Imagine being overwhelmed by parenthood after a divorce and finding the courage to start a podcast to navigate these uncharted waters. Erin Holland, CEO and founder of PG-ish Parenting, turned that imagination into reality. She opens up about her journey and unravels how she turned her experience into a resource that empowers parents to evolve from a place of overwhelm to a place of growth and success. We explore topics that are helpful not only in parenting but also in adulting, taking a closer look at Erin's routine, and understanding how she balances full-time jobs with side hustles.
Emphasizing self-regulation and repairing relationships with our children, our conversation takes a deeper turn. We discuss the concept of "Do Less" with Kate Northrop, focusing on empowering moms and creating a joyful atmosphere for our children. At the heart of our discussion, Erin enlightens us about understanding and harnessing our strengths, not only as parents but as individuals. Revealing her plans for the future of PG-ish Parenting, Erin gives us a sneak peek into her upcoming course “Ready to Revive” and potential retreats and masterminds. With Erin, we aspire to provide resources for parents to thrive and transform their parenting experience.
Imagine being overwhelmed by parenthood after a divorce and finding the courage to start a podcast to navigate these uncharted waters. Erin Holland, CEO and founder of PG-ish Parenting, turned that imagination into reality. She opens up about her journey and unravels how she turned her experience into a resource that empowers parents to evolve from a place of overwhelm to a place of growth and success. We explore topics that are helpful not only in parenting but also in adulting, taking a closer look at Erin's routine, and understanding how she balances full-time jobs with side hustles.
Emphasizing self-regulation and repairing relationships with our children, our conversation takes a deeper turn. We discuss the concept of "Do Less" with Kate Northrop, focusing on empowering moms and creating a joyful atmosphere for our children. At the heart of our discussion, Erin enlightens us about understanding and harnessing our strengths, not only as parents but as individuals. Revealing her plans for the future of PG-ish Parenting, Erin gives us a sneak peek into her upcoming course “Ready to Revive” and potential retreats and masterminds. With Erin, we aspire to provide resources for parents to thrive and transform their parenting experience.
Did she really do that? You, betcha? She did. Hello, and welcome back to another episode of you, betcha Sheeted the podcast for female entrepreneurs. Leaders and changemakers. Share their wit and wisdom. I'm your host, raina Rakiki.
Speaker 1:
Today I have a great guest who has lots of valuable wisdom you're probably gonna want to hear. In the studio today I have Erin Holland, who is the CEO and founder of PG-ish Parenting. She's a corporate marketing manager by day, but a podcast host by night and single mom to two young daughters 24-7. Anyone who's a parent knows that it's definitely a 24-7 job. In short, erin's podcast, pg-ish Parenting, is a personal development for parents. A PG-ish is, first and foremost, a podcast that empowers moms Well, maybe not just moms, okay, all parents to assess their values and priorities and encourages them with quick weekly tips, discussions and scenarios to evolve their parenting experience from overwhelm which is probably where we all feel overwhelm and frustration to growth and success. I discovered Erin's podcast a couple years back and I haven't stopped listening since, you know, especially when I find I need a little inspiration, a little guidance, not only in the world of parenting, but just in adulting as well, then I like to tune in.
Speaker 2:
So Erin, welcome to the show. Thanks, Raina. That was quite the introduction. I know, sometimes I go overboard, but you need that. You've got lots of things going on in your life.
Speaker 1:
So for a lot of people they start as a side hustle with podcasting and then they kind of make it their full-time career. You're definitely in that bounce mode right now of having a full-time career and then doing this on the side. Let's kind of start from the beginning. Can you tell us the inspiration behind PG-ish your podcast? Yeah, what's the?
Speaker 2:
why. Behind it there was definitely multiple streams of why I can say, to take you way back when, post-divorce, you know, my kids were three and five-ish and you know I was still young in my motherhood trying to figure that out, and now I was a single mom. I'm like I don't know what I'm doing Now. I'm going back to work. It was just, you know, parenting is overwhelming in and of itself, but I just felt like I was drowning and I love to consume content. Anyway, I've always been that way I love to read, I love to listen to things. It was just natural that I kind of fell into consuming more parenting stuff, of course, and I felt like, okay, just all this pressure of knowing that those first seven years of your children's lives are really important and they leave the imprint. And I was like, oh dang, okay, I got to get this right. And then, you know, my parents did the best they could, but they weren't the best role models and I'm like, okay, more pressure.
Speaker 1:
I'm like I know I'm going to make a mistake. I got to break that mold.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, it's like all these things right, and so I just felt like, okay, where can I start and how can I not only learn for myself and that's what I was doing in the beginning but then how can I kind of pump it out to the world and help others, because I'm sure other moms are in the same parents or in the same boat as me. And this idea was in my head, but it wasn't until I don't know four years post divorce that I met who's now kind of my mentor and he's a very successful podcaster. And he was just like why don't you just create a parenting one? I'm like I don't have time for that. Are you kidding me? Exactly, it's time for that crazy talk. You're single, with no children? Of course you'd say that, but I'm like, okay, and it was about a year after that, because he kept bothering me. He's like when are you going to start that podcast? I'm like never.
Speaker 1:
And that's all you need, though that little nose, that little person on your shoulder being like hey, remember that dream, you had Like go after that, and that's all it takes is that seed and you're like you know why not?
Speaker 2:
I'm already listening to all of this information. I know that more people can benefit from it, and it's not just. You know parenting. I'm listening to leadership ideas and just how to grow as an adult. You know you stumble into adulthood and you have no idea what the heck you're doing and I'm like why not? People need this, hopefully. I think people want to mature in their walk.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, yeah, most of us Right and so, yeah, then I finally started at the end of 2019, and it was really just yeah, to grow myself alongside of my children, knowing that I would stumble and fall. But what were the tools? How could I build my tool belt? Essentially, yeah, and I've said, you know, pgh stands for Parenting Guidance-ish because there is no right way to do any of this right. So it's really just these tips and tricks that you can have in your back pocket and, you know, try them and try them again and again and see if they work, and if not, then, you know, try something new.
Speaker 1:
Try something else Exactly. So that's a short story. Yeah, because on your yeah, that's okay. On your podcast, I like how you call a lot of different experts in different fields, like you sit in the world of parenting but also just living and finding happiness and then it's great. You just it's like, it's like almost like a mini TED talk, you know. You're like okay, what's this topic? Let me just learn a little bit more in the next 15 minutes. And I find that helpful because you know, time is always a valuable commodity for everyone, but especially parents. Well, speaking of time, I was going to say many of our listeners are interested in pursuing side hustles while also working full-time jobs. So how do you manage balancing those things and do you have any advice for people kind of in that world?
Speaker 2:
Yeah, I mean, it's taken me, you know, a couple of years into this to try to figure out how to do it best myself. There is that silver lining of being divorced that I don't have my kids all the time, so I can utilize nights and weekends a little bit differently. But I am a routine person by nature and I love routine and I think sticking to routine and knowing when and where I'm going to do the podcast is important. Otherwise it's too haphazard and it just wouldn't happen. So I think that's one is really yeah, get that on your calendar and then just staying consistent. I know I gave myself like a year. I'm like, okay, just do this for a year and we'll see what happens. And then it was like two years, three years, you know, and you just keep going and you're like, okay, let's get some traction.
Speaker 2:
And I also kind of consider it my third baby in some sense. It's like I have to nurture this thing. I do enjoy it, clearly, and it just takes time and I think it's the site has only takes time and patience. But I think you need to give yourself that time and patience too, because that's kind of that sweet sauce of like where you learn and grow in yourself when you figure things out and your problem solving and seeing what works and what doesn't and, I think, knowing when to pivot too. So, like in a previous life I was a health coach and I was like, yeah, this doesn't do it for me anymore, let's try podcasting. And I was like knowing your limits too and then sticking back to your why and your vision of it all and of course, that can evolve over time too, but knowing why you started always helps.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, yeah, revisiting that and making sure it still fits with what you want to do. I liked what you were saying about being open to the growth and nurturing you got to nurture that project. So if you do want to go down that side hustle excuse me, side hustle route, you need to make sure it's something you're passionate about and that you want to keep pursuing. Keep digging in, because it's going to be a little messy, but that's just part of it.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, and I think that's kind of the nature too. So my team at work folks are 15, 20 years younger than me and I noticed like the resiliency isn't there and I'm like, oh no, you have to push through that hardship because that's where the most growth happens. It's when you kind of butt your head against the wall and you're like maybe this isn't it and then you kind of bust through any barriers that you thought were there.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, you get that aha moment Definitely. Well, speaking of that, I know I'm PG-ish you often discuss personal growth and self-improvement. Can you kind of pick or highlight like a few takeaways that you've personally found really meaningful and just share with our?
Speaker 2:
audience. Yeah, I mean I do cover a lot of ground. I do consider it like the cliff notes, right Apparently. So there's like one Wicked's Breathwork, another Wicked's Sleeper, you know what have you.
Speaker 2:
But I really feel like the time to spend repairing with your children.
Speaker 2:
That was never modeled to me growing up and I think that has been my biggest takeaway of kind of that.
Speaker 2:
I mean it is kind of gentle parenting, but what I've, the theme that I've learned against all my episodes is like taking the time to Self-regulate and then going back and repairing with your child, and I think that's just a really good tool for all of us, whether it's a spouse that maybe you got in a conflict with, or your children, and I think that's been the biggest tool for me.
Speaker 2:
And then also just carving out time to look at the strengths of each of your children, knowing that they're wildly different, and then kind of internalizing that for yourself. I think it's Maybe this is just me, but I know that I dwell on the failures more than the strengths and it's like no, let's build off of our strengths and really grow in that sense. And then I mean this is super cliche to say, but Now that I've been doing this for four years, I really feel like I have burst through all those barriers that we were just talking about, right like the imposter syndrome, the fear, the doubt, the resilience, and I've just gained so much more confidence, just meeting new people because of the opportunities and, just, yeah, growing myself, which I think is the best gift I've could have given myself.
Speaker 1:
Doing this, yeah yeah, yeah, 100%, and maybe even like an unexpected gift, you know, in the, in the whole process, for like huh, I mean I didn't know I wanted this, but I do, and boy do I love it.
Speaker 1:
I like what you were seeing about repairing relationships. I feel like that one's often forgotten and Sometimes I'll try to remember to do that with my children, but sometimes I don't, and I know what I don't know. But I feel like often there's like this masculine undertone in society where it's like, oh, you don't apologize for your mistakes, you know, kids just need to listen, and that kind of thing, and it's like, no, you know, if we, if we want them to grow and we want them to Learn from their mistakes, they, they have to do this, and the best way for them to learn that is to see it in action, to model it. I don't know that, just they're really resonated with me.
Speaker 2:
I was like, oh yeah, that's, that's a really good point, yeah and it's hard, it's really hard, right, especially when you're not used to doing it and then you have to do it with your child. You know you're like, but they're not mature enough, but they do and they watch you and that was really, you know again, why. My why was like my kids were watching me be an adult and that's how they're gonna learn and Grow into their own adulthood. So what am I doing? And I think it's been amazing to watch my daughters learn that, because, I mean, this just happened two days ago. It was a hair night, you know, and my daughter did it, like the hairstyle I gave her and you know, I became the worst mom ever. You know stomping, you know the preteen thing. And and you know, like, five minutes later, two minutes later, I'm tucking her into bed and she's like I'm really sorry, I'm like me too.
Speaker 2:
And it was just like she's learning and we can do that together and it's so nice to know like we're not going to bed angry.
Speaker 1:
We've fixed the relationship at the rupture and we've moved on yeah, and she had that moment of reflection, which is brilliant. You know what I mean. Often kids they react, but then they don't think about that reaction, they're on to the next thing. So the fact that she stopped and was like, oh yeah, I wasn't treating my mom right or whatever the situation, However it was interpreted, that's really cool.
Speaker 2:
I was like, oh, that's very hopeful for the future, Especially with emotions. It's like I think most of us didn't grow up talking about our emotions. We just stuffed them under the rug. But I'm like, hey, it's OK that you're mad at me, Feel that anger, but let's not spew out onto everyone else. Let's figure this out.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, exactly, feel it, and then let's find a better way to move forward. Well, in the world of podcasting and like you said, you've been doing it for several years now what have been some of the most rewarding moments or memorable episodes of PGA-ish for you, and why?
Speaker 2:
Well, I set a goal for myself this year to do more interviews. The format of the show is really taking clips from other people and doing that clip notes, like I mentioned, and why I find it pertinent today. But I really set out the beginning of the year to do one interview a month and I succeeded and I loved meeting new people and talking to people and I've just had a lot of great conversations. I think the most recent one was Marcus Buckingham, who's a StrengthsFinder creator one of them and he's written a few books and it was just like, wow, you're going to take time to sit with me and that just showed me so many different things. Not only is this content amazing, but there's value in what I'm doing and people see that, so that was important for me.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, no, I love that. I mean, I love the clip notes style of your podcast. But I've been enjoying the interviews as well. One interview and I know I talked to you about this that really resonated with me is I can't remember her name now, but she wrote the book Do Less, kate Northrop and Kate Northrop, yeah. So, guys, if you haven't read Do Less, you got to read it. Do Less, we should all do less, right, and I don't know. It's just a concept that people often don't push. I feel like it's. I was like do more, do more, you know, achieve more, da, da, da, da. And I'm like, oh, this is refreshing. I was like do less and it all works out magically. So she, now she was another one that I was.
Speaker 2:
You know, when you get those invites come into your email, you're like wow, okay, we're doing this and yeah, she was great. And I love her whole philosophy of especially just being a woman and new tuning into your own superpowers as a woman, which is really incredible in the book. Yeah, and again, that's like kind of why I continue to evolve PGH too. It's like for the moms, because I think there is a lot of mom guilt and shame out there. All the re-parenting that's happening and I think the invisible load of moms is weighs heavy on my heart, especially being a single mom, and so I hope that I can be this resource and so I continue to put different content out to see what sticks. And I think that's what's happening with the interviews too, of just introducing new people, which I already do, you know, in each episode. But I think actually having that conversation with people is important. So, yeah, I hope to be a cheerleader, I guess, for moms at the end of the day, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:
On the side, exactly Rootin' for them being like keep going, you got this. It's not going to be perfect, but it will work out in the end. Well, speaking of the future, what do you have planned in the future for PGH or anything else in your life?
Speaker 2:
Well, we just went on this big vacation, so that kind of consumed most of my year of planning that. But in terms of PGH, you know I also created a course this year called the Reary to Revive. So again it's walking moms from that state of just being burdened and weary to kind of coming back home to them and rediscovering themselves and their joys and their passions and their values. Even I think a lot of families don't even know their family values or the traditions that they want to impart on their children, and so it kind of walks you through all sorts of things and even bringing in some philosophies from Kate. So it's a good course. I might be revamping that in the next year, but it's out there. And then some things are percolating for 2024 in terms of maybe some in-person retreats, masterminds yeah, I don't know, there's lots of ideas I like that I want us women to stick together.
Speaker 2:
So ideas, but just seeing where kind of the spaghetti lands.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, I like that. Throw it out there, see where it lands and then move on to the next step. Well, those actually are all the main questions I have. Is there anything else you'd want to share?
Speaker 2:
I think just another personal moment for the show is like involving my kids in it. They've been involved since the beginning and I think it's been important especially having daughters to show them like, hey, as a woman you can do most anything you can do, want to do, and they're my biggest cheerleaders and I think that's been another rewarding aspect of when I feel nervous or excited because of an interview, they're just right there cheering me on and I think that's just been something that's really special to share with them.
Speaker 1:
Yes, that is. I love that. I know isn't that fun. Like the, my kids are kind of the same. I haven't had them on the show or anything, but they know what I do. They get really excited. Sometimes they want to listen, which is funny, and I was like, okay, sure I can listen to mama, but it's, I think it's good modeling, right, you know? Just to show them like you can do anything and you can jump careers, you can try things and just see where it goes.
Speaker 2:
I know I mean, I started at the end of 2019, you know, and then the pandemic happened, and so those first few months were a little rough and raw. But I brought them on the show during COVID to share their experiences of, you know, at home and schooling at home and all these things, and so they've just had a piece of it from the very beginning. So it's special.
Speaker 1:
Very cool. Well, on that note, if you'd like to learn more about PG-ish or listen to the podcast, which I highly highly recommend, it's great little tidbits of wisdom that you can listen to anywhere and anytime Please check the show notes. I'll have links to Erin Holland's show, her course from Weary to Revised, and anything else pertinent that you might need, as I was. Thank you for listening to you, betcha. She Did Don't forget to share the show with a friend, a neighbor, a cousin, a sister, someone you know probably needs this episode, or maybe even a fellow parent who you know might be struggling right now and need some tidbits of wisdom, if you like what you're hearing on you, betcha. She Did don't forget to leave us a positive review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Until next time.