Momtalk Maryland

Most sites look pretty until you ask them to do something. We sat down with Maria, a Maryland-born designer and agency owner with roots in art, photography, and action sports, to unpack how story-led branding and user-first websites turn browsers into believers. From building an agency on referrals to rebranding her own business to match her voice, Maria shares what actually moves the needle for s...

A clogged duct that wouldn’t clear. A waitlist that stretched into weeks. And a gut feeling that wouldn’t let go. When our friend Kelly—a 37-year-old mom of three and ER nurse—pressed for answers, the diagnosis came fast and loud: stage three, HER2-positive breast cancer with lymph node involvement. What happens next is not a bleak spiral, but a blueprint for action, clarity, and care. We walk thr...

When five friends joked about wanting their favorite vodka water drink available in a can, most people would have laughed and moved on. Instead, Dawn and her girlfriends sketched a business plan on a cocktail napkin and transformed their group chat name "My5" into Maryland's fastest-growing ready-to-drink beverage company. The journey wasn't simple. Dawn shares how securing alc...

Step back in time with Martha Clark, the sixth-generation steward of a farming legacy that has shaped Howard County since 1797. As we chat on a wooden bench surrounded by the sights and sounds of Clark's Elioak Farm, Martha reveals how her family literally put Clarksville on the map and weathered dramatic agricultural changes over centuries. Martha's journey weaves through Maryland histo...

When life delivers its hardest blows, some families find extraordinary ways to transform pain into purpose. In this deeply moving conversation, Julia Lederer opens up about her brother Zach's journey with brain cancer and the incredible legacy that continues to touch thousands of lives through the Zaching Against Cancer Foundation. Julia takes us back to when she was just seven years old and...

When Jessica Nichols stepped into her eighth-grade social studies classroom as a struggling student, her teacher Mr. Copies whispered something that would change her life: "I know there's something you're carrying. If you ever want someone to hear you, I'll hear you." This moment of being truly seen became the foundation for Jessica's award-winning teaching career. No...

Have you ever wondered what it takes to transform a pandemic hobby into a thriving business? Christin from Blooming Blossoms joins us to share exactly how she turned her love of flowers into a full-fledged entrepreneurial success story. When COVID lockdowns had us all searching for new passions, Christin found herself captivated by an HBO show called "Full Bloom," showcasing elaborate fl...

What happens when a singer-songwriter becomes a relationship therapist? In this illuminating conversation, Katherine Petzold shares her fascinating journey from performing worldwide to helping couples transform their relationships through Relational Life Therapy (RLT) . Katherine reveals why conventional communication advice fails most couples – it's not that we don't know how to communi...

Join Claire and Emma as they reflect on a summer of growth, learning, and discovery in the world of marketing and communications. In this heartfelt conversation, Emma opens up about her journey from uncertain college student to confident marketing intern, sharing how hands-on experience has shaped her understanding of the industry far beyond what classroom learning could provide. Emma reveals her...

Ever feel overwhelmed by your living space despite your best efforts to keep things organized? You're not alone. In this enlightening conversation with interior designer Kerry Whippee, founder of Shamrock Hill Design , we unpack why our homes sometimes feel chaotic despite our best intentions—and how simple design principles can transform them into spaces that bring us joy. Kerry reveals the...

Ever wondered why relationship patterns seem to repeat themselves, generation after generation? Couples therapist Risa Ganel reveals the powerful truth behind this cycle and offers hope for breaking it during her illuminating conversation with Claire Duarte on MomTalk Maryland. With nearly three decades of experience and specialized training in Relational Life Therapy (RLT), Risa shares how her jo...

What really happens behind those perfect Instagram posts? In this candid conversation, Claire sits down with her summer intern Emma to discuss her expectations versus the reality of working with an influencer. When Emma first joined the team, she admitted thinking the job would be relatively simple – just taking photos and posting them. Sound familiar? As we unpack her assumptions, Emma reveals ho...

