JUST BE

In this episode we dive into the world of emotions. Specifically the ones we try to fix, avoid, or label as “negative".

We explore what it really means to be with your own emotions and the emotions of the people closest to you, including your kids and your partner. From overwhelm and sadness to anger, love, and everything in between, we unpack why emotions aren’t something to push away or fix, but something to feel, move through, and welcome. This becomes even more important in fertility, pregnancy, postpartum and motherhood.

No emotion is wrong AND you’re not responsible for managing everyone else’s feelings. Real connection starts with allowing yourself to be exactly where you are. You’re allowed to feel it all.

00:00 Redefining “Negative” Emotions

03:00 Postpartum emotions and overwhelm

06:00 Emotional responsibility in parenting

09:30 Two emotions can exist at once

12:30 Letting children feel big emotions

15:00 Tools for processing emotions

17:30 Movement, breath, and emotional release

20:00 Final reflections and support

Past Episodes:

The Line that Lives in US: Fertility, Birth and Ancestry

Mama Gena's Swamp Sessions (aka Rage Rituals)

Guided/Recorded Breathwork

Have questions? Any other topics you want us to chat on? Leave us a voicemail here: https://www.speakpipe.com/JustThis

We are excited to share more episodes with you on topics that light us up and that YOU want us to talk about. Join in on the convo and tell us what you are loving or wanting more of at www.justthis.site.

If you enjoyed this episode and found value in it, we would be incredibly grateful if you could take a moment to leave us a review. ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

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Happy New Year!!

2025 was a wild ride for many of us. In Chinese Astrology it was the year of the Earth Snake. 2026 will bring us into the year of the Fire Horse (totally different energy - buckle up!).

We wanted to start the pod off with a fresh episode, reflecting on the past year and setting intentions for the future. We recorded this on the final day of 2025. We explore why intention-setting can feel more supportive than rigid goal-setting, especially after a year of deep shedding and change.

This conversation weaves together reflection practices, relationship check-ins, and energetic themes to help you move into the new year with clarity, presence, and self-trust — even if you don’t yet know what you want. A gentle invitation to slow down, resource yourself, and let alignment lead the way.

00:00 Introduction and New Year Greetings

00:45 Reflecting on 2025

01:10 Personal Check-ins and Shedding Old Selves

02:08 Holiday Break and New Year Preparations

03:06 Setting Intentions and Goals for 2026

05:38 Tools and Tips for Intention Setting

06:21 Partner Goals and Communication

13:28 Astrological Insights for 2026

18:34 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

BE SURE TO CHECKOUT OUR INTENTION SETTING WORKBOOK AND MEDITATION

Have questions? Any other topics you want us to chat on? Leave us a voicemail here: https://www.speakpipe.com/JustThis

We are excited to share more episodes with you on topics that light us up and that YOU want us to talk about. Join in on the convo and tell us what you are loving or wanting more of at www.justthis.site.

If you enjoyed this episode and found value in it, we would be incredibly grateful if you could take a moment to leave us a review. ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Know someone that could benefit from this podcast or episode? Sharing is caring AND it also help others discover our show. 🫶

Links and Resources:

1. Just This Intention Setting Workbook and Meditation

2. Lori Harder Power Couple Playbook

3. Guided/Recorded Breathwork

4. 13 Wishes Practice

Journal Prompts:

1. What surprised me about myself this year?

2. Where did I hold more than I thought I could

3. What fell apart that freed me, even if I am still mad about it

January You:

What did you think this year was going to be about?

December You:

What did it actually end up being about? (Grief, reinvention, stability, risk, burnout, softness, something else)

Next-Year You:

Given everything you learned, what do you want more of in 2026 that is not negotiable anymore?

One of the more tricky parts of being a parent (working or not) can be finding and affording childcare. Unfortunately many of us in the states aren't close to family and small communal situations are not the norm.

In this episode we talk openly about the realities behind moving between work, personal life and childcare duties. We dive into personal stories as well as practical and creative tips for everything from handling unpredictable baby schedules to managing the mental shifts that come with constantly switching roles. If you are a working mama we touch on how hybrid and work-from-home setups can support AND sometimes challenge the delicate rhythm between career and motherhood.

Whatever your situation is: flexibility, community support, and leaning on a trusted circle make a world of difference. Tune-in for some inspiration and let us know your thoughts and ideas too! Because balance isn’t something you find once; it’s something you keep creating as life changes.

00:52 The Reality of Working With Baby at Home

04:31 Why Split Attention Feels So Draining

05:58 Personal Stories and Experiences

17:12 Creative Childcare Options Beyond the “Traditional” Path

13:12 The Power of Rhythms vs. Rigid Routines

24:00 Final Thoughts + Encouragement for Working Parents

Past Episode:

Back to Work After Baby: Honoring Emotions and Finding Ease

Rhythms and Structures vs. Time and Scheduling

Have questions? Any other topics you want us to chat on? Leave us a voicemail here: https://www.speakpipe.com/JustThis

We are excited to share more episodes with you on topics that light us up and that YOU want us to talk about. Join in on the convo and tell us what you are loving or wanting more of at www.justthis.site.

If you enjoyed this episode and found value in it, we would be incredibly grateful if you could take a moment to leave us a review. ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Know someone that could benefit from this podcast or episode? Sharing is caring AND it also help others discover our show. 🫶

Join us for a quick episode on the power and magic of gratitude. We highlight scientific benefits of gratitude and share personal anecdotes related to our experiences and practices for ourselves and with our kiddos. Weaving gratitude into different phases of the motherhood journey (from pre-conception to years after birth) can bring powerful shifts. It truly is a life-long practice.

Gratitude isn’t about bypassing the hard moments, but about finding tiny sparks of warmth that help regulate the nervous system and soften the edges. We hope this conversation is a gentle reminder that noticing the small things can reshape everything.

01:11 The Importance of Gratitude

04:17 Gratitude in the Postpartum Phase

08:53 Gratitude and Fertility Journeys

13:45 Gratitude Practices and Manifestation

20:48 Gratitude with Kids

27:06 Some Final Thoughts on Gratitude

Past Episodes:

The Line That Lives in Us: Fertility, Birth and Ancestry

Discover the Needs Behind Your Emotions and Unlock More Happiness & Connection in Life

Have questions? Any other topics you want us to chat on? Leave us a voicemail here: https://www.speakpipe.com/JustThis

We are excited to share more episodes with you on topics that light us up and that YOU want us to talk about. Join in on the convo and tell us what you are loving or wanting more of at www.justthis.site.

If you enjoyed this episode and found value in it, we would be incredibly grateful if you could take a moment to leave us a review. ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Know someone that could benefit from this podcast or episode? Sharing is caring AND it also help others discover our show. 🫶

In this episode we explore the deeper meaning behind honoring our ancestors. While this is relevant and magical anytime of year (and we explain why) it is especially potent around the end of October and beginning of November — a sacred time when many cultures believe the veil between worlds grows thin. Jen and I chat on the roots of traditions like Halloween (Hallow's Eve), Samhain, and Día de los Muertos, and reflect on how these rituals invite us to remember where we came from.

We reflect on our own experiences, practices and connections to ancestors (which is actually very little) and weave together themes of lineage, ancestors, fertility, birth, postpartum and healing, offering some practical ways to honor your ancestors — even if it's totally new to you or you don’t know your full family history. Ancestral connection isn’t just about the past; it’s about reclaiming the wisdom that still lives within us and using it to guide our lives today.

00:00 — Introduction to Ancestry and Halloween

01:24 — The Meaning of Halloween & the Ancestral Veil

02:08 — Personal Reflections on Lineage

03:52 — Bringing Ancestral Awareness into Daily Life

04:26 — Simple, Heartfelt Ways to Connect

04:46 — The Link Between Ancestry and Birth

06:27 — Why Ancestral Stories Matter

08:19 — Modern Rituals to Honor the Old Ways

09:22 — Healing Through Ancestral Connection

15:06 — Closing Reflections and Encouragement

Have questions? Any other topics you want us to chat on? Leave us a voicemail here: https://www.speakpipe.com/JustThis

We are excited to share more episodes with you on topics that light us up and that YOU want us to talk about. Join in on the convo and tell us what you are loving or wanting more of at www.justthis.site.

If you enjoyed this episode and found value in it, we would be incredibly grateful if you could take a moment to leave us a review. ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Know someone that could benefit from this podcast or episode? Sharing is caring AND it also help others discover our show. 🫶

They say life is a meditation — but that truth really lands once you become a parent. 🌀

Parenthood invites us into a living meditation, one that rarely happens on a cushion. It’s found in midnight feedings, deep breaths between cries, and the tiny pauses that bring us back to the present moment.

In this episode, we talk about how meditation has evolved for us since becoming parents — what presence, awareness, and ritual look like when there’s little personal space and constant motion. It’s not about perfection or stillness, but learning to find peace within the beautiful chaos of daily life.

00:00 Introduction to Today's Topic: Meditation

00:45 Defining Meditation: Beyond the Stereotypes

02:20 Meditation Practices and Personal Experiences

06:03 Meditation in Postpartum and Parenting

08:28 Integrating Meditation into Daily Life

18:30 Tips and Techniques for Meditating Parents

21:36 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Have questions? Any other topics you want us to chat on? Leave us a voicemail here: https://www.speakpipe.com/JustThis

We are excited to share more episodes with you on topics that light us up and that YOU want us to talk about. Join in on the convo and tell us what you are loving or wanting more of at www.justthis.site.

If you enjoyed this episode and found value in it, we would be incredibly grateful if you could take a moment to leave us a review. ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Know someone that could benefit from this podcast or episode? Sharing is caring AND it also help others discover our show. 🫶

Our babies and kiddos can feel us — deeply. Science is finally catching up to what many parents and caregivers have intuitively known for a long time: our moods, our energy, our nervous systems are in constant conversation with theirs.

In this episode, we explore the invisible thread that connects parent and child — how being grounded becomes their pillar for safety, and how their presence can mirror back what’s happening within us. We share personal stories and professional insights on staying nourished, rested, and resourced enough to keep that tether strong.

We also talk about what it means to communicate (even from day one, or before birth), how community support changes everything, and how setting boundaries and honoring our own emotions creates more ease and harmony at home.

This episode is an invitation to remember: the most powerful parenting tool you have isn’t in a book or a class — it’s your energy.

00:00 Introduction and Today's Topic 

00:25 The Energy Connection Between Parent and Child 

00:50 Coaching and Community Support 

01:23 The Importance of Parental Energy 

04:37 Communication with Babies 

13:06 Balancing Attention Between Siblings 

18:07 Concluding Thoughts

Have questions? Any other topics you want us to chat on? Leave us a voicemail here: https://www.speakpipe.com/JustThis

We are excited to share more episodes with you on topics that light us up and that YOU want us to talk about. Join in on the convo and tell us what you are loving or wanting more of at www.justthis.site.

If you enjoyed this episode and found value in it, we would be incredibly grateful if you could take a moment to leave us a review. ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Know someone that could benefit from this podcast or episode? Sharing is caring AND it also help others discover our show. 🫶

Going back to work after maternity leave can feel like stepping into two worlds at once—your heart is still with your baby, but your head is expected to show up at work. It can simultaneously bring up mixed emotions of excitement, anxiety, sadness, relief and more.

In this episode we acknowledge all the messy emotions, give some insight to practical hacks, and honor the quiet resilience it takes to return to work after baby. Whether you’re on the fence of if you will even return to work, dreading that first day back, or already juggling daycare drop-offs and Zoom calls this episode has a little something for everyone.

