The Breadwinners Podcast

Alexis Contos
  • 5.0 (10)
  • CAREERS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

They say you can't have it all — that mothers must choose between ambition and presence. But what if we're asking the wrong question? On The Breadwinners Podcast, Alexis Contos redefines what it means to be a Breadwinner in modern culture, moving it far beyond the paycheck. Through raw, honest conversations with women like Morgan Zanotti (CEO of Primal Kitchen), Nicole Trunfio (CEO of Bumpsuit), and Eve Rodsky (Author of Fair Play & Find Your Unicorn Space), we explore what it really takes to bring financial richness, emotional richness, and systemic change to our families. This isn't about balance, it's about integration. Not perfection, but wholeness. Whether you're already navigating motherhood and career, building your empire before kids arrive, or reimagining what family leadership looks like, these conversations will challenge everything you've been told about what's possible. The Breadwinners: Where ambitious mothers aren't just earning a living, they're pioneering a new era for themselves, and everyone who comes next. Learn more at thebreadwinners.co.

  1. EP. 14 | Devon McDonald on the Secrets Successful Women Keep: Burnout, Mom Shame, & Rebuilding with Intention

    14H AGO

    EP. 14 | Devon McDonald on the Secrets Successful Women Keep: Burnout, Mom Shame, & Rebuilding with Intention

    What does it feel like to reach the pinnacle of your career — and realize it no longer fits? Devon McDonald spent 17 years in venture capital, rising to General Partner at OpenView Ventures while raising three kids and serving as the financial anchor for her family. In March 2020, OpenView had its largest exit ever when Datadog went public, returning the fund ten times over. On paper, it was the moment she'd worked her entire career for. On the inside? Devon was sitting alone in her car, listening to meditation audiobooks, wondering why she felt desperate to escape. In this raw, honest conversation, Devon and Alexis explore what happens when the life you built for everyone else stops fitting who you're becoming — and what it actually takes to rebuild. Devon opens up about the warning signs she ignored for years: the physical symptoms of chronic stress, the shame spiral of working-mom guilt, the perfectionism and control that masked how much she was struggling. She shares the terrifying work of dismantling a life that looked perfect from the outside — losing 30 pounds, hiring a psychologist and spiritual coach, learning nervous system regulation, setting boundaries at work, transitioning out of her GP role, and ultimately leaving her marriage. Today, Devon is the co-founder of Second Harvest, a retreat for high-achieving leaders at midlife who are ready for something more aligned to their inner truth. This episode is for every Breadwinner mother who has ever sat in her car just to breathe. What we cover: - The moment Devon realized her biggest career win felt completely hollow - How the body signals misalignment long before the mind catches up - Mom shame, working-mother guilt, and why high-achieving women don't talk about it - The role of nervous system regulation, somatic awareness, and spiritual coaching in Devon's transformation - Why divorce made her a better, more present mother - What "high achieving" actually means — and who Second Harvest is really for - How to build community rooted in giving, not performing Connect with Devon McDonald: 🌿 secondharvest.co 💼 LinkedIn: Devon McDonald 📸 Instagram: @second_harvest_retreats, @devmcdee Connect with The Breadwinners: 📩 Substack: wearethebreadwinners.substack.com Instagram: wearethebreadwinners 🎙️ Rate + Subscribe wherever you listen — it helps us reach the women who need to know they're not alone. 🌿 A Special Offer from Second Harvest Loved this episode? Devon & Richard are hosting the Second Harvest Spring Summit on May 21st at the deCordova Museum in Lincoln, MA — a one-day gathering for leaders at an inflection point who are ready to step back and figure out what comes next. As a Breadwinners listener, use code BREADWINNERS for $200 off tickets. 👉 secondharvest.co #WomenInBusiness #HighAchievingWomen #career #BurnoutRecovery #WorkingMom #mom #MidlifeWomen #CareerTransition #WomenLeaders Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 5m
  2. EP. 13 | Juliet Starrett on Being Built to Last - Longevity, Equal Partnership, and the Marathon of Parenting

    MAR 9

    EP. 13 | Juliet Starrett on Being Built to Last - Longevity, Equal Partnership, and the Marathon of Parenting

    What does it actually look like to build something sustainable — in your body, your business, and your family — without burning everything down in the process? Juliet Starrett has done it. Three world championship titles in elite whitewater paddling. A law degree. Nearly a decade in Big Law. Co-founder of San Francisco CrossFit, one of the first 25 affiliates in the world. And today, co-leader of The Ready State alongside her husband Kelly Starrett — the movement and longevity platform that has transformed how millions of people think about what their bodies are capable of. Their book, Built to Move, is a New York Times bestseller. In this episode, Alexis and Juliet go deep on the things that don't make it into the highlight reel: the real architecture of equal partnership in business and in marriage, what it means to be a breadwinner mom who is also the primary decision-maker at work, and how to raise teenagers who are watching your every move — and actually learning something worth keeping. What we cover in this conversation: How a 7-year-old's wilderness river trip in Colorado became the origin story of a world-class athlete Why Juliet left a lucrative law career to build San Francisco CrossFit from a parking lot — and what she'd tell any high-achieving woman standing at that same crossroads The 51/49 rule: how Juliet and Kelly structure decision-making in a 20+ year business and life partnership The skill-based case for working with your spouse — and why complementary strengths matter more than compatibility The parenting philosophy Juliet swears by: why investing in career flexibility when your kids are small is the long game for being present when it counts most — high school What The Teenage Brain taught Juliet about not sweating the small stuff Why the "all or nothing" mindset is the biggest obstacle to sustainable health The most underrated longevity habit (hint: it's not your red light mask) The sit-to-rise test and what it actually predicts about how you'll age Pick up Built to Move at your local bookstore or wherever books are sold, or visit thereadystate.com to go deeper on each vital sign. 🎯 EXCLUSIVE OFFER FOR BREADWINNERS: Ready to train like the Starretts? The On Demand Starrett System gives you access to Kelly and Juliet's full strength and conditioning programming — the same system Juliet referenced in this episode. Use code BREADWINNERS at checkout for 15% off your subscription. 👉 thereadystate.com Connect with Juliet Starrett: 🔗 thereadystate.com 📱 Instagram: @julietstarrett | @thereadystate Connect with The Breadwinners: 📬 Substack 📱 Instagram If this conversation resonated with you — click follow/subscribe, leave a rating, and share it with a breadwinning woman in your life. Every review helps us reach the women who need to know they're not alone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 11m
  3. Saved Seats | Replaying Our Pilot Episode: Kim Chappell on the Dinner That Started It All

    MAR 2

    Saved Seats | Replaying Our Pilot Episode: Kim Chappell on the Dinner That Started It All

    One year ago, we gathered a group of extraordinary women around a dinner table at SXSW — and The Breadwinners was born. In honor of our one-year anniversary, we're bringing back the episode that started it all for the listeners who've joined us since. "You're not hitting your skincare routine, being a great mom, crushing it at your job, putting dinner on the table, and having sex with your husband in 24 hours every day," says Kim Chappell, Chief Brand Officer at Bobbie. "Nobody is. That's not happening." In this pilot episode, Alexis Contos sits down with Kim to talk about what it actually looks like to build a career and a family at the same time — without the performance. They dig into returning to work after maternity leave, the guilt that quietly follows you back, and why the "girlboss" era left so many of us more exhausted than empowered. What comes after hustle culture? A new conversation about what it means to be a breadwinner — one that goes beyond the paycheck and into how we define success, boundaries, and what we're actually building. If you're new to the community, this is where it all began and we're excited to revisit our origin. So, welcome! The Breadwinners Join the Community on Substack Kim's Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 15m
  4. EP. 12 | Mel Strong on Why Motherhood Has Never Been One-Size-Fits-All

    FEB 23

    EP. 12 | Mel Strong on Why Motherhood Has Never Been One-Size-Fits-All

    What does it take to walk away from 17 years of corporate security — stock options, healthcare, a VP title at Nike — and bet on yourself? In this episode, Alexis sits down with Mel Strong, co-founder of Next Ventures, a health and wellness-focused venture fund. Mel's path has been anything but linear: first-grade teacher, journalist, marketing executive, interim CMO of Oura Ring, and now fund manager — and she's candid about every messy step it took to get there. In this conversation: Why women at the same income level as men weren't investing the same way — and what Mel did about it The athlete mindset and using fear as a compass instead of a stop sign Growing up as a caregiver to a sister with disabilities — and becoming a "mom" in 4th grade What it was really like when her husband became unemployed and she became the Breadwinner Her early investment in Oura Ring and what she saw before anyone else did Why women are the chief medical officers of their families — and what that means for the future of health tech The loneliness epidemic, human connection, and why community is the truest form of technology Mel's story is a masterclass in reinvention, resilience, and building wealth on your own terms. 🎙️ The Breadwinners Podcast — where ambitious mothers don't just earn a living, they're pioneering a new era. 📩 Join the Breadwinner community: wearethebreadwinners.substack.com 🌐 Next Ventures: nextventures.com | Substack: https://nextventures.substack.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 10m
  5. EP. 11 | Kelly Hubbell on Building Sage Spaces for your Home

    FEB 9

    EP. 11 | Kelly Hubbell on Building Sage Spaces for your Home

    You're expected to work like you don't have kids and parent like you don't work. Kelly Hubbell, founder of Sage Haus, looked at this impossible equation and decided to build the solution herself. In this episode, Kelly shares her journey from corporate tech sales to launching Sage Haus—a company that provides house managers and holistic family support for busy working parents. After her second child, Kelly found herself overwhelmed, creating a spreadsheet at 2am cataloging everything she was managing on top of her full-time job. That breakdown moment became her breakthrough. We dive into the reality of founder-motherhood, why the "mental load" conversation needs to shift from problem to solution, and how Kelly is building a business that reflects her values while showing her three kids what's possible when you refuse to choose between ambition and presence. About Kelly Kelly Hubbell is the founder of Sage Haus, a company that helps busy families find holistic, versatile support through house managers and family assistants. A former software sales professional who worked her way through Silicon Valley startups, Kelly made the leap from corporate America to entrepreneurship after realizing the support gap working parents face. Kelly lives in Portland with her husband (also an entrepreneur), three children (ages 7, 5, and 3), and a 7-year-old dog. She's on a mission to normalize household support and give families permission to get the help they need. Find Kelly: Instagram: @mysagehaus LinkedIn: Kelly Hubbell Website: Sign up for informational calls about finding your house manager Get $275 off your deposit by using this link: https://sage-haus.thrivecart.com/hiring-services-deposit/?coupon=BREADWINNERJoin The Breadwinners Community Subscribe to The Breadwinners on Substack for: - Full podcast episodes - In-depth written interviews with guests - Live Q&A sessions with experts - Exclusive content on hormones, finances, partnership dynamics, and more It's free to subscribe → wearethebreadwinners.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    58 min
  6. EP. 10 | Nick Firchau on Fatherhood, Friendship & Breaking Generational Patterns

    FEB 2

    EP. 10 | Nick Firchau on Fatherhood, Friendship & Breaking Generational Patterns

    What does modern fatherhood really look like in 2025 - and why aren't more men talking about it? In this episode of The Breadwinners Podcast, host Alexis Contos sits down with Nick Firchau, creator and host of The Paternal Podcast, to have an honest conversation about the challenges fathers face today. From the crisis of male loneliness to the invisible labor dads carry, Nick shares insights from over 130 interviews with fathers from all walks of life. This conversation explores why fatherhood feels so isolating for many men, how generational patterns shape the parents we become, and why supporting working mothers and engaged fathers isn't a zero-sum game. 1. Many fathers are parenting without a roadmap Nearly 40% of the dads Nick has interviewed either didn't have a father figure present or had a problematic one (substance abuse, violence, or emotional absence). These men are building their approach to fatherhood from scratch. 2. Male loneliness is a parenting issue While mothers often find community through mom groups and playdates, fathers struggle to form meaningful friendships where they can discuss the real challenges of parenting. Men are conditioned to keep conversations surface-level. 3. The "bumbling dad" stereotype hurts everyone From Homer Simpson to Modern Family, media has long portrayed fathers as incompetent or emotionally distant. This trope doesn't just frustrate dads—it sets low expectations for father involvement. 4. Partnership means rejecting the scorecard Nick and his wife live by "BOTD" (Benefit of the Doubt) and refuse to keep score. They recognize that careers, income, and family responsibilities ebb and flow—what matters is adapting together. 5. Emotional vocabulary is learned, not inherited One of the biggest shifts Nick is making with his own kids: teaching them to name and discuss their emotions, something he didn't learn until adulthood. Nick Firchau is the creator and host of The Paternal Podcast, a show exploring modern fatherhood through candid conversations with dads from diverse backgrounds. With a background in journalism (Chicago Sun-Times) and over 15 years in podcasting, Nick has interviewed Super Bowl champions, Pulitzer Prize winners, bestselling authors, and everyday fathers about what it means to be a dad today. The Paternal Podcast launched in 2017 and has produced over 130 episodes examining father-son relationships, masculinity, male mental health, and the evolving role of fathers in American families. Connect with Nick: Podcast: The Paternal Podcast (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms) Website: paternalpodcast.com Instagram: @paternalpodcast The Breadwinners Podcast is for ambitious working mothers who are set out to redefine what Breadwinner means in today's society and culture - beyond the paycheck. New episodes drop weekly. If this episode resonated with you, please leave a 5-star review and share it with a fellow breadwinner - or the dad in your life who needs to hear this conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    51 min
  7. EP. 09 | Ali Tate Cutler on How Moms Actually Build Businesses

    JAN 26

    EP. 09 | Ali Tate Cutler on How Moms Actually Build Businesses

    Ali Tate Cutler gets brutally honest about what nobody tells you: how to build a business while grieving the version of yourself you once were. Less than 1% of guests on major business podcasts are mothers. The rest? Childless men teaching strategies that don't work when you're building while celebrating your own transformation as a working mom. "Mothers don't grind, we create. We don't hustle, we flow." Ali (former supermodel turned social media strategist) created a new framework: Mothers don't grind, we create. We don't hustle, we flow. She shares the grieving process of losing her pre-mother self, what she misses, the paradox of freedom, how to create when your time is fractured, and what small business owners get wrong about social media. What You'll Learn: - How moms actually build businesses versus the traditional playbook - The grief of losing your pre-mother self and why it's okay - The paradox of choice after kids - Creating (not grinding) with constant interruptions - What's wrong with "hustle" advice for working parents - Building visibility without burnout - Honoring who you were while becoming who you are Subscribe to The Breadwinners Substack Connect with Ali Join The Breadwinners Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 19m
  8. EP. 08 | Patrice Meagher on Building Systems to Support Working Moms in the Workplace

    JAN 20

    EP. 08 | Patrice Meagher on Building Systems to Support Working Moms in the Workplace

    In this episode, Alexis Contos sits down with Patrice Meagher, a 20-year Commercial Real Estate veteran turned Founder and CEO of MilkMate. After spending two decades leasing millions of square feet in Manhattan , Patrice realized that while we can fly to space, the most "innovative" solution for pumping at work was still a storage closet or a bathroom stall. Patrice shares her journey of leaving a successful corporate career to solve a problem that had plagued her through four children: the inefficiency and indignity of pumping in the workplace. She breaks down her famous "Coffee Pot Analogy" - asking men to imagine brewing their morning coffee in a bathroom stall while disrobing and carrying equipment back and forth - to illustrate the absurdity of the status quo. In this conversation, Patrice discusses the "tipping point" for working mothers - that moment when one small thing (like a forgotten pump part) causes the mental load to crumble. She opens up about the daunting process of gaining FDA clearance for MilkMate , the wisdom she carries from her late father’s "Don’t Quit" motto , and why she believes working moms are the most efficient workers in the universe. Whether you are an employer looking to support your team or a parent navigating the "drip effect" of balancing career and family , this episode offers a blueprint for how we can evolve the workplace—bird by bird, step by step. The Breadwinners MilkMate MilkMate Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 1m
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They say you can't have it all — that mothers must choose between ambition and presence. But what if we're asking the wrong question? On The Breadwinners Podcast, Alexis Contos redefines what it means to be a Breadwinner in modern culture, moving it far beyond the paycheck. Through raw, honest conversations with women like Morgan Zanotti (CEO of Primal Kitchen), Nicole Trunfio (CEO of Bumpsuit), and Eve Rodsky (Author of Fair Play & Find Your Unicorn Space), we explore what it really takes to bring financial richness, emotional richness, and systemic change to our families. This isn't about balance, it's about integration. Not perfection, but wholeness. Whether you're already navigating motherhood and career, building your empire before kids arrive, or reimagining what family leadership looks like, these conversations will challenge everything you've been told about what's possible. The Breadwinners: Where ambitious mothers aren't just earning a living, they're pioneering a new era for themselves, and everyone who comes next. Learn more at thebreadwinners.co.

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