The Engine Mom Podcast : Fuel For The Driven Mama | Lifestyle | Motherhood | Wellness | Fitness | Passions | Mindset

This month is a special "New Mamas & Moms-to-be" themed month and in this "Rev" episode, I'm sharing some of the things that I wish I knew as a first-time Mom (very pregnant / newly postpartum). Listen in to hear some of my realizations including: Old wives tales induction / don’t think you can ‘will’ you baby out, baby will come when she’s ready Postpartum check-up: 6 week ‘cleared for exercise’ doesn’t mean jackshit Don’t underestimate the power of a maxi pad for postpartum bleeding Getting dressed while in the hospital Taking things from the hospital Ask questions, even if you feel dumb - write that shit down, you will forget it Get someone to take pictures of you with the baby in the hospital Don’t let the visitors get all the time with the baby Read how to use the carseat and how to properly clip in the baby before going to the hospital Pack maternity clothes to wear home from the hospital As a reminder: registration for my Mastermind program is open and three spots remain! Join us in September

My guest today is Crystal Harizal, the first episode in a special series of interviews specifically geared toward New Mamas and Moms-t0-be. Crystal Harizal, a holistic health practitioner of bodywork and sole proprietor of CrystalMethodBodywork, LLC. She also works as a doula and lactation educator supporting moms in pregnancy, birth and postpartum. She holds over 3,000 credit hours in field of Holistic Health, is a Certified Massage Therapist by California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC), and recently reached her 10,000th massage which includes women in the prenatal and postpartum phases. Listen in to hear more about: how my guest uses a whole person approach with her clients, and how she co-creates an individualized session eliciting self-awareness and growth. how she teaches others how to heal themselves when given the necessary tools what inspired her to become a birth coach and doula her fantastic advice on how to interact and support postpartum families and share the intimate experience of a failed pre

In this "Rev" episode, I'm doing something a little different and decided to share with you all an excerpt from one of my favorite books, which just so happens to be a classic. In Gift From The Sea, Anne Morrow Lindbergh writes an essay-style work by taking shells on the beach for inspiration and reflecting on the lives of Americans, particularly American women, in the mid-20th century. She shares her meditations on youth and age, love and marriage, peace, solitude, and contentment during her visit. This specific excerpt that I share and reflect on resonated so closely with me and my inspiration to start Engine Mom, I felt compelled to share. Listen in to hear more. As a reminder: registration for my Mastermind program is open and three spots remain! Join us in September for Engine Mom: Behind The Wheel, a 6-week accountability program to help you get organized, get motivated and get closer to your goals through the support of other driven Moms. In the 6-weeks, we will focus on setting SMART goals: specific, 

My guest, Lucy Riles is a mom to 3 kids. She is a wife to 1 husband. And is the youngest of 12 kids. She has breastfed and bottle, co-slept and sleep trained. She's fed her kids organic food and also frequents In & Out burger on a weekly basis. She is a huge fan of letting kids play freely outside but has also been known to hover like Marine One. She is practically imperfect in every way. Lucy believes that moms need way more support and far less judgement. Life can be SO hard and we are all doing the best we can on this ride called motherhood. Her virtual village, 'Life of Mom' is designed to celebrate all moms because let’s face it… Moms rock! In this episode we talk about: how social media and viral parenting articles can be intimidating and sometimes fear inducing and why she was inspired to create a safe, virtual community for moms, one that she describes as “a virtual hug” she talks about the challenges of her first pregnancy with a scary diagnosis at 20 weeks pregnant and how that has shaped her a

In this "Rev" episode, I share some recent 'life lessons' that I've learned from my 3-year-old. These lessons include: - showing appreciation and gratitude often - knowing yourself: knowing what you like and what you want and being firm in that - asking questions and staying curious - loving your body - and be silly and authentic Listen in to hear more. I'm excited to announce that registration for my second Mastermind program is open! Join us in September for Engine Mom: Behind The Wheel, a 6-week accountability program to help you get organized, get motivated and get closer to your goals through the support of other driven Moms. In the 6-weeks, we will focus on setting SMART goals: specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based. 1 specific goal for short-term 2x long term goals 6 months & 1 year REGISTER TODAY! Ways to Connect: Schedule a Chat with me: https://www.patreon.com/posts/engine-mom-chats-20418912 Join our Patreon Community: https://www.patreon.com/emom The Engine Mom Podcast i

In 2013, Kristen Carbone had a preventative mastectomy and reconstruction after losing her own mother to breast cancer years earlier. Healing was a journey through sometimes crippling loneliness, nagging body image issues, and a full spectrum of uncomfortable sensations.  After learning that she wasn’t alone in these experiences, the foundation of Brilliantly, her brand and product (to be launched in late 2018) was born. Brilliantly empowers women to embrace their new self by linking resiliency with comfort, vitality, and community. Her hope is that Brilliantly will not only offer support to the women who are walking in an immensely isolating and underserved part of the breast cancer journey but will also have an emotional impact that extends to their families, friends, and communities. Listen in to hear my guest talk about: Her healing journey, how unprepared for it she was, and how that experience motivated her to create her product and start gathering her product development team. How embracing her ‘new n

In this "Rev" episode, I'm talking  about a recent surge that I've noticed of Mom-bashing or women-bashing on social media. I understand that this is public forum and everyone is entitled to their opinions, but how come it has to be with hostility and judgement? It seems as though social media has made it Ok to walk away from civilized conversation and to really dig the trenches between two sides even deeper. In many ways, social media can offer a space to feel supported - support in your opinions, but it can also be a space where if your opinion differs from the masses, you can easily be ‘torn apart’ so to speak by the people that you might call ‘friends’ or acquaintances. Something I have been working on lately is abandoning judgements and practicing more empathy. Listen in to hear more. I'm excited to announce that I will be launching my second Mastermind program in September, Engine Mom: Behind The Wheel. This is a 6-week accountability program to help you get organized, get motivated and get closer to yo

Lauren Golden loves helping mamas free themselves from the 9-5 grind. A wife and mom of 3, she launched The Free Mama Movement to show working moms that they don’t have to choose between family and financial stability. Today, as the fearless leader of The Free Mama Movement and a thriving community of over 3,500 women, Lauren is passionate about showing other moms how to start and run a successful freelancing business from home. Listen in today as Lauren and I talk about: why she’s not a fan of hustle but rather, working smarter the importance of vulnerability when it comes to launching your at-home business why you dont have to reinvent the wheel when it comes to your business, if you’re the only one out there doing what you’re doing, it’s probably because there isn’t a need for it she explains why simple does not equal easy and she reminds us that you do not need to have a million credentials or hours of professional development under your belt to put yourself out there Links Mentioned in Episode: http://

In this "Rev" episode, I'm talking all about the power of support groups and Masterminds. I've been involved with both in-person and virtual support groups and Masterminds: everything from a new moms group and breastfeeding support, to accountability groups for the gym and business Masterminds. A few benefits that I have personally experienced from Masterminds include: goal setting connecting with others sharing successes and assessing struggles seeking advice or additional support accountability gratitude meeting people I may not have otherwise connected with & networking I'm excited to announce that I will be launching my second Mastermind program in September, Engine Mom: Behind The Wheel. This is a 6-week accountability program to help you get organized, get motivated and get closer to your goals through the support of other driven Moms. In the 6-weeks, we will focus on setting SMART goals: specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based. 1 specific goal for short-term 2x long term goals

Jessica Dahlquist is a military wife, mom of three boys, and host of the Extraordinary Moms Podcast, where she interviews different moms who share their motherhood journeys and the lessons they've learned along the way. Jessica lives in Southern California, and loves to sing, bake, read, watch her boys' soccer games, and learn from other moms. In her former life, she was an elementary school teacher. Listen in to hear Jessica talk about: what she’s learned as a mom of three and the important lesson of knowing your kids, what ‘fills them up’ and how giving them the attention that they crave builds strong relationships her tips on positive parenting which include focusing on acknowledgements and celebrating tiny wins versus only focusing on the negative why its important to remember that even if you’re not a first time mom, when you have a new baby - you are ultimately a new mom to that baby and to understand that there is a learning curve that comes with that time in your life she talks about what inspired he

In this "Rev" episode, I share some upcoming improvements and shifts for the podcast after some realizations I had while attending Podcast Movement. I also am excited to open up Engine Mom Listener Chats, a way for me to connect with YOU, the listeners and learn more about about you - what your family is like? What are you passionate about that are you are currently pursuing? What are you struggling with? What would you like to hear more of on the show? Let's talk! Use the link below to schedule your 15 minute call with me. Finally, I talk about gratitude and give a little homework so that you can practice simple expressions of gratitude every day. Schedule a Chat with me: https://www.patreon.com/posts/engine-mom-chats-20418912 Join our Patreon Community: https://www.patreon.com/emom Support for this podcast comes from listeners like you! For the price of a cup of coffee, you can help make episodes like this one possible. AND you’ll be contributing to the growth of The Engine Mom movement which includes bi-

Dr. Sophia Reed is a National Certified Counselor with a Master's degree in marriage and family therapy and a PhD in Human Behavior. Her passion is teaching women how to make boss moves while keeping God first. She is a devoted single mother and seeks to strengthen Christian women through her writing. To this end, Sophia created the Sophie-stication Mom, her online platform where she dispenses advice on everything from relationships to business, to looking good on a budget and shares stories from her community Listen in to hear Sophia talk about: how her evolving relationship with God and being a single mother influenced her current work why she strives to make prayer more accessible to all women, especially to single Moms her goals to be as real as possible when presenting herself as a Christian and a professional how she uses stories from the Bible and relates them to present day scenarios to empower women and how working in a juvenile correctional facility as a young woman inspired strategies for her pare

In this "Rev" episode, I talk about fitness during pregnancy and the differences between my first pregnancy and my current pregnancy, and what I am currently focusing on in the gym. I also talk about the mindset shift that is necessary for training during this time, ie: the "Why? Behind training". I give a little background about my postpartum return to fitness with my first baby, but stay tuned for another REV episode specific to the postpartum period and return to fitness. Were you active during your pregnancy? What do you *wish* you knew about training while pregnant?  Feel free to leave a comment on instagram over at @the_engine_mom. Support for this podcast comes from listeners like you! For the price of a cup of coffee, you can help make episodes like this one possible. AND you’ll be contributing to the growth of The Engine Mom movement which includes bi-weekly episodes and bonus content, virtual support and mastermind groups, online coaching and so much more. Head on over to our Patreon page at patreo

My guest today, Jaime Hanson is a wife and Mama and passionate about the importance of flexible work opportunities as a way for women to balance their desire to have a career and to enjoy motherhood. She is a copywriter and content marketing strategist who helps women entrepreneurs tell their story so they can grow their own flexible home businesses. And, she has an entire arm of her business dedicated to training and employing writers within her content agency so they can have flexible work opportunities. Jaime's passion for flexible work opportunities stems from her own experience in needing to support her family after moving thousands of miles away from her 'glamorous' LA lifestyle working in writing room at ShondaLand and as a producer at Entertainment Tonight. Listen in to hear Jaime talk about: What motivated her to transition into a work-from-home position, and eventually launch her own business How you can start exploring the world of flexible work opportunities and why it’s so important to support o

In this "Rev" episode, I share some recent experiences in picking my battles, mostly in my home life. This is something I have been working on a lot lately. I'm kind of a control-freak and I like things done my way, on my timeline and unfortunately, with a household that includes another adult, a toddler and a dog, life isn't always about me any more *shocking, I know*. Despite the fact that I find myself more exhausted and less patient during pregnancy, I know that in order to maintain harmony within the household, I have to learn to pick my battles when it comes to getting upset about the little things. Instead, I am focusing on the bigger picture and trying to shift my mindset and perspective in order to put myself into the position of the person who just so happens to be pushing my buttons (in this case, my husband or daughter). I think it's easy for us to take out anger and frustration on the people we love the most and in this episode I explain the things I am doing lately to keep the peace and be a bet

