Mic'd Up Moms: Recent Episodes
FOX 19 News
Whether it's the terrible twos or the terrifying teens.... Momming is a full - time job... then add to it the early wake-up calls for work in morning news and everything else life brings... this is the time for moms to come together and just talk it out.
Fox19 Now's Lauren Minor and Catherine Bodak are in it with you, navigating parenthood, friendship, Mom hacks and lessons learned while growing with their kids.
These mic'd up Moms have a lot to say.
This week, Lauren chats with the co-founder of Future Fans, Mike Schroder. Future Fans is a brand that was inspired by the Bengals’ magical run to the Super Bowl in January 2022. Mike is a lifelong fan of the team, a Cincy native, and a dad of three. He has created a way to help kids understand football in fun and unique ways, all through a storybook-led experience.
Fitness can easily find its way to the bottom of our to-do list. This week, Lauren sits down with Kelly Plataniotis, the owner of FIT4MOM Northern Kentucky. FIT4MOM provides fitness classes designed for moms, by moms, built around bringing your little ones to class. The franchise also offers a supportive community for moms and our kids.
Candice Terrell, the owner/operator of Fierce Marketing, sits down with Lauren this week. Candice works with buisness owners and non-profits from all over the Tri-state. They chat about everything from farm animals on the loose, to a 15 minute phone conversation with one of Lauren's twins. They had a lot to catch up on!
Balancing work and family is never easy, which is why it's important to have friends you can lean on! Erica Collura has worked as a meteorologist in the Tri-state area for years and is a mom of two beautiful girls! She sat down with Lauren this week to chat about family, work, life with multiples, and how to maintain a social life!
Dan Wells joins Lauren on the podcast this week! They talk about everything from parenting to working alongside your best friend. Dan also teaches Lauren how to easily annoy people with one simple text.
Catherine Bodak is back (briefly) and stopped by the station to give an update on baby Jasper! Ken Brown and Lauren Minor learn about the close call, where she almost gave birth at FOX 19! They also give Catherine tips on little boys, like how to avoid being peed on.
You can catch her weekday mornings on Cincinnati's Q102, Jennifer Fritsch sits down with Lauren this week! They chat about being a working mom, parenting, finding work/life balance and their love for the Queen City!
Jeremy Rauch joins Lauren on the podcast this week! Jeremy talks about parenting, his family's recent trip to Disney World, his success in intramural sports, and how he balances work/home life!
Baby Jasper has arrived! Catherine Bodak welcomed her baby boy into the world on March 2nd. While Catherine is on maternity leave, Lauren will have a guest host each week. Media personality Ask Ashlee, joined her this week to talk about the importance of morning affirmations and the transitions we go through as parents.
The Fox 19 family will be welcoming a new addition this week!
Catherine learns a new pregnancy term, as she counts down the days until her baby boy arrives.
Lauren also dives into Kristen Cavallari’s dating life, while also reflecting on old VH1 and MTV reality shows.
In episode 58 of Mic'd of Moms Lauren shares how she is currently dealing with sick kids. Catherine keeps listeners updated on her pregnancy countdown and the generous baby clothes donations she's received from Lauren. They also discuss the show "Love is Blind" and doppelgängers.
This week on Mic'd Up Moms, Catherine gives a quick update on her pregnancy and Lauren talks about what is in store for the podcast while Catherine is on maternity leave. They also chat about their Valentine's Day plans and what their kids will be doing. Plus, they talk about the Super Bowl and Usher's halftime show.
Tanya Kennedy Gill joins Lauren and Catherine for episode 56 of Mic'd Up Moms! Tanya lost her son Christian to cancer when he was 19 months. She started the Christian Kennedy Graham Memorial Toy Drive in his honor and donates toys and funds to Cincinnati Children’s and The Dragonfly Foundation. We learn about "Spot" who made Christian smile during cancer treatments at Cincinnati Children’s and Jackson, Christian's younger brother, who has brought so much joy.
