Hi Mamas,

Welcome back to the show! This week, we have with us, Shantelle Bisson — an author, producer, parenting expert and regular contributor to Zoomer Magazine. She’s also the owner of Shantilly’s Place, a marina in Ontario’s Kawartha region. She has raised three fully functioning young adults and splits her time between the lake, Toronto and Los Angeles. At the age four, she was drawn to the stage like a moth to a flame, and spent all kinds of time working in television and film, which eventually led to writing, a natural transition when working in the show biz. She launched her book, Raising Your Kids Without Losing Your Cool — the first of many from the series! And we, at YGTMedia Co, are super excited to be launching the second part in the Without Losing Your Cool series.

Today’s episode does a deep dive in Shantelle’s world, her journey and how she came to be this powerhouse entrepreneur, wife, and mama that many see now. Spoiler alert—the glory is often within the grit and guts, and Shantelle’s journey is one that will leave you feeling inspired and empowered.

Many of us move through life, motherhood, relationships, and more on autopilot, almost mindlessly, day after day. Rarely do we pause with intention and ask ourselves the question — how do we want to lead? How do we want to live? And why?

Shantelle’s take on parenting is candid, refreshing, and gives every woman permission to own her motherhood with pride, sass, fun, love, and all the unapologetic vibes.

All of the “hoods”—motherhood, parenthood, adulthood, wifehood don’t happen in a predictable fashion. However, when they do come into our lives, it’s worth fighting for. And that is where commitment, radical responsibility for how you show up in your life, and love leadership comes into play.

Below are a few takeaways from today’s episode:

There you have it, Mamas! I hope you enjoyed listening to this episode! Stay tuned for more information on Shantelle's newest book at shantellebisson.com or connect with her on Instagram at @shantellebisson. 

I hope you enjoyed listening to this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it! Please pay it forward to and share, share, share this episode and your takeaways on social media and tag us @ygtmedia.co #youvegotthismamapodcast. Subscribe + Rate + Leave us a review as it helps get our message get in front of more incredible women who need this.

Until next week!

Sabrina

Hey Mamas,

It's April Break and for many of us located in Ontario, this spring break looks much different, it feels much different. My, how our worlds have pivoted and adapted over the last year, so with that so too have our children and our businesses. Today's episode is an impromptu episode featuring none other than my incredible business coach turned publishing client and good friend, Lianne Kim. We are chatting about all things business, what it takes to build a business that brings us joy along with purpose, and Lianne's author journey as she penned her book, "Building A Joyful Business" -- designed for everyone and anyone who has a business or looking to start one and wants to get in on all the "how."

Lianne Kim is a world-class Business Coach who helps business owners at all different stages through her online courses and coaching programs. She also runs an annual retreat for female entrepreneurs every January. She is the founder of Mamas & Co. - a community designed and curated to bring mama entrepreneurs together to support each other in their efforts to grow their businesses and host of The Business of Thinking Big podcast. 

While she loves her work, Lianne’s #1 passion in life is spending time with her family. She is a wife, a mama to two adorable kids, and she loves going on family adventures, whether it’s traveling to a new destination as a family, or going on long bike rides. She believes that it is possible to have the life and business of our dreams.

Below are some key takeaways from today's episode:

💡Tenacity will win out over every obstacle, "I can't," and "Who am I to do this?" Keep going. Be willing to figure it out no matter what, not "as I can, when I can."

💡You have the choice to get back up, keep going, keep moving forward. Keep pivoting, adapting, and cutting away the pieces that no longer serve you. And replace them with things that bring you more joy.

💡" I am not the smartest girl or the quickest gal. In fact, I often say I'm late to the party on most things. I'm not the savviest or most sophisticated, not by a longshot. The truth is, I'm not special in any way. Except for one, I simply don't quit after people have told me something is a dumb idea or that's never going to work. Long after others have given up, I keep going. That's not to say I don't get knocked down, I do. And it's not to say I haven't lost my way a few times, but I always find my way back."

To connect with Lianne, follow her on Instagram at @liannekimcoach

We invite you to join Lianne's Virtual Book Launch Party taking place in the YGTMedia Celebration Pod over on facebook! Come immerse yourself in the full day celebration, win some cool prizes, plug into some incredible trainings, and a book reading from Lianne herself!

I hope you enjoyed listening to this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it! Please pay it forward to and share, share, share this episode and your takeaways on social media and tag us @ygtmama #youvegotthismamapodcast. Subscribe + Rate + Leave us a review as it helps get our message get in front of more incredible women who need this.

Until next week!

Sabrina

Hey Mamas,

Today's episode is one that I am certain many of you will enjoy listening to as we talk about all things blended families. Let's face it, no longer is our family structure rigid and nuclear. In fact, blended families have always existed, but only over the last handful of decades have we as a society been more open and accepting of them. Raising children is hard work. Marriage is hard work. Navigating family dynamics in any family is hard work. But what happens when you're doing it all over again, in a new relationship and you both have children from prior relationships, and you come together to have an "our baby"? Yep, that's right, things get incredibly messy, but they are oh so worth it. And that is what we are going to talk about today. We are going to hang in the grey areas of motherhood and parenting, the ones we know we want to talk about, but aren't shared enough. Here's to every single mom, dad, and child navigating their perfectly unique blended family!

Say hello to Jamie Murray, a CFO at the commercial construction company she owns and operates with her husband, and now author to the much-anticipated new book out in April titled, “How Many Kids Do You Have?” Jamie became a mother at seventeen years old, then went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a Master of Arts degree in Women’s Studies at Texas Woman’s University in North Texas. Before becoming an entrepreneur and author, Jamie was a high school English teacher for many years. Today she spends her days juggling the demands of running a family, a business and building a brand centered around saying out loud, what blended families all over the world are managing in silence. Jamie met her husband a decade ago, and each brought children from previous relationships. For years, Jamie struggled to balance her role as mom and stepmom, while trying to create a bonded blended family. After years of fruitlessly searching for a resource that reflected her family’s journey, she finally decided to create it for herself.

Below are some key takeaways from today's episode:

💡It is up to each of us to accept that we are not just like every other family. Our family dynamics are intense and rooted in heartbreak. That does not mean the world needs our blended families to succeed any less.

💡 Love all the children in your blend—mind, body, and soul—unequivocally, that is what matters most. Everything else is unnecessary. You might not be able to control court orders or custody arrangements, but you can control how you show up as a parent, to all children, including yourself.

💡We each have our own unique histories that make their way into the blend that is our blended family. We need not pretend each other’s personal history does not impact our family in the present. Our future could drastically change if we approached each other and the past experiences we being with us, with grace so we can evolve together, as a family.

To connect with Jamie, follow her on Instagram at @howmanykidsdoyouhave

Get your signed copy of Jamie's book here and start having the blended conversations today!

I hope you enjoyed listening to this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it! Please pay it forward to and share, share, share this episode and your takeaways on social media and tag us @ygtmama #youvegotthismamapodcast. Subscribe + Rate + Leave us a review as it helps get our message get in front of more incredible women who need this.

Until next week!

Sabrina

Hey Mamas,

Wow, how has it been one full year of the pandemic? Anyone else feel like we are living in a time capsule of sorts? Or a sci-fi movie? So much in our lives has changed, yet on so many levels, some things still remain the same. You guessed it, I am referring to our thoughts, patterns, behaviors, and how we approach our life on the daily. This is why I am super excited to introduce you today to a very special guest. She is a dear client and author, and someone who I know can help you tap into your inner power and clarity in any area of your life.

Meet Anita Volikis -- she is a master life coach, lawyer, and author. Before becoming a coach, Anita practiced family law in Toronto for nineteen years. Anita helps her clients navigate life transitions with resilience. Anita is an NLP (neurolinguistic programming) practitioner and is certified in The Better Apart® Method for divorce professionals. She is committed to transforming the divorce narrative into something positive and empowering. Anita is the author and editor of two legal publications. She is co-authoring a book about women’s stories of resilience as well as her own solo book, both being published in 2021.

Below are some key takeaways from today's episode:

💡 At every step, no matter the circumstance, we hold the power. I know, you're probably thinking how do I hold my power or how do I have control over things/people/circumstances beyond my grasp? You're right, you cannot control what happens, but you can reclaim your power by choosing your response. By choosing how you move forward, what you focus your energy and thoughts on, the actions you take or don't take. 

💡 Awareness will always precede clarity. In order for something to shift, you must have the awareness that some area of your life needs some TLC, some good old ctrl+alt+del. When we are aware of our thoughts, our triggers, our sensations, our needs, we then have the ability to get clear on how we want to feel, what we need to achieve a particular outcome, and of course, what we need to release.

💡Unless we are aware of our holding patterns, we cannot make long-term sustainable changes in our lives. To get different results, we must do differently. We cannot operate from the same area of woundedness. We need to feel our emotions, tap into our inner wisdom, our intuition. And we need to seek help and support from someone who has experienced similar things and comes out the other side thriving. A coach helps shine light on the areas you want to gain rystal clear clarity in while creating a safe space to help you get there.

To connect with Anita, follow her on Instagram at @anitavolikiscoaching or at anitavolikiscoaching.com

Check out her newest offer: Clarity Day and jumpstart your clarity and healing journey today!

I hope you enjoyed listening to this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it! Please pay it forward to and share, share, share this episode and your takeaways on social media and tag us @ygtmama #youvegotthismamapodcast. Subscribe + Rate + Leave us a review as it helps get our message get in front of more incredible women who need this.

Until next week!

Sabrina

Happy International Women's Day (belated) and Women's History Month, Mamas! 

Today's episode is one that celebrates us - as women - no matter who you are, where you're from, or what you do etc. Today's episode celebrates you and your story. We each have a story to share, a story that deserves to be told, a story that changes lives. A story that gives other women around us the permission they need to keep going, to let them know that they belong. They are enough and they are seen and heard. 

I am so excited to share with you our guests today from the Collingwood Foundry x GirlTime Inc. Meet Ashley Lougheed, CEO and founder of Girl Time Inc., a social club for everyday women and women in business. Ashley’s mission is to create a community — a Kula (Sanskrit word for community) — for women, one where they can collaborate and create life-long friendships, live a healthy and active lifestyle, and inspire each other to grow both individually and as a whole. She is a leader and a learner, with a diverse education including an Honors Degree in Sociology, a Bachelor of Education, a Degree in Interior Design, and a Certificate in Event Planning. Ashley believes wholeheartedly that it’s time to connect and celebrate the rise of women as a collective vibration that is fuelled with love and compassion, bravery and greatness, empowerment, and the readiness to thrive. She saw the needs, wants, and interests of women new and local to our town, and has built a community to service those needs. At the end of the day, she is definitely a woman you want in your corner.

If there are a few things you take away in reflection, let it be these:

💡Share HERStory. Empower the women around you, truly. It's okay to let one another in. Heart-centred and mission-driven collaborations are the way to cultivating a sense of community, belonging, and writing our stories.

💡Your story matters. You belong. Take up as much space as you need, unapologetically. For far too long, women have been taught to view each other as "others" or competitors. She isn't your competitor. When one of you wins, all of you win. It changes the generational and sociocultural dialogue.

💡Be the one who goes first and paves a way for others. Kula means community, family, a space where everyone is welcome, as they are. Embrace the women within your community and don't be afraid to venture out and welcome others into your space. Curate the energy in your spaces but also be the light that gives others hope.

