

The Mom Hour
Mom Hour Media
Co-hosts Meagan Francis and Sarah Powers offer practical tips and real-life encouragement for moms who want to enjoy motherhood more, and cut back on comparison, worry, and stress. We’re not experts, we’re moms who’ve been there. We’re not perfect, we’re real. Welcome to The Mom Hour, where you'll find more than 800 episodes on parenting and motherhood at every stage. Production of new episodes ended in June 2025; enjoy the back catalog!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 27, 2019 • 12min
BONUS: The Story Behind The “Surfboard Kid” Viral Photo…
That “surfboard kid” meme you’ve seen all over the internet? That’s a photo of Meagan and her son Isaac in 2003. We’re popping in with the full backstory on the photo, how the meme took off without our knowledge or Meagan’s permission, and what we’re doing to bring the focus back to the real story.Watch the video backstory here.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.

Feb 26, 2019 • 48min
Birth Order, Siblings, And Families Of Origin: Episode 197
Meagan’s a youngest, Sarah’s a firstborn, and between us we have eight kids (not to mention a bunch of grown siblings ourselves). In Episode 197 we share insights into sibling relationships from little to grown, what it’s like raising a kid whose personality is similar to yours, and how our families of origin continue to influence our parenting styles–PLUS some fun and little-known facts about us and our kids that we haven’t shared before!LINKS MENTIONED:What Fresh Hell podcast’s episodes on similar topics: Why Are Our Kids Such Total Opposites? Episode 68, Middle Kids – Episode 93, and Birth Order- Parenting Each Child Best (More or Less) – Episode 13MORE 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.

Feb 24, 2019 • 50min
More Than Mom: Products We Love
Best purchase we’ve made recently? Product we can’t believe we lived so long without? Splurges that were worth it and cheapos we love? Meagan and Sarah talk STUFF in this fun more than mom — all about the products and purchases that have made our lives better recently. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:Meagan’s product mentions:Revlon One Step Hair Dryer & VolumizerBissell Cleanview Upright Bagless Vacuum CleanerKitchenAid KEK1222PT 1.25-Liter Electric Kettle – PistachioSafavieh Monaco Vintage Boho Multicolored Distressed RugSarah’s product mentions:L’Ange Aplatir Flat IronGoody Styling Essentials Start Style Finish Hair Brush, Ventjomparis Modern 12″ Battery Operated Silent & Non-Ticking Wall Clock (mine is no longer for sale, but this one is similar)Lifetime Folding Utility Table, 6 FeetPolar Products Unisex Kids Original Rain BootsArtemas Power Loomed Rust Area RugMORE 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.

Feb 19, 2019 • 55min
A Week Of Real-Life Dinners (Vol. 2): Episode 196
Meal plans are one thing; real life is another. Join Meagan and Sarah as we look back at a recent week in our lives, detailing the dinners we planned, the ones that came together as expected, and the curve balls that led to pizza ordered in. We also share cooking tips, modifications for picky eaters, recipes, and more. Enjoy!LINKS MENTIONED:The first time we did A Week of Real-Life Dinners (Episode 72, from October 2016)Fellow podcasters at Friendlier and The Girl Next Door were inspired by this idea and did their own take on itMeagan’s son Will’s band’s first gigRecipes from Kelsey’s meal planBaked Creamy Chicken Cheesy Flautas with Guacamole (Jo Cooks)Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad (eMeals) Sarah loves these Bibigo Chicken Vegetable Potstickers, available at CostcoTrader Joe’s items Sarah mentioned: Mandarin Orange Chicken, Cinnamon Swirl Bread (makes great french toast!), red lentil penne pasts, stir-fry vegetable mixMORE 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.

Feb 12, 2019 • 1h 4min
Helping Or Helicoptering? (Part 2): Episode 195
From baby safety to impulsive toddlers, school projects to friendship struggles, as moms we’re given a ton of opportunities to get up in our kids’ business or let them figure it out on their own. This week on the podcast we continue our look at helicopter parenting and the challenge of raising confident, independent kids. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:How To Raise An Adult, by Julie Lythcott-Haims (affiliate link)The Gift of Failure, by Jessica Lahey (affiliate link)Sarah’s Go-To Resources for Parenting Toddlers (a roundup of some great websites and books)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.

