In this truth-telling episode, Alicia pulls back the curtain on one of the most common (but least talked about) emotions in stepfamily life: resentment. It doesn’t show up overnight—it builds quietly from all the unspoken expectations, invisible labor, and bottled-up feelings that come with being a stepmom.

Alicia shares why resentment creeps in when you’re doing everything right but still feel unseen, unappreciated, and exhausted. You’ll learn how to spot the early signs before they blow up, how to set boundaries that protect your peace, and how to rewrite the story you’re telling yourself so resentment stops running the show.

This isn’t about pretending to be okay—it’s about taking your power back and showing up for yourself, guilt-free.

What You’ll Hear:

• What resentment really is and how it starts
• The five sneaky ways resentment builds up in blended families (how many of these are ways it builds for you?)
• Why “invisible labor” and unmet expectations make stepmoms feel stuck
• How to catch resentment before it turns into burnout or bitterness
• Simple ways to set boundaries and reclaim control of your role
• Alicia’s personal story of realizing she was drowning in resentment—and what helped her finally let it go

If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking, “Why do I feel so angry when I’m trying so hard?” — this one’s for you.

Join The Stepmom Side Community:
Find your people, get real-time support, and talk about this episode with stepmoms who actually get it.  aliciakrasko.com/community

Work with Alicia 1:1:
Ready to unpack your resentment, set better boundaries, and feel calm again? Book your coaching session here: aliciakrasko.com/coaching

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If you’ve tried to co-parent with someone who thrives on drama, control, or straight-up chaos… this episode is your safe space and wake-up call. In Episode 122 of The Stepmom Side Podcast, Alicia breaks down what to do when co-parenting feels impossible because the ex just won’t cooperate.

We’re not here to sugarcoat—we’re here to speak truth. Co-parenting takes two willing adults. And when that’s not happening? You need to stop wasting energy trying to fix what you can’t control. Tune in for tough love, real talk, and actionable steps that will help you reclaim your peace—even if the ex keeps lighting fires.

Whether you're knee-deep in high-conflict drama or just need a sanity check, this episode will leave you feeling validated, supported, and back in your power.

Resource mentioned:

Podcast episode #98: Feeling Powerless as a Stepmom? It Might Be the Victim Mindset

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Want a specific topic covered? Let me know here.
After you listen to this, tag me on Instagram @aliciakrasko and let me know what you think!
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All things Alicia visit www.aliciakrasko.com
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When the holidays roll around, so does the pressure — to make it fair, to make it magical, and to not lose your mind when the ex goes overboard or your stepkids start comparing gifts. In this episode of The Stepmom Side Podcast, Alicia unpacks the gift-giving grief that shows up for so many stepmoms — the quiet, unspoken frustration of trying not to compete or control while still wanting to be thoughtful.

You’ll hear how to:
✨ Break the pattern of comparison between homes
✨ Stop feeling like the “gift police” when boundaries get blurry
✨ Reconnect with your real intentions behind giving
✨ Manage your emotions when stepkids brag or gifts feel one-sided
✨ Find peace, presence, and joy without overspending or overcompensating

Whether you’re navigating an over-the-top ex, trying to set spending limits, or just want to make the holidays less stressful, this one’s for you.

Listen to get your peace (and sanity) back this holiday season.

Podcast episode mentioned:
How to Give Better Gifts with Patrick Kucharson

👉 Join The Stepmom Side Community for extra support, live Office Hours, and validation from women who get it.

Support the show

Want a specific topic covered? Let me know here.
After you listen to this, tag me on Instagram @aliciakrasko and let me know what you think!
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Want to learn more about The Stepmom Side community? Here's where you get all the info. Looking forward to connecting with you on the inside.
All things Alicia visit www.aliciakrasko.com
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The holidays can feel like a ticking time bomb in blended families — forced togetherness, high expectations, and the pressure to make everything magical can lead to major tension between stepkids and bio kids.

In this episode, Alicia Krasko tackles the emotional chaos of holiday dynamics: sibling rivalry, stepkid drama, and what to do when your partner doesn’t step up. She shares practical tools, mindset shifts, and boundary-setting strategies to help you protect your peace — especially when the oldest child is acting like a second parent.

You’ll learn how to:

• Navigate step vs. bio kid tension during the holidays
• Talk to your partner when they won’t take the lead
• Recognize and relieve the “parentified” oldest child
• Set boundaries that keep the chaos in check
• Adopt a mindset of progress, not perfection

Whether you’re hosting the big dinner or just trying to survive another blended holiday, this episode gives you real-world support and permission to prioritize your peace.

Support the show

Want a specific topic covered? Let me know here.
After you listen to this, tag me on Instagram @aliciakrasko and let me know what you think!
Get all the FREE RESOURCES here.
Want to learn more about The Stepmom Side community? Here's where you get all the info. Looking forward to connecting with you on the inside.
All things Alicia visit www.aliciakrasko.com
Get on the list, get behind the scene info on Stepmom life, and tips delivered to your inbox.

Have you ever felt like an outsider in your own home? In this heartfelt and practical episode, Alicia breaks down why stepmoms often feel left out of family moments — and what you can do about it.

From unspoken group texts to being excluded from decisions and traditions, Alicia shares real-life examples (including a cringe-worthy moment at Cedar Point) that will have you nodding your head thinking, “Yes. That’s me.”

But more importantly, she gives you five practical strategies to help you feel seen, heard, and respected in your role — without begging for inclusion.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why feeling left out doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong
• How loyalty binds, emotional labor, and societal norms play into stepmom exclusion
• Common moments where stepmoms feel invisible
• How to speak up without blowing up
• How to create your own traditions, set boundaries, and reframe what inclusion really means

Whether you’re deep in the trenches or just starting your journey, this episode will remind you that you’re not invisible — and you’re definitely not alone.

👉 Need more support? Join us in The Stepmom Side Community
where we dive deeper into these topics together.

Support the show

Want a specific topic covered? Let me know here.
After you listen to this, tag me on Instagram @aliciakrasko and let me know what you think!
Get all the FREE RESOURCES here.
Want to learn more about The Stepmom Side community? Here's where you get all the info. Looking forward to connecting with you on the inside.
All things Alicia visit www.aliciakrasko.com
Get on the list, get behind the scene info on Stepmom life, and tips delivered to your inbox.

When your partner sides with the kids, it can feel like betrayal — or at the very least, like you’ve been completely shut out. This episode of The Stepmom Side Podcast digs into those moments of emotional hurt and confusion that so many stepmoms experience but few talk about openly.

We explore the power dynamics at play and the often invisible loyalty binds that pull at your partner — and how those dynamics can impact your marriage, your mental health, and the overall vibe in your blended family.

You’ll hear:

• Why siding with the kids is so common (and so painful)
• Scripts you can use when it happens
• Tools for repairing trust and rebuilding your team dynamic
• A reminder that you're not asking your partner to choose — you're asking to be seen

If you’ve ever felt unheard, disrespected, or like the “outsider” in your own home, this is a must-listen. You deserve a relationship that honors your voice and supports a united parenting approach.

Resources mentioned:

Free: Mastering the Stressors

Apply for Couples Coaching

Podcast episode: Caught in the Middle: The Truth About Dad Guilt in Stepfamilies

Support the show

Want a specific topic covered? Let me know here.
After you listen to this, tag me on Instagram @aliciakrasko and let me know what you think!
Get all the FREE RESOURCES here.
Want to learn more about The Stepmom Side community? Here's where you get all the info. Looking forward to connecting with you on the inside.
All things Alicia visit www.aliciakrasko.com
Get on the list, get behind the scene info on Stepmom life, and tips delivered to your inbox.

In this episode of The Stepmom Side Podcast, Alicia gets real about one of the biggest misconceptions stepmoms have — that peace comes when everything is finally perfect....and then hear something going wrong in real time. :)

If you’ve ever thought, “Once the ex chills out… once the kids listen… once my partner gets it — THEN I’ll finally have peace,” this episode will feel like a breath of fresh air.

Alicia shares why chasing perfection only leads to burnout and resentment — and how true peace comes from within, not from a flawless blended family. She breaks down what peace actually looks like in stepmom life (even when chaos is still happening), plus three practical ways to choose calm over control.

You’ll walk away with a lighter heart and a powerful reminder:
Peace isn’t a reward for getting it all right. It’s what you deserve, even when everything’s still a little wrong.

Listen in to learn:

• Why perfection keeps you stuck in frustration and comparison
• What peace really looks like in everyday stepmom moments
• Three simple mindset shifts to choose peace, even in chaos
• How to stop waiting for everyone else to change before you feel calm

🎧 Tune in now and start finding your peace — no perfection required.

👉 Join The Stepmom Side Community for support, live coaching, and monthly mindset moments: aliciakrasko.com/community

Free Resource: Mastering the Stressors

Support the show

Want a specific topic covered? Let me know here.
After you listen to this, tag me on Instagram @aliciakrasko and let me know what you think!
Get all the FREE RESOURCES here.
Want to learn more about The Stepmom Side community? Here's where you get all the info. Looking forward to connecting with you on the inside.
All things Alicia visit www.aliciakrasko.com
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What if you don’t like your stepkids? It’s the question that stepmoms whisper to themselves and rarely admit out loud. In this episode, Alicia unpacks why these feelings show up, why they don’t make you a “bad stepmom,” and how to move through them without shame.

You’ll learn:

• Why it’s normal to not always like your stepkids
• How societal expectations set stepmoms up for guilt
• Simple shifts to ease the tension when relationships feel strained
• How to release the pressure to force a bond

This is your permission slip: you don’t have to like your stepkids 24/7 to be a good stepmom.

Support the show

Want a specific topic covered? Let me know here.
After you listen to this, tag me on Instagram @aliciakrasko and let me know what you think!
Get all the FREE RESOURCES here.
Want to learn more about The Stepmom Side community? Here's where you get all the info. Looking forward to connecting with you on the inside.
All things Alicia visit www.aliciakrasko.com
Get on the list, get behind the scene info on Stepmom life, and tips delivered to your inbox.

Being the “strict” house isn’t easy — especially when you’re parenting a teenager who has unlimited freedom at their other home.

In this episode, Alicia dives into a real stepmom story from Erica, who’s been a stepmom for 11 years and is now facing the challenges of raising a 13-year-old stepdaughter in two very different households. At Erica’s house, structure, healthy meals, and clear phone boundaries are the norm. At mom’s house, the rules are… basically nonexistent. The result? Erica feels like the bad guy, and the close bond she once had with her stepdaughter seems to be slipping away.

Alicia breaks down why this happens in blended families, why teens push away even when they love you, and most importantly — how to hold onto your values and boundaries without losing the relationship.

You’ll walk away with:

• Validation that you’re not crazy for feeling like the “bad guy” when your house has rules.
• Practical ways to hold firm boundaries without pushing your stepkid further away.
• Strategies to shift from being the “strict” house to the safe house.
• Encouragement that your consistency today builds connection for tomorrow.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re losing your stepchild to the other house because of clashing rules, this episode will remind you: you’re not the villain. You’re the steady anchor they can rely on.

👉 Join the conversation inside The Stepmom Side Community — the place where stepmoms can vent, get support, and find real strategies that work.

👉 Want personalized support? Explore 1:1 coaching at aliciakrasko.com/coaching.

Support the show

Want a specific topic covered? Let me know here.
After you listen to this, tag me on Instagram @aliciakrasko and let me know what you think!
Get all the FREE RESOURCES here.
Want to learn more about The Stepmom Side community? Here's where you get all the info. Looking forward to connecting with you on the inside.
All things Alicia visit www.aliciakrasko.com
Get on the list, get behind the scene info on Stepmom life, and tips delivered to your inbox.

In this episode of The Stepmom Side Podcast, Alicia Krasko opens up about her why—the real reason she started coaching stepmoms, built The Stepmom Side Community, and launched this very podcast.

She shares her raw, unfiltered story of hitting rock bottom as a stepmom, googling “how to get divorced,” and feeling like an outsider in her own home. Alicia explains the turning point when she admitted she needed help, how outside support transformed her stepmom journey, and why she decided to step into the role of coach.

You’ll hear why The Stepmom Side Community was created as an affordable, supportive space for stepmoms, how imposter syndrome showed up for Alicia as both a stepmom and a community founder, and the moments inside the community that remind her she’s exactly where she’s meant to be.

Alicia also shares the behind-the-scenes story of starting The Stepmom Side Podcast—from her stepson gifting her a microphone to now reaching stepmoms in 96 countries with nearly 50,000 downloads.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re struggling alone on “stepmom island,” this episode will remind you:
👉 You’re not crazy.
👉 You’re not the only one.
👉 And you don’t have to do this role by yourself.

Join The Stepmom Side Community → aliciakrasko.com/community
Learn about coaching → aliciakrasko.com/coaching

Support the show

Want a specific topic covered? Let me know here.
After you listen to this, tag me on Instagram @aliciakrasko and let me know what you think!
Get all the FREE RESOURCES here.
Want to learn more about The Stepmom Side community? Here's where you get all the info. Looking forward to connecting with you on the inside.
All things Alicia visit www.aliciakrasko.com
Get on the list, get behind the scene info on Stepmom life, and tips delivered to your inbox.