What does it look like to choose your own path to motherhood? In this powerful conversation, I sit down with Amy Vale – foster mom and founder of For the Cubs – to explore how motherhood comes in all different forms, and how you can deeply care about multiple things at the same time.

Amy's journey from marketing executive at Spotify and charity:water to creating Percy the weighted plush bear (named after her grandfather) will challenge everything you think you know about balancing entrepreneurship and motherhood. Her story of running out of product while prioritizing a foster baby's legal case stood out to me because it's a reminder that sometimes life demands that we choose one thing over the other – and that's okay.

Here's what I took away from Amy's story: there's no single "right" way to become a mom, be a mom, build a business, or create a meaningful life. And honestly? That's exactly the permission we all need to hear.

This episode is perfect for:

🏠 The Reality of Foster Parenting:

💼 Entrepreneurship While Mothering:

💪 Challenging Societal Expectations:

🎯 Permission-Giving Wisdom:

Amy Vale is the founder of For the Cubs, a company providing quality essentials for young children while supporting kids in foster care through their nonprofit partner, One Simple Wish. After a decade in marketing with brands like Spotify and charity:water, Amy transitioned to entrepreneurship driven by her experience as a foster parent.

Her hero product, Percy – a weighted plush bear designed to mimic a hug – was named after her late grandfather and created after learning that humans need 8-12 hugs daily for emotional wellbeing. Amy continues fostering children while building her business, currently caring for her 10th foster child.

Connect with Amy:

What's one area of your life where you've been afraid to "bet on yourself"? How might Amy's story give you permission to trust your own path?

Love this episode? Please leave a review and share it with a mom friend who needs to hear Amy's story. Because here's what I know for sure: when we share diverse stories of motherhood, we all feel less alone in our journeys.

With gratitude,

Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts if this episode resonated with you - it helps other moms find exactly what they need to hear.

Hey mama friends! 💕

Ever feel torn between being the perfect employee and the perfect mom? You're not alone, and this episode is exactly what you need to hear.

Join host Jocelyn Auyeung as she sits down with her dear friend Marivic Walch, a 25-year veteran third-grade teacher and mother of two college-aged daughters. This raw, honest conversation tackles the reality every working mom faces: you can't give 100% to everything, and that's actually okay.

What really resonated with me during our conversation because I’ve experienced myself, was Marivic's journey from trying to be "super teacher" to embracing authentic motherhood - and how that shift transformed her relationships with both her students and her daughters.

Marivic Walch is a dedicated educator and proud mother of two remarkable young women who represent her greatest achievements in life. As a third-grade teacher entering her 25th year in the classroom, she brings decades of experience nurturing young minds while balancing the demands of motherhood. Marivic is committed to living authentically while continuously evolving into her best self—celebrating both her progress and her ongoing journey of personal development.

For New Working Moms:

For Experienced Working Moms:

For All Moms:

💭 Where in your life are you still chasing that impossible 200% standard? What would it feel like to give yourself permission to be "good enough"?

Thank you for listening, mama friends. Please know that you are doing the best that you can and that's enough. You've got this!

With love and care for you,

Jocelyn 💕

Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts if this episode resonated with you - it helps other moms find exactly what they need to hear.

Hey mama friends! 💕

This conversation with Susan Lieu absolutely hit me right in the gut - and I know it's going to resonate deeply with so many of you who are navigating the beautiful, complex work of breaking generational cycles while raising our own little humans.

Susan is a Vietnamese American storyteller, activist, and author whose memoir The Manicurist's Daughter (an Apple Book Pick!) explores her journey of healing after losing her mother to a botched cosmetic surgery when she was just 11 years old. For three decades, her family never spoke about her mother or what happened - and that silence shaped everything about how Susan learned to move through the world.

🌟 How to break cycles of emotional suppression - practical ways to validate your children's feelings instead of shutting them down

🌟 Why trusting your intuition as a mother matters - and how to rebuild that muscle if it feels rusty

🌟 The connection between self-care and showing up fully - Susan's wisdom about hitting pause so you can serve from a full cup

🌟 How to "fan the embers" of your calling - even when you're deep in the thick of motherhood

🌟 Permission to live like you're mortal - Susan's powerful reminder that we don't know our timeline, so what are we waiting for?

Susan said something that's been sitting with me: "No one's watching. No one cares. And so, if it's going to serve you, if it's on your heart and mind, why not give it to yourself?"

Mama, if you've been turning down the volume on something that's calling to you - whether it's a creative project, a career pivot, or simply the courage to parent differently than how you were raised - this episode is for you.

Susan is a multi-hyphenate storyteller, activist, and author. She's the creator of the critically acclaimed solo show "140 LBS: How Beauty Killed My Mother," and her debut memoir The Manicurist's Daughter has received praise from The New York Times, NPR Books, Elle Magazine, and The Washington Post. She's also a mother to 4-year-old Art and recently became one of Seattle's Most Influential People for 2024.

