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PODCAST

Mama Merit Badge

Krista Olynyk and Samantha MacKinnon

Yapping at the intersection of motherhood and ambition. A podcast for moms doing their best (and sometimes their worst) while juggling kids, careers, businesses, and the chaos of family life. Hosts Samantha and Krista—two black SUV moms from Southern Ontario—hand out imaginary badges for the messy, hilarious, and wildly human moments of modern motherhood. Expect real talk, zero judgment, and the occasional snack hidden in the pantry. New episodes every Wednesday.

kids & family parenting

All Episodes

01:11:35

Lipstick, Loot Bags & Launch Plans

Mama Merit Badge ·

2025/07/09

This week, Krista and Samantha bounce between summer parenting chaos and business growth lessons, proving once again that snack plates and strategic planning can (and do) coexist.They dig into the reality of decision fatigue, the art of launching with intention, and why sometimes, a swipe of lipstick is the only prep you need for a big call. The conversation flows from kids and technology to the evolving world of birthday parties, with honest takes on social dynamics, gratitude, and whether loot

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00:53:02

Book Clubs, Business Systems & Big Summer Energy

Mama Merit Badge ·

2025/07/02

This week, Krista and Samantha are deep in summer mode—juggling Camp MacChaos, dreaming up travel plans, and trying to remember what day it is (no guarantees). They unpack the myth of passive income, why automated revenue is a more accurate goal, and how delegation and SOPs can actually free up time to breathe.The conversation bounces between parenting, business workflows, Human Design, book club picks, and yes—reality TV. It’s a peek behind the curtain of two moms navigating work, life, and play in

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01:19:10

Self-Care, Summer Shifts & Finding What Works

Mama Merit Badge ·

2025/06/25

This week, Krista and Samantha dig into what self-care really looks like—especially as summer break kicks in, schedules get messy, and family health throws curveballs. It’s not a spa day fantasy or a list of things you “should” be doing. It’s about what’s actually possible in the middle of it all.They talk about balancing priorities, redefining wellness, and why setting boundaries is as essential as packing sunscreen. From lighthouse parenting to the mental clutter that comes from consuming the

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00:49:30

Fatigue, Focus & the Fight for Balance

Mama Merit Badge ·

2025/06/18

In this episode, Samantha and Krista get candid about the real weight of balancing business, motherhood, and everything in between. From navigating decision fatigue to redefining what success even means, they unpack what it looks like to keep going when your energy is low but the to-do list is high.They talk about ruthless time management, learning to say no to things that don’t move the needle, and why sometimes, the best strategy is simply knowing when to stop. This is a conversation for anyone

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01:24:14

The Husbands, Big Feelings and Long-Game Parenting

Mama Merit Badge ·

2025/06/11

This week’s episode is a full table: Krista and Sam are joined by Dave and Brandon (aka The Husbands) for a raw, reflective, and often hilarious look at what it really means to raise kids while trying to stay married, sane, and maybe even caught up on laundry.Together, they explore the emotional highs and lows of modern parenthood, the invisible weight of household responsibilities, and the beautiful (and sometimes frustrating) lessons that come with the long game of parenting. There’s talk of AI,

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01:09:29

Clutter, Calendars & The Chaos We Call Life

Mama Merit Badge ·

2025/06/04

In this week’s episode, Krista and Samantha bounce between beauty tips, parenting hacks, meal planning, and the strangely satisfying joy of a solo grocery trip. It’s a little bit of everything—because that’s exactly what this season of life is like.They dive into clutter (emotional and physical), seasonal transitions, and the ongoing effort to foster independence in kids without losing patience or sanity. Along the way, they touch on the soothing power of shared TV binges, the politics of grocery

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01:11:28

Maternity Leave, Burnout & The Invisible Load

Mama Merit Badge ·

2025/05/28

This week, Krista and Samantha open up about the messy middle of maternity leave, the emotional (and strategic) recalibrating that comes with burnout, and the slow, weird journey of transitioning back to work when your brain still feels half-swaddled in sleep schedules.Samantha reflects on her own experience stepping back from business after baby #2, navigating the invisible labour of motherhood, and confronting the gap between how we expect maternity leave to feel—and how it actually shows up

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01:01:14

School Kids, Schedules & Screens—Parenting in the New...

Mama Merit Badge ·

2025/05/21

In this episode, Samantha and Krista wade into the wild world of parenting school-aged kids—where permission slips are lost, group chats are cursed, and the emotional rollercoaster starts before breakfast.Krista shares real talk behind school dynamics, the pressures of extracurricular activities, and the ever-evolving relationship with technology in family life. From communicating with teachers to navigating shifting childhood friendships, this episode is a mix of practical insight, personal

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01:06:19

Sleep, Screens & Seeking Help

Mama Merit Badge ·

2025/05/14

In this episode, Samantha and Krista pull back the curtain on the chaos of everyday parenting—bedtime battles, screen time guilt, business to-do lists, and the kind of meltdowns (child and adult) that come out of seemingly nowhere.They dig into the complexities of managing children’s sleep routines, navigating the nuance of screen time, and the reality of what it looks like to keep your home (and brain) functioning through it all. The conversation flows between personal anecdotes—like the emotional

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01:18:55

Birth Stories (Part 1) & Business Guilt

Mama Merit Badge ·

2025/05/07

This week, we’re talking about two very real sides of motherhood: the literal delivery of babies—and the mental load of keeping everything else running while you do it.Samantha shares her birth story—from the unexpected turns of induction to a C-section she didn’t see coming—while Krista reflects on her own journey through labor, delivery, and postpartum life. Together, they open up about how giving birth is never quite what you imagine, and how each experience reshapes your view of motherhood,

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00:47:05

Potty Breaks & Parent Types — Which SUV Mom Are You?

Mama Merit Badge ·

2025/04/30

This week, we’re talking field trips, potty training, and the secret language of SUV moms.Samantha and Krista get into the nitty gritty of parenting logistics (like why field trips are both adorable and anxiety-inducing), share tales from the trenches of potty training, and reflect on the quiet art of finding your rhythm when it all feels a little offbeat. The episode takes a hilarious turn as they unpack the idea of the “black SUV mom” vs. the “white SUV mom”—two parenting archetypes that feel..

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01:00:33

Mom Brain, Miscarriage and The Weight We Carry

Mama Merit Badge ·

2025/04/23

This week’s episode goes deeper.Samantha and Krista talk candidly about the mental fog of motherhood (aka mom brain), what it’s like to launch a podcast in the middle of parenting chaos, and how balancing it all sometimes feels like sprinting through molasses. But the heart of this conversation is about something much heavier—and often unspoken: pregnancy loss.Together, they share personal stories of miscarriage, the emotional toll of grief that’s hard to explain, and the complex layers of trying to

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01:02:16

Travelling with Kids: A Trip or a Vacation?

Mama Merit Badge ·

2025/04/16

Ah, family vacations—the dream of rest, relaxation… and the reality of spilled snacks, missed naps, and wondering why you even packed books. In this episode, Krista and Samantha unpack what it actually looks like to travel with kids (spoiler: it’s not a spa day).We talk about the chaos, the charm, and the real magic of multi-generational trips, roadside meltdowns, and learning to let go of the itinerary. Plus, we explore the role of support systems (bless you, grandparents), the power of

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01:06:50

Parenting in the Daycare Years

Mama Merit Badge ·

2025/04/16

In this episode, we’re talking about what happens when life feels like a three-ring circus—and you’re the ringleader, the janitor, and the clown.Krista and Samantha dive into the messy reality of parenting through daycare drop-offs, school activity overload, unexpected home repairs, and the mental gymnastics of trying to do it all. We unpack our own parenting styles (spoiler: one of us is a snack drawer mom, the other is not) and reflect on how our childhoods shaped the way we show up for our

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01:05:13

The Intersection of Motherhood and Ambition

Mama Merit Badge ·

2025/04/13

In our very first episode, we (Krista + Samantha) pull back the curtain on what this whole thing is really about: the beautiful mess of motherhood, ambition, and trying to remember what day it is. We’re talking grocery store disasters, the magic of lowered expectations, and why Friday afternoons hit different when you're in the thick of it.This episode is part intro, part real-talk—because we’re not here to pretend we’ve got it all figured out. We’re here to say: if you're juggling nap schedules,

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35 results

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