
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or


Send us Fan Mail
Some seasons of life are meant to be intense—but temporary. We tell ourselves, I can do this for a little while, and we push through on adrenaline, determination, and grit. But what happens when that season doesn’t end?
In this episode, I talk about what happens when a sprint quietly becomes a marathon—and why the strategies that helped you survive short-term stress can actually start working against you over time. We’re not talking about changing your circumstances. We’re talking about changing how you’re running your race so you don’t burn out, shut down, or lose yourself in the process.
If you’ve been feeling more irritable, exhausted, emotionally flat, foggy, or like sleep doesn’t quite fix things anymore, this conversation will help you understand why—and what to do instead. I’ll walk you through how to recognize marathon mode, why self-care becomes non-negotiable (not indulgent), and how to make small, sustainable shifts that protect your energy, your nervous system, and your joy.
This episode is for any mom who is carrying a long season with courage—and needs permission, wisdom, and compassion to run it differently.
If you'd like to get the show notes for this episode, head to:
https://leighgermann.com
Send us Fan Mail
We have two jobs as parents — loving and teaching — and most of us blur them together without realizing it. When you understand which job you're doing in the moment, everything shifts. Parenting becomes clearer, calmer, and so much more connected so that we can love our kids in the two ways our children need the most!
If you'd like to get the show notes for this episode, head to:
https://leighgermann.com
Send us Fan Mail
If your home feels endlessly chaotic — toys everywhere, dishes piling up, laundry that never ends — and it leaves you feeling overstimulated, irritable, or ashamed, you’re not alone. In this episode, I break down why this experience has nothing to do with personal failure or not “handling it well enough,” and everything to do with how your nervous system responds to visual clutter, mental load, and chronic overstimulation. We’ll look at the neuroscience behind why mess feels so overwhelming (especially for moms), why your partner may genuinely experience the same space differently, and how your thoughts about the mess can either intensify shame or create relief. I’ll also walk you through practical, compassionate steps to protect your nervous system — without chasing perfection or tying your worth to clean countertops.
If you'd like to get the show notes for this episode, head to:
https://leighgermann.com
Send us Fan Mail
When your inner critic gets loud, it doesn’t feel like a thought—it feels like reality.
It feels urgent, convincing, and personal.
In this episode of the Leadership Parenting Podcast, I’m breaking down why the inner critic gets so intense under pressure—and why trying to “argue with it” often makes things worse.
You’ll learn how nervous system activation gives the critic a microphone, why volume is not the same as truth, and how to use my RESET framework to come back to yourself with steadiness and leadership.
This isn’t about silencing your thoughts or forcing positivity.
It’s about learning how to recognize self-attack, reconnect with what you care about underneath it, and respond from your calm, grounded, adult self—even when things feel hard.
If you'd like to get the show notes for this episode, head to:
https://leighgermann.com
Send us Fan Mail
Do you ever have a day when everything suddenly feels wrong?
Your mood dips, your thoughts darken, and even the smallest things feel overwhelming. I want you to know—there’s nothing wrong with you. You’re not losing it, and you’re not going backward. You’re simply experiencing a state shift, and there are gentle ways to move through it. In today’s episode, I’m helping you understand what’s really happening inside you when you spiral into that heavy, negative place where everything feels wrong. We talk about how stress, pressure, and old patterns can shift the body, emotions, and thoughts into a “negative state,” and why nothing feels true or solvable from inside that space. Instead of trying to fix your life or make big decisions in that moment, I teach you how to shift your state gently—through presence, connection, movement, music, spirituality, and everyday grounding practices. You’ll learn the difference between preventative practices that keep you resilient and prescriptive tools you reach for when you’re already underwater. This episode will show you how to steady yourself with compassion and skill, not judgment.
If you'd like to get the show notes for this episode, head to:
https://leighgermann.com
Send us Fan Mail
Do you ever find yourself feeling offended, hurt, or misunderstood — even by the people you love?
Welcome to the human experience.
In this episode, we’re exploring why offended feelings arise so quickly, why they feel so personal, and how insecure thinking quietly amplifies the emotional spiral.
