Shameless Leadership (Sara Dean)

Today I’m going to get you all caught up my current life craziness, which mostly entails the #damndog’s diarrhea and more IVF “fact finding”. From there we’ll dive into meditation.    I fully admit to being a sucky meditator, but I think it’s important and potentially critical at this time in my life, so I’m determined to stick with it.    Today, I’ll share with you: Why I’m meditating 5 days a week How to keep meditions super simple  The meditation app I’m using (that I love!) The benefits of meditation How meditation can impact weight loss, sleep, depression, anxiety, quality of life Why YOU should meditate too – even if you suck at it   Related Links: Article: 10 Science Based Reasons to Start Meditating Today Headspace App   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nothing is as bad as it seems. Nothing is as great as it seems.   I have been taught this lesson over the years and I needed it this week – a few times. Life threw me for a few loops this week. 5 loops to be exact. There was the mold scare, the car scare, the dog scare, my mom’s medical emergency, and Vinnie’s trip to the ER.    My tendency is to PANIC when I get hit with these curve balls. While I’m outwardly very calm, internally I am planning for the worst in every way. I jump to conclusions, let my mind race endlessly, and assume my pretty little life will be irreparably harmed.    Do you do this? Please tell me I’m not alone.    But, here’s the TRUTH…..   Just to the left (or right) of your internal freak out is this: It will all be ok You are strong – phsycially, mentally, emotionally You have a great support network – husband, friends, family, fan club You are resourceful  You are adaptable You are a fighter You are resilient  You will learn from every challenge You will grow from every challenge     Therefore, it is imperative that when faced with a challenge or hardship, you must: Be up for the challenge Be ready to dig deep Be ready to stretch yourself in uncomfortable ways Take the space and time you need  Ask for help  Make concessions  Process     Tune in to hear by 5 crises and how I my perspective saved me from my panic.   Links Mentioned: SMA Episode 62: Carrie Wilkerson – The Barefoot Executive Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kara Loewentheil is a Master Certified Coach and Host of the UnF*ck Your Brain Podcast. Three years ago she did what every Jewish parent dreams of for their child: She left her legal career running a think tank to become a life coach. Now she teaches feminist women how to undo the effects of patriarchy in their brains and create true authentic confidence from inside. She has grown her coaching business from zero to seven figures in the last 3 years and is passionate about teaching women how to overcome anxiety and self-doubt so they can take on the world. I have recommended Kara’s podcast more than any other in the last 6 months and so many people have come back to tell me it has transformed their mental game. So, I knew I needed to get Kara on the show. Whether you’re wanting to change the way you feel about your body or become a master thought manager in order to change the outcomes in your life, Kara’s brilliance will transform your thought patterns and shift your behavior in powerful ways.  Listen in to hear Kara share: What thought work is and the power you have to choose your thoughts The practice of shifting into neutral thoughts, rather than forcing ourselves into positive thoughts Why you should embrace that all humans suffer Why thought work is more valuable and beneficial than any diet How thought work can shift your relationship with your body Links mentioned: Connect with Kara: Unf*ck Your Brain Kara’s free challenge: Free Five-Day Confidence Challenge Kara’s podcast: Unf*ck Your Brain Podcast Thank you to our sponsors: Free Fly: You can get 20% off when you visit Free Fly and use promo code SHAMELESS. KiwiCo: Visit KiwiCo and get your first crate free! BarkBox: Get a FREE EXTRA MONTH of Barkbox with any 6 or 12-month subscription by visiting BarkBox. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Meagan Francis is a mom of five kids ages 11 - 22, author, writer, and co-host of The Mom Hour podcast. She regularly speaks and coaches women and moms on building sane and satisfying lives, embracing creativity, and reinventing their careers. Meagan has been momming for her entire adulthood, having her first child in her early twenties. She has been writing, blogging, and reinventing herself online for 15 years. She has learned a lot of lessons along the way. Her energy is infectious and her perspectives are so refreshing.  Listen in to hear Meagan share: How current times are taking us back to Newbornland How she’s finding and creating joy in unpredictable times How she went from blogging to podcasting (and whether you should start a blog or a podcast!) How moms can find happiness and satisfaction in spite of the media telling us that motherhood is hard, overwhelming, and frustrating Why she is actively opting out and rejecting the current COVID climate around homeschooling The value of embracing constant reinvention Links mentioned: Connect with Meagan and The Mom Hour Podcast Learn about Meagan’s other podcasts The Mom Hour on IG Meagan on IG Thank you to our sponsors: Kosmatology: Kosmatology has a great offer for our listeners: for any first-time purchasers, you receive 15% off. To get 15% off your first order, go to Kosmatology.com​ and use code shameless at checkout.  StoryWorth: Get started right away without the need for shipping by going to StoryWorth.com/shameless. You’ll get $10 off your first purchase!   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Last week was my Infirmary Tour. With my mom in town for a week, we visited sick & recovering friends/relatives and sat at my sister’s bedside as she successfully endured thyroid surgery.    Then Vinnie got a staph infection.   Then I got my period early.    Then I realized I had no tampons.    It was a week of not getting done any of the things I NEEDED to get done and not sitting in my own space to do the things I normally do.    This is me NOT at my finest. Not at my most positive. But still trying to be a damn Pollyanna.    It’s not all rainbows & unicorns, friends.    Oh, and apparently Vinnie likes my belly button.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Natalie Hixson is a Shameless Mom, wife, auntie and certified professional life coach who helps discouraged moms overcome destructive anger and burnout. After learning to thrive in motherhood and process anger in a healthy way, Natalie became convicted to help other moms avoid those dark years of motherhood by helping them to appreciate and process their anger, learn to identify their triggers, and ultimately control their reaction to those triggering situations. She enjoys her own motherhood journey by hanging with her husband Mike and their three daughters in beautiful Bozeman, Montana. She recharges with Jesus, coffee and adventures with her family like skiing in the winter, hiking and swimming in the summer and traveling year-round! Natalie was extremely transparent and generous in sharing her experience with destructive anger in motherhood in this episode. So many of you have reached out to me asking to talk more about anger and I couldn’t be more grateful to Natalie for taking this DEEP dive into this topic with me.  Listen in to hear Natalie share: What it was like to grow up in an angry household How her anger got out of control, destructive and dangerous in motherhood How she overcame destructive anger The difference between healthy anger and destructive anger How to use “calm down time” to re regulate emotions during angry moments How to teach your kids about anger through your own anger management Why you need to validate your anger and/or mom guilt How to process anger in safe and healthy ways Why conflict in your household can be healthy and productive How to own your anger with your kids Links mentioned: Join the Shameless Mom Con Collective Connect with Natalie Natalie on FB Natalie on IG Natalie on Pinterest Get Natalie’s Trigger Tracker Thank you to our sponsors: Openfit: Right now, my listeners get an extended 14-day FREE trial membership to OPENFIT when you text SHAMELESS to 505050. EveryPlate: Check out delicious meal delivery options at EveryPlate.com. Talkspace: To match with your perfect therapist for a fraction of the price of traditional therapy, go to talkspace.com, Make sure to use the code SHAMELESS to get $100 off your first month and show your support for the show.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today’s episode we will be talking about how to become more powerful in your daily life and how becoming powerful will help you with all goals in all areas of your life. I’m going to give you five tips on how to perpetuate power and how potty training has created more power for us in our house. We will be talking about in this episode: Even though my son was standing in a puddle of his own pee and investigating his poop with a flashlight he has gained that confidence and power that he can go to the potty all by himself. This make me feel like he is more powerful. Who are the people that you think are powerful and what do they hold? You’re not really powerful unless other people think you are powerful. Tip number 1: get clear on goals and know why they are important—my son has the power to hold his bladder for hours but didn’t realize it until it was important for using the potty Tip number 2: consistently self-power—is this taking me closer or further from a goal. Don’t waste your time on something that is taking you further away from a goal. Tip number 3: remove negative thinking—any time you use negative energy on something you have wasted time and energy that could have been positive Tip number 4: take calculated risks—I’m not saying take risks that can be potentially damaging but if you don’t take risks you will get stuck. You don’t want this! Tip number 5: put yourself first—you can be more self-less if you are more selfish.  Links Mentioned: Don't forget to join us for all the episodes at www.theselfishmomacademy.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There is a huge difference between being connected and actually connecting.  Most of us are very connected. We are constantly tapped into social media, news outlets, our inboxes, TV shows, games & apps on our phone, and online shopping. So many opportunities to be connected each day, right?!  How are these connections making you feel?  Being connected in so many places and spaces that don’t allow for deep connection and vulnerability with other humans can leave us feeling drained, exhausted, frustrated, hopeless, powerless, depressed, and anxious. Being so constantly connected can instill self doubt, fear, and anger. Being constantly connected can feel so constricting. On the other hand, actually connecting in deep and meaningful relationships feels restorative, regenerative, freeing and joy filled. Meaningful connecting can instill hope and power and gratitude. This feels expansive instead of constricting. Connecting positive impacts our physical, mental, and emotional health. YES! Can you see the difference between being connected vs actually connecting? It’s pretty profound.  Listen in to learn how you can spend less time being connected and more time actually connecting.  Links mentioned: Get the free replay of my Tenacious Mamas Business & Leadership Workshop: email us at info@shamelessmom.com Thank you to our sponsor: Cove: Go to withcove.com/shamelessmom for 50% off your first month of medication and free two day shipping. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Known for her raw, honest, and grounded approach to self-help and spirituality, Elizabeth DiAlto specializes in helping women embody self love, healing, wholeness, and liberation. Her body of work has evolved out of 12+ years of experience across several fields including: Fitness, Self-Help, Wellness, Spirituality, Coaching, Personal Development, and Healing -- the last seven of which she’s spent helping women untame themselves. Everything she does is also informed by her own healing and education around embodiment, energy medicine, self love, collective liberation, boundaries, body image, trauma, healthy relationships, and identity. Elizabeth is the creator of Wild Soul Movement and the Wild Soul Archetypes Quiz, founder of The Institute for EMBODIED Living, and host of the EMBODIED podcast - which has been downloaded over 3 million times. I’ve known Elizabeth for over 10 years. Watching the evolution of her work has been incredible. She shares her growth in such beautiful ways - that allow you to grow within her. You’re going to love this conversation. Listen in to hear Elizabeth share: The importance of listening inward to gain self knowledge and expand your perception of what you think you’re capable of The energetic exchange that is an archetype Why learning about your Wild Soul Archetype will help you lean more into who you already are but might not be able to see yet The importance of healing, wholeness and liberation for all moms Her 5 part framework for self love Why it’s important and LIBERATING to identify what you suck at Specific practices to get grounded and get out of your mind and into your body Links mentioned: Connect with Elizabeth Take the Wild Soul Archetype Quiz Listen to Elizabeth’s Podcast: Embodied Download the Embodiment Bible: Embodiment Bible Elizabeth on Instagram Elizabeth on YouTube Elizabeth on Facebook Thank you to our sponsors: Talkspace: To match with your perfect therapist for a fraction of the price of traditional therapy, go to talkspace.com, Make sure to use the code SHAMELESS to get $100 off your first month and show your support for the show. Lovevery: Free shipping at lovevery.com/shamelessand use the code SHAMELESS at checkout. Ana Luisa: Go treat yourself and your loved ones and use my code SHAMELESS to get 10% off at https://www.analuisa.com/shameless. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Melissa DaSilva is a clinical social worker and founder of the group practice East Coast Mental Wellness in Providence, RI. She serves as an individual and couples therapist, as well as a group facilitator. She has spent many years working in schools as a school social worker and has an upcoming podcast titled Pride Connections.   Melissa is an expert in the field of transgender topics, and works with many trans and nonbinary youth to provide support throughout their transition. She collaborates with outside providers to ensure comprehensive care for those who wish to pursue physical transition. Melissa enjoys working with clients on LGBTQ topics, academic issues, bipolar disorder, and personality disorders. She also has experience supporting clients with anxiety, depression, and life transitions. Her practice is welcoming towards all genders and sexualities, as well as poly and kink couples. She uses a variety of approaches in her therapy including pet therapy, meditation, and places a lot of focus on sleep and nutritional health. When Melissa isn't running her business she is creating art and selling it at local markets.    Listen in to hear Melissa share: What all the letters mean in LGBTQQIA (they are all different and all important) What the terms cisgender, non-binary, gender-expansive and gender fluid mean The difference between sex and gender How to talk to explain sexual orientation and gender to kids in very simple terms How can you and your family be supportive of LGBTQQIA children How to can you be supportive if you suspect your child might be LGBTQQIA How to ask someone about their sexual orientation and/or gender expression How to use gender pronouns correctly and appropriately   Links Mentioned: Podcast Website: PrideConnections.com Private Practice Website: eastcoastmentalwellness.com Melissa’s Email: Melissa@prideconnections.com   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Renee Metty, M.Ed is a Shameless Mom to 3 kids, ages 7, 9, 11 and is the Founder and CEO of With Pause™. She believes that one’s greatest asset is the quality of attention you bring to every aspect of your experience. Through speaking, workshops and training, With Pause™ boosts your ability to develop richer connections, manage stress, collaborate effectively and renew your mental clarity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Time is possibly your most valuable and finite asset. Especially after becoming a mom, it can constantly feel like there is never enough time.  Managing timing and having confidence around time management makes goes a long way in feeling confident you can achieve your goals. If you feel there is never enough time, you’ll feel like you never get to work toward your dreams. If you feel like you have a good grip on your time, you’ll feel a sense of spaciousness in your days - as if you have the space to work toward all the things you want to make happen. This is a game-changer. In this episode I’m going to share 7 ways to take back your time, including a slightly controversial opinion about unscheduling, canceling and quitting things every single week. If you’re ready to take back some time in order to create more mental space and more time to yourself to work toward your dreams, create more joy, or just take a darn nap, this episode is for you. Links mentioned: 2020 Plan & Prep Pajama Party: shamelessmom.com/pajamaparty SMA Ep 105: 7 Secrets To Slow Down & Simplify https://shamelessmom.com/episode/105-7-secrets-to-slow-down-simplify/ SMA Ep 379: 4 Time Management Mindset Shifts For Moms https://shamelessmom.com/episode/4-time-management-mindset-shifts-for-moms/ Thank you to our sponsors: Talkspace: To match with your perfect therapist for a fraction of the price of traditional therapy, go to talkspace.com, Make sure to use the code SHAMELESS to get $100 off your first month and show your support for the show. Rothy’s: To get free shipping on any order of Rothy’s shoes, as well as free returns, go to www.rothys.com and use the code SHAMELESS at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I very unexpectedly ended up on crutches last week. Although, I guess it’s rare that anyone plans to be on crutches….   In any case, crutches were NOT in my plan as I trained for an upcoming 10K or planned a trip to the beach for the holiday weekend.    But, I fell on my way to the bathroom in the middle of the night (#41goingon86) and badly sprained my ankle. I spent the night at the ER – like the overnight – from 2:30-7:30am on a Saturday night - the best time to land one’s self at the ER, right?    I came home totally cool with my prognosis: no break (phew!!!), but a bad sprain, crutches for the foreseeable future, no weight bearing until I can get in to the orthopedist.    There is a time in my life – ok MOST of my life – that this whole turn of events would have sent me into a massive tailspin. I’m not one to live life spontaneously or embrace roadblocks. I like control. Like, all. the. time.    I have done a lot of work on myself in the last few years – work that allows me to take life in stride, even though that is not my nature. This work has pushed me to live my life in a Growth Mindset – seeing opportunity at every turn – even when I’m on my bedroom floor, screaming, in the fetal position, and about to barf because I’m sure I’ve broken my ankle in the middle of the night.    Listen in to this episode to hear how YOU can adopt a Growth Mindset and get rid of your Fixed Mindset tendencies that might be holding you back. I share 7 different practices and mindset examples that illustrate the difference between a Growth Mindset and a Fixed Mindset.    Understanding how to embrace a Growth Mindset will change everything about your life – from the way you parent (I give you some great examples) to the way you follow your professional ambitions. This is good stuff, friends.    