SoloMoms! Talk

Jon McLernon is a Certified Health Coach that teaches his clients an inside-out approach that helps them reverse engineer weight loss.   Having successfully lost and kept off over 100 lbs, Coach Jon is deeply familiar with the struggles that come with trying to lose weight in a healthy sustainable way. Takeaways: Keep track of what you eat using a journal, app, or sticky notes Have compassion...

In this conversation with Iva Paleckova, we talk about what happens when you make the decision to move beyond the devastation of finding yourself a solo parent. Abandonment by her child’s father didn’t make Iva give up.  Instead, once she got a good look at her predicament, she stopped feeling sorry for herself and went into action. Bio: Iva Paleckova is a mindset and strategy coach for entre...

Carrington Smith is a divorced mom of two sons, an attorney, and an author. She shares her story of not only enduring sexual assault while in college but also the devastation that came with unsupportive family members. Carrington pours her story into her new book, Blooming: Finding Gifts in the Shit of Life . “ With adversity comes opportunity ”. ~ Carrington Smith Despite multiple traumas, Carrin...

In this interview, I chat with DP Knudten about building a personal brand.  DP is the host of The Nonfiction Brand podcast and author of Nonfiction Brand. Building a personal brand takes focus and dedication. It's the best way to stand out from the crowd. Main Takeaway: You need to literally demonstrate to people who you are, what you do and how you do it in a way that differentiates you from...

Katie Belfi is a former FEMA attorney and a Readiness & Resilience Consultant. She currently focuses on helping individuals learn how to not only prepare for disasters but also how to bounce back from those circumstances. “ To prepare is self care” ~ Katie Belfi Takeaways: Give yourself grace Celebrating even small wins can help you cultivate resilience Have a back up to your back up Prioritiz...

November is National Children’s Grief Awareness Month. 1 out of every 20 children age fifteen and younger will experience the loss of one or both parents (www.childrensgriefawareness.org). I can’t imagine the statistics for the past two years as we continue grapple with the fall out from the pandemic. In this episode, I interview Jenny Lisk, mother of two who lost her husband to brain cancer. Jenn...

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to travel solo in an RV?   I’ve dreamed of doing that most of my adult life.  But fear held me back. In this episode I talk with Kathie Belge, host of Travels With Squeaky Podcast about her experiences as a solo female RV traveler. I came off this interview wanting to get on the road right away!   Kathie thinks this is a great w...

Howard Dekkers helps individuals create an environment of economic scarcity so they can develop a system to become financially free. He teaches his student to become "money mindful". "It’s not how much you make but it’s what you do with what you make that will determine if yone day you’ll be financially free or not" . Howard Dekkers Takeaway: Even when they don’t seem to be listening your kids wil...

CPA, Susan Stutzel pursued perfection to the point of overwhelm and exhaustion. Being a mother, wife, and employee, made it necessary for her to make adjustments to create a more balanced life for herself. As a mindset and productivity coach, Susan shows working women how to live in a way that avoids overwhelm. Takeaways Stop what you're doing One habit at a time can change your life When Perfecti...

When you need a good distraction from the grind of life, take a break. Play a sport—bond with your kids and grandkids. Even the dog can get into the fray. In this episode, I talk to Lynn Cherry, host of the Pickleball Fire Podcast. Pickleball is a fast-growing sport that is great for kids and adults of all ages. Watch on YouTube: SoloMoms! Talk TV Connect with Lynn and learn more about pickleball...

Today's guest is Dr. Cam Caswell, Adolescent Psychologist and family success coach. We talked about teenage behavior and how we as parents interpret them. She points out how different the relationship is when you are a solo parent of a teenager. Dr, Cam is focused on giving teens a voice so we as parents can better understand them. When we make our children's lives about our own, we tend to feel g...

I wanted to kick off Season 4 by bringing to you one of my favorite online mentors. Jonathan Milligan is an author, podcaster, and online business coach. His "15 Success Traits of Pro Bloggers" was of the roadmaps that got me to become serious about blogging. We all have unique gifts and abilities. When we find what it is, our duty is to create a space where you can share it with others. The talen...

Tashondra Smith is a solo mom of 4 children and business owner. She tunnels through the mountains in her life to raise well adjusted kids who love and respect her. Tashondra also runs a business that specifically hires solo moms across the US and Canada. Hires work as independent contractors to do customer service, sales, and tech support functions for businesses. But if you listen to this intervi...

I recorded this episode almost a year ago. But it's still very relevant to our day to day. Jed Doherty, host of the Reading to Your Kids Podcast , talks about the benefits of reading. Reading benefits the reader. Benefits of reading with your kids : Creates a bond with them Let them know they are important to you It's a way for you as a parent to relax Connect with Jed at www.readingwithyourkids.c...

A short bonus episode in addition to my upcoming interview with Tashondra Smith. What my son says about connecting with your neighbor. Join us on our next Connect Monthly Meet Up for a special presentation by Bonnie Burkett No matter your child's age, you can learn strategies to cut their college costs. Click the link below to register to this free presentation for moms of kids of all ages. www.so...

Amanda Carrasco is a solo mom, law student, business owner, and volunteer. Phew! She married her now ex-husband twice. Unfortunately, it didn't work the second time either. But Amanda has decided to live in the moment, enjoy her children and pursue work that matters. Amanda Corrasco says: Your worth is not dependent on whether he chooses you or not Know who you are and what you value; make decisio...

"Husbands love your wives just as Christ loves the Church and gave His life for her..." "...In this same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies." (Ephesians 5:25) In this episode, Donna Wayles, author and domestic abuse survivor shares her story. Our conversation centered around how to spot red flags, spousal abuse, and how it's handled by the church. Donna writes about her exp...

To be better in our relationship with others, we may need to look at the person in the mirror. Some self-healing and self-reflection helped me recognized the mistakes I made about relationships I've had. This bonus episode reflects on aspects of my interview with Dr. Roberta Shaler. To form better relationships we need to know the traits of a chameleon. We have to learn to recognize when someone i...

When you need help with your current or past relationship, Dr. Roberta Shaler may be just the person to talk to. Dr. Shaler will coach you on how to handle "hijackals" as well as how to spot a chameleon. Very interesting conversation on how we end up in controlling relationships. Takeaways: Be careful with people who are in a hurry to live together, get married or have a child Don't be too quick t...

I like to reflect on aspects of interviews that resonate with me. Sometimes I've had similar experiences as my guests. When that's the case I want to explore those ideas. In this bonus episode I talk about tips to create better relationships with your teen. The ideas came from my interview with Dr. Lisa Bravo in Episode 26. Maybe you can relate. If so, let me know your thoughts on the topic. jen@s...

Struggling to understand your teenager? Parenting teenagers can feel like navigating a minefield, especially when faced with extreme behaviors. As a single mom, I understand the challenges firsthand. That's why I'm thrilled to share my conversation with Lisa Bravo, a renowned psychotherapist and author who specializes in helping parents connect with their teens. In this eye-opening episode, Lisa i...

While listening to Cassandra Spencer's story, these 5 things resonated with me and inspired this bonus episode. *Considerations: Keep record of everything Get professional help Remember it's about the kids Don't be afraid to change your lawyer if necessary Take care of yourself See Episode 24 | Season 3 for Cassandra's story. Website: www.solomoms-talk.com Click to register for our Monthly Meet Up...

After listening to Cassandra's story, I started writing letters to my sons. This is the story of a solo mom's struggle with the family court system and the loss of custody of her daughter. "When kids end up in the system, very tragic things can happen" ~ Cassandra Spencer Cassandra Spencer is a journalist, court reform advocate, and author. The story is gut wrenching. Yet heartening. Because she i...

Summary Queen D. Michele talks about her life after divorce, being an empty nester, and living in Jalisco, Mexico on today's episode. In this episode, she shares her inspiring journey os well as the challenges and triumphs of solo motherhood, the importance of stepping out of one’s comfort zone, and how living abroad can transform one's life. Queen reflects on her experiences, from her teaching ca...

Teen addiction is on the rise. Today's guest Richard Capriola, former substance abuse counselor is the author of The Addicted Teen: A Parent's Guide to Adolescent Substance Abuse. He clears up some misconceptions about substance use disorder and what to do if a parent suspects a child is addicted. His book may also serve as a guide to help you help your child if you suspect they are struggling wit...