Shows
Momtalk MarylandLightening the Load: Motherhood, Community, and ConnectionSome loads don’t show up on a calendar, but they still weigh on our minds and our mornings. Claire gets real about the invisible load of motherhood and why the strongest way to carry it is together, not alone. From early days in Facebook mom groups to building a hyperlocal network in Howard County, she connects the dots between modern expectations, Maryland grit, and the small, repeatable acts that make life lighter.We talk about how driven moms end up saying yes to everything—from school lists to late-night emails—and how comparison on social media turns...
2026-01-2826 minMomtalk MarylandFinding Our Way: A Mom’s Journey Through Therapy, School Choices, and a Breakthrough at Brain BalanceA tiny cap, a hallway of cheers, and a mom who couldn’t stop crying—this is the story behind 60 sessions that changed the way our son learns, focuses, and feels about himself. We walk you through the hard parts most parents don’t post about: the midyear school transfer that crushed routines, the two-school shuffle that wrecked work schedules, and the choice to pile on speech, OT, and more when waiting felt worse than trying.What shifted everything was discovering Brain Balance and leaning into frequency over quick fixes. Three sessions a week layered sensory input, cognit...
2026-01-2131 minMomtalk MarylandReintroducing Claire: Goals, Grit, And Growth In 2026New year energy doesn’t have to feel like a sprint. Claire opens the studio for a candid reset: a quick reintroduction, the origin story of Columbia Mom, and a practical path to growth that skips brittle resolutions in favor of steady, quartered goals. It’s a warm, real start to 2026 that blends creative work, parenting, and personal mental health practices without pretending any of it is neat.We dig into why the podcast exists at all—born late in the COVID era as a way to rebuild local connection—and how an “outlet” became a purpose. Claire share...
2026-01-1415 minMomtalk MarylandLayers and Lessons: From Duck Duck Goose to ReinventionWhat if the smartest move isn’t to push harder, but to taste and adjust? We sit down with Chef Ashish Alfred—known for Duck Duck Goose, his wellness advocacy, and recent turns on Bar Rescue—for a candid conversation about timing, reinvention, and the messy middle of growth. He didn’t fall into cooking for the romance; he found it because he needed structure. Culinary school introduced mise en place, and that single idea became a philosophy for life: put things in place, show up, and keep your head clear enough to do the next right thing.We t...
2026-01-0732 minMomtalk MarylandFrom Wreaths To The Super Bowl: A Mom-Built Brand Finds Its VoiceWhat if hustle wasn’t a badge of burnout but a promise to show up with heart, speed, and boundaries? We sit down with our friend Monica Blakely of Passion for Ezra to trace an all‑too‑relatable path: from rolling ribbon on the floor to dressing America’s favorite football mom on Super Bowl Sunday. It’s a Maryland-made story with national edges—proof that a single DM, a smart read on style, and a willingness to overnight a bold idea can flip the lights on for a small business.We dig into the early days—wreaths, tutus...
2025-12-221h 09Momtalk MarylandBuild Bone, Build Nerve, Build Self: The Real Case For Women’s StrengthA rainy parking lot, a few resistance bands, and a coach who chose education over ego—that’s where this story of sustainable strength begins. Claire sits down with Niko, owner of Odyssey Strength and Conditioning in Howard County, to unpack how women and families can trade gym intimidation for measurable progress and everyday confidence. From immigrant grit to launching a thousand-square-foot studio, Niko shares why small groups, precise cues, and clean technique beat hype and fads every time.We dive into the real reasons to lift: stronger bones, improved insulin sensitivity, and the resilience that carries you...
2025-12-1747 minMomtalk MarylandGrant’s Leap: Brain Balance And BeyondA quiet shift can change everything. When a child moves from scanning the room for cues to confidently telling his own story, you feel it at home, at school, and in your gut as a parent. We sit down with Beth Snow, director of Brain Balance in Greater Baltimore, to unpack the steps behind Grant’s big leap—how integrating primitive reflexes, strengthening core and sensory systems, and supporting the visual pathway laid the groundwork for language retrieval, working memory, and self-direction to take off.We walk through the data and, more importantly, the daily moments that prov...
