Ambitious and Balanced Working Moms

Hosted by Rebecca Olson

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Episodes

293

Latest episode

Aug 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

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

August 3, 202650 min

The Mental Load: How to Build a Truly Equal Marriage (with Mika Ross)

The hardest part isn't doing the laundry, packing the lunches, or remembering the appointments. It's feeling like you're the only one carrying the responsibility. In this episode, I sit down with relationship therapist and coach Mika Ross to explore why so many women end up carrying the invisible mental load, how society quietly reinforces those patterns, and what it really takes to build a more equal partnership at home. If you've ever thought, "Why do I have to ask?" this conversation is for you. In this episode, we unpack: Why the mental load isn't a personal failure—it's a systemic issue How to divide household responsibilities without creating more conflict The hidden cost of overfunctioning and how to stop doing it Practical ways to build a more equal partnership at home Why communication, accountability, and letting go are the keys to lasting change 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 Connect with Mika: Instagram: www.instagram.com/mikaross.therapist/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/GetYourHappyBack/ TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@mikaross.therapist YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MikaRoss.Therapist Website: www.mikaross.com

July 27, 202645 min

Is Your Career Hurting Your Kids? And The Truth About Working Mom Guilt (with Dr. Laura Froyen)

What if the guilt you feel as a working mum isn't actually yours to carry? Rebecca and parenting expert Dr. Laura Froyen explore the stories we've been told about motherhood, career, and what it means to be a "good mum". Together they unpack the research, challenge common beliefs, and share practical ways to parent with more confidence and far less guilt. In this episode, we unpack: The difference between true guilt and the guilt you've inherited from society. What research actually says about working mums and child development. Why presence matters more than the number of hours you spend with your kids. How modelling self-care helps your children far more than self-sacrifice. Simple ways to build stronger connection while balancing career and family. 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 Connect with Laura: Website: laurafroyen.com Podcast: www.laurafroyen.com/podcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/laurafroyenphd

July 20, 202649 min

Why Time Blocking Doesn't Work for Everyone (And What Does) with Anna Dearmon Kornick

In this episode, I sit down with time management coach Anna Dearman Kornick for a fascinating conversation about why traditional productivity advice doesn't work for everyone. We explore how your personality influences the way you plan, make decisions, and manage your time, and why feeling overwhelmed has far less to do with your calendar than you might think. If you've ever felt like you're failing at time management, this episode will completely reframe the way you think about productivity, overwhelm, and creating a life that actually works for you. In this episode, we unpack: Why overwhelm is often the real problem. How your personality shapes the way you manage time. Practical tools to create mental capacity before tackling your to-do list. Why one-size-fits-all productivity systems often fail. Simple ways to build a schedule that works with your brain instead of against it. 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 Connect with Anna: Podcast: https://annadkornick.com/podcast/ Blueprint to Balance – Anna's free video series: https://annadkornick.com/blueprint-to-balance Anna’s Book: https://annadkornick.com/book Instagram: www.instagram.com/annadkornick/ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/annadearmonkornick/ 287