If we could go back to early motherhood, we wouldn’t do more—we’d worry less. 

In this episode, we’re reflecting on what those early days really felt like… the pressure to get everything right, the constant questioning, and the quiet anxiety so many moms carry but rarely say out loud. 

We talk about what we’d let go of, what actually mattered, and what we wish we would have done sooner—like asking for help, building community, and getting support before reaching the point of overwhelm. 

This is an honest conversation about anxiety, identity, and the unseen weight of early motherhood—and a reminder that you were never meant to do this alone. 

If you’re in the thick of it right now, this episode is for you. 

And if you liked our chat about ways to meet other moms, check out the Peanut App. 

Lastly, a reminder: You didn’t need to be perfect then, and you don’t need to be perfect now—you just need support, and you deserve it. 

There’s nothing quite like finally getting into bed after a long day… only to hear, “Mom?” from down the hall.

In this honest episode of Midnight Madness, we’re talking about the invisible night shift of motherhood—the wake-ups, the mental load that doesn’t clock out, and the exhaustion that goes far beyond just feeling tired.

This conversation is for the mom lying awake after everyone else is asleep—spiraling, worrying, and wondering why this feels so hard.

Because the truth is: nothing is wrong with you. You’re just carrying a lot.

And for moms who feel like sleep struggles have become their normal, we’re sharing more about Pure Little Sleep—sleep coaching to support families through newborn sleep, early wakings, toddler bedtime battles and beyond. 

Because motherhood doesn’t stop when the lights go out. 

If your nights feel heavy, you are not alone.

Listen now, subscribe, and share with a mom who needs this reminder tonight.

You can connect with Pure Little Sleep at hello@purelittlesleep.com or follow @pure.little.sleep.

We did something bold… and possibly a little risky.

We invited our kids onto the podcast.

No prep. No coaching. Just completely unfiltered honesty from the people who know us best—and aren’t afraid to call us out.

In this episode, we’re hearing motherhood from their perspective:
what they think we do all day, what we’re really good at, what annoys them… and how they know they’re loved.

It’s equal parts humbling, hilarious, and surprisingly sweet—and a reminder that even when it feels like we’re not doing enough, our kids are paying attention to the things that matter most.

If you’ve ever wondered what your kids actually think about you… this is your sign (and maybe your warning).

If this episode made you laugh, feel seen, or tear up a little—share it with another mom who needs it.

And if you’re feeling brave… ask your own kids these questions and let us know how it goes 😅

Something about becoming a mom seems to come with an open invitation for opinions… from everyone.

In this episode, we’re diving into the unsolicited advice we never asked for—but somehow keep getting. From sleep and feeding opinions to comments from strangers in public (yes, we’re talking about those moments), we’re unpacking why it hits so hard—and how to protect your confidence in the middle of it.

We’re sharing the advice that made us laugh, the advice that completely contradicted itself, and the moments that made us question everything… plus a few pieces of advice that actually did help.

This conversation is honest, light, and deeply validating—because if you’ve ever walked away from a comment thinking “wait… am I doing this wrong?”—you’re not alone.

In this episode, we cover:

•  Why everyone suddenly becomes a parenting expert 
•  The most common (and conflicting) advice moms hear 
•  Real-life stories of advice that stuck with us 
•  The difference between support and judgment 
•  Advice we’ll absolutely never be taking again 

And most importantly, how to come back to your instincts in a world full of noise.

Our biggest takeaway:
You know your child—and yourself—better than anyone else.

💬 We want to hear from you:
What’s the best or worst parenting advice you’ve ever received?

Send us a text or DM us on Instagram—we might share it in a future episode 👀

What happens to ambition after becoming a mom?

In this episode, we’re getting real about the tension so many mothers feel—but don’t always say out loud. The desire to be present with our families and still want more for ourselves.

We share our own career transitions, how motherhood reshaped our identities, and the moments we faced our fears and took risks to go after what we truly wanted next. 

Whether you’re:
 ✨ Climbing the corporate ladder
 ✨ Navigating a major career pivot
 ✨ Staying home while quietly dreaming about something more

…this conversation is for you.

We’re holding space for the complexity of ambition in motherhood—the guilt, the growth, the identity shifts, and the possibility that wanting more doesn’t make you less of a mom… it makes you human.

If motherhood had a Yelp page… we’d have a few things to say.

In this episode of Messy Minded Mama, we rate different parts of motherhood like they’re businesses being reviewed online — school drop-off, sleep, marriage after kids, and more.

Because honestly?

Motherhood might deserve five stars for love, but there are definitely some notes in the review.

This episode is playful, relatable, and full of those moments where you realize you’re not the only one thinking it.

We want to hear your Yelp reviews! Share in a text or message/tag our Instagram @messy.minded.mama.

Mornings in motherhood can feel like living nine lives before 9am — getting kids ready, finding lost shoes, reheating the same cup of coffee three times, and somehow trying to take care of yourself too. 

In this episode, we’re talking about real morning routines and the unpredictable chaos that sometimes takes over. We share what a typical morning looks like in our home, along with some of those one-off moments that remind us that motherhood rarely goes according to plan. 

We also play a fun Would You Rather: Morning Madness Edition, where we dive into some relatable (and slightly ridiculous) parenting scenarios. 

Would You Rather?

1. Spill coffee on your white shirt or realize it's pajama day at school and no one is in pajamas?
2. Have a smooth morning, but chaos at bedtime or peace at bedtime and a chaotic morning?
3. Everyone talk to you at once or be physically touched by at least one child at all times?
4. Someone yelling mom repeatedly from another room or someone narrating every thought while standing next to you?
5. No coffee or coffee that gets reheated 3 times?

We want to hear your answers! Because sometimes the best way to survive the madness is to laugh about it together. 

Motherhood changes everything — including how we see ourselves. In this episode, we talk honestly about the quiet identity shift that happens after kids. The missing parts. The stretching. The grief no one names. And the truth that you haven’t disappeared — you’ve expanded.

This is a conversation for anyone who’s ever thought, I love my kids… but I miss me.

No fixing. No shaming. Just reflection, warmth, and a reminder that you’re still in there.

If you’re feeling curious about reconnecting with yourself, we’ve linked a values sort below to help you rediscover what matters most to you right now — not who you used to be, but who you are becoming.

https://www.thegoodproject.org/value-sort

And because next episode is all about mornings… we would LOVE to hear your morning madness stories. You can share by emailing hello@messymindedmama.com
or DMing us on Instagram @messy.minded.mama.

There are moments in motherhood when the anger surprises you.
The snapping. The heat in your chest. The shame that follows.

In this episode, we talk openly about mom rage aka the momster—what it is, where it comes from, and why it’s so often misunderstood. This isn’t about losing control or harming your kids. It’s about overwhelm, overstimulation, unmet needs, and nervous systems that have been carrying too much for too long.

Together, we unpack the guilt spiral that so many moms experience after a hard moment, challenge the belief that “good moms don’t get angry,” and offer grounded, realistic ways to repair and recover—without shame, fixing, or toxic calm-down advice.

This conversation is honest, warm, and deeply normalizing. If you’ve ever thought “This isn’t who I thought I’d be”—you’re not alone.

Resources: 

Pure Mind Wellness (for Colorado residents)

• Website: https://www.pure-mind-wellness.com/
• Email: jennduncan@pure-mind-wellness.com
• Phone: 720-295-8777

Postpartum Support International (PSI)

• Website: https://postpartum.net/
• Free helpline & text support – Text “HELP” to 800-944-4773 

Remember, if you’re feeling overwhelmed or stuck, talking to your OB, midwife, primary care provider, or therapist is a really good place to start.
 
You can literally say: ‘I’m not okay, and I don’t feel like myself.’  That’s enough.

And if at any point you’re worried about your safety or feel like you might hurt yourself or someone else, please reach out for immediate help.

You can call or text 988—24/7, confidential, judgment-free.

No one really warns you about how loud your brain gets after becoming a parent. In this episode, we name the invisible mental and emotional load of motherhood — the constant scanning, decision-making, worry, guilt, and pressure that doesn’t turn off, even on “easy” days. 

Through an honest conversation, we talk about the gap between what we expected motherhood to feel like and the reality of carrying everyone’s needs while quietly losing pieces of ourselves. We explore how the mental load impacts rest, relationships, identity, and self-worth — and why feeling exhausted doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. 

This isn’t about fixing or blaming. It’s about telling the truth, feeling less alone, and offering a gentle reminder that nothing is broken about you. 

We all had a version of ourselves we thought we’d be better at before motherhood.

Staying calm.
 Being patient.
 Keeping it together.
 Feeling confident in our choices.

In this episode, we’re getting honest about the expectations we carried into motherhood — and the very real, very human ways they unraveled. We talk about guilt, grace, growth, and what it means to soften toward ourselves when parenting doesn’t look the way we imagined.

If you’ve ever thought, “Why is this harder than I expected?” or “I thought I’d be better at this,” you’re not failing — you’re human.

Pull up a chair. This one’s for the moms learning to let go of perfection and make room for compassion.

Welcome to Messy Minded Mama.

In this first episode, we’re introducing ourselves — Kate and Jenn — and sharing a little about our lives as moms, the messy middle of motherhood, and the moments that led us here.

We talk about who we are beyond the highlight reels, what motherhood has taught us (and un-taught us), and why we felt called to create a space where honesty matters more than perfection. This podcast was born out of real conversations, shared struggles, laughter, and the deep need for moms to feel less alone.

If you’re craving a place where motherhood can be talked about openly — the beautiful parts, the hard parts, and everything in between — you’re in the right place.

Thanks for being here. We’re so glad you found us.

Welcome to Messy Minded Mama! This is a space that feels more like a real conversation than a polished production. The kind you’d have with a trusted friend, coffee in hand, where nothing needs to be tied up neatly.

Hosted by two moms and mental health therapists, Kate and Jenn, this podcast is rooted in honest conversations about motherhood, mental health, and the messy middle so many of us live in.

Messy Minded Mama is for moms who are tired of pretending they’re fine and ready to talk about what’s actually happening beneath the surface, without pressure to fix it or figure it all out.