Mother Plus Podcast

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In this episode, we cover:

1. Raising kids in the 1980s vs. now--was it easier and less high-pressure to be a mom then? 
2. The importance of raising independent children who don’t think the world revolves around them. 
3. How Barb and Suzanne teamed up to get their MD/doctorate degrees while raising young kids. 
4. Identifying your values and priorities and remembering you cannot do it all: “getting our educations was our self-care.”
5. Ask for help to achieve your goals: Find a Barb/Suzanne, team up with a friend, recruit family and neighbors.

Barb Gablehouse and Suzanne Barchers were moms raising their children in the 1980s when they both made major life choices--Barb to go to medical school, and Suzanne to get her doctorate. In this episode of the Mother Plus Podcast, they share how they got through this stage of life, taking care of young kids and juggling work and school--primarily by leaning on each other and raising their children together. They’ll share insights about encouraging independence in their kids, time management strategies, and prioritizing what really mattered the most to them. Barb is a retired pediatrician, and Suzanne is an educational publishing consultant and international speaker and workshop leader.

WHERE TO FIND US NOW

Connect with Stacey

• 🎧 The Next Phase Podcast —  
• on Apple & Spotify 
• 📸 Instagram: @stacehutson

Connect with Steph

• 🎧 The Peri-Normal Podcast
  on Apple and Spotify
• ✍️ The Reclamation Era
  on Substack
• 📝 MidCircle
  — a writing community for midlife women
• 📸 Instagram: @stephsprenger

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, we talk about:

1. You don’t have to be a “real writer” to learn how to present yourself in writing in your own words. 
2. How to write like you talk and use your authentic voice to reach your target audience.
3. Overcome impostor syndrome by remembering the value of your own voice--nobody else is exactly like you, with your skill set and life experiences. 
4. It’s okay to pursue a job you love, whatever that looks like--your family will be okay. 
5. Why we don’t have to let motherhood change us.

Sarah Voris is a copywriting coach on a mission to teach female entrepreneurs that they don’t have to have a fancy college degree or training to be able to write for their online businesses in a way that deeply connects with their audience. With her experience of writing for 6 and 7 figure businesses, she’s learned how to connect to people through story and authenticity, and doesn’t teach women how to write so they sound like the coolest influencer or the latest best-selling author in their industry. None of that matters! She teaches women to write in a way that sounds just like THEM. So no matter if it’s sales pages, email sequences, or social media, their audience feels like they’re just sitting down to coffee with a friend and can ramp up that “know, like, and trust” factor which turns into sweet, sweet dolla bills. Find her on her website: sarahvoris.com

WHERE TO FIND US NOW

Connect with Stacey

• 🎧 The Next Phase Podcast —  
• on Apple & Spotify 
• 📸 Instagram: @stacehutson

Connect with Steph

• 🎧 The Peri-Normal Podcast
  on Apple and Spotify
• ✍️ The Reclamation Era
  on Substack
• 📝 MidCircle
  — a writing community for midlife women
• 📸 Instagram: @stephsprenger

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, we discuss:

1. Encanto as a metaphor for moms giving themselves permission to take care of their needs.
2. Louisa represents the pressure we feel every day as moms to do everything for our families and still take care of ourselves. 
3. Isabella is a metaphor for perfectionism and expectations. 
4. Bruno represents our tendency to repress our intuition, especially if it makes other people uncomfortable. 
5. The townspeople remind us that it’s ok to lay down our load and rely on others for help. 
6. We’ve created a FREE “Permission Slip” download to help Mother Plussers get unstuck and get moving on doing the thing that lights them up again.

In this Stace + Steph episode, we explore the many metaphors in the movie Encanto, but through the lens of a Mother Plusser. We'll share our takes on what each character represents, and what moms can learn from them. And we share our "Permission Slip" with listeners, a free download to help get moms on the road to remembering themselves and finding their spark.

To download the permission slip, visit: https://www.motherplusser.com/Permission-Slip

WHERE TO FIND US NOW

Connect with Stacey

• 🎧 The Next Phase Podcast —  
• on Apple & Spotify 
• 📸 Instagram: @stacehutson

Connect with Steph

• 🎧 The Peri-Normal Podcast
  on Apple and Spotify
• ✍️ The Reclamation Era
  on Substack
• 📝 MidCircle
  — a writing community for midlife women
• 📸 Instagram: @stephsprenger

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, we talk about:

1. Writing during early motherhood as an avenue for creativity and connection
2. The birth of Listen to Your Mother and the creation of an unparalleled community.
3. The beauty of using your strengths to follow your ease, instead of your joy.
4. The impact of positive psychology on Ann’s life and career.
5. “I am not an expert, but I have something to share.”: the value of beginner’s mind, staying curious, and finding your “why.”

