The Mama's Den
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The Mama's Den episodes

  • Finding Love The Third Time Around with Katyrce Pedro - RUNNING IT BACK

    In this episode of The Mama’s Den, we’re running is back to our chat with Katryce Pedro aka The Funny Momma on IG, who proves that you can tell the truth about hard seasons and laugh your way through them. With humor, honesty, and zero fluff, Katryce opens up about being a mom of two by two different fathers, what she learned from two failed marriages, and how she’s still choosing love, getting remarried, and embracing a well-deserved soft life.

    She also shares the very real, but often heavy, experience of parenting a child on the autism spectrum, explaining how taking a hands-on, informed approach helped her youngest son make meaningful progress. This conversation is filled with laughs, lessons, and reminders that community matters in motherhood. It’s proof that joy and resilience can exist right alongside the hard stuff.

    Make sure you connect with our Mamas on IG: @themamasdenpodcast

    Ashley - @watermeloneggrolls

    Codie - @codieco 


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    55 min
  • Boy Mom Goals That Chick Angel in The Den - RUNNING IT BACK

    Some moms just get it… and Angel Laketa Moore (aka That Chick Angel) is one of them.

    In this episode, we are RUNNING IT BACK to when comedian, actress, podcaster, and mama of four boys pulled up to the Den and gave us the real on raising kind young men, balancing a full career with motherhood, and why parenting with intention matters.

    From the story of how she literally trained her son for his first homecoming date (PowerPoint included) to the sweet way she sings to him before school every morning, Angel shows that raising confident, respectful kids doesn’t happen by accident — it’s love, consistency, and a little strategy.

    We also talk about:

    • Raising boys with manners and emotional intelligence
    • When older siblings become the “third parent”
    • Building a career that actually works with motherhood
    • Protecting your kids while still sharing your life online
    • Why Angel says she was a terrible girlfriend but a great wife

    And of course… we laugh a LOT along the way.

    If you’ve ever wondered how some moms raise kids who are kind, thoughtful, and grounded — this conversation is for you.

    Keep up with Angel on IG: @ThatChickAngel

    Make sure you connect with our Mamas on IG: @themamasdenpodcast

    Ashley - @watermeloneggrolls

    Codie - @codieco 

    Melanie - @melaniefiona


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    59 min
  • The Snapback Journey - RUNNING IT BACK

    This conversation? It’s deeper than surgery.

    We are running back The Mama’s Den SECOND snapback convo, talking about the mental warfare of body image—the quiet, constant battle so many women face in their own minds.

    This year, Melanie and Codie opened up about their decision to get tummy tucks—not from a place of vanity alone, but from a place of healing, functionality, identity, and finally choosing themselves. Because for some women, this isn’t just about how you look…It’s about how you live. From abdominal separation and physical discomfort to the emotional weight of “snapback” culture, comparison, and shame—this conversation unpacks what it really means to feel disconnected from your body… and what it takes to reclaim it.

    The Mamas get honest about:

    • The mental warfare of not feeling at home in your body
    • The difference between repair, vanity, and personal choice
    • Why transparency matters—but also why every woman gets to choose her story
    • Letting go of shame, judgment, and the pressure to “earn” your body

    And maybe most importantly:

    Why suffering in silence shouldn’t be the standard for women.

    Whether you would never consider surgery, have thought about it privately, or are navigating your own body journey—this conversation creates space for honesty, freedom, and grace. You deserve to feel good in your body—whatever that looks like for you. Yes, YOU!


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    33 min
  • Getting Laid Off Doesn't Have to be The End with Melissa & Mel - RUNNING IT BACK

    In this special crossover episode, The Mama's Den linked up with powerhouse sisters and moms, Mel Goolsby and Melissa Fredericks.

    Ashley and Codie dug into how these two turned life's curveballs into purpose and profit. After being laid off WHILE on maternity leave in 2022, Mel built a thriving social media platform called "I'm Not A Lawyer, But" while Melissa stood beside her—both in sisterhood and entrepreneurship—as they launched their hit podcast, Gin & Juice.

    At a time when so many have been navigating job loss and reinvention, this conversation reminds us that sometimes the end of one chapter is the spark for a new beginning.

    Tune in for real talk, laughter, and the kind of inspiration every mama (and dreamer) needs. This episode was PART 2 of The Mama's Den x Gin & Juice mashup. Catch Part 1 on The Gin & Juice podcast feed.

    ...

    The ladies of The Mama's Den are still recovering from the highs and lows of the summer, but they'll be back with new episodes soon.

    Keep up with our Mamas on IG: @themamasdenpodcast
    Ashley - @watermeloneggrolls
    Codie - @codieco 
    Melanie - @melaniefiona


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    1 hr 13 min
  • Summer Crushes & College Dreams: A Mama Check-In from Disneyland

    This week, the Mamas are recording from the Happiest Place on Earth!

     

    Right in the middle of the tour - while Melanie stayed on the east coast - Codie and Ashley are joined by their families at Disneyland Resort for a special summer check-in filled with laughter, reflections, and a little bit of Disney magic. From celebrating Asiyah's birthday and debating the best rides to swapping summer plans and parenting updates, this was the family time the Mamas needed.

     

    The Mamas also open up about the bittersweet reality of watching their children grow up. Ashley shares why this summer is all about supporting Amirah as she prepares for college tours and her future beyond home, while Codie reflects on balancing work, rest, and making meaningful memories with her kids.

     

    And because no Mama conversation stays on one topic for long, the episode ends with stories about first crushes, first boyfriends, and the surprisingly sweet qualities their children value in "a crush". It's a joyful, lighthearted reminder that the seasons of motherhood move fast—and every stage deserves to be savored.

     

    Whether you're planning an epic vacation or just trying to make it through summer break, this episode is your reminder to slow down, enjoy your kids, and make the memories while you can. Because one minute you're pushing a stroller... and the next you're planning college tours.

    Make sure you connect with our Mamas on IG: @themamasdenpodcast

    Ashley - @watermeloneggrolls

    Codie - @codieco 

    Melanie - @melaniefiona


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    28 min
  • Mom’s Night Out: Chicago, Hormones & Holding On By a Thread

    Over the last 7 days, The Mama’s Den did live shows in Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia ANNNNNDDD Ashley and Codie recorded at Disneyland! The Mamas are out here doing this most!

    The MOM'S NIGHT OUT tour ended this past Saturday but here is your glimpse into the live experience which is filled with the kind of honest, hilarious, healing conversations only the ladies of the Den can deliver. From Ashley hand-expressing breast milk in the club to the mamas juggling parenting schedules, college tours, dance drop-offs, therapy, perimenopause, and the emotional weight of raising kids while still trying to care for ourselves… the Mamas and the Chicago audience keep it all the way real.

    Ashley, Melanie, and Codie open up about the motherhood stage they’re currently navigating — from parenting teenagers to surviving the “Maycember” chaos, to feeling like marriage and parenting is one long relay race. Plus, the audience shares what it actually took to show up for themselves that night, and trust us… moms are doing THE MOST.

    The Mamas are also joined by women’s health expert Dr. Jessica Shepherd for an important segment about hormones, mental health, midlife changes, and why women deserve support through every season of life.

    If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, touched out, guilty, exhausted, emotional, grateful, or deeply in need of a night out with your girls… this episode is for you. Grab your snacks, your group chat, and come sit in the Den.

    Make sure you connect with our Mamas on IG: @themamasdenpodcast

    Ashley - @watermeloneggrolls

    Codie - @codieco 

    Melanie - @melaniefiona


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    1 hr 13 min
  • Ashley’s Literal Day One: A Friendship That Has Lasted a Lifetime

    The Mama's Den podcast is still on tour and guess who is with us!!  Ashley’s literal day one, Nalo Wise, of course.

    This week in the Den, we are running back our conversation with Nalo after she held us down for the first ever Mama's Den live show.

    Born just days apart and best friends since infancy, Ashley and Nalo have grown up side by side through every stage of life. From childhood memories and teenage growing pains to marriage, motherhood, their bond has endured because of honesty, forgiveness, and a deep commitment to choosing each other again and again.

    Nothing is off limits in this conversation—including the season when Nalo’s husband wasn’t exactly Ashley’s biggest fan. Together, the Mamas explore what it really takes to maintain decades-long friendships as women and mothers, and why the friendships that know us best can become some of the most important relationships in our lives.

    If you’ve ever wondered how some friendships survive changing seasons, shifting priorities, and the demands of motherhood, this episode is a heartfelt reminder that the right friends grow with you.

    There are three more stops on The Mama’s Den tour aka MOM'S NIGHT OUT! Get your tickets. 

    📍 Chicago - May 18

    📍 Pittsburgh - May 19

    📍 Philadelphia - May 23

    Visit this site for tickets to all dates: https://linktr.ee/themamasdenpodcast

    Make sure you connect with our Mamas on IG: @themamasdenpodcast

    Ashley - @watermeloneggrolls

    Codie - @codieco 

    Melanie - @melaniefiona


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    48 min
  • The Parenting Conversation Most of Us Avoid

    This is one of those conversations every parent needs to hear...so we had to RUN IT BACK.

    Certified sex educator, intimacy expert, and bestselling author Shan Boodram joins the Mamas for an honest, hilarious, and deeply informative conversation about how to talk to our children about their bodies, boundaries, consent, crushes, and sex—without fear or shame.

    From toddlers touching themselves to teenagers navigating their first relationships, Shan walks us through what healthy sexual development actually looks like at every age and explains why giving kids the correct language for their body parts can be one of the most powerful ways to protect them.

    The Mamas also get personal, sharing their own experiences with purity culture, parenting teenagers, and the very real tension between wanting to keep our children safe while preparing them for healthy, loving relationships.

    Whether you’re raising toddlers, tweens, or teens, this episode is packed with practical guidance, unforgettable laughs, and the kind of information many of us wish our own parents had.

    Trust us: save this episode, send it to your partner, and share it with every parent you know.

    ____

    The Mama’s Den is on tour throughout May and there are THREE cities left!

    📍 Chicago - May 18

    📍 Pittsburgh - May 19

    📍 Philadelphia - May 23

    Visit this site for tickets to all dates: https://linktr.ee/themamasdenpodcast

    Make sure you connect with our Mamas on IG: @themamasdenpodcast

    Ashley - @watermeloneggrolls

    Codie - @codieco 

    Melanie - @melaniefiona


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    49 min
  • Mother’s Day Expectations vs. Reality (And Why We’re Choosing Ourselves)

    Mother’s Day is coming… but what do moms actually want?

    In this episode, the Mamas get real about the gap between expectation and reality—from breakfast-in-bed moments that still come with responsibility, to the truth that sometimes the best gift is space, rest, and not being needed for a few hours.

     

    We talk about:

    Why “a day off” doesn’t always feel like a day off

    Navigating Mother’s Day with partners, kids… and your own mama

    The guilt (and necessity) of choosing yourself

    Teaching our kids to care for us the way we care for them

    And the bigger conversation: setting boundaries, standing in your truth, and loving yourself more

     

    Of course, it wouldn’t be The Mama’s Den without a little chaos, a lot of laughs, and some unfiltered moments along the way.

     

    If you’ve ever felt like Mother’s Day didn’t quite hit the way you hoped… this one is for you.

     

    And don’t forget—we’re outside all May for our Mom’s Night Out Tour. Come celebrate motherhood with us in real life!

     

    📍 Nashville - May 4

    📍 St. Louis - May 6

    📍 Chicago - May 18

    📍 Pittsburgh - May 19

    📍 Philadelphia - May 23

     

    Visit this site for tickets to all tour dates: https://linktr.ee/themamasdenpodcast

    Make sure you connect with our Mamas on IG: @themamasdenpodcast

    Ashley - @watermeloneggrolls

    Codie - @codieco 

    Melanie - @melaniefiona


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    34 min
  • How We Pulled Off Our First Live Show (Even When It Felt Impossible) — Updated

    Right after our very first live show, we sat down and told the truth about what it actually took to make it happen — the pressure, the fear, the behind-the-scenes chaos… and the moments we weren’t sure we could pull it off at all. We went back and tightened this episode because the message still hits.

    It’s scary. It’s hard. And it’s exactly what moms do.

    The Mama’s Den is on tour starting one week from today, May 4th.

    📍 Nashville - May 4

    📍 St. Louis - May 6

    📍 Chicago - May 18

    📍 Pittsburgh - May 19

    📍 Philadelphia - May 23

    The Mamas are GOING ON TOUR ALL OF MAY!! Want to see them?? Visit this site for tickets to all dates: https://linktr.ee/themamasdenpodcast

    Make sure you connect with our Mamas on IG: @themamasdenpodcast

    Ashley - @watermeloneggrolls

    Codie - @codieco 

    Melanie - @melaniefiona


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    31 min

About The Mama's Den

From the publisher's feed

Welcome to The Mama's Den! This podcast features R&B singer Melanie Fiona, writer Ashley Chea, and Black Love founder Codie Elaine Oliver - 3 mamas with 9 kids between them - having honest…

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