Momtalk Maryland

Your trash bin isn’t just “a little gross” it can be the dirtiest thing you touch all week. I’m sitting down with Josh Levy from MD Clean to talk about what really happens inside trash and recycling bins during a Maryland summer, why the smell spikes, and how germs can travel from a lid handle to your car door to your kitchen faster than you think. If you’ve ever dragged a sticky can into the garage and tried not to breathe, this one hits home.Josh shares the real origin story behind his Howard County small business: a COVID-era TikTok, a leap into the service world, and a specialized curbside bin cleaning truck built to do what a garden hose can’t. We get specific about the process people always ask about, including 200-degree water, high-pressure 360-degree cleaning, deodorizing, and the key detail that matters for eco-minded families: the dirty wastewater is captured and disposed of properly, not dumped into storm drains that feed the Chesapeake Bay.We also zoom out into exterior cleaning and pressure washing, from house washing and fence cleaning to slippery algae on steps and the headaches of power washing a deck the wrong way. Along the way, we talk about neighborhood routes, HOA partnerships, community events like parades and touch-a-truck, and why maintaining what you already own can help bins last longer and reduce plastic waste. If you’re in Columbia, Ellicott City, or nearby Maryland communities, you’ll also hear exactly how booking works at MD Clean. What’s the one thing around your house you wish you never had to clean yourself?If you’re tired of holding your breath every trash day 🤢, you can check out MD Clean and book directly here: https://mdclean.us/homeYou can also follow along for oddly satisfying before-and-afters and tips on keeping things fresh ✨🧼: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MDCLEANBINS Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mdcleanbins TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mdcleanbin?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pcAnd if this episode made you look at your trash bin a little differently 👀, share it with a neighbor—you might just save someone from their next summer stink surprise 🌞🗑️Support the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

A mile-long line for groceries can change how you see your own town. After COVID shut down schools, Erika watched fear ripple through students and families in Howard County, Maryland and she decided to act. What begins as a quick Facebook call for donations turns into Columbia Community Care, a volunteer-powered network built on trust, logistics, and neighbors who refuse to let families go hungry.We talk through Erika’s origin story, from growing up in Columbia’s “bubble” to learning civic engagement the hard way at Wild Lake, where student protests and an ACLU-supported case cemented the power of young people using their voices. That same mix of conviction and community building shows up years later as she juggles virtual teaching with setting up food distribution sites, coordinating deliveries, and figuring out nonprofit systems in real time.You’ll also hear why food insecurity is not only about unemployment. Erika breaks down the ALICE population (asset limited, income-constrained, employed) and why working families often do not qualify for SNAP or other services. We dig into how Columbia Community Care fills that gap with low-barrier support, partnerships across the county, and programs that now include youth mentorship and wellness for moms and those who mother. Then we look ahead to The Source, a 65,000-square-foot community center planned for the former Columbia Flier building, designed to bring youth spaces, a gym, a food hall, and health connections under one roof.If this story moved you, there are so many ways to get involved 💛 Whether it’s volunteering your time, donating resources, or simply spreading the word, every small action helps strengthen the network that Columbia Community Care has built. ✨🌐 https://columbiacommunitycare.org📘 https://bit.ly/CCC-Facebook 📸 https://instagram.com/columbiacommunitycare 💼 https://linkedin.com/company/columbia-community-careSupport the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

A brutal winter, nonstop school pivots, and the kind of stress that sneaks into your shoulders and never leaves, that’s where this conversation starts. Then it opens into something bigger: what it really takes to build a wellness business that lasts in Columbia, Maryland, and why massage therapy is shifting from “nice-to-have” to part of a real health routine.I’m joined by Stephen Conti, owner of Tocar Spa in Howard County, and his origin story is the definition of a zigzag. He takes us from growing up in PG County to UMD, from early career twists to going all-in on massage, and finally to opening his own brick-and-mortar spa. We talk about what clients can expect at Tocar Spa, why he intentionally avoids a sterile franchise vibe, and how his team customizes massage, facials, waxing, and specialty services like four-hand massage, Lomi Lomi, and couples massage lessons.Stephen also shares a side of the industry most people never see: he serves as chair of the Maryland State Board of Massage Therapy. We get into how licensing and regulation work, why small business owners suddenly start paying attention to policy, and how accessible local delegates and county leaders can be when you actually pick up the phone. We also address the hard topic of illicit massage establishments and how that connects to human trafficking prevention work right here in our community.If you care about wellness, small business in Howard County, or how local policy shapes your daily life, hit play. Don’t just listen—go experience it. 💆‍♀️✨ Head to https://tocarspa.com/experience/ to book your session. 🌿💫Follow Tocar Spa to stay connected and see what real, community-driven wellness looks like: 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tocarspa/ 📲 👍 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TocarSpa 💙 ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0Y9huGLlnwAbFOSbqBm-OA 🎥Support the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

An art degree. The Peace Corps. Tech sales. Google AI. Then a luxury refillable hand sanitizer brand designed for moms who want a tiny daily escape. Livia’s story is the kind of career pivot that makes you rethink what “qualified” even means and it’s rooted right here in Maryland.We talk about what creativity really is (hint: it’s not just painting or crafts) and how it becomes a serious advantage in corporate life, entrepreneurship, and leadership. Livia shares what it’s like to work in Google Cloud AI serving the state of Maryland and higher education, plus the imposter syndrome that can creep in even when you’ve earned your seat. We also get honest about rejection: hearing no, giving no, and why women are taught to justify themselves when “no is a full sentence.”Then we get into Andiamo, her new small business: clean ingredients, perfume-level scent, beautiful packaging, and a refillable design that supports sustainability without sacrificing style. We break down her phased launch strategy, why keeping things simple wins early, and how using AI for research and validation can help founders move faster with more confidence.If you’re building a business, changing careers, or just trying to show up with more courage, you’ll leave with practical mindset tools and a reminder that fear can be a sign you’re on the right track. Ready for your own tiny daily escape? ✨🌍 Globally Inspired: Elevate your daily ritual with Andiamo’s premium hand sanitizer—sophisticated, world-inspired scents that whisk you away with every use.Explore Andiamo here:🌐 https://www.andiamoclub.com/Follow along for behind-the-scenes, launches, and more:📸 Instagram 🎵 TikTokSupport the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

Perfection is expensive and most moms are already paying too much. I’m Claire Duarte, founder of The Columbia Mom, and I’m pulling back the curtain on a personality mix I call “type B plus”: I’m go-with-the-flow at heart, I love a little spontaneity, and I still need structure to keep family life from turning into total chaos.We talk about how growing up with a tidy, hardworking, type A influence can shape you even if you’re not wired for perfectionism. I share why “done is better than perfect” has become my anchor, how I use systems like spreadsheets without letting them control me, and why visual clutter can quickly become mental clutter when you’re in a creative rut. If you’ve ever felt guilty for not doing things the “right” way, this is your permission slip to aim for progress and peace.I also get real about marriage and the tiny daily flashpoints that happen when a type A partner and a type B partner share a home: the dishwasher, the drying rack, making reservations, and the constant push-pull between planning and fun. The deeper point isn’t who wins. It’s how we balance each other, build a home that functions, and still leave room for rest, humor, and being fully human.Follow along for more behind-the-scenes tips, laughs, and real-life mom moments—because nobody should have to choose between doing it all and enjoying it all 😅💖. Connect with me on Instagram @the.columbiamom 📸 or dive deeper at thecolumbiamdmom.com 🌿—your permission slip to progress, peace, and a little bit of perfectly imperfect living ✨🛋️.Support the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

Ever feel like your home is working against you? We bring in Katherine of Tidy Milso to show how smart, simple systems can turn chaos into calm without chasing a Pinterest-perfect aesthetic. Her story begins during her husband’s basic training, when a self-help book, a major declutter, and one honest Facebook post revealed a gift for organizing that friends and family already saw. That spark became Tidy Milso, a thriving professional organizing business serving Howard County, Baltimore, DC, and New York.We dig into what actually moves the needle: whole-home edits, custom closets that reflect personality, and move management that makes a new house feel like home on day one. Katherine explains how she coordinates packing, vendors, and space planning so you’re not hunting for mugs at midnight. We tackle Columbia’s quirkiest design challenges too, from deep, narrow pantries to missing drawers, and share affordable fixes like adhesive pull-out shelves, long bins, and risers that create order without a renovation.The conversation shifts from products to psychology. Decision fatigue is real, and the cure is capacity-led maintenance—small, repeatable edits that keep systems alive. Sort school papers into a set bin, refold one drawer instead of four, donate through the easiest path so bags don’t linger for months. Katherine shares why organization is less about color-matched containers and more about permission: letting go of what no longer fits and making space for what does. We also spotlight Pro Organizers Weekend, a wellness-meets-strategy retreat for experienced founders, and tease Katherine’s upcoming book on the emotional side of organizing.If you’re ready to breathe easier at home, this episode offers clear steps, a kinder mindset, and proof that systems can stick as your life evolves. Ready to create systems that actually work for your life? Connect with Katherine at Tidy Milso and learn more about her organizing services, move management, and practical home systems. 🏡✨🌐 Website: https://www.tidymilso.com/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tidymilso/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tidymilso/ ✍️ Substack: https://substack.com/@katherinepicott?utm_source=about-page 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXiEAvBcj_hSA2X8Fyn9R5AIf you’re ready to breathe a little easier at home, Katherine shows that organization doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to work for you. 💛📦Support the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

What does it take to build a community-rooted juice bar without losing yourself along the way? We sit down with Petra, the force behind Fruitful, to trace a story that begins in a great-grandmother’s garden and grows into a Columbia spot known for organic juices, focused offerings, and real talk on small business survival. From juicing single ingredients in childhood to navigating grad school in India and opening a shop while pregnant, her path blends memory, culture, and relentless heart.We get specific about what makes Fruitful different: no water, no fillers, and no added sugar. You’ll hear why apple, beet, carrot, and fennel earn a permanent place on the menu, how turmeric and ginger power immunity blends, and why the color of true cold-pressed juice changes over time. Petra breaks down pricing, the cost of organics, and the label traps to avoid—concentrates, “nectars,” and preservatives that trade freshness for shelf life. She also shares a smart hack for juice cleanses and travel: freeze bottles to pause oxidation and keep nutrients intact for up to three months.The conversation goes beyond ingredients into the decisions that keep a small business alive. We dig into closing Clarksville, moving into a Columbia wellness center, and the choice to simplify a sprawling menu into a tight, fast, reliable lineup. Petra opens up about being a Black woman entrepreneur in Howard County, the mentors who shaped her grit, and the family support that makes the work possible. It’s a candid look at risk, marketing misses, cash flow reality, and the peace that comes from aligning the business with the life you want to live.If you care about clean ingredients, local businesses, and honest entrepreneurship, you’ll find both practical tips and deep encouragement here. Ready to taste the difference for yourself? 🥕🍎Visit Fruitful Juice Bar at: 📍 8975 Guilford Road, Suite 170, Columbia, MD 21046Explore the full menu, learn more about Petra’s story, or start planning your next cleanse here: 🌿 Website: https://www.fruitfuljuicebar.com/Stay connected for seasonal specials, wellness tips, and behind-the-scenes moments:👍 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fruitfuljuicebar 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fruitfuljuicebarSupport the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

What if your morning coffee did more than wake you up—what if it helped you feel grounded, steady, and clear? We sit with Toni, founder of Me Time Coffee and 20-year military veteran, to explore how a daily cup can become a true self-care ritual. Her story moves from slow Southern breakfasts to a stress-induced alopecia scare that forced a rethink: stop chasing rare spa days and reclaim ten quiet minutes each morning.From fitness coaching to launching a roast-to-order coffee brand for busy women, Toni explains why she chose Me Time over a hustle-forward name. She shares her “pause savor method”: brew fresh, light a coffee-scented candle, take a few deep breaths, and sip without screens. We dive into specialty-grade coffee—ethical sourcing, Q grading, and why roasting to order transforms flavor and often lets you cut back on cream and sugar. Curious about caffeine, brewing methods, or taste? This conversation clears it all up.Practical tips include swapping mountains of creamer for a thin layer of whipped cream, downshifting sugar week by week, and choosing gear that fits your morning—French press, Chemex, or simple drip—all in about four minutes. We spotlight Sample Pack Sundays, limited runs to explore origins like Ethiopia, Uganda, and Tanzania, plus Toni’s coffee-scented candles that turn aroma into a calming anchor.Whether serving her country, stepping on a bodybuilding stage, or helping women build intentional businesses, Toni leads with one belief: you deserve time for yourself. Me Time Coffee proves self-care isn’t indulgent, it’s foundational—and it can start with your morning cup.Connect with Toni and bring her ritual into your day:☕ Coffee https://metimecoffee.com/collections/coffee🌍 Sample Packs https://metimecoffee.com/collections/sample-pack-sundays🕯️ Candles https://metimecoffee.com/collections/candles✨ Bundle https://metimecoffee.com/products/metimemorningbundle📖 Book https://amzn.to/4qFfFUV🛍️ Essentials https://amazon.com/shop/minibeasttoniTry the ten-minute practice tomorrow: brew fresh, light the candle, breathe, and sip. ☕Support the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

Ever feel like your best-laid plans got buried under snow days and two-hour delays? Claire opens the door on a week where parenting, weather, and work collided, and uses that chaos as a real-world lens on creativity, marketing, and small business stamina. We explore why calling yourself a “creative” or “business owner” can feel awkward at first—and why owning those words matters when your output depends on energy, focus, and a steady pulse of content that actually helps people.We get practical about the content grind: the hidden steps behind a single Instagram post, the mountain of iCloud files and Google albums, and the messy pipeline from idea to publish across a website, newsletter, podcast, and partnerships. Claire shares the small systems that lower friction—lightweight asset libraries, better naming, and simple editing choices—while staying honest about the gaps. This isn’t hustle worship; it’s an inside view of how local media gets made in real time, under real constraints, with kids napping in the next room.The heart of the conversation lands on boundaries and focus. When your brand is personal, the laptop follows you to bed and weekends blur. We talk about choosing one idea to finish, resisting shiny object syndrome, and giving new experiments like Patreon a clear filter: ROI, joy, and a plan you can actually keep. There’s vulnerability too—imposter syndrome without a formal marketing degree, the guilt of always being “on,” and the hope that longer days and spring light can coax creativity back to a confident rhythm.If you’re a mompreneur, creator, or local business owner trying to build something real while life keeps moving, you’ll feel seen, learn a few workflow tricks, and leave with permission to make one thing great today. If you’re building something while juggling real life too, you’re not alone. Follow along on Instagram @the.columbiamom 📸✨ if you’d like to see more, stay inspired 🌟, and join the journey — chaos 🌀, creativity 🎨, and reheated coffee ☕ included.Support the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

Some loads don’t show up on a calendar, but they still weigh on our minds and our mornings. Claire gets real about the invisible load of motherhood and why the strongest way to carry it is together, not alone. From early days in Facebook mom groups to building a hyperlocal network in Howard County, she connects the dots between modern expectations, Maryland grit, and the small, repeatable acts that make life lighter.We talk about how driven moms end up saying yes to everything—from school lists to late-night emails—and how comparison on social media turns that pace into a pressure cooker. Then we pivot to solutions you can actually use: choosing a local anchor, asking for help without apology, setting boundaries that protect energy, and creating micro-moments of rest in winter. Claire shares a powerful story of showing up for a friend without waiting to be asked, reminding us that community isn’t earned—it’s practiced.You’ll hear honest reflections on blending individualistic and collectivist values at home, practical tips for finding your groups (gym, daycare, church, book club, neighborhood thread), and a reframing of “self-care” as maintenance, not a luxury. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s connection. If you want your kids to feel secure and supported, let them see you building a village and leaning on it. That’s how we lighten the mental load—together, one simple, human moment at a time.Because the invisible load isn’t lifted by doing more—it’s lifted by doing it together. One shared responsibility. One honest conversation. One village moment at a time.Follow along on Instagram, where the work continues daily and connection stays practical, local, and real— @the.columbiamom 🤝💛Support the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

A tiny cap, a hallway of cheers, and a mom who couldn’t stop crying—this is the story behind 60 sessions that changed the way our son learns, focuses, and feels about himself. We walk you through the hard parts most parents don’t post about: the midyear school transfer that crushed routines, the two-school shuffle that wrecked work schedules, and the choice to pile on speech, OT, and more when waiting felt worse than trying.What shifted everything was discovering Brain Balance and leaning into frequency over quick fixes. Three sessions a week layered sensory input, cognitive drills, and motor work until new patterns began to stick. We saw practical, everyday wins: unprompted stories after school, stronger language retrieval, calmer transitions, and fine motor progress that showed up at restaurants and homework time. Yes, maturation matters—and we name it—but structured repetition helped those gains surface sooner and hold longer. Kindergarten feedback reflected the change: reading readiness on track, better attention, and a child more present in the classroom and at home.This conversation is honest about tradeoffs and hopeful about outcomes. If you’re navigating IEP timelines, long waitlists, or therapies that feel like maintenance, you’ll hear how a consistent, integrated approach can unlock learning, independence, and joy. We share the messy start, the skeptical moments, and the graduation night that made it all worth it, plus how we’re keeping progress steady with home exercises and follow-up assessments.We didn’t share this story because it’s perfect—far from it. We shared it because it’s real. 💛 And if it helps even one family feel less alone or more hopeful, it’s worth it. ✨If you’d like to learn more about Brain Balance 🧠 and how their program works, here are their links:🌐 Website: Brain Balance Baltimore 📸 Instagram: @brainbalancebaltimoreSupport the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

New year energy doesn’t have to feel like a sprint. Claire opens the studio for a candid reset: a quick reintroduction, the origin story of Columbia Mom, and a practical path to growth that skips brittle resolutions in favor of steady, quartered goals. It’s a warm, real start to 2026 that blends creative work, parenting, and personal mental health practices without pretending any of it is neat.We dig into why the podcast exists at all—born late in the COVID era as a way to rebuild local connection—and how an “outlet” became a purpose. Claire shares how she protects her creative zone from email rabbit holes, why therapy, lifting, and winter walks are non-negotiables, and how she balances a Type B plus brain with the structure needed to ship consistently. The theme that ties it together is simple and honest: fear rarely disappears, so we name it, and we move anyway.You’ll hear a small family story with big meaning, a framework for setting annual themes and quarterly priorities, and the difference between white-knuckling through survival and choosing courageous action with intention. If 2025 felt heavy for your work, your family, or your wallet, this conversation offers a kinder blueprint for 2026: protect one health rhythm, block time for creation, fence admin into tight windows, and plan the quarter. No perfection, just momentum.If you’re craving a more grounded way to step into 2026—one that makes room for fear and forward motion—this conversation will meet you right where you are.Follow along with me beyond the episode 🎧📖✨ for things to do in Maryland, local favorites, and life in between 💛📸 Instagram: the.columbiamom✍️ Blog: thecolumbiamdmom.com/blog📘 Facebook: Facebook💼 LinkedIn: Claire Duarte📌 Pinterest: The Columbia MD Mom🎥 YouTube: @TheColumbiaMDMomSupport the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

