Mama Says Namaste Podcast

Oh yes, we're going there. Have you had "The Talk" with your kids...or are you dreading the inevitable? This is the series for you. We're introducing a 3-part series on the birds and the bees over the next 3 weeks. This week, Nathan and I share our perspective as well as the resources and insights that may help you navigate these conversations (mind you, that's plural) that you'll have with your own children. Be sure to check out the corresponding blog for all the books we talk about, plus...

This week's episode is a special guest interview with author and speaker Michael Arterberry. Not only is it in podcast form, but the video interview has also been compiled into a full blog post. So video, audio and written text are covered! Hear his story of overcoming, as well as how he instills a growth mindset and empowers people across the country to "shake off the dirt" and be encouraged about the future. Get all the info at www.MamaSaysNamaste.com/podcast-michael-arterberry

Do you do a word of the year? Maybe it's a phrase or mantra. Or maybe, you're feeling all the pressure to have that perfect word of the year and you have no clue! Is it even important to have? I"ll say this - your mantra, phrase or word of the year is not the dealbreaker for success in life. Yet having a clear intention for what you want to focus on can be a powerful game-changer for your life. Hear why we DO believe in choosing a word or theme for the year, and plenty of examples from...

Feeling in a bit of a funk lately? Are you questioning if there is any end in sight? Well there are life seasons just as much as there are seasons in nature. Way back on episode we discussed this topic, and we addressed how we can have seasons even within a single day! We break down how relevant seasons are to daily recovery, in your life, and even in your relationships. What season are you in? Dig deeper and take the challenge this week. www.MamaSaysNamaste.com/podcast-life-season

Have you had the discussion with your children yet? Do they know the wonderful truth about Santa? This week we tackle this question, and share about a sweet little book we used to discuss this with our girls. And the biggie? It's not just a one and done conversation. None of these elements of growing up are. So we keep the door open, and it's beautiful what all can happen. Listen to the podcast, and be sure to hop over to the blog post to see all kinds of interesting history, folklore and...

On the podcast this week, and even more in-depth in the corresponding blog post, we lay out 14 creative celebration ideas to honor the loved ones in your life. Complete with links and insights beyond the traditional gift, check out some out-of-the-box ideas to take gift-giving a whole new route...and get inspired about creating a spirit of giving...beyond under the Christmas tree. You definitely want the show notes for links on this one: www.MamaSaysNamaste.com/podcast-minimalist-gifts

You know those people, and I swear they come out in droves during the holidays! It's the ones you try to avoid, the people you can discuss certain things with, and the time when the holidays rear every obligatory head. With this already being the year of complete upheaval, why not approach it a bit differently? Dig into our four steps to navigate around toxic behavior and take control of YOUR outcome. Get the full blog post that goes along with this at...

Author Gemma Hartley caused quite a stir with a Vanity Fair article about the "emotional labor" a woman goes through in running a household that goes way beyond the errands list. This week, Nathan and Ashley dig into the four critical components to carrying the emotional labor load together for the family, and working together toward a common goal. From their perspectives of having experienced both sides of the fence, gender roles may be fuzzy, but strength roles for each individual reigns...

This week I have a special guest interview (both video and on the podcast) with Jodi Chaffee, host of the Family Culture Movement podcast. This interview is jam-packed with awesome insights into things like false boundaries (vs. true ones) and finite vs infinite players in life...as well as how to navigate the holidays when you've created a culture in your home that may differ from who you're spending the holidays with. Check it out and see the full video at...

I invite you to enjoy a little behind the scenes of a week of mishaps, bad weather and even worse internet, and shocking changes and big events. And, along the way, a few ways our "confirmation bias" has helped us out. You can even check out our video and a sneak peek of the biggies we talk about on the podcast here: www.MamaSaysNamaste.com/podcast-hurricane

What is the distinction between feeling good and feeling fulfilled? Oftentimes our pursuit of feeling good can miss that very big element of fulfillment that we're all ultimately seeking in life. True fulfillment isn't external - it's an inward-looking process. We share four anchors for finding fulfillment, as well as a perfect kid analogy for mindset and expectations. Get the full show notes and bonus links at www.MamaSaysNamaste.com/podcast-fullfilment

If election week doesn't make you anxious enough, we could just pile on COVID, politics in general, protests, or all of 2020 to throw us for a loop. Or, remember back in 2019 or 2000 when we had anxiety and we didn't even have a concept of the craziness this year would bring! This week we tackle those anxious feelings and how to get a handle on them with 4 strategies to combat anxiety, as well as how to reset the mental roadblocks that hold us back and focus, instead, on what we can...

Last week we dug into the food battles that can go on at home, from picky eaters to being maxed out and running out of time and food ideas. This week we expanded a bit more to address the sugar overload we know many of you will be getting this week with Halloween, as well as how to navigate eating out with kids in a way that doesn't make you lose your mind or throw money down the drain. Learn 2 hacks for Halloween as well as 7 tips to make sugar and eating out a wee less stressful. Check...

When you think of food and your family, does it stress you out? Maybe it's the food battles with the kids, the lack of planning, or just being lost on what to do? This is the episode for you. We share some tips and tricks, and why hunger and grace is a-okay. Get the corresponding blog post at www.MamaSaysNamaste.com/podcast-food-for-the-family

Are you trying to keep afloat in a child-centered home? When you think of your family, do you consider them a team, all working together, or everyone beating to the rhythm of their own drum? Can you actually support individualism while establishing yourself as a family team? We address 3 steps to creating a family team on this episode, and break down expectations to those you can clearly communicate and work together on. Check out the full blog post that goes along with it at...

How do I bond with my child? This is the first in our new monthly 'Ask Us Anything' Episode where we dig into a listener question. Remember that any question we address on the air is eligible to win a family pack of Namaste Personality Snapshots! This week we address the question of bonding with your children, and dig into how you can connect, the importance of non-verbal cues, and our experience with screentime in our home. Reach out with your burning parenting/family questions for us...

Why did we do a family road trip...and how has it lasted almost four years already?! As we lay out our new "Ask Us Anything" series, we answer some of the common questions we get about traveling together full time in an RV like we do. Check out the full podcast episode wherever you listen to podcasts, subscribe, and be sure to share! (and props to our 10-year-old videographer today for our bonus video in the show notes today)...

Jules may be young, but there is a lot of wisdom packed into her! Juliet turns 8 this week, and she has some insights to share. On the Mama Says Namaste podcast this week, we bring our daughter Juliet on as a special guest to talk about what she does when she's mad, sad, or scared, and how she works through it. Here, she shares some of what we talk about. Head over to www.MamaSaysNamaste.com/podcast-juliet-talks-feelings for the full episode and a video of Juliet!

Have you bought into the myth that you need life balance, and yet you are feeling a bit more like you're always underwater? Have you really looked at how you are recharging on a weekly and even daily basis, or do you just wait for that vacation? Author Seth Godin says, “Instead of wondering when your next vacation will be, why not create a life you don’t want to escape from?” Check out our tips to recharge...and why we see life more like a song than a see-saw. Get the full show notes and...

Are you truly listening to others around you, or are you simply hearing sound? There is a difference, and the art of active listening is oftentimes something you have to develop and implement as new habits in order to really become an effective listener. In this episode, we share 6 critical questions to ask, as well as the ultimate secret to really, truly listening well. Get the accompanying blog post and show notes at www.MamaSaysNamaste.com/podcast-active-listening