Somewhere between caring and not

This week on The Mom Salon, we had such a fascinating conversation with the founder of ConceiveAbilities, Nazca Fontes.We talked about the world of surrogacy and egg donation, what it really takes to build a family in ways that look different from what we traditionally imagine, and the deeply personal stories behind the people who choose these paths.Nazca also shared what it was like to build ConceiveAbilities from the ground up and what she’s learned after decades of helping people become parents.It was one of those conversations that opened our eyes to a world we don’t talk about nearly enough. We hope you love this one as much as we did.

WE’RE BACK! After taking a little break since May, Leah and I are finally back at the mic for a much-needed catch-up and a LOT has happened since our last episode.Leah is pregnant!!! 🤰🏼 We’re talking all about this new chapter, including the reality of feeling depressed during pregnancy, plus back-to-school chaos, kids’ schedules, getting back into routines, and all the little things that have been filling our days lately. Basically, two moms sitting down and catching each other (and you) up on life as it actually is.The Mom Salon is back, and it feels really good to be here. 🫶🏼

A bit late with our final episode of our Mother's Day series because life got in the way but we went out with a bang with a special guest. We sit down with Emily Ritzer, the creator behind the Calm Minded Mom Instagram community. Emily is a mom of three, entrepreneur, and passionate advocate for helping mothers navigate life's challenges with confidence and clarity.During our conversation, Emily opens up about her deeply personal journey through marriage, divorce, and the difficult decision-making process that led her to choose a new path for herself and her family. With honesty and vulnerability, she shares the realities of what it looked like to reach that decision, the emotions that came with it, and the challenges she faced along the way.More importantly, Emily offers a hopeful perspective on what comes after. She discusses the healing process, rediscovering her identity, and rebuilding her life as a single mom and business owner. Her story is a powerful reminder that while major life transitions can be incredibly difficult, they can also create space for growth, self-discovery, and new beginnings.Emily's refreshing honesty and wisdom will resonate with any mom who has ever felt stuck, uncertain, or questioned what comes next. This conversation is filled with compassion, encouragement, and real-life insights for women navigating change and searching for a path forward.Join us for an inspiring and heartfelt discussion about resilience, healing, motherhood, and finding yourself again.

This week on Part 2 of the Mom Salon Podcast, Paige Souza is back and holding nothing back. After opening up in Part 1 about motherhood, identity shifts, and her decision to undergo a breast reduction, Paige returns post-surgery to share the full experience.. the recovery, the emotions, the unexpected challenges, and ultimately, how this journey changed her far beyond the physical.Paige gets candid about what the healing process really looked like as a mom of two young girls, balancing recovery while still showing up for her family. She shares the fears she had leading into surgery, the emotional highs and lows afterward, and the overwhelming sense of relief and confidence she feels now on the other side.We also dive into the deeper conversation so many women quietly struggle with: learning to prioritize yourself without guilt. Paige reflects on body image after motherhood, reclaiming confidence, and how making this decision for herself impacted not only how she feels physically, but mentally and emotionally too.This conversation is vulnerable, empowering, and incredibly honest. Whether you’re a mom navigating your own identity shifts, considering a similar procedure, or simply trying to feel more like yourself again after kids, Paige’s story will resonate deeply.Part 2 is raw, real, and the reminder so many women need that taking care of yourself is not selfish.. it’s necessary.

This week on the Mom Salon Podcast, we sit down with local mom of two, Paige Souza, for one of our most honest motherhood conversations yet. A former teacher turned SAHM, Paige takes us back to the height of COVID when she welcomed her first daughter in April 2020 and her entire life changed overnight.Continuing our motherhood series, Paige opens up about the raw reality of stay-at-home mom life.. the beautiful moments, the isolating ones, the identity shifts, the sacrifices, and the unexpected ways motherhood can completely reshape who you are. We also dive into how she began growing on social media, turning content creation into both a creative outlet and a side hustle during the chaos of raising young kids.But this episode goes even deeper. Paige shares the emotional journey that led her to make the decision to get a breast reduction after children from years of discomfort and insecurity to finally feeling ready to prioritize herself again. We talk through the anxiety leading up to surgery and the excitement she has about reconnecting with her confidence and feeling good in her body again.This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation and trust us, you are going to want to come back for Part 2. After her surgery, Paige returns to the podcast to share everything: the recovery, the emotions, the outcome, and whether this major decision changed more than just her body.