Buy her AMAZING book:

THE MANICURIST’S DAUGHTER

https://www.susanlieu.me/the-manicurists-daughter

Connect with Susan:

💭 What's one "ember" in your life that's been calling for more oxygen?

💭 How are you teaching your children that their feelings and bodies matter?

💭 What would it look like to give yourself permission to explore something that makes you feel alive?

Thank you for listening, mama friends. Please know that you can do hard things, you deserve to trust your inner knowing, and it's never too late to create the life and family culture you actually want.

Sending you love, light, and joy.

With gratitude,

Jocelyn

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If this episode resonated with you, I'd love to hear about it! Leave us a review on Apple Podcast or send me a LinkedIn message. Your openness to share is what creates connection and belonging amongst us moms.

Feeling like you're not doing enough as a mom, no matter what path you choose? You're not alone. In this vulnerable conversation, first-generation college graduate and nonprofit leader Sabrena Lopez shares her raw journey through motherhood identity crisis and how she transformed her struggles into Motherhouse Collective and Mosaic House- a revolutionary community space for mothers.

Sabrena Lopez founded Spectrum Administrative Services in 2022 to streamline operations for nonprofits and startups. With expertise in nonprofit management and business operations, she optimizes workflows for sustainable growth.

As the visionary behind Motherhouse Collective and Mosaic House, Sabrena supports mothers with professional development and wellness programming. Passionate about empowering women and fostering inclusive spaces, she's dedicated to creating collaborative and innovative opportunities in the Chicago community and beyond.

Connect with Sabrena:

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Love this episode? Share it with a mom friend who needs to hear Sabrena's story! Subscribe to Empowered Working Mom Revolution for more inspiring conversations with moms who are redefining what it means to balance career, creativity, and family.

Leave a review and let us know which part of Sabrena's story resonated most with you. Your reviews help other moms find our community!

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We would appreciate your support because your support matters!  

Scroll down on the Empowered Working Mom Revolution show page in the Apple Podcast app and tap "Write a review."

Make a one-time donation to the podcast for as little as $7 or whatever amount feels best for you.  You can click this link to make a donation. Thank you!

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Connect with Jocelyn, MA,  PCC (she/her/hers)

NurturED Solutions | Podcast | LinkedIn | Mental Well-Being Coaching

Discover Jessica Wan's powerful story of unexpected motherhood, career transformation, and navigating life's biggest challenges. In this heartfelt conversation, Jessica shares her journey from not wanting children to becoming a mom at 35, all while grieving the loss of her mother and transforming her career from marketing executive to executive coach.

What You'll Learn:

Jessica Wan is an ICF-Certified Executive Coach who spent 20 years connecting people with products they love at companies like Apple, San Francisco Opera, Smule, and Magoosh. After discovering her passion for developing people while managing teams, she transitioned to executive coaching, partnering with leaders in work and whole-life leadership. Jessica double-majored in Music and Product Design at Stanford, earned an MBA from Berkeley-Haas, and is also a mom, opera singer, and host of The Ampersand Manifesto podcast.

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Love this episode? Share it with a mom friend who needs to hear Jessica's story! Subscribe to Empowered Working Mom Revolution for more inspiring conversations with moms who are redefining what it means to balance career, creativity, and family.

Leave a review and let us know which part of Jessica's story resonated most with you. Your reviews help other moms find our community!

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We would appreciate your support because your support matters!  

Scroll down on the Empowered Working Mom Revolution show page in the Apple Podcast app and tap "Write a review."

Make a one-time donation to the podcast for as little as $7 or whatever amount feels best for you.  You can click this link to make a donation. Thank you!

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Connect with Jocelyn, MA,  PCC (she/her/hers)

NurturED Solutions | Podcast | LinkedIn | Mental Well-Being Coaching

In this powerful episode, Judy Tsuei shares her raw, inspiring journey of rebuilding her life after divorce with just $200 to her name while co-parenting her young daughter. From surviving an emotionally challenging marriage to creating a thriving business and finding healthy love within just five years, Judy's story is a testament to the resilience within all of us. Her vulnerable reflections on belonging, authenticity, and healing offer a roadmap for any mom navigating difficult transitions while trying to show up authentically for herself and her children.

About Judy Tsuei

Judy is a Master Practitioner Coach of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Mental Emotional Release (MER) specializing in helping high-achieving women leaders and visionary entrepreneurs navigate the complexities of modern life while staying true to their authentic selves.

Connect with Judy

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We start building our movement magic on March 31st and I seriously cannot WAIT to see what we create together.

Ready for 66 days of tiny wins that add up to massive change? Let's do this thing! 💪✨ 

Our mission is to amplify the stories of all moms so that they can be seen, heard, and supported in their motherhood journey, regardless of whether they are balancing motherhood with an external career or choosing to dedicate themselves fully to motherhood.

We would appreciate your support because your support matters!  

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Connect with Jocelyn, MA,  ACC (she/her/hers)

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Vanity Jenkins, a single mom, PhD student, and DEI consultant who's redefining what it means to parent from a place of deep self-trust and authenticity. In this heartfelt episode, Vanity shares her journey of choosing entrepreneurship, prioritizing mental health, and creating space for her daughter to thrive as her true self. Through laughter, real talk, and powerful insights, we explore how letting go of prescribed parenting rules and trusting our maternal instincts can transform our motherhood experience.

Key Takeaways:

About Vanity Jenkins

Vanity Jenkins is the founder and principal consultant of ShiftED Consulting.  She created the organization with the vision of abolishing racism and anti-blackness from organizations across America. ShiftED’s mission is to provide communities the knowledge and skills to eradicate anti-blackness and white supremacy culture individually, interpersonally, and systemically so that individuals and organizations can build inclusive, productive, and thriving environments.   An inclusive, goal-oriented leader, Vanity’s teams consistently scored in the top 10% on the national Great Places to Work Survey. Vanity holds Women’s Leadership, Restorative Justice, Executive Coaching, and Culturally Relevant Pedagogy certifications. She is a current Ph.D. student at Penn State University.

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We start building our movement magic on March 31st and I seriously cannot WAIT to see what we create together.

Ready for 66 days of tiny wins that add up to massive change? Let's do this thing! 💪✨ 

Our mission is to amplify the stories of all moms so that they can be seen, heard, and supported in their motherhood journey, regardless of whether they are balancing motherhood with an external career or choosing to dedicate themselves fully to motherhood.

We would appreciate your support because your support matters!  

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Connect with Jocelyn, MA,  ACC (she/her/hers)

Are you looking to create success that honors both your career ambitions AND your desire to be present with your kids?

Then this soulful conversation is for you. Justine Wentzell-Chang, a brilliant copywriter and messaging strategist shares her beautiful journey of building a business while honoring motherhood. From navigating life with a pandemic baby to embracing neurodivergence as a superpower, Justine offers an honest perspective on creating success that aligns with our deepest motherly instincts.

Justine Wentzell-Chang is an Eldest Daughter of Immigrants, Mother, Activist, and Copywriter/Messaging Strategist for phenomenal BIPOC + woman-owned businesses on a mission to change the status quo and create positive culture change.

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Our mission is to amplify the stories of all moms so that they can be seen, heard, and supported in their motherhood journey, regardless of whether they are balancing motherhood with an external career or choosing to dedicate themselves fully to motherhood.

We would appreciate your support because your support matters!  

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Connect with Jocelyn, MA,  ACC (she/her/hers)

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Gissel Tapper, a mom of two daughters ages 24 and 13, who shares her journey of taking bold leaps of faith while keeping her children's wellbeing at heart. From moving across continents to navigating different stages of motherhood, Gissel opens up about how intentionality and faith have guided her parenting decisions. Her story reminds us that we don't need to have everything figured out to make brave choices, and that sometimes our children are more resilient than we imagine.

Key Takeaways:

About Gissel

She's a mom of two daughters, ages 24 and 13 who's ready to take risks and enthusiastic about new challenges, as well as learning and sharing knowledge. Gissel is resilient and always seeks opportunities for growth. Her approach is to always follow through on her commitments.

Connect with Gissel on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/gissel-tapper

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We'd love your support!

Our mission is to amplify the stories of all moms so that they can be seen, heard, and supported in their motherhood journey, regardless of whether they are balancing motherhood with an external career or choosing to dedicate themselves fully to motherhood.

We would appreciate your support because your support matters!  

Here are 3 ways you can support the mission of the podcast:

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Connect with Jocelyn, MA,  ACC (she/her/hers)

🎧 Ever feel like you're just surviving this whole mom thing? (Um, who doesn't?! 🙋‍♀️)

About Ella Ella Wong is a Chinese-American mom to two high school boys and twin middle school daughters. After studying business in college, she shifted careers to become a mental health coach specializing in parenting. Ella is passionate about helping other parents face the challenges of raising kids with confidence and compassion, drawing from her own experiences as a mom and her professional training. When she's not juggling sports schedules or having deep conversations with her teens, you can find her taking rejuvenating hikes in nature! 🌲

Key Takeaways:

Connect with Ella:

Instagram: @dowhatyoulovetoday

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We'd love your support!

Our mission is to amplify the stories of all moms so that they can be seen, heard, and supported in their motherhood journey, regardless of whether they are balancing motherhood with an external career or choosing to dedicate themselves fully to motherhood.

We would appreciate your support because your support matters!  

Here are 3 ways you can support the mission of the podcast:

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Connect with Jocelyn, MA,  ACC (she/her/hers)