For our penultimate episode, we wanted to do something a little different and hand the microphone over to the women of Exhale. Over the years, we’ve asked some version of the same question again and again:
How do you make space for art in the midst of motherhood?
It has become, really, one of the perennial questions of Exhale because part of the creative work is figuring out when, where, and how to accomplish the creative work within the constraints of our every day life.
And through the years, the women we’ve interviewed have answered that question with so much honesty and wisdom. Women in the thick of the little years. Women looking back from further down the road. Writers, artists, makers, musicians. Women creating in tiny pockets of time, women carving out whole days, women learning to trust fallow seasons and women fighting to make their creative lives a real priority.
In episode 107, you’ll hear voice notes from women across the Exhale community sharing what making space for creativity has looked like in their actual lives. Molly and Adrienne listen alongside you, pause between their stories, and talk through what we’re hearing—what resonates, what challenges us, and what these women have taught us about making art in the midst of motherhood.
Because maybe there isn’t one answer to this question. But there is so much wisdom in hearing how other women are finding their way.
Bios in order of appearance:
Dani Eglas Dani is mom to Brady, Easton, and Zoey and wife to Brent. Spending my time chasing Jesus, baking, telling stories, taking photos, and knitting! Passionate about biblical hospitality and offering a warm welcome. https://substack.com/@danielgas
Brittany Purvis
Brittany lives in Indiana with her blended family of five. She is a LCSW and Parent Coach who believes in the power of co-regulation, the strength of connection, and the beauty of repair. She also admits to yelling at her kids, stealing their holiday candy, and even threatening to cancel Christmas. She writes about her own imperfect parenting journey so others can feel seen in theirs. Follow along at parentingwithbrittanyjoy.com
Simone Griffin Simone lives in the Raleigh, NC area with her husband and two kids. As a work from home mama, she spends her days counseling, organizing, cooking, and folding mountains of laundry. She'll invite you to join her for coffee, brunch, church, or a 5 a.m. boot camp workout. In the margins, she writes about the beauty and burdens of motherhood in hopes of helping other moms feel seen. You can connect with her on Instagram or Substack.
Jenna Brack
Jenna is the author of Pass-Through Place (Meadowlark Press, 2026), a collection of essays shaped by growing up in central Kansas. Her essays and poetry have been featured in Every Day Poems, Coffee + Crumbs, Fathom, The Sunlight Press, and others. A former educator and college instructor, Jenna now encourages other writers through editing and coaching. She holds an MA in English from Kansas State University and currently lives with her family in Germany. https://jennabrack.substack.com/
Kendra Elliott
Kendra lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and three small children. She finds joy leading her local MomCo group, writing with a perfectly sharpened pencil, and swirling watercolor across paper. Connect with her on Instagram @these.ordinarydays, where she captures beauty found within the middle minutes.
Kaitlin Rogers
Kaitlin is a writer and photographer. Ordinary days are her favorite days, and her mind constantly turns over questions like how can we, collectively, take better care of each other? She lives north of Chicago, in her hometown, Lake Bluff, with her husband and two daughters. You can read her writing on her Substack, Good Exposure, and see her photography on her website.
Lashunta Hoover
LaShunta is a writer and project manager, a newly empty nester. She encourages moms to make time to work on their own hobbies as they are raising their kids because too soon those kiddos will be off doing their own thing. LaShunta is a California girl who for the past 8 years and counting resides in South Carolina. You can find her on substack .
Melissa Kutsche
Melissa writes about midlife, motherhood, books, and other sacred/ordinary things. She lives in Michigan with her husband, their three children, and a geriatric beagle named Lucy. Melissa loves bookstores, afternoon lattes, and spontaneous dance parties. You can find her writing on Substack or her website.
Neidy Hess Neidy is a writer, grants manager, mama, and firefighter’s wife. She has 3 niños that she apologizes to frequently (but loves them immensely)! Her husband is also a veteran of the Marine Corps—she’s had the privilege to walk through two overseas deployments with him. Neidy is a known fierce advocate for the arts and civic rights through her leadership throughout Nebraska. She also is a contributor to Coffee + Crumbs’ latest publication, “You’re in Good Company.” https://neidy.substack.com/
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