In this episode of the Mom-to-Mom Interview Series, I chat with Diane Sass, a mother from South Carolina with a 28-year-old son named Alex. Diane is one of my coaching clients that I've worked with on and off for several years. I've always been so fascinated by the way she sees life and all of its complex yet beautiful lessons, and she's been a major inspiration to me since I became a mom myself a couple of years ago! We talk about so much in this episode, including the importance of self-care, why you have to be authentic and true to who you really are, guiding your kids to be their own authentic selves, reparenting ourselves through the motherhood journey, letting your kids see you struggle, and the changes that come with parenting adult children vs. littles. No matter what phase you're at in motherhood, this episode is worth a listen.

Thank you, Diane, for your openness, honesty, and light!

If you're looking for more support in your transition to motherhood, find out more about my private coaching at www.laurenmaddencoaching.com.

You can also follow me on Instagram at: @laurenmadden_

In today’s Mom-to-Mom interview series, I connect with Rebecca Bryant from Perth, Australia. Rebecca is a mom to a 2.5-year-old girl and is expecting twins in another few months. She’s a yoga and breathwork teacher, helping women reconnect and harness the power of the breath.

She says, “Becoming a Mumma combined with my Yoga Therapy background led me to explore the benefits of breathing and the real need for us to connect back with and harness the power of our breath. This is our source of energy, our prana, our powerhouse and something we all have the ability to have a strong and intimate relationship with. I have seen firsthand the incredible changes and growth that can occur when we embrace the breath and allow it to weave its magic for our health and wellbeing. It is my goal to connect with people and guide them to realizing their true potential by going back to basics, and reminding them how life-changing it can be to take the pause and "just breathe”.”

You can find Rebecca on Instagram at @becbryantbreathing or her pregnancy account at @_twinmumplusone_

If you're looking for more support in your transition to motherhood, find out more about my private coaching at www.laurenmaddencoaching.com.

You can also follow me on Instagram at: @laurenmadden_

Today's Mom-to-Mom interview series is extra special to me, because I had the opportunity to speak with Gila Shire, who was my doula at my first home birth and will soon be with us for my second in just a few months!!

Gila is a doula, bodywork practitioner, and yoga teacher in Phoenix, AZ who has been working in the birth world for 15+ years. Originally from Germany, Gila started her career very early in life as a nurse but quickly realized upon her own pregnancy and birth experience that she didn't want to live a Western medicine lifestyle. This catapulted her into pursuing her massage training, which led down the path to becoming a doula and supporting women in pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

In this episode, we talk about midwifery care, the importance of women educating themselves on their options when it comes to where and how they birth, her experiences witnessing the transformative power of birth, the importance of building a strong foundation with your partner before having a baby, letting go of the expectations on how motherhood is "supposed" to look like, postpartum recovery and the Fourth Trimester, and so much more! For any woman out there, regardless of your phase of motherhood... this one is worth a listen. 

You can find out more about Gila and contact her at https://www.yogila.com/ (and for local Phoenix mamas, highly recommend booking time for a massage with her... such a special experience!)

Other resources mentioned in this episode:

Holistic Stages of Birth by Whapio - https://thematrona.com/the-holistic-stages-of-birth/

Holistic Stages of Birth Podcast 1 - https://birthful.com/podcastholisticstages1/

Rethinking the Pushing Stage Podcast - https://birthful.com/podcast-pushing-stage/

If you're looking for more support in your transition to motherhood, find out more about my private coaching at www.laurenmaddencoaching.com.

You can also follow me on Instagram at: @laurenmadden_

In today's Mom-to-Mom interview series, I connect with Deanna Frank, mama to two young boys (Tyler + Dylan), yoga teacher, and CrossFit aficionado. We chat about SO MUCH GOODNESS related to motherhood - everything from the reality of having a C-section and the recovery process to postpartum depression, diastasis recti, postpartum athleticism, normalizing and prioritizing mama’s mental health, pelvic floor health and healing after baby, changes with your partner after having children… and so much more!

Deanna wants you all to know, “It is my absolute passion to teach yoga and help support all parents, in the greatest journey of their life, parenthood. I want everyone to know, ‘I see you, I hear you, I am with you.’” You can find her on Instagram at: 

Or email her with any questions at: [email protected]

If you're looking for individualized support in your transition to motherhood, find out more about my private coaching at www.laurenmaddencoaching.com.

You can also follow me on Instagram at: @laurenmadden_

In this episode of the Mom-to-Mom interview series, I speak with Amy Solara Mackey about ALL things motherhood: back-to-back pregnancies, home birth, tongue ties, tandem breastfeeding and weaning, the sacred postpartum period, the importance of doulas, rethinking our birthing experience and the sensation of pain, that you can (and should) say "no", and so much more.

Amy is a Witch, Mother, and Priestess in Sacred Partnership based in Phoenix, AZ. She has been trained in the esoteric arts and the occult by master teachers from all over the world, including Witchcraft & Magic, Astrology, Shamanic Journeying, Tantra Yoga, and Ritual Birth. As an Astrologer, Tarot and Akashic Records reader, Yoga Teacher, Spiritual Mentor & Life Coach, she offers her one-on-one clients a holistically soulful approach that is both grounded in the earth/body and connected to the cosmos. She created the All Souls Flight School as a mystery school for seekers that uses the container of small groups to enhance each individual’s spiritual journey. As the Founder of the Temple of All Souls, she hopes to make magic and spirituality more accessible for all. Her greatest passion is aiding humans in the rediscovery and remembering of their Divine Self, through holding ceremonies and teaching classes and workshops about magic, meditation, mantra, and movement. You can find Amy online at https://AmySolara.com or on Instagram: @witchgoddessmama

Books mentioned in this episode:

If you're looking for more support in your transition to motherhood, find out more about my private coaching at www.laurenmaddencoaching.com.

You can also follow me on Instagram at: @laurenmadden_

In today's Mom-to-Mom interview series, I speak with Aiyana Havir about the beautiful expansion that is becoming a mother, including the postpartum experience, shifting the way she identified before and after having children, and tools she found along the way to help stay connected to the inner self that is unchanging.

Aiyana Havir is a bohemian, type-A mama based in Phoenix, Arizona. While serving her family is her greatest blessing, she also loves working for a creative tech agency, playing music, practicing yoga, and spending time outdoors. She believes motherhood is a journey of relentless surrender and unwavering love.

Thank you, Aiyana, for sharing your truth on motherhood!

If you're looking for more support in your transition to motherhood, find out more about my private coaching at: www.laurenmaddencoaching.com.

You can also follow me on Instagram at: @laurenmadden_

In today's Mom-to-Mom interview series, I have a conversation with Claire McWilliams, a long-time mentor of mine who is a mother of two teens. We talk about all seasons of motherhood, from the exhausting and blissful newborn days, to the testing teenage years, and the joys and struggles experienced along the way. Claire shines a light on how important finding her village and support systems have been, and the ways she's been able to find comfort in the discomfort of parenting teens. Thank you, Claire, for sharing your truth on motherhood!

If you're looking for more support in your transition to motherhood, find out more about my private coaching at www.laurenmaddencoaching.com.

You can also follow me on Instagram at: @laurenmadden_