THE MILK

Happy 2026! If you felt like you hit a wall on January 1st instead of hitting the ground running, this episode is for you. I am planting my flag for the new year -- not with a list of aesthetic resolutions or pressure-filled goals, but with 10 Personal Non-Negotiables designed for a calmer, clearer, and more aligned year. 
In this solo episode, we ease into 2026 by ditching the "New Year, New Me" panic. I break down my personal standards for motherhood, partnerships, and ambition - including why I'm done "keeping score" in my relationship, the specific chore systems that saved my mental load, and why "Inner Peace is the New Productivity." 
Whether you need permission to lower your daily standards (hello, the "2 out of 3" rule), a strategy to time-block your chaos, or just a reminder that "No" is a complete sentence, grab your notebook (or just listen while you drive) and let's build a year that actually feels good. 
In this episode, we cover:
The "Soft Launch": Why I ignored the January 1st pressure and how to use the "Camera Roll Method" to find your joy.
Motherhood: My "Two Out of Three" Rule for feeling put together and why 10 minutes of presence beats a perfect schedule. 
Relationship: Why we don't keep score, we keep systems (and the weekly check-in that prevents resentment). 
The Chore Audit: Explicitly dividing household tasks (like the trash vs. the groceries) to eliminate the "Mental Load." 
Ambition: How I time-block my actual priorities and conducting a "High Effort, Low Return" audit on my work. 
Energy & Boundaries: Why "That doesn't work for us" is a full sentence and quitting one-sided friendships. 
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Chapter Markers:
00:00 – A Softer Start to 2026: Letting go of Jan 1st Pressure 
06:45 – Reflection: The "Camera Roll" Exercise & Finding Joy 
17:00 – Bucket 1: Motherhood. The "Two Out of Three" Rule & Presence over Perfection 
23:30 – Bucket 2: Partnership. Systems vs. Scorekeeping & The Weekly Check-In 
29:00 – The Chore Audit: Reducing the Mental Load 
34:00 – Bucket 3: Ambition. Time Blocking & The "High Effort, Low Return" Audit 
45:30 – Bucket 4: Me + Energy. 20-Minute Movement & Friendship Boundaries 
55:00 – Rapid Fire: "That doesn't work for us" & Scheduling Joy
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This week I’m sitting down with a very special (and pregnant!) friend — Sami Brooks — and this one felt like the kind of conversation that makes you exhale and go, okay… I’m not alone.
We talk about what it really looks like to grow a family fast: deciding to go for babies close in age, a long labor that ended in a C-section, and the dream that had her convinced she was having a little girl. Sami shares how the hardest nights can either pull you apart or weld you together — and what it looks like to choose “us vs. the problem” when you’re both running on fumes. If you’ve ever wondered how couples stay close between night feeds and nap schedules, this episode is basically a love letter to teamwork (with plenty of humor).
And yes, we get into the real pregnancy stuff — the nausea that won’t quit, the fatigue that makes your bones feel heavy, hormonal surprises like rashes and acne, and the old wives’ tales that are weirdly accurate… until they’re not. Sami also tells the most iconic gender reveal story (it involves sumo suits), plus we talk intuition vs. tracking apps and how postpartum can change what you trust most.
We also get super practical for anyone navigating close-in-age siblings: strollers, car seats, third-row cars, travel/airport logistics, and little ways to include your toddler so jealousy turns into belonging.
And of course, body image gets honest. The unglamorous first trimester, carb-only survival days, jeans that won’t button, and the shift from body perfection to body neutrality. We share simple ways to rebuild strength postpartum — breath work, deep core + pelvic floor basics, and finding trainers/programs that actually understand postpartum bodies.
If you’re pregnant, newly postpartum, a seasoned mom in the chaos, or just trying to feel more normal in this season — this one’s for you.
MORE FROM SAMI BROOKS:
Follow her on Instagram HERE
Follow her on TikTok HERE
Subscribe to her Youtube HERE
If you loved it, follow the show, send it to a mom friend, and leave a quick review so more women can find us. 🤍
Follow The Milk Podcast on all platforms for weekly episodes that remind you you're not alone, you're not crazy, and you're doing way better than you think.
Follow & Subscribe For More:
YouTube: @TheMilkPodcast
Instagram: @TheMilkPodcast_@TaylaBurke
TikTok: @TheMilkPodcast @Tayla_Burke

The news is finally out, we’re having a baby girl & we are on cloud9! In this episode, I share the backstory behind our donut-box gender reveal and how an unexpected ultrasound slip changed our plan to wait until birth. Sometimes it’s the most simple, unplanned moments that bring the most joy, excitement & forever memories to our lives. 

