Episode 21: A Kitchen Table Conversation – The Mother Code, With Guest, Ruthie Ackerman

Show Notes: Ruthie Ackerman, The Mother Code In this episode of PowerMomma, Sam sits down with Ruthie Ackerman, author of The Mother Code and founder of the Ignite Writers Collective, for a rich conversation about motherhood, identity, family mythology, infertility, creativity, and the stories women inherit before they even know they are carrying them. Ruthie shares how her book grew out of a lifelong question about whether or not she wanted to become a mother, especially after growing up with complicated stories about abandonment, family history, and what motherhood was supposed to look like. Together, Sam and Ruthie talk about the pressure women feel to choose between motherhood and ambition, creativity and caregiving, selfhood and family, as if life were some neat little multiple-choice quiz written by the patriarchy.  This conversation moves through the uncertainty of motherhood, the emotional weight of infertility, thoughts on "having it all," and the power of rewriting the narratives we were handed. Ruthie also shares how motherhood deepened her creative voice rather than silencing it, and how her work through the Ignite Writers Collective helps women get their stories and books out into the world. In this episode, we talk about: Ruthie's book, The Mother Code Being "on the fence" about motherhood Family mythology and inherited stories The myth that motherhood has to be all or nothing Infertility, IVF, donor eggs, and becoming a mother later in life Motherhood as a radical act Creativity, writing, and finding your voice after becoming a mother Why women's stories matter The power of rewriting the narrative instead of living inside someone else's version This episode is for anyone who has ever wondered who they are allowed to become, especially after motherhood, grief, infertility, career shifts, family expectations, or one of those delightful life plot twists no one asked for. It is a conversation about questioning the old stories, telling the truth, and making room for a fuller, messier, more honest version of a good life. About Ruthie Ackerman Ruthie Ackerman is the author of The Mother Code and the founder of the Ignite Writers Collective, where she helps writers develop their ideas, books, essays, memoirs, and proposals. She is a developmental editor, writing teacher, and longtime journalist who is passionate about helping women figure out what they are trying to say and how to say it. Connect: Connect with Ruthie Ackerman: here LinkedIn: here Buy The Mother Code: hereLearn more about Ignite Writers Collective: here Follow Ruthie on Instagram: here Connect with Sam + Storytime Join The Kitchen Table Revolution LinkedIn: Samantha Hoey Nelson Storytime LA Instagram: @storytimela Powermomma Instagram: @powermommapodcast Newsletter - Sign Up Here