Shows
How Moms Make It WorkEP 5: From Chasing Stories to Building a Life That Fits—on Career Pivots, Breast Cancer, and Trusting Her Gut – with Julie VlahonJulie Vlahon started her career chasing breaking news as a TV reporter—then pivoted to PR, launched her own social media business, and learned to shape work around her growing family.
Now a mom of two school-aged kids on the cusp of the teen years, Julie shares how breast cancer shifted her priorities and how she and her husband continually redefine what their family actually needs in each season. From the nap-time hustle to naming her worth, this episode is a reminder that success can look softer, slower—and still wildly fulfilling.
Co...
2025-05-0545 min
Coffee + Crumbs PodcastMaking a Mother E5: This Is Not Your FaultAmanda spends two years of her impressionable adolescence under the care of Larry Nassar, former family medicine physician and team doctor of the US women’s national gymnastics team. Having not fully understood that what she experienced was abuse, it’s only later—when Amanda and her husband struggle to conceive—that the details of her painful story come to light. Then, just as the case against Larry begins to hit the media, Amanda becomes pregnant. She steps forward, along with 155 other women, to testify against Nassar in court. Amanda uses her voice for the daughter she’s carrying, and in the...
2025-01-2935 min
Coffee + Crumbs PodcastMaking a Mother E4: Why Aren’t We Doing Things To Change This?Jerrell’s first baby is born six weeks premature, despite an otherwise typical and healthy pregnancy. At her postpartum appointment, she learns that Black women are 60% more likely to give birth prematurely than white women, and that Black maternal and infant mortality rates are more than double those of white women — regardless of socio-economic status or education. Experts weigh in on why these disparities exist and challenge all of us to ask: what are we doing about it? “Making a Mother” is a production of Coffee + Crumbs. Executive Producer, Writer: Ashlee Gadd. Producer, Writer, Ho...
2025-01-2231 min
Coffee + Crumbs PodcastMaking a Mother E3: You're Not Gonna Quit On This KidFrom the time she is young, Faith has a desire to foster or adopt, and assumes it will happen after she gets married. But a life-changing conversation with a pastor challenges her to pursue foster care, even though she is a 29-year-old single woman. This one decision sets off a cascade of events that lead her to motherhood, love, and a fresh appreciation for how God’s plan isn’t constrained by our idealized timelines. “Making a Mother” is a production of Coffee + Crumbs. Executive Producer, Writer: Ashlee Gadd. Producer, Writer, Host: Julie Vlahon.
2025-01-1534 min
Coffee + Crumbs PodcastMaking a Mother E2: Your Story Doesn't End HereWhen Kate receives the call about a newborn boy in need of foster care and a forever home, her heart is ready to open wide. Assured that the baby’s mother is unlikely to regain custody, she dreams of a future with this child. Meanwhile, Cindy begins to see glimmers of hope amidst all her struggles. Fueled by faith and a determination to turn her life around, she begins the hard work of creating a stable home. Through time and a mutual love for the same baby boy, Kate and Cindy form an unlikely friendship. Together, they navigate the co...
2025-01-0937 min
Coffee + Crumbs PodcastMaking a Mother E1: Did I Do Something Wrong?After struggling with infertility, IVF and multiple losses, Kate and her paraplegic husband choose to pursue adoption through the foster care system. Meanwhile, Cindy—battling homelessness and addiction—gives birth to her sixth child, a boy, who is immediately removed from her care. In the next episode, we learn how these two women’s stories collide and intertwine in the most unexpected ways. Content warning: sexual assault and pregnancy loss. “Making a Mother” is a production of Coffee + Crumbs. Executive Producer, Writer: Ashlee Gadd. Producer, Writer, Host: Julie Vlahon. Music, Sound Design, Mix E...
2025-01-0835 min