The Stepmom Diaries | Blended Family & Stepmom Support Podcast

It can be really hard when you feel like you're forcing communication while the other house just doesn't want to make it work. The good news is, you and your partner have options.

We'll talk about what you can do when coparenting seems impossible - and more - in this episode.

Resources Mentioned In This Episode:

Stepfamily Magazine

Join the waitlist for my popular BLENDED Family Formula course and get a free sneak peek at the formula!

In today's episode, I talk to Naja Hall, founder of Blended and Black and VIP Stepmom and host of the podcast, I Know I'm Crazy. Naja describes her life's work as being "to teach empathy, accountability, and emotional intelligence in order to serve individuals and families that are affected by some of life's toughest transitions." I'd say she's succeeded. She serves stepmoms with a dedication, humor, and empathy that gives stepmoms the tools to cope with all the challenges.

And y'all, we talk about everything in this no holds barred discussion. Us two "country girls" had a blast talking about all the things. Naja gives it to you straight with love and laughter - you won't want to miss her!

You can find Naja at:

Blended and Black

VIP Stepmom

I Know I'm Crazy Podcast

You can follow her here on Instagram and Facebook.

I was thrilled to talk with Dr. Patricia Papernow in this episode. Dr. Papernow is one of the top experts in the world working with blended families and if you attended The Stepmom Summit last month, you heard some amazing advice from her. If you missed it, don't worry - you can still get access to her talk and all of the content from the three day event HERE.

Dr. Papernow has taught about blended families all over the U.S. and the world. She brings forty years of clinical experience helping stepfamilies, and a solid grounding in the current research about what works (and what doesn't) to build a thriving, healthy "blended family."

Dr. Papernow is the author of Surviving and Thriving in Stepfamily Relationships: What Works and What Doesn't, and, with Karen Bonnell, The Stepfamily Handbook: From Dating, to Getting Serious to Forming a "Blended Family." You can find both books on my recommended list of stepmom resources HERE.

Dr. Papernow is a member of the Experts Council of National Stepfamily Resource Center and the recipient of the 2017 award for Distinguished Contribution to Family Psychology from the American Psychological Association.

A few of her appearances include Good Morning America, the Today Show, the Washington Post, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and many, many others. She graduated from Harvard University and earned a Doctorate from Boston University.

In today's episode, we talk about all. the. things. We start with the 5 challenges identified by Dr. Papernow that face stepmoms. And she gives us some great advice on how to deal with it all.

You can find Dr. Papernow and all the resources she offers on her site at www.stepfamilyrelationships.com.

You can find her books, along with more great resources, HERE.

And don't forget, you can still get unlimited access to Dr. Papernow and the rest of the 23 top stepmom experts from around the world who spoke at The Stepmom Summit HERE.

Being a stepmom can be so hard - and sometimes you want someone to break it down and give you the tough love. The real advice with no sugarcoating. That person is Maarit Miller and in today's episode, we talk to her about all the tough things. The issues like high-conflict relationships, parental alienation, and more. And she's got some great advice for anyone who's struggling.

www.blendedfamilyfrappe.com

Instagram

Maarit will also be speaking at The Stepmom Summit August 26-28, 2021. You won't want to miss it.

The Stepmom Summit, is a premier, virtual event just for stepmoms. We have 23 of the top experts from around the world who will sharing stories, support, advice, guidance, and connection to help stepmoms from all walks of live navigate their blended families.

You can find out more at thestepmomsummit.com. I hope we'll see you there!

Figuring out when it's time to take a step back and learning how to do it is no joke for stepmoms. And today's guest, Dr. Erin Careless, is going to tell you how to do it in a way that helps both you and your stepfamily.

Dr. Careless, a self-described recovering people-pleaser, has a PhD in adult education focusing on stepmothering, is a Certified Stepfamily Coach, and the owner of Steplife: Stepmom Coaching and Support. She is also a Director of Adult Learning and Teaching at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She lives just a few feet from the ocean in Nova Scotia, Canada, and the beach is a favourite spot for her and her kids.

You can find Erin at https://www.steplife.biz.

She's also on Instagram and Facebook.

Dr. Careless is also one of the renowned experts speaking at the upcoming Stepmom Summit, August 26-28. You can find out more and get your FREE ticket HERE.

Being a BOLD Stepmom

Today's guest is Jessica Frew. She is a wife, ex-wife, mom, stepmom, and BOLD action taker. She has a successful podcast called "Husband in Law" that she records with her husband, Matt, and her ex-husband, Steve. Together they share their stories of love, marriage, coming out, divorce, remarriage, and co-parenting to help others know they are not alone.

Jessica is also a speaker at our upcoming Stepmom Summit, where she'll be talking about LGBTQ issues in blended families with religious differences. You will not want to miss it!

• On Instagram
• TheBoldLogic.com
• Husband In Law Podcast on iTunes or wherever you listen to podcasts

THE STEPMOM SUMMIT

Jessica will also be speaking at The Stepmom Summit August 26-28, 2021. You won't want to miss it.

The Stepmom Summit, is a premier, virtual event just for stepmoms. We have 23 of the top experts from around the world who will sharing stories, support, advice, guidance, and connection to help stepmoms from all walks of live navigate their blended families.

