The Boss Mom Podcast Dana Malstaff

Being a mom is hard, and sometimes it feels like nobody understands. We see perfect moms in books and movies, but real life isn't like that. This makes moms feel even more stressed and lonely. We try to do everything and be perfect, but it’s exhausting. It’s easy to feel like we’re not good enough.

Real-life moms are not perfect, and that's okay. We need to support each other and find help when we need it. We need to remember that every mom is doing her best.

Books and real-life experiences help us understand what being a mom is all about. In real life, we learn from our own moms and the people around us. What role do books play in helping moms feel seen and understood in their struggles?

In this episode, I talk with Carrie Mullins, a mom and writer who wrote a book called The Book of Mothers: How Literature Can Help Us Reinvent Modern Motherhood. We discuss timeless tales, what they mean for real moms today, and how we can be kinder to ourselves and find support from others.


It's not just that moms get mad, but good moms get mad too. The recent adaptation of Little Women surprised people with a good mom getting angry, showing we haven't really made that connection yet. -Carrie Mullins
3 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode
-Books Shape Ideas
Stories in books help shape how we see moms. These ideas can stick with us for a long time. What lessons about motherhood can we learn from our favorite books?
-Finding the Balance
Moms often feel torn between what they think they should be and what they really are. How can moms find a balance between their own expectations and reality?
-Support is Key
Understanding how tough being a mom can be helps us support each other better. What are some ways we can offer more support to the moms in our lives?


Guest Bio

Carrie Mullins is a writer and mother of two whose work has appeared in publications such as Parents, Food and Wine, Scary Mommy, and Lit Hub. She is the author of The Book of Mothers: How Literature Can Help Us Reinvent Modern Motherhood, an exploration of fifteen classic novels and how they have shaped our cultural understanding of motherhood. She is always on the lookout for nuanced, inclusive, and realistic conversations around parenting--and a good book. Go to https://www.carriemullins.com/the-book-of-mothers.html for more information. 
 

A lot of marketing strategies today feel cold and don't work well. This makes it hard for busy moms to connect with their audience while taking care of their families. What if there’s a way to market that not only helps you build real relationships but also helps your business grow?

Many traditional marketing methods leave moms feeling tired and disconnected, making it tough to manage both work and family. How can you create a business that really connects with people and lasts a long time?

In this episode, I'm interviewed by Krista Lockwood and we talk all about how important it is to build relationships and create a community-focused business.

"Nurture marketing is the idea of cultivating a relationship over time with people you don't know." - Dana Malstaff
 

3 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode
 
-Nurture Messaging
Build relationships by making your audience feel noticed and important. What can your business gain from taking care of your audience?
-Results Messaging
To build trust, show your results and prove you're good at what you do. What can you do to increase the trust of your audience?
-Conversion Messaging
Get people to take action by solving their problems. How can learning to do this well help you sell more and get more people interested?
 

Life is cyclical and seasonal, but adapting to these cycles can lead to a more balanced and fulfilling life.

Many moms put a lot of energy into trying to maintain control, only to end up overwhelmed and out of sync. The truth is, being in control shouldn’t be our ultimate goal. Embracing the ebbs and flows of life should.

We all deal with life's complexities and a rollercoaster of emotions. Striving for constant control can be exhausting. What does it mean to truly let go and embrace life as it comes?

In this episode, I talk about dealing with life's chaotic moments and managing the challenges of being a mom and an entrepreneur.


“Every single human being has an ebb and flow with times in their lives that are slow, calm, and peaceful, and then sometimes people get antsy.”  -Dana Malstaff


3 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode
-Embracing the Ebb and Flow
Life has its ups and downs. How can you come to terms with not always feeling in control and find peace in the chaos?
-Dealing with Overwhelm
When juggling multiple responsibilities, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. What strategies can you use to manage the feeling of being out of control?
-Redefining Success
Success isn't about always feeling in control. How can you learn to accept the ebb and flow as a normal part of life and business?
 

Summer is fun but let’s be real, it can also turn our usual routines upside down—especially for us Boss Moms balancing our businesses with family life.

It’s super important to understand that our lives change with the seasons. There are ways to keep your business moving forward during the summer, all while making sure you still have loads of family time.

How can we, as moms, plan our work around these ups and downs?

In today’s episode, I share my take on seasonal shifts, my own stories, and tips on how to make the most of them.
”I have to be serious about what I can and can't do during the summer and I have to plan ahead for it.” -Dana Malstaff

3 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode
-Rolling with the seasons
Seasons affect our mood and schedule. What can you do to keep up with business when life gets busy or slows down with the kids?
 -Getting ready for summer
Summer is fun but can throw your routine for a loop. What are some easy ways to plan ahead and get your business ready for the chaos of summer?
 -Keeping things moving
Life doesn’t pause just because it’s summer. How can you tweak your work tasks so they fit better with your summer lifestyle?
 

While many people think being online all the time is the best way to grow your business, there’s a reason why the old-school way of meeting people face-to-face can be even better.

Moms can use networking to make strong connections that really help their business, without making life more stressful.

Even with your busy schedule, where can you find the right people to support your goals? Does networking really lead to more meaningful business growth?

In today’s episode, I talk about why meeting people and making friends can help moms grow their businesses better than just using social media.


Networking is about connecting with a series of people who would be a good fit for some aspect of YOU in your life or your business. -Dana Malstaff 

3 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode
 
-The real value of networking
What makes networking so effective at providing more support and growth opportunities compared to just being on social media?
 
-Making networking work for you
Without feeling overwhelmed, how can you network effectively?
 
-The strategic approach to networking
Make friends who really get what you're about and help your business grow. What are some easy ways to connect with the right people?
 

Since 2015, we have built our Facebook group into a thriving 75k member community. This year, I decided to shut it down.
 
Walking away from something that’s “doing well” is scary, but if it’s not lighting us up, it’s the right thing to do.
 
The Facebook group was working - even growing, but the truth is: I had started to resent it. I didn’t fall out of love with building community. I fell out of love with doing it on someone else’s terms.
 
So, the BossMom+ app was born! We aren’t just building a village, we’re building a city where moms can grow their businesses without social media.
 
When did I know it was time to walk away from Facebook? Why did I choose to build something totally different? In this episode, I share why we left our Facebook group and what we’re doing instead. 
 
We need to feel empowered to make changes and not worry about what people think, because there’s no way to make everyone happy. -Dana Malstaff

 
3 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode
 
-Community without social media
Building community is what I love and what I’m known for. Why did I decide to shut down a Facebook group that was doing well
 
-You can’t make everyone happy
Not everyone will like the changes we make to our businesses. How do we handle the resistance and pushback? How will the right people react?
 
-Go all in on what lights you up
How did going to the movies turn into the defining moment that made me decide to close down the Boss Mom Facebook group?