All Figured Out with Andrea Barr: Figuring Out Work, Life and Parenting

Andrea Barr — Figuring Out Work, Life and Motherhood

All Figured Out with Andrea Barr is the podcast for working moms who want more clarity, flexibility, and joy in their careers and family lives. Andrea Barr—a Certified Career Coach for Parents, mom of two, and former corporate leader—shares honest conversations and practical strategies on work-life balance, parenting, self-care, and career growth so you can thrive at work and at home.

  1. 1d ago

    154. Why "how was your day?" is the wrong question to ask after school

    Sandy Ewert spent a decade in the classroom before she became a school counsellor and, eventually, a private-practice family and child therapist. She's coached hundreds of kids through the exact thing every family is living through right now — and this September, for the first time, she's doing it as a parent herself, with a son about to start kindergarten and a six-month-old at home. In this episode, we get into what actually helps a kid get through a hard transition, what a school counsellor really does all day, and the honest answer to whether "knowing too much" makes the back-to-school season any easier. In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Intro(01:52) Sandy's path: a decade as a teacher, now a school counsellor and private-practice family therapist(03:37) Coming at back-to-school as a parent, not just a professional, for the first time(08:10) What a school counsellor actually does (and why the job is "on fire on roller skates")(12:35) When "good enough" isn't good enough — advocating for kids who look fine on paper(16:14) "Tell me more": a phrase that actually gets a kid talking(25:44) Building a family toolkit that's dependent on your specific kid(27:02) The "yellow zone" — catching dysregulation before the meltdown(27:40) The "dress rehearsal": practicing for the first day, and why preparation is the antidote to anxiety(35:14) After-school reconnection, and why "how was your day?" is the wrong opener(37:29) The blood sugar rule every parent needs before pickup(38:29) Movement and reading what a kid actually needs(47:48) Letting kids struggle enough to feel capable, without over-parenting(54:56) The signs it's time to bring in a family counsellor(01:04:53) What is Sandy trying to figure outKEY TAKEAWAY Preparation is the antidote to anxiety — rehearse the hard transition before it happens instead of hoping you survive it. When the big feelings show up anyway, meet them with connection, not another question. About Sandy Ewert Sandy has spent nearly two decades supporting children and families first as a teacher and now as a counsellor both in private practice and within the school system. During her time in education, she has spent time in a variety of roles including specialized behaviour support program teacher, special education teacher and currently school counsellor. Sandy is most passionate and ignited by walking along side children in finding their voice and living life as their most authentic and best lives. She describes her work in private practice as a “Children’s life coach.” Sandy believes that her purpose is to be a conduit between adults and children, helping adults to better understand each individual child for who they truly are without the desire to change them. 💌 email Sandy: sandy.dhami@gmail.com About Andrea Barr, host of All Figured Out: Andrea is a certified career and life coach for parents. Through her coaching, she supports parents in finding better work-life rhythms so they can continue to grow personally and professionally without sacrificing family time. Connect with Andrea Website | ⁠https://www.andreabarr.com/⁠ Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/allfiguredoutandrea | https://www.instagram.com/allfiguredout.podcast Listen to All Figured Out 💚 Spotify | https://tinyurl.com/afo-spotify 💜 Apple Podcasts | https://tinyurl.com/afo-apple 🖤 YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@allfiguredoutandrea

