New Modern Mom: For Moms Who Want It All

"I don't know how you do it." I hear it constantly. So here's the honest answer: I'm exhausted, I'm more fulfilled than I've ever been, and I'm not a superwoman. I know my why, I know my priorities, and I've built systems around both. And the skills I sharpened over 12 years in tech turned out to be the superpowers that make this life work. That's true for you too. Most of us just never bring them home. That's what this show is for. Every other week, I sit down with founders and executives like Jess Jacobs (CEO of Coterie), Jing Gao (founder of Fly by Jing), Sarah Steele (VP at Olipop), Jeanelle Teves (CCO at Bugaboo), Divya Gugnani (co-founder of Wander Beauty), Hitha Palepu (CEO of Rhoshan Pharmaceuticals), and Melanie Rosenwasser (Chief People Officer at Dropbox). Different titles, same thread: every one of them is a builder. We lift the curtain on how their lives actually run: the childcare setups, the division of labor, the promotion conversations, the financial plan that made the leap feel safe, the first customers, the returns from maternity leave, the resets for the days when nothing goes right. Between guests, Toolkit episodes hand you step-by-step playbooks you can put to work immediately, and solo episodes open up the systems running my own life. I'm Barbara Mighdoll, a former tech exec turned entrepreneur. I'm scaling MNTSTUDIO to seven Pilates studios this year, I co-founded Roam Collective, a summer abroad program for families, and I'm the mom of two behind New Modern Mom. This is a living framework for the modern working mother, built to meet you wherever you are: still dreaming, ready to make a move, or deep in the build. And from right where you're standing, you don't need to see the full staircase. You just need to take the first step. Start here. For even more behind the scenes of how I’ve designed my life, subscribe to my newsletter and connect with me on Instagram @newmodernmom. The New Modern Mom Podcast is for working moms, moms in corporate, women in tech, and mom entrepreneurs navigating career growth, motherhood, and modern life design. Every other week: honest conversations and practical playbooks on work-life systems, productivity, childcare and outsourcing, the mental load, career pivots, going back to work after maternity leave, starting a business, and redefining success as an ambitious working mother. Hosted by Barbara Mighdoll. The New Modern Mom podcast is produced in partnership with Alexandra Alquiza and Emily Roberts.

New Modern Mom: For Moms Who Want It All is a business podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 38 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Unknown Host hosts New Modern Mom: For Moms Who Want It All, a business show with 38 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #2

  Hitha Palepu and Shreya Gulati | How to Use AI to Make Back-to-School Suck Less

  Sep 9, 202633 minS2

  Back to school gets me every year… the forms, the emails, the schedules, all landing at once while summer's supposedly still happening. So I brought in two women who've figured out how to make AI carry some of that weight. Hitha Palepu is a CEO in the pharmaceutical industry, an author, a speaker, a content creator, and a repeat guest here at The New Modern Mom Podcast. Shreya Gulati spent years as a tech exec before becoming an advisor, investor, and founder of the community Moms Build AI. Between the three of us we've got an 18-month-old, a 4-year-old, a first grader, a second grader and a sixth grader. I didn't want another list of apps. I wanted the two people I know who've mastered this, and I asked them to walk us through what works when the calendar starts closing in. We got into their real stacks: Claude, Notion, Littlebird, Monologue; and why the simpler one wins. We got into why research and reminders turn out to be the biggest time-savers of the season, every season. And we got into the part most AI conversations skip: how you actually feel while you're doing all of it. The line that reframed the whole conversation for me came from Shreya: "The goal isn't a good prompt. The goal is to create systems that are resilient and will survive the chaos." That's really what this episode is about. – Now that back to school is officially underway, the mental load has doubled right along with it. So, on the topic of building systems that actually hold: outside of childcare, the budget line I'd protect the hardest is my house manager. She comes daily. Cleaning, laundry, meal prep, organizing. She's the one system in my house that never needs a prompt. Sage Haus does the sourcing and vetting to find your perfect house manager. Use code NEWMODERNMOM for $100 off matching. Book a free 30-minute info call now at sagehaus.com/newmodernmom . Guests: Hitha Palepu: Instagram here | Substack here | LinkedIn here Shreya Gulati: Instagram here | LinkedIn here Mentioned in this episode: The Seven Types of Rest — Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith's TED talk Littlebird · Notion · Claude · Monologue (Every) · WhisperFlow Previous episode with Hitha: Multi-Hyphenate Mindset The New Modern Mom podcast is produced in partnership with Alexandra Alquiza and Emily Roberts. (00:00) Why back-to-school hits working moms in two directions at once (01:00) Meet Hitha Palepu and Shreya Gulati (02:10) Hitha's stack: Littlebird, Notion, Claude, and Monologue (04:40) Shreya's stack: why fewer tools beats more, and why connectors matter (06:30) What changed in a year: research and reminders (07:25) "I cannot mentally hold it in my brain" — and why she feels lighter (08:25) Hitha's emotional plan, not just a tactical plan (10:40) The one-hour exercise — block the time now (11:50) Shreya's four A's: articulate, audit, align, act (16:20) What to say to Claude when you have no idea where to start (18:30) What a "skill" and an "agent" actually are, past the buzzwords (19:50) The seven types of rest (Dr. Sandra Dalton-Smith's framework) (20:40) Building your daily rest menu with AI as accountability partner (23:40) Rapid fire: the one thing you shouldn't use AI for (25:25) A move, a toddler, and preschool applications — in five minutes (27:00) For the mom who feels like she's already too far behind

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  Episode #1

  Jess Jacobs, CEO of Coterie | She Led a Billion-Dollar Acquisition From Home, With Two Kids

  Aug 25, 202624 minS2

  Jess Jacobs joined Coterie in 2021 as SVP of Brand. She became CEO, and then led the acquisition to Mammoth Brands in a billion-dollar deal, all of it working from home, with two young girls and a third on the way. I've been a Coterie customer since almost the beginning. They were one of the first products I ever wrote about on New Modern Mom, six years ago. So I wanted the parts nobody puts in the press release. How the household actually runs. Who's the default parent. What she's saying no to right now. And the answer that reframed the whole conversation for me: when I asked where she keeps track of it all, she said, "I absolutely should have better systems and processes in place at home. But I just don't." She's not failing at it. She decided it wasn't worth optimizing, and she runs exactly one thing at home with total discipline. It's the same skill that made her a CEO. In this episode How a creative director becomes a CEO, and what she had to learn on the way Why "no CEO is perfect at, nor has a background in, every single thing they oversee" and how to lead from that What trust actually looks like on a CEO's calendar (hint: fewer meetings) Building career visibility and getting promoted while working remotely and why that burden isn't the employee's alone The division of labor she and her husband use, and her views on divide and conquer Childcare, the deep bench, and asking for help without apology How to decide what to say no to, in a season where everything looks like an opportunity The mental load, and what she deliberately leaves unoptimized If you're heading back to work after maternity leave, trying to get promoted from a home office, or wondering why splitting the chores with your partner still leaves you exhausted, this one's for you. By the way… school's back, which means the mental load just doubled overnight. So, on the topic of doing it all: outside of childcare, the budget line I'd protect the hardest is my house manager. She comes daily. Cleaning, Laundry, meal prep, organizing — she makes my house feel calm despite the chaos in my days. Sage Haus does the sourcing and vetting to find your perfect house manager. Use code NEWMODERNMOM for $100 off matching. Book a free 30-minute info call now at sagehaus.com/newmodernmom . Follow Jess on LinkedIn here . And if Coterie diapers are something you’ve been considering, this is your sign to try them now. NEWMODERNMOM takes 20% off. Follow Barbara: On Instagram here On LinkedIn here On Substack here The New Modern Mom podcast is produced in partnership with Alexandra Alquiza and Emily Roberts. (00:00) On this episode (00:45) Meet Jess Jacobs, CEO of Coterie (02:08) SVP of Brand to CEO to a billion-dollar acquisition (04:00) The confidence to say no (07:00) What was new in the CEO seat (09:00) What trust looks like on her calendar (11:00) Career growth while working from home (14:00) How the household actually runs (16:28) Where she keeps track of it all at home (19:00) The default parent and the case against divide and conquer (20:15) What she is intentionally not doing right now (21:30) Her professional superpower at work and at home

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  New Modern Mom: For Moms Who Want It All

  I'm Exhausted. And I've Never Been More Fulfilled.

  Aug 24, 20262 min

  Two and a half years ago, I walked away from a twelve-year tech career and launched this podcast the same week I acquired my first Pilates studio. It was my response to something I'd felt for years in the workplace, a lack of transparency about what it actually takes to be a working mom. Nobody was saying the quiet parts out loud. I wanted to. Then my own life accelerated faster than I anticipated. One MNTSTUDIO studio became two, then seven. I co-founded a summer abroad program for working families, Roam Collective. My career didn't slow down. It shape-shifted into something I'd built myself. And somewhere along the way, I paused this podcast to rethink what conversations I actually wanted to have. And now I'm back with a clearer point of view than ever. The New Modern Mom Podcast is for the working mother who is done pretending balance is the goal. Every other week, I sit down with founders and executives who are building something real and raising kids at the same time. This season: Jess Jacobs of Coterie, Jing Gao of Fly By Jing, Vanessa Dew of Health-Ade, and leaders from TikTok, Nespresso, and more. We get into the default parent dynamic, the financial decisions behind the biggest career moves, and the systems that make dual-career family life actually work. Between those conversations, Toolkit episodes give you the step-by-step playbooks straight from experts: how to use AI to take back-to-school off your plate, how to define your why, and exactly how my husband and I run our household as two full-time working parents. If you are an ambitious working mom who wants the real playbook, not the highlight reel, follow The New Modern Mom Podcast wherever you listen. This episode is perfect for moms searching for: podcasts for working moms · working mom podcast 2026 · ambitious moms podcast · podcast for mom entrepreneurs · work life balance for moms · how to do it all as a working mom · mom founder podcast · systems for working moms · career and motherhood podcast · best podcasts for ambitious moms · dual career household · mom of two entrepreneur · podcasts for moms building a business · working mom burnout · how to balance career and motherhood · female founder podcast · women entrepreneur podcast · working mom community

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  New Modern Mom: For Moms Who Want It All

  RERUN: The Good Enough Mother [Rebecca Michael, VP of Marketing at Google]

  Jul 8, 202632 min

  There's a version of motherhood you've seen everywhere. The mom who has the enriching activities planned, the nutritious dinner on the table, the patient voice at the end of a long day. The one who never drops a ball. You're not her. Neither am I. Neither is Rebecca Michael, and she's one of just 300 people at the VP level of Google overseeing the Marketing for Google Search and Google Maps. What Rebecca is, is a Good Enough Mother. And it turns out, that's exactly what our kids actually need. My guest and close friend this week is one of the most thoughtful women I’ve talked to about the quiet pressure working moms carry to be perfect in every role, all the time. This conversation gave me permission to exhale, and I think it will do the same for you. In this episode, you'll learn: Why "good enough" isn't a compromise, it's the scientifically backed parenting approach that actually raises more resilient kids How Rebecca navigated IVF while leading a major team at Google, what she disclosed, what she protected, and why The identity work she did before becoming a mom that every woman considering motherhood needs to hear How two full-time executive parents divide household labor so clearly that neither one is silently keeping score Why Rebecca's morning routine looks nothing like what productivity culture tells you it should and why it works The "Rebecca Week" reset she takes every year: what it is, how she structures it, and why she tells her whole team about it The insight her psychotherapist father gave her during pregnancy that became her parenting north star How working from home vs. in-office changes the default parent dynamic in ways most couples never talk about openly If you've spent any energy trying to be everything to everyone, this episode is your permission slip to let that go. Subscribe to The New Modern Mom Podcast so you never miss a conversation about work-life fulfillment for ambitious working moms. This episode is perfect for moms searching for: good enough mother · working mom guilt · how to stop being a perfect mom · IVF while working · navigating IVF at work · working mom identity · default parent in dual career household · executive mom · how to divide household labor · working mom morning routine · reset week for working moms · Donald Winnicott good enough mother · Google executive mom · work life balance for working moms · how to not lose yourself in motherhood · ambitious mom podcast Follow Rebecca on On LinkedIn here Follow Barbara: On Instagram here On LinkedIn here On Substack here About New Modern Mom: You know the dream of having it all – a thriving career, an active social life, present time with your kids, and adventures in travel. But how the F can we actually do it all? Host Barbara Mighdoll chats with other working mom executives on the raw truth behind their support systems, self-identity shifts, productivity, infertility and pregnancy loss, mom guilt, partner dynamics, childcare and even imposter syndrome. We’re exploring how these incredible women are translating their professional superpowers into their personal lives. Because we believe you can have it all, you just cannot do it all. Together, we’re building the playbook for the new modern mom.

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  New Modern Mom: For Moms Who Want It All

  RERUN: Multi-Hyphenate Mindset [Hitha Palepu, CEO, Author & Speaker]

  Jun 10, 202646 min

  Hitha Palapu runs a pharma company, has written two books, speaks on global stages, and is raising two boys, and she'll be the first to tell you that's not the impressive part. The impressive part is knowing exactly which hyphens to own, which to pause, and when to walk away entirely. In this conversation, Hitha and Barbara go deep on what it really takes to build a full life as a working mom — the morning routines, household systems, time management strategies, and honest trade-offs that make ambition sustainable without burning out. What you’ll learn: 🎭 What it actually means to be a multi-hyphenate and why Hitha says most women already are one 🌅 How to structure a morning routine that protects your most important priorities 🤝 The Fair Play system for dividing household tasks with your partner and how to adapt it when life shifts 💬 Why weekly marriage meetings work (and how to run one that's half business standup, half emotional check-in) 💆‍♀️ Hitha's Gentle Wednesdays practice and why a midweek reset makes you perform better Thursday through Friday ⌛The Magic 20 List: a low-stakes way to start any creative project and know when to quit 🚀 How to build a thought leadership presence online that you can actually sustain 📚When to close a chapter, and why that's a multi-hyphenate skill, not a failure If you're an ambitious working mom who's ever felt like you have to choose between your career and your presence, this episode is your permission slip to stop choosing. This episode is perfect for moms searching for: how to do it all as a working mom · multi-hyphenate career · working mom morning routine · Fair Play Eve Rodsky · how to split chores with your partner · weekly marriage meeting · time management for working moms · how to start a creative project with no time · Gentle Wednesdays · thought leadership for moms · how to build a personal brand as a working mom · multi-passionate career women · work life balance for moms · ambitious mom podcast · how to stop doing everything yourself Resources & Links Mentioned Fair Play by Eve Rodsky Full Focus Planner (Michael Hyatt) Forest App (focus timer) How to Pack by Hitha Palapu We're Speaking: The Life Lessons of Kamala Harris by Hitha Palapu FreshDirect / Methodology meal delivery Follow Hitha on On Instagram here On LinkedIn here On Substack here Follow Barbara: On Instagram here On LinkedIn here On Substack here About New Modern Mom: You know the dream of having it all – a thriving career, an active social life, present time with your kids, and adventures in travel. But how the F can we actually do it all? Host Barbara Mighdoll chats with other working mom executives on the raw truth behind their support systems, self-identity shifts, productivity, infertility and pregnancy loss, mom guilt, partner dynamics, childcare and even imposter syndrome. We’re exploring how these incredible women are translating their professional superpowers into their personal lives. Because we believe you can have it all, you just cannot do it all. Together, we’re building the playbook for the new modern mom.

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