Meet Podcaster Monica Samuels of “Inside the Moms Club”
Attorney-turned-podcaster Monica Samuels celebrates the good, the bad, and the ugly of motherhood on her podcast, Inside the Moms Club. Image: Susie Alcorn
When attorney-turned-author Monica Samuels launched her Inside the Moms Club podcast, she never imagined it would evolve into a full-blown movement celebrating the humor, heartbreak, and humanity of motherhood.
What began as a companion to her book quickly became something more personal. “I wrote a book called Comeback Moms … It was about taking time off from your job or going more part-time to stay home with your kids, but being able to segue back into the workforce eventually,” she says. “Originally, the podcast was going to be based on the book, and we were going to talk more about those issues.”
But one thing led to another, and the comedy and chaos of motherhood set her on a different path. There’s even a segment called Zoomer Moms, where Monica brings in moms from other parts of the country, including celebrity moms who are facing similar challenges.
That kind of unfiltered honesty became the heartbeat of Inside the Moms Club. “The show is really based on those friendships and appreciating them,” Monica tells us. “Our tagline is, ‘If you don’t laugh, you will cry,’ because as a mom, there are times when you’d better laugh. It can get kind of hairy sometimes.”
Between podcast episodes and viral sketches, Monica has built a loyal following by poking fun at the chaos of parenting. “I started doing videos that were just funny angles on different parts of motherhood,” she says. “One that’s been particularly popular is the travel ball moms — I started doing funny sketches about those types of moms and posting them. It tied back into the show’s theme: humor and laughing at ourselves.”
She has even been known to film in her car — robe, coffee, and all. “I’ve done videos in my car with coffee, like I’m hiding out from my family,” she shares. “People can relate. Moms have to laugh at themselves sometimes.”
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Even her law background sneaks into the comedy, given that she practiced for 14 years. “If those people knew what I was up to in my more public life, they would be like ‘That’s not the Monica I thought I knew! I used to use her for legal advice, and now look at her; she’s making a fool of herself out there on TikTok.’ I hope they walk away with the message to value their friendships even more.”
Now in its fourth year, the podcast has welcomed everyone from everyday moms to celebrity guests. “We interviewed Missy Peregrym from [the show] FBI,” Monica recalls. “A couple of times she nearly cried because she missed being with her kids … That was very raw and real, and I felt it. We were trying to be there for her.”
That empathy defines the show. “It’s not only about your immediate friends,” she says. “I help younger moms get through it. I tell them, it’s all going to be okay — except during those middle school years when it’s not going to be so okay,” she adds with a laugh.
Although topics range from menopause to mental health, Samuels maintains a light and inclusive tone. “We don’t get involved in politics at all,” she says. “I really don’t think that’s productive to what we’re trying to say. Every once in a while, we have something serious — like when we interviewed Beth Bigler, who does pet bereavement counseling. My producer told me afterward, ‘You weren’t very funny,’ and I said, ‘If I’d found something humorous to say about pet bereavement, that’d be the end of the show!’”
Still, she doesn’t shy away from hard conversations. “Some of those shows are difficult emotionally,” she says. “But those are the ones that have the biggest impact.”
Listen to episodes of Inside the Moms Club HERE.
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Jenna von Oy Bratcher
Jenna von Oy Bratcher is StyleBlueprint's Associate Editor and Lead Nashville Writer. The East Coast native moved to Nashville almost two decades years ago, by way of Los Angeles. She is a lover of dogs, strong coffee, traveling, and exploring the local restaurant scene bite by bite.