The MomForce Podcast Hosted by Chatbooks

In this episode, we get into what to actually do when you don't want to keep going and why obligation and duty are wildly underrated motivators. We also talk about laying on the ground as an actual reset (10/10, would recommend), an end-of-day ritual we've practiced for years, and why "listening to your body" on social media doesn't look anything like it does in real life. Plus, how we built positivity into our team culture with something called Manic Monday, why learning from your wins matters as much as learning from your failures, and how the same principle applies to parenting. Days that start with dread can still end well. And sometimes "pushing through" isn't a wellness routine, it's just doing it anyway. Also, if all else fails, a Baja Blast from Taco Bell is always recommended.

In this episode, we chat about Julie's casual confession to being a proud, private "Petty Betty" (and why that's different from oversharing online), the real reasons people post the messy stuff: comfort, clout, or community, sometimes all three at once, and a Brazilian wax story that made someone's teenagers beg her to stop. We also get into the mother-in-law-ripping, motherhood-is-brutal corners of the internet, the fine line between describing your life and creating it, and the hard stuff nobody shows up for. Plus, the questions we're asking ourselves before we post anything personal these days, and why a little more shame (the good kind) might actually be a gift. Check yourself before you wreck yourself. We didn't come up with that one. We're stealing it.

Get started with your Chatbooks today! There has never been a better time to make a classic book.

This week, Vanessa shares about how she threw her own birthday party and how it taught her that if you build it, people will come. Celebrating together is something that women get to be good at! This conversation led to a discussion about whether or not you're a party planner and how to not let those expectations fail when things like holidays, birthdays, and family traditions don't go according to plan. The best advice is that you get to create your own family culture, and the best way to be is to stay unbothered.

Vanessa just spent two and a half weeks in the Dominican Republic building a school with her son Declan, taking cold showers out of a garden hose, and coming home fearing permanently swollen ankles and asking herself a big question: "who am I now?" We talk about the weird whiplash of walking straight from that into an air-conditioned house and a "well-stocked Costco" — plus what happened when she got her phone back after weeks off social media.

We also get into why Chatbooks just switched to fixed pricing with no hidden fees (yes, we're losing money on the big books on purpose), why we proactively cancel inactive subscribers instead of quietly taking your money, and a sneak peek at Sarah's next trip: off-grid and headed to Havasupai.

In this episode, we chat about what it actually feels like to come home after time abroad (hint: air conditioning has never felt so good), a wild pickpocketing incident in Rome that took an unexpected turn, and why a cold Diet Coke is genuinely one of America's greatest gifts to the world. We also get into why World Cup social media has been one of the most surprisingly feel-good corners of the internet lately, what it looks like to teach kids real gratitude without dismissing hard things, and why choosing a good attitude, even when it's hard, is always worth it. Plus, we're making Chatbooks a real habit now, because the memories are happening whether you're documenting them or not.

In this episode, Julie and Sarah are joined by podcaster OG and sister to Vanessa, Erika Anderson. They discuss why we should all have vices and why motherhood especially requires us to sometimes just simply chill. They discuss the trend of "health maxxing" and why that isn't sustainable over a lifetime. And sometimes it's okay to just endulge every once in a while.

Get started on your Chatbooks today!

In this episode, Julie and Sarah discuss the topic of women in the workplace. They share how attitudes have changed over time, what having female bosses looks like and how we can do better. It's an exciting episode that we can't wait to hear your thoughts on!

In this episode, the ladies share their feelings on Timothee Chalamet, riverdance, why nostalgia sometimes makes us sad, and how we can still find ways to embrace and be gracious to our old selves. You'll want to share this one with friends!

Father's Day Sale ends today! Start Chatbooking now!

On The MomForce Podcast this week, the ladies talk about how family fun sometimes has to be orchestrated and it's not always fun. Sometimes we simply have to do things out of obligation. And sometimes we have to keep fighting for it, because as Julie says, "when my kids are having fun, I'm having fun." Plus, Sarah shares her life's motto: if it isn't a good time, it's a good story.

We are SO GLAD if you've been around with us since the beginning! Happy 200! In this episode, Vanessa, Sarah, and Julie discuss how they'll reward themselves after making it through May. They also romanticize a simple summer. One where you don't have to do too much to still have a good time. It's the little moments like jumping on the trampoline, going out with the kids to the gas station, and finding your favorite local spots. It's an episode to really feel a lot less mom guilt and a lot more relief of pressure.