Influential Motherhood

It's EPISODE 20, friends! This is so hard to believe but I'm so incredibly thankful and excited. I heard a statistic when I started my show that most podcasts submitted to iTunes/Apple Podcasts don't make it longer than seven or eight episodes before they stop. For me, this journey has been one where I've listened closely to the Lord each step of the way, and I'll keep going until He says "stop." I pray there are moms who are learning and feeling inspired from the show. I want to normalize the chaos of being a working mom.

Lots of folks were asking me to do a more personal type of "Q&A" episode, so here we are! When I asked for questions via submission on social media, I got a lot of responses, so I've selected some of the questions and answered them here in episode 20. (Follow me on social media at @influentialmotherhood on Instagram and Facebook!).

Here are some of the questions I'm answering in this episode:

• "How do you do it all?"
• "What is your favorite mom hack?"
• "Do you miss being in private law practice or prefer being in education?"
• "Do you still ice skate?"
• "Any tips for buying a Peloton?"
• "How do you get your guests?"
• "How did I learn how to start a podcast?"

I'd love to hear your feedback about this episode, the show generally, or I'd be happy to take your questions for future Ask Me Anything episodes.

Thanks, as always, for listening! For more inspiring stories of moms making a difference, check out www.influentialmotherhood.com.

In 2014, Sarah Baucom and her high school classmate, Carrie Barker, founded Girl Tribe Co. Both women were starting families, and their brand came before their product. They knew they wanted a brand that would empower women, but were not sure what their product would be.

Fast forward 5 years, and Sarah now has two young daughters and a thriving business. Sarah and Carrie's business started with graphic t-shirts, and has become a retail shop and a traveling pop-up show featuring women-owned businesses.

Sarah and I shared a lot of laughs as we talked about Girl Tribe's famous van (named Becky), the unique away message Sarah used during her last maternity (she totally channeled her inner royal princess), and the beginnings of the businesses. But we also talked about the pressures small businesses face in our current digital world, and the difficulties in transitioning from our "work energy" to our "mom energy" levels at home.

When it comes to leaving a legacy, Sarah has a vision and a goal, and as a 30-something entrepreneur, there is no doubt she'll reach her goals.

You're going to find Sarah to be a fun bundle of energy with clear focus and dedication to her work, her business partner, and, most importantly, her family.

Check out Sarah on Instagram at @sarahbaucom and Girl Tribe on Instagram at @girltribeco and online at www.girltribeco.com.

For more inspiring stories of moms making a difference, check out www.influentialmotherhood.com, and follow Melissa Duncan online at @influentialmotherhood on Instagram and Facebook.

It all started with a 15 day clean eating challenge. Zakkiya Miller wasn't a "clean eater" but she realized she enjoyed the challenge and loved the way she felt after a couple of weeks of clean eating. She made major lifestyle changes for herself and her family, and is now "vegan-ish" - trying to equip her family with healthy habits in their daily lifestyle, including mindfulness, clean beauty, and, of course - clean eating.

In this episode, I asked Zakkiya the questions we wonder about "clean eating" that we're too embarrassed to ask. How does one get enough protein without eating meat? How can we introduce healthy foods to picky eaters in our house? Why is a healthy, clean lifestyle especially important for women of color? How can busy moms implement mindfulness in their daily lives?

Zakkiya has taught herself and her family how to embrace a clean, healthy lifestyle, and you're going to love her practical tips for changing the habits in your own home! Follow Zakkiya online at @zakkiya.miller on Instagram or at www.zakkiyamiller.com.

For more inspiring stories, check out https://www.melissaduncan.com/podcast. Follow the Melissa and the podcast on Instagram at www.instagram.com/influentialmotherhood.

This week on the Influential Motherhood podcast, I'm chatting with Joey Schewee, an Enneagram expert and teacher, and daughter of the Enneagram "master teacher" Suzanne Stabile, host of The Enneagram Journey Podcast! If you don't know anything about the Enneagram, it is an ancient personality typing test and a tremendous asset at home, at work, and in everyday life as you make decisions, approach problems, and navigate both happy and challenging times with others. Joey says it is really gaining traction in recent years because it focuses on your motivations instead of only your behavior.

To learn more about your number, Joey suggests you read her mom's book with Ian Morgan Crohn, The Road Back to You, and visit Life in the Trinity Ministry to learn more about how to find your Enneagram number.

In addition to teaching the Enneagram with her husband Billy, Joey is a full-time working mom - she serves as Vice President of Admissions, Financial Aid, and Alumni at John Paul II High School in Plano, Texas. Joey is the mom of two boys, and says she is an eight on the Enneagram, while her husband Billy is a nine on the Enneagram.

In this episode, Joey gives us lots of practical tools about how and when to help your child determine their enneagram number, how parenting styles are affected by the Enneagram, and challenges some combinations of parent numbers and child numbers might face - and how to work through those challenges.

If you're local to the Dallas, Texas area, Joey will be teaching a live session on the Enneagram and Parenting this fall, so visit Life in the Trinity Ministry to grab your spot! To learn more about other upcoming sessions and how the enneagram impacts our daily lives, follow Life in the Trinity Ministry on Instagram.

For more inspiring stories of moms making a difference, visit https://www.melissaduncan.com/

In 2006, after 12 years of being a stay-at-home mom to FIVE BOYS, Alli Worthington walked into a bookstore and was overwhelmed by the desire to write a book. But about what? She had no idea where to start, so she went home to her computer, got on her dial-up internet (ah, the nostalgia!) and began googling "how to get a book deal."

One of the results told her she could get a book deal if she had a blog and a large following. So... she googled, "what is a blog?"

Now, 13 years later, Alli has authored two books, "Fierce Faith" and "Breaking Busy." She's also a podcaster ("the Alli Worthington Show"), an entrepreneur, and co-founded The Blissdom Conference. P.S. - I attended Blissdom in 2013 in Dallas and loved it so much I'm returning this year (2019) in Nashville, and will be a Community Leader again!

In this episode, I asked Alli what gets her up in the morning (she has a very "real-life" answer!); how she stays organized; how she builds community; how she sets boundaries online; and how she decides when to take a risk in her business. Alli also tells us about Blissdom's beginnings, its hiatus, and what we can expect from the conference in 2019.

I just love Alli to pieces. She's so down to earth and as a fellow boy mom, I'm inspired by her relationships with her boys.

Follow Alli on Instagram and visit her website at www.alliworthington.com.

As a Chief Financial Officer to multi-million-dollar non-profit organizations, Stephanie Skryzowski has had opportunities to travel the globe to work with purpose-driven organizations.

Although she once thought she would become a lawyer, the universe had different plans. After working for a huge law firm in midtown Manhattan, Stephanie became involved with a global nonprofit.

But as she traveled the world for her job, she also began trying to start a family with her husband. As they began dealing with infertility, Stephanie changed jobs in an effort to eliminate stress. She eventually found a business coach, started her consulting business, began the IVF process, and quit her job to pursue her consulting business full-time.

Stephanie and I chatted about how managers, colleagues, friends, and family can support someone who is dealing with infertility. We also chatted about maternity leave, why she hired a business coach, and how fear impacted her business last year.

When Tancy Campbell became pregnant with her first child, she couldn't imagine going back to work.

But at the time, she was at the end of her second year of graduate school. She never imagined she would be a stay-at-home-mom, but here she was, and her family was transitioning to one income.

We knew we had to make a change with how we dealt with money.

Tancy found $20 in a graduation card as a gift from a friend, and used the money to buy Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover. She realized big changes were needed after reading the book.

At the time, Tancy and her husband had been married for seven years and were trying to keep up with a car loan and student loan debt. Despite a few hiccups along the way, Tancy and her husband have paid off $100,000 in debt in two years - on ONE income!

Tips, Tricks, and Getting Kids Involved

In this episode, Tancy shares her tips and tricks for saving money as a stay-at-home-mom (hint: look for free activities in your town, and ask for experiences instead of gifts!). She shares how important it is to get everyone in the family involved, even the kids.

Tancy's dream is to coach women about finances, teach young girls about money, and she wants to love on people when it comes to finances.

"People are scared to talk about it. You don't have to be ashamed of any part of your financial journey. Just start one and have positive thoughts."

I can't wait for you to listen to this episode - you're absolutely going to love Tancy Campbell. Check her out on Instagram @herwellspentlife!

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For more inspiring stories of moms making a difference, check out https://www.melissaduncan.com/podcast.

As executive editor of Good Housekeeping magazine, mom of 3 Meaghan Murphy has lots of great tips for women to manage their home, their work, and their family. In this episode, we talk about the importance of highlighting the good, and how she finds the yay in every day. We also discussed her mentor, where the magazine industry is headed, and the two things every mom needs in her home.

You'll love this episode with @meaghanbmurphy so check it out below and add us to your list by subscribing in Apple Podcasts.

For more inspiring stories of moms making a difference, check out Influential Motherhood online.

Anne Smith has something to say. She's especially great with words when no one else knows what to say, and is on a mission to help us know what to say - and what NOT to say - in life's "ickiest" moments. As a mom of four kids, she has dealt with difficult pregnancies and life-threatening conditions - but remembers the crazy things people said to her during those scary times. In an effort to make the world a better place, Anne is here to help us find the right words when no one seems to know what to say.

"Help, encourage, or hush."

In this episode, Anne shares her scary pregnancy stories, about having a miscarriage after her oldest daughter was born, how she and her husband handled her daughter's diagnosis and treatment of intestinal malrotation when she was just a few weeks old, and how we can respond more appropriately in life's icky situations.

In April 2019, Anne is launching a podcast - But Not All At Once - where she'll share encouraging stories and remind us that we can do it all, but not all at once. Check her out on Instagram at @butnotallatonce to follow the launch of her podcast!

For more inspiring stories of moms making a difference, check out www.influentialmotherhood.com.

Pediatric nurse Laura Hunter's fifth (5th!) baby was one week old when she informally launched the now-successful Moms on Call business with her coworker Jennifer. Moms on Call has helped hundreds of thousands of parents get their kids on a routine and has helped parents gain confidence. The business has now sold over 150,000 books, and has 2 apps and consultants all over the country.

Laura uses her experiences as a pediatric nurse and mom of five (including a set of twins!) to provide guidance to parents as they navigate parenting babies, toddlers, and even older children. In this episode, Laura shares the hardest part of her own journey as a working mom, and how parents can get their child on a routine to improve sleep and overall health for both the parents and the child!

You'll love hearing Laura's infectious spirit and her practical tips to get your child - no matter the age - on a routine.

Learn more about Moms on Call and buy the books at www.momsoncall.com.

For more inspiring stories of moms making a difference, check out www.influentialmotherhood.com.