This week on The Found Podcast, we're trading strategy for stories and KPIs for giggle fits.

To celebrate Thanksgiving and our November theme of family for the ambitious woman, I invited two of the biggest influences in my life and leadership to join me on the mic: my sister, Jessica Ryan, and my mom, Kathy McAllister.

This episode is…unhinged in the best way. We swap stories about handmade Halloween costumes, soda cans secretly stashed in dresser drawers, hiding Dad's favorite candy, President's Day "mystery trips," and the legendary Mother's Day "Guilty Pleasure" road trip. We talk about the chaos of motherhood, what's different from the generations before us, and how much we all rely on humor to make the hard parts lighter.

If you need something cozy and familiar in your ears while you bake pies, drive to Grandma's, or hide in the pantry from your kids for five minutes of peace—this one's for you.

Underneath all the laughter, there's a quiet throughline: ambitious women need people who know where they came from, cheer them on, and don't mind making fun of them (lovingly) along the way.

• "The influences in my life, I feel like you guys have always taught us that things are just better when they're fun."

• "Not everything has to be so serious. And even when it is serious, it's okay to bring a little levity to the situation."

• "That's what we need as ambitious women—we need our cheerleaders, our support system, the people who remember where we came from and aren't afraid to make fun of us along the way."

• Connect with Molly on Instagram: @mollyknuth

• Listen to more episodes of The Found Podcast: https://mollyknuthmedia.com/podcast/

• Share this episode with a friend who needs a laugh this week!

Today's episode feels extra special — because I finally got to sit down in person with someone I've admired online for months: Mandy Webber of the Wildly Intentional Podcast.

She drove from West Branch, Iowa, to my home office in Cascade, and what started as a podcast interview turned into a three-hour, soul-filling conversation about motherhood, homesteading, family culture, learning (and unlearning), running a business from your values, and choosing a life that's deeply rooted in intention.

We recorded a double-pod, so you'll hear the Found-side of our interview today, and you can catch the second half over on Mandy's podcast, Wildly Intentional.

If you don't know Mandy yet, you're in for a treat. She's a maverick mom of three, a homesteader, a maker, a family culture builder, and one of the most curious, energetic, truth-telling women I've met. Mandy helps people unlearn the noise of modern life and return to rhythms that actually matter — whether that's rethinking school at home, preserving 50 pounds of tomatoes, or bravely starting something from scratch.

This conversation is honest, warm, hilarious, grounding, and full of gems you'll carry with you.

Settle in. This one's good.

• Take Mandy's Quiz: https://www.wildlyintentional.com/quiz

• Wild + Rooted Seasonal Journal & Planner: https://www.wildlyintentional.com/shop/p/wild-rooted-winter

• My episode on Mandy's podcast, Wildly Intentional: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6J19AhLH0FCMSE1RU7ArNb?si=y64gMjh_ScqmqqI-ocNOrQ

This week on The Found Podcast, we're continuing our November series on family — and we're going right into the tender middle: motherhood.

Because motherhood changes everything.

Your time. Your nervous system. Your calendar. Your priorities. Your sense of self.

And if you're an ambitious woman on top of that? It changes the way you define success, too.

In this solo episode, I talk honestly about what it looks like to be a mom who loves her kids deeply and a woman who has dreams, goals, clients, and callings. We'll name the myths, talk about the invisible labor, and tell the truth about "balance" (spoiler: it's more recalibration than perfection).

You'll hear:

• why you don't have to choose between being a "good mom" and a "good business woman"

• the emotional load and backward-planned days no one sees

• how ambition can actually make us better mothers

• questions I ask myself when I'm doing too much: What am I trying to prove? To whom? Does it even matter?

• a different way to measure motherhood — not by output, but by alignment

This one's for the mom with toddlers on the floor, the mom of teens in 47 activities, the mom navigating IVF, the mom with grown kids… and the woman who still wants something for herself.

Hey listener, welcome back to The Found Podcast with Molly Knuth. November's theme is family — not just the cute-holiday-card kind, but the real, evolving, sometimes-stretchy relationships that ambitious women have to tend to while they're also growing businesses, teams, and impact.

Today, I'm pulling back the curtain on one of those relationships: my marriage.

This is not a "5 steps to a perfect partnership" episode. It's a real-time reflection from someone who's been married 16 years, building a business for 9, raising 4 kids, and learning (over and over) how to love a person while also loving her work.

I share:

• why I don't give marriage advice (and why I unfollowed the Hollises 👀)

• the story of "dinner at La Hacienda" — aka the night I realized my husband didn't totally know what I do 😅

• what it looks like when two independent people are trying to stay connected in busy seasons

• how our roles have changed from my stay-at-home years to now

• and why tiny, intentional reconnections matter more than grand gestures

This episode's for you if you've ever wondered: "Can I be ambitious and still have a healthy marriage?" Short answer: yes — but it takes communication, trust, and… sometimes queso.

This week on The Found Podcast, we're doing something a little different…and a lot more personal. I finally brought my real-life best friends to the mic — right here around my kitchen table — snacks, beers, belly laughs, squeals, and memories included.

We've been friends for decades — from first kisses to first cars, from weddings to babies, from heartbreaks to hospital rooms. These women are my chosen family. And while this episode may not follow the usual structure… it might be the most heart-expanding one yet.

Whether you've known your girls for 25 years or 25 days — this is your reminder to make room, make time, and make memories with the women who make life sweeter.

What you'll hear in this episode: • The Nashville bachelorette trip we still call "the greatest weekend of our lives" • Why chosen family is sometimes the strongest family you've got • The seasons where we couldn't get together — and why we still never doubted our bond • Stories that absolutely cannot be repeated in public ever again • Celebrating the women who show up at the drop of a text — no questions asked

Key Quotes:

"I cried the whole night when I got home. I was like, I have the best friends." "These women are my chosen family." "We've seen each other through every defining moment of life — all 40 years."

Takeaway: Friendship is the glue that helps us survive the chaos and savor the joy. Don't let time, distance, or busyness keep you from the people who feel like home.

This week on The Found Podcast, we're diving into the heart of friendship — the kind that's rooted in laughter, ritual, and showing up for each other year after year.

As ambitious women, it's easy to let work and responsibilities crowd out connection. But our friendships, the chosen families we build, are what keep us grounded, joyful, and human. In this episode, I'm sharing stories of the traditions that have kept my friendships alive through every season of life, from Christmas candy-making and cookie swaps to spontaneous "meet the baby" dinners and annual scavenger hunts.

We'll also explore what the research says about why rituals matter and how you can start or sustain your own.

Because years from now, it won't be the to-do lists we remember. It'll be the people we gathered with along the way.

What You'll Hear in This Episode:

• Why friendship is a choice, and how to intentionally invest in it

• The story behind Molly's 16(ish)-year Christmas candy-making tradition

• How shared rituals create meaning, stability, and belonging

• The difference between everyday rituals, seasonal traditions, and life milestone moments

• Practical ideas for creating simple, sustainable traditions with friends

• Why connection (not perfection) is what keeps friendships thriving

Key Quotes:

"You won't remember your to-do list five years from now. But you'll remember the time you spent gathered with the people you love."

"Rituals and traditions don't have to be fancy — they just have to be meaningful."

Resources & Links:

• Awake by Jen Hatmaker — a recommended read on friendship, resilience, and community

• The Psychology of Rituals

• Thriving Together: The Benefits of Women's Social Ties

• Follow Molly on Instagram: @mollyknuth

• Join the conversation and get updates via The Found Field Notes

What if the way we move through the world—our energy, awareness, and communication—has the power to shape how others move, too?

This week on The Found Podcast, I'm sitting down with Terryn Drieling of The Good Movement Draws Good Movement Podcast to explore what she calls "good movement"—a principle inspired by her life on ranches in the Sandhills of Nebraska and rooted in stockmanship, connection, and emotional awareness.

Terryn believes that, just like animals respond to calm, intentional movement, humans thrive when we learn to regulate our energy, validate others, and lead with love instead of fear. Through her coaching, podcast, and workshops, she helps rural folks improve communication, strengthen relationships, and reconnect with themselves—all while honoring the unique rhythms of small-town life.

Our conversation dives deep into friendship, resilience, and the importance of self-understanding in order to create "good movement" in every relationship you're part of: at home, at work, and in your community.

What You'll Hear in This Episode:

• How Terryn's ranching roots inspired her "good movement" philosophy.

• Why grit and resilience aren't the same and how to cultivate both.

• The difference between validation and agreement, and why it matters in relationships.

• How love- and trust-based communication creates deeper connection than fear-based compliance.

• The power of emotional awareness and self-regulation (and what animals can teach us about it).

• Terryn's personal story of friendship, healing, and mental-emotional growth through her cancer journey.

Key Quote:

"Good movement starts with us. When we understand ourselves, we can show up with more grace, compassion, and awareness—and that draws good movement from everyone around us."

Links:

• Visit Terryn's Website
• Listen to her podcast
• Connect on IG

Friendship as an adult can be complicated — especially when you're an ambitious woman balancing work, motherhood, and a full life. That's why this week's guest, Nina Badzin, has spent over a decade studying, writing about, and talking about what makes friendships work (and why they sometimes don't).

Nina is the host of the Dear Nina podcast, a Top 1% charted show that's been featured in The Wall Street Journal, TIME, NPR, and The Washington Post. She's made it her mission to help women rethink how we approach adult friendships with grace, intention, and a healthy dose of realism.

In this conversation, Molly and Nina unpack what it really takes to maintain friendship as ambitious women, from how to handle rejection to why it's always your turn to reach out.

• Why rejection is a natural (and essential) part of life and friendship

• The importance of "freshman energy" and physically showing up in new communities

• How to overcome fear of initiation and why it's always your turn to make the first move

• Why ambitious women often struggle to prioritize friendship and how to change that

• Actionable ways to cultivate connection right where you are

"If we as adults could learn to have a softer reaction to rejection, we would try more things and friendships wouldn't feel so high-stakes." – Nina Badzin

"The people with the happiest social lives accept that it is always their turn. If you make plans, you have plans." – Nina Badzin

• Listen to Nina's podcast: Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship

• Follow Nina on Instagram: @dearninafriendship

• Read her essays: ninabadzin.com

• Follow Molly on Instagram: @mollyknuth

• Explore more episodes: mollyknuthmedia.com/podcast

Okay, real talk: I love my people, but when life gets ambitious, friendship is the first thing that slides off my calendar. Work, kids, and even rest often feel easier to prioritize than grabbing coffee with a friend. But here's what I've learned: friendship isn't optional — it's survival.

In this episode, I unpack:

• Why friendship matters for ambitious women (spoiler: it literally improves your health and longevity).

• My own struggles with friendship guilt when I've been "too busy" or spread too thin.

• The barriers that get in the way of friendships as we move through different seasons of life.

• Practical strategies to tend to friendships — even when schedules are packed.

This is your reminder that friendships don't have to be perfect to matter, and they don't have to be fancy to be meaningful. Whether it's a quick text or a monthly coffee date, tending to your friendships will make you a better leader, partner, parent, and human.

Key Takeaways:

• Friendship is survival — it's not extra, it's essential.

• Friendships don't have to be perfect to matter.

• It doesn't have to be fancy to be meaningful.

• You can always restart and reprioritize your friendships, no matter the season you're in.

Resources & Links:

• Dear Nina Podcast

• Share this episode with a friend you're recommitting to today.

• Screenshot and tag me @mollyknuth — let me know which friend you're texting after this episode.

Whether you're just starting out or scaling up, there are certain non-negotiables every ambitious woman in business needs to thrive. These are the logistical foundations that prevent burnout and the mindset shifts that help you play the long game.

In this solo episode, Molly shares her personal "Must List"—the tools, systems, and beliefs that have helped her grow and sustain a business while chasing big dreams. From financial systems to friendship, pricing to resilience, this episode is equal parts practical and inspiring.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Why only 50% of small businesses survive beyond five years (and how you can beat the odds)

• The financial habit that keeps Molly sane in her business

• How to create a repeatable marketing plan that won't burn you out

• The role boundaries play in sustaining growth

• Why community is a business essential, not just a "nice to have"

• The money mindset shift that will change the way you see pricing

• A simple question to reframe setbacks and build resilience

Resources & Links:

• U.S. Small Business Administration survival rates

• Forbes on women entrepreneurs and funding

• Fundera research on small business burnout

• Connect with Molly on Instagram: @mollyknuth

• More episodes + resources: mollyknuthmedia.com