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Join Cally and Emily for a candid solo episode as they navigate the final weeks of pregnancy—swollen feet, sciatica, pregnancy rage, and all. They share sweet moments with their kids, from Kieran's first solo kitchen task shelling edamame to Nora's "butt" drawings during a church meeting.

The hosts tackle listener questions, including a powerful book recommendation (Drop the Ball by Tiffany Dufu), thoughts on unconditional love and advocating for your children, and advice for a mom dealing with critical in-laws. They discuss the importance of being on the same team with your partner, knowing when to set boundaries, and trusting your maternal compass when others judge your parenting choices.

Plus, practical reminders about checking your spam folder for their freebies and  updates on their Maternal Compass series with Caitlin Miller.

Topics covered:

• Late pregnancy symptoms and the emotional roller coaster
• Cherishing last moments before baby #2 arrives
• Book recommendation: Drop the Ball by Tiffany Dufu
• Navigating judgment and criticism from family members
• The "let them" theory and setting boundaries
• Advocating for yourself in medical settings

Text us your questions or suggestions through your podcast app!

Links & Discount Codes:

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Host & Show Info

Hosted by: Cally & Emily O’Leary

About the Hosts: We’re real moms and real sisters. We may look and sound alike, but our motherhood journeys are uniquely ours. We all do Motherhood differently, and thank goodness for that. Let’s learn and grow together. 

Podcast Website: https://therealmomhub.com/

Like what you hear? Let us know!

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Part 2 of our 5-part miniseries on developing your inner maternal wisdom

Ever wondered what it would be like to sit in on one of our therapy sessions? This week, Emily sits down with therapist Caitlin Ruby Miller to identify exactly which voice is drowning out her maternal compass. What emerges is a beer-bellied Disney character who might be saying something important about worth, rest, and what happens when achievers become stay-at-home moms. Turns out, he doesn't want to talk to someone who's disgusted by him.

Main Topics & Discussion

The Guilt That Lives in Your Marriage

Emily expected mom guilt to center around her toddler. Instead? It's showing up in her relationship with Kyle – around their single-income arrangement, who's sacrificing what, and whose needs are going unmet. The conversation explores how modern motherhood forces difficult choices and why sometimes the injustice isn't about your kids at all.

When Your "Lazy" Part Has a Face

Through Caitlin's questions, a character emerges: disheveled, beer-bellied, kind of gross. He represents the terror of becoming someone who doesn't maximize potential. And when Caitlin asks Emily to engage with him? The HORROR! The theme is discomfort, but the technique leads to a deeper conversation about what basic human dignity looks like. We'll call that a win.

The CEO vs. The Schlub

Emily's operating in scarcity mode around time, money, and energy in ways she never has before. Meanwhile, another part – the CEO in the pantsuit – keeps asking "were you intentional today?" The tension between these voices reveals something crucial about identity, productivity, and what we actually value.

Resources & Next Steps

Download the Worksheet: Practice identifying your own internal voices. FREE resource from Caitlin.

Learn more about Caitlin: [Website/Instagram]

This podcast is educational only and not a substitute for professional mental health care.

Links & Discount Codes:

8Sheep Organics: Click this link for 10% off your purchase!

Kindred Bravely: THEREALMOMHUB15 for 15% off!

Host & Show Info

Hosted by: Cally & Emily O’Leary

About the Hosts: We’re real moms and real sisters. We may look and sound alike, but our motherhood journeys are uniquely ours. We all do Motherhood differently, and thank goodness for that. Let’s learn and grow together. 

Podcast Website: https://therealmomhub.com/

Like what you hear? Let us know!

• Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify – Help others discover the show!
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Dr. Deon Cox-Hayley is a geriatrician, author, mom, and grandma. Her career treating elderly patients gave her unique insight into who ages well—and who struggles. The fiercely independent approach American culture glorifies often backfires. This conversation explores how interdependence shapes both aging and motherhood, and the richness that happens when we prepare for needing help instead of pretending we never will.

The Responsibility No One Warns You About: Dr. Deon remembers early motherhood's shock wasn't the love—it was the weight of responsibility. That sense of responsibility, she now realizes, prepared her for the full-spectrum caregiving she does today: writing, caring for her 89-year-old parents, watching her grandchildren. The thread connecting early motherhood to eldercare is that same feeling—profound responsibility for people you love.

What Chicago's South Side Taught a Geriatrician: Working at the University of Chicago in a predominantly African American community changed how Dr. Deon understood aging. There were no nursing homes in the area—multigenerational caregiving was the cultural norm. Families cared for bed-bound relatives right in their dining rooms, with teenage grandchildren learning to troubleshoot medical equipment. One 102 year-old woman lived independently despite having no family or financial resources because she'd spent decades building chosen family through tutoring, mentoring, and church involvement. When she needed help, that community reciprocated. Dr. Deon contrasts this with patients who insisted they could do everything themselves—until they suddenly couldn't, and found themselves isolated.

Three Themes for Aging Well: Dr. Deon's book outlines three patterns among people who aged well: cultivating interdependence rather than clinging to independence, living in the present moment, and staying other-centered rather than self-absorbed. The measuring stick for "aging well" isn't perfect health—it's contentedness versus deep dissatisfaction. The parallel to motherhood is striking: accepting help, being present with your kids, serving your family and community—these aren't just survival strategies for new moms, they're lifelong practices. 

Links & Discount Codes:

8Sheep Organics: Click this link for 10% off your purchase!

Kindred Bravely: THEREALMOMHUB15 for 15% off!

Host & Show Info

Hosted by: Cally & Emily O’Leary

About the Hosts: We’re real moms and real sisters. We may look and sound alike, but our motherhood journeys are uniquely ours. We all do Motherhood differently, and thank goodness for that. Let’s learn and grow together. 

Podcast Website: https://therealmomhub.com/

Like what you hear? Let us know!

• Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify – Help others discover the show!
• Join the Conversation – Join us on social (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok), or send us a message at [email protected] to let us know what you'd like to hear more of.
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Part 1 of our 5-part miniseries on developing your inner Maternal Compass

What if the answer to confidence in motherhood isn't another expert opinion, another app or product, but something you already have inside you? This week, therapist Caitlin Ruby Miller introduces the concept of our Maternal Compass – a way to organize the chaos of competing thoughts, and even learn from our unpleasant intrusive thoughts. By developing identity,  autonomy, and confidence, we're able to discern into being the kind of mothers we want to be—not the one others say we should be.

Main Topics & Discussion

Why Your Inner Wisdom is MIA: Modern motherhood has created a peculiar problem: we've swung from honoring instinct and ancestral wisdom to Googling every decision and receiving too many opinions and judgements from social media for us to effectively sift through. This noise leaves most moms feeling too overloaded to connect to their own wisdom, and this miniseries offers tools to tap into it.

From Spiral to Action (And Why the Stakes Aren't What You Think): What if instead of fighting your intrusive thoughts, you actually listened to them? We explore how overthinking becomes a breeding ground for maternal anxiety and why taking action – even imperfect action – beats endless mental loops. Using Internal Family Systems (IFS), Caitlin gives us tools to help sift through anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and external opinions to identify the quieter, grounded inner wisdom that guides decisions with strength, calm and clarity. Your internal voices deserve to be heard – but not necessarily obeyed.  After all, who's really running the show?

Resources & Links 

• Download the free companion worksheet for Episode 1: [Get it here]
• Learn more about Caitlin Ruby Miller: [Website/Instagram]

This podcast is meant for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional mental health care. 

Links & Discount Codes:

8Sheep Organics: Click this link for 10% off your purchase!

Kindred Bravely: THEREALMOMHUB15 for 15% off!

Host & Show Info

Hosted by: Cally & Emily O’Leary

About the Hosts: We’re real moms and real sisters. We may look and sound alike, but our motherhood journeys are uniquely ours. We all do Motherhood differently, and thank goodness for that. Let’s learn and grow together. 

Podcast Website: https://therealmomhub.com/

Like what you hear? Let us know!

• Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify – Help others discover the show!
• Join the Conversation – Join us on social (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok), or send us a message at [email protected] to let us know what you'd like to hear more of.
• Share this episode – If you e...

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Kalin Sheick started Sweetwater Floral with $500, a ping pong table and zero business experience. Now she's a nationally recognized entrepreneur who's redefining what it means to thrive as a working mom and baller business woman.  With keeping hobbies as a top priority, not questioning family McDonald's dinners when the season is busy, and absolutely zero apologies, she's building an intentional life full of the good stuff.

Main Topics & Discussion

Building a Business While Building a Family

From fertility struggles to three kids in three years, Kaitlyn's entrepreneurial journey collided head-on with motherhood in the most chaotic way possible. When her daughter was born early and spent time in the NICU during their busiest wedding season, everything imploded - and that breakdown became the breakthrough that transformed their business. Sometimes the worst thing that happens becomes the catalyst for the best thing.

The Hobby Revolution

Here's where things get spicy: Kalin believes every woman needs hobbies that produce zero results. Not side hustles, not "monetize your passion" projects - actual hobbies that exist purely for joy. Golf, sourdough baking, mahjong, and wellness journeys that don't need to make Instagram content. She challenges the notion that moms should lose themselves in the "mom era" and argues for reclaiming multiple identities beyond motherhood.

Delusional Confidence and Strategic Failure

With a "done is better than perfect" philosophy, Kalin shares her most spectacular failures - from missing speaking engagements to tanking on QVC. Her secret weapon? The ability to compartmentalize mistakes without taking them personally. When you've experienced real stress (hello, NICU), business failures get put in perspective quickly. She operates on the principle that if you're not failing 20% of the time, you're not trying enough new things.

Find Kalin on Instagram @kalinsheick and check out her podcast, Lucky Girls Don't Quit. 

Links & Discount Codes:

8Sheep Organics: Click this link for 10% off your purchase!

Kindred Bravely: THEREALMOMHUB15 for 15% off!

Host & Show Info

Hosted by: Cally & Emily O’Leary

About the Hosts: We’re real moms and real sisters. We may look and sound alike, but our motherhood journeys are uniquely ours. We all do Motherhood differently, and thank goodness for that. Let’s learn and grow together. 

Podcast Website: https://therealmomhub.com/

Like what you hear? Let us know!

• Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify – Help others discover the show!
• Join the Conversation – Join us on social (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok), or send us a message at [email protected] to let us know what you'd like to hear more of.
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Motherhood challenges all of us, and it invites us to expand. Meet Bernadette Catalana, the author & powerhouse lawyer who took the LSAT seven months pregnant, aced law school with two babies at home, & now lives her best life in NYC just minutes from her grown daughters. This conversation will make you question everything you think you know about motherhood, ambition, & what's actually possible when you stop playing small.

Main Topics & Discussion

When Motherhood Becomes Your Superpower: Bernadette shares her journey into motherhood, & how becoming a mom at 23 gave her confidence she'd never had before. While most people thought she was crazy for applying to law school with a newborn & another on the way, she knew she wanted her daughters to be proud of her. We dive deep into how the right kind of pressure can transform you, why some of the best decisions look insane to everyone else, & how trusting yourself as a mother extends to trusting yourself in every other area of life.

The Art of Intentional vs. Reactive Parenting: We talk about the shift from parenting out of childhood wounds to parenting from a place of strength and joy. We dive into how she broke family cycles & the crucial role forgiveness plays in creating the family dynamic she wanted. Her approach to difficult conversations with her daughters will change how you handle the tough moments in your own life.

Raising Daughters Who Actually Want to Hang Out With You: Bernadette and her daughters are so close that one lived with her as roommates in NYC, and they still vacation together with their partners. She shares the mindset shifts that made this possible & the writing project that helped her process her mother's final years & created a beautiful legacy for her family. 

Connect: Instagram | LinkedIn | Website | Get the Book: Daughter Lessons

Links & Discount Codes:

8Sheep Organics: Click this link for 10% off your purchase!

Kindred Bravely: THEREALMOMHUB15 for 15% off!

Host & Show Info

Hosted by: Cally & Emily O’Leary

About the Hosts: We’re real moms and real sisters. We may look and sound alike, but our motherhood journeys are uniquely ours. We all do Motherhood differently, and thank goodness for that. Let’s learn and grow together. 

Podcast Website: https://therealmomhub.com/

Like what you hear? Let us know!

• Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify – Help others discover the show!
• Join the Conversation – Join us on social (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok), or send us a message at [email protected] to let us know what you'd like to hear more of.
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We're back on the mics after a restful, joy-filled, brief summer hiatus full of family fun and relaxation... and honestly? That's fake news. Between broken arms, cast-wearing toddlers, and gestational diabetes surprises, this episode is a real reality check. Tune in for the tea; stay for the perspective shifts we're employing to make sure we stay in the drivers seat of this enfolding chaotic ride.

Main Topics & Discussion

The Art of Surviving When Everything Goes Sideways

Cal kicks it off with a banger of a month: Her husband's bike accident left him with two broken elbows, unable to feed himself, pick up the kids, or basically function as a human adult. Meanwhile, she's pregnant and trying to sell their house. Because apparently the universe has a twisted sense of humor when it comes to timing. It's a masterclass in mom resilience and the kind of crisis management they don't teach you in parenting books. Should we be concerned she's still laughing and in good spirits?

Pregnancy Plot Twists and Birth Plan Reality Checks

Meanwhile, Emily is currently faced with the reality that her expectations for a non-medicated VBAC might need a reality check due to her gestational diabetes diagnosis (paired with the complications of her previous labor/delivery). This is not a time to panic and play defense. Emily is firmly in the offensive position and using this curveball to completely reframe her thinking about birth choices. We dive into the polarized world of natural, unmedicated births vs traditional hospital births, and envision a comfortable space in between for all the "Scrunchy" moms out there. The discussion about historical maternal mortality rates? Chef's kiss for perspective. This isn't just about birth plans – it's about how we define empowerment and make peace with plans changing.

Childlike Joy

Through all the medical drama and family dysfunction, there are these beautiful glimpses of childhood magic happening. These moments of pure kid joy provide the perfect counterbalance to the adult stress, reminding us why we do this whole parenting thing in the first place. Sometimes the best part of your day is watching your children belly-laugh at something completely inappropriate.

Links & Discount Codes:

8Sheep Organics: Click this link for 10% off your purchase!

Kindred Bravely: THEREALMOMHUB15 for 15% off!

Host & Show Info

Hosted by: Cally & Emily O’Leary

About the Hosts: We’re real moms and real sisters. We may look and sound alike, but our motherhood journeys are uniquely ours. We all do Motherhood differently, and thank goodness for that. Let’s learn and grow together. 

Podcast Website: https://therealmomhub.com/

Like what you hear? Let us know!

• Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify – Help others discover the show!
• Join the Conversation – Join us on social (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok), or send us a message at [email protected] to let us know what you'd like to hear more of.
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Kate Arbogast spills the tea on seven months of new motherhood - from realizing she's not actually a baby person (despite being a kindergarten teacher) to balancing roles with her partner differently than she imagined. Raw talk about bounce-back pressure, unexpected grief healing, and why modern mom villages look nothing like we imagined.

Main Topics & Discussion

The Reality Check of Early Motherhood:

Kate drops some serious truth about the gap between expectations and reality. Despite being amazing with kids professionally, she discovered that babies (even your own) can be complete mysteries. The instantaneous intimacy of motherhood hit differently than expected: suddenly you're responsible for keeping this person alive, but you've literally just met. No coffee dates, no getting-to-know-you phase - just immediate, intense responsibility for someone who's essentially a stranger.

The Bounce-Back Pressure Is Real (And Mostly Self-Imposed):

Seven months postpartum, Kate has started a new job, become a dance fitness instructor, and expanded her social circle. But here's the kicker - most of that pressure to achieve these things came from within. She talks honestly about overcorrecting against the fear of losing herself in motherhood. The internal battle between wanting to maintain your pre-baby identity while also being present for this massive life change is exhausting and rarely discussed with this level of honesty.

Grief, Legacy, and Unexpected Healing:

Kate opens up about losing her father eight years ago and how she expected his absence to hit hard during Ruby's birth. Instead, she found unexpected healing - realizing that Ruby carries pieces of him genetically and feeling his presence during labor (which happened to fall on the anniversary of his death). Sometimes the anticipation of grief is worse than the actual experience, and sometimes new life brings surprising comfort to old wounds.

Links & Discount Codes:

8Sheep Organics: Click this link for 10% off your purchase!

Kindred Bravely: THEREALMOMHUB15 for 15% off!

Host & Show Info

Hosted by: Cally & Emily O’Leary

About the Hosts: We’re real moms and real sisters. We may look and sound alike, but our motherhood journeys are uniquely ours. We all do Motherhood differently, and thank goodness for that. Let’s learn and grow together. 

Podcast Website: https://therealmomhub.com/

Like what you hear? Let us know!

• Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify – Help others discover the show!
• Join the Conversation – Join us on social (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok), or send us a message at [email protected] to let us know what you'd like to hear more of.
• Share this episode – If you e...

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Think pregnancy is all glowing skin and baby kicks? Think again. We're spilling the tea on the bizarre, hilarious things about pregnancy that are giving us the "ick" this time around. From your partner's breathing becoming offensive to crying over dropped socks, we're diving into pregnancy symptoms nobody mentions. You'll either relate way too hard, or question what kind of aliens our bodies are producing. NOTE: If you are experiencing a truly difficult pregnancy, please ignore this episode and tune in next week. Sending love and support.

Main Topics & Discussion

The Sensory Betrayal: When Your Body Turns Against Everything You Once Loved

Pregnancy doesn't just change your body – it stages a full sensory coup. Your favorite foods become enemies, your deodorant makes you gag, and chewing sounds feel like nails on a chalkboard. From tomatoes turning into public enemy number one to your toothbrush feeling like daily betrayal, we explore how pregnancy hormones rewire your relationship with everything. 

The Physical Comedy of Late Pregnancy: When Your Body Becomes a Stranger

Your belly starts bumping into everything, constantly hitting counter-height buttons and starting dishwasher cycles you never intended. Looking at your feet becomes like spotting distant acquaintances, and shaving below the belly turns into a faith-based endeavor. We dive into feeling your uterus flop like a waterbed, feeling like your baby is trying to escape via cervix trap door, and the inexplicable rage when your boobs dare touch each other.

The Emotional Minefield: Irrational Reactions and Partner Crimes

Your partner's existence becomes temporarily offensive – their breathing is wrong, their chewing is a personal attack, and their breath suddenly smells impossibly heavy during sleep. And yes, these are the same humans we've lived with for years, who are currently giving us extra care, grace & and support. Maternity jeans? Empowering to some, and an insult to dignity to others. We unpack why people think it's appropriate to say you're "glowing" when it's obviously sweat and why the advice to "sleep while you can" deserves its own circle of advice hell.

Links & Discount Codes:

8Sheep Organics: Click this link for 10% off your purchase!

Kindred Bravely: THEREALMOMHUB15 for 15% off!

Host & Show Info

Hosted by: Cally & Emily O’Leary

About the Hosts: We’re real moms and real sisters. We may look and sound alike, but our motherhood journeys are uniquely ours. We all do Motherhood differently, and thank goodness for that. Let’s learn and grow together. 

Podcast Website: https://therealmomhub.com/

Like what you hear? Let us know!

• Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify – Help others discover the show!
• Join the Conversation – Join us on social (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok), or send us a message at [email protected] to let us know what you'd like to hear more of.
• Share this episode – If you e...

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Ever find yourself eating Target ravioli straight from the package? Same. Join us for an unfiltered chat about feeding families when you're exhausted, overwhelmed, and just trying to get food on the table and also into tiny bellies (and still remember the adults). We're spilling the tea on our grocery shopping fails, weird kid food phases, and why sometimes "good enough" nutrition is actually perfect. Plus: our Costco obsessions and easy meal hacks that actually work.

Grab our Real Mom Meal Guide here

Main Topics & Discussion

The Reality of Mom Life Grocery Shopping

The most relatable mom moment - standing in Target, starving, buying Good & Gather ravioli because survival trumps meal planning. This isn't about perfect nutrition; it's about the real, messy truth of feeding your family when life gets chaotic. We dive into those "I should have gone to Starbucks first" moments every mom knows, capturing that universal experience of grocery shopping with hungry kids.

Finding Your Food Philosophy as a Mom

Cally embraces "function first" food - meals as fuel that can be enjoyable but needn't be elaborate. Emily leans into cooking joy and flavor exploration while adapting to mom life constraints. We explore how motherhood shifts your relationship with food, from "elite grocery shopper" luxury to navigating food waste anxiety when your toddler refuses yesterday's favorite meal. Different food philosophies can work within the same family - there's no one "right" way.

Practical Shopping Strategies That Actually Work

Real mom grocery shopping tactics across multiple stores: Sam's Club basics (natural peanut butter, cheese sticks, crispy chicken splurge), Aldi pickup strategies, and local co-ops for quality dairy. Learn about the CSA subscription revolutionizing one mom's produce game - from kohlrabi confusion to seasonal eating joy. We tackle the processed food reality check: ingredient line boundaries, "natural flavors" battles worth fighting, and why Target's frozen fruit blend sometimes beats expensive organic alternatives.

Links & Discount Codes:

8Sheep Organics: Click this link for 10% off your purchase!

Kindred Bravely: THEREALMOMHUB15 for 15% off!

Host & Show Info

Hosted by: Cally & Emily O’Leary

About the Hosts: We’re real moms and real sisters. We may look and sound alike, but our motherhood journeys are uniquely ours. We all do Motherhood differently, and thank goodness for that. Let’s learn and grow together. 

Podcast Website: https://therealmomhub.com/

Like what you hear? Let us know!

• Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify – Help others discover the show!
• Join the Conversation – Join us on social (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok), or send us a message at [email protected] to let us know what you'd like to hear more of.
• Share this episode – If you e...