Startup Parent

When we get pregnant, everybody talks about the baby. But what about the mother? Becoming a mother—even thinking about becoming one—involves complex feelings and emotions. But the “Bliss Myth” idea says that we should feel one note about becoming a parent, and that note is happiness and joy. If we don't feel joy, and we don't love motherhood, then are you a bad mom? No! It's totally normal to feel a huge range of feelings, including ambivalence, anger, regret, disappointment, love, tenderness, exhaustion, frustration, and more. Having feelings, especially multiple conflicting feelings, doesn't make you a bad mom: it makes you a human being, like the rest of us. Alexandra Sacks, MD is a reproductive psychiatrist who popularized the concept of matrescence, or the period of transition surrounding becoming a mother. Her 2018 TED Talk reached 1.5 million views worldwide, and she wrote a New York Times article called The Birth Of A Mother that was the number one most read piece of 2017 for the Well Family Section. The truth is more complicated, and Dr. Sacks says a huge range of feelings about motherhood is all totally normal. Things like panicking when you find out that you're pregnant, or feeling ambivalent at first when you see your newborn, or having new feelings about your partner or your own parents are all absolutely reasonable feelings to have during your pregnancy and parenting journeys. In this episode, we talk to one of America's top reproductive psychiatrists about the range of emotions and feelings that come with motherhood, and why matrescence is totally natural and normal. In this episode we talk about: Matrescence as an extended phase of all women's lives, including women who choose not to have children or who experience infertility, and Dr. Sacks focused work on the period of pregnancy and the first year of motherhood. The Bliss Myth and other honest stories we're missing about motherhood. The harmful trope of the “bad mother” as the cornerstone of evil characters in myth and popular culture. The idea of the “Good Enough Mother” as permission and guiding light for mother's overwhelmed by messages of perfection; that we should aim for not superhuman perfection but providing a safe, stable, loving childhood. How being a “perfect” mother can actually harm our children in the long term, leading to decreased resiliency, slowing the learning process, and interfering with children's ability to grow and achieve independence. FULL SHOW NOTES: https://startupparent.com/110 STARTUP PARENT NEWSLETTER: https://startupparent.com/newsletter THE WISE WOMEN'S COUNCIL: https://startupparent.com/wwc --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startupparent/message

What do you really know about your menstrual cycle—and where did that information come from? Young girls and women are often taught about menstrual cycles in relationship to two things: periods and pregnancy. That is, don't get pregnant! And also, periods are gross. This is such limited and almost useless information that doesn't support overall health and wellbeing. Plus, pills are often prescribed as a blanket solution to fix irregular cycles, alter heavy periods, or manage symptoms. Then, many women are flummoxed when they come off the pill after years or decades of use to find the old problems return immediately. The symptoms are only hidden by the regulating power of the pill, not resolved. In this episode, we look back at our conversation from Episode #108 with Lisa Hendrickson-Jack where we talk about fertility, menstruation, and the vital signs of our bodies. Lisa is the author of The Fifth Vital Sign: Master Your Cycles & Optimize Your Fertility. She is a certified fertility awareness educator and a holistic reproductive health practitioner. She teaches women how to chart their menstrual cycles for natural birth control, for conception and for monitoring your overall health. Her book, The Fifth Vital Sign is all about why your cycle is one of your vital signs in your body if you are a woman and how it can play a powerful tool in diagnosing and healing our bodies. In this episode we talk about: Optimizing your fertility as the gateway to healing your body. Being a medical advocate for yourself: why it's extremely difficult and also crucial to your long-term well-being. The idea that in any examining room there are two experts: the doctor, who is the expert in a field of medicine, and the patient, who is the expert in their body and their experience. How a family history of painful periods, fibroids, and hysterectomies led her to seek out cycle charting from an early age. Lisa debunks the myth that regular ovulation is only important when you want children, because we need to recognize that the menstrual cycle is part of our entire biology and physiology. She presents an evidence-based approach to fertility awareness and menstrual cycle optimization. How the body is seen as low—base, even!—and unpredictable. That means that men and women have been culturally conditioned not to experience life through our bodies. This becomes a bigger problem for birthing and postpartum women, who can experience the trauma of birth itself and then can compound that damage by feeling like they can't or shouldn't listen to their bodies reaction to trauma in the wake of birth. By only revisiting our cycles when we decide to try to conceive, we miss out on the opportunity to come into deep understanding with our bodies and to heal ourselves rather than mask symptoms. Today, we get to talk to Lisa Hendrickson-Jack about how in taking the time to chart, learn about and understand our cycles, we can not only optimize our fertility but gain crucial information about our bodies. Join us as we talk about the menstrual cycle, fertility, and the opportunities we all have to learn more about our bodies simply by paying closer attention to them. FULL SHOW NOTES: https://startupparent.com/108 STARTUP PARENT NEWSLETTER: https://startupparent.com/newsletter THE WISE WOMEN'S COUNCIL: https://startupparent.com/wwc --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startupparent/message

#186 — The Wise Women's Council is back and accepting enrollments for our Class of 2022. We only open once per year for enrollment, so whether you've been a longtime listener or a brand-new listener, check out our leadership incubator and community for executive, entrepreneurial moms navigating both life and business at the same time. Applications close March 1, 2022 this year. Apply at startupparent.com/wwc Last year's Wise Women's Council was amazing. Full stop. Here's what some of our alumni have said: "It made me feel seen and less alone."⁠ "What I didn't expect was just how expansive WWC was for me. The people I met, what I learned both about myself and the world – it truly expanded what I thought was possible about working parenthood."⁠ "WWC brings these incredible women together, and you form relationships over 9 months that approximate the closeness of many-years-long friendships. You learn things about yourself that you didn't know before. You unlock ways of understanding the world outside of where you were before"⁠ "There is no way to describe what it feels like to be validated. So much of being a women and more so a mom makes one feel invisible. In this space I felt seen and heard by really smart, funny, and fearless parents."⁠ ⁠

#184 — Vanessa Van Edwards learned right away that being an expert in behavioral science did not translate into innate parenting know-how. An author, speaker, and lead investigator with Science of People, Vanessa first appeared on Episode #96 of Startup Parent. She returned for Episode #104, in which she busted some myths about the first weeks of parenthood. Now, she's opening up about the first year, explaining that while some phases do indeed “go by so fast,” others can feel like a slog, but telling parents that it goes by so fast is not, well, helpful. We dig into the nitty-gritty of the first year of parenting, what surprised us, what we wish we'd known, and the milestones most parenting books miss. We also talk about miscarriage, and Vanessa also speaks honestly about the experience of having a miscarriage at eight weeks, and the physicality of it—many people talk about the emotional experience, but she wasn't prepared for how long it would take, and what her body would go through in the experience. Tune in to this episode to hear Vanessa's take on what the first year of parenting was like for her, how it affected her perspective on work and friendships, and also how the pandemic (and parenting) might also be an opportunity for a fresh start. Episodes mentioned: Episode #96, our first interview with Vanessa on Startup Parent. Episode #104, in which she busted some myths about the first weeks of parenthood. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startupparent/message

#184 — Growing up, James Breakwell never had to think about what jobs he wasn't allowed to pursue. That changed when he had kids. As the father of four girls — one of whom recently said she wants to be a construction worker, and another who asked if she could be the Pope — he's had to put himself in the shoes of the females surrounding him at home. As an author and internet personality behind the popular Twitter account @XplodingUnicorn, James is best known for his viral tweets depicting hilarious snippets of conversations with his daughters. In this interview with our first startup dad, he gets real about how he navigates building a public persona based on his family life — including how much to share and what to withhold. Full show notes at startupparent.com/184 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startupparent/message

#183 — Creative dynamo Amber Anderson is the founder of Tote & Pears, a branding and marketing agency with a female focus. For her, becoming an entrepreneur was about more than the business. It was about creating possibilities for her family, establishing a set of core values for her family, and aligning her business values and family needs holistically. We first interviewed Amber on Episode #029 all about the birth of her son and her business. We invite her back to talk about what marketing to women looks like, how brands and agencies can better understand their target audience, and how to build a business that works for you and your family. Tune in to this episode to hear returning guest Amber describe how she aligns family values with work values, the rebranding of her marketing to become female-focused, and why she is committed to keeping work and home life intertwined (while keeping her work weeks around 40-50 hours). Full show notes at startupparent.com/183 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startupparent/message

#182 — How badly is this year, this pandemic, messing up our kids and us, as parents? Dr Courtney Bolton has a PhD in counseling clinical and school psychology, and she is a parenting coach focused on evidence-based strategies for the development of kids. She's a mom of four and she helps parents make contextual, intentional parenting decisions that work for them and their families. I asked her to join me to talk about parenting, stress, and the pandemic. In this episode, we talk about: How to help little ones manage their emotional and mental understanding of all that's changed — and specific tools for how to talk to our kids across age groups. How to help parents deal with all of the stress and life changes that are happening. Stress strategies for dealing with the coming months and not calling it "new normal" but really naming what it is and what's happening. The grief and loss that's happening in so many different ways in our homes, including the loss of income, work, career, meaning, purpose, and time. How to talk to kids about loss and grief. The 6 P's framework she has for recentering and adjusting as a parent. Also, because we're in a pandemic, you'll hear our kids in the background, and we have to move offices to make this interview work. This was recorded at the end of last summer, but like the music, better late than never. Browse all episodes at startupparent.com/podcast or check out the complete show notes at startupparent.com/182 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startupparent/message

#181 - Welcome back to co-host Cary Fortin! We're back for another friendship episode, where Sarah and Cary talk about business design, parenting stress, and dealing with the pandemic. In this episode, we take you behind the scenes of The Wise Women's Council and the Class of 2021, and the ways that we think about community design and creating strong containers for personal growth. If you haven't heard the story of how the Wise Women's Council started, listen in as Sarah describes what it took to create a program while pregnant with her second kiddo (and with a toddler at home). Business as usual wouldn't work, so she thought differently about what a mastermind community might look like, and how to bring a network of teachers in so that she could run a program while also taking leave in the middle of her own program. In this episode: How too much ego can get you into trouble if you design a business where you (and your personality) has to be at the center of the business. How we are scaling the Wise Women's Council and what it looks like to grow a program and a community while maintaining intimacy. The container and the structure set-up, and the work it takes, to create truly intimate and honest conversational space. What many business owners miss when trying to create strong communities. Some of the lessons learned from running masterminds, retreats, and events for over a decade, and how to create a great program and experience. This episode is a casual conversation with lots of sideways chatter and banter between long-term friends Cary and Sarah. We also have episodes with guest experts and speakers, but this one includes everything that friends talk about (including adult language), so listen with headphones if you have kids around. Browse all episodes at startupparent.com/podcast or check out the complete show notes at startupparent.com/181 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startupparent/message

#180 — We are not the same as before. What we went through last year, and what we are still going through, is beyond comprehension and imagination. Many are still trying to survive, out of work, and picking up the pieces from last year. Many are grieving deeply and some of us don't have a clear roadmap for grief or recovery. It's been so long since I've been able to sit down and put together a real podcast that I almost feel like I've forgotten how to do it. I invited Cary Fortin to join me as we talk about what the last year has been like and how we're finding our footing again. Cary was my guest co-host from the original Friendship Series (Episodes 81 through 86 for longtime listeners), is a dear friend, and has been my go-to pandemic buddy as we talk (and rage, and vent) about the events of the last year. She joined today to help me talk through some of what we've been through in the last year. Browse all episodes at startupparent.com/podcast or check out the complete show notes at startupparent.com/180 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startupparent/message

#179 — When 2020 kicked off, we had big plans. One of those plans was growing Startup Pregnant and shifting our focus—and name—to cover what we were already focused on: parents. Today, I'm excited to tell you about the new name, and introduce you to Startup Parent. Here's the backstory of why we changed our name, what it took, and a sneak peek into what we're building next. Also, there are a lot of background noises in this episode, because children and vacuums aren't quiet. At all. But, like the name change, we managed to figure out how to make it work despite all the hurdles. This episode was recorded in October 2020, again in December 2020, and edited and published in March 2021. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startupparent/message

#178 — We are two weeks away from kicking off our fourth class of The Wise Women's Council, and we have an extraordinary group of people joining us for the year ahead. WWC is our year-long leadership incubator for women business leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators who are also navigating pregnancy, parenthood, and motherhood. We go deep together for the better part of a year and support women at their growth edge who want to continue to level up in their life and career. In this episode, I'm diving into the nuances of the program: how I've designed it, what parts of past mastermind programs I've used, why I changed the structure to better fit the lives of working parents, and the research behind why I've made the program the way it is. Over the last few weeks I have been interviewing, talking, laughing, and even crying with so many of you during our interviews and gathering calls, and I'm looking forward to spending the year ahead with so many of you. If you've been thinking about applying to join us, if you've never heard of the program before, or you're watching along, listening and learning (I see you! I do this, too), this episode is about what the program is for, how I've designed it, and the program goals we have for the women & womxn who join us. Apply to join us in the year ahead: www.startupparent.com/wwc --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startuppregnant/message

