Known for her incredible talent on the dance floor, Jenna Johnson Chmerkovskiy has helped so many women who struggle with infertility feel seen and known as she has shared her journey to becoming a mother. We originally aired this episode last year and had an incredible response from our community so I wanted to share it again. Jenna’s adorable baby boy Rome is now 1 and has accompanied her on tour with the Dancing with the Stars team.  Jenna is a bright light in the dance community and you're going to love learning more from her including what it was like meeting her husband on Dancing with the Stars and how they ultimately fell in love and started their family.  Use code: MOMFORCE for 20% off your first Chatbooks order! Make a book for Mother's Day! Follow Vanessa Follow Jenna  Follow Chatbooks Try out HeyFam our new family chat app  

World famous ballerina Misty Copeland has an incredible story to share. When she discovered ballet at the age of 13 she was living in motel rooms and struggling to find a place to sleep on the floor between her five siblings. Thanks to a ballet class offered at the Boys and Girls Club and a mentor that took special interest in her abilities, Misty was on pointe shoes within three months of starting classes. A true prodigy, she began performing professionally less than a year after that.  Misty’s mentor and teacher from the Boys and Girls Club invited her to live in her home so that she could provide the stability Misty needed to focus all of her time and energy on ballet. From there Misty continued to excel in every aspect of the ballet world.  On June 30, 2015, she became the first African American woman to be promoted to principal dancer in American Ballet Theater's 75-year history. Since that time she has used her voice to promote inclusion and diversity in ballet through her foundation. You are going to love hearing from Misty. Time codes:  00:50 Photos of her son Jackson that have a fun backstory  13:30 Support your kids dreams and listen to them  14:00 How to be a hands on parent and nurture your kids interests  15:00 If Misty will have her little boy do ballet  17:30 The importance of representation in ballet and the steps Misty has taken through her foundation and philanthropy to make that happen  19:50 Why Misty is hopeful for the future of diversity and inclusion in the dance world  21:30 How to help move diversity and inclusion forward wherever you are  26:25 Misty’s ultimate mom hack secret  28:00 The role journaling has and still does play a part in Misty’s life  29:30 Creating a Chatbook of her little family and sending it to relatives as a surprise  31:15 Misty on growing her family and writing her next children’s book, Bunheads 2  Use code: MOMFORCE for 20% off your first Chatbooks order!  Follow Vanessa Follow Misty  Check out the Misty Copeland Foundation  Follow Chatbooks Try out HeyFam our new family chat app

Becoming a first-time mom is quite the adjustment period. I knew that I wanted to be there for my oldest daughter as she began her motherhood journey but I did not want to be overbearing or step on any toes.  Going into the experience of becoming a grandma I wanted to be as helpful as possible so I reached out to this amazing MomForce community for advice. You all shared heartfelt experiences and tips that I decided to pack into this mini episode for you. From freezer meals to the nighttime shift I am truly grateful for everything that was shared. Thank you for sending your thoughts and if you are about to become a mom or grandma I know that you will find something helpful in this episode!  The joy that our new granddaughter has brought into our family cannot be overstated. If you want to see a few of my favorite moments so far find me on Instagram @vanessaquigley.  Time codes:  00:55 Vanessa’s experience having her babies  1:40 Treat the new mom like your baby, get her everything she needs  2:30 Don’t ask to hold the baby constantly, help with everything else around the baby like cooking and cleaning 3:45 Let the new parents do the baby stuff, you help run the household  4:30 Let the new mom hold the baby  5:00 How to be proactive but not presumptuous  5:20 How to help with meals and snacks 6:00 Be a gatekeeper for unwanted visitors  6:15 Run all the errands  7:00 The night shift  8:05 How to reassure the new parents that they can do it and are totally capable 9:00 Take all the pictures and videos  Use code: MOMFORCE for 20% off your first Chatbooks order!  Follow Vanessa Follow Chatbooks Try out HeyFam our new family chat app

Marriage takes work! That is the lesson Nate Quigley shared the first time he was on The MomForce Podcast. For round two, Vanessa and Nate dig deep into their marriage, and what has worked and what hasn't! They open up about how good communication helps them navigate conflict while fostering greater connection. Nate shares why "birding" is his favorite date night activity and Vanessa tells why she has fully embraced it over the years. They also weigh in on the worst marriage advice they were ever given. Tune in to hear the Quigleys share the ups and downs of their relationship and how they just launched a new app to help strengthen families called Hey Fam! This episode originally aired in February of 2023.  Use code: MOMFORCE for 20% off your first Chatbooks order!  Follow Vanessa Follow Audrey Follow Chatbooks Try out HeyFam our new family chat app

Audrey Roloff, a former collegiate athlete from Portland, Oregon, captivated audiences during her love story with reality TV star Jeremy Roloff. Their relationship grew thanks to handwritten letters back and forth despite being primarily long-distance and culminated in a televised wedding on “Little People, Big World”,  watched by millions. After exchanging vows and welcoming their first daughter, the couple chose to step away from the TV spotlight. Transitioning to entrepreneurship, Audrey and Jeremy have built Beating 50 Percent, aimed at helping couples beat the statistic that half of marriages will end in divorce. In this podcast episode, Audrey shares insights from their book "Love Letter Life" and offers practical tips for nurturing connection with your spouse. She is also a dedicated Chatbooker and shares how she uses photo books to strengthen her family.  Tune in to hear Audrey's candid reflections on sustaining a successful marriage beyond the glitz of reality TV, and discover how the Roloffs are making a lasting impact beyond the screen. Time codes: 3:00 Redhead connection  4:30 Getting ready for baby number four  5:15 Little People, Big World journey  6:55 Getting married on the show with millions of people watching  8:00 Stepping away from reality TV 9:00 The art of writing letters to your spouse  13:45 Beating 50 Percent  15:50 The "52 date night challenge" and prioritizing your marriage  17:30 Finding joy in your partner's joys  20:50 What questions to ask to build connection in your relationships  27:01 How to lock in memories  29:00 Tricks for taking family photos  Buy The Marriage Journal  Use code: MOMFORCE for 20% off your first Chatbooks order!  Follow Vanessa Follow Audrey Follow Chatbooks The MomForce Podcast on TikTok  Listen to more of The MomForce Podcast  

If your child is spirited, independent, and strong-willed, you might feel like you're at your wit's end with parenting. That's where Mary Van Geffen comes in as the go-to parenting coach for moms dealing with Spicy Ones™️. Parenting these kids can be isolating and tough, but Mary knows firsthand that having support and a community makes it easier to embrace and understand your lively and determined child. As the international parenting coach for moms of Spicy Ones™️, Mary specializes in helping capable individuals who feel overwhelmed by motherhood. She encourages them to stay calm, be kind, and stand firm in their parenting approach. Mary offers online parenting classes and her popular 8-week group program: Moms of Spicy Ones, is designed to empower moms with the confidence to adopt gentle and respectful parenting practices, even if it's different from how they were raised. Time codes:  3:00: How the Spicy One term came to be 10:30: Twenty percent of kids are difficult, strong-willed, and determined  16:00 Tantrums are part of human development and human development is messy 35:30 How to use “the do-over” in family situations  42:00 How to see the good in your child  44:00 How to participate in Mary’s courses   Check out Mary Van Geffen’s website  Sign up for Mom’s of Spicy Ones waitlist Use code: MOMFORCE for 20% off your first Chatbooks order!  Follow Vanessa Follow Mary Van Geffen  Follow Chatbooks The MomForce Podcast on TikTok  Listen to more of The MomForce Podcast

Erika Peterson has built a health and fitness empire with her husband JJ over the past 10 years. This episode originally aired in January 2023. Today Clean Simple Eats is made up of health products, more than 800 recipes, fitness programming, and a large community that supports each other through various challenges.  Erika is a mom to four kids, during the conversation she candidly shares what brought her to start Clean Simple Eats. More than a decade ago she was dealing with postpartum depression and looking at ways to positively impact her life and change up her diet. She started making healthier treats and recipes and sharing them online. Just weeks into her changes she began to feel better and the recipes began to snowball online.  She shares the key to sticking with a healthier lifestyle and how you can get your kids involved.  Time codes:  3:00 Having teenagers  4:30 A fun family photo in Hawaii with an interesting backstory  7:50 Living in Hawaii  8:15 Building Clean Simple Eats  9:05 Having people believe in you when you are starting something  11:15 Starting to make healthy swaps in her diet  13:00 Posting on Instagram and beginning partnerships  13:45 Finding people that believe in you when you don’t believe in yourself  17:45 All about small changes for big results  20:10 The magic of bulk prep and make things you know your family will eat  22:40 How she creates all the protein flavors like bananas foster and cookies and cream 29:15 How Erika and JJ have worked together for 10 years  38:15 What is the real key to success and sticking to their longterm health  45:00 Photo organization   Check out Clean Simple Eats  Use code: MOMFORCE for 20% off your first Chatbooks order!  Follow Vanessa Follow Erika Follow Chatbooks The MomForce Podcast on TikTok  Listen to more of The MomForce Podcast  

Eva Chen is a recognizable face and name to many. She began her career as a magazine editor and has since become the head of fashion partnerships at Instagram. Not only that but she hosts shows like Next in Fashion and has written many children’s books – and it just so happens her newest one comes out today!  Eva is a delight.  She is authentic as she shares her career and regular busy mom life – including what her daily life looks like in New York City – I loved to hear about her experiences as a wife, mom, friend, and business powerhouse. You are going to love hearing from her.  Time codes:  1:00 Family life in New York City  1:20 Getting a family dog  2:45 School pickup  13:17 Finding your own beehive instead of village and how to create one  15:49 Social media is moving away from a super manicured, perfect mom stereotype and showing more of the authentic side of parenting.  16:50 Why she does not compare her life to anyone elses.  21:26 Why Eva is all about low maintenance friendships during this season of her life  22:58 How to be transparent in relationships and let other people help you when you need it  Order We Are Golden Use code: MOMFORCE for 20% off your first Chatbooks order!  Follow Vanessa Follow Eva Follow Chatbooks The MomForce Podcast on TikTok  Listen to more of The MomForce Podcast

Artist Morgan Harper Nichols has inspired millions of people with her poetry, music, artwork, and affirmations. In this conversation from December of 2022, Morgan shares what it was like to find out that she is on the autism spectrum at the age of 31. In addition to that, Vanessa shares her experience getting an ADHD diagnosis last year. They both share their journeys of self discovery since those diagnoses. Listen to this episode to hear why Morgan chose to write a book about finding peace and her practical tips for everyday life. Since recording this episode Morgan has continued to share her words and art with the world as well as go back to school to earn her Master's Degree. Congrats Morgan!   Morgan shares daily affirmations and encouragement on Instagram @thestorytellerco and @morganharpernichols Time codes:  2:59 A favorite photo of her family that captures an everyday magical moment  5:32 Morgan’s journey of finding out she was on the autism spectrum  7:25 How she finds time to create art  8:20 Where Peace is a Practice came from  10:47 Morgan’s motherhood experience  17:07 How breathwork can change your life  19:52 Morgan’s boundaries with social media  22:24 Autism and social events  34:18 Different communication styles  38:08 Why Morgan loves to journal 42:36 A recent family photo that has become a favorite  44:43 Photo organization tips  47:24 What is next for Morgan  Use code: MOMFORCE for 20% off your first Chatbooks order!  Follow Vanessa Follow Morgan Follow Chatbooks The MomForce Podcast on TikTok  Listen to more of The MomForce Podcast  

Since Hannah Neeleman of Ballerina Farm was on the podcast in May of 2023 a lot has changed! She is expecting her eighth child very soon and has grown her follower count from 2 million to more than 8 million.  She not only competed in the Mrs. America pageant, but she won! An amazing clip of her talking on stage about the empowering beauty of childbirth went viral. And as of today, she is just weeks away from delivering her 8th child! And she competes in Mrs World in January. I don't know how she does it! But more than 8 million people get to follow along on Instagram and TikTok as she shares her idyllic life at Ballerina Farm, catching glimpses of her daily life on the farm milking the cows, making gorgeous sourdough bread, and cooking with her kids.  Hannah was so lovely and generous when we recorded this episode – sharing her journey from Julliard and the big city to farming in the small town of Kamas, Utah. She truly is one of the nicest people I know–and one of the most patient. You're just going to love hearing from her and what is next for Ballerina Farm!  Time codes:  2:20 Hannah’s childhood in the flower shop and being homeschooled  4:03 How she ended up dancing at Juilliard  5:28 Hannah’s first pageant and why she started doing them  7:43 Getting married and living in New York City  10:16 Why they started Ballerina Farm with pigs  15:07 Getting the kids involved on the farm  16:53 Being real on social media  24:06 Hannah and Daniel on having more kids  26:45 The experience of birth  31:56 Date night and screen time  41:00 Beauty in imperfect photos  43:11 What’s next for Ballerina Farm  Use code: MOMFORCE for 20% off your first Chatbooks order!  Follow Vanessa Follow Hannah  Follow Chatbooks Check out Ballerina Farm  The MomForce Podcast on TikTok  Listen to more of The MomForce Podcast