In this episode of The Stepmom Side Podcast, Alicia gets real about one of the biggest misconceptions stepmoms have — that peace comes when everything is finally perfect....and then hear something going wrong in real time. :)If you’ve ever thought, “Once the ex chills out… once the kids listen… once my partner gets it — THEN I’ll finally have peace,” this episode will feel like a breath of fresh air.Alicia shares why chasing perfection only leads to burnout and resentment — and how true peace comes from within, not from a flawless blended family. She breaks down what peace actually looks like in stepmom life (even when chaos is still happening), plus three practical ways to choose calm over control.You’ll walk away with a lighter heart and a powerful reminder:Peace isn’t a reward for getting it all right. It’s what you deserve, even when everything’s still a little wrong.Listen in to learn:Why perfection keeps you stuck in frustration and comparisonWhat peace really looks like in everyday stepmom momentsThree simple mindset shifts to choose peace, even in chaosHow to stop waiting for everyone else to change before you feel calm🎧 Tune in now and start finding your peace — no perfection required.👉 Join The Stepmom Side Community for support, live coaching, and monthly mindset moments: aliciakrasko.com/communityFree Resource: Mastering the StressorsSupport the showWant a specific topic covered? Let me know here.After you listen to this, tag me on Instagram @aliciakrasko and let me know what you think!Get all the FREE RESOURCES here.Want to learn more about The Stepmom Side community? Here's where you get all the info. Looking forward to connecting with you on the inside.All things Alicia visit www.aliciakrasko.comGet on the list, get behind the scene info on Stepmom life, and tips delivered to your inbox.
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#116: What If I Don’t Like My Stepkids? The Truth No One Talks About
What if you don’t like your stepkids? It’s the question that stepmoms whisper to themselves and rarely admit out loud. In this episode, Alicia unpacks why these feelings show up, why they don’t make you a “bad stepmom,” and how to move through them without shame.You’ll learn:Why it’s normal to not always like your stepkidsHow societal expectations set stepmoms up for guiltSimple shifts to ease the tension when relationships feel strainedHow to release the pressure to force a bondThis is your permission slip: you don’t have to like your stepkids 24/7 to be a good stepmom.Support the showWant a specific topic covered? Let me know here.After you listen to this, tag me on Instagram @aliciakrasko and let me know what you think!Get all the FREE RESOURCES here.Want to learn more about The Stepmom Side community? Here's where you get all the info. Looking forward to connecting with you on the inside.All things Alicia visit www.aliciakrasko.comGet on the list, get behind the scene info on Stepmom life, and tips delivered to your inbox.
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#115: Stepmom vs. Screen Time: When You’re the Only House with Phone Rules
Being the “strict” house isn’t easy — especially when you’re parenting a teenager who has unlimited freedom at their other home.In this episode, Alicia dives into a real stepmom story from Erica, who’s been a stepmom for 11 years and is now facing the challenges of raising a 13-year-old stepdaughter in two very different households. At Erica’s house, structure, healthy meals, and clear phone boundaries are the norm. At mom’s house, the rules are… basically nonexistent. The result? Erica feels like the bad guy, and the close bond she once had with her stepdaughter seems to be slipping away.Alicia breaks down why this happens in blended families, why teens push away even when they love you, and most importantly — how to hold onto your values and boundaries without losing the relationship.You’ll walk away with:Validation that you’re not crazy for feeling like the “bad guy” when your house has rules.Practical ways to hold firm boundaries without pushing your stepkid further away.Strategies to shift from being the “strict” house to the safe house.Encouragement that your consistency today builds connection for tomorrow.If you’ve ever felt like you’re losing your stepchild to the other house because of clashing rules, this episode will remind you: you’re not the villain. You’re the steady anchor they can rely on.👉 Join the conversation inside The Stepmom Side Community — the place where stepmoms can vent, get support, and find real strategies that work.👉 Want personalized support? Explore 1:1 coaching at aliciakrasko.com/coaching.Support the showWant a specific topic covered? Let me know here.After you listen to this, tag me on Instagram @aliciakrasko and let me know what you think!Get all the FREE RESOURCES here.Want to learn more about The Stepmom Side community? Here's where you get all the info. Looking forward to connecting with you on the inside.All things Alicia visit www.aliciakrasko.comGet on the list, get behind the scene info on Stepmom life, and tips delivered to your inbox.
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#114: My Why: Stepmom Coaching, The Stepmom Side Community, and Podcast
In this episode of The Stepmom Side Podcast, Alicia Krasko opens up about her why—the real reason she started coaching stepmoms, built The Stepmom Side Community, and launched this very podcast.She shares her raw, unfiltered story of hitting rock bottom as a stepmom, googling “how to get divorced,” and feeling like an outsider in her own home. Alicia explains the turning point when she admitted she needed help, how outside support transformed her stepmom journey, and why she decided to step into the role of coach.You’ll hear why The Stepmom Side Community was created as an affordable, supportive space for stepmoms, how imposter syndrome showed up for Alicia as both a stepmom and a community founder, and the moments inside the community that remind her she’s exactly where she’s meant to be.Alicia also shares the behind-the-scenes story of starting The Stepmom Side Podcast—from her stepson gifting her a microphone to now reaching stepmoms in 96 countries with nearly 50,000 downloads.If you’ve ever felt like you’re struggling alone on “stepmom island,” this episode will remind you:👉 You’re not crazy.👉 You’re not the only one.👉 And you don’t have to do this role by yourself.Join The Stepmom Side Community → aliciakrasko.com/communityLearn about coaching → aliciakrasko.com/coachingSupport the showWant a specific topic covered? Let me know here.After you listen to this, tag me on Instagram @aliciakrasko and let me know what you think!Get all the FREE RESOURCES here.Want to learn more about The Stepmom Side community? Here's where you get all the info. Looking forward to connecting with you on the inside.All things Alicia visit www.aliciakrasko.comGet on the list, get behind the scene info on Stepmom life, and tips delivered to your inbox.
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#113: The Messy Middle of Stepmom Life: Intrusive Thoughts, Comparison, and Control
Do you ever catch yourself spiraling with intrusive thoughts about not being “enough” as a stepmom? Maybe you wonder if you’ll ever feel as important as your partner’s kids’ mom. Or you feel that rush of pressure to have a baby of your own—just so you can finally feel “equal.”If that’s you, you are not alone.In this episode of The Stepmom Side Podcast, Alicia dives deep into what she calls the messy middle of stepmomming—the stage where you’ve been in the role long enough to know the hard stuff, but you’re still figuring out how to handle the constant tension of:Dealing with intrusive thoughts of feeling inferior as a stepmom without biological kidsThe pressure and jealousy around wanting your own kids just to feel equalFacing the double standard: what makes you a “great mom” with an ours baby would’ve been called “evil” with your stepkidsBalancing care and control—wanting to show up for your stepkids but not having the legal authority to make decisionsRecognizing when it’s time to step back and let the actual parents handle it, even when you see the gapsCoping with frustration, resentment, and those “rage-cleaning the bathroom” momentsWhy comparison to the ex or to a “perfect family” is a trap you don’t have to stay stuck inAlicia shares her own messy middle stories—like jealousy when she didn’t have kids of her own yet, or the time she literally walked four miles at night just to calm down after stepfamily stress. You’ll hear real talk, honest encouragement, and strategies to help you feel less alone and more grounded in your role.👉 Whether you’re childless, child-free, or balancing stepkids with kids of your own, this episode will remind you: you are not broken—you’re just in the messy middle.✨ Join the conversation inside The Stepmom Side Community, where you can connect with stepmoms who truly get it.Support the showWant a specific topic covered? Let me know here.After you listen to this, tag me on Instagram @aliciakrasko and let me know what you think!Get all the FREE RESOURCES here.Want to learn more about The Stepmom Side community? Here's where you get all the info. Looking forward to connecting with you on the inside.All things Alicia visit www.aliciakrasko.comGet on the list, get behind the scene info on Stepmom life, and tips delivered to your inbox.
Do you find yourself googling for "Stepmom help" or "Stepmom struggles" more than you'd care to admit? If so, you're in the right place. The Stepmom Side Podcast is a conversational podcast about being a Stepmom and what that actually looks like. Host Alicia Krasko covers everything from part-time, full-time, to being an empty nester as a Stepmom. Every week, you'll get a bit of humor, advice, and a conversation that will have you taking an objective look at how you're showing up. You can expect honest (and uncomfortable) conversations with perspective shifts mixed in to help you create the life you no longer have to google for help.
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