The MomForce Podcast Hosted by Chatbooks

Do you ever leave a family gathering and think, "I feel like I missed the opportunity to have a real deep conversation and connection"? In the midst of mealtimes or festive get-togethers it can be easy to be swept up in the busy tasks of it all. In this episode, Vanessa sits down with her sisters Leah and Shelly to talk about Thanksgiving and how they are going to make it meaningful this year. Fro...

Brittney Hanks of Home & Kind is known for her mom hacks in the kitchen and around the house for DIY projects. During this conversation, she teaches us how to shave off major time when it comes to prepping school lunches in bulk. (mindblown!) Not only that but she is saving dinnertime with her new cookbook, One Stop Costco Meals. She shares her greatest Costco buys, what she considers a waste of m...

Sazan Hendrix may be a content creator with millions of followers but before that, she was a girl that fell in love with a boy her family did not approve of. In this episode, Sazan opens up about her love story with her husband Stevie, and how they found happiness throughout the hard times. Not only that, but Sazan shares what her family life is like today and the healing that has happened. And sh...

Ganel-lyn Condie lost her sister Meg to suicide ten years ago, ever since then she has spoken on the topic in an effort to raise awareness. Ganellyn shares her experience with mental health and how to facilitate important conversations. She shares how parents can be examples to their kids in the ways they look after their own mental health. The 988 Lifeline is a national network of local crisis ce...

Jennifer Hanks of @cocoscaravan shares her story of losing her husband Justin when her twin boys were just 3 months old. Now, five years later, she is sharing what her friends did to support her during that incredibly difficult experience. In this episode, Jennifer bravely shares what she has been through and the most impactful things friends and family did to support her. She also explains why sh...

Tiffani Thiessen shot to stardom at the tender age of 15 and has been a household name ever since. Many of us remember Tiffani Thiessen from her many memorable TV roles–I mean Kelly Kapowski from Saved By the Bell was a literal icon!  Because Tiffani is part of the SAG, which is currently on strike, she couldn't talk about any of her past dramatic work, however we did chat about what it was like t...

In this encore episode of The MomForce Podcast, we dive into the life and experiences of Camila McConaughey, an accomplished entrepreneur, model, designer, and philanthropist. From growing up on a farm in Brazil to her current life in Austin, Texas with husband Matthew McConaughey and their three children, Camila's journey is fascinating.  Camila opens up about her and Matthew's early dating years...

Joy Cho is the founder of the Oh Joy! design studio and lifestyle brand. She launched the studio in 2005 and has since designed hundreds of products and collections with brands like Target and Keds. Joy wrote a book about kids and confidence where she details her struggle to fit in and find confidence as a kid. Joy chats with Vanessa about the book and why she wrote it for parents and kids to read...

In this powerful episode, we hear the inspiring life story of Venus Morris Griffin, a mother of 7 and a highly successful realtor in Georgia. Content Warning: This episode discusses sensitive topics, including abuse in Venus' 20-year marriage to her first husband. Venus's path to success wasn't easy. Growing up in a home with an addicted mother, she defied the odds by working two jobs and putting...

The Home Edit—you've seen their work, right? You can't miss their trademark way of organizing according to the colors of the rainbow, or maybe you've seen their successful Netflix series. For sure you've heard of some of their impressive Hollywood clients like Khloe Kardashian, Drew Barrymore, and Reese Witherspoon. Well, with their expertise and fun personalities best friends Clea Shearer and Joa...

As the mother of young children living in the Midwest, Ginny Yurich was exhausted and felt like her kids were not thriving. After reading a recommendation that young children should be outside 4-6 hrs a day, she decided to change how they were spending their time and the family started getting outside on a regular basis. She immediately noticed physical and emotional changes in her kids, and how m...

In this episode of "Enter the Chat," we sit down with Tiffany Aliche, also known as The Budgetnista, to explore the world of budgeting and answer all of your questions about money. Tiffany shares her personal journey of hitting rock bottom, drowning in hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt, and reveals how she climbed out of it. She is well-known for her Netflix documentary, "Get Smart with Mon...

Professional dancer Jenna Johnson is a powerhouse. During our conversation, she opens up about her journey on Dancing with the Stars – including falling in love with her husband Val – another professional dancer on the show. And the highs and lows of trying to start a family.* *trigger warning for listeners, we will be talking about miscarriage and pregnancy loss.  Jenna is real and raw as she sha...

Author Laura Tremaine shares the ten types of friends you should have in your life in her new book, The Life Council . Laura dives deep into why making friends as an adult is hard, and explains a no-fail way to make new friendships flourish! She shares the ups and downs she has experienced and why it is okay for relationship priorities to shift during different seasons of life.  In this conversati...

You don't usually hear the words Juilliard trained ballerina and pig farmer in the same sentence -- but welcome to the wonderful world of Hannah Neeleman, founder of Ballerina Farm. In this episode, Hannah shares her fascinating journey from New York City to rural Utah and how she went from ballerina and pageant queen to mother of seven building a direct-to-consumer working farm. Something Hannah...

Professor Emily Oster, known for her Parent Data newsletter, has helped countless parents become more confident in their parenting choices thanks to her deep dives into data and research. Emily takes an academic look at things like pregnancy restrictions, sleep training, and holding your child back for kindergarten. Her books, Expecting Better, Crib Sheet, and The Family Firm, take you through the...

Ashley Smith, owner of the Utah Jazz, entrepreneur, and mother of five, shares her story of resilience and hard work. In this conversation with Chatbooks co-founder, Vanessa Quigley, Ashley opens up about her childhood struggles and how they shaped the person she is today. Ashley and her husband Ryan both pursued careers as entrepreneurs, Ashley as the director of Smash Dance Academy, and Ryan as...

Family communication can bring so much joy into our lives but it can also leave us feeling frustrated when messages are left unanswered. Author of Modern Manners, Brooke Romney, joins Vanessa Quigley, Chatbooks co-founder, to answer the MomForce community's questions like what age is too young for a phone, how to prevent bullying, how to get your kids to talk to you, and what actions to take when...

Fatima Dedrickson, better known as Fatty to her community @stylefitfatty, is here to answer all of your burning questions about intimacy. She is known for creating deep conversations, couples challenges, and home workouts. Fatty radiates positivity and is not scared to dig deep and try new things.  Vanessa Quigley, Chatbooks co-founder, and her sister Erika ask Fatty questions from YOU – the MomFo...

Robin Arzón is a pioneer in the fitness industry, leading Peloton as VP and Head Instructor. Her accomplishments include being a lawyer, marathoner, and ultra-marathoner. Not only that, but Robin was the first instructor to experience pregnancy on the Peloton stage. She is currently expecting her second child and told Chatbooks co-founder Vanessa Quigley all about her experience this time around. ...

Marriage takes work! That is the lesson Nate Quigley shared the first time he was on The MomForce Podcast. For round two, Vanessa and Nate dig deep into their marriage, and what has worked and what hasn't! They open up about how good communication helps them navigate conflict while fostering greater connection. Nate shares why "birding" is his favorite date night activity and Vanessa tells why she...

Kelsey started her career on the Food Network and went on to host her own show called Kelsey's Essentials. As a busy mom raising kids, she realized the pressure that all parents have to get dinner on the table and wanted to provide a solution. Kelsey simplified meal-planning with her 5-ingredient dinners and Recipe Club subscription. On this episode, Kelsey answers questions from the MomForce comm...

I love a fresh start and January is a natural time to do just that. But so many of us can get overwhelmed by the all-or-nothing mentality of resolutions, especially when it comes to diet and physical fitness. Why do we do that to ourselves? This is why I wanted to chat with my friend Erika Peterson of Clean Simple Eats, she knows that when it comes to our bodies it is all about the long game! For...

We first released this conversation with actress and singer Lea Michele in November 2021. At the time, she was a new mom and bravely shared her pregnancy and postpartum experience, including her struggles with PCOS and infertility. Since the release of this episode, Lea's baby boy is now a toddler and she has taken on one of the biggest roles of her career - Fanny Brice in Funny Girl on Broadway!...

Artist Morgan Harper Nichols has inspired millions of people with her poetry, music, artwork, and affirmations. In this conversation, Morgan shares what it was like to find out that she is on the autism spectrum at the age of 31. In addition to that, Vanessa shares her experience getting an ADHD diagnosis last year. They both share their journeys of self-discovery since those diagnoses. Listen to...