You’ll hear:

Have questions? Any other topics you want us to chat on? Leave us a voicemail here: https://www.speakpipe.com/JustThis

We are excited to share more episodes with you on topics that light us up and that YOU want us to talk about. Join in on the convo and tell us what you are loving or wanting more of at www.justthis.site.

If you enjoyed this episode and found value in it, we would be incredibly grateful if you could take a moment to leave us a review. ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Know someone that could benefit from this podcast or episode? Sharing is caring AND it also help others discover our show. 🫶

We live in a culture that often elevates data and evidence as the ultimate guides for decision-making. And intuition—our inner compass, our “ancient technology”— is often forgotten, or not given as much credit. Often people are confused on how to balance evidence with inner guidance. When you throw in the non-linear and very unpredictable topic of conception, birth and newborn life (for baby and parents) the question of when to turn to evidence and when to tune into intuition can before even more confusing.

In this episode, we explore the delicate dance between these two elements. Through personal stories and professional insights, we unpack how these two approaches can work together (and sometimes clash). From breastfeeding to co-sleeping, circumcision to sleep training, we share how parents can find balance, trust themselves, and make choices that feel both informed and aligned.

00:00 Introduction: Intuition vs. Evidence

01:08 Balancing Evidence and Intuition

01:55 Breastfeeding and Personal Evidence

03:03 Evidence in Parenting Practices

05:06 Cultural Practices and Evidence

07:21 Presenting Unbiased Information

10:40 Making Choices Out of Love vs. Fear

11:42 Trusting Intuition in Parenting

20:28 The Role of Doulas in Supporting Intuition

22:45 Conclusion: Embracing Intuition and Evidence Together

Have questions? Any other topics you want us to chat on? Leave us a voicemail here: https://www.speakpipe.com/JustThis

We are excited to share more episodes with you on topics that light us up and that YOU want us to talk about. Join in on the convo and tell us what you are loving or wanting more of at www.justthis.site.

If you enjoyed this episode and found value in it, we would be incredibly grateful if you could take a moment to leave us a review. ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Know someone that could benefit from this podcast or episode? Sharing is caring AND it also help others discover our show. 🫶

Societal expectations give us a far from real picture of what we all 'should' be doing as parents. If you have experienced the gap between parenting ideals and reality - welcome to the club.

In this episode, we explore the very real (and often humbling) list of things parents swore they would never do as a parent… and then totally did. From screen time to sugar bans to how we respond to our kids behavior. It was a fun question to ask and humbling to see just how human and connected our responses were. In addition to diving into the top answers we got from others we asked, we share our own personal stories and how our perspectives shifted once we were “in it”. Hint: balance often works better than rigid rules. 🤫

We hope this episode makes you feel less alone and reminds you that every parent is doing the best they can in their own unique circumstances.

00:00 Introduction: How the topic came up and why it hits home for so many parents

02:00 Mom shaming, guilt, and shifting perspectives once you’re in the parenting trenches

04:00 The screen time debate — from “never before age 4” to finding moderation

10:00 Co-sleeping realities and why many parents end up doing it

17:00 Losing your cool, repairing with your kids, and forgiving yourself

21:00 Public tantrums — why they challenge adults more than kids

25:00 Sugar bans vs. reality, and modeling balance instead of restriction

32:00 How motherhood evolves your identity and shifts your priorities

Resources:

EPISODE: Mom Shaming & Mom Guilt

EPISODE: The Many Forms of 'Co-Sleeping' - One Size Does Not Fit All

EPISODE: Discovering First Foods

EPISODE: Navigating the Many Shifts of Motherhood

MOVIE: Captain Fantastic

Have questions? Any other topics you want us to chat on? Leave us a voicemail here: ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/JustThis⁠

We are excited to share more episodes with you on topics that light us up and that YOU want us to talk about. Join in on the convo and tell us what you are loving or wanting more of at ⁠www.justthis.site⁠.

If you enjoyed this episode and found value in it, we would be incredibly grateful if you could take a moment to leave us a review. ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Know someone that could benefit from this podcast or episode? Sharing is caring AND it also help others discover our show. 🫶