They say you can't have it all — that mothers must choose between ambition and presence. But what if we're asking the wrong question?
On The Breadwinners Podcast, Alexis Contos redefines what it means to be a Breadwinner in modern culture, moving it far beyond the paycheck. Through raw, honest conversations with women like Morgan Zanotti (CEO of Primal Kitchen), Nicole Trunfio (CEO of Bumpsuit), and Eve Rodsky (Author of Fair Play & Find Your Unicorn Space), we explore what it really takes to bring financial richness, emotional richness, and systemic change to our families.
This isn't about balance, it's about integration. Not perfection, but wholeness.
Whether you're already navigating motherhood and career, building your empire before kids arrive, or reimagining what family leadership looks like, these conversations will challenge everything you've been told about what's possible.
The Breadwinners: Where ambitious mothers aren't just earning a living, they're pioneering a new era for themselves, and everyone who comes next.
Learn more at thebreadwinners.co.
Site
RSS
Apple
Classements récents
Dernières positions dans les classements Apple Podcasts et Spotify.
Liens partagés entre épisodes et podcasts
Liens présents dans les descriptions d'épisodes et autres podcasts les utilisant également.
They say you can't have it all — that mothers must choose between ambition and presence. But what if we're asking the wrong question?
On The Breadwinners Podcast, Alexis Contos redefines what it means to be a Breadwinner in modern culture, moving it far beyond the paycheck. Through raw, honest conversations with women like Morgan Zanotti (CEO of Primal Kitchen), Nicole Trunfio (CEO of Bumpsuit), and Eve Rodsky (Author of Fair Play & Find Your Unicorn Space), we explore what it really takes to bring financial richness, emotional richness, and systemic change to our families.
This isn't about balance, it's about integration. Not perfection, but wholeness.
Whether you're already navigating motherhood and career, building your empire before kids arrive, or reimagining what family leadership looks like, these conversations will challenge everything you've been told about what's possible.
The Breadwinners: Where ambitious mothers aren't just earning a living, they're pioneering a new era for themselves, and everyone who comes next.
Learn more at thebreadwinners.co
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EP. 02 | Aileen Fitzgerald on The Art of Devotion
Saison 1 · Épisode 2
mardi 30 décembre 2025 • Durée 01:20:45
In this episode, Alexis Contos sits down with Aileen Fitzgerald, an Austin-based landscape artist who embodies "the art of devotion."
After eight years as an ICU nurse, Aileen made the bold decision to pursue her childhood passion for painting while raising her daughter Lilah. From overcoming early discouragement to choosing emotional richness over financial security, Aileen shares how she navigates the tension between scheduling for freedom, presence and productivity.
Learn about her commitment to seeing life in pure colors (literally - she won't wear sunglasses), her belief in physical connection as a love language, and how she's modeling authenticity for her 2 daughters while building a thriving artistic practice.
The Breadwinners
Aileen Fitz Art
Aileen's Instagram
Alexis' Instagram
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EP. 01 | Kim Chappell (Chief Brand Officer, Bobbie) | Nobody Is Doing It All
Saison 1 · Épisode 1
mardi 30 décembre 2025 • Durée 01:16:45
"You're not hitting your skincare routine, being a great mom, crushing it at your job, putting dinner on the table, and having sex with your husband in 24 hours every day,” says Kim Chappell, the chief brand officer at Bobbie. “Nobody is. That's not happening."
On our first episode of The Breadwinners Podcast, Alexis Contos talks with Kim about the inaugural “breadwinner dinner” at SXSW, returning to work and navigating guilt after maternity leave, and what’s next after "girlboss" culture.
In the third era of working families, where success isn't about perfection but about defining your own boundaries, what does it mean to be a breadwinner? Kim explains why the future belongs to women who refuse to choose between career and family.
