When Mommy Grows Up

Hosted by Becca Carnahan | Next Chapter Careers

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Episodes

135

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

As moms, we love to inspire our kids to dream big dreams about who they’ll be as they grow up. But when is the last time you stopped to ask yourself, "Who am I going to be (next) as I grow up?" The When Mommy Grows Up Podcast is the motherhood and career podcast for moms who need help defining what success looks like to them as mid-career professionals and parents, along with the support they need to go after it. Hear real stories from real moms facing the same challenges you are. Finding flexible jobs, crafting a job you love, discovering your passions, crushing it at work, and getting kids off the bus! We’ll talk through it all. Hosts (and fellow mom) Becca Carnahan of Next Chapter Careers takes your questions and provides practical step-by-step advice to help you move forward. All served up with a virtual mom hug and lots of laughs! Send your stories and questions to podcast@nextchaptercareers.us. Interested in sharing your insights as a guest on our podcast? Share your story here: https://forms.gle/iefCf9PTTu7kQtpc7

Listen to episodes

60 recent

September 1, 202621 min

Ep. 136 What if Your Career Change Comes with a Pay Cut?

What if the career you want pays less than the job you have? In this episode of When Mommy Grows Up, Becca shares five questions to help you evaluate the complete trade-off, including compensation, flexibility, family finances, future growth, and what the change could make possible. Learn how to tell the difference between a strategic step back and undervaluing yourself so you can make your next career move with clarity and confidence. Resources: Career Clarity Program: careerclarity.beccacarnahan.com Ep. 116: How to Pause the Panic and Negotiate with Confidence ----------------------------- You are one click away from boosting your career clarity and confidence! Head over to whenmommygrowsup.com where you’ll find the free Career Clarity Kickstart. With this free on-the-go guide, we'll walk you through 5 clear action steps you can take to go from confused about next steps to confident about what you want and need from your career. Get started today!

August 18, 202613 min

Ep. 135: Happy Mom New Year! How To Do a Simple September Reset for Your Career

September is the real New Year for moms. Kids head back to school, schedules shift, and suddenly you might be wondering: Is it time for a change for me, too? In this episode, we’re ditching the pressure to completely reinvent your career and focusing instead on a simple September reset. You’ll learn how to create a stop-doing list, set career intentions that actually fit your life, and identify your next right step toward meaningful career growth. Plus, take the free 6-question quiz at beccacarnahan.com/quiz to discover your next right career step, and get a free resource to help you take it. Forget January. Let’s make this September count with grace, clarity, and simple steps forward. ----------------------------- You are one click away from boosting your career clarity and confidence! Head over to whenmommygrowsup.com where you’ll find the free Career Clarity Kickstart. With this free on-the-go guide, we'll walk you through 5 clear action steps you can take to go from confused about next steps to confident about what you want and need from your career. Get started today!

August 4, 202617 min

Ep. 134: A Better Way to Make Confident Career Decisions

I want to let you in on a secret. The key to finding the right career isn't choosing the "perfect" job; it's knowing what you truly need from your work and your life. In this episode of When Mommy Grows Up , we're sharing a lesson from the Align module of the Career Clarity Program all about defining your career and life criteria. Learn how identifying your unique must-haves can help you evaluate opportunities, make confident career decisions, and create greater alignment between your work and the life you want to build. Resources: nextchaptercareers.us careerclarity.beccacarnahan.com ----------------------------- You are one click away from boosting your career clarity and confidence! Head over to whenmommygrowsup.com where you’ll find the free Career Clarity Kickstart. With this free on-the-go guide, we'll walk you through 5 clear action steps you can take to go from confused about next steps to confident about what you want and need from your career. Get started today!

July 28, 202611 min

Ep. 133: Your Career Bucket List: Stop Chasing Job Titles and Start Chasing Experiences

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to create a summer bucket list for your family, but how rarely we dream about what we want to experience in our careers? In this episode of When Mommy Grows Up , we're flipping the script on career planning. Instead of asking, "What's my next job?" we're asking a more meaningful question: "What do I want to experience before I retire?" Whether you dream of leading a team, speaking at a conference, mentoring someone, writing a book, working more flexibly, or simply feeling more fulfilled in your work, your career is about so much more than job titles and promotions. As summer winds down and we all try to squeeze in a few more bucket list adventures before school starts, this is the perfect time to create a Career Bucket List, one that helps you build a career you'll actually enjoy living. In this episode, you'll learn: Why focusing on experiences can be more powerful than chasing job titles How to create your own Career Bucket List Why "someday" often turns into years if we're not intentional A simple way to choose one career experience to work toward before the end of the year Grab a notebook and join me for a fun, reflective conversation that might just change the way you think about your career. Because your career isn't just about where you work; it's about the life you're building along the way. ----------------------------- You are one click away from boosting your career clarity and confidence! Head over to whenmommygrowsup.com where you’ll find the free Career Clarity Kickstart. With this free on-the-go guide, we'll walk you through 5 clear action steps you can take to go from confused about next steps to confident about what you want and need from your career. Get started today!

July 7, 202617 min

Ep 132: An Introvert's Guide to Building Career Connections

Does the thought of networking make you want to hide in the bathroom... or skip the event altogether? If you're an introvert (or just someone who dreads awkward small talk), this episode is for you. In today's episode of When Mommy Grows Up , Becca shares why networking doesn't have to mean working the room, collecting business cards, or pretending to be the loudest person there. Instead, you'll learn how to build meaningful professional relationships in a way that feels authentic, and even plays to your strengths. You'll learn: Why introverts often make excellent networkers How to reframe networking as relationship-building Five practical strategies to make networking events less intimidating Simple conversation starters that go beyond awkward small talk Why following up is where the real networking magic happens How to rebuild your professional network after a career break, relocation, or becoming a mom Whether you're returning to work, changing careers, growing your business, or simply looking to expand your professional circle, this episode will help you network with more confidence, and a lot less anxiety. ----------------------------- You are one click away from boosting your career clarity and confidence! Head over to whenmommygrowsup.com where you’ll find the free Career Clarity Kickstart. With this free on-the-go guide, we'll walk you through 5 clear action steps you can take to go from confused about next steps to confident about what you want and need from your career. Get started today!

June 23, 202611 min

Ep. 131: The Simple Question That Changed My Summers

What if working parent life did not have to look the way we were told it should? In this episode of When Mommy Grows Up , I share a story from 10 years ago, when a quiet conversation with my mom planted a question that changed everything: Why? That one question sparked a long path of reflection, creativity, hustle, and reinvention. From full-time work to a side business to a portfolio career built for flexibility, I’m talking about what it can look like to build a professional life that supports your family, your values, and the seasons you are in. This episode is a reminder that there is no one right way to do work and motherhood. With clarity, imagination, and some hard work in the right season, it is possible to create something that gives you both purpose and room to breathe. And in this season, that means summer belongs to the kids. ----------------------------- You are one click away from boosting your career clarity and confidence! Head over to whenmommygrowsup.com where you’ll find the free Career Clarity Kickstart. With this free on-the-go guide, we'll walk you through 5 clear action steps you can take to go from confused about next steps to confident about what you want and need from your career. Get started today!

June 9, 202615 min

Ep. 130 Whose Voices Are Driving Your Life?

Whose opinions are shaping your biggest decisions, and do they really deserve a vote? In this episode, Becca introduces the powerful coaching exercise, Voices in the Room, and shares the story of a mom who realized she had been living according to expectations she had never consciously chosen. Learn how to identify the voices influencing your choices, decide who belongs in your decision-making process, and strengthen trust in your own voice. Because building an authentic life means letting your values, not everyone else's expectations, lead the way. Resources: When Mommy Grows Up: Finding Career Clarity While Covered in Kids When Mommy Grows Up Workbook ----------------------------- You are one click away from boosting your career clarity and confidence! Head over to whenmommygrowsup.com where you’ll find the free Career Clarity Kickstart. With this free on-the-go guide, we'll walk you through 5 clear action steps you can take to go from confused about next steps to confident about what you want and need from your career. Get started today!

June 2, 202620 min

Ep. 129: Returning to Work After a Career Pause - What I'd Pay For (and What I Wouldn't)

Returning to work after a career pause can feel overwhelming, especially when you're trying to figure out where to invest your time and money. In this episode, career coach Becca Carnahan shares exactly what she would and wouldn't pay for if she were returning to the paid workforce today. From coaching and assessments to ChatGPT, LinkedIn, networking, resumes, and certifications, Becca breaks down which investments can help build clarity, confidence, and momentum, and which ones can wait. If you're considering your next career move after time away from paid work, this episode will help you focus on what matters most and avoid wasting money on things you may not actually need. Resources: Is LinkedIn Premium Worth It? Low Cost Professional Resume Templates ----------------------------- You are one click away from boosting your career clarity and confidence! Head over to whenmommygrowsup.com where you’ll find the free Career Clarity Kickstart. With this free on-the-go guide, we'll walk you through 5 clear action steps you can take to go from confused about next steps to confident about what you want and need from your career. Get started today!

May 26, 202619 min

Ep. 128: Is Part-Time Work Right For You?

The question "Is part-time work the answer?" comes up all the time for mid-career parents managing work and family needs. And in the summertime, while school is out, that question gets even louder. So let's talk about it! In this episode of When Mommy Grows Up , we’re talking honestly about part-time work as an option: when it can be a lifeline, when it’s not the right fit, and how to thoughtfully evaluate whether it aligns with your career and family goals in this season of life. You’ll hear the real pros and cons of part-time work, common mistakes parents make when considering flexible arrangements, and practical strategies for proposing a part-time role at your current company. From restructuring responsibilities to setting communication expectations and positioning your request as a trial run, this episode walks through how to advocate for yourself strategically and professionally. If you’ve ever thought, “I wish work felt more manageable right now,” this conversation is for you. Resources: Does Part-Time Work Really Work?: Meg's Story Job Search Sites for Flexible Roles ----------------------------- You are one click away from boosting your career clarity and confidence! Head over to whenmommygrowsup.com where you’ll find the free Career Clarity Kickstart. With this free on-the-go guide, we'll walk you through 5 clear action steps you can take to go from confused about next steps to confident about what you want and need from your career. Get started today!

May 19, 202616 min

Ep. 127: How to Close the Feedback Gap and Actually Get Better at Work - Jenna's Story

In this episode of When Mommy Grows Up , we’re taking a page from the world of gymnastics, where feedback is constant, specific, and unavoidable, and asking: what if we approached our careers the same way? Because here’s the truth: most of us aren’t lacking feedback… we’re just not getting the kind that actually helps us grow. Through the story of “Jenna,” a high-performing professional who felt stuck despite glowing reviews, we unpack why common workplace feedback often falls flat, and how to change that. From vague praise to overly safe critiques, we’ll break down what’s missing and how to start asking better questions that lead to real, actionable insights. You’ll walk away with simple, practical strategies to: Ask for feedback in a way that gets real answers Turn vague comments into clear direction Build visibility and trust by actually using what you hear Create momentum in your career (without waiting for your next review cycle) If you’ve ever thought, “I’m doing everything right… so why am I not growing?” this episode is for you! ----------------------------- You are one click away from boosting your career clarity and confidence! Head over to whenmommygrowsup.com where you’ll find the free Career Clarity Kickstart. With this free on-the-go guide, we'll walk you through 5 clear action steps you can take to go from confused about next steps to confident about what you want and need from your career. Get started today!