Radical Stepmoms

Christina welcomes back a fan favorite - her husband's stepmom, Tina! They discuss how the relationship with the ex has changed over the years, the worries of a stepmom and the importance of staying true to yourself even if it means rocking the boat. Tina shares stories about Christina's husband's childhood and how she handled not being liked. With over 30 years of stepmom experience, what's Tina's biggest piece of advice? Listen in! 

So much more than a podcast!!! 

@radicalstepmomspodcast 

Want to schedule a 1:1 session or become a Radical Member? Head to my website!

www.radicalstepmomspodcast.com

 **This episode is sponsored by StepMom Magazine. Use discount code: Radical20 to save 20% **

Meet Lauren, who like all of us didn't plan to be a stepmom but found herself in love with someone who had kids. We never know what we are getting into, and Lauren's story takes the cake. What would you do if you found out your beau had another baby on the way? Lauren shares her journey of navigating three stepkids, three exes and how she keeps her sanity. Listen in as we discuss relationships with the ex, bonding with stepkids, taking care of ourselves and keeping the flame alive with our partners to make it "worth it". 

About My Guest: 

From upstate NY, lives in Ohio, stepmom to 3 - going on 2 years. Newer to the role and learning how to navigate through this crazy life!

Instagram - lmerklinger

So much more than a podcast!!!

 Instagram: @radicalstepmomspodcast 

Want to schedule a 1:1 session or become a Radical Member? 

Head to my website! www.radicalstepmomspodcast.com 

**This episode is sponsored by StepMom Magazine. Use discount code: Radical20 to save 20% **

Christina and Megan discuss the expectations we bring into our blended families and what we do when they aren't met. What do we do when the dynamic with the ex isn't as great as we thought it would be? What if our involvement causes more issues? We thought it would be different, so how do we accept this reality? Listen in as Megan shares how her childhood impacted her idea of what it's like to be a stepmom, how she's adjusted her role to fit her family, and how she's found her authenticity. They also discuss bringing home "ours babies", letting go of the "shoulds" and finding your groove in disengaging.

Grab your beverage of choice and enjoy!

About My Guest:

I am a registered social worker, Behavioral consultant and life coach. I have a passion for supporting mothers and step mothers after my own personal experience of struggling to find the balance and over coming PPD. 

https://www.meganmclarencoaching.com

So much more than a podcast!!!

Instagram: @radicalstepmomspodcast

Want to schedule a 1:1 session or become a Radical Member?

Head to my website! www.radicalstepmomspodcast.com 

**This episode is sponsored by StepMom Magazine. Use discount code: Radical20 to save 20% **

Christina chats with Meredith a stepmom to two kids and navigates TWO very different exes. Meredith shares her story of strength through relentless custody battles, how she protects her peace, and how she supports her partner through their own trauma recovery. While she never wanted children, she's committed to being a solid influence in her stepchildren's lives. What can we learn from Meredith? Listen in! 

So much more than a podcast!!!

 Instagram: @radicalstepmomspodcast 

Want to schedule a 1:1 session or become a Radical Member? 

Head to my website! www.radicalstepmomspodcast.com 

**This episode is sponsored by StepMom Magazine. Use discount code: Radical20 to save 20% **

Are you exhausted from carrying the mental load of the household? Do you feel like you're the one managing everyone and even asking for help and delegating seems laborious? Yea - you're not alone. In this episode Christina chats with Laura Danger, an educator, wife and mom who discusses the tension many couples face when there is inequity in domestic labor. They'll talk about the Fair Play Method which is designed to unpack the resentment and assist in effectively communicating the roles and expectations of the home. Many couples and parents face these obstacles and stepmoms experience an added layer of complexity. Is there hope? Listen in! 

About My Guest:

I'm an educator, advocate and certified Fair Play Facilitator and I've been teaching and organizing in Chicago for over 10 years. I use my platform to empower caregivers to see domestic labor as labor and to help individuals and couples find the words to effectively communicate about the mental load. Outside of my work, I spend time with my husband and our two kids(5 and 2), digging in the dirt and building community locally.

www.thatdarnchat.com, ThatDarnChat on IG, Tiktok and Youtube

So much more than a podcast!!!

Instagram: @radicalstepmomspodcast 

Want to schedule a 1:1 session or become a Radical Member? 

Head to my website! www.radicalstepmomspodcast.com 

**This episode is sponsored by StepMom Magazine. Use discount code: Radical20 to save 20% **

Christina chats with Zoie, a stepmom who saw a need within the blended family community and took things into her own hands. How do we explain blended families to our kids? How do we comfort them when they have fears and how do we answer the hard questions? Answer: A children's book that actually makes stepmoms look GOOD! Listen in as Zoie Seay shares about her book 'The Luckiest Child: Becoming a Blended Family', what inspired her and her take on how kids can feel lucky in their blended families. 

About My Guest:

My name is Zoie Seay and I'm a stepmom of an amazing seven year old boy. We have been a blended family for 5 years and still growing and learning together. For over 15 years I have worked with children two to eighteen years old. I have enjoyed the journey and all that I have learned along the way. Becoming a children's book author is a very exciting new beginning for me and I can't wait to see where it takes me. My stepson gave me the courage to write and publish my first childrens book, 'The Luckiest Child: Becoming a Blended Family'. It has already been a bestseller this past December and I can't wait to publish the next book in The Luckiest Child series.

Learn more about Zoie and her book HERE.

So much more than a podcast!!! 

@radicalstepmomspodcast 

Want to schedule a 1:1 session or become a Radical Member? Head to my website!

www.radicalstepmomspodcast.com

 **This episode is sponsored by StepMom Magazine. Use discount code: Radical20 to save 20% **

Christina welcomes back Maarit from Blended Family Frappe to chat....well everything. Maarit gives an update on her life outside of Instagram and stepmotherhood. They chat disengaging, self awareness, taking care of yourself, stepmom acceptance and plenty more. Grab your beverage of choice and buckle up for some self reflection. Listen in! 

About My Guest: 

Maarit is a writer, artist, and former single mama turned stepmama who literally wrote the book on disengaging. Today, she helps blended families in high conflict find some kinda zen as they navigate their way through dating, marriage, raising stepkids, and dealing with the ex. You can find her online at blendedfamilyfrappe.com or on Instagram @blendedfamilyfrappe.

So much more than a podcast!!!

 Instagram: @radicalstepmomspodcast 

Want to schedule a 1:1 session or become a Radical Member? 

Head to my website! www.radicalstepmomspodcast.com 

**This episode is sponsored by StepMom Magazine. Use discount code: Radical20 to save 20% **

Christina chats with Angela, a stepmom to two who grew up wanting to be a mom. She never thought she would be a stepmom navigating long-distant co-parenting, a pandemic, and her own classroom of kids to teach. Angela opens up about her PCOS diagnosis and how she soothes her heart through this chapter. What keeps this radical stepmom strong? Listen in!

Mentioned in the Episode: Blog Post: School & Blended Families

About My Guest:

Angela is a teacher, coach and stepmom to 2 girls (12 and 8). She is originally from Illinois, but has been living in Minnesota for almost a decade to be close to her husband's family. Instagram: @ajs200522

So much more than a podcast!!! 

@radicalstepmomspodcast 

Want to schedule a 1:1 session or become a Radical Member? Head to my website!

www.radicalstepmomspodcast.com

 **This episode is sponsored by StepMom Magazine. Use discount code: Radical20 to save 20% **

Christina welcomes Brenda, the founder and Publisher of StepMom Magazine on to chat all things stepmom. Not only has Brenda become a seasoned stepmom, but she's made it her mission to help others through their journey. What commonalities do we all have? How do we know it will be "worth it"? Brenda discusses the most common issue stepmoms face, and offers her piece of advice. Listen In! 

About My Guest: 

Brenda Ockun is Founder & Publisher of StepMom Magazine—the how-to guide for any woman who dates, lives with, or is married to someone who has kids. Written by licensed therapists, published authors and stepfamily experts, StepMom Magazine is a monthly, online publication read by stepmoms in more than 20 countries. The magazine addresses important topics like: Co-parenting, Disengaging, Loyalty Binds, Outsider Syndrome, Parental Alienation and Bonding with Stepchildren. Brenda leveraged her career as a marketing executive to launch StepMom Magazine, creating the resource she wished was available when she met her husband. Brenda’s been a guest on NPR’s “Talk of the Nation,” “Good Morning America” and the “Steve Harvey Show”—and she’s been quoted in “The Washington Post,” “USA Today” and other major publications.

A stepmom of two, ages 26 and 28, Brenda lives in Upstate New York with her husband Gregg.

So much more than a podcast!!!

Instagram: @radicalstepmomspodcast 

Want to schedule a 1:1 session or become a Radical Member? 

Head to my website! www.radicalstepmomspodcast.com 

**This episode is sponsored by StepMom Magazine. Use discount code: Radical20 to save 20% **

Christina chats with Jeni, a mental health therapist specializing in maternal mental health. As a mother and stepmom herself, Jeni discusses the intersections of mental health and all forms of motherhood. Self care is drilled into us, but how do we really care for ourselves? Jeni and Christina chat the pressures to be "perfect", mom guilt, the relationships with our partners and our step-kids. Listen in! 

About My Guest: 

Jeni is a widow, wife, mom, and stepmom. Her step-kids are 9 and 8, and her biological kids are 5 and 3. With four kids, the house is very loud, and very full of love. Jeni works as a mental health therapist specializing in perinatal mental health (so all things maternal and then some), couples counseling, and other things in between. Music is a necessity to life, including hearing her husband sing show tunes.

So much more than a podcast!!!

Instagram: @radicalstepmomspodcast 

Want to schedule a 1:1 session or become a Radical Member? 

Head to my website! www.radicalstepmomspodcast.com

**This episode is sponsored by StepMom Magazine. Use discount code: Radical20 to save 20% **