Ambitious and Balanced Working Moms

Hosted by Rebecca Olson

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Episodes

299

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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About the show

This is a show for working moms who want to balance their ambitious career goals with their life as a mom. Being a career driven woman is hard and confusing after having kids but each week, Certified Professional Life Coach Rebecca Olson will share bite-size stories, tips and strategies to help you regain your confidence, make decisions you trust and create a positive mindset that supports the ambitious life you want to live. Drawing on seven years of coaching ambitious working mom in finding work/life balance as well as her own journey as the breadwinner of a family of 4, Rebecca will teach you how to be both successful at work and present with your family. If you never want to choose between your career and being a great mom, you’ll find the answers and support right here. Learn more at rebeccaolsoncoaching.com.

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60 recent

October 12, 202615 min

Why Mental Load Hacks Don't Work for Working Moms (And What Does)

You can delegate more, create better systems, and try every mental load hack out there, but what if none of that is actually fixing the problem? In this episode, I'm diving into one of the biggest findings from my State of the Working Mom in 2026 research: why so many working moms struggle to sustainably let go of the mental load, even when they're doing all the "right" things. And here's the surprising part. It might have less to do with your partner or your to-do list and more to do with how you see yourself. I'm sharing my own experience, the identities that keep us holding on so tightly, and the shift that can finally help you release some of that responsibility without sacrificing the ambitious, capable woman you are. This one might change how you think about everything you're carrying. In this episode, we unpack: Why mental load hacks don't always stick The hidden connection between identity and overwhelm How being the "responsible one" keeps you carrying it all Why letting go doesn't make you less ambitious or successful The mindset shift that makes sharing the load sustainable Work with me: Download the State of the Working Mom Research Report: www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/research-guide Join Ambitious & Balanced: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/ambitiousandbalanced Mental Load Hack Podcast Episodes: Ep 266: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/266 Ep 267: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/267 Ep 268: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/268

October 5, 202619 min

The State of the Working Mom: New Research on Burnout, Mental Load & Why It's Not Your Fault

If you’ve been wondering why working motherhood still feels so exhausting even when you’re doing everything “right,” this episode is the beginning of a conversation I think we desperately need. I’m kicking off my new State of the Working Mom series with the research, interviews and data I’ve gathered from working moms across the country, and the findings are incredibly validating. From the mental load that never clocks out to the guilt that follows us everywhere, the missing village, the toll on our bodies and the deep desire to simply feel like we have our lives back, I’m unpacking what working moms are really experiencing right now and why so much of it goes far beyond better time management. In this episode, we unpack: Why the workplace was never designed with working moms in mind The six biggest themes emerging from my working mom research Why the mental load truly never clocks out What working moms are craving even more than “balance” Why so many women are quietly thinking, “I just want my life back” Work with me: Download the State of the Working Mom Research Report: www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/research-guide Book a Mental Load Reset Call: www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/strategy Join Ambitious & Balanced: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/ambitiousandbalanced Book a Work-Life Balance Strategy Call: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/ambitiousandbalanced-call Download the Free Daily Kickstart: www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/daily-kickstart Mental Load Hack Podcast Episodes: Ep 266: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/266 Ep 267: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/267 Ep 268: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/268

September 28, 202646 min

High-Functioning and Barely Holding On: Ranjita's Story of Burnout, Self-Doubt, and Steady Confidence (rebroadcast)

I’m bringing back this powerful conversation with Ranjita, a working mom of three, tax professional, and former Ambitious & Balanced client. She shares what it looked like to move through grief, burnout, and deep self-doubt, and how she slowly found her way back to herself. This is a beautiful conversation about learning to trust your own voice, letting go of the need to be everything for everyone, and creating a version of balance that actually feels like yours. In this episode, we unpack: Why negative self-talk keeps ambitious women in survival mode The identity shift required for true work-life balance Tangible daily practices that changed everything What happened when Ranjita stopped checking work email on vacation How affirmations and boundaries created generational change at home Work with me: Join Ambitious & Balanced: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/ambitiousandbalanced Book a Work-Life Balance Strategy Call: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/ambitiousandbalanced-call Download the Free Daily Kickstart: www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/daily-kickstart

September 21, 202622 min

How to Advocate for Yourself at Work Without Feeling Like You're Bragging (rebroadcast)

If advocating for yourself at work feels uncomfortable, awkward or a little too much like bragging, this episode is for you. I’m rebroadcasting this conversation because knowing how to speak up about your value, ask for what you need and advocate for what you want is a skill every working mom can learn. I’m sharing four practical tips to help you advocate for yourself with more confidence, plus the common reasons so many women struggle to do it in the first place. In this episode, we unpack: Advocating is something that can be learned 4 tips to effectively advocate for yourself Focus on HOW you do things uniquely Connect what you do to a greater purpose Who’s job is it to advocate for you? Work with me: Join Ambitious & Balanced: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/ambitiousandbalanced Book a Work-Life Balance Strategy Call: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/ambitiousandbalanced-call Download the Free Daily Kickstart: www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/daily-kickstart Subscribe to my Email List: www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/email-list

September 14, 202621 min

Stay-at-Home Mom Envy: Do I Want to Quit My Job or Am I Just Burned Out (rebroadcast)

Have you ever caught yourself looking at stay-at-home moms and thinking, “Maybe I just don’t want to work anymore”? Before you assume that means you need to quit your job, there may be something else going on. In this rebroadcast, I’m revisiting stay-at-home mom envy and what it can reveal about burnout, exhaustion, and the desire for more space in your life. We’ll talk about why these feelings show up and how to figure out whether you truly want a different career or if you’re simply craving a different way of working and living. In this episode, we unpack: Why you might be dreaming about being a stay-at-home mom, even though you are highly ambitious. What happens when you feel you don’t spend enough time with your kids and family Stay-at-home mom envy is a defense mechanism to ensure you don’t fail as a mom or a worker If you could solve your work-life-balance challenges, would you still want to be home with your kids? Work with me: Join Ambitious & Balanced: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/ambitiousandbalanced Book a Work-Life Balance Strategy Call: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/ambitiousandbalanced-call Download the Free Daily Kickstart: www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/daily-kickstart

September 7, 202623 min

Stop Feeling Overwhelmed: The 3-Step Tool That Actually Works for Working Moms (rebroadcast)

I’m rebroadcasting this important episode because I know so many working moms need this reminder. Overwhelm isn’t just something that happens to us. It’s an emotion our brain uses to tell us something needs our attention. Instead of pushing through it or getting bogged down by it, we can learn to get curious about what it’s trying to tell us. In this episode, I’ll walk you through 3 simple steps to leverage overwhelm so you can feel more free, confident, and energized. You know…basically the opposite of overwhelmed. In this episode, we unpack: Why everyone feels overwhelmed 3 important facts about overwhelm Why motherhood is an overwhelming season of life What not to do when you feel overwhelmed 3 steps to getting yourself out of overwhelm Work with me: Join Ambitious & Balanced: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/ambitiousandbalanced Book a Work-Life Balance Strategy Call: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/ambitiousandbalanced-call Download the Free Daily Kickstart: www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/daily-kickstart Enjoying the podcast? Make sure you don’t miss a single episode! Subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or where ever you listen to podcasts . And please leave a review to help this reach more ambitious working moms like you.

August 31, 202617 min

Nothing Has Gone Wrong: A Working Mom's Guide to Back-to-School Emotions

Back-to-school season can bring out some BIG emotions, and not just for our kids. Between the meltdowns, changing routines, and the bittersweet reality of watching our kids grow up, it can be easy to wonder what’s gone wrong. In this episode, I’m sharing the mindset shift that changed everything for me: nothing has gone wrong. What if instead of trying to fix all the messy emotions, we simply gave ourselves and our kids permission to feel them? In this episode, we unpack: Why back-to-school transitions can trigger BIG emotions for kids and parents The pattern I finally noticed after three years of back-to-school meltdowns Why your child’s emotions are not a reflection of you as a mom How accepting emotions instead of trying to fix them changes how you show up Why curiosity and experimentation can make parenting through transitions feel lighter Work with me: Join Ambitious & Balanced: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/ambitiousandbalanced Book a Work-Life Balance Strategy Call: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/ambitiousandbalanced-call Download the Free Daily Kickstart: www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/daily-kickstart

August 24, 202617 min

Overscheduled? How Working Moms Can Say No to Fall Commitments Without the Guilt

Back-to-school season has a way of making everything feel like a yes. PTA? Sure. Volunteer? Okay. Take on another project at work because nobody else raised their hand? Fine. But suddenly your calendar is packed, you’re exhausted, and the things that actually matter to you are getting whatever energy is left. In this episode, I’m talking about how to recognize when you’re overcommitted, why high-achieving women are particularly vulnerable to taking on too much, and the two shifts that can help you start creating a life that feels full without constantly feeling drained by it. Because the goal isn’t an empty calendar. It’s a calendar filled with the things you actually want your life to be about. In this episode, we unpack: The 3 signs you’re overcommitted Why a packed calendar isn’t necessarily the problem The hidden cost of always being the one who says yes How to get ruthless about what actually matters Why a thrilling vision makes saying no so much easier Work with me: Join Ambitious & Balanced: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/ambitiousandbalanced Book a Work-Life Balance Strategy Call: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/ambitiousandbalanced-call Download the Free Daily Kickstart: www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/daily-kickstart https://2

August 17, 202621 min

Back-to-School Overwhelm? The Questions Every Working Mom Should Ask Before the School Year

There’s something about back-to-school season that makes me want to reset everything: routines, schedules, priorities, family systems... all of it. But in this episode, I’m challenging the idea that a smoother fall comes from better organization. Instead, I’m sharing five powerful questions that can completely change how you approach this season. We’re talking calmer mornings, less resistance with your kids, letting go of what doesn’t matter, and making sure you don’t disappear from your own schedule. In this episode, we unpack: Why September shouldn’t be a “fresh start” The question to ask before getting organized Creating calmer mornings without controlling your kids What you need to intentionally let go of this fall How to keep yourself on the priority list Work with me: Join Ambitious & Balanced: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/ambitiousandbalanced Book a Work-Life Balance Strategy Call: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/ambitiousandbalanced-call Download the Free Daily Kickstart: www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/daily-kickstart

August 10, 202615 min

Why Is It So Hard to Dream Big as a Working Mom? (My 44th Birthday Episode)

I turned 44 recently, and instead of celebrating where I've been, I found myself questioning where I'm going. In this episode, I'm sharing a vulnerable reflection about how easy it is for working mums to lose sight of their biggest dreams while managing the endless demands of everyday life. We talk about why survival mode steals our ability to dream, how fear disguises itself as "being practical," and why your past doesn't get to decide your future. If you've been feeling stuck, this conversation is your invitation to start believing in what's possible again. In this episode, we unpack: Why survival mode makes it so hard to dream big. The difference between dreaming and casting a vision. How fear hides behind "being realistic." Why your past doesn't define your future. The mindset shift that helps you step into your next level. Work with me: Join Ambitious & Balanced: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/ambitiousandbalanced Book a Work-Life Balance Strategy Call: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/ambitiousandbalanced-call Download the Free Daily Kickstart: www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/daily-kickstart