Moms Like Me Podcast by SupportNow

Jordan Arogeti
  • 5.0 (12)
  • MENTAL HEALTH

We dive into the messy middle of life's major moments and learn how everyday people make it through. Jordan Arogeti unpacks the struggles and successes during parenthood, hospitalizations, major diagnosis, loss, and more.

  1. 1D AGO

    Becky Sernovitz on Surviving Leukemia, Motherhood, and the Power of Community Support

    When Becky Sernovitz first felt "off," she did what so many moms do: she powered through. But what started as lingering symptoms soon became a life-changing leukemia diagnosis, sending Becky into emergency care, chemotherapy, and eventually a bone marrow transplant.   Registry: https://www.supportnow.org/the-sernovitz-family-7280a625-ad3c-4c08-8e47-1c13c0d9dbda In this deeply moving episode of Moms Like Me, Becky shares what it was like to face cancer while raising three children, miss her daughter's bat mitzvah from a hospital room, lean on her parents in a whole new way, and accept that healing doesn't end when the cancer is gone.   Her story is honest, emotional, and full of hard-earned wisdom about advocating for your health, letting your community show up, and finding strength when life changes overnight. Whether you've faced a diagnosis yourself or you love someone who has, Becky's perspective is a powerful reminder: support doesn't have to be perfect — it just has to show up.

    29 min

  2. 6D AGO

    The Book Her Children Needed: Melissa Prince-Barry on Representation, Love, and Tough Conversations

    When Melissa Prince-Barry couldn't find children's books where her kids could truly see themselves, she decided to write one. In this episode of Moms Like Me, Melissa joins Jordan Arogeti to share the deeply personal journey behind her children's book, A Family Full of Love — a story inspired by her Asian American and African American family, the need for representation, and the belief that every child deserves to feel seen, valued, and loved. Melissa opens up about the emotional spark that began in 2020 after the murder of George Floyd, the long road from manuscript to publication, and the powerful moments that reminded her why the book matters — including children and families finally recognizing themselves in its pages. She also shares how the book has helped her guide tough conversations with her own children about identity, racism, belonging, and the unshakable love surrounding them. This conversation is about more than publishing a book. It's about motherhood, courage, representation, and turning pain into something that can help other families feel less alone.

    23 min

  3. MAY 5

    Choosing Love in the Unknown: Allison Harris on Foster Care, Disability, and Gianna's Story

    Registry Link: https://www.supportnow.org/gianna-s-journey What happens when a single phone call changes the shape of your family forever? In this episode of Moms Like Me, Jordan sits down with Allison Harris, a mom of three boys whose family said yes to an emergency foster placement for a four-month-old baby girl named Gianna. What began with only a few known details — "she's blind, and she needs a home right away" — became a powerful story of adoption, medical complexity, shaken baby syndrome, epilepsy, disability, faith, community, and learning how to love a child without needing to know exactly what the future holds. Allison shares the honest reality of becoming a foster family, the emotional weight of saying yes, the unexpected beauty Gianna brought into their home, and how her sons, husband, church, friends, and broader community learned to show up in ways that changed all of them. This conversation is about more than foster care or special needs parenting — it's about presence, inclusion, motherhood, and the life-changing power of simply seeing a child as fully enough, exactly as they are.

    42 min

  4. MAY 1

    Letting Your Child Lead: Sharon Ciummo on Down Syndrome and the Beauty of Letting Marco Be Marco

    Registry Link: https://www.supportnow.org/marco-ciummo In this heartfelt episode of Moms Like Me, Jordan talks with Sharon Ciummo about her 21-year journey raising her son Marco, who was diagnosed with Down syndrome shortly after birth and later with autism and apraxia. Sharon shares the early shock of diagnosis, the grief that can return during milestones, and the hard-earned wisdom of learning to follow Marco's lead instead of forcing expectations onto him. From Christmas mornings filled with mismatched hopes, to therapy decisions, school placements, advocacy battles, and planning for adulthood, Sharon offers a grounded and honest perspective for any parent navigating disability, diagnosis, or simply the gap between the child they imagined and the child standing beautifully in front of them. T his conversation is a reminder that parenting does not always mean pushing for more. Sometimes, it means slowing down enough to see who your child already is—and trusting that who they are is enough.

    29 min

  5. APR 28

    When the Diagnosis Changes Everything: Jessica Patay on Motherhood, Isolation, and Finding Brave Together

    What happens when motherhood doesn't look anything like you imagined? In this powerful episode of Moms Like Me, Jessica Patay shares the story of her son Ryan's rare genetic diagnosis, the fear and isolation that followed, and how community became the lifeline that changed everything. What began as a deeply personal journey through medical complexity, grief, and letting go of perfectionism eventually led Jessica to build We Are Brave Together—a nonprofit devoted to supporting caregiving moms.  This conversation is honest, heartfelt, and full of hope for any parent who has ever felt alone. Jessica opens up about raising a child with Prader-Willi syndrome, the impact on marriage and family life, the importance of asking for help, and why moms were never meant to carry it all by themselves. If you are navigating special needs parenting, caregiver burnout, disability, or simply the pressures of motherhood, this episode is a reminder that support, belonging, and joy are still possible.

    29 min

  6. APR 23

    The Weight No One Sees: Vanessa Weilnhammer on Medical Motherhood, Marriage, and the Unknown

    What happens when your child is medically complex, deeply loved, and still undiagnosed? In this raw and deeply moving episode of Moms Like Me, Vanessa Weilnhammer shares the reality of raising her daughter Camila through hospital stays, constant caregiving, unanswered medical questions, and the emotional weight that never fully turns off.   Vanessa opens up about grief, isolation, marriage under pressure, the myth of "self-care" in survival mode, and the tension of holding both joy and heartbreak at the same time. Her powerful "island and waves" analogy gives voice to what so many medical moms feel but rarely say out loud. This is an honest, validating conversation for parents, caregivers, and anyone wanting to better understand the hidden weight families like Vanessa's carry every day.

    29 min

  7. APR 21

    She Thought It Was "Just Sleep Issues" — Then 3 Kids and Mom Were Diagnosed With Autism

    What happens when years of unanswered questions finally turn into life-changing clarity? In this powerful episode, Alicia Trautwein shares her family's journey through autism diagnosis — from early warning signs that were missed, to raising three neurodivergent children, to eventually realizing she was autistic too. Her story is honest, emotional, and incredibly encouraging for parents who may be wondering if something deeper is going on with their child.   Alicia opens up about the grief, relief, and hard-won perspective that came with finally getting answers. She talks about how delayed diagnoses affected her older children, why early intervention can make such a difference, what autism can look like in girls and women, and how her nonprofit, The Mom Kind, now helps other families feel less alone. This is a must-listen conversation for parents navigating autism, advocating in schools, or trying to replace fear with understanding.

    32 min

  8. APR 16

    Still in the PICU: Austyn Morrin on Covey's Fight, Mom Guilt, and Finding Strength

    What does it look like to keep going when your baby has spent months in the hospital and your family is living between the PICU and home? In this powerful episode of Moms Like Me, Austyn Morrin shares her son Covey's journey through a prenatal Down syndrome diagnosis, heart complications, cardiac arrest, ECMO, a trach, open-heart surgery, and the long road of recovery that still is not over. With incredible honesty, Austyn opens up about balancing life between a critically ill baby and her older daughter, the reality of mom guilt, and the simple survival habits that help her keep moving forward. This is a deeply moving conversation about resilience, love, and what support really looks like in the hardest seasons of motherhood.

    28 min
See All (106)

5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

We dive into the messy middle of life's major moments and learn how everyday people make it through. Jordan Arogeti unpacks the struggles and successes during parenthood, hospitalizations, major diagnosis, loss, and more.

Information

You Might Also Like