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Navigating the Surprises of Motherhood with Alex Barnes

The Mom Existence

Release Date: 09/26/2024

Postpartum Reality Check: Beyond the Baby Blues & Motherhood Truths show art Postpartum Reality Check: Beyond the Baby Blues & Motherhood Truths

The Mom Existence

Today on The Mom Existence, we're joined by the incredibly compassionate and knowledgeable Lauren Mackintosh—a fierce advocate for maternal mental health and a guiding light for women navigating pregnancy and postpartum. Lauren helps us unpack what so many moms experience but don’t always talk about like delayed postpartum depression and how it differs from the early baby blues. We dive into the emotional rollercoaster that can come with everyday struggles, mom guilt, and when things just don’t go according to plan. She’s made it her mission to support women through the messy,...

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Solo: Overwhelmed, Anxious & Figuring It Out show art Solo: Overwhelmed, Anxious & Figuring It Out

The Mom Existence

I’m getting real and opening up about my own experience with overwhelm and anxiety. Because let’s be honest, parenthood can flip your world upside down fast, and it’s not always easy to keep up. Sometimes, we need support, and for me, that means getting professional help. In this episode, we’re diving into how disconnected and siloed the info is for new moms, how raising kids today is nothing like it was 30–40 years ago, and why setting boundaries with your partner before baby arrives is a game-changer. You’ll thank me later. Let’s normalize the chaos of early motherhood and...

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YouTuber, The MMandL Show to Motherhood: Laura’s Unfiltered Journey Through IVF & Surrogacy show art YouTuber, The MMandL Show to Motherhood: Laura’s Unfiltered Journey Through IVF & Surrogacy

The Mom Existence

If you know, you know — MM&L was the YouTube duo that got us through our 20s with beauty tips, dry shampoo recs, and big bouncy curls. And yes, that Laura is here! In this episode, I sit down with the always-honest Laura Armstrong — beauty guru, mom, and co-founder of Beauty Destination — to talk about the journey from viral content creator to motherhood, IVF, and surrogacy. We go deep on staying ambitious when life pulls you in every direction, what it’s like to rediscover your identity as a mom, and why she’s never stopped being real online. We talk: The MM&L origin story...

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Mother’s Day, Style & Motherhood at Every Age show art Mother’s Day, Style & Motherhood at Every Age

The Mom Existence

In this special Mother’s Day episode, we’re teaming up with Halifax Shopping Centre and sitting down with our favourite mother-daughter duo—Vicky Mina and Amanda Nahas. We’re talking all things motherhood, how it’s shaped them both at different stages of life, and of course, their take on effortless style. From go-to shops at HSC to personal stories and laughs, this episode is full of heart, fashion inspo, and real mom moments. Don’t miss it!

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Social Media, Skincare Musts, Ruby Franke Documentary, and Managing Mental Health show art Social Media, Skincare Musts, Ruby Franke Documentary, and Managing Mental Health

The Mom Existence

This week, I’m flying solo and covering a lot. Inspired by Oprah’s chat with Jonathan Haidt, I reflect on the early days of social media (anyone remember ICQ and MSN Messenger?) and how different the digital world feels now—especially for our kids. I also touch on mental health, anxiety, toddler emotions (a rollercoaster), and why managing it all can feel like a full-time job. Plus, a peek into my skincare routine, thoughts on the Ruby Franke documentary, and microneedling updates. Grateful for this community—thanks for being here. If you can, please rate this episode and leave a...

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Social Media, Skincare Musts, Ruby Franke Documentary, and Managing Mental Health show art Social Media, Skincare Musts, Ruby Franke Documentary, and Managing Mental Health

The Mom Existence

This week, I’m flying solo and covering a lot. Inspired by Oprah’s chat with Jonathan Haidt, I reflect on the early days of social media (anyone remember ICQ and MSN Messenger?) and how different the digital world feels now—especially for our kids. I also touch on mental health, anxiety, toddler emotions (a rollercoaster), and why managing it all can feel like a full-time job. Plus, a peek into my skincare routine, thoughts on the Ruby Franke documentary, and microneedling updates. Grateful for this community—thanks for being here. If you can, please rate this episode and leave a...

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MasterClass’s Lorena Seidel: Meltdowns, communication, breaking parenting cycles and boundaries show art MasterClass’s Lorena Seidel: Meltdowns, communication, breaking parenting cycles and boundaries

The Mom Existence

Guest: Lorena Seidel Lorena T. Seidel is a parent educator, Montessori teacher, and mother of three who’s been in the trenches—and she’s here to help us climb out with more confidence and less guilt. In this episode, we unpack Lorena’s powerful approach to raising emotionally healthy, well-adjusted kids using mindset-based strategies that actually work in everyday chaos. We dive into the real stuff: hitting, meltdowns, power struggles, and those moments when you’re two seconds from yelling in the kitchen. Lorena shares how behavior is communication, how our mindset as parents is...

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Doing the Work: Boundaries, Triggers & the Inner Voice of Motherhood show art Doing the Work: Boundaries, Triggers & the Inner Voice of Motherhood

The Mom Existence

✨Guest: Gervase Kolmos What happens when we do the work? Is it easier to set boundaries, stay grounded, or navigate our triggers, especially in motherhood? In this episode, I’m joined by Gervase Kolmos, a certified life coach, speaker, podcaster and boundary-setting queen who is changing the narrative around what it means to be a mother on her own terms. Gervase brings humor, realness, and a soul-deep approach to healing the inner voice that so many of us live with, especially the one that says, "I should already know how to do this." We go deep on: ✨ Why setting boundaries isn’t...

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SOLO - Redefining Roles: Voice, Equality, and the Future of Motherhood show art SOLO - Redefining Roles: Voice, Equality, and the Future of Motherhood

The Mom Existence

This podcast was born from Alex Cooper then to a random social media video that made me breakdown and spiral for the day. This week I’m getting personal — talking about the mental blocks I’ve faced using my voice, the weight of traditional household roles, and why the idea that “dads work harder” still lingers. I open up about growing up in a home where roles were defined, how that shaped me, and what I want to shift for my son. I’m also digging into the exposure of young girls and moms online, what “equal partners” really means, and why this podcast is helping me find my voice...

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Chloe Wilde: Career, Motherhood, and the Journey Through IVF show art Chloe Wilde: Career, Motherhood, and the Journey Through IVF

The Mom Existence

In this episode, I sit down with the incredible Chloe Wilde—TV personality, journalist, podcaster and new mom—who is navigating the beautiful chaos of motherhood while balancing a thriving career and a love for fashion. Chloe opens up about her deeply personal IVF journey, the losses and challenges she faced before welcoming her son, and how those experiences shaped her perspective on motherhood. From recording during naptime to battling sickness (because #momlife), we dive into her 15-hour flight alone with a baby, the fourth trimester struggles, and how dressing up for her 100 Days of...

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More Episodes

In this episode, Alex and I dive into the surprises of motherhood—starting with how your body changes after birth (dry hair, anyone?) and the unexpected realities of labor recovery, where the Peri bottle, wipes, and ice pads become your best friends. We shared our experiences of starting motherhood at the same time, how strange  things can feel as you adjust to your new body.

Together, we reflect on how tough the newborn phase was, but also how rewarding it is now that our children’s personalities are shining through. We touch on the patience and flexibility little ones require, the challenge of finding purpose beyond motherhood, and how mom guilt plays a role in that.

Ultimately, we agree that having support from other mom friends around us makes the ups and downs of this journey a little easier to bear.

Please enjoy. And remember you’re doing amazing. <3


This episode is brought to you by Nurtured. Visit Nurtured online at www.nurtured.ca or in store at 2543 Agricola Street Halifax, NS B3K 4C4 Canada