What happens when you mix a therapist, two moms, and a very honest conversation about food, kids, and body image? You get this laugh-out-loud, deeply relatable, and surprisingly freeing episode. Megan, a therapist and former teacher, joins Amy and Haley to unpack everything from “set point” weight to toddler snack negotiations. You’ll hear how diet culture messes with all of us (yes, even therapists), why broccoli might need a PR makeover, and how to stop letting shame run the show.

Spoiler: Margaritas are fun foods and we’re here for it. 🍹

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

• 🍪 Why labeling foods as “good” or “bad” messes with our heads (and our kids’ heads, too)

• 🏖 The real meaning of “set point” weight—and why your pants size might not be the problem

• 🥦 How to make food neutral for kids without turning dinner into a war zone

• 💬 Why the word fat isn’t always an insult (and how it’s being reclaimed)

• 🛑 How to catch yourself before you spiral into the shame trap

• 💛 The surprising power of self-compassion in healing body image struggles

#bodyimage #intuitiveeating #momlife #parentingpodcast #selfcompassion #setpointtheory #dietculture #healthymindset #foodfreedom #raisingkids #mindbodyconnection #mentalhealthmatters #motherhoodjourney #selflove

We're back with Part 2 of our epic convo with Russel—and thank you for waiting! 🙌 You’ll finally get the answer to the cliffhanger we left you on: What did Russel actually do for Father’s Day? (Spoiler: it involves 5:30 AM wake-ups and a failed nature walk with two kids and a bag of rocks.)

This episode is a rollercoaster of relatable parenting moments, laugh-out-loud commentary, and deep thoughts on raising good humans. We talk cast iron steak tips, fairy romance novels (we’re looking at you, “Filthy Rich Fae” 🧚‍♂️), parental guilt, cleaning for the cleaning lady, public vs. private schools, and the bittersweet reality of watching our kids grow up and maybe… call us less 😭.

Russel also pitches a 🔥 podcast spinoff idea—“Parental Dissent”—and shares what he's most afraid of as a dad (spoiler: it’s not fairy smut). Oh, and we may have found our new podcast signoff... 👀

🎧 Tune in to laugh, cry, and maybe feel a little less alone in the chaos of parenting.

Key Takeaways:

Your kids might say “you’re a bad dad” after the best morning of your life, take it as a win!

Fairy romance books are weirdly addicting—and slightly mortifying.

Moms and dads love differently. And that’s okay.

🎧 Like, rate, review, and subscribe!

Thanks for being part of the MotherLoad community. Keep showing up 💪

Ways to listen! 👉https://linktr.ee/themotherloadpod

XOXO,

Amy

#parentingpodcast #fatherhood #motherloadpodcast #funnyparents #dadsbelike #momlife #parenthoodunplugged #podcastrecommendation #castironcooking #anxiousgeneration

This week on The Motherload, we crack open a cold LaCroix and dive into the world of dad moms, working parents, and the not-so-gentle juggle of modern family life—with guest co-host Haley Imesch and our one-of-a-kind guest: Russell Bauer. 💪

Russell is an engineer, a husband, a father of two, and according to Haley... an elite-level toddler scrap eater and professional water bottle filler. From talking gender norms in the workplace to dissecting the emotional politics of youth sports, this episode goes deep—and still finds time for laughs, Slurpees, and cheerleading scholarships. 🙃🏒🩰

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• "Keeping score" in parenting will drive you nuts—notice the unseen labor and say thank you anyway.

• Supportive dads aren’t unicorns—they’re necessary partners in modern parenting.

• You can be a dad mom, a mom dad, or maybe… just a parent. 🤯

• Travel sports aren’t for the faint of heart, but the car ride convos are where the magic happens.

💬 Russell's Quote of the Week:

"You see 100% of what you do… and maybe 50% of what your partner does. That’s why gratitude matters."

🎧 Tune in to laugh, learn, and maybe reflect a little deeper on what partnership and parenting really mean in today's world.

👉 Don’t forget to rate, review, and share with your favorite messy-parent-friend who needs to know they’re not alone. #DadMomEnergy

🎙️ The Power of Saying Yes (and Sometimes No)

We're shaking things up on The Motherload! 🎉 In this episode, Amy is joined by special guest host Haley Imesch —yes, that Haley—who will be co-hosting the next few episodes and bringing some fresh voices into the mix.

From juggling tennis leagues to quitting sourdough (because let’s be honest, Whole Foods nailed it), Amy and Haley chat about what it means to choose joy, say yes to yourself, and model that freedom for your kids 💪💗

You’ll also get a sneak peek at what’s coming:

👨‍👧‍👦 A dad who’s redefining modern fatherhood (aka “dadding really hard”)

👩‍💼 A wise-beyond-her-years working woman and therapist who brings calm, clarity, and serious insight

Press play and let’s go.

🎧 Ways to listen! 👉https://linktr.ee/themotherloadpod

XOXO,

Amy

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#TheMotherloadPodcast #WorkingMoms #ModernParenting #MomLifeUnfiltered #GuestHostVibes #SayYesToJoy #SelfCareForMoms #ParentingRealTalk #WomenWhoInspire #PodcastLife

What started as a lost episode turned into a conversation that’s realer, richer, and full of heart. Amy reconnects with Heather, founder of Hazel Blue Hat Bar, to talk about building a business with meaning, managing the chaos of entrepreneurship, and finding joy in the “in-between” moments of motherhood and hustle.

Whether you're building a brand, balancing multiple roles, or just figuring it out as you go—this episode is a warm reminder that success doesn’t always come with a roadmap… but showing up with purpose? That’s everything.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Building a business from scratch is messy, meaningful, and worth the leap—even if you have no idea what you’re doing at first.
• Social media can be a powerful tool for growth and a major source of burnout—knowing when to ask for help is a strength.
• Balance isn’t always possible, but awareness is: knowing when one area needs more of you is a form of self-care.

• Sometimes, the best thing you can do is “screw it and do it”—your future self will thank you.

💬 “I started this needing more—for a lot of reasons. And once I saw how it made people feel, I knew I couldn’t stop.” - Heather

Ways to listen! 👉https://linktr.ee/themotherloadpod

XOXO,

Amy

#HeartFirst #WomenEntrepreneurs #MomHustle #SideHustleLife #BuildingWithPurpose #StartupMom #BalanceNotPerfection #EntrepreneurLife #MothersWhoCreate #HazelBlueHatBar #YouDoYou #PodcastInspiration

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We’re back, mamas. After a short pause to carry some heavy life stuff, The Mother Load returns—just in time for a belated (but beautiful) Mother’s Day episode.

Meet Seasen Pruett: optician, teacher, coach, cheerleader, waitress, and most importantly—mom to the endlessly cool and insightful Bennett, who makes a triumphant cameo to talk superpowers, Bucee’s, and the three reasons he loves his mom (spoiler: one involves daily school drop-offs 😍).

Seasen opens up with raw honesty and a wicked sense of humor about:

✨Thinking she might never be a mom, and the messy, joyful road to motherhood

✨Postpartum struggles, therapy hits (and misses), and building a toolbox of emotional survival skills

✨The magic of intentional naps, the emotion wheel, and finding peace in the chaos

✨Morning dance parties, frozen Zoom screens, and why your kid might be more fun than you think

💬 Favorite Quotes:

“Mommy is the most fun I’ve ever had.”

“Therapy isn’t about fixing everything—it’s about gaining the tools.”

“I didn’t think I could be a mom... and now I can’t imagine anything else.”

This is one of those episodes that hugs you from the inside. Thank you for waiting for us—and thank you to every mother, father, and caregiver carrying the load (without always getting the credit).

🎧 Ways to listen! 👉 ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/themotherloadpod⁠⁠

XOXO,

Amy

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#TheMotherLoadPodcast #MotherhoodUnfiltered #RealMomTalk #MomLifeUnplugged #BelatedMothersDay #ModernMotherhood #RaisingHumans #MomAndMeMoments #TherapyIsHealing #EmotionalToolbox #ParentingWithGrace #MomConfessions

This week, Meg Laidlaw — nurse turned holistic health coach, mom of two, recovering perfectionist, and all-around wisdom dropper — joins Amy for an episode that’s part heart, part sass, and all soul.

💬 We dive into what it really means to “hold space” — for clients, for kids, and (spoiler) for ourselves.

💬 Meg spills the tea on gentle parenting, the art of not losing your mind, and how to actually support our kids without helicoptering them into oblivion.

💬 Hilarious confessions about building a business while second-guessing everything — including whether you should've just stayed in bed.

💬 Sage advice from Meg on failing forward, outsourcing the chaos, and why “perfect moms” don’t exist (thank goodness).

