Shameless Leadership

Nikita Burks-Hale is the CEO and Head Creative of JourneyGurl Magic Productions, a podcast production company that supports and empowers Womxn of Color as they bring their unique voices to the masses through podcasting. Nikita is also the host of 2 podcasts, The JourneyGurl Magic Podcast, and The Podcaster’s Journey (launching Aug 2020). Nikita is a journeyer in every sense of the word and truly believes that life is a journey and you must be open to its endless possibilities. Her coaching and personal beliefs are centered around living your imperfect journey to the fullest by: Showing Up Being Vulnerable Practicing Gratitude Be A Badass And Enjoying the Ride When Nikita is not coaching, producing, or journeying, you can find her Netflix bingeing classics with her wife Jessica and catching up on the latest episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse with her toddler son, Adonis. Listen in to hear Nikita share: Her journey into motherhood in a same sex marriage with an infertility diagnosis What it means to “embrace your magic” in a really tangible (non-woo) way How she is showing up and saying yes - even when it’s super uncomfortable What she had to shed to become her most authentic self and find her inner magic How to own your badassery over other people’s validation of you Her 5 steps to living an imperfect journey How she started to practice discernment in order have deeper impact Links mentioned: Join my FREE Shine Like A Mother workshop on July 15th: shamelessmom.com/shine Connect with Nikita:journeygurlmagicproductions.com IG: https://www.instagram.com/journeygurlmagicproductions/ Book: Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A few years ago I was at a workshop for business owners and we had to create a list of our core values. We were given a list of 40 or so values to choose from and had to narrow it down to our top 5. I couldn’t do it. I cried. It took me longer than anyone else in the room to narrow my list down to just a few core values I wanted to commit to. The process of discernment around this brought up a lot of emotion around why certain things are important to me. It forced me to look at myself, who I am, how I show up, and how I want to impact the world. While this was hard, it was ultimately so freeing. When I (finally) completed the exercise, I had so much clarity around what was most important to me and why each value was important. These core values have become guiding lights for me as I’ve developed as a woman, a mom, and a CEO. Listen in to hear why committing to a short list of core values is important - even crucial. Learn exactly how to choose a few select core values that will become beacons in times of uncertainty. Get excited about determining what’s most important to you and how to live more clearly, deeply, and loudly in your values that matter the most. Links mentioned: Join my FREE Shine Like A Mother workshop on July 15th: shamelessmom.com/shine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brenda Zane is a Shameless Mom to four sons ages 14-22, a Mayo Clinic Certified Health and Wellness Coach and the Founder of The Stream, an online community to support moms of kids with substance use disorder. Based on her personal experience she provides a space to get and keep moms healthy while they fight for their child’s life. She also hosts Hopestream, a podcast for parents whose kids are struggling with addiction. Brenda spent the first 25 years of her career in advertising, working for global agencies and Fortune 500 clients like Target, Microsoft, Nike, Hawaiian Airlines, and P&G. She lives in Seattle with her husband and a blended family of 4 boys and 2 dogs. Listen in to hear Brenda share: Her journey of parenting a teen addict How she made the decision to have her son involuntarily taken to a wilderness recovery program at age 16 How she led a double life being a leader at Fortune 500 companies and managing her child’s addiction and legally complex life What the vicious cycle of addiction looks like The emotional roller coaster of hope and heartbreak as the parent of an addict How her son went from death by overdose to alive and sober and successfully living in recovery Why she started an online community just for moms of addicts and why it’s not on Facebook The exact steps to take if you think you’re child/teen may be struggling with addiction The life & death information you need to know about fentanyl Links mentioned: Join my FREE Shine Like A Mother workshop on July 15th website: Brenda Zane Podcast: Hopestream: Brenda Zane The Stream Community Free ebook: Hindset: 3 Things I wish I knew… IG: @the.stream.community Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Practicing courage is a lifetime of showing up and taking small, uncomfortable steps. Sometimes things work out for you. Sometimes they don’t. Sometimes the rewards are quick and amazing and so gratifying. Sometimes it’s all really messy and ugly and painful. Regardless, for many of us (all of us?), routinely practicing courage is the only way to continually become more of the person we aspire to be. Am I right? When I think of who I am becoming, all I see in front of me is a series of action steps that will require courage. So, I am taking small steps each day to make sure that I am ready to keep practicing courage, no matter how gratifying or gritty it becomes. Listen in to learn 5 small steps you can take to build big courage that will guide you for a lifetime. Links Mentioned: Join my FREE Shine Like A Mother Workshop on July 15th: shamelessmom.com/shine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jocelyn Kopac is a DEI educator, a speaker, a podcaster, and an entrepreneur. At age 7, Jocelyn Kopac started her first business. From then on she knew that running and growing businesses would be a huge part of her future. Her ingenuity and positive attitude represent true leadership, although she attributes a lot of her success to the power of abundance, paying it forward and a great cup of coffee. Those that have a chance to meet her, learn from her, and hear her story say she is nothing but real, unfettered advice and encouragement. A teacher at heart, Jocelyn loves helping businesses grow by facilitating the hard talks about diversity, equity, race, and inclusion. Her approach to diversity and inclusion work is one of love and education. We all have biases that we need to work on to be sure we are providing safe and productive anti-racist spaces. Jocelyn is here to educate and support you on this journey. Listen in to hear Jocelyn share: ● How she’s navigating being a DEI educator and living as a Black woman during this culturally revolution ● The definition and role of a DEI educator ● The important distinction between diversity and inclusion ● The important distinction between equality and equity ● 4 steps to becoming a better ally ● The definition of racism as it relates to your unchecked bias ● How white progressive women are doing harm while thinking they are being great allies ● How you can support BIPOC co workers and community members right now ● The danger in trying to race through a checklist of anti racism resources right now ● What the long term (necessarily uncomfortable) process of commitment, stamina, growth & change around anti racism work actually looks like ● The importance of acknowledging each person’s world perspective as individual and unique Links mentioned: ● Connect with Jocelyn, hire her to speak, join her mastermind: Stand In Your Bias ● Jocelyn’s glossary Thank you to our sponsor: Care.com: To save 30% off a Care.com Premium membership, visit Care.com/SHAMELESSMOM Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If there has ever been a time to persist, it is now. Persistence leads to change and growth and evolution and POWER. And...there is no denying that persistence is hard. It can be overwhelming, exhausting, and feel so relentless. It is all those things, but that doesn’t make it impossible. In our fatigue, it’s easy to lose track of the importance of what we are working toward. To stay persistent we must give ourselves permission. Permission to: Do better Commit Take imperfect action Be an action taker and decision maker Mess up and keep going Use your voice Take a chance Learn something new Take sides Rest and recover in order to keep going Step back from unhealthy relationships/unhealthy people Say yes Say no Become a different person Listen to your gut (ex: Patty) Let go of other peoples’ expectations Be bold Shine In giving yourself permission to persist, you will find the power to use your voice in new ways, to affect change, to build a better legacy, and to have more massive impact. This is how we can, together, build a better world for all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Liz Nead is an adventure speaker, coach, and author, most recently climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro and flipping 300-pound tires in the Iowa Strongman Games. She is a regular contributor to the Huffington Post and has authored several best selling books—most recently "The 1440 Principle." Her work has been ranked in BuzzFeed and reviewed by the Huffington Post. She is a skilled story-teller and teacher, creating powerful personal development and team building strategies. Listen in to hear Liz share: How she using time in COVID to go into creation and introspection mode How COVID took her 2020 family from a 3 person family to a 6 person family The heavy burdens she sees moms carrying during this pandemic The burden of comparison in daily life and habits Her 1440 Principle and how to use it to have massive positive impact in your life The cost of time and how costly some our relationships are How to use the 1440 Principle as an accountability tool How she’s kicking off her fifties with intention and a deep desire to learn from other women Links mentioned: Connect with Liz Free Work From Home Primer Toolkit Liz on Youtube Liz on IG Thank you to our sponsors: Kosmatology: Kosmatology has a great offer for our listeners: for any first-time purchasers, you receive 15% off. To get 15% off your first order, go to kosmatology.com and use code shameless at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I think it’s safe to say that 2020 has broken many (all?) of us over and over. A friend recently introduced me to the idea of being antifragile, based on the work and book Antifragile: Things That Gain From Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb. She shared with me that in our breaking we have this beautiful opportunity to pick up the pieces and rebuild into something more dynamic and flexible and strong and powerful and thoughtful and conscientious. We will break and we can rebuild and in our rebuilding we can become better than before. We can embrace that we will break over and over in our lifetime and each time something beautiful can come of the way we put the pieces back together. There has been a lot of breaking in 2020. In our breaking, our self trust has been ROCKED. Repeatedly. It is time to rebuild. Listen in to learn 6 ways that you can start to rebuild into a woman who is more dynamic, flexible, strong, powerful, thoughtful, and conscientious. Links mentioned: Podcast: Unlocking Us Brene Brown and Austin Channing Brown Book: I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tejal V Patel is a stressed out mama's secret weapon. She’s a former divorce attorney turned mindfulness and meditation expert for moms and kids, host of The Time-In Talks podcast and author of Meditation for Kids: 40 Activities to Stay Present, Improve Concentration and Manage Difficult Emotions. It’s Tejal’s mission to support moms in their journey to become mindful parents and raise the first generation of mindful children too. Named a “Well-being Warrior” in The Huffington Post, Tejal’s soulful wisdom reaches moms globally through her signature online courses (The Mindful Kids Masterclass, Mindful Mama Experience, and 7 Day Stress Detox), inspiring podcast, booming Instagram community, motivating Tejal.TV episodes, powerful live events, and laser-sharp coaching. Her fun and practical ways to infuse Ayurveda, mindfulness, and meditation everyday makes her a go-to resource for modern moms seeking to raise calm, confident, and compassionate children who want to feel like present, patient and peaceful parents too. Listen in to hear Tejul share: How she went from divorce attorney to children’s meditation expert How her own childhood anxiety inspired and informed her work Her strong belief/bold claim that KIDS CAN MEDITATE, even as young as age 3 How to help kids start meditating in a way that’s appropriate for them - broken into 3 phases Simple ideas and practices for helping kids meditate to cope with a range of emotions How to teach kids to meditate in just 1-3 minutes a day Why it’s critical for our kids to experience and feel unhappiness How to engage and prompt children who are resistant to mediation How to use her book, Meditation for Kids: 40 Activities to Stay Present, Improve Concentration and Manage Difficult Emotions, to integrate meditation in fun and simple ways into your child’s day Links mentioned: Connect with Tejal Instagram: Tejal V Patel Book: Meditation for Kids Podcast: Time In Talks Thank you to our sponsor: Kosmatology: Kosmatology has a great offer for our listeners: for any first-time purchasers, you receive 15% off. To get 15% off your first order, go to Kosmatology.com​ and use code shameless at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This episode is different. A break from our routines and comfort zones are necessary right now. If you follow me on social media or have listened to my show for any length of time, this probably goes without saying. But, to be unequivocally clear, I want you to know that personally and professionally I believe Black Lives Matter. The Shameless Mom Academy is built on the following core values: Show up Lead with compassion and integrity Seek out and celebrate diversity Stay curious and humble Stretch yourself | Embrace discomfort | Invite growth These core values are considered in all decisions around building this community, providing services to clients, and creating impact on a global level. I am very open about my beliefs, but if you ever want to know more about the company or core values you’re supporting when you listen to my show or invest in any of my programs, events, memberships or masterminds, please feel free to reach out to me. In this same vein of transparency, you should also know that when you invest in the Shameless Mom Academy a portion of our revenue each month goes to the following organizations: The Loveland Foundation, Under The Same Tree, the ACLU, the Trevor Project and Planned Parenthood. I believe all companies should be leading with pure transparency around where they stand when it comes to protecting black lives and human rights. This episode is intentionally brief, with an invitation for you to prioritize learning from black educators today. Go download one of these audiobooks or podcasts and listen & learn: Me & White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, Become a Good Ancestor by Layla Saad I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made For Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown So You Want To Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo This Body Is Not An Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor Good Ancestor Podcast with Layla Saad First Name Basis Podcast with Jasmine Bradshaw (how to talk to your kids about race): Seeing White Podcast Watch Rachel Cargle’s Public Address on Revolution on Youtube Sign up for Mirna Valerio’s upcoming course: Introduction to Identity, Social Justice, and Antiracism for the White Community Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As a woman and person of color, Abbi Wood has heard more than her fair share of what to say and do in the world. At times a whisper, and at times a yell, she's used her voice to create what she calls a full and fulfilling life. Primarily, she works with biz owners to help them find their voice (or, as she calls it, uncover their biznality) so that marketing and talking about their business feels like a natural extension of themselves vs an out-of-body experience. I reached out to Abbi after hearing her speak at an event. She was there to speak about helping women find their voices in their businesses and brands. But what was so compelling about her talk was her own story about finding her own voice after being silenced by her family, pushed into an arranged marriage, and moving across the world to build a completely new and independent life. Listen in to hear Abbi share: Her experience being raised in Pakistani family in England Her experience feeling like she didn’t fit in anywhere - in her brown family or in her white world How her voice was quieted by her family and culture Her path into an arranged marriage How she ended up secretly on birth control while also in fertility treatment How she got out of her arranged marriage and found her voice How she helps women find their voices, embrace their stories and create their biznality Links mentioned: Connect with Abbi: Abbi Wood Abbi and Biznality on FB Thank you to our sponsor: Best Fiends: Download FREE on the Apple App Store or Google Play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the last 3 months, we have had the opportunity to postpone, pivot, and repurpose nearly every aspect of our lives - over and over again. It has been hard, heavy, confusing, and disorienting to say the least. But 12 weeks in, I’d say we have begun to master these shifts. We are able to take a critical look at the opportunities in front of us each day and assess: “Is this a time to postpone, pivot, or repurpose.” I know these decisions are becoming more clear for me, as I make them over and over. I’m able to make them with increased ease and confidence. Today, I’ll share how I’m discerning when to postpone vs pivot vs repurpose. I’ll use a few recent family and business examples, the biggest and most scary (and most successful) being the massive shift to repurpose Shameless Mom Con 2020 to the Shameless Mom Con Collective. Links mentioned: Grab my free 15 Minute Manifest Morning Routine Thank you to our sponsor: Thrive: Start thriving and help women in need today by going to ThriveCausemetics.com/shameless and use code shameless for 15% off your first purchase! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nancy Jane Smith, MSEd., LPC is a licensed professional counselor and trainer. She graduated with her BA in Psychology from Miami University and earned Masters of Science degrees in both Counseling and Higher Education from the University of Dayton. With 13 years in private practice and more than 20 years working as a counselor and coach, Nancy has established herself as an expert in High Functioning Anxiety. Combining her years of research, countless hours working with clients, and first-hand experience in her own life, Nancy developed the Happier Approach, a three-step system to help you motivate yourself, accomplish your goals, and be kind to yourself. Really, it is possible! Nancy is the creator and host of The Happier Approach podcast and has written three books on living happier, most notably The Happier Approach: Be Kind to Yourself, Feel Happier and Still Accomplish Your Goals. Listen in to hear Nancy Jane share: What high functioning anxiety is and why is it harmful and insidious Signs of chronic anxiety and high functioning anxiety Why positivity thinking and gratitude can be be harmful to people with high functioning anxiety Why people with HFA need different rules around checking social media, email, news, etc How you can treat and manage high functioning anxiety How to identify your Monger, your BFF and your Biggest Fan in order to manage your anxiety Links mentioned: Connect and work with Nancy: Live-Happier.com Podcast: The Happier Approach Facebook: @NancyJaneSmith Instagram: @nancyjane_livehappier The Happier Approach Book Thank you to our sponsors: Kosmatology: Kosmatology has a great offer for our listeners: for any first-time purchasers, you receive 15% off. To get 15% off your first order, go to Kosmatology.com​ and use code shameless at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I’m wondering how many of you, like me, saw the beginning of this pandemic as similar to a series of snow days or a long weekend? Perhaps you let typical habits and routines go in order to hunker down with late-night TV binging, extra treats, lotsa wine, little movement, and a bit of disregard for what really fuels your body. Perhaps as you got deeper into this weird and unsettling season of life, you had less and less time to yourself. You stopped doing restorative activities that allowed you to have moments to yourself to think and breath - probably because there was no way to actually be alone. We are now months into this season of life and many of us are suffering because we have let go of the habits that truly serve us: fueling our bodies well, moving our bodies to process stress, and resting/restoring when we need time and space to ourselves. Listen in to hear how you can get your body back into a groove that supports the energy you want to carry each day - and gifts you the space you need to keep your head above water. Links mentioned: Get my free 15 Minute Manifest Morning Routine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Renae is a Shameless Mom of 3, an occupational therapist, and an advocate for moms who desire more grace, space, and rest within their lives. She has found strength beyond her own to navigate life's struggles...multiple miscarriages, life with 3 kids, working mom life, stay at home mom life, and a husband with a brain tumor and seizures. She’s the founder of the Rising Moms Club, a community for moms who are ready to RISE ABOVE the chaos and overwhelm of life and busy days, and trade exhaustion and the never ending to do list for a life with more JOY! She is also the host of the annual More than Mom Summit, The Great Clutter Clear Out Challenge, and the podcast Rising Moms Podcast. Listen in to hear Renae share: How she navigated her husband’s cancer diagnosis and care with 3 kids under 5 years Why more “stuff” for your kids is not making them more healthy or more happy How shedding physical items helps you declutter your mental health How to get your kids on board and engaged in decluttering Her Rise Above Framework to decluttering and overcoming overwhelm The 4 steps to her Rise Above Framework How to create rhythm around your menstrual cycle and why this rhythm can be so beneficial The foundational element needed to say no without guilt Links mentioned: Connect with Renae Renae on IG Rising Moms on FB Free 5 Steps to Declutter Thank you to our sponsors: Ooak Dental: Purchase at Amazon.com available NOW. com: To save 30% off a Care.com Premium membership, visit Care.com/SHAMELESSMOM Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Last week, I got an email from a Shameless Mom that started with, “I'm A Badass Mom Who Is So Scared To Shine.” This mama went on to share, “I'm scared of owning my badass part of me. I'm scared what people will think of me if I get too big. I'm scared of being so successful that I am seen. I have never put these thoughts out there but they are there, bubbling at the surface…” I’m in conversations with moms who are afraid to shine on the regular. This is so common. And here’s the problem…. THE WORLD NEEDS YOU TO SHINE. When you shine, we all win. When you hide and shrink, we all lose. Listen in to hear my love note to this mama and all of you who are afraid to shine right now. You are not alone. I GOT YOU. Thank you to our sponsors: Kosmatology: Kosmatology has a great offer for our listeners: for any first-time purchasers, you receive 15% off. To get 15% off your first order, go to Kosmatology.com​ and use code shameless at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Abbi Perets wants moms to know they don’t have to choose between kids and career. She’s the coach and mentor moms turn to when they want to break into freelance writing and earn great money from home, on their own terms. Abbi combines nearly 20 years of experience freelancing for some of the world’s biggest companies with firsthand knowledge of having five kids of her own — including one with special needs. She understands the unique challenges moms face every day and has created programs specifically tailored to meet those challenges and empower moms all over the world to have it all. Listen in to hear Abbi share: Why she moved from Pennsylvania to Israel to join the Israeli army at age 18 What prompted her to start freelance writing and how it saved her when her son had cancer How moms can get started in freelance writing What kinds of experience/expertise you need (and don’t need) to get started as a freelance writer The importance niching down and specializing in specific content areas as a writer How to believe in yourself and your ability when you’re doing something new Why she has no qualms about running her business and selling her services during COVID-19 Links mentioned: Connect with Abbi: Successful Freelance Mom Get Abbi’s free course: How to Be a Freelance Writer Instagram: Abbi Perets FB Group: Writing Mom Conference FB Page: Successful Freelance Mom Thank you to our sponsor: Built Bar: Built Bar is offering my listeners 20% off your first purchase! Go to Builtbar.com and enter promo code SHAMELESS at checkout to receive 20% off your first order! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Building confidence is like writing a book or running a marathon - you do it one action step, one word, one block at a time. It's not a one-and-done process. It's a lifetime of practice. A lifetime of choosing courage - often tiny acts of courage. In 2019 I did two of the most courageous things I've ever done: I hosted the first Shameless Mom Con. This was such a big and overwhelming task to take on. But I knew if I could pull it off it would be life changing for my attendees and for me. I learned how to ski. I know this might sound silly to classify as a massive act of courage, but for a girl who is terrified of speed and momentum and heights (read: chairlifts), this was a big deal. I was only able to take on these acts of courage because I am constantly working on building my confidence - especially around things that are hard or uncomfortable for me. I have practices that I engage in daily that allow me to step into my confidence #everydamnday. These are small things that do not take a lot of time but have big impact in my ability to keep my confidence high, especially in trying times. Right now we are in trying times - the likes of which we have never seen before. If there has ever been a time to cultivate confidence and remind ourselves just how much power innately exists inside of us, it is now. Often, cultivating confidence comes from tiny action steps repeated over and over that lead us to take on bigger goals (starting a business, running a marathon, creating and sharing our art, learning a new skill, taking on a new leadership role.) Listen in to learn 5 tiny action steps you can take each day that take mere minutes but have deep impact in your ability to cultivate the confidence you need to make it through trying times - perhaps even thrive through trying times. Links mentioned: Learn about my Tenacious Mamas Business & Leadership Mastermind: shamelessmom.com/tenacious Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. Omolara Thomas Uwemedimo is a Shameless Mom and a board certified pediatrician of over 15 years and an academic faculty member for over a decade, providing coaching and mentorship programs for physicians of color. She is also the CEO of Strong Children Wellness, an innovative telemedicine practice that addresses both unmet health and social needs for families in New York and the founder of Melanin, Medicine & Motherhood, an organization focused on empowering and supporting the personal & professional development of Black women physicians, especially mothers, to achieve their vision and build their capacity to support other women of color. Her career has been defined by a passion for social justice, an advocate, a professor & researcher committed to ensuring all mothers and children, no matter their race, income, or background have an equal right to thrive. She has worked as a global physician in NYC, Boston, and in 12 countries across sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. Dr. Uwemedimo is a national speaker to both physician and community audiences in the fields of overcoming implicit bias and racism in healthcare settings, inclusion, and equity for women physicians in healthcare and health equity for marginalized children and families, including those from immigrant and Black communities. She has been featured in several media outlets including Essence.com, Newsweek, Reuters, NPR, and CNN Espanol. Listen in to hear Omolara share: Her experience being a physician in New York during COVID-19 Why she made the professional shift to serve female doctors of color The importance of vulnerability, community, and confidence as the antidote to burnout Why she decided to create a community specifically for women physicians of color Links mentioned: Connect with Dr. Omolara Check out the MPOWERED Collective Melanin Medicine Motherhood Podcast Omolara on Instagram Melanin Medicine Motherhood Facebook Group Omolara on Twitter Thank you to our sponsors: Built Bar: Built Bar is offering my listeners 20% off your first purchase! Go to Builtbar.com and enter promo code SHAMELESS at checkout to receive 20% off your first order! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Leadership is typically a series of imperfect action steps. Leaders tumble, fall, and crash just like anyone else. But when a leader tumbles, falls or crashes, there is an audience watching to see how they will stand back up, pick up the pieces, and put things back together. When a leader crashes and harm is done to others in the wake of their errors, people watch even more closely. When harm is done, trust is eroded. Trust is broken between the leader and anyone who was harmed, obviously. But trust is also broken between the leader and anyone who is watching if the bystanders don’t see the leader take active steps to rebuild trust with those who were harmed. Those harmed hope to be held. Those watching hope to see the leader offer protection to those hurting. This is how everyone can recover and heal and know that they are in a safe community. Positive leadership looks like owning your mistakes and owning when you’ve caused harm without providing excuses or placing blame on others. Positive leadership looks like having uncomfortable conversations publicly. Positive leadership looks like recognizing your blind spots and committing to active and ongoing learning so you can see them more fully. Positive leadership looks like inviting feedback when you have caused harm and engaging in conversation with those who are hurting. Positive leadership looks like protecting people in your community from abuse and trauma. Positive leadership looks like pushing pause on the day-to-day parts of your work to rebuild trust where you have broken trust. We are all leaders - whether you are leading families, PTAs, soccer teams or companies. You are a leader. You are going to screw up. You will crash. You will cause harm. How will you rebuild trust after you cause harm? Listen in to learn how leaders can do better when they cause harm, especially as it pertains to race and protecting people of color in your community. This episode is inspired by a leader who recently crashed and then opted not to protect those harmed. A community became fractured and the erosion of trust was massive. This example is a powerful example of how leaders, especially white leaders, need to do so much better. Women of color to follow on Instagram (follow these women, buy their books, listen to their podcasts, and support their work): Austen Channing Brown Rachel Cargle Layla Saad Rebekah Borucki Ijeoma Oluo Elizabeth Dialto Books: Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World and Become a Good Ancestor by Layla Saad This Will Be My Undoing by Morgan Jerkins How To Be An Antiracist by Ibram X Kendi So You Want To Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo I’m Still Here: Black Dignity In A World Made For Whiteness by Austen Channing Brown White Fragility by Robin Diangelo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Meagan Francis is a mom of five kids ages 11 - 22, author, writer, and co-host of The Mom Hour podcast. She regularly speaks and coaches women and moms on building sane and satisfying lives, embracing creativity, and reinventing their careers. Meagan has been momming for her entire adulthood, having her first child in her early twenties. She has been writing, blogging, and reinventing herself online for 15 years. She has learned a lot of lessons along the way. Her energy is infectious and her perspectives are so refreshing. Listen in to hear Meagan share: How current times are taking us back to Newbornland How she’s finding and creating joy in unpredictable times How she went from blogging to podcasting (and whether you should start a blog or a podcast!) How moms can find happiness and satisfaction in spite of the media telling us that motherhood is hard, overwhelming, and frustrating Why she is actively opting out and rejecting the current COVID climate around homeschooling The value of embracing constant reinvention Links mentioned: Connect with Meagan and The Mom Hour Podcast Learn about Meagan’s other podcasts The Mom Hour on IG Meagan on IG Thank you to our sponsors: Kosmatology: Kosmatology has a great offer for our listeners: for any first-time purchasers, you receive 15% off. To get 15% off your first order, go to Kosmatology.com​ and use code shameless at checkout. StoryWorth: Get started right away without the need for shipping by going to StoryWorth.com/shameless. You’ll get $10 off your first purchase! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Many of you have shared that the biggest and most relentless challenges of this time are finding motivation and personal time in this current version of Groundhogs Day. It is definitely challenging to motivate when you don’t know what’s coming, you feel you have very little control over your future, and you have no space to think through what you want your life to look like right now. I know one of my biggest challenges during this time has been the constant closeness of my family. Don’t get me wrong, there has been some magic in this. But also, it’s a LOT. And it’s never-ending. I was pretty accustomed to (and appreciative of) my quiet days working solo from home. There is nothing solo about my days anymore. Yes, I’m grateful to be working, but it’s overwhelming and exhausting to work full time with a child and a dog constantly by my side. I know many of you are doing this with more than one child by your side. I bow down…. During this time, we must create and fiercely protect small spaces of personal time. This will tremendously help us find motivation and stay motivated. I have been creating little pockets of personal time that break up my day and really help keep me moving forward with a decent attitude. Listen in to hear exactly how you can find more motivation by creating pockets of personal time each day. Thank you to our sponsors: Bulldog Online Yoga: Head to bulldogonline.com and use promo code SHAMELESS for a 30-day free trial and 50% off your next month! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Patrice Washington is a Shameless Mom to a 12-year-old daughter, an award-winning author, transformational speaker, hope-restoring coach, and media personality. And she is committed to redefining the term wealth for our generation. Patrice got her start as your favorite personal finance expert, “America’s Money Maven”, having tremendous success with her “mindset approach” to personal finance. A licensed real estate professional by her sophomore year in college and a real estate and mortgage broker at 21 years old, Patrice took her boutique brokerage from the dining room of her 700-square foot condo to a 7-figure real estate empire by just 25. After losing her fortune in the Great Recession, she dedicated her life to not just rebuilding and reinventing her own life but helping the masses move from debt management to money mastery. She has since expanded her brand and mission, encouraging women to chase purpose, not money. Patrice is committed to redefining the term “wealth”, using its original meaning, “well-being”. She encourages women to have “wealth” in all aspects of their lives by pursuing their purpose, being fulfilled, and earning more without ever chasing money. Through her teachings, Patrice empowers women to look at life through the lens of abundance and opportunity, instead of lack and scarcity. As the founder of Redefining Wealth and The Earn More Money Movement for Women, Patrice has built a thriving community of high-achieving women committed to creating a powerful life vision--in their careers, home, health, and personal finances. Every week, millions of listeners have tuned in to her weekly segment, Redefining Wealth with Patrice Washington as part of a top-rated and nationally syndicated radio show. Patrice’s podcast, The Redefining Wealth Podcast with Patrice Washington, which takes a deeper dive into her radio segment content, launched in 2017 with overwhelming success. Her popular podcast was recently featured on Forbes.com as one of "15 Inspiring Podcasts for Professionals of Every Stripe". Listen in to hear Patrice share: Why 2020 is her year of obedience How she has overcome being known as “the Money Maven” vs being Reagan’s mom Why it’s ok to suck at cooking - and to stop trying to make it better How to focus on what you want vs what you don’t want 3 pillars to redefining wealth How our self-image holds us back in all areas of our lives The connection between physical clutter and mental chaos in our lives How to truly live a life of purpose - on your own terms Links mentioned: Website: Patrice Washington Podcast: Redefining Wealth Instagram: @SeekWisdomPCW Twitter: @SeekWisdomPCW Facebook: @SeekWisdomPCW Youtube: Patrice Washington: SeekWisdomPCW Thank you to our sponsors: Bulldog Online Yoga: Head to bulldogonline.com and use promo code SHAMELESS for a 30-day free trial and 50% off your next month! Ooak Dental: Purchase at Amazon.com available NOW. Laurel Springs: Register your child at LaurelSprings.com/shameless today and receive a waived registration fee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As we get deeper into pandemic life, there is more and more need to take a critical look at what’s working for you, what’s not working, and what beneficial changes could be made during this uncertain time. Along these lines, there are a few things you may benefit from quitting. Years ago, I did an episode called, “Be a Quitter.” I’m a long time fan of quitting things that don’t serve me. In fact, I can’t stand supposed inspirational quotes that suggest we should not be quitters. I think we should frequently assess what’s no longer working for us and quit those things quickly and without hesitation, in order to make space for the things that serve us, promote good physical and mental health, allow for appropriate boundaries with others, and keep us evolving in the directions we want to grow and thrive. As you have settled into new routines over the past 6 weeks, it is likely that you’ve also settled into some routines that aren’t optimal. Listen in to this episode to assess where you’re at, what’s not working, and what you might consider quitting in order to maintain optimal mental health as you continue to move through this time. Thank you to our sponsor: Kosmatology: Kosmatology has a great offer for our listeners: for any first-time purchasers, you receive 15% off. To get 15% off your first order, go to kosmatology.com​ and use code shameless at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

RB Fast is an activist, leader, envelope pusher, magic maker, and mother of a child who is creative, brave, and transgender. I asked RB to come on this show because I wanted to have a parent of a transgender child share with us what parenting can look like when there are major shifts around a child’s identity - shifts that the rest of the world might not understand or might not accept. When RB and I first started talking about doing this interview, she said she had to talk to her son about it. She wanted him to fully consent to this conversation - as well as set any boundaries he needed. RB also set boundaries around this conversation, as you’ll hear us talk about. This is such a beautiful and powerful example of sharing someone’s story in order to help others more clearly and deeply understand something, while also protecting someone’s boundaries. Listen in to hear RB share: Why she gave up her business to go back to a traditional job and why sometimes seemingly moving backward is actually moving forward How she creates boundaries around sharing a story of parenting a trans child and protecting her child at the same time How to practice curiosity over judgement if your child may be LGBTQ+ How parents can raise children who are strong allies Signing up for unconditional love couched in a universe of uncertainty Links Mentioned: Join The Shameless Mom Con Collective SMA Ep 256 with RB: The Advocacy Path RB on IG Thank you to our sponsors: Best Fiends: Download FREE on the Apple App Store or Google Play. Built Bar: Built Bar is offering my listeners 10% off your first purchase! Go to Builtbar.com and enter promo code SHAMELESS at checkout to receive Ooak Dental: Purchase at Amazon.com available NOW. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The life you are living right now is not normal. It is far from it. Pretending this is normal is dangerous. We can’t afford to normalize this because we would risk losing our compassion, our fighting spirit, and the opportunity to innovate and create solutions that are desperately needed right now. If we normalize this, we risk bypassing our grief and our suffering. We risk not learning critical lessons in order to know better and do better next time we are faced with a similar crisis. Right now, we are not ok. While we may be counting our blessings and feeling lucky and grateful in many ways, we are not ok. We get to be both. Two conflicting emotions get to exist: Not ok and lucky. Sad and hopeful. Tired and cheerful. Scared and joyful. Overwhelmed and grateful. Isolated yet overly connected and enmeshed with every member of our household (am I right??) We are not ok and we will not normalize this, but we do need to create a sense of normalcy in our everyday lives. Listen in to learn 4 ways to create normalcy when life is anything but normal. Links Mentioned: Join The Shameless Mom Con Collective: shamelessmomcon.com Thank you to our sponsors: Best Fiends: Download FREE on the Apple App Store or Google Play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Natalie Hixson is a Shameless Mom, wife, auntie and certified professional life coach who helps discouraged moms overcome destructive anger and burnout. After learning to thrive in motherhood and process anger in a healthy way, Natalie became convicted to help other moms avoid those dark years of motherhood by helping them to appreciate and process their anger, learn to identify their triggers, and ultimately control their reaction to those triggering situations. She enjoys her own motherhood journey by hanging with her husband Mike and their three daughters in beautiful Bozeman, Montana. She recharges with Jesus, coffee and adventures with her family like skiing in the winter, hiking and swimming in the summer and traveling year-round! Natalie was extremely transparent and generous in sharing her experience with destructive anger in motherhood in this episode. So many of you have reached out to me asking to talk more about anger and I couldn’t be more grateful to Natalie for taking this DEEP dive into this topic with me. Listen in to hear Natalie share: What it was like to grow up in an angry household How her anger got out of control, destructive and dangerous in motherhood How she overcame destructive anger The difference between healthy anger and destructive anger How to use “calm down time” to re regulate emotions during angry moments How to teach your kids about anger through your own anger management Why you need to validate your anger and/or mom guilt How to process anger in safe and healthy ways Why conflict in your household can be healthy and productive How to own your anger with your kids Links mentioned: Join the Shameless Mom Con Collective Connect with Natalie Natalie on FB Natalie on IG Natalie on Pinterest Get Natalie’s Trigger Tracker Thank you to our sponsors: Openfit: Right now, my listeners get an extended 14-day FREE trial membership to OPENFIT when you text SHAMELESS to 505050. EveryPlate: Check out delicious meal delivery options at EveryPlate.com. Talkspace: To match with your perfect therapist for a fraction of the price of traditional therapy, go to talkspace.com, Make sure to use the code SHAMELESS to get $100 off your first month and show your support for the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sometimes we forget that we have power. So much power. That no one and no circumstances can take from us. We forget that we have the power to make choices, the power to decide (and upgrade) our thoughts, the power to manage and adjust expectations, the power to pause before reacting, the power to find joy in the middle of deep sadness, the power to build something when everything around us is seemingly falling apart. When we are in pain, it can be hard to find our power. But what if your pain is a prerequisite for your power? What if it is the pain that pushes you to reach in, lean in, own your power, and stand back up? Your power is abundant. It is limitless. It is expansive and constantly evolving. Right now you are likely in pain in one way or another, or perhaps in many ways. Know that from that pain you have the power to: * Manage and upgrade your thoughts * Determine your actions * Demonstrate love, compassion and kindness * Make choices that serve you and your family * Set boundaries * Choose to be purposeful and intentional * Restore hope * Connect with others in new ways * Be creative in how you operate in new norms * Adapt to circumstances that initially felt overwhelmingly uncomfortable * Change you see the world * Create new guidelines for how you want to live * Grow into new ways of being that feel positive and purposeful * Channel joy in the smallest moments of the day * Nurture relationships in new ways * Thrive under conditions that would normally seem oppressive I want you to look at the verbs that kick off each of the above examples of power: * Manage * Determine * Demonstrate * Make * Set * Choose * Restore * Connect * Be * Adapt * Change * Create * Grow * Channel * Nurture * Thrive These are all actions you are capable of, actions you have power over. What forms of power will you choose today? How will you harness your pain and turn it into something that allows you to KEEP GOING, to KEEP SHOWING UP, to KEEP SHINING? Listen in for more guidance to tap into your innate power during hard times. Links mentioned: Join the Shameless Mom Con Collective Thank you to our sponsor: Grove Collaborative: For a limited time, when my listeners go to Grove.co/SHAMELESS you will get FREE FIVE PIECE cleaning set from Mrs. Meyer’s and Grove - in crisp scents like mint or rose - a THIRTY DOLLAR value! Check out Grove and our special offer at Grove.co/SHAMELESS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Monica Packer is passionate about teaching practical transformation. As a podcaster, growth coach, and podcast educator, she guides women to find sustainable growth by adopting progress over perfection. Monica is a former middle school teacher, a forever Oprah and Harry Potter fangirl, a perpetual cookie dough maker, and a beginning swimmer. She's a mama of four living in the Bay Area, CA. We recorded this interview before COVID-19 reared its ugly head. But there has never been a better time to learn how to better manage and even overcome perfectionism. We are all working so hard right now to keep the world spinning and Monica and I want to give you a ton of permission to just keep taking one imperfect step after another. Listen in to hear Monica share: The root of perfectionism and how it shows up specifically for moms How a lack of goal setting and action taking is also a form of perfectionism The truth about overachieving and underachieving perfectionists Her own experience with perfectionism that led her through eating disorders and suicidal ideation How leaning into the opposite side of perfectionism allows her to disconnect her worth from her achievements How to use imperfect action as exposure therapy to recover from perfectionism How you can prioritize progress over perfection How to model imperfect action to high achiever/perfectionist kids Links Mentioned: Join our 4 Week Shameless Mom Con Collective Connect with Monica: About Progress Monica on Instagram: @aboutprogress About Progress Podcast Thank you to our sponsors: Hylands: For more information about Hylands, visit: https://www.hylands.com/products/hylands-earache-drops Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When things get hard, you know how to show up. You know what matters most. You know where to set boundaries. You know what you stand for. You know how to prioritize your time and your efforts. You have weathered some big storms in your day and you always come out stronger on the other side. You set boundaries because you know what matters most right now and you know when the risks outweigh the benefits and when the benefits outweigh the risks. You are not afraid to take uncomfortable action because you are a mama bear who knows what it means to go after what you and your family need most. You are being tested in big ways right now. Really big ways. But it's ok. You got this. Because you know who you are. And you will continue returning to your roots. You will continue to lean into your core values. You will continue to be someone who does the right thing for your family and for the greater good. You may cry. You may bleed. But that does not dampen or dim the torch you are carrying that will lead you to the next place you need to land. You have seen hard times before. And you have found the cracks in order to let in the light. You are not someone who shies away from shining when the going gets tough. If you can keep returning to who you are you will continue to be comforted by your own strength and power and tenacity. Promise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sheri Gazitt is a Shameless Mom of 3, the founder of Teen Wise and is dedicated to guiding teens and parents through the ups and downs of adolescence. She advocates for teen mental wellness by advising foundations, appearing on TV, Radio, and podcasts, presenting to parents and teens, and writing for magazines both off and online. Coach Sheri also provides private coaching for teen girls to help them find their inner joy, tame stress, claim their confidence, and navigate friendships. Her latest program encourages parents to create space for their teen’s inner joy by resisting the rat race and prioritizing mental wellness over GPA's and college applications. Sheri’s mission is powerful and so necessary right now. Her work to reframe joy and connection for teens and parents is critical. Listen in to hear Sheri share: What inspired her work in teen advocacy Why her work with teens is JOY focused The main drivers of anxiety and depression in our youth The importance of stepping out of the kiddie and teen rat race Why you and your kid may benefit tremendously by letting go of a traditional path to success How to connect with your teens instead of just making sure they are checking boxes in achievement One step that parents can take right now, today to start making the shift to prioritizing joy over achievement Links mentioned: Join our free Hope, Happiness & Mental Health Challenge Connect with Sheri: Teen Wise Seattle Sheri on FB: Teen Wise Seattle Teen Wise Seattle Sheri’s program for moms of middle schoolers Thank you to our sponsors: Third Love: To find the perfect fitting bra and get 15% off your first purchase got to www.thirdlove.com/shameless. Best Fiends: Download FREE on the Apple App Store or Google Play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fear doesn’t get to drive. In unpredictable and unprecedented times, fear is normal - and even healthy. Fear will sit right beside you, keeping an eye out for you, making sure you are awake and alert. Fear might be in your front seat, but fear does not get to drive your car. As Marie Forleo says in Everything Is Firgureoutable, “Fear is not the enemy. Waiting to stop feeling afraid is.” If you’re waiting to stop feeling afraid, you will waste a lot of precious time. You will miss out on joy. You will be blind to opportunities that are right in front of you. In this episode, we will talk about how you can embrace fear, tame fear, and find joy with fear sitting right beside you. Links mentioned: Join our free Hope, Happiness & Mental Health Challenge Thank you to our sponsors: Kosmatology: Kosmatology has a great offer for our listeners: for any first-time purchasers, you receive 15% off. To get 15% off your first order, go to Kosmatology.com​ and use code shameless at checkout. Laurel Springs: Register your child at LaurelSprings.com/shameless today and receive a waived registration fee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mikaela Kiner is a Shameless Mom of two teens, a certified executive coach, and experienced consultant. In 2015, Mikaela founded Reverb, a leading provider of flexible HR services for startups and growing companies in the Pacific Northwest. An HR professional for nearly twenty years, Mikaela enjoys coaching leaders at all levels and helping companies build healthy, inclusive cultures. She's been quoted in Fast Company, the Wall Street Journal, and The Muse, and is a member of the Forbes Human Resources Council. She’s the author Female Firebrands: Stories and Techniques to Ignite Change, Take Control, and Succeed in the Workplace. Mikaela has coached leaders at all levels who want to live and lead in a purposeful way based on their values. By acting as a sounding board and accountability partner, she supports her coaching clients in achieving their goals. She particularly enjoys working with entrepreneurs, executives, and high potential women leaders. Mikaela lives in Seattle and is happily married to Henry, who’s a musician, artist, and teacher. Their two children are good at challenging the status quo and are a constant source of learning and laughter. She is a strong believer that a healthy, inclusive culture is integral to the success of every organization. Listen in to hear Mikaela share: The diversity in interviews when interviewing 13 women with the exact same questions The truth about competition between women in the workplace The gift of Brene Brown telling her no How to use data to create equity in the workplace How to be a leader of inclusivity in the workplace Why research shows that moms make awesome leaders - especially if you have 2 or more kids The steps you can take to become a stronger leader today Links Mentioned: Connect with Mikaela: Reverb People Mikaela on IG: Reverb People Mikaela on Linked IN: Mikaela Kiner Book: Female Firebrands by Mikaela Kiner Article: Harvard Law Review: Primal Leadership Book: Multipliers by Liz Wiseman Podcast: I Hate My Boss Thank you to our sponsors: Grove Collaborative: For a limited time, when my listeners go to Grove.co/SHAMELESS you will get FREE FIVE PIECE Cleaning Set from Mrs. Meyer’s and Grove - a THIRTY DOLLAR value! Check out Grove and our special offer at Grove.co/SHAMELESS. Undercover Tourist: Start planning your next theme park vacation now by visiting UndercoverTourist.com/SHAMELESS. That’s an additional discount using SHAMELESS on top of the big savings already offered through Undercover Tourist. Kosmatology: Kosmatology has a great offer for our listeners: for any first-time purchasers, you receive 15% off. To get 15% off your first order, go to Kosmatology.com​ and use code shameless at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For those of us who enjoy control and predictability in life, these are tough (if not excruciating) times. We are living in a pandemic - something I ignorantly and blissfully thought only existed in history books and Bible stories… But, friends, we are still living. Just under very different circumstances than we are used to. Know this - we are standing at the start line of a marathon. We need to show up prepared to pace ourselves, stay nourished & hydrated and - most importantly - keep our head game STRONG. Some of you have heard the story of my one and only marathon. At mile 2 I decided I didn’t really feel like running anymore. I was just over it… And the following 4+ hours were absolutely grueling. I couldn’t mentally recover, which made me physically deteriorate at a rapid pace. In the case of COVID-19, we cannot afford to deteriorate at the start line, or at mile 2. We will need to be extremely intentional and diligent in managing our energy and expectations. We will need to be nimble, adaptable, and creative. We will need to create boundaries around the places (namely the internet) and people who drain us or create unnecessary fear, panic or anxiety within us. We also need to take radical responsibility for seeking hope and happiness during this marathon. If we are to sustain ourselves over the coming months, we must be able to find the cracks where the light is begging to come in. I promise they exist - but you will need to actively seek them out. I am in Seattle - the US epicenter of COVID-19. Our city is pretty much shut down. It is hard and heavy. And there is light. I can see the cracks. If I can see the cracks you can too. Listen in to learn 5 ways to find light in the darkness of COVID-19. Also, please join me for our upcoming free Hope, Happiness & Mental Health Challenge (sign up: shamelessmom.com/challenge). We start Monday, March 23rd. This challenge is the light you’re looking for. Links Mentioned: Hope, Happiness & Mental Health Challenge Thank you to our sponsors: Built Bar: Built Bar is offering my listeners 10% off your first purchase! Go to Builtbar.com and enter promo code SHAMELESS at checkout to receive 10% off your first order! Native: For 20% off your first purchase, visit nativedeodorant.com and use promo code shameless at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gerard + Jessie Pepper have been partners in crime since 2005. Their relationship started over a clean pile of laundry, and now they dish about life, love and how to keep from losing your mind on a podcast called Marriage Is Funny. Gerard loves his day job as a financial actuary, and Jessie continues to build her career as a lifestyle expert and online brand at StyleAndPepper.com. They enjoy preaching and speaking whenever possible, are always happiest while hosting friends and family in their home, and love being enthusiastic pet-parents to a rescue pup named Sadie Mae. Listen in to hear: Why they started a marriage podcast at the worst time in their marriage What is like to record a podcast with your partner when you’re annoyed with them Why they decided to be child free and why they opted to become foster parents instead The beautiful gifts and intense challenges of hosting short term foster placement The impact of foster parenting on their marriage If fostering has shifted their perspective on having children of their own. Links Mentioned: Marriage is funny Podcast Free Marriage Myths video series: Meet The Peppers Meet The Peppers / Grounded Marriage Jessie's personal IG: @styleandpepper Marriage is Funny IG: @meetthepeppers Connect with Jessie at jessieartigue.com Learn more about safe-families.org Thank you to our sponsors: Talkspace: To match with your perfect therapist for a fraction of the price of traditional therapy, go to talkspace.com, Make sure to use the code SHAMELESS to get $100 off your first month and show your support for the show. Betabrand: Right now, our listeners can get 20% off their first order when you go to betabrand.com/shameless (shameless must be lowercase). Lightstream: Just for my listeners: apply now to get an additional interest rate discount. The ONLY way to get this discount is to go to Lightstream.com/SHAMELESS.. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

‘Tis the season of disappointing other people. Fa la la la la…. As my platform has grown so has my exposure to judgement. In my personal and professional life, there are people who have been disappointed in me, even angry with me, over the last year or so. I will be honest with you, this kind of thing used to really eat me up inside. I’m not going to tell you that I’m super-cool with people being upset with me now. But I can tell you that I have done a lot of work to be ok with some people being mad at me - and me NOT OWNING their feelings. The truth is this: a person’s emotions are their own responsibility. I have repeatedly found that the people who are disappointed in me or angry with me have one or more of these things in common: A poor sense of self A general lack of self-awareness Poor coping skills A weak or completely lacking support system For these folks, I will forgive them in order to make peace in my own life so I can move forward. I will not make space for their energy or abuse, In fact, I will actively distance and separate myself from it. And, most importantly, I will not take responsibility for their emotions. If I hurt someone or cause someone harm, I will own that and apologize. I will take radical responsibility for myself and my actions - but not for others reactions to my actions. This is what it looks like to have boundaries. This is what it looks like to be a grown-up. It is not easy. But it is the only way to show all the way up for those who matter most to me. I would be doing myself and my loved ones a massive disservice if I took on my haters anger or displaced feelings. The same goes for you. How do you stay in your own way when it comes to other people’s opinions and judgments of you? You must take radical responsibility for that. This episode will teach you how. Links mentioned: Book: The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday Thank you to our sponsors: Openfit: Right now, my listeners get an extended 14-day FREE trial membership to OPENFIT when you text SHAMELESS to 505050. For All Moms Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fam-for-all-moms/id1494037915 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Parijat Deshpande is Shameless Mom and the leading high-risk pregnancy expert, mind-body health specialist, trauma professional, speaker and author who teaches women how to deactivate their stress response before, during and after a high-risk pregnancy so they can give their baby a strong start to life. Her unique approach has served hundreds of women to manage pregnancy complications and reclaim a safety and trust in their bodies that they thought was eroded forever. Parijat is the author of bestselling book Pregnancy Brain: A Mind-Body Approach to Stress Management During a High-Risk Pregnancy. She is also the host of the popular podcast Delivering Miracles®, that discusses the real, raw side of family-building including infertility, loss, high-risk pregnancy, bed rest, prematurity and healing once baby comes home. Listen in to hear Parijat share: Her journey of serious and dangerous complications during fertility treatments that lead to the delivery of her 24 week old baby boy How she managed preterm labor, used her mind to dramatically impact her and her baby’s health, and bought her son a life giving 15 additional days in utero The very bittersweet journey of having a second child via a gestational carrier The impact of prenatal stress/trauma on pregnancy outcomes and how you can learn to self manage prenatal stress/trauma by re-regulating your nervous system The truth about trauma and how your body and brain resolve it - or not Links mentioned: Join me at Shameless Mom Con Connect with Parijat Thank you to our sponsors: Third Love: To find the perfect fitting bra and get 15% off your first purchase got to www.thirdlove.com/shameless Best Fiends: Download FREE on the Apple App Store or Google Play. If These Ovaries Could Talk Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/if-these-ovaries-could-talk/id1331160807 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You have probably heard the saying, “The only way out is through.” I would add to this that the only way into your power is through the pain and discomfort of growth. Power, achievement, growth, and success only come from putting yourself in situations that push you in new ways. And that can be ridiculously hard and scary. For me, there are often nearly impossible nerves to overcome, a racing heart that makes me unable to speak, a belly that cannot stop flip-flopping, and legs that won’t stop shaking. The more dramatic the symptoms, the more I know I’ll grow through the discomfort. Case in point: as I’ve taken up new challenges in skiing this year, I’ve experienced all the above symptoms very regularly. And I hate it. I hate it to the point that I get angry. Also, I’m growing in the biggest ways since I started skiing - as a skier, an athlete, and a woman who is becoming more powerful in all areas of life through actively embracing fear. It’s really hard. But I’m HERE. FOR. IT. If you want more power in your life you will have to get more uncomfortable. You will have to do hard things. There is no way around it. It is only through the consistent exposure to scary and hard things that we get to see who we are becoming, how much potential we have for success, and what kind of true joy we are capable of creating for ourselves. Listen in to hear how I’m using exposure therapy to face my biggest fears this year - and how it’s changing the game for me. Links mentioned: Join me for Shameless Mom Con Thank you to our sponsors: Laurel Springs: Register your child at LaurelSprings.com/shameless today and receive a waived registration fee. Thrive: Start thriving and help women in need today by going to ThriveCausemetics.com/shameless and use code shameless for 15% off your first purchase! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Naomi Clark is the CEO of Her Money Map where she helps women transform their mindset around money and partners with them to create cash flow strategies that support their values and lifetime goals. Her mission is to help women crush their self-limiting beliefs and barriers when it comes to money. She believes one of the primary reasons women struggle with confidence in making financial decisions is in large part due to the patriarchy which is designed to make women feel doubtful and distracted. Naomi is also the creator and host of "The OutSpoken Girlfriend" podcast where she encourages and celebrates women to step into their best selves - their authentic selves. But this isn't your typical personal development podcast. As a self-described "sworn enemy of the patriarchy" Naomi provides strategies and tactics that teaches women how to dismantle the patriarchy as they pursue their best lives. In the "muggle world" Naomi has a degree in Finance with over 20 years of corporate experience in Accounting, Supply Chain Management, and Project Management. In addition to all this, Naomi is one of the OGs of the Shameless Mom community and one of our speakers for Shameless Mom Con 2020. I think you’re going to love hearing her story of growth and transformation as a Shameless Mom. Listen in to hear Naomi share: What the American Dream looked like for her as a black woman and why it was not so dreamy How letting her life get really small made her life miserable How setting the simple goal of cleaning off her dresser snowballed into cleaning up the vision for her life The truth about working against the patriarchy - and how she’s helping women do this powerful work Her powerful message for white moms and white women Links mentioned: Hear Naomi speak at Shameless Mom Con 2020 Connect with Naomi The Outspoken Girlfriend Podcast The Outspoken Girlfriend Facebook group Naomi on Instagram: The Out Spoken Girlfriend Thank you to our sponsors: Lightstream: Just for my listeners: apply now to get an additional interest rate discount. The ONLY way to get this discount is to go to Lightstream.com/SHAMELESS. com: To save 30% off a Care.com Premium membership, visit Care.com/SHAMELESSMOM FamilyAlbum: Please find FamilyAlbum on your favorite app store, or by searching for FamilyAlbum on the web. And remember FamilyAlbum is all one word. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you ever met a woman who didn’t have anything to offer? Yeah, me neither. Every woman I’ve ever met has had something extraordinary and unique that qualifies her to take up her very own special place in this world. While you may fully recognize what other women have to offer, you may fail to see what you have to offer. You may think that everyone else has something to offer - and you don’t. This is simply untrue. This became glaring to me when I recently asked in our private FB group, “What’s holding you back from attending Shameless Mom Con?” A few mamas said they were worried they didn’t have anything to offer and thought they might not fit in with the other awesome attendees. Isn’t it funny (and sad!) how we get in our own way??? Listen in to hear me coach you out of this mindset that you have less to offer than anyone around you. Listen in to hear the truth. Links Mentioned: Join me at Shameless Mom Con 2020 Thank you to our sponsors: Undercover Tourist: Start planning your next theme park vacation now by visiting UndercoverTourist.com/SHAMELESS. That’s an additional discount using SHAMELESS on top of the big savings already offered through Undercover Tourist. Grove Collaborative: For a limited time, when my listeners go to Grove.co/SHAMELESS you will get FREE FIVE PIECE Cleaning Set from Mrs. Meyer’s and Grove - a THIRTY DOLLAR value! Check out Grove and our special offer at Grove.co/SHAMELESS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ashley Abercrombie fought to overcome addiction, rape, abortion, perfectionism and dysfunctional relationships to become an honest, whole and free woman (most days). She wore a mask more than half her life, and considers herself too old, and too annoyed to ever put that thing on again. Ashley is a speaker and a writer, featured in many magazines and digital outlets, including Darling, Relevant and Grit and Virtue. Her YouVersion Bible study, Finding God in the Hard Places, has been completed by over 200,000 people. Her first book will be released in the fall of 2019, with Baker Books. Alongside fellow author and speaker, Tiffany Bluhm, Ashley is the co-host for the hilarious and helpful podcast Why Tho. She has an unrelenting passion for justice, particularly anti-human trafficking and mass incarceration initiatives, and served the city of Los Angeles for seven years, winning commendations from the LAPD and Los Angeles Mayor’s office, before transitioning to Manhattan to pastor at Liberty Church, Downtown, alongside her husband, Cody. Ashley is an executive board bember of Treasures, a non-profit that reaches and supports women in the sex industry and victims of sexual exploitation, while training leaders globally. The Abercrombies are nearly brain dead from sleep deprivation, but love their life, raising two incredible sons, Levi (5) and Lucas (2), in their beautiful neighborhood in Harlem, New York. Listen in to hear Ashley share: How she gave up her PhD in pretending her life was great and get honest about her story and proudly own it - how to stop pretending and performing for others How enduring an eating disorder, addiction, sexual assault, and abortion led her to her current place of grace in life How our secrets inevitably lead to self harm The benefits of adjusting your expectations every morning instead of assuming every day will be great The exact action she takes to be honest with herself #everydamnday The beauty of recognizing the notion that time is your friend Why a day of rest is essential as a family How to have more holy gumption in order to live your best, most spirited life Links Mentioned: Join me at Shameless Mom Con 2020 SMA Ep 322 with Tiffany Bluhm Connect with Ashley: Ashabercrombie IG & Twitter: @ashabercrombie Facebook: @ashabercrombienyc Thank you to our sponsors: Derma E: To get you started on trying their clean beauty solutions they are giving you 20% off sitewide with promo code SHAMELESS20 at https://dermae.com/. FamilyAlbum: Please find FamilyAlbum on your favorite app store, or by searching for FamilyAlbum on the web. And remember FamilyAlbum is all one word. Blinkist: Go to Blinkist.com/SHAMELESS try it FREE for 7 days AND save 25% off your new subscription. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today I am taking a moment to celebrate Black History Month. To be honest, this moment feels too short and inadequate. I really wish I planned better for this month because this celebration deserves more attention than what I have created space for. While I aim to elevate black women and black moms all year long in the SMA, I understand the special importance of taking extra time to do this in February and I have already committed to dedicating more than one episode to this next year. I hope that in acknowledging my imperfect action here, other white allies will step up their game too. This is work is crucial, even when the steps feel too small. Something is better than nothing. And I vow to keep learning more so I can keep doing more. Listen in to learn how to celebrate black history and black women by becoming a better ally and, better yet, an accomplice. Please take notes as I share powerful resources and a fantastic list of podcasts hosted by black women whom I admire tremendously. I want you to go subscribe to them all! Links mentioned: Join me at Shameless Mom Con 2020 Podcasts recommendations: Laura Cathcart Robbins: The Only One In The Room Nikita Burks-Hale: Journey Gurl Magic Naomi Clark: The Outspoken Girlfriend Tavona Givens: She Is Still Standing Tavona Givens Omolara Uwemedimo: Supermom Rehab Jamila Payne: Daily Success Show Nicole Walters: The Nicole Walters Podcast Rachel Rodgers: Million Dollar Badass Book recommendations: So You Want To Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo White Fragility by Robin Diangelo This Will Be My Undoing by Morgan Jerkins Me and White Supremacy by Layla Saad How To Be An Anti Racist by Ibram Kendi Thank you to our sponsors: Betabrand: Right now, our listeners can get 20% off their first order when you go to betabrand.com/shameless (shameless must be lowercase). Native: For 20% off your first purchase, visit nativedeodorant.com and use promo code shameless at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Davide Di Giorgio is the number one international best-selling author of “Being UNapologetic”, a keynote and TEDx speaker, Comparanoia™ expert, and a speaking and confidence consultant for students, teachers, parents, influencers and celebrities. He is a writer for The Good Men Project, Thought Catalog, Thrive Global, and Success Profiles Magazine. His philanthropic endeavor, Project Being UNapologetic dares to tackle bullying and build confidence and self-esteem while funding dream projects for high school performing arts students. We don’t showcase Shameless men on the show very often, but when we do they are SO. GOOD. Davide is a brilliant and beautiful human and I’m so honored to have him join me for this conversation. Listen in to hear Davide share: How an incident in kindergarten kicked off years of being bullied How he broke the cycle of being victimized by life circumstances The very really struggle of Comparanoia™ How to manage and overcome Comparanoia™ How he coped with being abandoned by his parents when he came out at age 33 His experience in Shameless parenting in a non-traditional way How he’s practicing celebration during especially challenging times Links Mentioned: Join me at Shameless Mom Con 2020 Connect with Davide: Being UNapologetic Watch Davide’s TEDx talk: The real power of choice: overcoming Comparanoia Join The unMOMtourage More about Overcoming Comparanoia: Overcoming Comparanoia The iCELEBRATE MATRIX: icelebrate.OvercomingComparanoia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I recently had a week where everything just felt so off and so out of my control. Can you relate? We’ve all been there. It’s hard. And... it’s ok to not be ok. Sometimes we try to just blow past our emotions or frustrations. We feel like we don’t have time for them. I mean, who has extra time to sit around feeling dumpy?? But it’s also necessary to process why we are not ok. Some questions to ask: What got me here? Why is it so uncomfortable? Did I make a poor choice? Am I absorbing and owning someone else’s junk? How can I make things better - not just put a bandaid on it - but really make it better? How can I create some space to figure out positive and powerful next steps? If you find yourself putting up a front on the regular, this episode is for you. Give yourself permission to stop faking fine and be less than awesome every now and then. Links mentioned: Join me at Shameless Mom Con 2020 Book: The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday Thank you to our sponsors: Openfit: Right now, my listeners get an extended 14-day FREE trial membership to OPENFIT when you text SHAMELESS to 505050. Derma E: To get you started on trying their clean beauty solutions they are giving you 20% off sitewide with promo code SHAMELESS20 at https://dermae.com/. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Katie Krimitsos is a mom, wife, adventurer, podcaster and seeker. She's committed to brightening the light of women around the world through the Women's Meditation Network, guided meditations, and resources that are specifically created with the special journey of women in mind. Katie walked away from a business she built from the ground up at the peak of its success - because she had an inkling she was meant to do something different. She leaned in to self-trust - HARD. I’ve watched her navigate this journey and it’s been pretty amazing. This is the reason I asked her to be a keynote speaker at Shameless Mom Con. I know she’s going to inspire your pants off today and at Shameless Mom Con. Listen in to hear Katie share: Why she decided to shut down her business after her first 6 figure year How her mom allowed her to build massive self-trust How she approaches tough, life-altering decisions How to use meditation to be a better listener (to yourself) How to know when you’re moving in the right direction (and when you’re not) Links mentioned: See Katie keynote at Shameless Mom Con 2020 Connect with Katie: Women's Meditation Network Katie on Instagram Women's Meditation Network FREE guide: 5 Simple Steps To Start Your Meditation Practice Thank you to our sponsors: Grove Collaborative: Make your laundry more sustainable this new year. For a limited time, when my listeners go to Grove.co/SHAMELESS you’ll get a FREE THREE PIECE set from Grove so you can start reducing your plastic waste. Plus, you’ll get free shipping AND a free 60-day VIP trial! Check out Grove and our special offer at Grove.co/SHAMELESS. Wickbox: To get your $10 off your first box, go to www.wickbox.co and use coupon code SHAMELESS at checkout. FamilyAlbum: Please find FamilyAlbum on your favorite app store, or by searching for FamilyAlbum on the web. And remember FamilyAlbum is all one word. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

No one told me… I had no idea how much mental space motherhood would require. I didn’t know that my brain would learn to run endless concurrent lists of tasks and to dos and important data, all day, everyday. There have been days that I thought my brain would explode from all the keeping track of things. All the remembering of things. All the planning of things. All the noting and filing away of things. It never ends. It’s exhausting. But there are ways to better manage it. There are ways to protect your mental space - especially from the invasion of details, content, and drama that you don’t need, that sucks your precious mental space and mental energy when you let them in. Listen in to learn 6 ways to create more (super precious) mental space in motherhood. Links mentioned: Join us at Shameless Mom Con 2020 SMA Ep 305: Managing the Mental Load of Motherhood Apps: Calm App, Headspace app Muse headband: Choose Muse Podcast: Women's Meditation Network Thank you to our sponsors: Talkspace: To match with your perfect therapist for a fraction of the price of traditional therapy, go to https://www.talkspace.com/, Make sure to use the code SHAMELESS to get $100 off your first month and show your support for the show. Third Love: To find the perfect fitting bra and get 15% off your first purchase got to www.thirdlove.com/shameless Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ceca Mijatovic is a badass life coach and a host of the Truth & Dare Cancer Podcast. She focuses on helping women going through or living with cancer learn how to navigate their cancer journey alongside family and career, how to supercharge their self-healing, and how to recalibrate their lives by using cancer as a powerful catalyst for change. She has had her own battle with the “Big C” and it became a potent agent for positive change in her life, and now she wants to help other women use their diagnosis as an opportunity to transform their lives for the better. Prior to becoming a life coach, Ceca was in numerous leadership roles at Fortune 50 companies as well as startups. She is a founder of the Truth & Dare Cancer coaching practice where she helps women with cancer take charge of their health, their body, and their outcome! Listen in to hear Ceca share: Her road through infertility and how she decided to stop pursuing motherhood How she moved on and got closure on her motherhood dreams Why her diagnosis of uterine cancer brought her peace How she helps women find truth and strength and grace during cancer Why women with cancer need massive mindset coaching after diagnosis and cancer treatment How emotional healing parallels physical healing Why cancer is full of misery and magic The power of receiving Links Mentioned: Join us at Shameless Mom Con 2020 Truth & Dare Cancer Podcast Connect with Ceca: Truth And Dare Cancer DARE Cancer coaching community Social FB + IG: @truthanddarecancer Thank you to our sponsors: Wickbox: To get your $10 off your first box, go to www.wickbox.co and use coupon code SHAMELESS at checkout. Lightstream: Just for my listeners: apply now to get an additional interest rate discount. The ONLY way to get this discount is to go to Lightstream.com/SHAMELESS. Derma E: To get you started on trying their clean beauty solutions they are giving you 20% off sitewide with promo code SHAMELESS20 at https://dermae.com/. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I recently did a full episode (Ep 391) on why moms lack self-trust. The quick & dirty is this: women are conditioned from a very early age to trust others thoughts/opinions/judgements/instincts over our own. So, by the time we get to motherhood, we are already struggling (greatly) to listen to our gut. And babies make this even harder - because we must prioritize their needs over our own. We stop noticing that we’re hungry or tired or in need of, well, anything. We learn to shut off our own needs entirely. If you didn’t listen to episode 391, go back and do that. THEN, listen in here to hear how you can relearn self-trust. In this episode, I teach you two powerful feedback loops that will help you learn how to trust your gut and your power in new and profound ways. The second feedback loop is the most critical, so make sure to listen to the end - especially if you’re someone who struggles to find success in the face of failure and struggles. I am dedicating myself to rebuilding self-trust in 2020. It is one of my top priorities this year. Any of you are welcome to join me on this journey of learning to trust again. I am ALL IN on listening inward this year. Let’s do it together! Links Mentioned: Join us at Shameless Mom Con 2020 SMA Ep 391: Why Moms Lack Self Trust Thank you to our sponsors: Betabrand: Right now, our listeners can get 20% off their first order when you go to betabrand.com/shameless (shameless must be lowercase). FamilyAlbum: Please find FamilyAlbum on your favorite app store, or by searching for FamilyAlbum on the web. And remember FamilyAlbum is all one word. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Casey McGuire Davidson is a certified life coach, the founder of Hello Someday Coaching and creator of the “Sober Girl’s Guide To Quitting Drinking, 30 Tips To Help Get You Through Your First 30 Days”. She works with busy, successful women who want to reevaluate their relationship with alcohol, quit drinking, and create lives they love without their nightly glass (or bottle) of wine. She’s also a wife, a mom, a practical dreamer, recovering corporate ladder climber, retired people-pleaser and ex-red wine drinker, who's been known to crawl into bed at 9 pm and whisper "Don't worry...you're still a badass" to herself. Casey and I met at an event recently when she approached me as a fan of the SMA. We immediately hit it off and the second she told me that she works with moms who are reevaluating their relationship with alcohol I knew she had to come on the show. So many moms have a silent struggle with alcohol. I think it’s one of the most under talked about issues of motherhood. And that is not ok. Listen in to hear Casey share: How she relied on wine to manage her emotional and mental health What pushed her to attempt 100 days of sobriety What red wine represented for her and her fear of giving up something she loved so much How to view giving up alcohol as a positive powerful choice vs sad consequence The best question to ask yourself if you’re thinking about giving up drinking The pros and cons of different sobriety programs and why she believes some are better than others for women Links mentioned: Join us at Shameless Mom Con 2020 Connect with Casey: Hello Someday Coaching Free Sober Girl’s Guide To Quitting Drinking: Sobriety Starter Kit Casey on Facebook: Hello Someday Casey on Instagram: Casey Mdavidson Thank you to our sponsors: FamilyAlbum: Please find FamilyAlbum on your favorite app store, or by searching for FamilyAlbum on the web. And remember FamilyAlbum is all one word. Magic Spoon: Go to magicspoon.com/SMA to grab a variety pack and try it today! And be sure to use our promo code SMA at checkout to get free shipping. Lola: Get organic cotton tampons and other hygiene products delivered right to your door. To get 30% off your first order, go to mylola.com and use the code SHAMELESS30 when you subscribe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 2019 I set out to quit 3 things that were no longer serving me. Not only were these three things no longer serving me, they were sucking precious time and energy to the point I could no longer ignore their negative impact on my life. It would be cute and fun and just oh-so-perfect if I could have sat down to record this episode and shout from the rooftops, “I DID IT! I QUIT THESE THINGS THAT WERE NO LONGER SERVING ME!” But I didn’t. I had varying degrees of “success” in the quitting of each thing. I put success in quotes because we tend to gauge success in really black & white terms and one of the best lessons I’ve learned over the last couple years (as someone who really likes to keep things black & white), is that often the magic is in the gray. We think “success” lives in the black & white. But true success is in the gray - where you have the power to shift your perspective #everydamnday in order to find wins, gain growth, and feel the magic even when you haven’t found the “success” you were initially looking for. Listen in to learn with me as I share my “success” and my SUCCESS of kinda quitting three things that were no longer serving me. Links mentioned: Join us at Shameless Mom Con 2020 Thank you to our sponsors: Native: For 20% off your first purchase, visit nativedeodorant.com and use promo code shameless at checkout. Zola: Sign up at www.ZOLA.com/shameless today to get your FREE personalized paper sample. Then use code SAVE50 to get 50% off your save the dates! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices