Parents At Work

Lori and Jason are back with an engaging episode, featuring conversations with parents who are not only attorneys but serve as general counsel for major organizations. This week, they welcome LaTanya Langley (Chief People Officer, Chief Legal Officer, and Corporate Secretary at Edgewell Personal Care), alongside Betsy Philpott (Senior Vice President and General Counsel for the Washington Nationals). Tune in to hear how they blend their parenting roles with their demanding careers, ways to enhance support systems for working parents, and insights from their personal journeys, offering advice they wish they had known as they navigated parenthood and professional growth.

This week, Lori and Jason return with the second installment of their discussion with parents in finance. They are joined by guests Amie Patel (Partner at Elevar Equity) and Millie Schild (Managing Director, Corporate Banking at Truist Corporate and Investment Bank). In this episode, the guests delve into their experiences with varied maternity leave policies, express appreciation for backup childcare, and bond over shared feelings of mom-guilt related to their career journeys.For more information on Aura, the digital security app mentioned in this episode, click here.

Parents At Work is back for a new season as Lori and Jason kick off a two-part conversation with parents in finance. In this episode, guests Rahul Buxani (Managing Director of FinTech and Climate Finance at KBW, a Stifel Company) and Shahed Amanullah (Managing Director at Frost Capital) highlight the evolving landscape of work-life balance within the sector, the benefits of exposing their children to the working world, as well as the skills they've gained from parenthood that have been beneficial to their careers.

Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin are excited to bring you the second in their two-part series of interviews with moms and dads in professional development! Today, Lori and Jason are happy to welcome two wonderful moms in professional development, Aisha Greene and Stephanie Felder, to share their stories.Aisha is the Director of Attorney Development and Training at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP. She oversees firm professional development programming, including the formal assignment systems, partner and associate mentoring programs, upward and downward attorney performance evaluations, diversity programs, pro bono and corporate social responsibility initiatives, and all formal training and continuing legal education programs. Aisha lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband and two wonderful daughters, ages 10 and 13. Stephanie has more than fifteen years of experience in attorney professional development at two Am Law 100 firms. In her current role at Groom Law Group, she is responsible for creating a comprehensive training and development curriculum for all attorneys at Groom and developing and overseeing the execution of strategies related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Stephanie lives in Richmond, Virginia, with her husband Zach, her 8-year-old daughter, and her 5-year-old son. Stay tuned to hear what Aisha and Stephanie say about their experiences as moms working in the field of professional development.Show highlights:Aisha and Stephanie share their personal working parent journeys. (4:02) (5:55)How Stephanie's legal professional development training and skills prepared her for being a mom. (8:15)Aisha describes what it's like to be a parent in professional development today. (9:26) Aisha discusses the contrast between being a parent in professional development and being a parent as a legal associate. (10:23)The workplace supports that were the most helpful and impactful for Stephanie when she became a working parent. (12:27)Aisha talks about the magic of having informal workplace support. (16:09)Stephanie gets into what she learned from her challenging first job as an infant room teacher at a daycare center. (21:10)Skills Aisha gained from being a parent that have been helpful in her job. (26:20)Changes in the field of professional development that are impacting parents. (28:54) (31:14)Aisha discusses the importance of having working parent-caregiver groups across all industries. (35:56)How Aisha and Stephanie's approach to time management changed when they became parents. (38:22) (40:10)Links and resources:Aisha Greene on LinkedInCadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLPStephanie Felder on LinkedInGroom Law GroupIf you're a leader of a working parent or caregiver employee resource group or affinity group (or would like to start one at your place of employment), join the Working Parent Group Network (WPGN) learning collaborative, at to www.mindfulreturn.com/wpgnBooks mentioned:Work Parent Thrive by Dr. Yael SchonbrunHow to Talk So Kids Will Listen, and Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber and Elaine MazlishThe Harry Potter series by J.K. RowlingImpact Winter by Travis BeachamMentioned in this episode:Provide an...

Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin are so excited to introduce a new set of interviews with moms and dads in professional development. Lori and Jason are thrilled to welcome Joshua Troy and Neil Dennis to today's podcast! Neil and Josh are both amazing dads in professional development.Josh Troy is the Director of Talent Management at Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP, where he engages with attorneys and staff to ensure their professional and personal success. Josh is a proud parent of two daughters, one almost six years old and the other four, who were excited to learn their dad was being interviewed! Neil Dennis is the Director of Professional Development at Blaney McMurtry LLP, a mid-sized full-service law firm in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He is responsible for the recruitment, professional development, and training of legal professionals at the firm. Before joining the firm, Neil led career development at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law and held similar positions in Washington DC, including as the Assistant Dean of Career Services at the Howard University School of Law and a Director of Career Services at Georgetown Law Center. He lives in Markham, a suburb near Toronto. He is married to Kia, who has a much cooler job than him as an author of thriller mystery novels. They have two kids, Bryson, age 13, and Miles, age 10 (almost 11). Stay tuned to hear what Neil and Josh have to share about their lives as dads working in the world of professional development!Show highlights:The challenges Josh faced when his oldest daughter was born. (5:15)How Neil got into the field of professional development, and what it means to him. (8:33)How Neil draws inspiration from his kids and being a dad in his career. (11:05)Josh describes his path into professional development and explains what it's like to be a parent in that field. (13:02)The workplace support Josh found especially helpful when he became a working parent. (18:09) Josh discusses his experience of being in Covid lock-down with his young children. (19:49)Josh shares some tips about backup care from his experience. (21:37)Having conversations about figuring out the best way to space out your leave after having a child. (27:50)What Neil learned from his very first job. (30:49)The skills Josh and Neil gained from being parents that are helpful to them in their professional development roles. (34:56) (37:53)A workplace change that affected working parents. (41:44) Changes in the field of professional development that could affect working parents. (43:58)Neil and Josh each share their advice for working parents. (47:15) (48:53)Links and resources:Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP Joshua Troy on LinkedInBlaney McMurtry LLPNeil Dennis on LinkedInMindful Return blog post: What Is Backup Childcare and How Does It Work? An Interview with 3 Working MamasIf you are the leader of a working parent or caregiver employee resource group (ERG) or affinity group at your organization, please join us in the Working Parent Group Network (WPGN) learning ,ollaborative. Go to www.mindfulreturn.com/wpgn to sign...

Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin are back with the second part of their two-part series of episodes with moms and dads working in real estate!Today, Lori and Jason are excited to introduce Eva Davis and Jennifer Eaby, who are both amazing moms working in real estate.Jen Eaby is a realtor in the north suburbs of Atlanta. She has been in the real estate industry for nine years. She loves house shopping with clients, staging her listings for sale, and making friends with her clients. She and her husband, Joel, have been married for 19 years and are raising two daughters. Elizabeth is a senior in high school, and Gabriella is a freshman. Eva Davis is an Executive Vice President at Compass and a real estate agent in the Washington, DC Metro area. Eva brings significant business experience to her real estate career from her time in the mortgage industry, positioning her for great success in the greater Washington DC market. Her high-touch service, top negotiating skills, ongoing hustle, and sense of humour have helped her build a deep referral business. Eva currently lives in downtown Bethesda, with her University of Michigan-loving husband and her two little kids, with whom she enjoys exploring the food scene in the DC area and taking advantage of local concerts, parks, theatre exhibits, and playgrounds. Stay tuned to hear what Eva and Jen have to share about their lives as working moms in the world of real estate!Show highlights:Jen and Eva share their working parent stories. (3:50) (5:15)Eva describes her current experience as a parent in the real estate industry. (7:06)Eva talks about managing work-life boundaries in the real estate world. (9:05)Jen shares something that caught her by surprise as her children got older. (10:29)Jen describes the kind of support she had as an entrepreneur when she became a working parent. (13:45)Eva talks about what she learned from her first job. (25:10)Jen discusses the skills she gained as a parent that are helpful in her real estate role. (27:53)Changes Eva sees in real estate right now that will affect working parents. (32:49)Links and resources:Compass Real EstateEva Davis on LinkedInJennifer Eaby on LinkedInIf you'd lead a working parent group at your organization and would like to join the Working Parent Group Network (WPGN), go to www.mindfulreturn.com/wpgnRecommended books:Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl Relationships to Infinity by Jason Levin

Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin are excited to begin a new segment talking to moms and dads working in real estate!Today, Lori and Jason are delighted to introduce two wonderful dads in real estate, Paul Benshoof and Corey Lee!Corey Lee is the Principal of Residential Growth Properties LLC, a real estate investment brokerage in Washington DC. He has been actively involved in the real estate industry for nearly 25 years, and his company focuses on helping property owners unlock the value of their properties through zoning, entitlement, and redevelopment. He works closely with his wife, Bhavna, who runs her own successful real estate general contracting development and owners representation firm, and they live in the Forest Hills neighborhood of DC with their two youngest children, Sara and Ian, who are in middle and elementary school. While Corey and Bhavna met in grad school at UNC Chapel Hill, they still find a way to remain proud of their oldest daughter, Ida, who recently graduated from Duke, as a member of the Class of 2023. Corey earned his Political Science and Systems Engineering degree at the United States Military Academy at West Point and completed his JD and MBA in Real Estate Concentration at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Paul Benshoof is a Real Estate Agent at Keller Williams Metropolitan in Northern New Jersey and has been with Keller Williams for eight years. Paul is a proud Scarlet Knight and studied economics at Rutgers University. He lives in Mount Olive, New Jersey, with his wife, Lindsay, and their three sons, aged 12, 10, and 3. Tune in to hear what Paul and Corey have to share about their lives as working dads in the real estate world!Show highlights:Corey discusses his introduction to working parenthood. (5:18) Paul shares what he enjoys most about being a parent working in the real estate industry. (9:58)Corey shares his experience of being a parent in real estate. (11:12)How Paul managed to remain consistent with his work when his children came into his life. (17:43)The experiences and supports that were helpful for Corey when he became a working parent. (20:09)Paul talks about the job he did while in high school and his first job after college and shares what he learned from doing them. (24:56)Corey shares what he learned when his dad turned down an economically viable business opportunity to spend more time with his family. (30:32) The skills Paul and Corey gained from being parents that are helpful in their current roles in real estate. (33:44) (35:25)Corey explains how he would have benefited from having had a business coach. (36:02)Corey's tips for people in a business partnership with a partner or spouse. (38:50)Changes in the real estate industry that could affect working parents. (40:33)Links and resources:Residential Growth Properties LLCCorey Lee on LinkedInKeller Williams Metropolitan Northern New JerseyPaul Benshoof on LinkedInIf you'd like to participate in the conversation at the Mindful Return Working Parents Group Network Learning Collaborative, go to www.mindfulreturn.com/wpgnRecommended books:The Power of Ambition by Jim RohnThe Awakened Family by Shefali TsabaryRelationships to Infinity by Jason LevinThe...

Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin are back with the second episode in the series of interviews with parents in the consulting world!Today, Lori and Jason are excited to talk with two awesome consulting dads, Jonathan Milde, and Daniel Baldor!Jonathan Milde is a Managing Director and Partner at Boston Consulting Group, where he is a core member of the technology and digital advantage transactions and integrations and industrial goods practice areas. He also has significant experience with health care, consumer goods, and retail clients. Jonathan lives in Maryland and has been married to Bess for 15 years. They have two kids, Beah, age 11, and August, age 8. Dan Baldor has been with Accenture for nearly 18 years. He is the Office Managing Director for Accenture in Miami, as well as the Life Sciences Client Group Lead and Strategy and Consulting Products Lead for Accenture's self-market unit. He has been married to his wife, Michelle, for 24 years. He is a dad to Carolina, who is 21, a senior at Parsons School of Design in Paris, France, and Stephanie who is 19 and studying psychology at Florida State University.Tune in to hear what Jon and Dan have to share about their lives as working dads in the consulting world!Show highlights:Jon talks about his transition to working parenthood. (3:34)Dan shares his working parent story. (5:15)What it's like for Dan to be a parent in management consulting these days. (7:00)How the change in travel pace post-pandemic will affect new parents. (8:19)The workplace supports Jon found particularly helpful when he became a working parent. (11:29)Dan discusses the fantastic benefits Accenture offers for working parents. (13:40)As a parent, ask the organization you work for whether or not they have backup child support if you're unsure.Dan and Jon share what they learned from their first jobs. (17:41) (19:34)How living with his young children helped Dan prepare for client interactions. (23:30)Dan offers advice for working parents in management consulting. (26:00)What Jon does to mitigate workplace stress. (28:24)Links and resources:Boston Consulting GroupAccentureJonathan Milde on LinkedInDan Baldor on LinkedInIf you'd like to participate in the conversation at the Mindful Return Working Parents Group Network Learning Collaborative, go to www.mindfulreturn.com/wpgnBooks mentioned:Mindset by Dr. Carol DweckThe Power of Now by Eckhart TolleMentioned in this episode:Get the new book: Relationships to Infinity, the Art and Science of Keeping In Touch from Ready, Set, LaunchHead over to www.readysetlaunch.net to grab your copy of the book, Relationships to Infinity, the Art and Science of Keeping In Touch.Ready Set Launch Book

Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin are excited to be back after several months of hiatus! They kick things off again by focusing on moms and dads in the consulting world. In this episode of Parents at Work, Lori and Jason talk to two fantastic consulting moms, Elizabeth Lapetina and Brooke Weddle. Liz Lapetina is a Managing Director with Deloitte Consulting, focused on healthcare operations and business transformation. She has experience working with PBMs and health plans on new business model launches, business transformations, consumer experience and strategy, and performance improvement initiatives. She is also involved in Deloitte's well-being initiatives, leading the adoption of well-being strategies at one of the firm's largest accounts. Liz lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with her husband, James, her two daughters, aged seven and five, and her dog. She enjoys reading, riding her Peloton bike, and serving as the Cookie Manager for her daughters' girl scout troops in her spare time. Brooke Weddle is a partner at McKinsey & Company. As a leader in the firm's people and organizational performance practice, Brooke helps organizations across the world achieve sustained performance through transformation. Globally, she leads the Change Leaders Forum, an executive capability-building series on transformational change and McKinsey's organizational work in advanced industries, aerospace and defense, automotive, and electronics. In addition, she leads the firm's culture and change management work in North America. Brooke lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, Miguel, and her two children, who are eight and ten. Brooke is also an appreciator of network theory. She wrote a wonderful article on social capital: Building Back Better Relationships at Work.Stay tuned to hear what Liz and Brooke have to say about their lives as parents working in the consulting world! Show highlights:Liz shares her working parent story. (5:28)Liz took five months off for maternity leave for both of her children. That made a huge difference! (7:07)The importance of having mentors and sponsors. (7:31)How Liz and her husband approach their careers and family decisions intentionally since becoming parents. (9:49)Brooke's working parent story started in Seoul, South Korea. (10:45)Brooke explains why she returned to work shortly after having her second child. (12:51)Brooke explains how she and her husband approach their work and parental responsibilities. (13:25)Liz and Brooke explain what it's like to be a parent in management consulting and share their top working parent travel-related tips. (15:27) (18:53)The workplace supports that were helpful for Brooke and Liz when they became working parents. (23:51) (28:18)Why it's essential to speak up, say what you need and ask for support from your workplace when necessary. (31:44)How parenthood helped Liz gain more empathy for others and become smarter with her time. (38:59)How having young kids helped Brooke calm down and become a better listener. (41:15)Mentioned in this episode:Provide an Employee Benefit for Moms Returning After Maternity LeaveJoin over 75 companies who currently provide an employee benefit course to new Moms. Mindful Return is a 4 week course that will help your employee retention at this critical time in your employee's life. Mindful Return Course Ad

In this episode of Parents at Work, Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin talk to another amazing dad who is a professional in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)!    Juan Otero serves as Senior Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Comcast Corporation, where he leads DE&I initiatives across Comcast NBC Universal, focusing specifically on governance, public policy, and strategic employee engagement. His responsibilities include the oversight of DE&I analytics; organizational alignment on the company's public policy positions with DE&I implications; broad activation of employee resource groups and related volunteerism platforms; and development of targeted DE&I workforce education and training. He also supports the integration of DE&I into Comcast NBC Universal's community impact initiatives. Juan is married to his wonderful wife, Julissa, and they have an active son, Julian, who is five years old. Juan holds a JD from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and an MPA from American University.  Juan talks about his experience as a parent working in diversity, equity, and inclusion. He discusses his confusion and fear after becoming a parent, the fantastic support he received in the workplace, and how his priorities changed after he became a dad. Stay tuned to hear about Juan's life as a dad working in the world of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Show highlights: Juan tells the story of how he met his wife and landed up where he is today in the world of working parents. (2:53) Juan discusses what it is like for him to be a parent working in diversity, equity, and inclusion. (6:13) Becoming a dad helped Juan evolve in his role at Comcast and gave him a different viewpoint regarding various racial issues. (8:03) Juan had a wonderfully supportive boss who understood his confusion after becoming a parent and explained everything Comcast had available, in terms of parental support. (11:14) Juan explains how he had to re-prioritize his life after his son was born. (12:27) The strategies Juan uses as a leader to support his people. (15:15) Even though Juan got all he needed in terms of parental support in the workplace, he would still have appreciated having someone to talk to about his wellness. (18:08) Juan talks about his first paid job and explains how it made an imprint on him. (20:34) What has parenthood taught Juan in terms of career-related skills? (22:58) Juan discusses his part in shaping the conversation around working parenthood. (26:57) How heart-focused breathing can help working parents avoid freaking out. (32:42)  Links and resources: https://corporate.comcast.com/ (Comcast Corporation) https://www.linkedin.com/in/juan-otero-08ab393/ (Juan Otero on LinkedIn) Books mentioned: https://amzn.to/3cBYAuX (A Tale of Two Cities), by Charles Dickens https://amzn.to/3B1Asv8 (The Godfather), by Mario Puzo https://amzn.to/3cxf6MT (Dog Man, A Tale of Two Kitties),  by Dav Pilkey https://amzn.to/3TvlTaA (Pete the Cat), by Kimberly Dean, James Dean, and Eric Litwin Mentioned in this episode: Get the new book: Relationships to Infinity, the Art and Science of Keeping In Touch from Ready, Set, Launch Head over to www.readysetlaunch.net to grab your copy of the book, Relationships to Infinity, the Art and Science of Keeping In Touch. https://parents-at-work.captivate.fm/relationshipbook (Ready Set Launch Book)

Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin are back with the second of their series of episodes featuring moms and dads who are diversity, equity, and inclusion professionals. In this episode of Parents at Work, Lori and Jason are excited to talk to the fabulous dad, Ken Imo!    Ken Imo is the Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion for Adobe. He is an accomplished executive, author, lawyer, and U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps veteran who promotes organizational change through diversity, equity and inclusion, and other strategic human capital initiatives. Ken is a proud husband to his wife, Jennifer, and is the father of three girls, Olivia, who is fifteen, twelve-year-old twins, Cecelia and Juliette, and two dogs, Julio Jones, and the puppy they got during Covid, Sir Lewis Hamilton, also known as Louie. Ken was a four-year scholar-athlete at Southern Methodist University and received his law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law.  Ken talks about his evolution as a working dad and describes what it's like to be a working parent in the DEI space. He also shares his recommendations for workplace improvements for parents and discusses the similarities between the issues faced by working parents and those that exist in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.  Stay tuned to hear Ken's inspiring working dad story! Show highlights: Ken and his wife are setting an example for their daughters in how they navigate their personal and professional lives. (3:22) Why Ken likes to look at his work as an extension of the Civil Rights Movement. (4:09) Ken would like his children to understand why his work is so important to him. (4:38) The challenges of being a working parent in the DEI space. (6:12) What Ken does for self-care and to reset and restore himself. (11:05) Ken appreciated getting parental leave when his daughters were born. (16:11) Some companies could do a better job of advertising the benefits they offer for working parents and encouraging people to use them. (22:28) Most Americans tend to underutilize their paid time off. (22:54) Ken talks about his first paid job, his motivation for doing it, and the lessons he learned. (27:51) Ken's career trajectory started in service, and much of what he does today is about intentionally helping others. (32:02) Ken discusses his role in helping organizations to stay vigilant and creative while promoting a more inclusive environment, addressing workplace challenges, and coming up with solutions. (35:07)   “Anything that allows us to effectively do our jobs, and effectively do our most important job, that is parenting, we should take full advantage Mentioned in this episode: Get the new book: Relationships to Infinity, the Art and Science of Keeping In Touch from Ready, Set, Launch Head over to www.readysetlaunch.net to grab your copy of the book, Relationships to Infinity, the Art and Science of Keeping In Touch. https://parents-at-work.captivate.fm/relationshipbook (Ready Set Launch Book)

Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin are back with their tradition of interviewing moms and dads in specific industries, sectors, or roles. In this series, they will be interviewing moms and dads who are diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) professionals. Today Lori and Jason are excited to interview two amazing moms, Kamillah Knight and Jaya Saxena!   Kamillah Knight is a change superhero! She strives to change how people interact with their environment, including their physical environment and those around them. Currently, Kamillah is a Senior Global Director of Diversity and Inclusion for Danaher's Water Quality Platform. Before that, she worked as the head of diversity and inclusion at Ferrero and at Unilever in diversity and inclusion, sales, and supply chain. Kamillah is also deeply involved in volunteer work with her local community and her alma mater, Cornell University. Her most recent degree from Cornell is an MBA. Kamillah has a ten-year-old daughter. Jaya Saxena is the mom of two delightful and spirited girls, who are five and nine years old. Jaya is a Diversity and Inclusion Strategist and former practicing attorney with fifteen years of advocacy and professional development experience. Her experience includes working in Legal Services, Law School Administration, and at an Am Law 10 Law firm. She currently works at a global economic consultancy, leading firm-wide DEI efforts. Jaya is an active member of her community, and she serves on multiple non-profit boards.  In this episode of Parents at Work, Kamillah and Jaya talk about the joys and challenges of being working parents in the DEI space. They discuss the importance of honesty, vulnerability, and flexibility in the workplace, and talk about networking, support structures, and inclusivity. Stay tuned today to hear Kamillah and Jaya's inspiring working mom stories! Show highlights: When Kamillah entered the workforce, she struggled to understand how she could be successful in her career and the best mom she could be. (3:49) Kamillah talks about the things she built into her schedule when she entered the workforce to ensure that she spent enough time with her daughter. (4:56) When Jaya had her first daughter, she was older than most first-time moms. (7:47) Jaya's journey is constantly evolving, and she keeps on learning as new challenges present themselves. (8:40) Jaya talks about the gifts and hardships she has experienced as a working parent in the DEI space. (10:07) Working in the DEI space puts Kamillah at the forefront of understanding different ways of communicating things to her daughter. (12:39) Kamillah always tries to be honest with her daughter when talking to her about issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice. (14:55) Jaya has learned to be okay with not knowing all the answers when her daughters ask her difficult questions. (16:40) Flexible working was a game-changer and Kamillah's number one workplace support when she became a working parent. (18:24) Jaya would have liked to have had more support around nursing and breastfeeding after her children were born. (24:38) Parenthood has taught Kamillah about empathy, balance, and time management. (31:04) Jaya has learned many skills as a parent, including resilience and competence when navigating through challenging situations. (38:35) Vulnerability is vital when shaping conversations around working parenthood. (40:01) Common biases need to get acknowledged in the workplace. (41:55) Links and resources: https://www.dhwaterquality.com/ (The Danaher Water Platform) https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamillahknight/ (Kamillah Knight on LinkedIn) https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayasaxena2010/ (Jaya Saxena on LinkedIn) If you are the leader of a working parent or caregiver employee resource group at your organization, go to http://www.mindfulreturn.com/wpgn (www.mindfulreturn.com/wpgn) to sign up for the Working Parent Group...

Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin continue with their two-part series on an issue that working parents in all careers, roles, and industries struggle with: how household labor gets divided.  In the second part of this series, Lori and Jason are excited to have an amazing dad, Sergio Rosario, joining them to carry on the conversation about the important, emotionally-charged, and controversial topic of who does what in the home!  Sergio was born and raised in Puerto Rico. Nine years ago, his life and work brought him to Virginia. He met his beautiful wife, also from Puerto Rico, and a US Army officer, seven years ago. They live in Fayetteville, North Carolina, but they will soon be moving back to Virginia. Sergio is a social worker, musician, educator, fatherhood advocate, the founder of Soy Super Papa, and the course coach and lead for Mindful Return's Spanish Language Working Dad Course. Sergio and his wife have a five-year-old daughter named Stella. In this episode of Parents at Work, Sergio dives into what makes household labor a critical topic and why it is so full of emotion. He offers some excellent advice to help couples start a conversation about household labor and avoid allowing emotion to interfere with our discussions about chores. He also talks about the benefits of good communication and explains how he progressed towards taking responsibility in his relationship.  Stay tuned to today's conversation to hear what Sergio has to say about finding common ground around a healthy division of household labor! Show highlights: When he met his wife, Sergio knew that he would have to make some lifestyle changes! (5:08) Sergio explains what motivated him to start helping parents communicate better. (9:03) Why does Sergio think household labor is such a critical and emotionally-charged topic? (11:55) Sergio and his wife approach their household labor as a common goal with no gender roles assigned. (12:37) Sergio offers some advice to help people avoid becoming emotional around household tasks. (14:07) Sergio describes the systems that he and his wife use in their home. (15:35) How Sergio and his wife progressed in their relationship around issues related to household labor. (21:42) How Sergio and his family have benefited from having good communication. (24:28) Lori randomly draws a birthday celebration card from Eve Rodsky's Fair Play deck for Sergio. They talk about birthday celebrations to see what comes up around the division of labor on that topic. (27:10) Sergio explains how partners can start a conversation about household labor. (32:37) How to address breakdowns in the division of labor. (38:11) The importance of having conversations about gender roles. (41:04) Links and resources: https://mcusercontent.com/ce5f549395234febf46aa4ac6/files/201bb852-e042-6945-5f39-59826fb2a7b5/MR_Flyer_Version_en_Espanol_Papas_que_trabajan_.pdf (Mindful Return's Spanish Language Working Dad Course)  http://soysuperpapa.com/ (Soy Super Papa)   Mentioned in this episode: Get the new book: Relationships to Infinity, the Art and Science of Keeping In Touch from Ready, Set, Launch Head over to www.readysetlaunch.net to grab your copy of the book, Relationships to Infinity, the Art and Science of Keeping In Touch. https://parents-at-work.captivate.fm/relationshipbook (Ready Set Launch Book)

In this episode, Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin took a detour from their usual pattern of interviewing moms and dads in different industries and sectors to discuss an issue that all working parents struggle with - how household labor gets divided. They have created a two-part series of special guests to dive into this important, juicy, and emotionally-charged topic!  Today, Lori and Jason are delighted to welcome Eve Rodsky to the podcast. Eve is a mom and a working parent celebrity. She is the author of the New York Times best-selling book Fair Play: A Game-Changing Solution for When You Have Too Much to Do (and More Life to Live). She is also the author of the brand-new book, Find Your Unicorn Space: Reclaim Your Creative Life in a Too-Busy World.  Eve is a lawyer, and she has done extensive work in family mediation, strategy, and organizational management. She is married to Seth, and they have three children. Zach is thirteen, Ben is ten, and Anna is five.  In this episode of Parents at Work, Eve unpacks the relationship evolution that takes place in a marriage after the children come along. She shares the Fair Play origin story, explains the power of having systems in place, and plays a game with the Fair Play cards to help couples understand how baggage and assumptions make things emotionally charged.  Tune into today's conversation to learn about the value of systems and find out how couples can share household chores without triggering each other. Show highlights: Eve talks about her first job as a bar mitzvah dancer. (4:16) How Eve started helping parents communicate better. (7:24) Eve explains why things become so emotionally charged in the home after the children start to arrive. (12:38) Eve plays a game with her Fair Play cards and explains what they represent. (14:10) Playing with the Fair Play cards helps people understand the baggage that tends to get caught up in the division of labor in the home. (23:46) Fair Play is an ownership mindset and a no excuse zone. Eve explains how it started to work in her home. (24:07) It is vital to understand the context of why people do things. (26:45) Why are systems vital in the home? (30:00) How to unlock the secret formula for boundaries, distance, and communication and start the conversation. (36:49) What allowed Eve to feel that she had started to make progress with issues around the division of labor in her home? (39:47) How to reframe or replace toxic messages and create a new way forward. (43:40) Eve talks about the Fair Play documentary. (48:44) Mentioned in this episode: Provide an Employee Benefit for Moms Returning After Maternity Leave Join over 75 companies who currently provide an employee benefit course to new Moms. Mindful Return is a 4 week course that will help your employee retention at this critical time in your employee's life. https://parents-at-work.captivate.fm/for-employers (Mindful Return Course Ad)

Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin continue with their tradition of interviewing moms and dads in different industries and sectors. In this episode of Parents at Work, Lori and Jason focus on the narrow yet important niche of dads in executive search and interview the dynamic dads, Julian Ha and Patrick Gray!  Julian has been an Executive Search Consultant for more than fifteen years. He is a former corporate attorney, venture capitalist, and investment banker. He is a partner with Heidrick & Struggles, based in Washington DC, and a member of the firm's CEO and Board practice. He leads the firm's global Government Affairs and Trade Association work and co-leads their Professionals of Color Employee Resource Group. Julian has been married to his wife, Annette, for almost twenty years. They have two teenage boys, a ten-year-old daughter, and a rescue dog called Blake. Patrick is a former US Army Intelligence Officer. He has been an Executive Search Consultant for almost twenty years. He established the DC area office in the Aerospace and Defence practice at Raines International, and he leads their Industrial practice. Raines is an executive search and leadership advisory firm with nine offices.  Patrick has been married to his wife, Megan, for 24 years, and they have four children. Aiden is 21, Colin is 18, Rylan is 15, and Tristan is 13. Today, Julian and Patrick share candidly about their lives as working parents. They talk about what it is like to be dads in executive search and dive into workplace flexibility, support, normalizing paternity leave, and shaping the conversation around working parenthood.  Stay tuned today to hear Julian and Patrick's uplifting working dad stories! Show highlights: Patrick's working parent story started in graduate school. (3:31) Julian and his wife, Annette, wanted their kids to have an American suburban experience. (6:26) Julian likes to be an equal partner. He is very involved in raising his kids. (8:57) Working in executive search, Julian has found more flexibility to do pick-ups and drop-offs and be more involved in his kids' activities. (9:59) Evolving technology in the executive search business has allowed Patrick more flexibility as a working dad. (10:56) Julian is fortunate to be part of a firm that is conscious of being collaborative, and in which parents are encouraged to support one another. (13:33) Patrick talks about the financial benefits available for families and the changing conversation around fathers taking parental leave. (16:04) Julian describes the pro-active support provided by his firm to allow fathers to take parental leave. (20:40) Parenthood has helped Patrick become more patient and empathetic over the years. (22:20) Being a parent has taught Julian time management skills and adaptability. (23:55) Patrick and Julian talk about their roles as dads in executive search to shape the conversation around working parenthood. (27:24) What can candidates do to work better with someone in executive search? (32:52) Patrick advises working parents to become resilient and learn to bounce back quickly! (39:04) Julian feels that flexibility is vital for working parents! (44:20) Links and resources: https://www.heidrick.com/en/ (Heidrick & Struggles) https://rainesinternational.com/aerospace-defense-and-government-services/ (The Aerospace, Defense, and Government Services at Raines Internationa)l https://www.aesc.org/ (The Association of Executive Search Consultants) https://www.blinkist.com/ (Blinkist) https://dailydad.com/ (The Daily Dad) Books mentioned: https://amzn.to/3vF0tOj (Relationships to Infinity: The Art and Science of Keeping in Touch, by Jason Levin) https://amzn.to/3F9SvzC (The 4-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss) Mentioned in this episode: Get the new book: Relationships to Infinity, the Art and Science of Keeping In Touch from Ready, Set, Launch Head over to www.readysetlaunch.net to grab your copy of the...

Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin are happy to be back after a winter hiatus! In this episode of Parents at Work, they pick up on their tradition of interviewing moms and dads in various industries and sectors. Today, Lori and Jason talk to two inspiring moms, Christina Cary and Debbie Tang, both professionals in executive search.   Christina is a partner at Heidrick & Struggles. Her search work focuses on functional roles in human resources, including CHRO, CPO, divisional and regional heads of HR, and centers of excellence leaders in talent management, talent acquisition, learning and development, HR operations, total rewards, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.  Christina is a member of the Georgetown University board of governors. She is a former president of Hoyas Unlimited, Georgetown's annual fundraising arm for athletics that supports excellence across all the university's 29 intercollegiate sports.  Christina's most important job is being a mom to her son Benjamin and daughter Abigail. Benjamin, known as Ben, Bennie, or Bubba, is a funny, curious, and loving little boy who will turn five in June. Abigail, also known as Abby, is a rambunctious, smiley, fearless little girl who will be two in April. Christina is married to Patrick (Pat), and the Carey family resides in Bethesda, Maryland. Debbie Tang is a partner at Bridge Partners, a black-owned executive search firm focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Debbie leads global executive searches in both the private and public sectors, from Fortune 100 companies to universities, non-profits, and government agencies. She recruits diverse senior executives across all functions, including CEO, CFO, General Counsels, Chief Legal Officers, Board, and regulatory leaders, in a wide variety of industries.  Debbie is actively involved in the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association of the District of Columbia. She is also on the board of the Washington Project for the Arts and the Norwood School. She received a BA degree from McGill University and a JD from Washington and Lee School of Law, where she served on the Editorial Board of The Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice. Debbie has a nine-year-old son, Ben, and a six-year-old daughter called C.C. In today's conversation, Christina and Debbie talk openly and honestly about being parents in executive search. They share their struggles, talk about workplace support systems, and get into finding the right work-life balance. They also discuss the value of developing relationships with colleagues who are also parents and the support systems they would like to have in the workplace.  Stay tuned today to hear Debbie and Christina's encouraging accounts of their lives as working moms. Show highlights: When Debbie started working crazy hours as an associate in big law before she became a mom, she used to wonder how the female partners with kids did it. (4:13) Christina has experienced a lot of parent flexibility in the executive search world. (7:55) Christina found the unpredictable world of executive search an excellent training ground for becoming a parent. (10:52) Now that Debbie has kids, she finally understands why high-powered executives sometimes make million-dollar career decisions based on their children. (13:08) Debbie explains why she found it easier to be a parent in executive search during the pandemic, when travel demands were reduced. (13:35) There are days when Christine feels that she is not doing what she needs to do in any area of her life - as a mom or at work. (14:25) Being mentored by a colleague who is a father of five has helped Christina immensely. (15:53) Heidrick & Struggles has recently implemented a formalized employee assistance program for anyone experiencing mental health issues. (17:00) At Bridge, they have two partners working on every search. That has made a world of difference to Debbie as a working parent. (18:01)...

In this episode of Parents at Work, Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin continue with their tradition of interviewing moms and dads in various professional roles.  Today, Lori and Jason talk to two amazing CEO dads, Bob Spagnoletti and Charles Bonello. Bob serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the District of Columbia Bar, and Charlie is the Co-founder and CEO of Vivvi, a provider of childcare and early education for children of all ages.  The District of Columbia Bar is the largest integrated bar in the United States, with over 110,000 members practicing in fifty states and more than eighty countries. Bob also serves as the Executive Vice President of the DC Bar Pro Bono Center, an independent 501(c)(3) affiliate of the DC Bar. The Pro Bono Center recruits, trains, and mobilizes volunteer attorneys to take pro bono cases, serving individuals living in poverty who are at risk of losing their homes, livelihoods, and families. Bob and his husband, Bernard, have been together for twenty years. They have two boys, Hunter and Anthony, and one grandson. Vivvi has programs across the country, including on-campus, in-home, in-office, and virtual tutoring. Vivvi partners with employers of all different sizes to make child care more accessible and affordable to provide parents with peace of mind and allow employers the most powerful tool for recruiting retention and productivity. Before co-founding Vivvi, Charlie co-founded Grand Central Tech and was a venture partner at RTP Ventures. He is a graduate of Tufts University and currently lives in New York with his wife and their three children.  In today's conversation, Bob and Charlie share their respective journeys as working fathers who also happen to be CEOs. Bob talks about his and his husband's experience of fostering and then adopting children as a same-sex couple. Charlie describes what it was like to go from an academic exercise in childcare to needing childcare in real life. They also discuss what it has been like, day-to-day, being both parents and CEOs, how their parenting experiences have enhanced their careers, and how their careers have helped them become better parents. Stay tuned to hear Bob and Charlie's inspiring stories! Show highlights: Bob talks about how his older son, Hunter, came to him and Bernard, as a foster child, in the mid-90s. (3:52) Bob and Bernard adopted Anthony many years after Hunter came into their lives. (4:58) Bob worked the whole time, and Bernard, a special-ed teacher, took time off work when they had Anthony. (5:45) Charlie got to see first-hand the impact that child care had on working families and their employers. That inspired him to go out and make things happen! (8:40) Although it took a lot of juggling, serving families in need of childcare during the desperate time of COVID motivated Charlie and his wife, a nurse, to keep on going out and driving their programs. (10:05) Being both a parent and a CEO can sometimes feel all-consuming. Charlie explains how he manages to cope with both roles successfully. (12:34) Being a parent and a CEO has sensitized Bob to the parental concerns and issues that members of his staff are facing. (15:01) It was helpful for Bob to have a diverse executive team, great work colleagues, flexibility, and the power to make operating decisions when he became a parent. (17:34) Offering free childcare to all his employees has proven to be the most impactful and effective recruiting, retention, and productivity tool ever for Charlie. (20:47) The DC Bar now has a policy in place that allows moms, dads, and adoptive parents to take time off after the birth of their children. (26:40) Back-up care is an essential resource for working parents. (30:21) Bob feels the need to jump in and fix things that are broken. As a parent, he has worked hard to figure out who needs to be addressing a problem before jumping in. (32:55) Parenthood has helped Charlie improve his communication and how he...

Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin are back after taking a break to take an 8,153-mile car trip across the country! In this episode of Parents at Work, Lori and Jason interview Christian Nunes and Radhika Patil, two inspiring CEO moms.   Christian Nunes, MBA, MS, LCSW, is the National President of the National Organization for Women (NOW). She has been the National President since August 2020. Before that, she was appointed Vice President by the board in May 2019. Christian is the second African American president in the organization's history, the youngest person of color, and the youngest president of the organization in more than 40 years. Christian leads the organization through an intersectional lens and brings together a diverse affiliation of grassroots activists to work against structural sexism and racism. In addition, Christian is the founder of a behavioral health and consulting practice. Her mental health expertise assists her in understanding the constituents' experience. It also helps her understand where policy and legislation are disconnected from the real experience of the people. Christian lives with her 2-year-old son, CJ, near Washington, D.C. Christian and CJ love taking short day trips to parks, outdoor festivals, zoos, and farms in the DMV area in their spare time. Radhika Patil is the co-founder and CEO of Cradlewise and mom to a 7-year old and a 4-year-old. Cradlewise is a baby tech company based in Silicon Valley. Their first product is a smart crib for babies with an integrated contactless baby monitor that automatically starts rocking along with music to soothe the baby back to sleep, just like a parent, at the first signs of wakeup. Since building the crib for her babies, Radhika has been on a sleep fitness mission to help other parents. Radhika's husband is the other co-founder of Cradlewise. In her spare time, Radhika loves to hike, garden, and read books with her kids.  In today's conversation, Christian and Radhika give open and candid accounts of their experiences as working parents who also happen to be CEOs of organizations. They talk about the workplace supports they enjoyed after becoming parents and those they would like to have had. They also discuss the career-related skills their parenthood experience helped them develop, recount parenthood-related micro-aggressions they have experienced, share their best advice for navigating life as a working parent, and much, much more! Stay tuned to hear the motivating and encouraging conversation with these two amazing working moms! Show highlights: Having her child later in life has made Christian's journey interesting, fun, and challenging. (4:33) There is more acceptance now than ever before for taking time off for kids. (7:10) It is sometimes hard for Radhika to separate her work from her personal life. (10:05) It can be challenging to find a healthy work-life balance while taking ownership of your life in the process. (14:02) Sometimes, you need to take some time to do things for yourself. (14:55) Christian's infant son went with her when she had to travel for work. (16:24) Since becoming the president of her organization, Christian has added extra support for working parents. (17:19) Having daycare on site where she worked would have been a game-changer for Radhika after her baby was born. (23:31) Having a toddler has helped Christian understand people's mood changes a lot better. (28:15) Coping with micro-aggressions and shaping the conversation around working parents. (32:01) Figuring out your goals as a CEO and as a parent. (36:44) Having a schedule is vital for working parents. (42:48) Links and resources: http://www.carer.com/ (Carer.Com)  http://audible.com/ (Audible) https://www.amazon.com/Welcome-Your-Childs-Brain-Conception/dp/1608199339 (Welcome to Your Child's Brain) by Sam Wang and Sandra Aamodt https://cradlewise.com/ (Cradlewise) https://now.org/ (National Organization for...

In this episode of Parents at Work, Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin interview Mark Versen and Dale Wright. Mark is the Chief Development Officer (CDO) of the Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska, Inc. In 2020, he set a record for total annual fundraising by hitting $7 Million including the largest gift in Lutheran Family Services history of the 128 years of $3 Million while surpassing 22% growth in total number of donors. Mark is a seasoned professional with experience in private and public higher education institutions and executive leadership in the health and human services non-profit sector. He's a firm believer that philanthropy changes lives. Mark and his wife Jesse have two children and they reside in Louisville, Nebraska. Dale is the Associate Dean and Chief Advancement Officer for the Grainger College of Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He's responsible for the strategy and operations on fundraising and constituent engagement, and he's the campaigns director for the college's $550 Million goal in the With Illinois $2.25 Billion comprehensive campaign. As of today, the college is at 109% of its goal. Over the last 20+ years, Dale has held a variety of alumni and fundraising engagement goals in higher education. He's an active CASE volunteer and also holds membership in organizations such as the African American Development Officers Network and The Association of Fundraising Professionals. He's also involved in other non-profit work as well including serving on the executive committee of the board of directors for the American Legion, Boys State of Missouri. Dale loves his family and knows he wouldn't be where he is today without the support of his wife and his four daughters.  It's going to be a really interesting episode as these two dads talk about the most exciting things in fundraising, how they look at things from a completely different angle in order to change advancement, the power of integrating ones family into their work, and the working parenthood challenges they've successfully navigated all through their careers. Tune in and get inspired. Show Highlights Dramatic ups and downs Mark went through when he unexpectedly fell into his working parent journey (03:36) The value of having an incredible community of 120+ helpers (07:01) How Dale and his wife were able to navigate being first time parents and working on their thriving careers (08:48) Learning to turn off the fundraising mode whenever it's time to go be a parent (15:41) Mark's experience with being a parent who works as a fundraising professional (19:00) Parental workplace support systems that they have benefitted from all through their careers (25:13) Moving away from the previous way of doing things in fundraising to focus more on relationship building (29:59) Finding a way to shut things off in a constantly connected world (33:49) Why we should be mindful of the habits that we pick up (35:33) Links and Resources https://www.amazon.com/Good-Great-Some-Companies-Others/dp/0066620996 (Good to Great By Jim Collins) https://www.amazon.com/All-Labor-Dignity-King-Legacy/dp/0807086029 (All Labor Has Dignity By Martin Luther King Jr.) https://www.mindfulreturn.com/freemie/ (What's a Freemie? A genius invention for working parents) https://readysetlaunch.net/ (Jason's Website) https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonlevincareercoach/ (Jason on Linkedin) https://www.mindfulreturn.com/ (Lori's Website) https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorimihalichlevin/ (Lori on Linkedin)

In this episode of Parents at Work, Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin interview two amazing working moms who are leaders in the fundraising profession, Pradnya Haldipur and Kara Barnes.  Pradnya Haldipur is the Vice President of Development at Code.org, where she leads fundraising and philanthropic strategy. She has more than 24 years of development and management experience in a myriad of national and international settings. She went to Code.org with experience from prestigious academic medical institutions such as Children's National Medical Center in Washington DC, Mount Sinai Health System in New York City, and Boston Children's Hospital, as well as think tanks, global development organizations, and the arts. Over the course of her career, she has raised more than $145M to support research, capital projects, endowment, operations, and programmatic projects.  Pradnya was born in Mumbai, India but grew up in New Jersey. She resides in Silver Spring, MD, with her husband Joe Clemons, their children, Mirza Cate (age 8) and Xavier Anant (age 6) who are avid Code.org users. Kara Barnes is the Senior Director of Planned Giving at American University in Washington D.C. where she helps donors structure gift arrangements that create a meaningful legacy at the university and positive change in the world. She has over 20 years of experience in non-profit fundraising, with a focus on major gifts and planned giving. She has served in development positions in the arts and public media as well as higher education. Kara is a proud mid-westerner and lives in Washington D.C. with her husband Dave and son Lewis. Pradnya and Kara share the tensions and benefits of being working moms involved in mission-based roles that they are very passionate about, and how they manage to stay committed to their work and families while maintaining good physical and mental health. You won't want to miss this truly engaging conversation about boundaries, relationship-building, and passion.. The lessons to learn are unmatched. So stay tuned! Show Highlights Being a mom while moving the mission forward at work (03:15) Kara's working mom story: Integrating her love and passion for fundraising into her family life (05:11) How to go about boundary setting between work and family (09:11) The lack of more extensive maternity leave policies and the harm it causes (12:15) Anticipated changes in non-profits that will be geared towards better support systems for their employees (17:02) Changes happening in the fundraising industry that will affect working parents (21:32) How having children has made these leaders more successful in their careers (25:20) Forming great work relationships from the authenticity of inviting who you are and your family life into your work related interactions (28:14) Kara's way of staying grounded in her work and family life (32:12) Adopting a mindset of loving both work and home life while using technology to achieve balance (35:37) Links and Resources https://pepparent.org/ (Positive Encouragement Parenting) https://www.mindfulreturn.com/freemie/ (What's a Freemie? A genius invention for working parents) https://readysetlaunch.net/ (Jason's Website) https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonlevincareercoach/ (Jason on Linkedin) https://www.mindfulreturn.com/ (Lori's Website) https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorimihalichlevin/ (Lori on Linkedin)

In this episode of Parents at Work, Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin interview Jewelyn Cosgrove, a government affairs professional in Washington D.C. Jewelyn currently serves Melwood, a 501(c)(3) organization serving people with disabilities, as the Vice President of government relations, bringing with her 15 years of experience in public policy, lobbying, and advocacy. Outside of work, Jewelyn is passionate about elevating the needs of mothers and families and serves as the treasurer of Raising Our Future Political Action Committee, a PAC that’s aimed at electing congressional candidates that prioritize the needs of families.  Jewelyn’s work has been focused on promoting and empowering parents to negotiate and advocate for their needs. She lives in Asheville, Virginia with her husband Greg, two children, and their two amazing cats. She is an alumna of the Mindful Return program and continues to serve the program as a coach to new mums. Jewelyn shares how Lori’s program, Mindful Return, helped her with her career and motherhood and highlights the fact that being a working mom, especially with more than one kid, means more work and a bigger family that you'll want to keep happy and strong.  Organizational skills become more important than ever when you mix in growing your career, and Jewelyn has learned to manage “balancing” her time on a weekly basis, instead of getting obsessed about day-to-day work-life balance. You’ll want to join this lively conversation to learn more about life as a parent who works on Capitol Hill, the challenges of working in government affairs and parenting at the same time, navigating challenging conversations with your kids, and most importantly, how to figure out your own effective way of successfully parenting your kids while growing your career. Show Highlights Parenting her 5 and 2-year-old children (03:08) Finding Mindful Return and how she was able to recreate and reimagine herself and her career (03:43) Thriving at balancing things over a week instead of being too focused on work-life balance on a daily basis (05:13) What it’s like being a parent in a government relations role (07:46) Explaining her workdays to her kids in an age-appropriate manner (10:34) How she applies her skill in managing disagreements on the hill into managing disagreements with her kids (12:26) The most fulfilling thing about her work with Raising Our Future (15:54) Having a wonderful boss who supported her in her needs both as a parent and career woman (18:12) Support that she expects parents to get from their workplaces in this day and age (21:02) Working in the environment of uncertainty and new ways of doing things brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic (25:09) Remembering who “The Enemy” is when the going gets tough (29:32) How Freemies changed her working parenting life (32:32) Links and Resources   Hunt, Gather, Parent: What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us About the Lost Art of Raising Happy, Helpful Little Humans by Michaeleen Doucleff What's a Freemie? A genius invention for working parents Jason's Website Jason on Linkedin Lori's Website Lori on Linkedin  

In this episode of Parents at Work, Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin interview two working dads who work in government relations: Clif Porter and Jeff McNichols.  Clif is the Senior Vice President of government relations at the American Healthcare Association (AHCA) and the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL), which represents more than 14,000 for-and not-for-profit nursing homes, assisted living residences, and facilities for the care of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.   He has been married for 31 years and has three children (Chanel, 28, Christian, 25, and Clifton, 22). He has served in various leadership positions within his local church and has been actively involved in several professional and community organizations. Jeff is the Director of the Alliance for Congress at the Partnership for Public Service, a new program committed to strengthening the institution of congress to better serve the American public. His career in government affairs began in 2004 when he left the Navy to work as a congressional staffer. Subsequent opportunities took him to the Department of Defence and the Boston Consulting Group. Jeff has been married for eight years and has two children (ages 5 and 3) The four of us dug into the life cycle of a government relations career, what it’s like to work as a congressional staffer, the adjustments to make when one has to constantly travel for work to ensure that they still stay engaged as a parent, creating a work environment where parents feel that their family life is considered, thriving at raising kids while building a successful career, and so much more. Cliff and Jeff’s candor on their experience as working parents in the government relations space was not just incredibly insightful but inspirational. Stay tuned for more. Show Highlights Clif’s “Quarterback and running back” working parent story (02:56) Being an older dad: John’s joyous experience as a working parent (05:27) How working in government service has been beneficial in achieving work-life balance (07:42) Why working as a congressional staffer is a “Young person’s game” (09:00) The parental friction and challenges that Jeff had to overcome when his government affairs career started picking up (11:45) Adjustments to make when you have to travel for work and need to stay engaged in your parental role (13:17) Having an honest conversation with your boss towards helping you achieve work-life balance that will support your parenting efforts (16:35) Leading employees who are parents and being sensitive to their needs (18:07) Workplace supports that Jeff found helpful as he became a working parent (20:07) Transitioning into the non-profit sector from government relations, at a time when the federal government is so far behind in providing support structures for working parents (22:00) Current changes in government relations that are affecting working parents (26:52) The broad impact of the merger of working life and real life (29:25) Best piece of advice from Jeff for navigating life as a working parent (31:20) Valuing coordination between parents and how powerful it really is (34:17) Flying the Kite: Achieving big things by celebrating small victories (36:14) Links and Resources Win the Day By Dr. Mark Batterson Jason's Website Jason on Linkedin Lori's Website Lori on Linkedin

