The Sparkle Project

Many new moms are impacted by OCD and intrusive thoughts - and yet education surrounding these experiences is nearly non-exisitent. Psychologist and author Dr. Jenny Yip is discussing what it looks like to experience intrusive thoughts and how moms can seek help to move forward. 

Dr. Jenny Yip and I talk about:

• Her personal experience with OCD growing up
• What obsessions and compulsions with OCD can look like
• Types of intrusive thoughts new mothers experience
• Evidence-based strategies to address OCD
• The importance of self-maitenence and boundaries

A little about our guest:
Dr. Jenny Yip, PsyD, ABPP, is a Board Certified Clinical Psychologist, author, and speaker with over two decades of experience in treating severe OCD and anxiety disorders. Inspired by her personal struggles with OCD, Dr. Yip has dedicated her career to helping individuals and families overcome mental health challenges. A nationally recognized expert, Dr. Yip developed the Family Systems Based Strategic CBT and has been featured in various media outlets. She co-hosts the Stress Less Life Podcast and serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the USC Keck School of Medicine. Dr. Yip is also a Board Certified Behavioral & Cognitive Psychologist and actively participates in numerous professional boards and committees aimed at improving mental wellness. Dr. Yip’s pioneering work includes founding the Renewed Freedom Center in Los Angeles in 2008, which offers advanced treatment for OCD and anxiety disorders, and establishing the Little Thinkers Center in 2016, which helps children develop critical and creative thinking skills to overcome academic challenges. Her previous book, “Productive, Successful has been widely acclaimed for its practical approach to managing anxiety.

To connect with Dr. Jenny Yip, follow her on Instagram @drjennyyip or visit her website www.dryip.com. You can also check out her new book Hello Baby Goodbye, Intrusive Thoughts: Stop the Spiral of Anxiety and OCD to Reclaim Wellness on Your Motherhood Journey.

Other resources mentioned in the episode:
https://iocdf.org
https://adaa.org

If you found this episode valuable, share it with other moms in your life. Follow along with The Worthy Mother Podcast on Instagram @emily.rose.hardy and @worthymotherpodcast, and don’t forget to subscribe wherever you listen!

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Parenting coach Aly Pain believes we are setting moms AND teens up to fail by not providing proper education and support for what actually happens to the brain during the teenage years. In this episode, we are digging into why raising teens can be such a challenge, and how our society can better prepare parents for this chapter. 

Aly and I talk about:

• The complexities of the teenage brain
• The emotional rollercoaster of parenting a teen without education and support
• How research-based parenting ideologies have shifted, but practice hasn't caught up
• Our obsession with compliance and capability
• The need for compassion and connection in parenting

A little about our guest:
Growing up, Aly was the smart, fun girl on the outside and a frantic, anxious mess on the inside, going from award winning student and athlete to detention and failing out. She spent years healing the pain of dysfunctional family relationships, including an eating disorder, suicide attempt, and ADHD diagnosis to break the cycle raising her own sons. Since becoming a Certified Life Coach and Certified Relationship Systems Coach in 2006, Aly has empowered parents and teachers around the world to rebuild mutual respect, trust, and meaningful connection with their teens without giving in, daily nagging, or more consequences. She's been featured in the New York Post, ABC Nightly News and the Rachael Ray Show.

To connect with Aly, follow her on Instagram @alypain, TikTok @alypain or Facebook.

If you found this episode valuable, share it with other moms in your life. Follow along with The Worthy Mother Podcast on Instagram @emily.rose.hardy and @worthymotherpodcast, and don’t forget to subscribe wherever you listen!

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This is a Self-Care Snippet from Worthy Mother Podcast. As mothers, we need to prioritize our own care. Within this few-minute long episode, you will hear how our past guests prioritize their own self-care and some tips on how you can do the same.

Tune in to the full episode Energized Motherhood, Fulfilled Life with Nadine Stille.

Like what you hear? Make sure you are subscribed to Worthy Mother Podcast wherever you like to listen.

For more motherhood content and support, connect with me on Instagram @emily.rose.hardy. Follow the podcast on Instagram @worthymotherpodcast.

You are worthy, Mama.

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Finding affordable, quality childcare can feel (and sometimes be) impossible in many parts of the United States. This week, I'm having a conversation about the childcare crisis with Shannon Bonardy and Tabita Ramos, two moms from opposite sides of the country who have struggled to find childcare for their families and are now advocating for change with the organization Mother Forward.

We talk about:

• Personal challenges finding affordable, quality childcare 
• The impact that lack of accessible and available childcare can have on members of the community
• What happens when moms have to leave their careers because they can't find childcare
• Why we need to stop viewing the childcare crisis as a "mom issue"
• How moms can get involved to advocate for change

A little about our guests:

Shannon Bonardy is a hearing impaired, multiracial, working mom of 2 toddlers. While her family was experiencing the formula shortage, she found support via social media and moms across the nation. She wanted to create an encouraging, judgement-free space for other moms to connect and build a community where moms can support, inspire, and celebrate each other.

Tabita Ramos is a mom of 2 from sunny San Diego, California. She is advocating for change with Mother Forward.

To connect with Shannon, follow her on Instagram @shanb_mamasqd. Catch Shannon, Tabita, and other cool moms at the Mother Forward Discord server. Learn more about Mother Forward at www.motherforward.org.

If you found this episode valuable, share it with other moms in your life. Follow along with The Worthy Mother Podcast on Instagram @emily.rose.hardy and @worthymotherpodcast, and don’t forget to subscribe wherever you listen!

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There is so much pressure - both internally and externally - on moms to always be doing more and doing better. It's hard not to feel like we are constantly failing. No wonder we tend to be so hard on ourselves!

