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Zen(ish) Mommy episodes

  • Teaser: Looking the Part with celebrity stylist, Lauren Messiah

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    As much as it may seem superficial to be overly focused on appearance, how you present yourself goes a long way in terms of how you are perceived in life and business. Here today to tell her own story of transformation is celebrity stylist, Lauren Messiah. We hope you join us for a nugget of wisdom that just may change your approach to personal style today!

    Key Points From This Episode:


    • The story of how Lauren reset her life and started a business without changing her look.
    • How she kept being mistaken for an assistant and not getting the opportunities she wanted.
    • How she realized she was the problem because she didn’t look the part or believe in herself.
    • Why giving herself a makeover catapulted change and development within herself.


    Tweetables:


    “I was hitting so many roadblocks where I was being disrespected – people kept mistaking me for an assistant, I felt stuck – and I looked in the mirror and was like, wait, it’s you. You’re the problem!” — @LaurenMessiah [0:00:33]

    “I looked in the mirror and realized that I was not dressing like the woman I want to be. I made myself over and – because I’m such a personal development junkie and I had just started this journey with sobriety – I combined forces and made myself over and my whole life turned around.” — @LaurenMessiah [0:05:05]

    Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:


    Lauren Messiah
    Lauren Messiah on Twitter

    Lauren Messiah on Facebook
    Lauren Messiah on Instagram
    Lauren Messiah on YouTube

    The Zen Mommy

    Mom, Slow Down!

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    the Zen Mommy

    3 min
  • Teaser: If you dress like you, you will always be in style; a conversation with celebrity stylist Lauren Messiah

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    If you dress like you, you’re always in style. That’s our top tip from today’s guest, celebrity stylist, Lauren Messiah. Tune in to hear why she doesn’t have a single important piece in her closet, but aims to have plenty of staple pieces in her closet, because those are the ones that will last. We hope you’ll join us to hear how to build your own long-lasting closet!

    Key Points From This Episode:


    • How you’re always in style if you dress like you.
    • Why you will buy clothes with longevity if you’re drawn to something from the right place.
    • Learn how you can ignore trends entirely and just aim to be yourself.
    • How the big icons in the world are not following any rules but have the confidence to own it. 
    • How Lauren guide her clients to pick out the right clothes rather than choosing for them.
    • Why low rise pants and exposed g-strings are not a trend we want to revisit.
    • Understand how the foundational pieces in your closet are the most important. 
    • The role of staples as a go-to solution to a wardrobe crisis. 


    Tweetables:


    “If you dress like you, you’re always in style.” — @LaurenMessiah [0:00:01]
     
    “If you know who you are, you know where you’re going. You will be drawn to the right things and, when you have the confidence, you’ll be able to pull it off.” — @LaurenMessiah [0:00:39]

    Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:


    Lauren Messiah
    Lauren Messiah on Twitter

    Lauren Messiah on Facebook
    Lauren Messiah on Instagram
    Lauren Messiah on YouTube

    The Zen Mommy

    Mom, Slow Down!

    Support the show

    The Zen Mommy on Instagram
    the Zen Mommy

    6 min
  • Dr. Manasa Mantravadi explains how Plastics are Disrupting our Planet and our Children's Health

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    As moms, we want to take the best possible care of our children. Here to discuss how plastics may be affecting your children, and what you can do about it, is Dr. Manasa Mantravadi, a board certified pediatrician who launched the world’s first colorful stainless steel dishes for kids, Ahimsa. Tune in to hear about endocrine destructing chemicals and how they are considered to be the second greatest threat to human health, and the science behind how the endocrine system supports overall health. Dr. Mantravadi reveals some of the health problems she is treating in children that historically only affect adults and she tells us why we can’t leave environmental factors out of the conversation about children’s health. She assures us that small incremental change at a mass scale is a powerful tool to change the world, and tells us the story of how Ahimsa was started, with the philosophy of doing no harm as a hero product to champion the movement towards a plastic-free world. Join us today to hear all this and more! 