Links Mentioned: Book: Mindset by Carol Dweck Sponsor: Aaptiv.com (use code SMA30 for a free 30 day trial) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Shaunda Head is a Shameless Mom to her 2 year old daughter and a Shameless full time caretaker of her 96 year old Granny. She is also an Atlanta-based brand strategist and digital marketer who helps women align ALL THE THINGS in their brand so that their brand message can impact more powerfully. She creates and implements strategies in marketing, branding and copy to help her clients SHOW UP as their whole selves, and drive higher connection with their true, dream clients. Shaunda has 16 years of experience, including brand design, marketing, communications and business development for global companies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), UPS and E! Entertainment Television. She now coaches and consults for emerging and growing entrepreneurs — past clients consist of coaches, podcasters, stylists, therapists, bloggers, e-commerce site owners and more. Listen in to hear Shaunda share: How she juggles taking care of her 96 year old grandmother and 2 year old daughter full time - while running her business from home How she leans into flow and alignment to thrive in her life and grow her business How she started relying on her intuition and shut out the noise in 2020 How she leveraged being the only Black person and the only woman in many spaces inspired her career What it’s like to be a caretaker in a multigenerational household The decision process of bringing her grandmother to live with her immediately following the loss of her mother How taking care of her grandmother prepared her for motherhood What she wants her daughter to remember about growing up in a multigenerational household The biggest gifts and biggest challenges of being a caregiver to 2 generations at the same time Links mentioned: Connect with Shaunda Take Shaunda’s branding quiz Shaunda on IG Shaunda on FB   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kelly Altman is a certified health coach, a fitness business owner and a Shameless Mom to 4 kids, ages 2-14. Growing up overweight and lacking energy she fell in love with exercise and the way it made her feel in her 20's and became an entrepreneur by "accident" when she and her husband, Jay, started a fitness business in 2010. After taking a back seat to the business when her 3rd child was born it was only then that she started to realize how much of her own thoughts, feelings, and desires were taking a back seat in so many aspects of her life. She knew something had to change when her physical and mental health were suffering and she was ready to play by her own 'rules' - including stopping the endless cycle of 'on and off' again dieting that had manifested when she became the face of a fitness business. She became a health coach to help busy women see that in their life there is nothing more important than their physical and mental health and that they can put themselves first even when they need and want to show up for everyone else. Through her one-on-one coaching, group coaching, and her new on-line course she helps women upgrade their lifestyle by forming their own rules around eating, exercise, and their daily habits so they can gain the energy and confidence they desire. Listen in to hear Kelly share: The impact of moving 13 times in her childhood and how it built her resiliency Her compromise to work at a job she didn’t like to keep medical benefits for her daughter’s health condition How she left corporate in order to help her husband grow their fitness business How diet culture damaged her - while she was selling diet programs How her dieting compromised her fertility Her shift from following other’s lead to become a leader in her own right How she asked her husband for support and not permission in her building her own dreams The gift of COVID - How she has totally shifted her business to position herself as a leader and be in total alignment with her core values The most important thing you can do to make change How to put yourself first - even with a ton of people counting on you Links mentioned: Join my 2021 Plan & Prep Pajama Party Connect with Kelly Join the Wait List for Kelly’s Lifestyle Upgrade Challenge Kelly on Facebook Kelly on Instagram Thank you to our sponsor: Homeschool Magnet: Go to Homeschoomagnet.com and join the growing waitlist!   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Who wants to be a millionaire? [stands up, raises both hands, and jumps up & down] I DO. Why is there shame for women around desiring massive success and wealth building? I’ll be honest. I find this really disturbing and frustrating. Are men bashful about success and wanting to get rich?  NO. In this episode, we are going to dig into reasons women desire wealth and the specific reasons I want to be a millionaire.  I will also share why I refuse to be shy or apologetic about this and how we are doing all women and our children a huge disservice when we keep our ambitions quiet and secretive. Women openly striving for high levels of success, whether through a job title or a certain income level, do not cultivate a culture of greed. On the contrary, women striving for high levels of success cultivate a culture of ambition, focus, and drive that often comes from a place of brilliant intellect, insight, and compassion that the world desperately needs. If you have self-doubt and questions of worthiness when it comes to success and wealth this episode is for you. Tune in to hear the specific steps I’m taking to become a millionaire and the steps you can take to start upleveling to the next level of success you desire in your life.  This episode is jam-packed and super meaty. Be prepared to take some notes.  Please share this episode with the women in your life who want more success and more money! Links Mentioned: Join our FREE, private Facebook community: Shameless Mom Article: I Want To Be Rich And I’m Not Sorry Thank you to our sponsors: Weebly: Build a beautiful website and a successful online business with Weebly. Go to Weebly to get 15% off your first purchase. Wing: Get $25 off your first cell phone bill when you go to Wing, click Join Wing and enter the code SHAMELESS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Wanna know the very best way to stay stuck and lost in your life? Keep telling yourself, “I’m stuck, I’m lost, I’m confused, I don’t know my passion… Your words matter and your thoughts matter.  Your words create your thoughts. Your thoughts create your beliefs. Your beliefs create your actions. Your actions create your dreams – or your disasters. If you’re telling yourself you’re stuck, you will stay stuck. If you’re telling yourself you’re lost, you’ll stay lost. Soooo… What if you started telling yourself, “ I’m curious, I’m looking, I’m learning, I’m exploring, I’m gaining clarity”??? If you tell yourself you’re learning and exploring and gaining clarity, you’ll start noticing new things around you. You’ll start seeing things in a new light. You’ll feel your perspective shift – because you’ve given yourself permission to be open to the process of growth, rather than staying shut off and unable to bring in a new energy.  You must stop blocking the very energy you need to get unstuck, the very energy you need to start finding yourself.  Here are 6 action steps you can take today to stop staying stuck in your stories and lost in your life: Listen to SMA Ep 247 How to Pursue Your Passions Upgrade your language Get curious Create space and grace for exploration, learning, dreaming Write down your dreams and desires – the dreams you write down are the dreams that will most likely to happen Don’t need all the answers now - recognize you’re in a phase and embrace the phase for what it is Listen in for a deep dive into these 6 action steps! Links mentioned: SMA Episode 247: 7 Steps To Find Your Passion Thank you to our sponsors: Bioclarity: So go to BioClarity.com and get 40% off skincare routines PLUS an additional 15% off EVERYTHING on their Bioclarity when you use my code SHAMELESS at checkout. ThirdLove: To find the perfect fitting bra and get 15% off your first purchase got to Third Love Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Let’s talk about taking a flying leap! So many times we don’t make certain decisions or do certain things because we think we can’t. We are going to talk about ways to get to that place to take a leap and how to take a flying leap and make it work. Today we are going to talk about: Scariest place is at the start line! Focus on progress not perfection How do you schedule time to take a leap? How do you make your leap part of your identity? Stalking… Do it! Links Mentioned: www.youtube.com/my120poundlife  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Abby Medcalf is a Relationship Maven, psychologist, author, podcast host, and Tedx speaker who has helped thousands of people think differently so they can create connection, ease, and joy in their relationships (especially the one with yourself)! With her unique background in both business and counseling, she brings a fresh, effective perspective to life’s struggles using humor and her direct, no-nonsense style. With over 30 years of experience, Abby is a recognized authority and sought-after speaker at organizations such as Google, Apple, AT&T, Kaiser, PG&E, American Airlines, and Chevron. She’s been a featured expert on CBS and ABC news, and has been a contributor to Huff Post, Women’s Health, and Bustle. She’s the author of the #1 Amazon best-selling book, “Be Happily Married, Even if Your Partner Won’t Do a Thing,” and the host of the top-rated “Relationships Made Easy” Podcast. Her new book, "Negative Thinking Sucks (and Not in a Good Way) will be out soon! Listen in to hear Abby share: How her path as a recovering heroin addict living in Israel led her to her current work Why competition, not communication, is crushing your relationships What competition in relationships looks like The concept of sharing, adding, and subtracting resources A total reconceptualization of sharing “plates” with your partner in terms of each other’s duties and responsibilities How to stop feeling like you’re always doing more than your partner The exact way to have a conversation around household duties and division of labor How to practice having faith in love and not fear How confirmation bias erodes our relationships and how to see your relationships through a healthier lense Acknowledging that we all want the same thing - to feel love, connected, and accepted Links mentioned: Get my free 15 Minute Manifest Connect with Abby Free Guide: The Complete Guide To Effective Communication In Every Relationship Instagram: @abbymedcalfthriving Facebook LinkedIn Twitter YouTube Channel: Abby Medcalf Thriving Thank you to our sponsor: Talkspace: To match with your perfect therapist for a fraction of the price of traditional therapy, go to talkspace.com, Make sure to use the code SHAMELESS to get $100 off your first month and show your support for the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I’ve been thinking about the Attitude Adjustments that are necessary in life when one wants to move forward to accomplish great things. Cause we all want to move forward and accomplish great things this year, right?!   Here are 3 Attitude Adjustments you need to make now (warning: controversial!)   What you focus on expands. You are only as busy as you think you are.  You can’t have it all – right now – and that is ok.   Perspective is everything. I challenge you to look for new perspectives in this fresh, new year. Don’t let yourself stay in one place. Move – just a little bit forward every day. Work on your head space and your actions will reflect your new attitudes. This is crucial. And you deserve it. Because you deserve to have the best year.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Let’s get real. Real fast. Shit happens.  We all have brutally painful moments in life where everything changes. Dreams are lost, hearts are broken, grief is all consuming, the pain is REAL.  And sometimes relentless. There is a time and place to sit in your pain. And there is a time and place to turn your pain into POWER. Today, I’m going to share 4 of my biggest struggles that I turned into 4 of my biggest strengths. These struggles have touched every area of my life. I know you’ll be able to relate to at least one of them, possibly all of them. Tune in, take notes, and then get to work.  Consider how you can start turning your struggles into your strengths by moving away from the limits of pain and into alllll of your power. Links Mentioned: SMA Episode 214: Angela Stowell: On Grief Growth and Giving Thank you to our sponsors: Prep Dish: To get your first two weeks of paleo/gluten free meal plans, recipes, and grocery lists for free, go to Prep Dish. care/of: For 25% off your first month of personalized care/of vitamins, visit Care/Of and enter the code SHAMELESS at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are you the kind of mother who keeps adding more and more things to your plate without giving any consideration to moving certain things OFF the plate to make space for the new stuff?  Do you just keep piling and piling and piling until things start to fall off the plate, causing you great anxiety, or the entire plate breaks from the pressure and weight of too many things? Ahhh, the overwhelm of motherhood.  Something I’ve noticed - especially among super driven, perfectionistic, people pleasing moms - is that we really struggle to deprioritize anything when certain things need to be prioritized.  Instead, we just keep prioritizing alllll the things.  Like, we want to prove we can handle all the pressure.  We want that gold star for holding it all together - even in times of crisis.  We want the extra credit.  110%.  A++.   “I’m fine”, you tell yourself and everyone around you.   But you’re not.  And that’s ok. When moms are going through something tough, a tough day or week or season, you have the opportunity to do things differently.  You don’t have to keep doing all the things.  In fact, the universe may be screaming at you to STOP DOING ALL THE THINGS.   In this episode, I talk through how to shift your mindset and your action steps in order to keep going without drowning in tough times.  If you feel like you need permission to shift your expectations, say no, hold boundaries, take space, and let yourself laugh in the face of adversity, this episode is for you. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Know Thy Triggers.   I say this to my gym members all the time. You have to know what triggers you, if you want to really own the heck out of your life. Knowing your triggers allows you to say yes to the right things and no to the wrong things. Knowing your triggers helps you identify what you want to fight for and what fights are a waste of your time.    Last week I put up a fight. A couple times.    I defended my child.   I defended all women.   Then I wrote a manifesto.    At the end of the week, I came to see there are things I will always fight for. There are people I will always defend, even if I take a beating in the process.    I know what’s right for ME.    I hope this episode helps you define what’s right for YOU.   Here’s my manifesto:   Nasty Woman Manifesto   Stand for women Stand for children  Stand up to bullies Take the high road Where there is not a path, create one When you listen, truly hear Share Fight for the underdog Don’t back down Work for the greater good Connect Do not fear your enemy Challenge the status quo Empower the powerless  Pay your fair share   Will you do yourself a favor and write your manifesto? You can use any of mine you want to get you started!    Send me your manifestos to: sara@shamelessmom.com. I would love to share some other Shameless Moms’ manifestos on an upcoming podcast!   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Melissa Fox Lehman (layman) is the CEO and co-founder of Pogo Rides. For the last 15 years, she’s been helping Fortune 50 companies and nonprofits develop strategy and roll-out global programs. She loves developing actionable strategy and seeing those strategies brought to life. When she became a mom she knew she wanted to focus her energies on building something to make life easier for busy parents. This was the genesis for Pogo.   Melissa and her team are committed to helping families find safe and flexible transportation for their school-age children. As a mother of two, she understands the logistical challenges faced by busy parents of busy kids and believes in the power of communities to help each other live fuller and less stressful lives. Safety, community, and ease are the core tenants of Pogo Rides.   I wanted to have Melissa on the show to talk about how her view of work changed after she had kids. She very consciously chose to shift directions and build a business that could support other families. Her professional mission has evolved right along side her path in motherhood, as I think often happens.    Listen in to hear Melissa share: The power of sharing in your community  Why it’s ok to outsource duties Why asking for support helps you and your community How we can create a lot more win/win opportunities among our neighbors How to revolutionize your carpool network   Links Mentioned: Website: Pogorides.com Melissa’s Email: mlehman@pogorides.com Sponsor: aaptiv.com (use code SMA30 for free 30 day trial)   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Every single time I mention being diagnosed with ADHD in my forties, women reach out to me. This has become the thing middle-aged women want to connect with me about the most. 10 years ago, I could have never guessed I would be talking about the importance of brain health for women leaders. This wasn’t something that was on my radar until two things happened: I realized through a series of doctors and diagnoses over the course of a decade that my brain is not average.  Women all around me started hitting their mid-forties and questioning, “What is even happening in my head?!” Brain health refers to the overall well-being and optimal functioning of the brain throughout a person's life. This includes various aspects of cognitive, emotional, and neurological functioning. In addition to our brain health is our mental health. Mental health refers to our emotional and psychological well-being, including how we think, feel, and act. Our brain health can definitely impact our mental health and vice versa.   There is so much information coming out about women’s brains and ways in which our neurodiversity has been overlooked for generations. On top of this, many women are having stunning realizations about their brain health at a time in their lives when so many other aspects of our health and well-being are running wild (hello, perimenopause!)   The more we talk about what is happening with women’s brains in this season of life, the more we can get the support we need to thrive in our personal and professional lives and the more likely we are to be able to maintain function optimally in all the roles that are most meaningful to us.   In this episode, I talk about my own brain health, my path to multiple diagnoses, and how I’m currently taking care of my brain. I want you to see this example of how a neurodiverse leader is still SHINING in this extraordinary season of life. It took me years (decades) to put all these pieces together. My hope is that sharing my story will help other women connect essential dots in their lives much more quickly!  Links Mentioned: ADHD Coach for Women, Emma Magenta: https://emmamagentacoaching.com/ Emma Magenta on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emmamagentacoaching We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessleadership.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you’re a lover of a good To Do List, but not great at accomplishing the big items on your list, you NEED a little lesson in GSD.    Remember, every time you say yes to one thing, you are saying no to many other things.    In this episode, you’ll learn how to:   Prioritize the things that will move you closer to a goal or forward in some area of your life Stop doing the mundane things that don’t move your forward (you don’t have to fold the laundry, people) Create a functional GSD  Be ok with the incompletion of insignificant tasks  Manage Parkinson’s Law more efficiently Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I’m guessing someone at some point told you something like, “If you take good care of yourself, you’ll be so much more able to take good care of others.”   Can we just call BS on this?!?   First of all, you are allowed to take good care of yourself because you damn well deserve it, not because you need to serve others better.    AND…   When is the last time anyone ever told a dude to take good care of himself so he could better serve others?   Ummmm, never.  You wear a million hats and serve others in a million ways.  But if you don’t serve yourself first, you won’t see the beauty in any of it.  You’ll be anxious, bitter, overwhelmed, exhausted, and uninspired to use your best gifts to their full capacity.  When you show up in any role do it FOR YOU. Prove how strong you are FOR YOU. Show how patient you are FOR YOU. Let yourself cry FOR YOU. Be assertive with your voice FOR YOU. Share your time and energy FOR YOU. Laugh out loud FOR YOU. Become an artist FOR YOU. Run a marathon FOR YOU. Quit your job FOR YOU. Go for the promotion FOR YOU. The idea that you should take care of yourself so you can better take care of others is bullshit. Take care of yourself because you are a hero, friend, mother, daughter, visionary, QUEEN, ruler, woman who damn well deserves to take care of yourself FOR YOU.   Thank you to our sponsor: care of: For 25% off your first month of personalized care/of vitamins, visit www.takecareof.com and enter the code SHAMELESS at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Wanting to be courageous and actually being courageous can be two really different things. Courage takes intention. Courage takes guts – and sometimes grit. Courage takes practice. Today I’m going to share 4 ways you can start practicing courageous acts on a more regular basis, so you can: Stand up. Stand out. Stand when your knees shake.  Stand when your voice quivers.  Meet fear in the face.  Practice scary things.  Dream big.  Act big. I’m going to talk about how to: Meet fear in the face Admit failure Stand up for something Listen more if you’re an extrovert OR Share more if you’re an introvert Warning: practicing these 4 things might make you a badass. Links Mentioned: SMA Episode 149: Stop Saying Sorry Thank you to our sponsors:  Lola: Get 100% organic tampons delivered right to your door for 60% off. Go to My Lola and use the code SHAMELESS at checkout. KIND: For healthy, delicious snack bars go to Kind Snacks to get 10 KIND Bars for free – just pay shipping! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Do you suck at time management?  I get it. I’ve been there. Like, this week. I have to laugh at the timing of this episode. I recorded it a few weeks ago, but at the time of writing this show description, my time couldn’t feel more tight. It has been one of those weeks where I’m constantly having to follow my own advice.  