What happens when two moms decide to open up the confession booth and reveal the weird, embarrassing, and utterly human moments that most people keep hidden? This episode takes us behind the curtain of perfectly curated mom lives into the realm of strange habits we've never outgrown and mortifying moments we've tried to forget. From the startling admission of a lifelong Bath & Body W...

What if everything we thought we knew about youth sports was wrong? What if the path to raising successful, happy athletes isn't through early specialization, elite programs, and intense training schedules for elementary-aged children? Coach Bobby joins us to challenge conventional wisdom about youth sports with research-backed insights from his 15+ years of coaching experience. Having worked...

Claire shares her favorite summer activities in Howard County, from splash pads and farmers markets to library programs and local memberships that help families beat the heat while creating lasting memories. • Seven farmers markets throughout Howard County including new locations in Old Ellicott City and Merriweather District • Free splash pads at Merriweather District, Olney, and Millard Cooper P...

Imagine spending your whole life with one hairstyle, then suddenly switching it up completely. That's exactly what happened when I decided to embrace my natural waves after years of straightening my hair. What started as a casual "I don't feel like styling my hair today" moment after spring break evolved into a two-month experiment that changed not just my appearance, but my re...

Ever wonder what Gen Z really thinks about your social media presence? This eye-opening conversation between Claire Duarte and Emma, The Columbia Mom's first college intern, pulls back the curtain on the significant generational divide in digital marketing and social media usage. Fresh from her freshman year at Salisbury University where she studies communications with a marketing minor, Emma...

Remember when making friends was as simple as sharing your fruit snacks at recess? Motherhood changes everything about our social connections, creating both new challenges and unexpected opportunities for deeper relationships. This candid conversation dives into the delicate balancing act of nurturing friendships while juggling family responsibilities. Claire opens up about being what she hilariou...

We dive deep into the often misunderstood world of thyroid health, autoimmune conditions, and the powerful connection between hormones and whole-body wellness with functional medicine expert Laura from Re-Balance Health and Wellness . Have you ever wondered why traditional approaches to thyroid issues often fall short? Laura explains why simply prescribing Synthroid doesn't address the root c...

The journey to wellness often begins unexpectedly. What started as a simple business partnership with Re-Balance Health and Wellness transformed into a life-changing health discovery for me. After comprehensive testing—blood panels, cortisol measurements, food sensitivity screening, and gut analysis—I received news that shocked me: despite feeling "fine," I had Hashimoto's hypothyro...

After a decade-long hiatus, I found myself at the starting line of the Charm City Soul of the City 10K—the very same race that launched my running journey ten years earlier. The symmetry wasn't planned, but it felt like the universe had a sense of humor about my running comeback. My relationship with running has evolved dramatically since my twenties when I completed five half marathons with...

Remember when you confidently declared all the things you'd never do as a parent? Those lofty ideals about screen time, healthy eating, sleep training, and never losing your cool? Yeah, we do too. In this candid conversation, Claire and Jill officially team up as co-hosts to tackle the humbling reality gap between pre-kid expectations and actual parenting. With equal parts humor and vulnerabi...

"You can't make that kid do a damn thing." These words echoed through my mind as I reflected on the unique journey of parenting my strong-willed, neurodivergent son. The path has been anything but straightforward, filled with unexpected challenges, tearful breakthroughs, and moments of profound doubt. When Grant was born in June 2020—our COVID baby—we noticed his babbling seemed to...

Ever wondered how a local mom brand is born? In our debut episode of Maryland Mom Talk, host Claire Duarte pulls back the curtain on her journey from psychology graduate to founder of The Columbia Mom. Claire takes us through her Maryland roots (born in DC, raised in Olney) before sharing the winding path that led to creating a community-focused platform. From her early days as a Beachbody coach t...

MomTalk Maryland is your go-to podcast for real conversations with real women—moms who are raising families, showing up for their communities, and finding meaning in the everyday moments of life. Hosted by Claire Duarte, founder of The Columbia Mom , each episode offers honest stories, warm insights, and a sense of belonging. It’s where community, connection, and conversation collide—right here in...