As I started my podcast, I became a consumer of the many podcasts out there, trying to see what inspired me and what I thought could help me and other moms through the daily problems we are constantly trying to tackle. From packing the right gear to keeping organized to even taking care of ourselves daily, I found many inspiring shows and interviews to listen to. I gravitated to categories around health, sports, relationships, work, and even some comedy. I even created my first Podroll on Buzzsprout, highlighting my favorites that inspired me to go on and make the show MomShine. Below, I mention each of those shows and a particular episode from each that has stuck with me.
The Best Health, Fitness & Sports Podcasts for Parents:
- Move with Heart: Melissa Wood-Tepperberg is lovely to listen to. As a meditation teacher, certified yoga and pilates instructor, health coach, and beloved by the diverse community she’s cultivated over the years through her approach to mindfulness and fitness, I loved listening to her show as I was thinking about my own. One that stands out is S3 E50 on Unlocking Your Authentic Self Through Human Design with Jenna Zoe. The two together have great chemistry, and thinking about the energy we bring daily made me feel my energy, think about my partners, and better understand how I’m wired.
- Way of Champions: John O’Sullivan appeared in episode 103 on MomShine on Finding the Right Sports for Kids. John is a leading youth coach and international best-selling author of “Changing the Game: The Parents Guide to Raising Happy, High-Performing Athletes, and Giving Youth Sports Back to Our Kids.” John told us how to pick the right mix of activities for our kids, bring back the “fun” in sports, and prevent them (and us) from burnout. An episode I love on his show to check out is #327, The Winning Ways of Women Coaches, with Cecile Renaud and Vanessa Fuchs. I gleaned so much about the latest trends from that episode, and it made me think about what I could do to get more involved with my kids’ sports and coaching. It was fascinating to learn how those stats and trends have changed since the 70’s.
- Hello Menopause: I came across this show while researching episode 104, which is all about perimenopause and menopause-related symptoms, which will drop soon. Donna Klassen, co-founder of Let’s Talk Menopause, is featured on that show and taught me so much. I learned that so many things impact our symptoms around menopause and practitioners’ abilities to help us through that process. One of which I enjoyed learning about was the episode S1 E12 on “BRCA1 Positive” with Monica Molenaar. This guest co-founded Alloy, another great telehealth platform seeking to help treat menopause that is worth checking out if you are on a journey to understanding your hormone levels and options.
The Best Comedy Podcast for Parents:
- Family Trips: Are you gearing up for long holiday road trips this year? The Meyers Brothers do not disappoint with this new podcast all about celebrity family trips. I loved the episode with Nia Vardalos, the star of ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding.’ I giggled through her childhood memories and learned more about Greek family dynamics. Thank you to the show Sibling Revelry by Kate and Oliver Hudson for pointing out this great show to me. I also love their show and have listened to every single episode.
The Best Relationship Podcast for Parents:
- We Can Do Hard Things: There are too many great shows I’ve listened to here, and Glennon Doyle, her sister Amanda, and Abby Wambach have an incredibly dynamic and inspiring show. I loved episode 226 on Enneagrams: Why You Are the Way You Are with Suzanne Stabile. Are you noticing a trend here? I love things with energy and light, so I plan to bring some of that to the MomShine pod.
The Best Career Podcasts for Moms:
- Rising Tide: I got put in touch with Margaret Weniger through a mutual friend and colleague, and she’s been an inspiration in leading SDR teams for many startups. She started the podcast to help other women in the career world. This episode with Frawn Morgan inspired me to learn about the latest trends in women’s health and how that can have an impact on your kids. Be sure to stay on until the end to hear her latest research, which is incredible. Can women have it all? Or do we need to re-prioritize to having the right pieces in place to fulfill us — which in turn lifts our whole family?
- 9-5-ish: This was my go-to listen for years to and from work. I loved the advice from co-founders, CEOs, and other female leaders — with hosts Carly Zakin and Danielle Weisberg to help me think about my career with the most intelligent women. And shows consistently drop on Wednesdays! I loved this episode with the Foster sisters; it’s a great episode to help you start and think about how to take career risks.
Link to my PodRoll again with all my favorite suggestions and a few others, like The goop Podcast and The Skinny Confidential, which are absolute musts in your feed. Check out our latest drop just in time for the holidays (SP106 Kids’ Favorite Holiday Traditions – Remastering Family Habits for the New Year). Happy listening!