The Mothers with Sara Brown

Backline Media
  • 4.8 (22)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Weekly

Sara Brown sits down with the people shaping our world — extraordinary leaders, creators, and thinkers — to explore how their identity, purpose, and ambition evolve alongside career and motherhood. These conversations invite you to get curious about who you are, what you want, and why you want it — and leave you inspired to build a life that honors those answers. Raw, smart, and deeply human, The Mothers blends the emotional honesty of We Can Do Hard Things, the practical wisdom of Mel Robbins, and the intellectual depth of Brené Brown. Follow, review and join us on IG @themotherspod.

  1. Sep 1

    [BEST OF] Everybody Wants a Village. Nobody Wants the Inconvenience – with Tracy Skelly

    We all say we want a village. But are we willing to accept the inconvenience that comes with belonging to one? Tracy Skelly grew up inside a culture of collective responsibility – one in which children belonged to everyone, help was expected and someone else’s needs sometimes came before your own. That foundation helped carry her through a formidable career spanning Teach for America, Harvard, an education startup and Amazon. But becoming a mother changed what she required from her work. “If it was going to take me away from my child, it had to matter.” That conviction ultimately led Tracy to found Little Cocoa Bean Co., a mission-driven food business inspired by the bold flavors of her Panamanian and Caribbean heritage and built around a larger purpose: ensuring that children are nourished, families feel seen and mothers do not have to carry everything alone. In this conversation, we talk about meaningful work, building a business while raising children, asking for help even when the reason isn’t “important,” and why community demands more than occasionally offering support when it’s convenient. Because the village so many mothers desperately need is not frictionless. It may disrupt our routines, challenge our preferences and require us to make room for someone else. But Tracy believes that is precisely the point. This episode is about what becomes possible when we stop treating independence as the highest form of success – and build lives in which achievement, service, family and community reinforce one another. ******* ⭐️ Follow The Mothers and leave a 5-star review if this resonated 💬 Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it 📱 Join The Mothers on Instagram @themotherspod ✍️ Subscribe to ⁠⁠Sara’s Substack⁠⁠ for reflections on life, work, meaning & motherhood 💼 Find Sara on ⁠LinkedIn The Mothers is a production of Backline Media.

    [BEST OF] Everybody Wants a Village. Nobody Wants the Inconvenience – with Tracy Skelly

  2. Aug 25

    Motherhood Made Me an Author with Rachel Hochhauser

    Rachel Hochhauser was a writer for years. It took becoming a mother to make her an author. After earning a master’s degree in fiction, Rachel wrote the novel she believed would launch her career. Instead, she spent years rewriting it, collecting encouraging rejections and eventually putting the manuscript in a drawer. She stopped writing and directed her creative energy elsewhere – building a career in brand strategy, co-founding an agency and launching the cult-favorite puzzle company Piecework. Then, during one of the hardest periods of her life, a new story found her. While Rachel’s husband recovered from an emergency craniotomy, she was caring for their toddler, holding together two businesses and spending long days at the hospital. In a waiting room, she came across an image of Cinderella’s “evil” stepmother – and saw not a villain, but a mother fiercely advocating for her own children. That insight became Lady Tremaine, Rachel’s debut novel, an instant New York Times bestseller and Reese’s Book Club pick being published in more than eleven languages. The book asks us to reconsider the stories we tell about mothers: who gets to be good, who gets cast as the villain, and what becomes visible when the mother finally gets to tell the story herself. Rachel and Sara discuss: – Why motherhood’s constraints helped Rachel finally turn writing into a profession – The difference between being a writer and becoming an author – What creative people must learn about business – Why persistence sometimes means stepping away – The childcare, partnership and financial risk behind work that can look like a fairy tale from the outside Learn more: Lady Tremaine: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/776727/lady-tremaine-by-rachel-hochhauser/ Piecework: https://pieceworkpuzzles.com/ Rachel Hochhauser: https://www.rachelhochhauser.com/ ******* ⭐️ Follow The Mothers and leave a 5-star review if this resonated 💬 Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it 📱 Join The Mothers on Instagram @themotherspod ✍️ Subscribe to ⁠⁠Sara’s Substack⁠⁠ for reflections on life, work, meaning & motherhood 💼 Find Sara on ⁠LinkedIn The Mothers is a production of Backline Media.

    Motherhood Made Me an Author with Rachel Hochhauser

  3. Aug 18

    “I Don’t Care About What I Don’t Care About” with Julie Cole

    “I don’t care about what I don’t care about.” That may be the secret to how Julie Cole built a thriving business while raising six children – not by doing everything, but by becoming exceptionally clear about what actually mattered. Julie is a recovered lawyer, award-winning entrepreneur, bestselling author and co-founder of Mabel’s Labels. More than 20 years ago, after her oldest son was diagnosed with autism, she left law and began making personalized labels in a basement alongside her sister and two close friends. Today, Mabel’s Labels is one of the best-known label companies in North America – and Julie has built a career, family and life shaped far more by conviction than convention. In this conversation, Julie shares what those early years of entrepreneurship really required: late nights, financial tradeoffs, a strong team and a willingness to let go of perfection almost everywhere else. She and Sara talk about why quitting can be for winners, how to distinguish persistence from sunk-cost thinking and the “brain gremlins” that become especially loud when we try to build something alone. Julie also offers a refreshingly practical perspective on working motherhood, partnership, mom guilt, asking for help and why fairness at home doesn’t always mean dividing every responsibility equally. Julie’s life is not a lesson in having it all. It’s a lesson in deciding what you care about – and giving yourself permission not to care about the rest. Learn more about Mabel’s Labels: - Website: https://mabelslabels.com - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mabelslabels ******* ⭐️ Follow The Mothers and leave a 5-star review if this resonated 💬 Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it 📱 Join The Mothers on Instagram @themotherspod ✍️ Subscribe to ⁠⁠Sara’s Substack⁠⁠ for reflections on life, work, meaning & motherhood 💼 Find Sara on ⁠LinkedIn The Mothers is a production of Backline Media.

    “I Don’t Care About What I Don’t Care About” with Julie Cole

  4. Aug 11

    The Psychology of Winning as a Working Mother with Nafeesa Remtilla

    What happens when a lifetime of high achievement runs headfirst into motherhood? Nafeesa Remtilla knows the high-achiever playbook well. Before becoming CEO of Poppins Payroll, she built a career across Goldman Sachs, Bain & Company, and Robinhood, where she served as Vice President of Product & Operations. She is also the mother of two young children. In this episode, Nafeesa joins Sara for a candid and highly practical conversation about working motherhood, career success, parenting, control, and what changes when the strategies that helped us succeed professionally stop working quite so neatly at home. Nafeesa shares why becoming a parent dramatically shrank her “circle of control” – and how learning to focus on what she can control has made her a better mother and leader. They also talk about why high achievers spend too much time fixing their weaknesses instead of building around their strengths; the freedom of becoming a “good enough” parent; childcare as essential infrastructure for working families; and how motherhood taught Nafeesa to define success on her own terms. Plus: the remarkably simple ritual she uses to transition from work mode to mom mode, why she’s trying to ask herself “...What if it all works out?” and the humbling reality of discovering spit-up on your shoulder in a meeting with the CEO. A smart, funny, refreshingly grounded conversation about achievement, working parenthood, leadership – and loosening your grip on the things you were never going to control anyway. Learn more about Poppins Payroll at www.poppinspayroll.com ******* ⭐️ Follow The Mothers and leave a 5-star review if this resonated 💬 Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it 📱 Join The Mothers on Instagram @themotherspod ✍️ Subscribe to ⁠⁠Sara’s Substack⁠⁠ for reflections on life, work, meaning & motherhood 💼 Find Sara on ⁠LinkedIn The Mothers is a production of Backline Media.

    The Psychology of Winning as a Working Mother with Nafeesa Remtilla

  5. Aug 4

    [BEST OF] The Stories That Hold Women Back with Dr. Jessica Zucker

    For our final replay of the summer, we're revisiting one of our most thought-provoking conversations—with psychologist, author, and maternal mental health expert Dr. Jessica Zucker. It's a conversation about the stories we inherit, the ones we tell ourselves, and the courage it takes to rewrite them. Enjoy! ******* Dr. Jessica Zucker has spent her career helping women tell the stories they've been taught to keep quiet. A psychologist specializing in reproductive and maternal mental health, Jessica is the author of Normalize It and I Had a Miscarriage, creator of the viral #IHadAMiscarriage movement, and one of the leading voices challenging the shame and silence that still shape so many women's lives. Together, we explore the stories we inherit. The "shoulds" we carry. The pressure to have it all, do it all, and somehow feel grateful every step of the way. Jessica opens up about the miscarriage that changed the course of her life, navigating breast cancer while writing her second book, balancing motherhood with deeply emotional work, and why women don't need to be fixed—they need to be heard. Together, we explore: Why storytelling is one of the most powerful tools for changing culture The impossible expectations placed on mothers Why high-achieving women struggle to ask for help What "good enough" really looks like When enough is actually enough Why replacing silence with truth might be the most important work any of us can do Jessica's writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Vogue, Harvard Business Review, and New York Magazine, and she's been featured on NPR, CNN, The Today Show, and Good Morning America. Content note: We briefly discuss miscarriage near the beginning of the conversation (6:30-7:08) if you’d prefer to skip that portion. Learn more at drjessicazucker.com or follow Jessica on Instagram @ihadamiscarriage. ******* ⭐️ Follow The Mothers and leave a 5-star review if this resonated 💬 Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it 📱 Join The Mothers on Instagram @themotherspod ✍️ Subscribe to ⁠⁠Sara’s Substack⁠⁠ for reflections on life, work, meaning & motherhood 💼 Find Sara on ⁠LinkedIn The Mothers is a production of Backline Media.

    [BEST OF] The Stories That Hold Women Back with Dr. Jessica Zucker

  6. Jul 28

    WTF is Perimenopause? with Michaela North

    Attention, women in your 30's and 40's: have you ever looked at your body in the mirror and thought, “What...is....happening?” If so, we'd like to cordially welcome you to perimenopause. But don't worry - it's not the beginning of the end. Think of it as a recalibration, a years-long hormonal shuffle that can make your workouts feel weird and your sleep impossible (even without little kids to blame.) In this episode, host Christina Hunt sits down with CrossFit champion, coach, and mom of four Michaela North — someone who has lived high-intensity sport, multiple babies, and now a totally different relationship with strength, protein, and recovery — to break down what’s actually happening (fr fr), and what you can do about it. Follow Michaela on Instagram: @hungryfitness Visit their website: hungryfitness.co  Follow WIWIK on Instagram: @whatiwishiknew_ Music by Ben Scott Motion Design by Banona.co **** Podcast Swap: This week, we're excited to swap episodes with What I Wish I Knew, a badass podcast about parenting and women’s health, to introduce our communities to each other's work. If you enjoy this conversation, be sure to check out more episodes from What I Wish I Knew wherever you listen to podcasts and join them on instagram @whatiwishiknew_. ******* ⭐️ Follow The Mothers and leave a 5-star review if this resonated 💬 Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it 📱 Join The Mothers on Instagram @themotherspod ✍️ Subscribe to ⁠⁠Sara’s Substack⁠⁠ for reflections on life, work, meaning & motherhood 💼 Find Sara on ⁠LinkedIn The Mothers is a production of Backline Media.

    WTF is Perimenopause? with Michaela North

  7. Jul 21

    [BEST OF] What It Takes to Matter with Jennifer Wallace

    Note: We are revisiting some of our favorite conversations from the archives this summer. Enjoy the wisdom of Jennifer Wallace this week! And pick up her latest NYT bestseller ‘Mattering.’ Jennifer Breheny Wallace – NYT bestselling author of ‘Mattering’ and ‘Never Enough,’ journalist, and mother of three – joins The Mothers for a conversation about achievement, worth, identity, and what it really takes to feel like you matter. Jennifer’s work explores a question many mothers carry: how can we be doing essential, important, and meaningful work – at home, at the office, and beyond – and still feel like it’s not enough? Like we’re not enough? And sometimes… like we don’t even matter? In this conversation, we look at how motherhood exposes the limits of achievement culture – and why relying on success to supply a sense of mattering can leave us feeling empty instead. Other highlights: Building an “accordion” career – expanding and contracting across seasons of motherhood The difference between shiny success and sustaining success Why achievement is a poor stand-in for self-worth How friendships function as essential infrastructure, not a luxury What it looks like to live in alignment with intrinsic values in an extrinsic world This is a grounded, generous conversation about choosing values over validation and designing a life that can flex, evolve, and endure. Pick up ‘Mattering’ today at https://a.co/d/axcH4mn ****** Learn more about Sage Haus: helping busy households hire vetted, professional House Managers, Family Assistants, and Meal Prep Chefs – whether you need 10 hours a week or 40+ 👉 Get started at https://themothers--sage-haus.thrivecart.com/hiring-services-deposit/ ******* ⭐️ Follow The Mothers and leave a 5-star review if this resonated 💬 Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it 📱 Join The Mothers on Instagram @themotherspod ✍️ Subscribe to ⁠⁠Sara’s Substack⁠⁠ for reflections on life, work, meaning & motherhood 💼 Find Sara on ⁠LinkedIn The Mothers is a production of Backline Media.

    [BEST OF] What It Takes to Matter with Jennifer Wallace

  8. Jul 14

    [BEST OF] Elin Hilderbrand, Bess Clarke & Wendy Rouillard on The Mothers LIVE

    Note: One year ago we recorded our very first LIVE episode featuring three remarkable mothers of Nantucket: Elin Hilderbrand, Bess Clarke and Wendy Rouillard. This was a huge moment for us worth revisiting, and doesn’t hurt that the anniversary coincides with the release of the TV-adaptation of Elin’s ‘The Five-Star Weekend’ on Peacock starring Jennifer Garner! Is there anything mothers cannot do!? Enjoy! Milestone episode out today with Elin Hilderbrand (NYT Bestselling Author & Producer), Bess Clarke (CEO of Nantucket Looms) and Wendy Rouillard (Author & Owner of Barnaby’s). On July 22 we hosted our sold out and very first live recording at Sister Ship Nantucket and we are thrilled to share the conversation with the world, featuring the incredible Mothers behind some of Nantucket’s most iconic brands. We laughed, we cried, we found truth and wisdom, and now you get to have it too.  In this episode: 🛠️The grit required to build a career while raising kids ✍️Why Elin writes her novels longhand 🧠How mental health is the foundation of “having it all” ✈️Why work travel is the worst part of being a working parent ⌛The endless yet finite experience of motherhood 🍷Beer bottles, bongs, wine glasses & sunflower seeds Thank you to our event production team at Faraway/Sister Ship plus Rob Ackroyd/Almanack Sound (Audio), Tucker Finerty (Video), Rebecca Love (Photography) & our generous sponsors: Little Saints, The Vault Nantucket, REMY, Marigold, Roller Rabbit & DOEN. ******* ⭐️ Follow The Mothers and leave a 5-star review if this resonated 💬 Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it 📱 Join The Mothers on Instagram @themotherspod ✍️ Subscribe to ⁠⁠Sara’s Substack⁠⁠ for reflections on life, work, meaning & motherhood 💼 Find Sara on ⁠LinkedIn The Mothers is a production of Backline Media.

    [BEST OF] Elin Hilderbrand, Bess Clarke & Wendy Rouillard on The Mothers LIVE
See All (83)

Trailer

4.8
out of 5
22 Ratings

About

Sara Brown sits down with the people shaping our world — extraordinary leaders, creators, and thinkers — to explore how their identity, purpose, and ambition evolve alongside career and motherhood. These conversations invite you to get curious about who you are, what you want, and why you want it — and leave you inspired to build a life that honors those answers. Raw, smart, and deeply human, The Mothers blends the emotional honesty of We Can Do Hard Things, the practical wisdom of Mel Robbins, and the intellectual depth of Brené Brown. Follow, review and join us on IG @themotherspod.

Information

  • Creator
    Backline Media
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    83
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Backline Media
  • Show Website
    The Mothers with Sara Brown

You Might Also Like