Your Body Keeps the Score: Stress, Trauma & Why Stepmoms Are Burning Out

Your Body Keeps the Score: Stress, Trauma & Why Stepmoms Are Burning Out

In this powerful episode of Stepmom Side Chats, Alyssa & Becca sit down with somatic healing coach Meggie, a mom of four, who shares how severe burnout, mysterious health symptoms, and nervous system dysregulation completely changed the course of her life. After losing her hair, gaining weight, battling unexplained physical symptoms, and feeling completely disconnected from herself, Meggie discovered that her body wasn’t betraying her, it was trying to protect her. Together, we unpack how stepmoms and women often carry stress in their shoulders, jaw, hips, and nervous system, why so many of us live in fight-or-flight without realizing it, and how chronic stress can silently impact everything from our relationships to our physical health. If you've ever felt touched out, emotionally numb, constantly overstimulated, or like your body is screaming for help… this episode may explain why. Connect with Meggie: Instagram: ⁠@meggie_m_martin [https://www.instagram.com/meggie_m_martin?igsh=bWVncnE3aWdodGxl]  Website: https://meggiemartin.com/ [https://meggiemartin.com/] Some of Meggie's amazing resources include: Somatic exercise in 5 bundle: https://meggiemartin.thrivecart.com/somaticsinfive/ [https://meggiemartin.thrivecart.com/somaticsinfive/] Free BodyBased workshop: https://meggiemartin.thrivecart.com/bodybased-workshop-2026/ [https://meggiemartin.thrivecart.com/bodybased-workshop-2026/] Use code STEPMOMSC for a discount ✨ Big Ass Candles | www.bigassluxuries.com and use the code STEPMOM for a discount ✨ Cozy Earth | ⁠www.cozyearth.com⁠ [https://cozyearth.com/] and use code STEPMOM ✨ Pateron private stepmom membership: ⁠⁠https://patreon.com/Stepmomsidechats⁠⁠ [https://patreon.com/Stepmomsidechats?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink] ✨ Follow us on Instagram for more stepmom content and to stay connected for future episodes ⁠⁠@stepmomsidechats⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/stepmomsidechats?igsh=OXJsNm42dTBmZTRh&utm_source=qr] ✨ Leave us a review if this episode resonated with you, this helps us reach more stepmoms.

The Friendship Shift No One Talks About in Stepmom Life

Friendships as a stepmom can feel... complicated. In this raw and honest episode of Stepmom Side Chats, Alyssa and Becca dive into one of the most isolating parts of stepmom life, how friendships shift when your reality becomes blended family drama, court dates, co-parenting chaos, and emotions your friends simply may not understand. We’re talking about losing friendships, feeling judged, oversharing, emotional boundaries, and why so many stepmoms feel like no one truly gets it. We also share personal stories of friendships that changed, what we wish we had done differently, and how to find the people who can actually support you through this journey. Plus, we end with one of our favorite segments: Texts I Didn’t Send, and trust us... these submissions are wild. If you’ve ever felt alone, misunderstood, or like your friendships changed after becoming a stepmom, this episode is for you. ✨ Big Ass Candles | www.bigassluxuries.com [https://www.bigassluxuries.com/] and use the code STEPMOM for a discount ✨ Cozy Earth | https://cozyearth.com/⁠www.cozyearth.com⁠ [https://cozyearth.com/] and use code STEPMOM ✨ Pateron private stepmom membership: https://patreon.com/Stepmomsidechats?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink⁠⁠ [https://patreon.com/Stepmomsidechats?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink]https://patreon.com/Stepmomsidechats⁠⁠ [https://patreon.com/Stepmomsidechats%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0] ✨ Follow us on Instagram for more stepmom content and to stay connected for future episodes https://www.instagram.com/stepmomsidechats?igsh=OXJsNm42dTBmZTRh&utm_source=qr⁠⁠@stepmomsidechats⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/stepmomsidechats?igsh=OXJsNm42dTBmZTRh&utm_source=qr] ✨ Leave us a review if this episode resonated with you, this helps us reach more stepmoms.

Present through the Chaos with Randy Keith

Disclaimer: This episode includes discussion of suicide, domestic violence, and mental health crises. Please take care while listening. In this episode of Stepmom Sidechats, Alyssa & Becca sit down with Randy Keith, also known as Present Father, a fatherhood advocate, creator, and founder of the Present Father Movement. Randy shares his deeply personal story of divorce, navigating a high-conflict custody battle, parallel parenting, and what it has looked like to fight to stay present for his children through some of the hardest seasons of his life. We also talk about the impact of mental health, how children can become caught in the middle during high-conflict dynamics, the realities of blended family life, and what support from a partner can look like when co-parenting feels anything but peaceful. Randy offers a rare and honest dad’s perspective on loyalty binds, weaponized parenting, stepmom support, and why consistency, documentation, and emotional regulation matter so much. This conversation is raw, validating, and full of insight for stepmoms, dads, and anyone navigating the complexities of high-conflict co-parenting and blended family life. Connect with Randy Keith: Instagram: @present.fathers [https://www.instagram.com/present.fathers?igsh=MW5vanNmN25pZDN5cA==] Website: ⁠https://present-father.com/ [https://www.enneagramashton.com/] Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Present-Father [https://www.youtube.com/@Present-Father] ✨ Big Ass Candles | www.bigassluxuries.com and use the code STEPMOM for a discount ✨ Episode sponsor | ⁠www.cozyearth.com⁠ [https://cozyearth.com/] and use code STEPMOM ✨ Pateron private stepmom membership: ⁠⁠https://patreon.com/Stepmomsidechats⁠⁠ [https://patreon.com/Stepmomsidechats?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink] ✨ Follow us on Instagram for more stepmom content and to stay connected for future episodes ⁠⁠@stepmomsidechats⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/stepmomsidechats?igsh=OXJsNm42dTBmZTRh&utm_source=qr] ✨ Leave us a review if this episode resonated with you, this helps us reach more stepmoms.

Mother's Day: Not the Mom… But Doing Everything a Mom Does

In this episode, Alyssa and Becca sit down to unpack what this holiday really feels like as stepmoms, especially when you’re doing all the “mom things” but don’t always get the recognition that comes with it. They reflect on where they started, navigating Mother’s Day as childless stepmoms, and how their experiences have evolved over time. From awkward first holidays to now balancing life as both stepmoms and biological moms, Alyssa and Becca share the honest, unfiltered reality of what this day brings up. They get into the tough questions, what hurts more, no acknowledgment or forced acknowledgment? What role should partners actually play? And how do kids experience this day when they’re caught between two homes? Along the way, Alyssa and Becca talk about expectations, resentment, growth, and why creating your own version of Mother’s Day might be the key to getting through it. If you’ve ever felt invisible, conflicted, or unsure where you fit on Mother’s Day, this conversation will make you feel seen. ✨ Big Ass Candles | www.bigassluxuries.com and use the code STEPMOM for a discount ✨ Episode sponsor | ⁠www.cozyearth.com⁠ [https://cozyearth.com/] and use code STEPMOM ✨ Pateron private stepmom membership: ⁠⁠https://patreon.com/Stepmomsidechats⁠⁠ [https://patreon.com/Stepmomsidechats?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink] ✨ Follow us on Instagram for more stepmom content and to stay connected for future episodes ⁠⁠@stepmomsidechats⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/stepmomsidechats?igsh=OXJsNm42dTBmZTRh&utm_source=qr] ✨ Leave us a review if this episode resonated with you, this helps us reach more stepmoms.

Understanding Your Enneagram as a Stepmom with Ashton Whitmoyer-Ober

In this episode of Alyssa & Becca, we sit down with Ashton Whitmoyer-Ober, an Enneagram coach and speaker, to talk about how understanding your Enneagram type can help you navigate stepmom life with more self-awareness, clarity, and compassion. We get into how different Enneagram types respond to conflict, triggers, boundaries, people-pleasing, resentment, and relationship dynamics, especially inside blended families. We also talk about why stepmom life can feel so emotionally layered, how your core motivations shape the way you react, and what it can look like to better understand both yourself and the people around you. Whether you are the stepmom who overthinks everything, takes things to heart, avoids conflict, or feels like you always have to prove yourself, this conversation offers insight into why you may respond the way you do and how that awareness can help you move through blended family dynamics with more intention. We also answer a listener question and share practical takeaways for stepmoms who want to better understand their triggers, communication patterns, and emotional responses. Connect with Ashton: Instagram: @enneagramashton [https://www.instagram.com/enneagramashton?igsh=bXNyMXUxb2tlOHJw] Website:https://www.enneagramashton.com/ [https://www.enneagramashton.com/] Click here to: Find out your enneagram [https://www.truity.com/] ✨ Big Ass Candles | www.bigassluxuries.com and use the code STEPMOM for a discount ✨ Episode sponsor | www.cozyearth.com [https://cozyearth.com/] and use code STEPMOM ✨ Pateron private stepmom membership: ⁠https://patreon.com/Stepmomsidechats⁠ [https://patreon.com/Stepmomsidechats?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink] ✨ Follow us on Instagram for more stepmom content and to stay connected for future episodes ⁠@stepmomsidechats⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/stepmomsidechats?igsh=OXJsNm42dTBmZTRh&utm_source=qr] ✨ Leave us a review if this episode resonated with you, this helps us reach more stepmoms.