Shameless Leadership

Author and memoirist, Nefertiti Austin writes about the erasure of diverse voices in motherhood in the #1 Amazon bestseller Motherhood So White: A Memoir of Race, Gender and Parenting in America. Nefertiti's work around this topic has appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, The Nation, Romper, Adoptive Families magazine, Parents Magazine, SheMedia and countless others. She has appeared on numerous podcasts and radio programs including “The Today Show”, and multiple NPR outlets. Lately, she’s writing about raising her neurologically diverse daughter and jokes that adolescence is no match for menopause.Most importantly, Nefertiti is the proud adoptive Shameless Mom of two children and two Shipoos - Monsieur Lafayette and Siddhartha. Nef and I connected through a mutual friend and two time SMA guest, Debbie Reber. Debbie was kind enough to introduce us and Nef was generous enough to say yes to my invitation to come on the show.Listen in to hear Nefertiti share: What Black adoption looks like compared to typical white adoption Her intentional journey of building her family as a single adoptive mom How race and gender factor into parenting neurologically diverse children How having a neurologically diverse child changed her life in ways she didn’t see coming How she has had to explore her own triggers when it comes to her daughter's behaviors How the murder of Trayvon Martin became a wake-up call for her responsibility of raising a Black son What she wants white parents to know about how Black parents or parents of Black children parent from a place of fear What visible allyship feels for Black parents and children and how white parents can be more assertive, if note aggressive, in their allyship Links mentioned: Connect with Nefertiti: Nefertitiaustin.com Get Nef’s Book: Motherhood So White: A Memoir of Race, Gender and Parenting in America Nefertiti on IG Nefertiti on FB Nefertiti on X We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsorInterested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Practicing gratitude is not intended to be another chore on your list. It is intended to bring you emotional ease, even joy, as you navigate any given day. It is intended to be a reliable support as you navigate tough moments or tough seasons. And, it’s intended to help you see what is possible if you’re paying attention.I have had gratitude practices that felt a little chore-ish in nature. They were still valuable, but they didn’t stick long-term. They did, however, teach me how to quickly and easily center gratitude in sticky moments, which has proven invaluable at times.I have also had gratitude practices that have brought (and still bring) me immense joy. Knowing I can lean into these any time I need them feels like a superpower.Mostly, knowing how to access gratitude has provided a grounding and rootedness that has shifted how I see the world, how I show up in the world, and how I interact with the world. And, I’m starting to see how it’s shifting how my child shows up and interacts with the world too, which is pretty great.In this episode, we will talk through ways to integrate a variety of gratitude practices to help you find a good “fit” for you so you can feel grounded and find joy in hard moments.We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsorInterested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Julie Ciardi is a business & mindset coach for women. Julie helps overwhelmed entrepreneurs create a plan to become CEOs and design their dream businesses. Julie is uniquely positioned to help women start or grow businesses.Julie spent 20 years in a Fortune 50 company as a sales and marketing vice-president. She has also started & grown her own successful businesses. Julie opened a brick & mortar women's boutique taking it to 6 figures in 4 months. She also grew a network marketing business and became a top 2% leader. Ultimately, Julie sold & exited those businesses to build her current coaching business for women. She is on a mission to help women wake up on Monday mornings loving what they are about to do.Julie was a past guest on the SMA. I loved our initial conversation years ago and was so excited when we had the opportunity to make this second conversation. I’ve watched Julie grow and evolve over the years and I’ve been dying to talk to her about it all - on mic. So, here we are! Listen in to hear Julie share: The power of going first in facing a fear or stepping into vulnerability The identity transformation she found in deciding to go gray and how it has deeply impacted her life over the last 3 years The lie she was told about having to “stand out” when trying to build a business How she realized it was time to pivot at various points in her career How she did things her own way in her 20-year career as an IBM executive  Why you must OWN YOUR NARRATIVE if you want to do things your way The importance of choosing to live by design vs living by default Her NOW Goal® Formula: (T+F)A3 = R The Knowing/Doing Gap and why we tend to get stuck there for so long Links mentioned: Connect with Julie: www.julieciardi.com Julie on IG Julie’s Podcast: Brand Book: The Top 5 Regrets of the Dying We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsorInterested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

​​Isn’t it funny (and not-so-funny) how we let our thoughts take up precious real estate in our head AS IF THEY ARE FACTS and each one is worthy and deserving of space?!  Your brain should not be an equal-opportunity employer. Not all thoughts are welcome. Not all thoughts deserve space. Our brain’s ability to conflate thoughts with facts is something we must be keenly aware of.  You suck. You’re the only one who can’t seem to figure this out.You’re not ready. It’s too hard. You’ll never make it. You’re not as smart as… strong as… witty as… qualified as… organized as… successful as… All of these = thoughts. Not facts. Yet, boy oh boy do we give them prime real estate.  The things we would never EVER say to others are the things we say to ourselves and then we unequivocally believe them as if they are facts.  Problematic much???In this episode, we talk through how to: Stop telling yourself trash (lies) you wouldn’t ever tell other people Start catching your default thoughts that are not true and are likely to cause harm Evaluate your thoughts objectively and rationally Ask yourself essential questions to discern thoughts from facts Find evidence that supports facts and shuts down rotten thoughts We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsorInterested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tosha Schore a Shameless Mom to three mostly grown sons (ages 16, 18, and 20), as well as a parent coach and the founder of Parenting Boys Peacefully, where she is on a mission to create a more peaceful world, one sweet boy at a time. She is also co-author of “Listen: Five Simple Tools to Meet Your Everyday Parenting Challenges,” which has been translated into five languages. Tosha works with parents to care for themselves, connect with their boys deeply, set limits lovingly, and play wildly. She has been featured on Dr. Shefali’s Parenting Mastery Summit, GoZen’s Anger Transformation and ListenUp! Summits, and has spoken to audiences at the Institute for Child Psychology, the Diversity in Parenting Conference, the Davidson Institute, Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, and been on a boatload of podcasts!Tosha and I met at a conference where I was speaking on podcasting. When she came up to me after my talk to tell me a little about her show, I knew she would make a fantastic guest for the SMA.Listen in to hear Tosha share: Her roots in feminism and her alarm about having 3 sons How she wrapped her head around maintaining her identity as a strong feminist and a mom of boys How the feminist movement has left behind boys and men How the patriarchy has harmed women, obviously, but also most men and most definitely our sons The importance of advocating for boys despite their behaviors that we might not enjoy or approve of Why our boys need safe spaces to make mistakes Common mistakes that parents make in trying to stop aggression Her five-step practice to stop aggression Links mentioned: Connect with Tosha: www.parentingboyspeacefully.com Free Resource PBP 10 Day Reconnect:  www.parentingboyspeacefully.com/reconnect Tosha’s Course: Out with Aggression Tosha on FB Tosha on Youtube Tosha on IG Tosha on LinkedIn We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsorInterested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The “most wonderful time of the year” is just around the corner.  But is it the most wonderful time?! Haha! Every year, I record a holiday episode where I help you prep for the holiday season in a way that I hope will bring peace, ease, and joy to your December. Usually, I share this episode in early December. This year, I’m sharing it early because I want you to start creating that peace, ease, and joy you’re craving now!Every holiday season brings new circumstances. Your kids are a year older than last year. Your parents are a year older than last year. Your work (and therefore vacation/time off) situation may be totally different. Your financial situation might be different. Your relationships might be different.  It’s worth reflecting each pre-holiday season on “What’s most important this year?” You may answer this question very differently than last year.  In this episode, I offer you 4 invitations to: Determining your magic-making moments Build better boundaries where needed Create inner calm Take time now to prep for your time off I will share what has worked well for me and for members of our community over the last few years in hopes you might get some sparks on how you can intentionally make this the most wonderful time of the year for yourself and your family - for real! We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsorInterested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Katie Ferraro R.D. is on a mission to help parents and caregivers give their babies a safe start to solid foods without spoon-feeding. Katie is a registered dietitian, mom of 7 (quads, twins, and a singleton), baby-led weaning expert, and host of the top-rated parenting podcast called BABY-LED WEANING MADE EASY.In addition to her work educating tens of thousands of parents about baby-led weaning, Katie is an Associate Professor of Nutrition at the University of California San Francisco Graduate School of Nursing and an Assistant Clinical Professor of Nutrition at the University of San Diego School of Nursing and Health Science. She is a Lecturer in the Exercise and Nutrition Science program at San Diego State University and has authored a number of textbooks and chapters on clinical and infant nutrition.I knew I was going to love learning about Katie as a Shamelessmom Mom of 7! But I also learned so much about feeding and baby-led weaning that I can even apply to feeding my picky 11-year-old. This conversation is for parents of littles, of course. But, you might be surprised at the golden nuggets you’ll be able to find for older kids as well.  Listen in to hear Katie share: How she grew her family from 0 to 7 kids in 3 years The evolution of parenting 7 children over the last 9 years How she shamelessly asked for and received help to care for her babies What baby-led weaning and how it inspired her work today Misconceptions about baby-led weaning How to engage your kids who are past the age of baby-led weaning in the benefits of baby-led weaning  The 3 rules of engagement for parents feeding your kids (when, where they sit, what they eat)) and the three rules for keeping kids autonomous feeding/eating (how much to eat, if they actually eat any) Links mentioned: Baby Led Weaning for Beginners Workshop + 100 First Foods List: https://babyledweaning.co/ Katie’s podcast: Baby-Led Weaning Made Easy Katie and Baby-Led Weaning on Instagram, Twitter Pinterest, and TikTok: @babyledweanteam Katie and Baby-Led Weaning on YouTube Katie on LinkedIn We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsorInterested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I am not a parenting expert and I don’t always make the right parenting choices. I’m definitely not sure we get it right with screen time, candy, or bedtime at our house… But the most important thing to me as my child enters his tween era is that he trusts me and believes he can talk to me when things are hard. There are a few things that I have done really consciously and consistently over the years that are paying off as V gets older. There are also some new things that I’m trying that have been effective. I wanted to share them with you as we all venture through Shameless Motherhood. You are not alone in this journey. We are in it together. As Glennon says, we belong to each other.When our children struggle, it’s easy to immediately assume blame, become consumed with doubt, and feel really stuck in dysfunctional patterns. Sharing our fumbles and our wins can not only help us process but also help us feel less alone on this journey which can feel incredibly isolating and confusing at times.I hope this episode gives you a new tool or two while also giving you hope. You got this!We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsorInterested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. Angela E. Lauria is the founder of The Author Incubator™ and creator of the Difference Process™ for writing a book that matters. In 2018, The Author Incubator was ranked #275 on the Inc. 500 fastest-growing companies and #87 on Entrepreneur Magazine’s Entrepreneur 360. Angela won the Stevie Award’s Coach/Mentor of the Year Award and her program, The Author’s Way, was named Coaching Program of the Year and she was named by Entrepreneur Magazine as one of the top 10 most inspiring entrepreneurs to watch – one of only 2 women. I’ve seen Angela’s work online for years as we’ve circled each other around various mutual friends. For a while now I’ve had a sense that she could be a really great guest for the show. Then, about a year ago I started noticing how she was showing up differently online. She talked really openly about her autism diagnosis at age 39. She was writing incredible posts about how she experiences the world as a person with autism. I have learned so much from her. So, I finally reached out to ask her to come join us in the SMA. I am so grateful she said yes. This is an incredible conversation. Listen in to hear Angela share: What led to her autism diagnosis at the age of 39 How her diagnosis allowed her to feel like she could finally start her life and her career  What masking is and how people with various neurodivergences mask in order to fit into the world How she learned to set boundaries to self-regulate in a world that's not designed for people with autism Why labeling autism or any neurodivergence or a person with disabilities or differences as a person with superpowers is inappropriate and leads to “inspiration porn” How the brain of a person with autism differs from an the brain of an allistic (non-autistic) person in terms of how the brain integrates information What self-care might look like for a person with autism - and how it looks very different than self-care for allistic people Links mentioned: Work with Angela: Differencepress.com Book: It. Goes. So. Fast: The Year of No Do Overs by Mary Louise Kelly Angela’s Podcast: The Autistic Culture Podcast  Angela’s Personal FB FB/IG/TikTok/LinkedIn: @differencepress We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsorInterested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I knew stepping into September I was taking a big inhale that I wouldn’t be able to release until October 28th.  Over the last 2 months, things I have been working toward and dreaming of for years finally came to life. Things that used to feel big, hard and so scary felt more full of ease than ever before. Other things fell in my lap that proved harder than I imagined, but I was able to meet them head-on with a decent amount of confidence and grace. As I have started to exhale, it’s been really interesting, even fun, to step back and see what is more true for me now than it was 2 months ago. As I processed my insights, I realized so much of what I have noted about what’s becoming more true for me is also what I’m hearing many clients say is also becoming more true for them. So, I decided to share this all with you because I sense some of these things are becoming more true for you. And, I don’t want you to miss the opportunity to make note of the magic.We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: https://shamelessmom.com/sponsorInterested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices