When Mommy Grows Up
As moms, we love to inspire our kids to dream big dreams about who they’ll be as they grow up. But when is the last time you stopped to ask yourself, "Who am I going to be (next) as I grow up?"
The When Mommy Grows Up Podcast is the motherhood and career podcast for moms who need help defining what success looks like to them as mid-career professionals and parents, along with the support they need to go after it.
Hear real stories from real moms facing the same challenges you are. Finding flexible jobs, crafting a job you love, discovering your passions, crushing it at work, and getting kids off the bus! We’ll talk through it all.
Hosts (and fellow mom) Becca Carnahan of Next Chapter Careers takes your questions and provides practical step-by-step advice to help you move forward. All served up with a virtual mom hug and lots of laughs!
Send your stories and questions to podcast@nextchaptercareers.us.
Interested in sharing your insights as a guest on our podcast? Share your story here: https://forms.gle/iefCf9PTTu7kQtpc7
Episodes
115 episodes
What Career Coaching Really Sounds Like: Two Exercises Straight from the Career Clarity Program
In this episode of When Mommy Grows Up, I’m giving you another sneak peek inside the newly updated Career Clarity Program. Today’s preview comes from the Unpack module, which focuses on guided career reflection to help you identify...
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14:24
Turn the Job You Have Into a Bridge to What’s Next (A Sneak Peek Inside the Career Clarity Program)
If you’ve been thinking, “This job isn’t quite it… but I can’t just walk away,” this episode is for you.Today on When Mommy Grows Up, I’m sharing a special mini lesson from inside the updated Career Clarity Program. As part of the Strat...
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20:34
Small Shifts, Big Year: Your 3-Step Career Reset for 2026
Feeling foggy between the holidays and the new year? This episode is your reset.In this solo episode, Becca shares a 3-step Career Reset for 2026, including simple, mom-friendly shifts to help you start the year with clarity and c...
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16:20
The Fourth Trimester at Work: Supporting Parents Beyond Parental Leave with Barbara Palmer
In this episode of When Mommy Grows Up, Becca Carnahan is joined by leadership coach and Your Fourth Trimester founder Barbara Palmer for a candid conversation about career transitions, working parenthood, and building a life that actually fits...
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37:23
You’re Leaving Money on the Table! Here’s How to Claim It.
Are you accidentally leaving hundreds—or even thousands—of dollars on the table at work? 😬 In this episode of When Mommy Grows Up, Becca breaks down the often-overlooked world of professional development funds as a workplac...
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20:10
Fixing What’s Broken in Hiring: Michelle Keefe of MomUp on Caregiver Talent, Nonlinear Careers & Human-Centered Work
In this episode of When Mommy Grows Up, Becca sits down with Michelle Keefe, co-founder of MomUp, to talk about what’s broken in hiring today and how caregivers can successfully re-enter or shift within the workf...
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37:22
Feeling Stuck? Meet the Career Clarity Starter Kit!
Feeling like your career just doesn’t fit your life anymore? You’re not alone—and there’s finally a simple way to get unstuck!Becca is unveiling something big today, the Career Clarity Starter Kit, your new go-to guide for figurin...
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11:17
3 Job Search Mistakes She Made (That You Can Avoid): Claire’s Story
We’ve all made mistakes as parents, professionals, or both. But what if you could skip some of the trial-and-error and go straight to the learning part?In this episode of When Mommy Grows Up, Becca shares the story of Claire, a ...
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16:00
The Simple Career Clarity Hack That Only Takes 15 Minutes: Maya's Story
What if the clarity you’re craving isn’t in another job board scroll or another article, but in 15 minutes of quiet? In this episode, Becca shares how intentional boredom helped one mom (and herself!) move from overwhelm to career c...
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23:02
From Patient Care to Purpose-Driven Innovation: Kaylee's Career Clarity Story
What do you do when you realize you want to build a career in healthcare outside of the clinic?In this episode, we sit down with Kaylee Johnson, a former Career Clarity Program member and inspiring success story, who has built a f...
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29:12
Crafting Your "Mother's Vision" and Defining Success on Your Terms: Amanda’s Story
We set goals for our careers, but have you ever set goals for parenthood? In this episode, meet Amanda, a mom and rising corporate star, navigating the messy middle between career ambition and family life. Using the Mother’s Visi...
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23:50
Rush Hour Job Search: Why It Feels So Hard Right Now (and What to Do About It)
Feeling stuck in job search traffic? You’re not alone. In this episode, Becca shares a real-life moment with her 10-year-old that perfectly captures what it’s like to navigate today’s crowded job market—and how to stand out when eve...
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10:52
Breaking Free from Expectations: Heather's Story
Join Becca and Marie as we chat with author and podcaster Heather Chauvin, who confronts societal expectations in her book Dying to Be a Good Mother. Heather shares her journey of listening to her inner voice and embracing her strength to...
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29:09
The Imposter Syndrome Rocking Chair - Getting Out and Moving Forward: Shelby’s Story
Stuck in a job that’s drained your confidence? In this episode of When Mommy Grows Up, meet Shelby, a mom of two navigating a tough boss, a resume gap, and imposter syndrome. Learn the simple strategies that worked for Shel...
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20:24
"Can I Join Your Book Club?" Finding Community, Connection, and Clarity
Feeling like the queen of logistics as a mom and professional, but a little disconnected from the YOU behind it all? In this episode, Becca shares how joining a book club filled her cup and sparked the idea for the When Mommy Gr...
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10:43
The 100th Episode of WMGU: Welcome to Season 4!
Today we're celebrating both the exciting launch of Season 4 and our 100th episode! Season 4 will be filled with... Career stories to help you navigate the next steps in your careerExperts with advice to m...
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15:44
Celebrating Season 3 (And What's Next for Season 4!)
Thank you for joining us for the ride throughout Season 3! As we head into summer, Becca and Marie share their personal highlights of the season and recommendations of episodes to pop back to over the next two months as you navigate...
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14:02
Finding Happiness through the Curveballs of Life, Family and Business: Sara Fay's Story
This week on When Mommy Grows Up, we’re joined by Sara Fay Egan—author of The Through Line, hospitality guru, and the queen of keeping it real. From luxury weddings to life’s unexpected curveballs, Sara Fay has built a career ...
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22:24
Why It's Hard to Celebrate Our Wins (And Why We Need To!)
When our kids achieve a goal or make progress we are right there with them, cheering them on and celebrating, right? So why is it so much harder to celebrate our own wins?Celebrating wins is a big part of the culture of the Career Clarit...
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14:10
Turning Pain into Purpose: Melissa's Story
What does it look like to transform unimaginable grief into a force for good? This week on When Mommy Grows Up, we’re joined by Melissa Lafsky Saleh, mom, storyteller, entrepreneur, and advocate, whose journey will leave yo...
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28:12
The 30-Minute LinkedIn Makeover
Ready to give your LinkedIn a refresh but short on time? In this episode of When Mommy Grows Up, Becca and Marie break down exactly what you can do in just 30 minutes to make your profile pop and your presence shine.We’re diving into qu...
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21:53
Boxed Up for Success - From Teacher to Entrepreneur: Kelsey's Story
Attention teachers! Have you ever thought about how you could take your expertise and translate it into a new career path?If so, meet Kelsey Cook, mom of four and former teacher who turned her education expertise into a thriving business...
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18:19
If I Was Searching for a Job Right Now, Here’s What I Would Do
"I LOVE job searching!" said no one. Ever.And right now? Ugh. It's rough. With policy changes, economic conditions, and market uncertainty there's a lot out of your control. That doesn't mean your job search g...
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21:35
What Do I Want To Be When They Grow Up: Karen's Story
Almost a decade ago, Becca and Karen Johnson met on the wild world of the internet sharing parenting memes and laughs as they both navigated the early years of motherhood. (You might know Karen as The21stCenturySAHM on Instagram and Facebook. S...
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22:04
It's Publication Day for When Mommy Grows Up THE BOOK!
As moms, we are grownups, but are we all the way grown up yet?If you're a fan of the When Mommy Grows Up podcast, then you know Becca and Marie would say "No!" We still have plenty of growing up, evolving, and changing to do throughout o...
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5:43