In this episode, I'm breaking down why we need to stop being so hard on ourselves and what we can do to bring more self-compassion into our lives. From redefining what it means to be successful day-to-day as a mom, to celebrating the small wins, there is a lot to take and use in your own life to stop being so hard on yourself.

If you found this episode valuable, share it with other moms in your life. Follow along with The Worthy Mother Podcast on Instagram @emily.rose.hardy and @worthymotherpodcast, and don’t forget to subscribe wherever you listen!

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This is a Self-Care Snippet from Worthy Mother Podcast. As mothers, we need to prioritize our own care. Within this few-minute long episode, you will hear how our past guests prioritize their own self-care and some tips on how you can do the same.

Tune in to the full episode Living Unapologetically and Breaking Out Of Society's Mold with Michele Johnston.

Like what you hear? Make sure you are subscribed to Worthy Mother Podcast wherever you like to listen.

For more motherhood content and support, connect with me on Instagram @emily.rose.hardy. Follow the podcast on Instagram @worthymotherpodcast.

You are worthy, Mama.

Send us Fan Mail

What counts as self-care? What is considered enough? These are some of the conversations that are happening online when it comes to moms learning to care for themselves. This week, life coach for moms Amanda de la Madriz is back on the podcast as we tackle our own complex thoughts on the issue of self-care in motherhood - and she boils it all down to understanding self-care as self-connection.

In this episode, Amanda and I talk about:

• Current conversations happening about self-care on social media
• The intention behind self-care
• Why we can't clearly define what is "enough" self-care
• Eliminating shame from the conversation
• How self-connection can be viewed as the essence of self-care

A little about our guest:
Amanda is a Certified Life + Mindset Coach who focuses on teaching mothers how to love their mom lives so that they can drop the guilt and feel better. Working as a Career Coach since 2013, Amanda decided to dedicate herself solely to raising her children in 2016. And after experiencing the trials of pandemic parent life as a stay at home mom, she realized the desire to help other parents beat the burnout in their lives. Most recently certified through The Life Coach School, she has also now added thoughtwork to her toolset in order to help clients shift their mindset as well as achieve their goals. Her passion is entrenched in providing a fun and supportive space for her clients to unpack their brains and see what’s really going on, so that they’re able to make lasting changes in their lives.

To connect with Amanda, follow her on Instagram @thatmomlife_coaching or TikTok @thatmomlife_coaching. You can also visit her website www.thatmomlifecoaching.com.

If you found this episode valuable, share it with other moms in your life. Follow along with The Worthy Mother Podcast on Instagram @emily.rose.hardy and @worthymotherpodcast, and don’t forget to subscribe wherever you listen!

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Yoga and meditation can be powerful tools when it comes to self-regulation and stress management in motherhood. In this episode, Gabrielle is sharing how her difficult transition into motherhood led her to discover the power of yoga, and how she has chosen to support other moms in their own journeys of healing and connection. 

In this episode, Gabrielle and I talk about:

• Struggles that can arise in the transition into motherhood 
• The incredible story of how Gabrielle found yoga
• How yoga can help you heal
• Why yoga and meditation are so great for moms in particular
• Understanding that we can't do it all, all at once
• Navigating motherhood as an entrepreneur 

A little about our guest:
Gabrielle Bosnic (CYT-200), is a toddler mom, wife, cat mom, and certified yoga instructor. She owns the online yoga studio made for moms, called Serene Moms, LLC. She is a recovering perfectionist and cheese plate addict. Gabrielle lives in Pennsylvania with her loving family.

To connect with Gabrielle, follow her on Instagram @serenemoms or visit her website www.serenemoms.com.

If you found this episode valuable, share it with other moms in your life. Follow along with The Worthy Mother Podcast on Instagram @emily.rose.hardy and @worthymotherpodcast, and don’t forget to subscribe wherever you listen!

Send us Fan Mail

This is a Self-Care Snippet from Worthy Mother Podcast. As mothers, we need to prioritize our own care. Within this few-minute long episode, you will hear how our past guests prioritize their own self-care and some tips on how you can do the same.

Tune in to the full episode The Impacts of Parenthood On Our Partnerships with Christie Sears Thompson.

Like what you hear? Make sure you are subscribed to Worthy Mother Podcast wherever you like to listen.

For more motherhood content and support, connect with me on Instagram @emily.rose.hardy. Follow the podcast on Instagram @worthymotherpodcast.

You are worthy, Mama.

Send us Fan Mail

The mental load of motherhood is heavy, and many mothers are experiencing the drain and exhaustion of  burnout. Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Megan Velo is joining the podcast to explicitly name the load that mothers are carrying, and share what we can do to combat and manage burnout in the day-to-day. 

In the episode, Megan and I talk about:

• The mental load that so many mothers carry
• What it means to be burned out, and it's important to admit when you feel burned out
• How identity plays into burnout
• Strategies to combat and manage burnout
• Self-awareness when it comes to individual triggers
• Why therapy can be a great tool for addressing burnout

A little about our guest:
Megan Velo is the LMFT behind Mama Therapy House. She has been licensed for 6 years, and since becoming a mom, her heart and passions have shifted to come along side moms struggling with motherhood adjustment.

To connect with Megan, follow her on Instagram @mamatherapyhouse. You can also visit her website www.mamatherapyhouse.com.

If you found this episode valuable, share it with other moms in your life. Follow along with The Worthy Mother Podcast on Instagram @emily.rose.hardy and @worthymotherpodcast, and don’t forget to subscribe wherever you listen!

Send us Fan Mail