To connect with Ashley or Jenn, reach out to them at www.girltimeinc.ca or follow them on Instagram at @girltimeinc @diveheartfirst

To register for the HERstory event brought to you by Collingwood Foundry x GirlTime Inc, go to www.collingwoodfoundry.com/IWD. 

The Collingwood Foundry and Girl Time Inc. featuring Sabrina Greer of YGTMAMA and musical guest Laura Conning of Route 26 are running this free (by donation - all donations going to Mamas for Mamas) online event dedicated to empowering businesswomen to deeply connect with their story and inspire them to share it by giving them the tools and tips to write and share it through books, podcasts, blogs, and more. Each attendee will be given the chance to work on their story and share it with the group. Additionally, one attendee will win a $3,000 Women in Business Grant. Plus, more gifts and prizes to be won between 7:45pm - 8pm to kick off the evening!!

I hope you enjoyed listening to this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it! Please pay it forward to and share, share, share this episode and your takeaways on social media and tag us @ygtmama #youvegotthismamapodcast. Subscribe + Rate + Leave us a review as it helps get our message get in front of more incredible women who need this.

Until next week!

Hey Mamas,

It is officially March, and we are here, marchin' on, pun very much intended! How are you feeling? Today's episode is a short one because I wanted to kick off this month with some gratitude and reflection. In a few days, it will also be a year since our world and lives shifted. Some for the better, some incredibly challenging. But all of it valid. For many of us, we went into wearing all the hats, juggling everything on a 24/7 basis.  For some of us, businesses grew, families grew, relationships blossomed. And for some of us, things fell apart... only to slowly guide us to where we are meant to be and within those moments, we still found grace, we found compassion, we found loss and love. We found ourselves. For some of us, the past year was a chance to be present with our families, a much-needed break, and respite from the daily hustle. For some, the year couldn't have gotten any worse. I've heard all perspectives. No matter what the past year looked like or felt like, in its own way, it taught many of us to be present. To cull away what no longer fits, to focus on what's truly important to us. To be whole in each moment.

In a few short days, it will be exactly 1 year since the Boss Mama Retreat was held, and while we would have loved for everything to return to "normal" or in other words, the way things were, we know that is likely not going to be the case for a while. But, in each moment, I remind myself that this too shall pass, and I know it will! And that's the thing with change. Life will shift, things will happen in the blink of an eye. Much of which, externally, is outside our control. However, internally, we have full control. We have choice. As my good friend, Sarah Swain of The Great Canadian Woman always says, "Your entire life can change in a year, only if you let it." Truer words couldn't have been spoken. 

So today, as you listen, as you reflect, as all the emotions surface with each passing day, embrace them without guilt. It is okay to feel angry. It is okay to feel sad. It is okay to feel happy and celebrate. It is okay to feel whatever you feel. You are seen. You are heard. You are loved.

If there are a few things you take away in reflection, let it be these:

💡Inhale gratitude and grace. Exhale negativity. Let it all out. feel it out. Without guilt.💡 There is more to you than the titles and accolades. We are more than a mom, wife, friend, etc. Who are you at your core? What lights you up? Take the time to figure that out.

💡Even when we feel like our choices have been taken away from us, we still have a choice. To feel what we need to feel. To live how we choose to live. To simply be present.

💡In each moment, remind yourself that this too shall pass. Take in each moment for what it is. Notice the beauty in it. The lessons. The blessings. The gifts. Every moment sets you up for the next. So choose presence. Over anything else. In the ways that you and only you can.

I hope you enjoyed listening to this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it! Please pay it forward to and share, share, share this episode and your takeaways on social media and tag us @ygtmama #youvegotthismamapodcast. Subscribe + Rate + Leave us a review as it helps get our message get in front of more incredible women who need this.

Sponsorships: off for this episode

Hello Mamas,

How are you today? Do you ever feel like you’re wearing more hats than ever… mom, wife, partner, CEO or (insert your professional title here), boo-boo kisser, chauffeur, chef, best friend, and more… if so then today’s episode is just for you! Because we are more than just our titles and accolades we strive for. We are more than the hats we don every single day. And when we are able to tap into that something more, magic occurs and spreads itself into every area of our lives. But how do we find the magic in the mundane? How do we get unstuck when every day feels like a repeat of Schitt's Creek? How do we shake ourselves up and take charge of our lives and show up for ourselves? By finding our sparkle… our joy… that thing that lights us up and leaning all the way into it. No looking back.

We have with us today, the vivacious and soulful Carol Elizabeth. She is a self-proclaimed International Sparkle spreader. A former couch potato turned 2-time international fitness pro (at age 43 and 46) and a former SAHM turned 7 figure multi-business owner, Carol is passionate about helping women get out of the stuck that sucks and into the success that serves themselves and their communities.

Here are some key takeaways from today’s episode:

💡Change starts with us first. You have to do it for yourself, or else it won't be sustainable.

💡 There is more to you than the titles and accolades. We are more than a mom, wife, friend, etc. Who are you at your core? What lights you up? Take the time to figure that out.

💡Focus on the things that bring you joy. If it doesn't, it has to go.

💡Don’t take advice from anyone who isn't where you desire to be. Energy and thoughts are powerful. Monitor who you're around. What's in your newsfeed is feeding you, so choose wisely - online and offline. You have a choice.

I hope you enjoyed listening to this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it! Please pay it forward to and share, share, share this episode and your takeaways on social media and tag us @ygtmama #youvegotthismamapodcast. Subscribe + Rate + Leave us a review as it helps get our message get in front of more incredible women who need this.

Hello Mamas, we hope you had a special Galentines/ Valentines weekend celebrating love for yourself, your family and kiddos, and if you felt all the feels and emotions, or felt numb, that is okay too. How you feel matters. Your story and journey matter. For many of us, our kids return to school and for some, we are still in lockdown mode. But here's the thing that is different, you have evolved and grown so much over the past year! And with that, so has your life story, perspective, and journey. Something we have seen a rise in over the past year is the sheer amount of humans wanting to write their book, share their story, seize every moment, and make their bucket list items come true... even amidst a lockdown.

Today we have someone special... our developmental editor and creative partner, my biz bestie, my word unicorn/ brand jenga-ist (our authors keep assigning newer names to this storytelling whiz everyday)... say hello to Tania Jane Moraes-Vaz, a woman of many capes. Wife and mama. Self-expression mentor and storyteller, energetic lightworker, and overall creative strategist. 5x best-selling author, Host of The Holistic Warrior Life Podcast, and brand photographer. She is the Founder of The Holistic Warrior Life Co. and Warrior Life Creative Co.—a full-scale creative agency specializing in nurture content marketing for heart-inspired entrepreneurs and brands. Tania LOVES helping purpose-driven, heart-and-impact-centered entrepreneurs, authors, or personal/lifestyle brands show up online exactly how they want to be seen, heard, and felt through compelling copy and content creation that magnetizes their dream clients.

In today’s episode, learn how to:

💡Create a sacred space that fosters your creativity. Have your own hype party and then get an accountability buddy.

💡Prioritize your writing. Show up for yourself. Share your story. It can change lives, you better believe it. Your muse won't show up for you unless you show up for her.

💡The differences between traditional vs. self-publishing, and hybrid publishing. Deep dive into what developmental editing and storytelling is, and why it matters when writing your book. 

💡Write a book within 6 months. Yes, yes, you can. Simplify and demystify the process. If you have time to scroll social media, you have time to write one IG post... Do the math. 365 words for 90 days = 65K word manuscript.

I hope you enjoyed listening to this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it! LOVE the idea of writing your masterpiece and sharing it with the world? Check out our signature program, Author Generator Society - the only mastermind-style group coaching program for authors where you will write your book in 6 months! Connect with a group of motivated humans by your side in the same boat as you, receive ongoing support and guidance from industry professionals, get real-time feedback on your work from experienced editors and best-selling authors, and have people holding you accountable to your work and deadlines!

Please pay it forward to and share, share, share this episode and your takeaways on social media and tag us @ygtmama #youvegotthismamapodcast. Subscribe + Rate + Leave us a review as it helps get our message get in front of more incredible women who need this.

Hello Mamas, we are so excited to bring you today’s episode! In true love-month mode, today we talk about the love between parents and children and conscious parenting. Today’s special guest who will forever change the way you view parenting and how you connect with your children.

Say hello to France Tailleur, a conscious parenting coach who infuses Human Design and helps parents in their journey to connect with their child. And truthfully, there couldn’t be a more perfect time to have her on the show because right now, there are so many parents struggling to connect with all the new rules and requirements. Over the past year, parents have been juggling the hats of teacher, guidance counsellor, mom, dad, friend, chef, chauffeur, and so much more. The resounding question I have come up for both myself and my clients is: How do I connect with my child when they're around all the time?

In today’s episode, learn how to:

💡Focus on love and play during your connection time with your child.

💡At the heart of all things lies a need for connection. Think of life from the perspective of your child, no matter their age.

💡Shifting from expectation to connection allows both you and your kiddo to fill your cups and you come back refreshed and energized.

💡Ask yourself this in every moment: Have I connected with myself today? Have I connected with my child today? And make connection a non-negotiable practice.

I hope you enjoyed listening to this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it!

Please pay it forward to and share, share, share this episode and your takeaways on social media and tag us @ygtmama #youvegotthismamapodcast. Subscribe + Rate + Leave us a review as it helps get our message get in front of more incredible women who need this.

Happy February! We made it! New month, new energy!

You may still be navigating homeschooling or distance learning or lockdown or quarantine or some version of whatever this crazy life is at the moment, but with February being the month of love, I wanted to talk about a different kind of love on the podcast.

No, not marriage or relationships, or motherhood and kids…

No, Mama, the love I am talking about is something that's actually a little trendy at the moment. You see it all around through the 1,000,001 influencers on social media, all the ad campaigns by retailers and your fave boutique shops… that’s right, I am talking about self-love…the nitty-gritty pieces of self-love and what it actually means.

I know, roll your eyes, I get it. We've all heard it, I preach about self-care and self-love all the time.

While it's become such a buzz word over the years especially this past year,  many of us get locked in this idea that it's impossible to create the time and space for self-love/self-care. Or if we are doing so, we feel like we're doing it wrong, and that there's some magic pill that will help us love ourselves if only… I take another course…. Another mastermind… work with another coach… lose all the weight… accomplish ____ (insert your goal here).

And the truth is, self-love isn't all of those things that we think it is. We don't have to lose the weight in order to love ourselves. Self-love isn’t only body-love. It's not simply looking in the mirror saying, “I love you, I love that I'm so beautiful and so fit and so wonderful.”

Radical self-love is about deep trust and surrender. Deep faith in yourself. Feeling and embracing all the emotions that surface when you view a certain part of your body. Honoring your body for the beautiful temple and vessel that she is. It’s not about ego or conceit. It’s the ability to deeply feel your emotions. And I emphasize feeling, because I think we forget about this part. Often, it’s the feeling of being aligned, within ourselves.

So I like to call is M.B.S or mind, body, and soul (or spirit), depending on what resonates for you. I know, roll your eyes some more… but let’s break this down…

💡The root of what self-love is. It means making yourself a priority—making yourself, non-negotiable.

💡 True self-love is the embodiment of nourishing oneself.

💡Keep it simple. Keep it joyful and nourishing. Find 1 way you can nourish your mind, body, and soul.

💡 It’s okay to set something aside for a moment in time. But let that be a moment, and not days and months at a time.