Feb 10, 2019 • 47min
More Than Mom: Former Jobs & Style Aspirations
Two things always fun to reminisce about: former jobs (especially the crazy ones) and style evolutions (our own, and fashion in general). Join Meagan and Sarah for a fun More Than Mom episode of The Mom Hour wherein we share weird or embarrassing things we’ve done for money, the fashion decade we’d most like to travel back to, what our prom dresses looked like, and more.LINKS MENTIONED:Sarah’s prom dress, also worn by Elisabeth Shue hereThe Dream, a podcast about MLMs we’ve both been listening toa fun article from Fashionista.com about the costumes in Mary Poppins ReturnsMORE 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.

Feb 5, 2019 • 1h 4min
Helping Or Helicoptering? (Part 1): Episode 194
It’s not as simple as “helicopter” vs. “free range”. It never is, right? Most of us want to raise resilient, fulfilled, happy future-adults, but the trajectory from high-needs infant to self-assured teen is really murky. What distinguishes over-involved from just, um, involved? What about the cultural pressure to produce kids with impressive, well-rounded résumés? And how can we find that elusive sweet spot where we bear witness to our kids growth and change without trying to control every outcome? In Episode 194 of The Mom Hour, Meagan and Sarah start tackling these big questions, in particular looking at ages and stages from baby to teen for opportunities to stretch kids’ independence and let go of our own need for control. PLUS Katie Addiss joins Sarah for our first books talk of 2019–all about fiction for moms. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success (affiliate link), by Julie Lythcott-HaimsOur episode with maternal mental health expert Kate Rope: Strong As A Mother with Kate Rope: The Mom Hour Voices, Episode 26MORE 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.

Feb 1, 2019 • 44min
The Pump & Dump Show: Voices 33
All moms know that parenting is full of hilarious moments…well, hilarious in the “someday you’ll look back and laugh” kind of way. Tracey Tee and Shayna Ferm – friends, moms, comedians and creators of the Pump & Dump show – have turned those funny (and frustrating) moments into a stage show that invites moms to get out of the house, laugh, commiserate and find community. In this interview they talk candidly with Meagan about what it’s really like to leave your kids behind and travel around the country for performances (hint: not as glamorous as it sounds), why they’re so passionate about creating a supportive and judgment-free experience for moms, and why they decided to quit the sport of competitive social media sharing. Also, listen to find out more about the Pump & Dump show and why Meagan can’t wait to see it in March!LINKS MENTIONED:Tour info and tickets for The Pump & Dump ShowThe Pump & Dump Podcast@ThePumpAndDumpShow on InstagramMORE 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.

Jan 29, 2019 • 50min
What’s In Your Motherhood Time Capsule? Episode 193
Everybody is getting rid of stuff…and we’re holding on! At least we’d like to. Join Meagan and Sarah as we talk about the stuff of motherhood–the material things that may not spark joy, but do hold meaning and memories. We build imaginary time capsules as we talk through sippy cup lids and old Lansinoh tubes, plastic baby combs and LEGO creations: these are the things we’re holding onto, if only in our minds.LINKS MENTIONED:Tidying Up with Marie Kondo on NetflixThe Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up (affiliate link)At Home, by Bill Bryson (affiliate link)Stuff, Junk, and Things, Episode 35 where we first talk about the Kondo crazy and our approach to keeping kid clutter in checkMORE 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.

Jan 27, 2019 • 43min
More Than Mom: Grumpiness
Ever have an inexplicably grumpy day? (Please say yes.) Meagan and Sarah chat all things grumpiness in this More Than Mom episode of The Mom Hour. We laugh about our personal grumpiness triggers, how we survive grumpy days as a mom, and even how our personality types play into grumpiness. Join us!LINKS MENTIONED:The episodes where we talk about the Enneagram are Episodes 57 and 58These are the personality tests we’ve taken and talked about on the podcast before: MYERS-BRIGGS test from 16personalities.com and the ENNEAGRAM test from ecclecticenergies.com. After you take the tests, we recommend the full Myers-Briggs type descriptions found here, a more in-depth explanation of the Myers-Briggs letters found here, and the descriptions of the nine Enneagram types found here (scroll to bottom of the page).We talked about our words for the year in Episodes 189 and 190MORE 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.


