The Stepmom Diaries | Blended Family & Stepmom Support Podcast

One day your stepchild is excited to see you and your spouse... and the next they're distant, angry, or refusing visits altogether.
Is it normal family conflict? Is it the stress of divorce? Or could it be parental alienation?
In this episode, Cameron sits down with internationally recognized researcher and author Amy J.L. Baker, PhD, to unpack one of the most misunderstood topics in divorce and blended families. Together, they discuss what parental alienation really is, how it differs from legitimate estrangement, and what parents and stepparents should know if they suspect someone is interfering with a child's relationship with the other parent.
Dr. Baker also explains her evidence-based Five-Factor Model, common parental alienation strategies, and how stepparents can support their partner without making an already difficult situation worse.
In this episode, you'll learn:
What parental alienation actually is, and what it isn't

The difference between alienation and justified estrangement

The Five-Factor Model used to identify parental alienation

Common strategies that can damage a parent-child relationship

If this episode encouraged or helped you, please share it with another stepmom, parent, or blended family who may need to hear this conversation.
Resources Mentioned
Amy J.L. Baker, PhD: https://www.amyjlbaker.com/ 
Adult Children of Parental Alienation Syndrome by Amy J.L. Baker
Ready to feel less alone in your stepfamily journey? Join thousands of stepmoms at the FREE 2026 Stepmom Summit for expert advice, real conversations, and practical tools to help you thrive: https://thestepmomsummit.com/ 
Free Resource: 10 Essential Scripts for Stepmoms: https://stepfamilycertification.com/stepmom-scripts
 
Love The Stepmom Diaries?
Please consider rating and reviewing The Stepmom Diaries on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps the show grow and reach more blended families who need honest conversations like this one.

Are you the one tracking the dentist appointments, school forms, birthday gifts, custody schedules, groceries, and all the details everyone else seems to forget?
That invisible work has a name: the mental load.
In this episode of The Stepmom Diaries, I'm sharing my conversation with Eve Rodsky, New York Times bestselling author of Fair Play and Find Your Unicorn Space. We talk about the mental load in blended families and why so many stepmoms feel exhausted from carrying invisible labor no one else sees.
This conversation is honest, validating, and so needed for stepmoms who feel like they are holding everything together behind the scenes.
In this episode, we cover:
Why stepmoms often carry the invisible labor

How the mental load shows up differently in blended families

Why boundaries and communication have to come before systems

The real antidote to burnout

Resources Mentioned
Fair Play by Eve Rodsky
Find Your Unicorn Space by Eve Rodsky
Fair Play Cards
Follow Eve on Instagram
Get our free Stepmom Scripts Guide with real-life scripts for common stepfamily conversations: https://stepfamilycertification.com/stepmom-scripts
Get on the waitlist for The Stepmom Summit happening September 14th-18th, 2026!
 
Love The Stepmom Diaries? Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or Spotify. Your support helps us reach more blended families who need honest conversations like this one.

We've all been there.
Someone makes a comment about being a stepmom that they probably mean well... but it still stings.
"You knew what you were getting into."
"At least you get a break."
"They're not really your kids."
In the moment, it's hard to know what to say. Later, you think of the perfect response.
This listener-favorite replay is packed with practical, gracious ways to respond to some of the most common (and frustrating) comments stepmoms hear—while also helping friends and family better understand the realities of blended family life.
Whether you're new to your stepfamily or years into the journey, this episode will help you navigate these awkward conversations with confidence and compassion.
In this episode:
Why "You knew what you were getting into" misses the reality of stepfamily life

Thoughtful responses to common stepmom comments

How to respond to friends and family without becoming defensive

Ways to protect your peace while building stronger relationships

If this episode encourages you, please share it with another stepmom who needs the reminder that she's not alone.
Resources Mentioned
Grab our FREE "10 Essential Scripts for Stepmoms": https://stepfamilycertification.com/stepmom-scripts
Love The Stepmom Diaries?
Please consider rating and reviewing The Stepmom Diaries on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps the show grow and reach more blended families who need honest conversations like this one.

Have you ever realized that the things that make a family look different on the outside don't change what matters most on the inside?
In this episode, I sit down with Jaimie Kelton and José Rolón to talk about LGBTQ families, parenting, belonging, and the many ways families are built. From infertility and surrogacy to stepfamily dynamics and family acceptance, we explore the challenges and joys of creating a family that may not fit society's traditional expectations.
What stood out most in this conversation is how much LGBTQ families and blended families have in common. The desire to love, connect, belong, and create a safe home for our children is universal.
In this episode, we cover:
• The unique paths many LGBTQ families take to parenthood
• Why representation and visibility matter for kids and families
• The double standards faced by stepmoms, stepdads, and modern families
• How to teach children about different family structures with openness and acceptance
If this episode resonates with you, share it with a friend and help us continue creating conversations that celebrate all kinds of families.
Resources Mentioned
Follow Love Take Two Podcast
The Queer Family Podcast
Follow José Rolón on Instagram @NYCGayDad
https://www.instagram.com/thequeerfamilypodcast/
Get our free Stepmom Scripts Guide with real-life scripts for common stepfamily conversations: https://stepfamilycertification.com/stepmom-scripts
 
Love The Stepmom Diaries?
Please consider rating and reviewing The Stepmom Diaries on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your support helps us reach more blended families looking for practical guidance, validation, and encouragement.

Ever feel like your stepkids are living in two completely different worlds? The rules change from house to house, expectations don't always match, and somehow everyone expects the kids to make sense of it all.
In this episode, I sit down with researcher, professor, stepmom, and former stepchild Bailey Oliver Blackburn, PhD to discuss new research on co-parenting with different values and what happens when children are navigating two households with very different beliefs, expectations, and parenting styles.
Bailey shares insights from a recent study exploring how co-parents manage divergent values, the impact on children, and the communication strategies that help families reduce conflict and support kids without forcing them to choose sides.
In This Episode, We Cover:
• What happens when children are raised across households with different values and beliefs
• The surprising challenges families reported beyond politics and religion
• How parents can discuss values without putting kids in loyalty binds
• Why high-conflict co-parenting and parallel parenting deserve more research
If you've ever wondered how to protect your relationship with your stepkids while navigating differences between households, this conversation offers practical insights and plenty of reassurance that you're not alone.
Resources Mentioned
Bailey Oliver Blackburn: https://www.baileyoliverblackburn.com
UA Little Rock Department of Applied Communication: https://ualr.edu/appliedcommunication/
Get our FREE 10 Essential Scripts for Stepmoms and get the exact words for your toughest stepmom conversations! https://stepfamilycertification.com/stepmom-scripts 
Join the waitlist for our free Stepmom Summit happening virtually September 14th-18th, 2026: https://thestepmomsummit.com/ 
Love The Stepmom Diaries?
Please consider rating and reviewing the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your support helps us reach more stepmoms and blended families who need these conversations.