I threw my 16-year-old's phone out the window of a moving minivan. Then I sat down with the founder of conscious parenting and asked her what I actually did.

Dr. Shefali — clinical psychologist, NYT bestselling author, and the person whose book changed how I parent when I was 23 — joins me the week her two new books drop, Raising Conscious Sons and Raising Conscious Daughters. She tells me why taking the phone backfires, what "becoming a light" looks like when you're exhausted, how to have the porn conversation with a teenage boy, and why most of us apologize to ease our own guilt. I tell her about the apology to my son that finally worked. She roasts twin moms. I deserved it.

Get the books: https://www.drshefali.com/raisingconscious-daughters-sons/

Dr. Shefali: https://www.drshefali.com

Follow her: https://www.instagram.com/doctorshefali

New episodes of That Twin Mama every week — follow so you don't miss one.

• Shop That Twin Mama merch: https://thattwinmama.store/
• Follow That Twin Mama Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thattwinmamapodcast/
• Watch full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTwinMama/podcasts
• Follow Lauren on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thattwinmama_/
• Follow Lauren on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thattwinmama_

Credits:

Production: Berty Enterprises

Editing: Nomadic Orca

Music: Berty Enterprises

Design: Erin Fox Creative

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Lauren sits down with licensed clinical psychologist, professor, researcher, and podcaster Dr. Raquel Martin for a candid conversation about what it really means to raise children “the hard way”: without hitting, fear, or blind obedience.

Because once you tell children you value their voices, they will absolutely use them. Constantly.

Lauren and Dr. Raquel unpack the exhausting, deeply intentional work of raising critical thinkers while trying to break the parenting patterns many of us grew up with. They talk about respectful parenting, setting firm boundaries without shame, repairing after we lose our cool, and remembering that the goal is not to control our children—it is to raise healthy, safe, thoughtful humans who trust us enough to tell us the truth.

They also get honest about motherhood, mental health, choosing a parenting partner, the invisible weight carried by the default parent, and why taking care of yourself is not selfish—it is part of taking care of your children.

In This Episode, You’ll Hear:

• Why Dr. Raquel says she raises her children “the hard way.”
• The difference between raising obedient children and raising critical thinkers.
• How racism-related fear shaped obedience-based parenting in many Black families.
• Why understanding where our parents’ choices came from does not mean repeating them.
• What respectful parenting actually looks like—and why it is not permissive parenting.
• The simple question that changed Lauren’s parenting: “What is Mommy’s most important job?”
• How to set limits based on health and safety without entering an endless power struggle.
• Why “we’ll try again” can be more effective than shame or permanent punishment.
• What to do when you yell, lose your patience, or react in a way you regret.
• Why a real apology does not include “but you made me mad.”
• How repair and changed behavior teach children what accountability looks like.
• Why the urge to hit can be a sign that the parent is overwhelmed and needs to step away.
• How choosing the right parenting partner can completely change the experience of motherhood.
• Practical ways couples can prevent one person from becoming the default parent.
• The difference between a partner doing something “wrong” and simply doing it differently.
• Why clarity about your values should begin before you have children together.
• How taking time away from your children can strengthen your ability to connect with them.
• Why parents need community—and how to begin building a family of choice when traditional support is not available.

Why You’ll Love It:

This episode feels less like a parenting lecture and more like listening to two smart, funny friends tell the truth about raising children while internally screaming.

Lauren and Dr. Raquel make space for the contradictions: you can adore your children and desperately need a break. You can believe in respectful parenting and still lose your patience. You can understand why previous generations parented from fear while choosing to build something healthier.

It is honest, hilarious, validating, and full of language you can actually use the next time your child challenges a boundary—or asks why the clothes in the washing machine are still wet.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

• Learn more about Dr. Raquel Martin and explore her mental health resources: https://www.raquelmartinphd.com/
• Follow Dr. Raquel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raquelmartinphd/
• Learn more about The Sanctuary, Dr. Raquel’s mental health and education community for Black women, through her website and social channels. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc53INc5H15dlT-pnxpG1Pgb71UI6tFvsKe4k05zLLkg2amDA/viewform
• Shop That Twin Mama merch: https://thattwinmama.store/
• Follow That Twin Mama Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thattwinmamapodcast/
• Watch full episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTwinMamaPodcast
• Follow Lauren on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thattwinmama_/
• Follow Lauren on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thattwinmama_

Credits:

Production: Berty Enterprises

Editing: Nomadic Orca

Music: Berty Enterprises

Design: Erin Fox Creative

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Raising mixed race kids means handing them language nobody ever handed you. Lauren was raised on the rule that if you're a little bit Black, you're all Black. It was pride and it was survival. But her three kids are mixed, her twins look nothing alike, and the binary she inherited doesn't stretch to fit them.

She was five or six the first time a kid made her race a punchline. On the school bus, in front of everyone, a boy asked whether she was Black because she'd rubbed poop on her face. She laughed along, went home, closed her bedroom door, and never told a single person. Not her babysitter. Not her mother, who is hearing this story for the first time on this episode.

Her family talked about race constantly. That wasn't the gap. The gap was that it always came as a comparison, one side up and one side down. And her kids are literally both.

Dr. Jennifer Noble is a licensed psychologist and the founder of Free To Be Collective, an organization dedicated to helping interracial couples and non-traditional families raise mixed race children with a secure, confident identity. She works specifically with mixed race teens and their parents, and she knows this territory personally as well as clinically, because she's mixed race herself.

Dr. Jenn tells Lauren what's missing from identifying her kids as solely black and what happens the afternoon a classmate says "but I saw your white dad drop you off."

YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT

• What "monoracial parent" means, and why naming yourself is the first step toward closing the gap

• Why saying "mixed race" out loud matters more than any speech you're planning

• Adding "and mixed" without subtracting an ounce of Black pride

• Phenotype, white presenting kids, and why siblings in the same house move through the world differently

• How early to start, and how to talk to a five-year-old about race without dropping the whole history on them

• How to turn a stranger's double take at the restaurant into your kid's lesson

• The family drawing where Lauren's daughter gave her dad an X, and what Dr. Jenn says to do before you react

• "That's your white side" jokes, and the question that tells you whether they're coming from connection or ignorance

• Why racial identity resurfaces hard at fourteen, and why teenagers rebel against it the same way they rebel against church

• The thing Dr. Jenn stops the conversation to correct at the very end

TAKEAWAYS

Name it to close it. If you're monoracial, say so, out loud, to yourself first. You could walk into either grandmother's house and know the rules. Your child cannot.

Add, don't replace. "You're Black" grounds a kid. "You're Black and mixed" grounds them and arms them for the day someone tries to disqualify them.

Your discomfort is the assignment. Feeling like an outsider in a room is a small taste of what your child navigates constantly.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

"Chocolate Me" by Taye Diggs https://www.amazon.com/dp/1250068010/?coliid=I39N3HPSJ4NNP0&colid=PWBSW17T2J62&psc=1&ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_lstpd_FVHVKNAKAE6F5A66XKR2

Dr. Jenn's book list, 30+ Books You Need for Your Mixed Race Kid: https://freetobe.myflodesk.com/booklist30

Chicago Non-profit for Hair Lessons https://styles4kidz.org/join

WITH THANKS

Cold open footage featured with permission from @dennyelizabethwalker.

FIND DR. JENNIFER NOBLE

Instagram: instagram.com/drjennpsych

Website: FreeToBeCollective.com

If this one landed, send it to the person you thought of while you were listening. A rating and a review puts this episode in front of the parents searching for exactly this and finding nothing good.

Stay Connected:

Podcast Website: www.thattwinmama.com

Follow on Instagram: @thattwinmamapodcast

Episode Credits:

Production: Berty Productions

Editing: Nomadic Orca

Photo: Birch Thomas

Design: Erin Fox Creative

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Before Codie Elaine Oliver ever had her twins, she had names picked out for the ones she didn't have yet — Mariah and Shania. Before I had mine, I used to joke that if I ever got pregnant again, I'd "pull a Beyoncé" and have twins. Neither of us believed it would actually happen. Then a doctor told me I likely couldn't have more kids at all. And then it was twins — for both of us.

This week I'm sharing my interview on the Mama's Den Podcast — a conversation recorded in person with Codie on the Disney Destiny, the first time we'd ever actually been in the same room after she'd already been a guest on my own show. By the time we sat down on the deck of that amazing cruise ship, we were deep into confessions: manifestation, motherhood, and the stuff twin moms don't usually say out loud.

We get into it: my doctor's exact words before the twins that changed everything, the "joke" that came true — for both of us — what it's really like going from one kid to three, and the stage of twin parenting nobody warns you about.

Normal episodes return in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, go check out the Mama's Den Podcast wherever you listen.

In this episode:

How Lauren became "That Twin Mama" — including being told by a doctor she likely couldn't have more kids, then finding out she was pregnant with twins

Manifesting twins — both hosts had jokingly "called" twins before it happened (Lauren's "pull a Beyoncé" bit; Codie's imaginary twin girls Mariah and Shania)

Going from one kid to three — navigating the 10-year age gap between Lauren's son Jackson and her twin girls

Being diagnosed/told you can't conceive — then defying the odds

The stages of twin parenting — what gets easier and when (holding their own bottles, independent eating, walking stairs, playing independently)

Protecting the older sibling's identity — not making Jackson a built-in babysitter; keeping him from being overshadowed

Postpartum mental health awareness — how the conversation has evolved since Lauren had Jackson in 2010

Going from career to content creator — Lauren's 10-year run at Teach For America and how the pandemic sparked her pivot

Raising grounded kids despite elevated experiences — gratitude, values, and the Disney Destiny cruise

The mother-daughter healing dynamic — how Lauren's twin girls are mirroring and healing her own complicated relationship with her mother

Lauren's first interview with Codie: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/72-navigating-motherhood-and-marriage-with/id1720436427?i=1000701676585

The Mama's Den Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mamas-den/id1616159115

Lauren's podcast episodes from the Disney Destiny:

https://youtu.be/9bM4SZfWSBE?si=BBLf-D6ey86YVUhz

https://youtu.be/c_2ugErZMQY?si=VUxqjLK4Tw62_Q6h

📺 Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTwinMama/videos

🎧 Podcast Website: www.thattwinmama.com/podcast

📲 Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thattwinmamapodcast/

https://www.instagram.com/thattwinmama_/

Credits:

Production, Editing, & Music: Berty Enterprises

Photo: Birch Thomas

Design: Erin Fox Creative

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

"Why aren’t we having sex anymore?" It’s the question so many parents think but never say out loud. In this episode, Lauren gets brutally honest about pretending to be asleep rather than let the possibility of sex enter the room — and brings in award-winning sex therapist Marissa Nelson (Intimacy Moons) to unpack what’s actually happening underneath.

They talk about the invisible mental load that kills desire, why "sexual ecology" matters more than just being "in the mood," the real difference between low desire and asexuality, why vacation sex feels effortless while date-night sex can feel like pressure, and how couples quietly drift from lovers into "besties but not lovers." The takeaway: you are not broken — you’re buried. And there’s a way back.

Topics covered:

The mental load: why it’s the real intimacy killer

Sexual ecology: why desire isn’t a switch you flip

Postpartum, perimenopause, and what hormones actually do to desire

"Am I asexual now?" — how to tell the difference

Don’t reject, redirect: a better way to say no

The vacation-sex paradox: why time away feels easier than date night

Spectatoring: the "oscillating fan" in your head during sex

The desire model: discovery, embodiment, safety, repair, eroticism

Besties but not lovers: how couples drift into the roommate zone

Scheduling intimacy without it feeling like a meeting

Why anticipation matters more than people think

Marissa Nelson, LMFT, is an award-winning licensed marriage and family therapist, certified sex therapist, and the founder of Intimacy Moons. She works privately with couples, leads luxury couples retreats, and hosts The Lover’s Society podcast.

Tired Mom's Guide to Good Intimacy: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hLAkqv5fzexP6Gj2pIn89L8r9vc76Qw6/view?usp=sharing

Intimacy Moons (Marissa’s site): https://www.intimacymoons.com/

Marissa on Instagram: @xomarissanelson https://www.instagram.com/xomarissanelson

The Lover’s Society podcast: https://www.instagram.com/theloverssocietypodcast/

Roommates to Lovers course: https://www.intimacymoons.com/post/couples-intimacy-workshops-roommates-to-lovers

Marissa’s TEDx talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BStyDbtqAJY

📺 Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTwinMama/videos

🎧 Podcast Website: www.thattwinmama.com/podcast

📲 Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thattwinmamapodcast/

https://www.instagram.com/thattwinmama_/

Credits:

Production: Berty Enterprises

Editing: Nomadic Orca

Music: Far Eye House

Photo: Birch Thomas

Design: Erin Fox Creative

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

A healthy baby does not always mean a mother felt heard, supported, or included in her birth experience.

In this episode, Lauren shares the very different stories of giving birth to her son at 23 and later delivering her twin daughters during the pandemic. She reflects on being dismissed during her first labor, experiencing procedures without meaningful explanation or consent, and later discovering how different birth can feel when a provider treats you as an active participant in your care.

Lauren is joined by board-certified OBGYN, author, educator, and founder of Every Body, Dr. Wendy Goodall McDonald, also known as Dr. Every Woman. Together, they discuss medical consent, provider bias, birth advocacy, episiotomies, C-sections, breech twin deliveries, home birth risks, postpartum care, and what it looks like to find a provider who truly listens.

They also explore why advocacy does not have to mean entering the room ready for a fight. It can start with asking informed questions, expecting clear explanations, and building a relationship based on mutual respect.

In This Episode

• The difference between a healthy outcome and a supported birth experience
• Why consent matters throughout labor, delivery, and routine care
• Questions to ask when choosing an OBGYN
• Episiotomies, C-sections, and breech twin deliveries
• How to speak up when something feels wrong postpartum
• The role of doulas and midwives
• Home birth risks and the importance of understanding complications
• Perimenopause, irregular periods, and knowing when to seek care

Key Takeaway

Your provider may have medical expertise, but you still have agency. You deserve to understand what is happening to your body, ask questions, and participate in every decision.

About Dr. Wendy

Dr. Wendy Goodall McDonald is a board-certified OBGYN, author, educator, and founder of Every Body. Known online as Dr. Every Woman, she makes women’s health approachable, informative, and easier to talk about.

Follow her on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube at @DrEveryWoman.

Shop Every Bodi products at https://everybodibrand.com, and visit her website at https://dreverywoman.com/.

This episode includes detailed discussions of childbirth, birth trauma, postpartum injury, pregnancy loss, and maternal health complications.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

After taking a much-needed break, Lauren is back for Season 3 of That Twin Mama—and this season gets even deeper.

Motherhood has changed. Our kids are growing. Life has shifted. And with those changes came a simple but powerful question:

What do I actually want?

In this season premiere, Lauren opens up about why she stepped away from the podcast, what motherhood has taught her over the last few years, and why she's returning with a renewed commitment to creating a space where moms feel seen, supported, and a little less alone.

This isn't another parenting podcast filled with impossible standards or picture-perfect advice. It's honest conversations about the messy, funny, overwhelming, beautiful reality of raising kids while trying to hold onto yourself.

Season 3 is all about building the village many of us thought we'd have—but often have to create ourselves.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why Lauren stepped away from podcasting
• How motherhood changes as our children grow
• The pressure of trying to "do it all"
• Finding your identity beyond being a mom
• Why support matters more than perfection
• What listeners can expect from Season 3
• Creating a judgment-free village for moms

Coming This Season:

We'll be diving into conversations about:

• Birth and advocating for yourself
• Friendships and loneliness
• Relationships, intimacy, and life after kids
• Breaking parenting cycles
• Finding your identity in motherhood
• Building your support system
• Honest conversations with experts—and plenty of laughs along the way

If you've ever wondered whether you're doing enough, felt overwhelmed by parenting advice online, or simply wished someone would say the quiet part out loud, this season is for you.

Connect with That Twin Mama

📱 Instagram: @ThatTwinMamaPodcast

⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another parent who could use a reminder that they're not doing this alone.

Because motherhood was never meant to be a solo journey.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode of That Twin Mama Podcast, Lauren Berty reflects on her time aboard the Disney Destiny — a sailing that became a powerful reminder of what it feels like when representation is intentional, authentic, and fully woven into the experience from the very beginning.

This isn’t a traditional Disney cruise review. It’s an honest conversation about Black joy, identity, motherhood, and how thoughtful storytelling can create spaces where Black families feel deeply seen — while also inviting everyone into richer, more meaningful experiences.

Through conversations with Yolanda Cade, Vice President of Communications & Public Affairs for Disney Signature Experiences, and Corey J. Bradford, the actor portraying Hercules aboard Disney Destiny, Lauren explores how Black voices, culture, and excellence were intentionally embedded across entertainment, music, design, and service — not as a theme night or spotlight moment, but as an integral part of the ship’s soul.

This episode is for parents raising children who deserve to see themselves reflected with power and pride, families navigating multiple generations together, moms rediscovering themselves beyond survival mode, and anyone who believes that inclusive storytelling doesn’t divide — it deepens the magic for everyone.

In this episode, we explore:

• How Black storytelling aboard Disney Destiny was intentionally designed, not added on

• Why representation feels different when it’s authentic and deeply integrated

• Seeing Black excellence reflected in Disney stories — from Pride Lands to Hercules

• What it means for children to see themselves as heroes on the biggest stages

• How inclusive design creates joy across generations

• Why Disney Destiny felt like rest, healing, and affirmation — not just entertainment

• The role storytelling plays in helping moms and families reconnect with themselves

• Why spaces that honor culture make experiences richer for all guests

Tags / Keywords

#ThatTwinMama #DisneyDestiny #BlackExcellence

Disney Destiny, Disney Cruise Line, Black representation, inclusive storytelling, Disney Hercules, Pride Lands Disney, Disney cruise with kids, Black motherhood, family travel with kids, parenting podcast, motherhood podcast, generational travel, mom mental load, healing for moms, inclusive family experiences, Disney storytelling, That Twin Mama Podcast

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

What happens when a family vacation becomes something much deeper?

In this episode of That Twin Mama, Lauren reflects on a Disney Destiny cruise experience that unexpectedly became a moment of rest, gratitude, and reconnection after a challenging year. Rather than a traditional travel recap, this conversation explores parenting, mental load, generational joy, and what it feels like to finally be supported as a mom.

Through candid conversations with her husband, her mother-in-law, and Disney hospitality and culinary leaders, Lauren shares how intentional design, thoughtful service, and family-first spaces allowed both parents and kids to truly enjoy the experience without rushing, apologizing, or managing every detail.

This episode is for parents who feel tired, overwhelmed, or unsure whether real rest is even possible while traveling with kids, and for anyone navigating a season where joy feels hard to access.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why this Disney cruise felt like rest instead of “parenting in a different location”

• How Disney Destiny is intentionally designed for families

• Parenting, partnership, and reconnecting as a couple

• The power of shared experiences across generations

• Why reducing the mental load for moms matters

• Practical Disney cruise tips for families

• How food, service, and storytelling shape the experience

• Choosing joy after a hard year, even when life isn’t perfect

Chapters / Timestamps

00:00 Choosing Joy After a Hard Year

02:40 Why This Cruise Felt Different

07:50 Experiencing Disney Across Generations

14:00 Traveling With Kids Without Burnout

18:45 Food, Allergies & Family-Friendly Dining

22:30 When Parents Finally Feel Supported

This episode isn’t a travel guide - it’s a reflection on parenting, presence, and choosing joy when life feels heavy.

If this episode resonated with you, please let us know your favorite part - we’d love to hear what stood out!

Credits:

Production: Berty + KRF Enterprises

Direction: Shantie Midnight

Editing: Nomadic Orca 

Music: Far Eye House

Photo: Birch Thomas

Design: Erin Fox Creative

Key words: Disney cruise, Disney Destiny, family travel, parenting podcast, motherhood, traveling with kids, Disney with kids, family vacation tips, generational travel, mom mental load, choosing joy, gratitude, rest for parents, Disney cruise food, Disney cruise tips

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this season 2 finale, Lauren takes you to Twinsburg, Ohio — home of the largest twins festival in the world. With over 2,500 twins in attendance for its 50th anniversary, Twins Days Fest is a celebration of connection, individuality, and the unique dynamics only twins (and twin parents) truly understand.

From laugh-out-loud twin telepathy myths to deeply moving personal stories, Lauren chats with identical, fraternal, boy/girl twins, and even a pair navigating a gender transition — uncovering what they love about being twins, what they wish others knew, and the advice they have for parents raising multiples.

In This Episode, You’ll Hear:

• The wildest (and weirdest) questions twins get from strangers.
• Birth stories told from the twins’ own perspective — including one you’ll never forget.
• Whether birth order really matters… and why some parents keep it a secret.
• Heartfelt debates on school separation: when it helps, when it hurts, and why it sticks with twins for life.
• The heavy weight of constant comparisons — and how gender plays into it.
• Boy/girl twin dynamics vs. identical twin bonds.
• A powerful conversation with twins navigating a gender transition together.
• Dating as a twin: why your relationship with your twin sibling is a non-negotiable.
• The top advice seasoned twins wish parents of multiples would follow.