What if the smartest move isn’t to push harder, but to taste and adjust? We sit down with Chef Ashish Alfred—known for Duck Duck Goose, his wellness advocacy, and recent turns on Bar Rescue—for a candid conversation about timing, reinvention, and the messy middle of growth. He didn’t fall into cooking for the romance; he found it because he needed structure. Culinary school introduced mise en place, and that single idea became a philosophy for life: put things in place, show up, and keep your head clear enough to do the next right thing.We trace the arc from launching a beloved French-inspired restaurant to scaling across cities, and the subtle warnings that expansion can blur. Ashish talks openly about imposter syndrome, the urge to keep opening as proof of worth, and the point where momentum becomes noise. Then we move into the hard parts most entrepreneurs know but rarely say out loud: operating at a net loss, the weight of public scrutiny, and the emotional toll of being misunderstood. His reset is radical and simple—pack a knife roll, move to Paris, and relearn the craft in the city that shaped his palate. That season brought humility, fluency in patience, and a sharper sense of what matters.We cover the call from Bar Rescue and why scars make for better mentors. Ashish explains how empathy lands when you’ve tasted both praise and loss, and why leaders need to pause, taste, and adjust long before the sauce goes bitter. He frames this season as layered—comforting, complex, and still building—and shares what’s next: more cooking, more travel, time with family, and a few TV ideas in development. If you’re navigating your own pivot, this story offers practical anchors: create structure, embrace discomfort, and stop sending plates you know aren’t ready. Sometimes the smartest move is slowing down before the sauce goes bitter 🕰️🍲 Follow 👉 https://www.instagram.com/chefashishalfred/ for what’s next. Support the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

What if hustle wasn’t a badge of burnout but a promise to show up with heart, speed, and boundaries? We sit down with our friend Monica Blakely of Passion for Ezra to trace an all‑too‑relatable path: from rolling ribbon on the floor to dressing America’s favorite football mom on Super Bowl Sunday. It’s a Maryland-made story with national edges—proof that a single DM, a smart read on style, and a willingness to overnight a bold idea can flip the lights on for a small business.We dig into the early days—wreaths, tutus, onesies—and the moment Monica realized women deserved sports apparel that actually fit, honored team colors, and felt fabulous. From there, we talk about pivoting through hard seasons, including sewing and donating thousands of masks during the pandemic, and the ongoing work of setting boundaries that protect your joy: saying no to on-site handoffs at games, carving out family time, and defining healthy yeses under pressure.There’s also a candid look at women claiming space in male-dominated rooms. Monica and her husband Taylor model a partnership that flips assumptions, while the Washington Commanders earn real flowers for investing in small businesses and elevating women across roles. That support created a ripple—introductions to other teams, new collaborations, and a louder platform to pull more local entrepreneurs up the ladder. The takeaway is both practical and inspiring: shoot your shot, overdeliver, and keep the community at the center.If you’re building a brand, parenting while pitching, or just need a reminder that “no” is often a stop on the way to “yes,” this conversation will move you. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a push, and leave a quick review to help more moms and makers find the show.Follow Passion for Ezra to keep up with Monica’s latest designs, collaborations, and behind-the-scenes moments of building a brand with heart. 💛✨🧵 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/passionforezra🌐 Website: http://passionforezra.com📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PassionforezraSupport the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

A rainy parking lot, a few resistance bands, and a coach who chose education over ego—that’s where this story of sustainable strength begins. Claire sits down with Niko, owner of Odyssey Strength and Conditioning in Howard County, to unpack how women and families can trade gym intimidation for measurable progress and everyday confidence. From immigrant grit to launching a thousand-square-foot studio, Niko shares why small groups, precise cues, and clean technique beat hype and fads every time.We dive into the real reasons to lift: stronger bones, improved insulin sensitivity, and the resilience that carries you through perimenopause, postpartum recovery, and the demands of daily life. Forget the myths—yes, your knees can travel over your toes, and no, deadlifts aren’t anti-back. With a practical focus on squats, hinges, presses, and pulls, we talk about how to load movements safely, why progression matters more than novelty, and how a supportive group can spark friendly competition without the self-critique spiral.Movement is medicine for everyone in the house. We connect strength training to kids’ development and cognitive benefits for adults, showing how new skills and consistent practice boost both mind and body. The result is a training culture that feels human: no yelling, no ego, just clear standards, steady challenge, and coaches who adapt the plan to your needs. Whether you’re a cardio loyalist, a barre fan, or brand new to lifting, you’ll leave with a simple blueprint to get stronger, protect your bones, and enjoy the work.Stronger, smarter movement starts with one conversation—and this is a great place to continue it. Curious to learn more or take the next step? 💪 Visit odysseystrong.com, follow instagram.com/odyssey.strong 📲, or reach out at [email protected] ✉️.Support the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

A quiet shift can change everything. When a child moves from scanning the room for cues to confidently telling his own story, you feel it at home, at school, and in your gut as a parent. We sit down with Beth Snow, director of Brain Balance in Greater Baltimore, to unpack the steps behind Grant’s big leap—how integrating primitive reflexes, strengthening core and sensory systems, and supporting the visual pathway laid the groundwork for language retrieval, working memory, and self-direction to take off.We walk through the data and, more importantly, the daily moments that prove the progress: naming shapes in a favorite book, explaining what “furious” means, humming the months of the year, and signing a classmate’s birthday card without a fight. Beth explains the brain pyramid—why building from the body upward unlocks learning at the top—and how a compliant child can still “fall through the cracks” until their nervous system is ready to absorb instruction. The takeaway is practical hope: when the foundation gets stronger, everything above it stabilizes.We also turn the lens on adult brain health. If your attention feels shredded by phones and constant to-dos, you’re not broken—you’re overloaded. We share small, repeatable moves that protect focus: 15–30 minute walks without notifications, real silence in the car, music as a reset, hydration and steady fuel, and grace over perfection. At home, design beats willpower—set up a dedicated workstation with a homework toolkit, create a screen-free calm corner with comforting cues, and keep a visible movement zone so exercise happens without drama. For growing learners, use timers and short check-ins to build independence and cut friction.If you’re a parent looking for language breakthroughs, attention strategies, or a calmer home rhythm, this conversation blends personal wins with clear, science-informed steps you can start today. If you’re ready to explore these strategies further or want support for your child, teen, or even your own focus and regulation, Brain Balance offers a non-medical, whole-brain approach designed to strengthen the systems that drive learning and behavior. You can dive deeper into how the program works, connect with the Greater Baltimore Center, or follow along for daily tips and success stories using the links below:🌐 Program Overview: brainbalancecenters.com/our-program📍 Greater Baltimore Center: brainbalancecenters.com/locations/maryland/baltimore📘 Facebook: facebook.com/brainbalancecenters📸 Instagram: instagram.com/brainbalancebaltimoreSupport the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

Ready to feel strong in the gym and steadier in life? Claire sits down with Lisa, a physical therapist and women’s health coach, to unpack how lifting changes everything—from your confidence and bone density to the way you recover from stress and handle the “heavy” stuff off the platform. We get real about early alarms, community energy, and why a good coach makes feedback feel like fuel instead of criticism.Lisa shares her path from athletic training to PT to therapeutic coaching, and why she built Evolving with Motion to help women move with intention, not just intensity. We talk through injuries as information, not identity: what a back spasm can teach about core strength and form, how dry needling and PT fit into a smart return, and the role of technique and progressive load. You’ll hear how functional movements—carries, deadlifts, strict presses—map directly to daily life, whether you’re hoisting luggage, corralling kids, or navigating stairs with confidence.We also dive into hormones, sarcopenia after 35, and Wolff’s law to explain how muscle tension signals bones to get stronger. Expect practical takeaways: WHO’s two full-body strength sessions per week, building protein-forward meals, the value of rest days, and when tools like GLP-1 medications can support health goals like reducing visceral fat. Most of all, we champion the mindset shift from chasing “less” to fueling “more”—more strength, more resilience, more life.If you’re ready to train for your 95-year-old self while enjoying every win along the way, this conversation will meet you where you are and help you move forward. Want to start lifting with intention? 🏋️‍♀️Visit 🌿 ewmotion.com to explore Lisa’s coaching.Join the Evolving With Motion community on: Instagram 📲 @evolvingwithmotionFacebook 🫶 Evolving With MotionYouTube ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/@EvolvingWithMotion For daily encouragement, education, and strength inspiration. 💪Support the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

What does it take to run a construction company with heart, clarity, and serious build quality—while raising a daughter and changing the face of a male-dominated industry? We invited Nina Orlando to pull back the curtain on her journey from her dad’s handyman shop to leading a woman-owned firm now rebranding as Grit and Grace in Howard County.We dig into the projects that sharpened her edge: building bank branches behind temporary walls in 21 days, delivering medical clinic build-outs at the beach, and tackling state contracts that range from fish hatcheries to archery centers. Nina explains how franchise standards, safety codes, and waterproofing best practices translate into smarter residential design—from four-season “screen” rooms that beat pollen without full HVAC to basements that become real cinemas with tiered seating and hidden projectors. Along the way, she shares why Montessori-inspired details at kid-height build independence, and how a focus on empathy makes both commercial and home spaces feel effortless.The trend shaping family life right now gets the spotlight: in-law suites. We break down separate entrances, ADA-aware layouts, and the maze of permits and HOAs that most homeowners dread. Nina’s turnkey approach—handling applications, neighbor signatures, and inspections—removes friction so clients can focus on the life change, not the paperwork. And woven through everything is a candid look at entrepreneurship as a lifestyle: early mornings, late-night estimates, on-site leadership, and the deep satisfaction of mentoring girls, speaking in schools, and proving that women can do this work—and often do it better.If you care about smart construction, local business, and spaces that truly fit your life, you’ll love this one. Subscribe for more real talk from Maryland makers and moms, share it with a friend who’s planning a build, and leave a review to help others find the show. What space in your home deserves a Grit and Grace upgrade?See Grit and Grace in action! 🛠️✨ Check out Nina’s projects and tips: Website, Instagram, Facebook. From dream in-law suites 🏡 to smart commercial builds, it’s construction with heart 💛 and precision.Support the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

The hardest part of parenting a neurodiverse kid isn’t always the diagnosis; it’s the in-between—when your child “gets by,” but daily life still feels uphill. We invited Beth Snow, a lifelong educator and director at Brain Balance, to unpack a non-medical, multi-sensory approach that strengthens the foundations most systems skip: primitive reflex integration, sensory processing, visual function, rhythm, and timing. Instead of chasing symptoms one by one, Beth shows how layered movement and cognitive work at the right challenge point builds real stamina, better regulation, and carryover where it counts—school, friendships, and family routines.You’ll hear how a detailed discovery visit maps unique gaps and strengths, then becomes a customized plan that evolves session by session. Claire shares Grant’s story—from early gross motor wins and retained reflexes to a quieter mind, smoother transitions, and unprompted after-school stories. We talk about why motor drives cognition, how visual processing shapes attention and social cues, and what happens when you stack small wins until they feel like momentum. The thread through it all is practicality: intentional screen use without shame, unstructured outdoor play as brain fuel, simple nutrition shifts that reduce friction, and collaboration with schools, SLPs, OTs, and neuropsychs so progress sticks.If you’ve felt spread thin by piecemeal supports or worried your child will slip through the cracks, this conversation offers grounded optimism and next steps you can act on. Join us for a candid look at what changes when you strengthen the base: kids regulate, focus, and flex; families exhale. 🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Supporting kids, teens & adults🧠 Everything starts in the brain💡 Helping improve focus, regulation & comprehensionWant to learn more about Brain Balance? Explore their non-medical, whole-brain approach and find a location near you:🌐 Program Overview: https://www.brainbalancecenters.com/our-program📍 Greater Baltimore Center: https://www.brainbalancecenters.com/locations/maryland/baltimore📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brainbalancecenters/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brainbalancebaltimore/?hl=enSupport the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

What if the same playbook that steadies a press room could calm your kitchen at 6 p.m.? Claire sits down with Beth Levine—veteran Capitol Hill communicator turned Maryland mom—to unpack how crisis communications, audience research, and storycraft can make work smarter and parenting saner. Beth shares a candid path from rural Iowa to the Senate to K|O Public Affairs, revealing the on-the-ground habits that build trust when stakes are high: listen first, gather facts, define your audience, and speak simply.We dig into the moment-by-moment choices that prevent blowups—at home and in headlines. Beth explains why the person who represents the message must stay calm, how to find the “one nugget” that makes a story resonate, and when to stop obsessing and ask your team for help. Claire brings the creator lens from social posts to newsletters to podcasts, showing how different formats demand different hooks, and how a small team can zoom out when the founder’s buried in details. Together, they connect communications strategy to real family life: every kid processes differently, phases pass, and reframing hard weeks can keep you moving.You’ll leave with practical tactics for de-escalation, better storytelling, and boundaries you can actually hold. Expect real talk on perfectionism, shared mental load, and building a support circle that says yes when you finally ask. If you’re a parent, marketer, entrepreneur, or policy pro, this conversation offers clear, usable tools to steady your message and your home. Loved the episode? Follow the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend who could use a calmer playbook this week.Beth Levine is a Partner at 💼 K|O Public Affairs, a full-service, top-tier firm that doesn’t just deliver results — it ignites transformation. ⚡ By combining public affairs, public relations, and government relations into unified strategies, K|O shapes conversations, drives change, and helps organizations amplify their impact. 🌟📊 Learn more: 🔗 kopublicaffairs.com/about-usSupport the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

A silent room filled with veterans in wheelchairs, a first note from an old wartime song, and suddenly everything changes—eyes brighten, stories spill out, and the past feels close enough to touch. We sit down with Kassie from Voices of Vets to unpack how live, era-specific music reshapes memory, mood, and dignity for those who served, from World War II to Vietnam and beyond.Kassie takes us from a single July 4 performance to a growing nonprofit with nearly 200 musicians, now bringing free concerts to veteran homes, VA hospitals, and community events across states. She explains why song choice must match a veteran’s formative years, how research on music and memory aligns with what she sees daily, and the small design decisions that make a big difference—flowers during Let Me Call You Sweetheart, branch flags for safe service pride, and sing-alongs tailored to cognitive ability. We also explore the addition of dance, where a ballerina on pointe can hush a bustling hall and simple chair routines get everyone moving.The stories stay with you: a man who hadn’t eaten asking for a milkshake when a prom song reaches him; a veteran holding his phone aloft so his wife in another facility can listen; grumpy mornings softened by Connie Francis and familiar refrains. Beneath it all is a truth we feel in our bones—music is a universal language, and human connection is not optional. This conversation champions arts in elder care, protects music for kids, and shows how one thoughtful performance can become true care.🎵 Join the journey with Voices of Vets as they bring the music of service-era songs to life, honoring veterans one note at a time. 💛 Follow Voices of Vets on Instagram 🎶, Facebook 👍, YouTube ▶️, and LinkedIn 💼 to see stories, behind-the-scenes moments, and upcoming performances — and discover how a single song can spark memory, connection, and joy. ✨💖 Donate & Support Our Mission: Help bring live music to veterans nationwide. Click here to make a secure donation → Donate📧 Email: [email protected] the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

What if the missing piece in your child’s sports performance isn’t another drill, but a mindset shift? We sit down with Andrew Simpson, founder of Player's Fitness & Performance, to explore how small group coaching, intentional mentorship, and practical mental skills help young athletes—and their parents—turn pressure into progress. From an 1,800 square foot warehouse to four Maryland locations, Andrew shares the pivotal moment that changed his approach: a parent’s call about a talented athlete who spiraled after one mistake. That story led to a training model where every session begins with a short huddle on core topics like communication, emotional regulation, and resilience, followed by individualized programs that refresh every four weeks.We unpack the nuts and bolts parents care about: the one-on-one evaluation that sets goals and screens movement, the bounce back routine that teaches kids how to recover fast, and the scheduling that actually fits real life. You’ll hear why adults train mornings, athletes train afternoons, and why the six-to-one group ratio strikes the sweet spot between personalized attention and community. We also dig into hiring and culture—how PFP looks for coaches with a heart to serve and backs it with strong credentials—so families get both science and soul in every session.The conversation gets practical fast. Andrew offers language that lowers pressure at home, including one sentence that changes everything: “I really love watching you play.” We talk about aligning family calendars with true values, asking better post-game questions like “What did you learn today?” and how meaning-making turns tough losses into fuel. If you want speed, strength, and a calmer mind for your athlete—or for yourself—this is your roadmap to inside-out performance.If this conversation resonated with you, learn more about Player’s Fitness & Performance and their mission to build confident, purpose-driven young athletes at playersfitnessandperformance.com 🏋️‍♂️✨.Dive deeper into Andrew Simpson’s work 📚:The Youth Truth: amzn.to/YouthTruthFull collection of athletic and mindset books: amzn.to/AndrewBooksMindset-inspired content: andrewjsimpson.com These are insightful reads for parents, coaches, and athletes who care about mindset, leadership, and lasting performance 💡💪.Support the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

What if pregnancy wasn’t a moment to “bounce back” from, but a nine-month tissue trauma that deserves smart, athletic rehab? That single shift changes everything. We invited Katie from Rehab 2 Perform to unpack pelvic health with clarity and zero shame—so you can move, lift, and live with confidence at every stage.Katie’s story—surviving a traumatic brain injury, coaching CrossFit, then earning her DPT—drives a model of care that treats you like an athlete. We break down why leaks, pelvic pain, and heaviness are common but not normal, and how breath, rib position, lower abs, hips, and back mechanics all shape pressure management. You’ll hear what a pelvic assessment actually involves, when an internal exam makes sense, and how treatment differs for stress incontinence (reaction time) versus prolapse (endurance). Expect practical tactics you can use immediately: exercise snacking during floor time with your kids, core activation that fits into a busy day, and load progressions that get you back to walking, lifting, and running without fear.Access matters, so we talk through real barriers—childcare, scheduling, stigma—and simple ways to start anyway, including bringing your baby to appointments or using virtual check-ins. If you’ve ever told yourself, “I had a baby, this is just how it is,” consider a better story: your body adapts when given clear signals and progressive load. Whether you’re pregnant, weeks postpartum, or a decade out, it’s not too early and it’s not too late.Ready to move, lift, and live confidently? 💃💪 Connect with Dr. Katie Lupo & the Rehab 2 Perform team:🌐 rehab2perform.com📸 @rehab2performSupport the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

Most sites look pretty until you ask them to do something. We sat down with Maria, a Maryland-born designer and agency owner with roots in art, photography, and action sports, to unpack how story-led branding and user-first websites turn browsers into believers. From building an agency on referrals to rebranding her own business to match her voice, Maria shares what actually moves the needle for small teams juggling client work, content, and life.We trace the throughline from origin story to operating system: why brand is bigger than a logo, how motherhood teaches us to pivot without panic, and where consistency outperforms intensity in marketing. You’ll hear the case for clear messaging (say what you do in plain words), specific calls to action (ditch vague “Get started”), and designing for the scroll with hierarchy, contrast, and minimal text. We also get tactical on when to refresh vs. rebuild a website, how to audit UX and performance, and why fresh visuals and mobile speed can outshine a full redesign.AI shows up as a collaborator, not a replacement. With answer engine optimization on the rise, original, helpful content paired with human voice and social proof—reviews, case studies, real results—wins organic visibility without sacrificing authenticity. If you’re a founder, marketer, or creative who wants a site that converts and a brand that feels like you, this conversation gives you a focused roadmap: fix clarity and CTAs first, commit to a cadence you can keep, use AI to work faster (not generic), and revisit your foundations as you grow.Follow @maria.alcoke and visit 👉 mariavida.com for soulful branding, creative design inspo, and purposeful business growth. ✨🌿🎨💻Support the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

A clogged duct that wouldn’t clear. A waitlist that stretched into weeks. And a gut feeling that wouldn’t let go. When our friend Kelly—a 37-year-old mom of three and ER nurse—pressed for answers, the diagnosis came fast and loud: stage three, HER2-positive breast cancer with lymph node involvement. What happens next is not a bleak spiral, but a blueprint for action, clarity, and care.We walk through the science in plain English: why HER2 overexpression accelerates growth, and how targeted therapy plus modern chemo can work surprisingly quickly. Kelly shares what treatment actually feels like today—steroid-fueled “good days,” a short dip, then a rebound—and the small, gritty details that matter, from metallic taste to scalp tenderness. She opens the curtain on the system too: navigating approvals for immune support meds, weighing genetic testing’s benefits and insurance tradeoffs, and choosing not to cold cap so resources could go where they mattered most.Parenting threads through all of it. We talk about telling kids the truth without fear, looping in schools, and building a new routine around infusion cycles—meal-prepping on high-energy days, resting without guilt on low ones, and protecting energy from social drains. There’s humor and heart in the hair story: turning loss into a family ritual, finding a wig that feels like her, and even a partner’s matching buzz. Looking ahead, we map the surgical roadmap—spacers, possible radiation, staged reconstruction—and why young age and recurrence risk shape those choices.If you’ve ever dismissed a “clogged duct,” felt too young for screening, or pushed your own health to the bottom of the list, this conversation is your nudge. Postpartum changes can hide warning signs, and breast cancer risk spikes in the first five years after delivery. Feel something new? Don’t wait. Advocate hard. Get the imaging. And let your people help.Join Kelly as she shares her real-time journey through breast cancer and beyond 🌷 ✨ Instagram: @kellyw_travelmore Support the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

When five friends joked about wanting their favorite vodka water drink available in a can, most people would have laughed and moved on. Instead, Dawn and her girlfriends sketched a business plan on a cocktail napkin and transformed their group chat name "My5" into Maryland's fastest-growing ready-to-drink beverage company.The journey wasn't simple. Dawn shares how securing alcohol licenses took nearly a year, with federal approvals surprisingly coming easier than state permissions. Finding manufacturing partners and perfecting recipes took months of dedication, but the results speak for themselves. In less than a year since their November launch, My5 Beverage has expanded to over 77 locations throughout Maryland.What makes My5 stand out in the crowded beverage market? While most competitors focus on carbonation, My5 proudly advertises "no bubbles" on every can. The drinks feature all-natural flavoring, real cane sugar instead of artificial sweeteners, and gluten-free corn-based vodka. Their signature "OG" flavor draws inspiration from Maryland's beloved egg custard snowball, creating an instant connection with local consumers.As women business owners in the male-dominated alcohol industry, Dawn and her partners have faced unique challenges. But they've used any resistance as motivation, proudly embracing their identity as a women-owned, Maryland-based company. The overwhelming community support has been reciprocated through local sponsorships, donations, and active participation in regional events.With goals to reach 200 Maryland locations by year-end and eventual expansion along the East Coast, My5 demonstrates how friendship, determination, and local pride can become a powerful business foundation. Their story reminds us that sometimes the best business ideas come from everyday conversations among friends who aren't afraid to take risks together.Try My5 for yourself at one of their many Maryland locations and experience what happens when five friends decide to bottle their favorite drink and share it with the world.✋✨ Good vibes & high fives! ✨ Follow their @my5vibes to keep up with all the tasty sips 💛 Check out their drinks at myfivevibes.comSupport the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

Step back in time with Martha Clark, the sixth-generation steward of a farming legacy that has shaped Howard County since 1797. As we chat on a wooden bench surrounded by the sights and sounds of Clark's Elioak Farm, Martha reveals how her family literally put Clarksville on the map and weathered dramatic agricultural changes over centuries.Martha's journey weaves through Maryland history like the winding paths of her farm. Born into a dairy farming family when Howard County boasted 250 dairy operations (compared to just one or two today), she initially carved her own path working in women's advocacy before life brought her back to the land. After her husband's passing in 2000, she transformed necessity into inspiration, creating a petting farm that would support her family while connecting the community to rural experiences.What truly sets Martha's story apart is her decade-long mission to rescue and preserve pieces of the beloved Enchanted Forest theme park. What began with acquiring the famous pumpkin coach evolved into a massive preservation effort involving building movers, crane operators, and countless hours of restoration work. Today, families experience the magic of these rescued treasures in a deliberately screen-free environment where three generations often recreate cherished photos from the original attraction.The farm isn't just about nostalgia—it represents Martha's deep commitment to agricultural preservation. As development transformed Howard County around her, she's maintained a balanced perspective on growth while championing the importance of local food production. "Would you rather eat a tomato grown in California, picked green and gassed on its way here, or one we picked this morning that's bright red and full of flavor?" she asks, making a compelling case for farmland protection.Come experience this unique blend of history, agriculture and whimsy at Clark's Elioak Farm, where the pumpkin patch opens mid-September with seasonal festivities running through November 2nd. Discover why this family farm has become a cherished destination for countless Maryland families seeking connection to the land and each other.🌾🐐 Want to keep up with everything happening at Clark’s Elioak Farm?✨ Check out their website: clarklandfarm.com 📸 Follow on Instagram: @clarkselioakfarm 👍 Like on Facebook: Clark’s Elioak FarmSupport the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

When life delivers its hardest blows, some families find extraordinary ways to transform pain into purpose. In this deeply moving conversation, Julia Lederer opens up about her brother Zach's journey with brain cancer and the incredible legacy that continues to touch thousands of lives through the Zaching Against Cancer Foundation.Julia takes us back to when she was just seven years old and her ten-year-old brother received a devastating diagnosis. After doctors initially suggested palliative care, neurosurgeon Ben Carson offered hope through a risky surgery that gave Zach years of life nobody expected. Throughout his recovery and eventual second diagnosis during college, Zach demonstrated remarkable resilience that would become his hallmark.The foundation's origin story centers around a simple yet powerful moment – Zach flexing his muscles from a hospital bed, a photo that went viral as "Zaching" and sparked a movement. What makes this organization unique is its commitment to helping patients with all types of cancer across all age groups, directly inspired by Zach's observations of fellow patients who lacked the support system he had.Perhaps most touching are Julia's reflections on grief and remembrance. "It doesn't get easier," she shares, "but you get better at remembering all the good times." Now a mother herself, Julia reveals how her two-year-old son Mason (whose middle name is Zachary) talks to photos of the uncle he never met, keeping Zach's spirit alive in beautiful, everyday moments.The Zaching Against Cancer Foundation continues its work through partnerships with 26 hospitals and events like their upcoming Running Festival on November 22nd at Turf Valley. Join this Howard County community in celebrating a hometown hero whose legacy reminds us all that in our darkest moments, we can still be a light for others.💛 Support the Zaching Against Cancer Foundation and see the incredible work they’re doing:👉 Website👉 Facebook👉 InstagramSupport the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

When Jessica Nichols stepped into her eighth-grade social studies classroom as a struggling student, her teacher Mr. Copies whispered something that would change her life: "I know there's something you're carrying. If you ever want someone to hear you, I'll hear you." This moment of being truly seen became the foundation for Jessica's award-winning teaching career.Now the 2024-2025 Howard County Teacher of the Year, Jessica shares her remarkable journey from a child facing food insecurity to becoming one of fewer than ten African American women teaching AP Economics in Maryland. Her story isn't the typical path to education—she originally dreamed of becoming an oil and gas attorney with a first-floor penthouse (due to her fear of heights). Life took a turn when she became a mother at 21, leading her to discover a passion for teaching that would allow her to be present for her son while channeling her love for social studies and law.What makes Jessica's approach special is how she creates spaces where students feel truly seen. She recounts the story of a student she didn't know who came to her classroom because another student had advised: "Don't go home until you talk to Ms. Nichols." After sitting in silence, the student revealed suicidal thoughts, saying "he thought you would care." This moment highlights how Jessica's reputation for genuine connection creates trust that extends beyond her immediate students.Parents of neurodivergent children will find Jessica's practical advice particularly valuable. She encourages proactive communication with teachers about specific strategies that work for your child, rather than waiting for formal IEP meetings. As both an educator and parent of a neurodivergent child, Jessica offers a unique perspective on creating successful partnerships between home and school.The conversation also tackles artificial intelligence in education with refreshing clarity. Rather than fearing this technology, Jessica teaches students to view AI as a tool—like a calculator—that requires critical thinking to use effectively. Ready to feel inspired about education again? Listen now and discover why Jessica's students secretly nominated her for Teacher of the Year, and why her philosophy of looking beyond behavior to see each child's true potential is transforming education in Howard County. Jessica I. Nichols - Howard County’s 2024–2025 Teacher of the Year | National Board Certified Social Studies–History Educator🎓 M.S. in Human Resource Development & Administration, Towson University 🌍 Board Chair, Columbia Community Care (Development & Administration I) 🗳️ Elected Member, Howard County Democratic Central Committee✨ Follow Jessica on Instagram to stay inspired and connected: @mcteacherjSupport the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

Have you ever wondered what it takes to transform a pandemic hobby into a thriving business? Christin from Blooming Blossoms joins us to share exactly how she turned her love of flowers into a full-fledged entrepreneurial success story.When COVID lockdowns had us all searching for new passions, Christin found herself captivated by an HBO show called "Full Bloom," showcasing elaborate floral designs. What started as simple curiosity quickly blossomed into teaching workshops, despite having no previous professional experience with flowers. The path wasn't straightforward—after initially starting her floral side hustle in April 2021, Christin temporarily set it aside for what she thought would be her dream job in tech. Eighteen months of corporate misery later, her husband's encouragement became the catalyst for her to quit and pursue flowers full-time.Fast forward to today, and Blooming Blossoms has flourished into a multi-faceted business with wedding florals, corporate events, educational workshops, and a team of three employees. Christin's journey illuminates the struggle many creatives face when balancing passion with practicality, and how sometimes the best business decision is following your heart. Her background in corporate America provided the business acumen needed to grow her creative pursuit into a sustainable enterprise.Throughout our conversation, Christin generously shares professional floral design secrets you can use at home: creating a grid with waterproof tape, starting with greenery as your foundation, removing leaves that would touch water to prevent bacteria, and following the rule of thirds for perfect proportions. We also discuss flower sourcing, seasonal favorites, and why maintaining artistic integrity trumps cutting corners—even when clients push for it.Whether you're considering a career pivot, looking to elevate your DIY flower arrangements, or simply need inspiration to pursue your creative passion, this episode delivers practical wisdom wrapped in a story that proves it's never too late to bloom where you're planted. Follow Blooming Blossoms as they open their first brick-and-mortar location on September 6th, and discover how working with flowers can become "a massage for your soul."Support the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

What happens when a singer-songwriter becomes a relationship therapist? In this illuminating conversation, Katherine Petzold shares her fascinating journey from performing worldwide to helping couples transform their relationships through Relational Life Therapy (RLT).Katherine reveals why conventional communication advice fails most couples – it's not that we don't know how to communicate, but that we lose this ability when emotionally triggered. Through vivid examples (including a memorable story about losing it in a Target parking lot), she explains RLT's three-part system: the wounded child who feels hurt, the adaptive child who protects through problematic behaviors, and the wise adult who can choose healthier responses.The most powerful revelation? You are part of the problem in your relationship difficulties – and that's actually good news. As Katherine explains, "Only you can change you, and that's worth it regardless of whether your partner changes." This accountability is the doorway to genuine connection.Whether you're in a decades-long marriage, just starting to date, or working through a breakup, the upcoming RLT workshop (September 20-21 in Annapolis) offers transformative tools for creating healthier patterns. Surprisingly, it's often the reluctant participants – those "dragged" to the workshop – who become its biggest advocates afterward.Beyond romantic relationships, these skills ripple outward to improve all your connections. As Terry Real says, "Family dysfunction rolls from generation to generation like a fire in the woods until somebody turns and faces the flames." Will you be the one to face those flames?Register for the workshop by August 31 for early pricing and join Katherine and Risa Ganel for a weekend that participants consistently describe as life-changing. Your future self – and everyone who loves you – will thank you.Support the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

Join Claire and Emma as they reflect on a summer of growth, learning, and discovery in the world of marketing and communications. In this heartfelt conversation, Emma opens up about her journey from uncertain college student to confident marketing intern, sharing how hands-on experience has shaped her understanding of the industry far beyond what classroom learning could provide.Emma reveals her surprising affinity for client work and data analysis, admitting she's found unexpected joy in projects like Instagram indexing and content creation. From filming on location with local businesses to crafting blogs and managing social media, her diverse responsibilities have helped her identify her strengths and refine her career aspirations within the communications field.The conversation takes a thoughtful turn as they discuss the importance of media freedom and diverse storytelling voices in light of recent legislation affecting public broadcasting. Claire shares a powerful insight that resonates throughout the episode: "When we lose our storytellers, we lose our stories." This prompts a meaningful discussion about the responsibility communications professionals have in both creating and consuming media.As Emma prepares to return to college for her PR-focused communications courses, she reflects on how her internship experience has already given her an advantage in the classroom. The genuine mentor-mentee relationship between Claire and Emma shines through as they celebrate what they've learned from each other and look ahead to continuing their professional relationship remotely.Whether you're a student considering a marketing career, a professional looking to mentor the next generation, or simply curious about what happens behind the scenes of content creation, this authentic conversation offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of digital marketing and communications. Subscribe now and join our community of curious, supportive professionals navigating the ever-changing world of marketing together!Support the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

Ever feel overwhelmed by your living space despite your best efforts to keep things organized? You're not alone. In this enlightening conversation with interior designer Kerry Whippee, founder of Shamrock Hill Design, we unpack why our homes sometimes feel chaotic despite our best intentions—and how simple design principles can transform them into spaces that bring us joy.Kerry reveals the fascinating connection between visual and mental clutter, explaining why moms often reach their breaking points with home organization before other family members. "Our brains are constantly processing visual data," she explains, "even when we don't consciously realize it's happening." This invisible mental load helps explain why certain spaces in our homes can trigger stress responses while others feel like sanctuaries.The heart of our discussion focuses on practical design principles anyone can apply, regardless of budget or home size. From the "power of three" that creates visual balance to the importance of varying heights, textures, and shapes in your arrangements, Kerry breaks down professional styling techniques into accessible tips for busy parents. She identifies the four elements most "unfinished" rooms are missing: rugs to ground spaces, window treatments to draw the eye upward, meaningful wall art, and varied lighting sources.What makes this conversation particularly valuable is Kerry's emphasis on personal style over trends. "When I'm working with clients, the first thing I ask is what colors they love," she shares. Her design process involves helping people discover their authentic preferences rather than imposing someone else's aesthetic. The goal isn't a picture-perfect showroom but rather creating spaces that make you smile when you enter them—spaces that support family life rather than adding to your mental load.Whether you're struggling with seasonal clutter (hello, summer pool bags about to be replaced by backpacks!), feeling uninspired by a particular room, or simply looking for small changes that make a big impact, this episode offers attainable solutions for creating more peaceful environments without sacrificing personality or practicality.Support the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

Ever wondered why relationship patterns seem to repeat themselves, generation after generation? Couples therapist Risa Ganel reveals the powerful truth behind this cycle and offers hope for breaking it during her illuminating conversation with Claire Duarte on MomTalk Maryland.With nearly three decades of experience and specialized training in Relational Life Therapy (RLT), Risa shares how her journey began at age 12 when she discovered she was the only child at summer camp whose parents weren't divorced. This early awareness sparked a lifelong dedication to understanding and healing relationships, eventually leading her to study under relationship experts like Esther Perel and Terry Real.What makes RLT revolutionary is its willingness to lovingly confront harmful behaviors rather than maintaining therapist neutrality. "If you speak harshly to your partner, you're not going to get a more warm and loving partner," Risa explains. This approach addresses both shame and its counterpart—grandiosity—creating space for genuine transformation.The conversation explores Risa's upcoming Relationship Skills Boot Camp in Annapolis (September 20-21), a two-day workshop teaching essential skills for self-regulation and relationship repair. The workshop creates what Risa calls a "brave space" where participants can learn without pressure to share personal details. Day one focuses on relationship with self, while day two addresses connections with others.Perhaps most compelling is Risa's insight on breaking intergenerational patterns: "Family dysfunction rolls downhill like a fire in the woods until one person has the courage to stand and face the flames." By healing our relationship wounds, we not only improve our current connections but create a healthier legacy for our children and future generations.Ready to transform your relationships and become that courageous flame-facer? Visit togethercouplescounseling.com to register for the Relationship Skills Boot Camp. Early bird pricing ends August 31st!Support the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

What really happens behind those perfect Instagram posts? In this candid conversation, Claire sits down with her summer intern Emma to discuss her expectations versus the reality of working with an influencer. When Emma first joined the team, she admitted thinking the job would be relatively simple – just taking photos and posting them. Sound familiar?As we unpack her assumptions, Emma reveals how her perspective transformed upon discovering the mountain of unseen work behind every piece of content. From the hours spent filming on location to the intricate editing process, caption writing, and strategic posting schedules, she now understands why that 15-second reel actually took three hours to create.They dive deep into the reality of content creation, discussing the tools used to streamline workflows, the importance of building a team, and why diversification across platforms requires significant planning. Emma shares her surprise at discovering the community-building aspect of The Columbia Mom platform, realizing that authentic, helpful content serves a purpose far beyond aesthetics.The conversation offers a refreshingly honest look at an often misunderstood profession. While social media presents a highlight reel that makes influencer work seem effortless, the reality involves complex strategy, technical skills, and hours of behind-the-scenes effort. For anyone curious about what really happens before that perfectly curated post appears in your feed, this episode pulls back the curtain on the unseeable labor of content creation.Whether you're a content creator yourself or simply curious about the digital world, this conversation offers valuable insights into the realities of building a personal brand in today's social media landscape. Ready to see influencer life from a whole new perspective?Support the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

What happens when two moms decide to open up the confession booth and reveal the weird, embarrassing, and utterly human moments that most people keep hidden? This episode takes us behind the curtain of perfectly curated mom lives into the realm of strange habits we've never outgrown and mortifying moments we've tried to forget.From the startling admission of a lifelong Bath & Body Works obsession (complete with an elaborate three-layer scenting ritual) to the hilarious story of mistaking vitamin-induced nausea for pregnancy, Claire and Jill share the kind of confessions that will have you nodding in recognition or breathing a sigh of relief that you're not alone in your quirks. We delve into the questionable skincare "routines" of our college years, the creative excuses we've crafted for being late to work, and how we've all pushed the expiration dates on medications further than we'd like to admit.The conversation takes surprising turns as they discuss forming deep friendships with people they've only met through social media, particularly bonding over shared interests like reality TV shows. There's something incredibly refreshing about hearing two grown women acknowledge the strange contradictions in their lives – like being meticulous about children's medicine expiration dates while ignoring their own, or presenting a professional image at work while harboring memories of outrageous college behavior.Whether you're folding laundry, running errands, or hiding in your car for a moment of peace, this episode offers the perfect blend of humor, relatability, and the gentle reminder that behind every put-together mom is a human with quirks, questionable past choices, and weird habits they've never quite outgrown. Leave a review, share with a friend, or tag @the.columbiamom on Instagram to join the conversation about your own weird confessions!Support the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

What if everything we thought we knew about youth sports was wrong? What if the path to raising successful, happy athletes isn't through early specialization, elite programs, and intense training schedules for elementary-aged children?Coach Bobby joins us to challenge conventional wisdom about youth sports with research-backed insights from his 15+ years of coaching experience. Having worked with athletes from toddlers to professionals, Bobby has crafted a revolutionary approach to introducing young children to sports through his "Have a Ball" multi-sport program.His philosophy—"no lines, no laps, no lectures"—creates an environment where children ages 1-5 can actively engage with multiple sports simultaneously, building fundamental skills while maintaining what matters most: the joy of play. Through a unique combination of free exploration and short, focused skill-building activities, children develop athletically while parents learn effective ways to support their physical development.We dive deep into the troubling statistics showing 75% of kids abandoning structured sports by age 13, exploring how early specialization contributes to this dropout rate despite good intentions from parents and coaches. Bobby shares compelling evidence that even top college coaches and professional athletes advocate for multi-sport participation over single-sport specialization for young children.The conversation offers practical guidance for parents navigating youth sports decisions, emphasizing listening to your child, making decisions as a family, and prioritizing fun and friendship—the two primary reasons research shows children participate in sports. Bobby's passion for creating positive, developmental environments where children build confidence, resilience, and social skills through sport shines throughout our discussion.Ready to rethink youth sports? Listen now and discover how supporting your child's multi-sport exploration might be the best gift you can give their athletic future and overall wellbeing. Want to experience Coach Bobby's revolutionary approach firsthand? Check out his website for free demo days and drop-in options.Support the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

Claire shares her favorite summer activities in Howard County, from splash pads and farmers markets to library programs and local memberships that help families beat the heat while creating lasting memories.• Seven farmers markets throughout Howard County including new locations in Old Ellicott City and Merriweather District• Free splash pads at Merriweather District, Olney, and Millard Cooper Park in Sykesville for cooling off• Lakefront Live and Amped in the Park offer free summer concerts and entertainment• Howard County Library Summer Reading Program provides activities for all ages• Value memberships at Maryland Zoo, Clark's Elioak Farm, Robinson Nature Center, and Maryland Science Center• Berry picking opportunities at Larriland Farm, Butler's Orchard, and Rock Hill Orchard• Local hiking spots include Centennial, Lake Kittimaqundi, Elkhorn, Wild Lake, and Patapsco Valley Park• Staycation options at Turf Valley Resort and Merriweather Lake House HotelBe sure to visit our website to check out all of our recent blogs, subscribe to our email list that goes out twice a month, and follow us on Instagram to stay in the know about local events and activities.Support the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

Imagine spending your whole life with one hairstyle, then suddenly switching it up completely. That's exactly what happened when I decided to embrace my natural waves after years of straightening my hair. What started as a casual "I don't feel like styling my hair today" moment after spring break evolved into a two-month experiment that changed not just my appearance, but my relationship with myself.This curly hair journey began with all the classic rookie mistakes—using way too many products, feeling frustrated when my waves looked "crusty" instead of defined, and constantly touching my hair when I should have left it alone to dry. Through plenty of research, TikTok tutorials, and good old trial and error, I discovered that the secret to embracing natural texture isn't following someone else's routine—it's understanding your unique hair type and what it needs (Shop the products and tools that work for me!).For my wavy hair, the simplified version works best: leave-in conditioner for moisture, foam for structure, curl cream for definition, and sometimes gel for hold. The game-changer? Learning to stop touching my hair once products are applied, allowing everything to fully dry before "breaking the gel cast" for soft, defined waves. But beyond the technical aspects, this experiment revealed how much of our identity as women is tied to our hair—and how liberating it can be to break free from rigid expectations.The most valuable lesson wasn't about hair at all. It was about embracing the "and" instead of forcing an "either/or" choice. Some days I want waves, other days I crave my familiar straight style—and both versions are authentically me. This flexibility extends beyond hair; it's a powerful reminder that we don't need to box ourselves into rigid identities in any aspect of life. So whether you're contemplating your own natural hair journey or just need permission to be multiple versions of yourself, remember: you don't have to choose just one way to be you.Support the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

Ever wonder what Gen Z really thinks about your social media presence? This eye-opening conversation between Claire Duarte and Emma, The Columbia Mom's first college intern, pulls back the curtain on the significant generational divide in digital marketing and social media usage.Fresh from her freshman year at Salisbury University where she studies communications with a marketing minor, Emma offers a rare, unfiltered perspective on what makes Gen Z tick online. Her verdict? TikTok reigns supreme while Instagram Reels are decidedly "millennial." The authenticity gap between platforms becomes increasingly apparent as Emma explains why her generation posts so sparingly on Instagram compared to their millennial counterparts.The discussion explores fascinating territory around content creation philosophies, with Emma emphasizing that nothing turns Gen Z away faster than obviously staged content pretending to be spontaneous. The conversation takes an especially illuminating turn when addressing social media burnout - having used these platforms since age 10, Emma describes the exhaustion of constant comparison that leads many in her generation to periodically delete apps altogether.For business owners and marketers feeling increasingly disconnected from younger audiences, this conversation provides invaluable insights into creating content that actually resonates rather than repels. From understanding platform preferences to recognizing the supreme importance of authenticity, Claire and Emma bridge the generational digital divide in a way that's both entertaining and immensely practical.Ready to rethink your digital marketing strategy through fresh eyes? Listen now and discover what your business might be missing when trying to connect with younger audiences.Support the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

Remember when making friends was as simple as sharing your fruit snacks at recess? Motherhood changes everything about our social connections, creating both new challenges and unexpected opportunities for deeper relationships.This candid conversation dives into the delicate balancing act of nurturing friendships while juggling family responsibilities. Claire opens up about being what she hilariously calls a "friend slut" - someone who falls fast into new connections, overshares immediately, and builds intense relationships quickly. Meanwhile, her co-host, Jill, offers the perspective of someone more selective with her friendship energy, valuing quality over quantity in her relationships.Together, they explore how friendships naturally evolve through different seasons of motherhood. Some relationships are meant for specific periods of your life, while others surprisingly endure despite distance and changing circumstances. The women share personal strategies for maintaining connections when life gets chaotic - from daily meme exchanges that substitute for regular conversations to meaningful mom dates at local spots like Dok Khao or Annapolis tiki boats.What makes this conversation particularly refreshing is its honesty about friendship challenges many mothers silently face. How do you reconnect with pre-baby friends who don't understand your new reality? When should you invest energy in school parent relationships? And how do you overcome the isolation that often accompanies relocating with young children?Whether you're an extrovert craving social connection or an introvert carefully cultivating a small circle, this episode offers valuable insights on building a supportive community that enhances rather than depletes your energy as a mother. Because at the end of the day, we all need that friend who would help us "bury a body" (figuratively speaking!) without asking questions.Support the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

We dive deep into the often misunderstood world of thyroid health, autoimmune conditions, and the powerful connection between hormones and whole-body wellness with functional medicine expert Laura from Re-Balance Health and Wellness.Have you ever wondered why traditional approaches to thyroid issues often fall short? Laura explains why simply prescribing Synthroid doesn't address the root causes of conditions like Hashimoto's thyroiditis. As she guides us through Claire's personal health journey, we uncover how early detection of autoimmune markers can prevent progression to full hypothyroidism through targeted lifestyle modifications rather than immediate medication.The conversation takes a fascinating turn when Laura dispels common myths about women's hormones. Far from being solely about reproduction, our hormones influence everything from cardiovascular health to brain function. Did you know estrogen keeps blood vessels elastic and helps prevent Alzheimer's? Or that progesterone acts as "nature's Valium" for anxiety and sleep? These critical connections are rarely discussed in traditional medical settings, leaving many women suffering unnecessarily as their hormones fluctuate.Perhaps most surprising is the discussion about children's health. Laura shares remarkable improvements in her five-year-old son's ADHD symptoms after addressing gut health issues, removing food dyes, and correcting nutrient deficiencies. This powerful gut-brain connection explains why so many children struggle with focus, sleep, and mood regulation—and how functional approaches can help without immediately turning to medication.Whether you're dealing with unexplained fatigue, mood swings, weight issues, or simply want to optimize your health proactively, this episode offers practical wisdom from both clinical expertise and personal experience. Listen in for actionable steps to support your thyroid, balance your hormones naturally, and create healthier patterns for your entire family.Support the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

The journey to wellness often begins unexpectedly. What started as a simple business partnership with Re-Balance Health and Wellness transformed into a life-changing health discovery for me. After comprehensive testing—blood panels, cortisol measurements, food sensitivity screening, and gut analysis—I received news that shocked me: despite feeling "fine," I had Hashimoto's hypothyroidism and my gut health was in serious disrepair.My story reveals the fascinating disconnect between how we feel and what's actually happening beneath the surface. Despite losing 35-40 pounds on semaglutide and managing my energy with supplements and medication, my body was sending signals I hadn't fully recognized. The classic signs were there—weight fluctuations, skin issues, brain fog, fatigue—but had been partially masked by other interventions.The functional medicine approach has opened my eyes to connections I never considered, particularly how gut health influences autoimmunity (did you know 75% of immune response originates in the gut?). Now I'm navigating a four-week elimination diet—no alcohol, caffeine, dairy, grains, sugar, or legumes—while balancing life as a busy mom and business owner. The dairy restriction has proven most challenging, especially during social events that seem to fill my calendar this month.Throughout this podcast, I share the raw reality of health transformation—the struggle to comply with dietary changes while maintaining sanity, the complex supplement regimen addressing my deficiencies, and the frustration of navigating health systems that often treat symptoms rather than underlying causes. Join me as I document this journey of discovering what my body truly needs versus what merely masks symptoms, complete with professional complaints, cheese cravings, and newfound appreciation for holistic wellness.Support the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

After a decade-long hiatus, I found myself at the starting line of the Charm City Soul of the City 10K—the very same race that launched my running journey ten years earlier. The symmetry wasn't planned, but it felt like the universe had a sense of humor about my running comeback.My relationship with running has evolved dramatically since my twenties when I completed five half marathons with sub-10-minute mile paces. Back then, I could lace up and head out the door whenever inspiration struck. Now, as a mom, every training run requires strategic planning, childcare coordination, and the mental fortitude to push through when everything feels harder than it once did.The brutal winter made training especially challenging—February yielded only one or two interval sessions, leaving March feeling like desperate crunch time. Those first training runs were humbling; five minutes in, every muscle protested, and I questioned whether I'd be ready in time. But gradually, my body remembered what it could do.Partnering with Charm City Run transformed my gear experience. After trying on shoes "like Cinderella," I was shocked to discover Ultra running shoes—with their distinctive wide toe box that initially looked massive—would become my absolute favorite. When race day arrived at Harbor Point, the familiar Baltimore community showed up in full force, neighborhoods cheering for strangers, creating that magical energy only found in city races.Crossing the finish line in 1:12, simultaneously fighting the urge to throw up while feeling immense pride, I realized something profound: while life changes, we can always reconnect with the activities that once brought us joy, even if they look different now. The running trails of Columbia await, and though I'm not committing to another half marathon anytime soon, the door remains open to wherever these Ultra shoes might take me next.Want to share your own running comeback story? I'd love to hear how you've rediscovered past passions in new seasons of life!Support the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

Remember when you confidently declared all the things you'd never do as a parent? Those lofty ideals about screen time, healthy eating, sleep training, and never losing your cool? Yeah, we do too.In this candid conversation, Claire and Jill officially team up as co-hosts to tackle the humbling reality gap between pre-kid expectations and actual parenting. With equal parts humor and vulnerability, they confess how quickly their principles dissolved when confronted with the chaos of real family life.From hiding tablets under shirts before restaurant outings to creating elaborate lies about ice cream trucks only playing music when they're out of ice cream, this episode celebrates the creative survival tactics we all develop. The hosts share their surprise at how dramatically different raising boys versus girls can be, despite the same parenting approaches. "It's almost like they talk about the growing milestones for boys," Claire laughs. "You go from Toy Story to trains to hot wheels to cars to dinosaurs, and Grant is literally, verbatim, the poster boy child."What makes this conversation so refreshing is the hosts' willingness to acknowledge parenting realities that many feel ashamed to admit. Whether it's the overwhelm of sensory stimulation that leads to losing patience or the crushing defeat when sleep training methods that worked perfectly for one child fail miserably for another, Claire and Jill create space for listeners to release their own perfectionism.Have you pretended to be asleep so your partner would handle a nighttime wake-up? Do you have parenting confessions or topic suggestions you'd like us to explore in future episodes? Connect with us through DM, comments, or email—nothing is off limits in this judgment-free zone of real Maryland mom talk.Support the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

"You can't make that kid do a damn thing." These words echoed through my mind as I reflected on the unique journey of parenting my strong-willed, neurodivergent son. The path has been anything but straightforward, filled with unexpected challenges, tearful breakthroughs, and moments of profound doubt.When Grant was born in June 2020—our COVID baby—we noticed his babbling seemed to taper off around seven months old. What followed was a winding road through early intervention, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and eventually an IEP with a developmental delay diagnosis. As any parent of a child with communication difficulties knows, when language is delayed, behaviors often intensify. Our home became a battleground of emotions and tantrums as Grant struggled to express his needs in a world that felt overwhelming to him.The most challenging aspect wasn't just the therapies or the mid-year school change we recently navigated—it was the constant questioning. Was this typical boy behavior? Was it because we speak Spanish at home? Was I failing him somehow? Just this week, after Grant graduated from speech therapy but continues to struggle with potty training, a pediatric pelvic floor specialist validated what my heart knew all along: "Claire, rewards and sticker charts don't work for these issues." Those words brought me to tears. Sometimes the greatest relief comes from hearing that you're not doing it wrong—the typical solutions just don't apply to your unique situation.For parents walking similar paths with neurodivergent children or those with developmental differences, I want you to know you're not alone. Our kids who live by their own internal rules and rhythms are teaching us profound lessons about patience, acceptance, and finding joy in unexpected progress. They're showing us different ways of experiencing the world—even when that experience tests our limits as parents. If you're in the trenches of this beautiful, challenging journey, reach out. Share your story. Let's build community around these experiences that can feel so isolating but are more common than we realize. Because while I may not be an expert, I am a fellow traveler on this road, figuring it out one day at a time.Support the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

Ever wondered how a local mom brand is born? In our debut episode of Maryland Mom Talk, host Claire Duarte pulls back the curtain on her journey from psychology graduate to founder of The Columbia Mom.Claire takes us through her Maryland roots (born in DC, raised in Olney) before sharing the winding path that led to creating a community-focused platform. From her early days as a Beachbody coach to navigating motherhood during COVID, Claire reveals how personal challenges and career pivots unexpectedly prepared her for building a local mom community.The conversation delves into why Howard County needed its own spotlight. Sandwiched between Baltimore and DC, Columbia often gets overlooked despite its vibrant businesses and strong community spirit. Claire explains how she transformed her personal social media presence into The Columbia Mom in 2022, focusing on "food, family, and fun" to showcase local gems while keeping it real about motherhood struggles.TCM team member and podcast guest, Jill Burke, adds her perspective on why expanding to a podcast format makes perfect sense for their mission. The pair share hilarious behind-the-scenes stories of creating their podcast studio, including Claire's Facebook Marketplace adventures (complete with a snake encounter!) and last-minute equipment scrambles. Their chemistry and authenticity shine through as they discuss their vision for Maryland Mom Talk as a space for "community, connection, and conversation."The episode wraps with a fun Maryland-themed "This or That" game revealing Claire's preferences (Ocean City over Deep Creek, picking crabs over crab cakes) and setting the tone for future episodes that will feature interviews with local business owners, event spotlights, and real talk about motherhood.Subscribe now to join this community celebration of all things Maryland mom! Have topic suggestions? Reach out to us on Instagram @thecolumbiamom or via email – we'd love to hear what conversations you want us to bring to the show.Support the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!

MomTalk Maryland is your go-to podcast for real conversations with real women—moms who are raising families, showing up for their communities, and finding meaning in the everyday moments of life. Hosted by Claire Duarte, founder of The Columbia Mom, each episode offers honest stories, warm insights, and a sense of belonging. It’s where community, connection, and conversation collide—right here in Maryland.Support the show🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to MomTalk Maryland — where community, connection, and conversation collide! 💻 Visit us at thecolumbiamdmom.com 📧 Join our newsletter for episode updates, exclusive content, and local happenings: Subscribe! 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @the.columbiamom🗣️Got a topic idea, guest nomination, or want to sponsor an episode? Let us know!🎬 Watch behind the scenes of the podcast on YouTube: Subscribe to the MomTalk Maryland Podcast Playlist 🎧 Like what you heard? Leave a review & share with a friend who needs this convo in their life!