Mama You Belong
by Kirsten Desmarais, DPT and Molly Hilgenberg, LICSW
Type C Mom Survival: Mom Burnout, Messy Homes, and Parenting an…
About this podcast
Welcome to 'Mama You Belong' - a podcast for moms in the thick of it. We delve into the need for belonging and connection that mothers often face alone and help you feel seen. We acknowledge the dissonance between societal expectations of motherhood and the realities of managing our mental and physical load, with science and trauma-informed support. Co-hosts of 'Mama You Belong' are Kirsten Desmarais, PT, DPT, OCS, CD(DONA) a physical therapist, birth doula, and mother of three, and Molly Hilgenberg, MSW, LICSW, a psychotherapist, singer/songwriter, and new mom.
Kirsten and Molly were both kids who collected rocks, hugged trees and grew up in different towns in Minnesota. They met only a few years ago when Kirsten became Molly's PT and then her birth doula. They bonded when they both realized they could pretty much share anything without judgment and text each other about the moon.
Through shared stories and expert insights, 'Mama You Belong' seeks to empower mothers by creating a supportive space for connection and understanding in their unique journeys. Each episode aims to provide validation, education, and some laughs. By sharing our stories and inviting expert guests in future episodes, we aspire to create a nurturing and inclusive environment for moms.
Episodes
- Type C Mom Survival: Mom Burnout, Messy Homes, and Parenting an AuDHD Kid · 52 min · Season 2 Episode 4If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the invisible load of motherhood... This podcast is for you. Today, Kirsten and Molly talk about the messy middle of motherhood, from spring…
- Motherhood Burnout and Community Care: Mother Trees, Mutual Aid, and Why Moms Need Each Other · 34 min · Season 2 Episode 3Kirsten and Molly trace how micro self care rituals, witnessing a transformative birth, and the mother tree metaphor point to a different way of caring and showing up for each…
- Parenting in Crisis: Fear, Safety, and What Moms Carry During State Violence · 16 min · Season 2 Episode 2This episode is a brief glimpse into our upcoming interview with Marsh Naidoo on her amazing podcast Raising Kellan. Please subscribe now to her podcast so you can listen to our…
- Mother Rage and Grief: Protecting Our Kids in Uncertain Times · 1 h 0 min · Season 2 Episode 1We sit with the dissonance of parenting during a state crackdown in Minnesota, holding mother rage and grief while trying to protect childhood for our children. Stories from…
- Daycare Illness, Mom Burnout, and the Mental Load No One Talks About (Where Germs Get Their PhD And Parents Lose Their PTO) · 47 min · Season 1 Episode 12In this episode, we talk openly about updates to toddler sleep struggles, no more night drives just to get a child to sleep, the decision to retire the crib, and how co-sleeping…
- Holiday Overwhelm and Toddler Chaos: Seasonal Survival for Moms · 54 min · Season 1 Episode 11Winter presses in and everything gets louder, especially the expectations placed on moms during the holidays. In this episode, we return from a hiatus to talk honestly about the…
- Baby Sleep Struggles: Letting Go of Sleep Training and Choosing Connection (Part 2) · 47 min · Season 1 Episode 10We follow Kirsten’s path from noticing things about her child to an autism + ADHD diagnosis, showing how clarity changed home life, school decisions, and self-trust. We talk…
- Baby Sleep Struggles: Letting Go of Sleep Training and Choosing Connection (Part 1) · 1 h 0 min · Season 1 Episode 9Kirsten traces the journey from pressure-filled, sleep training newborn days to a more child-centered and connected approach to sleep. Together, we share how postpartum rage…
- Baby Sleep Regression and Mom Guilt: Rethinking “Sleeping Through the Night” · 53 min · Season 1 Episode 8Why do so many moms feel like failures when their baby won’t sleep “the right way”? In this honest and vulnerable conversation, we dive into the guilt, shame, and societal…
- Infertility and Motherhood: Grief, Identity, and Finding Hope (with Kathleen Currie) · 55 min · Season 1 Episode 7Infertility is one of the most painful and isolating experiences a mother can face. In this raw conversation, we share one mom’s journey of turning pain into purpose—and why…
- Pelvic Floor Health After Birth: Recovery, Pain, and What Moms Need to Know · 35 min · Season 1 Episode 7Why don’t we talk more about the pelvic floor? From postpartum recovery to long-term health, moms are often left in the dark about this essential part of their bodies. In this…
- Mom Anxiety at Night: Racing Thoughts and Overwhelm After Dark · 38 min · Season 1 Episode 6Have you ever found yourself spiraling with worry in the middle of the night? You’re not alone. In this vulnerable conversation, we talk about motherhood anxiety, the mental load…
- Postpartum Anxiety, OCD, and Depression: What Moms Need to Know (with Celleste Schnellbach, MS, LMFT, PMH-C) · 35 min · Season 1 Episode 5Perinatal mental health struggles like postpartum depression and anxiety impact far more moms than we realize. In this powerful interview we discuss the stigma, the silence, and…
- Dads, You Belong Too: Fatherhood, Mental Load, and Mental Health in Parenting (with Phil Desmarais and Chad Hilgenberg) · 47 min · Season 1 Episode 4Parenting conversations often leave fathers out—but dads belong too. In this episode, Phil Desmarais and Chad Hilgenberg share their stories of becoming fathers, navigating…
- Motherhood and Identity: Why Parenting Is Political and What It Means for Moms · 14 min · Season 1 Episode 3Motherhood doesn’t exist in a vacuum—it’s deeply tied to politics, policies, and cultural expectations. In this episode, we explore why motherhood is political, how moms can find…
- Nervous System Regulation for Moms: Overstimulation, Stress, and Finding Calm · 41 min · Season 1 Episode 2What does “nervous system regulation” even mean when you’re a mom pulled in a million directions? We unpack the buzzword, talk about overstimulation, stress, and what finding…
- Overwhelmed Moms, You Belong Here: Our Story and What This Podcast Is About · 36 min · Season 1 Episode 1Welcome to Mama You Belong—a podcast about the real, messy, and beautiful journey of matrescence. In our first episode, we share our own stories, why we started this podcast, and…







