The Stepmom Diaries | Blended Family & Stepmom Support Podcast

By Stepfamily Solutions

The Stepmom Diaries is a podcast for stepmoms navigating blended family life, marriage stress, coparenting conflict, emotional burnout, and the realities nobody talks about.

Hosted by Cameron Normand... more

4.9

6363 ratings

FAQs about The Stepmom Diaries | Blended Family & Stepmom Support Podcast:

How many episodes does The Stepmom Diaries | Blended Family & Stepmom Support Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 150 episodes available.

Best of The Stepmom Diaries | Blended Family & Stepmom Support Podcast

The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

Number 1: What Stepmoms Can Learn From an Adult Stepdaughter | Robin Breuner
What does your stepchild actually need from you, even if they cannot put it into words? In this episode of The Stepmom Diaries, Cameron sits down with Robin Breuner, host of Step Stories: Thriving and Surviving Life in Blended Families, to talk about the stepmom and stepchild relationship from a perspective stepmoms do not often get to hear: the adult stepdaughter looking back. Robin shares what she wishes her own stepmothers had understood, what she now sees differently as an adult, and why giving stepchildren space to maintain their relationship with their biological parent can actually help build trust with a stepparent. In This Episode, You'll Learn: • What Robin wishes her stepmothers had understood about her behavior as a child • Why stepchildren may need one on one time with their biological parent, and why stepmoms should not take that personally • How stepmoms can become a safe adult without trying to replace a child's mother • Why education and realistic expectations matter before and during stepfamily life Resources Mentioned: • Learn more about Robin: https://robinbruner.com • Follow Robin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stepstoriespodcast/ • Ready to feel less alone in your stepfamily journey? Join thousands of stepmoms at the FREE 2026 Stepmom Summit for expert advice, real conversations, and practical tools to help you thrive. Register HERE for Free! • Free Resource: 10 Essential Scripts for Stepmoms: https://stepfamilycertification.com/stepmom-scripts Love The Stepmom Diaries? Please consider rating and reviewing The Stepmom Diaries on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps the show grow and reach more blended families who need honest conversations like this one.
September 03, 202626min
Number 2: Are You Still Trying to Prove You're Not the Wicked Stepmother?
Have you ever felt like people see you differently the second they find out you're a stepmom? The wicked stepmother stereotype has been around for centuries, showing up in fairy tales, movies, and cultural stories long before any of us stepped into this role. And even when no one says it out loud, that stereotype can quietly shape how other people see stepmoms and how stepmoms start seeing themselves. In this episode, Cameron unpacks the shame behind the wicked stepmother stereotype and the pressure so many stepmoms feel to prove they're loving enough, patient enough, helpful enough, or "good" enough to belong. She also explores what happens when that pressure turns into overfunctioning, shrinking in your own home, or staying silent about how hard stepfamily life can actually be. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why the wicked stepmother stereotype still affects modern stepmoms • How shame can show up as overfunctioning, shrinking, and silence • Why comparing yourself to your stepchild's biological mom puts you in a competition you were never supposed to enter • How to separate the cultural story about stepmoms from the truth about who you actually are You did not break up a family simply by becoming part of one. And you do not have to spend your stepmom life proving that you deserve your place in it. Sometimes the first step is recognizing that the story you've been carrying was never yours to begin with. Resources & Links • Join us for the FREE 2026 Stepmom Summit: Out Loud, September 14th-18th. Five days of live conversations with 34 experts about the things stepmoms are often afraid to say out loud. Get your FREE ticket at: https://thestepmomsummit.com/ • Free Resource: 10 Essential Scripts for Stepmoms: https://stepfamilycertification.com/stepmom-scripts If this episode hit home, share it with another stepmom who might still be trying to prove she isn't the villain in somebody else's story. And don't forget to follow The Stepmom Diaries so more stepmoms can find these conversations too. Love The Stepmom Diaries? Please consider rating and reviewing The Stepmom Diaries on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps the show grow and reach more blended families who need honest conversations like this one.
September 10, 202617min
Number 3: REWIND: What To Do When Bio Mom Doesn't Like You
