If the word “happy” feels more like a goal than a daily reality right now, this episode is going to land right where you need it.
I’m joined by Tia Graham—leadership coach, positive psychology expert, author of Be a Happy Leader, and someone who has spent years studying the actual science behind what makes us feel happier. And yes… moms can absolutely use this research to feel more joy, more calm, and more fulfillment in their everyday lives.
We dig into everything from genetics (turns out happiness is far more inherited than you think!) to the environments we’re raising our kids in, to the small, simple practices that actually move the needle on wellbeing.
Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, craving more meaning, or just wanting to feel more like yourself, this conversation offers such grounded hope.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
Why up to 70% of your happiness is influenced by genetics—and why that means you deserve WAY more compassion (not more pressure).
How your environment—from work demands to lack of societal support—shapes your wellbeing, and why your struggles are not personal failures.
A powerful “12 months from now” exercise to help you reimagine your life and priorities with more clarity and less guilt.
The #1 predictor of happiness according to neuroscience (hint: your kids can’t fill this bucket on their own!).
How to spot habits that drain your joy, even the subtle ones you don’t realize you’re doing out of routine or “shoulds.”
Why journaling & meditation are scientifically backed tools for processing emotions, increasing resilience, and helping your brain rewire toward more positive thought patterns.
How to realign your calendar with your actual values, so your schedule supports the life you want—not the one you inherited from shoulds, guilt, or overwhelm.
Resources We Shared
30 Self Care Practices from Tia: https://www.tiagraham.com/selfcare
Learn more about Tia here: www.tiagraham.com
Download the No Guilt Mom Stop Doing Checklist: https://www.balanceformoms.com/opt-in-stop-doing-checklist

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How do our phones, apps, and digital tools quietly shap our experience of motherhood.

We're joined by Amanda Hess, writer at large for The New York Times and author of Second Life: Having a Child in the Digital Age. Amanda shares how pregnancy apps, tracking tools, and hyper-targeted ads didn’t just “support” her— they started defining what kind of mom she thought she was supposed to be.

From fertility tracking and bump apps to baby monitors, sleep trackers, and Life360-style teen surveillance, we unpack the subtle ways tech feeds anxiety, perfectionism, and the pressure to “optimize” everything… including our kids.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

How one pregnancy app quietly shifted Amanda from “this is helpful” to “this is telling me who my baby should be”—and why that mattered when her son’s diagnosis didn’t match the glossy digital version.

What happens when your phone knows your pregnancy before your friends do, and how targeted ads start shaping your identity as a mom before your baby is even born.

The hidden emotional cost of baby and teen surveillance tech (like smart socks and location tracking apps) and why they create more anxiety than actual safety.

Simple mindset shifts to reclaim your intuition in a tech-saturated world, so your phone becomes a tool—not the authority on your parenting.

Resources We Shared
Grab Amanda's book Second Life: Having A Child In The Digital Age: h
Follow Amanda on Instagram
Grab our FREE Stop Doing Checklist

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If dinner at your house looks like one kid eating plain noodles, another living on beige food, and you wondering why you even bothered cooking… this episode is for you.

I’m joined by registered dietitian Sarah Schlichter of Bucket List Tummy to talk about picky eating, pressure at the table, and why so many of us feel like we’re failing if our kids don’t touch the veggies we lovingly chopped.

We chat about how our 90s “boxed and canned” childhoods impact the way we feed our own kids now, how social media adds a whole layer of mom-pressure, and what realistic, actually doable changes you can make to help your kids feel safer trying new foods—without turning dinner into a battle.

What the “beige diet” really is (and why it’s so common, even in good, loving homes).

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• The simple mindset shift that can instantly lower the pressure you feel at mealtimes.
• One tiny tweak to how you serve dinner that gives kids more autonomy and makes them more likely to explore new foods.
• How to use “safe foods” and curiosity to gently expand your child’s palate over time (without bribing, begging, or bargaining for “just one bite”).

Resources We Shared:

Download Sarah's freebie for 5 easy family meal recipes

Visit Sarah at Bucket List Tummy

Grab our FREE Stop Doing Checklist

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If your grocery total makes you cringe every single week — and you’re constantly tossing slimy lettuce or moldy berries — this episode is going to feel like a deep exhale.

I’m talking with Amy Cross, urban homesteader and founder of The Cross Legacy, who feeds her family mostly organic, whole foods… on just $270 a month for two people — and only shops every three to four weeks. 😳

She’s the creator of the viral “strawberries in a jar” method and literally wrote the book on making produce last longer: Zero Waste Produce Guide. In this conversation, she walks us through simple, doable changes that help busy moms save money, waste less food, and make dinner feel less like a daily emergency.

Key Takeaways for Moms

• You don’t need natural meal-planning talent to save money.

• A few tiny shifts (wash produce, store smarter, batch one meal) can change everything.

• Teaching kids to cook isn’t about doing it perfectly — it’s about stepping back.

• Packaged foods don’t make you a bad mom; you can layer in fresh foods at your pace.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• Get the Stop Doing Checklist from No Guilt Mom
• Find Amy’s work at The Cross Legacy
• Check out her book: Zero Waste Produce Guide
• Watch Amy's weekly meal series on YouTube
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Hey Lola 💛 In this special Thanksgiving episode, I’m doing something a little different—I’m taking a TV show I’m obsessed with (All Her Fault on Peacock) and using one couple’s relationship to talk about something very real:

👉 Why it feels like your time is always interruptible
👉 Why you can’t relax when someone else is “on duty” with the kids
👉 And why asking for a break feels… weirdly guilty

We’ll look at how this shows up in Jenny’s marriage in the series—and how the same patterns might be showing up in your life too.

No big plot spoilers, just enough context to help you see your own story a little more clearly..

In this episode, you’ll hear:

How one simple phone habit can quietly train everyone (including you) to treat your time as always available.

The subtle way “helping out” with the kids can actually hide an uneven mental load—and what to do if you’re the one carrying most of it.

Why exploding over “one small thing” is almost never about that one thing—and how to start setting boundaries before you hit that breaking point.

Resources mentioned:

• ⁠All Her Fault on Peacock⁠

  ⁠No Guilt Mom Podcast Facebook Group⁠

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Brie's farewell - for now - to the No Guilt Mom podcast community.

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So many moms tell me they want to spend money on themselves… but the guilt hits hard. Maybe you worry you don’t “deserve” it. Maybe you fear someone will judge you (even though no one actually would). Or maybe you’re like Brie and me—an avoider at heart—convinced your bank account might bite.

In this episode, we dig into all of it with money coach and creator of The Money Mom Club, Rachel Coons. She’s helped thousands of moms let go of guilt, build confidence with their finances, and learn how to save REAL money on groceries without clipping coupons or shopping five different stores.

Her story—from four kids, pandemic life, and hundreds of thousands in debt, to saving $500 a month on groceries—will give you hope that feeling empowered with money really is possible.

And yep… you’re allowed to spend on yourself along the way.

HERE ARE THE 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE:

1️⃣ Your Money Personality Shapes Your Behaviors (And It’s Not Your Fault)

Rachel breaks down the four main money personalities:

• The Avoider (hi, it’s us 👋)

• The Scarcity Saver

• The Overspender

• The Money Mom

Each one stems from your past experiences with money—often long before adulthood. When you understand why you react the way you do, you can finally shift out of guilt and into confidence.

2️⃣ The SHOP Method Can Save You $300–$600 a Month on Groceries

Rachel’s signature system—SHOP—is surprisingly simple:

S → Shop the Shelf You have more food than you think. Most families waste 30% of their groceries every month. Start by using what you already have.

H → Have a Plan A spending plan, a shopping plan, and a simple meal plan (just 3–5 meals!). No perfection required.

O → Order Skip the impulse buys and online order your groceries. Better yet, shop only every two weeks. You get back time, savings… and your weekends.

P → Prepare Prep based on your real life. Busy night? Choose a crockpot or pre-made meal. Tired? Use frozen pizza. It all counts.

This isn’t restriction. It’s support for your real-life season.

3️⃣ Guilt About Spending Usually Means You Don’t Feel in Control

If spending makes you feel nervous, judged, or “irresponsible,” Rachel says it often comes down to uncertainty about where your money is going.

When you know what’s covered—your bills, your savings, your investments—you can enjoy what’s left without carrying shame or second-guessing. Spending becomes aligned with your values instead of something you “shouldn’t” do.

Resources shared in this episode:

Money Mom Podcast

Money Mom Club with Rachel Coons

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Do you rotate between 14 water bottles, 9 abandoned hobbies, and a million tabs open—in your brain and your browser? Same. And no, you're not lazy… you might just have ADHD.

This episode dives into the misunderstood world of ADHD in women with ADHD coach and author Meredith Carder. We’re talking late diagnoses, why your anxiety meds might not actually be helping, and the emotional exhaustion that comes from masking your symptoms and trying to be everything to everyone. If you've ever felt like a “hot-mess express” running on caffeine and chaos... buckle up. 

You're about to feel seen.

Resources We Shared:

Learn all about Meredith here

Want to keep the convo going? Come hang out with us in the FREE No Guilt Mom Podcast Community. Real talk, support, and zero mom guilt.

Visit No Guilt Mom

Follow us on Instagram!

Explore our No Guilt Mom Amazon Shop filled with juicy parenting reads and guest favorites! 

Rate & Review the No Guilt Mom Podcast on Apple here. We’d love to hear your thoughts on the podcast! Listen on Spotify? You can rate us there too!

Love the show? Show it some love back by checking out our ah-maz-ing sponsors who help keep it all going, right here!

Access the full episode transcript HERE

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Ever feel like you and your partner are speaking totally different languages when it comes to parenting? Whether it’s discipline, routines, or screen time, not being on the same page can leave you feeling frustrated, overwhelmed, and ready to throw in the towel.

In this episode, we’re joined by parenting expert Amy McCready, founder of Positive Parenting Solutions and creator of the 7-Step Parenting Success System. She’s also the author of two best-selling books and a mom of two grown sons—so she’s been there!

We chat with Amy about:

• How to uncover the real issues behind parenting conflicts

• Why consistency is crucial—and how to actually get there as a team

• Tools to turn daily disagreements into a united front

You’ll walk away with actionable tips to help you and your co-parent stop the power struggles and parent with more confidence (and a lot less stress).

🎧 Listen now and take the first step toward calmer, more connected parenting.

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Ever silently begged your child to just try the mashed potatoes so Aunt Donna doesn’t take it personally (again)? If the thought of managing your kid’s picky eating and navigating the buffet of unsolicited opinions at holiday dinners makes you want to hide in the pantry with a bottle of gravy-this episode is your survival guide.

We’re joined by Jordyn Koveleski Gorman, a licensed speech-language pathologist and feeding specialist (and mom of 3) who helps families handle selective eating without shame, stress, or bribing with cookies. She breaks down why holiday picky eating isn’t your fault, how to prep your kid and your relatives for the chaos of big meals, and why it’s totally OK to feed your kid a full lunch before Thanksgiving dinner.

You’ll walk away with real talk, hilarious validation, and holiday picky eating tips for kids that actually work…no food fights, guilt trips, or side-eye from Grandma required.

Resources We Shared:

Grab the free Milestone Checklist for 0-36 months HERE

Check out  Eat, Play, Say: https://www.eatplaysay.com/ 

Ready to ditch the chaos? Grab our FREE Stop Doing Checklist and start crossing things off your plate like a boss!

Want to keep the convo going? Come hang out with us in the FREE No Guilt Mom Podcast Community—real talk, support, and zero mom guilt.

Visit No Guilt Mom

Follow us on Instagram!

Explore our No Guilt Mom Amazon Shop filled with juicy parenting reads and guest favorites! 

Rate & Review the No Guilt Mom Podcast on Apple here. We’d love to hear your thoughts on the podcast! Listen on Spotify? You can rate us there too!

Love the show? Show it some love back by checking out our ah-maz-ing sponsors who help keep it all going—right here!

Access the full episode transcript HERE

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Ever threaten to take away screen time… only to hand the iPad back 10 minutes later just so you can finish your coffee in peace? 🙋‍♀️ Been there, done that, bought the glitter sticker chart — and guess what? Still got meltdowns.

If you’ve been asking yourself, “Why isn’t this working?!” When it comes to behavior, emotional outbursts, and your kid’s total refusal to put on shoes, this episode is for you.

Clinical psychologist and author Dr. Doug Bolton joins us to break down why sticker charts, yelling, and bribery don’t fix the problem and what to do instead to help kids with emotional regulation and actually build resilience.

You’ll learn why your kid’s “misbehavior” is really stressful behavior, how to manage your own adult meltdowns, and how to repair the relationship (without the guilt spiral). Bonus: there's a simple strategy for staying calm when your kid is blowing a whistle at full volume indoors. (Yes, really.)

🎧 Hit play to learn how to help kids with emotional regulation and maybe calm your own nervous system while you’re at it.

Resources We Shared:

Learn more about Doug Bolton, PhD HERE

Grab his book, Untethered: Creating Connected Families, Schools and Communities to Build a Resilient Generation

Snapped at your kid and instantly regretted it? Grab our FREE guide—3 Actions To Take After You Say Something You Regret—and reconnect in less than 17 seconds.

Want to keep the convo going? Come hang out with us in the FREE No Guilt Mom Podcast Community, real talk, support, and zero mom guilt.

Visit No Guilt Mom

Follow us on Instagram!

Explore our No Guilt Mom Amazon Shop filled with juicy parenting reads and guest favorites! 

Rate & Review the No Guilt Mom Podcast on Apple here. We’d love to hear your thoughts on the podcast! Listen on Spotify? You can rate us there too!

Love the show? Show it some love back by checking out our ah-maz-ing sponsors who help keep it all going, right here!
Access the full episode transcript HERE

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