We had the good fortune of connecting with Jenna Nascimento and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jenna, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
Feel Good MamaHood was created because at the time, there wasn’t anything that I could find like it and I needed it. Through my own experiences in motherhood, I realized how it felt to feel alone, even if I was surrounded by people I knew. There is something different, something special about connecting with a like-minded person who understands your struggle and we know that in #momlife, there are constant struggles. We need connection and support, and loneliness is not an option. While the original business was a partnership, under a different name, it re-focused and rebranded with positive psychology practices and tools as its core. Through studying Positive Psychology, I learned such fascinating things about our brain, such as how it’s wired to focus on the negative but how it can also be rewired through experience and practice to focus on what’s good. We can shift our mindset and improve our life-satisfaction on a neurological level, and positive psychology provides the science to support that. While motherhood has its constant struggle, we, as mothers, don’t have to get stuck in the negative cycle. We don’t have to focus on the negatives at all. Instead, we can increase our positive emotions, find more meaning, do more of what works, focus on strengths, and build resilience. And that is what Feel Good MamaHood is, I use the science of happiness to support these shifts and that re-wiring on a deeper level.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I knew, before even becoming a Mama, that I wanted to create a career path for myself that not only gave me the flexibility I would need to raise a family, but also was providing value to others. I earned my degree in psychology because, for as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a therapist, and help others through their challenging times. Life presented opportunities that took me down a different path initially, and I was teaching in a different way than I planned, but I feel I’ve come full circle, back to this line of work, supporting others with my psychology training and education. Along the way, and since graduating, I started 2 online teaching businesses, including a podcast, and have created various courses, workshops, and events. Additionally, I’ve broadened my knowledge with additional certifications in positive psychology and yoga. I feel this experience and knowledge has allowed me to create Feel Good MamaHood, which happened with a rebranding earlier this year and enabled me to keep it going through the COVID pandemic. I’ve worked internationally and locally, and with hundreds of people 1-on-1 and in group settings, as well as online and in-person. This variety has given me incredible experience in understanding these different work dynamics. All of this experience hasn’t been easy, and entrepreneurship will often have the ups and downs  (financially, personally, etc..) , , gray areas in boundaries of work/home life, as well as failures and losses. However, the good and bad bring knowledge to move forward, and provide opportunities for change and growth. As we enter a new stage of what “normal” can mean, I am confident that I’ve got tools in my belt that can continue pushing me forward.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I am so grateful that San Diego has such amazing plant-based food options, delicious local beer and kombucha, and amazingly beautiful spots to hang out. Without worrying of closures and limitations due to COVID, the perfect itinerary would be beach days, city exploration, food and beer tasting, and sunsets, some of my favorite things. Are kids in tow? Then we’d definitely spend time at Old Trolley Barn Park, Mission Bay Park, and Encinitas Community Park. A beach day around Mission Beach would look like exploring the boardwalk on bikes, having some fun at Belmont Park, and grabbing sushi at NOW Sushi (shout out for being the first all-vegan sushi restaurant!). We’d end the day soaking up sun and watching the sunset from any of the numerous beachfront or rooftop options, like Beach House. Another beach day would be spent in OB, popping into the antique and thrift shops along Newport Ave, exploring the tide pools near the Pier, and eating delicious ‘carne asada’ fries at Hugo’s Cocina, vegan of course! Bonfires and sunsets would be a must. Exploring the thrift shops in Hillcrest and North Park would also be fun, rooftop beers at Kairoa in University Heights, dining at Grains or Plumeria in the area, and dessert at Stella Jean’s Ice Cream. North Park has so many delicious breweries: Fall Brewing, Belching Beaver, Second Chance, and Tiger Tiger, just to name a few, that this could be a day’s adventure. We couldn’t miss out on June Shine’s tasting house either. The itinerary would include coffee (and maybe some delicious baked goods) from Black Market Bakery in North Park, or maybe pick up some yummy donuts at Nomad Donut because they have a great selection of vegan options. A city day would look like Cafe Gratitude for breakfast, checking out Waterfront Park (especially for the kiddos), exploring Little Italy, heading to Seaport Village, the Gaslamp, rooftop bars and snacks downtown, and having dinner at The Yasai following drinks and watching the planes soar overhead at El Camino. I would hope we could catch an intimate show at The Belly Up, a great venue for live music with pizza and beer at Pizza Port in Solana Beach, and explore other beaches in Encinitas and Del Mar. In North County, we’d definitely eat at EVE and have some drinks at Modern Times.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The success of where I am is in thanks to several people, but 2 definitely deserve love and recognition. One of the most influential people is my husband, Paulo who has never once doubted me, my abilities, or my ideas and has supported me in all of my entrepreneurial efforts. Next up is my dear friend and first business partner, Sabrina. Feel Good MamaHood started as an idea, that initially began as something else. A few years back, I was desperately searching for an inclusive space for moms who were going through the struggles, a place with like-minded mamas who would just get it. At the time, I told Sabrina, “I want to organize retreats for moms.” I saw that vision with her in it and with so much heart, time and dedication, we then created The Karma Mamas together. Her belief in me inspired me to keep going when it was decided that we’d stop our work on ‘TKM’ together, and that support was a huge push to where I am today with Feel Good MamaHood and my journey.

Website: www.feelgoodmamahood.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/feelgoodmamahood/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.leao.nascimento
Other: https://www.instagram.com/jenna_leao/

Image Credits
Nicci Romero, Christie Turner, Boyd Harris