Mama Says Namaste Podcast

Are you truly listening to others around you, or are you simply hearing sound? There is a difference, and the art of active listening is oftentimes something you have to develop and implement as new habits in order to really become an effective listener.  In this episode, we share 6 critical questions to ask, as well as the ultimate secret to really, truly listening well.  Get the accompanying blog post and show notes at www.MamaSaysNamaste.com/podcast-active-listening

Are you eager to talk with your loved ones, but they have the attention span of a kitten, or they have a tunnel focus on one interest? Last week we shared three steps for a connected conversation, and this week we added to this by elaborating on how to make it flow even if you're talking to a small child with a short attention span. We dig into how to elaborate on a tunnel-vision focus for a conversation that could go anywhere, and even how part of the connection isn't with words at all.  Check out the full show notes at www.MamaSaysNamaste.com/podcast-strawberry-ice-cream

How do you talk to your children? Do you talk with them...to them, or at them? Yes, having a connected conversation has some specific protocols - 3, to be exact.  Listen in as we discuss the top three steps to having a truly connected conversation - in your home and beyond.  Get the corresponding blog post here: MamaSaysNamaste.com/podcast-connected-conversation

Feeling a bit frazzled lately? As we embark on the fall and the school year, there are more and more families struggling to figure out how this is going to work, and how in the world they'll get anything accomplished with everyone at home.  It's hard to create a "new normal" when any sense of normalcy has gone out the window, and all plans are written in sand. So this week we share five tips on keeping yourself - and your family - focused and on tasks to ensure you not only survive this crazy season of figuring all things out, but that you can have a bit of fun and truly LIVE in the process.  Check out www.MamaSaysNamaste.com/podcast-focus for the full show notes, and be sure to subscribe and share with a friend! 

Not sure how to get your kids to respect you, and fearful that if you lay down the law, they won't like you? This is the episode for you. Get some tips on how to do a reset for the whole family, where respect goes all around. Tune in at www.MamaSaysNamaste.com/podcast-kid-respect to access the printable and all the extra resources we reference this week! 

Have you heard about the Socratic Method of questioning to learn? It's a fascinating concept we utilize often in our home, and this week I have a special guest to speak on this subject - Samantha Jansky, co-founder of Ascent Academy, where there are no teachers, only Socratic Guides.  Learn more about the Socratic style of learning, how there is no right or wrong, and how you can make some simple shifts in your family to open the door to powerful growth and curiosity for everyone.  If you want take it a step further, hop over to the show notes for links, details, and the whole interview on video! https://www.MamaSaysNamaste.com/podcast-socratic  

Peer pressure gets a bad reputation, and rightfully so. Shaming and "should"ing on people doesn't really make for warm fuzzies.  However, sometimes some peer pressure can be just what is needed to spur you on. We share stories about two seven-year-old best friends who used each other for some "productive influence" in their lives.  Get some tips for how to fuel pressure in a positive way - for your kids, and for yourself. Read the supporting blog and additional links at www.MamaSaysNamaste.com/podcast-peer-pressure

I swapped my hubby out with my dear friend Sarrah Lombardo, another fulltime traveling mama who had no interest in homeschooling and yet is now in her second year of it.  We share about lessons learned, what has worked, and some insights for those of you unsure about what to do next.  Get all the links we discuss on the podcast at www.MamaSaysNamaste.com/podcast-homeschooling

It's nearing August, and heavy on many parent's minds is what the heck they are going to do with their children this fall. With social distancing, some schools opting for virtual, and lots of unknowns, now is a time that many are re-evaluating what they want school to look like in their homes.  Nathan and Ashley share about their own educational journeys growing up in this week's podcast, and share 4 key tips for deciding what to do about school that works for your family.  Get the full show notes at www.MamaSaysNamaste.com/podcast-school

Why are there so many snakes in our home? If you've been following our family instagram, you've been seeing a LOT of snake pictures and videos. And there have been way too many comments from parents saying there is no way they could do that.  Well, I was NOT a snake person, and never ever wanted that in my home. Yet when my daughter Clara started down this path, I jumped in with her to learn alongside her own discovery. And THAT was a huge factor in what is now in our home. In this special episode, Nathan and I bring our 13-year-old, Clara, on to share about her snake interest and talk about how this unschooling journey has exploded to so much goodness! See some pictures and read more of the story at www.MamaSaysNamaste.com/podcast-snakes

Is your marriage struggling? Are your marriage woes mounting as you've gotten stuck in a rut of reaction and resentment? In this podcast episode, we talk about how quickly we can spiral downward, and share some key steps in course correction that gets you on a path where your whole family thrives. Get the full blog post as well at www.MamaSaysNamaste.com/podcast-marriage-isnt-working

Self-love can be hard to do, yet we can sabotage the process when we're wrapped up in procrastination, justification, comparisons and more. Add in the intricacies of every personality style, and it's easy to see how we can really spiral to a place where we're looking to everyone BUT us for our own self-love. Check out this podcast episode where we talk about how we self-sabotage, as well as some personal stories about my own self-love and hurt feelings this week. Check out the podcast episode and blog post at www.MamaSaysNamaste.com/podcast-self-love

Do you struggle with over commitment and saying no? This podcast episode is for you - on how to not over commit, why you should say no, and what it allows you to say YES to.  Get the full show notes and all the comments here:  https://www.mamasaysnamaste.com/podcast-over-commitment/

The term "emotional resilience" refers to the ability to adapt to stressful situations or crises. It's that ability to "bounce back" or make it through adversity, and is a critical component of having a growth mindset. So how do you foster emotional resilience in your home, and ensure all emotions are processed in a positive way? How do you build emotional resilience when you're struggling to simply handle all the emotions at once? Here are some tips and strategies for building emotional resilience - for yourself, and your home. Listen to the podcast episode and get the full show notes at www.MamaSaysNamaste.com/podcast-emotional-resilience

After a brutal weekend of riots and more country upheaval, there is a demand to speak up against the violence. Yet, with so many voices, who is listening? Let's dig into the meaning behind "namaste" and how we can work to truly be heard...and to hear. Dig into deeper connection on this week's podcast episode: www.MamaSaysNamaste.com/podcast-namaste

Managing expectations and agendas can be hard, especially when we get stuck if they don't go our way. This week we talk about money and emotions, and how to determine what is REALLY worth holding onto.  Learn more about how to navigate this as a family on this Mama Says Namaste podcast episode: www.MamaSaysNamaste.com/podcast-managing-expectations

Making decisions as a family can always be tricky, especially the bigger the family (and the more opinions) you have to navigate! In this week's podcast episode, Nathan and I share about three big family decisions we've navigated through in our own home, and what tips we can share with you for handling decisions in yours. Get the full show notes and resources at www.MamaSaysNamaste.com/podcast-decisions

How do you handle criticism? Do you immediately go on the defensive or take it as a blast to your fragile ego? In this podcast episode and blog post, we go over six key tips for handling criticism, toxicity, and fragile egos. Check out all the notes at www.MamaSaysNamaste.com/podcast-criticism-6-tips

This week I give my co-host the day off and sit down for a candid interview with my mother, Joanne Miller! We share the top five pillars for what respect means to us, and how it was reinforced in my own upbringing as well as how we both coach families now.  Not only is this a special interview, there is a chance to win, AND get some pretty cool Mother's Day bonuses. Be sure to hop over to www.MamaSaysNamaste.com/podcast-Joanne-Miller-Respect for the additional resources we talked about, and to see this full episode on video! 

Well, there is only so long you can go on pause before you need to move forward again. So, how do you move forward and plan when everything is up in the air? Instead of focusing on any limitations, today we’re going to address the things you CAN do today and plan for in the future.   Get the full show notes at www.MamaSaysNamaste.com/podcast-plan-pause