Let’s Get Real with Jena Burris

What No One Tells You About Motherhood and Loss with Val Kleppen

Free Resource for Moms Feeling overwhelmed and like you’ve lost yourself in the chaos of motherhood? You’re not alone. And you don’t have to keep feeling this way. I created this FREE guide for you:  🎁 The Overwhelmed Mom’s Guide: 10 Small Changes to Start Feeling Like You Again  Simple, realistic shifts you can start making today without adding more to your plate. 👉 https://jenaburris.kit.com/ecc29b3801 [https://jenaburris.kit.com/ecc29b3801] Episode 56: What No One Tells You About Motherhood and Loss With Val Kleppen Some stories change you forever. In this deeply honest and sacred conversation, Val Kleppen shares her journey through emergency delivery, stillbirth, and the long road of grieving while continuing to mother. Val’s first daughter was born at 32 weeks via emergency C-section after a life-threatening pregnancy complication. Three years later, pregnant again and cautiously hopeful, she went into labor at 37 weeks — only to be told there was no heartbeat. Four contractions later, she delivered her daughter into silence. What followed was a kind of grief no one prepares you for: leaving the hospital on maternity leave without a baby, milk coming in with nowhere to go, planning a funeral instead of a nursery, and trying to parent a three-year-old while her own heart felt shattered. The Loneliest Part of Loss Val shares that the hardest days weren’t just in the hospital — they came after the funeral. When the meals stopped. When the visitors went home. When the world kept spinning, but hers had stopped. She describes feeling disconnected from everyone, even with a full contact list in her phone. She longed for someone to simply sit beside her on the sofa while she cried — not fix it, not quote Scripture, not offer silver linings. Just be present. And yet, grief is messy. It’s nonlinear. It surprises you. It doesn’t follow a timeline. She speaks openly about: * Feeling angry at God * Praying only “God, why?” for months * Wrestling with bitterness * Feeling obligated to cling to faith when she didn’t always want to But she also shares something powerful: sometimes tethering yourself to God is less about feeling strong and more about refusing to let go. Grieving With God — Not Around Him Val describes a sacred moment in the hospital when she felt God weeping beside her. And yet later, she wrestled with Him deeply. She didn’t need polished encouragement. She needed permission to grieve messy. Through years of wrestling, she found that acceptance didn’t mean pretending it didn’t hurt. It meant allowing herself to walk straight through the messy middle instead of trying to go around it. “The only way to the other side is right through it.” Now, thirteen years later, she honors her daughter intentionally. On her birthday this year, their family went bowling and imagined what she might have been like at 13. They talk about her. She is still part of their family. Val reminds us that grief doesn’t disappear — it transforms. And honoring what was lost is part of healing. If you are walking through pregnancy loss, stillbirth, or child loss — this episode is a tender companion. You are not weak. You are not dramatic. And you are not alone. Connect with Val: Podcast: The Motherhood Experience (themotherhoodexperience.com) Email: info@themotherhoodexperience.com P.S. If this episode resonates with you, please reach out. I truly want to hear your story. You can DM me on Instagram @jenaburris or email me at jena@jenaburris.com. Your voice matters — and I’m here for you.

Why Christian Moms Suffer in Silence After Birth With Emma Donaldson

Free Resource for Moms Feeling overwhelmed and like you’ve lost yourself in the chaos of motherhood? You’re not alone. And you don’t have to keep feeling this way. I created this FREE guide for you:  🎁 The Overwhelmed Mom’s Guide: 10 Small Changes to Start Feeling Like You Again  Simple, realistic shifts you can start making today without adding more to your plate. 👉 https://jenaburris.kit.com/ecc29b3801 [https://jenaburris.kit.com/ecc29b3801] Episode 55: Why Christian Moms Suffer in Silence After Birth With Emma Donaldson Postpartum is one of the most vulnerable seasons of a woman’s life — and yet for many Christian moms, it becomes a season of quiet suffering. In this honest and compassionate conversation, I sit down with Emma Donaldson, licensed therapist and certified perinatal mental health specialist, to talk about the realities of postpartum anxiety, depression, intrusive thoughts, and the unique challenges Christian women face when faith language replaces emotional presence. Emma shares her own story of postpartum anxiety — the constant checking, the intrusive fears, the overwhelming pressure to “do it right.” At the time, she didn’t even recognize it as anxiety. It felt normal. It felt like what motherhood was supposed to feel like. But it wasn’t. When Faith Becomes a Mask Instead of a Lifeline One of the most powerful parts of this conversation is unpacking what happens inside Christian communities when moms speak up about their struggles. Instead of being met with empathy, many women are met with Bible verses, spiritual platitudes, or subtle shame. While truth matters, Emma reminds us that timing and presence matter just as much. Scripture is not meant to silence pain — and encouragement should never bypass humanity. We talk about how intrusive thoughts (including suicidal ideation), postpartum rage, and debilitating anxiety are more common than many realize — and how silence only deepens isolation. Postpartum Is Not Just “Baby Blues” Emma clearly explains the difference between baby blues and postpartum mood disorders. While hormonal shifts in the first two weeks are incredibly common, persistent symptoms, anger, hopelessness, sleep disruption, intrusive thoughts, emotional numbness, may signal postpartum depression or anxiety. She also highlights two often-overlooked factors: * The massive hormonal crash after birth * The profound impact of sleep deprivation Postpartum healing is not a one-size-fits-all fix. It’s layered. Biological. Emotional. Relational. Spiritual. And healing often requires both professional support and real-life community. You Were Never Meant to Mother Alone One of the biggest turning points Emma sees in her clients isn’t just symptom reduction, it’s building a village. Therapy is powerful, but it’s not a substitute for friendship. Moms need safe spaces where they can be honest in real time — without being fixed, judged, or spiritually bypassed. Emma now leads an online support group called Known Motherhood, specifically designed for Christian postpartum women who want their faith honored but not weaponized against their humanity. If you’re in the thick of postpartum and feel like you’re barely holding it together, this episode is for you. You are not weak. You are not faithless. You are not alone. Connect with Emma:  Website + Email List: joyfulmamamentalwellness.com  Support Group: Known Motherhood (join the waitlist on her website)  Instagram + TikTok: @joyfulmamamentalwellness P.S. If this episode resonates with you, please reach out. I truly want to hear your story. You can DM me on Instagram @jenaburris or email me at jena@jenaburris.com. Your voice matters, and I’m here for you.

Understanding Your Story Changes Everything with Kristan Swan

Free Resource for Moms Feeling overwhelmed and like you’ve lost yourself in the chaos of motherhood? You’re not alone. And you don’t have to keep feeling this way. I created this FREE guide for you:  🎁 The Overwhelmed Mom’s Guide: 10 Small Changes to Start Feeling Like You Again  Simple, realistic shifts you can start making today without adding more to your plate. 👉 https://jenaburris.kit.com/ecc29b3801 [https://jenaburris.kit.com/ecc29b3801] EPISODE 54: UNDERSTANDING YOUR STORY CHANGES EVERYTHING  WITH KRISTAN SWAN Many of us are living inside a story we’ve never taken the time to truly understand. We move from season to season. reacting, coping, achieving, surviving, without slowing down long enough to ask deeper questions: Why do I respond the way I do?  What patterns keep showing up in my relationships?  What themes have quietly shaped my life? In this episode of Let’s Get Real, I sit down with Kristan Swan, creator of the guided journal Spaghetti on the Wall, to talk about how storytelling and journaling can help us step back and see our lives with clarity. Because often, breakthrough doesn’t come from pushing harder. It comes from paying attention. The Power of Naming Your Story Kristan shares how her work began by helping people slow down and reflect, first in business coaching, and then more personally through guided journaling. She explains how writing our stories allows us to identify patterns we couldn’t see before. When we put our experiences on paper, we create space between ourselves and the noise in our heads. We can observe instead of judge. We can question instead of assume. So many of us carry internal narratives that go unchallenged. We replay old stories. We ignore intuition. We repeat familiar cycles, not because we want to, but because we haven’t stopped long enough to understand them. Journaling becomes a way to interrupt that. It helps us recognize themes like self-doubt, over-functioning, people-pleasing, or ignoring red flags. And once we can name a pattern, we can begin to change it. Awareness Creates Real Change One of the most powerful parts of this conversation is how awareness alone can create momentum. When we reflect honestly, without forcing a silver lining, we build self-trust. Kristan shares prompts that help people explore: * When did this pattern first show up? * What keeps repeating? * What would I say to a friend in this situation? * What part of my story am I ready to tell honestly? As we look back at hard seasons, we also see resilience we forgot we had. We remember who we are. Understanding your story doesn’t just bring clarity. It restores agency. If you’ve felt stuck in familiar cycles or disconnected from yourself, this episode will gently invite you to slow down and listen to your own life. Because when you understand your story, everything begins to shift. Connect with Kristan https://substack.com/@kristanswan [https://substack.com/@kristanswan] https://kristanswan.com/ [https://kristanswan.com/] https://www.instagram.com/kristan.swan/ [https://www.instagram.com/kristan.swan/] P.S. If this episode resonates with you, please reach out. I truly want to hear your story. You can DM me on Instagram @jenaburris or email me at jena@jenaburris.com. Your voice matters — and I’m here for you.

Why Moms Need an Advocate During Birth with Suzzie Vehrs

Free Resource for Moms Feeling overwhelmed and like you’ve lost yourself in the chaos of motherhood? You’re not alone. And you don’t have to keep feeling this way. I created this FREE guide for you:  🎁 The Overwhelmed Mom’s Guide: 10 Small Changes to Start Feeling Like You Again  Simple, realistic shifts you can start making today without adding more to your plate. 👉 https://jenaburris.kit.com/ecc29b3801 [https://jenaburris.kit.com/ecc29b3801] EPISODE 53: WHY MOMS NEED AN ADVOCATE DURING BIRTH WITH SUZZIE VEHRS Birth is one of the most powerful transitions in a woman’s life. And yet, so many mothers walk away feeling unheard, overwhelmed, or quietly grieving an experience that didn’t unfold the way they hoped. Healthy baby. Everyone says you should be grateful. But something still feels unsettled inside. In this episode, I sit down with birth and postpartum doula Suzzie Vehrs to talk about why advocacy during birth matters more than we realize. After witnessing both traumatic and deeply supported birth experiences, Suzzie devoted her work to helping families feel anchored, informed, and emotionally safe, not just medically managed. Because birth is more than a clinical event. It’s emotional. Relational. Sacred. When Support Changes Everything Many women enter labor prepared with information, but not always with steady, continuous support. Doctors and nurses play critical roles, but they rotate shifts. They manage multiple patients. They often meet you in the moment. A doula stays. Suzzie explains how unseen barriers during labor, fear, rushed decisions, miscommunication, exhaustion, can escalate quickly when a mother feels alone. Often, trauma isn’t just about what happened. It’s about feeling unsupported while it happened. Having someone in the room who knows your hopes, understands your fears, and can calmly explain options changes the nervous system experience of birth. Advocacy doesn’t mean controlling outcomes.  It means helping you feel seen, heard, and informed, even when plans change. Healing Beyond the Delivery Room We also talk about the grief many women carry after emergency C-sections, miscarriages, or birth plans that didn’t unfold as imagined. Even when babies are healthy, mothers can carry disappointment, confusion, or shame that goes unspoken. Postpartum is another overlooked chapter. The six-week checkup is not enough. Mothers need ongoing support, guidance, and reassurance as they recover physically and emotionally. From processing birth stories to practical newborn support, Suzzie shares how thoughtful postpartum care can prevent isolation and strengthen family connection during a vulnerable season. If you’re preparing for birth, healing from one, or supporting someone who is, this episode will remind you: You deserve more than survival.  You deserve support. Connect with Suzzie https://www.instagram.com/shebirthsbravely/ [https://www.instagram.com/shebirthsbravely/] https://shebirthsbravely.com/ [https://shebirthsbravely.com/] P.S. If this episode resonates with you, please reach out. I truly want to hear your story. You can DM me on Instagram @jenaburris or email me at jena@jenaburris.com. Your voice matters — and I’m here for you.

The Hidden Burnout of High-Achieving Women With Camilla Kahlberg

Free Resource for Moms Feeling overwhelmed and like you’ve lost yourself in the chaos of motherhood You’re not alone. And you don’t have to keep feeling this way. I created this FREE guide for you:  🎁 The Overwhelmed Mom’s Guide: 10 Small Changes to Start Feeling Like You Again Simple, realistic shifts you can start making today without adding more to your plate. 👉 https://jenaburris.kit.com/ecc29b3801 [https://jenaburris.kit.com/ecc29b3801] EPISODE 52: THE HIDDEN BURNOUT OF HIGH-ACHIEVING WOMEN With Camilla Kahlberg There comes a moment when the life you’ve built on the outside no longer matches what’s happening on the inside. You’re capable. Strong. High-performing. You lead teams. You manage home. You handle pressure. But privately, you’re exhausted. Disconnected. Running on survival. In this episode, I sit down with Camilla Kahlberg, founder of She Leads the Authentic Leadership Movement, to talk about the hidden burnout so many high-achieving women experience. After decades in corporate leadership at BP, Shell, and IBM, Camilla faced a personal breaking point during a painful separation that forced her to confront the illusion of strength she had been living behind. That unraveling became her turning point. When Strength Is Actually Performance Many high-achieving women learn early how to armor up. We become “the strong one.” We perform. We over-function. We push through. And for a while, it works. Until our body says no. Camilla explains how what we call strength is often performance rooted in fear, fear of not being enough, not succeeding, not being worthy. We chase milestones believing achievement will secure our value. But internally, we’re disconnected from our emotions, intuition, and nervous system. The warning signs show up as tension, anxiety, irritability, or exhaustion, and we override them. True strength, Camilla says, isn’t constant self-sufficiency. It’s vulnerability. It’s asking for help. It’s regulating your nervous system and leading from wholeness instead of survival. Rebuilding From the Inside Out Burnout recovery doesn’t begin with doing more. It begins with being differently. Camilla shares practical ways to reconnect with your body, notice where fear lives physically, and question the beliefs driving overachievement. She encourages women to ask: Who do I want to be in the room? That shift moves you from reacting out of old wounds to responding with intention. We also talk about reclaiming ownership of your calendar, setting boundaries without guilt, and redefining success from the inside out. When we shift from “do, have, be” to “be, do, have,” everything changes. If you look strong on the outside but feel stretched thin on the inside, this episode is for you. You don’t have to carry this alone. Connect with Camilla You can connect with Camilla and learn more about her work through: https://www.youtube.com/@camillacalberg [https://www.youtube.com/@camillacalberg] https://www.linkedin.com/in/camillacalberg [https://www.linkedin.com/in/camillacalberg] P.S. If this episode resonates with you, please reach out. I truly want to hear your story. You can DM me on Instagram @jenaburris or email me at jena@jenaburris.com. Your voice matters — and I’m here for you.