In a week when all the things are exploding and imploding, I’m having to be exceptionally clear around why I’m spending time on every single task - to make sure that I’m not prioritizing the wrong thing at the wrong time. This is HARD. This means that I’m dropping a few balls - on purpose. And that’s ok. Time management is not about getting all the things done on time. It’s about getting the right things done at the right time. It’s about identifying what the “right things” even are. Listen in to this episode to learn how to: Work with your vision instead of against it when it comes to prioritization Gain clarity around action steps versus tasks (so important!) ID how you engage in procrastination and perfectionism (and how to stop) Eliminate/automate/delegate Links mentioned: Enrollment is open for Momentum Mamas! Join our life-changing membership community here: Momentum Thank you to our sponsors: BruMate: Right now, Brumate is giving my/our listeners a special discount of 15% off your first order when you go to www.brumate.com and use our code SHAMELESS15, that's BruMate. Honey: Get Honey for FREE at Honey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You may know by now that I could preach all day about how women are programmed by the patriarchy to show up in this world in very specific ways that primarily (and almost exclusively) benefit white men. Please know when I say “patriarchy” I am referring to a system that is not only harmful to women but also undermines and completely stunts the emotional development of most men. This system benefits few, but the few who benefit have the most tremendous power - globally. Our patriarchal society has created numerous social constructs that lead us to unknowingly behave in ways that benefit some (mostly men) while holding others back (including but not limited to: women, people of color, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, people with neuro diversities, people with disabilities, and people with larger bodies). Over the years, I’ve talked about mom guilt as a social construct and imposter syndrome as a social construct. Both of these social constructs are part of a system that intentionally makes women and moms think and behave in specific ways that ultimately limit how they show up in the world. These limitations create more space for others (most commonly white men) to have more opportunities to find success, build wealth, and amass power.   In today’s episode, I’m going to talk about perfectionism as a social construct that largely impacts women. We will dig into different forms of perfectionism, as well as how you can start to reject perfectionism to get out of your head and get on with your life. Once you see perfectionism for what it is, I hope you are able to reframe your mindset around it to release some of the internal expectations that have perhaps been holding you back for years - if not decades. Buckle up. This is a good one!   Links mentioned: NYU Article: Problematizing Perfectionism: A Closer Look at the Perfectionism Construct Harvard Business Review Article: How Perfectionists Can Get Out of Their Own Way Harvard Business Review Article: Stop Telling Women They Have Imposter Syndrome  Book: Inclusion on Purpose by Rushika Tulshyan We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessleadership.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I have been getting the most amazing emails with feedback and love from our Shameless Mom listeners. I chose 2 recent emails to share with you today. Claire and Kati are two Shameless Moms who sent me their stories and shared how the SMA has impacted their lives. I was touched and honored to receive their love and support.    Listen in to hear how the Shameless Mom Academy has impacted these two mamas daily lives. In different ways, they have learned to take baby steps, every day. They have learned to think a little bigger and start considering their own stories and their own legacies. This is the good stuff, friends….   Claire shares her story of successful IVF and unsuccessful IVF. Claire lives in France (and has invited me to come drink wine with her – YES, PLEASE). She explains how the French healthcare system handles infertility differently than US healthcare system, which I find fascinating.    Kati shares her story of being a stay at home mom for the last 18 years while raising 4 children. She talks about the pressure she has put on herself over the years – and how she is starting to live bigger and better by letting go of her self imposed expectations.    Thank you Claire and Kati for sharing with me and for allowing me to share your stories with our community! Much love to you both!   Links Mentioned:   Ep 31 Wine Not: The Truth About Alcohol and Fat Loss Ep 59 How to Create Your Own Miracle Morning Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I am an amazing stalker and I totally own that! I’m not a creeper, because there is a difference! I try to use my stalking powers for good and that’s what we are talking about today. My stalking comes out of my desire to connect with certain people and figuring out how to create those connection opportunities! This is going to be fun, so join us!   There are lots of really great reasons to engage your stalking skills:   To get to know people to expand my inner circle To make your inner circle more powerful To take a leap that will get you to the next level To hang out with people that are more successful than you You want to change and shift your inner circle You get to make authentic connections with people out of your “league”     I had the desire to do this at one point in my life when I joined a mastermind. I went to my first meeting without a website or any sort of online business. Even though it was scary, I was surrounded by people that were very successful in online business. This helped me more than anything I could have done alone in my business. Ask yourself:  What can I learn about them so that I can start learning from them?   How do you start stalking? Lead with a compliment. Find common ground upon which to build a relationship. If you have nothing else to offer to them, be their supporter, their cheerleader. Make sure they know you are deliberate in wanting to have a relationship.   I was able to use these tips to connect with someone this past week that I look up to! I was able to make contact with Lewis Howes at an event.. I was very intentional about trying to connect with him, and I happened to connect 3 different times, so hopefully this will lead to more connections at some of his events in the future. At the same event, I was able to meet several other people that I admire, and I will be having them on the podcast. Even though they were out of my league, I still put myself out there and made the connection. One of them was Jill Coleman - My guru for having a healthy relationship with food - check her out at www.jillcoleman.com This isn’t super comfortable for me, but I approached my stalking at this event with no shame in my game, and it paid off! Don’t be afraid to be a stalker! Don't forget to check us out at www.shamelessmom.com.     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Amy Green Smith is a certified and credentialed life coach and hypnotherapist, masterful speaker, and personal empowerment expert. Amy uses her roles as coach, writer, podcaster, and speaker to move individuals to a place of radical personal empowerment and self-worth. With acute focus on helping people “find their voice”, she is highly sought after for her uncommon style of irreverence, wisdom, and humor and has been a featured expert in Inspired Coach Magazine and on Fox 5 San Diego. Amy and I were connected by our mutual friend - SHOUT OUT to Andrea Owen - who suspected we might hit it off. Well, we totally hit it off. I could have talked to Amy for days. Amy’s energy is infectious. The language in this episode matches the energy, so we have labeled this interview explicit. Hold on because you are in for a fantastic conversation.  Listen in to hear Amy share: About her unexpected relationship with Eminem and cross stitch The story of finding her voice and her confidence after growing up in an extremely conservative evangelical family What happens if a person is emotionally flooded in a heated conversation How to use a bridge statement in a hard conversation How to use conversational consent in your conversation Why “You are responsible for your intention, not your reception” in conversations, situations and relationships Why people will not listen to other people if they don’t feel understood What a boundary hangover looks and feels like The defense mechanism of fawning that kept us safe when we were young, but has turned women into massive people pleasers What happens when self-help goes wrong Links mentioned: Connect with Amy: amygreensmith.com Amy’s Podcast: The Bold Faced Truth Amy on Instagram Amy on Facebook Amy on Twitter Sponsor info and promo codes: Please find our sponsor information here: shamelessmom.com/sponsor/ Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kim Strobel is a teacher, a consultant, a speaker, a happiness coach, and an aspiring author. But her personal life is just as full. When she’s not firing up educators with her signature mix of excitement and experience, she’s a die-hard runner, an advocate for her community’s abandoned animals, and a family-oriented gal who loves spending time with her husband Scott, their four children, two grandkids, and three pups. It’s tempting to believe that the Chief Happiness Officer herself has never known a down day. But the truth is, sometimes you have to live through darkness before you can thrive in the light. Kim spent her childhood and teen and young adult years dealing with panic attacks and crippling fear. Diagnosis of a seizure disorder and full panic disorder followed and with them a burgeoning fear that she would never be able to achieve her dreams.  Listen in to hear how Kim overcame her crippling panic disorder and what her life looks like today - as a Happiness Coach, who is not immune to panic attack relapses. Listen in to hear Kim share: How she endured 8 years living with panic disorder, having 25 panic attacks a day at times How medical intervention and CBD therapy saved her life How to retrain your brain toward happiness 50% of your long term happiness is genetic, 10% is external circumstances, 40% is self-controlled/self-managed Top 5 happiness habits What your kids are really see when you show up imperfectly Links Mentioned: Connect with Kim Free Facebook Group Instagram Deepak Chopra Ananda meditation app Thank you to our sponsors: Scary Mommy Speaks podcast Openfit: Join the Openfit 30-day challenge and get a special extended 30-day free trial membership to Openfit when you text SHAMELESS to 303030. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kate Swenson is a proud working mama of four living in suburban Minnesota. She lives for coffee, preaches kindness like her life depends on it and is continuously surprised by the twists and turns of motherhood. Her son Cooper was diagnosed with autism when he was three years old and since then life hasn’t slowed down. Her daily life consists of keeping tiny humans alive and writing, creating videos, and influencing. She launched Finding Cooper's Voice 5 years ago for a place to share her feelings and today it is almost a million people strong.  Listen in to Kate share: How she wrote a book as a pregnant mom of 4 during the pandemic The process of her son Cooper being diagnosed with autism The taboo nature of grieving your child’s diagnosis How she held grief and relief simultaneously after Cooper’s diagnosis How she and her husband grieved differently, leading to their divorce and eventual reconciliation and remarriage What communication looks like for Cooper as a non verbal child How to use language in an inclusive way (special needs vs disabilty, autistic child vs child with autism) The backlash and bullying she received after going viral talking about autism Her new book Forever Boy: A Mother's Memoir of Autism and Finding Joy - and why every parent should read it Links mentioned: Join my business training: Build Your Courageous & Confident CEO Blueprint: shamelessmom.com/ceo Connect with Kate: https://findingcoopersvoice.mysites.io Kate on FB Kate on IG Book: Forever Boy: A Mother's Memoir of Autism and Finding Joy Sponsor info and promo codes: Please find our sponsor information here: shamelessmom.com/sponsor/ Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How do you get people to do what you want them to do? How do you help people make decisions that will benefit them? How do you help people see the potential they have to be leaders, culture shifters, and culture shapers? How do you move people to action? This might sound daunting, I know. But here’s the thing… You are already doing this in your parenting. You help your children make decisions. You help your children see their potential. You walk them into opportunities that serve them. You probably also cheer for and champion your partners and friends when they are doing something great.   How can you take the next step to become someone who inspires others to take action, to step into their gifts to lead, to advocate for themselves and others?   You can do this. I’m going to give you 4 steps to do it. 4 steps to inspire your children, partner, parents, friends, and co-workers to become better action takers. Sponsor info and promo codes: Please find our sponsor information here: shamelessmom.com/sponsor/ Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ronit Plank is a writer, teacher, and podcaster whose work has been featured in The Rumpus, The Atlantic, The Iowa Review, Writer’s Digest, The Washington Post, HuffPost, and The New York Times among others. Her stories and essays have been nominated for both the Pushcart Prize and The Best of the Net and she is author of When She Comes Back, a memoir about the loss of her mother to the guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and their eventual reconciliation. Her short story collection Home Is A Made-Up Place won Hidden River Arts’ 2020 Eludia Award and will be published in 2022. I met Ronit at an event a couple months ago and had an immediate connection with her.  As I’ve read her book, When She Comes Back, I feel like we are long lost sisters at times.  While we had different experiences growing up, we both had parents who abandoned us, creating this void of confusion in our lives that left us constantly questioning how to take up space.  If you’ve watched the docuseries Wild, Wild Country, some of Ronit’s story will be familiar, as the cult featured in the docuseries is the cult her mother joined.  Listen in to hear Ronit share: Her experience of being born on a kibbutz in Israel and living separately from her parents as a baby and toddler The effects of her mom leaving her and her little sister to follow a guru How she maintained a relationship with her mom in spite of being repeatedly abandoning her The challenge and conflicting emotions of having her mom be close to her after her daughter was born What it’s been like for her to mother after not having a mother role model The difference between the vulnerabilities we choose to share and those we must carry How knowing someone’s story creates space for compassion in spaces where compassion might not otherwise exist Links mentioned: Get my newsletter to be notified of our 2022 Plan & Prep Pajama Party Connect with Ronit and get the book: Ronit Plank IG/Twitter: @ronitplank  Thank you to our sponsor: Evite: Head over to Evite to choose from thousands of design options to create and send invitations for free. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tanmeet Sethi, MD, is a board-certified Integrative Family Medicine physician who has spent the last 25 years on the frontlines locally and globally practicing primary care and trauma work with the most marginalized communities. As a mother, she has received the impossible news that her youngest son has a fatal degenerative disease. She weaves together the expertise of both acquired knowledge with lived experience and translates them accessibly through the blend of ancient spiritual traditions and modern neuroscience. She is trained in Psychedelic Medicine, Integrative and Functional Medicine, and is a clinical researcher of psilocybin at the University of Washington. Tanmeet and I had such a fantastic conversation here that we immediately scheduled a time to meet in person following this interview. A couple of weeks ago, I got to go on a walk with her and her dog (who is the cutest thing in the world - don’t tell Piper). It was such a fun and inspiring conversation that brought me so much JOY. Tanmeet radiates joy in so many ways and I’m so grateful to call her a new friend. If you’re in Seattle, please come meet Tanmeet, Ijeoma Oluo, and me in person at her book launch at Elliott Bay Books on May 3, 2023. Listen in to hear Tanmeet share: How she came to embrace joy as an act of resistance and self-identify as a Joy Activist  How she has navigated mothering her son, Zubin, who was diagnosed with a fatal degenerative disease at age 3 The expansiveness of joy vs the narrow path of suffering The important difference between happiness and joy What her joy practice looks like when every day she sees there is something new to lose as her son’s condition worsens How to fight against whitewashed wellness (“looking on the bright side” or “finding the silver lining" and how this dampens our power) How to show up for people in your life who are going through grief - and things to avoid saying The role of our nervous system in joy How can we all step into joy activism and make your joy revolution your own Links mentioned: Parent Prep for Pride Month 2023! Join me on Tuesday, May 16th for a virtual panel to learn how to use this Pride Month 2023 as a powerful way to increase the safety and well-being of our LGBTQ+ youth:  www.PrideandJoyParents.com Meet Tanmeet, Ijeoma Oluo (and me!) at Tanmeet’s Book Launch on May 3rd: https://www.elliottbaybook.com/events/20230503 Connect with Tanmeet: www.tanmeetsethimd.com Tanmeet’s Book: Joy is my Justice Tanmeet on IG Tanmeet on FB We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“Sara, how do you run your business??”  Well, let me tell you…. I get asked business questions pretty much every single day. Everything from the nitty gritty on how to produce a podcast to how to support clients with varying needs to how to stay inspired and pumped up year after year to what kinds of software to use. SO MANY QUESTIONS!  While members of Tenacious Mamas, my business and leadership mastermind, can ask me these questions on our weekly calls, the rest of you don’t have a place to “pick my brain.” So I thought it would be fun to pull back the curtain a bit for you to see how I do things and WHY I do things the way I do.  In this episode, I’ll talk about some of the first steps you should take in building a business, as well as how to delegate, and when to know it’s the right time to scale. This is going to be so fun! If you enjoy this episode, I hope you’ll join me for my upcoming free business training on November 18th. I’ll dig even further into these same topics and more. You can sign up for free here: shamelessmom.com/business. Also, ANNOUNCEMENT… After my free business training, I’ll be opening up applications to Tenacious Mamas, my business and leadership mastermind. If you think you could benefit from business coaching with me, I highly recommend you come to the training and apply to Tenacious Mamas. I would love to see if we are a good fit for each other.  Link mentioned: Join my free business training on November 18th   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You get to start fresh. It’s true.  While we are kicking off a new year in the middle of a continuous shitstorm, you still get to choose how you will begin. Jim Collins, author of Good to Great, says, “Uncertainty is chronic. Instability is permanent. Disruption is common. We can neither predict or govern events. There will be no new normal. There will only be a continuous series of not normal episodes defying predictions and unforeseen by most of us until they happen.” How’s that for affirming that change and evolution will continue to be constant disruptors?? Happy 2021, lol! In spite of all this, there is still plenty you can do to step into 2021 on your terms. You still get to dream. You still get to take charge. You still get to make great things happen.  I’m waking up #everydamnday ready to own the day and make progress in the face of uncertainty. I want this for you too.  Listen in to hear 4 simple steps to start fresh this year - in order take charge and disrupt the doubt and worry that has been so permanent over the last 10 months.  You got this. 2021 is yours to own and nurture. Links mentioned: Join my 2021 Plan & Prep Pajama Party   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I have an invitation for you. As you move through these last 2 weeks of 2021, I'm going to invite you to let go of 3 little (ok, maybe not so little) lies that are likely holding you back.   Here are the lies: Everybody else has it all figured out Nobody gets it/gets me There’s never enough time If you felt a bit of contraction in your gut, like, “Ughhh, I’m totally stuck in that lie,” I got you. What you feel is true for you - and completely valid. But are these stories you’re telling yourself around these lies legit and valid? AND, Are they serving you?   You can spin a story in your head in any direction - in a direction that serves you and encourages you to grow and evolve - OR - in a direction that halts you and hinders your growth and your ability to move forward on any given day.   In this episode, I share the truths behind these lies. It is my hope that these truths will help you rewrite the stories you’re telling yourself that are holding you back.   Only you can decide what you leave behind in 2021 and how you step boldly into 2022. To get all you want out of the next year, it might require letting go of some of the stories you’ve been telling yourself in 2021.   In this with you. Always.  