The Mama’s Village Podcast CT

EPISODE 15: Navigating the Sandwich Generation with Alex Agosta

In this episode, Abby sits down with Alex Augusta, a Fairfield real estate agent who found herself thrust into this challenging life stage when her mother's health rapidly declined. After spending a difficult summer managing hospital visits, medical decisions, and endless logistics while raising two children, Alex created "In The Middle CT"—a local community for others facing similar struggles.
They discuss the harsh realities most people avoid: understanding insurance coverage, having difficult money conversations, knowing when it's time for assisted living, managing guilt, and simply keeping all the balls in the air. Alex shares practical first steps, from attending doctor appointments with your parents to consulting estate attorneys before crisis hits. Most importantly, they emphasize that you're not alone in this—and it's okay to feel all the complicated emotions that come with watching your parents age while raising your own children.
If you're caring for both generations, this honest conversation offers validation, resources, and the reminder that sometimes showing up an hour late to a birthday party is perfectly fine when you're dealing with what really matters.

Episode 14 Breaking the Silence on Money with Michelle Hobart

In this episode of The Mama's Village Podcast - CT, host Abby Hartley speaks with financial advisor Michelle Hobart about the importance of discussing money openly, especially in relationships and with children. They explore the concept of 'money silence' and its impact on personal and familial relationships, as well as practical financial strategies for moms. The conversation also touches on the significance of quality of life versus financial responsibility, and how to teach children about money management. Michelle shares her insights on navigating financial challenges and the importance of acknowledging one's financial story without shame.
 
Money silence is a significant issue affecting many relationships.
Discussing finances openly can prevent misunderstandings and conflicts.
The 50, 30, 20 budgeting rule is a helpful guideline for managing finances.
It's important to teach children about money management from a young age.
Sharing financial failures with kids can help them understand the realities of money.
Quality of life should be balanced with financial responsibilities.
Financial literacy is crucial for both parents and children.
Understanding one's money story can lead to better financial decisions.
Money should not define self-worth or happiness.
Open conversations about money can reduce shame and stigma. 
 
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
02:50 Michelle's Background and Career Journey
05:53 The Importance of Financial Planning
08:54 Fairfield County Hidden Gems
11:51 Diving into Financial Conversations
14:53 Understanding Money Silence
17:53 The Impact of Money on Relationships
20:58 Navigating Financial Conversations in Relationships
23:46 Family Dynamics and Money Discussions
26:29 The Importance of Financial Literacy
28:45 Strategies for Financial Security
30:41 Understanding the 50/30/20 Rule
32:35 Investing and Saving for the Future
36:35 Quality of Life vs. Financial Responsibility
39:42 Teaching Kids About Money
42:21 The Value of Sharing Financial Failures
46:24 Breaking the Stigma Around Financial Conversations

EPISODE 13 Lauren Barnett

In this episode of the Mama's Village Podcast, host Abby Hartley interviews Lauren Barnett, a mental health professional and author of 'Don't Tell My Mom That I Love Her.' They discuss Lauren's journey in the mental health field, her experiences working with adolescents, and the inspiration behind her book. The conversation delves into the challenges of matching clients with therapists, the importance of understanding mother-daughter relationships, and the universal themes of adolescence that resonate with both mothers and daughters. Lauren shares her insights on the struggles of middle school life and the connections that bind generations of women together. The episode also highlights hidden gems in Fairfield County and Lauren's plans for promoting her book.

Episode 12: Ashley Langer

In this episode of the Mama's Village Podcast - CT, host Abby Hartley interviews Ashley Langer, a networking expert and entrepreneur who recently launched a heated vest product called Hot Tommies. Ashley shares her journey from event planning to product development, discusses the importance of building an online community, and offers insights into overcoming challenges as a mom entrepreneur. The conversation also highlights local gems in Fairfield County and the details surrounding Ashley's newest heated vest design.

Episode 11: Dr. Andrea Gillis, DO

In this episode of the Mama's Village Podcast, host Abigail Hartley speaks with Dr. Andrea Gillis, an osteopathic physician, about the unique aspects of family medicine and the holistic approach of osteopathy. They discuss the importance of personalized patient care, the role of manual medicine, and the challenges of misinformation in health. Dr. Gillis shares insights on pregnancy, medication use, and the significance of patient advocacy. The conversation also touches on menopause awareness, lifestyle changes, and the importance of being informed about health decisions.

Episode 10: Understanding Child Behaviors with Mary Kate Robb

In this Episode, Abby sits down with LCSW and founder of The Parent Child Wellness Center, Mary Kate Robb, to discuss the challenges of parenting particularly focusing on emotional outbursts in children and the importance of understanding their behavior through the lens of nervous system responses. They explore various parenting techniques, the significance of connection and boundaries, and provide encouragement for parents facing difficulties. The discussion emphasizes the need for self-regulation in parents and the importance of recognizing and addressing children's emotional needs.

Episode 9: Navigating Digital Wellness for Kids

In this episode of the Mama's Village Podcast, host Abby Hartley engages with Tory Donohue, the digital wellness lead for Fairfield PTAC, to discuss the pressing issue of digital wellness for children. We explore the consequences of early cell phone use, the importance of digital health, and the initiatives being taken at both institutional and community levels to promote healthier technology habits among kids. The conversation also touches on personal experiences with screen time, the challenges of parenting in a digital age, and the significance of community support through movements like Wait Until Eighth and OK to Delay. The episode concludes with practical advice for parents on navigating technology use in their children's lives.

Episode 8: Parenting Styles and Beyond

In this episode, I sit down with 4 local moms who are all educators in some capacity and talk about all the different parenting styles. We dive into gentle parenting, Authoritative parenting and attachment parenting. It's so great to hear everyone's perspective. This conversation is for the seasoned moms as well as new moms. You don't want to miss it! 

Episode 7: Jess McCormack

Episode 7 with Jess McCormack, the owner of Fairfield Moms, a local moms network franchise that focuses on all things Fairfield events, businesses and things to do around Fairfield. She knows it all when it comes to hidden gems and having fun. We dive into building a business from scratch, how to make guests feel special at an event and her favorite local spots to hang with her kids on the weekends. You don't want to miss this conversation! It's a fun one! 

Episode 6: Sue Gabriel and Brittani D'Andrea

Episode 6 of The Mama's Village Podcast - CT Sue Gabriel and Brittani discuss 5 ways to bullet proof your marriage, The Gottman Method and Co-parenting during divorce so you stay out of court and save your money. You don't want to miss this one!