From 9 to Mom

From 9 To Mom

Welcome to From 9 to Mom. Danielle & Catie are here to talk about balancing the 9-5 hustle with the beautiful chaos of motherhood. Join us as we navigate careers, parenting, and the endless love that never clocks out. No off switch here!

  1. 1h ago

    summer is over, already?!

    Summer went by way too fast and somehow it's already time to talk backpacks, school supplies, and meet the teacher gifts. In this episode Danielle and Catie catch up from two different houses (long story, it involves strep throat) and dive headfirst into all things back to school. They talk through the backpack debate (Spidey backpack or big kid plane backpack, does it fit a binder), the never ending list of school supplies and spirit week swag, and why meet the teacher gifts have officially spiraled out of control. Danielle shares her plan to survive Colton's second grade shopping list including a very expensive Messi jersey situation, while Catie preps for kindergarten and preschool at the same time and drops a genius Kohl's Cash hack you need to hear. They also get a little nostalgic, swapping stories about their own back to school shopping memories growing up, and get real about that weird mix of excitement and sadness that comes with summer ending. Plus some very funny camp stories from the kids that you don't want to miss. Chapters: 00:00 Danielle and Catie catch up from two different houses 01:06 Counting down to the first day of school 02:23 School supply lists, spirit week, and meet the teacher gifts 05:10 The backpack debate: Spidey backpack vs a new big kid backpack 09:57 Target school supply obsession and the girls section jealousy 11:16 Back to school shopping memories from their own childhoods 17:30 The Kohl's Cash hack you need to know 20:42 Kindergarten prep, the bus, and public school talk 21:26 Funny camp stories that had them laughing

  2. Jul 9

    maternity leave 411

    Maternity leave shouldn't feel like a second full-time job, but here we are. This week Catie and Danielle sit down with Akiko Thayer, founder of Maternity Leave 411 and certified leave management specialist, to break down what nobody tells you about FMLA, state leave laws, and getting paid while you're out. Akiko got into this work after her own employer botched her leave by eight weeks, and she's been fighting for parents ever since. We cover when to tell your employer you're pregnant, the difference between job protection and paid benefits (they are NOT the same thing), why HR usually doesn't know as much as you think, what dads and partners are actually entitled to, and why "maternity leave" isn't even a real legal term. Plus: should you trust ChatGPT with this stuff? Akiko gives it to us straight. If you're pregnant, planning to be, or just want to know your rights before you need them, this one's required listening. Find Akiko with Maternity 411 on Instagram: @maternityleave411 or at maternity411.com Chapters: 00:00 – Cold open (Danielle can't get through the intro) 00:53 – Meet Akiko Thayer, founder of Maternity Leave 411 01:15 – Quick catch-up: kids, ages, and summer camp chaos 04:50 – Akiko's origin story: how a botched leave turned into a business 07:53 – Why maternity leave is so confusing (FMLA + state laws + employer policy) 09:37 – Why HR isn't always the expert you think they are 11:01 – Does Akiko work with companies, not just individuals? 13:32 – When to tell your employer you're pregnant (and why earlier can help) 16:52 – Short-term disability vs. paid family leave, decoded 21:53 – The #1 mistake: confusing job protection with getting paid 25:21 – How employer pay and state benefits work together 26:54 – Paternity leave for dads and partners is underused — here's why it matters 29:02 – Catie and Danielle share how much leave their partners actually took 33:04 – How to prep for leave: get it in writing 35:12 – Bed rest and how it eats into your FMLA weeks 38:11 – The legal terms you should actually use (hint: "maternity leave" isn't one) 40:03 – Akiko's #1 piece of advice: research, research, research 41:24 – Should you use ChatGPT for leave questions? Where it helps and where it fails 44:03 – Where to find Akiko and get her help

  3. Jun 11

    baby is here, now what? with Baby-Chick

    You've got the nursery done, the registry checked off, and the hospital bag packed — but are you actually ready? This week, Catie and Danielle sit down with Nina Spears, founder and CEO of Baby Chick, certified baby planner, birth and postpartum doula, and author of the brand-new The Baby Chick Guide to Positive Pregnancy. With 15+ years of experience supporting 800+ families and attending over 350 births, Nina has seen it all — and she's here to talk about the one thing most moms skip: preparing for becoming a mother. Nina breaks down why our culture obsesses over baby stuff but ignores the emotional, physical, and relational shifts that hit hardest after delivery. She shares what she wishes every mom knew before coming home from the hospital, how to navigate the identity crisis of returning to work, and why the most capable women often struggle the most. If you've ever looked at your baby and thought "now what?" — this episode is for you. 📖 Pre-order Nina's book and enter to win over $5,500 in prizes (Halo, Mockingbird, Coterie + more): baby-chick.com/positive-pregnancy-book Subscribe to Nina's free newsletter and explore all things pregnancy, postpartum, and early motherhood at baby-chick.com Chapters: 00:00 – Intro & Welcome 01:35 – Nina's Origin Story: How a Childless 23-Year-Old Became a Baby Expert 05:22 – "Baby's Here, Now What?" — How Unprepared Are Moms Really? 07:02 – Why Our Culture Celebrates the Baby But Forgets the Mother 10:50 – The Most Common Thing Moms Wish They Had Prepared For 13:43 – Identity Shifts, Mom Guilt, and Learning to Ask for Help 15:34 – How Baby Chick Was Built (and How Nina Vets What Gets Published) 18:39 – The Information Overload Problem — and How to Find Trustworthy Advice 21:57 – Returning to Work as a Completely Different Person 24:12 – The Emotional Reality of the Fourth Trimester (and Beyond) 27:25 – If You Want a Village, Be a Villager 29:36 – Why the Moms Who Look Like They Have It Together Often Struggle Most 30:48 – The One Thing Nina Wishes Every Mom Knew Before Baby Arrives 33:27 – About the Book + Giveaway Details

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Welcome to From 9 to Mom. Danielle & Catie are here to talk about balancing the 9-5 hustle with the beautiful chaos of motherhood. Join us as we navigate careers, parenting, and the endless love that never clocks out. No off switch here!