Two Kids and A Career

This week's guest is STL Veg Girl. If you live in the St. Louis area, you’re bound to know or have heard of Caryn Dugan, A.K.A. STL Veg Girl. Caryn lost her Dad to cancer in 2008 and 10 weeks after his passing, she was diagnosed with cancer.  She decided to take matters into her own hands and research immune boosting diets and cancer prevention tips.  All searches led to a plant-based diet.  Fast forward, those searches lead to Caryn opening up the Nation’s first ever Center for Plant-based Living! In this week’s episode, Jill Devine and Caryn talked about the journey from cancer scare to entrepreneur.  They also discussed how Caryn doesn’t have children and she often felt left out among her Mommy friends, but now she understands her Mommy friends a little bit more because her child is in the form of a brick and mortar.  

The biggest compliment Jill Devine can receive about this podcast is hearing about women talking to other women about how much they love this podcast and how much they can relate to it.  This week’s guest is one of “those” women.  Arlene Browne is friends with Rachel Sauter (a guest in Season 1, Episode 9).  Rachel told Jill how much Arlene loved the podcast and she would be a perfect guest to have on.  She explained that Arlene is a business owner, a mom to two kiddos, and so much more. This episode served as a therapy session for Arlene.  She was able to let some things off her chest and Jill was able to reinforce how good of a mom she is.  Chances are you will nod in agreement when you listen to this episode.   

Michelle Lynchard sent an email to Jill Devine, proposing being a guest on the podcast.  Here’s some of that email: I recently discovered your podcast and I am officially your new fan. :)  I especially loved your episode with Allie Corey and Dana Dean (episode 22).  I love the way you spread the message of “we’re all in this together” instead of “let’s judge other Moms.” I am a Life Coach here in St. Louis. I specialize in helping overwhelmed, busy Moms bring more calm to their lives. Would you be interested in doing an episode like “A Mom's Guide to a Calm Holiday Season”? I’d love to work with you. Thanks for the good, positive Mom energy you’re putting out into the world.  Jill thought, “a calm holiday season”?  100%, YES!  This episode taught Jill much more than how to create a calm holiday season.  It was a very therapeutic episode and you will more than likely feel the same after you listen.  In the episode, Michelle refers to the holiday guide to help with your calm Holiday season.  Here is the link for the holiday guide: http://bit.ly/mlholiday

Tony Colombo had a very different idea of what he was going to talk to Jill Devine about in this week’s episode.  He thought Jill wanted to talk about the crazy labor & delivery stories with his three children, but Jill had other thoughts in mind. Jill wanted to talk to Tony about the difference of having children in your early twenties vs. having children in your early forties.  She wondered if you're more patient the older you get, if you have stricter rules, if it's easier, etc.  In addition to those thoughts, through a mutual friend, Jill found out Tony and his wife co-sleep with their youngest and Jill HAD to talk to him about it because … well, take a listen to find out why.

What should we do today?  Parents ask that very popular question on a daily basis.  Thank goodness for Jen Cowan because she has an answer for that question.  Most know Jen as “And Hattie Makes Three”.  She is a lifestyle blogger and has all the tips on what to do in the St. Louis area.  Of course, we talked a lot about Hattie, her five-year-old daughter, on this week’s episode, along with what led her to become a lifestyle blogger and the things she loves about the city she lives in.