Motherhood in Hollywood

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The Spohrs Help Us Tame Toddler Tantrums With Humor Jan 02, 2018

Show notes

Mike and Heather Spohr are like the dream team of funny parents. Mike is a Parenting Editor at Buzzfeed and Heather runs the wildly popular website The Spohrs Are Multiplying. Together they have combined their talent for humorous, relatable writing and turned it into a new book, The Toddler Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Whiny Unfed. Our chat took place during some crazy wildfires happening in Southern California. Luckily they were not in harm's way because we had a lot to talk about. As a fellow funny parent (yes, I do say so myself) I couldn't wait to talk to them about how they started their blog and grew it to over 65 million visitors. That's a massive accomplishment! They tell me it comes from a committment to write every day and sharing real stories from their lives. In fact, they have shared a lot of heartbreak, and miracle moments on their website. And in an age where authenticity online is rare, it's refreshing to meet people who are so open about their lives, the good and the bad. It's inspiring that they took their experiences as parents and co-wrote their book. I don't think I've written anything with Chris. I actually get annoyed when I'm writing something and he chimes in. After all, I'm the Emmy winner! I digress.... Both Mike and Heather say they took a different approach to the writing process. He set a goal to write a certain amount each day, and she would cram it all in one sitting. It's adorable to hear them banter together and talk about their inspiration for this book and the process of going through something like this as a couple. They also have some great insights on staying relevent on social media, the changing landscape of digital media and building a brand while being a stay at home parent. We definitely laughed a lot during this interview and I have no doubt you will enjoy it too. And all my parents with a good sense of humor will love their book, The Toddler Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Whiny Unfed, available now online and in stores. And check out their blog at thespohrsaremultiplying.com You can listen to my interview with the Spohr's on iTunes or your wherever you get your podcasts. Don't forget to download and subscribe to my show!

Moms in Film Paving The Way For Industry Parents Dec 05, 2017

Show notes

One of the things I love about my podcast is that I get the opportunity to connect with people who are doing amazing things in our industry. Moms in Film is a great example of women who are taking control of their career and family to start conversations and make the entertainment business a better place to work. Christy Lamb and Mathilde Dratwa started Moms in Film a few years ago and it has grown to a bi-coastal organization with monthly meet-ups and events. Both filmmakers juggle their careers and family while also advocating for gender equality in film and television. I felt so inspired after my conversation with Christy and Mathilde and I know you will too! Make sure you listen to this episode to hear what they're actively working towards and how you can get involved. Then make sure you check out their website, momsinfilm.org and follow them on social media so you can be a part of their movement. We need more parents in this industry to stick together and support each other so we can continue to balance family life with our career goals.

Jordana Brewster’s Holiday Glam Looks and Her Fast & Furious Mom Life Nov 06, 2017

Show notes

I sat down with Jordana Brewster at a recent holiday beauty bar hosted by Pond's and was immediately struck by how much she glows. The mom of 2 clearly has her beauty routine on point so I couldn't wait to ask her what she's doing, and how she's doing it and she was more than willing to dish on her faves. Heather Brooker and Jordana Brewster at the Pond's Beauty Bar event. But first, we chatted about Halloween with her kids Rowan and Julian. I've always wondered if celebrities do Halloween just like us regular folks and it turns out, they do, just in nicer neighborhoods. She said her family life is what keeps her grounded in the crazy world of Hollywood. She credits her role as Mia Toretto in the Fast and Furious franchise for re-invigorating her career. The box office numbers brought in from those films helped her to be able to be more choosy when picking other roles and she says it gave her the confidence to be able to start a family. There's always an underlying fear in Hollywood that if you want to have kids, you have to put your career on hold or end it all together. Many of the women I've interviewed have said that hasn't been their experience, but that doesn't it mean it doesn't happen on some level. Perhaps my favorite nugget of info from our conversation came from her revealing her sense of humor. She says she has a dirty, dark and dry sense of humor which I could immediately relate too. We also bonded over our love of the Pamela Adlon show Better Things, which is an honest portrayal of what being a mom is like in the entertainment business. I asked her if she would ever want to do comedy and she says she's not sure a broad comedy is in her wheelhouse, but she would definitely be down for something darker. When asked about the recent outpouring of solidarity from women in Hollywood who've been affected by the #MeToo sexual harassment allegations she says she can sense a shift in the types of roles women are playing, and the types of roles women want to see on film and television. "Women want to see themselves on screen, whether it’s television or movies. and I think that’s why the material has grown so much richer. There’s now a shift, Pamela Adlon’s show is a great reflection of that, or Lena Dunham’s show Girls.” Brewster says she also felt shift in her own life when she became a mom. “I feel things so much more deeply and the stakes are raised. You have such a deeper sense of purpose when you have kids." Getting back to that glow, I had to ask her what her favorite holiday beauty products are. She had a few of them to show me and we bonded over our nostalgia for Pond's, a company she's also an ambassador for. She has memories of her mother using Pond's and I have memories of my great-grandmother using it. Pond's has been around for more than a hundred years and they're obviously doing something right to keep women coming back for more. Now they're releasing new products to help busy women on the go, like the Pond's MoistureClean Towlettes that help you remove makeup easily. Jordana's Beauty Faves Include: Josie Maran Argan Color Stick Hourglass Mascara & Highlighter Charlotte Tilbury Eyebrow Gel Hearing the news that Jordana will be back on the Fast & Furious sets for the next 2 movies made me happy and suddenly I felt more excited to see these movies than I ever have before. Motherhood and swapping beauty secrets has a way of bonding women together. And although I may still be envious of her glow, I am thrilled to have some insights into how she glows from the inside out. You can hear the rest of my interview with Jordana Brewster on iTunes, or Stitcher. Make sure you subscribe to my show and leave a review. It means so much to me to hear from you!

Child Sleep Expert Jenni June Answers Your Sleep Questions! Sep 04, 2017

Show notes

Sleep is so precious. It's a beautiful thing really. And before you have kids people tell you things like, "sleep when the baby sleeps". Or, "get lots of rest now because you'll never sleep again." Now I can look back and say, I wish I had listened to those wise souls. I haven't had a good nights sleep in over 4 years. I decided to invite child sleep expert Jenni June to chat with me about child sleep issues in our house and answer listener questions. See? I'm always thinking about you guys! We chat about everything from newborn sleep and the 4-month regression to dropping the nap and co-sleeping with 6-year-olds. It's a lot to cover in 45 minutes but Jenni is a pro and I knew she'd have the answers. She has studied the science and psychology behind child sleep. She's worked with thousands of families struggling with sleep issues and has hands on experience working with kids. I interviewed her for my website last fall when we were struggling with dropping the nap and her advice was a game changer. We dropped the nap, moved bedtime up to 6:30pm and never looked back. It was the best thing we could do for our family and Jenni was spot on in her assessment. She has created her trademarked 4 Pillars of Sleep Hygiene and I highly encourage parents to take a look at her website and reach out for her free consultation. You may be wary at first if the advice doesn't jive with what you've read on the internet or with Dr. Google says. But what you will jive with is how much more productive your sleep and your child's sleep will be once you give it a try. You can listen to my interview with Jenni to find out more about her advice on everything from white noise to how nighttime feedings impact child sleep. The make sure you visit her website jennijune.com to talk with her about your specific sleep questions. After all, you deserve a good night's rest too so take all the help you can! Don't forget to subscribe to Motherhood in Hollywood on iTunes. Follow me on Twitter @HeatherBrooker Instagram at www.instagram.com/MotherhoodinHollywood Facebook at www.facebook.com/motherhoodinhollywood

Singer Nichole Nordeman On Her New Book, Slow Down Sep 01, 2017

Show notes

I can't count the number of times lately that I've stopped to catch my breath at the sight of my tiny baby growing into a big kid. She is so tall, so talkative and her personality rivals any adult. I love watching her grow up and become the person she's meant to be and yet I want her to stay small and cuddle in my arms. I often wish there was a way to stop time, or slow down. Parents, ya feel me? That's the subject of singer/songwriter Nichole Nordemans new book, Slow Down. I sat down with Nichole after her recent appearance on Hallmark's Home and Family to talk about the inspiration behind her new book. She says she wrote it for her son Charlie's 5th grade graduation and was encouraged by her manager to record it. The response was overwhelming. It quickly went viral as parents all over the world connected with the message. Now she's taken that message and fleshed it out into essays for her book. In the book she talks about how there's no time machine, or button to push that would make time slow down so our kids will stay small. Instead we should take it upon ourselves to slow down and enjoy as much of the present with our kids as possible. Admittedly in this social media obsessed (guilty!) world we live in its hard to walk away, put your phone down, and be present. This is something I make an effort to do every week in the hopes that my daughter's memories of me won't just be of my phone in front of my face. And I'm getting there, slowly but surely. Because it seems like every time I blink, she's taller, smarter, faster, funnier. And I don't want to miss another minute. Watch the piece I did for KRJH 2 Works For You on Nichole, then watch her video for Slow Down. But grab the tissues because you're going to need them. Slow Down is available now online and in bookstores.

The One Bad Mother Moms Have Written A Book…And It’s Awesome! Aug 21, 2017

Show notes

When I was researching funny podcasts about parenting before starting MIH, the first show that I came across was One Bad Mother and I immediately knew why it was so popular. Biz Ellis & Theresa Thorn started One Bad Mother when they were new friends. And over the years, listeners have been able to get to know them, as they get to know each other. As you can imagine, with that comes their funny, unique, and honest look at parenting and relationships. Sometimes they agree and sometimes they don't but it's interesting to hear them figure it out together. One Bad Mother is now consistently one of the top podcasts on iTunes because of it. Goals, people. Goals. Biz and Theresa have parlayed their podcasting success into a book called, "You're Doing a Great Job: 100 Ways You’re Winning at Parenting”. They are both big believers in encouraging other moms through their stories and life experiences so they don't feel alone. The book is filled with funny observations, affirmations, and words of wisdom that every mom can relate too. It's available now online so you can see for yourself! And here's the best part, if you're in the LA or NYC area you can watch these ladies LIVE as they record an episode of One Bad Mother. They will also be signing copies of their book after the show. The LA show is August 26th and the NYC show is October 14th. Tickets are available now here. And you can listen to One Bad Mother on the Maximum Fun Network or download the show on iTunes.

Bravo’s Jenni Pulos On Flipping Out, Fertility and Friendship Aug 14, 2017

Show notes

Jenni Pulos is having a major moment right now. She just welcomed her second child, daughter Georgia Grace, into this world and her hit Bravo TV show Flipping Out is about to debut its 10th season. Can someone give this mama a round of applause, or mimosas? That's some exciting stuff! Jenni is Jeff Lewis' Executive Assistant on the show and is often his voice of reason when he's, you know, flipping out. We love this show because of the odd couple relationship Jeff and Jenni have. She tells me the great part of doing this show with Jeff is that they actually are friends in real life. And like most friendships, they go through ups and downs and major life changes together. She says their fights and disagreements are real, and so are the compromises they make when working it out. Due to the nature of reality TV we get to see some of the highlights of their lives play out before our eyes. Like when Jenni met and married her now husband Dr. Jonathan Nassos. The couple welcomed their first child Alianna Marika in 2014. And since then, she's been very open about motherhood and her struggle with infertility while trying to have a second child. She hopes that by sharing her story, other women will be inspired and know they aren't alone in their situation. Jenni said her co-stars have also been by her side during the struggles and triumphs in her life. She gives us a closer look into her friendship with Jeff and how he's changed since becoming a parent as well. And she hints that in season 10 we'll see a lot of Jeff and Gage learning about fatherhood and all of the joy and frustration that comes with it. She also says that in season 10 we'll see the return of some favorite clients, and they'll be heading to Miami to work on the Queen of Versailles, a 90,000 square foot mansion. And of course, there will be employee drama and lots of flipping out. We can't wait! Jenni doesn't know this yet, but we are probably going to be best friends. She was totally speaking my language during our conversation and I thought, is she reading my diary? She's saying everything I need to hear right now. Isn't that funny how people come into your life at just the right moment, even if it's just on an awesome podcast, who inspire you in many ways? She reminded me to "Bloom where you're planted" which is a very powerful way of saying, you're where you're supposed to be Heather Brooker, so embrace it! To hear more of my conversation with Jenni and the details on season 10 of Flipping Out, download at subscribe to Motherhood in Hollywood on iTunes, or Stitcher. And make sure you follow Jenni on Twitter @JenniPulos. Follow me on Twitter @HeatherBrooker Instagram at www.instagram.com/MotherhoodinHollywood Facebook at www.facebook.com/motherhoodinhollywood Here's a sneak peek of season 10 of Flipping Out which airs Aug. 17th on Bravo.

Jennie O’Hagan on Moms In The Media And The Future Of Local News [podcast] Aug 07, 2017

Show notes

This is not fake news! We are really diving into the evolution of local news and what it means to be a mommy blogger versus press. My guest this week is Special Events Producer and Freelance Publicist Jennie O'Hagan. Jennie started her career at KTLA in Los Angeles on one of the first morning news shows of its kind. She still produces for KTLA on major special events like The Oscars red carpet coverage and The Rose Parade and has expanded her skills into PR. She has seen a lot of changes in local news over the years and has some wonderful insights on where it's headed. And because of her background, I wanted to know her thoughts on mommy bloggers as press. In my own opinion, they are not the same thing. Mommy bloggers are used as marketing tools for brands and studios to gain hashtag momentum or buzz about a specific product or project. They are not the same as mainstream media. This is something that has been frustrating me lately because I get asked to cover press junkets and attend red carpets quite often. However, it's usually as a mommy blogger and not a real member of the media. Most moms in this category have no problem with that and for the most part I don't either. But since I actually DO work in the media and have been a reporter for many years it's a little hard for me to understand why I don't have access to the same things other outlets do. This is something I've been struggling with reconciling in my own business and life and I love the advice and perspective Jennie brings in this episode. We also chatted about our mutual adoration of KTLA entertainment reporter Sam Rubin. He will never know it, but I think he's one of the greatest entertainment reporters in the business. Jennie says he was her mentor and helped hone her skills as a producer and gave her a shot when no one else would. So even though he doesn't listen to MIH, we get mushy about Sam so someone let him know! One of the biggest challenges for moms in local news is balancing a family. The hours are long and the day-to-day grind of covering news is a bummer. It's hard to write about murders, sexual assaults, crime, fires etc. Then go home to your family and be cheery. It's not an easy career choice to foster relationships so a lot of news veterans say they wait longer than usual to start a family. Jennie shares how she works to find balance in her family life through freelance jobs. When I started freelancing, I had no idea how "freeing" it would really be. It's a great career option, especially for parents, if you are in a field that offers it. To hear the rest of what Jennie and I talked about, you can download this episode on iTunes, or Stitcher. And to find out more about Jennie O'Hagan, follower her on Twitter @JennieOHagan. Don't forget to subscribe to Motherhood in Hollywood on iTunes. Follow me on Twitter @HeatherBrooker Instagram at www.instagram.com/MotherhoodinHollywood Facebook at www.facebook.com/motherhoodinhollywood

Chris Hardwick’s Truth Bombs About The Wall, Podcasting & Having Kids Aug 04, 2017

Show notes

Chris Hardwick is a self-starter who created an empire from his podcast. Sound familiar? So I was thrilled to have the chance to talk with him at the Entertainment Weekly party at Comic-Con. We chatted about his new gig as host of NBC's The Wall and how he gets emotionally invested in the contestants and is truly rooting for them. He also shared some fantastic advice for anyone who has a podcast or is creating content. MIH is in its second year and I'm starting to feel the sophomore slump a bit. It's hard to stay motivated on a weekly show that you produce entirely on your own. Most people probably have no idea how much work I put into this podcast from booking guests, researching them, writing the blog post and editing the show. It's very time-consuming but I do it because it's also very rewarding. And I hope in someway my listeners get something out of it. Chris recently got married to Lydia Hearst, actress, model and heiress to the publishing fortune established by her maternal great-grandfather, William Randolph Hearst. They have only been married about year and as you know, with marriage comes the next big question: When are you having kids? I asked Chris if he gets asked that a lot and his answer was delightfully candid. Honestly the entire interview, although short, made me feel like I know him even better and reaffirmed why I'm a fan. You can watch my full interview with Chris (Eric Roberts interview bomb included!) on my YouTube channel. And don't forget to subscribe to Motherhood in Hollywood on YouTube to see more fun events and interviews I have coming up!

Ian Ziering Reveals Sharktastic Secrets of Sharknado 5! [Podcast] Jul 31, 2017

Show notes

My generation knows Ian Ziering from his character as "Steve Sanders" on Beverly Hills 90210. It was a show that defined a decade and you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who has never heard of it. Now a whole new generation is getting to know Ian as "Fin Shepard" in the Sharknado franchise. This epic battle of man vs shark is arguably another decade-defining role in his career, but not in the way he thought it would be. SHARKNADO 5 -- Pictured: Ian Ziering as Fin Shepard -- (Photo by: Yana Blajeva/Syfy) Ian tells me when he read the first Sharknado script back in 2013 his immediate reaction was to pass. He thought the sci-fi mash-up of sharks and tornadoes would ruin his career. But thanks to the urging of his wife Erin, who had one child in her arms and another on the way, he took it. Now it's become a global phenomenon and fans can't get enough of the campy fish franchise. Ian, his wife Erin and their two girls Mia and Penna In fact Ian says a lot of his career choices are different now that he's a father. He's casting a wider net (pun intended!) for projects from producing to directing so he can support his family. We also talked about how much the industry has changed since the days of 90210. He says it took three years for that show to gain the public momentum that it took Sharknado to get in one night. He credits that to the power of social media. Fans can now immediately get on the bandwagon of a show they like and tell the world to watch. And the fans at Comic-Con are a big reason why Sharknado now has a 5th installment. We talked about the power SDCC has to propel new projects into the spotlight and get fans involved. Chris and I went to Comic-Con, as you know, and had so much fun watching Ian and the cast of Sharknado 5: Global Swarming during their panel. The fans really love these movies! Yes they are cheesy, campy, and over the top, but they are fun and the fans love that about them. As Ian says, everyone is in on the joke except for the people in the movie which makes it all the more fun to watch. We were treated to a sneak preview of Sharknado 5: Global Swarming and the crowd went nuts! This time around Ian and his co-stars Tara Reid (American Pie) and Cassie Scerbo (Bring It On: In It To Win It) are joined by a ton of guest stars. Fabio, Chris Kattan, and Charo are just a few of the stars signed on for this latest shark adventure. Ian still seems in awe of the fact that so many people want to be a part of this Sharknado wave. A wave he says could continue for at least 3 more movies. And of course I had to ask him about a possible Beverly Hills 90210 reunion. To hear what he says and the rest of what we talked about, listen to my podcast! Sharknado 5: Global Swarming airs Sunday Aug. 6th on the SyFy Network. Check out the latest trailer below for a sneak peek!

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