Today's conversation is very special to us because it's our final episode here at The Mom Wants More Podcast. One of our favorite lines from the MWM Manifesto is "We reserve the right to pivot", and simultaneously this year we've both felt an internal pull towards some of our individual creative pursuits.

Though this episode may feel like it's coming out of left field to you, our listeners, it has not been a quick decision or one we've taken lightly.

We absolutely adore working together here the on the podcast and this message of encouraging women to uncover and pursue their passion in the middle of their right now lives will always be the heartbeat of the work we both do. It simply happens to be that this work is taking us in new directions!

We are deeply grateful for each one of you who've tuned in to listen and follow along, and we are honored to have served you in this space. While it's bittersweet to close the chapter, we are both in full support of each other and excited for the new ways we can keep spreading this message of empowerment to the women in our lives!

Alright ladies, let's talk about it: body image struggles. We've all had them, and depending on the season of life/motherhood you're in, you may find yourself facing new or different challenges than you ever have in the past. Our bodies are constantly changing, and they're also constant companion as we walk through life- so we may as well invest in making that relationship a positive one!

We understand that this can be a deeply personal and emotionally charged subject so we are entering into this conversation with gentleness and care. We're not here to tell you to change your figure, to make yourself smaller, or more fit, because we don't believe you owe the world any specific version of your body. But you DO owe it to yourself to feel at home in it, to find peace, and to practice loving it so that you can show up confidently in the world as your whole self. This episode will help you:

• Unpack & let go of body shame
• Take ownership of your health & wellness
• Trade hopelessness and overwhelm for hope & vision
• Utilize simple tools for listening to your body, fueling your body, and moving your body from a place of love, not pressure

We've never met a woman who doesn't care about her body, and we've also never met a woman who hasn't struggled in her relationship with it in SOME way or another. You might be wondering what Body Image has to do with a podcast that helps women pursue their passions, but truly, we believe it has everything to do with it.

The way we feel in our bodies directly affects how we show up in the world. It affects our energy, our mood, our confidence, and certainly our creativity too. Ladies, you don't owe the world any specific version of your body, but your do owe it to yourself to feel at home in it.

Today on the podcast we're getting vulnerable and opening up about our own struggles in this arena because we trust that it's a helpful conversation for anyone wanting to come home to the body they live in and practice loving it, however that may look for you.

Come join the conversation!

We can't think of a better way to kick off our theme of Body Love this month than with the incredibly talented, stunning, sparkly light of a human that is Arielle Estoria. She's a Poet, Author, Speaker, Emcee, and Model and we think Chandler Bing put it best when he said, "Could I BE any more excited?"

If you've ever struggled to find peace in your physical body, if you've wondered HOW you can actually practice body love, or if you're struggling to come home to yourself after having babies or any other kind of life change, DO NOT MISS THIS EPISODE! It's one of our all time faves and we just know you'll love it too!

This is not a conversation about fitting in, shrinking down, or changing your appearance. This is a conversation about fully inhabiting the body God gave you with confidence, peace, and unflagging joy.

Enjoy listening, friends!

This month's behind the scenes episode is a little different from our usual tone, but that's because life as we know it suddenly has a different tone. Alana & I are sharing what life is like over here as we all are experiencing this worldwide event through our own personal lenses.

We're sharing what's working for us during this time, what's not working, and what we're loving. We really got vulnerable as well as practical in this episode and we hope that it will help you navigate your own thoughts and feelings today.

We're all in this together. Wishing you health and peace, friends!

We'll be the first to admit it: Making new friends as an adult is hard. Heck, simply maintaining old friendships is hard, depending on your season of life. Today we sat down with friendship researcher (Yep! It's a thing!) Noelle Rhodes for an honest, refreshing, and PRACTICAL conversation about the importance of female friendships. If you're struggling to find true connection or you find yourself settling for "virtual friendships" over real-life friendships, you don't want to miss this episode! We talk about why they matter, where to find them, how to create healthy boundaries within friendships, and simple, actionable ways to cultivate them in our right-now life.

Can we be honest? Finding, building, and maintaining healthy and thriving friendships seems a lot harder in adulthood. Can we get an amen? It's not quite as simple as asking someone on the playground if they "wanna be friends?" anymore.

But one thing's for sure- whether you're an introvert or extrovert, a mom of littles or an empty nester, we ALL need friendship in our lives. It's a form of human connection, self care, and fun! That said, it's often easier said than done. We get it.

If you're feeling frustrated or discouraged by this area of your life, then come close and listen in, sister, because we're getting real about what it takes to create,nurture, and maintain lasting healthy friendships. We're getting down to the nitty-gritty of boundaries, expectations, valuing real life connections instead of settling for "virtual" friendships, and HOW to actually make and keep friends.

Last month on the podcast we explored the theme of Comparison and as we shift gears into this month's theme of Friendship, we can't think of a better transition than THIS week's conversation! Pursuing your passion can feel like lonely work at times but one of the best ways to combat comparison & competition is by finding your people, connecting with them, supporting them, and even collaborating with them.

One way to do that is through a mastermind group. We've been blown away by the positive impact this has has in our own lives this year.

Curious about what a mastermind is or how it works?

Well today we're peeling back the curtain and introducing y'all to the members of our real life mastermind group. We're sharing some basic info on WHAT a mastermind is, how you can run it, and hearing from each of the ladies in our personal mastermind group on how it's impacted their businesses and personal lives.

Well it's been minute since we've recorded a proper behind the scenes episode, but don't worry, we're covering it all in this ep! Alana & Amber each share one thing that's working, one thing that's not working, and one thing they're loving so far in 2020!

We're including all the fun links below so you don't have to worry about FOMO, but mostly we just hope these episodes create a bit of space for you to consider what your answers to these questions would be! Plus, we just love to dish. These eps are personal, casual, and a lot of fun. Grab your favorite bevvie and enjoy!

One of the reasons we created this podcast is because we believe that leaning into our God given gifts and strengths truly helps us become better mothers. Today on the podcast we sat down with Becky Keife, author of No Better Mom for the Job to discuss how we can parent with confidence, avoid the pitfalls of comparison, celebrate our individual strengths as as a mom, and both find support and offer support to our fellow moms. Ladies, if you find yourself stuck in negativity, insecurity, or overwhelm, do not miss this one!

You are the best mom for this job!

Becky Keife is the Community Manager for DaySpring's (in)courage, a widely followed online community where authentic, brave women connect deeply with God and others. She is also a popular speaker for MOPS groups and other women's events, and is the author of the new book, No Better Mom for the Job: Parenting with Confidence (Even When You Don't Feel Cut Out for It.) Becky is a huge fan of Voxer, Sunday naps, and moms in the thick of it. She and her husband live near Los Angeles where they enjoy hiking sunny trails with their three spirited sons.

We've all heard the famous quote, "Comparison is the thief of joy", and today on the podcast we're diving into this uncomfortable topic because as moms and creatives we're deeply aware of how true this statement is. If you're trying to improve your career, your mothering, your wellness, your marriage, your creative work, or just about any other area of your life, there's a good chance that you'll encounter a perceived disparity between your reality and the woman next to you. It's all too tempting to believe that she has it easier, or better, or that her "success" is a threat to your own. The bummer is that when we fall into patterns of comparison or envy, we are the undoing of our own goals and desires. When we're busy obsessing over everyone else, there's not enough time and energy left to actually run in our own lane.

In today's episode we're diving into what triggers comparison, what it looks like, simple ways we can actively combat it, and a surprising twist on how we can use it for good. Grab your favorite bevvie and come join us!