Mrs Mummy PhD®

Ever wondered if there was a perfect formula or set of steps for navigating your PhD journey well as a Mama? 

If you’ve tried all the time management hacks and productivity tools but still feel like something’s missing… you are not alone.

In this episode, we’re unpacking a big question: Is scholarly motherhood an art or a science? Spoiler — it’s not what most productivity advice would have you believe.

Join me as I share real stories from my own PhD journey — the messy days, the surprising wins, and the mindset shift that changed everything. You’ll walk away with permission to ditch the impossible pursuit of perfect balance and embrace a more sustainable, creative approach to navigating both academia and motherhood.

Tune in to discover why embracing the art of scholarly motherhood might be the key to finishing well — without sacrificing yourself or your family.

Send me a text message.

Support the show

Want more?

1.  Check out the Mrs Mummy PhD® website.
2. Book your free SEED call.
3.  Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Threads, Pinterest or TikTok.
4.  Join the newsletter family at Scholarly Mamas® - The Letter
5. Check out my Doodle Dozen® children's book series

These 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.

What happens when a sustainability policy analyst decides to pursue a PhD (while juggling family life)? Most people would call it impossible. Dr Blessing Adeniyi called it her PhD Race.

Fresh off completing her PhD in Sustainability Management, Dr Blessing joins us for an honest conversation about doing her PhD as a Mama. Through The PhD Race, she's been documenting the unfiltered reality of navigating a PhD journey and in her case, juggling that with research, full-time work, and motherhood.

You can follow her on Instagram here. 

You'll want to listen if:

• You're tired of choosing between academic dreams and being present for your children
• You've wondering if you can even keep up with the pace of PhD life as a Mama and vice versa
• You need to hear from someone who's done it, not just theorised about it

This isn't typical work-life balance advice. This is just two Mamas, who have walked the PhD road, getting real about how you can make your PhD dreams come true and build the life you actually want along the way.

Ready to run your own PhD Race? No problem, just press play to tune in!

Send me a text message.

Support the show

Want more?

1.  Check out the Mrs Mummy PhD® website.
2. Book your free SEED call.
3.  Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Threads, Pinterest or TikTok.
4.  Join the newsletter family at Scholarly Mamas® - The Letter
5. Check out my Doodle Dozen® children's book series

These 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.

What does it really take to achieve success— and is it worth the cost?

In this episode, I reflect on a recent video I saw on YouTube, by a former doctor turned entrepreneur who suggested that financial success requires an “unhealthy obsession” and intense personal sacrifice. 

Join me as I unpack his perspective and why it may not apply to other types of success pursuits, why this mindset won't work for Scholarly Mamas® and why there are several unhelpful assumptions unpinning this thinking. I offer a slightly different viewpoint grounded in my lived experience of PhD Motherhood, that challenges grind culture and explores a more sustainable, fulfilling path to success. 

If you've ever wondered whether you have to sacrifice what matters most to finish your PhD well as a Scholarly Mama®, this episode is for you!

Send me a text message.

Support the show

Want more?

1.  Check out the Mrs Mummy PhD® website.
2. Book your free SEED call.
3.  Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Threads, Pinterest or TikTok.
4.  Join the newsletter family at Scholarly Mamas® - The Letter
5. Check out my Doodle Dozen® children's book series

These 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.

What does it really take to pursue a PhD while raising two children, juggling work life, and living through a global pandemic? 

In this special guest episode, I sit down with Dr Milensu Shanyinde from the Work Academic Mum blog, a Zambian-born, now UK-based Lead Medical Statistician whose journey through academia has been anything but conventional.

From unexpected detours to quiet triumphs, Milensu shares how she navigated life, learning, and identity in spaces where she often stood out—and stood strong. 

Whether you're a Scholarly Mama® or simply someone chasing big goals, this episode will challenge your perspective on success, resilience, and what’s possible when you refuse to quit.

Tune in for a conversation that’s honest, inspiring, and full of moments that just might surprise you!

Visit Dr Shanyinde's Work Academic Mum blog or follow her on Instagram.

Send me a text message.

Support the show

Want more?

1.  Check out the Mrs Mummy PhD® website.
2. Book your free SEED call.
3.  Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Threads, Pinterest or TikTok.
4.  Join the newsletter family at Scholarly Mamas® - The Letter
5. Check out my Doodle Dozen® children's book series

These 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.

What if we've been conditioned to say 'no' by defalut, and this the thing that's holding us back?

In this revolutionary episode, we explore the unexpected power of a well-placed yes—not the kind that drains you, but the kind that expands you. For Scholarly Mamas® navigating academia, parenting, and ambition, this conversation reimagines what’s possible when you stop shrinking your life to fit your well-defined 'boxes'—and start saying yes to what actually lights you up.

In this episode, I share:

• The hidden cost of defaulting to 'no'—even when it feels responsible
• Why the right 'yes' can create time, energy, and momentum 
• A simple framework to help you tell the difference between a draining 'yes' and a liberating one
• How your brave 'yes' becomes a radical lesson in possibility for your kids

You just might walk away rethinking everything you’ve turned down lately—and ready to say 'yes' to something that scares you... in the best way. Because it's not about doing more. It's about embracing the freedom to become more of you. Tune in for the most revolutionary podcast episode ever!

Send me a text message.

Support the show

Want more?

1.  Check out the Mrs Mummy PhD® website.
2. Book your free SEED call.
3.  Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Threads, Pinterest or TikTok.
4.  Join the newsletter family at Scholarly Mamas® - The Letter
5. Check out my Doodle Dozen® children's book series

These 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.

Reflective Replay:

Ever held back the tears after receiving a rejection letter, email or phone call so your kids wouldn't see you cry? 

In this raw and real episode, we're tackling the gut-punch moments of academic life as a Mama – from grant rejections to viva struggles. Whether you're questioning your place in academia or wondering how to pick yourself up after a setback, this episode is your permission slip to be beautifully in-progress.

We dive into:

• The unique sting of academic rejection while juggling motherhood
• Why "not good enough" is a story we tell ourselves (and how to rewrite it)
• Practical strategies for bouncing back when your confidence takes a hit
• The power of the word "yet" in your academic journey
• How to model resilience for your kids while building it yourself

Plus, learn why treating yourself with the same grace you'd show your child's imperfect art might be the key to your academic success.

A powerful episode you won't want to miss!

Read the related blog post: What To Do When Your Best Doesn't Feel Good Enough?

Send me a text message.

Support the show

Want more?

1.  Check out the Mrs Mummy PhD® website.
2. Book your free SEED call.
3.  Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Threads, Pinterest or TikTok.
4.  Join the newsletter family at Scholarly Mamas® - The Letter
5. Check out my Doodle Dozen® children's book series

These 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.

What happens when the academic dream and motherhood collide? 

In this eye-opening episode, former political science academic Dr Paulina Cossette reveals her journey from working seven exhausting days a week as a tenure track professor to becoming an entrepreneur with a thriving six-figure business that allows her the freedom and joy she needed.

Tune in to discover:

• The moment Dr Cossette realised academia's definition of success wasn't working for her life
• How she found the courage to explore options beyond the traditional academic path
• Her surprising insights about academic guilt
• What success looks like when you write the definition yourself

Whether you're questioning your academic journey or simply seeking better work-life harmony, this conversation might just change how you view your own path forward. It's an invitation to explore your options and consider what success looks like for you!

Don't miss Dr Cossette's refreshingly honest take on creating a life where both your scholarly mind and motherhood can truly thrive.

Follow Paulina on Instagram, LinkedIn or visit her website here.

Send me a text message.

Support the show

Want more?

1.  Check out the Mrs Mummy PhD® website.
2. Book your free SEED call.
3.  Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Threads, Pinterest or TikTok.
4.  Join the newsletter family at Scholarly Mamas® - The Letter
5. Check out my Doodle Dozen® children's book series

These 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.

What if the version of success you’ve been chasing isn’t actually yours? 

In this episode, we crack open the myth of the “ideal Scholarly Mama®” and ask a bold question: What does real freedom look like for Mamas juggling PhD life, careers, and family life in 2025? 

If you’ve ever felt like you’re performing instead of living, this conversation will invite you to step out of the box, drop the guilt, and start defining success on your own terms.

Tune in to explore why rigid roles don’t serve us anymore—and how to create space for the scholar, the mother, and the whole, real you.

Send me a text message.

Support the show

Want more?

1.  Check out the Mrs Mummy PhD® website.
2. Book your free SEED call.
3.  Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Threads, Pinterest or TikTok.
4.  Join the newsletter family at Scholarly Mamas® - The Letter
5. Check out my Doodle Dozen® children's book series

These 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.

Who are you beyond “Mum,” “Dr,” “Wife,” "Daughter", or “Manager”?

In this soul-stirring episode, we explore what happens when we strip away the titles, roles, and responsibilities we carry—and come face-to-face with the essence of who we truly are. If you’ve ever felt lost beneath your labels or longed to reconnect with the woman within, this conversation is your gentle nudge home.

Tune in to rediscover the power of your presence, the depth of your identity, and the beauty of being more than what you do.

Send me a text message.

Support the show

Want more?

1.  Check out the Mrs Mummy PhD® website.
2. Book your free SEED call.
3.  Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Threads, Pinterest or TikTok.
4.  Join the newsletter family at Scholarly Mamas® - The Letter
5. Check out my Doodle Dozen® children's book series

These 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.

When life throws you a curveball — a sick child with work commitments, looming deadlines, a mountain of shifting responsibilities — how do you keep going without losing yourself?

This week, I'm sharing a behind-the-scenes look at how everything in my carefully planned schedule unravelled when our youngest came down with chickenpox... and the powerful reminders that came through the chaos.

If you're a Mama juggling dreams, deadlines, and duties — this one’s for you. 

Tune in to find strength, strategy, solidarity and sisterhood.

Send me a text message.

Support the show

Want more?

1.  Check out the Mrs Mummy PhD® website.
2. Book your free SEED call.
3.  Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Threads, Pinterest or TikTok.
4.  Join the newsletter family at Scholarly Mamas® - The Letter
5. Check out my Doodle Dozen® children's book series

These 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.