Unapologetically Mom Podcast
By: Drs. Tonya Loken and Jenny Heidt
Language: en-us
Categories: Kids, Family, Parenting, Health, Fitness, Alternative
Everything mom related. We will discuss everything from pregnancy, postpartum, hormones, workouts, mental overload, relationships, meals and everything in-between. We are here to support you and be a resource through out your motherhood journey.
Episodes
From Chaos To Calm: Simple Family Meal Planning That Works
Jan 08, 2026We share a simple way to turn weeknight chaos into calm: one family meal with flexible parts, short ingredient lists, and smart leftovers that reheat fast after activities. We also break down protein-forward breakfasts that keep energy steady and curb after-school crashes.
• one meal for everyone with kid-friendly sides
• try-two-bites rule for new foods
• plan three core dinners and scale leftovers
• favor five-ingredient recipes and clear components
• rotate a monthly menu for speed and sanity
• use sauces to create variety without extra cooking
• fast options for late activity nights
• protein-first breakfast ideas...
Planning Routines That Make Mornings Easier
Jan 01, 2026Gratitude Over Resolutions
Dec 25, 2025We look back at 2025 with grounded gratitude, pull forward the routines and moments that worked, and challenge the “dumpster fire” mindset with simple, research-backed practices. From school transitions and multigenerational travel to homemade snacks, community, and pregnancy at 40, we share what helped and how to start now.
• reflecting on wins to carry into 2026
• gratitude as a daily practice that shifts mood
• making change before January rather than waiting
• school-age transitions and family travel memories
• personal 2.0 through movement, creativity and faith
• replacing convenience foods with easy homemade options
• teaching kids wants vs needs and giving b...
Winter Blues, Brighter Days
Dec 18, 2025We talk candidly about seasonal sadness and how short days, cold temps, and holiday stress can drain energy and mood. We share practical tools—light therapy, short workouts, smart supplements, and real support—to help you feel steadier through winter.
• why darkness and routine changes trigger low mood
• red light therapy benefits and device quality basics
• full spectrum “SAD” lights for morning wakefulness
• simple, short movement that boosts serotonin and dopamine
• start-now habit stacking to build momentum before January
• magnesium glycinate and 5‑HTP as supportive options
• feeling emotions, naming triggers, and reflecting on root cause...
Winter-Proof Your Immune System
Dec 11, 2025We dig into how to cut sick days short with rest, simple food shifts, smart supplements, and real-world routines that fit family life. We also clear up winter health myths, from “the cold gives you a cold” to the lure of the late-night second wind.
• honoring immune signals with rest and isolation
• easy nutrition wins with soups, broths and teas
• mindful fasting during fevers while staying hydrated
• early supplements that shorten colds and are kid friendly
• daily preventatives including vitamin D, C, zinc and elderberry
• practical hygiene with handwashing and saline nasal sprays
• str...
From Overwhelm To Meaning: A Simpler, Kinder Holiday Season
Dec 04, 2025We trade the pressure to perform for a season defined by presence, generosity, and mental health. From budget-friendly traditions to kid-led giving and real delegation, we map out a calmer path between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
• rising costs and the weight of expectations
• simple gift frameworks that limit clutter
• teaching generosity through donating and drives
• replacing comparison with connection
• low-cost experiences kids actually remember
• stay-home days and mental health resets
• delegation, lists, and early planning
• including yourself on the wish list
If this episode spoke to you, please follow the podcast and...
Friendships After Kids
Nov 27, 2025We unpack how motherhood reshapes friendships, from drifting apart to finding “built-in” community in schools, sports, and faith groups. We share practical ways to meet aligned moms, keep pre-kid friendships alive, and release the guilt that comes with changing seasons.
• identity shifts that follow becoming a mom
• kids as connectors and why proximity matters
• mourning old dynamics without self blame
• finding community through school, sports and faith
• practical ideas for early postpartum connection
• balancing friends with and without children
• simple routines that make time for adult friendship
• gratitude for evolving seasons and steady e...
How Children Reshape Marriage And What To Do About It
Nov 20, 2025We explore how marriage shifts when kids arrive, from mental load and the default parent dynamic to finding time and energy to stay close as partners. We share simple, low-cost ways to reconnect, use love languages, and keep conversations from becoming kid logistics.
• how roles shift and the default parent emerges
• the mental load behind activities, clothes, and schedules
• moving from household managers back to partners
• low-lift date ideas and novelty to spark connection
• prompts and card decks for better conversations
• sharing tasks with clear ownership and systems
• using love languages to make care l...
How A Five Minute Pause Can Save Your Evening
Nov 13, 2025We share practical ways to reset after work, ask for help at home, and protect presence with your kids without chasing perfection. From five minute buffers to purpose driven no’s, we trade guilt for grace and build calmer evenings that actually fit real life.
• seasons that tip the balance and how to plan support
• commute and driveway decompression rituals that work
• naming overwhelm and modeling emotional literacy for kids
• using five minute resets to reduce reactivity
• scheduling downtime and finishing work mentally before pickup
• choosing presence over a sprawling to do list
• say...
Finding Yourself Beyond Mom
Nov 06, 2025We talk honestly about finding identity beyond the role of mom, from newborn survival mode to the strange quiet of school-aged independence. Practical habits, honest stories, and small rituals show how to let go of guilt and model balance for our kids.
• early motherhood overwhelm and lack of brain space
• first baby anxiety versus later-baby confidence
• reclaiming small daily rituals that feel human
• transitions when kids start school and time opens up
• reviving old passions like cooking, reading, swimming
• handling default-parent dynamics and mental load
• naming guilt, sharing load with partners, setting bounda...
E2: Support yourself during the -ber months
Oct 30, 2025In this episode we discuss the overwhelm that can occur during this time of the year and how to support you during this time.
Recipes discussed in the episode:
https://happyhealthymama.com/homemade-elderberry-syrup-recipe.html
https://www.mamaknowsglutenfree.com/gluten-free-banana-muffins/
Duration: 00:20:42Where we have been! Where we are going!!
Oct 22, 2025We took an almost 3 year hiatus…what’s new? And what’s our plan going forward! Spoiler: it’s going to awesome and we are super excited!!
Duration: 00:19:38