EncourageMoment Podcast

My dear friend and brilliant creator Shannon Leyko, host of the Paring Down podcast, joins me today to share her winding career journey from musical theater and pageantry to writing, television, podcasting, and decluttering. In this conversation, we explore what it means to dream big, embrace unexpected opportunities, and stay open to new directions. We also talk about balancing ambition with rest, letting go of the pressure to have everything figured out, and creating space for the things that matter most. This is part of the Origin Stories: Women with a Vision Series.

We Cover:

• Why your career path doesn't have to be linear and how unexpected detours can lead to meaningful opportunities

• How to dream big and pursue exciting goals without tying your self-worth to the outcome

• Finding a balance between ambition, meaningful work, and much-needed rest

• Recognizing when it's time for a new direction and surrounding yourself with people who encourage your growth

• Saying yes to opportunities, building genuine relationships, and celebrating the success of other women

SEO Keywords

dreaming big, personal growth, career transitions, career changes, embracing change, finding your purpose, pursuing your dreams, women with a vision, women supporting women, female ambition, work life balance, sustainable ambition, personal development, new opportunities, following your curiosity, career journey, making room for change, rest and productivity, professional growth, inspirational conversations

Welcome back to The Encourage Moment Podcast. Today's conversation is one I cannot wait for you to hear. I'm joined by Sam Kelly, founder of Notice and Do and author of the upcoming book, Notice and Do.

If you are tired of carrying the mental load at home, feeling unseen in the invisible work of motherhood, or wondering how to get your kids to help without constant reminders, bribes, battles, or resentment—this episode is for you.

Sam shares a practical and deeply compassionate approach to helping children become proactive contributors at home. Instead of simply assigning chores, Notice and Do teaches kids how to recognize what needs to be done and take action. The goal is not perfection—or turning children into little adults. It is building capability, empathy, responsibility, self-discipline, and a stronger sense of teamwork within the family.

We also talk about the difference between invisible labor, the mental load, and emotional labor; why kids should learn to share the brain work of a home without carrying the emotional burden of parenting; and how this shift can help moms feel more seen, supported, and less alone.

Sam offers especially helpful insight for families raising children with ADHD or other neurodivergent needs. You'll hear a simple first step you can try today: a "noticing walk" through your home that helps kids learn what to look for, where things belong, and how to contribute without being micromanaged.

This episode is full of practical tools, scripts, encouragement, and hope for parents who want to end the cycle of burnout and raise children who understand that caring for a home is shared family work.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What invisible labor is—and the difference between mental load and emotional labor

• Why so many moms feel exhausted, unseen, and quietly resentful

• How to explain the mental load to children in age-appropriate ways

• Why chores need a "glow up" and how family work benefits kids

• How to help kids become proactive instead of waiting to be told what to do

• The Notice and Do method for teaching children responsibility at home

• Why it is never too late to start, even with older kids and teens

• Practical support for children with ADHD, including autonomy, structure, and motivation

• How to use "The Big Three" to build everyday family responsibilities

• Why external motivation and self-discipline are not bad parenting

• How sharing household labor can create more connection, capacity, and creative freedom

• Moving from martyrdom to mentorship—and ending generational patterns of invisible labor

Sam's work is a powerful reminder: you are not complaining when you name what you carry. You are explaining your reality, asking for needed support, and creating a healthier path for your family.

Connect with Sam Kelly and learn more about Notice and Do:

Sam's website

On Instagram: @samkelly_world

If this conversation encouraged you, please share it with another parent who may need to hear that they do not have to carry it all alone.

In this impromptu episode, I'm sharing an honest conversation about women, sales, receiving money, and the internal "noise" that can make charging for our work feel complicated. This was based on what I shared in Instagram stories yesterday and the DM's I received after with some version of "I relate!!"

I deeply believe that meaningful work deserves to be compensated- and I have no problem encouraging other women to charge well for what they offer. But when it comes to selling my own work, especially person-to-person, I've noticed that old messages around sales can surface: fear of being pushy, fear of rejection, and discomfort with being in a receiving position. We explore what it could look like to sell with integrity, warmth, and genuine service- without adopting the transactional, pressure-based approach so many of us have been taught to associate with sales. If you're a heart-centered woman building something meaningful, this episode is an invitation to get curious about your own money stories, sales beliefs, and capacity to receive.

