Do you want the truth?

Send us Fan Mail What does it really take to raise three kids under six while holding down an executive role and managing over 100 employees? In this episode, I’m joined by Annette Kerlew - a 39-year-old mom of three (a 5.5-year-old son and 3.5-year-old boy/girl twins), wife, and Executive Vice President of Finance & Operations at a marketing communications agency living in New Jersey. Annette...

Send us Fan Mail Christine Landis is the founder of Peacock Parent and a former fintech CEO who sold her company for eight figures. After stepping out of the boardroom and into motherhood, Christine quickly realized that parenting came with a whole new kind of pressure—especially when it came to managing time, expectations, and the never-ending mental load. Using the same skills she once used to s...

Send us Fan Mail “Is Parenthood Hellish? Unpacking Chappell Roan’s Viral Comment” | Do You Want the Truth? with Sam Strom & New Cohost Zara Hanawalt Welcome to the very first episode of Do You Want the Truth? – Pop Culture Hour ! I’m Sam Strom, and I’m thrilled to kick off this new weekly series with Zara Hanawalt. You might remember her from a previous episode; Zara is a seasoned journalist,...

Send us Fan Mail You know those moments in motherhood when you’re drowning in laundry, prepping dinner with a baby on your hip, and then your partner texts, “I’m surprised you didn’t get blueberries”? Yeah—same. That was Eve Rodsky’s breaking point too, and it sparked a movement that’s now transformed over a million households (and counting). In this episode, we sit down with the incredible Eve Ro...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when an only child grows up to raise an only child? In this episode, we’re joined by Sarah Litwin-Schmid, a creative director at Airbnb, world traveler, and proud “one-and-done” mom to her hilarious almost-4-year-old daughter, mei-mei (as Sam's son refers to her). Sarah opens up about why she and her husband made the intentional choice to have just one child, how...

Send us Fan Mail Becoming a parent is life-changing, but imagine stepping into motherhood just months before the world shut down. Our guest, Stacy McCann, a clinical mental health therapist and mom of one, takes us through her deeply personal journey—parenting through the pandemic, facing birth trauma, and the evolving challenges mothers face today. We dive into the lasting impacts of COVID-19 on...

Send us Fan Mail They say it takes a village… but what happens when that village is nowhere to be found? 🤯Motherhood is beautiful, exhausting, messy—and sometimes, painfully lonely. When Melissa Wirt became a mom, she was told, "It takes a village." But that village never showed up. Now, as a mom of six, CEO of Latched Mama, and author of I Was Told There’d Be a Village, Melissa is open...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when the life you were raised to believe in no longer fits? In this episode, Sarah Kennedy, a single mom and Functional Medicine Consultant, shares her incredible story of breaking free from a hyper-conservative religious/cult-like upbringing, navigating young motherhood, and rebuilding her life from the ground up. Sarah became a mom at just 20 years old, raised under...

Send us Fan Mail Why does parenting in America feel so much harder than it should? Today, we’re joined by Zara Hanawalt, a freelance journalist who has spent nearly a decade covering parenting, motherhood, women’s health, and culture for outlets like Vogue, Parents, Glamour, and The Everymom. But even after years of writing about reproductive health, she was completely unprepared for her own journ...

Send us Fan Mail Becoming a mom is one of the most life-changing experiences—but what happens when it's nothing like you expected? In this conversation, we sit down with Julie, a former pharmacist turned stay-at-home mom, as she shares her raw and unfiltered journey through pregnancy, postpartum anxiety, and the realities of leaving behind a career to raise her daughter. From debilitating mig...

Send us Fan Mail Just when we thought we’d reached the "easy years," parenting throws new curveballs. In this episode we're joined by the brilliant Mary Beth Ferrante, founder of WRK/360 and Fairplay Method Training Director, to dive deep into the complexities of raising school-aged children. We explore the evolving demands of parenthood, why we never quite “figure it out,” and how...

Send us Fan Mail Imagine working full-time from home—with no childcare. That’s exactly what @AlexisNovoa did for years while raising two daughters under six. In this inspiring and unfiltered episode, Alexis shares how she managed to juggle the chaos of parenting, a demanding career in HR project management, and personal growth—all while running marathons (literally!). She opens up about navigating...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we explore what happens when your world is flipped upside down by betrayal and heartbreak? Author, actor, and director Gabrielle Stone knows all too well. In this episode, Gabrielle opens up about discovering her husband’s infidelity, navigating the emotional rollercoaster of divorce, and finding herself through a spontaneous solo trip to Europe. Gabrielle shares...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Chandra Sanders, a powerhouse in the tech and social impact industries, who shares her inspiring journey from small-town Louisiana to Silicon Valley and beyond. Chandra talks about moving across the country as a single mom, tripling her salary, and breaking barriers in her career. She offers invaluable advice on parenting, career growth, and creat...

Send us Fan Mail In this candid and moving episode, Katherine Dillon shares her powerful journey through miscarriage, pregnancy after loss, and parenting as a military spouse. From navigating postpartum anxiety to receiving an ADHD diagnosis in adulthood, Katherine opens up about the challenges and triumphs that have shaped her motherhood experience. She also reflects on the joy her 2.5-year-old d...

Send us Fan Mail In this compelling episode of Do You Want The Truth, Cory Hargraves opens up about his journey from the frontlines as an Army sniper to the frontlines of fatherhood. A 39-year-old husband, father to a 16-month-old daughter, and property investor living in Washington State, Cory reflects on how parenting has transformed his life in ways he never expected. From his days of sniper sc...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Paige, Sam, and special guest Kelly Hubbell explore the challenges and joys of managing a modern household while balancing work, family, and personal identity. Kelly, founder of Sage House, shares her journey from corporate CPA to motherhood and entrepreneurship, detailing how she redefined her home life by implementing systems and seeking help. Together, they dis...

Send us Fan Mail In this captivating episode, we sit down with Bret Shuford, renowned for his performances in Broadway hits such as Wicked, The Little Mermaid, and The Lion King. Bret shares his personal journey to parenthood through surrogacy alongside his husband, offering a heartfelt glimpse into the challenges and triumphs they've encountered. Delving into his illustrious career, Bret dis...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Brittany Ouyang shares her story of parenting a toddler while navigating the mental load of a dual-income household. As a brand marketing manager at Cruise and former ballet dancer, Brittany reflects on the coordination, effort, and unexpected joys of raising a family while balancing career ambitions. Her relatable insights and practical advice will resonate with...

Send us Fan Mail Get ready to laugh, learn, and feel seen! In this episode of Do You Want the Truth, Paige and Samantha sit down with Kara, aka @KaratheBabyNurse , a married, Southern mom of three (ages 6, 4, and 2) who’s as real as they come. Kara’s not just a mom—she’s also a postpartum nurse with plenty of firsthand experience and professional wisdom to share. Kara spills the tea on everything...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Sam and Paige chat with Audi Ferrin about the ups and downs of parenting, the importance of gratitude, and the value of having a supportive village. Audi shares her experiences of growing up with gentle parents and how that influenced her parenting style. From the joys of being needed by her children to the challenges of balancing work and motherhood, Audi provide...

Send us Fan Mail Ever feel like parenting is an unpredictable rollercoaster? You’re not alone. In today’s episode, we’re sitting down with the incredible Linzay Davis, an advocate for parental leave, mom of two, and all-around champion for new parents. Linzay gets real about the gut-punch reality of postpartum anxiety and depression, the chaos of parenting during a pandemic, and the life-changing...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Blessing Adesiyan, founder of Mother Honestly, shares her powerful journey as a working mother and advocate for caregivers. Blessing opens up about the personal challenges of finding affordable, sustainable care for her four children and the broader implications for families across the U.S. She discusses the critical need for companies to recognize and support the...

Send us Fan Mail In this raw and revealing episode, Maggie Remynse joins us to share her journey from unexplained infertility to motherhood, navigating the unexpected hurdles of fertility treatments, a traumatic birth, and the early days of parenthood. Maggie, a 32-year-old mom to a 6.5-month-old son, opens up about the emotional and financial toll of IVF treatments and shares her experiences mana...

Send us Fan Mail Balancing Career and Motherhood: Stephanie’s Inspiring Journey Through NICU Challenges, Advocacy, and Career Success Description: In this episode, we sit down with Stephanie, a Chief Merchandising Officer and mother of two, who shares her unique journey from being a career-driven woman to embracing motherhood later in life. Stephanie dives deep into her experiences navigating the...