Links:
The Breadwinners
Bobbie
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EP. 03 | Julie Cordua | When Your Currency Is Children's Lives: 15 Years Fighting Online Child Exploitation
Saison 1 · Épisode 3
mardi 30 décembre 2025 • Durée 58:08
In this powerful episode, Alexis Contos reunites with Julie Cordua, CEO of Thorn, an organization building technology to defend children from online child sex exploitation. Julie and Alexis worked together 15 years ago on Thorn's launch, and Alexis has watched Julie dedicate her life to this essential work while raising her own family.
Content note: This episode discusses child sexual abuse and trafficking. While we don't include graphic details, the subject matter is inherently difficult.
This conversation explores what it means to be a Breadwinner when your currency isn't just financial - it's measured in children identified, child sex exploitation content identified and removed, and technology platforms made safer. We discuss the impact of AI on child exploitation, the reality of the dark web, how tech companies must do better, and - critically - what parents can do right now to protect their children online.Julie shares practical guidance for talking to kids about online safety, warning signs to watch for, and how everyday people can join the fight against child exploitation. Whether you're a parent trying to navigate your child's digital life or someone who wants to understand how to make a difference, this conversation will inform and empower you."
Thorn.org
Thorn on Instagram
Julie's TED Talk
Thorn Parent Guide
The Breadwinners on Instagram
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EP. 11 | Kelly Hubbell on Building Sage Spaces for your Home
Saison 1 · Épisode 11
lundi 9 février 2026 • Durée 57:45
You're expected to work like you don't have kids and parent like you don't work. Kelly Hubbell, founder of Sage Haus, looked at this impossible equation and decided to build the solution herself.
In this episode, Kelly shares her journey from corporate tech sales to launching Sage Haus—a company that provides house managers and holistic family support for busy working parents. After her second child, Kelly found herself overwhelmed, creating a spreadsheet at 2am cataloging everything she was managing on top of her full-time job. That breakdown moment became her breakthrough.
We dive into the reality of founder-motherhood, why the "mental load" conversation needs to shift from problem to solution, and how Kelly is building a business that reflects her values while showing her three kids what's possible when you refuse to choose between ambition and presence.
About Kelly
Kelly Hubbell is the founder of Sage Haus, a company that helps busy families find holistic, versatile support through house managers and family assistants. A former software sales professional who worked her way through Silicon Valley startups, Kelly made the leap from corporate America to entrepreneurship after realizing the support gap working parents face.
Kelly lives in Portland with her husband (also an entrepreneur), three children (ages 7, 5, and 3), and a 7-year-old dog. She's on a mission to normalize household support and give families permission to get the help they need.
Find Kelly:
Instagram: @mysagehaus
LinkedIn: Kelly Hubbell
Website: Sign up for informational calls about finding your house manager
Get $275 off your deposit by using this link: https://sage-haus.thrivecart.com/hiring-services-deposit/?coupon=BREADWINNERJoin
The Breadwinners Community
Subscribe to The Breadwinners on Substack for:
- Full podcast episodes
- In-depth written interviews with guests
- Live Q&A sessions with experts
- Exclusive content on hormones, finances, partnership dynamics, and more
It's free to subscribe → wearethebreadwinners.substack.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EP. 10 | Nick Firchau on Fatherhood, Friendship & Breaking Generational Patterns
Saison 1 · Épisode 10
lundi 2 février 2026 • Durée 51:11
What does modern fatherhood really look like in 2025 - and why aren't more men talking about it?
In this episode of The Breadwinners Podcast, host Alexis Contos sits down with Nick Firchau, creator and host of The Paternal Podcast, to have an honest conversation about the challenges fathers face today. From the crisis of male loneliness to the invisible labor dads carry, Nick shares insights from over 130 interviews with fathers from all walks of life.
This conversation explores why fatherhood feels so isolating for many men, how generational patterns shape the parents we become, and why supporting working mothers and engaged fathers isn't a zero-sum game.
1. Many fathers are parenting without a roadmap
Nearly 40% of the dads Nick has interviewed either didn't have a father figure present or had a problematic one (substance abuse, violence, or emotional absence). These men are building their approach to fatherhood from scratch.
2. Male loneliness is a parenting issue
While mothers often find community through mom groups and playdates, fathers struggle to form meaningful friendships where they can discuss the real challenges of parenting. Men are conditioned to keep conversations surface-level.
3. The "bumbling dad" stereotype hurts everyone
From Homer Simpson to Modern Family, media has long portrayed fathers as incompetent or emotionally distant. This trope doesn't just frustrate dads—it sets low expectations for father involvement.
4. Partnership means rejecting the scorecard
Nick and his wife live by "BOTD" (Benefit of the Doubt) and refuse to keep score. They recognize that careers, income, and family responsibilities ebb and flow—what matters is adapting together.
5. Emotional vocabulary is learned, not inherited
One of the biggest shifts Nick is making with his own kids: teaching them to name and discuss their emotions, something he didn't learn until adulthood.
Nick Firchau is the creator and host of The Paternal Podcast, a show exploring modern fatherhood through candid conversations with dads from diverse backgrounds. With a background in journalism (Chicago Sun-Times) and over 15 years in podcasting, Nick has interviewed Super Bowl champions, Pulitzer Prize winners, bestselling authors, and everyday fathers about what it means to be a dad today.
The Paternal Podcast launched in 2017 and has produced over 130 episodes examining father-son relationships, masculinity, male mental health, and the evolving role of fathers in American families.
Connect with Nick:
Podcast: The Paternal Podcast (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms)
Website: paternalpodcast.com
Instagram: @paternalpodcast
The Breadwinners Podcast is for ambitious working mothers who are set out to redefine what Breadwinner means in today's society and culture - beyond the paycheck. New episodes drop weekly.
If this episode resonated with you, please leave a 5-star review and share it with a fellow breadwinner - or the dad in your life who needs to hear this conversation.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EP. 09 | Ali Tate Cutler on How Moms Actually Build Businesses
Saison 1 · Épisode 9
lundi 26 janvier 2026 • Durée 01:19:22
Ali Tate Cutler gets brutally honest about what nobody tells you: how to build a business while grieving the version of yourself you once were.
Less than 1% of guests on major business podcasts are mothers. The rest? Childless men teaching strategies that don't work when you're building while celebrating your own transformation as a working mom.
"Mothers don't grind, we create. We don't hustle, we flow."
Ali (former supermodel turned social media strategist) created a new framework: Mothers don't grind, we create. We don't hustle, we flow.
She shares the grieving process of losing her pre-mother self, what she misses, the paradox of freedom, how to create when your time is fractured, and what small business owners get wrong about social media.
What You'll Learn:
- How moms actually build businesses versus the traditional playbook
- The grief of losing your pre-mother self and why it's okay
- The paradox of choice after kids
- Creating (not grinding) with constant interruptions
- What's wrong with "hustle" advice for working parents
- Building visibility without burnout
- Honoring who you were while becoming who you are
Subscribe to The Breadwinners Substack
Connect with Ali
Join The Breadwinners
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EP. 08 | Patrice Meagher on Building Systems to Support Working Moms in the Workplace
Saison 1 · Épisode 8
mardi 20 janvier 2026 • Durée 01:01:22
In this episode, Alexis Contos sits down with Patrice Meagher, a 20-year Commercial Real Estate veteran turned Founder and CEO of MilkMate. After spending two decades leasing millions of square feet in Manhattan , Patrice realized that while we can fly to space, the most "innovative" solution for pumping at work was still a storage closet or a bathroom stall.
Patrice shares her journey of leaving a successful corporate career to solve a problem that had plagued her through four children: the inefficiency and indignity of pumping in the workplace. She breaks down her famous "Coffee Pot Analogy" - asking men to imagine brewing their morning coffee in a bathroom stall while disrobing and carrying equipment back and forth - to illustrate the absurdity of the status quo.
In this conversation, Patrice discusses the "tipping point" for working mothers - that moment when one small thing (like a forgotten pump part) causes the mental load to crumble. She opens up about the daunting process of gaining FDA clearance for MilkMate , the wisdom she carries from her late father’s "Don’t Quit" motto , and why she believes working moms are the most efficient workers in the universe.
Whether you are an employer looking to support your team or a parent navigating the "drip effect" of balancing career and family , this episode offers a blueprint for how we can evolve the workplace—bird by bird, step by step.
The Breadwinners
MilkMate
MilkMate Instagram
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EP. 07 | Sarah Levey on Legacy Through Motherhood and Building Without Burnout
Saison 1 · Épisode 7
lundi 12 janvier 2026 • Durée 01:08:49
It started with a pinched sciatic nerve and a diet of dollar-slice pizza. In 2012, Sarah Levey was working in fashion on a $32,000 salary, desperate for physical recovery but completely alienated by the performative nature of traditional yoga. She didn't just want a workout; she wanted a sanctuary where she didn't have to look like the teacher or the person in the front row. So she built Y7 Studio—a beat-bumping, candlelit rebellion against the mirrors, bright lights, and judgment of the typical studio experience.
In this candid conversation, Alexis and Sarah go far beyond the business of fitness. Sarah opens up about the darker side of building a cult-favorite brand: the dangerous trap of letting your business become your entire identity. She takes us through her transformative experience with the Hoffman Process, revealing how she learned to "divorce" her soul from her company after years of being the ultimate decision-maker.
From her early days of "living the dream" on the streets of New York to her evolution as a leader who no longer needs to control every outcome, Sarah shares deep wisdom on emotional accountability. She discusses the parallels between gentle parenting and leadership, and why stepping back to become a "steward of culture" might be the bravest move a founder can make.
Whether you're a reluctant yogi, a burnt-out founder, or someone trying to stop carrying the emotional weight of everyone around you—this episode is a masterclass in building a business without losing yourself.
The Breadwinners
Y7 Studio
Sarah's Website
Sarah's Instagram
Breadwinners Instagram
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
EP. 06 | Libby Leffler on Protecting Your Future Self: A New Playbook for Marriage and Money
Saison 1 · Épisode 6
lundi 5 janvier 2026 • Durée 01:19:49
In this episode, Alexis Contos sits down with Libby Leffler, tech executive turned founder of First, who is dismantling the stigma around prenups and reframing them as the ultimate act of partnership design.
After spending nearly two decades building generation-defining companies like Google, Facebook, and SoFi, Libby noticed a glaring gap in how we handle our most significant personal "merger", marriage. She realized that while we plan meticulously for our careers and companies, we often leave our relationships to chance. She founded First to change that, shifting the narrative from a "breaking point" to "a "joining point."
From debunking the Sex and the City era myths about prenups to defining "modern money" (it’s not just cash, it’s your IP, your side hustle, and yes, even your pets), Libby is normalizing the hard conversations that actually make couples stronger. She’s helping women protect their "future selves" amidst the Great Wealth Transfer, ensuring they enter partnerships with clarity rather than crossed fingers.
In this conversation, Libby opens up about the reality of leaving a high-powered corporate career to build a startup while raising young children. She discusses why "work-life balance" is a lie we need to stop believing, how she uses "focus" as her superpower to navigate different seasons of life, and why she believes your failures will always teach you more than your successes.
Whether you’re walking down the aisle, negotiating a raise, or just trying to figure out how to integrate your ambition with your life, this episode offers a new operating agreement for it all.
The Breadwinners Website
First Official Website
First's Instagram
Libby’s Instagram
Breadwinner's Instagram
Business Insider Article
Use code THEBREADWINNERS at checkout for $100 off First lawyer reviewed prenup package
Promo code available 1/5/2026 through 3/1/2026 11:59p PT; all coupon codes must be used a checkout at time of purchase (no retroactive discounts), terms and conditions apply
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Podcasts Similaires Basées sur le Contenu
Découvrez des podcasts liées à The Breadwinners Podcast. Explorez des podcasts avec des thèmes, sujets, et formats similaires. Ces similarités sont calculées grâce à des données tangibles, pas d'extrapolations !