518 episodes
- I have spent so much time, energy, and money over the years trying to get good at the things I am simply not good at. Routines are my big one. I am not great at keeping our home organized and running on any kind of rhythm, and there have been whole seasons where I decided that fixing that about myself was the most important work I could possibly be doing.
Now, there's nothing wrong with striving to be better, and I am fully on board with growth, but we all have a finite amount of energy, and every hour I spend hyper-focusing on a weakness is an hour I don't get to spend magnifying the things that make me who I am.
This is the second episode in my back-to-school check-in series for moms, six short episodes walking you through the six principles of self-assured motherhood, each one with a concrete way to assess how you're actually doing.
Today's principle is Celebrate Your Strengths, and I love teaching about this because I love giving every woman permission to acknowledge and celebrate her innate gifts and strengths. When you stop trying to be a well-rounded version of everyone else and start leaning into what you naturally do well, your growth in that area becomes exponential, your joy goes up, and your family gets the very best of you instead of a watered-down imitation of somebody else's mothering.
In this episode, you'll hear:
💛 The Olympic gymnast who competed in exactly one event, and why his coaches wanted it that way
💛 A question about baseball from a Harvard Business Review article that I share with every woman in my Self-Assured Motherhood program
💛 The answer one of my kids gave in the car one summer that made me so grateful I had leaned into my strength that day instead of apologizing for everything I'm not
You have gifts that nobody else can bring to your family in quite the way you can, and I hope this school year is the one where you spend your energy magnifying those, rather than apologizing for all the rest.
For full show notes, including takeaways, click here.
***
Announcements:
Want to know how you're doing across all six principles of self-assured motherhood? Take the free interactive quiz at 3in30podcast.com/quiz. You'll get a clear picture of where you're thriving and where you could use more support, and you'll be added to the info list for my Self-Assured Motherhood program, which opens for enrollment on September 14th with a special discount for quiz-takers.
Related Episodes:
436: Embrace the Mom You Are—Not the One You Think You Should Be // Julie Bastedo
315: A Word from our SAM Sisters
314: How to Feel like Yourself in Motherhood // Aleisha McKean
Episode Sponsors:
Quince: Make your summer wardrobe feel easier. Go to Quince.com/3in30 for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too.
K12 Powered Schools: See how K12 Powered Schools can help unlock your child's full potential. Enroll online today at K12.com/3in30.
Zenni: Go to zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for fifteen percent off your first order, plus free shipping on all US orders over sixty five dollars.
Let's Connect!
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Find Your Magic in Motherhood: Free 3-Day Email Course
*** - It's back-to-school season, and our kids are about to be assessed on their reading, their math, and their writing. But what if we gave ourselves an assessment for how we're doing as moms? (And I don't mean a test involving balancing equations... I would rather not know my score for that. 😬) Instead, we can assess ourselves on our emotional wellbeing, because that affects everything about motherhood.
And so I've created a mini series to give us exactly that.In this mini series, there will be six short episodes that walk you through each of my six principles of Self-Assured Motherhood. These are the six areas that make the biggest difference in your joy, your peace, and your emotional wellbeing, and knowing where you stand in each one shows you where you're already doing well and where you could use more support.
Today, we are starting with my first principle: Voice Your Values. This is my favorite principle in the framework, and the one I put first because everything else rests on it.
In this episode you'll hear:
✨ The two dictionary definitions of "values," and which definition we're talking about here.
✨ The five cards my husband handed me during a values activity at a couples retreat, because they explained a dream of his that had been a mystery to me for years.
✨ The green, yellow, and red definitions I read straight from my workbook, so you can figure out which one describes you right now.
You can take my free self-assessment to see exactly where you stand in all six areas — go to 3in30podcast.com/quiz or click the link in the show notes.
As you head into the back-to-school season with your kids, I hope you'll take some time to assess where you're at in your own growth and happiness. These six principles are a great place to start.
For full show notes, including takeaways, click here.
