The MomForce Podcast Hosted by Chatbooks

Moms, let's be real—parenting is a wild ride, full of ups and downs, curveballs, and unexpected turns. But what if there was a way to make those ups and downs a little easier to handle? That's where your mental health baseline comes in.

Today, I'm talking with my friend Julie Taylor, a writer, mom, and someone who just gets it. We're breaking down what a mental health baseline is, how to boost it, and why taking care of yourself isn't a luxury—it's a necessity.

And trust me, Julie is the perfect person for this conversation—not only does she have a way of making deep topics feel so relatable, but she also speaks from raw, personal experience. A little over a year ago, Julie lost her infant son at birth—a loss that completely changed her understanding of resilience, grief, and what it truly means to rebuild your emotional baseline.

Her wisdom comes from lived experience, and I know her perspective will resonate with so many of you.

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8:30 How to determine your baseline in mental health

14:45 Julie's experience with grief

21:00 Do what you say you're going to do for a mental health boost

23:15 Trust the times and seasons

24:10 Try something new, or return to a past hobby

26:15 Not meant to stay in survival mode

29:00 What helped Julie the most going through grief

32:30 How to choose connection with your kids that makes a difference

44:00 You're doing better than you think you are

45:30 Tell your friends the good in them

47:00 Our limitations are invitations for collaborations

Welcome to another Enter the Chat episode of the MomForce Podcast—where we break down the parenting topics that matter most. Today, we're diving deep into the balance of emotional validation and setting boundaries with child development specialist, Dr. Siggie Cohen. If you've ever struggled with being both the 'safe space' and the authority figure in your child's life, this conversation is for you. Seriously, if your child has ever said "Your the meantest mom ever" –don't fret. Dr Siggie gives us some tools to help us keep our cool.

Dr. Siggie Cohen is a Child Development Specialist with more than 30 years of experience and 1.6 million people following her advice and guidance online. She empowers parents to be calm and confident, with real life examples to learn from.

I know you will enjoy hearing from Dr. Siggie, she has so much wisdom to share!

Check out her parenting courses here

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6:50 Has Dr. Siggie ever made a parenting mistake?

14:15 Big decisions that require life experience are yours

23:00 No one likes to feel misunderstood

25:05 The chaos of parenting

31:45 The do over

36:15 All of your kids percieve experiences differently

40:00 Why is parenting so stressful?

43:30 What are healthy risks that your kids can take?

47:20 Don't close the door, keep the conversation going

Emily O'Laughlin started Doing Great Clothing Co when she saw her son Nathan beginning a new chapter: post-high school and ready to work. She noticed that jobs that fit his abilities were few and far between. So she decided to create the solution, even though Emily and her husband both have full-time jobs.

The mission of Doing Great Clothing Co says, "We're passionate about our chance to make concrete changes in the world of special needs. Our mission is to pave the way for those with disabilities to reach those crucial developmental milestones and score meaningful employment."

If you are in the early days of a diagnosis with your child, or want to be a better ally and support to those you know with disabilities, or anywhere in between -- listen to this episode! Emily shares some tough experiences and challenges that have helped her and her family get to the point they are at today.

Check out Doing Great Clothing Co.

Doing Great Jobs: A Guide to Creating a Small Business for People with Disabilities

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2:05 How Doing Great Clothing Co was born

5:35 Emily's experience raising a child with special needs

7:30 Learning empathy

10:15 A poignant experience in Emily's early motherhood

14:00 Education experiences with Nathan

17:30 You are the CEO of your family

19:55 Concentrate on the joy of your child

Prepare yourself folks for so much wisdom from Jillian Harris. If you follow Jilian you know she is an absolute dynamo. A true powerhouse—She's an entrepreneur, cookbook author, interior designer, and the creator of The Jilly Box. I love her Jilly box, it's a quarterly subscription box that showcases women entrepreneurs and small businesses. It sold out now but I'm on the Insider wait list!

Jillian is based in Canada and she first captured hearts as a contestant on The Bachelor and later made history as the first Canadian Bachelorette. But Jillian's story goes far beyond her TV beginnings. While building an inspiring career and raising a beautiful family, she battled burnout and sought to regain balance all while supporting a loved one through mental illness.

She's raw, she's real, (she even swears a little) and. I know you're going to love her.

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6:00 How Jillian organizes her family memories

8:40 How to remember the daily magical moments

10:35 Growing up with a mother that has a bipolar diagnosis

19:30 What caused Jillian to hit major burnout and how she has dug herself out of it

25:00 How to create rituals that spark joy like "turndown service"

27:00 What it was like when Jillian experienced a wildfire in Canada and her property burned to the ground. Plus, the amazing opportunity that came out of it.

31:00 The relationship advice she wishes she had during her younger years on The Bachelor franchise

33:45 How to keep the overwhelm away and not get stressed out.

35:00 What is next for Jillian

Becs Gentry is a beloved Peloton instructor, elite runner, and inspiring new mom. Known for her motivational energy and infectious positivity, she's built a global community of fitness enthusiasts who turn to her for more than just workouts—they come for her life lessons.

Recently, Becs completed an extraordinary feat: The Great World Race—7 marathons, in 7 days, on 7 continents, starting with a marathon in Antarctica! In this conversation, we dive into what that incredible adventure was like, as well as the day-to-day realities of balancing motherhood, a demanding career, and a rigorous training schedule.

Becs offers a fresh take on resilience, self-care, and finding joy in every step of the journey. Get ready to be inspired and step into the new year with a mindset that's energized, guilt-free, and full of possibility!

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3:00 A photo with a fun backstory, spoiler alert: pregnancy announcement!

5:00 Why Becs approaches goals with the "brush up" mentality

7:20 Put your sparkle back in January

9:45 Has Becs always been a runner?

12:40 How the Great World Race experience was mentally for Becs

13:50 The strength of mothers

16:15 Things in parenting that push you to your limits

19:00 Forward is a pace

25:50 Getting more movement in as a family

30:35 Chatting while looking at photos = elaborative reminiscing

Karalynne Call, the mastermind behind Just Ingredients, shares her incredible journey from struggling with depression to becoming a beacon of hope for clean living and holistic health. Karalynne shares her personal story of hitting rock bottom and how learning about the connection between nutrition and mental health became a turning point in her life.

She offers practical tips for making small but impactful changes in your family's diet, easy ways to clean up the products in your home, and how prioritizing wellness can create a ripple effect in your overall happiness.

Whether you're curious about clean living, looking for ways to support your mental health, or just need a dose of motivation, this episode is packed with wisdom. Listen to hear how small changes can lead to big transformations.

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4:30 Karalynne's struggle with depression

8:25 Karalynne's experience on medication

14:00 How to find trustworthy sources of information

20:15 Gluten, dairy, and allergens

25:00 Substitutes for caffeine

30:45 Eczema tied to gut health

35:00 Are there better choice snacks at the store?

43:00 Karalynne's photo hack for her kids

Caitlin Creer is an interior designer known for creating timeless designs from California beach houses to colonial estates in Connecticut. She's also a mom of five, so you know she's got some real-life wisdom to share about juggling design projects around the country, family life, and everything in between.

In this episode Caitlin answers your design questions and shares what trends she is tired of and the ones she wants to see more of. Whether you're a design junkie or just trying to figure out how to make your house feel more like home, this episode is packed with inspiration, tips, and plenty of relatable mom moments.

Check out Caitlin's brand new book, An Intentional Home, to see more of her beautiful work and stories. And be sure to check out her store Foundation Goods.

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3:00 A return to color in design

5:15 How Caitlin got into the design world

9:15 Caitlin's memory of home growing up

14:00 How to create a plan for your home that is unique to you

17:15 How to refresh a room without spending a fortune

20:15 Great sectional for families?

24:30 Organizational tips for busy families

31:15 No one lives in a picture perfect house 24/7

I'm thrilled to welcome Sarah Molitor to the MomForce! Known to nearly 800,000 followers as @modernfarmhousefamily, Sarah is a mom of seven and an absolute ray of sunshine. As a fellow redhead, I knew right away we were kindred spirits!

In our chat, Sarah opens up about a powerful lesson she learned: words matter. She shares how, as a new mom navigating a tough season in her marriage and adjusting to a new place, her words began to reflect negativity. But one eye-opening phone call changed everything, inspiring her to shift her perspective and set her on a mission to help others communicate with grace, purpose, and love.

I know you'll love this conversation! Sarah's wisdom and experience is very relatable.

Use code: MOMFORCE for 20% off your first Chatbooks order!

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Sarah's new book Well Said

3:00 Sharing her family story online

9:00 How Sarah decides what not to share online

13:30 Learning the lesson that "words matter"

17:15 Words of encouragement are free

23:30 How to get away from the victim mindset

24:30 Words of encouragement for first time mom Sarah

26:30 How Sarah holds onto what matters

I am so excited to have Jenny Keller, the "Cookie Queen" herself, on the podcast today! I first met Jenny back in the very early days of Chatbooks and before she'd opened herJenny Cookies bakery–we were both sponsoring the Santa's Secret Workshop in West Hollywood–an event bringing together celebrities and their families to celebrate the holiday season while supporting charitable causes. Well,Jenny, always up for a party, was there with her incredible cookies and her infectious smile and as soon as we met we became fast friends! I soon realized that she was also friends with many of the celebrities there as she'd made a name for herself by planning and catering some of their own star studded parties. A lot has happened since then and Jenny's inspiring journey is now taking a dramatic turn and in this episode she shares all the details! She opens up about the ups and downs of running a business while raising a family, how she creates meaningful family traditions, and the unexpected joys of having older kids. And you won't want to miss her heartfelt insights on capturing the beautiful, messy, and real moments of family life. So join us as we chat about family, memories, and all the sweet in-betweens of motherhood.

Use code: MOMFORCE for 20% off your first Chatbooks order!

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1:30 How Vanessa and Jenny met

7:00 What is a Jenny Cookie and how did that name happen?

14:30 Party and hosting tips and tricks

22:30 How motherhood changes as your kids get older

25:00 Accept that your kids are not going to be your mini me

28:00 Family traditions can be out of the box

35:00 Big changes at Chatbooks

39:00 Family mottos and how to create one

41:30 What is next for Jenny

Summer Adamson is an influencer and advocate for children with Down syndrome, sharing her daughter Jayne's 'extra' with the world, by showing all of the things she can do with her diagnosis. In this episode of The MomForce Podcast, Summer shares how the diagnosis came as a surprise on the day of Jayne's birth. She talks through how she has found support and resources for her daughter. Summer also shares how we all can learn how to reach out and be more inclusive.

Summer recently released a children's book based on Jayne's life called, A Little Extra Jayne. You can follow Summer on Instagram @a_little_extra_jayne. If you want to share the book in your classroom there is a FREE Teacher Resource Guide available for educators. Email [email protected] for the link.

Use code: MOMFORCE for 20% off your first Chatbooks order!

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3:00 Dan and Shay suprise

5:30 The day Jayne was born

10:45 What Summer wishes she had known when learning about Jayne's diagnosis

16:30 How they told Jayne about Down Syndrome

19:00 Jayne's sibling support

24:00 How to be more inclusive