What does it actually mean to raise a leader? Not just a high achiever, but a thoughtful, capable, emotionally grounded human? In this episode, I sit down with therapist Penni Ippensen, who brings decades of experience working with families and the perspective of a working mom who raised three daughters of her own. Together, we explore how everyday moments at home shape leadership, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence, often more than we realize. 

In this conversation, we talk about: 

We also dive into sibling relationships, including: 

Penni also shares wisdom from hindsight, what mattered less than she thought when her girls were young, and what she now sees as foundational. This episode is for moms who care deeply, feel the weight of raising kids well, and need reassurance that leadership is built in small, imperfect moments, not constant perfection. 

Connect with Penni 

  Connect with Denise of Working Moms Redefined:   

Catch full episodes and subscribe to The Working Moms Redefined Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WorkingMomsRedefined   

Click here for the 9 Minutes a Day for a Lifetime of Connection Masterclass!   
   

Listen to The Working Moms Redefined Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio and Amazon Music. New episodes drop every Thursday!   
   

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This week on Working Moms Redefined, Denise shares a reflection on decision-making, mom guilt and the weight of choosing when there is no perfect answer. What happens when two important roles collide, when your child needs you and your work needs you, and you are forced to decide anyway? 

Denise takes listeners inside a day that began at 4:40 a.m. with her seven-year-old son waking up in pain and ended with her standing in front of a room full of people leading training while coordinating care, calls and emotions from miles away. Through this story, she explores the leadership lesson that has stayed with her the most: indecision breaks trust more than making the “wrong” decision ever could. 

In this episode, Denise unpacks what it looks like to make decisions based on the information you have in the moment, even when doubt creeps in later. She talks honestly about mom guilt, self-questioning and the quiet inner dialogue that tells us we should have done more, stayed longer or chosen differently. She also reflects on the power of being supported by people and workplaces that allow us to show up as whole humans, not only as professionals. 

This conversation is a reminder that you are allowed to choose, trust yourself and move forward without replaying every scenario over and over in your head. You are not failing because you question your choices. You are leading, parenting and living in real life. If you have ever wrestled with guilt after making a hard decision, this episode will meet you right where you are and remind you that choosing something is often better than choosing nothing at all. 

Connect with Denise of Working Moms Redefined:   

Catch full episodes and subscribe to The Working Moms Redefined Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WorkingMomsRedefined   

Click here for the 9 Minutes a Day for a Lifetime of Connection Masterclass!   
  Listen to The Working Moms Redefined Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio and Amazon Music. New episodes drop every Thursday!   
 
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Leadership doesn’t stop when the workday ends — and for many working moms, it often feels heavier than ever. 

In this episode of Working Moms Redefined, Denise sits down with Jamie Hansen, founder of Alloy Solutions, Maxwell Leadership–certified coach, and longtime counselor-turned-leadership developer, to explore what it truly means to lead with confidence, connection, and purpose. 

Together, they unpack the concept of redemptive leadership — a way of leading rooted in self-awareness, restoration, and relationship rather than perfection or pressure. Jamie shares why high achievers often struggle with self-criticism, how “connection before correction” transforms leadership at work and at home, and why repair is often more powerful than getting it right the first time. 

This conversation bridges leadership and motherhood, offering practical insight for women who are leading teams, families, and themselves — often all at once. 

If you’ve ever felt the weight of responsibility, questioned your influence, or wondered if there’s a healthier way to lead without burning out, this episode will leave you feeling grounded, encouraged, and reminded that leadership doesn’t require flawlessness — it requires presence. 

Purchase your ticket to attend Leadership Redefined LIVE in Quincy, IL: https://www.denisetallcottleadership.com/Leadership-redefined-livedenise 
 
 Connect with Jamie 

Connect with Denise of Working Moms Redefined:   
Catch full episodes and subscribe to The Working Moms Redefined Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WorkingMomsRedefined   

Click here for the 9 Minutes a Day for a Lifetime of Connection Masterclass!   
  
Listen to The Working Moms Redefined Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio and Amazon Music. New episodes drop every Thursday!   

Follow Denise on Socials & visit the Working Moms Redefined website:   

What if the mess doesn’t mean you’re failing but that you’re fully living? 

In this episode of Working Moms Redefined, Denise sits down with Kim Kupiecki, author of The Beautiful Mess, speaker, corporate leader, and mom, for an honest, grounding conversation about perfection, pressure, and grace in working motherhood. 

Together, they explore why high-achieving women struggle so deeply with giving themselves grace, how the “everyone else has it figured out” lie keeps moms stuck, and what it really looks like to own your value, both at work and at home. 

This conversation isn’t about doing more, fixing yourself, or chasing balance. It’s about releasing unrealistic expectations, redefining success, and learning how to show up with intention even when life feels messy. 

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, behind, or quietly questioning whether you’re doing enough, this episode is a reminder that you don’t need perfection to be a great mom, a strong leader, or a whole person. 

Because the mess doesn’t disqualify you; it’s part of the story. 
 
Connect with Kim 

Connect with Denise of Working Moms Redefined:   

Catch full episodes and subscribe to The Working Moms Redefined Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WorkingMomsRedefined   

Click here for the 9 Minutes a Day for a Lifetime of Connection Masterclass!   
  Listen to The Working Moms Redefined Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio and Amazon Music. New episodes drop every Thursday!   
 
Follow Denise on Socials & visit the Working Moms Redefined website:   

This week on Working Moms Redefined, Denise is sharing reflections from a recent live conversation she hosted for the Nutrition HQ community about motivation, discipline, and what it really looks like to keep showing up for ourselves. At the start of a new year, motivation can feel hopeful and exciting. We make plans, set goals, and imagine how good it will feel to finally follow through. But as Denise gently reminds us, motivation is fleeting and that doesn’t mean anything is wrong with you. It just means you’re human. 

In this episode, Denise talks about the shift from waiting to feel motivated to choosing discipline as an act of self-leadership. Not rigid, all-or-nothing discipline, but the kind rooted in care, intention, and trust in yourself. The kind that carries you forward on the days when life is full, energy is low, and no one else is cheering you on. 

This conversation is a reminder that you don’t need to overhaul your life or have it all figured out. You need to keep taking small, aligned steps toward the things that matter to you. You are allowed to lead yourself with compassion, grace, and consistency. If you’ve ever felt discouraged because your motivation faded or wondered why you keep starting over, this episode is for you. You are not behind, and you are more capable than you realize. 

Connect with Denise of Working Moms Redefined:   

Catch full episodes and subscribe to The Working Moms Redefined Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WorkingMomsRedefined   

Click here for the 9 Minutes a Day for a Lifetime of Connection Masterclass!   
  Listen to The Working Moms Redefined Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio and Amazon Music. New episodes drop every Thursday!   
 
Follow Denise on Socials & visit the Working Moms Redefined website:   

Parenting isn’t hard because you’re doing it wrong- it’s hard because it’s deeply emotional work. In this episode, Denise sits down with Todd Sarner, founder of Transformative Parenting, to talk about what really makes parenting feel so challenging- even for smart, intentional, loving moms. 

Together, they unpack why behavior problems are often communication problems, how to stay calm when emotions run high, and where to start when you’re craving more peace and connection at home. Todd also shares practical ways to get your partner on board, build emotional resilience in your kids, and navigate modern parenting challenges like screens and stress without losing yourself in the process. 

If you’ve ever felt like parenting shouldn’t be this hard, this conversation will remind you—you’re not alone, and there’s a calmer, more connected way forward. 

Connect with Todd Sarner 

Free Transformative Parenting Masterclass 
https://masterclassforparents.com/?sl=tpwebsitemasterclass  

Todd’s Book 

https://transformativeparenting.com/the-calm-connected-parent 

Connect with Denise of Working Moms Redefined:  
Catch full episodes and subscribe to The Working Moms Redefined Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WorkingMomsRedefined  

Click here for the 9 Minutes a Day for a Lifetime of Connection Masterclass!  

 Listen to The Working Moms Redefined Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio and Amazon Music. New episodes drop every Thursday!  
  

Follow Denise on Socials & visit the Working Moms Redefined website:  

In this episode of Working Moms Redefined, I’m joined by Michelle Stallings, health coach and founder of Ambitious and Fit, who is dedicated to helping women break free from the cycle of putting themselves last. If you are tired of pushing your health to the back-burner, not feeling confident in your own skin, hiding from photos, or thinking you need to restrict, shrink, or punish yourself to feel better, this conversation will speak directly to you. Michelle believes mental clarity comes before physical results, and today she explains why mindset is the foundation of every lasting change. We talk about the most common traps working moms fall into, why so many of us feel stuck even when we know what to do, and how to shift from guilt and perfectionism into caring for yourself with confidence and intention. Michelle shares how to build routines that feel like Wonder Woman strength on real-life schedules, how to tune into what your body actually needs, and how to stop chasing diet culture expectations and start owning what balance means for you. She also offers simple micro habits and realistic starting points for the mom who feels overwhelmed or stretched thin. If you’re ready to feel beautiful in your own skin, build a strong and toned body you are proud of, and create habits that let you show up as the best version of yourself at home and at work, Michelle’s wisdom will feel like a breath of fresh air. Girl, she’s got you. 
 

