Make It Work

Sarah Wong
  • 0.0 (0)
  • PARENTING
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

𝘜𝘱𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦: 𝘌𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘴 𝘐 𝘦n𝘫𝘰𝘺 𝘮𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘸𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘯 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘶𝘱 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘐𝘎 @𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬.𝘱𝘰𝘥𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵! I'm Sarah, a working mom of three 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦🇸🇬† If you're seeking work-life balance inspiration or wondered, "Can you have it all?", this podcast is for you. Join me every other Wednesday as I uncover stories of modern moms in Asia redefining success at work, home, and everything in between. Follow along and let's Make It Work together! 💪 All other links 👉🏻 https://linktr.ee/makeitwork.podcast

  1. Millennial vs. Gen X Motherhood: A Conversation with My Mom | Ep 39

    1D AGO

    Millennial vs. Gen X Motherhood: A Conversation with My Mom | Ep 39

    In this special Mother's Day episode, I sit down with the OG of Make It Work: the woman who shaped me to uncover stories we’ve never actually talked about and how she ‘made it work’ as a working mom for our family of 5 back in the 90s. We dive into the hilarious, honest clash between Gen X and millennial "gentle parenting," where she shares her unfiltered take on my modern motherhood choices. We also unpack emotional childhood moments—including a surprising memory I had completely forgotten and remembered very differently! In a very personal and heartwarming conversation, we explored:  🕰️ How she navigated intense workdays and early motherhood (and why she refuses to use the word "burnout")  🤯 The hilarious generational divide over how millennial parents approach things—from assessing danger to baby-led weaning  💡 How we remembered the exact same core childhood memory entirely differently  🤝 The secret to our strong relationship today  🌟 How she survived the darkest tunnels of marriage and motherhood  🙋🏻‍♀️ Her answers to questions that listeners sent through! Whether you are navigating generational differences with your own parents (or children!) or just trying to survive the daily juggle, I think this episode will hit home for many of us. —------------------------- Chapters: 00:00 - Is It Burnout or Just Motherhood? 01:28 - OG of Make It Work 03:51 - When Ambition Meets Early Motherhood 07:49 - The Quiet Hard Parts of Marriage 19:14 - Two Generations, Two Very Different Approaches 23:57 - Growing Into Ourselves 24:51 - CCAs, Tuition, Pressure & Trying to Fit In 27:29 - What Gen X Really Thinks About Gentle Parenting  31:38 - The Memory We Remembered Completely Differently 38:37 - What Makes Us Work —------------------------- Watch more: From $2K Salary to Financial Independence: A Working Mom’s Playbook ft. SG Budget Babe: https://youtu.be/dJTtBomK9_s When You Show Up Anyway: A Mother’s Story of Loss and Leadership - Maria Li: https://youtu.be/Pwv8XfGJp9A Navigating Life's Transitions With Belief - Sarah Wong | On The Soft Power Project: https://youtu.be/H2Lb05Awnm8 —------------------------- Follow and connect with Sarah & Make It Work! ⁠https://linktr.ee/makeitwork.podcast⁠ 📷 ⁠Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/makeitwork.asia/ 💼⁠LinkedIn⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/company/make-it-work-asia-podcast/ 🎵 ⁠Facebook⁠: https://www.facebook.com/people/Make-It-Work/61566472637714/ 🍏Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/make-it-work/id1701442085 🎵Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78ulY0B27nYxGB6jPCABPI?si=abfc48d037d943be 📥⁠Email⁠: makeitwork.asia@gmail.com Join our free ⁠Mommas Making It Work whatsapp community⁠ to find a group of like-minded mommas:  https://bit.ly/MIWcommunity —------------------------------- #WorkingMoms #MillennialMotherhood #Gentleparenting #MotherhoodUnplugged #HappyMothersDay #MakeItWorkPodcast

    44 min
  2. Navigating the ‘Singapore Script’: Career Pauses, Identity, and Ambition | Huda R Ep 38

    APR 22

    Navigating the ‘Singapore Script’: Career Pauses, Identity, and Ambition | Huda R Ep 38

    What happens when the traditional career ladder meets the reality of motherhood? In this episode, I am joined by Huda R (founder of The Mum Collective and host of Mum Interrupted podcast) to unpack the reality of navigating ambition and motherhood in Singapore. Huda and I started on very similar tracks, climbing the corporate ranks before motherhood brought an unexpected forcing function to our lives. Today, we sit down to discuss how those parallel tracks diverged into different—but equally ambitious—destinations. We dive into how we are intentionally channeling our drive today: from my journey of building a portfolio career that protects my flexibility, to Huda’s path of homeschooling her kids and fostering deep connections through her Mum Circles. If you’ve ever felt torn between the career you built and the mother you want to be, this episode is your reminder that you can write your own script. In this episode which felt like two friends trading stories and comparing notes, we talked about: - The concept of "downshifting" — and why navigating a career pause is harder, not easier - Owning your decisions (and why it's okay to change your mind) - The very real tension of raising kids outside the mainstream in Singapore — enrichment classes, primary school pressure, and swimming against the tide - What "matrescence" is and why no one warned us about the internal shifts of becoming a mum - My journey from a borrowed microphone to nearly 40 episodes - Mum guilt and the mental load — what equity really looks like when both parents are working - Why community outside your usual circles can be the thing that saves you in a season of uncertainty - What a portfolio career actually looks like, and how the "wilderness period" can be reframed as an investment - Raising kids outside the structured preschool system in Singapore — what a typical day looks like for Huda - The "Singapore script" — how cultural expectations shape the way we judge ourselves and each other as mothers - How faith has deepened and shifted through the journey of becoming a mum - Finding your way back to ambition without losing the flexibility you fought hard for ----------------------------- Connect with Huda: Instagram: @themumcollective.sg Substack: https://themumcollectivesg.substack.com Resources: -The Power Pause by Neha Ruch -Two Truths newsletter -Portfolio Careers Asia -Remarkable Women group ----------------------------- 1:31 – How our podcasting journeys began 3:52 – Origins of the 'Make It Work' podcast 7:42 – Standout truths from interviewing dozens of mums 8:19 – "Downshifting" — reframing career pauses 11:56 – Owning your decisions (and changing your mind) 16:46 – How 'Mum, Interrupted' came about 18:07 – Mum guilt & the mental load 18:41 – What still feels unresolved after all these conversations 19:30 – The enrichment class pressure & primary school anxiety 23:42 – What does a "homeschool" day actually look like? 25:56 – "I'm hesitant to call it homeschooling..." 28:38 – Resources & books that helped 35:31 – The Singapore script — and questioning it 52:09 – Sarah reflects: the ambition piece 55:11 – Faith and becoming a mum 55:11 – Can we have it all? --------- Follow and connect with Sarah & Make It Work! ⁠https://linktr.ee/makeitwork.podcast⁠ 📷 ⁠Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/makeitwork.asia/ 💼⁠LinkedIn⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/company/make-it-work-asia-podcast/ 🎵 ⁠Facebook⁠: https://www.facebook.com/people/Make-It-Work/61566472637714/ 🍏Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/make-it-work/id1701442085 🎵Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78ulY0B27nYxGB6jPCABPI?si=abfc48d037d943be 📥⁠Email⁠: makeitwork.asia@gmail.com Join our free ⁠Mommas Making It Work whatsapp community⁠ to find a group of like-minded mommas:  https://bit.ly/MIWcommunity #MakeItWorkPodcast #WorkingMothers #CareerAndMotherhood #CareerTransition #PodcastForMoms

    57 min
  3. From $2K Salary to Financial Independence: A Working Mom’s Playbook ft. SG Budget Babe | Ep 37

    12/10/2025

    From $2K Salary to Financial Independence: A Working Mom’s Playbook ft. SG Budget Babe | Ep 37

    From saving $20,000 on a $2,000 salary to making work optional while raising two young boys, Dawn Fiona Cher—better known online as SG Budget Babe—has spent the last decade helping others take back control of their money and mindset. A mom, author, Director of Government Affairs , and financial educator, Dawn continues to work in both corporate and content creation—not because she has to, but because it fuels her purpose. In this episode, I sit down with Dawn to talk about what it really takes to grow your wealth while juggling motherhood, ambition, and a life you actually want to live. She shares the turning point that made her chase financial freedom harder than ever (hint: it happened mid-breastfeeding), the unglamorous truth of building a side hustle, and how she successfully negotiated for flexibility at work after proving her worth. Dawn opens up about how her own childhood struggles with money shaped her, why time-blocking (not 5AM routines) keeps her grounded, and the life lessons she’s deliberately modeling for her kids. Her practical, no-nonsense wisdom is a refreshing reminder that success isn’t about balance—it’s about clarity, discipline, and alignment. In this energizing conversation, we explored: 📈 How Dawn reached financial independence in slightly over a decade (and still works by choice) 👶 The raw truth about managing work while mothering two young kids 🧠 Why “imposter syndrome” is actually a signpost—not a dead end 🗂️ How she schedules her chaotic week using time-blocking, not rigidity 💡 What it means to be visible, credible, and irreplaceable at work ✍️ Her journey from corporate employee to trusted voice in finance—and what’s next Checkout: 💻 Dawn’s 7-Day Investing Challenge (Discount code: MIW) →https://nas.io/budgetbabe/challenges/investing-101-crash-course?discountCode=MIW 📘 Take Back Control of Your Money by Dawn Fiona Cher → https://www.amazon.sg/Take-Back-Control-Your-Money/dp/9815323075 🎤Sarah’s interview with Dawn on The Financial Coconut: I Left My Job to Care for My Family - Was It Worth It? [W&S 144] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6p3G4lZjBk&list=PLpo30qPT9yc6yAyrtqz7506sfiYaorR8Z&index=6 —----------------------------------------------- Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:07 Meet SG Budget Babe: PI, Mom, Finfluencer 02:08 From $2K Salary to Financial Freedom 05:39 How She Actually Juggles It All 13:26 The Call That Changed Everything 25:50 How She Earned Trust at Work 26:26 Are You Invisible at Work? 31:06 How She Negotiated Flexibility 34:09 The Rule Behind Her Side Hustle Growth 42:31 How She’s Raising Money-Smart Kids —----------------------------------------------- Connect with Dawn here: 👋 Website: https://sgbudgetbabe.com/ 👋 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fionacher/ 👋 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sgbudgetbabe/ Follow and connect with Sarah & Make It Work! ⁠https://linktr.ee/makeitwork.podcast⁠ 📷 ⁠Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/makeitwork.asia/ 💼⁠LinkedIn⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/company/make-it-work-asia-podcast/ 🎵 ⁠Facebook⁠: https://www.facebook.com/people/Make-It-Work/61566472637714/ 🍏Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/make-it-work/id1701442085 🎵Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78ulY0B27nYxGB6jPCABPI?si=abfc48d037d943be 📥⁠Email⁠: makeitwork.asia@gmail.com Join our free ⁠Mommas Making It Work whatsapp community⁠ to find a group of like-minded mommas:  https://bit.ly/MIWcommunity —------------------------------- #WorkingMom #FinancialFreedom #SGbudgetbabe #CareerTips #InvestingForBeginners #ProductivityForMoms #MakeItWorkPodcast #WomenWhoLead #SideHustleSuccess

    50 min
  4. Around But Not Present - A Working Mom's Honest Confession And More | Elena Chow Ep 36

    11/19/2025

    Around But Not Present - A Working Mom's Honest Confession And More | Elena Chow Ep 36

