The Mother Heard

Denise Waters
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Weekly

The Mother Heard is a reflective podcast about motherhood, identity, and belonging. In this next season, Denise shares her personal journey of reclaiming space in the world after years of mothering—asking what it means to belong, to begin again, and to be heard.

Episodes

  1. Mar 20

    California Geocache

    Keywords family travel, road trips, parenting, geocaching, family traditions, meaningful experiences, rituals, routines, personal growth, relationships Summary In this conversation, Denise Waters reflects on her family's road trips from Washington to San Diego, exploring the significance of these journeys in shaping family traditions and relationships. She discusses the balance between making family life meaningful without turning it into a performance, emphasizing the importance of shared experiences over structured activities. Denise also shares insights on navigating unplanned moments and the value of rituals and routines in building connections with family members. Takeaways The road trips were integral to family identity. Family life doesn't have to be performative. Shared experiences foster deeper connections. Unplanned moments can lead to valuable lessons. Finding joy in routine trips is essential. Rituals and routines require effort to maintain. Building connections with daughters-in-law is important. Reflecting on past experiences can guide future relationships. Creating new traditions can honor old ones. Writing offers a variety of perspectives on family life. Titles Nostalgic Road Trips: A Family Tradition The Balance of Performance and Meaning in Family Life Sound bites "Things don't always go as planned." "Finding joy in normal trips is important." "Can I reuse those now with daughters-in-law?" Chapters 00:00 Nostalgic Road Trips: A Family Tradition 07:06 Lessons from the Journey: Embracing Flexibility

  2. Mar 20

    Season 2 Kickoff & a cab ride to Columbia!

    The Mother Heard is entering a new season—one rooted in my own story. After years of mothering, tending, and putting parts of myself on hold, I’m asking a different question:Where do I belong now? This season is about reclaiming space in the world after motherhood has shaped everything—identity, work, love, ambition, and voice. Through personal reflection and conversation, I explore what it means to come home to myself while still holding the role of mother with care. This is not a podcast about having it figured out.It’s about noticing. Remembering. Trying things on. Letting go. Beginning again. If you’re a mother—or a woman—standing at the edge of a new season, wondering who you are becoming and where you fit, you’re not alone. This is my journey to belonging. You’re invited to walk alongside me.

  3. 07/26/2024

    Mini Pod 1: Elections

    What's the difference between a full pod and a mini pod? Full pod is longer and has a guest. What's the difference between a mini pod and a reel? Intro music? There is no way to know, but I'm here with the first official mini pod focused on my story about elections. #motherhood #themotherheard #militarymom #militarywife #abortion #education #talkitout #answerthecall2024

  4. 06/03/2024

    Episode 9: Jenni Espinosa

    Summary In this episode of the MotherHeard Podcast, Denise Waters interviews Jenni Espinosa, a mom and teacher who shares her journey of abuse recovery and prevention. Jenni discusses her role as a teacher and her passion for teaching French. She also talks about her experience as a solo mom and the challenges she faces in raising her children. Jenni opens up about her involvement in a domestic violence advocacy group called Safer and her hopes for creating a safe community for women. She expresses her gratitude for Glennon Doyle and her book 'Untamed' for inspiring her and providing healing. Here is the link to her work: https://www.saferccs.com/ Keywords motherhood, abuse recovery, prevention, teaching, French, solo mom, domestic violence, advocacy, community, Glennon Doyle, 'Untamed' Takeaways Jenni Espinosa is a mom and teacher who is passionate about teaching French and supporting women coming out of domestic violence and abuse. She is involved in a domestic violence advocacy group called Safer, which aims to provide a safe and supportive community for women. Jenni emphasizes the importance of listening to one's body, asking for help, and not fitting into society's narrative of what a human is supposed to be. She expresses her gratitude for Glennon Doyle and her book 'Untamed' for inspiring her and providing healing.

