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Rated Mom Podcast

Rated Mom Podcast

Written by: Heather Frye
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About this listen

 Rated Mom is an honest podcast for women navigating real life. Identity. Mental health. Relationships. Work. Burnout. The mental load. And the hard stuff you will not find in the social media version of perfect. Hosted by Jessica, Heather, and Dena, three real women having real conversations, the show feels like sitting around with girlfriends talking about life as it actually is. Raw. Funny. Messy. And sometimes heavy. Some episodes talk about motherhood. Many do not. All of them tell the truth. We talk about losing yourself and finding your way back. About carrying too much for too long. About the pressure to have it all together when you do not. The wait is it just me moments that remind you that you are not alone and you are not doing life wrong. Rated Mom is not about being perfect. It is about being real and figuring it out on your own terms.2025 Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Why Women Self-Isolate (And When It Becomes Unhealthy)

    Why Women Self-Isolate (And When It Becomes Unhealthy)
    Jan 28 2026

    Self-isolation is a common coping mechanism for many women — but when does it help, and when does it quietly turn into emotional withdrawal?

    In this episode of Rated Mom, Heather, Dena, and Jessica talk honestly about why women self-isolate, how overwhelm and overstimulation trigger it, and how to recognize when alone time stops being restorative and starts becoming harmful.

    We share personal experiences, unpack the shame and self-judgment that often follow isolation, and talk about the pressure women feel to "perform" socially even when they're depleted. You'll hear how to reframe solitude as intentional self-care, how to set boundaries without guilt, and how to reconnect with others in small, realistic ways.

    This conversation isn't about fixing yourself or forcing connection. It's about awareness, compassion, and learning how to create space without disappearing.

    If you've ever wondered, "What's wrong with me?" — you're not alone. And you're not broken.

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Why this topic resonates with so many women
    01:05 What self-isolation actually looks like
    01:27 Healthy solitude vs emotional withdrawal
    03:15 Overwhelm, overstimulation, and shutting down
    04:22 Shame, judgment, and self-awareness
    06:03 Recognizing patterns and triggers
    07:54 The pressure to perform socially
    11:05 Why staying busy doesn't mean you're okay
    13:42 Reframing self-isolation as self-care
    15:21 How to isolate intentionally (without disappearing)
    17:30 Communicating your needs to partners
    20:22 How to support someone who self-isolates
    23:16 When self-isolation becomes depression
    27:11 Tools that help break the cycle
    30:03 Small steps back to connection
    31:42 Final thoughts: it's safe to be seen

    If this conversation resonated with you, follow Rated Mom and save this episode so you can come back to it when you need it. Sharing it with another woman who might feel seen by this episode makes a bigger impact than you know.

    Powerful Moments from the Episode

    Heather:
    "Sometimes disappearing feels easier than explaining how overwhelmed you are."

    Dena:
    "I thought something was wrong with me — like, why do I do this?"

    Dena:
    "When I'm doing everything but nothing well, that's when I shut down."

    Connect with Rated Mom:
    🌐 Website: https://www.ratedmom.com
    🔗 Links: https://linktr.ee/ratedmom

    Follow the hosts:
    • Dena: https://www.facebook.com/share/1YYxWExz9R/?mibextid=wwXIfr
    • Heather: https://www.facebook.com/share/1DSnFyt4Gk/?mibextid=wwXIfr
    • Jessica: https://www.facebook.com/share/1D1f3e9iKD/?mibextid=wwXIfr

    🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts & Spotify
    🎙️ Produced and edited by resilientvoicemedia.com
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    32 mins
  • The Seasons That Changed Us (Money, Addiction, Loss, and Healing)

    The Seasons That Changed Us (Money, Addiction, Loss, and Healing)
    Jan 13 2026

    Hard seasons don't look the same for everyone — and they don't arrive on the same timeline.

    In this episode of Rated Mom, Heather, Dena, and Jessica share personal stories from different difficult seasons of their lives: financial uncertainty, addiction and recovery, caregiving through terminal illness, panic attacks, grief, and the work of healing afterward.

    We talk about how these experiences shaped our boundaries, challenged our faith, forced self-reflection, and changed how we show up for ourselves and others. This isn't a comparison of pain or a dramatic collapse — it's an honest conversation about navigating hardship in our own ways and finding strength through support, accountability, and grace.

    If you're walking through a hard season that doesn't look like anyone else's — this episode is a reminder that there's no "right" way to survive it. And you don't have to do it alone.

    Timestamps

    00:01:04 Financial uncertainty and taking action anyway
    00:01:54 Feeling disconnected from yourself
    00:04:06 Caregiving through terminal illness
    00:08:06 Grief, loss, and emotional aftermath
    00:14:41 How loss reshapes priorities
    00:23:09 Recovery, accountability, and relapse prevention
    00:32:59 Setting boundaries to protect mental health
    00:36:25 Different forms of addiction and hidden struggles
    00:43:17 Shame, stigma, and owning your past
    00:45:24 Why addiction isn't about willpower
    00:47:27 Trauma from overdose experiences
    00:48:32 Spiritual moments in recovery

    If this conversation resonated with you, follow Rated Mom and save this episode so you can come back to it. Sharing it with another woman walking through a hard season could matter more than you realize

    Powerful Quotes from the Episode

    Dena:
    "I was really unhappy. I didn't even recognize myself."

    Heather:
    "My panic attacks were out of control. I couldn't sleep. And then Marty died — and I carried all of that grief."

    Dena:
    "Looking back, I can see where God literally carried me through situations where I should be dead."

    Healing doesn't erase the past, it proves you survived it, and that survival can become someone else's hope

    RESOURCES:

    Connect with Rated Mom

    🌐 Website: https://www.ratedmom.com/
    🔗 Links: https://linktr.ee/ratedmom

    Follow the hosts:
    • Dena: https://www.facebook.com/share/1YYxWExz9R/?mibextid=wwXIfr
    • Heather: https://www.facebook.com/share/1DSnFyt4Gk/?mibextid=wwXIfr
    • Jessica: https://www.facebook.com/share/1D1f3e9iKD/?mibextid=wwXIfr

    🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts & Spotify
    🎙️ Podcast produced and edited by ResilientVoiceMedia.com

    Podcast Produced and edited by the team at ResilientVoiceMedia.com

    Contact us for expert podcast production and support.
    Show More Show Less
    53 mins
  • Progress Over Perfection: A Journey Through Motherhood and Mental Health

    Progress Over Perfection: A Journey Through Motherhood and Mental Health
    Dec 30 2025
    In this episode of "Rated Mom," Heather, Dena, and Jessica have an honest, humorous discussion about New Year's resolutions, self-care, and mental health as women navigating motherhood and aging. They share personal stories about the challenges of goal-setting, body image, hormonal changes, and anxiety, emphasizing the importance of therapy, realistic intentions, and self-compassion. The hosts offer practical tips for meal planning and managing daily stress, encouraging listeners to embrace progress over perfection and to seek support when needed. The episode blends laughter, vulnerability, and practical advice for women in midlife. Timestamps Resolutions: Why We Stopped (00:00:46) Discussion about giving up traditional New Year's resolutions and struggles with consistency. Small Goals & Habits (00:02:20) Emphasis on setting small, manageable goals instead of overwhelming resolutions. The "One Word" Approach (00:03:34) Sharing experiences with choosing a "word of the year" and its impact (or lack thereof). Meal Prep & Real Life Struggles (00:04:21) Anecdotes about failed meal prep attempts and the realities of busy family life. Post-Holiday Reset & Overwhelm (00:05:21) How the chaos after Christmas leads to a need for a reset, and feeling overwhelmed in January. Progress Over Perfection (00:07:03) Choosing progress and small steps over perfection and rigid goals. Aging, Body Image, and Hormones (00:08:07) Open conversation about perimenopause, body changes, and self-image in their 40s. Therapy & Mental Health Journeys (00:14:44) Personal stories about starting therapy, vulnerability, and the importance of mental health support. Marriage, Therapy, and Communication (00:17:10) How therapy and counseling helped strengthen marriages and communication. Medication, Hormones, and Advocacy (00:23:44) Experiences with hormone therapy, medication side effects, and advocating for proper medical care. Delegation & Household Management (00:33:03) The importance of delegating tasks like cleaning and laundry to reduce stress. Meal Planning & Life Hacks (00:36:00) Tips and tools for meal planning, grocery shopping, and using apps to simplify routines. Self-Care & Personal Needs (00:39:57) Discussion about self-care, therapy, and the challenges of prioritizing personal well-being. Panic Attacks & Anxiety (00:43:07) Describing experiences with panic attacks, anxiety, and the journey to understanding and managing them. Powerful Quotes from the Episode Heather, 'I do love myself. I just don't love what I see when I look in the mirror. I'm like, where did that really hot chick go?' Dena, 'I was suicidal. Very few people know that, but there was a period where I was really suicidal in life.' Heather, 'It feels like internally I'm having a heart attack—heart palpitations, I'm going to pass out, I need to throw up, my heart's racing.' Heather, 'Even knowing it, you just can't control it.' Jessica, 'You get overwhelmed and just shut down. So, you know what? I'm not putting all these hard expectations on my life. I'm just going to make a couple small changes.' RESOURCES: Connect With Us: https://www.ratedmom.com/ https://linktr.ee/ratedmom Dena: https://www.facebook.com/share/1YYxWExz9R/?mibextid=wwXIfrHeather: https://www.facebook.com/share/1DSnFyt4Gk/?mibextid=wwXIfrJessica: https://www.facebook.com/share/1D1f3e9iKD/?mibextid=wwXIfr Follow the Podcast: Rated Mom on Apple Podcasts and Spotify "You don't need a new you for the new year—just a kinder way of showing up for the you that already exists." Podcast Produced and edited by the team at ResilientVoiceMedia.com Contact us for expert podcast production and support.
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    45 mins
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