Still Talking About It

This week, Janelle is joined by content creator Anna the Nurse, a labour and postpartum nurse with 14 years of experience and a knack for turning some of the wildest hospital situations into hilarious, relatable social media skits.

And if you thought entitled in-laws were bad at family dinners, just WAIT until you hear what happens in the delivery room.

Janelle and Anna talk about the family members who think they're entitled to a front-row seat during childbirth, grandparents who make the postpartum experience all about themselves, and why nurses are often the ones stepping in to protect new moms from unwanted visitors and unnecessary stress.

They also get into what new parents can do when family members won't respect their wishes, why it's perfectly okay to let your nurse be the "bad guy," and what REAL support looks like when someone has just given birth.

Because giving birth is not a spectator sport… and Grandma's feelings are NOT the priority.

For more mother-in-law content, make sure you're following Janelle on Instagram and TikTok.

Follow Anna the Nurse on Instagram and TikTok.

Content Warning: This episode includes discussions of sexual abuse, child abuse, and physical violence.

Madison Barbosa is BACK, and this time, she and Janelle are diving into some of the most disturbing in-law stories their followers have shared.

We're not talking about passive-aggressive comments or awkward family dinners anymore. These are situations where boundaries weren't just crossed… they were completely obliterated.

From wildly inappropriate behaviour involving children to in-laws weaponizing someone's past trauma, making deeply uncomfortable comments, and even getting physically aggressive, Janelle and Madison react to stories that go WAY beyond your typical family drama.

They also talk about what happens when protecting yourself and your children means making the difficult decision to go no contact, and why some behaviour simply doesn't deserve another chance.

For more mother-in-law content, make sure you're following Janelle on Instagram and TikTok.

In case you missed the memo, Janelle is CANADIAN. As in, she lives in CANADA. Where Thanksgiving is celebrated in OCTOBER. On a Monday. (Or Sunday, depending on when your family chooses to get together).

Apparently, some Americans in her comments section didn't get that memo after Janelle posted a Thanksgiving skit on social media… and they were VERY quick to try to correct her. Oops.

This week, Janelle is debriefing CANADIAN Thanksgiving and getting into the complicated expectations that come with family gatherings. Who's hosting? Who's expected to show up? And why do some families insist on getting everyone together when half the people in the room don't even like each other?

She also talks about the difference between REAL closeness and the kind of fake family closeness where everyone pretends things are great for the sake of tradition, why your comfort level with extended family matters, and how holidays can bring out some of the most frustrating dynamics between in-laws.

For more mother-in-law content, make sure you're following Janelle on Instagram and TikTok.

By now, you've probably seen the viral video from the San Francisco Giants game. A mom walks back to her seat carrying her baby, a diaper bag, and an impressive amount of food… while her husband just sits there, watching her do it.

The internet IMMEDIATELY had thoughts.

This week, Janelle is talking about the video, the wife's response defending her husband, and what happens when we decide we know everything about someone based on a few seconds of their life.

Because daughters-in-law know a little something about being judged based on a single snapshot.

Janelle gets into the double standards women face as wives and mothers, why people seem VERY willing to offer grace to certain family members but not others, and how one less-than-perfect moment can quickly become evidence of who someone supposedly is as a person.

She also talks about the importance of advocating for your partner, why context matters, and the media literacy we could probably ALL use before deciding we understand someone's marriage, parenting, or family dynamic based on one viral clip.

Sometimes, the optics aren't great… but they also don't always paint a full picture.

For more mother-in-law content, make sure you're following Janelle on Instagram and TikTok.

How does a relationship with your in-laws go from manageable to strained, or even completely nonexistent? Usually, there's a story behind it.

This week, Janelle asked her followers what finally changed THEIR relationships with their in-laws… and once again, you guys had a lot to say.

She's getting into some of the moments that became breaking points, from in-laws who disappeared when their families needed them most to grandparents keeping score, ignoring health boundaries, refusing to take accountability, and sharing VERY personal announcements on social media before the parents had a chance to do it themselves.

