Medium Lady Talks: Burnout Recovery for Millennials and Mothers

Many people struggle to recognize their own needs, especially when they’ve been conditioned to prioritize everyone else first. In Medium Lady Talks, Episode 133, host Erin Vandeven explores why naming your needs is the first step to sustainable self-care—and how to start, even when it feels impossible. 💡 This episode covers: ✔️ Why it’s so hard to identify personal needs (hint: it’s not a persona...

In Episode 132 of Medium Lady Talks Erin shares the first episode in the new self-care series “How To Take Care of Yourself”. The first item on the list is one that most people definitely struggle with - saying yes to help that’s offered. This isn’t just about asking for help, which is naturally hard enough and makes many of us feel vulnerable and out of control! But there are many people in our l...

Hello, hi! This week’s episode is a bit of a vulnerable off the cuff episode - I have a few things weighing heavy on my mind, and all of it surrounding the frustrations we all experience around the effort of taking care of ourselves. My hope is that this episode represents a "kick off" of a new series of content designed to help us all consider the smallest most useful and accessible ways of takin...

This episode aired in February 2023, and yet I feel like our challenges with enjoying ourselves are being tested now more than ever. I hope you enjoy this episode from the archives! I'll be back next week with a fresh episode! ~~~~~ Hello, hi and welcome to another episode of Medium Lady Talks! In Episode 97, we're delving into a topic that's close to the hearts of many burnt-out millennial mother...

Hello, hi! This week’s episode is an authentic and open episode with my guest Ashlie Daigle, otherwise known as the Cheerbrarian. Ashlie and I have been “kindred spirits” both in the kind of content we like to share with the world, as well as our outlook on life and our enthusiasm for giving advice. Despite that identity and persona, Ashlie gets real with her current mental health struggles and ho...

Hello, hi! I’m so excited to welcome today’s guest to the show. Anna Przy! Does the phrase “It’s called manifesting… look it up…” or “You better Keep it up Cutie” sound familiar? Anna Przy is most recognizable for her short form social media videos that involve a bathrobe, her front yard, and no shoes. Sometimes featuring an old vacuum and some high kicks you’ll often see Anna looking up at the sk...

Hello, hi and welcome to the first interview for Season 5 of Medium Lady Talks! In this episode, I chat with Helen Schrute and Christina Cohen, therapists and hosts of the It’s YOUR Birthday Podcast. We’re talking all about friendship, partnership, trust and navigating the messy middle of life with your bestie by your side. Episode Summary: In this episode, you’ll hear more from my guests about: -...

Medium Lady Talks is heading into its fifth season! Five years ago, I started creating content—on Instagram, on this podcast, and in this incredible community. Over time, I’ve learned so much, not just about content creation, but about self-care, burnout, and the evolving nature of identity as a mom and a creator. In this episode, I’m sharing five key lessons from five years of content creation—th...

Hello, hi and welcome to the final episode of Medium Lady Talks for 2024! As we look ahead to 2025, I’m sharing a new and impactful approach to guide your personal growth: choosing a need of the year instead of a word of the year. In this episode, I explore why focusing on your needs can help you take more intentional and meaningful action to support your emotional and mental well-being. Plus, we’...

Hello hi! The holiday season can be magical, but let’s face it—it can also be overwhelming! In this episode, I’m sharing the five (and a half!) things that are helping me feel like myself and move through the busiest time of year as mindfully as possible. From favourite apps and comforting habits to traditions that warm my heart, these small joys are saving my season. I’ll also share a wildcard fa...

Hello, hi! Why is having fun so hard sometimes? As moms, we often find ourselves stuck in caretaker mode, struggling to reconnect with the joy of play—whether it’s for ourselves or with our kids. In this episode, we’re talking about fun and how stepping out of your comfort zone can bring more laughter, connection, and lightness into your life. I’m sharing unique, low-cost (and even free!) ways to...

Hello, hi and happy holidays It’s the most wonderful time of the year… time for the fourth annual Cozy Christmas Reads episode! This episode is special because Jillian and Erin are joined by two additional guests, Stephanie Cunningham and Ali Oppenlaender . The four women come together yearly (previous episodes are linked below), to share each year’s picks for a cozy Christmas read.  If you’re rea...

