Startup Parent

It surprised me that we’re here at the hundredth episode. I couldn’t have told you back in the early summer of 2017, when I began to brainstorm the idea for a podcast, that this show would still be here today, week after week. I knew that I wanted to start a conversation around women, motherhood, parenting, and entrepreneurship, and I was slowly learning that I needed to be in conversation with other women.

It happened almost by accident. I thought I was writing a book. I’d sent a book proposal to an agent in New York City, and she was intrigued. “Tell me more,” she said, “I think this concept is really interesting.” I dug in and wrote (and wrote and wrote) but never quite got the book to come together the way I wanted to.

“You know what’s missing,” she said. “We need other women’s voices in the room.”

That was it. That was the missing piece. The conversation around motherhood and parenting and business? It’s not a single-person conversation. Keyword: conversation.

So we started a podcast. A show where we interviewed women who were navigating the double arcs of parenting and business building at the same time. Of course, these lenses are huge, because we interview professionals across so many walks of life (just like you!), and we look at all of the many stories around pregnancy and parenting, from what it looks like to decide whether or not to have children, to struggles with infertility, to the challenges and joys of pregnancy, and so much more.

Today we hit the 100th episode of the podcast and I want to take a few moments to reflect on all that I’ve learned in this journey so far.

• How to get started in podcast production, and the many pieces required in audio editing, production, and set-up—and my favorite course instructor if you want to start a podcast as well.
• The art of asking great questions, and what I do to prepare for each interview, plus my three favorite questions to ask when I want to hear great stories from people.
• How much time it really takes to produce a show, and how much of my time every week is dedicated to the podcast.
• How we’ve increased our systems and efficiency over time, making it easier to produce through things like batching, systematizing, and creating operations workflows.
• What I’ve learned from interviewing so many leading thinkers, and how it’s changed the way I think and show up as a result.
• How much longer we’re going to have this show on the air, and when I estimate we’ll stop producing the podcast and show (and why).

Join me in this celebration episode, and, if you’re a fan of the show, we’d love it if you dropped us some love on social media.

FULL SHOW NOTES

Get the complete show notes with episode quotes, photos, and time stamps at <

Christine Koh has a fascinating backstory: previously, she was a music and brain scientist who was on track to become a professor after a long career in science. Then, she left that career to become a self-described “internet unicorn.” This was no small leap: she had been awarded prestigious fellowships and one of the highest postdoctoral assignments: a joint appointment at both Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Instead, however, she “hung up her academic spurs” and decided for a brand new career and a path with more creativity, flexibility, and independence. In today’s episode, we dig into this decision she made (more than a decade ago), and how her work has grown and evolved since.

Today, Christine holds a number of positions and runs several platforms, hence the nickname, ‘Internet Unicorn.’ She is the founder and editor of Boston Mamas, a pioneering hyperlocal lifestyle blog; she’s the creative director at Women Online, a communications firm that specializes in using social media for good; and she is the co-owner/designer at Brave New World Designs, an advocacy-oriented design collection.

The heart of today’s episode? We talk about how you can be a multifaceted business owner while still living a streamlined life that you enjoy.

One of her projects is a book called Minimalist Parenting, and she also has a podcast called The Edit Your Life Show (link down below). It’s a call to enjoy family life more by doing less: to stop overbooking, to cut through the clutter, and say “no” more so you can make room for spontaneity and joy in your family life.

When I found out about this book, I immediately was drawn to the themes and the advice. In the book, she writes about making room in your life for the remarkable, and finding your family’s true north, not everyone else’s. Asha Dornfest and Christine Koh came together to write this book, and I knew I wanted to interview them both. We got to interview Asha previously in Episode #076: Hacking Parenting, and today, we get to dig into the work, the life, and the parenting journey of Christine Koh.

• Leaving a high power, high profile job and career.
• How having her first child jump started the change.
• How she met and became “internet friends” with her co-author and co-host.
• What that looks like to be involved in lots of different types of projects.
• Why “white space” in your calendar is an absolute must.
• Her carpool strategy for getting her kids to their activities without losing her sanity.
• Why w

What does it take to be a parent and an entrepreneur in today’s work world? It takes a lot—and it takes a village. Today I talk about the Wise Women’s Council, our nine-month mastermind program for women who are navigating business and parenting. Applications are now open, and they’ll be open until February 25th. But don’t wait until the last minute—there is an incentive for all the people who apply early with a fairly significant early-bird discount. Find out all the details about the program and how to apply at www.startuppregnant.com/wwc

In today’s episode, I share all about the Wise Women’s Council, including:

• The story behind why the program started, and why it’s so important to be in community with other women.
• What we built with the program, and why community gatherings are so important for our lives and careers.
• Specific program elements, like our monthly happy-hour hang, the monthly coaching live call, and our private slack channel.
• Why we changed the name of the program from “Mastermind” to “Wise Women’s Council.”
• The book club (one per month!) and who we get to have in our minds alongside us in the journey.
• The monthly themes and how they will inspire each of us to go deeper as a starting point for our own personal journeys and inquiries.

FULL SHOW NOTES

Get the complete show notes with episode quotes, photos, and time stamps at http://www.startuppregnant.com/098.

• www.startuppregnant.com/wwc
• www.startuppregnant.com/mastermind

This episode is sponsored by Splendid Spoon, a meal delivery service that creates whole, healthy, plant-based soups and smoothies that can be a great fit for busy parents and new moms. Get $50 off your first order with the link splendid.to/startuppregnant. 

• Startup Pregnant

#097 — Baby Update: Welcome Back, Sarah

It’s been about four months since I gave birth to my baby boy, and now we’ve got two littles in our household. A toddler and a baby and a business is a handful, for sure. I’m slowly getting back into the studio and back into recording.

I’ll be honest—I was a little scared to get back behind the microphone because I’m not sure my words are coming together. All the things about postpartum I’m living right now, and I feel a little foggy-headed, a lot tired, and sometimes I just run out of steam by mid-afternoon. (“Sometimes” is very generous there.) But the best I can do is be kind to myself, do the best I can, and let my best be good enough.

We don’t have to be perfect. (I’m saying this to you as well as me.)

Thanks for being here, listening, as always while I was away on maternity leave with baby number two.

In today’s episode, I give a brief update on:

• How the birth of baby number two was.
• What’s coming up on the podcast (we have some special guest series coming up).
• The status of the mastermind (applications are now open)
• What major shift we made in our family that affected my work, and how we’re changing things up going forward.
  

FULL SHOW NOTES

Get the complete show notes with episode quotes, photos, and time stamps at http://www.startuppregnant.com/097.

• www.startuppregnant.com/wwc
• www.startuppregnant.com/mastermind

• The Startup Pregnant Mastermind

• Startup Pregnant
• Startup Pregnant Newsletter
• Email [email protected]
• Startup Pregnant on Facebook

#096 — The Science of Personality and Why It Matters for Your Business 

Personality science is a fascinating discipline. That’s why most of us know our DiSC profile, our Myers-Briggs type, and even our Hogwarts House. We want to understand how we are wired and how that impacts the way we react to the world. But what if we took it a step further and applied an understanding of personality science to business?

How would that change our hiring processes? Or the way we approach our colleagues and clients?

Vanessa Van Edwards is a journalist turned researcher who got curious about what makes people tick, and she believes that when it comes to business, personality is not a nice-to-know, it’s a need-to-know. Vanessa leverages her knowledge of personality science to hire for the right fit, create a supportive work culture, and get the best out of her team.

Today, Vanessa joins me to discuss how Science of People came to be and how she applies personality research in her own work culture. She shares the Big Five personality traits backed by academia, offering insight into how our levels of openness, conscientiousness, extroversion-introversion, agreeableness and neuroticism impact the way we work. I ask Vanessa about the failure of her first book, and she describes the downward spiral that ensued and how she eventually found her way back to writing. Listen in as Vanessa explains her experience with pregnancy thus far and how expecting gave her the opportunity to work ON her business!

FULL SHOW NOTES

Get the complete show notes with episode quotes, photos, and time stamps at http://www.startuppregnant.com/096.

EPISODE SPONSOR & SPECIAL OFFER 

Community makes all the difference. So, at Startup Pregnant, we have launched a mastermind program for women who are interested in going deeper around questions about parenting, motherhood, and business. To apply for the Spring 2019 session and receive my free email series, go to https://startuppregnant.com/mastermind.

All of our sponsor offers are available on our website for you to grab the perks and discounts offered to podcast listeners: http://startuppregnant.com/sponsors.

LEARN MORE ABOUT VANESSA VAN EDWARDS

Vanessa Van Edwards is the founder and lead investigator at Science of People, a research lab where she uncovers the hidden forces that drive our behavior. Vanessa writes a monthly column for Entrepreneur Magazine and the Huffington Post, and her work has been featured on NPR, Business Week, and USA Today. She is a sought-after keynote speaker, delivering talks at the Consumer Electronic Show, TEDxLondon, and MIT, among many other venues. Vanessa is the author of the national bestseller Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People.

• Science of People
• Vanessa on YouTube

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

• Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People

#095 — Creating ‘Mantras in Motion’ as a Dancer, Teacher, and Entrepreneur

Mantras can be powerful in helping us reprogram our thinking. Yet, many of us have a hard time making them stick. So, how do we rewire our brains to make affirmations part of our conscious programming?

Erin Stutland’s background in dance combined with her interest in personal development and grew into a practice of ‘mantras in motion.’ She couples positive self-talk with movement to strengthen body AND mind in tandem, and the pairing makes affirmations ‘sticky.’ A concept like courage evolves from an intellectual idea to a physiological sensation: We feel it in our body and it becomes a part of us.

Today, Erin joins me to share her journey from artist to entrepreneur, explaining how working as a dancer and actor prepared her to run her own business and what inspired her transition to full-time entrepreneur. Erin discusses her journey to motherhood in her late 30’s, offering insight around her empowering experience with IVF, the emotion of being on camera while your body is changing, and the impact of pregnancy on her body image and identity. She also describes her initial ambivalence about becoming a mother and how much she is loving the role thus far. Listen in to understand the questions Erin is grappling with in her business as a new mom—and learn more about her new book, Mantras in Motion!

FULL SHOW NOTES

Get the complete show notes with episode quotes, photos, and time stamps at http://www.startuppregnant.com/095.

EPISODE SPONSOR & SPECIAL OFFER

One of the biggest challenges we face in business is developing focus, figuring out how to do less and gaining clarity around what’s really important. I have developed a three-step process that helps me simplify and make decisions about when to say no. Get the free guide at https://startuppregnant.com/stop. 

All of our sponsor offers are available on our website for you to grab the perks and discounts offered to podcast listeners: http://startuppregnant.com/sponsors.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ERIN STUTLAND

Erin Stutland is a well-known mind-body wellness and fitness expert on a mission to teach people how simple movement in the body can create dramatic movement in your life. Erin’s multi-platform brand reaches 70K-plus people in 155 countries around the world, and her mind-body fitness programs have appeared on The Rachael Ray Show, Fox News, and Glamour Magazine, among many other outlets. She also serves as the cohost of the Z Living series Altar’d, and Erin is the author of the new book, Mantras in Motion: Manifesting What You Want Through Mindful Movement.

• Erin’s Website
• Erin on Facebook
• Erin on Instagram
• Erin on YouTube
• Altar’d
  

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE 

• Mantras in Motion: Manifesting What You Want Through Mindful Movement by Erin Stutland
• Patricia Moreno

#094 — Trauma, Sex, and Somatic Experiencing: How to Better Understand Birth and the Postpartum Periods

It seems obvious that sustaining a wound the size of a dinner plate would merit extensive physical therapy and a long period of rest and healing. But because new mom wounds are unseen, we push ourselves to ‘get back to it’ as soon as possible. And foundational postpartum care (like having someone cook healthy meals or getting regular bodywork) is seen as an unnecessary luxury. 

Kimberly Ann Johnson contends that the first six weeks after childbirth are critical to a woman’s long-term health, and the work we do recover from the physical and emotional trauma and connect with our bodies is a necessity—not an indulgence. 

Today, Kimberly Ann joins me to talk about the experience of childbirth and the crucial postpartum period. We discuss the online imagery of childbirth and how it differs wildly from the experience itself. Kimberly explains the separation of body and mind in our culture and what we can do to reintegrate the two by getting to know the ‘language of sensation.’ I ask Kimberly Ann about her work as a somatic practitioner and birth doula, and she shares her take on childbirth as the domain of women. Listen in for Kimberly Ann’s insight around how to communicate your needs during childbirth and learn how to get the support you need in the fourth trimester!
 

FULL SHOW NOTES

Get the complete show notes with episode quotes, photos, and time stamps at http://www.startuppregnant.com/094.

EPISODE SPONSOR & SPECIAL OFFER 

Thank you to the sponsor of this episode: Aeroflow Breastpumps. They are dedicated to making the hassle of getting your breast pump a little bit easier—actually, a lot easier! Head to www.aeroflowbreastpumps.com/startup to have them help you qualify for a free breast pump through insurance.

All of our sponsor offers are available on our website for you to grab the perks and discounts offered to podcast listeners: http://startuppregnant.com/sponsors.
 

LEARN MORE ABOUT KIMBERLY ANN JOHNSON

Kimberly Ann Johnson is a birth doula, Sexological Bodyworker, Somatic Experiencing practitioner and postpartum care advocate. She is also the founder of MAGAMAMA, an online community and resource for new moms who want natural empowering solutions to the physical and emotional pain that can accompany childbirth. Kimberly is the cofounder of the STREAM School for Postpartum Care and the author of the groundbreaking book, The Fourth Trimester: A Postpartum Guide to Healing Your Body, Balancing Your Emotions, and Restoring Your Vitality. 

• MAGAMAMA
• Kimberly Ann’s Podcast
  

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

• The Fourth Trimester: A Postpartum Guide to Healing Your Body, Balancing Your Emotions, and Restoring Your Vitality by Kimberly Ann Johnson
• Activate Your Inner Jaguar
• Moshé Feldenkrais
• Dr. Ida Rolf Institute
• Wilhelm Reich
• Dr. Peter Levine

#093 — Not Your Typical Schedule: Lean into Business Freedom

Part of the appeal of entrepreneurship is the freedom to set our own schedules. Yet many of us fall into the trap of keeping traditional hours, feeling obligated to fill our days with eight-plus hours of nonstop work. 

What if we leaned in to the freedom and flexibility that entrepreneurship affords? What if we took advantage of opportunities to do things for ourselves—outside of both work and parenting? And what if that made us BETTER business owners and moms? 

Today, Emylee Williams joins me to explain how she set up a three-day work week that bakes in time for her personal needs. Emylee describes how her schedule evolved and how that evolution was informed by becoming a mom. She also discusses the growth of her business, Think Creative Collective, explaining the benefits of transitioning to a one-to-many model. I ask Emylee about the process of adopting her daughter P., and she shares her fertility challenges and fears around adoption. Listen in for Emylee’s insight on having a biracial family and learn how she is taking advantage of the freedom of entrepreneurship to spend time with her daughter, grow her business, and make time for herself!
 

FULL SHOW NOTES

Get the complete show notes with episode quotes, photos, and time stamps at http://www.startuppregnant.com/093.
 

EPISODE SPONSOR & SPECIAL OFFER 

One of the biggest challenges we face in business is developing focus, figuring out how to do less and gaining clarity around what’s really important. I have developed a three-step process that helps me simplify and make decisions about when to say no. Get the free guide at https://startuppregnant.com/stop. 

All of our sponsor offers are available on our website for you to grab the perks and discounts offered to podcast listeners: http://startuppregnant.com/sponsors.
 

LEARN MORE ABOUT EMYLEE WILLIAMS

Emylee Williams is the cofounder of Think Creative Collective, an online education platform that supports creative entrepreneurs in growing their businesses online. TCC’s signature eight-week program, Strategy Academy, teaches passionate creatives how to turn their craft into a sustainable online business. Emylee and TCC cofounder Abagail Pumphrey also collaborate as cohosts of the Strategy Hour Podcast, and their work has been featured in Creative Market, Forbes, and Boss Mom, among many other publications. 

• Think Creative Collective
• TCC on Facebook
• TCC on YouTube
• TCC on Instagram
• Emylee on Instagram
• Strategy Hour Podcast
  

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

• ‘Why Children Need to Know Their Family History’ in The Guardian
• Dear Sugars: Who’s Your Daddy?
  

THE STARTUP PREGNANT PODCAST & HOST

• Startup Pregn

#092 — New Year’s Annual Reflection Process

The holiday season serves as an ideal time to take a CEO Day—a structured space and time you set aside to dream, to plan, to dig into the work you want to do in the coming year. I have developed an annual review process that allows me to reflect on the goals and ambitions I had a year ago, evaluate what went well and what was challenging, and use that information to inform what I want to achieve in the next 12 months.

Today, I’m walking you through my 10-question annual review process, discussing how I approach looking back at the previous year and planning for the future. I describe the way I reflect on major milestones, what I have learned in the past year, and what feels unfinished. Listen in for insight around setting intentions when it comes to relationships—and learn how to design measurable goals for the year ahead.

FULL SHOW NOTES

Get the complete show notes with episode quotes, photos, and time stamps at http://www.startuppregnant.com/092.

EPISODE SPONSOR & SPECIAL OFFER

This podcast is made possible by Alavita Nutrition, a tremendous resource when it comes to food, health, and wellness. The Alavita team is on a mission to make eating good food and understanding nutrition easier for busy moms. Head to https://www.alavitanutrition.com/ and use the code ‘startup pregnant’ for 20% off their self-paced programs or a nutrition consultation.

All of our sponsor offers are available on our website for you to grab the perks and discounts offered to podcast listeners: http://startuppregnant.com/sponsors. 

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE 

• Startup Pregnant Mastermind
• PIVOT with Jenny Blake
• Annual Review Templates

THE STARTUP PREGNANT PODCAST & HOST

• Startup Pregnant
• Startup Pregnant Newsletter
• Email [email protected]

 #091 — From Doctor to CEO: A New Vision for Healthcare

Our current healthcare system focuses on the disease, rather than the person. A patient spends a few minutes with a doctor, and then they’re handed a stack of prescriptions that address their symptoms. What if we stopped to ask what was causing the problem in the first place? What if we took the time to look at the whole person and create a customized plan to help them live their happiest, healthiest life?

Dr. Robin Berzin recognizes that our current system is broken, and she is on a mission to design a new way of doing healthcare in our country. She made the transition from doctor to CEO to found Parsley Health, a revolutionary kind of service that integrates technology, nutrition, wellness, and prevention into innovative primary care.

Today, Robin joins me to share her shift from medicine to entrepreneurship, explaining the series of events that inspired her to create this new system of primary care. She describes her experience running a company as a new mom, navigating the challenges of launching new offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco during her pregnancy and pausing the second round of funding to deliver her son. I ask Robin about the principles of functional medicine, and she discusses Parsley Health’s commitment to the happiness and health of each patient as a whole person. Listen in for Robin’s insight on fertility and IVF—and learn how she is revolutionizing healthcare in the US.

FULL SHOW NOTES

Get the complete show notes with episode quotes, photos, and time stamps at http://www.startuppregnant.com/091.

EPISODE SPONSOR & SPECIAL OFFER

Thank you to the sponsor of this episode: Aeroflow Breastpumps. They are dedicated to making the hassle of getting your breast pump a little bit easier—actually, a lot easier! Head to www.aeroflowbreastpumps.com/startup to have them help you qualify for a free breast pump through insurance.

All of our sponsor offers are available on our website for you to grab the perks and discounts offered to podcast listeners: http://startuppregnant.com/sponsors.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ROBIN BERZIN 

Dr. Robin Berzin is the founder and CEO of Parsley Health, the only primary medical care practice with a whole-body approach to long-term health. She completed medical school at Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons and went on to a residency in internal medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Robin is trained in functional medicine, and she serves as an advisor for digital technology with the Institute for Functional Medicine. She is also a certified yoga instructor and meditation teacher, and Robin speaks regularly on the topic of reinventing healthcare at venues including Stanford Medicine X, Health 2.0, and Rock Health, among many others. 

• Parsley Health
• Parsley Health on Facebook
• Parsley Health on Instagram
• Robin’s Website
• Robin on Facebook

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

• Parsley Health Blog
• Headspace
• Cureatr