Her Village

Jacqueline Baird
  • 5.0 (79)
  • Personal Journals
  • Updated Weekly

Her Village Podcast This is the space where real women have real conversations — the ones we don’t always say out loud, but all feel in some way. Hosted by Jacqueline Baird, this podcast goes beyond surface-level talk and into the stories, struggles, and moments that shape us — in motherhood, relationships, identity, and everything in between. Through a mix of personal reflections and honest conversations with other women, each episode is designed to leave you feeling seen, understood, and a little less alone… while also giving you new perspective, insight, and the kind of validation you didn’t know you needed. Because you’re not the only one thinking it.And you don’t have to figure it out on your own. Welcome to Her Village. Connect with Her Village: Instagram: @motherhood_intended Join the email list: hervillage.kit.com/naperville

  1. 19h ago

    EP 145. The Invisible Work of Friendship: Why Connection Takes Effort

    Who makes the plans? Who sends the texts, organizes the get-togethers, and keeps everyone connected? And what happens when that effort starts to feel one-sided? In this solo episode, Jacqueline explores the invisible work of maintaining friendships, family relationships, and meaningful connections—and why showing up for each other matters more than we sometimes realize. From being the planner in some relationships to happily accepting invitations in others, Jacqueline shares her own experiences with the mental load of connection, the desire to feel thought of, and the friendships that quietly fade when the effort stops being reciprocated. She also reflects on what building Her Village has taught her about adult friendships: creating opportunities to connect is only the beginning. Genuine relationships grow when we make the effort to show up, say yes, reach out, and keep coming back. In this episode: The invisible work of being the planner and social calendar keeperWhy we play different roles in different relationshipsThe difference between making plans and wanting to feel chosenWhy some friendships fade without a falling-outThe importance of saying yes and making room for connectionHow showing up consistently can turn acquaintances into genuine friendshipsA little challenge this week: Think of someone you've been meaning to connect with—and be the one to reach out. Sometimes one simple invitation can mean more than we realize. 🌻 Find your village: If you're in the Naperville area, learn more about Her Village gatherings, experiences, and membership at https://hervillage.kit.com/naperville. Let's keep the conversation going! I'd love to hear your thoughts on friendship, making plans, and showing up for each other. Support the show __________________________________________________________________________________ Her Village is more than a podcast—it’s a space for real connection, honest conversations, and meaningful friendships in the places we live. If you want to go deeper and stay connected beyond the podcast, you can join us here: https://hervillage.kit.com/products/founding-membership 💛 __________________________________________________________________________________

  2. Oct 15

    EP 144. When Life Changes You: Grief, Healing & Finding Joy Again with Stacie Shifflett

    What happens when the life you've worked so hard to build no longer feels like the life you want? Or when life changes in ways you never could have imagined? Sometimes it's a quiet realization that something doesn't feel right anymore. Other times, it's an unexpected loss or major life transition that changes you forever. In this episode of the Her Village Podcast, I'm joined by Stacie Shifflett, founder of Modern Consciousness and author of Treasure Map to Joy, for an honest conversation about identity, grief, healing, and learning to live more intentionally through life's changing seasons. What begins as a conversation about recognizing when we've outgrown certain expectations takes a deeply personal turn as Stacie shares the loss of her infant son and I reflect on my own experiences with pregnancy loss and grief. Together, we explore what it means to keep moving forward while still honoring what we've lost, why healing isn't necessarily a linear process, and how joy and grief can exist alongside one another. In this episode, we talk about: Why achieving the life you thought you wanted doesn't always bring the fulfillment you expectedRecognizing when you're living on autopilot instead of making intentional choicesHow grief and loss can reshape our identities and perspectivesWhy moving forward doesn't mean leaving grief behindThe idea that grief and joy can coexist, and healing can happen in layersHow small changes in our relationships, habits, and mindsets can create meaningful shiftsWhy it's okay for our priorities, purpose, and sense of self to evolveWhether you're grieving a loss, navigating a major transition, or simply questioning what you want from this season of life, this conversation is a reminder that you don't need to have everything figured out. You're allowed to change. You're allowed to keep growing. And you can make space for joy while still honoring everything that has shaped you. Connect with Stacie: Website: https://modernconsciousness.com Book: Treasure Map to Joy — Available on Amazon Free Resource: Navigating Your Emotional Triggers workbook, available on Stacie's website. Find your village! 🌻 Her Village is a community helping women connect more deeply with themselves, each other, and their local community through meaningful gatherings and curated experiences. Our Founding Memberships are officially open in Naperville! Join us for connection, new experiences, exclusive local business perks, and opportunities to make space for yourself again. Explore membership and upcoming gatherings: https://hervillage.kit.com/naperville Follow along on Instagram: @hervillagehq If this conversation resonated with you, consider sharing it with someone who might need to hear it. 💛 Content note: This episode includes personal discussions of pregnancy loss, infant loss, and grief. Support the show __________________________________________________________________________________ Her Village is more than a podcast—it’s a space for real connection, honest conversations, and meaningful friendships in the places we live. If you want to go deeper and stay connected beyond the podcast, you can join us here: https://hervillage.kit.com/products/founding-membership 💛 __________________________________________________________________________________

  3. Oct 1

    EP 143. Put Yourself Back on the Calendar

    When was the last time you did something simply because you wanted to? Not because your kids needed it. Not because it was productive. Not because someone else was counting on you. Something that made you feel curious, connected, excited — or simply more like yourself. In this solo episode, Jacqueline talks about the kind of connection so many women are missing: connection to ourselves, meaningful connection with other women, and connection to the communities we call home. She shares how years spent building her family left her wondering who she was outside of survival mode and motherhood — and how that identity shift ultimately helped inspire Her Village. Jacqueline also shares the vision behind Her Village: putting yourself back on your own calendar, learning from women with different experiences, trying new things, discovering hobbies, having fun, supporting local businesses, and actually experiencing more of the place you live. And today marks a big next step: Her Village Founding Memberships are officially open. 🌻 If you're in the Naperville area and ready to make more room for yourself, meaningful connection, and your local community, we'd love to have you. Join Her Village: hervillage.kit.com/products/founding-membership Connect with Her Village: Instagram: @hervillagehq Because we don't only need a village to survive. We deserve one that helps us thrive. Support the show __________________________________________________________________________________ Her Village is more than a podcast—it’s a space for real connection, honest conversations, and meaningful friendships in the places we live. If you want to go deeper and stay connected beyond the podcast, you can join us here: https://hervillage.kit.com/products/founding-membership 💛 __________________________________________________________________________________

  4. Sep 24

    EP 142. Finding Purpose After an Unexpected Path to Motherhood with Stephanie Jones

    What happens when the path to motherhood looks nothing like the one you imagined? And how do you find purpose in a journey you never would have chosen for yourself? In this episode of Her Village, Jacqueline sits down with Stephanie Jones, founder of the Michigan Fertility Alliance, to talk about infertility, pregnancy complications, surrogacy, and the unexpected ways our most difficult experiences can change the direction of our lives. After experiencing two life-threatening ectopic pregnancies, Stephanie faced the heartbreaking reality that she could no longer safely carry another pregnancy. Determined to grow her family, she turned to gestational surrogacy, only to discover that Michigan's restrictive surrogacy laws created another obstacle on her path to motherhood. What began as a deeply personal journey eventually became a much larger mission. Stephanie founded the Michigan Fertility Alliance and helped advocate for the Michigan Family Protection Act, which changed the landscape of surrogacy and family building in Michigan. Together, Jacqueline and Stephanie explore the grief that comes with letting go of the motherhood experience you imagined, the emotional complexities of surrogacy, and what it means to turn an unexpected life experience into something that helps other families. In this episode, we explore: Navigating infertility, pregnancy complications, and the loss of the ability to carry a pregnancy.The emotional journey of pursuing gestational surrogacy.Finding support and community when your path to motherhood looks different.How Stephanie's personal experience inspired her to become an advocate for other families.The relationship between motherhood, identity, and finding purpose beyond the roles we originally imagined for ourselves.Whether you're navigating infertility, exploring alternative paths to parenthood, or simply finding yourself in a season of life you never expected, this conversation is a reminder that your story is still unfolding. Connect with Stephanie Jones: Michigan Fertility Alliance: https://www.mifertilityalliance.com State Strong: https://www.statestrong.org/ Instagram: @stephanie.jones___ Connect with Her Village: Instagram: @hervillagehq Website: https://joinhervillage.co Her Village is an in-person community helping women feel more connected to themselves, each other, and their local community. Our founding chapter is launching in Naperville, Illinois, where we're creating opportunities for women to build meaningful friendships, explore new experiences, and find their people in every season of life. Support the show __________________________________________________________________________________ Her Village is more than a podcast—it’s a space for real connection, honest conversations, and meaningful friendships in the places we live. If you want to go deeper and stay connected beyond the podcast, you can join us here: https://hervillage.kit.com/products/founding-membership 💛 __________________________________________________________________________________

  5. Sep 17

    EP 141. When Did Everything Become About the Kids?

    When did everything become about the kids? The school schedules. The activities. The appointments. The therapies. The meals. The birthday parties. The endless mental checklist of who needs what, where, and when. In this solo episode, Jacqueline shares a realization she's been having lately: she doesn't want a life away from her kids—she wants a life that includes her, too. After years of building a family, staying home with her children, and naturally structuring so much of life around motherhood, creating Her Village has unexpectedly made Jacqueline look at her own life differently. What started as a way to help women find connection has also reminded her how important it is to have places, people, interests, and experiences that belong to us. This isn't about reinventing yourself, finding some huge new purpose, or adding another thing to your to-do list. It's about remembering that you're still a person outside of everything you do for everyone else—and maybe putting something on the calendar simply because you want to be there. In this episode, Jacqueline talks about identity outside motherhood, mom guilt, adult friendship, making room for fun and hobbies, and why having a full life of your own doesn't take anything away from being a devoted mom. Because maybe the question isn't, “Who was I before I became a mom?” Maybe it's: “Who am I becoming alongside motherhood?” 🎧 Listen in, then take a look at your calendar and ask yourself: Where am I on here? Support the show __________________________________________________________________________________ Her Village is more than a podcast—it’s a space for real connection, honest conversations, and meaningful friendships in the places we live. If you want to go deeper and stay connected beyond the podcast, you can join us here: https://hervillage.kit.com/products/founding-membership 💛 __________________________________________________________________________________

  6. Sep 11

    EP 140. Finding Your Way Back to Yourself — Identity, Self-Trust & the Inner Teacher with Dr. Nicole Wordlaw

    How much of who we are is truly ours—and how much has been shaped by the expectations, beliefs, and stories we’ve inherited? In this episode of Her Village, Jacqueline sits down with Dr. Nicole Wordlaw, clinical psychologist, author, and longtime Buddhist meditation practitioner, to explore what it means to reconnect with our own inner knowing. Nicole’s book, Waking Up Alone: Navigating the Narrow Passage Through Master-Slave Narratives, combines memoir with an exploration of identity, power, relationships, and the conditioning that can shape how we understand ourselves and our place in the world. Together, Jacqueline and Nicole discuss the ways women can become accustomed to looking outside themselves for reassurance and validation, how motherhood can challenge our sense of identity, and what it looks like to begin rebuilding self-trust. They also explore Nicole’s concept of the “inner teacher,” the difference between belonging and changing ourselves in order to belong, and why finding our way back to ourselves doesn’t mean we have to do it without community. In this conversation, we explore: The personal journey behind Waking Up AloneHow inherited stories and expectations influence our identitiesPeople-pleasing, perfectionism, and the pressure to do life “right”Motherhood, identity, and continuing to grow as an individualWhat it means to find and follow your inner teacherRebuilding self-trust when you feel disconnected from your own voiceThe role of community in becoming more fully ourselvesWhether you’re navigating motherhood, a life transition, or simply wondering what you actually want beneath all the noise, this conversation is an invitation to get curious about the stories you’ve been living by—and remember that you’re allowed to keep becoming. Connect with Dr. Nicole Wordlaw: Website: https://www.nicolewordlaw.com/ Book: Waking Up Alone: Navigating the Narrow Passage Through Master-Slave Narratives Connect with Her Village: Instagram: @hervillagehq Explore the podcast and community: joinhervillage.co If this episode resonates with you, share it with a friend who might need the reminder that she’s allowed to trust herself and keep becoming, too. Support the show __________________________________________________________________________________ Her Village is more than a podcast—it’s a space for real connection, honest conversations, and meaningful friendships in the places we live. If you want to go deeper and stay connected beyond the podcast, you can join us here: https://hervillage.kit.com/products/founding-membership 💛 __________________________________________________________________________________

  7. Sep 2

    EP 139. Who Are Your Friends When No One Is Assigning Them to You?

