"If you are arguing with your spouse or struggling to talk about money, yeah, you're in good company." ~ Heather Day

Have you ever fought with your spouse - or your kids - about money? Is financial management a taboo topic in your household?

In this inspiring and relatable episode, I sit down with Heather Day, author, speaker, wife, and mother who shares how one parking lot prayer changed the trajectory of her family's life.

What was supposed to be an uneventful date with her husband ended up being a pivotal moment that changed her household forever.

Managing money, marriage, and motherhood on their own as individual responsibilities is a lot of work, and managing them all together is no less trying. But Heather's take on these along with her experience in them, will encourage you and warm your heart!

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• How married couples can overcome past hurts to partner together in finances

• Why money is such a trigger for married couples

• How to talk to our spouses and our children about important topics in life and prepare them for wise management themselves

• The power of prayer

Key Takeaway:

Money is a hot-button topic in marriage, but it doesn't have to be! There are principles and practices that can help you manage your finances as a couple, but more importantly, there are ways (and prayers!) that help you communicate as a married couple with one another, and as parents to your children.

About Our Guest: Heather Day

Heather M. Day is an author and ministry leader with more than 20 years of experience in the fields of marketing, communications, and nonprofit ministry. She is the author of Money and Spirit: Surrendering Our Finances to the Work of the Holy Spirit.

Heather and her husband, Robert, reside in Illinois with their two children, Emma and Jackson. She is an active member, board member and volunteer leader in her local church.

Heather's Website: https://heatherday.net/

Follow her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeatherDayCommunication

Find Heather's Book: https://heatherday.net/book

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Want to be a guest on The Motherhood Experience? Send Val Kleppen a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1758742098661627c9cc46f40

You were designed to function in different ways for different purposes and... surprise... your monthly cycle has a big role in that!

In this episode with Cycle Coach and Entrepreneur, Renae Fieck, we covered her love for children from early on in life, her career impact, her motherhood journey, the tumor scare her husband endured, and her coaching journey since.

Through all she experienced in a short window of time, Renae discovered so much about herself, and about how she was made to coach women through some of the most dynamic pieces of their womanhood and how to utilize them as positively as possible.

This episode is a reminder of the role positive thinking plays in success, in how self-care is a necessity, and in how a woman's cycle can be used to their advantage rather than their detriment.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• Career, Care, and Chaos

• Why most women’s self-care plans fail and what to do instead

• How to identify the real root behind common myths in your menstrual cycle

• Follow-through and the role positive self-care has on your success

• Encouragement for women who feel overwhelmed, stuck, or discouraged in their health journey

Who This Episode Is For:

• Women who want better understanding of their cycle and how it affects their motherhood or career

• High-achieving moms who haven't found their groove

• Moms who feel overwhelmed by traditional fitness culture

• Anyone who views their cycle as the "enemy"

Key Takeaway:

Self-care is a piece of your cycle, and if you do not take care of yourself well, you will not succeed in other areas of your life or motherhood.

About Our Guest: Renae Fieck

Renae Fieck is a mom of 3 and feminine leadership coach, cycle-syncing expert, and business strategist helping high-achieving women scale their businesses without burnout or overworking. After her husband being diagnosed with a brain tumor, seizures, and 3 kids under 6 she decided to build a business that allowed her to live the life of her dreams NOW, not one day in the future. To then completing burn out from the hustle.With a background in occupational therapy, somatic healing, and breathwork, she now blends science-backed productivity, feminine wealth energetics, and cyclical business strategy to help women build the life of their dreams without having to hustle so hard to make it happen.As the founder of Your Cycle Advantage and The Flow Collective and the author of Cycle Sync Your Business, Renae teaches women how to align their business with their body’s natural rhythms, so they can work less, make more, and lead with confidence. Whether speaking on cycle-synced business, wealth energetics, or feminine leadership, Renae’s mission is clear: help women find the permission to build the life and business of their dreams in a way that works for THEM.

Renae's Cycle Advantage Podcast

Follow Renae on Instagram

Get Renae's book for free! (Only pay shipping)

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Want to be a guest on The Motherhood Experience? Send Val Kleppen a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1758742098661627c9cc46f40

Motherhood rarely unfolds the way we imagine. In this episode of The Motherhood Experience, I sit down with Suzzie Vehrs, a doula and the founder of She Births Bravely, to talk about the unexpected twists of the motherhood journey.

Suzzie shares her deeply personal story of becoming a mother, including the grief and growth that shaped her along the way. Through challenges, healing, and the realities of early motherhood, Suzzie discovered a calling to walk alongside other women as a birth doula and postpartum support specialist.

Suzzie talks about the emotional rollercoaster of motherhood from pregnancy and birth to postpartum recovery and even speaks with me about my own experience in bereaved motherhood.

Suzzie offers insight into how compassionate support during birth and the postpartum season can transform a mother's experience and remind her she’s not alone.

In This Episode, We Talk About:

✨ The unexpected turns in Suzzie’s personal motherhood journey✨ How her experiences led her to become a birth and postpartum doula✨ Supporting mothers through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum recovery✨ The reality of bereaved motherhood and pregnancy loss✨ Why postpartum care and emotional support are essential for new moms✨ Finding purpose and healing through serving other mothers

About Suzzie Vehrs

Suzzie Vehrs is a birth and postpartum doula passionate about walking with mothers through every stage of their journey from pregnancy and labor to postpartum healing. Through her work with She Births Bravely, Suzzie provides compassionate support to mothers navigating both joyful and difficult moments of motherhood.

Connect with Suzzie

🌿 Website: https://shebirthsbravely.com
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shebirthsbravely/

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Want to be a guest on The Motherhood Experience? Send Val Kleppen a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1758742098661627c9cc46f40

In this inspiring conversation, Cathy Garland, author, speaker, and devoted mom, shares her remarkable journey from young divorcee to a woman shaped by vision, faith, and surrender.

Cathy shares the powerful moment she received a vision from the Lord about her family’s future, how she navigated broken relationships and rebuilt trust in God’s promises.

Whether you’re in a season of waiting, rebuilding, or questioning what family and love really look like, this episode will both challenge and encourage your heart.

Cathy also talks about her books Revelationship and Known, the lessons behind them, and how faith becomes a transformative journey, not just a destination.

You’ll hear about:

• Her real-life story of marriage, divorce, and motherhood

• A life-changing vision that shaped her future

• How surrender became her strongest act of faith

• Practical hope for listeners walking a hard or uncertain path

This episode is for anyone longing for faith-filled encouragement, clarity in purpose, and truth in how God writes the hardest stories with beauty.

🔗 Connect with Cathy Garland

👉 Website & Resources: https://www.revelationship.net/
👉 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cathy.garland/
👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gracefullgarlands/
👉 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@seekrevelationship

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Want to be a guest on The Motherhood Experience? Send Val Kleppen a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1758742098661627c9cc46f40

In this fun and insightful episode, we welcome Hilda Labrada Gore, known to many as Holistic Hilda, for an honest and unfiltered conversation about motherhood, health, and what it means to live outside of the conventional health paradigm.

Hilda shares her personal journey from relying on mainstream medicine to embracing ancestral, holistic ways of caring for her own body and her family. Along the way, she discovered a powerful sense of purpose that led her to become the host and producer of the Wise Traditions podcast, a show rooted in traditional health wisdom and ancestral living.

Whether you’re a parent navigating the complexities of modern health advice, someone curious about holistic practices, or simply seeking a richer connection to your innate wisdom as a caretaker, this episode offers encouragement, practical insights, and a reminder that being “on the fringe” sometimes means you’re just ahead of the curve.

📌 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• 🌱 Hilda’s personal motherhood journey: how her health perspective shifted from conventional to holistic.

• 🧠 Why she identifies with being “fringe” and how that label became a strength.

• 🍎 Key holistic health principles she’s adopted for herself and her family.

• 🎙️ The mission behind the Wise Traditions podcast and why ancestral wisdom matters today.

• ☀️ Practical takeaways for listeners from nourishing food to mindset shifts that support well-being.

🔗 Helpful Links & Resources:

👉 Follow Hilda Labrada Gore (Holistic Hilda)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holistichilda/ Ancient wisdom for energy, vitality, and holistic living

👉 Wise Traditions Podcast Hosted by Hilda Labrada GoreListen or subscribe on the official podcast page (Weston A. Price Foundation): https://www.westonaprice.org/podcast A show dedicated to traditional wisdom for vibrant health

👉 Holistic Hilda Website Explore courses, blog posts, resources, and more: https://www.holistichilda.com/

🎯 Keywords & Topics Covered

Holistic health, ancestral nutrition, motherhood journey, Wise Traditions podcast, traditional wellness, holistic parenting, ancestral wisdom, natural living, health transition story, wellness inspiration.

🎧 Tune In

Ready to rethink what it means to be a mother and a health advocate in today’s world? This episode with Hilda Labrada Gore is full of heart, humble wisdom, plenty of hearty laughter, and practical encouragement for every stage of your motherhood journey.

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Want to be a guest on The Motherhood Experience? Send Val Kleppen a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1758742098661627c9cc46f40

What if the key to better physical health isn’t more discipline, more workouts, or another restrictive plan, but strengthening your faith muscle?

In this highly motivating episode, I sit down with Ashley Perry Lambert, a faith-based health coach who helps women pursue sustainable wellness by working within the lives they already have. Instead of asking women to add more to their routines, Ashley teaches them how to identify the root of their excuses, realign their habits with their faith, and achieve health through systems that already exist in their daily schedules.

Through powerful coaching examples, Ashley demonstrates how faith can become the foundation for physical health without overwhelm, guilt, or burnout. This conversation is especially encouraging for women who feel stuck in the cycle of starting over, or who believe wellness requires more time, energy, or perfection than they can give.

This episode is a reminder that lasting health doesn’t come from trying harder. It comes from living more intentionally.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• What it means to build your faith muscle and how it directly impacts physical health

• Why most women’s wellness plans fail and what to do instead

• How to identify the real root behind common health excuses

• Using systems and routines you already have to support sustainable wellness

• Why adding more rules, workouts, or plans often backfires

• How faith-based coaching helps women stop starting over

• A powerful role-play example showing Ashley’s coaching approach in real time

• Encouragement for women who feel overwhelmed, stuck, or discouraged in their health journey

Who This Episode Is For:

• Women who want better physical health without adding more to their plates

• Christian women seeking a faith-centered approach to wellness

• Moms who feel overwhelmed by traditional diet and fitness culture

• Anyone tired of “all-or-nothing” health thinking

• Women who want sustainable habits that actually fit real life

Key Takeaway:

Sustainable wellness isn’t about doing more. It’s about aligning what you’re already doing with your values, your faith, and the life God has placed in front of you.

About Our Guest: Ashley Perry Lambert

Ashley Perry Lambert is a faith-based health coach who helps women transform their physical health by strengthening their faith, uncovering the roots of self-sabotage, and building sustainable habits within real-life systems. Her coaching approach focuses on grace, alignment, and long-term transformation rather than quick fixes or rigid routines.

Ashley's Fat Loss Momentum Podcast

Follow Ashley on Instagram

Ashley's website & quiz

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Want to be a guest on The Motherhood Experience? Send Val Kleppen a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1758742098661627c9cc46f40

What happens when motherhood unfolds thousands of miles from home without your village, your culture, or your familiar rhythms of life?

In this honest, globally rich conversation, I sit down with Rosamaria Mancini, an Italian-American mother, author, and expat who shares her journey from growing up in New York to building a life across Europe. In a life of moving to Rome for work, marrying her Italian husband, and later raising two children in Germany, Rosamaria found herself wrestling with loneliness, identity shifts, and the emotional weight of motherhood abroad.

During one of her most isolating seasons, podcasts became an unexpected lifeline, offering connection, companionship, and a reminder she wasn’t alone. That experience ultimately inspired her to write a book exploring how listening to podcasts helped preserve her mental health and sense of self while living far from home.

This episode is an engaging listen for expat moms, military spouses, mothers navigating isolation, and anyone who has ever felt unseen during a vulnerable season of motherhood.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• What it’s really like raising children as an expat mother

• The loneliness and identity loss many moms experience living abroad

• Creating emotional connection when your support system is far away

• Turning personal survival into a story that helps other mothers feel less alone

Who This Episode Is For:

• Expat and internationally living mothers

• Moms navigating loneliness, isolation, or major life transitions

• Women searching for connection while raising children far from family

• Podcast lovers curious about the emotional power of audio storytelling

Rosamaria’s story is a reminder that even in the quietest, loneliest moments of motherhood, connection is possible and sometimes it arrives through a pair of headphones when you need it most!

🎧 Listen now to hear how podcasts helped one expat mom survive loneliness abroad and why her story may resonate more deeply than you expect.

Connect with Rosamaria:

Her website (& great book!)

Find her on LinkedIn

Follow her on Instagram

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Want to be a guest on The Motherhood Experience? Send Val Kleppen a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1758742098661627c9cc46f40

What does it really look like to pursue a meaningful career while keeping your family at the center rather than on the sidelines?

In this episode, I’m joined by Emilia Coto, an immigration lawyer, business owner, mother of two young children, and fellow podcast host of Little Hands, Big Plans. Emilia shares her honest journey of building a career she’s deeply passionate about while intentionally shaping a family-first home life.

We talk about redefining success in motherhood, setting boundaries that protect what matters most, and the ongoing process of aligning your work with your values, especially in seasons with young children. This conversation is a breath of fresh air for any mom navigating the tension between ambition and presence.

Whether you’re a working mom, entrepreneur, or simply wrestling with how to live out your values in everyday life, this episode offers clarity and permission to design a life that truly fits your family.

What We Cover in This Episode

• What family-first motherhood really means in daily life

• Juggling motherhood and career without constant guilt

• Building a purpose-driven career while raising young children

• Redefining success as a working mom

• Creating boundaries that protect home life and relationships

• Navigating the realities of entrepreneurship and motherhood

• How motherhood reshapes priorities, goals, and identity

• Encouragement for moms who love their work and their families

Why This Episode Matters

So many mothers feel pressure to “do it all” while quietly wondering if they’re doing any of it well. Emilia’s story reminds us that motherhood isn’t about choosing between career and family. It’s about intentionally designing a life that reflects your deepest values.

This episode will resonate with moms who want to:

• work with purpose

• lead with integrity

• stay deeply connected to their children

• and build a life that feels aligned, not divided

About Emilia Coto

Emilia Coto is an immigration lawyer who runs her own practice while raising two young children. She is also the host of the podcast Little Hands, Big Plans, where she explores thoughtful, intentional parenting and career life. Emilia is passionate about meaningful work, family-first values, and helping parents live purpose-filled lives.

Follow her on:

Instagram

Facebook

LinkedIn

Listen If You’re Searching For:

• Family-first motherhood

• Juggling motherhood and career

• Working mom encouragement

• Purpose-driven careers for mothers

• Entrepreneurial motherhood

• Parenting with intention and values

• Motherhood and identity

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Want to be a guest on The Motherhood Experience? Send Val Kleppen a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpr...