Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Adult Conversation Podcast

Listen, we have so many hot takes + unpopular (and popular) opinions that we don't always agree on, that this has to be a regular thing with Ronnie and I where we cover all the latest random topics that our brains wants to deep dive into. Most of them are inane and pointless, but nonetheless, I want to talk to someone about my contempt for modern hotel bathroom doors, our future with bran cereals, my question about earring posts and perimenouse, my life-changing fix for decades long neck pain that I'm so mad it took me this long to find, my worst nightmare that I saw play out on a recent flight, an emoji I've been using incorrectly, what I'm going to force on Ronnie next time I'm with her, and much more. 

Join me for part two of interviewing my nephew where we talk about how our shared DNA makes our quirky ADHD and OCD brains so similar. I take you off the cliff I left you on from last episode, and we continue to get in the weeds about our thought processes, if we want to heal our OCD or if it serves us, all the freaking variables with party/holiday planning that leave us drained, and Justin shares a super smart wardrobe hack for brains that hate decisions. If you've ever wanted your family to be able to understand why your brain works the way it does, come live vicariously through us!

Join me for part one of this two-parter as I interview my nephew and we talk about how our shared DNA makes our quirky ADHD and OCD brains so similar. We get in the weeds about our thought processes, our genius "replicable systems," what is was like for Justin to be diagnosed with ADHD as a child (and the one thing he thinks was missed), and we both offer some reflections that the other one hadn't yet considered. If you've ever wanted your family to be able to understand why your brain works the way it does, come live vicariously through us!

I keep finding new things hiding in my brain! Join me for a million vulnerable ahas as I explain why the overlap of ADHD and OCD is the most exhausting and sneaky mindf*ck ever. I swear most people who have this combo have no idea because these two conditions hide behind each other (and the endless conflicting thoughts they produce). I also talk about a lot of common things that I think exacerbate OCD tendencies, the one specific theme of OCD that I see in myself, and what I've been doing that's finally making my brain feel quiet(er) after all these years!

Whether you agree or disagree with our unpopular opinions or not, Ronnie and I have them and we aren't backing down (yet)! I also surprise Ronnie by bringing up a hot take that I know we don't see eye to eye on. 

In this episode, I basically tell you all the surprising things I've learned about ADHD in the past two months and how it's affected my family. I have an outline (not just rambling!) and cover all the things I think you'd want to know and give lots of personal examples when talking about highly-functional ADHD, what felt cringy about the diagnosis, one thing my psychologist explained to me that blew my mind, something I used to say about ADHD that I will never say again, what I wish I had known, and what being medicated for ADHD feels like. Maybe take this one in parts, guys, because I didn't realize how much I had to say.

A very vulnerable conversation with a dear friend about pharmaceuticals, mental health, and the ways in which mothers - namely, Lindsay Clancy - have continuously been let down. 

When modern life feels stressful and technology heavy, my mind always goes to living on a farm as the fix. On this episode, I get to find out if farm life might be for me as I talk to Natalie Neal about her experience as a mother who started her own farm. 

House of Colour color analyst, Elizabeth Silverthorne, stops by to change our lives, wardrobes, and negative self-messaging while also decreasing our decision fatigue, mental labor, and cluelessness when it comes to clothing color and style.

The five-year hiatus is broken as Beth and I get real about what we've been up to, and what this phase of life and motherhood look like for us. 

You don't want to miss this episode where I share some BIG news, and my close friend and guest, Britta Bushnell, helps me process it all, as she talks about the Apollo and Artemis myth and the mind-blowing way it applies to my news, and also to motherhood. Britta and I discuss phases and seasons of life, why one part of ourselves is always starved in this culture, how to transition into beginnings and endings more intentionally, and more.   

My guest, Emily, and I talk about parenting a special needs child - the real deal of it, not just the saintly "special needs mother" archetype that can only be endlessly patient. Emily shares about her early motherhood journey and how she knew something was different with her daughter, the endless searching for answers, the lifelong theme of "othering" she's felt, and the elevated expectations, stress, and beauty that parents of special needs kids live with. We also discuss recurrent grief when milestones aren't being hit, how she broke apart while trying to hold it all together, and she explains what "heterospect" is.   