  2. Sep 3

    153. She left law to become a naturopath and had 4 kids! — Dr. Sarah Harbottle

    🛍️ USE CODE ALLFIGUREDOUT20 TO GET 20% OFF AT marisdae.com Dr. Sarah Harbottle has one of those resumes that seems impossible on paper: naturopathic doctor, lawyer, mom of four, clinic owner, and head of product at Maris Dae. She didn't plan any of it — she once thought she'd become a conventional doctor, then spent seven years as a lawyer instead, before a decision at 32 sent her back to school to become a naturopathic doctor. What she didn't plan for was how much life would happen in the middle of that degree. In this episode, we get into the identity crisis of a total career pivot, what actually kept her going through the hardest years of school, her naturopathic take on skin health, and whether your workout might be doing more harm than good. In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Intro(01:18) Lawyer, naturopathic doctor, mom of 4, clinic owner, head of product at Maris Dae, founder of Parave(02:56) Back to the beginning — why she almost became a conventional doctor(03:02) Discovering naturopathic medicine in the early 2000s(05:04) Choosing law instead, and finding her way into health law(07:14) Going back to school at 32(08:11) The long nights: studying until 1am and nursing all night(08:42) The identity crisis of the career pivot — "who am I now?"(10:32) Was there ever a moment it felt too hard?(11:45) "I'm on the other side of the mountain" — what kept her going(12:22) Life now: running her own practice and practicing law, simultaneously(14:55) Advice for anyone sitting on a decision they haven't made yet(16:44) How joining Maris Dae actually happened(18:41) Skin is the largest organ — what that actually means for your health(19:35) Sarah's approach to skin: internal first, external second(20:54) Why skin is having such a cultural moment right now(24:07) Redefining self-care in 2- and 5-minute increments(26:06) Can a workout be too intense?(28:38) The "bubbling pot" — and the one question to ask before saying yes to anything(31:12) Who wearable data actually helps — and who it doesn't(35:50) What Sarah is still figuring out: ambition vs. being present for her kids(36:41) Self-care as the non-negotiable foundation everything else depends on(38:36) Where to find Dr. Sarah Harbottle KEY TAKEAWAY When the question in front of you is "can I do this right now?" — make the decision. Do that enough times in a row, and you end up somewhere no five-year plan could have mapped out for you. About Dr. Sarah Harbottle Dr. Sarah Harbottle is a naturopathic doctor and lawyer based in Vancouver. She practices at her clinic, Life Integrative, provides legal counsel to naturopathic doctors and other healthcare providers, and runs Parave, a corporate health education company focused on the perimenopausal space. She's also head of product at Maris Dae, the Vancouver-based marine-hydration skincare brand. She's a mom of four. Connect with Dr. Sarah Harbottle Website Instagram | @dr.sarah.harbottle.nd | @maris.dae LinkedIn About Andrea Barr, host of All Figured Out: Andrea is a certified career and life coach for parents. Through her coaching, she supports parents in finding better work-life rhythms so they can continue to grow personally and professionally without sacrificing family time. Connect with Andrea Website | ⁠https://www.andreabarr.com/⁠ Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/allfiguredoutandrea | https://www.instagram.com/allfiguredout.podcast Listen to All Figured Out 💚 Spotify | https://tinyurl.com/afo-spotify 💜 Apple Podcasts | https://tinyurl.com/afo-apple 🖤YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@allfiguredoutandrea

  3. Aug 26

    152. She pitched investors 38 weeks pregnant — Sam Rayner

    🛍️ USE CODE ALLFIGUREDOUT20 TO GET 20% OFF AT marisdae.com Sam Rayner spent over a decade climbing the corporate marketing ladder — AG Hair, Lululemon, an MBA, a job offer from a massive global conglomerate she turned down on gut instinct alone. Then life did what life does: both her parents died of cancer within a short window of each other and she went through multiple failed rounds of IVF. Somewhere along the way, her mom’s words became her mantra — “you need to live life harder”, which led Sam to build Better Basics and now her new brand, Maris Dae, a marine-hydration skincare line built around a proprietary seaweed extract sourced and processed entirely in BC. In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Intro(03:48) Corporate girly Sam — her marketing career(05:44) Turning down a massive global job offer on gut instinct alone(09:37) "My break will be maternity leave" — and when that plan didn't pan out(13:53) Her mom's dying words: "you need to live life harder"(15:50) How she was able to have her two kids(20:03) Losing both parents to cancer — and what that taught her about control(20:55) Where the idea for Better Basics came from(25:14) Growing Better Basics for three years(25:53) "We were basically bleeding cash"(26:44) Investor pitches, and doing it all in her third trimester(30:13) Calling it a pause — and selling out in 30 days(31:54) Teaching product design and brand strategy at SFU(36:26) The 35 customer interviews that led to Maris Dae(38:27) Finding a seaweed farmer and building the Maris Element(44:57) Inside the body wash + body serum(50:57) What's next: gut-health supplements and a gentler kids' formula(54:04) Competitors, community, and why she's not trying to own the whole shelf(58:00) Her advice for living life harder(1:01:05) Where to find Maris Dae KEY TAKEAWAY Closing something isn't the same as failing at it. Sam built Better Basics with everything she had, and when it stopped making sense, she shared with her community, gave herself a deadline and called it a pause instead of an ending. And her fertility journey took some extra love as well. A failure means the book is closed, but a pause means the door stays cracked open ready for a different path life will take. About Sam Rayner Samantha Rayner is the Founder and CEO of Maris Dae, a science-backed skin and gut health brand powered by BC sea algae. After two decades in beauty and wellness brand leadership, she partnered with a biochemist and naturopathic doctor to develop the Maris Element, an exclusive extract of Mazzaella Japonica and bull kelp sourced from Vancouver Island. Maris Dae's debut body care line launched in May 2026 and sold out twice. Rayner is a second-time founder, Business in Vancouver 40 Under 40 honoree, and Techstars alum who previously founded Better Basics and led teams at Saje, lululemon, and AG Care. Connect with Sam Website | https://marisdae.com/ Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/maris.dae/ About Andrea Barr, host of All Figured Out: Andrea is a certified career and life coach for parents. Through her coaching, she supports parents in finding better work-life rhythms so they can continue to grow personally and professionally without sacrificing family time. Connect with Andrea Website | ⁠https://www.andreabarr.com/⁠ Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/allfiguredoutandrea | https://www.instagram.com/allfiguredout.podcast Listen to All Figured Out 💚 Spotify | https://tinyurl.com/afo-spotify 💜 Apple Podcasts | https://tinyurl.com/afo-apple 🖤YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@allfiguredoutandrea

  4. Aug 20

    151. The full body yes: how to actually know when your gut is right — Courtney Thomas

    Courtney Thomas, founder of the Bodhi Effect sits down with Andrea for a vulnerable conversation — the kind we love here at All Figured Out! Courtney tells the full, unfiltered origin story of The Bodhi Effect: miscarriages, a yoga studio built and run on almost no sleep alongside a full-time corporate job, and a name that came from a goosebump-inducing story. From there, she and Andrea get into what intuition actually is, how to tell it apart from anxiety and intrusive thoughts, why "I'm just not an intuitive person" doesn't hold up, and why Courtney’s own Oura Ring ended up in the garbage. Courtney also introduces her new Flow Writing Collection — a journal and oracle card deck built from a practice she's been leading in her community since 2021. In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Intro(03:45) Vulnerability vs. trauma dumping — how Courtney tells the difference(06:21) Who Courtney was before The Bodhi Effect(07:44) Five miscarriages, a busy schedule, and the studio that came out of grief(09:46) Where the name "Bodhi" actually came from(12:22) How she knew it was time to close the studio(20:31) What intuition actually is, in Courtney's own definition(22:00) Intuition vs. intrusive thoughts and anxiety — how to tell them apart(24:05) Andrea's own "full body yes" — the moment she decided to start this podcast(27:34) "How's that working out for you?" — for the people who say they're not intuitive(29:21) Andrea's Aritzia story: the shame of not having "the data"(33:28) Why hyper-measurement and hyper-optimization are quietly breaking us(45:21) Choosing a candle over ice cream — sitting with hard feelings instead of numbing out(53:26) What flow writing actually is, and the new Flow Writing Collection(59:43) Making wellness accessible(1:02:31) Rapid fire questions(1:06:55) What Courtney is still trying to figure out KEY TAKEAWAY Your intuition and your anxiety can feel like the same volume, but they're not the same voice. Intuition comes in fast, calm, and unforced — anxiety negotiates. The more you measure, track, and optimize, the harder that signal gets to hear. About Courtney Thomas Based in British Columbia, Courtney Thomas is an intuitive Mindfulness Coach with over ten years of experience. She specializes in guiding individuals back to their highest selves through personalized coaching, transformative workshops, courses, and retreats. Courtney skillfully combines diverse practices to unlock human potential and inspire a renewed sense of purpose. Her mission is for everyone to experience the full, authentic expression of themselves, lighting up the world with their unique presence. Connect with Courtney Thomas Get the Flow Deck | https://www.thebodhieffect.com/flowdeck Website | https://www.thebodhieffect.com/ Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/thebodhieffect/ About Andrea Barr, host of All Figured Out: Andrea is a certified career and life coach for parents. Through her coaching, she supports parents in finding better work-life rhythms so they can continue to grow personally and professionally without sacrificing family time. Connect with Andrea Website | ⁠https://www.andreabarr.com/⁠ Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/allfiguredoutandrea | https://www.instagram.com/allfiguredout.podcast Listen to All Figured Out 💚 Spotify | https://tinyurl.com/afo-spotify 💜 Apple Podcasts | https://tinyurl.com/afo-apple 🖤YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@allfiguredoutandrea

  5. Aug 13

    150 episodes in: why I stopped trying to sound "polished"

    Ten years ago, while working in leadership development at Aritzia, she hired a speaking coach because — despite getting great feedback — she wrote in her journal that she felt like she'd "lost her voice." That coaching relationship ended without ever quite clicking. It took almost a decade, and 150 episode of doing the actual thing, for the lesson to actually land: the ums, ahs, and pauses she wanted to fix, are the actual things that make her sound human, specially in 2026, when we’re second-guessing every audio, and video is AI-made or human-made. Andrea gets into the full speaking coach story, why paying for something is what really cements the intention, her client’s pottery goal as a case study in “doing the thing”, and the podcast’s own milestone numbers after four years! In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Intro(01:51) The story starts at Aritzia in front of a room of 100 people(03:54) Losing confidence and losing my own voice(04:53) Hiring a speaking coach(07:14) The TED Talk lessons and why people like to hear humans(09:17) 150 episodes of practice and finally getting compliments on vocabulary(10:53) The real lesson: Pay the money, do the thing(11:35) The strawberry bowl case study(13:42) Podcast’s milestones: Four years, two kids, top 3% podcast(16:01) A love letter to my listeners 💜KEY TAKEAWAY The investment is what makes the intention real, anyone can write a goal on a piece of paper, but not everyone is willing to put money behind it. You don’t need to have “all figured out” (pun intended), just keep showing up for it, on purpose, every week. About Andrea Barr, host of All Figured Out: Andrea is a certified career and life coach for parents. Through her coaching, she supports parents in finding better work-life rhythms so they can continue to grow personally and professionally without sacrificing family time. Connect with Andrea Website | ⁠https://www.andreabarr.com/⁠ Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/allfiguredoutandrea | https://www.instagram.com/allfiguredout.podcast Listen to All Figured Out 💚 Spotify | https://tinyurl.com/afo-spotify 💜 Apple Podcasts | https://tinyurl.com/afo-apple 🖤YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@allfiguredoutandrea

