The Breadwinners Podcast

Alexis Contos
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They say you can't have it all — that mothers must choose between ambition and presence. But what if we're asking the wrong question? On The Breadwinners Podcast, Alexis Contos redefines what it means to be a Breadwinner in modern culture, moving it far beyond the paycheck. Through raw, honest conversations with women like Morgan Zanotti (CEO of Primal Kitchen), Nicole Trunfio (CEO of Bumpsuit), and Eve Rodsky (Author of Fair Play & Find Your Unicorn Space), we explore what it really takes to bring financial richness, emotional richness, and systemic change to our families. This isn't about balance, it's about integration. Not perfection, but wholeness. Whether you're already navigating motherhood and career, building your empire before kids arrive, or reimagining what family leadership looks like, these conversations will challenge everything you've been told about what's possible. The Breadwinners: Where ambitious mothers aren't just earning a living, they're pioneering a new era for themselves, and everyone who comes next. Learn more at thebreadwinners.co.

Episodes

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    EP. 06 | Libby Leffler on Protecting Your Future Self: A New Playbook for Marriage and Money

    In this episode, Alexis Contos sits down with Libby Leffler, tech executive turned founder of First, who is dismantling the stigma around prenups and reframing them as the ultimate act of partnership design. After spending nearly two decades building generation-defining companies like Google, Facebook, and SoFi, Libby noticed a glaring gap in how we handle our most significant personal "merger", marriage. She realized that while we plan meticulously for our careers and companies, we often leave our relationships to chance. She founded First to change that, shifting the narrative from a "breaking point" to "a "joining point." From debunking the Sex and the City era myths about prenups to defining "modern money" (it’s not just cash, it’s your IP, your side hustle, and yes, even your pets), Libby is normalizing the hard conversations that actually make couples stronger. She’s helping women protect their "future selves" amidst the Great Wealth Transfer, ensuring they enter partnerships with clarity rather than crossed fingers. In this conversation, Libby opens up about the reality of leaving a high-powered corporate career to build a startup while raising young children. She discusses why "work-life balance" is a lie we need to stop believing, how she uses "focus" as her superpower to navigate different seasons of life, and why she believes your failures will always teach you more than your successes. Whether you’re walking down the aisle, negotiating a raise, or just trying to figure out how to integrate your ambition with your life, this episode offers a new operating agreement for it all. The Breadwinners Website  
First Official Website  First's Instagram Libby’s Instagram Breadwinner's Instagram Business Insider Article Use code THEBREADWINNERS at checkout for $100 off First lawyer reviewed prenup package Promo code available 1/5/2026 through 3/1/2026 11:59p PT; all coupon codes must be used a checkout at time of purchase (no retroactive discounts), terms and conditions apply

    1h 20m
  2. The Breadwinners Podcast | Trailer

    SEASON 1 TRAILER

    The Breadwinners Podcast | Trailer

    They say you can't have it all — that mothers must choose between ambition and presence. But what if we're asking the wrong question? On The Breadwinners Podcast, Alexis Contos redefines what it means to be a Breadwinner in modern culture, moving it far beyond the paycheck. Through raw, honest conversations with women like Morgan Zanotti (CEO of Primal Kitchen), Nicole Trunfio (CEO of Bumpsuit), and Eve Rodsky (Author of Fair Play & Find Your Unicorn Space), we explore what it really takes to bring financial richness, emotional richness, and systemic change to our families. This isn't about balance, it's about integration. Not perfection, but wholeness. Whether you're already navigating motherhood and career, building your empire before kids arrive, or reimagining what family leadership looks like, these conversations will challenge everything you've been told about what's possible. The Breadwinners: Where ambitious mothers aren't just earning a living, they're pioneering a new era for themselves, and everyone who comes next. Learn more at thebreadwinners.co

    3 min

  3. 5 DAYS AGO

    EP. 05 | Morgan Zanotti on Building Brands, & Building Family

    In this episode, Alexis Contos sits down with Morgan Zanotti, the founder behind Waay and former leader at Primal Kitchen, to discuss what it really takes to build wellness brands while being a breadwinner mother. From navigating the competitive CPG industry to creating products that align with her values as a parent, Morgan shares the unfiltered reality of startup life, financial responsibility, and integration. Learn about her journey from established brand to founder, her philosophy on health and family, and how she's redefining what success looks like as a mother-entrepreneur in the wellness space. The Breadwinners: https://thebreadwinners.co/ Waay: https://drinkwaay.com/ Morgan's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morganzanotti/ Alexis' Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lex919

    54 min
  4. EP. 04 | Nicole Trunfio on Making Motherhood Desirable and Rewriting Every Rule Along the Way

    6 DAYS AGO

    EP. 04 | Nicole Trunfio on Making Motherhood Desirable and Rewriting Every Rule Along the Way

    In this episode, Alexis Contos sits down with Nicole Trunfio—supermodel, founder of Bumpsuit, and mother of three—who's on a mission to do something radical: make motherhood desirable, not just manageable.When Nicole's father told her "You have a strong head on your shoulders and I trust you," she took that trust and ran—straight to New York to model, then straight through every outdated rule about what mothers should look like, how they should behave, and what they should accept. She built Bumpsuit and started a movement.From studying ancient Ayurvedic postpartum practices (belly binding, the first 40 days, pelvic floor work) to openly discussing the things mothers are "supposed" to whisper about, Nicole is rewriting the entire system. She's not just designing maternity wear—she's amplifying mothers' voices and creating camaraderie among women who are tired of being told motherhood is something to merely survive.In this conversation, Nicole shares how she balances raising three children with Gary Clark Jr. on a Texas ranch while running a company that's fundamentally about changing how we see motherhood—not as sacrifice or limitation, but as power. Learn about her move-fast-break-things approach to business, why she has high expectations for her children while also giving them radical trust, and how she's teaching the next generation to be their own best advocates.Whether you're breaking rules, building systems, or just trying to feel like yourself again—this episode will challenge how you think about what's possible when we stop managing motherhood and start making it magnetic. Liver flushing Nicole's Instagram The Breadwinners ⁠The Breadwinners on Instagram

    1h 8m
  5. EP. 01 | Kim Chappell (Chief Brand Officer, Bobbie) | Nobody Is Doing It All

    6 DAYS AGO

    EP. 01 | Kim Chappell (Chief Brand Officer, Bobbie) | Nobody Is Doing It All

    "You're not hitting your skincare routine, being a great mom, crushing it at your job, putting dinner on the table, and having sex with your husband in 24 hours every day,” says Kim Chappell, the chief brand officer at Bobbie. “Nobody is. That's not happening." On our first episode of The Breadwinners Podcast, Alexis Contos talks with Kim about the inaugural “breadwinner dinner” at SXSW, returning to work and navigating guilt after maternity leave, and what’s next after "girlboss" culture. In the third era of working families, where success isn't about perfection but about defining your own boundaries, what does it mean to be a breadwinner? Kim explains why the future belongs to women who refuse to choose between career and family. Links: The Breadwinners Bobbie

    1h 15m
  6. EP. 02 | Aileen Fitzgerald on The Art of Devotion

    6 DAYS AGO

    EP. 02 | Aileen Fitzgerald on The Art of Devotion

    In this episode, Alexis Contos sits down with Aileen Fitzgerald, an Austin-based landscape artist who embodies "the art of devotion." After eight years as an ICU nurse, Aileen made the bold decision to pursue her childhood passion for painting while raising her daughter Lilah. From overcoming early discouragement to choosing emotional richness over financial security, Aileen shares how she navigates the tension between scheduling for freedom, presence and productivity. Learn about her commitment to seeing life in pure colors (literally - she won't wear sunglasses), her belief in physical connection as a love language, and how she's modeling authenticity for her 2 daughters while building a thriving artistic practice. The Breadwinners Aileen Fitz Art Aileen's Instagram Alexis' Instagram

    1h 19m
  7. EP. 03 | Julie Cordua | When Your Currency Is Children's Lives: 15 Years Fighting Online Child Exploitation

    6 DAYS AGO

    EP. 03 | Julie Cordua | When Your Currency Is Children's Lives: 15 Years Fighting Online Child Exploitation

    In this powerful episode, Alexis Contos reunites with Julie Cordua, CEO of Thorn, an organization building technology to defend children from online child sex exploitation. Julie and Alexis worked together 15 years ago on Thorn's launch, and Alexis has watched Julie dedicate her life to this essential work while raising her own family. Content note: This episode discusses child sexual abuse and trafficking. While we don't include graphic details, the subject matter is inherently difficult. This conversation explores what it means to be a Breadwinner when your currency isn't just financial - it's measured in children identified, child sex exploitation content identified and removed, and technology platforms made safer. We discuss the impact of AI on child exploitation, the reality of the dark web, how tech companies must do better, and - critically - what parents can do right now to protect their children online.Julie shares practical guidance for talking to kids about online safety, warning signs to watch for, and how everyday people can join the fight against child exploitation. Whether you're a parent trying to navigate your child's digital life or someone who wants to understand how to make a difference, this conversation will inform and empower you." Thorn.org Thorn on Instagram Julie's TED Talk Thorn Parent Guide The Breadwinners on Instagram

    56 min

Trailer

About

They say you can't have it all — that mothers must choose between ambition and presence. But what if we're asking the wrong question? On The Breadwinners Podcast, Alexis Contos redefines what it means to be a Breadwinner in modern culture, moving it far beyond the paycheck. Through raw, honest conversations with women like Morgan Zanotti (CEO of Primal Kitchen), Nicole Trunfio (CEO of Bumpsuit), and Eve Rodsky (Author of Fair Play & Find Your Unicorn Space), we explore what it really takes to bring financial richness, emotional richness, and systemic change to our families. This isn't about balance, it's about integration. Not perfection, but wholeness. Whether you're already navigating motherhood and career, building your empire before kids arrive, or reimagining what family leadership looks like, these conversations will challenge everything you've been told about what's possible. The Breadwinners: Where ambitious mothers aren't just earning a living, they're pioneering a new era for themselves, and everyone who comes next. Learn more at thebreadwinners.co.

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