The Real Family Eats: Dishing on real parenting struggles and favorite recipes

The Real Family Eats: Dishing on real parenting struggles and favorite recipes

We are getting raw and unfiltered about all things parenting. No more "perfect parent" facade. We are pulling back the curtain and talking about the real-life struggles of parenting and how to survive it - with your sanity intact. Starting with helping you with the age-old question of "what are we going to eat today?" Join our host and parenting expert, Reesa Morala, as she talks with parents and tries new recipes. Make sure to subscribe, like, and follow for more recipes and parenting tips.

Episodes

June 24, 2025 51 mins

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In this episode of The Real Family Eats, host Reesa sits down with Bubba Startz to talk about his powerful life journey, unique parenting challenges, and his tried-and-true chili recipe. This candid conversation digs into real stories, tough choices, and the importance of honesty in family life.

Here’s what you’ll get in this episode:

  • Bubba’s transition from welder to podcaster, songwriter, ...
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Join Reesa as she chats with Krissy Bold about motherhood, identity, and easy meals that save time and sanity. This episode delivers practical tips, honest storytelling, and encouragement for moms who crave real talk and relatable solutions.

Here’s what you’ll take away:

  • How Krissy’s chicken pot pie recipe adapts “girl dinner” to quick family meals, plus time-saving tips with rotisserie chic...
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In this episode, Julie Seal-Gaustad joins Reesa to talk business, parenting, and her family's famous banana bread. Get ready for practical insights, real-life challenges, and a recipe that's sure to become a household favorite.

  • Julie introduces herself as a business and executive coach serving Southern California, sharing her career journey and client focus.
  • The story behind Nana K...
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Single parent Blaize joins Reesa to share a heartfelt conversation about parenting challenges, healing, and practical strategies for staying grounded. Tune in to hear an honest take on real-life struggles, personal growth, and a special family recipe.

 

In this episode, you'll learn:

  • How Blaize balances single parenthood, work, creativity, and a house full of animals
  • The story behind Blai...
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Are we doomed to repeat the relationship patterns we grew up with? Julie Cobos Hernández, mom of three and nurse, opens up about her journey of breaking free from chaotic relationship cycles and learning to build healthier, more fulfilling connections.

 

In this raw and eye-opening conversation with Reesa Morala, LMFT, Julie shares the steps she took to unlearn toxic relationship dynamics, heal ...

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What happens when the life you thought you’d have collides with the reality of motherhood?

In this powerful episode, Megan Cordaro, mom of five and Certified Birth Doula, joins Reesa Morala, LMFT, to share her raw and emotional journey of pregnancy, parenting, and sacrifice. Megan opens up about being pregnant with twins while her husband was deployed to Iraq, the overwhelming grief and resentm...

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In this deeply moving episode, Jillian Cajigas, mom of one, joins Reesa Morala, LMFT, to share her emotional journey through pregnancy loss, high-risk pregnancy, and early sobriety. Jillian opens up about her struggles with uterus didelphys, the grief of a prior miscarriage, and the overwhelming feeling that her body had failed her. She reflects on how she navigated mental health challenges, f...

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In this candid episode, Jennifer Lebrick, mom of two, joins Reesa Morala, LMFT, to dive into the challenges of being a full-time breadwinner while raising a family. Jennifer shares her journey of balancing career demands, societal expectations, and parenting pressures. From the sacrifices she made, including missing precious moments with her kids, to the strain it placed on her family relation...

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two and Marriage and Family Therapist, joins Reesa Morala, LMFT, to share his inspiring story. John opens up about:

  • Parenting while deployed
  • His journey of recovery from alcohol abuse
  • The intentional steps he took to build a stronger connection with his child

Discover relatable insights, powerful resources, and emotional stories of resilience. Plus, don’t miss John sharing his cherished G...

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In this candid episode, Kate Anderson, mom of three and owner of Kate Anderson Fitness, joins Reesa Morala, LMFT, to explore the challenges of raising children with vastly different personalities. Kate opens up about the struggle of recognizing how her own negative self-talk influenced her children’s inner narratives and the steps she’s taking to break the cycle of self-criticism.

As ...

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In this introspective episode, Rachel Sorensen, LMFT, mom of one, and co-founder of Sorensen and Schiller Family Services, joins Reesa Morala, LMFT, to discuss the deeply personal journey of deciding whether or not to have children. Rachel opens up about the societal pressures she faced to follow traditional life paths and how she navigated the internal conflict between her authentic desires a...

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In this compelling episode, Sara Hall—Spanish teacher, mom of two, and author/podcaster—joins Reesa Morala, LMFT, to discuss the complexities of raising mixed-race children. Drawing from her own experiences growing up in a mixed-race household, Sara shares how she navigates parenting challenges, especially when her children face situations she can’t personally relate to. She highlights the ste...

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In this insightful episode, Jessica Good, LPC, EMDR Certified Therapist™, and mom of one, joins Reesa Morala, LMFT, to explore the journey of reparenting while raising a child. Jessica opens up about her recovery from an emotionally immature upbringing, sharing the grief, yearning, and determination to break generational cycles and create a healthier family dynamic.

As they discuss em...

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In this heartfelt episode, Kelly Parker, mom of one and Marriage and Family Therapist, joins Reesa Morala, LMFT, to share her emotional journey through pre-eclampsia and having a NICU baby. Kelly opens up about the fear, frustration, and challenges of coping with a pregnancy complication and the struggle of feeling like her body “failed” her during this critical time.

As they discuss ...

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In this episode, Celeste Hamilton, mom of two and Co-Owner of Hamilton Homes and Loans, joins Reesa Morala, LMFT, to discuss the complexities of disciplining children and navigating parenting without a handbook. Celeste shares how she and her partner worked through outside pressures to balance discipline with mindfulness for their kids' health and well-being.

As they exchange par...

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In this episode, Rachel, mom of two, joins Reesa Morala, LMFT, to share her journey of navigating life as a single parent to a child diagnosed with Type I diabetes. Rachel discusses the fear and challenges that come with managing serious medical needs, including some scary close calls, and how she worked to establish a “new normal” for her family.

As they explore parenting insights, r...

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In this episode, Melissa Donald, doula and mom of two, joins Reesa Morala, LMFT, to explore the challenges of parenting when reality doesn’t match expectations. Melissa shares how the birth of her second child, with a completely different temperament from her first, reshaped her understanding of parenting. She opens up about the toll isolation and unexpected challenges had on her family system...

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Join Reesa Morala, LMFT, mom of two and owner of Embrace Renewal Therapy & Wellness Collective, as she shares parenting struggles, tips, and insights alongside guest host Amanda. In this episode, Reesa opens up about the challenges of parenting a high medical needs child, including when her first baby stopped eating at three months old. She dives into how she learned to advocate for her ch...

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In this episode, Ignacio Corona, dad of two and Director of Merchandising at Adobe Maison, joins Reesa Morala, LMFT, to share his parenting journey and lessons learned. Ignacio opens up about modeling flexibility in gender roles for his daughters, taking on traditionally female-presenting roles to support his wife’s career, and breaking cultural and generational norms to teach his children sel...

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In this episode, Dommie Shaun, mom of two and owner of Dommie Shaun Health and Wellness Coach, joins Reesa Morala, LMFT, to discuss the challenges and emotions of parenting adult children as they transition into independence. Dommie shares her experience navigating the grief of children moving out, redefining her role as a parent, and supporting her kids as they start families of their own.

As ...

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