The Motherly Podcast

In this episode of the Motherly Podcast, Liz chats with Kathryn Cross, founder of Anja Health, a company dedicated to helping families preserve umbilical cord and placenta stem cells. Kathryn’s journey is deeply personal—she founded her company in memory of her brother Andrew, whose life was tragically impacted by the lack of available stem cells for his treatment. Kathryn explains how cord blood and placenta banking works, the future of stem cell preservation, and the importance of taking this proactive step for your child's health. She also shares insights on entrepreneurship and offers valuable advice for expecting parents considering cord blood banking for the first time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Motherly Podcast, Liz welcomes guests Jessica Slice and Carolyn Cupp.  Both are passionate moms, disability justice activists, and the authors of the inspiring new picture book, This is How We Play. Jessica and Carolyn share their personal journeys with disabilities, discussing the importance of representation in children's literature for their own children and others. They also talk about how their experiences with their bodies have shaped their unique approaches to parenting. The conversation also highlights the systemic challenges faced by disabled parents and critiques society's relentless obsession with productivity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Motherly Podcast, Liz sits down with actress Katee Sackhoff, known for her roles in Battlestar Galactica, Robot Chicken, and The Mandalorian. As a mother of two, Katee shares her heartfelt journey through cancer, surrogacy, and navigating her daughter's health challenges with neuroblastoma. Liz and Katee explore the lessons of motherhood, including the struggle of being an over-planner and the importance of savoring family moments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s episode, Liz chats with best friends Andie Mitchell and Sabrina Kohlberg, hosts of the Good Morning America and ABC podcast Pop Culture Moms. Together, they explore the evolving portrayal of motherhood in entertainment, share their insights from their podcasting journey, and talk about their own personal TV mom heroes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special re-release for election season, we revisit an inspiring conversation with lawyer, founder of the Phenomenal Women Action Campaign, and children's book author Meena Harris. As the daughter of Maya Harris and niece of Presidential nominee Kamala Harris, Meena shares invaluable insights from her upbringing in a family of resilient, empowered women. Discover the stories that shaped her and the inspiration behind her beloved children's book, Kamala and Maya’s Big Idea, which highlights the remarkable journeys of her mother and aunt. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Liz chats with Jasmine Roth, the star of HGTV’s popular show, Help! I Wrecked My House, where she helps homeowners fix their failed DIY projects. Jasmine shares how her expectations of motherhood were completely upended after the birth of her first daughter and reveals how her home-building experience surprisingly prepared her for the challenges of parenting. Plus, she offers valuable advice on budgeting and planning for your next home renovation project. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join singer-songwriter Rachel Platten, known for her anthem “Fight Song,” as she sits down with Liz to discuss her transformative journey into motherhood and how it inspired her latest album, I Am Rachel Platten. Rachel shares candid insights about her struggles with postpartum depression and anxiety, the importance of stepping back from the spotlight for her mental health, and how she’s learning to balance her career with the challenges and joys of motherhood. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about resilience, creativity, and reclaiming your voice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Liz speaks with Erin Berg and Raina Boston, the co-founders of Chamber of Mothers, a  non-profit that works at the federal and local levels of government to lobby for parental benefits like affordable child care, paid paternity leave, maternal health, and overall well-being. In today's episode, Erin and Raina share how we as moms can wield our political power this election season to benefit ourselves and our families and our neighbors and their kids. To learn how to get involved, you can visit https://chamberofmothers.com/vote-like-a-mother/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Author, journalist, and podcaster, Jo Piazza, talks to Liz about her bestselling book The Sicilian Inheritance, why it is so important for her to tell women-centered stories, and what she’s learned from motherhood about asking for help. She also touches on Trad Wives and what modern social media trends tell us about our culture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Liz speaks with Taraji P. Henson, best known for her roles in Empire, Hidden Figures, The Color Purple, and so many other incredible TV shows. Taraji is also the founder of The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation (named after her late father), a nonprofit organization that works to eradicate the mental health stigma in Black communities and the author of a new children’s book, You Can Be a Good Friend No Matter What, that addresses the topic of bullying. Taraji opens up about her journey as a single mother navigating Hollywood, why she wrote her new book, and why she started her foundation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, comedian, writer, and podcast host Ophira Eisenberg, who you may know from hosting NPR's Ask Me Another, The Moth, and her comedy podcast called Parenting is a Joke shares her the story of her decision to have her eight-year-old son after she was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer and talks about the complex relationship that we as mothers often have with our creativity and how she finds space for it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this conversation, Liz speaks with supermodel, designer, author, and entrepreneur Ashley Graham, about her new debut children’s book, A Kid’s Book About Beauty, why Ashley didn’t feel beautiful as a kid, and how she instills confidence in her children. They also talk all about Ashley’s journey to accepting her post pregnancy body, stretch marks, saggy belly, and all. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Liz speaks with Caitlin Murray, who you may know from her hilarious Big Time Adulting social media accounts, podcast, and the catch-phrase “get yourself a little snack.” Caitlin tells us the story of how she started sharing on Instagram and talks about the challenges she faced as a mom caring for a son who had recently been diagnosed with Leukemia and a young toddler and baby on the way. She also explains why she’s really excited about this next phase in motherhood, when she actually gets to enjoy spending time with her kids instead of just caring for them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lisa Damour is a mom of two and a clinical psychologist and author who specializes in helping teenagers and their parents navigate the often tumultuous phase of life. Lisa co-hosts the Ask Lisa podcast, is the author of three New York Times bestsellers, including her newest book, The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents. In this conversation, Lisa talks about the phases of childhood and adolescence, how parenting our teens can actually trigger our own childhood memories, and also shares some exciting news about a movie she worked on – Inside Out 2 – which is in theaters June 14. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Neha Ruch is a mom of two and the founder of Mother Untitled, a platform that provides resources for ambitious women who took a career pause to have children and who want to reenter the workforce. In this episode, Neha and Liz open up  about their own personal ambitions, how having children invited them to downshift their careers, and reexamine their identities that were really part of our success in the corporate world. They also talk about how the unpaid labor of stay at home mothers is still labor and the societal shifts needed to support working moms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cleo Wade is the mom of two and New York Times bestselling author and poet whose work explores hope, resilience, and the power of love. She just published her newest book, May You Love and Be Loved, which is a heartfelt lyrical picture book that's really a love letter to the potential of the future and to her kids and her own kids. In this conversation, Cleo opens up about what inspired her book, the childhood experience that introduced her to poetry, and how motherhood has evolved her creativity as a writer and artist.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In honor of Earth Day, here’s a special episode with Julia Rockwell, the author of Mothering Earth: A Busy Parents Guide to Saving the Planet. In this conversation with Liz, Julia explains why she chose to make eco-conscious life changes and offers practical tips on how busy parents can start living a more sustainable life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sharon Mazel is the mom of four, a grandmother, an author, journalist, parenting and pregnancy expert, and a coach — and her latest book, Bite Sized Parenting, provides easily digestible guidance to support parents through the intensity of that first year of your baby’s life. In today's conversation, Sharon talks about the overwhelming amount of parenting information out there today and how parents can navigate all of that to make informed decisions that are the best choice for their family and their specific needs.  She also talks about the pressures of social media and unrealistic expectations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jaclyn Lindsey is the founder of Kindness.org, a non-profit that takes an evidence-based approach to build programs, partnerships, and products that empower people to choose kindness. Jaclyn and Liz talk about some of the challenges modern parents face when teaching their children to choose kindness and some of the tools and programs Jaclyn’s helped create for schools. Jaclyn also gives some helpful tips on how parents can help their children better understand and communicate their feelings. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this conversation, Liz speaks with life doula Brandi Sellerz-Jackson, the author of the book, On Thriving: Harnessing Joy Through Life’s Great Labors. Brandi shares lessons from her work as a doula and talks about the life changing journey of motherhood, the importance of self-care, and why it is so important to heal childhood trauma. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.