Shows
Mother Plus PodcastSaying Goodbye to Mother Plus: What We Learned & Where We’re HeadedSend us a textThis is it, Mother Plussers—our final episode together. After four incredible years, 160+ episodes, and thousands of conversations with you, we’re closing this chapter of the Mother Plus Podcast.Just like motherhood has seasons, so does this show. In this farewell episode, we each share where life has taken us, what we’ve learned along the way, and how you can continue to connect with us in the next season of our journeys.✨ In this goodbye episode, you’ll hear:Steph’s reflections on navigating midlife, rai...
2025-10-0116 min
Unsent ShowI Still Feel The PullWe're thrilled to feature the wonderful Steph Sprenger this week. Steph got on the mic at our 1st Annual Sex Edition on Sept 21, 2024 at Town Hall Collaborative. Steph is a writer, podcaster, producer of live storytelling and comedy shows, and single mom to two teenage girls. Her writing has been featured in O Magazine, The Washington Post, Mutha Magazine, The Belladonna Comedy, and more. She is the Executive Producer of Listen To Your Mother Boulder and podcasts at Peri-Normal, a show about midlife neurodivergence, hormones, and happiness. Steph teaches writing workshops for midlife women at...
2025-09-1206 min
Substack Writers SalonCreating A vibrant Writing Community With Jessica SmockWhat does it take to build a writing community with over 6,000 subscribers and that coveted verified checkmark on Substack? I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Jessica Smock, co-editor of Mid Story Magazine and co-founder of the Her Stories Project, to find out exactly how she and her partner built their thriving community for midlife women writers.The Power of Long-Term Community BuildingJessica's success didn't happen overnight. She and her co-editor Steph Sprenger have been building their writing community since 2012, long before Substack existed. What started as two "mommy bloggers" reading the...
2025-07-1435 min
Moms Overcoming Overwhelm | Decluttering Tips, Declutter, Systems, Routines for Moms, Home Organization199 // You’re Not Failing! How Moms with ADHD Need to Approach Decluttering Differently - with Stacey Hutson and Stephanie Sprenger from The Mother Plus PodcastIf you are a mom with ADHD who constantly feels like she’s failing when it comes to managing your home, this episode is for you.
In Episode 199 I’m chatting with Stacey Hutson and Stephanie Sprenger, two ADHD moms of four girls ages 4-18 are the hosts of the Mother Plus podcast, a podcast for moms with ADHD--for "too much" moms who feel like they are failing at motherhood and don't want to fail anymore.
We talk about how ADHD brains experience clutter differently, how to work with your brain when it’s wired for in...
2025-07-1044 minMoms Overcoming Overwhelm | Decluttering Tips, Declutter, Systems, Routines for Moms, Home Organization199 // You’re Not Failing! How Moms with ADHD Need to Approach Decluttering Differently - with Stacey Hutson and Stephanie Sprenger from The Mother Plus PodcastIf you are a mom with ADHD who constantly feels like she’s failing when it comes to managing your home, this episode is for you.
In Episode 199 I’m chatting with Stacey Hutson and Stephanie Sprenger, two ADHD moms of four girls ages 4-18 are the hosts of the Mother Plus podcast, a podcast for moms with ADHD--for "too much" moms who feel like they are failing at motherhood and don't want to fail anymore.
We talk about how ADHD brains experience clutter differently, how to work with your brain when it’s wired for in...
2025-07-1044 minMother Plus Podcast#159: How to Finish a Big Project (Like Writing A Book) with ADHDSend us a textSteph sits down with writer, academic, and fellow ADHD-er Wendy Robinson to talk about how she wrote an entire novel in six months—while working full time and managing ADHD. This is a must-listen whether you're a writer, a creative, or just someone juggling a big project with a neurodivergent brain. Spoiler: it’s not about willpower—it’s about systems, self-compassion, and knowing your brain.Wendy wrote her novel in 6 months (!), thanks to structure, support, and knowing what works for her ADHD brain.They talk about the real executive functioning challenges that com...
2025-06-1854 minMother Plus Podcast#158: The Episode That Changed Everything — Understanding ADHD in Women with Leah Barnes (Revisited)Send us a textThis replay features one of the most pivotal episodes in the history of the Mother Plus Podcast—a conversation that sparked a major shift in the show’s direction.In this episode, hosts Stacey and Steph sit down with licensed clinical mental health counselor Leah Barnes to explore what ADHD actually looks like in adult women, especially mothers. At the time, they were just beginning to uncover how different ADHD presents in women—and how often it goes undiagnosed or misunderstood. The response to this episode was overwhelming, with listen...
2025-06-1124 min
Online Writing Club ShowHow To Get Paid To Be Yourself | with Jessica Smock and Steph SprengerHave you ever wondered if your personal story is worth something?Not just to your friends or your journal… but to actual readers—and yes, even publishers who will pay you for your words?Today, I want to introduce you to two incredible women who are doing just that—and helping hundreds of others do it too.Meet Jessica Smock and Steph Sprenger in today’s podcast episode.They’re authors……and the co-creators of Midstory and Midstack, two powerful Substack publications focused on midlife stories. And they believe—wholeheartedly—t...
2025-05-3050 minMother Plus Podcast#156: A Guilt-Free Guide to Screen Time for ADHD MomsSend us a textToday’s episode is a love letter to the overwhelmed, over-achieving, screen-time-guilty mom. Stace and Steph get honest about their screen time journeys—from Baby Einstein and Mickey Mouse & Lara Bars to curated slideshow nights and learning the Thriller dance with their kids.We unpack why the all-or-nothing approach to screens doesn’t work, especially for neurodivergent moms. We talk about the real cost of guilt, the need for rest, and how to make screen time work for you instead of feeling like it’s happening to you.Plus, we’re in...
2025-05-1333 minMother Plus Podcast#153: How to Advocate For Your ADHD Child In School (Even If You Hate Confrontation)Send us a textIn this episode, we cover:What a 504 plan actually is Why Steph chose to pursue one for her daughter before high schoolThe emotional toll of being a “good girl” in a broken systemHow to stay in your body during uncomfortable meetingsThe difference between being lazy and needing accommodationsWhat her daughter’s plan includes—and why it mattersEncouragement for any parent wondering if they’re “overreacting” or “asking too much”This one is for the ADHD mom who's tired of her kid feeling like they’re failing in a system that wasn’t bu...
2025-04-2222 minMother Plus Podcast#150: What If Creativity Is the Missing Piece to Your Mental Health?Send us a textGet your ADHD Good Girl survival guide HERE.What if the path to healing wasn’t found in doing more—but in doodling more?In this episode, Stacey and Steph sit down with Kayla Huszar, a Registered Social Worker, Expressive Arts Therapist, and ADHD mom of two, to talk about the transformative power of creativity and expression—especially for mothers.After facing postpartum anxiety and burnout, Kayla found her way back to herself through expressive arts therapy. Now, she helps other mothers reconnect with their creativity, not as a l...
2025-04-0242 minMother Plus Podcast#143: The Mental Load is Crushing—How I Stopped Drowning in Overwhelm (BONUS episode)Send us a textAs ADHD moms, we carry an impossible mental load. The endless to-do lists, the forgotten appointments, the last-minute scrambling—it’s exhausting. But what if you didn’t have to do it all alone?In this episode, Steph shares her personal journey from complete overwhelm as a single ADHD mom, to actual relief after working with Faye, a service that pairs busy families with expert advisors to manage the mental load. She dives into:✨ The hidden guilt moms feel about asking for help✨ How Faye changed everything—both practically...
2025-02-2117 minMother Plus Podcast#138: There's A Lot Of Shame In Admitting, "This Is Really Hard": A Conversation On Motherhood With NYT Bestselling Author & Kidnap Survivor Jessica BuchananSend us a textIn this monumental episode, we sit down with Jessica Buchanan—kidnapping survivor, New York Times bestselling author, and advocate for women’s empowerment—to delve into her extraordinary journey of navigating motherhood in the wake of unimaginable trauma. Jessica shares her motherhood journey as chronicled in the 3rd book of her anthology series, Deserts to Mountaintops. Despite surviving 93 days as a hostage in Somalia before being rescued by a U.S. Navy SEAL team ordered by President Obama, Jessica reveals that motherhood was the experience that truly shook her to her core.
2025-01-2156 minMother Plus Podcast#133: Mom’s First ADHD Christmas: Letting Go of Traditions and Creating a Holiday That FitsSend us a textFinally find calm and clarity as an ADHD mom—join the Rituals Library today for just $20/month and start working with your brain and enjoying your motherhood.ADHD Cliff's Notes: In this solo episode, Steph talks about the things that have shifted in her family's holiday traditions in this season of life and reads her Listen To Your Mother Boulder story, "Mom's First ADHD Christmas."During a post-divorce era of raising teenage daughters, Steph is learning to let go of old traditions that they hav...
2024-12-0315 minMother Plus Podcast#131: ADHD Moms, Start This Ritual Tonight for Peace & Focus: Meditation, Journaling, EFT & WooSend us a textStace and Steph recap Rituals Week—7 days of meditation, journal prompts, and EFT for the ADHD mom. We guide you through one of our juiciest rituals ever—warning! Do not listen while driving!— with a meditation, journal prompts, and a EFT tapping session for emotional dysregulation. Stace and Steph share their favorite aspects of rituals and talk you through setting up your space and finding a time of day that works for you. We share the benefits of having a consistent ritual practice for the past few months—including feeling more calm and grounded, losing our...
2024-11-1152 minMother Plus Podcast#129: Girl Dinner (Reflections from Parenting, Post-ADHD Diagnosis) + An Invite To An Evening Of Rituals With UsSend us a text🕯️✨To join us for Rituals Night on Tuesday October 29th at 7 pm Mountain Time, click here ✨🕯️: https://www.motherplusser.com/rituals-weekADHD Cliff's Notes:In this solo episode, Steph reads a column she wrote called, "Girl Dinner," and reflect on the motherhood stage of life she is in right now post-divorce, post-oldest goes to college, post-ADHD diagnoses. Some eras of parenting feel harder than others and we all have ages that feel easier; raising teenagers may be more comfortable for an ADHD mom's brain. Steph sh...
2024-10-2814 minMother Plus Podcast#127: How To Create a Morning Ritual For The ADHD MomSend us a textJoin Stacey as she reveals the morning ritual that changed her ADHD. Here's the ADHD Cliff's Notes:She’s going to reveal everything she does in her morning ritual The prep the night before is crucial to a successful morning The 4 things that make up her morning ritualHow she doesn’t let her kids walking in on her deter her from finishing the ritualThe ripple effect of her morning ritual in other parts of her dayFinally, Steph and Stace invite you to create your own morning ritual with us at...
2024-10-1531 minMother Plus Podcast#125: How To Create an Evening Ritual for the ADHD MomSend us a textThis season, we've been been exploring the impact of rituals on the ADHD mom brain. In this Stace and Steph episode, Stace asks Steph to describe her evening ritual practice."My evening ritual began as a survival technique." As Steph has been immersed in an intense, stressful season—divorce, ADHD diagnoses for the whole house, kid going to college—she explains the grounding impact her evening ritual has had on her nervous system. Steph describes her practice of "neurotic self-care:" If it isn't a little frenetic and calculated right now, it's not going to happe...
2024-10-0231 minMother Plus Podcast#122: Decluttering For The ADHD Mom: A Conversation with Psychologist + Procrastination Coach, Dr. Christine LiSend us a textCliff's Notes Version:We welcome Dr. Christine Li, Procrastination Coach, back to the Mother Plus Podcast to tackle the topic of clutter and its impact on the ADHD woman. It's always about much than the actual clutter—Dr. Li reminds us that we are all different and it's about accepting ourselves without judgment or shame and figuring out what helps us as individuals find more ease and productivity. We want our home—and our "energy home"—to feel more hospitable for ourselves. Clutter reminds us of the things that make us feel bad abou...
2024-09-1340 minMother Plus Podcast#121: They Went Back To School and We Came Back To OurselvesSend us a textWelcome to Season 4 of the Mother Plus Podcast! We are BEYOND excited to kick off this new phase of our show and our motherhoods. ADHD, meds, overwhelm, kid's diagnosis, and the rituals that keep us sane -- we have SO much to talk about. Here's a quick recap of episode 121:Stace and Steph recap the summer with a highlight (and lowlight) reel, ADHD updates, and our feelings on the switch from summer to fall. We chronicle the origin of the podcast and how it has evolved since 2021, including a preview of...
2024-09-1022 minMother Plus Podcast#119: ADHD Is Not An Excuse; It Is A Map: Steph Talks Life Changes, Meds, and Success with ADHDSend us a textSteph shares how her life has changed since her ADHD diagnosis, both at work and at home. First, a med update: "I don't feel the meds when I take them, but I feel it when I don't." How finding the right formula has been the key to achieving balance, good sleep, and improved focus. Aside from meds, Steph talks about the element of self-awareness and understanding that has helped with executive functioning, organization, negative beliefs, and procrastination when managing the household as a newly single mom. ADHD can be a superpower: Steph shares how und...
2024-08-0111 min
Paranormal Pajama PartyMalleus Maleficarum: Incels and Modern Witch HuntsSend me a text message!The dark history of witch hunts has some unsettling parallels with modern misogynistic violence. Tonight’s episode continues our discussion on Heinrich Kramer’s witch-hunting manual, the “Malleus Maleficarum”, with a critical look at its legacy, especially as it relates to incel culture and the manosphere.We’ll examine the parallels between Kramer's misogynistic beliefs and the 2014 Isla Vista killings by Elliot Rodger, exploring the roots of violent ideologies in both cases. We’ll use the “path to intended violence” theory to compare the steps leading to mass violence in the 15th century...
2024-06-2326 minMother Plus Podcast#115: Who Is In Charge Here? Managing Summer When You're An ADHD MomSend us a textIn this Stace and Steph episode, we talk about what summer looks like for the ADHD Mom: The Good, The Bad, and the very, very Ugly. Transitions are tough for women with ADHD, and the summer transition can be especially jarring. Summer can be such a struggle to balance "work" and "fun" and the result can feel very overwhelming. Who is in charge here?? The lack of structure and routine and the variability of summer days is stressful for ADHD women who struggle with time management, executive functioning, and working memory. Navigating our complicated rela...
2024-06-1837 minMother Plus Podcast#113: Using Stand-Up Comedy To Create Conversation & Community Around NeurodiversitySend us a textSam shares his experience writing his comedy special -- "Neurospicy: Love, Life, and Comedy on the Spectrum" -- as being both "confronting" as he revisited challenging moments in his life, but also "healing" as he was able to reframe those experiences through the filter of Asperger's. Sam describes growing up without a diagnosis as being "confusing, isolating, and lacking a shared reality," and shares that the process of writing this show has created a shared reality and community. We discuss what it feels like to look back at the years we spent without a dia...
2024-06-0435 minMother Plus Podcast#109: What Taylor Swift Has To Do With Women's Voices, Women's Rage, and Women's CommunitySend us a textSteph reviews the new Taylor Swift album, The Tortured Poets Department. But this episode isn't really about music or being a Swiftie—it's about women's voices, rage, community, and connection. Steph had a few viral posts that brought up a LOT of issues—namely, why do women sometimes tear each other down? We talk about the "therapy" of Taylor Swift music, from eras of our lives, versions of ourselves, and playlists of grief and loss. And now a few invitations to join us in communities of strong, supportive, authentic women: To FINALLY...
2024-05-1629 minMother Plus Podcast#108: When The ADHD Mom Loses Her Fun and How To Get It BackSend us a textI used to be fun—what happened?" In this Stace and Steph episode, we explore what happens when an ADHD mom feels like she lost her fun. ADHD women are before we had kids—we want to reclaim some of the fun of our 20s and 30s that we lost. We all go through an inevitable unwilding and rewilding of ourselves, and as a mom of older kids, Steph gives us a glimpse of how much fun it can be on the "other side."We break down exactly why motherhood with ADHD can be such a...
2024-05-1429 minMother Plus Podcast#107: How To Organize and Declutter Your Home When You Have ADHDSend us a textGuess what? We found a professional organizer who has ADHD. This episode is all about how to actually get our homes -- and our lives -- in a place that makes our minds feel more at peace. But we're not doing it with the typical organizing advice. Because, as you likely already know, that doesn't work for the ADHD brain. Today, Esmeralda Simonelli, Steph, and Stace cover all things organizing and decluttering our way.Here's the Cliff's Notes:Newly diagnosed Esmeralda tells her diagnosis story and how it...
2024-05-0848 minMother Plus PodcastSaving My Daughter From Heartbreak: A Story From The Live Stage Show About MotherhoodSend us a textWhen you’re a mom, and you surround yourselves with moms telling their motherhood stories, baring their souls, laughing, crying, and being brutally honest, it is a powerful thing. Listen To Your Mother is a national series of live storytelling shows where local writers share their original pieces about motherhood. And today, Steph brings you the piece she read at last year's show.The story is called “Heartbreak And The Young Entrepreneur.” It’s all about her young daughter’s entrepreneurial efforts, and the disappointment that comes with them. Hard for he...
2024-05-0110 minMother Plus Podcast104: How To Actually Unwrap & Use The Organizational Tools You Buy For Your Home (For The ADHD Mom)Send us a textOrganization Graveyard: The place where all the organizational tools you buy from Amazon, Target, and The Container Store go to die. They are unwrapped, unused, and riddled with guilt, a constant reminder that you are a spacey, unorganized ADHD mom.Not. Anymore.Stacey takes you through -- step by step -- how to actually tackle the graveyard. How to go through all the items, open them up, and actually use them.Yes, it's simple. But it's not easy. But as you'll learn, half the battle is s...
2024-04-1811 minMother Plus Podcast102: How To Put Laundry Away For The ADHD MomSend us a textThis Tedious Task of the Week is putting the laundry away—we hate doing this! Steph shares her step-by-step guide to pouring out the laundry basket, sorting the clothes, and getting it put away in a less soul-crushing way. We are all about making dreaded household care tasks less painful, so let's tackle it together! Here's the Cliff's Notes:Steph shares how Stacey's "love letters to yourself" bonus episode last week impacted her and inspired her to set out her yoga stuff the night before. Remember why we do t...
2024-04-1108 minMother Plus Podcast8 Spiritual Woo Woo Practices For The ADHD MomSend us a textIn this episode, we cover:We went viral last week with a reel about 1990s Gifted and Talented Girls with ADHD, anxiety, perfectionism who are "now immersed in a spiritual journey," and it must have struck a nerve—today we are exploring the connection between women who have ADHD and are into all things spiritual and woo. We wonder if the creative, intuitive, daydreamy qualities ADHD women possess makes us more drawn to the spiritual realm, and we have some 8 tips for how to incorporate "woo" practices into your life to actually hel...
2024-03-2839 minMother Plus PodcastClearing Storage & Memory In Your Computer For The ADHD MomSend us a textStace and Steph have a dirty secret—their computers' storage and memory are AWFUL. Do you have a "thing" like this that makes you feel embarrassed, ashamed, and overwhelmed? Something that feels like a weight on you but you can't seem to make yourself address it? Steph decided to clean up her computer's storage over the weekend—here's how she did it. Decluttering—MacBook style! We'll walk you through step by step the things you need to do to get your computer running better. We aren't tech experts by any means, but doing even a few of t...
2024-03-2108 minMother Plus PodcastBONUS: An ADHD Mom Loses ItSend us a textToday, we're going to spend 10 minutes talking about ADHD and losing it. As in, your temper and your mind. In this quickie episode, we're going to cover:How ADHD and losing your temper are relatedWhat Leah Barnes mentioned in the previous episode: "I was struggling to begin with, but now, instead of keeping track of my own life, I've also got to keep track of these other people too."What do you do with that pressure? If you don't deal with it? The answer: Explode.Stacey shares her story of losing her...
2024-03-1409 minMother Plus PodcastAn ADHD Professional Explains Why Motherhood Is Such A Struggle For Women With ADHD: Part 1Send us a textSteph and I are more than ready to talk about ADHD for moms with a professional. Welcome Leah Barnes, licensed clinical mental health counselor with a specialty in ADHD for adults. We ask her EVERYTHING about ADHD in women and ADHD in motherhood. Here's what we cover:The phenomenon of moms realizing they have ADHD after getting their kids diagnosed (which actually happened to Leah)You don’t know what to look for “until you know what you’re looking for” Nobody is going to advocate for you which is why it’s so import...
2024-03-1223 minMother Plus PodcastBONUS: How To Clean Your Fridge For The ADHD MomSend us a textSteph tackles her chaotic fridge in today's Tedious Task of the Week episode. Step 1: Throw out the questionable stuff—no guilt, just toss it! Step 2: Remove leftovers you know you aren't going to eat and put the containers on the counter. Step 3: Take out trashy items your kids left in there (or you did, oops) like cardboard packaging and half-consumed smoothies. Step 4: Reorganize just a tiny bit to make it look prettier and less overwhelming. Step 5: Clean out the leftover containers and put them in the dishwasher—you're done!In today's mini-episode, Steph tackles t...
2024-03-0706 minMother Plus PodcastI Am An ADHD Mom: What Do I Do Now? (The Best Resources & Recommendations Inside)Send us a textADHD meds—what it's supposed to feel like, how it's going for Steph, and the challenges of getting meds right now. Our favorite books on ADHD—especially for women—and the things we love about them.Applying the ADHD filter to our lives and our motherhood feels embarrassing at times, like it's all we can talk about. But the integration, healing, and reclamation are such an important part of the diagnosis process. But the hyper-focus on ADHD has also been a useful tool for taking ACTION in the moment and changing the structure of our live...
2024-03-0525 minMother Plus PodcastWhen You Finally See Yourself Clearly: An ADHD Story (With Inspiration from Alice in Wonderland)Send us a textIt can feel vulnerable and uncomfortable when you learn something major about yourself and it's all you want to talk about—like, for example, a brand new ADHD diagnosis. Looking back at your life through a new lens is an important part of integration and healing. Steph has always been a huge fan of Alice in Wonderland, and shares her lightbulb moment when she realizes that maybe it's because it was a bit neurologically autobiographical—a "lost" girl trying to find her way back home after stumbling down a rabbit hole. After a month on ADHD...
2024-02-2719 minMother Plus PodcastHow To Get Tested For ADHD And The Ways In Which It Could Change Your LifeSend us a text Welcome back to the ADHD in Motherhood Series. It's been a ride. Today, we cover:The process to getting an ADHD evaluation can be tricky, which sort of feels like a sick joke when you're already struggling to complete tasks you don't like. Be prepared to feel big feelings after your diagnosis: anything ranging from grief to relief. You may experience the regret of wondering what would have happened if you'd been diagnosed sooner—there is a grief that accompanies looking back at how many years you may have needlessly suffered. To take m...
2024-02-2125 minMother Plus PodcastThis Is For The Moms Who Feel Like They Are Failing At MotherhoodSend us a text**TO JOIN US AT THE NEW MOON VIRTUAL RETREAT, CLICK HERE: https://www.motherplusser.com/new-moon-retreat**We are so excited to share the first episode in a 5-part series for moms who basically feel like they suck at this whole motherhood thing. Stace and Steph look at motherhood through the lens of ADHD; getting a diagnosis opened Steph's eyes to a major puzzle piece as to why she has always felt like a failure at motherhood, an "impostor mom."We represent the moms who feel like there is just "something different" about u...
2024-02-0532 minMother Plus PodcastHow To Create A New Moon Ritual For Yourself To Do Every Month (With Mother + Astrological Intuitive)Send us a textStace and Steph welcome Jamie DeLuccio, astrological intuitive, yogi, and women's circle facilitator, back to the podcast for a follow-up episode. As always, we are all about permission on this podcast! Understanding your birth chart and how astrology can impact your life is the ultimate permission slip to understand and accept who you are. Jamie teaches us how following the lunar cycles can give us an accessible introduction to learning astrology. We talk about how to create a special New Moon ritual for yourself meditation, journaling, and a focus on int...
2024-01-2634 minMother Plus PodcastFlying Under The Radar of ADHD Because You're A Smart "Good Girl"Send us a textMoving beyond the stereotypes: ADHD can show up very differently in women/girls than in men and boys. Steph shares what it felt like to be a sensitive daydreamer in school, a "good girl" who got good grades and flew under the radar because her symptoms were all internalized. Do you feel like you've had a "secret" your whole life, that maybe there was something wrong with you or different about you that you didn't want anyone to know about? Steph shares her "breaking point" moments when she realized it was time to...
2024-01-1728 minMother Plus PodcastWhat Do I Do With My Screen Time Guilt?Send us a textScreen time: Some of us hate it, some of us rely on it, some of us feel guilty and confused, but almost all moms have BIG feelings about screen time. It's a slippery slope—Stacey shares how her zero tolerance screen time went from the occasional TV show to weekend cartoon marathons and iPads in the car. Steph's kids are older, and she shares a completely different perspective on TV shows, devices, and active vs passive screen time. Oh, the guilt! So many of us feel so guilty when we "give up" and g...
2024-01-0939 minMother Plus PodcastIt's All On Me: Moms Talk Failure To Delegate In Their HousholdSend us a text**SIGN UP FOR THE PARENT WORKSHOP HERE: https://www.motherplusser.com/parent-workshop**In this episode, we cover:Stace and Steph confess that they are total Montessori Failures—after trying to empower our kids' independence when they were toddlers, things aren't going so well these days.It feels impossible as parents to commit to a "chore plan" with consistency and so we end up taking the path of least resistance. We are so burned out of all the failed responsibility charts, "new systems," and family mee...
2023-12-1324 minMother Plus PodcastHoliday Magic For Moms: The Antidote To Holiday Stress & DisappointmentSend us a text** Download the Self-Indulgent Season Inspiration List FREE: https://www.motherplusser.com/Self-Indulgent-Season **In this episode, we cover:•Holiday magic fades fast as mothers, despite our big daydreams that it will be extra magical when we make our favorite childhood holiday moments happen for our own kids. •When holiday disasters befall us, everything feels much worse than regular crises, and it's generally the parents—aka holiday project managers—who suffer the most while the kids are generally oblivious. •While you're making your Wish List, write your Bitch List too a...
2023-12-0526 minMother Plus PodcastAre You A Main Character Mom? Don't Be Embarrassed. So Are We.Send us a textAre you a Main Character Mommy? Don't be embarrassed—so are we. Can we ditch the narrative that quirky, charismatic moms have something wrong with them? Even in this age of feminism and female empowerment, we are resistant to the idea that a mom can and should be the main character. The one line in the Barbie movie that Stace and Steph can't stand—because we won't stand still. Letting our own lights shine does not mean extinguishing our children's lights—we are all allowed to be the main characters of our own story...
2023-11-2910 minMother Plus PodcastThe Mother Daughter Journey Part 1: What Happens To Our Relationship When They Turn 9?Send us a text**To sign up for the emerging writers workshop, click here:https://www.motherplusser.com/writing-workshop **In this episode, we cover:As parents, we can't help but project "our stuff" onto our children: Deb talks about "conscious adulting," in which we show up responsible for who we are and invite our children to learn how to be exactly who they are.Deb gives us a crash course in Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, which is Steph's favorite kind of therapy and large part of the book she's writing...
2023-11-1428 minMother Plus PodcastI'm Not A Real Writer/Artist/Creative: The Excuses We Tell Ourselves To Not Do The Things We Love To DoSend us a textImpostor syndrome for creatives is a real thing—today we approach it through the angle of writing, and our tendency to say, "I'm not a real writer."What pulls you to feel the need to write/create/sing/paint? Many of us do these things because we simply feel like we have to, like there is something inside that needs to get out—it's a catharsis. We talk about the obstacles that hold us back from claiming our titles—"I am a writer/painter/dancer"—and prevent us from putting our creat...
2023-11-0132 minMother Plus PodcastWhen Was The Last Time You Asked Yourself: Do I Like My Days?Send us a textWe learned that our retreat attendees' goals weren't as specific and project-oriented as we imagined—most of them wanted to reassess their day-to-day routines and priorities to make themselves feel better and happier. Zooming in to the small details of your day rather than zooming out to the big picture/pie in the sky goals can be intuitive and healthy, especially when you're in the weeds with young kids. Knowing when something has run its course: during the early months and years of parenting, we often adapt our routines to accommodate our new survival mode...
