We need to talk. Because maternal mental health is not just postpartum depression—it’s identity loss, invisible labor, and the emotional toll of surviving systems that were never built for mothers in the first place. In this solo episode, Sam breaks down the real state of maternal mental health across the entire motherhood journey, unpacks the daily emotional weight that moms carry, and explains how understanding matrescence could change everything.

This episode marks the launch of the Maternal Mental Health Collection—a bold, unapologetic drop designed to name what’s really happening to moms, and why it’s time we stop pretending everything’s fine.

The Collection goes live on May 1, 2025 at www.welcomemamaco.com

Links Mentioned:

• The Maternal Mental Health Collection: welcomemamaco.com
• Join the Just a Mom Moms Club: welcomemamaco.com/jmmc
• Connect on Instagram: @samthomsonhall

Topics Covered:

• Why maternal mental health is more than a diagnosis
• Everyday struggles that don’t get clinical attention
• How systems and culture fail moms
• The framework of matrescence
• Why this collection exists—and who it’s for

We want to hear your birth and motherhood stories! Click here to be on the podcast or to have your story read by us!

Have a guest you want on the show or a topic you want us to discuss?
Please email us your suggestions at becomingmamapodcast@gmail.com

FOLLOW THE SHOW ON INSTAGRAM HERE @welcomemamaco

Emmy - @emmy_kissinger

TikTok @emmy_kissinger

www.arrivalsotires.co for birth story listening services

Sam - @samthomsonhall

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@_welcomemama

www.welcome-mama.com

Welcome to this Witch and the Woo Episode (sans our witch) where Sam sits down with @spiritbabymedium Kelly Meehan to discuss our babie's spirits. Are they waiting for us? How do we know if a baby is calling out to us? How can this be healing after a pregnancy loss or child loss?

This is a pretty profound episode that left me reeling. And if some of it goes over your head, same! But think of this as a journey of enlightenment to a new idea of potential reality.

It is WILD, you guys. Enjoy!

You can learn more about Kelly and all her offerings here!

We want to hear your birth and motherhood stories! Click here to be on the podcast or to have your story read by us!

Have a guest you want on the show or a topic you want us to discuss?
Please email us your suggestions at becomingmamapodcast@gmail.com

FOLLOW THE SHOW ON INSTAGRAM HERE @welcomemamaco

Emmy - @emmy_kissinger

TikTok @emmy_kissinger

www.arrivalsotires.co for birth story listening services

Sam - @samthomsonhall

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@_welcomemama

www.welcome-mama.com

Episode Overview

In this episode, Sam sits down with her friend Ali, a Nutritional Therapist, women’s health practitioner, and creator of Period Pantry, to talk about her raw and honest journey to motherhood through IVF. Ali opens up about her struggles with autoimmune issues, stage 4 endometriosis, and male factor infertility that led her and her husband to pursue IVF. Together, Sam and Ali explore the emotional, mental, and physical challenges that come with infertility—and how resilience, community, and advocacy helped Ali navigate her path to becoming a mom.

Follow Ali @itsthatgalal on instagram and tiktok

🎉 BIG NEWS: The Just a Mom: IVF Edition Collection is Here! 🎉

This collection is about more than just cute tees—it’s about reclaiming the narrative for moms who fought like hell to build their families.

👕 What’s in the Collection:

• A crop top and t-shirt featuring the iconic Just a Mom design—where the “O” in “Mom” is replaced by a petri dish, symbolizing the IVF journey.
• The back reads: “Because in the end, no one will question where it began.”

This collection is for every mom who had to fight for her family, who carried the weight of hope and heartbreak, and who deserves to feel seen and celebrated. Whether you’ve been through IVF or you’re standing alongside a friend who has, these pieces are designed to honor the strength of that journey.

🛍️ Available Now: Head over to welcomemamaco.com to grab yours before they’re gone.

📸 Join the Movement:
We want to see you rocking your IVF Edition merch! Snap a pic, tag @welcomemamaco, and help us spread the message that how you became a mom doesn’t define you—being a mom does.

✨ Every Purchase Supports the Mission:
A portion of proceeds goes toward raising awareness about infertility and supporting moms on their journey.

🎧 Listen Now: Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts.
⭐️ Subscribe & Review: Help us reach more moms who need these conversations.
🛍️ Shop the Collection: Available now at welcomemamaco.com

We want to hear your birth and motherhood stories! Click here to be on the podcast or to have your story read by us!

Have a guest you want on the show or a topic you want us to discuss?
Please email us your suggestions at becomingmamapodcast@gmail.com

FOLLOW THE SHOW ON INSTAGRAM HERE @welcomemamaco

Emmy - @emmy_kissinger

TikTok @emmy_kissinger

www.arrivalsotires.co for birth story listening services

Sam - @samthomsonhall

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@_welcomemama

www.welcome-mama.com

Today’s episode is a special one—Sam is joined by her husband, Tom, for a candid conversation about fatherhood, marriage, and the changes that come with parenting. They dive into what surprised Tom most about becoming a dad, how their relationship has evolved since having kids, and his perspective on matrescence (yes, dads notice it too!). From tackling the mental load of parenting to sharing hilarious, real-life parenting moments, this episode gives a raw and honest look at parenthood from both sides. Plus, Sam puts Tom in the hot seat with some rapid-fire questions about marriage, dad life, and the parenting hills he’s willing to die on.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• What surprised Tom most about fatherhood
• How dads experience their own transformation in parenthood
• The mental load of parenting and how it differs for moms and dads
• How Sam’s matrescence journey has impacted their relationship
• What dads wish moms knew about fatherhood
• The biggest challenges and best parts of parenting as a team
• Funny and unexpected parenting moments

Resources & Mentions:

• Welcome Mama Journal & Day Planner – Get yours here
• Follow Sam on Instagram: @samthomsonhall
• Join the Just a Mom Mom’s Club – Learn more here

Join the Conversation:
What did you think of today’s episode? DM Sam on Instagram or tag @welcomemamaco with your biggest takeaway! And if you loved this conversation, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review—it helps us reach more moms who need these conversations.

We want to hear your birth and motherhood stories! Click here to be on the podcast or to have your story read by us!

Have a guest you want on the show or a topic you want us to discuss?
Please email us your suggestions at becomingmamapodcast@gmail.com

FOLLOW THE SHOW ON INSTAGRAM HERE @welcomemamaco

Emmy - @emmy_kissinger

TikTok @emmy_kissinger

www.arrivalsotires.co for birth story listening services

Sam - @samthomsonhall

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@_welcomemama

www.welcome-mama.com

Surprise! Emmy had her baby at 34 weeks! Not to plan but we're so glad Emmy and baby boy are doing well. If you would like to support Emmy as she recovers, please email Sam at sam@welcome-mama.com

And let's talk about how to be a working mom (or part time working mom) and make it work for your life and how to find balance for you when your choices are limited.

Care/Career Conundrum Resources:
https://storage.googleapis.com/peanut-assets/reports/US%20-%20The%20State%20of%20Invisibility.pdf

https://motherhoodstudies.drsophiebrock.com/

We want to hear your birth and motherhood stories! Click here to be on the podcast or to have your story read by us!

Have a guest you want on the show or a topic you want us to discuss?
Please email us your suggestions at becomingmamapodcast@gmail.com

FOLLOW THE SHOW ON INSTAGRAM HERE @welcomemamaco

Emmy - @emmy_kissinger

TikTok @emmy_kissinger

www.arrivalsotires.co for birth story listening services

Sam - @samthomsonhall

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@_welcomemama

www.welcome-mama.com

In this Emmy episode, she fills us in on the Disney Trip she worked SO hard to make happen for her family and the subsequent burnout from that work. She also talks about her fourth pregnancy and how she feels 6 months pregnant. And the girls end on a vulnerable note, talking about the loss of hope and joy they've both been experiencing.

We want to hear your birth and motherhood stories! Click here to be on the podcast or to have your story read by us!

Have a guest you want on the show or a topic you want us to discuss?
Please email us your suggestions at becomingmamapodcast@gmail.com

FOLLOW THE SHOW ON INSTAGRAM HERE @welcomemamaco

Emmy - @emmy_kissinger

TikTok @emmy_kissinger

www.arrivalsotires.co for birth story listening services

Sam - @samthomsonhall

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@_welcomemama

www.welcome-mama.com

In case you missed it, Sam had her baby girl Georgia back in July 2024. This podcast goes over her birth experience (in detail, girl) and the low lows of postpartum.

Want to support the show? Please check out the new Just a Mom collection over at welcome-mama.com!

We want to hear your birth and motherhood stories! Click here to be on the podcast or to have your story read by us!

Have a guest you want on the show or a topic you want us to discuss?
Please email us your suggestions at becomingmamapodcast@gmail.com

FOLLOW THE SHOW ON INSTAGRAM HERE @welcomemamaco

Emmy - @emmy_kissinger

TikTok @emmy_kissinger

www.arrivalsotires.co for birth story listening services

Sam - @samthomsonhall

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@_welcomemama

www.welcome-mama.com

We want to hear your birth and motherhood stories! Click here to be on the podcast or to have your story read by us!

Have a guest you want on the show or a topic you want us to discuss?
Please email us your suggestions at becomingmamapodcast@gmail.com

FOLLOW THE SHOW ON INSTAGRAM HERE @welcomemamaco

Emmy - @emmy_kissinger

TikTok @emmy_kissinger

www.arrivalsotires.co for birth story listening services

Sam - @samthomsonhall

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@_welcomemama

www.welcome-mama.com