• why we nixed our plan to wait to find out the gender until birth 
• how Scotty chose a simple, kid-centered reveal at home to surprise me
• Aspen’s strong intuition and big-sister energy
• preparing Bash for change and easing separation anxiety
• managing high-risk care and frequent ultrasounds
• my pros and cons list of when to find out the gender 
• telling our families and the Mexico golf reveal plan for my parents
 

Follow The Milk Podcast on all platforms for weekly episodes that remind you you're not alone, you're not crazy, and you're doing way better than you think.
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Parenthood doesn’t ask for permission; it moves in, rearranges the furniture, and hands you a love so big it scares you.
In this episode, we are getting cozy. Join Tayla Burke and Scotty McKnight (from the comfort of their bed) for a candid holiday conversation about the hard truths we tend to keep quiet: the guilt of craving a break, the ache of missing your kids while you’re gone, and the shock of realizing your heart now lives outside your body.
We reflect on a recent day-date to Boulder, Colorado without the kids, compared to the chaos of past European family travels, open up about the trauma of the day our house burned down, and discuss why "surrender" is the real parenting superpower.
We also break down why "work-life balance" is a myth and introduce a more honest framework: The Pizza Pie Analogy. Some days work gets the biggest slice, other days parenting does, and the rest—marriage, friends, health, even hair-wash day—shifts with the season.
AND FINALLY... joy knocks on the door in the sweetest way. Stay until the very end for a surprise gender reveal that shifts our family story forever.
In this episode, we cover:
• 01:55 – The Elephant in the Room: Why we keep having babies but aren't married yet.
• 06:30 – Hard Truth #1: Why loving your kids and desperately needing a break can coexist.
• 09:00 – Hard Truth #2: The anxiety of your heart living outside your body.
• 24:00 – The "Pie" Analogy: Why balance is a myth and how to slice your life differently every day.
• 32:00 – Travel Disasters: When the plan falls apart, it’s just an adventure.
• 48:30 – Parenting Through Trauma: Showing up for your kids even when your house burns down.
• 55:30 – THE SURPRISE: A donut-fueled gender reveal!
#GenderReveal #TheMilkPodcast #ParentingTruths #MomOf3 #SurprisePregnancy #WorkLifeBalance #RealTalk #TaylaBurke #ScottyMcKnight

Follow The Milk Podcast on all platforms for weekly episodes that remind you you're not alone, you're not crazy, and you're doing way better than you think.
Follow & Subscribe For More:
YouTube: @TheMilkPodcast
Instagram: @TheMilkPodcast_@TaylaBurke
TikTok: @TheMilkPodcast @Tayla_Burke

Happy Holidays ladies!! I thought it would be fun to ring in the pre-holiday cheer by talking all things "traditions"- ones our family did when I was young, ones I've done since having kids & new traditions I'm starting this year to hopefully last decades to come.

I talk about starting small and staying flexible—my goal of picking three to five traditions that travel well through busy seasons- because we do NOT need to try to do it all (us moms are superheroes regardless). I've learned it's the simple, repeatable traditions that build real connection without the stress spiral.

I also felt it was necessary to touch on holiday anxiety. As joyous as this time of year can be, it can also be shared with sadness, loneliness, & loss. So if this year doesn't feel as you were hoping- I'm sending you a big hug through this episode. 

More On What I Cover:
• reflecting on childhood traditions and identity
• naming anxiety and loneliness during the holidays
• replacing pressure with presence and intention
• yearly ornament ritual and tree decorating night
• mini-tree hack for kids and core memory moments
• matching pajamas, signature breakfast, baking night
• sponsoring a family and blending cultural recipes
• light walks, markets, donations, and gratitude circles
• choosing three to five traditions and staying flexible

If you're still looking for last-minute holiday gift ideas, HERE is a link to my gift guides to help you find something for your friends, family, partner, kids, or yourself! 
If this resonated, I'd be so grateful for you subscribing to The Milk, leaving a simple review, or passing the podcast along to a friend. 
Follow The Milk Podcast on all platforms for weekly episodes that remind you you're not alone, you're not crazy, and you're doing way better than you think.
Follow & Subscribe For More:
YouTube: @TheMilkPodcast
Instagram: @TheMilkPodcast_@TaylaBurke
TikTok: @TheMilkPodcast @Tayla_Burke