The MomForce Podcast Hosted by Chatbooks

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Mini Episode: Creating Connection During the Holidays with Vanessa's sisters, Shelly and Leah Oct 24, 2023

Show notes

Do you ever leave a family gathering and think, "I feel like I missed the opportunity to have a real deep conversation and connection"? In the midst of mealtimes or festive get-togethers it can be easy to be swept up in the busy tasks of it all. In this episode, Vanessa sits down with her sisters Leah and Shelly to talk about Thanksgiving and how they are going to make it meaningful this year. From teaching teenagers the art of making the perfect homemade roll to playing old family videos in the background there are a ton of ideas shared in this episode that could work for you and your family.

Tune in to hear how to make your upcoming family get-togethers meaningful and fun!

Time codes:

1:00 Thanksgiving plans

2:15 Talking to teenagers and young adults

3:15 Crafting at family get-togethers

4:05 Gingerbread houses and games

5:15 Conversation cards

6:30 Old family videos

7:00 Sprinkle Chatbooks around the house for relatives to look at

8:00 Watching old videos can be a healing and restorative experience, especially as kids get older.

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Home & Kind: Mastering Homemaking, Mom Hacks, DIY, and Parenting Tips with Brittney Hanks Oct 17, 2023

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Brittney Hanks of Home & Kind is known for her mom hacks in the kitchen and around the house for DIY projects. During this conversation, she teaches us how to shave off major time when it comes to prepping school lunches in bulk. (mindblown!) Not only that but she is saving dinnertime with her new cookbook, One Stop Costco Meals. She shares her greatest Costco buys, what she considers a waste of money, and what special items to watch out for the next time you are shopping.

Vanessa and Brittney dive deep into parenting, discussing strategies for combating burnout, the significance of nurturing hobbies as a mom, and effective ways to manage overwhelming moments.

6:15 Favorite "mom hacks"

9:40 School lunch hack

12:15 Costco versus Sam's Club

15:00 One-stop meals

18:00 Where you can overspend at Costco

19:00 Best bang for your buck Costco meals

21:30 What to buy at Trader Joe's

23:00 Trader Joe's cookbook coming out next

24:40 Favorite Things party ideas

28:15 What to do when you are burned out as a parent

38:00 Photo organization

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A Real Good Life: Sazan Hendrix on How To Find Happiness Throughout the Hard Oct 03, 2023

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Sazan Hendrix may be a content creator with millions of followers but before that, she was a girl that fell in love with a boy her family did not approve of. In this episode, Sazan opens up about her love story with her husband Stevie, and how they found happiness throughout the hard times. Not only that, but Sazan shares what her family life is like today and the healing that has happened. And she explains what she means when she says she wants to live, "A Real Good Life", -- emphasis on the real!

I know you will be fascinated to hear from Sazan about her business experiences and what keeps her going as a mother to three little ones.

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4:00 Sazan's photo with a fun backstory about being first time parents

6:40 Breaking cultural boundaries and family disapproval to marry her husband Stevie

7:15 Going through the hard before you get to the good

8:00 Kurdish culture and traditions

9:35 Choosing Stevie over family in the beginning

11:15 Her family relationships today

14:30 Incorporating Kurdish culture into the Hendrix home

19:55 The beauty of a 5 minute break

22:25 What to do on the hard days

24:00 Life in Hollywood

27:45 A REAL good life

29:40 Sharing her faith online

33:30 Deciding what family moments to share online

40:00 Goals for her photo collection

Mini Episode: Suicide Prevention with Ganel-lyn Condie Sep 26, 2023

Show notes

Ganel-lyn Condie lost her sister Meg to suicide ten years ago, ever since then she has spoken on the topic in an effort to raise awareness. Ganellyn shares her experience with mental health and how to facilitate important conversations. She shares how parents can be examples to their kids in the ways they look after their own mental health. The 988 Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the United States.

Suicide and Crisis Hotline 988

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1:25 More conversations about mental health are happening

2:00 All of us are affected by mental health needs

3:15 Loss of Twitch

3:50 Middle-aged men are the most vulnerable group

8:30 Therapy is mental health education

9:45 Progress over perfection

11:05 Being a perfectionist

11:37 People or stuff

13:40 Finding connection

15:05 The micro yes

19:15 Getting through hard days

Enter the Chat: Navigating Grief with Jennifer of Coco's Caravan Sep 19, 2023

Show notes

Jennifer Hanks of @cocoscaravan shares her story of losing her husband Justin when her twin boys were just 3 months old. Now, five years later, she is sharing what her friends did to support her during that incredibly difficult experience. In this episode, Jennifer bravely shares what she has been through and the most impactful things friends and family did to support her. She also explains why she decided to share her story online and the power of the community that she has created.

Jennifer also tells Vanessa about her love of photos and the unique ways she incorporates them throughout her home and family narrative. She is strategic about using photos with her boys so that they know their dad and the stories of his life.

Jennifer is amazing and I know you are going to love hearing from her. To read her full story go here. If you or someone you know is dealing with grief, remember that you're not alone, and there are resources and support available to help you through this challenging time.