2023-10-2535 minMother Plus PodcastParenting Insecurities and a Maternal Identity Crisis: A Super Mom Road Trip StorySend us a textIn today's solo episode, Steph shares an update on her memoir and reads an excerpt. When you're a nostalgia junkie, saying goodbye to your childhood home can be rough—Steph dragged her young kids on a 25-hour pilgrimage to the midwest nine years ago to see her old house one last time. Being a solo parent is a ripe opportunity to confront one's parenting inferiority complex, and Steph found herself face to face with her biggest fears about herself. When we "go home again," even if we are parents, sometimes our parents and grandparents still...
2023-10-1825 minMother Plus PodcastI Didn’t Realize I Was This Depleted: Why You Need To Fill Up On You-Time RegularlySend us a textStace and Steph share the "secret sauce" we've learned from our experiences working with women during our two September events. We discuss the power of intentional connection with women who want to "go there" with each other and get real—and how the effort leaves you feeling filled up instead of depleted.You can't plan for the unique alchemy that happens when women gather and are present in the moment—everyone's gifts and needs naturally rise to the surface. Small talk is SO overrated—we talk about what happens when you go deep with conversa...
2023-10-1023 minMother Plus PodcastCycle Synch With Me! Part 1: Menstrual CycleSend us a textCome cycle synch with Stacey in this four-part series, all about why and how we can cater our lifestyle choices to what time of the month it is. In Part 1, she discusses the menstrual phase of cycle synching. She talks about:Why we should see our period as a beautiful sign to slow down our bodies and embrace the “lazy”What she eats to keep her body nourished during this timeWhat type of exercise she does — if any during this timeHow she approaches social situationsThe best types of activities to focus o...
2023-10-0321 minMother Plus PodcastPeople-Pleasing, Disclaiming, & Qualifying: Why Do Women Feel The Need To Diminish Their Stories?Send us a textBeing a woman writing memoir is scary and can bring up fears that writing about your own life is self-absorbed or navel-gazing. Why do so many women feel the need to apologize for their work or offer disclaimers that diminish the value of their stories? Mother-plussers can be a bundle of contradictions: Steph describes herself as unapologetically apologetic, a nice girl who hates being nice, and an approval-seeker who rails against the systems that cause women to seek approval. Steph shares her latest advice for her daughters when they are confronted with a hurtful re...
2023-09-1213 minMother Plus PodcastDitch Self-improvement And Information Overload: Try This InsteadSend us a textIn this episode...Stace and Steph share our obsession with the word "container," and why we think it's exactly what women need right now. Moms are always giving and giving, and we we do have downtime, we often bombard ourselves with new information and trying to "better" ourselves, which isn't always what we need. Sometimes when we over-consume, we fill ourselves with things we don't actually need. Stace and Steph think what women really need is to give themselves permission to show up exactly as they are and express themselves au...
2023-08-1535 minMother Plus PodcastSteph Went Back In Time To Before She Was A MomSend us a textThe Mother Plus Mini* Retreat is HERE!!!An afternoon away from your kids that is so life-giving, it feels like a weekend retreat.Get in on it here: https://www.motherplusser.com/offers/3AL55MUq*We're talking 4.5 hours away. You can take 4.5 hours.In this episode:Steph shares the balance of writing the "inner story" and "outer story" of her memoir. Follow along with her Midwest explorations as she spent two weeks on the road to visit all her childhood and adolescent homes. Steph talks ab...
2023-08-0614 minMother Plus PodcastOur Favorite Rituals, Places, and Practices That Can Help You Feel More Connected To YourselfSend us a textWhat, exactly, does "woo-woo" mean? Stacey reads us the official Merriam-Webster and Steph shares her take. Steph shares why she thinks people seek out these kinds of experiences, rituals, and practices: to feel more connected to ourselves, and to feel more connected to something greater than ourselves. Why do people hate this stuff so much? We explore the intersection of religion, science, and the esoteric, and Steph shares all the obnoxious things the "super-woo" folks out there have done to damage the reputation of all things metaphysical.All this talk about our "energy" and "ge...
2023-07-0640 minMother Plus PodcastCarve Out A Sliver of Time For Yourself This SeptemberSend us a textHey Mom Friend - Need some time alone? (But with other women)Exhausted after a summer of giving and giving and giving to your kids? Can’t stop thinking about that class you want to take or that idea you want to work on or that book you want to write?Carve out a sliver of time for yourself this September at the Mother + Mini Retreat.Stace and Steph are joining you at the ever-indulgent Nurture WellCare marketplace in Denver for a dreamy (but doable) fou...
2023-06-2902 minMother Plus PodcastHow To Not Lose Your Damn Mind This Summer BreakSend us a textIn this episode, we cover:Buckle up—it's summer vacation. Regardless of whether you're staying home with kids, juggle working at home with kids home from school, or are a full-time working mom, the transition to summer brings undeniable challenges. But don't despair! We have ideas to help. But it will take just a tiny bit of organization and planning. You can do it!Get your kids involved in planning to make summer vacation successful and call a family meeting to brainstorm. All hands on deck will lead to success!Sch...
2023-05-2326 minMother Plus PodcastTrying To Live Life With Mindfulness And Intention After Losing A FriendSend us a textIn light of us both having had close friends pass away recently, we reflect on balancing grief with living life in a way that makes you feel truly alive. We talk about the sacred space funerals offer to celebrate life and grieve in community, and how both of us have always prioritized making that time, regardless of the obstacles it takes to get there. Losing loved ones inevitably causes us to ponder our life choices and puts us back in touch with ourselves and the way we want to be living—it can be a wa...
2023-04-1840 minMother Plus PodcastI'm Finally Doing It: I'm Writing A BookSend us a textIn this episode, we cover:The gift and curse of the multi-hyphenated mother plusser: As someone who does a little bit of this and a little bit of that, Steph shares how having a "cobbled together career" sometimes makes her feel like less of a real adult, and how challenging it can be to be pulled in multiple directions. Sometimes our intuition speaks to us through our bodies. After losing her voice seven times in a year, Steph realized it was time to change directions, take a break from teaching music classes, a...
2023-04-1126 minMother Plus PodcastThis Mother + Storyteller Is Giving Women The Opportunity To Be Listened ToSend us a textMother + Storyteller, Jamie Yuenger has a background in radio, TV, and folklore. She describes her interests as a merger of "identity and how one expresses one's identity," which has led to her current project the podcast "If You Knew Me," which documents the inner lives of women.In this episode...Find out why Jamie hated her NPR internship—"I didn't know, but I was an entrepreneur,"—and instead pursued helping families and businesses document their histories and share their stories.Jamie shares her perspective on the threefold power of women shar...
2023-04-0438 minMother Plus PodcastTaking A Momcation: The Anticipation, The Escape, and Reentry Back Into Mom LifeSend us a textOn this solo episode, Steph is talking about the "3 stages of the momcation": anticipation/preparation; the actual trip; the dreaded reentry. Anticipation: the week or two before the trip when you lose your mind because you need a break SO badly and are SO close and start imagining all the things that could go wrong to ruin your vacation. The actual escape: Sweet relief! The exhale. This is the part when you realize you have zero responsibilities and you can enjoy absolute freedom and just BE. The reentry: This could potentially be a time whe...
2023-02-2815 minMother Plus PodcastThis Mother + Holistic RD Talks Nutrition, Eradicating Guilt, And Taking a Momcation!Send us a textIn this episode, we cover:Lucy is extremely clear on what it takes to balance running a business AND homeschooling her three kids: delegate, ask for help, and expect your partner to step up. Bonus if you can do those things with minimal guilt and being totally ok with knowing that is what needs to happen to pursue your passion like Lucy does—she is a rockstar!We do a deep dive on guilt and why it's so hard to let go of. Lucy shares her tips on sharing the household burden wi...
2023-02-2050 minMother Plus PodcastBe A Selfist: Stand Up For Enjoying Your LifeSend us a textIn this episode, Steph learns a new phrase that totally grossed her out: "Taking a selfish." Here's what she discovers:Why is selfishness a phenomenon seemingly unique to women? Would most men describe doing something enjoyable as "taking a selfish"? After some online research, Steph discovered the origin of "taking a selfish" as a David Rose quote in the first ever episode of Schitt's Creek. This makes SO much sense. And also explains why this phrase is extra cringeworthy for moms to incorporate in a non-ironic way. What role does patriarchal society ha...
2023-02-1310 minMother Plus PodcastA Very Self-Indulgent Christmas: 20 Ways To Care For Yourself This Holiday SeasonSend us a textHere's what to expect:Though the holidays are our favorite time of the year, we tend to put the most pressure on ourselves during this seasonLast year, we did an episode called, “Holiday Dissappointment: When Mom’s Expectations Don’t Meet Reality” where we discovered that we need to stop trying to make magic happen for our kids and let it happen naturallyToday, we’re going to talk about letting that magic happen for ourselves. “That’ll buff out,” says Steph. As your kids get older, they find what they love most about C...
2022-12-1641 minMother Plus PodcastWhen You Prefer Your Children In Small DosesSend us a textSteph shares her guilty secret from when her kids were younger: she preferred them in small doses. The delights of “parallel play” with your kids—sharing time and space while still doing the things you enjoy. How alone time, and the perception of it, changes when your kids hit the tween and teen years. A reminder before we enter the holidays: You aren’t a bad mom for craving time to yourself, so take it!In this solo episode, Steph reads an essay she wrote years ago—“I’m Back for Tea Time”—about how she preferr...
2022-11-2116 minMother Plus PodcastWhy Fall Is The Perfect Time To Nourish Our Senses And Our SoulSend us a textIn this episode, we cover:Why are we obsessed with all things fall and pumpkin? It's not really about the pumpkins: Fall is the beginning of cozy season, and we naturally want to cocoon and nurture ourselves with all our favorite sensory treats.Learn our new favorite word—Hygge—which means a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being. How can we dig into all the seasonal delights without being sucked into consumerism and overindulgence?As moms who don't love "playing" with our kids, fall is a...
2022-10-1741 minMother Plus PodcastThe Cold Plunge: This Mom's Experience With The After-School TransitionSend us a textThe after-school transition to being with our kids again can be all-consuming, even when we are practicing good self-care. How can we be OK when our kids aren't OK? Having healthy boundaries between their crises and our crises is easier said than done. The more sensitive and emotional we are, the harder it can be to shift between alone time/work time and parenting time. Our parenting journey is not linear—we get better at some things and worse at others and have to ride the waves as they come. In this solo episod...
2022-09-2617 minMother Plus PodcastBack To School For Moms: Permission To ExhaleSend us a textIn this episode, we cover:Why it's important to keep our back-to-school expectations and ambitions in check. Parenting can still be a full time job even when your kids are in school—don't underestimate the workload in managing a family calendar and daily transitions. Carrying our children's back-to-school emotional burdens is a heavy weight—give yourself grace and recognize how hard it is!Allow for some extreme decadence at the beginning of the school year—whatever that looks like for you. Getting organized is part of self-care: staying on top of things...
2022-09-1939 minMother Plus PodcastThe One Thing That Will Help You Overcome Information Overload & Digital AddictionSend us a textIn this episode, we cover:Information overload: there are two different kinds—the active, intentional information we seek out (online courses, podcasts) and the mindless stimuli that bombards us daily (social media notifications, message alerts, etc)The internet can be an accelerant for the addiction to learning: with digital courses, influencers, podcasts, and workshops at our fingertips (and social feeds), we are constantly consuming information. Being constantly “on call” and “checking in” isn’t just overwhelming—it can fry our nervous systems and make it more difficult to participate in our actual, real lives. Bew...
2022-08-0147 minMother Plus PodcastMother + Advocate: The Uncharted Territory Of The Teen Mental Health CrisisSend us a textIn this episode, we cover:How bullying for teenage girls can be subtle and insidious: It may look more like relational or indirect aggression than traditional bullying, but that doesn't make it any less serious. Social media has acted as an accelerant for social problems amongst adolescence: externalizing their public identities makes it harder to be authentic and empathetic. Why fear of being a "helicopter parent" has led many parents to be too hands-off when it comes to their children's social and emotional (but not academic!) experiences. How can a restorative justice mod...
2022-06-0648 minMother Plus PodcastMoms Who Grew Up In The 80s and 90s: This One's For YouSend us a textIn this episode, we cover:Why we are nostalgia junkies and have an obsession with all things 1980s and 90s...We are drawn to music, movies, TV shows, and books from our past now because they bring us comfort and remind us of a simpler time. Bringing our own childhoods into our lives with our children is a way to light us up and make "play" more fun. Ideas to bring our 80s-90s culture to our kids: read-aloud book club with our favorite childhood books; taking back the radio with OUR mu...
2022-04-2542 minMother Plus PodcastWe Do Talk About Bruno: Our Encanto Episode Just For MomsSend us a textIn this episode, we discuss:Encanto as a metaphor for moms giving themselves permission to take care of their needs.Louisa represents the pressure we feel every day as moms to do everything for our families and still take care of ourselves. Isabella is a metaphor for perfectionism and expectations. Bruno represents our tendency to repress our intuition, especially if it makes other people uncomfortable. The townspeople remind us that it’s ok to lay down our load and rely on others for help. We’ve created a FREE “Permission Slip” download to help Moth...
2022-03-2121 minMother Plus PodcastWhy Do Moms Have To Be So "Extra" About Everything?Send us a textIn this episode, we talk:Why is *everything* a special occasion, and how did we get here? What happens if you don’t find joy in going over the top on all the things? Handing our kids the reins to take ownership of some of these special occasions.Let them be bored: why we struggle to tolerate the ordinary and mundane. Being unapologetic about your family values and giving yourself permission to NOT be extra unless you want to.We think you’re either going to love this Stace + Steph episode or hate...
2022-03-0727 minMother Plus PodcastThis Live Show Helps Mothers Share Their Stories All Over The CountrySend us a textWhat is Listen To Your Mother, and how does it link Stace & Steph?LTYM brings a realness to motherhood that gives women permission to express ALL of it: the good, the bad, and the ugly?What is the value of moms sharing their stories about motherhood? How can YOU get involved in sharing your stories or connecting with LTYM?In this Stace + Steph episode, Stacey interviews Stephanie about her experience as Executive Producer of Listen To Your Mother Boulder. Listen To Your Mother is the live storytelling show that gives Mother's Day a mi...
2022-02-2145 minMother Plus PodcastThis Mom Took a Vacation By Herself: Here’s What HappenedSend us a textIn this episode, we talk about:The undeniable impact of pandemic parenting on our mental healthRemembering to help yourself when you’re a constant “helper”Don’t underestimate the toll of the postpartum period and early childhood parentingStop making excuses: you deserve a break and the benefits are huge!How to give yourself a “momcation” and work within your limitsIn this episode, Stace and Steph have a conversation with Laura Guska, a stay-at-home mom to two small children, ages 3 and 15 months. Before becoming a mom, she was a 4th grade teacher and...
2022-02-1452 minMother Plus PodcastAll the Reasons We Shouldn't Be Doing This PodcastSend us a textIn this episode, we cover:What happens when your dream doesn’t look the way you envisioned it?Finding a balance between drive/ambition and allowing space and grace for your own sanity, pace, and challenges in your path.Make your list of “Why I shouldn’t do the thing” and then figure out what’s actually true. Shift your mindset from perfectionism to acceptance: “I’m pursuing my dream, but I accept that it’s happening more slowly or differently than I wanted.”In this Stace and Steph episode, we revisit all the obs...
2022-02-0742 minMother Plus PodcastWhen Mom Loses Her ShitSend us a textIn this Stace and Steph mini-episode, we talk about meltdowns: mother meltdownsWhy it helps to accept this side of ourselves, talk about our meltdowns, and find compassion when we #FailLikeAMotherUnderstanding what pushes our buttons and triggers our feelings of frustration. The lost cause of trying to find reason amidst an unreasonable situation. Accepting the type of mother we are instead of trying to be someone we’re not, and finding fulfillment as a path to avoid meltdowns. Stephanie is mother of two girls + writer, music therapist, producer, and teacher. She writes frequently about her r...
2022-01-2429 minMother Plus PodcastHoliday Disappointment: When Mom’s Expectations Don’t Meet RealitySend us a textShow notes: Why are the holidays often so disappointing for moms? There are two versions of the holidays—the ones we imagine and the ones we actually get. Sky-high expectations for holiday perfection almost alway backfire—why it helps to stop being surprised when things go badly. How to cope with disappointing and stressful holidays: let go of the guilt and control, permission to put yourself first, and simplify. How to stop trying to make magic and let magic happen. Stace and Steph have a candid conversation about why the holid...
2021-12-1337 min
Mother Plus PodcastWelcome to the Mother Plus PodcastSend us a textWhat exactly does Mother + mean, and why it matters how we view ourselves. Who is the podcast for, and who isn’t it for? Introducing Stace & Steph, and how their different perspectives can help you get unstuck. The 4 things mother plussers struggle with: ambivalence, guilt, juggling, and obstacles in the way of pursuing their dreams. Why “Because I want to.” is a complete sentence for moms putting themselves first. Stace and Steph are mothers + writers, entrepreneurs, and the hosts of the Mother Plus...
2021-11-1637 min