Coffee + Crumbs Podcast

Today we're talking with Aundi Kolber—a mother, professional counselor, and author—about motherhood and trauma. For many of us, trauma is a word we have reserved for people who have gone through life-altering, dangerous, or abusive experiences, and we have never given attention to the "little t traumas" that add up over a lifetime. No matter where you are, or what you've survived, Aundi compassionately walks us through this important conversation on honoring your story, learning how to be a mother even if you didn't have a great example, and taking care of yourself so you can, in turn, take care of others. You'll also learn a few ways to parent with empathy, so you can guide your children through their own pain. Whether you've endured a devastating circumstance, or many months of overwhelm, we hope this episode encourages you to make space for healing. This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous and loving Patreon community. If you'd like to support the work we do for as little as $1/month, head to Patreon.com/coffeeandcrumbs to join the party (where we host discussions after every episode, offer bonus content, and more!). For show notes, go to coffeeandcrumbs.net/podcast. For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.

In this honest and vulnerable episode, Katie talks with Sonya, Melanie, and Julie, three Coffee + Crumbs team members who were all diagnosed with breast cancer between 2020 and 2022. You'll hear how all of these women felt or discovered something abnormal on their own and advocated for themselves to follow up on their intuition. You'll listen in on the emotions that accompanied the agony of waiting for test results. They'll let us in on how they shared the news with their kids. And mostly, you'll hear from each of these women how cancer has forever changed them. This episode takes us up close to women who have had a life-altering diagnosis, and our hope is that by listening, we can all learn empathy, compassion, or – if this diagnosis is yours – a way to walk forward with both courage and grace for yourself. This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous and loving Patreon community. If you'd like to support the work we do for as little as $1/month, head to Patreon.com/coffeeandcrumbs to join the party (where we host discussions after every episode, offer bonus content, and more!). For show notes, go to coffeeandcrumbs.net/podcast. For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.

Do you ever feel like you spend too much time on your phone? Today we're chatting with author Hannah Brencher about her 1,000 Unplugged Hours Challenge and how her creativity, marriage, and mothering have flourished since she's started putting down her phone more often. Unplugging isn't always easy (no more scrolling during date night arguments!), but as Hannah gently reminds us, there's plenty of life to enjoy, even when we're unavailable to the rest of the world. Whether you print Hannah's tracker sheet, or simply take a quick inventory of your own habits, we hope this conversation encourages you to reclaim more of the beautiful life in front of you. This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous and loving Patreon community. If you'd like to support the work we do for as little as $1/month, head to Patreon.com/coffeeandcrumbs to join the party (where we host discussions after every episode, offer bonus content, and more!). For show notes, go to coffeeandcrumbs.net/podcast. For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.

Today we're diving into the nuance of technology—acknowledging the good parts (access to information! efficiency! staying connected!) and the hard parts (overstimulation! addiction! lack of boundaries!). Plus, we take a sweet stroll down memory lane into some 90's nostalgia. Whether you're a tech guru or a digital minimalist, we hope this conversation encourages you as you continue navigating how to use the Internet wisely in 2022. This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous and loving Patreon community. If you'd like to support the work we do for as little as $1/month, head to Patreon.com/coffeeandcrumbs to join the party (where we host discussions after every episode, offer bonus content, and more!). For show notes, go to coffeeandcrumbs.net/podcast. For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.

It's the last episode of the season, and today we're chatting about what makes a Fun Mom™. Confession: two out of three of us struggle with this, but we're tapping into our younger selves and discovering what makes us feel light and free. Everything from riding scooters with our kids, to simply creating spaces that empower them to find the magic themselves. Whether you're the mom dancing around the house wearing a feather boa or the mom simply orchestrating opportunities for delight behind the scenes, we hope this episode helps you embrace whatever type of unique fun YOU bring to your family. After all, fun is the opposite of frivolous—it's rooted in joy, and we could all use an extra dose of that. This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous and loving Patreon community. If you'd like to support the work we do for as little as $1/month, head to Patreon.com/coffeeandcrumbs to join the party (where we host discussions after every episode, offer bonus content, and more!). For show notes, go to coffeeandcrumbs.net/podcast. For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.

Today's episode is a bit more vulnerable than our regularly scheduled programming. We're sharing a few honest stories about moments we wish we could take back, change, or at the very least, do over. While we don't want to live in a perpetual state of should've, could've, would've—these moments have refined us and taught us something, which is why we're sharing them with you today. This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous and loving Patreon community. If you'd like to support the work we do for as little as $1/month, head to Patreon.com/coffeeandcrumbs to join the party (where we host discussions after every episode, offer bonus content, and more!). For show notes, go to coffeeandcrumbs.net/podcast. For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.

Disclaimer: You may fill up your Amazon cart by the end of this episode (we did). Today, we're talking about our favorite books of 2022 (so far) and what we're excited to read with our feet up in lounge chairs this summer. From novels, to classics, to non-fiction books that challenge us to live more peaceful and joyful lives, we're covering all sorts of categories—but we seem to be finding our groove in food memoirs?! Here's to stories that shape and change us in the best ways. Can't wait to hear what you've been reading, too. This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous and loving Patreon community. If you'd like to support the work we do for as little as $1/month, head to Patreon.com/coffeeandcrumbs to join the party (where we host discussions after every episode, offer bonus content, and more!). For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.

With summer around the corner, today we're sharing our best tips and tricks for traveling with kids. From packing an extra pacifier (in a different suitcase!) to always, always, always packing plastic bags—these travel hacks are, of course, inspired by personal experience. We also share our favorite mantras, lessons we learned the hard way, and the travel MVPs we've added to our bags of tricks over the years. Plus, you'll hear Ashlee and Katie gasp in disbelief at Jill's gross-but-heartwarming story about something a stranger did for her at an airport. This episode is sponsored by our favorite travel MVP of all time: SNACKS. (Just kidding. We have no sponsors. This episode is brought to you by our Patrons. As always.) Whether you're heading out for a long weekend or an international adventure this summer, we hope you have a memorable time! Don't forget: just say no to supersize Gatorade. For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.

We're honored to have Shekea Moreno on the show today, shining some light on the holy work of praying for our kids. We chat about why prayer is so important in the first place, some ideas for what to pray about (besides the one we all know a little too well: our kids' obedience 😉), and maybe most importantly, the reminder that prayer is what tethers us to God's presence, and that's what we need most in motherhood. This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous and loving Patreon community. If you'd like to support the work we do for as little as $1/month, head to Patreon.com/coffeeandcrumbs to join the party (where we host discussions after every episode, offer bonus content, and more!). For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.

From less-than-perfect dental hygiene to hoarding half a dozen beverages on the nightstand, today we're dishing about the little quirks that make us who we are, inspired by the "I Can't Be The Only One" chapter of Amy Krause Rosenthal's Textbook. Join us for a number of (mostly shallow but occasionally deep) confessions, including but not limited to: throw up foods, the sheer satisfaction of carrying groceries in from the car in a single trip, and our complicated feelings around Botox and TikTok. This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous and loving Patreon community. If you'd like to support the work we do for as little as $1/month, head to Patreon.com/coffeeandcrumbs to join the party (where we host discussions after every episode, offer bonus content, and more!). For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.

Life can be, well, a lot. We all know we need to take care of ourselves, but sometimes we get stuck in toxic rhythms, and need a little help from our friends to turn things around. From practical habits to lessons we've learned the hard way—today we're having an honest conversation about the importance of nurturing our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Reminder: we aren't experts! We're simply three friends sharing notes as we go and hoping this episode encourages you as you fill your own cup this week. This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous and loving Patreon community. If you'd like to support the work we do for as little as $1/month, head to Patreon.com/coffeeandcrumbs to join the party (where we host discussions after every episode, offer bonus content, and more!). For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.

After a winter hiatus, we're easing back into our show today with a lighthearted conversation about some of our favorite "game changers." From meal prep and cordless vacuum cleaners, to Costco delivery and professional counseling—today we're sharing a handful of hacks, products, and strategies that have made a difference in our daily lives. Plus, Katie and Ashlee get into a lively debate about cold exposure, and Jill explains why we're all obsessed with Voxer. For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs. This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous and loving Patreon community. If you'd like to support the work we do for as little as $1/month, head to Patreon.com/coffeeandcrumbs to join the party (where we host discussions after every episode, offer bonus content, and more!).

In light of recent events unfolding in Katie's life, we decided not to air our last episode of 2021. Thank you for your grace and patience as we take some time to pause, pray, and regroup. We'll be back in your earbuds this March!

Our guest this week, Kristin Young, knows a thing or two about grief—five years ago, she lost her son Colby to cancer. Miraculously, she knows even more about hope. In this episode, Kristin graciously shares what it's like to hold sorrow and joy simultaneously, how she's learned to make grief her friend, and how we often learn things through suffering we could never grasp by only having joy. We hope this conversation offers you a glimmer of hope, and encourages you as much as it did us. For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs. This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous and loving Patreon community. If you'd like to support the work we do for as little as $1/month, head to Patreon.com/coffeeandcrumbs to join the party (where we host episode discussions, bonus content, and more!).

Well friends, we are going there—you know, that ugly heart issue no one wants to talk about? On today's episode, we are doing a deep dive on motherhood and comparison. From body image to kid's development to whether or not we love motherhood as much as the next mom, we get reeeeal honest (and a little emotional!) about our personal struggles in this arena, both past and present. Plus, we share the habits and practices we've found most helpful in keeping comparison at bay. For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs. This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous and loving Patreon community. If you'd like to support the work we do for as little as $1/month, head to Patreon.com/coffeeandcrumbs to join the party (where we host episode discussions, bonus content, and more!).

Is this really happening? Today we are asking the one and only Shauna Niequist (!!!) what she wishes her younger self had known about marriage, friendships, motherhood, and writing. Shauna's spoken words, just like her written ones, are nothing short of a gift. We hope this conversation inspires you to take a step back from the burden of busyness and expectations, and simply take notice of the beautiful world around you. For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs. This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous and loving Patreon community. If you'd like to support the work we do for as little as $1/month, head to Patreon.com/coffeeandcrumbs to join the party (where we host episode discussions, bonus content, and more!).

How do we go from worry, overwhelm, and sleepless nights to rest, calm, and indescribable, consistent peace? In today's episode, we're talking about boundaries, unpopular decisions, personal convictions, and—most importantly—leaning into what we know we need to do, regardless of what the rest of the world is up to. We hope this conversation encourages you to not just consider what peace looks like, but also consider how you can guard it. For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs. This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous and loving Patreon community. If you'd like to support the work we do for as little as $1/month, head to Patreon.com/coffeeandcrumbs to join the party (where we host episode discussions, bonus content, and more!).

Ruth Chou Simons (!!!) is here today, reminding us growth and goodness can be found even in—especially in—the minutes (or months!) we're tempted to believe are wasted. Those creative projects you thought went nowhere? Meaningful. Sitting with your toddler or teen talking about mind-numbing topics? Meaningful. No matter what struggle or tough season you're currently facing, we hope this conversation encourages you to slow down, let God reroute you however He'd like, and embrace the idea that inefficiency sometimes means making room for what's most important. For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs. This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous and loving Patreon community. If you'd like to support the work we do for as little as $1/month, head to Patreon.com/coffeeandcrumbs to join the party (where we host episode discussions, bonus content, and more!).

For part two of our friendship series, we're chatting about what's in our friendship toolboxes. From taking initiative (rather than taking turns) to learning the love languages of our friends, today we're getting nitty-gritty practical about how to show up for our people. We talk about porch drop-offs, tiny thoughtful gestures, the beauty of accepting help, and the powerful act of loving our friends' kids. We hope this episode encourages you to be the friend you want to have. Because, ultimately, when it comes to friendship, that's the best place to start! For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs. This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous and loving Patreon community. If you'd like to support the work we do for as little as $1/month, head to Patreon.com/coffeeandcrumbs to join the party (where we host episode discussions, bonus content, and more!).

Tap tap. Is this thing on? Hey friends, we're back! Today we're starting a brand new season with two new hosts (welcome Katie + Jill!), and we couldn't be more excited to kick things off with a two-part series on friendship. In part one, we're chatting about hard lessons learned, some confessions and convictions we've had along the way, and, most importantly, the perspective we're practicing when it comes to friendships (new and old). Hint! It has a lot to do with grace, going with the flow as time passes on, and leaning into gratitude, no matter what season of life or friendship we're in. For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs. This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous and loving Patreon community. If you'd like to support the work we do for as little as $1/month, head to Patreon.com/coffeeandcrumbs to join the party (where we host episode discussions, bonus content, and more!).

We thought it would be fun to end season four by revisiting some of our most loved episodes. Today is Ashlee's favorite, where we unpack why motherhood feels so isolating sometimes. Don't miss the episode's new intro and wrap up, with Indiana, April, and Ashlee's final chat together! Whether you're new to motherhood altogether or a veteran mom who hasn't found her tribe yet, we hope you can relate to this vulnerable conversation and walk away inspired to put yourself out there. Visit us at Patreon to learn more about how you can support us next year.

We thought it would be fun to wrap up season four by revisiting some of our most loved episodes. Don't miss these - each episode has a brand new intro and wrap up with Indiana, April, and Ashlee! Today is April's favorite, where we flip the script on our 'This Is How We Do' episodes by sharing what we DON'T do. From outsourcing grocery shopping to not making the bed to not washing our hair—this conversation is full of confessions about our mothering, home upkeep, school involvement, and everything in between. We hope this episode makes you laugh and gives you a much-needed permission slip to pursue the things you're good at, and let go of all the rest. Visit us at Patreon to learn more about how you can support us next year.

We're wrapping up season four by revisiting some of our most loved episodes. Don't miss these - each episode has a brand new intro and wrap up, with Indiana, April, and Ashlee! Today is Indiana's favorite, where we talk about some of the hardest seasons in life that we've walked through. From miscarriage and postpartum depression to infidelity and cancer diagnoses, we're sharing some stories publicly for the very first time and inviting you into our little "circle of trust" this week. This isn't just about clearing the skeletons from the closet though; we're also talking about the most helpful ways our people showed up for us during these difficult times and the lessons we've learned about how to take care of each other when the season is hard and the answers aren't coming easily. Visit us at Patreon to learn more about how you can support us next year.

We're so thankful for the support you've shown the Coffee + Crumbs podcast over the past four years! Today's "State of the Podcast" is a simple message from Ashlee about what's in store for our show in 2020. Visit us at Patreon to learn more about how you can support us next year.

As mothers, we've received plenty of advice—solicited and unsolicited—over the years. Today we wanted to close out the season by sharing the tips, tricks, and reminders we've received that make motherhood (and life!) a little bit easier. From permission to slow down to how to help our kids deal with big emotions, this season finale is centered around taking some of the mystery out of motherhood as we pass along advice and wisdom you'll want to return to again and again. Visit Coffee + Crumbs for links to everything mentioned in this episode and to support us by supporting the sponsors who made this episode possible. Stay up to date with what's next for the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, over on our Patreon support page. We love and appreciate our Patrons!

Today, we're recapping our favorite things and moments from 2019. Our conversation runs the gamut from the trends we tried and loved to the new habits we've instilled and want to keep as we roll into a new decade (!). We hope our roundup of recipes, podcasts, little luxuries, life hacks, and more inspires you to spend some time reflecting on the goodness of the past year. Visit Coffee + Crumbs for links to everything mentioned in this episode and to support us by supporting the sponsors who made this episode possible. To help fund Season Four of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head over to our Patreon support page. We love and appreciate our Patrons!

Today, we're diving into the dynamics of in-law relationships. We openly acknowledge our good fortune in having involved, loving in-laws, but there's always some adjusting that comes with marrying into a family. We talk about balancing the way we honor traditions and ties to our families of origin while still building our own family habits and way of doing things. Plus we discuss the kind of in-laws we aspire to be some day and offer our best advice for how to communicate when there's a problem or issue. Visit Coffee + Crumbs for links to everything mentioned in this episode and to support us by supporting the sponsors who made this episode possible. To help fund Season Four of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page. We love and appreciate our Patrons.

In this week's episode, we're talking about priorities: the ones we have, the ones we think we should have, and the ones we'd like to reorder, if we're being honest. We push back a little against the myth of balance and having it all, choosing instead to view life through the lens of seasons—where sometimes we have the capacity for "full steam ahead" in multiple areas and sometimes it feels like everything but survival is on the back burner. We also discuss how priorities aren't prescriptive; our individual circumstances and personalities weigh heavily on where we devote our time and energy. Regardless of the season you find yourself in, we hope today's conversation leaves you feeling energized to identify and prioritize what matters most to you. Visit Coffee + Crumbs for links to everything mentioned in this episode and to support us by supporting the sponsors who made this episode possible. To help fund Season Four of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page. We love and appreciate our Patrons.

In this week's episode, we're talking about the everyday deals and coupons we use to save on our household necessities (and the occasional splurge, as well). From promo codes and our favorite apps to how we shop sales and use referral credits, today we're sharing our best tips and tricks for saving a buck or two. This is not a deep dive into the nitty gritty of monthly budgeting, but rather a lighthearted chat about our individual approaches to how we stretch—and spend—our dollars. Visit Coffee + Crumbs for links to everything mentioned in this episode (including loads of promo codes and affiliate links!) To help fund Season Four of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page. We love and appreciate our Patrons.

This week, Ashlee and Indiana sit down with Beth Silvers and Sarah Stewart Holland from Pantsuit Politics to talk about something important that seems to have gotten lost in today's culture: nuance. Beth and Sarah explain how their communication approach—rooted in curiosity and a desire to understand—highlights the middle ground between argument and apathy. They also talk about how they've learned to move toward each other and a better relationship, even though they hold opposing viewpoints on many issues. Plus, they drop their best suggestions for how to stay informed in an unbiased, non-time-consuming way. Visit Coffee + Crumbs for links to everything mentioned in this episode. To help fund Season Four of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page. We love and appreciate our Patrons!

Today we're talking about our approach to the holidays—from April's Buddy the Elf level enthusiasm from October straight through New Year's to Indiana's more measured approach. We chat about our favorite holiday traditions and how we balance all the time grabs by extended family and friends. Whether elaborate baked goods for the whole neighborhood are your thing or, like Ashlee, you're more comfortable with every boxed mix Trader Joe's offers, you'll feel right at home in this week's conversation. Visit Coffee + Crumbs for links to everything mentioned in this episode. To help fund Season Four of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page. We love and appreciate our Patrons!

At the end of September, most of the Coffee + Crumbs team came together live and in person (!!) for four days in the Pacific Northwest. We weathered an unexpected blizzard, ate all the food, passed around babies, and spoke truth and encouragement into one another's dreams. On our last night together, we sat in the living room of Katie Blackburn's parents' home (who graciously welcomed all 15 of us when we had to evacuate from the mountain), and captured our conversation—and giggles—for your listening pleasure. We all rank our degree of nervousness pre-retreat, recap our funniest and favorite moments from our time together, and speak to the "secret sauce" that connects us to one another in a way that transcends our typical expectations of friendships. Visit Coffee + Crumbs for links to everything mentioned in this episode - including pictures of everyone who came to this retreat so you can match faces with voices! To help fund Season Four of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page. We love and appreciate our Patrons!

Today we're talking all things toys: the ones our kids have loved and played with endlessly, the ones we don't let across our thresholds, and the ones that will haunt our nightmares forever (ahem, we're looking at you, April, and your ventriloquist dummy, Charlie). We cover avoiding the lost lovey disaster and controlling the stuffed animal collection that threatens to take over the bed, plus we run through our favorite, road-tested toy picks in every age group. You'll want to bookmark our show notes for your holiday shopping! Visit Coffee + Crumbs for links to everything mentioned in this episode (including all those great toys!) To help fund Season Four of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page. We love and appreciate our Patrons!

Today's episode is coming from a more serious and somber place, as we talk about some of the hardest seasons in life that we've walked through. From miscarriage and postpartum depression to infidelity and cancer diagnoses, we're sharing some stories publicly for the very first time and inviting you into our little "circle of trust" this week. This isn't just about clearing the skeletons from the closet though; we're also talking about the most helpful ways our people showed up for us during these difficult times and the lessons we've learned about how to take care of each other when the season is hard and the answers aren't coming easily. Show Notes: Visit Coffee + Crumbs for links to everything we talked about in this episode. To help fund Season Four of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page!

This week we're talking about what mornings look like in our households. Spoiler alert: they're a far cry from our pre-kid days of leisurely sipping coffee while meticulously applying makeup and thoughtfully pulling together a coordinated outfit. In this conversation, Ashlee breaks down her new-ish routine designed to make mornings as non-chaotic as possible, April extols the virtues of doing allthethings the night before, and Indiana blows our minds when she confesses her children get up before she does AND fix their own breakfasts. From the pep in our step courtesy of the school system's tardy policy to our tactics for not yelling at our kids to just get their shoes on already (why is it always the shoes?), today we're breaking down our best efforts to start our days off on the right foot. Show Notes: Visit Coffee + Crumbs for links to everything we talked about in this episode. To help fund Season Four of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page! Thank you to this episode's sponsors: Noom: What if you could use ONE program for all your health and weight loss needs? Head to noom.com/coffeeandcrumbs to start your free trial today. Healthy Height: Healthy Height shakes are an easy way to supplement breakfast and send your kids to school knowing they have the nutrients their bodies need. Get 30% off your first purchase by visiting Healthy Height and entering promo code COFFEE30 today.

This week we're continuing our conversation with Dr. Juli Slattery and kicking things up a notch. From figuring out how to have an orgasm to what place masturbation has in a healthy marriage, we think you're going to love the frankness and candor in today's episode. Once again, this is not a show designed for little ears, so grab some headphones (or maybe make it a date night in with your husband after the kids are in bed) and listen in as we tackle another round of questions from our Patreon supporters about sex and intimacy. Like what you heard? Double click 'subscribe' and leave us a review on iTunes! Show Notes: Visit Coffee + Crumbs for links to everything we talked about in this episode. To help fund Season Four of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page! Thank you to this episode's sponsors: Hello Fresh: Our listeners will get $80 off your first month of Hello Fresh when entering promo code coffeeandcrumbs80. Light Filled Home:Coffee & Crumbs listeners will get 25% of your entire order when you use promo code COFFEEANDCRUMBS in the shop!

We're back from our sabbatical and comin' in hot with a two-part episode you've been begging us to cover: SEX! Today we're tackling your sex and intimacy questions with expert and psychologist Dr. Juli Slattery. From frequency and mismatched sex drives to how to spice things up, no topic is too taboo. This is not an episode designed for little ears, so grab your headphones and settle in for a frank, honest, and encouraging conversation about connecting intimately with your partner in a hectic season of life. Special thank you to our Patrons for submitting questions for this episode! Like what you heard? Double click 'subscribe' and leave us a review on iTunes! Show Notes: Visit Coffee + Crumbs for links to everything we talked about in this episode. To help fund Season Four of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page! Thank you to this episode's sponsors: Buffy: C+C listeners will get $20 off their Buffy comforter by entering promo code COFFEEANDCRUMBS online Care.com: C+C listeners can get a premium membership for 30% off by using promo code COFFEEANDCRUMBS

This week's episode is airing in tandem with Sarah and Meagan from The Mom Hour podcast—we're both talking about motherhood and the fear of missing out (FOMO). Sometimes we avoid talking about FOMO at the risk of sounding ungrateful, but the truth is there's an opportunity cost with every big decision in life ... and motherhood is no exception. From the temptation to compare ourselves with what we see on social media to actually missing out on things because we couldn't line up childcare or the toddler is sick (again), we open up honestly about where we struggle with FOMO and how we work to shift our perspective from one of lacking to one of gratitude. Like what you heard? Double click subscribe and leave a review on iTunes! Visit Coffee + Crumbs for today's show notes and links to everything we talked about in this episode. And don't forget to listen to The Mom Hour's take on FOMO! To help fund Season Four of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page.

From Indiana's face blindness to how April balances introversion as a mom, today we're answering questions from YOU, our listeners and Patrons! You asked about everything from April's novel to Indi's thrift shopping to that "conceiving a girl thing" Ashlee mentioned once. We tried to answer as many questions as we could fit into the 100th episode (!) of this show. Plus, we get a little sappy at the end and talk about our favorite things about each other. Thank you for listening and sharing this podcast with friends over the past four seasons! Like what you heard? Subscribe and leave a review on iTunes! Visit Coffee + Crumbs for today's show notes and links to everything we talked about in this episode. To help fund Season Four of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page.

From nip slips to lactating armpits (!) to feeling confident whipping out a bottle of formula, today we're getting honest about the time-consuming and (often literal) draining work of feeding our babies. In this conversation, we're talking about the products and perspectives that make the job a little easier and the importance of giving ourselves permission to see that fed is best. Whether you're formula feeding, exclusively pumping, or it's just you and your B-O-O-B-S on demand, we hope you'll feel seen and encouraged in this week's conversation. Like what you heard? Subscribe and leave a review on iTunes! Visit Coffee + Crumbs for today's show notes and links to everything we talked about in this episode. To help fund Season Four of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page.

This week, we're talking about all the things we didn't know that we didn't know before kids. From a false sense of control (surely good behavior is just a matter of consistent and firm boundaries ... right?) to the things we swore we'd never do only to end up doing them (we're looking at you, goldfish crackers for dinner and weekly baths), there's a lot about motherhood that's upended who we thought we were. But then there are also the parts of us that are unchanged or have only been brought into sharper focus as result of becoming a mom. Whether you're preparing for your first or you're three or four kids into motherhood, we hope this episode makes you laugh and helps you reflect on how raising our kids influences the people we become, too. Like what you heard? Subscribe and leave a review on iTunes! Visit Coffee + Crumbs for today's show notes and links to everything we talked about in this episode. To help fund Season Four of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page.

This week we're finally talking about the topic April has been dying to cover for two years: laundry. From personalized Ziploc bags for collecting stray socks to how to avoid ironing forever, we're covering every strategy we have for making laundry easier. If you've got last week's towels still piled haphazardly on the couch because washing AND drying AND folding AND putting away is just two steps too many, shove them to the side and join us for our hacks and hangups about the dirty work of cleaning clothes. Visit Coffee + Crumbs for today's show notes and links to everything we talked about in this episode. Like what you heard? Subscribe and leave a review on iTunes! To help fund Season Four of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page.

This week, Indiana chats with Sophie Hudson—aka "BooMama"—about raising an only child. Sophie laughs about the preconceived stereotypes she's long-since abandoned (Surprise! Only kids can thrive in team sports!) and shares her tip for making sure a family vacation is fun for all three of them. Plus, you won't want to miss her wise words of encouragement as a mom of a teenager for moms of littles. Whether you find yourself raising an only child by choice or by circumstance, we hope you feel encouraged by this week's conversation. Visit Coffee + Crumbs for today's show notes and links to everything we talked about in this episode. Like what you heard? Subscribe and leave a review on iTunes! To help fund Season Four of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page.

In this week's episode, we're talking about personality typing systems. From Enneagram and Myers Briggs to less official tools like Hogwarts houses and Cosmo quizzes, we have endless options for identifying who we really are and why we do the things we do. We chat about our own lightbulb moments in terms of self-understanding and how that knowledge impacts our relationships with our spouses, children, and friends. While we have plenty of fun and more than one laugh in this conversation, we also explore the way understanding that we're all wired differently has led to a greater sense of compassion for ourselves and others. Visit Coffee + Crumbs for today's show notes and links to everything we talked about in this episode (including those quizzes we know you're dying to take!) Like what you heard? Subscribe and leave a review on iTunes! To help fund Season Four of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page.

This week we're talking about minimalism—but don't worry, we're not coming to Marie Kondo your closets. Whether you're a self-identified maximalist like Indiana, an aspiring minimalist like Ashlee or somewhere in between like April (does owning jewel tones disqualify one from being a minimalist?), we hope today's conversation sparks joy for you. Rest assured: this isn't an episode about how to be a minimalist; rather, we're exploring the connection between how we feel about what—and how much—we own, and our overall sense of happiness and well-being. Plus, learn who can't bear to part with her prom shoes, and who secretly keeps a seemingly-unending supply of Target clearance candles on hand. Visit Coffee + Crumbs for today's show notes and links to everything we talked about in this episode. Like what you heard? Subscribe and leave a review on iTunes! To help fund Season Four of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page.

This week we're talking all about creativity—and before you declare yourself uncreative, we've got a pep talk to prove otherwise. From embracing creative sparks in the shower to the hard work of putting our butts in the chair, today we're dishing how we make space for creativity alongside motherhood, and how we're better off for it. Whether you call yourself an artist or not, we hope today's conversation reminds you that motherhood is bursting with creative inspiration. Visit Coffee + Crumbs for today's show notes and links to everything we talked about in this episode. Join our free 5-day Creativity Kickstart here. Like what you heard? Subscribe and leave a review on iTunes! To help fund Season Four of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page.

With summer around the corner, today we're bringing you an important episode about water safety and drowning prevention. Drowning is the number one cause of death for children under the age of five, but for today's guest, that's not just a statistic. Nicole Hughes is with us to share the heartbreaking story of losing her three-year-old son, Levi, to drowning last summer. She also shares the mission behind Levi's Legacy, which she began in his honor to educate parents about drowning prevention. We want to warn listeners that today's episode is highly emotional. We'll be talking about the death of a child and bearing witness to a mother's grief. But we also believe strongly in the importance of Levi's story and the lives that might be saved because of it. Please discuss these matters with your friends and family members this summer—and always remember to designate a Water Guardian when children are near a body of water.

We're concluding our three-part postpartum series today with a very honest conversation about physically healing from giving birth. Julie Kwong, a pelvic health physical therapist, joins us to talk about how complex and unique the healing process can be, what's normal and what's not, and how to advocate for better healing care in the postpartum recovery process. This is a frank conversation about anatomy and bodily processes—we're talking about prolapse and pain during sex, hemorrhoids and incontinence, so pop in your earbuds and join us as we combat the embarrassment around this vulnerable topic with honesty, dignity, and education. We want to encourage any listener who feels like she might be experiencing one of the postpartum complications we discuss today to contact her doctor or care provider; today's episode is informational only and is not designed to be a substitute for appropriate medical advice and attention. Visit Coffee + Crumbs for today's show notes and links to everything we talked about in this episode. Like what you heard? Subscribe and leave a review on iTunes! To help fund Season Four of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page.

This week we continue our three-part postpartum series with a deeper look at postpartum anxiety. From irrational fears to the crushing weight of expectations, C+C art director Lottie Caiella walks us through her personal journey with postpartum anxiety after the birth of her daughter. In the second half of this conversation, we're joined by licensed counselor Dr. Emily Shupert who explains the difference between PPD and PPA, as well as how to differentiate normal new parent worry from anxiety that may need medical treatment. We're grateful to have Bryn Huntpalmer from The Birth Hour with us again as a special guest host for this episode. We want to encourage any listener who feels like she might be experiencing postpartum anxiety to contact her doctor or care provider immediately; today's episode is informational only and is not designed to be a substitute for appropriate medical advice and attention. Visit Coffee + Crumbs for today's show notes and links to everything we talked about in this episode. Like what you heard? Subscribe and leave a review on iTunes! To help fund Season Four of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page.

This week we begin our three-part postpartum series with an honest conversation about postpartum depression. In this episode, friend of the show Christina Kposowa shares her experience with postpartum depression following the births of her two sons, and we're also joined by licensed counselor Dr. Michele Harding who walks us through the difference between "baby blues" and PPD. She also provides some great suggestions for how we can support other moms who are struggling with postpartum depression and demystifies what that first counseling session might look like. We're grateful to have Bryn Huntpalmer from The Birth Hour as a special guest host for this episode. We want to encourage any listener who feels like she might be experiencing postpartum depression to contact her doctor or care provider immediately; today's episode is informational only and is not designed to be a substitute for appropriate medical advice and Visit Coffee + Crumbs for today's show notes and links to everything we talked about in this episode. Like what you heard? Subscribe and leave a review on iTunes! To help fund Season Four of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page.