2025-12-1037 min
Só se estraga uma estante122. Feitiçaria, Ponte 25 de Abril e capas de livrosUm constipado Tomé regressa à literatura de infância com a saga ‘Louis Barnavelt’, uma série de livros da autoria de John Bellairs (e, após a mortedeste em 1991, Brad Strickland), que seguem a história de um jovem que vai viver com um tio feiticeiro numa casa misteriosa numa pequena localidade no Michigan.A Ana recomenda o recente ‘Pés de Barro’ (2025), em que Nuno Duarte imagina as vidas que ficaram marcadas pela construção da Ponte 25 de Abril, antiga PonteSalazar, nos anos 60.Na segunda parte do episódio, a Ana e o Tomé falam sobre capas d...
2025-12-0454 minMomtalk MarylandTrain For Your 95-Year-Old Self: Build The Life She’ll Thank You ForReady to feel strong in the gym and steadier in life? Claire sits down with Lisa, a physical therapist and women’s health coach, to unpack how lifting changes everything—from your confidence and bone density to the way you recover from stress and handle the “heavy” stuff off the platform. We get real about early alarms, community energy, and why a good coach makes feedback feel like fuel instead of criticism.Lisa shares her path from athletic training to PT to therapeutic coaching, and why she built Evolving with Motion to help women move with intention, not just...
2025-12-0349 minMomtalk MarylandBuilding With Grit and Grace: Turning Your Ideas Into RealityWhat does it take to run a construction company with heart, clarity, and serious build quality—while raising a daughter and changing the face of a male-dominated industry? We invited Nina Orlando to pull back the curtain on her journey from her dad’s handyman shop to leading a woman-owned firm now rebranding as Grit and Grace in Howard County.We dig into the projects that sharpened her edge: building bank branches behind temporary walls in 21 days, delivering medical clinic build-outs at the beach, and tackling state contracts that range from fish hatcheries to archery centers. Nina expl...
2025-11-2639 minMomtalk MarylandFrom Surviving To Thriving: How Parents Can Support Neurodiverse GrowthThe hardest part of parenting a neurodiverse kid isn’t always the diagnosis; it’s the in-between—when your child “gets by,” but daily life still feels uphill. We invited Beth Snow, a lifelong educator and director at Brain Balance, to unpack a non-medical, multi-sensory approach that strengthens the foundations most systems skip: primitive reflex integration, sensory processing, visual function, rhythm, and timing. Instead of chasing symptoms one by one, Beth shows how layered movement and cognitive work at the right challenge point builds real stamina, better regulation, and carryover where it counts—school, friendships, and family routines.You’ll h...
2025-11-1955 minMomtalk MarylandCalm in the Chaos: Finding Clarity When Everything Feels LoudWhat if the same playbook that steadies a press room could calm your kitchen at 6 p.m.? Claire sits down with Beth Levine—veteran Capitol Hill communicator turned Maryland mom—to unpack how crisis communications, audience research, and storycraft can make work smarter and parenting saner. Beth shares a candid path from rural Iowa to the Senate to K|O Public Affairs, revealing the on-the-ground habits that build trust when stakes are high: listen first, gather facts, define your audience, and speak simply.We dig into the moment-by-moment choices that prevent blowups—at home and in headlines. Beth e...
2025-11-1242 minMomtalk MarylandServing Our Veterans Through Music: A Tune for Every TaleA silent room filled with veterans in wheelchairs, a first note from an old wartime song, and suddenly everything changes—eyes brighten, stories spill out, and the past feels close enough to touch. We sit down with Kassie from Voices of Vets to unpack how live, era-specific music reshapes memory, mood, and dignity for those who served, from World War II to Vietnam and beyond.Kassie takes us from a single July 4 performance to a growing nonprofit with nearly 200 musicians, now bringing free concerts to veteran homes, VA hospitals, and community events across states. She explains why so...
2025-11-0542 minMomtalk MarylandWhat’s Your Why?: Purpose-Built Coaching That Transforms Young AthletesWhat if the missing piece in your child’s sports performance isn’t another drill, but a mindset shift? We sit down with Andrew Simpson, founder of Player's Fitness & Performance, to explore how small group coaching, intentional mentorship, and practical mental skills help young athletes—and their parents—turn pressure into progress. From an 1,800 square foot warehouse to four Maryland locations, Andrew shares the pivotal moment that changed his approach: a parent’s call about a talented athlete who spiraled after one mistake. That story led to a training model where every session begins with a short huddle on core topic...
2025-10-2938 minMomtalk MarylandEmpowered from the Core: Pelvic Health for Every Stage of LifeWhat if pregnancy wasn’t a moment to “bounce back” from, but a nine-month tissue trauma that deserves smart, athletic rehab? That single shift changes everything. We invited Katie from Rehab 2 Perform to unpack pelvic health with clarity and zero shame—so you can move, lift, and live with confidence at every stage.Katie’s story—surviving a traumatic brain injury, coaching CrossFit, then earning her DPT—drives a model of care that treats you like an athlete. We break down why leaks, pelvic pain, and heaviness are common but not normal, and how breath, rib position, lower abs, hip...
2025-10-2238 minMomtalk MarylandBeyond the Logo: Branding That Drives ActionMost sites look pretty until you ask them to do something. We sat down with Maria, a Maryland-born designer and agency owner with roots in art, photography, and action sports, to unpack how story-led branding and user-first websites turn browsers into believers. From building an agency on referrals to rebranding her own business to match her voice, Maria shares what actually moves the needle for small teams juggling client work, content, and life.We trace the throughline from origin story to operating system: why brand is bigger than a logo, how motherhood teaches us to pivot without...
2025-10-1549 minMomtalk MarylandThe Power of Advocacy and Action: One Mom’s Breast Cancer StoryA clogged duct that wouldn’t clear. A waitlist that stretched into weeks. And a gut feeling that wouldn’t let go. When our friend Kelly—a 37-year-old mom of three and ER nurse—pressed for answers, the diagnosis came fast and loud: stage three, HER2-positive breast cancer with lymph node involvement. What happens next is not a bleak spiral, but a blueprint for action, clarity, and care.We walk through the science in plain English: why HER2 overexpression accelerates growth, and how targeted therapy plus modern chemo can work surprisingly quickly. Kelly shares what treatment actually...
2025-10-0842 minMomtalk MarylandThe Story of My Five: From Text Chain to Vodka BrandWhen five friends joked about wanting their favorite vodka water drink available in a can, most people would have laughed and moved on. Instead, Dawn and her girlfriends sketched a business plan on a cocktail napkin and transformed their group chat name "My5" into Maryland's fastest-growing ready-to-drink beverage company.The journey wasn't simple. Dawn shares how securing alcohol licenses took nearly a year, with federal approvals surprisingly coming easier than state permissions. Finding manufacturing partners and perfecting recipes took months of dedication, but the results speak for themselves. In less than a year since their November launch...
2025-10-0143 minMomtalk MarylandPreserving Magic: How One Family Saved the Enchanted Forest and Built a Community HubStep back in time with Martha Clark, the sixth-generation steward of a farming legacy that has shaped Howard County since 1797. As we chat on a wooden bench surrounded by the sights and sounds of Clark's Elioak Farm, Martha reveals how her family literally put Clarksville on the map and weathered dramatic agricultural changes over centuries.Martha's journey weaves through Maryland history like the winding paths of her farm. Born into a dairy farming family when Howard County boasted 250 dairy operations (compared to just one or two today), she initially carved her own path working in women's advocacy...
2025-09-2440 minMomtalk MarylandBehind the Pose: How One Family's Loss Created a MovementWhen life delivers its hardest blows, some families find extraordinary ways to transform pain into purpose. In this deeply moving conversation, Julia Lederer opens up about her brother Zach's journey with brain cancer and the incredible legacy that continues to touch thousands of lives through the Zaching Against Cancer Foundation.Julia takes us back to when she was just seven years old and her ten-year-old brother received a devastating diagnosis. After doctors initially suggested palliative care, neurosurgeon Ben Carson offered hope through a risky surgery that gave Zach years of life nobody expected. Throughout his recovery and...
