Working Wife, Happy Life!

Did you find yourself at a loss for support when you became a mom? Did you feel like EVERYTHING was geared toward motherhood and not the other aspects of your life and identity? Were you looking to be welcomed and lifted up as a “whole” woman versus bits and pieces of who you were and what you needed?  Enter this incredible woman, someone I consider a dear and immediate friend, Erin Erenberg. Erin is a mom of three, an attorney, a serial business builder, fund advisor and the founder and CEO of Totum Women, a community-powered platform to help women feel supported in motherhood. Totum means “whole” in Latin and is born of Erin's experience as a new mother who wanted more information and resources for her as a whole woman, not just a mother.  As topical as you can imagine, in this conversation we discuss the burnout of Moms and those in their communities, the importance of knowing where you're happiest and most fulfilled from a career perspective, giving yourself permission to step away, or to pivot, finding your financial dignity, and the importance of creating your personal narrative, and value prop - what you are uniquely able to do. (SO IMPORTANT) We also discuss the amazing Brene Brown's concept of “shame growing in silence” (so critical to breadwinning women!) and ironically, ice cream. Yep, it always comes back to ice cream. You can connect with Erin and the Totum community on social channels @totumwomen or on their site, totumwomen.com. Enjoy, my conversation with Erin!

Joann S. Lublin is an extremely established and recognized leader in the journalist world who raised two children while rising to management news editor of the Wall Street Journal, where she's been recognized with a shared Pulitzer Prize and the highest accolade in business journalism, the Gerald Loeb Lifetime Achievement Award. She also inaugurated the Journal's career advice column in 1993, continuing to write its “Your Executive Career” column until May of last year. She's now written two books, her first: Earning It: Hard-Won Lessons from Trailblazing Women at the  Top of the Business World and now POWER MOMS: How Executive Mothers Navigate Work and Life where she interviewed 86 Power Moms - Baby Boomers from the first wave and Gen Xers from the second wave -- along with 25 adult daughters of those first wave boomers.  Together we discuss the differences and similarities across generational power moms, perspectives from adult daughters of power moms (ditch the mom guilt!), the importance of supportive partners, as well as how women navigate and are perceived in the workplace as they make more humans (spoiler alert: motherhood makes us better leaders!) We also cover how to think about the ever elusive work-life sway. You can connect with Joann via @joannlublin on social channels and on www.joannlublin.com

OK, we know ALL parents work, they just don't all get paid. For those of us that DO work for pay, are we thriving or just surviving?! Is parenting harder now than ever? Is that generational, or the pandemic? What gives? And how do we give...to ourselves, our families and our work in a way that feels fulfilling and sustainable? Today's episode will unpack just this.  Daisy Dowling is the Founder and CEO of Workparent, an executive coaching and training firm dedicated to helping working parents lead more successful and satisfying lives.  She began Workparent with a simple, bold vision: that all working parents could succeed on the job and remain true to themselves while raising terrific kids -- and take pride in doing so. Her new book, “The Complete Guide to Succeeding on the Job, Staying True to Yourself, and Raising Happy Kids” has been called “the definitive guide for working parents”. In addition, Daisy is a regular contributor to Harvard Business Review, the editor for The HBR Working Parents Series of books and her advice has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Sunday Times (UK), Bloomberg and CNN.  Together we break down the evolution of working parents through the past few generations, we discuss the challenges working parents face throughout the various ages of their children, we talk about finding flexibility within your workplace or when looking for a new opportunity, and tips on how to set up a contract with yourself, and boundaries, to ensure you are keeping all legs of your stool grounded. Enjoy this insightful, validating and timely conversation with Daisy about making the most out of your one unique life, both as a parent and a professional. You can connect with Daisy via www.workparent.com and LinkedIn #workparent

I just can't get enough of women talking about money, amirite!? What is your relationship with money? Can money be spiritual? How do you define wealth? What does wealth mean to you? Joining the WWHL podcast, we are so lucky to have AJ Bishop, the most down-to-earth and honest real-talk financial leader, entrepreneur, stepmom, and yoga teacher. She combines all of her incredible talents into her mission to build wealth consciousness for ambitious women, helping them to build mindful strategies that increase their financial confidence, redefine wealth, and secure their financial legacies. She's the founder of My Wealth Conscious Coach and has over 15 years of experience in wealth management across the top players in the space. Together we dive deep into the relationship women have with money; the technical and spiritual work around money (that's right, spiritual -- I mean...love). We introduce her incredible program called Money Magic (#moneymagic), we explore money mindsets (are you a Spender, a Saver or a Planner -- or all three?!) and we unearth ways to define what wealth means to YOU, because wealth is a “worth concept”, not a hard number. Get ready to be empowered and enlightened by her enthusiasm and ease around this favorite topic of mine!! You can connect with AJ through www.mywealthconsciouscoach.com or via @mywealthconsciouscoach on social channels. 

Do you sometimes feel like you are crazy or alone in your experiences in the workplace? Do you struggle to put a name or phrase to some of the behaviors you swear you see, but others dismiss...or miss altogether? Well get ready to feel seen, heard and valued with today's guest whose primary goal is to champion girls' leadership and advance women in the workforce. Joan Kuhl joins us to discuss the many struggles girls and women face, across generations through a systemic, pragmatic, informed and empathetic lens. She is the author of Dig Your Heels In: Navigate Corporate BS and Build The Company You Deserve (April 2019) and Misunderstood Millennial Talent (2016). After 14 years in the pharmaceutical industry, Joan launched Why Millennials Matter/The Kuhl Co., a training, research and consulting company that focuses on raising awareness about the value of investing in the early career workforce and advancing women in the workplace in global corporations and business schools. Joan is an international speaker, a #SheBelieves Champion of the U.S. Soccer Organization, a Contributor to ForbesWomen and NBC Know Your Value and serves on the board of Girls Inc of NYC. Together we discuss the toxic trio (Imposter Syndrome, Perfectionism and Intentional Invisibility), how her work with Millenials made her realize that what they wanted is actually and frankly what women deserve, how single women have shouldered so much responsibility throughout the pandemic, the three C's (Courage, Confidence, Connections), inequities in professional sports and so many other relevant and thought-provoking topics. I know this conversation will resonate with so many of you on so many levels. You can connect directly with Joan at www.JoanKuhl.com or @JoanKuhl on all social channels or via LinkedIn.

Oh hey, Dads! Oh hey, Feminists! Now let's talk Feminist Dads ... and who better to do it with than with today's guest, Jordan Shapiro, PhD. This conversation is equal parts hilarious and compelling. Jordan is a globally celebrated American thought leader, speaker, consultant and professor who is deeply committed to the topics of education, psychology, digital play, kids, culture and food. His first book, The New Childhood: Raising Kids To Thrive in a Connected World (Little, Brown Spark 2018) changed the cultural conversation about parenting and screen time. In his new book, Father Figure: How to be a Feminist Dad (Little, Brown Spark 2021), Shapiro offers a norm-shattering perspective on fatherhood, family, and gender essentialism. Together we discuss dad-psychology, gender equality, the importance of words to shape possibilities and how all roads lead to feminism … even bison sales. We cover “habits of mind” and the importance of moving through life and society with more intention to change our perceptions. His insights, drive and humor will drive home these incredibly complex and urgent topics, especially as we get ready to celebrate fatherhood across the US in a couple weeks. If you're looking for the perfect Father's Day gift, his book is available everywhere books are sold and he has some great gift boxes at https://feministdad.myshopify.com/! You can learn more at https://www.jordanshapiro.org/, connect with Jordan via @jordosh on all social channels.

Today’s conversation will bring you so much joy and hope through the pragmatic assessments and optimistic mindsets shared by one woman whose singular mission is to help other women. Rana Nawas is an entrepreneur, a keynote speaker, a strategic advisor and the host of iTunes’ number one podcast in the Middle East, When Women Win. Prior to this, she was the youngest sales executive globally, at GE Capital and the president of the Ellevate Network chapter in Dubai. With justice as her #1 value, this cancer-surviving, no-BS Mama shares how she remains focused and intentional amidst chaos. Additionally, we discuss the global nature of the challenges women face in the workplace; how to amplify the achievements of women and under-represented voices, “strategic visibility”, the notion of women being expected to “look young” but act & know old, the concept of “stereotype threat”, caring for yourself first, asking for help and a great tip to help you pick yourself up and “feel good” when you need it most. When Women Win just wrapped up it’s 4th season with its 100th episode earlier this month -- congrats! You can follow her podcast on Instagram and connect directly with Rana via LinkedIn and Instagram

Are you sensitive and ambitious? Do you go through life and work battling with what you "should" do/say versus what feels more natural? Do you hate the idea of office politics? Well, get ready to feel seen ... Melody Wilding is with us to discuss her new book, TRUST YOURSELF: Stop Overthinking and Channel Your Emotions at Work. Melody is a Licensed Master Social Worker, and executive coach, who has coached hundreds of private clients, from CEOs and Fortune 500 execs to leaders from the US Dept of Education, the Federal Reserve and the United Nations. Being highly attuned to your emotions, your environment, and the behavior of others can be the keys to success, but they can also lead to overthinking everything and burnout. In her new book, Melody examines the intersection of sensitivity and achievement in the workplace and offers neuroscience-based strategies you can use to reclaim control of your life and reach your full potential. Trust Yourself offers concrete steps to help what Wilding calls “sensitive strivers” – empathetic, driven individuals—break free from stress, perfectionism, and self-doubt to achieve confidence, overcome imposter syndrome, speak and act with assertiveness, build resilience, and find the confidence to work and lead effectively. Sound good? Listen in and feel seen through this incredibly insightful and validating conversation with Melody Wilding! You can learn more via Melodywilding.com and connect with Melody at @melodywilding on Instagram & Twitter.

Oh hey, breadwinning ladies! So excited to bring this episode your way!! Jennifer Barrett is the Chief Education Officer at Acorns, a saving and investing app and the author of the new wealth-building manifesto for women, Think Like A Breadwinner. This book is the cultural fix we need to reframe expectations that we as women are likely to, at some point, be financially responsible for ourselves and our families. How different would it have been if we expected this versus the “Oh wow! I’m the breadwinner!” awakening so many of us had?! Together, we discuss becoming a breadwinning woman by choice versus chance, the freedom that comes through having more agency over our lives, the importance of very-specifically identifying your “why”, intensive motherhood and more. We talk about the POSITIVES of being a breadwinner (hallelujah!) -- the pride, satisfaction and confidence that builds when we surpass our own expectations. This is the book I so needed a decade ago, and this is the conversation we all need to be having loudly and proudly up ahead! You can learn more at jenniferbarett.com.

