Startup Parent

#161 — A few weeks ago, Tara McMullin invited me onto her podcast to talk at length about mastermind programs—how we run them, how the pricing breaks down for each tier, how they're organized, how many people are in them, and more.

This episode is a very detailed, behind-the-scenes look at both of our online programs and how we've designed our mastermind communities.

Tara McMullin runs What Works, a podcast, community, and network for small business owners. She has three different levels of her community program, and in this episode, we both walk you through the pricing, offering, and design of the programs and how we've set them up.

Other resources: 

Full show notes: visit startuppregnant.com/161 for all the quotes, excerpts, and sponsors for this episode

You all have been asking to hear how other moms and small business owners are navigating the pandemic right now. I’ve been interviewing working parents about how they’ve been affected by the pandemic. Today we take a look at Kelsey Kerslake, the founder of Pinegate Road. She runs a design agency as well as a coaching business, and has a young kiddo at home. Her husband is an essential worker, so she hasn't had a minute of childcare or backup help throughout all of this.

A year ago, Kelsey became a mom for the first time. Today, we talk about her experience getting pregnant, the challenges with IVF, dealing with postpartum depression, getting support as a new parent, and finding her rhythm as a business owner who adores working and loves her job. Then, we dive into how the pandemic has shifted her work schedule and what's changed—and how she's dealing with it all.

Show notes, episode sponsor, and quotes all at startuppregnant.com/160

#159 — Think of a difficult conversation that you are in the middle of, or one that you’ve recently had. Maybe it’s onboarding a new team member, or working with a client. Maybe it’s with your partner or your spouse, and you're trying to negotiate all those logistics of parenting. Maybe it’s with the grandparents, your kids, your boss, a colleague—whoever it is, I am sure that you have had the experience of how challenging it can be to go through a hard conversation.

For me, I avoid them. I panic. I worry. I stress. I get really sweaty. I get nervous. I stammer. I try to keep the peace. There are so many strategies I have to try to avoid having hard conversations, or try to avoid ruffling any feathers and those strategies don't necessarily serve me. The stakes get high, people get frustrated. Sometimes when you do end up having them, you both lose sight of what it was that you wanted in the first place, or you win, but you don't really feel you won, because what is winning?

Today on the podcast, we get to have Sharon Stolt join us to teach us what to do and how to start the art of having challenging and uncomfortable conversations. Sharon Stolt is a global learning and development leader, a dynamic facilitator and an instructional designer specializing in leadership and manager development. 

She has taught and designed innovative training programs for Fortune 500 companies and small startups and she helps thousands of people communicate better and lead more effectively. She takes us through how to think about having hard conversations, how to frame them, what our goals and objectives should be, and how to keep learning throughout all of them. When you improve your ability to communicate and navigate hard conversations, you'll be a better leader, a better parent, and you'll be a better advocate. Join us for this important conversation.

How do you make space for healthier habits when you’re exhausted by family and work? That's the question I got on this next episode of Ask Sarah, our bonus podcast that goes out to everyone who supports us on Patreon. Not yet a backer? Help grow and back this podcast at $7/month and get exclusive access to the monthly series where I answer any and all of your questions. 

In this episode, I talk about why the structural and systemic problems affect us all, and why I get so frustrated when people talk about “having more hustle” or “willpower” as a way to get things done. But more than that, I talk about a strategy I use (my “eat an apple” strategy) that is effective, simple, and kind. At the root? Love. Listen in.

To listen to this episode and all episodes of Ask Sarah: The Podcast, become a backer on Patreon to get exclusive access to this listener-backed bonus episode. To get access to this episode and every episode of the bonus podcast, go to https://www.patreon.com/sarahkpeck to become a backer. You'll get every episode we've ever made, plus a brand-new episode every month. You'll also be able to ask me any question you'd like to know more about.

Plus, I’ll share my catalog of resources I’ve used to improve my listening and discernment skills. From FBI negotiator Chris Voss to master interviewer Krista Tippett, I’ve collected some of my favorite books, quotes, and resources to help guide you on this journey, should you so desire. Listen in to hear the resources I’ve used and the processes I love that help you connect more deeply, listen more wisely, and heal thoughtfully by listening better to each other.

This is a teaser of what we talk about and why we have a bonus podcast series. Enjoy!

Find all the past episodes at https://startupparent.com/ask-sarah-podcast/

#158 — You all have been asking to hear how other moms and small business owners are navigating the pandemic right now. I've been interviewing working parents about how they've been affected by the pandemic. Today we take a look at Caitlin Boland Aarab: she and her husband are both attorneys, and they own their own law firm in Great Falls, Montana. They have two kids at home and she's pregnant with their third kid. When everything shut down, the kids were sent home from school—but the courts weren't closed. Work was still in session.

