Work Like a Mother

Today, Bridget chats with Toni-Ann Mayembe, podcaster and dentist.Toni-Ann Mayembe joins us to discuss the importance of routines for ourselves and our children. Toni-Ann explains how she started her podcast and what her Sunday routines are that get her through the week. Toni-Ann provides practical tips that may help things run a bit more smoothly in your home too. Links Referenced in the Episode:NeighborSchools Blog- Don't have time to listen? Read the blog with highlights from Real Happy Mom Podcast and Blog- Listen to Toni-Ann's podcast where she shares a lot more helpful tips about routines!

Today, Bridget chats with Deepti Sharma- Serial Entrepreneur. Deepti's career centers on her passions- food, community and advocacy. She is unafraid to pivot to figure out a new solution to make less than ideal circumstances work- both at home and in her career. And you know what's most inspiring? Deepti continues to chase her dreams. She always knew that she wanted to have a greater impact in her community so she ran for City Council in New York City last year. I hope we all seek a bit of inspiration from Deepti. Becoming a mom really can open new paths and opportunities for us. Links Referenced in the Episode:NeighborSchools Blog- Don't have time to listen? Read the blog with highlights from Foodtoeat- Check out Deepti's amazing start-up, Foodtoeat! Here's a video that explains how Deepti and Foodtoeat pivoted their mission during COVID.

Today, Bridget chats with Toyosi Babalola- Founder and CEO of Ablué.Do you have these moments that stop you in your tracks and make you realize that you just can't do it all? Toyosi did too. She realized, prior to the pandemic that she couldn't be home with her daughter and work her demanding full-time IT job. Toyosi was raised in Nigeria by a “village” of adults who supported her and helped share the load of raising a child. Even though she was in America, she needed to create a village to help her raise her child. Toyosi started Abulé, a startup that connects parents to support each other and share the load of parenting. This amazing startup will help you find your village too. Links Referenced in the Episode:NeighborSchools Blog- Don't have time to listen? Read the blog with highlights from Toyosi's conversation with BridgetAbulé is Toyosi's startup working to democratize childcare. Go check it out! 

Today, Bridget chats with Jessi Duley, Founder of BurnCycle Spin Studios. Rarely do you get to meet someone who is willing to tell it how it is and truly expose all of their vulnerabilities, successes, faults and passions. Jessi Duley, a fearless entrepreneur and founder of Burncycle, a spin studio in the Pacific Northwest, takes truth telling to a whole other level. If only we all had the courage to be as honest with ourselves and each other as Jessi. Links Referenced in the Episode:NeighborSchools Blog- Don't have time to listen? Read the blog with highlights from Jessi's episode Shame Raging Video- Have you seen this? If not you have to check it out! The Dip- The business book that Jessi referencesBurn Cycle- Jessi's spin studios in the Pacific NorthWestBurn Cycle Digital Studio- You can take Jessi's classes online! 

Today, Bridget chats with Jasmine Bradshaw an anti-racist educator, podcaster and mother.When Jasmine was pregnant with her first child, she dove into anti-racism research and realized that there was a large divide between the world of academia and practical application. Jasmine launched the podcast First Name Basis to provide resources and tips for families. Her resources help parents and children engage in developmentally appropriate conversations about race, religion and differences to help parents raise the next generation to be more anti-racist.Links Referenced in the Episode:NeighborSchools Blog- Don't have time to listen? Read the blog with highlights from Jasmine's episode First Name Basis- Jasmine's PodcastAnti-Racist Experts- @proftriciarose and Ta-Nehisi CoatesAnti-Bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves by Louise Derman-Sparks- a book that Jasmine references in the episodeAlly Elementary- Jasmine's resources and curriculum. A roadmap for raising the courageous, anti-racist allies our communities need.A Bit of Optimism- The episode of Simon Sinek's podcast featuring Omar Brownson about gratitude that Bridget refers toFlecks of Gold Journal- a journal that Jasmine recommends to help you focus on those golden moments of motherhoodRapid Fire Responses: Mom Gear- Itzy Ritzy Diaper bagWho to Follow - @britthawthorneWhat's on your Nightstand- Flecks of Gold Journal 

Today, Bridget chats with Eve Rodsky New York Times best-selling author of Fair Play and the newly released, National Bestseller, Find Your Unicorn Space.Not only is Eve advocating for gender equity for women on a National level, she is also empowering women by giving a voice to the frustration that so many of us feel. Yet Eve doesn't just name the problem- that women are shouldering the burden of unpaid domestic work. She presents a solution to rebalance partnerships and ease this frustration. You have to listen to this conversation and then go check out Eve's best sellings books- Fair Play and Find your Unicorn Space.Links Referenced in the Episode:NeighborSchools Blog- Don't have time to listen? Read the blog with highlights from Bridget's conversation with Eve.Fair Play- Eve's best selling book about coming up with a 21st-century solution to an age-old problem: women shouldering the brunt of domestic responsibilities, regardless of whether they work outside the home.Find Your Unicorn Space is Eve's new book that teaches anyone how to create time in their already-busy life to tap into their unique expression of creativity and find purpose that will allow them to live a happier, more fulfilled life.Time Out: A Fair Play Podcast Inspired to value your own time and invest in yourself? Check out Eve's new podcast.

Today, Bridget chats with Ashley Mitchell- Wellness Professional and DEI Consultant. Ashley's entire life has revolved around movement and exercise. She was raised by a professional boxer and marathon runner and was very active when she was growing up. Now, she inspires and leads others to move as a fitness instructor. Movement has also helped Ashley process trauma and grief in her own life. This passion led her to found a non-profit to bring movement as a form of processing and healing for kids experiencing trauma or the stresses of daily life. Yet Ashley also struggled with the complicated expectations from the world of physical fitness after the birth of her first son. Ashley has worked to give herself grace and not fall prey to the bounce back culture 6 months postpartum from the birth of her son. Links Referenced in the Episode:NeighborSchools Blog- Don't have time to listen? Read the blog with highlights from Bridget's conversation with AshleyThe Courage Campaign- The non-profit that Ashley foundedBlack Girl Magic Mama- Ashley's blog Ashley Mitchell: Boston Wellness Is White-Washed. Now Is the Time to Be Better- Ashley's article 

Today, Bridget chats with Cait Zogby, Co-Founder and Chief Community Officer of MotherNation.Cait connected with a friend when they were both postpartum. Though they had very different pregnancy and postpartum experiences, they both felt like they were failing in spite of having access to a tremendous amount of resources. Cait and her friend founded MotherNation to provide support for moms and build the skills to integrate their own needs into the demands of motherhood. She shares incredible advice to help you prioritize your own needs too.Links Referenced in the Episode:NeighborSchools Blog- Don't have time to listen? Read the blog with highlights from Cait's episode.  Mother Nation- Cait's company that creates spaces for Mothers to care for themselves and each other. Get and give support up close through personalized Circles, and from all of MotherNation through our Private Online Community.

Today, Bridget chats with Reshma Saujani, Founder and CEO of Marshall Plan for Moms.This week, Reshma joins us to discuss her experience as a working mom, society's assumption that moms are America's social safety net, and the necessity to fix a broken system that was never intended for working moms. How can we create a society that demands true equity for all women? Reshma encourages moms to stop being martyrs and create “good trouble” to demand wholesale structural change. Links Referenced in the Episode:NeighborSchools Blog- Don't have time to listen? Read the blog with highlights from Reshma's episode. Marshall Plan for Moms- a national movement to center women in our economic recovery and champion public and private sector policies that support all moms. Marshall Plan for Moms Op Ed- Here's Reshma's Op Ed that inspired the movement. Pay Up- Reshma's new book where she confronts the “big lie” of corporate feminism and presents a bold plan to address the burnout and inequity harming America's working women today.Reshma's TED talk- Teach Girls Bravery not Perfection 

Today Bridget chats with Hitha Palepu. Mother, CEO of ​Rhoshan Pharmaceuticals, and Author of We're Speaking.Hitha self identifies as a multi-hyphenate as an entrepreneur, investor, writer, and speaker. Though Hitha is incredibly accomplished professionally, her Work Like a Mother interview convinced me that she is human and not a superhero with a cape. Hitha details her morning routine with her family, explained how she curates her #5smartreads list, and shared her tips for getting out of weeknight meal prep for her kids. Hitha unapologetically shares her struggles as a working mom during a pandemic. She uses her privilege to give others permission to speak out and advocate for themselves and their families too. Links Referenced in the Episode:NeighborSchools Blog- Don't have time to listen to the full episode? Check out the highlights of Bridget's conversation with Hitha on the blog.#5SmartReads- a weekly digest of the news you should know, books you should read and things that will make your life better that Hitha publishes each week We're Speaking: The Life Lessons of Kamala Harris- the book that Hitha published this fallForest App- The App that Hitha recommends for productivity

Today, Bridget chats with “Inventing Anna” and “Scandal” actor, Katie Lowes. This week, Katie joins us to discuss launching her podcast, Katie's Crib, navigating pregnancy and postpartum in Hollywood and why access to quality child care matters. Katie keeps it real and connects with the challenges that all moms face, juggling career and family.Links Referenced in the Episode:NeighborSchools Blog- Don't have time to listen? Read the blog with highlights from Katie's episodeKatie's Crib- Check out Katie's awesome podcast. She keeps it real with all things parenting. Rapid Fire Responses:Mom Gear- Boogie Wipes! Is your kid's nose also a faucet? Katie couldn't rave about these enough! Who to Follow on IG- @janetlansbury, @kids.eat.in.color @workspaceforchildren @busytoddler @food_for_tots @drbeckyatgoodinside @manifestdestini 

Today, Bridget chats with Dr. Amber Thornton Clinical Psychologist and Millennial Motherhood Wellness Expert and Founder/Creator of Balanced Working Mama. Dr. Thornton wasn't sure that she wanted to become a mom because she was fearful that she would have to give up her career, her identity and her drive. Instead, Dr. Thornton sets really clear boundaries that empower her to pursue her career, prioritize her family and also center her own wellness. Dr. Thornton shares a lot of practical tips to help moms unapologetically take care of ourselves so that we can take care of others.Links Referenced in the Episode:NeighborSchools Blog- Don't have time to listen? Read the blog with highlights from Dr. Thornton's episode.SudShare- Laundry Service that Dr. Thornton raves aboutS4 EP 7: The Moms are Not OK- The episode of The Double Shift featuring Dr. Amber Thornton

Today, Bridget chats with Katherine Goldstein- Journalist, and Creator and Host of The Double Shift Podcast.Once Katherine became a mom, she became acutely aware of how society was failing mothers. She, like so many of us, fell victim to blaming ourselves rather than acknowledging that the challenges that mothers face are societal issues. But then Katherine channeled her journalist skills to “stop feeling guilty and start feeling mad”. Katherine is a passionate advocate for mothers. She uses her platform as a podcast host of the award winning Double Shift and as a writer to inspire other moms to advocate and take action. Links from Today's EpisodeNeighborSchools Blog - If you don't have time to listen to the whole episode, go check out the highlights on NeighborSchools' blogChamber of Mothers- The advocacy group that Katherine recommends.  The Chamber of Mothers is a collective movement to focus America's priorities on mothers' rights. Their first goal is to secure federal paid family and medical leave.The Double Shift- Katherine's award winning podcastThe Double Shift Newsletter- The Double Shift is going on indefinite hiatus but stay up to date on their amazing work through this newsletterAmerican moms: let's stop feeling guilty and start getting mad- Katherine's article in the GuardianRapid Fire Responses:Mom Gear- Medella Freestyle Hands-free PumpWho to follow on IG- @babiesafter35Mom Hack- TickTick- Katherine's list app that she, her husband and her caregiver all use 

Zoë Ruderman, editor of PEOPLE digital, was excited to quickly get pregnant after she and her husband decided to start a family. However, that elation was shortlived when Zoë had her first miscarriage. Zoë and her husband endured repeated miscarriages and were eventually advised to try IVF to conceive. Though Zoë never lost faith that she would one day get pregnant and have a family, she kept her IVF journey private to protect herself from needing to spend the emotional energy to explain her journey to others. Inspired by her own path to parenthood, Zoë launched the podcast, Me Becoming Mom. The mission of Me Becoming Mom is to destigmatize the many paths to parenthood. She wants people to hear the stories of celebrities to normalize the many ways that people can start families. Links Referenced in the Episode: Podcast: Zoe's podcast, Me Becoming MomArticle: to read more about Me Becoming Mom Book: Emily Oster's Book, Expecting Better that Bridget and Zoë nerd out on in the episode 

When Keri Setaro and Ashley Hearon-Smith auditioned and were casted as “mom friends” on their first podcast, Scary mommy speaks, neither of them envisioned their careers revolving around the topic of motherhood. Yet these two moms and (actual) close friends help other moms find themselves outside of their roles as mothers in their new podcast, Momtourage. Keri said it best- motherhood is messy, hard and beautiful. These two will help you laugh hysterically and feel less alone as they keep it real about all things motherhood.

Jenny scoured the internet for helpful information about introducing real food to her 6 month old twins. Her three year old was a picky eater and she wanted to avoid the same situation with her twins. She ended up down the endless google rabbit hole. Why wasn't there a singular resource for parents to reference when introducing solid foods to their kids? Jenny decided to create that resource for parents, one ingredient at a time. Solid Starts help parents feel confident introducing real food to their littles through a finger food first approach.  Parents love having a resource to create a healthy food culture with their families. 

Michele's son was diagnosed with autism at the age of 4. Suddenly she and her family stopped getting invited over to friends' houses for dinner and were asked to leave restaurants and shows. Michele and her family were rocked by the social isolation and the doors that were closed to them. Though Michele didn't previously consider herself a runner, she started running daily to take care of herself and cope with the challenges she and her family faced. And then she decided to tackle the societal issues impacting her family by founding KultureCity. KultureCity is a non-profit which creates sensory accessibility and full inclusion for those with invisible disabilities. 

Amanda Beard's entire life has revolved around the water. When the 4X Olympic swimmer finished her competitive swimming career, she just couldn't stay away. The mom of two co-founded a learn to swim school in Washington State to pass on her love of swimming and promote water safety. Amanda serves on the board of Hope Floats as an advocate for water safety and drowning prevention. 

Sarah built a career as a leader in ecommerce working for more than two decades for various companies. Yet, when Nanit approached Sarah, she jumped at the opportunity to switch careers to help parents use technology to ease their worries. With little kids at home, Sarah could connect and relate to parents who were looking for any tools and tricks to make parenting a little easier. 

Shalini Sekhar fell in love with wine, but she never imagined this love affair with wine would turn into a career. She initially studied music and earned her masters in Music Performance. She began working in a tasting room to pass the time while searching for a teaching job when she and her husband relocated to California in 2005. But soon she realized that her passion for wine was pushing her to pursue a full-time career in the wine business. She's now widely recognized for her success, including accolades like Winemaker of the Year and has paved the way as a woman of color in the wine industry. All while juggling life with two kids and navigating a hectic schedule because the wine harvest doesn't follow traditional 9-5 hours. 

Amanda Goetz built her own personal toolkit to develop the skills that she needs personally and professionally to be successful. Amanda just raised 2M in a round of funding to launch her startup, House of Wise. Yet she wasn't willing to back down from pillars of the business that felt important to her as a working mom. The company has a 4 day work week, work hours are flexible and are driven by outputs and outcomes rather than hours. Amanda leads by example, juggling being a single parent to 3 kids and getting the CBD startup off the ground. 

Blessing grew up in Lagos, Nigeria. She was determined to dream big and be successful in spite of the societal expectations that boys went to school and pursued careers and women prepared to stay at home. Blessing came to the USA for college and pursued chemical engineering. Once she entered the male dominated profession, she learned to stand up and advocate for herself and other working moms. Blessing continues that work through Mother Honestly- a community that brings together women and empowers them to stop comparing themselves to others and start defining their own success. 

When Lindsey first had the idea to create a clip to keep her daughter's pacifiers away from their family dog, she had no idea how successful the company would become 8 years later. Yet the part of the business that she is most proud of is the amazing community of moms that Ryan and Rose has brought together. The community of moms embraces differences and supports one another through their motherhood journeys. 

Sandy became CEO of MAM during the pandemic and is leading the company towards being a family first company. She models this by setting a culture that allows her colleagues to be flexible and respond to priorities whether they are at home or at work. Sandy and MAM also launched a path to parenthood campaign to embrace the many diverse ways that individuals become parents. 

Early in Stephanie's career as a working mom, she thought she had to do it all. She wanted to cook her children a nutritious breakfast each morning, have a smooth morning routine, pack bags with everything the children needed for school, get everyone to childcare on time, get to work on time, work efficiently throughout the day and have an equally smooth evening routine. She quickly realized it's impossible to do it all perfectly and it adds unnecessary stress and pressure to even try. Stephanie's strategy? Decide on what you want to prioritize doing really well, and then be okay getting a C on everything else. Give yourself a break and accept that no one expects for everything to be perfect.

As an economist and professor, Emily Oster is accustomed to using data to inform the decisions that she made in her own life. When Emily got pregnant with her daughter, Penelope, she was shocked by the lack of data provided by doctors to back up the common rules of pregnancy. Emily started to analyze the data behind many common pregnancy rules, and wrote a book, Expecting Better to improve decision-making for pregnant women. As her kids have grown up, her research has continued through 2 subsequent books, Crib Sheet, focusing on birth to preschool and Family Firm, which comes out today, focusing on the early school years. 

A male colleague once asked Leslie, why are moms always so stressed? Leslie grabbed a sheet of paper and scribbled down her first draft of her Mom's Hierarchy of Needs. Leslie responded- moms are stressed because they prioritize everyone else's needs before themselves. Self care happens only once everyone else's needs are met. Leslie quit her job to focus full time on helping moms prioritize their own self care. Leslie has talked to countless moms through her research and study and has transformed Mom's Hierarchy of Needs into a new business helping employers retain working parents and create inclusive workplaces where caregivers can thrive.

Karri carved out a niche using her expertise as an educator and a parent to customize playroom designs to meet families' needs. She put an ad in a local paper and started receiving phone calls from parents desperate to get their kids off technology and engaged in other forms of entertainment. Smart Playrooms aims to design playrooms that will engage children in open-ended creative thinking to promote independence, creativity, problem-solving and cooperation.

Quiana believes that all mothers are inherently activists and advocates. We are raising the next generation of changemakers and we shouldn't take this role lightly. Some moms advocate in the books that we read to our children and the lessons we teach in hopes to raise our children to spread kindness, acceptance and love. Quiana inspires, encourages and challenges the system. She connects with an amazing community through her Harlem Lovebirds blog and social media presence. She also is a very active member of Moms Demand Action, an organization advocating for anti-gun legislation. She juggles this role as an advocate, in addition to running a marketing, PR and graphic design firm and being a mother to her 2 children. 

Though Nadia's passion has always been art and film, she took a 15 year hiatus from creating to pursue a career in law. However, when Nadia's daughter Aria was born, she was reinspired to pick back up and make art her career as a powerful way to raise awareness and spark change. Nadia creates vivid powerful art that centers people of color and messages of social justice, resistance and hope. 

The Snuggle Me Organic was born when Mia Carr struggled to juggle twin newborns and a 2 year old. Desperately needing an extra pair of arms, Mia and her mother in law started sewing prototypes of a pillow that would simulate the touch of a parent. The idea exploded into an extremely successful family run business. Yet what continues to make Mia so successful is her authenticity and her deep connection with her brand's amazing community of moms. As a mom of 7, Mia gets it, she's been through it, and her gift of words to convey that connection on social media propelled the brand to its success. 

When the reality of COVID set in last March, we were all trying to figure out how we were going to cope without childcare in addition to the stress and anxiety of living through a scary pandemic. Dr. Kelly Fradin, a pediatrician and mother of two, watched many parents panic and wondered how she could help. As we were all bracing, doing less and gearing up for the worst, Dr. Fradin decided to write a book, Parenting in a Pandemic, as a guide to help us all through the unknown. Dr. Fradin remains a reliable source of scientific data based advice for parents through her Instagram @adviceigivemyfriends. This episode is full of practical advice and tips for parents trying to navigate trips to the grocery store, playdates, the playground, childcare, cousin visits and so much more. 

When Dr. Christine Koh wrote her minimalist parenting book 8 years ago, little did she know how relevant it would be for all of us today. The pandemic didn't give us a choice- it forced us all to slow down, look inward and do less. Now, many parents and families are starting to resurface after an incredibly trying and challenging year and are trying to navigate how to find the new normal. Dr. Koh's advice is more relevant now than ever- optimize your time and your life so you're not feeling so bound to the details and so you can actually live and enjoy the time with your family. Find your level of chaos and crazy and just take it down a notch. 

In her groundbreaking debut The Three Mothers, scholar Anna Malaika Tubbs celebrates Black motherhood by telling the story of the women who shaped three civil rights icons. Anna's book shines a light on the mothers of Martin Luther King, Malcom X and James Baldwin as activists- fighting racism and inequality and as humans- raising black boys with joy and resilience. Throughout this journey of researching and writing the book, Anna herself became a mom. And she is a force. Anna connects to these three women through their shared experience as Black women, as mothers and as humans. 

The daily struggles of working parents existed long before the pandemic, but now it’s impossible to ignore them. We’re so inspired by our friends over at Neighborhood Villages for partnering with Kristen Bell and Gloria Riviera to launch the No One is Coming to Save Us podcast. It’s a 4 part-series that breaks down how we’re all breaking down: parents, teachers, child care providers and how we can get ourselves out of it NOW because we can’t afford to wait. 

As a pediatrician, Dr. Harvey Karp spent countless hours at appointments listening to the joys, concerns and desperations of new parents in the earliest and most vulnerable stages of parenting. What did they need more than anything? Sleep. The medical research was clear- sleep is essential for newborns and their parents. Dr. Karp set out to help both newborns and parents get more of it. He invented SNOO, a responsive baby bassinet that recreates the environment in the womb, while keeping babies safely on their backs all night long. Dr. Karp has dedicated his life’s work to empowering parents by helping them and their babies get more sleep. Now he’s on a mission to make SNOO more accessible through a rental option, health insurance and through partnerships with employers so every new parent can sleep more.

You can’t remove “mom” from the founding story of Slumberkins. Best friends and behavioral-health experts Callie and Kelly were on maternity leave at the same time, and spent a lot of those early months together, leaning on each other for all the support that new moms need. And then During all those long walks and nap times, they had an idea. What if they created characters and stories to teach social-emotional skills to young children? With a tiny bit of seed money and childcare help from Kelly’s parents, the two started sewing, and Slumberkin’s was born. What started as a passion project has blossomed into a full-blown world of educational wonder, with sales and success surpassing their wildest dreams, and a big-time TV series currently in production. 

Throughout her pregnancy, Liz didn’t think twice about her return to work plans. She’d take the 3 month maternity leave, and return to an advertising job that she loved. Baby came, 3-month maternity leave came and went, but Liz wasn’t ready. But she also wasn’t ready to stay home full time either. Looking at her baby girl, she felt compelled to do something that would leave a positive impact in the world. At the suggestion of a friend, Liz made a major career move with a baby at home, from the world of advertising to the world of diapers. She was buried in them at home, and she knew there had to be a better, more sustainable way. 

Work Like a Mother with Veronica Jackson on her career in the music industry and being a mom of a medically complex child

Work Like a Mother with Elana Meyers Taylor on bouncing back from pregnancy and giving birth to World Championships as a professional athlete

Work Like a Mother with Sara Reardon, a pelvic floor PT on reimagining postpartum care

Work Like a Mother with Alexandria Scott on antiracist parenting, founding a magazine and raising 3 children

Work Like a Mother with Alexandra Fisher on choosing to become a single parent, infertility, an ectopic pregnancy and being a mother to two!

Work Like a Mother with Melissa Clayton on starting a business, celebrating children and raising teenage sons

Work Like a Mother with Zaileen Janmohamed on balancing career, motherhood and expectations from our families

Work Like a Mother with Anhoni Patel on family lactation recipes, starting a business with 2 young kids and how she makes the juggle work

Work Like a Mother with Loira Limbal on her experience making a documentary, her childhood, and her journey to motherhood

Work Like a Mother with Ingrid Reed on the inspiration behind Working Momkind, and the support employers should give their parents

Work Like a Mother with Jamie and Emily on founding Nurture by NAPS, an organization that supports new parents

Work Like a Mother with Jamie Glowacki on potty training, connecting with your kids and not taking yourself too seriously.

Work Like a Mother with Julia Marcus on parenting during the pandemic and weighing the physical, social, and emotional health risks