The Mama's Den

2025 is already doing the most! From navigating the impacts of the LA wildfires while parenting, to facing the realities of a new president, and trying to survive sleep amidst the middle of the night needs of kids, the Mamas discuss how - and if - they can find JOY when the world feels heavy.======So Village, how do you find joy when your world is heavy? Let us know! Send any thoughts or questions for the mamas at podcasts@blacklove.com. Make sure you connect with our Mamas:Ashley - @watermeloneggrollsCodie - @codiecoFelicia - @felicialatourMelanie - @melaniefiona

Are you happy with all of your accomplishments? Far too often, we find ourselves reflecting on everything we have done and have the nerve to think we haven’t done enough. But let’s get real, Mama’s Den family, sometimes getting up in the morning IS the accomplishment. It's easy to fall into the trap of believing that we should be further than where we are right now OR that it's too late to accomplish all the things and dreams we've had. The Mamas share not only what they accomplished, but what they had hoped to have done at this point in their lives. Soon…..we will be back to talk about what we are proud of in 2025. We have enjoyed running back some of our favorite episodes with you. Get ready for a new episode next week!

The holidays are behind us and some of us are thinking "New Year, New Me" and whatnot. But when you have had a baby or two....or four, there can be challenges beyond just hitting the gym. So, The Mamas are running back an episode where we talked about our pre and post baby bodies. Hear what we think about everything from snapping back to diastasis recti, cosmetic surgery and more. This episode was recorded before Tata and Kaia were even born, so things have changed. But give it a listen and then tell us if you want us to talk about how we feel about our bodies now!

Ahhh, motherhood.....the new baby smell, the cuddles, the cute questions, sweet tiny voices saying I love you.....the 1000 questions at bedtime, dragging 3 carseats on vacation, paying thousands of dollars at an amusement park to stand in long lines at the bathroom more than actually ride rides.....What did you think motherhood was going to be???Don’t worry, we will go first as we run it back to one of our all time favorite episodes about what we romanticized about motherhood before becoming moms.Get in on the conversation and let us know over at podcasts@blacklove.com OR you can fill out our form. PLUS you can always submit a DM to @themamasdenpodcast on Instagram.Make sure you connect with our Mamas:Ashley - @watermeloneggrollsCodie - @codiecoFelicia - @felicialatourMelanie - @melaniefiona

In this BRAND NEW episode, alongside Victoria Jenn Rodriguez of Banking on Cultura, the Mamas recorded live from Miami to share what tradition means to us in 2024. Baybeee.....it ain't what it used to be. We don't feel the need to make everything perfect year after year but we are sharing the big and small things that do matter to us when the holidays arrive.Mama's Den Village, what holiday traditions are important to you? Is there a specific story you want to share with us? Get in on the conversation and let us know over at podcasts@blacklove.com OR you can fill out our form. PLUS you can always submit a DM over @themamasdenpodcast on Instagram.Make sure you connect with our Mamas:Ashley - @watermeloneggrollsCodie - @codiecoFelicia - @felicialatourMelanie - @melaniefionaFollow along to see what city the Mamas end up in next!

Want to know what we were like before we became moms? From the club - or stage - to jet setting, the Mamas of the Den are running it back to an early episode where we talked about our lives before becoming moms. It was a TIME! 

We are in that post-Thanksgiving, not-yet-Christmas period where many of us are playing supermom trying to do it all, so we figured you could use a reminder from one of our favorite episodes that this is a season....the holiday season AND a season in your and your family's life. Whether it's our kids growing and evolving or us as adults in all of our complexity, y'all know the saying....The only thing constant in life is change.  Be present, learn what you can, and make the most of it. Most importantly - you are not alone! 

It’s the holidays so we decided to go down memory lane to one of the first episodes we recorded introducing ourselves to our audience. We recorded this one before we decided on a name for our podcast - it’s so funny to play this one back. Ashley only had 3 kids and Melanie was a mom of 1! Melanie even shares the origin of her love story with Jared! We hope you enjoy listening to this one as much as we enjoyed revisiting it.

The Mama's have a candid conversation with Dahn Ballard about her journey of raising her transgender child.

Author and attorney Erica Grace joins the Mamas to to provide valuable insight to anyone looking for advice on how to date a parent to develop healthy blended families.

The Mama’s share their tips on how to navigate tough and awkward conversations with their little ones plus a listener letter from a mom who needs advice on how to have the sex talk.

Omar Bolden, host of the podcast "Nice and Neat," joins The Mama's Den to share his unique perspective as a new father. Omar discusses his parenting journey, the challenges and joys of being a dad, and the importance of creating spaces where men can be authentically themselves.

The Mamas recorded live from the Black Love Summit in Los Angeles, jumping into a candid conversation about the importance of building communities where you can be seen and heard, especially during the journey of motherhood. From Melanie entering the music business without any pre-existing relationships, to Felicia and Ashley being the first of their friends to have babies, and Codie desire to explore Black love, the four of them discuss pressing past fear and anxiety to create what they seek.The Mama’s Den live conversation at the Black Love Summit was presented by Akina Connect, an incredible network that’s redefining how Black women, mothers and entrepreneurs connect, grow, and thrive. Akina isn’t just a community; it’s a tech-driven platform that offers innovative solutions for the unique needs of women, providing, including mental health support, mentorship programs, and tools designed to help us succeed in all areas of life. Right now they are in beta and you can join Akina for the low low price of free! Akina leverages data and cutting-edge digital tools to provide personalized support, whether it’s through their app, which gives you access to a wealth of resources right at your fingertips, or their AI-powered features that connect you with the right mentors and resources based on your goals and interests. It’s all about harnessing technology to create meaningful connections and make a real impact on our lives as mothers, entrepreneurs, and women on the go.Learn more at AkinaConnect.com

The Mama's are sharing inspiration to chase your dreams and live in your purpose.

Hot flashes, body changes, mood swings…oh my! Dr. Kendra Segura is in the The Mama's Den to chat all things perimenopause and menopause.

Actress and mother Tika Sumpter joins The Mama's to chat about her new podcast The Adventures of Curiosity Cove and everyone shares how their motherhood journey has inspired their creativity.

Marriage & Family therapist and wife and mother of three, Nina Westbrook, is in the Mama’s Den and we’re talking about therapy, family, and how to heal from the trauma you may have experienced with your own mother, especially, when you enter motherhood.Visit Nina's mental wellness platform Bene by Nina Westbrook at benebynina.comAnd don't miss a new podcast we've tapped into to give us helpful insights on our parenting journey, Opportunity Gap: How to Support Kids of Color Who Learn Differently. Give it a listen here --> https://lnk.to/opportunitygapPS!themamasden

The Mamas are answering questions from none other than you all, the Village! Codie picked a handful of your questions and she, Ashley, Felicia and Melanie open up about how they all met, and how they manage making new friends while maintaining the old ones. The conversation goes a bit deeper when the Mamas express what they mean to one another and Ashley gets very candid about postpartum and the rules of teenage sleepovers! So Mama's Den Village, if you have a question you'd like to ask the Mamas, let us know over at podcasts@blacklove.com OR you can always submit a DM over @themamasdenpodcast on IG. Your question just may be on an upcoming episode!And don't miss a new podcast we're excited about offering helpful insights on our parenting journey, Opportunity Gap: How to Support Kids of Color Who Learn Differently. Give it a listen here --> https://lnk.to/opportunitygapPS!themamasden

You're going to want to listen to this one, Village! Melanie, Ashley, Codie, and Felicia talk about their feelings on plastic surgery, being pregnant, and medical integrity. Plus, you're going to want to stick around for our special guest today - Codie's husband, Tommy! Tommy joins the Mamas to answer one of Fee's pressing questions and share his opinion on having more kids.So Mama's Den Village, how do you feel about plastic surgery? Do you have a story about your pregnancy or recovery you want to share with us? Get in on the conversation and let us know over at podcasts@blacklove.com OR you can always submit a DM over @themamasdenodcast on IG. Also, there is a new podcast we've tapped into to give us helpful insights on our parenting journey, Opportunity Gap: How to Support Kids of Color Who Learn Differently. Check it out here --> https://lnk.to/opportunitygapPS!themamasden

Summer is coming to an end... The Mamas are doing some girl chat and checking in with each other on mom guilt and how we manage it all.And don't miss a new podcast we've tapped into to give us helpful insights on our parenting journey, Opportunity Gap: How to Support Kids of Color Who Learn Differently. Give it a listen here --> https://lnk.to/opportunitygapPS!themamasden