When Inside the Mom’s Club came to Austin for their first live taping event, we had to be there! Austinites Monica Samuels (host) and Julie Orchid (co – host) created a fun and lively atmosphere at the beautiful Hearth and Soul store in Tarrytown.

Before the event started, we browsed through the gorgeous home décor and ate from a luscious grazing board. Mimosas were also on hand. But the main event was the podcast taping with guest Janine Turner.

Janine Turner Spills the Tea on Her Career, Motherhood and Pivoting

Known best for Northern Exposure and Friday Night Lights, Turner is an actress, author and single mom. Many years ago, she decided to take a break from acting to raise her daughter in Texas. She wanted land, animals, and to get away from Hollywood and New York. When asked what lessons she learned as a mom, she said to accept that you truly are powerless. No matter how much you put into raising your child, they will be their own person. She also said she relies on her faith to get through.

Turner currently runs a foundation to teach adults and children about the Constitution which she hopes will inspire people to get involved because change starts at their level. She recently wrote a musical called Belva about the first woman on the ballot in the 1800s to run for President. She’s hoping to open the show in Texas first before bringing it to Broadway.

Now at a point in her life where her daughter has left home, Turner, like many mothers, is asking herself, “Who am I now?” She said she writes everything down during hard times as a way to ground herself.

That experience lead to her new book, The Pivot Principle.

Guests were treated to many stories from Turner, including one about a proposal from Alec Baldwin! We even got to see the ring she re-designed from the original! She spoke about being proud of her daughter and recognizing how she is at another pivot in life as an empty nester. And finally, she encouraged everyone to create in any way they know how during times of anguish, referencing covid days and beyond.

As our time together came to an end, everyone joined in to recite the Inside the Mom’s Club motto: “if you don’t laugh sometimes, you’re gonna cry!”

The first live taping was a success, with many more to come. You can listen to Inside the Mom’s Club on Apple Podcasts or iHeart.

When: November 30, 2023
Where: Hearth and Soul
What: Inside the Mom’s Club with Austin residents Monica Samuels (Podcast Host) and Julie Orchid (Co-Host) and guest Janine Turner