Momarchy with Sarah & Tanya

What does it look like when two busy moms hit the end of the year and finally take a breath? In this holiday episode, we reflect on the beautiful chaos of mid-December, the kind that sneaks up quickly and somehow feels both magical and exhausting. As the year rushes to a close, we revisit the traditions that anchor us: Christmas movie marathons, Hanukkah celebrations, and the annual antics of the Elf on the Shelf that leave parents wondering why they ever started in the first place.We also take a candid look at the cultural and political moments that shaped the year, including Trump’s controversial pardons and the kind of headlines that made us pause, laugh, or say, “Are you kidding me?” These reflections sit alongside the smaller, more personal dilemmas of the season like navigating thoughtful gift-giving for teachers and nannies, reminding us how ordinary and extraordinary this time of year can be.As we look back on our very first year of podcasting, we share the gratitude that has carried us: for the listeners who showed up, the sponsors who believed in us, and the guests who helped shape conversations we’re proud of. We also open up about what’s ahead, offering a glimpse into where the show is headed next.This year is both a celebration and a chance to acknowledge the wins and WTFs, while sending you into the holidays with warmth, humor, and our heartfelt thanks.We discuss:00:00 – Welcome to Momarchy: Calling out BS in politics and motherhood04:00 – ChatGPT makeup advice & makeshift podcast studios07:15 – Trump tells steelworkers to “buy fewer gifts” – seriously?!08:30 – Erika Kirk compares husbands to the government13:30 – Trump pardons 1,500+ Jan 6 rioters and drug traffickers17:00 – Launching a business + this podcast = real startup life23:00 – WTF Kid Moment: Pooping on a book (yes, really)28:30 – Ask a Millennial Mom: Do we *really* need to give 12 teacher gifts?!41:00 – Elf on the Shelf: Meet “Neil” and his magical guilt trips51:00 – De-stress your holiday: Zoo lights and hot chocolate work just fineLearn more about:Tanya Nathan is a political campaign and communications strategist with over a decade of experience in progressive campaigns and advocacy. Currently a Principal at a nationally-based grasstops consulting firm, she's a Denver native living with her year-old daughter, husband, and their rescue pets. Her hobbies include crosswords, mezcal tasting, and trying to find people to talk to about Traitors.Sarah Andrews is a political strategist living in rural Colorado with her husband and two young kids. When she's not managing campaigns or chasing toddlers, she's passionate about women's rights, childcare policy, and creating space for honest political conversations that don't end in shouting matches.Website: momarchypodcast.comYouTube: @momarchySubstack: @momarchyInstagram: @momarchypodcastTikTok: @momarchypodcastEmail: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever wish parenting came with a Hallmark-style guarantee? Ninety minutes, one conflict, a cozy ending? Same.In this episode, we welcome our first-ever family guests and our first dads on the podcast to share their perspective on modern parenting: Luke Macfarlane and Hig Roberts.We dive into everything from their journey to fatherhood, to balancing high-profile careers with nap schedules, to the real and unfiltered experience of raising a child. We also zoom out to the bigger conversations: how society views same sex families, the shifting political landscape around parenting rights, and what it truly means to show up for your child when the world feels unpredictable.And in true Momarchy fashion, we land where it matters most: the beauty, the mess, the questions, and the love that make modern parenting work… whether your life looks like a Hallmark movie or absolutely does not.We discuss:00:00 – Welcome to Momarchy + show mission05:00 – Launching the Momarchy YouTube channel07:20 – Costco sues over tariffs (politics update)10:40 – Katie Miller controversy: “waffles vs spaghetti”16:50 – Introducing guests Luke & Higgs21:00 – Rapid fire: parenting & relationship dynamics33:00 – Becoming dads as a gay couple47:30 – NICU discrimination story01:06:30 – Hallmark movies vs real-life parenting01:19:40 – Family rights, hope, and closing reflectionsLearn more about:Tanya Nathan is a political campaign and communications strategist with over a decade of experience in progressive campaigns and advocacy. Currently a Principal at a nationally-based grasstops consulting firm, she's a Denver native living with her year old daughter, husband, and their rescue pets. Her hobbies include crosswords, mezcal tasting, and trying to find people to talk to about Traitors.Sarah Andrews is a political strategist living in rural Colorado with her husband and two young kids. When she's not managing campaigns or chasing toddlers, she's passionate about women's rights, childcare policy, and creating space for honest political conversations that don't end in shouting matches.Website: momarchypodcast.comYouTube: @momarchySubstack: @momarchyInstagram: @momarchypodcastTikTok: @momarchypodcastEmail: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever looked at the news, looked at your kid's half-eaten snack plate, and wondered if the entire country is gaslighting you at the same time?In this episode, we talk about the Epstein files, the political circus surrounding them, and why so many of us are feeling politically homeless as 2025 drags itself to the finish line. Nothing about this season feels calm, and pretending otherwise is its own kind of delusion.We get into power, accountability, the way both parties talk down to parents, and how moms end up carrying the emotional load of a political system that refuses to just say the quiet part out loud. We also bring back our DGAF Mom Moment with the Hot or Not Edition, because sometimes laughing at the chaos is the only thing keeping us upright.If you are tired, confused, or one performative political lecture away from snapping, grab your hot drink and tune in.We Discuss:(04:05) The boycott drama and why parents are over the judgment(12:16) The Epstein files explained without the noise(18:34) Trump's pivot and the political spin around the release(27:51) Why so many of us feel politically homeless in 2025(33:22) How exhaustion fuels gaslighting and misinformation(41:00) The gap between what parents need and what politics delivers(46:45) How to stay engaged without burning out(51:18) Our DGAF Mom Moment: Hot or Not editionLearn more about:Tanya Nathan is a political campaign and communications strategist with over a decade of experience in progressive campaigns and advocacy. Currently a Principal at a nationally-based grasstops consulting firm, she's a Denver native living with her 8-month-old daughter, husband, and their rescue pets. Her hobbies include crosswords, mezcal tasting, and trying to sleuth out who's going to be on Love is Blind Denver.Sarah Andrews is a political strategist living in rural Colorado with her husband and two young kids. When she's not managing campaigns or chasing toddlers, she's passionate about women's rights, childcare policy, and creating space for honest political conversations that don't end in shouting matches.Website: momarchypodcast.comSubstack: https://substack.com/@momarchyInstagram: @themomarchypodcast TikTok: @momarchypodcastEmail: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when a mother realizes that staying on the sidelines is no longer an option? For Shannon Watts, that moment came after the Sandy Hook tragedy, when the fear every parent carries turned into a determination she could not ignore. In this episode, we look at how Moms Demand Action began with one Facebook post and grew into the largest women's volunteer organization in the country. Shannon shares why mothers so often become the steady force behind major social movements and what she has learned from watching everyday women transform concern into influence. We also explore the emotional reality of raising kids in a country where safety cannot be taken for granted. Shannon talks about the guilt and pressure that often follow women who choose to speak up, and how activism can feel grounding when it offers community instead of isolation. She also shares insights from her new book about how women can identify what drives them and take meaningful steps toward the life they want. Shannon Watts is a speaker, author, and the Founder of Moms Demand Action. She has been named a Time Magazine 100 Most Influential People, a Forbes 50 Over 50 Changemaker, and a Glamour Woman of the Year. She is the author of Fight Like a Mother and Fired Up, a New York Times and USA Today bestseller about helping women break limitations and ignite what comes next. We Discuss: (06:14) How the Sandy Hook tragedy pushed Shannon into action (08:40) Why mothers often end up leading major movements (11:56) Activism as grounding instead of burnout (13:54) Navigating polarization and finding real common ground (17:42) Why guilt shows up when women raise their voices (24:09) The gap between "pro-life" rhetoric and gun safety (29:26) How women use values, abilities, and desires to define their path (34:17) Supporting teens who fear going to school Learn more about: Tanya Nathan is a political campaign and communications strategist with over a decade of experience in progressive campaigns and advocacy. Currently a Principal at a nationally-based grasstops consulting firm, she's a Denver native living with her 8-month-old daughter, husband, and their rescue pets. Her hobbies include crosswords, mezcal tasting, and trying to sleuth out who's going to be on Love is Blind Denver. Sarah Andrews is a political strategist living in rural Colorado with her husband and two young kids. When she's not managing campaigns or chasing toddlers, she's passionate about women's rights, childcare policy, and creating space for honest political conversations that don't end in shouting matches. Website: momarchypodcast.com Substack: @momarchy Instagram: @themomarchypodcast TikTok: @momarchypodcast Email: [email protected] Find more from Shannon Watts: Instagram: @shannonrwatts X: @shannonrwatts Website: momsdemandaction.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever feel like the holidays are stressful enough without your uncle turning Thanksgiving into a cable news audition? Same. In this episode, we're breaking down how to survive political conversations at the holiday table without ruining the pie or your sanity. From setting expectations before you walk in the door to gracefully exiting bad-faith debates, we're giving you the tools to make it through the season with your peace intact. We're also bringing back Pardon My Politics: Thanksgiving Edition. JD Vance and Erica Kirk's viral hug, the New York Times' messy headline, Trump ignoring a guest fainting in the Oval Office, and the Colorado organizers who quietly flipped their entire city council. To lighten things up, we dive into some truly unhinged White House Thanksgiving history. JFK skipped the turkey, Nixon served cottage cheese with ketchup, Obama baked sweet potato pie, and Trump… well, he brought out the Big Macs. We also imagine what Thanksgiving would look like with a woman in the Oval Office. And in Ask a Millennial Mom, we talk teaching gratitude when your family can't agree on basic facts, choosing between the parade, football or the dog show, and the "I'm trying, but I'm a parent" dishes that always come through. Yes, the Whole Foods hot bar and boxed stuffing absolutely count. Tune in. We Discuss: (00:20) The "Hot Louvre Thieves" and the strange glamorizing of viral criminals (08:56) Why holiday family gatherings turn into unexpected political minefields (14:02) How to exit heated conversations without drama or guilt (15:45) The invisible mental load moms carry during the holiday season (24:29) Pardon My Politics: viral hugs, bad headlines, fainting scandals and big wins (35:34) The wildest and weirdest Thanksgiving traditions from the White House (43:53) Ask a Millennial Mom: teaching gratitude, handling family tension and easy mom dishes Learn more about: Tanya Nathan is a political campaign and communications strategist with over a decade of experience in progressive campaigns and advocacy. Currently a Principal at a nationally-based grasstops consulting firm, she's a Denver native living with her 8-month-old daughter, husband, and their rescue pets. Her hobbies include crosswords, mezcal tasting, and trying to sleuth out who's going to be on Love is Blind Denver. Sarah Andrews is a political strategist living in rural Colorado with her husband and two young kids. When she's not managing campaigns or chasing toddlers, she's passionate about women's rights, childcare policy, and creating space for honest political conversations that don't end in shouting matches. Website: momarchypodcast.com Substack: https://substack.com/@momarchy Instagram: @themomarchypodcast TikTok: @momarchypodcast Email: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.