Jenna Johnson—professional dancer, Emmy nominee, and mom—joins me for a heartfelt conversation about motherhood, career, and what it really takes to do both. We talk about the chaotic beauty of raising a child while competing on Dancing With the Stars, how she and her husband Val navigate parenting as a team, and the real emotions that come with being a working mom—like mom guilt, comparison, and the pressure to keep it all together.

Jenna also opens up about her journey through infertility and miscarriage, how therapy helped her reclaim her joy, and what she’s learned about listening to her body, honoring her emotions, and letting go of timelines. She shares what it means to compartmentalize as a parent and performer, the role her big family played in shaping her approach to motherhood, and how becoming a mom has changed everything—from the way she works to the way she loves.

Whether you’re navigating the early days of parenting, balancing ambition with family, or healing from loss—Jenna’s honesty and strength in this episode is a reminder that you’re never alone.

Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video! 

John Kanell of Preppy Kitchen joined us a few years back for this episode all about fatherhood. John shares his and his husband’s journey to fatherhood, and how they chose surrogacy. John and his husband eventually welcomed twins, and we walk through all the highs and lows that come along with parenting twin toddlers. We also get into how John balances work and family, and the joy of baking with kids! He tells us that getting kids involved in the kitchen is a great way to bond while teaching them important skills at the same time.  

Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!

Radio and TV personality, author, and podcast host Tanya Rad joins for a deeply personal and refreshingly honest conversation about step-parenting—a role both of us have stepped into and are still learning to navigate. 

Known for co-hosting On Air with Ryan Seacrest on KIIS FM and podcast Scrubbing In, Tanya opens up about her journey as a stepmom to two boys after marrying her husband. She shares how she built her own support system, found her rhythm in a role with no clear blueprint, and learned to embrace both the beauty and the challenges that come with it. 

Together, we dive into the emotional complexity of blending families, the lack of resources and representation for stepparents, the power of communication, respecting parental boundaries, working through insecurities, and why it’s time to change the narrative around stepmothers. Whether you’re a stepparent yourself, co-parenting with one, or curious about what this role really looks like, this episode offers a heartfelt, honest look at what it means to show up for a child who isn’t biologically your own. 

Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video! 

Simon Huck and Soraya Sutherland joined us in this episode to talk all about disaster preparedness. Be prepared for the worst is so important, especially with young children. However, it can be hard to find ways to talk through preparedness with our kids without feeling like we’re scaring them. Soraya’s book A Kids Book About Safety addresses this issue and helps parents have kid friendly conversations about emergency preparedness. Simon and Soraya also stress the importance of creating a go bag, and how to include your children in the process. This episode is full of great tips, and Simon and Soraya hope they can help get more families to start the conversation about their emergency plans.

Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!

Like parenting, step-parenting doesn’t come with a manual—but unlike parenting, your role is much less defined. You’re not a parent, nanny, or assistant, but you might share responsibilities in those areas. At the end of the day, though, you’re none of those roles.

I feel very lucky that I get to experience both step-parenting and parenting. One of the best decisions I’ve made was seeking out the help and guidance of a step-parenting therapist, whom I sit down with in this episode: Ashley Graber, LMFT. Together, we talk about a role that so many of us are navigating and one that often comes with more questions than answers.

Six and a half years into this journey, I’ve learned that being a step-parent can feel like parenting, assisting, supporting, and sometimes stepping back all at the same time. I’ve also learned that there just aren’t enough resources or real conversations out there for those of us in this role. That’s why I opened up the conversation to all of you and I’ve never received more questions for a single topic.

Ashley and I dive into the big and most commonly asked topics: discipline, defining your role, communicating with co-parents, and the emotional gymnastics of blending families. We talk about the importance of putting the child first, but also how to honor your own experience and feelings along the way.

This is a conversation I wish I could have listened to years ago, and I hope it offers support, perspective, and maybe even a little peace for anyone walking this path.

Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!

Caitlin Slavens and Chelsea Bodie of Mama Psychologists joined us in this episode and shared great insights into balancing mental health with being a mom. Caitlin and Chelsea explain that mothers often carry a huge mental load, and it is important to emphasize self-care and open communication. We also get into managing mom guild, and how we can manage the complex emotions that come up around being a busy mom. Chelsea and Catilin encourage all moms to practice self-compassion and self-care. Even small steps can make a big difference! 

Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!

This week’s episode is deeply personal and incredibly meaningful to me. I’m joined by Rebecca, an early childhood expert at Special Olympics, and Jennifer Pittman, a Special Olympics parent and manager of Healthy Families, for a conversation about the organization closest to my heart. 

 

We talk about how Special Olympics is changing the game in early childhood development, providing crucial support to kids with intellectual and developmental disabilities before they even receive a formal diagnosis. We also dive into their new Young Athletes app, which empowers parents to support their child’s growth through play, wherever they are. 

 

Jennifer shares her powerful story of navigating her son Shalom’s early diagnosis and how Special Olympics became a place of community, support, and strength for her whole family. This conversation is filled with practical advice, hope, and a reminder that none of us are alone in this journey. 

 

Whether you're a parent, educator, or someone who cares about inclusive communities, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. 

 

Download the Young Athletes App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/young-athletes/id1629555324 

 

Learn more at specialolympics.org 

Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!

In this episode, we sat down with Scarlett Lewis to discuss her Choose Love Movement. Scarlett founded the movement in honor of her son Jesse who was tragically lost in the Sandy Hook shooting. The Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement promotes fostering nurturing, healing love. They also provide free programs for violence prevention and emotional wellbeing. Scarlett hopes that through her movement, more children can learn forgiveness and compassion. It is so important that we teach our kids how to be emotionally intelligent people who can navigate their feelings and be caring to others.  

Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!

This week, I’m joined by Laura and Kelly, the sister duo behind Tied Sunwear, the fashion-forward UPF clothing brand that’s changing the way we think about sun protection. What started as a deeply personal mission after their mom’s melanoma diagnosis turned into a full-blown business built on style, safety, and sisterhood. 

 

We talk about why sun-protective clothing matters more than most people realize (spoiler: your cotton tee isn’t cutting it), what it really took to launch a brand from scratch, and how they’re designing timeless, flattering silhouettes that work for every season of life from pregnancy to postpartum and beyond. 

 

They also share how they keep their relationship strong while running a family business, what it means to build a mission-driven company, and their dream to become the ultimate “one-stop sun shop.” 

 

If you’ve ever wondered what goes into starting a brand or just want better options for protecting your skin without sacrificing style, this one’s for you. 

 

Use my code Katherine15 for 15% off: https://go.shopmy.us/p-21318273 

Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!

Jocelyn Delk Adams joined us for this episode alongside the release of her cookbook Everyday Grand, a cookbook that celebrates everyday moments through food. Jocelyn has such great insights in today’s episode on everything from balancing motherhood and career to cooking with children and bringing people together. She emphasizes that a supportive community helped her to realize both her professional and parenthood goals. One of those goals was writing Everyday Grand! Jocelyn hopes that her cookbook can help other families realize the joy of food just like it did for her own.  

Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!