Beyond the Bombshell: Confidence, Style, and Empowerment for Women

Michelle Stokes
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Welcome to Beyond the Bombshell—the podcast where real life meets relatable chaos and vulnerability. Host Michelle Stokes dives into the everyday highs and lows of being a wife, mom, entrepreneur, and unapologetically human. From juggling hormones and relationships to chasing dreams and navigating those "just trying to survive the week" moments, this podcast is your reminder that life is messy, but it's also full of beauty and growth. Come for the unfiltered honesty, stay for the laughs, lessons, and the occasional coffee-fueled brain dump. Let's embrace the bombshell moments—one imperfect episode at a time.

  1. 2D AGO

    Building Fences, Not Walls": This One's For the Couples Who Think They're Connecting But Aren't

    In this candid episode, Michelle records straight from her car to share a weekend of "messy magic." What started as a simple family movie night turned into a deep reflection on how we evolve in our relationships and the struggle of communicating with our kids when they think they already have all the answers. Episode Timestamps; 00:00 Recording Mondays Now (Tuesdays Too Full) 01:24 Do You Wave at People Driving Your Car? 02:46 The Quality Time Mismatch 06:13 Madea's Wisdom: Build Fences Not Walls 08:41 "Say I Do to Multiple People" 10:42 Why We Watched Movies All Weekend 12:12 The "I Know" Trap 15:46 "You Have Grounding Energy" 19:09 Homework Gives Me Trauma 20:34 My ADHD Brain Can't Sit Still 23:31 We're Aware, No Solutions Yet If this episode resonated with you, take a moment to follow the podcast and share it with a friend who might need to hear this conversation too. And if you want to stay connected, you can find me on social media and on my website via the links below. I love hearing from you, so don’t be shy about jumping into my DMs. Let’s Connect! Follow Michelle Stokes on; LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/bombshell.by.michelle

    25 min

  2. APR 27

    Honor Your Energy as Much as Your Ambition: This One's For the Women Who Give Everything to Hustle and Nothing to Themselves

    Michelle records from her car (not running because she's never let her electric battery get this low before and she's terrified) outside Ben's physio, reflecting on the slippery slope she's sliding down as spring market hits. She unpacks last week's flooded DMs—women who related to the work/kids/self-care juggle, plus women now caregiving for sick parents on top of everything else. She breaks down why men and women carry mental load so differently, the quote that stopped her in her tracks ("Be the woman who honors her energy as much as her ambition"), and why she spent $700 on a mountain bike to save Ben from bullying (was that the right call?). From realizing her "self-care" was actually draining her energy to admitting she defaults to work talk during the only hour she has alone with Josh each night, this is about the impossible pressure to be financially successful, emotionally available, physically present, and still show up for your marriage. Plus: why she feels amazing after sex but can't turn her brain off to actually want it. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome & Spring Market Panic Mode 00:30 Slipping on Healthy Boundaries Already 03:00 Last Week's DMs: The Caregiver Generation 05:03 How Women and Men Carry Mental Load Differently 08:26 Now Add Sick Parents to the Mix 10:54 Why I Can't Turn My Brain Off for Intimacy 13:04 The $700 Bike Dilemma: Bullying vs Financial Pressure 17:40 "Honor Your Energy as Much as Your Ambition" 20:48 Self-Care That Actually Refuels vs Drains You 24:21 The Only Time We Have Alone (And We Talk About Work) 25:57 Josh Is a Saint If this episode resonated with you, take a moment to follow the podcast and share it with a friend who might need to hear this conversation too. And if you want to stay connected, you can find me on social media and on my website via the links below. I love hearing from you, so don’t be shy about jumping into my DMs. Let’s Connect! Follow Michelle Stokes on; LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/bombshell.by.michelle

    27 min

  3. APR 20

    We're Living an Epidemic and We Don't Even Know It: This One's For the Women in Their 30s Who Feel Like They're Drowning

    Welcome to another episode of Beyond the Bombshell. Michelle's brain is spinning after her DMs flooded with the same story from different women: burnt out, unable to communicate with partners, stuck between work mode and mom mode with no energy left for wife mode. Recording from her office at 3 PM (not her usual clear-headed 8 AM), she unpacks a generational realization—our mothers were raised to be moms, we're the first generation raised to be moms AND build empires, and we were never equipped for either. She breaks down the common threads: unmet expectations we can't articulate, partners who've lost compassion because we've been bitches, prioritizing kids over marriage (which burns out both), and the crisis years from 35-38 when everything implodes. From why "wife mode" never turns on to the desperate need for support spaces that aren't just complaining about husbands, this is the raw truth about modern motherhood, ambition, and barely surviving marriage. Timestamps: 00:00 Afternoon Recording = Overstimulation 00:55 Our Mothers Were Raised to Be Moms. We Weren't. 03:13 The First Generation Choosing Career Over Kids 06:57 Why I Can't Turn On "Wife Mode" 09:36 My DMs Are Full of Women in Crisis 12:44 The Stress Epidemic We're Not Talking About 15:50 Common Thread: We've Lost Compassion for Our Partners 19:36 The Communication Death Spiral 22:53 Work First, Kids Second, Partner Last = Marriage Death 26:42 The Identity Crisis Years: 35-38 29:14 Why Your Partner Has No Compassion Left 32:06 Kids-First Mentality Burns Everyone Out 35:26 We Need Support Groups That Aren't Mom Groups 40:45 The Impossible Switch from CEO to Wife 42:27 You're Not Alone (Seriously, Check Your DMs) If this episode resonated with you, take a moment to follow the podcast and share it with a friend who might need to hear this conversation too. And if you want to stay connected, you can find me on social media and on my website via the links below. I love hearing from you, so don’t be shy about jumping into my DMs. Let’s Connect! Follow Michelle Stokes on; LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/bombshell.by.michelle

    44 min

  4. APR 13

    Married to a High Achiever (Spoiler: It's Me): This One's For the Women Who Expect Everyone to Think Like Them

    Picture being married to someone who thinks 10 steps ahead, has standards stuck in their head (not on paper), assumes everyone should just know how to do things their way, and gets frustrated when people don't meet expectations they never articulated. Now, picture that person is you. In this episode of Beyond the Bombshell, Michelle breaks down the annual Easter spat (it wasn't about the eggs, it was about the six other things from the past six weeks), why she can't build a policy and procedures manual for home life, and the impossible dynamic of being business partners with your spouse when you're opposites. From randomly stuffing plastic eggs with money to going to bed with an invisible shield between them, this is the reality of high standards, poor communication, and two people who both think the other is the problem. Plus, their one life hack: the 6 AM coffee talk after sleeping on it. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome & Being Married to an Overachiever 03:15 The Easter Egg Fight 07:42 When Your Brain Goes Down the Spiral 11:28 Who's to Blame? (Both of Us) 14:53 Business Partners + Life Partners = Chaos 18:07 The Invisible Shield Bedtime Routine 21:34 Our Life Hack: Morning Coffee Debrief 24:19 Why Opposites Attract (And Drive Each Other Crazy) If this episode resonated with you, take a moment to follow the podcast and share it with a friend who might need to hear this conversation too. And if you want to stay connected, you can find me on social media and on my website via the links below. I love hearing from you, so don’t be shy about jumping into my DMs. Let’s Connect! Follow Michelle Stokes on; LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/bombshell.by.michelle

    29 min

  5. APR 6

    When Past Trauma Guards Your Present: This One's For the Ladies Who Can't Explain Why They're Overwhelmed

    Welcome to another episode of Beyond the Bombshell. Michelle records another closet episode on an April Fools snow day after an emotional morning she couldn't yet explain to Josh. She opens up about how past unhealthy relationships can resurface unexpectedly, creating barriers around intimacy—and why that has nothing to do with him as her spouse. Then she reads and reacts to Hey it's Lex Carmen's viral post about "identity whiplash": the brutal shift working moms make from professional responsibilities to managing dinner chaos in minutes. Michelle breaks down the third shift no one talks about—showing up for your partner after you've already been CEO and mom—and shares why her social battery crashes at 5 PM, how to create transition rituals between roles, and the importance of finishing work before walking through the door. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome & Snow Day Roulette 01:34 Why I Feel Guarded (And It's Not Josh's Fault) 03:13 When Intimacy Feels Unsafe 06:37 Processing Out Loud vs. With a Therapist 10:59 Identity Whiplash Explained 14:12 The Three Shifts: Work, Mom, Partner 16:53 Finding Your Transition Ritual 19:51 When Your Social Battery Crashes 21:48 Staying Connected Long-Term 24:34 Practical Hacks & Wrap-Up If this episode resonated with you, take a moment to follow the podcast and share it with a friend who might need to hear this conversation too. And if you want to stay connected, you can find me on social media and on my website via the links below. I love hearing from you, so don’t be shy about jumping into my DMs. Let’s Connect! Follow Michelle Stokes on; LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/bombshell.by.michelle

    27 min

  6. MAR 30

    How You Show Up Matters: This One's For the Dance Moms (and Everyone Else) Passing Their Stress On

    In this episode of Beyond the Bombshell, Michelle keeps it 100% real—recording straight from her closet (the best sound booth ever!) during a snow day. She dives deep into the difference between waiting for "motivation" and practicing true discipline. Plus, she shares a massive "life hack" for parents surviving competition season: the power of a local staycation. Whether you’re a dance mom, a busy entrepreneur, or just someone waiting for a "perfect" vacation that feels miles away, this episode is your reminder to stop waiting and start creating the energy you want today. Episode Timestamps; 00:00 Welcome to the Podcast 00:30 Discipline Over Motivation 03:03 Dance Comp Staycation Win 07:14 Dressing Room Emotions 09:16 It Takes a Village 13:28 Girls Trip Mindset Shift 19:36 Energy Sets the Tone 24:11 Staycation Challenge Wrap 25:06 Final Outro and Thanks If this episode resonated with you, take a moment to follow the podcast and share it with a friend who might need to hear this conversation too. And if you want to stay connected, you can find me on social media and on my website via the links below. I love hearing from you, so don’t be shy about jumping into my DMs. Let’s Connect! Follow Michelle Stokes on; LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/bombshell.by.michelle

    25 min

  7. MAR 23

    Stop Scrolling Someone Else's Life: This One's For the Ladies Ready to Celebrate Their Own

    Michelle records her Tuesday-morning car episode of Beyond the Bombshell and shares an unconventional “life hack” for starting the day: instead of avoiding your phone, open Facebook (or another app) Memories first thing and scroll through your own past moments. What began as a strategic business habit to screenshot “home sweet home” client photos for Sold by Stokes became a daily personal ritual that feels like gratitude journaling without pen and paper—humbling, grounding, and often funny or emotional. She recalls recent March memories, including her first nursing job, a pregnancy announcement with Josh, and Josh’s early real estate hustle posts, as well as pandemic-era team milestones, and encourages listeners to use memories as a positive conversation starter with their partner and a way to appreciate how far they’ve come. 00:00 Welcome to the Show 00:30 Car Recording Routine 01:42 Last Week Recap 03:22 Morning Memories Hack 04:39 How It Started 05:29 Why It Works 07:35 Milestones From Memories 10:41 Try This Tomorrow 15:43 Start With Your Life 18:55 Wrap Up and Goodbye If this episode resonated with you, take a moment to follow the podcast and share it with a friend who might need to hear this conversation too. And if you want to stay connected, you can find me on social media and on my website via the links below. I love hearing from you, so don’t be shy about jumping into my DMs. Let’s Connect! Follow Michelle Stokes on; LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/bombshell.by.michelle

    20 min

  8. MAR 16

    This One’s for the Women Trying to Balance Being a Mom and a Boss

    In this episode of Beyond the Bombshell, Michelle shares a real and honest reflection on the feeling many women experience but rarely talk about — living between two worlds as a boss and a mom. While watching the sunrise and preparing for a busy day of leadership meetings, Michelle opens up about the internal struggle of balancing the different roles she plays. From being a mom and partner at home to stepping into leadership and building a business alongside her husband, she shares how confusing it can feel when those identities don’t seem to fully align. Michelle talks about the pressure many women feel to show only one side of themselves to the world. The relatable, everyday version… or the driven, ambitious version. But what happens when both are true? After months of personal growth, leadership development, and business restructuring, Michelle is realizing that hiding parts of herself no longer feels right. Instead of choosing between the “real life mom” and the “boss woman building something bigger,” she’s learning that both versions deserve to exist. This episode is a reminder that you don’t have to shrink parts of yourself to fit into one box. You can be the woman building a business, having hard conversations, leading a team, and still be the one wearing cheetah print pajamas, navigating motherhood, and figuring life out one day at a time. If you’ve ever felt like you’re being pulled between different versions of yourself — this conversation is for you. Episode Timestamps; 00:00 – Welcome to Beyond the Bombshell 00:30 – Wearing Two Hats at Sunrise: Mom Life vs Business Leadership 03:05 – The Hidden Leader Side of Michelle 05:35 – Ice Rink Inspiration: Embracing Both Strength and Femininity 07:23 – What Happened to International Women’s Day Events? 08:50 – Planning Her First Ever Girls Trip at 39 12:34 – When Two Worlds Start Colliding 20:07 – Owning Both Sides: Mom Life and Boss Life 23:47 – Let’s Keep the Conversation Going 24:08 – Final Bombshell Reminder If this episode resonated with you, take a moment to follow the podcast and share it with a friend who might need to hear this conversation too. And if you want to stay connected, you can find me on social media and on my website via the links below. I love hearing from you, so don’t be shy about jumping into my DMs. Let’s Connect! Follow Michelle Stokes on; LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/bombshell.by.michelle

    25 min
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About

Welcome to Beyond the Bombshell—the podcast where real life meets relatable chaos and vulnerability. Host Michelle Stokes dives into the everyday highs and lows of being a wife, mom, entrepreneur, and unapologetically human. From juggling hormones and relationships to chasing dreams and navigating those "just trying to survive the week" moments, this podcast is your reminder that life is messy, but it's also full of beauty and growth. Come for the unfiltered honesty, stay for the laughs, lessons, and the occasional coffee-fueled brain dump. Let's embrace the bombshell moments—one imperfect episode at a time.

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