The Torch Mom Podcast

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May 2026

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Mom Life, Burnout, Identity and Mom Entrepreneurship The Torch Mom Podcast is for moms who are overwhelmed, building something, and refusing to lose themselves in the process. Hosted by Tia Lilley, this podcast dives into real conversations about: • motherhood burnout • balancing motherhood and business • identity after kids • relationships and mental health for moms Weekly episodes feature real-life insights, guest interviews, and bold truths for moms breaking generational cycles, launching businesses, and showing up big, even when the world tells them to shrink.

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September 5, 2026Episode 8259 min

Your Life Right Now Is Not Your Final Life

Ashley Ortiz became a mom at 19 and graduated high school with her three-month-old daughter in the audience. She became a single mom, survived an abusive relationship while pregnant with her second child, rebuilt her life, created a blended family, and eventually helped build a seven-figure family painting business. But this isn’t a conversation about pretending the hard parts were necessary to become successful. Ashley joins Tia Lilley for the return of Season 6 of The Torch Mom Podcast to talk honestly about young motherhood, leaving an abusive relationship, raising teenagers, breaking cycles through honesty with her children, marriage, building a business while her kids grew up alongside it, being a woman in a male-populated industry, and realizing that sometimes the person underestimating you is you . She also shares the five-minute conversation that helped change the direction of her career, why she tells her teenagers to call her even when they’ve messed up, the guilt she carried while building the family business, and the moment one of her children finally understood what all those late nights had been for. For the mom who can’t see past what she’s going through right now, this conversation is a reminder: Right now isn’t forever. 🎙️ Follow The Torch Mom Podcast wherever you listen.🔥 Share this episode with a mom who needs to hear it. Content note: This episode includes discussion of domestic violence. Connect with the Torch Mom Podcast Instagram, Facebook, TikTok & Threads @thetorchmompodcast Have questions or experiences to share? Please send us an email to thetorchmompodcast@gmail.com Want to be a guest on The Torch Mom Podcast? Apply here: https://form.jotform.com/231248521047046 Got something on your heart? Call : 202-670-6476 Or send a voice message using this link: https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/440562/2/3xjam5jbabj9llyp Just record it on your phone no camera needed. Answer this week’s Confession Question Submit your answer using this separate voice message link: https://www.speakpipe.com/ TorchMomConfessions Your story could help another mom feel seen. Connect with Ashley and her resources Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bellavistanw Website https://bellavistanw.com/

May 30, 2026Episode 811 hr 11 min

Nobody Told Me I Wouldn’t Feel Like Myself After Motherhood

Nobody warned her that motherhood would change her identity, her body, her brain, and her sense of self for far longer than she expected. This episode of The Torch Mom Podcast is a powerful conversation about motherhood, identity, burnout, healing, twin pregnancy, marriage, mental health, and the long road back to yourself. Tia sits down with Josie, a therapist, professor, group practice owner, wife, and mother of twins, for one of the most honest conversations about what happens after motherhood changes everything. From navigating a difficult twin pregnancy and a NICU stay to rebuilding her sense of self nearly two years later, Josie shares the realities many mothers experience but rarely talk about openly. In this episode: • twin pregnancy and NICU experiences • identity loss after motherhood • burnout and perfectionism • balancing marriage, motherhood, and career • relational trauma and healing • raising emotionally aware children • breaking generational cycles • supporting moms through community • why healing happens in relationships • the truth about feeling like yourself again Connect with the Torch Mom Podcast Instagram, Facebook, TikTok & Threads @thetorchmompodcast Have questions or experiences to share? Please send us an email to thetorchmompodcast@gmail.com Want to be a guest on The Torch Mom Podcast? Apply here: https://form.jotform.com/231248521047046 Got something on your heart? Call : 202-670-6476 Or send a voice message using this link: https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/440562/2/3xjam5jbabj9llyp Just record it on your phone no camera needed. Answer this week’s Confession Question Submit your answer using this separate voice message link: https://www.speakpipe.com/ TorchMomConfessions Your story could help another mom feel seen. Connect with Josie and her resources Instagram https://www.instagram.com/theampawpc?igsh=MW9keXloeHFxOXJrOQ== Website https://www.ampawpc.com/

May 24, 2026Episode 8043 min

I Was Helping the Homeless…While Secretly Living in My Car

She was helping homeless families…while secretly living in her car herself. This episode of The Torch Mom Podcast is one of the rawest, most powerful conversations about trauma, survival, motherhood, purpose, resilience, and faith you’ll hear. Tia sits down with Vitelle actress, speaker, author, entrepreneur, and founder of a production company focused on trauma healing through storytelling, for a deeply honest conversation about surviving impossible seasons while still showing up for others. From childhood trauma and becoming a mother after sexual assault…to helping the homeless while secretly living in her car, Vitelle shares the reality behind resilience that most people never see. In this episode: surviving childhood trauma and abuse becoming a mother after rape healing through storytelling and creativity helping homeless communities while secretly struggling herself the emotional pressure of always being “strong” living in a car while building businesses and touring breaking generational cycles through healing faith, resilience, and refusing to give up Connect with the Torch Mom Podcast Instagram, Facebook, TikTok & Threads @thetorchmompodcast Have questions or experiences to share? Please send us an email to thetorchmompodcast@gmail.com Want to be a guest on The Torch Mom Podcast? Apply here: https://form.jotform.com/231248521047046 Got something on your heart? Call : 202-670-6476 Or send a voice message using this link: https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/440562/2/3xjam5jbabj9llyp Just record it on your phone no camera needed. Answer this week’s Confession Question Submit your answer using this separate voice message link: https://www.speakpipe.com/ TorchMomConfessions Your story could help another mom feel seen. Connect with Vitelle and her resources Instagram https://www.instagram.com/therealvitelle/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@vitelle?lang=en&is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=mobile&sender_web_id=7643243648625395213 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/1N143Py9v6/?mibextid=wwXIfr Website https://www.vitelle.net/ Written by Vitelle I AM https://www.vitelle.net/products NINE LIVES: A WALK OF FAITH https://www.vitelle.net/products

May 16, 2026Episode 7938 min

I Survived…But I’m Not the Same Person Anymore

Surviving something life-changing doesn’t mean you magically become okay afterward. Sometimes you survive and still have to grieve the person you used to be. This episode of The Torch Mom Podcast is a raw and powerful conversation about motherhood, identity, burnout, survival, healing, and learning how to exist after life changes you forever. Tia sits down with Amanda, a breast cancer survivor, mother of three, speaker, and podcast host who opens up about navigating motherhood during COVID while battling cancer, and the emotional reality of surviving something that permanently changes you. From balancing treatment and parenting to rebuilding her identity after remission, Amanda shares the truth many women quietly carry but rarely say out loud. In this episode: surviving cancer while still showing up as a mom grieving the version of yourself that no longer exists mom guilt during hard seasons burnout, people-pleasing, and learning to say no why women struggle to admit they’re not okay rebuilding identity after trauma and survival giving yourself grace during seasons of change learning to become intentional with your life Connect with the Torch Mom Podcast Instagram, Facebook, TikTok & Threads @thetorchmompodcast Have questions or experiences to share? Please send us an email to thetorchmompodcast@gmail.com Want to be a guest on The Torch Mom Podcast? Apply here: https://form.jotform.com/231248521047046 Got something on your heart? Call : 202-670-6476 Or send a voice message using this link: https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/440562/2/3xjam5jbabj9llyp Just record it on your phone no camera needed. Answer this week’s Confession Question Submit your answer using this separate voice message link: https://www.speakpipe.com/TorchMomConfessions Your story could help another mom feel seen. Connect with Amanda and her resources Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lifebeyondchange?igsh=aTZod2xtZ2dic2V6 Website amandalentz.com Life Beyond Change Podcast open.spotify.com/show/51EpTj0lIKwewbqB25pSkG?si=TTbsJkhtTmap2k8nXcjQkA

May 10, 2026Episode 7836 min

Mothers Weren’t Meant to Do This Alone

Modern motherhood has become deeply isolating and many moms are silently drowning trying to do everything alone. This conversation finally says that part out loud. This episode of The Torch Mom Podcast is a real and refreshing conversation about motherhood, sleep deprivation, identity shifts, entrepreneurship, asking for help, and why moms were never meant to carry everything by themselves. Tia sits down with Jackie, a parent concierge, sleep support advocate, entrepreneur, former vet tech, equestrian, and mother for an honest discussion about modern motherhood and the pressure women face to “figure it all out” alone. From IVF and postpartum transitions to building support systems for families, Jackie opens up about the reality of parenting in a world where community often feels missing. In this episode: the mental and emotional effects of sleep deprivation why asking for help is necessary, not weakness motherhood identity shifts and rediscovering yourself parenting without yelling and creating a peaceful home balancing entrepreneurship and motherhood how isolation impacts modern moms building a support system and village why all children have different needs Connect with the Torch Mom Podcast Instagram, Facebook, TikTok & Threads @thetorchmompodcast Have questions or experiences to share? Please send us an email to thetorchmompodcast@gmail.com Want to be a guest on The Torch Mom Podcast? Apply here: https://form.jotform.com/231248521047046 Got something on your heart? Call: 202-670-6476 Or send a voice message using this link: https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/440562/2/3xjam5jbabj9llyp Just record it on your phone no camera needed. Answer this week’s Confession Question Submit your answer using this separate voice message link : https://www.speakpipe.com TorchMomConfessions Your story could help another mom feel seen. Connect with Jackie and her resources Instagram https://www.instagram.com/restednotperfect?igsh=MTVjbTgycGh6YjZiaQ== Website https://restednotperfect.com/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio

May 9, 2026Episode 771 hr 4 min

Motherhood Shouldn’t Mean Losing Yourself

Somewhere along the way, many moms were taught that motherhood meant losing themselves. This conversation challenges that completely. Tia sits down with Sherita Olympian, speaker, author, entrepreneur, wife, and mother for a deeply honest conversation about resilience, purpose, motherhood, and refusing to shrink yourself after having children. From representing Barbados in the Olympics to navigating marriage, motherhood, entrepreneurship, and personal growth, Sherita shares the lessons that shaped her perspective on life and parenting. In this episode: why motherhood shouldn’t erase your identity balancing motherhood while still pouring into yourself overcoming disappointment and rebuilding after setbacks the pressure society puts on mothers to sacrifice everything why self-care isn’t selfish breaking cycles through communication and grace learning to say “yes” more in motherhood giving yourself permission to evolve Connect with the Torch Mom Podcast Instagram, Facebook, TikTok & Threads @thetorchmompodcast Have questions or experiences to share? Please send us an email to thetorchmompodcast@gmail.com Want to be a guest on The Torch Mom Podcast? Apply here: https://form.jotform.com/231248521047046 Got something on your heart? Call: 202-670-6476 Or send a voice message using this link: https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/440562/2/3xjam5jbabj9llyp Just record it on your phone no camera needed. Answer this week’s Confession Question Submit your answer using this separate voice message link: https://www.speakpipe.com TorchMomConfessions Your story could help another mom feel seen. Connect with Cherita and her resources Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cheritaodellspeaks?igsh=b3BzcnA0OThucTFp Website https://cheritaodellspeaks.com/ Purchase your copy of: Good God! https://amzn.to/4uc7lyc Grab tickets to attend: The Climb 2026 https://www.ticketlinkz.com/events/the-climb-elegant-empowered

April 26, 2026Episode 761 hr 14 min

Parents Are Avoiding This Conversation…And It’s Hurting Their Kids

Most parents were never taught how to talk about sex, boundaries, or body confidence… so now they’re raising kids while trying to figure it out in real time. In this episode of The Torch Mom Podcast, Holly Eckelberger joins Tia Lilley for a real, unfiltered conversation about what it actually looks like to raise kids who feel safe in their bodies, confident in their voice, and free from shame. This isn’t a “perfect parenting” conversation. This is about what happens when moms decide to stop avoiding the hard topics and start leading them. We get into: how to talk to kids about sex, consent, and boundaries without making it awkward where shame around bodies and intimacy actually starts what parents are getting wrong (and how to shift it) raising kids with confidence, clarity, and emotional awareness navigating identity, motherhood, and real-life conversations that matter Holly brings bold honesty, lived experience, and practical ways to start having these conversations in your own home no scripts, no perfection required. If this episode made you think, reflect, or shift something, share it with another mom who needs it. And let us know in the comments: What’s one conversation you’re ready to stop avoiding? Connect with the Torch Mom Podcast Instagram, Facebook, TikTok & Threads @thetorchmompodcast Have questions or experiences to share? Please send us an email to thetorchmompodcast@gmail.com Want to be a guest on The Torch Mom Podcast? Apply here: https://form.jotform.com/231248521047046 Got something on your heart? Call: 202-670-6476 Or send a voice message using this link: Just record it on your phone no camera needed. https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/440562/2/3xjam5jbabj9llyp Answer this week’s Confession Question Submit your answer using this separate voice message link: https://www.speakpipe.com/TorchMomConfessions Your story could help another mom feel seen. Connect with Holly and her resources Instagram https://www.instagram.com/that_sex_educator?igsh=NXR5OThic3k5eTZq Website https://linktr.ee/meetmeatthespotpodcast Repro Justice Organization https://www.instagram.com/roc.srj/ Episode mentioned: 125 Beyond the Talk https://open.spotify.com/episode/3LZAC2z4rGqzYaMUZAfxxI?si=4553d787f3254da8

April 18, 2026Episode 7558 min

I Had to Tell My Own Voice to Shut Up…Before I Could Become Her

The hardest voice she had to silence…was her own. Before she could grow into the woman she’s becoming, she had to unlearn fear, doubt, and everything she believed about herself. Tia sits down with Keelay, a mom, wife, speaker and author who opens up about growing up in a strict household, navigating motherhood, and discovering her purpose through life’s unexpected turns. From saying she never wanted kids…to becoming a mother who found her strength, confidence, and calling through motherhood, this episode is real, reflective, and deeply relatable. In this episode: learning to silence self-doubt and negative thoughts motherhood changing your identity in unexpected ways feeling unprepared but showing up anyway overcoming people-pleasing and setting boundaries navigating comparison and pressure from social media raising emotionally aware children through transparency breaking generational cycles through communication choosing faith even when life doesn’t make sense Connect with the Torch Mom Podcast Instagram, Facebook, TikTok & Threads @thetorchmompodcast Have questions or experiences to share? Please send us an email to thetorchmompodcast@gmail.com Want to be a guest on The Torch Mom Podcast? Apply here: https://form.jotform.com/231248521047046 Got something on your heart? Call: 202-670-6476 Or send a voice message using this link: Just record it on your phone no camera needed. https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/440562/2/3xjam5jbabj9llyp Answer this week’s Confession Question Submit your answer using this separate voice message link: https://www.speakpipe.com/TorchMomConfessions Your story could help another mom feel seen. Connect with Keelay and her resources Instagram https://www.instagram.com/keelay_carter?igsh=MW9paGtqem9ldzc1Yw== Ready to level up? Chat with Keelay https://www.keelaycarter.com/ Grab your copy of Dear ____, Shut Up! https://www.keelaycarter.com/product-page/dear-shut-up-by-keelay-carter The Birthing Class Interest Form https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfdG5pB9P29x31zSJJ8m8lgVl1iXS60qi3GX5d-26xQylEiEQ/viewform

April 12, 2026Episode 741 hr 28 min

I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant…Then I Had to Figure Out Motherhood Fast

She didn’t even know she was pregnant…until she was almost 7 months along. Now she’s a mom of four, sharing what it really took to survive, heal, and break cycles. Tia sits down with Sandra, a mother of four who opens up about growing up in trauma, navigating abuse, and stepping into motherhood without a roadmap. From finding out she was pregnant late…to dealing with postpartum, parenting through behavioral struggles, and learning how to break toxic cycles, this is a real, unfiltered conversation. In this episode: finding out you’re pregnant at 27 weeks becoming a mom with no time to prepare postpartum anxiety and overwhelming thoughts feeling like a “bad mom” and working through guilt raising children through trauma and behavioral challenges learning new ways to parent instead of repeating cycles why environment impacts children more than labels choosing to do things differently as a mom This isn’t just about motherhood. It’s about survival, growth and making sure your children don’t carry what you did. Connect with the Torch Mom Podcast Instagram, Facebook, TikTok & Threads @thetorchmompodcast Have questions or experiences to share? Please send us an email to thetorchmompodcast@gmail.com Want to be a guest on The Torch Mom Podcast? Apply here: https://form.jotform.com/231248521047046 Got something on your heart? Call: 202-670-6476 Or send a voice message using this link: Just record it on your phone no camera needed. https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/440562/2/3xjam5jbabj9llyp Answer this week’s Confession Question Submit your answer using this separate voice message link: https://www.speakpipe.com/TorchMomConfessions Your story could help another mom feel seen. Connect with Sandra and her resources Instagram https://www.instagram.com/4everqueen82?igsh=cnkzMjBsY3Zydzhu Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/18CLbtz7V1/?mibextid=wwXIfr

April 11, 2026Episode 7351 min

I Stayed Silent for Years…Now Nobody Can Shut Me Up

She stayed silent for years about the abuse she endured…now she’s using her voice to help other women finally speak up. Tia sits down with Celena (Sunshine), a mother who opens up about surviving years of abuse, losing her identity, and what it really takes to find your voice again. This isn’t just about what she went through… It’s about what happens when you finally decide to stop carrying it alone. In this episode: what silence really does to you internally losing your identity through trauma, motherhood, and survival why so many women feel responsible for protecting their abuser the signs parents should never ignore in their children what “healing” actually looks like behind closed doors breaking generational cycles through honesty why speaking up can change more than just your life Follow and subscribe so you don’t miss more real, unfiltered conversations about motherhood, healing, and identity. Connect with the Torch Mom Podcast Instagram, Facebook, TikTok & Threads @thetorchmompodcast Have questions or experiences to share? Please send us an email to thetorchmompodcast@gmail.com Want to be a guest on The Torch Mom Podcast? Apply here: https://form.jotform.com/231248521047046 Got something on your heart? Call: 202-670-6476 Or send a voice message using this link: Just record it on your phone no camera needed. https://www.speakpipe.com/msg/s/440562/2/3xjam5jbabj9llyp Answer this week’s Confession Question: Submit your answer using this separate voice message link: https://www.speakpipe.com/TorchMomConfessions Your story could help another mom feel seen. Connect with Celena and her resources: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/conversationswithcelena?igsh=djdseGd1ZjFoYnQx Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/1CgLtWaoQQ/?mibextid=wwXIfr Website https://celenathomas.net/