2025-09-1734 minMomtalk MarylandThe Power of Being Seen: A Teacher's MissionWhen Jessica Nichols stepped into her eighth-grade social studies classroom as a struggling student, her teacher Mr. Copies whispered something that would change her life: "I know there's something you're carrying. If you ever want someone to hear you, I'll hear you." This moment of being truly seen became the foundation for Jessica's award-winning teaching career.Now the 2024-2025 Howard County Teacher of the Year, Jessica shares her remarkable journey from a child facing food insecurity to becoming one of fewer than ten African American women teaching AP Economics in Maryland. Her story isn't the typical path...
2025-09-1046 minMomtalk MarylandArranging Life: Finding Balance Through FlowersHave you ever wondered what it takes to transform a pandemic hobby into a thriving business? Christin from Blooming Blossoms joins us to share exactly how she turned her love of flowers into a full-fledged entrepreneurial success story.When COVID lockdowns had us all searching for new passions, Christin found herself captivated by an HBO show called "Full Bloom," showcasing elaborate floral designs. What started as simple curiosity quickly blossomed into teaching workshops, despite having no previous professional experience with flowers. The path wasn't straightforward—after initially starting her floral side hustle in April 2021, Christin temporarily set it...
2025-09-0345 minMomtalk MarylandFace the Flames: Breaking Generational Patterns in Your RelationshipsWhat happens when a singer-songwriter becomes a relationship therapist? In this illuminating conversation, Katherine Petzold shares her fascinating journey from performing worldwide to helping couples transform their relationships through Relational Life Therapy (RLT).Katherine reveals why conventional communication advice fails most couples – it's not that we don't know how to communicate, but that we lose this ability when emotionally triggered. Through vivid examples (including a memorable story about losing it in a Target parking lot), she explains RLT's three-part system: the wounded child who feels hurt, the adaptive child who protects through problematic behaviors, and the wise ad...
2025-08-2734 minMomtalk MarylandBeyond the Internship: The Evolving Landscape of Digital MarketingJoin Claire and Emma as they reflect on a summer of growth, learning, and discovery in the world of marketing and communications. In this heartfelt conversation, Emma opens up about her journey from uncertain college student to confident marketing intern, sharing how hands-on experience has shaped her understanding of the industry far beyond what classroom learning could provide.Emma reveals her surprising affinity for client work and data analysis, admitting she's found unexpected joy in projects like Instagram indexing and content creation. From filming on location with local businesses to crafting blogs and managing social media, her...
2025-08-2036 minMomtalk MarylandGrounding Your Space: Home Design Tips with Kerry WhippeeEver feel overwhelmed by your living space despite your best efforts to keep things organized? You're not alone. In this enlightening conversation with interior designer Kerry Whippee, founder of Shamrock Hill Design, we unpack why our homes sometimes feel chaotic despite our best intentions—and how simple design principles can transform them into spaces that bring us joy.Kerry reveals the fascinating connection between visual and mental clutter, explaining why moms often reach their breaking points with home organization before other family members. "Our brains are constantly processing visual data," she explains, "even when we don't consciously re...
2025-08-1427 minMomtalk MarylandThe Dance of Connection: Breaking Destructive Patterns in RelationshipsEver wondered why relationship patterns seem to repeat themselves, generation after generation? Couples therapist Risa Ganel reveals the powerful truth behind this cycle and offers hope for breaking it during her illuminating conversation with Claire Duarte on MomTalk Maryland.With nearly three decades of experience and specialized training in Relational Life Therapy (RLT), Risa shares how her journey began at age 12 when she discovered she was the only child at summer camp whose parents weren't divorced. This early awareness sparked a lifelong dedication to understanding and healing relationships, eventually leading her to study under relationship experts like...
2025-08-1240 min