What’s your relationship with money? How about your partner’s relationship with money? Do you talk about it? Does it make you uncomfortable? What do you wish you could say but don’t to those around you when it comes to money?  Unpack all of these questions and more with today’s guest -- Jennifer Risher joins us as the author of the memoir “We Need to Talk: A Memoir about Wealth”. Jen grew up with middle-class values, saving her pennies, wary of the rich... and then she joined their ranks. She is an extra-lucky beneficiary of the dot com boom. We Need to Talk tells her story and explores the impact of wealth on identity, relationships, and sense of place in the world. This book uncovers so much of what we talk about on this podcast, emotional relationships with money, how our perceptions and engagement with money are influenced by our upbringing, how money does and doesn’t change you, how we connect, or disconnect, on the topic and more. Regardless of your net worth, money is a universal topic which is directly tied to some of our deepest and most personal emotions. It’s influence plays out not just in our lifestyle choices and physical assets, but more significantly in our relationships with those closest to us and the world around us. This book and conversation is a very deep and personal window into how money impacts our lives -- whether you have too much, too little or just enough.  I devoured this book in one day and cannot wait for you to share in this enlightening and powerful conversation about money.  You can connect with Jen at www.jenniferrisher.ocm and learn more about her work to inspire more giving through www.halfmydaf, an effort to move money from donor advised funds to nonprofits — now. Last year, #HalfMyDAF moved $8.6 million dollars from DAFs to nonprofits in 5 months. This year, #HalfMyDAF has $3 million to give away. If you have a donor advised fund, find out how you can make your giving go even further by joining the #HalfMyDAF challenge today.

In a bit of a career rut? Feeling like investing in yourself but unsure how to get the most bang for your buck? Want a personalized program that also allows you to engage with others? Curious how these types of programs and businesses even get started?! This episode covers career advancement and development programming soup to nuts with Alli Young and Katie O’Malley from the Forem. Alli is the Founder and CEO of the Forem, and Katie is their newly appointed Chief Revenue Officer; they are also both former Google colleagues. The Forem is a platform of career advancement programs which teach you how to raise your visibility, maximize your opportunities and open new doors in your career. They believe in giving YOU the tools you need to navigate and accelerate your career. I’ve participated in several of their programs and have to say the approach is unique, personal and actionable -- and most importantly not at all one of these overwhelming career development programs in terms of commitment and mindspace. Throughout our discussion we talk about Alli’s impetus for starting The Forem, she describes some of their top programs including The 5 Skills to Advance a Career, we dissect the cost of “having it all” (spoiler alert -- there’s always a cost but there is power in choosing, and being ok with, that cost). Together we explore unpacking fear and reframing what success means. This conversation will be a bright spot in your day and The Forem will make you nerd-out on wanting to invest in yourself and refine some critical skill sets, I promise. Learn more at www.theforem.co and connect with @theforem.co on Instagram. 

Do you dread networking and small talk? Wonder why we always talk about the weather? Lose sleep about what the future of interaction looks like post-pandemic? Well listen up because today’s guest Susan McPherson, Founder of McPherson Strategies and Author of the new book “The Lost Art of Connecting” offers ways to build and maintain your community as well as tips on how we can all re-emerge from this odd world in terms of human interaction with intention. Susan is warm, funny, thoughtful and sincere. By fully embodying all of these traits, she guides you with recommendations that replace any daunting thoughts of relationship building into an incredible adventure in humanity. Throughout this incredible conversation, we discuss the root of it all: human connections -- how to make them deeply meaningful opportunities to learn from and about one another with each engagement. Susan has 25+ years of experience in marketing, public relations, and sustainability communications, speaking regularly at industry conferences, and contributing to the Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Forbes. She has appeared on NPR, CNN, USA Today, The New Yorker, New York Magazine and the Los Angeles Times. Susan is a Vital Voices global corporate ambassador and has received numerous accolades for her voice on social media platforms from Fortune Magazine, Fast Company and Elle Magazine. She resides in Brooklyn. You can connect with Susan on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

#Burnout We all know it, we’ve all felt it. But do we really know what it is, where it stems from, and how it differs from stress?  Paula Davis is the Founder and CEO of the Stress & Resilience, a training and consulting firm that partners with organizations to help them reduce burnout and build resilience at the team, leader, and organizational level. She has an incredibly impressive journey from law firms to working with the military to founding her own Institute to author of her new book, BEATING BURNOUT AT WORK: Why Teams Hold the Secret to Well-Being and Resilience. Throughout this conversation we dissect and define this common phrase “burnout”, we differentiate it from stress and ways that this is actually not a “YOU” problem, meaning it’s a symptom of the system not an indication of you not being able to hack it. Thank GOD! Please take a listen to further understand what you as an individual and you as a leader can learn about burnout; how to recognize it, how to avoid it and most importantly how to address it.  You can learn more about her work and get additional burnout prevention and resilience resources by visiting www.stressandresilience.com and can connect with Paula on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/pauladavislaack | Twitter @pauladavisSRI | Instagram @stressandresilience 

OH MY GOD, this episode needs to be a meditation. Not like, pull over and close your eyes-style meditation, but like write the advice nuggets on a post-it and stick it on your bathroom mirror-type meditation. Charlene Walters is an entrepreneurship coach, a branding mentor and the author of LAUNCH YOUR INNER ENTREPRENEUR: 10 Mindset Shifts for Women to Take Action, Unleash Creativity and Achieve Financial Success. This book serves as a guide for any fledgling entrepreneur with her candid, compelling, and practical playbook for building a business—and a life—from the ground up. Charlene is compelled to support women-many of whom, like her, are the primary breadwinners in their families.   This episode is packed with so many practical and digestible tips to make your life more simplified and put yourself first. Tips on burnout, schedule tracking and time sucks, imposter syndrome, how to reset when focusing on the negative, building your side hustle, nailing your personal branding, building presence, getting rid of the need to be perfect, organizing your goals and finding an “ups and downs” buddy.   Charlene serves as a mentor on Entrepreneur Magazine’s “Ask an Expert” forum and has taught hundreds of courses and led workshops for entrepreneurs and intrapraneurs.  She is also a contributor to many digital media outlets, including Entrepreneur, Business Insider, The Financial Post, Thrive Global, Bustle and more. You can connect with her via social media, www.charlenewalters.com or www.LaunchYourInnerEntrepreneur.com.   Website: www.charlenewalters.com Book page: www.LaunchYourInnerEntrepreneur.com Book trailer: https://youtu.be/yb8I3SyosZY Twitter: @CWaltersPhD Instagram: @CharleneWaltersPhD LinkedIn: Charlene Walters, PhD Facebook: Charlene Walters, PhD Clubhouse: @CWaltersPhD

Lisa McCarthy, CEO and Co-Founder of the training and coaching company The Fast Forward Group is an absolute force. Throughout her decades in corporate America, Lisa experienced first-hand the toll that the pace and pressure of the modern workplace takes on all areas of life. Focusing only on what’s urgent and deprioritizing personal commitments thinking “this is what it takes to be successful.” She knew it could be different. So she started a business focused on creating a new kind of workplace: one where professional and personal success go hand in hand. Fast Forward’s program, used by Fortune 500 companies around the globe, inspires people to dramatically expand what they see as possible, change limiting mindsets, and go after their goals and dreams with intention and discipline. In this episode we discuss finding what success and happiness look like for you, how you “step off the track” of your life to ensure you are not just “doing” but “being”. We discuss retraining your thoughts at length and how to avoid a “power outage”. We also discuss the Bold Vision exercise, one which you can take advantage of right now at https://fastforwardgroup.net/vision/  (actually, no - listen to the episode and THEN do the Bold Vision exercise!). I would also encourage you to earmark 30 minutes and devour her YouTube video about Choosing a New Story.  You can learn more about Lisa and her work by connecting with her on LinkedIn and exploring the site FastForwardGroup.net.

Brooke Harley is the Founder & CEO of ClassRebel, an education company on a mission to deliver modern skill sets- taught live - accessible to all - affordable to all. Kicking off with Side Hustle & Wealth streams, ClassRebel currently offers 8 hour courses (live & on-demand) on Fundraising 101 (Money for Your Startup) and Angel Investing 101 for $50  - and its pay once, attend forever – refresh live as much as you need to, to cement the knowledge! In our chat, we discuss how foundational education is to our happiness in this new 100-year life, and the social change that could follow if we got more women and people of color into position to control more capital and risk more capital. We also discuss why the ‘job market’ is only one market where you can make money, and why investment markets may be much more meritocratic. This episode is chock full of sound advice (grab a pen and paper!) and an accessible and inspiring platform to make it all a reality - you don't want to miss this one!

In today’s episode I sat down with Stephanie LeBlanc-Godfery (@i_am_slg) who I am so honored to call a friend. She is also a colleague at Google who is the Global Head of Inclusion Programs for Women of Color. Additionally, she is a Thought Leader in doubling-down on support and advocacy for caregivers globally. Prior to this role, she was a Retention Strategist, acting as a coach, advisor, and advocate for underrepresented employees to get satisfaction in their role, feel included at work and find opportunities to develop and grow. This mother of three is a force of knowledge, empathy and drive that has led her from a degree in Electrical Engineering to a 10+ year career in media and tech. Steph and I discuss her educational and career path, bringing her passion for her professional life into her personal life with her initiative Parenting Backwards (@parentingbackwards) and her credo that “when children are silenced, their questions don't go away, they just go unasked.” She offers up great tips on talking to your kids about race and current events as well as including some key resources on these topics. This is a conversation you won’t want to miss - thanks for tuning in!

It’s a new year, and whether you are looking for a new, improved or same you, WWHL is here with more conversations to address just that! In today’s episode, we hear from Coco Brown, the founder and CEO of The Athena Alliance, a digital ecosystem and platform designed around community, learning and access to opportunity for the top women in business. Throughout this conversation we cover the many resources found through The Athena Alliance as well as Coco’s POV on how corporate governance boards are strategically evolving, including some of the new formalized recommendations addressing diversity on boards. We also discuss the challenges of being the “only”, whether at senior ranks within a company or when committing to board service. Learn about Coco’s impressive career journey, her mission to create a community she herself was craving (girl after my own heart!) and her killer negotiation years ago that turned her from a soon-to-be stay-at-home mom to the primary breadwinner for her family. Enjoy this fantastic and inspiring conversation with Coco Brown and learn more at www.athenaalliance.com! 

It’s been said that children are 1/3rd of our population yet they are all of our future. How we invest, focus and strive for the betterment of our children is a direct investment in a better world. In this episode, I sit down with the Co-Founder and Director of Student Support Services of the Urban Assembly Institute of Math & Science for Young Women in Brooklyn, NY (@uaimathandscience). UAI’s mission is to empower all students. Through a rigorous curriculum engaging students in science, technology, engineering & mathematics, their students develop their voice, confidence and capacity to thrive and equitably compete in any college or career of their choice. Tune in for an incredible discussion focusing on the opportunity, versus the gaps, of the pandemic, the importance of students to be self-directed and educated, not just in the subjects but in core life skills, the evolution of girls in STEM education and the need for connectivity, both in humanity and literally with hotspots. If you are interested in getting involved with the school in any way, donating your time, money, skills or (seriously!) hotspots, you can visit them at uainstitute.org.

The stigma of the single mom. She’s harried! She’s sad! She’s lonely! She’s broke! Get the picture? Emma Johnson is on a mission to debunk these stereotypes. As the Founder of Wealthy Single Mommy, Emma aims to close the pay gap by helping #singlemoms build family, career, money & dating. Emma promised herself she wouldn’t be a single mom, and guess what. Life turns out a little differently than we all expect. So how do you turn surprise into success? What are the best first steps you can take when facing a divorce? Why is equal parenting so important in most cases? Tune in to hear Emma’s brilliant and inspirational take on her journey, her vast level of knowledge and research on the topic and her perpetual support of the incredible strength, resilience and opportunity of the #singlemom! 

How do you really know what it’s like to work at a company? Sure they have great DEI initiatives splashing across their careers page, but are they really doing the work? Where do women turn when they have a career conundrum they can’t express freely within their own organization? How about those who are “lonely” or “only’s” at the top? Enter Fairygodboss. The largest community for women whose mission is to improve the workplace through greater transparency. Get the real skinny on a company’s culture, get actionable tips on how to negotiate or navigate your career and most importantly, find a safe, supportive and anonymous community to be with you every step of your career-way. Romy Newman, co-founder of Fairygodboss, joins us to share her professional and personal background, her career journey from marketing lipstick to upholding democracy, the understanding of how isolating it can be as women rise to higher positions within their career and yes, at one point this lady full on made me cry. Tune in for the advice, laughter and tears, then sign up at Fairygodboss.com!

Ever wonder if it’s just women who struggle with the emotional and logistical hurdles of changing our name after we get married? Do men feel the same angst as they prepare for, and take, parental leave as women? While it’s certainly not as common for men to consider these issues, it is increasingly more common. Tune in to hear from Shu Matsuo Post, author of the new book, I Took Her Name. Shu is a successful businessman in Japan, known to be one of the most gender-rigid nations on the planet. When he got married and chose to take his wife's name, the opposition he encountered gave him an unexpected glimpse into a woman's world. It also gave him a taste of vulnerability, emotional connection, and the freedom he had been craving all his life. In I Took Her Name, Shu shares a powerful roadmap for defying expectations and becoming your authentic self with an emphasis on unpacking centuries long messages about what it means to be “a man”. In this episode, Shu discusses his goal of an unscripted path, chivalry, how he experienced his transition from his successful day job into family leave when his newborn son came into the world and of course, changing his name. You can learn more at shumatsuopost.com/en and follow him on Instagram @shumatsuopost

Adventures of Women in Tech with Alana Karen. We've all heard so much about the bro culture and tech's early beginnings. We've heard a lot about tech's diversity issues. But what have we actually heard from the women in tech other than anecdotal articles or major lawsuits? 20 year tech leader, @alanatkaren replaces what we think we know about women in tech with more than 80 stories of what it’s like in today’s top companies with her new book: Adventures of Women in Tech: How We Got Here and Why We Stay. Order now: ow.ly/8Wti50BAwcN

After a successful 16-year career in magazine publishing, Lauren Smith Brody had a new calling, that of supporting working moms and generally working parents as they reconcile their professional and personal selves. Through her incredibly insightful best-selling book, The Fifth Trimester: The Working Mom’s Guide to Style, Sanity, and Big Success After Baby, she has launched The Fifth Trimester movement which emphasizes the support and understanding so necessary to ensure all working parents can succeed, both inside and outside the home. Lauren is a compassionate, articulate, funny and engaging champion of calling out the pitfalls of working parenthood, both in how we present ourselves in the workforce (or virtual workforce for some, these days) and how we support ourselves across the demands outside of the office. She brings tons of research, historical insights and pragmatic self-forgiving gems to help us all feel a bit better about our capabilities and a bit more honest about our shortcomings. We discuss “networking” in the age of remote work, the history of FMLA, the importance of involving your partner in the early days of childcare, as well as how to continue to succeed in your career by setting boundaries, managing expectations of yourself and striving for advancement, yes even if working remotely! I loved this conversation so much and hope you do too! You can learn more about her work at www.thefifthtrimester.com, or follow her on Instagram @thefifthtrimester.

“I love being a stay-at-home dad. And I still struggle with what it says about me as a man.” Wow. That was the title of the article I read in The Washington Post that instantly grabbed my attention as so few men are comfortable sharing their vulnerability with this role. I immediately reached out to Jason Basa Nemec, the author of this incredibly enlightening piece, a worldly freelance writer with a PhD in English, and yes… a full time dad. In this episode, Jason shares his perspective on defining masculinity, unpacking the ways society tells our narratives, challenging people’s scripts, evolving as a family, navigating social situations and the important roles we play in shaping our children’s minds. Oh, and popsicles. 

Kari Clark is the Founder & CEO of Uplift, a platform supporting working parents. She's also just launched her newest venture, Breakout, which helps companies navigate supporting their employees and strengthening their company culture in this time of virtual workplaces. Kari has long been an advocate for working parents and continues this work with actionable insights for how to thrive, rather than just survive, this very challenging stage in life, compounded by this very challenging stage of the world. We discuss how to support working parents, how working culture is shifting, tips to prevent burnout, the unique needs of various situations and the ever critical need to set boundaries. You can learn more @getuplifted on Instagram or at www.breakout.chat. Please tune in and leave us your feedback in the comments. Also, if you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe and give us 5 stars! Please, don't forget to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or wherever you tune into your favorite podcasts! To contact me with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please e-mail workingwifehappylifepodcast@gmail.com and please keep the feedback coming! Want to stay up to date on what's new with Working Wife, Happy Life? Follow us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram @workingwifehappylife and on Twitter @WorkWifeHapLife

“She Divorced Me Because I Left Dishes By the Sink”. That was the title of this week’s guest, Matthew Fray’s heart-wrenching and totally relatable post about the dissolution of his marriage and his subsequent quest to understand what had actually gone wrong. Was it the dish? No. Was it the consistent, daily reminder to his partner that what was important to her was not important to him? Yes. Was it the dish, on top of the laundry, on top of the camp scheduling, on top of the school forms that all fell on her shoulders? Yes. Did Matt love his wife and want to stay married? Yes. For any of us who can relate (ok, all of us)...this episode is a must listen to learn about this journey from a male point of view and all the incredible work Matt is doing to help his fellow man out of this age-old setup which drives a sometimes uncrossable divide in a union. You can learn more about Matt on his site, Must Be This Tall To Ride, where he shares the incredible efforts he has in play from books to interviews to television opportunities. You can also connect with him on Facebook at @matthewfrayMBTTTR or Twitter/Instagram @mbtttr His story is a cautionary tale, however he is optimistic, sincere and is now singularly focused on helping couples realize how toxic their patterns are to the health of their relationships. Take a listen, and share with your partner, then let us know what you think!  Please tune in and leave us your feedback in the comments. Also, if you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe and give us 5 stars! Please, don't forget to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or wherever you tune into your favorite podcasts! To contact me with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please e-mail workingwifehappylifepodcast@gmail.com and please keep the feedback coming! Want to stay up to date on what's new with Working Wife, Happy Life? Follow us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram @workingwifehappylife and on Twitter @WorkWifeHapLife

“If change is the only constant, let’s get better at it.” This is the statement that has been Jenny Blake’s north star for her proprietary go-to career development framework, the Pivot Method. Her book, Pivot: The Only Move that Matters Is Your Next One is the top career pick by Axiom Best Business Books. Jenny is a plethora of insights and empathy toward working women and particularly breadwinning women. This episode is chock-full of mindsets and resources to help you think about your life and your career like how she “earns twice as much in half the time, with joy and ease, for the highest good”. She’s an author, an international speaker, a podcaster and a solo+preneur who loves to explore systems at the intersection of mind, body, and business. She is passionate, kind, wise and as one quote hails “she takes the overwhelm out of life.” I couldn’t agree more, this was such a fun and enlightening conversation, enjoy!! Please tune in and leave us your feedback in the comments. Also, if you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe and give us 5 stars! Please, don't forget to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or wherever you tune into your favorite podcasts! To contact me with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please e-mail workingwifehappylifepodcast@gmail.com and please keep the feedback coming! Want to stay up to date on what's new with Working Wife, Happy Life? Follow us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram @workingwifehappylife and on Twitter @WorkWifeHapLife

“How do you know you’re off balance, or off budget, if you don’t define what that is for YOU first?” Buckle up! This is just one of the many a-ha questions Nicole poses to our community throughout this insights-packed episode. Hear tips to avoid burnout, practical guidance on developing a spending plan (plan vs. budget ← muy importante) as well as details of her mental health struggles and her success with DBT Therapy (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy).  The self-described finance nerd, Hush Money podcast hostess, former anchor on CNN/CNBC/Bloomberg AND NY Times bestselling author of Rich Bitch, Boss Bitch and Becoming Super Woman (phew!) joins us with her signature matter-of-fact insights as we navigate our careers, our personal finance and our mental health.  Please tune in and leave us your feedback in the comments. Also, if you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe and give us 5 stars! Please, don't forget to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or wherever you tune into your favorite podcasts! To contact me with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please e-mail workingwifehappylifepodcast@gmail.com and please keep the feedback coming! Want to stay up to date on what's new with Working Wife, Happy Life? Follow us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram @workingwifehappylife and on Twitter @WorkWifeHapLife

Mental Health in Times of Crisis: 1 in 5 adults in America suffer from a mental illness in a given year according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Sadly, nearly 60% of adults with a mental illness did not receive any treatment. During this month of mental health awareness, we had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Jessica DiVento, a clinical psychologist who is an employee mental health program manager and business advisor with YouTube/Google. Listen as Jessica expertly talks us through the phases of disaster recovery, what the community is collectively going through as well as what you may be experiencing individually. We cover some ways you can help to identify in yourself or others when professional help may be needed, ways you can engage with professionals through new mediums (text therapy, who knew!?) and even ways to break up with a therapist.  If you or a loved one is in need of help, please reach out to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (nami.org or call the NAMI Helpline at 800-950-NAMI. If you're in a crisis, text "NAMI" to 741741 or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Note these are US based resources, please search for resources in your region as appropriate. Please tune in and leave us your feedback in the comments. Also, if you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe and give us 5 stars! Please, don't forget to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or wherever you tune into your favorite podcasts! To contact me with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please e-mail workingwifehappylifepodcast@gmail.com and please keep the feedback coming! Want to stay up to date on what's new with Working Wife, Happy Life? Follow us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram @workingwifehappylife and on Twitter @WorkWifeHapLife

When we become parents, our worlds completely change forever. But the workplace doesn’t. This notion is behind everything that drives today’s guest, Sarah Lux Lee, in her relentless mission to better the lives of working parents. As the Founder of Mindr, known as the Ted Talks of Parenting, Sarah has built a community for support and resources for working parents as well as working with top companies to attract, engage and retain women and parents. Especially during this time where the lines have blurred even more between our responsibilities, Sarah brings insights from her impressive Mindr community to bring to light the many ways we are all struggling and thriving -- in this beautiful chaos of managing careers and our family. Crying babies, and crying parents, welcome! Please tune in and leave us your feedback in the comments. Also, if you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe and give us 5 stars! Please, don't forget to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or wherever you tune into your favorite podcasts! To contact me with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please e-mail workingwifehappylifepodcast@gmail.com and please keep the feedback coming! Want to stay up to date on what's new with Working Wife, Happy Life? Follow us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram @workingwifehappylife and on Twitter @WorkWifeHapLife

“Never mistake knowledge for wisdom. One helps you make a living; the other helps you make a life.” --Eleanor Roosevelt Join us for some knowledge and wisdom in this episode as we sit down with Stacy Francis, Founder & CEO of Francis Financial; a wealth management investment firm built to ensure clients, particularly women, have the support and insight they need during critical times of life transition such as retirement, divorce, inheritance and widowhood. From a young age, Stacy personally witnessed how devastating life could be for women who were not empowered through financial education. With that experience, she brings her passion and expertise to the financial field with unmatched compassion. Further, Stacy is the Founder of Savvy Ladies, a non-profit which has helped over 12,000 women through free one-on-one financial counseling, workshops and retreats.  Stacy joins us to discuss her thoughts, experience and approach to the current financial landscape as well as key insights for the need for financial independence and confidence, both in times of calm and times of chaos. You can find a “wealth” of resources on their site from webinars to whitepapers all accessible at FrancisFinancial.com as well as SavvyLadies.org. Please tune in and leave us your feedback in the comments. Also, if you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe and give us 5 stars! Please, don't forget to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or wherever you tune into your favorite podcasts! To contact me with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please e-mail workingwifehappylifepodcast@gmail.com and please keep the feedback coming! Want to stay up to date on what's new with Working Wife, Happy Life? Follow us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram @workingwifehappylife and on Twitter @WorkWifeHapLife

“Young people and their parents and teachers are all struggling with the ‘new normal’ while trying to keep worries under control. You don’t have to do it alone.” This incredible message is the latest support initiative (#wethriveinside) from the inspirational community at the Child Mind Institute (@childmindinstitute), an independent, national nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders.  For those of you caring for or caring about young minds during this critical time, you’ll want to tune in to hear Andrea Pascarelli PsyD and Jennifer Louie PhD! They share their professional and personal perspectives on the way this pandemic may be impacting children of various ages and adults along with some sage tips for identifying areas of concern and importantly, when to cut yourself some slack. You can access all of their incredible resources and donate to their cause at childmind.org.   Please tune in and leave us your feedback in the comments. Also, if you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe and give us 5 stars! Please, don't forget to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or wherever you tune into your favorite podcasts! To contact me with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please e-mail workingwifehappylifepodcast@gmail.com and please keep the feedback coming! Want to stay up to date on what's new with Working Wife, Happy Life? Follow us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram @workingwifehappylife and on Twitter @WorkWifeHapLife

Episode #9: “What are the barriers to women’s advancement at work? Why are there so few women leaders? Why isn't anyone doing anything about this?” These were just the initial questions asked by this week's acclaimed guest, Michelle King (@michellepenelopeking) during her PhD studies. The responses she heard from the folks in a position of power were infuriating and ultimately propelled her mission to try and solve gender inequality at work. "We can't fix inequality if we don't see it."   For those of you who don't know Michelle, you will want to know her after this conversation! She is a fierce advocate for gender equality in the workforce, the Podcast host of The Fix (@thefixpodcast), author of a newly released book, The Fix (@atriabooks), a Forbes contributor (@forbes) and the newly appointed Director of Inclusion at Netflix (@netflix). Michelle shares her personal journey and her inspiration to write The Fix (@atriabooks). You can pick up a copy of The Fix today on Amazon. Please tune in and leave us your feedback in the comments. Also, if you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe and give us 5 stars!   This episode was recorded at Newsstand Studios at Rockefeller Center. Please, don't forget to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or wherever you tune into your favorite podcasts! To contact me with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please e-mail workingwifehappylifepodcast@gmail.com and please keep the feedback coming! Want to stay up to date on what's new with Working Wife, Happy Life? Follow us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram @workingwifehappylife and on Twitter @WorkWifeHapLife

On Episode #8 I welcome Michele Promaulayko (michprom) to the Working Wife, Happy Life! podcast. Michele is an award-winning print and digital editor, specializing in wellness. She has authored two books and is now releasing her third, "Sugar Free 3" (sugarfree_3) a simple 3-week plan to improve energy, sleep, and weight loss. She is currently the Editorial-Director-at-Large for THE WELL (thewell) and an advisor to several healthy lifestyle brands. Most recently, she was the editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan, the largest women’s media brand in the world, and the editorial director of Hearst’s Young Women’s Group, which also includes Women’s Health and Seventeen. Talk about an impressive resume, right?    Michele is truly is a Renaissance woman and continues to reinvent herself and her brand in new, innovative ways to keep up with the modern age. In this conversation Michele gives a sneak peak into her personal wellness journey, how it all began during her time as Editor and Chief of Women's Health Magazine, and shares how it's evolved over the years. As the new content Editor of THE WELL, she discusses the importance for busy working women and men to find time to unwind and focus on well-being. Michele also shares her tips and tricks for eliminating sugar from our diet and encourages us to start reading the labels for hidden sugars. If you're passionate about accelerating your own health and wellness journey or looking for inspiration to eat clean and feel your best, than you don't want to miss my conversation with Michele!    This episode was recorded at Newsstand Studios at Rockefeller Center. Please, don't forget to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or wherever you tune into your favorite podcasts! To contact me with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please e-mail workingwifehappylifepodcast@gmail.com and please keep the feedback coming! Want to stay up to date on what's new with Working Wife, Happy Life? Follow us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram @workingwifehappylife and on Twitter @WorkWifeHapLife

Are you looking to restart your career after taking time away to focus on caregiving? Well you've come to the right place! On Episode #7 I sit down with Tami Forman, the Executive Director of Path Forward, a nonprofit organization that creates programs to ease the transition back to work for women (and men) after taking a break for raising children (or other caregiving responsibilities). Tami has built the organization from the ground up and is working tirelessly with some of the largest corporations in America to train HR teams and hiring managers on how to best structure and support these programs to ensure participants have a good experience finding jobs and transitioning back into a career. We discuss Tami's journey and how she ended up in this role at Path Forward. She shares the impact Path Forward is having on women, helping them gain confidence and skills to re-enter the workforce and is reshaping the lives of so many families with her work.    If you're Interested in learning more or helping support Path Forward, please check out the website for more information or follow Tami on Twitter @TamiMForman This episode was recorded at Newsstand Studios at Rockefeller Center. And special thanks to our Editor, Jason Korenthal!    Please, don't forget to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or wherever you tune into your favorite podcasts! To contact me with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please e-mail workingwifehappylifepodcast@gmail.com and please keep the feedback coming! Want to stay up to date on what's new with Working Wife, Happy Life? Follow us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram @workingwifehappylife and on Twitter @WorkWifeHapLife

Turning your passion into a career. On Episode #6 I sit down with the uber talented and fiercely driven couple, Elise Young (@elisesbodyshop), fitness professional and founder of Elise's Bodyshop, and her wife, Carmen Perez (cperez_1), a financial services professional, turned tech entrepreneur. These women are a dynamic duo who have fought to stay unwaveringly authentic, all while building their own businesses centered around their individual passions. In this conversation we discuss conquering debt and achieving financial freedom, the value of branching out and building a network, and the true benefits, both personally and professionally, of putting in hard work and never giving up! Elise and Carmen share the lessons they’ve learned along the way and how they’ve applied these lessons, leading to where they are today. Their stories are insightful and inspiring. If you’ve recently been feeling stuck, this episode will kick start your motivation; enjoy! This episode was recorded at Newsstand Studios at Rockefeller Center- sending you a HUGE thank you! Please, don't forget to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or wherever you tune into your favorite podcasts! To contact me with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please e-mail workingwifehappylifepodcast@gmail.com and please keep the feedback coming! Want to stay up to date on what's new with Working Wife, Happy Life? Follow us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram @workingwifehappylife and on Twitter @WorkWifeHapLife

“Do not quit your day job to become an entrepreneur.” On Episode #5 I sit down with Karen Cahn (@karencahn) the founder of iFund Women (@ifundwomen), a startup platform providing funding for early stage female entrepreneurs. Karen is a fearless leader who has pivoted her career from the early days at Google/YouTube and AOL to launching iFund Women to fulfill her mission to help entrepreneurs fund and launch their ideas. In this conversation, nothing is off limits! Karen is candid about the challenges of parenting, the reality of going out on your own and starting a company, and is brutally honest about her own journey and the pivots she made along the way. If you’re thinking about starting a company, interested in the good, the bad, and the ugly of entrepreneurship, or just intrigued to hear from a badass mom, this episode is for you!    Don't forget to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or wherever you tune into your favorite podcasts! To contact me with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please e-mail workingwifehappylifepodcast@gmail.com   Want to stay up to date on what's new with Working Wife, Happy Life? Follow us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram @workingwifehappylife and on Twitter @WorkWifeHapLife

On Episode #4 I welcome good friend and fellow breadwinner, Farnoosh Torabi to Working Wife, Happy Life! Farnoosh is a personal finance expert, a frequent guest featured on CNBC and the TODAY Show, the author of “When She Makes More,” and the host of the “So Money Podcast,” which hit 1,000 episodes last week! We discuss the different and unjust expectations and values placed on women and men in society. We also share our perspectives on what it means to be a breadwinning woman, mother, and wife in today’s world and the financial pressures we face in that role. I’m so excited to share this conversation with you and encourage you to follow Farnoosh (@farnooshtorabi); enjoy!   Don't forget to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or wherever you tune into your favorite podcasts! To contact me with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please e-mail workingwifehappylifepodcast@gmail.com Want to stay up to date on what's new with Working Wife, Happy Life? Follow us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram @workingwifehappylife and on Twitter @WorkWifeHapLife

On Episode #3 I sit down with Dr. Victoria Medvec, a Professor at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, Co-founder of the Kellogg Center for Executive Women, and the CEO of Medvec & Associates, a consulting firm focused on high-stakes negotiations and decision making. We dive deep into the differences between how men and women negotiate for themselves in the workplace and Vicki shares her expertise in helping women become more effective negotiators and develop as leaders throughout their career. Grab a pencil and paper because this episode is filled with advice on how to get women onto corporate boards of Fortune 1000 companies, effectively negotiate for yourself, and stay in and move up in your career. I absolutely loved this discussion and I know you will too! Vicki also has a book forthcoming at the end of the year. It’s called “Negotiating Without Fear” and will be published by Wiley. Welcome Vicki to the Working Wife, Happy Life! Podcast. 

Talking Trash (literally) with Eve Rodsky. On Episode #2 we sit down with Eve Rodksy, author of the New York Times Bestseller, Fair Play and Reese Witherspoon x Hello Sunshine Book Club Pick! We get candid on the importance of redefining traditional gender roles within the home, navigating complex family systems, and unveil the ugly truth around the invisible labor that women often bear (yes we do!). Eve shares tools to help partners communicate and connect on issues within the home and she dishes on why she's made it her life mission to bring 21st century solutions to age old problems around fairly allocating labor. We know you're going to like this one, so enjoy!

On this week's episode we welcome our first guest and my good friend, Fran Hauser, to the Working Wife, Happy Life! podcast. Fran is a long-time media executive, startup investor, keynote speaker and best-selling author of The Myth of the Nice Girl. We discuss everything from what motivated her to write her book, to how to quit saying "sorry," start setting boundaries, and ultimately achieve a successful career without compromising who you are. Please tune in because this is an episode you don't want to miss! And don't forget to follow Fran across social channels @fran_hauser   To contact me with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please e-mail workingwifehappylifepodcast@gmail.com Want to stay up to date on what's new with Working Wife, Happy Life? Follow us on Instagram @workingwifehappylife and on Twitter @WorkWifeHapLife

Welcome to the Working Wife, Happy Life Podcast! Settle into my first introductory episode where I spend time giving you a window into my life, my mission, and my inspiration for launching this podcast. We'll hear from entrepreneurs, best-selling authors, celebrities and industry leaders who are reshaping the roles of working women in today’s society. You’ll be inspired, you’ll be moved, and you’ll hear firsthand about the triumphs and tribulations of being a breadwinning woman. My goal is to expand conversations about societal gender norms surrounding success, money and household roles.   To contact me with comments, questions, or speaker ideas, please e-mail workingwifehappylifepodcast@gmail.com   Want to stay up to date on what's new with Working Wife, Happy Life? Follow us on Instagram @workingwifehappylife and on Twitter @WorkWifeHapLife