***
Announcements:
Enrollment for the Self-Assured Motherhood Program opens September 14th. Take our Quiz and you will be added to the info list, so you will hear first when the doors open.
Related Episodes:
375: 3 Ways Voicing Your Values will Help Lighten your Mental Load // Rachel Nielson on the Happy Mom Summit
388: What a Spaghetti Dinner Taught Me About Teaching // 3 Reasons the SAM Program REALLY Works
389: I'm a Seasoned Mom. Is SAM for me? // Wanda Opitz, SAM Alumni
Podcast Sponsors:
Quince: Make your summer wardrobe feel easier. Go to Quince.com/3in30 for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too.
K12 Powered Schools: See how K12 Powered Schools can help unlock your child's full potential. Enroll online today at K12.com/3in30.
Zenni: Go to zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for fifteen percent off your first order, plus free shipping on all US orders over sixty five dollars.
Let's Connect!
Join me on Instagram!
Get weekly-ish emails with BTS of my life
Find Your Magic in Motherhood: Free 3-Day Email Course
*** 493: How to Calm Your Nervous System in 60 Seconds (And Other Small, Practical Pauses) // Layne Burkette
10/08/2026 | 43 mins.I have never been much of a meditator. Sitting cross-legged on my bedroom floor, waiting for my brain to go quiet, has never once worked for me. I'm too in my head, too cerebral, too prone to just thinking harder instead of actually feeling calmer.
So when I recorded this episode, I wasn't expecting to walk away from it more relaxed than I've felt in weeks. But that's exactly what happened.This week's guest is Layne Burkette, a licensed therapist who specializes in somatic and nervous system work.If you're heading into back-to-school season already feeling the overwhelm creep in, this conversation will give you real tools, not one more thing to add to your plate.
In this episode, you'll hear:
🌿 A sixty-second practice you can do standing at the sink, in the carpool line, or anywhere else your day already has you
🌿 The one sentence that reframes everything about why you snap before you even realize you're upset
🌿 The moment Layne had me try something I've avoided my entire life (and why it actually worked)
For full show notes, including takeaways, click here.
***
Announcements:
FREE RESET: Feel Calm in Minutes by accessing Layne's quick nervous system resets.
Related Episodes:
129: Rethinking Meditation as a Busy Mom // Dr. Leah Weiss
483: Types of Support that Every Mom Needs
407: A Two-Minute Daily Practice to Transform Your Mental Health
Episode Sponsors:
AirDoctor: Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code 3IN30 to get $250 off select AirDoctor air purifiers, including the 3500, 4000, and 5500 models.
Quince: Make your summer wardrobe feel easier. Go to Quince.com/3in30 for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too.
K12 Powered Schools: See how K12 Powered Schools can help unlock your child's full potential. Enroll online today at K12.com/3in30.
Zenni: Go to zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for fifteen percent off your first order, plus free shipping on all US orders over sixty five dollars.
Let's Connect!
Join me on Instagram!
Get weekly-ish emails with BTS of my life
Find Your Magic in Motherhood: Free 3-Day Email Course
***492: Why Abby Is Done Fighting Over Screen Time (and Other Back-to-School Shifts) // 3 in 30 Team
03/08/2026 | 38 mins.If the back-to-school season is already creeping up on you (the supply lists, the new routines, the mental math of who needs to be where and when), you are not the only mom feeling that low hum of stress. Every year it sneaks up faster than I expect it to, and every year I tell myself this is the year I'll feel ready. And... I never quite do. (Maybe you can relate! 😆)
So today I'm handing the mic to three of my favorite people to talk this through with: Abby, our Finance Director, Emily, our Marketing Director, and Christy, our Operations Director. Each of them is going to walk us through how one of their core values is shaping a real decision or mindset shift they're making this back-to-school season. These aren't Pinterest-perfect systems, but they are an honest look at what's actually working for them right now.
Whatever season of motherhood you're in, however many kids or what ages, there's a good chance one of their stories will feel a little like your own, and might just help you lead this season with more intention and a lot more peace. Some of what you'll hear includes:
🍎 Why Abby decided she's done fighting her kids over Chromebooks, and what she's trying instead
🍎 The "black trash bag energy" Emily admits she brings to every new school year (and why she's doing something different this time)
🍎 The line Christy's mom used on her as a kid that she still thinks about decades later
For full show notes, including takeaways, click here.
***
Announcements:
If this conversation has you wondering what your own core values actually are, our Self-Assured Motherhood quiz is a great place to start. It only takes a couple of minutes and gives you a real starting point for where to focus your energy this season. Take it at 3in30podcast.com/quiz.
Related Episodes:
478: What Every Mom of a Teenager Needs to Hear // Emily Ricks
449: 3 Simple Strategies to Prevent After-School Meltdowns // Alyssa Blask Campbell
306: Creating Back-to-School Routines for a Smooth Transition // Mika Perry
Podcast Sponsors:
BetterHelp: 3 in 30 Takeaways for Moms is sponsored by BetterHelp. Go to betterhelp.com/3in30 to get 10% off your first month of online therapy.
Quince: Make your summer wardrobe feel easier. Go to Quince.com/3in30 for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too.
K12 Powered Schools: See how K12 Powered Schools can help unlock your child's full potential. Enroll online today at K12.com/3in30.
Zenni: Go to zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for fifteen percent off your first order, plus free shipping on all US orders over sixty five dollars.
Let's Connect!
Join me on Instagram!
Get weekly-ish emails with BTS of my life
Find Your Magic in Motherhood: Free 3-Day Email Course
***- With back-to-school season right around the corner, I keep thinking about a moment from my own high school years – a moment so small I barely registered it at the time. I noticed a kid sitting alone, stuck out my hand, and said hi. That was it. What I didn't know was that it would change his life, and honestly, mine too.
This is a re-air of one of my favorite episodes from the archives, originally recorded as an interview I did on the podcast Becoming for Teens. I'm bringing it back now because our schools need more kids brave enough to look up, reach out, and make someone feel like they belong. And the truth is, so do our communities.
You'll come away from this one thinking about:
💜 The letter Brian wrote me at graduation, and what he said about that first handshake
💜 Why the kindest thing you can do might feel awkward or forced at first (and why that's okay)
💜 The small but specific things teens (and moms!) can do to make someone feel seen
This episode is worth listening to with your kids on a family night, in the car, or anytime when they're a captive audience. I think it'll spark a conversation you'll both remember.
For full show notes, including takeaways, click here.
***
Announcement:
Take the free Self-Assured Motherhood Quiz — it walks you through six key areas of motherhood and shows you where you're already doing well and where you could use a little more support. It takes about three minutes.
Related Episodes:
445: How to Set Boundaries without Damaging Relationships // Rachel on Happy Mom Summit
429: How Ordinary Moms Can Make a Difference // Sharon McMahon
419: 3 Things Moms of Children with Disabilities Want You to Know // Katie Blackburn
Episode Sponsors:
AirDoctor: Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code 3IN30 to get $250 off select AirDoctor air purifiers, including the 3500, 4000, and 5500 models.
Quince: Make your summer wardrobe feel easier. Go to Quince.com/3in30 for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too.
Fodzyme (KiwiBiosciences): We're so excited to partner with Fodzyme and offer you 30% off your first order when you go to ICanEatAgain.com/3IN30. Finally, you can enjoy your favorite foods without the pain.
K12 Powered Schools: See how K12 Powered Schools can help unlock your child's full potential. Enroll online today at K12.com/3in30.
Let's Connect!
Join me on Instagram!
Get weekly-ish emails with BTS of my life
Find Your Magic in Motherhood: Free 3-Day Email Course
***
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About 3 in 30 Takeaways for Moms
A podcast with 3 actionable takeaways in every 30-minute episode because you are a busy mom with a full schedule and an even fuller brain. Listen in to feel encouraged and inspired, as we learn together how to overcome overwhelm and find more peace and magic in motherhood.
Hosted by Rachel Nielson, a mother, teacher, and writer.
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