The Mom Hour

In a year that changed nearly everything about how humans connect and communicate, it’s no surprise that friendships in motherhood have changed. Some deepened over the past year, as the pandemic gave us new ways to bond (and hard stuff to get real about). Some fell away, strained by distance or differences. And pandemic or no pandemic, not every close friendship is created equal, and they all go through seasons of change. In today’s episode, part one of two all about friendships in motherhood, Meagan and Sarah look at “ride or die” friendships (including a critical look at what that even means). We talk about ways close friends can show up for each other when things are hard, how close friendships have adapted over the past year, and what to keep in mind if you’re missing or grieving close friendships in your life right now. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Listen to Meagan’s new interview show Mother of Reinvention wherever you get your podcastsYou can see all the public comments from which we drew our community feedback on this Instagram post and (if you’re in the group) this Facebook Group conversationYou might like this episode: The Myth Of The Mom TribeAnd this one: Female Friendships & Women We AdmireMORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our habits around media consumption are as unique as each of us is–and, when you think about it, there are quite a few little details that go into how each of us decides when, how, and where to listen to a podcast or pick up a book–not to mention the actual what of the content itself. Today’s More Than Mom episode is a look at how Meagan and Sarah currently consume their listening and reading media, from bluetooth struggles to library holds. As we go, we’ll recommend some shows and titles we’ve enjoyed so far this year too. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Meagan’s new podcast, Mother of Reinvention, just launched – check it out!We mentioned listening to podcasts on Pocketcasts and SpotifyPodcasts we mentionedRenegades: Born in the USAThe Ezra Klein ShowDare to Lead with Brene BrownUp FirstThe DailyDolly Parton’s AmericaMasters of ScaleHow I Built ThisOffice Ladies PodcastArmchair Expert with Dax ShepardBooks we mentionedThe Outlander Series (affiliate link)The Psychology of Money: Timeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness by Morgan Housel(affiliate link)Keep Sharp: Build A Better Brain At Any Age by Sanja Gupta (affiliate link)Sarah uses Goodreads to track her booksMeagan mentioned Nora Jane Struthers, a listener who is a musicianMORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Imagine being 13, the daughter of an influential megachurch pastor…and pregnant. That’s how Sarah Jakes Roberts began her journey to motherhood – and she grappled with feelings of shame and questions surrounding her self-worth while wondering if she could ever afford to “dream big” again. Today, Sarah is a happily married mom of six kids, a pastor and sought-after speaker, and five-time book author. In today’s Voices episode, Sarah tells Meagan about her journey from scared teen mom to mentor and leader, why she encourages moms to seek “soul care” as well as self-care, and how to dig deep to work toward purpose in your life.LINKS MENTIONED:Check out Sarah’s new book, Woman Evolve, coming out April 6!Connect with Sarah on Instagram, Facebook and TwitterSarah has a podcast called The Woman Evolve PodcastMORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

One year ago, springtime plans got canceled, Easter dinners and baby showers and birthday parties and all the rest vanished from our calendars one event after another. As we shake off winter and look at the spring of 2021, there’s something in the air. We know we’re not out of the pandemic woods, but there’s a feeling of optimism that was missing last year, and we’re leaning all the way into it. In Episode 306 Meagan and Sarah share spring memories from when our kids were little, favorite rituals and traditions that make the season special, and what specific springtime activities we’re embracing with extra gratitude this year in particular. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Meagan’s new podcast, Mother of Reinvention, launched last week – check it out!Sarah loved this podcast episode and called it “science-backed optimism”: Finally, a Covid Conversation You Can Feel Good About (The Ezra Kline Show)Our 2019 episode about spring and Easter would pair nicely with this one! Spring Traditions & Spring Books For Kids: Episode 202Sarah always falls back on this lamb cake tutorial when making theirs every year, and also has a highlight saved on her personal Instagram @powersofmineMORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Desiring a family culture of travel and adventure is one thing; pulling it off–and paying for it–is another thing altogether. But just because you’re not jetting off to international destinations doesn’t mean you and your family can’t cultivate that adventure spirit in meaningful ways. In today’s episode, Part Three in our series on family travel, Meagan looks back at many years of family adventures and meaningful memory-making. She offers validation for moms whose travel dreams don’t match up with their current reality, and makes a case for letting your kids see you handle travel’s ups, downs, and hassles with flexibility and a sense of humor. This is the pep talk we all need before hitting the road in 2021!This episode is part of our 3-part series Travel Stories To Inspire Your Next Family Adventure (Whenever The Time Comes). Listen to the whole series from this page.MORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Have you ever dreamed of taking your family on the road? It’s tempting–especially with the changes to work and school many families have experienced this past year. Chelsey Christiansen is a full-time working mom, and she and her husband and toddler son currently work and travel full-time out of their fifth-wheel camper. In today’s episode, Part Two in our three-part series on family travel, Meagan and Sarah chat with Chelsey to find out what road-living is like with a toddler, what they’ve learned about sharing a small space with a growing family, and how learning to roll with the punches of family travel have helped her become a more confident mom in general.This episode is part of our 3-part series Travel Stories To Inspire Your Next Family Adventure (Whenever The Time Comes). Listen to the whole series from this page.LINKS MENTIONED:All our travel archives are hereMORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Taking small kids on a trip is daunting: Where and how will everyone sleep? Can a rental cottage be baby-proofed? How will little ones used to a schedule and the structure of home deal with time zone changes and grandparents whose house rules differ from what they’re used to? In Part One of our three-part series on family travel, Sarah looks back on her extensive experience traveling with babies, toddlers, and kids–especially trips to the grandparents’ and in-laws’–and shares what worked, what didn’t, and what she’d do differently.This episode is part of our 3-part series Travel Stories To Inspire Your Next Family Adventure (Whenever The Time Comes). Listen to the whole series from this page.LINKS MENTIONED:Sarah has spoken at length about air travel with small kidsAll our travel archives are hereMORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Planning meals for the week is one thing; pulling them off is another altogether. In this fourth installment of our popular Week Of Real-Life Dinners series, Meagan and Sarah share what we served and ate the week of March 8, 2021. From springtime twitterpation that led to spontaneous fast-food tacos, to a reptilian kitchen squatter, things did not go as planned for us that week–which is part of the fun. We also share real-life meals served by listeners who wrote in with their own meal plans. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Read the real-life dinner menus submitted by our listeners in this blog postListen to more of our Week of Real-Life Dinners episodesMeagan’s recipe for Pork and Sweet Potato HashMORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s always a toss-up: when discussing a new topic, will Meagan and Sarah be EXACTLY ALIKE (to the point that it’s almost weird) or TOTALLY OPPOSITE? Turns out when it comes to our fantasy kitchens, we have a lot in common. Join us for a fun More Than Mom deep dive into the kitchens we grew up watching on television and in movies, thoughts on current home design trends and how we feel about them, and what our dream kitchens would look like. Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:Meagan mentioned this article when we talked about those gorgeous movie kitchens from the 90s and 00s: Nancy Meyers’s Kitchens: A Love Letter in 7 Photos (Olivia Hosken for Town & Country)Sarah found this article with more TV kitchens we remember, including Family Ties, The Cosby Show, and Mad About You: 15 TV Kitchens We d Love to Cook In (Kristin Appenbrink for People.com)Sarah has this book by Joanna Gaines: Homebody: A Guide to Creating Spaces You Never Want to Leave(affiliate link)Sarah loves following @houseandgardenuk on InstagramSarah also loves the Living with Kids house tours on Design Mom and also the house tours on A Cup of JoMORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A stay-at-home mom wonders how best to re-enter the workforce, and another listener has questions about how to talk about working motherhood with our young kids. A mom of big kids wants our opinions on when it’s OK to leave them home alone–and how best to get started. Listener voicemails about house rules around swearing and the conflicting emotions of motherhood round out another Listener Questions episode this week. It’s a fun one–join us!LINKS MENTIONED:We mentioned our episode with Career Challenges & Working Mom Strategies: Voices 41 with The Mom Project’s Colleen CurtisSarah referenced Brene Brown’s Dare to Lead Podcast, specifically the two-part episode with Susan DavidCheck out our other Listener Questions episodesYou can access all of our episodes in our archivesMORE HELPFUL LINKS:Visit our websiteCheck out deals from our partnersFollow us on InstagramJoin our private listener group on Facebook (be sure to answer the membership questions!)Sign up for our newsletterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.