Motherhood, Mental Load & Building a Dream Without Losing Yourself with Nicole McConnell

Motherhood, Mental Load & Building a Dream Without Losing Yourself with Nicole McConnell

What happens when you're managing school forms, meal plans, doctor appointments, activities, work deadlines, family schedules, and everyone else's needs—all at the same time? In this episode of Thrive Like a Mother, Ebony sits down with Nicole McConnell, mom of two and founder of Dreamy Dens Events, to unpack the invisible mental load so many mothers carry every day. Together, they explore what it looks like to navigate motherhood, marriage, entrepreneurship, and family life without constantly running on empty. Nicole shares how she's learning to set boundaries, build intentional systems, protect her energy, and create a life that reflects her values rather than society's expectations. This conversation is a reminder that exhaustion is not a badge of honor, burnout is not a milestone, and you don't have to carry everything alone. In this episode, we discuss: * The invisible mental load of motherhood * Why modern moms feel overwhelmed * How to build and strengthen your village * Setting boundaries without guilt * Balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship * Creating intentional family rhythms * Protecting your energy and capacity * Teaching children healthy boundaries * How to stop saying yes to everything * Practical tools for managing mental overload Connect with Nicole Instagram: @dreamydensevents Website: https://www.dreamydensevents.com/ [https://www.dreamydensevents.com/] 🎉 Nicole has also graced all Thrive Like a Mother listeners with $25 off any services. Use code THRIVE when you purchase any services on her site. Code expires on August 31, 2026. Stay up to date on in-person events in Atlanta: Thrive Empowered in-person events [https://www.thriveempoweredllc.com/] Free Resources: Meal Plan & Prep Workbook [https://mailchi.mp/349f088e9b03/mealplanandprepworkbook] Follow and chat with me on Instagram: @thrivelikeamother.podcast [https://www.instagram.com/thrivelikeamother.podcast/] @thrive.empowered [https://www.instagram.com/thrive.empowered/] Sending you light and love always!

Choosing alignment over fear after surviving cancer | Sarah Beaver

What happens when life forces you to stop ignoring yourself? In this deeply honest conversation, Sarah Beaver returns to the Thrive Like a Mother podcast to share what happened after surviving stage 3 cancer, taking a year away from work, and making the life-changing decision to leave her 27-year corporate career behind. This episode is about intuition, burnout, survival mode, nervous system healing, and learning how to trust yourself enough to choose a different life — even when the path ahead isn’t fully clear. Sarah opens up about: * The moment she knew she couldn’t go back to corporate * How cancer became a wake-up call * The cost of ignoring your intuition * Rebuilding life as a single mom * Why podcasts, journaling, meditation, and community changed her life * The pressure women feel to “have the whole plan” * Moving from survival mode into intentional living If you’ve been feeling the quiet nudge that something in your life needs to change… this episode might be the confirmation you’ve been waiting for. Connect with Sarah: Instagram: @itssarahbeaver [https://www.instagram.com/itssarahbeaver/] Podcast: Creating Sunshine [https://open.spotify.com/show/53hAR7FnlCNuqkxrLAIJxc?si=d4f3b0501b584a53] Free Resource: Sunshine Moments [https://creating-sunshine.kit.com/17f32f8dba?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPOTM2NjE5NzQzMzkyNDU5AAGnFOFRcsPxFo-bhN8TLqGDnhd0J0i1tjB14PRJ1oWpjD179EtxxAS7tB1Vb_w_aem_LkE85gw5QMlhGtysgxfblg&utm_id=97760_v0_s00_e0_tv3] Stay up to date on in-person events in Atlanta: Thrive Empowered in-person events [https://www.thriveempoweredllc.com/] Free Resources: Meal Plan & Prep Workbook [https://mailchi.mp/349f088e9b03/mealplanandprepworkbook] Follow and chat with me on Instagram: @thrivelikeamother.podcast [https://www.instagram.com/thrivelikeamother.podcast/] @thrive.empowered [https://www.instagram.com/thrive.empowered/] Sending you light and love always!