Link mentioned: Join my 2022 Plan & Prep Pajama Party Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I’ve known for the last few years that motherhood is a massive qualifier for any CEO role. For quite some time I’ve been compiling lists in my head of different ways motherhood prepares a woman to lead and negotiate and teach and advocate at the highest level.  But when I sat down to create a master list of the TOP ways motherhood qualifies a woman to be a CEO, I could barely contain my excitement. The thoughts that had been swarming in my head for years came pouring out and the connections were so clear and so obvious.  It is not a stretch by any means to state that motherhood qualifies you to lead at the very highest level. In fact, I would suggest that in some (many?) instances those who are not mothers are significantly less qualified to lead at the highest levels. Motherhood requires you to be a master multitasker, people manager, time manager, negotiator, decision-maker, action taker, planner, budgeter, teacher, coach, mentor, visionary, value creator, boundary enforcer, teammate and advocate who can be patient, persuasive, compassionate, fearless, agile, empathetic, resilient, intentional, resourceful, disciplined, determined, and tenacious as all get out. Tell me what other role, job, experience would make you more qualified to be a CEO? You are capable of being the CEO of your life, your household, your community, and any other organization you want to build or lead. If you’re not 100% certain of that already, this episode is for you. Listen in. More than once. Links mentioned: Enrollment is open for MOMENTUM Mamas for a very limited time at a big discount: Momentum Join us at Shameless Mom Con 2020: Shameless Mom Thank you to our sponsors: Lola: Get organic cotton tampons and other hygiene products delivered right to your door. To get 30% off your first order, go to Lola and use the code SHAMELESS30 when you subscribe. care of: For 25% off your first order of personalized care/of vitamins, visit Take CareOf and enter the code SHAMELESS at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Women are raised to believe we should make other people comfortable. We should be caretakers of others needs and desires and feelings - even when it comes at a cost to our own needs, desires, and feelings. Because of this indoctrination early in our lives, we also take it upon ourselves to make sure that we don’t outshine others - because that could make them feel bad or less than. Instead, we let ourselves feel bad and less than.  We make it a priority to make other people comfortable. And in many cases this means we shrink and play small in front of others. We don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable and we certainly don’t want anyone to judge us for shining too brightly.  So, we stay small, quiet, dull, demure instead - because showing up as bold, bright, big, brave feels too risky. Here are some instances in which you might make others uncomfortable with your shininess and badassery, as well as put yourself at risk of other people’s judgment: when you lose weight when you run a 5K, 10K or a marathon when you quit your job to stay home with your kids when you make a lot of money when you write a book when you start your own business when you go for a promotion when you go back to school to get an advanced degree when you put your child in full-time childcare when you go on an epic vacation when you take every Friday off when you get weekly massage when you buy your kid something fancy/”spoil” them when you buy a bigger house when you buy a tiny house when you announce you’re a photographer/event planner/jewelry designer/lifecoach/blogger/podcaster, speaker, writer when you say you want to be a mogul Have you ever achieved one of these items and intentionally not shared it with others? You kept is small and private out of fear that others would be uncomfortable with your success or achievement and/or that they might pass judgment on you and dull your shine? I want to encourage you to reframe how you think about other people's opinions.  It’s not your job to tend to other people’s opinions. In fact, you should pay them no mind. It’s not your job to make other people comfortable. Their discomfort is about them, not you. And it’s their responsibility, not yours. It’s not your job to play small and stay small because others can’t or won’t step up and shine. Your job is to SHINE LIKE A MOTHER. And when you do so you will become a mirror that attracts people who want to see you in all your big, bold, brave badassery. When you start attracting these kinds of people, you will continue to be able to shine in brighter ways for all your days. Listen in for a deeper dive and 4 ways to deal with the uncomfortable, judgy people in your life. Thank you to our sponsors: Talkspace: To match with your perfect therapist for a fraction of the price of traditional therapy, go to Talkspace, Make sure to use the code SHAMELESS to get $65 off your first month and show your support for the show. Rothy’s: To get free shipping on any order of Rothy’s shoes, as well as free returns, go to Rothy’s and use the code SHAMELESS at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There should be no shame in your quitting game. For years now, I have preached to my clients, “Be a quitter!” Rather than always adding more to your plate in an effort to overdo, overproduce, and over-prove yourself, how about releasing things from your plate as your needs, desires, values, and schedule change over time?  This week I am giving you ONE SHAMELESS THING to Quit Something in order to make more space for the things that are most important and fulfilling to your right now. ONE SHAMELESS THING is created with one thing in mind - to give you ONE thing - just ONE thing - to make today a better day. My purpose is to give you the hope, optimism, and POWER you need to make today whatever you want to make it - even if life is throwing you one curveball after another. Enjoy this shorty episode and know that I am in this with you…Always! We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today we are digging into the truth about resilience. Resilience has been branded as something that an individual should strive to have when facing adverse conditions. Resilience has been explained as something one can grow over time - which is true. We do become more resilient as we face more hardships. But, when we think of resilience in this way, we can quickly see how resilience is then required much more of certain people. In fact, we see that the most resilience is required of the people with the fewest resources. This feels backward, doesn’t it?   Perhaps we need to look at the roots of the systems that set some folks up to require a lifetime of resilience to merely survive.   When we look at resilience through this lens, we see… The system tells you, “Practice resiliency!” when the system was not built with any tools or resources to support your resiliency. The system tells you resiliency is your job alone when the system is beating down and failing large marginalized groups on a mass scale. The system tells you resiliency is about the last few years, all you’ve been through, and how well you’ve adapted. When in truth the system has been beating down women, mothers, POC, and marginalized communities for centuries. The system tells you resiliency is a problem solved through self-care when self-care won’t make any difference if you have to jump right back into the structures that harm you after your bubble bath. The system tells you, “Look at you! You’re strong! You’re adaptable! You’re the model of resilience!” without acknowledging that it has no plans to evolve or change to make your life easier. Instead, you will have to be your strongest, most adaptable, most resilient self #everydamnday until you die. When we take on our own resiliency as a personal project, the system keeps winning. The system is upheld. The system functions exactly as it was intended to.  This episode explores how you can take care of yourself as you try to fit a tiny bandaid (your resiliency habits) on a large wound (the system in which, perhaps, you were never expected to fully succeed.) Links mentioned: Join my October Retreat for Women Entrepreneurs: Influence & Ignite: Be the CEO and Thought Leader You Were Born to Be: shamelessmom.com/bizretreat Book: Joy is My Justice by Tanmeet Sethi Book: Burnout by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski Book: Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 2016, Sarah left a successful, decade-long career in corporate healthcare in favor of work that better aligned with her passion and purpose. After serving for two years as a freelance consultant to small businesses and start-up nonprofits, Sarah founded The Beautifull Project - a storytelling collective that invites women back to their bodies and into a world where they belong with substance and with strength. Sarah is a gifted storyteller with a skill for using her own experience as a woman navigating the world in a fat body to invite her audience to encounter the parts of themselves they hide away from the world - the parts they believe to be “too much”. Addressing everything from too-big bodies to a fear of failure that cripples confidence, Sarah amplifies a message that moves beyond a body positive sentiment and creates a movement that makes room for everybody to tell their truth and take up space. She draws out confidence and courage. She believes in being free and full. And she will make a believer out of you, too. Sarah was a guest on the show a couple years ago. That incredible conversation led me to asking her to be a part of our 2021 Shameless Mom Con Collective. As I predicted, Sarah blew us away with her poignant and powerful storytelling. I was so moved by her talk that I asked her if I could share this conversation with you all. I’m so delighted and grateful that she said yes.  Listen in to hear Sarah share: How her Ted talk landed her naked on stage The rules and limitations that are put on bodies - even as we embrace a wider range of “acceptable” body types The constant conflict of taking up space Her process of ending her marriage, starting her entire life over again - and finally saying yes to her body and her sexuality The power of letting your shoulders down and letting go Her 3 tenants of taking up space Links mentioned: SMA Ep 366 with Sarah Stevens: The Beautifull Project: The Truth About Fatness and Thin Allies Connect with Sarah: The Beautifull Project or By Sarah Stevens Sarah on social: @bysarahstevens and @thebeautifullproject Thank you to our sponsor: Thrive: Start thriving and help women in need today by going to ThriveCausemetics.com/shameless for 15% off your first purchase! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I was recently at two different events that both brought home the message, “How You Do Anything Is How You Do Everything”.  Receiving this message twice in a short period of time hit me over the head. I knew it was perfect for an SMA episode.    How do you do things? What is your attitude when times are tough? How do you model positivity and persistence?    Here are my 8 Tips To Be Better At Anything   Look for the silver linings Look for the funny story  Give 3 put ups for every put down Expect more – stop being Eeyore Practice gratitude constantly  Thank everyone for everything Start sentences with, “I appreciate….” Be the spokesperson for positivity   Links Mentioned: http://fitbottomedmamas.com/2012/04/what-no-one-tells-you-about-infertility/   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One of the most common struggles for women and moms centers around self-worth. Because we are taught from such an early age that we should look a certain way, act a certain way, desire certain things, reject certain things, we often spend a lot of our lives questioning ourselves.   We wonder if we are enough, if we are qualified, if we are making the right choice, if we should try harder if we should do things more like others are doing them,  We think about how we might be more perfect or polished or positive.  We assume other people have it all figured out.   We feel alone and isolated and confused.   Over the last 6 years, and in my 15-year fitness career before the Shameless Mom Academy, countless women have told me they struggle with self-worth.  If you struggle with self-worth, whether it’s been a struggle your entire life or it’s something that is hard for you in this particular season, this episode is for you.  Listen in as I walk you through 5 simple steps to start shifting your self-worth today.   Link mentioned:  Join my free CEO training for small business owners: shamelessmom.com/ceo Sponsor info and promo codes: Please find our sponsor information here: shamelessmom.com/sponsor/ Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I have to start this by letting you know this was easily one of my favorite interviews ever. You are in for the most gut wrenching story, told by the most amazing heroine and SuperMom, Leanne Kabat.    Leanne moved to From Ottawa, Canada to Sammamish, Washington in January 2016. Before she had a chance to make any friends, her husband left on a week long business trip. Leanne was home with her 4 year old and her 2 year old, and she was 5 months pregnant.    Her husband had been gone a for a few nights when Leanne woke up to pee one night (remember all the pregnancy peeing?!?) When she got out of bed, she passed out, falling on her belly, and woke up on her bedroom floor paralyzed. She would lie there for hours unable to move or speak.    After hours of willing herself to GET UP, she finally regained enough mobility to get up and get herself, kids in tow, to the hospital. What followed were months of testing, the birth of her third baby, tons more testing, and ultimately this prognosis, presented by a large panel of doctors and medical experts:   “We don’t know what you have. But we can tell you that based on the brain damage we are seeing from your ‘incident’, you only have 5 years to live.”   Listen in to hear: what Leanne’s life was like after receiving a death sentence her ultimate breaking point 3 years after her diagnosis how drugs ruined her and mindset saved her how she finally stumbled upon her MamaCon tribe and how life changing and life giving this tribe has been why she chose to buy MamaCon based on “the utterly unshakeable belief that no mama should mama alone”   Links Mentioned: MamaCon website: www.mamacon.net MamaCon on Facebook Book: Harold and the Purple Crayon       Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Khalilah Lyons is the founder of Answer the Moment, LLC, as well as a keynote speaker, mentor, advisory council member, thought leader. She is also a diversity, equity and inclusion leader devoted to the advocacy of the underrepresented and untapped talent in others. Through her practical approach, she integrates passion and purpose to disrupt narratives and create cultures of inclusion where people can connect as humans, live human excellence. Khalilah is also the managing director and co-founder of Candidly Connecting, where she ignites bold and essential conversations with children and their parents. Through this online platform and upcoming podcast, parents are equipped with tools, resources, and role models to begin having real dialogue and understand the diverse resilience that enables communities to thrive. With digestible coaching and a dynamic, online community, parents and children can create diversity and inclusion naturally in their daily lives through the power of storytelling. Listen in to hear Khalilah share: How hard experiences in 2019 fertilized her current foundation The importance of “believe, breathe, be” as we navigate hard times and non-linear growth and healing What inspired her to start having candid conversations around talking to kids about diversity and inclusion the same way we talk about eating healthy and other given conversations we have with our kids How Candidly Connecting is creating the space for ongoing integration of stories of diversity How to interpret stories with our heads, hearts, hands The opportunity we have as parents to leave a legacy of changing communities How to redefine privilege in order to leverage your power for change The importance of acknowledging your lived experiences as achievements Links Mentioned: Candidly Connecting Khalilah on LInkedIn Khalilah on Instagram Linkedin: Veronica Appleton Veronica Appleton Thank you to our sponsors: MamaZen: Go to your app store or Google Play and download MamaZen today. Use PROMO CODE: shameless for a FREE TRIAL so you can try MamaZen for yourself. Thrive: Start thriving and help women in need today by going to ThriveCausemetics.com/shameless for 15% off your first purchase! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One of the things I am most convinced of in life is our ability to control our outcomes by controlling our thoughts. If you think positive and powerful thoughts, you will do positive and powerful things. If your thoughts are filled with self-doubt and harsh judgment of your abilities, you will likely find yourself stuck in a place you don’t know how to move out of.  This isn’t to say changing your thoughts comes easily. It doesn’t. But it comes steadily with small investments in critical thinking and intentional integration. Harv Eker says, “No thought lives in your head rent-free.” Each thought you have will either be an investment or a cost. It will either move your toward happiness and success or away from it. It will either empower you or disempower you. That’s why it’s imperative you choose your thoughts and beliefs wisely.”  One of the biggest responsibilities you have to yourself is to manage your thoughts in a manner that allows you to live a life you feel proud of, that you feel at peace with, and that you feel in charge of. Listen in to learn how to better manage your thoughts in order to get the outcomes you really want in life. If you need help and ongoing support with any of this, make sure to check out our MOMENTUM Mamas program. Registration is open with discount pricing this week only. This program promises to make you a BOSS of your thoughts.  Links Mentioned: Join the Shameless Mom MOMENTUM Mamas Danny J interview: Saved By The Daughter She Placed For Adoption Part 1 and Part 2 Thank you to our sponsors: RXBAR: RXBAR is offering you an exclusive pack of 6 adult bars and 4 kids bars + 25% off your first order when you go to RX BAR and enter the code SHAMELESS at checkout. Fabfitfun: To get $10 off your first subscription box (making it only $39.99 for $200 worth of products) go to Fab Fit Fun and use the code SHAMELESS at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There are times when we look at something we would like to accomplish and it just feels too far out of reach - like the work required to get us to that point is not only completely overwhelming but also elusive in nature. When we consider taking action we think: How will I find the time? How will I find the energy? How will I acquire the skills? Do I even have what it takes? By the time we get through this list of questions, we decide it’s too hard, will take too long, we definitely don’t have the skills and we don’t know where to begin to acquire them.   So, we do nothing.   I want to invite you to an alternative way to take action in your life: practice taking tiny action. What is tiny action? Tiny action is those little steps that we are tempted to skip entirely because we falsely assume they don’t matter or won’t make a difference.   But the truth is that if we want to become better action takers, taking tiny action might just be the prerequisite you didn’t know you needed.   Taking tiny action is taking any action step and making it smaller, less overwhelming, less time consuming, less frequent, less energy-consuming.   When we practice taking tiny action over time, we begin to see the effects of compound interest: 10 minutes of exercise each day that boosts energy and productivity 10 minutes of reading each day that inspires our work or our way of thinking Yoga once a week that alleviates back pain Date nights once a month that improve our marriage Asking for what we need from our family once a week that leads to more personal time Speaking up at the monthly office meeting that leads to being considered for a new role at work As we take action in these small ways, our identity starts to shift and we see ourselves as more capable, more confident, more courageous. We see ourselves as action takers who go after the things we want and actually get them!  This shift is not tiny. Taking tiny action leads to BIG shifts. In this episode, I share 4 ways taking tiny action gives you more power. Then, I share 3 simple steps to taking tiny action #everydamnday.   Please find our sponsor information here: shamelessmom.com/sponsor/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Marisa Peters is a rectal cancer survivor, women’s health thought leader, and founder of BE SEEN. Marisa was diagnosed with Stage 3 rectal cancer in 2021 when she was 39 years old despite being an otherwise healthy and active mother of three young boys. She is on a mission to help other people take their colorectal health very seriously because it is, well, very serious. This conversation was so informative and, dare I say, even fun! The timing could not have been more perfect as we recorded this right before I was scheduled for my second colonoscopy as someone who has a family history of colon cancer. This gave Marisa and me much content for fodder!   Friends, listen to this episode, go sign the BE SEEN Pledge, and then get yourself scheduled for a colonoscopy. This is critical self-care.  Listen in to hear Marisa share: Symptoms of colon cancer to be looking for: blood loss through poop, increased urine urge, stomach pain, extreme fatigue  What you should be asking your doctor for if you have any concerns about color-tectal symptoms Her journey of being dismissed by doctors as she experienced symptoms over the course of 5.5 years before finally being diagnosed Your different options for your colonoscopy prep What to expect during your first colonoscopy How she talked to and continues to talk to her children about her cancer diagnosis and treatment What family support looked like and how they had to learn how to receive support as people who were used to being the givers of support in their community How to hold space for family and friends after they have gone through treatment - when they may be cancer free, but are still recovering physically and emotionally Why you and your family should take the BE SEEN Pledge to take steps toward maintaining colorectal health Links mentioned: Connect with Marisa and Be Seen: beseen.care Take the Be Seen Pledge: https://beseen.care/take-the-be-seen-pledge Marisa and Be Seen on IG Marisa and Be Seen on FB Marisa on LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tanya Sheckley is Founder and President of UP Academy, an elementary lab school that values innovation, empathy, and strength and incorporates a unique neuro-development program for children with physical disabilities. Tanya’s vision and mission show it’s possible to celebrate differences, change what’s broken in the American education system and that all children can receive a rigorous, well-rounded education. She is the host of the Rebel Educator podcast, an Edpreneur, an International Speaker, and the author of her new book, Rebel Educator: Create Classrooms of Imagination and Impact.   As soon as I learned about what inspired Tanya to build her own school, I knew I wanted to have her as a guest on the show. She has a powerful and important story about education and how she will forever honor her daughter, Eliza.   Listen in to hear Tanya share: How and why she intentionally build a school around her daughter Eliza’s legacy Eliza’s story of living with Cerebral Palsy Her journey of building international medical support around Eliza How she navigated advocating for Eliza’s needs when Eliza was able to meet grade level expectations but was not expected to  What it looks like and feels like and smells like inside UP Academy The benefits of mixed age and mixed ability classrooms Examples of what accessible learning looks like The importance of having children with disabilities and children without disabilities learning alongside one another What she wants parents to know about parenting a child with disabilities Links mentioned: Learn more about UP Academy: upacademysf.com Resources for Rebel Educators: rebeleducator.com Connect with Tanya: Tanyasheckley.com Book: Rebel Educator Tanya on LinkedIn UP Academy on FB UP Academy on IG Eliza’s story: https://www.upacademysf.com/elizas-story Sponsor info and promo codes: Please find our sponsor information here: shamelessmom.com/sponsor/ Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

