Rated Mom Podcast
Rated Mom is the unapologetically honest podcast for modern moms navigating motherhood, identity, marriage, careers, mental load, and everything no one prepared us for. This is a space where moms tell the truth—without filters, guilt, or perfection. Hosted by Jessica, Heather, and Dena, three real women having real conversations, Rated Mom dives into the raw, funny, messy, and powerful moments of motherhood—from pregnancy and postpartum to raising kids, managing relationships, rediscovering yourself, and breaking generational patterns. Each episode features candid conversations, personal stories, expert insights, and “wait… is it just me?” moments that remind you: you’re not alone—and you’re not doing it wrong. This podcast is for moms who: • Love their kids but miss parts of themselves • Want honest conversations about mental health, marriage, burnout, and joy • Are done with unrealistic expectations and silent suffering • Crave community, laughter, validation, and growth Rated Mom isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being real, resilient, and rated on your terms.
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Mom Life, Glitter & the Magical Mess of Christmas
12/16/2025
Mom Life, Glitter & the Magical Mess of Christmas
In this heartfelt podcast episode, Heather, Dena, & Jessica share candid stories about the joys and stresses of Christmas. They discuss the emotional labor of holiday preparations, the pressure to create magical moments, and the evolving nature of gift-giving as children grow. The conversation touches on family dynamics, loss, and setting boundaries to protect well-being. Emphasizing simplicity, gratitude, and meaningful connection, the women encourage listeners to let go of unnecessary obligations and focus on what truly matters, making space for authentic joy and self-care during the holiday season. Timestamps Introduction & Setting the Scene (00:00:05) Hosts introduce themselves and the theme of candid conversations about motherhood. Gift-Giving and What Kids Remember (00:01:48) Reflecting on how children often forget their gifts and the value of experiences over material things. Santa, Fairness, and Financial Realities (00:04:07) How families handle gifts from Santa, financial disparities, and being mindful of other children’s experiences. Gifting for Adult Children & Extended Family (00:10:23) The complexities of buying for adult children, nieces, and nephews, and questioning ongoing obligations. The Meaning and Lessons of Gifting (00:16:49) Teaching kids about the meaning of gifts, transitioning to adult exchanges, and the emotional aspects of giving. Therapy, Healing, and Family Boundaries (00:27:19) How therapy and self-reflection help process childhood trauma and set healthy boundaries. Last-Minute Holiday Prep & Matching PJs (00:29:43) A lighthearted moment about coordinating matching pajamas and the reality of last-minute holiday planning. What Christmas Really Means (00:30:14) Each host reflects on the deeper meaning of Christmas: slowing down, family time, and personal fulfillment. Remembering the Reason for the Season (00:33:55) Re-centering on the spiritual meaning of Christmas and challenging listeners to simplify and focus on what matters. Final Challenges and Takeaways (00:35:11) Hosts share personal challenges for listeners: self-care, letting go of obligations, and finding joy for themselves. Powerful Quotes from the Episode Heather, “It feels like I’m laughing with a little extra Christmas added to it.” Jessica, “I’m 43, and I remember that conversation. I remember the room, my dad’s face, every part of it.” Jessica, “I feel like I grieve my dad at the holidays, even though he’s still alive.” Dena, “Working through that in therapy, I realized I’m a perfectionist probably because of something that happened when I was a kid.” Jessica, “You deserve just as much joy as everyone you’re trying to create it for. Don’t let the holidays steal that joy from you.” RESOURCES: Connect With Us: Dena: Heather: Jessica: Follow the Podcast: Rated Mom on Podcasts and “Christmas isn’t about doing more—it’s about slowing down, letting go, and choosing what truly matters.” Podcast Produced and edited by the team at Contact us for expert podcast production and support.
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Balancing Act: The Emotional Rollercoaster of Motherhood and Homeownership
12/16/2025
Balancing Act: The Emotional Rollercoaster of Motherhood and Homeownership
In part two of the "Rated Mom" podcast, Heather, Dena, Jessica, and guests continue their candid conversation about motherhood, homeownership, and personal growth. They share heartfelt stories about raising children at different ages, overcoming guilt, and learning to set boundaries. The episode explores the emotional challenges of buying and selling homes, the importance of support systems, and the impact of addiction and recovery on families. Through honest reflections, the hosts highlight the value of presence, self-awareness, and open communication, offering encouragement and solidarity to moms navigating life’s ups and downs. Timestamps Most Impactful Client Stories (00:00:47) Hosts share memorable stories of helping clients, including military families, single moms, and people overcoming homelessness. The Power of Homeownership (00:01:31) Discussion on how homeownership creates generational wealth and impacts clients’ lives beyond just buying a house. Challenges in Buying & Selling Homes (00:04:03) Personal experiences with the stress of buying, selling, and building homes, and how these inform their work with clients. Guiding Clients Through Emotional Journeys (00:05:16) How the hosts support clients emotionally through setbacks and the unpredictability of the home buying process. First-Time Homebuyer Fears & Lessons (00:05:24) Reflections on the fears of first-time buyers, worst-case scenarios, and lessons learned from their own early home purchases. Parenting Through Different Seasons (00:08:48) Balancing work and parenting, changes in parenting style with each child, and involvement in children’s activities. Evolution of Motherhood & Mom Guilt (00:10:28) How motherhood changes over time, feelings of guilt, and differences in parenting older versus younger children. Letting Go & Accepting Imperfection (00:14:11) Letting go of guilt, accepting sacrifices, and cherishing fleeting moments as children grow up. Parenting Adult & Young Children Simultaneously (00:15:21) Navigating relationships with adult children while still raising younger kids, and breaking cycles from their own upbringing. Projecting Fears & Open Communication (00:18:01) Discussing fears about children repeating their mistakes, encouraging honesty, and the challenges of letting kids make their own choices. Sibling Dynamics & Changing Family Structures (00:19:44) How age gaps and sibling relationships affect parenting approaches and children’s experiences. Delegating & Asking for Help (00:20:52) The struggle to delegate tasks, ask for help, and set realistic expectations for themselves as mothers. Boundaries vs. Balance (00:22:58) Realization that setting boundaries, not seeking perfect balance, is key to managing motherhood and personal commitments. Cherishing Time with Older Children (00:24:43) Enjoying friendships with grown children, special moments, and the nostalgia for earlier parenting years. Being Present & Disconnecting (00:26:59) The challenge of being present with children, reducing phone use, and creating intentional moments together. Impactful Life & Motherhood Moments (00:30:28) Personal turning points, such as health diagnoses and career changes, that shaped their approach to motherhood. Creating Safe Spaces for Kids (00:33:57) The importance of being a safe, nonjudgmental space for children to share struggles and seek help. Honesty About Addiction & Family Struggles (00:35:27) Open conversations about addiction in their families, breaking the stigma, and educating their children about risks. Self-Awareness, Recovery, & Therapy (00:38:43) Recognizing addictive tendencies, reframing behaviors, and the value of therapy for personal growth and parenting. Powerful Quotes from the Episode Dena, “I love this job because the power of homeownership is so much bigger than a home. Heather, “I feel like I blinked and they just grew up. I’d give anything to go back.” Jessica, “The part I’m still working on the most is being present, like really being present.” RESOURCES: Connect With Us: Dena: Heather: Jessica: Follow the Podcast: Rated Mom on Podcasts and “Motherhood and life’s milestones will test you, but growth comes when we embrace the chaos and show up fully.” Podcast Produced and edited by the team at Contact us for expert podcast production and support.
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From Perfection to Progress: How Three Moms Are Redefining Success
12/16/2025
From Perfection to Progress: How Three Moms Are Redefining Success
👉 New here? This is the debut episode of Rated MOM and the first part of our opening conversation — start here. In this episode, Heather, Dena, and Jessica introduce Rated MOM and share how this podcast came to life. They talk openly about perfectionism, losing yourself in motherhood, redefining success, and the pressure women carry to appear like they have it all together. What began as years of conversations between friends turned into a space for honesty, humor, vulnerability, and healing. This episode sets the foundation for Rated MOM — real stories, real growth, and permission to stop striving for perfection and start choosing progress. If you’ve ever felt stuck between who you are and who you’re “supposed” to be, this conversation is for you. Timestamps Podcast Introduction (00:00:05) Opening statements about women's stories, resilience, and introducing the hosts Heather, Deena, and Jessica. How the Podcast Started (00:00:52) Heather’s idea, two years of discussion, and why the three friends decided to do it together. Choosing the Podcast Name (00:02:42) The creative process, brainstorming, and settling on "Rated Mom" after considering other names. Motherhood and Identity (00:04:01) Discussion about motherhood shaping identity, losing oneself, and the desire to share real stories. Personal Introductions & Vulnerability (00:06:16) Hosts reflect on what they want listeners to know about them, struggles with identity, and social media personas. Perfectionism and Self-Expectations (00:09:01) Conversation about perfectionism, internal pressures, and the fear of vulnerability. Fun, Authenticity, and Alter Egos (00:10:45) Sharing sides of themselves not seen on social media, including humor, fun, and alter egos. Defining Ourselves Beyond Roles (00:12:51) Exploring self-definition beyond titles like mom, wife, or entrepreneur, and discussing self-criticism and imposter syndrome. Progress Over Perfection (00:15:01) Emphasizing progress over perfection, being hard on oneself, and striving for self-acceptance. Excitement for the Podcast’s Impact (00:16:08) What the hosts hope listeners will gain: open conversations, healing, and breaking self-isolation. Generational Change and Growth (00:20:56) Reflecting on generational silence, embracing change, and encouraging personal growth at any age. Women as Family Stabilizers (00:23:29) Discussing societal expectations for women to be stable and have all the answers in families. Creating a Supportive Work Culture (00:24:45) How past work experiences shaped their approach to leadership, culture, and supporting women in business. Lessons in Leadership and Boundaries (00:25:18) Learning not to be held hostage by high performers, setting standards, and building a healthy team culture. Mentorship and Emotional Support (00:30:46) The importance of mentorship, emotional support, and protecting a positive work environment. Powerful Quotes from the Episode Jessica, “For a long time, people thought I had this perfect little life, but behind the scenes, that’s not what it was like.” Heather, “What I realized was it was me putting those expectations on myself.” Heather, “I want women to know you don’t have to suffer in silence. Having the conversations is the pathway to healing.” Dena, “It’s nice to know that we aren’t alone. I think we all think we’re in our own little world, but that’s not true.” Jessica, “You can always be changing. If you wake up at 40 and hate your job, quit and find something else.” RESOURCES: Connect With Us: Dena: Heather: Jessica: Follow the Podcast: Rated Mom on Podcasts and “You don’t have to be perfect to be enough—every step toward progress counts.” Podcast Produced and edited by the team at Contact us for expert podcast production and support.
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Rated Mom: Real Stories, Real Moms
12/15/2025
Rated Mom: Real Stories, Real Moms
In this episode of Rated Mom, Heather, Dena, and Jessica introduce themselves and set the stage for honest conversations about the experiences that shape women’s lives. They discuss the stories—spoken and unspoken—that define, challenge, and empower women, emphasizing resilience, growth, and the importance of community. The hosts invite listeners to join a supportive space where both struggles and triumphs are shared, highlighting that every woman’s journey is unique and worthy of being heard. This episode celebrates the strength and authenticity of women, especially mothers, navigating life’s ups and downs. Timestamps Introduction to Women's Stories (00:00:05)Discussing the stories that shape, change, and remain unspoken for women. Resilience and Growth (00:00:13)Highlighting women's ability to outgrow challenges, embrace imperfection, and celebrate both struggles and successes. Hosts Introduction & Series Title (00:00:24)Introducing Heather, Dena, and Jessica as hosts of the "Rated Mom" podcast. Powerful Quotes from the Episode Heather, "Every woman has stories—the ones that made us, the ones that changed us, and the ones we don't read out loud." Dena, "We're not perfect. Some days we fall apart, and some days we're crushing it." RESOURCES: Connect With Us: Dena: Heather: Jessica: Follow the Podcast: Rated Mom on Podcasts and “Every mom has a story worth telling—messy, powerful, and beautifully real.” Podcast Produced and edited by the team at Contact us for expert podcast production and support.
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