Podcast
Experience Motherhood
Hosted by Liz Emmerich, MA, LPCC, RPT · EN
Feeling alone in motherhood? Not sure of who you are anymore? Motherhood is a profoundly personal experience for every woman. Come along with me, a licensed therapist, as we delve into both the unique and shared aspects of this remarkable journey known as motherhood.
You'll hear personal stories, encounters and knowledge as a therapist and mom. I'll be interviewing guests and moms (just like you) who have inspirational and relatable journeys in motherhood.
Let's do motherhood together! We can't control all of our circumstances, but we can change how we experience them.
11episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
104. How to Actually Feel Present This Summer — Not Just Try to Be
1w ago00:11:23Tap to summarizeYou know the feeling of being physically present but mentally somewhere else entirely. Sitting at the dinner table, at the park, at your kid's game — and your brain is already three steps ahead.Most moms don't need to be told to be present. They need to know how to actually get there. That's what we're talking about today.In This Episode:Why presence doesn't always look the way we picture it — and why that mattersThe honest truth about why this kind of moment doesn't just happen on its ownWhat I mean when I say presence is a muscle, not a personality traitWhat gets in the way for high-achieving moms specifically (mental load, planning mode, performing motherhood instead of living it)What I've been doing differently — and what's actually workingAn invitation to practice this intentionally all summer longJoin the Present Mom Summer Practice — a free 6-week email series for moms who want to actually feel present this summer, not just try to be. https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/summer-of-graceConnect with Liz:Where do you lose presence the most — is it the mental load, the phone, the planning ahead? I'd love to know. Come find me on Instagram and tell me.I'd love to hear your thoughts! Send me a message :)Experience Motherhood more!Follow over on Instagram: @experiencemotherhoodSTAY CONNECTED THROUGH EMAILSign up for the Experience Motherhood Newsletter: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/kac05b818mGet access to other free guidesWebsite: https://www.experiencemotherhood.com-->Take one minute to subscribe, rate and review the podcast! Your support is incredibly meaningful!Support the ShowA small donation of $5, $10 or more is an amazing way to keep this podcast going and support me! Thank you so much for listening!Until next time. . . Go Experience Motherhood!Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only. In no way is this therapy or clinical advice.
Transcribe →103. Throwback Episode | Meal Planning Made Simple: Time-Saving Tips for Busy Moms with Allison Schaaf
2w ago00:35:41Tap to summarizeIf you're a busy mom trying to juggle everything — and still get a healthy dinner on the table — this episode is a fan favorite for a reason! I'm joined by Allison Schaaf, a Chef, Registered Dietitian, and Founder & CEO of Prep Dish, and a mom of three. After years of working as a personal chef and at high-end spas, Allison knew there had to be a more efficient, cost-effective, and sanity-saving way to get healthy, crowd-pleasing meals on the table. That's how Prep Dish was born — and this conversation is still just as relevant today as when it first aired.In this conversation, Allison shares:Why meal planning is a total game-changer for busy momsThe easiest way to start meal planning (even if it feels overwhelming)Three grocery shopping tips to save time and make healthier choicesHow meal planning supports healthier eating habits without adding pressureMust-have kitchen tools that make meal prep faster and easierStrategies for handling picky eaters and different dietary needsHow to meal prep efficiently when you only have 30 minutes to spareAllison's passion is making mealtime efficient, healthy, and delicious. Whether you're brand new to meal planning or just looking for fresh ideas to simplify your week, you'll walk away from this episode feeling equipped and inspired — and maybe finally ready to ditch the 5pm panic.MENTIONS IN THE EPISODE:✨ Looking for a SAFE watch/phone option for your child? Gabb watch or phone -- save $25 with code: MOTHERHOOD✨Ready for clean ingredient skincare? Check out Oliveda!Connect with Allison Schaaf and Prep Dish:Click here to get 14 days free to try out Prep Dish!InstagramI'd love to hear your thoughts! Send me a message :)Experience Motherhood more!Follow over on Instagram: @experiencemotherhoodSTAY CONNECTED THROUGH EMAILSign up for the Experience Motherhood Newsletter: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/kac05b818mGet access to other free guidesWebsite: https://www.experiencemotherhood.com-->Take one minute to subscribe, rate and review the podcast! Your support is incredibly meaningful!Support the ShowA small donation of $5, $10 or more is an amazing way to keep this podcast going and support me! Thank you so much for listening!Until next time. . . Go Experience Motherhood!Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only. In no way is this therapy or clinical advice.
Transcribe →102. The Last Week of School Feelings Nobody Talks About
3w ago00:18:52Tap to summarizeThe last week of school carries more than most of us realize. On the surface it's teacher gifts and car line and end-of-year parties — but underneath all of that is something much bigger. A chapter is closing. Your child is crossing from one version of themselves into another. And so are you. If you've been feeling something this week that you can't quite name — part relief, part grief, part nostalgia, part anxiety — this episode is permission to slow down long enough to actually feel it. Because this moment is worth more than your to-do list is giving it credit for.In this episode, we cover:Why the last week of school is a threshold moment — and what that actually means for you as a momThe emotional cocktail of end-of-year that nobody talks about: relief, grief, pride, and anxiety all at onceThe feelings we don't give ourselves permission to have — including the relief that feels like guilt and the grief that feels disproportionateWhy ambitious moms are especially prone to staying in logistics mode this week instead of letting themselves feel what's actually happeningThe identity wobble that quietly shows up when the school-year structure is about to disappearA simple end-of-year pause practice to help you close the loop on this chapter before summer beginsWhat to say to your child this week — and why specificity matters more than you thinkWhy you deserve an end-of-year acknowledgment too, not just your kidsIf you've been holding it all together for one more week and haven't stopped to let yourself feel what this season is carrying — this episode is for you. You don't have to perform the right emotions. You just have to show up honestly for the ones you actually have.MENTIONS IN THIS EPISODE:📎 Grab the free End of Year Reflection Card — a simple one-pager with questions to help you honor this school year before summer begins, for your child and for yourself: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/end-of-year-reflection Interested in a deeper space beyond the podcast? I’m gathering an interest list as I listen and discern what support might come next: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/a-place-to-go-deeperI'd love to hear your thoughts! Send me a message :)Experience Motherhood more!Follow over on Instagram: @experiencemotherhoodSTAY CONNECTED THROUGH EMAILSign up for the Experience Motherhood Newsletter: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/kac05b818mGet access to other free guidesWebsite: https://www.experiencemotherhood.com-->Take one minute to subscribe, rate and review the podcast! Your support is incredibly meaningful!Support the ShowA small donation of $5, $10 or more is an amazing way to keep this podcast going and support me! Thank you so much for listening!Until next time. . . Go Experience Motherhood!Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only. In no way is this therapy or clinical advice.
Transcribe →101. Why High-Achieving Moms Struggle to Slow Down in Summer (And What to Do About It)
4w ago00:19:50Tap to summarizeYou made it to summer — so why does it feel harder, not easier?If the end of the school year brings relief for about five minutes before your brain starts building a new system, you're not broken. You're wired for structure. And for high-achieving moms, the unstructured weeks of summer don't signal rest — they signal anxiety. In this episode, I'm naming what's actually happening in your nervous system when summer hits, why the slow-down feels so hard, and three practical tools to help you loosen the grip without losing yourself.In This Episode:Why your nervous system doesn't automatically shift when the school year ends — and why that's not a character flawThe four summer nervous system patterns high-achieving moms fall into (do you recognize yourself?)The identity question that surfaces when the routine pauses: who am I if I'm not managing everything?Why the comparison spiral hits harder in summer — and what to do with itThe difference between a routine that grounds you and a schedule that controls youWhat the research actually says about what your kids need this summer (spoiler: it's a lot less than the color-coded calendar)Winnicott's "good enough mother" concept and why the imperfect summer is actually doing somethingA question to ask yourself before you add one more thing to the summer calendarResources & Links:🌿 Join the Present Mom Summer Practice — a free 6-week email series for moms who want to actually feel present this summer, not just survive it. No homework, no checklist — just honest encouragement and one small practice each week: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/summer-of-graceConnect with Liz:What's your summer nervous system pattern — overscheduler, optimizer, helper who can't stop, or checker outer? I'd love to know. Come find me on Instagram and tell me yours.I'd love to hear your thoughts! Send me a message :)Experience Motherhood more!Follow over on Instagram: @experiencemotherhoodSTAY CONNECTED THROUGH EMAILSign up for the Experience Motherhood Newsletter: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/kac05b818mGet access to other free guidesWebsite: https://www.experiencemotherhood.com-->Take one minute to subscribe, rate and review the podcast! Your support is incredibly meaningful!Support the ShowA small donation of $5, $10 or more is an amazing way to keep this podcast going and support me! Thank you so much for listening!Until next time. . . Go Experience Motherhood!Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only. In no way is this therapy or clinical advice.
Transcribe →100. The Mom I Didn't Expect to Become: Reflections on 100 Episodes of Motherhood
May 500:15:29Tap to summarizeHere's something nobody tells you before you become a mom: the hardest part isn't the sleep deprivation or the hard days. It's the gap between the mom you thought you'd be -- and the mom you actually became.Episode 100. I can't believe I'm typing that. And in honor of this milestone I'm getting personal - really personal. I'm talking about where I was when I started this podcast, what 100 episodes have taught me about motherhood (and myself), and the mom I didn't expect to become. This one is for every mom who has ever felt like she's falling short of who she thought she'd be. You're not. And I hope this episode reminds you of that.In This Episode: - The honest truth about where I was when I started Experience Motherhood -- and what I didn't see coming - What 100 episodes have actually taught me about motherhood, identity, and showing up imperfectly - The mom I pictured myself being vs. the mom I actually am -- and why the gap doesn't mean you're failing - The quiet grief so many moms carry and what to do with it - Why the mom you became is actually the mom your kids need - What your kids are really learning from you (it's not what you think) - The hard truth about building this podcast -- and why I'm not going anywhere - A note to my early-podcast self that I hope lands for you tooMENTIONS IN THE EPISODE: - 🎉 Episode 100 Giveaway -- win a $25 Starbucks gift card! Head to Instagram @experiencemotherhood for all the details - 📖 Grab the free Busy Mom Guide -- real, practical things that help you simplify your days and show up more like the mom you want to be: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/busy-mom-guideI'd love to hear your thoughts! Send me a message :)Experience Motherhood more!Follow over on Instagram: @experiencemotherhoodSTAY CONNECTED THROUGH EMAILSign up for the Experience Motherhood Newsletter: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/kac05b818mGet access to other free guidesWebsite: https://www.experiencemotherhood.com-->Take one minute to subscribe, rate and review the podcast! Your support is incredibly meaningful!Support the ShowA small donation of $5, $10 or more is an amazing way to keep this podcast going and support me! Thank you so much for listening!Until next time. . . Go Experience Motherhood!Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only. In no way is this therapy or clinical advice.
Transcribe →99. Things That Are Actually Making My Life Easier as a Mom Right Now
Apr 2800:18:35Tap to summarizeMotherhood doesn't always need more ideas — sometimes it needs a little permission to do less. In today's episode, I'm sharing the things that are genuinely making my life feel lighter right now. Not a perfect system, not an aesthetic routine, just a handful of real shifts that are helping me show up more like the mom I actually want to be.In this episode, we cover:Why trying to "get ahead" of your life is quietly draining you — and what to do insteadThe permission slip to lower the bar in the areas that don't actually matterWhy doing too much for your kids might be working against both of youThe small connection ritual that's been making a real difference with my boysWhat I do when the day starts to spiral — and how to interrupt it before it takes overThe tiny boundary that's giving me more breathing room than I expectedHow I simplified dinner for three boys and what that actually freed upIf you've been feeling like you're running on empty and waiting for things to slow down — this episode is for you. It doesn't have to be complicated to make a difference.MENTIONS IN THIS EPISODE:📎 Grab the freebie mentioned in this episode — The 5-Minute Connection Menu — 10 simple ways to connect with your kids today: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/5-minute-connection-menuI'd love to hear your thoughts! Send me a message :)I'd love to hear your thoughts! Send me a message :)Experience Motherhood more!Follow over on Instagram: @experiencemotherhoodSTAY CONNECTED THROUGH EMAILSign up for the Experience Motherhood Newsletter: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/kac05b818mGet access to other free guidesWebsite: https://www.experiencemotherhood.com-->Take one minute to subscribe, rate and review the podcast! Your support is incredibly meaningful!Support the ShowA small donation of $5, $10 or more is an amazing way to keep this podcast going and support me! Thank you so much for listening!Until next time. . . Go Experience Motherhood!Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only. In no way is this therapy or clinical advice.
Transcribe →98. Raising Kids with Big Feelings: ADHD, Mom Guilt, and How to Support Your Child Without Losing Yourself with Dr. Michelle Casarella
Apr 2100:45:24Tap to summarizeMotherhood is hard enough on its own — but when your child is struggling with ADHD, emotional regulation, or behavioral challenges, it can start to quietly chip away at how you see yourself as a mom. In today's episode, I'm sitting down with Dr. Michelle Casarella, a licensed psychologist who specializes in supporting moms raising children with ADHD. As both a clinician and a mom who has lived this experience herself, Michelle brings a rare mix of professional insight and real-life understanding to a conversation that so many of us need to have.In this episode, we cover:Why motherhood feels so much heavier when your child is struggling — and why that doesn't mean you're failingThe guilt moms carry when their child has ADHD or big feelings, and how to start releasing itWhat it's really like to raise a child whose brain works differently (and why the standard advice often falls short)How to support your child's emotional regulation without losing yourself in the processWhy high-achieving, capable moms are especially vulnerable to burnout in this seasonThe shift from chaos and conflict to calmer, more connected parentingPractical, evidence-based strategies Michelle uses in her therapy groups for moms of ADHD kidsIf you've ever found yourself wondering why does this feel so hard or am I doing something wrong — this conversation will feel like a deep exhale. You are not alone, and you don't have to figure this out by yourself.Connect with Dr. Michelle Casarella: Instagram: @dr.michelle.casarellaMENTIONS IN THE EPISODE:Interested in a deeper space beyond the podcast? I’m gathering an interest list as I listen and discern what support might come next: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/a-place-to-go-deeperI'd love to hear your thoughts! Send me a message :)Experience Motherhood more!Follow over on Instagram: @experiencemotherhoodSTAY CONNECTED THROUGH EMAILSign up for the Experience Motherhood Newsletter: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/kac05b818mGet access to other free guidesWebsite: https://www.experiencemotherhood.com-->Take one minute to subscribe, rate and review the podcast! Your support is incredibly meaningful!Support the ShowA small donation of $5, $10 or more is an amazing way to keep this podcast going and support me! Thank you so much for listening!Until next time. . . Go Experience Motherhood!Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only. In no way is this therapy or clinical advice.
Transcribe →97. Finding Yourself Again in the Middle of Motherhood (Part 3)
Apr 1400:16:25Tap to summarizeCan I ask you something kind of real?When was the last time someone asked how you were doing - not as a mom, not as a partner, not as whoever needs something from you - and you actually had an answer that wasn't "tired" or "good, just busy"?Because I've been sitting with that one lately. And honestly? It took me a minute.This is the finale of our mini-series, and I really wanted to end here - on this idea of what happens when you quietly disappear in the middle of motherhood. Not in a dramatic way. Not a breakdown or a big identity crisis. Just that slow, subtle thing where you look up one day and realize you've been ordering the practical thing for so long you forgot what you actually wanted. Or a friend asks what you do for fun and you automatically list your kids' activities. Or you're alone in Target for 20 whole minutes and you genuinely have no idea what you would even buy for yourself.That's what we're talking about today. I'm calling it functional disappearance - you're still here, lunches are packed, emotional support fully online - but somewhere underneath all of that, there's a version of you that's just been on hold.The good news? She hasn't gone nearly as far as you think.In This Episode:What "functional disappearance" really is — and why it happens so quietlyThe moment in Target that made me realize how much I'd drifted from myselfThe stages of mom "me time" (stage one: announcing you need alone time — rookie mistake)Why you don't need a whole day off to start coming back to yourselfSmall, real moments that help you remember who you are underneath the schedules and the mental loadThe "both/and" of motherhood — you can love this and still miss the person you were beforeA gentle question to carry with you this weekMENTIONS IN THE EPISODE:Interested in a deeper space beyond the podcast? I’m gathering an interest list as I listen and discern what support might come next: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/a-place-to-go-deeperMissed the mini-series? Start with Episode 95 (glimmers) and Episode 96 (the mental load)I'd love to hear your thoughts! Send me a message :)Experience Motherhood more!Follow over on Instagram: @experiencemotherhoodSTAY CONNECTED THROUGH EMAILSign up for the Experience Motherhood Newsletter: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/kac05b818mGet access to other free guidesWebsite: https://www.experiencemotherhood.com-->Take one minute to subscribe, rate and review the podcast! Your support is incredibly meaningful!Support the ShowA small donation of $5, $10 or more is an amazing way to keep this podcast going and support me! Thank you so much for listening!Until next time. . . Go Experience Motherhood!Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only. In no way is this therapy or clinical advice.
