Mama Making Podcast

Episode Description In this episode of The Mama Making Podcast , host Jessica Lamb sits down with Taylor Johnson, the founder of The Mompreneur Paper Company —a lifestyle brand offering planners, journals, and paper goods designed specifically for ambitious moms balancing business and motherhood. Taylor shares how her own need for a functional planner sparked the idea behind her business, how she’...

Episode Description: Ever wonder if that extra pair of baby shoes or outdated kitchen gadget sitting in your cabinet is worth anything? Spoiler alert: It is. In this episode of The Mama Making Podcast , Jessica sits down with Olivia —also known as The Marketplace Mom —to talk about the wild world of Facebook Marketplace. From turning clutter into cash to managing no-shows with grace, Olivia is her...

Episode Description: What if the same resilience it takes to run a marathon is the exact strength you need to navigate infertility, pregnancy complications, and surrogacy? In this episode, Jessica sits down with Alison Beder Solway—author of The Miles We Run , fitness expert, and founder of ABS Fitness—to explore her deeply personal journey through high-risk pregnancy, genetic diagnosis, and surro...

Episode Description What if the care you actually needed wasn’t covered by insurance—and what if there was a better way? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Samantha O’Brien of The Hive Wellness Center and Dr. Amy Fetch of Chicago Mama PT to talk about the game-changing potential of cash-based healthcare for women and families. We unpack how this model empowers providers to offer deeper, more hol...

Episode Description What happens when your child is sick and you need to be close—but also need a place to sleep, eat, and breathe? In this powerful episode, Jessica sits down with Holly Buckendahl , CEO of Ronald McDonald House Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana, to talk about the critical (and often misunderstood) work of Ronald McDonald House (RMH) . As both a nonprofit leader and a mom, Holly...

Episode Description Ever wonder why music class makes such a big impact on your little one? In this episode, Jessica talks with Esther Bertram , CMO of Mini Maestros Australia , to explore how music helps babies and toddlers build stronger brains, regulate emotions, and connect more deeply with caregivers. From her days touring the world as a professional musician to leading one of the most truste...

Episode Description In this tender, wise, and radically honest episode, Jessica welcomes Dr. Margo Lowy , psychotherapist and author of Maternal Ambivalence: The Loving Moments and Bitter Truths of Motherhood . Together, they explore what it really means to love your children deeply and feel conflicting emotions—without shame or guilt. This conversation is a balm for any mother who has ever whispe...

Episode Description What if your prenatal education came with a built-in village? In this episode, Jessica talks with Georgia Kastaris , founder of Expecting Together , a prenatal social club that blends expert-led education with real community. Based in Chicago and inspired by European models of group care, Expecting Together creates small, curated cohorts of expecting parents—matched by due date...

Episode Description Ever wish there was a family operating system to keep track of everything from your child’s passport to your emergency contacts? Meet Nat Robinson , founder and CEO of Trustworthy —the digital assistant for modern families. In this episode, Nat shares the story behind the platform (spoiler: he sold a company and became a dad on the same day), how Trustworthy helps lighten the m...

Episode Description In this episode, Jessica sits down with Anna Rodney , the powerhouse behind Chicago Family Doulas and Birth & Baby University , for a deeply insightful conversation about what it takes to build a mission-driven birth business, support hundreds of families, and raise three daughters - all at the same time. From a transformative first birth experience to launching one of the...

Episode Description In this solo episode, host Jessica Lamb peels back the curtain on what’s coming in Season 4 of The Mama Making Podcast - and reflects on the journey that brought her here. From rediscovering her identity after a layoff to launching a storytelling-based business, Jessica shares candid insights on motherhood, imposter syndrome, entrepreneurship, and building a community for moms...

Episode Description This rewind episode brings back one of our most informative and empowering conversations - how to prepare for pregnancy in your 30s and beyond—featuring holistic fertility coach Nora DeBora of Naturally Nora . Together, we dive into what true preconception prep looks like, beyond the basics. Nora breaks down cycle tracking, hormonal red flags, nutritional foundations, and how t...

Episode Description This rewind episode brings back one of our most-loved conversations—a real, empowering look at home birth, mindset, and the deep trust that comes with bringing babies into the world on your own terms. Jessica is joined by Hayley Matossian , a mom of three, to revisit her two unique home birth stories: her first, a fast and powerful labor that changed how she saw herself, and he...

