Holiday Episode: "The Gifts That Changed Everything"**

In this final episode of 2025, Sam gets festive, reflective, and a little emotional as she unwraps the ten life-changing gifts that shaped her as a mom, creator, partner, and Powermomma.

These aren't gifts you can order on Amazon. They're the kind that show up in the form of advice, questions, invitations, one-liners, and moments that reroute your entire life.

Inside this episode:

🎁 The running advice that carried her through heartbreak and a half marathon 🎁 The Disney question that built her entire creative career 🎁 The Match.com message that led to an 8-hour date and a whole family 🎁 The power of one sentence: You're not a power bitch… you're a Powermomma 🎁 The autism mom who asked "How are you… really?" and changed everything 🎁 The meditation from Sam's sister that still guides her every morning 🎁 And the surprising "gifts" behind the Powermomma Podcast, Storytime, and Wonderkidz

Plus: a first look at Season 3 — The Kitchen Table Revolution A season built around the real, unfiltered conversations women have where life actually happens: the kitchen table.

It's heartfelt, it's messy, it's funny, it's real — the perfect close to a year that asked a lot from all of us.

Wishing you a beautiful holiday, a much-needed reset, and a damn good New Year. See you in 2026, Powermommas.

Three days after Thanksgiving, I'm back with the second half of the "NO Thanks / Thanks" series. This isn't the fluffy gratitude list your therapist wants you to make. This is the real version: the car-in-the-wildfire, we-built-this-city, "we're-alive-and-that's-what-matters" kind of thanks.

In this episode, I talk about:

• What I learned from a month of saying NO

• The day our family evacuated during the LA fires and found core gratitude in a car singalong

• Why everything after "we're alive and together" is just gravy

• What this first year of the Powermomma Podcast has taught me (including the messy, tech-broken episodes)

• Advocacy, autism, and turning our family story into something bigger for the community

• How to find real gratitude in a busy, noisy, burnout-prone life

• Simple questions to help you build your own "thanks" list going into the holidays

If this episode hits home, share it with a friend who's crawling into December already exhausted.

We've got this: strong NOs, true THANKS, and just enough holiday joy to keep us moving forward.

In this episode of the Powermomma Podcast, Sam kicks off her two-part "No Thank You" show, recorded on a hike at Runyon Canyon with her best friend of 28 years, newly-minted Dr. Helen Cunningham.

Together, they dig into:

• What NO-vember is and why saying no before the holidays is survival, not drama

• The long, messy list of "No's": overscheduling, pointless meetings, comparison, self-doubt, multitasking, burnout & fake obligations

• The USC homecoming rain game: saying no to playing it safe, yes to taking chances and making core memories with their kids

• Choosing quiet, simple Thanksgiving over performative "big gathering" energy

• How to stop comparing yourself to other moms, podcasters, "perfect" people & instead learn from them

• Burnout red flags and real-life strategies: hikes, meditation, journaling, and stepping away before you crash

This episode is the "NO" part of "No Thank You."

Next up: the THANKS side of the story.

This Halloween, we're taking off the masks. In this raw, honest episode, Sam unpacks the fears most women never say out loud — not spiders or ghosts, but the ones that haunt our everyday: fear of failing, fear of wasting potential, fear of being too much or not enough, and the mother of them all — fear of not being there for our kids.

Sam explores how fear doesn't always hold us back — sometimes it's pointing us forward. With humor, candor, this episode reframes fear as love in disguise — the pulse that proves we're still growing, still alive, still in it.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• Why "fearless" is the wrong goal — and how to use fear as a compass instead.

• How moms perfect the art of mask-wearinga nd what happens when we start to loosen it.

• The real cost of "doing it all" (and why rest is the bravest rebellion).

• The quiet fears of working moms: not being enough, being too much, falling behind, or outgrowing our lives.

Key Quote:

"Fear isn't the opposite of love. It's love's shadow — proof that something matters enough to scare you."

Perfect for: Working moms, creative entrepreneurs, women juggling ambition and motherhood, anyone tired of pretending to be fearless.

Listen if you've ever:

• Smiled through burnout

• Wondered if you're "doing it right"

• Hidden behind "I'm fine" when you weren't

• Felt scared to slow down, speak up, or take the next leap

Subscribe to The Powermomma Podcast wherever you listen — and share this episode with another woman who's doing it scared.

Because none of us are fearless.

We're just unmasked.

Much love, Sam

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Summary We "took it to the hill" at Runyon and cracked open the E-word: energy. Not hustle fuel. Not a scarce ration. A flow you can tap, nourish, and share. From middle-school burnout triage to reiki basics, from grief that still powers action to the unexpected joy of pickleball, this episode flips the script from "manage your energy" to "open the valve."

In this episode

• Why "manage your energy" can backfire, and what to do instead: shift from control to flow

• Parenting the new middle-school workload without melting down (you or them)

• Mindfulness that actually helps when your brain time-travels to the terrifying future

• Reiki 101: what it is, what it isn't, and how presence restores energy fast

• Grief as rocket fuel: how a father's Top-10 birthday ritual keeps giving energy forward

• Surprise energizers: Runyon hikes, laughter, and… pickleball

Top takeaways

• Flow beats force. Treat energy like a river, not a bank account. Open channels; stop building dams.

• Presence is power. Exhaustion spikes when your mind lives in tomorrow. Return to now: breath, senses, feet on ground.

• Model sustainable effort. Teach kids to move tasks and reset pace; perfection is not the assignment.

• Love can energize. Let the love you carry become momentum for good.

• Move first, decide later. A ten-minute walk changes the story in your head.

• Find your weird joy. If pickleball or line dancing lights you up, that's strategy, not fluff.

Try this week

• 5 minutes of mindful breathing before you touch the to-do list.

• Write today's 3: what truly must happen, and push the rest.

• Do the Top-10 ritual at dinner: last year's 10 wins, next year's 10 goals. Kids included.

• Schedule one movement date with a friend. Accountability = energy.

Quotes to steal

• "Energy isn't something you hoard; it's something you let through."

• "A lot of our exhaustion lives in the future. Come back to now."

• "We're not alive to do all the things. We're doing things while we learn how to be human together."

If this gave you one inch of lift, tap follow, leave a 5-star review, and text the episode to the mom who keeps saying she's "fine" while her eye twitches. New here? Hit subscribe on for the weekly notes, templates, and the occasional spicy pep talk.

Episode credits Hosts: Sam & Tange Recorded: On the hill at Runyon, where the dogs are king and there's lots of eye candy. Production: Storytime LA

Show tags #Powermomma #EnergyReset #WorkingMoms #MindfulParenting #Reiki #GriefToGrowth #RunyonCanyon #PresenceOverPerfection #MomLifeStrategies

Powermomma Podcast – Episode 8: Season 2 Fall Kick-off 🎉 Summer's over, season two is here, and we've got a lot to catch up on!

In this episode: ✨ Tange's epic summer road trip (and a milestone birthday—hello 50s!) ✨ My own Storytime projects that kept me creating all summer long ✨ Why I'm calling fall the Second January—a fresh start for parents too

Think of it like Dry January… but with habits you'll actually keep. Back-to-school isn't just for kids—it's a chance for us to reset, recommit, and start again right now.

So grab your coffee, take that deep breath, and let's dive in. Season 2 of Powermomma starts here. 💪

Episode 7: "The Big Exhale: Summer, Sanity, and Saying It Anyway (Our Season One Finale)"

You know what's harder than launching a podcast while working and raising kids? Wrapping up your first season while your kids are home for summer break. 😅

Season One of the PowerMomma Podcast was sometimes messy, unpolished, and exactly what I needed—and maybe what you needed, too. We let go of perfection, hit record anyway, and somehow found gold on the other side of the chaos.

Now, we're wrapping it up with a big, collective exhale.

Because if we've learned anything, it's this: You don't need to have your sh*t together to say what needs to be said.

Summer's here. The world's on fire (again). The kids are home (always). And somehow, we're still expected to feed them lunch and remain professionally relevant while pretending we're fine. Cute.

