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

Michelle Stokes
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Biweekly

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. 3d ago

    "We Only Have 13 Summers": This One's For the Moms Holding On Too Tight as Everything Changes

    Michelle records from her driveway in pajamas on Canada Day, coffee in hand, waiting for the fog to roll in—and this episode is exactly that kind of morning. Raw, unfiltered, still figuring it out. She unpacks the week: Scarlet didn't make the tumbling team and handled it better than Michelle expected, Michelle got pulled on stage at the dance gala by her daughter's tiny fist and absolutely bombed it (and has been practicing in the mirror ever since), and somewhere between crying in a leadership meeting and flopping in the chair telling Josh she can't be all-in at work this summer, she landed on the thing she actually needs to let go of. Not just things in her calendar—but the version of summer she keeps holding onto that her kids have already outgrown. Timestamps: 00:00 Pajamas, Driveway, Canada Day 02:18 ChatGPT Told Me to Reflect More 05:44 Two of Us Can't Both Drive the Ship This Summer 09:12 Scarlet Didn't Make the Team (And Was Fine) 13:27 Have a Backup Plan Ready 16:48 She Pulled My Arm and I Said Yes 20:33 I've Been Practicing in the Mirror Ever Since 23:14 We Only Have 13 Summers, Not 18 26:07 What Do I Need to Let Go Of? If you're holding on too tight to a summer that your kids have already moved on from, share this with a mom who needs permission to slow down and let them lead for once. 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

    31 min

  2. Jun 29

    The Quarterly Crash: This One's for the Women Who Hold Everything Together Until They Can't

    What happens when you come off a vacation high, try to pull off a birthday sleepover for six eight-year-olds, and then somehow completely fail at Father's Day? You hit your "quarterly crash". In this incredibly candid episode, Michelle sits down to process what burnout actually looks like when it sneaks up on a high achiever who has been doing all the "right things". She realizes that a lack of her usual over-planning is exactly what led to the weekend's chaos—from losing it at Ben over an iPad ranking, to floating stiffly at the pool instead of doing a cannonball. It all culminated in a Tuesday afternoon when she canceled her plans, closed the blinds, put on Scarlet's sleep mask, and slept for two hours in the middle of the week. Oh, and Josh came home with a cherry blossom tree because he didn't know what else to do to help. Timestamps: 00:00 Post Father's Day and Already Apologizing 03:14 Swimming Was Not the Plan 06:28 The iPad Incident 09:42 Why I Think It All Went Wrong 12:17 Lack of Control Is My Kryptonite 15:33 The Quarterly Crash Nobody Saw Coming 19:48 Josh Bought a Cherry Blossom Tree 22:06 Permission to Crash Before Summer Starts If you held it all together this school year and you're starting to feel the cracks, share this with a friend who needs permission to close the blinds and sleep—burnout doesn't care how many supplements you're taking. 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

  3. Jun 22

    "We Finally Got It Out of the Group Chat": This One's For the Ladies Who Keep Talking About the Trip and Never Booking It

    Welcome to another episode of Beyond the Bombshell. In this episode, Michelle reflects on the emotional transition of returning to her daily routine after a refreshing girls' trip to Montreal. She describes the struggle of maintaining a "vacation high" while navigating the professional and personal pressures of running a business with her husband. She also emphasizes the importance of intentional self-care, such as morning walks and making choices that spark joy, to prevent feeling deflated by adult responsibilities. Throughout the episode, she highlights the value of female friendships and the shared experiences of "oldest daughter syndrome" among her peers. Ultimately, she encourages her listeners to reclaim their authentic selves and prioritize time away from work and family to recharge. 00:00 Welcome to the Show 00:30 Recording on the Road 01:08 Vacation High Crash 03:47 Recreating Vacation Energy 06:08 Back on the High 07:53 Friends and Busy Seasons 09:53 Trip Out of the Group Chat 11:52 Montreal Highlights and Vibes 13:53 Permission to Just Go 14:49 No Guilt and Feeling Alive 17:26 Solo Mornings and 5:51 18:09 Deep Talks and Oldest Child 20:13 Wrap Up and Next Trip 20:55 Outro and Final Thoughts 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

    21 min

  4. Jun 15

    "Just Show Up and Do the Thing": This One's For the Ladies Who Keep Waiting Until They're Ready

    Michelle records from the parking lot outside physio with Bambi whining in the backseat, coming off a dance recital weekend that cracked something open in her. Two things she can't stop thinking about: Scarlet shining on that stage—not because she was scouted or handpicked, but because two parents asked questions, took a gulp, and said yes—and the realization that she spent almost all of 2025 driving in complete silence, thinking it was self-care when really it was just her shutting down. Scarlet fixed that. Now it's Benson Boone on full blast, five minutes before school, singing at the top of their lungs, and Michelle wondering why it took her this long. This is a candid episode about giving people opportunities before they're ready, showing up before you know what you're walking into, and asking yourself what your life would look like if you just did the thing without overthinking it first. Timestamps: 00:00 Bambi in the Backseat, Supplement Update 03:12 Montreal Girls Trip Is Coming 05:18 Almost All of 2025 in Silence 08:44 Scarlet and Benson Boone Fixed Everything 12:27 Shelly Doesn't Need Alcohol to Come Out 15:33 Watching the Recital and Seeing What Almost Didn't Happen 19:48 What If We Never Asked the Questions? 23:16 Apply That Same Concept to Your Own Life If this hit home, share it with the woman in your life who keeps waiting until she's ready—remind her Scarlet had no idea what she was signing up for either. 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

    26 min

  5. Jun 8

    Kitchen S-E-X and Asking for Help: This One's For the Ladies Who Need Permission to Do Both

    Michelle records from her car at Topsail Beach (it snowed yesterday, it's June, welcome to Newfoundland) and opens with the most candid supplement review you'll ever hear. After getting targeted by Arrae supplements one too many times, she ordered the combo—and let's just say Josh is very happy about it. From there, she gets into the real stuff: surviving the last three weeks of school without losing your mind. Teacher gifts, birthday parties, tryouts, recitals, end-of-year parties she decided not to throw, and a summer childcare plan that came together from one 7 AM SOS in a community Facebook group. This is Michelle giving you full permission to divide, conquer, and ask for help—whether that's your friend Amanda cooking HelloFresh, a neighbor's university-age kid keeping an eye on your kids at the pool, or just letting another mom take on the class gift so you don't have to. Episode Timestamps 00:00 Welcome to the Show 00:30 Beach Recording Chaos 01:22 Targeted Ads Rabbit Hole 05:14 Unfiltered Supplement Review 10:14 June Overwhelm and Parties 12:35 Divide and Conquer Help 15:40 Summer Childcare Game Plan 20:41 Final Pep Talk and Outro 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

    22 min

  6. Jun 1

    "I Said Yes to the Fashion Show": This One's For the Ladies Who Keep Making Excuses to Stay Small

    Michelle records from the parking lot outside her office, coming down from one of the biggest weeks of the year—dance competition, Sold by Stokes brunch, and walking a fashion show runway she almost said no to three times. This is a candid episode about the four buckets she's juggling right now: the spark she felt walking that runway in clothes that actually fit her real body, the quiet worry about her 13-year-old who's home more than she'd like, the trap she's fallen into at work showing up just to show up, and the reminder of why she started all of this in the first place. From the fashion show's invitation sitting unanswered to Josh simply saying, "Why would you say no?"—sometimes it takes one person to call out your excuses for you to finally say yes to yourself. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome to Beyond the Bombshell 00:35 May-cember Madness 01:59 Mom Life Updates 04:06 Post Event Crash 06:31 Fashion Show Yes 06:48 What Bombshell Means 09:00 Shopping Habits 10:11 Facing Runway Fears 14:00 Runway Moment 14:57 Be Your Own Hype Girl 17:41 Back to Reality 17:50 Helping Ben Grow 19:49 Work Purpose Reset 22:47 Juggling All Buckets 24:43 June Pep Talk 25:09 Final Sign Off 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

    26 min

  7. May 25

    Why Do I Always Get Triggered by the Littlest Things?": This One's For the Ladies with a Short Fuse and No Idea Why

    Michelle records from home with sick kids, reflecting on a week where someone shared a Mel Robbins podcast that cracked her brain wide open. After thanking listeners for creating an unofficial safe space (her DMs are full of travel questions, gift recommendations, and "I'm getting divorced"), she shares the Friday morning that changed everything—Josh skipped squash, set his alarm early, and suddenly they're back in sync. Then she unpacks the podcast that explained why she explodes over spilled juice: adverse childhood responses. Your body remembers stress from years ago and reacts the same way now, even if you don't remember the actual trauma. From realizing morning buffering isn't enough to get you through bedtime chaos, to understanding why she's so guarded with Josh (it's not him, it's the unhealthy relationship from high school), to finally connecting why she hates cuddling (those lost years in bed just existing). If you snap at your kids and feel terrible after, or shut down with your partner for reasons you can't explain, this one's the mirror you didn't know you needed. Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome & Raspy Voice Reality 01:21 Why Sharing Podcasts Matters (Thank You, Stranger) 04:57 My DMs Are a Safe Space Now 11:42 Friday Morning: Back in Sync with Josh 14:18 The Mel Robbins Podcast That Changed Everything 16:33 Why You React Like a Lunatic (Childhood Triggers) 19:54 Buffering Isn't Just for Mornings 27:00 Why I'm So Guarded with Josh (It's Not Him) 30:09 I Hate Cuddling, and Now I Know Why 32:40 Share This If Someone Needs to Hear It If you've ever exploded over nothing and felt terrible after, share this with someone who needs to know they're not broken—their body just remembers something they forgot. 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

    35 min

  8. May 18

    "We Don't Need a Different Partner, We Need Different Patterns": This One's For the Couples Who Love Each Other But Forgot How to Be Happy

    Michelle records post-Mother's Day after finally understanding what the day should look like—compromise, not sacrifice. But first, she breaks down the Saturday cry session with Josh that started with "Are you happy?" and ended with the realization that they can love each other and still forget how to make each other excited. From Josh's stoic seriousness draining her sunshine to admitting work has become their drug (the dopamine hits, the money, the problem-solving), to the quote that stopped them both: "We don't need a different partner, we need different patterns." She unpacks why this Mother's Day felt different (spoiler: she had Friday night to herself), why surprising 10 moms with charcuterie is what joy looks like for her, and the conversation about whether they'll ever feel like they've "arrived" or just keep chasing more. If you're caught in the work-kids-partner cycle and can't remember the last time you felt genuinely excited together, this one's your mirror. Episode Timestamps; 00:00 Welcome to the Show 00:30 Post Mother's Day Reality Check 01:37 From Survival Mode to Compromise 03:38 Redefining What Mother's Day Means 06:11 Giving Back to Other Moms 08:38 The Cry and the Breakthrough 11:48 Marriage Talk: Choosing Happiness 16:51 Different Patterns Not Partners 19:07 Work as an Addiction Cycle 22:13 Share What Helps You 24:05 June Pep Talk and Goodbye 24:38 Final Outro and 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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