Mrs Mummy PhD®

Host Dr Michelle Gibbs
  • 5.0 (3)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

This podcast is a reflective space for high-achieving mothers navigating scholarly work, home, and identity. Hosted by Dr Michelle Gibbs — a wife, boy Mama of 3 and doctor/scholar (of the PhD kind) — the Mrs Mummy PhD® podcast is shaped by lived experience of holding ambition alongside family life, responsibility, and seasons of change. It speaks to the reality that meaningful work does not exist in isolation from the rest of our lives. Scholarly motherhood is complex and deeply human. It is marked by transitions, pressure, and continual becoming — and without intention, it can quietly pull us away from ourselves. Through thoughtful conversations and reflections, this podcast invites you to slow down, lead yourself first, and reconsider what sustainable impact looks like in this season of life. Rather than offering quick fixes or productivity promises, it offers insight, perspective, and permission to build a life that includes your work, your family, and yourself. If you are a mother navigating intellectually demanding work — in academia or beyond — and are seeking steadiness, clarity, and a way forward that does not require self-sacrifice, this space is for you. So Mama, are you in? Fabulous! Let's begin... These are our journeys of becoming — and you’re welcome here.

  1. 5D AGO

    134. I Quit... and Started Living Life By Design Again

    What if quitting… isn’t failure? What if the thing you’ve been told to push through, stick out, or prove yourself in is actually the very thing keeping you from the life you want? In this deeply personal episode, I share a decision that surprised even me: I quit... Not because things weren’t working. Not because I couldn’t handle it. But because success, at least the way I was pursuing it, had become too expensive. In the years after my PhD, I began to drift into living by default, finding myself lost in the pursuit of it all. Doing what looked right. What sounded impressive. What I thought I should be doing. But recently I asked myself a different question: What would it look like to quit living my default and to start living by design again? The answer required courage... and a series of powerful quits. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on the things I’ve chosen to walk away from, why letting go felt so difficult, and how good it feels to become her again... the version of my that became lost in the juggle-struggle. If you’ve ever felt guilty for wanting to step away from something that no longer fits, this conversation is for you. Because quitting isn’t always giving up. In some cases, it doesn't even require walking away... But sometimes, it’s the most honest act of self-leadership there is... Tune in now... Send me a text message. Support the show Want more?  Check out the Mrs Mummy PhD® website.Book your free SEED call. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Threads, Pinterest or TikTok. Join the newsletter family at Scholarly Mamas® - The LetterCheck out my Doodle Dozen® children's book seriesThese are our journeys of becoming. Disclaimer: All views are my own. Nothing shared on this podcast should be considered a substitute for medical/clinical advice or mental health support. Please seek assistance from a qualified professional who can help you if you are struggling or in need of advice/intervention.

    34 min

  2. MAR 30

    133. Efficient and Empty: The Real Cost of Outsourcing (PART 2)

    Last week, we talked about the outsourcing trap and how delegating everything doesn't always create the space you think it will. This week, we're continuing this conversation. And I'm sharing something that might challenge how you've been thinking about help, efficiency, and what actually creates capacity. Because here's the truth: outsourcing isn't the problem. The pace is. And if you're outsourcing to maintain something that was unsustainable in the first place, you'll stay burnt out — just more efficiently. So what do you protect? And what do you let go? In this episode, I'm walking you through the three questions that helped me see the difference between outsourcing that creates presence and outsourcing that just keeps me running. Because presence can't be outsourced. And once you know what to protect, everything shifts. Listen now. Send me a text message. Support the show Want more?  Check out the Mrs Mummy PhD® website.Book your free SEED call. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Threads, Pinterest or TikTok. Join the newsletter family at Scholarly Mamas® - The LetterCheck out my Doodle Dozen® children's book seriesThese are our journeys of becoming. Disclaimer: All views are my own. Nothing shared on this podcast should be considered a substitute for medical/clinical advice or mental health support. Please seek assistance from a qualified professional who can help you if you are struggling or in need of advice/intervention.

    27 min

  3. MAR 23

    132. Efficient and Empty: The Real Cost of Outsourcing (PART 1)

    You got the help, or hired it. You delegated everything you could. And you're still exhausted. Here's what no one tells you about outsourcing: on its own, it doesn't create the space you think it will. It just lets you keep up with a pace that's burning you out — more efficiently. In this episode, I'm talking about the pattern I've been seeing with burnt-out mother scholars: the more they outsource, the less present they become. Not because outsourcing is bad, but because they're using it to maintain something unsustainable. This is Part 1 of a 2-part episode... This one's for you if you've outsourced all the help, optimised everything, and still don't recognise your own life. Part 2 drops next week where we continue this conversation. Tune in now. Send me a text message. Support the show Want more?  Check out the Mrs Mummy PhD® website.Book your free SEED call. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Threads, Pinterest or TikTok. Join the newsletter family at Scholarly Mamas® - The LetterCheck out my Doodle Dozen® children's book seriesThese are our journeys of becoming. Disclaimer: All views are my own. Nothing shared on this podcast should be considered a substitute for medical/clinical advice or mental health support. Please seek assistance from a qualified professional who can help you if you are struggling or in need of advice/intervention.

    34 min

  4. MAR 16

    131. Are You Misaligned? How to Know When Your Success is Costing You Too Much

    You slowed down. You created clarity. You can finally see the road ahead. But then you're faced with the question: are you on the right road? Sometimes burnout isn't about doing too much — it's about doing the wrong things entirely. And that exhaustion you feel? Your body trying to tell you something you've been too busy to hear. In this episode, I'm sharing the moment I had to choose between looking successful and actually living. And what happened when I made an unpopular decision to realign... the ripple effect surprised even me. This one's for you if you look successful on paper but feel heavy deep inside... Fair warning: once you see the misalignment, you can't unsee it. Tune in now. You can also tune into the blog post here. Send me a text message. Support the show Want more?  Check out the Mrs Mummy PhD® website.Book your free SEED call. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Threads, Pinterest or TikTok. Join the newsletter family at Scholarly Mamas® - The LetterCheck out my Doodle Dozen® children's book seriesThese are our journeys of becoming. Disclaimer: All views are my own. Nothing shared on this podcast should be considered a substitute for medical/clinical advice or mental health support. Please seek assistance from a qualified professional who can help you if you are struggling or in need of advice/intervention.

    45 min

  5. MAR 9

    130. When You Can't See the Road Ahead: How to Create Clarity as a High-Achieving Mama

    Have you ever felt like you're doing everything right and still the path ahead seems so uncertain? In this episode, Dr Michelle shares her experience of driving to work on a familiar road when the sun hit her eyes and she lost all clarity. Despite being a skilled driver, despite knowing the route, she couldn't see a thing. And what happened next taught her something profound about self-leadership. If you've been moving too fast to see where you're actually going, this one's for you. Listen now to discover why clarity doesn't come from trying harder or adding more to your plate — it comes from slowing down. You can read the related blog post here. Send me a text message. Support the show Want more?  Check out the Mrs Mummy PhD® website.Book your free SEED call. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Threads, Pinterest or TikTok. Join the newsletter family at Scholarly Mamas® - The LetterCheck out my Doodle Dozen® children's book seriesThese are our journeys of becoming. Disclaimer: All views are my own. Nothing shared on this podcast should be considered a substitute for medical/clinical advice or mental health support. Please seek assistance from a qualified professional who can help you if you are struggling or in need of advice/intervention.

    32 min

  6. FEB 23

    129. Rest Is Not a Reward: Reframing Rest as Self-Leadership

    In this episode, Dr Michelle is talking about rest — not as something you earn after doing all the things, but as an intentional act of self-leadership. If you're a high-achieving Mama who struggles to rest without guilt, who tells herself she'll rest "after" (and that after never comes), this one is for you. In this episode, you'll learn why rest is not the opposite of productivity. That rest is what makes sustainable productivity possible. And for Scholarly Mamas®, rest is a form of self-leadership. Read the related blog post: Rest is Not a Reward: Why High-Achieving Mothers Need to Reclaim Rest as Self-Leadership Now Send me a text message. Support the show Want more?  Check out the Mrs Mummy PhD® website.Book your free SEED call. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Threads, Pinterest or TikTok. Join the newsletter family at Scholarly Mamas® - The LetterCheck out my Doodle Dozen® children's book seriesThese are our journeys of becoming. Disclaimer: All views are my own. Nothing shared on this podcast should be considered a substitute for medical/clinical advice or mental health support. Please seek assistance from a qualified professional who can help you if you are struggling or in need of advice/intervention.

    29 min

  7. FEB 16

    128. Boundaries Are Acts of Self-Leadership (Not Selfishness)

    In this episode of the Mrs Mummy PhD® podcast, Michelle explores boundaries as an act of self-leadership rather than selfishness. She unpacks why high-achieving mothers struggle to say no and how over-functioning can quietly lead to burnout. Michelle offers practical strategies for establishing boundaries based on capacity, values, and identity, encouraging listeners to reflect on their own commitments and make intentional choices that align with their goals and well-being. This episode offers reflection, reassurance, and a new way to think about success without self-sacrifice. Read the related blog post here: The simple truth about boundaries as self-leadership (not selfishness) Send me a text message. Support the show Want more?  Check out the Mrs Mummy PhD® website.Book your free SEED call. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Threads, Pinterest or TikTok. Join the newsletter family at Scholarly Mamas® - The LetterCheck out my Doodle Dozen® children's book seriesThese are our journeys of becoming. Disclaimer: All views are my own. Nothing shared on this podcast should be considered a substitute for medical/clinical advice or mental health support. Please seek assistance from a qualified professional who can help you if you are struggling or in need of advice/intervention.

    40 min

  8. FEB 9

    127. Are These 3 Things Quietly Burning You Out?

    In this episode, Michelle discusses the subtle yet significant issue of quiet burnout among high-achieving mothers. She explores three hidden reasons why mothers may quietly burnout without realising it. Michelle emphasises the importance of recognising these factors and offers practical strategies to help you begin to lead yourself first, differently. Read the related blog post: The 3 Hidden Reasons High-Achieving Mothers Experience Quiet Burnout Send me a text message. Support the show Want more?  Check out the Mrs Mummy PhD® website.Book your free SEED call. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Threads, Pinterest or TikTok. Join the newsletter family at Scholarly Mamas® - The LetterCheck out my Doodle Dozen® children's book seriesThese are our journeys of becoming. Disclaimer: All views are my own. Nothing shared on this podcast should be considered a substitute for medical/clinical advice or mental health support. Please seek assistance from a qualified professional who can help you if you are struggling or in need of advice/intervention.

    23 min
See All (135)

Trailer

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

This podcast is a reflective space for high-achieving mothers navigating scholarly work, home, and identity. Hosted by Dr Michelle Gibbs — a wife, boy Mama of 3 and doctor/scholar (of the PhD kind) — the Mrs Mummy PhD® podcast is shaped by lived experience of holding ambition alongside family life, responsibility, and seasons of change. It speaks to the reality that meaningful work does not exist in isolation from the rest of our lives. Scholarly motherhood is complex and deeply human. It is marked by transitions, pressure, and continual becoming — and without intention, it can quietly pull us away from ourselves. Through thoughtful conversations and reflections, this podcast invites you to slow down, lead yourself first, and reconsider what sustainable impact looks like in this season of life. Rather than offering quick fixes or productivity promises, it offers insight, perspective, and permission to build a life that includes your work, your family, and yourself. If you are a mother navigating intellectually demanding work — in academia or beyond — and are seeking steadiness, clarity, and a way forward that does not require self-sacrifice, this space is for you. So Mama, are you in? Fabulous! Let's begin... These are our journeys of becoming — and you’re welcome here.

Information

  • Creator
    Host Dr Michelle Gibbs
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    135
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Mrs Mummy PhD®
  • Show Website
    Mrs Mummy PhD®

You Might Also Like