In this solo episode, I’m kicking off the year by sharing more about my recent business launch and the new offerings I’m stepping into. I talk about the heart behind this next chapter, the mix of excitement and uncertainty that comes with starting fresh, and the gratitude I’m feeling for a little more space in my head and on my calendar. This season feels quieter, more intentional, and full of possibility. Guest conversations will be back in February, and I’m looking forward to what’s ahead!

In this solo episode, I reflect on a year that asked more than I expected it to. I talk through the realities of navigating shifting priorities, lots of life things, and attempts at creativity during a season that felt heavy and full all at once. I also share quick highlights from each guest episode! A personal check-in and a chance to see the bigger picture of what we’ve been building together.

If you or someone you know would make a great guest on TPN, hit me up on instagram @thepatchworknarrative. I would LOVE to hear your story <3

In this episode, I talk with Colleen, founder of Dandelion Kids and mom of four. We chat about what it looks like to grow a new business while raising a big family, and how her ideas around being a stay-at-home versus working mom have evolved over time. Colleen shares honestly about shifting priorities, why she opened the shop, and the ongoing process of figuring out what balance really means.

In this episode, I sit down with Anna Rice, floral designer and owner of Studio Fleuraison. After building her business around family life and recently relocating to Pittsburgh, Anna shares what it’s been like to navigate a new market while raising pre-teens and redefining her work rhythms. We talk about carving out time for both creativity and parenting, the evolving balance between home and business, and how each season of life brings its own kind of growth.

You can find Anna and her work at studiofleuraison.com, or on instagram @studio.fleuraison

Content warning: This episode includes discussion of traumatic birth. This portion of the conversation is at 28:15-30:40

In this conversation, illustrator Lucy Engelman shares her deeply personal story of navigating life and work after a traumatic entry into motherhood. Lucy opens up about the challenges of managing new diagnosis in the wake of becoming a mother, and how those struggles impacted her ability to return to her creative practice. She also talks about her love for illustration, the slow process of finding a new rhythm, and how childcare and consistency have helped her reconnect with her work. This episode is an honest look at resilience, creativity, and the messy but hopeful process of weaving motherhood into a creative career.

You can find Lucy and her work at https://www.lucyengelman.com, on instagram @lucyengelmanillustrations, and on Substack @lucyengelman (be sure to check out 'Mama's Got Stickies' within this page!)

Trigger warning: This episode contains discussion of miscarriage and pregnancy loss. If these are sensitive topics for you, please take care while listening, and feel free to skip past that part of our conversation. 41:46- 45:50

In this first guest conversation, I sit down with Heather Davis; business coach, founder of Heather Davis Inc., and host of the Work Out Loud podcast.

In this episode, we talk about how work has always been central to her identity, her transition from one business to another, and the never-ending cycle so many parents know all too well: working to pay for childcare so you can… keep working to pay for childcare. Heather opens up about why motherhood doesn’t come as naturally to her as building a business does, how she sets boundaries to protect her time and energy, and what it really means to define success on your own terms.

It’s an honest, thoughtful, and refreshingly unfiltered look at the push-and-pull between ambition, family, and self.

You can find Heather at heatherdavisinc.com and on instagram @heatherdavisinc; and be sure to listen to her podcast, Work Out Loud each Thursday

In this second episode of The Patchwork Narrative, host Katelyn Werner shares more of her personal story; the intersection of early motherhood and entrepreneurship, and the experiences that shaped her desire to create this space. She reflects on the meaning behind the podcast’s name, and speaks to the vulnerability and honesty she hopes to cultivate in each upcoming conversation.

This episode continues laying the foundation for the series, offering insight into Katelyn’s values and intentions before guest interviews begin in Episode 3. It’s not about finding a “right” way, it’s about listening, learning, and honoring the many different ways women are building lives, businesses, and families.

Welcome to the very first episode of The Patchwork Narrative! In this inaugural conversation, host Katelyn Werner shares the heart behind the podcast; a space created for women who are building businesses while raising children. Part intro, part origin story, and part reflection on the messy beauty of starting something new, this episode sets the tone for what's to come: honest stories, real-life complexity, and community rooted in shared experience.

Katelyn opens up about how her own journey as a floral designer and mother inspired her to dream up this show. She explores what it means to seek connection in the overlap of entrepreneurship and motherhood, why perfection isn’t the goal, and how there’s power in simply starting.

If you’re looking for solidarity, encouragement, or just a quiet space to hear from women navigating similar paths, you’re in the right place. Let’s begin.