Sass & Small TALK

Deb Balino
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Parenting

Deb Balino, of Sass & Smalls (www.sassandsmalls.com) brings on her "extra', infectious energy, and hard-to-miss enthusiasm to host Sass & Small Talk - my little corner of the web, to talk about "allllll the things" mommyhood, womanhood, and simply getting ones' sass back. From finding ways to integrate a creative, entrepreneurial spirit with family life, to friendships, to the chaotic and wonderful world of kids. The mess, the clean ups, the ups, the downs, chasing the kids while chasing the dream. Join me, as I continue to find perfection in the imperfection of family life while keeping things as sassy as they've always been, before the drool, meltdowns, and potty mishaps came into the picture. I'm always looking for a way to fight through the funk of mamahood, and find my SASS, and I know I'm not alone. If you're DONE with the hot MESS, and ready to cook up some hot NESS... Mama - I gotchu. Grab your poison, throw on your comfy and let's talk. Darling - I need my sass back.... The question is - Do you?

  1. 15h ago

    Sass on Location Mini: Jennifer Dunnett | Babes in Biz

    Send us Fan Mail Meet Jennifer Dunnett — lifelong Langford resident, mom of four, public servant and someone who decided it was time to put herself out there. For the first episode of Sass on Location: Babes in Biz, I sat down with Jennifer to talk about the woman behind the work. Jennifer has lived in Langford for 35 years and has spent more than a decade working in the provincial government, including time at the John Horgan MLA office helping residents access government services and support in their community. Now she's taking another big step: running for Langford City Council. But our conversation isn't about a campaign platform. It's about what it takes to put yourself out there. We talk about motherhood, working full-time while raising a family, finding balance, learning to get more comfortable in your own skin, handling criticism, and the resilience it takes to keep moving forward when life throws difficult things your way. Jennifer also shares why she wants her daughters to see their mom step outside her comfort zone — and why she hopes they'll grow up knowing they can do the same. And, of course, we had to finish with a little Spill the Sass. ☕️💗 Coffee or tea? Morning person or night owl? What's she saying NO to? And what era is Jennifer in right now? Spoiler: she's protecting her peace. ✨ Welcome to Sass on Location — conversations with women in our community about the people behind the work, the stories behind the businesses, and the courage it takes to put yourself out there. 📍 Babes in Biz | Langford, BC 🎙️ Hosted by Deb Balino | Sass & Small Talk Jennifer Dunnett is a candidate for Langford City Council. This interview is a conversation with a local community member and is not an endorsement of any candidate or political position. "I NEED MY SASS BACK"  Music Video  YouTube Spotify Apple Music  IG - @sassandsmalls (Main)        @sassandsmalltalkpodcast FB/TIKTOK/WEBSITE SUBSCRIBE YOUTUBE Listen HERE Requests HERE RATINGS If you're a parent/caregiver carrying an invisible load & like what you hear? Please share and rate us 5 Stars   BYE BYE BURNOUT MY GO-TO for Cortisol-balancing, Gut-healing, Stress Resillience:  "HAPPY" DRINK $10 OFF

    Sass on Location Mini: Jennifer Dunnett | Babes in Biz

  2. Oct 1

    The Invisible Load of: BREAKING GENERATIONAL CYCLES

    Send us Fan Mail What if the things we inherit don't have to be the things we pass on? In this deeply moving conversation, I sit down with Nicole “Nikky E” Ermineskin, a Nêhiyaw (Cree) Métis single mom, performing artist, entrepreneur, community builder, and youth mentor. Nikky's story is one of family separation, addiction, racism, intergenerational trauma, ADHD, motherhood, healing—and ultimately, finding her voice. Raised by her grandparents, Nikky grew up surrounded by love, music, and the arts while also carrying the complicated realities of her family history and the ongoing impacts of systemic racism and residential schools. Her ADHD diagnosis became a turning point, helping her understand herself and her creativity in a completely different way. She went on to use music, dance, filmmaking, and mentorship to help young people find their own voices and create new possibilities for themselves. We talk about breaking generational cycles, parenting, identity, culture, forgiveness, creativity, community, and what it means to turn lived experience into something that can help the next generation. Sometimes healing isn't about forgetting what happened. It's about deciding what happens next. We chose healing. Real parents. Real stories. Because it takes a village to raise a child — and a community to raise their parent. "I NEED MY SASS BACK"  Music Video  YouTube Spotify Apple Music  IG - @sassandsmalls (Main)        @sassandsmalltalkpodcast FB/TIKTOK/WEBSITE SUBSCRIBE YOUTUBE Listen HERE Requests HERE RATINGS If you're a parent/caregiver carrying an invisible load & like what you hear? Please share and rate us 5 Stars   BYE BYE BURNOUT MY GO-TO for Cortisol-balancing, Gut-healing, Stress Resillience:  "HAPPY" DRINK $10 OFF

    The Invisible Load of: BREAKING GENERATIONAL CYCLES

  3. Sep 2

    The Invisible Load of: FIGHTING FOR THE FAMILY YOU DREAMED OF WHILE CHASING YOUR DREAMS

    Send us Fan Mail What happens after you've fought so hard to become a parent? WATCH VIDEO EPISODE ON YOUTUBE In the Season 2 finale of Sass & Small Talk, I reconnect with my childhood friend Giuseppe “Joe” Spoletini for a heartfelt, hilarious, and full-circle conversation about family, identity, creativity, and the unexpected roads that lead us to parenthood. Giuseppe and I grew up walking to school together, performing in musical theatre, competing in music festivals, and even ballroom dancing together. Years later, we've both carried our love of the arts into adulthood while building the families we worked so hard to have. Our paths to parenthood looked very different - mine through infertility, loss, and egg donation, and his through adoption with his husband - but we discovered that many of the feelings along the way were surprisingly familiar: uncertainty, fear, sacrifice, hope, and deep gratitude. We talk about growing up with immigrant parents, pursuing creative passions, redefining success, and what happens when becoming the parent you've dreamed of being is only the beginning. Because two things can be true: you can be deeply grateful for the family you fought for—and still find parenting incredibly hard. Real parents. Real stories. Because it takes a village to raise a child — and a community to raise their parent. Let's Talk :: GIUSEPPE SPOLETINI IG - https://www.instagram.com/spoletinigiuseppe/ FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/giuseppe.spoletini.5 "I NEED MY SASS BACK"  Music Video  YouTube Spotify Apple Music  IG - @sassandsmalls (Main)        @sassandsmalltalkpodcast FB/TIKTOK/WEBSITE SUBSCRIBE YOUTUBE Listen HERE Requests HERE RATINGS If you're a parent/caregiver carrying an invisible load & like what you hear? Please share and rate us 5 Stars   BYE BYE BURNOUT MY GO-TO for Cortisol-balancing, Gut-healing, Stress Resillience:  "HAPPY" DRINK $10 OFF

    The Invisible Load of: FIGHTING FOR THE FAMILY YOU DREAMED OF WHILE CHASING YOUR DREAMS

  4. Jul 28

    The Invisible Load of: MODERN MOTHERHOOD & REDEFINING SUCCESS WITHOUT LOSING YOURSELF

    Send us Fan Mail What does success look like in this season of motherhood? WATCH VIDEO EPISODE ON YOUTUBE Deb sits down with Victoria photographer Nina Sinclair for an honest conversation about entrepreneurship, ADHD, burnout, creativity, and the invisible load of modern motherhood. Together they explore what it means to pursue meaningful work while staying deeply connected to family, why asking for help is a strength rather than a weakness, and how letting go of perfection creates more room for presence. From building a trusted team and relying on her village to protecting her family's privacy while growing a successful business, Nina shares how she's learned to embrace this season with intention, authenticity, and grace. A thoughtful conversation about redefining success, choosing presence over perfection, and creating a life that's aligned with what matters most. Real parents. Real stories. Because it takes a village to raise a child — and a community to raise their parent. Let's Talk :: NINA SINCLAIR, Of Ocean and Earth Photography IG - https://www.instagram.com/of.ocean.and.earth.photo/ (Main)        https://www.instagram.com/the.laneway.studio/ FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/la.lilly.ann.photo "I NEED MY SASS BACK"  Music Video  YouTube Spotify Apple Music  IG - @sassandsmalls (Main)        @sassandsmalltalkpodcast FB/TIKTOK/WEBSITE SUBSCRIBE YOUTUBE Listen HERE Requests HERE RATINGS If you're a parent/caregiver carrying an invisible load & like what you hear? Please share and rate us 5 Stars   BYE BYE BURNOUT MY GO-TO for Cortisol-balancing, Gut-healing, Stress Resillience:  "HAPPY" DRINK $10 OFF