  5. 05/24/2024

    Episode 8: Jen Glover

    Summary In this conversation, Denise Waters interviews Jen Glover, a mom from Arizona, about her motherhood journey. Jen shares how she was a teacher before becoming a mom and how she has remained true to herself while also taking on the responsibilities of motherhood. She discusses the challenges of being a perfectionist as a mom and the pressure she puts on herself to create perfect holiday experiences for her children. Jen emphasizes the importance of having a supportive mom community and how it has helped her navigate the ups and downs of motherhood. She also talks about the need to prioritize self-care and find personal fulfillment outside of being a mom. Jen Glover discusses her love for cooking and how it is a way for her to show love to her family. She shares that her kids have favorite meals, such as homemade gnocchi and teriyaki chicken, and that cooking is an extension of nurturing for her. Her biggest hope for her children is that they feel loved and love themselves. Jen emphasizes the importance of being present with her kids and enjoying time with them. She also talks about the significance of travel in their lives and how it has broadened their perspective of the world. In the next five years, Jen hopes to get her small business up and running, continue traveling, and explore her own interests. She shares her insights and experiences with others through conversations and online communities.

  6. 04/19/2024

    Episode 7: Community Building Cycle

    Here I rough out my thinking about how to build a community/friendships/relationships. There has been a lot of talk lately about how a circle might not be the right design for communities because they can be closed off--I'd like to offer a solution to that idea--an infinity loop--one side acknowledging the place where we engage and the other where we are in relationship . . . hence, A Community Building Cycle. Read more about it at themotherheard.com or join us as we build our community for moms built around stories! Still working on audio and need your help with graphic design. We are new and growing and a great investment! With video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3j4vKbRj1hk

  7. 04/08/2024

    Episode 6: Lindsay Tedder

    Come meet Lindsey. Her story of adoption and remembering who she is even as she raises three littles will inspire you! Her love for Jesus and recognizing her calling is beautiful!

  8. 03/08/2024

    Episode 5: History of Work

    Denise takes some time to dive into past jobs and continues to learn about working styles and how being a mom impacts work!

  9. 02/13/2024

    Episode 4: Emotions, Loss and Community

    Denise talks about a loss in the community and how talking about it, sharing stories of those that are lost can bring healing. Emotions need to be felt! More about Berk.

  10. 02/04/2024

    Episode 3: Lisa Pomeroy

    Knowing Lisa is a joy of my life. I hope you will enjoy this brief look into the woman she is beyond being a mom. I'm so appreciative of her willingness to share about her journey here. Mom of a daughter with dyslexia, wife of a veteran, breast cancer survivor, store owner, and more is what you get to learn about in this episode. I am in awe of Lisa as a mom, a friend, a daughter, wife and basic badass. I'm shocked we didn't swear more during our conversation.

  11. 01/29/2024

    Episode 2: Motherhood Journey

    Join us today as Denise does a deep dive into the women who impacted her journey as a mom!

  12. 01/23/2024

    Episode 1: Introduction to the Heard

    Here, we believe that every mom matters, whether she brought her children into the world or embraced them with a cape of love. Fueled by Love, Creativity, and a commitment to Connection, we amplify every mom's individual story because we know each one is a story worth sharing. Our secret sauce? Friendship. We're a tribe of incredible moms on a rollercoaster journey of self-discovery. Through this mom life ride, we're here to empower, inspire, and uplift. Whether you're a new mom navigating your own parenthood adventure, a seasoned mom exploring new passions, or someone with the dream of motherhood close to your heart, you've found your people! Join us in this vibrant tapestry of motherhood where stories about motherhood, our own personal growth and shared experiences are celebrated. We're here for the laughter, the tears, and all the messy bits in between. Join us!

    Episode 1: Introduction to the Heard
  • 12 Episodes

About

The Mother Heard is a reflective podcast about motherhood, identity, and belonging. In this next season, Denise shares her personal journey of reclaiming space in the world after years of mothering—asking what it means to belong, to begin again, and to be heard.

Information

  • Creator
    Denise Waters
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Denise Waters
  • Show Website
    The Mother Heard