Burnt Pancakes: Momversations | Conversations for Imperfect Moms, Chats About Mom Life & Interviews with Real Mamas

EducationHealth & FitnessKids & Family

The Burnt Pancakes Podcast is here to remind you that in motherhood, EVERYONE BURNS THEIR FIRST PANCAKE. I’m Katie Fenske, a (not so perfect) mom of 3, and I’m inviting you to join in on my conversations with other moms as we talk about all things motherhood; the good, the bad and everything in between. We're flipping our motherhood mistakes into successes and learning how to just keep flipping. MOTHERHOOD TOPICS I DISCUSS: Child Birth and Postpartum Recovery Adjusting to Motherhood Raising Boys Toddler Mom Tips Being a Teen Mom Self Care in Motherhood Managing Kid Sports and a Busy Family Schedule Epic Mom Fails Potty Training Woes Surviving Summer Vacation AND SO MUCH MORE! To see more of Katie, you can find her... Instagram @burntpancakeswithkatie YouTube: @burnt-pancakes Website: burntpancakes.comemail: katie@burntpancakes.com

Episodes

Burnt Pancakes: Momversations | Conversations for Imperfect Moms, Chats About Mom Life & Interviews with Real Mamas

EducationHealth & FitnessKids & Family

Episodes

141: Honest Conversation about Stay-at-Home Mom Life and Working Mom Life

In this episode I'm having a real and honest conversation about something that often gets quietly debated in motherhood: the pros and cons of being a stay-at-home mom versus being a working mom. So many moms feel pressure to defend their choice or explain why their path is the “right” one. But the truth is, there isn’t one right way to do motherhood. Every family is different, every season looks different, and every decision comes with both beautiful rewards and real challenges. I shares my o...

29min•Mar 27, 2026

140: Raising Kids Without Losing Your Marriage with Jodie Howard

What does lasting love actually look like after decades together? In this episode, I sit down with Jodie Howard to talk about what it really takes to build a relationship that lasts through life’s hardest seasons. Jodie shares the story of her 30+ year marriage and how she and her husband have navigated military deployments, parenting four children, raising a daughter with cerebral palsy, and growing as individuals while staying deeply connected as partners. Jodie brings such an honest and re...

48min•Mar 20, 2026

139: Parenting Without Power Struggles: The Advice You Haven’t Heard Yet with Naomi Aldort

Are you parenting… or just Googling your way through parenting? A recent national poll found that 80% of parents with children ages 0–4 are turning to social media for advice on things like toilet training, sleep struggles, discipline, and nutrition. But instead of feeling more confident, many parents say they feel more confused. In this episode of Burnt Pancakes: Momversations, I sit down with internationally respected parenting expert and bestselling author Naomi Aldort to talk about what i...

1h 9min•Mar 13, 2026

138. Why 2% of Your Day Is Enough with Sarah Parise

Two years ago, Sarah Parise joined me to talk about postpartum depression, mom guilt, anxiety, and the messy transition into motherhood. And today? She’s back. In this episode, we catch up on what’s changed in her motherhood journey, what self-care looks like in this season of life, and why so many moms are still running on empty. Sarah is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer, wellness specialist, yoga instructor, business owner, and mom who is passionate about helping women take care of themsel...

35min•Mar 6, 2026

137. Boy Mom Life: What's That Smell?

If you are raising boys, you already know life is never boring. It is loud, messy, chaotic, and somehow always sticky. In today’s episode, Katie shares the hilarious story of the mystery smell that took over her house and how it all led back to one very suspicious backpack. From fermented milk cartons to random pocket treasures, we are talking about the everyday chaos that comes with raising boys. This episode is full of funny boy mom moments, relatable parenting struggles, and the sweet remi...

18min•Feb 27, 2026

136. Postpartum Truths: What New Moms Really Need with Courtney Boylan

Postpartum is one of the most life-altering seasons of motherhood, and yet it is often one of the most overlooked. In today’s episode I’m joined by Courtney Boylan, mom of three and founder of Le Lolo, a brand created from her own postpartum experience and the deep realization that so many moms are left feeling unseen, unsupported, and treated more like a checklist than a human being. Courtney and I talk about the emotional reality of postpartum, the identity shift that happens after birth, a...

29min•Feb 20, 2026

135: The Thoughts We Never Say Out Loud (But Every Mom Has)

Have you ever had a random, scary thought pop into your head and immediately wondered, What is wrong with me? You’re not alone — and you’re not a bad mom. In this episode I break down intrusive thoughts in motherhood: why they happen, what they actually mean (and don’t mean), and how they show up in different stages — from brand-new moms to moms of teens. We’re talking about the thoughts no one wants to admit out loud, why our brains create them, and what to do when one sneaks in and sends y...

13min•Feb 13, 2026

134: Parenting in the Digital World: What to Do When Your Kid Is Begging for a Phone with Adam Ferguson

What if the phone could wait—but childhood couldn’t? In this episode of Burnt Pancakes: Momversations, I’m joined by Adam Ferguson, author of The Things You Have to Do Before I Buy You a Phone, a playful and practical guide for raising capable kids in a screen-saturated world. Adam shares why technology has quietly replaced so many coming-of-age experiences and how parents can bring them back without guilt, pressure, or perfection. This conversation isn’t about banning screens. It’s about giv...

37min•Feb 6, 2026

133: You and Me, Baby: Learning Motherhood as We Go with Aisha Saeed

In this episode of Burnt Pancakes: Momversations, I sit down with bestselling children’s book author and mom of three, Aisha Saeed, to talk about her beautiful new picture book You and Me, Baby. This heartfelt story is a love letter to the bond between a parent and their baby and a reminder that we’re all learning how to parent as we go. We talk about the vulnerable Instagram post that sparked the idea for the book, how motherhood has shaped Aisha’s writing, and why it matters to tell stories...

32min•Jan 30, 2026

132. Flipping the Script on School and Success: Why Our Kids Don’t Need to Wait to Be Entrepreneurs

What if our kids didn’t have to wait until adulthood to chase their dreams? In this episode of Burnt Pancakes: Momversations, I sit down with Krystal Popov, entrepreneur, founder of Futurepreneur, and the leading voice in America for raising kid entrepreneurs. Krystal has built four businesses, including a seven-figure co-working space, and now she’s on a mission to help kids design, launch, and run real businesses today. We talk about why the traditional education-to-job pipeline is br...

30min•Jan 23, 2026

131: Healing Infertility Naturally: The Natural Path to Getting Pregnant with Katie Wood

Today I’m joined by integrative fertility coach and former pharmacist Katie Wood, whose personal fertility journey completely transformed the way she supports women today. After months of not conceiving, feeling dismissed by her OB-GYN, and searching for answers that traditional medicine couldn’t give her, Katie discovered the power of acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and whole-body healing. That experience led her to conceiving and ultimately build a career helping women conceive n...

1h 1min•Jan 16, 2026

130. Diastasis Recti After Babies: Why It Happens and How to Heal It with Camille Beckstrand

Mommy Tummy Fix App: HERE Code: MOMMY30 for 30% off In today’s episode of Burnt Pancakes: Momversations, I’m sitting down with Camille Beckstrand, certified life coach, mom of four, co-creator of the Mommy Tummy Fix program, and host of the “Moms on the Rise” podcast. If you’ve ever wondered why your stomach still looks or feels “off” after having kids… or why your core feels weak no matter how many workouts you try… this conversation is absolutely for you. Camille and her husband, Dr. Jared...

35min•Jan 9, 2026

THROWBACK: From Christmas Trees to Santa Claus: The History Behind My Favorite Christmas Traditions

Get ready to embark on a fascinating journey as I explore the origins and customs of some of our favorite Christmas traditions. Ever wondered why we decorate an evergreen tree, hang giant socks on our fireplace, or plant a mistletoe over our doorways? Or how about the stories behind Santa Claus and his reindeer, or the popularity of candy canes? This episode is packed with facts and stories that reveal the ancient roots and evolution of these beloved holiday symbols and rituals. This week, I...