In this episode:

• Why "sales as service" can still feel difficult when it comes to your own work • The traditional sales messaging that can create resistance for empathetic, heart-centered people • Why selling to a business can feel different than selling directly to an individual • The question: "What am I gaining by believing this?" • How giving things away can sometimes protect us from vulnerability and rejection • Why making more money can create more opportunities to support your family, community, and causes you care about • The possibility of earning well through work that feels joyful, light, and aligned • Why pricing our work appropriately can help normalize women being compensated for their gifts

Mentioned in this episode:

• We Should All Be Millionaires by Rachel Rodgers

• Connect with me on Instagram: @EncourageMomentCo

A question to consider What "money noise" or sales beliefs are you ready to notice, question, and release? If this episode resonated with you, I'd love to hear your story. Send me a message on Instagram at @EncourageMomentCo

If your inner voice is more critical than kind, this episode is for you.

In today's EncourageMOMent Podcast, we're talking about self-compassion, harsh self-talk, childhood attachment, and how to begin creating a kinder inner voice—even if you didn't grow up with one. When we were raised around criticism, yelling, insecurity, or conditional love, it can be hard to believe that we are worthy without constantly proving ourselves. But it is never too late to build a new template.

We'll explore why secure attachment and a sense of belonging can shape confidence, emotional regulation, and resilience-and why those of us who did not receive that foundation early in life may need to lovingly re-parent ourselves now.

Most importantly, this episode offers a practical place to start: small, believable moments of self-kindness. Instead of forcing affirmations that your brain may not yet believe, learn how to pause during a shame spiral-whether you are running late, forgot something, made a mistake, or feel behind-and speak to yourself with the same compassion you would offer a child, best friend, partner, or beloved pet.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How childhood experiences can shape your inner critic

• Secure attachment, belonging, and emotional resilience

• Why self-criticism can leave you depleted and dysregulated

• The connection between harsh self-talk, overwhelm, burnout, and shame

• How therapy and inner-child work can support self-compassion

• Why you do not need to "earn" your worth through productivity

• A simple baby-step practice for shifting critical self-talk

• How kindness helps you access practical solutions instead of staying stuck in shame

• Reparenting yourself with compassion, patience, and love

You are not a walking to-do list. You are human, worthy, and allowed to make mistakes. A kinder relationship with yourself is not fluffy or superficial—it changes how you parent, work, connect, rest, and show up in the world.

Books mentioned in episode are by Eli Harwood and Brene Brown- highly recommend both.

Connect with us on Instagram: @encouragementco

Listen for the free self-compassion audio resource linked in the episode notes, and explore the EncourageMOMent audio program for more support.

A short encouragement for moms experiencing back-to-school anxiety and anticipatory anxiety as fall begins.

In this spontaneous mini episode of The Encourage Moment Podcast, I'm sharing the simple mantra I'm taking into a new school year: "We'll figure it out." For the mom who is always 10 steps ahead, trying to prepare for every scenario, this episode is an invitation to return to the present. Bring a little more matter-of-fact energy to the hard things: we'll do our best, take things as they come, pivot when needed, and figure it out together. Connect with me on Instagram: @encouragementmomentco and if this resonates I'd be honored if you'd share it with a friend and/or leave a review- I appreciate it so much & it goes a long way! xo, E

I just recorded an impromptu car chat after thinking about Dolly Parton so much last week. What an incredibly inspiring women who held her own in interviews- even when the interviewer was trying to knock her off course, who believed in herself and her talent, who didn't take herself too seriously but did take her talent seriously- and who showed us all what it looked like to live out loud as our true selves, uplift everyone around us and be fully and unapologetically us.

So glad you're here. Let me know your thoughts on IG at @encouragemomentco and thank you for having grace on the audio in this one- it's a car chat and my microphone was no where to be found- but it felt more important to share it than to wait for perfection. I think Dolly might agree.

xo, E

In part 2 of our conversation Monica Packer discusses how to build habits without shame or all-or-nothing thinking in ways that are built for our real lives.

Her new book Sticky Habits is out TODAY!! And is truly incredible. Hands down the best habit book I've ever read.

If you have read habit books, made a fresh-start plan, tried to overhaul your routine, and then blamed yourself when it did not last, this episode is for you. Monica shares a shame-free, flexible approach to habit formation that accounts for real life: unpredictable schedules, caregiving, limited energy, changing seasons, anxiety, and the mental load so many women carry. Monica's central reframe is simple and powerful: habits are helpers. Their job is not to prove your discipline, worth, or productivity. Their job is to support you in feeling more like yourself. "Habits are helpers. Their only job is to support us—to help us feel like ourselves." "You want sustainability far more than you do intensity, especially in the beginning." You do not need routines, habits, or a home that demand you become someone else. You deserve support that meets you in the life and season you already have. Connect with Monica Monica's book: Sticky Habits Monica's website: About Progress Follow Monica on Instagram: @aboutprogress

Let me know your thoughts @encouragemomentco, and be sure to send this a fellow women who could use this wisdom in her life today, So glad you're here!

