- I opened a tea shop! And other summer updates
From starting a brick-and-mortar retail shop, to putting the finishing touches on my book manuscript, to caring for my new chicks, to getting another son ready for college, this summer has already been jam-packed with activity. In the last episode of The Tea's Made before my midsummer break, I'm sharing more details about what's happening in my world and what you can expect when I return in the early fall.
Featured Tea:
Brand Partners:
OSEA - Use the code TEASMADE or MEAGAN for 10% off your first purchase.
Vionic – with unmatched support and stability, Vionic’s line of shoes and boots are wearable wellbeing for your feet. Use code TEASMADE for 15% off after you log into your account.
Hatch – Well-rested mornings begin with relaxing bedtime routines, and the Hatch Restore 2 offers both. Use code TEA20 for $20 off.
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/mother-of-reinvention-with-meagan-francis/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy31m - Jun 27, 2024 - How - and why - to get started foraging for wild plants
When I was a young girl, I was completely fascinated with the idea of being able to find food and medicine in nature. But in our modern world, eating anything that grows wildly can seem strange...undesirable...even dangerous. While it took me until my mid-40s, I've begun to embrace foraging and wildcrafting as not only a fun and mostly-free hobby, but also a way of looking at the world differently. In this episode I'll talk about what this journey has looked like for me and share basic tips for getting started, staying safe, and using what you find.
Featured Tea:
Yooper Yellow from S•TEA•P
Featured Links:
Learn more about my new tea shop on Instagram!
Follow Bevy Tea on Instagram
The Seek app from iNaturalist
Midwestern Medicinal Plants by Lisa M. Rose
Alchemy of Herbs by Rosalee de la Forêt
Here's a good basic blog post on starting foraging. I agree with the author that getting a book or two is a really good idea, as is getting mentored in real life from an experienced forager!
Cotton mesh drawstring bags like these are great for collecting and drying herbs
Brand Partners:
OSEA - Use the code TEASMADE or MEAGAN for 10% off your first purchase.
Vionic – with unmatched support and stability, Vionic’s line of shoes and boots are wearable wellbeing for your feet. Use code TEASMADE for 15% off after you log into your account.
Hatch – Well-rested mornings begin with relaxing bedtime routines, and the Hatch Restore 2 offers both. Use code TEA20 for $20 off.
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/mother-of-reinvention-with-meagan-francis/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy22m - Jun 20, 2024 - Living authentically in midlife with Rachel Macy Stafford
From navigating relationships with our teenagers to how we engage with social media, the post-40 years offer many opportunities to rethink old patterns of people-pleasing and live more authentically. In this conversation with author Rachel Macy Stafford, learn how to create a "Soul Shift" that will help you slow down, connect, and live more in line with your deepest values.
Episode Links:
Find Rachel Macy Stafford Online:
Rachel's Books:
Brand Partners:
OSEA - Use the code TEASMADE or MEAGAN for 10% off your first purchase.
Vionic – with unmatched support and stability, Vionic’s line of shoes and boots are wearable wellbeing for your feet. Use code TEASMADE for 15% off after you log into your account.
Hatch – Well-rested mornings begin with relaxing bedtime routines, and the Hatch Restore 2 offers both. Use code TEA20 for $20 off.
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/mother-of-reinvention-with-meagan-francis/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy40m - Jun 13, 2024 - Loss, change, and the importance of feeling it all
Sometimes life is hard, sometimes life is exciting...and often, it's both at the same time. When that happens, it's not always easy to know how to feel from one moment to the next. In this episode I'm sharing some news from my life over the past week, and how I've been coping with some sad events and hard moments in the midst of the exciting things happening alongside them.
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/mother-of-reinvention-with-meagan-francis/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy9m - Jun 6, 2024 - Thriving when your plate is (really) full
With a graduation, a move, an anniversary, and travel all happening within a couple of weeks of each other during what was already a jam-packed spring, I've been giving a lot of thought to what helps particularly chaotic periods feel more manageable. In this episode, I'm reflecting on some of the practices, habits and mindsets, from sticking to healthy routines to leaving room for spontaneity, that I've learned can help me thrive - not just survive! - during really, really busy seasons of life.
Featured Tea:
Gorge Sunrise from Good Medicine Tea - use code TEASMADE for 15% off!
Episode Links:
Episode 27: Five ways to add more steps to your day
Brand Partners:
OSEA - Use the code TEASMADE or MEAGAN for 10% off your first purchase.
Vionic – with unmatched support and stability, Vionic’s line of shoes and boots are wearable wellbeing for your feet. Use code TEASMADE for 15% off after you log into your account.
Hatch – Well-rested mornings begin with relaxing bedtime routines, and the Hatch Restore 2 offers both. Use code TEA20 for $20 off.
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/mother-of-reinvention-with-meagan-francis/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy22m - May 30, 2024 - Why (and how!) to take yourself on a solo adventure
Have you ever dreamed about getting away from it all...all by yourself? Five years ago, a year or so after getting divorced when I desperately needed to do something just for myself, I went on a life-changing six-day solo hiking and camping adventure. In this episode I share why the trip was so meaningful, how I packed and prepared, how you can safely plan your own solo getaway - and why you should consider it.
Episode Links:
Beginner hiking and camping gear guide for women
A woman's guide to solo hiking and camping
Episode 26: Herbal how-to: my favorite herbal teas & how I prepare them
Brand Partners:
OSEA - Use the code TEASMADE or MEAGAN for 10% off your first purchase.
Vionic – with unmatched support and stability, Vionic’s line of shoes and boots are wearable wellbeing for your feet. Use code TEASMADE for 15% off after you log into your account.
Hatch – Well-rested mornings begin with relaxing bedtime routines, and the Hatch Restore 2 offers both. Use code TEA20 for $20 off.
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/mother-of-reinvention-with-meagan-francis/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy29m - May 23, 2024 - How I more than doubled my steps-per-day + 5 ways to make natural movement a bigger part of your life
A few months ago I looked back over the last few years' worth of my smart watch data and was shocked to see my step average had plummeted by over half in the last year or so - coinciding with some other health issues that I believe were related. We're told to get in at least 10,000 steps per day, and while there's some debate over that number, I definitely feel my best when I'm consistently getting in lots of natural movement - but sometimes tight schedules and modern conveniences conspire to keep us sedentary! In this episode you'll hear five ways I've gotten those daily steps back up - way up - and how you can create a more movement-oriented mindset, without ever going to the gym.
Episode Links:
My Garmin Vivoactive 4s - I've used this watch for daily movement and sleep tracking (as well as keeping time!) for over 3 years and it's still going strong.
I love these 2-lb Velcro wrist weights with thumb loop. I wear them for the first part of my walk, while I do the stairs, and I incorporate lots of arm movements (both planned and more random) to maximize the "strength training" portion of the day. Then I ditch them in my car and enjoy the rest of my walk like normal. I also have a 20-lb kettlebell in my car and will often tack on a quick leg workout + kettlebell swings at the end of my walk.
I LOVE wearing my Happy Feet toe aligner socks to show my feet a little love at the end of the day!
Vionic insoles - I put these in all my non-Vionic shoes, including my regular sneakers and hiking boots. Vionic is a sponsor; use code TEASMADE at checkout for 15% off.
A good magnesium supplement also helps a lot with foot and other muscle/joint pain.
Brand Partners:
OSEA - Use the code TEASMADE or MEAGAN for 10% off your first purchase.
Vionic – with unmatched support and stability, Vionic’s line of shoes and boots are wearable wellbeing for your feet. Use code TEASMADE for 15% off after you log into your account.
Hatch – Well-rested mornings begin with relaxing bedtime routines, and the Hatch Restore 2 offers both. Use code TEA20 for $20 off.
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/mother-of-reinvention-with-meagan-francis/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy19m - May 16, 2024 - Herbal how-to: my favorite herbal teas & how I prepare them
Herbal teas (or to be more accurate, tisanes) are a delicious and approachable way to explore the nutritional and therapeutic benefits of herbs-- and I drink them literally every day! In this episode I share the herbal infusions I'm drinking most often right now, along with product recommendations and details about how I prepare them. I also unpack why herbal "tea" technically isn't actually tea, and offer some words you can use instead.
Episode Links:
Lots of links in this episode! I've organized them by products + resources.
Products:
- Wholesome Cleanse from Flying Bird Botanicals
- Queendom Reign by Modestine Tea
- Tulsi Citrus Soother from Light of Day Organics
- Warm Hugs from Good Medicine Tea **Use code TEASMADE for 15% off your first order**
- Breathe Deep from Yogi Tea
- Mint Medley from Bigelow
- Chocolate Trufflemint from Good Medicine Tea **Use code TEASMADE for 15% off your first order**
- Peppermint from Smith Tea
- Let Go by Modestine Tea
- Aphrodite from Good Medicine Tea **Use code TEASMADE for 15% off your first order**
- Smooth Move from Traditional Medicinals
- Nordic Mug from David's Tea
Resources:
- Blog post: 3 Herbal Tea Blends To Help You Sleep
- Blog post: Three Black Teas I'm Loving Lately
- Blog post: 3 system-supporting herbs that are always in my tea cabinet
- Episode 13: Tea as self-care with Laura Cepeda of Modestine Tea
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/mother-of-reinvention-with-meagan-francis/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy24m - May 9, 2024 - Creating community & a connected life, close to home
With an abundance of technological tools at our disposal and endless options to "go out and do stuff", it would seem we'd feel more connected than ever. But we're in the midst of what's been called an "epidemic of loneliness" - and all those options seem only to have created more disconnection. What if the solution for loneliness is actually to do less, stay closer to home, and really make those connections count? In this episode I delve into some ways to create stronger ties with the friends, family, neighbors and people in our local area, while still living a home-centered life.
Featured Tea
Cardamom Noir from Good Medicine Tea **Use code TEASMADE for 15% off your first order**
Links Mentioned In Episode
Episode 24: Why I'm embracing a home-centered life
Episode 2: How to be a great host
Brand Partners:
OSEA - Use the code TEASMADE or MEAGAN for 10% off your entire purchase.
Vionic – with unmatched support and stability, Vionic’s line of shoes and boots are wearable wellbeing for your feet. Use code TEASMADE for 15% off after you log into your account.
Hatch – Well-rested mornings begin with relaxing bedtime routines, and the Hatch Restore 2 offers both. Use code TEA20 for $20 off.
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/mother-of-reinvention-with-meagan-francis/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy22m - May 2, 2024 - Why I'm embracing a home-centered life
Moving, shaking, and constantly on the go? Been there, done that, and had the burnout to prove it. In midlife, I'm looking for a calmer, less-expensive and less consumption-oriented experience. In this episode I share why I'm happy to let my current lifestyle center around pursuits at home, what a "home-centered" life means to me, and the benefits of looking "in here" instead of "out there" for entertainment, socializing, and creativity.
Featured Tea:
Decaf Paris from Harney & Sons: fruity, sweet and full-bodied.
Featured Links:
Episode 17: What's happening in my kitchen right now
Brand Partners:
OSEA - Use the code TEASMADE or MEAGAN for 10% off your entire purchase.
Vionic – with unmatched support and stability, Vionic’s line of shoes and boots are wearable wellbeing for your feet. Use code TEASMADE for 15% off after you log into your account.
Hatch – Well-rested mornings begin with relaxing bedtime routines, and the Hatch Restore 2 offers both. Use code TEA20 for $20 off.
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/mother-of-reinvention-with-meagan-francis/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy34m - Apr 25, 2024 - New thoughts on productivity & "getting things done"
When I was a younger mom, I put a lot of stock in "getting things done." I'll admit, I felt a little thrill of pride when people would ask "How do you do it all?" The reality, of course, is that I wasn't doing it all then...and I'm definitely not doing it all now! But the way I show up for my to-do list, and my relationship with ambition, are both changing in midlife, which has led my crazy-busy 30s to give way to much-more-meandering 40s.
In this episode I share a handful of ways the idea of "productivity" is changing for me as a midlife mom of older kids, and how sometimes the unsung things that nobody sees you doing are actually the things that add up to a rich, full, and manageable life.
Featured Tea:
Aphrodite from Good Medicine Tea - use TEASMADE for 15% off your order.
Check Out Deals From Our Partners:
OSEA - Use the code TEASMADE or MEAGAN for 10% off your entire purchase.
Vionic – with unmatched support and stability, Vionic’s line of shoes and boots are wearable wellbeing for your feet. Use code TEASMADE for 15% off after you log into your account.
Hatch – Well-rested mornings begin with relaxing bedtime routines, and the Hatch Restore 2 offers both. Use code TEA20 for $20 off.
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/mother-of-reinvention-with-meagan-francis/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy26m - Apr 18, 2024 - My skincare products, rituals, & philosophy
Which skincare products, rituals and routines really work (and how do we know they're "working"?) In this episode I share my skincare routine, including specific products I love and how they work together, plus my thoughts about how creating a "skincare philosophy" can make it easier to decide which products, procedures, and processes make sense for YOU.
Episode Links:
How to make gua sha part of your skincare routine
Check Out Deals From Our Partners:
OSEA - Use the code TEASMADE or MEAGAN for 10% off your entire purchase.
Vionic – with unmatched support and stability, Vionic’s line of shoes and boots are wearable wellbeing for your feet. Use code TEASMADE for 15% off after you log into your account.
Hatch – Well-rested mornings begin with relaxing bedtime routines, and the Hatch Restore 2 offers both. I wind down AND wake up every single day with customizable colorscapes, sounds, and lighting. Use code TEA20 for $20 off.
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/mother-of-reinvention-with-meagan-francis/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy32m - Apr 11, 2024 - Eldercare, "stuff" & family responsibility
What do we owe our elders - and the younger generation who'll one day be in the position of caring for us? After spending a week helping an aging family member who is going through a lot of life changes, I'm reflecting on the misguided cultural idea that we can somehow plan, declutter, or outsource our way out of "burdening" our families with our care, needs, or even our stuff - and what we lose when we rob one another of the opportunity to connect by helping and being helped.
Featured Tea:
Scottish Afternoon Tea from Apothica Tea, or Harney & Sons
Featured Links:
Featured Partners:
Want to learn more about some of my favorite brands and show partners? Head over to my Shop page.
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/mother-of-reinvention-with-meagan-francis/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy17m - Apr 4, 2024 - 5 things I've learned from 12 years of podcasting
I started my first podcast in 2012, and have been at it ever since - which means I've been podcasting continuously for twelve years! In today's behind-the-scenes episode I'm sharing my insights on creating a sustainable podcasting lifestyle based on what I've learned over the past twelve years. I'll share my thoughts on everything from choosing a format to working with a cohost, creating a strategy that works with your overall goals, how much time and money to invest in your sound quality, and more. Listen whether you're an aspiring podcaster - or you're just curious how your favorite podcasts get made.
Featured Links:
- The Mom Hour turned 9 years old last week!
- Read the blog post that complements this episode, with specific tech recommendations and information about early access to my podcast mentoring program.
Featured Partners:
Want to learn more about some of my favorite brands and show partners? Head over to my Shop page.
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/mother-of-reinvention-with-meagan-francis/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy24m - Mar 28, 2024 - 7 ways to welcome the spring season
Spring is officially here, but after a winter that often felt like spring and with spring weather that still feels a little wintry, we may need to be a little more intentional to connect with the season this year. This episode contains seven simple ideas to help you make the most of the early spring, including:
- Switch up your skincare
- Plan a new daily routine to maximize outdoor time
- Watch wildlife in your backyard and beyond
- Ease into spring fashion from the feet up
Listen on for tips and ideas that will help you welcome the season, here on The Tea's Made podcast!
Featured Tea:
Featured Links:
*links below may be brand partners
- My skin care routine - use the code TEASMADE for 10% off your first order at OSEA!
- Uptown Loafer from Vionic Shoes - Use the code TEASMADE for 15% off plus free shipping when you create an account, valid for one time use.
- The platform bird feeder I have and love
- The Merlin Bird ID app
- The Seek app
- Midwest Foraging, by Lisa M. Rose
- Backyard Foraging: 65 Familiar Plants You Didn't Know You Could Eat, by Ellen Zachos
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/mother-of-reinvention-with-meagan-francis/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy20m - Mar 21, 2024 - Family, legacy, and memoir with T. Marie Bertineau
How do memoirists manage to tell the truth about painful circumstances in their past, while still keeping a grip on compassion and levity? In today's episode I talk with memoirist T. Marie Bertineau about how she processed difficult childhood memories to write about her family of origin with both love and honesty. We also discuss her upbringing in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and what she's learned about life and legacy as a writer, midlife woman, and memoirist.
Episode Links:
- The Mason House by T. Marie Bertineau
- Follow T. Marie' on instagram
- The Great Lakes Review featuring T. Marie's short story
Featured Partners:
Want to learn more about some of my favorite brands and show partners? Head over to my Shop page.
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/mother-of-reinvention-with-meagan-francis/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy36m - Mar 14, 2024 - What's happening in my kitchen right now
From fermenting oatmeal, to making yogurt, to tending my own tea plant--I've been up to some fun experiments in my kitchen lately. In this episode I'll share some of the ways I've been focused on exploration in the kitchen, why kitchen creativity is one path to becoming more comfortable with the everyday jobs of meal-planning and dinner-making, which of my kitchen projects have worked out and which are still "in progress", why I'm not eating at restaurants very much right now, and how all this kitchen activity ties into self-care and my personal health journey.
Featured Tea
Gorge Sunrise from Good Medicine Tea - use code TEASMADE for 15% off your first order.
Episode Links
- Deconstructing myself - the Substack post I referenced in the episode
- Ancestral Kitchen Podcast - in particular the episode about fermenting oats
- My blog post about making oatmeal in the rice cooker
- Finnish viili cultures from Yemoos
- Camellia Sinensis (tea) plant
- My subscriber-only podcast episode about soaking, simmering and preparing beans
Featured Partners
Want to learn more about some of my favorite brands and show partners? Head over to my Shop page.
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/mother-of-reinvention-with-meagan-francis/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy22m - Mar 7, 2024 - My talk at church, and a little something about me you may not know
While I love sharing pieces of my life in this podcast, there's one big part that I haven't talked much about online--and that's my story of a midlife return to the Christian faith.
In this episode, I explain a little more about that reticence and also share a talk I gave at my local church last week, which features a funny story from my childhood and some of my thoughts and feelings about this stage of parenting, plus sheds a little light on my conflicted feelings about the Bible -- and how I came around to seeing the beauty in its stories of real people doing real things, while finding belonging and hope in its pages.
I hope you enjoy it - and if you feel moved by this episode or have questions or comments, I'd love to hear from you: email meaganfrancis@gmail.com.
Episode Links
Want to see me over-gesturing with my hands? You can watch the entirety of my talk on Vimeo, including the music: Gloria Gaynor, Killers, The Head & The Heart, and The Civil Wars. I come on around the 9:40 mark.
Featured Partners
Want to learn more about some of my favorite brands and show partners? Head over to my Shop page.
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/mother-of-reinvention-with-meagan-francis/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy32m - Feb 29, 2024 - Cozy & Creative Spaces with Sarah Powers
Do certain areas in your home inspire you creatively? What's the link between comfort and creativity? In this episode I'm joined by Sarah Powers, my cohost at The Mom Hour, to talk about our favorite cozy spaces and why they help us feel more ready to create.
Episode Links
- Order Sarah's and my new guided journal, The Mother's Gratitude Journal: An Easy Guide to Capturing Everyday Joys and Milestone Moments, launching March 5!
- Milk Oolong Meagan was drinking
- Yogi herbal tisane that Sarah was drinking
- The Pottery Barn blanket that Sarah gifted Meagan
- Quince blanket that Sarah referenced
Featured Partners
Want to learn more about some of my favorite brands and show partners? Head over to my Shop page.
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/mother-of-reinvention-with-meagan-francis/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy35m - Feb 22, 2024 - Why mobility training is an essential mind-body practice, with Angela Metrou, CPT
When you think about exercise, what moves you? Maybe you want to drop a pants size or tone up your arms. But movement isn't just about looking better - it's about staying active and vital for our entire lives. And it all beings with mobility: where flexibility, stability and strength, and the mind-body connection meet.
In this episode we revisit a 2023 interview with Angela Metrou of Modern Mind and Body Care to find out just why this under-looked aspect of our overall health is so important, and how to work with your body to move more efficiently and functionally, no matter your age or fitness goals.
Episode Links
Find Angela Metrou at her website or on Instagram. Also, check out her Ankle Mobility program!
Featured Partners
Want to learn more about some of my favorite brands and show partners? Head over to my Shop page.
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/mother-of-reinvention-with-meagan-francis/donations
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy26m - Feb 15, 2024
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