If you're new to Medium Lady you might not be well acquainted to a hallmark practice of mine: mindful monthly planning. I have been monthly planning for over 5 years, and I can genuinely say it has allowed me to feel more like myself, to capture more fun in my life, and to give me a sense of personal growth and meaning that I wouldn't find from my work or relationships. I hope you enjoy this repos...

Hello, hi! I can’t seem to stop talking about guilt - but  I PROMISE this is the last I’ll say about it (at least until 2025) . The thing that continues to remain problematic and troubling for so many women, the thing that gets in our way is that we’re always feeling bad. If we’re not feeling bad we’re avoiding the things that make us feel bad or managing the feeling to get rid of it. What if ther...

Hello, hi! Are you feeling overwhelmed by all the expectations of the holiday season? In this episode, we’re tackling the “holiday guilt” that so many moms and women feel this time of year—guilt about not doing enough, spending too much, or skipping traditions. Together, we’ll explore how to tell the difference between decisions you need to let go of and opportunities to align with what truly matt...

Hello, hi! Today’s episode features a returning special guest to Medium Lady, my friend Stephanie Cunningham. Stef can be found on instagram @steffski where she role models real-life living, sharing both the highs and the lows of homeschooling, intergenerational living and breaking the “highlight reel” so that her friends and followers feel like they can share in the chaos of this season of life. ...

Hello, hi! Today’s episode features a very special guest who hasn’t been on the pod in a while - my husband Nick! Nick reviews last week’s episode list of the 9 Small Things I’m No longer Feeling Guilty about. We hope you enjoy this episode and you like seeing another side of Medium Lady!    Episode Summary Check in:  I’ve brought Nick on mic to review the 9 things, and you may (or may not) be sur...

Hello, hi! Today’s episode is a personalized list of all the little things that I let myself feel guilty about. And through the episode I give myself permission to let these things go, mostly because there's nothing wrong with them! This episode is for you if you feel like you spend too much time trying to navigate guilt when you’re just trying to relax and enjoy yourself.   Episode Summary Check...

Hello, hi! Today's episodes is one of my personal favourites from the Medium Lady Talks archives, and very relevant given my recent bout with a nasty cold this last week! I'm just making an educated guess that you or someone in your household has been sick the last few weeks! I love this episode because I made it while completely embracing how imperfect I felt while recording it waaaay back in 202...

Hello, hi! Today’s episode is more Medium Effort Advice. In this episode our listener asked “Past me seemed to have it all figured out. I look at pictures from 2-3 years ago and I want to get back to that but right now everything feels too hard. What do I do?”  This episode is for you if you feel like you used to be on top of things, but somehow, you’ve gotten off track. Episode Summary Check in: ...

Hello, hi! Today’s episode is a new kind of format, we’re doing “Medium Effort Advice”. One listener asked me on instagram: “How do I handle the problem of doing too much? Because I’m going too many things,  I end up not doing them well or even to completion. This episode is for you if you too are struggling with all.the.things this fall, and you want a bit of relief!   Episode Summary Check in: ...

Hello, hi! Today’s episode is another behind the scenes episode of content creation and podcast   production. For my monthly plan this September I decided to focus my awareness on imposter syndrome, and paying attention to where that shows up in my life and how hesitation and self-doubt affect my actions. This episode is for you if you’ve ever heard that tiny , nagging voice ask “Who are you to ha...

Hello, hi! Today’s episode is one of my favourites, part of my “Five things” series for all of our episodes that end with the number 5. This episode is going to give us a way to focus on mindfulness during a chaotic season of family life: the month of September. The goal of the episode is to help you gain a sense of presence that you can continue to return to through the upheaval of a busy season...

Hello, hi! Today’s episode is part two of my interview with Tami Hackbarth a Life + Work coach, keynote speaker, Author, Podcast Host and Fair Play Facilitator. Tami’s work helps women feel less like crap so they have the energy and bandwidth to create the world they want to live in. In part one of our conversation we talk all about the re-balancing of domestic life as a means to find the time for...

Hello, hi! Today’s episode is part one of my interview with Tami Hackbarth a life + work coach, keynote speaker, author, podcast host and Fair Play Facilitator. Tami’s work helps women feel less like crap so they have the energy and bandwidth to create the world they want to live in. In Part 1 of our conversation we talk all about the re-balancing of domestic life as a means to find the time for s...