The Whinypaluza Podcast

Episode 511: Rebecca's College Student Son

Max Reflects on His First Semester at College What really happens after you drop your kid off at college and drive away? In this special Whinypaluza episode, Rebecca Greene sits down with her son Max to talk honestly about his first semester of college. From academic pressure and adjusting to dorm life to finding motivation, building confidence, and learning how to truly learn, Max shares what surprised him most and what helped him succeed. This is a thoughtful, grounded conversation about growth, independence, and what support from home really looks like during that first big transition.Key Takeaways→ College success is less about memorizing and more about learning how to learn.→ The first semester adjustment takes time, and that is completely normal.→ Professors matter more than students expect and shape the entire experience.→ Staying motivated comes from remembering why you are there in the first place.→ Support from home works best when it includes listening, flexibility, and trust. Why This Conversation MattersThis episode offers reassurance for parents navigating the emotional shift of letting go and insight for students who may feel overwhelmed or unsure during their first semester. Max’s reflections remind listeners that growth happens through patience, persistence, and self-belief. If you are a parent of a college student or a student preparing for that transition, this episode will resonate with you. Listen, share it with someone who needs encouragement, and remember to spend every day laughing, learning, and loving. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 510: Happy New Year 2026

What happens when you pause long enough to actually look at the year you just lived? In this special New Year’s episode, Rebecca and Seth Greene reflect on the moments that defined their family’s year. From college milestones and creative achievements to health challenges, business growth, and unexpected wins, this conversation is a reminder that no year is perfect, but every year holds progress worth celebrating. Rebecca shares heartfelt updates on her children, gratitude for the Whinypaluza community, and the surprising milestone that made her say, "Wow." The episode concludes with encouragement to set realistic goals, celebrate progress, and step into the new year with intention and grace. ✨ Key Takeaways → Big wins often come from consistency, not perfection. → Celebrating your kids' milestones never gets old. → Growth includes bumps, setbacks, and gratitude. → Sharing stories builds a stronger community. → Small goals still move life forward. Subscribe, share this episode with someone who needs a hopeful start to the year, and join the Whinypaluza Mom Facebook group for monthly challenges and real conversations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 509: Rewriting the Rules of Motherhood

What if balance is a lie and self-care does not look anything like Instagram told you it would?  In this powerful and refreshingly honest episode of Whinypaluza, host Rebecca Greene sits down with writer, speaker, activist, and mom of eight Elisha Beach for a real conversation about motherhood, burnout, and why the idea of “having it all” is complete nonsense. Elisha shares the moments that broke her open, including a very public mommy meltdown, clinical burnout, and the pressure to put everyone else first. Together, Rebecca and Elisha unpack what self-care actually looks like in real life, how guilt sneaks in, why villages matter more than ever, and how moms can reclaim control without adding another impossible to-do list item. This is the episode every overwhelmed parent did not know they needed.Six Key Takeaways→ Balance is not real, and that is not your failureElisha explains why the idea of perfect balance sets moms up to feel like they are always falling short → Burnout does not mean weakness Clinical burnout is real and often comes from prioritizing everyone else for too long →Self-care must fit your season of life What works for one mom may not work for another, and that is exactly the point → Guilt can exist without running the show You can feel guilt without letting it dictate how you treat yourself → Your village is bigger than you think Support can include people, systems, services, and small choices that reduce mental load → You are the expert in your own life. Trusting yourself is the most important form of self-care there isMemorable Quote“Balance does not exist. You just choose what you are going to focus on and let the rest fall off for a bit.”About the GuestElisha Beach is an experienced speaker, writer, and professional mom of eight. She went viral in 2015 after sharing a raw photo of breastfeeding her daughter while on the toilet and has been unapologetically telling the truth about motherhood ever since. A former staff writer for Scary Mommy and founder of The Mom Forum, Elisha is a Certified Strategic Planner who helps moms create realistic self-care practices without guilt. She is the author of The Mom Selfcare Planner and the upcoming book Balance Is Bullsht The Truth About Motherhood and Self Care* releasing November 11, 2025. If this episode made you feel seen, heard, or even a little less alone, share it with another parent who needs permission to stop chasing perfection. Subscribe, leave a review, and remember what Rebecca reminds us every day. Laugh. Learn. Love. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 508: The Silent Burn and Healing From Gaslighting

Have you ever walked away from a conversation wondering if you imagined what just happened? In this episode of Whinypaluza, host Rebecca Greene welcomes author, advocate, and survivor Deborah Griffiths for an honest conversation about gaslighting and emotional manipulation. Deborah, author of Torched: Burnt By A Gaslighter, explains how gaslighting works slowly and quietly, chipping away at self esteem, confidence, and self trust over time. Drawing from her lived experience and healing journey, Deborah shares how red flags are often missed, why victims question themselves instead of the behavior, and how clarity begins when we listen to our bodies and instincts. This episode offers validation, language, and hope for anyone beginning to see the fog lift.  Key Takeaways → Gaslighting is emotional manipulation that causes self doubt over time → Confusion is often the first red flag → Love bombing can disguise manipulation → Healthy conflict leaves you feeling heard → Your body often recognizes truth before your mind → Clarity begins when the fog starts to lift Deborah Griffiths is an author, advocate, and survivor whose novel Torched: Burnt By A Gaslighter draws from lived experience to illuminate the subtle and damaging effects of emotional manipulation. She hosts the podcast Bent, Not Broken: Starting Over After Divorce and supports women navigating healing, boundaries, and rebuilding their lives after trauma.  Connect with Deborah Website: https://www.brokentoboldness.com Book: Torched: Burnt By A Gaslighter Podcast: Bent, Not Broken: Starting Over After Divorce If this conversation resonates, share it with someone who may need language for what they are experiencing. Subscribe to Whinypaluza for honest conversations that validate, educate, and empower. https://linktr.ee/whinypaluzamom Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 507: I'm in the Weeds and it's Okay

Eight nights of Hanukkah can feel like a marathon, especially when kids are away at college, packages arrive late, and the to-do list keeps growing. In this candid Whinypaluza Wednesday episode, Rebecca Greene and Seth Greene discuss what it really looks like to be in the Hanukkah weeds and why that feeling shows up every year. Rebecca shares the behind-the-scenes reality of wrapping presents nightly, juggling work, missing her son, and realizing how much her priorities have shifted. This conversation is about letting go of perfection, choosing presence over presents, and reminding ourselves that it all gets done in the end. Key Takeaways - Presence matters more than presents. - Being together outweighs any gift. - Eight nights is a lot. - Hanukkah comes with its own pressure. - Perfection is not required. - Good enough really is good enough. - Exhaustion makes everything more complicated. - Sleep changes perspective.Moms often do too much because they care. That comes from love, not failure. It always gets done. Even when it feels chaotic. Memorable Quote “I’m in the weeds, but I don’t really care. I’ve got better priorities.” Continue the Conversation Visit whinypaluza.com to read Rebecca’s blog and past reflections. Join the Whinypaluza Mom Group on Facebook for support and community. Subscribe to the Whinypaluza email newsletter for real-life parenting insights. https://linktr.ee/whinypaluzamom If you are in the weeds too, take a breath. You are doing more than enough. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices