Shameless Leadership

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel” Maya Angelou How you make people feel is a big responsibility as a leader. While you cannot control how others perceive and receive you, you can control how you attempt to engage and lead in positive, supportive, and authentic ways. The way you engage with the people you lead - from saying hello to delegating tasks to providing feedback to saying “Thank you” - matters. When I was in high school I was lucky enough to have a job where my very first boss, Karen, looked me in the eye and greeted me with a big smile every single day when I arrived at work. She made me feel important and like my contributions were significant even though my work was easily the least significant in the company. I loved working for Karen. I always knew where I stood with her. I knew I was doing a good job supporting her and the team. And, I knew she would let me know if I needed to course correct in a fumbly moment. I loved making her job just a little bit easier. I had several bosses who followed Karen who made me feel small, insignificant, and even invisible at times. I had no desire to prove myself to these leaders. In fact, sometimes I looked forward to brushing them off the same way they did me. I knew they didn’t deserve the best parts of me, so they didn’t get them. Great leaders' interactions with those whom they lead are consistently additive, meaning they add value to their day and their work. In this episode, I share the story of Karen vs Ross, my first two bosses who could not have been more opposite in their leadership. In hearing about these two vastly different leadership experiences, I think you will see how the smallest moments of leadership, like saying “Hi!”, can have a big impact on your leadership legacy. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessleadership.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a culture that values and rewards outward confidence and assertive communication, it’s not surprising that extroverts tend to rise to the top as leaders more predominantly than introverts. Extroverts are commonly outgoing, charismatic, and less socially inhibited than introverts in group settings. While this may sound grand if you were born an extrovert, the downside to extroversion is that extroverts can take up so much space, they don’t leave space for others. As leaders, extroverts can be dismissive of introverts and miss significant opportunities to pass the mic, open the floor to other voices, and allow others to feel seen, heard, and valued. In this episode, I dig into some of the risks associated with extroverted leadership, from overbearing communication to lackluster listening skills to overlooking others to general impatience in team environments. I promise I’m not here to judge you. If you’re an extroverted leader who might be the loudest one in the room sometimes, know that I stand beside you. Sometimes I am you. Together, we can take our gifts and make them work for ourselves and for others. This will likely take some self-awareness and honing new skills. But, if you want to be an inclusive leader who holds space for everyone in the room, this is your job. As your self-awareness grows, you will likely realize that you have so many valuable lessons to learn from your introverted counterparts. Introverts often have the sage wisdom that you can’t quite harness in high-stress moments. They are keen observers who see things you and I don’t see. And, their ideas and opinions are often exactly the missing pieces you’ve been looking for - if you just get quiet enough to let them speak. Extroverted leaders can be more inclusive of introverts by adopting strategies that create space for different work styles, encourage diverse contributions, and foster a more balanced team dynamic. In this episode, I talk through specific strategies to foster safety and trust in order to create spaces where extroverts and introverts can communicate and thrive side by side. As extroverted leaders, we have a lot to say. But our ideas are not better and are not more important. Let’s make sure we are holding space for all voices so we may all benefit from everyone’s gifts. Link mentioned: Join my September Influence & Ignite Retreat for small business owners: shamelessmom.com/retreat We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessleadership.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The difference in self-assurance between men and women, particularly in professional settings, is called the confidence gap. This gap describes how, despite equal or even greater competence, women tend to underestimate their abilities and hesitate to pursue leadership roles, promotions, or high-stakes opportunities compared to men. In this powerful episode, I dive into the challenges women in leadership face when it comes to building and maintaining confidence. I examine how gender bias, social conditioning, and systemic barriers contribute to the confidence gap that impacts women leaders at every level. A few of the reasons women leaders struggle with confidence: Gender Bias and Social Conditioning: Women are often subjected to cultural expectations and stereotypes that create unrealistic standards. This societal pressure fosters doubt, insecurity, and a lack of confidence in leadership roles. The Social Constructs of Imposter Syndrome and Perfectionism: Many women leaders struggle with worthiness, feeling as if they don’t deserve their success. Perfectionism compounds this, leading to a constant sense of inadequacy. Lack of Representation and Support: The scarcity of women in leadership positions results in fewer mentorship and sponsorship opportunities, leaving women feeling isolated and unsupported. Microaggressions: Everyday words, actions, and undermining behaviors perpetrated by those with more power than you that may seem minor, but over time, reflect an abusive environment that greatly erodes the confidence and well-being of women leaders. Confidence doesn’t have to remain elusive. Together, we will unpack gender bias, social conditioning, and societal constructs that undermine women’s confidence while also exploring actionable strategies to overcome these obstacles. You will walk away from this episode ready to find a strong network of women leaders, take steps to own the confidence that is your birthright and practice new communication skills that allow you to not only shine more brightly but also feel more bright as you shine in your various roles in work and life. Link mentioned: Join my September Influence & Ignite Retreat for small business owners: shamelessmom.com/retreat We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessleadership/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Building a powerful and intentional personal leadership brand is essential to your leadership legacy. Whether you're an emerging leader or a leader looking to refine your current leadership style, this episode will give you actionable steps to create a personal leadership brand that aligns with your core values and allows you to make greater ripples of impact as you lead. We explore the following key questions to help guide your journey: What do you want to be known for as a leader? What legacy are you intentionally building right now? What are your current personal and leadership values, and how are you incorporating them into your work? Here are 5 steps you can work through to build your personal leadership brand: Identify the values you want to embody and uphold as a leader Reflect on the values that matter most to you and how you want to embody them as a leader. These values will form the foundation of your personal leadership brand. Determine how these values make you stand out as a leader Understand how your unique values overlap with your strengths, talents, and gifts to differentiate you from other leaders. Conduct a values assessment Check in on how you are currently leading with your values and determine where there is room for growth to incorporate your values into your leadership in ways that allow your personal leadership brand to shine. Take small steps to embody these values Start making intentional choices that reflect the leader you want to be. Small, consistent actions over time build trust, likeability, and credibility. This is how you build your leadership capital over time. Practice pausing in high-stress moments In times of pressure, take a breath and a pause to reflect on how you want to show up. In this pause, you have the chance to recall your values and make a decision through the lens of your values instead of high emotions. By taking the time to define what you stand for and practicing the embodiment of these values, you can craft a personal leadership brand that reflects your true identity and creates a lasting legacy. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessleadership.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today is the day! The first episode of Shameless Leadership is LIVE. I couldn’t be more excited! In this first episode of Shameless Leadership, I dig into one of my very favorite topics: why women need to take up more space. This is a topic I have been passionate about for a long time now. In fact, you’ve likely heard me rant about it before. It feels like the perfect topic to kick off this new show for women leaders. Recent data overwhelmingly tells us that the number of women in leadership still doesn’t come close to representing the number of women in society. According to Leanin.org’s Women in the Workplace 2023 Report: Women represent roughly 1 in 4 C-suite leaders, and women of color just 1 in 16. Progress for early-career Black women remains the furthest out of reach. In 2023, for every 100 men promoted from entry-level to manager positions, only 54 Black women were promoted. After rising to 82 in 2020 and 96 in 2021, the promotion rate for Black women to manager has fallen back to lower than it was in 2019. Because of our “broken rung” system (described in this episode), in a typical company, men end up holding 60% of manager-level positions, while women hold just 40%. As a result, there are fewer women to be promoted to director, and the number of women decreases at every subsequent level. The impact of “microaggressions” experienced at work by women or any other marginalized group are anything but “micro”. In fact, they have a macro effect long term. If women are to occupy more leadership roles, we must start intentionally taking up more space. We must demand more space. In this episode, I share how women are socialized to shrink our bodies, hold back our ideas and opinions, and play small in all aspects of our lives. From there, I dig into specific steps you can take to start taking up more space and stop accepting without question the leadership, thoughts, and opinions of those who have more power than you (ie: men). If you’re ready to take up more space, use your voice in new ways, and take a seat at any table, this episode is for you. Links Mentioned: Join my September Influence & Ignite Retreat for small business owners: shamelessmom.com/retreat Article: Leanin.org Women in the Workplace 2023 Learn about my speaking, training, and coaching: saradean.com Connect with me on LinkedIn: saradean.com/linkedin We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: Shameless Leadership Sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you’ve caught the last few episodes of the show, you know that change is upon us. It's not a goodbye change, but a level-up change. We are growing and evolving - together. All that we have learned together over the last 8.5 years has led us to this moment where we are stepping into a new podcast identity. This is so exciting! As we celebrate episode 900 (omg - 900!!!), we are also celebrating the transition of this little podcast-that-could from The Shameless Mom Academy to Shameless Leadership. This is the last episode you will hear in this feed that begins with “Welcome to the Shameless Mom Academy…” Come next week, you will see a new episode in this feed with a new title, Shameless Leadership. Taking everything we have learned together over the last 8.5 years, we are elevating our knowledge, gifts, and confidence to have bigger conversations for women leaders (at al levels). These conversations will be about everything from shutting down your inner critic and imposter syndrome to overcoming perfectionism to using your voice in new ways to advocate for yourself, your ideas, and other folks carrying marginalized identities. Each week on Shameless Leadership, you'll hear practical tips, effective strategies, and inspiring stories that will enhance your leadership skills and broaden your perspective to help you become a more confident, intentional, inclusive, and empathetic leader. Shameless Leadership is for women, gender minorities, and allies who want to create spaces where people who have not had the advantage of a male identity can rise, lead, and thrive. The mission of Shameless Leadership is to be a community of people of all genders who believe everyone deserves to feel seen, heard, held, valued, and supported. Our mission is to help you foster these feelings within your own circles of influence so you can build trust, psychological safety, and a culture of belonging in all the places you take up space. This is a show by women for everyone. If you have been listening to the SMA for the last few years, months, or weeks, this is still a place for you to learn, grow, and connect. I could not be more honored to continue to be in your ear. And, I’m so excited about our future together. Link mentioned: Join my September Influence & Ignite Retreat for small business owners: shamelessmom.com/retreat We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When I started thinking about the final interview for the SMA before we rebrand the show as Shameless Leadership, I knew I wanted to do something special. It occurred to me that it could be fun to have someone turn the mic on me and ask me about the show over the last 8 years. Once I had this idea, I knew Laura Cathcart Robbins, my dear friend and a friend of the show, was the perfect person to turn the mic on me! In this episode, Laura takes us behind the scenes of the last 8 years of the Shameless Mom Academy. We talk about my original vision for the show and how it evolved over time. She asked me about (hard) lessons learned, the biggest gifts of the show, and why this podcast pivot makes so much sense right now. I can’t wait for you to hear a little about the ongoings of the show that you haven’t had the chance to “see” over the last 8.5 years. And, I’m thrilled to give you some sneak peeks into what is coming down the pipeline (so much greatness!!) Links mentioned: Join my September Influence & Ignite Retreat for small business owners: shamelessmom.com/retreat Connect with Laura Cathcart Robbins: lauracathcartrobbins.com Laura’s Podcast: The Only One in the Room Laura’s Book: Stash: My Life in Hiding We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There are some exciting changes in store for the future of The Shameless Mom Academy and this episode is where you can get all the dirty deets! Over the last 8.5 years, I have grown so much. And, YOU have grown so much right alongside me. About a year ago, I had an idea for a bit of a new direction for the show that would allow us to continue to grow together. My skills, talents, and expertise have evolved dramatically over the last 8.5 years and I know yours have too. I want to make sure that I continue to create content that provides the most optimal learning experience for you. I want to meet you where you are at. We are all in a different place than we were even a couple of years ago, so a refreshed sense of direction makes a lot of sense right now. With that, there are a few things that will change for the show after we release episode 900. Rest assured, there are also quite a few things that are staying the same. BUT, I don’t want you to be totally confused when you tune into episode 901 - like, “What is even happening here?!?” Spoiler alert, the show is getting a new name. You’ll want to know that before episode 901 lands in your feed! In this episode, I share why the show is evolving, what is changing (yes, I’ll share the new name!), what is not changing, and what I’ve learned over the last 8.5 years that may potentially have a deep impact on you. This episode is not to be missed! Link mentioned: Join my September Influence & Ignite Retreat for small business owners: shamelessmom.com/retreat We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jill Castle is one of the nation’s premier childhood nutrition experts. She is the founder and CEO of The Nourished Child®, a nutrition education website and podcast for parents. She is the author of 6 books that support children’s health and nutrition, including her newest book, Kids Thrive at Every Size. Known for her ability to blend current research, practical application, and common sense, Jill believes that children can thrive at every size. With her paradigm-shifting, whole-child approach, she inspires parents, healthcare professionals, and organizations that serve children and families to think differently about young people’s health and well-being. Jill is a sought-after speaker, advisor, and media contributor. She serves as an expert reviewer for Parents.com, and has been featured as a guest expert in CNN, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Forbes, Newsweek, and Time, to name a few. Jill is also a Shameless Mom to four adult-ish children and lives in Massachusetts with her husband. I’m lucky enough to call Jill a friend. When she shared her concept for this book with me, I knew I had to share her work with you all. We have dedicated a number of episodes to talking about women, body image, and Diet Culture. But, we haven’t talked as much about kids, body image, and Diet Culture. It is time for this conversation and Jill is the best person to talk about it with. Listen in to hear Jill share: A sneak peek into what it’s like parenting 4 young adults Common worries for parents of children who have larger or smaller sized bodies and what might surprise you about your child’s size The Fix-Size model vs Embrace-Size model of approaching your child’s body size How growing up with a smaller or larger body makes life more challenging for kids today The significant difference between feeding and eating and how you might be helicopter feeding your child(ren) The impact of family culture beyond food & nutrition when raising a healthy child The reality that most kids experience body dissatisfaction across all genders, all sizes - and starting as early as age 3 Links Mentioned: Join my September Influence & Ignite Retreat for small business owners: shamelessmom.com/retreat Get the Book: Pre-order Kids Thrive at Every Size and get Jill’s pre-order bonuses! Connect with Jill: thenourishedchild.com Hire Jill to speak of consult: jillcastle.com Jill on IG: @i.am.pediRD Jill on FB: facebook.com/thenourishedchild Jill on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jillcastle Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tiffany Cagwin is a Certified Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, Board Certified Holistic Health Practitioner, Hypnotherapist, and Yoga Teacher. She is an experienced executive leader and transformational coach who has a passion for helping others thrive by guiding them to shift their mindset, take action toward goals, and embrace self-care. Tiffany is passionate about healing excess stress, fatigue, and pain that many mothers experience. She is an explorer at heart, who has a never-ending curiosity for learning new things and expanding her education. When Tiffany approached me to talk about chronic energy shortages and the implications for mothers especially, I was all in. I think this is a topic that we need to be talking about and is not currently getting the exposure it needs. If you find yourself experiencing chronic fatigue, struggling with energy management, or always feeling depleted, this episode is for you. Listen in to hear Tiffany share: The key reasons we are seeing more people suffer from chronic fatigue and large energy shortages The most common causes of chronic fatigue for working moms Your two biggest opportunities to optimize health each day How to distinguish between feeling tired and chronic fatigue Time-efficient, energy-boosting habits and how to integrate them How to advocate for your own energy needs in personal and professional environments Links mentioned: Attend my Influence & Ignite Retreat for Women Business Owners: shamelessmom.com/retreat Connect with Tiffany: https://tiffanycagwin.com/ Tiffany on LinkedIn Tiffany on IG Red Light Shortcut for iPhone: We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As you prepare for motherhood, you think about things like what color to paint the nursery, which car seat is the safest, and what your birth plan should include. You carefully pick out cute tiny clothes, booties, and hats while you dream about sweet snuggles and that first baby smile. You likely don’t think about the mental load of motherhood. You don’t consider how much your brain will have to expand, compartmentalize, and carry. Shortly after that sweet baby arrives, you feel the intensity and demands of your daily life balloon in ways you never imagined. This continues for years; decades, actually. If you feel like you're carrying a heavy load all the time, you are. The mental load of motherhood is immense. Over time, you become numb to it. You don’t realize you're chronically tired, overwhelmed, anxious, and emotionally drained because it feels normal. This is motherhood. That feeling of not recognizing yourself, forgetting who you were before kids, and not knowing who you'll be when the kids no longer need you? It's normal. The whiplash from rapidly switching roles from mom to professional, family project manager, and community caregiver that leaves your head spinning? Also normal. The constant trade-offs that cost you time, energy, and joy? Also normal. I’m not saying this to make you feel worse—only to point out that this is pretty much a universal experience of motherhood. You are not alone. What if acknowledging all this helped you see how much you are carrying, while also recognizing that change is necessary - and possible? In this episode, we explore four ways to navigate the mental load of motherhood, helping you find more mental ease, joy, and comfort in your daily life. Link mentioned: Attend my Influence & Ignite Retreat for Women Business Owners: shamelessmom.com/retreat We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sienna Lytle, a dedicated Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DI&B) leader and practitioner, has a passion that lies in helping individuals and organizations create environments where everyone feels valued and empowered. She believes embracing diversity isn’t just the right thing to do; it’s a catalyst for innovation and growth. With 15 years of experience in consulting operations and multiple DEI certifications, Sienna has had the privilege of collaborating with amazing humans on various teams to foster inclusive cultures. As a Black woman late-diagnosed with ADHD and autism, Sienna is also shifting a lot of her work into researching and advocating for neurodiversity in the workplace. Sienna lives in a transracial, blended family with her husband Jamie and their three teenage sons in Wisconsin where she loves enjoying the outdoors, cooking restaurant-worthy meals for her friends, and anything related to Beyonce. Listen in to Sienna share: The intersection of white supremacy, capitalism, and our current corporate landscape The significance of honoring historical markers and organizational memories to keep us accountable to consistently moving forward Her identity as a Black cisgender mom and bonus mom to three sons, a wife, a member of a multi-racial family, and an autistic person