Radical Stepmoms

Christina is excited to welcome J.P. to the podcast to get a dad/partner perspective! JP shares about his co-parenting dynamic and what he considers when dating and potentially welcoming a stepmom into the blended mix. How does he view the stepmom role? What responsibility does the dad/partner have in the “blended process”? And what red flags does he suggest the stepmom pay attention to?  We talk...

The holidays are supposed to be full of joy and love, but in a blended family…it can also bring frustration and conflict. In this BONUS episode, Christina and Michelle chat ways to prepare, things to consider and tips on protecting your holiday peace. How do you navigate schedule changes, gift giving, or holiday cards? Listen in! Happy Holidays, rad stepmoms! About My Guest:  Michelle Mitchell, JD...

Christina welcomes back Coach Michelle Michele to discuss the foundations of navigating a high conflict co-parenting relationship. If we’re in a high conflict dynamic we know the toll it can take on our relationship and our own mental health. We can all name one bad habit we have or one need that isn’t being met.  What can you start implementing right now that will save time, money and resources i...

Welcome to Season 8! Christina kicks off with a new series that will sound a little more like a 1:1 session. Meet Victoria, a stepmom who started her role in a less traditional way that adds an interesting dynamic. She is grieving the newlywed era she never got to have, wants to disengage but doesn’t know where to start and wonders how an “ours baby” will fit into the high conflict mix. Listen in...

Christina invites her husband on to answer your questions! Some things they cover: - how can partners support the stepmom? What challenges have they overcome? - How do Christina and Jacob handle when their son shares details about the other house? - What conversations/concerns did they have when preparing for an ours baby? - Teacher conferences with or without the ex? How do we do it? AND MORE! Se...

Christina welcomes Courtney to unpack the term "High Conflict", and why labeling everyone as a "Narcissist" is concerning. How do these terms help us find support? Courtney shares her experience being both a bio-mom and stepmom navigating a challenging "co-parenting" dynamic. How does she lead with love and understanding, despite false allegations and endless court da...

Christina welcomes Jen to discuss her story of vulnerability, opening your heart up to your partner and kids and all the sacrifices that come with becoming a stepmom. When she wanted the full package and the official marriage certificate, things changed within her relationship and home. Jen shares her heartache in leaving the family she built and how she's evolving post-stepmotherhood. Find Jen on...

Christina welcomes divorce attorney and author, Nicole Sodoma to chat how stepmoms fit into their homes and the courtroom. Over the years, Nicole has risen to prominence as a national authority on divorce, custody, and co-parenting. However, she never expected to go through a divorce herself. She is not only a bio-mom but a stepmom, and shares her insights into topics that many of us face. What sh...

Christina welcomes Sam to share her story of being the girlfriend through divorce, self-representing and even managing a restraining order. Sam also shares her experience in supporting high needs stepkids, toileting issues and the ex’s lack of support.  Also discussed in this episode:  The trauma our partner’s faced with the ex  When the ex likes to call the cops  Christina shares her update with...

Christina welcomes Renee to chat being a stepmom, growing up as a stepdaughter and how we can discuss our role with our stepkids. Renee took her own journey and made it into a children's storybook to debunk that evil stepmom trope. "The Truth About Stepmoms" is a fun and loving illustration of all the ways a stepmom can show they care - take that, Disney! What do we want our stepkids...

Christina welcomes Veronica, a seasoned stepmom and author of the book ⁠“You Can Heal Stepmom Burnout.”⁠ Veronica shares her all too familiar journey of jumping into the stepmom role and getting a little too crispy burnt out. What can you do? How can you begin to find yourself again? What is your role? Veronica gives some guidance on where to start. Also, in the spirit of Mother's Day... Chris...

Christina welcomes Beth on to discuss high conflict in the court room. Not only is she a stepmom but also a litigation attorney! Beth is sharing her tips on preparing for court, what she did to get through the process, and must have’s she included in their parenting plan. Have you ever looked at your parenting plan and thought WTF? Are you gearing up for court and need some guidance and a pep talk...

Christina chats with Amber, a stepmom who is currently in her IVF journey. For any woman navigating the hormone and the emotional and physical tolls are difficult, but being a stepmom adds a unique layer to the ride. Amber chats her difficult feelings, what has been helpful and not so helpful and what she reminds herself everyday to keep her mindset strong. If you’re a stepmom navigating fertility...

Christina welcomes Lori, a coach, speaker and author to discuss the unpaid labor of women, mothers and stepmoms. Lori is an advocate for amplifying the value of unpaid labor and influencing how families share the workloads in their homes. Through her children's book, " Our Home: The Love, Work, and Heart of Family" Lori breaks down the invisible labor that occurs in our homes and enc...

We talk about high conflict exes, but what do you do when your stepkids are the source of the drama? Christina welcomes Ava to discuss her stepmom journey, how she's navigating the teen years, parallel parenting and when it feels like the ex runs the show. Ava opens up about the complicated relationship she has with her stepdaughter and the confusion around her parenting role. Where's the...

What would you do if the ex just called and gave up custody? Christina welcomes Emily to chat her experience of raising teens while transitioning to full-time step parenting. Emily shares how she has helped her kids manage their expectations of their mother, and how she jumped into full-time parenting without really knowing what is and isn't "my place". How do you manage first jobs,...

Christina welcomes Chanda to offer her experience in being both a biomom AND a stepmom. Chanda shares what's it's been like to accept a stepmom into her kids' lives and how she's found her own footing in the stepmom role. Should stepmoms and biomoms have an official first meeting? What if the stepmom is the high conflict one? What do we ALL have in common, and what's required t...

Christina welcomes back Coach Michelle to talk about how we are caring for ourselves this year. We've all heard of Self Care, but what is Soul Care? In the world of stepmotherhood, we need to advocate for our own happiness...but how? Michelle also answers your questions...like how to reduce the amount of messages you get from the ex. Listen In! Mentioned in this Episode: Connecting with Michel...

Christina welcomes Nicole to chat about her decision to not have an ours baby, the outside pressure to change your mind, the grief that decision comes with, and all the feelings that follow. Christina and Nicole discuss the very normal feelings of feeling pressured to "love them like your own", feeling like an outsider yet feeling like you live in a fish bowl. Whether you're a new(er...

Christina welcomes Sara who had been a stepmother for 3 years and had a great relationship with her stepson. Once her pregnancy was announced, coparenting dynamics changed for the worse. Sara will discuss what she learned while navigating a new ours baby during a pandemic with a high conflict coparent and how she protected her daughter from the chaos. Listen in! Mentioned in This Episode: Ours Bab...

Christina welcomes Brent Crandal, an author and family psychologist to discuss how the feeling of "family" is formed. As stepmoms, we can often feel like outsiders as we step into an "already established family", but we have to change the belief that there's only one way to "family". Not only does Brent speak from his professional knowledge, but he speaks as a par...

Christina answers your holiday questions, everything from her own holiday plans, to navigating alienation, to implementing new traditions with or without an ours baby. What are some tips on how to keep your sanity and not lose the holiday spirit? Listen in! So much more than a podcast!!! Find me on the Gram ⁠⁠⁠@radicalstepmomspodcast ⁠⁠⁠ Want a little more support? Schedule a 1:1 session or become...

Christina welcomes Megan from the High Conflict Institute to chat about co-parenting with someone who operates with a repetitive pattern of high conflict. In order to be effective, we have to understand how a high conflict person thinks - so how do they? How do you flip the script to start interacting with them differently? Megan shares some great tools on how to change the way you communicate in...

Christina welcomes Sarah to chat her experience in developing a relationship with her partner's ex. Who's responsible for setting the tone? What contributes to a successful start and what boundaries need to be considered? How does it evolve overtime? Can it get better? This is an episode both stepmoms and moms can benefit from - if you're willing to look a little inward and ask yoursel...

Christina kicks off Season 7 with live interviews from the recent Radical Meet-Up in Chicago! What were the hot topics discussed? What binds us together as stepmoms? What makes us "radical"? Christina also sets the tone for the upcoming season with a little pep-talk. Download this episode so you can save it for a stepmom rainy day. Enjoy and Cheers to Season 7! So much more than a podcas...