Connect with Michelle 

Connect with Denise of Working Moms Redefined:  

Catch full episodes and subscribe to The Working Moms Redefined Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WorkingMomsRedefined  

Click here for the 9 Minutes a Day for a Lifetime of Connection Masterclass!  
  

Listen to The Working Moms Redefined Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio and Amazon Music. New episodes drop every Thursday!  
  

Follow Denise on Socials & visit the Working Moms Redefined website:  

In this episode, Denise highlights the next five most listened-to episodes of 2025, revisiting the conversations that continued to resonate with working moms as the year unfolded. These episodes captured real-life leadership moments, honest challenges, and the mindset shifts that helped working moms navigate busy seasons with more clarity and confidence. 

As Denise walks through these standout episodes, she reflects on the themes that surfaced again and again: making decisions with intention, letting go of expectations that no longer serve you, and leading with purpose both professionally and personally. Each conversation serves as a reminder that growth does not always look loud or linear, but it is always meaningful. 

At its core, this episode is about perspective. It’s an invitation to recognize how much you’ve carried, how much you’ve learned, and how much strength it takes to keep showing up day after day. It reframes the year not by what was accomplished, but by the wisdom gained along the way. 

You’ll leave this episode feeling encouraged, affirmed, and reminded that every season matters. It’s a chance to reflect with grace, reconnect with the lessons that shaped this year, and move forward feeling supported, grounded, and aligned with what truly matters most. 

Connect with Denise of Working Moms Redefined:  

Catch full episodes and subscribe to The Working Moms Redefined Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WorkingMomsRedefined  

Click here for the 9 Minutes a Day for a Lifetime of Connection Masterclass!  

Listen to The Working Moms Redefined Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio and Amazon Music. New episodes drop every Thursday!  
  

Follow Denise on Socials & visit the Working Moms Redefined website:  

In this episode, Denise highlights five of the most listened-to episodes from this year, revisiting the conversations that resonated most deeply with working moms navigating leadership, motherhood, and everything in between. Each episode featured offered a moment of clarity, validation, or encouragement, and together they tell a powerful story about what working moms needed most this year. 

Denise walks through the themes woven throughout these top episodes, from redefining success and setting boundaries, to embracing growth, confidence, and season-specific priorities. She reflects on how these conversations continue to meet working moms exactly where they are, often landing differently depending on the season of life or leadership you’re in now. 

This episode is a reminder to pause and acknowledge your growth. It’s about honoring the lessons learned, the shifts made, and the quiet strength it takes to keep showing up, both at work and at home. It reframes reflection not as looking back with pressure, but as looking back with perspective and grace. 

You’ll leave this episode feeling grounded, encouraged, and reminded that you are not alone in this journey. It’s a chance to see the year not through a lens of what wasn’t done, but through everything that mattered, and to step forward with clarity, confidence, and intention. 

Connect with Denise of Working Moms Redefined:  

Catch full episodes and subscribe to The Working Moms Redefined Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WorkingMomsRedefined  

Click here for the 9 Minutes a Day for a Lifetime of Connection Masterclass!  

Listen to The Working Moms Redefined Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio and Amazon Music. New episodes drop every Thursday!  

Follow Denise on Socials & visit the Working Moms Redefined website:  

This week on Working Moms Redefined, Denise walks you through The Ultimate Christmas Checklist for Working Moms- a simple, joy-filled guide designed to help you create meaningful memories without adding more to your plate in the busiest season of the year. 

Instead of trying to do everything, Denise shares how to choose the traditions that matter most: mailing letters to Santa, driving around to see Christmas lights, letting kids pick out ornaments that reflect who they are right now, sibling gift exchanges, Christmas movie nights, cut-out cookies, and more. She even dives into the magic-makers- letters from Santa, footprints by the fireplace and why it’s totally OK if the Elf on the Shelf never shows up at your house. 

But more than that, this episode reframes Christmas for working moms. It’s a reminder that your kids don’t need a perfect season, they need you. They need presence, not pressure. Connection, not comparison. 

Denise also shares the leadership lessons woven into this season: how modeling joy, flexibility, and intention shapes your home and teaches your kids what truly matters. 

You’ll leave this episode feeling lighter, inspired, and clear on how to create a Christmas that’s both memorable and manageable- a season rooted in joy, connection, and grace. 

Grab your Christmas Checklist here: https://www.workingmomsredefined.com/The-Ultimamte-Christmast-Checklist 

Connect with Denise of Working Moms Redefined: 

Catch full episodes and subscribe to The Working Moms Redefined Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WorkingMomsRedefined 

Click here for the 9 Minutes a Day for a Lifetime of Connection Masterclass! 

Listen to The Working Moms Redefined Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio and Amazon Music. New episodes drop every Thursday! 
 

Follow Denise on Socials & visit the Working Moms Redefined website: