Mama Work It Podcast

After nearly eight years of Mama Work It, five years of the podcast, and over 230 episodes, Marisa's pressing pause. But this isn't a goodbye. In this deeply personal solo episode, Marisa shares what she's been reflecting on over the past year—and why she knows it's time for a different chapter. Sometimes we assume that if we built something, love something, or worked incredibly hard for something...

What does self-care actually look like when you're juggling work, motherhood, relationships, and everything in between? In this encore episode of Mama Work It, Marisa sits down with Leslie Forde, founder and CEO of Mom's Hierarchy of Needs, to discuss self-care, burnout prevention, and the realities of working motherhood. Drawing from both personal experience and research, Leslie shares why so man...

In this encore episode of Mama Work It, Marisa revisits one of the podcast's most impactful conversations with Dr. Ritu Saluja Sharma about the powerful connection between sleep, stress, hormones, and overall health. For working moms, sleep deprivation and chronic stress often become a way of life. But as Dr. Ritu explains, poor sleep can affect everything from energy levels and mood to weight man...

Returning to work after maternity leave can feel overwhelming, emotional, and filled with uncertainty. In this encore episode of Mama Work It, Marisa revisits her conversation with Lori Mihalich-Levin, founder of Mindful Return and author of Back to Work After Baby. Lori shares practical strategies to help working moms successfully navigate the transition from maternity leave back into their caree...

Do you ever feel like you're one mistake away from being "found out"? You're not alone. In this encore episode of Mama Work It, Marisa revisits her conversation with Lauren Smit about overcoming imposter syndrome and building confidence as a working mom. Lauren specializes in helping women identify the different types of imposter syndrome that may be holding them back from reaching their goals. To...

What happens when two high school best friends become moms of seven kids combined? You get a long list of parenting tactics that sound completely ridiculous—but somehow work. In this laugh-out-loud episode of Mama Work It, host Marisa Lonic is joined by her longtime friend Mia Fitzharris, a former television producer and mom of three, to share the most unhinged things moms do to survive modern par...

Summer can be one of the most joyful — and most overwhelming — seasons for working moms. In this episode of the Mama Work It podcast, Marisa Lonic shares how to plan, manage, and actually enjoy summer while balancing career responsibilities and kids out of school. From childcare logistics and work scheduling to emotional challenges and creating meaningful family memories, this episode offers pract...

What does it really take to show up with confidence—especially as a mom balancing career, identity, and visibility? In this episode of Mama Work It, Marisa sits down with media expert and former TV news anchor Lauren Petrowski to talk about confidence, communication, and learning to own your voice both on and off camera. With nearly 20 years of experience in television, media training, public spea...

Parenting today includes a challenge no generation has faced before: protecting kids online. This week on Mama Work It, Marisa sits down with internet safety expert Fareedah Shaheed, aka CyberFareedah, to discuss how parents can keep children safer online—from predators and social media risks to understanding the hidden threats beyond. Drawing from her personal story and years in cybersecurity, Fa...

In this 42nd birthday episode of the Mama Work It podcast, host Marisa Lonic shares 42 powerful, practical, and personal lessons she’s learned as a working mom. From navigating career pivots and setting boundaries to surviving burnout and redefining success, these working mom tips are designed to help you build a life and career that actually work for your season. Whether you’re feeling overwhelme...

Can you really raise bilingual kids without being fluent, having tons of time, or feeling overwhelmed? In this episode of Mama Work It, Marisa sits down with Houston-based educator, mom of three, and bilingual parenting expert Rachel Xi to talk about what it actually looks like to raise bilingual children in real life. With a master’s degree from Rice University and a background in teaching langua...

How much of our parenting is shaped by how we were parented? This week on Mama Work It, Marisa sits down with licensed therapist and parenting educator Ashley Ayala to talk about breaking generational patterns, emotional regulation, and raising connected, resilient kids. Ashley shares practical tools for understanding child behavior, navigating triggers, repairing after conflict, and parenting wit...

Struggling with end-of-school-year chaos? Marisa Lonic shares practical tips for working moms to survive Maycember with less stress, better planning, and more balance. Maycember — the chaotic end-of-school-year season — can feel overwhelming for working moms balancing careers, kids, and countless events. In this episode of the Mama Work It podcast, Marisa Lonic shares practical strategies to help...

GLP-1 medications are everywhere—but are they right for you, mama? In this episode of the Mama Work It Podcast, we’re joined by Mary Stewart, registered dietitian nutritionist, GLP-1 success coach, and founder of Cultivate Nutrition, to break down what busy working moms actually need to know about GLP-1s and sustainable weight loss. With nearly 20 years of experience and a background in corporate...

Do you feel like you and your partner keep having the same fight—just on repeat? In this episode of the Mama Work It Podcast, we’re joined by Julie Menanno, licensed therapist, attachment expert, and author of the bestselling book Secure Love. Julie breaks down why couples get stuck in negative relationship cycles, how attachment styles show up in everyday moments, and what working moms can do to...

Struggling with the daily “what’s for dinner?” question? You’re not alone. In this episode of the Mama Work It Podcast, I’m sharing practical, realistic working mom dinner hacks to help you simplify weeknights, reduce stress, and still get healthy meals on the table—without spending hours in the kitchen. If dinner time feels chaotic after a long day of work, kids’ activities, and everything else o...

What if glowing, youthful skin didn’t start with injectables—but with whole-body health? In this episode of the Mama Work It Podcast, I’m joined by Christine Blanchard and Alanna Judd, family nurse practitioners and co-founders of Bridge Family Wellness, to explore a holistic, root-cause approach to skincare, wellness, and aging well—with or without Botox. Christine and Alanna share how motherhood...

Motherhood was never meant to be done alone — yet so many working moms feel isolated, especially in the postpartum season. In this episode of the Mama Work It Podcast, I chat with Nicole Cumberbatch, founder of The Motherhood Village, to talk about simple, realistic ways to build your mom village — even if you’re busy, overwhelmed, or new to your community. Nicole shares her personal journey into...

If you’re a working mom who feels constantly tired, you’re not alone—and it’s not because you’re doing something wrong. In this solo episode of the Mama Work It Podcast, I share 7 realistic, science-backed ways to get more sleep as a working mom—without strict routines, perfection, or guilt. This episode is all about small, supportive shifts that actually fit into real life. From calming a racing...

Does your kitchen feel like the heart of your home—and also the most overwhelming room to manage? In this episode of the Mama Work It Podcast, I'm joined by Melissa Griffiths, creator of Bless This Mess, to share realistic, family-friendly spring cleaning hacks for organizing your kitchen. Melissa brings a refreshing perspective to organization—one rooted in simplicity, from-scratch living, and cr...

Building generational wealth isn’t just for the ultra-wealthy—it’s about creating long-term security, opportunity, and values for your family. In this episode of the Mama Work It Podcast, I sit down with Paul Fenner, founder of TAMMA Capital, to break down what generational wealth really means for working moms and families. Paul shares practical, approachable strategies for building wealth over ti...

Burnout doesn’t mean you’re failing as a mom — it means you’ve been carrying too much for too long. In this episode of the Mama Work It podcast, I'm talking to the moms who feel emotionally exhausted, overstimulated, and depleted while still trying to show up for their kids, work, and relationships. We break down what parenting burnout really looks like, why so many moms experience it, and — most...

What if happiness wasn’t something you had to earn after everything else got done? In this episode of the Mama Work It Podcast, we’re joined by Tia Graham, happiness coach and founder of Arrive at Happy, to talk about how working moms can feel happier now—even in the middle of busy schedules, mental load, and constant responsibility. Many moms believe happiness will come later: when work slows dow...

What if motherhood didn’t mean shrinking your adventurous, travel dreams—but expanding them? In Episode 213 of the Mama Work It Podcast, we’re joined by Elodie Ferchaud, mom of four, global explorer, and Co-Founder & Chief Revenue Officer of Boundless Life. After years leading global brands at P&G and L’Oréal, Elodie made the bold decision to step away from traditional corporate life and design a...

What’s it really like raising twins? In this episode of The Mama Work It Podcast, we’re diving into the real, raw, and sometimes hilarious world of twin motherhood. Corporate working mom of four, Estella Burns, shares her twin mom journey—from the shock of finding out she was having twins to discovering the ultimate twin-mom superpower. We talk about the most common (and sometimes) annoying commen...