Hosted by Anton Rieke, Ladylike is a podcast born from one dad’s mission to raise his daughter with role models who lead with heart, grit, and grace. In each episode, Anton spends time learning from a remarkable woman, sitting down for a deep conversation about her journey.
From bakers to business owners, athletes to artists, these women are rewriting the rules of what it means to be strong, skilled, and “ladylike.” Episodes end with a letter to Anton’s daughter, Drew, reflecting on the lessons learned from each guest.
If you want a podcast that blends humor, heart, and hard truths, Ladylike invites you to listen in and leave inspired.
What happens when life stacks fast? Mandi Oldani went from a breakup and a new town to twins…then triplets—five kids in two pregnancies—and found that grace often arrives with the assignment. In this conversation, Mandi shares the year everything fell apart and the moment Psalm 139 met her in the quiet, how she and Danny found their way back to each other, and what preeclampsia, NICU weeks, and magnesium drips taught her about dependence and hope. We talk schedules as kindness, accepting help without guilt, why community is the plan (not a perk), and how social media unexpectedly became a lifeline for moms of multiples. If you’re in a mundane, maxed-out, or tender season, Mandi’s story will give you language for the ordinary and courage for the big yes.
You’ll hear about:
Twins, triplets, and the rhythms that kept everyone breathing
Obedience before outcomes—staying put when leaving made sense
Rebuilding a relationship, a routine, and a sense of calling
Practical anchors for moms: naps, boundaries, and asking for help
What “ladylike” looks like when it’s more towels and bottles than tiaras
Rate, review, and share with a friend who needs a hopeful, real look at motherhood and faith.
24 Sept 2025
Rachel McCoy - Comfortable in the Uncomfortable
Anton sits down with Rachel McCoy—foster mom, adoptive mom, business co-owner, and part-time ops wizard—to talk about saying yes to hard things and finding joy in the simple moments. Rachel shares how a high-school Best Buddies friendship sparked a lifelong calling, what it was like welcoming Johnny (rare chromosome deletion; G-tube, HOH/ASL support) and Sam (Down syndrome) through foster care and adoption, and how she and her husband Michael split appointments, protect their marriage, and set their kids up for success. We dig into practical inclusion (what to say to your kids, how to engage at the park/school), why consent and generosity matter, and the Times Square moment that made New York worth the chaos.
PINKS Window Service (Cedar Park/Georgetown)
BIG (Brookwood in Georgetown) – community for adults with disabilities
Lovely Flowers
Best Buddies / Young Life Capernaum
17 Sept 2025
Anton Rieke - Relationships > Content: Behind the Mic of Ladylike
This week’s planned interview is on hold out of care for the guest’s family—relationships come first here. So Anton pulls back the curtain on how and why Ladylike gets made: the consent-first workflow (red lines → veto word → guest review), the real costs in money, time, and emotion, and the tension of making something for his daughter while guarding time with her (hello, “9:30 Rule”).
He shares the deeper why—to build a village of women for Drew and anyone craving belonging—and revisits lessons from past guests (foster care courage, rebuilding community from zero, weaving cultures in marriage, advocacy for kids with special needs, and more). It’s honest, practical, and a reminder that we measure success in trust and belonging, not views.
CTA: If this encouraged you, share it with a girl dad or a friend who needs a village. Know a woman whose story Drew should hear? DM @ladylike_pod or visit ladylikepodcast.com → Be a Guest.
10 Sept 2025
Hallie Graves - Attorney, Advocate & Foster Mom
Brave isn’t loud. In this conversation, Hallie Graves shares what love looks like when it’s inconvenient—saying a shaky yes, choosing people over polish, and practicing presence when life is messy. We talk about everyday courage, community, and the small decisions that change homes more than headlines.
If you’re a girl dad (or a girl becoming), this one’s for you. Stay to the end for a heartfelt Dear Drew and a short Dad Reflections on practicing “see first, fix second,” presence over perfection, and the power of a small yes.
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3 Sept 2025
Ashley Guerra - Foster Care and Disability Parenting
In this episode of Ladylike: The Girl Dad Podcast, Anton sits down with Ashley Guerra — a physical therapist, foster mom, and new mother to her daughter, Lily.
Ashley shares how foster care opened her eyes to the deeper stories behind families, and how becoming a mom to a child with disabilities has completely reshaped the way she sees the world. She talks about surviving Lily’s infancy — months marked by sleepless nights, endless tears, full-time work, and the weight of a foster care case — and the quiet strength she found in her own mother’s support.
Together, Ashley and Anton reflect on what it means to redefine “ladylike,” not as fitting a mold, but as living with both strength and tenderness through every season. Ashley’s honesty shines as she speaks about sacrifice, resilience, and her hope for a more inclusive world for Lily and children like her.
This is a conversation about grit, grace, and the beauty that can grow out of the hardest seasons of life.
27 Aug 2025
Catherine Chang: Strength, Grace, Motherhood
In this episode of Ladylike: The Girl Dad Podcast, Anton sits down with Catherine Chang — one of Anna’s closest friends, “Auntie” to Drew, and a brand-new mom.
Catherine opens up about the first four months of motherhood: the exhaustion and the wonder, the grief of losing old freedoms, and the joy of discovering new rhythms with her daughter, Coco. She reflects on how becoming a mom has shifted her identity, stretched her marriage, and even helped her find her voice after years of doubting herself.
Together, Anton and Catherine talk about faith, friendship, and the lessons we carry from the families who raise us. And when asked what it means to be ladylike, Catherine names the beautiful tension she’s living right now — strength and tenderness side by side.
Whether you’re a parent yourself or simply navigating change, Catherine’s honesty offers both comfort and courage.
20 Aug 2025
Anton Rieke - Podcast Host
In this special solo episode of Ladylike: The Girl Dad Podcast, I turn the mic on myself. No guests. No safety net. Just the real story of why I started this show, the lessons fatherhood has forced me to learn, and the women who shaped me when I needed it most.
From botched car seat installs to 3am feedings, from my foster son’s court case to the smallest “dad wins” that made me feel like a superhero—this is the most honest I’ve ever been about the journey I’m on as a husband, father, and storyteller.
And at the heart of it all is a letter to my daughter Drew—a love letter with a mic—about what I hope she inherits, what I pray she unlearns, and why presence will always matter more than perfection.
Whether you’re a parent, a daughter, or just someone figuring out how to live with intention, this one’s for you.
13 Aug 2025
Erin Nutting - Small Town to Something New
Erin Nutting is 37 weeks pregnant, 10,000 followers deep on TikTok, and honest about everything—from her Texas roots to her CPS work, content creation, faith, and becoming a first-time mom. This episode is about what we hope our daughters inherit, and the strength it takes to build a life you’re proud of.
6 Aug 2025
Anna Rieke - Drew's Mom - The First Chapter of Drew (6 Month Reflection)
Six months ago, my daughter Drew was born—and so was this podcast. In that time, my wife Anna and I have been learning how to raise a baby, how to stay connected as partners, and how to build something meaningful—both at home and in this show.
So today, we’re sitting down together to reflect on what the last six months have taught us. About parenthood. About marriage. About identity. About creating something that matters while raising someone who matters even more.
This episode includes a special “Baby Book” segment, where we answer questions we might one day forget—but Drew hopefully never will. And, as always, we end with a letter to our daughter. This time, from both of us.
If you’re new to Ladylike, this is a great place to start. It’s the story behind the show, the heartbeat behind the mic—and a window into what’s made us who we are as a family.
30 Jul 2025
Courtlynn Byargeon -Lovelily Flowers: Florals, and Fierce Love
Courtlynn Byargeon is a floral designer, foster and adoptive mother, and the creative heart behind Lovelily Flowers. In this episode of Ladylike, we talk about the beauty and complexity of building a family through fostering, adoption, and faith-filled commitment. Courtlynn opens up about what it means to love a child whose future isn’t guaranteed, the legacy of being raised by teen parents, and how those experiences shaped her view of motherhood.
We also dive into her journey as a young entrepreneur: what it takes to start a floral design company from scratch, why intentionality matters, and the matriarchs who planted seeds of strength in her life. This episode is a story of tenderness, tenacity, and trusting love to grow even in uncertain soil.
At the end of the episode, I share a letter to my daughter, Drew, about what Courtlynn taught me—not just about parenting, but about showing up fully, with grace, even when the future is unknown.
🎧 Full video episode available on YouTube.
🌸 Learn more about Lovelily: https://www.lovelilyflowers.com (https://www.lovelilyflowers.com/)
23 Jul 2025
Lauren Mahesri, RDN: Grit, Grace, Nutrition
This week on Ladylike, I join Lauren Mahesri, RDN, aka The Pediatric Dietitian, for a conversation about nutrition and bridging worlds with grace.
Lauren shares openly about her cross-cultural marriage, how she helps kids and parents build healthy relationships with food, and the ways she’s building a business that’s both personal and practical.
Whether you're a parent, a partner, or just someone trying to eat less chicken nugget crusts off your kid’s plate, this one’s for you.
16 Jul 2025
Callie Watson: Sweetness That Stays
Episode Description:
Callie Watson is the founder of Hey Honey, a Southern-inspired bakeshop built on heritage, heart, and showing up for people.
In this episode of Ladylike, we kick things off by decorating a cake together—which was humbling (for me) and hilarious (for both of us). But what followed was even better: a rich, emotional conversation about leaving home, building community from scratch, and how the quiet, consistent work of showing up can change everything.
Callie shares stories about the women who raised her, the traditions that shaped her, and how her business became more than just beautiful cakes—it became a way to love people well.
We talk about loneliness, legacy, and the bravery it takes to begin again.
Because sometimes, being ladylike means not just being sweet—but being strong enough to keep going when no one’s watching.
9 Jul 2025
Dr. Katie Rose: Clinical by Training, Compassionate by Choice
In this first episode of Ladylike: The Girl Dad Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Katie Rose, a clinical psychologist, foster care advocate, and mom to a child with special needs.
We talk about what it means to hold space for trauma, both professionally and personally. From helping teens navigate mental health to raising her own son through feeding tubes and loud, messy mornings, Katie shares what it looks like to love without shutting down.
This episode isn’t built around dramatic storytelling. It’s about steadiness. The kind of compassion that isn’t soft or performative—it’s practiced. It’s earned. It’s chosen.
Because some women lead with brilliance. Some with boldness. And some, like Dr. Katie Rose, with a kind of clinical compassion that refuses to look away.
8 Jul 2025
Welcome to Ladylike: The Girl Dad Podcast
Welcome to Ladylike: The Girl Dad Podcast—a show born from one simple question:
“What do you hope your daughter inherits from you?”
In this introductory episode, I share the heart behind the podcast, the moment that sparked its creation, and what you can expect from each conversation. This isn’t a show about having answers. It’s a show about listening—deeply, honestly—to remarkable women who are redefining what it means to be ladylike.
Each episode features a hands-on challenge, a raw and meaningful interview, and a closing letter to my daughter, Drew. Because I want her—and you—to grow up surrounded by stories that are brave, messy, and true.
Let’s start the journey.
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