Radical Stepmoms

Christina welcomes back Coach Michelle to talk about how we are caring for ourselves this year. We've all heard of Self Care, but what is Soul Care? In the world of stepmotherhood, we need to advocate for our own happiness...but how? Michelle also answers your questions...like how to reduce the amount of messages you get from the ex. Listen In! Mentioned in this Episode: Connecting with Michelle Other Episodes with Michelle Our Family Wizard Episode Why We Only Email Blog Post So much more than a podcast!!! Find me on the Gram⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@radicalstepmomspodcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want a little more support? Schedule a 1:1 session or become a Radical Member?⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Head to my website!⁠⁠⁠⁠ I am excited for another amazing season! If you would like to be a guest -⁠ ⁠⁠⁠apply here⁠⁠⁠⁠! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/radicalstepmoms/message

Christina kicks off Season 7 with live interviews from the recent Radical Meet-Up in Chicago! What were the hot topics discussed? What binds us together as stepmoms? What makes us "radical"? Christina also sets the tone for the upcoming season with a little pep-talk. Download this episode so you can save it for a stepmom rainy day. Enjoy and Cheers to Season 7! So much more than a podcast!!! Find me on the Gram @radicalstepmomspodcast Want a little more support? Schedule a 1:1 session or become a Radical Member? Head to my website! I am excited for another amazing season! If you would like to be a guest - apply here! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/radicalstepmoms/message

Christina welcomes Matt from Our Family Wizard to discuss how Co-parenting apps can help organize and lessen the conflict in blended family life. There are more options out there now so what do you look for in an app? What tools are the most helpful? How do you get the use of the app court ordered and how do you get the other house to use it? If you're curious about getting started with a co-parenting app, listen in! About My Guest: Matt Havrevold attended the University of Minnesota where he graduated in 2008 with degrees in Journalism and Business. After graduating he worked in the legal software industry as both a manager and business liaison before joining the OurFamilyWizard team in February 2014. As a professional liaison with OurFamilyWizard, Matt works with family law courts and practitioners to address the issues impacting divorced and separated parents and how communication technology can assist with reducing conflict and improving outcomes for families. Matt works to educate family law professionals on the specific features of OurFamilyWizard and its best usage for improving co-parent communication in moderate to high conflict parenting scenarios. He is a member of the Family Law Executive Committee for the Los Angeles County Bar Association, as well as a member of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC). www.ourfamilywizard.com So much more than a podcast!!! Find me on the Gram @radicalstepmomspodcast Want a little more support? Schedule a 1:1 session or become a Radical Member? ⁠⁠⁠⁠Head to my website! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/radicalstepmoms/message

Christina welcomes Marci, a "pandemic stepmom" whose introduction into the role was deeply impacted by a quick move-in with her partner and staying home with the kids for remote learning. Even being a teacher could not have prepared her! The two discuss being childless by choice and how circumstances change what we thought our families would look like. Marci also shares about her tricky relationship with the ex and how she manages the feelings of having an opinion, but not always a voice. Can you relate? Listen in! About My Guest: I am a high school teacher. Only child (so getting 3 step kiddos was a shock to the system). Wife as of October 2022. Step mom to 3 awesome kiddos. Lover of ALL true crime podcasts. Large fan of Friends, The Amazing Race, any sport and country music. So much more than a podcast!!! Find me on the Gram @radicalstepmomspodcast Want a little more support? Schedule a 1:1 session or become a Radical Member? ⁠⁠⁠⁠Head to my website! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/radicalstepmoms/message

Christina welcomes Dr. Ann, a psychologist, author and stepmom of 30+ years. Ann shares about her book "The Parent's Guide to Birdnesting" the decision some divorced couples choose to share a home so the kids don't have to transition, What?! Dr. Ann and Christina also chat topics like when is the best time to introduce a new partner and how it impacts the kids, and how biology plays into your attachment to your stepkids. How can all parents make the divorce and blending transition child-centered? Ann also shares her wisdom of being a stepmom and now grand-stepmom, how did she define her role then and how does she see it now? Listen In! About My Guest: Ann Gold Buscho, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and the author of The Parent's Guide to Birdnesting: A Child-Centered Solution to Co-Parenting During Separation and Divorce. She specializes in all issues related to divorce, writes regularly for Psychology Today, and has recently reduced her practice to brief consultations only. www.drannbuscho.com and https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/better-divorce?eml So much more than a podcast!!! Find me on the Gram @radicalstepmomspodcast Want a little more support? Schedule a 1:1 session or become a Radical Member? ⁠⁠⁠⁠Head to my website! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/radicalstepmoms/message

Christina welcomes Dr. Tracy Dalgleish to discuss how we can unravel our difficult patterns and how we can change the way we communicate with our partners. Dr. Tracy shares her insights on shifting from a focus of wanting control to relationship and intimacy, prioritizing "we" over the need to be right and how to move through our feelings of resentment and find acceptance. It's not always easy making our relationships a priority, but as stepmoms (and statistics not in our favor) what can we do to insure more closeness and understanding? Listen in! About My Guest: Dr. Tracy Dalgleish helps empower women and couples to improve their communication and build strong and healthy connections with themselves and their partner through therapy, wellness seminars, and her work outside of the therapy room. She contributes to popular media sites, including Motherly, Huffington Post, and Bustle. In addition to hosting the podcast, “I’m not your shrink” where she dives deeper into clinical knowledge and research in a relatable and informal way, her book “I Didn’t Sign Up For This: Stories of Unlocking Old Patterns and Finding Joy in Your Relationship” will be available in September 2023. A mom of two young children and owner of Ottawa’s mental health clinic, Integrated Wellness, she knows what it means to balance the full load. So much more than a podcast!!! Find me on the Gram @radicalstepmomspodcast Want a little more support? Schedule a 1:1 session or become a Radical Member? ⁠⁠⁠⁠Head to my website! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/radicalstepmoms/message

Yes, a stepmom and the ex CAN be friends. Christina welcomes Felisa, a stepmom who shares her story of stepmotherhood and how she navigates her friendship with her stepkids' mom. Who extended the olive branch? Are there any weird feelings? Felisa and Christina chat about what helps make a relationship like this to happen, and what boundaries might need to be present. It's not always possible, so when it does happen - bravo! Listen in! About My Guest: Hi I’m Felisa, I’m 30 years old. Born and raised in upstate New York. I am a nurse in a primary care clinic. I love plants and cats. I started my step mom journey in 2017. So much more than a podcast!!! Find me on the Gram @radicalstepmomspodcast Want a little more support? Schedule a 1:1 session or become a Radical Member? ⁠⁠⁠Head to my website! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/radicalstepmoms/message

Christina welcomes back Coach Michelle, a licensed attorney, a Certified High Conflict Diversion Coach, as well as a Certified Martha Beck Life Coach. The two chat hot topics like communication, documentation, parenting plans and boundaries. Michelle anwers your questions about how to document in preperation for court, what to do about the misuse of cell phones, and what to do when the other house refuses to comminicate. Michelle is a great resource if you're wanting help distancing yourself from the conflict and you're gearing up for court. Listen in! About My Guest: Coach Michelle is a high conflict resolution coach, an attorney, and a badass single mom. She helps parents disengage from high conflict relationships, getting them out of court, and stepping back into their lives. Her unique combination as a certified Martha Beck life coach, a lawyer for almost 20 years, her field of study in Psychology, and her own personal family law experience, makes Michelle a well-rounded coach, capable of helping parents learn how to disengage from a challenging and protracted co-parenting relationship. https://www.coachmichelle.club or on Instagram So much more than a podcast!!! Find me on the Gram @radicalstepmomspodcast Want a little more support? Schedule a 1:1 session or become a Radical Member? ⁠Head to my website! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/radicalstepmoms/message

Christina chats with Charlotte, a long-distance stepmom and military wife. After moving from the UK to the US to be with her person, she knows the trial and errors of being a stepmom. Charlotte shares how she maintains a relationship with the kids when she doesn't see them often, what it was like to get the full-time for a year and then back to long-distance and how she prioritizes her relationship when her partner is deployed. For all those wondering about long-distance stepmomming - listen in! So much more than a podcast!!! Find me on the Gram @radicalstepmomspodcast Want a little more support? Schedule a 1:1 session or become a Radical Member? ⁠⁠Head to my website! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/radicalstepmoms/message

Christina chats with Katie Beth, a stepmom who shares her story of falling in love, the complexities of dating with kids, managing not only a high conflict ex but her high conflict parents. The two discuss what happens when the stepmom shows up and there's no boundaries in place, raising a special needs stepkid and pregnancy after loss. What helped Katie Beth learn how to identify boundaries? What did she need as she prepared to bring home an ours baby? Listen in! About My Guest: Hi, I'm Katie Beth. I am a stepmom (7yo son, 10yo daughter) and recently became a first-time mom to an ours baby (8mo son). I am a social worker and lifestyle/documentary photographer in my free time (which is rare these days!). I have been incredibly fortunate to have a wonderful and accepting relationship with my step kids and a supportive and advocating partner. This has and continues to be an amazing, yet chaotic journey and I hope I have something to contribute for all the listening stepmoms that are out there. So much more than a podcast!!! Find me on the Gram @radicalstepmomspodcast Want a little more support? Schedule a 1:1 session or become a Radical Member? ⁠⁠Head to my website! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/radicalstepmoms/message

Christina chats with Elly, a bio-mom who remarried and now finds herself rocking the stepmom role. With Elly's background in communication, she shares her dos and don't of co-parenting her SIX kids. The two chat group texts, methods to help lessen the conflict and how to manage when you feel your partner walks on eggshells. How has Elly's role as a bio-mom influenced how she shows up as a stepmom? What's her dynamic like with her kids' stepmom? Listen in! About My Guest I am a Bio Mom + Bonus Mom to six kiddos ages 14, 13, 12, 12, 11 and 8, two dogs and four goldfish. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and believe it makes all the difference in your co-parenting relationships! Follow my journey as a Bonus Mom (with my best friend, Jamie) @bonus_moms on Instagram. So much more than a podcast!!! Find me on the Gram @radicalstepmomspodcast Want a little more support? Schedule a 1:1 session or become a Radical Member? ⁠Head to my website! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/radicalstepmoms/message

Christina welcomes Cameron, a stepmom who found her voice and founded This Custom Life, is host of The Stepmom Diaries podcast, Co-CEO of Stepfamily Magazine, and Co-founder of The Stepmom Summit. Cameron discusses how she stepped into her role and how the ages of our stepkids can impact the way we show up. Christina and Cameron chat how the bond can be different between your different stepkids, the guilt we carry and some mistakes stepmoms make when trying to define their role. Cameron also shares some ideas and suggestions on how to navigate blended family finances. What should you consider? What's the "right" thing to do? Listen in! Mentioned in the Episode: www.stepfamilymoney.com About My Guest: Cameron Normand is Founder of This Custom Life, Host of The Stepmom Diaries podcast, Co-CEO of Stepfamily Magazine, and Co-founder of The Stepmom Summit. Her mission is to provide tools and advice to help stepmoms and stepfamilies manage their blended family lives. She is a Certified Stepparent Coach, the creator of the BLENDED Family Formula For Stepmom Success, and author of The Stepmom’s Gratitude Journal. She’s been featured in CNET, The Cut, Business Insider, Upjourney, the Today Parenting Team, and StepMom Magazine, among others. Cameron received her BA from the University of South Carolina and her JD from Emory University School of Law. By day, she is a corporate politico in the Washington, D.C. area and serves on several non-profit boards. She was named one of the Washington Business Journal’s, “Women Who Mean Business.” Find her here: www.thiscustomlife.com; www.stepfamilymagazine.com; instagram.com/this_custom_life So much more than a podcast!!! Find me on the Gram @radicalstepmomspodcast Want a little more support? Schedule a 1:1 session or become a Radical Member? ⁠Head to my website! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/radicalstepmoms/message

Christina welcomes Amanda and Joe to talk full-time step-parenting, supporting one another through HCBM's antics, how to establish boundaries and MORE. Grab your partner for this one. Hearing from another stepmom is validating, but it's always enlightening to hear from how another couple navigates the good, bad and ugly. Listen in! So much more than a podcast!!! Find me on the Gram @radicalstepmomspodcast Want a little more support? Schedule a 1:1 session or become a Radical Member? Head to my website! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/radicalstepmoms/message

Christina chats with Haley, a former stepmom ready to share her story of love, life, struggles and choosing to walk away. What led to Haley's decision? Is she able to maintain a relationship with her stepkids? How is she protecting her our's baby? Stepmotherhood can be a rough road, what would Haley do differently? Has her perspective on blended life changed now that she's a biomom? Listen in! So much more than a podcast!!! Find me on the Gram @radicalstepmomspodcast Want a little more support? Schedule a 1:1 session or become a Radical Member? Head to my website! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/radicalstepmoms/message

Christina chats with Tori to share her story of co-parenting, parallel parenting and how her family is gradually finding their way back to co-parenting. What does it take to co-parent effectively? When should you make the move to parallel parenting? How do you build trust and manage your own high conflict tendencies? They also chat about when the ex gets a new partner, the feelings of needing to prove yourself as a stepmom and how our own childhoods impact our views of our blended family. Tori gives a glimmer of hope for how it can get better. Listen In! Mentioned in this Episode: Parallel Parenting Guide About My Guest: Hi, I’m Tori! I’m a wife of 2.5 years to my amazing husband and mom of 4 girls by bio and step. Outside of motherhood, I love being outside, working out, and binging reality tv. So much more than a podcast!!! Find me on the Gram @radicalstepmomspodcast Want a little more support? Schedule a 1:1 session or become a Radical Member? Head to my website! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/radicalstepmoms/message

Christina and Jacob continue their conversation in Part 2! If you haven't listened to Part 1 (S6:Episode 8) - you should go back and do that first! They start by sharing how they stay connected when blended life feels all consuming. Do you put the relationship first? How do they see their blended family evolving as their kids get older? What does Jake struggle with most in dealing with his ex and how does it impact his relationship with his son? Listen in! So much more than a podcast!!! Find me on the Gram @radicalstepmomspodcast Want a little more support? Schedule a 1:1 session or become a Radical Member? Head to my website! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/radicalstepmoms/message

Christina chats with Mallory to share her story of being the non-preferred house, alienation and how she's protected her ours baby from the harshness of blended life. Mallory speaks to what it's like living in the same home her husband shared with the ex - maybe excessive amounts of paint and redecorating?! Ever reach your limit and stand up the the ex? What happens after alienation? Listen in! About My Guest: I’m Mallory! I’m married to a wonderful man and have a SD15 and an ours “baby” who is 4. So much more than a podcast!!!  Find me on the Gram @radicalstepmomspodcast  Want a little more support? Schedule a 1:1 session or become a Radical Member? Head to my website! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/radicalstepmoms/message

Christina welcomes back her husband Jacob to chat her recent choice to disengage. What led her to stepping back? How does Jacob feel about it and what does he struggle with? What do they bicker about besides blended family life?! Christina and Jacob talk candidly about who’s the preferred parent, when you just can’t stop talking about the ex and the hard feelings about being the partner of a disengaged stepmom. Listen in to Part One of this Two Episode series - enjoy! So much more than a podcast!!!  Find me on the Gram @radicalstepmomspodcast  Want a little more support? Schedule a 1:1 session or become a Radical Member? Head to my website! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/radicalstepmoms/message

Christina chats with Kelly who shares her journey of being a pandemic stepmom, teens and parenting with a "performative" biomom. Do you feel like you live in a fishbowl? Is it weird to have never met the ex? With all the ups and downs, let's talk our greatest lifeline: Disengaging. Listen in!  So much more than a podcast!!!  Find me on the Gram @radicalstepmomspodcast  Want a little more support? Schedule a 1:1 session or become a Radical Member? Head to my website! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/radicalstepmoms/message

In this solo episode, Christina shares what many stepmoms are asking about and gives her hot take. What if a stepmom doesn't want a relationship with the ex - no matter how nice she is? Is it ever okay to look at the ex's social media? How does a stepmom manage disciplining the stepkids? Christina chats it all! And if you're a stepmom who's super hard on herself...listen in. Christina shares some tips on how you can show more compassion for the amazing stepmom you are! Enjoy!  So much more than a podcast!!!  Find me on the Gram @radicalstepmomspodcast  Want a little more support? Schedule a 1:1 session or become a Radical Member? Head to my website! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/radicalstepmoms/message