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The Mom Hour

Happier motherhood starts here.

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New? Welcome! Start Here.

Welcome! We’re so glad you’re listening to The Mom Hour (or are interested in getting started). This page should have everything you need to get to know us, listen to our show, and become a part of our community.

(By the way, we’re Meagan and Sarah, your co-hosts since the show launched in 2015. You can find out more about us on this page.)

HOW TO LISTEN

If you’ve never listened to a podcast before, that’s OK! Here’s a handy guide to get you started.

If you’re podcast-familiar but aren’t sure where to find our show, we’re pretty much everywhere. Here are links to find us on your favorite distribution platforms:

  • Apple Podcasts (formerly iTunes)
  • Spotify
  • Pandora
  • Google Podcasts
  • Android (this link will open up your preferred app on an Android device)
  • Stitcher
  • iHeart Radio
  • TuneIn

POPULAR EPISODES

Here are some of our favorite episodes for new listeners to start with. You can click through to the show notes and press play on the media player at the bottom of each post, or search for the episode by name in your favorite podcast app.

If you don’t see the topics you’re looking for, use the search bar on the right to see if we’ve covered them. If you want to see one big list of all our episodes in chronological order, we have that here.

Episodes To Encourage All Moms

  • The Life-Changing Magic of Opting Out (Episode 161)
  • 10 Habits of Happy Moms (Part 1) (Episode 137)
  • 10 Habits of Happy Moms (Part 2) (Episode 138)
  • The Myth Of The Mom Tribe (Episode 144)
  • Body Confidence As A Mom (Episode 99)
  • When You Feel Criticized, Remember This (Episode 165)
  • Our Worst #MomFail Moments (Episode 157)

Episodes For Pregnant & New Moms

  • How Baby’s Personality May (Or May Not) Predict Big Kid Character Traits (Episode 181)
  • Things We Shouldn’t Have Freaked Out About (As New Moms) (Episode 19)
  • Strong As A Mother with Kate Rope (Voices, Episode 26)
  • Newborn Attachment with Alexandra Spitz (Voices, Episode 20)
  • Things We Shouldn’t Have Freaked Out About (Breastfeeding Edition) (Episode 114)
  • Pregnancy & Birth, In Hindsight (Episode 38)
  • Getting Ready For Baby (Episode 74)
  • Coping With Sleep Deprivation (Episode 87)
  • How To REALLY Help A New Mom (LIVE From Newport Beach)
  • Postpartum Symptoms & Surprises (Episode 88)

Episodes For Moms Of Toddlers & Little Kids

  • Toddlers vs. Teenagers (Episode 192)
  • Helping Kids With Doctor Visits, Shots, and “Appointment Fear” (Episode 180)
  • Potty Training & Other Bathroom Matters (Episode 156)
  • Things We Shouldn’t Have Freaked Out About (Toddler Years) (Episode 24
  • Bedtime Routines at Every Stage (Episode 80)
  • Ignore Bad Behavior & Enjoy Parenting More with Catherine Pearlman (Voices, Episode 16)
  • Kids in the Kitchen (Episode 70)
  • Things We Shouldn’t Have Freaked Out About (Starting School Edition) (Episode 62)
  • 8 Milestones & When Our Kids Met Them (Episode 34)
  • Gift Ideas For Babies, Toddlers & Little Kids

Episodes For Moms Of Older Kids

  • Screen Time Strategies Through The Years (Episode 209)
  • Helping Kids Learn From Mistakes with Jessica Lahey (Voices 35)
  • Helping Or Helicoptering? (Part 1, Part 2) (Episodes 194 & 195)
  • Chores, Life Skills, & Household Contributions (Episode 191)
  • Magical Night Visitors (Elves, Bunnies, Fairies & Jolly Fat Dudes) (Episode 96)
  • Raising Lifelong Learners (Episode 95)
  • Talking Sex Ed, Puberty, & Growing Up with Nora Gelperin & AMAZE.org (Voices, Episode 13)
  • Tweens (Is This A Thing? Yes, It Is): The Mom Hour, Episode 143
  • Choosing The Right School (Not As Scary As It Seems) (Episode 16)
  • How To Be A Happier Sports Parent (Episode 117)
  • Kids & Friendships with Eileen Kennedy-Moore (Voices, Episode 18)
  • Becoming Screenwise with Devorah Heitner (Voices, Episode 13

