Blended Family Chaos: Stepmoms, Biomoms, and the Truth About High-Conflict Co-Parenting | S2E03

Send Lisa a question for her to reply in a future episode!Somewhere along the way, society convinced us that the battle lines in blended families are always drawn between “evil stepmom” and “bitter baby mama.” But what if the real chaos is coming from the man in the middle—or from a system that thrives on pitting women against each other? Survivors know that nothing fuels abuse and dysfunction like smoke and mirrors, and blended family dynamics are no exception.Lisa sits down with Naja Hall, host of I Know I’m Crazy and founder of VIP Stepmom, to peel back the layers of high-conflict parenting after separation. From stepmoms stepping into landmines they didn’t plant, to biomoms fighting for stability while being mislabeled as “bitter,” Lisa and Naja call out the unspoken truths about how men’s avoidance and manipulation often set the stage for these wars. They trade raw stories and hard-won lessons—naming the difference between boundaries and control, exploring why “keeping it real” with kids can cross into emotional abuse, and spotlighting the cost of outsourcing fatherhood to stepmoms.What emerges is not a call to pick sides, but an invitation to clarity: to name dysfunction for what it is, to refuse loyalty binds, and to remember that kids deserve love and stability over ego and power plays. Healing starts when we stop playing by the tropes and start telling the truth.Resources mentioned• VIP Stepmom — community platform by Naja Hall• I Know I’m Crazy — podcast hosted by Naja Hall• Girl Bye, She’s Not Going Anywhere, Neither Are You — journal by Naja Hall• Stepmom Mastermind Intensive — monthly program led by Naja Hall• Co-parenting apps: TalkingParents, OurFamilyWizardJoin Lisa Sonni & Dr. Peter Salerno in Boston, MA November 13-15, 2026 here: https://lisasonni.com/unbreakable-and-irreplaceable/ Support the showThis is the podcast they don't want you listening to.👉 Find me at lisasonni.com Book A Session with LisaJoin my online survivor community called She Rises Collective where we are breaking free, rebuilding and dismantling patriarchy. Follow on IGWatch on YouTubeGet My Books HereNew episodes drop every Tuesday.Subscribe, share it with someone who needs the truth - and remember:You’re stronger than they ever wanted you to believe.