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00:20 Jennifer's story and experience losing her husband Justin while having twin baby boys

3:35 Why she shares her story and the community she has built

6:45 What you can do for a friend who is dealing with cancer or loss

10:15 How to support single moms

13:00 How photos helped in her grieving process

17:18 Death anniversaries and how to mark the day

20:45 Photos to show her boys and tell their family story

26:47 Why you should take the photo, even if it is just meant for you to keep to yourself

28:55 Jennifer's #1 tip for getting a great family photo

TV Icon Tiffani Thiessen Opens Up About Aging Gracefully, Raising Teenagers, and What to Stock in Your Fridge Sep 05, 2023

Show notes

Tiffani Thiessen shot to stardom at the tender age of 15 and has been a household name ever since. Many of us remember Tiffani Thiessen from her many memorable TV roles–I mean Kelly Kapowski from Saved By the Bell was a literal icon!

Because Tiffani is part of the SAG, which is currently on strike, she couldn't talk about any of her past dramatic work, however we did chat about what it was like to grow up in show business, and how she handles any negativity that might come her way. She also shares why cooking has become such a passion and what inspired her newest cookbook Here We Go Again which is all about turning leftovers into something your whole family will love to eat–brilliant! And of course, we talk about mom life. I loved what she had to say about raising a teenager of her own, wait until you hear what she says about not allowing her daughter to have social media!

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You're Missing It The children's book Tiffani wrote with her husband

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Building a Strong Marriage and Family with Camila McConaughey (encore) Aug 29, 2023

Show notes

In this encore episode of The MomForce Podcast, we dive into the life and experiences of Camila McConaughey, an accomplished entrepreneur, model, designer, and philanthropist. From growing up on a farm in Brazil to her current life in Austin, Texas with husband Matthew McConaughey and their three children, Camila's journey is fascinating.

Camila opens up about her and Matthew's early dating years and how they keep their relationship fresh and fun. She tells Vanessa what life is like for them right now in Austin, Texas raising their tween and teens. Plus, she shares what made her want to write a children's book all about picky eaters and how she gets her own kids to eat at the dinner table and try new things.

Don't miss out on Camila's Women of Today community where she regularly shares her delicious recipes and kitchen tips.

Click here to join the McConaughey's in supporting the Baby2Baby efforts in Maui for those affected by the fire. And if you lost your Chatbooks in the fire we will reprint them at no cost, please reach out to our team.

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Empowering Kids and Building Confidence: A Conversation with Joy Cho (encore) Aug 15, 2023

Show notes

Joy Cho is the founder of the Oh Joy! design studio and lifestyle brand. She launched the studio in 2005 and has since designed hundreds of products and collections with brands like Target and Keds. Joy wrote a book about kids and confidence where she details her struggle to fit in and find confidence as a kid. Joy chats with Vanessa about the book and why she wrote it for parents and kids to read together.

Listen in on their candid conversation about feeling guilt in motherhood, finding adult friendships, and being an entrepreneur. Joy lives with her husband and two daughters in Los Angeles, California. She is a second-degree black belt, an avid tennis player, and a fashion icon. Joy also happens to be the most followed person on Pinterest! We know her advice and wisdom on confidence will inspire you. Since this episode was first released in the fall of 2022, Joy has expanded her business coaching and is now taking on new clients.

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Overcoming Unthinkable Betrayal and Heartache: The Inspiring Journey of Venus Morris Griffin (encore) Aug 01, 2023

Show notes

In this powerful episode, we hear the inspiring life story of Venus Morris Griffin, a mother of 7 and a highly successful realtor in Georgia. Content Warning: This episode discusses sensitive topics, including abuse in Venus' 20-year marriage to her first husband.

Venus's path to success wasn't easy. Growing up in a home with an addicted mother, she defied the odds by working two jobs and putting herself through college. It was during this time that she met and married Tripp Morris, and together they started a family.

However, behind the seemingly happy facade, Venus faced immense challenges. Signs of abuse surfaced early in their engagement, but it wasn't until 20 years later, after a shocking call in the middle of the night, that Venus discovered her husband's double life. Tripp was sentenced to 45 years in prison, leaving Venus with overwhelming debt and six kids.

In this candid conversation, Venus shares her emotions during that moment of betrayal and how her unwavering faith and determination helped her not only survive but thrive. Despite facing betrayal, abuse, and more, Venus managed to create a beautiful life for herself.

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The Home Edit's Joanna and Clea: Expert Tips for Organizing and Simplifying Your Life (encore) Jul 18, 2023

Show notes

The Home Edit—you've seen their work, right? You can't miss their trademark way of organizing according to the colors of the rainbow, or maybe you've seen their successful Netflix series. For sure you've heard of some of their impressive Hollywood clients like Khloe Kardashian, Drew Barrymore, and Reese Witherspoon. Well, with their expertise and fun personalities best friends Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin catapulted to stardom, and in February of 2022 I was able to chat with them about how we can transform the chaos of our homes (and our camera rolls!) into beautiful organized spaces. Very shortly after releasing this episode, however, Clea bravely announced on Instagram that she had breast cancer. The world watched as she battled cancer with an incredible amount of grace and strength. I'm happy to report that she is now cancer free and back to work with Joanna on several big new Home Edit projects.

It was just anoounced that they are set to star in the TV revamp of the crazy-popular show "Extreme Home Makeover"--I cannot wait for them to shout "move that bus"! And, they have a new book coming out this fall about how to stay organized. I'm happy to get to share this encore episode with you– you're going to love learning what systems they use to keep their own homes organized and what the "low bar lifestyle" is all about.

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