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Parenthood transforms mealtimes from moments of nourishment and connection into battlegrounds of tears, tantrums, and untouched plates. In this raw, honest, and solution-focused episode, we dive deep with Kim and Kary, the occupational feeding therapists behind Solid Starts, to unravel the mysteries of picky eating and toddler food refusal.

The experts reveal a truth most parents desperately need to hear: that sudden food rejection around age two isn't personal or pathological—it's developmental. Your child who once happily devoured curry and now gags at the sight of bread isn't broken; they're evolving. "That toddler selectivity that kicks in really doesn't have to do with the food," Kary explains. "It has to do with their brain development and learning to say no."

Beyond the science of selective eating, we explore the emotional landscape of parenting through these challenges. The conversation ventures into territory rarely discussed: how different children have different eating personalities regardless of parenting approach, the socioeconomic realities of expanding food horizons, and the liberating truth that you only need to get parenting "right" about 20% of the time.

Perhaps most powerfully, Kim reminds us that "your kid doesn't want to be an asshole." When we recognize our children aren't purposefully trying to drive us mad—they're learning, making mistakes, and developing skills—we can approach the table with more patience and perspective.

Whether you're currently in the trenches of mealtime battles or looking ahead to smoother family dinners, this episode offers both practical strategies and emotional relief. Listen in for expert guidance on navigating the challenging waters of picky eating without losing your sanity—or your sense of self along the way.

Support the show

Website: https://www.doyouwantthetruthpod.com

Connect with Sam:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/samanthastrom

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@samanthastorms

Connect with Zara:

Zara Hanawalt https://www.linkedin.com/in/zara-hanawalt/

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@zarahanawalt

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zarahanawalt/

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Neha Ruch—founder and author of The Power Pause, formerly known as Mother Untitled and recent guest on The Drew Barrymore Show—joins Sam and Zara to talk about one of the biggest third-rail topics in motherhood today: what happens when ambitious women choose to pause their careers.

They cover everything from postnups and financial planning to the emotional rollercoaster of second babies, postpartum anxiety, and why the “trad wife” narrative is a distraction from what really matters. Neha doesn’t sugarcoat anything—she reclaims stay-at-home motherhood as a powerful, intentional choice, not a fallback plan.

Whether you’re burnt out, balancing it all, or secretly wondering "Is it okay to shift my priorities?"—this conversation will meet you where you are.

In this episode, we talk about:

How Neha decided to pause her career

The myth of “giving up” your ambition when you pause your career

Practical advice for planning a career pause with your partner (think: postnups, budgets, shared goals)

Why modern feminism must include more than one path for women

How her second baby changed everything—including her views on help, guilt, and mental health

Raising kids in NYC vs. the suburbs

Why having a village isn't just nice—it's necessary

Her experience on The Drew Barrymore Show and the cultural shift happening around motherhood today

Resources & Links:

The Power Pause
Follow Neha on Instagram

Buy The Power Pause

Tovah Klein’s work on parenting psychology

Support the show

Website: https://www.doyouwantthetruthpod.com

Connect with Sam:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/samanthastrom

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@samanthastorms

Connect with Zara:

Zara Hanawalt https://www.linkedin.com/in/zara-hanawalt/

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@zarahanawalt

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zarahanawalt/

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"Pick a niche." "Stay in your lane." For women entrepreneurs, this limiting advice seems inescapable—unless you're KJ Miller, who's built an impressive career by doing precisely the opposite.

KJ joins us for a fascinating conversation about her refusal to be confined to a single identity. As co-founder of multimillion-dollar beauty brand Mented Cosmetics, lecturer, angel investor, content creator with hundreds of thousands of followers, and mother to a four-year-old daughter, KJ embodies what it means to embrace multiple passions simultaneously.

What happens when the dream career, the big funding round, and the perfect Instagram life still don’t feel right?

KJ Miller—Harvard MBA grad, Yale lecturer, co-founder of Mented Cosmetics, and certified member of both the Beyhive and Swiftie nation—joins us for a conversation that’s equal parts honest, inspiring, and overdue.

After building Mented into a multimillion-dollar brand and leading it through a successful exit, KJ hit a wall. Burnout, postpartum anxiety, and the crushing pressure to “do it all” forced her to pause—and ask what she really wanted next.

In this episode, KJ shares:

What it’s really like to raise millions in venture funding as a Black woman

How she navigated burnout while running a high-growth brand

Why leaving the company she built was the most radical act of self-preservation

Her transition into a slower, more sustainable life as a Yale lecturer, content creator, and mom

And yes—we talk about Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and the soundtracks that got her through it all

This isn’t a girlboss story. It’s a story about ambition, honesty, motherhood, and the courage it takes to choose yourself—even after “making it.”

ABOUT KJKJ lives in New Jersey with her husband of 10 years and their two daughters, ages 3 and 1.


Resources & Links:

Follow KJ on TikTok and Instagram

Mented Cosmetics

Postpartum Support International

"I am addicted to doing the most," she laughs, explaining how she thrives with a full plate rather than a narrow focus. This perspective has served her well, from Harvard to Yale to her current teaching position at Ohio State, from building a beauty brand that's now available in CVS stores to creating viral content about everything from Taylor Swift to reality TV.

The conversation takes a vulnerable turn when KJ shares her difficult pregnancy and traumatic birth experience, including an emergency C-section where she wasn't given enough anesthesia. Her candid discussion about postpartum depression, medication, and her experiences with GLP-1s offers a refreshing counterpoint to the sanitized narratives often presented about motherhood and body image.

Perhaps most striking is KJ's reflection on raising a Black daugh

Support the show

Website: https://www.doyouwantthetruthpod.com

Connect with Sam:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/samanthastrom

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@samanthastorms

Connect with Zara:

Zara Hanawalt https://www.linkedin.com/in/zara-hanawalt/

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@zarahanawalt

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zarahanawalt/