Mom Who Works: Redefining what it means to be a working mom (in a world without working dads...) – Details, episodes & analysis

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Kendy Cox—a wife, mom of three, and Vice President at Public Strategies, where she’s spent over 25 years leading impactful human services projects. But beyond her impressive resume, Kendy shares her most personal role yet: warrior mom.

When her teenage daughter began battling an eating disorder in the wake of the pandemic, Kendy’s world shifted. What followed was a journey marked by fear, learning, resilience, and deep love. She opens up about navigating her daughter’s illness and recovery, the emotional toll it took, and the surprising ways it transformed her perspectives.

Now known online as ED Warrior Mom, Kendy is using her family’s story to support others—mentoring parents, advocating for mental health, and building a community of hope on TikTok and Instagram. Follow her for more info and resources for eating disorders. 

This episode is a heartfelt reminder that motherhood is not always about having the answers, but about showing up, checking in, and walking through the hard things with courage and compassion.

If you’ve ever felt helpless, guilty, or overwhelmed as a mom—this conversation will meet you right where you are.

This week on Mom Who Works, we’re joined by Mandi Casey—owner of The Collective and a woman who knows a thing or two about intentional discomfort. From buying and launching a business to walking through divorce, dating, and remarriage, Mandi shares the raw and real process of stepping into a life that’s deeply aligned, even when it’s wildly uncomfortable.

We talk about starting over, showing up differently, and doing the brave work of building new community and connection from the ground up. If you’ve ever wondered if disruption is a sign you’re off course—or a sign you’re exactly where you need to be—this episode is for you.

A few of our favorite lines:

“Disruption follows intention.”

“It is uncomfortable to stay small.”

Listen in and get inspired to choose growth—even when it stretches you.

Email: mandi@thecollectiveok.com

Coaching: www.simplymandi.com

Web: TheCollectiveOK.com

IG: @thecollectiveok

It’s time for our annual Memorial Day to Labor Day challenge— and this year is all about intentional and inspired discomfort.

Summer isn’t just for the kids—it’s for you, too, mama. In this powerful and uplifting episode, we’re kicking off a 14-week journey between Memorial Day and Labor Day designed to help you grow, stretch, and reconnect with your truest self.

But here’s the twist: YOU get to choose how.

Will you Do More—push into something bold, brave, and exciting?

Or will you Do Less—create space, say no, and rediscover rest as a radical act?

Both paths are valid. Both are brave. And both will bring their own kind of intentional and inspired discomfort—the kind that leads to clarity, confidence, and transformation.

This episode walks you through what each path can look like, why discomfort is the secret ingredient to your growth, and how to know which choice is calling your name. Whether you’re craving a challenge, aching for stillness, or just feeling lost in the swirl of it all, this episode is your permission slip to make this summer yours.

BONUS: Journaling Prompts, real talk about guilt and growth, and why “Do Less” might be the hardest (and most powerful) move you make.

You’ve got 14 weeks. Let’s make them count.

We are OBSESSED with this podcast episode featuring Kelly Nolan, an attorney-turned-time management strategist and mom of two, who knows firsthand what it’s like to feel overwhelmed by all the hats we wear. After burning out as a young patent litigator, Kelly developed a practical, brain-friendly time management system that helped her reclaim control of her time and energy.

Now, through her signature Bright Method, Kelly empowers professional women to navigate their careers, families, and personal lives with more clarity and less chaos. We talk about the mental load working moms carry, the power of boundaries, and how systems are the key to showing up well at work and at home.

Kelly’s method has been featured in Bloomberg Businessweek, Forbes, Fast Company, Parents, and more—and today, she’s sharing it with us.

If you're craving a little more peace and a lot more practical time management, this episode is a must-listen.

Links:

• Free 5-day program, the Reset & Refresh: https://kellynolan.com/reset-refresh
• The Bright Method Podcast on Apple or Spotify
• Follow Kelly on Instagram

In this Bonus Episode, we sit down with Tamara McLemore, founder of Tamara McLemore Enterprises—an executive consultant, certified Project Management Professional (PMP) Instructor, and award-winning speaker.

Tamara specializes in coaching mid-career professional women, equipping them with the skills, confidence, and language needed to earn their PMP Certification and achieve major career breakthroughs. Her mission? To help women ditch the exhausting 5pm-9pm grind and reclaim their time and purpose. My personal favorite part of this episode is Tamara’s ability to inspire moms to pursue what they need to build the motherhood and careerhood that is best for them!

If you’re ready to level up your career and your life, this conversation is a must-listen.

You can find Tamara on Instagram & LinkedIn. 

If cooking for your family every night is truly daunting, or the thought of feeding the kids all summer sends you into a panic, this episode is for you!

I’ll be the first to admit—I can’t cook. That’s why I was so excited to chat with Madison Wetherill, the inspiring mom behind Cook at Home Mom. Based in sunny Arizona, Madison balances life as a wife and mom of three energetic boys with her passion for creating simple, wholesome meals that nourish both body and soul.

Madison’s journey from cooking out of necessity to becoming a trusted source for flavor-packed, approachable recipes is seriously inspiring. Her recipes and tips have been featured in publications like Redfin, and she’s cultivated a community of over 65,000 followers on Instagram. From slow cooker and air fryer guides to healthy meal plans and grocery tips, Madison’s blog is like a virtual dining room where families can find inspiration for everyday cooking. 