Thanks to our episode sponsor, NANIT — the only baby monitor you'll ever need! The Nanit Plus Smart Baby Monitor tracks your baby’s breathing, and has special sleepwear so that you can see that they are safe and know that they are breathing throughout their sleep. If you’ve ever been stressed out overnight or worried about your baby sleeping, this can put your mind at ease, this is a baby monitor that can help you adjust to your new sleep life once you bring that kiddo home. They also provide sleep coaching, training, and a baby monitor all in one. Visit Nanit.com today to learn more about this amazing baby monitor, why people are raving about it, and how it can help you and your little one have a better night’s rest. Startup Pregnant listeners can use code STARTUP at nanit.com to save 10%.

Find links, resources, quotes, and complete shownotes at https://startuppregnant.com/158

#157 — My friend has an almost-two-year old and she asked me "So when do I need to think about potty training?" Yeah, as though you needed anything else to consider in the pandemic. Well, I took a few minutes to brain dump everything I remembered about potty training in a quick dash Voxer message to her, all while doing dishes and cleaning up the boys' room in our house. We both thought that these might be useful memos for you, especially if you happen to be in a similar situation.

Consider this an unofficial, scrappy overview of Potty Training that will help you do a good enough job ... for now. The best thing I can recommend is to read the "Oh, Crap" Potty Training book (it was relatively painless to read and well organized and laid out) and then take it slower than anyone else says it should take because it's really all about your kid and getting to know them and their potty (and learning) styles. My favorite part about the potty training experience was that you really have a chance to get to know your kid and understand how they learn and process. But it's tough! 

Here's what I learned and what I remember about potty training.

Show notes available at https://startuppregnant.com/157

#156 — How do you push the reset button—that ability to feel like you've had a fresh cup of coffee, a good night of sleep, and you're ready to go at work? While we're all clawing at sanity and sobbing quietly into our fourteenth cup of coffee, it's really hard to find the capacity to work and keep your head above water right now.

Today's episode is for anyone trying to find a semblance of sanity amidst all of this. If you're stuck, feeling overwhelmed, feeling like you're in a rut—here are a few things that are working for me. Hope they are helpful.

Show notes are available at startuppregnant.com/156.

#155 — A brand new show! So, you know when you're watching your favorite TV show, and you realize that the side-story of the show is quickly becoming it's own plot? That is happening to me right now, and after spending the last ten weeks podcasting from my stay-at-home orders in New York City, I realized that I may accidentally be starting a new podcast. One I'd love to introduce you to.

Let's Talk with Sarah K Peck is a brand-new spinoff podcast with short, 5-10 minute conversations about philosophy, psychology, and practical notes on life around us. If you're curious or want to take a listen, search for it wherever you listen to podcasts and you'll find it, or go to anchor.fm/sarahkpeck to take a sneak peek.

The Startup Pregnant Podcast will carry on, and we'll be focused on bringing you more voices and ideas from parents all over who are dealing with work, children, pregnancy, and leadership.

Thanks, as always, for being listeners of the podcast and being on this journey together.

#154 — One of the hardest things for me is finding a way back to myself amidst the clawing of children, the demands of home, the projects at work, and the to-do lists piled extra high. You know the days—when doing anything longer than 15 minutes seems impossible.

As a gift to everyone listening, and everyone on my email list, I'm building a series of short, five-minute guided audio tapes (Ha! I want to call them audio tapes, I'm definitely showing my generation here). These guided audios are designed to help you find your breath, re-center, and re-start wherever you are. Listen to the breath work cycle when you're feeling stressed. Take two minutes to do square breathing before you go to sleep. Practice a visualization when you're feeling overwhelmed.

The series is divided into breath work, body work, visualizations, and stories. It's a work in progress right now, but the first few are live.

You all have access to this course anytime you'd like. Here's a link if you'd like to take a peek:

This series is free for anyone who wants it, and you're welcome to share it.

RECESS: Five minute re-sets for sanity and calm. 

We live in a world where listening well is a scarcity. We barely know how to pay attention, let alone listen deeply for all that’s being said—and what’s not being said. In Episode #006 of the secret bonus podcast, I want to dig deeper and share a workshop all about how deep listening can be healing. Here's a sneak preview, and YES, you can become a backer on Patreon and add this podcast to your podcast players!

To listen to this episode and all episodes of Ask Sarah: The Podcast, become a backer on Patreon to get exclusive access to this listener-backed bonus episode. To get access to this episode and every episode of the bonus podcast, go to https://www.patreon.com/sarahkpeck to become a backer. You'll get every episode we've ever made, plus a brand-new episode every month. You'll also be able to ask me any question you'd like to know more about.

Plus, I’ll share my catalog of resources I’ve used to improve my listening and discernment skills. From FBI negotiator Chris Voss to master interviewer Krista Tippett, I’ve collected some of my favorite books, quotes, and resources to help guide you on this journey, should you so desire. Listen in to hear the resources I’ve used and the processes I love that help you connect more deeply, listen more wisely, and heal thoughtfully by listening better to each other.

This is a teaser of what we talk about and why we have a bonus podcast series. Enjoy!

Find all the past episodes at https://startupparent.com/ask-sarah-podcast/