In this episode, I sit down with the wonderfully multifaceted Stephanie Sprenger—a writer, podcaster, producer of live storytelling and comedy shows, and single mom to two teenage girls. Stephanie shares her journey from being an early childhood music therapist to reclaiming her identity as a writer, a path that led her to create vibrant communities for women to find and share their voices.

Our conversation dives deep into the power of storytelling as a form of self-mothering and community-building. Stephanie, the executive producer of Listen to Your Mother Boulder, explains why sharing honest, unfiltered stories about motherhood—complete with the guilt, ambivalence, and messy moments—is a radical act that combats isolation and challenges the myth of the perfect mom.

Stephanie also opens up about her late-in-life ADHD diagnosis, a revelation that occurred while writing her forthcoming memoir. She describes this discovery as finally getting the right "operating system manual" for her brain, allowing her to reframe her struggles with the practical demands of motherhood and embrace her strengths with newfound compassion. We also touch on her dive into the world of stand-up comedy as a form of healing and the importance of finding supportive, women-centered spaces to take creative risks.

You'll also hear about:

• (03:44) Stephanie’s career pivot from music therapy to writing and creating communities for women storytellers like the Her Stories Project and Listen to Your Mother.
• (09:34) Why sharing our honest, unfiltered stories is a crucial act of self-mothering that builds community and combats isolation.
• (10:25) The importance of being the "main character" in your own life, especially as a mother.
• (24:16) Stephanie’s journey to an adult ADHD diagnosis and how it helped her understand her experience of motherhood.
• (28:58) How her ADHD diagnosis felt like being a "lefty in a right-handed world" and finally getting the right operating system manual for her brain.
• (35:34) How hitting a wall as a solo single mom forced her to let go of the "do-it-all-yourself" code and embrace outsourcing.
• (41:53) Her experience using stand-up comedy as a healing tool, especially within the supportive "womb" of all-women comedy groups.

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Learn more about Stephanie Sprenger

• Learn more on Stephanie's Website
• Connect with Stephanie on Linkedin
• Follow her on Substack at The Reclamation Era
• Listen to her podcast, Perry Normal
• Follow Stephanie on Instagram

• Learn more on Dr. Gertrude’s Website
• Follow Dr. Gertrude on Instagram
• Stay in the loop and sign up to Dr. Gertrude’s Newsletter
• Order Dr. Gertrude’s new book “Rewrite the Mother Code”