MMP Episode 314: 6 years of the Modern Mamas Podcast
Tune in this week as Jess and Laura reflect on the past year of the Modern Mamas Podcast, share our favorite guests and most powerful catchup episodes, and lean into immense gratitude for this space, this community, and the gift of showing up every week for SIX years. Whether you’ve been here since the start, are just finding us now, or somewhere in between, THANK YOU for joining us on this journey.
As always this is just us sharing our own unique experiences and is in no way meant as a commentary on YOUR unique life - we hope you enjoy our story <3
Podcast Links/Sponsors:
Breana White- No matter where you’re located in the U.S., contact Breana for your home buying needs! Breana White, Broker with Keller Williams Realty Central Oregon, Equal Housing Opportunity. www.breanasellsbend.kw.com @breanasellsbend
Foria Intimacy Products - Get 20% off your first order of CBD based intimacy products by visiting foriawellness.com/MODERNMAMAS OR use code MODERNMAMAS at checkout
Paleovalley - Head to https://paleovalley.com/modernamaas for 15% off
MMP Episode 314: 6 years of the Modern Mamas Podcast
MMP 314: 6 years of the Modern Mamas Podcast
===
Laura: [00:00:00] Hey friends. Can't wait till Wednesday to get your Modern Mama's Fix. Join us on Patreon. You can choose your tier, and when you subscribe, you'll get bonus content, early access to retreat first peaks at new swag, plus shout outs and even realtime monthly virtual hangs with us. Visit
Jess: patreon.com/modern Mamas podcast.
Check it out and support the podcast. It truly means the world to us. We are so grateful for you and for this community.
Laura: Hi, friends. Welcome to the Modern Mama's Podcast. We are two modern mamas here to inspire
Jess: empowerment,
Laura: self-love, deep physical, and spiritual nourishment, holistic health, open minds and joy. No matter your journey or perspective. I'm Laura of Radical Roots. I'm a certified CrossFit trainer, certified nutrition consultant, and Mama to Evie Wilder and Indie Bo.
I love outdoor adventure, good food, especially sourdough [00:01:00] and
Jess: mindful movement. And I'm Jess of Hold The Space Wellness. I'm a level one CrossFit trainer, a licensed and certified athletic trainer with a Masters in Kinesiology and Mama to Bear. And Camille, I love food, trying new things, creating art, and being a perpetual learner.
Please note that while we're here to provide advice and insights, we aren't medical practitioners and always recommend that you check with a trusted provider before implementing any changes. Thanks for joining us. We're so happy you're here.
Laura: Hi friends. Good morning. Happy morning. For us at least, it's 6 23 here.
We've been trying to record for the past 10 minutes and you know, here we are. We finally got things to work. Technology is hard, but we're here but we can, we can do hard things. We can do hard things. It's funny cuz. Our hope today or our plan today, we're celebrating six years of podcasting. As you're listening to this, we have hit the six year mark of the Modern Mama's Podcast, which is just wild.
And it also means that I have a six year old, which is also [00:02:00] wild because I don't know if y'all knew this, but our first episode aired three days before I had Eby. We had some episodes prerecorded, and we were very business. All business back then. Yeah. Prerecorded episodes and very planned in advance. And as the podcast has aged, we have fallen into our own rhythms.
Yes. A little bit less business oriented. We, we leave the expert stuff to the experts. Remember, we would like write out like copious amounts of notes. Oh yeah. Dive deep into nutrition. And those
Jess: episodes are great and I'm really proud of those episodes. They're like full of really good. Well thought out information.
But you know, it's just like, I, I think people ask us all the time, like when we tell them like, oh my gosh, we've, you know, been doing this podcast for six years. They're like, oh, how did you make it that long? And I think we had to adapt. Mm-hmm. Or else we, this is too much and just, Like tossed a towel, you know?
Totally. So speaking of adapting episodes are still there [00:03:00] for you.
Laura: Yes. And we're coming at you from a unique situation today as we celebrate six years. Very fitting for the adaptation we've had to take on over the past six years. Cuz you're recording from a hospital.
Jess: Well, I'm at my brother-in-law and sister, sister-in-law's house.
I decided to stay to record and then I. Truck it over to the hospital. It's like an hour away. So I would've had to get up pretty early to get over there in time to be there to record. So
Laura: before we jump into like, you know, some rehashing a favorite episodes from the year and really diving more deeply into the six year celebration here, do you wanna share some of the, some like some quick life updates on what, why you're at the hospital, what's going on?
If you want to, obviously no pressure. Yes,
Jess: I would love to. I do, I do. I'll, I'll, I was trying to like figure out how to navigate this cause like sharing someone in my [00:04:00] family's like personal health information, but I, I feel like, you know, it's also part of like, What's going on in my life. So just trying to navigate that with Grace for all parties.
But if you tuned into, I think it was the episode that just went live yesterday, then that was Thursday, I think. Oh my gosh. Time is like just we in a weird vortex right now, but that morning Tim was headed down to Corpus to be with his dad in the hospital for stuff and then. He stayed down just one day, came back Friday and then it just on Friday, my dad called and was like, I think I have appendicitis or something, like, I'm gonna go to the, the urgent care.
And so he checked in and he was like, you know, in pain. But like, I don't know, he's just, I, he's just pretty stoic, like, you know, it's probably nothing cuz he has some other health [00:05:00] that he deals with on a daily basis, like with his digestive. Tracked and stuff. And so he was like, it's probably nothing, yada, yada yada.
Well, they like see him in the urgent care and they send him to the emergency room cuz they're like, appendix is ruptured. And so get to the emergency room. They're like, we need to do surgery like now. So they ended up doing it late Friday cuz we were like, he was kind of like chatting with us and I was thinking about going down.
He lives. Two hours away, actually, probably three hours away technically, but he drove an hour to the nearest lake, big town to get to the hospital. And so we're trying to decide if I was gonna go down because of all. So my dad lives alone. My parents are divorced. He lives alone, you know, kind of far away.
And so my sisters and I were trying to figure out who could go and his family, like his sister and his mom who's still alive. My grandmother is like, like just working. She is [00:06:00] like amazing. But they live north of Dallas and so we're talking like the polar opposites of Texas or anyone has a little bit of like geographical understanding of Texas.
We are currently right now pretty much in. South Texas and my dad's family is in North Texas, and being across Texas is like, uh, it's like more than hours to get from top to bottom. It's like they're far away. And my middle sister has three kiddos, one of which is like a nurse event. She's 15 months old.
And then my younger, while she has no kids and no current like responsibilities, she. Just in terms of like being able to handle all of like what would entail, like being the, the point person, just probably not the, like, the best choice for that. So that kind of ended up like it was voted [00:07:00] to go. I mean, I'm happy to go down too.
Like I, I don't want it to seem like it's like a huge, like burden. I was happy to go down. So, but, and it made sense that I would be the one to go and kind of like be with him. So what ended up happening, they thought it was gonna be laparoscopic, but because it got perforated and was, they had to open him up in a weird position, it was like stuck to his, I'm, now I'm going like really in depth and I, I kind of like beforehand I was like, I'm not all the details anyways, but just because of some complications with the surgery, he ended up having to get like a pretty good sized incision and staples.
That. And then fast forward, we thought it would be like a couple days and then I would be able to like take him like home, like to family. And it's been almost a week and he still is not, like, we don't, we still don't have a date, a definitive time where he'll be able to go home. It just like, depends on a lot of things.
Like his, it's been really rough, like the [00:08:00] recovery and so like anything that has kind of. Gone wonky has gone wonky. And of course, you know, he had sepsis, I don't know how, if Rusty's was similar, but like he had sepsis because it was like leaking. And so they're really like closely monitoring like his white blood cell count and all this stuff.
So just to make sure. And so it's been tough. So because. Tim was home with the kids through the weekend while I was down here, which was great. And then his dad is gonna have, was supposed to have surgery on Monday, so he's in the hospital for some unrelated things. While he was there, they discovered an issue that required like emergent surgery and so, He scheduled it for Monday, Tim, we get Tim's mom to watch.
The kids Bear has like this camp, he's been looking like really looking forward to this week, and so Tim's mom is like, happy to help. It's great. Come down on Monday, his dad's gonna have the surgery, and then hopefully we would be able to all leave together because my dad would be better. His dad, like he's his brother's down here and [00:09:00] his dad's wife is down here.
Like there would be, you know, some more like assistance for Tim's dad while he, but Tim's dad started. Moved, canceled. Like literally, he was like about to be willed. Like he had, he was like all like, Tim sent me a picture, like he's giving me a thumbs up. He's got his like surgical stuff on and they're like, sorry, we can't do it.
We're gonna have to move it to Thursday. And so that was like, that's today. There's day today. What's the hell Recording? Yes.
It's like I don't get how they can just, I mean, I know things happen, you know, that are unforeseeable, but like you're literally wheel him back to surgery. That's wild. That's absolutely wild. You can't do it. Yeah.
Laura: In it. Right now
Jess: we're in it. We're like really in it and it's kind of Feels intense. Yeah, really intense.
Yeah. So is Tim's dad surgery? Yeah. [00:10:00] Yeah. Uh, they keep saying, maybe my dad can come on Friday. And I like, I don't, I mean, it's just like they can't even really say that. Like, I dunno why they're saying that because it's like all these things have to happen. Mm-hmm. In order for my dad to. Be able to like leave.
And so there's just like no way of knowing. And then this weekend we were supposed to go to, I think I had mentioned on the last podcast, we were supposed to go to the river and be like, with my sisters and my mom and like camp and you know, do all that. And there's just like, I don't know to go cuz there's just no way of knowing.
So it's just a lot of moving parts that are outside of our control, which is like the hardest part I think. And we can't make any plans. Like I can't. I can't be like, okay, this is what we're gonna do to get dad home because like, there's just no knowing. And so somehow we have to take him from the hospital when he's real all the way up to Alice, essentially, you know, poster.[00:11:00]
And it's gonna probably be uncomfortable for him and it's gonna be, it's probably just gonna be a hard trip. And they were wanting him to come back down obviously for a follow up. But we figure out if he doesn't have to do that cause. It's a whole big long trip back down here for, to kind of check the incision and Jesus s and stuff.
So anyways, bringing me right back. I know, I imagine. I'm like, I, I, it's bananas that we both have been through. This like very similar situation, a short period of time.
Laura: Like, I wanna say tinfoil hat because you know, I've, I've heard of so many app appendectomies so many recently. Mm-hmm. And I'm like, what is in the freaking water?
Like, what is happening here? Yeah. It's so weird. But, and, and then also it makes me grateful. Cause I know your, your dad is older, and again, I don't wanna like share about your family, but like mm-hmm. It just makes you really grateful for Rusty's, like requisite health. What he went into this with. Yeah.
Cause I can't imagine like, you know, complications. Like I, I saw how [00:12:00] vulnerable my strong ass husband was mm-hmm. Post-surgery. It was so hard to watch. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. And so to come to go into that, not at like peak health, I just, it's terrifying to think about. Hello friends Laura here popping in real quick to rave about my current, favorite product from Paleo Valley.
Have you tried their whey protein yet? Not only are they absolutely delicious, And deeply nourishing, but bonus points because they also have colostrum, which heals repairs and gives our bodies the extra boost we need for motherhood work, working out all the things. I add it to my coffee every morning and it fuels my early morning work, my transition into motherhood whenever the kids wake up, and then my training Cannot recommend it enough.
Give it a try. Creamy, delicious. Flavor packed and none of the junk you'll find in typical protein powders. We also add it to pancakes and oatmeal, and I look forward to smoothies this summer. Don't wait. Go grab yours and save 15%. [00:13:00] That's paleo valley.com/modern Mamas enjoy. So how's he doing now? He's doing
Jess: okay.
He, so if you're, it's like this is the part I feel weird about talking about my dad cuz it's like, but it's like part of the process for everyone. It's literally like when you have a baby in the hospital, they want you to poop before you go home. Yeah. That's sure. The same make. Yeah. It's like they just have to make sure that like after they've essentially like taken your organs out and put 'em back in, that everything is functioning properly.
So we're like waiting on some on that to kind of come back online. My dad has some preexisting like conditions there that are probably affecting that. Mm-hmm. And so I think that's why it's taking a little bit longer. And then we're also just waiting for those white blood cells to like come back down.
But he's, for a while there he was on, like, he couldn't eat. He had like a tube down his nose and like some other stuff. And so it was really, like you said, like, I mean, he is my dad and he is older. He's like 65, but like he has a, a [00:14:00] very manual. Job. Like he works really hard every day and you know, he's pretty strong for like all things considered.
And just to see him like just helpless is like the weirdest feeling. And like we were talking about how this is such an interesting stage of life where a lot of us. Who are like my age are having, like, we're raising families, like we're caring for kids, but then we're also having to enter this phase where like, you know, our parents are aging and we're having to make decisions for with them, for them and take care of them.
So it's like a lot of caregiving and there's a name for it. I, Tim was telling me this like season of life and I can't remember it now because my brain is fried, but. It's just like a very unique situation and it's like, it's hard. It's really hard. Gosh. Yeah. You know, so yeah. So that's [00:15:00] like the latest. And so Tim and I are down here together.
Like we for a hot minute after his dad's surgery was canceled. He was gonna go back and then come back and that's just like a lot of driving and a lot of moving parts. And like my sister was gonna come down and relieve me and like all this stuff, 13 month old. And then she did come down for a day to see my dad and it was like, it was great.
But like Macie is like crawling and walking everywhere, all over the hospital floor and like touching like, you know, trash cans and like bedside toilets and like, We're just like, there's no way my sister could be down here by herself with an infant, like trying to care for my dad. Like it just does not make sense whatsoever.
So I just, you know, kind of made the game time decision, like I would just stay down here, less moving parts. Tim stayed down cuz his mom again, was just like, happy to like, handle our kiddos and, and so we have gotten to well, and each separately, With our parents during the day. We've gotten to [00:16:00] like come together at night and kind of spend some time together.
And it's been good cuz it's like, it's exhausting. Like I, you know, sitting at the hospital like all day and you know, I've, I've had some uninterrupted work work time, which is kind of a silver lining, but like at the same time, sometimes energetically I'm just like sitting there and staring into space because it's like I just wanna go home.
And I know my dad does too. And it's not like, again, I'm happy to be there, but like I miss my kids so much.
Laura: Like it's, when we were talking last night, I could hear it in your voice, like, just like the shakiness of just like that pure, like, I fucking miss my kids. Yeah. I can't imagine. That's so
Jess: hard. Yeah, and I don't think we've ever, I don't know if I've ever been away.
No, we, we went on our anniversary trip, but that's like completely different. I was like, Tim and I went on our anniversary trip and the kids were back home and it was like, you know, just a, a different scenario. And Bear had been at. The week [00:17:00] prior. So I had, and then as soon as I got home, like literally the next, or as soon as he got home, the next morning I left.
And so I just like miss him. Mm-hmm. And they're, they're great. Like, they're doing wonderful. Like they're, they haven't even, I mean, of course they're like, we miss you, but like, Not like we miss you. Come home. Like, you're fine. It's more like me who's like crying into my pillow.
