Podcasts · Kids & Family

Love, Darlene: Stepmom Life & Blended Families

Darlene Sparks

13 episodes · Explicit

Being a stepmom can have you asking questions you never thought you'd ask. Where do I fit? Am I doing too much? Should I step back? And I'm I wrong for feeling this way?

More about the show

Girl, I get it! This is where we talk about stepmom and blended family life the way girlfriends actually talk about it - honestly, thoughtfully, and with a little spice when needed.

Nothing about blended family life is off the table -- the relationships, the boundaries, the hard conversations, or the feelings we don't always say out loud.

Expect real conversations, practical guidance, different perspectives, and the occasional loving "Girl..we need to talk." Come sit with me. We've got some things to talk about.

Episodes

  1. 11.) The Drama Stopped. So Why Am I Still On Edge?

    · 27 min · S1 E11

    The drama may have stopped, but why are you still bracing for the next phone call, text, or exchange? In this solo episode, we're catching up on life lately and talking about the emotional toll of prolonged conflict,…

  2. 10.) Beyond The Cameras: Reality TV, Blended Families, & Hard Truths With Jess Cimato and Erica Rose

    · 55 min · S1 E10 · Explicit

    You may recognize them from VH1's You're Cut Off! or Bravo's Below Deck Sailing Yacht, but there's so much more to Jess Cimato and Erica Rose Sanders than what you've seen on television! With 16 years of friendship…

  3. 9.) The Marriage Ended. Why Hasn't The Fighting?

    · 1 h 21 min · S1 E9

    In this episode, I'm joined by Nicole Linn Mueller, a mediator and co-parenting specialist who helps divorcing parents create thoughtful, effective parenting plans that put their children's needs first. We're talking…

  4. 8.) What Dads Wish Moms Understood

    · 1 h 19 min · S1 E8 · Explicit

    AJ Adams, host of the Just My Baby Daddy podcast and founder of the JMBD Foundation, joins me for an honest conversation about fatherhood, co-parenting, accountability, and what it really means to be present. We talk…

  5. 7.) It's Not About You Anymore: Putting The Child First In Blended Families

    · 1 h 02 min · S1 E7

    In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Kelly Barron for a powerful conversation about what children need most when adults are navigating conflict, separation, blended-family dynamics, and even estrangement. We talk about…

  6. 6.) When Loving The Stepparent Gets Complicated

    · 39 min · S1 E6

    In this episode, we're talking about what happens when loving a stepparent starts to feel complicated. From loyalty binds and changing relationships to the child who simply doesn't like you, we're unpacking how adult…

  7. 5.) So I'm Good Enough to Help..But Not Enough to Have a Say?

    · 29 min · S1 E5

    In this episode, we're talking about one of the biggest contradictions in stepmotherhood: being expected to help, show up, sacrifice, and carry responsibility -- but reminded you're "not the parent" when you have an…

  8. 4.) But What About The Kids Who Stay?

    · 1 h 07 min · S1 E4

    We talk a lot about the children who transition between two homes in a blended family, but what about the kids who stay???? In this episode, I'm joined by Amanda Gonzales and Morgan Lindahl of For the Kids Who Stay to…

  9. BONUS: Stepmoms, It's Time to Go Out Loud!!!!!!!!!!!!

    · 7:08 · Bonus

    What happens when you're tired of fighting -- but staying quiet doesn't feel right either? In this bonus episode, I'm sharing a little about why I'm excited to be a part of The Stepmom Summit: Out Loud, happening…

  10. 3.) And Then I Became A Stepmom

    · 28 min · S1 E3

    Dating a man with a child and actually becoming the stepmom are two very different experiences. In this episode, I'm taking you into the part of my story where blended family life got real. We're talking about…

  11. 2.) He Was Supposed to Be a Free Meal: The Relationship Before the Stepmom Title

    · 30 min · S1 E2

    Before the stepmom title, there was a relationship. In this episode, we're talking about dating after divorce, finding yourself again, falling in love when you weren't really looking for it, and what happens when that…

  12. 1.) We've Got Some Things to Talk About

    · 14 min · S1 E1

    Welcome to Love, Darlene -- a space for honest conversations about relationships, blended families, boundaries, identity, growth, and all the things we don't always say out loud. In this first episode, I'm sharing why…

  13. The Kitchen Is Open | Official Trailer

    · 0:50 · Trailer

    Girl, if blended family life has ever had you laughing, overthinking, or asking "What is even happening right now?" - pull up a seat. Love, Darlene is where we talk about stepmom life and blended families the way…

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