Season One Highlights

Reflecting on Season 1: Heartfelt Conversations with Extraordinary Moms | It's a Circus Podcast

In the season finale of It's a Circus Podcast, host Elsa takes us on a journey through the highlights of their inaugural season. Featuring insightful recaps and impactful moments from various episodes, Elsa reflects on the powerful, vulnerable, and honest stories shared by nine incredible guests, including her husband. From navigating motherhood and career shifts to understanding personal journeys through surrogacy and postnatal challenges, each guest brings a unique perspective. Special moments from conversations with Crystal, Neda, Amy Jo, Spardha, Corinne, Saena, Emma, and Terra provide wisdom, comfort, and a sense of community.  Join Elsa as she celebrates the strength, resilience, and humor found in the circus of parenting.

00:00 Welcome to It's a Circus!

00:21 Season One Recap

01:23 Crystal's Journey

05:52 Neda's Insights

10:12 Amy Jo's Perspective

12:26 Spardha's Experience

16:46 Corinne's Story

23:50 Emma's Emotional Journey

28:22 Terra's Wisdom

30:41 Thank You and Farewell

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🎪 It’s a Circus 🎙️

Step right up to the podcast that tells it like it really is—because parenting isn’t always picture-perfect, but it’s always worth the ride.

Hosted by entrepreneur and mom Elsa Marit, It’s a Circus brings you real, unfiltered conversations with parents who know what it’s like to balance the chaos of kids, careers, and everything in between. Through heartfelt interviews and personal storytelling, Elsa peels back the layers of parenting to reveal the messy, hilarious, and deeply human moments we all experience—but rarely talk about.

This isn’t a guide to having it all figured out. It’s a reminder that you don’t have to.

Tune in for laughs, confessions, and insights that will leave you feeling connected, comforted, and ready to take on the next act. Hit subscribe—because life in the circus is better when we’re in it together. 🎪✨

Transcript

Step right up, 

folks. You're now entering It's a Circus, where parenting isn't always a show stopping act, but it's certainly entertaining. I'm your host, Elsa, here to prove that no one really knows what they're doing, and that's perfectly fine. Let's have some real conversations, peel back the layers, and remind you that you're never alone in the madness. Let's get the show rolling. 

Well that is a wrap on season one of it's a circus and we've had nine episodes and nine guests, including my husband. Um, but I just kind of wanna wrap it up with a little recap from this season. This is really a special season one because it's my first and two everyone that came on, Was helping me practice as well as, 

Willing to open up and be vulnerable without even knowing what would be out there into the world. So I am just incredibly indebted to each one of these people that have given me the honor to share their story on this platform, and I know for sure. The stories have impacted you because I've heard that.

So thank you for your support and I am so excited to recap some of my favorite moments from each episode. First up is Crystal. I had shared before, but I'll share again here. Crystal and I had worked together and. When I say this woman is a powerhouse, I mean in every way. On every level, and I knew her before we were parents and we were.

Deep in our careers and very, very focused, on that time in our lives. And it was really fun to reconnect after we both had some kiddos and talk about just how life is now and how it changed because her and I really shared an intensity and passion for our career currently, but also at that time together.

And that was really fun to see her. Motherhood and Parenthood journey is much different than I think the norm, which was a wonderful way to kick off this season. And I just again, wanna shout out Crystal for being very honest, very vulnerable, very open about her process because we all know that no matter how you get to motherhood, it is a journey.

And it will test you in ways that you never knew you could be tested. And she really walks us through that with her articulate to the point, wonderful way of explaining her experience. So here are a few of my favorite moments from Crystal.

[00:02:56] Crystal: a mom has actually made me a much better like employee manager, like peer, all those things, because it just contextualizes actual stress and actual stakes. And like, when, you know, there's something small at work that you're obsessing over like a deck and you're like, this, I used to just obsess over it and think about it all the time.