#177 — Dr Shani Cooper is a Naval Veteran, Licensed Acupuncturist and Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, who began studying the human body in 2010. She is also the parent to Sage, an eight-month old who arrived in the world bright and early, two months before his estimated arrival window! Shani joined us last year in The Wise Women's Council when she was pregnant with her little one, who you will hear and enjoy in the background of this recording. I asked her if she'd join us to talk about what WWC was like for her navigating pregnancy, childbirth, and growing in-person business practice, and a pandemic. For all of you curious or thinking about the Wise Women's Council i'm doing a short series here on the podcast with folks who went through the program last year (look for Episodes #176 through #181). If you're interested in joining us in 2021, head to startupparent.com/wwc to find out more about the program and submit an application to join us. Leadership doesn't have to look like what we see around us. Leadership can be messy and it's our job, as women, as people carving out a new future, to chart a new path of leadership that might not look like the masculine models we've been steeped in so far. Show notes: startupparent.com/177 The Wise Women's Council: startupparent.com/wwc --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startuppregnant/message

#176 — What's it like to run a team of 40 people, in a pandemic, with a 1-year-old, and get pregnant with your second kid? Jess Kamada, VP of Client Services at Bamboo, a top growth marketing firm based in Seattle, joined me for a special episode to talk about how she managed the pandemic and the last year. Jess joined us in the 2020 Wise Women's Council, and I asked her if she would be open to sharing her story and experience on the podcast, and share some insights into what it's like to be in the Wise Women's Council, why she chose the Group Coaching level, and what she got out of the experience. If you're thinking about applying to join us in the Class of 2021, submit your application at startupparent.com/wwc. Applications are open until February 15, 2021, and we start together in March. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startuppregnant/message

#175 — Welcome to 2021, a year that clearly isn't going to erase all of last year's frustrations, angers, or woes. This episode is an overview of some of the highlights from Startup Parent over 2020. Seven months without childcare is not easy, that's for sure, and while we didn't hit many of our goals, we had surprising revenue outcomes and we managed to hire more people than I'd planned on! In this episode, I talk about the Wise Women's Council, about our growth as a team, key metrics and revenue goals from the last year, and the painful work of doing half as much as you hope to do. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startuppregnant/message

The other day, I was reading an article on Time Magazine that I couldn't stop reading. Dr. Kyl Myers, an author, had written a long-form piece about gender, sex and parenting. Dr. Kyl Myers holds a PhD in sociology and studies and speaks about gender. They are an award-winning educator and a globally recognized advocate for gender creative parenting. Since 2016, Kyl has been speaking and writing about gender creative parenting and using their own parenting story to help the world learn about and embrace a new type of childhood. Kyl Myers goes by "she" and "her" pronouns, as well as "they" and "them." Dr. Myers is the author of Raising Them: Our Adventure In Gender Creative Parenting. If you'd like to hear a fascinating conversation about parenting, gender, and what we can do as parents to help reduce gender violence, oppression against women and men, and create a more playful world, come join us on this episode of the podcast. Full show notes, references, quotes, and sponsor details are available at startupparent.com/174 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startuppregnant/message

#173 — Why is default motherhood so white in our cultural storytelling? In America, the word "mother" is nearly always describing white motherhood. That's what Nefertiti, a single African American woman, discovered when she decided she wanted to adopt a Black baby boy out of the foster care system. Eager to finally join the motherhood ranks, Nefertiti was shocked when people started asking her why she wanted to adopt a "crack baby" or told her that she would never be able to raise a Black son on her own. She realized that American society saw motherhood through a white lens, and that there would be no easy understanding or acceptance of the kind of family she hoped to build. She is the author of Motherhood So White: A Memoir of Race, Gender, and Parenting in America, which went on to become an Amazon bestseller. Nefertiti Austin joins us on the show to talk about motherhood, race, adoption, and the white lens that is applied to motherhood stories in America, and more broadly, in Western cultures today. We talk about being a single mom and her journey from being a law student to becoming a fiction writer to today, her career in nonfiction writing and publishing. We dig into the mistruths around what's told about being a single mom, adoption, and blackness. For full show notes, episode sponsors, and quotes, go to www.startupparent.com/173 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startuppregnant/message

#172 — There's a coaching tool that I really love, that is an important concept to know and practice throughout your work and life. It's called "areas of control," and I'll share how to think about it in your life, relationships, and with regards to real-world events. From there, I want to give you one of my favorite practices—something to look forward to. Full show notes will be available at startupparent.com/172 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startuppregnant/message

#171 — Lions + Tigers Panel Replay. School is back in session, and parents everywhere are fatigued, overwhelmed, and still in the lurch. Workplaces are less and less forgiving, and yet the problems created by the pandemic are still here. What's a working parent to do? Last week, Lions + Tigers, spearheaded by Brea Starmer, gathered a panel to talk about specific steps parents can take to strategically plan ahead for the last quarter of the year, what to do to advocate for yourself as a working parent, the option parents have with schools and how you can think about creating a 'micro school' to get childcare set up in areas where remote schools aren't feasible, and how to navigate and set up your workplaces to be more compatible with the working parents in your organization. I was lucky enough to be able to host this panel, so I got to interview some talented experts all about all of these questions. Joining me on the panel were Shauna Causey of Weekdays, Blessing Adesiyan of Mother Honestly, and Brea Starmer of Lions + Tigers. Full show notes at www.startupparent.com/171 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startuppregnant/message

#170 — We're back from "sabbatical" and heading into September after a big move. All of the things happening right now—a pandemic, job stress, health worries, lack of childcare, natural disasters, uncertainty about the future, an election year—can conspire to take a toll on our mental health. Here's what's happening in my brain and mind, and how I'm seeing the effects of all of these stressors play out in my own life. (Hint: it took me an extra six takes to record this episode.) If you're feeling this way, you're not alone. This is a struggle, and I've got a few tips for you to stay compassionate to yourself and help make all this stress just a little bit lighter. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startuppregnant/message

#169 — In some mythical fantasy, we tell women that they can have it all and be it all if only they just work hard enough. Yes, you too can be a perfect mother, a lovely wife, and have a full-time career if only you just have the right productivity strategies, tools, and mindsets. Don't forget about self-care! Tiffany Dufu is here to burst the bubble of stressed-out mothers everywhere to talk about the reality of being a working parent. The author of "Drop The Ball," Tiffany's life and work is focused on leadership for women and girls. She's been named to Fast Company's League of Extraordinary Women, serves on the board for Girls Who Code, and is now the founder of TheCru, a networking and peer-to-peer group creator for people who need a cru. This interview was first recorded in 2017, but her message to ladies everywhere is more relevant than ever. It's time to drop the ball and really, really lower our expectations. Don't do the things that don't matter. I'll share a personal story: We didn't dress our kiddos in real clothes this whole summer. We just went with pajamas straight from day to night. For full show notes, sponsor information, and listener perks, go to startupparent.com/169. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startuppregnant/message

#168 — 40% of American households believe that it is bad for society if mothers work. That mothers should not work. This is wild. Sexism is a global phenomenon, but in America, we have a unique maternal bias against women in the workforce, and as we watch the pandemic unfold, women are losing jobs at extraordinary rates. In 2017, we had Sarah Lacy, founder of Chairman Mom, previously the founder of Pando Daily and a journalist in tech, talk about her journey from thinking sexism was not really a thing to fierce feminist. Today, we're revisiting that conversation and taking a listen to how the world of work is extremely biased against women, especially mothers, and how many ways we've made the world of work (and parenting) harder on women. We're going to dig into why the patriarchy—aka men, especially white men at the mantle of an unequal power structure—is so bad, and why it's not okay to set up a system where some people live at the expense of other people's lives and rights. That's not okay. Join me as I go back and take a listen to this powerful episode. This episode is brought to you by Nanit, the only baby monitor you need. For full show notes, sponsor information, and listener perks, go to startupparent.com/168. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startuppregnant/message

#167 — The advice around pregnancy and food is intense. Suddenly there are so many things to do and so much you need to pay attention to. Luckily we have Lily Nichols, prenatal nutritionist, registered dietician, and bestselling author of Real Food For Pregnancy to talk to us about what matters, and how to eat as healthy as possible for you and your kiddo. In this episode, she goes over how backward most prenatal nutrition advice really is (did you know that most dietary recommendations for females are just guesses based on male bodies?). She dug through 934 research studies to find what really matters to your metabolism and your health. Dig in, eat real food, and enjoy this episode with Lily Nichols. This episode was originally published in 2018, but we're re-broadcasting it because it's been one of our best-ever episodes, downloaded more than almost any other. Enjoy! This episode is brought to you by Splendid Spoon, a meal delivery service that creates whole, healthy, plant-based soups and smoothies. For full show notes, go to startupparent.com/167. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startuppregnant/message

#166 — If you can be a parent, you can be an entrepreneur. We're back with our 2020 podcast tour looking at some of our all-time favorite episodes. If you missed it, this interview with Nicole Walters digs into all things money, growth, celebration, and entrepreneurship. She shares her overnight parenting journey (she adopted three kids all at once), her entrepreneurship path, and her secrets for getting rich and making your coin. This episode is brought to you by Nanit, the only baby monitor you need. For full show notes, go to startupparent.com/166. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startuppregnant/message

#164 — It is hot, humid, and sticky here in New York City, and we're still dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. Every year I take a short sabbatical in August, and this year we're going to try to do a version of this, except we don't have childcare and there is so much uncertainty. This year, the sabbatical looks like a brief break from the podcast, a short hiatus from the newsletters, and a few more slow-downs while we try to regroup as a family. Also, I'll update you on our move (we're moving!) and I've got an exciting announcement about the direction of Startup Pregnant and where we're going next. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startuppregnant/message

#165 — Parenting is a 24/7 job, but we've found most employers treat it more like an extracurricular activity. For the first episode of our best-of series, we're revisiting our podcast's very first interview (#002). This conversation about flexibility in the workplace, though, takes on new meaning right now. As we continue to blend work and motherhood amid this pandemic, the reality that today's workplace fails women and families on a regular basis grows ever more glaring. In this episode, we hear from Annie Dean, then-co-CEO of Werk, a people-analytics platform on a mission to update company policies to reflect modern realities. She walks us through her realization that the 16-hour workdays and overnight travel she'd been so used to putting in pre-pregnancy were simply incompatible with her new role as a mother. In short, she faced a forced choice between career and care. She saw how ambitious, high-performing women like herself were opting out of leadership pipelines — and out of the workforce, altogether — and it didn't make sense. By introducing low-cost, high-impact options for flexibility in the workplace, employers could hold onto this talent, all while increasing productivity, retention, and engagement across the entire team. For too long, the idea of flexibility has been poorly defined and deemed a burden. The objectives of the employer and the needs of the employee don't have to be at odds, though. Annie predicts that companies eager to treat flexibility as a key strategic component will win the war on talent because they're dealing in a new currency their competitors are too afraid to embrace. This episode is brought to you by Nanit, the only baby monitor you need. For full show notes, go to startupparent.com/165. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startuppregnant/message

#163 — What do you wish someone had told you about motherhood and being a CEO? Shama Hyder is a digital strategist, speaker, and bestselling author. She is the CEO of Zen Media, a global marketing and digital PR firm. She also has a 1-year old at home. She gives us an honest accounting of how much work motherhood takes, and how many people it takes to run her business and her team while at the helm of a 30-person award-winning digital strategy organization while also having a one-year old at home. She has been named the “Zen Master of Marketing” by Entrepreneur Magazine and the “Millennial Master of the Universe” by Fast Company. Shama has also been honored at both the White House and The United Nations as one of the top 100 young entrepreneurs in the country. As the CEO of Zen Media, she and her team help both B2B and B2C brands to make meaningful connections with the modern-day customer via influencer marketing, experiential and digital storytelling — and then turning those into bottom line results. In this conversation, we talk about how she got her start in business at the rise of social media. At that time major companies weren't paying attention—so she started her own company focused on the power of moments in galvanizing media attention. She also tells us honestly about her experience of motherhood and parenting, including: How it took a while for her to really fall in love with her kiddo and get to know them—it wasn't an instantaneous jolt, like she thought it would be. She's always been a night owl, working late and sleeping in late. Children? They get up early. After a few months with her newborn, she and her husband decided to figure out a way to make it so that they could still do do the night work they prefer. Today, they have a nanny who comes in at 7am and they (the parents) sleep in until 11am most days and work late, keeping their night owl schedules. Her plans for maternity leave, what she expected to do, what actually happened, and why there were differences. How she thinks about social media and content creation, and how she batches and repurposes things to get the most leverage for her online work. Get the show notes and episode sponsor at startuppregnant.com/164 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startuppregnant/message

#162 — When coronavirus first happened, many of us were adjusting to figuring out the shut down. How long would it last? Would this just be a week or two? What were the next steps? Then a month passed, then another month, and we realized we might be settling in for the long haul here. For some people, that meant adjusting to work-from home; for others, they were essential workers very much in the day-to-day work of fighting the virus. For many of you reading this blog and listening to the podcast, you have also been trying to figure out your birth plans. How do you give birth in a pandemic? What do you plan for, when everything keeps changing? Giving birth in a pandemic It seems that every week, the guidelines are changing. The stress on birthing mothers and parents is unparalleled. So many of you are figuring all of this out in real time, and I know it's nothing like what you'd hoped for or planned for. Many of you are also wondering if now is still a good time to get pregnant and whether your family plans still make sense. All of us are still asking: what will this year bring? All of this reminded me of a friend of mine, whose story I heard about last year. She went through a challenging birth situation that in some ways, parallels what people are going through now. No, she didn't give birth in a pandemic—but she did have her family get the flu the week before her due and she had to be quarantined from her mother, her husband, and her little son and figure out how to give birth without the two people she wanted to be in the room with her. Today we get to meet Megan Hale and hear her story. For full show notes, episode sponsors, and quotes: www.startuppregnant.com/162 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startuppregnant/message

Should you start a business on the side while you’re employed full-time? What are the risks and complications—and are you obligated to let your employer know? This is a tricky question, and a lot depends state to state. I dig into the things you should know about corporate contracts, employment agreements, inventions and assignments agreements, and why getting a lawyer to look at your contracts is a really smart investment (and shouldn’t cost you more than a few hundred dollars). Today’s episode of Ask Sarah is a hodgepodge of questions, and the questions I’m covering today include: Is there ever a strategy or strategies to keep a business clandestine before launch? As an example, I am currently employed by a large corporation, and would also want to reach out to potential clients. Do you keep your personal writing separate from Startup Pregnant as business entities? When have you observed good decisions or regrettable situations on different streams of income (writing books versus consulting, as an example)? What are some ways you’ve seen people make great decisions about investing in different streams of income, and watch failures have you seen? Any advice for a newbie? How did you get back into exercise after you had a baby and what was it like? To listen to this podcast episode, become a backer on Patreon. Backers get exclusive access to every monthly episode of the Ask Sarah podcast and you can ask me any (yes, any!) question you’d like. This is a teaser of what we talk about and why we have a bonus podcast series. Enjoy! Find all the past episodes at startuppregnant.com/ask-sarah --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startuppregnant/message

#161 — A few weeks ago, Tara McMullin invited me onto her podcast to talk at length about mastermind programs—how we run them, how the pricing breaks down for each tier, how they're organized, how many people are in them, and more. This episode is a very detailed, behind-the-scenes look at both of our online programs and how we've designed our mastermind communities. Tara McMullin runs What Works, a podcast, community, and network for small business owners. She has three different levels of her community program, and in this episode, we both walk you through the pricing, offering, and design of the programs and how we've set them up. In this episode, we talk about: What masterminds are for, and who joins them. The invisible role of the facilitator, and the specific tools and structures we both use to design for better connection and depth. Why it's less about having "the right answer" delivered to you by an expert or a leader, and more about having people ask you the right questions, and follow-up with you to see why you're not doing the work you say you want to be doing. Why it's so hard as a small business owner to find people like you, to challenge you, to inspire you, and to truly support you in your vision of what you're trying to build. How we structure our sessions and our weeks for the best support and outcomes. Other resources: What Works Episode 134 What Works Episode 279 Startup Pregnant Episode 37 Full show notes: visit startuppregnant.com/161 for all the quotes, excerpts, and sponsors for this episode --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startuppregnant/message

#160 — A Day In The Life with Kelsey Kerslake of Pinegate Road You all have been asking to hear how other moms and small business owners are navigating the pandemic right now. I’ve been interviewing working parents about how they’ve been affected by the pandemic. Today we take a look at Kelsey Kerslake, the founder of Pinegate Road. She runs a design agency as well as a coaching business, and has a young kiddo at home. Her husband is an essential worker, so she hasn't had a minute of childcare or backup help throughout all of this. A year ago, Kelsey became a mom for the first time. Today, we talk about her experience getting pregnant, the challenges with IVF, dealing with postpartum depression, getting support as a new parent, and finding her rhythm as a business owner who adores working and loves her job. Then, we dive into how the pandemic has shifted her work schedule and what's changed—and how she's dealing with it all. In this episode: The signs and clues of postpartum depression, and how she and her doctor talked about recovery. How she wished she'd prepared for motherhood and the postpartum period, knowing what she knows now. The breath work practice she learned before having kids, and how she leaned on the breath and bodywork to help with some of the most intense experiences of early motherhood. What a day in the life of the business looked like pre-pandemic, and how she's shifted her schedule and work around now that her time is extremely limited. How long it took to build the business, how much money she started with, and what the financial picture looks like today. Show notes, episode sponsor, and quotes all at startuppregnant.com/160 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startuppregnant/message

How do you make space for healthier habits when you’re exhausted by family and work? That's the question I got on this next episode of Ask Sarah, our bonus podcast that goes out to everyone who supports us on Patreon. Not yet a backer? Help grow and back this podcast at $7/month and get exclusive access to the monthly series where I answer any and all of your questions. In this episode, I talk about why the structural and systemic problems affect us all, and why I get so frustrated when people talk about “having more hustle” or “willpower” as a way to get things done. But more than that, I talk about a strategy I use (my “eat an apple” strategy) that is effective, simple, and kind. At the root? Love. Listen in. To get access to this episode and every episode of the bonus podcast, go to patreon.com/startuppregnant to become a backer. You'll get every episode we've ever made, plus a brand-new episode every month. You'll also be able to ask me any question you'd like to know more about. This is a teaser of what we talk about and why we have a bonus podcast series. Enjoy! Find all the past episodes at startuppregnant.com/ask-sarah --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startuppregnant/message

We live in a world where listening well is a scarcity. We barely know how to pay attention, let alone listen deeply for all that’s being said—and what’s not being said. In Episode #006 of the secret bonus podcast, I want to dig deeper and share a workshop all about how deep listening can be healing. Here's a sneak preview, and YES, you can become a backer on Patreon and add this podcast to your podcast players! To listen to this episode and all episodes of Ask Sarah: The Podcast, become a backer on Patreon to get exclusive access to this listener-backed bonus episode. To get access to this episode and every episode of the bonus podcast, go to patreon.com/startuppregnant to become a backer. You'll get every episode we've ever made, plus a brand-new episode every month. You'll also be able to ask me any question you'd like to know more about. Plus, I’ll share my catalog of resources I’ve used to improve my listening and discernment skills. From FBI negotiator Chris Voss to master interviewer Krista Tippett, I’ve collected some of my favorite books, quotes, and resources to help guide you on this journey, should you so desire. Listen in to hear the resources I’ve used and the processes I love that help you connect more deeply, listen more wisely, and heal thoughtfully by listening better to each other. This is a teaser of what we talk about and why we have a bonus podcast series. Enjoy! Find all the past episodes at startuppregnant.com/ask-sarah --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startuppregnant/message

How do you become a better listener? In this month's secret podcast, we go deep on how to ask good questions, the way I've cultivated my listening practice, and the ways I completely and utterly sucked at listening, for a long time. Lots of trial and error—and I'll share all my secrets with you. Here's a quick overview of the secret episode and how to get access to it. To listen to this episode and all episodes of Ask Sarah: The Podcast, become a backer on Patreon to get exclusive access to this listener-backed bonus episode. To get access to this episode and every episode of the bonus podcast, go to patreon.com/startuppregnant to become a backer. You'll get every episode we've ever made, plus a brand-new episode every month. You'll also be able to ask me any question you'd like to know more about. This is a teaser of what we talk about and why we have a bonus podcast series. Enjoy! Find all the past episodes at startuppregnant.com/ask-sarah --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startuppregnant/message

#159 — Think of a difficult conversation that you are in the middle of, or one that you’ve recently had. Maybe it’s onboarding a new team member, or working with a client. Maybe it’s with your partner or your spouse, and you're trying to negotiate all those logistics of parenting. Maybe it’s with the grandparents, your kids, your boss, a colleague—whoever it is, I am sure that you have had the experience of how challenging it can be to go through a hard conversation. For me, I avoid them. I panic. I worry. I stress. I get really sweaty. I get nervous. I stammer. I try to keep the peace. There are so many strategies I have to try to avoid having hard conversations, or try to avoid ruffling any feathers and those strategies don't necessarily serve me. The stakes get high, people get frustrated. Sometimes when you do end up having them, you both lose sight of what it was that you wanted in the first place, or you win, but you don't really feel you won, because what is winning? Today on the podcast, we get to have Sharon Stolt join us to teach us what to do and how to start the art of having challenging and uncomfortable conversations. Sharon Stolt is a global learning and development leader, a dynamic facilitator and an instructional designer specializing in leadership and manager development. She has taught and designed innovative training programs for Fortune 500 companies and small startups and she helps thousands of people communicate better and lead more effectively. She takes us through how to think about having hard conversations, how to frame them, what our goals and objectives should be, and how to keep learning throughout all of them. When you improve your ability to communicate and navigate hard conversations, you'll be a better leader, a better parent, and you'll be a better advocate. Join us for this important conversation. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startuppregnant/message

#158 — You all have been asking to hear how other moms and small business owners are navigating the pandemic right now. I've been interviewing working parents about how they've been affected by the pandemic. Today we take a look at Caitlin Boland Aarab: she and her husband are both attorneys, and they own their own law firm in Great Falls, Montana. They have two kids at home and she's pregnant with their third kid. When everything shut down, the kids were sent home from school—but the courts weren't closed. Work was still in session. Thanks to our episode sponsor, NANIT — the only baby monitor you'll ever need! The Nanit Plus Smart Baby Monitor tracks your baby’s breathing, and has special sleepwear so that you can see that they are safe and know that they are breathing throughout their sleep. If you’ve ever been stressed out overnight or worried about your baby sleeping, this can put your mind at ease, this is a baby monitor that can help you adjust to your new sleep life once you bring that kiddo home. They also provide sleep coaching, training, and a baby monitor all in one. Visit Nanit.com today to learn more about this amazing baby monitor, why people are raving about it, and how it can help you and your little one have a better night’s rest. Startup Pregnant listeners can use code STARTUP at nanit.com to save 10%. Find links, resources, quotes, and complete shownotes at https://startuppregnant.com/158 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startuppregnant/message

#157 — My friend has an almost-two-year old and she asked me "So when do I need to think about potty training?" Yeah, as though you needed anything else to consider in the pandemic. Well, I took a few minutes to brain dump everything I remembered about potty training in a quick dash Voxer message to her, all while doing dishes and cleaning up the boys' room in our house. We both thought that these might be useful memos for you, especially if you happen to be in a similar situation. Consider this an unofficial, scrappy overview of Potty Training that will help you do a good enough job ... for now. The best thing I can recommend is to read the "Oh, Crap" Potty Training book (it was relatively painless to read and well organized and laid out) and then take it slower than anyone else says it should take because it's really all about your kid and getting to know them and their potty (and learning) styles. My favorite part about the potty training experience was that you really have a chance to get to know your kid and understand how they learn and process. But it's tough! Here's what I learned and what I remember about potty training. Show notes available at https://startuppregnant.com/157 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startuppregnant/message

#156 — How do you push the reset button—that ability to feel like you've had a fresh cup of coffee, a good night of sleep, and you're ready to go at work? While we're all clawing at sanity and sobbing quietly into our fourteenth cup of coffee, it's really hard to find the capacity to work and keep your head above water right now. Today's episode is for anyone trying to find a semblance of sanity amidst all of this. If you're stuck, feeling overwhelmed, feeling like you're in a rut—here are a few things that are working for me. Hope they are helpful. Show notes are available at startuppregnant.com/156. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startuppregnant/message

#155 — A brand new show! So, you know when you're watching your favorite TV show, and you realize that the side-story of the show is quickly becoming it's own plot? That is happening to me right now, and after spending the last ten weeks podcasting from my stay-at-home orders in New York City, I realized that I may accidentally be starting a new podcast. One I'd love to introduce you to. Let's Talk with Sarah K Peck is a brand-new spinoff podcast with short, 5-10 minute conversations about philosophy, psychology, and practical notes on life around us. If you're curious or want to take a listen, search for it wherever you listen to podcasts and you'll find it, or go to anchor.fm/sarahkpeck to take a sneak peek. The Startup Pregnant Podcast will carry on, and we'll be focused on bringing you more voices and ideas from parents all over who are dealing with work, children, pregnancy, and leadership. Thanks, as always, for being listeners of the podcast and being on this journey together. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startuppregnant/message

#154 — One of the hardest things for me is finding a way back to myself amidst the clawing of children, the demands of home, the projects at work, and the to-do lists piled extra high. You know the days—when doing anything longer than 15 minutes seems impossible. As a gift to everyone listening, and everyone on my email list, I'm building a series of short, five-minute guided audio tapes (Ha! I want to call them audio tapes, I'm definitely showing my generation here). These guided audios are designed to help you find your breath, re-center, and re-start wherever you are. Listen to the breath work cycle when you're feeling stressed. Take two minutes to do square breathing before you go to sleep. Practice a visualization when you're feeling overwhelmed. The series is divided into breath work, body work, visualizations, and stories. It's a work in progress right now, but the first few are live. You all have access to this course anytime you'd like. Here's a link if you'd like to take a peek: This series is free for anyone who wants it, and you're welcome to share it. RECESS: Five minute re-sets for sanity and calm. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startuppregnant/message

#153 — "Wake up everyone, it's a brand new day!" Today my children join me on this episode of the podcast to give you a snapshot of life in New York City quarantine with two working parents. Want to know how we're breaking down our workdays and figuring out our schedules? I break down the exact schedules I'm using with my partner, who works when (and why), and how much work we're really able to get done. (Hint: not a ton.) Also, I'll share my thoughts on equality in partnerships, why specificity is so important, and why my business is able to handle seasonal fluctuations right now, which is keeping us afloat. Full show notes at https://startuppregnant.com/153 PS: Want to share your story on the podcast? I'm looking for the nitty-gritty details of how you're living life in quarantine and what changes you've made as working parents. Send a note to hello@startuppregnant.com if you're able to be interviewed by 5/15/2020. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startuppregnant/message

Running masterminds is something I started doing about five years ago—and I've done them for groups of women in New York City, entrepreneurs, in-person retreats, online virtual events, and more. In 2018 I opened up The Wise Women's Council, a community and a mastermind program for women navigating parenting and entrepreneurship. In this episode of Ask Sarah, I dig deep into the Wise Women's Council, how I built it, the program components, and why I designed it the way that I did. To listen to this episode and all episodes of Ask Sarah: The Podcast, become a backer on Patreon to get exclusive access to this listener-backed bonus episode. To get access to this episode and every episode of the bonus podcast, go to patreon.com/startuppregnant or click here to become a backer. This is a teaser of what we talk about and why we have a bonus podcast series. Enjoy! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startuppregnant/message

#152 — I don't know about you, but I'm finding it mighty hard to even get started in the morning. I know these last episodes have all been about finding patterns and rituals amidst the madness, and it's for a reason—finding my new normal (or a sense of it) is all I feel like I can do right now. Lately the strangest thing has been happening: I'm finding myself drawn towards social media, and wanting to connect more. So every morning, I've been sharing a small snippet of my morning routine on my Facebook page, and it's turned into my virtual coffee shop. Listen in for how it all works, and why it's helping me so much right now. SHOW NOTES: www.startuppregnant.com/152 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startuppregnant/message

#151 — Making sense of days that make no sense requires new patterns, habits, and routines. For me, trying to muddle through the cacophony of work and children and non-stop days at home is very, very challenging to my brain. So, to help, I’ve been building small rituals into the day to start to cue myself that yes, work is happening now, and yes, it’s a new day. Some of my favorite “cues” are things that happen every day at the same time, that have a sensory component to them, and that remind me of something familiar. For this reason, perfume, coffee, candles, and lipstick all help remind me that yes, I’m a human, and yes, I might be able to do a little bit of stuff today. SHOW NOTES www.startuppregnant.com/151 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startuppregnant/message

#150 — Every morning lately, I've been posting a selfie to my Facebook page and my Instagram page. Right now it feels like going to the coffee shop—I get to pop in, say good morning to people all around the world, check-in with my neighbors and parents and friends, and then start the day. In any other moment of my life, I would not have said that going on social media first thing would help me be more productive, but right now is not a normal time. So, from my quarantined home in New York City, I've found a new way to say hello to people in the morning, and it's making my day so much better. In this episode, I'll share a few more tiny habits I'm using to anchor me throughout this. Would love to hear what you are up to! I've left voice notes on this episode and you can share your habits in our Startup Pregnant Facebook Group. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startuppregnant/message

#149 — As we all adjust to the uncertainty and sudden shifts of what’s happening around the world with the global COVID-19 pandemic, I wanted to share a few small rituals that we’ve used in our household to find a moment of normalcy in our lives. Yes, most of our life is chaos, and much of it is very different than it was a few weeks ago. Also, one of the hardest parts of all of this is the not knowing: not knowing when things will change or what the next few weeks and months will bring. In times of uncertainty, it's useful—and supportive—to create small moments of ritual and stability, both for ourselves and for the people around us. Here in New York City, my husband and I are leaning on a small ritual practice we usually do each night before bed. Right before we go to bed, we ask three questions: 1. What was the best part of your day? 2. What are you grateful for? 3. What are you looking forward to in our family? In this episode, I share a few of the rituals we use and how it can serve as an anchor to help you make sense of an otherwise upside-down day. For all of you out there, consider creating small rituals that will help you get through your new normal. They don't have to be perfect, and they don't have to be forever. Also, pick a couple of things that you have on your calendar to look forward to. Having a moment, an event, or a reason to stay positive and hopeful is also an excellent strategy. However—as I explain on the podcast—don't go too hog wild with it. Creating unreasonable expectations can set us up for disappointment, so, if you're a leader in your field, make sure to pick things to look forward to that you can be confident will come to pass. Leaders can do a disservice to the people around them by telling false stories about the future, but having something to anchor your hopes to, even if it’s small, can help boost morale during challenging times. Whether it's for you, your family, or your company, create small rituals that help you get through your new normal. Pick a few things to look forward to, even if they are small—just make sure they are within your control and not subject to wild external forces. RESOURCES: Full show notes are available at www.startuppregnant.com/149 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startuppregnant/message

#148 — During times of stress, everyone responds differently. Some of us laugh, some of us go into denial, some of us get agitated, some of us panic, some of us get to work. If you’re feeling a bit all over the place, I want to talk about how stress affects each of us differently and why these reactions are coming up. As you start to see how we each respond to stress, you can also start to see how the weird ways your coworkers and partners are reacting might actually be a perfectly normal response… it’s just different than how you respond to stress. This is another brief(ish) episode recorded from our studio in New York City during the March 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. At the time of this recording, my family and I are in self-isolation in New York City and we have not left the apartment in 14 days. It’s been interesting, to say the least! You will hear noises of my children in the background, and yes, there are times when I completely lose my train of thought. This is the new normal right now, and I’m right there alongside all of you. If you’re feeling stressed, anxious, overwhelmed, fatigued, panicked, irritated, inspired, or like you need to crack inappropriate jokes, you’re not alone. Feelings are big right now and get magnified during times of stress. A few tips on dealing with feelings are: Listen to them and acknowledge them. Know that they don’t want to stay forever, they just want to be heard right now. Describe your feelings as physical symptoms—describe where they are in your body and what your body does with those feelings. Start a journaling practice—it can be so incredibly soothing and helpful for the mind. Try a body scan meditation. Most of all, know that your feelings are a normal reaction to stress and that you don’t have to DO anything right now to get rid of them. You can simply feel them and seek to understand them. RESOURCES: Show notes for this episode can be found at startuppregnant.com/148 Beautiful and important article on grief and discomfort from Harvard Business Review: That Discomfort You're Feeling Is Grief. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startuppregnant/message

#147 — Don't forget to exhale through all of this. If you're tired, scared, stressed, overworked, or feeling all the feelings, this episode is for every one of us. It's a short method to help catch your breath, tap into your body, and exhale away some of the tension. This episode was recorded on Saturday, March 21st 2020 in New York City in the midst of the coronavirus and COVID-19 pandemic happening around the world. But that's not the focus of the episode—the point of. this short moment is to breathe, together. I'll walk you through one of my favorite practices that I use when I'm tired, anxious, or stressed. It's a pattern of breath called 4-7-8. Please note: if you're currently pregnant or think you might be, be mindful to do the breath work without the retention (holding), and tune into your body as you do it to see how it feels for you. Sending you all a big, virtual hug. SHOW NOTES and other resources can be found at startuppregnant.com/147 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startuppregnant/message

#146 — The next few days, weeks, and months are going to challenge us—a lot. Actually, the next twelve to eighteen months are going to be quite the ride, but let's just start here with where we are, today. Having everything suddenly shift and having our lives disrupted this much is a huge deal. How can we process and deal with it? In this episode I go over seven things to keep your mental sanity amidst all of this. This is just a starting point; feel free to write your own list, and stay kind, stay compassionate, and stay sane—as much as possible. Thinking about all of you amidst this. 1. Take it one day at a time. Things are changing a lot, but they will happen one day at a time. Take today and breathe, and make sure you’re doing things for yourself today, right now, too. Take a minute to rest, take a hot bath, let your eyes close at the end of the day. Pay attention to what’s going right. 2. Limit your time on the news. Staying glued to the television screens or digital devices won’t help. Pick a time to check in—maybe even a few times per day—and then pick times to put your phone down, put your computer away, and to let yourself do something other than pay attention to the news. Staying informed is important, getting stressed and worked up is not helpful. Things will change every 24 hours, but within those 24 hours, you can set time aside to work, to sleep, to exercise, and to care for yourself. Being on social media or new every moment will add more stress. 3. Keep working. The world needs you, your work, and your creative energy. Yes, we need to adapt and shift and be flexible. You can do this. Remind yourself that you are brilliant, wise, creative, and strong. Don’t stop working because we’re in crisis; know that each day you’re able to show up means you can help that many more people. 4. Take action. Taking action helps. Take action for yourself, for your loved ones, and for the people you aren’t yet connected to. The ripple effects are real, and they are important. 5. Focus on what you can do. Spend time on the areas that you can control, and the part of your world where you can make a difference. Tiny actions, done collectively, make a huge difference for everyone. If all you can do today is drink eight glasses of water and go to sleep, you are helping everyone else by taking care of yourself. Keep going. Drink water! 6. Know that you are resilient and adaptive. You will find ways through this, and you will tap into a strength you might not have experienced yet. When you fall down or feel frustrated, reach out to a friend. Our power is in our interconnectedness and our strength of spirit. You can do this. Remind yourself that you are brilliant, wise, creative, and strong. 7. There will still be moments of beauty in crisis. We will witness some of the most beautiful acts of kindness and humanity amidst this. Here for you. We can get through this together. RESOURCES Share this episode and get show notes at startuppregnant.com/146 Coronavirus, COVID-19, Pregnancy, Parenting, Birth — find all of our resources on our online resource hub: startuppregnant.com/coronavirus Free webinar for pregnant and birthing moms: navigating the uncertainty. startuppregnant.com/webinar --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startuppregnant/message

#145 — Hey everyone, my family is staying home now for a while, and that means we are working from home with two kids and two parents no longer in school or at work. We're preparing for the coming weeks and the disruptions that are already happening in light of the spread of Coronavirus. In this episode, I'll share what we're doing to prepare for Coronavirus, what social distancing is and why it's important, and a few steps you can take to help not just yourselves, but your community. If you have any questions, email us at hello (at) startup pregnant (dot) com. RESOURCES MENTIONED: Coronavirus: an overview of what we are dealing with. Complete episode show notes can be found at www.startuppregnant.com/145 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startuppregnant/message

#144 — Should You Take That Online Course? How To Get Your Money’s Worth When Doing Virtual Courses You see a shiny new course offering on the Internet and then you visit the checkout page and you’re like, “Oh! This looks so good. I think I need this. I don’t know. Do I need this? Oh, my goodness! How do I decide whether or not to buy this? I just don't know. What should I learn next? I want to learn all the things.” But HOW DO YOU DECIDE? If this sounds familiar to you, you’re just like me. Online courses and new projects and learning make me so excited and I LOVE finding new things to learn. I have so many books stored up on the wait list on my Libby app, I have a pile of things in my checkout carts, and I have a wait list of courses I want to take next after I finish my current ones. So, let’s dig in. How should you decide what to take and what to skip? Do you have a method for evaluating when a course is a good fit and when to pass? There are so many awesome things out there to learn, to do, to grow. I often have shiny object syndrome when it comes to seeing all these beautiful online courses out there and digital opportunities for growth. I go through this process all the time. What I wanted to do today on this mini episode is talk to you about my decision-making process for how I decide what to learn next, how decide whether or not a course is valuable, and the tools you can use to know when you should take action on it. I love education and I love learning. I am a loud out and proud geek and nerd, and that's where I stand on this issue. With that as my perspective, how do you decide which courses to take and how do you not get into the trap of trying to take them all and do them all and then end up with a library of 600 unread books and 60 unfinished courses? That's the subject of today's episode, so let's get into it. FULL SHOW NOTES Get the complete show notes with episode quotes, photos, and time stamps at http://www.startuppregnant.com/144. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startuppregnant/message

#143 — Overwhelmed, Scared, Exhausted—A Note For You When we do things we’ve never done before, it can be crazy hard. Parenting made me feel overwhelmed, scared, and exhausted—all at the same time. Today I want to offer a short note of perspective, alongside some encouragement. I know you’re probably in the thick of it, and what you’re doing isn’t easy. Keep going. For me, whenever I get overwhelmed and bogged down by the magnitude of what I’m trying to do, I try to look back and remember how much I’ve grown already, and how much I’m actually expanding my capacity over time. Get the complete show notes with episode quotes, photos, and time stamps at http://www.startuppregnant.com/143. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/startuppregnant/message