💬 A glimpse into her business, Profound Wellness, where she helps people unlock their inner wisdom, heal, and create a life that actually feels good — not just looks good.

✨ If you’ve ever felt like you were jumping out of a plane and stitching your parachute on the way down — you're gonna feel right at home here.

💌 Connect with Meg and her work at:

🔗 ⁠profoundwellness.net/about⁠

📷 Instagram: ⁠@profoundwellnessco⁠

XOXO,

Amy

🎧 Ways to listen! 👉 ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/themotherloadpod⁠⁠

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#MotherLoadPodcast #FailForward #GentleParenting #HolisticHealing #ProfoundWellness #MomLifeUnfiltered #HoldingSpace #RecoveringPerfectionist #MompreneurLife #AuthenticMotherhood

Get ready for laughter, love, and the most unforgettable cupcake story you’ve ever heard. In our second episode of The Mother Load Mother's Day series, Emilie Reyes and her son Bennett bring all the heart (and hilarity).

🧁 Bennett kicks things off with a story about his mom’s “dinner cupcakes” — a salty surprise that’s now one of his all-time favorite memories.
🎮 He spills the tea on his love for the arcade (which turns out to be Emilie’s favorite activity) and shares how he earns his own money doing chores.
📚 Emilie reflects on Bennett’s responsible nature, his grown-up taste buds, and how much he loves to read.
🎤 And just wait until you hear the heartfelt messages they share with each other — and Bennett’s bold prediction that this episode is going viral!

A YES Day is coming, and this sweet, silly, love-filled episode is the perfect reminder of what makes moms so special. Don’t miss it!

#TheMotherLoad #MothersDaySeries #YesDayMagic #WorkingMomLife #FamilyFun #ParentingPodcast

We’re launching our Mother’s Day “Mommy & Me” series on The Mother Load — and it’s everything we hoped for and more! 💕

In this unfiltered, unedited, joy-filled episode, Amy sits down with Ashley and her two amazing kiddos — Brody and Roxy — for a conversation that’s full of laughs, heart, and some truly honest moments only kids can deliver.

Here’s what you’ll love:
🧠 Brody shares his insight, that he goes to school to learn what he loves, while mom goes to work to help people — doing what she loves.
🏡 The best part? They come back together each night to spend time as a family
🎉 Brody brings up a YES day — a theme that keeps showing up in our Mother’s Day episodes and has us all inspired to say YES to more memory-making. Just do it, Mamas!
🎭 Roxy adds her sparkle, costumes, and comedy to the mix!
👩‍👧‍👦 Ashley shares some grounding tips for finding balance as a working mom, making lunches easier, and of course we touch on self care (you’ll want to write these down!)

This episode is real, warm, and a beautiful reminder that even when we’re pulled in a million directions, love and togetherness are always the goal.

🎧 Tune in now to kick off this special series and celebrate motherhood through the voices that matter most — our kids.

XOXO,

Amy

🎧 Ways to listen! 👉 ⁠https://linktr.ee/themotherloadpod⁠

🎶 Positive Uplifting Music For YouTube Videos by Universfield -- ⁠License: Attribution 4.0⁠

#TheMotherLoadPodcast #MommyAndMe #MothersDaySeries #YesDayVibes #WorkingMomMagic #UnfilteredMotherhood #BrodyAndRoxyUnplugged #FamilyFirstAlways

In this powerful episode, I chat with Amanda Pregler, a working mom navigating life with a daughter who has health challenges. She shares how vital it is to work for an employer who supports moms when family needs come first.

We also dive into The Anxious Generation, discussing how social media impacts both parents and kids—and how Amanda’s learned to protect her peace while showing up for her daughter.

Highlights include:

🌿 Advocating for family-first flexibility at work📚 Reflections on The Anxious Generation📵 Social media’s impact on moms and kids🧘‍♀️ Self-care strategies and real-life advice for overwhelmed parents

💛 Tune in now wherever you listen to podcasts! 🎧

#WorkingMomLife #ParentingInTheDigitalAge #FamilyFirst
#MentalHealthMatters #SelfCareForMoms

XOXO,

Amy

🎧 Ways to listen! 👉⁠https://linktr.ee/themotherloadpod⁠

🎶 Positive UpliftingMusic For YouTube Videos by Universfield -- ⁠License: Attribution 4.0⁠