Mama Making Podcast

What if being a little "selfish" actually made you a better mom? 

In this episode, Jessica sits down with Paulina Roe — Chicago radio personality, podcast host, and founder of the Mami Collective — for a candid, energetic, and deeply relatable conversation about ambitious motherhood, identity after baby, and why community changes everything. From her decade on Chicago radio to building a nationwide platform for moms...

What does it mean to raise globally conscious children in a world full of noise, misinformation, and borders — both literal and cultural? 

In this episode, Jessica sits down with Maria Ahmad, humanitarian, multilingual professional, journalist, and mom of two, whose life has spanned Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Latin America. Maria shares her journey from BBC radio journalist covering terrorism and elections ...

WELCOME TO SEASON 5: Moms Making Impact  🎉

What if the hardest parts of postpartum aren't a sign that something is wrong with you — but a sign that something is finally waking up? 

In this episode, Jessica sits down with Jenny Tucker, founder of Centerline Community, a support space for new and expecting moms navigating postpartum and matrescence. Jenny brings her background in mental health counseling and yoga to a ...

What do you do when you get laid off while pregnant, have a toddler at home, and just bought a house? 

If you're Alexandra Swayne, you start a marketing business, invent a baby product, and launch a women's networking group — all within a year. In this episode, Jessica sits down with Alex to talk about the layoff that cracked everything open, the 2 a.m. manufacturer calls that turned Binky Bands into a viral product launc...

What would it mean to raise a child who never learns to be ashamed of their body?

 In this episode, Jessica sits down with Dr. Tina Schermer Sellers — licensed sex therapist, bestselling author, researcher, and founder of the Northwest Institute on Intimacy — for a conversation that every parent needs to hear. 

From the definition of sexual shame and how it develops from infancy, to the impact of abstinence-only...

What if birth wasn't something to be afraid of — but something to be prepared for?

 In this episode, Jessica sits down with Emily Encinosa, certified professional midwife, hypnobirthing instructor, and founder of Birds and Bees Maternity Center in Annapolis, Maryland, to talk about the modern home birth movement, the maternity care ecosystem she's building, and why continuity of care changes everything. From debunking hom...

Sometimes life just doesn't ask permission. 

In this solo episode, Jessica gets real about the last two weeks — a broken arm, a late-night ER visit with her son, a hard decision to miss a conference she was really looking forward to, and a full dental surgery under general anesthesia the following week. She talks about what it looks and feels like to go into survival mode, why the emotional weight hits hardest when it's a...

What does it look like when a business-owning mom hits rock bottom — physically, emotionally, and hormonally — and finds her way back? 

In this episode, Jessica sits down with Terry Tateossian, founder of Thor (The House of Rose), a health coaching practice built for midlife women ready to reclaim their vitality. At 42, Terry lost over 80 pounds, overcame emotional eating, and discovered she had been navigating earl...

What if the key to less defiance, fewer tantrums, and a deeper connection with your kids wasn't another parenting strategy — but play? 

In this episode, Jessica sits down with Dr. Kim Van Dusen, licensed marriage and family therapist, registered play therapist, and founder of The Parentologist, to talk about why play is one of the most powerful and underused tools in a parent's toolkit. From meltdown interventions to gett...

Second pregnancies are supposed to be easier, right? Not always. 

In this episode, Jessica sits down with returning guest Mariela De Santiago for a candid, practical, and deeply relatable conversation about what it actually looks like to prepare for baby number two. From a harder pregnancy than expected to a planned C-section, from sibling prep to postpartum non-negotiables, Mariela shares exactly what she did differently &mdas...

What if the hardest parts of motherhood weren't signs that you're failing — but invitations to finally understand yourself? 

In this episode, Jessica sits down with Dr. Angele Close, clinical psychologist, motherhood coach, and author of Unburdening Motherhood, for a deeply honest conversation about matrescence, the Internal Family Systems model, and what it really means to heal inside of motherhood. From mom guilt and pe...

Sometimes the universe pushes you before you're ready. 

In this solo episode, Jessica gets honest about her business ownership journey — from a career she loved in nonprofit fundraising, to a corporate pivot, to an unexpected layoff that became the unlikely catalyst for everything. She talks about the messy middle of entrepreneurial growth, the imposter syndrome that comes with it, the therapy session that reframed everyt...

What happens when the feeding journey you planned isn't the one you get? In this episode, Jessica sits down with Mallory Whitmore — founder of The Formula Mom, infant feeding technician, and author of Bottle Service — for an honest, judgment-free conversation about formula feeding. From debunking the biggest formula myths to navigating the guilt and grief that can come with changing course, Mallory brings the research, ...

What happens when you launch a business two weeks before giving birth?

In this episode of The Mama Making Podcast, I sit down with pharmacist, functional medicine consultant, podcast host, and new mom Dr. Kelly Moline to talk about building a business in the early days of motherhood — and redefining success along the way.

Kelly shares how her curiosity inside traditional pharmacy practice led her into functional medicine, root-...

It’s been a minute since I’ve done a solo episode — and there’s a lot happening.

In this honest check-in, I’m sharing podcast updates, business growth, big pivots for the next season, and some personal reflections on alignment, ambition, and expanding our family.

After five years of podcasting, this past year brought the most growth The Mama Making Podcast has ever seen — and it’s pushing me ...

What if the life you planned doesn’t unfold the way you imagined — but something equally powerful emerges in its place?

In this episode of The Mama Making Podcast, I sit down with author, speaker, and founder of Cheri’s Choice, Cheri Bergeron, to talk about infertility, IVF after 40, egg donation, and ultimately choosing solo motherhood.

Cheri shares her journey from building a successful career in Silicon Valley to...

What if success didn’t mean more — but meant peace?

In this episode of The Mama Making Podcast, Jessica sits down with Kate Scholtes — founder of Your Behind-the-Scenes BFF — to talk about building businesses that support motherhood instead of competing with it.

Kate shares her journey from classroom teacher to network marketing to virtual assistant mentor — and how becoming a mom completely reshaped wha...

What happens when the career you worked your entire life for suddenly disappears — right in the middle of pregnancy?

In this episode of The Mama Making Podcast, Jessica sits down with email marketing strategist and mom of two Allison Hardy to talk about building a multi-six-figure business that actually supports motherhood — not one that drains it.

Allison shares her journey from college art professor to accidental entrep...

What if preparing for another baby started with preparing you? In this thoughtful conversation, Ayurvedic doctor and functional hormone specialist Madison Waggoner shares her personal journey through motherhood, healing, and surrender—and how it’s shaped the way she supports women preparing for pregnancy. From digestive fire to emotional digestion, Madison offers a fresh perspective on preconception care and why the sec...