What happens when you mix a therapist, two moms, and a very honest conversation about food, kids, and body image? You get this laugh-out-loud, deeply relatable, and surprisingly freeing episode. Megan, a therapist and former teacher, joins Amy and Haley to unpack everything from “set point” weight to toddler snack negotiations. You’ll hear how diet culture messes with all of us (yes, even therapists), why broccoli might need a PR makeover, and how to stop letting shame run the show.

Spoiler: Margaritas are fun foods and we’re here for it. 🍹

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

• 🍪 Why labeling foods as “good” or “bad” messes with our heads (and our kids’ heads, too)

• 🏖 The real meaning of “set point” weight—and why your pants size might not be the problem

• 🥦 How to make food neutral for kids without turning dinner into a war zone

• 💬 Why the word fat isn’t always an insult (and how it’s being reclaimed)

• 🛑 How to catch yourself before you spiral into the shame trap

• 💛 The surprising power of self-compassion in healing body image struggles

#bodyimage #intuitiveeating #momlife #parentingpodcast #selfcompassion #setpointtheory #dietculture #healthymindset #foodfreedom #raisingkids #mindbodyconnection #mentalhealthmatters #motherhoodjourney #selflove

We're back with Part 2 of our epic convo with Russel—and thank you for waiting! 🙌 You’ll finally get the answer to the cliffhanger we left you on: What did Russel actually do for Father’s Day? (Spoiler: it involves 5:30 AM wake-ups and a failed nature walk with two kids and a bag of rocks.)

This episode is a rollercoaster of relatable parenting moments, laugh-out-loud commentary, and deep thoughts on raising good humans. We talk cast iron steak tips, fairy romance novels (we’re looking at you, “Filthy Rich Fae” 🧚‍♂️), parental guilt, cleaning for the cleaning lady, public vs. private schools, and the bittersweet reality of watching our kids grow up and maybe… call us less 😭.

Russel also pitches a 🔥 podcast spinoff idea—“Parental Dissent”—and shares what he's most afraid of as a dad (spoiler: it’s not fairy smut). Oh, and we may have found our new podcast signoff... 👀

🎧 Tune in to laugh, cry, and maybe feel a little less alone in the chaos of parenting.

Key Takeaways:

Your kids might say “you’re a bad dad” after the best morning of your life, take it as a win!

Fairy romance books are weirdly addicting—and slightly mortifying.

Moms and dads love differently. And that’s okay.

🎧 Like, rate, review, and subscribe!

Thanks for being part of the MotherLoad community. Keep showing up 💪

Ways to listen! 👉https://linktr.ee/themotherloadpod

XOXO,

Amy

#parentingpodcast #fatherhood #motherloadpodcast #funnyparents #dadsbelike #momlife #parenthoodunplugged #podcastrecommendation #castironcooking #anxiousgeneration

This week on The Motherload, we crack open a cold LaCroix and dive into the world of dad moms, working parents, and the not-so-gentle juggle of modern family life—with guest co-host Haley Imesch and our one-of-a-kind guest: Russell Bauer. 💪

Russell is an engineer, a husband, a father of two, and according to Haley... an elite-level toddler scrap eater and professional water bottle filler. From talking gender norms in the workplace to dissecting the emotional politics of youth sports, this episode goes deep—and still finds time for laughs, Slurpees, and cheerleading scholarships. 🙃🏒🩰

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• "Keeping score" in parenting will drive you nuts—notice the unseen labor and say thank you anyway.

• Supportive dads aren’t unicorns—they’re necessary partners in modern parenting.

• You can be a dad mom, a mom dad, or maybe… just a parent. 🤯

• Travel sports aren’t for the faint of heart, but the car ride convos are where the magic happens.

💬 Russell's Quote of the Week:

"You see 100% of what you do… and maybe 50% of what your partner does. That’s why gratitude matters."

🎧 Tune in to laugh, learn, and maybe reflect a little deeper on what partnership and parenting really mean in today's world.

👉 Don’t forget to rate, review, and share with your favorite messy-parent-friend who needs to know they’re not alone. #DadMomEnergy