Janelle also talks about why new parents shouldn't be responsible for managing everyone else's expectations, how quickly trust can disappear when boundaries are repeatedly ignored, and the surprisingly powerful role a genuine apology can play when you screw up.

For more mother-in-law content, make sure you're following Janelle on Instagram and TikTok.

This week, Janelle got an email from "Aunt Linda"… and there is A LOT to unpack.

Linda is worried about her 24-year-old nephew's girlfriend. He's spent roughly $35,000 of his savings since they started dating, his family recently came into some money, and Linda and her sister are starting to wonder whether this girlfriend sees their son as her "golden ticket."

So… should they be concerned? Or should they mind their own business?

Janelle gets into the difference between genuine concern and inserting yourself into another adult's relationship, why a grown man gets to decide how he spends his own money, and how quickly blaming the girlfriend can damage the relationship you have with your adult child.

She also talks about the difference between boundaries and control, what parents CAN do if they're uncomfortable financially supporting an adult child, and why sometimes the best thing you can do before sharing an unsolicited opinion is ask yourself whether anyone actually asked for it.

For more mother-in-law content, make sure you're following Janelle on Instagram and TikTok.

Janelle has a few hills she's willing to die on when it comes to mothers-in-law, daughters-in-law, and complicated family dynamics… and apparently, so does the internet.

This week, she's diving deeper into two recent viral posts and explaining WHY she stands so firmly behind some of her most talked-about opinions.

Stop scolding your adult children.

Treat your grandchildren equally.

Respect a boundary without arguing about it for three weeks first.

And maybe, just MAYBE, the daughter-in-law who notices the unhealthy family dynamic isn't automatically the person who created it.

Janelle also gets into what happens when your adult child gets married and builds a family of their own, why that SHOULD change the family dynamic, and why a daughter-in-law's feelings, comfort, and mental health matter just as much as everyone else's.

For more mother-in-law content, make sure you're following Janelle on Instagram and TikTok.

Janelle asked for your hottest takes about grandparents, in-laws, boundaries and family relationships… and boy did you DELIVER!

This week, Janelle is reacting to some of the hottest takes her followers and listeners shared on Instagram. Do good grandparents have to be good parents first? When family comes to visit, should they automatically get a hotel? Did you really "marry the family" when you married your spouse? And are fathers-in-law sometimes even worse than mothers-in-law?

Janelle also gets into grandparents who always seem to have an excuse for not showing up, why enforcing a boundary can be more productive than trying to convince someone to understand it, and the very real grief that can exist even when going no contact was absolutely the right decision.

For more mother-in-law content, make sure you're following Janelle on Instagram and TikTok.

We spend a LOT of time talking about mothers-in-law around here… but apparently we've been sleeping on the sister-in-law drama! In fact, some of your sisters-in-law are giving the toxic mothers-in-law a run for their money.

This week, Janelle is digging into follower submissions about difficult sisters-in-law, and as usual, the stories range from mildly irritating to absolutely unhinged.

We're talking wedding drama, sisters who REALLY struggle with the concept of personal space, family members who manipulate everyone around them, and some truly wild examples of what happens when sibling closeness crosses a few too many boundaries.

Janelle also gets into why one incident that sounds relatively harmless to an outsider can feel completely different when it's the latest in a long history of little digs, uncomfortable moments, and ignored boundaries. Because around here, we know allllll about death by a thousand cuts.

For more mother-in-law content, make sure you're following Janelle on Instagram and TikTok.

Treat yourself to something nice from Cozy Earth. And, as an added treat, when you use the coupon code JANELLE, you'll get 20% off your order!

This week, Janelle is joined by fellow content creator Sam, who originally started sharing her story online anonymously after years of dealing with a mother-in-law who threatened her, crossed some pretty serious boundaries, and even attempted to pursue grandparents' rights.

Janelle and Sam have something else in common now, too. Both of their mothers-in-law recently passed away, and the feelings that come with losing someone you had an incredibly difficult relationship with are… complicated.

They talk about grieving the relationship you wish you could have had, the relief that can come from knowing the conflict is finally over, and why it can feel uncomfortable to admit that you're not necessarily grieving the person themselves.

The conversation also gets into protecting your kids when other family members feel entitled to access, being the "black cat" who refuses to keep the peace at your own expense, and why both women continue talking about their experiences online even though that chapter of their lives has ended.

For more mother-in-law content, make sure you're following Janelle on Instagram and TikTok.

This week, Janelle is joined by content creator, birth and postpartum doula Bri Knight, who has built a following online sharing her own experiences with difficult in-law dynamics after becoming a mom.

They get into "pseudomutuality," the idea of a family that appears incredibly close on the surface, but where authentic communication, accountability, and healthy boundaries are a whole lot harder to come by.

The conversation also gets personal as Bri shares how complicated in-law dynamics affected her marriage, why she and her husband ultimately separated, and what had to change before they could begin working toward reconciliation.

Janelle and Bri also talk about breaking generational patterns, raising boys who feel safe expressing their emotions, and why sometimes the healthiest thing you can do for a relationship is stop pretending everything is fine.

For more mother-in-law content, make sure you're following Janelle on Instagram and TikTok.

To see Bri's content, follow her out on Instagram and TikTok.

Gift giving is supposed to be nice, right? So why does it cause SO much drama in families?

This week, we're Still Talking About… Gifts. Janelle gets into the surprisingly complicated role gifts can play in difficult family relationships, from overgifting and grandparent competition to gifts that feel like they come with some pretty big strings attached.

She also talks about the weird position parents can find themselves in when a grandparent is happy to shower the kids with presents but puts very little effort into actually building a relationship with them. Because while kids obviously LOVE getting stuff, there's a pretty big difference between buying them things and actually showing up.

The episode also gets into favouritism between grandchildren, grandparents who completely ignore parents' requests around gifts, and why asking someone to please buy less stuff shouldn't turn into a family crisis.

For more mother-in-law content, make sure you're following Janelle on Instagram and TikTok.

This week, Janelle hits 'pause' on her vacation to sit down in her cabin and talk about one of the most common pieces of advice people give when family relationships get complicated… "Just work it out."

Sounds easy enough. But what does "working it out" actually mean when one person is expected to do all the apologizing, all the compromising, and all the emotional labor?

Janelle shares her own experience with being told to repair relationships that lacked accountability, why so much advice comes from people who have never actually lived through these dynamics, and how easy it is for outsiders to underestimate what has already happened behind closed doors.

She also spills the tea on a distant relative of her own mother-in-law showing up in her Instagram comments to antagonize her.

For more mother-in-law content, make sure you're following Janelle on Instagram and TikTok.

PS. If you want to see the Instagram skit Janelle referred to in this episode, you can watch it here.

This week, Janelle is answering your questions in another listener Q&A episode.

She shares her thoughts on everything from going no contact and explaining difficult family relationships to your children, to what happens when a spouse refuses to stand up for their partner. She also weighs in on guilt, healing, religion being used to justify unhealthy behavior, and whether you really have to call your in-laws "Mom" and "Dad."

Along the way, Janelle opens up about balancing work, motherhood, and content creation, reflects on her own healing journey, and offers practical advice for navigating some of the most common questions she receives from her followers.

And, if you're curious and want to check out last week's episode, in which Janelle addresses the recent death of her own MIL, head to her YouTube channel and watch it here.

For more mother-in-law content, make sure you're following Janelle on Instagram and TikTok.

This week, Janelle is joined by Melissa, a follower whose relationship with her own mother-in-law has been marked by years of subtle digs, impossible expectations, and what she describes as "death by a thousand cuts."

Melissa shares how the tension started almost immediately, the countless moments that chipped away at the relationship over the years, and the incident that ultimately led her husband to draw a line in the sand and ask his mother for an apology.

The conversation explores how small comments can have a lasting impact, why accountability matters, and what happens when someone refuses to acknowledge the hurt they've caused. Melissa also opens up about the complicated reality of moving forward when boundaries have been set, but the conflict is far from over.

For more mother-in-law content, make sure you're following Janelle on Instagram and TikTok.

This week, Janelle shares something deeply personal. After years of talking about difficult family dynamics online, inspired largely by her relationship with her own mother-in-law, she received the difficult news that her mother-in-law had passed away.

She opens up about what the last few weeks have looked like for her family, why a terminal diagnosis doesn't erase years of complicated history, and what it's been like watching her husband navigate grief, estrangement, and unanswered attempts to reconnect.

The conversation also explores the difficult decisions families sometimes face at the end of someone's life, why boundaries don't suddenly disappear because circumstances change, and how complicated relationships often remain complicated until the very end.

For more mother-in-law content, make sure you're following Janelle on Instagram and TikTok.

This week, Janelle is talking about something she sees all the time in difficult family relationships… scolding.

Not giving feedback. Not expressing disappointment. Scolding.

She breaks down why so many parents continue speaking to their adult children the same way they did when they were kids, why that approach almost always backfires, and how shame and guilt can quietly erode relationships over time.

Janelle also shares a personal story from the early days of her social media journey, when her in-laws tried to pressure her into taking down a viral video, and why that experience completely changed the way she thinks about conflict, communication, and accountability.

The episode explores healthier ways to express hurt, why self-reflection matters before reacting, and how honest conversations are almost always more effective than trying to make someone feel bad.

For more mother-in-law content, make sure you're following Janelle on Instagram and TikTok.

This week, Janelle is chatting with someone listeners have heard her mention many times… her podcast producer, Robyn Flynn, owner of Le Studio Quinze in Châteauguay, Quebec.

The conversation starts with how the two met through social media and eventually teamed up to launch Still Talking About It, before shifting into Robyn's own experience navigating marriage, parenting, and a complicated relationship with her mother-in-law, including how that toxic relationship contributed to the end of her own marriage.

They talk about the subtle comments that add up over time, what happens when your partner struggles to stand up for you, and how different family cultures can shape expectations in ways you don't always recognize until you're living them.

The episode also explores choosing the boundaries you're unwilling to compromise on, learning to let go of relationships that aren't healthy, and why sometimes protecting your peace means accepting that not everyone is willing to grow with you (or stand up for you).

For more mother-in-law content, make sure you're following Janelle on Instagram and TikTok.

Treat yourself to something nice from Cozy Earth. And, as an added treat, when you use the coupon code JANELLE, you'll get 20% off your order!

This week, Janelle welcomes Dr. Tracy Dalgleish back for Part Two of their conversation about family dynamics, boundaries, and what it takes to build healthy relationships in complicated family systems.

They talk about why honest feedback can be so difficult to hear, how to tell the difference between criticism and genuine concern, and why having people in your life who challenge you isn't always a bad thing.

The conversation also explores parenting, boundaries, and the pressure many adults feel when trying to balance their own needs with family expectations. Janelle and Dr. Tracy discuss why boundaries are not a substitute for difficult conversations, the importance of presenting a united front in your relationship, and why it's never too late to change unhealthy patterns.

They also tackle the rise of therapy language on social media, including the way terms like "narcissist" are often overused, and why focusing on labels can sometimes distract from the real issue.

For more mother-in-law content, make sure you're following Janelle on Instagram and TikTok.

This week, Janelle is joined by clinical psychologist and You, Your Husband and His Mother author Dr. Tracy Dalgleish for a conversation that gets to the heart of so many in-law struggles.

Like why daughters-in-law so often find themselves cast as either the victim or the villain, and what it looks like to step out of those roles and become the main character in your own life instead.

Janelle and Dr. Tracy also discuss the generational shifts that are changing family relationships, why younger generations are less willing to tolerate unhealthy dynamics, and what happens when two very different family systems collide through marriage.

They also dive into resentment, emotional labor, self-awareness, and the difficult reality that healthy relationships require participation from both sides. Sometimes the biggest question isn't how to fix the relationship… it's deciding what you're willing to accept if nothing changes.

For more mother-in-law content, make sure you're following Janelle on Instagram and TikTok.