PODCAST SHOW DESCRIPTION This week on The Mama Making Podcast, we’re joined by Becca Tilton, the founder of Momma in Bloom - a postpartum wellness sanctuary helping moms navigate early motherhood with compassion, support, and evidence-based care. Becca opens up about her own journey into motherhood and how it sparked the vision behind this healing-centered space for new parents. If you’ve ever fel...

Episode Description In this week’s episode, Jessica sits down with Anne Nicholson-Weber, the founder of BirthGuideChicago.com—a comprehensive directory for birth providers in the Chicagoland area. Anne shares how her own experiences during childbirth shaped the way she advocates for better, more transparent care options for expectant parents. We talk about how BirthGuide came to be, what to consid...

Episode Description In this episode, neonatologist and Chief Medical Officer at Prolacta Bioscience, Dr. Melinda Elliott, shares how human milk–based nutrition is transforming health outcomes for premature infants in the NICU. From evidence-backed science to heartfelt advocacy, Dr. Elliott explains what an exclusive human milk diet really means, why it matters, and how families can play an active...

Episode Description In this deeply grounding episode, Jessica sits down with Alexi Neal , a multidisciplinary somatic healer specializing in yoga therapy, energy healing, and trauma-informed bodywork. Alexi shares how motherhood reshaped her understanding of the nervous system and offers insight into how somatic practices can support emotional regulation, physical recovery, and self-trust througho...

Episode Description In this episode of The Mama Making Podcast, Jessica talks with Yewande Banire, board-certified family nurse practitioner and founder of Serene Infusion and Wellness Lounge. Together, they dive into hormone health—especially in the seasons of perimenopause, menopause, and extended postpartum. Yewande shares her own experience that led her into integrative and functional medicine...

Episode Description In this heartfelt conversation, Jessica sits down with Courtney Boylan, founder of Le Lolo—a luxury postpartum essentials brand focused on making postpartum more beautiful, functional, and supported. Courtney shares the story behind her first product (a flower-shaped nipple shield!), the journey from burnout to launching a product-based business, and the values that continue to...

Episode Description In this inspiring episode, Jessica sits down with business coach and agency owner Breana Velfling to talk about building a virtual assistant (VA) business as a mom. Breana shares her raw and honest journey—from moving in with her mom during a tough financial season to building a thriving VA consulting agency and coaching program that supports other mothers ready to do the same....

Episode Description What if postpartum wasn’t something we just “got through”—but a sacred, supported experience? In this episode, Jessica sits down with Kaitlin Marcellot, founder of Shugie, a postpartum wellness platform rooted in storytelling and community. They talk about Kaitlin’s first birth during the height of COVID, her unique approach to preparing for postpartum before even thinking abou...

Episode Description What happens when everything goes according to plan—until it doesn’t? In this powerful episode, Jessica talks with Maddie Moss, maternal mental health advocate and founder of Maternal Sunshine, about her unexpected descent into postpartum anxiety, her experience with inpatient care, and how she’s now creating community for moms in the fourth trimester and beyond. They cover the...

The first few weeks of pregnancy can feel like a whirlwind. You’re excited—and then you’re overwhelmed. You’re Googling symptoms, making spreadsheets, and wondering if life is about to completely change (spoiler: it is, but not the way you think). In this episode, Jessica talks with Stephanie DeFilippis, LCSW, founder of Crescent Moon Therapy, about those early moments of pregnancy and how to prep...

In this special bonus episode of The Mama Making Podcast , recorded in collaboration with Nurture 19’s Faces of Nurture campaign, Jessica talks with Alexandra Bradberry and Chelsie Bruggeman—two moms, entrepreneurs, and advocates for rethinking how we support working parents. They get honest about what burnout really feels like (spoiler: it’s not always obvious), how they’ve learned to prioritize...

What if you could get childcare, a therapy session, a pelvic floor appointment, a nap, and your laundry done—all under one roof? In this episode, Jessica talks with therapist and Nurture 19 co-founder Erica Rose Cummings about how she’s disrupting the broken system parents are navigating. From postpartum trauma to creating physical spaces that combine childcare, wellness, and community support, Er...