The Momversation Podcast

In this mini-episode, Leah and Melissa announce their plans to take a break from podcast production for the month of October, and explore the benefits of taking time and space away from even the most exciting and enjoyable projects.The Book Blurb in this episode comes from Casper Ter Kuile’s book, The Power of Ritual: Turning Everyday Activities into Soulful Practices.  For more on Ter Kuile, visit his website.  To listen to his podcast, Harry Potter and the Sacred Text, visit www.harrypottersacredtext.com.One other noteworthy mention is this blog post about what to do when you’re feeling “Creatively Flat and Uninspired.”

In this episode, Leah and Melissa welcome physical therapist and pelvic health expert, Dr. Kamaria Washington to the podcast.  Dr. Washington begins by telling about her educational background and her love of travel, which she uses as a means for practicing self-care and maintaining a sense of identity beyond her career.  She then shares her wealth of knowledge regarding pelvic health and physical therapy, specifically as it pertains to pregnant or postpartum moms.  Dr. Washington is also an advocate for Black mothers and discusses the many factors that impact the United States’ despicably high maternal mortality rate among Black mothers.The Book Blurb in this episode is from Kathy Wang’s recent novel, Imposter Syndrome.  For more about this author and her work, visit www.bykathywang.com.A few other noteworthy mentions include the MOMMIES Act (Maximizing Outcomes for Moms through Medicaid Improvement and Enhancement of Service Act), spearheaded by Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley and Senator Cory Booker, and this information from the CDC about reproductive health and maternal mortality.  Make sure to follow Dr. Washington on Instagram to see all of her incredible content on pelvic health and physical therapy.If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and follow us on Instagram!

Warning: This episode contains conversation about eating disorders.  We recommend skipping this episode if such content is likely to be problematic for a listener's mental or physical health.In this episode, Leah and Melissa tackle an issue that many women (and people of every gender) face, including moms: body image. The way we're trained to view our bodies as young people translates into adulthood, and often stems from the way we heard other women talking about their bodies. Both Moms share their individual experiences, anxieties, relationships with their appearances, the messages they received as adolescent girls, and how their own body image has changed after having children.The Book Blurb in this episode is from Love Warrior by Glennon Doyle.  For more about Doyle's work, visit her Simon and Schuster page.One other noteworthy mention is previous Momversation Podcast episode, Thriving in the 4th Trimester: How Postpartum Doulas Support New Moms with Ali Batwin.

In this episode, The Moms cover a topic that's inevitable when raising kids, regardless of our attempts to negate it: chaos. We've all experienced it. Whether it's the chaos on the playroom floor after a day at home, the chaos of packing, planning, supervising, and recovering from an adventurous outing with kids, or our own internal chaos, when it comes to motherhood, chaos is a given. This particular Momversation is all about when to lean into chaos, when to manage it, and how these Moms' responses to chaotic environments or emotions differs from their husbands' responses.The Book Blurb in this episode comes from book six of the timeless Young Adult fantasy series, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling.  One noteworthy mention is an episode of Glennon Doyle's podcast, We Can Do Hard Things, on Overwhelm.

In this episode, the hosts get together for a lighthearted chat about friendships.  Making friends and maintaining friendships can be so challenging as an adult, especially after the massive identity shift that comes with becoming a mother.  Mom friends, the changing tides of friendships with those who knew us pre-motherhood, the “Mom coaches” in our lives, and the friends who share similar hobbies all come up as points of discussion in this episode.  The Book Blurb in this episode is a Yung Pueblo poem called “an irreplaceable friend is someone who.”  For more on the poet, visit his website or Instagram account.A few noteworthy mentions include previous Momversation Podcast episodes, Evelyn and Jourdy: Birth and Postpartum Stories from Laura LaBeau, Sacred Spaces: Observing and Attending Birth with Tiana Johnson, and Just for the Fun of It: Considering the Role of Leisure in Parenting, Relationships, and Womanhood.If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and follow us on Instagram!

In this episode, the Moms welcome Lauren Raymond, mother of two and lifelong educator, to speak about joy in parenthood.  Though children feel joy deeply, freely, and often, it's an emotion that many adults forget to keep in touch with.  Lauren suggests that the best way to practice joy daily is to consider the patterns in our lives that hinder joy, and then to shift those patterns to intentionally make space for joyful experiences with our families.  Dance parties, hugs and snuggles, or friendly competition among siblings can all be ways to ignite joy in our homes.The Book Blurb in this episode, "Remembering Childhood Joys," was written by  Madisyn Taylor.Be sure to check out Lauren's business, Daily Joy as well as her Instagram account and Facebook group.

