The Successful Mama Podcast

47 - owning your future: letting go of cultural expectations and moving your family abroad

Although now I'm not sure I would want to call anywhere other than Alabama home, there was once a time when I dreamt of living in cities across the world. Of learning languages and studying cultures. Of meeting new people. Of adventure.
 
So naturally, when I heard Meghana Kamdar's story of moving her family of 5 from California to Portugal, I couldn't help but want to hear more of her story and share it with you. This mama struggled with the expectations to focus so heavily on her career and dreamt of a slower life with more time with her family. And in 2020, she and her husband took the leap of faith to do just that.Today, we dive into that conversation about what led to the move, how she and her husband were able to do it, and the need for each of us to take a closer look at what fills us. Meghana reminds us that there will never be a right time, and sometimes you just have to jump in and figure it out.Such a great conversation with so many takeaways... go ahead and press play!Find show notes at successfulmamapodcast.com.

46 - crossing continents: from Brazil to the U.S., battling thyroid cancer, and embracing ADHD

How can you not love Juliana Piper? My thoughts on it after this interview? You can’t! We laughed so much, and I could listen to her accent all day long. When she told me before the show that she moved to the U.S. with only $75 in her pocket, I was dying to know more! I had so many questions, especially given that she was a teenager when she did it. We chat about this, as well as her unexpected diagnosis of thyroid cancer, becoming a mother, and being diagnosed as an adult with ADHD. She now owns her own business designing websites (pipermache.com) I have no doubt you'll leave this episode with a smile, as Juliana brings that kind of energy to the conversation. Show notes are available at successfulmamapodcast.com.
Make sure to follow along on socials:
@successfulmamapodcast@_shannoncarothers_Juliana's:@piper.mache

45 - resolution reboot: ditching the resolution and connecting identity to small habits

New Year, New Me! It sounds great in theory, but life happens quickly, and it's so easy to slowly fade right back into the same old me I was before the new year. Have you ever experienced this? If so, you're definitely not alone, as the majority of resolutions are out of sight and mind by February. So what do we do instead?Today, I challenge you to shift the mindset of a resolution into the overall goal of who you want to be, and then work on building positive habits around that. I promise it is much more doable and sustainable than the traditional New Year's resolution.
Want more on shifting this mindset and trying something different around changing your life? Check out my slot on Tennessee Valley Living, a local lifestyle show in the Tennessee Valley, where I shared about alternative options to traditional resolutions.successfulmamapodcast.com

44 - styling independence: raising good adults through a boutique of life lessons

You blink, and those tiny babes have grown years. Do it a few times, and they are walking around as actual adults. This episode, I sit down with Amy Word, who is a mama of two boys and has raised them while running her own clothing boutique (Shoe Fly, if you live in the Huntsville area!) She and I chat about our ultimate goal as mothers, which is to prepare our kiddos to grow up and become independent, productive humans. We talk about running a business with littles running underfoot, letting them fail, and not fixing their every problem. I know I took away some positive lessons from Amy’s journey, and I’m sure you will too.www.successfulmamapodcast.com

43 - from lesson plans to roofing plans: rediscovering entrepreneurial spirit and trusting yourself

Did you ever imagine growing up to run a roofing business? I know I didn’t. And neither did today’s guest, and yet, that is exactly what she’s doing- and loves it! Melanie McCollum said yes to running the office-side of their family’s business without much knowledge about roofs other than the fact that every house needs one. Although she never saw herself in this role, she did always see herself owning a business. She walks us through the twists and turns of her career: from education to real estate, and often leaning on others’ advice on what she should do instead of trusting herself. I can’t wait for you to hear how her story has pivoted over the years and how she is living out HER version of success now.successfulmamapodcast.com

42 - embracing positivity: navigating adoption challenges and crafting a positive new you

The second I met Elizabeth Davis, I knew she and I would be friends. She exuded positivity, and I loved listening to her share as we chatted over coffee. I couldn’t wait to have her on the podcast to talk about her journey with you, too. There are so many elements to her story that make you want to hear more. This episode we chat about the whirlwind romance that led to 25 years of marriage, 3 biological kiddos and 3 adoptive, and a whole lot of moves along the way. With her children now grown and a sweet grandbaby (that she is head-over-heels in love with), she reflects about how life doesn’t look like she expected it to and the importance of letting go of things out of our control. No matter where you are in your motherhood journey, I think you’ll find a way to relate to the struggles in Elizabeth’s journey and the need to overcome and find yourself on the other side.successfulmamapodcast.com

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 that covers the holiday season and the rest of 2023! We are talking about “what moms need to hear” as we go throughout this beautiful, but chaotic time of year. These short episodes will be easy to find time to listen to, even with all the festivities. They will give you some food for thought with a simple action step for the week.There are only a few days left of the year, 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." Head over to successfulmamapodcast.com for show notes and to grab your copy of my Year End Review.

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 that covers the holiday season and the rest of 2023! We are talking about “what moms need to hear” as we go throughout this beautiful, but chaotic time of year. These short episodes will be easy to find time to listen to, even with all the festivities. They will give you some food for thought with a simple action step for the 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.

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

You’re not going to want to miss this 6-week mini series that covers the holiday season and the rest of 2023! We are talking about “what moms need to hear” as we go throughout this beautiful, but chaotic time of year. These short episodes will be easy to find time to listen to, even with all the festivities. They will give you some food for thought with a simple action step for the 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.I want to hear from YOU! What do you need to hear this holiday season? Give me a call and leave a message letting me know, and you just might hear your voice on an upcoming episode! (475) 444-6262Find show notes at successfulmamapodcast.com!

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

You’re not going to want to miss this 6-week mini series that covers the holiday season and the rest of 2023! We are talking about “what moms need to hear” as we go throughout this beautiful, but chaotic time of year. These short episodes will be easy to find time to listen to, even with all the festivities. They will give you some food for thought with a simple action step for the 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.
 
I want to hear from YOU! What do you need to hear this holiday season? Give me a call and leave a message letting me know, and you just might hear your voice on an upcoming episode!
(475) 444-6262Check the show notes at successfulmamapodcast.com!