When Bio Mom Doesn't Like You: Dealing With a High Conflict Bio Mom There are some parts of becoming a stepmom you expect to be complicated. Your relationship with your partner's ex probably isn't one of them. But when you're dealing with a high conflict bio mom, suddenly someone outside your marriage can affect your schedule, your relationship with your stepchildren, and sometimes even how peaceful your own home feels. And if you're someone who is used to being liked? It can be especially hard to understand why this person seems determined not to like you. In this episode of The Stepmom Diaries podcast from 2021, Cameron talks about how stepmoms can navigate conflict with a biological mom without getting pulled deeper into the drama. She also shares one of her favorite communication strategies for high conflict situations: the BIFF method developed by Bill Eddy of the High Conflict Institute. In this episode, you'll learn: How to create healthier boundaries with a high conflict bio mom How the BIFF communication method can keep difficult conversations from escalating Why protecting kids from adult conflict and loyalty binds matters so much How to stop waiting for bio mom to like, approve of, or validate you One of the biggest shifts Cameron talks about is realizing that you do not have to convince your stepchildren's mom that you are a good person, a good partner, or a good stepmom. You can control your boundaries. You can control how you communicate. You can control the environment you help create inside your own home. You cannot control what she thinks about you. And sometimes accepting that is where the peace starts. Resources Mentioned in This Episode Get your FREE copy of my guide"10 Quick Tips To Dealing With Your Spouse's Ex" that you can download here: https://stepfamilycircle.com/high-conflict-ex-tips Bill Eddy, of The High Conflict Institute, has some great resources to deal with high-conflict situations - both in blended families and in the workplace. Another great resource is Stepmom Magazine - an online publication with the tagline, "Even when it's good, it's complicated." Join us for the 6th annual The Stepmom Summit: Out Loud happening LIVE and online Sept. 14-18, 2026.Get your FREE ticket HERE→ https://www.thestepmomsummit.com Love The Stepmom Diaries? Please consider rating and reviewing The Stepmom Diaries on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps the show grow and reach more blended families who need honest conversations like this one.
August 31, 202625min
Number 4: Is It Really Parental Alienation? How to Recognize the Signs and Protect Your Family | Amy J.L. Baker, PhD
One day your stepchild is excited to see you and your spouse... and the next they're distant, angry, or refusing visits altogether. Is it normal family conflict? Is it the stress of divorce? Or could it be parental alienation? In this episode, Cameron sits down with internationally recognized researcher and author Amy J.L. Baker, PhD, to unpack one of the most misunderstood topics in divorce and blended families. Together, they discuss what parental alienation really is, how it differs from legitimate estrangement, and what parents and stepparents should know if they suspect someone is interfering with a child's relationship with the other parent. Dr. Baker also explains her evidence-based Five-Factor Model, common parental alienation strategies, and how stepparents can support their partner without making an already difficult situation worse. In this episode, you'll learn: What parental alienation actually is, and what it isn't The difference between alienation and justified estrangement The Five-Factor Model used to identify parental alienation Common strategies that can damage a parent-child relationship If this episode encouraged or helped you, please share it with another stepmom, parent, or blended family who may need to hear this conversation. Resources Mentioned Amy J.L. Baker, PhD: https://www.amyjlbaker.com/ Adult Children of Parental Alienation Syndrome by Amy J.L. Baker Ready to feel less alone in your stepfamily journey? Join thousands of stepmoms at the FREE 2026 Stepmom Summit for expert advice, real conversations, and practical tools to help you thrive: https://thestepmomsummit.com/ Free Resource: 10 Essential Scripts for Stepmoms: https://stepfamilycertification.com/stepmom-scripts Love The Stepmom Diaries? Please consider rating and reviewing The Stepmom Diaries on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps the show grow and reach more blended families who need honest conversations like this one.
July 16, 202625min
Number 5: What LGBTQ Families Want You to Know About Parenting, Acceptance, and Belonging | Jaimie Kelton & José Rolón
Have you ever realized that the things that make a family look different on the outside don't change what matters most on the inside? In this episode, I sit down with Jaimie Kelton and José Rolón to talk about LGBTQ families, parenting, belonging, and the many ways families are built. From infertility and surrogacy to stepfamily dynamics and family acceptance, we explore the challenges and joys of creating a family that may not fit society's traditional expectations. What stood out most in this conversation is how much LGBTQ families and blended families have in common. The desire to love, connect, belong, and create a safe home for our children is universal. In this episode, we cover: • The unique paths many LGBTQ families take to parenthood • Why representation and visibility matter for kids and families • The double standards faced by stepmoms, stepdads, and modern families • How to teach children about different family structures with openness and acceptance If this episode resonates with you, share it with a friend and help us continue creating conversations that celebrate all kinds of families. Resources Mentioned Follow Love Take Two Podcast The Queer Family Podcast Follow José Rolón on Instagram @NYCGayDad https://www.instagram.com/thequeerfamilypodcast/ Get our free Stepmom Scripts Guide with real-life scripts for common stepfamily conversations: https://stepfamilycertification.com/stepmom-scripts Love The Stepmom Diaries? Please consider rating and reviewing The Stepmom Diaries on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your support helps us reach more blended families looking for practical guidance, validation, and encouragement.
June 25, 202637min