Why You’ll Love It:

This episode is equal parts hilarious, emotional, and eye-opening — whether you’re raising twins, are a twin yourself, or just love people-watching at big family-style events. Lauren wraps Season 2 with a full-circle moment, starting the season with her own twin birth story and ending surrounded by a sea of twins who feel like extended family.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

• 🛍 Shop That Twin Mama merch (the “Mom of Twins” jersey featured in the video will be coming soon!): https://thattwinmama.store/
• Follow That Twin Mama Podcast on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thattwinmamapodcast/
• Follow Lauren on socials https://www.instagram.com/thattwinmama_/ https://www.tiktok.com/@thattwinmama_
• Learn more about Twins Days Fest: https://twinsdays.org/
• Thanks to our new twin friends:

Hafsteinn & Kristjan

https://www.instagram.com/hafsteinnvaldimarsson/

https://www.instagram.com/kristjanvald/?hl=en 

Cassidy & Caitlyn (and Renly & Evelyn, too!)

https://www.instagram.com/cassidycherry/?hl=en 

Mike & Michelle

https://www.instagram.com/prettydimples_32/

https://www.instagram.com/michaeladdison1/

Renee & Deshay

https://www.instagram.com/renee_cottrell/

https://www.instagram.com/ebonyshay99/

Fallon & Farrell

https://www.facebook.com/beingfandf

https://www.tiktok.com/@beingfandf

https://www.youtube.com/@BeingFFPodcast 

Tawanna & Tonya

https://www.instagram.com/them_damn_twinz/ 

Brooke & Beth

Tony & Adrienne

Monica & Gita

Keith & Kevin

Dina & Gina

Season Note:

That’s a wrap on Season 2! Thank you for listening, reviewing, sharing, and being part of this community. Please continue to follow, share, & leave 5 star reviews as we gear up for Season 3 of That Twin Mama Podcast. 

Credits:

Production: Berty Enterprises

Editing: Nomadic Orca 

Music: Far Eye House

Photo: Birch Thomas

Design: Erin Fox Creative

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This spring, That Twin Mama took her mic to The Momference® — the premier, three-day gathering for Black and Brown millennial moms, powered by District Motherhued®. In a weekend built to nourish, uplift, and celebrate #BlackMomMagic, Lauren sat down with powerhouse moms, thought leaders, and healers to bring you these bite-sized, heart-full episodes straight from the DC mom squad that’s rewriting what community care looks like.

In this mini episode, Lauren cozies up with the brilliant Marissa Nelson — award-winning sex therapist and founder of IntimacyMoons Couples Retreats — for a real talk about sex after the babies arrive. From scheduling sex (yes, we’re doing it!) to non-sexual touch, awkward butt grabs, and why “playing” isn’t just for kids, they break down how modern couples can keep closeness, pleasure, and that delicious sense of anticipation alive — even when the house is chaotic and you’re all touched out.

In this episode you’ll hear:

• Why scheduling sex isn’t unsexy — it’s survival
• How couples lose the “play” and how to get it back
• The power of non-sexual touch and staying close when you’re exhausted
• Marissa’s wisdom on making pleasure a priority, not a perk

💛 Marissa Nelson — Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT), Certified Sex Therapist (CST), Certified Sexuality Educator (CSE), and the genius behind IntimacyMoons Couples Retreats (as seen in The New York Times, Women’s Health, Fodor's Travel and more!). Find her work and book your escape at intimacymoons.com and follow her on IG https://www.instagram.com/xomarissanelson/?hl=en 

If this one made you feel a little seen (or a little spicy), share it with your best mom friend who needs the reminder that pleasure matters — and perfect isn’t the point. And don’t forget to leave your girl a 5-star review — it keeps this village growing. Subscribe so you don’t miss the rest of The Momference minis!

📺 Subscribe on YouTube: That Twin Mama Podcast

🎧 Podcast Website: www.thattwinmama.com/podcast

📲 Follow on Instagram: @thattwinmamapodcast

Credits:

Production: Berty Enterprises

Editing: Nomadic Orca

Music: Far Eye House

Photo: Birch Thomas

Design: Erin Fox Creative

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This spring, That Twin Mama took her mic to The Momference® — the premier, three-day gathering for Black and Brown millennial moms, powered by District Motherhued®. In a weekend built to nourish, uplift, and celebrate #BlackMomMagic, Lauren sat down with powerhouse moms, thought leaders, and healers to bring you these bite-sized, heart-full episodes straight from the DC mom squad that’s rewriting what community care looks like.

In this mini episode, Lauren connects with longtime Momference attendee and digital storyteller Noémie Gaines — a former entertainment lawyer turned content creator and motherhood muse — for a conversation that gently challenges the myth of balance and embraces the freedom of harmony. Noémie shares how her family’s vlogging journey led to full-time work in the digital space, how she processes identity shifts in motherhood, and why she centers each day around how she wants to feel, not what she needs to do.

They also talk about how The Momference helped Noémie build her DC village (even as a transplant!), what it’s like to show up authentically online, and how her “Soft Notes” series on YouTube and Substack models daily self-compassion in real time.

In this episode you’ll hear:

• Why balance is a myth — and how Noémie uses harmony as a compass
• The real talk behind identity shifts in motherhood
• How Momference became her chosen village (and Black mom Disney World!)
• Why daily rituals — like Soft Notes — are a form of nourishment too

💛 Noémie Gaines — wife, mama, content creator, and the voice behind Soft Notes on YouTube and Substack. Find her online:

📲 Instagram: @noemgaines

📺 YouTube: Noémie Gaines

📝 Substack: Soft Notes by Noémie

🎵 TikTok: @noemgaines

If this one made you exhale or rethink your own definition of “balance,” share it with a mama friend who needs the reminder that how we feel matters more than how much we do. And don’t forget to leave your girl a 5-star review — it keeps this village growing. Subscribe so you don’t miss the rest of The Momference minis!

📺 Subscribe on YouTube: That Twin Mama Podcast

🎧 Podcast Website: www.thattwinmama.com/podcast

📲 Follow on Instagram: @thattwinmamapodcast

Credits:

Production: Berty Enterprises

Editing: Nomadic Orca

Music: Far Eye House

Photo: Birch Thomas

Design: Erin Fox Creative

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This spring, That Twin Mama took her mic to The Momference® — the premier, three-day gathering for Black and Brown millennial moms, powered by District Motherhued®. In a weekend built to nourish, uplift, and celebrate #BlackMomMagic, Lauren sat down with powerhouse moms, thought leaders, and healers to bring you these bite-sized, heart-full episodes straight from the DC mom squad that’s rewriting what community care looks like.

In this mini episode, Lauren sits down with the incredible Simona Noce Wright — co-founder of The Momference® and District Motherhued® — for an inspiring, deeply honest convo about building the village she never had and raising kids who expect to see their mom loved, cared for, and surrounded by sisterhood. Simona shares how a random coffee shop meeting with Nikki Osei-Barrett sparked a movement that’s been rewriting the narrative of Black motherhood ever since — and why mothers need to be nourished, too, if we want to nourish everyone else.

In this episode you’ll hear:

• How a coffee date turned into District Motherhued®
• Simona’s take on why your kids need to see you with a village
• What our moms wish they had — and what we’re reclaiming now
• A reminder that showing up for yourself is showing up for them

💛 Simona Noce Wright — film publicist, creative connector, mom of three boys (plus a bonus daughter!), and co-founder of District Motherhued® and The Momference®. Find her daily magic and soccer mom adventures at @thesimonaochewright.

If this one made you feel a little seen (or a little braver about brunch without the guilt) — share it with another mama who needs a reminder that her village exists. And don’t forget to leave your girl a 5-star review — it keeps this village growing. Subscribe so you don’t miss the rest of The Momference minis!

📺 Subscribe on YouTube: That Twin Mama Podcast

🎧 Podcast Website: www.thattwinmama.com/podcast

📲 Follow on Instagram: @thattwinmamapodcast

Credits:

Production: Berty Enterprises

Editing: Nomadic Orca

Music: Far Eye House

Photo: Birch Thomas

Design: Erin Fox Creative

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This spring, That Twin Mama took her mic to The Momference® — the premier, three-day gathering for Black and Brown millennial moms, powered by District Motherhued®. In a weekend built to nourish, uplift, and celebrate #BlackMomMagic, Lauren sat down with powerhouse moms, thought leaders, and healers to bring you these bite-sized, heart-full episodes straight from the DC mom squad that’s rewriting what community care looks like.

In this mini episode, Lauren kicks back with the brilliant Nikki Osei-Barrett — co-founder of District Motherhued® and The Momference® itself — for an unfiltered, hilarious, and deeply honest talk about what it’s like to raise kids across decades… and why that first child will always clock your growth. They unpack the evolution of motherhood (and marriage!) from teen love to grown-woman realness, how to handle the regrets we carry from our early parenting years, and why doing better now is the whole point. Plus: raising teens in the TikTok era, checking phones for secret searches, and why our kids will always read us for filth.

In this episode you’ll hear:

• Why your oldest kid knows you like nobody else — and reminds you daily
• Nikki’s real talk on parenting as a teen vs. a grown mom
• How District Motherhued® became the village so many moms crave
• Lauren & Nikki’s confessions about raising boys in the age of screens (and porn)

💛 Nikki Osei-Barrett — creative, connector, mom of three, and co-founder of District Motherhued® and The Momference®. Follow her daily realness on Instagram at @chocl8fashionpr.

If this one made you feel a little seen (or deeply called out by your oldest), share it with a mom friend who needs the reminder that grace grows with us. And don’t forget to leave your girl a 5-star review — it keeps this village growing. Subscribe so you don’t miss the rest of The Momference minis!

📺 Subscribe on YouTube: That Twin Mama Podcast

🎧 Podcast Website: www.thattwinmama.com/podcast

📲 Follow on Instagram: @thattwinmamapodcast

Credits:

Production: Berty Enterprises

Editing: Nomadic Orca

Music: Far Eye House

Photo: Birch Thomas

Design: Erin Fox Creative

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This spring, That Twin Mama took the mic to The Momference® — the premier, three-day gathering for Black and Brown millennial moms, powered by District Motherhued®. In a weekend designed to nourish, uplift, and celebrate #BlackMomMagic, Lauren cozied up with powerhouse moms, thought leaders, and healers to bring you these bite-sized, big-hearted episodes straight from the DC mom squad rewriting what community care looks like.

In this mini episode, Lauren chats with trauma therapist Kobe Campbell and her twin sister, Odua, for a raw, funny, soul-tingly convo about what it’s like growing up as a twin in a world obsessed with comparing you. They unpack birth order drama (twin A vs twin B), the weirdest twin questions they’ve ever gotten, and why it matters so much to help twins see themselves as whole, separate people. Plus: how parents can talk about differences before the world does — and why that can be healing for all our kids.

In this episode you’ll hear:

• Why people love comparing twins (and how Kobe’s term comparative identity explains it all)
• How birth order shows up in twin dynamics (and why Lauren’s keeping it secret for now!)
• The wild questions twins get asked
• Real talk on how to protect your kids’ soft spots — twin or not

💛 Kobe Campbell — award-winning trauma therapist, author, and soft space creator. Find her at kobecampbell.com and on socials https://www.instagram.com/kobecampbell_/

💛 Odua — flight attendant, world traveler, and the other half of this beautiful twinhood. Follow her adventures https://www.instagram.com/nanayaa_odua/ .

If you felt seen (or exposed, in the best way) — send this one to your mom group chat, your twin mom club, or that one friend who still thinks twins have secret telepathy. And hey, leave your girl a 5-star review so this village keeps growing! Subscribe so you don’t miss the rest of The Momference minis.

📺 Subscribe on YouTube: That Twin Mama Podcast

🎧 Podcast Website: www.thattwinmama.com/podcast

📲 Follow on Instagram: @thattwinmamapodcast

Credits:

Production: Berty Enterprises

Editing: Nomadic Orca

Music: Far Eye House

Photo: Birch Thomas

Design: Erin Fox Creative

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This spring, That Twin Mama took her mic to The Momference® — the premier, three-day gathering for Black and Brown millennial moms, powered by District Motherhued®. In a weekend built to nourish, uplift, and celebrate #BlackMomMagic, Lauren sat down with powerhouse moms, thought leaders, and healers to bring you these bite-sized, heart-full episodes straight from the DC mom squad that’s rewriting what community care looks like.

In this mini episode, Lauren chats with award-winning journalist Jummy Olabanji — co-anchor of News4 Today, advocate for Black maternal health, and new mom — about pregnancy in her late thirties, the reality of fertility treatments, and the importance of listening to Black women when they say something feels off. They unpack what it means to advocate for your own body, why “pain is not normal,” and how we can hold each other up as a community so we don’t just survive, but thrive.

In this episode you’ll hear:

-Jummy’s honest take on pregnancy at almost 40 (and the “geriatric” label 🙄)

-Why Black women need to push back when their pain is dismissed

-How community, conversation, and self-advocacy can literally save lives

-The one piece of advice she never wants to hear again (“Sleep when the baby sleeps” — girl, bye.)

💛 About Jummy Olabanji — Jummy co-anchors News4 Today, the #1 morning news show in Washington, D.C. A native of Northern Virginia, she’s a proud Hokie and Gonzaga grad, and has earned two Edward R. Murrow Awards, two Virginia Associated Press Awards, and eight EMMYs for her work. She’s also an advocate for organ donation and serves on the Board of Directors for the National Kidney Foundation.

Follow her at @JummyOlabanji and tune in to News4 Today to see her in action.

If this episode reminds you how important it is to advocate for yourself (or someone you love) — share it with a friend, leave a 5-star review, and stay tuned for more Momference Minis to nourish you all season long.

📺 Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTwinMamaPodcast/videos

🎧 Podcast Website: www.thattwinmama.com/podcast

📲 Follow on Instagram: @thattwinmamapodcast

Credits:

Production: Berty Enterprises

Editing: Nomadic Orca

Music: Far Eye House

Photo: Birch Thomas

Design: Erin Fox Creative

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This spring, That Twin Mama took her mic to The Momference® — the premier, three-day gathering for Black and Brown millennial moms, powered by District Motherhued®. In a weekend built to nourish, uplift, and celebrate #BlackMomMagic, Lauren sat down with powerhouse moms, thought leaders, and healers to bring you these bite-sized, heart-full episodes straight from the DC mom squad that’s rewriting what community care looks like.

In this mini episode, Lauren sits down with the brilliant Dr. Amber Thornton (yes, that Dr. Amber from Season One) for a quick but deeply honest chat about what it really means to parent your oldest child — and yourself — with more compassion. They unpack the emotional load oldest siblings carry, why we’re so dang hard on them, and how self-regulation is still the secret sauce for all the mama chaos.

In this episode you’ll hear:

-Why oldest siblings feel so much weight — and how gender shapes that story

-Dr. Amber’s take on protecting our oldest kids’ soft spots

-A reminder that parenting is messy — and that’s exactly how it should be

💛 Dr. Amber Thornton — psychologist, mom, oldest daughter, author, and truth-teller on parenting + self-regulation. Find her and order her incredible book at https://www.dramberthornton.com/.

💛 Listen to her episode on That Twin Mama Podcast Season 1 here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-emotionally-self-regulate-as-a-stressed-out/id1720436427?i=1000670479913

If this one made you feel a little seen (or called out in the best way) — share it with another mom friend who needs the reminder that perfect isn’t real, but grace is. And don’t forget to leave your girl a 5-star review — it keeps this village growing. Subscribe so you don’t miss the rest of The Momference minis!

📺 Subscribe on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTwinMamaPodcast/videos

🎧 Podcast Website: www.thattwinmama.com/podcast

📲 Follow on Instagram: @thattwinmamapodcast

Credits:

Production: Berty Enterprises

Editing: Nomadic Orca

Music: Far Eye House

Photo: Birch Thomas

Design: Erin Fox Creative

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Motherhood changes everything—your body, your boundaries, your belief in yourself. This week I sat down with my wildly talented friend Daniella Rabbani — actor, creator, mom of two, and host of Mom Curious. In this episode, we have a raw and layered conversation about what it means to come undone in motherhood… and then slowly, steadily, put yourself back together again.

Daniella opens up about filming Oceans 8 while eight months pregnant (yes, she opens the movie with Sandra Bullock!), finding her voice in both motherhood and creativity, and navigating the deep work of raising kids while healing herself. We talk gentle parenting, mom rage, generational patterns, and why sometimes the most radical thing we can do is say, “I don’t know—but I’m showing up anyway.”

We get into:

• Why her firstborn “opened the matrix” for her—and what shifted with her daughter
• Breaking generational cycles without breaking yourself
• Gentle parenting vs. actually parenting—what happens when the kids don’t listen?
• Why our kids chose us (and what that means for how we show up)

“Parenting teaches you more about yourself than anything else. Sometimes I like what I see, sometimes I don’t. And that’s the work.”

📣 Listen if you’re:

• Trying to parent differently than you were raised
• Feeling stretched thin and wondering if you’re still “you”
• In a season of rebuilding—creatively, emotionally, spiritually
• Curious what happens when motherhood becomes your greatest teacher

✨ Mentioned:

• Daniella’s podcast Mom Curious https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mom-curious/id1602585064
• The Better Sister (her latest show!) https://amzn.to/3GfG62g
• Her iconic Ocean’s 8 scene! https://www.instagram.com/p/C2-bDzyuRyV/
• Lauren and Daniella at the Doula Expo https://youtu.be/sAKIR5o_cAk?si=fHIzn7O7CHXEbNpT 

📺 Subscribe on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTwinMamaPodcast/videos

🎧 Podcast Website: www.thattwinmama.com/podcast

📲 Follow on Instagram: @thattwinmamapodcast

Credits:

Production: Berty Enterprises

Editing: Nomadic Orca

Music: Far Eye House

Photo: Birch Thomas

Design: Erin Fox Creative

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

If you’ve ever made three square meals for your family and then realized you haven’t eaten anything yourself all day… this one’s for you.

In this episode, I’m joined by Allegra Gast—nutritionist, postpartum guide, twin mom of four, and the voice behind @aloha.nutrition—for a much-needed convo on how we actually care for our bodies after birth… and long after the newborn phase ends.

Allegra breaks down what happens to your minerals, hormones, and energy when you’re giving everything to your kids and skipping meals without meaning to. Whether you’re breastfeeding, chasing toddlers, or just in a season where coffee is your main food group—this is your gentle reset.

We talk about:

• The mineral most moms are depleted in (and what to do about it)
• Why protein is your best friend when you're running on fumes
• Easy, affordable meal ideas that don’t require five prep bowls
• How your postpartum nutrition impacts mood, milk supply, and sleep
• How to teach toddlers about food without power struggles
• The link between low blood sugar and mom rage (it’s real)

This episode is about remembering that your needs matter too—and that a peanut butter sandwich counts as self-care if you eat it sitting down.

✨ Mentioned in the Episode:

• Breastfeeding gear for twin moms https://amzn.to/3ZJ37kE
• Nutrition resources: @alohanutrition on IG https://www.aloha-nutrition.com/
• Add these nutrient-dense snacks to your baby registry! https://amzn.to/45wvZQY
• Bone Broth https://lvnta.com/lv_HNiR24J2RaHjrB2SIv
• Allegra’s offerings: Mineral Mocktail Guide, Beyond Birth course, Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis https://education.aloha-nutrition.com

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts. And if this episode helped, send it to your mom group chat or a mama friend who needs it.

#ThatTwinMamaPodcast #PostpartumNutrition #TwinMomLife #FeedingTwins #LactationSupport #MomHealth #MineralMocktails #AlohaNutrition

Stay Connected:

Be sure to subscribe for more candid conversations on parenting, relationships, and life with multiples. If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review and share with fellow parents navigating similar journeys.

📺 Subscribe on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@ThatTwinMamaPodcast/videos

🎧 Podcast Website: www.thattwinmama.com/podcast

📲 Follow on Instagram: @thattwinmamapodcast

Credits:

Production: Berty Enterprises

Editing: Nomadic Orca

Music: Far Eye House

Photo: Birch Thomas

Design: Erin Fox Creative

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Okay, so… I got my boobs done. Not implants. I got a breast reduction—and in this episode, I’m walking you through everything: the emotional backstory, the wild insurance hurdles, the drains (ugh), the Hooters farewell tour, and why I would do it again in a heartbeat.

From being the first girl in fourth grade told to wear a bra to breastfeeding three kids, this has been a long time coming. I share what pushed me to finally do it, how I chose my surgeon, and all the things no one really preps you for when it comes to healing and reclaiming your body.

We talk about:

• Growing up with big boobs and feeling hyper-visible from a young age
• Why this felt like a personal and physical reclamation—not just a cosmetic decision
• The continued struggles with health insurance coverage
• How painful and weirdly humbling recovery really is (have you ever tried showering without raising your arms?!)
• Shower hacks, pain meds, body image shifts, and parenting while healing
• Answering your DMs about cost, implants vs. reductions, and explaining it all to your kids
• Why running out of Hooters in slow motion should honestly be an Oscar-nominated short film (someone call Pamela Anderson and ask her how she survived Baywatch beach runs!)

This episode is for the girls who’ve ever wanted to feel more at home in their body—and the ones Googling “can you sleep without a bra?” because same.

👀 MENTIONED:

• Dr. Victoria Suh in Fairfax, VA https://www.victoriacosmeticsurgery.com/
• My viral Hooters farewell video https://www.instagram.com/p/DGLgaEmJMzZ/
• Post-op items I wish I’d known about before surgery https://amzn.to/442OPh6

💬 If you’re thinking about a reduction…

You don’t owe anyone an explanation. Not the internet, not your cousin, not some guy named Henry from Norfolk. 🙃 But if you want the story, this is mine—and I hope it helps you feel more prepared, informed, and supported (pun intended).

🎧 Listen in, share with a friend, and tag @thattwinmamapodcast if this episode hits home.

Stay Connected:

Be sure to subscribe for more candid conversations on parenting, relationships, and life with multiples. If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review and share with fellow parents navigating similar journeys.

📺 Subscribe on YouTube

🎧 Podcast Website: www.thattwinmama.com/podcast

📲 Follow on Instagram: @thattwinmamapodcast

Credits:

Production: Berty Enterprises

Editing: Nomadic Orca

Music: Far Eye House

Photo: Birch Thomas

Design: Erin Fox Creative

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy