SwissCast Shows: Where Swiss Life Meets English Voices

What if you are not stuck because you lack discipline, but because you are carrying too much without enough structure?

Myth: If you were more motivated, more focused, or more disciplined, you would already be moving forward.

Truth: Most mom entrepreneurs are not stuck because they are lazy. They are stuck because they are overloaded, distracted by too many inputs, and trying to rely on willpower instead of a clear plan.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• Why feeling stuck is often a sign of mental overload, not a personal failure
• Why willpower is not a sustainable business strategy, especially when you are also raising kids
• What actually helps you move again

What I want you to remember:

You do not need more guilt or more pressure. You need less noise, clearer priorities, and the kind of support that helps you follow through.

💡Dive deeper here: www.HeyBossMama.com/021

🍓CONNECT WITH MANOUCHKA

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👋 WHO AM I?

Hey, I'm Manouchka Elefant, a business coach for mompreneurs with 15+ years in marketing and a specialization in positive psychology. After becoming a mom, I quickly realized that building a business with kids in the mix takes more than ambition. It takes clear strategy, honest support, and the kind of accountability that helps you actually follow through.

That's what led me to create Hey Boss Mama, a space where we talk honestly about business, motherhood, mindset, and what it really takes to stop doubting and start executing. If you're into real talk, smarter marketing, and support that helps you keep moving forward, hit follow for the latest Hey Boss Mama episodes.

I'm based in Switzerland, coaching mompreneurs everywhere English is spoken.

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Passport to Wealth is a proud member of the SwissCast Network

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The passage from stress leave to a full return to work is neither linear nor instantaneous. In this episode, career reintegration coach Karina Schneider argues that stepping back into the workplace is an active stage of recovery—one that calls for deliberate pacing, realistic expectations and shared responsibility between employee and employer.

Karina explores the common emotional turbulence that accompanies the first weeks after mental-health leave—from lingering fatigue to the fear of under-performing—and explains why prolonging an extended absence can actually complicate reintegration. She uses fresh data to show that many professionals fail to thrive post-leave, often relapsing or resigning when organizations lack structured support.

Yet the workplace is only half the equation. Drawing a parallel to marathon training, Karina urges listeners to treat preparation as a personal duty: set micro-goals, anticipate “speed bumps” and view early adjustments not as failures but as vital feedback. By reframing those first days back as part of the healing arc, professionals can reclaim agency, protect their mental health, and rebuild a career that lasts.

1. Recovery and work overlap. A “fit-to-work” note is a milestone, not the finish line.
2. Pacing prevents relapse. A 20–30% capacity ramp-up is a strategic—not weak—move.
3. Expect emotional swings. Doubt, guilt and fatigue are data points, not a verdict on capability.
4. Self-prep matters. Like marathon runners, returners need training plans, not wishful thinking.
5. Structured reintegration saves talent. Without clear roadmaps and supportive managers, many employees exiting FMLA or sick leave never regain momentum.

Back After Burnout is for education and inspiration only and does not constitute medical, mental-health, legal, or employment advice. Every burnout journey is unique—always consult qualified healthcare and workplace professionals before acting on anything you hear. Resources shared are tools Karina has personally found helpful; they may not suit every listener. Use what serves you and leave the rest.

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Back After Burnout is a proud member and a production of the SwissCast Network

Discover more great podcasts for English-speaking Switzerland

SwissCast Network

Mentioned in this episode:

Passport to Wealth is a proud member of the SwissCast Network

Discover more podcasts for English-speaking Switzerland

SwissCast Network

Order "The Expat Money Playbook"

Mentioned in this episode:

Passport to Wealth is a proud member of the SwissCast Network

Discover more podcasts for English-speaking Switzerland

SwissCast Network

Order "The Expat Money Playbook"

How do you find your way back to yourself when motherhood leaves you overwhelmed, reactive, and running on empty?

Sami Garrett helps moms feel more supported and less alone through Good Enough Matrescence, and in this episode we talk about what it can look like to move through postpartum rage, unmet needs, and identity shifts while building a life and business that feel more human.

What Sami shares:

• How postpartum rage became a wake-up call
• What helped her start healing
• How she turned that lived experience into a simple, supportive business designed around real motherhood instead of pressure or perfection

This stuck with me:

When Sami talks about realizing she was not a bad mom, she was a mom without enough support or space. That is such an important shift for mompreneurs too. Sometimes the problem is not that you are failing. It is that you are trying to function while carrying too much with too little room to breathe.

More from Sami Garrett:

IG @goodenoughmatrescence

www.goodenoughmatrescence.com

💡Dive deeper here: www.heybossmama.com/020

🍓CONNECT WITH MANOUCHKA

Instagram

LinkedIn

The Mompreneur Space Facebook Group

Website

👋 WHO AM I?

Hey, I'm Manouchka Elefant, a business coach for mompreneurs with 15+ years in marketing and a specialization in positive psychology. After becoming a mom, I quickly realized that building a business with kids in the mix takes more than ambition. It takes clear strategy, honest support, and the kind of accountability that helps you actually follow through.

That's what led me to create Hey Boss Mama, a space where we talk honestly about business, motherhood, mindset, and what it really takes to stop doubting and start executing. If you're into real talk, smarter marketing, and support that helps you keep moving forward, hit follow for the latest Hey Boss Mama episodes.

I'm based in Switzerland, coaching mompreneurs everywhere English is spoken.

Mentioned in this episode:

More 👀 on your business!

Want more clients to find your business, but your marketing still feels reactive?

SAVE YOUR SPOT 🔥Back to Business MASTERMIND

Mentioned in this episode:

Passport to Wealth is a proud member of the SwissCast Network

Discover more podcasts for English-speaking Switzerland

SwissCast Network

Order "The Expat Money Playbook"

The transition from a period of burnout to a successful return to work is not merely a matter of resuming one’s previous role; it is a nuanced process that requires careful navigation and support.

Throughout the discussion, Karina talks about the various emotional responses that individuals may encounter as they reintegrate into their workplaces, including apprehension and a sense of inadequacy. It is imperative to understand that the workplace environment plays a significant role in either facilitating or hindering this transition.

Karina reviews the statistics that reveal a disheartening reality: a substantial number of individuals do not thrive upon their return, instead experiencing continued struggle or, in some instances, a departure from their roles altogether. This highlights the urgent need for organizations to prioritize structured reintegration plans and supportive managerial practices.

However, she also stresses that individual preparation is equally vital. Drawing parallels to training for a marathon, she encourages listeners to invest in their own readiness, advocating for themselves and leveraging the skills gained during recovery to navigate their return effectively. This episode is not just about returning to work; it is about reclaiming one’s sense of agency and purpose within the professional realm.

• Thrivers, survivors or exiteers: A longitudinal, interpretative phenomenological analysis of the post-return-to-work journeys for workers with common mental disorders. - Nielsen, K., & Yarker, J. (2024). Thrivers, survivors or exiteers:

Takeaways:

1. This podcast episode emphasizes the importance of understanding that recovery and returning to work are distinct processes that require intentional preparation.
2. Listeners are encouraged to acknowledge the myriad emotions they may experience upon returning to work after a period of burnout, including fear and doubt.
3. The episode highlights that a significant proportion of individuals returning to work after mental health leaves do not thrive due to inadequate preparation and support.
4. It is crucial for individuals to engage in self-preparation for their return to work, akin to training for a marathon, to foster confidence and resilience.
5. The conversation underscores that workplaces must provide structured support for reintegration, yet individuals should not underestimate their role in this process.
6. Ultimately, the podcast aims to empower listeners to embrace their return to work as an opportunity for personal growth and meaningful change.

Back After Burnout is for education and inspiration only and does not constitute medical, mental-health, legal, or employment advice. Every burnout journey is unique—always consult qualified healthcare and workplace professionals before acting on anything you hear. Resources shared are tools Karina has personally found helpful; they may not suit every listener. Use what serves you and leave the rest.

Mentioned in this episode:

Back After Burnout is a proud member and a production of the SwissCast Network

Discover more great podcasts for English-speaking Switzerland

SwissCast Network

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All Swiss Birth Stories Episodes

Clare shares her story of giving birth to her second child in Switzerland after moving from the UK, highlighting the differences between birth systems and the beauty of sibling relationships. Her marathon 67-hour labor culminated in a water birth at Hôpital de Morges after her initial birthing center plans changed.

• Moved to Switzerland 20 years ago with husband and 7-week-old son Max, who is now in his final year of apprenticeship
• Planned for a birth center birth with her second child (born in 2010). She doesn't look back on her first birth negativley, just desired more control and autonomy in her second birth experience.
• Hired a doula for language support and advocacy in the Swiss healthcare system, which was less common then.
• Labored at home for nearly two days before transferring to the hospital
• Complete pause in contractions after decision to transfer to hospital, augmentation of labour (synthetic oxytocin after this pause in labour)
• Clare gives birth to her daughter in water- even after such a long labour and with augmentaion
• Co-sleeping encouraged by the progressive hospital approach
• Son Max's touching gesture of offering his prized Scooby-Doo Croc to his newborn sister
• Breastfed first child for 9 months but second for over 3 years
• Found valuable postpartum support through midwife visits and community centers

Subscribe for more Swiss Birth Stories, Write a review, and share this podcast to help more parents in Switzerland and beyond find the show.

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Visit and learn about Clare's craft space: https://www.thecrafthouse.ch/ where she organizes lessons, camps, and projects for kids, as well as retreats and lessons for adults.

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The SwissCast Podcast Network is here to amplify the diverse voices and unique stories of Switzerland—all in English. Whether you're a Swiss local fluent in English, an expat, or simply curious about Swiss culture, SwissCast offers engaging content that speaks directly to you.

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Feeling like your business is a bit all over the place, even though you are working hard?

In this episode, I’m walking you through the 6 foundations that help your business feel clearer, stronger, and easier to grow, especially when you are building with limited time.

Save this episode for your next CEO session. I cover:

• Why your mission and audience need to be clear before anything else
• How to define the transformation you actually sell
• Why simpler offers, stronger messaging, and better systems make growth easier

What I want you to remember:

If your business feels rushed, messy, or harder than it needs to be, it does not always mean you are doing it wrong. Sometimes it means your foundations need attention.

Download your Business Foundations Checklist for a simple step-by-step guide to work through everything I cover in this episode www.heybossmama.com/foundations

💡Dive deeper here: www.heybossmama.com/019

🍓CONNECT WITH MANOUCHKA

Instagram

LinkedIn

The Mompreneur Space Facebook Group

Website

👋 WHO AM I?

Hey, I'm Manouchka Elefant, a business coach for mompreneurs with 15+ years in marketing and a specialization in positive psychology. After becoming a mom, I quickly realized that building a business with kids in the mix takes more than ambition. It takes clear strategy, honest support, and the kind of accountability that helps you actually follow through.

That's what led me to create Hey Boss Mama, a space where we talk honestly about business, motherhood, mindset, and what it really takes to stop doubting and start executing. If you're into real talk, smarter marketing, and support that helps you keep moving forward, hit follow for the latest Hey Boss Mama episodes.

I'm based in Switzerland, coaching mompreneurs everywhere English is spoken.

Mentioned in this episode:

More 👀 on your business!

Want more clients to find your business, but your marketing still feels reactive?

SAVE YOUR SPOT 🔥Back to Business MASTERMIND