There are lots of stats about pandemic divorce, but few personal stories because of the sensitivity of this topic. Lucky for us, fellow writer, Tara, opens up about her story and how it went down, the agreements she had about romance and soulmates, her insecurities about being a single mom, what's getting her through it, other people's opinions about her choice to write through her wounds, and more. 

My favorite medium of over 20 years, Tim Braun, shares how his gift felt like a curse as a child, a dream that changed his path, and responds to my question about if we can contact my favorite dead famous people! He also answers the very light question of what happens when we die (and he has specifics!), shares what happens when he watches Forensic Files, and divulges his most memorable sittings of the past 23 years (PG and R-rated). This episode is beyond interesting!

Working mom advocate and researcher, Leslie Forde, and I talk about moms' needs, the destabilizing effect of motherhood, the positive shifts she's seeing in workplaces, the three things moms reported wanting most in the pandemic, and the "grabbing the crappy potato" theory, which you've likely experienced too. 

Mom coach, Graeme Seabrook, and I discuss what I call "The Great Reckoning" that's coming for us parents after the pandemic. We talk about what moms have lost most during the pandemic, unexpected side effects of returning to some normalcy, the summer ahead, and what Graeme sees coming up for moms after this wild year of emotional and logistical scrambling. And I also share a maddeningly relatable story about my teen and the violence that is wearing a belt. 

Writer and feminist, Zawn Villines, drops lots of (uncomfortable) truth about gender inequality bullshit in marriage and parenting. We discuss the thing she heard in a mom's group that shocked her, the kind of man who cannot be "fixed," an equitable solution that isn't just leaving your marriage, and innovative ideas about what we do about these inequalities for ourselves and our children. 

Join me for this remarkable episode where a dude, author Jordan Shapiro, is doing the important work of fighting the patriarchy! Feminism is funny, apparently, because we laugh a lot as we talk about what he learned in the locker room that stayed with him as he grew into a man, the problematic narrative of men thinking they're the hero of everyone's story, subtle anti-feminist sentiments dads don't realize they have, how they can shift their thinking which benefits everyone around them, and more.

Join me as my guest, Meredith of "Perfection Pending," and I de-stigmatize mental illness, anxiety, depression, and taking medication for relief. We both share our very personal stories and also discuss the surprising ways anxiety shows up for each of us (which I didn't even know until I was on the other side of things), along with the most successful ways we've gotten help. Meredith opens up about how her anxiety directly affected her mothering, and I offer my newfound mid-life hack that's a game changer. 

This interview might be one of my all time favorites as Braunwyn so openly shares her misgivings about being on the Real Housewives, along with the parts she absolutely loves. She also divulges her rock bottom moments and the hardest part of getting sober on TV, why coming out as a lesbian happened sooner than she'd wanted it to, how she's co-creating an out-of-the-box partnership with her husband, Sean, and how kissing a costar cost her tens of thousands of dollars. This episode is full of realness you haven't heard before.

If you like using data to make your job as a parent easier, your brain will love today's guest, Sandra, who is a Myers-Briggs expert and counselor who helps families figure out their personality types. She breaks things down in such a simple way, and you will witness me processing my own personality in real time. We discuss how personality typing can help you help your kids, which personality types have a harder time with motherhood (and the pandemic), and how to fill your kids' specific buckets so they can stretch out of their comfort zone. Of course, we also talk about the fact that our parents' generation would never contemplate any of these things!

Gabrielle Blair (aka "Design Mom," and the person behind the viral Twitter thread about the actual root cause of abortions) talks with me about how we prioritize male pleasure even at an extreme risk to women, men's aversions to vasectomies, easy ways to make our houses more functional and enjoyable during a pandemic, and more in this whiplashy episode.

