Motherhood In Hollywood

Can we be honest for a second? We live in a social media obsessed world. That means, everybody who is in the entertainment industry needs to know about their brand. Now before you cry about being a creative-type and "artist" who doesn't believe in social media, let me reassure you with this weeks' episode. My guest is Marissa Garcia, Co-President of M+C Collective, a marketing and strategy company that works with TV and movie studios, top brands, and movers and shakers in the entertainment world. Before launching M+C Collective Marissa was Motion Picture Marketing Agent at CAA for 14 years. Yes, that CAA. Her knowledge of what really goes on behind the scenes when marketing a movie is incredible and I'm so glad she was generous enough to share her expertise. If you're an actor or writer and you don't think your brand matters, you are wrong. It's a topic of conversation in boardrooms all over this town and the actors who get that will rise to the top more quickly. Christine Tasto & Marissa Garcia of M+C

I've had the song "Stay (I Missed You)" stuck in my head since interviewing Grammy nominated singer-songwriter Lisa Loeb last week. It was a juggernaut hit for her in the 90's and she followed it up with a string of hit singles.  She'll never know how lucky she was that I didn't sing it to her during our interview or I'm afraid it would have been a much shorter interview. I've been wanting to have Lisa on the show for a while now because of her presence in the LA music scene and popularity with kids. But also because of her longevity in the music industry. Lisa was a trailblazer when she released "Stay" from the Reality Bites soundtrack because she was the first independent pop musician to have a Number 1 single while not signed to a recording contract. Anyone in the music industry can tell you that's a huge accomplishment. Since then she's carved out a niche for herself with a large following of loyal fans. The music industry has changed a lot over the years and so has Lisa. She explains how motherhood

Why is it so hard to stay healthy after you have kids? This is something Chris and I talk about a lot so I invited him back to the show to chat with me. Plus I just loved talking to him so much and I wanted to do it again. You might as well get used to it. It's going to be a more regular thing. Chris and I constantly lament our unhealthy lifestyle. Why can't we eat better? Why are our pants so tight? Is it Channing's fault? Probably. After dissecting it we came to the conclusion that we're tired. Like most of the time, we're exhausted. I work 9 jobs and never sleep. Chris works one job and picks up my slack. There has to be a better way to manage our schedules right? I think ultimately that's what we've realized. We have to cut back on some things in order to add others. Pretty profound for adult people. But really I'm a night person and can never get up early. Chris is an early morning person so he lives to wake up and make breakfast (seriously). In some ways we complement each other like that. However l

Money is essential. We need it for necessities, luxuries, and it's power can't be denied.  This week we're talking about how to teach your kids the value of money, earned money, and what to do with that money once they have it. It's probably one of the most important life lessons they will learn.   My guest this week is Gregg Murset the CEO of BusyKid, a website designed to help parents teach kids the value of work ethic through chores and allowance.  April is Financial Literacy Month and Gregg is giving me some ideas about a topic that's dear to my heart. I grew up with two very different views on finance. My mom was a "you can't take it with you" spender and my sweet great-grandmother was more of a "hide your money in the mattress" saver. And now I find myself somewhere in the middle. I want to save, but if I have any savings I'm likely to blow it all on a trip or new dress. That being said my mom made me get a job the minute I turned 16 so I could have some spending money. She also made me work thro

Postpartum depression is a serious illness and we need to talk about it. In fact research shows nearly 20% of women suffer some form of PPD in the US alone. Now a new documentary aims to bring this diagnosis out of the darkness, and into the light to let women know they are not alone. In this episode I talked with Lindsay Gerszt, one of the producers of When The Bough Breaks: A Documentary About Postpartum Depression. It's narrated by Brooke Sheilds who had a very public battle with PPD herself. The film follows Lindsay's experience with postpartum and we meet several women who have experience PPD in varying degrees. I say this in the podcast and I'll write it here: This is a powerful movie for new moms. I can't tell you how many women I know who say they experienced some form of postpartum depression after the birth of their child.  It's a very real mental health issue that needs to be taken as seriously as a cancer diagnosis.  And Lindsay says that's the goal of this film. I was very moved by this

Full disclosure here: I am a DC nerd. Seriously, it doesn't get any better than DC, right? Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman…I mean that’s the Trinity right there. Add in Martian Manhunter, Flash, Green Lantern (my personal favorite) and a slew of additional awesomeness and you have the perfect recipe for superhero badassdom. So why are Marvel movies so much better than DC movies? Let's break it down. I’ve never been a huge comic book guy. But when I did read the comics (or graphic novels as I try to sell the idea of them to my wife), I always gravitated to the DC universe. Outside of the occasional Spider Man or Hulk comic, Marvel was pretty much completely off my radar. Captain America was cheesy and lame. And I always thought Thor was a bit of a cheat, because of the “I’m a god” thing. You can’t be a god AND a superhero, right? Flash forward to 2008. Marvel launched the MCU with Iron Man and the pitch perfect casting of Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark. Fucking huge. I mean this put Marvel comics on the map

Jessica Hall is a beautiful, sexy mama! I think it's safe to say the assumption that moms can't be sexy is officially over. On this week's podcast, Jessica talks with me about her time as a Playboy model and how it impacted her career, marriage, and eventual motherhood. One of the things I loved learning about Jessica is that she has no regrets. She tells me posing for Playboy launched her career in ways she never imagined. And that it made her a more confident and sexy mother. I know some people don't associate Playboy with parenthood. But many of the women who pose for Playboy eventually go on to become moms and I wanted to explore that side of motherhood in Hollywood.   Jessica met her husband when she was in her early 20's and they've been together nearly 14 years now. She has a little girl who is almost 2, and another baby one on the way. She tells me they are waiting to find out the sex of the new baby. I guessed another girl so we'll see! She tells me her struggles are just the same as other mom

A new daycare center in LA is offering parents a flexible childcare option and to that I say, HALLELUJAH! I can't tell you how many times I've searched and wondered why this town doesn't have flexible childcare.  It's called WeVillage and it's going to be your new best friend. Lindsay Price, Rebecca Romijn and Julie Bowen at the grand opening of WeVillage in Sherman Oaks.[/caption] As an actor I often get last-minute auditions that only require an hour or two of my time. Hiring a nanny for that amount of time several days a week can get very expensive so I need a better option. And the entertainment business can often thrust parents into last-minute situations like meetings, auditions or freelance work for a day or two. So having a flexible option for childcare is essential for survival in LA. I was invited to the grand opening of WeVillage to take a look around and I can tell you it was impressive. It doesn't look like a typical daycare that can sometimes feel crowded or messy. This space feels open,

My family has been planning a trip to London for 4 months. During our vacation last week, a terrorist killed 4 people, including a police officer, minutes after we walked past Parliament on the Westminster Bridge. Over the next several hours I did live reports for various media outlets around the US on the London terrorist attack. It was not the vacation experience we planned. But in this episode my husband and I talk about what happened in the hours after the attack, how the rest of London reacted, and how we tried to move past this tragedy and still enjoy our vacation. When we arrived in London on Tuesday afternoon we were exhausted but ready to see the sights. I had most of our itinerary planned for the next several days so we took it easy the first day and strolled through a chilly Hyde Park. The next morning was our day to visit Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and Parliament. They are all right in the same area so it's a quick walk between them all.  Then just another short walk across the Westminster B

When you think of bouncing back after having a baby, what comes to mind? My first reaction is physically getting in shape. But parenting lifestyle expert and author Jill Simonian says it's much more than that. Her new book The Fab Mom's Guide: How to Get Over the Bump & Bounce Back Fast After Baby has useful tips for every mom who might need that inspirational push after giving birth. Jill is one of my good friends and I am so thrilled she took time out of her busy schedule to be on the show and talk about the importance of helping women bounce back.   Let's be honest, there's a lot of things that change when you have a baby. Your body, your friendships, your career, your goals. I could go on and on. And you know what? You're not alone. A lot of women find themselves lost and wondering what the hell to do next after they have a baby.  Jill explains that sometimes even small things like making your bed can make a world of difference and set you on the right path. If you'd like more info on how you ca

"Going Viral" is the new American Dream. Everyone from pre-teens to my co-workers are clamoring to get the latest viral sensation. After having an accidental dalliance with going viral myself I've been fascinated with the phenomenon. So I called on some experts to chat about their experience with me. My friend Anna Lind-Thomas from HaHas for Hooohas is an author and fellow podcaster who has touched the viral heavens numerous times. Her co-host on The Anna and Susannah Show is author Susannah B. Lewis of Whoa Susannah fame. Both have gone viral with their website, memes, and online videos. Anna shared her perspective on how her website went viral when she posted The Fart Story, which you should totally read if you haven't yet.  But she also explains how a video she recently shot also shot through the roof. Is there a rhyme or reason? Who knows. But had a few good laughs trying to figure it out. I can tell you after the whirlwind week I had after Christmas I had a deeper understanding of the appeal of

One of the best parts of my podcasting experience so far has been bonding with other moms over their birth story. It's like veterans coming back from the war and swapping battle stories. Each one is unique, hard-fought and nostalgic for mothers. So when my new friend (I can call her that right?) Christine Lakin stopped by I was so honored that she shared such a personal moment in her life.                   Her daughter Georgia just turned one (today as a matter of fact!) and she was deep in party planning mode when we had this interview. She told me the surprising ways becoming a mom has changed her outlook on this industry and her career. Christine has been a star since she was a kid and I immediately felt like I was talking to an old friend. Her birth story is raw, relatable and moving. Honestly it made me cry which I wasn't expecting. A wonderful side effect of being a mom now is that I cry at the drop of a hat. Good times.   She's grown up in the business and continues to work to this

Some days I think I have it all together. Then in one fell swoop things can fall spectacularly apart. I typically have some steps in place to pull it together but only because I'm an organization nerd. But I know that's not easy for everyone. Enter the GITMom movement. GITMom is a full service parenting coaching firm created by Eirene Heidelberger. She spends her days helping moms who feel like things are spinning out of control, regain control and well, get it together! She says... "The GIT Mom system is the only system that focuses on the mom, rather than the kids, allowing Moms to give their children the parenting they need so they have time to do the activities they most enjoy!" Eirene is a no BS lady and I like it. She uses her own experiences as a mother to help empower moms to parent more efficiently so that you have more "me" time. Sounds good to me! Some of the things we cover: Power struggles with your kids Know what sets you off Self-awareness is key to controlling your circumstances

My guest this week is my friend and author Vanessa Fewings! She is the USA Today best-selling author of the Enthrall Sessions and The Stone Masters Vampire Series. With all the excitement surrounding the release of 50 Shades Darker, I wanted to hear from an expert on the rise in popularity of erotic novels and I knew Vanessa would have first hand knowledge of this world. Author Vanessa Fewings Let me start by saying Vanessa's books make me blush. And that's hard to do! She brought me a copy of Enthrall Secrets and about 2 minutes in I was ready to wake my husband up and do the nasty. I remember having a similar feeling about the 50 Shades series of books as did a lot of women I know (but they may not admit it). So what is it about erotic novels that draws us in?  These aren't the romance novels your mom used to read by the pool. These are hardcore BDSM books that highlight a world many people are curious about but may never actually partake in. Vanessa Fewings kicked off her career after writing a book fo

If only I had known about Brian the Birth Guy when I was pregnant! I think it could have eased my fears pre and post birth. Having worked with over 21,000 expectant families, Brian "The Birth Guy" Salmon has taught many childbirth classes and currently teaches the incredibly popular Dad’s childbirth class “Rocking Dads”. He also teaches a couples birth class called “Facilitating Fearless Birth”. In this episode he lays out the reasons why dads play a vital role in childbirth and answers listeners questions about doulas and c-sections. As new parents we have so many questions about everything from poopie diapers to our postpartum bodies. It's hard to remember anything when you've just had a baby much less implement it. That's where doulas are vital. Brian explains that doulas are there to support the mother through the entire childbirth process. And one way they can feel supported is through dad or their partner. Brian emphasizes the importance of partners knowing just as much about the birth as their ba

This week Channing and I helped kick off Disney’s Magic of Storytelling campaign, an ongoing initiative aimed at inspiring imagination and a lifelong love of reading. We went to a special event at our local Disney store to join Elena of Avalor in reading our favorite books! While we were there I got to interview a member of the Royal Guard. Jorge Diaz voices the character of "Gabe" on Elena of Avalor and shared with me what it's like to be a part of such a ground breaking animated series. He also talked about how his own life was inspired by books his mother read to him as a child. Books are so important to fostering the imagination and learning about new ideas and cultures. I can't wait until Chan starts reading on her own. I think she's going to be reading EVERYTHING. Do you have a kid who's really into books?  I think I have one, she just doesn't know it yet. “We are so proud to have donated more than 57 million books through our long-standing collaboration with Disney,” said Kyle Zimmer, president an

Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kandi Burruss is not a lesbian. And she has no problem telling you that or about the reason her sexuality is a topic of discussion these days. It all comes down to one thing...Drama. I had so much fun talking to Kandi about the drama on her show and how she's not afraid to speak up if someone throws shade her way. This is her 8th season as a cast member on Real Housewives of Atlanta. And if you don't know by now, she's more than just a housewife. She's a singer-songwriter, record producer, business woman and mom. She's also a former member of the girl group Xscape. Kandi Burruss with son Ace Kandi just did a stint as a guest co-host on The Real and will also be attending some Grammy parties this week. Plus she's opening a restaurant in Atlanta, and just launched a product line for kids called Raising Ace--named after her 1-year-old son Ace Wells Tucker. It features high quality unisex children’s products with a unique design style. Bottles, bibs, sunglasses, swaddles and

It's been a tumultuous few weeks in America to say the least. Protests, demonstrations and public outcry seem to be a daily occurrence since President Trump was inaugurated. One of the largest and most prolific demonstrations was the Women's March on Washington, D. C. and around the world on January 21st. My guest this week is actress, mom of two boys and self-proclaimed feminist Laura Nickerson. She was at the Women's March in Washington and I invited her on the show to talk about why she marched and what she experienced. Nearly half a million people marched in D.C, and millions more marched around the world for women's issues they feel are being threatened under President Trump's administration. Laura said her feminism runs deep. She marched alongside her mother and their friends but it wasn't the first time. They have marched for various issues many times before exercising their right to free speech. She described the mood that day as peaceful, almost joyous. No one was angry. No one was rioting o

Do you think your kids are entitled? Being entitled means "believing oneself to be inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment." Know anyone like that? Chances are they might be and you don't even know it. This is an issue I think about a lot given that we live in the very opulent, and often excessive city of Los Angeles. And although we are not super wealthy, I worry that my daughter could fall into the entitlement trap. But is entitlement a product of environment or entirely up to the parent's choices? In his new book, Entitlemania: How Not to Spoil Your Kids, and What to Do If You Have, Richard Watts gives parents practical advice on how to raise kids without entitlement. Watts has 30 years of experience as a personal advisor and legal counsel to America's most wealthy families and has seen first hand what wealth and entitlement can do to children. He's not afraid to tell parents to let their kids fail, so they can succeed. In this episode we discuss: Best friends? Big mistake! Why bein

Channing and I recently had the chance to celebrate the release of season 2 of the Amazon Prime Original series Just Add Magic and we were caught under its spell. I had the pleasure of interviewing the cast at a launch party for season 2 at Au Fudge in West Hollywood. (Photo by Todd Williamson/Getty Images for Amazon) Just Add Magic stars Kelly (Olivia Sanabia) and her two best friends Darbie (Abby Donnelly) and Hannah (Aubrey Miller) as they stumble upon a mysterious cookbook. They quickly discover that the recipes inside are far from ordinary. They are magical! The girls realize they need to use them to release Kelly's grandmother from a powerful curse. What struck me most when I met the girls is how much they have grown up! In season one they are all about 9-12 years old.  Now they are in their tweens and very excited to be a part of Just Add Magic and see where their characters go.                         We talked about their friendship on the show and in real life as well as what projec