Things My Mother Forgot to Mention

This episode is all about that wild ride known as coming of age. We dig into the physical changes, the unspoken questions, and the things that were forgotten to be mentioned.

Here’s what we explore:

• Our first memories of starting our periods
• What we were (and weren’t) told about our changing bodies
• How shame, silence, or support shaped those experiences
• Bras, pads, and navigating early body image
• Why creating open, shame-free conversations matters now
• How to show up for young people going through these transitions today

This conversation is about more than just puberty. It’s about how we understand and relate to our bodies, how that connection forms early on, and how we can make sure the next generation doesn’t feel alone in it.

If you’re a parent, a grandparent, an auntie, or someone who simply remembers feeling uncertain during those early changes, this episode is for you.

Find resources mentioned in this episode here.

Learn more about this podcast here.

Submit your 90-second lesson/experience here.

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*Information shared on this podcast is not medical advice. If you have a concern about your physical or mental health, please seek support from a proessional.

**Content warning: This episode mentions rape**

On this episode, we’re joined by our guest, Kandy Christensen, who shares her powerful personal journey—from being raised to comply, to reclaiming her voice and agency after years of silence, confusion, and trauma.

This conversation covers deeply personal and sometimes difficult ground, but we believe in naming it, talking about it, and healing out loud.

• What consent really means—and why it goes beyond “no means no”
• How silence, fear, and shame shaped our early sexual experiences
• The impact of growing up in a culture that rewards compliance over agency
• What it’s like to navigate sex and dating in a larger body
• The long-term effects of not feeling safe enough to say no
• Why personal power and sexual pleasure go hand-in-hand
• And how it’s never too late to reclaim your right to choose

We hope this episode makes you feel seen, supported, and never alone.

As always, resources are available at thingsmymotherforgottomention.com.

About Kandy:

Kandy Christensen is a crafter who loves textiles, every personality test she has taken says she is a knowledge seeker, she is an empath, she sometimes can be seen carrying a vintage camera and she lives with a free range bunny named Sweetie. She works in non-profit administration by day and by night she is a Life Coach.

Links:

Kandy’s Website

Instagram

Facebook

Find resources mentioned in this episode here.

Learn more about this podcast here.

Submit your 90-second lesson/experience here.

Apply to be a guest here.

Stay updated on new episodes here.

*Information shared on this podcast is not medical advice. If you have a concern about your physical or mental health, please seek support from a proessional.

Content Warning: We mention Sexual Abuse in this episode.

Today we're going there! We're talking sex, in all its confusing, complicated, hilarious, and healing glory.

You’ll hear:

• How sexual trauma shaped Patti’s early experiences — and her journey toward healing
• Why Jan’s first marriage was a sexual blur
• The myth of orgasming through vaginal sex — only 18% of us do
• Clitoral geography, tantra workshops, and pelvic floor PT
• How shame and silence shaped our stories — and how open conversations are changing that

Whether you're just starting to explore your sexuality or have decades of experience — we’re here for the real talk our mothers missed.

Find resources mentioned in this episode here.

Learn more about this podcast here.

Submit your 90-second lesson/experience here.

Apply to be a guest here.

Stay updated on new episodes here.

*Information shared on this podcast is not medical advice. If you have a concern about your physical or mental health, please seek support from a proessional.

This one hits close to home. We brought in our dear friend and seasoned relationship coach, Lisa Merlo-Booth, to unpack the relationship lessons we didn’t get from our mothers (or Hollywood, for that matter).

In this episode, we get real about:

• Growing up with dysfunctional templates and learning to spot red flags
• Why jealousy is not love—and neither is ordering for you at dinner
• The danger of falling for potential instead of reality
• How self-worth gets tangled up in whether someone chooses you
• Tips for spotting healthy dynamics (and yes, they do exist!)
• What makes a good therapist or coach—and what to walk away from

We laughed, we cringed, we healed a little. Join us for a conversation every woman deserves to hear, no matter what stage of life or love you’re in.

About Lisa:

Lisa isn’t your typical relationship coach. With over 20 years of experience as a relationship coach and trained therapist, she cuts through the fluff and gets straight to the heart of the matter. Lisa tackles complex issues head-on with clarity, humor, and a no-nonsense approach that drives real, lasting change.

Her mission is to help individuals, couples, teams, and organizations create radically new relationships and cultures that don’t just survive—they thrive.

The old relationship rules are broken, and Lisa is here to rewrite them. Through her Radically New Relationships™ Paradigm, she challenges outdated norms and replaces them with a bold, transformative framework. Her approach ensures relationships are deeply supportive, powerfully connected, and built to last.

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/LisaMerloBoothStraightTalk

https://www.instagram.com/lisamerlobooth

www.lisamerlobooth.com

Find resources mentioned in this episode here.

Learn more about this podcast here.

Submit your 90-second lesson/experience here.

Apply to be a guest here.

Stay updated on new episodes here.

*Information shared on this podcast is not medical advice. If you have a concern about your physical or mental health, please seek support from a proessional.

This episode’s all about the messy, magical reality of relationships—and how many of us entered them without a clue. We dive into our personal stories, the generational myths that shaped us, and what we’ve learned the hard way.

Here’s what we cover:

• The relationship advice that was missed
• How family dysfunction models our love templates
• Codependency, love addiction, and breaking toxic patterns
• Why being alone can be just as powerful as being partnered
• What accountability and emotional health really look like in love

We get candid, we get deep—and we keep it real. Whether you’re single, married, divorced, or somewhere in between, we’re here for the “WTF is this?” moments of love.

Find resources mentioned in this episode here.

Learn more about this podcast here.

Submit your 90-second lesson/experience here.

Apply to be a guest here.

Stay updated on new episodes here.

*Information shared on this podcast is not medical advice. If you have a concern about your physical or mental health, please seek support from a proessional.

In this week’s episode, we talk with the grounded and deeply wise Laura Blundo about her very real (and very relatable) journey through perimenopause, menopause, and all the bodily WTFs in between.

We chat about:

• What it’s like when no one tells you about periods, sex, or menopause
• The emotional side of menopause—and yes, grief is a thing
• Vaginal atrophy (it’s real, it’s painful, and it’s not just "in your head")
• The Mona Lisa Touch, radiofrequency treatments, and other (sometimes painful!) interventions
• Finding the right doctor who takes menopause seriously
• Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)—bioidentical, pellets, creams, and more

Whether your vagina is whispering “WTF” or your libido has RSVP’d “no” to the party, this one’s for you. Grab a tea (or a tequila) and let’s talk about the stuff nobody ever warned us about.

About Laura Blundo:

Laura is a NH girl, woman, from head to toe, going back to the 1700s. She’s now in her early 60s, and coming into her children's weddings, becoming a new grandparent, all while embarking on a move to a new area this past December. In her personal world, she loves her family and friendships, she loves gardening, hiking, boating, skiing—pretty much all that nature has to offer. As a professional, she is a Relationship Coach, working with couples as well as individuals in helping them become more loving, respectful, nurturing humans. She specializes in Betrayal Trauma recovery as well as the traumas experienced in childhood, which directly affect how people show up in their relationships today.

Links:

Laura’s website: https://www.relationshipawakenings.com/

We are now the stewards of an 1840s farm house with a GIANT red barn! It's exciting, and daunting at the same time.  It's called "Joy Farm", which will be incorporated into my coaching practice with workshops and intensives. 

Find resources mentioned in this episode here.

Learn more about this podcast here.

Submit your 90-second lesson/experience here.

Apply to be a guest here.

Stay updated on new episodes here.

*Information shared on this podcast is not medical advice. If you have a concern about your physical or mental health, please seek support from a proessional.

This episode is all about perimenopause—when it starts, what it really feels like, and how to navigate the wild hormonal rollercoaster with your sanity (and friendships) intact.

Here’s what we get into:

• Patti’s just entering the night sweats chat (literally)
• Jan’s been-there-done-that tale of hormonal hell and healing
• What your doctor probably won’t tell you about hormone therapy (and what a functional medicine doc will)
• Why bioidentical hormone replacement therapy changed Jan’s life
• The good, the bad, and the itchy: vaginal dryness, mood swings, libido nosedives, and more
• Natural, medical, and lifestyle options to support you in perimenopause
• PSA: Pelvic floor therapy is a thing. And yes, it involves in there.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Wait—why didn’t anyone tell me this could happen?”—this episode is your new best friend. You are NOT crazy. You are NOT alone. And we’re so glad you’re here.

Find resources mentioned in this episode here.

Learn more about this podcast here.

Submit your 90-second lesson/experience here.

Apply to be a guest here.

Stay updated on new episodes here.

*Information shared on this podcast is not medical advice. If you have a concern about your physical or mental health, please seek support from a proessional.

Welcome! We’re Patti Meyer and Jan Bergstrom—and this is Things My Mother Forgot to Mention, the podcast where we talk about all the stuff no one warned us about.

In our debut episode, we’re letting you peek behind the curtain as we:

• Introduce ourselves (spoiler: one of us is a tech nerd, the other a trauma therapist)
• Share the origin story of this podcast dream-turned-reality
• Talk about why we had to create a space for raw, unfiltered convos about womanhood, aging, and all the weirdness in between
• Laugh about encyclopedias, rogue chin hairs, and awkward library searches from the 'before times'

We’re here to create a place where every woman feels seen, heard, and maybe even a little less alone.

Get ready to talk taboo. Because if our mothers forgot to mention it, we’re bringing it up.

Find resources mentioned in this episode here.

Learn more about this podcast here.

Submit your 90-second lesson/experience here.

Apply to be a guest here.

Stay updated on new episodes here.

*Information shared on this podcast is not medical advice. If you have a concern about your physical or mental health, please seek support from a proessional.