If you’re a working mother with a demanding job, you’ve probably asked yourself:

Is this sustainable?

Am I doing enough?

How do successful moms make this all work?

One journalist has some answers to share. This week, I’m joined by Joann Lublin, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Wall Street Journal contributor, and author of Power Moms: How Executive Mothers Navigate Work and Life.

Joann has been studying working mothers for decades. She’s seen firsthand how the expectations, demands, and even the guilt have evolved across generations. She’s lived it, too.

In fact, back in 1980, she wrote an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal about her experiences as a working mother. Her piece ruffled quite a few feathers – some hate mail even suggested she should never have had kids – and the blowback almost led her to quit her prestigious job.

The times have changed, but even today, the core struggle remains: How do we build meaningful careers and be present for the people who matter most?

What’s striking about Joann’s work is that she didn’t just speak to one kind of mom. She interviewed high-achieving women across a range of industries, backgrounds, and family setups—along with their adult daughters—to understand what actually helps working mothers work best.

And she’s clear: The idea of “balance” is due for an upgrade.

In this conversation, Joann shares hard-won insights and surprising findings from women who’ve made it to the top—and stayed grounded.

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s possible to build a life that honors your ambitions for your career and your family, listen in.

What You'll Learn:

• Why “balance” is the wrong goal (and what to aim for instead)

• 4 proven ways to ditch the mom guilt

• How today’s ambitious mothers differ from their trailblazing predecessors

This episode is packed with practical takeaways, while staying candid about the systems we’re working within.

For more information, visit The Mental Offload.

As kids finish off the school year, I’m looking back in awe how much they’ve grown and accomplished this year.

And then, the proud reverie is interrupted. It’s like a split screen where I see my own stalled progress. And feel a giant ugh in the pit of my stomach.

I see the goals I meant to prioritize this year — consistent exercise, healthier meals, getting to bed by 10pm. On some of them, I’m doing great. On others…it’s not pretty.

When life is going at full speed — school breaks, work travel, a sudden realization that no one is available for pickup on Thursday — it’s easy to feel like you’re falling short.

But as you try to offer yourself grace, you hear a voice of doubt:

“Am I letting myself off the hook here?”

In this week’s episode of the podcast, I sit down with midlife health coach Elizabeth Sherman to talk about this exact dilemma: how high-achieving women judge themselves when real life gets in the way of their goals.

We get into the cultural conditioning that rewards a “no excuses” mindset—and how that plays out when you’re just trying to get through the week without collapsing by Thursday night.

We unpack why it’s so hard to discern when you're giving yourself a pass...and when you actually need to pause.

If you’ve ever struggled to tell the difference between reasons and excuses, this is one you’ll want to hear.

What You'll Learn:

• A smarter way to think about “no excuses” culture—and how it may be hurting your energy and your goals

• A practical lens to tell the difference between a reason and an excuse (no shame, just clarity)

• What resistance can teach you when your motivation dips

• How to set high standards without running yourself into the ground

This one is honest, compassionate, and a little bit of a reframe.

For more information, visit The Mental Offload.

From the outside, it probably looks like you’re doing it all—and doing it well. You’ve checked all the boxes: crushing it at work, holding things down at home, maybe even taking on a volunteer project or two.

But on the inside? You might be asking yourself:
How much longer can I keep going like this?

In this week’s episode of The Mental Offload, I sit down with Lori Oberbroeckling—senior corporate leader, mom of four, author of Secrets of Supermom, and someone who’s lived through the very burnout she now helps other women recover from.

We’re talking about that dangerous space high-achieving women fall into when busy becomes a badge of honor, and even the things we once loved start to feel like obligations.

You catch yourself saying, “It’s just this week, next week will be better”...for months on end. Meanwhile, your energy is slowly draining away.

What You'll Learn:

• The often-overlooked early warning signs of burnout for working mothers

• Why being overloaded doesn’t mean you’re a failure

• How to set boundaries without blowing up your life

• What parts of the ‘supermom’ label to embrace

Burnout isn’t inevitable. Listen in for Lori’s inspiring take on the small changes that can steer you out of burnout.

For more information, visit The Mental Offload.