xo, E

In this episode, Elena sits down with Dr. Anne Welsh to talk about one of the most loaded topics for modern mothers: how to hold ambition and motherhood at the same time. Together, they unpack the guilt, burnout, resentment, and pressure that can show up when women feel they have to choose between being a good mom and pursuing meaningful work. Dr. Anne shares insights from her book and offers a powerful reframing: ambition is not the enemy of motherhood, and self-care is not selfish. In fact, taking care of yourself can be an act of care for your entire family. This conversation is honest, validating, and full of permission for women who want to pursue big dreams without abandoning their families or themselves.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• Why so many mothers feel caught between ambition and motherhood

• The guilt that comes from believing good moms must always be physically present

• How self-care supports the whole family, not just the mother

• Why thriving moms often create thriving kids

• The difference between healthy striving and unhealthy striving

• How resentment can point to unmet needs or unrealistic expectations

• Why boundaries are essential for sustainable success

• How motherhood can actually fuel ambition

• What it means to ask for what you want instead of settling for leftovers

• Why rest, play, and refueling are part of a sustainable life

Links & Resources:

Get Your Copy of Dr. Anne's Book; Ambitious Mother: https://www.drannewelsh.com/ambitious-mother-book

Follow Dr. Anne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drannewelsh/

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drannewelsh/

Visit Dr. Anne's Website: https://www.drannewelsh.com/

Let me know your thoughts at @encouragemomentco and be sure to share with any friends navigating both ambition and motherhood who need some encouragement today

In Part 1 of this conversation, Elena sits down with Monica Packer, author of Sticky Habits, to talk about sustainable habits for women, perfectionism, invisible labor, and why all-or-nothing thinking keeps so many of us stuck. If you have read habit books, made a fresh-start plan, tried to overhaul your routine, and then blamed yourself when it did not last, this episode is for you. Monica shares a shame-free, flexible approach to habit formation that accounts for real life: unpredictable schedules, caregiving, limited energy, changing seasons, anxiety, and the mental load so many women carry. Together, Elena and Monica explore why habits should not be designed only for your best days. They should support you on your hard days, too. Monica's central reframe is simple and powerful: habits are helpers. Their job is not to prove your discipline, worth, or productivity. Their job is to support you in feeling more like yourself. In this episode: Why traditional habit advice can leave women feeling like the problem The hidden pressure behind "just be more disciplined" messaging Why women's lives often include more invisible labor, interruptions, unpredictability, and energy demands How perfectionism creates an all-or-nothing habit cycle Why "doing nothing" can be another expression of perfectionism The difference between habit intensity and sustainable consistency Why small wins—such as one sentence in a journal or 10 minutes of movement—count How to choose a meaningful personal "why" for a habit Why habits can be a foundational form of self-care Why willpower is not a personality trait—and is often better understood as available energy How to build habits that support your real season of life Memorable quotes: "Habits shouldn't be designed to be possible only on your best days. They should be designed to support you on your worst days." "Habits are helpers. Their only job is to support us—to help us feel like ourselves." "You want sustainability far more than you do intensity, especially in the beginning." "The process to dramatic change is actually small wins building over time." "It's not a willpower problem. It's an energy problem." A note from Elena: This conversation resonated deeply with my work in Kind Organizing. When an organizing system—or a habit system—does not work in your real life, the answer is not more shame or trying harder. The answer is a kinder, more flexible system that supports your actual capacity. You do not need routines, habits, or a home that demand you become someone else. You deserve support that meets you in the life and season you already have. Connect with Monica Monica's book: Sticky Habits Monica's website: About Progress Follow Monica on Instagram: @aboutprogress Next episode: Come back for Part 2 of Elena's conversation with Monica Packer, where they continue exploring compassionate habit-building, perfectionism, self-care, and practical ways to create change that can actually last. If this episode helped you, please share it with a friend who is tired of starting over, and I'd be honored if you'd leave a rating or review! xo, E

Back-to-school mornings can bring a lot of stress: early alarms, missing shoes, packed lunches, backpacks, car seats, and the pressure of getting everyone out the door on time. In this short EncourageMoment car chat episode, Elena shares four simple, compassionate strategies to make school mornings feel calmer, more organized, and less like an emergency.

These practical back-to-school routine tips are designed for real families—especially Type B moms, ADHD-friendly households, and anyone who wants a more peaceful morning without striving for perfection.

In this episode, you'll hear four things making back to school morning prep easier, and one new thing I'm going to try this year!

How is your school year going so far? Let me know on Instagram @encouragemomentco and if this was helpful I'd love if you want to rate, review and share this car chat with a friend!

xo, E