Laura: Oh yeah. They don't feel abandoned.
They just miss, they miss their mom, but they're probably having fun, which is, you know, best case scenario, but still so hard. Totally. So Holyokes, well, I'm so sorry. I wish that I could, I wish I was closer so I could help. Oh, what I would do, but I wish I just,
Jess: no, I mean, it's been great. Like just the, the.
Like verbal, like notes of like, I'm thinking about you praying for you, sending healing vibes and all that, that we've been receiving, like, has been very, very, very helpful. So I'm just like grateful for that and for this community. Like even if people don't understand what's going on, like they are [00:18:00] like happy to like, just send me all the, the good vibes and that I, I mean, I.
Call it woo woo. But I feel like it, it does make a difference. So I'm just really grateful. Oh gosh. Yeah.
Laura: Well, thanks for sharing and I'm just, yeah. Yeah. Wild. Just what a season, you know? It's like life brings the craziest curve ball I know.
Jess: Expected. Totally. I keep telling Tim like, we're gonna look back on this.
It's gonna be like a very specific season. Of our life that we will not forget. Never. That's for sure. Absolutely not So, Any updates with you,
Laura: rusty takes the PAC test. It's like it's, I feel silly, like we're, I mean, in some ways it's kind of cool to talk about it cyclically because it wasn't that long ago.
Oh my gosh. We were in a similar boat as you, you know, and he was in the hospital and it was scary and we didn't really know what was going on. Yeah. You know, tomorrow he takes his wild wildland fire pack test. It's like a 50 pound, three mile trek, and so that feels, that feels [00:19:00] cool. You know that he's gonna be able to, to.
Do that test and we're like very confident, he'll pass. And if he doesn't, for whatever reason, you know, that's just a sign that his body is not prepared for the season ahead. So it's not like I will be mad or upset or it will just be like a. Like, I'm glad that the season starts with a physical test because we need to know it's a very dangerous job.
We need to know that his body is ready, so he takes that test tomorrow. We have, we had Evie's birthday party on Sunday, which was, I think I said here was just a bunch of mad shuffling because we originally had it set for June 24th. Her birthday's June 20th, and then we had to shift it because. You know, as long as he passes, which we're confident again, he will, he, he leaves on her birthday on the 20th for 10 days for Wildland Fire Academy in eastern Washington.
And so we just, you know, we, none of us wanted him to miss her birthday party, so we did a mad shuffle. So this past weekend was like, I had a sourdough workshop on Saturday and then Sunday it was like, you know, just getting, I had not baked so many [00:20:00] sourdough things in a weekend before, cuz it was like focaccia and multiple loaves for the workshop and then, and then it was sourdough chocolate cake and focaccia and bread for the party and the camp out.
And then, so we had a birthday party, it was. The most, more silver linings, like the most incredible weather, 70 degrees we had at a campsite, pinata, chocolate cake, walked, there's a trail that goes down to the beach. The kids splashed and played in the water for hours, came up, had a big bonfire, everyone left.
And we just got to camp as a family, just us, and it was incredible. And then we came home on a Monday and like right into the week, you know, and we, we have a new nanny. Cut came highly recommended from a dear, dear friend. She's like basically family to them and she's home for summer from college. And so she started, we had her come over Monday afternoon just to meet the girls with all of us there, and she started Tuesday and the girls love her and she's phenomenal and I feel like it's the greatest gift to know.
We get, we have her two days a week over the summer and it just, I can't even express how powerful that is to [00:21:00] just have it be so immediately comfortable. And then yesterday I had therapy and it was, I don't like to word use the word productive for therapy, but it was, it was like the most, like, it was just everything that I needed.
We talked through like my head space around. One thing I wanted to share is like have an almost six year old, and I know I'm not alone in the fact that imaginary play is really hard. It's hard. It's hard for me. It's hard for many friends I've talked to and, and I think for many of us, I don't wanna speak for you all, but I know for myself a lot of that comes from this idea of like, it doesn't feel quote unquote productive.
And so we talked through that in depth and all the ways that it actually is, again, like maybe that's not the right word, but for me, Imaginary play can be rest. It can be me, like sitting, laying on her bed and just being there listening to her, come up with these really elaborate, incredible stories and, and engaged.
But like, let it let those be the moments where I let my brain rest. And that rest, as we've talked about on the podcast, is productive in so many ways and so important and [00:22:00] so, Just coming out of that session among many other, I mean that was one component of it, but just came out the other side with like so many really incredible tools in such a better headspace.
And she started off the session with like if you were to describe, cuz she knows like I'm very in touch with like nature and whatnot. She's like, if you were to describe like a scene of nature right now that kind of. Reflects how you're feeling mentally and emotionally, what would that be? And the first thing that came to mind for me was like a big like sprawling field where I can see way far in the distance.
You can't see me right now, but I'm like splaying my arm out. And by the end of the session we brought it in to like, Like a beautiful like trail in the trees in the Olympic National Park where I'm like looking for mushrooms and ferns with Evie looking at the path like right in front of me. And it was just really, really cool.
