Mom Halo

Why do so many moms feel overwhelmed, even when everything looks fine from the outside? Amber Sperling, registered social worker and founder of Marsha Care, joins Alana to talk about the overwhelm, disconnection and birth trauma she sees every day in her practice, and why some women only realize years later how deeply their birth experience shaped them.

Amber shares her own two very different births, what social media gets right and wrong about motherhood, and small things that make a real difference: putting a timer on your scroll, texting a real friend instead of sending a...

Is Your Child Ready for Kindergarten? Independence Skills That Matter, with Melissa Markus

Melissa Markus has taught kindergarten in the public school system for over 14 years. She is a mom of three, the creator of The Kindergarten Mom on social media, and the author of the new children's book Confidence in Kindergarten. In this episode she explains how to get kids ready for the big first day, and why self-help skills matter more than knowing letters and shapes.

We talk about what parents struggle with most, from toileting to separation anxiety, how Melissa wrote her...

Professional home organizer Stephanie Haghani has seen inside more overflowing basements and toy closets than she can count — and her diagnosis is refreshingly simple: most of us don't lack systems, we just have too much stuff. In this episode, Stephanie shares practical strategies for decluttering, managing kids' belongings, and building a home where everything has a place.   We talk about the consumer culture that keeps our homes overflowing, why minimalism is hard but worth it, how to teach kids organizational skills early, and the emotional work of letting go of sentimental items. Plus: the first small step to take if you...

Jay Rosenzweig has built a life at the intersection of law, entrepreneurship, philanthropy, and advocacy — and in this episode, he brings all of it to the table. From growing up inspired by his family's entrepreneurial spirit to leading a global executive search firm and championing women in leadership, Jay shares hard-won insights on risk, purpose, and what it really means to lead.

We talk AI breakthroughs, health innovation, the art of balancing a dynamic career with fatherhood, and why — in Jay's words — the real wealth is learning to cherish life itself.

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Amy and Regan built Hela Nutrition from the ground up — developing a clean, plant-based protein powder and collagen products that actually taste good and deliver results. In this episode, they share how they formulated their products with gut health in mind, navigated retail expansion, and built a brand rooted in trust and transparency.   Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a health-conscious mom, or just tired of supplements that taste like chalk, this conversation is packed with practical insight and inspiration.

────────────────────────────── TIMESTAMPS ────────────────────────────── 00:00 — Introduction and background 02:03 — Inspiration behind Hela Nutrition 05:19 — Formulation and ingredients 08:17 — Customer feedback and usage 11:22 — Collagen benefits and retail presence 14:22 — The importance of pure ingredients 15:29 — Expanding into the US market 17:33 — Navigating the entrepreneurial journ...

Jessica Baker has planned more bar mitzvahs than she can count, and she's seen it all — from shoestring budgets to six-figure productions. In this episode, Jessica pulls back the curtain on what it actually costs to throw a memorable bar or bat mitzvah, why the industry has exploded, and how to make a celebration feel authentic instead of just expensive.

Whether you're deep in mitzvah planning mode or just curious how these events got so elaborate, Jessica's insider perspective is candid, practical, and refreshingly honest. 

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00:00 — Introduction to Event Planning and Jessica's Journey
07:16 — The Evolution of Bar and Bat Mitzvahs
13:25 — Understanding the Costs and Expe...

Gabe Diamond is the co-founder of True North Sports Camp, and he's spent years watching sports shape kids into confident, resilient, well-rounded people. In this episode, Gabe breaks down why specializing too early can actually hold kids back, how team sports build life skills no classroom can replicate, and what's driving the surprising resurgence of baseball in Canada.

Whether you're a sports parent trying to figure out how much is too much, or just someone who believes in the power of play, this conversation is grounded, practical, and full of heart.

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00:00 — Introduction to...

Geoff Eisfeld went from tinkering in his basement to building immersive XR experiences that blend virtual reality, movement, and education. In this episode, Geoff shares how VR can help kids conquer fears, develop life skills, and transform how families approach health and learning together.

Whether you're a parent curious about screen time done right, an educator looking for new tools, or simply wondering how AI and immersive tech fit into family life, this conversation is practical, forward-thinking, and full of possibility. 

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00:00 — Introduction to Geoff Eisfeld and XR Fit
06:31 — The immersive experience of virtual reality
11:40 — Exploring the benefits of VR for children
15:47 — Conquering fear...

When Baden Colt was told she might never be a mom, she didn't accept it — she built a movement. In this episode, Baden shares her surrogacy journey, how a single social media post turned into a community of 500+ women, and her ongoing fight to reform parental leave policies in Canada.

Whether you're navigating infertility, considering surrogacy, or simply want to understand the legal and emotional landscape of alternative family-building, this conversation is full of heart, practical insight, and hard-won wisdom.

In this episode:
• Baden's experience being told she might never be a mom — and how sh...

In this episode, Negin Chelehmalzadeh shares her powerful journey through trauma, resilience, and her innovative platform PathPal that addresses mental health and grief. This episode explores systemic trauma, personal healing, and the creation of a community for those experiencing loss.

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Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction to Negin and PathPal

00:54 - Negin's Early Life and Cultural Struggles

02:59 - Trauma and Survival: Negin's Story

06:00 - Navigating Relationships and Identity

In this episode, transformational stylist and personal style expert Lisa Shaw shares her expertise on dressing with intention, embracing body positivity, and navigating the ever-changing fashion landscape. Whether you're feeling overwhelmed by trends or ready to rediscover your personal style, Lisa's insights will help you show up as your most confident self.

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00:00 - Introduction to Transformational Styling

03:02...

In this episode, business strategist and online coaching expert Jodi Rumack shares her proven approach to building and scaling a thriving coaching business. From client acquisition and direct messaging to recurring revenue and resource libraries, Jodi breaks down the practical systems every coach needs to grow with confidence.

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In this episode, financial expert and coach Marni Saifert shares her transformative approach to rewiring your money story, breaking free from limiting beliefs, and building confidence to manage your finances effectively. Whether you're navigating debt, inheritance, or everyday money decisions, her insights can change how you think about wealth and abundance.

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Alana Kayfetz sits down with Margot Grant Witz, third-generation leader of Elizabeth Grant skincare, for an honest conversation about beauty, aging, and what it really means to empower women.

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Sacha Welsh is a certified fertility nutritionist and coach, the founder of Welsh Wellness and a mom of three girls. After experiencing a traumatic recovery following the delivery of her second child, Sacha became passionate about helping women prepare their bodies for success. Welsh Wellness focuses on fertility, pregnancy and postpartum health. Its mission is to help women become moms by addressing the root challenges, so that they can have a successful pregnancy and postpartum.

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Styleworthy is a brand that celebrates individuality and self-expression through community building. Founded by Jennifer Rabanillo, Styleworthy fosters an environment of empowerment and connection, encouraging people to embrace their authentic selves. Through workshops, events and collaborative experiences, the brand promotes unapologetic conversations about people, self, wellness and well-being. At its core, Styleworthy aims to build a supportive community that uplifts and educates, empowering individuals to evolve both their personal and professional lives.

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Ashley Greco is the morning show radio host of Pure Country in Ottawa & Kingston as well as a voiceover artist. She’s mom to a six-year-old girl, Aria Rose. 

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For more Ashley Greco, please visit:

Ashley Greco on the web

@ashleygrecoonair on Instagram<...

Jill Lerman is a play and parenting coach at JillybeansNYC, an early childhood educator, a play expert and a mom of a toddler. She empowers overwhelmed parents and caretakers to connect and engage with their little ones through simple developmental and play prompts to make parenting feel more joyful and manageable.

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For more Jill Lerman, please visit:

Meira Elituv is a personal stylist helping women find their style and confidence in their clothing again through closet edits, outfit styling and personal shopping.

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For more Meira Elituv, please vis...

In this bonus episode of the Mom Halo Show, Alana invites her husband, Matt Kantor, to the podcast as they have some exciting, life-changing news to share.

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For more Matt Kantor, please visit:

Matthew Kantor on the web

@blurrycam on Instagram

Want to come see the podcast live and in person? Check out the Mom Halo website for more information.

*Warning—this podcast is completely unfiltered. If you are a...

Rebecca Greenberg is a bioethicist and former nurse who works with individuals and healthcare organizations to navigate complex, value-based ethical decisions. When working with individual clients, she helps them make difficult ethical decisions, most often around their or their loved ones’ health/healthcare. She provides a systematic, supportive and non-judgemental process to help them achieve confidence in making the best decision for themselves, explaining why it’s most justifiable and how to implement it.

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Erica Moore is the owner of Hudson Kruse + Sons, an interior design firm in Toronto. Erica has worked within the residential design sector for over 15 years. She started working for Hudson Kruse in 2008 alongside Trevor Kruse and is now the firm’s acting principal and owner. Erica has experience overseeing jobs of various scopes and sizes, from large development projects to private residential homes. She brings to each project a high level of professionalism and experience; however, it is her relationships with her clients, as well as her intuitive approach to design solutions, that highlight her success in the in...

Jaquie Dason is a pediatric sleep consultant, a postpartum doula, a new parent educator and a mom of two. She works with parents to help bring a sense of calm to their family with judgement-free sleep consultant and parent support. She offers expecting parent classes, newborn care support and pediatric sleep consulting. Together with parents, she creates goals that are specific to their child and work closely with them to accomplish these goals in a way that is most comfortable to the family.

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Alanna McGinn is the founder and a certified sleep expert at Good Night Sleep Site, a global sleep consulting practice. She is host of the “This Girl Loves Sleep” Podcast and author of This Baby Loves Sleep. Alanna has established the worldwide brand of Good Night Sleep Site as being a number-one sleep resource for families—and she and her team of sleep consultants strive to help families (baby to adults) and corporations overcome their sleep challenges and have well-rested smiles in the morning.

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Daniel Kayfetz is an entrepreneur, a criminal lawyer and Alana’s lovely father. He has been keeping his clients out of jail since 1970 and has so many crazy stories to share, from how he started his own business at the age of 14 to how he fell into criminal law and so, so much more. 

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Dori Adams is a mom and the co-founder of shutterb, a gig platform for smartphone content creators. Their mission is to pair businesses and people with smartphone content creators in order to deliver an affordable and convenient way to get high-quality images and videos and to tell their stories through content—also allowing customers to live in the moment and not worry about capturing everything themselves. 

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Rebecca Lane is a mom of three and the director of the Lane School of Music, a music school in Toronto that helps parents guide their child to success by providing the nurturing, engaging music lessons every child needs to develop their inner musician. The Lane School of Music is a thriving school of over 700 students, 50 teachers, 10 staff members and 4 locations including the online school. Rebecca finds immense satisfaction in coaching and leading her team of professional musicians while cultivating an atmosphere of growth and curiosity through music education.

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Best friends, influencers, podcasters, co-founders of The Common Parent and moms with seven kids between them, Cat and Nat know a thing or two about the way motherhood turns your life upside down. Cat & Nat's rapidly exploding community of like-minded moms tune in every day to watch them rewrite the paradigm of “the perfect mom.” With honesty and humor, Cat & Nat dismantle the unrealistic portrayals of motherhood that are often presented throughout social and traditional media. Through their virally famous #MOMTRUTHS videos, which have garnered hundreds of millions of views, their Facebook Lives and Instagram stories, their best-selling book, and...

Vivian Kaye is a single mother, the founder of KinkyCurlyYaki, a business and empowerment expert, a keynote speaker, a TV and podcast personality and an all-around dope lady. She aims to show women how you can be yourself and still achieve a successful, fulfilled life. 

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For more Vivian Kaye, please visit:

Vi...

Carly Nemtean is a mom, a designer of Interiors, and a businesswoman who owns The Collective Workspace, a co-working and event space for creatives in the North York Area of Toronto, where we record our podcast every week. She also co-owns Carriage Lane Design Build for the past 14 years. She and her team design and construct clients' homes and boutique commercial/ retail spaces. She’s worked on and off camera with some pretty notable clients, like Property Brothers, Cecconi Simone, Tori Spelling, Love It or List It and other HGTV shows and has had her work featured in House & Ho...

Frances Wilk is a wife, a mom and an entrepreneur from Montreal with two kids and two dogs. She has been working in the talent acquisition and recruitment space for the past ten years, having spent the majority of her time in the startup space. She recently went out on her own and launched her fractional talent acquisition practice, FW Talent, and has been supporting companies in navigating the complexities they face when it comes to hiring. Over the past year especially, she has spent a lot of time networking, particularly with women in similar roles to herself. Connecting...

Tracey Tee is the founder and steward of Moms On Mushrooms, an online community for mothers with multiple offerings for working with and healing through the sacred use of microdosing plant medicine. Tracey weaves in a sacred facilitator approach to her M.O.M. circles, calling on the support of the Sacred Feminine and Sacred Mother Earth to connect women back to themselves through prayer, herbology, grounding, nature and, of course, plant medicine.

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Alyssa Ages is a mom of two, a strongman competitor, a journalist and the author of Secrets of Giants: A Journey to Uncover the True Meaning of Strength. She is a health and fitness columnist for The Globe and Mail and a freelance journalist with clips in publications that include ELLE, SELF, GQ, Parents, Slate, Pregnantish and more. 

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Susana Alba is a career strategist based out of New York. Her practice, Dunamis Coaching & Consulting Services, teaches women how to land six-figure roles through leadership development and career strategy. She thinks of her role as the mentor or friend who tells you all the things she wishes someone would have told her while she was climbing the corporate ladder. She wants to make sure that women know how to articulate their value and find the right opportunities that are a good fit for them. 

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Angelique de Montbrun is the CMO and COO of Mydoh, a money management platform with subscription-free access designed to help kids and teens manage their own money in a fun and interactive way while giving parents oversight. Mydoh is on a mission to empower youth by giving them an early understanding of money management. The platform gives kids and teens hands-on, real-world experience in responsible earning, saving and spending while allowing parents to guide them.

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Stacey Green is a mom of two and the founder of StaceyGreenLiving. She’s a holistic nutritionist, a content creator and a cookbook author. Her book, You’ll Eat It & You’ll Like It, is not your average cookbook: it’s a comedic approach to cooking that incorporates easy, family-friendly recipes (with a picture on each page!), with humour and a healthy dose of swearing.

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For more Stacey Green, ple...

As one of Canada’s most well-known and winsome radio and TV hosts, Josie Dye has had countless conversations with the stars of the music world, and she knows what you really want to know. Her interviews with A-listers—from Chris Martin to Mumford and Sons to Oprah—give Josie the ability to speak the language of celebrities, but she never wavers from her straightforward, fun-loving style that has endeared her to millions and made her a staple of the Canadian broadcasting world. She currently co-hosts the weekday afternoon radio show on CHUM and co-hosts a podcast called Cynthia and Jo...

Anna Halfpenny is a brand builder with more than 20 years of marketing and brand-building experience. She has helped global and national brands achieve their business goals across every possible section. In 2018, she launched Ruby + Foster, a marketing firm that works directly with founders, CEOs, and entrepreneurs to help them expand their businesses to where they need to be. As of 2021, the firm also caters to smaller businesses.

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Roxanne Francis is the founder and CEO of Francis Psychotherapy where the team of therapists provides virtual and in-person mental health, emotional and relationship support to kids, individuals, couples and families across Ontario. Roxanne is also a corporate wellness consultant, keynote speaker and coach to other therapists across the country.

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Dr. Robin Baweja is a children's mental health specialist, physician and children's book author. She is the owner and founder of Dear Mommy. With years of experience as a pediatrician, Dr. Baweja has become a trusted advocate for child health, particularly in the realm of mental and emotional wellness. Through Dear Mommy, she has curated a unique collection of children's mental health items, including toys, bags and books, aimed at nurturing young minds.

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