Radical Stepmoms – Details, episodes & analysis

Christina welcomes back Michelle to talk about real and tactical tips for navigating the chaos of summer—when there’s no school or camp buffer, exchanges get messy, routines fall apart, and stepmoms often end up managing more than they expected. Michelle and Christiina talk about boundaries, managing expectations with partners, and keeping your sanity when everything feels unpredictable. What can you do now to protect your peace this summer?  Listen in! 

About My Guest: 

Michelle Mitchell, JD — founder of High Conflict Resolutions, LLC. Connect at coparentingcoach.com

Find her on IG: coachmichellesd

So much more than a podcast!!!

Instagram: @radicalstepmomspodcast

Schedule with Christina: https://chatwithchristina.as.me/

Become a Member: https://www.patreon.com/radicalstepmomspodcast

www.radicalstepmomspodcast.com

Christina welcomes Aimee to chat about her long-term decision to not have children, and then falling in love with a man who has 2 kids. PLOT TWIST! Aimee shares how she jumped right in, then needed to find her boundaries before she lost herself. How do you manage the guilt while disengaging? How do you find your role when you never wanted to “mother”? Christina and Aimee discuss parenting with intent, communication as a stepmom and more! Listen in! 

About My Guest:

Aimee is almost 3 years into her stepmom role, helping raise 2 pretty amazing kids. Before meeting their dad, she had made the decision to be childless by choice. Although it has been one of the most difficult roles for her to navigate (because this can get messy,) it has been the most rewarding.Instagram: @aimeestockton

So much more than a podcast!

Did you know there are exclusive Bonus Episodes? Become a Member of the⁠ ⁠⁠Rad Community ⁠⁠⁠and get access!

Instagram: @radicalstepmomspodcast

Need some extra support? ⁠⁠Schedule with Christina!⁠⁠

⁠⁠www.radicalstepmomspodcast.com

Christina welcomes Nathalie who shares her story of finding love and KIDS in her early 20’s. Young stepmoms have a unique journey. Nathalie shares how her friendships evolved or dissolved after taking on the stepmom role, having a partner in the military and managing custody schedules and oh-yes, high conflict situations. What can new, young stepmoms learn from Nathalie? Listen in! 

About My Guest: 

My name is Nathalie and I'm a 22-year-old stepmom. I became a stepmom 2 years ago, going into my final year of undergraduate. I am now in my Master's in Social Work, where I've learned the struggles of managing my personal life, along with the schedules of my partner and stepkid.

Find her on IG: @nathalieepoulinn

So much more than a podcast!!!

Find me and other rad stepmoms on ⁠Instagram⁠

⁠Schedule with Christina⁠ and get some 1:1 support.

⁠Become a Member⁠ and make some stepmom friends!

⁠www.radicalstepmomspodcast.com

Christina chats with Jeni, a mental health therapist specializing in maternal mental health. As a mother and stepmom herself, Jeni discusses the intersections of mental health and all forms of motherhood. Self care is drilled into us, but how do we really care for ourselves? Jeni and Christina chat the pressures to be "perfect", mom guilt, the relationships with our partners and our step-kids. Listen in!  About My Guest:  Jeni is a widow, wife, mom, and stepmom. Her step-kids are 9 and 8, and her biological kids are 5 and 3. With four kids, the house is very loud, and very full of love. Jeni works as a mental health therapist specializing in perinatal mental health (so all things maternal and then some), couples counseling, and other things in between. Music is a necessity to life, including hearing her husband sing show tunes. So much more than a podcast!!! Instagram: @radicalstepmomspodcast  Want to schedule a 1:1 session or become a Radical Member?  Head to my website! www.radicalstepmomspodcast.com **This episode is sponsored by StepMom Magazine. Use discount code: Radical20 to save 20% **

Christina is welcoming back attorney and high conflict parenting coach, Michelle! You may remember her from Season 3: Episode 32 - if not, listen to that one too! On this episode, Michelle is answering listener's questions. What is the best way to manage a high conflict ex who is constantly presenting with double standards? What do you do when the ex refuses to respond to an email? She'll answer these and many more! High conflict is no picnic, but there are strategies you can implement to protect your peace. Listen in!  About My Guest:  Coach Michelle is a high conflict resolution coach, an attorney, and a badass single mom. She helps parents disengage from high conflict relationships, getting them out of court, and stepping back into their lives. Her unique combination as a certified Martha Beck life coach, a lawyer for almost 20 years, her field of study in Psychology, and her own personal family law experience, makes Michelle a well-rounded coach, capable of helping parents learn how to disengage from a challenging and protracted co-parenting relationship. https://www.coachmichelle.club Find her on INSTAGRAM  So much more than a podcast!!!  Instagram: @radicalstepmomspodcast  Want to schedule a 1:1 session or become a Radical Member?  Head to my website! www.radicalstepmomspodcast.com  **This episode is sponsored by StepMom Magazine. Use discount code: Radical20 to save 20% **

Christina chats with Kelly, a stepmom and licensed clinical psychologist to unpack that complicated question of: Am I supporting my partner or am I enabling them? It feels like a fine line, right? They chat the many factors that contribute to a stepmom's motivation to jump in to "support": mental health, our shit, their shit, the damn patriarchy! When do we know when our support isn't actually serving anyone? Listen in!  Mentioned in This Episode: Emotional Labor Article  About My Guest: Kelly is a licensed clinical psychologist and a full-time stepmom to two boys. "This life - after choosing to be childless and live with my cats for years - has been a ROLLER COASTER."  So much more than a podcast!!! Instagram: @radicalstepmomspodcast  Want to schedule a 1:1 session or become a Radical Member?  Head to my website! www.radicalstepmomspodcast.com  **This episode is sponsored by StepMom Magazine. Use discount code: Radical20 to save 20% **

Christina welcomes back seasoned stepmom, Laurie Short. You may remember her from Season 3: Episode 25! In this episode, Laurie gives the pep-talk all stepmoms need to hear. Stepmotherhood is not easy, but we have to keep the long-view perspective. How do we keep focus on the little moments? How do we take care of ourselves? How do we not let the hard stuff ruin our spirit and sense of purpose? Listen in and feel inspired - you got this mama. We're right there with you.  About My Guest: Laurie is an author, speaker, wife and stepmom. She and her husband have parented full time for twelve years, and she recently released a book called Grace-filled Stepparenting: help and hope for this unique and loving role So much more than a podcast!!! Instagram: @radicalstepmomspodcast  Want to schedule a 1:1 session or become a Radical Member?  Head to my website! www.radicalstepmomspodcast.com  **This episode is sponsored by StepMom Magazine. Use discount code: Radical20 to save 20% **

Christina and Stevie discuss heartache, finding love, and how the stepmom role changes and challenges you. Topics Discussed:  Fertility & Miscarriage  "Ours Baby" - sharing news with SK's and the ex  Preparing for baby - transitions for the SK's  Sharing your big moments with the ex & SK's and the complicated feelings that follow  When the ex becomes a stepmom Listen in as Stevie shares her inspiring story of loss, grief, love and her journey of Step/Motherhood.  About My Guest: Stevie went from being married and hoping for a family of her own, to unexpectedly finding herself widowed at 29. She found new love and is now a Stepmama and a new Mama to a 6 month old baby boy. Her story to motherhood and stepmotherhood starts long before she met her husband. Her journey throughout this role has had a lot of ups (and then even more downs) and she can honestly say that nothing has challenged her more in her life. "I had no idea what I was stepping into when I joined this family but I do know it has brought me some of my greatest joys and the welcomed challenge of tapping into strength I never knew I had." On Instagram: @stevie.Becker So much more than a podcast!!! Instagram: @radicalstepmomspodcast Want to schedule a 1:1 session or become a Radical Member? Head to my website! www.radicalstepmomspodcast.com  **This episode is sponsored by StepMom Magazine. Use discount code: Radical20 to save 20% **

When second marriages are statically "doomed" Christina and Brooke discuss what it takes to make a blended family successful. Brooke shares her experience of being a long-distance stepmom, how she handles "mini wife syndrome" and how she nurtures the relationship with her stepkids and her "ours babies". Listen in as Brooke and Christina break down the hardships, the joys, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way to turn their struggles into confidence. About My Guest:  In the 7 years Brooke has been with her husband, she’s gone from a fantasy of what her life would look like, to the reality of court battles and insecurities, to a place where she is finally comfortable. She is a confident stepmom of two and mom to two ours babies. Her mission now is to help other women struggling through it to find their place. Find her here: https://strugglingstepmom.com So much more than a podcast!!!  @radicalstepmomspodcast  Want to schedule a 1:1 session or become a Radical Member? Head to my website! www.radicalstepmomspodcast.com  **This episode is sponsored by StepMom Magazine. Use discount code: Radical20 to save 20% **

Christina chats with Ann, a parent coach who offers a unique holistic approach to parent work that includes emotional support, home management skills, AND effective discipline. Ann may not be a stepmom, but through her work with blended families she offers insights into how stepmoms can find their voice in their home, how to navigate discipline, and how stepmoms can overcome barriers to bonding with stepkids. Stepmotherhood IS motherhood and Ann offers an empowering perspective on how we can lean into the vulnerability and settle into our role with grace and confidence. Listen In!  About My Guest:  Ann is a mother of four children and a parent coach based in Denver, Colorado. She has lived the dream (and difficulty) of parenting through every childhood stage from infancy through adolescence. She understands not only the joys but the difficulties and worries that come as a parent. Ann has a unique holistic approach to parent work that includes emotional support, home management skills, AND effective discipline that empowers children while improving behavior. She coaches women through various stages of motherhood -- from conception to the transition into their new motherhood role, to behavioral challenges, to starting a business with kids in tow. Ann is someone who will give it to you straight, and love you fiercely. https://www.annkaplanparentcoach.com/ Download the Workbook: Getting Kids to Listen the First Time So much more than a podcast!!!  Instagram: @radicalstepmomspodcast  Want to schedule a 1:1 session or become a Radical Member?  Head to my website! www.radicalstepmomspodcast.com  **This episode is sponsored by StepMom Magazine. Use discount code: Radical20 to save 20% **