“Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America.” – John Lewis
We’ve all been there – physically exhausted and mentally in a shambles after seeing the unspeakable unfold on our feeds while hoping for cute puppy videos and still having to “check this out” or prepare some chicken tenders.
This three-day event will arm moms (and more*) with the tools to safeguard our sanity, retain some rest, all while fighting for the future we envisioned when we chose to grow our families.
Table of Contents
Presenter Info & Application
Mandie Brice of A Lil Better is hosting the Good Moms Make Good Trouble Summit!
Wanna be a presenter?
↓ scroll down for all the details ↓
You’re Invited to Make a Difference
Thank you for your interest in speaking/presenting at the Good Moms Make Good Trouble Summit.
Our current climate makes existing hard – and just like everything else, adding parental responsibilities adds an extra layer of challenge.
Moms are already notorious for caring for others first and putting their needs last, all while trying to do one of the most important jobs in the world.
But we know how hard it is to pour from an empty cup. And adding civic engagement on top of that seems daunting at best, and on some days actually impossible.
That’s where you come in!
This summit is kinda like a mullet (stick with me here)… Business up front, and a party in the back.
The business part: learning how to be civically engaged parents (or advocates) who make a difference. Raising kids who know how to do the same. Being able to someday tell grandkids that you stood on the right side of history. This ranges from inner work to community work.
The party part: Since we know “all work and no play makes Jack a very dull boy,” and the world is exhausting, leaning into different ways to rest, rejuvenate, have fun, and guard our softness and whimsy isn’t as innate as it perhaps was before… *gestures vaguely* So, what better than some experts who put the “fun” in “functional adult,” or the “rest” in “restistance” (almost works)?
(The meme “I like to party, and by ‘party,’ I mean ‘take naps.’” applies too).
If it seems like the range of desired presenter expertise is vast, it’s because it is.
Whether you’re an expert in the inner work to help folks uncover and fight their anti-racism, a parenting coach who can help moms* navigate tough conversations, or a boss at organizing community – I’d love to have you all up in the business (portion of the summit).
On the other side of the coin (or mullet), if you can share a ten-minute sound bath that will make us feel like we’re in a utopian matriarchy and got 34 hours of sleep last night, you’re a mixologist with the perfect fun cocktail (or mocktail) to drink while using the 5 Calls App or hosting a sign-making party for the next No Kings Protest, or you can share how prioritizing pleasure (or rest, or fun) can be the best form of protest – you may be the person for the job.
If you’re still reading this ridiculous copy, you must be at least a little interested – so I’m so excited that you want to be part of this (or at least see what absurd analogy is next)! If you’re already in, you can skip all the way to the bottom for the application.
On this page, you’ll find everything you need to know about applying to be a presenter. If you run into a question I didn’t answer, hit the contact page and send a message, so I can add it to the FAQ (which doesn’t exist yet, but someday might).
Not-So-Desperately (yet) Seeking…
Presenters to share a 15-30ish minute pre-recorded presentation that helps busy moms* either make a difference via civic engagement, or find rest, rejuvenation, or joy to help them continue the aforementioned civic engagement and be the example they want the next generation to see.
There’s a long list of potential topics below. Some were written with specific people in mind, others just ideas that fit the desired content.
If your topic is not on the list, please still consider applying – perhaps your incredible idea is beyond my wildest dreams!
How can you help protect the future of the next generation AND/OR the joy/rest/whimsy of adults raising those kids? That’s what this summit is about.
Two pieces of business I’d like to stand on:
1. AI – while I’m not ready to be 100% against it when used reasonably and mindfully, its place in this summit will be very minimal. It does really rad stuff, and I can’t say I haven’t used it, but I definitely don’t think a presentation or premium resource primarily created by AI fits the bill here.
From the environmental impacts, to undercutting artists/creatives (and/or outright stealing from them), to the fact that it’s a computer doing a job with an end goal to bring a community together, it just doesn’t seem like a great fit. If you taught it to put fold and put your clean clothes away, great! Use for accessibility, like creating captions – awesome! But please don’t submit something entirely created by the terminator.
And in this same vein – if you notice a decent amount of random sections of this copy seem unserious at best and unhinged at worst for such a serious topic, a big part of that reason is so you know that it was written by a very real, very tired mom, not a machine (although if you saw me deadlift 195lbs 3x this morning, you may have called me a machine… ok, probably not – but you get the drift).
2. Another way of “walking the walk” here is the full embrace of DEI. It’s very important to feature a diverse range of speakers in terms of race, nationality, gender, abilities, backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. I strongly believe that finding unity alongside our differences is one of the most beautiful things in the world, and could not value a large pool of ideas more. For this reason, folks of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply and participate. This isn’t a creepy Stepford Wives summit.
Potential Topic Ideas
These are the kinds of things that could help some Good Moms* Make Good Trouble:
- How to stay emotionally present without doomscrolling yourself into despair
- 5-minute nervous system resets for overwhelmed moms
- Parenting without passing along your anxiety about the world
- How to stay soft in a hard world
- How to talk to kids about injustice without scaring them
- Raising helpers instead of bystanders
- Books that help build empathy and courage
- Modeling hope when you don’t always feel hopeful
- Tiny political actions that actually matter
- How Busy Moms can Influence their communities
- Community building as modern resistance
- Choosing your lane without doing everything
- How motherhood clarifies your values
- Grieving in the world you thought your kids would inherit
- Becoming the adult you needed as a child
- Joy as a leadership practice
- Raising yourself while raising them
- The role of reflection in becoming a brave mother
- How books, journaling, and yoga help you stay human
- Acts of service even youngsters can do
- How to interact with people with differing beliefs (they go low, we go high?)
- How to infuse whimsy into your day
- How to use sound baths to maximize restfulness when you don’t have eight hours to sleep
- How a dance break can break up your sadness
- How to protest safely
- Sustainable mocktails/cocktails with conscious brands
- How to shop aligned with your beliefs
- Sustainability tips
- How to dress in ways that bring you joy
(These are just a handful of examples, but hopefully you get it and are inspired.)
I’d love to curate a delightful mix of speaker presentations that inspire, motivate, and equip summit attendees to take these kinds of actions to improve their lives and improve the world – a lil better at a time.
So if you have specific expertise and/or experience to share, keep on reading (or maybe if you’re thinking “say less, I’m in!” you can just scroll to the bottom and apply).
About your host…
In case we haven’t met yet, Mandie. 👋🏻 I guess I’m who you’ll be getting into trouble with.
Here’s my main/old website. And this is me (on a good day a few years ago, but I usually have a messy bun, no makeup, and atheleisure on):
For me, “multipassionate” is an understatement. On a good day, one might say “multitalented.” Professionally, I’ve run the gamut from middle school teacher to model/makeup artist/author/yoga instructor (yes, that’s my current job title?). Personally, I’m a mom and a wife and have moved and traveled and pivoted a ton.
The next pivot will follow this summit.
I am passionate about learning and getting better every day, but I know it can be a huge undertaking to try to add any sort of self-improvement on top of an already full life. So, my goal is to use this site as a way to get people together and help them become a lil better every day… more on that later (or at the About Page).
Here’s what I’m bringing to the party…
As hostess with the mostess (of something undetermined), I plan to curate an experience that leaves attendees armed, energized, and refreshed.
In addition to all the behind-the-scenes, I plan to keep energy up with live events, encouraging engagement, and introducing attendees to you – the incredible speakers.
Throughout the summit, I hope to cultivate a sense of community and tangible support to make it all happen.
How the event will work…
Online “summits” can look very different, so here are the details on how mine will go:
- Good Moms Make Good Trouble is a free virtual 3-day summit that will run in May 2026 (dates to be determined – see below – but ideally right around Mother’s Day).
- Each presenter will produce a 15-30ish minute pre-recorded presentation (not set in stone – open to changes in length, or some live interviews/presentations) to share with attendees.
- Tickets to participate in the summit are FREE (with an option to upgrade — more on that below).
- Once accepted, you’ll be given a timeline of events (due dates for presentation, promotion, the summit itself, etc).
- On each day of the summit, a selection of pre-recorded presentations will become available.
The first day’s topics will be “personally-focused” (think inner work, self-education, etc).
Day two will expand from the self to the family unit – parenting tips, activities to do with your children, etc.
Day three will expand further to a community impact – contacting legislators, organizing in the community, etc.
(So non-moms will probably love days one and three more, which is why this is open to anyone who cares). - All recordings will remain available for five days for all attendees to watch and engage. They’ll also receive access to a virtual toolkit with contributions from our sponsors or extra goodies from some presenters.
- Attendees will have the opportunity to upgrade their tickets to an All-Access Pass for a small fee. This pass gives them lifetime access to the presentations and access to a bunch of other perks and bonuses provided by our speakers, sponsors, and us.
- The collective audience for the summit will come from the combined promotional efforts of me (Mandie), presenters, and affiliates. I’ll provide promotional material to make that part fun and easy.
Your Commitment(s)…
Still with me? If you’re interested in being a presenter, here’s what I need from you (eventually):
- Basics: bio, headshot, links, etc.
- Presentation: Your pre-recorded presentation should be between 15-30 minutes, including your brief (up to 2-minute) pitch of your freebie opt-in offer to help grow your list. Full presentation instructions will be shared, including prompts and suggested presentation format/flow.
- Promo requirement: During the main promo period (dates below) you agree to send…
- At least 1 dedicated/solo email to your full email list promoting the event.
OR - At least 2 social media posts for your largest/most engaged audience promoting the event (can be different platforms).
(Or both – the more, the better)
I’’ll provide full templated swipe copy and graphics to make this easy to implement, or you’re welcome to craft your own in your unique style.
The following are totally optional (but strongly encouraged) opportunities available to you…
- Premium resource: Presenters will be invited to contribute a premium resource (read: not something that’s already available for free on your website) that’s highly relevant to our collective audience.
This is a bonus opportunity to gain additional email subscribers from All-Access Passholders who opt to snag your bonus. It also gives you the opportunity to increase your commissions. - Live Events (to be determined) – depending on presenter lineup, there may be panel discussions, live interviews, live demos, and/or social events. If this is more your speed than a pre-recorded presentation, feel free to mention that. I can be flexible (I am a yoga teacher – haha)
What’s In It For You (aside from knowing you’re doing the right thing and the receipts to prove it)
1. Exposure to a new collective audience.
You’ll be featured alongside other amazing presenters, and have the opportunity to connect with like-minded moms* (and non-moms) who may need what you have to offer. You’ll have the opportunity to promote a freebie opt-in to grow your email list. This will hopefully result in lots of new subscribers who are excited to learn more about what you do.
2. 30-50% affiliate commissions
If you offer a presentation, you will receive 40% commission for anyone who purchases the all-access pass through your affiliate link.
If you offer extra goodies (the aforementioned “premium resource”), your commission increases to 50%.
Those who are affiliates (but not presenters) will receive 30% commission. So if you have a big audience but stage fright, you can still make money.
I will also provide affiliate commissions for the A Lil Better membership launching at the end of the summit.
3. A Complimentary All-Access Pass
I’m finalizing what will be included in the all-access pass (including what I’ll actually call the pass) – partially because I have to see who contributes what – but it will definitely include lifetime access to the presentations, and a mini-bundle of highly relevant resources contributed by our speakers and sponsors.
4. A Repurposable Presentation
The presentation you create for this summit will live in the all-access pass, but the brilliance inside is yours. You’re free to repurpose your presentation however you wish in your own work (free and paid), your social channels, etc. I’d just prefer you wait until after the summit’s over.
5. Expertise & Visibility
If you’re actively seeking opportunities to grow your audience/list, expand your reach, and raise your profile, this could be a great opportunity for you. Presenting at the Good Moms Make Good Trouble Summit will get you in front of an audience of like-minded people who want to be better and make the world better… and who knows where that might lead. It can also be a powerful nurture opportunity for your existing audience to learn even more about you and your work. Plus, adding “summit presenter” to the resume can’t hurt!
What’s in it for ME…
I have to be honest. I’m writing this at 12:08am the week we sprung forward after spending over an hour trying to get my son to bed. It isn’t because this is how I have fun (though my passion about this makes it that way).
So, to keep things on the up-and-up, here’s what’s in it for me: I obviously want a better world for my son, and want to be able to happily enjoy his childhood and the precious moments it contains without being consumed with thoughts of impending doom.
I want to be able to enthusiastically look over when he says “watch this!” and not be distracted by headlines or worse.
Beyond that, new folks joining my community, sales from the All-Access Pass, income from sponsorships, and the super fun chance to put together an impactful event are benefits I hope to obtain. This event not only supports my existing audience, but also expands the impact of my work.
Plus, you saw the list of my job titles… “Model/makeup artist/author/yoga instructor” is too short and boring, so let’s make it “model/makeup artist/author/yoga instructor/summit host/founder of A Lil Better.” 🤪
Speaking of A Lil Better, as I mentioned, I’m also doing a launch of our the A Lil Better membership just after the summit.
Plus, I’m excited about the new friendships we get to make in our industry while recruiting speakers and sponsors.
Before you ask…
Of course there are lots of different kinds of collaborative events out here in the online space with lots of different rules and norms. I’ll proactively make some things crystal clear about how this one will roll…
- I’ll choose presenters based on the quality of the applications and what will create the strongest mix of presentations to create the best possible experience for the audience.
- I will require your help with promotion – finding some moms* to get in good trouble with. You’ll be provided with email swipe copy, social media swipe copy, and social media graphics to make it all super-duper easy (and hopefully fun)!
- Yes, you can also apply to be a sponsor if you’re a speaker! Please do! (Page coming soon)
- Yes, you can pitch more than one topic to speak on, but please include them all in one application form.
Affiliate details…
While summits like ours are fabulous opportunities for gaining visibility, growing your list, and making new connections, a little extra cash never hurts either, right? (Or, if you’re swimming in it like Scrooge McDuck, maybe you can pick a good charity).
That’s exactly why I’ll set up an affiliate program where you’ll receive a commission from all sales from traffic you refer to the event. Payouts will be made by June 15th, and potentially be ongoing.
The commission structure is as follows:
- 30% for affiliates
- 40% for speakers
- 50% for speakers who contribute premium bonuses
To make it as easy as possible for you to spread the word about our event, I’ll provide resources that like email swipe copy, social media copy, and social share graphics.
I’ll also be promoting and running ads that feature the presenter lineups.
Important dates…
Here’s a roundup of our key dates + deadlines (which are subject to change):
- Presneter/Sponsor Application Deadline: Friday, March 20th
- Selected Presenters Contacted: Monday, March 23rd
- Presentation Deadline: Monday, April 13th
- Promo Materials Provided: Monday, April 20th
- Promotion Begins: Monday, April 20th
- Good Moms Make Good Trouble Summit: Wednesday May 6th through Friday May 8th (main goal – with free access through Monday, May 11th)
Backup: Tuesday, May 12th – Thursday, May 14th, with free access through Sunday, May 17th)
Sponsorship opportunities…
There are so many opportunities to show support for The Good Moms Make Good Trouble Summit as a sponsor – whether it’s financially or through a barter.
Please click here if you’d like more information about the sponsorship packages available.
Read Enough?
Ready to Apply?
Fill out this form to apply to be a presenter!
Again, I really mean it when I say it’s very important to feature a diverse range of speakers in terms of race, nationality, gender, abilities, backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. DEI makes the world better. If you have something important to share that the summit attendees would benefit from hearing, please apply!
*This event is not only for moms. Anyone who’d consider themselves “team mom” is welcome, and would love content especially on days one and three. So if you’re a plant mom, dog mom, cat mom, fun aunt, fun uncle (f-uncle, if you will), dad, foster parent, if you have a mom or love a mom, or someday want to be a mom, you’re more than welcome, as long as you play nice and agree with our mission.
If you’re more offended by a “Protect Kids, Not Guns” shirt than one of those red hats, you’re still welcome (because we go high & maybe we’ll find a common ground… and maybe we’ll convert you to the good guys), but if you can’t play nice, you’re out… And if you bought an all-access pass, you won’t be refunded and the $ will be donated straight to the ACLU.