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Must In-Laws Be Outlaws?

Cathy Riva Bloomgarden 17 Episodes Oct 14, 2026

Must In-Laws Be Outlaws? is a playful, honest, and heartfelt podcast hosted by a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law who didn't start as best friends. They share their journey of navigating misunderstanding, judgment, and hurt feelings to build a relationship rooted in respect and genuine friendship. Each episode blends real-life stories, thoughtful reflection, and humor, exploring how to soften a guarded heart and find forgiveness. This podcast is for anyone struggling in family, in-law, or other relationships.

Episodes

When Divorce Happens Does The In-Law Relationship Have to End? Oct 14, 2026 1695 This episode explores the dynamics of in-law relationships after a marriage ends, emphasizing that these relationships can continue positively with the right approach. The hosts share personal stories, practical advice, and insights on maintaining family bonds beyond divorce.Key TopicsImpact of divorce on in-law relationshipsPersonal stories of family bonds after divorceStrategies for maintaining

Permission to Be Brave, Play, and Grow: How Investing In Yourself Helps Every Relationship Oct 7, 2026 1756 Permission to Be Brave, Play, and GrowFinding Your Voice: An investment into the most important relationship - with yourself.Plus a preview of new song by Cathy Riva "Let's Go Play".This episode is for any adult—especially parents and people entering a new chapter of life—who want to try something unfamiliar, reconnect with their identity beyond their roles, or find the courage to follow a creativ

Who Gets The Holidays? The In-Law Tradition Problem Sep 30, 2026 1570 When you marry someone, you don't just marry a person. You marry their traditions, too.In this episode, Cathy and Lucette explore the nuances of family traditions, relationships, and the importance of inclusiveness and communication in building strong bonds across cultural and generational lines.key topicsThe role of family traditions in bonding and conflictHow to handle cultural differences in fa

I Didn't Ask You! How to Handle Unsolicited Advice Sep 23, 2026 1636 What happens when someone you love gives you advice you absolutely did not ask for?This week we are talking about unsolicited advice- from BOTH sides of the mother-in-law/ daughter-in-law relationship.When is it helpful? When is it overstepping? And how do you say, "Thanks, but no thanks" without starting a family feud?Plus... We are both putting ourselves WAY outside our comfort zones.Cathy is go

Could Expectations Kill You? Sep 16, 2026 2013 What do you do when your Mother-in-law moves in? And the joke of the day where expectations and pre-conceptions take an unexpected turn!Get curious, put yourself in their shoes and buckle up as Cathy Bloomgarden and Lucette Bloomgarden jump into another audience question and communication is key! Monthly family meetings could create connection.

We're back! Summer Adventures, Empty Nests & a Mother-in-Law Who Won't Go Home Sep 9, 2026 1693 After a summer hiatus, Cathy and Lucette are back - with stories, changes, laughs and a little empty nest reality.We catch up on our summer adventures, talk about what it feels like when kids leave for college and the house suddenly gets a whole lot quieter, and then tackle a listener dilemma that may sound VERY familiar:What do you do when your Mother-in-Law is always at your house... and you jus

RE-RELEASE: Episode 4 - Boundary or Blessing? When Your Mother-in-Law Takes Over the House Aug 12, 2026 1315 Summer hiatus Re-Release episode 4. When a mother-in-law comes over and begins rearranging furniture, it can feel intrusive, or event disrespectful- even if her intentions are good. Only you can decide how important this issue truly is: sometimes letting small things go can preserve harmony, but when it affects your sense of family independence in your own home, it's important to set gentle, but c

Autism, ADHD and Family Dynamics: Part 2 Neurodiversity in Relationships Jul 22, 2026 1947 Part 2 of our first ever LIVE podcast, we welcome guests: Spencer Pusey, 34 years old, autistic decoration specialist at Spectrum Designs, and a Port Washington native, and Kelli Fisher, 37 years old, autistic social media manager at Spectrum Designs.Spectrum Designs is a nonprofit social enterprise that creates custom apparel and promotional products while providing meaningful employment opportun

Autism, ADHD and Family Dynamics: Part 1 on Neurodiversity in Relationships Jul 15, 2026 2016 On our first ever LIVE podcast, we welcome guests: Spencer Pusey, 34 years old, autistic decoration specialist at Spectrum Designs, and a Port Washington native, and Kelli Fisher, 37 years old, autistic social media manager at Spectrum Designs.Spectrum Designs is a nonprofit social enterprise that creates custom apparel and promotional products while providing meaningful employment opportunities f

The Conversation We All Need to Have About Aging Parents Jun 24, 2026 2006 What happens when the people who once cared for us begin navigating their own vulnerabilities? In this candid discussion, Lucette, just weeks away from turning 84, shares her perspective on aging, purpose, family, and the future. Together we explore the emotional landscape of growing older and what adult children can learn by asking the questions that matter most.

The Relationship Killer Nobody Talks About Jun 17, 2026 1892 In this episode, we investigate the question "Am I defending who I think I am, or am I becoming who I could be?" How fixed mindsets keep us stuck and what happens if we choose growth?If you have to spend extended time this summer with a family member who is locked in their view point. This episode is for you. We offer tips to understand how to communicate best with the ones we love, even if they t

The Secret to Stronger Relationships? Stop Trying to Win Jun 10, 2026 2012 What can one of the world's most celebrated event planners teach us about relationships? This week, legendary event planner David Monn joins Cathy and Lucette to share wisdom gained from producing hundreds of weddings and navigating the emotions that come with bringing families together. From weddings to everyday life David reminds us that compromise ins't giving something up- it's choosing som

Could Your Anxiety Be Inherited? May 27, 2026 1685 Guest Macha Einbender, Family Constellation Facilitator, joins us for a fascinating conversation about inherited family patterns, emotional conditioning, and the hidden dynamics that shape our relationships and health. From "white coat syndrome" to generational anxiety, we explore how behaviors, fears, coping mechanisms and even emotional responses can be passed down through family systems - just

Blood vs. Belonging: Does Loyalty to Mom Leave Room for Other Mother Figures May 14, 2026 1853 Guest Loren Heuschkel Guidance Counsellor & High School English teacher explains allegiance to one's mom starts young, but there is room for everyone. And, one trait to be a great mother-in-law is inclusivity and unconditional love.Allegiance To One's Mom Starts Young, But Does Blood Have To Be Thicker Than Water? In this episode we break down the step-mother/ mother-in-law stereotypes and the

What does a successful relationship look like? What is a good in-law? Episode 8 May 6, 2026 1436 What is a good in-law? How does a mother become a good mother-in-law? How do we choose to grow despite friction? We offer tools we use in our own relationships that have healed our differences.

Guest Joan Falk, Ph.D. Managing Stress and the Mother-In-Law Relationship Apr 29, 2026 1476 Guest Joan Falk, Ph.D. - Clinical Psychologist breaks down stress management and the Mother In-Law relationship. How to deal with different communication styles, advice for troubled relationships and learning to approach relationships as "this is the job you want to keep". Advice- get to know your Mother-In-Law and understand it's ok to question advice with gentle curiosity.

How do you handle strong emotion towards someone and we open up the M-I-L Hotline Apr 22, 2026 1754 As mother-in-law and daughter-in-law we did not always get along, but now we are the closest of friends. Together we tackle relationship situations that everyone seems to face. On today's episode we discuss how to handle strong emotion towards someone and answer a "hotline call" where a mother-in-law is hijacking a high school graduation celebration. Tune in. Rate. Share with Friends.

Navigating Family Vacations... Must In-Laws Be Outlaws Go on a Cruise Apr 15, 2026 1437 13 Family Members. One Cruise. No Escape. How do families survive the high seas? Sometimes staying calm is not about the ocean... it's about how you navigate each other.Tune in to find out tips on how to handle your next family gathering!

Boundary or Blessing? When Your Mother-in-Law Takes Over the House Mar 25, 2026 1294 When a mother-in-law comes over and begins rearranging furniture, it can feel intrusive, or even disrespectful- even if her intentions are good. Only you can decide how important this issue truly is: sometime letting small things go can preserve harmony, but when it affects your sense of family independence in your own home, it's important to set gentle but clear boundaries.We discuss the root cau

In a longterm relationship, how do we avoid falling back into old patterns? Mar 18, 2026 1504 When you live together (and sometimes even work together) it is easy to fall into a routine. We discuss how we keep relationships fresh and inquire how that helps around stressful times like the holidays.

How Do You Take The High Road? Mar 11, 2026 1499 Lean in as the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law duo, Lucette and Cathy Bloomgarden, discuss taking the high road. This doesn't mean staying silent or pretending you are not hurt. It means choosing self-respect over reaction, responding with clarity instead of anger, and remembering that protecting your peace is more powerful than winning the argument. This isn't about letting someone walk all ove

Episode 1: Do In-Laws Have To Be Outlaws? We were, at first... Mar 3, 2026 1653 Meet Mother in Law Lucette Bloomgarden and Daughter in Law Cathy Riva Bloomgarden as they navigate tough relationship experiences to become good friends and how you can too.

Who Knew We Were So Alike? Get to Know the Co-hosts: Bonus Content Jun 3, 2026 262 In this special "Get to Know the Hosts" bonus content of "Must In-Laws Be Outlaws?", Cathy and Lucette turn the tables and ask each other some revealing questions. What would people be surprised to learn about us? What do we protect most fiercely? Where do we put up shields? To our surprise, we discovered we share more than just 136 years of wisdom- we are both deeply curious people who crave me

Tone Takes A Toll : Bonus Content May 21, 2026 16 From Must In-Laws Be Outlaws - Episode 2People don't realize HOW much tone affects relationshipsEspecially in familiesEspecially when nobody feels heardSometimes it's not the words that hurt us the most... it's the tone. Once tense conversation can shift the entire energy of a family.What if the real skill isn't winning the argument, but learning how to stay connected while communicating it hones

RE-RELEASE: Episode 1 Where It All Began Jul 29, 2026 50 It's been almost 6 months and we wanted to take a moment to reflect on where it all began! Partnerships, relationships and how to navigate our differences together. Thank you for listening, laughing and sending us your questions and feedback. We love hearing from you, so please reach out @mustinlawsbeoutlaws

How Do You Handle Stress: Bonus Content Jul 1, 2026 84 Bonus Content - A conversation on stress and how Lucette and Cathy each have their own strategy.

Trailer for Must In-Laws Be Outlaws? Mar 3, 2026 80 Promotional Trailer for Podcast Must In Laws Be Outlaws? The podcast where two women, a mother in law and daughter in law, navigate a rocky relationship to become unlikely friends.

Must In-Laws Be Outlaws?

Episodes

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