The Boss Mom Podcast

Dana Malstaff
  • 4.6 (350)
  • Marketing
  • Updated Weekly

Motherhood and business aren't meant to be done alone. The Boss Mom Podcast isn't just a collection of conversations—it's your decision support, your permission slip, your place to laugh, cry, and connect. Hosted by Dana Malstaff, founder of Boss Mom LLC, this is your new home base, where you'll find mom-centric business advice, the raw truth about being a mom with big dreams, and a ton of hope and proof that you can reach all of your goals. No matter what stage of motherhood or business you're in, we're here for all of it. From big decisions to little wins, we've got your back. Think of us as your biggest advocate, helping you build the business and life you love, one episode at a time.

  1. She Replaced Her Teaching Salary in Five Months as a New Mom (with Laura Jennings)

    2d ago

    She Replaced Her Teaching Salary in Five Months as a New Mom (with Laura Jennings)

    Laura Jennings was a college professor with a master's degree, doing everything she'd been taught to do — until her daughter was born and she realized the life she'd built didn't fit the mom she was becoming. Five months after discovering virtual assistance, she'd replaced her teaching salary. Two years later, she'd tripled it. Her daughter never spent a day in daycare. In this episode, Dana and Laura get into exactly how moms can become virtual assistants using skills they already have — and why right now is one of the best possible moments to start. You'll hear: Why "too good to be true" is just a stage, and how to stack evidence until it becomes your new normal The ladder of believability: how imposter syndrome fades when you take action instead of waiting to feel ready Why "I'll work with anyone" is the wrong starting point — and how to find clients you actually enjoy working with The AI question answered honestly: what VAs can use it for, and why it's not replacing them The identity shift that nobody warns moms about — and why the flexible income path is one of the few structures that actually honors it What moms with 10 to 20 hours a week need to know about the current market for contract work This one is practical, personal, and full of permission for moms who've been sitting on the edge of making a move. Mentioned in this episode: Laura's free "Get Started as a VA" masterclass: laurajtraining.com/masterclass-registration-guest-podcast Laura on Instagram: @hey.lauranicole Laura on Threads: @hey.lauranicole Your Virtual Assistant Coach podcast: Apple Podcasts BossMom Community (free): bossmom.com/community BossMom+ ($197/year): bossmom.com/join

    44 min
  2. Trusting Your Intuition: Why Inspired Action Wins (with Keira Brinton)

    Jun 11

    Trusting Your Intuition: Why Inspired Action Wins (with Keira Brinton)

    This week is an interview, and it's one of my favorites in a long time. I sit down with Keira Brinton, founder of JOA Publishing and known as The People's Publisher, a single mom of five who built a multi-million-dollar company in three years by merging deep faith with serious strategy. Keira is high energy in the exact way I am, so the two of us together will get you fired up. But she also gets vulnerable in a way I did not see coming. The big idea: trusting your intuition is not woo, it's the fastest path to action. When you stop avoiding the thing you're scared of, your business can move at the speed of light. You'll hear: The "face your dragon" story, and how Keira unblocked nine months of stuck in two weeks Why whatever you feel inside shows up in your outer world An honest, tender conversation about friendship, loneliness, and outgrowing people as you grow Why books are the one thing that lasts, and why real leaders need to write now Keira's "ask, listen, do" method and how to actually hear the answer Why moms are wired to stop receiving, and how to get it back Why you can say yes before you're qualified, and act before it's perfect This is a must-listen for any mom building a business who's felt stuck, scattered, or behind despite doing all the right things. Mentioned in this episode: Keira's Mini Book Activator Course ($197): go.keirabrinton.com/minibookactivator Keira on Instagram: instagram.com/keirabrinton BossMom Community (free): bossmom.com/community BossMom+ ($197/year): bossmom.com/join

    48 min
  3. The Midlife Awakening Nobody Warned You About (With Katy Rexing)

    Jun 4

    The Midlife Awakening Nobody Warned You About (With Katy Rexing)

    This week isn't a how-to, it's a heart-to-heart. Dana sits down with meditation teacher Katy Rexing to talk about the midlife awakening for moms: that wobbly, something's-off, where-did-I-go season so many of us hit in our late 30s and 40s. If you've been quietly wondering whether something is wrong with you lately, this is the episode that tells you the truth. Nothing is wrong with you. You're right on schedule. Katy rebuilt her entire life from the inside out after years of "perfecting perfection" led her straight into panic attacks she couldn't name. Dana shares her own panic attack on a bridge and the traumaversary behind it. Together they get into why this unraveling is by design, and how to meet it with peace instead of fear. You'll hear: Why almost every woman hits a wall around 40, and what "I am done being at war with you" really means Why a panic attack is your body crying to be heard, not a sign you're broken The case that this midlife awakening is by design, and why you shouldn't try to dodge it Why you can't "just love yourself" yet, and the step almost everyone skips How to stop riding the roller coaster of likes, gold stars, and outside validation Dana and Katy's friendly debate on whether every mom should have a business Why this is the most supported, least lonely time in history to do this inner work This is a must-listen for any mom who's felt scattered, behind, or like she's quietly falling apart for no reason. You're not. You're right on time. Mentioned in this episode: Katy Rexing's website + WithIn podcast: katyrexing.com Katy on Instagram (comment PRACTICE for her starter meditation toolkit): @katyrexing BossMom Community (free): bossmom.com/community — where moms get help clarifying goals and building the focus skills to hit them BossMom+ ($197/year): bossmom.com/join — the right marketing plan + implementation support for your business

    37 min
  4. Why You Can't Out-Strategy What You're Feeling with Jaclyn Orent of Cultural Catalyst Network

    May 28

    Why You Can't Out-Strategy What You're Feeling with Jaclyn Orent of Cultural Catalyst Network

    This week isn't an interview, it's a real, ranty discussion. Dana sits down with Jaclyn Orent, co-founder and frequency architect of the Cultural Catalyst Network, to break down one of the most important truths every mom needs to hear right now: you cannot out-strategy what you're feeling. No morning routine, no new funnel, no productivity hack is going to fix what's actually a frequency problem. And there's nearly 60 years of consciousness, change, and scaling science to back it up. If you've ever felt scattered, behind, "off," or like you're working as hard as you can without it adding up — this is the episode that flips it. You'll hear: Why the rise and fall of empires happens every 80 years, and what that means for moms right now The science of resonance and why moms are the natural cultural catalysts of this era The "good enough economy" and why your voice is more valuable than ever Dr. David Hawkins' scale of consciousness and the critical threshold of 200 The three-step "let go" practice that actually works (and why most affirmations don't) The difference between self-sacrifice and true sacrifice Why your kids cannot be your purpose (and what to do instead) This is a must-listen for any mom who's felt the pull toward something bigger and didn't have the language for it. Mentioned in this episode: Jaclyn's free Science-Backed Secrets to Catalyzing Culture Masterclass: culturalcontribution.com/masterclass Jaclyn on Instagram: @culturalcatalystnetwork Jaclyn on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jaclynorent BossMom Community (free): bossmom.com/community BossMom+: bossmom.com/join

    43 min
  5. How to get back into focus after all the daily distractions

    May 21

    How to get back into focus after all the daily distractions

    If you've ever resented your own schedule, this episode is for you. In this solo, Dana gets vulnerable and shares the one skill that changed her business, her motherhood, and her experience of life more than any strategy ever has. It's not a productivity hack. It's not a morning routine. It's the simple, life-altering practice of recognizing when you've drifted, and coming back to focus. Recorded as Dana's last episode before turning 45, this is a reflective, honest look at the inner work that actually moved her business, the chiropractor analogy that reframed how she sits in discomfort, and the one line she says to herself that has replaced every affirmation she's ever tried. If you've ever felt scattered, behind, or like your kids are the reason you can't get anything done, this is the episode that flips that. You'll hear: The one skill every mom should build before any other (and why it matters more than any tool) Why your kids probably aren't the actual distraction, and what is The chiropractor analogy for sitting in the discomfort of growth The inner work that finally moved Dana's business forward (it wasn't strategy) Dana's "I would never sabotage someone I love" line that replaces every affirmation Why being cringe, quirky, and fully yourself is the whole point The 5-step focus practice you can start today This is for any mom who feels behind, scattered, or like she's working as hard as she can without it adding up. Mentioned in this episode: BossMom Community (free): bossmom.com/community — where moms get help figuring out their goals and building the focus skills to actually hit them BossMom+ ($197/year): bossmom.com/join — the right marketing plan + implementation support for your business

    27 min
  6. Why You Can't Schedule Your Way Out of Mom Burnout (with Irin Rubin of MamaZen)

    May 14

    Why You Can't Schedule Your Way Out of Mom Burnout (with Irin Rubin of MamaZen)

    This week, Dana sits down with Irin Rubin, founder and CEO of MamaZen, a mental wellness app for mothers. Irin's story is one a lot of moms will recognize: a difficult first delivery, severe colic, hospitalization, PTSD in the second pregnancy, and the slow realization that the high-speed train of motherhood didn't have stops. What she discovered next changed everything: nervous system regulation isn't another thing to add to your overwhelm. It's the thing that makes the rest of your life feel possible. If you've ever felt like the world keeps telling you to "just slow down," "just give yourself permission," or "just take a bath," and none of it actually helps, this episode is for you. You'll hear: Why the answer to overwhelm is never "do more" (and what actually works) The science of fight-or-flight and why most moms live there by default Irin's "math story" with her daughter, and how self-talk literally changes outcomes Why your kids hear every word you say (including how you talk to yourself) The line Irin uses to filter unsolicited advice without conflict Why saying no gets easier (not harder) once your nervous system is regulated How regulating your nervous system creates generational change for your kids This is a must-listen for any mom who's tired of being told the answer is more self-care, more scheduling, more permission. The real answer is quieter, deeper, and works. Mentioned in this episode: MamaZen app (free 7-day trial, iOS and Android): mamazen.com Book: MamaZen: The Parenting Method on Amazon Irin on Instagram | Facebook | TikTok Boss Mom Community (free): bossmom.com/community

    46 min
  7. The world doesn't want experts anymore..which is great for us moms.

    May 7

    The world doesn't want experts anymore..which is great for us moms.

    This week is different. It's not an interview, it's a real, ranty discussion. Dana sits down with buyer psychology expert Katie Read to break down something every mom growing a business needs to hear: right now is one of the easiest times in a decade to grow a business as a mom. Big companies are hunting small audiences. AI just made your voice the most valuable thing you own. And the rules for how you build, sell, and show up have completely changed in your favor. If you've ever felt behind, too small, or like you needed a bigger platform before you "really" started, this episode is going to flip that. You'll hear: Why "the fourth grader is king" and why being two steps ahead is enough The "good enough economy" and why it's coming for regurgitation businesses The scars vs. wounds framework for vulnerability that builds authority (not pity) Why newsletters are roaring back, and why your messy human voice is gold right now How to use AI for structure without letting it steal your voice First principles thinking: why the old "video module + Facebook group" model is breaking The two (and only two) things you should actually be using AI for in your business This is a must-listen for any mom running an online business.  Mentioned in this episode: Katie's free AI prompts for buyer psychology: buyerpsych.com/freeprompts Katie's Incubator program (rebuild your offer for the 2026 buyer): incubator.katieread.com Katie's main site: BuyerPsych.com Boss Mom Community (free): bossmom.com/community Boss Mom Plus: bossmom.com/join

    40 min

  8. Apr 30

    The Crockpot Effect: How AI Is Quietly Becoming Every Boss Mom's Secret Weapon

    The world is swirling my beautiful BossMom! AI, shifting buyer behavior, businesses opening and closing overnight. So what should mom entrepreneurs actually focus on right now? In this episode, Dana gets real about the difference between hustling (good!) and hustle culture (not so much), why AI is the crockpot of our generation, and exactly how she's using ChatGPT and Claude to run her life and scale Boss Mom, without burning out. You'll hear: Why "slow down" isn't always the right advice (and what to do instead) How Dana uses ChatGPT as her personal assistant, and her midnight therapist The three things Claude does better than anything else for mom entrepreneurs The "last 10%" problem that's keeping most moms invisible Why nano communities are quietly winning (and why that's incredible news for you) Plus a vulnerable behind-the-scenes story about a midnight spiral, a partner conversation, and how AI helped Dana reset before bed. Whether you're scaling a business, juggling clients, or just trying to figure out what to do with all the AI noise, this episode will give you a clearer, more permission-filled path forward. Mentioned in this episode: Boss Mom Community (free): bossmom.com/community Boss Mom Plus ($197/year): bossmom.com/join Nurture to Convert Messaging Strategist Certification: bossmom.com/ntccert

    24 min
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4.6
out of 5
350 Ratings

About

Motherhood and business aren't meant to be done alone. The Boss Mom Podcast isn't just a collection of conversations—it's your decision support, your permission slip, your place to laugh, cry, and connect. Hosted by Dana Malstaff, founder of Boss Mom LLC, this is your new home base, where you'll find mom-centric business advice, the raw truth about being a mom with big dreams, and a ton of hope and proof that you can reach all of your goals. No matter what stage of motherhood or business you're in, we're here for all of it. From big decisions to little wins, we've got your back. Think of us as your biggest advocate, helping you build the business and life you love, one episode at a time.

Information

  • Creator
    Dana Malstaff
  • Years Active
    2015 - 2026
  • Episodes
    759
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    The Boss Mom Podcast

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