112: How to Talk to Your Stepkids Without Conflict: 12 Tips That Work
The Stepmom Diaries Podcast
Have you ever tried to connect with your stepkids, only to feel like everything you say somehow makes things worse? If conversations keep blowing up - or you’re walking on eggshells trying not to mess things up - this episode is going to hit close to home. We’re breaking down how to communicate with your stepkids in a way that builds trust instead of triggering shutdowns, power struggles, or rejection - and why so much of the advice stepmoms are given actually makes things harder. In Today’s Episode, We’re Talking About: Why connection has to come before correction - and how...
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111. Why New Year Resolutions Fail for Stepmoms: The Hidden Pattern You Need to Know
The Stepmom Diaries Podcast
If January already feels heavy… if you're tired of trying to feel hopeful... or if you're sitting there thinking, "What is wrong with me?" this episode is for you. January can be hard for stepmoms. And there's a reason no one talks about it. In Today’s Episode, We’re Talking About: Why January hits so hard for stepmoms Why the ‘try harder’ culture and first family advice miss the mark - especially this time of year The patterns that come up every January What not to do in January if you’re a stepmom How to reframe what’s actually happening Resources...
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110. My Husband Doesn’t Support Me with His Kids: What Every Stepmom Needs to Know
The Stepmom Diaries Podcast
"My husband is an idiot." That's what a stepmom said to me recently - not once, but multiple times. But behind those words? A mountain of hurt, exhaustion, and feeling completely alone in her own home. If you've ever felt like you're carrying everything by yourself while your partner seems checked out, dismissive, or just doesn't get it - this episode is for you. I'm diving deep into what "he doesn't have my back" really means, why it's about so much more than just everyday disagreements, and most important - what you can actually do about it before resentment poisons everything. This isn't...
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109. When It’s All Too Much: Mindfulness Tools for Stepmom Life
The Stepmom Diaries Podcast
You're not broken. You're overwhelmed. This episode is for those moments when you’re trying so hard to keep it together, but inside you're screaming. The mental load is crushing you, your patience is hanging by a thread, and even the dog’s breathing feels like too much . . . If that rings a bell, let me reassure you that no, you’re not broken. You’re just overwhelmed. And there are tools to help you manage your stress. This week, I'm joined by licensed therapist and coach Kristin Cogan for a conversation every stepmom (and honestly, every woman) needs. We’re diving into the...
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108. Stepmom Triggers and the Power of Choosing Peace Over Panic
The Stepmom Diaries Podcast
What if you could take that familiar whisper of "You don't quite belong" and give it the heave-ho? Picture this: at your stepdaughter's sorority Parents Weekend, everyone's wearing their "sorority mom" pins . . . everyone but you. That familiar whisper starts: "I wonder if they notice I don't belong here." But then something incredible happens: you pause, breathe, and choose a different thought. This episode is about that moment - how triggers that used to wreck you now don't have to. You know what I'm talking about: It can be the smallest, most seemingly-insignificant moments that hits...
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107. Stop Trying Harder: Why Stepmoms Need Support, Not Perfection
The Stepmom Diaries Podcast
"You're not the problem. You're just doing it alone." If you attended the last weekend, you wrapped up in a high - feeling seen and understood. But it’s over now, and you're back in a house that doesn't feel like yours with zero space to land. Today we're talking about why "trying harder" isn't the answer, and what you actually need to create lasting change in your stepfamily life. In This Episode, We Cover: Why Stepmom Life Feels So Isolating The myth of "trying harder" and the stepmom spiral of second-guessing your boundaries and interactions How "trying harder" leads to losing...
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106. I Didn’t Sign Up For This: When Stepmom Life Gets Messy Fast, with Alicia Krasko
The Stepmom Diaries Podcast
Every stepmom has that moment where reality hits and you think: “Wait… I didn’t sign up for this.” In today’s episode, I sit down with Alicia Krasko - stepmom coach, podcast host, and CEO of the Stepmom Side Community. Alicia’s story will sound familiar: she went into stepmom life thinking it would be smooth sailing (kids liked her, in-laws liked her, even the ex liked her)… until suddenly, everything changed. In the episode, we talk about: What happens when “happily ever after” collides with blended family reality Why traditional therapy often misses the mark for...
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105. From Bathroom Floor To Breakthrough: The Lifeline That's Helped Thousands of Stepmoms
The Stepmom Diaries Podcast
“You don’t have to do this alone. You don’t have to guess, or feel guilty. You just have to say yes to support that actually gets it.” Ever feel like you’re walking on eggshells in your own home? Like no one truly sees how hard you’re working to hold it all together? In this powerful mini episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on why the FREE annual (coming up September 4-6th) has become a lifeline for thousands of stepmoms around the world - and why it might be exactly what you’ve been needing, too. I share my own raw and real moments (yes, including the one where my stepson...
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104. Why You Don’t Need the Ex to Change to Finally Feel at Peace in Your Stepfamily, with Priscilla Smith
The Stepmom Diaries Podcast
If you’ve ever found yourself tangled in the emotional mess of a high-conflict ex, today’s conversation is for you. My guest, Priscilla Smith, knows exactly what it’s like to live in that storm. A certified stepfamily coach and child-free stepmom (and speaker at the upcoming !), Priscilla has navigated years of tension, loyalty binds, and co-parenting chaos — all while building a stronger marriage and a more peaceful home. She’s here to share how she shifted from reacting to leading, stopped letting the ex dictate her peace, and created tools that actually work in real life. In this...
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103. Parenting Without The Power Struggles, with Parenting Expert Wendy Snyder
The Stepmom Diaries Podcast
Parenting is hard - but it can help when you're able to lower the temperature. If you've followed me for a while, you know I subscribe to the research-based "connection before correction" philosophy when it comes to stepparents getting involved in discipline. My guest for this episode has an expertise in what she calls "compassionate discipline," which is a great option for parents looking for a way to be more responsive and less reactive. Wendy's work on positive parenting strategies is inspiring - and should give us all some food for thought as we work to create strong relationships with our...
info_outlineNavigating Stepfamily Life After Tragedy Strikes
Today we are taking on a tough, but important, topic: picking yourself (and your stepfamily) back up after your worst nightmare comes to life. I'm talking to stepmom and grief expert Krista St-Germain, who moved through unthinkable tragedy to learn how to thrive again. She's got an inspiring outlook and some amazing insights for stepfamilies who may be dealing with grief.
About Krista:
Krista St-Germain is a Master Certified Life Coach, Post-Traumatic Growth and grief expert, widow, mom and host of The Widowed Mom Podcast. When her husband was killed by a drunk driver in 2016, Krista’s life was completely and unexpectedly flipped upside down.
After therapy helped her uncurl from the fetal position, Krista discovered Life Coaching, Post Traumatic Growth and learned the tools she needed to move forward and create a future she could get excited about. Now she coaches and teaches other widows so they can love life again, too.
Krista has been featured online and in print in Psychology Today, Medium, Thrive Global, Bustle, Psych Central, and Parents Magazine and on select podcasts such as The SelfWork Podcast, Seek The Joy, Life Check Yourself, and You Need A Budget to name a few.
You Can Find Krista:
On Instagram: @lifecoachkrista
On her website, coachingwithkrista.com/
Links Mentioned In Today's Episode
Krista is generously offering a course on navigating grief to our listeners for FREE - You can access it right HERE.
Got a question for me or something you're struggling with in your stepfamily life? Submit a question to be answered on a future podcast episode HERE
Want to go deeper into coparenting, dealing with your partner's ex, finding your own peace, and other blended family challenges? Join the Stepfamily Circle HERE
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