The M Take

It's time to take on designing spaces, places & futures with Alex Schuetz. Listen in as Mel & Michelle deep-dive with Alex Schuetz, interior designer and founder of A. Sloan Design.

She’s sharing her takes on: taking risks and trusting quick, instinctual decisions that can shape your future, finding alignment while balancing a beautiful family and a meaningful career, designing spaces that feel both elevated and kid-friendly, and why the real "end goal" might live more in the process, not just the final product.

Come take on designing spaces, places, & futures with us.

Want more of Alex? We've got you covered!

A. Sloan Design | www.asloandesign.com | @asloandesign

It's time to take on the unexpected hard parts. Listen in as Mel & Michelle chat about the unexpected hard parts of raising littles that people may talk about… just not nearly enough.

We're sharing our takes on: Harry Styles (hang in there, we do land the plane), the unexpected moments that break you, the quick set-shifting between the good moments + the hard moments + everything in between, the challenges of finishing grownup conversations with littles around, the unexpected times where your kid acts differently in front of other people, and the internal management of your own feelings in many of these unexpected situations that this phase & stage can bring.

Come take on the unexpected hard parts with us.

It’s time to take on systems & sustainability. Listen in as Mel & Michelle chat about the systems that help real life feel at least 5% lighter. From thought systems and practical rituals to future ideas (and yes, the systems that totally failed). The goal? Prioritizing sustainability and lightness over perfection.

We're sharing our takes on: the ever-evolving phases of a system, minimum viable weeks, PODluck meal ideas, rubber balls vs. glass balls, working mom systems, and how to make a little more magic out of the mundane monotony that each week can bring.

Come take on systems & sustainability with us.

It's time to take on microdosing your pink. Listen in as Mel & Michelle lean into a flexible moment and chat about getting your pink back in the 4th trimester and beyond.

We're sharing our takes on: the ever-evolving phases and stages of parenthood, accepting that this might not be the season for everything, and how saying no to one thing can help you show up better where it matters most. From little kids/little problems to bigger kids/bigger problems, we explore how confidence grows as you keep finding ways to feel more like you.

We talk about magnifying the small moments, creating unicorn spaces to actually talk about it, and holding two truths at once: motherhood can feel like sacrifice, and you still deserve to intentionally find your way back to yourself.

Instead of waiting for it to get easier, we ask: how can you microdose your pink today? This is your season to reclaim it in small, intentional ways — whatever “pink” looks like for YOU.

Come take on microdosing your pink with us.

It’s time to take on an induction birth story. In this solo episode, Michelle shares her first birth story: a journey that beautiful, looooong, novel, and oh right, in the middle of a global pandemic. From being 41 weeks + 3 days pregnant, to leaning into the induction decision, to navigating the mental, physical, and emotional marathon of those final weeks -- and the intense set shifts that happened in such a condensed amount of time -- Michelle attempts to cover it all.

It’s raw. It’s reflective. And it’s shared in hopes of helping you feel seen, soothed, and maybe even a little more prepared for whatever your birth story looks like. Whether you’re expecting, newly postpartum, somewhere in between, or simply curious, this one’s for you.

If you have a birth story of your own, we would love to hear it. Send us a DM on Instagram @themtakepodcast to be featured in a future Birth Story Spotlight Share. 💌

Come take on Michelle’s induction birth story with us.

It's time to take on catching up with Mel & Michelle. Listen in as we cover a lot of ground (while attempting to land the plane). We’re sharing our JTOTW: joy tickets of the week, what it looks like to say no to one thing so you can show up better on the other side, holding space for the realization there will always be things you will miss and will NOT miss in a phase/stage, unpacking Mel being personally influenced and victimized by Dakota Johnson’s bangs (anyone else?), and sitting with that sometimes you only realize you were in the good days once you’re out of them.,.. And maybe that awareness is exactly what anchors you more deeply in the present, ya know?

When in doubt, we just hope we gave you at least one reason to smile today.

Come take on everything and nothing with us.

Xx, M + M

It's time to take on joy tickets. Listen in as Mel & Michelle chat all things joy: the kind that actually fits into real life. We're talking micro-dosing joy -- deliberately sprinkling tiny, meaningful moments of positivity into your day to gently elevate your baseline happiness. The reality is: our brains are busy, life is loud, and joy doesn't always just show up. Sometimes, we have to invite it in. From quick “joy tickets” to everyday moments you might be overlooking, this episode is a reminder that finding joy is a resource, one you can tap into again and again, even on the messiest days. And honestly… who wouldn’t want a little more of that?

Come take on joy tickets with us.

It’s time to take on an unscripted BBCDI with Mel & Michelle. This week we accidentally (on purpose) hit record on our BBCDI (beautiful bestie daily check-in) and… let’s just say we cover a lot of ground. It’s a little all over the place, very on brand, and exactly what you’d expect from two besties squeezing in a heart-to-heart mid-LOP.

Think: life updates, random tangents, laughs, feelings, and that cozy “just checking in before the holidays” energy. So grab your coffee (or martini) and join us for a quick catch-up.

Xx, M&M

It’s time to take on Main Character Energy, Milestones & our Leave of Presence. Listen in as Mel & Michelle take a look in the mirror and dial up the empathy as they explore the beautiful concept of the Leave of Presence, i.e., LOP!

2TNL (Two Truths, No Lies): Hitting pause is both hard and essential. In what can only be described as a season 1 finale episode, Mel & Michelle share how carving out a unicorn space has MPACTed them personally and professionally - and what it really means to choose what fills up your cup, not your plate.

During this LOP, they’re practicing what they preach - giving themselves (and you!) a permission slip to pause if and when you need it most. Mel & Michelle are leaning into this phase of transition, using the gift of time to build what’s next and protect their creative energy.

If you’re ready to reflect on what kind of main character energy you’re bringing into this season, this episode is for you. It’s all about setting life to a pace that makes you feel like the main character, not a background extra, all of course with empathy & compassion for yourself and for others (2TNL!)

Key takeaway: Meet yourself where you are. Meet others where they are. Choose flow over resistance.

It's time to double click on 2TNL: Two Truths, No Lies. In this throwback episode, Mel & Michelle carve out space & flip the script to share some of &*your* 2TNLs.

2TNL is a guiding light of our unicorn space: making room for the beautifully complex, often contradictory truths of being human. This episode is all about hearing other's honest reflections that hold space for conflicting feelings, thoughts, & experiences. Your 2TNLs, our take.

Key takeaway? Write yourself permission slips to feel two truths (and no lies) all at once.