Have you ever challenged yourself to something you thought was impossible? For our guest today, Jackie Mueller, that was running a marathon.  So, In honor of the Chicago marathon this weekend, I thought Jackies inspiring episode would be perfect to get each one of us to set a challenging goal and achieve it! Jackie completed her first marathon in a town she protects. See, she is not only an inspiring strong mom but a badass, confident chicago cop.  We get into how Jackie became a chicago cop, what it's like to work in a male dominated career, what changed with her career after becoming a mother and double standards female cops continue to face.  Super interesting and insanely to-the-point inspiring with jackie spitting out these motivation quotes left and right towards the end of the episode.  Good luck to jackie as her next marathon and thank you for being a part of the strong as mothers community!

Check out the end of the episode to find out my impossible I plan to achieve!

My apologies for the long hiatus but WE ARE BACK! I hope you have had an AWESOME summer and ready for the new school year, season and month! Which is why I am even more excited for today’s episode as it is PERFECT motivation for Moms moving into a new school year and month!   

Today, I interview Joyce Shulman, CEO of Macaroni kids and 99 Walks. She is an Idea junkie, addicted skier, crossfitter, traveler and recovery lawyer.  

Joyce’s businesses are aimed in helping and empowering mothers.   As Macaroni Kid's CEO, Joyce is committed to what she calls E2: enriching communities and empowering moms. With that vision in mind, she founded Macaroni Kid in 2009 and, from a single digital publication in her hometown in the Hamptons, has grown Macaroni Kid to more than 500 local publications and a huge social following that reach 3,000,000+ moms across the nation each month. She continues to hold the reigns of Macaroni Kid Family Travel, the company's travel-focused monthly e-newsletter and is committed to promoting and improving the travel experience for families. With her latest venture, 99 Walks, Joyce seeks to start a movement - literally -- to forge connections, build community and encourage happiness through the simple act of walking together. A passionate advocate about the importance of moms taking care of themselves, she writes and speaks on the importance of moms taking care of themselves and the "Plight of the Martyr Mom." Topics spoken about in today's episode: Problems in mom space and self care Step  to begin improving and taking care of yourself  How to set and crush goals! 

Where to find Joyce 

Instagram @Mackidmamabear 

Macaroni Kids & @Macaronikid

99 Walks

 RESOURCES FROM MICHELE:

FitPlateNutrition.com

Instagram @Fumagalli_fitplate

Breakfast Ebook

On today’s show I had the privilege to speak with Juliet Starrett. If you do not know of Juliet Starrett you need to, go follow her on social media, check out her non for profit, Stand Up Kids, and her other two businesses, Mobility WOD and San Francisco CrossFit.  A mother to 11 and 14 year old girls, a two time cancer survivor, lawyer, and national and world champion of white water rafting. I have learned so much from Juliet, she’s a complete inspiration and am so excited for Juliet to inspire you as she shares her recipe for success,.

In today's episode we discuss

"Juliet Starrett is an attorney and entrepreneur. She is co-founder and CEO of San Francisco Crossfit, one of the first 50 Crossfit affiliates, and MobilityWOD.com, which has revolutionized how athletes think about human movement and athletic performance. Before turning her attention to MobilityWOD and San Francisco CrossFit full-time, Juliet had a successful career as an attorney, practicing complex commercial litigation at Reed Smith for nearly eight years.

FOLLOW JULIET FOR MORE INSPIRATION below

StandUp Kids: https://standupkids.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julietstarrett/

MobilityWOD: "All human beings should be able to perform basic maintenance on themselves" https://www.mobilitywod.com

San Fransisco CrossFit: https://sanfranciscocrossfit.com  

Link to book: Deskbound: Sitting is the New Smoking

Today is ALL about self-care because that is what our guest, Julie Gentile is best at.  "Julie Gentile is a working mama on a wellness mission in an era of hashtags, newsfeeds, and competing demands. As a mother, yoga teacher, and professional writer and editor, she serves as your own personal mentor to help you find calm in everyday chaos by prioritizing your self-care."

Julie, a mother of two (3 and 5 year old),  takes us on her own self-care journey, shares her top tips to begin prioritizing your self-care, the different areas that might include, and how this inspired her to write and release her book “108 Yoga and Self Care Practices for Busy Mamas.”  From nutrition and sleep, to yoga, meditation, journaling, and exercise we cover it all.  Today's intension empower you to begin prioritizing your self care and finding what that looks like for you.  

Find more information on Julie's outstanding and must-read book 108 Yoga and Self Care Practices for Busy Mamas below.

Become inspired to live well with self-care practices and wellness insights from an experienced working mama, yoga teacher, and writer. 

“So many mothers are rushing through life, looking down at their phones, stressed, worried, anxious, pressed for time, and trying to do it all—to be a good mama, a good partner, a good employee, a good friend, and more. Too many mamas are sacrificing self-care. I lived this life, too. Something had to give, so I gave to myself. I took charge of my self-care and so can you. This guide is your ticket to kick-start your wellness.”  —Excerpt from 108 Yoga and Self-Care Practices for Busy Mamas

Filled with inspiration and ideas, this book will help you dive deep into the sea of self-love. Start taking better care of yourself today with 108 (a sacred number in yoga) self-care practices, including 

Wherever you are on your self-care journey, this book shows that when you give to yourself, you can give so much more to others and more fully enjoy your busy life.

FOLLOW JULIE FOR MORE INSPIRATION below

Stand Up for Your Self-Care website/blog: www.juliegtheyogi.com 

Instagram: @juliegtheyogi

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juliegtheyogi 

Link to book: 108 Yoga and Self-Care Practices for Busy Mamas 

In episode 5 the legacy of an amazingly strong mother and woman, Brenda Barnes, is told through her daughter, Erin. If you google Brenda Barnes (and I suggest you do) you can learn more about her numerous and outstanding achievements as a business women. In the mid 90’s, at the age of 46, and with three children, Brenda Barnes held the title of CEO of PepsicCo. 

She was on Forbes list of 50 most powerful women for multiple years. And yet, Brenda said, she didn’t become famous until in 1996, when she quit Pepsico to stay at home with her three children. 

In her “Retirement” Brenda, stayed extremely connected in business, sitting on various boards. When her children were in high school, Brenda re-entered the workforce, becoming CEO of Sara Lee in 2005. That was until in 2010, when Brenda, one of the worlds most powerful, intelligent women sustained a stroke and in a blink of an eye, her world was changed forever.  

The roles were then switched.  Erin, Brenda's daughter, stepped away from her career to care for her own mother.  Something similar her mother did only 10 years earlier. Erin said, those years (caring for my mother) were my favorite times spent with her.

**Check out this amazing video interview of Brenda and Erin at the 2012 Fortune Magazines Most Powerful Women Summit HERE: YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KNuyelWBp0

The world lost one mother in a million when Brenda sustained a second stroke just two years ago.. BUT Brenda most definitely lives on through her daughter Erin. 

Erin and I discuss the values that brought her success and dive into the remarkable relationship of mother and daughter with this duo.  

Whether you are a mother, daughter, caregiver, or are facing a challenge, Brenda's story, through Erin’s words, will motivate and help you become a better person for self and for those around you.

In today’s episode I speak with good family friend, Child’s advocate, and entrepreneur Carol Dimas. We discussed her steps to launching her own business, beginning over a decade prior to the actual launch. How she continued to move herself and her business forward while taking care of her late husband, what it is like to own and operate a successful business into her sixties, and the important of family in achieving your goals, dreams and successful business.

If you think you cannot make an impact after 30, 40, 50, 60 years of age then think again and get inspired by Carol Dimas.  

Follow Carol and her impactful business, Educational Advocacy and Consulting 

If you know of a STRONG MOM who's story needs to be heard, please email me at [email protected] -  drop me a note at fitplatenutrition.com - or follow and message me at @fumagalli_fitplate

Lastly, please leave us a review! We love hearing your feedback and want to make this the best that it can be for you and all those who need an inspiration to voice and pursue their goals and dreams! And, while you are it, make sure to share the Strong Mom love with others! #strongasnmothers

In today’s episode we speak with mother and CrossFit Games athlete, Brista Mayfield. Brista was the only other mother competing at the 2018 crossfit games and I am not sure if this was mother intuition or plan luck but she was the first person I met and befriended at the games. It took Brista 7 years to make it to the crossfit games.  It was her never-ending hard work and growth both physically and mentally, that made her dreams a reality. Brista’s story is one of perseverance and demonstrates how important mindset is.

Continue to follow Brista’s inspiring story at @bristamayfield

If you know of a STRONG MOM who's story needs to be heard, please email me at [email protected] -  drop me a note at fitplatenutrition.com - or follow and message me at @fumagalli_fitplate

Lastly, please leave us a review! We love hearing your feedback and want to make this the best that it can be for you and all those who need an inspiration to voice and pursue their goals and dreams! And, while you are it, make sure to share the Strong Mom love with others! #strongasnmothers

This week we have my friend and STRONG MOM Bridget Ahfield. I met Bridget in 2013 and have had the honor to witness her growth as a person and mother.  Bridget's second child and only daughter is nine years of age, functioning (per the doctors) at a 2 year old level.  Bridget and I discuss the ups and downs of raising a child with special needs, proving doctors wrong and all the while, continuing to pursue her own goals and dreams.

Continue to follow Bridget and Jordyn's heartfelt and amazing story at @bridgetahlfield 

If you know of a STRONG MOM who's story needs to be heard, please email me at [email protected] -  drop me a note at fitplatenutrition.com - or follow and message me at @fumagalli_fitplate

Lastly, please leave us a review! We love hearing your feedback and want to make this the best that it can be for you and all those who need an inspiration to voice and pursue their goals and dreams! And, while you are it, make sure to share the Strong Mom love with others! #strongasnmothers

Who is Michele Fumagalli? Why should I listen to this podcast?

Episode 1 is a short intro into my story, why I start STRONG AS MOTHERS Podcast, what I want you to get out of it and what to look forward to in the upcoming episodes.

Bring SAM Podcast along with you in the car, gym, work, outside, or while cooking up a delicious dinner. 

Get inspired, get strong, get going 

If you know of a STRONG MOM who's story needs to be heard, please email me at [email protected] -  drop me a note at fitplatenutrition.com - or follow and message me at @fumagalli_fitplate

Lastly, please leave us a review! We love hearing your feedback and want to make this the best that it can be for you and all those who need an inspiration to voice and pursue their goals and dreams! And, while you are it, make sure to share the Strong Mom love with others! #strongasnmothers