Today we’d like to introduce you to Alicia Martin.
Hi Alicia, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
The Mommy Dash is more than a social media platform, it’s a community where moms come to laugh, learn, connect, and realize they’re never alone.
Founded on the belief that motherhood is messy, beautiful, exhausting, and rewarding all at the same time, we show up every day as our authentic selves. We celebrate the wins, share the struggles, laugh at the chaos, and remind moms that perfection was never the goal.
At the heart of The Mommy Dash is our award-winning podcast, Coffee Confessions with The Mommy Dash, proudly recognized as a two-time Best of Hudson Valley winner for Best Podcast. Each episode feels like sitting around the kitchen table with friends. We tackle the questions other moms are often too embarrassed, overwhelmed, or afraid to ask, bringing in local experts, business owners, and everyday moms to have honest, relatable conversations that educate, entertain, and inspire.
Beyond the podcast, The Mommy Dash is passionate about strengthening our local community. We proudly spotlight small businesses, support charitable organizations, and introduce our audience to products, services, experiences, and people we genuinely believe in. Every recommendation comes from a place of authenticity and trust because our community knows we only share what we truly love.
Most importantly, The Mommy Dash is a place where moms support moms. Through kindness, humor, honesty, and connection, we’ve built a positive community where women can feel seen, heard, encouraged, and empowered. Whether you’re looking for advice, a good laugh, a trusted recommendation, or simply a reminder that you’re doing better than you think.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Has it been a smooth road? Overall, yes, but not because it has been easy.
One of the biggest reasons for our success is our partnership. Jen and I genuinely complement each other. We naturally fall into our own roles, play to each other’s strengths, and trust one another completely. We don’t compete. We collaborate. That has been one of the greatest gifts throughout this entire journey.
Like anyone building a brand, we’ve faced challenges. Social media is constantly evolving, trends change overnight, algorithms shift, and staying relevant can feel like a full time job in itself. There are definitely moments when we’ve had to pivot, learn something new, or rethink our approach.
What we’re most proud of, though, is that our community wasn’t built overnight or through shortcuts. We’ve grown organically over the last 14 years, one authentic post, one podcast episode, and one genuine connection at a time. That steady growth has created a loyal audience that trusts us because we’ve always stayed true to who we are.
We also continue to evolve. We’ve gone back and forth over the years about what our primary focus should be and where we want to take The Mommy Dash next. We know there’s tremendous potential to monetize the brand even more, but balancing that with our full time careers, our families, and everyday life can be challenging. For now, we’re committed to growing intentionally, staying authentic, and continuing to build something we’re proud of. We believe the opportunities will come as we keep doing what we’ve always done, showing up, being ourselves, and serving our community.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
People often ask how we do it all, and honestly, sometimes we ask ourselves the same question!
First and foremost, we’re both full time teachers and full time moms. Between the two of us, we have over 50 years of experience in education, and while we still truly love teaching and working with kids, we’re honest about the fact that the daily grind can be exhausting. Twenty six years in the classroom has taught us a lot, and yes, we’re tired! But we’re also incredibly grateful for the careers we’ve built and know we’re getting closer to the finish line. In fact, we’ve already started our retirement bucket list.
Outside of teaching, we’re both entrepreneurs at heart. Jen leads Children’s Ministries at her church and creates social media content for local businesses, helping them tell their stories in an authentic way. Alicia specializes in reading tutoring, helping students build confidence and literacy skills, and also runs a pet sitting business because, let’s be honest, who doesn’t love spending time with animals?
Then there’s The Mommy Dash, which has become the place where all of our passions come together. We specialize in creating genuine conversations, building community, and connecting people with local businesses, products, services, and organizations we truly believe in. Whether it’s through our two time Best of Hudson Valley winning podcast, our social media platforms, or community events, everything we create is rooted in authenticity.
What we’re most proud of isn’t our follower count or the awards we’ve received. It’s the trust we’ve built over the last 14 years. Our audience knows they’re getting the real us. We don’t chase perfection or pretend to have all the answers. We show up as two working moms who are figuring life out just like everyone else, sharing the highs, the lows, the funny moments, and everything in between.
That’s what sets us apart. We aren’t influencers trying to sell a lifestyle. We’re two lifelong friends, teachers, moms, and business owners who simply love connecting people, supporting our community, and reminding other moms that they’re never alone.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
One of the best things about living in the Hudson Valley is that it truly feels like home. We love the sense of community, the family friendly atmosphere, and the outstanding schools. There is always something to do, whether it’s spending a Saturday at one of the local breweries, visiting the incredible farms and orchards in the fall, or simply taking in the beautiful scenery that makes this area so special. Every season brings something unique, and we love sharing those local gems with our audience.
If we had to choose something we’d change, we’d love to see more thoughtful urban planning and continued investment in some areas of our community. There are places that could use a little more attention to help them reach their full potential.
And if we’re being completely honest, we could also do without the weather from November through May! Give us sunshine, pool season, farmers markets, and local breweries any day.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @the.mommy.dash.
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BKfQc8M5m/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/coffee-confessions-with-the-mommy-dash/id1747690731
