Hosted by sisters Steph, a marriage and family therapist, and Meg, a wedding and family photographer, The Bloom + Banter Podcast is a space for processing real life stories that lead to personal growth. Whether it's relationships, entrepreneurship, or even self reflection tune in to feel inspired, supported, and entertained as make sense of life's chaos through our own stories and professional insight alongside others who inspire us. It feels like that oddly thought provoking conversation you can't get out of your head, the one that says "yes, you can do hard things".
17: The Most Common (And Surprising) Reason Marriages Quietly Fall Apart + How To Fix It...
You know that thing you do in your relationship because you think it’s “keeping the peace”? Yeah… it might be the exact thing that’s pulling you apart. In this episode, Steph talks about the one trait she notices as a pattern from working with unhappy couples and we both talk about the moments it's showed up in our own marriages and how to fix it. It’s a good one.
29 Oct 2025
16: Waiting 'Till You Feel Ready? Ready Isn't A Feeling... Do This Instead.
We unpack the unsexy truth about growth: stop letting feelings fly the plane. Comfort is the silent killer of marriage, business, and the goals you swear you want. Meg shares her five daily non-negotiables that have transformed her life and Steph breaks down how to grow your capacity (not your excuses). Together we walk through the $10M Energy Model - how to use your thoughts to generate the energy you need before the results arrive. If you say something is a priority… show us on your calendar. Ready isn't a feeling;).
22 Oct 2025
15. Socially Awkward? Same. Here are 3 Tips For Being Less Awkward in Social Settings That May or May Not Work ;)
Ever walked into a room and instantly felt your heart rate spike, palms sweat, and brain short-circuit? Yeah, us too. In this episode of Bloom and Banter, we’re diving headfirst into the art of not being a total weirdo in social situations - from remembering people’s names (even when it feels impossible), to asking better questions, to mastering the delicate dance of knowing when to end a conversation.
If you’ve ever replayed a conversation in your head at 2 a.m. wondering if you were awkward… this one’s for you. Come here Stephs mortifying story about when she was 16 and you'll never not remember a name again ;).
30 Sept 2025
14. Fair Fighting Rules: The Secret to Healthy Conflict in Relationships, Going to Bed Angry and Salty Soup.
Marriage advice is everywhere - don’t go to bed angry, fight fair, marriage takes work. But what does that actually mean in real life when the fighting rules get broken (because they always do)?
In this episode, we’re pulling apart the myths, talking about what the “work” in marriage really looks like, and why sometimes the best move is literally just shutting up and going to bed. Turns out there's no gold medal for "winning" marriage and feedback on salty soup can really be just that - tune in to find out more for this actionable and insightful banter that can apply to any type of relationship.
To download the Fair Fighting Rules PDF - Find us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/thebloomandbanterpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thebloomandbanterpodcast) and DM us the world "RULES" and we'll send you the downloadable PDF!
19 Jul 2025
13: We're backkk! The Power of Consistency, Accountability and Steph's Plot Twist!
A quick intro back into our podcasting project after Steph took a much needed rest from literally all things and Meg put her head down to dive into the power of discipline and consistency. A few thoughts and we're backkkkk baby! ...Quite literally ;)
(Also PS we had to record this one with 1 mic again (one day we will get the technical side of podcasting figured out lol) but done is better than perfect so enjoy our mediocre sound and it will be better next time ;))
15 May 2025
12: Author and Comedian JJ Barrows: A Path of Self Discovery, Laughing (and crying) Through Motherhood, and Living to Impress your 85yr old Self.
In this episode we sit down with the artist, stand-up comedian, and amazing author of ‘Kinda Funny’ JJ Barrows. This was such a genuinely humorous and heartfelt conversation that left us inspired with a new motivation to take risks and pursue a path of a choosing a full life (despite the fear and anxiety). Tune in to experience the soul-filling delight that is JJ Barrows.
Hear about her accidental journey into comedy as a form of therapy and the different ways it has shaped her life…her challenges of balancing career and personal identity alongside motherhood… And ultimately the overwhelming joy and heartbreak of living a life of your 85 year old self would be proud of.
Link to Kinda Funny on Amazon: https://a.co/d/gAZZU69 (https://a.co/d/gAZZU69)
Link to JJ Barrows on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jjbarrows/?hl=en (https://www.instagram.com/jjbarrows/?hl=en)
9 May 2025
11: Thoughts on Mother's Day: Overcoming Decision Fatigue, A Conversation Worth Having + Scheduling Mac n' Cheese
In this episode of The Bloom and Banter we dive deep into the expectations and realities of Mother's Day. We share personal stories, including Steph's comical first Mother's Day experience (sorry Kama) and the importance of not saving all your joy for just one day. We also discuss a few ideas for scheduling regular personal time and decision days to avoid decision fatigue and keep marriages healthy. Tune in to hear us chat about the pressures of motherhood, communication in relationships, and how creating a balanced family dynamic can make everyone happier.
2 May 2025
10: Adult Friendships: Insecurities, Accountability and Embracing Your Inner Cilantro
Tune in as we unpack in real time the challenges of maintaining and nurturing adult friendships through the changes and growth that happens as everyone goes through their different transitions and phases of life.
We talk through finding our own accountability in the often untrue narratives we tell ourselves about different relationships and social situations and the different ways we could show up better for the people we love. Tackling the struggle of relationship insecurities, the awkwardness of making new friends in your 30's and realizing that when you stop and look around, the people who care about you are there... and sometimes, you're just cilantro.
24 Apr 2025
9: Humbling Realities of Traveling with Kids | Vacation vs. Relocation, Perspective Shifts and Why Won't They Just Go To Sleep!?
