Krista Olynyk and Samantha MacKinnon
Mama Merit Badge
Yapping at the intersection of motherhood and ambition. A podcast for moms doing their best (and sometimes their worst) while juggling kids, careers, businesses, and the chaos of family life. Hosts Samantha and Krista—two black SUV moms from Southern Ontario—hand out imaginary badges for the messy, hilarious, and wildly human moments of modern motherhood. Expect real talk, zero judgment, and the occasional snack hidden in the pantry. New episodes every Wednesday.
Author
Krista Olynyk and Samantha MacKinnon
Category
Podcast website
Latest episode
Mar 11, 2026
Where to listen?
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Episodes
It Was The End of An Era 11.03.2026 1:04:31
In this final episode, Krista and Samantha do what they’ve always done best: start with the practical and end up somewhere much deeper. What begins as a conversation about AI meal planning, family routines, and the eternal chaos of figuring out what everyone will eat turns into a thoughtful reflection on capacity, health, creative energy, and the very real relief that can come with ending somethin...
X Games Mode, Million-Dollar Goals & Being So For Real with Sara Joelle 04.03.2026 55:43
This week, Krista and Samantha sit down with Sara Joelle — copywriter, Substack-er, Spokesperson of the Squirrels, single mom, and self-declared audacious human — for a conversation that moves from grief to million-dollar goals. Sara talks openly about parenting with ADHD (“X Games mode” is how she describes it), building a multi-six-figure business as a single mom, and showing up online without s...
Stepparenting, Grief & Letting Go of the Script with Sophia Apostol 18.02.2026 1:03:36
This week, we're sitting down with Sophia Apostol — coach, educator, and body liberation advocate — for a deeply honest conversation about stepparenting and the realities of building a family that doesn’t follow the script. Sophia shares her experience navigating blended family dynamics, co-parenting complexities, and the emotional weight of grieving the family structure she once imagined. The...
Sensory Play, SAD & Letting Kids Be People 28.01.2026 53:05
This week, Krista and Samantha ease into the new year with a wide-ranging, honest conversation about parenting, mental health, and the strange in-between feeling that January often brings. They talk openly about seasonal affective disorder, energy dips, and the pressure to have resolutions figured out before you’ve even found your footing again. From there, the conversation moves into the realitie...
Grief, Gratitude & the Reality of Adoption with Julie Fried 21.01.2026 53:16
This week, Krista and Samantha are joined by Julie Fried, founder of Dallas Girl Friday, for a deeply honest conversation about adoption, early motherhood, and the emotions we don’t always make space for. Julie shares her path to becoming a mom — one that began with a sudden call, a premature baby, and an immediate crash course in NICU life. Julie walks through the realities of modern adoption, in...
Paid Ads, ADHD & Wanting It to Feel Easy with Britt Holmes 14.01.2026 50:37
This week’s episode blends business strategy with real life — the kind where ambition meets motherhood, ADHD shapes how work actually gets done, and “success” starts to look very different than it used to. Krista and Samantha are joined by Britt Holmes, founder of Merit Media, for a conversation that moves easily between paid ads, parenting realities, and the systems that make both possible. Britt...
Hello 2026 — Fresh Starts, Real Life Pace 07.01.2026 16:13
This mini episode marks the real beginning of the year — the moment when the decorations are down, routines are wobbling back into place, and everyone is asking, okay… now what? Krista and Samantha reflect on the transition out of the holidays and into January, sharing how they’re approaching planning, goal-setting, and health in a way that doesn’t immediately tip into overwhelm. They talk about e...
Done Is Better Than Perfect — New Year Reflections & Letting It Be Simple 31.12.2025 19:01
This New Year’s mini episode is a pause button — a moment to look back before rushing forward. Krista and Samantha reflect on the whirlwind of December, name the wins they’re proud of from the past year, and talk honestly about what they’re leaving behind as they head into a new one. From clutter (physical and mental) to unrealistic expectations, this conversation centres on simplicity, self-care,...
Crafts, Chaos & the Magic We Keep 24.12.2025 21:42
This week kicks off our pre-recorded holiday mini-episode series , airing through Christmas, New Year’s, and the first week of 2026 — short, honest conversations designed to meet you right where you are during the festive blur. In this episode, Krista and Samantha talk about the joy and the chaos of December. From evolving traditions and abandoned expectations to crafts that look better in theory...
Burnout Isn’t a Badge & Other Truths 17.12.2025 20:10
This week, it’s Krista’s turn in the hot seat as we continue our mini-episode series with a rapid fire round of the same questions we ask all of our guests. Krista reflects on what self-care really looks like in a season that feels loud, busy, and unfinished. From wanting her roots done to needing accountability, emotional support beverages, and permission to coast, this episode is a candid look a...
Systems, Style and Staying Sane (?) 10.12.2025 23:46
This week’s episode flips the script — it’s Samantha’s turn in the hot seat for a rapid fire round of the questions usually reserved for guests. In this shorter, behind-the-scenes conversation, she reflects on how motherhood and ambition coexist , what efficiency really looks like in this season, and why she’ll always choose quality over quantity in both life and work. From ClickUp hacks and clutt...
Toddlers, Tickets & The Art of Letting Go 03.12.2025 45:05
This week’s episode has it all — choir recitals, broken wrists, parenting chaos, and The Sims 2. Krista and Samantha are in full December mode, juggling end-of-year work, family schedules, and a few laughable detours along the way (including Sam’s speeding ticket while wearing a hat that said slow down ). Samantha shares the joy and chaos of completing her choir recital — from nearly crying mid-pe...
Black Friday, Budgets & the Business of Gift-Giving 26.11.2025 1:03:21
This week, Krista and Samantha cover a little bit of everything — from Black Friday and fashion to ADHD, business strategy, and holiday prep. It’s a full-circle conversation about personal growth, clarity, and how both hosts are navigating a busy season while trying to stay present (and maybe look good doing it). Samantha shares reflections from her birthday week — new outfits, intentional busines...
Showing Up As You Are with Puja Malhotra 19.11.2025 58:27
This week, Krista and Samantha sit down with Puja Malhotra, founder of Roop Creative Agency, for a conversation that gets real about the intersection of motherhood and entrepreneurship. Puja opens up about the messy middle of trying to balance personal growth, family life, and the demands of running a business — and how the glossy narratives of “doing it all” rarely match reality. She shares how s...
Community, Clarity & the Courage to Pivot with Luz Perez Brown 12.11.2025 54:31
This week, Krista and Samantha sit down with Luz Perez Brown, a multi-passionate entrepreneur, community builder, and military spouse, for a conversation about what it really means to build a life-first business in the middle of constant change. Luz shares how frequent relocations, motherhood, and entrepreneurship have shaped her approach to ambition and growth—and why reflection has become her fa...
Whimsy, Work, and the Weight of the Holidays 05.11.2025 56:12
This week, Krista and Samantha unpack the mental load of the holiday season — from Halloween hangovers and early gift planning to the nostalgia and chaos that make this time of year both magical and maddening. They share personal updates on parenting through October (the unofficial hardest month for families), the joy and exhaustion of community events, and the ever-present pressure to create “whi...
Betting On Yourself with Janelle Nelissen 29.10.2025 56:00
This week, Krista and Samantha sit down with Janelle Nelissen , brand strategist and founder of Sage Creatives , for an honest and expansive conversation about what it means to be ambitious after motherhood—and how the journey doesn’t always look like the plan. Janelle became a mother just weeks before the COVID lockdown, and what followed was a deep reckoning with identity, postpartum depression,...
"One and Done, On Purpose" with Maddy Aucoin 22.10.2025 53:32
This week, Samantha and Krista are joined by copywriter and messaging strategist Maddy Aucoin for a conversation about ambition, burnout, and choosing a life that feels good —not just productive. Maddy shares her experience finishing her Master’s degree at 37 weeks pregnant, launching her business in a pandemic, and intentionally deciding to be one and done when it comes to kids. They talk about t...
Sleep-Deprived and Still Building — BTS of Business Growth 15.10.2025 1:00:00
This week, Krista and Samantha are deep in the thick of it— sleep regressions, toddler chaos, and the kind of parenting fatigue that makes you forget what day it is . They share real-time reflections on what it means to grow a business when you’re already maxed out, and how clarity can come even in the messiest seasons. In the midst of it all, Krista offers a behind-the-scenes look at her group pr...
From Cancer to Clarity — Emily Anderson on Motherhood, Business & Becoming Herself 08.10.2025 51:18
Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of cancer, diagnosis and treatment, recovery, grief, and the emotional impact of navigating illness as a mother and business owner. Please listen with care. This week, Krista and Samantha sit down with Emily Anderson —a photographer, mother of three, and cancer survivor—for a powerful conversation about vulnerability, identity, and trusting yoursel...
Friendship, Fatigue & the Social Life We Miss 01.10.2025 1:05:06
This week, Krista and Samantha unpack the tangled web of parenting, social life, and adult friendship —and how those things rarely play nicely together in the same season. They talk about the pressure of social obligations, the real mental load of making and keeping friends post-kids, and how Lucky Girl Syndrome shows up in both motherhood and mindset. There’s reflection on parenting fatigue , pos...
Sick Days, Snack Nudes & the Mental Load (As Ever) 24.09.2025 56:51
In this week’s episode, Krista and Samantha are knee-deep in the realities of parenting while sick —and trying to hold it together when everyone in the house is under the weather. They talk through the mental load , the flexibility of running their own businesses , and the quiet craving for a day where no one needs anything from them. There’s also conversation around community building , client en...
Adulting Is Hard, Parenting Is Wild & Everyone’s Lying 17.09.2025 47:41
This week, Krista and Samantha are in the thick of it—navigating the chaotic trifecta of adulting, parenting, and trying to have a social life . They swap stories about managing health appointments , sleep-deprived parenting , and the wild world of raising kids who lie with confidence. There’s honest talk about discipline vs. values , family routines , and the tension of balancing what you believe...
September Chaos, Hormones & Hot Takes on Taylor Swift 10.09.2025 55:55
We’re back! In the Season 2 premiere, Krista and Samantha dive into the full-body shift that is back-to-school season —where to-do lists get longer, routines get tighter, and life admin takes centre stage. They talk through the tension of transitioning out of summer , the mental and hormonal chaos of September, and the constant juggle of parenting, business, and health . There’s reflection on pare...
Summer Rhythms & Sabbatical Dreams 30.07.2025 1:07:11
In the Season 1 finale, Krista and Samantha dive into the layered realities of summer—from the literal heat to the shifting dynamics of parenting, work, and personal growth that come with the season. They reflect on seasonal preferences , family routines , and the joy (and anxiety) of gaining independence as a parent when your kids start spending more time away. There’s also conversation around sh...
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