In this episode, The Momversation Podcast's own co-host, Melissa Statler, shares her second birth story.   After several days of prodromal labor, a six mile walk with her mother-in-law, and one round of golf for her husband, Melissa decided it was officially time to head to the hospital, where she was met with doubt from the nursing staff.  Thankfully, she was admitted, but struggled through her labor as fear took over and a messy, primal, far-from-bougey event ensued with her midwife walking in just in time to catch the baby as he arrived.  Melissa notes how very different her two birth experiences were, and how her second delivery shaped her perspective on the diversity of motherhood experiences. The Book Blurb in this episode, "Birth is Not Bougey" is from an Instagram caption by Karen Welton.  To view the mentioned post, click here.One other noteworthy mention includes Melissa's previous birth story, Claire Leanne: Birth Preparation and Labor Stories with Melissa Statler.If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and follow us on Instagram!

In this episode, Leah and Melissa are joined by Texas mother of ten, Laura Hernandez.  Like many mothers, Laura was frequently finding herself in need of simpler household management strategies.  After discovering many ways to create a more structured and peaceful home, Laura decided to share her expertise with others.  Thus, she created Mama Systems, a customized coaching service for moms in need of help creating routines and expectations within their families and their homes.  Laura’s description of her own family’s routines and rhythms puts systems into a new perspective, including schedules, emotional regulation, household duties, spatial organization, and managing the needs of children with disabilities. The Book Blurb in this episode comes from Thinking in Systems by environmental scientist, Donella H. Meadows.  For more on this author, visit The Donella Meadows Project.If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and follow us on Instagram!

In this episode, expert guest, Kimberly Harris, joins the Moms to share about her unique career: potty training consultant.  Experience in early childhood education, public school teaching, and homeschooling/mothering seven children led Kimberly to consider the needs of parents and how she could help meet that need by supporting both children and parents.  Kimberly serves parents of potty training children by providing individualized support to better facilitate the needs of each family and each child.  Hers is the voice of expertise for parents navigating a difficult developmental stage in their children’s lives. The Book Blurb in this episode is from Kimberly’s own children’s book, Where’s the Potty?   To find more of Kimberly’s books and other merchandise, visit her website.If you have the means, The Momversation Podcast would like to encourage listeners to contribute to the Potty People Stop’s campaign to launch a 24-hour potty training helpline.  This is a service that will not only provide jobs for moms in need of flexible employment, but will provide additional support for parents who are potty training their kiddos.  To help out with this launch, click here.

In this episode, Melissa and Leah break down the importance of unstructured play.  Play is, of course, essential for our children, but it's easy to overlook as a parent.  Here, the Moms unpack elements of open-ended play such as simplistic toys, the opportunities for imagination and creativity, and the possibilities for growth and independence.The Book Blurb in this episode is a poem by The Momversation Podcast co-host, Melissa Statler, titled, "The Montessori Mom Club."  For more of Melissa's writing, visit her website.A few other noteworthy mentions include The Montessori Toddler, a book which Melissa mentions in the episode, and Untamed, a book which Leah mentions in the episode.  Additionally, here is a comparison of Montessori vs. Waldorf schooling and childrearing.  Last, feel free to view these links to the toys discussed in this episode: Grimm's Rainbow StackersPlay Silks from Sarah's SilksMagnatilesIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and follow us on Instagram!

In this episode, the Moms dig deep into an issue that mothers have faced for decades: the mental load.  If you’re a mom, you know exactly what we mean.  The constant juggling of tasks, lists, requirements, details, inventories, and schedules for an entire household falls disproportionately on the shoulders of moms, but shouldn’t dads be asked to carry some of that weight?  Though addressing this particular topic can sometimes devolve into an opportunity to complain about husbands, listeners will be delighted to hear Melissa and Leah take a much more productive approach to managing the mental load by asking partners to collaborate.The Book Blurb in this episode is from Fair Play: A Game-Changing Solution for When You Have Too Much to Do (and More Life to Live) by Eve Rodsky.  For more on the author and her Fair Play products, visit everodsky.com.A few other noteworthy mentions include The Fair Play Deck of cards for dividing up household responsibilities, Eve Rodsky’s episode on the Mimosas with Moms podcast, the Overwhelm episode of Glennon Doyle’s new podcast, We Can Do Hard Things, and a Harper’s Bazaar article on emotional labor, Women Aren't Nags -- We're Just Fed Up.

In this episode, Leah and Melissa unpack the elements of summer that impact mothers: the nostalgia that comes with extended daylight hours, playing outside, swimming lessons (and water safety!), gardening, and the mental load of managing everyone's busy schedules.  Just like the holidays, summer brings with it heaps of fun, magic, and joy, coupled with exhaustion.The Book Blurb in this episode is Shel Silverstein poem, 'It's Hot!' from A Light in the Attic.  For more about this poet, visit www.shelsilverstein.com.A few other noteworthy mentions include Avatar: The Last Airbender, a shared favorite children's television show of both Moms, and Stōk Cold Brew Coffee.

In this episode, Leah is joined by returning guest, Heidi Lindeman.  After speaking on a previous Momversation Podcast episode, Answering the Call: Becoming a Single Mom by Choice with Heidi Lindeman about her journey to become a single mother by choice, Heidi has a birth story to share!  Determined to have her baby on a very specific date, Heidi struggled to accept that she was truly in labor when it started several days before her due date.  Despite her internal denial of being in labor, Heidi surrounded herself with community: a doula, midwives, and her mother, who all supported her in a beautiful, unmedicated birth in a Denver birth center.The Book Blurb in this episode is from The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy: Or Everything Your Doctor Won't Tell You by Vicki Iovine.  For more on this author, visit her Simon and Schuster  author page.

