The M Take

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.

It’s time to take on the second pregnancy. Listen in as Mel enters full reflect-o-clock mode as it relates to her pregnancy with baby #2 - what’s felt different this time (hi, “assume the position” body), how the fatigue hits when parenting + pregnancy stack, and why the focus has shifted from “perfect nursery” to “preparing our family” - especially helping big sister feel included every step of the way. Mel shares physical changes (showing sooner, carrying higher, hip/pelvic wobbliness), emotional curveballs (meeting yourself where you are, mom-guilt moments, grace on repeat), and a little evidence-based sprinkle (uterine “memory,” Braxton Hicks, relaxin, and the subtle-at-best testosterone convo).

Then one of our fav supportive kings, Mike Fitch, pops in post-bedtime to share his POV on round two: less overthinking, more experience; what it means to become a boy dad; the “no hacks, just reps” philosophy; and a rapid-fire that proves diaper blowouts > toddler negotiations (jury’s still out for Mel). It’s honest, tender, and very Mike & Mel.

Whether you’re also in your third trimester, reminiscing on a past one, or just here for the partner POV - this one will hopefully make you feel seen, supported, and a little more ready for the beautiful chaos ahead.

It's time to take on back to school transitions. Listen in as Mel & Michelle unpack how to make the shift back to school feel a little less wrinkly, no matter what phase or stage you or your kids are in. Whether it’s a little one starting preschool for the very first time, or you as a parent navigating how to best support your child at any age, this episode offers practical strategies and bite-sized thinking nuggets to prepare for what’s ahead.

Key takeaways? Transitions can be tricky and newness is new for everyone, no matter how old you are. Back-to-school can feel both hard and exciting (2TNL!), but what feels new now, won’t feel new forever. Hard to believe? Just think back to this time last year!

It's time to take on alignment, authenticity & awareness with Dr. Daryl Appleton. Listen in as Dr. Daryl Appleton, an award winning executive strategist, licensed therapist, and host of Feelings & Other F Words Podcast, joins our unicorn space for an authentically aligned convo about motherhood and evolution of self through all the phases and stages. Together, we double click on themes centered around identity shifts in motherhood, burn out + alignment, as well as perfectionistic pressure online and in society. No matter what phase or stage of life you are in, you will leave this episode with at least one takeaway nugget to make your life feel (at least!) 1% more aligned and in touch with yourself.

Key takeaway? Prioritize seeking alignment over balance and remember, you can do anything, but you cannot do everything.

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Want more of Dr. Daryl Appleton? We've got you covered!

• Dr. Daryl Appleton | @drdarylappleton
• Feelings & Other F Words Podcast | @fofw_pod

It’s time to take on invisible strings, pregnancy & cosmic timing with Brianna Clark. Listen in as Bri joins the unicorn space to co-host with Mel, while Michelle enjoys some well-deserved time off. Together, they unpack the deep roots of a 20-year friendship, the evolution from people-pleasers to boundary-setters, and what it looks like to navigate big life shifts with grace (and a little humor).

From bringing Waverles to life and making it a brand built for real life - versatile, confidence-boosting pieces that adapt to every stage - to learning how to embrace feedback without spiraling, we cover the highs and lows of entrepreneurship alongside the messy middle of motherhood, to the raw honesty of gender disappointment and the chaos of being pregnant with a toddler in tow. This episode is equal parts candid and comforting. We even dive into the cosmic coincidences of both being due one day apart (with two baby boys!) and why two truths can always coexist.

If you’ve ever wrestled with holding gratitude alongside grief, or just need a reminder that growth often lives in the gray, this one’s for you.

Key takeaway? Two things can be true - and you’re allowed to feel both.

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Want more of Brianna? We’ve got you covered!

• Brianna Clark | @briannacelesteclark
• Waverles | @waverles
• ICYMI: Bri's first guest take on the pod! 017: Taking on Mompreneuring with Brianna Clark

It's time to double click on babies. In this throwback episode, Mel & Michelle uncover what to really expect when you are expecting. In this WTE - what to expect - episode, we hope to equip and prepare with 3 major buckets: labor & delivery, baby sleep, and feeding your child.

Whether you are expecting or hoping to become pregnant soon, this episode will give you a 10,000 foot view of what to anticipate and focus on in those last months, weeks, and days of pregnancy.

Key takeaway? Stay clear on your outcome and flexible on your approach. Done goal = healthy Mom & healthy baby. Period!

It's time to take on infertility, gratitude & one thankful mama with Margot Guy. Listen in as Mel & Michelle sit down with Margot, who opens up about the intimately heartbreaking and deeply uplifting details of her infertility journey and the road to her two beautiful daughters.

Whether you’re walking this path yourself or simply looking to expand your empathic lens because you know someone who is, this episode is a powerful reminder of the strength in shared stories, and that while every journey is unique, you are never alone.

Margot Guy | @margotkguy

It's time to take on multiple kiddos. In this reflect-o-clock episode, Mel & Michelle lift the hood and dive deeper into the transition from one to two kiddos - consider this your emotional vaccination before welcoming your newest addition!

Love multiplies but so do the needs (yours and everyone's), tantrums, feedings, transitions, and emotions. This shift is a profoundly beautiful one, but it’s also can be layered with the growing pains of change (2TNL!). From sleep deprivation to the hormonal rollercoaster to the reality that your firstborn still needs you just as much, this chapter is an ongoing transition, multiplied.

Key takeaway? Each day is truly not the same and there will never be another day like today — the good, the hard, and the in-between. Remember, getting into a groove takes time so give yourself all the grace and stay anchored in the positive realism of it all!

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This episode hit home? Rewind to our first take on multiples: “023: Taking on the jump from 1 to 2 kiddos.” Links below to tune in on your favorite platform! 🎧

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• All other listening platforms can be found here!

It's time to take on connection, content & commitment with Ilana Dunn. Listen in as Ilana Dunn, relationship expert and host of Seeing Other People podcast, joins our unicorn space for a refreshingly honest convo about relationships through the phases and stages of life. Ilana opens up about the heart behind her work and what really goes on under her hood of building a platform that helps people feel less alone in their relationship journeys. Together, we double click on the real talk of long-term love: from making date night feel intentional (not just another to-do), to rediscovering the getting-to-know-you magic even when you think you already know everything about your partner. If you're looking to carve out more connection and find little pockets of intimacy along the way, this episode is for you.

Key takeaway? If you don't ask, you don't get.

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

• Ilana Dunn | @ilanadunn
• Seeing Other People | @seeingotherpeople

It’s time to take on independence. Listen in as Mel & Michelle double click on the beautifully messy, often contradictory journey of raising independent kids. We dive into what it looks like to encourage and cultivate independence with compassion, how to gradually release responsibility, and when to dial things up or down depending on the moment. 2TNL: Independence is the goal and letting go can be really hard.

We also share some of our favorite thinking nuggets, including “what am I doing vs. what are they doing,” because knowing when to step in and when to step back is part of the dance. And the magic? Teaching our kids (and let's be honest, ourselves too!) to “give it a good try and know when & how to ask for help."