Transcribe →96. The Running List That Never Turns Off | A Week in My Life, Emotionally (Part 2)
Apr 700:12:28Tap to summarizeYou know that feeling when your brain has approximately 100 tabs open — and at least 17 of them are frozen, 12 are playing music you can't find, and one is reminding you that the field trip form still isn't signed?Yeah. That's motherhood lately.In part two of the A Week in My Life, Emotionally mini series, I'm getting into the running list — the one that never actually turns off. The one that follows you from the bathroom sink to the dinner table to the moment you're about to fall asleep and your brain suddenly goes, hey, did you change the laundry?If you've ever carried something nobody else can see, this episode is going to make you feel a lot less alone — and maybe even laugh a little.In This Episode:The "100 tabs open" feeling and why it resonates so deeply with momsThe laundry you remembered three times and still didn't doWhy forgetting the snacks isn't proof you're failing — it's proof you're carrying too muchThe midnight spiral that goes from groceries to mom guilt in secondsBeing interrupted 47 times while trying to do one single thingWhy the running list is actually evidence of how much you love your peopleA reframe that might make you a little more gentle with yourself📲 What's your most ridiculous running list moment this week? DM me on Instagram 📧 On my email list? Hit reply — I genuinely want to hear it Busy Mom Guide: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/busy-mom-guideI'd love to hear your thoughts! Send me a message :)Experience Motherhood more!Follow over on Instagram: @experiencemotherhoodSTAY CONNECTED THROUGH EMAILSign up for the Experience Motherhood Newsletter: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/kac05b818mGet access to other free guidesWebsite: https://www.experiencemotherhood.com-->Take one minute to subscribe, rate and review the podcast! Your support is incredibly meaningful!Support the ShowA small donation of $5, $10 or more is an amazing way to keep this podcast going and support me! Thank you so much for listening!Until next time. . . Go Experience Motherhood!Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only. In no way is this therapy or clinical advice.
Transcribe →95. Glimmers: The Small Moments That Keep Me Going as a Mom (Part 1)
Mar 3100:16:05Tap to summarizeWhat if the good parts of motherhood aren't waiting for you on the other side of a calmer season — but are already showing up, right in the middle of the chaos?In this first episode of the A Week in My Life, Emotionally mini series, I'm not talking schedules or logistics. I'm talking about what my week actually felt like — the emotional experience of being a mom to three kids (ages 7, 9, and 12) while running a therapy practice. And what kept showing up? Glimmers. Small, ordinary moments I almost missed completely.None of it is flashy. None of it would stop your scroll. But these glimmers? They're what keep me grounded — and I think they might be what keeps you going too.If you've been waiting for motherhood to feel calm before you let yourself enjoy it, this episode is for you.In This Episode:What "glimmers" are and why they matter so much for overwhelmed momsThe joke book moment that stopped me in my tracksHow a chaotic sibling argument turned into an unexpected glimmerWhy ordinary morning conversations with your kids are worth protectingCelebrating tiny wins — even just getting out the doorHow to start noticing glimmers even when you're in full survival modeWhat's one glimmer from your week? Send me a DM on instagram or an email and let me know!I'd love to hear your thoughts! Send me a message :)Experience Motherhood more!Follow over on Instagram: @experiencemotherhoodSTAY CONNECTED THROUGH EMAILSign up for the Experience Motherhood Newsletter: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/kac05b818mGet access to other free guidesWebsite: https://www.experiencemotherhood.com-->Take one minute to subscribe, rate and review the podcast! Your support is incredibly meaningful!Support the ShowA small donation of $5, $10 or more is an amazing way to keep this podcast going and support me! Thank you so much for listening!Until next time. . . Go Experience Motherhood!Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only. In no way is this therapy or clinical advice.
Transcribe →