Lets get real about something nearly every mom wrestles with — body image after baby. One year postpartum with my second child, the pressure to “bounce back,” the five pounds that won’t budge, and the radical shift in mindset that changed everything.

From the lens of motherhood and the entertainment industry, we explore what it really means to love your body in every season and how to recognize the difference between setting healthy goals and self-sabotaging through unrealistic standards.

This is for any mom who's ever looked in the mirror and questioned her worth. You're not alone and you're not a before and after photo. You're a masterpiece in motion.

🧠 In This Episode, We Cover:

• The unspoken pressures actors and performers face around weight and appearance
• What it means to redefine beauty and self-worth after having children
• The emotional difference between setting goals and self sabotage
• The trap of “bouncing back” vs. Bouncing forward

• How to speak to your body — and your kids — with love, not shame

💡 Takeaway:

You can have goals and still love your body now. You don’t have to shrink to matter. Sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is stop the mental audition and start embracing the body that’s carried you and your babies through it all.

Reading Materials Mentioned:

Bible in 52 weeks

Woman study bible

🎧 Listen Now On:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Stitcher
• Wherever you get your podcasts

💌 Connect with Us:

Follow the show @actinglikeamompod on Instagram

This week on Acting Like a Mom, I sit down with the multi-talented Mesha Kussman: director, choreographer, and founder of Aqualillies, the world’s most glamorous water entertainment company that fuses synchronized swimming and dance. I’ve had the honor of being part of the Aqualillies team for over 12 years, and it was such a joy to dive deep with Mesha in this heartfelt and honest conversation.

We talk about:

💧 What it was like for Mesha to step back and delegate leadership within Aqualillies when she became pregnant with her first child.
🌊 How the discipline and spectacle of synchronized swimming reflect her approach to motherhood and artistry.
🕊️ The emotional journey of losing her parents and how that, alongside becoming a mother, reshaped her view on life, creativity, and legacy.
🌟 Birthing a creative vision and birthing a child and how both demand surrender, resilience, and reinvention.

This episode is a beautiful look into how grief, growth, and motherhood inform artistic leadership and how letting go can be just as powerful as taking control.

Connect with Mesha Kussman:

🎥 Mesha Website

Mesha Instagram

💦 Aqualillies Website
Instagram - @aqualillies

Let’s Stay Connected:
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @actinglikeamompod

Rate, Review, and Subscribe!
If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review — it helps more moms (and creatives!) find us.

In this quick solo episode  I am  having the post audition blues. Were you can’t shake the coulda woulda shoulda. It made me think of the comparison in both motherhood and the entertainment industry. Whether it's the scroll of "perfect moms" on social media or the sting of seeing another actor book the role you wanted, comparison can quietly rob us of the joy we've worked so hard to earn.

In This Episode, We Explore:

•   Why comparison is so common (and dangerous) in both motherhood and acting
•   The mental and emotional toll of chasing perfection in two high-pressure roles
•   Real stories and moments of my self doubt. 

If You Enjoyed This Episode:

•   Follow or subscribe to Acting Like a Mom wherever you listen
•   Leave a review—it helps other moms and creatives find us!
•   Share this episode with a fellow mom or actor who needs this reminder
• Follow me on IG: @actinglikeamompod

LINKS:

Amazon Storefront

In this episode of Acting Like a Mom, I sit down with the radiant and magnetic Danielle Ruiz : model, actor, longtime host of the World Poker Tour, and mom of two.

Danielle brings her signature charm, carefree spirit, and wisdom to our conversation, and I can honestly say this interview was so much fun. She reminded me (and maybe will remind you too!) that motherhood doesn’t always have to be stressful if you let it flow.

We talk about how she’s navigated her career in entertainment for over a decade while raising her children in a way that feels unconventional, yet deeply intentional. From the red carpet to bedtime routines, Danielle keeps it real, centered, and full of love.

In this episode, we cover:

• Her 14-year journey as a host on the World Poker Tour

• Balancing modeling, acting, and mom life

• How “going with the flow” became her motherhood mantra

• Creating a home that prioritizes connection, and joy

• Why intentional parenting doesn’t have to look traditional

Whether you're a mom in the industry or just need a reminder to breathe and trust your instincts, this conversation is for you.

✨ Listen now for a dose of authenticity, laughter, and inspiration from one of the coolest moms in entertainment.

🎧 Subscribe & Follow:
Don’t miss future episodes. Hit that follow button and leave a review if you enjoyed this one!

📲 Let’s Connect:
Instagram: @ActingLikeamompod
Guest: @DanielleRuiz

#ActingLikeAMom #DanielleRuiz #MomsInEntertainment #IntentionalParenting #WorkingMoms #GoWithTheFlow #PodcastForMoms

The industry feels quiet. Auditions are slower, projects are paused, and a lot of us arewondering, “What now?” In this episode, I lean into the stillness. Not as failure, but as a vital part of the creative rhythm.

Whether you're a working actor, a storyteller, or a behind-the-scenes creative balancing motherhood, this episode is your reminder that rest is not a setback and you are not alone. We explore practical ways to stay grounded and creative, even when the calendar is thin.

We also touch on my growing fears around AI and the shift in the industry while also sharing how to stay present.

Todays Topics:

• Why slow seasons aren't wasted seasons
• Creative ways to stay engaged without burning out
• A mindset shift for redefining “progress”
• How to connect with other moms in the biz right now

🎧 Listen If You’re:

• A creative mom feeling unmotivated or anxious about industry shifts
• Wondering what to focus on between gigs or during strike-like lulls
• Curious about how to keep showing up for your creativity
• Feeling weird about AI and where the biz is going (you’re not alone)
  📲 Let’s Connect:
  Loved this episode? Share/Follow/comment
  Follow@actinglikeamompod on Instagram or using hashtag #ActingLikeAMom.

She was my very first guest and now she’s back! Actress, mama, and now co-founder, Aylya Marzolf Mai joins me for a full-circle moment on Acting Like a Mom. Since that first episode, we’ve both had babies (just three days apart!) and embarked on a brand new journey: launching our own maternity and beyond talent division, Love Mamas.

In this episode, we get real about what it’s been like transitioning from talent to agents why we started the agency, what we’ve learned, and how it's helped us not only support other women in the industry but also become better talent ourselves. We’re on a mission to make motherhood and a Hollywood career coexist.

We also get personal talking about raising two kids, the challenges of juggling it all, and why this work is so close to our hearts.

Whether you’re a mom in the industry or just curious about what it really takes to balance diapers and call sheets, this one’s for you.

In This Episode We Talk About:

• Why we created Love Mamas and what makes it different
• How becoming agents has changed how we show up as talent
• What we wish more people knew about working while pregnant/postpartum

• Our experience raising two kids while running a company
• The power of supporting women through every phase of motherhood

Tune in to hear how we’re reshaping what it means to be a working mom in Hollywood.

Aylya IG: @FreshFreckles

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a fellow working mama or someone in the industry who needs to hear it. And don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and follow us on Instagram @actinglikeamompod and @LovetalentMamas to be part of this growing community. Let’s keep rewriting the narrative.

What do running shoes, mom life, and grit have in common? A whole lot more than you think. In this episode, I’m taking you mile by mile through my first ever half marathon...physically exhausting, emotionally eye opening, and surprisingly healing.

From the early morning training runs squeezed in before breakfast duty, to the mental walls I hit (and climbed over) at mile 10, I’m sharing what running 13.1 miles taught me—not just about endurance, but about believing in myself again.

💬 In this episode, I talk about:

• Why I signed up for a half marathon in the middle of total life chaos

• The parallels between motherhood and marathon training

• The voice in my head that almost made me quit—and how I silenced it

• How finishing the race changed the way I show up for myself

💡 Whether you’ve never laced up a pair of running shoes or you’ve hit your own version of “mile 10,” this episode is your reminder that you are stronger than you think—and that quitting on yourself is never the only option.

📌 Mentioned in this episode:

• My go-to training " target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">playlist

• Favorite mom-friendly running gear

• How to start running when you feel like you’re not a “runner”

🧡 Let’s connect!
If this episode hit home, share it with a friend or tag me on IG @actinglikeamompod with your biggest takeaway. And if you’ve ever run (or thought about running) a race, I want to hear your story.

—

📝 Rate & Review:
Loving the show? Drop a review—it helps other mamas find their strength too.

🎧 Listen now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Babies, Braids & Breaking the Mold with Dot Saint Fleur

In this inspiring episode of Acting Like a Mom, we sit down with the multi-talented Dot Saint Fleur; an actress, entrepreneur, devoted mom, and wife. She is rewriting the script for what motherhood in the entertainment industry looks like.

Dot gets real about:

✨ Creating her own pilot and carving space for herself in the industry
👵🏽 Moving her mom in to build a “daycare they trust” for her little one
😬 How people project their fears onto pregnant actors—wondering if it’s the end of their careers
⏳ Why time management is her secret weapon for balancing auditions, business, and baby
💇🏽‍♀️ Running a successful hair braiding business while chasing her acting dreams

This episode is a must-listen for any mama navigating creative ambition, family life, and entrepreneurship. Dot’s honesty, humor, and hustle will leave you feeling empowered and ready to own your story—on and off the stage.

🔗 Listen now on [Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube]

💬 Let us know what you think and follow us on Instagram @ActingLikeAMomPod for behind-the-scenes moments and more mom-to-mom real talk.

This episode was produced by: @LondonOutlaw

In this I open up about my first full year as a mother of two. No filters, no scripts, just real talk. From navigating the trenches of postpartum depression to embracing perspective shifts (and a healthy dose of delulu thinking), I share the messy, magical, and transformative journey I’ve been on.

Being a mom in this industry comes with its own set of challenges, and this past year tested every part of me. But I also found new parts…resilience, humor, softness, and surprisingly joy. If you're a parent, an artist, or someone trying to do both, this one's for you.

In This Episode, I Talk About:

• What motherhood really looked like this year (the good, the hard, and the in-between)
• How I pulled myself out of depression—with support, tools, and mindset shifts
• The power of “delulu” thinking (and why it might not be such a bad thing)
• The small wins that meant everything
• Why I finally feel like I’m almost on the other side of the hill

Resources & Mentions:

• This book helped me set up my goals and break it down. The 12 week year book:https://amzn.to/3Zelj5m
• Follow me on Instagram: @actinglikeamompod

Let’s Connect:
💬 Leave a review and share your favorite takeaway
🎧 Subscribe so you don’t miss upcoming episodes
📢 Tag me when you’re listening—I'd love to shout you out!

This highly requested episode is a special one! We have our first Dad guest and who else than my super handsome husband😍, actor Jordan Hubbard, for a honest conversation about what it’s really like to raise kids while navigating the unpredictable world of the entertainment industry.

Together, we open up about the real struggles—from trying to memorize lines with a baby crying in the next room to having side hustles that work for us and some that dont ehhhh lol We talk about how lack of sleep impacted our work and our relationship, and how we’ve found ways to support each other through it all.

Whether you're an actor, a parent, or both, this episode is a reminder that even in chaos, teamwork and love can pull you through.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• How family life can shake up your work routine.
• The impact of sleep deprivation and the effects of your craft
• How we neglected our relationship and we reconnected
• Tips that helped us get some sanity

Don’t Forget to:
💬 Share this episode with a fellow parent in the biz
⭐ Leave a rating & review—it helps more than you know
📲 Follow us on Instagram @actinglikeamompod