The Successful Mama Podcast

88 - bite the blue apple: raising resilient kids and embracing the unknown

What if the thing you’ve been avoiding is exactly what you need to grow? In this episode of the Successful Mama Podcast, we sit down with Robin Dauma, a former educator turned entrepreneur and mom of four grown children who shares powerful insights about parenting, resilience, and taking bold steps—like biting the blue apple. 🍏💙
We explore the importance of letting your kids take on challenges, even when it’s hard, because that’s where growth happens. You’ll hear how seeds of effort are constantly being planted, often in ways you don’t see until they bloom into something bigger. And the core of this conversation is about taking risks and embracing the unknown—whether that’s for yourself or for your kids. After all, you’ll never know what a blue apple tastes like unless you take that first bite.
This episode is filled with wisdom, honest reflections, and practical takeaways for moms who want to help their kids—and themselves—build resilience and embrace the unexpected.
Tune in for a conversation that just might inspire you to bite your own blue apple.Make sure you're following along on social! @successfulmamapodcast

87 - fries, fun, and motherhood: a special birthday french fry crawl

In this special episode, I’m taking you along on a French Fry Crawl with three amazing returning guests: Rachel Brown, Lauren Hooper, and Katiya McKinney. What’s a French Fry Crawl, you ask? Think bar crawl—but with fries, laughs, and meaningful conversations about motherhood.
We hit a few local spots to try some of the best fries around and talked about everything from finding balance to motherhood theme songs. There were plenty of laughs, honest moments, and takeaways I think you’ll really enjoy.
So, grab your favorite snack, and come along for the ride as we dive into fries, fun, and some good old-fashioned real talk about life as moms.
🎧 Oh, and if you want to learn more about my guests, you can check out Lauren’s episode (#12), Rachel’s episode (#54), and Katia’s episode (#68) in the archives!

86 - from loss to light: how Ryker's Rainbow is bringing hope to grieving families

In this heartfelt episode of the Successful Mama Podcast, I sit down with Lacey Schoff, the founder of Ryker’s Rainbow, to talk about the motherhood story she never expected to be her own. She shares the raw reality of experiencing infant loss and how she turned unimaginable grief into a powerful mission to support others.
Lacey opens up about the deep emotions she faced after losing her son, Ryker, and how she and her husband navigated their grief together. She shares the support they received, the struggles they encountered, and how they saw an opportunity to serve other families walking a similar path—leading to something much bigger than they ever imagined.
We dive into the truth about loss, healing, and how hope can emerge from the hardest seasons of life.
Whether you've experienced loss yourself, know someone who has, or simply want to hear a story of resilience and purpose, this episode is for you.P.s. It's my birthday! In honor of my birthday, I'd love for you to consider supporting Ryker's Rainbow to help serve and support families experiencing the loss of a pregnancy, newborn or infant. You can donate over on Instagram under my fundraiser (@successfulmamapodcast) or you can give directly on their website at rykersrainbow.org.

85 - truth or dare: staying intentional and keeping your goals front and center

We’re two weeks into the new year, and whether you’ve already set specific goals, skipped resolutions altogether, or feel like you’re losing focus, this episode is for you.
I’m sharing:
My word of the year (Dare) and how it’s guiding my decisions
Why having a word of the year can be a powerful tool (hint: science backs this up!)
Simple ways to keep your goals, intentions, or focus front and center—no matter what method you’re using
It’s not January 1st anymore, but the year is still fresh. Let’s talk about staying intentional and daring to take meaningful steps forward. Plus, I’ve got a surprise announcement that you don’t want to miss!Don't forget to follow along on social! @successfulmamapodcast

84 - sidewalk joy and dinoramas: finding what fills you and sharing it with others

This week, I sit down with Rachael Harms Mahlandt, a mom of two from Portland, Oregon, who is on a mission to bring joy and whimsy back into adulthood. Through her creative outlets—like mini pottery, photography, and her unique dinoramas (yes, you read that right—dino-ramas with dinosaurs!)—she has found ways to connect with her community and share the joy that fills her life.
We talk about how she turned her love for the little things into a source of connection for others, creating sidewalk joy and moments of wonder for her neighbors. She opens up about reclaiming fun and freedom as an adult—whether it’s crafting tiny worlds to share or finding ways to make everyday life a little brighter—and why it’s so important to hold on to the things that make you happy.
This conversation is full of reminders about what matters most, from finding joy in your own life to showing your kids that creativity and wonder don’t have to stop when you grow up. If you’ve ever wanted to add a little more magic to your days, this episode is for you.Don't forget to follow over on social! @successfulmamapodcast

replay - 41 - what moms need to hear: it’s been a year you should be proud of

You’re not going to want to miss this 6-week mini series as we close out 2024! These replays from last year are just as relevant now, offering reminders that every mom needs during this beautiful but chaotic holiday season. We’re talking about “what moms need to hear” to navigate the last six weeks of the year with purpose and joy. These short episodes are easy to squeeze into your busy schedule and will leave you with food for thought and a simple action step to carry through your week.The year is almost over, and it's time to do a little reflecting. I know, you may not be the goal-setting type or one for personal reflection, but I challenge you to consider it anyway. My guess is that even if you haven't had your "best year yet", that if you take the time to look back, you'll see that you've done some pretty spiffy things you can be proud of. Grab your coffee for the LAST episode of the year AND the last of our series, "What Moms Need to Hear." Make sure you're following along on social! @successfulmamapodcast

replay - 40 - what moms need to hear: thank you, and what you've done is enough

You’re not going to want to miss this 6-week mini series as we close out 2024! These replays from last year are just as relevant now, offering reminders that every mom needs during this beautiful but chaotic holiday season. We’re talking about “what moms need to hear” to navigate the last six weeks of the year with purpose and joy. These short episodes are easy to squeeze into your busy schedule and will leave you with food for thought and a simple action step to carry through your week.We're down to the wire. The big day is almost here. You've stretched yourself thin doing all the things and making everything special and magical. But is it enough? And will your kids know how much you've done for them? Listen up this week for the reminder you're needing to hear- thank you for what you've done, and it is definitely enough.(Fun fact- I was sick during this episode last year, and guess what we are battling in 2024? The flu!! So far, it has just been the kiddos, but I'm wondering if my time is coming. I hope you and your family have a wonderful (sickness-free!) holiday season!!)Make sure you're following along on social! @successfulmamapodcast

replay - 39 - what moms need to hear: letting go of perfection

You’re not going to want to miss this 6-week mini series as we close out 2024! These replays from last year are just as relevant now, offering reminders that every mom needs during this beautiful but chaotic holiday season. We’re talking about “what moms need to hear” to navigate the last six weeks of the year with purpose and joy. These short episodes are easy to squeeze into your busy schedule and will leave you with food for thought and a simple action step to carry through your week.Let's face it, we all dream of the picture-perfect holiday—gorgeous decor, flawless events, and those Instagram-worthy family photos. But what if the pursuit of perfection is stealing the joy? This episode we talk about decorating inside with a makeshift tree out of scrap wood and using *gasp* pre-packaged cookies to bake with kiddos. Because, let's be real, it's often the imperfect moments that weave the best holiday memories. Hit play and let's reshape our perspective on the perfect holiday.Make sure to connect with us over on social! @successfulmamapodcast

replay - 38 - what moms need to hear: crafting your ideal holiday season

You’re not going to want to miss this 6-week mini series as we close out 2024! These replays from last year are just as relevant now, offering reminders that every mom needs during this beautiful but chaotic holiday season. We’re talking about “what moms need to hear” to navigate the last six weeks of the year with purpose and joy. These short episodes are easy to squeeze into your busy schedule and will leave you with food for thought and a simple action step to carry through your week.This week, we are talking about defining your ideal holiday season NOW so that you can stick with it throughout the rest of the year. As moms, we want this season to be filled with magic and wonder. Our society is no doubt one that pushes more is better, but that isn’t always the case and often leads to overwhelm and feeling as if we fall short of the “perfect” holiday. So I want to challenge you this week to take a few steps in early December to help cultivate YOUR version of a perfect holiday season. Grab your hot cocoa and Santa hat, and settle in.Make sure you're following us over on social! @successfulmamapodcast

replay - 37 - what moms need to hear: christmas decorations

You’re not going to want to miss this 6-week mini series as we close out 2024! These replays from last year are just as relevant now, offering reminders that every mom needs during this beautiful but chaotic holiday season. We’re talking about “what moms need to hear” to navigate the last six weeks of the year with purpose and joy. These short episodes are easy to squeeze into your busy schedule and will leave you with food for thought and a simple action step to carry through your week.This week’s episode is on Christmas decorations... do you have yours up yet? What are the expectations you have around your holiday decor? Do you want the perfect Instagram-worthy setup? Are you happy with what you have? We talk about all of these questions and more on week 2 of this series.Don't forget to follow us on social! @successfulmamapodcast