    The Invisible Load of: MODERN MOTHERHOOD & REDEFINING SUCCESS WITHOUT LOSING YOURSELF

  5. Jul 2

    The Invisible Load of: PARENTING PROFOUND NEEDS & MULTIPLES AS A FULL TIME HOMEMAKER

    Send us Fan Mail When life doesn't look the way you once planned, how do you decide what matters most? What does success look like when your priorities change? WATCH VIDEO EPISODE ON YOUTUBE. Deb sits down with Rowena Brykin to discuss her family's move from Abu Dhabi to Canada, her decision to leave a successful career to become a homemaker, and the realities of raising four boys, including triplets, two of whom are autistic - one profoundly so. Together they explore caregiving, marriage, identity, and the invisible load many parents carry while creating a life that better supports their family's needs. A powerful conversation about redefining success, choosing peace, and discovering that sometimes the greatest act of love is simply being present. Real parents. Real stories. Because it takes a village to raise a child — and a community to raise their parent. WATCH THIS EPISODE on YOUTUBE HERE The Guest: ROWENA BRYKIN IG - @mama_brykin  (Main)        @mama_uniquorns TIKTOK - @victoriagood.ca "I NEED MY SASS BACK"  Music Video  YouTube Spotify Apple Music  IG - @sassandsmalls (Main)        @sassandsmalltalkpodcast FB/TIKTOK/WEBSITE SUBSCRIBE YOUTUBE Listen HERE Requests HERE RATINGS If you're a parent/caregiver carrying an invisible load & like what you hear? Please share and rate us 5 Stars   BYE BYE BURNOUT MY GO-TO for Cortisol-balancing, Gut-healing, Stress Resillience:  "HAPPY" DRINK $10 OFF

    The Invisible Load of: PARENTING PROFOUND NEEDS & MULTIPLES AS A FULL TIME HOMEMAKER

  6. Jun 26

    The Invisible Load of: PARENTING IN A BLENDED FAMILY

    Send us Fan Mail Blending a family is about much more than combining households—it's about building trust, creating stability, and learning to carry life's invisible load together. Deb sits down with Carly for an honest conversation about what has helped her blended family flourish. From partnership and communication to clearly defined roles and mutual support, they explore how putting the relationship first can create a stronger foundation for the entire family. A thoughtful conversation about intentional parenting, teamwork, and redefining what family can look like. Added to that, healthy boundaries, faith, letting go of shame, and dancing around in the kitchen, to help ease some of that Invisible load. Real parents. Real stories. Because it takes a village to raise a child — and a community to raise their parent. WATCH THIS EPISODE on YOUTUBE HERE "I NEED MY SASS BACK"  Music Video  YouTube Spotify Apple Music  IG - @sassandsmalls (Main)        @sassandsmalltalkpodcast FB/TIKTOK/WEBSITE SUBSCRIBE YOUTUBE Listen HERE Requests HERE RATINGS If you're a parent/caregiver carrying an invisible load & like what you hear? Please share and rate us 5 Stars   BYE BYE BURNOUT MY GO-TO for Cortisol-balancing, Gut-healing, Stress Resillience:  "HAPPY" DRINK $10 OFF

    The Invisible Load of: PARENTING IN A BLENDED FAMILY

  7. Jun 26

    The Invisible Load of: PARENTING AFTER THE RAINBOW BABY (Introducing Our Egg Donor After Losing 10 Pregnancies)

    Send us Fan Mail What happens after the rainbow baby arrives? Deb sits down with her friend and egg donor, Jenn, for an honest conversation about infertility, pregnancy loss, parenting after grief, neurodivergence, and the pressure many parents feel to be grateful while still struggling with the realities of everyday parenting. A powerful conversation about chosen family, resilience, and the invisible load that remains even after long-awaited dreams come true. Real parents. Real stories. Because it takes a village to raise a child — and a community to raise their parent. WATCH THIS EPISODE on YOUTUBE HERE "I NEED MY SASS BACK"  Music Video  YouTube Spotify Apple Music  IG - @sassandsmalls (Main)        @sassandsmalltalkpodcast FB/TIKTOK/WEBSITE SUBSCRIBE YOUTUBE Listen HERE Requests HERE RATINGS If you're a parent/caregiver carrying an invisible load & like what you hear? Please share and rate us 5 Stars   BYE BYE BURNOUT MY GO-TO for Cortisol-balancing, Gut-healing, Stress Resillience:  "HAPPY" DRINK $10 OFF

    The Invisible Load of: PARENTING AFTER THE RAINBOW BABY (Introducing Our Egg Donor After Losing 10 Pregnancies)

  8. 08/04/2025

    Let's Talk :: FROM BURNOUT TO BODY CONFIDENCE: FITNESS, BEAUTY & MENTAL WELLNESS | Emily Bowman, TELUS Storyhive

    Send us Fan Mail 🎙️ Welcome to Sass & Small Talk: Reclaiming the Joy of Parenthood Beyond Burnout — Season 3, originally created with support from TELUS StoryHive "I’ll start Monday." Ever said that? Or:  "Once the kids are older… once things calm down… once I have time." We’ve all been there. In Episode 2 of Sass & Small Talk: Reclaiming the Joy of Parenthood Beyond Burnout, I sit down with health coach and mama, Emily Bowman to talk about something a lot of us don’t say out loud: 💥 The shame of being “busy” but still sedentary. 💥 The pressure to bounce back, shrink down, or “get healthy” according to society’s lens. 💥 The grief of losing our old bodies—and the quiet power of learning to love our current ones. This one’s not about diet hacks or hitting the gym at 5am.  It’s about releasing pressure, embracing what our bodies have carried us through, and redefining health our way. Join Deb and Certified Fitness Coach, Emily Bowman of Nevaeh Jade Beauty and Wellness, as they explore personal wellness beyond societal norms. Emily shares her emotional, often isolating, journey from young caregiver to corporate burnout, igniting a passion for fitness and beauty as a wellness advocate in Victoria, BC. Tune in to discover ways of cultivating a healthy mindset, while enjoying Deb’s humorous attempts to master proper squat form as a way to fit movement into her chaotic schedule. ✨You’re not behind. You’re evolving. Catch more laughter, squats, Yoga-envy 🧘🏻‍♀️, words of wisdom, and a tear or two… 🎙️NOW STREAMING on a 📺 near you. @Telus OptikTV (search “Storyhive Sass” on Demand), Ch. 9, Stream+ app, ‪@storyhive‬ . 💬 Watch the full season on this YOUTUBE playlist here. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on burnout, motherhood, identity, healing, and everything in between. Let's Talk :: EMILY BOWMAN • Instagram - @nevaehjade.beautywellness "I NEED MY SASS BACK"  Music Video  YouTube Spotify Apple Music  IG - @sassandsmalls (Main)        @sassandsmalltalkpodcast FB/TIKTOK/WEBSITE SUBSCRIBE YOUTUBE Listen HERE Requests HERE RATINGS If you're a parent/caregiver carrying an invisible load & like what you hear? Please share and rate us 5 Stars   BYE BYE BURNOUT MY GO-TO for Cortisol-balancing, Gut-healing, Stress Resillience:  "HAPPY" DRINK $10 OFF

    Let's Talk :: FROM BURNOUT TO BODY CONFIDENCE: FITNESS, BEAUTY & MENTAL WELLNESS | Emily Bowman, TELUS Storyhive
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Deb Balino, of Sass & Smalls (www.sassandsmalls.com) brings on her "extra', infectious energy, and hard-to-miss enthusiasm to host Sass & Small Talk - my little corner of the web, to talk about "allllll the things" mommyhood, womanhood, and simply getting ones' sass back. From finding ways to integrate a creative, entrepreneurial spirit with family life, to friendships, to the chaotic and wonderful world of kids. The mess, the clean ups, the ups, the downs, chasing the kids while chasing the dream. Join me, as I continue to find perfection in the imperfection of family life while keeping things as sassy as they've always been, before the drool, meltdowns, and potty mishaps came into the picture. I'm always looking for a way to fight through the funk of mamahood, and find my SASS, and I know I'm not alone. If you're DONE with the hot MESS, and ready to cook up some hot NESS... Mama - I gotchu. Grab your poison, throw on your comfy and let's talk. Darling - I need my sass back.... The question is - Do you?

Information

  • Creator
    Deb Balino
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Sass & Small TALK
  • Show Website
    Sass & Small TALK