    Remember when making friends was just… built into life? You met on the playground. Sat next to each other in class. Played on the same team. Lived down the hall in college. Or, in Jacqueline’s case, essentially paid for your friends by joining a sorority. 😂 Then adulthood happens—and suddenly, no one is assigning you friends anymore. In this solo episode, Jacqueline explores why adult friendship feels so different, especially in motherhood. It’s not necessarily that we’ve forgotten how to make friends. It’s that the structure that once made friendship happen naturally—proximity, repetition, and shared experiences—has disappeared. She talks about friendships changing as our lives change, the difference between mom friends and friendships that feel like they’re truly yours, why one great conversation usually isn’t enough to build a real connection, and why sometimes we have to be willing to go first. Jacqueline also shares how this realization has shaped Her Village and the upcoming Her Village membership: creating consistent opportunities for women to get out of the house, explore Naperville, see the same faces again, and give new friendships somewhere to actually grow. Because maybe we don't need to magically find a new best friend. Maybe we just need a place to keep showing up. In this episode: • Why making friends felt easier when we were younger • How adult life removes the built-in structure for friendship • Why proximity + repetition + shared experiences matter • The difference between having friends and still craving more connection • Making friends through motherhood—and wanting relationships that are yours, too • Why somebody eventually has to send the “When are you free?” text • What Jacqueline is really building with Her Village • Why consistency is at the heart of the upcoming membership • Giving friendship somewhere to grow If someone came to mind while you were listening, send her this episode—and maybe send the second text, too: “When are you free?” Support the show __________________________________________________________________________________ Her Village is more than a podcast—it’s a space for real connection, honest conversations, and meaningful friendships in the places we live. If you want to go deeper and stay connected beyond the podcast, you can join us here: https://hervillage.kit.com/products/founding-membership 💛 __________________________________________________________________________________

  8. Aug 26

    EP 138. More Than the Caregiver — Raising Neurodivergent Kids & Finding Yourself Again with Susanna Peace Lovell

    Motherhood has a way of rewriting the plans we were so sure we had figured out. For Susanna Peace Lovell, that meant becoming a mother to her daughter, Arizona, who is neurodivergent and has autism, ADHD, anxiety, and significant allergies. For Jacqueline, it meant infertility, loss, a 24-week premature birth, a four-month NICU stay, and eventually learning that her oldest son has autism and ADHD, and her younger son also has ADHD and sensory processing disorder. In this deeply personal conversation, Jacqueline and Susanna talk about what happens when motherhood looks nothing like the version you imagined—and how you learn to find yourself within it. They open up about receiving a child's diagnosis, the instinct to immediately jump into "fix it" mode, the fear of what the world will think of your child, and the invisible mental load of raising a child with additional needs. They also talk about something caregivers don't hear nearly enough: you are allowed to have needs, joy, interests, dreams, and an identity outside of caring for everyone else. Susanna shares the importance of compassion—for our children, for other mothers, and especially for ourselves—and why finding people who simply get it can change everything. In this episode: When motherhood doesn't look the way you imaginedProcessing an autism or ADHD diagnosisThe invisible work of parenting a neurodivergent childWhy gratitude and overwhelm can exist at the same timeLetting go of the pressure to "fix" everythingWhat other people don't understand about raising a child with additional needsBuilding a village when you can't do it aloneRediscovering joy and identity outside of caregivingWhat Susanna would tell a mom who just received her child's diagnosisWhy your child is still the exact same child they were before the labelSusanna also shares her work with We Are Brave Together, a community supporting the mental health and wellness of caregiving moms, and the anthology Suddenly Brave Together, featuring letters from experienced caregiving mothers to moms who are just beginning this journey. If you've ever wondered where you went while taking care of everyone else—or you're navigating a motherhood story you never saw coming—this conversation is for you. Connect with Susanna: SusannaPeaceLovell.com Instagram: @mamapeace Learn more about We Are Brave Together: WeAreBraveTogether.org Support the show __________________________________________________________________________________ Her Village is more than a podcast—it’s a space for real connection, honest conversations, and meaningful friendships in the places we live. If you want to go deeper and stay connected beyond the podcast, you can join us here: https://hervillage.kit.com/products/founding-membership 💛 __________________________________________________________________________________

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About

Her Village Podcast This is the space where real women have real conversations — the ones we don’t always say out loud, but all feel in some way. Hosted by Jacqueline Baird, this podcast goes beyond surface-level talk and into the stories, struggles, and moments that shape us — in motherhood, relationships, identity, and everything in between. Through a mix of personal reflections and honest conversations with other women, each episode is designed to leave you feeling seen, understood, and a little less alone… while also giving you new perspective, insight, and the kind of validation you didn’t know you needed. Because you’re not the only one thinking it.And you don’t have to figure it out on your own. Welcome to Her Village. Connect with Her Village: Instagram: @motherhood_intended Join the email list: hervillage.kit.com/naperville

Information

  • Creator
    Jacqueline Baird
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    145
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Her Village
  • Show Website
    Her Village

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