LIFTS Out Loud: Mindy Petranek - Just Showing Up

Guest Bio: Mindy Petranek is a fourth-generation rancher in central Montana, where her family has lived and worked the land since 1914. Together with her husband and son, she embraces life “at the end of the road,” finding joy in the rhythm of rural living and the adventures that come with it. Passionate about connection and community, Mindy hopes to shed light on the beauty and challenges of ranch life while helping others find meaningful ways to connect with the land and each other. Episode Description: In this episode of the LIFTS Podcast , host Emily Freeman talks with Mindy Petranek , who shares her story of finding connection, support, and community as a mom living on a cattle ranch in rural Montana. Mindy reflects on the challenges of isolation, balancing motherhood with ranch life, and the power of taking small steps to build a support network. Through her experience with the Bad Moms group , she discovered how showing up and creating space for connection can transform your well-being and sense of self. Highlights include: The challenges of finding adult friendships and support in rural life How a simple compliment sparked a mom’s group connection The role of mom’s groups in providing understanding, compassion, and community Encouragement for moms to take small, brave steps to create connections and prioritize self-care Takeaways: Small gestures and showing up consistently can create meaningful support networks Mom’s groups can be started anywhere, with minimal resources Self-care and personal time are worth prioritizing, even in busy seasons of life This episode is a heartfelt reminder that connection matters, and sometimes all it takes is the courage to show up. Resources: Read Mindy's story in LIFTS Magazine: Enjoying the podcast? We’d love your feedback and ideas for future episodes! Take our LIFTS Podcast Listener Survey at hmhb-mt.org/survey . Connect with Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Website Facebook Instagram For statewide resources to support Montana families in the 0-3 years of parenting, check out the LIFTS online resource guide at

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LIFTS Out Loud: Mindy Petranek - Just Showing Up is an episode from Mother Love by Mother Love .

This episode is 12:10 long.

This episode was published on Nov 19, 2025.

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