    Key Points From This Episode:

    • What is meant by endocrine destructing chemicals and what this means for global health. 
    • The global health organizations that consider endocrine disrupting chemicals in plastic to be the second greatest threat to human health.
    • How hormones create a communication pathway in the endocrine system.
    • Some of the health problems she is treating in children that are new to this generation.
    • Why we can’t leave environmental factors out of the conversation about children’s health.
    • The oversights in the food industry, with 60 percent of 6,000 chemicals having been tested.
    • How you can speak with your wallet to enact change in children’s products.
    • Small incremental change at a mass scale as a powerful tool to change the world.
    • The story of how Ahimsa was started with the philosophy of doing no harm.
    • How Ahimsa was created with intentionality at a design, material, and concept level.
    • Why, when you teach children healthy habits at a young age, they stick.
    • Giving a big picture perspective to moms as a tool to empower them to make good choices.
    • How Dr. Mantravadi sees Ahimsa growing: to create a movement as a solution to the plastic problem, Ahimsa Home as a way to make your home cleaner and greener.
    • What school cafeteria systems look like at the moment and how they need to change.
    • The kids as the reason for doing anything. 
    • Dinner time at Dr. Mantravadi’s house: the children are involved in cooking dinner, plant-based food, and a lot of Italian and Indian food. 

    Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:


    Manasa Mantravadi on LinkedIn
    Ahimsa

    The Zen Mommy

    Mom, Slow Down!

    Support the show

    The Zen Mommy on Instagram
    the Zen Mommy

    45 min
  • Teaser: what the FDA doesn't want you to know with board certified Pediatrician Dr. Manasa Mantravadi

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    40 percent of the 6,000 chemicals present in our food have never been tested. Here today to discuss food safety and environmental responsibility is Dr. Manasa Mantravadi, a board certified pediatrician who launched the world’s first colorful stainless steel dishes for kids, Ahimsa. Despite the staggering statistics around safe consumption, Dr. Mantravadi assures us that legislators listen to moms, and encourages listeners to know their power! Tune in to hear more.

    Key Points From This Episode:


    • How it is not up to the consumer, but the legislator, to create better policies.
    • The statistic that 40 percent of the 6,000 chemicals in our food have never been tested.
    • Why she chooses to look at the European Union’s evaluation of chemicals instead. 
    • How you can’t just change the whole system, but legislators do listen to moms.
    • The small group of moms that flagged a big problem around BPA.
    • How BPA is just one of a family of chemicals and has been replaced with other things.
    • Brands, legislators and regulation and how they listen when you vote with your wallet.


    Tweetables:


    “You’re right, it’s not up to the consumers, it is up to our legislators for better policies on advocating for toxic chemicals not to be in consumer goods.” — Manasa Mantravadi [0:00:38]
     
    “You can’t just change the whole system, but I will tell you what I have learned is legislators, regulation, they listen to moms.” — Manasa Mantravadi [0:02:49]

    Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:


    Manasa Mantravadi on LinkedIn
    Ahimsa

    The Zen Mommy

    Mom, Slow Down!

    Support the show

    The Zen Mommy on Instagram
    the Zen Mommy

    5 min
  • Teaser: Plastics are a global health threat and how one doctor created the world's first colorful stainless steel, Ahimsa, with Dr. Manasa Mantravadi

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    Here to discuss how plastics may be affecting your children, and what you can do about it, is Dr. Manasa Mantravadi, a board certified pediatrician who launched the world’s first colorful stainless steel dishes for kids, Ahimsa. During this mini conversation, you will hear why there is such a high level of plastics in our lives, why this poses such a big threat to global health, and what simple changes you can make to change the situation. We hope you join us!

    Key Points From This Episode:


    • The higher the level of convenience, the higher level of plastics are in our lives.
    • Why the American Academy of Pediatrics, the WHO, and the Endocrine Society call endocrine disrupting chemicals in plastic the second greatest threat to health.
    • Dr. Mantravadi’s goal to talk about the simple changes that you can make that can actually make things better.


