Have you ever looked around at your beautiful life and wondered, "Where did I go?"

In today's solo episode of Mama Uprooted, I'm recording from the water in Traverse City as we have an honest conversation about identity, overwhelm, and what it really looks like to come home to yourself again after becoming a mother.

If you've been feeling overstimulated, exhausted, disconnected, or like you've somehow lost yourself in motherhood, this episode is for you.

We're talking about:

• Why motherhood doesn't break us—it transforms us
• The mental load moms carry every single day
• How to stop living in survival mode
• Simple ways to reset your nervous system
• Daily practices helping me reconnect with myself
• Why healing doesn't have to be complicated
• Reframing "I have to" into "I get to"

Journal Prompts from today's episode:

1. When do I feel most like myself?
2. What currently drains me that I could simplify?
3. What did I love before life became so busy?
4. If overwhelm wasn't running the show, what would I do this week?

Friend, maybe this season isn't about finding yourself.

Maybe it's about remembering who you've always been.

If this episode encouraged you, please share it with another mom and leave a review. Your support helps Mama Uprooted reach more women who need these conversations.

Keep uprooting what no longer serves you so you can bloom into who you were always meant to be.

https://stan.store/mommauprooted

OLIVEDA Skincare | Waterless Beauty That Works | Olive Tree People

In this heartfelt solo episode, Emily dives deep into the identity shifts that come with motherhood and the quiet grief many women experience when they no longer recognize the person they used to be. We spend so much time preparing for pregnancy, birth, and babies—but no one prepares us for the moment we realize we're not the same woman anymore.

Together, we'll talk about:

• Why motherhood doesn't just change you—it uproots you
• The fear of feeling lost and disconnected from yourself
• How changing friendships and seasons of loneliness may actually be refining, not rejecting, you
• Why you were never meant to shrink yourself just to belong
• Learning to embrace the woman you're becoming instead of mourning who you used to be

Emily also shares powerful journal prompts to help you reconnect with yourself and begin rediscovering the parts of you that still exist beneath the layers.

If you've been feeling lonely, out of place, or unsure of who you are in this season, this episode is for you.

Because maybe you're not lost at all.

Maybe you're becoming.

🎙️ Journal prompts mentioned in today's episode are available inside the Mama Uprooted community Follow @mommauprooted on instagram and subscribe to our email list!

If this episode speaks to you, share it with a mom who needs the reminder that she isn't lost—she's growing.

Spoil yourself with Oliveda skin care momma helping us age backwards!

OLIVEDA Skincare | Waterless Beauty That Works | Olive Tree People

This week on Mama Uprooted, I sat down with Janelle Fontaine from Nurturing the Mother to have one of the most eye-opening conversations I’ve had around postpartum healing, C-sections, scar recovery, nervous system support, and the care moms truly deserve after birth.

As a mom who has had two C-sections myself, this conversation felt deeply personal.

Because so many women are told:
“Your incision looks fine.”
“Your six week checkup is over.”
“You’re healed.”

…but what about the numbness?
The pulling?
The disconnection from your body?
The emotional healing?
The years later symptoms moms are silently carrying?

Janelle shares how cesarean recovery goes far beyond the scar itself and why postpartum healing deserves more support, education, and compassion.

This episode is for every mama who has ever wondered:
“Is what I’m experiencing normal?”

And honestly… whether your birth was six weeks ago or sixteen years ago — this conversation matters.

🤍 ABOUT JANELLE

Janelle Fontaine is a Registered Massage Therapist, educator, speaker and owner of Nurturing the Mother based in Vancouver, BC.

With over sixteen years of clinical experience working primarily with postpartum clients, she focuses her practice and teaching in women’s health, perinatal care, and cesarean recovery.

In 2023, she launched The Cesarean Recovery Guide, an online resource supporting mothers healing from cesarean birth.

In 2025, she founded Nurturing the Mother: Cesarean Massage & Rehab for Healthcare Professionals, a continuing education course designed to equip providers with the skills and confidence to support post-cesarean recovery.

In 2026, she initiated Cesarean Scars: Variations of Normal — a project sharing real life photos of cesarean scars throughout the healing stages to help normalize recovery and educate women on what healing can truly look like.

✨ CONNECT WITH JANELLE

Website:
https://www.nurturingthemother.ca

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/nurturingthemother.ca

Cesarean Scar Project:
https://www.instagram.com/ismyscarnormal

The Cesarean Recovery Guide:
https://nurturingthemother.thinkific.com/courses/the-cesarean-recovery-guide

Healthcare Professional Training:
https://nurturingthemother.thinkific.com/courses/NTM-CesareanMassage&RehabforHCPs

Cesarean Scars Submission Form:
https://form.jotform.com/261045867194262

✨ PRODUCTS I PERSONALLY LOVE FOR SKIN SUPPORT + HEALING

Oliveda B16 Cell Active Body Serum:
https://us.olivetreepeople.com/products/b16-body-serum-cell-active?referral=emilygalus

Oliveda B14 SOS Olive Leaf Gel:
https://us.olivetreepeople.com/products/b14-sos-olive-leaf-gel?referral=emilygalus

If you’ve been feeling off, overwhelmed, exhausted, or just not like yourself… this episode is for you.

In this supportive and honest conversation, we’re breaking down simple, realistic ways moms can start feeling better from the inside out—without adding more pressure or perfection.

We talk about:

• Why so many moms feel disconnected from their bodies
• What nervous system regulation actually looks like in real life
• How to support your hormones through simple daily habits
• Cycle syncing in a way that works for busy moms
• And how to start feeling like yourself again—one small step at a time

This isn’t about doing more… it’s about supporting your body in the season you’re in.

You’re not broken—you just need support, mama 🤍

You got this. Keep going. Do you.

🌸 Connect with Jordan

If this episode spoke to you and you’re ready to start supporting your body in a more intentional, holistic way… I can’t recommend Jordan enough 🤍

She has such a real, grounded approach to helping women:
– understand their hormones
– regulate their nervous system
– and actually feel like themselves again

You can connect with her here:

🌐 Montgomery Holistic Wellness
📧 contact@montgomeryholisticwellness.com
📲 @montgomeryholisticwellness

Use code CYCLESYNC if you reach out

In this episode of Mama Uprooted, we’re diving into the reality of baby sleep, the mental load of motherhood, and what it actually feels like to function on empty. From the 2am wakeups to the quiet tears and self-doubt, this episode is here to remind you… you are not failing.

Joined by a certified sleep consultant and fellow mom, we talk through real-life struggles, gentle support, and what it looks like to navigate sleep in a way that feels right for you and your baby — without pressure, guilt, or perfection.

If you’ve ever felt exhausted, overwhelmed, or alone in this season… this episode is for you.

You’re not doing it wrong.
You’re doing something really hard.

✨ Follow along for more support, real conversations, and weekly motherhood themes:
👉 @sleepyheadsols
👉 @mommauprooted

Emily and Jessica unpack the guilt, the chaos, the constant pivoting, and the invisible load that comes with chasing dreams while raising babies. You’ll walk away with tangible mindset shifts, grounding practices, and a new way to define success — one brick at a time.

✨ Be sure to subscribe and download this week’s Root Guide for journal prompts, mini self-care actions, and affirmations to help you feel grounded in the chaos.

🤍 This episode is sponsored by:
OLIVEDA Inside | Ingestible Beauty Formulas | Olive Tree People
Holistic Clean inside and out Beauty 

—

👣 Follow us on Instagram for weekly motherhood encouragement and behind-the-scenes @mommauprooted
 🪴 You got this, mama. We’re all uprooted — but we’re growing together.

But what if that approach is actually working against your body?

In this episode of Mama Uprooted, Emily sits down with fitness and nutrition coach Tiffany Wickes to talk about what really happens to a woman’s metabolism after pregnancy, chronic stress, sleep deprivation, and years of putting herself last.

Together, they unpack why under-eating, over-training, and chasing quick weight loss often leave moms feeling exhausted, stuck, and discouraged — and how fueling properly, building muscle, and creating metabolic safety may be the true path toward strength and sustainable fat loss.

This conversation shifts the focus from shrinking your body to supporting it.

✨ Inside this episode:

• Why “eat less, move more” backfires after motherhood
• What’s really happening to metabolism after babies
• The truth about cortisol and dieting cycles
• Why carbs are not the enemy
• Muscle building for busy moms
• Supporting fat loss without restriction
• Realistic strength training for motherhood seasons
• Healing your relationship with food and your body

If you’ve ever felt like your body changed after kids and never went back — this episode is for you.

Your body isn’t broken.
 It may just need support.

About Our Guest — Tiffany Wickes 

Tiffany is a nutrition and fitness coach who specializes in helping women — especially busy moms — build strength, support their metabolism, and move away from restrictive dieting cycles.

Her approach focuses on sustainable nutrition, muscle development, metabolic health, and creating long-term results without punishment or extremes.

She is passionate about helping women feel strong, fueled, and confident in their bodies through realistic strategies that work within motherhood and real life.

🔗 Connect With Tiffany

🌐 Website: www.tiffanywickes.com
 📱 Instagram: @tiffanylwickes
📩 Coaching Info: DM tiffany to get startedd

🌱 CONNECT WITH MAMA UPROOTED

🎙 Podcast Host: Emily Galus
 📱 Instagram: https://instagram.com/momma_uprooted

 🌿 Root Guides & Resources: @mommauprooted
 💌 Join the Mama Uprooted Community: mommauprooted@gmail.com

📣 EPISODE CAPTION (For Sharing + Player Text)

After babies, most moms are told to eat less and work harder.

But what if healing your metabolism starts with eating more, building muscle, and finally supporting your body instead of fighting it?

In this episode, I sit down with Tiffany to talk about why so many moms feel stuck after pregnancy — and how strength, nourishment, and metabolic safety can change everything.

Your body isn’t broken, mama.
 You’re rebuilding.

🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.

In this raw and real episode of Mama Uprooted, Emily and guest therapist Kennedy unpack the invisible weight mothers carry as they try to navigate life after birth. From grieving the life you had before, to the identity crisis no one talks about, to the friendships that fade when you need them most — we’re digging into it all.

Whether you’re in the newborn fog or months down the road still wondering who you are now, this episode will remind you:

You're not meant to go back.
 You're meant to grow forward.

💬 Guest Info:

Kennedi Ruhlman, LLMSW
Licensed therapist & postpartum advocate
📍 Based in Michigan
📲 www.mijourney.net

🛍 This Episode is Sponsored By:

Botanica Modern Market
📍 713 Ashman St Ste 2, Midland, MI 48640
📞 (989) 486-8711
💻 botanicamodernmarket.com
Your local source for holistic goods, heartfelt gifts, and real community.

Oliveda | Olive Tree People
🌿 Waterless skincare powered by hydroxytyrosol
🛒 Explore the wellness collection through Emily’s link
📲 DM @mommauprooted for personalized skin support

In this deeply honest episode, Emily sits down with her close friend Kelly to talk about anxiety, motherhood, scary birth experiences, alcohol as a coping mechanism, and the quiet ways moms try to survive when they feel lost and alone.

Together, they share real stories of numbing, shame, surrender, and healing — and how choosing faith, community, and support can change everything.

This episode is not about judgment.
It’s about honesty, hope, and knowing you are not alone.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by motherhood…
 If you’ve used alcohol or numbing habits to cope…
 If you’re craving peace, clarity, and healing…

This conversation is for you.

✨ Follow @kellyhazamy86 to hear more of her journey, strength, and story.

🌿 If you’re looking to support your body during healing, Emily helps mommas heal from the inside out naturally. Follow along as we heal and find ourselves again. 

You’re not broken.
 You were surviving.
 And healing is possible.

In this raw and honest episode of Mama Uprooted, we’re digging deep into the untold stories of breastfeeding—the identity shifts, the pressure, the pumping-in-a-car moments, and the grief that can come when your journey doesn’t go as planned.

Whether you’re a new mom nursing in the dark, a veteran who’s been through it all, or a mom who had to make a different choice—you’re not alone.

We’re joined by Katie Gillette, a certified lactation counselor and founder of Rooted Potential LLC, who brings calm, clarity, and compassion to the chaos. Katie supports moms through every season of feeding with evidence-based care and emotional grounding.

📧 Contact Katie at: rootedpotentialllc@gmail.com
 📞 Call or text: 517-648-9760
 📲 Follow her on Instagram: @rootedpotential

This week, we’re covering:
 • The emotional and physical toll of breastfeeding
 • Why supply struggles trigger shame and guilt
 • How working moms can be better supported
 • Healing when your journey ends sooner than expected
 • The power of real lactation support
 • And the reminder that every journey looks different—and every single one is valid

💬 Comment “nursing” on our socials for a free Mini Root Guide to help ground you in your feeding season.

📲 Follow @MamaUprooted on Instagram and Facebook for daily encouragement and support around breastfeeding all week long.

You are not failing.
 You are becoming.
 Let’s walk through this together.

 🌸 Chantel Coggins, Doula – Divine Delivery Doula Services LLC
Ready to explore if a doula is the right fit for your birth plan? Reach out to Chantel Coggins to start the conversation and feel more supported through pregnancy, birth, and beyond.
📞 989-513-7213
📧 chantelcoggins@gmail.com
📘 Facebook: Divine Delivery Doula Services LLC

🌿 Sponsored by:
Botanica Modern Market
➤ www.botanicamodernmarket.com
➤ Use code MOMMAUPROOTED for 20% OFF
📍 713 Ashman St Ste 2, Midland, MI | 📞 (989) 486-8711

🫒 Olive Tree People
➤ us.olivetreepeople.com/?referral=emilygalus

Buy 2 get ONE FREE: OliveBrain | Take The Quiz | Olive Tree People

💌 Want to share your story or be our next guest?
Email us: mommauprooted@gmail.com

Our guest shares her journey as a young widow, navigating single motherhood, mental health, and the silence that often surrounds men's mental struggles. We explore how farm life, animals, faith, and raw perseverance helped her begin again. From losing friendships to finding new ones, from guilt to grace, and from numbness to new love — this is the story of what it means to truly start over when life doesn’t go as planned.

Whether you're grieving, supporting someone who is, or simply learning to live again — this episode is for you.

Shop: Account | Olive Tree People

Follow on Instagram: @mommauprooted