On this episode of Your Cup of Joy, I’m joined by my friend Alex Cunningham, content creator and the voice behind This Family Tree. Today, we’re sitting down to have the kind of conversation that usually stays between close friends, but we’re bringing it here, raw and unfiltered!

Alex opens up about one of the most emotionally layered decisions a mother can face: whether or not to grow her family. We talk about what it’s like when your heart says one thing, your body says another, and your relationships add even more voices to the conversation. Alex vulnerably shares her experience with the unspoken tensions of family planning including pregnancy complications, the mental gymnastics of reconciling dreams with reality, and how sometimes, no choice feels 100% right.

We also talk about the evolution of adult friendships and how our circles have shifted over time. What make a friendship truly resilient? What happens when convenience fades and real life takes over? Alex shares what she values most now in her relationships, why she’s no longer performing to keep connections alive, and how we both find comfort in the friends who can hold space, not keep score.

This conversation with Alex is full of the things we don’t say out loud often enough. It’s a reminder that joy isn’t a luxury, it’s a lifeline. It’s okay to change your mind, to take up space, and to honour what’s true for you, even when it’s complicated.If this episode filled your cup, I’d love for you to share it, leave a review, or send it to a friend who might need it. Until next time!

Connect with Alex:
Instagram: @thisfamilytree
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/this-family-tree-podcast/id1460690037
TikTok: @thisfamilytree

Ariana's Links:
Website
Instagram: @‌ArianaJoyChristie
@YourCupofJoyPodcast
TikTok: @‌ArianaChristie

In this week’s episode of Your Cup of Joy, I’m joined by Renee Reina: content creator, host of The Mom Room podcast, fellow co-host of Friend Of, and most importantly, one of my closest friends. Together, we dive into one of the most transformative and validating conversations I’ve had about motherhood. If you’ve ever felt like you were holding your entire household together with invisible strings and no one really noticed, this episode is a must-listen.

We talk about what it means to be the “default parent”, the silent weight of being constantly “on,” the overstimulation that comes with never being alone, and the subtle dynamics that fall into place when no one is looking. Renee shares her own evolution, from early postpartum to now raising a school-aged child, and how her marriage shifted along the way. I share the raw realities of parenting twins, trying to “do it all,” and realizing I had taken on roles I never meant to keep.

This isn’t just a vent session. It’s a space to reflect, to laugh, and most importantly, to feel seen. We explore what it takes to have hard conversations with our partners, how to shift the dynamic, and what it actually looks like to ask for help without guilt.

If you’re in the thick of things right now, I hope this conversation brings you comfort and clarity. Remember, it’s not about finding the perfect balance, it’s about finding a blend that works for you. So take this time for yourself to tune in and fill your cup, because you deserve it. If this episode resonated or hit home, send it to a fellow mom who could use a little joy today too.

Connect with Renee:
Instagram: @thereneereina / @themomroom
TikTok: @thereneereina
Listen to “The Mom Room”: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-mom-room/id1521655911
Listen to “Friend Of”: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/friend-of/id1804716774

Ariana's Links:
Website
Instagram: @‌ArianaJoyChristie
@YourCupofJoyPodcast
TikTok: @‌ArianaChristie

Today I’m doing something I don’t often do on Your Cup Of Joy, recording solo! I’m opening up about something I’ve never fully shared before: how I found my way back to myself. For years, I believed that being a good mom meant putting myself last. That selflessness somehow made me better. But what I learned the hard way is that losing yourself in motherhood isn’t noble,it’s painful.

I’m sharing what postpartum really looked like for me and how, in the midst of all the rage and anxiety, I lost sight of who I was outside of motherhood. When I finally took a good look in the mirror, I barely recognized the person staring back at me. That moment became a turning point and the start of an intentional journey to reclaim my joy.

I’ll be getting into the shifts and mindset changes that slowly brought me back and helped me move out of survival mode. I’ll touch on how through movement, food, community and choice, I started filling my own cup—not just for me, but for the people I love most. This episode isn’t a weight loss guide (although I will be discussing my weight loss), but it’s a reminder that self-care isn’t selfish. That joy doesn’t arrive all at once, and that even when it feels impossible, you can begin again.

If this episode resonates, I’d love to hear from you. Message me, share your story, or tell me what you’re doing today to fill your own cup. If you’ve been listening to Your Cup of Joy and finding pieces of yourself in these stories, please take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. It truly means so much. Until next time, keep showing up for you. You’re worth it!

Ariana's Links:
Website
Instagram: @‌ArianaJoyChristie
@YourCupofJoyPodcast
TikTok: @‌ArianaChristie