Join me for this delightfully unexpected conversation that feels more like stand-up comedy than parenting advice. I had no idea what I was in for when I asked my guest, parenting coach and Washington Post columnist, Meghan Leahy, to come chat with me. She's like the anti-parenting-expert expert, if that's a thing. I don't even know, but her words will be the balm you need as we talk about why the one-size-fits-all Super Nanny approach doesn't work, the pitfalls of rigid parenting philosophies (attachment parenting cough cough), pandemic regressions in kids, our "North Star" as parents, and why she punched someone in the face as a kid. She's hard AF and I had no idea! So. Much. Laughing.

Author, Lyz Lenz, talks about what happened when she realized she was the only one supporting her dream, and how she finally got that equality she was seeking. Lyz also shares the dangers of marrying someone with political differences, how to negotiate the contract of marriage, and why it's important to show our kids that there is no invisible lunch-making fairy. There are lots of laughs and divorce real talk here as well as a ha moments about our own mothers, and Lyz shows us why when life gives us lemons, we need to throw them at people's heads.

Ronnie and I continue the real talk about how 2020 changed us, including a surprising insecurity the pandemic brought forth for me. We also discuss the various layers of stuckness many moms feel, the reshuffling of friendships (and how we found our ride or dies), and what small things are giving us hope and bandwidth for 2021.

I'm talking with one of my favorite people about how we're arriving at 2021 differently after getting pantsed by 2020. We both share the adorable goals we had for 2020 and process our grief and laughter around those specific losses. We also talk candidly about how this year triggered postpartum feelings and what the hell to do with 2021 goals, if anything.

In this episode, I am talking to someone we all need right now - a psychologist! Join me and Dr. Claire Nicogossian as we talk about all things mental health including the difference between responding to the pandemic and actual depression, how to cope with shadow emotions such as anger, what self-care is and isn't, and the one thing she filed in the back of her brain as a therapist all these years. This is the honest, compassionate pep talk (and therapy) we all need to remind us that we are enough as we finish out one of the hardest years of our lives.

Author, Nefertiti Austin, stops by to discuss Black motherhood, adoption, single parenting, and why white motherhood is the default reflected in the media. We also talk about her book, how she healed her own mother wound, the discrepancy between white and Black adoptions, and how Black women and mothers are dehumanized (which was not on my radar). Lots of important stuff here.

Today's episode is fun, full of laughs and insight, and dare I say whimsy mixed with swearing? My talented guest lets us into his creative life as a father, while also opening up about marriage, mental health challenges, calisthenics as a parenting tool, his new podcast, how he's making sure his kids don't grow up to be "boring" adults, and more.

Emily Calandrelli from Netflix's "Emily's Wonder Lab" stops by to talk about her experience as a woman in the STEM world, and how she's raising her daughter to be science-minded. We also discuss the coronavirus, show business, and just how pregnant she was filming her show! I didn't think it was possible for her to be more likable than she is on TV, but I was wrong.

No matter if you're an introvert, extrovert, or don't know what the hell you are, this episode is for you. My guest, Joanne, discusses the telltale traits for both, and then offers practical tips on how to better support the introverts you love – whether that be your kids, your spouse, or even yourself. With Joanne's help, I learned a lot about myself and my kids. So join us as we talk personalities, laugh a lot, and overshare.

Big-time podcaster and writer, Zibby Owens, stops by to discuss the challenges of motherhood, sibling age gaps, the illusion of motherly balance, how the pandemic has changed her parenting, and her favorite podcast interviews with A-Listers.

Join me as I ask past Survivor contestant turned social justice warrior, Eliza Orlins, hard-hitting questions. So basically, all about bathroom logistics while on the show. But we also discuss why she doesn't hold grudges from the game, why you can't get an untrue edit, what trauma many contestants now live with, who her favorite Survivor player is, what is Jeff Probst really like, and more.

This bonus episode is a raw, unpolished, late night cry for help with my favorite professional organizer, Rebecca Mezzino! The stuff in my home feels like it's closing in on me and this was the pep talk, therapy session, and advice I needed. Maybe you need it too.

Author and wonder woman, Asha, and I discuss the pandemic, our new normalcy, and the impossibility of making school and daycare choices right now. We also get real about the ridiculous expectation that us moms will keep bearing the brunt of this global crisis, and the idea that no one is coming to save us. But we don't totally spiral downward! We also talk about seeds from our childhood that later bloom into badass women. And, the interview starts with one of the most relatable mom moments that we're all living through right now.

My brave guest, Rachael, and I talk about divorce and a taboo topic - mothers who don't have primary custody, or even any custody of their kids. The goal of this episode is to give a voice to those mothers and to break down the stereotype that a non-custodial mother is always unfit, an addict, or unstable. Prepare to have your mind expanded.

Past Bachelor contestant, Ashley Spivey, is an open book as she spills the Bachelor Nation tea! She tells so many secrets, such as how the girls really felt about Brad, the show's torturous methods to make great TV, what it's like to live in a house full of women whose periods have synched up, and the deets about Chris Harrison – is he shady? In addition to dishing about reality TV and dropping a bomb that leaves me speechless, Ashley also talks about how being on the Bachelor changed her, how she changed the show, and what life is like beyond rose ceremonies. So join me for the most dramatic (and hilarious) episode ever!

Author, Kristen Howerton, and I somehow laugh our way through a conversation about some pretty deep topics such as infertility, divorce, toxic positivity in the face of miscarriage, and coping with life's unknowns. We talk a lot about the pandemic, the similarities between it and Kristen's past struggles, as well as what parts of ourselves this crisis is bringing out. Kristen also gives me a lesson on faking it 'til I make it, she shares a mantra that helped her get through the hardest moments of her life, and tells us how she's keeping her sanity as an introvert who's now home with her kids 24-7.

Join me and two Muslim-American moms who give such honest insight and unexpected laughs while sharing what it's like "Mommying While Muslim." Zaiba and Uzma discuss how feminism fits into their religion and culture, along with the role expected of women and how that relates to fertility, breastfeeding, and motherhood. I ask some tough questions, and we also get into how the events of 9/11 changed their lives, and the lives of their children. They also offer specific ways that non-Muslim moms can be more inclusive, a hilarious conspiracy theory, and the one article of clothing Uzma's dad was most fearful of raising a daughter in America. One of my favorite parts of this episode is that my two guests disagree on some things, proving there's not one right way to do anything.

This episode's theme is on all of our minds as parents: resiliency. We hear a lot about "grit" and "entitlement" these days, and my guest, Denise, shares her expert view as someone who worked for years in the study abroad department at a university. She has seen what happens when our young adults are put to the test and must problem solve all by themselves. Spoiler alert: it's not pretty. But lucky for us, Denise's professional behind-the-scenes insight – along with how it affected her own parenting – can inform us so our kids have a better chance at becoming confident problem solvers who have a strong struggle muscle.

Witness my brain being exploded by progressive mom coach, community builder, and writer, Graeme Seabrook. Graeme shares what she sees most as a mentor to mothers, and what's really at the center of all of it. We also talk about dads, how they are the wardens of their own prisons, and how they deserve - and are capable of - so much more. Graeme helps answer my question: are moms more essential than dads? And we go DEEP there. So join us as Graeme lays down some much-needed wisdom, advice, perspective, and humor.

What's a midlife renaissance? You'll have to listen to find out – but I can tell you that it includes rule-breaking, and sex. Sometimes with people other than your spouse. It may sound scandalous, but Nora reveals why changing her marriage helped her achieve true happiness, growth, and radical acceptance. She also talks about breaking out of the "good girl" role, and how the loss of her father gave her unexpected clarity. So join us for today's episode which looks at one woman's choice between fulfilling her own deep needs and desires, or sticking with her status quo marriage.

Seasoned author, Emily Liebert, joins me to talk shop about writing, supporting other writers (or not), motherhood, friendship, and Real Housewives. She shares the greatest piece of writing advice she ever got, what she didn't know when her first book published, and her refreshing take on the illusion of balance. Together, we give a candid, behind-the-scenes look at the glamourous writer life (ha!), even the stuff we're not supposed to talk about.

My normally private husband transforms into an open book as he talks about fatherhood, marriage, surviving childhood trauma, and what it's like to have a wife who openly talks about (and writes a book about) gender inequality in parenting, dad privilege, and marriage after kids. Join us at our kitchen table for an intimate conversation with laughs, real talk, and surprises - along with the telling of one of his most humiliating moments while wearing our son in a Baby Bjorn.

I've been holding onto this story and these words for what feels like forever, and I am excited to finally share with you my heart spilled out onto pages, and all the TMI that goes along with it. In this super professional "interview," I answer personal questions about my book, its characters, my writing process, my life, and more, along with a sneak peek excerpt.

I've been meaning to cover this topic for over a year. It focuses on one of the most impactful parts of our parenthood journey – our baby's birth, the story, and what we tell ourselves about that story – the meaning we give it. My guest, Virginia Bobro, offers her expert insight into the nuances of our birth events and stories, and the potential pitfalls of sharing these raw stories with others. Have you ever shared your birth story and felt worse after doing so? You're not alone. Virginia and I talk about the polarizing effect of telling birth stories without guidance, how birth regret differs from birth trauma, and how our birth stories are ever-changing inside of us. We also discuss how our agreements about our birth set the stage for how we mother, and the truth about empowerment and activism. We also give lots of suggestions and specific questions to ask yourself if you want a new relationship with your birth story so you can free yourself from narrow-minded self-judgment. Yeah, so this episode might feel like a mini therapy session that again, goes along with my belief that a well-timed conversation can change your life.

This episode is not for the faint of heart as me and my sex-therapist guest, Jo Robertson, leave nothing to the imagination as we discuss the importance of talking to our kids about porn. We cover Jo's TED Talk that shook me, the likelihood of early exposure to porn in the internet age, how this wires our kids' minds about what is normal, and Jo offers lots of practical things we can do to mitigate the damage. We also talk about ethical porn, the messaging around pleasure that our kids are (and are not) getting, and what conversations we need to be having with them, even in middle school, elementary school, and before. There is a lot of laughter, partially because I have the mind of a 13-year-old boy, but also because Jo pretty much challenges me to bring up something sex-related that she hasn't heard. And guess what? Challenge accepted! Am I victorious? You'll have to listen to find out.

Learn from the bravery and heard-earned wisdom of my guest and close friend, Mary, as she tells us all about how she handled the unimaginable - a cancer diagnosis for her son. Full disclosure, there are a few breakdown moments in here, but also, we laugh so much, my god, especially at the beginning and then at the end when she reminds me of one of the funniest moments we had together. We also talk about that one time she betrayed me, how her son's diagnosis completely changed the way I parent, and a Britney Spears moment we shared when we both lived in Santa Monica. Mary also talks about how her son's health emergency affected her marriage, which part of her life she had to completely put on hold, and her advice for any parent going through a medical crisis – and their friends who want to help but don't know what to say or do. Mary was a self-proclaimed crunchy mom before her son got sick, and she gets real about how she had to lose her crispiness in order to save her son. I know you are going to love her as much as I do.

Learn about a four-step anxiety response technique by Barry McDonagh called "DARE" (which I have had huge success with in my life), as I explain its out-of-the-box way of defusing anxiety that works wonders! This episode serves as a mental health check-in, and provides validation, education, laughs, and dare I say, optimism?

Real talk about mothering during a pandemic, including commentary, analysis, and validation. I cover panic shopping, what I'm flabbergasted by, what we all need to be doing (not doing) to keep each other safe, how women cannot bear all the burden of this crisis, why you shouldn't keep your kids quiet for your working spouse, how I'm handling schedules, the rule I had to make one day one, and why business cannot be as usual.