In this episode of Parents at Work, Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin interview Nedra Pickler. Nedra is a partner at the global public affairs firm, Finsbury Glover Hering, where she advises clients on communications strategy, including crisis communications, reputation management, thought leadership, and brand awareness. She brings deep perspective from inside the media after 17 years at The Associated Press and as a commentator on television and radio. Nedra covered the George W. Bush and Barack Obama presidencies, and the 2004 and 2008 presidential campaigns.  Nedra is a single mother to two amazing young boys and has successfully managed to thrive in her career despite the numerous challenges and bumps in the road that come with juggling the two. From constantly travelling on the campaign trail as a journalist covering presidential politics to dealing with different working parent challenges in the different roles she’s held throughout her career, Nedra has always found ways to make sure that she strikes some kind of balance between work and parenting her boys.  In this conversation, she talks about the advantages of working in public relations as a working parent and expresses her concerns about the issue of paid leave in America. At the end of this episode, you’ll have learned so much about how you can make it work as a working parent in a way that suits you and your kids, so don’t miss out. Show Highlights The working parent challenge of being on the campaign trail as a journalist covering presidential politics (03:01) How her mum “The Granny Nanny” enabled her to thrive in her career (04:16) Transitioning from journalism into government relations and some of the positive surprises that came with it (05:21) Why working in public affairs and government relations may just be the best job for you as a working parent (10:10) Types of workplace supports that were helpful for her as a parent (11:56) The value of having the one day a week work at home day and the need for paid leave in America (15:17) Why you should get the Gizmo Watch for your kids (18:53) Making sure you spend quality time with your kids, not being too hard on yourself and lowering your expectations (20:40) Links and Resources Why the White House Isn’t a Place for Mothers to Work, But Should Be Jason's Website Jason on Linkedin Lori's Website Lori on Linkedin

In this episode of Parents at Work, Lori welcomes to the podcast her husband and new co-host, Jason Levin, MBA. Jason is the founder of Ready Set Launch, LLC where he helps organizations, professional associations, executives and lawyers with career transition and business development needs through outplacement, individual coaching, training and webinars. Jason comes on as a guest to share his own experience with parenting (during a pandemic!) while also holding down a job and working for himself in his own business.  Jason shares some empowering and actionable tips on everything from how to thrive at working from home with kids in the house, to how you can get your employer to be more accommodating of your needs as a working parent, and so much more. Tune in for a jam-packed 20-minute episode. Show Highlights Jason’s personal working parent journey: Working for someone and also going out on his own while being a parent (01:47) Setting clear goals on what you need to get done and how working for yourself goes back to sales (03:45) Concentrating on work when working from home especially during the pandemic (06:08) The Wall: How he created space for himself so he could focus more on achieving his work goals (08:30) The number one career tip for working parents as they ease back into the post Covid-19 vaccine world (09:50) How to recenter yourself throughout the day to be consistently focused (10:54) Navigating a world where the industry you worked for or your career was turned on its head by the Covid-19 pandemic (12:11) How to approach and negotiate with your employer to keep you while enabling you to parent better (18:07)   Links and Resources To Sell is Human By Daniel Pink Jason@ReadySetLaunch.net Jason's Website Jason on Linkedin Lori's Website Lori on Linkedin

Being a working parent can be a long and intimidating journey, but we are fortunate to live in a time when there is an array of resources to support you on your path. Today’s guest is none other than Tom Spiggle, founder of the Parents at Work Podcast and Spiggle Law, an employment law firm. Co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin interviews Tom about his inspiration for starting the podcast, as well as his own personal journey as a working parent. Join Lori and Tom in this conversation for tips on how to navigate your working parent journey and to say farewell to Tom in his co-host role. Show Highlights:  Lori shares the story of Parents at Work  Tom shares his personal working parent story  Why Tom chose to educate people on the prejudices that happen in the workplace  What sparked Tom’s interest in employment law  Key take-aways from Tom’s book, You’re Pregnant, You’re Fired  Tom shares his experiences being a podcast host Consistent themes Tom’s seen throughout his interviews Tom talks about why he started the “I Got Fired” podcast  Tom’s favorite working parent technology and resources The importance of acknowledging the passing in parenthood Closing advice for the audience and Lori      Links:  https://www.spigglelaw.com https://www.mindfulreturn.com   Contact Lori:  Lori@mindfulreturn.com   Resources:  https://www.google.com/calendar/about/ https://www.paprikaapp.com https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/All-Joy-and-No-FunJennifer-Senior/1114315283?ean=9780062072269

In today’s episode, Tom Spiggle and Lori Mihalich-Levin interview two engineer dads about their experience as working parents. We are joined by Matt Jensen, Business Owner and Senior Project Manager at Kimley-Horn, who has been an engineer manager and structural design specialist for over 20 years. We were also joined by Paul Andrukonis, Director of Personalization for Citi’s US Consumer Digital organization.  Both dads share what it’s like to be a parent in the engineering field, as well as the cultural shifts that have been happening in the workplace. They discuss the importance of empathy and how client relationships have been impacted by developing a more common understanding, along with tangible tips on how to utilize a more flexible schedule. Join Tom Spiggle and Lori Mihalich-Levin in this interview to learn more about what it’s like to be a working dad in the engineering field.    Show Highlights:  Matt and Paul share their experiences as working parents  Having clear expectations of tasks is vital to successful co-parenting, when you’re both working parents  Matt and Paul share what it’s like to be a working parent as an engineer  The ability to work remotely and having a supportive community are huge benefits to working in engineering  Having parental leave for fathers and shared messaging are two work-place supports Paul wishes he would have had  Having easy access to work within your schedule can help you be much more efficient as a working parent  Back-up childcare is a great benefit for companies to offer It’s okay to ask to have flexibility with clients and to do things at home  Being grateful for what you have and trying to be understanding of others is important to help build empathy and be an effective working-parent  Matt and Paul share digital resources they use to make parenthood easier  Finding time for self-care is important to be your best self    Links:  https://www.spigglelaw.com https://www.mindfulreturn.com Contact Lori:  Lori@mindfulreturn.com

What is it like to be a mom in a field where only 15% of practitioners are women?  In this episode of the Parents at Work Podcast, we interview Dhruva Lahon and Victoria Hills, who share what it’s like to be working mom engineers.  They talk about the experience of being managed, of managing others, and of parenting during COVID.  They also share how they found supports in this male-dominated field, along with how they leaned on family and friends and adopted flexible hours.  Join Tom Spiggle and Lori Mihalich-Levin in this knowledge-filled and inspiring conversation.    Show Highlights:    How having children changed Dhruva’s work life  Victoria shares how having children changed her work life  What it’s like to be a parent in the engineering field What it’s like to be a woman engineer  Beneficial work supports that Dhruva had as a new working parent  Work supports Dhruva wished she had  Work Supports that improved Victoria’s working parent experience  Why extended maternity leave improves the working parent experience and is an excellent retention tool How AI and technology is impacting working parents  Why you should utilize support from and for other moms in your workplace  Resources to navigate life as a working parent Why you should take life one day at a time    Links:    https://www.spigglelaw.com   https://www.mindfulreturn.com   Contact Lori:    Lori@mindfulreturn.com     Resources:    https://www.google.com/calendar/about/

Being a working parent looks different for every career, every family, and every parent. In today’s episode, Robin Smith, licensed marriage and family therapist shares his experience as a working dad in the mental health field. He shares wise insights, including the self-inflected pressure that can occur as a parent from having heightened awareness as a mental health professional, the shifts happening due to COVID-19, what it looks like to have grace and compassion for yourself and your children, and the many elements of being self-employed. Join Tom Spiggle and Lori Mihalich-Levin in this interview for incredible insight and advice from Robin Smith.    Show Highlights:  Robin shares his working parent story and how he navigated parental leave  Robin talks about how COVID has impacted his profession and how he’s used positive reinforcement to make a better environment to work at home  There’s great diversity in the experiences mental health professionals have  How being a mental health professional impacts work-life balance  Being a mental health professional can increase the strive for perfectionism and the feelings of shame when it isn’t met  Being self-employed can allow for flexibility but also means there are no professional supports  Why Robin wishes he would’ve had working dad groups to talk with during transitioning into parenthood  Transitioning into a digital space has been a major shift and has been difficult for many therapists  How will COVID change the future of therapy  Why intentionality is more important now than ever before  Why we should start with having self-compassion as a working-parent  Robin shares books and technology that have helped him on his working-parent journey    Links:  https://www.spigglelaw.com https://www.mindfulreturn.com Contact Lori:  Lori@mindfulreturn.com Resources:  The Expectant Father And Baby Makes Three    

This month, we’re focusing on moms and dads in the mental health field. And today we‘re delighted to be joined by two working moms who are mental health professionals, Dr. Elizabeth Allen and Dr. Aimee Danielson, to talk about navigating life as a working parent. Dr. Elizabeth Allen is an assistant professor of psychology and clinical psychiatry, and she’s also an assistant attending psychologist. She specializes in treating adolescents and young adults with anxiety disorders and OCD. Liz lives in New York, and she’s the mom of two girls, ages one and three.  Dr. Aimee Danielson is an associate professor of psychiatry and OB-Gyn, and she’s the director of a women’s mental health program that provides treatment and support for pregnant and postpartum women. Aimee has had the privilege of working with mothers every day for the last twenty years, supporting them through their transitions into motherhood. She lives with her very supportive partner and her three wonderful daughters, ages seven, ten, and thirteen, in Arlington, Virginia.   Be sure to listen in today, to benefit from Liz and Aimee‘s expertise, and to find out what they bring from their jobs to the way that they’re parenting their children.  Show highlights: Liz and Aimee share their working parent stories. Aimee talks about why she felt privileged, informed, and ready when she became a mother.   Aimee discusses the choice that she and her husband had to make when their eldest daughter was born with a serious health condition.  Aimee talks about the flexibility, creativity, and surrender that’s required from working parents. Looking at the different seasons of parenthood. Aimee explains why she feels that the mental health field is a good environment for working women. Some of the challenges of being a working mom in the mental health field. Liz talks about her experience of being a working mom in the mental health space. Being promoted and rising through the ranks can be difficult for working moms with small children. The kind of support that Liz and Aimee found helpful when they became working parents. The kind of support that Aimee and Liz would like to have had when they became parents. Transitioning from a work identity into a parent identity is important and can be difficult for men, when colleagues don’t know they became a parent. Women are feeling that they have to re-invent the wheel. Some things that would help working parents, going forward. Links:  Contact Lori:  https://www.mindfulreturn.com Lori@mindfulreturn.com    The Working Parent Group Network    Contact Tom:  https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/ For a copy of “You’re pregnant, You’re fired”- tom@spigglelaw.com    Resources: Books mentioned: Laughter and Tears: The Emotional Life of New Mothers, by Elisabeth Bing and Libby Colman Cribsheet, by Emily Oster  Expecting Better, by Emily Oster Back To work After Baby, by Lori Mihalich-Levin The Awesomest 7 Year Postdoc or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Tenure-Track Faculty Life, by Professor Radhika Nagpal on the Scientific American blog. App: Carpool Kids 

COVID-19 has seemingly shifted everything about our work force and our family dynamics. As many of us are working from home and have children who are also now occupying that space, it can be a process to find a routine that works for everyone.    Today Tom Spiggle and co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin share what has worked for them in their shift to working from home and actionable tips for parents to find some small amount of sanity in their work and parenting.. Join Tom and Lori to learn more about how you can integrate a schedule and use connections to make your at-home experience as productive as possible.    Show Highlights:    What staying home has looked like for Lori’s family  How creating a schedule and focusing on the present can create a smoother transition to working from home  How Tom’s family is adjusting to COVID-19 shifts  Dealing with the struggles that accompany work shifts for employees and parents  The struggles of keeping children occupied and balancing work from home  Protections that accompany leave  Action steps to find peace amongst chaos  Reaching out to others and connecting as a community    Links:    Contact Lori:    https://www.mindfulreturn.com   Email Lori for Free Webinar on “How to Go Back to Work After Parental Leave” on April  2nd    Lori@mindfulreturn.com    Contact Tom:    https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/   For a copy of “You’re pregnant, You’re fired”- tom@spigglelaw.com 

