
Mama Knows
I'll go first: Motherhood is a dang rollercoaster and sometimes I feel like I'm just hanging on. My name is Nina and I am the host of Mama Knows. I truly believe that every mama *knows.* Have you ever held your crying child and just said or thought "I know honey." YOU, mama, know what is best for your family and sometimes it's different than what the other mama knows. This podcast is an ongoing, honest conversation around motherhood, mental health, parenting and relationships...the good, bad and funny. Join in weekly for tips, strategies, tools and conversation that will leave you feeling less alone!
Latest episodes

Sep 26, 2023 • 39min
Motherhood Burnout and finding your identity in every season w/Dr. Morgan Cutlip
Dr. Morgan and I have such a honest conversation about motherhood burnout and identity. We talk about it all, and of course big congratulations to Dr. Morgan and her BOOK: Love Your Kids Without Losing Yourself: 5 Steps to Banish Guilt and Beat Burnout When You Already Have Too Much to DoIn this epsiode:
What leads to burnout in motherhood?
Identifying, Preventing and managing burnout in motherhood
Finding your identity in motherhood
-normalizing that we aren’t who we used to be?
-normalizing changing our beliefs and stance?
How do we nurture our relationships in this season of motherhood? Friendships & intimate.
Dr. Morgan Cutlip, PhD in Psychology and highly sought after relationship expert, knows what it feels like to lose yourself in motherhood, and she’s determined to help mothers navigate it better.Throughout her career, she has helped hundreds of thousands of people worldwide learn how to form and maintain healthy relationships.Dr. Morgan has been a featured relationship expert with Good Morning America, Teen Vogue, The New York Times, Women’s Health Magazine, MOPS International, Loveology, and Flo, the #1 app in health and fitness. Her new book, Love Your Kids Without Losing Yourself______________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support!Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mamaknowspodcastFind me on TikTokBalkaninaSubscribe to my NewsletterPrivate Facebook Motherhood-Podcast CommunityMama Knows FBDisclaimer: This podcast does not provide any medical advice, it is for informational purposes only! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 19, 2023 • 39min
First Generational wealth & building an empire as a young entrepreneur w/Kristal Heredia
Today I am chatting with Kristal Heredia of Kristal Heredia and the CEO of Mujeres Social. This woman is a powerhouse, below are some of the things we talked about!
Tell us a little bit about yourself and the jobs you’ve had before you became CEO?
Have you always dreamed of owning a brand and or agency and what steps did it take to get here?
What are the top 3 pieces of advice do you have for women entrepreneurs?
What does first generational wealth look life for you from the emotional and family dynamic perspective? (Do you feel like you have to or want to take care of everyone)
What’s your best advice to a woman who wants to build a social media brand?
How has and do you think will becoming a mom to a daughter impact your business, your business outlook and the direction you want to take your brand?
Kristal Heredia is a Latina digital entrepreneur who has grown her brand from the ground up. She prides herself on the strong-knit community she has cultivated through her self-love and body positivity movement! Her purpose is to help women love themselves while simultaneously taking back their power! Her work does not stop there. She has partnered up with many reputable brands to bring awareness and be a voice for curvy women all over the world! You can view her work on Instagram, Youtube, Pinterest, and TikTok.Before infiltrating the industry in the most positive way, She was just a girl sharing her passions out of Connecticut. Born into a family of all boys, having three older brothers truly molded her into the strong leader she is. She has created a solution-based business within her own content and also her Talent Agency where she has prioritized diversity and inclusivity. She is a voice that will never go un-wavered and her main goal is to always prioritize showing up and being that representation she so badly needed growing up. As Kristal leans into motherhood, she is actively leaving her mark on social media to create a world in which her daughter can see herself proudly represented in the media.______________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support!Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mamaknowspodcastFind me on TikTokBalkaninaSubscribe to my NewsletterPrivate Facebook Motherhood-Podcast CommunityMama Knows FBDisclaimer: This podcast does not provide any medical advice, it is for informational purposes only! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 12, 2023 • 34min
Does your school age kid have behavioral challenges? w/Nicole Burke
In this episode we dive into behavioral challenges in school age kids! Nicole is an educator at heart and school counseling is her passion. She received a B.A. in Elementary Education from Rhode Island College and a M.A. in School Counseling from Providence College. Being in education for the last 12 years he has taught grades 1-3 and has served as an elementary, middle, and high school counselor in Rhode Island. Nicole has received district teacher of the year and serves on her administrative team. Being a mom of two amazing little ones has shaped her way of teaching and counseling. Her 5 year old is starting Kindergarten and she is utilizing strategies from her daily practice to help emotionally prepare him for the big day!1. As an educator how do you determine if a student has behavioral challenges?2. What can I do as a parent before school starts to prepare my child for school emotionally?3. School has started- how can I continue to foster a home school relationship4. Tips and tricks, things that I have seen parents do that really work and support students with behavioral challenges and things that failNicoles Instagram!__________________________________________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support!Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mamaknowspodcastFind me on TikTokBalkaninaSubscribe to my NewsletterPrivate Facebook Motherhood-Podcast CommunityMama Knows FBDisclaimer: This podcast does not provide any medical advice, it is for informational purposes only! ______________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support!Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mamaknowspodcastFind me on TikTokBalkaninaSubscribe to my NewsletterPrivate Facebook Motherhood-Podcast CommunityMama Knows FBDisclaimer: This podcast does not provide any medical advice, it is for informational purposes only! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 5, 2023 • 40min
Are you a Spicy Mom? Do you have a Spicy Kid? w/Mary Van Geffen
We are talking to Mary Van Geffen today who is the queen of all things SPICY moms and kids. I love talking to Mary and today I am just bragging her up on her course MOSO. Moms of Spicy ones is a course I took that truly changed the way I see myself as a mother and the way that I choose to parent. In fact, I loved it so much I asked Mary if she would give my listeners a discount code for her NEXT class starting SEPTEMBER 12. USE CODE BALKANINA for $20 off your MOSO (or any other) course LINKED HERE. In this episode:
What does it mean to be a spicy one?
