The Back To Work Plan for Postpartum Moms

Dr. Ashley Carroll-Brown
  • 5.0 (3)
  • CAREERS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

This podcast is for the working mom who does not want to choose between her baby and her career goals. Dr. Ashley Carroll-Brown is a licensed psychologist and mama herself who will teach you the emotional and mindset tools you need to get back to work successfully, how to create systems that work in your real day to day life, and the importance of support because no mama can do this alone. If you want to be both present with your baby and be successful in your career maintaining your income, this show is for you. Visit theworkingmama.net for more information.

  1. MAR 30

    21. Entrepreneur Like a Mother: Redefining Career and Financial Freedom with Beth Mazza

    Motherhood has a way of shifting everything—your priorities, your identity, and often, how you view your career. In this episode of The Back to Work Plan for Postpartum Moms, Dr. Ashley Carroll sits down with Beth Mazza, serial entrepreneur, speaker, and co-founder of Female Mavericks. With decades of experience building and scaling successful businesses, Beth now helps women create financial independence and design careers that align with their lives—not compete with them. Together, they explore what it really looks like to rethink work after becoming a mother, including: • How motherhood reshapes your identity and career goals • Beth’s journey building businesses while raising a family • The challenges women face in traditional corporate environments after having children • Why many moms begin to consider entrepreneurship • The mission behind Female Mavericks and supporting women in business • Common myths about starting a business • How motherhood builds skills that translate into entrepreneurship • What financial freedom actually looks like for women and families • Mindset shifts needed to move from employee to entrepreneur Whether you’re returning to work, questioning your current path, or curious about building something of your own, this episode will challenge you to think differently about what’s possible. 🎧 Listen now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

    44 min

  2. MAR 23

    20. Breaking the Stigma: Psychiatric Medication for Postpartum Depression & Anxiety with Dr. Jasmine Stephens

    Postpartum depression and anxiety are more common than many women realize—yet conversations around treatment, especially psychiatric medication, are often filled with fear, guilt, and stigma. In this episode of The Back to Work Plan for Postpartum Moms, Dr. Ashley Carroll is joined by Dr. Jasmine Stephens, a board-certified psychiatrist specializing in women’s reproductive mental health. With extensive training at Baylor College of Medicine and leadership experience at UT Southwestern, Dr. Stephens brings both clinical expertise and deep compassion to this important conversation. Together, they unpack what every mother deserves to understand about mental health during pregnancy and postpartum, including: • The difference between normal adjustment and postpartum depression or anxiety • Common symptoms and when to seek professional support • Why stigma around maternal mental health and medication still exists • The most common fears women have about psychiatric medication • How medication decisions are made during pregnancy and postpartum • The risks of untreated depression and anxiety for both mom and baby • What to know about medication and breastfeeding • How to navigate guilt, fear, and uncertainty when considering treatment • How partners and families can better support mothers This episode is both educational and reassuring—designed to help you feel informed, empowered, and supported in making the best decisions for your mental health. If you’ve been struggling in silence or feeling unsure about your options, this conversation is a reminder that help is available—and you are not alone. 🎧 Listen now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

    37 min

  3. MAR 16

    19. Preparing for Maternity Leave: A Chat with Alexa Starks - Maternity Leave Coach

    Returning to work after maternity leave can bring a mix of emotions—excitement, guilt, uncertainty, and pressure to quickly find your footing again. In this episode of The Back to Work Plan for Postpartum Moms, Dr. Ashley Carroll sits down with Alexa Starks, founder of Executive Moms, editor-in-chief of Mothered Magazine, maternity leave coach, author, speaker, and award-winning workplace culture innovator. Alexa is on a mission to redesign working motherhood by helping women prepare intentionally for maternity leave and return to work with clarity and confidence. As a mom of two toddlers herself, she brings both professional expertise and personal insight to the conversation. Together, Dr. Ashley and Alexa explore: • The story behind Executive Moms and what inspired Alexa’s mission • What “redesigning working motherhood” really means • Lessons from Alexa’s own maternity leave experience • The biggest mistakes women make when preparing for leave • How early you should begin planning and advocating with your manager • The emotional side of maternity leave—including identity shifts, career ambivalence, and managing guilt • What to do 3–4 weeks before returning to work • Setting boundaries and creating realistic expectations during the first months back • Redefining success as a working mother • What companies still get wrong about supporting new moms—and what great workplaces are doing differently Whether you’re preparing for maternity leave, currently on leave, or getting ready to return to work, this episode offers practical guidance and powerful reassurance that you don’t have to navigate this transition alone.

    40 min

  4. JAN 19

    18. Staying Connected to Yourself While Balancing Work and Motherhood

    When life feels full but you feel distant from yourself, this episode is for you. In Episode 18, Dr. Ashley Carroll-Brown explores why so many working moms feel disconnected from their own needs, emotions, and inner voice — even when they’re doing everything “right.” You’ll learn the psychology behind self-disconnection in motherhood, how it impacts confidence and wellbeing, and practical ways to reconnect with yourself without adding more to your already full plate. This episode offers reassurance, clarity, and tools to help you feel grounded, present, and like you again.

    11 min

  5. 12/29/2025

    17. Managing a Career Transition During Motherhood — A Conversation with Dr. Mila Thomas Fuller

    In this episode of The Back to Work Plan for Postpartum Moms, Dr. Ashley Carroll-Brown sits down with Dr. Mila Thomas Fuller, business owner and multi-unit franchisee of Nothing Bundt Cakes, for an honest and encouraging conversation about navigating career transitions during motherhood. Together, they explore what it means to evolve professionally after becoming a mother, how identity shifts can prompt bold career changes, and the emotional challenges that come with stepping into entrepreneurship while raising a family. Dr. Fuller shares her journey of balancing ambition, leadership, and motherhood while building a successful multi-unit business, offering reassurance to working moms who feel restless, uncertain, or called toward something new. If motherhood has made you rethink your career path or dream about a different version of success, this episode will remind you that growth, change, and fulfillment can coexist with being a devoted mom.

    32 min

  6. 12/17/2025

    16. The Emotional Reset Every Working Mom Needs

    When every day feels emotionally heavy — like you’re carrying stress from work straight into motherhood and never fully resetting — this episode is for you. Dr. Ashley Carroll-Brown explores why working moms stay emotionally “on edge,” how stress accumulates across roles, and why rest alone isn’t enough to restore calm. You’ll learn the psychology behind emotional overload, simple ways to reset your nervous system, and how to create daily emotional transitions that help you feel more present, grounded, and like yourself again.

    11 min

  7. 12/02/2025

    15. How to Stop Second-Guessing Yourself and Start Trusting Your Decisions

    If you constantly doubt yourself, replay conversations in your head, or worry you’re making the “wrong” choice — you’re not alone. Postpartum women experience a major spike in self-doubt due to hormonal shifts, identity changes, and the pressure to balance motherhood with career demands. In this episode, Dr. Ashley Carroll-Brown breaks down why second-guessing becomes so intense after baby, and how to rebuild trust in your own judgment using practical, psychology-backed tools. You’ll learn how to quiet the mental noise, make decisions with confidence, and finally feel grounded again in who you are and what you know.

    11 min

  8. 11/17/2025

    14. A Conversation with Actress Tatyana Ali and How She Balances Motherhood and Career

    In this special episode, Dr. Ashley Carroll-Brown sits down with actress, artist, and advocate Tatyana Ali for a deeply honest conversation about becoming a mother while navigating a demanding career. Tatyana opens up about her postpartum experience, what surprised her most about life after baby, and how she learned to balance ambition with presence. Together, they explore the emotional shifts of new motherhood, the power of community, and what it really looks like to return to work while raising little ones. Whether you grew up watching her on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air or you’re meeting her for the first time, Tatyana’s wisdom, vulnerability, and warmth will leave you encouraged and seen as a working mom trying to hold both your baby and your dreams.

    40 min
See All (21)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

This podcast is for the working mom who does not want to choose between her baby and her career goals. Dr. Ashley Carroll-Brown is a licensed psychologist and mama herself who will teach you the emotional and mindset tools you need to get back to work successfully, how to create systems that work in your real day to day life, and the importance of support because no mama can do this alone. If you want to be both present with your baby and be successful in your career maintaining your income, this show is for you. Visit theworkingmama.net for more information.

Information