Elevating Motherhood

Lori Beth Auldridge

All things honest motherhood with host Lori Beth Auldridge. Helping moms find their confidence with resources & fresh perspectives.

  1. APR 26

    193. Getting Off the Struggle Bus: Resilience in Motherhood with Amy Suzanne Upchurch

    Motherhood has a way of stretching you in ways you never planned for—and sometimes, it asks more of you than you ever thought you could give. Today’s conversation is with Amy Suzanne Upchurch, founder and CEO of Pink Stork, a women-owned company supporting moms in every season of their journey. But beyond her work, Amy is a wife and a mother of six whose story includes infertility, severe morning sickness, a life-threatening health scare, military deployments, and now raising her youngest son, Maximilian, who has Down syndrome. This conversation is about resilience—but not in the polished, inspirational way you might expect. It’s about what it actually looks like to walk through hard seasons of motherhood and choose to keep showing up with strength, perspective, andpurpose. I recorded this interview many months ago, but God’s timingwith this one is great. This is the time I truly want to introduce you to Amy Suzanne and her company Pink Stork. She was just in conversations with a major retailer (you can go to her IG @amy.suzanne_ to find out who) who asked her to take the bible verse they have on the side of their package if they wanted to be on their shelves. Amy said no. And I’m so proud of her for that. Here she is...Amy Suzanne Upchurch Find Pink Stork Products Here: https://amzn.to/41WHOgi   Amy’s Links: Website: https://pinkstork.com Instagram: @amy.suzanne_ & @pinkstork   Elevating Motherhood Links: Website: www.elevatingmotherhood.com Instagram:@loribethauldridge @elevatingmotherhood Please Visit Our Sponsors: www.elevatingmotherhood.com/sponsors

    33 min
  2. APR 11

    192. Placenta Encapsulation: What Moms Need to Know (with Samantha Davis)

    At one of my appointments, my OB told me placenta encapsulation wasn't "scientifically proven." Not long after that, I saw her share something on her social media page that felt very...dismissive. And I remember thinking, there has to be more to this conversation. Because I know thoughtful, intentional moms who are considering placenta encapsulation. And there are women who have already made this choice and don't feel silly or naive about it. So today we're opening up a conversation that feels more honest, a little more nuanced...and a lot more respectful. My guest today is Samantha Davis, the CEO of NuHeath Placenta, Inc. NuHealth Placenta, Inc. is a trusted leader in the postpartum wellness space, specializing in safe, professional placenta encapsulation services for new mothers across the U.S. With over 8 years of hands-on experience and more than 30,000 families supported, their mission is to provide education, care, and empowerment during one of life’s most transformative seasons: the fourth trimester.NuHealth's CEO, Samantha Davis, a mother and encapsulation specialist herself, grew NuHealth Placenta out of a deepunderstanding of how under-resourced and overwhelming the postpartum period can be. After experiencing the benefits of placenta encapsulation firsthand, Samantha made it her mission to modernize the process while honoring itstraditional roots.Today, NuHealth serves families both locally through direct pickup services in Southern California & Chicago as well asnationwide with our safe, easy-to-use shipping kits; making holistic postpartum recovery accessible no matter where you birth. Every placenta is processed with industry-leading sanitation standards using CDC-recommended guidelines to ensure the highest safety for both mom and baby.NuHealth is passionate about education, community care, and helping moms feel supported, informed, and empowered after birth. Check them out at: https://www.nuhealthplacenta.com/about-us/ Elevating Motherhood Links: Website: www.elevatingmotherhood.com Instagram: @loribethauldridge @elevatingmotherhood Please Visit Our Sponsors: www.elevatingmotherhood.com/sponsors

    49 min
  3. APR 4

    191. Teach Your Children Well: Restaurant Manners

    If you’re trying to build a family culture where eating out feels peaceful, connected, and screen-free—but aren’t sure how to get there—this episode is for you.   We’re a family of foodies…plus we travel a lot. Based on those two things alone, we end up eating out often. Almost every single time we eat out with our now 12, 10, 9, and 4 year old, we get complimented on the behavior of our children. I’m notsaying that to brag. I’m saying it because it signaled something for me…according to many servers at these restaurants all across the country, our children are not the norm. They don’t often see kids off screens at the table or kids that order for themselves or kids that make eye contact. And that’s a shame. Those 3 things should be the bare minimum expectations that we have for children in restaurants in America. Bare minimum. Even our 4-year-old does these things.   Examples: *Airport in Denver. He couldn’t get over it. * The biscuit shop in Nashville. “How do you do it?”   Have a realistic goal based on their age * The goal is not perfection. A successful dinner out is not a flawless dinner. Food is going to fly. Chairs are going to fall over. Silverware is going to be dropped. Drinks will spill (again and again and again). They are going to want to not be sitting the whole time. It is not going to be peaceful from day one. * And the one time it is peaceful? It does NOT mean you have arrived. This is years of training. (i.e. writing letters correctly) * Our attitude: You are not entitled to a peaceful meal out or even the opportunity to engage in an uninterrupted conversation with your spouse or friend or family member. You are training up your children well. They are part of the dinner and part of the equation.  Start when they are young * Take your babies and toddlers out to eat * This is not a date night, this is a family dinner and you are in a season where you have to teach your kids about restaurant manners and this lesson will take years of training and patience. * Kids mirror your behavior. If you are anxious, they will be anxious. If you keep getting up, they will keep getting up. * Give grace. Offer napkins and a sympathetic smile to other families. We can create a supportive culture. How to keep them “occupied” * Don’t make “entertainment” the goal. Your child does not need to be entertained. By all means, bring a restaurant activity bag with simple things like stickers and a notepad, but only bring it out as a secondary need. If the wheels start falling off, that’s when the bag comes out. * Tic tac toe is your new favorite game. So is would you rather. And I spy. * Keep them engaged. Here is a menu. We need to look at the menu first. We need to decide what we want to have to drink. Sportscast the meal for them. * Don’t drink alcohol while you’re out with your children and teaching them. Your wheels start to fall off. Lessons get blurred and unclear. Kids mirror us and it creates confusion.    Set up clear expectations... READ THE FULL SHOW NOTES AT: www.elevatingmotherhood.com This is actually all REALLY FUN. Dining out is FUN, not a pressure cooker experience. This isn’t a rigid activity with a set menu and harsh participants. Compassion as a first response   “Is it good to be me with you right now?”   I think the thing that people are noticing is that we are having a pleasant, present time together. We’ve got a groove that doesn’t include screens and our kids are participating in the meal. They’re not in the way or bystanders.   Be patient Be present Be logical Hold the space Hold realistic expectations Set your family up for success Remember the long game Be a unified front in this experience. It’s about helping our kids feel confident in everyday situations. And remember…our kids mirrorus. So when we’re confident, they are confident.    Please Visit Our Sponsors: www.elevatingmotherhood.com/sponsors

    54 min
  4. MAR 28

    189. What God Says About You with Hosanna Wong | Identity in Christ for Kids

    If you don’t tell your children who they are… the world will. Every day, our kids are absorbing messages about their worth, their identity, their value. And if we’re not intentional, those voices can get louder than the truth. Today on Elevating Motherhood, I’m joined by HosannaWong — international speaker, spoken word artist widely known for piece “I Have A New Name,” and bestselling author of How (Not) to Save the World , Uncomplicate It, and You Are More Than You’ve Been Told. We’re talking about her very first children’s book, What God Says About You, and how to teach our kids that their identity is rooted firmly in Christ. In this conversation, Hosanna shares why no one gets to define your child except the One who made them — and how we can equip our kids to know, deep in their bones, that they are loved and chosen. If you’ve ever wondered how to speak identity over your children in a way that sticks…If you want your kids to grow up grounded, secure, and confident in who God says they are… This episode is for you. Buy Hosanna’s Children’s Book Here: https://amzn.to/4r79ol9 Buy Uncomplicate It Here: https://amzn.to/3P7oXM2   Elevating Motherhood Links: Website: www.elevatingmotherhood.com Instagram: @loribethauldridge @elevatingmotherhood Please Visit Our Sponsors: www.elevatingmotherhood.com/sponsors   Hosanna’s Links: Website: https://www.hosannawong.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hosanna.wong TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hosannawongofficial Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialhosannawong YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeCZaE0vSMGzVRjcBrDWLlA

    43 min
  5. MAR 14

    188. Choosing a Dry House: Sobriety & Parenting with Chris Janssen

    Get Chris’s Book Here: https://amzn.to/4skTgxs What if the most counter-cultural decision you make as a parent… has nothing to do with screen time or schooling and everything to do with alcohol? Today’s conversation is honest. It’s tender. And it’s needed. I’m joined by Chris Janssen to talk about her USA Today bestselling book, Grace Yourself...and about something many families quietly navigate but rarely discuss: hidden or silent struggles with alcohol. Chris shares her own story of recognizing alcohol’s hold on her life, attending her first support meeting, and coming to two powerful realizations — it wasn’t her fault, and she wasn’t alone. We talk about sobriety after relapse, the courage to create a dry house, recovering from perfectionism, and what it really means to show up for the sober life you want — not from a place of shame, but from grace. If you’ve ever wondered whether your relationship with alcohol is serving you… If you have an alcohol issue in your home or extended family…If you’re parenting in a culture where drinking is normalized…Or if you simply want to live more freely and intentionally… This episode is for you.   Chris’s Bio: Chris Janssen, MA, BCC, is the author of Grace Yourself: How to Show Up for the Sober Life You Want and a leading results coach in performance and mindset. She has worked with hundreds of sought-after athletes, creatives, soldiers, entrepreneurs, and small businesses internationally, helping them to close the gap between where they are and where they want to be. In addition to her academic achievements, Chris trained with and worked on Tony Robbins’ team of results coaches at the #1 personal development and peak performance strategy company in the world.As a board-certified coach with a master’s in counseling psychology and over 25 years of experience, Chris excels in helping high-achieving perfectionists navigate performance pressure, overcome self-sabotage and rewrite narratives. Through her successful and sustainable Living All In methods, clients learn to attach meaning to life events and circumstances beyond their control.A California native, Chris and her husband, Scott have been married for nearly 30 years. Together, they raised threechildren, now thriving young adults. Chris and Scott live in Los Angeles and love to ski, golf, be with their horses and adventure outside.   Elevating Motherhood Links: Website: www.elevatingmotherhood.com Instagram: @loribethauldridge @elevatingmotherhood Please Visit Our Sponsors: www.elevatingmotherhood.com/sponsors   Chris’s Links: Website: https://www.chrisjanssencoaching.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chrisjanssencoaching/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chris3janssen

