The Perfectors

Latest Episodes:

Episode 6: Never Withhold a Compliment Mar 16, 2016

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*Giveaway information: For a chance to win a box full of Leslie and Tesi's favorites, subscribe to Mama Bear Dares on iTunes, rate us on iTunes, review us on iTunes, Like us on Facebook and Instagram, and follow us on Twitter. If you do all of the above, you're entered SIX times! We will announce the winner next week on our social media outlets! On today's podcast sisters-in-law Leslie and Tesi talk about the power of speaking positive words into the world. Leslie shares her struggle with seasonal depression and how a 70-year-old woman in a coffee shop changed her day and then her outlook with just a few words. The hosts talk about celebrating creation, giving authentic compliments, and brightening the world around you with pure intentions. They invite you to be aware of the life you live and train yourself to identify the beautiful...and then, when it's appropriate, vocalize it! LINKS from the show: One of Leslie's favorite blogs, Cup of Jo, had a great post about talking to little girls. Erin Haluska and her team at Inspire Motherhood are fantastic! Find them HERE. Shout out to Steph Files and her network of nationwide blogs for mamas. Find your city moms blog HERE or HERE. This podcast is a mid-week, 20-minute Mama Bear Mini podcast episode and it begs for your feedback! Reach out on Facebook, Twitter, or

Episode 5: I Am Love Mar 14, 2016

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In a world that never turns off and encourages constant motion, we talk to mom and yoga instructor Chrissy Smith about how she faces each day with a clear purpose and mission to live in and love the moment. Because of the many directions in which we are pulled, many of us struggle with taking the time to care for ourselves. In this episode of Mama Bear Dares, Chrissy helps us understand the center of our being and the ways in which we can use the light from within for good. We spend time in conversation with Chrissy and come away feeling inspired by her perspective and refreshed by her thoughtful outlook on life. Chrissy radiates positivity that Mama Bears will capture and reflect from wherever they listen! For information on the 8 Limbs of Yoga, you can find a great summary HERE. You can find Anne Lamott's Traveling Mercies HERE. What do you "live in"? Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, and let us know what you're thinking! Don't forget to subscribe on iTu

Episode 4: Tackling "Man Tasks" Mar 09, 2016

Show notes

*Listen through to the end of this episode for information on our first giveaway!!! On today's podcast sisters-in-law Leslie and Tesi talk about dividing up household duties in an intentionally non-gendered way. Tesi discloses her rockstar ability to change the oil in her family van and the goal she has set for herself to learn how to do more tasks generally carried out by the men in her life. The women discuss car maintenance, hanging picture frames, producing a podcast, as well as the impact this way of approaching household chores has had on their spouses and their children. Thanks so much to our sponsor SIS International! Please go to their website to shop extraordinary fair trade pieces. The hostesses of Mama Bear Dares go there first for any birthday or holiday gifts and know you won't be disappointed! Here's the website: www.sisshops.com. *Giveaway information: For a chance to win a box full of Leslie and Tesi's favorite fair trade items, subscribe to us on iTunes, rate us on iTunes, review us on iTunes, Like us on Facebook and Instagram, and follow us on Twitter. If you do all of the above, you're entered SIX times! We will announce the winner next week on our social media outlets! This podcast is the first of many short, 20-minute Mama Bear Dares podcast episodes and each one produced begs for your feedback! Reach out on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram

Episode 3: Doing it Scared Mar 07, 2016

Show notes

There's a perception in our culture that if we face obstacles, the world is warning us that we are on the wrong path...or that if an idea terrifies us, it's probably not worth doing. But on today's podcast, Jody Landers proves that Mama Bears are born when we lean into fear and do what scares us. If anyone knows about doing big things in life despite being terrified, it's Jody. With three healthy young boys already part of their brood, Jody and her husband Andy delivered Quincy. Born with a rare birth defect, Quincy spent weeks in the hospital and months in a body cast. It was in that hospital room that Jody's Mama Bear was born. With the tenacity she found in that hospital room, Jody went on to adopt twins from Sierra Leone, organize a handful of moms to fill backpacks for foster care children, and raise over a half million dollars for clean water. A few years after that she and Becky Straw founded The Adventure Project from her home with her six children underfoot. Most recently Jody dove into a Kickstarter campaign to help launch her husband's musical career from a cult-like following to a national audience. Jody was terrified of doing all of these things—whether she entered willingly or was forced into them—but she did them anyway. A lesson to our Mama Bear community is to stop running from fear and dare to "do it scared." A special thank you to Andrew Landers and Mainstreet Struggleville for our music for this episode. Learn more about Andy and download his extraordinary music at

Episode 2: Meet the Hostess, Part II Mar 04, 2016

Show notes

Moms are complex creatures with incredible depth and layers of complexity. Even though Tesi and Leslie, the hosts of this podcast, have known each other for 14 years each conversation reveals something new. Such are the joys of long friendship—it's our oldest and dearest friends that we never run out of things to discuss over coffee, wine, or via Skype. On this Mama Bear Dares podcast we meet Tesi Klipsch. Tesi lives in Michigan with her husband Zach and five children—born to her by birth and through adoption. Tesi tells us about her interest in health, fitness, and helping others discover their personal best, as well as the challenges and joys of raising five children, three of them whom were adopted from Ethiopia. Always quick to laugh, Tesi and Leslie enjoy a purposeful conversation that introduces you to one of the Mama Bears behind the podcast. Link to Tesi's personal blog at www.TesiKlipsch.com. Follow along as she explores mothering older children, and her unique take on current events and race in America. Mama Bears reading list: Jhumpa Lahiri: http://smile.amazon.com/Interpreter-Maladies-Jhumpa-Lahiri/dp/039592720X/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1456932914&sr=1-3&keywords=jhumpa+lahiri The Desire Map:

Episode I: Meet the Hostess, Part I Mar 04, 2016

Show notes

In Mama Bear Dares inaugural podcasts, we aim to introduce you to the hosts of the show, Leslie and Tesi Klipsch. This pair of Midwestern women married brothers within months of each other and, for the last 14 years, have shared several life stages: the newlywed stage, the pregnant mamas-to-be stage, the new parenthood stage, and, most recently, a move to the world of adolescent shepherding. Through it all they've laughed a lot. And talk a lot. And shared a passion of encouraging those around them to love the world. Today we introduce you to Leslie, a mom to three through birth and adoption, a writer, and a woman who recently added a puppy to her life. Tesi and Leslie talk about the believing in who you are, the ins and outs of everyday life and how it shapes you as a person, and the importance of self care amidst work and parenthood. Watch for updates and the release of Leslie's first book, Mama Bear's Manifesto, on her author website! www.leslieklipsch.com Interested in coworking in Eastern Iowa/Western Illinois? Check out the coworking space Leslie founded with her partner Amy in November. www.coworkqc.com Follow us on Facebook, Twitter (@mambeardares) and Instagram (mamabeardarespodcast). And don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes!

Sneak Peak! Mar 04, 2016

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Take a glimpse of what's to come on the Mama Bear Dares Podcast! If you like what you hear and are curious to learn more, please subscribe on iTunes, follow us on FB, Twitter, and Instagram, and check out our website! Thanks for listening. We hope you'll become a part of our Mama Bear Community!

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