The Momcult Podcast: Recent Episodes
Momcult / We Own This Town
Former Nashville Mayor and no stranger to the spotlight, Megan Barry, officially joins the Momcult in this week’s episode! In the spirit of her new book coming out, “It’s What You Do Next”, Megan gets candid about the two things she lost and the one thing she was able to save. We talk about grief, shame, resentment and resilience all wrapped around the unimaginable scenario of losing her son, Max. Thank you, Megan, for sharing your time and your story with us.
Megan Barry on Instagram:
@mayormeganbarry
It’s What You Do Next: The Fall and Rise of Nashville’s First Female Mayor
Get it at Bookshop
Get it at Parnassus
Follow Momcult on Instagram @momcultpodcast.
In this episode, British singer/songwriter, Lucie Silvas, shares her treacherous and inspiring experience with IVF, the intrusive thoughts that came along with giving birth to her twins and her constant aspiration to reset and be hopeful amidst the constant challenges of motherhood. Join us!
Lucie on Instagram:
@luciesilvas
Follow Momcult on Instagram @momcultpodcast.
We got to sit down and chat with the incredible Brooke Baxter. We had so much fun delving into the importance of self-discovery, inner child work, and all things “unconventional motherhood”. Brooke shares about her experience growing up in a single-parent home and the importance of supportive communities as well as when her love of aesthetics began and SO MUCH MORE! Sarah’s family survived a stomach bug and Joy survived a pregnancy scare. Listen wherever you podcast!
Arrow and Anchor Antiques Instagram
@arrowandanchorantiques
Arrow and Anchor Antiques
arrowandanchor.com
Brooke’s Substack
brookebaxter.substack.com
Follow Momcult on Instagram @momcultpodcast.
Sarah and Joy chat with new mom Angealic Parson who shares her journey from pregnancy to an unplanned cesarean, and the unimaginable experience of her apartment burning down before leaving the hospital with her newborn. From breaking generational curses to accepting help while juggling self-care, she’s got quite the story. Joy vents about tech and Sarah has been sick for what feels like a year. Join us.
Follow Momcult on Instagram @momcultpodcast.
Sitting poolside at Drift Nashville, Joy and Sarah are joined by a variety of guests. “I’m a Winner” producer Hope Karwoski talks about changes in life when friends have babies. Pregnant pals Anna Meyers and Rebecca June Hill pop in to say hello and Joy discusses her current parenting challenges with sister and Momcult regular, Jenny Black. The episode takes a poignant turn with returning guest Traci Hilton sharing her experience with a psychic medium who connected her with her late husband.
Follow Momcult on Instagram @momcultpodcast.
The gals are throwing a Momcult Gathering next week! A “we survived the summer” pool day benefiting Joy’s short film “I’m A Winner”. We’d love to see you there! Sarah has fully joined the Dr. Becky movement and Joy is navigating cell phones and explicit music.
Pool Day Details here
Follow Momcult on Instagram @momcultpodcast.
DJ, hip-hop lover and Co-creator of the Boom Bap, Nick Melidis joins the gals for their special Father’s Day episode. We talk about everything from managing anger, parental preference, and the myth of the terrible two’s. Nick walks us through his experience seeing his son, Cruze, go through head surgery and how his dad guilt usually hits him at the end of the night. Sarah survived another birthday party but not without stitches and Joy reads an old journal entry. Join us for the SEASON FINALE of SEASON 3!!
Follow Momcult on Instagram @momcultpodcast.
Joy & Sarah take a small road trip out to the country to visit with Sarah’s mom and, boy, was it worth it! Dawn is basically known for being a swamp siren /
cattlewoman / huntress with exotic animals as pets. The stories along with the treasured relics throughout her home, did not disappoint.
Join Sarah and Joy as they delve into the extraordinary life of Dawn Tatum Parker, a Renaissance woman with a story that spans horseback riding in rural South Mississippi, leading cheer squads, acing academics, and embracing art. From her early adulthood as a librarian and biology teacher into single motherhood and running a sign fabrication company and managing a cattle grazing business, Dawn’s life is a testament to resilience, versatility, and a deep love for animals. Beyond her résumé of unique careers, Dawn’s journey as a mother and grandmother unfolds in riveting anecdotes, revealing her independent spirit and the profound impact of her third child’s life and passing. Discover tales of wildlife management, alligator wrestling, and embracing life’s challenges head-on. This episode is a celebration of life’s every moment – the good, the challenging, and everything in between. Join us in honoring the first few acts of one extraordinary journey.
Follow Momcult on Instagram @momcultpodcast.
Sarah and Joy sit down with Joy’s mom, Risty, for Mother’s Day!! From pottery, to poetry, to decorating and crafting, Risty always has to have a creative project to keep her sane. She shares with us everything from giving birth unconsciously (at 21, no less) to homeschooling to menopause. It’s impossible not to have a great time with “Risty Business” and we think you’ll agree! Join us!
Follow Momcult on Instagram @momcultpodcast.
Sarah and Joy have the incredible honor of sitting down with the South Georgian, Beauty Queen, cattle-raising, pity-hating, wine savant that is Traci Hilton. In 2020 her husband, Brent, was diagnosed with Stage 4 Glioblastoma. They were able to share 3 more priceless years together, raising their 2 girls and this month marks the one year of Brent passing on. Traci saw the podcast as an opportunity to memorialize, honor, grieve and celebrate what this last chapter has been for her and WOW what a gift. We chat about everything under the sun from what she loves/hates to hear as a widow, the importance of regulating your body, macrobiotics, watching Bridgerton with your mom and so much more.
Follow Momcult on Instagram @momcultpodcast.
Special guest Mackenzie K Moore has entered the battleground of getting her daughter dressed, Sarah is googling what makes a serial killer and Joy is apparently a manifestor, no big deal. From birth stories to breast-feeding guilt it’s a fabulous time as always.
Follow Momcult on Instagram @momcultpodcast.
Sarah hasn’t slept, Joy is feeling guilty per usual and indie-pop artist Erin McCarley needs a more efficient way to pack. We cover a lot in this episode from breath work to higher powers to how cruelly we can speak to our inner child.
About Erin McCarley:
Erin McCarley is an indie-pop artist and songwriter. While signed to Universal Republic, she released her records “Love Save The Empty” and “My Stadium Electric”, toured extensively, and played the Late Night Show, The Tonight Show, Coachella, etc. Since venturing out on her own, she released her last album Yu Yi independently along with numerous singles that have gone on to be showcased in the Film and TV world such as Grey’s Anatomy, He’s Just Not That Into You, Vampire Diaries, Pretty Little Liars, Dancing w/the Stars, Victoria’s Secret, SOMA and KELLOGG commercials, movie trailers, etc. She appeared in the show “Nashville” and wrote several songs featured in the show.
Receiving praise from the likes of the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today, Nylon Magazine, and Time, she is currently spending time writing for a new project of her own and writing for other artists. Erin lives with her husband and fellow musician, K.S. Rhoads, and 4 year old daughter Ziggy.
Follow Momcult on Instagram @momcultpodcast.
Sarah introduced Parker to The Cranberries and is maybe regretting it, Jenny is all about “following the energy” and Joy is a little bummed to not be the “Sleepover House”.
Follow Momcult on Instagram @momcultpodcast.
Sarah’s wondering if she exists creatively anymore, Joy can’t keep her calendar straight, and guest Margaret French is struggling to get her kids off to school in the mornings. The girls talk about feelings of inadequacy, regulating emotional outbursts, and the different levels of self care. Join us.
About our guest:
Margaret is a wife and mom, actor, singer, improvisor (you can catch her often Third Coast Comedy Club), sometimes writer and native Nashvillian. She has three children 8,6,4 – who all just had birthdays within 5 weeks of each other and Christmas — she would like to never set foot in Target again. She doesn’t know how she is already fully in elementary school mom life because she is definitely still 27. She is sort of a stay at home mom, until she isn’t. All depends on the season or the gig. She loves working out, and swears by it for her sanity, re-arranging her house, being married to Gavin and has started reading again now that her children are getting older.
Follow Momcult on Instagram @momcultpodcast.
Joy and Sarah pop into the office of Tatum Hauck Allsep, Sarah’s big sister, and the founder/CEO of Music Health Alliance. Tatum shares the traumatic birth story of her twins at 28 weeks and what led her to escape an abusive marriage. But don’t worry, to lighten it up she also tells some pretty good stories about Sarah so this one has it ALL!
About our guest:
Tatum Hauck Allsep is the Founder/CEO of Music Health Alliance, a non-profit organization that removes barriers and finds healthcare solutions to Heal The Music. Now MHA is a team of 18 that has served over 25,000 music industry professionals in their most vulnerable time of need saving almost $130 million in healthcare costs in only 11 years. Tatum is a native of South Mississippi, an honors graduate of Vanderbilt University and a twenty-eight-year veteran of the music business. Her career includes 6 years with MCA Records, several years as an artist manager, and the launch of the first-ever Vanderbilt University Medical Center/ Children’s Hospital Music Industry Relations Department where she pioneered a number of impactful programs that are still going strong. In 2012, after overcoming her own healthcare crisis, Tatum left the for-profit world to build Music Health Alliance. Through MHA, Tatum initiated a new model of healthcare support whose outcomes have garnered national accolades and recognition, however, the greatest achievement for Tatum will always be found in the clients whose lives have been positively impacted by the work of Music Health Alliance.
Tatum is both humbled and honored to have received the CMA Humanitarian Award for MHA’s work during the pandemic as well as the following recognition for the work of MHA: Billboard’s Top Women In Music & Top 100 Country Power Players (3 years), Billboard’s “Forward Facing Careers”, MusicRow’s Rising Women On The Row, Nashville Post’s Top 10 Non-Profit Leaders(5th year), NBJs Healthcare Leaders Award (5th year), NBJ’s Women of Music City (3rd year), NBJ’s Women of Influence, WSM National Volunteer Award, National Org. of Workforce Diversity’s Healthcare Innovation Award and Williamson Source’s Community Hero. Tatum has served on a number of Boards including Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College Alumni Board. She’s served on the Advisory Boards of Country Cares for St. Jude Kids & Musicians on Call among others. Tatum is a graduate of Leadership Music and a member of the NARAS, CMA, ACM, SOURCE, GMA, AMA and the National Association of Healthcare Advocates. Tatum is married to the love of her life and has three wild children.
Follow Momcult on Instagram @momcultpodcast.
Des Stauffer shares with us her journey through denial and grief after discovering, around 20 weeks into her pregnancy, that her daughter Ivy’s cerebellum wasn’t developing at the typical rate. She shares how little help and preparation she received from the medical community and how her faith and her village make her day to day life possible.
Now a mom of two (Lily 18, Ivy 8), Stauffer jumped in with us during the snowpocalypse (she lives in Michigan & would be unimpressed by TN’s winter vortex, but is kind enough not to make fun of our week out of school for a few inches) to talk a little about blended families, teenage oversharing, and share so much thoughtful, learned insight from her experience as a mom to Ivy, her wild, funny, neurodivergent, strong-willed, differently-abled, music-loving, extroverted, youngest daughter.
Follow Momcult on Instagram @momcultpodcast.
The gals do a quick post-holiday check in. Sarah has just gotten back from a trip to Michigan and is gearing up for another one, Joy wrote a dramatic Christmas card to her mom, and they are both feeling a general inadequacy/shame about the holidays.
Follow Momcult on Instagram @momcultpodcast.
Joy, Sarah and Jenny talk about how motherhood exposes all of your inadequacies. Sarah is concerned about bullying, Joy feels the silliness slipping from her relationship with Eva and Jenny is writing a new book. Join us!
Follow Momcult on Instagram @momcultpodcast.
Joy and Sarah and joined by Tabitha Ong-Tune. Having originally not planned on having children, she walks us through how that changed, her difficultly getting pregnant, and the birth of her son that put her life in jeopardy.
About our guest
Tabitha Ong Tune is a middle-aged mom to a young child in Nashville, TN. When not helping hospitality businesses and creatives navigate social media, you’ll find her voraciously consuming food, coffee and pop-culture; she loves too many tv shows and movies to list, and will talk your ear off about Hamilton: An American Musical. Born and raised in Singapore, Tabitha credits her current residence (and surname) to her Nashville native husband.
Follow Momcult on Instagram @momcultpodcast.
The girls are stoked to be joined by singer/songwriter Leigh Nash! You may know her from her hit song “Kiss Me” by Sixpence none the Richer. She is currently on the road guesting for 10’000 Maniacs in attempts to survive being an empty-nester. Joy has to rearrange the nursery and Sarah is tired of being the bad cop. Leigh shares the anxiety she felt during pregnancy, the ebb and flow of motherhood and her fascination for Goblins. She’s also still looking for her placenta. If found, please reach out.
About our guest
For nearly 25 years Leigh Nash’s instantly recognizable voice has been a fixture in modern pop, from her days as frontwoman for Sixpence None The Richer to her more recent offerings as a songwriter and solo recording artist.
Rooted in Americana sounds that previously underscored albums like 2015’s The State I’m In (her first Top 40 hit on Billboard’s country chart), The Tide, Vol. 1 found Nash collaborating with icons like Vince Gill and Tanya Tucker, gospel singer CeCe Winans, Raul Malo, Stephen Wilson Jr., Matt Maher and the Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Ruby Amafu.
The record also earned Nash her first appearance at the Grand Ole Opry, marking another milestone for a lifelong musician who recorded platinum-certified hits like “Kiss Me” while in her early twenties. She is currently on the road fronting 10,000 Maniacs and working on a new Sixpence record.
Follow Momcult on Instagram @momcultpodcast.
Hot yoga instructor and wellness coach, Lindsey Rhodes shares her complicated and traumatic experience with IVF. She discusses what she wishes she would have been prepared for from selecting a sperm donor to the shots and regiment, to the miscarriages. If you are considering IVF or know someone who is, this episode is for you!
About our guest:
Lindsey Rhodes is a Yoga instructor at Hot Yoga East Nashville. She has lived in Nashville for 10 years and is in a queer same-sex marriage with 2 children! Alongside her yoga teachings, she is a holistic food and wellness coach. She has a love for cooking, reading, thrifting and music and while she considers herself an extrovert, she definitely needs her alone time.
Follow Momcult on Instagram @momcultpodcast.
Joy, Sarah and Jenny are mixing things up this season! Rather than discuss previous episodes, they are using this time as a “mom therapy” session where they can broach topics they are currently dealing with and are happy to take suggestions from other moms as well.. so write to them on Instagram!
This episode, Joy and Sarah finally get a chance to sit down with Jenny, who isn’t doing great, but hey there’s value in getting advice from someone who’s hit rock bottom, right? The gals discuss the idea of sacrifice, how that differs between partners and that forgiveness is the key. Jenny also challenges moms to take a 2 week solo trip every year… please write to us and tell us how that goes.
Follow Momcult on Instagram @momcultpodcast.
If you’ve lived in Nashville for a while chances are you’ve heard of Shelly Colvin. She is a musician and singer-songwriter who has collaborated with artists from Nikki Lane to John Prine. Her world came to a halt in 2020, more than most, when she got a call that her husband Jeff and son Judge had been in a life-threatening hiking accident. This is her first time sitting down to tell everybody her story and needless to say we felt very honored to share the room with her.
About our guest: Shelly Colvin is a Nashville-based philanthropist and creative. She worked for over a decade as a professional singer-songwriter and musician, writing and recording her own music, as well as touring and collaborating with artists from Nikki Lane to John Prine, among others. Currently Shelly spends her time working for the non-profit she co-founded with her husband (music attorney, Jeff Colvin), Out of the Woods, while continuing to consult for a number of lifestyle brands. Shelly also serves as an advisory board member at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
Follow Momcult on Instagram @momcultpodcast.
Joy and Sarah interview longtime friend Liz Stoner with 2 of her 5 babies in tow. Liz shares how she has finally settled into the title and identity of “Mother” and how she views what others might see as chaos as their own little beautiful clubhouse.
About our guest: Liz Stoner is a Korean American army brat born to Chong Mi and Joseph Carl. She went to school for Art and Education with a minor in English. She has been married for 10 years and in that time has given birth to 5 beautiful children all while traveling the states. She has a strong heart her family and calls herself an optimist.
Follow these Liz Stoner related accounts:
@FacePaintingMostSupreme
@BrandonReidMusic
@All.Tree.Plus
Follow Momcult on Instagram @momcultpodcast.
Joy and Sarah interview Trained Herbalist Leah Larabell, who shares with us what led her to be so passionate about nature and all it has to offer and opens up about her difficulty to conceive. She gives us some easy tips on how to prepare our immune systems for the winter.
Jenny has been busy with speaking engagements, Sarah has been forced to find a new appreciation for King Kong and Joy’s toddler tried to run her over. Let the party commence!! Join us. Oh and if you wanna have a REAL good time… take a shot every time we say “pickle”.
Follow Momcult on Instagram @momcultpodcast.
Exciting announcement! The Mom Cult Mother’s Day Dinner will be Sunday, May 21st. In partnership with Molly Martin of Juniper Green Kitchen at her gorgeous new location in Bell’s Bend, you are invited! Real moms. Real talk. Real tasty. RSVP info available here.
Elementary school principal and mother of three, Kellee Akers, sits down with Joy and Sarah to share her method of madness when it comes to caring for so many young people at one time. She talks about how soap operas influenced her career choice, how she never really planned on having kids and how she has always struggled to rest. That’s just the tip of the iceberg so don’t miss this one.
About our guest: Kellee’s a 25 year urban public school educator, currently an elementary school principal, mother of three teenagers, and married to Richard for a long time. She’s been renovating an old house for 20 years, trying to be a gardner, and in a constant war with dirty dishes and laundry. She’s still trying to have it all and look fab doing it. Her animals are naughty and so are her kids sometimes. She believes balance is a knob on the radio. Kellee likes the concept of having friends but struggles with the implementation. Hobbies and “me time” are aspirational at this point.
Follow Momcult on Instagram @momcultpodcast.
Exciting announcement! The Mom Cult Mother’s Day Dinner will be Sunday, May 21st. In partnership with Molly Martin of Juniper Green Kitchen at her gorgeous new location in Bell’s Bend, you are invited! Real moms. Real talk. Real tasty. RSVP info available here.
The girls piggyback off of Stephanie’s episode and discuss the difficulty of managing schedules, after school activities and the exhaustion we feel from trying to do it all the “right/best” way. We talk about finding your inner voice and how important it is to be witness to the good things.
Follow Momcult on Instagram @momcultpodcast.
Sarah gives an Oscar-worthy intro to this month’s guest and dear friend, Stephanie Melidis Wilson. Searching for the life you want is no easy task and as parents it can often feel like the odds are stacked against us. Stephanie shares some of her journey with us from miscarriage to mental health and nutrition, and the general struggle to manage it all.
Follow Momcult on Instagram @momcultpodcast.
The gals rehash the concept of “letting go” and how to know when we are stifling ourselves from what we actually want. Joy is reinventing her version of success, Sarah is investing in hula hoops and Jenny tells us more about the Gab phone.
Follow Momcult on Instagram @momcultpodcast.
Sarah and Joy are joined by musician, world-traveler and overall good hang, Emily Kopp (Lowen). She walks us through the beautiful, wild process of making a baby with her partner, Robyn & how it felt to support her from donor selection to insemination, all the way to birth.
Follow Momcult on Instagram @momcultpodcast.
Jenny shares how much she’s been wanting to meet our latest guest and how it led her to share more of her story. We talk about the importance of everyone having space and how every trauma has a gift.
Follow Momcult on Instagram @momcultpodcast.
Caroline Locorriere is officially the No.1 fan of the Momcult Podcast and she is bitter that she didn’t make it on as a guest until now. Thankfully she delighted us with her presence regardless. Caroline is a single mother to her 11yr old son. She shares with us her deepest mom shame, how she would parent if she got another chance at it and teaches us the “Hot Cocoa Exercise”.
Follow Momcult on Instagram @momcultpodcast.
Jenny shares her journey of trying to change her relationship with fear. We talk about the marriage cycle and how important it is to have relationships that allow for change, and how it’s more important than ever to tune in with our motherly intuition. Joy just started using a Mothers Day Out and Sarah is working through some pet grief.
Follow Momcult on Instagram @momcultpodcast.
Nico is a trans man who came out several years after giving birth to his son. He shares with us about his journey to live authentically, heal old traumas, and learning how to avoid the shame spiral.
Follow Momcult on Instagram @momcultpodcast.
The gals rehash how incredibly Jessie handles her grief. Sarah writes poetry, Joy doesn’t wanna read Jenny’s book and we discuss the parent/child/adult triangle.
Follow Momcult on Instagram @momcultpodcast.
Once again, Joy and Sarah get to sit back down with Jessie Busbee and discuss life and motherhood after loss.
Joy and Sarah are joined by dear friend Jessie Busbee, who walks them through what it’s been like raising her 3 girls in the midst of losing her husband to Glioblastoma in 2019.
Sarah is working on managing her anxiety, Joy finds a new use for Jolly Ranchers and Jenny’s book is officially on Amazon!
Joy and Sarah sit down with Kate Mills to gab about her role as the mother of a blended family and how it felt sending her kiddos off to college recently.
Jenny has new hair and took a trip out west. Joy’s tooth fairy experience comes to a close (for now) and they discuss the generational pressure to “stay informed” while also trying to be present for our kids.
Joy and Sarah jump right in with long time friend, Andrea Fecht. Sarah talks about her visit to a psychic and Joy is tired of being the tooth fairy.
Joy and Sarah are joined by their first dad in honor of Father’s Day. Writer, director and actor, Jesse Santoyo is a single father to 3 boys. He shares with us the ups and downs from the other side of the aisle.
Jenny, Joy and Sarah discuss the stress of packing school lunches, the importance of who you get your advice from and motherhood as strength training.
Joy and Sarah interview their 1st pregnant mom, Katie Schecter! She talks about her crazy pregnancy dreams, swollen feet, and the illusion of feeling ready.
Jenny joins Sarah and Joy to swoon over the twins’ incredible story of true love. Jenny updates us on how her Ted Talk went.
Joy and Sarah sit down with Joy’s twin cousins who share their cancer and surrogacy journey with us.
Joy, Sarah and Jenny talk about the idea of the “right-sized” anger as well as some dirty-facting on the Buddhist concept of The Watcher and The Doer as it pertains to mom guilt.
Sarah and Joy are joined by nurse practitioner and mother of one, Haylee Young. They get into the difficulty of transitions, pushing boundaries, and the struggle of finding your way back to yourself after kids.
Licensed therapist Jenny Black joins to discuss the haziness of Mom Guilt and a hack for teach consequences.
Choreographer and more importantly Joy’s neighbor, Tyler shares her brief journey through IVF, her love of being pregnant, and the difficulty to remain creative as a mom let alone during a pandemic.
Joy and Sarah find themselves without marriage and family therapist Jenny Black but still manage to reflect on their chat with Caitlin Mello.
A single mom from day one, Caitlin Mello joins Sarah and Joy to share her unexpected journey into motherhood and how she’s continued to pave her own path ever since.
Discussing the Momcult episode with Julia Vega, all about processing grief, managing expectations and the fingerprints our moms leave behind on us.
Joy and Sarah talk with guest Julia Vega about the sudden loss of her mother and the new responsibilities she faces as the now legal guardian of her little sister.
Licensed marriage and family therapist Jenny Black reflects on the Mom Cult episode with Alexis Paulson.
This week Sarah and Joy are joined by one of Joy’s oldest childhood friends, Alexis Paulson. Listen in as she so graciously walks us through the difficult birth of her first child and the healing that came with her second.
Licensed marriage and family therapist Jenny Black joins us to add additional insights into our chat with Shannon Ware.
Join Momcult as they chat with business owner Shannon Ware about her life as a working mom with 2 daughters and the struggle to manage it all.
Licensed marriage and family therapist Jenny Black joins us to add additional insights into our chat with Shannon Lee Miller.
Ghostwriter and developmental editor Shannon Lee Miller comes in to talk about her life as a mom of three and shares a few of the triumphs, trials, and some of the messier parts of motherhood. Join us!
Sarah and Joy introduce themselves and reminisce with licensed marriage and family therapist Jenny Black about some of the hardest phases of her motherhood journey.