Episode 34: Marriage after Parenthood with My Husband Matt Monness
You guys sent in your questions, he answered! Everything from finding time for intimacy, what he feels changed the most since becoming parents and what it's like to be married to someone on social media.
This one is short but sweet so I'll keep the description the same. Let us know what you think and what Matt should answer next time!
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Episode 33: Lucie Fink on Ambition, Motherhood and the Stories We Tell Ourselves
In this episode I sit down with Lucie Fink - lifestyle host, podcast host of The Real Stuff and, who I like to call, an epic story teller. I was first drawn to Lucie because of her incredible way of telling stories, not just the way she shared the brands she believed in but how she shared her life. It’s sometimes silly, often beautifully edited but also so authentic and real. Her shift into motherhood solidified my intrigue because of how seamlessly she seemed to keep her videography abilities which I know can be all consuming. She just exudes effortless in so many ways and I was excited to see what was behind it.
Lucie and I got into her origin story at Refinery 29 (and probably spend longer there than planned because of my genuine fascination), but the most powerful takeaways are how she shares her ambition—an ambition she once thought would fade when she became a mom - actually carried her into the most creative stage of her career. We also talk about her parents, in-laws, her experience as a twin, and more.
But the most powerful takeaways from this conversation are how Lucie shares the way in which her ambition, one she thought wouldn’t matter anymore once she became a mom, not only stayed with her but pushed her into her most creative stages of her career. We also talk about her parents, her in-laws, her experience as a twin and more.
What inspired me most was Lucie’s way of keeping her own projections out of parenting - something so difficult to do when our children’s experiences bring up memories of our own.
This conversation truly feels like one of those long coffee chats with someone who inspires you as both a professional and a mom. Lucie and I also dig into how we each frame our work to our kids, and how important it is to dismantle the myth of “doing it all” - because none of us can, nor should we aspire to.
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32: Big City Readers x We Didn't Turn Out OK with Beth Gaskill
In this episode, I sit down with Beth Gaskill, the reading and learning specialist behind Big City Readers. We dig into the disservice many schools unintentionally create when it comes to teaching reading - and how that often leads to a “third grade slump” - when children can no longer keep up and we learn that they need a more comprehensive tool box. Beth explains why this happens, and what parents can do to better support their children’s reading journey.
We talk openly about my own experience with my daughter - how her confidence took a hit in kindergarten when she compared herself to friends who’d already had reading tutors - and how that shaped the way she’s embraced reading since. Together, we explore why confidence is just as critical as fluency, and why schools should avoid sharing reading levels with parents or children. Instead, it’s about honoring each child’s unique pace and path toward becoming a lifelong reader.
Beth shares tactical skills, tools, and strategies parents can use right away, including when it might be time for a symbolic “homework bonfire” to push back against cookie-cutter assignments that don’t serve our kids. We also reflect on:
How our own childhood reading experiences can contribute to areas in which we didn’t turn out OK - and how to break that cycle for our kids.
The tension I’ve felt between play-based learning and the pressure to teach kids to read early.
Practical ways to build confidence, foster a love of learning, and keep reading fun.
Whether your child is just starting out or already navigating reading challenges, this episode will leave you with reassurance, perspective, and actionable tools to support them. Beth is the best - follow her!
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31: Waking Up - The Beginning of My Life After Zoloft
In my first-ever solo episode, I’m sharing something deeply personal — my journey with anxiety, medication, and what it’s been like to come off Zoloft after nearly half my life.
This conversation isn’t the full story of how I got here — that’s for future episodes. There’s a deeper beginning, one rooted in a lifetime of people-pleasing, seeking acceptance, and slowly losing sight of who I really was. But today, I’m starting with the moment I began to question whether I was truly living or just coasting, and the decision that shifted everything: stepping away from the medication I thought I’d take forever.
I share why I made that choice, what it’s been like to feel more deeply than I have in years, and how I’m now navigating life — and parenting — without numbing. This is where the story starts… but there’s so much more to come.
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30: It Starts With Us — Nervous System Regulation with Alyssa Blask Campbell
In this episode, I sit down with Alyssa Blask Campbell - founder of Seed and Sew, host of the Voices of Your Village podcast, and bestselling author of Tiny Humans, Big Emotions and the upcoming Big Kids, Bigger Feelings. A mom of two, Alyssa has spent years researching emotional intelligence in children - only to realize that many adults, including herself, never had the tools modeled for them in the first place.
We talk about what it really means to support emotional development, starting with ourselves. Alyssa shares how regulating our nervous systems isn’t just a self-care buzzword - it’s the foundation for helping kids navigate their own emotions. She walks us through the simple yet powerful practice she used with her students (and now with her kids): checking in with her body cues, modeling emotional awareness, and embracing rupture and repair.
We also dive into why regulation is never one-size-fits-all - why it’s okay to lose it sometimes, and how the true goal is quicker recovery and connection afterward. Alyssa talks about the importance of saying, “That wasn’t about you, that was about me. I’m sorry I yelled,” and how moments like that can rewire relationships and build true emotional safety.
She also shares why she created the S.E.E.D. Certification® (Schools Excelling in Emotional Development) - a new model of professional development for educators that prioritizes emotional support for the adults in children’s lives.
We wrap by discussing Alyssa’s two game-changing books:
✨ Tiny Humans, Big Emotions - A guide to helping kids navigate big feelings like tantrums, separation anxiety, and overwhelm while building a foundation for emotional intelligence from the start.
✨ Big Kids, Bigger Feelings - Available now for pre-order, this is the much-needed next step: a guide for supporting kids ages 5–12 through the emotional complexities of the elementary years—name-calling, meltdowns, cliques, and more.
If you’ve ever wondered how to actually help your child with their big feelings - without losing your own mind - this episode is your starting point.
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For the last two decades, I've worked closely with infants, toddlers, preschoolers and their parents—listening, guiding and supporting families and their young children. I've connected with so many parents through my social media account, texts, calls, and leading moms' groups. When we have open, honest and vulnerable conversations—no matter who you are as a parent—that's how we connect, learn and grow.
We also discover so much about ourselves and how that plays into our parenting. That's why I created We Didn't Turn Out Ok—a podcast where you'll hear real conversations about challenges we face in parenting, hear how we uncover the roadblocks, often from our own stuff, and listen to how we work through what's often keeping us stuck. There will be professionals in the field, noteworthy guests and everyone in between.
Using my own parenting journey and approach—combined with research-backed best practices—I am determined to help us all move forward from our areas of where we "didn't turn out ok." Every guest will be sharing openly and honestly knowing that it will help them grow as a parent but will also help all of you listening.
Welcome to We Didn't Turn Out Ok.
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