Mom Halo

Why do some kids pick up reading on their own while others struggle for years? Ruth Rumack, founder of Ruth Rumack's Learning Space and creator of The Yak Pack decodable comics, has spent three decades working one-on-one with kids who learn differently. She joins Alana to explain why reading is so hard for the brain, what phonological awareness is and why it predicts reading success, and why knowing the alphabet song isn't the same as knowing the sounds.

Ruth walks parents through the Ontario path from psychoeducational assessments to IEPs and IPRCs, the early signs worth watching for, and why behaviour is the tip of the iceberg. Plus: why what looks like lazy is often anxiety, executive functioning and the "neurospicy" kids who think differently, the shame and comparison kids carry, and why learning needs a safe space. Her message for parents: drop the guilt, find the right support, and don't count your kid out.

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The Yak Pack Comics → https://yakpack.rumackresources.com

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Website → https://momhalo.com

#Literacy #LearningToRead #LearningDifferences #Dyslexia #ADHD #ExecutiveFunctioning #Phonics #Neurodiversity #MomHalo #MomPodcast #Parenting

Why do so many moms feel overwhelmed, even when everything looks fine from the outside? Amber Sperling, registered social worker and founder of Marsha Care, joins Alana to talk about the overwhelm, disconnection and birth trauma she sees every day in her practice, and why some women only realize years later how deeply their birth experience shaped them.

Amber shares her own two very different births, what social media gets right and wrong about motherhood, and small things that make a real difference: putting a timer on your scroll, texting a real friend instead of sending a reel, a 10,000 lux light for the dark months, and asking your doctor about iron, thyroid and vitamin D. Plus, a look at Marsha Care's upcoming workshops and Connected Beginnings, a six-week virtual program for moms in their third trimester.

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🎙️ New episodes every week. Subscribe so you never miss one.

Website → https://momhalo.com

#MaternalMentalHealth #BirthTrauma #PostpartumSupport #PerinatalMentalHealth #Matrescence #MomOverwhelm #PostpartumMentalHealth #MomHalo #MomPodcast #Motherhood

Is Your Child Ready for Kindergarten? Independence Skills That Matter, with Melissa Markus

Melissa Markus has taught kindergarten in the public school system for over 14 years. She is a mom of three, the creator of The Kindergarten Mom on social media, and the author of the new children's book Confidence in Kindergarten. In this episode she explains how to get kids ready for the big first day, and why self-help skills matter more than knowing letters and shapes.

We talk about what parents struggle with most, from toileting to separation anxiety, how Melissa wrote her book in the notes app on her phone and found her illustrator on Fiverr, and what she learned teaching an integrated kindergarten program in a children's hospital. She also shares how she grew her account, why being silly is the best classroom management tool, and the backpacks, markers, and lunch containers she recommends.

Key takeaways:

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#Kindergarten #KindergartenReadiness #ParentingTips #IndependenceSkills #ChildrensBooks #TeacherMom #MomHalo #MomPodcast #Motherhood

Jay Rosenzweig has built a life at the intersection of law, entrepreneurship, philanthropy, and advocacy — and in this episode, he brings all of it to the table. From growing up inspired by his family's entrepreneurial spirit to leading a global executive search firm and championing women in leadership, Jay shares hard-won insights on risk, purpose, and what it really means to lead.

We talk AI breakthroughs, health innovation, the art of balancing a dynamic career with fatherhood, and why — in Jay's words — the real wealth is learning to cherish life itself.

00:00 — Introduction to Jay Rosenzweig

CONNECT WITH JAY ROSENZWEIG

Website → https://www.jayrosenzweig.com

ABOUT MOM HALO

Mom Halo is a podcast for real conversations about motherhood — the messy, the meaningful, and everything in between.

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#Leadership #Entrepreneurship #WomenInLeadership #AI #HealthInnovation #Philanthropy #Fatherhood #MomHalo #MomPodcast #Motherhood

Jessica Baker has planned more bar mitzvahs than she can count, and she's seen it all — from shoestring budgets to six-figure productions. In this episode, Jessica pulls back the curtain on what it actually costs to throw a memorable bar or bat mitzvah, why the industry has exploded, and how to make a celebration feel authentic instead of just expensive.

Whether you're deep in mitzvah planning mode or just curious how these events got so elaborate, Jessica's insider perspective is candid, practical, and refreshingly honest. 

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🎙️ New episodes every week. Subscribe so you never miss one.

Website → https://momhalo.com

#BarMitzvah #EventPlanning #MomHalo #MitzvahPlanning #PartyBudgeting #BatMitzvah #JewishCelebrations #MomPodcast #Motherhood #PartyPlanning

Gabe Diamond is the co-founder of True North Sports Camp, and he's spent years watching sports shape kids into confident, resilient, well-rounded people. In this episode, Gabe breaks down why specializing too early can actually hold kids back, how team sports build life skills no classroom can replicate, and what's driving the surprising resurgence of baseball in Canada.

Whether you're a sports parent trying to figure out how much is too much, or just someone who believes in the power of play, this conversation is grounded, practical, and full of heart.

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🎙️ New episodes every week. Subscribe so you never miss one.

#YouthSports #MultiSport #MomHalo #ChildDevelopment #SportsParenting #PhysicalLiteracy #Baseball #TeamSports #KidsHealth #Motherhood

Geoff Eisfeld went from tinkering in his basement to building immersive XR experiences that blend virtual reality, movement, and education. In this episode, Geoff shares how VR can help kids conquer fears, develop life skills, and transform how families approach health and learning together.

Whether you're a parent curious about screen time done right, an educator looking for new tools, or simply wondering how AI and immersive tech fit into family life, this conversation is practical, forward-thinking, and full of possibility. 

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#VirtualReality #MomHalo #XRFit #FamilyHealth #VRForKids #AI #ImmersiveLearning #EdTech #MomPodcast #Motherhood

When Baden Colt was told she might never be a mom, she didn't accept it — she built a movement. In this episode, Baden shares her surrogacy journey, how a single social media post turned into a community of 500+ women, and her ongoing fight to reform parental leave policies in Canada.

Whether you're navigating infertility, considering surrogacy, or simply want to understand the legal and emotional landscape of alternative family-building, this conversation is full of heart, practical insight, and hard-won wisdom.

In this episode:

Timestamps:

Resources & Links:

⚠️ Warning — this podcast is completely unfiltered. If you are around young children, we suggest headphones.

Disclaimer: All opinions of our guests are their own and in no way represent those of Alana Kayfetz.