Episode 3 of our Mother’s Day series brings a fresh, uplifting conversation with a dynamic duo you’ll instantly love, a principal and a first-grade teacher who have taken their shared passion beyond the classroom and into the vibrant world of farmers markets.Meet Farm Fresh & FabulousNow working side by side in a whole new way as they build an online community dedicated to discovering and sharing the very best local markets. Each weekend, they explore, taste, and report back with everything you’d want to know that you may otherwise miss !But this episode goes deeper than market finds. Woven throughout is their honest, evolving journey through motherhood—raising older children, navigating shifting identities, and redefining purpose while staying rooted in career and other emerging passions. Their story is one of friendship, reinvention, and finding joy in new seasons of life.It’s a feel-good, inspiring conversation full of warmth, laughter, and practical inspiration,perfect for anyone craving connection, community, and a reminder that it’s never too late to grow something new.

This week in our Mother’s Day series, we’re joined by Ashley, founder of Hot Tommies and a mom who proves it’s never too late to reinvent yourself.After years of building and scaling her community running Business Socialistas, Ashley found herself at a crossroads. What once fueled her no longer filled her cup and she made the brave decision to pivot. In her 40s, she stepped into the unknown and launched a completely new venture: a heated vest brand designed with both function, confidence, and fashionable in mind.In this episode, Ashley opens up about what it really feels like to outgrow something you once loved, the emotional weight of closing a meaningful chapter, and the courage it takes to trust your path...even when it’s unclear. We talk about the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, identity shifts beyond motherhood, and listening to that inner voice that tells you when it’s time for something new.This conversation is for any mom navigating change, questioning what’s next, or learning to trust herself again. Or even the mom who can't see past the diapers and spit up right now. Ashley’s story is a reminder that pivots aren’t failures, they’re often the beginning of something even more aligned.Tune in and be inspired to embrace your own evolution.

This Mother’s Day series brings together women in different stages and seasons of motherhood, creating space for stories that deserve to be heard.In this powerful first episode, we sit down with a 63-year-old mother of three grown sons for a deeply emotional conversation that doesn’t shy away from the full picture, the good, the hard, and the messy. She reflects on her early years of motherhood with raw honesty, sharing what she wishes she knew, what shaped her, and what ultimately carried her through.Her perspective offers something every mom needs: reassurance that the hard days won’t last forever, permission to feel all of it, and hope that even in the chaos, you’re doing way better than you think.Whether you’re in the thick of early motherhood or looking back on the journey, this episode will shift your perspective, soften your self-judgment, and remind you that every phase has meaning. Because sometimes, hearing “you’ll get through this” from someone who truly has and would give anything up in life to go back just for even a moment… makes all the difference.Get your tissues ready.......

We like to say we don’t care what people think and most of the time, we really don’t. But what about those moments when something we say gets taken the wrong way, or someone’s opinion suddenly hits a little too close? In today's episode we are getting real about the balance between confidence and sensitivity, especially as moms. We’re unpacking why we really don’t care… and the moments when we actually do...

This episode is for every mom who has ever woken up, looked in the mirror, and thought, okay… is this hormones or is this just my life now?  We’re talking periods, bloating, breakouts, mood swings, exhaustion, all of it. One week we feel glowy and confident and productive, and the next week we’re pale, puffy, irrationally irritated, and wondering why our jeans suddenly feel disrespectful. And somehow in the middle of that we’re expected to be calm, patient, and emotionally stable for our kids. and.....It’s a lot.We’re also being honest about the things we do to feel better. The “maybe I just need a tan.” The mascara therapy. The “if I lose five pounds I’ll feel normal again” spiral. The quick fixes we know aren’t always great but feel like something we can control. And can we talk about nursing? Because yes.....it’s beautiful. It’s bonding. It’s sacred. And also… my boobs after multiple kids? Not the same. No one prepares you for loving your body and grieving it at the exact same time.And the truth is, underneath all of it, we’re just trying to hold it together. We want to feel strong and feminine and attractive, not bloated and invisible. We want to show up as the best version of ourselves for our families without completely losing ourselves in the process. So we’re talking hormones, menopause eventually coming for all of us, body changes, confidence, and what actually helps versus what just temporarily distracts us. It’s real, it’s unfiltered, and it’s the conversation we all need but don’t always say out loud.