Mrs Mummy PhD®

Hosted by Host Dr Michelle Gibbs

Business Careers Education Kids Family Parenting

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Episodes

142

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN-GB

About the show

This podcast is a reflective space for high-achieving mothers navigating scholarly work, home, and identity. Hosted by Dr Michelle Gibbs — a wife, boy Mama of 3, RD and Dr (of the PhD kind) — the Mrs Mummy PhD® podcast is shaped by lived experience of holding ambition alongside family life, responsibility, and seasons of change. It speaks to the reality that meaningful work does not exist in isolation from the rest of our lives. Scholarly motherhood is complex and deeply human. It is marked by transitions, pressure, and continual becoming — and without intention, it can quietly pull us away from ourselves. Through thoughtful conversations and reflections, this podcast invites you to slow down, lead yourself first, and reconsider what sustainable impact looks like in this season of life. Rather than offering quick fixes or productivity promises, it offers insight, perspective, and permission to build a life that includes your work, your family, and yourself. If you are a mother navigating intellectually demanding work — in academia or beyond — and are seeking steadiness, clarity, and a way forward that does not require self-sacrifice, this space is for you. So Mama, are you in? Fabulous! Let's begin... These are our journeys of becoming — and you’re welcome here.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 15, 2026Episode 14127 min

141. Stop Looking Left and Right: How to Run Your Own Race as a Scholarly Mama®

You're looking left and right while running your race.And it's slowing you down.I realised this at my sons' sports day. Some children were constantly checking if they were winning. Checking their position against everyone else. And they were slower because of it.The ones who stayed focused on their own lane? They won with ease.In this episode, I'm exploring what that taught me about comparison, self-leadership, and why your race doesn't have to look like anyone else's—even if you've been quietly wondering whether any of this applies to you.Listen now.Send me a text message.Support the showWant more? Check out the Mrs Mummy PhD® website.Book your free SEED call. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Threads, Pinterest or TikTok. Join the newsletter family at Scholarly Mamas® - The LetterCheck out my Doodle Dozen® children's book seriesThese are our journeys of becoming.Disclaimer: All views are my own. Nothing shared on this podcast should be considered a substitute for medical/clinical advice or mental health support. Please seek assistance from a qualified professional who can help you if you are struggling or in need of advice/intervention.

June 8, 2026Episode 14028 min

140. When Less Becomes More

What would your Scholarly Mama® life look like if you gave yourself permission to want less?Not less ambition. Less striving at all costs.In this episode, I'm exploring the wisdom of wanting less—and why it's actually the path to more. I'm sharing what my forties are teaching me about ambition, burnout, and why the slower path is sometimes the wiser one.If you've been running on empty wondering if there's another way, start here.Tune in now. Join THE BECOMING HER RESET waitlist here!Send me a text message.Support the showWant more? Check out the Mrs Mummy PhD® website.Book your free SEED call. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Threads, Pinterest or TikTok. Join the newsletter family at Scholarly Mamas® - The LetterCheck out my Doodle Dozen® children's book seriesThese are our journeys of becoming.Disclaimer: All views are my own. Nothing shared on this podcast should be considered a substitute for medical/clinical advice or mental health support. Please seek assistance from a qualified professional who can help you if you are struggling or in need of advice/intervention.

June 1, 2026Episode 13944 min

139. Tiny Decisions, Big Impact.

What would your Scholarly Mama® life look like if you made one tiny decision this week?Not a big overhaul or dramatic uproot. Just one small, intentional decision.In this episode, I'm breaking down how tiny decisions can create big impact—and why you don't need permission from anyone to start.If you've been paralysed waiting for the perfect time to change, this will land differently.Listen here, listen now.Send me a text message.Support the showWant more? Check out the Mrs Mummy PhD® website.Book your free SEED call. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Threads, Pinterest or TikTok. Join the newsletter family at Scholarly Mamas® - The LetterCheck out my Doodle Dozen® children's book seriesThese are our journeys of becoming.Disclaimer: All views are my own. Nothing shared on this podcast should be considered a substitute for medical/clinical advice or mental health support. Please seek assistance from a qualified professional who can help you if you are struggling or in need of advice/intervention.

May 25, 2026Episode 13832 min

138. Reflective Replay of "Running on Empty? Do This First If You Want to Lead Well..."

REFLECTIVE REPLAY!Are you feeling stretched thin between your PhD, your family, and everything in between? In this episode, we’re diving into why filling your own cup first is essential—not just for your well-being, but for your success as a Scholarly Mama® leader.We’ll talk about:Why filling your cup first isn’t selfish—it’s leadershipHow imposter syndrome and guilt hold us back from stepping into our full potentialThe power of setting boundaries and reclaiming your identityA simple exercise to help you start prioritising youIf you’re ready to stop running on empty and lead with confidence, tune in now and take the first step toward leading yourself well!Send me a text message.Support the showWant more? Check out the Mrs Mummy PhD® website.Book your free SEED call. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Threads, Pinterest or TikTok. Join the newsletter family at Scholarly Mamas® - The LetterCheck out my Doodle Dozen® children's book seriesThese are our journeys of becoming.Disclaimer: All views are my own. Nothing shared on this podcast should be considered a substitute for medical/clinical advice or mental health support. Please seek assistance from a qualified professional who can help you if you are struggling or in need of advice/intervention.

May 18, 2026Episode 13749 min

137. Navigating Motherhood, Grief, and Academia: A Journey of Resilience and Wellness with Dr Janelle Chase-Mayers

In this episode, Dr. Janelle Chase-Mayers (aka Dr Jay) shares her inspiring story of juggling motherhood and a PhD journey through grief, all the way to starting her own mental health consultancy business. Discover how her insights can empower Scholarly Mamas to prioritise self-care and authenticity while navigating life's challenges.Resources & LinksDr Jay's Re-Engineering Wellbeing ConsultancyConnect with Dr. Jay on InstagramThis episode offers a heartfelt exploration of juggling academic pursuits with life's emotional realities, inspiring overwhelmed mother scholars to nurture resilience, authenticity, and wellness.Send me a text message.Support the showWant more? Check out the Mrs Mummy PhD® website.Book your free SEED call. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Threads, Pinterest or TikTok. Join the newsletter family at Scholarly Mamas® - The LetterCheck out my Doodle Dozen® children's book seriesThese are our journeys of becoming.Disclaimer: All views are my own. Nothing shared on this podcast should be considered a substitute for medical/clinical advice or mental health support. Please seek assistance from a qualified professional who can help you if you are struggling or in need of advice/intervention.

May 11, 2026Episode 13631 min

136. Why Boundaries Feel Wrong.. Even When You're Doing Them Right

You said no to something this week.And you've been replaying it in your head ever since. Wondering if you were being difficult. Questioning whether you should have just said yes. Feeling guilty for protecting your time/energy.Here's what no one tells you: That discomfort? It doesn't mean you're doing it wrong.In this episode, I'm breaking down why boundaries feel so uncomfortable for high-achieving mothers—and why that discomfort might actually be the sign you're finally choosing yourself.You'll discover:The real difference between selfish and self-led (and why you've been confusing the two)Why the guilt you feel when setting boundaries is proof you still care—not proof you're wrongThe one question to ask yourself before setting any boundary (it changes everything)How to sit with the discomfort without letting it control your decisionsWhat I learned when I quit full-time work and felt like I was disappointing peopleThis one's for you if:You avoid setting boundaries because they feel selfishYou worry that protecting your capacity makes you difficult or uncommittedYou've been trained to say yes your entire life and you're tired of itFair warning: This episode won't make boundaries easier. But it will make them clearer.And sometimes clarity is all you need to finally choose yourself.Listen now.If you'd prefer, you can read the related blog post here.Send me a text message.Support the showWant more? Check out the Mrs Mummy PhD® website.Book your free SEED call. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Threads, Pinterest or TikTok. Join the newsletter family at Scholarly Mamas® - The LetterCheck out my Doodle Dozen® children's book seriesThese are our journeys of becoming.Disclaimer: All views are my own. Nothing shared on this podcast should be considered a substitute for medical/clinical advice or mental health support. Please seek assistance from a qualified professional who can help you if you are struggling or in need of advice/intervention.

May 4, 2026Episode 13552 min

135. 4 Myths Keeping You Stuck In Survival Mode (And How to Become HER Again)

You're running on empty. Going through the motions. Stuck in a relentless cycle where every task feels like obligation with no space left for you.And you're starting to wonder: Is this just my life now?No. It's not...In this episode, I'm breaking down the four myths that keep mother scholars locked in survival mode. The beliefs that make you think you're stuck when you're actually just one shift away from something different.You'll hear:Why "I don't have time" isn't the real problemThe myth that keeps you saying yes when you mean noWhat happens when you shift from "I can't" to "I haven't yet"How to recognise the doors in walls you thought were fixedThis isn't about doing more. It's about seeing clearly what's actually keeping you stuck.If you've been running like this and wondering how/when it'll easier, this one's for you!It's time to become HER again... the version of you before the world told you who you should be...Tune in now.You can also read the related blog post here.Send me a text message.Support the showWant more? Check out the Mrs Mummy PhD® website.Book your free SEED call. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Threads, Pinterest or TikTok. Join the newsletter family at Scholarly Mamas® - The LetterCheck out my Doodle Dozen® children's book seriesThese are our journeys of becoming.Disclaimer: All views are my own. Nothing shared on this podcast should be considered a substitute for medical/clinical advice or mental health support. Please seek assistance from a qualified professional who can help you if you are struggling or in need of advice/intervention.

April 6, 2026Episode 13433 min

134. I Quit... and Started Living Life By Design Again

What if quitting… isn’t failure?What if the thing you’ve been told to push through, stick out, or prove yourself in is actually the very thing keeping you from the life you want?In this deeply personal episode, I share a decision that surprised even me: I quit... Not because things weren’t working. Not because I couldn’t handle it. But because success, at least the way I was pursuing it, had become too expensive.In the years after my PhD, I began to drift into living by default, finding myself lost in the pursuit of it all. Doing what looked right. What sounded impressive. What I thought I should be doing.But recently I asked myself a different question: What would it look like to quit living my default and to start living by design again?The answer required courage... and a series of powerful quits.In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on the things I’ve chosen to walk away from, why letting go felt so difficult, and how good it feels to become her again... the version of my that became lost in the juggle-struggle. If you’ve ever felt guilty for wanting to step away from something that no longer fits, this conversation is for you.Because quitting isn’t always giving up. In some cases, it doesn't even require walking away...But sometimes, it’s the most honest act of self-leadership there is...Tune in now.You can also read the related blog post here.Send me a text message.Support the showWant more? Check out the Mrs Mummy PhD® website.Book your free SEED call. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Threads, Pinterest or TikTok. Join the newsletter family at Scholarly Mamas® - The LetterCheck out my Doodle Dozen® children's book seriesThese are our journeys of becoming.Disclaimer: All views are my own. Nothing shared on this podcast should be considered a substitute for medical/clinical advice or mental health support. Please seek assistance from a qualified professional who can help you if you are struggling or in need of advice/intervention.

March 30, 2026Episode 13326 min

133. Efficient and Empty: The Real Cost of Outsourcing (PART 2)

Last week, we talked about the outsourcing trap and how delegating everything doesn't always create the space you think it will.This week, we're continuing this conversation. And I'm sharing something that might challenge how you've been thinking about help, efficiency, and what actually creates capacity.Because here's the truth: outsourcing isn't the problem. The pace is. And if you're outsourcing to maintain something that was unsustainable in the first place, you'll stay burnt out — just more efficiently.So what do you protect? And what do you let go?In this episode, I'm walking you through the three questions that helped me see the difference between outsourcing that creates presence and outsourcing that just keeps me running.Because presence can't be outsourced. And once you know what to protect, everything shifts.Listen now.You can also read the related blog post here.Send me a text message.Support the showWant more? Check out the Mrs Mummy PhD® website.Book your free SEED call. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Threads, Pinterest or TikTok. Join the newsletter family at Scholarly Mamas® - The LetterCheck out my Doodle Dozen® children's book seriesThese are our journeys of becoming.Disclaimer: All views are my own. Nothing shared on this podcast should be considered a substitute for medical/clinical advice or mental health support. Please seek assistance from a qualified professional who can help you if you are struggling or in need of advice/intervention.

March 23, 2026Episode 13233 min

132. Efficient and Empty: The Real Cost of Outsourcing (PART 1)

You got the help, or hired it. You delegated everything you could.And you're still exhausted.Here's what no one tells you about outsourcing: on its own, it doesn't create the space you think it will. It just lets you keep up with a pace that's burning you out — more efficiently.In this episode, I'm talking about the pattern I've been seeing with burnt-out mother scholars: the more they outsource, the less present they become. Not because outsourcing is bad, but because they're using it to maintain something unsustainable.This is Part 1 of a 2-part episode...This one's for you if you've outsourced all the help, optimised everything, and still don't recognise your own life.Part 2 drops next week where we continue this conversation.Tune in now.You can also read the related blog post here.Send me a text message.Support the showWant more? Check out the Mrs Mummy PhD® website.Book your free SEED call. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Threads, Pinterest or TikTok. Join the newsletter family at Scholarly Mamas® - The LetterCheck out my Doodle Dozen® children's book seriesThese are our journeys of becoming.Disclaimer: All views are my own. Nothing shared on this podcast should be considered a substitute for medical/clinical advice or mental health support. Please seek assistance from a qualified professional who can help you if you are struggling or in need of advice/intervention.