25min•Dec 19, 2025

129: Surviving the Holidays With Teens: Five Strategies That Actually Help

In today’s episode of Burnt Pancakes: Momversations, I'm diving into the world of holiday parenting, but not the toddler nap-time meltdown era. I'm talking about the teen and tween years, where emotions run high, expectations get complicated, and the holiday season suddenly feels like unfamiliar territory. I’m sharing insights inspired by an incredible guide from CultivaTeen Roots called Holiday Harmony: A Parent Quick Guide for the Teen Years. If you’ve ever thought, “Wow… this stage is a wh...

27min•Dec 12, 2025

128. Navigating Your Child’s Rare Disease with Nikki McIntosh

In this episode of Burnt Pancakes: Momversations, I had the honor of talking with Nikki McIntosh, author of Rare Mamas: Empowering Strategies for Navigating Your Child’s Rare Disease and the incredible woman behind the Rare Mamas community. Nikki’s story begins when her youngest son, Miles, was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy and everything in her world shifted. She left her 18-year marketing career and stepped fully into caregiving, advocacy, and creating a place for other rare moms t...

25min•Dec 5, 2025

127. How We Do Santa in Our House

In today’s episode, I’m spilling the hot cocoa on how we do Santa in our house — the traditions, the magic, and yes… the moment my oldest started to figure it all out. I’m sharing how my parents did Santa when I was growing up, why my husband and I decided to keep the tradition alive with our kids (even though some people say it’s “lying”), and what we’ve done over the years to keep the magic going without being caught red-handed. You’ll also hear the story of when Ronin started asking questi...

23min•Nov 28, 2025

THROWBACK: How to Get the Perfect Family Photo

This is a throwback episode from 2023. Today I sit down with Bethany, from Bethany Jean Photography to talk all about family photos. She is not only an incredibly talented photographer with over 6 years experience, but she is also a mom to 4 kiddos. She knows what it is like to be on both sides of the camera lens. She's got all the tricks on how to get the perfect family photo even if your family is not so perfect (trust me, she has photographed my crazy boys multiple times). Bethany gives u...

46min•Nov 21, 2025

126. Why 80s and 90s Kids Had the Best Childhoods (and the Best TV Shows)

If you grew up in the 80s or 90s, this episode is basically a warm hug made of slap bracelets, Lisa Frank stickers, and the smell of a Blockbuster on a Friday night. In this episode, I’m taking a little trip down memory lane to celebrate the absolute best childhood decades — the 80s and 90s. Back when we played outside until the streetlights came on, drank from the garden hose, and somehow survived toys that were equal parts fun and dangerous. Remember when TGIF was the highlight of the week?...

15min•Nov 14, 2025

125. Parenting Tips, Wine Sips, and Laughs with Danielle Frank

Parenting is hard — but you know what helps? Humor… and maybe a glass (or bottle) of something full-bodied. 🍷 In this laugh-out-loud episode of Burnt Pancakes: Momversations, I chat with Danielle Frank, author of A Wine Lover’s Guide to Parenting — a satirical rhyming storybook that pairs wine wisdom with the wild world of raising kids. Danielle spent over two decades in the wine and spirits industry before writing her debut book, blending (pun intended) her knowledge of wine with the realiti...

25min•Nov 7, 2025

124. Generations of Parenting: How Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z Are Raising the Future

In today’s episode of Burnt Pancakes: Momversations, we’re taking a time-traveling trip through parenting history, from the days of “Because I said so!” to the era of “Let’s name our feelings.” After a funny moment when my husband sounded exactly like his dad, we started wondering… Are we really parenting differently than the generations before us? Or have we just rebranded the same rules with softer language and better snacks? We break down generational parenting styles including: Boomer p...

24min•Oct 31, 2025