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When it comes to finding out what is important to you in your life, the first step is to name what matters. Kendra Adachi, New York Times bestselling author of The Lazy Genius Way, shares how this mantra has changed how she lives her life. She is a podcaster, mom, author and creator of a life-changing chicken recipe (seriously, you need to check it out), and she joins Vanessa on The MomForce Podcast to discuss how you can be your own lazy genius. Kendra shares stories of how she has overcome her perfectionist tendencies and how making and building connections with other people ultimately is what she has named as what matters most.   SHOW NOTES: Find Kendra on Instagram and her website.   Change-your-life chicken: https://www.thelazygeniuscollective.com/blog/change-your-life-chicken   Kendra’s book: The Lazy Genius Collective   The MomForce Facebook Group

Happiness is part of the human experience, and today’s guest never tires of exploring the many facets of emotion and happiness. Gretchen Rubin, author of The Four Tendencies, has devoted her career and writing to understanding how humans respond to their expectations. In this episode of The MomForce Podcast, she explains that people’s responses to outer and inner expectations determines which of the four tendencies (upholder, questioner, obliger, or rebel) they have.   SHOW NOTES: The Four Tendencies Quiz Gretchen’s favorite parenting books:  How To Talk So That Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk Siblings Without Rivalry

Home is the first place a child begins to learn, and the role a parent plays in their children’s education has changed dramatically since the global pandemic began. LaNesha Tabb of @apron_education and author of Unpack Your Impact is an educator and mother who is trailblazing a new curriculum for teachers, parents and students to learn about diversity, inclusion and cultivating important conversations. She shares with Vanessa the responsibility parents have to “disrupt the default” and consciously teach their children how to be anti-racist. In Lanesha’s words she tells us all how we can, “Stop being weird about race”. Additionally, LaNesha is a kindergarten teacher with 20 years of experience and she shares her number one tip for helping children learn at home.    Vanessa’s home school episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-momforce-podcast-hosted-by-chatbooks/id1464755075?i=1000468947702 LaNesha’s guide for talking about racism: https://laneshatabb.com/home/store28348178-company-site/ Unpack your impact: https://laneshatabb.com/unpack-your-impact/ Read like a rockstar: https://readlikearockstarteaching.com/

Sick of hearing "new year, new you"? Instead of New Year's resolutions, follow Andrea Hannemann in her pursuit of lifelong health habits. She lives by her mantra "plant over processed" and shares how you can do it, too! For more about today’s show, check out our blog post! Then hop on over to The MomForce Facebook Group to hear from other like-minded parents “mom-hacking” their way through life. And use code PODCAST20 for 20% off your next Chatbook product.

Picky eaters are stressful! Jennifer Anderson of Kids Eat In Color is joining us to help take all that stress out with her best tips and tricks on how to make snack time and dinner time more enjoyable!   For more about today’s show, check out our blog post! Then hop on over to The MomForce Facebook Group to hear from other like-minded parents “mom-hacking” their way through life. And use code PODCAST20 for 20% off your next Chatbook product.

In the mood for some classic Christmas flicks? We’ve got you covered with all things Lifetime Christmas movies. Vanessa Quigley sat down with Melissa Joan Hart to talk about her experience on the set of Dear Christmas, what it’s like to film during Covid-19, her favorite holiday traditions and so much more! For more about today’s show, check out our blog post! Then hop on over to The MomForce Facebook Group to hear from other like-minded parents “mom-hacking” their way through life. And use code PODCAST20 for 20% off your next Chatbook product.

Chatbooks is about connection. And in this special episode of The MomForce Podcast, Vanessa Quigley, Chatbooks co-founder and mother of 7, is talking about how the perfect gift this holiday season can really make those we love know exactly how important  they are!  Reflecting on past episodes with guests like Shea McGee, Dr. Tina Bryson and Jordan Page, to name a few, Vanessa shares tips and tricks on how connection can help strengthen our most important relationships. What better gift to give this holiday season!  Pssssst -  use code PODCAST20 for 20% off your next Chatbook product

How did a girl who went to school in Public Relations end up with a booming interior design company, a book coming out the fall and her very own line at Target? Shea McGee of Studio McGee is joining Vanessa to talk about how she built her brand, alongside her husband Syd, while trying to balance being a wife and mother.    For more on Shea and things we talked about on today’s show, check out our blog post over on Chatbooks! Then hop on over to The MomForce Facebook Group to hear from other like-minded parents “mom-hacking” their way through life. And use code PODCAST20 for 20% off your next Chatbook product.

Many say laughter is the best medicine - Lisa Valentine Clark, the original “Real Mom” at Chatbooks, is here to prove it. As a very successful actress, author, and radio show host, Lisa shares how good humor helps guide her through life's journeys and trials, including the MLS diagnosis and passing of her husband, Christopher Clark.  For more on Lisa and things we talked about on today’s show, check out our blog post over on Chatbooks! Then hop on over to The MomForce Facebook Group to hear from other like-minded parents “mom-hacking” their way through life.

Morning schedules, taking the family camping, and parenting different personalities are among the few hot topics Vanessa and her co-hosts and sisters talked about in this first season of The MomForce Podcast. Vanessa is revisiting ten of the stand out tips and tricks in this season finale episode. 1. Hire a “warm body” to babysit when the kids are all in bed.  All Things Babysitters - Part I 2. When should you let your girls start shaving their legs??  Keeping the Kids Clean(ish) - Shower, Rinse, Brush, Repeat. 3. Why printed pictures can strengthen your family relationships Strengthening Families through the Printed Photo Dr. Trisha Weeks 4. How you can comfort a grieving friend - What advice would you give them How to Help a Grieving Friend 5. Making service a priority in your family - Getting kids involved Creating a Culture of Service in Your Family with Kristin Andrus 6. Helping your kids feel seen, safe, soothed and secure The Power of Showing Up with Dr. Tina Bryson 7. Getting on the same with your partner about the family budget Tackling the Family Budget with Jordan Page 8. Knowing the difference between discipline and punishment Positive Discipline with Ralphie Jacobs of Simply On Purpose 9. When the best time to go to sleep is - and how to actually fall asleep Rules for Bed with Sleep and Sex Therapist Christine Lawler of @the.peaceful.sleeper 10. Healthy ways to cope with anxiety, for parents and kids. How to Cope with How How to Cope with Stress and Anxiety with Dr. Lisa Damour As we prepare for our next season, we would love to hear from you. What do you want to learn about? What experts would you like to hear from? Email us at podcast@chatbooks.com. Parenting is hard and we don’t have to do it alone! The MomForce is here to help you. And don’t forget to join our Facebook group, where thousands of like minded women from all over the world are helping each other out as we all learn and grow in our own womanhood/motherhood. Til next season, gals!

Let's face it. Mental Illness has a stigma. On this episode of The MomForce podcast, Vanessa and two of her sisters, Erika and Shelly, are tackling the touchy subject of mental health. Award winning journalist and former co-host of CBS’s The Early Show, Jane Clayson Johnson joins the conversation, discussing the need to destigmatize how we view mental health as well as her own struggles with clinical depression. She shares insights from her book, Silent Souls Weeping, where she interviewed over 150 men, women, and teens about their experience with depression. As mothers, many of us put unrealistic expectations on ourselves and when those aren't met, the sometimes crippling disappointment can spiral. In today’s conversation, Jane and the MomForce sisters discuss real life tips and tricks on how to cope, when to ask for help, and how we can support those around us that may be suffering. Help us change the stigma of mental health. Sharing our stories is the start.

Father’s Day is around the corner and on this extra special episode of The MomForce Podcast, Vanessa is talking to three very different dads about what fatherhood looks like in their home. Aaron McGee of @fatherhoodisdope talks about destigmatizing fatherhood, specifically as it pertains to men of color. Scout Masterson talks about the adoption process he and his partner, Bill, went through to finally get their two adorable children. Jeremy Andrus is a serial entrepreneur and the current CEO of Traeger Grills. He talks about teaching his 6 children the importance of service and giving back to their community. Whether you are in LA, Tennessee, or the mountains of Utah, fatherhood looks different for everyone. But one uniting factor for all these dads is teaching their kids to make the world a better place! Thanks dads, for all you do!

Sleep is one of a mother’s most coveted things. Mama sleep and baby’s sleep. In today’s episode of The MomForce Podcast, Kara and Shelly are talking about the things they learned from our previous podcast episode about sleep. Shelly’s 5th baby is 2 and had been a terrible sleeper. But thanks to the tips Shelly learned from Lauren Olson’s episode, baby Otto has mastered sleeping in this crib. Kara is due with her 5th baby this summer and Becca Campbell’s episode provided much needed direction on how to make sure newborns (and moms) can get the rest they need. And Christine Lawler provided tips both Kara and Shelly are using on how to get the best sleep with your partner!  For more information on these sleep pros, check out their websites! Christine Lawler Becca Campbell Lauren Olson

Kate Call from @latewithKate is not afraid to goof off for the camera! For years, she’s been making us laugh with her hysterical antics on her popular instagram account. But did you know she also is an incredibly savvy business woman who created her own company, Lates by Kate? (If you need buttery soft jammies, then look no further!) In this episode of The MomForce Podcast, Vanessa and co-host Erika talk with Kate about how she came up with business ventures and how she “balances” work life and mom life - psssst, child labor! (wink wink) Kate also tells us why it's important for her to make people laugh. And it has everything to do with feeling comfortable in your own skin! 

Budgeting can be a four letter word! But our friend, Jordan Page makes it simple and dare we say FUN! With purse strings tightening up all around us due to #socialdistancing, we are revisiting our popular episode to highlight Jordan's best tips for creating and sticking to a budget! Psssst - for the entire month of May, she's offering her Budget Bootcamp & Productivity Camp FREE! Check out her website for details! Want to learn more about The MomForce Podcast - be sure to join our Facebook group - full of thousands of moms from all over the world, helping each other through the highs and lows of motherhood/womanhood. Also, follow our host @vanessaquigley for all the latest podcast details.

On this episode of the MomForce Podcast, Vanessa and her sister, Erika, are talking to Vlada Bortnik, the founder of Marco Polo, a popular video based messaging app. Vlada tells the backstory of the company and how it was created to help connect with others on their own schedule. As busy moms, keeping in touch with family and friends can get difficult. Vlada explains how Marco Polo can help! Vanessa and Erika are HUGE fans of the app and use it daily to stay in touch with their sisters and friends all over the country. Vlada also tells us why it's a completely safe app for children to use, which, BONUS, we have lots of children! And they love to connect with their peeps as well. There is science behind connection and the entire team at Marco Polo are on a mission to cure the loneliness epidemic. And during all this social distancing and Covid-19, we all are feeling a bit more lonely. Download the Marco Polo app and see why The MomForce loves it so much! Want to learn more about The MomForce Podcast - be sure to join our Facebook group - full of thousands of moms from all over the world, helping each other through the highs and lows of motherhood/womanhood. Also, follow our host @vanessaquigley for all the latest podcast details.

Mother's Day is nearly upon us and it's sure to be unlike any other. On today's extra special podcast episode, Vanessa and her 4 sisters (and co-hosts) are talking about all things they've learned during quarantine. Erika, Leah, Shelly, and Kara join Vanessa via ZOOM to discuss some hot topics. With 30 kids between them and spread out across the country, the sisters have seen just about everything and are ready to dish on all of it! A few of the questions they talk about are - "How has your relationship with your husband changed?" "What have you learned about your kids?" "How will your mothering change as a result of all this?" "What have you realized about yourself?" To hear more from the sisters and other likeminded women from across the globe, be sure to join The MomForce Facebook group and follow them @themomforcepodcast on Instagram.

Building a business takes patience and grit and a whole lot of passion. Anna Lozano and Lindy Sood of @lovepoweredco have all that and more. Vanessa and co-host (and sis) Leah are chatting with the two mom bosses about how their business began and how they juggle all the many hats they are required to wear.  Leaning on each other's strengths, they took the leap and began Love Powered Co, whose mission is "to empower the next generation of mindful leaders, through the POWER of I AM. " Starting a company while raising young families didn't come without its hiccups, but Anna and Lindy's passion for helping others through positive affirmations has been what has kept the two of them going, especially during this difficult quarantine time. If ever the world needed to be flooded with inspiring self talk, it's now!  To find more information on Love Powered Co, check out their website and instagram. They offer products for littles, teens, and adults. We each have a pack of their beautifully designed cards. It's a beautiful way to start your morning - pick a card. Read it to yourself. Internalize it. And let your day be better.    Want more tips and tricks on tackling motherhood (especially during Covid-19) - Follow us at @THEMOMFORCEPODCAST Then be sure to head over to our MOMFORCE FACEBOOK GROUP - full of thousands of moms from all over the world, helping each other through the highs and lows of motherhood/womanhood and life, including WFH, homeschooling, self care!    

When you exercise, your body releases endorphins, which make you feel good. When you exercise via a High Fitness class, those endorphins are jamming out to wicked tunes right along with you!! On today’s episode of The MomForce Podcast Vanessa and co-host Erika are talking to Emily Nelson, co-founder of High Fitness. Emily is sharing how this incredibly popular fitness trend came about and how she and her co-founder Amber Zenith are keeping the music pumping and the sweat coming, even during this #socialsdistancing time. What is High Fitness, you might ask? Take everything you loved about aerobics from the 80s and give it a modern spin. Using simplified aerobic sequences and adding intense fitness based moves, participants get a  safe and effective workout, while having a blast doing it! BUT - because this is a group-type exercise, classes have halted during quarantine. Emily admitted the first two weeks were the hardest of her life! Because of their business model and music licensing laws, adding virtual classes proved more difficult than one would think. But they soon were able to work out some of the legal issues and are now able to provide some virtual classes on their popular YouTube Channel. And you’re like Vanessa or Erika, it’s the mental/emotional aspect of working out that keeps them coming back for more! And Emily suggests even if it's for 10 minutes- move your body. Get your heart rate up. You will feel better. You will be happier. There are plenty of resources available online to help you get  moving. Check out High Fitness’ Youtube Channel or Instagram page for ideas. And when the gyms open back up, check out their website to find a local High Fitness class near you! You’ll be hooked!

There seems to be no getting around screen time while we are all quarantining, especially when mom needs some uninterrupted time to get a few things done! On this MomForce Mini episode, Leah is sharing her thoughts on screen time, particularly video games and social media. (pssst. She may have said "death to snap chat!")