Today, we sit down with Anna Goldfarb—friendship journalist, author, and voice of wisdom on the quiet complexity of adult relationships. Together, we're unpacking why maintaining female friendships feels harder than ever, especially in motherhood, and what it actually takes to nurture the ones that matter most.

Through honest stories and thoughtful research, Anna helps us reframe what healthy adult friendship looks like today. They talk about the grief of friendships that drift, the courage it takes to initiate hard conversations, and why effort (not just history) is what keeps connection alive.

If you've ever found yourself missing someone who used to be in your daily life—or wondering how to deepen the friendships you still have—this conversation is a balm and a roadmap.

You'll Learn:

• Why nearly half of adults report shrinking social networks—and what that really means

• How motherhood reshapes our friendships, sometimes painfully

• The power of desire: why it matters that you want to show up

• What to consider before giving feedback in a friendship

• How to know when it's time to let go—and how to grieve a friendship breakup

• Why small gestures (a text, a meme, a voice note) are never really small

• What it means to treat friendship as a privilege, not a given

• How to reconnect with the people who make you feel most like yourself

Links & Resources Mentioned:

• Anna Goldfarb's website and writing: www.annagoldfarb.com

• Anna's book: Modern Friendship

• Related episode: Finding and Maintaining Meaningful Friendships During This Busy Season – E3

• HBR article: The Power of Work Friends

For more authentic and honest motherhood conversation, subscribe to Mighty as a Mother:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

In a world reshaping itself around how, where, and why we work, what does leadership actually look like—especially when you're also navigating motherhood?

In this episode, we sit down with Anna Squires-Levine, President of Industrious (and mama of three), to explore that question and more. Anna joined Industrious nearly a decade ago when it was just a few co-working spaces—and helped scale it to 300+ locations across 10 countries. Now, she's guiding the company into a new era after its acquisition by CBRE, all while welcoming her third baby.

Together, we talk candidly about:

• How to lead during life's most chaotic transitions

• The myth of balance and the radical act of choosing your kind of hard

• Why human-centered workspaces are more critical than ever—and how Industrious is redefining what it means to "go to work"

• The honest truth about ambition, identity shifts, and the emotional tug-of-war working moms face daily

• Practical questions to ask yourself when you're standing at a career crossroads

This one's for the moms holding it all—the dream, the diapers, the deadline. Anna's wisdom is both grounding and galvanizing, reminding us that the future of work isn't just flexible. It's human.

Links & Resources
👉 Learn more about Industrious
👉 Follow Anna on LinkedIn
👉 Jenn's essay on hustle culture: "My Career is My Refuge"
👉 Book rec: The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz

For more honest motherhood conversation, subscribe to Mighty as a Mother on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen—and follow along on Instagram @mightyasamotherpodcast.

If you've ever wondered, "Why does work still feel like it wasn't built for women—or mothers?" — this one's for you.

In today's episode, we're joined by Kristi Rible—global leadership expert, mom of two, and founder of The Huuman Group™—to talk about how AI is reshaping work, and why the future needs more than automation. It needs humanity. It needs mothers.

Kristi brings her 25+ years of leadership across continents and industries to help us understand what's really changing in today's workplaces—and how empathy, flexibility, and curiosity are becoming non-negotiable leadership skills. She also teaches the groundbreaking Stanford course Motherhood and Work, where she challenges outdated narratives and empowers the next generation to lead with care and courage.

This isn't a tech episode—it's a call to action for women who want to lead, live, and mother in ways the old systems never made space for.

You'll hear:

• Why "human skills" like empathy, trust, and communication are not soft—they're essential in the AI age

• What the "motherhood penalty" is, and why the system isn't broken—it was just never built for us

• How Kristi's divorce sparked her mission to redesign leadership around care, not just capital

• The story behind her Stanford course—and why no men have ever taken it

• Why Gen Z gives Kristi hope for the future of caregiving, equity, and leadership

• How to use AI without losing your own cognitive or emotional intelligence

• What flexibility really looks like—and why it's the #1 issue shaping women's careers today

Whether you're a leader, a caregiver, or both—this episode will help you see the workplace (and yourself) with fresh eyes.

Links + Resources:

• Learn more about Kristi's work: The Huuman Group™

• Kristi's Stanford course: Motherhood and Work: Challenges and Opportunities for Positive Change

• McKinsey Report mentioned in this episode: Superagency in the Workplace

• Follow Kristi on LinkedIn: @kristirible

For more honest, empowering conversations about motherhood, leadership, identity, and AI, subscribe to Mighty as a Mother wherever you get your podcasts—and follow us on Instagram @mightyasamotherpodcast.

If you've ever wondered, "Why did no one tell me menopause could start in my 30s?" — this one's for you.

In today's episode, we're joined by Lauren Tetenbaum—psychotherapist, mom of two, and author of Millennial Menopause—to talk about the season of life we all deserve to understand sooner: perimenopause and menopause.

Lauren breaks down the science but more importantly, she reframes this stage as one of power, possibility, and presence. This isn't your mother's menopause conversation—it's real talk for modern women navigating aging, ambition, identity, and everything in between.

You'll hear:

• Why menopause is still one of the last great taboos—and how we start breaking the silence

• The sneaky early symptoms of perimenopause most women ignore

• How to advocate for yourself when your doctor isn't listening (because many won't)

• What younger women can do now to make their future menopause less overwhelming

• The surprising connection between menopause, ambition, and identity shifts

• What it means to reclaim joy in a season the world tells us is all decline

Whether you're in it, near it, or still think it's not your problem yet, this episode is your permission slip to get curious, informed, and even excited about what's next.

Links + Resources:

• Learn more about Lauren and her work: The CounseLaur

• Lauren's book: Millennial Menopause: Preparing for Perimenopause, Menopause, and Life's Next Period

• Follow Lauren on Instagram: @thecounselaur

For more honest, empowering conversations about motherhood, hormones, and identity, subscribe to Mighty as a Mother wherever you get your podcasts—and follow us on Instagram @mightyasamotherpodcast.

If you've ever wondered, "Why does everyone else seem to have more energy than me?" — this one's for you.

In today's episode, we're joined by Human Design expert Erin Claire Jones, who helps women better understand their energy, purpose, and patterns—so they can lead, parent, and live in alignment with who they actually are.

We dive into Human Design as a practical tool for navigating motherhood, burnout, and ambition. Whether you're deep in your toddler era, leading a team at work, or somewhere in between, this conversation is a gentle reminder: there's nothing wrong with you—you just haven't been taught to work with your design.

You'll hear:

• What the five Human Design types mean—and why it's a game changer for moms

• How to use your energetic blueprint to reduce burnout and decision fatigue

• What presence looks like for each type (it's not one-size-fits-all)

• The truth about rest, guilt, and why some of us just aren't built for hustle

• Why understanding your child's design can ease power struggles at home

• How Human Design can shift your relationship with work, motherhood, and yourself

Whether you're a Generator feeling drained, a Projector needing permission to slow down, or a Manifesting Generator juggling all the things—Erin's insights will help you reclaim your energy and your enoughness.

"Human Design isn't about changing who you are. It's about remembering who you've always been."

Links + Resources:

• Find your Human Design chart — use code MAAM for a discount on your custom guide

• Follow Erin on Instagram: @erinclairejones

• Erin's new book: How Do You Choose?: A Human Design Guide to What's Best for You at Work, in Love, and in Life

For more honest, empowering conversations about motherhood, identity, and energy, subscribe to Mighty as a Mother wherever you get your podcasts—and follow us on Instagram @mightyasamotherpodcast.

If you've ever looked in the mirror and thought, "Who even am I anymore?" — this one's for you.

In today's episode, we're joined by author, coach, doula, and researcher Jessie Harold, who's spent nearly two decades walking alongside women through one of the most profound identity shifts of their lives: becoming a mother.

We dive deep into matrescence — the emotional, psychological, and spiritual transformation of motherhood — and why understanding it might just be the permission slip you've been waiting for. Whether you're still in the baby trenches or facing new transitions (hello, kindergarten drop-off or career reinvention), this episode will give you the language, validation, and tools to hold both the grief and the growth.

• Why motherhood is a rite of passage — and how it mirrors adolescence

• The truth about "losing yourself" (hint: you're not broken, you're becoming)

• What to do when you're stuck in the "in-between" — that sacred pause where identity hasn't caught up with reality

• How to use grief as a guide through transformation

• Why modern motherhood feels lonelier and more demanding — and how systems (not just individuals) are to blame

• The power of tiny, safe-to-fail experiments when you're reimagining your life

Whether you're navigating the early days of postpartum or in the thick of a new season, Jessie's wisdom is a balm and a compass.

"We fear losing ourselves in motherhood. But sometimes, that's exactly what we need in order to truly thrive."

• Jessie Harold's website: jessieharold.com

• Book: Mothershift: Reclaiming Motherhood as a Rite of Passage

• The MotherShift and

• The Becoming podcast

• The Birth of a Mother – NYT Article

• Jessie on Instagram: @jessie.es.haro

For more honest, empowering conversations around motherhood, identity, and ambition, subscribe to Mighty as a Mother wherever you get your podcasts — and follow us on Instagram @mightyasamotherpodcast.

The lunchboxes are packed, the inbox is full, and the emotional load of another school year is setting in. If you're craving a reset—one that prioritizes your needs, too—this episode is for you.

Re-airing one of our favorites from the vault: Jeanelle Teves, General Manager of Bugaboo and mom of two, joins us to talk about the intentional routines and unapologetic boundaries that help her lead a team, raise a family, and stay grounded in her values.

This episode isn't about perfection—it's about practical mindset shifts that actually work in the chaos of modern motherhood.

🎙️ Tune in to hear us talk about:

• What leadership looks like when you're running a team (and a household)

• Creating business travel routines that support your mental health

• How to build a morning routine that's realistic and restorative

• Why boundaries aren't selfish—they're essential

• Productivity hacks that don't require you to sacrifice your soul

Whether you're leading a team or just trying to lead your morning without losing your mind, Jeanelle's insights will leave you feeling seen—and inspired.

Links:

• Forbes: The Rise of the Stay-at-Home Dad

• Follow Jeanelle on Instagram

👉 For more honest conversations about motherhood, leadership, and identity, subscribe to Mighty as a Mother on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

Ever feel like you're climbing a ladder you didn't choose—or running on a bedazzled hamster wheel you can't seem to step off? You're not alone, mama. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Anne Welsh—clinical psychologist, executive coach, and mom of four—to talk about why modern motherhood demands a shift from the relentless "ladder" model of ambition to a more sustainable "web" model that honors the many directions life can take.

Anne brings two decades of expertise helping leaders navigate major career and life transitions—think parental leave, return-to-work, and full-on career reinvention. She's also the creator of the Working Mothers Lifeline, a coaching program that helps women move from survival mode to sustainable success.

In our conversation, we explore:

• What the "web" model of ambition is and how it gives you permission to pause, pivot, or change direction without losing momentum

• How to recognize when it's time to redraw your version of success—and why values naturally shift across different seasons of life

• The difference between healthy and unhealthy ambition (and why ambition itself isn't the problem)

• How to dial work and life up or down based on your kids' needs without losing yourself in the process

• Practical tools to break free from perfectionism and find balance that's flexible, not fixed

• How to rebuild trust in yourself to make hard decisions—and why you might already have more evidence than you think

Anne's insights are a reminder that motherhood isn't a detour from leadership—it's a powerful training ground for it. If you've been craving permission to slow down, rethink your definition of success, or simply choose what's for dinner without guilt (spoiler: sushi is always a good answer), this episode is your deep exhale.

Links:

• Closet Identity Cleanout

• Dr. Anne Welsh's Website

• The Working Mothers Lifeline

• Dr. Anne Welsh on Instagram
• Dr. Anne Welsh on LinkedIn

For more authentic and honest motherhood conversation, subscribe to Mighty as a Mother on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

Join in on the conversation and follow along with us on Instagram: @mightyasamotherpodcast