​​Isn’t it funny (and not-so-funny) how we let our thoughts take up precious real estate in our head AS IF THEY ARE FACTS and each one is worthy and deserving of space?!   Your brain should not be an equal-opportunity employer. Not all thoughts are welcome. Not all thoughts deserve space. Our brain’s ability to conflate thoughts with facts is something we must be keenly aware of.   You suck.  You’re the only one who can’t seem to figure this out. You’re not ready.  It’s too hard.  You’ll never make it.  You’re not as smart as… strong as… witty as… qualified as… organized as… successful as…  All of these = thoughts. Not facts. Yet, boy oh boy do we give them prime real estate.   The things we would never EVER say to others are the things we say to ourselves and then we unequivocally believe them as if they are facts.   Problematic much??? In this episode, we talk through how to: Stop telling yourself trash (lies) you wouldn’t ever tell other people Start catching your default thoughts that are not true and are likely to cause harm Evaluate your thoughts objectively and rationally Ask yourself essential questions to discern thoughts from facts Find evidence that supports facts and shuts down rotten thoughts We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Going back to school after 40 is not for the faint of heart. Dr. Vrnda 'V' Boykin knows this well returning to school in 2017 and obtaining her BS in Marketing Management, MS in Management and Leadership, Master of Business Administration, and Doctorate of Business Administration in Organizational Leadership. Dr. V’s expertise is in creating equitable work experiences for women. Dr. V established clear evidence to illustrate the importance of social support systems in tackling workplace equity through simple shifts in the social environment. Bravery is in Dr. V's bones and she is known for her commitment to innovation. Viewing education as the most effective tool in achieving equity, V utilizes her skills and knowledge to disrupt and redefine leadership training and enablement programs resulting in increased performance and profitability within the technology space. Listen in to hear Dr. V share: Her recent accomplishment of getting her PhD and becoming one 4.4% of black women with a doctoral degree Her life path from being a very young mother and stripper on food stamps who ended up in the prison system to then getting 4 degrees, including a PhD, in a mere 7 years How she used her time in prison, and how she decided to move forward from that time in her life How she sits with shame and how and why she has worked so hard to reconcile that for herself and other Black women The fine line between vulnerability and power and how dancing and stripping allowed her to step away from vulnerability and into her power The legacy she is building around creating equity and belonging in the workplace, as well as what true equity in the workplace looks like for women and moms The major caveat around the “bringing your full self to work” movement, especially for people carrying marginalized identities How providing services for women and moms benefits organizations Her tagline and call to action: stop talking about my attitude and start talking about my accomplishments Links mentioned: Connect with Dr. V: drvboykin.com V on LinkedIn We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The “most wonderful time of the year” is just around the corner.   But is it the most wonderful time?! Haha!  Every year, I record a holiday episode where I help you prep for the holiday season in a way that I hope will bring peace, ease, and joy to your December. Usually, I share this episode in early December. This year, I’m sharing it early because I want you to start creating that peace, ease, and joy you’re craving now! Every holiday season brings new circumstances. Your kids are a year older than last year. Your parents are a year older than last year. Your work (and therefore vacation/time off) situation may be totally different. Your financial situation might be different. Your relationships might be different.   It’s worth reflecting each pre-holiday season on “What’s most important this year?” You may answer this question very differently than last year.   In this episode, I offer you 4 invitations to: Determining your magic-making moments Build better boundaries where needed Create inner calm Take time now to prep for your time off I will share what has worked well for me and for members of our community over the last few years in hopes you might get some sparks on how you can intentionally make this the most wonderful time of the year for yourself and your family - for real!  We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Amber Hawley is a licensed therapist and lifestyle strategist who works with entrepreneurial individuals and couples with the emotional side of business. She is the owner of a therapy practice in Silicon Valley, and the host of The Easily Distracted Entrepreneur and Couples Fix podcasts. She is also a wife, a Shameless Mom of three kids, and a Marvel movie super fan. Amber originally worked in the tech industry but her love for people led her to pursue a career where meaningful relationships are at the center of everything she does. A lot of Amber’s work is centered around neurodiversity, as she brings her experience of having ADHD, as well as parenting children with ADHD to much of what she does. As soon as Amber and I got started in this conversation, I knew we would need more time. I wanted to make sure to dig into ADHD as it relates to women, as well as ADHD as it relates to kids. Amber was so kind to agree to turn this into a two-part conversation. This is Part 2 of our conversation - all about kids and ADHD. In Part 1 (Episode 696), we talked all about women and ADHD.   Whether or not you are parenting a child with ADHD, your kid is in school with kids who have ADHD. This conversation can help you as a parent to your own kids, but also as a parent who supports other kids in your community. Listen in to hear Amber share: 3 Types of ADHD in kids and how they manifest differently How her 2 children with ADHD exhibit very different symptoms The importance of acknowledging ADHD as a dopamine deficiency in the brain The connection between anxiety and ADHD When to seek a professional assessment for your child’s mental health How a diagnosis can be helpful, even a powerful tool, especially if your child has a strong tendency to mask their symptoms The layers of making decisions around medicating your child who has ADHD and different kinds of medications that can support children who have ADHD How all parents and kids can be supportive of neurodivergent kids in the community Some of the superpowers and superstrengths of kids with ADHD Links Mentioned: Connect with Amber: https://amberhawley.com/ Podcast: The Easily Distracted Entrepreneur Amber’s work with couples Dr Amen’s ADD 7 Types Quiz Amber on FB Amber on IG Amber on LinkedIn Sponsor info and promo codes: Please find our sponsor information here: shamelessmom.com/sponsor/ Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today’s episode we are going to talk about how to not have bad food days. I’m going to give you tips and tools that will make you look at food differently and change your food habits. So get ready there is going to be some major mindset shifts! Everyone has relationship with food and most of us do not have a healthy relationship with food. Let’s start working on it right now! Today we talk about: Let’s stop labeling days good or bad based on what we put in our mouths! —this impacts the way you eat, self-esteem and how other people see you I have had a troubled relationship with food since I was young—I went through a four to six-year period where fat was my biggest enemy  We are not what we eat and we are not the value of what we put in our mouths! Food is food and not good or bad just different nutritional values People are self-conscious about ordering food when I am there—I don’t care what you are eating!  Don’t talk about having a “good” or “bad” day in front of your kids—this will impact their relationship with food Think about the triggers for food—replace a habit with another habit  You make at least 200 decisions that are focused on your weight. Focus on the positive things that have happened in your day and not on what food you ate that day that you think are “bad”. So you ate a donut…move on! Links Mentioned: www.theselfishmomacademy.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Every now and then I get an email from a Shameless Mom that just blows me away. A couple weeks ago I got one such email – detailing a mama’s struggle with her current relationship with an addict and her past decision to terminate a pregnancy.  What was so overwhelmingly touching about this email was that a lot of the email was about how HAPPY this mama is. That 96.34% of the time she is extremely happy, caring, empathetic, and grateful. But then there was the admission that, “the murky undercurrents of my past sometimes swirl with the polluted storm of my present; and my sunny disposition is immediately overcast by a darkness so ominous and pensive, that I fear I will suffocate under all the darkness......” I asked this Shameless Mom if I could share her story and do some processing on this episode and she so kindly agreed.  To any mama who has struggled to make peace with your past or is currently struggling to find peace in the present, this is for you. Links Mentioned: Resource: Design Mom Gabrielle Blair speaks on abortion  Thank you to our sponsor: Lola: Get 100% organic tampons delivered right to your door for 40% off. Go to my Lola and use the code SHAMELESS40 at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When I started thinking about the final interview for the SMA before we rebrand the show as Shameless Leadership, I knew I wanted to do something special. It occurred to me that it could be fun to have someone turn the mic on me and ask me about the show over the last 8 years. Once I had this idea, I knew Laura Cathcart Robbins, my dear friend and a friend of the show, was the perfect person to turn the mic on me!   In this episode, Laura takes us behind the scenes of the last 8 years of the Shameless Mom Academy. We talk about my original vision for the show and how it evolved over time. She asked me about (hard) lessons learned, the biggest gifts of the show, and why this podcast pivot makes so much sense right now.   I can’t wait for you to hear a little about the ongoings of the show that you haven’t had the chance to “see” over the last 8.5 years. And, I’m thrilled to give you some sneak peeks into what is coming down the pipeline (so much greatness!!) Links mentioned: Join my September Influence & Ignite Retreat for small business owners: shamelessmom.com/retreat Connect with Laura Cathcart Robbins: lauracathcartrobbins.com Laura’s Podcast: The Only One in the Room Laura’s Book: Stash: My Life in Hiding We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I sat down to write notes before recording this episode at least 14 times.  Each time I could not find a starting point. Or an ending point.   So, I decided to just hit record. With no notes.   In this episode I share my relationship with my dad with you. For the last 10 years, it was complicated and confusing. It was a relationship that never had closure, but ultimately has peace.  Since his passing, so many of you have reached out to share your love. Thank you. I appreciate you - so much.   I have also heard from many of you who have complicated and confusing parent relationships. I recorded this for you. When we have pieces of our lives that are complicated and confusing it helps so much to hear from others who have a similar lived experience. It makes you feel seen and held. It helps you feel less alone and more normal. I SEE YOU. You are not alone.   Sponsor info and promo codes: Please find our sponsor information here: shamelessmom.com/sponsor/ Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What will people say about you at your funeral? When you attend a funeral and hear all the lovely things people say about the person who has passed on, you may find yourself thinking, “What will people say about me when I am no longer here?”  While you certainly should not live your life constantly worrying about what others are thinking and saying about you, it is worth considering the legacy you are building and whether or not you might want to be more intentional about your legacy.   I was at a funeral recently and as multiple people spoke about the person who had passed, I noted how the same words and themes came up over and over again. It made me pause and think about the words and themes people might use to describe me and the life I have lived if something awful were to happen to me right now. In this episode, I talk through how to build a legacy in simple ways, starting now. This isn’t intended to upend your life so you can go be someone totally new. Rather, it’s intended to give you some guidelines and guardrails (some of which you’re likely already following) to keep living in a direction that you love while building something you feel great about.   We will talk through 5 Legacy Leverages (ways you can leverage building your legacy right away) as well as 5 Legacy Leaches (the things that quickly take away, distract, or totally deter you from building a legacy you love.   We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. Lynyetta Willis is a psychologist, family empowerment coach, speaker, and award-winning author who helps frustrated families break free from Stable Misery™ and unhelpful parenting and partnership patterns, so they can create more harmony at home.   Over 20 years of journeying with countless clients led her to design the research-supported Elemental Living® Model and her P.A.T.H.S. Relationship Framework. These powerful tools help parents and partners improve communication, minimize overreactions, and transform intergenerational trauma. Her programs have supported parents across the globe - in South Africa, Israel, New Zealand, and Australia.   Dr. Willis’s multi-award-winning book, My Forgotten Self: A Story about a Girl, a Powerful Encounter, and a Universal Message, received high acclaim from individuals such as Dr. Shefali Tsabary, author of The Conscious Parent and “Oprah’s Parenting Expert”. Dr. Willis lives in Georgia with her husband and their two children. Listen in to hear Lynyetta share: How she was raised within the framework of the 4 horsemen: Pain, Blame, Shame and Avoidance How she learned to navigate and negotiate the symptoms of her intergenerational dramas and traumas in order to heal The difference between healing your mind through learning vs healing your body by working through trauma What intergenerational dramas are and how they impact our lives across generations The difference between stressors and triggers in parenting and how to handle them differently Her 5 part PATHS framework to parenting in a more productive way What Stable Misery is, how we unintentionally spend so much time here, and how to get out of Stable Misery Links mentioned: Free Workshop: Calm My Parenting Triggers Quiz: What’s Your Parenting Trigger Score? Connect with Dr. Lynetta: drlwillis.com Dr. Lynyetta on IG Dr. Lynyetta on FB Dr. Lynyetta on LI Sponsor info and promo codes: Please find our sponsor information here: shamelessmom.com/sponsor/ Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I’m sure all moms can agree that life turns fast pace when you become a mom. It’s hard to slow down when you are trying to keep up with your kids, your house, being a wife, just everyday life. Sometimes you have to slow it down a bit. Learn how to balance everything in life but especially time with family.  Maria Ross, our guest on the show today is going to share with us some tidbits that she uses to balance between life and business.  Maria is a brand strategist, author, actress, owner of Red Slice and speaker. She has received several praises for her book: “Branding Basics for Small Business”. And her second book called “Rebooting my Brain” is a really good read, especially if you have ever been through a health scare. She suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm and this book is a memoir on her amazing recovery. Maria is an inspiration and this episode is definitely worth the listen! Maria shares with us: You have to slow down sometimes—not everything is going to be perfect  The days are long but the years are short Go to a lactation specialist if you need help—there is nothing wrong with asking for a little help! Make sure to set work hours and then set time to spend time with family Don’t try to cram everything into a small amount of time—you won’t be 100% trust me Momentum comes to a screeching halt when you have kids—but the detox is actually good for business ideas! If you are going to be “selfish”, exercise is a great thing to be selfish about—show your kids that exercise is important  Links Mentioned: www.redslice.com twitter: @redslice email: maria [at] red-slice[dot]com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In anticipation of basketball tryouts today, my 12-year-old went to the park to get in some practice with friends last night. When he got home, he proudly shared that an older kid at the park complimented “hoops”. On the way to school this morning, he told me that he’s feeling really nervous about tryouts. It’s the first year the kids will be divided into varsity and junior varsity teams. This is big time! As we were walking, I talked to him about the close, often overlapping relationship between nervousness and excitement.   “Mom, I know. You already told me being nervous and being excited are the same thing.”   That’s not exactly what I had previously told him…. They are not the same. But if you understand how they are the same and how they are different, you can often use your nervousness to strategically channel excitement.   In this episode, I’ll tell you what I told my 12-year-old on the walk to school. Additionally, we’ll dive into the fascinating relationship between nervousness and excitement and how women leaders can leverage one over the other for powerful results. Both emotions share similar physiological responses—like increased heart rate, sweaty palms, and heightened awareness—because they are both driven by adrenaline. The key difference lies in how we interpret the situation: nervousness tends to arise when we see a challenge as a threat, while excitement comes when we view the same situation as an opportunity. Understanding this can be the first step in transforming fear into anticipation, empowering women to thrive under pressure. Listen in to hear me share actionable strategies that women leaders can use to shift their mindset and embrace excitement in high-stakes situations. From reframing nervousness as excitement, to focusing on purpose and meaning, to coaching yourself with evidence-based positive self-talk, these techniques are designed to help women leaders feel strong and grounded when stepping into something new, big, or perhaps scary. By connecting to your “why” and viewing leadership moments through a lens of possibility rather than fear, you can approach stressful situations with confidence. This allows you to shift your focus from potential risks to potential rewards creating the excitement needed to succeed. Whether you're preparing for a big presentation, leading a high-profile meeting, or stepping into a new leadership role, this episode will give you practical tips on how to harness excitement, reduce nervousness, and leverage your full potential as a leader. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessleadership.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Julie Lewis, a 38-­year AIDS survivor, was infected with HIV in 1984 but not diagnosed until the early 1990s when she was given three to five years to live. After years of silence about her disease, she found an unlikely community of friends to fight alongside and began using her story to make a difference. Her experiences as a woman living with AIDS offers insights about grief and loss, caregiving, spirituality and the importance of community in the midst of tragedy. In 2020, Julie completed her 30/30 Project in celebration of her 30 years of living with AIDS. This resulted in 30 new healthcare facilities serving women, girls, and families in 9 countries. These facilities have allowed for over 715,000 patient visits, 127,000 HIV tests, and the safe delivery of over 9,000 babies.   Jenny Koenig is a writer and Grammy Nominated Music Video Producer. She’s passionate about channeling her creativity into ways to raise money for nonprofits, including the 30/30 Project. She was a co-creator and Executive Producer for All in WA: A Concert for COVID Relief, which raised over $110 million for COVID related causes. She’s learning how to juggle life as a new mom to her 6 month old daughter. Jenny is a longtime friend of Julie Lewis and jumped at the chance to help her tell her story. Listen in to hear Julie and Jenny share: What it was like to receive her HIV diagnosis as a mom of a 2, 4, and 6 year old - and be given only 3-5 years to live Her decision to tell her 6 year old, Ryan, about her HIV status - knowing full well that he would not be able to keep the family secret How Ryan shared Julie’s status and broke the seal on “going public” with her status What it was like to feel like she was parenting on borrowed time  The moment when she realized she had lived to see all the things she thought she would never get to experience The reality of Julie’s survivor guilt as she has outlived so many friends from the AIDS community The African women and moms who inspired her 30/30 Project to build 30 hospitals for 18 organizations across 9 countries The sweet, unlikely, and incredibly special friendship of Julie and Jenny (Julie’s daughter’s college roommate) Links mentioned: Connect with Julie and Jenny Book: Still Positive Still Positive on IG Support the 30/30 Project The 30/30 Project on IG Julie on IG Jenny on IG We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rachel Nielson is the host of the popular parenting podcast, 3 in 30 Takeaways for Moms. Each 30-minute episode gives 3 actionable takeaways to help women find more meaning in their unique motherhood experiences. Rachel lives in the mountains of Idaho with her husband and her two miracle children who arrived to their family through adoption and IVF. As a former high school English teacher, she loves to read, write, and talk about deep ideas...which has made podcasting a perfect career for her to do from home. Rachel and I first connected as podcasters who shared side-by-side rankings in Apple Podcasts Kids & Family top charts. Some may have suggested we were competitors, but we immediately saw one another's work as complementary. When we had the opportunity to meet in person in 2020, we were able to see that as colleagues, friends, and confidants in this industry we could lean on each other and build a really special relationship that could support us as women, moms, and podcasters. I so treasure my sweet friendship with Rachel.   We have spoken about guesting on each other’s shows for years. To be honest, the challenge has been narrowing down what to talk about because we could talk to each other for days about so many things related to motherhood. But, I asked Rachel if she would be willing to talk about something deeply personal and special today - the adoption of her precious son, Noah. Listen in to hear Rachel share: Her family's journey into open adoption How she honored and did her best to center her son’s birth mother, Katie, throughout the process of adoption The unfathomable grief she held for Katie the day Noah was born The trauma of adoption for adopted children, no matter how healthy relationships they have with bio parents and adoptive parents How she and her husband navigated building and maintaining positive and healthy relationships with Noah’s bio parents, Katie and Drew How Katie’s death by suicide shifted Rachel’s perspective on the ethics of adoption What her family’s relationship with Drew looks like - how he is so significant and special in Noah’s life What she wants prospective adoptive parents to consider before going through the adoption process Links mentioned: Register for my 2023 Plan & Prep Pajama Party: shamelessmom.com/pajamaparty Connect with Rachel: 3in30podcast.com Rachel’s Podcast: 3 in 30 Takeaways for Moms Get Rache’s Course, 5 Days to More Meaning in Your Motherhood: 3in30podcast.com/sma Rachel on Instagram Thank you to our sponsors this month: Full Time VA: Check out this free training on how to be a virtual assistant that makes full-time income with part-time hours: thefulltimeva.com/Shameless.  Owner Amanda Rush Holmes is also including a bonus free guide for SMA listeners -  The VA Kickstarter Workbook! Ritual: Ritual’s Essential for Women 18+ is a multivitamin you can actually trust. Ritual is offering my listeners 10% off during your first 3 months.  Visit ritual.com/shameless to start Ritual or add Essential for Women 18+ to your subscription today. Rothys: For stylish, comfortable, sustainably made shoes, shop Rothy’s. Get $20 off your first purchase at rothys.com/SHAMELESSMOM.  StrollerCoaster: A Parenting Podcast!: Need another podcast in your parenting podcast library, check out StrollerCoaster: A Parenting Podcast! wherever you listen to the SMA.  Thrive Market: Get groceries and household essentials delivered right to your door.  Join Thrive Market today and get 30% off your first order, plus a FREE $60 gift! Go to thrivemarket.com/shameless.  Teachable: Join tens of thousands of creators turning their knowledge into scalable online businesses. Join a free plan at teachable.com/shameless to get started.  Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I have used stories in leadership for some time now and have found them to be such a powerful way to engage people as well as a means to appeal to people’s heads and hearts. Years ago, I started studying how other speakers I followed used stories and I took notes.   As I’ve learned more about the power of storytelling from a theoretical perspective, so much has clicked for me in terms of how to use storytelling as a leadership tool and strategy. There is no doubt that stories drive authentic leadership, allowing you to humanize yourself and display vulnerability in front of those you lead. This can be pivotal in building trusting relationships. If you’re looking to build trust, cultivate vulnerability, and build team relationships on a foundation of psychological safety, start telling stories.  Daniel Coyle, author of The Culture Code, reminds those leading others through change, “Stories are not just stories; they are the best invention ever created for delivering mental models that drive behavior.” In the vulnerable space of a story is an opportunity to create a connection. Connections pave the way for relationships. Relationships become the platform for which we can show our full range of humanity and hold space for other's full range of humanity. Stories can be used to inspire, motivate, build trust & rapport, model humanity, humility, vulnerability, imperfection, instruct, demonstrate, teach, mentor, celebrate, and advance organizational culture.  I often have the opportunity to teach leaders how to use stories during leadership training I facilitate. It is one of my favorite activities to facilitate and to observe. Most leaders walk away feeling a sense of lightness in their leadership they couldn’t previously find. For many, this lightness is a gratitude for the permission to share parts of themselves that are imperfect, goofy, messy, soft, sensitive, joyful, and playful.   In this episode, we will talk through how to use stories, as well as tips for telling impactful stories.   Links mentioned: Book: The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle Check out my other podcast: The Shameless Mom Academy Learn about my speaking, training, and coaching: saradean.com Connect with me on LinkedIn: saradean.com/linkedin We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessleadership.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ali is a tireless advocate for children and families, focusing on kinship, foster and adoptive families. She launched, funded and currently serves as the Executive Director of Foster Kinship, non-profit organization devoted to the support of kinship families. She founded Foster Kinship to provide much-needed resources and peer-to-peer support for the dedicated individuals working tirelessly to raise their relative’s children, keeping these children both connected to family and safe from harm. A licensed foster and adoptive parent herself, Ali is a frequent contributor to the local, state and national conversation on kinship and foster care.  Ali is completing a Ph.D. in Public Affairs at UNLV and holds a Master’s Degree in Organizational Systems Renewal (OSR) from Seattle University, specializing in family systems and systemic trauma and healing, organizational consulting and group facilitation. Ali currently resides in Las Vegas with her husband and 5-year-old son. Ali always knew she wanted to mother through adoption. She also felt a tremendous professional pull toward serving children and families who have experienced trauma. Ali has so beautifully pursued her personal and professional dreams in order to impact the lives of over 4,000 children in the last 6 years, while building a family with her husband and son, Anthony. Listen in to hear Ali share: What is kinship care and why does it need more dramatically more support and resources How to find resources and connections for kinship care in your area 10 questions that ID if a child is at risk for mental health/physical challenges later in life Considerations to make if you’re thinking of starting a non-profit The beauty of imperfect action and why you shouldn’t wait until you know it all to get build something you’re passionate about The power of the highs and lows of fostering and adoption Links Mentioned: Learn more about Foster Kinship: www.FosterKinship.org  Foster Kinship on Facebook Ali on Twitter Tool: Adverse Childhood Experience Questionnaire Thank you to our sponsors: Splitting Up Together: Check out this fresh and relatable comedy about a modern approach to divorce, dating, raising a family staring Jenna Fisher. Premieres Tuesday, March 27th at 9:30/8:30c on ABC Freshly: For fresh, fully cooked meals delivered right to your door. Save $25 off your first order of 6 meals at Freshly Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Woohoooo! Thank you for tuning into these shorty Thursday episodes. I love to hear that you’re loving this content. ONE SHAMELESS THING is created with one thing in mind - to give you ONE thing - just ONE thing - to make today a better day. My purpose is to give you the hope, optimism, and POWER you need to make today whatever you want to make it - even if life is throwing you one curveball after another. This week I am giving you ONE SHAMELESS THING to Walk Toward Your Fear. Enjoy. And know that I am in this with you. Always. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Giving yourself permission to release a few unconventional things might just make motherhood more manageable in 2024.  And, when one area of your life is more manageable, all areas of your life start to feel more manageable.   Society rewards moms for aiming high, hustling hard, and achieving at every turn. I’m going to invite you to get a little unconventional in 2024. Allow yourself to be average.  An average mom.  An average employee. An average volunteer.  If you are a lifelong high achiever, I probably just lost you. You know you were not made for mediocrity. I get it.  I’m not either. But, you also weren’t made to meet the extremely high demands that the world puts on mothers and women day after day after day - for eternity.  You were made to bend without breaking. My hope is that this episode helps you check yourself so you can see the ways you might be able to bend in 2024 so you don’t ultimately break.  I’ve been bending a lot more over the last couple of years - sometimes by choice and sometimes by unchosen circumstances. Releasing constant high expectations, rigidity, and other people’s needs & norms has been a game changer.   In this episode, I invite you to release 4 things you maybe haven’t considered before.  You might raise an eyebrow at first, but I’m pretty sure you’ll thank me later.   We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Perhaps you’ve noticed that with changing times have come changing needs, changing goals, and changing desires.  With that, perhaps you notice you’re saying YES to new things - and NO to new things. Some of my yeses and no’s and have definitely shifted over the last year. In fact, I find myself saying yes to some things I thought I would never say yes to. Funny wildly unusual circumstances paired with a cultural uprising will make you rethink almost everything. As you make space for new yeses, you’ll notice you’ll also be required to say no to new things in order to make space for those yeses. This is a process of discernment that requires you look closely at your core values so you can understand why each yes and each no is important to you right now. Listen in to hear 9 things I’m saying yes to right now. It’s my hope that this may inspire your YESES (and no’s!)  Links Mentioned: Join my business training workshop on May 11th, 3 Essential Building Blocks To Growing A Successful Business: shamelessmom.com/business SMA Ep 455: 3 Steps To Create Core Values You Can Confidently Commit To   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If I’m telling the truth, I used to think affirmations were kinda ridiculous. In fact, a few years ago I tried doing affirmations every morning, as prescribed by someone else, and I just felt like a total fool. About a year ago, I decided to give them another go – on my own terms. After some thoughtful consideration, I declared 13 affirmations that felt authentic to who I am. They felt a little uncomfortable, yes, but they felt concrete and actionable and in alignment with my core values – which actually felt powerful and exciting instead of ridiculous. I have been writing affirmations pretty much daily for almost a year and I’ve seen my desire and ability to take confident and courageous action SKYROCKET. Since my technique has been feeling good and getting me actual tangible results, I thought it would be worth sharing with you. Listen in to hear 9 steps to creating meaningful affirmations that become actual TRUTHS in your life. These are the actual steps I have taken to create the affirmations that I write #everydamnday – the affirmations that are actually deeply, positively impacting my daily life and my ability to reach my biggest goals ever. Links mentioned: Grab your ticket for my Bubbles & Blueprints Virtual Workshop on June 8th or June 13th Thank you to our sponsors: Care of: For 30% off your first month of personalized care/of vitamins, visit Take Care Of and enter the code SHAMELESS30 at checkout. Open-fit: Join the Open-fit 30-day challenge and get a special extended 30-day free trial membership to Open-fit when you text SHAMELESS to 303030. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This feels very surreal. But, yes, I’m going to grad school! This is a decision that seemed to come quickly out of nowhere, but it was also always right there. It feels fast, but right on time. I feel unprepared yet 100% ready. I’m so excited but also nervous. At the end of the day, it feels RIGHT. And, that feels GOOD.  A big part of this decision came as I was considering that I have another 20 years (at least) to invest in my career path. I have no desire to change what I’m doing today, but I also feel like I want some grounding and intentionality as I make decisions around what I’m delightedly calling My Next 20.   As I started thinking about My Next 20, I asked myself: Where do you want to be at the end of your career? How do you want to use all the work you’ve done for the last 25 years to inform your work for the next 20 years? What decisions can you make now that will give you options and flexibility over time? How can you continue to create work opportunities for yourself that bring you purpose, meaning, and joy? In what directions are you most excited to learn and grow? Navigating these questions gave me a fairly quick and clear sense of the direction I wanted to head and helped me see that a master's degree would support this direction.  In this episode, I talk more about why I’m going back to school, why I chose the program I chose, what I want to do with the degree, and how I’m combatting my inner critic as I return to studying, writing papers, and being in new and uncomfortable territory.   I hope this episode will help you also consider what you want to create for yourself over your Next 20! We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

People are going to tell you NO.  You will be rejected. Over and over and over. One of the gifts of being an entrepreneur is that you get rejected so often (especially early on) that you get a little callous to it - meaning, you let it roll off you easier and faster each time. This is a blessing.  Without this gift (which definitely doesn’t feel like a gift early on), you may find yourself crippled by the NO’s. The rejection you face often has nothing - NOTHING - to do with you. Yet we are masters at internalizing it and defaulting to a place of self blame and self doubt, and sadly, even self loathing when we are faced with a NO. In this episode I’ll talk you through the actual causes of rejection (vs the stories you make up in your head) and 5 ways to manage rejection in an objective way so you can KEEP GOING and get what you want out of relationships and circumstances.  Links mentioned: Get my newsletters and email updates   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I started dreaming up this episode last Sunday. The next day, the Supreme Court was outed on their plan to own our bodies. The next day, our family was hit with Covid.   By the time I sat down to record this, what I wanted to say shifted quite a bit. I was seeing this conversation through a totally different lens.   As you listen in, I want you to deeply understand how to honor yourself as well as how to keep showing up for the hard stuff - the stuff that is so critically important in our world right now. This episode gives you permission and guidance on how to do both.   In honor of Mother’s Day, let me confirm for you that you are an excellent mother. Full stop. And here are a few gifts I share with you, as you hold space for your excellence: You don’t owe anyone anything Your world can suck and be great simultaneously The little ways you show up in the world are making a difference BONUS - you gotta listen in for this one. (And it’s my favorite one!) Sponsor info and promo codes: Please find our sponsor information here: shamelessmom.com/sponsor/ Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I had a really hard time relaxing over our holiday break. I knew January was going to be a big month for me in terms of work opportunities and I was feeling some nerves for sure. I kept telling myself to “just relax” until January kicked off, but my anxious brain could not. If you have an anxious brain like me, perhaps you can relate to how foolishly ineffective it is to tell yourself to “just relax”.  BUT… Now that we are IN January and I’m IN these opportunities, I’m having a blast. I’m running right up to some big edges of discomfort as I do new things and I’m having a great time seeing things come together.   As I was wrapping up last week, I had to remind myself: “You are good at figuring out new things.” “It feels really great to challenge yourself by finding new professional edges.” “The high that comes after reaching a new edge is the best.” As I mentioned, I have an anxious brain. I excel in worrying about things before they happen. Sometimes that worry exists for months before an event or life situation and it takes a lot out of me. I have done a lot of work to minimize this worry, but it definitely still creeps in at times.   I love challenging myself because I love - LOVE - the feeling of achievement. But I hate the feelings of worry (sometimes even dread) that can precipitate some of the best moments of my life. One of my top techniques to mitigate this worry is to really sit in the feelings that follow pushing my edges. I do this with skiing, with uncomfortable conversations, with new leadership opportunities, and when I’m working with new organizations - so pretty much anytime I’m doing something unknown or uncertain!   In this episode we talk about how to use these questions to lean into the magic of your new edges: How did that feel? How did you use your skills, gifts, and talents to accomplish what you wanted to accomplish? What does this accomplishment tell you about yourself and the person you are becoming? Cheers to a year of new edges, my friend! Thank you to our sponsors this month: Full-Time VA: Check out this free training on how to be a virtual assistant that makes full-time income with part-time hours: thefulltimeva.com/Shameless. Owner Amanda Rush Holmes is also including a bonus free guide for SMA listeners - The VA Kickstarter Workbook! Ritual: Ritual’s Essential for Women 18+ is a multivitamin you can actually trust. Ritual is offering my listeners 10% off during your first 3 months. Visit ritual.com/shameless to start Ritual or add Essential for Women 18+ to your subscription today.   Rothys: For stylish, comfortable, sustainably made shoes, shop Rothy’s. Get $20 off your first purchase at rothys.com/SHAMELESSMOM.  StrollerCoaster: A Parenting Podcast!: Need another podcast in your parenting podcast library, check out StrollerCoaster: A Parenting Podcast! wherever you listen to the SMA.  Thrive Market: Get groceries and household essentials delivered right to your door. Join Thrive Market today and get 30% off your first order, plus a FREE $60 gift! Go to thrivemarket.com/shameless.  Teachable: Join tens of thousands of creators turning their knowledge into scalable online businesses. Join a free plan at teachable.com/shameless to get started.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Let’s just stop. Stop faking fine.  When you’re hurting, let it be known.  When you’re tired, let it be known. When you’re depleted, let it be known. When you’re worried, let it be known. When you’re lonely, let it be known. When you’re uncertain, let it be known. When you’re DONE, let it be known. Stop faking fine.  Everytime you fake being fine, you perpetuate this ideal that women should button up and stuff it down and dishonor themselves by disowning their pain.  This is not only detrimental, it’s downright dangerous. Model being less-than-fine to others.  You go first.  Let them know: I’m struggling. I’m hurting. I’m tired. I need help. It is in owning and honoring where you’re really at that you will find the soft places and most sacred spaces to land - where others will be waiting to hold you, arms open wide. Links mentioned: Enrollment is open for Momentum Mamas     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Delphine Carter is the Founder and CEO of Boulo Solutions, a career matching service that helps women stay in and return to the workforce. Boulo has now helped over 1,000 women and has generated over $1M in revenue. Delphine was able to fund Boulo’s $500,000 seed stage while working and raising children during the pandemic. I asked Delphine to join me on the show because of the massive shift we are seeing around moms and the workplace right now. Millions of moms have left the workforce in the last year. Many millions more have had to navigate new terms of working from home or working in other creative ways during the pandemic.  We are at a critical time for moms in the workplace. There is the chance to totally renegotiate what work looks like for everyone and moms are poised to work in more flexible ways than ever before. Delphine is helping make that happen. Listen in to hear Delphine share: Her realization that “I could not be whole without my work” How she helps genius moms get seen professionally How Boulo helps moms qualify themselves for jobs that are a perfect fit for their specific needs Why Boulo only works with companies that create flexible working environments for moms and dads How forward-thinking managers need to shift expectations around goals vs time invested on a job or task The benefits of having moms in C Suite position The significance of empathy in corporate culture The challenges around childcare post pandemic when 40% of childcare centers nationwide have closed and what is open is ridiculously expensive The exact conversation you can have with your employer to ask for a more flexible schedule Why we must erase the phrase “just a mom” from all vernacular Links mentioned: Help us help you by filling out the Shameless Summer Survey Connect with Delphine: Boulo Solutions Connect with Delphine on LinkedIn Connect with Delphine on Facebook Connect with Delphine in Instagram Thank you to our sponsor: Talkspace: To match with your perfect therapist for a fraction of the price of traditional therapy, go to talkspace.com, Make sure to use the code SHAMELESS to get $100 off your first month and show your support for the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Deborah Reber is a New York Times bestselling author, coach, and the founder of TiLT Parenting, a podcast and online community for parents raising differently wired children. Debbie’s podcast has more than 300,000 downloads and on it, she interviews high-profile thought leaders in parenting and education. Debbie’s new book is Differently Wired: Raising an Exceptional Child in a Conventional World. Prior to launching TiLT, Debbie spent fifteen years writing inspiring books for teen girls. As a teen girl authority, she frequently spoke about self-esteem and confidence. In 2013, Debbie and her family moved from Seattle to Amsterdam, where she currently writes and homeschools her 13-year-old differently wired son, Asher. I will share that I rarely read a book cover to cover before interviewing my guests. But I found Differently Wired to be such an essential read, I read every single page. Whether your child is differently wired or not, you will find such comfort and wisdom in Debbie’s stories and expertise.  If you are parenting a differently wired child, Debbie’s work will be an invaluable resource. If you are in a community with differently wired kids (and I promise you are, whether you know it or not), you will learn how they see the world and how you might best be able to support their families.  If you are parenting a neurotypical child, you will still find a ton of parenting support throughout the book. I dog-eared page after page. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Listen in to hear Debbie share: How many kids fall under the umbrella of differently wired and why being differently wired provides many gifts and opportunities How to parent from possibility instead of fear How to introduce your child based on their strengths, not their struggles How to manage the parenting comparison trap (and all those families with picture perfect vacation photos on social media) How to use your loud and unapologetic voice when it comes to being an advocate for your child Links Mentioned: TiLT ParentingWebsite: http://www.tiltparenting.com Connect with Debbie Reber: http://www.debbiereber.com Podcast: TiLT Parenting Debbie on Facebook Debbie on Twitter Debbie on Instagram Thank you to our sponsors: Bioclarity: Get 50% off your skincare routine + free shipping. Go to Bio Clarity and enter the code SHAMELESS at checkout. Canidae: We talk about families, and your pet is an important part of your family and they deserve the best. Go to Canidae to try CANIDAE for free by requesting a free sample and get other special offers! Prep Dish: To get your first two weeks of paleo/gluten free meal plans, recipes, and grocery lists for free, go to Prep Dish   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ok, don’t hate….    Y’all know I love my wine. Love.    And I know I’m not alone. You love it too, right??    We’re in this together.    I recently had a long wine/weight loss convo with my gym members here in Seattle and I thought it would be worthwhile to share the conversation with you. So, here goes…   Today you’ll learn:   The truth about alcohol and weight loss What happens to your blood sugar regulation when you drink Why drinking wakes you up in the middle of the night Why drinking makes you hangry and carb crazy How drinking helps you store fat   I will also give you 6 tips to drinking smarter! Don’t worry I’m not going to ask you to give up your precious nectar. Like I said, we’re in this together.      Links Mentioned:   Shameless Mom Academy Episode 18, Jill Coleman: How To Eat Every Damn Day   Girls Gone Strong Article: Wine and Your Waistline: How Alcohol Affects Your Health, Hormones and Fat Loss Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I think we can all agree that marriage is hard. It is also awesome. But it does not come without intentional work. It’s easy to glorify other people's' marriages and assume they “have it all” when that is never actually the case. I recently read Michelle Obama’s book, Becoming. Then I went as saw her speak here in Seattle. In both instances, I was touched by the way she talks about marriage and essentially the “secrets” of her marriage. She is married to a dreamer, while she is admittedly much more pragmatic. She is married to someone who wants to serve all the people, while she wants to prioritize serving her family and those closest to her. She is married to someone who can’t manage his time to save his life, while she loves structure and schedules and routine (and being on time for it all)! In reading Michelle’s book and hearing her talk, I was able to curate four secrets to a successful marriage that I think will help all the rest of us: Set clear boundaries and expectations Assume your partners have the best intentions Assume your partner can actually do the things they say they can Shamelessly build, own, and grow your own identity Listen in for a deep dive on these concepts around marriage (and to learn how to see your partners' most annoying characteristics as gifts)! AND make sure to stick around for the end when we talk about asking for support rather than permission. This is a game changer in how you can maintain your identity as well as a high level of respect and equity in your marriage. Thank you to our sponsors: Cheers Health: Visit Cheers Health and Enter promo code SHAMELESS at checkout to Get 10% off your first order and a free gift. CareOf: For 50% off your first month of personalized care/of vitamins, visit CareOf and enter the code SHAMELESS50 at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tiffany Bluhm wants every woman to recognize, embrace, and pursue the big dreams and beauty born inside of them. The author, blogger, speaker, teacher, podcast host, wife, and mother shares her personal stories of self-value and self-doubt, international adoption, entrepreneurship, marriage, heartbreak, motherhood, and more with an ever-growing audience now numbering in the hundreds of thousands. In addition to reaching readers via her own blog, Tiffany shares her disarmingly perceptive, honest, and frequently funny writing on other popular outlets including ScaryMommy.com, Deeply Rooted Magazine, and more. As co-host of the Why Tho podcast and an in-demand speaker, Tiffany also leads key conversations about modern faith, contemporary women, culture, and so much more. She has penned two books: the acclaimed Bible study Never Alone, released in February 2018, and her newly released book, SHE DREAMS: LIVE THE LIFE YOU WERE CREATED FOR, Tiffany lives in Tacoma, Washington, with her husband and is a Shameless Mom to her 4 and 8-year-old sons. Listen in to hear Tiffany share: Her story of being born in an orphanage in Dehli India and adopted by a white family at age 2 Her experience of being unlike everyone around her from the time she was born because of her birth story and her skin color How rejection at age 21 reopened her birth rejection trauma The suicide rate and mental health struggles are 8 times greater in adoptees Why her decision to adopt internationally had nothing to do with her experience of being adopted How she has faced discrimination as an East Indian woman, especially since 9/11 How she is talking to her kids about systemic racism and walking her black son through his own awareness of discrimination at a young age Links Mentioned: Connect with Tiffany: Tiffany Bluhm Tiffany on Facebook: Tiffany Bluhm Tiffany on Instagram: Tiffany Bluhm Tiffany on Twitter: Tiffany Bluhm Get Tiffany’s Book: She Dreams Watch Tiffany’s Women To Watch Talk: Youtube Thank you to our sponsors: Instacart Brumate Betabrand Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today we are celebrating 3 years of The Shameless Mom Academy. I launched this show three years ago not knowing up much I would love it, not knowing how much it would change my life, not knowing how many lives it would touch.  The last 3 years have been a blur and a dream - and the best part is that we are only getting started. The growth of this podcast stems directly from you all implementing what you learn on the show. You consistently turn the advice into action. You are open to learning and growing and expecting more out of your life, your marriage, motherhood, and your career. You show up and take imperfect action and get vulnerable and ask for help. I am SO HERE for all of this.  3 years, 319 episodes, 160 guests, 1.5 million downloads in 140 countries - and this is just the beginning. When I look back on all this, I can tell you the most valuable pieces have been the community, the connections, the impact and how that has stretched & expanded your identity and mine. Thank you for every single download, share, comment, like, DM, review, email. YOU make The Shameless Mom Academy the Shameless dream that could. Links mentioned: Join me at Shameless Mom Con in Seattle on April 26th & 27th: Shameless Mom Con Thank you to our sponsors: Hourglass Cosmetics: Get free shipping with your purchase of a full sized Caution Mascara at Hourglass Cosmetics and use the promo code SHAMELESS at checkout. Third Love: To find the perfect fitting bra and get 15% off your first purchase got to Third Love Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jill Simonian is the author of The FAB Mom’s Guide: How to Get Over the Bump & Bounce Back Fast After Baby.      The FAB Mom’s Guide celebrates motherhood while poignantly and candidly exploring the  spectrum of emotions and real-life challenges women face from pregnancy through the first year of baby’s life - beginning with Jill's unexpected first pregnancy within her first year of marriage just as her career was taking off (which originally involved plenty of tears and swear words), to giving birth to two daughters in two years. Jill offers easy tools, tricks and humor she and other women actually used to help new moms successfully bounce back mentally and physically within a matter of months, ultimately finding the right balance between home, career and family.    Jill is also known for her work as a TV Host & Entertainment Journalist turned Parenting Lifestyle Expert & Contributor. She is currently on CBS Los Angeles twice a week. She has also worked with the TODAY Show, HLN, and the Hallmark Channel.     Listen in to hear Jill share:  How she found her self unexpectedly pregnant (twice)  How she tried to hide her first pregnancy (and failed)  Here stance on nursing – and her no guilt approach to formula  Why she believes life only gets better after motherhood  Why you should stop negotiating everything with your kids  How tiny professional steps, taken while being a stay at home mom, built a foundation for her current career    Links Mentioned:  Blog: TheFabMom.com  Book: The FAB Mom’s Guide: How to Get Over the Bump & Bounce Back Fast After Baby by Jill Simonian  Book: The Pie Life by Samantha Ettus        Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Amber Hawley is a licensed therapist and lifestyle strategist who works with entrepreneurial individuals and couples with the emotional side of business. She is the owner of a therapy practice in Silicon Valley, and the host of The Easily Distracted Entrepreneur and Couples Fix podcasts.  She is also a wife, a Shameless Mom of three kids, and a Marvel movie super fan. Amber originally worked in the tech industry but her love for people led her to pursue a career where meaningful relationships are at the center of everything she does.  A lot of Amber’s work is centered around neurodiversity, as she brings her experience of having ADHD, as well as parenting children with ADHD to much of what she does. As soon as Amber and I got started in this conversation, I knew we would need more time.  I wanted to make sure to dig into ADHD as it relates to women, as well as ADHD as it relates to kids.  Amber was so kind to agree to turn this into a two-part conversation.  In Part 1 (Episode 696), we will talk about women and ADHD.  In Part 2 (Episode 697), we will talk about ADHD as it relates to kids.  Buckle up, friends.  You are about to jump into the brains of two women with ADHD.  We are loud & proud (and maybe a little chaotic - in the best way!)  and can’t wait to share this convo with you. Listen in to hear Amber share: The multiple types of ADHD, and how women tend to experience ADHD What is a hyperfocus hangover and why rest & recovery matters so much Women’s symptoms of ADHD that don’t look stereotypical or like what you might expect The benefits of getting an ADHD diagnosis Strategies to help moms with productivity and focus Links mentioned: Connect with Amber: https://amberhawley.com/ Podcast: The Easily Distracted Entrepreneur Amber’s work with couples: couplesfix.com Dr. Amen’s ADD 7 Types Quiz Amber on FB Amber on IG Amber on LinkedIn Sponsor info and promo codes: Please find our sponsor information here: shamelessmom.com/sponsor/ Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cara is a Shameless Mom and Stepmom of 3.  She works as a productivity coach and her mission is to help busy moms take massive action on their goals and 3x their productivity without overwhelm or burnout. . She does this via her blog, her wildly popular podcast - The Purpose Driven Mom Show, virtual community groups, and e-courses that help women learn to prioritize their lives!     Cara came on the show to talk about some of the most common struggles for moms: productivity, being present and preventing burnout. She has great tips on building micropriorities in order to stay in momentum and prevent losing motivation in your life.   Listen in to hear Cara share: Why she left her teaching career and what inspired her current career Her journey from building a 6 figure business to having to visit the food bank to feed her family What it looked like to lose so much while managing her Postpartum Depression, Postpartum Anxiety and rage The mindset shift that allowed her to build A Purpose Driven Mom How to use seasonal productivity to organize your life How to ID the season you are in in life in order to give yourself permission to be present in any season and appreciate it for what it is The 4 microseasons to prevent burnout How to use microproirities to reach your goals The problem with simply relying on motivation to accomplish things Her 15 Minutes Formula and the magical power of only 15 minutes Links mentioned: Connect with Cara: apurposedrivenmom.com Cara on IG Cara on FB Get Cara’s 15 Minute Formula: the15minuteformula.com/free Sponsor info and promo codes: Please find our sponsor information here: shamelessmom.com/sponsor/ Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy?  Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. Amy Porto is an anti-diet registered dietitian, nutrition professor, and certified intuitive eating counselor. As an expert in her field with over 20 years of experience, Dr. Porto speaks the truth about nutrition. Her purpose is to disrupt mainstream diet culture with real science, a dash of humor, and a little bit of common sense. And while she holds a BS in Biochemistry and a Ph.D. in Nutrition Science, she believes you shouldn’t need a Ph.D. to decode food labels at the grocery store. Breaking down complex information about food and nutrition into digestible bite-sized pieces of information is her passion — plus, she loves a good pun. Amy’s ultimate goal is to help you trust your body and reclaim your relationship with food. Listen in to hear Amy share: The cultural impact of podcasts like Maintenance Phase and why accessible & approachable anti-diet, anti-fat bias information & content is so critical right now The process of unlearning when learning about nutrition The importance of language around food, and how we talk about food as it relates to ourselves and, even more importantly, to others The morality of “optimal health” The elitism of diet culture, cleanses, detoxing, and fasting Nourishing yourself from a place of self-care/self-love vs self-control Links mentioned: Connect with Amy: www.amyporto.com Amy on IG Amy on FB Podcast: Maintenance Phase Thank you to our sponsors this month: Fearless Finance: Get on-demand, comprehensive financial planning by the hour without all the headaches, high fees, and commitments that come with traditional financial advisors. Go to fearlessfinance.com and use the code SHAMELESS to save $50 on your first planning meeting. Heather Chauvin: If you’re ready to feel energized, encouraged, present, confident, intentional, and aligned, take Heather’s Energy Finder Quiz: Heatherchauvin.com/shameless iHerb: Get your health in check with great products and great pricing. Get 22% off your first order when you use the code SHAMELESS at iherb.com.  Luvbuglearning.com: Support your child’s social-emotional learning with the world's first social-emotional gaming platform. Go to Luvbuglearning.com and sign up for a 7-day free trial, or simply download from the APP store and subscribe. Peloton: Get access to a massive workout library and save up to $400 on Bike, Tread, and Row packages before April 2, 2023, at onepeloton.com. Ritual: Ritual’s Essential for Women 18+ is a multivitamin you can actually trust. Ritual is offering my listeners 10% off during your first 3 months. Visit ritual.com/shameless10 to start Ritual or add Essential for Women 18+ to your subscription today. Rothys: For stylish, comfortable, sustainably made shoes, shop Rothy’s. Get $20 off your first purchase at rothys.com/SHAMELESSMOM.  StrollerCoaster: A Parenting Podcast!: Need another podcast in your parenting podcast library, check out StrollerCoaster: A Parenting Podcast! wherever you listen to the SMA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Casey McGuire Davidson is a certified life coach, the founder of Hello Someday Coaching and creator of the “Sober Girl’s Guide To Quitting Drinking, 30 Tips To Help Get You Through Your First 30 Days”. She works with busy, successful women who want to reevaluate their relationship with alcohol, quit drinking, and create lives they love without their nightly glass (or bottle) of wine. She’s also a wife, a mom, a practical dreamer, recovering corporate ladder climber, retired people-pleaser and ex-red wine drinker, who's been known to crawl into bed at 9 pm and whisper "Don't worry...you're still a badass" to herself. Casey and I met at an event recently when she approached me as a fan of the SMA. We immediately hit it off and the second she told me that she works with moms who are reevaluating their relationship with alcohol I knew she had to come on the show. So many moms have a silent struggle with alcohol. I think it’s one of the most under talked about issues of motherhood. And that is not ok. Listen in to hear Casey share: How she relied on wine to manage her emotional and mental health What pushed her to attempt 100 days of sobriety What red wine represented for her and her fear of giving up something she loved so much How to view giving up alcohol as a positive powerful choice vs sad consequence The best question to ask yourself if you’re thinking about giving up drinking The pros and cons of different sobriety programs and why she believes some are better than others for women Links mentioned: Join us at Shameless Mom Con 2020 Connect with Casey: Hello Someday Coaching Free Sober Girl’s Guide To Quitting Drinking: Sobriety Starter Kit Casey on Facebook: Hello Someday Casey on Instagram: Casey Mdavidson Thank you to our sponsors: FamilyAlbum: Please find FamilyAlbum on your favorite app store, or by searching for FamilyAlbum on the web. And remember FamilyAlbum is all one word. Magic Spoon: Go to magicspoon.com/SMA to grab a variety pack and try it today! And be sure to use our promo code SMA at checkout to get free shipping. Lola: Get organic cotton tampons and other hygiene products delivered right to your door. To get 30% off your first order, go to mylola.com and use the code SHAMELESS30 when you subscribe.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jennifer Litner has over a decade of experience working, studying and teaching in the field of sexual health, with a specialization in sex therapy, sexuality education, and helping people thrive in their intimate relationships. Ms. Litner is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and sexuality educator whose passion is helping couples, individuals and families navigate sexual concerns. Ms. Litner is a Clinical Fellow of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), a Certified Member of the American Association for Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT), and a member of the Society for Sex Therapy and Research (SSTAR). In addition to her clinical practice, Ms. Litner earned a Master’s of education and is currently pursuing a doctorate degree in human sexuality studies at Widener University with emphasis in human sexuality education. Ms. Litner is also an adjunct professor at Adler University in the Departments of Counseling and Couple and Family Therapy where she teaches masters and doctoral students. Ms. Litner empowers individuals to make healthy choices about sexuality by providing them with accurate sexual health information. Listen in to hear Jennifer share: Where caregivers can begin when they want to talk to their children about sexuality How to talk to your kids about touch and hugs at an early age Research based myths and truths about having “the talk” with your kids How to talk to your kids about sex in a developmentally appropriate way (in grades 1-3 vs grades 3-5) What it means to be sex positive and how you can be a sex positive caregiver How to talk to your kids about gender identity and gender expression Examples of shaming, sex negative messaging and the harm perpetuated in shameful messaging The intersection of conversations around pleasure and privacy How to be warm and neutral in conversations around sexuality with your kids How to create a sex positive home for your kids - even if you had a sex negative upbringing Links mentioned: Join my 2021 Plan & Prep Pajama Party Connect with Jennifer Get Jennifer’s course and use promo code SHAMELESSMOM to save 20% - GOOD THRU 1/31 Jennifer on Facebook and Instagram: @embracesexualwellness Jennifer on Twitter: @ESW_LLC   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s easy to conflate being new at something with being BAD at something. The first time I went skiing I was not good at it. So, I deemed myself a bad skier. When I had to speak in front of the class in high school, I would shake uncontrollably and black out. I wouldn’t remember anything I said as I walked back to my seat in a full sweat. So, I deemed myself a bad public speaker. Perhaps your child is like this too. Tries soccer once. Doesn’t score a goal. Retires from soccer. Cause - “I’m so bad at soccer, Mom!”  If you look back over the course of your life, I bet you could see patterns where you tried new things and were pretty darn bad at them. How often did you give yourself the grace to note, “Here I am learning something new. Look at me learning!”   I was at an event recently where someone announced she was an awful public speaker, yet every time she spoke the most  beautiful, thoughtful, perfect melody of words came out of her mouth.   Sometimes when something is new to us, we immediately assume we are bad at it.   Sometimes when something is uncomfortable or scary, we immediately assume we are bad at it.  Sometimes when something brings up a lot of sensation (shaking, sweating, nausea, blacking out!) we immediately assume we are bad at it.  But, what if learning, discomfort, and sensation are the direct path to becoming great at something??? In this episode, I offer you 4 invitations to carry with you for those moments when you’re about to try something new, or you’re feeling terrified of doing something that makes you feel ridiculously uncomfortable, or you find yourself standing in a pool of your own sweat as you blackout while beautiful words come pouring out of your mouth.  Link mentioned: Join my October Retreat for Women Entrepreneurs: Influence & Ignite: Be the CEO and Thought Leader You Were Born to Be: shamelessmom.com/bizretreat We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today we have an extra special episode with two guests, who are not only powerhouse Shameless Moms and entrepreneurs making deep impact in the world, but also sisters. Caren Lettiere is the Founder and President of Democracy Clothing, the casual lifestyle brand designed for the modern, multitasking woman who grew up with fashion, then got busy with life. Best known for its “Ab”solution jeans with fit technology, Democracy Clothing embraces women of all shapes and sizes, providing them with confidence-building clothing that helps them look good and feel good, while doing good. Alongside Democracy, Caren’s proudest accomplishment is the fulfilling family life she’s built with her husband of 29 years, David, and their amazing kids Nicole and Josh. Julie Neale is a life and leadership coach, community builder, writer, and mom to two high energy boys who challenge her to grow into her best self. Alongside a 20 year career in youth development, it was Motherhood that transformed her and set her on a course to live a truly E.P.I.C. life. Now, as the founder of Mother’s Quest and the Mother's Quest Podcast, Julie provides inspiration, coaching, and community-building so that mothers, and those who care for young people, can connect to support and resources, fulfill their unique purpose, and live their E.P.I.C. lives. I’ve been so excited for this conversation for months now and I just know you’re going to love so much about it. Listen in to hear Julie and Caren share: How you can have the audacity to forge your own path without having to prequalify yourself The birth of Mother’s Quest podcast and Democracy Jeans How their separate businesses and goals converged into a collaborative working relationship How Julie and Caren were able to participate at Sybrina Fulton’s (Trayvon Martin’s mom) Circle of Mothers event to bring joy to mothers who lost children and family members to gun violence Shawna Free Jeans Freakout article https://shawnamorrow.com/free-jeans-freakout/ Caren’s philosophy around “My body is the carriage I arrive in” Julie’s philosophy of leading and living an E.P.I.C. life The power of opening the door for yourself instead of waiting for someone else to open the door for you How ignorance can actually help you be a problem solver Links mentioned: Make sure to sign up for my Momentum Mamas announcement Mother’s Quest Podcast: Mother's Quest Julie on IG: Mother's Quest Julie on FB: Mother's Quest Julie and Caren’s interview on Mother’s Quest Podcast: Save 20% off your order of Democracy Jeans (my FAVE jeans): (1 use per customer for total purchase, ends 02/28/21) Julie’s article on committing to anti racism       Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As I’ve worked with women through growth and transformation over the last 20 years, I’ve had countless conversations about partners & spouses who, “just don’t get it.” Back when I was working with my personal training clients and boot camp members, women would come to be fraught about spending money without their husband’s approval.   When I started running programs inside the SMA, moms came to me so eager to participate but very uncomfortable about talking to their husbands about investing money in an online program with a coach they met on the internet, especially a coach selling “personal development for moms”. I totally understand that it can be awkward to work on goals that aren’t connected to your partner, especially if you haven’t done that before. And… if that’s you, I want to invite you to consider why you haven’t taken steps to work on yourself independently in the past? Not from a place of judgment, but from a place of genuine curiosity.   As I’ve helped so many women show up for themselves and step into growth over the last 20 years, I’ve also seen the frustration that comes when you are growing, growing, growing, and hoping your partner will follow suit, and they’re like, “Nah, I’m good.” There can be a decent amount of tension when partners are growing in different directions or one partner is committed to growth and the other is not.   As you’ve become more Shameless as a listener of this show, perhaps you’ve wondered, “How do I encourage my partner to make some of the changes I’ve made?”   In today’s episode, I talk through this tension. The tension of becoming more autonomous. The tension of codependency. The tension of doing your own work and letting a partner decide on their own what work they do or don’t do.  Thank you to our sponsors this month: care.com: Get the help you need to make it all work for your family at care.com/book.  Hello Fresh: Get farm-fresh, pre-portioned meals delivered right to your door! Go to HelloFresh.com/shameless65 and use code shameless65 for 65% off plus free shipping! Last Bottle Wines: Get 10% off your order when you use the code SHAMELESS at lastbottlewines.com. Luvbuglearning.com: Support your child’s social-emotional learning with the world's first social-emotional gaming platform. Go to Luvbuglearning.com and sign up for a 7-day free trial, or simply download from the APP store and subscribe. Ritual: Ritual’s Essential for Women 18+ is a multivitamin you can actually trust. Ritual is offering my listeners 10% off during your first 3 months. Visit ritual.com/shameless10 to start Ritual or add Essential for Women 18+ to your subscription today. Rothys: For stylish, comfortable, sustainably made shoes, shop Rothy’s. Get $20 off your first purchase at rothys.com/SHAMELESSMOM.  StrollerCoaster: A Parenting Podcast!: Need another podcast in your parenting podcast library, check out StrollerCoaster: A Parenting Podcast! wherever you listen to the SMA.  Train Her Game - Free Training: Moms of teen daughter athletes! Help your daughter build confidence and overcome negative mindsets in athletics by attending this free training offered by Breanne Smedley, Host of the Elite Competitor Podcast: https://trainhergame.com/shameless Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Last weekend Vinnie had two friends overnight for a sleepover. For 24 hours I played mom to 3 kids. DAMN. That is serious business, friends.    It was a very action packed 24 hours, to say the least. And at the end of it all, I learned something really valuable about myself and my current life. I suddenly felt grateful that our IVF experience over the summer had not resulted in a pregnancy. I saw the simplicity of our current life in a new light. I fell a little more in love with my life than I have in a long time.    Over the last week, I have been thinking about what it takes to Fall In Love With Your Life. It takes a lot, but it also takes very little.    Listen in to this episode to hear my 6 Steps to Fall In Love With Your Life:   Embrace a Growth mindset Quite the comparison trap Practice daily gratitude and wins Take radical responsibility for your joy Find the cracks  Keep your shield up    It is entirely possible to fall a little more in love with your life every single day – if you choose to do so. Let these 6 steps be your guide.    Links Mentioned: Book: Mindset By Carol Dweck   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jen Lumanlan is the host of the Your Parenting Mojo podcast, which distills scientific research on child development into a format that parents can actually use. She has done a TON of research on both child development and education, and also recently launched a course called Your Homeschooling Mojo, which helps parents to decide whether homeschooling is right for their family.    So all that said, a lot of Jen’s friends think it’s pretty ironic that she never thought she would be a parent because she didn’t have an inkling of a motherly instinct in her body. Jen earned a bachelor’s degrees from U.C. Berkeley and a Master’s of Environmental Management from Yale and spent several years in consulting before realizing that she was way more passionate about being a parent than she ever thought she could be, so she went back to school and got a Master’s in Psychology focused on Child Development and is now working on another in Education.    She’s still doing a less-rigorous day job while she ramps up the business that she hopes will enable her daughter’s homeschooling. We’ll talk about what she’s learned from the research she’s read that has helped her to be a better parent but also stop worrying so much about being a better parent and just enjoy life! We’ll also dig into some of the surprising things she learned about the education system while she was doing her master’s thesis research on what motivates children to learn in the absence of a curriculum.   Listen in to hear Jen share:   How and why she uses research to lead her parenting The truth about only children and social skills and intelligence  How she knew homeschooling would be the best decision for her daughter – even though she’s not school age yet Why our current education system is not meeting the needs of our kids The myths (and truths) of homeschooling and homeschooling stereotypes Why homeschooling is becoming more popular, especially among black families   Links Mentioned:   Podcast: The Your Parenting Mojo podcast - research-based ideas to help kids thrive (and make parenting a bit easier!) Course: The Your Homeschooling Mojo course - helping people who are interested in homeschooling figure out whether (and how) they can actually do it. Use the code SHAMELESS20 to save $20 on your course purchase.  Interview/Book: How to talk so little kids will listen: Jen’s Interview with Julie King / Book  Interview/Book: It’s Not About The Broccoli: Jen’s Interview with Dina Rose / Book  Podcast Episode: Only Children – Are They As Bad As advertised? Podcast Episode: Parenting: All Joy and No Fun? Article: We Don’t Need No Education by Ben Hewitt Book: Class Dismissed by Meredith Maran Book: Child of Mine: Feeding With Love and Good Sense by Ellen Satter Twitter: @akidisforlife Email: jen@yourparentingmojo.com Sponsor: Aaptiv.com (use code SMA30 for a free 30 day trial) Sponsor: http://www.kindsnacks.com/sma (use this link to get 10 KIND Snacks for $10 + free shipping)     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jon Acuff is the New York Times-bestselling author of five books. His most recent book is FINISH. He's helped some of the biggest brands in the world tell their story, including The Home Depot, Bose, Staples, and the Dave Ramsey Team. Most recently he's spoken to hundreds of thousands of people at companies such as Microsoft, Nissan and Comedy Central. Featured regularly on national media, Jon has been seen on CNN, Fox News, Good Day LA and several other key outlets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As a podcast visibility expert and host of the Go Pitch Yourself podcast, Angie Trueblood knows that the only 'perfect pitch' is the one that leads with value and focuses on building a genuine connection. Whether she is teaching entrepreneurs how to pitch themselves or working behind the scenes to secure opportunities for others, Angie leverages her super-connector powers to grow businesses and build long-lasting relationships. When she's not working with her clients or being active in her local community, she loves exploring Richmond, Virginia's parks and playgrounds with her two kiddos, checking out new restaurants with her hubs, and laughing about motherhood over cocktails with friends. Listen in to hear Angie dig into: Why she elected to homeschool her kids this year and the gifts that have resulted Why she left the corporate workforce even though she had loved her work and always been ambitious How her corporate ambition in work transferred to ambition in motherhood The significance of making the ask in order to get what you want The power of curiosity in networking and and connecting How motherhood led her to building a business amplifying women’s voices Where to start if you have a story you want to share with the world What you need if you want to pitch yourself to podcasts Links Mentioned: Apply for one-on-one business and leadership coaching with Sara Get on me email list to get Shameless Mom Con Collective info Connect with Angie: Angie Trueblood Angie on IG Sara’s interview on Go Pitch Yourself Podcast: Go Pitch Yourself Thank you to our sponsor: Talkspace: To match with your perfect therapist for a fraction of the price of traditional therapy, go to talkspace.com, Make sure to use the code SHAMELESS to get $100 off your first month and show your support for the show.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Amy Moses is a physical therapist who works exclusively in women’s health with a specialty in pelvic floor physical therapy. I met Amy a few years ago when she was my pelvic floor PT. I quickly developed a huge girl crush on Amy, as she made me feel so comfortable at such a vulnerable time in my life. She helped me heal my body and become stronger as a women and a mom.    Amy and I dive deep into the world of pelvic floor rehab today – discussing incontinence, pain with sex, and pelvic pain that happens to most women after giving birth (as well as to women who have never given birth!) Amy is on a mission to normalize these kinds of conversations and to bring pelvic floor rehab to all moms.    Perhaps the best part of this conversation and Amy and I disclosing our own personal experiences with pelvic floor dysfunction after having babies. It’s not pretty, friends…. But it’s TOTALLY NORMAL.  I think you’ll get a few good laughs as we share our personal journeys – and perhaps you’ll be able to relate!   Listen in to hear Amy share:   The truth about incontinence, pain with sex, and pelvic pain the most of us experience Why understanding this major women’s health issue is critical in the current political landscape How Kegels can make everything worse Why the pad/panty liner industry is making a KILLING off you  What you can expect when you go to pelvic floor physical therapy How to find a pelvic floor PT near you   Links Mentioned: Amy Moses on Facebook  Amy Moses at Moye Physical Therapy near Memphis, TN Directory of Herman Wallace Pelvic Floor PTs  Directory of Women’s Health PTs   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cortney McDermott is an award-winning writer, TEDx speaker, and strategist to Fortune 500 executives, entrepreneurial leaders, and think tanks around the world. She writes for a number of international publications, including ‘She Owns It’ and ‘HuffPost’. Her debut book, “Change Starts Within You: Unlock the Confidence to Lead with Intuition” was selected for Inc.com’s “26 Favorite Books of High Achievers” and has been featured in multiple media outlets internationally. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices