Ain't no hood like Motherhood
If you haven't heard their podcast already, it's the holy grail of #MomLife podcasts - it's filled with those shockingly funny moments that only a parent can appreciate that make you giggle and gasp at the same time. In many ways the podcast serves to connect. It stands in as the friend you want to confide in, but don't out of fear of judgement. It stands in as the community that rallies behind you, saying "You are not alone, and this parenting thing is f****ing hard". It reassures you that this is just a (glorious, and difficult, and chaotic, and beautiful) season of your life - and this too shall pass. And, it shouts that no matter who you are (model, mogul, SAHM, WAHM) - parenting is a shit show and your toddler doesn't care about any of your past (or present) acolades.
The interview is spread out over people coming to greet us and chat. At on point I had to take my tot to do a christmas activity (and change his bum), so Sam bounced my baby. It really does take a village.
Ahem, back to the interview.
When I asked them what made them start this project, Charlene points straight to Sam, "It was her brain child" - and that's all the encouragement Sam needed.
"I felt disconnected to the parenting podcasts I was listening to because while parenting is the same pretty much wherever you are, the products and places were all directed at an American market, and so there was this massive disconnect and I felt like I couldn't be the only one craving some local content".
As I'm scanning the playground to spot my tot, I ask "How did you two come together on this project?" Because (once you've listened to it you'll agree) the two of them work SO DAMN WELL.
"I literally called Charlene up and told her I had a proposition for her and asked if she wanted to meet," Sam leads. "And I said yes pretty much immediately," Charlene interjects.
"Are you the Juxta-position to the 'instagram mom'? I mean, you guys are so raw and honest."
"While I may be annoyed that I don't look like a model (kidding), our tagline is #NoJudgies - and that means we're inclusive of everyone," Sam replies.
"Ja, I mean if you are able to get up and put the makeup on and do the hair and wrangle kids - kuddos to you, I'm not there, but I think it's damn admirable - tell us how dammit!" Charlene adds.
And now I feel like a bitch for hating on the instagram mom.
Most listened to podcast?
"Maintenance Night," they say in unison (give it a listen - it's SO GOOD).
When asked what's next for them in the podcasting world, this is what they had to say:
"We would love to do some live events, and eventually branch out from there," Charlene says with Sam quickly adding, "It's all about how this community grows and where the needs or opportunities arise, we still want to get onto the apple and google podcasts, so we're working on that too."
Cue a tantruming toddler, and our session is brought to a close.
Below is some information on the hosts, as well as their links (DEF worth a listen).
Sam Herbst
Sam is a recovering workaholic who has suffered through several identity crises since quitting her full-time job as a magazine editor and journalist to venture out into the world of freelance writing, editing and digital marketing. Her passion for children and all things motherhood gave birth to the idea of an honest and authentic parenting podcast that would (hopefully) provide a safe haven for parents to be 100% okay with not being okay. We’re all just doing our best, right?
Sam is overenthusiastic about many things, almost to a fault, and attempts to balance her writing and editing business – www.samanthaherbst.co.za – with motherhood and podcasting. The juggle is real, yo, but the flexibility is worth it.
Who lives in Sam’s house?
Sam lives in Joburg East with her husband, Ray (who’s amazing and definitely not an asshole) and their toddler son, the very handsome and precocious Elijah. FeeBee’s there too, the adopted ginger-tabby cat who always knew she would end up at the Herbsts one day.
Charlene Armstrong
A veritable hive of activity, Charlene does not sit still (or keep quiet) for a second. Her impassioned energy and ‘lus vir die lewe’ initially fed into her experience as a manager and staff trainer in the corporate world but, soon after becoming a mom herself, Charlene became motivated to teach, guide, support and train new parents and childcare professionals. As a qualified baby massage therapist and manager of Littlies Nanny Agency – all in addition to her regular hustle as account manager of SuperAD Promotions & Advertising Agency – she has a finger in many pies, though most of these roles have one thing in common: empowering parents and caregivers to fill their homes with the necessary love and support needed to future-proof their homes and optimise their children’s development
Who lives in Charlene’s house?
Charlene lives in Joburg West with her hilarious husband, Rhett (who’s also, not an asshole). Also in the wings is the couple’s firstborn sasshole, almost-three-year-old Joshua (AKA JDawg) – who’s bossy, 200% loveable and looks just like his mom – and their last born baba, one-year-old Jesse-Lynn (AKA Little Red), who looks nothing like her mom and fulfils the cliché of growing up way too fast in every single way.
Find them on Instagram: @thegreatequalizerpodacst
Find them on Facebook: The Great Equalizer
Listen to them on Sound Cloud under 'The Great Equalizer' - https://m.soundcloud.com/user-349846471
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