Mommywood

On this episode of Mommywood, I’m talking to Lilan Bowden — and this one goes way beyond the usual actor interview.
We get into what it actually feels like to be in the middle of a career while raising a toddler. The constant rushing. The mental load. The moments you realize… maybe you’re the one making it harder.
Lilan opens up about:– why “don’t stress” is harder than it sounds– how motherhood changes the way you work (and think)– letting your kid slow you down… even when you don’t want to– and why your child might be the only “parenting book” you actually need
We also talk about her new podcast, Pondersations, which is basically the kind of conversations you only have when you finally drop the surface-level stuff.
This one is honest, funny, and a little bit of a reality check (in the best way).

Lang Fisher is a powerhouse writer, producer, and showrunner — but in this episode of Mommywood, we talk about way more than Hollywood success.
Lang opens up about becoming a single mom by choice, having her son with her gay best friend, and how that beautifully modern co-parenting setup came to be. She shares how what started as a joke in a writers’ room became one of the best decisions of her life, and why the unusual path to parenthood forced conversations most couples never even think to have.
We also get into what it actually means to be a showrunner, how she worked her way up from 30 Rock to running Never Have I Ever, what makes a great writers’ room, and how becoming a mom changed the way she works, leads, and tells stories.
This is a conversation about ambition, identity, modern motherhood, imposter syndrome, and building a life that doesn’t have to look traditional to be absolutely right.

Katie Webber is a working Broadway performer, bestselling cookbook author, certified holistic nutritionist — and a mom to a spirited nine-year-old daughter. And yes: she does eight shows a week.
In this episode, Katie breaks down what a real performance day looks like as a parent (subway school drop-off, homework, then straight to a 7pm show), why “the job is the break” compared to the mental load of motherhood, and how co-parenting and a blended family make the Broadway schedule even remotely possible.
We also get into body image and aging in an industry obsessed with “young and fit,” raising a daughter with a sane relationship to food, and Katie’s refreshingly honest take on beauty, Botox, and doing what makes you feel good — without shame. Plus: the moment her daughter made her Broadway debut at four (yes, FOUR), and why Waitress is basically required viewing for moms.
Did I mention she also has an amazing wine! Give Mama Rose a try!
Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Mommy Wood and Guest Introduction
02:04 Navigating Motherhood and Performance
10:04 The Challenges of a Broadway Schedule
15:55 The Mental Load of Motherhood vs. Performance
21:47 Embracing Change: Motherhood and Identity
28:43 Nutrition and Holistic Living as a Mom
36:49 Empowering Choices in Nutrition
38:53 Fostering Creativity in Children
40:34 The Joys and Challenges of Broadway Parenting
45:41 Navigating Childcare in the Arts
48:37 The Reality of Broadway Life
53:54 Dreams of a Different Life
56:01 Honesty in Beauty and Skincare
01:04:23 Balancing Motherhood and Career
01:09:12 Embracing Femininity at Any Age

This Mommywood recut might be one of the most honest conversations we’ve had.
Actor and EmotionAL Support podcast host Alessandra Torresani and I actually met while walking our babies in the neighborhood — and quickly realized we were in the exact same stage of new motherhood.
In this episode we talk about:• postpartum recovery and mental health
• birth stories and expectations vs reality• auditioning during pregnancy and weeks after giving birth• self tapes with a baby at home• pressure on women in the entertainment industry to “time” a family• why finding other moms is essential• learning to let go of perfection
Funny, vulnerable, and reassuring, this conversation is for anyone trying to balance a creative career and motherhood — or just trying to survive the newborn phase.

This is a special Mommywood recut — and honestly, one that hits differently now.
When this conversation was first recorded, my daughter was only ten weeks old and I was deep in new-mom survival mode, trying to figure out how acting and motherhood were supposed to exist in the same life. Meanwhile, Hannah Hines was already navigating the preschool years, self-tapes, childcare logistics, and the reality of keeping a creative career going after becoming a parent.
In this episode we talk about:
• how actors actually schedule auditions with a baby
• building a “village” when you don’t have family nearby
• the identity shift that comes with motherhood
• pandemic isolation with a toddler
• day jobs and financial survival as an actor parent
• returning to work postpartum
• and Hannah’s unexpected career pivot into screenwriting
Since recording, Hannah and I have actually become real-life friends (yes, even a book club together), which makes this conversation feel even more special.
If you’ve ever wondered whether you can still pursue acting after having a child — this episode is for you.