Introducing: We’re Doing Great!
A podcast for imperfect parents.
Hi Friends,
It’s Esther and Melissa here!
In the four years since releasing Pok Pok, we’ve talked to parents and parenting experts from every corner of the world. We’ve had conversations that were hilarious, heartbreaking, wildly relatable, deeply informative… and sometimes all of those things in the span of about 30 seconds (parenting will do that to you).
And honestly? We’ve learned so much from these conversations. Not just as founders trying to build something meaningful for families, but as two mothers who are just trying to do our best without losing our minds. These chats have helped us feel seen in our insecurities, validated in our choices, and a little more grounded in the chaos of raising kids while running a company.
And let’s be real for a minute:
Even though we’re “experts” in kids’ development…we still have no idea what we’re doing half the time. Truly. Some days we’re crushing it; other days our expectations are held together by coffee and delusion.
This podcast is, in many ways, our hack: an excuse to talk to people who are smarter than us, ask the questions we’re too embarrassed to ask ChatGPT, and create a community of parents who are just as curious, confused, hopeful, worried, and utterly fascinated by everything from screen time to neurodivergence, to kid’s behavior and what influencer parents are really like.
One of our goals with Pok Pok has always been to give caregivers more peace. And it just felt right to open up these conversations—to let families in on the insights and perspectives that have supported us through every messy, beautiful part of parenthood
So, with that…
We’re so excited to introduce We’re Doing Great, our new podcast for imperfect parents. Because have you ever met a perfect parent?! The phrase “perfect parent” is already an oxymoron.
Parenting is a relentless parade of firsts, plot twists, and new phases that arrive exactly three seconds after you finally figure out the last one. Just when we think we’ve got a handle on something, life slingshots us directly into the next challenge. And through all that, we’re supposed to keep our kids alive and maintain our own mental health? Cute.
If you’ve ever had a friend who’s trying to lift you up while also personally drowning—yes, it’s adorable—you’ll get this. Somehow, we found that in each other. Starting a company, having our kids around the same time, living on opposite ends of the world (Melissa in Canada, Esther in Belgium)…we’ve been through a LOT of highs and lows. And without fail, whenever one of us is spiraling (about parenting, work, life, or literally everything at once), the other one says the same magic three words:
We’re doing great.
It started showing up on Zoom calls, middle-of-the-night nursing texts, and every “oh god, what now?” moment in between. Eventually, it became our mantra. Our comfort. Our superpower.
(And yes, we once unknowingly bought each other matching WDG t-shirts in the same month. Fate? Maybe. Chaos? Also maybe.)
So now, we want to invite you into our little ritual.
Our hope is that We’re Doing Great becomes the same powerful reminder for you that it is for us—something that carries you through the shitty days, soothes the panic-spiral moments, and celebrates the days where you genuinely think, “Damn, I am seriously the best.”
Because you are.
And even when you don’t feel it…you’re doing great.
P.S. Please listen to this podcast and help make it successful—if only so we can get We’re Doing Great shirts for every parent, ever. ♥️
Listen to our first 3 episodes!
- Episode 1: Imperfect Parenting, Real Talk, and Why We Started This Podcast
Get to know us more! We are both moms of 2 kids, and while our professional backgrounds led us to creating Pok Pok together, we won’t bore you with our resumes. Instead, we wanted this introductory episode to give you a glimpse into our friendship by playing two truths and a lie. (Pok Pok is all about prioritizing play, after all.) From sleeping through labor to being robbed in a new country and all the little details in between, we hope this quickie will offer a fun pause in your day and set the tone for what’s to come on the show!
- Episode 2: The Loneliest Generation: Why Modern Parents Need a Village with Michelle Kennedy
Michelle Kennedy is the founder and CEO of Peanut: an online community for women navigating fertility, pregnancy, motherhood, or menopause. Inspired by her time at dating platforms Badoo and Bumble, Michelle wondered if she could apply these same matchmaking algorithms to a solution for new moms like herself, searching for that “village” parents are so often told to lean on.
In this episode, we unpack why the “village” seems more out of reach for moms these days and our personal stories of struggling to find our own. How motherhood challenges our identities and the ability to embrace discomfort in putting ourselves out there to find new connections. Through the story of one child’s lost toy, we get to see the power of moms coming together with true understanding and compassion, rather than the toxic judgment that can often be seen in some corners of online parenting spaces.
Follow @peanut and Michelle on social media for more support—regardless of what stage of motherhood you’re in!
- Episode 3: Where Is The Instruction Manual For Being a Mother?! With Shawna Lander
Shawna “the mom” Lander is many things. She’s a prolific influencer, actor, writer, mom, cancer survivor, and more. However, in this chat, we had the privilege of simply getting to know Shawna, the human. Seems appropriate, considering how our talks around judgement, understanding our children/partners, and parenting through tough times (like cancer) centre on one theme: we’re all just humans, learning as we go
While this constant process of trial and error (and being judged through it all) can feel isolating, there’s comfort in watching Shawna’s content, reading the comments, and seeing how many people relate to these dynamics. And through this conversation, it became clear that it’s no accident how Shawna reflects this back to us so skillfully. She isn’t just an influencer with a massive following. She’s grown this genuine community because she is an artist who’s able to unite millions over the intangible moments of parenthood—and co-create with them!
You’ll get to continue learning about Shawna through her new upcoming book, which we got to help her brainstorm names for near the end of this episode! Follow her at @shawnathemom for more news about this book release and, of course, to catch the latest from the “Shawna-verse”.
Thank you all for your support of our newest baby, and stay tuned for more amazing episodes from guests like Dr. Mona Amin (PedsDocTalk), Ash Brandin (The Gamer Educator), Laura Petix (The OT Butterfly), and more.
Join us on social media at @weredoinggreatpod and drop us a dm to let us know what you think of our first episodes! We could not have built Pok Pok to the success it is without your feedback, and our hope is that we’ll get to co-create this podcast with you as well.
Finally, go download our latest episodes and subscribe to the pod so you know where to turn on your next sleepless night, walk, or drive!
And remember, we’re doing great.
Esther & Melissa
