The Stepmom Diaries Podcast

Today's topic is one I haven't talked much about before: stepmom infertility and the challenges around being a childless stepmom. Many stepmoms struggle with infertility and how to cope with being childless. I've spent a lot of time thinking about this over the years. And if I'm being honest, a lot of time trying to understand it all for myself. And coaching myself around my obstacles and mindsets, too. Childless stepmoms can be childless by choice or by circumstance. Either way, it can be a difficult experience. But in today's episode, I'm talking specifically about being childless by circumstance - meaning not because you chose to be. I'll walk through the challenges around stepmom infertility, including the challenges I have faced, and I'll discuss a few coping strategies that have helped me over the years. If you're struggling with being childless by circumstance, I hope this will help you, too. Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "write a review." Then just let me know what you like best! And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I'll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It's normally $49 and it's a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you'll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!

Stepfamily finances and the issues around them are some of the most important but least talked about (at least in advance) landmines that must be navigated in a new blended family. When I met my husband, Craig, we talked about all kinds of things when we were planning to marry and move in together. But you know what we didn't talk about? Stepfamily finances. We did sit down right around when we got engaged to go through each of our assets and debts. And we talked about our philosophy around debt…But that was about the extent of it. There are a ton of things to consider around stepfamily finances. Way too much for just one podcast episode. So today I'm covering my top pieces of advice. These are things that are great to do before you tie the knot or merge your households, but if you're like me and didn't - it's never too late! Links Mentioned In This Episode: Stepfamilymoney.com: Snag your FREE copy of The Top 10 Conversations Every Stepmom Needs To Have About Money. Stepfamily Finances Can Get Sticky: 3 Tips for Parenting Peace, by Cameron Normand for CNET 5 Must-Have Money Conversations Before Becoming A Stepmom, by Cameron Normand for Insider Episode 54, Raising Financial Grownups with Bobbi Rebell Episode 1442, So Money Podcast With Farnoosh Torabi: Financial Advice for Step Parents and Blended Families Financial Tips For Grownups Podcast With Bobbi Rebell: Money Tips For Complicated Families Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "write a review." Then just let me know what you like best! And follow me on Instagram for even more stepmom content!

Dear stepmom, please know you are not alone when you're overwhelmed by big life changes. Whether you've got kids moving away to school, you have a new job, or you're just changing in your season of life, transitions can be tricky for everyone - but especially when you factor in stepfamily dynamics. This episode is all about how to get through those life changes. And I'll walk you through a couple of recent life transitions I experienced this summer and how I dealt with them. Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "write a review." Then just let me know what you like best! For more stepmom resources, visit me at thiscustomlife.com or follow me on Instagram!

Michelle Dempsey-Multack likes to say that her mission in life is to help her clients ensure their children have a co-parenting experience they won't need to recover from. And as a child of divorce who experienced a fairly terrible coparenting dynamic, I so appreciate having her out in the world. About Michelle: Michelle Dempsey-Multack is a Certified Divorce and Co-Parenting Specialist, bestselling author, educator for divorce coaches, and top 1% podcaster known for her ability to inspire and empower moms through their divorce and co-parenting journeys. Michelle's passion for "putting the child first" in the divorce process while helping everyone she reaches feel supported and empowered, makes her a sought-after coach by clients as well as divorce industry professionals from around the globe. Michelle has helped thousands of women find the permission to move on confidently after divorce as they move towards a more intentional and holistic co-parenting experience – one that their kids can be proud of one day. Michelle is the author of Moms Moving On: Real Life Advice on Conquering Divorce, Co-Parenting Through Conflict, and Becoming Your Best Self from Simon and Schuster. Michelle was also a speaker at this year's Stepmom Summit, which if you missed it - it's not too late. You can still access her presentation and all the others HERE. You can find Michelle: On her website: www.michelledempsey.com On Instagram: @themichelledempsey Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "write a review." Then just let me know what you like best!

Last week, we talked about new stepmoms - This week, I'm chatting with one of the OG stepmom coaches, Barb Goldberg, about how to stepmom through life's transitions. I've known Barb, aka the "evil stepmother," for several years. She's an accomplished writer, executive, and coach, and has been one of our most popular speakers at The Stepmom Summit every year. And when I was out in Arizona in May with Beth McDonough, we got to finally meet Barb in person and enjoy a wonderful dinner. We talked about stepmom life, our businesses, and everything in between. And you're going to get a sample of all her amazingness in this episode. About Barb: Barb Goldberg is the author and owner of The Evil Stepmother Speaks website, blog, book, and podcast. As the stepmother to three children and the biological mom to one son, Barb has been through the trenches and understands the challenges of stepmother life. Now, her children are grown and she can look back and teach practical solutions while keeping you laughing along the way. Barb has a Bachelor's degree in Special Education, a Master's degree in Business Administration, and is a certified Dr. Martha Beck life coach. Barb spoke again at this year's Stepmom Summit. [and by the way, if you missed the Stepmom Summit, you can still access presentations from this (and past) years HERE]. You can find Barb: On Instagram: @evilstepmom At theevilstepmotherspeaks.com and StepmomSanctuaryRetreat.com Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "write a review." Then just let me know what you like best!

If you're a new stepmom (or even a not-so-new stepmom) who has struggled, today's guest will speak to you. Because I'm talking to a stepmom coach about how to find your footing. My guest this week is Bee Chatman, a stepmom coach and Operations Manager at the Naja Hall Coaching Agency who helps her stepfamily clients with all the things. About Bee: Bee is an experienced coach and serves as Operations Manager at The Naja Hall Coaching Agency. With 6 years of dedication in the field of coaching, Bee is knowledgeable in life transitions, empathy, and reflective thinking. As a custodial stepmom and military spouse, Bee brings a unique perspective to her stepfamily coaching and has helped stepmoms worldwide. Bee also spoke at our third annual Stepmom Summit back in April about the "ABCs" of how to be an unbothered stepmom. [and by the way, if you missed the Stepmom Summit, you can still access presentations from this (and past) years HERE]. You can find Bee: On Instagram: @chatwithbee On VIP Stepmom HERE Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "write a review." Then just let me know what you like best!

If you've ever felt like you've gotten lost in your relationship or your stepfamily, today's conversation will resonate with you. My guest is relationship crisis coach, Jessica Frew. Jessica is an expert at helping her clients deal with betrayal - recognizing it and coming back from it, all while making sure to keep their sense of self. About Jessica: Jessica Frew is a wife, ex-wife, mom, stepmom, and BOLD action taker. She has a successful podcast called "Husband in Law" that she records with her husband, Matt, and her ex-husband, Steve. Together they are sharing their stories of love, marriage, coming out, divorce, remarriage and co-parenting to help others know they are not alone. She owns The BOLD Logic, a company devoted to helping people figure out the "What NOW?!" after betrayal or having a partner come out. Jessica is a firm believer that by knowing and understanding what it is you really want in life you can BOLDly create a life you love, no matter what your circumstances. Jessica was once again a popular speaker at this year's Stepmom Summit. [and by the way, if you missed the Stepmom Summit last month, you can still grab an all-access pass HERE]. You can find Jessica: On Instagram: @heyjessicafrew On her podcast, husband-in-law On her website: theboldlogic.com Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "write a review." Then just let me know what you like best!

Today's guest is one of my favorite stepmom coaches. She's seen it all and her down-to-earth (and sometimes blunt, but in the best possible way) advice is always spot-on. And regardless of what you may be struggling with in your stepmom life, you'll get great advice from Anita in this episode. About Anita: As a step-child, divorced mother, and step-mother Anita has been part of a step-family for most of her life. This gives her important insight into the varied and complex dynamics at play within step- and divorced families and brings her personal experience and years of mentoring along with graduate and post-graduate qualifications in psychology to her work. As a survivor of childhood trauma she understands the additional challenges being a trauma survivor adds to the step-family dynamic. Feelings of entitlement, not belonging, and negativity from other parties within the dynamic can all be triggering for trauma survivors. Having experienced a very high conflict custody situation and pathogenic parenting, Anita is well versed in how to maintain relationships with children who are experiencing pressure to reject the targeted parent and family. Anita operates from a narrative therapy perspective, believing that the stories we tell ourselves, the stories that are told about us, and the stories of those we interact with, are all key in determining how happy our relationships are. Anita is always one of our most popular speakers at the Stepmom Summit and this year was no exception. [and by the way, if you missed the Stepmom Summit last month, you can still grab an all-access pass HERE]. And Anita is the founder of the Institute of stepfamily dynamics. Anita was also the co-founder of Stepfamily Magazine, which Beth McDonough and I acquired from her last year. You can find Anita: On Instagram: @stepfamilydynamics On her website: step-familydynamics.com Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "write a review." Then just let me know what you like best!

Today's guest is truly "radical." If you haven't listened to her podcast, you've probably seen her relatable, raw, and often funny stepmom posts on Instagram. It's a delight to get to chat with Christina Nelson of Radical Stepmoms about all the things. And Christina gives us a preview of her talk at the Stepmom Summit, the free 3-day event I host for stepmoms, which is THIS WEEK! If you haven't heard me talk about the summit, it's a live, online (did I mention free?) event for stepmoms. We've got 25 of the world's top experts in stepfamily issues talking about all. the. things. You'll walk away with actionable tips and advice that will help your stepmom life - today. Grab your free spot HERE. About Christina: Christina Nelson is a clinical social worker and therapist in Seattle, Washington. As a stepmom, mom and wife, she created the Radical Stepmoms Podcast and is committed to sharing the raw stepmom experience, letting others know they aren't alone. Christina creates a space to support stepmoms and their partners, assisting them in getting unstuck and building the love and life they desire. You can find her: On Instagram: @radicalstepmomspodcast On her website: radicalstepmomspodcast.com

Today we're kicking ass and taking names. Just kidding (kind of) - I'm actually having a discussion with one of the OG's in the online stepmom space, Jamie Scrimgeour, host of The Kickass Stepmom podcast. I always enjoy a chat with Jamie and we are talking about all. the. things. Jamie is also a speaker at our third annual Stepmom Summit next week. The Stepmom Summit will feature presentations, live panels, and coaching with 25 of the world's top stepfamily experts. You can grab your FREE ticket to hear her speak HERE! About Jamie: Jamie is wife, stepmom, and mom to four kids ranging in age from 8 to 20. When she first became a stepmom, she quickly realized that she was in over her head. Disappointed in the type of support available for stepmoms, she decided to create the type of support she was looking for. Now, Jamie is a top charting podcast host, digital creator and Life Coach with a Specialization in Stepfamily Dynamics and the internet's go to for stepmom support. Jamie's loyal community of followers see her as the go to for parenting, lifestyle and personal growth content. Through her podcast, The KICK-ASS Stepmom Podcast and membership, The Exclusive Stepmom Community, Jamie's goal is to inspire women to live their own version of a KICK-ASS Life, while bringing them along as she creates her own. Jamie is a Certified life Coach with a specialization in Stepfamily Dynamics. She has a BA Honors in Psychology, a post grad in Social Service Work, and prior to starting her digital platform, she enjoyed a career in Child Protection. Where You Can Find Jamie: Her website: www.jamiescrimgeour.com Her podcast: www.jamiescrimgeour.com/podcast On Instagram and Facebook At the 2023 Stepmom Summit - grab your ticket HERE! Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "write a review." Then just let me know what you like best!