I want to talk about your course and what it did for me and what others have said it has done for them…
What are 3(+) easy ways / things I can start doing now to mold myself to compliment my spicy one?
What are some ways I can help my parenting partner mold to our spicy one along side me?
MARY's Instagram! Mary's Courses. ______________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support!Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mamaknowspodcastFind me on TikTokBalkaninaSubscribe to my NewsletterPrivate Facebook Motherhood-Podcast CommunityMama Knows FBDisclaimer: This podcast does not provide any medical advice, it is for informational purposes only! ______________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support!Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mamaknowspodcastFind me on TikTokBalkaninaSubscribe to my NewsletterPrivate Facebook Motherhood-Podcast CommunityMama Knows FBDisclaimer: This podcast does not provide any medical advice, it is for informational purposes only! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 29, 2023 • 37min
Nurturing Mental Health in Adolescent Students w/ Julia
In this episode we dive into Mental Health in students grades 9-12. This is such an important topic because these ages are so difficult with hormonal changes and emotional control! I am chatting with Julia McClannon who specializes in social and emotional learning/resilience and mental health for all ages - but particularly for early childhood and adolescence! Here are the questions we discussed:1. What stands out to you in terms of the mental health of your high school students? Patterns, trends, etc. 2, What are some red flags or warning signs to look for in my child? 3. What resources do you think we need as parents to help our kids navigate their emotional well-being?4. For the parents of little that are listening…How do we lay the foundation when our kids are younger to support emotional and mental health/resilience as they enter their teens?5. How do I start being better for my kids now if I feel like it’s too late? 6. As a teacher, what kinds of things do you have in place to help your students with their mental health?Julia's Instagram Page! ______________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support!Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mamaknowspodcastFind me on TikTokBalkaninaSubscribe to my NewsletterPrivate Facebook Motherhood-Podcast CommunityMama Knows FBDisclaimer: This podcast does not provide any medical advice, it is for informational purposes only! ______________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support!Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mamaknowspodcastFind me on TikTokBalkaninaSubscribe to my NewsletterPrivate Facebook Motherhood-Podcast CommunityMama Knows FBDisclaimer: This podcast does not provide any medical advice, it is for informational purposes only! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 22, 2023 • 38min
Kindergarten Here We Come W/Melissa of @thekindergartenmom
Questions we covered in this episode:1. Self-help skills: What are children required to do as they enter kindergarten ?2. Social/emotional development: Fears around starting Kindergarten and what parents can do to help with separation anxiety.3. What and how to pack: What do children need to bring to school? (Clothing, lunch/snack, etc.)4. Toileting! How to help your child be independent with their toileting5. What does the learning look like in Kindergarten? What is play-based inquiry learning and how is it conducted in the classroom?Melissa Markus is a Teacher and Mom of 2! She has a Master’s in Child Study and Education with a focus on Kindergarten, the Early Years, Special Education and the Arts.Melissa started the social media account @thekindergartenmom as a vehicle to provide parents and teachers with DIY lessons and activities for children at home and in the classroom. Melissa also facilitates a virtual seminar called ‘The Kindergarten Crash Course’ where she provides parents with an in-depth and interactive presentation on the complexities of Kindergarten and how they can best prepare and support their children during this new and exciting transition!Links: ‘The Kindergarten Crash Course’ recording available through the link in her IG!Instagram: @thekindergartenmom_______________________________________________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support!Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mamaknowspodcastFind me on TikTokBalkaninaSubscribe to my NewsletterPrivate Facebook Motherhood-Podcast CommunityMama Knows FBDisclaimer: This podcast does not provide any medical advice, it is for informational purposes only! ______________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support!Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mamaknowspodcastFind me on TikTokBalkaninaSubscribe to my NewsletterPrivate Facebook Motherhood-Podcast CommunityMama Knows FBDisclaimer: This podcast does not provide any medical advice, it is for informational purposes only! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 15, 2023 • 28min
Part 2: How we parent together w/Tom & Nina
Nina and Tom continue their discussion on parenting and how they handle hiccups that toddler life brings_______________________________________________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support!Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mamaknowspodcastFind me on TikTokBalkaninaSubscribe to my NewsletterPrivate Facebook Motherhood-Podcast CommunityMama Knows FBDisclaimer: This podcast does not provide any medical advice, it is for informational purposes only! ______________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support!Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mamaknowspodcastFind me on TikTokBalkaninaSubscribe to my NewsletterPrivate Facebook Motherhood-Podcast CommunityMama Knows FBDisclaimer: This podcast does not provide any medical advice, it is for informational purposes only! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 8, 2023 • 44min
Part 1: How we parent together w/Tom & Nina
In this episode we took questions that were submitted on IG and answered them based on how we parent our kids and things we have learned along the way as a husband and wife navigating parenting. 1. How we handle toxic family members or in-laws.2. How we handle and combat different views on parenting styles.3. How to handle disagreement in parenting choices.4. How do we encourage sibling love.5. How to handle a public tantrum/meltdown vs. undesirable behavior6. How do we handle when we argue in front of the kids.AND MORE!_______________________________________________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support!Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mamaknowspodcastFind me on TikTokBalkaninaSubscribe to my NewsletterPrivate Facebook Motherhood-Podcast CommunityMama Knows FBDisclaimer: This podcast does not provide any medical advice, it is for informational purposes only! ______________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support!Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mamaknowspodcastFind me on TikTokBalkaninaSubscribe to my NewsletterPrivate Facebook Motherhood-Podcast CommunityMama Knows FBDisclaimer: This podcast does not provide any medical advice, it is for informational purposes only! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 1, 2023 • 47min
Mindset Shift in Motherhood w/ Tessa Romero
Are you sometimes guilty of getting into your own head and making many motherhood tasks negative? Today I am chatting with Tessa Romero about Mindset Shift. Tessa is a coach that specializes in motherhood and mindset. Mindset is the start of everything in your life. If you choose to tell yourself that YOU CAN and that YOU ARE GOOD then YOU will THRIVE! Thoughts create feelings. Are you ready to shift your mindset? Find Tessa on InstagramTessa's FREE Masterclass Tessa's Podcast, Mind Body Alignment________________________________________________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support!Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mamaknowspodcastFind me on TikTokBalkaninaSubscribe to my NewsletterPrivate Facebook Motherhood-Podcast CommunityMama Knows FBDisclaimer: This podcast does not provide any medical advice, it is for informational purposes only!______________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support!Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mamaknowspodcastFind me on TikTokBalkaninaSubscribe to my NewsletterPrivate Facebook Motherhood-Podcast CommunityMama Knows FBDisclaimer: This podcast does not provide any medical advice, it is for informational purposes only! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 25, 2023 • 46min
Vanilla Sex, Butt stuff & Sex after baby w/ Vanessa & Xander
Vanessa and Xander Marin, your new BFF couple friends! She’s a sex therapist with 20 years of experience and he’s a regular dude. Together they’re the shockingly open, slightly nerdy, and seriously funny couple you want to grab sushi with. They share the ups and downs in their relationship while giving you step-by-step techniques for improving yours. Follow them on IG @vanessamarintherapy, tune in to their podcast, Pillow Talks, and join their email list at vmtherapy.com for totally do-able sex tips, practical relationship advice, hilarious and honest stories of what really goes on behind closed bedroom doors, and so much more. It’s the sex education you WISH you’d had!They're joining us today to talk about all things sex. I compiled a list of YOUR top asked questions and they're breaking them down for us. Including about butt stuff, vanilla sex, sex after baby and more!Check out these courses:Finishing School (if you hav trouble orgasming, this is a must) Rediscovering DesireModern Man's GuideThe Passion ProjectVanessa & Xander's IG________________________________________________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support!Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mamaknowspodcastFind me on TikTokBalkaninaSubscribe to my NewsletterPrivate Facebook Motherhood-Podcast CommunityMama Knows FBDisclaimer: This podcast does not provide any medical advice, it is for informational purposes only!______________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support!Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mamaknowspodcastFind me on TikTokBalkaninaSubscribe to my NewsletterPrivate Facebook Motherhood-Podcast CommunityMama Knows FBDisclaimer: This podcast does not provide any medical advice, it is for informational purposes only! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices