Rewritten: Real Talk for Working Moms Who Want It All

Jess Wass and Teresa Sweeney
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Working mothers are constantly handed a choice: serious career or present mother. Ambition or family. Push harder or burn out. Rewritten rejects that framing entirely. Hosted by longtime friends Jess Wass and Teresa Sweeney, two successful working mothers who started in the same place and took very different paths, Rewritten is real, specific conversations about building a life on your own terms. Because the question was never which half of yourself to sacrifice. It was always: what does your version of a full life look like?

Episodes

  1. Sep 2

    Ep 107 - Why Is Money Still Taboo for Women?

    Money is one of the last real taboos for women, and Jess and Teresa spend this entire episode breaking it open. From their earliest memories with money growing up, to the financial mistakes they've each made along the way, to the exact scripts they use to negotiate compensation today, this episode is a masterclass in financial literacy wrapped inside an honest, personal conversation. They get into why women are taught to be uncomfortable talking about money, how that discomfort costs real dollars over a career, and what changes the moment you decide information is power instead of something impolite to ask for. From maxing out your 401k to understanding vesting schedules to knowing exactly what to say (and when to stop talking) in a negotiation, this episode is packed with tactical advice you can use immediately. The through line: financial literacy is not optional, and neither is talking about it. The more women stay quiet about what they make, what they're worth, and what they've learned the hard way, the longer the gap stays exactly where it is. Why money is still a taboo topic for women specifically, and where that discomfort actually comes from The compounding interest lesson from a college finance class that changed how both Jess and Teresa save Why you should only trust the salary in writing today, never the promise of a raise tomorrow The truth about startup equity: vesting schedules, double triggers, and why founders oversell the dream How to anchor a salary negotiation at the right number, and why saying too little costs you more than you think The negotiation tactic Teresa swears by: state your number, then stop talking Why asking your girlfriends what they make is one of the most powerful things you can do for your career Stay connected: Never miss an episode — sign up for the Rewritten newsletter to get new episodes, behind-the-scenes updates, and resources delivered straight to your inbox: reworkit.kit.com/rewritten Connect with Jess Wass: jesswass.com Connect with Teresa Sweeney: teresasweeney.com

  2. Aug 19

    Ep 106 - Why Aren't You Getting Promoted?

    Every working mom has felt it at some point. You're doing good work. You're showing up. You're delivering. And somehow, the promotion still isn't happening. The recognition still isn't coming. And you can't quite put your finger on why. In this episode, Jess and Teresa go there. They talk about what actually gets in the way of women advancing their careers and they don't let the system off the hook while doing it. Because yes, there are things you can do as an individual to accelerate your career. And also, there is real, documented gender bias in the workplace that makes it harder for women, and especially mothers, to move up. Both things are true and both deserve airtime. Jess brings her unconscious bias and managing up expertise to the table. Teresa brings two decades of navigating some of the most old-school institutions in finance. Together they unpack the motherhood penalty, the self-promotion double standard, the difference between a mentor and a sponsor, and why your work does not speak for itself — you do. This one is practical, honest, and a little uncomfortable in the best way. In this episode: The real reason women get passed over for promotions — and why it's not just about performance The motherhood penalty: what the research actually says and how it showed up in both Jess and Teresa's careers Why your work does not speak for itself — and what to do instead The difference between a mentor and a sponsor, and which one you actually need to move up How promotions really work in most organizations (hint: it's nothing like what you saw on TV) Why switching teams can accelerate your career faster than waiting for your current manager to notice you What working moms in leadership positions can do right now to support the women coming up behind them Stay connected: Never miss an episode — sign up for the Rewritten newsletter to get new episodes, behind-the-scenes updates, and resources delivered straight to your inbox: reworkit.kit.com/rewritten-waitlist Connect with Jess Wass: jesswass.com Connect with Teresa Sweeney: teresasweeney.com

  3. Aug 5

    Ep 105 - Are You Ambitious or Just Busy?

    Jess and Teresa are back, and before they even hit record they're already deep in it, talking about the school event calendar that somehow has five parent appearances in two weeks, including a bird project presentation that Jess is adamant Teresa doesn’t need to go to. This episode is about ambition. Not whether working moms still have it after kids (they do), but where it goes, what it gets spent on, and whether the way you're using yours actually lines up with what you care about. Because if you're burning your energy on elaborate birthday party goody bags, international day master chef moments, and showing up to every single classroom event out of guilt rather than desire, you might have a lot going on. But that's not the same thing as being ambitious. Jess and Teresa talk about how their relationship with ambition has shifted since becoming mothers. It’s moved away from titles and salary benchmarks and toward impact, fulfillment, and a life that actually feels good to be inside. They get into the Yale happiness research, what a house in the Catskills taught Teresa about what she actually needs, and why Jess would move out of New York before she'd give up work she loves. The through line: becoming a mom doesn't kill your ambition. It strips away the ambition that was never really yours to begin with. In this episode: The bird project presentation — why Teresa is not going, and why that is the right call Why social comparison theory explains the birthday party arms race better than any parenting book The Yale happiness research on money and happiness, and what the data actually says about income and fulfillment How Teresa went from renting a house in the Hamptons to renting a house in the Catskills and realizing that was exactly what she needed Jess's framework for time boxing party planning, school event decisions, and anything else that threatens to take more than it's worth Why ambition after kids isn't less, it's just finally aimed at the right things What both Jess and Teresa want their daughters to see when they watch them work Never miss an episode — sign up for the Rewritten newsletter to get new episodes, behind-the-scenes updates, and resources delivered straight to your inbox: reworkit.kit.com/rewritten-waitlist Connect with Jess Wass: jesswass.com Connect with Teresa Sweeney: teresasweeney.com Resources From the Episode Dan Martell's Book “Buy Back Your Time” - https://bookshop.org/p/books/buy-back-your-time-get-unstuck-reclaim-your-freedom-and-build-your-empire-dan-martell/528eb346d9aab1fa?ean=9780593422977&next=t  Rachel Feintzeig’s Article in The New York Times - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/12/opinion/parenting-kids-burn-out.html?unlocked_article_code=1.elA.-MYD.XlvuHYPSkyax&smid=url-share  Yale Happiness Course - https://online.yale.edu/courses/science-well-being  Ramit Sethi’s Rich Life - https://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/how-to-live-a-rich-life/

  4. Jul 22

    Ep 104 - Why Can’t You Let Yourself Rest?

    Jess and Teresa are back for part two of their energy conversation, and this one gets personal fast. If part one was about fueling your body, part two is about something harder: actually letting yourself stop. Because most high-achieving working moms know, at least intellectually, that they need rest. The problem isn't information. It's permission. The permission to block the lunch hour. To watch four hours of reality TV on a Sunday afternoon without guilt. To build a day off that is actually a day off, not just a chore day in disguise. Jess and Teresa get specific about what refilling your cup actually looks like for each of them, and why it took longer than it should have to figure that out. They talk sleep, they talk mindset, they talk about the 4am phone call Teresa once got from a partner. And they get into something bigger: the culture that created all of this, what Gen Z is doing about it, and why the women who climbed the ladder have a responsibility not to pull it up behind them. The through line is simple and a little uncomfortable: rest is not a reward you earn after the work is done. It is part of the work. And until you treat it that way, you will always be running on empty. In this episode: Why Jess read sleep training books while pregnant — and why she thinks you should too The French concept of "La Pause" and how Teresa used it to get both kids sleeping through the night by five months What happened when Teresa's daughter stopped sleeping and they called the pediatrician in a panic at wit's end Why being sleep deprived is the equivalent of showing up to work drunk — and why we have policies for one but not the other Jess's noon rule: what it is, why she created it, and why it changed how her days off actually feel The athlete analogy that reframes rest as training, not laziness Why Gen Z refusing to grind themselves into the ground is not a generational flaw — it's progress The 4am phone call and what it says about urgency culture Never miss an episode — sign up for the Rewritten newsletter to get new episodes, behind-the-scenes updates, and resources delivered straight to your inbox: reworkit.kit.com/rewritten-waitlist Connect with Jess Wass: jesswass.com Connect with Teresa Sweeney: teresasweeney.com Chapters 00:00 Navigating Sleep Challenges as New Parents 12:05 Understanding Sleep Training Methods 17:48 The Importance of Sleep for Parents and Children 23:52 The Impact of Sleep Deprivation on Work Culture 24:50 Systematic Issues in Work Environments 26:13 Finding Balance in Work and Life 26:49 Refilling Your Cup: Self-Care Practices 28:22 Intentionality in Daily Life 33:52 The Importance of Rest and Recovery 37:09 Protecting Your Energy as a Working Parent 39:44 Challenging Traditional Work Norms 45:14 Creating a Better Work Environment

  5. Jul 8

    Ep 103 - What Is Your Body Telling You?

    We all know we're supposed to "take care of ourselves." But what does that actually look like when you're a working mom juggling a career, a family, and approximately zero spare time? In this episode, Jess and Teresa get specific. Not about the ideal morning routine you're never going to do, but about the real, messy, personal journeys that led each of them to finally figure out how to fuel themselves — and what that made possible. Teresa shares how growing up on a standard American diet of processed food and diet culture fads left her feeling awful in ways she didn't even recognize — until she found a different way. Jess opens up about living with a debilitating digestive disorder for her entire adult life that dictated what she ate, when she ate, who she could go on dates with, and what she packed in her suitcase on work trips to Monaco. And then, unexpectedly, it disappeared. Her explanation for why will make you rethink what your own body might be trying to tell you. This episode covers the core building blocks of energy, with a focus on food and movement — the next episode dives deeper into sleep and mindset. But the through line is something bigger: learning to listen to yourself instead of pushing through, and noticing what you've tacitly accepted as just "the way things are." In this episode: Why Teresa went from Fruity Pebbles and Slim-Fast bars to a whole food, plant-forward diet — and what it actually changed beyond her weight The digestive disorder Jess managed (and then lost) — and the surprising reason she thinks it resolved Why "picky eater" and "big boned" are more than just labels — and how the stories we tell ourselves keep us stuck The four pillars Teresa credits with sustaining her energy: food, movement, sleep, and mindset Why Jess's coaching clients are only allowed to work out once a week to start (and why it works) How to structure your calendar around your energy instead of against it The difference between an e-bike up a hill and no gears up a hill — and which one you're choosing right now Key Questions to Ask Yourself: How do I feel coming out of each work activity?  What makes me feel energized, drained?  When in the day do I feel most energized?  When do I have the best ability to focus? Never miss an episode — sign up for the Rewritten newsletter to get new episodes, behind-the-scenes updates, and resources delivered straight to your inbox: reworkit.kit.com/rewritten-waitlist Connect with Jess Wass: jesswass.com Connect with Teresa Sweeney: teresasweeney.com Resources Mentioned The China Study by Colin Campbell - https://www.amazon.com/China-Study-Comprehensive-Nutrition-Implications/dp/1941631568  Atomic Habits by James Clear - https://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Habits-Proven-Build-Belief/dp/0735211299  Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg - https://www.amazon.com/Power-Habits-What-Life-Business/dp/081298160X  My Body Tutor by Adam Gilbert - https://mybodytutor.com  Peloton (for movement classes) - https://www.onepeloton.com  Pvolve (on-demand workouts) - https://www.pvolve.com/ Chapters 00:00 The Energy Conversation Begins 03:28 Personal Journeys with Food and Health 06:16 The Impact of Diet on Mental and Physical Health 09:13 Listening to Your Body: Recognizing Signals 11:52 The Role of Labels and Identity in Health 14:37 Overcoming Dietary Restrictions and Challenges 17:15 The Connection Between Stress and Physical Health 19:47 Empowerment Through Self-Discovery 22:24 Movement vs. Exercise: A Shift in Mindset 25:08 Generating Energy Through Positive Actions 26:53 Celebrating Small Wins in Fitness 29:07 Finding the Right Exercise for You 32:19 The Importance of Community in Fitness 35:41 Timing Your Workouts for Maximum Energy 48:41 Listening to Your Body and Energy Levels

  6. Jun 24

    Ep 102 - How Do You Define Success?

    Jess and Teresa have both built careers that look like success from the outside. But somewhere along the way, each of them started asking a harder question: successful by whose definition? In this episode, they get honest about how their ideas of success have shifted over the years, what they've had to let go of to make room for what actually matters, and why chasing the next milestone is a game that never ends. The conversation moves from boardrooms to baby schedules, from private equity aspirations to the moment Jess realized she'd move to a small town in the middle of nowhere if it meant keeping the work that lights her up. In this episode: The senior banker who got to the top and wished he'd spent more time with his kids — and why Teresa never forgot the look on his face Why Jess spent most of her twenties assuming she just wouldn't have kids, and the two things that changed her mind The moment Jess realized she'd move out of Brooklyn to keep doing work that fills her up Why Teresa's definition of success shifted from making partner to something she saw in the women who looked genuinely happy, not haggard The Fair Play Method: what it is, why Jess recommends it to clients, and why her daughter now uses the cards as toys How to tell the difference between fake urgency and real urgency, and why most of what consumes your time is the former The "if I died tomorrow" question Jess uses to make decisions, and why it's more useful than any five-year plan Never miss an episode — sign up for the Rewritten newsletter to get new episodes, behind-the-scenes updates, and resources delivered straight to your inbox: reworkit.kit.com/rewritten-waitlist Connect with Jess Wass: jesswass.com Connect with Teresa Sweeney: teresasweeney.com Resources Mentioned In Episode Fair Play by Eve Rodsky - https://www.fairplaylife.com/  Chapters 00:00 Defining Success on Our Own Terms 09:07 Navigating Work-Life Balance 17:35 The Role of Partnership in Parenting 23:20 Consumerism and Parenting Choices 24:25 Redefining Success and Parenting 26:23 Finding Meaning in Work and Life Choices 29:05 Intentional Living and Making Trade-offs 31:14 The Power of Choice and Future Reflection 32:44 Living in the Present vs. Planning for the Future 37:41 Balancing Urgency and Importance in Daily Life 40:00 Looking Forward and Appreciating the Now

  7. Jun 23

    Ep 101 - How Did We Get Here?

    Every conversation has a starting point. For Jess and Teresa, it's a scholarship interview weekend bus ride at Washington University in St. Louis — two women who would go on to build very different careers, end up in very different versions of success, and somehow stay friends for over 20 years through all of it. This is the origin story. Why they started Rewritten, how they met, and what their paths looked like from a business school hallway in St. Louis to where they are now. Jess built her own coaching and leadership development business after leaving corporate, finally free from asking anyone's permission. Teresa carved her path inside some of the most old-school institutions in finance and corporate life, and figured out how to make it work on her own terms without blowing the whole thing up. They are not the same person. That's the point. Because there is no one right way to build a career you're proud of, a family that works, and a life that actually feels like yours. And the whole reason this podcast exists is to show you more than one version of what that can look like — and to be honest about the cost, the trade-offs, and the moments where nothing felt figured out at all. This episode is where it all starts. Pull up a chair. In this episode: Why two already overscheduled working moms decided to add a podcast to their plates — and what they hope it does for you How Jess and Teresa first met and the generous act Jess forgot about The career trajectories that took them from the same starting point to completely different destinations — and why both worked The moment Teresa stopped waiting for permission and realized her life was hers to create Why Jess left corporate entirely — and what being a Black woman in those environments had to do with that decision The role mentorship and community played in both of their careers, and why they want to pay that forward What Rewritten is really about: not having it all, but having what actually matters to you Never miss an episode — sign up for the Rewritten newsletter to get new episodes, behind-the-scenes updates, and resources delivered straight to your inbox: reworkit.kit.com/rewritten-waitlist Connect with Jess Wass: jesswass.com Connect with Teresa Sweeney: teresasweeney.com Resources Mentioned in Episode Bringing Up Bebe by Pamela Druckerman - https://bookshop.org/p/books/bringing-up-b-b-one-american-mother-discovers-the-wisdom-of-french-parenting-pamela-druckerman/5c6559b3e282ff61?ean=9780143122968&next=t  Maven Milk Breastfeeding Support - https://www.mavenclinic.com/maven-milk  Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Rewritten Podcast 03:19 The Motivation Behind Starting a Podcast 06:15 Navigating Career Changes as Women 08:49 The Importance of Mentorship and Community 11:49 Defining Success on Your Own Terms 14:50 The Journey of Self-Discovery in Careers 17:18 Embracing Change and Taking Risks 20:21 Reflecting on Career Paths and Lessons Learned 21:44 Embracing Unique Experiences 23:08 Navigating Motherhood and Work-Life Balance 24:47 Empowerment in Career Choices 27:42 Defining Personal Success 29:01 Creating Family Values and Routines 31:42 The Importance of Self-Care for Parents 34:29 Finding Happiness and Success 37:47 Diverse Paths to Fulfillment

  • 7 Episodes

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About

Working mothers are constantly handed a choice: serious career or present mother. Ambition or family. Push harder or burn out. Rewritten rejects that framing entirely. Hosted by longtime friends Jess Wass and Teresa Sweeney, two successful working mothers who started in the same place and took very different paths, Rewritten is real, specific conversations about building a life on your own terms. Because the question was never which half of yourself to sacrifice. It was always: what does your version of a full life look like?

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