Kansas City MomCast

Join us for a conversation with Lee's Summit mom and author, Liesl Hays, about what happens when life falls apart. Liesl had a great job, husband, kids, and life — yet the secret she was keeping blew it all up. Do you have a story that is untold? Liesl walks us through the process she went through unpacking where things went wrong, and the path she took to get back to herself and the life she truly wanted. Connect with Liesl Liesl Hays is a word artist, truth-teller, choice-maker, and inspirer. She is also author of Broken, Changed and Rearranged. For over a decade, Liesl has been facilitating training, mentoring others, and creating development experiences that require people to dig deep. She is an entrepreneur, Human Resources Strategist and a contributing writer for the popular self-development website LifeHack. Liesl runs on coffee, “to do lists,” and the belief that life begins after you agree to write your own story. She lives in Lee’s Summit, Missouri with her partner, Harlen, her children, Mady and Ethan, and their dogs, Lily and Bear. You can find her on her website, Instagram, and Facebook. Thank you to our episode sponsor, the Johnson County Library Thank you again to our episode sponsor, Johnson County Library. They will be diving into the Oceans of Possibilities this summer with both virtual and in-person programs! Oceans of Possibilities, the theme for this year’s Summer Reading, will kick off with a series of virtual events on Saturday, June 4. Youth-centered June programs will be offered virtually or outdoors which include: Storytimes, Youth book clubs, Special Feature Storytime with Deborah Lee Rose, 123 Andres Live!, a penguin encounter with the Kansas City Zoo, and Juneteenth programs and offerings. The fun continues with opportunities to get creative with the youth sticker design and poetry contests. Summer Reading books will be distributed at each Library location this year during the month of June only. Branches will begin offering one free book per family member beginning June 1st and concluding June 30th. Don’t forget to stop by any Library in June and July to pick up your reading log, or download one from the website. Visit jocolibrary.org/summerreading to check out all of the exciting events this summer. What We're Loving In Kansas City Overland Park Arboretum The Arboretum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. and is free for kids under age 6. Admissions is $1 for ages 6-12 and $3 ages 13 and up. Free days for this year include:June 1, July 6, August 3, September 7, October 5, October 9-10, November 2, December 7. The Overland Park Arboretum's education team has put together a monthly kit for your family to enjoy nature, learn about the season and be creative. You can pick up on the first of the month every month at the ticketing kiosk. There is a suggested donation of $5. They have a limited supply so call ahead to check! Cafe Equinox in Shawnee Located at 7036 Nieman Road in Shawnee and open seven days a week, at Cafe Equinox you can enjoy Thou Mayest coffee and local KC pastries in a botanical setting. This is such a relaxing place to meet a friend for coffee or treat yourself and stroll through the greenhouse. Connect with Megan and Sarah We would love to hear from you! Send us an e-mail or find us on Instagram or Facebook. Kansas City MomCast Meetup Come hang out with us on Sunday, May 22nd from 2-4 p.m. in the Smokestack room of Boulevard Brewery. Bring a friend or come by yourself — the first drink is on Boulevard! This is such a fun way to meet other moms in our great city. Hope to see you there!

Holiday time often means lots of time with family. Family dynamics can be tough as it is, and then you add the pressure of the holidays, it can be a lot for anyone to manage. Whether you have a really wonderful, close relationship with your family or you tolerate them for a few hours a couple of times a year, holiday gatherings have a way of being stressful, chaotic, and sometimes straight-up uncomfortable. That's where family boundaries come in. Our guest on today's episode, Elizabeth Kaufman, helps us navigate best practices going into or dealing with tricky situations with family. We discuss boundaries, family traditions (keeping or breaking them), and how to handle when family are upset with your choices. Elizabeth then addresses a few "Dear Elizabeth" questions from our listeners, giving advice on specific situations. Meet Elizabeth Kaufman Elizabeth Kaufman Therapy Elizabeth Kaufman, LCMFT, is a clinically licensed mental health therapist and the owner of Elizabeth Kaufman Therapy. She works with couples and individuals to go below the surface of day-to-day survival mode and create new patterns for their lives. Elizabeth specializes in anxiety and identity work, guiding clients to heal from unhelpful messages and wounds and live according to their values. In addition to practicing therapy, Elizabeth is an adjunct professor for a local graduate therapy program and a Kansas Behavioral Sciences Board-approved supervisor for therapists seeking clinical licensure. In her free time, Elizabeth loves to cook, travel, and spend time with family. What We're Loving In Kansas City Wee Create Studio Started by a local mom, Wee Create Studio in Mission is an awesome place for any kid interested in art. Their classes and workshops focus on process-based art exploration and learning. Check out their classes for littles, after school classes, special workshops and parents night out. Turnstyles Thrift Store TurnStyles Thrift is more than your average thrift shop. You’ll find great bargains on unique clothes, affordable housewares, and more—but as you’re shopping, you are supporting more than 20 programs run by Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas. Visit Connect with Megan and Sarah We would love to hear from you! Send us an e-mail or find us on Instagram or Facebook!

In honor of Autism Acceptance month, we are talking with two powerhouse Kansas City moms who are sharing their work to support parents in the neurodiverse community and efforts toward making Kansas City a more inclusive place. We hope you are inspired by their stories and advocacy. Ivory Duncan Ivory Duncan is a dedicated single mother living in Kansas City, Missouri. She is raising her seven-year-old son, Caleel, who has autism. As a former Assistant Principal and Education Consultant, Ivory has always been passionate about supporting neurodiverse young people and training teachers on equity, inclusiveness, and anti-racism. However, it wasn't until Ivory learned about her son's diagnosis that she was tasked with "practicing what she preached." Her own humble upbringing has instilled in her a deep sense of compassion and empathy for marginalized communities, especially those affected by racism and inequity in education. As a mother of a child with autism, Ivory's purpose in advocating for those who are most vulnerable has become even more profound. Her experiences have shaped her advocacy and desire to influence a society where everyone can thrive while being authentic. She founded Embracing Neuro-Diversity TM, and provides curriculum, consultation, and coaching to parents and educators, with the mission of helping others navigate this complex and unique journey with compassion and understanding. You can follow Embracing Neuro-Diversity on Facebook and Instagram. Antoinette Redmond Antoinette Redmond is a visionary leader in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Belonging (DEIAB), whose dynamic career bridges higher education, entrepreneurship, and agriculture. With 15 years of experience and an unwavering commitment to driving meaningful change, Antoinette has dedicated her career to empowering underserved and marginalized communities. Antoinette’s mission to build inclusive communities is deeply rooted in her personal journey. She and her husband, Brandon Redmond—are the proud parents of three children: Brandon Jr., Brayden, and Brooklyn. Inspired by the experiences of her two youngest children, both diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Antoinette founded Neuru, a groundbreaking digital health platform. Neuru simplifies access to vital medical, educational, and therapeutic resources, providing families with the support they need to thrive. Driven by her belief in the power of technology to remove barriers, Antoinette’s vision is to transform the way families navigate developmental diagnoses, fostering a more inclusive and supportive world. Follow Antoinette on Facebook and Instagram. We hear about how these moms started their organizations, where we are with inclusivity in Kansas City and where we have room to grow, and what they wish other knew about neurodiverse kids and parenting. Feeling sneezy? Springtime allergies don't have to ruin your warmer days! Over the counter antihistamines can help relieve allergy symptoms. For nasal congestion, try a nasal spray. If over the counter medications aren't helping, consider making an appointment with an allergist. Children’s Mercy Kansas City is built for kids. That’s why we have been taking care of the kids in the community for more than 125 years. Learn more. What We’re Loving In Kansas City Barnyard Babies Family Festival Megan absolutely loves animals so this one has been on her list to attend for awhile! This year's event takes place on Saturday, April 26 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Meet some new furry friends and get reacquainted with your barnyard favorites - cows, sheep, pigs, goats, alpacas, horses, rabbits, and chickens! Take a scenic train ride through the woods and around the pond. Ride ponies, learn how to harvest honey and dive into corn piles. Explore antique tractors and other farming equipment. Take a hay wagon ride to see Great American Kites' giant animal-shaped kites dance in the sky.

The day after the Sandy Hook shooting, mom of five Shannon Watts started a Facebook group. Her message was that all Americans can and should do more to reduce gun violence with common sense reforms. The online conversation turned into a movement of moms, dads, students, families, concerned citizens, and survivors working together with partners in the gun violence prevention movement to end this uniquely American crisis. The group is called Moms Demand Action, and is a grassroots movement of Americans fighting for public safety measures that can protect people from gun violence. We are talking to DeeDee Cooper, member of our local Moms Demand Action Kansas chapter, who talks about the ways local moms can get involved. Meet DeeDee Cooper DeeDee has three children and four grandchildren. She grew up in Omaha but has lived in many cities, settling in Kansas City 24 years ago. DeeDee is a very active member in the Moms Demand Action Kansas chapter. She is most passionate about gun violence and its growing impact on Americans and encouraging others to vote to curb this issue. Thank you to our episode sponsor! Price Chopper Let Price Chopper handle the cooking this holiday season and share your time–and your table– with friends and family instead! Price Chopper can prepare the perfect feast, featuring succulent turkey, ham or prime rib with all your favorite trimmings. You can even choose from a variety of KC Pride premium pies from Tippins to complete your meal. All of their holiday meals come fully cooked. Just reheat and serve for the easiest holiday meal. Order your holiday meal in store or online! What We're Loving In Kansas City Enjoy: Pure Food + Drink at Mission Farms Sarah recently checked out this yummy spot in Mission Farms. They offer health-focused salads, sandwiches, juices & smoothies. Moms Demand Action Facebook Group The Facebook page is an easy way to stay up to date on all happenings with our local group which is very active. Another great way to stay in the loop is to text READY to 644-33 and that will tie you in with the Kansas group. Connect with Megan and Sarah We would love to hear from you! Send us an e-mail or find us on Instagram or Facebook!

This episode is sponsored by Ash Law. In today's episode, we are talking about divorce and separation — something that can be overwhelming if you are going through it. We discuss choosing legal representation, anticipated timelines, expense and revisiting your estate plan. Alyssa Hodges is a KC-based family law and divorce attorney. She earned her law degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law and earned a master's in tax law (Tax LLM) at Washington University St. Louis School of Law. She has two young children and is a published author. We hope that moms going through divorce or separation find this episode to be informative, comforting and empowering. Thank you to Our Episode Sponsor Missouri Family Law Attorney Alyssa S. Hodges has a knack for finding optimal solutions to her clients' complex problems in each of Alyssa's practice areas; family law and estate planning. Alyssa handles family law matters including pre-nuptial agreements, divorce, modifications of parenting time, and child support. After achieving a Tax LLM in January 2023, Alyssa's extensive knowledge of the tax code provides clarity to financial arrangements made during pre-nuptial and divorce negotiations. As you seek to protect those you love, and the assets you've built over a lifetime, Alyssa's estate planning strategies can help you get peace of mind. Wills and Trusts are the foundational tools that Alyssa deploys to ensure your legacy is preserved. Alyssa has some great resources on her webpage here. Follow her on Instagram here. Connect with Megan and Sarah We would love to hear from you! Send us an e-mail or find us on Instagram or Facebook!