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Marriage and money—two topics that individually carry enough weight to sink a dinner party conversation, and together create one of the last true taboos in our social discourse. When Sam shared her experience spending $1,650 on Daxxify without discussing it with her husband first, she found herself at the center of a social media firestorm, with commenters quick to label her marriage as toxic. But as this honest conversation reveals, the reality of married finances exists in shades of gray that TikTok's black-and-white thinking can't capture.

So let's talk about it! 
Sam and Zara chat about the unspoken threshold (often around $1,000) where purchases shift from independent decisions to conversations requiring joint agreement, to the profound influence of our childhood experiences with money, this episode unpacks the complex dynamics of financial partnerships. We explore how the transition from being a high-earning professional to a stay-at-home parent creates both practical and emotional adjustments, requiring explicit conversations about spending that may never have been needed before.

Whether you maintain joint accounts, separate finances, or something in between, you'll find validation and perspective in this judgment-free conversation about how real couples navigate money matters. Join us as we break the silence around this crucial aspect of partnership and share how our own approaches to finances continue to evolve through different life stages.

Have you established a spending threshold with your partner? We'd love to hear your approach to managing money in relationships. Share your thoughts and join the conversation about this often undiscussed aspect of modern marriage.

hartsone manor, money, finances, sahm, stay at home mom, motherhood, couple money, 

Support the show

Website: https://www.doyouwantthetruthpod.com

Connect with Sam:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/samanthastrom

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@samanthastorms

Connect with Zara:

Zara Hanawalt https://www.linkedin.com/in/zara-hanawalt/

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@zarahanawalt

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zarahanawalt/

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Pre-order DeeDee's new course for parents here

When DeeDee Moore discovered she was becoming a grandmother, she searched everywhere for guidance on doing it right. Finding few resources to help support her grandparenting journey, she created her own – and now shares grandparenting wisdom with over 40,000 Instagram and 15,000 TikTok followers.

DeeDee's approach cuts through the noise of intergenerational conflict that often dominates social media. Rather than perpetuating stereotypes of overbearing in-laws, she offers practical strategies for grandparents to become valuable members of the family village. Her refreshingly balanced perspective acknowledges both the wisdom of experience and the importance of respecting modern parenting approaches.

"I've learned so many things from following parenting accounts," DeeDee explains, encouraging other grandparents to follow the same resources their adult children do. This simple strategy ensures everyone receives consistent information – whether about car seat safety or developmental milestones – and prevents the friction that arises when grandparents insist on outdated practices.

Throughout our conversation, DeeDee shares insights from her 40-year marriage, raising four children, and now nurturing relationships with her grandchildren. She discusses the delicate balance between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law, the value of establishing trust before emergencies arise, and why what children truly remember about their grandparents isn't fancy gifts but quality time spent together.

For anyone navigating complex family dynamics – whether as a parent wondering how to set boundaries or a grandparent eager to be supportive without overstepping – DeeDee's wisdom offers a roadmap toward stronger, more harmonious relationships across generations. Her ultimate advice? "Focus on your relationship with parents. It is not about your experience as a grandparent. It is about how you can support parents, and the more that you do that, the closer your relationship with your grandchildren will be."

Support the show

Website: https://www.doyouwantthetruthpod.com

Connect with Sam:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/samanthastrom

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@samanthastorms

Connect with Zara:

Zara Hanawalt https://www.linkedin.com/in/zara-hanawalt/

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@zarahanawalt

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zarahanawalt/

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Use code TRUTH20 for a 7-day free trial and 20% off an annual subscription to the Solid Starts App. Does not apply to purchases made in the Apple App Store or Google Play store.

Parenthood transforms mealtimes from moments of nourishment and connection into battlegrounds of tears, tantrums, and untouched plates. In this raw, honest, and solution-focused episode, we dive deep with Kim and Kary, the occupational feeding therapists behind Solid Starts, to unravel the mysteries of picky eating and toddler food refusal.

The experts reveal a truth most parents desperately need to hear: that sudden food rejection around age two isn't personal or pathological—it's developmental. Your child who once happily devoured curry and now gags at the sight of bread isn't broken; they're evolving. "That toddler selectivity that kicks in really doesn't have to do with the food," Kary explains. "It has to do with their brain development and learning to say no."

Beyond the science of selective eating, we explore the emotional landscape of parenting through these challenges. The conversation ventures into territory rarely discussed: how different children have different eating personalities regardless of parenting approach, the socioeconomic realities of expanding food horizons, and the liberating truth that you only need to get parenting "right" about 20% of the time.

Perhaps most powerfully, Kim reminds us that "your kid doesn't want to be an asshole." When we recognize our children aren't purposefully trying to drive us mad—they're learning, making mistakes, and developing skills—we can approach the table with more patience and perspective.

