Claim OwnershipThe Stepmom Side Podcast
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Description
Do you find yourself googling for "Stepmom help" or "Stepmom struggles" more than you'd care to admit?
If so, you're in the right place. The Stepmom Side Podcast is a conversational podcast about being a Stepmom and what that actually looks like. Host Alicia Krasko covers everything from part-time, full-time, to being an empty nester as a Stepmom.
Every week, you'll get a bit of humor, advice, and a conversation that will have you taking an objective look at how you're showing up. You can expect honest (and uncomfortable) conversations with perspective shifts mixed in to help you create the life you no longer have to google for help.
138 Episodes
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Alicia helps stepmoms define their role intentionally instead of defaulting into expectations placed on them in blended families. Many stepmoms feel confused about where they fit and end up over-giving to keep the peace. This episode guides listeners through clarifying their role, understanding the emotional cost of self-erasure, and choosing a way of showing up that fits their values and capacity. If you’re struggling to find your place as a stepmom, this episode will help you create c...
Alicia explores why stepmoms feel exhausted when they carry responsibility without real authority in blended families. Many stepmoms take on emotional and logistical labor without having equal decision-making power, which leads to burnout and resentment. This episode helps stepmoms identify where they are over-functioning, name the grief that often goes unspoken, and take one small step toward a more sustainable role. If you feel depleted, unseen, or resentful in your stepmom role, this...
In this episode of The Stepmom Side Podcast, Alicia teaches stepmoms how to create a personal Trigger Protocol to handle emotionally charged moments without spiraling or snapping. If you often react in the heat of the moment and then regret what you said or did, this episode gives you a simple, practical plan you can use when your nervous system is activated. You’ll learn how to choose a pause phrase, an exit strategy, and one nervous system regulation tool so you can respond more calml...
If you’ve ever said, “I understand why this happened, so I shouldn’t still feel upset,” this episode is for you. Alicia explores why so many stepmoms intellectualize their emotions instead of processing them — and how that pattern quietly leads to resentment, burnout, and emotional shutdown. Stepmoms are often praised for being mature, understanding, and “handling things well,” but that praise can come at a cost. When feelings are constantly explained away instead of felt, they don’t disappea...
Have you ever handled a stepfamily moment calmly, maturely, and with impressive emotional intelligence — only to completely unravel hours later? Alicia breaks down the difference between your thinking self and your nervous system, and why logic isn’t enough to regulate emotional reactions in blended family life. This episode is especially for high-functioning, Type A stepmoms who pride themselves on being self-aware but feel confused (and frustrated) when that awareness doesn’t stop the emoti...
You’ve done the work. You’re self-aware. You can explain everyone’s behavior in the situation… So why do you still feel triggered, exhausted, or quietly resentful? In this episode, Alicia breaks down why insight alone doesn’t calm a dysregulated nervous system — and why high-functioning, emotionally intelligent stepmoms often struggle more, not less. This conversation is for the stepmom who: understands what’s happening but still feels overwhelmedprides herself on being “the calm one”keeps as...
If you’re a Type A, high-achieving woman who suddenly felt like she lost her footing after becoming a stepmom — this episode is for you. In this episode of The Stepmom Side Podcast, Alicia speaks directly to driven, control-loving, people-pleasing women who were thriving before blended family life… and now feel anxious, resentful, burned out, or completely out of control. Alicia breaks down the common pitfalls Type A stepmoms don’t see coming, including over-functioning, people-pleasing, perf...
When your stepkid says, “I miss my mom” especially right after a consequence, it hits different. It’s not just the words; it’s the sting behind them. The comparison. The reminder that no matter how much you love and show up, you’re still not her. In this episode, Alicia dives into how to handle it when your stepchild brings up their mom whether it’s “I miss her,” “She does it better,” or “Mom lets me.” You’ll hear real stories (including one straight from The Stepmom Side Communit...
When your in-laws are still close with your partner’s ex, it can feel like emotional whiplash. You’re trying to build a future while they’re still tethered to the past—and it leaves you wondering where (or if) you fit in. In this extended episode, Alicia gets real about her own experience of feeling like the outsider in her husband’s family and shares how she moved from frustration to clarity. You’ll learn how to navigate this tricky dynamic without shutting people out, setting healthy bounda...
Kids are emotional chameleons — sweet one minute, sassy the next, and then asking for help like nothing ever happened. For stepmoms (especially those without kids of their own), those mood swings can feel deeply personal. In this episode, Alicia gets real about how confusing and hurtful kids’ quick emotional flips can be — and why they usually have nothing to do with you. She shares a personal story about her daughter going from furious to friendly in record time and what it taught her about ...
Are you tired of repeating yourself and feeling like your partner just doesn’t hear you? Whether it’s dad guilt, lack of boundaries with the kids, inconsistency in parenting, or not feeling prioritized in your relationship — this episode is here to validate and support you. In this episode, Alicia breaks down why communication feels so hard in blended families, why your partner may not respond the way you hope, and how being "too close" to the situation can make you the least effective person...
In this deeply honest episode, we’re getting into the emotional weeds of what happens when the ex’s belongings, photos, or influence are still showing up in your home. From hoodies and framed photos to never-ending texts between your partner and their ex, it can start to feel like you’re suffocating in someone else’s life. Especially for childless and childfree stepmoms, the presence of “her stuff” can stir up major discomfort—and lead to fights with your partner, emotional shutdowns, or rese...
Is your partner’s past still taking up space in your present-day relationship? You’re not alone—and you’re not crazy. Whether it's memories of the ex, old traditions, or constant reminders of “how things used to be,” retroactive jealousy and emotional triggers are real in stepmom life. In this episode, we’re unpacking the emotional weight of feeling like you’re competing with the past—and how to move forward with confidence. We’ll talk about: Why retroactive jealousy is more common than you t...
When you thought things would finally get easier once they were grown… but your adult stepkids still make you feel like an outsider. In this episode, Alicia digs into what’s really going on when adult stepkids won’t accept you — and how to stop tying your peace to their approval. She shares the emotional layers behind this rejection, why it’s not actually about you, and the exact mindset shifts to help you feel confident, calm, and back in control. Whether your adult stepkids are cold, distan...
Are you a childless or childfree stepmom feeling like a broken record? Alicia gets real about the exhausting cycle of repeating yourself to your stepkids—whether it's chores, routines, or basic expectations—and feeling like it's never enough. She opens up about her own realization that forgetfulness and resistance aren’t about being a stepmom—they’re just part of how kids grow and learn. With practical tools and empowering mindset shifts, this episode will help you release the guilt, drop the...
In this truth-telling episode, Alicia pulls back the curtain on one of the most common (but least talked about) emotions in stepfamily life: resentment. It doesn’t show up overnight—it builds quietly from all the unspoken expectations, invisible labor, and bottled-up feelings that come with being a stepmom. Alicia shares why resentment creeps in when you’re doing everything right but still feel unseen, unappreciated, and exhausted. You’ll learn how to spot the early signs before they blow up,...
If you’ve tried to co-parent with someone who thrives on drama, control, or straight-up chaos… this episode is your safe space and wake-up call. In Episode 122 of The Stepmom Side Podcast, Alicia breaks down what to do when co-parenting feels impossible because the ex just won’t cooperate. We’re not here to sugarcoat—we’re here to speak truth. Co-parenting takes two willing adults. And when that’s not happening? You need to stop wasting energy trying to fix what you can’t control. Tune in for...
When the holidays roll around, so does the pressure — to make it fair, to make it magical, and to not lose your mind when the ex goes overboard or your stepkids start comparing gifts. In this episode of The Stepmom Side Podcast, Alicia unpacks the gift-giving grief that shows up for so many stepmoms — the quiet, unspoken frustration of trying not to compete or control while still wanting to be thoughtful. You’ll hear how to: ✨ Break the pattern of comparison between homes ✨ Stop feeling like ...
The holidays can feel like a ticking time bomb in blended families — forced togetherness, high expectations, and the pressure to make everything magical can lead to major tension between stepkids and bio kids. In this episode, Alicia Krasko tackles the emotional chaos of holiday dynamics: sibling rivalry, stepkid drama, and what to do when your partner doesn’t step up. She shares practical tools, mindset shifts, and boundary-setting strategies to help you protect your peace — especially when ...
Have you ever felt like an outsider in your own home? In this heartfelt and practical episode, Alicia breaks down why stepmoms often feel left out of family moments — and what you can do about it. From unspoken group texts to being excluded from decisions and traditions, Alicia shares real-life examples (including a cringe-worthy moment at Cedar Point) that will have you nodding your head thinking, “Yes. That’s me.” But more importantly, she gives you five practical strategies to help you fee...
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