My guest today is Cordelia Gaffar, a wife and mother to 6 (yes, 6 children!), an author, speaker, and holistic life coach who helps women heal by building a system of self-nurturing through nutrition, movement and sweet talk. She is also the host of the Replenish Me Show, a video and podcast series for moms to gain productivity and health strategies from successful moms. After the birth of her second child, she sought medical attention for postpartum depression and extreme weight gain which led to her to studies in healing herself from the inside out. In less than a year, she lost over 60 pounds and regained clarity and calm. Listen in today to hear Cordelia talk about: how she healed her postpartum depression through diet and movement her favorite ways to move her body and ‘turn back the clock’ how she works with a variety of clients navigating life transitions, finding spirituality and healing emotionally and physically her experience with becoming a Muslim just 2 months before the 9/11 attacks and what th

In this "Rev" episode, I share some recent experiences in putting what I preach in to practice and give you some things to think about this week on how you can start to put the things that you are feeling inspired by in to practice. Some suggestions include: Become that person (ie: “I am the kind of person who gets up early”), which is really just a mindset and self-talk / talk-out-loud shift Make it a mantra (ie: "Be Aware in Your Self Care", "If it’s not a Hell Yes, then it’s a no") Think about those ‘rules to live by’ and simplify them so they are constant reminders and, Practice makes perfect! When you’re faced with a decision where you KNOW you can put some of these mindset shifts or mantras in to practice - do it. The only way you are going to break away from your go-to reactions or habits, is putting the new ones in to practice, How has practicing what you preach (or what others preach) served you? Feel free to leave a comment on instagram over at @the_engine_mom. Support for this podcast comes from li

My guest today is Jennifer Mackey-Mary of Apple and Pear Wardrobe. She’s a mama of two daughters and has a big heart for Moms. As a professional wardrobe stylist, she is passionate about helping and inspiring women to dress well even when they're not dressing up because she knows that when women feel confident in how they look, they show up better for the people in their lives. Jennifer has dressed thousands of women over the last 17 years, having held leadership positions with Chico's, South Moon Under, Gap Maternity...and of course now Apple & Pear. No matter what your body type is, or your style challenges are, she's seen it before, and can help you build a wardrobe you love. Jennifer specialize in helping small business owners and stay/work-at-home women build smart-casual wardrobes that fit their lifestyles and reinforce their brand. She believes getting dressed can, and should be, fun and easy.  So many women Jennifer work with are overwhelmed by overstuffed closets, and yet they still struggle to g

In this "Rev" episode, I share a little story of a recent meltdown. Not had by my toddler, but a meltdown that I had as a result of overwhelm and extreme emotions. I was inspired to share my story to remind other Mamas that if this has happened to you, you are not alone! It's easy to bury emotions, especially in front of our kids - it's also easy to completely reveal those big emotions to our kids. And it's Ok to experience those big emotions and express them. I think it's important for our kids to see us get emotional and work through those emotions, so they know it's Ok to be expressive. We talk a lot about controlling our emotions and learning techniques to reduce stress (ie: deep breathing) which I think is SUPER important, at the same time I also think it's important to give ourselves and our children grace when we have these 'meltdowns'. I hope this story speaks to you. If so, feel free to leave a comment on instagram over at @the_engine_mom. Support for this podcast comes from listeners like you! For

Kelley Sanabria is the Founder and CEO of Femworking, which provides curated masterminds for female entrepreneurs and allows members to be a part of a community of successful entrepreneurs where they can build partnerships and grow their businesses faster. She’s an award winning speaker who loves sharing her signature speech, "Why Women Matter," which explores the current global framework in which women are operating, current women’s issues, what makes women unique, and how the power of sisterhood can change the world. In her inspirational and empowering speech, she teaches audiences the concepts and philosophies women can use to collaborate and bring the feminine to a whole new level. She graduated with a B.A. and M.S. in International Affairs by the age of 21, completing her Master's degree with distinction. She’s worked on the political campaign of a U.S. Senator, at a lobbying firm, and as an International Trade Specialist at Headquarters for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Listen in today to hear Kel