In this episode, I sit down with Jyl Barlow to talk honestly about the new year — and why neither of us believe in resolutions. Instead, we dive into the goals, intentions, and hopes we’re carrying into this year while navigating blended family life, co-parenting, mental health, and personal growth.

From setting boundaries and prioritizing self-care to exploring therapy, writing, and creative goals, this conversation is about choosing what you want to move toward — without the pressure or perfection. Reflective, real, and unscripted, it’s the kind of chat you’d have with a friend about what truly matters.

If you’re done with unrealistic expectations and ready to focus on intentional growth, this episode is for you.

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Christmas in a blended family rarely looks like the movies.

In this episode, Toni and Jyl talk about how Christmas traditions change after separation and how expectations often need to shift once you’re navigating shared custody and blended family life. They reflect on the traditions they’ve kept, the ones they’ve let go of, and how the holidays can bring up unexpected emotions for both parents and stepparents.

The conversation then turns to the Netflix movie A Merry Little Ex-Mas, unpacking what it gets right about blended family dynamics — and where it completely misses the mark. From awkward stepmum moments to unrealistic co-parenting portrayals, they explore how media shapes expectations and why real life is often far more complicated.

This episode is an honest look at Christmas on the blended family roller coaster, with one focus at the centre: keeping the magic alive for the kids, even when the holidays feel anything but simple.

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Lauren is back and we’re diving into your AITA submissions and anonymous stepmum stories — and yes, the chaos absolutely delivered this week. Between the petty, the justified, the unhinged, and the “only in a blended family” moments, we had a LOT to unpack.

But as always, when Lauren and I get talking, everything else comes up too — parenting wins and fails, mental health moments, ADHD life, family dynamics, the emotional needs of kids in blended families, step-parenting challenges, and the real-life stuff that happens around holidays, budgeting, and co-parenting communication.

We talk about the things no one warns you about: navigating different household rules, trying to teach gratitude, dealing with tricky holiday expectations, and figuring out how to protect your kids’ emotional wellbeing while also not losing your mind. The episode still has all the laughs and honesty you expect, but with the actual structured version that didn’t go off on every tangent (you’re welcome).

If you’ve ever wondered “Am I the arsehole… or am I just in a blended family?” this episode is basically your sign.

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In this episode, Toni sits down with Jyl to talk about how Unforgettable mirrors so many real-life blended family dynamics — from those awkward mood-killing moments, to the pressure of perfection, to the kind of “helpfulness” that feels more like surveillance than support.

We also chat about:

• the relatable tension between new relationships and old attachments
• the curated, image-driven motherhood we’ve all bumped up against
• how control can hide behind routines, reminders, and “just being helpful”
• those unexpected drop-ins that send every stepmum’s blood pressure up
• the school-gate politics that make you feel like you’re walking into enemy territory
• the emotional manipulation and identity spirals blended families know too well
• and the truly unhinged moments in the film that had us saying, “Honestly… been there.”

This isn’t a movie recap — it’s a stepmum conversation about the wild accuracy buried inside a Hollywood thriller

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Trigger Warning: This episode discusses pregnancy and infant loss. Please listen with care and take a break if you need to. 💗

In this episode, I’m joined by my beautiful friend Bekks for an open and honest chat about pregnancy and infant loss. Between us, we’ve experienced multiple losses, and we wanted to talk about what it’s really like to let go of the family you thought you’d have and find your way through grief.

We share how those experiences changed us — as women, as mothers, and as partners — and what healing looks like years later. It’s not a heavy conversation, but a real one. We talk about the quiet ways loss shows up, the things people don’t always say out loud, and how we’ve learned to honour what could have been while still finding peace in what is.

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It’s back to school in the U.S. and the end of spring break here in Australia — which means chaos for parents everywhere.

This week, Toni and Jyl dive into what it really looks like to reset the school routine on both sides of the world. From uniforms and lunchboxes to co-parenting coordination and mental load, nothing’s off limits.

Jyl shares how she became a recovered school mom, and together they unpack what’s worth stressing over — and what’s better to just let go. Because at the end of the day, it’s not about us… it’s about the kids.

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In this week’s episode, I sit down with one of the podcast’s long-time listeners to talk about what it really feels like to be the homework house — the stable, consistent home that carries the weight of rules, boundaries, responsibility, and yep, all the homework.

We dive into the pride, the pressure, and the emotional toll of always being the reliable one in a blended family. From setting routines to holding firm boundaries, this conversation is a reminder that while being the “safe base” isn’t easy, it matters more than we often give ourselves credit for.

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Co-parenting isn’t always smooth sailing — especially when you’re navigating high-conflict dynamics, new partners, and kids caught in the middle. In this episode, I sit down with Gabriella Pomare — family lawyer, co-parenting mum, and author of The Collaborative Co-Parent — to talk about what it really takes to create a child-focused approach after separation.

We chat about her new book, co-parenting, keeping the children’s best interests at the forefront, managing expectations, and managing relationships for children with their other parents and siblings. Gabriella also answers some listener questions — you’ll just need to listen to find out!

Gabriella combines her professional expertise with her own personal journey, making this conversation both practical and deeply relatable.

If you’ve ever wondered how to set boundaries, keep your kids’ wellbeing front and centre, and maybe even find some hope in the chaos, this one’s for you.

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Ever feel like you're doing all the things — but still questioning if you're doing any of it right?

In this episode, I chat with Michaela, a fellow stepmum and clinical psychologist — you might know her on social media as The Anxious Stepmom. We unpack what it’s like to navigate the ups and downs of blended family life while living with anxiety: the emotional toll of constantly second-guessing yourself, the mental load of trying to be everything to everyone, and how anxiety can quietly shape how we show up in our homes and relationships.

You might notice a few jumpy moments — we had some tech glitches mid-recording — but the heart of this conversation still shines through. It’s raw, honest, and full of those “I thought it was just me” moments.

If you’ve ever felt like your brain won’t slow down and your heart is carrying more than it should… this one’s for you.

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Michaela

Website: https://www.theanxiousstepmom.com/

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We pick things back up with more messy custody stories, emotionally charged depositions, school chaos — and plenty of the stuff no one talks about (or plans to talk about) when it comes to court in a blended family.

It’s emotional. It’s honest. It’s a little unhinged in places.

And it’s exactly the kind of chat that reminds you — you’re not the only one going through it.

Some stories will make you nod along.

Others might make you cringe.

But either way, you’ll feel seen.

Tune in as we wrap up this unfiltered two-part episode and unpack the courtroom curveballs so many of us are navigating behind the scenes of blended family life.

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Kassandra:

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