She Reaches Podcast: Recent Episodes
Tiffany Walker
She Reaches Podcast is hosted by Tiffany Walker, strategist for working moms who are tired of settling in their careers and personal lives. Follow along each week to hear stories and realistic strategies for reaching for more in your career, personal life, and relationships as a working mom. Let’s not settle for just “ok,” let’s reach for more. Find show notes and resources at shereaches.com and follow @shereaches on instagram and FB.
Ever wonder about the working dad's perspective on how to make life work in a modern dual income family?
In this episode, Matthew Sharp is sharing his story about how he makes things work in his household. Matthew is a husband and dad to two (soon to be 3!). He's also been a champion for working parents by being involved in a parental leave initiative at his company. Matthew talks about why he became involved and why it didn't deter him that the initiative was an offshoot of a women's group at his company.
There are a lot of negative stories of partnerships when we talk about working moms so I hope this starts to change the narrative and highlight the cases where a partnership is working well. I hope you consider sharing this episode with your partner!
Highlights:
- Matthew's career background and family life
- Matthew's schedule and how he and his wife make things work day to day
- Variable vs. predictable work schedules and how that impacts how they handle things like sick days for their kids
- His thoughts on the most stressful part of being a working dad
- The parental leave policy initiative Matthew was involved in at his company
- Getting involved in women's initiatives as a man and speaking up for people who don't have as much power
- Tips for other parents in making things work as a dual income family
Today’s Guest:
Matthew Sharp recently transitioned to a new role at Facebook in the Marketing Science group. Most recently, Matthew Sharp lead the Customer Knowledge team at Novantas, a financial services advisory and technology solutions firm. Matthew's team lead all primary customer research efforts at the firm.
Additionally, in his time at Novantas, Matthew championed policies that benefit women at Novantas (more specifically, working mothers) by building business cases and successfully advocating for a new parental leave policy. He also led a group that founded and launched the company's corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative, NovaGIVES.
Matthew is a husband of a working mother and spends most of his time outside of work with her and their two sons. They are expecting their third child (a little girl) in July 2019.
Resources:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewasharp/
Do you wonder if it's too late to get back in the exercise game after having your kids?
In this episode, I'm talking with fitness expert Erica Ziel about exercise and taking care of your body after having kids. We talk about postpartum challenges and preventative measures women need to take to feel good now and later in life. We also laugh as we chat about the "mom butt" or still looking pregnant even after you're years postpartum. If you have struggled to get back in the exercise game after having your kids - no matter how long ago that was - this is the episode for you!
Highlights:
- How Erica got into fitness and wellness
- Common complaints and challenges for women after having kids
- Why your pelvic floor is important, how to strengthen it, and why it's never too late
- How to get started in exercising even if you haven't done it since before having your kids
- Why working out harder and longer can actually make it more difficult to lose weight
- Balancing out your body from things like holding your kids
- "Mom butt" and how to change your posture to find your booty again
- Why you may look pregnant long after you are
- What you can do if you're sitting most of the day
Today’s Guest:
Published author, founder of Core Athletica® Inc., Knocked-Up Fitness®, creator of the Core Rehab Program, expert on Fascial Training, Core and Pre/Postnatal Exercise Specialist. Bachelor’s Degree in Health & Human Performance from Iowa State University, a Certified Personal Trainer, Pilates Instructor, Nutrition Coach and Mama of 3.
Erica has been featured in and contributed to many publications including; The Strength and Conditioning Journal, People.com, Oxygen Magazine, Fit Pregnancy, Pilates Style Magazine, Pregnancy and Newborn Magazine + LiveStrong.com.
Growing up on a family farm in the Midwest, she worked alongside her family on the farm - this environment instilled a strong family focus and an incredible work ethic she has carried with her, and is reflected today in her dedication to her family and her successful business.
Erica’s Functional Fascial Core method has proven to generate quicker and better results for her clients! She has been in the wellness space now for over 15 years.
Resources:
www.EricaZiel.com
www.Knocked-UpFitness.com
Erica's membership
Core Connections Podcast
Erica Ziel on Instagram
Do you feel stretched too thin?
In this podcast episode, I'm talking to Jessica Turner, the author of Stretched Too Thin and The Fringe Hours. She juggles a full-time job while also being a blogger and author and she shares how she things about what she does and doesn't do to keep her household running.
We also talked about how you can go from surviving to thriving as a working mom, the role of partners in making things work, and how you might make time for friends even during a busy season.
Highlights:
- Jessica's background and what lead to writing the Fringe Hours and Stretched Too Thin
- The areas that Jessica has chosen to outsource during this season of her life
- The things that she also automates to save time
- How to think about it when considering outsourcing or automating
- What the fringe hours are and how you can use them to your advantage
- Jessica's thoughts on how working moms can go from surviving to thriving
- The role of partners in making things work
- How to make time for friends and the importance of community
Today’s Guest:
Jessica N. Turner is the author of Stretched Too Thin and The Fringe Hours. She is also an award-winning marketing executive and the founder of the popular lifestyle blog The Mom Creative (www.themomcreative.com). Additionally, she is a writer for the Today Parenting Team and DaySpring's (in)courage, an advocate for World Vision, a regular speaker at events nationwide. She and her husband, Matthew live with their three children in Nashville, Tennessee.
Resources:
Themomcreative.com
instagram.com/jessicanturner
instagram.com/booksnobbery
Facebook.com/themomcreative
The Fringe Hours: Making Time for You
Stretched Too Thin: How Working Moms Can Lose the Guilt, Work Smarter, and Thrive
According to Lauren Smith Brody, the "fifth trimester" is where a working mom is born. In this episode, Lauren shares what lead to writing The Fifth Trimester, how you can be a voice to push forward your own workplace, and what working parents really need.
We also talk about the role of partners in this conversation and what makes being a working mom a strength that helps with the bottom line at companies. For fun, we also chat about the recent viral photo of Lauren registering for after school care while sitting on a panel at a conference!
Highlights:
- Lauren's background and what lead to writing The Fifth Trimester
- What she means by the fifth trimester and why it's important
- How being transparent in the workplace will change things in the future
- How you can be a voice to push forward in your own workplace
- What makes being a working mom a strength in the workplace and why this helps in profit for companies
- The story behind the viral photo of Lauren registering for after school care while on a conference panel
- The role of fathers and partners in support of working mothers
- What to do if things feel unbalanced with your partner
- How companies can better support parents
Today’s Guest:
Lauren Smith Brody is the founder of The Fifth Trimester movement and consulting, which helps parents and businesses collaborate to retain women and foster family-friendly workplace culture. Her book, The Fifth Trimester: The Working Mom’s Guide to Style, Sanity, and Success After Baby (Doubleday/Anchor), was a simultaneous best-seller in the Amazon categories of motherhood, women and business, and cultural anthropology. The Fifth Trimester has been featured in The New York Times, on Good Morning America, CNN.com, and dozens more outlets, and Brody has been a featured speaker at companies and organizations including Facebook, Fried Frank, The New York Times, Google, American Express, The Wing, GLG, Rackspace, Liberty Mutual, PwC, The Wharton Women’s Summit and more. As an entrepreneur who can’t quit journalism, Brody writes regularly about the intersection of business and motherhood for, among others, The New York Times, Slate, Bloomberg Businessweek, and Elle.
Current ongoing engagements include:
a new monthly motherhood column for Harper’s Bazaar, launching spring 2019; a six-city pilot work/balance coaching program at a top law firm in the healthcare space; the launch of #FAM x Condé Nast, an experiential-first content brand for Millennial parents raising culturally inclusive kids, for which Lauren is the editor-in-chief.
A longtime leader in the women’s magazine industry, Lauren was previously the executive editor of Glamour magazine, where she ran the editorial staff and produced the magazine’s annual Women of the Year awards, honoring luminaries like Dr. Maya Angelou and Hillary Clinton. Raised in Ohio, Texas, and Georgia, she now lives in New York City with her husband and two young sons.
Resources:
www.thefifthtrimester.com
Instagram: @thefifthtrimester
Twitter: @laurensbrody
Facebook: /thefifthtrimester
The Fifth Trimester book
Have you ever had to go on a business trip while you were still breastfeeding?
In this episode, I'm talking with Kate Torgersen, Founder of Milk Stork all about how to make business travel while breastfeeding and pumping easier. We talk about what lead to Kate founding her company to better support working moms as well as what companies can do to better support parents and caretakers.
Finally, if you're interested in talking to your company about benefits like Milk Stork, Kate provides some guidance on the best way to do so.
Highlights:
- Kate's background and the event that lead to her founding Milk Stork
- How she came up with Milk Stork and how it works
- Tips for smoother travel while pumping
- How we can normalize breastfeeding and the need to pump at work
- Why it's important for companies to support breastfeeding moms
- Other ways companies could better support parents or caretakers of all kinds
- Kate's thoughts about what she'd like the future to look like for working moms and parents
- The best way to approach your company to provide benefits like Milk Stork
Today’s Guest:
Kate Torgersen is founder and CEO of Milk Stork®, the first breast milk shipping service for business traveling, breastfeeding moms. Launched in August 2015, Milk Stork provides working moms with everything they need to ship or tote their “liquid gold” home to their babies. For progressive, family-friendly companies, Milk Stork provides an in-demand employee benefit that helps attract, retain and supports working mothers.
As a full time, working mom of three kids, Kate was committed to breastfeeding all of her children for the recommended 12 months despite the many challenges of pumping at work. In 2014, when faced with a four-day business trip, she struggled to get her breast milk home to her eight month-old twins. After returning from her trip with two gallons of breast milk and eight pounds of melting ice, she was determined to create a solution. Within a year, she launched Milk Stork, effectively lightening the load—both physically and emotionally—for countless hardworking, business traveling, breastfeeding moms across the U.S. Fueled by grassroots word-of-mouth among moms, Milk Stork quickly became in-demand, employee benefit with many of the country’s leading companies and firms.
Kate’s mom-led innovation and entrepreneurship have been chronicled in publications such as the Harvard Business Review, New York Magazine, Lifehacker, Fortune and Travel + Leisure. In 2016, Kate was named one of Red Tricycle’s “Power Moms of the Food World” and, in 2015, Business Insider named Milk Stork, one of the “19 Coolest Companies in San Francisco”.
While launching Milk Stork, Kate was senior executive communications manager at Clif Bar & Company. From 2000 to 2007, she served as the company’s national field marketing manager. Prior to joining Clif Bar, Kate chased her wanderlust to the Sierra Nevada Mountains where she worked as an archaeologist and wild land firefighter for the U.S. Forest Service. In the winter, she was a professional ski instructor at Squaw Valley–Alpine Meadows ski resort.
Kate holds a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the University of California, Berkeley and she earned her MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute. When she isn’t working, playing with her kids or picking up Hotwheels, she is running or pursuing her quest for eight hours of uninterrupted sleep.
Resources:
She Reaches Mastermind
www.milkstork.com
Milk Stork on Facebook
Milk Stork on Instagram
Milk Stork on Twitter
Milk Stork on LinkedinWhitepaper for businesses
In today's bonus episode, I'm sharing all about a brand new program designed to support working moms - the She Reaches Mastermind!
I've been working behind the scenes for months on this and the doors are now open for this mastermind which runs from April through June 2019. In this episode, I share why the mastermind can help to support moms after talking to my clients and listeners about what working moms really need.
We all deserve a group of women behind the scenes cheering us on and supporting us so we can actually DO all the things we want to do - without going completely insane doing it.
P.S. The She Reaches Mastermind begins the week of April 8th and you can find more information to join us here.
How do you live a life on purpose and what does that even mean?
In this episode with Erica Layne from the Life on Purpose Movement, we talk about where to get started in being more intentional with your life if you're feeling overwhelmed. Erica gives realistic tips on how to determine what to say no to and how to actually do it when you're nervous about others' feelings about it.
Erica gives her own definition of minimalism and how we can apply those concepts beyond just what we own. Finally, we also discuss how being an introvert can affect how you parent and how you might take that into consideration to maintain your energy in your everyday life.
Highlights:
- Erica's background and the journey that lead to the Life in Purpose Movement
- How to get over guilt in saying no to things that don't fit your priorities or strengths
- Tips for responding to requests that aren't sure you want to say yes to
- Applying minimalism beyond your home and the concepts in her book The Minimalist Way
- Minimalism at home when you have kids
- How you might handle motherhood differently if you're an introvert
- Structuring your day to optimize your energy as a introvert
- How to figure out if you're an introvert or extrovert
Today’s Guest:
Erica Layne is a sunset chaser, mom of three, author of The Minimalist Way, and founder of The Life On Purpose Movement. Her goal is to help women trade overwhelm and fatigue for focus and peace.
Resources:
The Life On Purpose Movement site
The Life On Purpose Movement on Facebook
The Life On Purpose Movement on Instagram
The Minimalist Way: Declutter Your Life and Make Room for Joy
Do you feel like you’re constantly not measuring up when it comes to taking care of your own health & wellness?
In this episode with Robyn Conley Downs of Real Food Whole Life, we’re talking all about gentle wellness and how it can help you to be more successful in your health goals. She gives sustainable strategies for eating healthy and movement that you can fit into even the busiest schedule. We talk about the three traps that we get stuck in with wellness and what we can do instead. Finally, we also talk about the tension between accepting your post baby body and using your feelings to make some changes to take care of yourself.
Highlights:
- Robyn’s health journey and how it led to Real Food Whole Life
- What the gentle wellness revolution is and how it can help you take care of yourself
- The three traps that we get stuck in with wellness
- How our all or nothing approach to diet specifically leads to weight gain and why you’re better off doing nothing than a diet
- Tactical tips for eating healthier without feeling overwhelmed
- How to fit in movement now that your life looks different after having kids
- Redefining what you think “counts” for exercise
- Pockets of time where you might be able to fit in movement
- Ways to think about it if you don’t love your post-baby body
- How paring can help you be successful in your wellness goals
Today’s Guest:
Robyn Conley Downs is founder of the mission-driven media and education brand, Real Food Whole Life, and producer-host of the Apple top-rated Feel Good Effect podcast. Holding a Master’s degree in education with an emphasis in behavior change, and 4 years of public policy & health change at the doctoral level, her work taps into cutting edge science around how people create and sustain lasting wellness. She combines this professional research background with work as a certified yoga teacher, specializing in mindfulness and self-compassion, to share science-based, life-tested, radically simple solutions for wellness.
Robyn is a wife and working mama with a mission to embody and amplify the gentle approach to wellness, and lives by her motto, #gentleisthenewperfect. Her writing and speaking resonate with tens of thousands of readers and listeners each week via her robust following. As host of the Feel Good Effect podcast, she has attracted an engaged and loyal listener base, hosting top wellness innovators and thought-leaders such as Gretchen Rubin, Dr. Kristin Neff, Laila Ali, Jonathan Fields, Kathryn Budig, Dr. Rick Hanson, Kelly LeVeque, and Kate Fagan. Downs’s work has been featured in Huffpost, Buzzfeed, Shape.com, among others, and she is a frequent guest on podcasts and wellness websites. Robyn lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband and research partner, Andrew, and their daughter Elle.
Resources:
Beat the Sunday Blues newsletter
realfoodwholelife.com
@realfoodwholelifeon Instagram
Real Food Whole Life Community Facebook Group
John Acuff Episode on Feel Good Effect
Do you try new things when it comes to your career?
My guest on the podcast, Kerri Koen, licensed attorney who works in the financial services industry as a business strategist, used opportunities both inside and outside the office to find out what career path felt fulfilling for her. We talk about how she ended up in financial services, her participation in a company program that changed the course of her career, and the projects outside of the office that she pursued on the side. This episode challenges the thought that one job has to fulfill all of your needs.
Highlights:
- Kerri's career journey after law school
- How a rotational program changed the course of her career
- Juggling her career, experimenting with side projects, and spending time with her kids & partner
- The conference she attended that shifted her thinking
- How having a side project has enhanced her day to day
- Her thoughts on MLMs, where they can go wrong and the benefits when it's done right
Today’s Guest:
Kerri is a mom of one, stepmom to two, and wife of a fireman. She is a licensed attorney who works in the financial services industry as a business strategist, and she also runs New England Essentials, a brand focused on supporting wellness and empowering women to be leaders. Kerri is passionate about creating opportunities for women to advance, and her article on how passion projects and side-hustles can help advance your career was recently published on Forbes.com.
Resources:
Working Mom Audit
Kerri on Instagram
New England Essentials on Instagram
Do you make time for creative ideas you have outside of your "day job"?
In this episode, I'm talking to Emily Cretella who not only runs her own copywriting and content marketing firm (her "day job"), but also created an online publication called MotherHustle to share what she's learning as a mom and business owner and provide a place for others to share their stories too. As if that isn't enough, Emily recently made space for another creative pursuit - writing a novel! While Emily doesn't know where these creative projects will lead, she makes time for the things she's interested in. We talk all about how these passion projects came about and the mindset she has behind fitting them in.
