Not Defined By Motherhood, the Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Struggling with mom guilt over thoughts you’d never say out loud? You’re not alone. In this episode of Not Defined By Motherhood – The Podcast , Melanie breaks down the truth about “bad mom” thoughts—why they happen, what they really mean, and how to let go of the shame. From “I wish I could run away” to “I miss my old life,” we’re naming the hard stuff so you can see you’re still...

Send us Fan Mail Ever felt frustrated, jealous, angry, or just desperate for a moment alone — and immediately wondered, “Am I a bad mom for feeling this way?” You’re not. In this episode of Not Defined By Motherhood – The Podcast , Melanie O’Reilly-Rogers unpacks why these feelings are normal, how outside pressure fuels mom guilt, and what really makes you a good mom (hint: it’s not your mood). Yo...

Send us Fan Mail In this powerful episode of The Mostly Under Control Podcast , Melanie O’Reilly-Rogers welcomes Dr. Margo Lowy, social worker, psychotherapist, and author of Maternal Ambivalence: Loving Moments and Bitter Truths . Together, they dive deep into the often-untouched territory of maternal ambivalence—the complex reality that motherhood is filled with both light and dark emotions.  Dr...

Send us Fan Mail Hey, Mostlys! Are you exhausted but still up at midnight doom-scrolling for “me-time”? Welcome to the world of Revenge Bedtime Procrastination—and yeah, it’s a thing. In this episode, we’re unpacking why moms delay sleep even when they’re running on fumes, how it’s wrecking our brains and bodies, and what you can do about it without sacrificing the little joy you get after bedtime...

Send us Fan Mail If you’ve ever frozen at the words, “Can I buy this?” or felt unsure how to teach your kids about saving, budgeting, or earning money—this one’s for you. Melanie sits down with Samantha Aycock—mom, realtor, and former CPA firm co-owner—for a no-fluff convo on raising financially smart kids without guilt, overwhelm, or Pinterest-worthy chore charts.   We cover allowance rules, mone...

Send us Fan Mail Ever feel like you’re making decisions with a blindfold on? In this episode, I’m breaking down how identifying your core values as a mom can help you ditch the guilt, simplify your choices, and finally feel like you’re doing life on your terms—not Instagram’s. We’ll talk about what core values actually are (hint: they’re not just for boardrooms), how to figure out yours, and how t...

Send us Fan Mail 💡 What if your family had a quarterly check-in like a business does? This week on The Mostly Under Control Podcast, I’m talking with my good friend Karyn about how she and her husband created State of the Family , a structured but totally doable way to tackle everything from budgeting and family logistics to home projects and career goals. Karyn shares how this process transforme...

Send us Fan Mail Start here! If you're a first time listener to the podcast, this is a great place to start to get to know Melanie and her message.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Mostly Under Control Podcast , I chat with Bhumi Bhatt, an early childhood occupational therapist, about how OT supports both kids and parents. We dive into how sensory processing, nervous system regulation, and maternal well-being impact childhood development.  Bhumi also shares how she helps 566666666666666666moms create sustainable routines, reclaim their...

Send us Fan Mail Motherhood doesn’t have to feel like drowning in a never-ending to-do list. On The Mostly Under Control Podcast , host Melanie O’Reilly-Rogers helps moms cut through the chaos, ditch the overthinking, and find real solutions that actually work for their lives. In this episode, Melanie sits down with Mackenzie, a working mom of one, who’s struggling to juggle the mental load of par...

Send us Fan Mail How do you juggle motherhood, a full-time career, and a chronic illness without burning out? In this episode of The Mostly Under Control Podcast , host Melanie O'Reilly-Rogers sits down with Jessica Hardy—a working mom of two who was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2019. Jessica shares her journey of navigating life with a potentially debilitatin...

Send us Fan Mail This week, Melanie sits down with twin mom, author, and Substack writer Kelly Fallon Wilson for a lively chat about the upcoming Beyond Motherhood Summit 2025 . Together, they discuss the summit’s mission to support moms not just in parenting, but in rediscovering themselves, tackling real-life challenges, and finding a sense of community. Whether you're a mom in need of prac...

Send us Fan Mail In the season finale of The Mostly Under Control Podcast , host Melanie O'Reilly-Rogers sits down with Dr. Lauren Sbarbaro and Natalie Komoll, two dynamic speakers at the upcoming Beyond Motherhood Summit. In this candid and thought-provoking episode, they dive into the history of women and women's mental health, exploring how understanding the past shapes our present ch...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Mostly Under Control Podcast , host Melanie O'Reilly-Rogers welcomes Dr. Susan Mitchell, a board-certified gynecologist from Maya Women's Health in Downers Grove. As a speaker at the upcoming Beyond Motherhood Summit , Dr. Mitchell previews her session on perimenopause, diving into myths, truths, and actionable advice for navigating this life phase...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to The Mostly Under Control Podcast with Melanie O'Reilly-Rogers ! This season, we're thrilled to introduce the incredible speakers joining us at the upcoming Beyond Motherhood Summit. In today’s episode, we chat with Michelle Anderson and Lauren Massarella, the dynamic sister duo behind Cozy Conversations with The Sister Project . Michelle and Lauren share...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Mostly Under Control Podcast , host Melanie O'Reilly-Rogers chats with Dr. Karen Wolowick, a board-certified OB-GYN and owner of Maya Gynecology in Downers Grove. Dr. Wolowick, affectionately known as Downers Grove’s favorite gynecologist, will be presenting at the Beyond Motherhood Summit on Saturday, January 18, at 2:30 PM, discussing healthy weight m...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Mostly Under Control Podcast , host Melanie O'Reilly-Rogers welcomes Lauren Zekiri, a Dr. Becky Good Inside Ambassador, mother of three, and speaker at the Beyond Motherhood Summit. Lauren will kick off the summit on Friday, January 17, at 9:30 AM, with a powerful session on cycle breaking, growing out of generational patterns, and discovering yourself....

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to The Mostly Under Control Podcast , hosted by Melanie O'Reilly-Rogers. This is the go-to space for moms who are juggling everything and trying to find clarity in the chaos of motherhood. Tune in for honest conversations, practical tips, and inspiring stories from moms and experts alike. This season, we’re spotlighting the incredible speakers of the Beyond Motherhood...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Mostly Under Control Podcast , Melanie O'Reilly-Rogers sits down with Dr. Fenwa Milhouse, a board-certified urologist, co-owner of Down There Urology in Chicago, and the star of TLC's Doctor Down Below . Dr. Milhouse will be presenting at the Beyond Motherhood Summit on Sunday, January 19, at 2:15 PM, covering a topic that resonates with many moms:...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Mostly Under Control Podcast , host Melanie O'Reilly-Rogers chats with Dr. Maria Malayter, CEO of Innovations of Change, and a featured speaker at the upcoming Beyond Motherhood Summit on January 17th in Downers Grove. Dr. Malayter previews her presentation, "Unmasking Your Inner Saboteurs," which dives into the ways we unknowingly sabotage ou...

Send us Fan Mail Podcast Episode Description: 🎙️ Episode Title: Setting Boundaries & Overcoming People-Pleasing with Sarah Czopek In this episode of The Mostly Under Control Podcast , I sit down with Sarah Czopek, the owner of Grace and Gratitude Counseling Services in Downers Grove, Illinois. Sarah and her team specialize in helping women and teen girls navigate challenges like anxiety, traum...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Mostly Under Control Podcast , host Melanie O’Reilly-Rogers sits down with Dr. Jana Richardson, founder of Chicago Pelvic Health and Wellness, to discuss all things pelvic floor health. Dr. Richardson, a speaker at the upcoming Beyond Motherhood Summit, shares her journey into pelvic health, debunking myths like “just do Kegels,” and explaining how pelvic fl...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Mostly Under Control Podcast , host Melanie O'Reilly-Rogers chats with Alexandria Gohla, owner of Bluebird Counseling in Naperville, Illinois. Alex shares her journey in counseling, her passion for yoga, and her excitement about leading a gentle yoga session at the Beyond Motherhood Summit in January 2025. Together, they dive into the pressures moms fac...

Send us Fan Mail On today's episode of The Mostly Under Control Podcast, we're talking to Mary Namestnik - Ultra Runner and Running Coach. Mary will be speaking at the Beyond Motherhood Summit the weekend of January 17th, 2025 in Downers Grove. Mary tells us about how she got into running and what it has done for herself and her family. The title of her talk at the Beyond Motherhood Summ...

Send us Fan Mail In today's episode, we talk with Sarah Fischer-Reynolds; Master Health Coach and owner of Functional Effect Fitness and Rehabilitation in Downers Grove. Sarah talks about what her session will address at the Beyond Motherhood Summit in 2025 - Nourishing Change: The Keys to Raising Food Positive Kids. We chat about how we were raised in a time where our parents were overly foc...