    From a 15-year career at Procter & Gamble to taking a 4 year career pause to be a stay-home-mom to building ConnectOne, a company that helps high-growth startups find and develop their teams — Elena Chow has spent decades helping others build meaningful careers, all while raising four children and navigating her own seasons of work and motherhood. In this episode, I sit down with Elena, who shares her rare honesty about the paradox of being around but not present, what “balance” really looks like in different seasons of life, and why sometimes, the bravest thing a woman can do is pause. Elena opens up about stepping away from corporate life, starting over as an entrepreneur in her 40s, and how faith, community, and purpose guided her through each transition. As a recruiter and pioneer member of the Portfolio Careers Asia group, she also shares her candid advice for mothers today — whether you’re taking a break, returning to work, or exploring a more flexible, fractional path. As a mother, founder, and mentor to many, Elena reminds us that having it all doesn’t mean doing it all — it means understanding the season you’re in, and choosing what matters most in it. In this heartfelt conversation, we explored: 💼 How Elena pivoted from corporate to entrepreneurship — and built Connect One from scratch 🧭 What it means to “fake it till you make it” with courage and humility 👩‍👧‍👧 The hardest lesson about being present as a working mom 💬 Why there’s no such thing as perfect work-life balance — only shifting seasons ✨ How women can thrive in today’s world of fractional work, portfolio careers, and flexible opportunities —----------------------------------------------- Chapters: 00:00 Debunking Work-Life Balance Myths 01:01 Introduction 03:14 How She Knew It Was Time to Leave Corporate 07:56 The Hardest Part of Being a Mom-Entrepreneur 16:08 What She Wishes She Knew Earlier 24:52 The Unexpected Way Her Kids Learned 26:25 Why Volunteering Changed Everything 27:16 The Trips That Shifted Her Family’s Worldview 31:06 The Truth About Career Pivots for Moms 42:21 The One Thing Moms Returning to Work Must Hear —----------------------------------------------- Connect with Elena here: 👋 ConnectOne: https://www.connectone.com.sg/ 👋 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenachow/ 👋 Join Portfolio Careers Asia group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14287306 Watch more: When You Show Up Anyway: A Mother’s Story of Loss and Leadership - Maria Li: https://youtu.be/Pwv8XfGJp9A Navigating Life's Transitions With Belief - Sarah Wong | On The Soft Power Project: https://youtu.be/H2Lb05Awnm8 Parenthood Across 10 Countries: The Village Every Parent  Needs - Marina Lopes: https://youtu.be/hDMbVn725uA 29 Weeks Too Soon: Motherhood, Identity, and Building Something Radically New: https://youtu.be/Yau2wLUNS5U?si=srWjlnBhnBKuqZ9o Follow and connect with Sarah & Make It Work! ⁠https://linktr.ee/makeitwork.podcast⁠ 📷 ⁠Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/makeitwork.asia/ 💼⁠LinkedIn⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/company/make-it-work-asia-podcast/ 🎵 ⁠Facebook⁠: https://www.facebook.com/people/Make-It-Work/61566472637714/ 🍏Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/make-it-work/id1701442085 🎵Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78ulY0B27nYxGB6jPCABPI?si=abfc48d037d943be 📥⁠Email⁠: makeitwork.asia@gmail.com Join our free ⁠Mommas Making It Work whatsapp community⁠ to find a group of like-minded mommas:  https://bit.ly/MIWcommunity —------------------------------- 🧡 Please share your feedback on our video conversation in the comments box👏👏 💙 Help us make quality interviews by leaving a comment #WorkingMoms #CareerTransitions #FractionalCareers #WomenInLeadership #MakeItWorkPodcast #WorkingMom #FutureOfWork

    50 min
  5. When You Show Up Anyway: A Mother’s Story of Loss and Leadership - Maria Li | Ep35

    10/29/2025

    When You Show Up Anyway: A Mother’s Story of Loss and Leadership - Maria Li | Ep35

    What happens when a tech leader, mother of two, and expat in Singapore decides to redefine what “having it all” really means? From leading one of Asia’s most prominent startup platforms through an acquisition — to navigating miscarriage, maternity, and mom guilt — Maria Li, COO of Tech in Asia, has lived through the highs and heartbreaks of making both career and motherhood work. In this episode, I sit down with Maria Li, who moved from Silicon Valley to Singapore eight years ago, expecting to stay for a year or two. But somewhere between building a company, building a family, and building a village, Singapore became home. 🇸🇬 Maria opens up about the reality behind the title — what it means to lead through loss, to parent with purpose, and to show up authentically at work when life feels anything but perfect. She shares how community support, flexible work, and honest leadership helped her find balance in the chaos. As a mother and leader, Maria is rewriting the playbook for working women everywhere — reminding us that “having it all” isn’t about doing it all, but about choosing what matters most. In this heartfelt conversation, we explored: 💼 How motherhood reshapes your leadership and priorities at work 💬 Why being authentic at work makes you a stronger, not weaker, leader 👩‍👧‍👦The tradeoffs she has had to make to prioritize family in this season 💔 How Maria navigated a miscarriage while leading her company through an acquisition ✨ Why redefining “having it all” starts with owning your trade-offs and your truth —---------------------------------------------------------------- Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:23 Meet Maria Li: COO and Mom of Two 03:05 How Singapore became home in ways she never expected. 06:46 What Maria learned about asking for help. 10:41 How becoming a mom reshaped her work — and herself. 23:27 Why stepping away might be the smartest move you make. 24:16 What employers really think about moms returning to work 27:59 How Maria learned to trade perfection for peace. 32:21 The surprising lesson her kids taught her about leadership. 37:20 The advice every ambitious woman needs to hear. —-------------------------------------------------------------- Connect with Maria here: 👋 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariasli/ 👋 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marialiiiii/ Get to know Maria Li and her work: 👉 https://share.google/AQD31CHB0ZBiPJpzZ 👉 https://share.google/tdvJ2FIGP206UK7mG 👉 https://share.google/37LILv0l0Vdj39KXd 👉 https://www.techinasia.com/video/unfiltered-maria-li-coo-tech-asia Watch more: 29 Weeks Too Soon: Motherhood, Identity, and Building Something Radically New: https://youtu.be/Yau2wLUNS5U?si=srWjlnBhnBKuqZ9o From Stay-At-Home to Single Working Mom: What Divorce Taught Me with Sherry Fang: https://youtu.be/pw6r_MizOuI?si=Ykt0wLV_YBToMWdhHow This Mom Built a Million-Dollar Brand with Zero Marketing - Cheryl Yeo: https://youtu.be/Gz0dPLB74BM?si=9OpJFlCE-AAy0rFy SME vs Big Tech: Why Small Might Be The BEST Career Move! - Louisa Lee: https://youtu.be/7pSNn8KZMZ0?si=Y2vWnNJrSvobwpdE Follow and connect with Sarah & Make It Work! ⁠https://linktr.ee/makeitwork.podcast⁠ 📷 ⁠Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/makeitwork.asia/ 💼⁠LinkedIn⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/company/make-it-work-asia-podcast/ 🎵 ⁠Facebook⁠: https://www.facebook.com/people/Make-It-Work/61566472637714/ 🍏Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/make-it-work/id1701442085 🎵Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78ulY0B27nYxGB6jPCABPI?si=abfc48d037d943be 📥⁠Email⁠: makeitwork.asia@gmail.com Join our free ⁠Mommas Making It Work whatsapp community⁠ to find a group of like-minded mommas:  https://bit.ly/MIWcommunity —------------------------------- #MakeItWorkPodcast #WomenInLeadership #WorkingMoms #WomenInTech #FemaleLeaders #WomenEmpowerment #SingaporeMoms #CareerMoms #CareerGrowth #LeadershipJourney

    44 min
  6. Navigating Life's Transitions With Belief with Sarah Wong - On The Soft Power Project | Ep34

    10/08/2025

    Navigating Life's Transitions With Belief with Sarah Wong - On The Soft Power Project | Ep34

    Working mothers, career transitions, and the power of becoming — Sarah Wong joins Sherry Fang on the Soft Power Project for an honest conversation about navigating uncertainty, motherhood, and identity. 🌱 In this special episode, the mic flips — and this time, I’m the one being interviewed. 🎙️ Sherry invited me to open up about the messy but transformative seasons of my life: moving countries while pregnant, juggling family responsibilities with career shifts, and rediscovering who I was when nothing seemed stable. These were the moments that looked like chaos on the outside — but in hindsight, they were shaping me from the inside out. And also laid the foundation for the Make It Work podcast! In this heartfelt conversation, we talk about: 👩‍👧‍👦 How becoming a mum shook up everything I thought I knew about who I was and what mattered most. 🌊 The shaping role of my faith in a season of uncertainty  💡 Why feeling “lost” can actually be the most powerful season of growth. ❤️ How I’m reshaping the way I speak to my children about who they are, not just what they’ll do. 🕊️ The surprising truth about boundaries, Sabbath, and modeling rest for the next generation. This episode is for anyone balancing career transitions, family life, and the constant juggle of being a working mom — or anyone who’s ever looked around at the chaos and wondered if it could lead to something more. If you’ve ever felt caught between roles, pulled by change, or unsure of your next step, this conversation is a reminder that you’re not alone. —------------------------------------------ Chapters:00:00 Introduction 01:58 Welcome to Soft Power Project 02:58 When Life Changes Direction 14:08 The Therapeutic Power of Podcasting 21:29 How Do You Create When Life Doesn’t Slow Down? 22:08 Why Your Wins Matter More Than You Think 23:34 Why Soft Power Matters More Than Ever 26:24 Are Your Boundaries Helping or Holding You Back? 35:12 The Next Chapter: Letting Go to Move Forward —------------------------------------------ Follow Sherry here: 👋 Executive Plus Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1xDeKFTTBH45GUbZL77V5G?si=1T26Ifd9QfaWPPnT_EFgGA 👋 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/tw/podcast/soft-power-project/id1795635125👋 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SoftPowerProject 👋 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soft_power_project 👋 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherryfang83/  Follow and connect with Sarah & Make It Work! ⁠https://linktr.ee/makeitwork.podcast⁠ 📷 ⁠Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/makeitwork.asia/ 💼⁠LinkedIn⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/company/make-it-work-asia-podcast/ 🎵 ⁠Facebook⁠: https://www.facebook.com/people/Make-It-Work/61566472637714/ 🍏Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/make-it-work/id1701442085 🎵Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78ulY0B27nYxGB6jPCABPI?si=abfc48d037d943be 📥⁠Email⁠: makeitwork.asia@gmail.com Join our free ⁠Mommas Making It Work whatsapp community⁠:  https://bit.ly/MIWcommunity —------------------------------- #MakeItWorkPodcast #TheSoftPowerProject #WorkingMoms #MotherhoodJourney #CareerTransitions #Identity #WomenInLeadership #WorkLifeBalance #Resilience #PersonalGrowth #MotherhoodUnfiltered #PodcastGuest #FutureOfWork #Inspiration From Stay-At-Home to Single Working Mom: What Divorce Taught Me (That I Never Saw Coming): https://youtu.be/pw6r_MizOuI?si=tjv3ApPNuKX5B3E5Parenthood Across 10 Countries: The Village Every Parent Needs - Marina Lopes: https://youtu.be/hDMbVn725uA?si=rOV7qljsePBkfWKZ29 Weeks Too Soon: Motherhood, Identity, and Building Something Radically New - Luanne Poh: https://youtu.be/Yau2wLUNS5U?si=KVPYE4CBI9IQPBjd

    40 min
  7. Parenthood Across 10 Countries: The Village Every Parent Needs - Marina Lopes | Ep33

    09/24/2025

    Parenthood Across 10 Countries: The Village Every Parent Needs - Marina Lopes | Ep33

    What happens when a journalist travels to 10 different countries, across cultures and continents, to gather the best lessons about parenting? From the way Swedish parents share the mental load, to the way Brazilian grandmothers descend on a new mother’s hospital room, to the way Mozambican villages raise children as a community — each culture holds a piece of wisdom that challenges how we think about raising the next generation. In this episode, I sit down with Marina Lopes — longtime journalist, foreign correspondent for The Washington Post, and most recently the author of Please Yell At My Kids. In her book, Marina does just that: capturing stories and insights from around the world to reframe how we think about parenting and community. For Marina, this journey began with her own contrasting experiences: an emergency C-section in Brazil, surrounded by forty relatives and neighbors in the hospital room… and later, the complete isolation of raising her second baby during COVID in the United States. 🌍💔 As a Brazilian-American married to an Asian-American diplomat, Marina has witnessed how families around the world nurture children, share responsibility, and create belonging. Her book reminds us that parenting was never meant to be done alone — and that building our “village” may be the most important parenting skill of all. In this intimate conversation, we explored: 👶 Why the “rosy” picture of motherhood can leave first-time moms feeling broken 🌍 What cultures from Brazil to Mozambique can teach us about raising children together 💡 How to split the “mental load” in marriage without resentment 🤱 Why your second child can sometimes heal the traumas of the first 💛 Why building your “village” might be the most important parenting skill of all —------------------------- Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:24 Welcome to Make It Work 03:12 Covering Headlines While Navigating Home Life 06:03 Motherhood Struggles No One Talks About 13:25 What Parenting Across 10 Countries Taught Me 26:13 Why Moms Get Stuck in the Cycle of Frustration 27:23 Marriage Isn’t 50/50 — So What Works Instead? 29:13 Is Modern Life Killing Our Sense of Community? 37:51 Working Mom or Just Mom? The Identity Tug-of-War 48:25 Why Parents Can’t Survive Without a Village —----------------------------------- Connect with Marina here: 👋 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marinalopes1/ 👋 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marinalopesauthor/ 👋Purchase Book ‘Please Yell At My Kids’: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/marina-lopes/please-yell-at-my-kids/9780306834417/?fbclid=PAT01DUANAssdleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABp63kJM3AhmsWu96m7Y6kf4eAaOxsqIUe6gauPOSkRvyry4jrZLv_OVfU_rlV_aem_7Zz03NqkzG-UImCA6Y03pw Follow and connect with Sarah & Make It Work! ⁠https://linktr.ee/makeitwork.podcast⁠ 📷 ⁠Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/makeitwork.asia/ 💼⁠LinkedIn⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/company/make-it-work-asia-podcast/ 🎵 ⁠Facebook⁠: https://www.facebook.com/people/Make-It-Work/61566472637714/ 🍏Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/make-it-work/id1701442085 🎵Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78ulY0B27nYxGB6jPCABPI?si=abfc48d037d943be 📥⁠Email⁠: makeitwork.asia@gmail.com Join our free ⁠Mommas Making It Work whatsapp community⁠ to find a group of like-minded mommas:  https://bit.ly/MIWcommunity —------------------------------- Stay tuned to our channel for more 🌟 ➤ Thank you for your support!🧡💙 #MillennialParents #MotherhoodUnfiltered #ParentingCommunity #MotherhoodJourney #WorkingMoms #ParentingRealTalk #WorkLifeBalance #MotherhoodTruths #MotherhoodStories #MakeItWorkPodcast #ModernMotherhood

    51 min
  8. 29 Weeks Too Soon: Motherhood, Identity, and Building Something Radically New - Luanne Poh | Ep32

    09/03/2025

    29 Weeks Too Soon: Motherhood, Identity, and Building Something Radically New - Luanne Poh | Ep32

    A pregnancy loss after a long journey of fertility struggles. And then her twins were born at just 29 weeks. And all this whilst building Singapore’s first of its kind artspace for children.  Luanne Poh, co-founder of The Artground in Singapore and mom to twin girls, has lived through the quiet struggles that many working mothers never speak aloud. For years, she juggled a high-pressure career in the arts at the Esplanade 🎭 while enduring the heartbreak of fertility challenges. A single pink line on a test changed everything—forcing her to confront the question: Was the way she was working destroying her dreams of building her own family? Leaving behind a decade-long career, Luanne stepped into the unknown - eventually co-founding Singapore’s first multidisciplinary children’s arts center and embracing a different kind of leadership: one shaped by motherhood, creativity, and resilience. All while parenting premature babies born at 29 weeks. If you’re juggling the balance between ambition, identity, and parenting, this episode is for you.  In this intimate conversation, we explored: 👩‍👧‍👧 What if you’ve only been a mom for as long as your child has been alive? 💔 How do you navigate the guilt, anger, and heartbreak of fertility struggles? ⚖️ Can you really walk away from a dream career for the chance at motherhood? 😰 Why does parenting feel more precious—and yet more pressurizing—than ever before? 🎨 How can creativity and art become bridges between parents and children? —---------------------------------------------------------------- Chapters: 00:00 “Mommy, you’ve only been a mom for 6 years” 01:30 Welcome to Make It Work 04:39 What happened after that pink line? 08:26 Why we started The Artground (and what it means to families) 14:58 How do you parent with love and limits? 24:01 Screen time rules: what works (and what doesn’t) 26:02 The unexpected rule that replaced screen time 30:15 What balance really looks like behind closed doors 33:47 Parenting preemies: the hardest and most precious lessons 39:26 The secret every flexible mom knows —---------------------------------------------------------------- Connect with Luanne here: 👋 Website: https://www.theartground.com.sg 👋 The Artground Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theartground/ ------------------------------------------------------------------ Follow and connect with Sarah & Make It Work! ⁠https://linktr.ee/makeitwork.podcast⁠ 📷 ⁠Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/makeitwork.asia/ 💼⁠LinkedIn⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/company/make-it-work-asia-podcast/ 🎵 ⁠Facebook⁠: https://www.facebook.com/people/Make-It-Work/61566472637714/ 🍏Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/make-it-work/id1701442085 🎵Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/78ulY0B27nYxGB6jPCABPI?si=abfc48d037d943be 📥⁠Email⁠: makeitwork.asia@gmail.com Join our free ⁠Mommas Making It Work whatsapp community⁠ to find a group of like-minded mommas:  https://bit.ly/MIWcommunity —------------------------------- Stay tuned to our channel for more 🌟 ➤ Thank you for your support!🧡💙#MillennialParents #FertilityStruggles #MotherhoodJourney #WorkingMoms #ParentingRealTalk #WorkLifeBalance #MotherhoodTruths #ParentingCommunity #MakeItWorkPodcast #FertilityJourney

    47 min
See All (48)

Trailer

About

𝘜𝘱𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦: 𝘌𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘴 𝘐 𝘦n𝘫𝘰𝘺 𝘮𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘸𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘯 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘶𝘱 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘐𝘎 @𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬.𝘱𝘰𝘥𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵! I'm Sarah, a working mom of three 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦🇸🇬† If you're seeking work-life balance inspiration or wondered, "Can you have it all?", this podcast is for you. Join me every other Wednesday as I uncover stories of modern moms in Asia redefining success at work, home, and everything in between. Follow along and let's Make It Work together! 💪 All other links 👉🏻 https://linktr.ee/makeitwork.podcast

Information

  • Creator
    Sarah Wong
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    48
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Sarah Wong
  • Show Website
    Make It Work