  6. Aug 6

    149. Millennial moms yap about Keds, a shopping app scandal, and quitting mom guilt

    This is YAP number two — Andrea's back with her YAP co-host (and childhood pal) Lauren Naderi for round two of the unstructured, “whatever's-actually-on-our-mind” format. This time they gave it some shape: four categories, all starting with F — fun, fashion, feel good, and forensics. Inside: a TikTok dance so hard Andrea can't get through it in her garage, a Keds mystery nobody will take credit for, the exact line that might change how you get dressed tomorrow, frictionless home organization systems, and the shopping-app scandal they can't stop talking about.In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Intro(02:21) The four categories: fun, fashion, feeling good, forensics(04:58) For fun: the Puerto Rico dance trend that's harder than it looks(08:27) For fun: bringing back magazine subscriptions(13:59) For fashion: the pull-on pants midsummer check-in (and how to manage the wrinkles)(17:40) For fashion: the great Keds mystery — and are Keds actually making a comeback?(24:11) Dolce Vita sale sandals, personal style, and why saving your "good" clothes for later doesn't work(31:26) Dress for the day you wanna have(32:14) For feeling good: frictionless home organization and direct storage(41:06) For forensics: the TikToker who quit breastfeeding — and why neither host thinks she needs to apologize(48:37) For forensics: the Phia scandal — cookie stuffing, and affiliate fraud(55:27) What Lauren and Andrea are each figuring out this week KEY TAKEAWAY Not everything comes down to having a five-year plan, sometimes all it takes is a frictionless junk drawer, letting go of that “should” that never really made sense, or even wearing the good underwear on a random Tuesday! Dress, organize and show up for the day you actually want to have — not the one you think you're supposed to have. ABOUT LAUREN NADERI Lauren Naderi is the All Figured Out resident taste maker! She’s also an interior designer, brand strategist, and multi-passionate entrepreneur based in Toronto. She has a background in advertising and holistic nutrition, went back to corporate after having her daughter, left again, and eventually went all in on interior design. She works with clients on spaces that feel intentional — not just beautiful. She is also, as of this episode, the co-host of our yap format. Mom to an almost-four-year-old. Recently moved her family into a 900 sq ft condo and has zero regrets. Will take five pairs of pants to the tailor in a single trip, and shopping is her true hobby! CONNECT WITH LAUREN Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/laurennaderi About Andrea Barr, host of All Figured Out: Andrea is a certified career and life coach for parents. Through her coaching, she supports parents in finding better work-life rhythms so they can continue to grow personally and professionally without sacrificing family time. Connect with Andrea Website | ⁠https://www.andreabarr.com/⁠ Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/allfiguredoutandrea | https://www.instagram.com/allfiguredout.podcast Listen to All Figured Out 💚 Spotify | https://tinyurl.com/afo-spotify 💜 Apple Podcasts | https://tinyurl.com/afo-apple 🖤YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@allfiguredoutandrea

  7. Jul 30

    148. FOMO part 2: the yeses you can't say anymore

    📣 BOOK A STRATEGY SESSION → https://calendly.com/andreabarrcoaching/strategy-session and step into your power of leadership. 🚨 $50 OFF when you use code: AFO at checkout! This episode is a follow-up on the FOMO you feel once you become a parent. In this episode Andrea talks about what happens to your visibility once you’re a parent, and what’s in your control when it comes to still being seen, still growing, and not getting passed over.In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Intro(02:15) Why working parents lose visibility at work(03:41) The "yeses" you used to say without thinking — and why they disappear once you're a parent(04:49) The gendered layer: invisible work, and who gets credit for it(06:56) Andrea's own example: in the flow, then "back on the clock as mom"(08:21) Handing over the reins at work — does it need 120%, or is 100% okay?(09:46) The reframe: stepping into a new era of leadership(11:17) You're a better professional because you're a parent now(12:12) Why the best leaders are the least hands-on KEY TAKEAWAY Once you became a parent, you became more efficient, more experienced, and better equipped to lead. Step into the leadership you're already living at home, and let it show up at work too. About Andrea Barr, host of All Figured Out: Andrea is a certified career and life coach for parents. Through her coaching, she supports parents in finding better work-life rhythms so they can continue to grow personally and professionally without sacrificing family time. Connect with Andrea Website | ⁠https://www.andreabarr.com/⁠ Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/allfiguredoutandrea | https://www.instagram.com/allfiguredout.podcast Listen to All Figured Out 💚 Spotify | https://tinyurl.com/afo-spotify 💜 Apple Podcasts | https://tinyurl.com/afo-apple 🖤YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@allfiguredoutandrea

  8. Jul 24

    147. A calculated risk, a maternity leave, and a business that grew anyway with Georgina Wysiecki

    This week's guest has been on the podcast twice before, once for infant sleep and once for toddler sleep, and this time the conversation just went wherever it wanted to go. We get into the calculated risk that let her build a private sleep-consulting practice instead of going back to a full-time job, the extended-health-benefits detail that changed the trajectory of her business, and what she wants every parent to know about sleep myths — like: there's no universal amount of sleep any kid "should" get, and there's no moral failing in a later bedtime. We also chat about her child’s recent autism diagnosis, what the private assessment process looked like, and how she processed it as a mom before she processed it as a professional. From there it's the Fair Play method revisited, a garbage-bag story that changed how one household splits invisible labor, a whiteboard life-planning session, and a long, honest conversation about friendship, hobbies, and what's next. In this episode, we cover: ​(00:00) Intro​(03:37) Georgina’s story​(04:36) Who she is today, and who she was before kids​(07:03) The moment she knew her priorities had shifted​(08:25) The 6-month runway: a calculated risk​(11:01) Navigating people who chalk your success up to luck​(14:39) Finding your niche: people pay for transformation, not a skill list​(18:37) The biggest myth: not every kid needs the same amount of sleep​(22:05) Trial and error, and giving yourself permission to experiment​(24:02) The level 1 autism diagnosis​(26:33) Building the right supports, at school and at home​(29:18) Processing the diagnosis as a mom, not a professional​(30:47) "You don't get a medal for doing it alone"​(33:22) The first generation figuring out two working parents​(35:39) The Fair Play method, revisited​(40:38) Andrea and Scotty's whiteboard life-planning day​(44:19) "It never works, but it's the backbone"​(46:19) On friendship, low effort, and staying close from afar​(47:11) What she's figuring out in this season​(49:26) Redefining hobbies vs. self-care vs. running a businessKEY TAKEAWAY Nothing here happened in one clean leap — not the business, not the parenting decisions, not the marriage. It's calculated risk and a lot of trial and error. Whether it's a business, a diagnosis, or a chore chart: you don't get a medal for doing it alone. Ask for the help. Make the invisible stuff visible. Let the plan change. ABOUT GEORGINA WYSIECKI Mum of 2, wife, Founder of Woodlands Collective, registered social worker, registered clinical counsellor & supports families with sleep. She lives in North Vancouver with her husband, children and 3 dogs. Originally from Australia and has lived in Canada for 14 years. She truly believes everyone can have a happy and well rested household. She is living proof that you can do this and a big believer in there’s no such thing as one way to parent. Georgina supports families to reach their sleep goals, improve mental health and relationships. CONNECT WITH GEORGINA Website | https://www.woodlandscollective.ca/ Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/woodlands.collective.sleep About Andrea Barr, host of All Figured Out: Andrea is a certified career and life coach for parents. Through her coaching, she supports parents in finding better work-life rhythms so they can continue to grow personally and professionally without sacrificing family time. Connect with Andrea Website | ⁠https://www.andreabarr.com/⁠ Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/allfiguredoutandrea | https://www.instagram.com/allfiguredout.podcast Listen to All Figured Out 💚 Spotify | https://tinyurl.com/afo-spotify 💜 Apple Podcasts | https://tinyurl.com/afo-apple

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All Figured Out with Andrea Barr is the podcast for working moms who want more clarity, flexibility, and joy in their careers and family lives. Andrea Barr—a Certified Career Coach for Parents, mom of two, and former corporate leader—shares honest conversations and practical strategies on work-life balance, parenting, self-care, and career growth so you can thrive at work and at home.

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