292. Our Health Update: Learning to Work With Our Bodies

In this heartfelt Amy and Abby episode, we’re diving into a topic that’s close to both of our hearts: our health and our relationship with our bodies. If you’ve been a long-time listener, you know how important this conversation is to us — and how complex it can be.We begin by sharing pivotal moments from our high school years—each involving a coach’s comment that stuck with us for decades. One of those memories was encouraging, while the other left a lasting wound. These stories opened the door to a much deeper conversation about how our bodies have changed—through motherhood, aging, and personal growth.Between us, we’ve carried and birthed six children. Our bodies have stretched, healed, and transformed in ways we never could have predicted. Amy opens up about a time when she didn’t feel at home in her body, and gets emotional as she reflects on how that same body carried her through some of the hardest seasons of her life. Abby shares her own experience with body fluctuations and the frustration of not seeing immediate results—even when making significant changes to her diet and lifestyle.The message we hope you carry with you from this episode is this: Work with your body, not against it. Be gentle. Show gratitude. And remember—aging is a gift.No matter where you are on your wellness journey, we hope this conversation encourages you to treat your body with care, kindness, and respect.Links & Resources:CORNBREAD HEMP: 30% off with code HERSELF cornbreadhemp.com/herselfGOODR: Free Shipping with code HERSELF: https://goodr.com/herselfLMNT: Free Sample Pack with purchase:  drinkLMNT.com/HERSELF Let’s connect!HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcastJoin our exclusive community for bonus episodes, extra video content, book club and more!HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcastMEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskieferMEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreenThis episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.

Last week, our partners Drew and Colin joined us to talk all things partnerships—and they’re back today, but this time we’re diving into the world of parenting.We know many of you love hearing a father’s perspective, and in this episode, Drew and Colin share candid insights, relatable struggles, and plenty of wisdom from their own parenting journeys.We talk about what’s going well for us as parents right now and the areas where we’re still learning. If you’re parenting multiple kids with different personalities, you’ll definitely relate to the challenges—and joys—of finding balance.With summer in full swing, we’re also sharing what we’re most excited about this season and what’s already proving to be a little tricky. Between practices, games, and trying to carve out true downtime, it’s a lot—and we’re talking about how we’re navigating it all.Our kids range from 5 to 9 years old, and we reflect on what’s working at this stage and what continues to challenge us. Plus, we open up about how we keep work stress from seeping into family time and the way we approach big parenting decisions as a couple—especially when we don’t initially see eye to eye.This is a great episode to share with your partner. If you enjoyed it, be sure to send it to them so the two of you can learn together.Links & Resources:LMNT: Free Sample Pack with purchase:  drinkLMNT.com/HERSELF BETTERHELP: 10% off first month at: http://betterhelp.com/herselfLet’s connect!HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcastJoin our exclusive community for bonus episodes, extra video content, book club and more!HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcastMEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskieferMEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreenThis episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.

We are excited to have our husbands back on the podcast today. If you are new to the show, Drew is Amy’s husband and Colin is married to Abby. We have both been married for 11 years and the guys tend to be a crowd favorite around here. Today we are focusing on our partnerships. The men truly have no problem getting deep with their answers and hold nothing back! They share what’s working well, what’s NOT going well and some self-reflection/areas for improvement. They also share the ways they work to continue prioritizing quality time during this full season of life. We also get into the hot topic of health - how can we actually have a conversation with our partner if they’re struggling to take care of themselves? Make sure you listen all the way through to hear their advice on this sensitive topic! Be sure to tune in next week for part 2 when we bring the guys back to talk about all things parenting! Links & Resources:GOODR: Free Shipping with code HERSELF: https://goodr.com/herselfVUORI: 20% off first purchase at: https://vuoriclothing.com/herself FORAGE KITCHEN: Check out your nearest locationLet’s connect!HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcastJoin our exclusive community for bonus episodes, extra video content, book club and more!HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcastMEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskieferMEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreenThis episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.

Summer takes on a whole new feeling when your kids are school aged, and today we’re breaking down our tips and lessons learned. We honestly didn’t understand why summer felt so stressful for parents until we entered this phase of life, and so we are talking about what this transition has looked and felt like. As we emphasize the importance of being present in the moment, setting realistic expectations for summer activities, and the role of community & support systems. Our conversation covers how we manage schedules, budget for activities, and the significance of building connections with other parents. Each of us share what we are looking forward to most this summer and reflect on some of our favorite memories as a family from past summers!If you guys have something that you are looking forward to this summer, let us know! Tag us in your Instagram stories or share this episode with a friend who might need an extra boost of encouragement as she preps for the summer months ahead.Links & Resources:LMNT: Free Sample Pack with purchase:  drinkLMNT.com/HERSELFMAUINUI: mauinuivenison.com/herselfLet’s connect!HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcastJoin our exclusive community for bonus episodes, extra video content, book club and more!HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcastMEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskieferMEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreenThis episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.

We are so excited to tell you about the direction we are taking the HERself podcast for the summer! If you like this new format, be sure and let us know. You, the listeners, are such an integral part of what we do here at the HERself podcast and we want to make sure we are creating content that resonates with you.In this episode we delve into the complexities of relationships, particularly focusing on the challenges women face in expressing their wants and needs. We discuss the dynamics of accountability and communication in partnerships. This convo highlights the fears women have about being less agreeable and the necessity of asking for what you need in your relationships. Through our own personal situations we explore how assumptions have led us to misunderstandings and we discuss the importance of recognizing the mental load carried by each individual within a partnership. We share strategies that have worked for us in regards to managing household tasks and emphasize the significance of open dialogue to foster a supportive and balanced partnership.Links & Resources:BETTERHELP: 10% off first month at: http://betterhelp.com/herselfLet’s connect!HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcastJoin our exclusive community for bonus episodes, extra video content, book club and more!HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcastMEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskieferMEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreenThis episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.

With this being a holiday weekend, we invite you to relisten to one of our most listened to episodes! We had so much positive feedback when this episode went live since it was one of the first times we had a male perspective on the podcast. If you haven’t listened yet, it’s a great alternate perspective and a great one to pass along to your male partners! Our guest, Eli Weinstein, is a dad of two and a psychotherapist that isn’t afraid to give it to people straight. He has an honest, blunt, but always kind style. Eli has been working as a therapist for over eight years and shares some of the struggles he has faced since becoming a dad, including his perspective as a dad going through loss and infertility.As women, we often ask ourselves if dads ever feel the same weight of the mental load. Eli shares his perspective on this and what advice he has for women who are feeling the mental load burden. We cover the topic of postpartum mood disorders in men, what it’s like to be the starting player versus the bench warmer in parenthood, and how we have to be able to switch on and off as the preferred parent even when our children aren’t as comfortable with it. We hope that by revisiting this episode, you hear a new piece of wisdom to take away. Or, if you’re new and hearing this for the first time, we hope you find this episode just as helpful as we did! And don’t forget to share this with your partner!Links & Resources:30% off your first order of Cornbread Hemp using code ‘HERSELF’Free sample pack with purchase of LMNTFollow Eli Weinstein Instagram Eli’s WebsiteListen to Eli’s Podcast: The Dude Therapist PodcastLet’s connect!HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcastJoin our exclusive community for bonus episodes, extra video content, book club and more!HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcastMEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskieferMEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreenThis episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.

*trigger warning, abusive relationships*We feel it’s important to have open and honest discussions about heavy topics in this safe space that is the HERself podcast. In today’s episode, we will be asking the hard questions about narcissism with Dr. Jaime Zuckerman, licensed clinical psychologist and expert in narcissistic abuse. Dr. Jaime will help us understand the difference between a person with Narcissistic Personality Disorder, narcissistic tendencies, or defensiveness. If you think you may be a child of a narcissistic parent, Dr. Jaime shares ways to navigate that relationship. And if you’re the friend of someone you feel may be in an intimate narcissistic abusive relationship, Dr. Jaime has some insights on how to be a supportive, available friend. Love bombing - sounds great, but is it really a good thing? Dr. Jaime will give us the details of love bombing and why you should be wary of this tidal wave of infatuation. All of the information Dr. Jaime shares with us today is eye opening and important to hear. Whether you’re in the dating world or a committed relationship, you’ll be given the tools to prevent getting into a narcissistic relationship, how to identify if you are in one, and know how to get out. Healing is important to us, so we’ve linked Dr. Jaime’s resources down below if you or someone you love needs them. Links & Resources:20% off at Vuori ClothingFree Shipping at GOODR with code ‘HERSELF’Get a free pack of Goodwipes!Follow Dr. Jaime Zuckerman on InstagramDr. Jaime’s Website and therapy group, The Z Group Listen to Dr. Jaime’s Podcast, Next Up: Narcissism with Dr. Z Purchase Dr. Jaime’s Workbooks; “Find Your Calm”, and “Find Good Habits”Let’s connect!HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcastJoin our exclusive community for bonus episodes, extra video content, book club and more!HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcastMEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskieferMEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyro

Modern day friendships - why do they feel so hard? Did you know each of your friendships have an “about” section for your origin story? Why do I still feel lonely even though I have close friends?Friendships enrich our lives so much, but we understand that it can be hard to maintain old friendships and find the time to make meaningful new ones as busy moms! We are so pleased to have author, speaker, and seasoned journalist Anna Goldfarb on today’s episode to share her perspective on modern day friendships. While you may have several groups of friends (think friends from growing up, work friends, mom friends), those groups seldom overlap. Anna dives into WHY this has caused the new age problem of leaving us feeling lonely or isolated in friendships. We loved this idea she brought up about everyone having an “about section” for each of your friendships, and why that can actually help you to better understand your current friendship status and relationships with others. This episode is such a fun and energetic take on adult friendships that had us laughing along the way! We’ve talked about friendship plenty of times in other episodes, but this episode brought some new ideas forward. We’d love to hear what your takeaways were from today’s episode, and don’t forget to reach out to a friend and tell them you love them!Links & Resources:Free sample pack with purchase of LMNT10% off at BetterHelpJoin us on Patreon for bonus episodes, extra video content, book club and more!Follow Anna Goldfarb on InstagramAnna’s WebsiteJoin Anna’s Substack, Friendship Explained with Anna GoldfarbPurchase Anna’s Book; “Modern Friendship: How to Nurture Our Most Valued Connections” And check out this free excerpt of the book!Let’s connect!HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcastJoin our exclusive community for bonus episodes, extra video content, book club and more!HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcastMEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskieferMEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreenThis episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.

As our kids continue to age, the topic of bullying is becoming more front and center. Especially with our pre-teens as they enter what our guest refers to as, “the crucial years”, ages 5-12, where they are rapidly developing into complex people. The conversation today with Dr. Sheryl Ziegler, Licensed Clinical Psychologist and author of the book titled, “The Crucial Years” provides an honest conversation for how we can raise empathetic and kind children who understand the implications of bullying. We’ll cover everything from how to talk to your kids about bullying, how they can learn to respond if they see someone being bullied, and what to do if they’re being bullied themselves.  Dr. Sheryl shares techniques, prompts, and scripts to encourage conversation with your kids surrounding bullying that we found SO helpful. We also talk about keeping the lines of conversation open when it comes to puberty and our developing kids.  This episode is jam packed with amazing information, and we would love it if you shared what hit home for you in your Instagram stories or share the episode with a friend!Links & Resources:Free Shipping at GOODR with code ‘HERSELF’Check out Maui Nui Venison and the limited HERself collection!Check out your nearest Forage KitchenFollow Dr. Sheryl Ziegler on InstagramDr. Sheryl’s WebsiteStartwiththetalk.com Listen to Dr. Sheryl’s Podcast: Dr. Sheryl’s PodCouchPreorder Dr. Sheryl’s Book; “The Crucial Years”, releasing on May 6thLet’s connect!HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcastJoin our exclusive community for bonus episodes, extra video content, book club and more!HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcastMEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskieferMEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreenThis episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.

Whether you stay home with your family, work at home with kiddos, or are out in the workplace, we strive to bring guests that cover all lifestyles. That’s why we are so excited to have Dr. Anne Welsh on today’s episode to focus on the working parent. As a mother of 4, Dr. Anne is an expert on transitioning from working person to working parent. She is also a psychologist who started her career at Harvard, now working as an executive coach and consultant with a deep passion for empowering women. Throughout this episode, Dr. Anne explains why the stress of being a working parent is a systemic issue, not just an individual issue and some strategies to reframe stress as a working parent to keep you focused on your beliefs, boundaries, and bandwidth. We talk through how shame and guilt come into play when you're feeling like you’re not giving enough to your career or home life, and why asking for help from your village is SO important (and how to do it!). Lastly, we discuss finding your “glimmers”, the things that bring you joy everyday and drive resiliency against future stress. We really wish we had these tools when we started out in working motherhood, but are glad to have now heard the information. We hope you also feel inspired and would love it if you would share this episode with a working parent in your life!Links & Resources:First pack of Goodwipes for free!Free sample pack with purchase of LMNT30% off your first order of Cornbread Hemp using code ‘HERSELF’Follow Dr. Anne Welsh on InstagramDr. Anne’s WebsiteMessage Dr. Anne, mention you listened to this episode and tell her what stuck with you to get a bonus discount on her next group cohort!Emily Nagoski’s book, “Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle”Let’s connect!HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcastJoin our exclusive community for bonus episodes, extra video content, book club and more!HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcastMEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskieferMEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreenThis episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.