Whether you're currently in the trenches of mealtime battles or looking ahead to smoother family dinners, this episode offers both practical strategies and emotional relief. Listen in for expert guidance on navigating the challenging waters of picky eating without losing your sanity—or your sense of self along the way.

Support the show

Website: https://www.doyouwantthetruthpod.com

Connect with Sam:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/samanthastrom

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@samanthastorms

Connect with Zara:

Zara Hanawalt https://www.linkedin.com/in/zara-hanawalt/

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@zarahanawalt

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zarahanawalt/

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Neha Ruch—founder and author of The Power Pause, formerly known as Mother Untitled and recent guest on The Drew Barrymore Show—joins Sam and Zara to talk about one of the biggest third-rail topics in motherhood today: what happens when ambitious women choose to pause their careers.

They cover everything from postnups and financial planning to the emotional rollercoaster of second babies, postpartum anxiety, and why the “trad wife” narrative is a distraction from what really matters. Neha doesn’t sugarcoat anything—she reclaims stay-at-home motherhood as a powerful, intentional choice, not a fallback plan.

Whether you’re burnt out, balancing it all, or secretly wondering "Is it okay to shift my priorities?"—this conversation will meet you where you are.

In this episode, we talk about:

How Neha decided to pause her career

The myth of “giving up” your ambition when you pause your career

Practical advice for planning a career pause with your partner (think: postnups, budgets, shared goals)

Why modern feminism must include more than one path for women

How her second baby changed everything—including her views on help, guilt, and mental health

Raising kids in NYC vs. the suburbs

Why having a village isn't just nice—it's necessary

Her experience on The Drew Barrymore Show and the cultural shift happening around motherhood today

Resources & Links:

The Power Pause
Follow Neha on Instagram

Buy The Power Pause

Tovah Klein’s work on parenting psychology

Support the show

Website: https://www.doyouwantthetruthpod.com

Connect with Sam:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/samanthastrom

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@samanthastorms

Connect with Zara:

Zara Hanawalt https://www.linkedin.com/in/zara-hanawalt/

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@zarahanawalt

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zarahanawalt/

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"Pick a niche." "Stay in your lane." For women entrepreneurs, this limiting advice seems inescapable—unless you're KJ Miller, who's built an impressive career by doing precisely the opposite.

KJ joins us for a fascinating conversation about her refusal to be confined to a single identity. As co-founder of multimillion-dollar beauty brand Mented Cosmetics, lecturer, angel investor, content creator with hundreds of thousands of followers, and mother to a four-year-old daughter, KJ embodies what it means to embrace multiple passions simultaneously.

What happens when the dream career, the big funding round, and the perfect Instagram life still don’t feel right?

KJ Miller—Harvard MBA grad, Yale lecturer, co-founder of Mented Cosmetics, and certified member of both the Beyhive and Swiftie nation—joins us for a conversation that’s equal parts honest, inspiring, and overdue.

After building Mented into a multimillion-dollar brand and leading it through a successful exit, KJ hit a wall. Burnout, postpartum anxiety, and the crushing pressure to “do it all” forced her to pause—and ask what she really wanted next.

In this episode, KJ shares:

What it’s really like to raise millions in venture funding as a Black woman

How she navigated burnout while running a high-growth brand

Why leaving the company she built was the most radical act of self-preservation

Her transition into a slower, more sustainable life as a Yale lecturer, content creator, and mom

And yes—we talk about Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and the soundtracks that got her through it all

This isn’t a girlboss story. It’s a story about ambition, honesty, motherhood, and the courage it takes to choose yourself—even after “making it.”

ABOUT KJKJ lives in New Jersey with her husband of 10 years and their two daughters, ages 3 and 1.


Resources & Links:

Follow KJ on TikTok and Instagram

Mented Cosmetics

Postpartum Support International 

"I am addicted to doing the most," she laughs, explaining how she thrives with a full plate rather than a narrow focus. This perspective has served her well, from Harvard to Yale to her current teaching position at Ohio State, from building a beauty brand that's now available in CVS stores to creating viral content about everything from Taylor Swift to reality TV.

The conversation takes a vulnerable turn when KJ shares her difficult pregnancy and traumatic birth experience, including an emergency C-section where she wasn't given enough anesthesia. Her candid discussion about postpartum depression, medication, and her experiences with GLP-1s offers a refreshing counterpoint to the sanitized narratives often presented about motherhood and body image.

Perhaps most striking is KJ's reflection on raising a Black daugh

Support the show

Website: https://www.doyouwantthetruthpod.com

Connect with Sam:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/samanthastrom

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@samanthastorms

Connect with Zara:

Zara Hanawalt https://www.linkedin.com/in/zara-hanawalt/

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@zarahanawalt

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zarahanawalt/

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Do you want the truth about c-sections? Because this week, you’re getting it.


Jen and Beth — the brilliant, brutally honest minds behind The C-Section Experience podcast — join us for a conversation that’s part group therapy, part birth trauma confessional, and part roast of the word “birth plan.” Between them, they’ve had more abdominal surgeries than a Grey’s Anatomy cast member and are here to share about some really personal things like: stillbirth, VBACs, unmedicated guilt spirals, body betrayal, hospital shakes, and the deep weirdness of bonding with a newborn when you’ve got a toddler at home who still calls the shots.

They’re smart. They’re funny. And they’re not here for the sugarcoating.

Whether you had a magical unmedicated birth or felt like your uterus got mugged in an OR, this episode is for you.

Content note: This episode includes a deeply personal story of stillbirth.
At 28 weeks pregnant, Beth knew something was wrong — but no one listened. What followed changed everything about how she approached birth, medicine, and motherhood. She shares her story with vulnerability and strength, offering insight into how trauma shapes our decisions and how healing isn’t linear.


Together we unpack:

What it’s like to schedule a C-section after stillbirth

The guilt spiral of “failed” birth plans and emergency deliveries

Why three is the hardest age (scientific consensus among moms)

Medical gaslighting and why your gut always knows

Birth prep advice that actually helps

Scar tissue, diastasis recti, and whether a strong core helps or hurts

The postpartum recovery no one preps you for (including scar itch and the shakes)

How to stop apologizing for your birth story

They also get real about what it’s like to fall in love with your kid — sometimes not right away — and why being a “good mom” has nothing to do with how your baby entered the world.

Resources Mentioned:

The C-Section Experience Podcast

Every Mother: Diastasis Recti Program

Postpartum Support International

VBAC info via ACOG

Support the show

Website: https://www.doyouwantthetruthpod.com

Connect with Sam:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/samanthastrom

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@samanthastorms

Connect with Zara:

Zara Hanawalt https://www.linkedin.com/in/zara-hanawalt/

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@zarahanawalt

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zarahanawalt/

Send us a text

Amanda Anderson @commonthreads is a stay-at-home mom of four, a former boutique owner, and a full-time reseller who’s grown a thriving Whatnot business—pulling in up to $3,000 in a single show and $26k in just one month on Whatnot and $15k on TikTok Shop. In this episode, she talks candidly about the mental load of motherhood, religious deconstruction, parenting on one income, and how she clawed her way out of financial fear by finding something for herself.

Whether you’re a mom trying to make ends meet, someone burned out from corporate life, or just curious about how reselling really works, this conversation is equal parts validating and motivating.

We cover:

• What it’s really like to raise 4 kids on a single income
• The shame spiral of not “contributing financially”
• Reselling as financial empowerment—and why Amanda says it saved her
• Growing up Mormon and figuring out your own beliefs
• The myth of “having it all” and why everything feels like a no-win scenario
• Making money on Whatnot, TikTok, and how she hit $26K in one month

Follow Amanda:
TikTok: @amanda.comandthreads
Instagram: @commonthreadsLLC
Whatnot: commonthreadsLLC

Resources:

Postpartum Support International

Mothers for Mothers

National Maternal Mental Health Hotline (U.S.): 1-833-9-HELP4MOMS

Support the show

Website: https://www.doyouwantthetruthpod.com

Connect with Sam:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/samanthastrom

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@samanthastorms

Connect with Zara:

Zara Hanawalt https://www.linkedin.com/in/zara-hanawalt/

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@zarahanawalt

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zarahanawalt/

Send us a text

After giving birth to her daughter, Ayana Lage felt euphoric—until everything unraveled. Ten days postpartum, she was hospitalized with postpartum psychosis, experiencing delusions, paranoia, and hallucinations. In this unfiltered conversation, Ayana joins us to share what really happened, how she got help, and why she’s choosing to speak out.

We talk about the terrifying reality of postpartum psychosis, the cultural stigma that surrounds maternal mental health, and the systems that fail too many moms. Ayana opens up about being a Black woman navigating psychiatric care, how her husband and family carried her through, and what she did differently with her second baby to protect her mental health.

If you're a parent, if you've ever had scary thoughts after giving birth, or if you want to know what real support looks like—this episode is for you.


In this episode, we discuss:

What postpartum psychosis really looks like and why it’s often missed

How Ayana knew something was wrong—even as everyone else dismissed it

Why she felt safer in the hospital than at home

The truth about intrusive thoughts, rage, and the postpartum spectrum

Cultural and racial stigma around mental health for Black mothers

What Ayana did differently after her second baby to safeguard her mental health

How postpartum care needs a serious overhaul

Resources
Pre-order Ayana's Book
Follow Ayana on Instagram
Ayana’s personal essay in Cosmopolitan: "I Had Postpartum Psychosis and Didn’t Know What Was Real"

Postpartum Support International
The Blue Dot Project
National Maternal Mental Health Hotline (1-833-9-HELP4MOMS)

Support the show

Website: https://www.doyouwantthetruthpod.com

Connect with Sam:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/samanthastrom

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@samanthastorms

Connect with Zara:

Zara Hanawalt https://www.linkedin.com/in/zara-hanawalt/

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@zarahanawalt

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zarahanawalt/

Send us a text

What do you do when your birth plan starts to fall apart, and how do you advocate for yourself?

In today’s episode, we dive into the often unspoken realities of childbirth and maternal mental health with our guest, Valerie. She shares her raw and powerful story of a traumatic birth experience, lack of paid leave and her journey of resilience and healing. Together, we explore the impact of childbirth trauma, the urgent need for better maternity leave policies, and how therapy and open conversations can be transformative. 

Tune in to hear:

• The importance of preparing for every possible birth scenario, advocating for oneself, and being well-informed about different childbirth methods, including vaginal birth, c-sections, and induction
• The benefits of EMDR therapy and time in coping with PTSD and the crucial role of mental health support during the postpartum period
• An exploration of the gaps in maternity leave policies and support for expecting mothers and calling for better resources and flexibility to balance work and family life
• The importance of normalizing discussions around traumatic birth experiences and the mental health challenges associated with childbirth to provide comfort and help break the isolation many new mothers feel

Learn more about Valerie here: https://www.doyouwantthetruthpod.com/our-guests/valerie

Connect with Valerie:

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@valerieoresko

Instagram: www.instagram.com/valerieoresko

Support the show

Website: https://www.doyouwantthetruthpod.com

Connect with Sam:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/samanthastrom

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@samanthastorms

Connect with Zara:

Zara Hanawalt https://www.linkedin.com/in/zara-hanawalt/

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@zarahanawalt

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zarahanawalt/

Send us a text

In this episode, we’re sitting down with Blake, a Meta copywriter and creative director and TikTok sensation, best known for his "This Week in Fatherhood" series. We'll explore the nuances of sober parenting, the impact of COVID-19 on family dynamics, and the hidden challenges and joys of raising children. Blake opens up about losing his mother to cancer, career instability, and transitioning to fatherhood amid a global pandemic. We'll also touch on the double standards in parental recognition, the significance of martial arts in Blake's life, and the bittersweet realities of balancing a social media presence with family privacy.

Tune in to hear:

• The complex feelings parents have about screen time for both themselves and their kids and how it often leads to unnecessary guilt.
• Reflections on parenting during the pandemic and how isolation and fear impacted Blake’s early fatherhood journey and heightened anxiety as a parent.
• How the profound grief from losing his mom prepared Blake in unexpected ways for fatherhood
• Blake’s journey with sobriety and how it has significantly impacted his ability to be more present and engaged as a father.
• They key advice Blake would give to new parents: lower your expectations—for your kids and yourself—and embrace the surprises and imperfections of parenthood.

Learn more about Blake here: https://www.doyouwantthetruthpod.com/our-guests/blake

Connect with Blake:

Tik Tok: tiktok.com/@blakeoftoday

Instagram: instagram.com/@blakeoftoday

Parenting Keywords:
parenting advice, fatherhood journey, raising kids, parenthood struggles, parenting during the pandemic, new parent tips, fatherhood content creator

Jiu-Jitsu & Wellness Keywords:
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, jiu-jitsu life lessons, black belt wisdom, mental discipline, wellness and parenting

Punk Rock & Personal Story Keywords:
from punk rock to parenthood, touring musician turned dad, life after hardcore punk, Blake Kasemeier podcast, creative parenting stories

Emotional & Personal Growth Keywords:
grief and parenting, loss of a parent, Good Grief podcast, overcoming challenges, mental health for parents, personal growth journey

Social Media-Specific Hashtags:
#ParentingPodcast, #FatherhoodStories, #JiuJitsuParenting, #PunkRockDad, #ParentingLifeLessons, #CreativeParenting, #FatherhoodUnplugged

Support the show

Website: https://www.doyouwantthetruthpod.com

Connect with Sam:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/samanthastrom

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@samanthastorms

Connect with Zara:

Zara Hanawalt https://www.linkedin.com/in/zara-hanawalt/

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@zarahanawalt

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zarahanawalt/