What Actually Happens When You Start a Podcast as a Working Mom
Here's something nobody tells you about starting a podcast: you don't need to have it all figured out first.
In fact, the best time to start might be when it feels completely audacious—like, say, in your first trimester while parenting a toddler and working full-time. (Yes, I actually did this.)
In this special behind-the-scenes episode, my friend Sarah Chapman-Funston turns the tables and interviews me about what it's really like to run a podcast as a working mom. We get really into the ins and outs about why I keep showing up week after week, how I actually structure my time, and the heartbreaking-but-real moments like when my 2-year-old learned to say "mama stay."
If you've ever wondered whether you could start something meaningful while juggling kids, career, and life—or if you're already in the thick of it and questioning whether it's worth it—this one's for you.
Takeaway 1: You Don't Need Permission, But You'll Look For It Anyway
When I decided to start this podcast, I wasn't some veteran mom with all the answers. I had one 2-year-old and was pregnant with my second. I was exhausted. I had no formal training in podcasting. And yet—I had something I needed to say.
The voices in my head were loud:
Who am I to have a podcast?
What makes me qualified?
What will people think?
What I learned is that those voices aren't really asking legitimate questions. They're looking for permission to stay small.
Sarah asked me about the name "All Figured Out," and people have definitely misunderstood it. Some thought I was claiming to have everything figured out (I absolutely do not). But that's exactly the point—none of us have it all figured out. The podcast is about figuring it out together, in real-time, with real struggles and real wins.
If you're waiting until you feel "ready" or "qualified" to start something, you'll be waiting forever.
Takeaway 2: Impact Matters More Than Income
The number one question people ask me about the podcast: "So are you making money with it?"
Short answer: No.
Longer answer: That was never the point.
Don't get me wrong—I'm a businesswoman, and I believe in getting paid for your work. But podcasting is a really long game, and if you start it just to monetize, you'll burn out before you see a dime.
Here's what keeps me going: A dad came up to me twice to tell me that listening to the podcast inspired him to leave his comfortable corporate job and start his own business. Within six months, he surpassed his previous income and is building something he's genuinely excited about.
Even if it was just him—even if it was just one person—it would be worth it.
That's the kind of impact you can't put a price tag on. That's what makes me keep recording episodes in my bedroom studio (yes, I started in my closet because I thought I needed the clothes to muffle the sound—turns out I didn't).
Takeaway 3: Rhythms Over Routines (The 80/20 System)
People always want to know: How do you actually make time for this with two kids?
I don't have perfect systems; what I do have is flexible defaults.
I used to love novelty—changing things up, trying new approaches, keeping it fresh. But with two kids, I've learned that structure creates freedom. Here's my 80/20 approach:
The Default (80% of the time):
Mondays: No client meetings. I record 1-2 podcast episodes in the afternoon (with standing time slots in my calendar)
Wednesdays: VIP days with coaching clients. Same breakfast spot. Same coworking space. Same room booked.
The Flexibility (20% of the time):
Sometimes Wednesday becomes Friday
Sometimes I only get one recording done
Sometimes life happens, and the plan goes out the window
The key is having defaults because it means that I don't have to make decisions from scratch every week. But calling them "rhythms" instead of "routines" reminds me that it's okay when things shift.
And I think making this distinction matters for working parents, so that life doesn’t feel so rigid.
Takeaway 4: "Mama Stay" and the Guilt We Carry
Here's the moment that got me in this interview: My 2-year-old recently learned the phrase "mama stay."
He said it to me the morning of this recording, and it absolutely broke my heart.
I don't want him to not say it—it makes me feel so connected and needed. But how do I reconcile leaving for an 8-hour shoot day when my toddler is asking me to stay? What does that say about my values? About our connection?
Sarah wisely pointed out that when they're older, they'll say "go" instead of "stay." (Not helping, Sarah. Not helping.)
Here's what I'm learning: There is no perfect answer. You can love your work and love your kids and still feel torn. That tension doesn't mean you're doing it wrong. It means you care deeply about both.
The goal isn't to eliminate the heartbreak. It's to keep showing up, keep repairing when you mess up, and trust that your kids see a parent who's building something meaningful—not despite them, but alongside them.
Takeaway 5: Follow the Breadcrumbs
One of the best insights from this conversation came from my guest Christine Coughlin (in a different episode): Just follow the breadcrumbs.
You don't need to see the whole path. You don't need a five-year plan. You just need to try the next small thing and see if you like it.
Christine tried furniture restoration. Hated it. Wrote a blog post about it and moved on. That's a win.
I tried podcasting in my first trimester. Loved it. Kept going. Also a win.
The pattern: Test small. Stay curious. Be willing to pivot.
Too many of us don't start because we can't see the entire journey. But you don't need to. You just need to take the first step, then the next one, and see where it leads.
What I Know Now
Starting a podcast as a working mom wasn't the "smart" move. It wasn't optimized for income or even particularly well-planned. But it was something I needed to do, and I'm so glad I tried.
Here's what I'd tell anyone considering starting something new while juggling kids and career:
You don't need permission. Start before you feel ready.
Impact > income. If even one person benefits, it matters.
Build flexible defaults. Rhythms, not rigid routines.
The heartbreak is part of it. "Mama stay" moments won't disappear, but they don't mean you're failing.
Follow breadcrumbs, not blueprints. You don't need the whole map to take the first step.
And if you're already in the thick of it—if you're wondering whether to keep going or call it quits—ask yourself: Does this still light me up? Is it still making an impact? If the answer is yes, keep following that breadcrumb!
Want to Hear the Full Behind-the-Scenes Story?
This blog just scratches the surface of my conversation with Sarah Chapman-Funston, the video producer behind some of the podcast's most recent episodes and a fellow working mom navigating her own entrepreneurial journey.
In the full episode, we go deeper into:
Why I decided to start video production (and how scary that felt)
The actual logistics of recording, editing, and publishing
How I've handled breaks and inconsistency without guilt
What's next for the podcast (bigger guests, more video, staying curious)
The beauty of informational interviews and testing career ideas before committing