This week, Krista and Samantha open up about the messy middle of maternity leave, the emotional (and strategic) recalibrating that comes with burnout, and the slow, weird journey of transitioning back to work when your brain still feels half-swaddled in sleep schedules.

Samantha reflects on her own experience stepping back from business after baby #2, navigating the invisible labour of motherhood, and confronting the gap between how we expect maternity leave to feel—and how it actually shows up. Together, they unpack the pressure to be creative on a deadline, the decision fatigue that weighs on both parenting and business, and the friction between the need for support and the challenge of finding it.

This is one of those conversations that lands like a deep breath—permission to feel all of it: the guilt, the gratitude, and the in-between.

In this episode, Samantha and Krista wade into the wild world of parenting school-aged kids—where permission slips are lost, group chats are cursed, and the emotional rollercoaster starts before breakfast.

They dig into the real talk behind school dynamics, the pressures of extracurricular activities, and the ever-evolving relationship with technology in family life. From communicating with teachers to navigating shifting childhood friendships, this episode is a mix of practical insight, personal stories, and a few well-earned sighs over how much screen time is too much.

The conversation also touches on work-life balance, the mental gymnastics of coordinating schedules, and the looming anxiety about what’s coming in the tween and teen years. If you're parenting through this middle phase—no longer little, not yet big—this one’s for you.

In this episode, Samantha and Krista pull back the curtain on the chaos of everyday parenting—bedtime battles, screen time guilt, business to-do lists, and the kind of meltdowns (child and adult) that come out of nowhere.

They dig into the complexities of managing children’s sleep routines, navigating the nuance of screen time, and the reality of what it looks like to keep your home (and brain) functioning through it all. The conversation flows between personal anecdotes—like the emotional side of pet ownership, reflections on Mother’s Day expectations, and the quiet beauty of bedtime conversations—all while weaving in the harder truths of sleep deprivation, decision fatigue, and the ever-elusive work-life balance.

This week, we’re talking about two very real sides of motherhood: the literal delivery of babies—and the mental load of keeping everything else running while you do it.

Samantha shares her birth story—from the unexpected turns of induction to a C-section she didn’t see coming—while Krista reflects on her own journey through labor, delivery, and postpartum life. Together, they open up about how giving birth is never quite what you imagine, and how each experience reshapes your view of motherhood, work, and everything in between.

Then, the conversation zooms out. We talk about the guilt that creeps in when you take time for yourself, the pressure of “doing it all,” and how business owners can practice transparency without feeling like they’re oversharing. Oh—and the sleep. Or lack thereof. Always the sleep.

Episode 5 of Mama Merit Badge dives into the real, messy, and often hilarious experiences of parenting young kids. Krista and Samantha swap stories about chaotic field trips, the wild ride of potty training, and the struggle to balance work and family life without losing their minds—or their car keys.

They also break down the "Black SUV Mom vs. White SUV Mom" dynamic, offering a funny and insightful look at the different parenting styles we all encounter (and sometimes embody). From solo business retreats to easy parenting wins, they remind us that motherhood is a lot less about getting it perfect—and a lot more about finding a rhythm that works for you.

If you’ve ever packed 17 snacks for a field trip, lost a shoe at daycare pickup, or wondered what kind of SUV mom you might be, you’re in the right place. Tune in for a conversation that’s part pep talk, part group therapy, and 100% real life.

Listen to the full episode above or on your favorite podcast platform. And don’t forget to tell us: are you Team Black SUV or Team White SUV?

Samantha and Krista talk candidly about the mental fog of motherhood (aka mom brain), what it’s like to launch a podcast in the middle of parenting chaos, and how balancing it all sometimes feels like sprinting through molasses. But the heart of this conversation is about something much heavier—and often unspoken: pregnancy loss.

Together, they share personal stories of miscarriage, the emotional toll of grief that’s hard to explain, and the complex layers of trying to parent while holding space for pain. They discuss the silence that so often surrounds loss, the impact on relationships, and the quiet strength it takes to keep going when nothing feels certain.

Ah, family vacations—the dream of rest, relaxation… and the reality of spilled snacks, missed naps, and wondering why you even packed books. In this episode, Krista and Samantha unpack what it actually looks like to travel with kids (spoiler: it’s not a spa day).

We talk about the chaos, the charm, and the real magic of multi-generational trips, roadside meltdowns, and learning to let go of the itinerary. Plus, we explore the role of support systems (bless you, grandparents), the power of affirmations, and the surprisingly strong link between imposter syndrome and that first flight with a toddler.

In this episode, we’re talking about what happens when life feels like a three-ring circus—and you’re the ringleader, the janitor, and the clown.

Krista and Samantha dive into the messy reality of parenting through daycare drop-offs, school activity overload, unexpected home repairs, and the mental gymnastics of trying to do it all. We unpack our own parenting styles (spoiler: one of us is a snack drawer mom, the other is not) and reflect on how our childhoods shaped the way we show up for our kids—and ourselves.

In our very first episode, we (Krista + Samantha) pull back the curtain on what this whole thing is really about: the beautiful mess of motherhood, ambition, and trying to remember what day it is.

We’re talking grocery store disasters, the magic of lowered expectations, and why Friday afternoons hit different when you're in the thick of it.