The Motherhood Experience

Parenting teenagers can feel overwhelming, confusing, and emotionally exhausting, especially when the relationship you once had with your child feels strained or distant. In this episode, I’m joined by Jeanine Mouchawar for a powerful and honest conversation about navigating the tough teenage years while protecting and strengthening your connection with your teen. Jeanine shares vulnerable, real-l...

In this powerful and faith-filled episode, we sit down with Debra McNinch , founder of Battle Cry Moms , to talk about what it truly means to fight for our children on our knees. If you are a mother carrying the weight of a prodigal child, praying for your children’s future, or feeling weary in the spiritual battle of motherhood, this conversation will meet you right where you are. Debra shares en...

This is a REPOST of The Motherhood Experience's Most Popular Episode of ALL TIME! As we head into the new year, I know this will be a good episode to revisit if you've heard it already, or a wonderful episode to hear for the first time if you're new here! This episode with RuthAnn Zimmerman will bless you, encourage you, and inspire you to start the new year off more invested in your m...

In this special Christmas episode, we reflect on the motherhood of Mary, the mother of Jesus, by reading from Luke 1 and Luke 2 and walking through her journey of faith, surrender, and obedience. From the angel Gabriel’s announcement to the birth of Christ in Bethlehem, this episode highlights Mary’s humble yes to God and how her role as a mother forever changed the course of history. Through Scri...

💬 Episode Summary: What does it really mean to live as a mission-driven mom? In this inspiring conversation, Audrey Rindlisbacher , founder of Mission Driven Mom , joins host Val Kleppen to share how faith, education, and divine purpose come together to transform a mother’s heart AND her home. Audrey unpacks the principle-based framework that helps women grow spiritually, discover their God-given...

Episode: When Motherhood Feels Overwhelming: How to Reset Your Home, Your Mind, and Your Expectations Guest: Melissa Schulz , Speaker, Coach, and Founder at melissaschulz.com Do you ever look around and think:“Why does motherhood feel SO HARD… and why does everyone else seem to handle it better?” In today’s episode, Melissa Schulz shares how her early work with troubled and special-needs children...

When your child receives a medical diagnosis, your whole world shifts. In this episode, Val sits down with Constance Lewis, author, mother of three, and creator of the children’s book series celebrating her son, who wears a hero cape for good reason. Constance opens up about the emotional and practical realities of parenting a child with epilepsy while still needing to be present for her other chi...

When Life Feels Like Too Much: Seeing God’s Presence Through Every Trial 💬 Episode Summary: If you’ve ever wondered where God is in the middle of your hardest moments, this conversation will meet you right there. In this episode, Janell Kremer , author, podcaster, and woman of deep faith, shares how she has walked through more trials than most could imagine. From heartbreak to hardship, Janell sh...

Jennifer Collins shares how to navigate the emotional ups and downs of kids leaving home, practical ways to redefine your identity, and how to approach this new stage of motherhood as a time of growth (while still embracing the grief). Whether your child is heading off to college, starting a job, or simply moving out, this episode offers compassionate, practical wisdom and encouragement for every...

How do you manage a home full of kids and lead multiple successful businesses without losing your peace or purpose? In this episode, Val sits down with Aimee Rickabus , author of The Manage Her , to talk about the powerful connection between managing a home and managing a business. Aimee is a homeschooling mom of six and a serial entrepreneur behind several multi-million-dollar companies. She shar...

If bedtime has become the hardest part of your day, you’re not alone. In this episode, host Val Kleppen sits down with Allison Egidi , certified childhood sleep coach and founder of sleepandwellnesscoach.com , to talk about why your kids are fighting sleep and what you can do to bring peace back to your household. From grumpy mornings to late-night second winds, Allison helps moms understand what’...

In this lively, laughter-filled episode of The Motherhood Experience , host Val Kleppen sits down with Colleen Souza , author of the newly released book Living by the Mantras . Colleen shares her passion for creating special memories, embracing spontaneous fun, and building a home that feels safe, not only for your kids but for their friends, too. Together, Val and Colleen dive into the beauty of...

In honor of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month , TME host Val sits down with her good friend and fellow loss mom Sara Schultz , a mother of four living children and one precious daughter in heaven, Ruby, who was diagnosed with Trisomy 18 . Sara shares her family’s story with raw honesty and grace, from learning Ruby’s diagnosis to the heartbreak of her preterm delivery and passing. Together...

Sue Becker (Bread Beckers) is a woman who has changed the lives of thousands of people, myself included. When I heard her share about the history of white flour, the diseases that followed suit, and her inspiring journey of fresh-milled grains, I changed my own tune about what I was feeding my family and my commitment to eating foods the way God designed them to be made. Sue is a mom to 9, grandmo...

In this episode of The Motherhood Experience , I sit down with Nikki McPhetridge, first-time author and mom to Maya, to talk about the inspiration behind her new children’s book, Maya’s Birthday Wish . Nikki shares the story of her faith journey, the struggles she faced during pregnancy, and how those challenges deepened her perspective on motherhood. We also dive into conversations about material...

When Elena got married, she said she felt like that was the instant her husband transformed into a different person. She hadn't known or realized he struggled with addiction, and her marriage became nightmarish quickly. And Elena didn't tell anyone until she absolutely had to. Hear how she is now a single mother to her two daughters and what she is learning along the way. elenahuggins.com

I combined episodes 6 and 7 into one file for your listening/viewing pleasure! Not only was this a fantastic story of faith, but I needed to pull one from the archives this week as I've been under the weather. This was such a rich conversation with Jacque, and I know it will bless you this week!

This is me, Val Kleppen, sitting across from you for a conversation I probably should have started before today. If you're wondering how we (the world) got to this place of chaos, or if you're wondering how to navigate as a mother through it, I touch on those things. You're invited to sit with me in the thoughts of it all.

In this inspiring episode, we welcome Lori Atwood , founder of Fearless Finance , mother, and financial educator, who shares how motherhood and business intertwined to shape her life’s work. After having her daughter later in life, Lori knew she wanted to be the primary caregiver while still pursuing meaningful work. Out of that desire, Fearless Finance was born. Lori now equips families with the...

This labor day week, we're revisiting one of Val's favorite episodes from September, 2023. Please enjoy this replay of episode 5 with Annette Schultz, one of the first guest episodes when The Motherhood Experience podcast began!

One of the sessions from the 2025 VCBC Ladies Retreat, presented by Val Kleppen.

Is it really possible for teens to attend their dream school without piling on student debt? In this inspiring episode of The Motherhood Experience , Val welcomes Shellee Howard, visionary mom, college admissions expert, and founder of College Ready . Shellee shares her own motherhood journey and how her strength as a planner helped both of her children get into Ivy League schools debt free . For...

In this episode, we welcome Melissa Knific: recipe developer, food editor, and passionate advocate for family dinners. She talks about the joy and impact of sharing meals together. Melissa shares how regular family mealtime has strengthened connection in her home, encouraged her kids to try new foods, and created lasting traditions. From creative recipe development to time-saving kitchen hacks, Me...

This is an episode of me explaining why there's no episode this week.

Be sure to visit Deb's Website In this episode, author and speaker Deb Burma joins us to talk about the intentional role of motherhood in shaping the next generation. With wisdom drawn from Scripture and real-life experience, Deb discusses how moms can raise children to become Christ-centered, independent adults. She explores how daily habits, discipline, and discipleship form a foundation of fait...