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You know that mental catalog that's constantly running in your brain? The one calculating diaper changes, grocery lists, and whether there's milk for tomorrow's cereal while you're doing three other things? What if I told you that mental load doesn't have to be yours alone to carry?

In this episode, I'm joined by Ryley Miller, Executive Director of Rise of Society Alberta, for an honest conversation about the unseen emotional labor of motherhood and what happens when you actually negotiate sharing it. Ryley and I have both experienced role reversals in our relationships where our partners became the primary caregivers, and let me tell you—it changes everything.

We dig into:

• Why negotiation (not resentment) is the key to redistributing mental load
• How trading primary parent roles becomes "the great equalizer" in relationships
• What doors open when you're not carrying all the invisible work alone
• The ongoing dance between meaningful career pursuits and present motherhood
• Why Ryley's philosophy of "we'll figure it out" is exactly what overwhelmed moms need to hear

Ryley shares how renegotiating the mental load in her marriage didn't just reduce her stress—it opened up space for her to run her organization, take professional risks, and even run for municipal council. But she's also honest about the ongoing challenge of staying present with her daughters while pursuing meaningful work.

If you're tired of being the default parent, the keeper of all family information, and the one whose brain automatically scans for everything that needs doing, this conversation offers hope and practical steps for creating something different.

Resources Mentioned:

• Rise of Society Alberta: Ryley Miller's Bio
• Fair Play Method (mentioned in episode)

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Meet Kayla Huszar, the Host of the Chill Like a Mother Podcast

Kayla Huszar is a Registered Social Worker and Expressive Arts Therapist who helps mothers reconnect with their authentic selves through embodied art-making. She encourages moms to embrace the messy, beautiful realities of their unique motherhood journeys. Whether through the podcast, 1:1 sessions or her signature Motherload Membership, Kayla creates a brave space for mothers to explore their identities beyond parenting, reconnect with their intuition, and find creative outlets for emotional expression and self-discovery.

Thank you for letting me be a part of your day—kids running amok and all! If this episode helped you feel a little more chill, please leave a rating or review. Your feedback helps the podcast reach more moms who need to hear it.

Send us a text

Ever find yourself swearing under your breath while trying to be the "good mom" – only to feel overcome with guilt moments later? You're not alone. The messy truth about mom rage rarely makes it to social media, but it's something almost every mother experiences.

What happens when you're a therapist who can't follow her own advice? In this raw episode, I share a particularly hard parenting day where I experienced that uncomfortable yet surprisingly righteous anger, then questioned my parenting afterward. We explore why healing while raising kids feels impossible sometimes, the gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it, and how our unhealed patterns affect our children.

As a therapist who specializes in working with moms, I've seen how this cycle plays out – and I'm living it too. From elaborate hotel games gone wrong to kids' shows teaching us about taking things slow, we dive into why the "Puffin way" of slow and steady might be the key to breaking generational cycles without burning out.

Topics covered:

• The irony of giving advice you can't follow
• Why mom rage feels righteous in the moment
• Why healing can't be Amazon Primed
• How childhood patterns show up in parenting
• Regulation techniques that don't always work
• Giving yourself grace in the hard moments

Resources mentioned:

• Inner child healing books
• Puffin Rock (surprisingly wise kids' show)
• The Motherload Membership

Support the show

Meet Kayla Huszar, the Host of the Chill Like a Mother Podcast

Kayla Huszar is a Registered Social Worker and Expressive Arts Therapist who helps mothers reconnect with their authentic selves through embodied art-making. She encourages moms to embrace the messy, beautiful realities of their unique motherhood journeys. Whether through the podcast, 1:1 sessions or her signature Motherload Membership, Kayla creates a brave space for mothers to explore their identities beyond parenting, reconnect with their intuition, and find creative outlets for emotional expression and self-discovery.

Thank you for letting me be a part of your day—kids running amok and all! If this episode helped you feel a little more chill, please leave a rating or review. Your feedback helps the podcast reach more moms who need to hear it.

Send us a text

It's 9:05pm. You're hollowed-out exhausted, the kids are finally quiet, and you're zombie-scrolling hoping the algorithm throws you a lifeline. But that "calm" you're chasing? It's not really calm - it's just avoidant numbness dressed up like peace.

What if I told you there's something better you can do with those 10 minutes? Something that actually helps your nervous system instead of keeping it stuck in fight-or-flight?

In this episode, we're talking about why grabbing your kid's coloring book might be the most practical self-care tool you're not using. Not because coloring is some magical cure-all, but because when you're too fried for meditation, too touched-out for baths, and too tired for yoga videos, sometimes the most radical thing you can do is pick up a crayon.

We'll dive into the actual science behind why coloring works for regulation, how it gives your brain the sensory exhale it's desperately craving, and why it's perfectly okay to color trees the wrong color when you're feeling everything at once.

This isn't about creating masterpieces or being artistic. It's about giving yourself permission to decompress in a way that actually works when everything else feels like more work.

Perfect for: Overwhelmed moms who are tired of feeling guilty about screen time but don't know what else to do at 9pm.

Resources Mentioned:

• Free 5-Minute Check-In guide
• The Motherload Membership
• Kayla's favorite coloring supplies (Amazon store)

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @kayla.huszar (tag me in your coloring moments!)
• Website: kaylahuszar.com

Remember: You aren't required to solve everything tonight. Your only job is to show up for yourself.

Support the show

Meet Kayla Huszar, the Host of the Chill Like a Mother Podcast

Kayla Huszar is a Registered Social Worker and Expressive Arts Therapist who helps mothers reconnect with their authentic selves through embodied art-making. She encourages moms to embrace the messy, beautiful realities of their unique motherhood journeys. Whether through the podcast, 1:1 sessions or her signature Motherload Membership, Kayla creates a brave space for mothers to explore their identities beyond parenting, reconnect with their intuition, and find creative outlets for emotional expression and self-discovery.

Thank you for letting me be a part of your day—kids running amok and all! If this episode helped you feel a little more chill, please leave a rating or review. Your feedback helps the podcast reach more moms who need to hear it.

Send us a text

What happens when a mental health professional finds herself on the other side of the desk - struggling, spiralling, and split wide open by a birth plan that was never part of the plan?

In this raw and resonant conversation, Chelsea - co-owner of Couples to Cradles and co-founder of Mama Psychologists - invites us into the story of her early motherhood: one that begins with unexpected labor at just 27 weeks and unravels into a 15-week NICU stay, a cardiac diagnosis, and the kind of emotional unraveling that even a degree in psychology can’t quite prepare you for.

💬 She thought it was Braxton Hicks. It was her son, arriving far too early.
🛩️ He was flown to Calgary. She was left behind in Lethbridge.
🧷 Diapers the size of teabags. Permission slips to hold her own baby.
❤️ A tiny heart with a diagnosis. A mama with one quietly breaking.

Chelsea opens up about the moment she knew something wasn’t right - rage while pumping, not grief. That sneaky, seething kind of burnout that so many of us don’t talk about. She shares how therapy (yes, even for therapists!) and EMDR helped her begin to piece together a healing path, one blurry, hopeful milestone at a time.

✨ Like her son finally fitting into size two diapers - just in time for Mother’s Day.

This episode is for every mother who’s wondered, “Is this normal?” (Spoiler: If you're even asking, it's worth sitting with that question.) It's for the ones who feel disconnected from the role they were supposed to fall into naturally. It's for those still nursing invisible wounds while tending to tiny humans.

You are not broken. You are not alone.
And yes, you deserve support just as much as you give it.

Resources and support available through:
🤝 Mama Psychologists
🍼 Couples to Cradles – where trained therapists walk with you, not above you.

If something inside you feels a little off…don’t ignore it. That inner tug? That’s your soul whispering, “Hey…we need a little care here.”

Reach out. Speak up. You’re so worth it.

Support the show

Meet Kayla Huszar, the Host of the Chill Like a Mother Podcast

Kayla Huszar is a Registered Social Worker and Expressive Arts Therapist who helps mothers reconnect with their authentic selves through embodied art-making. She encourages moms to embrace the messy, beautiful realities of their unique motherhood journeys. Whether through the podcast, 1:1 sessions or her signature Motherload Membership, Kayla creates a brave space for mothers to explore their identities beyond parenting, reconnect with their intuition, and find creative outlets for emotional expression and self-discovery.

Thank you for letting me be a part of your day—kids running amok and all! If this episode helped you feel a little more chill, please leave a rating or review. Your feedback helps the podcast reach more moms who need to hear it.

Send us a text

You walk into a room, forget why, stand there blinking like a confused Sims character. Then you start spiralling: Is my brain broken? Is this what motherhood does?!

If that moment feels freakishly familiar, this episode is your official permission slip to stop blaming your brain - and start understanding it.

In this illuminating convo on Chill Like a Mother, Kayla Huszar chats with neuroscientist Dr. Jodi Pawluski to dismantle the myth of “mommy brain” as a bad thing. Instead, you’ll learn how your brain is actually doing something remarkable: adapting, fine-tuning, and rewiring itself to help you care for your baby (and probably also pack a lunch while ordering more baby wipes on your phone).

But there’s a twist: The foggy, forgetful, fried feeling? It’s not just biology. It’s the sheer mental load - the nonstop juggling of details, emotions, invisible work, and Goldfish cracker inventory—that’s making recall and focus feel slippery.

Here’s what you’ll receive in this episode:

• What’s going on in your brain during pregnancy and postpartum (spoiler: a LOT)
• Why your “mom brain” moments say more about overstimulation than brokenness
• How society quietly convinces moms their cognitive struggles are personal failings
• Why you don’t need another list of self-care hacks - you need solutions tailored to your nervous system
• The serious research gap in perinatal mental health, and why it matters more than ever

This episode doesn’t just offer answers - it offers relief. Real, science-backed relief that your forgetfulness isn’t a flaw. Your brain isn’t malfunctioning. It’s multitasking survival and sensitivity, all at once.

📚 Want to go deeper? Check out Dr. Jodi Pawluski’s book Mommy Brain, her podcast Mommy Brain Revisited, and her upcoming course through Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Trainings.

🎧 Listen now and reclaim your brain—not from motherhood, but for it.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Maternal Mental Health
02:35 Neuroscience of Motherhood
08:05 The Reality of Maternal Mental Health
12:29 Research Gaps in Maternal Mental Health
15:21 Understanding Mental Health in Context
19:44 Mommy Brain and Mental Load
28:01 Supporting Maternal Mental Health
31:00 Resources and Future Learning

Support the show

Meet Kayla Huszar, the Host of the Chill Like a Mother Podcast

Kayla Huszar is a Registered Social Worker and Expressive Arts Therapist who helps mothers reconnect with their authentic selves through embodied art-making. She encourages moms to embrace the messy, beautiful realities of their unique motherhood journeys. Whether through the podcast, 1:1 sessions or her signature Motherload Membership, Kayla creates a brave space for mothers to explore their identities beyond parenting, reconnect with their intuition, and find creative outlets for emotional expression and self-discovery.

Thank you for letting me be a part of your day—kids running amok and all! If this episode helped you feel a little more chill, please leave a rating or review. Your feedback helps the podcast reach more moms who need to hear it.

Send us a text

In this episode of Chill Like a Mother, I sit down with the brilliant Stacey and Stephanie to have a real, raw, and slightly irreverent chat about the wild ride that is gentle parenting - especially for neurodivergent moms. 

We’re peeling back the layers on the emotional toll of motherhood, the sneaky ways shame and guilt creep in, and why holding onto our own identity and creative expression isn’t just "nice to have" - it’s essential for survival.

We’re also getting real about how motherhood doesn’t have to mean losing yourself (even if it sometimes feels like you've been permanently rebranded as “snack dispenser” and “keeper of everyone's lost socks”). 

More than anything, this convo is a love letter to every mom who’s ever felt like she’s drowning in expectations, reminding you that prioritizing yourself isn’t selfish - it’s revolutionary.

Here’s what we dive into:

• Gentle parenting is hard. Period. And when you’ve got a neurodivergent brain? It’s like playing life on expert mode with a controller that keeps disconnecting.
• Feeling like you’ve lost yourself? That’s not just "a phase" - it’s a wake-up call. Time to reclaim what makes you you.
• That heavy mom guilt? It’s probably shame in disguise. 
• Self-compassion is your freaking lifeline, especially if ADHD is in the mix.
• You weren’t meant to do this alone. Finding your people (aka a supportive, non-judgy village) is everything.
• Creativity isn’t just a hobby - it’s a way back to yourself. 
• Putting yourself first doesn’t make you a bad mom. It makes you a whole, thriving human - who, coincidentally, also happens to be a great mom.
• Trusting your intuition takes practice.
• Society’s idea of motherhood? Maybe it’s time we… gently set that on fire and build something better.
• When you find yourself again, motherhood stops feeling like a life sentence and starts feeling like your life.

Bottom line? If you’ve ever felt like you’re failing at this whole “gentle parenting” thing or like you’re slowly disappearing under the weight of motherhood, this episode is your permission slip to take up space, get messy, and do motherhood on your own terms.

Listen in, exhale deeply, and let’s rewrite the rules together. 💛

• Instagram: @mother_plus_podcast
• Free resource for your audience: The ADHD Good Girls Survival Kit

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Gentle Parenting and Self-Identity
02:45 The Emotional Toll of Motherhood
05:53 Navigating Shame and Guilt in Parenting
08:50 Finding Your Voice and Needs
11:40 The Importance of Community and Connection
14:41 Reclaim

Support the show

Meet Kayla Huszar, the Host of the Chill Like a Mother Podcast

Kayla Huszar is a Registered Social Worker and Expressive Arts Therapist who helps mothers reconnect with their authentic selves through embodied art-making. She encourages moms to embrace the messy, beautiful realities of their unique motherhood journeys. Whether through the podcast, 1:1 sessions or her signature Motherload Membership, Kayla creates a brave space for mothers to explore their identities beyond parenting, reconnect with their intuition, and find creative outlets for emotional expression and self-discovery.

Thank you for letting me be a part of your day—kids running amok and all! If this episode helped you feel a little more chill, please leave a rating or review. Your feedback helps the podcast reach more moms who need to hear it.

Send us a text

Listen, motherhood wasn’t supposed to feel like one long, unpaid internship in exhaustion. You don’t need a permission slip to take care of yourself—you need a damn strategy.

Welcome to Mom Guilt Rehab, the podcast that helps you ditch the martyr mindset, reclaim your energy, and stop treating joy like a cute little side dish you only get if the house is clean and the laundry isn't regenerating overnight like some kind of sorcery.

Host Kayla Huszar—therapist, creative coach, and your new no-BS mom friend—dives deep into the real talk of self-care, mental load, and why “mom guilt” is just a scam designed to keep you exhausted.

Expect:
🔥 Hard truths (with love)
😂 A little dark humor (because, sanity)
💡 Actual strategies that don’t require a babysitter or a spa day

Because taking care of yourself isn’t selfish—it’s survival.

Support the show

Meet Kayla Huszar, the Host of the Chill Like a Mother Podcast

Kayla Huszar is a Registered Social Worker and Expressive Arts Therapist who helps mothers reconnect with their authentic selves through embodied art-making. She encourages moms to embrace the messy, beautiful realities of their unique motherhood journeys. Whether through the podcast, 1:1 sessions or her signature Motherload Membership, Kayla creates a brave space for mothers to explore their identities beyond parenting, reconnect with their intuition, and find creative outlets for emotional expression and self-discovery.

Thank you for letting me be a part of your day—kids running amok and all! If this episode helped you feel a little more chill, please leave a rating or review. Your feedback helps the podcast reach more moms who need to hear it.

Send us a text

Women and mothers are changing the world—but not if they’re exhausted, underfed, and running on fumes. In this episode, we’re diving deep into what real self-care looks like beyond the bubble baths and face masks. Spoiler: It’s about meeting your own basic human needs without apology.

My guest, Tami, shares her personal wake-up call—when an acupuncturist bluntly told her she was on the fast track to burnout. Sound familiar? Maybe your moment is realizing you haven’t eaten a full meal in days, or feeling resentful while your partner takes a leisurely shower. Whatever it is, your body is speaking. Are you listening?

We tackle mom guilt, the lies we tell ourselves about rest, and why setting boundaries isn’t selfish—it’s essential. Plus, practical, no-cost ways to integrate real self-care into your life today. Because a well-fed, well-rested woman? She’s a force to be reckoned with.

🔥 Tune in to reclaim your energy, rewrite the script, and give yourself full permission to be human.

🎧 Listen now!

Support the show

Meet Kayla Huszar, the Host of the Chill Like a Mother Podcast

Kayla Huszar is a Registered Social Worker and Expressive Arts Therapist who helps mothers reconnect with their authentic selves through embodied art-making. She encourages moms to embrace the messy, beautiful realities of their unique motherhood journeys. Whether through the podcast, 1:1 sessions or her signature Motherload Membership, Kayla creates a brave space for mothers to explore their identities beyond parenting, reconnect with their intuition, and find creative outlets for emotional expression and self-discovery.

Thank you for letting me be a part of your day—kids running amok and all! If this episode helped you feel a little more chill, please leave a rating or review. Your feedback helps the podcast reach more moms who need to hear it.

Send us a text

Your problem isn’t just the noise and chaos of motherhood—it’s how your nervous system is processing it.

Ever feel like you’re one loud noise away from snapping? Motherhood is a full-sensory experience—from the constant demands to the mental load that never stops. If you’ve ever wondered why everything feels so overwhelming, this episode is for you.

I’m joined by occupational therapist Cindy Goldhawk to break down why moms experience sensory overload and, more importantly, what to do about it (without needing an hour of alone time you don’t have).

💡 We’re diving into:
✨ Why sensory overload happens in motherhood (and why it’s NOT just you)
✨ Common misconceptions about occupational therapy and how it actually helps moms
✨ My own journey with postpartum anxiety & sensory overwhelm
✨ How to support your child’s sleep & regulation (without losing your mind in the process)
✨ Quick, in-the-moment strategies to calm your nervous system when everything feels like too much
✨ The impact of social media on your mental health and how to set boundaries

Motherhood wasn’t meant to be a never-ending sensory assault—and with the right tools, a little creativity, and a whole lot of self-compassion, you can find more calm amid the chaos.

💬 What’s your biggest sensory trigger as a mom? Drop a comment or send me a DM—I’d love to hear from you.

Support the show

Meet Kayla Huszar, the Host of the Chill Like a Mother Podcast

Kayla Huszar is a Registered Social Worker and Expressive Arts Therapist who helps mothers reconnect with their authentic selves through embodied art-making. She encourages moms to embrace the messy, beautiful realities of their unique motherhood journeys. Whether through the podcast, 1:1 sessions or her signature Motherload Membership, Kayla creates a brave space for mothers to explore their identities beyond parenting, reconnect with their intuition, and find creative outlets for emotional expression and self-discovery.

Thank you for letting me be a part of your day—kids running amok and all! If this episode helped you feel a little more chill, please leave a rating or review. Your feedback helps the podcast reach more moms who need to hear it.

Send us a text

This episode delves into the complexities of gentle parenting, particularly when navigating the unique emotional and behavioral needs of neurodiverse children. We explore the misconceptions surrounding gentle parenting, the power of language in communication, and the importance of embracing creativity in parenting. 
• The challenges of gentle parenting with neurodiverse children 
• Misunderstandings about the gentle parenting movement 
• The significance of emotional expression in children 
• Impact of social media on parenting expectations 
• How language choice influences child responses 
• Incorporating creativity in parenting and emotional growth 
• Recognizing individual differences in children’s needs

Support the show

Meet Kayla Huszar, the Host of the Chill Like a Mother Podcast

Kayla Huszar is a Registered Social Worker and Expressive Arts Therapist who helps mothers reconnect with their authentic selves through embodied art-making. She encourages moms to embrace the messy, beautiful realities of their unique motherhood journeys. Whether through the podcast, 1:1 sessions or her signature Motherload Membership, Kayla creates a brave space for mothers to explore their identities beyond parenting, reconnect with their intuition, and find creative outlets for emotional expression and self-discovery.

Thank you for letting me be a part of your day—kids running amok and all! If this episode helped you feel a little more chill, please leave a rating or review. Your feedback helps the podcast reach more moms who need to hear it.