You Can Have a Second Act with Suzette Mullen

Can Modern Parenting Sabotage Your Marriage?

In this week's episode, we are thrilled to welcome back Attorney Jolee Vacchi, founder of Foundations Family Law & Mediation [https://foundationsfamilylaw.com/], to discuss how modern parenting  – and all the stress that comes with it –  can impact our relationships with our partners. We chat about the recent surgeon general's advisory on the mental health and well-being of parents [https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2024/08/28/us-surgeon-general-issues-advisory-mental-health-well-being-parents.html]  -- and explore how we got to this point. Jolee shares how she sees the stresses of parenting contribute to many couple's decision to divorce and also affect how they coparent, including the trend she's witnessing in couples who have children with special needs. Plus, practical advice for managing stress, staying connected with our partners and ensuring we honor the woman inside the mother. Want more content for the woman inside the mother? Be sure to subscribe to our monthly e-magazine [https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/mBbbJOQ/mamabeasts]and follow us on Instagram. [https://www.instagram.com/mamabeasts_/]

Sleep for Midlife Mamas

When was the last time you had a good night's sleep? If you are a midlife mama, you may be experiencing some trouble with this thanks to fluctuating hormones. Dr. Daniella Marchetti [https://daniellamarchetti.com/]joins me this week to discuss how hormones (and age!) affect sleep -- and what we can do to improve the quantity and quality of our sleep. Plus, some reassuring new if you tend to be a night owl! About our guest Dr. Daniella Marchett [https://daniellamarchetti.com/]i is a licensed clinical health psychologist specializing in behavioral sleep medicine. She earned her Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees in Clinical Psychology from the University of Miami, where she also completed her psychology residency and clinical fellowship at the Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center. She is currently a staff psychologist at the Miami VA and runs a private practice [https://www.daniellamarchetti.com/] focused on treating sleep disorders, such as insomnia, CPAP adherence, sleep training, and nightmares. Dr. Marchetti is passionate about helping individuals and families navigate sleep challenges, particularly supporting parents of young children. She offers specialized treatments for conditions including chronic insomnia, sleep apnea, nightmares, and circadian rhythm disorders. She also provides cognitive behavioral therapy for individuals with hypersomnia, narcolepsy, and mood disorders like anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Dr. Marchetti is licensed to practice in Florida (PY 12008) and is PSYPACT-certified to provide care across 42 states. Learn more. [https://daniellamarchetti.com/] Want more content for the woman inside the mother? Be sure to subscribe to our monthly e-magazine [https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/mBbbJOQ/mamabeasts]and follow us on Instagram. [https://www.instagram.com/mamabeasts_/]

Is Guilt Destroying Us? With Kimberly Solo

Mom guilt is nothing new — but our 2024 guilt survey reveals it’s negatively affecting our mental health, daily lives and self-worth at alarming rates. Therapist Kimberly Solo [https://www.kimberlysolo.com/]and I sat down to discuss these results, the difference between guilt and shame and how these feelings affect our mental health -- plus what we can do about it.  Want more content for the woman inside the mother? Be sure to subscribe to our monthly e-magazine [https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/mBbbJOQ/mamabeasts]and follow us on Instagram. [https://www.instagram.com/mamabeasts_/]

Double Standards & Eating the Damn Peach with Mary Catherine Starr

In this week's episode, I had the opportunity to chat with Mary Catherine Starr, [https://www.marycatherinestarr.com/] the artist behind the beloved Instagram account, @momlife_comics [https://www.instagram.com/momlife_comics/]. You likely have seen her viral motherhood comics from the account, which has completely exploded over the last few years With both wit and warmth, she regularly explores motherhood, marriage, double standards and the invisible load in her work, making moms laugh, feel validated or fired up depending on the day. Her work has also drawn some critics (hint: they're angry dudes who seem to believe that sharing how common double standards show up in her own marriage must mean she is a terrible person who hates her husband. Sigh.) and we get into those experiences, too.  Her work has been featured in Motherly, the Huffington Post, and next year she's releasing her first book: a comic memoir, Mama Needs a Minute! [https://www.marycatherinestarr.com/my-book-mama-needs-a-minute] where she shares her own journey in modern motherhood and the relatable challenges we all face. We discussed how she built her brand, double standards, the danger of mom guilt and the time her comic about a peach went viral leading to threats and personal attacks --  but ultimately a movement for moms to prioritize themselves more. I know you'll love our conversation! Learn more about Mary Catherine Starr and her work here. [https://www.marycatherinestarr.com/] Want more content for the woman inside the mother? Be sure to subscribe to our monthly e-magazine [https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/mBbbJOQ/mamabeasts]and follow us on Instagram. [https://www.instagram.com/mamabeasts_/]

You Can Have a Second Act with Suzette Mullen

In this week's episode, I chat with Suzette Mullen [https://www.yourstoryfinder.com/], author of the powerful memoir, The Only Way Through Is Out. [https://www.yourstoryfinder.com/books]  Born from an essay she wrote for the New York Times, [https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/21/style/tiny-modern-love-stories-lesbian.html] her book is both an empowering coming-out and coming-of-age story, as well as a rallying cry to live authentically and trust our inner voices. It's also a story of second chances and second acts, proving there are not time limits when it comes to these things, an important reminder for all middle-aged moms.  We discussed how midlife presents an opportunity to examine what we want in life and why women often struggle to follow their inner voices. If you're feeling a little lost these days or find yourself wondering what you're meant to do, this is a must-listen!  Want more content for the woman inside the mother? Be sure to subscribe to our monthly e-magazine [https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/mBbbJOQ/mamabeasts]and follow us on Instagram. [https://www.instagram.com/mamabeasts_/]