That's Total Mom Sense

For generations, mothers have been asked to carry an outsized share of the unpaid, invisible, and logistical labor that keeps families functioning. From caregiving and mental load to emotional labor and school forms, modern motherhood has been shaped by systems that quietly assume women will fill the gaps — at home, at work, and in society.   But the cultural narrative is shifting — and parents, c...

She built a community of over a million moms by telling the truth—but this conversation goes even deeper. Libby Ward joins me to unpack the realities no one prepares you for: mom rage, postpartum depression, burnout, and how childhood trauma quietly shapes the way we parent. We talk about what it actually means to break generational cycles, why so many mothers feel overwhelmed and triggered, and h...

What does it look like to live your dream and then have your world shattered? TODAY Show co-host Sheinelle Jones knew since fifth grade that she was made for morning television. She manifested it, worked for it, and built a life of beauty alongside her Northwestern sweetheart Uche. Then came the nightmare no vision board could prepare her for. In this deeply personal Mom Sense conversation, Sheine...

In this episode of That’s Total Mom Sense, host Kanika Chadda Gupta sits down with nationally recognized clinical psychologist Rachel L. Goldman to talk about something so many parents silently struggle with: burnout, stress, and the pressure to do it all. Dr. Rachel, a cognitive behavioral therapy expert and author of When Life Happens, shares practical tools for navigating emotional overwhelm, b...

Kanika opens this episode by sharing her personal story living in the “sandwich generation” as a mom of three (including twins) and caregiving for her mother who has dementia. She is later joined by ⁠Danielle Cabral⁠, star of Real Housewives of New Jersey, for an on stage keynote interview to talk about motherhood, fame, and the challenges of being on reality TV. They discuss the importance of sup...

After kids, many parents notice that their bodies don’t respond the way they used to. Weight loss feels harder. Energy fluctuates differently. Hormones, sleep disruption, stress, and the mental load of caregiving all intersect — and the growing conversation around GLP-1 medications has added a new layer of curiosity, confusion, and questions. Join us for GLP-1s & the Post-Kids Body: What’s Differe...

Hi everyone. I’m Kanika Chadda Gupta. I’m a television journalist, podcast host of “That’s Total Mom Sense,” wife and mom of three. I am having a fangirl moment right now because I am with the beautiful, talented singer, songwriter, actress, and author who has grown up alongside us. She’s been singing her whole life and began her musical career as a founding member of Destiny’s Child and here we a...

What if regret isn’t something to avoid, but a compass to guide your biggest decisions? In this episode, I sit down with Parul Somani,  business strategist, MIT and Harvard Business School graduate, former Bain & Company leader, cancer survivor, and author of The Path of Least Regret. After being diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer at 31, shortly after the birth of her second child, Parul tran...

In this special episode called Ma Ki Rasoi (from his Mother's Kitchen) to Michelin Star, Kanika sits down with Chef Vikas Khanna at his NY restaurant, Bungalow. The common thread is the letter "M" as they open by admiring a floral mandala and he shares poignant stories about his motherland, mother, Masterchef India, Michelin Star, and manifestation. Meet My Guest: WEBSITE: ⁠www.bungalowny.com⁠ INS...

The term “mental load” gets thrown around a lot — but what does it actually mean, and why does it so often fall on moms and primary caregivers? Join us for The Invisible Workload: Why 75% of the Mental Load Lands on Primary Caregivers, a candid, expert-led conversation about the invisible labor that keeps families running — and the emotional, logistical, and identity toll it takes. We’re joined by...

“God could not be everywhere, so he created Mothers.” This adage could not ring more true when it comes to the life of C.J. Taylor. Her life story could be made into an Oscar-winning biopic, and believe me, it’s just a matter of time. She is a divorced single mom of three, an attorney, and a football coach with over 20 years of experience - she is the first female coach in the Snoop Dogg’s youth f...

Are smartphones and social media harming our kids—or is the truth more nuanced? In this episode of That’s Total Mom Sense, journalist and mom of three Kanika Chadda Gupta sits down with Jacqueline Beauchere, Snapchat’s Global Head of Platform Safety, for a thoughtful, data-driven conversation about parenting teens in a digital world. Together, they explore real online risks, how Snapchat differs f...

In this episode of That's Total Mom Sense, host Kanika Chadda Gupta sits down with Alex Spitz, Founder and CEO of New Mom School, to explore what happens when the village disappears and how she is rebuilding it. After experiencing the isolation of early motherhood herself, Alex set out to create a solution. Today, she is actively rebuilding the village for modern mothers through New Mom School, a...

Jen Hatmaker on AWAKE, reinvention, grief, divorce, new love, and raising 5 kids. A deeply intimate conversation about rebuilding your life with honesty, tenderness, and hope. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Allie Ticktin is the founder of Play 2 Progress, and author of the book, Play to Progress, where she provides parents with an overview of all 8 (yes, 8) senses and gives them 90 exercises to engage their children in sensory learning. Dr. Allie uses the science of child development and the joy of play to boost childrens’ confidence and enhance development within all areas of their life, from so...

Money is one of the biggest sources of stress in modern relationships — especially when you’re raising kids, building careers, and managing caregiving all at once. In this episode of That’s Total Mom Sense, I sit down with Douglas and Heather Boneparth — married couple, wealth experts, and co-authors of Money Together — to talk about how families can create financial systems that feel fair, aligne...

In this powerful conversation, Kanika sits down with Rei Wang and Anita Hossain Choudhry, founders of The Grand, the global community helping ambitious women navigate transitions with clarity, confidence, and support. They break down motherhood identity shifts, career pivots, fundraising, co-leadership, and the practical tools every woman needs to design her next chapter. If you’re craving purpose...

What if 2026 isn’t something that happens to you—but something you intentionally design? In this solo episode, journalist and podcast host Kanika Chadda Gupta breaks down a clear, actionable system for turning vision boards into real-life results. Drawing from frameworks she’s learned through The Grand Pursuit coaching and the Founders Launch Lab, Kanika shares how to move from dreaming to doing—q...

Ingrid Michaelson sits down with Kanika at the Mom 2.0 Summit in Nashville to discuss her journey as a singer/songwriter, grieving the loss of her parents, the launch of The Notebook musical on Broadway, and how to find joys in the ups and downs in life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Arleen Lamba — physician, former anesthesiologist, and the founder of GLO30 — breaks down exactly what women in their 30s, 40s, and 50s actually need for healthy, glowing skin. From the essentials (Vitamin C, retinol, SPF) to the treatments that really work (and the ones that are hype), Dr. Lamba helps simplify the noise. We also talk hormonal skin changes, perimenopause, budget-friendly routi...

After motherhood, our bodies change — but what if that change could be celebrated instead of judged? In this powerful conversation, host Kanika Chadda Gupta sits down with Taryn Brumfitt, founder of The Body Image Movement and Australian of the Year, and Dr. Zali Yager, body image researcher and co-founder of The Embrace Collective. Together, they unpack the motherhood identity shift, why our self...

In this inspiring episode of That's Total Mom Sense, Kanika Chadda Gupta sits down with Dr. Neeta Bhushan, a former cosmetic dentist turned best-selling author and emotional resilience expert. Dr. Neeta shares her journey of pivoting from a successful dental career to becoming a renowned emotional health advocate, after overcoming significant personal challenges, including the loss of her parents...

Jessica Fein was a marketing executive and mom who adopted three lovely children from South America. Her world was turned upside down when her daughter Dalia was diagnosed with a rare disease called MERFF Sydrome and ended up passing away in her teens. Jessica shares her insights on taking care of children with illnesses, how to overcome loss of family members (sudden and anticipatory grief), how...

In this episode of That’s Total Mom Sense, Kanika sits down with psychotherapist and TODAY Show contributor Niro Feliciano — a mom of four and author of All is Calm(ish) — to talk about finding calm in the chaos. They dive into why we over-schedule our kids, how to redefine success in family life, and why peace isn’t about perfection. Niro shares her personal story, lessons from therapy, and pract...

In this episode of That’s Total Mom Sense, host Kanika Chadda Gupta sits down with Erica Komisar, a clinical social worker, psychoanalyst, and author of Being There and Chicken Little the Sky Isn’t Falling. Together, they unpack the science of secure attachment and why a parent’s emotional availability is the most important gift we can give our children. Erica shares her SECURE framework — a pract...