MomCast

Trigger Warning: Adult Topics Moms, raising kids takes courage and the tween & teen years make that clear really quickly. If conversations about drugs make you cringe and the thought of discussing sex has you delaying the conversation, today’s episode is for you. As Vanessa Kroll Bennett tells us, we can absolutely share with our kids just how nervous and uncomfortable we are! Vanessa is the c...

TIGGER WARNING: ADULT CONTENT Moms, if you have teens and tweens you’ve likely thought, “Yikes! This is SO awkward!” We totally get it. That’s why we’ve called in expert help on how to make cringey conversations more manageable. Our guest is Vanessa Kroll Bennett, whose book and podcast are called This is so Awkward! Vanessa is half of the duo behind an incredible platform (along with Dr. Cara Nat...

Moms, when your kid’s next meal could send them to the ER-or worse-every bite matters. This is the reality for children with life threatening food allergies and the parents who spend every waking moment trying to keep them safe.  May is Food Allergy Awareness month and our guest this week is Hillary Tolle Carter, a food allergy mom and passionate advocate. Her two sons were diagnosed with 35...

Moms, doesn’t it feel so good when someone lets us off the hook?! Like when someone tells us that being perfect really isn’t the goal…or that loving ourselves first does, in fact, make us a better parent? This is the liberating conversation we’re been looking for! I’m honored to sit down with Dr. Shefali, world-renowned clinical psychologist and New York Times bestselling author for Part 2 of our...

At MomCast, we believe that when we know better, we do better—and today’s episode is all about that growth. It takes courage to look with and critique our own parenting, but our guest promises it’s worth the effort. We're honored to welcome Dr. Shefali, a world-renowned clinical psychologist and bestselling author of The Conscious Parent and The Parenting Map, as she challenges us to parent with a...

Moms, forget the skincare myths, trends, and TikTok traps! Our guest on MomCast is Master Esthetician Nicole Caroline who walks us through what you actually need to get glowing, plump, healthy skin in the midst of mom-life. Nicole is mom to a 10-year old son and also helps dozens of celebrity clients look their absolute best. Today, she’s cutting through the noise to share the minimalist routines...

Moms, when the absurdity of motherhood becomes too much, we laugh! After all, watching and sending mom memes is one of our favorite pastimes. It’s amazing the connection that comes from that small action, and it’s exactly what motivates content creator Megan Schinella. Her blog, formerly Camp by Mama, was the outlet she craved as she entertained three young kids in CT. With her two daughters and s...

Moms, every single one of us works!  And if you work outside the home, The Local Moms Network is here to support you in any and every stage of your career. Whether you’re the higher earner in your family, dabbling in a new side hustle, or perhaps a single parent supporting your family, we honor each of you. In today’s episode, host Demetra Ganias shares highlights from the recent CT Pillar Su...

Sometimes, moms become accidental advocates.  A situation arises in our family and we become a voice that educates and a lens through which others get a glimpse into our world. Morgan Matkovic is a passionate, no-nonsense advocate for children on the autism spectrum, fueled by her daughter, Lila Lee, who was diagnosed two years ago. Morgan, a Charleston-based writer, is also mom to Lila’s old...

Moms, if you could get back the time you’ve spent worrying about one thing, what would it be?  I was blown away to hear what Joyce Shulman’s answer was! As you’ll hear in this empowering episode, Joyce Shulman has mindblowing insights to seemingly simple questions. Her approach has been honed over 25 years, building her dream life from attorney, to CEO of multiple million-dollar companies, to...

Trigger Warning: Miscarriage Moms, it’s easy to feel betrayed by our body when we’ve given birth once and then struggle to get pregnant again. This is called secondary infertility and it can affect 1 in 5 couples. In this vulnerable episode, we sit down with Dr. Laura Costello, a doctor of physical therapy and a passionate advocate for women taking charge of their fertility.  She founded The...

Moms, there’s no doubt that sports seasons are getting longer and kids are specializing at a younger age. So how do we prevent injuries? And how can we protect girls, in particular, who have a higher incidence of injuries when compared to boys who play the same sport? Our guest today is Dr. Corinna Franklin, chief of pediatric orthopedics at Yale School of Medicine. She leads the Female+ Athlete P...

Moms, we’re celebrating International Women’s History Month! To kick it off, we’re talking about how moms define success: what it means, how we get it, and how we’re showing up for other moms along the way.   Enter Stacey Luces, our incredible guest who tells us exactly how to stop checking boxes and live authentically according to our own unique values. Stacey is a powerhouse; she is a mothe...

Moms, if you’re navigating perimenopause and menopause, it’s inevitable to talk about weight management.  With our hormones fluctuating, the scale does too…and the conversation goes far beyond vanity.  Joining us in this episode is Dr. Brittny Howell, a board certified vascular surgeon and expert in women's health who breaks down changes in our biology starting in our late 30’s. Dr. Brit...

Moms, when should you start prepping your kid for college? Admission isn’t a race to the finish line, but rather a marathon that starts sooner than you might think. That's according to our guest Alex Merrill, the founder of Alliance Tutoring in Connecticut. Alex brings lots of perspective to this role both as a former teacher and a father of three. Simply put, he says one-on-one education is the g...

Moms, it takes a unique temperament to meld motherhood and entrepreneurship and it can’t be captured in the sometimes-too-cute moniker “mompreneur.” The challenges and sacrifices are plentiful, but Gillian Stollwerk Garrett wouldn’t have it any other way. Gilly, as she’s affectionately known to her friends and customers, is the founder of Gilly’s Organics. Over 20 years in the skincare business, s...

Moms, sometimes we throw our hands up and wonder if we’re parenting our children the right way, literally questioning the philosophy behind our decisions. In today’s episode, we’re diving into the Danish approach to parenting—a method that has gained global attention for its focus on balance, respect, and emotional well-being.  Our guest, Jessica Joelle Alexander, is co-author of The Danish W...

Welcome back to another solo episode of MomCast and my “5 Things” that are consuming me this week! Moms, I’m sharing a huge thank you to every listener for helping us build this platform. I’m so grateful that you’re listening, rating, reviewing, and reaching out to me.  When we know better, we do better…together! In this episode, I’m sharing (rambling) about a recent momfail, the unexpected m...

Moms, if you find yourself vacillating between two polar opposite emotions about motherhood, you’re not alone!  Love and frustration, overwhelm and gratitude, emotional and desensitized…they’re all proof of both the blessings and the burdens of this role. That’s why the most powerful word in motherhood is AND. Both ends of the spectrum are true and valid. Our guest today, Lalaina Rabary, live...

Moms, isn’t it refreshing to talk to a woman who’s as open about her challenges as she is about her wins?  Plus, she’s funny, and warm, and you just want to keep chatting.  That’s Zibby Owens.  This mom of 4 spearheads a book empire (think author and publishing executive) and easily discusses the failures that make her success even more rewarding. You’ve likely heard of her wildly s...

Moms, want to break out some new food habits but don’t know where to start?  We’ve got you! Like you, we spend a lot of time fixating on food and movement. From what’s for dinner, to keeping up with what snacks our kids like, to fitting in time for exercise. Today’s guest, Stefani Sassos, cuts through all the noise. She’s a registered dietitian, certified personal trainer, and the director of...

Moms, what’s in and out for 2025? Whatever we want! And to get us inspired, we sat down with PEOPLE’S Andrea Lavinthal. We cover it all from fashion trends (spoiler alert: make your own!) to skincare, to vowing to have more fun. The former Style and Beauty Director at PEOPLE, fluent in hair, makeup, fashion, Andrea is now Executive Director, Special Integrative Projects. She dishes about voting fo...

Moms, do you ever wonder if the push to include affirmations and self-talk in your daily routine-both for you and your kids- is actually worth it or just a bunch of BS? This episode confirms you are not wasting your time! Our guest, Dr. Reon Baird-Feldman, is trained in neuropsychology and breaks down exactly why affirmations work. They also, quite literally, change the way we think! Dr. Reon, a t...

Sibling relationships can be incredibly warm and incredibly tricky, too. But when siblings are best friends, the love is truly palpable. In this episode, Kaki Dudley McGrath and Lauren Dudley Stephens, co-founders of the clothing brand Dudley Stephens, take us inside their partnership as sisters and entrepreneurs. If you’re not familiar with the brand, Demetra calls it the best way to feel totally...

Moms, we’ve heard the saying about turning pain into purpose. It’s an idea even more powerful when we consider our roles as CEO of our home and leaders within our families. Our guest today, Ellie Ander, is an incredible example of turning challenges into advocacy, whether it be for mental or physical health. Ellie is also the entrepreneur behind our sister site Chicago North Shore Moms who celebra...