And not just like, you know, it was like we, yes, we worked on mindfulness tools and whatnot, but we also just, I feel like I came outta that session, such a better head space around tackling, taking on. Welcoming in the months to come of being solo a ton, [00:23:00] and also hopefully getting a, like a permanent job offer from CrossFit the end of this month.
And there's just a lot of unknown, a lot of hope, a lot of manifesting. That's finally after like some weird curve balls and whatnot. Coming to a head. And so just like set, yes, look at the field and plan in advance, you know, but also like be on this path and like, look at the trail right here. And tr it's, we talked a lot about trust.
She's like, what is it that like makes you feel like you need to control and like, what is it that makes you feel like you have to see the whole field all the time? You know, and it's like, it's a control thing. So trusting that I, you know, it's like. In the midst of Rusty's appendectomy and the recovery and this, this fear there, like I said, aloud multiple times, I.
I can do this, like this has shown me that I can do hard things. Summer's gonna feel easy compared to this, but I've lost touch with that. So like coming back to that head space and like remembering, like trusting myself in my capacity and that if things get wonky and I don't have a nanny for a week, like I'll be okay.
[00:24:00] I like cared for my kids and visited my husband in the hospital and worked and still made time for movement and like I can do those things. It's not sustainable long term. But I don't, it doesn't have to be. I have a plan in place. So just, just leaning into trust and so that feels good. And yeah, we're heading into, you know, Evie's officially on summer break.
She officially now has a hard cast. I think, I don't know that I shared, but she broke her arm jumping, swinging out of a tree and landing wrong, and she was at a soft cast for a week and it just, it was not going well. Like it doesn't hurt her at all. And she kept using it and bumping it. And so we got her in a hard cast this week.
So that feels like a relief. But yeah, just like birthdays, transitions. Summer solstice is coming, you know, that I like lean heavily into like transition as a time for reflection. And so feeling very reflective and very grateful and just like relishing in the sun, the sunshine that we've had an incredible spring and I think that's been really powerful for my mental health too.
It's been like between 65 and 75 degrees and sunny most days and [00:25:00] that's just such a gift in and of itself. So, and then we gotta finally, Not most importantly, but also important. We, and I can't remember if I said this too, cause I know we just recorded, but we, we got a pizza oven. I think I did share that.
And it's been game changing because we're setting up this like little oasis in our backyard to just be home and be together. So this weekend, you know, we have, rusty has this packed test tomorrow, which is Friday, and then Saturday he has an all day first aid training and then Sunday's Father's day and he has that day off and he has Monday off.
So Sunday we're gonna, I got some. Wow. Pastures ribeyes, that's his favorite. So we're gonna do ribeyes on the uni pizza oven. You can do those as well, like an early dinner. And then I'm gonna ferment some pizza dough and we're gonna do dessert pizzas. So dessert sourdough pizzas with like, you know, what's that cheese?
That's like in a cannoli? That's like a sweeter marscapone. Yeah, like marscapone and coconut sugar. Maple sugar and cinnamon. And yeah, some, maybe some. And like thin sliced fruit. Just do some yummy dessert pizza. So stay tuned for that. We're also gonna try sourdough old fashioned donuts in the [00:26:00] morning.
For, for his, for Father's Day Vie. So we, we were out and about yesterday running some errands and she, we had to pick up some things and dropped off my starter bundles and book at this little shop in town. And she's like looking for a gift for daddy and she picks one and she's like, what are you gonna give him?
And I'm like, A really fun day and some delicious food, you know, and she can't quite dress that concept yet. Just trying to help her understand like, Some people like to receive things, other people like to receive experiences. I like to give food a fun conversation around love languages. But yeah, and then we, we made time with the, cuz the nanny started this week, you know, and he's not working yet.
And so yesterday we, we took that time and, and I like, Stopped work and we had brunch at our favorite little spot. Just took time together. So just trying to work that stuff in time together. And then I really told them like I wanna, and I told the therapist I wanna set an attention to like when Rusty's.
Home and not working fires. His weekend's gonna be Wednesday, Thursday, so he'll, it'll be like nine to five at the station. And then when they're obviously [00:27:00] called to fires, he'll be gone for up to three weeks at a time. But you know when he is home and he has those days off, I wanna make sure that one of his weekend days I take time away from work and I don't just utilize him for childcare so that I can work like we have to make sure we still prioritize family time.
So just a lot of clarity there and I will be sharing my journey openly here. I also talked to the therapist about like, Just not being on social media as much and not sharing the intimacies and like intricacies of our life there at all really. Every once in a while I'll do it in like a life update feed post, but.
You know, it's just not, it's not the place and it's not where I need to be spending my time and my energy. And so you're listening to this podcast, which means you're gonna be hearing the intimacies and the hard stuff and the processing and the good stuff and the joy. So thanks for being here, friends, six years later, and we're navigating, you know, sharing, and this feels like the space where I still wanna be showing up and I still wanna be sharing.
The good, the bad, the hard, the in between when it does, you know, and that's been a consistent, like, that's been a constant. Even when it doesn't feel good to share other places, it, it's always feels good here. So thank you all for that [00:28:00] and thank you Jess, for holding that space. And you know, you're at a hospital dealing with so much right now and you're still here and that just means so much.
