Empowerhood

In this week's episode, Allie Badger speaks with Becky LaBombard, a certified lactation counselor and owner of The Upstate lactation Collective, about the importance of community support in lactation, the spectrum of lactation care, and the challenges new parents face with societal expectations versus biological norms. They discuss the dynamics of breastfeeding, the emotional aspects of weaning, and the significance of understanding one's own body and needs during the parenting journey. Becky emphasizes that every family is unique and encourages parents to seek support when needed. This is a must listen if you are pregnant, newly post-partum or supporting someone who is! Please reach out to Becky with any questions you may have or to get connected to the wonder community her and her team have built. On insta @upstatelactationcolldctive or @www.upstatelacationcollective.com 

In this must listen episode, Jen Peters shares her insights on protecting peace, setting boundaries, and finding purpose as a Christian woman and mother. She emphasizes the importance of awareness, self-care, and authenticity in navigating life's challenges. Jen also discusses her coaching opportunities, encouraging women to embrace their worth and step into their God-given identities. If you would like to work with Jen, please reach out to her at www.mylifecoachjen.com or on Instagram @mylifecoachjen. Also, check out Jen's interview with Megan on episode 2!

In this conversation, Allie interviews Maddie Frazier, a young mom and entrepreneur, about her journey through motherhood, balancing various responsibilities, and her passion for wellness. Maddie shares her experiences as a stay-at-home mom, her love for sourdough baking, and her involvement in essential oils. In our discussion we highlight the challenges and joys of being a young mother, the importance of community support, and the transformative power of a positive mindset in parenting.

In this episode, Allie Badger interviews Erika Thompson, who shares her journey of transitioning from a corporate career to becoming a stay-at-home mom. Erika discusses the challenges of balancing work and motherhood, the importance of family dinners, and her new venture, Northway Meals, which aims to bring families together around the dinner table. She emphasizes the significance of making personal choices that align with one's values and the joy of being present for her children.

In this episode, Tanya Frazier shares her journey as a mother of seven, discussing the challenges and joys of raising a large family. She reflects on her experiences with loss, faith, and the importance of creating a nurturing home environment. Tanya emphasizes the significance of self-care, communication, and prayer in parenting, offering insights into balancing family life while maintaining personal health. The discussion highlights the dynamics of raising boys and girls, the role of faith in everyday life, and the importance of being a positive example for children.

In this engaging conversation, Allie interviews Dominique Spagnola, a dedicated doula and lactation counselor. They explore Dom's multifaceted life as a mother, business owner, and advocate for maternal health. Dominique shares her journey to becoming a doula, the vital role doulas play in supporting birthing individuals, and the importance of lactation counseling. The discussion highlights the significance of community support for mothers and the challenges they face in their parenting journeys. Dom's passion for her work shines through as she emphasizes the need for accessible resources and support for new mothers. Make sure if you are expecting, planning to get pregnant or know someone that can use the amazing support Dom and The Upstate Lactation Collective offers you reach out!  

In this heartfelt conversation, sisters Allie and Taylor reflect on their childhood experiences growing up with an alcoholic mother. They discuss the challenges and traumas they faced, the impact on their adult lives, and the journey towards understanding and forgiveness. Through their shared stories, they explore the complexities of family dynamics, the importance of healing, and how they honor their mother's memory while navigating their own paths as adults.

In this heartfelt episode of Seasons & Change, host Megan Vandevanter shares a major life announcement that marks a turning point in her podcast journey. After much reflection and growth, Megan passes the mic to her cohost, Allie Badger, as she embraces a huge new chapter of adventure with her family. Tune in for a touching conversation about the challenges and beauty of letting go, how change can foster growth, and the powerful lessons Megan has learned throughout this season of her life. Whether you're navigating a shift of your own or simply looking for inspiration, this episode will remind you that sometimes stepping back is exactly what’s needed to move forward.Don't miss out on this emotional and uplifting moment—join us as we celebrate change and growth in its purest form.

In this empowering episode of Balancing Life, we dive deep into the importance of setting healthy boundaries for ourselves as moms and women. As caregivers, professionals, and multi-taskers, it's easy to lose sight of our own needs. Megan and Allie share practical strategies for setting and maintaining boundaries that protect our mental and physical well-being. We discuss how saying "no" can be an act of self-care, how to communicate your needs clearly without guilt, and how establishing limits allows us to show up fully for ourselves and those we love. Whether you’re juggling family, work, or your own personal growth, this episode is full of insights on how to create a balance that works for you. Tune in for actionable tips that will help you reclaim your time, energy, and sense of self!

In this vulnerable episode, Danika opens up about her journey as a young, single mom navigating emotional abuse, the mistakes made along the way, and the challenges of parenting her daughter from a very young age.Through it all, Danika shares how these struggles have transformed her perspective on life and motherhood, turning what seemed like obstacles into some of her greatest blessings. From moments of doubt to feelings of triumph, Danika’s story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the unbreakable bond between mother and child. Tune in for an honest and empowering conversation about embracing the tough parts of life and finding strength in the hardest moments.Connect with Us:InstagramYoutubeJoin the Conversation:What’s your best tip for making mom friends? We’d love to hear from you! 

In this heart wrenching and honest episode, Jessica Russo opens up about the hardest challenges of motherhood and how mental illness, including the ADHD and bipolar disorder diagnosis of her son, added layers of complexity to parenting she never imagined. Through her personal journey, Jessica discusses the delicate balance of raising a second child while caring for a sick child, managing the emotional rollercoaster of one bad thing after another, and finding hope amidst the chaos.Jess offers a raw and authentic look at motherhood, mental health, and the importance of self-care in order to survive these difficulties . Listen in to hear how love, resilience, and a deep sense of hope can guide us through the most difficult times. Whether you or your child our facing mental health struggles, caring for a child with illness, or simply looking for ways to take care of yourself as a mother, this podcast is here to support you on your journey.Connect with Us:InstagramYoutube

In this heartfelt episode, Linda Weatherby joins Megan and Allie  to discuss the complexities and challenges of co-parenting after divorce and remarriage. Linda shares her insights on how parents can always keep the child’s well-being at the center, work together as a team, and establish respectful boundaries even in difficult situations. From setting house rules to ensuring mutual respect between parents, this episode is packed with practical advice for making blended families work.Key Takeaways:Putting the Child First: Why it’s essential to prioritize your child’s emotional needs above all in co-parenting dynamics.Working Together as a Team: How both parents, even after divorce, can collaborate and communicate effectively for the benefit of their child.Setting House Rules: The importance of consistency across households and setting expectations for children to feel secure.Respecting the Parent Role: Why respecting the other parent’s authority is crucial for creating harmony and avoiding confusion for the child.Episode Highlights:Linda’s personal story of navigating the challenges of remarriage and co-parenting with her ex-spouse.Tips on how to communicate with your ex in a way that benefits your child’s emotional health.How to handle situations where the new partner or step-parent enters the picture, and how they should respect the original parent’s role.Connect with Us:InstagramYoutubeJoin the Conversation:What’s your best tip for making mom friends? We’d love to hear from you! 

In this powerful episode, Megan Savaria shares her personal journey through an unmedicated childbirth, offering an intimate and inspiring look at her birth story. Megan opens up about her decision to go medication-free after her first two children’s births were not.  Tune in to find out why she chose this path, the challenges she faced, and the incredible strength she discovered within herself. Whether you’re preparing for your own birth, interested in alternative birth experiences, or simply want to hear a moving story of resilience, this episode is filled with valuable insights and raw honesty.Key Takeaways:Megan’s decision to have an unmedicated birth and why it was important to her.The emotional and physical preparation involved in choosing an unmedicated birth.Unexpected challenges during labor and how Megan handled them.The support systems in place for Megan during her birth experience.How unmedicated childbirth transformed her perspective on strength and motherhood.Connect with Us:InstagramYoutubeJoin the Conversation:What’s your best tip for making mom friends? We’d love to hear from you! 

In this episode, Megan and Allie dive into the power of community and connection for moms. Whether you're a new mom or just looking to expand your support network, we share practical tips for making friends, finding resources, and building a sense of belonging in your local area. Plus, we’ll chat about how to overcome the challenges of putting yourself out there and how to prioritize those mom friendships that truly lift you up.Key Topics:The importance of building a support network as a momHow to find local playgroups, mom meetups, and community eventsTips for approaching new people and making genuine friendshipsNavigating online resources and groups for moms in your areaThe challenges of balancing family time with making new connectionsSetting boundaries while building friendshipsResources Mentioned:The Mom Walk Clifton ParkJennie Allen “Find your people”Connect with Us:InstagramYoutubeJoin the Conversation:What’s your best tip for making mom friends? We’d love to hear from you! 

Mom of 5 and author Laurie Devernoe joins us this week. From a miscarriage to naturally conceiving triplets, Laurie joins us to share all her incredible mama wisdom. How do you find peace among the chaos of multiple young children!? If anyone knows how it is Laurie!! This episode is packed with so much great knowledge on how to find yourself within the business of multiple children and also how her faith brought her through some of the darkest times in her life where she lost her vision. Laurie is now a mental health coach, public speaker and author of two books! You can find her on her website or on social media @ coffeehouseparenting.Thank you so much for being here. Want to help support The Empowerhood Podcast? With a small monthly donation you can join our community Patreon group and help keep us going and growing every single week..  https://www.patreon.com/TheEmpowerhoodPodcast/shop . Other great ways to support us are to follow us on Instagram or leave us an Apple or Spotify review. 

Kayla from Fitfilled is back and bringing is incredible knowledge to get us fueling our bodies correctly and feeling our best! If you missed Kayla’s first episode(44), check out our chat about why you might not be able to lose weight and some huge reasons why what you eat matters. Today we tackle the most important steps of how to set sustainable nutrition goals for yourself this year and actually keep them! Why do most people fail to keep their New Year's goals? Tune in to find out a simple step most of us miss. Kayla and Vin are offering a free New Year’s challenge to help us all out! Take advantage of this opportunity,  I know I  already joined! Join Fitfilled in their New Year's Challenge or schedule a free call with Kayla to talk about personalized coaching. Thank you so much for being here. Want to help support The Empowerhood Podcast? With a small monthly donation you can join our community Patreon group and help keep us going and growing every single week..  https://www.patreon.com/TheEmpowerhoodPodcast/shop . Other great ways to support us are to follow us on Instagram or leave us an Apple or Spotify review. 

Happy New Year!! Megan and Allie talk about all things goals today as we head into 2025. Using Arnold Schwarzengger’s book “Be Useful” a guide they tackle long term visions to breaking those dreams down into little goals that fit into your life now. They both share what works for them personally and what hasn’t worked. They can both agree on this, consistent goal setting each year has brought growth and accomplishment into their lives. We all want that, no matter how big or small! Tune in to hear all the tips and tricks they use and some of their tools and strategies. Here are some of their favorites: Start today journal. Be Useful. The compound Effect. Rachel Hollis. Prompted Journals. Thank you so much for being here. Want to help support The Empowerhood Podcast? With a small monthly donation you can join our community Patreon group and help keep us going and growing every single week..  https://www.patreon.com/TheEmpowerhoodPodcast/shop . Other great ways to support us are to follow us on Instagram or leave us an Apple or Spotify review. 

Carissa Corbin, a mama to three babies and starter of the Capital Region’s Mom Walk Collective joins us this week. What is The Mom Walk Collective? 100% tune in to find out!! Carissa shares her journey from Nashville to New York with three kids under the age of 4 and how she started the Mom walk Collective here in New York. Her plans to support young moms are above and beyond and Allie and I are so excited to share her vision! To find where the group meets each month check out their Instagram page or message Carissa directly here. Thank you so much for being here. Want to help support The Empowerhood Podcast? With a small monthly donation you can join our community Patreon group and help keep us going and growing every single week..  https://www.patreon.com/TheEmpowerhoodPodcast/shop . Other great ways to support us are to follow us on Instagram or leave us an Apple or Spotify review. 

This week Megan and Allie talk about their personal traditions from childhood that they remember vividly and how they have incorporated some into their family traditions today. Why are traditions so important? The girls take a look at what kids actually remember as children and why we find it so important to this day to still make our Grandmother’s cranberry bread, sing Happy Birthday to Jesus, or read a certain book on Christmas Eve. What traditions do you continue to keep in your family? We would love to hear about them! Listen in to hear a blast from the past and also what they Allie and Meg want to create for the future. Thank you so much for being here. Want to help support The Empowerhood Podcast? With a small monthly donation you can join our community Patreon group and help keep us going and growing every single week..  https://www.patreon.com/TheEmpowerhoodPodcast/shop . Other great ways to support us are to follow us on Instagram or leave us an Apple or Spotify review. 

Ever heard of music therapy for children? I had but really didn’t really know what it was! Ashley Koch joins us in episode 68 to share her story of how she found her calling(or really how it found her) in music therapy and just how incredible it is for children and adults. Learning disabilities, motor and developmental skills, stress management, fun! You name it, music can do wonders. Ashley now uses music therapy to homeschool her own children and can’t wait to see what the future brings in each season of life. If your child is having trouble in school or you want to introduce them to music this episode is for you!Thank you so much for being here. Want to help support The Empowerhood Podcast? With a small monthly donation you can join our community Patreon group and help keep us going and growing every single week..  https://www.patreon.com/TheEmpowerhoodPodcast/shop . Other great ways to support us are to follow us on Instagram or leave us an Apple or Spotify review.