Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Foster.
Hi Lisa, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
At the height of the pandemic, I worked as a pediatric physical therapist at a local hospital. My typical caseload consisted of infants who needed therapy for various reasons. I couldn’t help but notice how these new moms were struggling to navigate basic parenting resources, and some even shared how isolated they were feeling within the parenting role.
One day a mom came in with her infant and said, “Wow, I just realized that since we saw you last week, I haven’t left my home even once since then.” This simple statement was a wake-up call for me both as a professional and, even more importantly, as a related mother myself. It really spurred some ideas in me – I realized that my own parenting experiences could help these parents as a valuable resource and from feeling isolated.
I’m a mom with two teenagers, and the one thing that truly helped me through my own parenting journey was talking to other moms. It was my “mom friends” that got me through my moments of insecurities and self-doubt as a new mother; they were the backbone of support for me through the long nights, they answered my constant stream
of questions, and they’ve been with me through every phase and tantrum of my children’s upbringing – even the teen years. My “mom friends” kept me sane and balanced.
Many of the new moms I was observing in my professional capacity within the pandemic were unable to meet and network with other new moms to gain those necessary social inputs, anecdotes, and guidance. I knew I needed to do something to help moms connect with other moms. We were quickly adopting and flourishing in a world of Zoom, YouTube, and podcasts, and I became inspired to teach myself to leverage these technologies to connect moms worldwide and offer them resources with other relatable mothers and subject matter experts.
My other goal was to offer my own vulnerabilities and collective experiences with a dash of humor – and I truly felt I was onto something. Over the pandemic, I committed to pushing forward with the idea and started the Real Life Momz Podcast. The podcast has grown overnight and is now listened to in over 30 countries worldwide. I began this podcast to connect moms, but never in my wildest dreams that it would touch the lives of moms around the world.
Real Life Momz is a podcast that connects moms through real conversations. It is a platform where moms are given a voice to tell their inspiring stories and share their resources and expertise. I truly believe as moms, we have so much knowledge, and when we come together, we can be powerful!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I honestly never dreamed I would start a podcast. I am the least tech-savvy person on the planet. Candidly, I still experience anxiety when I have to attend a Zoom meeting, let alone host one! But I realized quickly that the mission of the podcast was far more important than dealing with my own insecurities. Connecting moms that felt alone or just needed an inspiring story or expert advice means so much more to me than my inability to navigate the tech world. Although I have to admit – over the process of building the podcast, I have increased my confidence in technology exponentially. I am completely self-taught – my husband is so impressed!
In building out the show’s format, I knew I needed to show up and be vulnerable, allow myself to make mistakes along the way, and learn from them. As I continue to grow the podcast, I’ve learned to embrace patience; I’ve learned to trust myself more than ever as I dive headfirst into this new phase for myself. Honestly, it’s not that different than parenting. My first episode took me over 2 weeks to edit because I had so many difficulties with the recorded audio.
Still, I learned to trust and teach myself a new language of technology. That same first episode that was so problematic for me was one of the most listened-to episodes of my first season! Perhaps beginners’ luck, or perhaps an example of my own tenacity? So, it seems like showing up just as you are, is enough.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Real Life Momz launches a new episode every Tuesday and can be listened to on all major podcast platforms, including Apple and Spotify. Each week I invite a guest to help me discuss an important parenting topic. Starting in season 2, I interviewed incredible subject matter experts in different parenting categories. All of our guests are parents themselves; most of them are experts in their respective fields, and others are authors or podcasters themselves; some of the topics are hilarious, others are tough, but most importantly, we cover topics that are relatable, timely, and relevant. At the heart of it, most of the guests are moms themselves sharing their inspiring stories and expertise.
I am proud of the variety of topics we discuss on the show, and they can range anywhere from; tips to navigating middle school, how to afford to pay for college, raising balanced children with awareness – to much more serious topics such as; dealing with gun violence and suicide. Our conversations are truly REAL. My guests come on ready to have a real conversation about a specific topic. They are not given pre-written questions before the show, which is what I love most about the Real Life Momz podcast; what you hear on the show is an unrehearsed real conversation between real mothers. What I tell every guest before we start recording the show is – if we can help even one mom, we’ve won!
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love sunshine and the natural beauty that is available right outside my door.
There is always a trail I can jump onto somewhere either alone or with my family. I cherish the beautiful views of the mountains, and they remind me to slow down, breathe and take in the moments
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.reallifemomz.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/reallifemomz
- Facebook: facebook.com/groups/reallifemomz
