HERself

This episode is a bit different from our norm! Today we have a couple on the show! Stranz and Mallory Wolfgramm host the podcast “Make Marriage Work” and are here to talk with us about what they’ve learned as a couple over the years and techniques we can take away to have successful arguments and conflict resolution in our relationships. Mallory is a licensed therapist with a private practice who specializes in couple’s therapy and is the perfect guest to talk about this topic! 

We want you to know that every relationship has a conflict cycle and it’s perfectly normal to have arguments! And to really prove that theory, Abby and Amy get vulnerable and share some areas of conflict in their marriages and relationship challenges to get Mallory’s expert advice.  We also talk through Mallory’s controversial Instagram post about how she feels we should know our partner’s phone passcode. We really enjoyed today’s talk with Mallory and Stranz and feel this could have gone on much longer than time allotted for!

Links & Resources:

Free sample pack with purchase of LMNT

Follow Mallory on Instagram

Mallory’s practice, The Marigold Practice 

Listen to Stranz and Mallory’s Podcast: Make Marriage Work

Let’s connect!

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

This episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.

Parenting in the digital age can be confusing and scary. We know a lot of our listeners have the same questions that we do when it comes to technology and our kids! Today on the podcast, we are interviewing Dr. Devorah Heitner who has a PhD in Media/Technology and Society, is a parent, author, and screentime expert. She brings a lot of passion to this topic and answers all our questions with a new perspective surrounding social media, devices, and screentime when it comes to our kids!

Every family will have a different take on screentime. Instead of judging others for their comfort zones and boundaries, Dr. Devorah encourages us to talk about screentime with friends and family to see the ways other families approach the use of tech in their homes. Dr. Devorah gives us her insight on wearable devices that have gained a lot of popularity with younger kiddos. We also ask the question “when is it the right time to give my child a cell phone?” Many factors go into this answer and Dr. Devorah breaks them down for us. 

Most importantly, we need to mentor our children on how to conduct themselves online and on their devices. Having the hard conversations about the content they view and conversations they have with their peers will help lead them in the right direction. There is no blueprint, but Dr. Devorah does give us a lot of insight into things we should discuss and think about before giving our children access to being online and devices.

Links & Resources:

Free Shipping at GOODR with code ‘HERSELF’

Try Forage Kitchen!

Follow Dr. Devorah Heitner on Instagram

Dr. Devorah’s Website

Purchase Dr. Devorah’s Books; “Screenwise” and “Growing Up in Public”

Substack

Let’s connect!

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

This episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.

Society pressures women to stay youthful, but our guest on today’s episode, Tanya Dalton, has a motivating message that will encourage you to embrace aging gracefully and love the wisdom that comes with having more birthdays! Tanya is a bestselling author, motivational speaker, wife, and mother who is going to share with us why we should be excited about getting older!

Several other cultures revere their older adults and grandparents are often seen as the wisest family members! However, in America, women in their 50s and older are seen as the “wicked stepmother” and the “old crone” tropes that come with negative connotations. Tanya explains why aging could not be further from this comparison and why it is in fact a beautiful thing that should not be feared! 

We know a lot of our listeners are entering their 40s soon, so we talk with Tanya about why your 40s can be exciting and a time for deep self exploration. Getting to know your true self over the years and quieting your ego will leave room for your intuition to speak and help you make life decisions more easily. Knowing what you truly want out of your life and doing the things you love will not only make YOU happier, but those around you as well. Let’s all celebrate our next birthdays with enthusiasm for another year of beautiful life worth living!

Links & Resources:

10% off at BETTERHELP

Free sample pack with purchase of LMNT

Tanya’s Website 

Listen to Tanya’s Podcast: The Intentional Advantage

Purchase Tanya’s Books; The Joy of Missing Out and On Purpose

Let’s connect!

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

This episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.

Mom guilt can feel SO heavy in one season of life, and lighter in others. If you’ve yet to feel one of the lighter seasons, today’s episode is for you. We are here to tell you that we see you and we hope that today’s episode helps to open up the conversation about mom guilt.

In today’s episode we both share how our mom guilt has changed over the years from when our children were infants to their ages now. For Abby, mom guilt currently shows up with her children’s involvement in sports and being able to spend time at practice and games with all the other life things going on creating schedule conflicts. Amy shares that having one child who is a deep feeler and big reactor requires a lot of hands-on parenting and how that has affected her other children and the guilt that comes along with making each of her three children feel special. 

Something both of us can relate to is the guilt that comes along with being a working mother. Amy finds encouragement thinking about the other working moms in her life that are both amazing career women AND amazing mothers! Seeing the proof you can be both at the same time and reminding yourself that your work is important for your family makes the guilt a little less heavy. Whether you are a stay at home mom or a working mom, working to release the mom guilt will lead to a happier life!

Links & Resources:

20% off your purchase of Thorne

20% off at Vuori Clothing

HERself Episode 12 - Mom Guilt: How We’re Working Through It

Let’s connect!

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

This episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.

Divorce is a heavy topic, but it happens and that’s why we thought it was important to bring you this episode. We are so lucky to have Kate Anthony as our guest for today. Kate is a divorce coach who helps women decide if they should stay or leave their marriages and is a wealth of knowledge of the divorce process. Whether today’s episode applies to you personally or not, it could be helpful for your sister, friend, or other family member. We hope you take what you need from today’s interview with Kate and pass this episode along to someone you know who may need the information too.

There are two big common misconceptions about divorce that Kate breaks down for us. Lots of people think that couple’s therapy may be the first step towards reconciliation. However, it is not always the answer and Kate tells us which marriage scenarios should actually avoid it. If divorce is the route you choose, Kate shares with us how she thinks you should go about the first steps of the process as well as some important “do’s and don’ts” of divorce. 

If you, our listener, is living in an unhealthy marriage, we want you to know that you deserve to be happy. Reach out to a marriage coach, someone like Kate, who can help you discern what your next steps should be and utilize their resources. You deserve happiness and we support you! 

Links & Resources:

Free sample pack with purchase of LMNT

10% off at BETTERHELP

Follow Kate on Instagram

Kate’s Website

Listen to Kate’s Podcast: Divorce Survival Guide Podcast

Purchase Kate’s Book; “The D Word”

Let’s connect!

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

This episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.

As we are closing the chapter on this year’s summer season with the celebration of Labor Day here in the US, we thought it would be perfect to revisit our conversation with clinical psychologist Dr. Becky Kennedy from episode 146. Besides being a psychologist, Dr. Becky is also a mother of three and founder of Good Inside, the expert-guided, community-powered platform equipping parents with a new way of seeing and solving challenges at home. 

With a new school year starting, there will be many transitions for our kids. And for us as parents! Dr. Becky’s insight on parenting is so valuable as we go into this fall season. She opens up the conversation on a lot of topics that usually happen behind closed doors and has great advice on how to approach our children’s changing behaviors when going through transitional times like the start of a new school year. Dr. Becky encourages us that no matter where we are in our motherhood and parenting journey, it’s never too late to re-evaluate our behaviors and start to make a change.

Follow Dr. Becky on Instagram

Dr. Becky’s Website

Dr. Becky’s Online Workshops

Purchase Dr. Becky’s Book; Good Inside

Let’s connect!

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

This episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.

Today is a more casual episode between us, your hosts, Amy and Abby, as we talk all about stress and the way it’s impacted our lives, our families and friends, and the techniques we’ve learned over the years to get through those stressful times.

Our long term partners can get the brunt of our stress. Sometimes that means our stress can be triggering for them and vice versa! Every person deals with stress differently. Do you withdraw? Do you nitpick? Do you yell? Reflecting on your inner self, what are your triggers while you’re going through a stressful time? Knowing these triggers can help you pause in the moment and approach the situation differently. Try narrating how you’re feeling to your kids so they know you’re reaching your limit to prevent an explosion. And don’t forget to utilize your “village”. Whether that’s nearby family or friends, lean on them to support you in times of stress. Most of the time, they will happily help! 

Work and friendship goes hand and hand for us as best friends who own a business together. Being open, honest, and direct about our stressors and what our needs are from each other has really helped us be on the same page with our expectations for the day-to-day workflow. We often check in with each other before unloading a heavy work-related topic just to make sure it can be given the proper attention it needs. Not taking things personally has really helped the way we respond to friends as well. 

What we want you to take away from this episode is that we all experience stress and stressful situations. And we all express our stress differently. We can’t handle it perfectly every time, but the goal is to take a deep breath and be a little bit better each day. 

Links & Resources:

Free Shipping at GOODR with code ‘HERSELF’

Free sample pack with purchase of LMNT

ShrinkChicks Podcast

Let’s connect!

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

This episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.

This episode is a MUST listen! Today on the podcast we have Dr. Karen Tang. She is a board-certified gynecologist who is here to answer ALL of our questions about women’s health that we were never taught before! Her goal through her online presence is to help get rid of the stigma around women’s health so that women everywhere can live better.

“Cycle syncing” is a popular trend going around online. Dr. Tang tells us that if it works for you to change your workouts and diet based on your cycle phase, then keep doing so! But it’s totally not necessary. Your flow can say a lot about your period health, so Dr. Tang covers how much flow is too little and also how much is too much and could be cause for concern. If you’ve been on birth control for several years and are wondering if it’s safe to continue, Dr. Tang breaks that down for us based on the types of birth control and the risk factors involved. 

As we enter into our late 30s and 40s, women start experiencing symptoms of perimenopause. We talk with Dr. Tang about what we can do during this transitional time to improve our experience of perimenopause. Dr. Tang leaves us with the encouragement that if you feel something is not right, don’t wait to seek help while you suffer. Talk to your provider or get a second opinion to come up with a plan to help you live your best life. You’ve got this!


10% off at BETTERHELP


Try Forage Kitchen

Follow Dr. Karen Tang on Instagram

Dr. Karen Tang’s Website

Purchase Dr. Tang’s Book; It’s Not Hysteria, Everything You Need to Know About Your Reproductive Health (but Were Never Told)

Let’s connect!

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

This episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.

Today on the podcast we are happy to have Megan McNamee of Feeding Littles. Megan is a Registered Dietician Nutritionist who works specifically with babies, children, and their families to promote positive eating habits. Megan began teaching feeding courses at her local hospital after an unfortunate series of events before her first child was born. It was there that she fell in love with teaching families and babies and met Judy, an OT and feeding therapist, and created Feeding Littles together!

Do you have a picky eater? Megan wants you to know that picky eating is normal in childhood! And it won’t last forever. You know your child the best, so the guidelines Megan shares with us today may not apply to every situation, but are a great starting place to help your picky eater. 

We’ve all heard how beneficial it is for our children to sit as a family for dinner time because it is a time for connection. But we realize that our school-age children have activities that happen during the evenings. Not every family can sit down daily for a meal together, so just do it when you can! We also go through some tips about snacks before bed, easy protein sources, and how you as a parent can set a good example through food. 

Making school lunches can get overwhelming. Megan and Judy’s new book, Feeding Littles Lunches, is the perfect inspiration you need to create simple, easy, and nutritious lunches for your kiddos. With beautiful photography and a list of easy swaps for allergies/diet needs, this book will be your saving grace this upcoming school year! We’ve been using it this summer for packing our kids’ lunches and loved all their ideas!

Links & Resources:

20% off at Vuori Clothing

20% off your purchase of Thorne

Free drink mix sample pack with purchase of LMNT

Follow Megan on Instagram

Megan’s Website

Preorder Megan and Judy’s Book - available August 27th; Feeding Littles Lunches

Let’s connect!

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

This episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.

Lauren Goodwin, creator of Career Contessa, loves helping women navigate their careers. After having done all the “right” things, her first job after college left her wanting something more. After a long job search, Lauren became a recruiter. Now on the other side of the hiring process, she finally understood what employers were looking for. And from that, Career Contessa was born! 

There are more women in the career world now than ever before! Lauren tells us that job flexibility and pay are the two main things we should be mindful of in our current careers. If you’re feeling burnt out, present your boss with a list of solutions to your desires that would give you more flexibility in your current role. Pay is always something we should be evaluating too, even if we are happy at our current jobs. Researching the open market for salaries of your same position at other employers can help you know your value and worth. Lauren goes over how to have a salary negotiation if you find you are being undervalued at a job that you love.

Networking is everything! We know you’ve been told to network externally, but don’t forget to be relationally-minded within your current company. Lauren suggests keeping your Linkedin profile up to date even if you are taking a career break. It’s also never too late to pivot into a new career field if your priorities have shifted. And don’t forget, sometimes the “good enough” job allows us a better work/life balance than the “dream job”. To wrap up our interview, Lauren shares  her opinion on some popular career advice!

Links & Resources:

Enroll in the HERself Self-Care Course

Follow Lauren on Instagram

Lauren’s Website

Purchase Lauren’s book, “Power Moves”

Listen to Lauren’s Podcast: The Career Contessa Podcast

10% off at BETTERHELP

Code ‘HERself’ for 25% off your purchase of Goodwipes

Let’s connect!

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

This episode was brought to you by the 

Today on the show we are talking with Dominika from Dog Meets Baby. Dominika is a certified dog trainer who works specifically with families who have a dog and are bringing home a new baby or have kiddos and are bringing home a new dog. She helps to make the transition smooth for both kiddos and canines! 

Dominika’s first piece of advice if bringing a new baby home to the family dog is to have a plan - don’t wing it. If you are able to, practice! We go through some details of how to do this in today’s episode. Don’t forget to plan where your dog will go or who will stay with them while you are in the hospital for delivery!

If you feel your family is ready to add in a canine companion, it’s important to choose a dog that will fit into your family’s lifestyle. Dominika shares her insight on several points to consider when picking a dog. Is there a magic age that your kiddos should be before adding a dog to the family? Dominika tells us the age, based on the research, and a bit of an explanation behind it. 

The last thing any parent wants to happen is your dog biting your child. Dominika tells us that we should have safety rules set in place that will prevent bites. But also what to do if it does happen. 


Ensure you have a safe and happy home set up for your kids and your dog to cohabitate with Dominika’s checklist we’ve linked for you down below. Children and dogs take a lot of care and attention, finding that happy balance spending time with both will create a happy dog and a happy family!

Links & Resources:

Enroll in the HERself Self-Care Course

Follow Dominika on Instagram

Dominika’s Website

Dog Meets Baby Blog Post: How to Select a Dog for a Family with Young Kids

Dog Meets Baby Preparation Checklist

Free Shipping at GOODR with code ‘HERSELF’

20% off your purchase at Thorne

Let’s connect!

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

(Trigger warning: secondary infertility, miscarriage)

1:8 couples will experience secondary infertility. Allie Karagozian, Occupational Therapist, momma, and founder of @holdingboth, always knew she wanted to be a mom. After using fertility treatments to conceive her first child, she was overjoyed to become a mother. When she and her husband were ready for a second child, they were met with secondary infertility troubles. From that hardship, @holdingboth was created with the mentality that it is okay to be thankful to have a child, but still grieve not being able to have another. Allie wants to bring more awareness to secondary infertility and through her business she provides support and a safe landing place for those families walking through it. 

Allie wants you to know that it’s important to take care of your mental health during the journey of secondary infertility. She highly recommends that you and your partner seek therapy through any outlet you feel comfortable with, whether that’s through your insurance, BetterHelp, or support groups like the ones Allie hosts. And if you’re a friend of someone going through infertility, it can be hard to know what to say and ask. Allie gives us a great insight as to what thoughtful questions to ask to show you care without causing overwhelm.

And if you are going through a pregnancy loss, we want you to know it’s okay to ask for help. Ask a friend or family to take your other children for the day so you can rest. And please give yourself some grace during this time. We understand this is a sensitive topic, and if listening to this episode is too much right now, we understand, and encourage you to tune back when the timing is right. 

Links & Resources:

Enroll in the HERself Self-Care Course

Follow Allie on Instagram

Allie’s Website

Listen to Allie’s Podcast: The Secondary Infertility Podcast

The Miscarriage Doula on Instagram 


Resolve Support Group for Men

10% off at BETTERHELP

Free sample pack with purchase of LMNT

Let’s connect!

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

If you follow us on Instagram, then you may have seen our stories the day we got colonics. It was an interesting experience to say the least! A lot of you, our listeners, had questions and wanted more detail about the process, how it makes you feel, what to expect, etc. Spoiler, one of us had a little bit of a poopy situation! And one of us unfortunately had a not so pleasant experience. Today we’ll go in depth about our individual experiences during our colonics and share about what you can expect if you think a colonic procedure is right for you. Would we do it again? You’ll have to listen to find out!

On a more serious note, Abby wanted to share more about her journey with Hashimoto’s disease. We have a real conversation about being aware of your body’s symptoms, knowing your triggers, and slowing down. Abby discusses her symptoms she was having when she was first diagnosed and how those have waxed and waned over time. Amy shares her concern over her heavy periods and that she is doing some hormone testing to see if any improvements can be made. If you have been experiencing symptoms similar to ours, or just not feeling yourself, we encourage you to get hormone testing done! 

Over on the Expecting and Empowered Podcast, we interviewed the owners of Your Hormone Balance, a women-owned business that specializes in hormone testing and coaching. We are so excited to share that Your Hormone Balance has provided a discount code specifically for our listeners. Getting testing can be your first step to feeling better and getting back in control of your body and your life!

Links & Resources:

Enroll in the HERself Self-Care Course

Forage Kitchen: https://www.eatforage.com/

Your Hormone Balance; use code HERSELF for 10% off the “Build Your Own” Test Kit

Let’s connect!

