Meet Your Host

Kristen Skiles, MBA

Kristen Skiles is a Certified Stepparent Coach, founder of Stepmomming.com, and host of the chart-topping podcast Stepmomming Made Easy. She’s on a mission to help overwhelmed stepmoms feel seen, supported, and equipped with the tools they need to navigate stepfamily life with confidence.

With a blended family that includes a 15-year-old stepdaughter, Kristen knows firsthand the complexities of stepmom life–from overcoming insecurities as the “second wife,” to learning tough lessons in shared parenting, and navigating her own childhood as a stepchild in multiple blended family dynamics. She even shared a home (and a business!) with her stepdaughter’s mom for a season, giving her a uniquely compassionate and real-world perspective on co-parenting.

Kristen’s coaching, resources, and debut book Stepmomming Made Easy  are all built on the belief that while stepmomming is hard, it doesn’t have to be miserable. Her practical, validating approach has been featured on TODAY, The Atlantic, Newsweek, The Boston Globe, Texas Today, and Scary Mommy.

Website | Instagram | Facebook 

Meet Your Speakers

Amelia Nagoski, DMA

Break the Cycle of Stepmom Burnout: Reclaim Your Peace and Power

Amelia Nagoski, D.M.A. (it stands for Doctorate of Musical Arts) is the co-author, with her sister Emily, of the New York Times bestselling Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle and the Burnout workbook. Her job is to run around waving her arms and making funny noises and generally doing whatever it takes to help singers get in touch with their internal experience.

She lives in New England with her husband and two rescue dogs.

Burnout Book | Instagram

Anita Inglis

Third Wheel in Your Own Relationship? The Truth About Mini-Wife Syndrome

As a step-child, divorced mother, and step-mother Anita has been part of a step-family for most of her life. This gives her important insight into the varied and complex dynamics at play within step and divorced families. Anita enjoys working with couples, individuals, and children. She brings her personal experience and years of mentoring, along with graduate and post-graduate qualifications in psychology, to her work. Her family of 7 step/kids, a dog, and 2 cats, along with the launch of her new personal development program Core State Curation keeps her busy.

Website | Facebook | Instagram

Barbara Goldberg

What is My Role in this Family? I Feel Like I Have No Rights!

Barbara Goldberg is the voice behind The Evil Stepmother Speaks, a compassionate and empowering resource for stepmothers navigating the complex world of blended families. Drawing from her own personal experience and professional insights, Barbara offers honest, heartfelt guidance with humor and grace. Her mission is to help stepmothers feel seen, supported, and strong—turning the “evil stepmother” myth on its head and replacing it with wisdom, connection, and love.

Barbara has a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education, a Master’s degree in Business Administration and is a certified Martha Beck life coach. Barbara has been an expert guest on various media outlets. Her Facebook communities, The Evil Stepmother Speaks and the private community, Stepmom Life Class are outlets for thousands of stepmothers. Her stepmom retreats can be found at Stepmom Sanctuary Retreats. You can hear Barb’s podcast on The Evil Stepmother Speaks Radio Show on BlogTalk Radio. Her book, The Evil Stepmother Speaks: A Guide for Stepfamilies Who Want to Love and Laugh is a favorite among stepfamilies. This fall her children’s book, I Want a Stepmom, Too!, will be available.

Website | Instagram | Facebook

Beth McDonough

Rethinking Resentment – Tools for Understanding and Healing

Beth McDonough is a writer, former coach, and the founder of The Inclusive Stepmom, where she supported women navigating nontraditional stepfamily dynamics with honesty, compassion, and zero judgment. Her work has helped countless stepmoms—especially LGBTQ+ stepfamilies, child-free by choice stepmoms, and others who don’t fit the “traditional” mold—feel seen, supported, and empowered to define their own version of success.

Beth’s thoughtful, nuanced approach to stepfamily life has been featured in major parenting platforms and podcasts. Though she’s largely retired from coaching, she continues to speak and write about the complex emotions of stepmotherhood—including the big one most people don’t want to talk about: resentment.

She lives in Pennsylvania with her wife and stepchild, where she now mostly writes about pop culture, neurodivergence, and the quiet power of setting boundaries.

Instagram

Cameron Normand

How to Find (and Keep) Your Stepmom Support System

Cameron Normand is a nationally recognized stepfamily expert, founder of Stepfamily Solutions, and host of the top-ranked Stepmom Diaries podcast. Through her coaching, courses, and events, Cameron has empowered thousands of stepmoms to redefine what blended family success looks like. Cameron also built the Stepfamily Coach Academy, the nation’s leading certification program for stepfamily coaches, and founded the annual Stepmom Summit, which brings together top experts and influencers to help stepmoms from around the world find support, practical tools, and a sense of community. 

Previously, Cameron spent 23 years working in politics first on Capitol Hill, then leading policy strategy in roles at two of the world’s top movie studios. After becoming a stepmom of four, she realized that the tools to help blended families were few and far between. So at the peak of her career, she walked away to start a company that would fill the void. Cameron serves on several non-profit boards and was named one of the Washington Business Journal’s “Women Who Mean Business.” Cameron received her BA from the University of South Carolina, her JD from Emory University School of Law, and is pursuing a Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the College of William & Mary.

Website | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook

Cherika Edwards

Custody Orders and Child Support

Cherika Edwards is a dedicated and compassionate attorney who specializes in both family law and personal injury law. With a reputation for advocating fiercely for her clients, Cherika founded The Law Office of Cherika Edwards with the mission to provide quality legal representation to those in need, particularly families and individuals navigating difficult times.

After graduating from University of Houston with a Bachelors degree in psychology, Cherika Edwards earned a Juris Doctor degree from Thurgood Marshall Law School.

Outside of her legal practice, Cherika is deeply involved in her community, volunteering her time and resources to give back. As a proud advocate for fathers’ rights and a strong believer in the power of clear communication, she works tirelessly to empower her clients and help them achieve their legal goals.

Website | Instagram | TikTok

Christina Nelson

“You Thought What?!” Why Clear Expectations Matter in Stepfamily Life

Christina is a licensed therapist who merged her professional and personal experience as a stepmom to create a platform that offers support so stepmoms can feel validated in their complex emotions. She is passionate about helping stepmoms feel empowered when they gain the clarity and direction they need to improve their relationships and overall happiness.

Website | Instagram

Christy Mirabello

Narcissistic Abuse Recovery

Christy Mirabello is a certified Somatic Healing Facilitator, narcissistic abuse recovery coach, and host of the Narcissistic Abuse Recovery podcast, with over 115,000 downloads. Through her signature blend of trauma-informed coaching, nervous system regulation, and spiritual alignment, she helps women reclaim their peace, protect their power, and rebuild deep self-trust after emotional abuse. Christy’s work has empowered thousands of women to break toxic cycles and rise rooted in clarity, confidence, and unshakable self-worth.

Website | Facebook Private Group

Heidi Farrell

Parenting Styles and Discipline in a Stepfamily

Heidi Farrell is a certified Marriage and Stepfamily Life Coach in Nebraska, who works with couples, adolescents and kids through the challenges of boundary-setting, emotional regulation, marriage and parenting challenges, and communication issues. Walking through her own struggles as a stepmom of two kids, combined with adding three of her own children, led her to start writing at NotJustaStepmom.com, where she shares ways to find hope and harmony in the heart and home. 

Heidi has been married to Tim for 15 years. Her two stepkids are now in their 20s, and her “ours” children are 14, 13, and 9. Heidi has a coaching office in Kearney, Nebraska, where she offers in-person or Zoom options. She also offers weekend coaching intensives for couples who are serious about making deep, meaningful changes in one impactful weekend. You can read more about Heidi and her coaching at HeidiFarrellCoaching.com. Look for her upcoming book, entitled “Unexpected Stepmom,” and her eBook about adding an “ours baby” to a stepfamily on her website.

Website | Facebook

JoAnn Crohn

Guilt, Expectations, and Showing Up Anyway: A Real Talk for Stepmoms

JoAnn Crohn is a parenting educator and certified life coach who helps overwhelmed moms transform from martyrs to role models. As founder of No Guilt Mom and host of the award-winning No Guilt Mom Podcast, JoAnn has helped hundreds of women reclaim their joy while creating deeper family connections. A National Board Certified Teacher with a Master’s in Education, JoAnn lives in Arizona with her husband of 19 years and their two children, ages 16 & 12.

Website

Joslynn Flowers

Full-Time Stepmoms Roundtable

Joslynn Flowers is a passionate stepmom coach, podcast host, and marketing professional with a heart for blended families. As the host of The Daily Stepmom Podcast, she empowers stepmoms to find peace in the chaos and thrive in their unique family roles.

Joslynn offers an honest and hope-filled perspective on the challenges and joys of stepfamily life, parenting, and marriage. A stepmom of three and biological mom of one, she understands the complexities of modern parenting and leads with authenticity, humor, and grace.

Whether speaking, mentoring women, or recording her next episode, Joslynn’s mission is clear: to build community, cultivate hope, and remind every stepmom she’s not alone.

Website | Instagram

Kait Hazlehurst

Stepmom, it’s Okay to Take Up Space

Kait has been a stepmom for ten years and is a contributing writer for Stepmomming.com. She is also a mom of 3 boys, a chef instructor, and an avid bookworm. Kait lives in the peaceful mountain town of Eden, Utah.

Website | Instagram

Keisha Williams

Turning Difficult Conversations into Deeper Connection

I am a licensed therapist and relationship coach. I specialize in serving Kingdom marriages by connecting couples to Kingdom purpose to know how to fight for their unions. I teach couples that marriage was God’s idea, and when He joins two individuals together, their union will have a greater impact on the Kingdom than what their individual callings could handle.

I draw from clinical approaches such as the Gottman Method of Couples Counseling, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness, Motivational Interviewing, and Christian Counseling. I am passionate about serving people. Using an integrated model, I seek to meet you where you are.

As a Jesus follower, His influence guides and empowers my work, bringing healing, restoration, and hope to individuals and couples. I believe we were uniquely created, and we are not meant to do life alone. Being seen by your partner matters. Your relationship matters. It is my honor and mission to help couples move from fighting with one another to fighting together for the sake of their union.

Website | Facebook

Maarit Miller

Disengaging as a Stepmom

Maarit is a writer, artist, and former single mama turned stepmama who literally wrote the book on disengaging. Today, she supports struggling stepparents as they navigate their way through dating, marriage, raising stepkids, and dealing with the ex. You can find her online at blendedfamilyfrappe.com or on Substack @blendedfamilyfrappe.

Website | Substack

Megan Hunter

Dealing with a High-Conflict Co-parent

Megan Hunter, MBA, is co-founder and CEO of the High Conflict Institute along with author and speaker, Bill Eddy, LCSW, Esq. who developed the high-conflict personality theory. Megan developed the concept of the Institute after eight years in policy, legislation and judicial training with the Arizona Supreme Court, Administrative Office of the Courts and five years with the Dawes County Attorney’s Office in Nebraska.

Megan has trained professionals across a wide spectrum of industries in the U.S. and in eight other countries. She has served as President of the Arizona Chapter of the Association of Family & Conciliation Courts, the
Arizona Family Support Council, and the Nebraska Child Support
Enforcement Association and served on the Arizona Board of Psychologist Examiners. She is currently on the Stepfamily Magazine Advisory Board.

She is the author and/or co-author of several books on high conflict interactions and co-host of the podcast It’s All Your Fault!

Website

Michaela Bucchianeri, PhD

Childless and Childfree Stepmomming

Dr. Michaela Bucchianeri (@theanxiousstepmom) is a clinical psychologist, coach, and consultant specializing in stepmom emotional wellness. Blending the science of psychology and the art of stepmomming, Michaela helps women navigate stepmotherhood with more confidence—so they can worry less, focus on what lights them up, and start having more fun.

Inspired by her own 13 years of stepmom experience, she shares honest reflections and translates mental health research into practical strategies for thriving in this unique role. In 2023, at her stepson’s insistence, she launched The Anxious Stepmom, an online education and support platform that now reaches nearly 25,000 followers.

Beyond her work with stepmoms, Michaela’s mental health expertise has contributed to landmark initiatives, including Minnesota’s Safe & Supportive Schools Act, Harvard’s STRIPED curriculum training future leaders in eating disorder prevention, and First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! Campaign.

Her insights have been featured in StepMom Magazine, The Everygirl, Verywell Health, HuffPost, and The New York Times.

Website | TikTok | Instagram | YouTube

Michelle Brown

The Stepmom Identity Crisis

Michelle Brown is a California-based writer who brings over 15 years of stepmom experience to her work.
 
From the start of her stepparenting journey, Michelle has written countless articles on the topic of stepparenting for multiple publications, with a strong emphasis on self-reflection, compassion, and personal growth. 
 
Michelle’s complete collection of articles is archived at The Pondering Nook on Substack, where she currently writes about stepparenting, parenting, relationships, marriage, divorce, aging, and self-improvement. 
 
Michelle created “The Pondering Stepmom Podcast,” which is available at The Pondering Nook on Substack,  Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. 
 
Recently, Michelle authored “No Little Girl Ever Dreams Of Becoming A Stepmom: A Companion Guide For The Stepmom Journey,” a book designed to support stepmoms at all stages—whether they’re full-time, part-time, experienced, beginners, or in transition.

Substack | Instagram | Facebook

Naja Hall

Becoming an UNBOTHERED Stepmom

Naja Hall is an entrepreneur, creative, and subject matter expert. As a Certified Coach and Educator, and the brains behind popular communities VIPStepmom and Blended and Black, Naja understands that family is the most influential force in human development. She dedicates her work to helping individuals, couples, and families navigate life’s toughest transitions. Naja also hosts the popular podcast I Know I’m Crazy with Naja Hall and is the author of the Amazon best-selling Girl, Bye! book series. Through storytelling and meaningful human connections, her mission is to promote empathy, accountability, and emotional intelligence. Never one to color between the lines, Naja has recently launched Naja Hall Beauty, a makeup and skincare brand that centers on empowering individuals to create their beauty mantras and to feel free to redefine whenever they want.

Website | Instagram 

Tammy J

Outsider Syndrome

Tammy J is a devoted stepmom of 12 years, living just outside Detroit, Michigan. She has been in her stepson’s life since he was 2 years old and she is preparing to celebrate his upcoming 18th birthday. Early in her stepmom experience, Tammy J often felt overwhelmed and unsure of her role as a stepmom. But through unwavering faith in God and with the encouragement of her supportive husband, she began to find clarity and her voice. That journey then led to her therapist urging Tammy J to share her story, which became the catalyst for the creation of Stepmom Goals, a heartfelt platform dedicated to empowering other stepmoms and bonus moms.

Tammy J is enthusiastic about helping stepmoms embrace self-care, self-awareness, and self-love. She is the author of the children’s book “Mama T and Me,” which describes the unique bond between a stepmom and her stepchild. She is also the creator of a stepmom affirmation journal. With authenticity, faith, and a whole lot of heart, Tammy J continues to inspire stepmoms to navigate their journeys with strength, intention, and purpose.

Website | Facebook

Todd Jensen, PhD, MSW

Best Practices for Stepparents with Adolescent Stepchildren

Todd Jensen, PhD, MSW is an Assistant Professor of Human Development and Family Science and Director of the Thriving Through Family Transitions Research Lab in the School of Education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. With training as a clinical social worker and academic researcher, his research focuses on identifying factors that promote high-quality stepparent-child relationships, particularly those involving adolescent children. Dr. Jensen’s professional activities are connected to more than 34 million dollars in funding from federal, state, and private-foundation sources. Dr. Jensen is a Faculty Fellow of the Carolina Population Center, a Fellow of the Society for Social Work and Research, Deputy Editor for the Journal of Family Theory & Review, and co-founder and co-chair of the Diverse Family Structures Focus Group of the National Council on Family Relations. As an educator, Dr. Jensen specializes in teaching courses on family theory and practice, human development, program evaluation, and advanced quantitative methodology.

Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Bluesky | Twitter/X | Research Lab

Wendy Tamis-Robbins

Beyond Survival Mode: Learn How Your Stepmom Anxiety is Actually Your Secret Weapon

Wendy Tamis Robbins is an internationally recognized anxiety expert, master coach, speaker, digital course creator, podcaster, author and founder of CAVE Club – her coaching community exclusively for professional women. After 26 years in Big Law as a corporate attorney and a battle with colon cancer, Wendy left to pursue her passion in coaching high-achieving women on how to live their best life unapologetically. Her bestselling book The Box: An Invitation to Freedom from Anxiety chronicled her journey to finding freedom from 40 years of mental illness. She speaks regularly at academic institutions like Harvard Law School, has been featured by Boston Magazine, BBC Studios, NBC and Fox News. And she is a frequent contributor to Thrive Global, Law360 and Stepmom Magazine. She has been a stepmom of two for over 16 years.

Learn more at wendytamisrobbins.com/stepmom.

Website | Instagram

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