Trust Me Mom

In this episode of Trust Me Mom (Season 2, Episode 44), Ekaterina sits down with Makena Sage and Gigi Sage, a mother-daughter coaching duo, authors of The Wisdom That Raised Me, and co-founders of Way of the Muse. Makena shared her transition from a successful marketing career into coaching, the concept of a “shadow career,” and how motherhood changed her identity, marriage, work, and sense of sel...

From an Iranian refugee camp to becoming a Hollywood and Disney executive, Maryam Mehrtash’s story is one of resilience, courage, reinvention, and the power of storytelling. In this episode of Trust Me Mom, Ekaterina speaks with Maryam Mehrtash, a mother of two, writer, and former Disney leader who most recently led global promotions and partnerships at Marvel Studios (theatrical & Disney+). M...

When Nasha Fitter’s third daughter was diagnosed with a devastating rare genetic condition, her entire world changed overnight. In this inspiring episode of Trust Me Mom (Season 2, episode 42), Nasha shares how she went from ambitious entrepreneur and Harvard MBA to full-time caregiver, advocate, and founder of organizations helping thousands of families navigate rare diseases. We talk about:• mot...

In this episode of Trust Me Mom (Season 2, Episode 41), Ekaterina talks with women’s relationship coach Ada Gore about self-abandonment, people-pleasing, resentment, dating, marriage, divorce, motherhood, and learning how to stop disappearing inside your own life. Ada shares her personal story of being fired as a single mom, rebuilding her identity, healing generational patterns, and helping women...

What is it really like raising children in France? In this episode of Trust Me Mom (season 2, Episode 40), I sit down with parenting coach Sasha Romary, an American mom who has lived in France for more than 20 years and is raising two multi-lingual children in Paris. We discuss the biggest differences between French and American parenting, the French education system, bilingual kids, ADHD accommod...

Why does the gender gap still exist, even when women are more educated, ambitious, and hardworking than ever? In this episode of Trust Me Mom (Season 2, Episode 39), journalist and author Stefanie O’Connell breaks down the hidden systems behind workplace inequality, the myth of “work-life balance,” and why individual effort alone isn’t enough to fix it. From the motherhood penalty to the fatherhoo...

What happens when motherhood collides with a system that wasn’t built to support it? In this powerful conversation with Alexa Starks, founder of Executive Moms and Mothered Magazine, we unpacked the reality of modern motherhood, workplace inequities, and the systems that shape women’s lives. From navigating toxic return-to-work experiences to redefining ambition, Alexa shared her journey from corp...

In this powerful and eye-opening episode of Trust Me Mom ,I sit down with Dr. Elena Merenova, a school psychologist with over 20 years of experience, to unpack a topic many parents quietly struggle with — why kids refuse to go to school . Is it just a phase? A hidden problem? Or something moreserious like school phobia? Dr. Merenova shares real-life stories, practical strategies,and deeply insight...

Why do so many couples struggle after having kids? In this episode of Trust Me Mom, I sit down with Alex Trippier @alexindadland — podcast host, writer, teacher, and speaker — to unpack the most common relationship mistakes parents make, especially around mental load, invisible labor, modern fatherhood, motherhood, conflict, and emotional connection. We talk about why both spouses often feel exhau...

In this Trust Me Mom conversation (Season 2, episode 35), Mike Draper shared what it really takes to raise resilient, thoughtful kids without losing the humor and warmth that make family life fun. Mike’s path is anything but typical: struggling in high school, serving in the Air Force, working as a police officer, earning an MBA, and building a massive content career (2.3M+ followers). In this epi...

Motherhood is exhausting, not just physically, but mentally. In this episode of Trust Me Mom, host Ekaterina Konovalova sits down with Sarah Dooley, founder of AI Empowered Mom, to talk about how AI and automation can help parents (especially moms) offload the invisible mental load of family life. Sarah shares her deeply personal journey from tech consultant to mom of three under 18 months, the mo...

In this episode of Trust Me Mom (Season 2, episode 33), Ekaterina Konovalova sat down with Vanessa Spinarsky - registered social worker, content creator, and one of the most honest voices in modern motherhood. Vanessa shared her personal story of loss of her father, what led her into social work, and how motherhood shook her sense of identity. Together, we unpacked the reality of postpartum burnou...

In this episode of the Trust Me Mom podcast, host EkaterinaKonovalova sat down with author Alex (Sasha) Simakovsky to explorethe science, psychology, and emotional power of human touch. Alex shared what inspired his book, More Than a Touch:Rediscover the Healing Power of Handholding , and why intentional touch ismore important than ever in a post-pandemic, digital-first world. Together,they discus...

Raising a teenager with big emotions can feel overwhelming, especially when nothing you say seems to help. In this episode of Trust Me Mom, host Ekaterina Konovalova sits down with therapist and author Katie K. May, a leading expert on teen behavior and emotional regulation. Katie introduces the concept of “fire-feelers” - teens who experience emotions intensely and struggle to calm down once trig...

What really happens after we get married and have kids — and why does “equality” so often disappear? In this powerful episode of Trust Me Mom (Season 1, episode 30), host Ekaterina Konovalova sits down with Abby Eckel — content creator, educator, and advocate for equitable partnerships — to unpack the realities of modern motherhood, invisible labor, emotional load, and why so many women feel overw...

What’s really behind the growing teen mental health crisis —and are we asking the wrong questions? In this episode of Trust Me Mom , host EkaterinaKonovalova sits down with Dr. Will Dobud , social work clinician, researcher, and co-author of Kids These Days , to unpack how modern mental health systems may be unintentionally harming young people. Dr. Dobud challenges the over-medicalization of chil...

In this episode of Trust Me Mom, Ekaterina Konovalova sits down with Brittany Maurizi, ABA therapist and founder of Balanced Behaviors, to demystify what ABA therapy really is — who it helps, how it works, and why it can transform the lives of children and adults. With over a decade of experience as an early childhood and special education teacher, and now a licensed Behavior Specialist, Brittany...

In this episode of Trust Me Mom, Ekaterina Konovalova interviewed Kepler Knott, the author of Raising Tomorrow: Talks to Prepare Our Kids for What Lies Ahead. Kepler is a former soldier, teacher, and long-time writer whose rich life experiences shaped a powerful book of letters to his daughters, exploring identity, values, critical thinking, service, culture, and what it really means to grow up in...

In this deeply moving episode of Trust Me Mom, Ekaterina Konovalova sits down with author and mental health advocate Liza Long, whose viral essay “I Am Adam Lanza’s Mother” ignited a national conversation about children’s mental health. Liza later wrote a book, "the Price of Silence: A Mom's Perspective on Mental Illness" that is a valuable resource for parents and caregivers of chil...

What if every conflict in your marriage or family was actually an invitation to grow? 💔In this honest and deeply human episode of Trust Me Mom, host Ekaterina Konovalova speaks with Jayson Gaddis about what it really takes to build lasting love, survive life’s challenges, and raise resilient kids. Jayson is the relationship expert, author of Getting to Zero, and founder of The Relationship School...

Parenting a teenager can feel like walking on eggshells, especially when anxiety enters the picture. In this episode Ekaterina Konovalova spoke with Sophia Vale Galano, a licensed clinical social worker, therapist, and author of Calming Teenage Anxiety: A Parent’s Guide to Helping Your Teen Cope with Worry. Sophia shared practical, compassionate strategies to help parents recognize anxiety, open u...

When we hear the phrase long-distance relationship, we often think of romantic partners separated by geography. But what about long-distance parenting—navigating fatherhood or motherhood from miles away. In this episode of Trust Me Mom, I sat down with Jason Cercone, a podcaster, strategist, and devoted father, who shared his story of co-parenting his teenage daughter after separation—and later, a...

In this conversation, Dr. Ross W. Greene discusses the importance of understanding child behavior through the lens of frustration responses rather than traditional rewards and punishments. He emphasizes the need for parents to meet their children where they are developmentally and to engage in collaborative problem-solving strategies. The discussion also highlights the significance of effective co...

What does it really mean to heal for your kids? Many parents say, “I’d die for my children,” but emotional authenticity coach Kenny Weiss believes the greatest gift we can give our children is doing the work on our own trauma. In this powerful conversation, Kenny shares his personal journey—growing up in a chaotic home, struggling with addiction, divorce, and even suicidal thoughts—and how he tran...

Join Ekaterina and licensed professional counselor Alexandra (Alex) Dimoff as they explore the complexities of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and screen addictions in children. Discover how family history and environmental factors contribute to OCD, and learn about effective interventions and therapies.0:00 – Why video games are so addictive0:40 – Introduction to guest Alex Dimoff (licensed c...