This finale is your permission slip to take a breath, drop the guilt, and embrace the chaos—because if there's one thing this season taught us, it's that there's gold on the other side of messy, honest conversations.

Inside this episode:

What recording live taught me about letting go of perfection (your "ums" won't kill you) .

What we learned this year about boundaries, self-care, and saying "hell yes".

Why taking a walk with your ride-or-die is exactly what we all need.

If you're a working mom juggling career, caregiving, and trying to stay connected to yourself without dropping everything on the floor—this one's for you.

Take a breath, grab your coffee (or your wine), and let's exhale together. #PowerMommaPodcast #WorkingMoms #SeasonFinale #RealTalk #MomLife #Leadership

Let's walk and talk. 💛

Happy rest of summer with love, Sam & Tange

Connect with us:

https://www.storytimela.com/podcast https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthahoeynelson/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/tangelia-rouse-33326a64/ https://www.instagram.com/powermommapodcast/

Episode 6: Menopausal AF: The Midlife Rebrand You Didn't Ask For (But Totally Deserve)

Hot flashes, mood swings, insomnia—oh my. Welcome to the ultimate hormonal rodeo no one warned you about, and definitely the midlife rebrand you didn't ask for (but totally deserve).

In this episode of the PowerMomma Podcast, host Sam and Tange take you on a real-talk, walk-and-talk journey through menopause with humor, honesty, and zero shame. We're busting myths, breaking silences, and redefining midlife as a time of becoming, not disappearing.

✨ You'll hear: – Why menopause isn't a crisis, but a midlife awakening – The soul behind hot flashes, brain fog, and mood swings – Holistic ways of thriving—not just surviving – A real talk moment on puberty and perimenopause under one roof (spoiler: it's a whole vibe) – Why you're allowed to take up space, change, rest, and still become

Menopause doesn't mean you're washed up. It means you're evolving, and you don't have to do it alone. Grab your ice water and your sense of humor, and let's rewrite this narrative together—one hot flash, one laugh, and one brave conversation at a time.

✨ If this episode resonates, share it with a friend, leave a review, and let's keep supporting each other through every messy, magical season.

Let's walk and talk. 💛

Connect with us:

https://www.storytimela.com/podcast

https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthahoeynelson/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tangelia-rouse-33326a64/

https://www.instagram.com/powermommapodcast/

In this episode of the PowerMomma Podcast, we're taking it to the hill—literally and emotionally. Sam and Tangie are talking about the ride or die friends—the women who are always there for us.. who drop everything, answer the phone, pull over the car, and remind you of your power when life throws a punch.. real friends that are with you no matter what.

From messy tears to tough love, we're celebrating the sisterhood that holds us up when we're too tired to stand. Sam shares a deeply personal story about a school setback for her twins—and how her inner circle showed up with open hearts, wisdom, and warrior woman energy.

Because sometimes it does take a village to raise a child—but it takes a sisterhood to raise a PowerMomma.

Let's walk and talk. 💛

Connect with us:

https://www.storytimela.com/podcast

https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthahoeynelson/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tangelia-rouse-33326a64/

https://www.instagram.com/powermommapodcast/

Live from the Hill – Saying "Hell Yes!"

Welcome back to The PowerMomma Podcast! In this episode, we're taking it to the hill—literally. Join your hosts Samantha Hoey Nelson and Tange Rouse Ringo as we record live from beautiful, sunny Runyon Canyon, one of our favorite spots that gives us life and inspiration.

After getting a little serious last time, we're bringing the energy back with something fun and powerful: the "Hell Yes!" mindset. Inspired by the legendary Elaine Welteroth and her mantra, "If it's not a hell yes, it's a no," we're diving into what it means to make more intentional choices—especially as moms, creatives, and women balancing all the things.

From showing up for ourselves, to nourishing ourselves and doing work that lights us up, to simply getting dressed in a way that makes us feel good—this episode is all about reclaiming your yes with joy, purpose, and power.

Tune in for real talk, laughs, a few of our furry tail wagging friends…

and the reminder you might need: you deserve to live a life full of "Hell Yes!" Let's Go! - Sam and Tange