You may have heard Madison’s expertise on shows like The Food Blogger Pro Podcast, The BizChix Podcast, Eat Blog Talk, and The Blogger Genius Podcast. She’s also the host of The Vine Podcast and runs a second blog, Joyfully Mad, sharing her insights on food blogging and content creation.

Madison’s mission? Make cooking at home easy, enjoyable, and always full of flavor.

Bonus: She’s curated a special collection of recipes just for the Mom Who Works community. Check them out here: https://cookathomemom.com/show .

Follow Madison on Instagram:

@joyfullymad 

@graceandvine  

@cookathomemom

In this episode, we sit down with Maddy Fero, the creative force and founder behind Little Rad Things, a kids' clothing brand specializing in ethically sourced, vintage-inspired apparel for boys.  She shares how a small hobby born during the pandemic evolved into a thriving e-commerce brand. We dive into the fears she had to face, the mindset shifts required for growth, and the complexity of balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship. Whether you’re thinking about starting a side hustle or scaling your passion project, Maddy’s story will inspire you to take the next step—rad things start small.

Since launching in 2021, Little Rad Things has grown to serve over 30,000 parents, and its designs have been spotted on the children of various motorsports professionals. The brand continues to expand, transitioning to being fully American-made by Summer 2025. Its success is fueled by a passionate community of parents who believe their children can create positive change in the world by doing rad things for others.

Maddy's style for the brand blends her family roots and love for motorsports, inspired by a fun fusion of 1970s fashion and racing culture. From 2013 to 2016, Maddy worked as a spokesmodel for NASCAR, where she met her husband, David, a mechanic in the premier Cup series.

Looking ahead, Maddy is excited to continue innovating and growing Little Rad Things. She remains committed to offering apparel parents are proud to put on their children, while staying true to the brand's core values of honesty, quality, and sustainability, and creating job opportunities for American workers.

You can find Maddy on Instagram, & shop for your rad kids online. 

Suzanne and Kristine, creators of Thanks Mom Co., have been best friends for over a decade, having their first children only 5 days apart. They have lived life together, figuring out motherhood, and being there for each other through all seasons of life. To honor Suzanne’s mother and the strength of all moms out there, the two best friends created your laundry’s new BFF incorporating Mary’s laundry secret. Suzanne’s career as a pharmacist and Kristine’s as a homemaker complimented each other to create the best and most natural stain remover out there. Our mission is to innovate the industry while honoring timeless tradition with the creation of our modern day washboard. This product is more than an efficient cleaning solution; it’s a tribute to a mother’s love and hard work.   

In this episode, we dive into what it really takes to launch a business—especially as women, mothers, and friends—with a story that’s equal parts grit, grace, and good old-fashioned elbow grease.

You can find them & their product here:

www.thanksmomco.com

Instagram

In this Bonus Episode we sit down with Nancy Moore - empty nester, entrepreneur, podcaster, and community builder dedicated to helping women create a business and life they love by identifying their passion and carving a path forward to purpose.

We chat about the power of intentional goal setting, her “rule of three” for editing your life, and the magic that happens when you say “yes” to the unfamiliar. Whether you're looking for clarity, courage, or just a spark to get started, this conversation is full of practical wisdom and encouragement to help you build a life you love.

Nancy is the host of the “Sharing Passion and Purpose” Podcast & women’s live podcast and networking events known as “Conversations with Passion and Purpose." She is passionate about helping women turn their passion into a paycheck by building purpose-driven businesses with multiple streams of income. 

Nancy holds an undergraduate degree in Accounting from Oklahoma State University and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from The University of Tulsa.

Prior to starting the podcast, she worked in the staffing industry where she coached people through the job search process enabling them to connect with career opportunities they were genuinely passionate about. Developing connections and networking is her superpower which helps in her role as Public Relations Coordinator for Montereau. Nancy also enjoys teaching at Tulsa Community College – where she’s worked for over 22 years teaching business and accounting classes. She is also a contributing writer for Tulsa Kids Magazine.

Upcoming Event: Conversations with Passion and Purpose with Special Guest, Muriel Fahrion Friday, May 9th at 11:30am in Tulsa, OK

You can find and follow Nancy here:

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
  
• 
  LinkedIn

In this episode, we hear from Ali, a courageous mother who turned unimaginable tragedy into purpose. After the devastating loss of her baby in a childcare facility, Ali became a relentless advocate for reforming legislated childcare regulations. As she navigated profound grief, continued parenting her older child, and balanced a full-time career, Ali’s journey is a testament to resilience, love, and the power of one voice to spark change. Her story will move you—and inspire you.

Ali Dodd is a devoted mother and passionate advocate for paid family leave and safe sleep practices. She leads an inclusive, nonpartisan group Plus5 that connects individuals to local experts, empowering them to better understand and engage with current political issues with the goal of increasing voting participation. Through this initiative, Ali fosters a space where people can learn, discuss, and form their own educated opinions. She believes that by bringing together diverse voices and expert knowledge, we can cultivate a stronger, more informed community, united in progress.

Email Ali at: Ali.a.dodd@gmail.com

Follow Plus5 at: https://www.facebook.com/share/1ALvXuKXy3/?mibextid=wwXIfr