Ann Imig is a writer, speaker, performer and positive psychology coach who spends most of her time feeding her sons and vacuuming cat litter. In 2010 she created the nationwide storytelling series and book titled LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER. A decade later LTYM continues Giving Motherhood A Microphone on stages all over the country (60 cities to date, and counting!). Find out more about coaching with Ann at ListenLifeCoaching.Com

Other resources:
https://viacharacter.org

WHERE TO FIND US NOW

Connect with Stacey

• 🎧 The Next Phase Podcast —  
• on Apple & Spotify 
• 📸 Instagram: @stacehutson

Connect with Steph

• 🎧 The Peri-Normal Podcast
  on Apple and Spotify
• ✍️ The Reclamation Era
  on Substack
• 📝 MidCircle
  — a writing community for midlife women
• 📸 Instagram: @stephsprenger

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, we talk:

1. Why is *everything* a special occasion, and how did we get here? 
2. What happens if you don’t find joy in going over the top on all the things? 
3. Handing our kids the reins to take ownership of some of these special occasions.
4. Let them be bored: why we struggle to tolerate the ordinary and mundane. 
5. Being unapologetic about your family values and giving yourself permission to NOT be extra unless you want to.

We think you’re either going to love this Stace + Steph episode or hate it. Yep, it might be a little polarizing. Because today we’re talking about moms who go OVER THE TOP for special occasions: extreme birthday party themes, Valentine's day, St. Patrick's Day, The Hundredth Day of School, overachieving Tooth Fairies, Saint Nicholas Day, “Spirit week” at school: twin day, pajama day, crazy hat day, sports day--how are we supposed to stay on top of all this stuff, and where exactly did all this shit come from? Find out how we feel about it, and how to cope in an over-the-top mom culture when you don't feel like being "extra."

For more, visit www.motherplusser.com.
Instagram: @MotherPlusPodcast
Facebook: facebook.com/motherpluspodcast

WHERE TO FIND US NOW

Connect with Stacey

• 🎧 The Next Phase Podcast —  
• on Apple & Spotify 
• 📸 Instagram: @stacehutson

Connect with Steph

• 🎧 The Peri-Normal Podcast
  on Apple and Spotify
• ✍️ The Reclamation Era
  on Substack
• 📝 MidCircle
  — a writing community for midlife women
• 📸 Instagram: @stephsprenger

Send us Fan Mail

This episode covers:

• Timid vs. reckless: not asking for what you’re worth can create a reckless lifestyle 
•  Mohawks and couch hopping: Putting on a tough exterior so that people respect you 
• Hitting rock bottom before finding a path that honors you
• When the “crazy artist life” meets motherhood
• When you follow your dreams for your career, you reduce mom guilt because aren’t pulled between an unfulfilling job and your family 
• Combining all of your passions together to create the life you’ve always wanted

Beth Gatza is an award-winning, professional artist working out of her art studio in Los Angeles since 2010.  Her work has been featured in film and television, including "Miracle Workers" on TBS, as well as private collections nationally and internationally. Beth has taught art at two of Los Angeles' top 25 private schools (ranked by Niche.com, 2021) and is currently an online content creator and teacher. Originally from the Midwest, she now resides on the west coast with her husband and daughter where she continues to paint portraits in oil and acrylic with a focus on portraits.

Website: www.bethgatza.com
Youtube: www.youtube.com/c/BethGatzaArt
Instagram: www.instagram.com/bethgatza.art/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bethgatza.artist

WHERE TO FIND US NOW

Connect with Stacey

• 🎧 The Next Phase Podcast —  
• on Apple & Spotify 
• 📸 Instagram: @stacehutson

Connect with Steph

• 🎧 The Peri-Normal Podcast
  on Apple and Spotify
• ✍️ The Reclamation Era
  on Substack
• 📝 MidCircle
  — a writing community for midlife women
• 📸 Instagram: @stephsprenger

Send us Fan Mail

1. What is Listen To Your Mother, and how does it link Stace & Steph?
2. LTYM brings a realness to motherhood that gives women permission to express ALL of it: the good, the bad, and the ugly?
3. What is the value of moms sharing their stories about motherhood? 
4.  How can YOU get involved in sharing your stories or connecting with LTYM?

In this Stace + Steph episode, Stacey interviews Stephanie about her experience as Executive Producer of Listen To Your Mother Boulder. Listen To Your Mother is the live storytelling show that gives Mother's Day a microphone. Founded by Ann Imig, you can find a LTYM show in cities across the country, and can even apply for a license to produce a show in your own city. LTYM is for everyone—if you have a mom, are a mom, or know a mom, you have a story to tell. Shows take the audience on a well-crafted journey filled with humor, poignant moments, and lots of nods of recognition. You can attend LTYM Boulder on Saturday, May 7th, at the Boulder Theater.

Tickets available here: https://www.axs.com/events/401725/listen-to-your-mother-tickets

Learn more about licensing a show in your city: https://miracleor2.com/listen-to-your-mother/

WHERE TO FIND US NOW

Connect with Stacey

• 🎧 The Next Phase Podcast —  
• on Apple & Spotify 
• 📸 Instagram: @stacehutson

Connect with Steph

• 🎧 The Peri-Normal Podcast
  on Apple and Spotify
• ✍️ The Reclamation Era
  on Substack
• 📝 MidCircle
  — a writing community for midlife women
• 📸 Instagram: @stephsprenger

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, we talk about:

1. The undeniable impact of pandemic parenting on our mental health
2. Remembering to help yourself when you’re a constant “helper”
3. Don’t underestimate the toll of the postpartum period and early childhood parenting
4. Stop making excuses: you deserve a break and the benefits are huge!
5. How to give yourself a “momcation” and work within your limits

In this episode, Stace and Steph have a conversation with Laura Guska, a stay-at-home mom to two small children, ages 3 and 15 months. Before becoming a mom, she was a 4th grade teacher and worked for an educational technology start up company supporting teachers and administrators across the country. After spending the majority of her "mom life" during a pandemic and dealing with a particularly difficult postpartum period with her second child, she was exhausted, depleted, and in need of some time to herself. 

Then Laura did something amazing—she took a "momcation." Three nights all alone, in a resort by the ocean. While this may sound like an unattainable, luxurious pipe dream, today we are here to tell you that this is not the case. Listen on to discover why a momcation is NOT just for the spoiled Real Housewives type, and how you can make it work for you, no matter your budget or circumstances, because YOU DESERVE IT. 

Instagram: Laura.Guska
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laura.holmes812

WHERE TO FIND US NOW

Connect with Stacey

• 🎧 The Next Phase Podcast —  
• on Apple & Spotify 
• 📸 Instagram: @stacehutson

Connect with Steph

• 🎧 The Peri-Normal Podcast
  on Apple and Spotify
• ✍️ The Reclamation Era
  on Substack
• 📝 MidCircle
  — a writing community for midlife women
• 📸 Instagram: @stephsprenger

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, we cover:

1. What happens when your dream doesn’t look the way you envisioned it?
2. Finding a balance between drive/ambition and allowing space and grace for your own sanity, pace, and challenges in your path.
3. Make your list of “Why I shouldn’t do the thing” and then figure out what’s actually true. 
4. Shift your mindset from perfectionism to acceptance: “I’m pursuing my dream, but I accept that it’s happening more slowly or differently than I wanted.”

In this Stace and Steph episode, we revisit all the obstacles it took to start this podcast, where we are today, and how we continue to press on imperfectly despite ongoing setbacks. We talk about our reasons "why not to do this podcast/your thing" and how we can ignore the bullsh*t and be mindful about the rest. Dipping back into our episode discussing masculine feminine energy, we explore the push and pull of the forces to "achieve, produce, work hard" and "take space, have patience, give yourself grace."

Stephanie is mother of two girls + writer, music therapist, producer, and teacher. 

Stacey is also mother to two girls + writer, entrepreneur, former food blogger, and certified nutrition coach.

Where to find us:
Instagram: @mother_plus_podcast
Website: MotherPlusser.com
Email: [email protected]

Sign up for the Mother Plus Newsletter here: https://www.motherplusser.com/signup-page 

WHERE TO FIND US NOW

Connect with Stacey

• 🎧 The Next Phase Podcast —  
• on Apple & Spotify 
• 📸 Instagram: @stacehutson

Connect with Steph

• 🎧 The Peri-Normal Podcast
  on Apple and Spotify
• ✍️ The Reclamation Era
  on Substack
• 📝 MidCircle
  — a writing community for midlife women
• 📸 Instagram: @stephsprenger

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, we talk about how to:

1. Get curious about what you desire, and follow your curiosity like breadcrumbs
2. Ask yourself: what is holding me back from doing what I want to do?
3. Question your thoughts; interrupt the process; rewire
4. Why feminine energy is so revolutionary and why honoring ourselves is not "woo-woo"
5. Your new motto; "I Matter." Start where you are and take small steps. 

Melissa Bauknight is a life and business coach, the founder of The Ripple Connection, and a top leader with Beautycounter. She's committed to helping women come alive on purpose and in purpose while nurturing their WHOLE selves. Melissa spent 15 years working as an award-winning sales rep predominantly in medical device sales. But becoming a new mom and attempting to “do it all” completely rocked her world. So she made a change. A big change. Melissa retired from her corporate career and finally learned how to embrace her feminine energy.

Now she is deeply passionate about creating an aligned life and business by her own design with ease and flow and guiding other powerhouse solopreneurs to do the same.

Where to find her:

https://www.therippleconnection.com

https://www.facebook.com/therippleconnection

https://www.instagram.com/therippleconnection/

WHERE TO FIND US NOW

Connect with Stacey

• 🎧 The Next Phase Podcast —  
• on Apple & Spotify 
• 📸 Instagram: @stacehutson

Connect with Steph

• 🎧 The Peri-Normal Podcast
  on Apple and Spotify
• ✍️ The Reclamation Era
  on Substack
• 📝 MidCircle
  — a writing community for midlife women
• 📸 Instagram: @stephsprenger