Houston Moms on the Move

October is Menopause Awareness Month, and we brought in an OB/GYN who'll give it to you straight.

Katy OB/GYN and mom of three Dr. Bethany Peterson joins Meagan Clanahan to talk about what perimenopause actually is, why it can start in your late 30s, the right way to track your cycle, and the unglamorous foundation (sleep, strength training, cardio, and eating as well as you can) that makes any treatment work. She also weighs in on seeing your OB/GYN vs. using a telehealth app, what she asked of her husband for the next ten years, raising three daughters around an on-call schedule, letting go of mom guilt, and the story behind her pink hair.

Dr. Peterson has spent 18 years in private practice in Katy and sees patients at Medical Colleagues of Texas: https://mctkaty.com/providers/dr-bethany-peterson.php. Her ask for listeners: start tracking your cycle now, and get established with an OB/GYN before you need one.

A note for listeners: This conversation is for general information only and isn't a substitute for advice from your own doctor.

We talk about:

• 00:00 Welcome to Houston Moms on the Move
• 01:30 Meet Dr. Bethany Peterson
• 02:42 What perimenopause actually is
• 05:35 "I believe you" and tracking your cycle the right way
• 06:51 The foundation every treatment needs
• 08:41 OB/GYN, primary care, or a telehealth app?
• 11:20 "Please don't divorce me": how partners can help
• 13:35 Why balance doesn't exist
• 14:48 The stay-at-home dad who makes it work
• 16:20 On call mid-taping, and what she does for herself
• 17:39 Raising three girls around an on-call life
• 19:28 Letting go of mom guilt
• 21:06 Rapid fire: Chick-fil-A, twice
• 23:28 The story behind the pink hair
• 24:15 Her favorite thing about being a mom
• 25:10 Where to follow Dr. Peterson

Follow Bethany:

https://www.instagram.com/bethy.peterson/

Houston Moms on the Move spotlights the moms doing big things in our community and big things at home. Hosted by Meagan Clanahan.

More at https://houstonmom.com/houston-moms-on-the-move/

Follow Houston Moms: https://houstonmom.com/

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

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SOCIAL TEASERS

@bethy.peterson 

https://youtu.be/mNG3hpF4g4I

https://houstonmom.com/houston-moms-on-the-move/

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and this one is personal.

Houston Moms contributor Ebony London joins Meagan Clanahan to talk about her son RJ, who was diagnosed with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma at two and a half years old and died on April 15 at the age of six. Ebony talks honestly about three rounds of treatment, two remissions, six weeks on hospice, and the ordinary joyful life RJ insisted on living through all of it. She shares what she wishes people understood about childhood cancer, what actually comforts a grieving mother, how her family is helping RJ's little sister understand loss, and why she believes Houston can do more than round up at the register.

She also highlights the local organizations that showed up for her family, and makes a direct ask of anyone listening.

Organizations mentioned in this episode:Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Family Alliance → https://candle.org/Sunshine Kids Foundation → https://sunshinekids.orgSky High for Kids → https://skyhighforkids.org/Bo's Place → https://bosplace.org/en/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital → https://www.stjude.org/

A note for listeners: this episode includes detailed discussion of pediatric cancer and the death of a child.

We talk about:

• 00:00 Welcome to Houston Moms on the Move
• 00:39 Meet Ebony London
• 01:20 RJ, a rodeo-season baby
• 02:00 The diagnosis at two and a half
• 02:28 Three battles, two remissions03:54 Hospice, and April 15
• 05:43 What Ebony wants every mom to know
• 05:55 The Panda Express moment
• 06:40 Behind every statistic is a real family
• 09:28 Candlelighters and a parking space
• 11:02 Michael Jackson in the infusion room
• 11:36 Sunshine Kids and Craig Biggio
• 12:29 Sky High and RJ's bucket list
• 14:49 What to say to a grieving mom
• 15:33 Say his name
• 17:33 Grief and joy in the same room
• 18:07 "Don't cry. Go to Target."
• 20:33 Helping Quinn grieve21:55 Letting the community in
• 24:34 Facing the first holiday season
• 25:58 What Ebony is asking of our leaders
• 28:45 Be a light

Follow Ebony: https://www.instagram.com/ebby_lolo

Houston Moms on the Move spotlights the moms doing big things in our community and big things at home. Hosted by Meagan Clanahan.

More at https://houstonmom.com/houston-moms-on-the-move/

Follow Houston Moms: https://houstonmom.com/

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RealHoustonMoms

Sixteen years ago, Dr. Tal Gospin was a cardiology fellow at Texas Children's who had to tell Meagan Clanahan that her 15-month-old daughter needed emergency open heart surgery on a Saturday. Quinn is 16 now and thriving with no restrictions. Meagan and Dr. Gospin finally sat down together to talk about that week, and about everything that came after.

Dr. Gospin is a pediatric cardiologist, the founder of Pediatric Cardiology Care, and a mom of three: twin boys turning 17 and a 14-year-old daughter. In this episode she talks about pulling 80-hour weeks with toddler twins, choosing a preschool based on its pickup time, the nanny who stayed 13 years, why she walked away from a group practice to start her own, and the advice she gives every young mom in the trenches.

We talk about:

• How Meagan and Dr. Gospin first met, and what she learned from Quinn's family about listening to parental instinct

• Surviving residency and fellowship with twins in a city where she knew no one

• Founding Pediatric Cardiology Care in 2015 and growing it to four Houston locations

• Why she refuses to see 25 patients a day

• The working-mom pendulum and why you can't be 100% at both

• "Everything is a phase. You just don't know how long it's going to be."

• Rapid fire: Lupe Tortilla, homemade Cuban sandwiches, Astros games and puzzles

Find Dr. Gospin and her team at https://pcchouston.com/ with offices in Webster, Bellaire, Katy and Spring.

Houston Moms on the Move spotlights the moms doing big things in our community and big things at home. Hosted by Meagan Clanahan.

More at https://houstonmom.com/houston-moms-on-the-move/

Follow Houston Moms: https://houstonmom.com

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RealHoustonMoms

Ralph Garcia didn't grow up with a roadmap for what the "right" kind of dad looked like … and that, it turns out, might be exactly what made him into the one he is today. In the June Father's Day edition of MoM, Ralph sat down with Meagan to talk about all of it: the gray in the beard, the basketball injuries, the pre-K graduation songs that made every daycare bill feel worth it.

June is Father's Day month and this conversation leans all the way in. Ralph, executive producer of Great Day Houston and dad to Rafael (8), Jude (5), and Cece (2), opened up about becoming a first-time dad at 39, growing up with teen parents, and the quiet decision he made somewhere along the way to wait until he was ready, even if "ready" is a little bit of a myth. He and Meagan talked about what it means to be a 21st-century dad — the kind who does the 3am vomit laundry and coaches basketball on Sunday mornings and interviews his kids on their birthdays every single year because he wants them to know who they were. He also made a distinction that felt genuinely worth sitting with: the difference between joy and happiness in parenthood. Joy, he says, is always there. Happiness? That one's a little more honest.

This conversation is a reminder that the dads who show up {fully, imperfectly, arms a little sore from Sunday basketball} are leaving their kids something no highlight reel can capture.

Jessica Wyble's story might sound familiar to a lot of moms: the slow build of burnout that hides in plain sight until your body finally forces you to pay attention. In this episode of MoM, Jessica sits down with Meagan to share what it took to recognize what was happening to her and what she's done to find her way back.

Recorded for Mental Health Awareness Month, this conversation traces Jessica's path from a postpartum season she pushed through, to a pandemic that compounded everything, to the moment a doctor handed her a stack of clean test results and told her she simply needed to rest. She opens up about the realization that "no" had quietly left her vocabulary, the therapy work that helped her stop tying her worth to her to-do list, and the small daily practices {meditation, time outside, checking in with herself} that have made the difference.

A corporate communications executive, mom of two and lifelong storyteller, Jessica also shares the new venture born out of this journey: Root for Everyone, a live storytelling experience built on the belief that real, out-loud, organic tales are exactly what the world needs more of right now.

This conversation is a reminder that taking care of yourself isn't a luxury or a someday goal … and that getting curious about why you are the way you are might just be the most important work a mom can do.

Lauren Perkins’ story begins in a place many women know well: the quiet uncertainty of trying to grow a family. But what followed was anything but ordinary. In this episode of MoM, Lauren shares with Meagan about the journey that led to the birth of her sextuplets and what life has looked like in the years since.

Recorded for Multiple Birth Awareness Month, this conversation takes listeners back to the early days of Lauren’s pregnancy, the shock of hearing “six” in the exam room and the months that followed in the NICU. She opens up about the systems, support and surrender it took to bring six babies home and the village of people who showed up in ways she never could have anticipated.

Now, nearly 14 years later, Lauren reflects on raising six children, including navigating medical complexities, building a new community after a major move and rediscovering herself outside of motherhood through fitness and work. Her perspective is both grounded and hard-earned.

This conversation is a reminder that even the most overwhelming seasons can be lived one step at a time … and that sometimes the strength you need is something you don’t realize you have until you’re already in the middle of it.

Becca Slocum has been sharing her voice with the Houston Moms community for years, but this time she’s stepping out from behind the keyboard and into the conversation. In this episode of MoM, Becca joins Meagan to talk about motherhood, raising four young children and the lessons that come from slowing down long enough to see the world through your kids’ eyes.

A born-and-raised Houstonian, Becca reflects on her path from hospitality school to education to full-time motherhood. She opens up about the identity shifts that come with parenting, the sacrificial nature of raising young children and the importance of building a strong village of family, friends and fellow moms who walk alongside you in each season.

Along the way, Becca shares her love of reading, practical tips for finding affordable books and the small rituals that help her connect with each of her children individually. Her perspective is a reminder that motherhood isn’t about getting every moment right. It’s about playing the long game, embracing each season as it comes and learning to notice the wonder that kids see so naturally in the world around them.

Carrie Bradshaw had built her identity around movement as an athlete, a runner, and a mom who loved staying active with her kids. Then at 40, everything stopped. Diagnosed with congenital hip dysplasia and told she would need both hips replaced, Carrie was also told she would likely never run again. What followed was a long season of grief, pain, and uncertainty as she navigated major surgery while raising two young children without a nearby family village.

In this episode of MoM, Carrie opens up to Meagan about losing trust in her own body, the emotional toll of recovery, and the moment she realized she had to fight not just for herself, but for the example she was setting for her kids. She shares what it was like to go from a walker to marathon training, why she refused to accept “this is the end,” and how learning to give herself grace became just as important as physical strength.
Today, Carrie is the first person to complete the Boston Marathon with double hip replacements. She’s also a powerful reminder that resilience isn’t about pushing through at all costs. It’s about choosing to get back up, again and again, even when the path forward looks nothing like the plan you had.

What You'll Learn:

• What congenital hip dysplasia is and why it can cause early osteoarthritis

• The emotional reality of recovering from joint replacement while parenting young kids

• How Carrie trained again without nearby family support

• Why “you can have what you want, but you can’t do it all” shaped her approach

• What she hopes her kids learn from watching her rebuild

Julia Morales has spent over a decade in front of the camera as one of the most recognizable faces in Houston sports. But beyond the bright lights and ballparks is a woman who has carefully built a life rooted in purpose, motherhood, and community. In this special episode of Houston Moms on the Move, Julia joins host Meagan Clanahan to share her journey through 13 seasons with the Houston Astros, as well as the evolution of her identity as a broadcaster, entrepreneur, and mom.

Julia gets candid about the realities of raising a daughter while traveling with a Major League team, the balancing act of marriage and media, and what it meant to make history as part of the first all-female broadcast booth alongside Jenny Cavnar. From the launch of her apparel brand “Baseball, Y’all” to the release of her first children’s book Her Day at the Park, this conversation is a celebration of women finding their voice in male-dominated spaces and doing it all while raising the next generation.Takeaways:

• How Julia built a career in sports broadcasting while raising a family
• What it was like calling a history-making MLB game with Jenny Cavnar
• Balancing life on the road with the emotional load of motherhood
• The power of visibility and representation for women in sports media
• Starting a brand (Baseball, Y’all) and writing her first children’s book
• Creating rituals and presence with her daughter despite a hectic schedule

Houston designer and mom of four Kory Blum has spent years turning temporary houses into true homes while raising daughters, navigating life in baseball, and quietly building a thriving design studio of her own. In this episode of MoM, she sits down with Meagan to talk about the faith that carried her through a high-risk pregnancy, the village that made survival possible, and the boundaries that kept motherhood at the center even as her business grew.

Kory opens up about what it was really like raising four girls under three, how she found steadiness in the chaos of baseball life, and why she believes everyday rituals {car rides, dinner together, quiet moments at the end of the day} shape our kids more than anything else.Whether you're deep in the trenches with little ones or navigating the fast, emotional rhythms of the teen years, this conversation is a heartfelt reminder that motherhood is built in the small moments. And that you deserve the same care you give everyone else.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• How Kory survived a high-risk triplet pregnancy

• Why she says her faith carried her through hospital bedrest, NICU stays, and early motherhood• The life-saving power of leaning on your village (and why moms shouldn’t hesitate to ask for help)

• How she set boundaries as her interior design business grew

• The importance of small, daily rhythms like school drop-off and dinner time

• Encouragement for moms trying to balance work, home, and everything in between

• What self-care looks like now as an empty nester and working creative

Guest Bio:

Kory Blum is the founder and principal designer at Bloom Design, a Houston-based residential design studio known for warm, lived-in interiors. A mom of four and wife of Houston Astros broadcaster Geoff Blum, Kory’s greatest passion is creating both beautiful homes and a meaningful life rooted in faith, family, and presence.

Resources & Links:

Follow Kory Blum on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bloomdesigntexas/Bloom Design: https://www.bloomdesigntexas.com

Quote Worth Sharing:“Motherhood isn’t a job you get to do over...but the small moments? Those are where the magic happens.”

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