In this heartfelt episode, Wendy sits down with Billy Ivanova, a devoted mother, parenting coach, and longtime Fresh Start Family student. Billy shares her journey from power struggles and overwhelm to deep, meaningful connections with her children. After joining Fresh Start Family in 2018, she transformed her parenting by shifting her mindset, embracing new tools, and committing to personal growth. Now a parenting coach certified in the Fresh Start Family approach, she helps others break generational cycles and build stronger family relationships.
Wendy and Billy discuss the power of mentorship, accountability, and continuous learning, highlighting how personal growth impacts both parenting and self-confidence. Billy shares key moments from the Full Mastery Program, the importance of modeling positive behavior, and how healing old patterns leads to more peace at home. Whether you’re navigating young kids, tweens, or considering coaching, Billyโs story will inspire you to embrace growth and trust your journey.
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Episode Highlights:
- Investing time and energy in parenting education can dramatically transform family relationships.
- Practicing self-study and applying new techniques consistently is key to achieving long-term change.
- Confidence in communication with partners and extended family about parenting techniques strengthens family bonds.
- Finding and using a variety of parenting tools can prepare parents for different developmental stages and challenges.
- Building a career in parenting coaching can provide a fulfilling, purpose-driven path.
Resources Mentioned:
Find Billy on Instagram
Unlock Your Childโs Full Potential Podcast
Apply for the Become a Parenting Coach Full Mastery Program
Eli Harwood Episode
Catch the full episode on YouTube!
Not able to listen, or prefer to read along? Here’s the transcript!
0:00:55 Wendy: Hello, families, and welcome back to a new episode. Iโm so happy youโre here. Today on the show, we have someone so special to Fresh Start family, it is Ms. Billy Ivanova. Welcome to the show, Billy.
0:01:14 Billy: Hi, Wendy. Thank you for having me.
0:01:17 Wendy: Yes, thank you for coming. Oh, my goodness. You might go down on record as the. The farthest away guests that weโve ever had being in Bulgaria, and weโre here in San Diego, but thatโs a long way. Itโs 10pm in Bulgaria right now, and you are staying up late to chat with us. I feel so honored.
0:01:40 Billy: Yeah, me too. I feel so honored being on the show. So thank you for that.
0:01:44 Wendy: Yes. So, listeners, Billy is so special to us. Came to us as a student. Gosh, it must have been. I want to say, was it like 2018? Do you have any record of when you first. Was it 2018? So I founded Fresh Start Family in the end of 2017. So you came into our program soon after we started. And weโre just such a crucial, beautiful part of our community from very early on, I think the way I. And youโll have to, like, correct my memory here because I.
0:02:16 Wendy: I talk about you quite often, but the way I remember it is you had studied with us for like a year or two instead of our Frustrate Experience program, formerly always referred to as the bonfire. And then one day we got a note from you saying, hey, guys, I think itโs time for me to graduate. Like, Iโm doing well and Iโm gonna move on. Maybe you had been with us for like, two years or something, but you wrote in and said, Iโm. Iโm in. You know, Iโm in Bulgaria. So the timing is hard to make it to live sessions. But my memory serves me as you were. Like, I have been watching all of the lessons.
0:02:51 Wendy: I watch the replays of the calls. I take notes in my little journal. I take it with me. I review it when Iโm with my girls. And then you had gone on to say, you know, even though I canโt be there, live for things, this work has changed my life and what I remember. And again, I want to hear your side of the story, because itโs like, you know, just, I want to hear from you. But I remember you saying something to the effect of, like, thanks to this work, I now have a relationship with my daughters that I had always dreamed of.
0:03:26 Wendy: And of course, we all know this work is just like a giant work in progress, right? Like, weโre always learning and growing. We will continue to learn and grow till the day that we die. But at that point, just a year and a half or two years, whatever it was, into this work, you had really felt like you had come a long way with your daughters. And then, my goodness, you blew all of our minds. When you ended your note with, like, by the way, I just had my third baby and I named her after you. Wendy. And her name is Wendy. And sheโs like this amazing spitfire.
0:03:57 Wendy: And so I just remember the day the team and I got that little note. We were like, billiana. Who is Billiana? And youโve just been a shining light through all the years. You came back into our program when you decided to do our full mastery program and become certified to be a parenting coach. Certified in the Fresh Start family approach. And that was just such an honor to support you during that seven month intensive study program.
0:04:25 Wendy: But tell us, like, tell us your side. Like, how do you. How did it all shake out for you from start up into now? Kind of what was. Like, what was life before. Before Fresh Start family or before you kind of dove into this work and did I get that timeline right? Like, did I get the story kind of accurate or.
0:04:45 Billy: Absolutely right?
0:04:46 Wendy: Okay, tell me.
0:04:47 Billy: Started in June 2018, when my oldest, Laura, was four. And sheโs my power kiddo. That challenges me every day till this day. And Iโm so grateful for her. But back then, we were constantly locked in power struggles, so I was looking for help. And then I had my middle child, mary, who was 2 at the time, and I was pregnant with the third one with Wendy, and I was so overwhelmed and exhausted, and I was struggling with reactivity, so I was yelling a lot.
0:05:25 Billy: And no matter how much I raised my voice. Laura just wouldnโt listen. It wasnโt helping. So I needed another way.
0:05:35 Wendy: Yeah.
0:05:35 Billy: And this is when I, I think I saw a Facebook ad. And thatโs how I found you. And it really changed my life, like you said. And in, in, I think it was a year and a half, I saw so much progress. Like my kids started cooperating with me. She saw that I care and she cared too. Like, it was so beautiful. I started spending one on one time with her and our connection grew and it just wasnโt the same kid anymore.
0:06:15 Billy: It was like, okay, we are a team now. We are not having battles over things. I was, I started to become more flexible and just looking how to make things work for her too. And she really, she really became another kid. And Iโm so grateful to you for all the strategies and the mindset shift because I think thatโs, thatโs the most important part. Just not trying to control our kids, but trying to support them.
0:06:48 Billy: And it changed everything. I had read so many parenting books before that, and I knew that yelling, punishing was not the way, but I didnโt know what to do instead. So you gave me a roadmap and I was becoming more confident because I knew what I was doing and it showed.
0:07:09 Wendy: Thatโs amazing. Yeah. And I love how you are just an example of someone who really decided that you were going to invest your time and energy and money to learn how to do it differently. And the follow through was just amazing because we all know itโs hard. Itโs the, you know, the kind of the self study route, so to speak. Especially when youโre upside down in a time zone and you canโt necessarily make it to live calls or, you know, that kind of stuff. But you just did it from this, from this way of doing it where you were like, Iโm going to make it happen. Iโm going to watch the replays. Iโm going to just push play on the lessons. Iโm going to do it however I can.
0:07:48 Wendy: And it was just really inspirational to see you do that. And so lots of power struggles. Were you trying, like traditional punishment at all or were you just feeling more like permissive? Not really disciplining? Like, how was that looking for you back then?
0:08:05 Billy: I was confused. I didnโt know what to do because yelling didnโt help. I tried love withdrawal. Like, I was raised that way. My mom didnโt punish, didnโt hit, but she just didnโt talk to me for a few days.
0:08:20 Wendy: Yeah.
0:08:21 Billy: And I tried this. It wasnโt working as well. So she. I like to joke that even as newborn as a newborn Laura, her strong will was so obvious. She refused to breastfeed and only wanted the bottle. And I have read so much about how breast milk is the best, and I thought, if sheโs hungry enough, sheโll eat. And I held out for about eight hours. She just cried and slept, but refused to eat. And eventually I gave up and said, okay, child, you win.
0:08:58 Billy: So with her, all these approaches didnโt work.
0:09:02 Wendy: And so wild to hear how early you could feel it. Because Stella, you know, all my stories, Stella was similar. We could just feel it from so young, how she just had this strength about her that was like, I want to do it this way. She would always. We had this thing called the hooter hider. Itโs like American term, like your breast, like your hooters. And youโd put this cape on. And when she would breastfeed, if I cape on or the hooter hider, she would cry.
0:09:34 Wendy: She did not like it, and she didnโt want to be covered up. Sheโs always been like my sensitive girl, where she would probably get, like, hot and couldnโt breathe as well. And she would let you know, and then I would take it off and sheโd be like. But she was just like little things like that that youโre just like. She would. She was not shy to let you know that this or that. So thatโs. Thatโs wild to hear that you could feel it from so young. And yeah, Iโm sure so many listeners relate to that, like withholding love, you know, or like the silent treatment.
0:10:07 Wendy: And yeah, just that feeling of it not working. So. So, yeah, so you started to study. You started to learn some new ways. You started to, like, work on your own mindset. You had some incredible results after a few years. And then you actually went on in those. In that season where you had kind of gone out, gone off on your own as what we would say is like a graduate of the fresh food experience, which we always celebrate because we say we donโt. You know, some people are members forever because they just.
0:10:37 Wendy: They feel so much better when theyโre engaged in community and they feel alone if theyโre not connected to parents that are. Have the same mindset. And a lot of our people donโt have the same type of parents, like, in their immediate town, so they stay. But we also celebrate when people graduate because we want you to feel confident on your own. Right. So you went out in this Season where you were like, okay, Iโm walking the walk. Iโm doing the things. Iโm talking the talk.
0:11:02 Wendy: And you actually started your own podcast right during that season when you were. And you started to interview experts and tell us about that. Like, what sparked that?
0:11:13 Billy: Well, there was a gap. Like, I. After a couple of years with the Fresh Start family, I really felt confident enough to continue on my own. And Iโm happy to say that I never reverted back to old ways yet. I focused on connection and this as this is the most important part, and stuck with it. But I skipped the discipline piece. So I was experiencing some struggles as my oldest one, Laura, became a tween.
0:11:46 Billy: And it was, again, a challenging phase. And then I started looking for ways again, like, what am I missing here? And thatโs why I started the podcast to talk to as many experts and parenting coaches and just prepare for the teen years, because I wanted to have a teen that I can enjoy and be a safe space for her to come to me and share. And I was feeling that weโre. Weโre not going there. I mean, I needed to change something in the approach.
0:12:18 Billy: And then I started the podcast, and itโs funny how life works. I just remembered at some point, well, why donโt I invite my mentor, Wendy? Sheโs having teens right now. She will share what to do. Like, she will give me some great ideas. And then I. I think I actually asked you, are you just teaching other parents how to coach? Let me try that again. Do you have a coaching program for people like me? Because I really want to become more fluent in this approach.
0:13:02 Billy: And this is. This is where. I donโt know, I just felt this is what I needed at this time. So I was really grateful that in a couple of months, you were starting to become a parenting coach program.
0:13:17 Wendy: Yeah. So I remember that conversation. I was like, yeah, we actually do. And it was like, our third year of offering the program. And you were just like, okay, done. And I was like, okay, you were just on, like, hereโs the link. And you were like, done, Purchased. Iโll be there. Iโm like, amazing. Okay. Youโve just always, like, really just been like, I donโt know. I can just tell you listen to your intuition, and then you take steps forward to make it happen. And starting the podcast is such a smart, smart thing to do. And thatโs one of my favorite reasons of having the podcast, is you do get to talk to the most incredible people and glean their wisdom. Right. Like, you just get to have these natural conversations and you learn so much while also providing such valuable content to other people.
0:14:06 Wendy: So I love that you have a podcast. It was so much fun to be on your podcast. And I feel like we might have even aired an episode of yours on our show. We did, right? We did. I remember that. And yeah, so cool. And then. Yes. So you jumped into the full mastery program and we did just a fun deep dive for seven months. You were part of our biggest cohort yet. Sixteen of you guys that jumped into the 2024 program.
0:14:37 Wendy: And man, did. Was that a special group, right? Like, what a fantastic group of humans to personally mentor for seven months and talk to me a little bit about how you feel like you progressed or your growth that happened in those seven months. Obviously that program, all of our programs are so special, right? The Fresh Start experience is incredible. I think we have like 120 lessons now. We have our weekly coaching calls, you know, our monthly successes. Like, we have all these amazing things, but itโs a, itโs a big group.
0:15:12 Wendy: And then when you get into a smaller cohort, that is direct access to me and just a higher level of accountability. And, you know, weโre chatting a few times a week on our communication app called Slack. What was that like for you? And how did, like, what progression happened in those seven months that excited you? Whether it was the relationship with your kids, your parents, yourself, like, what kind of happened within those seven months or the before and after of that Billy, that you could speak to, please.
0:15:47 Billy: Okay, maybe I should start with why. What were my, my expectations? So I really wanted to be able to explain my parenting approach to my husband because heโs very supportive, but yet he wasnโt fully aware what Iโm doing. And then I wanted to tell my parents and my friends because everybody saw that my kids are different. They behave differently, like they, than a lot of their peers. Like theyโre more respectful, they are more cooperative.
0:16:14 Billy: So why are they being different? And I wanted to be able to explain and be confident that this is the right way. And so I really gained that confidence. And then talking about the, the weekly meetings, I thrive on accountability. So it makes all the difference because so many people just buy the courses and never finish them. Iโm, Iโm sure some of them even donโt start the course. And then when you have, I love, I love the weekly emails with all the tasks, clear action, steps you have to take during this week, the lessons you have to watch.
0:16:53 Billy: And so I really immersed myself for these seven months, watched so many lessons in this huge library that you have right now. And it just really became second nature because I could practice with my kids immediately. Like, it made all the difference because I was using it in real time, not just. And then I had to create a portfolio and then have practice sessions with my friends. So actually telling people about it. And I learned a lot more. I retained so much more information that way than just listening.
0:17:35 Billy: And then the community aspect I loved as well, because Iโm one of those people that likes to sit in the background and not ask a lot of questions. So I learned from the coaching that other. That you gave other people, like, their questions and their struggles, and then your support really gave me insights that I didnโt expect. So that was a huge one for me as well. And then what I gained at the end, I think is a deeper understanding of myself and my kids more than anything.
0:18:13 Billy: Because before the program, I knew modeling was the best way to teach your kids, but I wasnโt aware how I am modeling some behaviors that I didnโt like. Like, I was retaliating in my parenting. My. I was wondering why my Laura was having using revenge. And I understood. I realized that Iโm doing the same thing to her thanks to your coaching. Oh, my gosh.
0:18:46 Wendy: Remember that private session that day? I just remember being like, yes. Like, as a coach, I get so excited when we uncover something that is like an example of a little bit of a blind spot where you just. You maybe just donโt realize it or itโs tough. Like these. These behaviors are sneaky sometimes. And you just think like, well, of course this is the way I have to operate. And then you realize, oh, Iโm modeling the same exact behavior that theyโre doing thatโs driving me insane, that I want them to stop. And Iโm like, how do I make them stop? And then you just get beautiful moment of clarity with so much compassion.
0:19:23 Wendy: Not shame, not like, but just compassion. Like, oh, I see it. I see where Iโm doing it. I see where my mom did it to me and now Iโm doing it. But I wasnโt quite seeing it before. I just remember that day of just being so excited for you because I knew it was going to really just break open so many new opportunities and strengthen your relationship with her and put you at choice to do things different.
0:19:49 Wendy: Right when you were triggered. Triggered or feeling hurt by an argument or whatever. So, yeah, that was huge. I think the private sessions part of the full mastery program is really pivotal. Right. Like the group stuff. Is so cool. And then when we do those privates and uncover some of those limiting beliefs that when you bring them into the light, they just. They dissipate. So much easier than trying to figure out. Figure them out on your own.
0:20:16 Billy: Yeah, I agree. And actually, parenting is so much more work on ourselves than our children. And Iโm thankful that the Fresh Start family has this part of it, like working on our own limiting beliefs and our own protection behaviors that other people are missing. And I was. For years, I was. Intellectually, I knew what I have to do, but in the moment, I couldnโt. I just. I wasnโt doing it. I didnโt know why, and I was blaming myself and feeling just yucky because I knew how to do it, and I was.
0:20:58 Billy: I was not there. So the freedom to be weekend really helped me with a lot of that. And now I am a calmer, more peaceful parent, and Iโm so happy to live that way.
0:21:12 Wendy: I love that, Billy. And, yeah, I love. I love you because you. Itโs like a. I love it when, like, calm, peaceful people are like, oh, I raise my voice and yell sometimes, too. And Iโm like, really? Okay, then Iโm not crazy because obviously Iโm, like, a little louder and more boisterous and, like, out there, right? And sometimes I feel like, well, itโs just my type of people. But then I meet some, like, peaceful.
0:21:37 Wendy: You just are so, like, chill and calm, and youโre like, oh, no. Behind closed doors, I was, like, raising my voice and losing my cool, and itโs like, oh, yeah, weโre all human. But. But just watching the transformation that has happened within you for. For, gosh, a long time now, but specifically during the seven months is. I love it when I see someone thatโs, like, super chill. For the most part, like, you have this calm demeanor.
0:22:05 Wendy: But then I. When I watch someone like, you grow in your confidence, like, to be able to be, like, really, really confident in what youโre doing, thereโs often, like, a huge opportunity there that some of us, like, I feel like we need to, like, tamper down the confidence. Weโre like, can we just, you know, like, chill? Donโt be so cocky. You know, you donโt know everything. Like, I donโt know. Thatโs. Many of us, many of our students, I feel like kind of have. That was my journey, right? Like, relax, chill out, become more compassionate, humble, vulnerable.
0:22:43 Wendy: I feel like you came to the table with a lot of that, and then your journey has been a lot of, like, growing in Confidence to like really be not just confident in what youโre practicing in your home, but with your girls, but to be able to share that with other people. Now I feel like Iโve watched you be grow in that skill set to be able to talk to your husband or your in laws or your mom or your dad or people now that you are helping to learn this same work, to just have your shoulders back a little bit and be like, hey, itโs great to meet you, Iโm Billy. Let me teach you this. And that is beautiful.
0:23:22 Wendy: And I think youโre a great example of a student who came into the program for both things. We have a lot of students who come into the full mastery program that just want to reach full mastery in their home. So when theyโre triggered, when misbehavior comes their way, they know what to do in the moment. Theyโre not frozen, theyโre not like ah, what do I do? Full mastery within the home, just as a parent is fantastic. And then some of you want to get that but then also be able to help others to learn the skill sets, the mindset, shifts the tools. And now you are an example of someone who is doing that and helping you grow in your confidence to understand just what an incredible parent and teacher you are has been such a joy.
0:24:06 Wendy: So tell us about what you are doing now with your certification because again you are an example of someone who is now using it to build a career and to be able to have a purpose driven career where youโre helping other people also transform their family legacy. So what does that looked like for you? We know that is a journey. Iโve been, Iโm seven years deep now and it is entrepreneurship and growing a coaching business.
0:24:32 Wendy: Especially when youโre coaching such a counter cultural way, right? Like what we teach is very different than what a lot of other people in society are doing when theyโre raising young humans. But what, what does this season look like for you? What are you doing coaching wise podcasting. Like how has that progressed since you graduated from the full mastery program?
0:24:56 Billy: First, I want to thank you for the kind words. Really made my day. Thank you so much. And then about coaching, right now Iโm focused on one on one coaching with parents, helping them apply the fresh start family approach in a way that fits their unique family dynamic. Like we talk through their problems, how to use the tools I offer, accountability, support, practical strategies. Mostly I listen to them because this is what most moms need, just holding space for them, letting them that theyโre not alone that a lot of other people struggle with the same issues.
0:25:38 Billy: That was a big one for me when I started knowing that, okay, nothingโs wrong with my kid. Sheโs okay. We just need a little different approach on how to handle things. So itโs been incredibly fulfilling to help other moms build stronger relationships with their kids and just breaking old, limiting patterns.
0:26:03 Wendy: Heck, yes. And so youโre doing private sessions, and youโre still doing your podcast, right? Like, has your confidence grown at all as a podcast host since you went through the program?
0:26:13 Billy: Yeah, it feels so much better to say, Iโm a parenting coach, so I know what Iโm talking about. But at unlock your childโs full potential. Thatโs the name of the podcast. I just love inviting parenting experts and learning alongside my audience. I just love to grab little pieces of the puzzle that I try in my home, then recommend, and then just having a bigger toolbox, because itโs never. Itโs like every situation is different, and we are learning a new way of thinking, being more creative, being more empathetic, compassionate. And yet, the more your tools you have, the better equipped you are to handle the situation effectively.
0:27:00 Billy: So I love doing that.
0:27:02 Wendy: So good. I love it. Yeah, it is true. You just get to glean all these little bits of wisdom. A few months ago, I had interviewed someone where I was, like, deep in, like, a parenting struggle with Stella, and. And I just asked this expert. I was like, what? You know, tell me about this. It was Eli Harwood, the first episode of our. Of our podcast in 2025. And I just love her. And it was, like, six minutes of her addressing the question.
0:27:28 Wendy: I cried, and I was like, oh, my gosh. Done. Like, full perspective on this issue I was having with Stella. There was, like, healing that happened. It was profound, and it was just like, oh, great. I love my job. I love podcasting. Right. Like, itโs just so much fun to get those little hits of just these incredible people that you meet. So I love this episode.
0:27:51 Billy: It was one of my favorites, and I have been following Billy for quite some time. Yeah. So it was wonderful to have her on the show.
0:27:59 Wendy: Yeah, she was legit. Oh, my gosh. Well, Billy, we love you so much. Again, thank you so much for coming on the show today. Just giving listeners and viewers a little bit more details about what your journey has looked like and families. Please go find Billi her podcast. Tell us. Tell us all the places that people can come find you, Billi, because you are in Bulgaria, but you do online support, so tell everyone where they can come find you and listen to the show.
0:28:29 Billy: Okay. My website is unlockyourchildsfullpotential.com there you can find links to the podcast, you can listen to it everywhere, you can find podcasts. And then there you can also find a way to contact me and have a session if youโd like to. If you feel compelled to change your. Change your ways in parenting.
0:28:51 Wendy: Amazing. Thank you, Billy.
