Ep. 84 - Finding Me Again: Reflections on Wellness, Divorce & Alcohol with Amanda Vlastas

Ep. 84 - Finding Me Again: Reflections on Wellness, Divorce & Alcohol with Amanda Vlastas

Moms, we all get swallowed up by motherhood sometimes, right? It takes practice and intention to create space for both of our identities: woman and mother. Today, we sit down with one of our own moms, Amanda Vlastas, who curates the site West University Moms, in Houston, Texas. Amanda has been part of The Local Moms Network for nearly a decade, building the site and raising her two boys all at the same time. Amanda’s sons are tweens now, and she’s grown a lot, too. She’s an open book about years spent getting back to herself following divorce, sobriety, and a shocking health scare. Hear her reflections about: * how diving into work helped save her during her divorce * rediscovering herself in the quiet of not having kids around all the time * mold poisoning in her home and the long process to detoxifying * how a single Dry January kicked off an alcohol-free future–and why’s she’s never going back * the mentors and self-help books that boosted her journey of reflection and change To learn more about Amanda follow @westuniversitymoms and check out westuniversitymoms.com [https://westuniversitymoms.com/] Find us at www.thelocalmomsnetwork.com [https://thelocalmomsnetwork.com/] IG: @thelocalmomsnetwork Email: demetra@thelocalmomsnetwork.com [demetra@thelocalmomsnetwork.com] Podcast facilities provided by Stamford Studios Digital Factory [https://stamfordstudios.com/studio-rentals/digital-factory/digitalfactory/]

Ep. 83 - Solving Secondary Infertility at ESSE Care with Dr. Karli Provost Goldstein and Dr. Leigh Goldstein

Moms, there’s something so frustrating and scary about secondary infertility. If you’ve had a baby once, it’s easy to spiral about all the reasons you’re not getting pregnant again. Before you panic, it’s time to learn more about your body. Joining us once again are two experts in gynecologic care: Dr. Karlie Provost Goldstein and Dr. Leigh Rosen of ESSE Care. They diagnose and surgically treat some causes of infertility, including endometriosis, polyps, and fibroids. Most importantly, they act as detectives to give patients the answers they’re desperate to learn. We hear details of their process, plus: * why you should trust your body when something feels wrong or “off” * why it’s helpful to keep track of your periods and symptoms to expose a pattern in your body * stop assuming what is normal and not (common and normal are two different things!) * why they offer immediate surgery to keep women on their ideal timeline for conceiving ESSE Care specializes in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery and has private practices in Los Angeles, New York City, and Fairfield County, CT. Learn more on their website [https://esse.care/] and on their Instagram account @essecaresurgerywellness.  Make sure to follow Dr. Goldstein at @patientsurgeonmama and Dr. Rosen @leighrosenmd Find us at www.thelocalmomsnetwork.com [https://thelocalmomsnetwork.com/] IG: @thelocalmomsnetwork Email: demetra@thelocalmomsnetwork.com [demetra@thelocalmomsnetwork.com] Podcast facilities provided by Stamford Studios Digital Factory. [https://stamfordstudios.com/studio-rentals/digital-factory/digitalfactory/]

Ep. 82 - Big Ambition, Bold Motherhood & Courageous Kids with Gloria Harrison-Hall

Moms, we don’t need anyone to greenlight our dreams. It’s a message that’s just as powerful for us as it is for our children and our guest will make you believe it! Gloria Harrison-Hall is an Emmy-nominated producer who has spent two decades in television. Today, she serves as Executive Producer of “The Karamo Show” at NBCUniversal. She’s also the author of the children’s book “Glow: My Childhood in Two Worlds” that encourages young readers to feel seen, valued, and confident in who they are. Gloria shares candidly about building an incredible career while raising three children, doing both on her own terms. She offers encouragement for moms navigating the demands of career and family, plus: • building meaningful relationships with her children’s teachers at the start of the school year, despite not being very visible at events • her unique childhood experience of being bused from a predominantly Black inner-city neighborhood in Boston to a predominantly white suburban school • learning whose opinions deserve a response…and when it’s wiser to ignore the noise and move forward • the distinction between leadership and likability as she stepped into her role as an executive producer • striking the balance between giving children opportunities while still fostering ambition and resilience Be sure to follow Gloria on Instagram @saysglo and learn more about her book at BooksbyGlo.com. [http://booksbyglo.com/] Find us at www.thelocalmomsnetwork.com [https://thelocalmomsnetwork.com/] IG: @thelocalmomsnetwork Email: demetra@thelocalmomsnetwork.com [demetra@thelocalmomsnetwork.com] Podcast facilities provided by Stamford Studios Digital Factory. [https://stamfordstudios.com/studio-rentals/digital-factory/digitalfactory/]

Ep. 81 - Safety & Freedom from Little Bird: A Wearable that Works! With Founder Monica Plath

Moms, imagine knowing exactly where your child is all the time but still allowing them freedom to roam and play without restriction. It’s possible with Little Bird! Little Bird is a wearable that offers on-demand location alerts and so much more. Joining us on MomCast is founder and mom of two Monica Plath.  As she explains, Little Bird is smarter than an AirTag because you know when your child is actually wearing it. And it’s more capable than a GPS tracker because it tells you when your child is near a parent or caretaker (which is called your child’s Flock!). Plus, it tracks steps so you know exactly how much activity your kid is getting. No screen, lots of information, and infinite peace of mind! Monica digs into the possibilities and the technology, plus: * the terrifying parenting moment that drove Monica to create Little Bird * how Little Bird is helping parents of neurodivergent kids catch elopement as soon as it happens * why Little Bird solves the dilemma of tracking your child despite schoolwide bans on phones and smart watches * how Little Bird erases the distraction of a screen and the temptation of games and messages * why parents are using Little Bird to track their aging parents You can learn more about Little Bird at LittleBird.care [https://www.littlebird.care/] and it’s now also available for purchase on Walmart.com [https://www.walmart.com/ip/Littlebird-Safety-Tracker/15190751416?classType=REGULAR&from=/search] Be sure to use code LMN50 for $50 off your purchase! This code can be layered with additional sales you might find. Find us at www.thelocalmomsnetwork.com [https://thelocalmomsnetwork.com/] IG: @thelocalmomsnetwork Email: demetra@thelocalmomsnetwork.com [demetra@thelocalmomsnetwork.com] Podcast facilities provided by Stamford Studios Digital Factory. [https://stamfordstudios.com/studio-rentals/digital-factory/digitalfactory/]

Ep. 80 - Calm Your Nervous System & Beat Burnout with Dr. Jennifer Okwerekwu

Moms, feeling frazzled is not mandatory in motherhood. It’s true! If your body and brain are screaming “burnout” but you don’t know how to break free, Dr. Jennifer Okwerekwu is your saving grace. Dr. O, as we affectionately call her, is a reproductive psychiatrist who supports women from before we conceive to long after we become moms. Dr. O walks us through how to get unstuck from survival mode and regulate our nervous system so we actually feel joyful. We start by being honest about our values and then auditing our schedule to truly align with our goals. Just because overwhelm is common, it doesn’t mean it’s the right way to do motherhood.  Dr. O breaks down: * why fight-or-flight is dangerous for our bodies and why we need to create change * how to evaluate if you have family-centric or work-centric values (and why neither is right or wrong!) *the steps to boost your nervous system regulation daily, weekly, and beyond *how hobbies help us to slow down and (actually!) smell the roses to spark happiness * when medication might be useful if lifestyle changes aren’t enough to manage stress You can learn more about Dr. Jennifer Okwerekwu at her website www.coralpsych.com [http://www.coralpsych.com/] and make sure to follow her on IG @drjennifer_o Find us at thelocalmomsnetwork.com [https://thelocalmomsnetwork.com/] Follow us on IG @thelocalmomsnetwork Email demetra@thelocalmomsnetwork.com [demetra@thelocalmomsnetwork.com] Podcast facilities provided by Stamford Studios Digital Factory. [https://stamfordstudios.com/studio-rentals/digital-factory/digitalfactory/]