Today we’d like to introduce you to Stefanie Wilder-Taylor.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Stefanie. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started my career as a stand-up comedian at 22 eventually landing a writing job on a game show. I continued to write and do stand-up for the next decade until I had a baby at 37 which swung my career into a different direction. I landed a book deal when my first daughter was four months old and that book became a best-seller in the parenting genre. I wrote four more books, hosted a television show for moms on Nickelodeon called Parental Discretion with Stefanie Wilder-Taylor and through most of it, also hosted a podcast called For Crying Out Loud which gets approx 100,000 downloads per episode. I currently host three podcasts and have three children and live in Encino with my husband.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has most definitely not been a smooth road. For one thing, when I had a baby, I was sure my career was over because it seemed too hard to juggle long work days in a writer’s room with a newborn. Luckily, the book deal happened and gave me so many more opportunities. But having twins was an enormous stressor which led to alcohol abuse which led to sobriety and now I’ve been sober for ten years! My twins have both been a wild ride to raise and I’ve definitely struggled but they’ve also given me fodder for my podcast and books. Having always been a self-starter, I’ve definitely had set-backs: jobs that disappeared, shows that weren’t bought, scripts I couldn’t get off the ground, books that didn’t sell well. I try to be flexible and up for anything which is sort of the secret to success in this fickle business.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I’m probably most known for my main podcast which I mentioned before. It started out as a parenting podcast with Lynette Carolla (wife of radio personality, Adam Carolla) but has morphed into a serialized show about being a wife, mother, friend, online shopper, drama seeker, etc. I am a “parenting expert” has been on Oprah, The Today Show, Good Morning America, Dr. Phil, etc. but I’m funny so I don’t always give the best advice! I think I am also famous for having read the first parenting book that was taking the piss out of parenting in the most honest, raw, funny way. It spoke to women who were having trouble breastfeeding, couldn’t recognize the difference in their babies’ cries and generally felt like packing a bag and running off with a young, hunky ski instructor. I made it okay to say that sometimes, having a baby sucks. I’d say I’m most proud of the fact that I make women feel better about themselves by always airing my imperfections in this age of Instagram perfection.
Do you recommend any apps, books or podcasts that have been helpful to you?
I listen to so many podcasts! Too many to mention! They all help me escape conversations with other moms at my kids’ sporting events.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @Swildertaylor
- Facebook: facebook.com/stefanie.wildertaylor
- Twitter: @Swildertaylor
Image Credit:
Stefanie Wilder-Taylor
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