Real talk. Real women. Real laughs.

In Episode 14: Cold Breadsticks, Big Milestones & Awkward Hugs of the Real Talk, Real Women, Real Laughs podcast, co-hosts Brenda and Betsy return after a short hiatus to reflect on a busy season of graduations, travel, wedding prep, and family milestones. They discuss the pressure of hosting celebrations, the value of staying organized, asking for help, and giving yourself permission to pause. They also explore parenting adult...

In Episode 13: The Lasts, the Lessons and Letting Go: A Senior Year Tribute of the Real Talk, Real Women, Real Laughs podcast, co-hosts Brenda Johnson and Betsy Smith are joined by special guest Abby Madura to reflect on the emotional experience of parenting high school seniors as their daughters approach graduation. The conversation centers on the “lasts” that come with senior year—final games, seasons ending, an...

In Episode 12 “Experiencing Life – and Parenting - One Unexpected Moment at a Time” of our Real Talk, Real Women, Real Laughs podcast, co-hosts Brenda Johnson and Betsy Smith celebrate the show’s one‑year anniversary and chat about Brenda’s recent cruise vacation with her youngest daughter, highlighting meaningful, unexpected human connections that emerged along the way. Brenda shares stories about nav...

In the podcast “Episode 11: Holiday Chaos, Family and New Year Reflections” with Brenda Johnson and Betsy Smith, the co-hosts have a candid conversation reflecting on their holiday experiences, family gatherings, and the challenges of event planning as parents. They share stories about the joys and chaos of having family members, especially their adult children, home for the holidays, including managing meals, unexpecte...

In this podcast “Episode 10: From Haircuts to Heartstrings: Tales of Change” with Brenda Johnson and Betsy Smith, the hosts celebrate reaching their 10th show and reflect on the journey so far. They share candid stories about navigating new jobs, adapting to change, and the challenges of learning new systems at work. The conversation shifts to parenting, where they humorously discuss the creative “lies” pare...

In Episode 9 titled “New Beginnings: The Courage to Start Over” hosts Brenda Johnson and Betsy Smith discuss major life transitions, particularly with career changes and personal growth. Brenda shares her experience of leaving a job she held for over 20 years, describing the emotional challenges, self-doubt, and the fear of the unknown that came with making such a bold move. The conversation touches on themes like impos...

In Episode 8 titled "Empty Nesting and Deciding What You Are Going to Be When You Grow Up," hosts Brenda Johnson and Betsy Smith discuss the emotional and practical challenges of transitioning to be empty nesters. They share personal stories about their children leaving for college, the adjustments in their daily lives, and the feelings of emptiness and identity crisis that come with this life stage. The episode also touches on the...

In Episode 7 of the podcast titled "Episode 7: Meemaw's Wisdom: Balancing Life with Love and Laughter," hosts Betsy and Brenda welcome their first guest, Meemaw. The episode is a delightful mix of humorous and heartfelt stories, focusing on family experiences, parenting, juggling work and family life, childhood memories, and transitioning to empty nesting. Meemaw shares her insights as a working mom and teacher, discussing the chal...

In Episode 6 of the podcast titled " Juggling All the Summertime Fun and some fails too", Betsy and Brenda have a lively conversation about their experiences and challenges of organizing big events, such as graduation parties, for their children. They discuss the stress and effort involved in planning and executing these events, including coordinating food, and managing last-minute tasks. They also share humorous anecdotes, like fi...

In Episode 5 of the podcast titled " You are not an Imposter! The Trials and Triumphs of Job Hunting ", Betsy and Brenda have a conversation where they share their experiences and insights on job hunting, particularly focusing on the challenges faced by recent graduates. They discuss their own journeys, including internships, first jobs, and the importance of perseverance and networking. They emphasize the value of gaining diverse ...

In Episode 4 of the podcast titled " A Look Behind the Scenes: Family Moments from Snapshots to Suitcases ", Betsy and Brenda discuss various family moments and experiences. They talk about the challenges and joys of taking family pictures. They share humorous anecdotes about coordinating outfits, dealing with cranky children, and capturing the perfect family photo. Brenda and Betsy also reminisce about their family vacations, incl...

In Episode 3 of the podcast titled "Making Memories, Sometimes Not as you Expected!", Betsy and Brenda discuss the importance of making memories, both intentional and unintentional, and dedicate the episode to their loved ones. They share fond memories of their parents and the traditions they passed down, such as baking Christmas cookies, cutting down their own Christmas tree, and visiting Betsy's dad's Ranch. They also recount hum...

In "Episode 2 Mom Guilt, You don't have to be a Superwoman!", Betsy and Brenda discuss the pervasive feeling of mom guilt that many mothers experience while trying to balance career and family life. They share personal anecdotes about their struggles with work travel, daycare challenges, and the pressure to be present at their children's events. They emphasize the importance of having a support system and being kind to oneself, ack...

"Embracing Life's Journey: Stories of Growth and Support (With a Dash of Humor)," shares personal stories of growth, support, and belief. It emphasizes the importance of encouragement and self-belief in overcoming challenges. The stories include overcoming doubts in high school track, being unexpectedly awarded as the best athlete, taking on leadership roles in sports teams, balancing career ambitions with motherhood, transitioning...

Welcome to Real talk. Real women. Real laughs introduces a podcast hosted by Betsy Smith and Brenda Johnson. The podcast aims to share relatable experiences of raising families while managing careers, filled with heartfelt stories, practical experiences, and humor. Betsy and Brenda discuss themes like mom guilt, balancing work and family, the importance of support systems, and imposter syndrome. Each episode concludes with advice i...