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. 1d ago

    Motherhood Isn't a Role. It's a Creative Force. (with Dr. Gertrude Lyons)

    I read Dr. Gertrude Lyons' book Rewrite the Mother Code and immediately wanted to get everyone in a room and talk about it. She's a maternal identity expert with a doctorate, nearly three decades of coaching, and a worldview that breaks motherhood wide open: motherhood isn't a role, it's a creative force. It shows up in your business, your relationships, your dreams, and most importantly in how you mother yourself. In this conversation we get into why almost every mom loses herself at some point (including the ones with degrees in this exact subject), why self-doubt is the number one obstacle moms name, and what it takes to actually come back. You'll hear: Why you're already mothering, whether or not you have children The catalysts that reliably knock moms off track, and why drifting is the assignment rather than the failure Where the erosion of self-trust actually comes from, and how we got cut off from our own intuition The $100 answer that fixed my daughter's year of stomach pain after a doctor said girls are just dramatic Why the truth is an act of kindness, and how "keeping the peace" costs us more than we realize The say-no assignment, and why not explaining yourself is the hard part "He knows he's enough and I know I'm not too much," and why so many moms think they have to earn the right to just be The conversation my thirteen-year-old started with me, and what it proved about doing the inner work This is for any mom who has quietly wondered where she went, and whether it's too late to go get herself. Mentioned in this episode: Dr. Gertrude Lyons' book and site: drgertrudelyons.com 2027 self-mothering retreats (Mexico, Ireland, Malta, Chicago): drgertrudelyons.com/retreats2027 TEDx talk, Rewrite the Mother Code: youtube.com/watch?v=NZ9ZF8JKIDY Instagram: @drgertrudelyons Substack: gertrudelyons.substack.com BossMom Community (free): bossmom.com/community BossMom+: bossmom.com/join

  2. Jul 23

    The Story You Tell vs. The Story You Live (with Chandler Bolt)

    Chandler Bolt has been a friend of the show for years, and this conversation felt like it. He also doesn't have kids yet, which makes it kind of funny that this turned into one of the more honest conversations we've had about the gap between the story we tell (on stage, in a book, online) and the story we actually live behind closed doors. Dana and Chandler get into walking the walk, why authenticity beats polish every time, modeling instead of martyring yourself for your kids, and why the people closest to you deserve the mic, even when the truth stings. Plus: Dana and Chandler are teaming up for a free live training on July 29th, and you'll want to be there. You'll hear: Why what you do behind closed doors matters more than what you post How to reverse engineer what you actually want in your business before you chase another goal Why authenticity beats polish every time The "model, don't martyr" philosophy for ambition and motherhood Why seasons of parenting (and business) are allowed to change your priorities Chandler's honest story about losing, then finding, his authenticity Why the people closest to you deserve the mic, even when the truth stings Mentioned in this episode: Free training with Dana and Chandler, July 29th at 2pm PT / 5pm ET: selfpublishing.com/dana Chandler's company: selfpublishing.com Book a call with Chandler's team: selfpublishing.com/bossmom Boss Mom Community (free): bossmom.com/community Boss Mom+: bossmom.com/join

  3. Jul 16

    How to Trust Your Own Pace and Stop Comparing Your Business to Someone Else's Win (with Em Connors)

    This week Dana sits down with Em Connors of The Creative Bodega for an honest, no-filter conversation about comparison, confidence, and money mindset, sparked by watching a creator go from unknown to multimillionaire almost overnight. Dana and Em both had a rough week of unfollowing, re-following, and wondering what was wrong with their own pace. This episode is the debrief. They get into why "new" isn't always what it looks like, why 90% of the block women feel in business comes down to self-doubt (not strategy), why launches were never built for the seasonal reality of a mom's life, and the money trauma both Dana and Em inherited from their own dads, and how to finally paint your own truck. You'll hear: Why comparing your business to someone's overnight win is comparing yourself to a story you don't have the full data on The real math behind viral launch reviews (it's not what you think) Why self-doubt, not strategy, is the number one block for most women building a business The "bravery isn't in a safe community, it's on the internet" reframe Em's "paint your truck" money mindset story Why launches aren't built for moms, and how to protect your own season anyway This is a must-listen for any mom who's had a hard week of scrolling lately. Mentioned in this episode: The Creative Bodega: thecreativebodega.com The Content Coven: thecreativebodega.com/the-content-coven Em on Instagram: @the.creative.bodega Boss Mom Community (free): bossmom.com/community Boss Mom Plus: bossmom.com/join

  4. Jul 9

    Why Working Harder Is Quietly Wrecking You (And What Daniella Devine Does Instead)

    Daniella Devine did all the things. The degree, the second degree, the big deputy director job. Then she had a baby and hit the quiet, spiraling question so many of us know: this is not it. In this episode we go deep on what actually comes next. Daniella is a third-generation business owner, a business buyer, and a commercial real estate agent who now acquires and grows Main Street businesses, all while raising young kids. We talk about the dull ache of discontentment that shows up in early motherhood, why working harder will quietly deplete you, and the reframe that finally lets a business grow. We get into the "no one's coming" reality of being the hunter, gatherer, and caregiver all at once, how to build a support system so you stop asking one person to be your savior, and how to know which person to call when you need a shoulder versus the hard truth. Plus the seasons nobody warns you about, and why the small moments (yes, including the popcorn game) are the whole point. Find Daniella on Instagram @thedanielladevine and at thedanielladevine.com. Come build your business differently inside the free BossMom Community at bossmom.com/community, with networking events, mindset workshops, daily mindset audios, and a dedicated app off social. When you are ready to level up with the right marketing plan and the implementation support to hit your financial goals, join us in BossMom+ at bossmom.com/join.

  5. Jul 2

    Know Your Zero: The Tom Hanks Trick for Raising Confident Kids (with Presilah Nunez Davis)

    What does getting a fast pass at Universal Studios have to do with building a business? More than you'd think. This week Dana sits down with Presilah Nunez Davis, founder of The Finer Points, a coaching practice built at the intersection of performance psychology, neuroscience, and modern etiquette. Presilah spent over a decade as a working actor before motherhood shifted her focus, and she now teaches the exact skills, presence, eye contact, recovering from mistakes gracefully, that separate the person who commands a room from the person who shrinks in it. This conversation will change how you think about what you're teaching your kids, and what you never got taught yourself. You'll hear: Why "etiquette" is really just the hyper-awareness of the feelings of others The 2 a.m. Instagram scroll that turned into an entire business Why Dana teaches her kids to "ask for the ketchup," and what that has to do with pricing your work The "know your zero" framework for understanding your own natural presence The acting class critique that reframed everything Presilah teaches about perfectionism Why "the fourth grader is king" and imperfection is what actually builds connection Five simple ways to start building confidence in your kids today This is for any mom who wants her kids (and honestly, herself) to walk into a room and stay in it. Mentioned in this episode: Presilah on Instagram: instagram.com/presilah The Finer Points: discoverthefinerpoints.com BossMom Community (free): bossmom.com/community BossMom+: bossmom.com/join

  6. Jun 25

    Don't Do His Laundry: The Rule That Went Viral and What It Really Means for Moms (with Paige Connell)

    Paige Connell went from zero kids to four kids in under three years — foster care, adoption, two biological pregnancies, and a baby born during COVID while her husband, a blue-collar first responder, never worked a single day from home. What happened next is a story about the mental load of motherhood that every mom in a partnership needs to hear. This isn't a conversation about chores. It's about the assumptions that build up without anyone saying a word, the resentment that follows, and the real conversations that change things. Paige didn't do her husband's laundry. He cooks dinner most nights. People have feelings about both of those things online. What actually matters is the system underneath, and how they built it. You'll hear: Why the mental load snowballs without anyone intending it to The laundry rule Paige's mother-in-law gave her years ago (and why it's actually about resentment, not laundry) Why defensiveness is normal, and what matters is what happens after The "third option" between sucking it up and leaving What to do when you're growing and your partner isn't How to build a division of labor based on strengths instead of assumptions What it actually looks like on the other side of two years of hard conversations This one is for any mom who is carrying more than her share and doesn't quite know how to start the conversation. Mentioned in this episode: Paige on Instagram: @sheisapaigeturner Paige's website: shesapaigeturner.com  Paige's Substack (Lessons Learned): substack.com BossMom Community (free): bossmom.com/community BossMom+: bossmom.com/join

    Don't Do His Laundry: The Rule That Went Viral and What It Really Means for Moms (with Paige Connell)

  7. Jun 18

    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

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

  8. 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

    Trusting Your Intuition: Why Inspired Action Wins (with Keira Brinton)
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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
    765
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    The Boss Mom Podcast

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