From Layoff to Level Up With The Gin & Juice Sisters

The Mama's Den

Black Love Inc.

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4.9 • 661 Ratings

🗓️ 27 October 2025

⏱️ 73 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this special crossover episode, The Mama’s Den links up with The Gin & Juice Podcast—hosted by powerhouse sisters and moms, Mel Goolsby and Melissa Fredericks. Together, we dive into how these two turned life’s curveballs into purpose and profit. After being laid off on maternity leave 2022, Mel built a thriving social media platform called "I'm Not A Lawyer, But" while Melissa stood beside her—both in sisterhood and entrepreneurship—as they launched their hit podcast, Gin & Juice. At a time when so many are navigating job loss and reinvention, this conversation is a reminder that sometimes the end of one chapter is the spark for a new beginning. Tune in for real talk, laughter, and the kind of inspiration every mama (and dreamer) needs in 2025. This episode marks PART 2 of The Mama's Den x Gin & Juice mashup. Catch Part 1 on The Gin & Juice podcast feed. REMEMBER: If you're in Atlanta on November 3rd, come see The Mamas live! https://citywinery.com/atlanta/events/the-mamas-den-podcast-live-6vpkv0 ________________________ Send any thoughts or questions for the Mamas at podcasts@blacklove.com. Make sure you connect with our Mamas on Instagram: The Mama's Den - @themamasdenpodcast Ashley - @watermeloneggrolls Codie - @codieco Melanie - @melaniefiona

Transcript

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0:00.0	I was on maternity leave after having my second daughter.
0:03.4	So I was expecting to have a year off and I was going to go back to work and got a text message.
0:09.9	That was like, hey, are you available at 10 a.m.
0:13.8	Or a call?
0:14.7	Wait, on maternity leave, you got the text.
0:16.9	That's legal?
0:17.8	Here's the way that they can make it legal.
0:38.4	What's up, y'all? It's Ashley. I'm Melanie. And I'm Cody. And this is the Mama's Den. Where motherhood needs real talk. We talk about life, love, and all the stuff we're not supposed to say out loud, even though we'd be thinking it. Whether you're raising kids or a part of the village, this is a space for you. Let's get into it.
0:43.5	Welcome, welcome, welcome to the Mamas in podcast.
0:46.8	That part.
0:48.6	You're a hater.
0:49.3	You got nothing?
0:50.4	I did.
0:51.1	I may be.
0:52.1	I'm fine for my life right now.
0:52.9	I'm tired.
0:53.3	Okay.
0:55.1	I'll get us started then. Okay. Warm Ashley and Cody here okay um Melly Belly is uh on the East Coast as
1:01.9	y'all know yes we were granted the amazing opportunity to join Melissa and Mel from the
1:08.9	gin and juice podcast in their studio
1:11.6	where we put up our son
1:13.6	and are currently talking to their patron.
	...

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