Suburban Burnout

We’re talking heat, literal heat. When former tech exec and mom of three youth athletes Melissa Fortenberry sat sweating in the Texas stands at her son’s football game, she asked a question every sports parent should be asking: “If I’m overheating just sitting here… what’s happening to them?”

That moment sparked the creation of HeatSense, a groundbreaking wearable that tracks real-time core body temperature, heart rate, and more gi...

What if your competing thoughts aren’t a problem to fix, but a roadmap to self-awareness, deeper relationships, and emotional clarity?

In this powerful conversation, Megan welcomes back therapist, author, and group practice founder Kelsey Blahnik to discuss her newly released book, The And Way: Assertive Peacemaking in a Divided World. Together they unpack the real-life parenting, relational, and personal transformation work that h...

What happens when life knocks you off your feet and you're still expected to show up, parent, and keep it together? Author, speaker, and former teacher Katie Wood joins Suburban Burnout to share how a life-saving surgery for her daughter led to one of the most powerful tools in her parenting toolbox: gratitude.

In this deeply relatable and inspiring episode, Katie walks us through the chaos of parenting four kids, living with a fir...

In this solo episode of Suburban Burnout, Megan gets real (and a little sarcastic) about modern parenting myths, cosmic energy, generational blame, and why building a fort with your kids might be more therapeutic than your last therapy session.

She dives into the generational Olympics of blame: from unsupervised kids on the playground to why Millennials were once labeled “the lazy workforce” but are now apparently “too soft” with t...

If your child struggles with big emotions, sensory overwhelm, hyperactivity, food aversion or meltdowns, this episode is for you.

We’re joined by Dr. Karla Mehlenbacher, a Board-Certified Chiropractic Neurologist and founder of Take Root Brain & Body, to explore what’s really behind so many of the behavioral challenges today’s parents are facing. Spoiler: it’s not always ADHD.

Work with Dr. Karla LINK

From primitive reflexes to...

What happens when you’re the one making the big career move and it means uprooting your whole family?

This week on Suburban Burnout, we’re joined by Hope Corona, a global executive at PepsiCo, mom of two, and bold decision-maker who’s built a powerhouse career without losing her sense of humor (or her sanity).

🎧 In this episode:

• From U.S. Embassy in Mexico City to executive hiring at PepsiCo

• Moving for her career—for the f...

In this raw and revelatory episode, attorney and founder of Hembree Bell Law, Hannah Hembree Bell, joins Megan to talk about the messy truth of divorce, the emotional unraveling, the legal missteps, and the critical decisions that shape life after the papers are signed.

Hannah shares her personal story of going through a high-stakes Texas custody trial while in law school, how that experience shaped her mission, and why she believe...

Reposted from Year One: A Must-Hear Episode for Every Family Navigating Dementia

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Mary Osborne, occupational therapist and founder of Your Dementia Therapist, to explore the emotional and practical realities of dementia care. From navigating a loved one’s changing abilities to making sense of the caregiver role, Mary shares the strategies, tools, and compassion she’s gained over a decade in...

Feeling torn between work and home? In this episode, Audrey Pendergrass shares her journey through career pivots, stay-at-home life, and the grief of losing a parent while raising kids. Also how to keep yourself in the game, just in case you want to return.

If you're weighing your next move or parenting through something heavy, you'll find clarity, encouragement, and real advice here. Find us on @suburbanburnout Instagram for clips...

We’re back from our burnout break with another Suburban Burnout episode, diving deep into how burnout evolves, because it's not just about exhaustion anymore, it's about identity, pressure, and the mental load that never clocks out. Megan and Laura unpack the emotional rollercoaster of sports parenting, the “magical” family trip that didn’t quite deliver, and the quiet (and not-so-quiet) ways parents are stretched too thin.

Laura s...

In this episode of Suburban Burnout, Megan and Laura dive deep into the chaos of summer parenting, their decision to take a break and catch their breath, and the ever-evolving trends we need to keep up with as parents. Unless you want to be a lame parent. 

✨ We’ll keep you updated in our newsletter on what’s next. Stay loud, stay real, and take the break you need. You’ve earned it. www.suburbanburnout.com

They also break down the w...

What happens when life throws you cancer, a new baby, and a pandemic, all at once? If you’re Alexandra Rutkay, you build something beautiful anyway.

In this episode, Alex, founder of Citymouse, @citymouse_ny opens up about the chaos and clarity that came from facing a rare cancer diagnosis while navigating early motherhood in New York City. She shares how surviving the unimaginable inspired her to create a parenting brand that’s as...

In this conversation, Skylar shares his journey into fatherhood, detailing his upbringing, the challenges of infertility, and the emotional toll it took on him and his wife. He discusses the importance of support during the postpartum period, both for mothers and fathers, and emphasizes the need for healthy routines to combat burnout. Skylar also reflects on his experiences as a father and the co-founding of I Am Nurtured, 

In this...

After years of infertility, Starlyn and Bill Cafferata (@caffsquad) finally saw two pink lines, except this time, there were four heartbeats. What followed was a wild ride through high-risk pregnancy, as specialist after specialist delivered conflicting information, survival odds, and gut-wrenching decisions. Somehow, Starlyn carried all four babies, Lennon, Enzo, Francesca, and Stella, through the chaos, uncertainty, and exhaustio...

Forget surface-level advice and toxic positivity Megan and Laura dive headfirst into the emotional and psychological labor of modern life. From parenting and relationships to political tension and personal healing, this show unpacks the why behind our behaviors and offers practical strategies for growth, grounded in both clinical insight and real-life experience.

With raw conversations and expert-informed dialogue, guest Kelsey Bla...

In this milestone episode, Amanda Nelson (@exploringamanda) gets real about what it takes to build a business, grow a family, and stay grounded through it all. From living on food stamps to launching a wellness brand, Amanda shares her journey of entrepreneurship, motherhood, and personal growth. She explains how she navigates all areas of life day by day. That is when you can truly choose the "balance" needed for you and your fami...

This week on Suburban Burnout, Megan and Laura reflect on Mother’s Day and how it often brings more insight than rest. From hilarious cat chaos to complex parenting dynamics, they share personal stories and insight on the emotional labor of motherhood and the importance of trusting your gut.

They dive into the everyday moments that demand courage: advocating for your kids at school or on the field, speaking up at the doctor’s offic...

Raising teenage girls isn’t for the faint of heart, and no, it’s not just the hormones. In this episode, Megan and Laura unpack the tangled web of adolescence with raw honesty, humor, and insights drawn from Lisa Damour’s Untangled. From eye rolls to emotional outbursts, they dive into the shifting dynamics of privacy, independence, and friendships (yes, including the dreaded frenemies).

www.suburbanburnout.com SUBSCRIBE to the mon...

Tired of stepping over toys, wrestling with Tupperware lids, or emotionally spiraling over that box of baby clothes in the attic? Same. In this episode, Megan and Laura share exactly how to spring clean and organize without the meltdown, yours or your kids’.

Find our guide to working through sentimental items or even your childhood home, Join our newsletter to receive this PDF for a step-by-step guide. www.suburbanburnout.com

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