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

After seeing some of Lindsay’s work through a friend, we knew we needed to have her on our podcast. Lindsay Bryan Podvin is a licensed social worker turned financial therapist, and the first of her kind in Michigan! As a financial therapist, Lindsay’s job is to look at the emotional side of money and help others with their mind/money connection.

Money is a hot topic whether you’re single, partnered, or married. Sometimes we think we are doing worse financially than we really are. Lindsay’s work with individuals and with community groups has shown that you may not be as bad off as you think! It’s important that we understand our emotions behind money and understand things like why it may be hard to stick to a budget and why we feel the way we do about money. And it’s people like Lindsay that can help you figure that out!

If you have a partner, discuss and get clear on what your financial goals are as a couple. And if one partner makes more than the other, it’s important to have a game plan on how your finances will be shared. Making sure that you are being transparent about your debts, salary, and spending habits is part of financial fidelity. 

Lindsay touches on other trending topics like “loud budgeting”, 9 financial goals for couples in their 30s and 40s, her financial type quiz and book titled “The Financial Anxiety Solution”, and even gives us a mini therapy session! You won’t want to miss today’s episode, and you’ll probably want to pass this along to your partner too! 

Links & Resources:

Enroll in the HERself Self-Care Course

Follow Lindsay Bryan Podvin on Instagram

Lindsay’s Website

Listen to Lindsay’s Podcast: Mind Money Balance

Purchase Lindsay’s Book; The Financial Anxiety Solution

Lindsay’s What’s Your Financial Archetype Quiz

 LMNT; drinkLMNT.com/HERSELF free sample pack with purchase

20% off at Vuori Clothing: https://vuoriclothing.com/herself 

Goodwipes: code ‘HERself’ on Amazon for 25% off your purchase of Goodwipes

Let’s connect!

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

We both have experience raising children who seem to not respond to gentle parenting and the other well known techniques. It has been frustrating for the both of us at times because it makes us feel isolated and exhausted. We are so excited to revisit episode 157 with Claire Lerner as our “Greatest Hits” episode over this 4th of July week. Claire shares her expertise with us and we feel it is just as helpful now as when this episode first aired. 

Claire shares what to do if your child is wired differently during moments of aggression towards others. She explains that our children are not trying to be manipulative in any way, just that they need boundaries to help themselves regulate. 

Have you ever wondered if timeouts are truly a thing of the past? Claire explains her concept of a safe space break and how this alone time can help kids get back to a place of calm. 

With it being the summer season with lots of gatherings with family and friends, we know these gatherings can be major triggers for our kiddos who tend to be big reactors. Claire helps us navigate the conversations we can have with our friends and family. 

Links & Resources:

Enroll in the HERself Self-Care Course

Follow Claire on Instagram

Claire’s Website

Claire’s Book

Sponsor: 10% off at BETTERHELP: http://betterhelp.com/herself

Let’s connect!

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

Whether you’re a teacher, a nurse, or a therapist, professional burnout is real. Our guest today, licensed psychologist and mother of two, Dr. Nancy Grechko, specializes in supporting women therapists and women working in the mental health field. And while Dr. Grechko’s main focus is with women in the mental health field, they are usually also mothers. The tips she offers in today’s episode are really relatable as busy mothers who want a healthy work/life balance.

As mothers, we are caregivers. And sometimes it can be easy to over commit ourselves in our personal and professional lives to help meet the needs and care for the other people in our lives. We can squeeze in that play date on Thursday evening with friends, right? And we can squeeze in one or two more clients on Wednesday morning too? Well, Dr. Grechko tells us today that overscheduling can cause increased stress and resentment over time leading to burnout. It’s important for us to recognize our limits and set boundaries to prevent burnout from occurring. 

A lot of us have flexible work hours or are able to work from home some days. However, this can make it harder for us to “turn down the volume” of work when we can see emails popping into our inboxes. Dr. Grechko reminds us that we need to be more mindful of being in one place at a time and create more separation between our work and home lives. She has some wonderful teachings to help us create that mindful space.

Overall, the importance of recognizing, honoring, and communicating your limits to prevent burnout is what we want you to take away from today’s episode with Dr. Nancy Grechko. And remembering that we weren’t meant to do this motherhood journey alone. There are several tangible tips in today’s episode to help you work through things internally, with partnership, and with a greater support community. 

Links & Resources:

Enroll in the HERself Self-Care Course

Follow Dr. Nancy Grechko on Instagram

Dr. Nancy Grechko’s Website

Dr. Grechko’s Complex Trauma Online Course - use code HERSELF for $10 off

LMNT; free sample pack with purchase at drinkLMNT.com/HERSELF 

Free Shipping at GOODR with code ‘HERSELF’: https://goodr.com/herself

20% off at CHOMPS with code herself: https://chomps.com/

Let’s connect!

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: 

We (Amy and Drew, Abby and Colin) just got back from our amazing trip to Kaui, Hawaii to celebrate our 10 year anniversaries. We had such a great time vacationing as separate couples exploring North Shore Kauai, and then also as a group enjoying the South Shore. The best of both worlds! 

Coming home from Hawaii, we felt compelled to record this episode and talk about friendship. As busy moms, wives, and entrepreneurs, our schedules are pretty full. Which makes the time we dedicate to friendships very sacred. We have learned over the years that not only is time precious, but who you keep in your inner circle is just as important. Are you okay with the habits and behaviors of those friends and their children rubbing off on your kids? Do their values line up with yours? It’s important to choose wisely which friendships you nurture. Choose ones that will build you up and leave you feeling energized and happy instead of drained.

Enriching friendships takes a lot of work. A new friend can’t be a best friend immediately. Maintaining surface level friends is okay, but digging deep, asking questions, and spending quality time together can get you to that best friend level. Being open to new friendships in our 30s and 40s may bring a new best friend (or two!) to walk through life with. We are so thankful to have developed our great friendship over these past years and witness each other's vow renewals in Hawaii. We encourage you to keep an open heart to new friendships as they may provide you with joy you didn’t know you were missing!

Links & Resources:

20% off your Thorne purchase: www.thorne.com/u/herself

Check out Forage Kitchen!

10% off at BETTERHELP: http://betterhelp.com/herself

Enroll in the HERself Self-Care Course

Let’s connect!

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

We have some news to share today… Pursuing HER Purpose, our other business focused on helping entrepreneurial moms with our friend Kat, is officially closing its doors. As we mention in today’s episode, while PHP may be ending, we are bringing over the best of that brand to the HERself platform! Our consulting services and coaching courses will still be available on our website.

In honor of one season ending and another beginning, we thought we would replay one of the most listened to episodes from the PHP podcast titled “The Episode You Need if You Are About to Return From Maternity Leave” for you today. The season of your maternity leave ending can be bittersweet. It can seem daunting to leave your infant just as you were getting the hang of being a new mom, or new mom again! In this episode we go through many tips and tricks to help you during this transition like what to wear to pump at work, how to prepare the night before for a smooth morning and daycare drop off, as well as how to lean on your partner during this season. 

Beyond the physical things we can do to prepare to go back to work, we encourage you to embrace a mindset change too. Instead of feeling guilty for needing to step away from work for 15 minutes to go pump, changing your mindset to “I’m doing this for my baby” can help you stay motivated and empowered to go pump. Going back to work can be stressful, but reminding yourself that your role of providing for your family is important and your kids will be so proud of you for doing so! To wrap up, Kat shares with us a heartfelt letter she wrote to her children when her maternity leave was coming to an end.

If you are coming over from the PHP podcast, thank you for your support over the years and your continued support here at HERself!

Links & Resources:

Enroll in the HERself Self-Care Course

drinkLMNT.com/HERSELF free sample pack with purchase 

Check out our newest partner Goodwipes 

Follow Kat’s other business @theyesandco

Pursuing HER Purpose website

Let’s connect!

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

Today on the podcast, we are excited to welcome back Dr. Emily Jamea, who was last with us for episode 192. Dr. Emily is a sex therapist who works with couples and individuals to overcome relationship and sexual hurdles to enjoy more meaningful lives. She sits down with us today to discuss how we can talk with our kids about all things related to sex. Here at the HERself podcast, we plan on talking to our kids about sex, but understand that if this topic does not align with your beliefs, please feel free to skip this episode! 

“Mom, where do babies come from?” If you haven’t already been asked, you will be at some point. And when is the right time to give our kids “the talk”? Dr. Emily points out that it is important to use proper anatomical terminology while she walks us through how to answer these questions with age appropriate responses. 

She also emphasizes the importance of discussing different scenarios when sex may come into play with our older children. By helping them establish their personal sexual values, they will be better prepared for when those scenarios happen in real life. While privacy settings and activity monitoring apps can be useful on teen phones, nothing can replace the conversations we need to have with our kids about being safe online. We know this can be an uncomfortable topic to talk about, but we encourage you to get uncomfortable and have those conversations. We thank you for listening to today’s episode!

Sponsor: 20% off at Vuori Clothing: https://vuoriclothing.com/herself 

Links & Resources:

Dr. Emily’s Website

Follow Dr. Emily on Instagram

Order Dr. Emily’s book, Anatomy of Desire

Listen to Dr. Emily’s Podcast

Enroll in the HERself Self-Care Course

Let’s connect!

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

For today’s “Greatest Hits” episode, we are revisiting our interview with Dr. Morgan Cutlip. She joined us for episode 162 and episode 190. This episode we are focusing on how we take care of ourselves as mothers; how do we feel good inside motherhood? So many of her answers spoke directly to both of us.

In her book, Love Your Kids Without Losing Yourself, Dr. Morgan explains three core concepts moms face. She chats with us about these concepts including what we can do to help ourselves with the conflict of sacrificing our own identities in motherhood. We also discuss the core concept of idealization of motherhood and how intense our standards are on ourselves as parents. 

Ever feel like your needs aren’t being met by your partner when it comes to sharing the load? Do you ask them for help but it never seems to go anywhere? Dr. Morgan shares actionable steps you can take when our own needs are not being met. She talks about how you can best manage all of our commitments and why that means you can’t be 100 percent committed to everything at once. 

If the HERself podcast has made an impact on your life we would love it if you could help us in return. Leave us a rating and review wherever you listen to podcasts and while you’re there also hit the follow or subscribe button. That way we will land in your inbox every single Monday!

Sponsor: 10% off at BETTERHELP

Sponsor: Free Shipping at GOODR with code ‘HERSELF’

Meet Dr. Morgan Cutlip

Order Dr. Morgan’s Book HERE - out now!

Let’s connect!

HERSELF SHOP

HERSELF PATREON

HERSELF INSTAGRAM

MEET AMY

MEET ABBY

This episode was produced and edited by @pivotballchange.

We’ve all experienced the feelings of happiness, sadness, fear, anger, etc. And if you are a mom, you’ve seen your children experience all of these emotions too.  But why is it that when our children are displaying anger, it makes us so uncomfortable? Today we are talking with Certified Parenting Coach, Leda Rawlins, about why anger in children is normal and what we, as parents, can do when our child is angry. Leda will walk us through how, and when, to teach our children how to react in a frustrating moment.

We know that angry behaviors from our kids at home is stressful enough, so it’s normal to worry about those same behaviors while they are at school or extracurricular activities. Leda will explain when and who we should collaborate with to make the best team to support our child in those settings. 

Sometimes as parents it can seem daunting to change our own behavior when responding to anger from our child. Leda acknowledges that the help of professionals can be beneficial and sometimes necessary to teach us the tools and strategies we need to help our child succeed. The main thing we want you to know is that it doesn’t take a perfect parent to implement the strategies Leda teaches us today. It’s about being better, and that’s what’s important! You’ve got this, mama!

Leda’s Website

Leda’s Instagram


Leda's Newsletter

Sponsor: Thorne; 20% off your purchase: www.thorne.com/u/herself

Sponsor: LMNT; drinkLMNT.com/HERSELF free sample pack with purchase 

Sponsor: 20% off at CHOMPS with code herself: https://chomps.com/

Links & Resources:

Leda’s “Smoother Transitions” Guide

Enroll in the HERself Self-Care Course

Let’s connect!

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

Have you ever gone through a rough stretch and it’s made you take a look at your life from a zoomed out perspective? Well that’s exactly where we’ve been lately. Both of us have gone through a stretch of illnesses for both ourselves and our kids that has made us reflect on what we want to stay in our lives and what we want to leave behind. And sometimes it takes going through a really hard period to notice these things.

In this episode we talk about how most of us live such busy lives that we don’t have any margin for sick days. And that includes for ourselves. We talk about what we call the “10-minute” support person and how neither of us have that. But instead of wishing we did, we share how we have the necessary conversations with our partners and friends, so that when we do get that call from school saying our kiddo is sick, it isn’t always falling on just us.

We want this episode to be the push you need to do some reflecting on your own life. What can you let go of? Where can you ask for help? What are your values and what can you do that is going to help you live in more alignment? Do you have the necessary margins that you need so that when something does come up, you’re set up to handle it in a way that feels best for you?

Sponsor: 20% off at Vuori Clothing: https://vuoriclothing.com/herself 

Links & Resources:

Enroll in the HERself Self-Care Course

Let’s connect!

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

Making new friends in our 30’s and 40’s can be tricky, especially as moms. Today, we have Danielle Bayard Jackson on the show to talk with us about how to maintain close friends while nurturing the surface level ones at the same time. Danielle is the friendship expert on Bumble’s new app; Bumble for Friends. She is here to share everything from what to do if your partner doesn’t get along with one of your friends to ideas on how to find those deep friendship connections if that’s what you're seeking.

What is more important - the quality of the friendships you have or the quantity? Danielle gets into how many deep friendships we can sustain at a time but also pushes us to not discount the “weaker” ties that we have. She explains the pros and cons of both. And what are we supposed to do when those feelings of being left out creep in? Danielle offers some great tips on what you can do if loneliness seems to be a factor in your life right now.

We know that many of you are moms and this can be one of the hardest stages to make or maintain friendships. But the value that they bring to your life is so rich. It’s not too late to find those deep connections. Be intentional with the new people you meet. Put in some effort and remind yourself that these types of relationships are going to take time and work!

Sponsor: 10% off at BETTERHELP: http://betterhelp.com/herself

Sponsor: LMNT; drinkLMNT.com/HERSELF free sample pack with purchase 

Links & Resources:

Enroll in the HERself Self-Care Course

Danielle’s Book; Fighting for Our Friendships

Danielle’s Website

Let’s connect!

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

Are you working on forming habits that will lead to positive behavior change? What’s the difference between a behavior change and an actual habit? Today, our guest Robyn Conley Downs, joins us to speak on all things habits! When it comes to forming new habits maybe you fall into the all or nothing category? Or perhaps you compare yourself too much or have that perfectionistic mindset? Well, Robyn is here to give you strategies that you can implement right away no matter what stage of habit formation you are currently in.

Wanting to live a healthier lifestyle but not knowing where to start can be overwhelming. Robyn explains the power that momentum can have when we start small. She also reminds us to give ourselves credit for how far we have come. Robyn explains what a purpose habit is and why it is a key piece to the puzzle. 

Are you one to focus on the outcome of a goal rather than the process? Robyn shares what shifting your goals to process goals versus outcome goals can do for you. She also breaks down the 80/20 rule and talks about the impact that becoming brilliant at the basics can have on your life. 

Sponsor: 20% off at CHOMPS with code herself: https://chomps.com/

Sponsor: Vivo; vivobarefoot.com - enter code ‘HERSELF’ at checkout for 20% off your first order

Links & Resources:

Enroll in the HERself Self-Care Course

Robyn’s Book; The Feel Good Effect

Follow Robyn on Instagram

Listen to Robyn’s Podcast; Whole Life Organized

Let’s connect!

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

In the past so many of you have requested more podcast episodes that are aimed towards dads. This one does just that. Our guest, Michael Perry, is a husband, dad of two young boys, and the founder of tech startup and household organization app Maple - which stands for Make All Parents Lives Easier.

It is easy to hear Michael’s passion for his work. He talks about his values and how they show up both in and out of his household. Michael touches on how he and his wife share the load and the responsibilities he takes on as a father. He also offers tips on how to empower your partner to step up more and share more of the work that comes with parenting. 

If you’ve implemented different strategies and systems to try to improve how your household functions but it doesn’t seem to be working, Michael offers suggestions on how a simple conversation about things can make the world of difference. We also know that at times, it can feel like we and our partner are giving each other the leftover version of ourselves. Michael touches on how we can bring the best version of ourselves to our families and how that might mean not giving 100% at work all the time.

We know this episode is going to really resonate with our male listeners so be sure to share this one with your partner!

Sponsor: LMNT; drinkLMNT.com/HERSELF free sample pack with purchase 

Sponsor: Free Shipping at GOODR with code ‘HERSELF’: https://goodr.com/herself

Links & Resources:

Enroll in the HERself Self-Care Course

Follow Maple on Instagram

growmaple.com

Let’s connect!

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

Are you in a phase of your relationship where your partner feels more like a roommate? We know this is a challenge that many of our listeners in this community face. Today we are excited to have Sheina Schochet of @loveafterbaby back on the show. If you haven’t already, be sure to go back and listen to episode 170 when we first had Sheina on.

Today’s discussion is infused with so many tips on everything from what to do if your partnership doesn’t feel like it’s in a strong place to some actions you can take if your partner isn’t open to going to therapy. Since Sheina’s last visit on the show, she has become a Gottman Bringing Home Baby educator and the insights she’s gained from this are tangible throughout our conversation.

What we want you to walk away with from our discussion with Sheina is that being in a rut in your relationship is super common and it’s something that isn’t talked about enough. So if you’re feeling like you are in a low place right now, tune into this episode to learn how to reconnect with your partner and get back to a place where you are able to find the friendship & intimacy in your relationship again. 

Sponsor: Vivo; vivobarefoot.com - enter code ‘HERSELF’ at checkout for 20% off your first order

Sponsor: 10% off at BETTERHELP: http://betterhelp.com/herself

Sponsor: Thorne; 20% off your purchase: www.thorne.com/u/herself

Links & Resources:

Enroll in the HERself Self-Care Course

Men Searching for Meaning

The Mask of Masculinity

Episode 170: Keeping the Love in Our Partnerships After Kids with Sheina Schochet @loveafterbaby

Love After Baby Quiz

Follow Sheina on Instagram

Love After Baby Workshops

Work 1x1 with Sheina

Let’s connect!

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF

This episode with Dr. Gloria Han is all about mindfulness. Gloria is a clinical psychologist but today we focus on how simple mindfulness can be yet at the same time, it’s not easy. Gloria gives us lots of ways we can plug mindfulness into our daily lives that will allow us to be more present and get more enjoyment out of this life.

When we think about mindfulness we might think that it needs to be an uninterrupted time of meditating. Gloria explains how this isn’t true. She goes into details about how it can be something that we practice all day long and explains the three skills of mindfulness, including examples of each. She also gives us examples of things we can do that will only take 5-10 minutes but can have a huge impact. 

There are both mental and physical benefits of mindfulness. Gloria talks about how the mind isn’t separate from the body and how the well being of the two are inextricably linked. She also differentiates between when judgment is good versus when it can be a negative thing and how living too far in the past or future can be detrimental to our minds.

Finally, if you’re interested in how mindfulness can be beneficial to your kids, Gloria shares her favorite tools she uses as a pediatric pain psychologist to help children become more aware of their well-being.

Sponsor: 10% off at BETTERHELP: http://betterhelp.com/herself

Sponsor: 20% off at CHOMPS with code herself: https://chomps.com/

Links & Resources:

Enroll in the HERself Self-Care Course

Follow Gloria on Instagram

Gloria’s Website

Let’s connect!

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

Shanna Hutcheson has been a longtime listener of the HERself podcast. But what we love about our interview with her today is that she breaks down her dietitian knowledge into a way that every mom can understand. Shanna gives us snack ideas, breakfast ideas, and explains how to develop a healthier relationship with food so that we can be better parents and love ourselves more.

Shanna’s honest answer about why she got into the field of nutrition and health will have a lot of you understanding where she comes from. Many of us struggle with our relationship with food and Shanna breaks down three simple things we can all aim to have in our diets to ensure we are nourishing and taking care of ourselves in the best way possible.

As a mom of two, Shanna understands the struggle of feeling like you don’t have enough time to take care of yourself. She even shares a little bit of the behind the scenes of being a special needs parent and how that can feel even more demanding than normal. Shanna explains what has been helpful during her hardest months and shares what you can do if you, or someone you know, might be in a similar situation.

Sponsor: 20% off at Vuori Clothing: https://vuoriclothing.com/herself 

Sponsor: LMNT; drinkLMNT.com/HERSELF free sample pack with purchase

Links & Resources:

Enroll in the HERself Self-Care Course

Follow Shanna on Instagram

Shanna’s Website

Listen to Shanna’s Podcast; Wellness for the Win Podcast 

Expecting + Empowered Podcast Episode with Shanna; Navigating an Unplanned Diagnosis + NICU Stay with Shanna Hutcheson

Let’s connect!

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

As you might know, we love to push both ourselves and this community to think bigger and gain perspective. This entire episode is all about politics. And although this topic can be a touchy one, our guest, Reena Ninan, loves to take complicated world affairs and make them easy to understand. Reena has been a correspondent for CBS, ABC, and FOX. She has delivered news on some of the world’s most critical events.

Reena covers why it is so important to be informed about current events and also shares her top, trusted resources on where we should be consuming this type of information. If politics are a touchy subject amongst you and your partner, or close family members, you are going to want to tune in to hear what Reena has to say on how you can decipher these conversations that can become heated at times.

Some of us may have the goal to raise kids who are informed. We ask Reena how we can start to open up our children’s perception of the world and help them realize that there is more to it than just their little bubbles. It can be hard to decide when it is appropriate to talk about current affairs with our children but Reena leads us in the right direction on how we can start to bring up both the good and the bad that is going on in today’s world.

Sponsor: Free Shipping at GOODR with code ‘HERSELF’: https://goodr.com/herself

Sponsor: 10% off at BETTERHELP: http://betterhelp.com/herself

Links & Resources:

Enroll in the HERself Self-Care Course

Follow Reena on Instagram

Follow Reena on LinkedIn

Follow Reena on Twitter

Follow Reena on Threads

Reena’s Podcast with Dr. Lisa; Ask Lisa Podcast 

goodtroubleproductions.com

Let’s connect!

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

Gretchen Rubin is someone that we’ve enjoyed listening to for years. She hosts the podcast HAPPIER with Gretchen Rubin with her sister. In her work Gretchen investigates unexpected truths about everyday life and identifies ways we can take happiness from the transcendent to the concrete. During our conversation with Gretchen she touches on ways we can make ourselves happier, how to identify our own self tendencies, and things we can improve on as we all seek to be just a little bit happier.

Happiness is not one size fits all and Gretchen stresses that there are certain elements that will bring individuals more happiness than what might spark joy in someone else. She also explains the concept that she developed; the four tendencies. Gretchen talks through the fact that both the people we surround ourselves with and how well we know ourselves are the two main things that play a role in the level of happiness we feel for ourselves.

We also discuss habits and how they play a vital role in our happiness. Another topic we cover is mindfulness and the positive impact that tuning into our five senses can have throughout our daily lives. Our conversation with Gretchen is sure to leave you feeling more enlightened about ways that you can start to live a more positive and happier life.

Sponsor: 20% off at Vuori Clothing: https://vuoriclothing.com/herself 

Sponsor: LMNT; drinkLMNT.com/HERSELF free sample pack with purchase 

Links & Resources:

Enroll in the HERself Self-Care Course

Gretchen’s Website

Gretchen’s Podcast

The Happier App

Follow Gretchen on Instagram

Let’s connect!

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

If you’ve been a longtime listener then you might recognize these voices. We have Emmalee and Jen from ShrinkChicks back on the show today. They are some of our favorite guests because they use their own life experiences when they’re talking about therapy. In this episode, we also give our own life experiences on times where we’ve taken things personally and how we’ve worked through them. 

There are many reasons why we take things personally. Emmalee and Jen go through some examples and explain if these tendencies can be unlearned. A lot of it has to do with the way we were raised and now that most of us are raising kids of our own, we ask Emmalee and Jen how we can help our children not take things so personally themselves. If you’re currently stuck on something that you’ve taken personally, today’s guests walk us through some at-home therapy steps you can do to work yourself out of these types of situations.

This episode is going to call you out and call you in in the best ways. Jen and Emmalee are a wealth of information and have a way of putting things so that they are easy for everyone to understand. If you struggle with taking things personally, you’re not alone and you’re going to want to tune into this one.

Sponsor: 10% off at BETTERHELP: http://betterhelp.com/herself

Sponsor: Thorne; 20% off your purchase: www.thorne.com/u/herself

Links & Resources:

Enroll in the HERself Self-Care Course

Follow ShrinkChicks on Instagram

Listen to the ShrinkChicks Podcast

The Therapy Group

Let’s connect!

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

You guys are in for a treat today! Our husbands, Colin and Drew, are back on the show. We took questions from this community on things that you’re struggling with with your partners right now. We’ve had Colin and Drew on the show before but it has been a while. Most of the episodes that they’ve been on have been focused on the years when our kids were babies. But today it is great to have them back on now that our kids are a little older, we have new challenges and victories we’ve gone through, and we just know ourselves a little bit more.

We cover the heavy topic of permanent birth control. Drew and Colin both share their thoughts on vasectomies and how each of them has dealt with the finality of that procedure. We also talk about intimacy and whether or not it has improved now that our kids have grown up a little bit. And we know that we all go through tough stretches in marriage so the guys share their insights on what actions they both take to try to get our marriages back on track.

Finally, we finish with some fun, rapid fire questions that are not to be missed! Drew and Colin share their pet peeves and even give the inside scoop on the peaks + pits of being married to influencers.

Sponsor: 10% off at BETTERHELP: http://betterhelp.com/herself

Sponsor: LMNT; drinkLMNT.com/HERSELF free sample pack with purchase 

Links & Resources:

Enroll in the HERself Self-Care Course

Let’s connect!

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

We know many people in this community are looking for a career transition. That is why we are so excited to have our first ever career coach on the show today. Madelyn Mackie is a certified career management coach and she walks us through everything from how to build your resume, to how to network, and also how to get back into the workforce if you’ve been away for a while.

Making a career change is a big decision and Madelyn starts off by sharing how common this shift is for women these days. She also explains how and where to start if you are feeling like you want to make a change to your current work situation. Madelyn covers the importance of making a list of the things you really enjoy doing as far as work goes and offers a suggestion on what to search for instead of a job title when it comes to hunting for new opportunities. 

Have you heard of upskilling? Madelyn explains what this is and why it doesn’t just have to be seeking another degree. She also chats with us about how networking can change the trajectory of your career and gives her top tips on how to build a resume for the current job you are applying for. 

Sponsor: 20% off at CHOMPS with code herself: https://chomps.com/

Sponsor: Free Shipping at GOODR with code ‘HERSELF’: https://goodr.com/herself

Sponsor: Magic Spoon; magicspoon.com/herself - enter code ‘HERSELF’ at checkout to save $5

Links & Resources:

Enroll in the HERself Self-Care Course

Follow Madelyn on LinkedIn

Madelyn’s Website

Let’s connect!

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

Today’s conversation has been a long time coming because it is something that we’ve talked a lot about in the past but we’ve never really taken the time to fully dive in on this subject. And that’s the idea of how an introvert can make adult friendships.

Our guest, Jessica Pan, is a journalist and the author of the book Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want to Come. She is also a self-proclaimed introvert who took a year of her life to explore what being more extroverted might be like. If you too are in the position where you want to engage with more people, make new friends, or speak up more at work - she has some really valuable tips throughout this episode.

We cover everything from defining the difference between an introvert and an extrovert to where to find other introverts who are also looking to meet new friends. Jessica shares whether or not she thinks being an introvert has to do with how you were raised and if she thinks you can change this personality trait. If you are in the beginning steps of trying to expand yourself, Jessica coaches you through three steps you can take to put yourself out there and meet new people!

Sponsor: LMNT; drinkLMNT.com/HERSELF free sample pack with purchase 

Sponsor: Thorne; 20% off your purchase: www.thorne.com/u/herself

Sponsor: Magic Spoon; enter code ‘HERSELF’ at checkout to save $5: magicspoon.com/herself 

Links & Resources:

Enroll in the HERself Self-Care Course

Follow Jessica on Instagram - @jessypanpan

Follow Jessica on Substack - @jesspan

Let’s connect!

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

We get asked about today’s topic a lot; confidence. We both believe it is something you build, it ebbs and flows, you may have a lot of it in one area and may need to work on it in another. In this episode, we cover how we’ve built our own confidence in certain areas of our lives.

Career confidence is where we start off. Even if you are good at something, have a degree in it, have done it for a long time, and maybe you even love it - that doesn’t mean you have to stay stuck in that job forever. However, it’s up to you to bring what you need to make a change. Abby shares some prompts to ask yourself if you are feeling this way.

The next area we cover is body confidence. We talk about how it’s so important to not wait for someone else’s compliment to build your own confidence. You have to rely on yourself and having a neutral stance on your body could be a good goal. The main factors that we feel are the most important measurements of good health are making sure you’re eating enough of a nourishing diet, getting some movement in, making sure you’re getting enough sleep, and having ways to manage stress.

And finally, we cover our relationship with alcohol. We know you might be wondering how this topic ties into confidence but hear us out. We feel that alcohol can be a direct factor into how you take care of yourself overall, and that can have an influence on your confidence. We feel like we have a fresh take on alcohol that lands somewhere in the middle and for us, that feels like a good place to be.

We want you to ask yourself, do my habits align with my goals? We feel that confidence is built when you can align what you are doing with what you want your life to look like.

Sponsor: 10% off at BETTERHELP: http://betterhelp.com/herself

Sponsor: 20% off at Vuori Clothing: https://vuoriclothing.com/herself 

Sponsor: LMNT; drinkLMNT.com/HERSELF free sample pack with purchase 

Links & Resources:

Enroll in the HERself Self-Care Course

Let’s connect!

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

Today’s guest, Jeanelle Teves, is the Chief Commercial Officer of Bugaboo. She is also a speaker, a wife, and a mom of two kids; ages three and six. Jeanelle is crushing it in corporate America and has a stay at home partner. We cover both of these topics in our interview and we touch on confidence. Jeanelle shares how she built her own and how she fully embodies it.

We know lots of our listeners have times in their lives where they contemplate a career move. Maybe you’ve thought about leaving your job all together and being a full-time stay at home parent? Jeanelle shares how she knows when it is time to make a change. She also manages a fully remote team and knows that for moms who are working from home, it can be easy to blur the lines between professional and mom. She shares her tips on how to set some boundaries both at home and with your work place.

In Jeanelle’s family, she is the breadwinner and her husband is the full-time stay at home working parent. Jeanelle talks to us about how they came to this decision as a family and what she does to support her husband in finding time for himself outside of all the household work he puts in. 

Finally, we know that a lot of women can struggle with confidence at times. If this has been you, tune in to hear how Jeanelle is so unapologetic about her successes and the tips she has on how you yourself can grow in this area.

Sponsor: 10% off at BETTERHELP: http://betterhelp.com/herself

Sponsor: 20% off at CHOMPS with code herself: https://chomps.com/

Links & Resources:

Enroll in the HERself Self-Care Course

Follow Jeanelle on Instagram - @jeanelleteves

Follow Jeanelle on LinkedIn 

Let’s connect!

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

We believe that whether you are a parent of a child with a disability, or not, it is important to open up this conversation and learn the terms and language surrounding kids with extra needs. Today, we sat down with our long time friend, Pam Beron, to discuss parenting a child with a disability or supporting a friend or loved one who just received this type of diagnosis for their child.

Pam has 14 years of experience teaching special education in the classroom and has since transitioned to starting her own business, Highest Potential Pathways, where she consults with families that are navigating raising a child with disabilities. Pam educates us on the most inclusive language to use, how families with children with special needs can navigate the stigmas that come with this, and how to talk to your own child about their own special needs.

As a parent, it can be difficult to explain to your own children without special needs why someone with a disability is different from them. Pam walks us through examples of how to have these types of conversations. We also know that parenting a child with special needs can have a major impact. We discuss how this affects a parent personally and what you can do to support a parent who may be going through something like this.

Sponsor: Free Shipping at GOODR with code ‘HERSELF’: https://goodr.com/herself

Sponsor: Year’s Supply of Vitamin D3K2 and Five Free Travel Packs from AG1 with Your First Purchase: www.drinkag1.com/herself

Links & Resources:

Enroll in the HERself Self-Care Course

Follow Pam on Instagram - @highestpotentialpathways

Pam’s Website - www.highestpotentialpathways.com

Pam’s Course - Pathway to Your Best IEP: A Guide for Parents + Guardians

HERself Podcast Episode #22: The Best Ways To Support When A Loved One Needs You

Let’s connect!

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

Abby chats solo this week with Erica Neuman, a certified public accountant who specializes in how to talk to your kids about money. As a mom herself, Erica’s goal is to make finances approachable and to show young people the value of financial education. She’s also a wife and an accounting professor with over 12 years of experience.

We cover the hot topic of chores. Should we have our kids do them and if so, should we pay them for their work? What about talking about finances in front of our kids? Is it appropriate? Erica shares why giving our kids hands-on experience with money is so empowering and what to do when kids are gifted money for things like holidays or birthdays.

Maybe you’re not so confident when it comes to talking about money. If you don’t know where to start, be sure to tune into this episode. Erica shares where to begin, how to build your financial confidence as a parent, and the eight money conversations you’ll want to have with your kids before they turn 18!

Sponsor: 10% off at BETTERHELP: http://betterhelp.com/herself

Sponsor: Visit SitkaSeafoodMarket.com code ‘HERSELF’ for $35 off your first order 

Links & Resources:

Erica’s Website

Enroll in the HERself Self-Care Course

Let’s connect!

HERSELF SHOP: https://herself-podcast-favorites.myshopify.com

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

This episode is all about mindsets and other things that are inspiring us as we head into the new year. There is something about a fresh start and the passing of another year that allows us to gain some fresh perspective. Today we are asking ourselves what areas we feel like could use some changes and what areas of our lives feel really good?

We both share a couple of words that we are focusing on this year. The first one being bold and how we can shift our perspective from what do others think of me to what do I think of me? The other word is embrace. Instead of looking forward to future goals, being sure to take the time to reflect on how far we have come.

As you all know, our health is very important to both of us. We share updates on where we are on our health journeys and why we think it’s okay to continually have goals as far as our bodies go. We also discuss relationships. Are you in any relationships right now that are energy sucking? Maybe you need to make the conscious decision to end that relationship. We remind you that it’s a process, it will take time, and while you’re in the process of it all it might seem like the end of the world. But in the end, it’s worth it.

Our hope with this episode is that by sharing the things that are working for us we inspire you to reflect in the same way. Ask yourself what is coming up for you? What is your gut saying? This is your one life to live so do you want to waste it complaining or can you make a change that is going to allow you to feel so much better?

Sponsor: Thorne; 20% off your purchase: www.thorne.com/u/herself

Sponsor: 20% off at CHOMPS with code herself: https://chomps.com/

Links & Resources:

Enroll in the HERself Self-Care Course

Let’s connect!

HERSELF SHOP: https://herself-podcast-favorites.myshopify.com

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

This episode was produced and edited by @pivotballchange.

Our friend, Elisabeth Emmerich, is on the show today. She is a mom of three, a licensed therapist, and a registered play therapist. We found this conversation exceedingly interesting because Elisabeth really shares ways we can support our children’s mental health. And by no surprise, we learned that our mental health is directly connected to our children’s mental health.

It can be tough to tell when the right time is to seek out extra help for your kiddo. Elisabeth shares some signs to watch out for and explains when and why children are coming to her for therapy. We also know that resiliency in kids continues to be a popular topic. Elisabeth speaks on how we can foster this in our children and whether or not she thinks gentle parenting is hindering our kids from becoming as resilient as they could be.

Maybe you’re not quite ready to put your child in therapy but you like the sounds of this play based therapy. Elisabeth shares some ideas of what you can do at home that would have a similar effect. It’s simple things like playing games with your kids, setting up predictable routines for them, and even helping them regulate their nervous systems but getting some exercise.

Follow Elisabeth on Instagram 

Elisabeth’s Website

Sponsor: 20% off at Vuori Clothing: https://vuoriclothing.com/herself 

Sponsor: 10% off at BETTERHELP: http://betterhelp.com/herself

Let’s connect!

HERSELF SHOP: https://herself-podcast-favorites.myshopify.com

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

This episode was produced and edited by @pivotballchange.

We are sitting down with Christine Yu this week and she is talking with us about the science behind women’s health and how it relates to each of us as moms who want to be healthy examples for our children. Christine is the author of Up to Speed: The GroundBreaking Science of Women Athletes and she has a masters degree from Harvard University.

Christine is also a mom and she shares real life examples of the changes that her body has gone through and the mindset shifts she has had to make when it comes to the type of exercise she can do as she ages. She educates us on the role that hormones play in the way they affect the amount of fatigue we can feel when exercising. Christine also explains why there is so much more research out there when it comes to men’s fitness compared to women’s and the direction that women’s research is going.

We know that it is so important for our children to find a physical activity that they connect with when they are young. Christine talks about the importance of this, especially for young girls, and gives recommendations on what we can do as parents to foster this healthy relationship between our children and exercise. Even if you don’t have children yourself, you’ll be able to put yourself back in your shoes when you were a child and relate to so much of what we talk about throughout this episode.

Follow Christine on Instagram

Christine’s Substack

Up to Speed: The Groundbreaking Science of Women Athletes

Sponsor: 10% off at BETTERHELP: http://betterhelp.com/herself

Sponsor: Visit SitkaSeafoodMarket.com code ‘HERSELF’ for $35 off your first order 

Links & Resources:

Enroll in the HERself Self-Care Course

Let’s connect!

HERSELF SHOP: https://herself-podcast-favorites.myshopify.com

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

This episode was produced and edited by @pivotballchange.

We want to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas to those who celebrate. As we head into the New Year, this Greatest Hits episode with Kristin Neff is such an important one. That mean inner critic that we all have can speak really loudly at times. Sometimes we even start to believe that voice. During this episode Kristin encourages us to think past that mean voice and instead to think about what we are truly saying.

We all know we should speak to ourselves kindly. But when we make a mistake, say the wrong thing, our kids are acting up, it’s easy to place blame and judgment on ourselves. Kristin is a pioneer in the self compassion space and has a wealth of knowledge on the “in the moment” things we can do to raise ourselves up and show kindness over anything else. 

Let’s connect!

HERSELF SHOP: https://herself-podcast-favorites.myshopify.com

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

This episode was produced and edited by @pivotballchange.

Today’s topic idea came from a friend of ours. She explained that her partner is going through a rough stretch at work and it’s trickling into their home life. She was wondering how she can help him and how she can make sure this issue is not taken out on their kids. We decided to dedicate an entire episode to what happens if one of the two of you has a tough stretch of life.

We give real life examples from both ourselves and our partners. Both of us have been there. We know what it’s like to go through tough seasons as individuals and what it’s like to have a partner go through a rough patch. We help break it down into three parts; finding the root cause, pulling the other person out of their rut, and how to stop their bad mood from bringing you down.

A common theme that comes up throughout this episode is the importance of self-awareness. We get it that it’s not your responsibility to make sure your partner is happy all the time. It is up to them to recognize what their triggers are and to communicate with you what will help them during this tough time. And the way to help your partner out in times of need is going to be different for everyone. 

You and your partner are two different people. When they are going through a rough patch it’s just not easy. We have to normalize that as humans we are going to go through hard things. It’s important to ask ourselves how can we help each other, how can we best support each other, and be there for one another? How can we take some things off their plate while also knowing that we exist outside of them too?

Sponsor: 10% off at BETTERHELP: http://betterhelp.com/herself

Sponsor: Year’s Supply of Vitamin D3K2 and Five Free Travel Packs from AG1 with Your First Purchase: www.drinkag1.com/herself

Links & Resources:

Enroll in the HERself Self-Care Course

Let’s connect!

HERSELF SHOP: https://herself-podcast-favorites.myshopify.com

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

This episode was produced and edited by @pivotballchange.

This is a special episode that was originally recorded for the other podcast that Amy & I host; Pursuing HER Purpose. I (Abby) get behind the microphone with our other co-found of that business, Kat Herro, and together we share what it’s like to have a traveling spouse. May you are the traveling one or may it’s your partner, either way this episode is going to fill you with so much insight into what this lifestyle is all about. 

We go through how often Kat and I’s partners are gone, what they do ahead of time to set the family up for success, and what the expectations are for both themselves and their partners when they are gone. Kat and Abby share what systems work best for them when their spouses are out of town including having something fun planned in advance, having groceries delivered, and even making bath time a longer than usual activity with the kids.

Having a partner who travels for work can be taxing in more ways than one. But we want you to know that you’re not alone. It’s easy to slip into that angsty comparison place. We hope this episode not only gives you ideas for how to make the time your partner is away easier but also something that you can actually look forward to.

Sponsor: 10% off at BETTERHELP: http://betterhelp.com/herself

Sponsor: 30% off Blissy Pillowcases: https://blissy.com/pages/herself code: HERSELF

Links & Resources:

Enroll in the HERself Self-Care Course

Follow Pursuing HER Purpose on Instagram; @pursuingherpurpose

www.pursuingherpurpose.com

Let’s connect!

HERSELF SHOP: https://herself-podcast-favorites.myshopify.com

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

This episode was produced and edited by @pivotballchange.

Jamila Souffrant, from Journey to Launch, is on the podcast today. We’ve had financial experts on the show before and we know these types of episodes always hit! But we feel that you’ll especially vibe with Jamila. She is a mom of three, a money coach, a podcast host, and a certified financial education instructor. Her own journey with money and how she too is learning along the way is so relatable.

There are different ways to approach your finances. Jamila explains that during different stages of life you may approach money differently. You could be an aggressive investor at one point versus extremely frugal at another. She explains things like what the FIRE acronym stands for and what her “guacamole lifestyles” mean in her new book; Your Journey to Financial Freedom.

We know that finances can feel like an all or nothing approach. Jamila gives a fresh take on how you can look at a side hustle and how to get on the same page as your partner when it comes to still valuing each other's independent financial goals. Another thing our generation tends to think is that our parents didn’t teach us enough about money. If you want to start having money talks with your children, Jamila gives some advice on where to start.

We loved so many of Jamila’s answers during this interview. You’ll be able to take her real life examples, implement them right away, and not feel overwhelmed while doing so.

Sponsor: 20% off at Vuori Clothing: https://vuoriclothing.com/herself 

Sponsor: Visit SitkaSeafoodMarket.com to Save 20% on All Holiday Specialty One-Time boxes. Enjoy  either Day Boat scallops, Dungeness crab or the Salmon Variety Box. Sale ends December 9. 

Links & Resources:

Enroll in the HERself Self-Care Course

Jamila’s Podcast; Journey to Launch

Order Your Copy of Jamila’s New Book, Your Journey to Financial Freedom

Follow Jamila on Instagram; @jamiliasouffrant

Let’s connect!

HERSELF SHOP: https://herself-podcast-favorites.myshopify.com

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

This episode was produced and edited by @pivotballchange.

We have Dr. Sumi Raghavan on the show today. If you’ve heard of Dr. Becky Kennedy, who has been on the show before, Dr. Sumi consults for her parenting company. She also collaborates with other psychologists who support women and mothers.

Throughout this interview Dr. Sumi does such a great job of empowering our listeners to feel confident and break free from mom guilt. She lets us know that if a system isn’t working for us, it’s not our fault. Instead, she gives us techniques we can use to move forward through community and finding support from the people around us.

Dr. Sumi answers our questions on how we can create more space for rest and how we can help ourselves understand that rest is necessary. We live in a culture that loves to value being over-productive. Dr. Sumi explains how we can move away from this lifestyle. She also shares her concept of “anti-work Wednesday”; what it is and why she created it.

Sponsor: Visit SitkaSeafoodMarket.com to Save 20% on the Sitka Seafood Intro Box! Get this 3 week trial for only $63. Sale ends December 9. 

Sponsor: 10% off at BETTERHELP: http://betterhelp.com/herself

Sponsor: Year’s Supply of Vitamin D3K2 and Five Free Travel Packs from AG1 with Your First Purchase: www.drinkag1.com/herself

Links & Resources:

Enroll in the HERself Self-Care Course

Follow Dr. Sumi on Instagram

Dr. Sumi’s Website

Let’s connect!

HERSELF SHOP: https://herself-podcast-favorites.myshopify.com

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

This episode was produced and edited by @pivotballchange.

We are sharing the microphone with a married couple who also happen to be couples counselors specifically for parents. Erin and Stephen Mitchell join us today to talk about the tough decisions we have to make as parents, starting with do we want to have more kids? They go into their own story on this very subject and share the struggles they had to overcome to come to a final decision. Not only do they bring the humanity behind therapy, but also with Stephen’s PhD in medical family therapy and Erin’s masters in counseling and psychology, they’re able to bring in so much more. 

We know that the decision of how many children to have shows up constantly for this community. Some couples can fight on this topic for months and months, some even years. Erin and Stephen share what you should be asking yourselves, as individuals, if this is a topic of tension in your household. And what about if you’re grid locked - one person is a no and the other is a yes. They share how you can move forward in this situation.

Finances are another topic of discussion that cause stress for couples. Do you feel like you can never get on the same page as your partner when it comes to money? And what about a career change? How do you decide as a couple if this is the next right move for your family? Erin and Stephen bring forth the idea of asking what the truth behind the story we are telling ourselves is with these issues. They also share how to help your partner feel seen and heard when their opinion differs from your own.

We both had so much to reflect on after this conversation. Erin and Stephen still have issues, even though they are experts in this area. We all have things that we can continue to work on inside our relationships. And, when we throw kids in the mix, it only elevates the demands and responsibilities we feel when making tough decisions. We hope this episode allows you and your partner to revisit some of the stories underneath the surface and that together, as a couple, you can understand each other just a little bit better and decision fatigue can be less of a burden.

Sponsor: 10% off at BETTERHELP: http://betterhelp.com/herself

Sponsor: 20% off at Vuori Clothing: https://vuoriclothing.com/herself 

Links & Resources:

Enroll in the HERself Self-Care Course

Follow Erin & Stephen on Instagram

Erin & Stephen’s Website

Erin & Stephen’s Podcast

Let’s connect!

HERSELF SHOP: https://herself-podcast-favorites.myshopify.com

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY

Many of us are craving our own holiday traditions yet we are trying to please our parents at the same time. When is it our turn to enjoy the holidays? We can’t be expending all our energy into others and expect there to be time to dedicate to our own families. Today we hope you leave this episode feeling inspired, with some new strategies to try this holiday season, and definitely with some solidarity.

We understand that juggling the holidays is complicated. It’s so easy to say, “set a boundary. Say no.” But when other people’s feelings are at risk, it’s just simply not that easy. We share where we draw the line and say no. Being flexible when you can is key but also know what you’re going to hold near and dear to your immediate family.

We reached out to our community and asked you what was the most stressful for you during the holidays. We go through your hot takes on topics such as gifts, kids being crabby, sleeping arrangements, perfectionism, and the mom’s mental load this time of year. 

To make this holiday season a little bit more about you and less about everyone else you might have to have that hard conversation with your loved one or your in-laws. If anything, we suggest making your partner take some things off your plate! Keep it simple, delegate, and get ahead of what you can.

Sponsor: 30% off Blissy Pillowcases: https://blissy.com/pages/herself code: HERSELF

Links & Resources:

Enroll in the HERself Self-Care Course

Let’s connect!

HERSELF SHOP: https://herself-podcast-favorites.myshopify.com

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

This episode was produced and edited by @pivotballchange.

This episode is all about step families, blended families and how to deal with exes. Even if that’s not your current situation, opening your eyes to the challenges that stepparents face is really important. And that’s exactly what today’s guest, Jamie Scrimgeor, helps us do. 

Jamie has a background in psychology and social service work. She is now a certified life coach who specializes in step family dynamics. Jamie also hosts her own podcast, is a content and community creator, she’s a wife, a mom to three stepchildren and one of her own.

In our conversation with Jamie she shares what she would like those of us who aren’t stepmoms to understand about those who are. She also shares what the most common challenges are that come up for stepmoms. We know that blending a family with stepchildren and an “ours” baby can bring up a lot of emotion. Jamie shares her own personal story with this and why it’s the best thing that has happened to her family.

One topic that isn’t often talked about is the mental load of a stepmom. Jamie shares her insights on what contributes to stepmom mental load most often and also shares her reframes to help you release the guilt, shame, and judgment of others when it comes to divorce.

Links & Resources:

Enroll in the HERself Self-Care Course

Jamie’s Website

Jamie’s Podcast

Jamie’s Membership

Let’s connect!

HERSELF SHOP: https://herself-podcast-favorites.myshopify.com

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

This episode was produced and edited by @pivotballchange.

Did you know that your physical space can help you with your mental health journey? Today we are speaking with Anita Yokota, former mental health therapist turned interior designer. Anita shares her story of how practicing as a marriage and family therapist for over 20 years before pivoting her career into interior design allowed her to realize the importance of how your space feels. She is also the author of the best selling book Home Therapy.

Do you feel insecure about your home? Are you nervous to do any improvements because you’re afraid you might ruin it? Or you want to do all the things because you're hosting this upcoming holiday season? Anita teaches you how to be somewhere in the middle. She also explains what the four domains are from her book and how we should be using them to find more peace and joy in our homes.

Anita walks us through how we can feel good in our homes during the little kid years without breaking the budget. She recommends things like changing the paint color in a room to help a space feel more calm and less chaotic. She also touches on how you can compromise if you share a space with someone who has a different vision than yours when it comes to decorating.

If this episode inspires you to make some changes in your home, we want to see! Be sure to tag both @herselfpodcast and @anitayokota in your Instagram stories so we can share in the joy of your home makeover. 

Sponsor: Year’s Supply of Vitamin D and Five Free Travel Packs from AG1 with Your First Purchase: www.athleticgreens.com/herself

Sponsor: LMNT; drinkLMNT.com/HERSELF

Links & Resources:

Enroll in the HERself Self-Care Course

Anita’s Book; Home Therapy

Anita’s Website

Follow Anita on Instagram

Follow Anita on Tik Tok

Let’s connect!

HERSELF SHOP: https://herself-podcast-favorites.myshopify.com

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

This episode was produced and edited by @pivotballchange.

Do you lack confidence from time to time? Let us introduce you to Lydia Fenet. She is the world’s leading charity auctioneer and has single handedly raised over one billion dollars for over 800 different organizations and broken down countless barriers for women in our industry. In this episode Lydia teaches us how to step into our own confidence by focusing on the present.

As moms we are forced to make so many decisions and with all of the options we have, we can struggle with the choices we make. Lydia explains how things influence us, both in positive and negative ways, and how we can start to tune out the outside world and trust our own instincts. She shares what the “strike method” is and how we can start using it today. Lydia also states that she has learned way more from her failures than her successes and how this has made an important impact on the lives of her three children as well.

A lot of women in this community struggle with working mom guilt. Many of you have thought about leaving your careers completely because the stress of managing a household and kids gets to be too much. Lydia has some words of wisdom for you if you are stuck in this mindset right now. She also stresses the importance of understanding money, whether or not you’re the one bringing it in for your household.

Sponsor: 10% off at BETTERHELP: http://betterhelp.com/herself

Sponsor: PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

Links & Resources:

Enroll in the HERself Self-Care Course

Lydia’s Book; Claim Your Confidence

Lydia’s Book; The Most Powerful Woman in the Room Is You

Lydia’s Podcast; Claim Your Confidence: The Podcast

Let’s connect!

HERSELF SHOP: https://herself-podcast-favorites.myshopify.com

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

This episode was produced and edited by @pivotballchange.