Tristan Cunningham: Doing Everything Right… and Still Wondering If It’s Enough

I Thought Motherhood Would Change Me More Than It Did

I Thought Motherhood Would Make Me Disappear. It Didn’t. Before I became a mom, I was honestly terrified of losing myself. I felt like everywhere I looked, the story was the same: motherhood changes you completely. You stop recognizing yourself. Your dreams go on pause. Your entire identity becomes “mom.” And while I understood that for a lot of women, I also quietly panicked thinking… wait, what if I disappear? But the weird thing is… I don’t actually feel like I disappeared. And sometimes I almost feel guilty saying that out loud. Because yes, motherhood changed me. Of course it did. I’m more emotional now. More protective. More anxious in some ways. More intentional. I cry at literally everything. But underneath all of that, I still feel like me. Actually, if anything, motherhood amplified who I already was. I didn’t suddenly stop caring about acting or creating or working. I didn’t become a completely different person overnight. I still want things for myself. I still have ambition. I still love my daughter more than anything in the world, while also wanting a life outside of being someone’s mom. And for a while, I thought maybe that meant I was doing motherhood wrong. There’s so much conversation around losing yourself after kids that when you don’t fully relate to that experience, it can feel isolating too. Like maybe you’re not attached enough. Or not selfless enough. Or not “mom” enough. But I don’t think there’s one correct way to experience motherhood. Some women feel completely transformed. Some feel cracked open emotionally. Some feel disconnected from who they were before. And some of us feel more like ourselves than ever — just stretched, exhausted, emotional, and trying to do twelve things at once. I think motherhood reveals you more than it replaces you. It forces you to get honest about what matters. About what you need. About the parts of yourself you refuse to lose. And honestly? I think that’s allowed. You’re allowed to love your kid obsessively and still care about your career. You’re allowed to miss parts of your old life without wanting your current one to disappear. You’re allowed to still feel ambitious, creative, funny, selfish sometimes, overwhelmed, grateful, and fully yourself all at the same time. None of it cancels the other out. I just wish we talked more about the fact that motherhood doesn’t look emotionally identical for everyone. There’s room for all of our experiences here. So if you’ve ever secretly felt like, “Wait… I still kind of feel like me?” — I just want you to know you’re not alone. And if you do feel like you lost yourself completely, you’re not alone either. Both things can be true in different homes, different bodies, different lives. But for me personally? Motherhood didn’t erase me. It made me more me.

GLP-1s, Food Noise & Mom Brain: My Experience with Tirzepatide

In this solo episode of Mommywood, I’m opening up about my personal experience taking tirzepatide after struggling with postpartum weight, brain fog, exhaustion, and constant “food noise” after having my daughter. I talk about what finally pushed me to try it, how it affected my relationship with food, my confidence, energy levels, and even the way I approach self-tapes as an actor mom. I’m also sharing the questions I wrestled with around body image, motherhood, stigma, and whether it felt like “cheating.” Plus, I answer listener questions about side effects, costs, microdosing, acting, parenting, and what happens after stopping. This episode is not medical advice — it’s simply me honestly sharing my own experience navigating wellness, identity, and confidence in motherhood and Hollywood.

RECUT: Tracey Wigfield on Motherhood, Ambition & the Guilt No One Talks About

Emmy-winning writer, producer, and showrunner Tracey Wigfield (30 Rock, Great News, Saved by the Bell) joins Mommywood for an honest conversation about motherhood, ambition, career pressure, and the invisible guilt so many working moms carry. Tracey opens up about running television shows while pregnant, going back to work days after giving birth, navigating postpartum emotions, and the internal pressure women feel — even when they’re the boss. We talk about: ✨ balancing creativity and motherhood ✨ why becoming a mom changed her leadership style ✨ the unrealistic expectations placed on working women ✨ career ambition after kids ✨ mom guilt, postpartum struggles & perfectionism ✨ building a support system in Hollywood This episode is vulnerable, funny, validating, and deeply relatable for any mom trying to balance work, identity, and family — whether you work in entertainment or not.

RECUT: Lang Fisher on Motherhood, Imposter Syndrome & Doing Life Her Own Way

This episode is brought to you by Dondersteen [https://www.dondersteenco.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoq8gJK4maXA_bj-CkJhUKIxTDIVAl385EBkjYU98O61N4iH1P2z] Lang Fisher (Never Have I Ever, The Four Seasons, 30 Rock, The Mindy Project) joins Mommywood to talk about becoming a single mom by choice, building a wildly successful career in comedy, and learning to let go of perfectionism after having her son. Lang opens up about having a baby with her gay best friend, the unconventional co-parenting setup that unexpectedly worked beautifully, getting her start at The Onion, feeling intimidated in the 30 Rock writers room with Tina Fey, and becoming a first-time showrunner while pregnant. We also talk about imposter syndrome, ambition after motherhood, pandemic parenting, why moms make efficient bosses, and how having kids changes the way you tell stories. This episode is funny, honest, vulnerable, and one of my favorite conversations about creating a life on your own terms.

RECUT: Audrey Moore on Self Tape May, Parenthood & the Cost of “Doing It All

I wanted to bring back this conversation with Audrey Moore because honestly… it feels more relevant now than ever, especially with Self Tape May starting now. This episode turned into such a real conversation about what it actually looks like to pursue acting while also trying to have a life, relationships, kids, stability, rest… all the things we rarely talk about honestly in this industry. Audrey and I get into the “math” of it all — time, energy, money — and how becoming a parent changes the equation in ways nobody really prepares you for. We talk about self tapes, childcare, friendship shifts, support systems, burnout, and the pressure to feel like you should somehow be able to do everything perfectly all at once. I also loved hearing Audrey’s perspective on choosing not to have kids and the ways she intentionally shows up for the parents in her life. There’s so much honesty and compassion in this conversation. And with Self Tape May here, I think this episode is such a good reminder that practice, preparation, and transparency matter a lot more than pretending we all have it figured out. I hope this one makes you feel a little less alone. This episode is sponsored by Dondersteen [https://www.dondersteenco.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoq8gJK4maXA_bj-CkJhUKIxTDIVAl385EBkjYU98O61N4iH1P2z] use code MOMMYWOOD for 20% off