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
132 episodes
Ep 132: An Introvert's Guide to Building Career Connections
Does the thought of networking make you want to hide in the bathroom... or skip the event altogether?If you're an introvert (or just someone who dreads awkward small talk), this episode is for you.In today's episode of When Mo...
Ep. 131: The Simple Question That Changed My Summers
What if working parent life did not have to look the way we were told it should? In this episode of When Mommy Grows Up, I share a story from 10 years ago, when a quiet conversation with my mom planted a question that changed everythin...
Ep. 130 Whose Voices Are Driving Your Life?
Whose opinions are shaping your biggest decisions, and do they really deserve a vote?In this episode, Becca introduces the powerful coaching exercise, Voices in the Room, and shares the story of a mom who realized she had been l...
Ep. 129: Returning to Work After a Career Pause - What I'd Pay For (and What I Wouldn't)
Returning to work after a career pause can feel overwhelming, especially when you're trying to figure out where to invest your time and money.In this episode, career coach Becca Carnahan shares exactly what she would and wouldn't pay for...
Ep. 128: Is Part-Time Work Right For You?
The question "Is part-time work the answer?" comes up all the time for mid-career parents managing work and family needs. And in the summertime, while school is out, that question gets even louder. So let's talk about it!In this episode ...
Ep. 127: How to Close the Feedback Gap and Actually Get Better at Work - Jenna's Story
In this episode of When Mommy Grows Up, we’re taking a page from the world of gymnastics, where feedback is constant, specific, and unavoidable, and asking: what if we approached our careers the same way?Because here’s the truth...
Ep. 126: Sideline Networking - Growing Your Career as a Busy Soccer Mom
What if growing your career didn’t require more time, just a new perspective?In this episode, we’re rethinking networking for real life. From soccer sidelines to dance studio waiting rooms, these everyday moments might be the most overlo...
Ep. 125: Mother Knows Best - When Mommy Grows Up Audiobook Part 2
Happy Mother's Day! This week, as we celebrate YOU as a mom, the When Mommy Grows Up podcast is turning into an audiobook sneak peek one more time.Chapter 4 of When Mommy Grows Up: Finding Career Clarity While Covered in ...
Ep. 124: This is a Story About a Duck
In this week's episode of When Mommy Grows Up, a small plastic duck carries a powerful message.After Becca's daughter’s state gymnastics meet, where highs and disappointments lived side by side, one quiet moment stood out above ...
Ep. 123: When You’ve Tried Everything in Your Job Search…Do This
If your job search has you feeling frustrated, exhausted, or questioning everything…you’re not alone.This week on When Mommy Grows Up, we’re talking about what to do when it feels like you’ve tried everything and nothin...
Ep. 122: Let ChatGPT Write Your LinkedIn Profile (Without Losing Your Voice)
Struggling to update your LinkedIn? In this episode of When Mommy Grows Up, we walk through how to use ChatGPT to write a strong headline and About section, without losing your voice.Learn the exact prompts to get started, why k...
Ep. 121: My Book Turns One! (+ A Special Audiobook Sneak Peek)
This week on When Mommy Grows Up, we’re celebrating a very special milestone—my book When Mommy Grows Up: Finding Career Clarity While Covered in Kids is officially one year old! 🎉The refreshed 2025 edition is the book ...
Ep. 120: 15 Minutes to a Better Resume (Yes, Really!)
If your resume has been sitting untouched for years and you don’t even know where to start…this episode is for you.Today on When Mommy Grows Up, we’re doing a practical, step-by-step 15-minute resume audit designed especi...
Ep. 119: Rainbows, Unicorns, and Negative Interview Questions
“You know what I love about you, Carnahans? You can take what should be a really stressful situation and turn it into a funny adventure.” – My momFrom airport sprints to the infamous Bat in the Basement Incident of 2017, I’ve learned tha...
Ep. 118: Skills, Strengths, and Whether I Agree with Reese Witherspoon
Recently, Reese Witherspoon talked about leaning into what you’re already good at and "chasing your talents." As a career coach, I agree. Mostly. With a caveat.In this episode, we cover:Why strengths are foundational to caree...
Ep. 117: Finding Career Clarity to Help Busy Moms Thrive - Becca's Interview at the Busy Working Moms Blueprint Summit
The Busy Working Moms Blueprint Summit hosted by Dyana Terranova brought together coaches, doctors, therapists, and experts to help busy moms like you THRIVE.I was thrilled to be a guest at the Summit, and as a fun surprise, I get to sha...
Ep. 116: How to Pause the Panic and Negotiate with Confidence - Laura's Story
After a few weeks of behind-the-scenes episodes inside the Career Clarity Program, we’re back to storytime, and this one is all about advocating for yourself.In this episode, you’ll meet Laura, a marketing strategist and mom of three who...
Ep. 115: 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...
Ep. 114: 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...
Ep. 113: 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...
Ep. 112: 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...
Ep. 111: 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...
Ep. 110: 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...
Ep. 109: 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...
Ep. 108: 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 ...