Elevating Motherhood

I would bet money that no one understands “vs. culture” better than moms. We’re thrown into it from the moment we decide to start trying or find out we’re pregnant. In an instant, we’re thrown into hospital birth vs. homebirth questions, breastfeeding vs. formula, cloth diapers vs. disposable, this brand vs. that brand, that car seat vs. this car seat. It’s overwhelming and at the end of the day f...

“No good decision is made from fear.” This is a lively conversation! It’s basically a couple of long-time homeschoolers getting together to talk homeschool and share a wealth of information and passion with each other and you. Durenda Wilson is an interpreter of the heart. She understands what mamas think, feel, and worry about then shares insight with us in such a way that not only do we feel res...

“How do I want to feel today?” Are priorities and boundaries easy for you? Can you take a week off of work or a break from life and feel rested at the end of it? Are there moments in your life (like all of 2020 and now 2021) that have you feeling like you need to recover from an event or busy season? Gillian Behnke is here to share 6 ideas with us that can help us on our road to (much needed!) res...

Today’s guest wrote a lovely, inspiring book called Growing Slow: Lessons on Unhurrying Your Heart from an Accidental Farm Girl. I devoured this book. I experienced the blessed timing of reading this book right after the book from last week’s episode with Ginger Stache, Chasing Wonder: Small Steps Toward a Life of Big Adventure …and mamas, if I could recommend reading any two books back to back, i...

We’re always chasing after something…why not chase after wonder? The world is filled with wonder. It’s also filled with messages of chaos, burn out, busy-ness, and overwhelm. This past year has been no exception—especially for moms. When I picked up Ginger Stache’s book Chasing Wonder , all of those life sucking messages seemed to disappear. It was like a pressure valve released in my life and I w...

“…(then there’s) the societal pressure, stigmas, & expectations that you have to choose one eating way, jump on that ship, then fire cannons at everybody else.” What motivates people to start businesses? Channels? Recipes? Blogs? And what inspires people to choose eating styles? Paleo? Keto? Vegan? Whole 30? What motivates people to do the two together and show up for others with ideas for eat...

I’m sure I’m not the only one who is feeling ready for get togethers and BBQs and celebrations with friends and family. I personally love celebrating and eating together as much as possible…but I do know there is sometimes some trepidation when it comes to planning these kinds of events. Modern pressure tells us we need to host a Pinterest worthy celebration and nothing less. I think in our heart...

Have you ever thought of your life in terms of being satisfied with it or not? To be honest, I’m not sure the thought of whether I was “satisfied” in my life and motherhood really ever crossed my heart, but when Alyssa Bethke’s book title came across my desk, I thought about the notion of satisfaction…and it became very clear that while maybe it’s something that wasn’t obvious to me in the past, u...

This is an episode that absolutely reminds me of why I love podcasting so much. This episode is not only going to be a jam packed resource for you, a solid lead on where to start with metabolic health, but also an empowering conversation that will leave you more curious about your own body and health to the point that you’ll want to learn more AND take action. Metabolic health is becoming more mai...

Our bodies are AMAZING! And not just because they can grow and sustain babies but because of how they work. This conversation with Greta Wyeth will leave you feeling very appreciative of all your body can do. One of Greta’s many missions is to help women educate themselves about their bodies so they can clearly communicate and get the help they need. She goes about this in a really interesting way...

“There’s no better time to heal than now." -Jana Glass A listener wrote in and suggested that I interview today’s guest Jana Glass about brainspotting—and I’m so grateful she did! If you ever have an interesting guest or topic that you believe could benefit moms, please reach out and share—the result could be something like today’s awesome episode! Jana is going to share a therapy technique called...

If you could use a life-giving conversation right now, this episode is for you! Megan Smalley is here with us to share about her book Give Grace: How To Embrace The Beauty of Life’s Brokenness but in the process we talk about #allthethings that moms feel deeply in their motherhood journeys and how we can show up with more grace for ourselves and others. Megan and I “get” each other. We have a lot...

It took me a long time to read Nicole Unice’s new book The Miracle Moment: How Tough Conversations Can Actually Transform Your Most Important Relationships . Not because it was hard to read or uninteresting, but the opposite! I felt like I was holding an insider’s manual to therapy and self awareness right in my hands and wanted to take in every word! This is another one of those read that changed...

Do you have a creative outlet? Have you ever thought of taking up burlesque as a creative outlet? My best friend and fellow mom Amanda Furgiuele did. She says she was tricked into it, but years later, she’s still at it and has turned her hobby into a business and now a podcast. This mompreneur is going to teach us all about the history of burlesque and cabaret, drop some truth bombs, bust through...

We’ve come to the end of what seems to be one of the craziest years ever in education. Now what? Do we take time to reflect on what actually worked and what can just go away and never return? Are you asking yourself, your community, your children, and/or your school reflective questions? Are you just so done with this year in general that you just want to move on and hope for the best in the fall?...

Today we’re talking very openly and honestly with Jenna Dillulio about her journey with alcohol, stigmas around drinking and sobriety, and mommy wine culture messages that are disempowering moms. Is this an anti-alcohol episode? Nope. It’s a pro-information, empowerment episode. Jenna shows up with incredible vulnerability…and the result of such honesty is pretty mind blowing. She’s walking the wa...

Well, it’s official! We’re not done having kids! Baby #4 is due to arrive sometime in November or December. My “official” due date is Thanksgiving Day, but I tend to carry over my due date when given the space and freedom to go into labor on my own. This time around is different than the other girls because it is a surprise this time around AND I’m now in a new decade of life. What’s different thi...

“Toxic messaging encourages you to identify with the collective rather than your true self and family values.” – Lori Beth Auldridge It’s time to call a spade a spade. There are societal messages about motherhood that are toxic to moms. Some people have told me they don’t like the word “toxic” to describe my thoughts on this, but to me, that’s what these messages are—toxic. But that doesn’t mean w...

“We’re not all called to live the same life and go on the same path.” -Bethany Adkins What is purpose and why is it important in life and motherhood? Bethany Adkins is here to do a deep dive with us on this very topic—to help us sort out what purpose means to each of us as individuals, because everyone’s sense of purpose is different. Our culture pushes for all of us to conform to what purpose and...

I learned from Dr. Donna Lane that : “According to a 2016 study published by Whitney and Peterson, one in six kids between 6 and 17 have a mental health diagnosis. This was, of course, pre-COVID. A recent study in Psychiatric Times indicated that isolation and loneliness increase the risk of depression up to 9 years after the event, and the duration vs. the intensity of loneliness was more likely...

Picture this: Your newborn baby is finally sleeping. You take a few moments to gaze at them admiringly. Happy, tired, ready to lie down yourself. Finally, a moment of peace. And then your dog barks. Baby wakes up. You have to start all over. Cue the frustration and chaos. There are many of us who would lose our minds in that moment—and rightfully so. The transition into becoming a parent is a big...

Are there things going on in the world that you wish you had more confidence to speak up about? Not just speaking up and sharing your opinions on social media, but taking your voice to the next level and contacting government departments or offices of elected officials—people and programs with power to make real, lasting, important change in your community. There are ways! And I’d love to help you...

Exciting Announcement: The Elevating Motherhood Patreon page launches on April 1, 2021! Search for “Elevating Motherhood” on www.patreon.com When I started this podcast, I set the intention to reach episodes in the 100s. Episode 1 says “001” because I was determined to get to the 100s. And 001 is now 100 today! I’m so thrilled. Slow and steady got me to 100. You know how you think you know what th...

“If moms aren’t comfortable in the kitchen, how can we teach our kids to be confident in the kitchen?” When I say the words “cooking with kids,” how does that make you feel? Does it sound fun? Does the idea stress you out? If I were to talk about mac & cheese, does it create instant overthinking and big emotions? Do you love it? Hate it? Wish your kids would eat something else? Do you have a k...

Nothing in this episode is medical advice, but it is an honest conversation that is needed in the postpartum and birth space. What would happen if we found our brains as fascinating as our bodies during the transformation that is pregnancy and birth? Today’s guest, Dr. Walker Ladd poses that question and so many other thoughtful observations and perspectives about Postpartum Depression—thoughts th...