
When Mommy Grows Up (Becca Carnahan & Marie-Pier Tremblay from Next Chapter Careers)
Explore every episode of When Mommy Grows Up
Pub. Date | Title | Duration | |
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07 Jan 2023 | Welcome to When Mommy Grows Up! | 00:03:35 | |
Welcome to When Mommy Grows Up: The Podcast! In this first episode, join hosts Becca Carnahan and Marie Tremblay of Next Chapter Careers for a quick peek into their career journeys as working moms. Plus they will share what to expect from future episodes - real stories from real moms that will help you navigate the motherhood identify shift, career changes, work-life balance questions and more. Let's keep growing up together! | |||
16 Jan 2023 | Motherhood identity shift: Kate's Story | 00:13:16 | |
Having children is by far one of the most life-altering events we go through. So how does a high-achieving woman navigate this confusing, exciting, scary, and beautiful career and life inflection point? That's our first real mommy growing up story - "Kate," mom of two little ones with a Master's Degree on her office wall and a whole lot of confusion about what fulfillment looks like to her now that she is a mom and coming out of the new baby haze. Join Becca and Marie to hear Kate's story and learn the steps she can take to identify what has changed with her career criteria and welcome the new possibilities ahead. | |||
23 Jan 2023 | Career Clarity might mean taking a slightly different path: Jane's Story | 00:21:38 | |
Your 20 something self thought she had it all figured out - she graduated and landed a great internship and got hired. She built herself a path that was tidy and linear and thought everything else would fit right in. But after becoming a mom Jane found herself slowed down a little on that career hike, and she had to admit to herself she also felt like she wanted to explore what seemed like intriguing new trails along the way with the fascinating little humans she made. Does this sound like you? If so, you are not alone wanting to explore new possibilities. Join Becca and Marie this week as we learn about Jane’s journey as a lawyer. She worked hard to get where she was but somehow felt a disconnect as her kids were reaching the age of having after-school activities that she wanted to be a part of. Let’s help her go from half-present and unmotivated, to feeling energized about all areas of the life she has built. | |||
30 Jan 2023 | Taking the Scary Out of Personal Branding: Melissa's Story | 00:22:26 | |
Personal branding is a weird term. Instead of preparing ourselves for a job search or career growth, it feels like we're trying to sell toothbrushes! And honestly, while we’re used to telling stories as moms it can be pretty scary to think about effectively telling our own stories. That’s how Melissa was feeling as she launched a job search. Melissa is a mom of 1 and a military spouse. She and her family have moved around the country multiple times, and Melissa has a lot of varied interests so her job history is, in her words “scattered.” Listen as Becca and Marie break down the intimidating idea of personal branding and help Melissa own her personal brand in her job search. | |||
06 Feb 2023 | Navigating the Overwhelming Interview Process: Ida's Story | 00:20:33 | |
Hooray, you got the interview! And then another interview, and another interview, and a rescheduled interview that interferes with your kid’s soccer practice. Modern-day interviewing is a lot, especially as a busy parent who already has a lot on her plate. Ida was feeling the interview pressure too. She was excited that her applications for Customer Success Manager roles were getting into the right hands and she was receiving calls for interviews. But at the same time, she and her husband were juggling full-time jobs and the schedules of three active kids. Join Becca and Marie to talk about what is going on with all the interviews nowadays, how to use multiple interviews to your advantage, and when it’s time to say “I’m out!” | |||
13 Feb 2023 | Return to the paid workforce: Shannon's Story | 00:17:33 | |
8 years ago, Shannon made a big decision to become a stay-at-home mom, and while being on-call 24 hours a day chasing three kids was a lot of hard work, she loved it. Being home with her kids was fun and she was great at it! Now her youngest is starting kindergarten and Shannon and her family have decided that this is a good time for her to return to work. It makes sense financially, and Shannon is excited about having something that is all hers. At the same time, a return to the paid workforce is scary and she doesn’t know where to start. There is so much we can talk about with a return to the paid workforce, but understanding where to start is one of the biggest questions we get at Next Chapter Careers. Join Becca and Marie to talk about the mistakes to avoid and the first steps to take to move forward. | |||
27 Feb 2023 | The Stay at Home Mom "Resume Gap": Shannon's Story Part 2 | 00:21:34 | |
Stay at Home Mom Shannon returns for another episode of When Mommy Grows Up to move from identifying her Career Sweet Spot to writing a new stand out resume and structuring her job search. If you have taken a career break and are returning to the workforce, you might be worried about your “resume gap” like Shannon was. What can I possibly write on my resume that will be interesting to employers? The answer is a lot! Join Becca and Marie to talk about resume gaps and how to structure your job search time in a way that keeps your confidence high during a return to the paid workforce. | |||
06 Mar 2023 | Building Your Network as an Introvert: Abby's Story | 00:23:17 | |
It's no surprise to Abby that on every personality assessment she has ever taken, she's as far to the Introvert side of the scale as she can get! Her husband is also relatively introverted and her two kids have followed suit. As a research analyst, being introverted has always worked out well for Abby. She has a close circle of family and friends, enjoys her solo work, and has enough quiet time to recharge. The problem is that Abby’s company had to do massive layoffs which left Abby on the search for a new job. A change was not on the agenda for her and she doesn’t know where to start. Join Becca and Marie to talk about layoffs and harnessing your power as an introvert to make networking as part of your job search work for you. | |||
13 Mar 2023 | Finding Your Career Match as an Extrovert: Emma's Story | 00:21:04 | |
As far introverted as our friend Abby was from last week, Emma is about as far as you can get in the other direction. She’s an extrovert with a capital E and as a mom of three kids she loves nothing more than welcoming new families to the community, standing up in front of a crowd, and mingling at work events. Emma’s great at her job in HR specializing in new employee onboarding, and going into the office every day works for her and her personality. At the same time, Emma is struggling with the commute and the time away from her kids. She feels like she is doing work that aligns with her interests, but it doesn’t align with her life. Should she quit? Join Becca and Marie to talk about finding family-centered flexibility in your career without ditching your extroverted personality or stepping out of the paid workforce. | |||
20 Mar 2023 | Why "I Can Do Anything" Leaves You Floundering: Norah's Story | 00:20:27 | |
Mom of four, Norah, has worked for her family’s nonprofit her entire career. It’s a small mission-driven nonprofit and since Norah grew up with the organization she has wore a lot of different hats. She’s worked across different functions, is constantly putting out fires, and in her words “as done it all!” As you can imagine, the grocery bill for a family of 6 is pretty high though, and as her kids get older and Norah and her husband are mapping out college savings, Norah has found that it’s time to step away from her family business into an industry with more earning potential. But what does that look like? Join Becca and Marie to talk about Norah’s career criteria and how those criteria helped her to identify an industry, company, and role that was perfect for her. | |||
28 Mar 2023 | Uncovering Company Culture: Asha’s Story | 00:22:30 | |
Asha has been through the wringer recently in her career. Two years ago she left a toxic work environment filled with micromanaging, distrust, and snarky comments. When she landed her next accounting job at another company, she felt a big burden was off her shoulders. However, six months after she started, the company was bought by a bigger organization and the culture changed for the worse. Asha is ready to find another job but she’s really stressed out about finding the right culture fit for her. How can she find a company that respects her as a parent and as a professional and offers her opportunity for growth? Ideally she’d like to stay at the next company for five or more years, but it needs to be the correct environment for her. Join Becca and Marie as we talk about identifying what a good culture match is for Asha and how she can ask really great questions to go find it. | |||
04 Apr 2023 | If You Can't Be With the Job You Love: Cara's Story | 00:19:48 | |
Lots of things are going right for Cara. She and her wife were married three years ago. They love their house and their friends, and they are even looking to expand their family! They are excited to be first-time moms and are going through the IVF process. Fortunately, Cara’s company has fantastic benefits that help to cover the cost of IVF which lifts a big burden off of Cara and her wife. Unfortunately, Cara really doesn’t love her job anymore. She’d love to get out, but she knows that for now she should stay. Is there anything she can do in the meantime to make her workday a whole lot better? Join Becca and Marie to help Cara through this challenge with embracing the idea of job crafting. | |||
11 Apr 2023 | The Contractor Life for Me?: Penny’s Story | 00:19:32 | |
For the past 12 years, Penny has been working full-time in IT as a project manager with big tech companies. In that time she’s also had two kids who are now 3 and 1. Life as a toddler mom keeps Penny on her toes, as does a demanding work schedule. As Penny’s kids grow and start to explore the world, Penny is also thinking about what’s next for her and wondering if she still wants to be full-time with one company. She’s bored and isn’t as excited about what the next step with this company would be. The idea of doing contract work has crossed her mind to allow for more flexibility and potentially a higher per project rate but she doesn’t know where to start. Join Becca and Marie to talk through Penny’s contract considerations and learn how contract work may, or may not, be a good fit for you. | |||
18 Apr 2023 | Does Part-Time Really Work?: Meg’s Story | 00:20:23 | |
Meg is managing some major FOMO as a working parent. She likes parts of her work in higher education, and having two paychecks is helpful for her family. However, as she looks around and hears about other parents volunteering in their kids’ classrooms or coaching soccer in the afternoon she is feeling frustrated. Meg wants that too! One idea Meg has been kicking around is working part-time instead of full-time at the local university. She’s wondering if this arrangement will help her meet the need of having more time with her twin 7 year olds and still be fulfilling. Not to mention the money question! Join Becca and Marie to talk about proposing a part-time job, seeking out part-time jobs, and if part-time is the right fit for Meg and her family. | |||
25 Apr 2023 | “If Only I Had More Time”: Allison’s Story | 00:22:32 | |
Put simply, Allison hates her job. She is bored but also overwhelmed on a regular basis. Her manager’s style grates on her. Plus Allison doesn’t feel inspired or excited about the work her company does in the manufacturing industry. She “fell into” the industry years ago and never found a way out. Now as a mom of three, Allison feels like her time to make a change is behind her. How could she possibly find the time to figure out what she wants to do, go find that new job, and juggle the needs of three kids under 10. It feels impossible. Join Becca and Marie to talk about creating more time in the day in order to make a necessary change that will positively impact the rest of your life. | |||
02 May 2023 | What Am I Qualified For?: Stevie’s Story | 00:21:27 | |
Night after night, Stevie puts her 4 year old to bed and then sits down on the couch to watch TV and scroll LinkedIn. She’s been thinking about finding a new job for the past few years now and would like to move out of finance but this endless scroll is not working. Stevie has always had strong quantitative skills and she doesn’t mind her job as a Controller for a medium sized business, but her company is fully in-person and management is not very family-friendly. She “grew up” within this company though and is struggling to think about what else should be qualified for if she wasn’t a Controller at this company anymore. Join Becca and Marie to explore where to start with the “what am I qualified for?” question and then how to match up your skills with new paths forward. | |||
09 May 2023 | This Mother’s Day, Ask for Help: Becca and Marie’s Story | 00:20:11 | |
In a special episode to celebrate Mother’s Day, Becca and Marie break down the myth of the Supermom and highlight all the ways that asking for help makes us stronger. Whether you’re asking for help to pick up the kid’s after baseball practice, or asking for help navigating your career change, getting support is critical as a busy parent. We know that asking for help is not always easy though. The guilt is real! Let’s talk about both the challenges of asking for help and the beauty of giving and receiving help at home and in your career. | |||
16 May 2023 | Navigating the Return from Maternity Leave: Lynn’s Story | 00:19:48 | |
Twas the last night of maternity leave and all through the house, a tiny creature was stirring and mom was stressed out! Lynn and her husband had their first child 4 months ago and she has been at maternity leave from her role in digital marketing at a fintech company. Now she is returning to her paid work outside of the home and she’s feeling a lot of feelings. Nerves, excitement, sadness, stress, guilt…the list goes on. How will she handle day one let alone all the other days ahead? Join Becca and Marie to talk about the return to work after maternity leave and tips to manage this big life transition. | |||
23 May 2023 | You’re Being Promoted - Hooray?: Catherine’s Story | 00:20:37 | |
Mom of two and business development professional, Catherine, is being offered a big promotion! It’s exciting, but also, maybe not? If you’re wondering if accepting a promotion is the right call for you as a busy mom, Catherine’s story is for you. Catherine needs to decide if moving from an individual contributor role into a Director position is really what she wants. The money is nice, but she’s worried if this is the right time, the right job, or the right lifestyle. Put simply, Catherine has questions. Join Becca and Marie to talk through all of the considerations that go into Catherine’s promotion decision and hear why whatever Catherine decides, a huge congratulations is coming her way! | |||
30 May 2023 | The Summertime Shuffle as a Working Parent: Shawna’s Story | 00:19:51 | |
When Shawna came through Becca’s door as a coaching client, her summertime story sounded very familiar! As the school year winds down, Shawna is preparing for three kids in different activities and camps in different towns. It’s going to be a lot! And as the parent with the more flexible job, she’s feeling the pressure. Join Becca and Marie to talk about the important conversations to be having at work and at home to have a successful and as stress-free as possible summer. | |||
06 Jun 2023 | “Owning Your Awesome” with Some Help: Brittany’s Story | 00:21:59 | |
Brittany has been the rock for her family for many years. She has left jobs, changed careers, and arranged her life to be super present as a parent. She has no regrets at all, but now that her kids are teenagers, it’s Brittany’s turn to make a change in her career that checks off the fulfillment box more than it has in years. The problem is that Brittany’s confidence has taken a hit. It’s been many years since she has worked in finance and she’s not sure how to tell a cohesive story about her skills and experience. How can she feel confident about her own story and THEN feel confident telling that story to someone else in her job search? Join Becca and Marie to talk through five key ways Brittany can rebuild her career confidence and share her skills with the world! | |||
13 Jun 2023 | Demystifying the LinkedIn Profile: Jordan’s Story | 00:22:32 | |
Once upon a time when she graduated college in 2010, Jordan created a LinkedIn profile. Then it sat there barely touched and infrequently logged into for over a decade! LinkedIn simply hasn’t been a priority as Jordan became a teacher and settled into a school system she enjoyed. However, after years in the classroom, Jordan is ready for a change. She is excited about the prospect of working with an edtech company in a Customer Success role, partnering with schools to utilize new technology. With this change though, Jordan’s LinkedIn profile needs some TLC. Join Becca and Marie to demystify key parts of the LinkedIn profile and make Jordan’s profile work for her. | |||
20 Jun 2023 | Engaging on LinkedIn to Build, Know, Like, and Trust: Jordan’s Story Part 2 | 00:21:04 | |
Now that our friend Jordan - teacher turning edtech pro - has a great LinkedIn profile, we want to make sure she is using it in the best possible way! You can network and research on LinkedIn, but it’s also a way to attract people to you through thought leadership and stories. Join us this week for some big laughs and to talk about where to find inspiration for your LinkedIn content! | |||
27 Jun 2023 | 5 Ways to Use ChatGPT for Career Clarity: Erin’s Story | 00:20:21 | |
Mom of two and nurse, Erin, is excited to be on a career clarity journey to understand what direction to take her career. With her packed schedule though, Erin is getting discouraged because she feels like she is going down Google rabbit holes rather than making progress. Enter AI! | |||
11 Jul 2023 | High Achieving Impostor Syndrome: Isla’s Story | 00:22:16 | |
Isla is an HR manager in pharmaceuticals and she has been very successful. She has moved from individual contributor to manager roles, but even though she was recommended to apply to a Director role she is feeling very tentative about applying. She doesn’t want to be “found out,” “get the hook,” or “look silly.” She doesn’t know if she deserves it. Have you ever felt like this? You aren’t alone. This week we are going to talk through the societal expectations put on women, how we have internalized that, and the tools to work through the imposter syndrome scaries. | |||
18 Jul 2023 | How to Advance Your Career in One Minute | 00:21:04 | |
Do you want to know how to advance your career? Want to do it in just one minute? You’re in luck because as big fans of efficiency, Becca and Marie promise there are absolutely things you can do in one minute or less that will move the needle. When it comes to working to advance your career it is possible to use tiny pockets of time to make progress. And if you are a busy parent, sometimes one minute may be all you have right now. So let’s make the most of it! Implementing these changes take one minute or less and makes a real impact. | |||
25 Jul 2023 | Season 1 Finale - Reflecting on Our Journey: Becca & Marie's Takeaways | 00:08:20 | |
12 Sep 2023 | Coming Soon: Season 2 | 00:07:24 | |
Hear real stories from real moms facing the same challenges you are. Get the help and support you need as you're defining what success looks like to you as a mid-career professional and parent. Hosts (and fellow moms) Becca and Marie from Next Chapter Careers provide practical step-by-step advice to help you move forward. All served up with a virtual mom hug and lots of laughs! Send us your stories at podcast@nextchaptercareers.us | |||
19 Sep 2023 | What Job is Right for Me as a “Committed Coach?”: Claudia’s Story | 00:18:04 | |
When Claudia took the Just-Right Job Match quiz she landed on the “Committed Coach” and the description “You have a knack for helping people grow and glow” felt spot on to her. Claudia didn’t see herself as a traditional coach though. What role was right for her? Join Becca and Marie to break down the different paths of the “Committed Coach” and how Claudia can match up her coaching and mentoring abilities with her Career Criteria to find the right match for her. | |||
26 Sep 2023 | Finding Your Job Match as a “Emerging Entrepreneur”: Eden’s Story | 00:20:54 | |
Eden joined the Career Clarity Program knowing that deep down she wanted to work for herself. She had even started building a business on the side while working her full-time job and is imagining a world in which she could fully align her work schedule with her kids’ school schedule. The tricky part was that taking the full entrepreneurial leap was scary, and there were logistics to take into consideration - money being a big one. Join Becca and Marie to talk about all of the different ways you can be an entrepreneur while still meeting your family needs. Entrepreneurship doesn’t have to look one way, and it doesn’t have to look one way for you forever! | |||
03 Oct 2023 | I’m a Self-Directed Star - Now What? Sarah’s Story | 00:18:18 | |
When Sarah read the description of the Self-Directed Star after taking the Just-Right Job Match quiz, she was nodding right along. Her career tagline is definitely “I’ve got this” and she loves to work independently. Finding that remote job with a lot of autonomy has been more challenging though. Remote jobs are out there, but the job boards aren’t as packed with fully remote roles as they were in 2021. Join Becca and Marie to talk through how Sarah can tackle her job search for a remote role with a lot of time flexibility by expanding her search beyond the traditional sites. | |||
17 Oct 2023 | From Facebook Recruiting to Our Town’s Family Coffee Spot: Casey’s Story | 00:31:22 | |
What would it take for you to leave a big-name company and a stable job to take a chance on yourself? This week we welcome our very first guest, Casey Winner, dad of two and co-founder of LittleTown Coffee. Entrepreneurship comes in many different flavors and Casey’s story will inspire you to tap into your creativity to make your entrepreneurial dream a reality. Follow along with the adventures of LittleTown Coffee Co. on Instagram @littletowncoffee. | |||
10 Oct 2023 | How Can Being a “Transformative Teammate” Fit with My Needs for Flexibility?: Tessa’s Story | 00:16:58 | |
Tess reached the end of the Just-Right Job Match Quiz and said “Transformative Teammate - that’s me!” Going all the way back to her childhood, Tessa has loved being part of a team and thrives in environments when she can collaborate with coworkers she likes and respects on a mission she cares deeply about. At the same time, Tessa needs schedule flexibility in her life. With three kids, Tessa is on the move and she and her husband are constantly driving someone to practice. Tessa also coaches two of her kids’ teams, and loves it! How can she be a teammate at work if her other teams need her too? Join Becca and Marie to explore how Transformative Teammates can find work cultures that align with their love for collaboration and need for time at home. | |||
24 Oct 2023 | Planning for Baby #2: Anna’s Story | 00:19:29 | |
Anna had her first baby last year and is starting to think about having a second child. Since returning from maternity leave to her job in corporate communications, things have been going well and she has the flexibility she needs. However, she is wondering if this job will still fit her life when baby #2 arrives. Two kids is a whole new ball game and maybe it’s time to press pause on her career. Join Marie and Becca to talk through this listener story and break down what questions you can ask yourself if you’re considering expanding your family and making a career change that aligns with your priorities. | |||
31 Oct 2023 | Halloween Special - Taking the Scary Out of Personal Branding: Melissa's Story | 00:22:54 | |
To celebrate Halloween, today we're revisiting one of our most popular episodes and scariest topics - Personal Branding! That’s how Melissa was feeling as she launched a job search. Melissa is a mom of 1 and a military spouse. She and her family have moved around the country multiple times, and Melissa has a lot of varied interests so her job history is, in her words “scattered.” Listen as Becca and Marie break down the intimidating idea of personal branding and help Melissa own her personal brand in her job search. | |||
07 Nov 2023 | Giving is Selfish - Jenn's Story | 00:19:54 | |
As parents we're often in "giving" mode, but have you ever thought about the benefits of giving to your health and well-being? | |||
14 Nov 2023 | Teaching Character, Compassion, and Resilience: Ann's Story | 00:26:42 | |
Somehow Becca and Marie have made it into Season 2 without crying, but that ends today with our guest, Ann McKitrick. www.nurturednoggins.com | |||
28 Nov 2023 | Entrepreneurship Isn’t for Me Anymore, Now What?: Krista’s Story | 00:14:29 | |
When Krista’s youngest child went into kindergarten, she and her spouse at the time decided that now was the perfect time for her to launch her own business. And for the next seven years, Krista was in her sweet spot building a fitness company she loved and that gained a great following. Things have shifted in Krista’s life though as she is navigating a divorce alongside a wavering interest in the business she has built. She has financial needs to meet that her business isn’t filling, and pushing hard to grow the business just isn’t as exciting to her anymore. Join Becca and Marie to talk through how Krista can use the skills she built as an entrepreneur to be a standout employee with a company she loves and get the benefits she needs. | |||
05 Dec 2023 | Helping Moms in the "Messy Middle of Life and Career": Christine's Story | 00:28:14 | |
As moms, we want to be the best version of ourselves at home and at work. But without the village at our doorsteps, working parents of today need more support and community. | |||
12 Dec 2023 | Accelerate Your Dreams by Mobilizing Your Network: Melissa's Story | 00:28:48 | |
Dare to dream big to achieve your goals! Join Becca and Marie as they discuss creativity and the power of being authentic and sincere with Melissa Llarena. Fertile Imagination: A Guide for Stretching Every Mom's Superpower for Maximum Impact | |||
19 Dec 2023 | How to Make Networking WORK with Great Questions: Cindy’s Story | 00:22:08 | |
Cindy is a mom of 2 who has spent the last 10 years working for a nonprofit. She’s been feeling the itch to leave her job managing partnerships and move into a for profit company, but after sending out a few applications and hearing radio silence she doesn’t know where to take her search next. Enter networking, but not just any networking, strategic networking that really works! Join Becca and Marie to help Cindy create a networking roadmap that centers on asking great questions that educate and impress. | |||
09 Jan 2024 | The Ripple Effect of Living a Life Aligned With Your Goals: Heather's Story | 00:22:36 | |
Throw a stone into a pond and you can't help but notice the ripples that quickly spread out beyond the point of impact. That same ripple effect happens when you prioritize your health and well-being as a parent and professional. The positive impact is far beyond you! | |||
16 Jan 2024 | Tapping into Creativity with the Power of "Yet": Queen's Story | 00:36:01 | |
Like many of us, Queen Allotey-Pappoe did not have her whole life and career mapped out at 18. And it's a good thing she didn't, because without being open to following her curiosity and embracing a natural draw toward solving problems, the Queen Adeline brand wouldn't exist today! Queen teaches, consults and speaks at the intersection of Design, Sustainability, Entrepreneurship and Women Empowerment. Her experience includes teaching Sustainability in Apparel Design at the Rhode Island School of Design, Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design and membership on the Boards of the Society of Arts and Craft, Boston and that of a private school in Littleton, MA. Her prior experience includes Strategy work with non profit organizations in Boston as an Organizational Development Consultant, and leverages her global perspective (having lived and worked on three continents) in mentoring young women and minority entrepreneurs. Queen’s work strives to preserve local artistry and create sustainable communities through creative entrepreneurship | |||
26 Dec 2023 | Bringing Our Kids to Work Day: Becca and Marie's Kids Share Their Stories | 00:08:43 | |
To close out 2023, we're doing something special. This week we welcome our kids to the podcast and ask what THEY want to be when they grow up. We were also lucky enough to get advice from some really smart young minds about what to do as we face inflection points in our careers. | |||
23 Jan 2024 | Supporting Leaders with Young Children : Verena's Story | 00:21:01 | |
Verena Hefti MBE is the CEO and Founder of Leaders Plus, a social enterprise to support leaders with young children to continue to progress their careers. She believes no one should have to choose between becoming a CEO and enjoying motherhood. | |||
30 Jan 2024 | Vision Boarding Your Career Criteria: Beth’s Story | 00:21:07 | |
Career Clarity Program member, Beth, was excited to dive into crafting her career criteria. Having a tool that would help her make the best decisions for herself was super appealing. As a busy mom, she had decision fatigue and she needed the structure. However, as Beth got into the activity she found herself stuck. She had answers to the prompts but struggled to put what mattered most to her into words. Instead of staying stuck, Beth asked for help and we introduced another tool for her to get her criteria onto paper - vision boarding! Join Becca and Marie to learn how using visuals to craft your career criteria can be equally powerful for helping you find career clarity. | |||
20 Feb 2024 | From Teacher to Etsy Shop Entrepreneur: Jacqueline's Story | 00:29:12 | |
Attention teachers, this one is for you! Jacqueline is a former high school teacher and an Etsy & Online Business Coach who teaches her students how to make profitable passive income by selling digital downloads on Etsy. The strategies she teaches helps her students build a profitable and sustainable digital product business without relying on posting on social media or paid advertising. | |||
05 Feb 2024 | Fund The Life You Want By Owning Your Money : Belinda's Story | 00:27:13 | |
Business owners - this one is especially for YOU! Because there’s something happening behind the scenes way too often for coaches and experts that no one’s really talking about, and we think it’s time to address it head-on. We're talking about how many amazing business owners, just like you, are working way too hard to grow and make more money in your business. But at the end of the day, you don’t feel like you have enough to show for it! (Sound familiar?!) | |||
13 Feb 2024 | Moving On After Maternity Leave: Kelly’s Story | 00:16:52 | |
Kelly has worked in project management for an insurance company for the past six years. During that time she has given birth to her two children and is in the middle of her second maternity leave. The company has good healthcare and maternity benefits and Kelly feels fortunate and grateful that her family’s needs have been covered. At the same time, Kelly is not happy in her job. She hasn’t been for a couple of years now. The insurance industry isn’t inspiring to her and she wants to make a transition into a new path that allows her to be more creative. A few opportunities have started to pop up while she’s on leave, but Kelly feels stuck. Can she really leave her company after using her maternity leave benefits? The short answer - yes! But let’s talk through the maternity leave guilt feelings because Kelly is not alone in this at all! | |||
27 Feb 2024 | Success On The Job : Elizabeth's Story | 00:16:55 | |
Elizabeth is excited about starting her new job, but she is also nervous. She wants to make a great first impression when walking into the office and that feels like a lot of pressure! Plus she'll be learning new processes, new systems, new responsibilities – whew, it's tiring just thinking about it! To calm some of those nerves, join Becca and Marie as they address the simple secrets to success for your first 30 days at a new job. You’ll rock your new workplace! | |||
05 Mar 2024 | Owning Your Power Quotient: Shelmina's Story | 00:28:17 | |
You've heard about IQ and EQ, but have you explored how your PQ (Power Quotient) can impact your life and career? | |||
12 Mar 2024 | The Wisdom in Anger : Lisa's Story | 00:27:04 | |
If you've ever felt anger building up inside you due to resentment and frustration at home or at work, then you are JUST like us. | |||
19 Mar 2024 | Using Critical Thinking with Self-Compassion: Stephanie's Story | 00:27:25 | |
Perfectionism feels like a bad word, but is it? Maybe there is another way to reframe how we think about striving for perfection as professionals and parents that can help us move toward our goals without burning out.
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26 Mar 2024 | How to Rock Your Performance Review: Bella’s Story | 00:21:49 | |
Every time Bella* has gone into a performance review, she has been a bundle of nerves. Seeing that meeting pop up on her calendar every year makes her panicky, and she wonders if she has done anything right in the past year or if she is going to be fired on the spot. In reality, Bella is great at her job, but the performance review anxiety is real. Maybe you're feeling that right now too! This week on the When Mommy Grows Up, join Marie and Becca as we walk Bella through four strategies to ease the stress and rock her review!
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02 Apr 2024 | Cross-Country Moves and Big Life Transitions: Emily’s Story | 00:23:45 | |
If you're approaching a big life transition (a move, a new baby, a career change), then this episode of When Mommy Grows Up is for you! | |||
09 Apr 2024 | Motherhood Identity Shift: Kate's Story | 00:14:20 | |
Having children is by far one of the most life-altering events we go through. So how does a high-achieving woman navigate this confusing, exciting, scary, and beautiful career and life inflection point? Listen to this replay of our very first story on When Mommy Grows Up - "Kate," mom of two little ones with a Master's Degree on her office wall and a whole lot of confusion about what fulfillment looks like to her now that she is a mom and coming out of the new baby haze. Join Becca and Marie to hear Kate's story and learn the steps she can take to identify what has changed with her career criteria and welcome the new possibilities ahead. | |||
21 May 2024 | Building Your Network as an Introvert: Abby's Story | 00:23:09 | |
It's no surprise to Abby that on every personality assessment she has ever taken, she's as far to the Introvert side of the scale as she can get! Her husband is also relatively introverted and her two kids have followed suit. As a research analyst, being introverted has always worked out well for Abby. She has a close circle of family and friends, enjoys her solo work, and has enough quiet time to recharge. The problem is that Abby’s company had to do massive layoffs which left Abby on the search for a new job. A change was not on the agenda for her and she doesn’t know where to start. Join Becca and Marie to talk about layoffs and harnessing your power as an introvert to make networking as part of your job search work for you. | |||
23 Apr 2024 | If You Can't Be With the Job You Love: Cara's Story | 00:19:28 | |
Lots of things are going right for Cara. She and her wife were married three years ago. They love their house and their friends, and they are even looking to expand their family! They are excited to be first-time moms and are going through the IVF process. Fortunately, Cara’s company has fantastic benefits that help to cover the cost of IVF which lifts a big burden off of Cara and her wife. Unfortunately, Cara really doesn’t love her job anymore. She’d love to get out, but she knows that for now she should stay. Is there anything she can do in the meantime to make her workday a whole lot better? Join Becca and Marie to help Cara through this challenge with embracing the idea of job crafting. | |||
16 Apr 2024 | The Write Stuff: Whitney’s Story | 00:12:08 | |
Whitney has always loved to write, but as she has progressed in her career in fundraising she has found that her writing skills aren’t used to their full capacity. For the most part, that’s been okay. However, now that her two kids are both in elementary school and doing a bunch of writing of their own, she is getting the itch to explore her creative side more! Whitney isn’t sure what she would do with her writing exactly as it relates to a career change, but she wants to explore what’s possible. The big question - how can she get started? Join Becca and Marie to talk all things writing in your mid-career including setting your goals, creating opportunities, and where to get your writing published. www.nextchaptercareers.us | |||
30 Apr 2024 | "Mommy is the boss!": Jenny's Story | 00:25:12 | |
Marie and Becca often discuss how becoming moms has influenced their careers, yet there's another side to this story. Our careers also influence our children in beautiful ways! Jenny is a trained mechanical engineer and mom turned entrepreneur, dedicated to bringing a more diverse, inclusive and creative approach to STEAM education through the Brooklyn Robot Foundry. Founded in 2011 and with four locations open currently, the brand focuses on sharing the fun of STEAM education with children everywhere, inspiring them to continue a life full of exploration, problem-solving, and imagination. | |||
07 May 2024 | Navigating Maternal Mental Health: Colleen's Story | 00:24:00 | |
May is Maternal Mental Health Month, and in honor of the millions of women impacted by Postpartum Depression and Postpartum Anxiety every year, we are welcoming maternal mental health advocate and author Colleen Imler to the podcast this week. | |||
14 May 2024 | Career Lessons from Our Moms : Cindy & Helene's Stories | 00:15:28 | |
In honor of Mother's Day, in this special episode, Becca and Marie take a trip down memory lane to share stories about the women who shaped their lives and careers - their moms! | |||
28 May 2024 | Let’s Talk Money: Madeline’s Story | 00:21:30 | |
Madeline is a mom of two living in Michigan with her two kids and husband. She’s been in management consulting at a large firm since graduating from business school fifteen years ago, and while she loved the work at first it has taken a toll. The travel is too much for how she wants to live her life with two young children and she wants to find more balance. The problem? Money. Madeline has been paid very well for her work and feels certain that if she were to leave her current job she couldn’t make enough money to support her family’s needs. How can she take care of herself and her family, while also taking care of herself and her family? Join Becca and Marie to talk about money. How to figure out what we need, how to break down the money stories we are telling ourselves, and what tools you can use to make educated decisions about next steps. www.nextchaptercareers.us/freetraining | |||
04 Jun 2024 | Turn Transferable Skills into Transferable Solutions: Heidi’s Story | 00:13:10 | |
For the past 15 years, Heidi has been a third grade teacher and she’s amazing at it. The problem is that Heidi isn’t sure she wants to teach anymore. In fact, she’s quite sure of it! The classroom was great for a season, but it’s time for a change. Heidi is feeling stuck though. If she wants to transition out of the classroom and into working for a nonprofit, how can she effectively communicate her transferable skills on paper and in an interview? Join Becca and Marie this week to identify Heidi’s transferable teacher skills and more importantly her transferable SOLUTIONS that she can use to market herself as a standout employee. | |||
11 Jun 2024 | How to Advance Your Career in One Minute | 00:22:07 | |
Do you want to know how to advance your career? | |||
18 Jun 2024 | 5 Ways to Use ChatGPT for Career Clarity: Erin’s Story | 00:21:21 | |
Mom of two and nurse, Erin, is excited to be on a career clarity journey to understand what direction to take her career. With her packed schedule though, Erin is getting discouraged because she feels like she is going down Google rabbit holes rather than making progress. Enter AI! | |||
25 Jun 2024 | Celebrating an Unscheduled Summer (And Great Season 2!) | 00:17:09 | |
As moms, the word “busy” is often attached to our names. There are a million things to get done at work and at home, and we’re making them ALL happen. But what if we let some things go, especially over the summer? Last season, we talked about managing the summertime shuffle with camp drop-offs and spreadsheets, but as we close out Season 2, Marie and Becca are taking a different look at summer through the lens of doing less rather than more and finding the time and space we really need. | |||
17 Sep 2024 | Back to School and Time for a Change: Taylor’s Story | 00:14:57 | |
Taylor’s three kids are back to school, with two in elementary school and one starting her first year in middle school. It’s a season of change for the whole family and Taylor is starting to wonder if it could be her turn to make a change next. Taylor’s been with the same manufacturing company for 8 years doing marketing and events and it’s a pretty solid role in many ways. She doesn’t love it though and feels torn. Should she make a change right now, and what would that change even be? Let’s help Taylor during back to school season with some lessons for HER on how to create a “should I make a change” rubric. | |||
10 Sep 2024 | Welcome to Season 3! | 00:15:31 | |
Welcome back to season 3 of When Mommy Grows Up! Becca and Marie are back after summer break. Join us for a recap of the good, the bad, and the hilarious of summer with kids and a preview of what to expect in Season 3. | |||
24 Sep 2024 | The Stress and Mental Health Challenges of Parenthood: The Surgeon General’s Advisory | 00:13:16 | |
At the end of August, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy released a Surgeon General’s Advisory about the stress and mental health challenges of parenthood. The big takeaway - parents today are being pushed to the brink and they need support. We couldn’t agree more, and know that you are feeling it, too. Join Becca and Marie to talk through what the data tells about parenthood stress along with the real life stories behind that data. We’ll also talk through the proposed solutions - what works, what doesn’t, and what can we do going forward to make a real impact. | |||
01 Oct 2024 | Asking for What You Need: Kristen’s Story | 00:12:26 | |
Kristen is a mom of 2 and has been with her company for the past 5 years. Her kids are now in 4th and 2nd grade and she is finding herself stressed all the time. In reading the highlights of the Surgeon General’s Advisory, Kristen found herself nodding along to every stressor facing parents today - finances, safety, mental health, loneliness - the list went on. When she reached out to us for support (and we’re so glad she did) Kristen found that while stress wasn’t going to go away overnight, there were things she could do to positively impact her well-being and that of her family. | |||
08 Oct 2024 | The Stress Hormone Imbalance Solution: Rachel's Story | 00:21:03 | |
Is your stress hormone out of balance? If you're not sure (or didn't even know that was a thing!) we weren't either. But this week's guest, Rachel Sanders, certainly has us wondering how stress in our 30s is impacting our bodies! She is the CEO and Founder of Rootine, a modern wellness brand offering science-backed supplements and at-home lab testing. She is also a podcast host, investor, and digital creator with 105,000 followers on social media and her newsletter, Glow & Elevate, where Rachel provides practical tips for improving stress, weight, sleep, and productivity. Her work has been featured in top publications like Forbes and Entrepreneur and she holds an MBA from Harvard Business School. She is passionate about sharing her knowledge and practical health tips she’s learned as a mom of 2 and wellness company founder, offering actionable advice to improve overall well-being and achieve optimal health. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelsopsanders/ Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-soper-sanders/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelsopsanders Website: https://www.rachelsopersanders.com/ | |||
15 Oct 2024 | Turning Worries into Questions: Amanda’s Story | 00:16:07 | |
After graduating college in 2010, Amanda landed a sales job with a food packaging company. She never saw herself building a career in sales, but it turns out she was good at it and the commission based pay structure made her feel tied to the function year after year. The golden handcuff feeling is real! Now, 14 years into her career in sales Amanda is feeling torn. Sales is the path she knows and she could find another job at another company, but it’s no longer fulfilling or motivating. She has worries about staying, she has worries about leaving. Everywhere she turns - more worries! Join Becca and Marie to talk about a strategy to work through the worries that come with career change and make progress. www.nextchaptercareers.us/freetraining | |||
22 Oct 2024 | Keeping the Wheels on the Bus: Harper’s Story | 00:15:16 | |
When she was growing up, Harper took the bus home from school and her mom was always there with a snack and a smile. It was a cherished memory from her childhood, and Harper always thought she would do the same with her kids. At the same time, life has gotten more and more expensive over the years and Harper and her husband and found that a two-income household is the right fit for them, especially with two kids. Harper’s oldest child will be in kindergarten next year so she really wants to find a job that she likes that also lets her pick up her kindergartener off the bus at the end of the day. Is that real? Join Becca and Marie to talk about the different jobs that allow school bus flexibility that Harper could consider! | |||
29 Oct 2024 | What is Career Coaching REALLY Like?: Live Coaching with Becca & Marie | 00:17:44 | |
Join Career Coach Becca on this Live Coaching episode as co-host Marie takes the hot seat! | |||
05 Nov 2024 | Manage Like a Mother: Valerie's Story | 00:24:59 | |
Valerie Cockerell is a French American former Disney leader who was part of the opening team of Disneyland Paris. She pursued her career at Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida and facilitated programs for the Disney Institute. She is now a consultant in Leadership and Customer service excellence for organizations around the world. She is the proud mother of 3 and now lives in Australia. | |||
19 Nov 2024 | Dance Through the To-Do List With Fair Play: Valerie's Story | 00:24:41 | |
What if you could leave resentment behind, transform your home dynamics, and make juggling tasks a breeze? Good news - we have the perfect tool to make it happen! | |||
12 Nov 2024 | How to Publish Your Children’s Book: Belinda Baloney’s Story | 00:18:28 | |
Becca’s first children’s book, Belinda Baloney Changes Her Mind, turned four years old this fall! The book was fun to create, a joy to share, and at first, very confusing to publish! But Belinda Baloney made it out there into the world, and to this day, one of the most common questions Becca gets is, “I have an idea for a children’s book, but what do I do now?” Join Becca and Marie to talk about the story of Belinda Baloney and how you can start your own creative endeavor on the side by writing and publishing your very own children’s book! Find Belinda Baloney: https://amzn.to/3YxI7Mg Gatekeeper Press: https://gatekeeperpress.com/ Gatekeeper Press Coupon Code: BECCA-CARNAHAN | |||
26 Nov 2024 | Growing Dreams: Jessie's Leap from Professor to Plantpreneur! | 00:21:25 | |
Jessie Myers is a former biology professor who boldly planted her roots in entrepreneurship by launching Tulsa Rare Plant Emporium, a vibrant plant nursery and art studio. Jessie shares her journey of nurturing both her family and her passion for botany and creativity, revealing how she transformed her career while cultivating a community space where ideas and plants flourish together. https://www.instagram.com/tulsaplants/ www.linkedin.com/in/jmyersphd | |||
03 Dec 2024 | Should I Put My Job Search on Hold over the Holidays?: Holly’s Story | 00:14:42 | |
Holly started her job search in October when she realized that her current job wasn’t fitting her life anymore. She has two kids with busy after school schedules, she’s experiencing a lot of frustration with her manager, and now the company is going back to the office full time in 2025. A change is necessary! But as we head into the holiday season, Holly is wondering if she should put her job search on hold. There is a lot going on with family and friends and she’s not sure job searching right now is worth it. Join Becca and Marie as we explore the pros and cons of both options and ways to take advantage of the opportunities of the holiday season to get a head start and to be ready to hit the ground running in the new year! | |||
24 Dec 2024 | Home Alone: Our Excuse for Holiday Career Chat! | 00:12:32 | |
In this holiday special episode, Becca and Marie unpack "Home Alone" while drawing unexpected parallels to career challenges and lessons from the importance of resourcefulness to the art of embracing solitude. | |||
10 Dec 2024 | Overflowing Your Cup with Practical Self-Care: Andryanna's Story | 00:22:21 | |
Get ready for an uplifting episode with Becca and Marie as they welcome Andryanna Gonko - educator, speaker, and mom to three boys. | |||
07 Jan 2025 | Vision Boarding Your Career Criteria: Beth's Story | 00:22:08 | |
Career Clarity Program member, Beth, was excited to dive into crafting her career criteria. Having a tool that would help her make the best decisions for herself was super appealing. As a busy mom, she had decision fatigue and she needed the structure. However, as Beth got into the activity she found herself stuck. She had answers to the prompts but struggled to put what mattered most to her into words. Instead of staying stuck, Beth asked for help and we introduced another tool for her to get her criteria onto paper - vision boarding! | |||
17 Dec 2024 | Demystifying the LinkedIn Profile: Jordan’s Story | 00:23:33 | |
Once upon a time when she graduated college in 2010, Jordan created a LinkedIn profile. Then it sat there barely touched and infrequently logged into for over a decade! LinkedIn simply hasn’t been a priority as Jordan became a teacher and settled into a school system she enjoyed. However, after years in the classroom, Jordan is ready for a change. She is excited about the prospect of working with an edtech company in a Customer Success role, partnering with schools to utilize new technology. With this change though, Jordan’s LinkedIn profile needs some TLC. Join Becca and Marie to demystify key parts of the LinkedIn profile and make Jordan’s profile work for her. | |||
14 Jan 2025 | "Try Your Best": Career Lessons from Parenting Part 1 | 00:15:31 | |
Exciting announcement! The second edition of When Mommy Grows Up (the book) is coming out in March 2025. | |||
21 Jan 2025 | Snoozing Your Way to Success! - Sleep Secrets with Dr. Afolabi-Brown | 00:21:25 | |
Join Becca and Marie in this dreamy episode where we chat with the amazing Dr. Funke Afolabi-Brown - a triple board certified pediatric pulmonologist and sleep medicine expert with over 20 years of experience helping parents and their children improve their sleep. | |||
28 Jan 2025 | How to Turn Your Instinctual Yes Into a Question: Dave's Story | 00:38:32 | |
Do you say too many "yeses"? If so, you aren't alone. It happens to the best of us, whether because we are helpers by nature, seek recognition, or pride ourselves on doing ALL the things. Since leaving the news, he's consulted organizations large and small, public, private, and nonprofit. In 2023, he turned his focus once again back to better governance and founded kartoonEDU, which creates visual communications to help public schools share complex information with their stakeholders in more engaging ways. In two years, he's worked with more than 60 public school districts and associations in the U.S. and Canada. This year, his company is expanding to offer their products and services to municipalities as well. | |||
25 Feb 2025 | "Follow the Rules": Career Lessons from Parenting Part 3 | 00:18:40 | |
When Mommy Grows Up: Finding Career Clarity While Covered in Kids can be on your e-reader or on your bookshelf on March 25th! Have your ordered your copy yet? As we countdown to the release, this week we're diving into chapter 8, Follow the Rules. But this time the parenting lesson isn't so straightforward, because it turns out there is benefiting to following the rules and benefit to breaking the rules. Join us as we talk about how creating a set of personal rules to follow and breaking rules that don't make sense help you move forward in your career. www.nextchaptercareers.us/freetraining | |||
18 Feb 2025 | "Use Your Words": Career Lessons from Parenting Part 2 | 00:17:32 | |
The countdown to When Mommy Grows Up: Finding Career Clarity While Covered in Kids (the book) is on! This week we're diving into chapter 5, Use Your Words. We teach our kids to use their words instead of lashing out in anger, pouting in the corner, or throwing an epic tantrum in Target. But are we reminding ourselves to use our words as we look for more fulfillment in our work? Tune in for toddler parenting stories, Spice Girls lyrics, and advice on how to have the important conversations that will move your career in the direction you want! nextchaptercareers.us/quiz | |||
11 Mar 2025 | The Art of the Pivot: Creating a Career That Aligns with Family Life - Christine's Story | 00:30:01 | |
Life Coach and mom of three Christine Anastasia joins us for a follow-up conversation as she shares her journey of redefining success on her own terms, navigating a job search in 2024, and owning multiple identities as a team member, entrepreneur, and mom. Join Becca and Christine to talk about how Christine emphasizes the importance of leveraging multifaceted skills, finding supportive work environments, and creating a career that aligns with family life. | |||
08 Apr 2025 | What Do I Want To Be When They Grow Up: Karen's Story | 00:22:04 | |
Almost a decade ago, Becca and Karen Johnson met on the wild world of the internet sharing parenting memes and laughs as they both navigated the early years of motherhood. (You might know Karen as The21stCenturySAHM on Instagram and Facebook. She's hilarious!) Fast forward to today, and they are on the same page again asking the big question "What do I want to be NEXT as I grow up right alongside my growing kids?" Join Becca, Marie, and Karen as they talk about taking risks, uncovering new passions, navigating perimenopause, and giving ourselves permission to continue to grow up! Meet Karen: Also known on social media as The 21st Century SAHM, Karen Johnson writes about all things parenthood and believes that humor is necessary to survive the journey. She is the creator of countless hilarious memes and the mom journal “I brushed my hair today.” Her new book What Do I Want to Be When They Grow Up: And Other Thoughts from a 40-something mom is coming out on May 6. What Do I Want to Be When They Grow Up: And Other Thoughts from a 40-Something Mom The21stCenturySAHM on Instagram | |||
25 Mar 2025 | It's Publication Day for When Mommy Grows Up THE BOOK! | 00:05:43 | |
As moms, we are grownups, but are we all the way grown up yet? If you're a fan of the When Mommy Grows Up podcast, then you know Becca and Marie would say "No!" We still have plenty of growing up, evolving, and changing to do throughout our lives and careers. That’s why Becca wants to invite moms into the pages of her new book, When Mommy Grows Up: Finding Career Clarity While Covered in Kids, to learn more about themselves, define their own versions of success, map out new paths forward, and find lots of humor along the way. |