abroad with Kids with David Schnurman What happens when a family decides to step outside their routine and live abroad together? In this episode of De-Stress the Nest , Hannah Morgan talks with David Schnurman, CEO of LawLine and author of 11 Suitcases , about the two years his family spent living in Barcelona and how the experience reshaped their family...

Episode 75 – Digging Yourself Out of Quicksand in Your 40’s with Lisa Woodruff Turning 40 can feel like hitting a moment of realization: life is moving fast, the responsibilities keep stacking up, and the systems that once worked no longer seem to keep up with the pace. In this episode, Hannah Morgan sits down with Lisa Woodruff, founder of Organize365 and author of Escaping Quicksand , to talk ab...

Episode 74 – Using AI to Manage Your Mental Load with Ajantha Suriyanarayanan AI isn’t just for boardrooms and side hustles — it can transform how you manage your home. In this episode, Hannah sits down with Ajantha Suriyanarayanan, behavioral researcher and founder of Mental Load, an AI-powered life management tool designed specifically for parents. Together, they explore how artificial intellige...

Episode 73 – Coming Back to Work After Parental Leave with Helen Hermes Returning to work after parental leave is one of the most emotional and complex transitions a parent can experience. In this episode, Hannah welcomes back executive coach Helen Hermes to talk about how to approach the return to work with intention. Drawing from her own experience coming back twice to a demanding tech role, Hel...

Episode 72 – Establishing Family Throughlines with Michael “Whit” Whitaker Parenting today means navigating conversations that didn’t exist when we were growing up — AI, digital manipulation, social media influence, graphic content, lockdown trauma, and more. In this episode, Hannah Morgan sits down with Michael “Whit” Whitaker, author of Family Through Lines , to talk about how parents can bring...

Episode 71 – The Reality of Moving Abroad with Kids with David Schnurman Moving abroad with kids sounds dreamy… until the ceiling starts leaking, the suitcases don’t meet airline rules, and you’re repacking the morning you leave. In this episode of De-Stress the Nest , Hannah Morgan sits down with David Schnurman , CEO of LawLine and author of 11 Suitcases , to talk about what it really takes to r...

🎧  Episode 70 – Meal Planning So You Don’t Go Crazy with Nick Loper Meal planning is one of those everyday stressors that somehow never goes away. In this episode, Hannah Morgan sits down with  Nick Loper , dad of two and host of  The Side Hustle Show , to talk about the simple systems his family uses to take the chaos out of “What’s for dinner?” Nick shares how turning an overwhelming open-ended...

🎙️ Episode 69 – Make Your Calendar Your Superpower with Amy Briggs In this episode, host Hannah Morgan talks with Amy Briggs — mom of two, speech-language pathologist, and founder & CEO of Aviva — about how using your calendar intentionally can dramatically reduce mental load and family stress. Amy explains why getting everything out of your head and onto a shared calendar is one of the most p...

🎙️ Episode 68 – Delegate or Let It Go with Courtney Cecil Feeling stretched thin at home and at work? In this episode, Hannah sits down with Courtney Cecil , founder of Working Moms Movement, to talk about one of the most powerful (and underused) tools for reclaiming your time: delegation. Courtney shares how to evaluate what actually needs to be done, what can be delegated, and what might not nee...

🎙️ Episode 67 – How Setting Boundaries Can Set You Free with Steph Koenig In this episode, host Hannah Morgan sits down with working mom coach Steph Koenig to unpack why boundaries are foundational—not restrictive—when it comes to balancing work, family, and personal identity. Steph shares how boundaries rooted in self-awareness and flexibility can actually create more freedom, presence, and peace...