I almost left God out of my story | Becoming a bestselling author Pt. 2

In part two of this deeply personal series, Ebony shares what happened after she finally faced her story… and what it looked like to actually write it. As she worked through multiple drafts of her chapter, she realized something was missing: God. In this episode of Thrive Like a Mother, Ebony opens up about growing up feeling fatherless, wrestling with the belief that God had abandoned her, and the fear of fully including that part of her story in her book chapter. This conversation explores: * Why vulnerability feels harder on paper * The spiritual tension of feeling abandoned by God * How healing strengthened both self-trust and faith * What it means to stop editing your truth * Why becoming a bestselling author transformed her identity beyond writing Ebony also shares the unbelievable story of how this book opportunity wasn’t even originally meant for her — proving that sometimes God is positioning you long before you realize it. If you’ve ever questioned your purpose, struggled with self-worth, or felt afraid to fully own your story… this episode will meet you there. 📖 Join the Book Launch Team Be You Brand Volume 3 officially releases on September 1st, and I would love for you to be part of this journey with me. By joining the launch team, you’ll get: ✨ Early digital access to the book before the public release ✨ A first look at my full chapter and story ✨ Behind-the-scenes updates throughout launch week ✨ Opportunities to support and celebrate this project alongside our community If these episodes resonated with you, this book will take you even deeper. 🔗 Join the launch team here: https://atigbranding.myflodesk.com/supporttheauthors [https://atigbranding.myflodesk.com/supporttheauthors] Stay up to date on in-person events in Atlanta: Thrive Empowered in-person events [https://www.thriveempoweredllc.com/] Free Resources: Meal Plan & Prep Workbook [https://mailchi.mp/349f088e9b03/mealplanandprepworkbook] Follow and chat with me on Instagram: @thrivelikeamother.podcast [https://www.instagram.com/thrivelikeamother.podcast/] @thrive.empowered [https://www.instagram.com/thrive.empowered/] Sending you light and love always!

The story I had to finally face | Becoming a bestselling author Pt. 1

This episode is layered. In part one of this two-part series, Ebony takes listeners behind the scenes of her journey to becoming a bestselling author — a process that began long before writing the chapter itself. Before Sedona. Before the manuscript. Before the words hit the page. There was story mining. In this deeply personal conversation, Ebony shares what it looked like to revisit painful memories, face the abuse she had only spoken about out loud before, and uncover the thread connecting her survival, healing, motherhood, and purpose. This episode explores: * What “story mining” actually is * Why writing trauma feels different than speaking it * The connection between self-trust and healing * How surviving shaped the woman, coach, and mother she is today * Why thriving begins when we stop abandoning ourselves in the middle of our story If you’ve ever wondered how your pain connects to your purpose… this episode will meet you there. Stay up to date on in-person events in Atlanta: Thrive Empowered in-person events [https://www.thriveempoweredllc.com/] Free Resources: Meal Plan & Prep Workbook [https://mailchi.mp/349f088e9b03/mealplanandprepworkbook] Follow and chat with me on Instagram: @thrivelikeamother.podcast [https://www.instagram.com/thrivelikeamother.podcast/] @thrive.empowered [https://www.instagram.com/thrive.empowered/] Sending you light and love always!

You don’t have the same capacity anymore and that’s okay with Samantha Edu

There are seasons where you feel like you can do it all… …and then there are seasons where even the smallest things feel heavy. In today’s episode, I’m sitting down with returning guest Samantha Edu, Licensed Professional Counselor and DEI practitioner , to talk about what it really looks like to slow down without losing yourself. We’re unpacking: * What it means to “meet the moment” instead of pushing through * The difference between a “vase season” and a “teacup season” * How self-abandonment shows up in subtle, everyday ways * Why your body is always communicating with you (and how to listen) * The power of doing one brave thing to begin healing Have you been feeling stretched thin, disconnected from yourself, or like your capacity just isn’t what it used to be? This conversation will help you breathe again. Connect with Samantha: Website: SamanthaEdu.com [https://www.samanthaedu.com/] Instagram: @brownheartwellness [https://www.instagram.com/brownheartwellness/] YouTube: Brown Heart TV [https://www.youtube.com/@BrownHeartTV/featured] Stay up to date on in-person events in Atlanta: Thrive Empowered in-person events [https://www.thriveempoweredllc.com/] Free Resources: Meal Plan & Prep Workbook [https://mailchi.mp/349f088e9b03/mealplanandprepworkbook] Follow and chat with me on Instagram: @thrivelikeamother.podcast [https://www.instagram.com/thrivelikeamother.podcast/] @thrive.empowered [https://www.instagram.com/thrive.empowered/] Sending you light and love always!