The Mama Mode Podcast

Ep 51 – From Neighbors to Friends: “Being the Village” for New Moms Around You

Between babies 2 and 3, Emily met her neighbor, Tina, who was in the thick of postpartum with her first newborn. Two years and nearly two babies later, Emily and Tina reminisce about the early days of their friendship and the power of knowing you aren’t alone in your postpartum journey. Join us on the Mama Mode podcast as they dive into the importance of showing up for fellow moms, even when you don’t know exactly what to say. We’re dishing on the wildest things people say to new and expecting moms, finding moments of joy to hold onto during survival mode, and navigating personal, professional, and parenting transitions all at once. If you’re a new mama looking for some encouragement or seeking ways to support the new mothers in your life, tune in for this honest and heartfelt catch-up now streaming.

Ep 50 – From Playground to Page: Motherhood and the Creative Process with Author Alyssa Belfiglio

What do you do when you’re postpartum with an infant that’s just trailed a massive blowout through the house as out-of-town guests arrive at your door? If you’re today’s Mama Mode podcast guest, you write it ALL down. Alyssa Belfiglio is a former preschool teacher turned stay-at-home-mom and author of You Don’t Know Nana and When We Speak, We Speak to Strangers. A lifelong writer, Alyssa began participating in novel writing challenges as a teenager and returned to long-form writing during the pandemic. Today on the podcast, she’s sharing more about her process and how storytelling helps her reexamine real life situations with perspective and humor as she grows as a writer and new mom. Settle in for some real talk about the first year of motherhood, everything we wish we knew ahead of time about pregnancy and postpartum, and how we can help ourselves and fellow mamas through art and connection. Learn more about Alyssa’s work at https://alyssabelfigliobooks.com or on Instagram @alyssabelfiglio.books

Ep 49 – Navigating the Crossroads of Work and Motherhood with Certified Professional Career Coach Jessica Visek

What if our identities in motherhood and the workforce didn’t have to be at odds? Certified Professional Career Coach and founder of Your Career Partner, Jessica Visek, knows that working moms can continue to achieve professionally or pivot into a career change while remaining present in parenthood, with the right partnership. In today’s episode of the Mama Mode podcast, Jessica encourages listeners to see the benefits that motherhood can bring to a job, discusses why her clients with children often reevaluate their careers, and how she helps them communicate and position their skills and experience to prospective employers. She shares more about her own career path, from the corporate world to entrepreneurship, and breaks down the major considerations working moms face when returning to work after maternity leave or a longer break. If you’re a new mom nearing the end of your leave, or reexamining your career in any season of motherhood, join us for a conversation about finding clarity and confidence as you take your next steps. To learn more about Jessica’s work and coaching, visit https://yourcareerpartner.com/ or connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-visek-career-coach-cpcc-mjsc-cic-ncope-cprw/

Ep 48 – From Infertility to Mama of 3: How Fitness Helped Christina Keep her Spark

With a large family and a professional background in early childhood education, Christina always knew she’d be a mom one day. When infertility made that day seem distant, she committed to finding solutions and learning more about her body with the help of fertility specialists and a holistic healthcare provider. Today on the Mama Mode podcast, Christina walks us through the journey to building her family, from leaving the classroom to getting back in the gym with a baby in tow. Now pregnant with her third, Christina shares why listening to her body was paramount to facing infertility, leading a healthier lifestyle, and maintaining a consistent fitness routine through preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum despite the challenges encountered along the way. Join us for an encouraging episode about finding strength amidst setbacks and prioritizing what makes you the best version of yourself as an individual and as a mother.

Ep 47 – Why Handwriting Still Matters: A Critical Skill for Kids of the Digital Age with Holly Britton, M.Ed.

Kids are more entwined with tech than ever before, but neglecting handwriting skills can create a major deficit in classroom and lifelong learning. Join us today for a fascinating conversation with curriculum and instruction specialist Holly Britton, M.Ed., as she explains the science of handwriting and why this elementary skill is foundational to future learning outcomes. Through her work and education, Holly created Squiggle Squad, a modern, kid-friendly program designed to foster critical handwriting skills at the developmentally appropriate time to help improve educational outcomes for students in the long term. In this episode, Holly shares her own experiences as a homeschool parent, educator, and author that laid the groundwork for creating Squiggle Squad, as well as ways that families can integrate handwriting skills into daily life. For more information about Holly’s work and the full lineup of Squiggle Squad offerings, visit https://squigglesquad.com or @squigglesquadhandwriting on Instagram.