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

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/]

Ep. 79 - Finding Calm, Clarity & Confidence with Kelly Rutherford

Moms, today we sit down with an iconic mom-both in real life and in fiction. Actress Kelly Rutherford, best known for her role as Lily van der Woodsen on Gossip Girl, opens up about raising her own two teens and creating space for independence, trust, and meaningful connection with them. Kelly is also a fashion enthusiast and entrepreneur, recently creating a fragrance, Rose Premiere, during a very hands-on partnership with Veronique Gabai. As you’ll hear, Kelly is honest and warm, taking us into her mindset, habits, and strategies for wellness: *how using positive affirmations with her kids allowed them develop a strong inner voice *the origins of her personal style and the family members who inspired her timeless aesthetic *the role of journaling and meditation in understanding feelings and helping to manifest what she really wants *why leading with love was the hallmark of moving past a public custody battle *the two questions she asks her kids to find out how they’re really feeling You can follow Kelly on IG @kellyrutherford Find us at thelocalmomsnetwork.com [https://thelocalmomsnetwork.com/] Follow us on IG @thelocalmomsnetwork Send us your ideas for our next podcast! Email demetra@thelocalmomsnetwork.com [demetra@thelocalmomsnetwork.com] Podcast facilities provided by the Digital Factory of NBCUniversal at Stamford Studios. [https://stamfordstudios.com/studio-rentals/digital-factory/digitalfactory/]

Ep. 78 - Sobriety, Showing Up & a Strong Marriage with Jon Gustin, The Tired Dad

Moms, if there’s one word that describes all of us, it’s tired. Dads are tired too.  Our guest on MomCast this week is Jon Gustin, aka the Tired Dad. He’s the guy on Instagram who pours coffee and shares his journey through sobriety with more than a million followers. Now, he’s an author of The Tired Dad, a book of encouragement written to parents who are doing it differently than our parents a generation ago. No pretense, no preaching…Jon is, quite literally, an open book who speaks humbly about taking one day at a time, and encouraging us to do the same. Our conversation includes: * exactly why parenting is hard for good parents, and why that struggle is a gift * how becoming a father forced him to face addiction and choose differently for the sake of his kids * how the coffee pour and stare became his social media signature and why it helps him connect with followers * the path to getting out of the "roommate" phase of marriage * the incredible relationship with his wife that allows him to be vulnerable and shed the “superman” persona Make sure to follow Jon on IG @thetireddad and catch more conversation on the podcast he hosts with his wife, Jessica, called The Tired Dad and Tired Mom Podcast. 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. 77 - Financial Planning for Children with a Disability: Two J.P. Morgan Moms Share their Personal Experience

Moms, so much of parenthood is planning…from what to feed our children, to where they should go to school, and ultimately, how to prepare them to leave home and start their own lives. For parents of a child with a disability, these layers are more complex because they include decisions about long-term care. And this requires a unique approach to financial planning. On MomCast today, two incredible moms and private bankers with J.P. Morgan join us to share the support network they’ve built and the financial considerations they’re managing. Meghan Thornton and Kristine Augenthaler are based in Fairfield County, CT but are passionate about helping parents across the country. They introduce us to their families and take us behind their own financial strategies, plus: *why having a special needs child requires planning for two lifetimes: their own and that of their child *the challenge of finding a diagnosis and then accepting the nuances of education and healthcare that follow *finding strength through one another, then helping other families navigate the unknown *how to build a team of trusted professionals, including education advocates, financial planners, attorneys, and more *the launch of a new program within J.P. Morgan to share to the tools Meghan and Kristine have built If you’re interested in attending the June event in Fairfield County, CT, or want to learn more about planning strategies for your child, please email meghan.e.thornton@jpmorgan.com [meghan.e.thornton@jpmorgan.com] or kristine.augenthaler@jpmorgan.com [kristine.augenthaler@jpmorgan.com]. You can also find Kristine and Meghan on LinkedIn. 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/]