Lauren and Catherine chat with Sydney Turnbull this week! Sydney is co-owner of Carl's Deli in Hyde Park and a coach at Orange Theory Fitness. She has two daughters ages three and a year and a half. Sydney talks about how she partnered with her sister to continue the legacy of a business that has been around since 1938 and shares her expertise on staying healthy and fit after having kids.
Lauren and Catherine welcome Chef Kayla Robison in episode 54 of Mic’d Up Moms! She is renowned for her culinary prowess and a winner on both Guys Grocery Games and Chopped on Food Network. She talks about raising her teenage daughter as a single mom and what is like to be in a relationship with another chef. Chef Kayla shares some of her favorite places to eat and whats happening with Cincinnati's vibrant culinary scene.
This is episode 53 of Mic’d Up Moms! Catherine and Lauren welcome Mila from Mitchell's Salon & Day Spa. Mila is an Artistic Director and mentor and has been Catherine's hair stylist for nearly 10 years. Mila talks about her career and navigating motherhood with twin girls and a five-year-old boy. Also, Lauren shares her recent battle with black slime.
Lauren and Catherine are back after taking a short break. They catch up with each other and share how they spent Christmas and New Years. Lauren teaches us about a "spaghetti dinner dump" and Catherine gives us a pregnancy update (now at 8 months).
It is the last episode of Mic'd Up Moms in 2023! In episode 51 you'll get an update on what's going on in their lives. Lauren continues the "lazy" elf on the shelf saga. The kids are so excited to find the elf that they are getting up at 3 AM. Catherine's daughter's new favorite game involves a "magic wand" and turning people into into animals.
Episode 50 of Mic'd Up Moms kicks things off with Lauren worrying about how she may have accidentally flashed the entire control room, setting the tone for a lighthearted discussion about embarrassing moments, many involving bodily functions. We learn that Lauren has a lazy Elf on the Shelf and how going to see the Nutcracker with her boys maybe wasn’t a good idea. Catherine talks about Makena's fear of Santa and how she is really getting into Octonauts.
In episode 49 of Mic'd Up Moms, we hear about Lauren's recent girls' trip to Fort Myers. They talk about prepping for the holidays and how, no matter how hard you try to keep things hidden, curious kids seem to always find it. This reminds Lauren of the time she found her grandpa's Toupee. Catherine talks about how much Makena likes kinetic sand and the battle to keep it out of the carpet.
In Episode 48 of Mic’d Up Moms, Lauren and Catherine catch up on the latest with Catherine's pregnancy, now 6 months in. They also talk about their Thanksgiving plans and the joy of letting others take charge in the kitchen.
November is Prematurity Awareness Month. This week, Catherine and Lauren are joined with Erin Houser. Erin is a nurse at Mercy Health and works in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). She talks about the challenges and joys that come from working in such an intense environment. Work in the NICU is always emotional but became personal when Erin's now 10 month baby girl experienced complications after birth.
This week, Lauren and Catherine welcome Jeanine from TheCityMoms. She is a mom to a 16 year old son and 13 year old daughter. 10 years ago Jeanine started an online community of moms that support each other. The group has grown to around 2000 members from all over the country. She also talks "The Wild West" of raising two teens, about the time she was on The Drew Barrymore show, and how awesome Great Wolf Lodge's pizza is!
This week, Lauren and Catherine are joined by Robin Burrow. Robin is a former elementary school teacher and principal. She is also the mother of 3 boys, plays a key role in running the Joe Burrow Foundation and of course never misses a Bengals game. Lauren and Robin talk about the anxiety of watching their boys get hit on the football field. Catherine asks if Joe did his chores growing up. Robin shares several bits of important parenting advice about routines, communication, education and building a support group through family, friends and sports. We also hear a cute Halloween story, find out Joe’s favorite foods and learn about the board game Battleball.
This week, Lauren and Catherine are joined by Danielle Lewis Jones. She is the head of communications for Kroger Health and former senior media relations associate at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. After the loss of her infant son named Christopher, who was born with multiple congenital abnormalities, she started The Angel Baby Network which provides families grieving an infant loss with an opportunity to connect with other parents going through similar circumstances. Also, in this episode Lauren opens up about her daughter Kyla Hope who passed away from SIDS at 3.5 months.
In episode 43 of Mic’d Up Moms, Catherine talks about her recent family camping trip to The Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Lauren tells us about her family's creative Halloween costume plans. They also discuss the emotional rollercoaster of children's sports and the general exhaustion they feel balancing family and work.
It is a Mic'd Up Parents week with Mo Egger. Lauren and Catherine chat with Mo about his 6 year old daughter and how he met his wife. We also find out how he discovered the Mic’d Up Moms podcast. Mo is a Cincinnati radio veteran and can be heard on ESPN1530, 700WLW and ESPN Radio. He is also a host of The Mo Egger Podcast.
In episode 41 of Mic’d Up Moms, Catherine and Lauren are joined by Brenda Hunda, Ph.D., curator of invertebrate paleontology at Cincinnati Museum Center. Brenda’s work includes research, fieldwork, educational outreach, and the organization of a vast collection of fossils. She is also a mom of three with stepsons aged 19 and 21 and a 9-year-old daughter. And if that's not impressive enough, she's also a second-degree black belt in martial arts.
This is episode 40 of Mic'd Up Moms! Lauren and Catherine chat about the challenges of pregnancy weight, finding time to work out, and the hurdles of returning to work after maternity leave.
In this episode of Mic'd Up Moms, Lauren is just getting back to work after a surgery to fix a deviate septum. Hear about the ups and downs of her week spent recovering at home. Catherine has the story of her toddler's epic meltdown over a muffin. The two also talk a bit about their experiences during childbirth.
Catherine and Lauren welcome Sarah Cox from Rustic Grains! Sarah and her husband Daniel are rebuilding their business after losing their house and shop to a fire. Hear how their faith and a strong family unit (4 kids aged 11, 9, 5, 1) have helped them bounce back. Currently they are gearing up for their Mustard Seed Market.
This week on Mic'd Up Moms, Catherine and Lauren talk about their recent challenges with discipline. They also chat about their plans to celebrate September birthdays. And Catherine has some news about her pregancy - she knows the gender!
Catherine and Lauren are happy to welcome Amy and Jayme this week on Mic'd Up Moms! Amy and Jayme organize and run the Charm at the Farm Vintage Market - an open air shopping event featuring local artisans and located on a 56 acre farm in Lebanon, Ohio. Amy is a mom of 2 girls (13 and 6) a boy (9) and Jayme is mom to 4 girls (14, 13, 11 and 8).
It is time for Lauren and Catherine to send their kids (and husbands) back to school. Catherine talks about the challenges of sending her daughter to daycare and a zoo trip that ended quickly. Lauren also talks about her recent church visit. Both moms talk about collecting sentimental items.
On this week's episode Lauren and Catherine are joined with Mallori and Brittany from Blue Ash Dental. They talk about children's dental care and provide tips for maintaining clean and healthy teeth. They stress the importance of setting a strong foundation for their oral health.
In this week's episode, Catherine talks about her recent adventure on the Lake Superior Circle Tour. She updates us on her pregnancy, which is still in its early stages, and mentions that there is the possibility of twins! As a mom of twins herself, Lauren is excited to hear this news and remembers the shenanigans that unfolded during her gender reveal party.
Join hosts Lauren and Catherine on Episode 32 of Mic'd Up Moms as they take a trip down memory lane. This special episode revisits the diverse perspectives and experiences of past guests and sets the stage for even more exciting interviews to come! Special thanks to our guests!! (In order of appearance) Frank Marzullo, Sugar Renee, Ask Ashlee, Ken Brown, Toria Cannon, Kathrine Nero, Corey McConnell-Best, Dan Wells, Megan O'Rourke, Cody Hefner, Candice Hare and Alison Montoya!
In this episode, Catherine has a special announcement – she's pregnant! Cue the cheers, tears, and overwhelming excitement! Lauren remembers what it was like finding out she was having twins - from initial shock to so much goodness!
In episode 30 of Mic'd Up Moms Lauren and Catherine talk about some of the challenges they faced during the summer season. Catherine talks about the struggle to maintain a routine (especially a sleep schedule). Lauren shares her recent bout of "mom guilt" and they both chat about the quest for personal time amidst the chaos.
This week, Catherine and Lauren sit down with Alison Montoya, a devoted mother of two girls and a seasoned professional in the media industry. She shares her experiences raising a first and third-grader. Alison also takes us behind the scenes of one of the most memorable moments in her career—Super Bowl LVI. Plus we learn about how Alison met her "banana daddy."
This week, Mic'd Up Moms welcomes Candice Hare. Candice is a Fox 19 investigative reporter and a mother to an 11-year-old girl. Her career has taken her across the world to far away places like Australia and Hong Kong. She shares her experiences managing a long-distance relationship with her daughter and the absolute joy when she visits. Candice is also a sports fan and shares a fun story about her connection to Joe Burrow.
Lauren and Catherine kick off the show by addressing the biggest news in town—Taylor Swift's highly anticipated concert in Cincinnati. They discuss the pros and cons of tracking your child's where-abouts. Plus, Lauren shares the unforgettable moment when she realized that her home is with the FOX19 NOW family.
In this episode, Lauren and Catherine take a break from guest interviews and do a little catching up. They reminisce about the magical moments when their husbands proposed. Once again, Lauren passionately discusses the importance of an air fryer and Catherine shares an adorable story about her toddler's interpretation of what a "hamburger" really is. Lauren faces a momentary memory lapse and calls her husband to confirm the birth dates of their twins.
Cody Hefner joins Lauren and Catherine on episode 25 of Mic'd Up Moms. Cody has nearly 12 years of experience working at both the National Underground Freedom Center and the Cincinnati Museum Center. Cody is also a dedicated father and shares his heartfelt approach to the complexities of a blended family. Lauren shares her recent hilariously embarrassing moment infront of Evan McPherson!
In this week's episode of Mic'd Up Moms, hosts Lauren and Catherine sit down with guest, Megan O'Rourke. Megan talks about stepping into the role of a stepmom to now an 11-year-old. Megan, a Cincinnati native and former reporter and fill-in anchor at FOX19 from 2014 to 2016, shares her experiences of transitioning into an "instant parent" when she married her husband, also a Cincinnati native. After spending seven years in Dayton, Ohio, Megan and her husband made the decision to return to their hometown. Megan herself grew up in rural Greene County and proudly graduated from Xenia High School. As an accomplished professional, Megan sheds light on the complexities of finding a balance between her demanding job and being present for her stepchild's soccer and basketball games.
Episode 23 welcomes Dan Wells (a morning news veteran with 15 years and counting at Fox19). Dan and his wife Megan have two teenage girls that keep them busy with sporting events and other activities but he says it's all worth it -- so what if you only get a few hours of sleep! We hear about how Cincinnati is perfect for raising a family, the annual "wells-o-ween" party and of course Lauren has some stories to share!
In this episode, Lauren and Catherine recount their hectic week filled with unexpected challenges. Catherine dives into the detective work of identifying the cause of her daughter's allergies. Meanwhile, Lauren shares her misadventures in dealing with her vomiting twins. They try to decide if playing with glitter is worth the clean-up effort. Also, Lauren opens up about a recent challenging decision her and her family had to make.
This week, join Lauren and Catherine as they welcome their special guest, Corey McConnell-Best. After her reporting days at FOX19, Corey took a hiatus from her career and relocated to Florida. However, the call of Cincinnati eventually brought her back, and she embarked on the journey of reestablishing her professional life while balancing the responsibilities of motherhood. Now, as the Director of Public Relations at Northern Kentucky University, Corey opens up about her experiences of raising three children while successfully reentering the workforce.
In the 20th episode of Mic'd Up Moms, Catherine and Lauren dive into listener questions! They discuss their strategies for managing schedules, the struggles of scrapbooking and what "date night" means to them. Also, Lauren also shares her exciting achievement of completing a 10K race in the Flying Pig Marathon.
In the latest episode of Mic’d up Moms Catherine and Lauren talk with broadcasting veteran, Kathrine Nero. Kathrine shares her own experience of abruptly leaving the broadcast industry after 20+ years, battles with breast cancer, parenting two daughters of the "snapchat generation" and the power of naps! With this great conversation going on, Frank Marzullo can’t resist popping into the podcast studio.
Kathrine Nero's Website
Kathrine's Instagram
In episode 18 of Mic'd Up Moms, Lauren and Catherine share personal stories and experiences. Lauren opens up about her daughter, Kyla Hope, who passed away from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and would have been 14 years old this year. Both moms share stories about their days in school and how they still get excited for summer. They might not get a summer break but their school teacher husbands do! And of course, some silly antics from the kids including yelling “we’re going to crash” while their airplane lands.
In episode 17 of "Mic'd Up Moms," hosts Lauren and Catherine welcome guest Toria Cannon to the podcast studio. We chat about balancing her busy schedule with her husband Jon's, her decade of experience in broadcasting in Cincinnati, and her journey as a mom to her adorable daughter Elle, who is about to turn two. It turns out Elle has a love for music (of course she does with her parents!) and Rihanna is one of her favorites. As always, we hope you can relate to our stories and reach out on social media to share yours!
Toria's Instagram
In episode 16 Lauren and Catherine dive into the topic of taking road trips with family. Catherine recently went to Grayson Highlands and shares her experiences and tips for a successful trip. Lauren is in the planning stages for a road trip to Fort Myers and shares her preparations and expectations. They discuss the challenges of disciplining kids while on vacation and they talk about the importance of making sure you have everything you need!
This is episode 15! Lauren and Catherine share their bedtime routine, sleep tips and discuss sleep training. They also agree that low-budget YouTube videos are sometimes hard to watch given their backgrounds in TV and appreciate higher production values. Lauren shares a laundry hack that has made her life a little easier.
In the latest episode of Mic'd Up Moms, hosts Lauren and Catherine chat about the humorous, lighthearted and reassuring book "There Are Moms Way Worse Than You" by Glenn Boozan. They find out that the natural world is filled with moms worse than you! Throughout the episode, Lauren and Catherine share their own funny and relatable parenting stories.
Welcome to Episode 13 of Mic'd Up Moms! In this episode, Lauren and Catherine are joined by special guest Ken Brown, a father of two young children, Kiera (18 months) and Kenny (three and a half) - Ken shares his experience of working weekend mornings and trying to balance his schedule while dropping his kids off at daycare. Lauren describes what "toolbox snails" are and Catherine shares how mac and cheese is the perfect breakfast food.
This week, Catherine and Lauren welcome another guest to Mic'd Up Moms. In Episode 12 they get to Ask Ashlee! She has raised 2 biological children into their teens and two bonus babies! Her outreach and daily affirmations reach from Cincinnati all the way across the pond in Manchester England! You may know her from her weekly weekend morning segment on FOX19 but she is also a speaker, host and author - catch her advice column in The Cincinnati Herald. She’s a supermom that does it all!
More about Ask Ashlee!
In episode eleven, Lauren and Catherine take a break from News and Weather to play "Never have I ever" - But this time, with parent questions! This week, you'll find out if Catherine or Lauren have ever "Lost" a toy on purpose and how many times they volunteer to run an errand just to get away. Lauren shares the best ways to deal with bodily functions. Catherine relates to Bluey as Lauren remembers back to her days watching Selena and Demi on Barney. And they both share their favorite Nicholas Cage memes.
Mom, podcaster, author, singer/song writer, poet Sugar Renee joins Lauren and Catherine on this week's episode. Her podcast 513 Heartbeat: Speaker Box of The Soul is motivational and educational! Sugar Renee talks about how webtoons are a way to unwind and help bring her and her 13-year-old daughter closer together! She also touches on adding 2 nieces and 4 nephews to her busy schedule and the importance of art. Plus she shares where to find a great taco in Cincinnati!
Listen to 513 Heartbeat Here!
The ninth episode of Mic'd Up Moms has Catherine and Lauren answering questions from listeners! Anything from keeping your kids on a leash to tattoos. Their awesome listeners ask about free activities for kids, dealing with public tantrums and why Catherine and Lauren pursued their careers. Lauren regals listeners with the art of window screen cutting. Catherine recalls her power trip calling a rain delay during the All Star Games.
Lauren and Catherine have their first guest -- And it's Frank Marzullo! On this episode, Lauren and Frank chat about having a full house with 4 kids. Frank's family is like the Brady Bunch - minus Alice. Frank talks about his blended family and how he is raising a possibly future YouTube star! Catherine, Lauren and Frank enjoy breaking away from their broadcast to learn more each other!
Navigating online media for children is a challenge - Lauren and Catherine talk about shows they grew up watching and what their kids watch now. What to block, who to subscribe to, which streaming services are best? It can be overwhelming but there are some real gems out there - like Bluey. Do Disney Pixar shorts make you cry? Lauren and Catherine can relate! They also chat about their podcast goals and shoutout their listeners.
Lauren and Catherine are back with episode six! This week you’ll hear a little about what it is like working at FOX19. How it resembles a big family! Also, finding time to relax is very important — Catherine and Lauren share with each other how they try to find time to take a break (even if it’s just for 5 minutes)
Whether it's the terrible twos or the terrifying teens... Momming is a full-time job... then add to it the early wake-up calls for work in the morning news and everything else life brings... this is the time for moms to come together and just talk it out.
Fox19 Now's Lauren Minor and Catherine Bodak are in it with you, navigating parenthood, friendship, Mom hacks, and lessons learned while growing with their kids. These mic'd up Moms have a lot to say.
From moving to small towns, working crazy hours, meeting news legends, and everything in between. Lauren and Catherine share the journeys that led them to work in Queen City.
Whether it's the terrible twos or the terrifying teens... Momming is a full-time job... then add to it the early wake-up calls for work in the morning news and everything else life brings... this is the time for moms to come together and just talk it out.
Catherine and Lauren are ready to welcome the new year.
This episode...focuses on New Year Resolutions.
Whether it's the terrible twos or the terrifying teens.... Momming is a full - time job... then add to it the early wake-up calls for work in morning news and everything else life brings... this is the time for moms to come together and just talk it out.
Tis' the season... for holiday shopping, temper tamtrums, and family fun!
This episode, Catherine explains her experience with a full-blown melt down from her daughter while holiday shopping.
Lauren gets a puppy for Christmas, that is not loved by all.
And hot, hot, hot chocolate on the Lebanon Polar Express train.
Whether it's the terrible twos or the terrifying teens.... Momming is a full - time job... then add to it the early wake-up calls for work in morning news and everything else life brings... this is the time for moms to come together and just talk it out.
Whether it's the terrible twos or the terrifying teens.... Momming is a full - time job... then add to it the early wake-up calls for work in morning news and everything else life brings... this is the time for moms to come together and just talk it out. In Episode 1 - we meet Fox19 Now's Lauren Minor and Catherine Bodak. They are in it with you, navigating parenthood, friendship, Mom hacks and lessons learned while growing with their kids. These mic'd up Moms have a lot to say.