The Successful Mama Podcast

52 - embracing the spectrum: redefining "normal" and finding joy in life with autism

Get ready for a heartfelt conversation with my friend, Julia Pope. Julia opens up about her personal journey as a mother of two boys diagnosed with autism, shedding light on the shifting expectations and the process of navigating through the grief of relinquishing the idea of a 'normal' life.
Throughout our conversation, we delve into the importance of supporting families with children with special needs and how to have conversations about inclusion and neurodiversity with our kids in a way they will understand. Julia's insights and experiences are both eye-opening and inspiring, offering valuable lessons for us all.
I learned so much from Julia's perspective, and I can't wait for you to join us and glean wisdom from her journey. Also, make sure you are following along on instagram.com/successfulmamapodcast !

51- live one year celebration special: Shannon is interviewed by guest host, Erica DeSpain

Get ready for a fun spin on our normal content! We had a little get-together to celebrate the podcast reaching 1 year and 50 episodes. I wanted to do something different, so I asked my friend Erica DeSpain of All Things Madison if she would consider interviewing me...live! I'm so grateful she said yes, because I couldn't have chosen a better guest host! She asked me questions about the podcast and the last year, things about myself, and even questions from you guys! She also caught me off guard with a few great twists she threw in, and we laughed as a train made its own special appearance, partially hijacking our interview. I hope you'll enjoy getting to know a little more about me during this fun one-year special live episode.

50 - reflecting on a year of podcasting and how it applies to motherhood

50 episodes in! An entire year of podcasting. It feels surreal thinking back to that very first interview and feeling giddy with a dash of terrified as I sat down with my first guest. Join me for a solo episode as I reflect back on five takeaways from a year behind the microphone and how we can apply them directly to our motherhood journey.Also, make sure you are following along on instagram.com/successfulmamapodcast as we celebrate this milestone!successfulmamapodcast.com

49 - building tracks, building a career: how a son's love of trains changed everything

Ever wish there was more to do in your town for your kids? That’s exactly what this military mama, then-based in Meridian, Mississippi, was looking for. Lucy Dormont’s son’s love of trains and the fact that their town was originally build on the railroads should have been a perfect match. The only problem? The history was nowhere to be found, other than a “Railroad Museum” sign, hung on a building that actually housed another museum- dedicated to a country singer. And this mama was not okay with that.Listen as Lucy shares her transformation that began as a mama on a mission to make her town a better place to live and shifted into a passion and career. She shares about starting a nonprofit, re-launching the railroad museum, and eventually finding work in the industry and love for the people. We chat about diving in head first and figuring it out as you go, imposter syndrome, and leaning in to connect with our kids’ passions.All aboard! Grab your ticket and get ready to chug along with this week's episode. Also, I apologize for the cheesy train pun.
successfulmamapodcast.com

48 - from denial to devotion: balancing motherhood and career as a therapist

What questions would you ask if you could sit down for a conversation with a therapist? I had so many topics that I wanted to dive into on a professional level- we talked about scrolling habits and the danger of comparison and the difference between happiness and being content.But I truly appreciated Lindsey Sheckles-Prather and her vulnerability as she shared some of her thoughts, feelings, and experiences throughout her motherhood journey. A journey that started when she had no desire to be a mother. And yet, after the initial denial, she stepped fully into this role, embracing the title and challenge, and choosing to push pause on some of her previous goals.Lindsey shares wisdom and truth about the fleeting time we have with our kids. She reminds us that we can continue to seek personal goals to be more than just “[insert kid’s name]’s mom,” while also prioritizing them to be at the center of our world.

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