Motherhood is a nurturing, compassionate, and emotional occupation - yet our systems aren’t set up to support women during this transformative time.

Today, we engage in a candid conversation with Christine Michel Carter, marketing expert, and leading advocate for maternal mental health and gender equity, who Katie Couric has called the “the mom of mom influencers.” Together, we open a critical dialogue on navigating injustice, racial discrimination, and how to push for true, tangible change.

Once you’ve listened, we have a feeling you’ll need to add her best-selling books to your reading list, including Can Mommy Go To Work? and MOM AF. And, she’s a senior contributor for Forbes, where she tackles the complexities mothers face today, and offers accessible solutions.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

- How to embrace accomplishments, challenge societal norms, and advocate for yourself.
- Strategies for navigating conversations about race, identity, and injustice.
- The importance of community building and solidarity among working mothers.

5:37 - Personal experiences of discrimination in healthcare
7:02 - Details about Mom Congress and its advocacy work
10:44 - Decline of maternity leave benefits in companies
17:11 - Content creation during the pandemic
25:37 - Encouragement to own achievements and take up space
28:45 - Navigating personal growth and self-promotion, recognition and validation
32:16 - Balancing pride with ego and managing others' perceptions
39:51 - Societal influence on behavior
45:01 - Journey of self-awareness and growth

Connect With Christine:

Website: christinemichelcarter.com
Instagram: @cmichelcarter
X: @cmichelcarter
Linkedin: Christine Michel Carter

Learn more about Mom Congress: Mom Congress

Please make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode, and kindly review the podcast on Apple Podcasts so we can reach more working moms.

We always want to hear your thoughts, concerns, questions or guest suggestions – email workingmomhour@212comm.com.

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With the 2024 Olympics on the horizon, we’re honored to have Betsi Flint join us for a timely conversation on managing motherhood as a professional athlete.

Betsi is an integral part of the USA Volleyball Team, boasting an impressive record as a 7-time AVP Champion, 2-time AVCA All-American and still holds indoor records in career aces and digs.

At the start of her career, in 2015, she was awarded the AVP Newcomer of the Year award. She has also been awarded the AVP Best Server of the Year in 2019, 2022, and 2023.

In this interview, she shares her journey of returning to training after welcoming her child and moving through moments of self-doubt.

Tune in for insights on integrating motherhood into athletic careers, embracing both wins and losses, and cultivating a mindset of growth and balance.

In this episode you’ll discover:

- How to reframe nerves as excitement and embrace wins and losses.
- Strategies for balancing intensity on and off the court.
- Insights on how to integrate motherhood into athletic careers.
- Lessons on determination and sacrifice.
- The importance of strong partnerships on and off the court in achieving success.

02:17 - Returning to Training After Childbirth
06:12 - Balancing Motherhood and Career
09:04 - Challenges of Traveling for Tournaments
12:05 - Perspective Shift After Motherhood
17:08 - Humbling Moments in Victory and Defeat
20:58 - Coping with Losses and Maintaining Perspective
27:14 - Nervousness Before Big Matches
32:27 - Discussion about competitiveness and societal expectations
35:05 - Betsi's experience with Olympic qualification
37:42 - Importance of partnership in sports and life
39:09 - Favorite tool for working motherhood: Dr. Becky's resources

Connect With Betsi:
Instagram: @betsiflint
Website: https://betsiflint.com/

Check out her Sponsors:
Just Ingredients Discount Code: BETSIFLINT
https://just.crrnt.app/BETSIFLINT

Please make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode, and kindly review the podcast on Apple Podcasts so we can reach more working moms.

We always want to hear your thoughts, concerns, questions or guest suggestions – email workingmomhour@212comm.com.

Follow us!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/workingmomhour

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/workingmomhour/

TikTok: https:/www.tiktok.com/@workingmomhour

Working Mom Hour Website: https://workingmomhour.com/

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@workingmomhour

Join Mads for a special interview with Gretchen Sisson Ph.D., who recently released “Relinquished: The Politics of Adoption and Privilege of American Motherhood,” to uncover the often-overlooked stories of mothers who relinquish their children for adoption.

Throughout the process of writing Relinquished, Gretchen learned how factors like poverty, lack of support, inadequate counseling, and limited access to resources and information force women to make choices they never imagined. She also reveals startling facts about the lack of federal regulation and the role of market forces.

As an adoptive mom, Mads believes these conversations are critical for change, so don’t miss out on this important discussion.

In this episode you’ll discover:

• How to understand adoption from a birth parent's perspective.
• The broad definition of motherhood, and how birth mothers continue to mother their children in unseen ways, even after relinquishment.
• Emotional and financial struggles mothers face and how adoption can often come from a place of limited choice.
  
  

1:52 - Defining Motherhood
6:17 - The Emotional Impact of Adoption
10:27 - Statistics, Data and Private Adoption System
13:53 - Barriers to Parenting and Examples of Relinquishment
23:17 - Ethics in the Adoption Industry
28:02 - Unlicensed Adoption Facilitators, Legal Ambiguity and Revocation Rights
40:51 - Vision for a Healthier Adoption System and Practices

Connect with Gretchen:

Website: https://www.gretchensisson.com/

Book Website: https://www.relinquishedbook.com/

Substack: https://gretchen.substack.com/

Please make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode, and kindly review the podcast on Apple Podcasts so we can reach more working moms.

We always want to hear your thoughts, concerns, questions or guest suggestions – email workingmomhour@212comm.com.

Follow us!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/workingmomhour

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/workingmomhour/

TikTok: https:/www.tiktok.com/@workingmomhour

Working Mom Hour Website: https://workingmomhour.com/

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@workingmomhour