Mighty As A Mother

Jenn Cohen + Laura Demuth

Mighty as a Mother is a safe space honoring the beautiful (and messy!) journey of raising children while pursuing your passions. As two executives juggling four toddlers, we may not be experts but we sure have learned a lot along the way! Alongside experts and like-minded mamas, we get real - sharing our own experiences on subjects ranging from maternal mental health, female friendships, marriage, wellness, and the juggle (and struggle!) of being a busy mom. Thank you for joining this honest, unfiltered community where we honor YOU. We're thrilled you're here!

  1. 4D AGO

    Parenting Boys Today: Emotional Regulation, Boundaries, and Big Feelings

    In a world where boys are told to "toughen up" before they even understand what they're feeling, how do we raise sons who stay connected to their hearts? In this episode, we sit down with writer, editor, and media critic Joanna Schroeder to talk about what it really means to raise emotionally healthy boys today. Not perfect boys. Not "alpha" boys. Not fragile boys. But boys who can feel. Together, we unpack what's often called the "boy crisis" — and move beyond headlines to the real, lived experiences happening in our homes. From emotional suppression to loneliness, from screen time to algorithm-driven messaging, we explore the cultural forces shaping our sons — and what we can actually do about it as parents. This conversation isn't about fear. It's about awareness. And responsibility. And repair. We talk candidly about: Why boys' mental health deserves our attention — without ignoring the bigger picture The subtle ways society teaches boys to disconnect from their emotions How to help boys regulate anger without shaming their feelings What emotional safety at home actually looks like (especially when we're dysregulated ourselves) How social media and online content shape boys' identity earlier than we think Practical boundaries around screen time, smartphones, and tech in the bedroom Why repair matters more than perfection in parenting How to raise boys who are both strong and soft One of our favorite takeaways? You don't have to protect your son from the world entirely. But you can make your home the safest place for him to land. This episode is for the moms raising sons. For the parents trying to break cycles. For anyone who has ever been told to "stop crying" and is determined to do it differently. The goal isn't to raise boys who never struggle. It's to raise boys who know they don't have to struggle alone. Links & Resources 👉 Joanna's book Talk to Your Boys: 16 Conversations to Help Tweens and Teens Grow into Confident, Caring Young Men 👉 Talk To Your Boys website 👉 Joanna on Instagram 👉 2024 Recap Episode (where we talk about trying to do it all) For more honest motherhood conversation, subscribe to Mighty as a Mother on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen — and follow along on Instagram @mightyasamotherpodcast.

    52 min
  2. FEB 17

    Why Overachieving Is Exhausting You (And What to Do Instead)

    In a culture that still glorifies hustle and resilience, what happens when the very grit that built your success starts quietly depleting you? In this episode, Jenn sits down with Amanda Goetz—two-time founder, four-time CMO, mom of three, and author of Toxic Grit—for a conversation that feels like a deep exhale for ambitious women everywhere. Amanda has built brands, raised millions, navigated divorce, and reinvented herself more than once. And somewhere along the way, she realized that the same grit that fueled her rise was also quietly burning her out. Her book, Toxic Grit: How to Have It All and Actually Love What You Have, is already resonating with thousands of women questioning hustle culture and craving something more sustainable. Today, we go there with her. Together, we talk candidly about: The difference between healthy ambition and "toxic grit"—and how to know when you've crossed the line Why "alignment" can feel impossible when you're juggling multiple identities at once Amanda's Character Theory and how naming the different parts of yourself can reduce guilt and increase presence The concept of "spin cycles" and why intentional resets—both daily and seasonally—are essential for ambitious women How to set an "enoughness line" so you can push in one season without losing yourself in the process The seasonality of ambition—blooming, going back into the dirt, and trusting the cycle We also dive into practical rituals for transitioning between roles (from CEO to caregiver to partner to solo human), and how even small boundaries—like a commute bath or a 20-minute phone-free walk—can radically shift how you show up. This conversation is for the woman who's been praised for her grit. The steady one at home. The overachiever at work. The one who "just gets it done," even when she's running on fumes. It's for anyone who has quietly wondered why doing it all still doesn't feel like enough—and who is brave enough to imagine something different. Amanda reminds us that ambition isn't the enemy. But unchecked ambition without reflection, rest, and recalibration? That's where it gets dangerous. Balance, she argues, isn't about every day feeling even. It's about zooming out and honoring the macro rhythms of your life. If you've been living in hustle mode for longer than you'd like to admit, this episode might just be the permission slip you didn't know you needed. Links & Resources 👉 Toxic Grit: How to Have It All and Actually Love What You Have by Amanda Goetz 👉 Amanda's newsletter, Life's a Game 👉 Toxic Grit Workbook For more honest conversation at the intersection of motherhood, ambition, and identity, subscribe to Mighty as a Mother on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen—and follow along on Instagram @mightyasamotherpodcast

    43 min
  3. FEB 3

    The Mental Health Realities of Motherhood

    What does burnout really look like for high-functioning women and mothers? In this powerful episode of Mighty as a Mother, we sit down with clinical psychologist and maternal mental health expert Dr. Lilit to unpack the emotional and physical toll of modern motherhood. Together, we explore why so many women feel exhausted, disconnected, and stretched too thin—and why those feelings often go unnamed and untreated. If you've ever asked yourself, Why am I so tired even after I sleep? Why do I feel like I'm falling apart even when things look fine?, this conversation is for you. Dr. Lilit brings both professional expertise and lived experience to our dialogue, offering real-world insight into how stress manifests in the body, why so many mothers struggle with identity loss, and what we can do—practically and compassionately—to feel more like ourselves again. In this episode, we explore: Signs of maternal burnout and chronic stress that often go unnoticed How emotional overload shows up in the body (think: shoulder pain, tight chest, irritability) The difference between functioning and feeling well How to create micro-moments of nervous system regulation, even in a packed day The importance of self-repair and modeling emotional honesty for our kids Why many moms carry guilt for simply needing a break—and how to release it Key topics we cover: maternal mental health support, burnout in motherhood, nervous system tools, mental load of parenting, working mom wellness, somatic signs of stress, how to set emotional boundaries, postpartum mental health, emotional regulation for moms Links & Resources 👉 The CDC on connected playtime and child development: Link 👉 Follow Dr. Lilit on Instagram: @dr.lilit 👉 Learn more about her practice: www.drlilit.com 👉 Jenn's favorite mindfulness tool: Calm App 👉 Our most-downloaded episodes on burnout:  🎧 E39: Boundary Setting, Beating Burnout, and Reclaiming Yourself – Part 1 👉 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e39-boundary-setting-beating-burnout-and-reclaiming/id1687678053?i=1000679065346 (podcasts.apple.com) 🎧 E40: Boundary Setting, Beating Burnout, and Reclaiming Yourself – Part 2 👉 https://podcasts.apple.com/vn/podcast/e40-boundary-setting-beating-burnout-and-reclaiming/id1687678053?i=1000680685965 (podcasts.apple.com) ------------------------- For more conversations on motherhood, identity, and mental health, subscribe to Mighty as a Mother on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram @mightyasamotherpodcast for more honest reflections on modern motherhood.

    47 min
  4. JAN 20

    Why You Never Feel Like You Have Enough Time (And How to Change That)

    In a world that rewards busyness and glorifies the grind, it's no wonder so many of us feel chronically behind—on time, on rest, on joy. In this episode, we sit down with Cassie Holmes, chaired professor at UCLA's Anderson School of Management and bestselling author of Happier Hour, for a deeply grounding conversation about why time always feels scarce—and what actually helps. Cassie doesn't just study happiness and time poverty. She's lived it. As a working mom navigating the seasons from toddlers to teens, she brings both data and deep empathy to the question so many women are asking: Why does it feel like there's never enough time—and how do we stop feeling so depleted by it? Together, we talk candidly about: What time poverty really is—and why women and mothers feel it most acutely Why busyness has become a badge of honor (and how it quietly erodes our happiness) The surprising research behind giving time to get time How small mindset shifts—like "less doing, more being"—can radically change how our days feel Why connection, not productivity, is often the missing ingredient The myth of needing more time—and the reality of finding joy inside the time you already have How to "time craft" your days and weekends so they feel more spacious and meaningful Why happiness isn't selfish—and how it actually makes us better partners, parents, and leaders This conversation is full of permission slips: to stop racing the clock, to stop saving joy for "someday," and to notice the ordinary moments that won't always be there—bedtime cuddles, slow mornings, shared chairs at the beach. Links & Resources 👉 Happier Hour by Cassie Holmes 👉 Research on time poverty, happiness, and well-being 👉 Cassie's website For more conversations like this one, subscribe to Mighty as a Mother on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen—and follow along on Instagram and LinkedIn.

    45 min
  5. JAN 6

    The Career Moves That Matter Most After Becoming a Mother

    In a world that tells moms we can "have it all," most of us are sitting there like… cool, can I also have five uninterrupted minutes and a hot cup of coffee? In this episode, we sit down with journalist-turned-health-tech insider Christina (Chrissy) Farr to talk about the career moves that actually matter after becoming a mother—because postpartum isn't just a physical recovery. It's a full identity recalibration. Chrissy has built a rare career at the intersection of storytelling, strategy, and healthcare innovation—and she's refreshingly blunt about what changed for her once kids entered the picture: her relationship with time, the power of boundaries, and the shift from doing everything to doing the right things. Together, we unpack: Why motherhood makes you stop working "for exposure" (and start pricing your time like the precious resource it is) Chrissy's "high-visibility vs. low-visibility work" framework—and why it's a game changer when your life has daycare pickup baked into it The honest shift many women feel after having kids: wanting purpose and financial security (and not apologizing for either) Why women need to talk about money more—without shame, secrecy, or pretending we're "above it" How to model ambition and integration for our kids without turning our lives into a burnout highlight reel The reminder so many of us need: you don't need perfect timing to start—your life will expand around what matters This conversation is for the mom who's quietly renegotiating everything: her ambition, her calendar, her tolerance for unpaid labor, and what "success" even means now. Links & Resources 👉 Chrissy's newsletter, Second Opinion: https://secondopinion.media/ 👉 Chrissy's podcast, Lifers (Apple Podcasts): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lifers-with-christina-farr/id1759267211 (Apple Podcasts) 👉 Scrub Capital: https://scrubcapital.com/  👉 Chrissy's book, The Storyteller's Advantage:  👉 Follow Chrissy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinafarr  Listen & Follow Mighty as a Mother Subscribe to Mighty as a Mother on: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mighty-as-a-mother/id1687678053 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0rbxeBmjXSRFWXPkIoPcnb Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mightyasamotherpodcast/?hl=en Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mighty-as-a-mother-podcast/

    41 min
  6. 12/23/2025

    E65: Whole Person Coaching That Redefines You From the Inside Out with Dr. Natalie Underdown

    What if your leadership didn't start with a strategy—but with your nervous system? This week, we're joined by Dr. Natalie Underdown, organizational psychologist, executive coach, and founder of The Nu Company, for a conversation that flips the script on what it means to lead, evolve, and truly care for ourselves in high-stakes seasons of life. Natalie brings a whole-person approach to executive coaching—one that fuses neuroscience, trauma healing, identity work, and performance psychology. After burning out in corporate and navigating a health crisis rooted in toxic mold exposure, she redefined her own path. Now, she helps other ambitious women do the same—from the inside out. Together, we get real about: Why burnout isn't a badge—and how it often masks deeper misalignment How whole-person coaching helps you unlearn performance-based identity and reconnect with who you actually are What nervous system regulation has to do with emotional resilience, leadership, and even parenting The practical magic of shaking off stress (literally) and embracing somatic tools that work in real life—not just retreats Human Design as a tool for self-understanding and why it might explain your decision fatigue or energy dips If you're sitting at the edge of reinvention, or just trying to lead with more integrity and less adrenaline, this episode is your invitation to pause, breathe, and get curious about the stories you're still telling yourself. Links & Resources 👉 Dr. Natalie Underdown's Website – The Nu Company 👉 Follow Natalie on Instagram 👉 Our episode with Human Design expert Erin Claire Jones 👉 Book rec: The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk For more conversations like this one, subscribe to Mighty as a Mother on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen—and follow along on Instagram and LinkedIn.

    46 min
  7. 12/09/2025

    E64: The Female Friendship Crisis: How to Nurture Adult Connections That Last with Anna Goldfarb

    Today, we sit down with Anna Goldfarb—friendship journalist, author, and voice of wisdom on the quiet complexity of adult relationships. Together, we're unpacking why maintaining female friendships feels harder than ever, especially in motherhood, and what it actually takes to nurture the ones that matter most. Through honest stories and thoughtful research, Anna helps us reframe what healthy adult friendship looks like today. They talk about the grief of friendships that drift, the courage it takes to initiate hard conversations, and why effort (not just history) is what keeps connection alive. If you've ever found yourself missing someone who used to be in your daily life—or wondering how to deepen the friendships you still have—this conversation is a balm and a roadmap. You'll Learn: Why nearly half of adults report shrinking social networks—and what that really means How motherhood reshapes our friendships, sometimes painfully The power of desire: why it matters that you want to show up What to consider before giving feedback in a friendship How to know when it's time to let go—and how to grieve a friendship breakup Why small gestures (a text, a meme, a voice note) are never really small What it means to treat friendship as a privilege, not a given How to reconnect with the people who make you feel most like yourself Links & Resources Mentioned: Anna Goldfarb's website and writing: www.annagoldfarb.com Anna's book: Modern Friendship Related episode: Finding and Maintaining Meaningful Friendships During This Busy Season – E3 HBR article: The Power of Work Friends For more authentic and honest motherhood conversation, subscribe to Mighty as a Mother: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

    49 min
  8. 11/25/2025

    E63: Redefining Leadership, Ambition, and the Future of Work—with Industrious President Anna Squires-Levine

    In a world reshaping itself around how, where, and why we work, what does leadership actually look like—especially when you're also navigating motherhood? In this episode, we sit down with Anna Squires-Levine, President of Industrious (and mama of three), to explore that question and more. Anna joined Industrious nearly a decade ago when it was just a few co-working spaces—and helped scale it to 300+ locations across 10 countries. Now, she's guiding the company into a new era after its acquisition by CBRE, all while welcoming her third baby. Together, we talk candidly about: How to lead during life's most chaotic transitions  The myth of balance and the radical act of choosing your kind of hard Why human-centered workspaces are more critical than ever—and how Industrious is redefining what it means to "go to work" The honest truth about ambition, identity shifts, and the emotional tug-of-war working moms face daily Practical questions to ask yourself when you're standing at a career crossroads This one's for the moms holding it all—the dream, the diapers, the deadline. Anna's wisdom is both grounding and galvanizing, reminding us that the future of work isn't just flexible. It's human. Links & Resources 👉 Learn more about Industrious 👉 Follow Anna on LinkedIn 👉 Jenn's essay on hustle culture: "My Career is My Refuge" 👉 Book rec: The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz For more honest motherhood conversation, subscribe to Mighty as a Mother on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen—and follow along on Instagram @mightyasamotherpodcast.

    36 min
5
out of 5
61 Ratings

About

Mighty as a Mother is a safe space honoring the beautiful (and messy!) journey of raising children while pursuing your passions. As two executives juggling four toddlers, we may not be experts but we sure have learned a lot along the way! Alongside experts and like-minded mamas, we get real - sharing our own experiences on subjects ranging from maternal mental health, female friendships, marriage, wellness, and the juggle (and struggle!) of being a busy mom. Thank you for joining this honest, unfiltered community where we honor YOU. We're thrilled you're here!

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