Working Moms Redefined

Some kids have it incredibly hard. Others grow up with opportunities, stability, and support. Some children show remarkable kindness and gratitude despite difficult circumstances, while others struggle with respect and accountability.   And sometimes, watching the struggles people are facing leaves us wondering what we can actually do to make a difference.   In this solo episode of  Work...

Working moms are really good at handling things. The career. The kids. The marriage. The schedules. The expectations. The mental load. We can keep going for a really long time, but being capable of carrying it all doesn't necessarily mean it's good for us.   In this episode, Denise talks with performance coach and  Don't F kn Shrink podcast host Daffney Allwein for a conversation about what h...

Politics can feel complicated enough as adults. Then your child comes home repeating something they heard at school, sees something online, or asks a question about an election and suddenly you're trying to figure out: How much do I explain? How much is too much? And how do I teach my kids what I believe without teaching them that everyone who believes differently is wrong?   In this episode,...

Between activities, academics, technology, milestones, and all the things we’re told our kids  should  be doing, it can feel like raising healthy, confident kids has become incredibly complicated. But what if some of the things our kids need most are actually much simpler?   In this episode, Denise talks  with  Amy Peters, CEO of Quincy Children’s Museum , to talk about the power of play...

Can motherhood actually make you a better leader?   For years, many women have been told they have to separate their personal and professional lives to succeed. But what if the very skills you're developing as a mom, emotional intelligence, resilience, adaptability, and decision-making are exactly what make you an exceptional leader?   In this episode, Denise sits down with  Beth Goff-Mc...

You love your kids deeply. You’re responsible, capable, and doing everything you can to hold life together. So why does motherhood still feel so heavy sometimes?   In this episode, I sit down with  Amber Pecoraro , certified life and leadership coach, founder of B’joyed Coaching, and author of  Escape the Motherhood Matrix , to talk about the invisible web of guilt, overwhelm, pressure, and “...

We’ve missed you!  Working Moms Redefined  is back for Season 2.5, and before we jump into everything ahead, Denise is taking a minute to look back. Because this summer was full.   There were lake trips and Mexico, softball and baseball, Thursdays when Sydney babysat, more iPad time than maybe originally planned, and apparently, a decision that the Tall...

In this special summer sendoff episode of Working Moms Redefined, Denise reflects on the past year and a half of the podcast while sharing an important decision for her family and for herself as a working mom: pressing pause for the summer season.   This episode is an honest conversation about motherhood, family priorities, overcommitted schedules and the pressure many par...

This episode of Working Moms Redefined gives listeners an honest and emotional look into what it’s really like to be a teenage girl today. Denise sits down with a group of high school juniors and seniors for a powerful conversation about teen mental health, anxiety, social pressure, school stress, friendships, sports, family expectations and the fear of failure.    Th...

If you’ve ever felt like something in your body is “off”, low energy, lingering symptoms, or not quite feeling like yourself, this conversation will help connect some of the dots.   In this episode, I’m joined again by Dr. John Kim to explore some of the hidden factors that can impact how women feel day to day from underlying infections to str...

Pregnancy and birth can bring a unique tension for high-capacity women- the desire to be prepared, informed, and thoughtful… without feeling like everything depends on getting the plan exactly right.   In this episode, I’m joined by Brittany Higgins, a doula and former labor and delivery nurse, who shares a perspective that is both empowering and deeply reassuring. Brittany helps wo...

This episode with Amy Hendrian resonated with so many of you, and we wanted to bring it back.   In this conversation, we sit down with Amy, business owner and mom of three, for an honest and relatable discussion about divorce, co-parenting, owning a business, and what it means to be a full-time mom, with or without a parenting contract.   Amy shares her experience navigating th...

Youth sports are often about more than learning the game. They are opportunities for children to build confidence, resilience, and life skills that extend far beyond the court or field.   In this episode, Denise reflects on the powerful role coaches play in shaping not only athletic ability, but also character, communication, and courage. She shares a personal moment with her daughter Sydney,...

What happens when the microphone turns and the host becomes the one answering the questions? In this episode of Working Moms Redefined, Denise is joined by her husband, Jeremy, for a candid, unscripted conversation that offers a deeper look into motherhood, marriage, and the mental load so many women carry.    Through thoughtful questions and honest reflection, this episod...

So many working moms feel like they are constantly behind- juggling responsibilities, managing invisible tasks, and trying to keep everything moving forward, all while wondering why it still feels so heavy.   In this episode, I sit down with  Lisa Woodruff , founder of Organize 365, to talk about the real reason so many high-capacity women feel overwhelmed, and why organization is a...

High-capacity women often believe that if they work a little harder, try a little more, or push through one more challenge, things will finally fall into place. But what if the real barrier isn’t effort… it’s our thought habits?   In this episode, I sit down with leadership coach and author  Amy Kemp  to talk about the subconscious thought patterns that quietly shape our decisions,...

For a long time, many of us believed “doing hard things” meant pushing more, achieving more, and carrying more responsibility - often at the expense of our peace, presence, and relationships.   But what if hard doesn’t always look like hustle?   In this solo episode, Denise shares a perspective shift that many high-capacity women are beginning to feel but haven’t always ha...

B irth stories don’t always unfold the way we imagine. even when we plan carefully, pray intentionally, and prepare thoroughly.   In this episode, I’m joined by Jen Duesterhaus, mom of three, nurse practitioner student and business owner, to talk about her very different birth experiences- and the ones that didn’t...

Some parents are raising children without ever having been shown what healthy parenting looks like. No blueprint. No example. No consistent support.   In this episode, we talk with Allison Housewright about what it means to parent while healing to give your children emotional safety, consistency, and tools you may not have received yourself.   We explore:   What “pare...

As we celebrate one year of Working Moms Redefined, we’re revisiting one of our powerful early conversations with Therapist Sara Semenick. This episode remains just as meaningful today as it was when it first aired, offering insight and encouragement for anyone navigating growth, healing and the many roles that come with motherhood and career.   Sara brings her passio...

If you’ve ever felt like your energy makes no sense, your mood shifts without warning, or your body isn’t responding the way it used to, this episode is going to feel like a deep exhale.   I’m joined by  Dr. Yoon Hang (John) Kim , a board-certified physician specializing in integrative and functional medicine who focuses on root-cause healing for comple...

This week on  Working Moms Redefined , Denise shares a powerful leadership metaphor inspired by a lesson from  John C. Maxwell : be a river, not a reservoir.   Denise paints a vivid comparison between the main channel and the quiet coves using the Lake of the Ozarks. The cove represents rest, reflection and consumption. The main channel represents ...

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 s...

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-ye...

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, an...