Today's episode has me in the hot seat! This episode was originally recorded in August 2019 when I was a guest on my friend, Kehla Guimond's podcast: Living In Fierce Alignment.

I absolutely loved being on Kehla's podcast and it was actually the first time I had ever been on a podcast!

Kehla and I chatted about my pregnancy (I was 38 weeks along), finding my passions in regards to my career, being an entrepreneur and more!

It's super awesome to listen back to pregnant Jessica and see how much has changed over the last 9 months.

I highly encourage you check out Kehla's podcast and social media as she dives deep into mindset and living a life you truly desire. She is a force and I am so proud to call her my friend.

You can catch Kehla on Facebook, Instagram and her Podcast:

Facebook: Click here
Instagram link: Click here
Living In Fierce Alignment Podcast: Click here

P.S. Stay tuned for Part 2 which will be released in a few weeks!

Do you feel like you're mourning? Mourning 2020. Mourning what we thought our year was going to be. The places we were going to go. The people we were going to see. The things we were going to do.

If so, just know it's perfectly ok and we are justified in our feelings.

We are all mourning the loss of what we expected 2020 to be. 

I am excited to have Amanda Gurman on the podcast today. Amanda and I connected through social media but we became friends instantly...and I know you will love her too!

Amanda is a mom to Connor (3) and Scarlett (1.5) and wife to Chris. Amanda also works at the Juravinski Cancer Centre in Hamilton as a Drug Access Facilitator. Go mama (and huge thanks for your service during this time)!

In this episode, we dive into postpartum rage and how it's different than depression but equally as important to discuss. We also chat a lot about normalizing motherhood and how there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to being a mom and what works for you (aka, don't feel bad if your kid only eats chicken nuggets or you give them screen time so you can take a shower).

I have absolutely adored speaking with Amanda and am very excited to say she has her own podcast in the works!

As always, if you wish to connect with this badass mom or see cute photos of her kiddos, head on over to her Instagram! She truly is a lovely woman.

Instagram link: Click here

Picture this...

You slept in, then got up and took a shower, walked downstairs and turned the coffee pot on. You look around at your clean kitchen, not a speck of dirt in sight. As you walk over to the living room you glance in your laundry room. Not a single dirty clothes in sight. You sit down and enjoy your coffee. Like really enjoy your coffee. Not a sound can be heard aside from the swish of your coffee in your mug. Ahhh.

Sounds great, right? 

Today's episode features badass mom Alex Schanbacher. Alex is a mom to three amazing boys: 4 year old Wyatt, 3 year old Eli, 1 year old Connor and wife to Mike. Alex is also studying to be a doula - which I know she will be absolutely incredible at!

In this episode, we dive into midwives & doulas, the lack of postpartum care for mothers, gender disappointment, how we can better support our friends and family regarding baby's gender, Jenna Marbles & nosy old ladies at the grocery store.

This episode is full of laughter but also highlights some real topics that mothers face regularly.

As always, if you wish to connect with this badass mom or see cute photos of her kiddos, head on over to her Instagram! She truly is a lovely woman.

Instagram link: Click here

Times are super weird right now as the world is shutdown. Kids are home from school or daycare. Emotions and anxiety are at an all-time high. Moms are trying to homeschool the kiddos and somehow keep them endlessly entertained. 

Maybe you're feeling like shit because you see moms on social media who are starting new businesses while somehow teaching their kids math. You feel like you're barely holding on. 

Or maybe your days are so all over the place that you feel like shit. Or maybe you're getting into a groove and things are going alright.

However you are coping 
However you are surviving 
However you manage to get through this time 

Is perfectly okay 

Times are super weird right now. The world is shutdown.

More than ever, you are allowed to do whatever the heck is going to get you through this

Unapologetically
Shamelessly 

You got this mama, you really do.

Today's episode features the very first badass mom on the podcast - Kirstie Fox. Kirstie is a photographer as well as a wife to Lucas and mother to 5 month old Bianca.  

In this episode, we dive into miscarriages, being diagnosed with severe morning sickness, hypnobirthing, and the use of essential and CBD oils during pregnancy.  

This episode is full of tear-jerker moments, highlights the realities of pregnancy after miscarriage, and what it's like having "morning" sickness so severe that you're bedridden. 

As I said above, this badass mom is a photographer. If you have any photography needs, please check out her websites links below to see her work & otherwise head over to her Instagram to connect to another badass mom just like you!
 
Websites:
Food & Fashion
E-commerce Photography & Photo Retouching

Instagram:
Kirstie Fox

"I see you mama. I see you looking at yourself in the mirror, comparing back to your old self. That old body. That pre-baby body. You note what’s different now.

The new wrinkles. The cellulite. Maybe some rolls on your stomach. Or stretch marks on your tummy. You feel sad. Angry. Disgusted. You want to cover up this new body"

In today's episode, we will take a moment to breathe ourselves in, our whole selves. We will breathe in all we love about ourselves and breathe out everything else.

Welcome to Badass You. Your weekly dose of inspiration, empowerment and motivation to help you unleash your inner badass. Pop these episodes on when you’re feeling down in the dumps, need a little pick-me-up or want to just feel really good about yourself. Expect to leave here feeling empowered and a little bit more confident in your badass self.  

The Badass You episodes will be released every Saturday and will run for 5-15 minutes. 

Pregnancy & motherhood are one of the loneliest experiences out there. Between an ever-changing body, hormones all over the place, the confusion that comes with being a mother, the never-ending "am I doing this right?" thoughts and just overall shit show that is motherhood...it is lonely.

Your partner doesn't understand no matter how many ways you try to explain it. You feel like you're the only one going through these things. You are left crying on the bed just confused about it all. 

I hear you. I was you. And I am you still sometimes. 

But that is exactly why we must find our tribe. We must find and surround ourselves with women who get us. Who get what we're going through. Who we can laugh with. Cry with. Be confused with. 

We must find our tribe & lean on each other. 

Today's episode will dive into the loneliness of pregnancy and motherhood, why we must find our tribe & how we can go about doing that. 

Near the end of the episode I mention how I am always here as someone for you to lean on. If you need a woman in your corner and you're not sure where to turn to...please reach out to me. 

You can find me on Facebook under Jessica Hessels and Instagram under jeshessels

You don't have to feel alone. 

We can do this whole motherhood thing together.