Adult Conversation Podcast

Join mother and author, Laura Mullane, as she unapologetically speaks her truth of "reluctant motherhood," and she and I talk about all sorts of deep mom topics. I talk about my biggest fear when becoming a mother, and Laura and I explain why motherhood sometimes feels like living with a gun to your head, and also what changes inside us as the toddlers grow into teenagers (it's actually positive). Laura tells us what it was like to write such a personal and taboo book – and what people's reactions have been, what she misses most about the younger ages, and how she feels when her daughter says she doesn't ever want to have kids. I share about when I feel most happy while mothering, what helped me decide if I should have a second baby or not (which still gets me emotional, shocker), and I lay out my theory about how different types of moms have different stages of intense struggle. I'm curious if you'll agree.

Join me and my wise and hilarious friend, Jennifer, for a conversation with lots of laughing, swearing, self-deprecation, and truly life-changing concepts, as we talk about alcohol and parenting, specifically her path as an alcoholic mother. Even if you don't personally have an issue with alcohol, nor does anyone in your inner circle, this episode has so many gems about parenting and making mistakes – basically, being a human. We talk about how our mothering instincts can and cannot thwart alcoholism, what was actually behind her addiction (hint: it wasn't actually the alcohol), the simplest question that turned her life around, and the hard-earned gifts that alcoholism gave her and her kids (yes, you heard that right, alcoholism can bestow gifts, if you don't let it kill you first). She also details some warning signs for alcoholism, and ways to tell if you or someone you love is more than just a causal drinker. She's maaaaaybe the most vulnerable guest I've had yet, and maybe the most inspirational without trying to be. If you are someone who drinks a little too much (or you're married to someone who does) and you're feeling like, "Yeah, I don't know if I can listen to this," because you're scared of what you might learn about yourself or your partner, PLEASE JUST LISTEN. You'll see why.

Today's episode is in response to my first two podcast episodes. A few of my lesbian and queer listeners were like, "What the shit is this hetero life and marriage you talk about??" Their shock and disdain made me want to know more about same-sex marriages, and how much of our hetero marriage and parenting issues are gender-based. Today's guest, a lesbian mom, so graciously lets me dig into her private life to seek the answers to my burning questions. It turns out that I had a lot of varying fantasies about what being in a relationship with another woman was really like. We talk about gender, sex, social conditioning, division of household labor, periods, working mom struggles, identity, and other relatable mom shit, including my really important opinion on pumpkin patches.

Some of you need today's episode. Some of you may think it's a little extreme. If so, it will give you a look into an experience that many other moms are having, that luckily you didn't. So either way there is something to be learned, or a new perspective to be gained. My guest, Marissa, a licensed marriage and family therapist, talks about broadening the postpartum depression diagnosis, and even abandoning it in some cases. She talks candidly about her own transition into motherhood as a therapist and mother, and how it forced her to rethink everything, including coining a controversial new term that she thinks will help struggling new moms to avoid depression. We talk about anxiety, taboos, mom guilt, postpartum myths few mothers say out loud, experimenting with out-of-the-box norms in our home, and we debate our differing viewpoints on self-care. Also, I may or may not sing the world's most annoying Gymboree song.

Today's guest, Deidre, is so unbelievably gracious, even though she didn't have to be. Deidre agreed to answer my questions and educate us all. I wanted to know things like: How are we white women getting it wrong? What do black mothers experience that white mothers have no idea about? And, what do you wish we'd do to help you? What she delivers is more vulnerable and enlightening than I even imagined. We also talk about why the "I don't see color" thing is problematic – for all races, the friendship I lost over sticking up for murdered black people, and the fear we white women have about saying something that's not "woke" (which is not good for anyone). Don't worry, we laugh a lot today too, as usual, and I realize how to take some of the overwhelm out of fighting racism.

And this is just the start of a larger conversation around race. A drop in the bucket. There are so many layers to this topic, ones I'm not even aware of. So by no means is this a tidy discussion with easy answers, and it's not done perfectly. It's just two friends: a white mom and a black mom talking candidly about a hard topic, both with the best intentions.

Author, Darcy Lockman, discusses how even egalitarian couples fall into mini patriarchies after kids. You'll be surprised at all that's at play.

A quick, practical meditation for frazzled moms to do anytime, anywhere, with lots of LOLs. We cover the non-annoying whys and hows of meditation, including its importance with setting boundaries with our kids.

Someone in the motherhood business (who isn't a mother herself) drops wisdom about why millennials aren't having kids, what she thinks is the hardest part of the Mom job, magic she sees that parents can't, and much more.

Nod your head along as four hilarious and honest moms admit their favorite and least favorite parts of being mothers – some taboo. Recorded from a writer's retreat.

How to store (or not store) kid art and baby clothes, why clutter is visual anxiety and why women feel this weight, we break down Marie Kondo's merits and neuroses, and more.