    1h 30m
  6. MAR 7

    187. The Lost Art of Letter Writing | Amy Daughters

    When was the last time you received a handwritten letter? Not a text. Not an email. Not a quick DM. An actual letter. Written by hand. Just for you. There is something almost rebellious about that kind of connection now — slow, intentional, non-intrusive… and requiring just enough effort to mean something. Today on Elevating Motherhood, I’m joined by Amy Daughters — keynote speaker, sports journalist, satirist, and the award-winning author of Dear Dana: That Time I Went Crazy and Wrote All 580 of My Facebook Friends a Handwritten Letter and You Cannot Mess This Up: A True Story That Never Happened. Amy once wrote 580 handwritten letters to her Facebook friends. Yes — 580. And what she discovered in the process will make you rethink the power of pen and paper. In this conversation, we talk about the lost art of letter writing, what happens inside us when we take the time to write byhand, and why meaningful, sacrificial connection between two human beings is more powerful than we realize. If you’ve ever felt disconnected in a hyper-connected world…If you’ve ever wanted to reach out but didn’t know how…Or if you’ve forgotten just how impactful a simple letter can be ...this episode will stay with you.   Amy’s Bio: Amy Weinland Daughters is a keynote speaker, letter writer, satirist, sports journalist, and the award-winning author of two books: Dear Dana: That time I went crazy and wrote all 580 of my Facebook friends a handwritten letter and You Cannot Mess This Up: A true story that never happened. She is absolutely convinced that when human beings connect individually in a meaningful way that nothing can separatethem.     Elevating Motherhood Links: Website:www.elevatingmotherhood.com Instagram:@loribethauldridge @elevatingmotherhood Please Visit Our Sponsors: www.elevatingmotherhood.com/sponsors     Amy’s Links: Website: www.amydaughters.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amyweinlanddaughtersauthor Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smokinhotamys/ Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-w-daughters-16352a227/

    45 min
  7. FEB 28

    186. How to Love Your Morning with Jennifer Dukes Lee | Faith-Filled Morning Routines for Moms

    Bestselling author Jennifer Dukes Lee joins me to talk about her new book How to Love Your Morning and how to create a faith-filled morning routine that actually works for real-life moms. If you long to wake up with hope, purpose, and rhythms rooted in God’s mercies, this conversation will change the way you start your day. Have you ever noticed how your entire day can beshaped before your feet even hit the floor? Mornings can feel rushed, chaotic, and chore heavy— especially in a full season of motherhood. But what if the first moments of your day could actually become your anchor instead of your stress point? Today on Elevating Motherhood, I’m joined for a second time by bestselling author, speaker, and self-proclaimed “morning evangelist,” Jennifer Dukes Lee. Jennifer is the author ofseveral incredible books, including Growing Slow and It's AllUnder Control. Jennifer lives on a fifth-generation family farm in Iowa where she and her husband are raising crops, pigs, two beautiful humans, and an enduring faith. We’re talking about her brand-new book, How to Love Your Morning— and I’ll just tell you right now, it has completelychanged the way I start my day. It is officially my favorite read of 2026 so far. In this conversation, we explore how to build a life you love one morning at a time — how to wake up with hope instead ofheaviness, how to discover your unique “morning archetype,” and how to create simple, personalized rhythms that actually fit your real life. This book is not a one size fits all type of book. Jennifer studied every single morning mentioned in Scripture — over 200 mentions—and what she found might surpriseyou. If you’ve ever longed to believe that God’s mercies really are new every morning — but you’re not quite sure how to live that out — this episode is for you.   Jennifer’s Bio: Jennifer Dukes Lee is a bestselling author, speaker, and morning evangelist from Iowa. She is the author of several books, including How to Love Your Morning, Growing Slow, and It’s All Under Control. She’s a fan of queso, bright lipstick, and singing too loudly to songs with great harmony. She lives on a fifth-generation family farm, where she and her husband have made a life of growing crops, pigs, two beautiful humans, and an enduring faith.   Buy Jennifer’s Book Here: https://amzn.to/4cRjyCJ Elevating Motherhood Links: Website: www.elevatingmotherhood.com Instagram: @loribethauldridge@elevatingmotherhood Please Visit Our Sponsors: www.elevatingmotherhood.com/sponsors   Jennifer’s Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferDukesLee Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferdukeslee/

    51 min
4.8
out of 5
52 Ratings

About

All things honest motherhood with host Lori Beth Auldridge. Helping moms find their confidence with resources & fresh perspectives.

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