The M Take

It's time to take on fulfillment & flexibility with Victoria Thompson. Listen in as Mel & Michelle deep-dive with Victoria Thompson about what it looks & feels like to fill your cup while your plate is full. Victoria shares her experience in the art of balancing motherhood, managing expectations, and pursuing passion projects. Whether it’s leaning into the plan or knowing when to let flexibility take the reins, Victoria will inspire you to give yourself grace and find fulfillment amidst the beautiful chaos that we call life.

Faced with a crossroads on your journey and wondering what your next steps look like? This episode is for you, no matter the phase or stage that is ahead!

Key takeaway? Instead of thinking ‘what’s the worst that could happen’, let’s reframe with ‘what's the BEST that could happen’ for your next leap forward!

Want more? We’ve got you covered!

• For a ‘mixed bag’ of lifestyle, travel, fashion & motherhood | @victoriaethomp
• For all things SCULPT & Xformer Modern Pilates | @s2fitnessstudio

It's time to take on pressure. Listen in as Mel & Michelle lift the hood on life’s ever-evolving pressure cooker. With the holiday season fast approaching, it's all too easy to feel the heat rise. This episode dives deep into meeting pressure head-on and unpacking where it’s really coming from—others, ourselves, or both? We’ll look at the balance of swimming downstream versus upstream, and keeping with the momentum to meet yourself where you are. If you're looking for small, meaningful shifts (even just 1-5%) to lower the pressure, this episode is for you!

2TNL: You are only one person AND you are doing the best you can!

It's time to take on transformational leadership with Dana Moutis. In this episode, Mel & Michelle sit down with Dana and dive into the heart of what transformational and "soft" leadership styles look like. Together, we explore the ‘fake it until you make it’ phase—but with a twist: building competency as the foundation of true confidence. We get into the idea that to build success, you have to first earn trust through success itself, leaning on systems and processes instead of reinventing the wheel. We double-click on the power of listening to really understand, the importance of effective time management, and recognizing that sometimes, in both life and work, the soft stuff is the hardest.

• Watch Dana’s TEDx Talk, A Softer Approach to Leadership, on YouTube
• Learn more about Candlelight Concert series >> @candlelight.concerts on Instagram
• Find a Candlelight Concert near you!

It’s time to take on life & fatherhood with Ryan Unger. In this unscripted, heartfelt, and lighthearted episode, Ryan joins Michelle in the co-host seat to chat about all things life and fatherhood. Together, they dive into themes of partnering, communication, and how life’s unexpected moments can shape our hearts in remarkable ways. With plenty of wit and wisdom, Ryan shares his personal experiences, reminding us all that life moves pretty fast—and if you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you might just miss the magic in those everyday moments.

“The Expectant Father: The Ultimate Guide for Dads-to-be” by Armin A. Brott and Jennifer Ash Rudick – Available on Amazon

It's time to take on asking for help. In this episode, Mel and Michelle dive into the deep-rooted beliefs that keep us from asking for the help we need. We explore the internal tug-of-war between the relief many feel after asking and the guilt, pride, or fear of burdening others that stops so many of us in our tracks. So, why does the discomfort linger, even when we know help is vital? Tune in for real talk, community insights, and the tools to make asking for help a natural part of your life.

Key takeaway? Give something your best shot AND know when it’s time to ask for help. Learning to ask isn’t a weakness—it’s a strength!

It’s time to take on riding the wave. In this episode, Mel & Michelle have an unscripted chat and dive into what it feels like when life throws unexpected tides your way. We share how we make those hard days just 2% better—whether it's finding the rainbow beyond the rain or having an unscripted heart-to-heart with your bestie. 2TNL: Storms always pass AND getting through them is far from easy.

Key takeaway? You can't heal if you don't feel, so give yourself permission to feel.

It’s time to take on an infertility spotlight share with Jenn Arata. In this heartfelt episode, Mel & Michelle sit down with Jenn for a deeply personal story rooted in strength. Jenn’s journey is a powerful reminder that infertility, much like a stamp on your passport, becomes a permanent part of who you are—woven into your life story no matter the outcome. With vulnerability, resilience, love, and loss, Jenn opens up about navigating the unpredictable path of infertility and how, while we can't control what happens or when, we can choose how we respond.

Jenn’s story will inspire you to feel-to-heal, remind you that you’re not alone, and help you see the sunlight beyond the clouds. Whether you’ve personally experienced infertility or know someone who has, this episode is built on grace, support, and always leading with love.

To connect with Jenn & learn more about her journey:

• "Winter is Here, but My Baby is Not" by Jenn Arata – Read the essay on Motherwell
• "After Fertility I Am Free" by Jenn Arata, featured in This Is Motherhood: A Motherly Collection of Reflections + Practices – Available on Amazon
• "Sweet Dreams" by Jenn Arata – Available on Amazon
• Follow on Instagram: @thatssojennblog

It’s time to take on girlhood! In this episode, Mel & Michelle dive into the essence of girlhood. We'll have you feeling all the feels as we unwrap the different "buckets" of girlhood: nostalgia (think: basement photoshoots, sleepovers, & first crushes), effervescence (think: those magical moments of excitement & squealing with your girlfriends), and performative girlhood (think: dance routines & rearranging dinner tables to make sure all the girls can chit chat). Key takeaway? The golden thread woven throughout girlhood is vulnerability, loyalty, honesty, connection, and support - all summed up in these 3 words: "I am here."

Girlhood isn’t a single phase or stage—it’s a million little sparkly moments through them all. ✨

It’s time to take on judgement. In this episode, Mel & Michelle dive into the expectations we place on ourselves & life around us, and how to acknowledge and suspend judgement using a compassionately curious lens. In this episode, we unpack the universal truths related to judgement and explore the importance of meeting people where they are—without letting our inner critic run the show. Key takeaways? It’s important to carve out safe spaces to humanize & normalize judgmental thinking because - PSA - it is happening whether you realize it or not. At the end of the day, judgement may teach you more about yourself than the other person. Join us for some real talk on learning from judgement and growing through it.

It's time to take on owning your sh*t. Listen in as Mel & Michelle carve out space to get vulnerable, call themselves out, and step into the power of owning their sh*t. In this episode, we double-click on naming, taming, and owning our triggers. Sometimes all it takes is a good look in the mirror to get real. Key takeaway? The path to self-awareness and personal growth lies in the freedom that comes from truly owning our sh*t.