In this episode, Melissa and Leah converse, not via the internet, but in the same closet!  The Moms discuss the major differences between their first and second postpartum experiences, and Melissa updates the listeners on her new life as the mother of two.  Topics such as balancing roles as postpartum mom and toddler mom, navigating changing marital relationships, birth recovery, and more are covered in this laid back conversation.The Book Blurb in this episode is William Shakespeare's 27th Sonnet.  For more on The Bard and his many poems and plays, visit this Britannica page.A few other noteworthy mentions include previous Momversation Podcast episodes and guests, Evelyn and Jourdy: Birth and Postpartum Stories with Laura LaBeau, Fed is Best: Making the Decision to Formula Feed with Brittany Freeman, and To Work or Not to Work: One Mom's Perspective on the Best (and Worst) of Both Worlds with Anika Pepper.  Leah also references the work of Katie Hinde, a researcher who studies breastmilk composition. 

In this episode, Melissa returns (with Baby Carter!) from her maternity leave for a conversation about self-care: what it looks like for moms, why it can be hard to make time for self-care, and how we can simplify what it means to care for ourselves.  The two Moms break down self-care into several categories, and explore how this approach can help parents recognize all that they are already doing to practice self-care.  Both consider a few things that they are doing to take care of themselves, such as paying someone to help with housework, going to therapy, drinking more water, doing something creative, and making time to socialize with other adults.  It turns out, self-care might just be a little more within reach than it seems!    The Book Blurb in this episode is a poem titled “The Guest House” by Jalaluddin Rumi.  To read more about this famous Persian poet, visit this Britannica page.A few other noteworthy mentions include Kristi Yeh’s book, Self-Care 101: Self-Care Inspiration for Busy Parents, her blog, Parent Self-Care, and her Instagram account, @parentselfcare.  Leah also mentions two apps that have helped her be intentional about self-care: the Sanvello app, and the Sparkle app.  Also, one of both Moms' favorite books, Untamed by Glennon Doyle, Armchair Expert episode with Laurie Santos, and previous Momversation Podcast episode, "EP46: Keeping it Real: Making the Most of Postpartum with New Mom Coach Chelsea Skaggs" Keeping It Real: Making the Most of Postpartum with New Mom Coach Chelsea Skaggs.  

In this episode, Leah speaks with mental health professional and PhD candidate, Sydney Cople.  Sydney is here to talk about all things play therapy.  Though our children have complex minds, emotional needs, and a desire to understand the world around them, sitting down with a therapist to process doesn’t work for our youngest members of society.  Instead, children (and adults!) can benefit from playing.  Yes, playing.  Sydney discusses everything from the minute details of how a play therapy space is organized, to the many reasons a caregiver might elect to send their child to a play therapist.  The bottom line?  Allowing our children to play can have massive benefits for their social skills, mental health, and attachment to family members.  To find a certified play therapist near you, check out the Association for Play Therapy directory!  The Book Blurb in this episode is from Year of Yes, a memoir by Shonda Rhimes.  To learn more about Rhimes and her work, visit shondaland.com.

In this episode, Leah is joined by the podcast’s first mother of twins, Danica Ramgoolam.  Several years ago, when met with difficulty conceiving children, Danica and her husband Arvin turned to science for help.  Here, Danica tells her story of IVF, including her initial urge to have babies, the multitude of daily shots required for egg retrieval and early pregnancy, and the smooth C-section that marked her twin daughters’ entrance into the world.  Danica also gives us a glimpse into the life of a twin mom: tandem breastfeeding, the co-sleeping sandwich, double the cuteness, and double the work!  The Book Blurb in this episode is an Emily Dickinson poem titled, “Hope is the Thing with Feathers.”  You can find more of this 19th Century poet’s work on the Emily Dickinson Museum website.A few other noteworthy mentions include the Ramgoolam’s small business, Rumors Coffee and Tea House/Townie Books, Danica’s recommendation for twin moms who breastfeed called the Twin Z Pillow, an online course from Positive Parenting Solutions, and Rocky Mountain Fertility Center in Parker, Colorado, which Danica and her husband used for their IVF treatments. 

This episode kicks off Melissa's podcast maternity leave and Leah takes on hosting responsibilities.  In honor of Mother's Day, Leah welcomes her own mother, Kim Wrisley, as a guest.  Together, these two explore the changes in relationship dynamics when Daughter becomes Mom and Mom becomes Grandma.  Kim reminisces on her time as a young mother, shares her insight, and discusses the highlights and challenges of being a grandparent.  This episode is a tear-jerker, and sheds some light on the grandmotherhood experience.The Book Blurb in this episode is from Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng, a gripping novel about a family recovering from trauma and finding their back to each other.  To read more about the author and her work, visit her website.