Armed to the Heart - Military Women, Work-life Balance, Female Veterans, Christian Moms, Pregnancy and Postpartum

By Megan Gephart | Christian Life Coach | Military Mom Advocate | Catholic Working Mom | Pregnancy and Postpartum Coach

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Subscribers: 2
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Episodes: 118

Description

Live out God’s calling in work & family life, within and beyond the uniform — Are you feeling alone as a woman of Christian faith in the military or another male-dominated environment? Are you driven to make a big impact, but wish you could be more present, and give more time to your family? Are you working to lead change, struggling to find your voice or courage as you swim against the current? Are you a high-achiever pouring yourself out for everyone else but burnt out, stressed, and struggling to find time for your own physical & mental health because there’s always so much that needs to be done? Does your harsh inner critic make you feel like no matter how much you do, it’s never enough? You know you’re called to be a leader and change-maker, but it’s hard to find others like you who also share your faith & values. Maybe you’re feeling forced to choose between. Every day is a battle, trying to give 100% in all the hats you wear. You’re performing well but your load is heavy, you’re weighed down by guilt, and exhausted from pushing through but never having a moment to rest. It’s hard to know what to say yes to, and scary considering a different course than the traditional path of success everyone is pushing you toward, or what you’ve always known. Maybe you’ve recently made the transition or are thinking about leaving the military. You don’t want your work to come at the expense of your family; they come first. Amidst it all, you just want to do God’s will. I see you sister. I’m on this journey with you. In this Podcast, you’ll find heart to heart conversations about motherhood and military life, work-life balance and leadership, all grounded in Biblical truths, my education & experience as a professionally-trained Catholic Mindset Coach, certified Pregnancy & Postpartum Athleticism Coach, and lessons I’ve learned the hard way in the last 5 years of high level advocacy work fighting for mothers, families, and life in the military. I believe strongly that no one should have to choose between their family and their call to serve. That motherhood should never be the death of our dreams. That motherhood is not a limiting factor in what a woman can achieve, but lack of support can be. I started Armed to the Heart to be who I needed when I was in the trenches, overwhelmed by motherhood in the military, struggling in my mental health & postpartum recovery, drowning in my home, carrying so much guilt for the time I had to spend away from my baby, feeling so much pressure to prove myself in a combat arms unit and feeling like a failure in all of it. My family was getting the leftovers of me. I felt stifled in my faith. Trapped in the military. It felt impossible to actually live out my priorities. I felt so far from the superwoman others saw in me. As a dual military, active duty Army officer raising 2 sweet (and wild!) boys in the Catholic faith, a fierce advocate for my sisters in arms going through pregnancy & postpartum, a recovering perfectionist and people pleaser, & big dreamer with a heart to make a difference, I know the struggle that comes with wearing so many hats & trying to fulfill God’s call for us. Through so many answered prayers, the Lord has allowed me to be part of the change I want to see. To bridge the gaps I’ve experienced and seen in thousands of women’s experience in the military, through policy advocacy work, mentorship & coaching. To fight for motherhood, for life, and for freedom to live out our faith in the military. He taught me that our minds are the true spiritual battlegrounds, and that by learning to manage our mind, emotions, & time, we don’t have to be a victim to our circumstances. He showed me that by discerning His will in every season, it is possible to keep my faith and family first while making a meaningful impact. So if you’re ready to do the same, for the glory of God, this Podcast is for you! Lace up those boots sister, it’s time to jump in. We can do this together.

Episode Date
113. Feeling Pressure to Finish Lent Strong & Prepare More for Easter? 3 Tips to Reduce Overwhelm, Release Pressure & Find Rest
Mar 20, 2024
112. Let Me Be With You: How to Let Jesus Into the Joys and Struggles of Everyday Life
Jan 29, 2024
111. We're Never Enough in the Eyes of the World: A Loving Invitation to Let the Lord Define Who you Are Instead
Jan 18, 2024
110. How’s your Mind & Heart around Exercise? Is it Serving you or Guilting you? 12 Mindset Shifts to Maintain Fitness Without all the Stress, Anxiety, Pressure or Shame
Nov 22, 2023
109. The 7 Biggest Mistakes Keeping you in Spirals of Shame around Nutrition, Fitness, & your Body (and How to Break Free to Reclaim the Joy around Food!)
Nov 22, 2023
108. Wanna feel Guilt-Free around Food? 8 Game-Changing Tips to Find Freedom & Balance in Enjoying the Holiday Meals & Treats while Staying on Track with Nutrition
Nov 22, 2023
107. Worried the Holidays will Derail your Health & Fitness Goals? ”Holiday-proof” your Fitness with these 15 Simple Strategies & Hacks to Stay on Track while Fully Enjoying the Season
Nov 22, 2023
106. Jesus wants to Meet you in the Trenches: An Honest Heart to Heart about the Raw, Real, Messiness of Life and the Goodness of God
Nov 17, 2023
105. Let’s Release the Unrealistic Expectations, Pressures, and Standards: A 5-Min Exercise to Let Go of all the ”Shoulds” Hanging over your Head
Oct 08, 2023
104. Running a Million Miles an Hour and Struggling to Find Rest or Experience the Joy you Really Want to in Life? 3 Simple Steps to Start Slowing Down to Be More Present
Oct 05, 2023
103. 10 Must-Answer Questions to Discover your Calling & Build a More Fulfilling Balance Between Family & Work
Sep 26, 2023
102. Spiraling Negative Thoughts or Self-Talk? A Simple Framework to Process Tough Emotions & Build a Biblical Mindset
Sep 21, 2023
101. 5 Ways to Stay Grounded through Change, Transitions, and Seasons of Uncertainty or Anxiety about All the Unknowns
Sep 13, 2023
100. Celebrating 100 Episodes with a Giveaway you Don’t Wanna Miss! Close of this Season & Prayerful Preparation for the Next
Jul 18, 2023
99. If the Enemy Can’t Defeat You, He’ll Distract You: How to Stay Focused in a World of Constant Distractions to Be the Wife, Mom, & Leader you’re Called to Be
Jul 15, 2023
98. In a Demanding Season of Work & Family Life, or Time of Transition, Uncertainty, or Instability? 5 (Unconventional) Lessons in Work Life Balance and Living out your Faith
Jul 11, 2023
97. Exhausted & Running on Empty? 15 Hacks to Boost your Energy (Even when Sleep-Deprived as a Busy Mom!)
Jun 26, 2023
96. Navigating Struggles in Marriage, Mental Health, Motherhood & Military Life with Grace and How to Be More Intentional with our Time: Interview with Lissa Figgins
Jun 20, 2023
95. 5 Strategies to Combat Perfectionism — that Harsh Inner Critic that Says You’re Never Good Enough
Jun 08, 2023
94. Struggling to Balance Time for Your Family with your Busy Work Schedule? 3 Simple Shifts you Can Make for More Time & Presence
Jun 05, 2023
93. Free Up More Time for What’s Most Important to You: How to Avoid these 3 Things that are Likely Wasting Way more Time than you Realize!
Jun 03, 2023
92. How to Make an Impact, but WITHOUT Running Yourself Into the Ground: Preventing Burnout as High-Achievers with Big Hearts to Serve (Coaching Call Part 2 with Carlie)
May 27, 2023
91. Giving your All to Everything you Do but Can’t Find Time for Yourself? Coaching Call with Carlie on Work-Life Balance & Finding Time to Exercise (Part 1)
May 19, 2023
90. What would a Beautiful, Perfect Mother’s Day Look & Feel Like for You? Let’s Explore your Hopes, Expectations, & Needs Before Mother’s Day so you can Feel Less Disappointment & More Joy
May 13, 2023
89. Tired of feeling like Work is Taking Over your Life? How to Have a Meaningful Career AND a Life, and Build a Better Work-Life Balance
May 12, 2023
88. Too Busy to Pray? Can’t Get a Moment to Yourself as a Mom? 7 Simple Ways to Find More Time to Consistently Connect with God EVEN IN your Busy Schedule
May 10, 2023
87. Painful Sex is Not Normal: 6 Simple Strategies to Reduce Pelvic Pain during Intimacy Postpartum
May 05, 2023
86. Feeling Pressure to be a Perfect Mom? Guilty you’re Not Giving your Family Enough? How to Break Free from the Unrealistic Expectation of Motherhood
May 01, 2023
85. Ready to Reduce Tantrums, Meltdowns & Power Struggles to Connect More with Your Kids? ALL the Tips to Make Parenting Easier & More Joyful from Pediatric Occupational Therapist, Kelly Shoup
Apr 28, 2023
84. The #1 Thing that’ll help you Deal with All the Change, Instability, Uncertainty, and Transitions of Military Life and Motherhood
Apr 26, 2023
83. The 6 Week Postpartum Clearance: All the Things your Doctor Doesn’t (or Didn’t) Tell You
Apr 22, 2023
82. Interview with Brianna Battles on Pregnancy & Postpartum Fitness, the Identity Shifts & Mental Health Struggles of Motherhood, and How to Make an Impact in your Community
Apr 20, 2023
81. Your Harsh Inner Critic is Part of a Bigger Spiritual Battle: How to Hear & Know God’s Voice vs. the Enemy’s in your Life & Motherhood
Apr 10, 2023
80. How to Navigate Body Image Struggles in Motherhood: 6 Tips to Accept & Love your Body More, and a Vulnerable Personal Story
Apr 05, 2023
79. Healing Diastasis Recti Postpartum: How to Close your Ab Gap to Restore your Core Strength, Feel More Like Yourself in Your Body Again & Get back to Fitness after Baby
Apr 03, 2023
78. Behind the Scenes: How I’m Finding Balance in a Crazy Busy Season and You Can Too (Navigating Negative Self Talk, Perfectionism, Long Distance, Military Moves)
Mar 30, 2023
77. Struggle to Be Present & Patient at Home with all the Directions you’re Pulled in? 15 Ways to Make the Most of the Limited Time you Have with your Babies
Mar 27, 2023
76. High Expectations of Yourself in Fitness? 3 Ways this may be Self-Sabotaging during Pregnancy & Postpartum...and How to Instead Leverage this Natural Drive FOR You & your Goals!
Mar 24, 2023
75. Drained from Work, Mom Life, and Everything on Your Plate? 5 Ways to Reduce Burnout, Stress & Guilt (Part 2)
Mar 21, 2023
74. How to Prioritize your Physical & Mental Health when Everyone Else Comes First & You’ve Got NO Time: Moving out of Burnout as a Working Mom (Part 1)
Mar 20, 2023
73. How Can We Live Out our Faith in Daily Life as a Military Mom? 3 Step Framework to Stay Aligned with God’s Will in your Calling for Family and Work
Mar 16, 2023
72. Holding it All Together But Wishing it Didn’t Feel So Hard? 6 Simple Strategies to Find More Balance as a Busy Mama (Part 2)
Mar 13, 2023
71. Just trying to Keep Up with Everything? 6 Things you Can Do to Stop Feeling so Overwhelmed by All the Demands (Part 1)
Mar 13, 2023
70. Your Guide to Running while Pregnant: Is it Safe? How Long Can or Should I Run? How to Stay Fit While Protecting your Core & Pelvic Floor
Mar 10, 2023
69. How to Overcome the Stigmas Around Pregnancy & Postpartum in the Military, to be the Mom & Leader We’re Called to Be
Mar 08, 2023
68. Spread too Thin? This SINGLE Time Management Tip Will Free Up your Time & Help you Be More Present to Focus on What Matters Most
Mar 06, 2023
67. Wanna Experience More Joy EVEN IN the Hard of Motherhood? Finding your Identity, Purpose, & Dreams Again Amidst the Sacrifices
Mar 01, 2023
66. Not Seeing Enough Progress in Fitness Postpartum (or Anytime?) The #1 Secret to Getting More Results from your Workouts & 12 Easy Ways to Apply it
Feb 27, 2023
65. Stuck in Cycles of Stress, Exhaustion, & Guilt? The #1 Thing Stealing your Time & Energy, and the Key Steps to Break Free & Find more Balance
Feb 24, 2023
64. Don’t Get Caught up in these Outdated (even Harmful!) Pieces of Advice on Postpartum Fitness: 20 Myths, and the Guidance you Need to Know (Part 2)
Feb 20, 2023
63. Are you Falling Victim to these Postpartum Fitness Myths? 20 of the BIGGEST Misconceptions & Exactly What you Need to Know Instead (Part 1)
Feb 20, 2023
62. 5 Ways to SIMPLIFY the Process to Get Healthy Meals on the Table as a Busy Mom (and 6 Mistakes to Avoid!)
Feb 16, 2023
61. Ready for some Easy Meal Prep Tips? My 6 Step Meal Planning & Prep System, and Time-Saving Strategies to Prioritize Healthy Eating
Feb 16, 2023
60. Stressed by a Big Move or the Instability of Military Life? 10 Ways to Thrive in as a Family through Change & Uncertainty
Feb 14, 2023
59. 10 Secrets to Finding the Time to Exercise as a Working Mom: How to Fit Workouts Into your Jam-Packed Schedule
Feb 12, 2023
58. Feel Forced to Choose Between Family & Career Not On Your Own Terms, or Like your Breastfeeding Journey Has to End Before You’re Ready? 4 Tips to Navigate these Situations
Feb 07, 2023
57. Want to Boost Your Milk Supply as a Pumping Mama? 10 Tips, Tricks & Hacks to Increase your Output
Feb 06, 2023
56. It IS Possible to Keep Breastfeeding Even through Military Field Training & Operations! My Best Secrets & Tips to Maintain your Supply, Store, & Transport Milk for Your Baby
Feb 02, 2023
55. Feel Guilty Taking Time to Pump? How I Overcame the Stigmas & Fears of Advocating for Myself and You Can Too
Feb 01, 2023
54. You Don’t Have to Sacrifice your Milk Supply while Getting Back to Fitness & Work: How to Do BOTH
Jan 31, 2023
53. Want to Breastfeed & Keep Pumping when Returning to Work? How to Make this Work & Navigate the Challenges of Lactation in the Military
Jan 30, 2023
52. Want to Lead your Family in Faith? 10 Simple Ways to Pour into your Kids & Help them Know & Love Jesus As a Busy Working Mama
Jan 27, 2023
51. Tired of Being in Reaction Mode & Want to Get More Done? 10 Practical Tips for a Less Stressful, More Productive, Purposeful & Peaceful Workday
Jan 23, 2023
50. How to Thrive (not just Survive) Postpartum: 8 Critical Tips to Navigate Postpartum as a Military Mom (Part 2)
Jan 20, 2023
49. How to Thrive (not just Survive) Postpartum: 8 Critical Tips to Navigate Postpartum as a Military Mom (Part 1)
Jan 19, 2023
48. How to Advocate for Yourself, Your Family, & Others in the Military & Beyond: 12 Things I Wish I Knew As I Began My Career & Motherhood
Jan 17, 2023
CALL TO ACTION for my Army Sisters in Arms - Big Opportunity to Lead Change & Make a Big Impact for Women who Serve
Jan 14, 2023
47. Want More Balance so you can Be the Mom & Wife you Want to Be, & Not Constantly Feel Burnt Out & Exhausted? [Part 2]
Jan 11, 2023
46. Struggling to Hold it All Together or Feeling Like you’re Failing in all of it? 8 Key Foundations You Need if You’re a Go-Getter, but Longing for Balance [Part 1]
Jan 10, 2023
Moms in the Military, I Want to Hear from You and Learn About your Journey! Win a Starbucks Gift Card for a few min of your time
Jan 06, 2023
45. A Simple, Step-By-Step Goal Setting Process: A Strategy to Pursue Your Dreams & Overcome What’s Holding you Back
Jan 05, 2023
44. How to Gain Wisdom from Failure with MUCH More Grace & Self Compassion (vs. Beating Yourself Up!) to Fast-track your Progress Toward your Goals
Jan 03, 2023
43. Start Here, Before Setting New Resolutions: My Formula for Evaluating & Celebrating Your Success & Growth, while Giving Glory to God in All of It [New Years Reflection]
Jan 02, 2023
42. Feeling the New Year, New You Pressure or Wanna Start Strong? How to Enter the New Year on the Right Foot, While Avoiding All the Toxic Messages
Dec 31, 2022
41.20 Different Ways to Measure Progress in Health & Fitness Postpartum (or Anytime) BEYOND Losing Weight and the Numbers on the Scale
Dec 31, 2022
40. Feeling a Bit Down, Drained, Anxious, or Blah after Christmas? 10 Tips to Get Out of the Funk & Post-Holiday Blues to Feel More Refreshed, Grounded, & Motivated Going into the New Year
Dec 30, 2022
39. How to Keep Christ at the Center of Christmas: 10 Tips to Make More Room in Our Hearts, Family Lives, & Busy Schedules and Remember the True Meaning of Christmas
Dec 23, 2022
38. 7 Tips to Maintain Your Sanity and Peace for a More Enjoyable Christmas with Extended Family
Dec 22, 2022
37. Feeling Disappointed By Your Christmas, Body, Home, Motherhood or Feel Like you’re Not Measuring Up? 10 Tips to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others & Letting It Steal Your Joy
Dec 21, 2022
36. How to Reduce Mom Guilt: 3 Thought Patterns Keeping You Stuck and How to Break Free to Find your Peace & Joy
Dec 20, 2022
35. Feeling Worn Down? 10 Things You May Not Realize are Preventing You From Finding the Time to Rest You So Desperately Need (and What to Do About It)
Dec 19, 2022
34. Does a Magical, Peaceful Christmas Feel Out of Reach? 6 Quick Tips to Make your Dreams & Desires for the Holiday Season a Reality
Dec 18, 2022
33. Feel Like You’re Losing Your Mind and Your To-Do-List is Controlling You? 6 Steps and Simple Mindset Shifts to Overcome Overwhelm
Dec 17, 2022
32. Running a Million Miles an Hour? 10 Simple Tips to Help You Slow Down to Manage Stress, Be More Present with Your Family & Find more Balance
Dec 15, 2022
31. My Biggest Secrets to a Successful Postpartum Recovery, Optimize your Results & Timeline (WITHOUT Compromising your Long-term Health & Performance!) and Achieve your Big Goals after Baby (Part 2)
Dec 13, 2022
30. How to Speed Up Your Postpartum Recovery: The Keys to Know & Do to Set Yourself Up for a Smoother, More Successful Return to Strength, Fitness, & Confidence in your Body Again (Part 1)
Dec 12, 2022
29. 20 Fun, Easy, Low or Zero Equipment Ways to Integrate Fitness into your Busy Life as a Mama: Creative Ideas For At Home Workouts, Holiday Travel, and when It’s Hard to Find the Time
Dec 09, 2022
28. How to Break Your Attachment to Social Media and your Phone, and Discern its Role in your Life (and/or Small Business!) So you’re NOT Sacrificing Your Faith, Family, or Well-Being (Part 2)
Dec 07, 2022
27. Are you Addicted to your Phone or Social Media? The Painful Truth about How it’s Stealing your Mental Health, Time, & Presence, and What to Do About it (Part 1)
Dec 07, 2022
26. Low on Time or Energy to Cook & Get Healthy Meals on the Table? 10 Hacks to Simplify Nutrition & Make Meal Planning & Prep Easier During Crazy Busy Seasons of Work Life or Family Life
Dec 02, 2022
25. How to Set Loving Boundaries with More Confidence & Compassion to Protect Your Mental Health & Priorities
Nov 30, 2022
24. 7 Mistakes You May Be Making in How You’re Approaching Nutrition During the Holidays that are Keeping you from Balance & Freedom Around Food, Fitness & Your Body (and How to Avoid Them!)
Nov 23, 2022
23. How to Enjoy Celebrations & Favorite Treats Guilt-Free, while Staying on Track with Nutrition: 8 Game-Changing Ways to Release Stress & Reclaim Balance & Joy around Food
Nov 23, 2022
22. Feeling Guilt, Anxiety or Pressure around Exercise & Your Body During the Holidays (or anytime?) 12 Ways to Maintain Fitness Without all the Stress, Pressure or Shame
Nov 23, 2022
21. How to Stay on Track in Fitness & Feel More Balanced During the Busy Holiday Season: 15 Simple Tips & Hacks to Help You Stay Fit, Active, & Healthy Through the Holidays
Nov 22, 2022
20. The 5 Poisonous P’s Stealing your Peace: How to Release these Sneaky Pressures that Keep you Stressed & Stuck
Nov 21, 2022
19. Feeling the Stress & Overwhelm of the Busy Holiday Season Already? 5 Key Steps to Avoid the Stress and Reclaim your Time, Peace, & Presence so you can Focus on your Family & Faith this Christmas
Nov 19, 2022
18. Doubting Your Worth? What to Do When you Feel Like You’re Not Enough as a Mom, Wife, Leader, or Entrepreneur: The One Question to Ask Yourself Whenever You Feel Like You’re Not Measuring Up
Nov 16, 2022
17. Is It Really Possible to Pursue Your Dreams and Be a Great Mom at the Same Time? Why and How Babies & Dreams Go Together, and 5 Mindset Shifts to Encourage You in Balancing Motherhood & Your Goals
Nov 11, 2022
16. One Powerful Mindset Shift to Help You Feel More Empowered in Managing the Home & Never-ending To Do List
Nov 08, 2022
15. Overwhelmed by Hard Seasons of Motherhood, the Military, or Life Transitions? 12 Simple Tips to Manage Stress when you’re IN the Trenches
Nov 04, 2022
14. Navigating Fitness Tests, Physical Events, & Pressures to Perform as Postpartum Military Moms: 9 Lessons on Building Physical, Mental & Spiritual Strength & Resilience
Nov 01, 2022
13. The 10 Biggest Pitfalls Moms Make in Returning to Fitness Postpartum, and Navigating A New Baby (and How to Avoid These Mistakes to Feel More Confident & Thrive as a Mother)
Oct 28, 2022
12. How to Connect More Deeply with your Husband in the Busyness of Life & Parenthood: 6 Questions for Meaningful Conversation, to Nurture Greater Emotional Intimacy in Marriage
Oct 25, 2022
11. 7 Steps to Reduce the Guilt & Tension and Find More Balance between Work & Home Life: Make an Impact While Also Putting Family First
Oct 21, 2022
Giveaway to Celebrate the First 10 Episodes and Thank You for Being Part of the Community!
Oct 19, 2022
10. The 10 Biggest Calling Blockers - What’s Holding You Back from Living Out Your God-given Purpose, and How to More Confidently Follow your Calling
Oct 18, 2022
9. How to Find Your Calling: 6 Steps to Discover and Clarify Your God-Given Purpose and Mission
Oct 14, 2022
8. Fitting in Workouts as a Busy Mom: 10 Tips for How to Find the Time, Motivation & Energy to Exercise Postpartum with a Baby At Home (or multiple little ones!)
Oct 11, 2022
7. How to Exercise Safely & Maintain Fitness Through Pregnancy: for Military Moms, Female Tactical Athletes & Beyond
Oct 07, 2022
6. Navigating Unexpected Pregnancy in the Military and Pressure to Time Pregnancies Around Our Career: Trusting God in the Uncertainty & When He Changes our Plans
Oct 04, 2022
5. My Top 5 Tips for Postpartum Fitness: Get Back to Exercise, Rebuild Strength & Heal your Core & Pelvic Floor after Birth
Sep 27, 2022
4. Postpartum Recovery Timeline and How to Heal, Restore your Core & Pelvic Floor, Get Back to Exercise, & Rebuild Strength & Fitness after Giving Birth (Part 2)
Sep 20, 2022
3. How to Heal & Recover Postpartum: Restore your Core & Pelvic Floor, Get Back to Exercise, & Rebuild Strength & Fitness after Giving Birth, for Military Women & Beyond (Part 1)
Sep 13, 2022
2. How to Balance Being a Great Mom with the Call to Serve: Overcoming the Pressure to Sacrifice Family for Success, or be Forced to Choose Between
Sep 04, 2022
1. The Juggle is Real: The Struggle to Find Balance as Working Moms & Military Women who Want to Have a Family
Sep 02, 2022
Mini Intro - Welcome to Armed to the Heart!
Sep 01, 2022
Trailer - Our Battle as Sisters in Arms, as Sisters in Christ
Sep 01, 2022