Mommywood

Listen as we chat about what we've both been up to over the break...oh boy, it's already quite a wild start to 2025. But season 5 is coming to bring you so much needed joy and community.

Tracey Wigfield Emily and Tracey catch up on their recent moves and family life. Tracey shares details about her three children - Celine (6), Beatrice (4), and William (5 months). Emily mentions having previously taught Tracey's daughters. Tracey's career journey @ 4:49 Tracey discusses her path to becoming a writer, starting in New York on 30 Rock and then moving to LA to work on The Mindy Project, where she met her husband. She reflects on the rapid career progression she experienced early on. Navigating pregnancy and motherhood as a showrunner @ 7:35 Tracey opens up about the anxiety and challenges she has faced telling employers about her pregnancies, even as an established showrunner. She shares insights on managing work-life balance, dealing with guilt, and the differences in her experiences with each pregnancy. Raising kids with family support @ 33:53 Tracey discusses the benefits and challenges of having a multi-generational household, with her parents and other family members helping to care for the children. She reflects on how this has impacted her parenting approach and the kids' development. Maintaining self-care and hobbies @ 42:03 When asked about self-care, Tracey humorously admits to hiding in the bathroom to play a mobile game, acknowledging the difficulty of finding time for personal interests as a working mom.

Alexandra's Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/glow-up-and-speak-out/id1529711040] Reconnecting and Catching Up @ 0:00 Emily and Alexandra reconnect, sharing how their lives have evolved since their early 20s when they knew each other through a mutual ex-boyfriend. They discuss their transitions to New York and Los Angeles, getting married, and starting families. Navigating Pregnancy and Postpartum Challenges @ 2:55 Alexandra describes her difficult pregnancy with severe morning sickness, and how she and her husband navigated the uncertainty of the pandemic. Emily shares her relatively smooth pregnancy, and they discuss the challenges of postpartum recovery, body image, and balancing work and family. The Value of Doulas and Support Systems @ 19:01 Alexandra explains why she chose to have a doula for her hospital birth, and the importance of having a supportive partner and community, especially when living far from family. Emily reflects on not having a doula and the benefits they can provide. Rebuilding Confidence and Creativity @ 37:50 Alexandra opens up about the struggles of rebuilding her confidence and sense of self after pregnancy and childbirth, and how she is navigating the transition back to performing and creative work. Emily shares her own experiences and insights on this journey. Embracing the Joys and Quirks of Motherhood @ 53:36 Alexandra and Emily discuss the delights of watching their children develop their unique personalities and interests, from a love of piano to unusual music preferences. They reflect on the rapid changes and milestones at this stage. Balancing Life in Big Cities @ 58:36 The conversation turns to the challenges and benefits of raising children in major cities like Los Angeles and New York, from navigating transportation to building community without family nearby. They share their perspectives on making it work. Recap and Closing @ 1:03:58 Emily and Alexandra express their appreciation for reconnecting and the insights they've gained from their discussion. They agree to stay in touch and Emily promises to provide updates on the podcast episode.

Maria's background and move to LA @ 1:42 Maria shares that she has a 5-year-old son named Declan and a 2-year-old daughter named Lennox. She discusses her background growing up on the East Coast as a dancer and musical theater performer, and her decision to move to LA after college internships there. Maria's husband's career transition @ 5:47 Maria's husband Patrick was a professional soccer player who retired in 2020 due to injury. He then decided to pursue acting and writing, and he and Maria now co-own a production company together. Navigating career changes and the pandemic @ 8:25 The couple faced significant changes and challenges during the pandemic, including Patrick's injury, career transition, and the births of their two children. Maria reflects on the positives they were able to find during that difficult time. Balancing work, family, and postpartum challenges @ 10:43 Maria discusses the challenges of balancing work, including acting and producing, with raising her young children. She also opens up about her experiences with postpartum depression and the importance of support from her husband and family. Involving the kids in work and creative projects @ 13:21 Maria and her husband have involved their children in some of their acting and commercial work, which has provided opportunities for the family to work together. They are thoughtful about protecting their kids' privacy and ensuring the work remains fun for the children. Reflections on body image and self-acceptance @ 27:43 Maria shares her ongoing journey with body image and self-acceptance, acknowledging the societal pressures and her own internal critic, while also striving to model self-love and confidence for her children. Recap and closing @ 1:09:34 The conversation concludes with Maria and Emily discussing the importance of having a supportive partner, maintaining spiritual practices, and doing the best they can as mothers, even when it's not perfect.

Caroline Helander [https://www.instagram.com/carolinehelander/], an actor born and raised in Texas, fell in love with performing at the age of ten and never looked back. She attended The University of Texas in Austin where she received a BA in Theatre & Dance with a focus in Acting. Caroline is a mother of three, wife, and just your everyday gal. She can be found juggling the life of a creative career and the beautiful yet messy rollercoaster of motherhood. She can be found on social media empowering other moms to follow their hearts in this crazy but incredible journey of being an actor. She resides in Houston with her husband and three kids. Caroline introduces herself as a mom of three kids - a 15-year-old daughter, a 12-year-old son, and an 8-year-old daughter. She discusses the dynamics of having a spread of ages and how it keeps things lively at home. Pursuing acting as a passion and career @ 4:00 Caroline shares how she discovered her love for acting from a young age, starting in theater and student films in college. She describes the winding path of pursuing acting, including moving to New York after college, working at the David Letterman show, and eventually returning to Texas to teach theater. She discusses the mindset shift of embracing acting as a lifelong journey rather than a linear path. Balancing motherhood and acting @ 7:57 Caroline talks about the decision to step back from teaching and focus more on acting after having her third child. She describes the challenges of juggling auditions, self-tapes, and childcare, as well as the support of her husband. She emphasizes the importance of being upfront with agents about her responsibilities as a mom. Maintaining creativity and self-care @ 18:58 Caroline discusses strategies for staying creatively motivated as a mom, including taking breaks from social media and acting work, and making time for self-care activities like exercise. She shares how she has learned to be more present with her kids rather than constantly worrying about her career. The role of family and community @ 1:03:26 Caroline cites having her parents and sister nearby as a key lifesaver, providing support with childcare and allowing her to pursue her acting goals. She emphasizes the importance of building a supportive community, both within the acting world and with fellow moms.