Episodes About Working Motherhood or Work/Life Balance

  • Productivity & Time Management Tips For Moms (Episode 169)
  • Stretched Too Thin With Jessica Turner (Voices 29)
  • How Do I Make Time For It All? (Episode 60)
  • Calendar Tips & To-Do List Strategies (Episode 83)
  • Meagan & Sarah’s Working-Mom Lives (Episode 140)
  • Listener Questions (Working Mom / SAHM Edition) (Episode 142)
  • Inside the Lives of 3 Working Moms (Voices, Episode 02)
  • Stay At Home, Work Full-Time, Or Something In Between? (Episode 105)

Listener Questions Episodes

The episodes that feature us answering listener questions are a great way to get to know us and hear a lot of parenting topics covered in a short amount of time. Here’s a handy list of all the episodes and the topics covered:

  • Episode 211: Creating family culture around vacations, whether we let our kids skip school for family trips, how to stick to sleep routines on the road, dealing with kid meltdowns while traveling, and budgeting tips for family travel
  • Episode 210: Coping tips for a mom whose husband travels, our thoughts on whether preschool is “necessary”, Sarah’s response to a listener anticipating a planned Caesarian birth, and encouragement for a mom of three who wonders when her family will all be able to enjoy the same activities together
  • Episode 199: Helping a little kid deal with big feelings about an out-of-state move, traveling as a nervous flyer, finding your groove as an at-home mom when kids are in school full-time, and getting dad involved when a toddler only wants mama
  • Episode 198: Helping school-age kids start to self-regulate around screens and sweets, navigating an awkward situation with a fellow preschool mom, and organizing the “drop zone” in our homes
  • Episode 176: Parenting a strong-willed kid, handling criticism about your family size or kids’ spacing, the first signs of kid crushes and puppy love, and gift ideas for your kids’ grandparents
  • Episode 175: Losing your cool and yelling at your kids (how it happens to us ALL, how to prevent it, and how to cope after it happens), dealing with a pinching/biting 19-month-old, and extracting your family from a sticky situation with neighbor friends whose parenting style makes you uncomfortable.
  • Episode 163: Helping a toddler with nighttime fears, taking a baby to the beach, the ideal age-spacing between siblings, and helping a two-year-old feel special when a new baby arrives
  • Episode 162: Helping a shy preschooler, saving money on groceries, and helping kids learn to deal with frustration
  • Episode 149: Setting up toddler playgroups, feeling overwhelmed by housework, and how to handle teachers who don’t see your kid the way you do
  • Episode 135: A toddler who won’t stay in his room at bedtime, a seven-year-old with a fibbing habit, what to do with a busy toddler while you nurse a new baby, and how to help kids who struggle with playing independently
  • Episode 123: When to start giving kids an allowance, whether or not to pay for chores, getting mentally psyched up for baby #2, and dealing with kids’ annoying habits
  • Episode 122: Closely spaced babies, tips on room-sharing, helping siblings get along, and dealing with super-shy toddlers
  • Episode 111: Transitioning a one-year-old to a big-kid bed, frustrating behavior patterns of toddlers and preschoolers, and evenings chaos at home with four kids
  • Episode 110: Requesting teacher changes at school, finding postpartum body acceptance while sticking to a realistic fitness routine, what to do when safety worries interfere with enjoying life as a mom
  • Episode 94: What we wish we’d worried about LESS in hindsight, what we’re doing differently–and the same–than our parents’ generation did, and our thoughts on sending a 7-year-old to sleepaway camp
  • Episode 93: Preschool boys interested in bad-guy play, fighting stereotypes while raising girls, and how to find the balance between self-acceptance and the desire to grow
  • Episode 73: Letting a five-year-old quit an activity she begged to start, helping a trio of cousins get along, and weaning a breastfeeding toddler
  • Episode 65: When a kid’s fears and anxieties dominate the household mood; a sticky situation involving wild kids, a restaurant, and a big family reunion; and a new mom struggles with her decision to co-sleep
  • Episode 52: Asking for help with childcare, what to do when close friends have dramatically different parenting styles, handling kids’ big emotions with elementary school friendship struggles, and how to stop apologizing for yourself and embrace chaos with confidence
  • Episode 41: Room-sharing siblings, planning first birthday parties, feeling left out when you have your kids earlier or later than your friends do, and the evolution of playdates

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

We’re on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. We also have a Facebook group where fans of the show connect and support each other.

You can email us at hello@themomhour.com.

If you want to leave us a voicemail with a comment or listener question, we’re on Speakpipe, or you can simply record yourself using your phone’s voice memo recorder, and email the audio file to hello@themomhour.com.

We send a newsletter once a month with an essay about motherhood, life tips and hacks you didn’t hear on the podcast, and (wait for it) ALL OUR SPONSOR PROMO CODES all in one handy list. You can sign up for that list here.

SUPPORT THE SHOW

Podcasts come to you for free (isn’t that amazing?). Our show is made possible in a few different ways, and you can show your support and help us continue to bring you encouraging comment by doing these little things:

  • Rate and review the show wherever you listen. The more reviews we have, the more other listeners can easily discover the podcast. It’s one of those algorithm things. 🙂
  • Support our sponsors! We work our tails off to bring you messages from brands we think you’ll like, and we only partner with brands we can get behind. When you use one of our promo codes or special links, you’re showing sponsors that our messages are resonating, and that helps the show. (FYI: Newsletter subscribers get a handy list of promo codes sent out each month.)
  • Tell a friend about The Mom Hour. Honestly? This is one of the biggest ways you can help. Thank you.

SPONSOR OUR SHOW

Interested in reaching thousands of engaged moms through authentic, personalized, host-read podcast advertising? Let’s talk. Send an email to sponsor@themomhour.com to request a media kit and discuss rates and availability.

Meet Meagan + Sarah

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themomhour

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

The Mom Hour
New episode! As busy moms and business owners we' New episode!

As busy moms and business owners we're often on the go - and, cliché as it is, almost always with a beverage in hand! In part two of our conversation about kitchen gadgets and gear, Meagan and Sarah go deep into all of the beverage products that keep our drinks hot, cold, room-temp, fizzy, cute, and spill-proof. We also get into kitchen-adjacent gear that helps us clean and organize the space where we feed our families. Enjoy!

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
On the podcast this week (and next!) Meagan and Sa On the podcast this week (and next!) Meagan and Sarah share some of our favorite kitchen gadgets, cooking tools, food prep solutions, cleaning solutions, and countertop appliances. Because every home cook has a different set of needs and priorities, we opened up the question to our contributor team to find out what gear makes their lives easier in the kitchen. Tap the link in our bio to get gear tips from @stacybronec @jaymesherrod @emilyeroark @sarahelimberg and @joannerevising!

(Looking for Meagan’s and Sarah’s kitchen favorites, as mentioned on the podcast? Head to the show notes for Episode 431, which you can find in your podcast player or by tapping through Tuesday's Insta post.)
Kids are back in school and we're back in our kitc Kids are back in school and we're back in our kitchens with a bit more pep in our steps - so let's chat about gadets and gear! Join Meagan and Sarah today to hear about the Porch Microwave, the Mercedes-Benz of Coffee Grinders, how our partners' personalities lead us to unwanted kitchen appliances, and more. We share our current favorite kitchen tools for food prep and cooking - with more to come next week, too.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts (we had a delay but all is well now!) or tap this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
Big transitions in family structure are never easy Big transitions in family structure are never easy. When it comes to blending families, introducing a new romantic partner as a single parent, or stepping into step-parenting, there's so much to think about. Today Meagan gets candid about her current blended family situation, following her wedding this summer and the integration of their families into a shared home. Sarah has lots of questions as Meagan shares what's going well, a few tension points, what she would do differently, and how it's going overall.

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
Use code THEMOMHOUR to save 10% on @theessentialca Use code THEMOMHOUR to save 10% on @theessentialcalendar this fall!

I (Sarah) had the coziest evening with my Monday-start “Busiest Time Ever” calendar last night. If the next few months already feel like they’re filling up and you can’t quite picture it all, this is a great solution!

Tap the link in our bio to shop, or head to theessentialcalendar.com/themomhour. Happy planning!
New episode! Are you a "Today's The Day!" type, o New episode!

Are you a "Today's The Day!" type, or do you prefer to ease gently into a new adventure, challenge, or season? Whether you get excited to dive into a slew of new initiatives with the turning over of that shiny, crisp edge of a calendar page (like Sarah!), or really prefer to transition on your own internal timeline (like Meagan!), this episode is for you. Join us as we explore the many upsides to a soft start (in motherhood, business, health, and more) in an effort to take the pressure off moms this fall.

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
Happy September! What are you looking forward to t Happy September! What are you looking forward to this month? Drop a comment and let us know! 👇
Raise your hand if you practiced some sight words Raise your hand if you practiced some sight words this week - or proctored a spelling pre-test - or ran through some multiplication tables? Sometimes supporting your kids' classroom learning at home looks like facts and flash cards, but we're here to remind you that there are LOTS of ways to nurture curiosity and promote learning, and many of them can fit seamlessly into family life.

This week on the blog we're revisiting a post Meagan and Sarah co-authored back in 2018 - when our kids spanned preschool to high schoool! - with six ideas for supporting school learning at home. Tap the link in our bio to read the post!
New episode! Meagan and Sarah had fun-filled trav New episode!

Meagan and Sarah had fun-filled travel in August before saying goodbye to summer. The Powers family traveled to the East Coast for a week of multigenerational state-hopping served with a side of bug bites and butt bruises! And Meagan officially opened a bookstore in Manistique, MI, right after surviving a 20-mile hike with her siblings and their spouses. Now we're back, shifting from summer-mom to school-year-mom, and sharing our "laundry basket of hopes and aspirations for Fall 2023" with all of you.

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
Been thinking about trying one of our sponsors? He Been thinking about trying one of our sponsors? Here's your sign! 🌈 Once a month, we like to thank our partners and remind you of their great discounts. For our special promo codes and links, just tap our saved "Sponsors" highlight OR tap on this image at the link in our bio to check out the Deals & Offers page on our website.

We appreciate when you check out our partners who support our show and use our links + codes!

The Mom Hour is sponsored by . . . 

💚 @betterhelp (10% off your 1st month!)
💧 @liquidiv (20% off sugar-free hydration amplifier!)
💅 @oliveandjune (20% off your 1st system!)
🎨 @minted (art, cards, decor & more!)
📚 @chatbooks (the easiest photo books ever!)
🧘‍♀️ @fabletics (2 workout bottoms for $24!)
☑️ @todoistofficial (2 mo. free of Todoist Pro!)
🗓️ @theessentialcalendar (10% off calendars!)
🍃 @drinkag1 (1yr of Vit.D + 5 travel packs!)
👡 @vionicshoes (15% off your order!)
💊 @ritual (30% off your 1st month!)
This week on the blog we're revisiting @lisaapayne This week on the blog we're revisiting @lisaapayne4's tips for supporting your child's teacher and classroom this school year. Lisa is a career educator whose work takes her into multiple schools and classrooms, so she sees a lot! She's also a single mom to four kids who span elementary, middle, and high school this year.

Read the post at the link in our bio - and feel free to add more suggestions in the comments below!

Photo Credit: LinkedIn Sales Solutions via Unsplash
New episode! Sarah stopped dyeing her hair and gr New episode!

Sarah stopped dyeing her hair and growing out her natural grays last fall - almost a year ago - and Meagan is contemplating a new style! Today Meagan asks Sarah ALL the gray grow-out questions to catch up on the progress, and talks about why she might be ready for a new look herself. We also share some hair wins and hair woes from this season of life, and how it's different from early motherhood. Join us!

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio to visit the show notes, where you'll find photos of the hairstyles we discussed!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
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New episode! As busy moms and business owners we' New episode!

As busy moms and business owners we're often on the go - and, cliché as it is, almost always with a beverage in hand! In part two of our conversation about kitchen gadgets and gear, Meagan and Sarah go deep into all of the beverage products that keep our drinks hot, cold, room-temp, fizzy, cute, and spill-proof. We also get into kitchen-adjacent gear that helps us clean and organize the space where we feed our families. Enjoy!

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
On the podcast this week (and next!) Meagan and Sa On the podcast this week (and next!) Meagan and Sarah share some of our favorite kitchen gadgets, cooking tools, food prep solutions, cleaning solutions, and countertop appliances. Because every home cook has a different set of needs and priorities, we opened up the question to our contributor team to find out what gear makes their lives easier in the kitchen. Tap the link in our bio to get gear tips from @stacybronec @jaymesherrod @emilyeroark @sarahelimberg and @joannerevising!

(Looking for Meagan’s and Sarah’s kitchen favorites, as mentioned on the podcast? Head to the show notes for Episode 431, which you can find in your podcast player or by tapping through Tuesday's Insta post.)
Kids are back in school and we're back in our kitc Kids are back in school and we're back in our kitchens with a bit more pep in our steps - so let's chat about gadets and gear! Join Meagan and Sarah today to hear about the Porch Microwave, the Mercedes-Benz of Coffee Grinders, how our partners' personalities lead us to unwanted kitchen appliances, and more. We share our current favorite kitchen tools for food prep and cooking - with more to come next week, too.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts (we had a delay but all is well now!) or tap this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
Big transitions in family structure are never easy Big transitions in family structure are never easy. When it comes to blending families, introducing a new romantic partner as a single parent, or stepping into step-parenting, there's so much to think about. Today Meagan gets candid about her current blended family situation, following her wedding this summer and the integration of their families into a shared home. Sarah has lots of questions as Meagan shares what's going well, a few tension points, what she would do differently, and how it's going overall.

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
Use code THEMOMHOUR to save 10% on @theessentialca Use code THEMOMHOUR to save 10% on @theessentialcalendar this fall!

I (Sarah) had the coziest evening with my Monday-start “Busiest Time Ever” calendar last night. If the next few months already feel like they’re filling up and you can’t quite picture it all, this is a great solution!

Tap the link in our bio to shop, or head to theessentialcalendar.com/themomhour. Happy planning!
New episode! Are you a "Today's The Day!" type, o New episode!

Are you a "Today's The Day!" type, or do you prefer to ease gently into a new adventure, challenge, or season? Whether you get excited to dive into a slew of new initiatives with the turning over of that shiny, crisp edge of a calendar page (like Sarah!), or really prefer to transition on your own internal timeline (like Meagan!), this episode is for you. Join us as we explore the many upsides to a soft start (in motherhood, business, health, and more) in an effort to take the pressure off moms this fall.

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
Happy September! What are you looking forward to t Happy September! What are you looking forward to this month? Drop a comment and let us know! 👇
Raise your hand if you practiced some sight words Raise your hand if you practiced some sight words this week - or proctored a spelling pre-test - or ran through some multiplication tables? Sometimes supporting your kids' classroom learning at home looks like facts and flash cards, but we're here to remind you that there are LOTS of ways to nurture curiosity and promote learning, and many of them can fit seamlessly into family life.

This week on the blog we're revisiting a post Meagan and Sarah co-authored back in 2018 - when our kids spanned preschool to high schoool! - with six ideas for supporting school learning at home. Tap the link in our bio to read the post!
New episode! Meagan and Sarah had fun-filled trav New episode!

Meagan and Sarah had fun-filled travel in August before saying goodbye to summer. The Powers family traveled to the East Coast for a week of multigenerational state-hopping served with a side of bug bites and butt bruises! And Meagan officially opened a bookstore in Manistique, MI, right after surviving a 20-mile hike with her siblings and their spouses. Now we're back, shifting from summer-mom to school-year-mom, and sharing our "laundry basket of hopes and aspirations for Fall 2023" with all of you.

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
Been thinking about trying one of our sponsors? He Been thinking about trying one of our sponsors? Here's your sign! 🌈 Once a month, we like to thank our partners and remind you of their great discounts. For our special promo codes and links, just tap our saved "Sponsors" highlight OR tap on this image at the link in our bio to check out the Deals & Offers page on our website.

We appreciate when you check out our partners who support our show and use our links + codes!

The Mom Hour is sponsored by . . . 

💚 @betterhelp (10% off your 1st month!)
💧 @liquidiv (20% off sugar-free hydration amplifier!)
💅 @oliveandjune (20% off your 1st system!)
🎨 @minted (art, cards, decor & more!)
📚 @chatbooks (the easiest photo books ever!)
🧘‍♀️ @fabletics (2 workout bottoms for $24!)
☑️ @todoistofficial (2 mo. free of Todoist Pro!)
🗓️ @theessentialcalendar (10% off calendars!)
🍃 @drinkag1 (1yr of Vit.D + 5 travel packs!)
👡 @vionicshoes (15% off your order!)
💊 @ritual (30% off your 1st month!)

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