The Lumpy Mother is an unapologetically parent-centered podcast that focuses on how parents can show up better for their kids by prioritizing showing up for themselves. The way the show works is each week Natalie and Sarah share a yes, a no, and a hello about their respective parenting journeys or, in other words, they share something good, something bad, and something random. Topics range from coping strategies that help you regulate your emotions during a day of nonstop toddler meltdowns t ...
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Listen as host Toi Burdick interviews her guests about their travel adventures, sharing laugh-out-loud stories that will ignite your curiosity. Each episode provides unique perspectives of destinations through tales of red-eye flights, high-speed rail journeys, cross-country road trips, and more. Plus, get insights on "must do" or "skip that" activities, highly recommended local food + beverage establishments, and helpful tips to make domestic and international travel easier. All lovers of t ...
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San Jose, Costa Rica with Natalie McSwain: There are schedules to be maintained, even in Costa Rica.
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True Crime? This is as close as it gets on our podcast. Natalie McSwain, a high school Spanish teacher, shares her frightening experience while on a study abroad program in Costa Rica. Her night out with friends takes a wrong turn when they realize they are not on the bus they thought they were. Listen in to hear how this tale unfolds…spoiler: it’s…
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Puerto Rico with Tracy Butcher: Livin' La Vida Loca
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Today’s episode takes us to the beautiful island of Puerto Rico. My friend and colleague, Tracy Butcher, who recently returned to Ohio where is is continuing to teach high school, had the good fortune of participating in the Exchange Student Program while attending the University of Akron. Her choice of locale resulted in huge personal growth and e…
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“See Paris for its bones.” Laurie Johnson, a retired 39-year veteran teacher, joins the podcast to share her love of Paris and all things travel. France is near and dear to her heart as it truly runs in her blood. Years of teaching high school French has given her the benefit of being fluent, which is an asset when traveling abroad. But even she wa…
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Mexico City and Beyond with Kelly Rogers: She works hard for the money...or does she?
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Kelly Rogers returns to the podcast with more tales from her 7 and 1/2 week road trip adventure with her mom, granny, sisters and cousins. She shares some of the highlights from the two weeks spent in Mexico, including cliff divers, bull fights, and pyramid climbing. But, most importantly, she reveals a deep, dark secret about the trip and how she …
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Captiva Island, Florida with Audra Diaz: Going, Quite Literally, Off the Grid
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Parents usually have the best intentions at heart, yet sometimes that can be a huge burden, especially when travelling. Audra Diaz, a high school history teacher, shares her first vacation experience with her infant daughter and how her overzealous packing efforts caused undue stress for her husband shortly after hitting the road. Fortunately, the …
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Wales, UK with Diane Mikolon: Finding Her Roots
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It’s not often that people get the opportunity to travel to the country where their family originated, but Diane Mikolon was fortunate enough to do just that. Thanks to her father’s exhaustive research on the family ancestry, she and her parents, brother, and grandmother toured all of Wales for two weeks, leaving what felt like no castle unturned. …
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New York City and Broadway with Greg Burdick: In a New York State of Mind
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The New York City of 1988 was quite a different experience than it is today. Greg Burdick is a Theatre Arts teacher and playwright, with 30 years of experience as an educator. He also happens to be my husband. In this episode, Greg shares the story of his first trip to The Big Apple and the nerve-wracking incident he and his friends experienced whi…
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Disneyland Tokyo with Morgan Stark, host of Just Some Magic podcast: Disney fans unite!!
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Morgan Stark, host of Just Some Magic podcast, joins me for a collaboration and dishes all things Disney. She shares how, as a former Disney College Program Cast Member, living her best life, frequently visiting Disneyland, and being an early Disney IG influencer, led to a chance meeting with the host of a popular Disney-themed podcast, The Dis Unp…
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Knoxville, TN and the 1982 World's Fair with Cat & Martha McDonald: Calling all Gen-Xers!
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Come along for a trip back in time to the 1982 World’s Fair – the International Energy Expo – showcased all things tech. Cat and Susan McDonald are sisters who recount their tale of the family road trip to Knoxville, TN and the surrounding Great Smoky Mountain area. Cade’s Cove, Clingman’s Dome and the Nahantahela River are just a few of the highli…
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Istanbul and Antalya, Turkey with Susan Infield: Don't Leave Home Without It!
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"Travel while you're young" is great advice, although it's age and experience that give us the wisdom we need for a smooth trip. Susan Infield has worked in the aviation industry for most of her career and has had the good fortune to visit every continent, except Antartica. She shares her hysterical tale of traveling with a friend to Istanbul and A…
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Northern Germany with Lily Beery: All Aboard for Adventure!
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Kids love trains, so a two-hour trip should have been a fun and easy first adventure. Lily Beery, a graphic designer and former Walt Disney World Cast Member, shares her story of traveling through northern Germany by train as a young child via several other countries. Listen as she describes the valiant attempt by Lily's mother to give her and her …
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New York City with Daphne Harris: To Airbnb or Not to Airbnb, that is the question.
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Vacation rentals have so much to offer over a standard hotel room, but be sure to read the reviews before booking. Dr. Daphne Harris, and Literacy Coach and colleague of mine, shares what happens when her attempt at giving her daughters a feel for "real New York" by staying in a residential neighborhood, instead of a touristy hotel, goes wrong. She…
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Venice, Italy with Sarah Lenhart: Lurkers, Lusters, and Luggage
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Solo travel can be treacherous, in more ways than one, especially when you don't speak the language. Sarah Lenhart, a choir teacher, free-lance musician, and friend of mine, regales us with her hilarious, and sometimes scary, tale of traveling solo to Venice, Italy. She proves that women can travel alone with confidence and that, when incidents do …
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Chattanooga, TN with Cassidy Wade: A romantic mountain retreat or cabin of terror?
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A quick getaway to a quaint mountain retreat quickly turns frightening, even before they've unpacked. Cassidy Wade, a former student and now colleague of mine, weaves a nail-biting tale of a romantic rendezvous in the Tennessee mountains gone wrong. She shares what she enjoyed about the trip and what she learned about herself as a result of this ex…
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Welcome to We Can Laugh About It Now with Toi Burdick
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I love to travel. And I'm inspired when I hear other people share their travel stories. At work, I have a giant map of the United States on my wall, with pushpins in all the destinations I’ve visited around the country, and pictures of me and my family in each of these locations. The map is always a conversation starter when people stop by my offic…
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Monterrey, Mexico with Kelly Rogers: Gravity's the Enemy
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"The bus rolled down the mountain today," read her sister's postcard to their father back home. In the summer of 1974, my dear friend, Kelly Rogers and her all-female traveling companions, encountered some gravitational challenges in the mountains of Mexico. Never fear; however, as Granny secured a boulder behind the tire to keep it from rolling ba…
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Sarah gives advice about her new trick to finding joy everyday and Natalie complains about some movies that annoy her.By Natalie Mills & Sarah Stark
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Sarah and Natalie talk about being tired all the time and the distribution of household tasks.By Natalie Mills & Sarah Stark
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Sarah and Natalie talk about the ongoing lists they keep to not have more children and some of the awkward things kids say loudly in public.By Natalie Mills & Sarah Stark
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After a (not so relaxing) break, Sarah and Natalie are excited to be back at it again with their 31st episode! In this episode they talk about their holiday seasons and all the changes in their lives! Don't forget to rate, subscribe, and share The Lumpy Mother with someone who might enjoy it!By Natalie Mills & Sarah Stark
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Sarah and Natalie talk about their favorite children's books in this episode of The Lumpy Mother! If you want to share your favorite books, or have anything else to add to the conversation, you can email The Lumpy Mother at lumpymotherpodcast@gmail.com.By Natalie Mills & Sarah Stark
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Sarah talks about co-regulation strategies and Natalie babbles on in an exhausted state about the first week of school. Email us your stories (lumpymotherpodcast@gmail.com) and we might read them in our next episode!By Natalie Mills & Sarah Stark
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It's an After Hours Bedtime Episode, which means the topics covered might not be great for sensitive or young listeners. Sarah and Natalie talk through their birth stories with their firstborns!By Natalie Mills & Sarah Stark
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Some topics in this episode may not be appropriate for sensitive listeners. In this episode of The Lumpy Mother, Sarah talks about how scary the internet can be for your children and the importance of making smart choices for/with them. Natalie makes an announcement and talks through the preparations they are making! We want to hear from you! Email…
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On this episode of The Lumpy Mother, Natalie talks about the ups and downs of their trip to the fair this year, and Sarah reveals a new parenting secret she tried (and it worked!) Make sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram @lumpymotherpodcast, and on Twitter @lumpymotherpod1By Natalie Mills & Sarah Stark
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It's our 25th episode! Sarah talks about raising your kids to be happy vs. raising them to be resilient. Natalie shares a list of 7 things every kid should hear from their parents. You can email us your thoughts and stories at lumpymotherpodcast@gmail.com!By Natalie Mills & Sarah Stark
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Episode 24 - Depression of the SAHM Variety
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Natalie and Sarah talk about being unbelievably lazy and how being a stay at home mom can affect, or even cause, depression.By Natalie Mills & Sarah Stark
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In this episode of The Lumpy Mother, Sarah and Natalie talk about trying to maintain a positive attitude while parenting and debate the pros and cons of getting pregnant again. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, @lumpymotherpodcasts, and on Twitter @lumpymotherpod1. Email us about your parenting wins and fails! Send us your stories to lumpymother…
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Natalie and Sarah are mixing things up for the summer! In these new shorter episodes, they will each be covering one topic-whether it's a yes, no, or hello is up to them! In this episode of The Lumpy Mother, Natalie talks about keeping goals for herself outside of motherhood, and Sarah spills some unbelievable facts about moms past and present. Ema…
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It's a mini-sode! Natalie and her husband Nick talk through one of the more memorable medical issues they have come across as parents. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @lumpymotherpodcast, and on Twitter @lumpymotherpod1By Natalie Mills & Sarah Stark
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Sarah and Natalie talk about summer beach days, being financially dependent, the long game of parenting, and more in this episode of The Lumpy Mother. Email us at lumpymotherpodcast@gmail.com with your wins from the week!By Natalie Mills & Sarah Stark
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Sarah and Natalie talk about becoming more assertive as a parent, a major mom fail, going to prom, and more in this episode of The Lumpy Mother. We want to hear from you! Email us at lumpymotherpodcast@gmail.com with your yes', no's, or hello's from your week!By Natalie Mills & Sarah Stark
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Episode 18 - Gallbladder Stone Ring
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Sarah and Natalie talk about Sarah's recent gallbladder surgery, having zero mercy on your kids during board games, mom brain, and more in this episode of The Lumpy Mother. We want to hear from you! Email us at lumpymotherpodcast@gmail.com with the yes', no's, or hello's from your week. Listen to The Lumpy Mother wherever you get your podcasts, or …
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Sarah's gallbladder decided this was it's time to shine, so while she recovers from surgery Natalie's husband, Nick, decided to step in as co-host! Nick and Natalie talk about driving a minivan, the end of the school year, being plant-parents, and more in this episode of The Lumpy Mother. We want to hear from you! Email us your yes' no's, and hello…
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Natalie and Sarah have a conversation with Kelsey from @coachingwithkelsey about body image, the death of dieting, and more in this special episode of The Lumpy Mother. We want to hear from you! If you have any thoughts or questions for Kelsey you can email us at lumpymotherpodcast@gmail.com.By Natalie Mills & Sarah Stark
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Natalie and Sarah talk about how comforting Spanx can be, time traveling to meet your ancestors, mom code, and more in this episode of The Lumpy Mother. You can follow Lumpy Mother on Facebook and Instagram @lumpymotherpodcast, on Twitter @lumpymotherpod1, and on TikTok @lumpymotherpodcast. We want to hear from you! Email us at lumpymotherpodcast@g…
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Sarah and Natalie talk about being a sports mom, the struggles of solo parenting, why they believe in saying 'no', and more in this episode of The Lumpy Mother. You can follow Lumpy Mother on Facebook and Instagram @lumpymotherpodcast, on Twitter @lumpymotherpod1, and on TikTok @lumpymotherpodcast. We want to hear from you! Email us at lumpymotherp…
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Natalie and Sarah talk about Natalie's recent backpacking trip, apologizing to your kids, the mental load of being a parent, and more in this episode of The Lumpy Mother. You can follow Lumpy Mother on Facebook and Instagram @lumpymotherpodcast, on Twitter @lumpymotherpod1, and on TikTok @lumpymotherpodcast. We want to hear from you! Email us at lu…
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Bedtime Afterparty 1 - Breastfeeding
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In this special edition episode of The Lumpy Mother, Sarah and Natalie talk about breastfeeding. This is the very first Bedtime Afterparty episode, which means a lot of the conversations might not be appropriate for kids! You can follow Lumpy Mother on Facebook and Instagram @lumpymotherpodcast, on Twitter @lumpymotherpod1, and on TikTok @lumpymoth…
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Episode 13 - Only the Dog Favors Mommy
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1:00:39
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Natalie and Sarah talk about horrible spring break experiences, being constantly interrupted by your kids, being in family photos, and more in this episode of The Lumpy Mother. You can follow Lumpy Mother on Facebook and Instagram @lumpymotherpodcast, on Twitter @lumpymotherpod1, and on TikTok @lumpymotherpodcast. We want to hear from you! Email us…
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Natalie and Sarah talk about life insurance, snacking, why kids lie, and more in this episode of The Lumpy Mother. You can follow Lumpy Mother on Facebook and Instagram @lumpymotherpodcast, on Twitter @lumpymotherpod1, and on TikTok @lumpymotherpodcast. We want to hear from you! Email us at lumpymotherpodcast@gmail.com with your yes, no's and hello…
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Episode 11 - Bobo the Clown and Screen Time
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Natalie and Sarah talk about why they don't feel guilty about screen time, short book recommendations, rebranding self care, and more in this episode of The Lumpy Mother. Articles mentioned in this episode: https://bit.ly/3u3oNFQ, https://bit.ly/3u5cclr, https://bit.ly/3sB4pf0, https://bit.ly/2QQL63i, https://bit.ly/3m4OaV1. You can follow Lumpy Mo…
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Episode 10 - Pink for Boys and 90's Toys
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Natalie and Sarah talk about recurring nightmares, swearing in front of your kids, their favorite toys as kids, and more in this episode of The Lumpy Mother. Resources mentioned this week include the following articles: Let Toys Be Toys: https://bit.ly/315WCth How Toys Became Gendered: http://bit.ly/2PiF76u You Are Enough: http://bit.ly/3rccPry Sto…
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Episode 9 - Quarantine and Meltdowns
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Sarah and Natalie talk about being a responsible example in front of your kids, loving your body, and more in this episode of The Lumpy Mother. Resources mentioned this week include an article and podcast about Miriam Elizabeth Rodriguez Martinez. The article can be found at http://bit.ly/38J5wBq and the podcast is Episode 257 from My Favorite Murd…
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It’s The Lumpy Mother: Covid Edition. Because Natalie has Covid-19. Sarah and Natalie talk about sunshine, being sick when you’re a parent, amazing moms from history, and more in this episode of The Lumpy Mother. Resources mentioned this week include thewellmomco.com. You can follow Lumpy Mother on Facebook and Instagram @lumpymotherpodcast, on Twi…
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Episode 7 - Air Fryers and Missing Teeth
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Sarah and Natalie talk about Natalie’s favorite kitchen gadget of all time, the horrible things that happen to your body after you have kids, how hard it is to come face to face with your own emotions, and more in this episode of The Lumpy Mother. Resources mentioned this week include the Instagram page @coachingwithkelsey. You can follow Lumpy Mot…
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Episode 6 - Antiracist Educators and Negative Self Talk
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Sarah and Natalie talk about impactful antiracist educators, the importance of date nights, how to disrupt the negative self talk that fills our heads, and more in this episode of The Lumpy Mother. Resources mentioned this week include Instagram pages @evolvedteacher, @firstname.basis, @drbeckyathome, and @biglittlefeelings; plus TikTok account @br…
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Episode 5 - Perfectionism and Public Restrooms
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Natalie and Sarah talk about how damaging perfectionism can be, using public restrooms with small children, celebrating the Korean holiday Seollal, and more in this episode of The Lumpy Mother! Resources mentioned this week include the book Daring Greatly by Brene Brown and Jeff King on TikTok @jkvaluaddr. You can follow Lumpy Mother on Facebook an…
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Episode 4 - Sleep Deprivation and Mom Instincts
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Sarah and Natalie talk about sleep deprivation, trusting your parental instincts, new fashion trends they are absolutely bitter about, and more in this episode of The Lumpy Mother. Resources mentioned this week include the Instagram account @drbeckyathome and the podcast Sleep With Me. You can follow Lumpy Mother on Facebook and Instagram @lumpymot…
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Episode 3 - Folding Socks and Garbage Chores
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Natalie and Sarah talk through their big and small New Year’s Resolutions, why mornings are the worst, redefining success when you’re a stay at home parent, and more in this episode of The Lumpy Mother! Resources mentioned this week include the Instagram account @coachingwithkelsey You can follow Lumpy Mother on Facebook and Instagram @lumpymotherp…
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