Tune in to hear a humbling recap of our recent trip to Tahiti with our 2 families and the many ways we were humbled and surprised. We chat about what our expectations were before the trip and how it actually played out along with some beautiful realizations about slowing down and finding restoration at home. A lighthearted and quick banter about our thoughts on how vacation with kids is more just like relocation (ha!) but how it's still so worth going, what made it easier, and what we'll do next time when we travel with ferrel children who hate sleep ;).
25 Mar 2025
8: Perception Insecurities: Fearing Judgement and Finding the Courage to Show Up Authentically In Real Life + Online
In this episode we talk through the fears that come with showing up online and also insecurities of how people perceive us. Tune in to process the complexities of social media vs. real life with us as we talk through identity challenges and find the courage to be confidently authentic. A true sister banter including a small disagreement on who is more Type A (spoiler alert, It's Steph hahah ;))
14 Mar 2025
7: Surprises of Parenthood | Managing Intrusive Thoughts, Overstimulation + Why Are They Always Asking For Cheese....
Tune in to find out some of the things we wished we would have understood better before having kids as well as some of the surprising personal growth that has come from our parenting journeys so far. Confessions about the most unexpected realities of becoming moms, intrusive thoughts and why Meg had to make her 5 year old an apology card.
7 Mar 2025
6: Learning to Seize Oppertunity: How to Find The Flow State, Creativity + Doing a Bad Job.
In this episode we give a. quick update on how the Manifestation talk from last week surprisingly transformed into some life changing events for Steph and her family and the benefit of "getting in the building". We talk about ways to find and seize opportunities in different areas of life, cultivating main character energy and Meg's first attempt at surfing in over 7 years.
Listen in as we share a few personal stories and experiments (some successful and some unsuccessful) for actionable steps to begin finding creativity and the flow state and how to trick your brain to move through perfectionism.
Book Recommendations discussed in the show:
*KINDA FUNNY: Stories by a Full-Time Comedian (with Four Part-Time Jobs) by JJ Barrows LINK HERE (https://a.co/d/728JlI2)
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert - LINK HERE (https://a.co/d/fThf048)
Celeste Headlee: 10 ways to have a better conversation Ted Talk - LINK HERE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=R1vskiVDwl4)
25 Feb 2025
5: Manifestation: Bloopers From Our Husbands Comical Interview Gone Wrong + Small Steps Towards Designing Your Life For The Person You Want To Be
In this episode we give you a 3 minute glimpse of a interview with our husbands which was a comical disaster haha - Skip to 5 minutes to get to the start of the main episode which dives into how a physically designed space can help manifest the life and person you want to be.
We talk about Meg's realization of not walking the walk and the power of redefining excuses into priorities along with the tools we personally use to combat resistance to doing the things we know are good for us.
We touch on an evolutionary and neuroscience standpoint of how active manifestation works and why being intentional in design both physically and mentally can help combat life's challenges (and get you the best parking spot in the lot;)). Also, get yourself a bathroom book. Tune in to hear why!
Meg's Affiliate link to the Ziva Online Mediation Course Mentioned: https://cd371.isrefer.com/go/zivaONLINE/Megbradyhouse/ (https://cd371.isrefer.com/go/zivaONLINE/Megbradyhouse/)
18 Feb 2025
4: Unapologetically Taking Space To Be You: Facing Insecurities, Finding Your Voice and Current Thought Experiments
This episode is a true look into an every-day unscripted conversation between us as sisters as we dive into the different things were working on in our daily lives, how we’re currently facing our insecurities and why Meg is the only awkward person to ever exist;). A true banter touching on the hoky-ness of self acceptance, active gratitude, and the therapeutic benefits of singing loudly in the car.
*link to the Mendi Brain Training Device mentioned at 10.44: https://www.mendi.io/products/mendi (https://www.mendi.io/products/mendi)
11 Feb 2025
3: Spice Up Your Relationship in 6 Seconds: Thoughts on Marriage, Connection, and Individual Identity for this Valentines Day
In this episode we discuss various aspects of marriage and maintaining connection with your partner through Steph's lens as a marriage therapist. We share the importance of staying curious in your relationship and talk about insights from the Gottman Institute, particularly the concept of a six-second kiss. Tune in for some personal stories about our marriages, our challenge of maintaining individual identity, and why Steph dreams about sitting in cute cafes drinking romantic coffees. This episode is all about actionable takeaways for improving relationships just in time for Valentine's Day.
*The book mentioned is ‘How To Improve Your Marriage Without Talking About It’ by Patricia Love and Steven Stonsy
4 Feb 2025
2: The Real Story Bringing Us To Kauai | Divorce, Unexpected Decisions + A Fresh Start
In this episode we dive into the challenging personal events that individually lead both Meg and Steph from Canada to Kaua'i. We touch on the messiness of divorce, how important it is to put ideas into motion, and what our parent’s response was in Meg’s darkest hour. On the pursuit of happiness, even when it felt hopeless, and choosing growth over defeat.
28 Jan 2025
1: Done is Better than Perfect: Our Unrehearsed Introduction
Who are we and how did we get here!? We describe each other in 3 ways on the spot where one of Meg's secret fears is unveiled and Steph admits what she uses her "nerd beacon" for after it lead her to her now husband.
Get to know us as individuals, sisters, and your now hosts of The Bloom + Banter Podcast where we explain what the show is about and how we got here!
27 Jan 2025
Ep. 1 Trailer | Bloom + Banter
Tune in on Tuesday Jan 28, 2025 for the first episode of Bloom + Banter!
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Podcast Authority Score: 9 / 100
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