Show Notes
What do we really mean when we say, "I hate influencers"? This week, I'm doing something a little different. Instead of our usual catch-up, I'm reading a Substack piece I wrote after a "No Influencers" sign in Nantucket sparked a much bigger conversation online. Sign up for my free Substack, The Mom Flow, here. ICYMI, here's a CNN recap of the sign that broke the internet. We unpack why the word influencer has become a stereotype, why creators are often dismissed in ways other professions aren't, and whether our discomfort is actually about women building businesses around their voices. I also share my perspective after more than a decade working on both sides of the industry, as a marketer running influencer campaigns and as a creator partnering with brands myself. Along the way, we get into why influencer marketing is so misunderstood, what brands are actually paying for, why we confuse visibility with vanity, and whether it's time to retire the word influencer altogether. If you've ever rolled your eyes at influencers, worked in social media, built a personal brand, or simply wondered why this profession sparks so much debate, I think you'll find this conversation fascinating. If this episode resonates with you, I’d be so grateful if you shared it with a friend, left a rating or review, or sent me a message with your thoughts. Your support helps this podcast grow and allows these conversations to reach more women who need them. Follow me on Instagram @erincsousa and subscribe to my Substack See you next week! xx, Erin Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!
More from The Mom Flow with Erin Sousa
After seeing a TikTok about the guilt of having only one child, I knew I had thoughts. A LOT of thoughts. I'm opening up about our journey to becoming parents, including years of infertility, IVF, multiple miscarriages, and the emotional roller coaster that eventually brought us Lola. But I'm also sharing something I don't think we talk about enough: what happens when you love being a mom, love your life with one child, and STILL wonder whether you were meant to have another?I'm also opening up about our remaining frozen embryos, a dream that stirred up some unexpected feelings, and why sometimes the right decision can still come with a little grief. It's a vulnerable one, and I would LOVE to hear your thoughts. 💗 Follow me on Instagram @erincsousa and subscribe to my Substack. See you next week! Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!
The Sister Hotline is OPEN! ☎️🍷 My sister Karly joins me for a late-night recording from my car, and we're getting into our VERY different parenting styles. From screen time and sugar to consent, video games and childhood memories, nothing is off-limits. Then we're answering your listener dilemmas about family drama, adult friendships, finding purpose and complicated sibling relationships. Two sisters, lots of opinions, and zero edits! As always, if this episode resonates with you, please share it with a friend who might need to hear it, leave a rating or review, or send me a DM with your thoughts. Follow me on Instagram @erincsousa and subscribe to my Substack. Follow Karly on Instagram @influencemediaco. Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!
This week is a good old-fashioned catch-up episode. I’m sharing an update on my health journey - HRT, GLP-1s, supplements and what’s actually starting to feel different - plus a very real conversation about grief, eight months after losing my mom, and why taking care of myself has become one of the ways I honour her. We also lighten things up with Thanksgiving hosting, why I refuse to make the turkey 😂 and, of course, this week’s recommendations. RECOMMENDATIONS ✨ 👚 The grown-up “going out top” - cashmere, under $60 and SO good. 🧪 KidzLabs science kits - a major win if your kid loves building, experimenting and figuring out how things work. Grab a coffee, pour a glass of wine or throw me on in the car - this one feels like catching up with a friend. Follow me on Instagram @erincsousa and subscribe to my Substack. See you next week! xx, Erin Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!
This week’s recommendations: ✨ Audit your internet, cable, phone + streaming bills - those sneaky increases add up! 🤎 My Steve Madden brown suede clogs - the perfect comfy-chic fall slip-on. This week, I’m looking back at who I was at 35 versus who I am at 45 - and wow, a LOT can happen in a decade. I’m talking about losing the need to be invited to everything, being more intentional about friendships, caring less about external validation, trusting that things will work out, and realizing that confidence doesn’t mean loving everything about yourself all the time. Plus, the biggest lesson I’ve learned: life is happening right now - not after the next goal, milestone or season. And to finish, I’m sharing the little luxuries that make a BIG difference in my everyday life - from great coffee and bougie candles to good salt, pillows and the perfect couch. 🤍 As always, if this episode resonates with you, please share it with a friend who might need to hear it, leave a rating or review, or send me a DM with your thoughts. Follow me on Instagram @erincsousa and subscribe to my Substack. See you next week! xx, Erin Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!
Are we actually improving our lives… or have we just been convinced that nothing we’re doing is ever quite good enough? This week, I’m getting into optimization culture and why I’m officially questioning our obsession with constantly becoming a “better” version of ourselves. The perfect morning routine, better body, better skin, better parenting, more money, more productivity, more stuff - there’s always something else being sold to us as the missing piece between who we are and who we should be. And I’m tired. 😂 I’m also talking about a tough week of disappointment, what I’ve learned about believing people’s actions over their intentions, keeping my circle small without letting bad experiences harden me, and why I’m trying to get better at letting people show me who they are and moving accordingly. Plus, we’re talking about the tiny moments of actual rest I apparently have NONE of 😅, what European culture gets right about slowing down, my issue with the fall-decor-overconsumption industrial complex, why we need more IRL time with our girlfriends, and of course, what I’m watching right now. And before all of that: a couple of current recommendations: Aerie shirt I just purchased The audiobook I've been obsessed with This one is a proper bestie catch-up. Let’s get into it. As always, if this episode resonates with you, please share it with a friend who might need to hear it, leave a rating or review, or send me a DM with your thoughts. Follow me on Instagram @erincsousa and subscribe to my Substack. See you next week! xx, Erin Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!