Not Defined By Motherhood, the Podcast
Mother is a title, not your whole damn story. Each week, host Melanie O’Reilly-Rogers helps you cut through the noise, ditch the guilt, and find yourself again - without a million-step morning routine or picture-perfect plans. From quick mindset shifts to honest conversations about the messy, beautiful reality of life as a mom, you’ll get the clarity, validation, and strategies you need to feel more like you again.
Episodes
85 episodes
The Truth About New Year’s Resolutions for Moms: Why You’re Not the Problem
Every January, moms are told to reinvent themselves with “New Year, new you!”—but what if you’re not the problem? In this episode of Not Defined by Motherhood, Melanie O’Reilly-Rogers exposes the truth about New Year’s resolut...
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6:37
How to Say No Without Explaining Yourself: A Mom’s Guide to Boundaries and Sanity
If the word “no” instantly makes you feel guilty, this one’s for you. In this episode of Not Defined by Motherhood, Melanie O’Reilly-Rogers gets honest about why saying no is so hard for moms — and why you don’t owe anyone a PowerPoint...
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7:20
Why Moms Secretly Hate the Holidays (and How to Fix It Before You Burn Out)
You don’t actually hate the holidays — you hate being Santa, Mrs. Claus, the elf, the event planner, the cook, the maid, and the memory-maker all at once. In this episode of Not Defined by Motherhood, Melanie O’Reilly-Rogers g...
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6:20
Habit Stacking for Moms: The Simple Way to Reduce Overwhelm and Just Get Sh*t Done
Feeling scattered and overwhelmed? You’re not lazy—you just need better systems. In this episode of Not Defined by Motherhood, Melanie O’Reilly-Rogers breaks down habit stacking for moms—the simple, ADHD-friendly way to reduce...
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8:37
You’re Not Just a Mom: How to Reclaim Your Identity Beyond Motherhood
Motherhood is a title, not your whole story. But somewhere between diaper changes, school pick-ups, and endless laundry, it’s easy to forget who you were before kids.In this episode of Not Defined By Motherhood – The...
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4:52
Mom Guilt Is a Liar: Why You Feel It, Where It Comes From, and How to Shut It Down
Mom guilt whispers (or sometimes screams) that you’re not doing enough, that you’re failing your kids, that every other mom has it more together than you. But here’s the truth: mom guilt is a liar.In this episode of Not Defined...
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5:48
The Mental Load of Motherhood: Why You’re Exhausted Before the Day Even Starts (and How to Lighten It)
You wake up already tired. Not just from lack of sleep - but because your brain has been running nonstop since before your feet even hit the floor. That, my friend, is the mental load of motherhood.In this episode of
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6:27
Dopamine for Moms: How Small Joys Can Help You Reclaim Yourself and Beat Burnout
Motherhood often feels like an endless to-do list, and somewhere in the chaos, your joy gets buried. But here’s the truth: you don’t need a spa weekend or a six-month sabbatical to feel alive again. What you really need are small hits of dop...
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5:41
The Myth of “Losing Yourself” in Motherhood — And How to Reclaim Your Identity
Tired of hearing that “losing yourself” in motherhood is inevitable? In this episode of Not Defined By Motherhood – The Podcast, Melanie shares why that narrative is so damaging, how to protect your sense of self, and practical ways to...
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4:41
Good Parenting Isn’t Always Rewarded With Good Behavior
If your child’s behavior has ever made you question your parenting, you’re not alone. In this episode of Not Defined By Motherhood – The Podcast, Melanie breaks down why “good parenting” doesn’t always mean calm, compliant kids — and w...
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4:09
Core Values for Moms: Your Secret Weapon Against Overwhelm
If you feel pulled in a million directions, you might be making decisions without your compass — your core values. In this episode of Not Defined By Motherhood – The Podcast, Melanie explains how identifying and living by your core val...
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4:47
Why You Feel Overwhelmed All the Time (and How to Pinpoint the Real Cause)
If you feel like you’re drowning in motherhood no matter how much you do, you’re not alone. In this episode of Not Defined By Motherhood – The Podcast, Melanie breaks down the four hidden causes of mom overwhelm, the role your core val...
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5:01
Self-Care Isn’t a Damn Shower: What Real Self-Nurture Looks Like
Tired of being told that taking a shower counts as self-care? Same. In this episode of Not Defined By Motherhood – The Podcast, Melanie redefines what self-care for moms should actually look like — without guilt, fluff, or spa-day pres...
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4:13
Expectation Detox: How Unrealistic Expectations in Motherhood Are Draining You
Feeling burned out as a mom? You’re probably carrying way more than just your kids. In this episode of Not Defined By Motherhood – The Podcast, Melanie walks you through the hidden expectations moms are handed—and how they fuel burnout...
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4:35
Mom Guilt and the Thoughts You’re Afraid to Say Out Loud
Struggling with mom guilt over thoughts you’d never say out loud? You’re not alone. In this episode of Not Defined By Motherhood – The Podcast, Melanie breaks down the truth about “bad mom” thoughts—why they happen, what they really me...
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4:35
Am I A Bad Mom for Feeling This Way? Why Hard Feelings Don't Define You
Ever felt frustrated, jealous, angry, or just desperate for a moment alone — and immediately wondered, “Am I a bad mom for feeling this way?” You’re not. In this episode of Not Defined By Motherhood – The Podcast, Melanie O’Re...
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6:35
Maternal Ambivalence: Embracing the Full Spectrum of Motherhood with Dr. Margo Lowy
In this powerful episode of The Mostly Under Control Podcast, Melanie O’Reilly-Rogers welcomes Dr. Margo Lowy, social worker, psychotherapist, and author of Maternal Ambivalence: Loving Moments and Bitter Truths. Together, the...
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49:50
Stop Staying Up Too Late: A Realistic Plan for Tired Moms with Revenge Bedtime Procrastination
Hey, Mostlys! Are you exhausted but still up at midnight doom-scrolling for “me-time”? Welcome to the world of Revenge Bedtime Procrastination—and yeah, it’s a thing. In this episode, we’re unpacking why moms delay sleep even when they’re runni...
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10:24
Teaching Kids About Money: Real Talk for Moms Who Don’t Know Where to Start
If you’ve ever frozen at the words, “Can I buy this?” or felt unsure how to teach your kids about saving, budgeting, or earning money—this one’s for you.Melanie sits down with Samantha Aycock—mom, realtor, and former CPA firm co-...
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42:21
Core Values for Moms: The Secret to Easier Decisions and Less Guilt
Ever feel like you’re making decisions with a blindfold on? In this episode, I’m breaking down how identifying your core values as a mom can help you ditch the guilt, simplify your choices, and finally feel like you’re doing life on your
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9:59
How a “State of the Family” Meeting Can Transform Your Home & Marriage
💡 What if your family had a quarterly check-in like a business does? This week on The Mostly Under Control Podcast, I’m talking with my good friend Karyn about how she and her husband created State of the Family, a struct...
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46:59
Meet Melanie - Your Host of The Mostly Under Control Podcast
Start here! If you're a first time listener to the podcast, this is a great place to start to get to know Melanie and her message.
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4:26
How Occupational Therapy Supports Moms & Kids with Bhumi Bhatt
In this episode of The Mostly Under Control Podcast, I chat with Bhumi Bhatt, an early childhood occupational therapist, about how OT supports both kids and parents. We dive into how sensory processing, nervous system regulation, and m...
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44:18
Balancing Work, Life As A Mother & Sanity: A Coaching Session with Mackenzie
Motherhood doesn’t have to feel like drowning in a never-ending to-do list. On The Mostly Under Control Podcast, host Melanie O’Reilly-Rogers helps moms cut through the chaos, ditch the overthinking, and find real solutions that actual...
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28:38
Motherhood, Chronic Illness & Finding Balance: How Jessica Hardy Navigates Life with MS, Work, and Two Young Kids
How do you juggle motherhood, a full-time career, and a chronic illness without burning out? In this episode of The Mostly Under Control Podcast, host Melanie O'Reilly-Rogers sits down with Jessica Hardy—a working mom of two who was di...
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41:30
