This Mom Loves

My special guest this week is Jennifer Singh: former TV reporter, current CEO of She’s Newsworthy Media where she offers PR strategy and media coaching. We talk about her career pivot, the impact of COVID-19, working from home, how women can step up and use their voices (in business or otherwise), allyship and inclusive marketing…and more! You can find Jennifer Singh and She’s Newsworthy Media on the web, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, and you can also join the She’s Newsworthy Media Success Facebook group – I’m a member!   At the end of the episode, I share some personal news which explains why the show will be on hiatus for a while – I’ll be posting updates as I can!

Amanda D. Watson, author of The Juggling Mother: Coming Undone in the Age of Anxiety, is here to discuss her area of expertise! We talk about media representations of juggling mothers (in TV, movies, commercials) and who’s left out of them, plus I ask Amanda about her own little ones, her thoughts on all of the “mommy needs a drink” memes, the role of influencers in both normalizing and easing the burden on moms (plus she shares one of her favourite accounts to follow) and the impact of COVID-19 on the “coming undone” of the juggling mothers. This was one of my favourite chats to date! Also in this episode I recommend: The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg and the new podcast Go Ask Ali You can find Amanda D. Watson on Instagram , Twitter, and her website, and order her book here. Thanks to my sound editor, LUKASOUND.

This week I’m chatting with Carolyn MacKenzie, cohost of Global’s The Morning Show – who is usually the one asking me the questions! We talk about pivoting to do the show from home during COVID, her recent rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis, how her kids are doing back in school, what insider info she can give us about her cohost Jeff McArthur, how she handles social media negativity, women in broadcasting that she admires, and she even surprises me with a future career dream! Also in this episode I recommend: I Am These Truths: A Memoir of Identity, Justice and Living Between Worlds by Sunny Hostin So You Want To Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo …and I share my advice for getting kids involved in the kitchen (my girls do way more of the household cooking and baking than I do now) as well as some tips from this hgtv.ca article, 10 Clever Ways to Get Your Kids More Involved in the Kitchen by Emma Yardley. Thanks to my sound editor, LUKASOUND!

It’s impossible to share all of Dr. Liza Egbogah’s titles in the same breath: chiropractor and manual osteopath, designer of Dr. Liza shoes and bags (both comfortable and gorgeous), clinical director of the[fix] in Toronto (her “Face Fix” treatment is on my wish list)…oh, and she’s a mom too. In this interview we talk about some of her celebrity clients (the ones she’s allowed to mention), her beautiful bags and shoes (I own two pairs), how she became an expert contributor for TV, and even more serious topics like her experiences as a Black woman and her thoughts on the recent anti-racism movement. Also in this episode, I recommend two books: Framed by S.L. McInnis The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine I also talk about Canva, which I love for DIY graphic design, and my new Instagram account, @EvenBetterProject (actionable tips for becoming an even better person and making the world an even better place). Come give it a follow! Finally in this episode I share a little giveaway I’m doing of five $10 Tim Hortons cards, and all you have to do to enter is leave a review of the podcast wherever you listen (e.g., Apple Podcasts) and send me a screenshot (past reviews count too). You can find Dr. Liza Egbogah on her website, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Also check out Dr. Liza Shoes & Bags and the[fix].

This week I’m chatting with Cladwell cofounder and CEO Erin Flynn – I have the Cladwell personal styling app and use it all the time! We discuss purging closets (she took hers from 450 items to 75!), shopping intentionally (and how “planned obsolescence” and “perceived obsolescence” keep us shopping), the impact of COVID-19 on business, how to make the most of Cladwell and more! Also in this episode I recommend two controversial books that I enjoyed (and delve into some of the controversy): American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell (this one’s the October pick for the This Mom Loves Virtual Book Club – come join us!) Plus I run through my 20 for 2020 goals (with credit to Gretchen Rubin) and give an update on the progress – which is actually better than you’d think during a pandemic! (“Wear lipstick more often” has not, however, been a success.) Thanks to this episode’s sponsor, Minimalist Moms. If you live in Kawartha Lakes, Peterborough or Durham and have a child under 6 you really should check out their monthly toy lending subscription kits – save money, reduce clutter, help the environment and keep your child interested in their toys! You can find Erin Flynn on Instagram, and find Cladwell on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. You can download Cladwell from the App Store on iOS. For more information visit www.cladwell.com. This episode was edited for sound by lukasound.

This week on the podcast Melissa Grelo, cohost of The Social and cofounder of marQ Designs, is here talking about filming the show from home, the post-COVID future of TV, her experience as a woman of colour, anti-racism allyship (genuine vs performative), why she left her teaching career for television,what’s coming next for her gender-neutral kids’ clothing line, how The Social has changed over seven seasons, her pandemic puppy…and more! Also in this episode, I recommend three great nonfiction book picks: I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown Joy at Work: Organizing Your Professional Life by Marie Kondo and Steven Sonenshein Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand …and I share three very important parenting tips for the COVID-19 return to school: 1. Rely on trusted sources of information 2. Do what’s best for your family 3. Communicate and assume good intentions I elaborate on all three tips in the show. Thanks to Couture Candy PTBO for sponsoring this week’s episode – you can find them on Instagram, Facebook and at CoutureCandyPTBO.ca (Personal note: I can highly recommend their amazing candy boxes and candygrams which can be sent anywhere in Canada. The chocolate box in particular is amazing.) You can find Melissa Grelo on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and melissagrelo.com. The Social is on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. marQ Designs is on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and their website. As always, this podcast was sound edited by the fabulous lukasound.

We’re back from our COVID-19/summer hiatus and starting out strong with a conversation with the very kind and gracious Pattie Lovett-Reid, Chief Financial Commentator for CTV News. In this chat we cover a huge range of topics: COVID real estate, investments, setbacks and supports; choosing charities, talking to kids about money, her role with CTV and the (sometimes self-imposed) pressure on women in television plus embracing her natural curls this summer! Pattie also answers listener questions, including one from someone she knows very well! In this episode I also recommend some excellent books: The Sweeney Sisters by Lian Dolan Hurry Home by Roz Nay The Mountains Wild: A Mystery by Sarah Stewart Taylor The Guest List by Lucy Foley (the September 2020 pick for the This Mom Loves Virtual Book Club – it’s a very welcoming Facebook group; come join us!) Check out my Reading List for Summer 2020 for the books I read during my podcast hiatus and didn’t get a chance to mention on the show! In the lifestyle segment, this seemed like the perfect episode to talk about kids and money and share my own experiences with my two girls. (I forgot to mention that they’re both eager thrift shoppers – they’d rather go to Vinnie’s or Value Village than the mall!) On a very related note, the sponsor of this episode: Eva’s Scrunchie Co You can find Pattie Lovett-Reid on Instagram and Twitter. Sound edited for this episode as always by the excellent lukasound.  

PK Beans founder Traci Costa is here today talking about her kids’ clothing business, their fun and educational new subscription box and working at home with her husband and daughters during COVID-19, plus we have a big conversation about kids and the importance of play. What does free play really mean? What is the role of parents, and are they too cautious when it comes to letting kids be outside and explore risky play? Also in this episode: Red Letter Days by Sarah-Jane Stratford Love Water Memory by Jennie Shortridge Small biz shoutouts (both take orders online and ship across Canada): Unwrapped Kawartha (zero waste products) Couture Candy Ptbo (candy boxes/candygrams) You can find Traci Costa on Instagram, and PK Beans on their website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Thanks to lukasound for sound editing this episode…and every episode to date!

It’s episode 50 and Mabel’s Labels maven and mom of six Julie Cole is here! We cover a lot of ground in this conversation: the celebrity customers that her multimillion dollar business has attracted, parenting (before and during COVID-19, including how she mobilizes the older kids to help the younger ones learn at home); organizing schedules, paperwork, clothes, toys and all the “stuff” that comes with a big family; plus being a special needs mom (her oldest child has autism), and I ask her my most pressing parenting question: how does she stop sibling bickering??? Julie also opens up about her separation and the “nesting” style of coparenting that’s working for her family, plus much more! Also in this episode: The Girl in the Letter by Emily Gunnis Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens – it’s the May pick for the This Mom Loves Virtual Book Club; come join us! This Mom Loves x Hidden Gems By Raquel: Mother’s Day order deadline is April 24th and we continue to donate $4 per bracelet to food banks. (Remember there are cute mommy & me options too!)   Winn-approved board/card games that won’t bore the adults to tears or make you want to stick a fork in your eye: Jenga, Clue, Trouble, 5 Second Rule (Jr.), Euchre You can find Julie Cole on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and Mabel’s Labels on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and their website. One final plea from this teacher: I beg of you, please label your child’s belongings! Special thanks to my fantastic sound editor, lukassound – he has been with me right from Episode 1 and I couldn’t do this podcast without him! If you need any audio-related support (production, composition or even consultation) check out his new website!

Psychotherapist Kelly Bos is here with help for our COVID-19 stressors: working from home, physical distancing, parenting/schooling, health-related anxieties. and more. Also two book recommendations, and on the lighter side of things, how celebrities are handling the “learning at home concept” – HELLO! Canada magazine even asked me for my expert input! Kelly Bos can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and her website; Talk Therapy Podcast is on Instagram. Book recommendations: The Forgotten Home Child by Genevieve Graham Beartown by Fredrik Backman Plus: Celebrity and Expert-Approved Tips on How Children Can Learn at Home While Self-Isolating (HELLO! Canada – I know I should be proud to be one of the experts but it would also have been fun to be one of the celebrities!) How Celebrities are Handling Homeschooling (This Mom Loves) Thanks to my amazing podcast editor Lukas Wojcicki!