You can find out more at www.thestepmomsummit.com. I hope we'll see you there!

In this episode, we talk to Brittany Lynch, the founder & CEO of Stepqueen and the host of top-ranked relationship podcast: Queen of your Castle. Brittany helps stepmoms from around the world to release the jealousy, resentment, anger, and insecurity that come with stepfamily life.

With nearly a decade of experience as a Registered Nurse, a post-degree certification in Stepfamily Counselling from the Stepfamily Foundation, Brittany has become a beacon of hope for countless stepmoms who long for a life of peace, acceptance, and security.

Brittany is also one of our speakers at the premier virtual stepmom experience, The Stepmom Summit, August 26 – 28 and you won't want to miss her talk!

• At www.stepqueen.com
• On Instagram
• Queen of Your Castle podcast on iTunes (or wherever you listen to podcasts)

Brittany will also be speaking at the virtual The Stepmom Summit August 26-28, 2021 and you can get your FREE ticket HERE.

The Stepmom Summit is a three-day, FREE virtual event just for stepmoms. The summit will feature 23 of the top experts from around the world who will share stories, support, advice, guidance, and connection to help stepmoms from all walks of live navigate their blended families.

You can find out more at www.thestepmomsummit.com. I hope we'll see you there!

In this episode, Megan Hunter, co-founder of the High Conflict Institute and Conflict Playbook, talks to us about why there's more to high-conflict personalities than meets the eye. And how you, as a stepmom, can deal with them.

Megan, along with author and speaker, Bill Eddy, LCSW, Esq. developed the high-conflict personality theory. She foundedthe Institute after 13 years in policy, legislation, and judicial training with the Arizona Supreme Court, Administrative Office of the Courts, and the Dawes County Attorney's Office in Nebraska. She is also the founder of Unhooked Books Publishing.

Megan has trained professionals across a wide spectrum of professions across the U.S. and 7 countries. She holds an MBA and a B.S. in Business and Economics. She has served as President of the Arizona Chapter of the Association of Family & Conciliation Courts, and the Arizona Family Support Council, and the Nebraska Child Support Enforcement Association. She served 5 years on the Arizona Board of Psychologist Examiners. She is the author and/or co-author of several books, including: Dating Radar, Hiring Radar, BIFF at Work, and The High Conflict Co-Parenting Survival Guide.

She's also a mom of 3, mother-in-law of 2, and stepmom of 5.

Megan is speaking at The Stepmom Summit August 26-28 and you won't want to miss it. Get on the waitlist and grab your ticket HERE.

Connect With Megan At:

High Conflict Institute

Unhooked Books

Instagram: @highconflictinstitute

Welcome to Supersized August! Where you'll get TWO episodes a week in the leadup to The Stepmom Summit August 26 – 28th.

I mentioned the summit to you last week, but I cofounded it with Beth McDonough of The Inclusive Stepmom and we have got an incredible lineup of 23 the world's top experts on all issues affecting stepmoms. High conflict exes, self-care, boundaries, outsider syndrome. You name it, we've got the experts talking about it.

You can get on the waitlist HERE – which is also where you can register once registration opens up. You will NOT want to miss it!

In today's episode, we chat with one of our Stepmom Summit speakers, Kimberly King, about her experience in a multi-cultural stepfamily and how she's dealt with the challenges of blended family life while living in a foreign country.

Born + raised in Southern California to immigrant parents, Kimberly is a Certified Stepfamily Coach, using her knowledge and personal experiences to help blended families navigate their way toward a peaceful and happy home.

As a biracial woman in an interracial and multicultural marriage and family, the former beauty queen turned chef and stepfamily coach is a wealth of knowledge. When she's not helping stepfamilies, you can find her in the kitchen cooking up delightful dishes or doting on her adorable 2 year old.

The Kings have recently traded city life for island life with a move from Los Angeles to Jamaica. Kimberly knows what it's like to have all the odds stacked against you in a blended family.

Connect With Kimberly:

www.honestlymum.com

Instagram @honestly.mum

It's been a hot minute since we had a guest and we have got a great one for you in this episode! We will be talking all about how to make it through the teen years and how you can support the teens in your life.

Dr. Courtney Conley is an author, therapist, parent coach, and author who specializes in working with adolescents. Courtney's passion stems from her own emotional turmoil during her teenage years. Her mission is to equip adolescents with the inner tools needed to successfully navigate their teenage years. She partners with parents to support young people. Courtney's book, Your Daughter Doesn't Have to Be Miserable: An Approach to Supporting Your Teenage Daughter Through Depression, teaches parents strategies to connect with and help their struggling teen. She currently resides in a suburb of Washington D.C. where she continues to serve adolescents and their families in her private practice, Expanding Horizons Counseling and Wellness.

You can find her at www.courtney-conley.com and on Instagram at @dr.courtconley

Dr. Conley will also be speaking at The Stepmom Summit August 26-28, 2021.

I am so excited and proud to be co-founder and sponsor of The Stepmom Summit, which will be a three-day, FREE virtual event just for stepmoms. We have 23 of the top experts from around the world who will sharing stories, support, advice, guidance, and connection to help stepmoms from all walks of live navigate their blended families.

You can find out more at www.thestepmomsummit.com. I hope we'll see you there!