Is A Mother

PV & Jamie

We’ve been best friends since college and are using a comparative lens to share how we are coming into our power after 40. We aren’t supposed to compare, right? Well, that is not realistic. We started this podcast when our boys were toddlers. They are growing fast! And we’ve been growing, too. The first few years of motherhood shook our lives and friendship like no other experience has, and by comparing and contrasting our evolution up to that point in our lives, and beyond, we have discovered the strongest threads of sisterhood yet. We don’t have all the answers and we sure have made some missteps. Follow along as we do our best to nurture our friendship and build an inclusive community while making one thousand tiny mama decisions in an unfair world.

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Top 10 Is A Mother Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Is A Mother episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Is A Mother for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Is A Mother episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Estate Planning is a Mother with Jillian Cardona, Estate Planning Attorney

Is A Mother

05/14/24 • 54 min

Estate planning is a mother! It can feel morbid to think about but when our time comes, the best thing we can leave behind for our loved ones is a roadmap for who will take care of our kids, how we want our assets dispersed, and who we have designated to make decisions on our behalf.

On episode 15 of ___ Is a Mother, we are joined by Jillian Cardona, the founding attorney of Peace of Mind Planning, to discuss what estate planning is, the right time to start estate planning, when to review and update your plans, and how to make the process as easy as possible for your loved ones. Some of the talking points we go over in this episode include:

The difference between an estate and a trust (and all the elements that go into each).
Taking inventory of your assets is best handled by your “A-Team”, composed of your CPA, financial advisor, and estate planning attorney.
Advice for avoiding probate court and ensuring all of your assets go to the people you intend them to go to– without years of fighting for it.
Digital executors are becoming more common to handle digital assets like e-mail accounts and social media profiles.
Encouraging someone to think about estate planning can be sensitive and tricky, but it is necessary and provides peace of mind.

*The information presented in this episode is for informational purposes only and not to be taken as legal advice. Jillian is licensed in the State of California. Estate planning laws may differ by state. To ensure your estate plan reflects your wishes and complies with the laws of your jurisdiction, consult with a qualified estate planning attorney licensed in your state.

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag us! Follow, rate, and review the podcast, and tell us your key takeaways! If there are topics you would like us to discuss in a future episode, please let us know. Thanks for being part of our inner circle and an important part of this community. Go call your best friend!

CONNECT WITH JILLIAN CARDONA:

Peace of Mind Planning

Email: [email protected]

Instagram

CONNECT WITH US:

@_IsAMotherpodcast on Instagram

Work with Jamie!

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Ep 10: Financial Planning is a Mother with Karen Holloway, Financial Advisor

Toxic Positivity is a Mother

Is A Mother

06/04/24 • 52 min

Toxic positivity is a Mother! It’s a topic that most of us can probably relate to as Western society has ingrained in us that we should be “likable” and aim to be positive all the time. An important disclaimer: we are by no means anti-positivity. We recognize the importance of creating space for all emotions. Sometimes life is hard, and to overcome challenges we need to acknowledge them, and take appropriate action to work through them, authentically.

In episode 16 of ___ Is a Mother, we discuss why making space for all emotions is important to avoid “toxic positivity”, and paying attention to the language we use when encouraging ourselves, others, and children. Some of the talking points we go over in this episode include:

The toxic positivity we experienced when trying to get pregnant, and during Jamie’s cancer journey.
Toxic positivity, although well-intended, can minimize people’s struggles and close the door to connection.
The toxic positivity we unintentionally pass onto our children by rewarding happy behaviors and failing to consider the implications of affirmations that aren’t rooted in values, feasibility, and action.
Aligning our authentic selves and our social (influenced) selves can help us live with purpose.

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please share on Instagram and tag us! Follow, rate, and review the podcast, and tell us your key takeaways. If there are topics you would like us to discuss in a future episode, we’re all ears. Thanks for being part of our inner circle and an important part of this community. Go call your best friend!

CONNECT WITH US:

@_IsAMotherpodcast on Instagram

Work with Jamie!

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

The Momwell Podcast Ep. 145: How to deal with toxic positivity as a Mom with Whitney Goodman, Marriage and Family Therapist

Toxic Positivity by Dr. Whitney Goodman

Libby - link your local library card membership number!

Finding Your Own North Star by Martha Beck

Kegels is a Mother with Dr. Christine Pieton, Pelvic Floor Therapist

Is A Mother

10/31/23 • 68 min

Healthcare for pregnant and postpartum mothers is so baby-centered that the mother often gets forgotten. One of the most important, yet least talked about, healthcare needs for mothers specifically is strengthening the pelvic floor. And frankly, every human has a pelvic floor, so why are we not talking about it more often!?

Dr. Chris is generously offering the promo code "firstfree" to our listeners to receive complimentary access to her Roadmap to returning to exercise postpartum: CLEARED to CONFIDENT online course for 30 days.

In episode 4 of ___ is a Mother, we’re joined by Dr. Christine Pieton (known as “Dr. Chris”) to discuss the lack of education and resources mothers (and anyone, for that matter) receive around pelvic floor health and why it is so important to seek out a pelvic floor therapist. Some of the talking points we go over in this episode include:

The structure of your pelvic floor and how a team of muscles work together to support some of the body’s most important functions. Did someone say sex?
The truth behind kegels and why they aren’t the answer to all of our problems, at least not alone.
Walking you through what an internal pelvic floor exam entails.
Why low back, hip, and pelvic pain are so prevalent beyond pregnancy and into motherhood.
What happens to your pelvic floor during pregnancy, birth and postpartum.
Navigating the hormonal challenges women face as we age, and its interface with pelvic floor health.

It is never too late to focus on your pelvic floor health because it is never too late to get stronger.

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag us! And don’t forget to follow, rate and review the podcast and tell us your key takeaways! If there are topics you would like us to discuss in a future episode, please let us know. Thanks for being part of our inner circle, we’re thrilled to have you part of this community. Go call your best friend!

CONNECT WITH DR. CHRISTINE PIETON:

Pieton PT

Instagram

YouTube

CONNECT WITH US:

@_IsAMotherpodcast on Instagram

Work with Jamie!

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Pelvic Guru- a directory by zip code for finding a pelvic floor PT

Returning to Work After Giving Birth is a Mother

Is A Mother

10/17/23 • 66 min

Discrimination in the workplace after giving birth is a mother, especially when your job isn’t guaranteed and to no one’s surprise, mothers, especially new mothers, are undervalued and often taken advantage of in the workplace.

In episode 3 of ___ Is a Mother, we’re sharing our experiences returning to work after giving birth and the challenges we had to face as the strong-willed, career-driven women we naturally are. Our hope is that the more we open this conversation and encourage others to share their stories, we can work towards better treatment not just for mothers, but for women, People of Color, and other minority groups.
Some of the talking points we go over in this episode include:

Our (unfavorable) experiences returning to work after the birth of our children.
The unfair undervalue placed on women, moms, and minorities in the workplace.
The importance of opening up, sharing your story, and speaking up when you or someone you know is not being treated equitably in the workplace.
Embracing the discomfort that comes with change when you take control of your path forward.

Regardless of your experience returning to work, be it positive or negative, you must remember that you are so much more than your job, and your life is so much more meaningful than what you do to pay your bills.

CONNECT WITH US:

@_IsAMotherpodcast on Instagram

Work with Jamie!

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

The Startup Parent Podcast Episode 23: Overthrowing the Patriarchy with Sarah Lacy of Chairman Mom

Our Uterus Is a Feature, Not a Bug by Sarah Lacy

Your Black Employees Are Exhausted [Article]

Baby #2 is a Mother

Is A Mother

11/14/23 • 44 min

Growing up, we have ideas of what we want our future family structure to look like, and more often than not, these ideas change because of factors that are out of our control. We have certainly both found this to be true when considering expanding our family unit and all of the little decisions that come into play. This week, episode 5 of ___ Is a Mother Podcast is why baby #2 is a mother!

In this episode of ___ Is a Mother Podcast, we’re sharing how we imagined our family structure to look as young women and how it has evolved (and is still evolving) over time. Some of the talking points we go over in this episode include:

Finding the silver linings in the unplanned and unpredicted.
Reframing the negative ideas we have around vulnerability to see it as the strength that it is.
What Jamie’s breast cancer diagnosis means for her family planning journey.
PV & husband’s decision to move forward with fertility treatments for baby number 2, or come to terms with their family of three.

We would love to hear your story. We know y’all have some interesting and complex stories! Message us and share your experience and any resources that helped you make a decision on your family planning journey.

CONNECT WITH US:

@_IsAMotherpodcast on Instagram

Work with Jamie!

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

As a Woman Podcast

Labeling Kids is a Mother with Dr. Nekeshia Hammond

Is A Mother

01/09/24 • 60 min

Labeling kids is a mother! For both children and adults, there can be a stigma around behavioral disorders, mental health issues, learning disabilities, etc., and individuals go undiagnosed and untreated for too long. On the flip side, sometimes children are incorrectly categorized or labeled in an innocent attempt to help, which leads to other concerns.

In episode 09 of ___ Is a Mother, we are joined by psychologist Dr. Nekeshia Hammond to discuss the importance of intervening early when your parenting instinct is telling you something isn’t right, and how you can advocate for your children, as well as your family unit. Some of the talking points we go over in this episode include:

Signs that a toddler might be struggling and require additional support.
The pros and cons of “labeling” or diagnosing our children with behavioral disorders and/or learning disabilities.
Tips for communicating parenting and discipline boundaries, and connection and support needs with family and friends.
Fielding unsolicited (yet well-intended) parenting advice.
Creating cultural norms within your family unit by blending aspects from each parent’s upbringing, while adding new parenting styles into the mix.

CONNECT WITH DR. HAMMOND:

Website

ADHD Explained: What Every Parent Needs to Know

Instagram

OTHER RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE:

Fire Child Water Child

CONNECT WITH US:

@_IsAMotherpodcast on Instagram

Work with Jamie!

Managing Adult Friendships is a Mother

Is A Mother

02/27/24 • 51 min

Managing adult friendships is a Mother! The older we get, our packed schedules, geographical moves, and changing priorities can make it challenging to make and maintain friendships. In our current phase of life, we are mindful that some friendships come and go, while others continue to thrive year after year. And still, there can be room to develop new friendships, but it ain’t easy to do. . .
This episode is sponsored by Northwestern Mutual. They believe in doing the right thing, and to them, the right thing is making sure their clients won’t have to worry about their finances. Northwestern Mutual recommends financial strategies based on each client’s life and priorities, designed to help them reach their unique goals. For more information, please visit www.karenholloway.nm.com

In episode 11 of ___ Is a Mother, we discuss our experiences making and maintaining friendships as we move through different phases of our lives, and recognizing when someone is your friend for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Some of the talking points we go over in this episode include:

Low-maintenance, or flexible, friendships become more and more valuable the more chaotic our lives become.
Managing expectations around how you show up as a friend vs. how others show up for you.
Re-evaluating friendships over time, and setting boundaries that prioritize mutually beneficial relationships.
Motherhood and other major life shifts will likely change friendship dynamics—either positively or negatively.

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag us! Follow, rate, and review the podcast, and tell us your key takeaways. If there are topics you would like us to discuss in a future episode, please let us know. Thanks for being part of our inner circle and an important part of this community. Go call your best friend!

CONNECT WITH US:

@_IsAMotherpodcast on Instagram

Work with Jamie!

Family Culture is a Mother

Is A Mother

03/12/24 • 61 min

Family culture is a mother! And when we say culture we are not talking about race, gender, or ethnicity but rather an agreed-upon set of expectations of the social communities we exist in with our family units at the foundation. As we grow families of our own, it becomes a balancing act of integrating each parent’s respective cultural norms to create your core family’s unique culture.

In episode 12 of ___ Is a Mother, Jamie uses the foundations of the Intercultural Conflict Style (ICS) assessment with PV and Brett (married and co-parenting a 4.5-year-old) to illustrate how it can help us understand our authentic approach to communication and addressing conflict—key elements of any family’s culture. Some of the talking points we go over in this episode include:

A set of questions to consider to ground into our respective cultural beliefs.
How someone might perceive themselves vs. how others may perceive them depending on their communication styles.
The way we naturally react to conflict is rooted in our cultural norms and upbringing.
Our individual culture and conflict style balances with the style of our partners’ to guide how we parent our children and define our core family’s culture.
How Jamie uses the ICS assessment to help organizations establish an inclusive culture by understanding everyone’s unique and individual communication and conflict resolution styles.

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please take a screenshot of the episode to post and link in your stories and tag us! Follow, rate, and review the podcast, and tell us your key takeaways. If there are topics you would like us to discuss in a future episode, please let us know. Thanks for being part of our inner circle and an important part of this community. Go call your best friend!

CONNECT WITH US:

@_IsAMotherpodcast on Instagram

Work with Jamie!

LINKS MENTIONED IN / RELEVANT TO THIS EPISODE:

Intercultural Conflict Style Assessment

Dr. Becky’s (parenting coach & clinical psychologist) TED talk on connection, modeling, and repair in parenting

Trauma psychologist Dr. Mariel Buqué’s book Break The Cycle: A Guide to Healing Intergenerational Trauma

Episode 10 Financial Planning is a Mother | www.karenholloway.nm.com

Breast Cancer is a Mother

Is A Mother

10/29/24 • 36 min

Breast Cancer is a Mother! In honor of breast cancer awareness month, I (Jamie) had the pleasure of sitting down with my mother, a 3x breast cancer survivor herself, as we get vulnerable on how breast cancer has impacted our lives.

In episode 22 of ___ Is a Mother, we discuss how our breast cancer journey affected us as we were going through it, as well as having to watch the other one fight through it. Some of the talking points we go over in this episode include:

Our individual breast cancer journeys, from how we were diagnosed to our treatment plans and the ongoing measures we take to monitor our health.
The importance of leaning on your community of family, friends, and your medical team as you navigate this journey.
Leading with positivity while acknowledging and leaving space for all of the other emotions (fear, anger, uncertainty) that come up.
Encouraging you to be proactive with your healthcare through regular screenings, self-exams, and genetic testing if possible.

As we close out Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we want to encourage you to be proactive with your health. Get your routine testing done and continue to do self-exams in between. You have nothing to lose but a life if you don’t do it.

CONNECT WITH US:

@_IsAMotherpodcast on Instagram

YouTube

Work with Jamie!

LINKS MENTIONED:

Limited Edition Maxine EMOVE Walking Shoes

BRCA Strong Nonprofit

FORCE (Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered)

American Cancer Society

Tracking Milestones is a Mother

Is A Mother

04/23/24 • 62 min

Tracking milestones can be a Mother. And as time starts to feel like it’s going by quicker and quicker, we can forget many of the things we have gone through to get to where we are. Reflecting on our milestones, as women and as parents, is a way to reminisce on the good and celebrate how we overcame challenges, big, small, and everything in between.

In episode 14 of ___ Is a Mother, we discuss parent and child milestones, reflecting on how far we and our little ones have come. And don’t get it twisted – celebrating milestones is important for everyone, not just parents! Some of the talking points we go over in this episode include:

Reflecting on our parenting milestones and celebrating our growth as mothers.
Trusting your instincts when it comes to developmental milestones in children.
Comparing and contrasting our experiences with breastfeeding, sleep training, sickness, and balancing work and family.
Finding balance between sticking to your self-made “rules” as a parent and savoring in the sweet moments while your child is still little.

CONNECT WITH US:

@_IsAMotherpodcast on Instagram

Work with Jamie!

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Ep 3: Returning to Work After Giving Birth is a Mother

Ep 9: Labeling Kids is a Mother with Dr. Nekeshia Hammond

Securely Attached podcast episode:

Combating milestone anxiety: What to know about child development from pediatrician Dr. Jessica Hochman with Pediatrician Dr. Jessica Hochman

*while I also love the Curious Neuron podcast, this is the episode I meant to reference in the episode

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