Highlights:
- How motherhood changed the course of her career
- The weekly newsletter she started to share what she was learning with other working moms
- Creating a community to share experiences with MotherHustle
- Letting a passion project be personal exploration instead of making it a business or a job
- Allowing creative pursuits to organically lead to your next career step
- The dream Emily decided to go after instead of letting it happen "someday"
Today’s Guest:
Emily Cretella is the founder of MotherHustle.com, an online publication + community featuring unpolished personal essays, inspiration-fueling advice and no-nonsense resources for creative mompreneurs, from creative mompreneurs. When she's not helping other moms find + follow their fulfillment, she runs the copywriting and content marketing firm CursiveContent.com, where she helps clients create + share stories their audiences love. She adores being mom to her two little ladies and drinking obscene amounts of coffee from mugs with pithy sayings.
Resources:
instagram.com/motherhustle
facebook.com/motherhustle
twitter.com/motherhustle
pinterest.com/motherhustle
instagram.com/emilycretella
facebook.com/emilycretella
linkedin.com/in/emilycretella
twitter.com/emilycretella
motherhustle.com
cursivecontent.com
Way too much on your plate? Download the 5 Minute Prioritization Drill to crush stress:
http://shereaches.com/5minutedrill/
Learn More About Tiffany’s Work
http://shereaches.com/working-mom-strategy/
What if you could handle your finances in 10-15 minutes during your lunch break? In this episode, Erica Gellerman discusses some financial hacks and shortcuts that you can fit into your busy schedule. She talks about how to be mindful about your money - including spending on the things that make you happy. Her “lunch break list” will allow you to make progress even with the smallest amount of time.
Highlights:
- Why you should consider having financial goals for fun and dream vacations
- Setting up your savings accounts
- How to automate your savings
- Spending on the things that make you the happiest
- Using a “lunch break list” to tackle your financial to do’s in 10-15 minutes
- Handling variable income
- How you can be influenced by the spending habits of those around you
Today’s Guest:
Erica Gellerman is a CPA, MBA, personal finance writer, and founder of The Worth Project: a weekly money newsletter you actually want to read. Her work has been featured on Forbes, Money, Business Insider, The Everygirl, The Everymom, and Lifehacker. Originally from California, she’s spent the last 4 years living in London and exploring Europe with her husband and now with her new son, Henry.
Resources:
theworthproject.co
Instagram: @theworthproject.co
Twitter: @ericagellerman
Fun, Cheap Date Ideas
The Fringe Hours book
Simplify Money Guide
Way too much on your plate? Download the 5 Minute Prioritization Drill to crush stress:
http://shereaches.com/5minutedrill/
Learn More About Tiffany’s Work
http://shereaches.com/working-mom-strategy/
Do you struggle to find time for friendship?
In this episode, Becca Marco is back to chat about specific things you can do to make time and effort to cultivate close friendships. We share the story about how we became friends and the secret we kept from the She Reaches audience about our relationship at our corporate jobs.
We also share how we use technology to maintain friendships when we have little time and we give you tips on handling situations where you enter a different life stage or circumstance like having a baby or moving.
If you want to have close friends, but have struggled to make time or find those friends, this is your episode!
Highlights:
- How Becca and Tiffany became friends
- The three things you need to have in a friendship
- Handling it when you feel like you're growing apart from a friend
- If there's something wrong when you're the person always reaching out
- Keeping friendships when you move
- Fitting in friendship when you have little time
- Using technology to create closer friendships
- Saying yes to invitations when you want to make new friends
Today’s Guest:
Becca is currently a Director in Sales at a technology company. She is responsible for managing the account relationship with top media clients and assisting them with their cross-platform strategy. She started her career in media research over 13 years ago, and since then has run three marathons, spent time on an avocado orchard in New Zealand, and became a wife, step-mom to three boys (21, 16 and 15) and a mom to one daughter.
She is passionate about people and building communities to support individuals as they navigate through their lives. At work she founded a young professionals group to provide them with opportunities for professional development through learning and social events, as well as a women’s group to provide support and guidance to assist in career and personal development; while outside of work she co-founded She Reaches. She currently lives in Atlanta with her husband Alan and daughter Isabella.
Resources:
Ep. #025: Creating Meaningful Friendships & How to Have Friends with Different Political Views with Shasta Nelson
Frientimacy by Shasta Nelson
Could you use some hacks for being healthy?
You're cramming enough stuff into your schedule and I'm sure you have health goals just like I do. In comes my guest in this episode of the podcast, Lindsay Young. She gets you in the right mindset for living a healthy life while also providing down to earth and realistic hacks that you can add to your life right now. And, if you want to know why everyone on Instagram seems to be juicing celery right now, Lindsay tackles this topic too!
Highlights:
- Lindsay shares how she struggled with health and her weight until college
- Why she’s passionate about both physical activity and nutrition
- The importance of health for moms
- How to find something that will really help you make changes for your health
- Lindsay shares some realistic hacks to tweak your health right now
- The truth about the latest trend - celery juice
Today’s Guest:
Lindsay Young is a Certified Transformational Nutrition Coach and Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist living in sunny Southern California. She’s a wife, mama of 3, food enthusiast, and embracer of imperfection.
Lindsay specializes in helping moms develop a simple nutrition and lifestyle plan to create optimal health and energy so that they can confidently rock their ideal body. Her approach to wellness focuses on real food in a real-life context, helping her clients develop a modern approach to a healthy lifestyle that is simple and joyful, in their homes and out in the real world.
Lindsay is hot on a mission to empower and educate moms to create a body they love with real food nutrition. She believes living well can mean eating chocolate and enjoying happy hour, learning to trust your body, and embracing food freedom.
Resources:
Lindsay on Instagram
www.lindsayliveswell.com
Lindsay's Facebook group
Food scale
Free meal plan
Do you have a gameplan for the holidays?
If you think your schedule is busy right now, think about how much the holidays can add to it. The holiday season adds even more to your plate than you already have. In order to prevent it from becoming a stressful season, I'm sharing shortcuts to plan ahead to make it a simple and meaningful season this year.
Highlights:
- Why you should think about preparing for the holidays before they happen
- Reflecting on what you'd like out of the holiday season
- Deciding what you can let go of for your holiday season to reduce stress
- What memories do you have from your childhood?
- Feeling more confident about what you say yes or no to during this season
- How to make space in your life - both physical and virtual space before the holidays pile on
- Planning ahead to make sure you don't spend too much
Resources:
Ebates(referral link - You get $10 if you use this link!)
How would it feel to go from chaos in your home and life to organized with systems in place?
If anyone has the answers about how to do this, it's my guests on the latest podcast episode Joni Weiss and Kitt Fife from Practically Perfect. Not only are they professional organizers, they each have three kids and very full schedules to maintain.
In this episode, they share tips on how to create systems that work in your home taking into account the stage your kids are in and your own lifestyle. They give encouragement and examples for how to get the whole family involved in contributing to maintaining your household.
Joni and Kitt also handle some listener questions about hot topics such as handling all those school papers, storing seasonal items, and keeping your kids' toys from taking over your home.
Finally, they give some encouragement to working parents about acknowledging that you're doing your best instead of beating yourself up about what you didn't do.
Highlights:
- Joni & Kitt reveal whether professional organizers have perfectly neat homes or not
- How to know if an organizing system is going to work in your own home
- Why it can be important to get the kids involved in putting things away and maintaining the systems you have
- Tricks for organizing your lifestyle when you have full schedules and kids
- Being kind to yourself as a working parent
- Thoughts on setting limits on social media
- The trick for handling all those papers your kids bring home
- How to store your seasonal items
- Systems for handling your kids' toys
Today’s Guest:
Joni and Kitt are Certified Professional Organizers®, working moms and co-founders of a successful professional organizing company in Los Angeles. Since 2014, Practically Perfect has completed more than 250 client projects and has grown to a team of 9 organizers.
Joni and Kitt, close friends with undeniable professional synergy, created Practically Perfect with a mission to help clients achieve tranquility in their lives through organizational systems that are realistic and maintainable.
Prior to the inception of Practically Perfect, Joni was an award-winning early childhood educator. She has always believed that there is a deep connection between an organized environment and productive, successful engagement. Joni remains passionate about helping families create spaces that foster age-appropriate independence, connection and harmony.
As a highly-regarded event planner in Washington, D.C., Kitt's knack for organizing professionally was abundantly clear. Upon moving to Los Angeles, she recognized a personal need for organization in her life to counterbalance the burgeoning clutter that accompanies a growing family.
Joni and Kitt’s partnership harmoniously combines their distinct perspectives on organizing to produce innovative and unparalleled results. The Practically Perfect team is distinguished for using client-specific criteria, including attention to household functionality and design preferences, to ensure that solutions are both practical and perfect.
Resources:
www.practicallyperfectla.com
Practically Perfect Instagram
Practically Perfect Facebook
Practically Perfect Twitter
Practically Perfect Pinterest
Artkive
Practically Perfect Episode
Should you follow your passion or that idea in your head? What does it take to make your own opportunity to follow it?
You don't have to take a big leap to follow that idea in your head. We've had it completely wrong that you'll have a magic opportunity to do the thing that you've been thinking about at some point down the road. The secret is that you make your own opportunity.
Not only that, but you can start right now - without changing your entire life. I give you all the details on how to do exactly that in this episode.
Highlights:
- Why following that idea or passion is not just luck
- The dreams coworkers shared with me when I left my corporate job
- Why you may not be ready to follow your passion yet
- What it might take to follow your passion or make your own opportunity
- Ideas for how you can get started right now without changing your entire life
What if you believed in yourself regardless of past missteps or failures?
Jen Hatzung is my guest in this episode sharing her own career journey with all of its twists and turns. She's the first person to own her so-called failures and recognize why each step was meant to be a part of her journey.
In the second part of the episode, we talk about affirmations - what they are and how they can help you on your own path. Jen recently started a company, Abundant Affirmations, that provides affirmation cards to encourage women to believe they are worthy of success, happiness, wealth, and abundance.
If you've ever wondered what you were meant to do, but weren't sure if you were on the right path, you won't want to miss this episode.
Highlights:
- Jen shares her career journey and the twists and turns it has taken
- The self-described failures in her path and what she learned from them
- Her two successful podcasts and why she stepped away from both
- Why she started her company Abundant Affirmations
- What affirmations are and why they might have an impact on your life
Today’s Guest:
Jen Hatzung recently decided to embrace the idea that she is a serial entrepreneur and that failing is a part of her story. She is the founder of Abundant Affirmations. She makes affirmation cards to empower women to change the mean girl inner voice they have to one that encourages and empowers them all while helping them dip their toes in the woo-woo waters. Whether you drink the woo-woo kool-aid or you're only ready to test the waters, Abundant Affirmations is for you.
Jen is on a mission to help women believe they are worthy of success, happiness, wealth, and abundance. She lives in Norfolk, VA with her naval officer husband, toddler and dachshund. She can be found drinking copious amounts of coffee or wine (depending on the time of day) while making lists and strategizing when she can fit in her next run. Resources:
AbundantAffirmations.com
Abundant Affirmations instagram
Abundant Affirmations Facebook
Enneagram test
Do you want to set goals that actually move the needle in your life?
I've spent years setting goals and achieving them, but I've learned a few things along the way about how to set the right goals. Goals that actually impact your life instead of being another task you've checked off the list. It starts with setting the right goals.
In this episode, I talk about how to set the right goals and tips to prevent the mistakes you can make along the way to setting your goals. I also talk about what to do after you set your goals to ensure you are on track to achieving them.
Highlights:
- The most important part of achieving goals
- The difference between meaningful goals and meaningless goals
- Why your goals should be unique to you
- The mistake people make in not addressing the real needs in their lives
- Tips for how to actually achieve the goals once you've set them
- My favorite tool for setting and tracking goals
Resources:
Powersheets (affiliate link)
Would you sell 90% of your possessions and travel?
My guest today, Hannah Sutor, did exactly that and has been living with her family out of an RV for the last year. We discuss why she made this choice, how she handled other people's opinions, and the mindset it took to actually take this leap.
She also shares the reality behind this life - how they were able to keep an income coming in, what it's been like to raise a child on the road, and the challenges that come with the RV lifestyle. If you're curious about living an unconventional lifestyle, you aren't going to want to miss this episode!
Highlights:
- Why Hannah came up with the idea to live in an RV
- What reactions they got from those around them when they made this decision
- The mindset it took to to take the leap
- The challenges that come with the RV lifestyle
- How they've created an income while on the road
- What it's been like doing this while raising a child
Today’s Guest:
Hannah Sutor is living life on the road in a 36 foot RV with her 2 year old daughter and husband. After selling their home and 90% of their possessions, they set out for full-time RV life in August 2017 and have been in pursuit of new experiences across the USA ever since. Hannah prides herself on being a woman of her word, getting things done, and staying true to herself.
Resources:
Follow Hannah on Instagram
www.rollingonawhim.com
What's it been like for me to be a full-time entrepreneur for the last two years?
There seems to be a trend right now in talking about how going out on your own is the goal or the only way to be happy without all the constraints of a 9-to-5 or corporate job. I don’t agree that it’s the path for everyone or even that it should be the goal.
It’s now been 2 years since I left my corporate job as a VP of sales to a tech company to become a full-time entrepreneur. In this episode, I'm sharing the good, bad, and ugly of what I’ve learned about full-time entrepreneurship.
Highlights:
- Why I left my corporate job to become an entrepeneur
- The reasons why this shift has been fulfilling
- Why setting my own schedule is both a positive and negative
- The disadvantages of being a solo entrepreneur
- Two big things I've struggled with since leaving my corporate job
How do you flow when it comes to motherhood?
In this episode, we're wrapping up the motherhood series with a very special guest - Becca Marco! Many of you may know that Becca started the She Reaches podcast with me so it was such a joy to have her back on to catch us up on what's she been up to.
She shares the real deal on how it felt to be newly pregnant and moving to a new city, how she finally felt at peace, and her thoughts on being a working mom. Becca also closes the loop on the long journey to have a baby now that she finally has her baby.
Highlights:
- What Becca's been up to since last October when the podcast went on hiatus
- How she handled pregnancy and working
- Becca's thoughts on her journey to become pregnant now that she has a baby
- What motherhood has been like so far and what no one told her
- How she's thought through being back at work and how she's set boundaries to make it all work
Today’s Guest:
Becca is currently a Director in Sales at a technology company. She is responsible for managing the account relationship with top media clients and assisting them with their cross-platform strategy. She started her career in media research over 13 years ago, and since then has run three marathons, spent time on an avocado orchard in New Zealand, and became a wife, step-mom to three boys (21, 16 and 15) and a mom to one daughter.
She is passionate about people and building communities to support individuals as they navigate through their lives. At work she founded a young professionals group to provide them with opportunities for professional development through learning and social events, as well as a women's group to provide support and guidance to assist in career and personal development; while outside of work she co-founded She Reaches. She currently lives in Atlanta with her husband Alan and daughter Isabella.
Resources:
Becca's journey to pregnancy:
0 Weeks Pregnant
Don't Be the One to Stand In Your Own Way
Ep #77: Unexpected Life Challenges: Loss & Identity Crisis
Do you ever feel like you have way too much on your plate every day?
In this episode, I'm talking life hacks for busy moms. I'm not even sure a non-busy mom exists so this one is for all moms! I'm sharing my best tips to hack your daily tasks so you can spend more time on good stuff and less time on things like laundry, finances, and to do lists.
Highlights:
- My secret to not having piles of laundry
- Quick ways to be prepped for healthy breakfasts and lunches
- Realistic meal planning and how I do it
- How I set up automatic reminders and what I use them for
- Why I buy extra of certain items and how it saves me time
- What a backup meal is and why you need to have one
- My 15 minute Sunday routine that preps me for the week
- The tricks to automating your finances
- Less stressful packing for you and your family
- What I keep in my car to be ready for any situation
- Why using Amazon Prime & Subscribe & Save is a big time saver
Resources:
- Smoothie recipe
- Mason jar salads: post 1, post 2
- Marinated chicken recipe
The journey to becoming a new parent includes so many decisions and things to think about. In this episode, we're continuing the Motherhood series with an interview with Sara Tans, a life and career coach who supports the transition to parenthood for her clients.
We talk about why she's doing this work and how her career led her here, how she supports pregnant and new moms, and some tips for what to think about during each stage of the journey to parenthood.
We also discuss if you need to dial back ambition once you have kids and how to incorporate your partner into the planning and discussions surrounding this transition. And, most importantly, why it's a benefit to companies to offer support to new parents.
Highlights:
- Sara's career journey and how it lead to what she's doing now
- Why Sara created a program that focuses on supporting the transition to motherhood
- The answer to if you need to dial back ambition once you have kids
- Why you should do some foundational work to know who you are before having your baby
- Managing expectations and building your team for when baby arrives
- Setting up anchors for your day during maternity leave
- What you should think about before going back to work
- Incorporating your partner into the conversations and preparations
- The benefit to companies who support new parents
Today’s Guest:
Sara Tans is an ICF-accredited life and career coach and founder of Coaching by Sara. She specializes in helping high achieving women get crystal clear on who they are, what they want in their life and how to go after it. Additionally, Sara provides new parent coaching through her Pathways to Parenthood program, which provides strategic support to new moms through pregnancy, maternity leave and their return to work. Prior to becoming a coach, Sara spent 17 years in the corporate world, including 10 years of managing corporate events at the Olympics, World Cup and Super Bowl. These days Sara lives in Jacksonville, FL with her husband, toddler, and rescue dog.
Resources:
16personalities.com
Core values & Building Your Team exercise
Sara's site
Sara's Facebook
Sara's Instagram
Going against the grain in parenting can be difficult.
I'm talking about why I think we all should be making our own rules in parenting. I share why I'm passionate about raising independent and resilient adults, what's influenced my view on that, and how I'm implementing it in real life.
I also give some examples of how the American culture and our school environment can make it difficult to stick to your own rules sometimes.
I share a vulnerable story of my own where other moms questioned my decision. I hope it helps you to feel stronger in making and sticking to your own parenting decisions.
Highlights:
- Why I think there is no one way to parent
- The rules and philosophy I'm trying to implement with my kids
- Two books that have influenced how I think about parenting
- The specific actions I've taken to change some behavior in our family
- Examples of difficult situations I've encountered by going against the grain of our community
- How you can feel confident in making and implementing your own parenting rules
Resources:
Achtung, Baby by Sara Zaske
How to Raise an Adult
In this podcast, we're kicking off a new season! We're also kicking off the Motherhood series where we dive into topics related to working moms over the next few episodes.
In this episode, Christy Bartelt, a mom and business owner, shares her career journey as she went from a successful corporate career to stay at home mom to starting her own business. We chat about why she made the decisions she made, how she felt in the moment, and some practices she implemented that helped her to stay out of the fear of unknown. She shares how she let her journey unfold and what she did when she felt impatient about the process. Finally, we chat about her current career as a Rapid Transformational Therapist, what that means, and who it can help.
Highlights:
- The reason Christy decided to leave her corporate job to be a stay at home mom
- How meditation and reading impacted her journey
- Her mindset as she followed her curiosity and how she had patience for the answers to become clear
- How she flowed into Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT) and what it's like owning her own business
- What RTT is and who can benefit from it
Today’s Guest:
Christy Bartelt is an avid meditator, certified hypnotherapist, and Rapid Transformational Therapist trained by the incredible Marisa Peer. Christy guides her clients to freedom from the issues that hold them back; releasing them from their subconscious belief patterns and showing them how to upgrade their lives. She successfully works with motivation, self-worth, addiction recovery, depression, anxiety, phobias, money blocks and health issues.
Christy is also the mama to two sweet and spicy young boys. After leaving her corporate job in 2012 to be a stay at home mom, a series of medical events left her unhealthy and depressed. When traditional medicine failed to help her heal she made it her mission to understand how she could heal herself. After overcoming adrenal fatigue, chronic inflammation and depression Christy was inspired to help others do the same. That passion lead her to Rapid Transformational Therapy, the most profound health and wellness hack Christy has come across.
Christy loves helping her clients transform their lives.
Resources:
Christy's website
Christy's Facebook
This is our final episode! We chat all about our favorite moments from our 100 episodes of the podcast. There have been so many amazing moments, and we are so thankful that we were able to experience all of them. We have learned so much from this podcast, and from you. Listen to this episode for all of our highlights, and share your thoughts in the Facebook group!
We have some news! This episode we make a big announcement about the future of the She Reaches podcast, and the future of us. Tiffany talks about what she wants her focus to be, and how she is going to live that out. Becca talks about remembering to have your ‘why’ as your main goal, even if that means making tough decisions. Listen to this episode for all of the details on our future plans.
Fitting fitness into your schedule can be so difficult, especially while trying to balance work and family. Today’s guest, Melissa Banos talks all about keeping fitness and working out in your life. She touches on making exercise a family activity, and getting everyone involved. She also talks about how she transformed her business to accommodate moms. Listen to this episode for amazing tricks on keeping up your active lifestyle.
Everyone fails at some point in their life, but why can it feel like the scariest thing we encounter? In this episode, we chat all about failing and why it is important. Tiffany talks about her fear of failure, and how that has limited her in the past. Becca talks about how some failures aren’t your fault and aren’t you, personally, failing. This episode is a great reminder to try new things in order to learn what you love. Give it a listen and let us know how you have failed, and what you learned from it!
Moving into a new space is a challenge. Settling your old lifestyle into a new environment can be a big obstacle in feeling at home in your new city, and we have been working on that recently. Tiffany and her family have had a smooth adjustment to their new home. However, Becca has been struggling to feel at home in her new space. This episode is all about new spaces, adjusting and how you know it is the right environment for you.
Do you struggle with wanting everything to be perfect? That is a tough road to navigate, especially alone. Today’s episode is all about perfectionism, and how being a perfectionist can have negative impacts on your life and on how you see yourself. To give insight we have Dr. Laura Sproch, a clinical psychologist, on the show to talk about ways you can work on yourself for a more positive lifestyle. She also talks about body image, and the power of acceptance. Listen to the episode for tips on how to live a more accepting lifestyle.
Moving has been the center of our worlds in recent months. There are some things we would definitely do differently, and things we wouldn’t change. This episode is all the logistics of preparing for your move, and the actual moving process. Becca talks about the benefit of hired packers, and what she did to ease the stress of her move. Tiffany goes into her move, and how she made it easier on her girls. Both of our moves have been great, but so different. Give this one a listen for tips and tricks.
Taking on too much can be stressful and that is why prioritization is key. This episode is all about how focusing on your top priority is more effective than focusing on all your “priorities.” Tiffany and Becca talk about how lists, and delegating are the most effective tools when you are feeling overwhelmed. Also, we chat about how it is ok to move some tasks to the back burner to make time for the ones that are more important.
Career changes and transitions are always tough, and can be more difficult with a partner. In this episode, we chat with Rebecca Rosen who has made quite a few major career shifts that involved big moves. She chats about how she came to the decision to move, how her partner handled it and how they stay on the same page throughout the process.
Do struggle to find your purpose, or your ‘Why?’ We have felt that struggle especially as it changed over the years. This episode is all about how we found our why, and how it is still changing. Tiffany talks about the peace and relief she has felt with her move to Charleston. Becca chats about her move to Atlanta, how she knows it’s right but some days she still struggles with it. We talk about how important your 'Why' can be in making important decisions. Finding your ‘Why’ isn’t easy, but we are here to help!
Do you want someone to look up to and help you navigate your job and new experiences in life? Sometimes a mentor is the way to do it. In this episode, we talk about mentors and how they have helped us, and how we found good ones. Becca talks about how being confident in your approach can break the ice to an unexpected mentor. Tiffany talks about how certain ways of finding a mentor haven’t worked for her. Also, we discuss how books and movies can also be "mentors."
Rebekah Lipsky is back for part two of our discussion with her!In this episode, she talks all about her past trip working remotely through Unsettled, what she learned from the experience, and her upcoming trip with them next year. She also chats about the different ways to form your network, and why transformational networking is more effective than transactional networking. She even touches on labels, and the boxes we put ourselves in to that we should be breaking out of.
Do you struggle with asking for help even when you know you need it? In this episode, we talk about seeking help from a third-party when going through changes, trauma or exploration. Becca talks about how she has been seeing therapists throughout her life, and the benefits they have brought her. Tiffany discusses life coaches, and the positives that come from seeing one, but also why she has decided to brand herself as a strategist instead. In addition, we talk about the importance of accountability and being honest with yourself.
Are you thinking about going into business with a partner? Today we talk about being a business partner, and the positives and negatives that come with it. Tiffany and Becca talk about how they became business partners, and completely shifted their original brand into She Reaches. They also talk about the hard chats all business partners have, and how to stay mindful of the other persons' emotions when delivering bad news.
How do you keep the negativity in your life from pushing you to your breaking point? Do you need to reach your breaking point to move forward? In this episode, we chat with Rebekah Lipsky on how she navigated the negativity, and learned from it. We touch on the importance of prioritization, and removing your identity from your job. Also, about exercising the parts of your brain that don’t get utilized in your daily job. And this is only part one of our chat with Rebekah, the second half will be up on September 7!
Are you scared to shift to a new career, even though it's what will make you happier? Starting over is scary, and can come with a lot of excuses. Today, we chat about the changes we have made in our careers throughout our lives. Becca talks about how her job at a coffee shop led her to her current job, and She Reaches. Tiffany chats about the decision to leave her corporate job, and how she made it happen for herself and her family. We also talk about getting rid of the excuses you are creating, that keep you from going for, and achieving, your ultimate goals.
We are back from our summer break! This episode is all about our summer of change, and how we are moving forward. Becca talks about moving to Atlanta, and the adjustments she has made since her move. Tiffany chats about her upcoming move to Charleston, and how her family is making it all work. In addition, we talk about the differences between our similar situations, and how we have each handled moving. Be sure to join our Facebook group for more updates, and upcoming episodes.
Are you among the 80% of Americans who don't have goals? In this episode, we're talking about why we think you should set goals, how to do it, and why it's key to have a plan to review and track your goals. We discuss some of our own goals and what has and hasn't been working to accomplish them.
We hear about the need for workplace flexibility, but what does it even mean? In this episode, we're discussing why there is no one size fits all definition of workplace flexibility and why you need to define what it means for you. We give you some factors to think about as you evaluate if you have the type of job flexibility that matters to you.
Do you feel the need to apologize for being a working mom? After listening to this episode, you may change your mind. We're talking to Melissa Conforto, Director Client Services at Leflein Associates Market Research as part of our working women interview series. She gives us some tips on why working moms don't need to apologize, how to handle social media, and finding the right job and culture. We also talk about whether leaning in is the answer when you have kids and a career.
Are you thinking about moving? In this episode, we're chatting about all the considerations you should think about when deciding where to live. There are all kinds of factors such as proximity to family, culture, walkability, commute, and cost of living. We've made different choices about what is right for our families at this point in our lives. And, this is changing even this summer which we chat about in this episode.
Are you feeling unhappy with your job and thinking about quitting? In this episode, we're talking about why you may not actually need to quit your job. We have some things to think about if you feel ready to leave your job including talking to your manager, networking, why your job may be key to the life you want to lead, and why you may just need patience. As a bonus, in the beginning of the episode, we give you some fashion advice if you're a woman at a conference.
In this episode, we're chatting with Amy Rossi who gives us some tips on having a great support network to balance work and personal life, how to develop strong relationships with your neighbors, and how to handle things when you don't have family nearby. Amy also gives some tips on taking time before important meetings to enable you to be your most authentic self, why you may need to think about how you're managing your stress and energy, and taking the time to honor periods of transition in your life.
Do you ever feel like life is constantly putting obstacles in your way? Sometimes, we do too. In this episode, we are opening up about what has been going on in our lives over the past few months. Becca is sharing why this is a season of loss for her, and what she's been through recently on her journey to have a baby. Tiffany is talking about her struggle since leaving her corporate job in September and where she is now with things. We also let you in on our summer schedule, and how you can keep up with us the next few weeks.
What summer plans do you have? Is this the only time you go on vacation or do you try to fit it in more often during the year? We're chatting about our philosophies on vacation and how that has changed after having kids. We share our plans for the summer and what we're looking forward to as well as talking about ideas for making the most of where you live and experiences at home if you're not traveling. We also discuss the special places we visited as kids and want to continue to visit to give our own kids that same experience. Finally, we talk about balancing being with extended family and exploring new places.
How do you feel about the labels you use to define yourself? Are there even any that seem to fit? In this episode, we're talking about how it feels to be labeled and what happens when you don't quite fit into any labels. Tiffany has been struggling with this since leaving her job and some choices she's made for the summer have made that even more difficult. We chat about why we sometimes default to feeling like our job describes who we are and why that is not actually our identity. We also give some thought about allowing for growth among people around us and letting their "labels" shift along with that.
Can you ever be prepared before having a baby? In this working woman interview episode, we’re talking to Katie Ehly about how she prepared before having a baby, what didn’t go as planned, and what she’d tell new or expecting moms about it. Katie shares what she did that helped provide support for the early days after having her daughter, what she struggled with, and how she felt about it. She also shares the thoughts she had about whether or not to go back to work and her internal struggle for several months after deciding she did want to go back. Finally, she talks about how she feels about it all a year later and why it’s important to go with your gut in parenting. This is an episode you’ll want to share with any new or expecting moms in your life!
Are you on board with minimalism? Do you even know what it is? In this episode, we're talking about the definition of minimalism and how we've applied the concepts to our lives and homes. We're also talking about decluttering and the mental gymnastics you have to do in order to get rid of things sometimes. We know we should let go, but sometimes it's hard! We dive into how to declutter for kids and why it's good for their well being as well as contemplating having less dishes so there are less to clean! We hope this episode gives you food for thought on how to actually apply the concepts of minimalism to your everyday life without feeling like you have to get rid of everything you own.
How do you decide if you want to have kids and when? In this episode, we're diving into some sensitive topics - whether we knew we always wanted kids, how we decided how long to wait until we had them, and the things we did to prepare for having kids. We're also chatting about what you can prepare for financially and how much childcare actually costs. Finally, we dive into changing dynamics in marriage after kids and what you may want to discuss before having them.
How much do you know about branding? It seems like the buzz these days is all about personal branding. In the latest working woman episode with Lee Prince, she shares what branding is and isn't and why it's important to present your authentic self whether it's you or your business. She gives some great insights into what personal branding is and how to think about it, some tips for your LinkedIn profile, and advice for pursuing your passion project.
Do you get impatient in wanting to have things now vs. enjoying the journey to get there? In this episode, we're talking all about attempting to enjoy the journey vs. rushing to have it now. We chat about the areas where we have trouble being present and enjoying the journey and what areas we do a better job. We also talk about the experiences we wish we could go back to and enjoy the journey instead of rushing then, and how it feels when you aren't quite sure where the journey is leading but you still have to talk to people about it.
Do you consult your partner when making a career transition? We do too so why isn't that mentioned in career articles more often? We're talking about what has changed for us in making our career decisions now that we're married with kids, why it's important to have in depth discussions with your partner before making a change, and how to handle making compromises that may be best for your family as a whole. Becca is also revealing a big change she's making this summer that she's been keeping a secret!
Do you have that mean voice in your head that tells you things you would never even say to someone else? We're talking about your inner critic and we're pretty certain we all have one. In this episode, we're talking to Danielle Krysa, writer/curator behind the contemporary art site, The Jealous Curator and author of Your Inner Critic is a Big Jerk. We're chatting about how to identify your inner critic and not let it stop you from doing the things you want to do. Danielle gives us some great and hilarious strategies for getting around the excuses that we make because our inner critic is trying to keep us from doing something. She also gives us some food for thought about why it can be hard to share things we create with those closest to us and what you can do about it.
Do you like networking or does even the word make you nervous? Networking has an intimidating connotation and may make you have visions of cold networking events where you're supposed to gather as many business cards as possible. Networking in real life though can be much different than that. We're talking about how we feel about networking and what the purpose really is, how we prepare for conferences, and why you shouldn't only think about networking when you're in work settings. After all, it's just about making connections with other people and we do that all the time!
Are you flexible with plans or to do try to stick to them at all costs? Sometimes when you're willing to adjust to what life throws at you, you can end up with a better result. But, how do you do that? We're talking about the shifts we've made recently as part of She Reaches and some other memorable times we've had to adjust to what life threw at us. We're also reflecting on what you can do if you feel like things aren't working out as planned and how to know when it's time to throw away the old plan and come up with a new one.
In this working women series episode, we're talking to Briana Johnson, a self-described professional plate spinner and life juggler who is also the host of the LifeBeats Project podcast. We're talking about how she handles being a working mother of 5 and podcaster, how she fits it all in, the changes she had to make as a result of her husband's diagnosis, and how she continues to stay positive when she encounters challenges.
Do you give yourself permission to slow down or do you just try to keep going no matter what? It's important to know when to slow down, but how do we know when it's time? What if you feel like you can't slow down? We're talking about these topics and how we can all slow down without feeling guilty. We all need to feel less stressed and overwhelmed, which we can accomplish by giving ourselves permission to let go and take some down time.
Do you suffer from information overload? If you consume lots of information without acting, this episode is for you. We are talking about the times in our lives where we just keep consuming and never act on things and how you can get past that. We give some ideas on how to get yourself going again, including thinking about your purpose, why a book club could help, and the power of reflecting on why you aren't taking any steps forward.
In this episode, we're talking to Kate Dreyer, a public relations professional with a passion for home decorating and interior styling, and the founder of Kate Decorates. She gives us insight into what prompted her to start her blog and how she finds the time to work on it while having a corporate career. We also talk about how to get started in decorating your home if you feel overwhelmed and how to work with a partner who has different tastes than you. Finally, Kate shares why having a side hustle benefits her corporate job and other areas of her life vs. detracting from them
Do you think having a work/life balance is possible? In this episode, we're talking about the concept of work/life balance and why we don't think it's something we should be striving for. We also talk about the steps you may need to take to feel better about your schedule and why it's up to you to be proactive in designing your days in alignment with what's important to you.
Would you consider quitting social media? In this episode, we're chatting with Cal Newport, Associate Professor of Computer Science at Georgetown University and author of Deep Work, about why we should look closer at the role social media and new technology plays in our lives. We discuss when social media may be useful and how to know if using it has become a problem for you. In addition, we also dig into why it's important to make space for deep work or concentration and how to do that in the age of distraction (via email or IM) in the modern workplace.
It is the one year anniversary of the podcast!!! In this episode, we're chatting about why we started the podcast, giving you some behind the scenes views into how we put it together, and how we feel about various aspects of the process. We also talk about the top episodes, those episodes that surprised us, and what we've learned from the show.
How has the first three months of 2017 gone for you? In this episode, we're reflecting on the first quarter of the year. We share how we felt overall, the highlights and challenges, and what made these months hard for us both. We also chat about where we are with our goals for 2017 and what you can do if you haven't even written down goals yet.
Are you thinking about spring cleaning? If so, we've got lots of practical tips from Joni and Kitt of Practically Perfect. We chat about why organizing your home is not one size fits all, the first area you should organize in your home, and some ideas for handling all the paperwork that inevitably arrives. We also get into how to get your family on board - even your husband or partner! These ladies gave some actionable small steps that will help you get started immediately.
In this episode, we're talking to Dani DiPirro, an author, blogger, and designer. She's also the founder of PositivelyPresent.com. We're chatting with Dani about self-love, tips in personalizing self-love for yourself, and how to live a positive life when that isn't your default setting.
This episode is Part 2 of our series on side hustles. In this episode, we're talking about how you actually fit it in to your schedule. What it's like to commit time to it, how to plan your week, the steps you need to take before adding a side hustle in, and how to avoid burnout. And, one final bonus on how to handle it with your partner, particularly if you have kids!
Have you ever considered starting a side hustle? Do you even know what that is? This is the number one topic that people ask us about so we're going into all the details in a 2-part series on side hustles. We talk about what a side hustle is, how having one has changed our lives, and how it might benefit your full time job in unexpected ways.
We're talking to Bethany Kerley, production manager at CDR Fundraising Group, as part of our working women interview series. We chat about what the hardest part is of being a working mom, managing your schedule, and how to be prepared to buy a car by yourself. We're also laughing about Bethany's change of heart over driving a minivan!
Are you struggling with what your next career step is? If so, we've pack in lots of tips for how to figure it out in this episode. We're talking about specific signs that indicate you may be ready for your next step, understanding what you want and don't want, and tools to get you moving forward.
Do you ask for help? If you're like us, you pride yourself on being a strong woman, but that sometimes means you don't ask for help when you need it. We're talking about when you should ask for support and giving yourself a break from the "shoulds." You know, those things that you see other people doing on social media that become your standards?!? While it may be hard, we think you should ask for help anyway as it's the only way to move forward many times.
In this podcast, we're talking to Sarah Zero, co-founder and creative director of Wellstruck. We've been working with Sarah on our rebrand and she was so fantastic that we knew we had to have her on the show! We're covering the journey she took that got her to owning her own business - from corporate job to smaller agency to teaching to freelancing to having a business partner. Sarah also gives some great insight on not being the person who always says yes, keeping boundaries between your work life and personal life, and how asking for what you want can lead to great surprises.
Is there a right way to live? Should you even have a five year plan? These are the questions we're pondering in today's episode. We're walking down memory lane to our 20s where we both had 5 year plans and they didn't come true AT ALL. Our perspective on them has changed now that we're in our 30s even though we both still believe in setting goals. Bonus: we're also chatting a bit about capsule wardrobes at the beginning if you haven't tried them out yet!
Do you know what your love language is? People speak different languages of love. Not everyone gives and receives love in the same way. If you give love in the way people want to receive it, they will feel more loved. In this episode, we talk about what we've learned about our own love languages and how that compares to our husbands' languages. We also talk about how we've changed our behavior based on what we've learned about love languages.
Today’s episode is another in our interview series giving you examples of real working women you can relate to and how they’ve been able to make things work.
In this episode, we’re talking to Tracy Gravius. Tracy is a mom, wife, and business owner. She shares with us how being laid off was a reset button on her life, why her goals have changed over time, and the importance of surrounding yourself with positivity. Tracy also shares more background on starting her company Pregastyle and why she wants pregnant women to feel beautiful without breaking the bank.
Do you think people should be friends at work? We believe that the benefits outweigh any potential negative consequences. However, there are some things to think about before sharing personal details with a coworker. That said, being friends can also benefit your work in terms of retaining employees, higher productivity, and better teamwork. We discuss all of that plus how to handle Facebook with coworkers.
How do you handle managing your home? There are so many things that need to be done like laundry, home repairs, cleaning, and grocery shopping. In this episode, we talk about how well we handle these things, how we split chores up with our husbands, and life hacks to keeping it all together.
How often do you step outside of your comfort zone? We all want things that may require us to stretch such as public speaking when we have little experience or speaking up in an important meeting. In this episode, we're talking to Andy Molinksy, author of the new book Reach, all about when we should step outside our comfort zones and how to do it in a way that is most comfortable to you individually.
Are you a feminist? While most people would agree with the definition of feminism - the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities, the connotations might bring up a different picture. We're discussing whether we would call ourselves feminists, how educated we feel on the topic, and what feminism might look like in the future.
Do you exercise regularly? Do you even like exercising? In this episode, we're talking all about exercise since it's on many people's minds at the beginning of a new year. Becca is a regular exerciser and Tiffany is struggling still after getting off track. So, how do you make it work and keep yourself on track?
Today’s episode is another in our interview series giving you examples of real working women you can relate to and how they’ve been able to make things work.
In this episode, we’re talking to Brodie Welch who is a Chinese Medicine expert, Licensed Acupuncturist, herbalist, and self-care strategist. Brodie owns her own business and is also a stepmom. She shares with us how she ended up interested in Chinese medicine, why she's a big believer in self compassion, and what acupuncture is all about. She also gives some tips for anyone who'd like to start a meditation practice or try out acupuncture.
In today's episode, we're chatting with Erin Loechner, author of Chasing Slow and founder of Design for Mankind. Erin shares her journey from living fast to slowing down and all the things in between. We chat about motherhood, the question you need to ask yourself before picking up your phone, and making career choices based on your season of life and values. We also tackle laundry, meal planning, and balancing careers and childcare with your spouse. We could have talked forever with Erin so we're excited for you to listen in!
BACKGROUND ON ERIN LOECHNER
Author of Chasing Slow and founder of Design for Mankind, Erin Loechner has been blogging and speaking for more than a decade. Her heartfelt writing and design work has been showcased in The New York Times, Lucky, Parenting, Dwell, Marie Claire, Elle Decor, Huffington Post, and a two-season HGTV.com web special, garnering over one million fans worldwide. She has spoken for and appeared in renowned international events for clients such as Walt Disney World, IKEA, Martha Stewart and Home Depot. Now nestled in a Midwestern town, Erin, her husband and two kids strive for less in most areas except three: joy, grace, and goat cheese.
Do you make New Year's resolutions or create new habits at the beginning of each year? In this episode, we're discussing if we make resolutions, what new habits we're working on for the new year, and tricks to create new habits that stick.
Let's talk about 2016 and how it went! Since this is the last episode of Season 2 of the podcast, we're doing some reflecting to close out the year. We talk about where we were successful, where we struggled, what we learned, and what goals we are taking with us into 2017.
- Tiffany talks about how quitting her job was both her success and her struggle this year.
- Becca shares her success in developing relationships with her step kids and struggling with trying to get pregnant.
- Becca learned how important it is to ask for help.
- Tiffany learned to listen to her inner voice after feeling like she lost it after having kids.
- Tiffany talked about how her word for the year "Show Up" took an interesting turn.
- Becca talked about her 2016 word "Connection" and how this lifted her up this year.
- Tiffany will be taking her goal to have a healthy, connected marriage into 2017.
- Becca will be taking her writing goals up a notch in 2017 as well as continuing to declutter both her mental and physical space.
- Becca and Tiffany talked about what the highlights for Pop and Banter were this year and why the working women interview series was a huge highlight.
- Don't forget to sign up for our newsletter so you can stay up to date while we're taking a break from the podcast!
Need some gift ideas? We're chatting about the best gifts we've given or received and lots of cool ideas to save you time in coming up with great gifts for all your friends and family. To be honest, we have the most ideas for the women in our lives, but we do give you some ideas for the men in your lives too!
This episode is for you if need some great gift ideas for your friends and family.
Today’s episode is another in our interview series giving you examples of real working women you can relate to and how they’ve been able to make things work.
In today's episode, we're talking to Sara Sutachan, Industry Relations and Strategic Initiatives Manager for the California Association of Realtors. Sara is a strong woman, a mom and a widow. She shares with us how important it was for her to find her tribe at both work and in her personal life, how she got through losing her husband, and why strong women also need to ask for help. We also talk about why coaching can be helpful in moving us forward.
This episode is for you if you have lost someone you love, are struggling to find your way in your career or have ever considered hiring a coach.
Can friendship save the world?
How do you handle it when your friends don't have the same political views?
We're talking about the answers to both of these questions in today's podcast episode. Given the last week in the U.S., you may be asking if you can be friends with people who didn't vote the same way as you did. In this episode, we're talking to Shasta Nelson, author and Founder of GirlFriendCircles.com, about friendships and how to handle it when you don't agree. We recorded this episode the day after the election so we couldn't help but touch on this subject and how it relates to friendship.
We also talk about why feeling connected and having friendships can improve our health. Friendships can even help protect us from the impact of stress. So, how do we manage and develop friendships? Is there even time for friendship among all the things we have to get done? If you're a mom, you may be feeling like it takes away from your kids if you make time for friends. We talk about why moms should drop the guilt about making time for friends and why it actually benefits your kids.
When we do look at our friends, some of them wouldn't fall into a "best friends" category. Does that mean they aren't worth spending time with? Shasta talks about why it's ok to have friends at different levels. It doesn't have to be all or nothing. And if you want to make new friends, we don't need to audition people as the role of our "best friend." Friendships aren't discovered, they are developed.
This episode is for you if you want to have better friends or if you want to know how to handle friends who don't vote the same way.
Today’s episode is the fourth in our interview series giving you examples of real working women you can relate to and how they’ve been able to make things work.
In this episode, we're talking to Jena Baker McNeill, Senior Director of Government Relations at the U.S. Travel Association. We talk about why you need to take vacation, saying yes to opportunities that come your way, and why focusing on yourself can benefit your kids.
This episode is for you if you need encouragement to explore career opportunities and to carve out time for yourself.
Do the holidays make you feel stressed? The holidays can be an overwhelming and hectic time. Ironically, what is supposed to be the happiest time of the year where you appreciate your loved ones and give back to your community can sometimes leave you drained instead. So, in this episode, we wanted to talk about how to set some intentions for the holiday season before it even starts to keep you on track!
We've got tips on how to limit activities, give gifts intentionally, indulging and holiday meals, and how to give back in the most meaningful way.
This episode is for you if you don't want to be overwhelmed this holiday season.
Are you among the 80% of Americans who don't have goals? In this episode, we're talking about why we think you should set goals, how to do it, and why it's key to have a plan to review and track your goals. We discuss some of our own goals and what has and hasn't been working to accomplish them.
This episode is for you if you want to be successful in reaching your goals.
Today’s episode is the third in our interview series giving you examples of real working women you can relate to and how they’ve been able to make things work.
In this episode, we're talking to Melissa Conforto, Director Client Services at Leflein Associates Market Research. She gives us some tips on why working moms don't need to apologize, how to handle social media, and finding the right job and culture. We also talk about whether leaning in is the answer when you have kids and a career.
Does the word budgeting make you feel like running away? If so, we've got some real ways to keep managing your finances simple so you can think less about them. We've got some mental tricks to help you save for the things you really want in your life (vacations! new furniture! retirement!) without feeling deprived in the present. If you have variable income, we have some tips for you too.
This episode is for you if you are curious about managing your money.
What's for dinner tonight? Do you know? We've found one of the keys to healthy eating is meal planning. There are all kinds of things you can do to simplify the meal planning process like a meal subscription service, grocery delivery, or traditional meal planning using shortcuts like the slow cooker or freezer meals. Whether you hate the grocery store, need to limit your time cooking, or want less waste on your ingredients, we've got some ideas for you.
This episode is for you if you want to eat healthy, but sometimes struggle with planning and cooking meals.
Are you thinking it may be time to move on from your job? In this episode, we're chatting about the factors that may be a sign it's time to leave. It could be that the company's culture does not match your values, your life has changed and the requirements of your job don't match what you need, you've exhausted the opportunities for growth, or it's a bad fit with your boss. We are still believers in trying to make changes in your role or communication strategy to drive your career vs. waiting for someone else to hand you an opportunity, but sometimes you have to cut your losses.
If you haven't checked out episode #13 on Why You May Not Need to Quit Your Job, listen to that one first!
This episode is for you if you think it might be time for a job change.
Do you set aside time to give yourself a break? Creating white space in your life is important, but can sometimes be difficult. We're talking about what has and hasn't worked in our own lives and why we believe it makes us more successful when we carve out space for quiet time and relaxation. When we don't take a break, it affects our mental state as well as how productive and confident we are.
This episode is for you if you want to be less stressed and more productive.
Are you thinking about moving? We're chatting about all the considerations one must think about when deciding where to live. There are all kinds of factors such as proximity to family, culture, walkability, commute, and cost of living. We've made different choices about what is right for our families at this point in our lives.
This episode is for you if you're considering a move.
We're interviewing Jodi McDermott, Head of Product Development for CEB’s Talent Management business, who gives us some great tips on how planning ahead is key to getting everything done, why you need to be adaptable in any work environment, and the importance of building your network. Jodi also lets us in on how she prioritizes exercise in order to be her best self at work and at home.
This episode is for you if you struggle to get everything done or to find time for yourself.This episode is the second in our newly launched interview series giving you examples of real working women you can relate to and how they’ve been able to make things work.
In this episode, we're giving you shortcuts to being an expert negotiator. We'll transform you from being nervous to feeling capable and prepared.
In today's episode, we're chatting about the behaviors that many women do that we need to remove. Let's decide we won't do these things anymore.
In today's episode, we're talking about Susan David's book Emotional Agility: Get Unstuck, Embrace Change, and Thrive in Work and Life.
In this episode, we talk about eating healthy, why there is no universal definition of workplace flexibility and why you need to define your own.
We're interviewing Amy Rossi who gives us tips on having a support network, being your authentic self, and honoring transition in your life.
Today we're chatting about new workout apps and business travel. How you can prep, while you're traveling, and re-entering when you're back at home.
In this episode, we chat about habits and Better than Before. We talk about the four tendencies for habits and how that affects your habits.
In this episode, we're talking about books we read in the last year stayed with us. These books helped us to declutter,prioritize, and be creative.
In this episode, we’re chatting about why everyone is so busy, if busy is a status symbol, and if we're focused on the right things when we're "busy."
In this episode, we talk about meal delivery, what happens when you don't have your phone with you, and tips on setting boundaries with your phone.
In today's episode, we're talking about Amy Cuddy's book Presence and how "power posing" may change how you're perceived and your own mental state.
In today's episode, we're talking about why you may not need to quit your job. We have some things to think about if you feel ready to leave your job.
In today's episode, we're talking about how to stay connected in your marriage. We're giving you some tips from what we've learned in our marriages.
In today's episode, we're discussing when procrastination may really be a problem and when it may actually benefit you!
Today, we’re exploring what happens when someone dies and what is important about life by talking about books When Breath Becomes Air and After This.
Today we're talking about when it may be you that is holding yourself back and not blaming something else for not doing the things you want to do.
Today we're talking about the six friends every professional woman needs in their life. Friends are key for perspective, advice, and obviously fun.
Today's episode is the things youneed to consider when you work in a maledominated industry. How to handle meetings, networking, and how to dress.
Today we’re talking about finding your passion, Elle Luna’s book The Crossroads between Should and Must, and why you don’t have to quit your day job.
Today we're talking about why you may want to outsource cleaning your house and why it might improve your marriage.
In this episode, we're talking about how to prepare for an emergency. We’ll give you steps for peace of mind in knowing your family will be prepared.
In today’s episode, we’re talking about Adele, why you should try meditation in today’s tech filled world, and tips to get started for the non-hippie.
In this episode, we're bantering about reading on a kindle vs. a real book, spring cleaning, and using the Marie Kondo's "KonMari" method to declutter.
Today we're talking about why you should try new things. You'll get recommendations on how to approach something new and how to make space in your busy life for it.
In this bonus episode we interview each other to help you learn more about us, including where we grew up, our family life, and how we like to spend our weekends.
In this bonus episode we discuss the Pop and Banter mission, how and why we started the blog, and how and why we are now launching a podcast.