Motherhood In Hollywood

In less than a year the MomCo app has taken off like a SoCal wildfire. It's quickly become the go-to app for moms looking to set up play dates, meet other moms and find services all at your fingertips. MomCo app creator Jillian Darlington is such a smart lady for realizing this is something ALL moms need (sorry dads, get your own app!)   Co-Founder Beth Bryan (left) and CEO & Founder Jillian Darlington (right) Jillian explains how Tinder, yes THAT Tinder, played a role in creating the MomCo app. I really love how honest she is in this episode about the challenges women face when starting their own business.  The business world, especially in tech, is still very male dominated. And even a woman with a great idea can face resistance. How annoying! Jillian also let me ask her some super personal questions about her dating life.  Yes, I am that nosy! She was so gracious in answering all my questions. But mostly you can tell she is passionate about her son, her business and staying loyal to her friends.  Sou

Catherine McCord founder of Weelicious stops by to talk about one of the most frustrating parts of parenting, getting your baby to eat healthy foods! Channing sampling her first "solid" food-mushy carrots! When Channing started eating solid foods around 6 months old I couldn't wait to absorb every bit of information I could find on what to feed her, how to feed her, and what to do if she wouldn't eat. She's now 2 and a half and I'm still asking myself those same questions. And all she wants is bread. Weelicious founder Catherine McCord So as you can imagine I was really excited to talk to Weelicious founder and mom of 3 Catherine McCord. She's created a food empire with recipe's designed to make life easier for parents and healthier for kids. And she makes it look so easy!  I had to ask her how she does it and if I can do it too. In fact her website has an entire section dedicated to making toddler-friendly meals. I'm sold! Here's what you'll learn in this episode: How to get your kids excited about ve

I saw a documentary a few years ago about an apartment complex in LA that caters to showbiz kids. It was called "The Hollywood Complex." Basically these families come from all over the world to live there for a few months and hope their kids "make it" during pilot season.  Few do. Most don't. Talent Manager Wendy Alayne Wright What's fascinating to me about this phenomenon is the powerful pull of Hollywood. Anyone in this industry has felt it at some point. And we pack up, leave our family in Oklahoma to pursue our dreams.  But I was a grown ass adult when I  made that decision.  How does a little kid know what their dream is and where to pursue it? How do parents decide to take that leap of faith in their child's talent? And honestly, how do you know if your child is really ready for the reality of Hollywood? These are just a few of the questions I couldn't wait to ask Youth Talent Manager Wendy Alane Wright. Then I forgot all about those questions and asked her things about myself. Kidding! She stopped

I've known Liz for about 8 years after meeting her at a party with our friend Lindsay.  She was loud, wild, and dressed as a slutty nurse if I remember correctly.  It was a Halloween party!(or was it?) Anyway, I loved her immediately. She had no inhibitions and she was ready for anything. I'm weirdly drawn to people like that so LA is the perfect place for  me to live. Since our first encounter I have thoroughly enjoyed becoming friends with her and watching her acting career explode. Actress Elizabeth DeRazzo (The 33, Easbound and Down) She recently walked the red carpet with Antonio Banderas, Juliet Binoche, and Lou Diamond Phillips for the The 33. Um, hello? That's awesome! The film is based on real-life events after 33 Chilean miners were trapped underground for 69 days. Of course I had to hear all the dirt on how she got the part and how sexy Antonio Banderas is in person.  Hint: Real Sexy. The 33 premiere For such a funny gal, Liz is admittedly more comfortable in drama than in comedies. But some of

This week my guest is Rosie Pope! She' s a parenting expert, entrepreneur, maternity fashion designer and mom of 4. She was also host of a maternity concierge reality show on Bravo called "Pregnant in Heels." If all that doesn't impress you, then you should leave. Right now. You clearly have no soul. Rosie Pope: Maternity Concierge, TV Host, Entrepreneur and Mom of 4 Rosie was so candid during our conversation. It made me wish she lived in LA so we could get afternoon tea together every day and talk about our kids. I'm sure she'd be totally okay with that. She opens up about overcoming her challenges with infertility and how it shaped the kind of parent she is today. Her story is remarkable and personally I don't know that I would have had the strength she did. She also shares her key tips for moms as they try to do what's best for their kids. It's not easy! Or is it?  I love what she shares about keeping life simple. Sometimes we get so caught up in the status of parenting, and the fear of failure that we

November 15th is my birthday.  And my husband will tell you I like to start celebrating in October. Sometimes September. Birthdays were a big deal when I was growing up. My mom loved throwing me parties and spending way more money than we had. As a result I'm now an adult who expects the world to stop and buy me balloons and cake on my big day. Parents take note of the monster you could create if you over-celebrate. What. Am. I. Wearing. As a gift to myself I asked one of my favorite people in the world to come on the show. Chris Hemsworth was unavailable. But my BFF Mary Diaz was happy to step in!  Mary is a co-host of the Weekly Dictator podcast, honorary auntie to Channing, and a Scorpio. Need I say more? Probably not. But I will!  Her birthday is also this week which is an amazing stroke of programming prowess I'd say. As a gift to myself I asked one of my favorite people in the world to come on the show. Chris Hemsworth was unavailable. But my BFF Mary Diaz was happy to step in!  Mary is a co-host o

I'm a big believer that certain people come into your life right at the time you need them most. And Ginger Chan was just that person for me. I used to work for KTLA news in Los Angeles on the overnight shift as a writer for the morning show.  Just thinking about those hours now makes me shudder.  But one thing that made it bearable was the people.  I worked with a lot of incredibly talented journalists who (thankfully) were always down for a silly dance break or a 5 course meal at 5am. Money can't buy you class , anyone?  KTLA & KIIS-FM Traffic Anchor Ginger Chan I quickly discovered that Ginger was one of those people I was drawn too. She's smart.  She speaks her mind. She's damn good at her job. It's like we're soul mates! So I was beyond excited to have her on the show. She tells me how she took an unusual path to get to the top of the LA traffic scene and we talk about how challenging it can be for TV news folks to find love.  It's hard! But she did it and is now married to KTLA helicopter pilot and re

I have a secret to tell you... I'm in love with my sweatpants.  We've been in love for sometime actually. It's a give and take affair. I give my sweatpants a warm body to hug and they give me the ability to move around freely with no restriction. Whew! Feels good to get that out there! Scott Rose Style In fact I think I've been wearing  the same pair of sweatpants for about 3 years. Side note: they are also maternity sweatpants.  Don't judge! They're extra comfy and have so much room in the belly.  So when I see moms who are juggling their babies and are also dressed like an adult person, I'm jealous. I want to be able to make smart fashion choices so I feel like a contributing member of society and not a failed gym experiment. Enter my friend and stylist Alexis Scott.  Alexis is a mom to her very handsome toddler Wyatt, and she always looks amazing.  Her experiences ranges from personal shopping and red carpet styling to editorial styling and creative direction. She's known for her blend of classic styles

I wish I could be zen.  I wish I could find a way to reach deep down inside my soul and find some calm to pull from whenever I need it, especially when it comes to my acting career.  LA-based actor and acting coach Steve Braun can do this. BGB Studio co-founder Steve Braun Actually one of the first things I noticed about him when he was my acting teacher was just how calm he was. He embraced the silence, a rare gift that actors too often forget to do. And he gave his students insightful tools to learn more about themselves while discovering their character. It was a really great class where I met some wonderful people and let myself go a little bit. Which if you know me is not an easy thing for me to do. I enjoyed his class so much at Bramon Garcia Braun Studio. So I wanted to see if he'd let me pick his brain about where he gets his zen, how it can be helpful for actors, and why he stopped pursuing his showbiz career and started helping others pursue theirs. He said yes! Steve and June (aka June Bug) Ste

There is something very raw, campy and sexy about the women in prison genre. Those who are fans of classics like Caged and the not-so-subtly titled Girls in Prison you know what I'm talking about. (Nikki, I'm looking at you!)  It was the style of these locked up ladies that inspired actress Jillian Armenante (Fresh Off The Boat, Judging Amy, Girl, Interrupted) when she was creating her new show, Kittens in a Cage.  As she explains in this episode, Kittens was based on a play written by Kelleen Conway Blanchard after reading it on a trip to Seattle. Rebecca Mozo (Junie) with Erin Anderson (Vickie) There is something very raw, campy and sexy about the women in prison genre. Those who are fans of classics like Caged and the not-so-subtly titled Girls in Prison you know what I'm talking about. (Nikki, I'm looking at you!)  It was the style of these locked up ladies that inspired actress Jillian Armenante (Fresh Off The Boat, Judging Amy, Girl, Interrupted) when she was creating her new show, Kittens in a Cage. 

Actress Kat Canipe follow on Twitter @allhallowskat It's been quite a year for actress Kat Canipe.  She got engaged, then her Back To The Future engagement photo and Halloween themed proposal video went viral in a matter of seconds.  Both moments capturing their personalities and love perfectly.   The most beautiful and terrifying proposal ever! Now millions of eyes around the world are watching to see what will happen when she and fiance Alec Wells walk down the aisle in a few months. No pressure! It's also the first podcast in October and Kat is a huge horror movie fan. So of course I wanted to her come in and talk about witches, Halloween, and why Robin Lively won't be on my show. Seriously, why won't she come on? Back To The Future engagement photo (photo credit: @rickymiddlesworth) Anyway, also in our conversation Kat explains what really happened after she went viral. Did she start getting offers for big budget movies? I've often been curious about this myself.  The internet seems to collectively

I want to be a fabulous mom so bad it hurts!  But my lack of fashion sense, nerdiness, and wide butt generally keep that from happening. That's why I invited The Fab Mom herself into the studio to find out her secret! TheFabmom.com creator & TV Host Jill Simonian TV Host and lifestyle expert Jill Simonian created the website TheFabMom.com.  She calls it a "lifestyle experiment to keep life flirty, focused and as close to fabulous as possible after babies." Yes please! Where do I sign up? Jill gives us an honest look at how having her girls (unexpectedly) changed her career trajectory, the competitive world of entertainment journalism, and what she thinks of the term "mommy blogger". It also happens to be what I think of the term "mommy blogger".  Now aren't you curious?   Jill and LadyP and LilMiss (her kids, not rappers!) I also loved what she had to say about finding a good balance between family and work on social media. It's not easy when part of your business is a blog about your family.  What's a m

I'm officially well past the point of being able to claim my fat as being my "baby weight".  Honestly, I had "baby weight" before I had a baby. I sometimes call it a "food baby" or "beer baby".  Basically, I'm quickly running out of excuses to get healthy and get in shape (and fun things to name my belly fat!)  Enter pre and postnatal fitness expert Sara Haley! Pre & Postnatal fitness expert Sara Haley Sara has created a new DVD specifically designed for women who "had a baby 6 weeks, 6 months, or 6 years ago."  It's called Expecting More: The 4th Trimester Workout. What's a 4th trimester, you say?  I'm guessing it's the "beer baby" stage I'm in. On the show Sara explains how you should workout your body after baby. Expecting More: The 4th Trimester Workout focusing on body after baby It's a specific kind of workout aimed at the parts of your body that carried, then pushed out your precious angel. Yes ladies we're talking about abs, and kegels. She explains how new moms need to work their deep, inner core

I read an article recently that said there are 4.2 million "mommy bloggers" (eMarketer.com) in cyberspace who share everything from crafts, and recipes, to their kids' poops and tantrums (see #assholeparents).  A question I've struggled with since starting this podcast and blog is how much I should share about my daughter without violating the privacy of her future adult self. And how much should she be exposed to when it comes to the ever-growing social media outlets? Parents today have a lot more to consider when it comes to choosing what their kids watch, how often, and what the long-term effects of those choices will be. "Media Moms & Digital Dads" takes a deeper look at kids and the media culture Award-winning UCLA psychologist Dr. Yalda T. Uhls has some great guidance in her new book "Media Moms & Digital Dads: A fact not fear approach to parenting in the digital age."  Jackpot! Dr. Uhls book lays out facts, studies, and practical examples of the challenges today's families are facing with screen tim

This week's guest is actress Stephanie Drake! You might recognize her sweet face from her role as "Meredith" on the incredible AMC show Mad Men. I am over the moon to talk to her because Mad Men was one of those shows I always wanted to be on, and was heartbroken that I never got the chance. Now I'll get the inside scoop from someone who was there! Actress Stephanie Drake Maybe they'll be a Mad Men 2: Electric Boogaloo? Eh. Either way, Stephanie's story of how she became Don Drapers' last and arguably best secretary is so inspiring! It really reminds me that any role, no matter how big or small, can lead to great things.  We also chat about improv, how hard it is to find motivation to write, and I had to ask her about kissing Jon Hamm (like you didn't want to know!) Stephanie Drake & Jon Hamm on Mad Men Also you can find out what's next for Stephanie and whether she feels any pressure to continue to reach her previous level of success. And don't forget there's just one week left to leave a review on iTune

There's nothing better than seeing your friends succeed. And I'm so proud of my friend Justice Leak for taking a leap of faith and pursuing his dream. In this episode you'll hear how it paid off because now he's a working actor on huge TV shows. Actor Justice Leak Supergirl, The Vampire Diaries, Walking Dead I tried to get him drunk so he would spill more secrets about the shows and movies he's working on. But he was on to me! Hey, I tried! Sometimes in Hollywood, the stars just align. And formerly non-working actors, suddenly find themselves working regularly, on bigger shows and films, and with bigger parts. It's the cyclical nature of this business.  Justice Leak talks to me about how "kismet" found its way into his life, time and time again.   Hellgrammite , supervillain from the DC comic book universe   He was a working actor having a major career lull, and the stars aligned for him. He's coming off a recurring role on The Vampire Diaries, and will guest star as "Hellgrammite" (pictured below) in t

Tony Award-winning actress Daisy Eagan stops by to talk about what it was like winning the biggest theater acting honor when she was just 11-years-old. When I was 11-years-old, I wanted to be on the Junior Varsity cheerleading team. That was my biggest goal in life. It was the pinnacle of success in my world at that time. I really had no aspirations beyond that  except maybe going to space one day (TNG-style). Actress & Mom Daisy Eagan The fact that Daisy Eagan at that same age was starring on Broadway (The Secret Garden) and won a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical is so mind-boggling to me, that I wish I could go back in time and slap myself in the face for being so short-sided. Beyond amazed is how I would describe what I feel about Daisy.  She accomplished so much at such a young age, faced tremendous pain and loss, and still continued with her love of theater and performing as she moved through life. Daisy and Monty. Such a ham! Does that mean life was perfect? No. The

Some people just have a warmth or joy, an effervescence, that makes them infinitely watchable.  You want to be their friend and cheer them on in all their endeavors.  Tara Perry is one of those people for me.  Plus she's a redhead so obviously I adore her. Ginger power! The gorgeous and very funny Tara Perry   Anyway, I met her about 7 years ago through a mutual friend and I instantly wanted to be her friend. And thankfully she was happy to oblige.  If she looks familiar to you moms and dads, it's because she plays "Marina" on the Nick Jr. show The Fresh Beat Band.  The show is in constant reruns on Nick Jr and Nickelodeon . And there's a new animated spin-off series called Fresh Beat Band of Spies airing now on Nick Jr.  Even though she's on a kids show, Tara is very much an adult, living out her dreams with her hubby in LA.  She's a real working actress in Hollywood who can dance, sing, and act. Triple threat kids! And at the tender age of 23, she had already landed her first series regular gig in showb

Allison Holker on DWTS Hollywood's hottest mama Allison Holker (DWTS, SYTYCD, Hit the Floor) sits down with me in the MIH Studio to talk about being a mom while balancing a busy career in dance. Allison has been dancing since she was a kid and shares what it's been like pursing her passion and expanding her dreams into other roles on television. twitch, Allison and Weslie at the DizzyFeet Gala 2015 Some of her fans may know she also has a 7-year-old girl named Weslie who is a cutie patootie. Allison shares her experiences in goal-oriented parenting, what the future holds for having children with hubby Stephen "tWitch" Boss (Magic Mike XXL, Ellen, SYTYCD) and what's next for season 21 of Dancing With The Stars. Allison was super generous with her insights and we get a unique glimpse into her world.  I hope you enjoy the convo as much as I did!  Please share it with a friend and don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes so you don't miss the next episode.   UPDATE 4/2016: Stephen and Allison had a b

You guys, this is so cool!  My friend Richard Keith has a TV show called Significant Mother airing Aug. 3rd on the CW! We used to write sketches together at the ACME Comedy Theater in LA.  The theater company is now gone, but our comedy talents live on. Rich let me grill him on how he pulled this off.  If you are an actor, a writer or both you will enjoy what he has to say about how he got a TV network to agree to give him a show. Pretty amazing if you ask me.   Significant Mother airs Aug. 3rd on the CW   Don't forget to subscribe and review the show in iTunes. MIH is currently being featured in the 'New and Noteworthy' kids and family section. Hurray!  What do I win? Validation.  But you could win our first Honest Company bath bundle giveaway just by leaving a review.  Thanks for listening!