The Stepmom Side Podcast
Do you find yourself googling for "Stepmom help" or "Stepmom struggles" more than you'd care to admit?
If so, you're in the right place. The Stepmom Side Podcast is a conversational podcast about being a Stepmom and what that actually looks like. Host Alicia Krasko covers everything from part-time, full-time, to being an empty nester as a Stepmom.
Every week, you'll get a bit of humor, advice, and a conversation that will have you taking an objective look at how you're showing up. You can expect honest (and uncomfortable) conversations with perspective shifts mixed in to help you create the life you no longer have to google for help.
Episodes
134 episodes
#134: Why You Handle It “So Well”… Then Fall Apart Later
Have you ever handled a stepfamily moment calmly, maturely, and with impressive emotional intelligence — only to completely unravel hours later?Alicia breaks down the difference between your thinking self and your nervous syste...
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Episode 134
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18:41
#133: Why Being Self-Aware Isn’t Helping (And Might Be Making It Worse)
You’ve done the work.You’re self-aware.You can explain everyone’s behavior in the situation…So why do you still feel triggered, exhausted, or quietly resentful?In this episode, Alicia breaks down why insight alone doesn’t ...
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Episode 133
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13:58
132: Why Type A Women Struggle as Stepmoms (Control, Perfectionism & Burnout)
If you’re a Type A, high-achieving woman who suddenly felt like she lost her footing after becoming a stepmom — this episode is for you.In this episode of The Stepmom Side Podcast, Alicia speaks directly to driven, control-lovin...
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Episode 132
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23:33
#131: What to Do When Your Stepkid Says ‘I Miss My Mom’ Without Losing Your Cool
When your stepkid says, “I miss my mom” especially right after a consequence, it hits different. It’s not just the words; it’s the sting behind them. The comparison. The reminder that no matter how much yo...
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Episode 131
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27:38
#130: How to Handle In-Laws Who Stay Friends with the Ex-Wife
When your in-laws are still close with your partner’s ex, it can feel like emotional whiplash. You’re trying to build a future while they’re still tethered to the past—and it leaves you wondering where (or if) you fit in. In this extended episo...
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Episode 130
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21:24
#129: When Kids Flip the Switch (and You Take It Personally)
Kids are emotional chameleons — sweet one minute, sassy the next, and then asking for help like nothing ever happened. For stepmoms (especially those without kids of their own), those mood swings can feel deeply personal.In this...
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Episode 129
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23:56
#128: Too Close to Be Heard: The Real Reason Your Partner Shuts Down
Are you tired of repeating yourself and feeling like your partner just doesn’t hear you? Whether it’s dad guilt, lack of boundaries with the kids, inconsistency in parenting, or not feeling prioritized in your relationship — this episo...
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Episode 128
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19:24
#127: My House, Her Hoodie, and a Whole Lotta Feelings
In this deeply honest episode, we’re getting into the emotional weeds of what happens when the ex’s belongings, photos, or influence are still showing up in your home. From hoodies and framed photos to never-ending texts between your p...
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Episode 127
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31:46
#126: When the Ex Still Haunts Your Blended Family: Stepmom Jealousy Explained
Is your partner’s past still taking up space in your present-day relationship? You’re not alone—and you’re not crazy. Whether it's memories of the ex, old traditions, or constant reminders of “how things used to be,” retroactive jealou...
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Episode 125
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25:52
#125: When Adult Stepkids Don’t Accept You (and How to Stop Letting It Steal Your Peace)
When you thought things would finally get easier once they were grown… but your adult stepkids still make you feel like an outsider. In this episode, Alicia digs into what’s really going on when adult stepkids won’t accept you...
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Episode 125
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21:30
#124: When Kids Don’t Listen (And It’s Not Because You’re the Stepmom)
Are you a childless or childfree stepmom feeling like a broken record? Alicia gets real about the exhausting cycle of repeating yourself to your stepkids—whether it's chores, routines, or basic expectations—and feeling like it's never ...
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Episode 124
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16:10
#123: Why Stepmom Resentment Sneaks In (and How to Stop It)
In this truth-telling episode, Alicia pulls back the curtain on one of the most common (but least talked about) emotions in stepfamily life: resentment. It doesn’t show up overnight—it builds quietly from all the unspoken expectations, invisibl...
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Episode 123
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31:06
#122: When Co-Parenting Isn’t Possible (Because the Ex Is a Nightmare)
If you’ve tried to co-parent with someone who thrives on drama, control, or straight-up chaos… this episode is your safe space and wake-up call. In Episode 122 of The Stepmom Side Podcast, Alicia breaks down what to do when co-parenting feels i...
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Episode 122
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18:06
#121: Peace Over Presents: Letting Go of Comparison in Your Blended Family Christmas
When the holidays roll around, so does the pressure — to make it fair, to make it magical, and to not lose your mind when the ex goes overboard or your stepkids start comparing gifts. In this episode of The Stepmom Side Podcast, Alicia...
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Episode 121
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31:28
#120: Sibling Rivalry + Stepkid Drama: Holiday Edition
The holidays can feel like a ticking time bomb in blended families — forced togetherness, high expectations, and the pressure to make everything magical can lead to major tension between stepkids and bio kids.In this episode, Alicia Kras...
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Episode 120
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16:49
#119: Feeling Left Out as a Stepmom: Why It Happens and What to Do
Have you ever felt like an outsider in your own home? In this heartfelt and practical episode, Alicia breaks down why stepmoms often feel left out of family moments — and what you can do about it.From unspoken group texts to being exclud...
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Episode 119
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15:07
#118: When Your Partner Sides With the Kids: What Every Stepmom Needs to Know
When your partner sides with the kids, it can feel like betrayal — or at the very least, like you’ve been completely shut out. This episode of The Stepmom Side Podcast digs into those moments of emotional hurt and confusion that so man...
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Episode 118
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32:33
#117: Why Peace Isn’t the Same as Perfection
In this episode of The Stepmom Side Podcast, Alicia gets real about one of the biggest misconceptions stepmoms have — that peace comes when everything is finally perfect....and then hear something going wrong in real time. :)If ...
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Episode 117
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20:19
#116: What If I Don’t Like My Stepkids? The Truth No One Talks About
What if you don’t like your stepkids? It’s the question that stepmoms whisper to themselves and rarely admit out loud. In this episode, Alicia unpacks why these feelings show up, why they don’t make you a “bad stepmom,” and how to move through ...
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Episode 116
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27:28
#115: Stepmom vs. Screen Time: When You’re the Only House with Phone Rules
Being the “strict” house isn’t easy — especially when you’re parenting a teenager who has unlimited freedom at their other home.In this episode, Alicia dives into a real stepmom story from Erica, who’s been a stepmom for 11 years and is ...
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Episode 115
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27:47
#114: My Why: Stepmom Coaching, The Stepmom Side Community, and Podcast
In this episode of The Stepmom Side Podcast, Alicia Krasko opens up about her why—the real reason she started coaching stepmoms, built The Stepmom Side Community, and launched this very podcast.She shares her raw, unfil...
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Episode 114
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22:22
#113: The Messy Middle of Stepmom Life: Intrusive Thoughts, Comparison, and Control
Do you ever catch yourself spiraling with intrusive thoughts about not being “enough” as a stepmom? Maybe you wonder if you’ll ever feel as important as your partner’s kids’ mom. Or you feel that rush of pressure to have a baby of your own—just...
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Episode 113
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41:56
#112: Getting Over Your Partner’s Past (And How to Stop Throwing It in Their Face)
In this candid episode, Alicia gets real about something most stepmoms won’t say out loud: you want to be over your partner’s past… but reminders keep ambushing you—kids’ faces, old photos, in-law stories, even the house you live in. S...
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Episode 112
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29:07
#111: When You’re Spiraling as a Stepmom: Why It Happens and How to Stop
Spiraling happens to every stepmom. You’re not broken—you’re human. In this episode, Alicia breaks down why stepmoms spiral, when it usually happens, and the steps you can take to calm your nervous system and find your footing again. If you’ve ...
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Episode 111
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27:43
#110: The Secret Journal Every Stepmom Should Have
Ever wish you could say exactly what’s on your mind to your partner’s ex… but know it’ll only make things worse? In this episode, Alicia shares the concept of an “Ex-Files”—a private place to store your unspoken thoughts, frustrations,...
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Episode 110
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22:07