with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) and ADHD How she discovered her autism diagnosis in recent years How she sees the worldview around autism expanding How systems of inclusion for neurodiversity make navigating the world better for everyone The importance of clarity, patience, and grace when creating inclusive systems Links mentioned: Attend my Influence & Ignite Retreat for Women Business Owners: shamelessmom.com/retreat Connect with Sienna: siennalytle.com We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I have to tread lightly here, lest I offend my Swiftie listeners! This episode is the only one in which I’ve spoken about Taylor Swift. Generally speaking, I feel wholly unqualified to speak about her, as I recognize I don’t know nearly as much about her as most of her rabid fans do. However, as someone who has watched her sweep the globe in one fell swoop over the last 18 months, I find her fascinating to watch and learn from. As I have watched people share experiences from the Eras Tour on social media, I started thinking about Taylor’s impact over the course of decades, or eras. I’ve seen many outfits and costumes representing her various eras. This got me thinking - what about my eras? What about your eras? What era are you in? What era are you coming from? And, which era are you heading toward? If we take a moment to characterize the era we are in, it seems we may be able to influence who we are in this current moment as well as who we are becoming. This feels powerful. In this episode, we talk about the importance of knowing what era you’re in, what you want to release in this era, what you want to embrace in this era, and what this era says about who you are becoming. Link mentioned: Attend my Influence & Ignite Retreat for Women Business Owners: shamelessmom.com/retreat We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Leah Neaderthal is a Shameless Mom of 2 littles, a stroke survivor, a sales coach for women consultants, and the founder of Smart Gets Paid. In her program, The Academy, she teaches women how to get more of the right consulting clients and get paid more for every consulting contract. She’s also the host of The Smart Gets Paid podcast, where listeners go behind the scenes into her actual calls with clients where Leah is tackling their biggest sales challenges, and they can learn sales strategies they can use in their businesses. Before starting Smart Gets Paid, Leah built, grew, and sold three businesses. Learn more about Leah at smartgetspaid.com. Listen in to hear Leah share: Her experience of having a stroke at age 36 Her major life lessons on time management that came with becoming a mother How motherhood helped her overcome some Type A habits How to use small amounts of time (just a few minutes) to take care of yourself and your body Why women are so uncomfortable with selling and advocating for ourselves What “bro marketing is” and how to avoid it when you’re promoting your services or your ideas at work How women embracing sales helps us train people how to treat women on a larger scale Links mentioned: Attend my Influence & Ignite Retreat for Women Business Owners: shamelessmom.com/retreat Connect with Leah: https://www.smartgetspaid.com/ Leah’s Podcast: Smart Gets Paid Leah on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahtn/ We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s episode is an episode from almost two years ago where I talk about collective trauma and growth mindset. As I listened back to this episode recently, I was quick to realize the collective trauma we were experiencing two years ago as we clawed our way out of Covid still hasn’t been healed. From where I’m sitting, people are still suffering in tremendous ways and as we approach what many consider to be the most disappointing and disheartening election season of our lives, the sense of instability and insecurity across the US cannot be overstated. Given the state of the US and the world, I thought it would be helpful and supportive to revisit this episode so we can continue to move forward and see potential in our day-to-day lives, in spite of all the things we cannot control. An article on collective trauma in Psychology Today states that collective trauma “can change the entire fabric of a community… In fact, collective trauma can impact relationships, alter policies and governmental processes, alter the way the society functions, and even change its social norms.” Once we acknowledge that we are experiencing this and have been for years now, we can see how our mindsets have shifted to match this arduous cultural moment in history. In fact, it stands to reason that we have quite possibly (and very understandably) shifted our default mindset to a fixed mindset framework, instead of a growth mindset framework. Best-selling author, Carol Dweck, provides fantastic guidance around this terminology and topic. In this Greatest Hits episode, we explore why you might be defaulting to fixed mindset, how it’s limiting you, and how to shift out of it to see more opportunities, potential & possibilities in your life - instead of defaulting to seeing obstacles & roadblocks. This isn’t to say the obstacles aren’t real. Things are hard. But let’s uncover how to hold space for two truths: Things are hard. You are resourceful and resilient and can make great things happen in your life. Links mentioned: Attend my Influence & Ignite Retreat for Women Business Owners: shamelessmom.com/retreat Psychology Today article: What is Collective Trauma? Book: Mindset by Carol Dweck We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

La’Kita Williams is the founder and principal strategist of CoCreate Work, a workplace culture consultancy guiding businesses to systems-level changes that result in measurable successes and true inclusivity. As a certified professional coach with a Masters in Social Work and 20+ years of experience, La’Kita is passionate about helping leaders perform the deep work of personal transformation, which is a critical element for organizational transformation. She firmly believes culture is not separate from strategy — it IS strategy. She has done culture-building work with organizations from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies. La’Kita has been quoted in several national outlets including The New York Times and written for Harvard Business Review. While I love and admire everything La’Kita is doing professionally, I really wanted to talk to her on a more personal level for this conversation. I’m grateful she was willing to dive in and go deep with this conversation! Listen to hear La’Kita share: How a health crisis in the middle of the pandemic upended her life and resulted in her diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis How her diagnosis impacted her 4 children who were ages 10-20 years old at the time of her diagnosis The changes she had to make with her relationship with ambition as a result of her diagnosis How she uses Spoon Theory to manage her energy daily Her advice to other leaders or folks who are managing chronic illnesses, including what pieces and resources to get in place to protect yourself at work What needs to happen systemically to provide protection for people with chronic illnesses so that disclosing chronic illness isn’t putting someone at risk of losing their job The critical importance of flexible schedules and WFH flexibility across all organizations and industries who claim to be creating accessible, inclusive workplaces and communities What her company, Co-Create, does to create a great culture in the organizations they partner with Her vision of the future of leadership Links mentioned: Connect with La’Kita and her work: cocreatework.com La'Kita's Instagram La'Kita's LinkedIn CoCreate Work Instagram CoCreate Work LinkedIn We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

So, what is personal agency? According to Shaun Gallagher and his work on philosophical conceptions of the self, personal agency refers to, “the sense that I am the one who is causing or generating an action.” This means that a person with a sense of agency perceives themselves as the subject influencing their own actions and life circumstances. A couple of years ago, I had the chance to do a three-day Trauma-Informed Practice Intensive for Coaches and Leaders. One of the things we kept coming back to over the course of these three days was making sure we, as coaches and leaders, are creating spaces that allow our clients a strong sense of agency. As we dug into this from various angles and examined it through the lens of trauma, I got more and more curious and started doing my own research on the side. I know, super nerd alert. I love geeking out on this stuff. While I won’t bore you with the super coachy stuff, I do want to share with you the juicy parts that I know have the potential to benefit you right away. One of the best parts of my job is providing you with tools to see your own power and your own ability to make choices that serve you. I want you to feel confident in your own sense of self and sense of agency that guides your decision-making and action-taking. In this Greatest Hits episode, I dig into: What personal agency is and what it can mean for you Why is a sense of agency important 6 ways to develop your sense of agency It is my hope that developing your sense of agency will give you clarity and discernment around who you are and who you are becoming, and that, in turn, will impact how you show up and have impact in the world. Links mentioned: Trudi Lebron: trudilebron.com Article: https://www.mindful.org/seven-ways-to-develop-personal-agency/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Heather Boorman-Morris, LCSW lives a life of truth-telling, compassion, and curiosity. She dedicates her professional work to advocate for individual and systemic wellness, and does so through her writing, speaking, and outpatient therapy practice specializing in trauma and neurodiversity. After awakening to the truth that she had been living in an abusive relationship for two decades, Heather expanded her advocacy work to challenge society’s inaccurate conceptions of who gets abused and what abusers look like. Her latest book, A Thousand Paper Cuts, brings readers inside the mind, heart, and experiences of a victim of covert narcissistic abuse. With raw vulnerability, Heather shares her story, from love bombing to devaluing to freedom, highlighting the destructiveness an abuser can have without ever raising his fist. Over the last few years, different forms of narcissism and abuse in the form of coercive control have come on my radar. This kind of abuse is among the most dangerous forms of abuse because of how long it takes victims to realize they are being abused. I know people who have experienced this form of abuse in their marriages and in family relationships such as mother/daughter relationships. Because these kinds of abusers are so charming and charismatic to the outside world, their victims often feel they will not be believed if they share their abuse. And so they keep quiet for years, if not decades. When Heather reached out to me to talk about her experience in getting out of a marriage where she was the victim of what I now know is called covert narcissistic abuse as well as her professional experience as a therapist uncovering the data around this kind of abuse, I immediately said yes. This conversation is so important. It is very likely that you know someone enduring a relationship with a covert narcissist. Listen in to hear Heather share: How narcissism personality disorder exists on a spectrum and the difference between overt and covert narcissism How she got involved in a relationship with a narcissist and what the coercive control looked like from the very beginning of their relationship What narcissists are looking for when they seek out partners How she recognized 19 years into her marriage that she was in an abusive relationship The vulnerability and massive fear of engaging her family and friends to help her see how she had been gaslit over the years How she finally got out of her marriage Her decision to write about her story What someone can do if they think they are in an abusive relationship with a narc/covert abuser Links mentioned: Get information about my September Influence & Ignite Retreat for Women Business Owners: shamelessmom.com/retreat Connect with Heather: www.heatherboormanmorris.com Book: A Thousand Paper Cuts Podcast with Heather and Antwan: www.startingstronger.com Heather’s Podcast: www.thefringybit.com Heather on Facebook Instagram:@ startingstrongerpodcast and @thefringybit We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Two years ago, I did my first triathlon in 18 years. It was an incredible experience - one that I seriously considered postponing for another year. Life was hectic in the summer of 2022 and we were traveling for part of the summer. I knew my training would be imperfect and somewhat cobbled together. I had to choose between making this a 12-month goal or a two month (very imperfect) goal. I opted for the latter. Whether you're working toward a new goal or returning to an old one, I encourage you to reflect on how you're approaching your goal. Your perspective and approach will significantly influence your experience and outcomes. When I competed in triathlons 18-22 years ago, it was a tremendous amount of work and stress. Much of the training felt like a grind, and the entire process was constantly intense. At the age of 46, and having been away from the sport for so long, you might expect that the intensity and stress would return when I started training again. However, that was not the case. This time, I was very intentional about my approach to this goal. By focusing on enjoying the journey, I was able to savor every moment of training and every second of race day. This shift in perspective made a profound difference in my experience. In this Greatest Hits episode, I talk you through how you can make a scary goal more approachable and less scary so you can give yourself permission to go after what you want without the weight of fear, doubt, and perfectionism holding you back for the entire journey. Link mentioned: Get information about my September Influence & Ignite Retreat for Women Business Owners: shamelessmom.com/retreat We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Featured in leading publications like CEO Magazine and Luxury Lifestyle Magazine, Kevin Loeffler (they/themme) is the Founder and CEO of Finally Kevin!, an inspirational Gender Identity speaker, and author of the upcoming book, "Finally Kevin” (Spring 2025). Kevin's unique journey allows audiences of all generations to understand what gender identity is and, just as importantly, what it is not. Kevin empowers parents and community leaders, regardless of age or background, with the knowledge necessary to increase authentic allyship skills for their gender-diverse loved ones. For almost 50 years, Kevin lived as the person they thought their parents, wives, children, and employers wanted them to be, never daring to be their authentic selves in front of any of them. Their heartwarming story of choosing to live as their transparent self by announcing their gender identity to the world at the age of 63 has landed them numerous media and speaking opportunities. I was introduced to Kevin by friend of the SMA and past guest of the show, Elena Joy Thurston. While Kevin and I recorded this episode a few months ago, I saved it to release during Pride Month because it feels like the perfect closing to this special month. Happy Pride to all our LGBTQIA+ community members. We love you and want you to be 100% you 100% of the time. Listen in to hear Kevin share: How Kevin became Finally Kevin! and what their transformation as a non-binary person has looked like What led them to start to live their femme tendencies out loud after 50 years The interconnectedness between shame and addiction in Kevin’s life The difference between gender identity and sexual orientation The beauty and power of being able to finally “get out of bed free” What life feels like to finally be Kevin after 50 years of stifling Kevin How LinkedIn became the safe place for Kevin to begin to own their identity publicly Links mentioned: Kevin’s Programs and Resources: Finallykevin.com Kevin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinmloeffler Kevin on FB: https://www.facebook.com/kmloeffler/ We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Speaking up for ourselves, others, our ideas, and important issues can feel pretty uncomfortable, if not downright scary. Speaking up is a skill, that takes practice - like a muscle that must be built and strengthened over time. In this Greatest Hits episode, I share about an event where I spoke a couple of years ago. After my session, there was time for Q&A and the question folks kept circling back to was, “How do I start to speak up so I can play a bigger game?” A number of attendees noted they were so in the habit of not speaking up that they didn’t know where or how to start using their voices. Because women have been socialized to stay small and quiet, if can take extra effort (and bravery!) to actually use our voices. I gave these women three simple, low-risk steps to start practicing speaking up: Practice stating your preferences out loud Practice stating your needs out loud Practice sharing opposing opinions in neutral ways These steps are intended to be practiced over time, in this order. Start out with low-risk/low exposure steps. The stakes are typically pretty low when you’re stating a preference: “I prefer pepperoni pizza to sausage & mushroom.” Or, “I would prefer to watch Movie ABC vs Movie XYZ this evening.” Once you’ve practiced this a few times, try to share a need with a loved one: “I need some time to myself, so I’m going to take myself to lunch and a movie this weekend.” Practice this a few times. Once you’ve practiced these lower-stakes ways of speaking up, you can start to test higher-stakes ways of speaking up. This is where you can start to practice sharing an opposing opinion in a neutral way, “Thank you for sharing your opinion/experience. That hasn’t been my experience.” Or, “Thank you for sharing your opinion/experience. I see it differently.” Make sure to listen in to the episode to learn how to do #3 safely, this part is important! The goal is to build your “Speak Up muscle” and then continually strengthen it over time. The outcomes you can expect include: feeling seen and heard, experiencing a stronger sense of power and autonomy, realizing your voice matters and can impact others and inspire change, and enjoying a sense of freedom over owning and honoring your voice. While speaking up can feel scary, I promise it is well worth it! We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is a Greatest Hits episode especially chosen in celebration of Juneteenth which is today, June 19th. This interview is from the first time I interviewed Jasmine in 2020. Little did I know that she would become a trusted friend and colleague. Jasmine is the first race educator from whom I learned about Juneteenth, well before it became a national holiday. I am sharing this episode with you in hopes that you talk to your kids about race today in celebration of Juneteenth. Jasmine Bradshaw is a researcher, educator, and podcaster who truly believes that creating a more loving, inclusive, and just society starts within the sacred walls of our homes. Her podcast, First Name Basis, exists to give parents the tools they need to teach their children about race, religion, and culture. Her community makes parents feel empowered and gives them the confidence they need to create lasting change in their sphere of influence. Listen in to hear Jasmine share: Why and how race exists as a social construct How to have early conversations about race and skin tone with your kids How to lay the groundwork for conversations about race in order to have deeper, more difficult conversations with kids as they get older How to talk to your child’s school about their efforts toward diversity and inclusion How to talk to your child’s school about the versions of American history they teach How to be a better anti-racist in order to teach your children to be anti-racists How you can move from good intentions to confident action in your anti-racism work Links mentioned: Connect with Jasmine: Firstnamebasis.org Jasmine’s Podcast: First Name Basis Jasmine on IG Join Jasmine’s Patreon: patreon.com/firstnamebasis First Name Basis Juneteenth Episode: What is Juneteenth? Purchase Juneteenth Jubilee at the First Name Basis Online Store Teaching Tolerance Resources: https://www.tolerance.org/ We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Marisa Peters is a rectal cancer survivor, women’s health thought leader, and founder of BE SEEN. Marisa was diagnosed with Stage 3 rectal cancer in 2021 when she was 39 years old despite being an otherwise healthy and active mother of three young boys. She is on a mission to help other people take their colorectal health very seriously because it is, well, very serious. This conversation was so informative and, dare I say, even fun! The timing could not have been more perfect as we recorded this right before I was scheduled for my second colonoscopy as someone who has a family history of colon cancer. This gave Marisa and me much content for fodder! Friends, listen to this episode, go sign the BE SEEN Pledge, and then get yourself scheduled for a colonoscopy. This is critical self-care. Listen in to hear Marisa share: Symptoms of colon cancer to be looking for: blood loss through poop, increased urine urge, stomach pain, extreme fatigue What you should be asking your doctor for if you have any concerns about color-tectal symptoms Her journey of being dismissed by doctors as she experienced symptoms over the course of 5.5 years before finally being diagnosed Your different options for your colonoscopy prep What to expect during your first colonoscopy How she talked to and continues to talk to her children about her cancer diagnosis and treatment What family support looked like and how they had to learn how to receive support as people who were used to being the givers of support in their community How to hold space for family and friends after they have gone through treatment - when they may be cancer free, but are still recovering physically and emotionally Why you and your family should take the BE SEEN Pledge to take steps toward maintaining colorectal health Links mentioned: Connect with Marisa and Be Seen: beseen.care Take the Be Seen Pledge: https://beseen.care/take-the-be-seen-pledge Marisa and Be Seen on IG Marisa and Be Seen on FB Marisa on LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Last week I had the opportunity to head to campus for 3 days as part of my graduate school experience. While much of my program is online, from time to time I will have the chance to head to campus for these 3-day immersive experiences. I was so excited for this first chance to be on campus and meet some of my professors and classmates. When entering a new space, there is always some discomfort. I felt that on the first morning as I entered the classroom. I sat with that discomfort for a bit and really listened to it. As I listened inward throughout our first morning, my discomfort gradually shifted to excitement. I could feel in my bones that I was in exactly the place I was meant to be. I’ve had a few days to think about this experience of stepping into something new, unfamiliar, and uncomfortable. I realized there are some important pieces of how I navigated this discomfort that can be helpful to anyone entering a new experience or environment. In this episode, I walk you through my experience in this class situation while also offering key insights into how you can step into new experiences and quickly discern if it's the right place for you right now, how to navigate your discomfort, how to shift anxiety into excitement, and how to create space for the growth opportunities that will likely open up for you. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s episode showcases three guests currently featured in the new documentary, Conversion. This critical documentary exposes the deep trauma conversion therapy causes our LGBTQIA+ community members. Often conversion therapy is veiled as something far different from what it is. This interview and the movie expose the insidiousness and prevalence of conversion therapy in our communities today. I am so honored to have been given the opportunity to interview Elena Joy Thurston, Zach Meiners, and Dustin Rayburn to talk about their incredible movie. Elena Joy Thurston, she/her, is the CEO of LATITUDE, a boutique HR consultancy that specializes in creating psychological safety on corporate teams. Her viral TEDx talk on surviving conversion therapy, with over 45,000 views, propelled her exposure, resulting in media spots on ABC, CBS, and FOX. Zach Meiners, he/him, is the founder, President, and Creative Director of Chronicle Cinema, a full service media production company, where he has produced national ad campaigns, corporate events, and award-winning entertainment. Dustin Rayburn, they/them, is a performer and activist best known by their stage name, Dusty Ray Bottoms. Dusty gained notoriety on season 10 of the Emmy Award Winning TV Show RuPaul's Drag Race. Listen in to hear Elena Joy, Zach, and Dustin share: What conversion therapy is Their personal experiences with conversion therapy What conversion therapy looks like and the insidiousness of covert conversion therapy The retraumatization of realizing you went through conversation therapy without even knowing that’s what it was How being part of the creation of this documentary has been healing for each of them How conversion therapy changes the brain in a way that doesn’t allow for closure in healing - meaning the healing is ongoing and forever What parents should know about conversion therapy as it relates to their kids and the other kids in our respective communities How to show allyship through your commitment to learning about LGBTQIA+ issues Links mentioned: Preorder Conversion: https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/conversion/umc.cmc.75rmpixysv3qoksxyus5zq9rr Watch the Conversion Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=U50wbO3MfANkAxdQ&v=oyLEJtQ6MTI&feature=youtu.be More info on the Conversion doc: https://www.conversionmovie.com/ Elena Joy on SMA Episode 595: Living Out Loud After Enduring Life Threatening Conversion Therapy Conversion movie on IG Elena Joy on IG Dustin on IG Zach on IG We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Work-life balance is not a thing. Not only is it not a thing, but the idea of it is founded on a lie. It is an idea and philosophy that the Patriarchy feeds to women as something to be desired, something to be attained, something to aspire to. As feminism has evolved over the last few decades, many of us have been told that, “This is your time! Finally, women can have it all.” Sounds great in theory. But we have been given no resources and no support. But without resources, support, and systemic restructuring (philosophical and logistical) there is no way for this to be lived. It’s an idea and a lie that allows the Patriarchy to look like they care. Cute, huh? We have been conditioned that because we can have it all, we should go after it all. And then once we go after it all and fill every millimeter and pore of our metaphorical plates, we should also keep it all balanced in some picture-perfect mathematical ratio - as if our lives are as simple as some sort of formula or squeaky clean quadratic equation. We are told if we have better balance, we wouldn’t be so stressed out all the time. We are told if we have better balance, we will be better moms and our kids will be more likely to thrive. We are told we are lucky to live in an era where we can work full time (if not more) and also parent full time - cramming 48 hours of work into every 24-hour day. Because we are told this lie is true and possible, we are left to feel inadequate, guilty, and resentful when we cannot figure out how to make it work. When we are working, we feel guilty that we aren’t parenting. When we are parenting, we feel guilty that we aren’t working. If you feel like you don’t have a work-life balance, it’s because there is no such thing. You are not the only one who feels inadequate in your constant journey toward this farce. Millions of us are standing beside you. And, we are tired too. This Greatest Hits episode is an invitation to exhale, see a new truth, and give yourself permission to start living in a reality that allows you to release all feelings of failure and inadequacy because they were never yours to own. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Parijat Deshpande is the founder and CEO of Ruvelle, the only trauma-informed wellness company specifically dedicated to improving high-risk pregnancy outcomes, reducing preterm birth, and supporting parents on the entire high-risk pregnancy journey. On a mission to end the high-risk pregnancy crisis, she has served and supported thousands of clients through her live events, one-on-one work, her bestselling book, Pregnancy Brain: A Mind-Body Approach to Stress Management During a High-Risk Pregnancy, and the Body Language Journal. I am thrilled to welcome Parijat back to the show as a second-time guest. I have watched her work evolve over the years since she was last on the show and I had a sense that now is just the right time to have her come back - this time to talk about traumatic stress and collective trauma. Listen in to hear Parijat share: Her path to working in women’s health and serving women who are enduring health trauma The significance of trauma-informed medical care and where we are currently going wrong without it What it’s like for people with medical trauma to navigate the world without people understanding their experience How the pandemic created a situation of global collective trauma that we are still very much living in What needs to happen for us to heal from collective trauma When we don’t have collective safety, how we can find support at any given moment by addressing our own physiological needs How we have shifted from living in collective trauma to living in a collective functional freeze What trauma-sensitive medical care actually looks like Links mentioned: Connect with Parijat and Ruvelle: www.ruvelle.com Parijat and Ruvelle on IG We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sometimes life is messy, ugly, and downright cruel. Currently, I have a number of loved ones going through really big, messy, unfair, hard things. When we find ourselves in these moments or seasons it can be so hard to keep going. The overwhelming emotions of frustration, disappointment, fear, and fatigue can make it really hard to rise and shine and face each day. I certainly don’t want to suggest you bypass these hard feelings. That won’t help you. In fact, that will only harm you in the long run. But, I do want to encourage you to find a way to make space to hold multiple truths and multiple layers of feelings and emotions. Life can be absolutely awful and full of beautiful moments at the same time. We experience this regularly in motherhood. And, we certainly experienced this during the pandemic. In the middle of your very worst day, your toddler finds a precious rock or stick and is filled with utter delight. This creates delight for you too. In the middle of a stressful season of work, your teen says, “Mom, I love you - even if I’m a jerk sometimes.” Your heart melts. In the middle of a nasty fight with a loved one, your dog or cat comes and cozies up on the couch next to you to show love and alliance. You know they always know what you need most. Being able to notice these little magical moments amidst the messy ones is what keeps us moving forward. In this episode, I talk you through how to use unconventional gratitude practices to get through sticky emotions. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Many of my coaching clients, business and executive coaching clients alike, come to me to talk through the options that lie in front of them. Often times, it seems they are faced with two options and both have pros and cons. While the pros might look exciting, the cons are just the opposite. They can fill one with dread, if not total anxiety. What I have noticed time and time again is that when we think there are only two options, we are telling ourselves a little lie. The truth is, in most situations, there are more options. They just might not be as obvious. It might take some creativity, and outside influence to see that they exist. I was recently working with an executive coaching client who had two options in front of her. Both had some serious pros - exciting components she hadn’t seen coming. And… both had some serious cons. As we talked through which option might be the best for her right now, we both felt unsettled with each option. So, I asked her a simple question, “What would be an ideal outcome for you in this situation?” In talking through what she really wanted out of this situation, a third option begann to arise. As we talked through the third option, she started to get excited. She realized she could make up a third option out of the best parts of the two options that had been presented to her. We left this call with her feeling so much clarity and optimism. In this episode, I walk you through three questions to ask yourself when you’re on the brink of making a decision. Then, I give you three ways to dig deep to discover options that might not be immediately presenting themselves. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kristi Coulter is the author of the acclaimed memoirs Exit Interview: The Life and Death of My Ambitious Career and Nothing Good Can Come From This, and a finalist for the Washington State Book Award. Her writing has appeared in The Paris Review, New York Magazine/The Cut, Elle, Glamour, DAME, Big Technology, and elsewhere. She has been a guest and commentator for media outlets ranging from Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway's Pivot podcast to the Evercore Investor Forum to NPR's Live Wire Radio. Coulter has taught creative writing at the University of Washington, University of Michigan, and Hugo House. She lives in Seattle and Los Angeles. EXIT INTERVIEW tells the story of Kristi’s twelve-year career at Amazon, where she held numerous leadership roles in an obsessively driven, punishing work culture that was particularly unfriendly to women (though not exactly great for men, either!). Her experience included thrills and exhilarating achievements along with alcohol abuse, burnout, and disillusionment. Ultimately, Kristi recognized that for her ambition to live and thrive, she would need to leave the alpha-male rigidity of Big Tech. Her story is incredible. I could not put this book down! Listen in to hear Kristi share: Her deeply thoughtful and personal story of professional endurance within the “alpha-male rigidity of Big Tech” The significance of unconscious sexism in the workplace and the impact on men and women Her nerves around the publication of the book and what her co-workers and fellow Amazonians might think How her ambition didn’t die when she left Amazon, but it outgrew Amazon and corporate spaces The messaging she received around success as a Gen Xer and how she sees this shifting for younger generations How she had to overcome people pleasing to write honestly and ethically about other people who may feel called out when reading book What burnout looked like and how easy it was to not see it or acknowledge it How her gray area drinking impacted her career at Amazon Links mentioned: Connect with Kristi: www.kristicoulter.com Book: Exit Interview: The Life and Death of My Ambitious Career Book: Nothing Good Can Come From This Kristi on IG Kristi on LinkedIn We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I am often asked, "Sara, how do I discover my passion?" It's a question typically accompanied by a sense of frustration over not having found it yet. We're often led to believe that unless we're wholly devoted to something we're passionate about, we're squandering our time and talents. However, I propose that it's sometimes acceptable to engage in pursuits that don't ignite our passion entirely, especially if they offer security and stability—like a steady paycheck and benefits. Of course, pursuing meaningful work that resonates with our passions and provides a sense of purpose is undeniably appealing. Additionally, the world eagerly awaits the gifts you have to offer, so withholding them would be a disservice. So, how do you discern when to pursue your passions? How do you identify the endeavor you want to pursue passionately? And when is the right moment to pivot or make a strategic shift? For 20+ years, I've dedicated considerable effort to building businesses centered around work that deeply resonates with me—work that fills me with purpose. However, there have also been times, even seasons, when I've found myself in less-than-thrilling situations as I strategically plotted my next move. In this episode, I'll recount a few examples to illustrate what this process looks like in reality. Whether you're contemplating a pivot or shift right now or crafting a five-year plan toward your purpose, I've got you covered. This episode will give you great insight. Link mentioned: Interested in Business Coaching with Sara? Email us at [email protected] with the subject line: Business Coaching and we will send you details on Sara’s 6 month One-on-One Business & Coaching Package! We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Katie Krimitsos is the creator of the Women’s Meditation Network, a collection of 20 guided meditation podcasts that help listeners feel calmer, sleep easier, release anxiety, and consciously create their lives. Her meditations have been listened to over 140 million times by women all around the world. She’s a writer at heart, has a soft spot for animals, adores her Greek hubby, loves a good margarita, and treasures the job of raising her two girls. Katie has become a dear friend as we have navigated podcasting and entrepreneurship together. She has been a guest on the SMA multiple times. Our conversations are always fire and magic. We were video messaging back and forth recently about our childhoods and parenting and it got deep fast. After a bit, we both said, “We really should record this conversation!” So, here it is… Listen in to hear Katie share: The red flags that alert you to the fact that you're disconnected from your sense of self Why it can be so difficult to answer the question, “What do I want?” How we are personally and professionally impacted by what our parents modeled throughout our childhood The power of recognizing what was missing from your childhood - even if your childhood was really great How to unpack your childhood a bit to acknowledge what you might need to release Easily accessible tools that can help you begin to listen inward Permission to not know what you want and how to start connecting to what you want Links mentioned: Find all of Katie’s Meditation Podcasts on Apple Podcasts: Womens Meditation Network Connect with Katie or WMN resources: womensmeditationnetwork.com Meditation for Moms: I See You, Mama with Sara Dean We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Women often find themselves grappling with a complex and sometimes sticky relationship with self-trust. From a young age, we are subtly conditioned to doubt our own instincts and inner knowing. This societal conditioning seeps into our subconscious, creating a disconnect from our innate self-trust and inner knowing that persists throughout our lives. The erosion of self-trust often sets off a cascade of detrimental effects on our well-being. We find ourselves trapped in internal feedback loops that echo with damaging self-talk: “I’m not good enough.” “I’m not worthy of success or love.” “I must not be trying hard enough.” "Everyone else seems to have it all figured out, why can't I?" “No one really cares about what I think or feel.” These thoughts become our default narrative, undermining our confidence and distorting our perceptions of reality. The cycle perpetuates, reinforcing the belief that we are inherently flawed or inadequate. Do any of these sentiments resonate with you? In this episode, I aim to guide you through a common dysfunctional feedback loop, shedding light on its mechanisms and implications. Then I will walk you through a more healthy and productive feedback loop—one rooted in self-compassion, empowerment, and trust. My hope is that by unraveling the patterns of self-doubt and negative social narratives, you can begin to reclaim your inherent self-trust and rewrite the script of your self-narrative, allowing you to embrace your worthiness and reshape the way you perceive yourself and your capabilities. Link mentioned: SMA Ep 391: Why Moms Lack Self-Trust https://shamelessmom.com/episode/why-moms-lack-self-trust/ We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As a busy mom, time becomes your most precious resource, but it often feels like there's never enough. Effective time management is crucial for achieving your goals and avoiding the overwhelm that comes with motherhood. There are some simple strategies that you can put in place immediately to help you protect your time and energy. Additionally, I want to provide you with some mindset resets around time management that will help you see time and how you use it in new ways. In this episode, we'll explore practical strategies to help you reclaim your time and find a sense of balance amidst the chaos of family life. From reevaluating your schedule to embracing the concept of unscheduling, you'll discover how to create more mental space and carve out time for self-care and pursuing your dreams. By gaining a few new time management skills, you'll build the confidence you need to make the most of your time and create a life that aligns with your priorities. Whether you're craving more time for yourself, more quality time with your family, or wanting to pursue a big goal, this episode offers actionable tips to help you navigate the challenges of being a busy mom while still making room for what truly matters. Links mentioned: SMA Ep 105: 7 Secrets To Slow Down & Simplify SMA Ep 397: 4 Time Management Mindset Shifts For Moms We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The title of this episode might have some of you judging me. I get it. Before you judge, hear me out… A few years ago, I listened to the book FINISH by Jon Acuff. Then, I read the hard copy. Then, I chose the book for the book club inside our SMA membership community. I loved (and still love) this book. The book is all about how to finish the things you start. One of Jon’s tools in finishing your top priority goals or action items is to simultaneously “choose what to bomb”. Sometimes, if you need to get the big, important things done you have to let yourself completely fail in other areas. As I find myself in this season of working full time while, navigating month 11 of my husband’s unemployment, being a grad school student, and intense parenting (friends… nobody warned me about 11!), I’m having to choose to bomb some things. And, being a social butterfly is one of them. I am saying no to things I really want to do with people I really want to spend time with because this is the only way to protect my time and sanity. It’s hard to set and hold these boundaries, but it’s really necessary in this season of life. In this episode, I talk through how to choose what to bomb when life is a lot and something’s got to give. I also talk you through how to bomb things in a way that doesn’t make you feel like you’re being a horrible person. I know the truth is that I’m a very good friend - even if I’m not the greatest friend right now. I’m guessing the same is true for you. Link mentioned: Book: FINISH by Jon Acuff We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hi Perfectionist Friend, I SEE you. I know you. Sometimes, I am you. You likely find yourself often feeling stuck. You’re tightly holding onto dreams, but unable to take steps toward them. You feel the weight of chronic decision fatigue as you try to determine what the next “best” or “right” step is. So you find yourself waiting. Waiting until the time and conditions are juuuust right. Yet, somehow that time never comes. I know you want more - but with less worry, nervousness, and anxiety. I see you worrying about what others might think if you flop. I see you anxiously stuffing your dreams into deep hiding places because you think you might fail. Perhaps you desire perfection so deeply you cannot make a decision or take any action because… FEAR. Perhaps you spend inordinate amounts of mental energy on a decision because you think making the wrong decision could ruin everything. One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned in motherhood and entrepreneurship is that perfect sucks. In fact, perfect stops me in my tracks and keeps me stuck for far too long. And, imperfect action is ridiculously liberating. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Melissa Bond is a narrative journalist, poet, and matriarch of Salt Lake City’s Slam Scene. The Salt Lake Tribune and the New York Post have both done features on Bond's book Blood Orange Night, her memoir about becoming dependent upon and then withdrawing from Benzodiazepines. Blood Orange Night was published by Simon & Schuster in June 2022 and was selected by the New York Times as one of the best audiobooks of 2022. Bond has been featured on PBS Story in the Public Square, Radio West, the podcasts Risk!, Endeavors, Psychology Unplugged, The New York Times Podcasts, RadioWest and Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books. Listen in to hear Melissa share: How a very common medical prescription for insomnia led to full physical dependence on benzodiazepines that led to her rapid physical and mental downward spiral How she was able to begin to put together the pieces around her unforeseen medication dependence after narrowly escaping harming herself and her daughter in a fall Her discovery that her myriad of strange physical and mental health symptoms were actually her going through medication withdrawal every single day Her decision to confront the doctor who massively overprescribed benzodiazepines to her How the Benzo Harmed Community relates differently to common terminology around addiction How the “shadow of shame” impacts people’s recoveries from substance use, substance dependence, and substance abuse Her advice to moms who are mentally or physically suffering with the demands of motherhood and how they can get help from medical professionals in the most safe and trusting way Links mentioned: Connect with Melissa: www.melissaabond.com Melissa’s Book: Blood Orange Night Melissa on Instagram Melissa on Facebook We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mom guilt is one of my favorite topics. Mom guilt is familiar to most if not all moms. However, very few moms consider where this constant guilt and the accompanying feelings of inadequacy come from. In this Greatest Hits episode, I talk about mom guilt as a social construct in which women are indoctrinated to think they should feel bad for ever prioritizing themselves, their identity, their careers, or their happiness over their kids. You know how I know this is true?? Because I know the following: Dads are not asked, “How do you do it all? How do you juggle your career with your family? Dads are not asked, “Don’t you feel bad when you have to travel for work and you don’t get to see your kids for 3 days?” Dads don’t have to internalize messages like, “I don’t know how you work so much. I would feel so bad not being at my kid’s games/practices/plays/recitals.” When dads consider taking up new hobbies/activities they don’t automatically think, “That would be awesome, but I would feel so bad taking that time away from my family.” Women are indoctrinated to feel like subpar moms if they prioritize their careers, self-care, or their sanity over their family's needs. Men are encouraged to prioritize their careers and hobbies over their family's needs - “Climb that corporate ladder!” “You gotta start golfing with us, man!” “Meet us every Saturday for pick-up basketball!” I am inviting you to take a look at the guilt you carry. Guilt of any kind is not productive. It keeps us stuck. It holds us back. It does not serve any positive purpose. So, if you’re spending time stuck in mom guilt, you’re wasting time and energy that could be used for so many other positive things in your life. In this episode, I talk about how we can flip this social construct on its head to protect our energy, gifts, and rights to rest (yes, you will rest more when you stop feeling so damn guilty.) If you’re ready to reject mom guilt, this episode is for you! Links mentioned: Book: Drop The Ball by Tiffany Dufu We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alyson Baber is a mom, wife, and tenured sales leader with experience in both startups and major public enterprises. Her background spans chemical engineering, medical device and capital equipment field sales, tech sales, and advisory roles. Currently, Alyson serves as the VP of Commercial Sales at Outreach. Previously, she held roles as the Head of Sales at Melio and helped Zoom scale from $50M to $4B in revenue. Prior to that, she led new business and expansion sales at SendGrid (now Twilio) and various startup teams within Intuit. Alyson has a passion for leadership, problem-solving, data analytics, and creating clarity and process from chaos. Because she can't say no to a good challenge, she's been an advisor for multiple startups and is an LP at Stage2 Capital. Alyson lives in Colorado with her husband, two children, and a puppy named Baxter (yes, from Anchorman). In her free time, she enjoys taking advantage of all things Colorado, traveling, having a creative outlet through multiple art mediums, and attempting to learn to ski well past the level of her comfort. Listen in to hear Alyson share: How healing her eating disorder in her teens and twenties shaped who she is today as a woman and leader How her eating disorder was a coping mechanism for stress, anxiety, uncertainty, and ambiguity How she got affordable and effective eating disorder help in a surprising place - ultimately allowing her to be in recovery for 15 years now How her recovery impacts how she shows up in personal relationships and leads in professional spaces Her and her husband’s winning decision for him to stay home as their kids’ primary caregiver while she pursues executive leadership roles How she is consciously building her own leadership brand What a leadership brand can look like for highly effective leaders How she navigates her desire to be respected vs being liked Link mentioned: Connect with Alyson on LinkedIn We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How are you at holding space for tension? The discomfort of tension in our lives can make us rush through a trying moment to get out of discomfort as quickly as possible. What would change for you if you could embrace discomfort and sit in it for a minute? In this Greatest Hits episode, I talk about an interview with Oprah and Steven Pressfield for SuperSoul Sunday. They were talking about resistance - and that resistance MUST exist in all opportunities that provide growth, evolution, and magic. Steven said, “Most of us have two lives. The life we live, and the life unlived within us. Between the two stands Resistance.” Wow, if that doesn’t speak to my soul. I see so many Shameless Moms working to hold space for tension and practicing embracing the resistance. It is in these spaces that some of life’s most powerful lessons and moments come to exist. It is profound and life-altering. And I see Shameless Moms who feel the resistance and take it as a sign that something is not meant to be. Mama…. NO. I want you to lean into the resistance. See it. Embrace it. Own it. Walk through it. It will change you - in all the BEST ways. Listen in to hear me share the 3 phases of holding tension that will allow you to walk through resistance, find your power, and declare a magical VICTORY on the other side. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The day you became a mom you were catapulted into a new leadership role with no training and dire consequences if you couldn’t rise to the occasion. For months, you stumbled, fumbled, and slowly figured this new leadership role out. You learned new skills, you learned how to take care of those you were leading, and you advocated for those in your care at every turn. You felt protective in a way you have never felt protective before. You knew it was on you to figure this out quickly. And, you did it. Over the last couple of years, as I’ve had conversations with women in new leadership roles, I‘ve heard over and over about how hard it is to step into a new leadership role with little or no training. It’s overwhelming, disorienting, and exhausting. There are so many things to figure out - some inconsequential and some largely consequential. In many instances, folks who were once your peers are now the people you have to give hard feedback to. You have this sense that all eyes are on you - and maybe, just maybe, some folks would be happy to see you fail. So, there is no room for mistakes. And, it seems, no room to give yourself grace. As I stepped into community leadership roles over the last few years, I was excited to give back, make a difference, and have a voice. But having a voice feels scary AF when you go to open your mouth for the first time in front of a new audience. How can you instill quickly build trust and demonstrate integrity? How can you solicit support while sharing new ideas and opinions? Most opportunities to lead come too fast. You feel ill-prepared. You question if you are the right person or the right “fit” for the job. You are. You’ve been here before. You’ve figured it out. And, you’re sure as hell going to figure it out this time too. In this episode, I talk through why owning the title of leader might feel conflicting to you, 3 key responsibilities in any leadership role, and what to do when you find yourself in a leadership role that you don’t feel totally prepared for. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The mental load of motherhood is the invisible yet relentless responsibilities, from managing household chores to coordinating family schedules, which often fall disproportionately on mothers. This burden not only involves physical tasks but also includes the (often more exhausting) emotional and cognitive labor of anticipating and attending to the needs of their children and family members. The Motherload (aka the mental load of motherhood) includes the 175 running lists you keep in your head in every single moment of #everydamnday. It includes: every school form you need to sign tonight how much creamer you have left in the fridge how many rolls of TP you have in the house when you need to call your mom what bills you need to pay by next Wednesday when the kids have their next day off school every single email you need to reply to today and which ones can wait until tomorrow what time the babysitter is coming on Friday which hotel you need to book for spring break which of your kid’s friends can’t have peanuts which of your kid’s friends you need to buy bday gifts for which socks your kid will NOT wear how many pairs of clean undies every single person in the household has left before you have to do laundry again what you’re having for dinner tonight and tomorrow and the next night and the next night and the next night and the next night which kid will eat crusts which kid will eat carrots Have any of the children had any water today? You are a living, breathing library of information. You are basically hosting an entire internet system right inside your head. It’s a lot. Too much. So overwhelming and often maddening. And sometimes downright unfair. The Motherload is exhausting on so many levels. I want to give you some hope. But I’m going to warn you that this will require some work (I promise to keep it simple!) on your part. But the work will be REWARDING. The work will lessen the load! When it comes to The Motherload, we tend to make it really hard on ourselves. We get in our own way over and over. We get stuck in perfectionism and martyrdom, making ourselves completely miserable. Listen in as I give you 4 methods to manage the madness. These simple methods are going to dramatically improve your life and create space in your head (who doesn’t need more space in their head?!) We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Julie Neale is a life and leadership coach, mom to two neurodivergent boys, and creator of Mother’s Quest, the Mother’s Quest Podcast, and the Live Your EPIC Year Planner. Started in 2016, Mother’s Quest provides inspiration, coaching, and community for mothers who want to live their version of an E.P.I.C. life while raising their children. At the age of 50, Julie received a diagnosis of ADHD, realizing that she is also neurodivergent. The diagnosis explained a lot and has provided a window for her to understand better what it’s like for her children to embrace their differences while finding strategies to address the challenges. This year, Julie is serving on the UCLA Parents' Council. She looks forward to working alongside her son Ryan, from a parent perspective, to support neurodivergent students and their families at UCLA. Ryan Neale is a neurodivergent sophomore at UCLA, planning to double major in Communication and Disability Studies with a minor in Film Studies. He is part of the College Scholars Program at UCLA and recently was selected as part of the 2023 Chancellor's Leadership Program cohort. He is passionate about neurodiversity advocacy and sharing his own experiences to pave the way for others. He is currently a staff member at the Bruin Resource Center, where he is a student lead on a new campus-wide neurodiversity initiative to make UCLA more inclusive for students like him. This summer, he served on staff for the Stanford Neurodiversity Project - Research, Education, and Advocacy Camp for high schoolers wanting to create neurodiversity advocacy projects. He was also a speaker at the 2021 Stanford Neurodiversity Summit and has been a guest host on the Mother’s Quest Podcast. Ryan was diagnosed with autism at the age of 18 months old and also identifies with ADHD and anxiety. April is Autism Awareness Month. April 2nd is Autism Awareness Day. I was so honored to have Ryan and Julie here to talk about neurodiversity, including autism, and all that Ryan is doing to build inclusive spaces for kids like him on college campuses. Listen in to hear Ryan and Julie share: Ryan’s optimism around the neurodiversity movement, esp in collegiate environments Ryan’s autism diagnosis at 18 months and his experience of learning of his diagnosis at age 13 Ryan’s disconnection from his diagnosis given his propensity for rich connections How Julie was diagnosed with ADHD when going through menopause The difference in the ways Ryan and Julie accepted and integrated their respective diagnoses What Ryan’s transition into college life has been like How Ryan has leaped into neurodivergence advocacy at UCLA Links mentioned: Connect with Julie: https://mothersquest.com Connect with Ryan: www.ryanjneale.com Mother’s Quest on IG: www.instagram.com/mothersquestpod Ryan on IG: www.instagram.com/ryan.neale04 Ryan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-neale-031112176/ Autism Story Telling Project in San Fransisco: https://www.autismstorytellingproject.com/ Spark Course about Ryan’s college experience Mother's Quest Podcasts with Ryan related to neurodiversity: https://mothersquest.com/ep-93-learning-outside-the-lines-in-college-with-neurodivergent-advocates-ryan-neale-jonathan-mooney/ https://mothersquest.com/embracing-neurodiversity-and-being-an-adult-with-julie-lythcott-haims-and-ryan-neale/ https://mothersquest.com/ep-18-yolo-you-only-live-once-and-other-milestone-reflections-with-ryan-neale/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A few weeks ago, my dear friend Dana shared a post to her IG stories that said, “A year from now nothing will be the same.” I immediately took a pause. Dang. What a true statement that I hadn’t previously considered. When I think about where I was this time last year, there are so many things I couldn’t have predicted happening over the last year. My husband’s layoff, a layoff that is still enduring 10 months later. Going to grad school. A number of professional opportunities. A handful of personal breakthroughs, as well as some losses. When I think about what life could hold a year from now, I realize that there is so much coming that I don’t know about. Yikes! Or… Yay??? I’m not sure which. Maybe a bit of both. Wherever you are today, the moment you are in will pass. The things that are hard today will be different a year from now. The things that are great right now will have shifted and evolved - maybe gotten even better, maybe disappeared. And, there are a whole bunch of things coming your way that you don’t know about yet. Big things. Great things. Hard things. So, how can you hold space for what’s to come so you’re not devastated by the hard things or unable to engage in the great things? In this episode, I will walk you through 3 ways you can stay open to possibility as life gets ready to life all over you over the next year. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tressa Beheim is an online business manager and strategic partner who supports women entrepreneurs in all that they do. She’s a project manager, back-office coordinator, and a people wrangler who knows product development and online marketing. She goes beyond the typical Online Business Manager with nearly 15 years of experience and knowledge plus the ability to help her clients execute their big (and small!) visions in the real world. Tressa is one of those extremely organized, type-A people and it aligns perfectly with her role as a strategic partner. Running a micro agency allows her to utilize everything in her toolbox, knowledge and business acumen attained through an MBA, skills mastered through years in a corporate position, and managing businesses since 2009 to help her clients thrive. She is from the United States and has lived abroad in Leipzig, Germany since 2016 with her husband and two daughters. Listen in to hear Tressa share: What it’s like being an expat in Germany What it’s like raising 12 and 14-year-olds in a country different from what she grew up in? The difference in kids’ independence in Germany and the US How she started her business as a virtual assistant when her daughters were very young The cost of carrying tons of 5-minute tasks on your To-Do List The unexpected gifts of having someone else as a decision-maker and action-taker in your business How to know when you need more strategic help in your business Links mentioned: Connect with Tressa: tressabeheim.com Tressa on LinkedIn Tressa on IG We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When given the opportunity to try something new, unfamiliar, or uncomfortable, it’s often easier to say NO than YES. It’s typically pretty easy to justify your NO, too. Nope, I’m too busy right now. Nope, that sounds terrifying. Nope, I’m just not ready yet. For some, NO is a default that prevents critical growth. But, every NO has a cost. When you say NO are you considering all that you’re saying NO to? Often your NO to an opportunity is also a NO to growth, excitement, validation, affirmation, a new level of success, a new skill, new relationships, and an enhanced sense of self. When you look at what’s stopping you from saying YES, it is likely self-limiting thoughts, uncomfortable emotions or feelings, and/or limited resources. These can all be very valid objections to missing out on an opportunity. But, sometimes it is well worth pushing back on your thoughts, feelings, emotions, and even resource limitations to consider the value of saying YES while recognizing all the possibilities and potential that this YES could carry. In this episode, you will have a chance to take a close look at what’s stopping you from saying YES and how you can get out of your own way to make choices that invite growth, advance success, and amplify your sense of self in significant ways. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. Amy Porto is an anti-diet registered dietitian, nutrition professor, and certified intuitive eating counselor. As an expert in her field with over 20 years of experience, Dr. Porto speaks the truth about nutrition. Her purpose is to disrupt mainstream diet culture with real science, a dash of humor, and a little bit of common sense. And while she holds a BS in Biochemistry and a PhD in Nutrition Science, she believes you shouldn’t need a PhD to decode food labels at the grocery store. Breaking down complex information about food and nutrition into digestible bite-sized pieces of information is her passion — plus, she loves a good pun. Amy’s ultimate goal is to help you trust your body and reclaim your relationship with food. This is Amy’s second time on the show and I couldn’t be more thrilled to have her back. Every once in a while I have a guest who makes me think, “Maybe we should start a podcast together or take our show on the road”... Amy is one of those guests. I could talk to her and learn from her all day every day. Listen in to Amy share: What food elitism is and how it shows up in society The dangers of putting food in a hierarchy Why the “Dirty Dozen” food list is not worth your worry Why language matters so much when we speak about food and the dangers of labeling foods as bad, trash, fake food, junk food, clean food, etc How food elitism contributes to discrimination toward people who are food insecure Her thoughts on healthism and the morality of health How our judgments around food are whitewashed and part of the Supremacy culture we live in How you can start to unfold your own biases around food, nutrition, and health Why you should avoid health & wellness practitioners who weaponize fear to sell to you Links mentioned: Connect with Amy: Amyporto.com Learn about Amy’s Eat Better Club: Amyporto.com/links Amy on IG and threads: @dr.amyporto Amy on FB Pesticide Counter: https://www.safefruitsandveggies.com/ We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This will not shock you. I am a talker. As an extrovert with ADHD who has 1 million opinions and a good story to go with any situation, I’m never at a loss for words. Perhaps this is how we arrived at 858 podcast episodes! I’m also aware that if I want to show up as the best version of myself I have to really practice being a good listener. Given my propensity toward nosiness, sometimes listening comes easy. However, in a heated discussion or a lively room, I want to say all the things. And, I’m aware that sometimes this can leave others feeling unseen or unheard. As my child has developed my propensity for words (all the words, all the time), I have become increasingly aware that listening is something that must be practiced. For us talkers, listening doesn’t come naturally - or easily! Being a great listener shows consideration, care, kindness, and empathy. These are all very important to me. So, I’m invested in doing a better joy to listen to understand versus listening to reply. There is a big difference. Over the last few years, I’ve been paying attention to how some of the best communicators around me listen. I’ve been taking notes. In this episode, I’ll share the listening skills I have observed and am working on developing. If you’re a better talker than a listener, this one’s for you! We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sivan Hong is both the author and illustrator of the top-selling children's series, The Super Fun Day Books. Her acclaimed titles, including Benny J. and the Horrible Halloween, George J. and the Miserable Monday, Emily D. and the Fearful First Day, Avery G. and the Scary End of School, and Joey T. and the Winter Holiday Worries, depict the victories of neurodiverse children as they tackle difficulties with perseverance and bravery. Furthermore, The Super Fun Day Books are available in Spanish and as audiobooks, ensuring they resonate with all kinds of learners. Her influential work has garnered attention from multiple news outlets. In addition to her literary pursuits, Sivan actively serves as a Trustee on the Board of the Rita Allen Foundation, using her vast expertise and passion to effect positive change. Away from her professional endeavors, Sivan cherishes her roles as a wife and mother to two delightful children. The family, which includes their beloved dog and cat, lives in Connecticut. Listen in to hear Sivan share: What her life as a neurodivergent woman and mother to two neurodivergent children looks like A comparison of the academic structures of traditional classroom settings and classrooms specifically for neurodivergent kids How the term neurodiverse came into common use, what it means, and what it doesn’t mean Why it’s so important for “neuro-typical” people to understand neurodiversity The tremendous losses that occur societally when we aren’t open to creating accommodations for neurodiversity The importance of being a proud self-advocate as a neurodivergent person The role of “neuro-typical” people in advocating for neurodivergent people The problem with framing diagnoses from a position of deficits rather than strengths or uniqueness Links mentioned: Get Sivan’s Books: The Super Fun Day Books Connect with Sivan: sivanhong.com Sivan on IG Sivan on FB We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Happy 8th Birthday to the SMA! The show turns 8 on March 15th. To celebrate I created an episode about one of my favorite topics this year: advancing women's and mom’s thought leadership. What does it mean to be a thought leader? You might think it requires a bunch of degrees or building a cult-like following online. Neither of these are necessary. A thought leader is someone who shares their expertise and passion with the world in a way that calls people in and inspires people to see things in a new way. Thought leaders often challenge assumptions and disrupt the status quo. While we often see thought leaders do this in highly visible ways, you can also be a thought leader in a way that is authentic to who you are. You don’t have to stand on the world’s largest stage, with the world’s largest microphone. Women don’t tend to position themselves as thought leaders because we haven’t been socialized to believe we have a unique POV, special talents to build community around an idea, or the skills to guide people to see things from a different perspective. However, the truth is we do this #everydamnday in various capacities as moms. Moms are perfectly poised for thought leadership because we see the world in ways that others don’t - because we have had to break through barriers and smash glass ceilings to be seen, heard, held, and valued. As a result, we are smart, scrappy, creative, innovative, resilient, tenacious, efficient, and productive in ways that others are not. So, the truth is either you already are a thought leader OR you are poised to become one starting right now. If you choose to advance your thought leadership new and unexpected doors will open for you. Opportunities that you didn’t even know you wanted will start presenting themselves - this is literally how the Shameless Mom Academy was born 8 years ago this week! Thank you for being part of the Shameless Mom Academy whether you have listened to one episode or all 856 over the last 8 years. I appreciate you. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsor Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices