I recently finished The Art of Making Memories by happiness researcher Meik Wiking — and this episode is about the ideas that hit hardest as a parent of a young child. The reminiscence bump, what the science says about baby memories, and the family story I had to rewrite as an adult. Plus: why "they won't remember it" isn't the point.

Female friendship in early motherhood can feel thin—even when you’re surrounded by people. Maddie shares why connection changes after kids, what’s helped her build real support (text threads, Marco Polo, evolving community), and permission slips for creating deeper friendships in your season. If you’re starting from scratch, you’ll leave with small, practical next steps.

If you've ever wanted a fun, low-pressure way to make a trip more memorable for your kids — and actually turn the photos into something they'll revisit — this episode is for you. I'm sharing how two tiny souvenirs from our Japan trip became a creative travel activity, and eventually a custom children's storybook made in Chatbooks.

We took the Amtrak Coast Starlight from Los Angeles to Seattle with our 10-week-old — and it became one of our most memorable family trips. In this story episode, Maddie shares the behind-the-scenes moments and what surprised her most about slow travel by train.

If you’ve ever wished you could bottle up your voice reading bedtime stories—or make it easier for your child to hear family voices without needing your phone—this episode is for you.

Capturing grandparents’ stories can feel overwhelming—so this episode makes it simple. Maddie shares the system she used to ask 52 questions over time, stay connected through weekly touchpoints, and turn interviews into a keepsake book. You’ll get two ways to start—weekly touchpoints or a 4-session story build—plus tips for recording, photos, and book creation

If you have trip scraps—tickets, stickers, postcards, and little “I can’t throw this away” pieces—this episode is for you. Maddie shares a simple method to turn those artifacts into a framed collage you’ll actually display, plus how to use a shadow box collage to remember someone you love in a way that feels meaningful (not overwhelming).

A kinder reset inspired by The Gap and the Gain: write 3 gains, 3 intentions, and 1 memory each night (pen + journal, no screens). Plus: the 2018 sunrise commitment that reminded me I can be consistent—and the “one non-negotiable” mindset that helped me start again.