Mama Making Podcast

What happens when two moms decide the world needs a better system for breastfeeding support? You get Mamava—the startup turning the simple act of pumping milk into a dignified, accessible experience.

In this episode, Jessica sits down with Sascha Mayer, co-founder of Mamava, to talk about the origin story of the brand, how they’re changing public spaces for lactating parents, and why innovation in motherhood often starts with personal frustration.

From business-building to social impact, Sascha’s story is proof that when moms build, they build better for everyone.

Main Topics Covered

• The moment Sascha realized breastfeeding infrastructure was broken
• How Mamava got its start—and why it went B2B first
• Designing for dignity, privacy, and inclusion
• The policy gaps that inspired innovation
• Mamava’s evolution from pods to platforms
• Why lactation equity is a workplace issue
• Advice for moms pursuing big ideas

Resources Mentioned

• Mamava Locator App: Download here
• Lactation Consultant Resources
• Mamava Podcast: The Bodacious Optimist
• Human Milk Banking Association of North America
• Designing Motherhood Exhibit: Museum of Art & Design

Connect with Sascha Mayer

• Mamava: mamava.com
• Instagram: @mamava_vt
• LinkedIn: @mamava-llc

This episode is sponsored by Collabs Creative - a boutique digital marketing company helping small business owners and creatives tell their story.

Follow The Mama Making Podcast on socials on Instagram and Facebook!
Share and subscribe to the podcast: click this link
Watch on YouTube: Click here!

What exactly is placenta encapsulation—and why are more moms considering it?

In this episode, Samantha Davis, founder of NuHealth Placenta Encapsulation, shares the story of starting a business in the thick of postpartum while advocating for better recovery options for new moms. From the science and safety behind placenta encapsulation to navigating stigma and consent, this episode is packed with insight, empowerment, and practical advice.

Whether you’re building a business in maternal wellness, exploring new ways to support recovery, or just love a story rooted in lived experience—this one’s for you.

Main Topics Covered

• How Samantha launched NuHealth in early motherhood
• What placenta encapsulation is and how it works
• Behind-the-scenes of safe, certified encapsulation practices
• Supporting hormonal health and emotional recovery after birth
• Reducing stigma and offering judgment-free postpartum support
• Building a brand rooted in advocacy, education, and care

Connect with Samantha Davis

• Website: www.nuhealthplacenta.com/
• Instagram: @nuhealth_placentaencapsulation
  
  

This episode is sponsored by Collabs Creative - a boutique digital marketing company helping small business owners and creatives tell their story.

Follow The Mama Making Podcast on socials on Instagram and Facebook!
Share and subscribe to the podcast: click this link
Watch on YouTube: Click here!

Episode Description
As the year winds down and the holiday buzz peaks, it’s easy to lose yourself in the noise. This special meditation episode—guided by Madison Waggoner of Shri Wellness—is your invitation to pause, breathe, and reset.

Whether you're navigating family dynamics, managing holiday stress, or simply craving a moment of calm, Madison offers a grounding, compassionate meditation to help you reconnect with your body, your breath, and your intentions.

Perfect for the quiet mornings before the house wakes up—or the evenings when you need to exhale it all—this is your gentle reminder that stillness is productive, too.

Let this practice be your bridge between seasons. Reflect, release, and root yourself for the new year ahead.

Connect with Taylor

• Website: Shri Wellness
• Instagram: @themompreneurpaperco

This episode is sponsored by Collabs Creative - a boutique digital marketing company helping small business owners and creatives tell their story.

Follow The Mama Making Podcast on socials on Instagram and Facebook!
Share and subscribe to the podcast: click this link
Watch on YouTube: Click here!

Episode Description

In this episode of The Mama Making Podcast, host Jessica Lamb sits down with Taylor Johnson, the founder of The Mompreneur Paper Company—a lifestyle brand offering planners, journals, and paper goods designed specifically for ambitious moms balancing business and motherhood.

Taylor shares how her own need for a functional planner sparked the idea behind her business, how she’s grown it from a Canva prototype to a full product suite, and how her approach to business honors both ambition and rest. Together, Jessica and Taylor dive into routines, outsourcing, seasons of hustle, and what it really looks like to “do it all” as a mom—on your terms.

This is a must-listen for any mom navigating entrepreneurship, identity shifts, and the reality of building a life you love… one nap time at a time.

Main Topics Covered

• How Taylor started her business with a Canva prototype
• Why traditional planners weren’t working for her—and other moms
• The realities of time management and flexible scheduling
• Letting go of hustle culture and embracing seasonality
• Creating a business that supports your family, not drains it
• Using outsourcing and systems to stay afloat
• How the Mompreneur Paper Company builds community through planning and storytelling
• Lessons learned from launching a magazine (and what’s coming next)

Connect with Taylor

• Website: Mompreneur Paper Company
• Instagram: @themompreneurpaperco

This episode is sponsored by Collabs Creative - a boutique digital marketing company helping small business owners and creatives tell their story.

Follow The Mama Making Podcast on socials on Instagram and Facebook!
Share and subscribe to the podcast: click this link
Watch on YouTube: Click here!

Episode Description:

Ever wonder if that extra pair of baby shoes or outdated kitchen gadget sitting in your cabinet is worth anything? Spoiler alert: It is. In this episode of The Mama Making Podcast, Jessica sits down with Olivia —also known as The Marketplace Mom—to talk about the wild world of Facebook Marketplace. From turning clutter into cash to managing no-shows with grace, Olivia is here to demystify the selling process for everyday moms.

She shares how her side hustle started with a $15 TV mount and turned into a full-blown movement helping women feel empowered to sell, buy, and declutter on their own terms. They break down the myths, the must-knows, and even the “crazy stuff people will buy” moments.

Whether you’ve never listed an item or are a seasoned seller, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to lighten their load—physically and mentally—and maybe even fund that next family purchase.

Main Topics Covered:

• Olivia’s story: from secret side hustle to social media success
• Why Facebook Marketplace is a goldmine for moms
• Common fears (and why you should just start)
• How to price and list items that actually sell
• Why junk sells faster than nice stuff
• Marketplace wins—from towels to $500 porch pickups
• Controversial opinions: Cash vs. Venmo, to wash or not to wash, shipping tips
• Best beginner items to sell (hint: shoes + seasonal décor)
• How to make Marketplace a sustainable part of your decluttering system

Connect with Olivia , The Marketplace Mom:

• Instagram: @themarketplacemom 
• TikTok: @themarketplacemom 
• Facebook: @themarketplacemom

This episode is sponsored by Collabs Creative - a boutique digital marketing company helping small business owners and creatives tell their story.

Follow The Mama Making Podcast on socials on Instagram and Facebook!
Share and subscribe to the podcast: click this link
Watch on YouTube: Click here!

Episode Description:

What if the same resilience it takes to run a marathon is the exact strength you need to navigate infertility, pregnancy complications, and surrogacy?

In this episode, Jessica sits down with Alison Beder Solway—author of The Miles We Run, fitness expert, and founder of ABS Fitness—to explore her deeply personal journey through high-risk pregnancy, genetic diagnosis, and surrogacy after being told she couldn’t carry more children. Alison shares how marathon training became the unexpected metaphor for her motherhood story and why resilience is a muscle we can all build.

From advocating for your body to trusting others with your dream, this conversation covers the emotional highs and lows of fertility, family building, and finding your strength—on the trail and in life.

Main Topics Covered:

• Alison’s high-risk pregnancy and HHT diagnosis
• Navigating infertility and the emotional journey to surrogacy
• The surrogacy process: what people don’t realize
• Building trust, advocating for yourself, and finding the right surrogate
• Resilience through IVF setbacks and loss
• Training for the NYC Marathon in her 50s
• The surprising connection between long-distance running and family building
• Why resilience is a muscle—and how you build it one mile at a time

Resources Mentioned:

• The Miles We Run website
  
  
• ABS Fitness
  
  

How to Connect with Alison:

• Website: themileswerun.com
• Fitness Platform: absfitness.ca
• Instagram: @themileswerun
• Book: The Miles We Run — available wherever books are sold

This episode is sponsored by Collabs Creative - a boutique digital marketing company helping small business owners and creatives tell their story.

Follow The Mama Making Podcast on socials on Instagram and Facebook!
Share and subscribe to the podcast: click this link
Watch on YouTube: Click here!

Episode Description

What if the care you actually needed wasn’t covered by insurance—and what if there was a better way? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Samantha O’Brien of The Hive Wellness Center and Dr. Amy Fetch of Chicago Mama PT to talk about the game-changing potential of cash-based healthcare for women and families. We unpack how this model empowers providers to offer deeper, more holistic care, gives patients more control and clarity, and allows moms especially to feel seen, heard, and genuinely supported.

From postpartum recovery to pediatric chiropractic to endometriosis pain to poop explosions during a session (yep, we went there), this conversation dives into the messy realities and surprising joys of care that actually cares. Whether you're a birthworker, a parent, or someone who's ever walked out of a 5-minute appointment wondering “was that it?”—this one's for you.

Main Topics Covered

• What cash-based care really is—and isn’t
• How traditional insurance models limit quality care
• Why longer sessions mean better outcomes for patients
• Pediatric and perinatal chiropractic explained
• Holistic pelvic floor PT for real-life motherhood
• Patient advocacy, transparency, and emotional support
• Busting myths about cost and accessibility
• When providers finally have time to care

How to Connect with the Guests

Dr. Samantha O’Brien – Chiropractor, Pediatric & Perinatal Care
📍 Geneva, IL
🔗 Website: thehivewc.com
📷 Instagram: @thehive.wc
📘 Facebook: The Hive Wellness Center

Dr. Amy Fetch – Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist & Women's Health Advocate
📍 Barrington, IL
🔗 Website: chicagomamapt.com
📷 Instagram: @chicagomamapt
📘 Facebook: Chicago Mama PT

This episode is sponsored by Collabs Creative - a boutique digital marketing company helping small business owners and creatives tell their story.

Follow The Mama Making Podcast on socials on Instagram and Facebook!
Share and subscribe to the podcast: click this link
Watch on YouTube: Click here!

Episode Description

What happens when your child is sick and you need to be close—but also need a place to sleep, eat, and breathe?

In this powerful episode, Jessica sits down with Holly Buckendahl, CEO of Ronald McDonald House Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana, to talk about the critical (and often misunderstood) work of Ronald McDonald House (RMH).

As both a nonprofit leader and a mom, Holly shares how RMH supports entire families through some of the hardest days of their lives. From hospital-adjacent “mini Ronald McDonald House” to full-service family houses to mobile medical units, RMH is doing more than most people realize—and this episode is a behind-the-scenes look at how it all works.

Jessica also shares her personal story of staying at the Ronald McDonald House after her son’s NICU birth, and why this conversation is especially meaningful to record.

Main Topics Covered

• The mission behind Ronald McDonald House and who they serve
• The difference between family rooms, houses, and mobile medical units
• What it actually looks like to stay at a Ronald McDonald House
• Volunteer stories, funny moments, and the power of showing up
• How RMH partners with hospital networks and McDonald’s
• Ways to support RMH: volunteer roles, wish list donations, Round-Up at checkout
• What’s ahead for the organization, including an upcoming rebrand

Resources Mentioned

• RMH Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana
• RMH National Website
• Volunteer Opportunities
• Ways to Give
• Upcoming Fundraising Events

Connect with Ronald McDonald House 

• Website: www.ronaldmcdonaldhousechicago.org/
• Instagram: @ronaldmcdonaldhousechicago
• Facebook: @ronaldmcdonaldhousechicago
• YouTube: @ronaldmcdonaldhousechicago

This episode is sponsored by Collabs Creative - a boutique digital marketing company helping small business owners and creatives tell their story.

Follow The Mama Making Podcast on socials on Instagram and Facebook!
Share and subscribe to the podcast: click this link
Watch on YouTube: Click here!

Episode Description
Ever wonder why music class makes such a big impact on your little one? In this episode, Jessica talks with Esther Bertram, CMO of Mini Maestros Australia, to explore how music helps babies and toddlers build stronger brains, regulate emotions, and connect more deeply with caregivers.

From her days touring the world as a professional musician to leading one of the most trusted early childhood music education programs in Australia, Esther shares the science, structure, and soul behind musical learning—and why every parent (yes, even you!) is more musical than you think.

Whether your child is shy, spirited, or somewhere in between, this episode will give you insight and confidence to bring music into your everyday routine.

Main Topics Covered

• Esther’s journey from professional musician to music educator and executive
• The developmental benefits of music for babies and toddlers
• Why repetition and structure are more important than musical “talent”
• How music supports emotional regulation and resilience in young kids
• What happens in a Mini Maestros class (and how it works virtually!)
• How music can be adapted for all learning styles and neurodiverse children
• Turning everyday parenting moments into musical opportunities for connection
• The power of singing as a tool for calm, learning, and growth

Resources Mentioned

• Mini Maestros On-Demand: Try a class!
• Mini Maestros Blog: Read Here
• Researcher: Dr. Anita Collins — "How playing an instrument benefits your brain"
• Book reference: The Music Advantage by Dr. Anita Collins

Connect with Esther & Mini Maestros

• Website: minimaestros.com.au
• Instagram: @minimaestros

This episode is sponsored by Collabs Creative - a boutique digital marketing company helping small business owners and creatives tell their story.

Follow The Mama Making Podcast on socials on Instagram and Facebook!
Share and subscribe to the podcast: click this link
Watch on YouTube: Click here!

Episode Description

In this tender, wise, and radically honest episode, Jessica welcomes Dr. Margo Lowy, psychotherapist and author of Maternal Ambivalence: The Loving Moments and Bitter Truths of Motherhood. Together, they explore what it really means to love your children deeply and feel conflicting emotions—without shame or guilt.

This conversation is a balm for any mother who has ever whispered to herself, “Am I the only one feeling this way?” (Spoiler: you're not.)

They dive into the messy, beautiful terrain of maternal identity, emotional flow, breaking cycles, and rewriting the silent rules so many of us have internalized.

Whether you’re in the newborn trenches or parenting grown children, this one reminds you: your full humanity belongs in motherhood.

Main Topics Covered

• What maternal ambivalence means and why it’s normal
• Why “flow” is the missing link for many overwhelmed moms
• The difference between guilt and shame—and how to release both
• Social media’s role in shaping perfectionism in motherhood
• Letting go of being the “perfect parent” and embracing emotional honesty
• Re-mothering yourself while raising your children
• How ambivalence can actually deepen connection with our kids

Connect with Dr. Margo Lowy

• Maternal Ambivalence by Dr. Margo Lowy — Buy the book
• Website: drmargolowy.com
• Instagram: @drmargolowy

This episode is sponsored by Collabs Creative - a boutique digital marketing company helping small business owners and creatives tell their story.

Follow The Mama Making Podcast on socials on Instagram and Facebook!
Share and subscribe to the podcast: click this link
Watch on YouTube: Click here!