    Tweetables:


    “The American Academy of Pediatrics, the World Health Organization, the Endocrine Society, they call endocrine disrupting chemicals in plastic the second greatest threat to human health.” — Manasa Mantravadi [0:00:46]

    Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:


    Manasa Mantravadi on LinkedIn
    Ahimsa

    The Zen Mommy

    Mom, Slow Down!

    Support the show

    The Zen Mommy on Instagram
    the Zen Mommy

    2 min
  • How Dawn Fable, the owner of female centered CBD company Press Pause, noticed CBD changed her life.

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    How Dawn Fable of the Press Pause Project Realized CBD was Working for Her


    Episode S3E2 MINI CONVO: Show Notes


    In today’s mini convo, Dawn Fable of the Press Pause Project reveals how she knew that CBD was working for her at a family Thanksgiving dinner that she was hosting. She tells the story of how she got everything ready, cleaned the house, and welcomed 18 family members, only to realize that she didn’t have enough plates to serve dessert on. Next, she reveals that she served her guests on Fourth of July paper plates, and didn’t care at all! This was the moment where she realized that CBD was allowing her to be present and appreciate her life in a meaningful way. Tune in to hear her tell the story!

    Key Points From This Episode:


    • Why Dawn remembers the moment she realized CBD was working for her: it was fresh. 
    • The story of how she hosted Thanksgiving dinner with 18 family members which previously would have made her very nervous, and calmly got everything ready.
    • How she didn’t have enough plates for dessert and served it on Fourth of July paper plates.
    • The fact that she didn’t care at all, which was unusual. 
    • How this made her realize that CBD was allowing her to be present and appreciate everything.


    Tweetables:


    “It’s funny because I did not have enough place settings for dessert. I served our Thanksgiving dessert on Fourth of July paper plates, and it was so abundantly clear to me because I couldn’t have cared less!” — Dawn Fable [0:00:53]


    Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:


    Mom, Slow Down!

    Dawn Fable on LinkedIn
    Press Pause Project on Instagram
    Press Pause Project
    The Zen Mommy


    Support the show

    The Zen Mommy on Instagram
    the Zen Mommy

    2 min
  • Teaser: How you know CBD is working with Dawn Fable of Press Pause Project

    Send us a text

    In today’s mini convo, Dawn Fable of the Press Pause Project reveals how she knew that CBD was working for her at a family Thanksgiving dinner that she was hosting. She tells the story of how she got everything ready, cleaned the house, and welcomed 18 family members, only to realize that she didn’t have enough plates to serve dessert on. Next, she reveals that she served her guests on Fourth of July paper plates, and didn’t care at all! This was the moment where she realized that CBD was allowing her to be present and appreciate her life in a meaningful way. Tune in to hear her tell the story!

    Key Points From This Episode:


    • Why Dawn remembers the moment she realized CBD was working for her: it was fresh. 
    • The story of how she hosted Thanksgiving dinner with 18 family members which previously would have made her very nervous, and calmly got everything ready.
    • How she didn’t have enough plates for dessert and served it on Fourth of July paper plates.
    • The fact that she didn’t care at all, which was unusual. 
    • How this made her realize that CBD was allowing her to be present and appreciate everything.


    Tweetables:


    “It’s funny because I did not have enough place settings for dessert. I served our Thanksgiving dessert on Fourth of July paper plates, and it was so abundantly clear to me because I couldn’t have cared less!” — Dawn Fable [0:00:53]


    Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:


    Mom, Slow Down!

    Dawn Fable on LinkedIn
    Press Pause Project on Instagram
    Press Pause Project


    Support the show

    The Zen Mommy on Instagram
    the Zen Mommy

    2 min
  • Seeking the help of a doula for your birth experience? Katy Kelly has been present for hundreds of births over her time as a doula and she is here to tell you why being a team player is critical.

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    A Compassionate Presence for Every Birth with Doula Katy Kelley


    Episode S3E3 MINI CONVO 1 & 2: Show Notes


     We speak with doula Katy Kelley about her advice for new doulas, which centers around working as a team with all the parties and professionals involved in a birth. She reveals how her years of experience in healthcare have helped her to get accepted into the birth environment, why everyone has a part to play in the birth story, and why it is beneficial to avoid the tragic and fear-invoking birth stories online, but rather to trust the birth team and allow your own experience to come forward. Next, she tells us a bit about how she advocates for couples and educates them on the choices available in the moment, and emphasizes the immense value of working together as a team. During our second mini convo, we talk about the ways in which a doula’s permissions differ depending on whether it is a home or hospital birth. Katy tells us about the role of a nurse in administering pain relief and how she educates couples on what an honor and a blessing the birth experience can be, and how she uses essential oils to assist with pain relief, before bringing the point home that her role is to educate a couple that they do have choices! We hope you join us for these short episodes that pack a punch. 


    Key Points From This Episode:


    • Advice for new doulas: be a team player.
    • How Katy’s years of experience in healthcare have helped her to be accepted into the birth environment.
    • Why everyone has a part to play in the birth story.
    • The tragic and fear-invoking birth stories that can be read online.
    • Why it’s helpful not to expect too much, but rather allow the experience to come forward.
    • Why it’s helpful to trust the birth team.
    • How Katy advocates for couples and educates them on the choices available.
    • Why she thinks it is important to work as a team through a birth. 
    • How a doula’s permissions differ depending on whether it is a home or hospital birth.
    • How a doula is not allowed to birth or touch the baby.
    • The role of a nurse in administering pain relief.
    • How she educates couples on what an honor and a blessing the experience can be.
    • How Katy uses essential oils to assist with pain relief. 
    • How she educates couples that they do have choices.


    Tweetables:


    “For any new doulas coming into the profession as I leave it, [my] advice is: be a team player!” — Katy Kelley [0:00:01]


    “There’s a lot of things online that are tragic or fear-invoking birth experiences, and I think by not reading too much, not expecting too much, and just allowing and trusting that this experience can come forward, and trusting the birth team.” — Katy Kelley [0:00:27]

    “As a doula, I will advocate for that couple and support their wishes if there are things being suggested by a medical team and they are unaware.” — Katy Kelley [0:01:13]

    “A big part of this is educating the couples on what an honor and a blessing this experience can be instead of approaching it fearfully.” — Katy Kelley [0:00:56]


    Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:


    Katy Kelley on LinkedIn

    Mom, S

    Support the show

    The Zen Mommy on Instagram
    the Zen Mommy

    2 min
  • Teaser: Advice for any New Doulas Entering the Field with Veteran Doula Katy Kelley

    Send us a text

    We speak with doula Katy Kelley about her advice for new doulas, which centers around working as a team with all the parties and professionals involved in a birth. She reveals how her years of experience in healthcare have helped her to get accepted into the birth environment, why everyone has a part to play in the birth story, and why it is beneficial to avoid the tragic and fear-invoking birth stories online, but rather to trust the birth team and allow your own experience to come forward. Next, she tells us a bit about how she advocates for couples and educates them on the choices available in the moment, and emphasizes the immense value of working together as a team. During our second mini convo, we talk about the ways in which a doula’s permissions differ depending on whether it is a home or hospital birth. Katy tells us about the role of a nurse in administering pain relief and how she educates couples on what an honor and a blessing the birth experience can be, and how she uses essential oils to assist with pain relief, before bringing the point home that her role is to educate a couple that they do have choices! We hope you join us for these short episodes that pack a punch. 


    Key Points From This Episode:


    • Advice for new doulas: be a team player.
    • How Katy’s years of experience in healthcare have helped her to be accepted into the birth environment.
    • Why everyone has a part to play in the birth story.
    • The tragic and fear-invoking birth stories that can be read online.
    • Why it’s helpful not to expect too much, but rather allow the experience to come forward.
    • Why it’s helpful to trust the birth team.
    • How Katy advocates for couples and educates them on the choices available.
    • Why she thinks it is important to work as a team through a birth. 
    • How a doula’s permissions differ depending on whether it is a home or hospital birth.
    • How a doula is not allowed to birth or touch the baby.
    • The role of a nurse in administering pain relief.
    • How she educates couples on what an honor and a blessing the experience can be.
    • How Katy uses essential oils to assist with pain relief. 
    • How she educates couples that they do have choices.


    Tweetables:


    “For any new doulas coming into the profession as I leave it, [my] advice is: be a team player!” — Katy Kelley [0:00:01]


    “There’s a lot of things online that are tragic or fear-invoking birth experiences, and I think by not reading too much, not expecting too much, and just allowing and trusting that this experience can come forward, and trusting the birth team.” — Katy Kelley [0:00:27]

    “As a doula, I will advocate for that couple and support their wishes if there are things being suggested by a medical team and they are unaware.” — Katy Kelley [0:01:13]

    “A big part of this is educating the couples on what an honor and a blessing this experience can be instead of approaching it fearfully.” — Katy Kelley [0:00:56]


    Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:


    Katy Kelley on LinkedIn

    Mom, Slow Down!


    Support the show

    The Zen Mommy on Instagram
    the Zen Mommy

    2 min
  • ShameProof Parenting and Ending Parent Shame with Mercedes Samudio

    Send us a text

    You’d be hard-pressed to find a mother who hasn’t experienced parent shaming or mom guilt. Today’s guest, Mercedes Samudio, is a licensed psychotherapist, parent coach, speaker, and bestselling author. She has started the hashtag #endparentshaming and coined the term ‘Shame Proof Parenting’ in an effort to show parents that they are already great guides for their children to experience happy and healthy lives. During this episode, you will hear about Mercedes’ non-traditional upbringing, which sparked her interest in child-parent relationships. She talks about the impossible standard of perfection for parents or children, how our lack of understanding results in parent shaming, and why it is so powerful to ask how a parent has developed their values and beliefs in order to have them reassess how they are parenting their children. We discuss the identity changes that occur when you become a parent and with each additional child, and Mercedes explains that the reason for parents becoming overly permissive or restrictive is not about bad parenting, but comes down to internalized beliefs from their own experiences. You’ll also hear Mercedes’ thoughts about managing screen time, and her reassuring belief that being a good parent is not about being perfect, but you should always be mindful. We hope you join us to hear from this inspiring psychotherapist today!

    Key Points From This Episode:

    • Why she believes the best way to provide a healthy environment for children is to stop shaming the people who are caring for them.
    • How the standard of perfection for parents creates impossible standards for children. 
    • The Parental Identity Development Model that looks at what type of parent you want to be.
    • How an identity shift happens every time you bring a new child into your parenting space.
    • Why parent shaming occurs when we don’t understand what it means to be a parent. 
    • How there is a disproportionate focus on the child, leaving parents unequipped.
    • An example of a parent who felt fear about her teenage child expressing her womanhood because of an underlying fear of sexual assault.
    • The power of asking how a parent came to have the values and beliefs that they have.
    • Why parents becoming overly permissive or restrictive is not about bad parenting, but internalized beliefs from their own experiences.
    • Identity changes that occur as your children’s identities change.
    • How seeing the world through your child’s eyes is an opportunity to reparent yourself.
    • Separating your parental identity from your identity as a whole to combat parent shaming.
    • How a child acting out is not always a sign of ADHD or mental health, but often reflects what is going on with the family.
    • Introducing your children to different cultures in order to raise non-racist kids.
    • The power of telling your children you don’t know the answer and researching it together.
    • The goal of becoming a full human and showing your child how to be a full human as well.

    Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

     Mercedes Samudio on LinkedIn

    Mercedes Samudio on Instagram

    Shame Proof Parenting

    Shame Proof Parenting

    Support the show

    The Zen Mommy on Instagram
    the Zen Mommy

    51 min

About Zen(ish) Mommy

From the publisher's feed

A place to educate, empower, connect, and laugh. Host Jessica Gershman, a certified yoga instructor, mindfulness practitioner and a busy mom of 4, invites you to explore your own inner journey and…