That Mom

ThatMom is for the working mom caught between ambition and motherhood — the one who's capable enough to do it all, and tired of being expected to. Each week, host Maria (MBA, JD) sits down with psychologists, therapists, coaches, and fellow high-achieving moms to unpack a simple truth: being capable of everything doesn't mean you should carry everything. Using The Capacity Method — audit what's working, reclaim what isn't, reinvest in what matters — ThatMom gives you permission, clarity, and real tools to stop optimizing for "effortless" and start building a life that actually fits. If you're ready to stop doing it all and start choosing what matters, you're in the right place.

That Mom is a education podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 38 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts That Mom, a education 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 #38

  he Trade-Off Every Working Parent Should Be Making. (ft. Laura Vanderkam, Pt. 2)

  Aug 19, 202623 minS1

  In Part 2 of my conversation with time management expert Laura Vanderkam, we pick up right where we left off: why we so consistently underestimate our own free time. Laura explains the psychology behind it — we overestimate how long the things we don't want to do take, and underestimate how fast time flies when we're enjoying ourselves — and why that gap gets especially wide in the early years of motherhood, before easing as kids grow. The fix starts with a simple trade-off: each parent claims one protected night (or weekend block) that's theirs. We close with Laura's weekly planning ritual, a reframe of "work-life balance", and her favorite mental shift for feeling like you have enough time for what matters. What We Cover: Why we overestimate how long tasks we dread will take, and underestimate how fast time flies when we're enjoying ourselves Why moms of kids under two really do have significantly less leisure time — and why that changes as your kids grow How mental overload closes us off to serendipity — the coffee dates, introductions, and stray ideas that can lead somewhere Why building unscheduled space into your week (like a no-meeting Friday) creates room for things to go right, not just a buffer for when they go wrong Laura's three-part weekly planning ritual: career, relationships, and self The real math behind work-life balance — you're awake and not working almost twice as many hours as you work Why zooming out from a day to a year changes what feels possible, even a weekly hobby is just 1% of your year About the Guest: Laura Vanderkam is a time management expert and bestselling author of several books on productivity and time, including 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think , I Know How She Does It , Off the Clock , Tranquility by Tuesday , and her newest, Big Time: A Simple Path to Time Abundance . Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Fast Company, and her TED talk on controlling your free time has more than 16 million views. She hosts the podcast Before Breakfast and co-hosts Best of Both Worlds , and lives outside Philadelphia with her husband and five children. Links + Resources: Connect or learn more about Laura Vanderkam: lauravanderkam.com Follow Laura on Instagram: instagram.com/lvanderkam Get Laura's time-tracking spreadsheet: available on her website Follow ThatMom: Instagram Join the ThatMom Community: EMAIL Maria saves time and always has something to wear with her monthly clothing subscription from Rent the Runway. Try it here with 50% off (referral link from which I may receive a benefit) If this episode resonated, share it with a mom who feels like she doesn't have enough time. And if you're enjoying these conversations, follow That Mom for more thoughtful discussions about motherhood, identity, ambition, happiness, emotional well-being, and building a life that feels aligned with what matters most.

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  Episode #37

  Why You Have More Time Than You Think. (ft. Laura Vanderkam, Pt. 1)

  Aug 17, 202627 minS1

  In Part 1 of my conversation with time management expert and bestselling author Laura Vanderkam, we dig into her new book, Big Time: A Simple Path to Time Abundance , and what it actually means to fall in love with your schedule. Laura explains why she doesn't want people to just pack more into their days — she wants us to feel like we have enough time for work we care about, people we love, and things that light us up. Laura shares why tracking your time for just one week can change the story you tell yourself about how busy you are, and why zooming out to look at a whole week — instead of judging any single day — is the key to feeling like you have more time than you think. We close Part 1 with a preview of what's next: the free time most of us don't realize we have. What We Cover: What Laura means by a "good life," and why time abundance — not just packing more in — is the real goal Why putting hobbies and social time on the calendar (a pickleball league, a standing coffee) protects them from everyone else's requests Why "self-care" like bubble baths keeps getting bumped, and what to do instead How to turn a work break into a real mini-vacation instead of doom-scrolling Why tracking your time for even one week changes how much time abundance you feel How to use weekday evenings more intentionally, even with young kids at home Why high-achieving moms should judge their time by the week, not the day About the Guest: Laura Vanderkam is a time management expert and bestselling author of several books on productivity and time, including 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think , I Know How She Does It , Off the Clock , Tranquility by Tuesday , and her newest, Big Time: A Simple Path to Time Abundance . Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Fast Company, and her TED talk on controlling your free time has more than 16 million views. She hosts the podcast Before Breakfast and co-hosts Best of Both Worlds , and lives outside Philadelphia with her husband and five children. Links + Resources: Connect or learn more about Laura Vanderkam: lauravanderkam.com Follow Laura on Instagram: instagram.com/lvanderkam Get Laura's time-tracking spreadsheet: available on her website Follow ThatMom: Instagram Join the ThatMom Community: EMAIL Maria saves time and always has something to wear with her monthly clothing subscription from Rent the Runway. Try it here with 50% off (referral link from which I may receive a benefit) If this episode resonated, share it with a mom who has been carrying too much for too long. And if you're enjoying these conversations, follow That Mom for more thoughtful discussions about motherhood, identity, ambition, happiness, emotional well-being, and building a life that feels aligned with what matters most.

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  Episode #36

  Why You Have Nothing to Wear Even Though Your Closet Is Full. (ft. Amanda Vargus, Pt. 2)

  Aug 12, 202627 minS1

  In Part 2 of my conversation with stylist Amanda Vargus, we get tactical: why a closet can be "full" and still feel useless, how to edit it down, and the outfit formulas that make getting dressed effortless. Amanda breaks down the real reasons behind "nothing to wear" — styling gaps, too-bland basics, or too many statement pieces with nothing to ground them — and shares her closet-edit process for fixing it. We also get into why she calls outsourcing styling help a "power move" for busy moms, her go-to sneaker and shoe rotation, and how to mix prints, colors, and unexpected combos without it looking like a mistake. She closes with the real payoff of this work: it's never just about the clothes. What We Cover: The three real reasons your closet feels "full" but unwearable What "styling" actually means — pairing, layering, and building a full look, not just picking a top Finding the right ratio of basics to statement pieces (hint: it depends on how loud you like to dress) The handful of items Amanda says almost everyone needs: a strong blazer, a good coat, a clean lifestyle sneaker, a great white tee Making athleisure and drop-off outfits feel intentional Her current shoe rotation: retro sneakers, chunky New Balances, sambas, and the "sneakerina" trend Building a shoe capsule: a few flats, a couple of heels, an elevated sandal, a go-to sneaker Why she calls hiring a stylist a "power move" — and what her closet-edit process actually looks like Rules of thumb for mixing prints, colors, and unexpected style combos Why having a personal "outfit formula" makes getting dressed so much easier The real payoff of this work — it's rarely just about the clothes About the Guest: Amanda Vargus is the CEO and founder of Wave and Woven, a personal styling company based in Boston. Before styling, she built a career in luxury sales and advertising, working for iHeartRadio and Pandora. She's been featured in USA Today and Glam Weekly, and specializes in transformational styling for women navigating changing bodies, careers, and life stages. Links + Resources: Follow Wave & Woven Learn more about Amanda and her Process Maria feels confident with monthly outfits from Rent the Runway. Try it here with 50% off (referral link from which I may receive a benefit) Follow ThatMom: Instagram Join the ThatMom Community: EMAIL If this episode resonated, share it with a mom who has been carrying too much for too long. And if you're enjoying these conversations, follow That Mom for more thoughtful discussions about motherhood, identity, ambition, happiness, emotional well-being, and building a life that feels aligned with what matters most.

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #35

  Confidence Is a Fit: The Real Psychology of Personal Style (ft. Amanda Vargus, Pt. 1)

  Aug 10, 202623 minS1

  Ever feel like your closet is full but you have nothing to wear? In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, I sit down with Amanda Vargus — luxury sales pro turned personal stylist and founder of Wave and Woven — to unpack what's really going on. Amanda made the leap from a corporate sales career at iHeartRadio and Pandora into styling during the pandemic, all while navigating a divorce and raising a young son. Now she helps women, especially moms, rebuild their style from the inside out. We break down the three things every wardrobe needs to work — aesthetic, lifestyle, and body type — plus Amanda's honest take on why confidence isn't something a stylist can promise, how to actually explore your personal style without falling down a Pinterest rabbit hole, why she has clients try (not buy) with rental services, and her real talk on jeans and bathing suits. What We Cover: Amanda's career pivot from luxury sales to personal styling, and the pandemic "shit moment" that sparked it Why confidence isn't the goal a stylist promises, but the byproduct The three pillars of a working wardrobe: aesthetic, lifestyle, and body type How to find your personal style without over-shopping or falling into the Pinterest rabbit hole Why renting is a smart, low-risk way to test new styles and trends Body type basics: working with your proportions instead of fighting them Amanda's real talk on jeans (yes, you may need to try on 20 pairs) and bathing suits About the Guest: Amanda Vargus is the CEO and founder of Wave and Woven, a personal styling company based in Boston. Before styling, she built a career in luxury sales and advertising, working for iHeartRadio and Pandora. She's been featured in USA Today and Glam Weekly, and specializes in transformational styling for women navigating changing bodies, careers, and life stages. Links + Resources: Follow Wave & Woven Learn more about Amanda and her Process Maria feels confident with monthly outfits from Rent the Runway. Try it here with 50% off (referral link from which I may receive a benefit) Follow ThatMom: Instagram Join the ThatMom Community: EMAIL If this episode resonated, share it with a mom who has been carrying too much for too long. And if you're enjoying these conversations, follow That Mom for more thoughtful discussions about motherhood, identity, ambition, happiness, emotional well-being, and building a life that feels aligned with what matters most.

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #34

  Same Mess, Different Standard: The Truth About the Mental Load (ft. Dr. Anne Welsh, Pt. 2)

  Aug 5, 202623 minS1

  There was a half day at school and I didn't realize it. The office called, my son was waiting, and my husband joked later: "How could you forget the half day?" It got me thinking — why does it always land on mom to remember, even when both parents are home? Psychologist and executive coach Dr. Anne Welsh returns to unpack the data behind that gap: why women are held to a stricter standard than men, both at work and at home, and why the mental load defaults to us so often it barely registers as a choice. We get into the research — women promoted for proven performance while men get promoted on potential, the "mom gets the call" pattern even when dad's the listed emergency contact, and the same messy room rated dirtier when it's labeled a woman's. Anne explains why closing that gap isn't about lowering your standards, and how redefining what "good enough" looks like can protect your time and health. She also breaks down Fair Play, the system she's certified to teach, which makes invisible labor visible enough to divide fairly. We close with her own scripts for bringing this up with a partner — without anger, without a list of grievances, and without a fight. What We Cover: Why women are punished more than men for the same mistakes The workplace promotion gap: men on potential, women on proven performance Why "mom gets the call" even when dad's the listed emergency contact The Tim's-room-vs-Amy's-room study on gendered double standards Fair Play's two premises: invisible labor is real, and everyone's time is valuable The four-hours-a-week leisure gap between moms and their partners Scripts for dividing labor without triggering defensiveness About the Guest: Dr. Anne Welsh is a licensed clinical psychologist and certified executive coach based in Cambridge, MA. Previously at Harvard University, she now runs her own practice supporting ambitious women navigating career and motherhood at the same time. She is a Certified Fair Play Facilitator through the Fair Play Institute, with additional certifications in perinatal mental health and parental leave coaching. Her book, Ambitious Mother: From Surviving to Thriving in Your Career and at Home , is out August 2026. Links + Resources: Dr. Anne Welsh's Book: Ambitious Mother: From Surviving to Thriving in your Career and at Home Learn More or work with Dr. Anne Welsh: https://www.drannewelsh.com/ Follow ThatMom: Instagram Join the ThatMom Community: EMAIL Maria's Style Pick: One thing helping me simplify life as a working mom? Renting instead of buying. This episode's outfit is from Rent the Runway. Try it here with 50% off If this episode resonated, share it with a mom who has been carrying too much for too long. And if you're enjoying these conversations, follow That Mom for more thoughtful discussions about motherhood, identity, ambition, happiness, emotional well-being, and building a life that feels aligned with what matters most.

  ListenShow Notes

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