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Who do you turn to when you’re raising children—and you wish your own parents were here to guide you?

This week on The Mommy Pod, Shanta’ welcomes grief coach, author, father, and Unparented podcast host Robert DelFave for an honest conversation about parent loss, fatherhood, and finding support.

Robert lost his father at 14 and his mother at 26. He shares how becoming a dad brought new questions about his own father, why learning to apologize matters in parenting, and how writing and storytelling became outlets for his grief. Shanta’ also shares her experience of losing her mother at six and keeping her memory present for her children.

For single moms, single dads, and anyone parenting through loss, this conversation makes space for the feelings that can exist alongside loving your family.

We talk about:
• Repairing your connection with your children after a difficult moment.
• Asking for help when you’re afraid of being a burden.
• Supporting grieving children without making them responsible for your feelings.
• Keeping loved ones’ memories alive through stories and honest conversations.
• A five-minute exercise to recognize how much you’re carrying.
• Robert’s book for grieving teens and the personal healing behind it.

Missing your parents in a new stage of life doesn’t mean you’re moving backward. Sometimes, you’re experiencing grief from a place you’ve never stood before.

Connect with Robert and learn about his book and grief coaching:
https://robertdelfave.com
Instagram & Threads: @robertdelfave
Listen to Unparented on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

If this episode helps you feel less alone, share it with another parent. Subscribe and support The Mommy Pod at https://themommypod.net.

Because we bend—but we do not break.

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“Let me know if you need anything.” But what if you’re too exhausted to figure out what you need, ask for it, and coordinate the help?

In this episode of The Mommy Pod, Shanta’ Robinson welcomes Venus Fatani, a mom and founder working to raise the standard of postpartum support. Venus shares how she felt overwhelmed and alone despite having people who loved her—and how that experience inspired her to build a better way for support to reach mothers.

We talk about the invisible mental load of asking for help, the pressure to say “I’m fine,” and practical ways partners, friends, and family can make a new mom’s day easier.

Venus also introduces the app she’s developing, with a mother’s permission, its personal assistant is designed to turn her needs into specific requests, coordinate help with trusted people through text messages, and send calendar reminders. Helpers can participate without downloading the app.

The platform also aims to make finding professional postpartum support easier, including doulas, lactation consultants, and mental health professionals.

Want to help shape it? Venus is inviting new and postpartum moms to express interest in the founding mothers pilot.

💗 Visit https://supportstartswithmom.com and select Early Access to learn more and express interest. Venus explains that sign-ups will move to a waitlist once the pilot fills.

💗 Find Venus Fatani on LinkedIn.

You can be deeply grateful for your baby and still need help. You deserve support before you reach a breaking point.

Listen, follow, and share The Mommy Pod with someone in your village. Explore more at https://themommypod.net.

Because we bend—we do not break.

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Starting over after divorce can mean learning to manage money while raising children and rebuilding your life. Jennifer Freeman knows that experience firsthand.

In this episode of The Mommy Pod, Jennifer shares how she navigated divorce at 28 with three young daughters, returned to school, and earned her accounting degree while juggling motherhood, childcare, and late-night studying.

Now the founder of JL Freeman Financial Empowerment Coaching, Jennifer helps people organize their finances, understand their financial picture, and take steps toward their goals. She explains what working with her looks like, why education is central to her approach, and how her free consultation gives prospective clients room to connect without committing.

We talk about:

• Facing financial paperwork when you don’t know where to begin.
• Building confidence without shame about what you haven’t learned.
• Returning to school while raising children.
• Finding small wins when the bigger picture feels overwhelming.
• Creating a new chapter at any age.

Connect with Jennifer: [email protected]
Ask about her free introductory consultation.

A special thank-you: Jennifer was the very first donor to The Mommy Pod’s Go MAMA fund, one of the donation options available to support our work. Jennifer also participated in our promotional offerings, and this episode features her coaching service. Her generosity means so much to me.

Jennifer is studying toward becoming a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst. This conversation offers general information, not individualized financial or legal advice.

Because we bend—we do not break.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FQ86RF9S

Living with ADHD: Getting Clean and Organized is not another rigid “how-to” guide that demands perfection—it’s a compassionate roadmap designed for real people with real ADHD challenges.  Living with ADHD will help you take back control—one small step at a time.

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What happens when motherhood doesn't look the way you always imagined?

On this heartfelt episode of The Mommy Pod, Shanta’ sits down with Michelle Savage, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Certified Perinatal Mental Health Provider, and founder of Resilient Corazones Counseling.

Michelle shares her deeply personal journey of being diagnosed with lupus, navigating the effects of treatment on her fertility, and ultimately building her family through adoption.

Together, we explore the emotional side of motherhood that often goes unspoken: infertility, invisible grief, changing identities, relationship struggles, and the pressure moms feel to do everything while putting themselves last.

Michelle reminds us that grief and gratitude can coexist. You can love the family you have while still grieving the experience you once imagined.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Michelle's journey from a lupus diagnosis to motherhood through adoption
• The grief that can accompany infertility
• Why becoming a parent doesn't automatically erase past loss
• Rediscovering yourself after becoming a mom
• How parenthood changes marriages and relationships
• The importance of communication, support systems, and asking for help
• Why small moments of self-care matter
• Finding hope when life takes an unexpected turn

Whether you're navigating infertility, raising children, struggling with your identity, or simply feeling overwhelmed by motherhood, this conversation is a reminder that you are not alone.

Connect with Michelle Savage

Resilient Corazones Counseling
Instagram: @resilient_corazones_counseling
https://www.instagram.com/resilient_corazones_counseling/

Michelle offers virtual therapy for individuals and couples throughout Florida, including services in English and Spanish.

Connect with The Mommy Pod

🌐 www.themommypod.net

🎙️ Listen, subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a mom who needs encouragement.

Because we bend — we do not break. ❤️

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How do we raise children who are proud of their heritage while embracing the culture they call home?

In this episode, we welcome Preethi Balasubramanian — founder of Wonder EA, author, speaker, and curator of the Voices Across Borders anthology.

Preethi shares her experiences as an immigrant mother raising children between Indian and Canadian cultures, navigating questions of identity, bullying, and belonging, and creating meaningful ways to pass cultural traditions and family stories to the next generation.

We also discuss her Mystic India for Kids & Everyday Superpowers children's book series, the importance of immigrant representation, and how storytelling can help children develop confidence and a stronger sense of self.

Whether you're a mother raising multicultural children, an immigrant finding your sense of belonging, or a parent who wants to preserve your family's stories, this conversation is for you.

In this episode:

• Raising children between cultures
• Helping kids navigate bullying and feeling different
• Preserving heritage through storytelling
• The inspiration behind Preethi's books
• Why immigrant stories deserve to be heard
• Finding balance between motherhood, business, and creativity

Connect with Preethi through Wonder EA and Wondering Pages.  

 Instagram: @wandering_pages
 LinkedIn: Search Preethi and Wonder EA

Remember: Our children can belong to more than one world. They don't have to choose.

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In This Episode, We Discuss:

• The difference between postpartum hormonal changes, perimenopause, and menopause
• Why perimenopause can begin earlier than many women expect
• Signs of hormonal changes, including anxiety, brain fog, insomnia, night sweats, weight gain, and low libido
• Why mothers often dismiss their symptoms as everyday stress
• How hormones can affect your mood, relationships, energy, and overall well-being
• Understanding hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and individualized treatment options
• How functional medicine approaches women's health by looking at potential underlying causes
• Questions to ask your healthcare provider when you don't feel like yourself
• Why prioritizing your health isn't selfish — it's necessary!

Meet Nicole Bentivegna | Signature Wellness

Are you tired of hearing that your symptoms are simply a normal part of aging?

At Signature Wellness, Nicole specializes in helping women understand hormonal changes and explore personalized approaches to feeling their best during midlife and beyond.

Her work focuses on perimenopause, menopause, hormone optimization, and comprehensive functional medicine evaluations.

Rather than focusing on individual symptoms alone, Nicole emphasizes understanding the whole person, exploring potential contributing factors, and developing individualized care plans.

Interested in working with Nicole?

📍 Signature Wellness — Charlotte, North Carolina
🌐 Website: https://signaturewellness.org
📱 Instagram: @charlottemenopausenp

Signature Wellness serves patients in North Carolina and South Carolina. Contact the practice to learn about appointments and available services.

💜 A Message to Every Mama

You do not have to wait until you're completely burned out to start taking care of yourself.

You deserve to feel heard. You deserve answers. And you deserve to make your health a priority.

If this conversation resonates with you, share it with another mom who needs to hear it!

🎧 Listen, subscribe, rate, and share The Mommy Pod!

🌐 https://themommypod.net

Because at The Mommy Pod, we believe:

We bend. We do not break. 💜

This episode is for educational purposes and does not replace individualized medical advice. Symptoms can have multiple causes, and treatment decisions should be made with a qualified healthcare professional.

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Your teenager says, “I’m fine,” but you’ve noticed something feels different. How do you open the conversation without making them feel judged, pressured, or misunderstood?

In this episode of The Mommy Pod, Shanta’ Robinson sits down with Michelle, a Mental Health First Aid national trainer, homeschooling mom of three, and founder of Washington Wellness with Michelle.

Together, they explore why talking about mental health can feel difficult for parents, how to begin with “I’ve noticed,” and the difference between listening and jumping straight into advice. Michelle also shares her experience living with social anxiety and how it has shaped her work.

We discuss:
• Changes in behavior that may prompt a conversation.
• Creating space for teens to talk about their feelings.
• Offering reassurance and options.
• Knowing when to connect with professional support.
• Parenting without expecting yourself to have every answer.

For single parents and anyone raising teens, this conversation offers a starting point for more thoughtful check-ins.

Find Michelle and information about her Mental Health First Aid classes on Facebook at Washington Wellness with Michelle.

Listen, share, and explore more at themommypod.net.

Because we bend—we do not break.

Content note: This episode discusses mental health challenges and suicide.

Direct listeners to:

Washington Wellness with Michele
https://wawellnessmichele.wixsite.com/westernwashingtonwel

Facebook: Washington Wellness with Michele
https://www.facebook.com/wawellnesswmichele

And encourage listeners to explore Mental Health First Aid training and additional mental-health education.

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What would happen to your children, property, business, and important decisions if you were suddenly unable to handle them yourself?

In this episode of The Mommy Pod, Shanta’ speaks with Sam Allen, founding attorney of Law Mom, LLC® and a Personal Family Lawyer®, about why estate planning matters for parents at every age and income level.

After nearly dying following the birth of her first child, Sam realized that—even as a practicing attorney—she had no estate plan protecting her own family. That frightening experience inspired her mission to make planning more approachable, understandable, and accessible.

Sam explains the questions parents should begin asking about guardianship, wills, healthcare decisions, powers of attorney, inheritances, blended families, business ownership, and emergency preparation. She also shares a simple message for every overwhelmed parent: you do not need to have everything figured out before taking the first step.

Connect with Sam and Law Mom®

To learn more about Sam and Law Mom®, you can find her on:

Facebook: Law Mom LLC
TikTok: @lawmomllc
Instagram: @law_mom_llc

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Why can one small parenting moment bring up such a big reaction? Motherhood coach and therapist Rachel Brown joins The Mommy Pod to talk about emotional overwhelm, the beliefs we carry from earlier in life, and what it can look like to respond to our children with more awareness and compassion.

Rachel shares how living with a chronic illness and trying to meet others’ expectations led her to listen more closely to her own needs. She also introduces The Self Method, her approach to helping mothers reconnect with themselves beneath their many roles.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Why did that moment affect me so much?” this conversation offers a place to start—without shame.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_rachelebrown_/

Facebook profile: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100012159249120

Facebook group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/consciousmotherhoodcollective

Rachels Free Guide: Reactive to Regulated The 3-Step, 5-Minute Reset When You’ve Just Snapped

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Do you find yourself yelling at your child—and then feeling guilty afterward?

In this episode of The Mommy Pod, Shanta’ speaks with Sapna Radhakrishnan, a Parenting Success Coach, speaker, NLP practitioner, and author of Yelling to Zenning.

Sapna opens up about becoming constantly frustrated with her child and recognizing that those difficult interactions were damaging their connection. Through inner work and practical parenting skills, she learned how to bridge the gap and rebuild their relationship.

Sapna explains why connection should come before correction, how our own emotional patterns affect the way we respond to our children, and why conscious parenting begins with connecting to ourselves.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why parents yell even when they don’t want to
• How to reconnect after losing your temper
• Connection before correction
• Understanding the need beneath a child’s behavior
• Releasing parenting guilt
• Becoming aware of your own triggers
• Sapna’s book, Yelling to Zenning
• Practical ways to create a calmer home

This episode is for every parent who wants to stop reacting, begin connecting, and build a healthier relationship with their child.

 Sapna Radhakrishnan, is a Parenting Success Coach, speaker, NLP practitioner, and the author of Yelling to Zenning.

Sapna’s parenting philosophy centers around one powerful idea: Connection comes before correction.

Book: Yelling to Zenning
Social Media: @sapnaradcoaching

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