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The Mom Hour

The most fun you've ever had with two moms you've never met.

in Episodes on May 3, 2016

Online Pals Turned Real-Life Friends (plus, #podcastinginbed): Episode 49

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If you follow us on social media, you probably saw that Meagan and Sarah got to hang out – and record this very podcast episode – in person over the weekend at the Mom 2.0 Summit in Laguna Niguel, CA.

Not only did we get to hang out with one another, we shared a makeshift recording studio (translation: one king-sized hotel bed) with some of our favorite fellow podcasters: Jessica Ashley of Single Mom Nation Radio, Kristen Chase and Liz Gumbinner of Spawned, and Asha Dornfest and Christine Koh of Edit Your Life.

Episode 49 is all about friendships with other moms. You’ll hear each pair of longtime friends  – Meagan/Jessica, Kristen/Liz, Asha/Christine, and Meagan/Sarah – talk about how they met online, when their internet-buddy status morphed into real-life friendship, and what kind of creative opportunities and joint ventures developed as a result.

Podcasting in Bed Collage

Here’s how to find the amazing ladies you heard from in Episode 49

  • Jessica Ashley is the creator of Single Mom Nation and the Single Mom Nation Radio podcast. She and Meagan also have a brand new show forthcoming called The Content Coaches right here on the Life, Listened network!
  • Asha Dornfest is the author of Parent Hacks and creator of ParentHacks.com. Asha and Christine Koh (of Boston Mamas and the Lifestyle Solutions video series) co-authored Minimalist Parenting and co-host the Edit Your Life show
  • Kristen Chase and Liz Gumbinner are the creators of Cool Mom Picks, Cool Mom Tech, and Cool Mom Eats. Together they host Spawned with Kristen and Liz

Meagan Sarah Kids Collage
A huge thanks again to Jessica, Kristen, Liz, Asha and Christine for joining us! Be sure to check out their sites, books and shows to get to know them even better. And we’d love to hear about your online and IRL besties! Leave us a comment or email us at hello@themomhour.com.

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Filed Under: Episodes Tagged With: behind the scenes, podcasting, self

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« Realistic Hair & Skincare Routines: Episode 48
Looking Back, Looking Ahead: Episode 50 »

Comments

  1. Kristen says

    May 4, 2016 at 1:43 pm

    I just listened to the podcast and it was awesome as usual. I love listening to you guys, the fun and the real life non judging discussions! As I realize I have moved out of the tiny baby phase and I’m not that “new mom” any longer but more of a mom of older kids it’s so nice to find places to connect vs the forums/new mommy blogs of 6-10 ? years ago!

    Reply
    • Sarah Powers says

      May 6, 2016 at 8:56 am

      Thank you, Kristen! So glad you enjoyed. 🙂

      Reply
  2. Kristin says

    May 4, 2016 at 6:20 pm

    I was so excited for the new episode, but the sound quality was so bad I couldn’t listen!! Bummer!!!!

    Reply
    • Sarah Powers says

      May 4, 2016 at 6:55 pm

      Oh, Kristin, bummer! Yeah, this was definitely a special occasion with a makeshift studio so what we gained in interviews and fellow podcasters, we lost a little in sound quality. We’ll be back to our normal recording setup in Episode 50. (On the off chance you want to give it another try, the sound gets way better after the first few minutes.) -Sarah

      Reply
  3. Carol says

    May 5, 2016 at 9:40 pm

    I’m with Kristin – the sound quality was really tough to get past. But, I’m glad I did – I loved the stories of female friendship and how these friendships blossomed in really interesting ways! I think more interviews could be a fun addition to future shows.

    Reply
    • Sarah Powers says

      May 6, 2016 at 8:55 am

      Thank you for sticking with it, Carol. 🙂 Yes, we are going to start recording interview-based shows regularly!

      Reply
  4. Meagan Francis says

    May 6, 2016 at 9:44 am

    Thanks for the feedback on quality Carol and Kristin…Jon made some adjustments so hopefully it made a difference. Next time we podcast in bed we’ll bring two mics! ?

    Reply
  5. Dayna says

    May 6, 2016 at 10:38 am

    “..if you reached out I would totally get together and hang out.” I hope you meant it because sometime I am in your town! I went camping at Warren Dunes two weeks ago. Here’s a question, how do you reach out to people online with out feeling like you might come across as a stalker? Like right now, I feel like this could be stalker-ish, I assure you I’m not. I’m a fan, just a fan!

    Reply
    • Meagan Francis says

      May 7, 2016 at 3:16 pm

      Dayna, yes!!! Please get in touch next time. As for how to reach out…that’s tough. I think you can just make it really casual – “Hey so and so, I’m going to be in your neck of the woods soon and would love to meet you for a cup of coffee (or whatever) if you have some time!” if you’ve never interacted with that person at all maybe tell them you’re a reader/listener/fan whatever. We’re all just people, right? Sometimes I’ve been very pleasantly surprised when I’ve reached out to seriously big name authors and personalities and asked for an in real life meeting and they’ve graciously said yes right away…and other times I’ve been ignored. But no one has ever told me to buzz off or made me feel like a stalker. Oh, as for the “not coming off stalker-ish” thing…I think if you aren’t a stalker you won’t come off as one. I’ve gotten seriously creepy vibes from people once or twice in the past and chose not to respond to them, but most people are just normal people!

      Reply
      • Dayna says

        May 9, 2016 at 2:09 pm

        Thanks for the reply. I will let you know if I visit the area again. Also, if you are in the Plymouth area and want coffee let me know.

        Dayna

        Reply

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Top 10 parenting podcast hosted by @meaganfrancis (MI) & @powersofmine (SoCal). 8 kids between us, little to grown. Happier motherhood starts here.

The Mom Hour
Every so often, Sarah and I take a week to record Every so often, Sarah and I take a week to record what we call A Week of Real Life Dinners. We try not to over-plan, or over-perfect during those weeks...it's a week of REAL LIFE dinners, after all, not "best-case-scenario" dinners, or "wishin-and-hopin" meal plans, or "Instagram perfect" menus.

Recently I've been trying hard to make better use of our leftovers, because throwing away food makes me sad, and grumpy, and also poorer. And coming up with brand new meals every night of the week is a lot more work than coming up with meals two or three nights of the week.

See all that food in that yellow Tupperware container (passed down from my mom, by the way!)? That's the leftovers AFTER feeding the whole family. We definitely have enough for another whole night. Tomorrow I'm making an 8 lb pork shoulder. Ummm, I think we're going to have plenty to get us through the weekend. Hopefully I won't forget about it and have to figure out how to dispose of long-forgotten meat later. (Ask me what I did with the LAST pork shoulder that didn't get finished off...)

Those question marks on the menu board for Friday and Sunday are just that: questions. I have no idea what we'll eat those days. I often won't know until the day of. But unlike ten or fifteen years ago, I've finally acquired the kitchen skills and confidence to know that on those "question mark" days, I can reach into the fridge, pull out ingredients, and cook up something resembling Real Food for my family.

It all takes time. And lots of trial and error...and yes, tossed-out, forgotten-about leftovers along the way. But every day, every week, I do a little better and know a little more. Ten years ago, a week of Real Life Dinners may have been frozen peas and chicken nuggets. These days, it's just as easy for me to braise a roast or roast a chicken. But I'm still learning, just like everyone else. One question-mark meal at a time. -M

(Want to join in our Week of Real Life Dinners? Record what you REALLY make and eat, not what you HOPE to, for the week of March 8-14 - just a quick description is fine! - and email to hello@themomhour.com. If we can, we'll incorporate YOUR Real Life Dinners into the show!)
It's a More-Than-Mom Sunday, and it's a fun one!⠀
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The real question is: are we still entertained by squirrels as much as we were last spring? You'll have to listen to find out! In today's More Than Mom episode Meagan and Sarah take a deep dive into diversions, 2021-style. We're not as cooped up as last March, but things aren't back to normal yet either. From this in-between place we talk about a little of everything: board games for adults, TV and books, home improvement and gardening, fitness, beauty, and more. (And squirrels, obvs.)⠀
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Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or right in your browser via the link in our bio!⠀
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#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
Checking in on the responses to our listener surve Checking in on the responses to our listener survey, and this stood out:⠀
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84.6% of moms who responded say they've dealt with overwhelm or burnout in the last six months. Let that sink in. Eighty-four point six percent.⠀
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More than half of respondents said they've struggled with their own mental health. More than half have experienced loneliness. More than half have gone through relationship stress.⠀
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Whatever you're going through, we promise: You. Are. Not. Alone.⠀
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There's a link in our bio that'll take you to the survey, or you can pop http://themomhour.com/suvey into a browser and find it there. The survey is anonymous, the questions are quick and easy (no essay questions!), and your answers help us understand our audience, your listening habits, and what kind of content would help you best in the months ahead. Thanks so much for taking the time to help us help you. 💛
New Voices episode up in time for weekend listenin New Voices episode up in time for weekend listening!⠀
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Kendra Adachi is @thelazygenius. Either you know and love her already, or you're about to. Kendra's principles for finding YOUR best middle ground between perfectionism and giving up are helping moms everywhere decide what matters, ditch what doesn't, and get stuff done. In this month's Voices interview Kendra joins Sarah to talk about how Lazy Genius principles got put to the test during the early months of the pandemic, how moms in the trenches can be gentler on themselves and still feel fulfilled, and why acknowledging the season you're in just might be the key to enjoying it. PLUS, Kendra helps Sarah solve a frustrating home management issue using The Lazy Genius method in real time.⠀
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Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or right in your browser via the link in our bio!⠀
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#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
#AD The leaves say autumn, the slippers say winter #AD The leaves say autumn, the slippers say winter, but Sarah's new pajama pants from our sponsor @mynestdesigns are HERE. FOR. SPRING. 🌸🍄🍓So soft, such a great weight - and hey, if we’re all working from home in our pjs anyway, why not update the look for spring?

Nest Designs makes sleepwear and apparel for babies, toddlers, kids and women - plus crib sheets, bandana bibs, diaper bags, and more. Their fabrics are incredibly soft and sustainably made, and their new Spring/Summer 2021 collection is so cute.

We love spreading the word about a small company doing big things - Nest is based in Vancouver BC and supports a different charity with each new collection. Check out ALL their great stuff at nestdesigns.com and use code MOMHOUR for 10% off your purchase!
I (Sarah) shut the computer and drew with my daugh I (Sarah) shut the computer and drew with my daughters tonight while we listened to the exciting conclusion of “From The Mixed Up Files Of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler” on audiobook. It felt good. ✏️ 📖 🔊
New podcast episode!⠀ .⠀ Whether schools in yo New podcast episode!⠀
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Whether schools in your area are open in-person, on a hybrid model, or fully remote, chances are that March is looking different than September did. And believe it or not, we're already looking toward the end of the year. In Episode 302 Meagan and Sarah share how our own kids are doing at this point in the year, what's changed and how school has evolved in our respective communities. We also offer validation for those who worry about kids' academic progress this year, and our hopes for finishing out the year on a positive trajectory.⠀
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Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or right in your browser via the link in our bio!⠀⠀
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#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
Friends, meet Renly. Renly was 5 or 6 months old Friends, meet Renly.

Renly was 5 or 6 months old when our family got him back in 2013. He was adorable - and high-strung, jealous, and skittish around boys and men (a real problem in a house full of boys-becoming-men.)

I made an offhand joke on a recent episode - something about "getting rid of" a dog because he wouldn't stop sleeping in our bed.  That wasn't the real reason, but the episode wasn't about animals, so I decided not to elaborate further.

But after getting a really angry review (pictured) I figured I'd set the record straight here.

As I mentioned, Renly was high-strung and jealous. If I didn't pay enough attention to him, he'd "punish" me. One notable time, he jumped up on my dining-room table, looked me straight in the eye and pooped.

That was bad, but the deal-breaker was that Renly kept biting little boys and men - specifically, on their butts and privates. 

After doing a LOT of searching, I connected with a young couple who had just gotten the OK to get their first pet. They fell in love and had the time to give Renly what he needed. Everyone was very happy, perhaps Renly most of all. 

As much as Sarah and I joke about our "dog ambivalence", we are both responsible and caring dog owners. I won't personally say "dog mom" as that is not how I relate to my pets.  My older dog Moxie isn't my child, but she IS treated like a well-liked roommate. And I think that's OK.

It is fashionable these days to go from zero to outraged in seconds, based on very limited information. But there are two rules I'm making an effort to adhere to in my life: "assume positive intent" and "don't jump to conclusions." Usually, it's the big picture that tells you what you need to know about someone, and a small, offhand moment doesn't (or shouldn't, anyway) override the broader view.

Just remember, every joke someone tells about their bad experience with a dog may have come at the expense of the gnawed butts and testicles of several little boys, a pooped-on tablecloth, and a busy mom at her very wits' end.

Adorable, abominable Renly...who knew I'd still be talking about you all these years later? -Meagan
Our monthly newsletter is going out TODAY (3/1) - Our monthly newsletter is going out TODAY (3/1) - with a special message from Sarah, plus all our sponsor promo codes in one handy list. Are you on our email list?⠀
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Sign up at the link in our bio so you don't miss March's letter!
Sarah: I’m not going to buy desserts for a while Sarah: I’m not going to buy desserts for a while. If you guys want something you can bake it.

12yo: 🧁

(Bakes mini chocolate chip cupcakes with buttercream frosting from scratch.)
Raise your hand if the forecast impacts how you fe Raise your hand if the forecast impacts how you feel about the week ahead! 🙋🏼‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️

What’s the first week of March looking like where you are? And how’s your mood as a result?

(Yes this is an entire post about the weather. Come for the mom tips, stay for the exciting conversation. 😂)
In partnership with @waterwipesusa, we’re contin In partnership with @waterwipesusa, we’re continuing our special series on solo parenting today with a conversation that picks up where left off last Friday. Take a listen at the link in our bio, or wherever you get your podcasts, and thank you to our sponsor WaterWipes for helping make this project possible.⠀
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Whether it’s for a weekend, a season, or a decade, parenting on your own introduces challenges and complications at every turn. Expanding on the conversation we began last week, today’s episode–part two in our This Is Solo Parenthood series–dives into practical tips from seasoned moms on how to survive solo parenting’s tougher moments. From bedtimes to me-time, routine changes to feelings of loneliness, Meagan and Sarah share some been-there-done-that tips from our own seasons of parenting solo, as well as tap into the wisdom of The Mom Hour community. #ThisisParenthood
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