Mama's Gonna Make It

What happens when your kid looks you in the eye and asks a very direct question about the Tooth Fairy? 👀 Full disclaimer – don’t listen to this one with your kids around unless they’re already in on the magic and how it is shared. We’d hate to be the ones to spoil any childhood wonder ahead of schedule! This week, we’re talking about those moments when our kids start asking bigger questions...

What happens when becoming a mother and losing your own mother happen within the same chapter of life? In this episode, we continue our conversation about grief with returning guest Kaili van Waveren, executive director of ThorpeWood and a grief/thanatology professional, alongside friends Liz May and Suzy Fielders, who share their deeply personal experiences of becoming and being mothers while als...

What if grief isn’t just something that happens after someone dies? This week, we’re joined by our friend Kaili Van Waveren, a thanatologist, grief counselor, and Executive Director at ThorpeWood, for a wide-ranging conversation about grief, death, and all the ways loss changes us. Kaili helps us explore why grief can come from so many different kinds of loss, what “grief brain” really means, and...

Sometimes the system stops working. Sometimes the house gets completely disrupted. Sometimes your laundry fairy is temporarily unavailable. And sometimes… you just need everyone to GTFO of the house so you can finally clean in peace.  In Episode 57, we’re talking about our personal toolboxes for getting through the seasons when routines fall apart, motivation disappears, and the systems that...

We’re hanging out with our friend Jackie Kelley—aka @StayatHomeJackie— for a wide-ranging friend chat about embracing who you are, finding joy in the weird stuff, and navigating the beautiful chaos of parenting. Jackie talks about what it means to be a “Stay at Home Jackie,” why seeing people with bodies like yours joyfully existing can be so powerful, and how she’s learned to care less about othe...

What happens when you realize marriage isn’t the happily-ever-after part of the story– it’s the part where two imperfect humans have to figure out how to actually live together? This week, we’re joined by Jackie Kelley , creator of Stay-at-Home Jackie and author of the upcoming book So You Married a Human: The Totally Doable, Unconventional Guide to a Thriving Partnership . Jackie shares the...

Guess what? We’re back! After a summer break, Mama’s Gonna Make It is officially rolling into Season 4 — and we’re kicking things off with a little life update, a lot of reflection, and an explanation of the four pillars that help shape our conversations. First, we check in with each other. We both have littles starting kindergarten, which brings ALL the feelings, transitions, schedule changes, an...

Season three has come to a close… somewhat sooner than originally planned. And that’s okay, friends.  After a year full of parenting, work, personal and professional growth, creative projects, performances, travel, summer schedules, and trying to keep all the plates spinning, we’re talking about something that’s become impossible to ignore: burnout In this episode, we explore the difference b...

Today’s episode is something a little different. As we wind down our third season (don’t worry—we’re already recording Season 4!), it’s summertime out there, and Sarabeth and Anne are ready to embrace a slower pace and recover from a very busy year. Between shifting schedules, changing family routines, and general life burnout, this season of life feels… full. So Sarabeth had a brilliant idea: rec...

Episode 51: Try the Hobby, Join the Team, Make the Deviled Eggs This week on Mama’s Gonna Make It, we start by talking about kids, hobbies, sports, and creativity… and somehow end up discussing gochujang, embroidery fails, pickle jar egg-peeling hacks, and deviled eggs. Which, honestly, feels pretty on brand. Sarabeth, Anne, and Producer Tim get into the pressure kids (and adults) feel to already...

This week on Mama’s Gonna Make It , Sarabeth, Anne, and Producer Tim dive into the wild world of traveling with kids, from Disney planning and overpacked suitcases to unexpected memory-making moments, bed bug paranoia, and audiobook mishaps at the mechanic. Anne shares stories from an epic multi-stop family/work trip involving galas, beaches, Disney, and a Georgia farm… all packed into one oversiz...

For the record, Anne and Sarabeth believe in the power of creative energy and agree that it is fundamentally important for people to have creative outlets. From there, we enjoyed pushing back on each other in this funny and somewhat philosophical conversation about why we create art, literature, or music—and how to encourage that practice in ourselves, each other, and our kiddos. True to her Type...

In this episode, Anne shares about a recent job opportunity and how difficult it was to weigh all the pros and cons of change—not only for herself, but for how it could impact her family unit. She polled the mom-chat, talked with family and friends, and ultimately received some incredibly illuminating advice from two trusted professionals in her life: a financial advisor and a college friend who i...

Last time we had Jen Hamilton on, we talked all things nursing, advocacy, and her book Birth Vibes . This time? We’re just… hanging out. And honestly, it might be our favorite kind of episode. Jen is back in the studio and bringing her full, beautifully chaotic, joy-filled life with her. From raising indoor chickens (yes, diapers included) to navigating social media with millions of followers, to...

Sometimes the most powerful preparation isn’t for the birth you want —it’s for the one you might actually have.  This week, we host labor & delivery nurse, advocate, and author Jen Hamilton to talk about her debut book Birth Vibes —and wow…we were not emotionally prepared (in the best way). Birth Vibes fills the void between books that explain pregnancy and parenting books. That between s...

Before we even get to today’s topic, Anne & Sarabeth find themselves on a meaningful side quest—talking about how we support our kids’ safety when it comes to consent and bodily autonomy. Whew…nothing like easing in with a “light” topic. From there, we explore the idea of peace (not peas 😉), inspired by a recent Peace Walk—including one we did with our own kiddos on Martin Luther King Jr. Day...

Sometimes the hardest part of anything is getting started. Ashley Honbarrier eliminates that barrier to growing your own food with her nonprofit Happy Roots—providing therapeutic horticulture to communities of all ages, from 2 to 102 and beyond. In this episode, we talk about what happens when access meets intention… and how something as simple as a garden box can shift not just what we eat, but h...

If you’ve ever felt your chest tighten when your kid is upset… or like you have to fix it right now… or like you’re somehow getting it wrong if it all feels really hard—this episode is for you. We sat down with pediatric nurse and early years mental health specialist Deb Armstrong-Branch (aka HappyChild2HappyParent). This convo genuinely felt like a deep exhale. We talk about anxiety, control, bed...

What a gift to be launching Season 3 of Mama’s Gonna Make It! In this episode, Sarabeth and Anne catch up and share life updates with listeners, resolve a few open cliffhangers from past episodes, and reflect on the new frontier of our parenting skills’ growing edges. As soon as we think we know what we’re doing, those kiddos go and level up! Tim, Anne, and Sarabeth also take some time to reflect...

Show notes are something a little different today. Almost as I write, both Sarabeth and Anne are decorating their Christmas trees with their families, holiday songs playing, and delicious smells wafting from their respective kitchens. Despite this picturesque scene, played out over both homes on a foggy Sunday morning, holiday magic doesn’t just “happen” — it doesn’t just “magic” itsel...

Britney Dent (@theteenchoicecoach) is back in the studio for a cozy friend chat with Anne, Sarabeth, and Producer Tim to talk all things holidays—the magic and the stress. From navigating blended families to finding the balance between thoughtful and practical gifts, we swap stories about favorite traditions, memorable moments, and what it looks like to craft holidays that feel joyful on your own...

This week we’re thankful to welcome the incomparable Britney Dent to the studio! Britney is a powerhouse of wisdom, compassion, and community leadership — and honestly, we could’ve talked with her for hours. Britney holds a B.A. from UNC Greensboro and is a certified Life Coach for parents and teens. She’s a Hands On Northwest & Wake Forest Women’s Emerging Leaders graduate, a City of Winston-...

This week we’re joined by our friend Beth Recchio for a funny and honest conversation about growing edges—those places where we’re choosing to stretch, change, and show up differently. Beth opens up about her fear of success, and we dive into what it means to grow even when it feels uncomfortable. Anne and SB share stories about self-advocacy in healthcare, while Tim vulnerably reflects on hi...

In this episode, we’re joined by our friend and social media powerhouse Beth Recchio — the bold, boho, and beautifully unfiltered force behind @bethsboholife . Beth brings her full, multifaceted self to every space she enters, whether it’s gardening, home improvement, comedy, storytelling, or fashion. She’s redefining what connection and authenticity look like online (and off). We talk about the p...

In this episode, we’re answering listener questions (pause for dramatic effect: WE HAVE LISTENERS!? 😭🙌 And you have QUESTIONS!?) Cue the happy dance. 💃🕺 Keep ’em coming, friends — we love hearing from you! Here’s what we dive into:   Q1: How do you even start therapy?  Anne consults Mama D for advice, and we share some friend wisdom from a Lazy Genius thread. Spoiler: You don’t have...