So that's that. Have you heard of foia? It's a company that is loved far and wide by folks who've had their sex. Slides transformed by these holistic, powerful products, and now I see y they've been especially wonderful through this postpartum period for me, when a little extra lubrication is key. Rusty and I have used the intimacy sex oil with C B D, and it's the perfect lube to provide all natural moisture with 400 milligrams of broad spiral.
Spectrum C b, D to enhance arousal, soothe, and excite. We also love the awakened arousal oil, and of course, all four. Your products are free of added chemicals and only made from two organically grown
Jess: ingredients. And you know what's sexy? Discomfort? Free, top notch, pleasurable, and intimacy. I wanna be totally honest.
Being married 10 years plus two kids later, sex and intimacy has definitely seen its ups and downs for us. But there's no shame in exploring different ways and products that enhance our sexual experiences. [00:29:00] Which is why we're so excited to announce we're partnering with ria, a company using all natural and plant-based ingredients to intensify sexual pleasure and relieve discomfort.
We are all about the awaken arousal oil with C B D, which is a topical oil to enhance pleasure, ease, discomfort, and help increase sensitivity for people with bolds. That's me. You can use it solo or with a partner, and it is next level. Sexy time has definitely leveled up over here. Plus C B D used topically helps increase blood flow, relax muscles, and ease tension, and manage discomfort gently and naturally.
All around wins.
Laura: So awesome friends, I can't recommend Foria enough. I think it's time to treat yourself to deeper, fuller pleasure and connection both on your own and with your partner. And these products are your ticket to all of that. Foria is offering a special deal for our listeners. Get 20% off your first order by visiting foria wellness.com/modern Mamas, or use code Modern mamas at checkout.
[00:30:00] That's F O R I a wellness.com. Forward slash Modern Mamas for 20% off your first order. Enjoy.
Jess: It's a special space. It's like, yeah, we talked about it before hopping on, and sorry if the, the audio quality is a little spotty bear with us. It's just the season. Excuse me. Yeah, it's just the season, but hopefully it's not too distracting.
But that's just, it's like this, the, when I, I mean, I've had. A lot of distance from social media in the year or so, but it's like I al even like I've shared minimally, like what's happening on social like Instagram, but like, I don't know, when I hopped on the podcast today, I told myself, okay, I'm not gonna overshare, and it just like blah, you know, like just spilling out, like every single detail.
I can't help it. I know it's just like such a safe place. And I know the people that are like tuning in here weekly are just our people. Like, I don't mm-hmm. It's not like [00:31:00] random trolls are gonna find our podcast. It's been an hour listening to us, and then come on and like, criticize us. You know? So it should full place.
So we're just, we're really grateful. Six years, I can't believe it. And as Tim was walking out the door this morning, he was asking like, you know, what are y'all talking about? You know? Because he was like, why did you make time for this? You know? Because you know there's a lot going on. And I was like, I have, I really, really have to, but I want to because it's our six year anniversary.
And he was like, six years. And I'm like, yeah, six years. And he was like, that's half of our marriage. And I'm like, yeah, I know. It's kind of bananas. Oh
Laura: my gosh. Yeah. Half of marriage. Yeah, it's over half of ours. Like Rusty and I, it'll be, we're celebrating 10 years in September of marriage, so that, it's just, when you put it that way, it's like holy shit.
Jess: Mm-hmm. It's a very long and important relationship in our lives. Yeah.
Laura: And there's no one else I'd wanna spend that time with.
Jess: So thank you. Thank you. I know. So special. Well, do you wanna like [00:32:00] transition out of the catch up? Yeah.
Laura: I mean, I know we, we don't have much time, but I feel like we could just kind of reflect briefly on like, you know, in the past year, Off the cuff.
Really, you and I didn't, obviously life has been a while. We didn't take a ton of time to like sit into this or sit and like reflect back, but off the cuff, like just a favorite. I think you go or I go. You go. We go. And then we would love to hear from you all in the comments of this. Podcasts, you know, or in, in a review or on Instagram, like what has been maybe like a favorite guest episode and a favorite catch up or topical that really like stands out to you.
That would be awesome. And then just to, to put this in the two, if you, you're listening to this, we currently have a giveaway going on over on Instagram where you can win some really sweet swag. That's just a simple like, like comment, share. You don't have to go sign up for anything or do anything extra.
So go there. Come your favorites. Enter that giveaway. Thank you for being here. From the bottom of our hearts. [00:33:00] I can't tell you how much it means. I really can't, I can't put it into words, but six years, man. Whether you've been here since the beginning. Mm-hmm. Or you're just finding us now. Thank you. Okay. I will go.
One of the, one of the, okay. Yes. That is most recently on my mind that really was powerful for me was actually Kiana Reeves, uh, foia. And if you haven't listened to that one because maybe you felt uncomfortable or whatever about the topic, cuz we talk about sex and not just like sex, like pee the V with a partner or whatever.
Like also just like. Sexuality and the importance of like climaxing and TA tapping into our own unique sexuality and whatever that means for us as individuals. And we're all on a different journey. But we talked a lot about like the, the impact of touching into that on not just like, For joy and pleasure, whatever.
But also like on our mental health, on our physical, overall physical wellbeing. It was such a good episode. Like I had goosebumps the whole [00:34:00] time and I was worried like, are people gonna listen to this? Because it's, it is. It was such a good episode and I think that it's something that we could all stand to listen to and lean into that discomfort a little bit.
So that's my favorite most recent guest episode from the past year. And then as far as. You know, I, I'm looking back and I think one of the ones that I really loved was back at kind of the start of the year when we talked a lot about, I. The power of pause and it's just been this like consistent thing.
So this is episode two, so the one with Kiana was 2 95. And then in February we also talked about the power of pause, and we talked about like major life updates, big decisions ahead, leaning into the discomfort of waiting. I dunno if you remember that one, but it was really powerful I think, for both of us.
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Um, and we were like in it and like leaning into those lessons and for me, I had just set this intention like a month or two prior of pause and it's fun to look back to February when I was a couple months into that intention and now being six months into it and how much it's carried me [00:35:00] through some hard shit though.
I just, I really, I liked that one and just kind of that recurring theme throughout this year of like leaning into pause. Reminding myself, and again, the podcast has been such a powerful place to remember that and recall that and, and share that processing. Yes, I have therapy, you know, once a month, but then this is a place where I can really come and, and just remind myself, talk through things and it's, the podcast is truly a place for pause and that has been really cool.
So those are my thoughts on the, on the year. How about you?
Jess: Yeah, I was actually looking back because honestly this year has been such a blur to me and I feel like, oh my God, we're like already halfway through it essentially, and like, where did the time go? But I was looking back and it's so hard to pick a favorite guest episode because, you know, we have over the years gotten, I don't wanna say picky, but like very intentional.
About who? Well guess [00:36:00] guests we bring on to like chat with us because you know, we have done less and less guest episodes over time and. So like every single guest that I've recorded with, I'm like, oh, I really loved that episode. Like that was such a good episode. So I wanna preface this with, I have really enjoyed all of our, my, my guest recordings this year.
But the one that's been most personally impactful for us, I think was the one with Mary Flo Ridley, where we talked about how to talk to your kids about, Sex and intimacy and like all of
Laura: that. How, how fitting is that? That like mine is grownups talking about sex and yours is talk and talking to kids about sex.
And I have to just, sorry to cut you off, but I've, I've gotten so many messages from like really close friends that I chat with on Voxer regularly who. Spoke so highly, and I loved it too, of that episode that your, your favorite and like how eye-opening it was for them. So just wanna throw that in there.
Well
Jess: that's amazing. And uh, same, same. And actually on both episodes too, because sometimes I don't always go back and [00:37:00] listen. Like I really want to go back and listen to our episodes. The ones especially that we don't like record, like I wanna listen to the ones that you've recorded and you know, all of that.
Because I feel like I'm missing out on some of that information. But like, these two were ones that like, I just, I re-listened to the episode that I recorded with Mary Flo and then I listened to recorded with Kiana and it's, it's interesting, it an interesting observation I think, because partially it feels like sex and intimacy is like such a taboo topic.
There feels like there's a lot of gatekeeping. It feels like there's a lot of opinions and it feels like, you know, I don't know, especially as a parent going into this. Phase of life where there's a lot more questions. I felt very ill-equipped because, you know, most of my parenting journey has been like, you know, really focused on like, aware parenting and, and like the basics and the fundamentals of like that approach.
And it's been amazing. And then when it came to this particular topic, I was like, like I couldn't, I [00:38:00] couldn't find the way to like transfer what I've learned in terms of like just my parenting journey in general to. And so Mary Flo, not only was she just like adorable, her name is Mary Flo. I mean, come on.
I'm immediately picturing like Flo from Progressive, like the progressive commercials. Picture her and they're, they do kind of actually look similar, but so she was just like delightful and really insightful. And I ended up taking her course either right before or right after, and Tim and I did it together and it was like, it really informed how we responded to Bear's questions.
And since then I feel, I feel really just empowered. Not only did we handle it, I think in alignment with our values and our, like our personal perspective about sex and intimacy, but. We answered questions and satisfied curiosity and it's just, it's been, it's been great. I've been sharing it with everybody that I know.
I was talking with my sister about it just when she was down here, cuz I was asking her be taking the course [00:39:00] cuz she, my niece is a little bit older actually. And of course they're getting questions and you know, all Anyways, I loved that guest episode. It was so great. And then the personal one actually.
The one we just recorded. I know that's kind of sounds like a cop out because it was like just last week, but, and it's fresh on my mind, but I've already gotten messages and feedback because I heard pretty much the whole second half of that episode was me kind of just sharing like the space that I've been in that's been really like a challenging season and it was, I think really important for me to process through that and lucky for y'all listening, I processed it through it on the, the podcast, like really in real time and honestly, while things are really hard right now in other ways with some of that feeling, feeling, I don't know, it's just I'm feeling that lifting.
I'm feeling like alive and I know, I don't know if this makes sense because in that podcast I was [00:40:00] kind of saying like, I just feel kind of like here. Like I'm existing. Like I'm just like I,
Laura: because you paused. I just wanna say like how much of a relief that is. I was, I was worried, you know, I adore you and I love you and I just to hear, I have like head toe chills.
I'm actually young. This feels really, it's, it's really cool to hear that because I was, I was a li like, scared's not the right word, but just like didn't know how to help. And so just to hear you say like, you feel alive at moving through and away from like the apathy, you know that mm-hmm. And like you like said hopelessness and.
You know, it's just, it's, that's that transition and, and the fact that you can, you were able to come here and share and that in some way, like the podcast has helped you move through that. Mm-hmm. I don't, I don't know. That's huge. So.
Jess: Yeah, I mean, thank, thank you friend. I, I love you and I adore you, and just thank you for being a safe space where I can actually share that.
And like, I mean, I know you're, [00:41:00] you're concerned and because you love me and you want me to be thriving and happy and, and, and many people in my life have kind of expressed that, but like, it also is just a testament to like our friendship and some of the friendships that I've built where I can just honestly say like, I'm not okay right now.
Like, I don't know what that means, but like, I don't feel good. And just holding that space I think has, like, for me, like you have and, and so many others have, has just been so powerful. Like, it's not like you ever tried to fix me. And I know if I would've been like, Hey Laura, I want you to help me. Like what do I do?
You would've tried your best probably, but like, I didn't ask that. And so just holding space for, for me to kind of. Work through that on my own has been so powerful. So I'm just so grateful for you, friend. I really, really love you. I love you too. I'm too get, I'm gonna get teary.
Laura: Well, it's like, it was leading into pause, you know, like, let's pause and kind of see it's, it's a week like, and I, and knowing too that we get to check in every week no [00:42:00] matter what happens in the in between.
Like that's power. That's such a gift
Jess: too, you know? Yeah. Yeah. And I think that's, you know, in reflection and kind of to wrap it up a little bit, like. When I say like, I feel alive, it's like almost like this hard thing kind of like kicked my butt into gear. It's like, okay, like I can do this. Like I can rise to the occasion.
Like I can, you know, just kind of like, I don't know, like be here and be present and like be in this hard thing. And it's almost like it kind of, it just turned something back on in me that I think was like, turned off for a while. So like, just, I'm seeing that. Into like just some renewed energy work and like even it's just crazy cuz I like things are happening.
Cuz I think I'd shared on here like, I dunno what I'm gonna be doing. Like I don't have clarity on work, but like things have popped into my schedule and like into my orbit where I do have some like consistent work [00:43:00] opportunity. Throughout like the fall and you know, getting just reignited by even like Beauty Counter, which has felt really hard.
I mean it still is always kind of like ups and down. Like getting reconnected with that has been like even over the last couple days has been like really helpful. And also I was having this conversation with Tim, almost like what you were saying with the field and the path in front of you. We were actually talking about his dad.
Cuz there's some decisions that have to be made and like things was. Like, don't think of step 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, cuz there's gonna be lots ahead. But like all you really have to do in this moment, decide on decision number one. Like, you know, what's the next decision that you need to make? Focus on that and make that decision then is anyone else singing
Laura: frozen?
Just do the next right thing,
Jess: the next right thing. I feel like that's a recurring,
Laura: but yeah,
Jess: [00:44:00] I mean it's just, it's, I mean, it is powerful. That's like a universal thing, right? I think that's a universal advice. We can all. Take and integrate. And it's like, of course we wanna dream and plan for the future, but at the same time, sometimes that can just get so overwhelming for me, at least personally, where I just shut down, where I'm like, I don't know.
I don't know about the future. So anyways, to wrap it up, things are hard, but things are good, which is also a recurring theme of the podcast,
Laura: coexisting emotions. Imagine that.
Jess: Oh man. I
Laura: love it. So you did? Yeah. So you, you did guests. You did, yeah. And now we just wanna hear from you all. Mm-hmm. And you know, one thing that keeps us going, this is, I feel like it's not even a shameless plug, it's just an ask, A genuine ask is if you could just go to wherever, whatever platform you listen to, and write us a review if you like what you hear.
It helps. It really does. We're, I think we already said this [00:45:00] on the last episode, we're nearing a million downloads, reviews help. Just sharing this. Mm-hmm. If you're talking to a friend, be like, Hey, I'm listening to this podcast. I enjoy it. Like those little tiny things. They don't cost money. They don't take much time or energy, but they do help.
And right on cue, everyone's waking up. Perfect
Jess: timing. Perfect timing.
Laura: Oh. But yeah, we love you guys. Whether you've been here since day one or just found us, or wherever in between. Thanks for bearing with us. Through all of it. I mean, wild, how much has happened in the past six years. So yeah, just thank you and thank you.
Jess: Thanks. Thanks all around. Thanks. Totally. So many. Thank so many thank yous. Yeah. All right. All right, well we'll see all next week.
Laura: Yeah. Looking forward to it. Cheers. Bye bye. I dunno. Thanks for listening
Jess: to our podcast. See you next
Laura: time. Thanks for listening to our podcast. See you next time. Bye.[00:46:00]