You’ll learn how to understand offended feelings as indicator lights rather than emotional emergencies, how to broaden the story your brain creates under stress, and how to ground yourself in inner security—the deeper truth that you are whole, valuable, and wise.
Whether you’re navigating hurtful comments, unreturned texts, complicated in-law dynamics, or just regular relational friction, this episode will help you reclaim your peace, clarity, and emotional leadership.
This is one of those episodes that will change the way you see your relationships — and yourself.
If you'd like to get the show notes for this episode, head to:
https://leighgermann.com
Send us Fan Mail
In this episode of the Leadership Parenting Podcast, I’m talking about something almost every mom experiences but rarely feels safe admitting: moments when your emotions feel so big that you wonder, “What is wrong with me?”
I explain why this happens from a nervous system perspective, how chronic stress and emotional load shrink our ability to regulate, and why big emotions are not a sign of weakness — they are actually your body’s stress signature calling for care, safety, and compassion.
Then I guide you through a simple, science-backed 3-step reset you can use anywhere — in your kitchen, your car, your bathroom, or your bed — to bring yourself out of emotional overwhelm and back into calm, grounded presence.
This episode is for any mom who feels like she’s carrying too much, feeling too much, and trying too hard to “hold it together.” You are not broken. You are overloaded. And this episode will show you how to meet yourself with gentleness instead of judgment
If you'd like to get the show notes for this episode, head to:
https://leighgermann.com
Send us Fan Mail
In this episode, I’m talking about the kind of fresh start we actually need as moms—not a giant life overhaul, but a few small, intentional habits that truly support the mom we want to be. Instead of calling our patterns “bad habits” and shaming ourselves, I walk you through a gentler, brain-based way to work with your habits so they align with your body, your heart, and your relationships in this new year.
If you'd like to get the show notes for this episode, head to:
https://leighgermann.com
Send us Fan Mail
In this episode, I share a gentle message for the night before anything important—a wedding, a holiday, a celebration, or any meaningful day we’ve worked so hard to create. I walk you through how our nervous system reacts before big moments, why things feel so intense, and how anchoring yourself in the deeper meaning shifts everything. I share the story of my daughter’s wedding crisis, the science of cognitive appraisal and positive emotion, and simple practices to help you enjoy tomorrow with presence, calm, and connection.
If you'd like to get the show notes for this episode, head to:
https://leighgermann.com
Send us Fan Mail
This episode is for any mom who lies in bed overthinking, worrying, planning, replaying, or feeling unable to “turn off.” We talk about why racing thoughts happen, especially for moms, and why this doesn’t mean something is wrong with you. It’s actually your brain trying to protect the people and responsibilities you love most. I share the science behind nighttime overthinking and how stress and sleep affect each other. You are not broken—you’re overwhelmed, and today I give you a compassionate path back to calm.
If you'd like to get the show notes for this episode, head to:
https://leighgermann.com
From the publisher's feed
Welcome to Leadership Parenting, the podcast for the mom who wants to stop yelling, feel less overwhelmed, and be the calm, connected parent she knows she can be. Here you'll learn to calm your…
Hosted by Leigh Germann, therapist, resilience coach, and mom of five grown children, this show is your weekly guide to building emotional strength, navigating tough moments, and leading your family with confidence. With over 30 years of experience helping thousands of women, Leigh brings you practical tools, compassionate insights, and the science of resilience, so you can feel better, parent smarter, and model strength to your children.
Here, we talk about the real stuff: how to manage stress, anxiety, anger, and self-doubt… without losing yourself in the process. You’ll learn how to care for your mind and body, set healthy boundaries, and rise strong through the challenges of motherhood. Most importantly, you’ll discover how to teach your kids these same life-changing skills so they can grow into confident, capable, and emotionally healthy adults.
If you're ready to be a better mom without trying harder- you're in the right place.
Resilient moms raise resilient kids. Leadership Parenting shows you how.
Hit subscribe, and let’s walk this path together.

1,062 Listeners

3,702 Listeners

2,597 Listeners

10,803 Listeners

422 Listeners

734 Listeners

185 Listeners