A Day In Her Life

Ellie Rineck

Are you interested in how other women get it all done? Do you like a "What's in her bag?" or a "What's on her nightstand?"  Are you overwhelmed by seeing highlight reels on Instagram and want to finally hear some authentic, real women talking about their real life?Same. Join Ellie as she sits down each week with women to discuss their daily lives - the struggles, the wins, their favorite parts. Let's normalize what our every day lives look like, and learn from each other's shared experience. Let's have some fun!

  1. Episode 142: A Day In Her Life with Ashley Kang - Intentional, Structured, and Joyful - Leaving Fashion to Invest in Family

    2H AGO

    Episode 142: A Day In Her Life with Ashley Kang - Intentional, Structured, and Joyful - Leaving Fashion to Invest in Family

    Tell us what you think!!! This week, we’re sitting down with Ashley Kang, a former fashion executive who made the intentional decision to pause her career almost a year ago to invest in herself and her family. Ashley shares what it’s like to leave a job she loved at a fashion company after five years, move to New Jersey to live near her family (yes, literally in the same building complex), and build an entirely new structure around being present for her two boys, ages 2 and 4, and the structures they’ve built to support that. 00:00 Podcast Welcome 01:26 Meet Ashley King 03:07 Rapid Fire Favorites 04:08 Early Morning Routine 08:16 Drop Off and Gym 10:52 Errands and Playdate 12:41 Lunch and Desk Hours 15:15 Pickup and Activities 17:36 Dinner and Bedtime 21:27 Evening Wind Down 22:33 Skincare and Picky Eating 24:09 Weekly Meal Rotation 24:43 Breakfast Broths Lineup 25:10 Dinner Favorites and New Foods 26:16 From Fashion to Full Time Mom 28:48 Surprises After Quitting 30:26 Dividing Chores and Outsourcing 32:47 Self Care and Content 34:08 Ideal Day and Staying Organized 36:42 Friendships and Community 38:30 Marriage Time and Date Nights 39:43 Using AI and Weekly Routines 41:26 What Gets Deprioritized 43:29 Parenting Goals and Motivation 46:14 Sweetest Moments With Kids 47:52 Podcast Wrap Up and Outro Connect with Ashley: Instagram: @ashleymkangTikTok: @ashleymkangLinkedIn: Ashley KangListen and Review Podcasts - Spotify - YouTube More A Day In Her Life @adayinherlifepod adayinherlife.com adayinherlife.substack.com Looking for your next romance read? Look no further! This month at Pepper Books we've got your Celebrity/Normie Romances from One Pepper all the way to Five!  Episode Music - For Days - Tom Deis via Shutterstock

    52 min
  2. Episode 141: A Day In Her Life with Ellie Rineck

    FEB 24

    Episode 141: A Day In Her Life with Ellie Rineck

    Tell us what you think!!! Welcome to my first solo episode of 2025! After 140 episodes of talking with incredible women about their days, I'm turning the mic on myself to share what my life looks like right now as a working mom of two in the Boston area. In this quick check-in episode, I'm opening up about how my days have shifted over the past year, what's working, and what I'm still figuring out. From waking up at 6:45 (or 6:00 on workout days) to bedtime snuggles at 7:30, I'm walking you through the honest reality of balancing full-time work in healthcare project management, hosting this podcast, traveling 1-2 times a month, and trying to find humor in the heavy moments. What I Cover: Why I describe my days as full, organized, and funnyMy Tuesday/Thursday workout routine (and why I have to do it first thing or it won't happen)The morning struggle with two non-morning-person kidsHow my husband has stepped up with breakfast and mornings (a big change from past episodes!)My workday: 9am-5:15pm with too many meetings and not enough lunch breaksHigh-low-buffalo at dinner (something I learned from podcast guests!)The Nintendo Switch debate and how we're handling it as a family toyTraveling 1-2 times a month for work (and the surprising truth about not hating it)Our laundry outsourcing situation and the transition with our home assistantWhy I'm not a date night person but love in-home date nightsScreen time boundaries, kids' chores, and teaching my 4-year-old to load the dishwasherUsing The Bright Method to completely transform my calendarHow I'm using AI for the podcast and work (Superhuman, Descript, Notion, Claude)The bedtime routine that fills my cup: charging up my kids and hearing "love you mommy night night"Dropping the ball on work travel but trying not to miss anything for my kidsThree Words to Describe My Days: Full, organized, funny 00:00 Podcast Welcome 00:57 How To Support 01:48 Solo Episode Setup 02:17 Meet Ellie 02:41 Why This Podcast 03:47 Solo Episodes Plan 04:41 Three Words Today 05:15 Morning Routine 07:15 Kid Wake Up 09:18 Workday Flow 11:52 Food And Lunch 12:39 Dinner And Family Time 15:18 Bedtime Routine 16:39 Evening Hobbies 19:23 Work Travel Shift 20:47 Outsourcing And Systems 21:23 Screen Time And Switch 22:20 Kids Chores 23:53 Friends And Marriage Time 26:17 Groceries And AI Tools 27:54 Dropped Balls 28:21 Current Obsession 28:55 Favorite Daily Moment 29:27 Wrap Up And Recap 29:48 Final Call To Action Looking for your next romance read? Look no further! This month at Pepper Books we've got your Celebrity/Normie Romances from One Pepper all the way to Five!  Episode Music - For Days - Tom Deis via Shutterstock

    34 min
  3. Episode 140 - A Day In Her Life with Afoma Umesi - Building a Creative Life While Navigating Grief and New Beginnings

    FEB 17

    Episode 140 - A Day In Her Life with Afoma Umesi - Building a Creative Life While Navigating Grief and New Beginnings

    Tell us what you think!!! This week, we’re sitting down with Afoma Umesi, a writer and content creator who left a career in medicine to build a life centered around books, creativity, and human connection. Afoma runs Reading Middle Grade, a website and newsletter that helps parents find the perfect books for kids ages 8-14, and she’s doing it all while navigating profound grief, three moves in three months, and building a new life in Toronto, Canada. In this deeply honest conversation, Afoma shares what it’s like to lose her mother in August and move countries days after the funeral, why she’ll never be a 6:30am workout person again (and the guilt she had to release around that), and how losing her mom changed her—making her want to connect with people in ways she never did before. What We Cover: Leaving medicine after eight years to pursue writing and creative workThe full, satisfying, rich reality of working 4-6 hours a day on your own termsMoving three times in three months while grieving the loss of her motherHow grief changed her relationship to mornings, routines, and human connectionWorking as a freelance writer before building Reading Middle GradeThe practical reality of running a content business: newsletters, Instagram, Substack, and blog postsWhy she gave up being a “crazy early morning person” and the guilt that came with itWhy date nights don’t work for them (and what they do instead)Using movement and being outside as non-negotiable self-care during griefThe joy of discovering Toronto’s public library system after not having one in NigeriaGuest Bio: Afoma Umesi is a writer, content creator, and the founder of Reading Middle Grade, where she helps parents and educators find the perfect books for kids ages 8-14. After medical school, Afoma pivoted to writing and hasn’t looked back. She started as a freelance writer for marketing and tech companies before discovering her passion for middle grade literature, sparked by rereading The Babysitter’s Club on her Kindle during med school. Originally from Nigeria, Afoma recently moved to Canada and lives in Toronto with her husband. Her work spans her website, newsletter, Substack, and Instagram, where she reviews books, creates curated lists, and helps match young readers with stories they’ll love. Connect with Afoma: Instagram (books): @readingmiddlegradeInstagram (personal): Afoma UmesiWebsite: readingmiddlegrade.comSubstack: readingmiddlegrade.substack.com 00:00 Welcome to A Day In Her Life 01:26 Meet Our Guest: Fomo ESI 02:51 A Writer's Journey 03:51 Daily Routines and Coping with Grief 05:46 Rapid Fire Questions 12:33 From Med School to Writing 18:45 Middle Grade Book Passion 23:25 Wrapping Up the Day 28:38 The Importance of Sleep and Mental Health 29:31 Balancing Household Responsibilities 32:26 Prioritizing Self-Care 35:10 Building a Community in a New City 38:53 Maintaining Long-Distance Friendships 40:55 Nurturing Your Relationship 43:21 Thoughts on AI and Daily Routines 50:06 Finding Joy in New Hobbies and Routines 54:17 Conclusion and Where to Follow Looking for your next romance read? Look no further! This month at Pepper Books we've got your Celebrity/Normie Romances from One Pepper all the way to Five!  Episode Music - For Days - Tom Deis via Shutterstock

    1 hr
  4. Episode 139: A Day In Her Life with Sofi Madison - Building a Creative Career Around Family, From Retail Shop Owner to Independent Consultant

    FEB 10

    Episode 139: A Day In Her Life with Sofi Madison - Building a Creative Career Around Family, From Retail Shop Owner to Independent Consultant

    Tell us what you think!!! This week, we're sitting down with Sofi Madison, a former shop owner turned independent consultant who's redefining what work-life balance looks like in the North Shore. Sofi shares her journey from running Olives and Grace—a beloved retail destination—to consulting for independent retailers and hospitality teams, all while raising two boys (ages 3 and 5) in Manchester by the Sea. In this honest conversation, Sofi opens up about the intentional decision to become a "working plus stay-at-home mom," her 9am-2:30pm work window, and why she chose to close a successful business she loved to create space for motherhood. We dig into the messy realities of balancing creative work with the demands of young children, why she's slow to sign her kids up for sports, and how she's finding creative expression through social media and Substack in this season of life. What We Cover: Seasonal routines: Why Sofi's a 5am coffee-on-the-porch person in summer but hits snooze until 6:45 in winterThe luxury of a single school drop-off and what slow, wholesome mornings look like at Waldorf schoolWorking compressed hours (9am-2:30pm) while running an independent consulting practiceWhy she closed a thriving retail business when her "lens of love completely shifted" after kidsNavigating witching hour, car snacks, and the All Star soundtrack on repeatDinner struggles with picky eaters and the dream of everyone eating the same mealThe invisible labor of household management and how she and her husband divide responsibilitiesShrinking friend circles for quality over quantity in the mom phaseUsing AI for dinner prep advice and vitamin guidance (but never for personal communication)Being honest about romantic relationships taking a backseat when kids are youngWhy she doesn't miss her kids when she travels for work (and the freedom in saying that out loud)Connect with Sofi: Instagram: @sofimadison_Substack: sofimadison.substack.comWebsite: sofimadison.comKey Timestamps: 01:26 Meet Our Guest: Sofi Madison02:13 Rapid Fire Questions with Sofi03:50 Sofi's Morning Routine07:43 Navigating Work and Family Balance19:03 Dinner Time and Evening Routines25:54 Choosing Activities for the Kids28:33 Choosing the Right Sports for Kids32:14 Balancing Self-Care and Parenting35:45 Household Management Strategies44:19 Navigating Friendships and Relationships47:57 Embracing Creativity and Social Media50:52 The Role of AI in Daily Life56:08 Current Obsessions and Joys59:03 Conclusion and FarewellResources Mentioned: Range by Kara Duval (movement/Pilates)Meet Boston (NESN, Saturdays) with Jenny Johnson & Billy CostaListen and Review Podcasts - Spotify - YouTube More A Day In Her Life Looking for your next romance read? Look no further! This month at Pepper Books we've got your Celebrity/Normie Romances from One Pepper all the way to Five!  Episode Music - For Days - Tom Deis via Shutterstock

    1h 3m
  5. Episode 138: A Day In Her Life with Layla Shaikley - Founder and Mom of Three

    FEB 3

    Episode 138: A Day In Her Life with Layla Shaikley - Founder and Mom of Three

    Tell us what you think!!! A Day In Her Life with Layla Shaikley – Efficient, Full, Emotionally Regulated Days as a Founder and Mom of Three What does it look like to build a venture-backed tech company, raise three young kids, recover from a major injury, and stay emotionally steady through it all? In this episode of A Day In Her Life, Ellie sits down with Layla Shaikley, co-founder of Wise Systems, writer, and mom of three (ages 3, 5, and 7). Layla shares how predictability, emotional regulation, and ruthless prioritization are what make her high-capacity life sustainable, not hustle or perfection. This is a powerful, grounding conversation about ambition, motherhood, and learning how to regulate yourself so you don’t burn everything down when things get hard. In this episode, we cover: Why emotional regulation is the real foundation of high performance, and how Layla thinks about passing that skill to her kidsThe predictable morning routine that allows her to work East Coast hours while parenting on the West CoastHow she structures work around goals, not tasks, and why feeling “behind” is often a sign you’ve lost sight of outcomesWhy proximity determines extracurriculars (and why that’s not “failing your kids”)What evenings actually look like with three young kids, and how she lets chaos happen without reacting to itThe systems she uses to buy back time, from outsourcing household work to using AI as a thinking assistantWhy this season is about choosing three priorities only, and being okay with everything else waitingIf you’re a working mom trying to hold ambition, caregiving, health, and sanity at the same time, this episode will help you breathe a little deeper and think more clearly about what actually matters. Follow Layla SubstackInstagramTikTokReferences Case Study7 Types of RestListen and Review Podcasts - Spotify - YouTube More A Day In Her Life @adayinherlifepod adayinherlife.com adayinherlife.substack.com Looking for your next romance read? Look no further! This month at Pepper Books we've got your Celebrity/Normie Romances from One Pepper all the way to Five!  Episode Music - For Days - Tom Deis via Shutterstock

    1h 10m
  6. Episode 137: A Day In Her Life with Dahlia Stroud - UK Founder, Consultant, and Mom of Two

    JAN 27

    Episode 137: A Day In Her Life with Dahlia Stroud - UK Founder, Consultant, and Mom of Two

    Tell us what you think!!! A Day In Her Life with Dahlia Stroud – Crazy, Stressed, Well-Dressed Days as a Founder and Mom of Two What does it really look like when you’re building something new, parenting school-aged kids, and trying to keep yourself intact in the process? In this episode of A Day In Her Life, Ellie chats with Dahlia Stroud, a UK-based consultant and host of Stressed But Well-Dressed, about the beautifully messy reality of her days. From “Jekyll and Hyde” mornings to late-night second winds, Dahlia shares the routines that ground her, the pressure she’s actively letting go of, and the moments that feel surprisingly sacred right now. This is an honest, relatable conversation about ambition, energy, and redefining what balance actually means in midlife motherhood. Listen to find out: Why Dahlia says she has two completely different morning routines and how both somehow get her kids out the door on timeThe one non-negotiable habit she uses to reset her mental health before opening her laptopHer refreshingly honest take on after-school activities and why kids already “work a full day”What evenings really look like with older kids, when bedtime turns into the moment they finally want to talkThe nightly ritual she’s doing with her 10-year-old that’s become the highlight of her dayHow launching a new consultancy forced her to rethink boundaries, energy, and perfectionWhy she’s letting go of having it all together and feeling better because of itIf you’re a working mom navigating career growth, school-aged kids, and the constant pull between ambition and exhaustion, this episode will feel deeply familiar. Where to find Dahlia Instagram: Stressed But Well-Dressed (podcast updates, wardrobe takes, confidence convos)Podcast: Stressed But Well-DressedLinkedIn: Dahlia StroudListen and Review Podcasts - Spotify - YouTube More A Day In Her Life @adayinherlifepod adayinherlife.com adayinherlife.substack.com Looking for your next romance read? Look no further! This month at Pepper Books we've got your Celebrity/Normie Romances from One Pepper all the way to Five!  Episode Music - For Days - Tom Deis via Shutterstock

    54 min
  7. Episode 136: A Day In Her Life with Mary James - Pharma Analytics Leader and Breadwinner Mom of Two

    JAN 20

    Episode 136: A Day In Her Life with Mary James - Pharma Analytics Leader and Breadwinner Mom of Two

    Tell us what you think!!! On today’s episode of A Day In Her Life, Ellie sits down with Mary James, who leads an analytics group at Real Chemistry (a pharmaceutical marketing and communications company) and is raising two little ones, a 9-month-old and a 2.5-year-old. Mary is the primary earner in her household, while her husband is a stay-at-home parent, and she gives an honest look at what it actually takes to keep work, kids, and sanity moving forward in a season that feels nonstop. Mary describes her days in three words: dynamic, relentless, and funny, because if you don’t laugh… you might cry. In this episode, we cover: The 5 a.m. OrangeTheory era (and the real reason she’s doing it) - Mary is in her “rebuild my strength postpartum” season, and early workouts are the only time that’s truly hers.Her tiny morning ritual that keeps her from disappearing - A simple “for me today” list - a few selfish, non-negotiable things that serve her before she starts serving everyone else.The workday strategy that protects her brain from constant context switching - She time-blocks calls, aims for “three key things,” and shares a few meeting hacks that might save your sanity.The 5 p.m. hard stop (and why it matters when you’re the breadwinner) - Their household runs on a daily handoff. She signs off at 5:00, not because it’s easy, but because it’s how they keep resentment from building.Dinner realism: kids at 6, adults later, and no shame about it - Family dinner happens when it happens. Otherwise, it’s “survival food,” frozen options, and DoorDash in a season where time is the luxury.Outsourcing that feels like getting your life back: laundry pickup - This is the one she’s not giving up. Pickup, drop-off, done. (Now they’re just figuring out the “put it away” part.)Friendship in the trenches: Marco Polo, audio notes, and staying in it without texting back instantly - A genuinely workable approach to keeping friendships alive when your hands are full and your phone is always being stolen.Follow Mary Mary Faith James References Kindle Scribe Listen and Review Podcasts - Spotify - YouTube More A Day In Her Life @adayinherlifepod adayinherlife.com adayinherlife.substack.com Looking for your next romance read? Look no further! This month at Pepper Books we've got your Celebrity/Normie Romances from One Pepper all the way to Five!  Episode Music - For Days - Tom Deis via Shutterstock

    56 min
  8. Episode 135: A Day In Her Life with Kelsey Smith - Working Mom of Two and Email Accessibility Consultant

    JAN 13

    Episode 135: A Day In Her Life with Kelsey Smith - Working Mom of Two and Email Accessibility Consultant

    Tell us what you think!!! A Day In Her Life with Kelsey Smith – Adaptable, Intentional, Caffeinated Days as a Working Mom of Two and Email Accessibility Consultant On today’s episode of A Day In Her Life, Ellie sits down with Kelsey Smith, a working mom of two toddlers living just outside Denver. Kelsey works in marketing, technology, and digital communications for a large public university and also runs her freelance consulting business, The Email Edit, where she helps nonprofits, small businesses, and entrepreneurs improve email marketing with a focus on digital accessibility. Kelsey shares what life looks like right now with two kids just 11 months apart, a household that runs on teamwork (and coffee), and a workday shaped by a two-hour time difference. From chaotic pre-dawn wakeups and daycare drop-offs to hot sauna workouts, low-effort dinners, and bedtime that suddenly takes an hour, this episode is full of the real stuff working moms are navigating. If you are balancing remote work, little kids, a relationship, and the constant feeling that your to-do list is never done, you will feel very seen in this conversation. In this episode, we cover: Two toddlers 11 months apart and mornings that start before you are ready - Kelsey’s reality right now: kids up between 5 and 6 a.m., a toddler climbing into her bed overnight, and mornings that feel like chaos before coffee even happens. Remote work across time zones - What it is like being on Mountain Time while the rest of your team is on East Coast time, and how that creates built-in protected focus time in the late afternoon. Time blocking for technical vs creative work - Kelsey’s approach to structuring her day: technical tasks and meetings in the morning, creative strategy work later, and a consistent end-of-day plan for tomorrow. Bedtime phases and sleep curveballs - How bedtime used to be easy and suddenly is not, what it looks like getting two toddlers down, and the looming toddler bed transition. How to find a therapist through insurance platforms - Kelsey’s experience starting with SonderMind and moving to Alma, plus the reminder to check your 2026 benefits. Work travel with young kids and “partner guilt” - Why she does not feel mom guilt leaving but does feel the weight on her partner, and how family flying in makes travel possible. Friendship in a busy season - Staying connected through small touchpoints, hosting, and aiming for at least one friend meetup a month. Date nights without babysitters - Their every-other-Friday at-home date night rotation, alternating who plans, and creative ways to connect during the day while the kids are in daycare. The ball she is letting drop - Releasing pressure around cooking and remembering: if you only have 40% that day and you give it, you gave 100% of what you had. Connect with Kelsey Find her on Instagram: @the.email.edit (email marketing, digital accessibility, and life as a working mom) Listen and Review Podcasts - Spotify - YouTube More A Day In Her Life @adayinherlifepod adayinherlife.com adayinherlife.substack.com Looking for your next romance read? Look no further! This month at Pepper Books we've got your Celebrity/Normie Romances from One Pepper all the way to Five!  Episode Music - For Days - Tom Deis via Shutterstock

    51 min
4.9
out of 5
115 Ratings

About

Are you interested in how other women get it all done? Do you like a "What's in her bag?" or a "What's on her nightstand?"  Are you overwhelmed by seeing highlight reels on Instagram and want to finally hear some authentic, real women talking about their real life?Same. Join Ellie as she sits down each week with women to discuss their daily lives - the struggles, the wins, their favorite parts. Let's normalize what our every day lives look like, and learn from each other's shared experience. Let's have some fun!

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