Professionals who work in corporate social responsibility often exude a passion for making a difference in their jobs.  What happens when CSR professionals are also passionate about their families?   In today’s interview, Tom Spiggle and co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin interview Justin Steele and Brian Breckenridge, to take a deep look at what it means to be a dad in the social impact field.   Justin Steele, Director at Google.org and leader of philanthropic grantmaking for the United States, Canada, and Latin America, shares how his position at Google has supported and improved his parenting experience. He discusses the benefits of a flexible work arrangement and how the trajectory of how we work as a society has drastically affected what it looks like to be a parent today.  Brian Breckenridge, Senior Director and Executive Director at Box.org, also shares the different dynamics of his family experience and how he’s incorporated mindfulness into his parenting techniques and career.  Join Tom Spiggle and co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin in this interview for great insight on not only the major impacts CSR is making today, but for practical tips to balance work and parent life.  Show Highlights:  Justin’s working parent story and what it was like having kids while in graduate school Brian’s working parent story and how his family journey has shifted over the years  How being a parent or spouse generally affects a career in the CSR industry  Interweaving work with parenthood and how CSR work can impact your children  How having a flexible work arrangement has been the greatest support for Justin  How work culture and managers can drastically impact working parents  The many benefits of CSR and the progressive approaches it’s taking with employees Changes occurring within the industry that are affecting working parents  Protecting emotional energy in a career that demands long hours and technological attention  Being conscious of phone use and time spent on social media outside of workspace  Finding balance in different areas of life and prioritizing how we invest our time  Critical resources for parents  Incorporating optimal living and mindfulness practices into parenting    Links:  Contact Lori:  https://www.mindfulreturn.com Lori@mindfulreturn.com  Contact Tom:  https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/ For a copy of “You’re pregnant, You’re fired”- tom@spigglelaw.com    Resources:  The Meritocracy Trap by Daniel Marovitch Just Enough by Laura Nash https://families.google.com/familylink/ https://www.mindfulschools.org/inspiration/mindful-reflection/ https://www.life360.com How Will You Measure Your Life by Clayton Christensen

Today’s guests, Abby Davisson and Anne Wintroub, are both mothers in the field of corporate social responsibility (CSR, or corporate impact).  Abby, Senior Director at the Gap Foundation, launched and currently leads the employee network group for working parents at Gap Inc. She shares what her experience as a working parent at Gap Inc. has been, what her hiring and leave process looked like, as well as what inspired her to launch the employee network group. Anne, leader of social innovation at AT&T, discusses the many benefits of being a working parent in social impact and how her position has given her a new perspective on parenting and empowering kids with respect to media and technology..  Join Tom Spiggle and co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin in these captivating interviews to learn more about the shifts that are happening in corporate impact, how these shifts are affecting working parents, and raising socially conscious children, along with great tips for new parents.  Show Highlights:    Abby’s working parent story and how she made her career shift during pregnancy Abby’s experience being a mom in a corporate social impact position and how managers can improve unconscious bias towards pregnancy leave  What is corporate impact and how the field has shifted over the years  Support systems that made transitioning back to work easier  Systems that would improve the working parent experience  What inspired Abby to launch the employee network group for working parents  Changes that are currently happening in corporate impact and how it’s impacting working parents  Implementing the 10/10/10 model for making decisions  Resources Abby utilizes as a working parent   Anne’s working parent story and how her leave experience varied with each child Workplace supports that improved Anne’s experience returning from work Supports that would improve working parents’ experiences  How paying attention to positive digital culture and digital toxicity is changing the working parent experience  What is digital toxicity and encouraging young people to find their voice technology and media  Letting go of expectations as a parent and being light with yourself  Resources that Anne utilizes as a working parent    Links:    Contact Lori:    https://www.mindfulreturn.com   Lori@mindfulreturn.com    Contact Tom:    https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/   For a copy of “You’re pregnant, You’re fired”- tom@spigglelaw.com    Resources:  The Opposite of Spoiled by Ron Leiber https://www.babyconnect.com Apple Watch Series 5  

Today’s guests, Drs. Steve Silvestro and George “Chaucer” Hwang discuss a variety of shifts and systems within the medical profession that are affecting the lives of physician parents. Both guests embody an array of roles - Dr. Steve is a pediatrician, bone marrow harvesting physician, mindfulness educator and host of the award-winning podcast, The Child Repair Guide, while George is an anesthesiologist, runs an entertainment company in China, and works with a clinic focused on treating depression. Yet above all else, both guests are dads doing their best to juggle their passion for helping others, nurturing creative outlets, and being a parent.  Join Tom Spiggle and co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin in this conversation to learn more about how juggling medical residency with parenthood children, the vitality of a support group, how the internet is impacting the medical field, and so much more.  Show Highlights:  Steve’s personal parent working story and how he prepared  How residency can affect having children  George’s personal working story and how he balanced other passions  What it’s like to be a dad in medicine and the shift in wellness occurring in the field  Beneficial workplace supports that Steve and George experienced  The impact of environment and having close friends within the work place  Systems the medical field could improve to support working parents  How telemedicine is affecting physician parents – and all parents Optimizing time spent with your kids  Learning to manage finances in a way that supports priorities  Finding a balance between striving for more and accepting what is    Links:  Contact Lori:  https://www.mindfulreturn.com Lori@mindfulreturn.com  Contact Tom:  https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/ For a copy of “You’re pregnant, You’re fired”- amiller@spigglelaw.com 

Being a mom in the medical field comes with its own unique rewards, but also its own challenges. Today, Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine and Medical Director, Dr. Nawl Johansen, shares her experience of being a working parent in the clinical field. She describes many of the challenges mothers face in finding time to have children in the midst of a challenging career and how to navigate time windows as efficiently as possible.  This episode is full of tangible advice on how to practice compassion towards yourself and others that parents in any work field can benefit from. Join Lori Mihalich-Levin in this episode for authentic insights on being a physician mom.  Show Highlights:  Dr. Nawal’s working parent story  What it’s like to be a mom in medicine  Knowledge gained from parenthood that is applicable to medicine  Helpful programs and systems for transitioning into parenthood  Establishing your value in the workplace to allow flexibility in your schedule  Navigating time to pump during windows between work  Finding the courage to ask for help and get a parent support group  Struggles of having children during residency  How the health care system is evolving to keep physicians fulfilled and avoid burnout  Allowing yourself grace and space for gratitude   Resources to survive life as a working parent  Ways to practice self-compassion and mindfulness  Advice to avoid unnecessary technology use  Ways to carve a career path that support the life you want    Links:  Contact Lori:  https://www.mindfulreturn.com Lori@mindfulreturn.com    Resources:  https://self-compassion.org https://www.agreatergoodfoundation.org http://ccare.stanford.edu/

Being a dad in the accounting industry looks different for everyone.  With different roles and different types of employers, some accountants are in the office all day, while others work remotely or from client sites.    Today’s guests, Kevin Stout and Jevon Knowles, talk about the benefits, flexibility, and struggles of being a working parent as an accountant. With over 18 years of experience in different positions, Kevin has a unique take on how to prioritize family and create a strong workplace culture. Javon’s position as an audit partner at BDO has also allowed him to give insightful advice on how to optimize so-called “work-life balance.”    Join Tom Spiggle and co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin in this interview for an array of diverse and tangible tips.    Show Highlights:    Kevin and Javon’s personal working parent stories What it’s like to be a dad in the accounting industry  The importance of integrating family into the workplace  Building stability and support in order to have a successful working parent career  Creating flexibility in roles to accommodate circumstances  Evaluating delaying parenthood to establish a successful career  How the profession has shifted throughout the past few years   The benefits of networking with other working parents  How accountant shortages are affecting employers’ approach to recruiting and retaining working parents The impact of technology within accounting and family life  Resources and technology to improve work and parenting  Finding balance in your priorities  Optimizing resources to have difficult conversations with your children    Links:    Contact Lori:    https://www.mindfulreturn.com   Lori@mindfulreturn.com    Contact Tom:    https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/   Resources:    https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dont-sweat-the-small-stuff-and-its-all-small-stuff-richard-carlson/1101004106?ean=9781567318791&st=PLA&sid=BNB_ADL+Core+Good+Home+-+Desktop+Low&sourceId=PLAGoNA&dpid=tdtve346c&2sid=Google_c&gclid=CjwKCAjw2qHsBRAGEiwAMbPoDJXgEGUK0yCtwJ3WfTT5P1LEyRwSe9OqfM6JaxvoHFhBPmBXa1zztRoCjoUQAvD_BwE#/   https://www.google.com/calendar/about/   https://www.vitalsmarts.com/crucial-conversations-training/   http://home.gc.com/2017-high-school-baseball-scorekeeping/?ads_adid=15199971361&ads_cmpid=256380361&ads_creative=379673839905&ads_matchtype=b&ads_network=g&ads_targetid=kwd-48010293944&ttv=2&utm_campaign=2018-bats-paid&utm_medium=ppc&utm_source=_PLUS_gamechanger&utm_term=%2Bgamechanger&utm_content={adid}&gclid=CjwKCAjw2qHsBRAGEiwAMbPoDESSmSaIaDnY5AXdaaT7k67C46Xljr4SiQA7mHHfBRS-g2indHvGuxoCyNcQAvD_BwE

What is the life of a parent accountant like?  While public accounting may offer an array of benefits, such as a flexible schedule and paid parental leave, there are also struggles and client demands that accompany work in this profession. This episode explores what it looks like to be a mom in the accounting field with working parents, Jennifer Todling and Aneika Perez.    Both Jennifer and Anika are employees of Ernst & Young and have an abundance of tangible advice for working mothers, no matter where you work. Join Tom Spiggle and co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin in this conversation as they dive into the importance of self-care, developing self-awareness and the emotional identity transition of becoming a working mom.     Show Highlights:    Jennifer and Aneika’s working parent stories  What it’s like to be a parent in the accounting industry  Shifting with the unpredictability and flexibility of accounting and parenthood  Releasing yourself of the “should’s” and creating an encouraging community within the work place Support systems that are helpful for parents within accounting  The importance of self-discovery and establishing a relationship with yourself  Navigating the transition and emotions of coming back to work as a new parent  The impact of having a support system and lactation support  Embracing changes within the industry and staying connected  Letting go of expectations and allowing things to unfold organically  Resources that enhance the working-parent experience, including transition coaching  How to use time blocking successfully    Links:    Contact Lori:    https://www.mindfulreturn.com   Lori@mindfulreturn.com    Contact Tom:    https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/   Resources:    The Awakened Family   https://www.mindfulreturn.com/back-work-baby-book/   http://www.thefifthtrimester.com   https://daretolead.brenebrown.com

Today’s episode dives behind the scenes of the lives of three moms in the Tech industry. As parents and career-oriented women, Henri Loh, Shadiah Sigala, and Vanessa Loder have a lot on their plates. As entrepreneurs in Tech and leaders of parent groups, each woman has a unique experience to share in this interview. Henri, Shadiah, and Vanessa reveal shifts happening in the current workplace and take a look at how the structures reflect on moms and dads.  In this episode, they discuss the importance of establishing fundamental paid parental leave policies, ramp-up benefits, and the necessity of childcare support. Join Tom Spiggle and co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin in this episode to learn more about what it’s like to be a mother in the Tech industry, and how the tech industry is innovating in the working parent space.   Show Highlights:  Experiences as a working parent and the life transitions that take place balancing work and parenthood  What inspired Shadiah and Vanessa to co-found their own businesses  Putting policies in place to support parents and what it’s like to be a mom in the tech sector  Examining current systems and the core changes that need to be changed to support caregivers equally  The most beneficial support systems put in place when returning to work  Forming support groups for new parents and making sure their needs are heard  Changes that are happening in the tech industry that are impacting working parents  Putting more women in leadership roles and measuring the success of initiatives  Dealing with caregiver discrimination  Establishing the support needed within your workplace and maintaining your identity  How fathers taking time off is activism and changes workplace culture  What it means to manage your spoons  Tools to bring more calmness into everyday life    Links:    Contact Lori:    https://www.mindfulreturn.com   Contact Tom:    https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/   Resources:    E-Myth Revisited   https://www.mindfulreturn.com/working-mom/   https://www.mindfulreturn.com/wpgn/   https://worklifelaw.org   Respectful Parenting Podcast   https://apps.apple.com/us/app/google-calendar/id909319292   Work, Pause, Thrive by Wisen Stromberg   https://insighttimer.com   https://www.silverskyimports.com/categories/tibetan-singing-bowls

Technology has changed the way we parent in the modern world, but how does it impact parents in the tech sector? Today’s guests, Matt Burke, member of the programs team at Thumbtack and founder of the parent resource group, along with Hugh Molotsi, founder of Ujama, both share their experiences as working parents within the tech industry and advice to fully lean into the working fatherhood experience.  Hugh and Matt discuss the challenges all parents have, the positive impact of organizational support, and how to build a community of uplifting parents. Join Tom Spiggle and co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin in this interview to learn more about how the tech sector is leading the way in supporting working parents, and how you can use technology to enhance your life as a working parent.    Show Highlights:  Matt’s experience as a working parent and building a vulnerable space for parents in the workplace  What being a working parent has looked like for Hugh’s career and how he made changes to be a more involved parent  What it’s like to currently be a dad in the Tech industry  Being an example to coworkers to demonstrate prioritizing parenting  Utilizing resources and creating a company culture that acknowledges individuals  Taking advantage of company benefits and giving yourself permission to lean into resources  Creating a community for yourself and systems that are beneficial to implement for working parents  Why on-site daycare is something organizations should incorporate  Making mindful choices and accepting your choices without comparison   Changes occurring in the tech industry that are affecting working parents  How technology can build communities and bring parents together  Addressing the trickle-down effect of mental health for parents and employees  Being vulnerable and communicating with other parents to build support  Helpful resources and tangible advice to have a better parenting experience  The shift in expectations for modern parenthood    Links:    Contact Lori:    https://www.mindfulreturn.com   Contact Tom:    https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/   Resources:    https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/third-shift-michele-bolton/1101205293   https://ujama.co   The Mother of All Jobs   https://www.thumbtack.com   https://www.mothermag.com/benefits-of-working-moms/   http://tendlab.com   All Joy and No Fun

Being a parent in a field with sporadic schedules, travel requirements, and remarkably long rehearsals can create an array of complications. Today’s guests, Jeremy Chernick and Jerry Rapier are both involved in the theater and arts community while juggling parenthood.    In this episode, they share what their journey as a parent and a theatre professional has looked like for them. They discuss the changes that are currently impacting parents, resources that have helped them throughout their careers, and the benefits of taking non-traditional career paths. Join Tom Spiggle and co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin in this exciting interview for a look behind the curtain as a theater dad.    Show Highlights:    Navigating being in the arts and becoming a new parent  What it’s like to be a dad in the performing arts industry  The scheduling restraints that accompany being a parent within the arts  Being honest about being a parent and asking for what you need  Studios’ strategies to work with parents’ schedules  Jerry’s adoption process and the impact it had on his organization The opportunities that the art community provides for children  Actively pursuing support for family during work projects   Changes that need to take place for upcoming parents  How building working relationships benefits parents  Changes that are currently happening within the industry that are affecting parents  Establishing boundaries and respecting others’ time  Practices to prioritize family time  Resources mentioned that are helpful to working parents  Learning to communicate with children on their level  The power of podcasts for kids    Links:    Contact Lori:    https://www.mindfulreturn.com   Contact Tom:    https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/   Resources:    Google calendar    http://www.sittersstudio.com   https://www.positiveparentingsolutions.com   https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510321/wow-in-the-world   https://www.storypirates.com/ Being a parent in a field with sporadic schedules, travel requirements, and remarkably long rehearsals can create an array of complications. Today’s guests, Jeremy Chernick and Jerry Rapier are both involved in the theater and arts community while juggling parenthood.    In this episode, they share what their journey as a parent and a theatre professional has looked like for them. They discuss the changes that are currently impacting parents, resources that have helped them throughout their careers, and the benefits of taking nontraditional career paths. Join Tom Spiggle and co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin in this exciting interview for a look behind the curtain as a theater dad.    Show Highlights:    Navigating being in the arts and becoming a new parent  What it’s like to be a dad in the performing arts industry  The scheduling restraints that accompany being a parent within the arts  Being honest about being a parent and asking for what you need  Studios’ strategies to work with parents’ schedules  Jerry’s adoption process and the impact it had on his organization The opportunities that the art community provides for children  Actively pursuing support for family during work projects   Changes that need to take place for upcoming parents  How building working relationships benefits parents  Changes that are currently happening within the industry that are affecting parents  Establishing boundaries and respecting others’ time  Practices to prioritize family time  Resources mentioned that are helpful to working parents  Learning to communicate with children on their level  The power of podcasts for kids    Links:    Contact Lori:    https://www.mindfulreturn.com   Contact Tom:    https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/   Resources:    Google calendar    http://www.sittersstudio.com   https://www.positiveparentingsolutions.com   https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510321/wow-in-the-world   https://www.storypirates.com/

In today’s episode of Parents at Work, Tom Spiggle and co-host, Lori Mihalich-Levin, introduce us to two moms in the performing arts, Rachel Spencer Hewitt and Roberta Pereira. Rachel details her personal challenges as a working mom and the logistics of trying to find acting work while juggling new motherhood. Roberta addresses common practices in the theatre industry that previously haven’t been questioned. Join us as they share insight, tips, and resources for theatre moms, on today’s Parents at Work Podcast.  Rachel Spencer Hewitt received her MFA in acting from the Yale School of Drama. Her credits include Broadway, off-Broadway and regional theatre. She is mom of 2 children, a 4 year old and a 2 year old, the Founder and Executive Director of The National Organization for Individual Caregivers in Institutional Support, and the Founder of the Parent-Artist Advocacy League (PAAL) for the performing arts. Roberta Pereira is a Tony-nominated, Olivier-award winning theatre producer. She’s currently the producing director of “The Playwrights Realm”, an off-Broadway theatre company committed to amplifying the voices of emerging playwrights. She’s the solo mom of 20-month old Bianca.     Show Highlights:   Scheduled craziness and chaos of hours The need for invisible labor, contingency plans, creative problem-solver Saying yes to opportunities that may have a 24-hour notice and then prioritizing that opportunity over everything, no matter how healthy (or unhealthy) that decision is for everyone Reaching out and receiving help from family Broadway Babysitters based in NYC, composed primarily of artists who are used to long hours and understand industry norms Urban Sitter, an online database that will show locations for caregivers while traveling Washington D.C. just passed a paid-leave law FMLA applies to some people, but doesn’t require paid leave Celebrating the individual and saying yes to everything that they are Hostile work culture can break an individual, because of their needs outside of the industry Prioritizing the health and independence of the individual Rachel and Roberta’s goal is to make the industry better for everyone When you’re home, be focused on home The Radical Parent Inclusion (RPI) project - providing childcare at auditions Sometimes not being able to afford being seen is the reason people don’t get the job, and not because they are not capable or don’t want to work. Changing rehearsal dates to coincide with a child’s holiday from school, so that it becomes a day off for both the parent and the child The idea of the “disposable artist”: you work until you’re burned out. Once you burn out, you’re replaceable. If we care about longevity, we need to care about practices that are sustainable. Caring about inclusion through the lens of parenting What lessons can we learn that are transferable? Hiring parents can be an asset Providing a child-care matinee, where children do activities while parents watch a play Being an agent of change within the industry and leading by example Find community! Don’t underestimate the value of resource-sharing. Links / Resources: https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/ https://www.broadwaybabysitters.com https://www.urbansitter.com https://paaltheatre.com Facebook.com/paalperformingarts Twitter.com/paaltheatre Instagram.com/paaltheatre https://www.playwrightsrealm.org https://www.playwrightsrealm.org/rpi Anna Moensch's Mothers: https://www.playwrightsrealm.org/2019-20 Book: Cribsheet: A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting, from Birth to Preschool by Emily Oster”  Article: “End the Plague of Secret Parenting” by Emily Oster   The “Parents at Work” Podcast is sponsored by:   The Spiggle Law Firm, representing people who have been wrongfully fired, or fear they might be, with a particular focus on pregnancy discrimination.

In today’s episode of Parents at Work, Tom Spiggle and co-host, Lori Mihalich-Levin, introduce us to 2 working dads in the HR field: Wiley Simmons and Adam Calli. Human resources are generally a women-dominated industry, yet men contribute a unique and valuable perspective.   Wiley Simmons is a single father of 2 and came to the HR field through a complete accident. Having an executive and administrative assistant background, he took an admin assistant temp job in the human resources field, and his boss was so impressed with his work, he was offered a position as a benefits coordinator. What he found was that with being prior military, the rules and regulations of the HR profession, as well as his enjoyment of helping people and interacting with staff, turned out to be the perfect career choice for him.    Adam Calli is the proud father of 2 and an HR professional. He is also the principal consultant and founder of the human resources consulting firm, Arc Human Capital, LLC. Prior to working in HR and having children, hotel operations were Adam’s specialty, but it was not especially conducive to family life. He did something quite revolutionary for 2002: he saved up his leave time and took 3 weeks FMLA leave after the birth of his son. Both HR and non-HR professionals alike will enjoy hearing this discussion on industry trends, and finding that perfect balance between work and life. There’s something for everyone here. Please join us!     Show Highlights:   Hard to trust HR personnel when you’re on the other side of the fence HR doesn’t get the accolades as a profession that it deserves Allowing time off to take care of family issues A support system is extremely important Parents need time off, too Mandatory leave law Talking to a therapist as a way to maintain balance Dealing with mental health issues  Taking care of yourself and enjoying parenthood Watching other parents and deciding what kind of parent you want to be Why more companies are becoming interested in paid parental leave plans How the opportunity to utilize technology makes it easier for today’s parents to be more productive Why the “work/life balance” terminology is becoming obsolete The “work/life blending” concept is more practical for today Work and life is still just life Why progressive companies will accept and embrace the blending concept Old-school-mentality companies are in danger of fading out Hyper-efficiency as a brand new parent Which generations might be less accepting of this work/life blending HR availability to remote workers Helicopter parents Families being committed to everything but the family The value of committing to your children and your community Learning how to say no and understanding the commitment of saying yes Being a victim of your own success Encouraging employees to tap into the employee assistance program How a phone is critical technology when managing multiple people The benefit of family-shared calendars/apps How to teach our children time management as members of the family Time management is an incredibly valuable skill to have no matter what your field     Links / Resources:   https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/   https://www.mindfulreturn.com   http://www.archumancapital.com

This week’s episode of Parents at Work brings you three thoughtful and experienced mothers in Human Resources. Being a mother and meeting the demands of an office can be difficult to balance, so Kelly, Kecia, and Heather share their personal journeys to help others succeed at work while raising children.    This interview covers how to navigate negotiations with your employer, the benefits of having flexibility to set clear expectations, and the importance of giving yourself grace. To learn more about what it’s like to be a parent in HR and how to balance parenthood along with professional life, join Tom Spiggle and co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin in this interview.    Show Highlights:    Personal parent working stories  Retention tools for parent employees Choosing HR as a career path  Not “leaving before you leave” as you contemplate parenthood What it’s like to be a mom in HR  How motherhood can make you a better team player  Support systems that are particularly beneficial when coming back to the office  Using parenthood as a networking opportunity  Support systems that companies don’t always have, but should  The importance of having open communication and open dialogue with supervisors  Changes occurring in the industry that are impacting working parents  Integrating paid leave for parents  Providing flexibility for all employees and getting rid of stigmas  How firms impact families and the improvements the industry is making  Top tips and resources for working parents    Links:   Contact Tom:    https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/   Contact Lori:    Lori@mindfulreturn.com    Books mentioned:  https://www.mindfulreturn.com/back-work-baby-book/

Being a working parent looks different for everyone, but there are many tactics and techniques that are effective no matter what your current circumstances are. This episode of Parents at Work interviews two lawyer dads, Justin Johnson and Kenny Kraft, who are currently navigating how to be successful both in their careers and as parents.  In this episode, Justin and Kenny share their experiences transitioning back into the office after paternity leave, how to effectively communicate and collaborate with your partner, and how to make time for other valuable aspects of life. For more insight on how to navigate work life and parenthood join Tom Spiggle and co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin in today’s interview.    Show Highlights:  What Kenny’s and Justin’s working parent situations looks like  Whether or not parenthood was a factor in deciding on a career  The transition to becoming a lawyer and parent  What it’s like to be a dad in the legal industry  Communicating with your spouse and navigating parenthood together  Workplace support systems that have been the most effective transitioning back into work  Making work a support system for the more important aspects of life  Workplace benefits that were anticipated to be helpful but ended up being unnecessary  Benefits within firms that are especially effective for working parents Changes that would be advantageous for working dads  The pros and cons of technological growth and how telecommuting is improving  The struggle of finding affordable and flexible childcare  Trusting yourself and collaborating with your partner  The importance of not sacrificing your self-care  Getting creative to implement what you need into your schedule  Limiting and balancing technology use with your children    Links:  Contact Lori:  https://www.mindfulreturn.com Contact Tom:  https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/ Books mentioned:  Digital Minimalism  I Like Myself The Self Driven Child  

Juggling parenthood as a working mom can be a challenge, especially as a lawyer. Today, Tom Spiggle and Co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin interview two moms who work within the legal field, Anjali Patel and Katy Robinette.    Both mothers currently have two children ranging from the ages of 15 months to 4 years., They discuss their experience as working parents in the private and public sectors, how they found a system that works for them, and the most important things they’ve learned throughout their time as a working parent.    For more insight on what it looks like to succeed in life as a mom and lawyer, tune into this episode of Parents at Work.    Show Highlights:    Katy’s experience transitioning into a judicial clerkship as a mom  Anjali’s experience having children as a mid-level associate at a large firm Preparing to be a working mom and aligning your career with parenthood Looking at jobs with benefits and flexibility for families  Asking firms about their parental policies and finding a firm that offers what you need  Macro and micro perspectives about what it’s like to be a mom and a lawyer  Skills that parenthood provides within the workplace  The push and pull parents feel trying to balance parenthood and a career  Support systems that were effective returning to the office from maternity leave  Changes that are happening in law that are impacting parents  Advice for navigating parenthood in the workplace  The importance of advocating for yourself and asking hard questions  Learning to communicate about your needs as a working parent   Links:     Contact Lori: lori@mindfulreturn.com   https://www.mindfulreturn.com   Contact Tom:    https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/   Books mentioned:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17383921-all-joy-and-no-fun   https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/769016.How_to_Talk_So_Kids_Will_Listen_Listen_So_Kids_Will_Talk

Juggling parenthood and a career can be handful. It can be difficult to balance both, but we’re here to share ways employers and employees are working together to make work and life possible.  In this episode Tom Spiggle and (new!) co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin introduce the upcoming themes and scheduling for the Parents at Work podcast.  In this updated podcast format, you’ll hear the perspectives of parents in a new industry or sector each month, parents from different career paths, and a plethora of advice for parents or employers will be included in these upcoming episodes.  To join Tom and Lori on this journey and for helpful insight on balancing work and parenthood, tune into this episode of Parents at Work.  Show Highlights:  Learning from parents in different industries  Issues that parents face in specific industries  What to expect going into parenthood while having a career  Insight for employers to implement in their respective fields  The upcoming schedule for the podcast    Links:  Contact Lori:  https://www.mindfulreturn.com or lori@mindfulreturn.com Contact Tom:  https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/ or tspiggle@spigglelaw.com 

Today, our guest is a multi-talented author and attorney, Lori Mihalich-Levin. Lori also has a very active blog and website platform, called Mindful Return, for parents who are returning to the workforce after having children. If you are returning back to work after maternity/paternity leave, Lori created a four-week program to help. Now, employers are also using this program to help! About Lori Mihalich-Levin, JD: Lori believes in empowering new working parents.  She is the founder of Mindful Return, author of Back to Work After Baby: How to Plan and Navigate a Mindful Return from Maternity Leave, and creator of the Mindful Return Maternity Leave E-Course.  She is mama to two beautiful red-headed boys (ages 5 and 7), is a contributing author at Well Rounded NY and Fairygodboss, is the Maternity Leave Expert at Motherly, and is a partner in the health care practice at Dentons US LLP.   Show Highlights: Three major hats Lori wears: Being a partner at a law firm, being a mom & running her program How Mindful Return was born Creating that supportive parent community at your workplace is a universal challenge Tools and community for helping return to work after maternity/paternity leave The four-week course to guide parents Alumni group joining the Facebook group for support Retreats coming soon Employers are now offering this program as a retention tool  Relating to one another, and how universal these problems really are Growing trends on dads taking paternity leave Lori’s own parenting story of going back to work Transitioning back to work is not a one-day thing; it is ongoing Books Lori recommends for this transition besides her own book Technology that helps going back to work Resources: Mindful Return Website Mindful Return Facebook Mindful Return Twitter Book “Back to work after Baby” Available on Amazon

Can parenting and entrepreneurship go hand in hand? Many working parents believe the myth that you either have to sacrifice home life or business success—you cannot have both. My guest, Dan Kuschell, is here to tell you that this simply isn’t true! Dan is a serial entrepreneur with 12 successful businesses to his name. He delights in training budding business owners to use strategies to get more clients and develop a business that works for them. Dan’s success has been great, but he considers his family the greatest blessing of all. His path has always been inherently tied to his wife and children, and today Dan is going to show you how he does it.  After a severe health scare, Dan knew he needed to make some changes. His busy lifestyle included many sleepless nights and poor choices that built up to the breaking point. Luckily, Dan believed in the power of coaching, and he sought the help he needed to balance and repurpose his life. Dan thinks that there are three questions every working parent needs to ask themselves. What do you want? Who are you? What do you stand for? Dan has managed to not just balance, but integrate his parenting into his businesses. He prioritizes time with his children and makes business decisions with the family in mind. It’s all about his mindset from the outset, and you can get that mindset too! Listen this week to start making some changes in your own life.  Show Highlights: Dan has helped 12 different startups grow and get “unstuck.”  What being a parent has taught Dan about running businesses.  Be grateful for the joys that being a working parent can give you.  Mindset should be our focus.  The 3 big fears we need to overcome.  Integrate, rather than try to balance between work and life.  Dan learned from burnout that he needed to change some bad habits.  Get a coach!  The three questions you should ask yourself to change your life.  Dan has resources available to you who might be ready to start a business.  Why Marketing is like football.  A piece of technology that Dan would recommend for making life a little easier.  The books that Dan uses to bring some balance to his life.    Resources: Dan’s Website  Dan on Facebook Dan's Recommended Tool: Headspace Meditation App Dan's Recommended Books: How to Talk So Kids Will Listen  The Coaching Habit  Never Split the Difference

Fatherhood is one of life’s greatest responsibilities, and yet so many of us feel completely unequipped for the role. Many first time and long time dads find it difficult to engage with their children, or otherwise feel overwhelmed with the pressures of work. How can we begin to redefine Fatherhood, and start building up intentional relationships with our kids? Luckily, we have places like Daddy Saturday to turn to. I’m talking to Justin Batt, Chief Daddy at Daddy Saturday, about how he has transformed his relationship with his kids, even as a working parent.    Daddy Saturday is a website dedicated to building resources and communities for fathers. It started when Justin’s oldest daughter was born, and he found himself being the sole caregiver on Saturdays while Mom was at work. These Saturdays with his kids became precious as he intentionally planned ways to have quality time, rather than simply checking out on his phone or becoming preoccupied with work. Now, he and his children are having grand adventures and encouraging people from across the world to do the same.    Justin is going to share all of his tips for Dads who want to transform their relationships with their kids. While it does require a mindset shift and a commitment to put the phone down, building intentional relationships with kids is incredibly easy. Fatherlessness is currently in a state of crisis, but Dads like Justin are trying to take back Saturday and encourage Dads to engage and take ownership of their responsibility. Yes, life and technology have their pressures and influences, but Justin is going to show us how easily we can build habits that will impact our children for a lifetime.   More in this episode:  •    Being intentional and engaging with his kids on a Saturday became a community phenomenon.  •    How Justin is encouraging other dads to change how they approach their weekends with kids.  •    Fatherhood is a huge responsibility, but it’s also an opportunity.  •    Be there for your kids during breakfast, or any other rallying point.  •    Questions you can use to engage your kids.  •    Why experiencing failure as kids can make strong adults.  •    Justin tells the story of how he and his wife became business partners and life partners.  •    Advice for Dads who want to start being more intentional.  •    What is launching next for Justin and Daddy Saturday?  •    A little bit of planning makes a world of difference.  •    How to engage your kids as they get older.  •    Focus on peak performance in our parenting, not just our career or our health.  •    Learn all the nuts and bolts of how Justin runs Daddy Saturday.  •    Sometimes, low-tech is best.   Links  Daddy Saturday   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSppCEe24NP3sJEVqaQq_DA   The Modern Dad’s Dilemma 

When was the last time you got a good night’s rest? I think we can all agree that sleep is important, but have you thought about some of the negative consequences of sleep deprivation? Do you want to know how to sleep better? We have an expert for you that will tell you everything you need to know about sleep!    Dr. Michael Breus is an expert sleep researcher. He is also a father, so he knows how hard won it can be to get sleep when you are a parent. With compassion and evidence-based wisdom, Dr. Breus is going to give you sanity-saving tools to get you the best night’s sleep. We will talk about everything from when you should take a nap, when is the best time to sleep train, and how to revisit your bad sleeping habits.    Whether you want more sleep or just more quality sleep, this is the episode for you! Sleep can allow us to give our all to our jobs while also giving our children the care they need. Sleeps heals and restores, and it’s time to take it seriously!    Show Highlights:   Dr. Breus’ best advice for parents of new babies to minimize the effect of sleep deprivation.  The shift methodology is a helpful tool for babies before sleep training.  Learn all about the powerful effects of the “Napalatte.”  How to make the most out of a nap.  Sleep deprivation is different from person to person.  There is no replacement for lost sleep, but extra sleep can definitely help!  Why you might want to sleep separately.  What kinds of sleep problems people develop because of their children.  5 Steps to get your sleep act back together.  Get some sunlight! Know when you need to seek professional help.    Resources:   All the info you need for sleep issues and work http://www.thesleepdoctor.com/   On Becoming Baby Wise   Solve Your Child’s Sleep Problems  

You believe in your vocation or career that your time and energy is important, but you also believe in your responsibilities as a parent. How can you find a balance between the two? Can you follow your career or civic passions while still showing up as a parent? There are also more expectations put on parents than ever before. Between career and that social pressure, it can feel like you are burning the candle at both ends.  This is exactly why I am so excited to have my friend Will Mount on the show today. He gets the pressure. He feels the burden of wanting to care for his son well, while also pursuing a job as an attorney for Juvenile Defense. Social justice is important to both Will and his wife, but they also feel the weight of these unmet expectations. In this episode, Will will share what has worked for his family, how he has created his priorities to serve his family, and which challenges were particularly difficult for him.    You are not alone! Let Will’s story be an example of how to make it work as a working parent.    More in this episode:  Why would someone want to work with Will or his law partner Judith?  What it is like to be a parent with a high-stress job.  Will and his wife both have work they believe in, but balancing that with parental responsibility is important.  Battling expectations of our society and the impact on our parenting.  Each age has their own challenges.  Take time out to take care of yourself and your spouse/significant other.  How having Liam has affected Will’s work life.  Find opportunities to bond with your child.  The surprising benefits of raising a child.  Why having good people around you makes all the difference.      Links:  http://dzmlegal.com/ The Modern Dad’s Dilemma   

We all wish we had just a few more hours in our day. Between ferrying children around, keeping the house running, and trying to be successful in our career, it seems impossible for us to be able to get it all done in a day. Luckily, there are people like Ari Meisel in the world who are hacking productivity through sleek systems, outsourcing, and automation. I first heard about Ari from his book, Less Doing. I then became involved with a company he started, Get Leverage. Ari has recently left Get Leverage in order to refocus his life on his real passion: interacting with real people to give them real solutions to all of their productivity challenges.   Productivity is all about reducing stress for Ari. He is a father of four kids, and he only works while the kids are in school. That means his working hours have to be productive. Today, Ari is going to share all of the systems he has in place for improving his productivity and prioritizing time with his family. After all, everything he does is to improve the quality of life for the people he loves. That passion is then imbued into each and every task he sets his mind to, and mindset is key.  Listen this week for all the tips and strategies you can use to find a little more time in your day. Ari mentions so many wonderful resources and tools that you do not want to miss.   Show Highlights:   Why Ari left Get Leverage and decided to work with people again.  How Ari works from 9-3 while his kids are at school. Idea capture is Ari’s obsession. What kinds of automation is Ari doing to streamline his life, and the important things he is not automating.  Have systems and procedures in place. Ari will show you how.  On-demand labor is key. Ari’s personal goals for the new year.  How the Less Doing Lab can help you in just about every area of your life. The psychology of productivity.  Having a virtual assistant service is invaluable.  Ari’s thoughts on childcare solutions.    Resources: Find out all about Ari online Ari Recommends:  Trello TaskRabbit Amazon Fresh