And now it's like, you know what, this is, this is great. We're good enough. We don't need to keep rubbing on this. Let's get this ship. Let's get this out the door. Or like, this is not as like life threatening as we're acting like it is because you just have real stakes at home. Um, and so I feel like it's actually taken my stress level down and my anxiety level at work down.

You know, I've got the steadiest hand because everything feels like it's low stakes and not saying that you should, you know, lean back from work at all. That's not it, but it just kind of helps contextualize. And so when you can be that, like, steady hand in the room, I actually think it gives you the upper hand on a lot of things.

 I held a lot of shame around surrogacy. I still do sometimes. And so I just didn't, like, I didn't want to go shopping. Cause I felt like everyone was looking and like, Oh, she doesn't have a belly. Or like, I didn't want to like wear a hospital gown because I was like, I'm not actually like giving birth and like all this stuff.

[00:04:14] Crystal: I held a lot of shame around surrogacy. I still do sometimes. And so I just didn't, like, I didn't want to go shopping. Cause I felt like everyone was looking and like, Oh, she doesn't have a belly. Or like, I didn't want to like wear a hospital gown because I was like, I'm not actually like giving birth and like all this stuff.

And I felt like I was actually very shameful of my body. And now I wish I had just like, honestly, just been like. tits out with like skin to skin contact right away and like gone and done the shopping and like who the fuck cares who's like if you're going to judge me like you know what I mean like get fucked you know like I wish I would have just like been more less self conscious on the whole thing.

 Totally. And it's kind of interesting cause I actually had a hard time accepting help at first. Like I took a lot of advice beforehand, but one of our neighbors dropped off some groceries for us and I was like, it was just great. It was all this food that was just like ready to eat and healthy and yummy.

[00:05:06] Crystal: And I was like, at the time I was just like, Subsiding on like protein shakes. And I was like, like, I was in tears because pre made salads are so amazing. I was like, I'm like, I should be able to do all this. Cause like I didn't carry. So like it shouldn't be hard on. And she was like,

[00:05:21] Elsa: Mm hmm.

[00:05:22] Crystal: uh, she was like, caring has nothing to do with like, she's like, sure.

Yes. Of course there's a recovery and that's hard, but like you're caring for a newborn. Like that's hard regardless. Like don't have this expectation that you should be like cooking dinner every night and making fresh lunches and like. Still working out and all of this just because you didn't actually carry the pregnancy.

Like you're taking care of a newborn that's crying because they're hungry every two hours. Like that's enough to take out anybody. And like hearing that it was like, okay, actually this is hard. This is hard. Like it's hard.

Okay, next up we have Netta. She and I worked together at a med spa, She was providing the treatments and I was selling the treatments, and she. It is amazing and what really kind of brought us together more closely was realizing that we were pregnant at the same time with our first and then pregnant at the same time with our second.

Her kiddos are 17 months apart and mine are 14 months apart. And. It was just really fun having somebody go through what felt like a very similar journey, and kind of like our worries and whatnot. She is my girl for questions and I love finding out all of the things that she's doing with her kiddos, for ideas to do with mine and just her thoughts around all things.

So when I started this podcast, thinking about my experience, she was one of the first people I thought of that I. Definitely want to get on here and talk about the experience that she had, because of that closeness, I desperately wish we were living closer together. I would hang out with her all the time and our kiddos would be best friends.

 she has some amazing insights and I love everything that she shared on our conversation. Without further ado, here's my favorite parts of my interview with Netta.

[00:07:20] Neda Ruiz-Eldredge: But I made the decision to stop. And it was the best decision I've ever made. Because in my mind, I think that A healthy, happy mom is so much more important.

I didn't want to miss out on this newborn, phase with my baby that I, I didn't want to be miserable the whole time. it was the best decision I've ever made. I mean, I think self care is super important and I just I never really related to Like I just remember when I had my first like I would read stories online before of like woman saying oh my god I haven't showered in seven days And I'm like, oh my god, is this really what it's gonna be like and I mean, I was able to shower every day.

Yeah. Maybe like I'd put the baby in the little bouncer and maybe he would cry a little bit, but I'm sorry. Like I'm going to take a shower because I need

Just, it's really just about making yourself feel good

[00:08:18] Elsa: Yeah,

[00:08:19] Neda Ruiz-Eldredge: confident.

Because that does even go into motherhood, like I really feel like when you look good and you feel good, at least for myself, I feel like I'm just a better person overall in every aspect of my life.

 it was not an easy decision. I'm not going to be like, I'm not just Oh my God, it was so easy. I just stopped it. It was, it was mentally hard.

[00:08:42] Neda Ruiz-Eldredge: I did sometimes feel like, you know, I'm not like a real woman, like I'm not feeding my child, but I did quickly get over that. And with the second, I. I already knew I'm, I'm an amazing mom and I'm going to make up for it in other ways. I don't need to breastfeed.

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Just head to coie.com or click the link in the description below. Next up we have Amy. She is my sister-in-law, which is so fun. She had come down to celebrate her birthday and we were talking about what I've been working on and what this idea has been brewing in my mind, and she was so supportive and obviously wanted to have her on and get her take. What I love about this conversation is when you're, 

 family, you don't always get the opportunity to dive deep into these conversations. So it was really fun to connect with her at this way. This is a conversation I've never had with her before, and it was fun and funny and wonderful, and she had some great things to offer.

So here are my favorite moments with Amy Jo.

 One thing I'm proud of with my kids is my kids know it's okay to go to therapy and to get help. 

[00:11:05] Elsa: Both of my older children have seen a therapist about things, and I think that's healthy.

[00:11:10] Amy Jo: They see that I, like, we go to therapy, that's important that nobody is perfect the way they are. Everyone is trying to grow, and it's okay to talk to somebody and to get help with things.

parenting is just hard and nobody has the answer. I feel like I'm failing all the time but don't give up on them.

 I love my kids. They drive me crazy. parenting is the hands on hardest job I've ever had to do. And being a teacher, I really thought that I'd be good at parenting. I thought that I'd Be able to work and I judged so much before I was a parent as a teacher. I judged all the time and I am a completely different person and a different teacher now that I've had kids and they really are wired on their own.

[00:12:00] Amy Jo: Like you can try and teach values like I'm trying, man, but they're just hardwired and they I don't know what I'm doing most of the time. And I'm just hopeful that I my kids don't end up in a Too much therapy. I mean, therapy is good, but like, I hope I don't ruin their lives. That's my hope.

So now moving on to Sparta. She and I also knew each other from a past life of working and talk about just a girl coming through for you. I had reached out to her and I was like, Hey, I have this crazy idea. Will you please be on my podcast? And. Easy and immediately she was just like, absolutely. Of course.

 she lives in Canada, which I think is really interesting and another layer to add on to the experience of motherhood, which is what I loved about our conversation. in addition to that, she has, two boys that are a little bit older than mine and it was great to. Talk to somebody that's a little bit further along in their journey.

And I loved her insight, knowing each other and knowing each other pretty well during that time of work. And then coming back and reconnecting this conversation meant everything to me, and I am going to stalk her to have more conversations like this. And without further ado, here is Sparta.

[00:13:30] Elsa: You can feel the same intensity around two opposing feelings at the exact same time. That's literally what Mother

[00:13:39] Spardha : Mm-hmm.

[00:13:39] Elsa: is for me at this point.

[00:13:41] Spardha : I also also like, honestly believe that coming back having a completely different perspective on what's important what's not also really benefited, benefited me in terms of, you know, what's a priority and what's just feedback for the sake of feedback or, what are the things that you know are really gonna move the needle. and I felt like that multi, I know it's really cheesy, but the ability to

[00:14:14] Elsa: you can kind of do with your eyes closed after. Um, you

Yes.

[00:14:18] Spardha : that first year

[00:14:20] Elsa: Yeah.

[00:14:20] Spardha : Surviving, So I feel like that helped too because, um, I, I wasn't getting caught in the weeds. I wasn't, know, part of the off office politics.

I, I just kind of like did the work and left everything there when I could,

 I think for us it's sort of like, it's not personal, like you wanna do it a certain way, wanna do it a certain way. You know, we can both do it differently. It's not gonna hurt the, you know, the, the child if, know, the routine is not identical to

[00:15:01] Elsa: Mm-hmm.

[00:15:02] Spardha : You know, like we all talk about routine

[00:15:04] Elsa: Yes.

[00:15:04] Spardha : much it's so important for

[00:15:05] Elsa: Yes.

[00:15:06] Spardha : But like, know, whether or not you put the sleep sack on after you wash their hands or before, like, none of that really gonna make a difference.

 Well this is fresh because I have started to practice of thinking of I need to put myself in sort of the mindset of, the kids' perspectives. so I wish I had started this practice. Sooner 'cause there were a lot of arguments with the kids or, you know, um, tantrums that probably I could have figured out and navigated differently. And I just really like said, okay, what are they trying to communicate right now? Or

[00:15:59] Elsa: Mm-hmm.

[00:16:00] Spardha : trying to tell me? Or like, you know, sure they're not respecting my, you know, come here now,

[00:16:06] Elsa: Hmm.

[00:16:07] Spardha : they're really into building X, Y, Z and I need to approach sort of the tactic a different

[00:16:13] Elsa: Mm-hmm.

[00:16:15] Spardha : that's why that comes to mind because I've only started doing that now.

Like, you know, ev each want their own agency to, to make decisions for themself and can feel very like, you're not listening. This is what I'm asking you to do right now. um. Kind of like shifting that narrative has allowed me to be a little bit more patient.

Okay. Corinne's interview totally just solidified and gave me this moment of like, this is exactly why I'm doing it. Her and I work together. I. Mm, really long time ago at the Honest Company and we were both not even close to being parents then. And, I loved her energy. We worked, very briefly together, but we stayed connected via social and then we both ended up having our, 

Both of our firstborns on the same day, which is so cool. And so I was kind of following her pregnancy journey from afar she is a creative and she just has incredible stuff that she puts out into the world. And one of the things that she has is a substack. And a lot of it has to do with just essentially what we're talking about on here.

Just like what is this motherhood journey right now in this time, not only in our lives, but. In this time, what is that like? And she is so thoughtful and so vulnerable. I had goosebumps so many times during this interview and she is just a light. So if you can follow her everywhere, she has so many good things to provide and it was an honor to speak with her.

And here are my favorite moments from Corinne. 

[00:18:08] Elsa: The other thing is like, it's okay to wish this moment away. In addition to wanting to slow it down all at the

[00:18:16] Corinne Behnke: It's both. It is both for sure.

[00:18:19] Elsa: Like, right? Like, it really is. I don't know if it's like, there's more of a taboo around these conversations or if people just don't want to open up about, I don't know what it is, to your point, that's why you started this podcast and I love, I love that you're doing this, but that shared community of just do whatever works for you and here are your options and here are the resources is so lacking in motherhood and in parenthood and it's terrible.

 it was also a pivotal turning point of like, am I ready to? put this part of my life on hold knowing that it's going to be so hard to jump back into it if and when I decide to jump back into it. Because society is not kind to women who have quote unquote been out of the workforce, if it's like corporate America, right, for like two, three, four years.

 They're like, oh, actually, we have this great person who's actually the head of that department and is hyper plugged into X, Y, and Z. So I think, I think making the decision to step away from a career was really hard because that was for my family. But it was also a decision that I had to make for myself.

[00:19:35] Elsa: Mm hm.

[00:19:36] Corinne Behnke: Like I knew the reasons I was doing it were right, but the hard part was that I didn't know that I was necessarily ready to do that. If that makes sense.

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It is fantastic and has been a dream to add into my routine, helping me feel really nourished and energized. So if you're ready to experience the parallel difference, head to my link in the description and you'll get 15% off your order. Trust me, your body will. Thank you. So with Ena, what was really exciting, and one of the reasons Ilove to have her on is the, this conversation is literally like the conversations we have all the time. And I love that. Which is why at the end, literally I was like, where is my glass of wine? Just this kind of felt like our regular convo.

The other thing that I've found so interesting is that she created the, mat leave program for the company that we both work for, and she currently still works there. and it was just really interesting to see that and the work that she put into making sure that it was as fair as possible is going to help.

Future parents as well as, other parents that are going through it, me being one of them. And it was so thoughtful and I just loved her. authentic take on what this motherhood Parenthood journey has been for her and how she is balancing it out. Between having, her child and what to do and then the pressures at work, and I just, it was so interesting to hear her take on it all and where she is currently and how open she is to.

That next step, whatever it may be. So it just was such a wonderful conversation and one that I'm so proud to have out in the world because it literally is like our true chat that we have. So, here are my absolute favorite moments from my with Cena. 

[00:22:33] Saena Park: I feel like as a mom I have more of a crystal clear sense of That's what society has in place, but that doesn't work for me.

Or that's what society has in place, but that's not natural to how I feel as a mom to my child or to my, the family unit. And so, um, it causes an evolution and be prepared to feel a little lost in that. Cause that is exactly how I feel right now. It's, it's a journey. It's a journey and like I'm still going through it and it's still evolving.

 I will also say there's nothing too disgusting to talk about.

[00:23:07] Elsa: Oh my god,

[00:23:08] Saena Park: Or too, or too dark.

[00:23:09] Elsa: much information.

[00:23:10] Saena Park: There's that doesn't exist. I mean like off the cuff you could yeah, you're gonna whatever the topic is not not gonna scare and that's the thing.

[00:23:18] Elsa: off limits. In fact, let's go

[00:23:20] Saena Park: Yeah, let's go.

 try to embrace it, be aware of it, because I think being aware of it also allows you to embrace it, versus resisting it, feeling like something's wrong with you, ugh, and that is also another thing about postpartum ness, or, where, Everything is looked at as like, something's wrong with you, you're feeling anxiety, you're feeling fear, you're feeling depression, like, let's try to fix it.

[00:23:41] Saena Park: But I'm like, maybe that's just part of what it is. It's nothing to be fixed. It is the journey that we have to go through.

 Okay. Emma's episode took me to my knees. I cried so many times in this. I don't think you can tell on the video, and I'm not like, I don't think a tear actually came outta my face, but a lot. Of welling up in my eyes for lots of reasons. And Emma and I know each other through our husbands, our husbands, our childhood friends, and then lived together in la And I went to her wedding in Australia when my firstborn was seven months old.

And, and I was newly, newly, newly pregnant with my second, and her wedding was. Out of this world. Um, and just incredible. She has the most amazing family and her and Nick's family combined. It's just like absolutely epic. On Epic, on Epic. And Emma has always kind of struck me as just like Warrior. She is strong.

She is so smart, so brilliant, has beautiful ideas and. Recently when we got together, um, I had found out that she was pregnant with her second, and we were able to really connect around just this, again, mothering right now, what that means, how we balance work, what mothering is in Australia versus here, and just connect on life and.

I love, love, love our convo and could not wait to get her on this podcast. And her story has so many layers to it, and it was so interesting on this platform to hear the intensity around what she has gone through. In her parenthood journey and I just couldn't be more privileged and honored to help kick off her sharing of her story here and, just the whole health system around.

 Women and what that means for everybody. So it was such an honor to have her here. And there are so many good little nuggets in Emma's, interview. So let's get into it. 

[00:26:13] Emma: I think that the hardest part, and I don't know if this will resonate with mums who go through something nefarious like, you know, a health problem or, or, anything similar, I couldn't look at my daughter or hold my daughter for 10 days waiting on my diagnosis because I, I just thought she shouldn't love me. shouldn't be attached to me because like, what if I'm not here? and that was the hardest part in the whole thing is like her, you know, like. When it's just you or your family, like your immediate family, like, and you don't have something that's dependent on you, I think it might be slightly easier. But when you have something, this newborn that is, that needs you literally to sustain its life, it was devastating. It was devastating. I tell and push and encourage people so much on this point where it doesn't need to be a partner, doesn't need to be your, like, the father, it doesn't need to be, you know, it doesn't need to be Anyone in particular, but having someone, anyone who you trust to leave your baby with even for an hour, just like shower is critical to set

[00:27:38] Elsa: yeah,

[00:27:38] Emma: the baby's born. because otherwise all you're doing is just swarmed in this newborn cycle,

 So that is my biggest advice postpartum is to have some sort of support network in place at least an hour or two a day alleviate, to allow you to do the things that make you feel human, but someone that you trust.

 You will get through it. You will, like better days are coming, but it has to be as cliched

[00:28:10] Elsa: Yeah.

[00:28:11] Emma: it really does have to be one day at a time because like looking constantly assessing the future really robs

[00:28:20] Elsa: Mmhmm.

[00:28:20] Emma: of your current state. 

What a treat this final guest of season one was. Um, this is somebody that I had recently met who is local to my community, and I. Was just blown away by all the pieces of advice that she has, um, really from experience. And I think it was such a lovely way to round out this first season with somebody who is local, someone who has a lot of experience, who is a mother and a grandmother, and talking about some career pivot.

And the next acts and the next chapters. And it was really inspiring to hear her journey and also inspiring to hear how, you know, there is so much in front of all of us, including her. And it was very hopeful and I really appreciated the opportunity to work with, somebody locally. So excited for us to hear these final nuggets from Tara.

 It's just so holistic for me just to dive in, take that risk, and because I feel like if I don't, then I'm worse off. Because then it's that what if I didn't do that?

[00:29:47] Tarra: What if I, I, and so to me that's worse for me and my personality. So I just have to go for it. And I try to understand, try to mentor other people by saying that, just do it. Take the risk. What do what do you have to lose?

 And then you close that chapter. Now it's, because you're gonna have your your first act, your second act, your third act, at different ages. 

[00:30:15] Tarra: So now I'm done going to that, that next act.

Which is very scary to reinvent yourself at 50. Yeah. Very scary.

 There's this whole new chapter act opening up, and it's something new and refreshing, and you're going to, your life is gonna be recharged because you're gonna be literally doing something completely opposite from what you're doing.

 Well, and that is it for season one of it's a circus podcast. Again, I just wanna say thank you so much. The reception of this podcast has just been overwhelming and I just wanna shout out a thanks to all of you that are listening currently right now, and an extra special thanks for the people that are in this podcast.

Because this is the first of many and the first season of many, and you all took a chance to be on here and share your voice, and I could be more thrilled and honored that I get to do this. Also, if you are loving the podcast, please share. Also, you're welcome to write a review that would go so far. and if there's anyone that you know that has a story to share, please send them my way.

Or if you'd like to share your story, I would love to have you on. So let's keep it going. I have a lot of exciting things up and coming, and here we go. Thank you so much. talk to you soon.

Thanks for listening to It's a Circus. If today's episode made you feel a little less alone, share it with a friend who might need it too. We are building something amazing at the Turner Brothers Circus, an entire space designed for parents to find connection, laughter, and support. I'd love for you to be a part of it.

Remember, you're doing better than you think. Stay grounded, stay real, and embrace that beautiful mess. And as always, the show must go on. Until next time.