Working Moms Redefined

Have you ever said yes to something and immediately thought, "Why did I say yes to that?"

Maybe we don't want to disappoint someone, make them upset or feel like we're letting them down. Sometimes saying yes becomes such an automatic response that we don't stop to ask what we actually want. 

In this episode of Working Moms Redefined, Denise welcomes therapist and previous guest Sara Semenick of Deeper Roots Counseling back for a conversation about people pleasing, why it happens and how it can show up in our relationships, work and everyday lives. 

...

Have you ever had a moment where you thought, What the heck is happening to my body? Your energy feels different. Your hormones seem different. Your body responds differently to exercise. Intimacy changes. Symptoms appear that don't seem to make sense. And suddenly, the body you've lived in your entire life can start to feel a little unfamiliar. 

In this episode, Denise welcomes Dr. John Kim back to Working Moms Redefined for a conversation about perimenopause, women's health, and learning to understand our bodies instead of constantly feeling frustrated by them. 

Together, they talk about: 

We all want our kids to succeed. But somewhere between encouraging them, giving them opportunities, helping them through disappointment, and wanting the best for their future, is it possible our good intentions can start to feel like pressure? 

In this episode of Working Moms Redefined, Denise sits down with Margot Machol Bisnow, author of Raising an Entrepreneur, for a conversation that is about so much more than raising future entrepreneurs. It's about raising kids who know who they are, trust themselves, and have the confidence to pursue what genuinely lights them up. 

Together, Denise and Margot...

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 Working Moms Redefined, Denise shares what's been weighing on her heart lately: the different realities children grow up in, the challenges families are facing, and the responsibility we have as parents to shape how our kids see and respond to t...

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 Fkn Shrink podcast host Daffney Allwein for a conversation about what happens when high-performing women stop simply pushing through and start paying attention to what their minds and bodies are actually telling them. 

Together, they talk about: 

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, Denise sits down with political scientist and fellow parent Dr. AJ Simmons, Research Director at the University of Illinois Springfield's Center for State Policy and Leadership and host of Cra...

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, connection, socialization, and everyday interaction in helping our kids grow. 

Together, they talk about: 

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-McMillan, CEO of SKG and mom of two, for an honest conversation about leadership, motherhood, and redefining success. Beth shares how raising a family strengthened her ability to lead, navigate uncertainty, and build an authentic leadership styl...

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 “never-enoughness” that so many modern moms are quietly carrying.  

Amber shares her own journey as a high-achieving woman balancing leadership, motherhood, and success on the outside while feeling exhausted and disconnected on the inside. T...

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 Tallcotts need goats. But somewhere in the middle of all of it, Denise did something that hasn’t always come naturally: she slowed down. 

In this solo episode, Denise shares an honest look at their summer: what worked, what absolutely did not...

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 parents feel to create the “perfect” summer for their children. Denise opens up about choosing intentional family time over packed calendars, sports camps and nonstop activities in order to create more meaningful moments at home with her children. 

She shares...

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.  

These young women openly share the pressures they face balancing grades, jobs, athletics, relationships, college decisions and social expectations while still trying to figure out who they are. They discuss how anxiety in teenagers is often misunderstood, why many girls...

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 stress hormones and everyday nutrition choices. 

Together, we talk about: 

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 women feel confident in their voice, supported in their decisions, and prepared for birth without being driven by fear. 

Together, we talk about: 

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 the early days of divorce, the fears she carried for her kids, and how she has redefined what showing up looks like. We talk through the many “buckets” of life, from kids and w...

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, who became emotional when Denise’s coaching style felt direct and firm on the court- a reminder that growth often requires learning how to hold both encouragement and challenge at the same time. 

This...

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 episode explores what it really looks like to balance work, family, and personal growth… without pretending to have it all figured out. 

Together, they dive into: 

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 about so much more than containers, checklists, or doing more. 

Lisa’s work focuses on helping busy women develop practical systems for managing home, paper, and life so they can reclaim time for what they are uniquely c...

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, our confidence, and the way we show up in work, motherhood, and life. 

Amy shares insights from her book I See You and her work coaching hundreds of female leaders on how to...

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 had language for: sometimes the hardest thing isn’t doing more… it’s choosing to do less. 

We explore what it looks like to redefine strength in this season of life: 

Birth 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 go according to plan. After hoping for a VBAC and approaching this pregnancy with a calm, faith-filled mindset for baby #3, she found herself facing unexpected turns and the difficult tension between control and surrender. 

Together, we talk about: 

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: 

...

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 passion for helping women understand how past experiences and stored stress can influence how we show up in our daily lives. Drawing from her background in multiple therapeutic approaches, including NET Therapy (Neuro Emotional Technique), she explains how the mind and...

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 complex conditions. Together, we unpack what’s really happening inside the bodies of busy, high-capacity women- especially when hormones, stress, sleep, and nervous system overload collide. 

In this conversation, we talk about: 

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 movement, connection and contribution. Both serve a purpose. Leadership is about knowing when to leave the cove and return to the current. 

In this episode, Denise challenges listeners to examine their own patterns. Are you primarily consuming content, ideas and encouragement...

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 shape leadership, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence, often more than we realize. 

In this conversation, we talk about: 

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-year-old son waking up in pain and ended with her standing in front of a room full of people leading training while coordinating care, calls and emotions from miles away. Through this story, she explores the leaders...

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, and purpose. 

Together, they unpack the concept of redemptive leadership — a way of leading rooted in self-awareness, restoration, and relationship rather than perfection or pressure. Jamie shares why high achievers often struggle with self-criticism, how “connection before correction” transforms leadership at work and at home, and...

What if the mess doesn’t mean you’re failing but that you’re fully living? 

In this episode of Working Moms Redefined, Denise sits down with Kim Kupiecki, author of The Beautiful Mess, speaker, corporate leader, and mom, for an honest, grounding conversation about perfection, pressure, and grace in working motherhood. 

Together, they explore why high-achieving women struggle so deeply with giving themselves grace, how the “everyone else has it figured out” lie keeps moms stuck, and what it really looks like to own your value, both at work and at home. 

This conversation isn’t about...

This week on Working Moms Redefined, Denise is sharing reflections from a recent live conversation she hosted for the Nutrition HQ community about motivation, discipline, and what it really looks like to keep showing up for ourselves. At the start of a new year, motivation can feel hopeful and exciting. We make plans, set goals, and imagine how good it will feel to finally follow through. But as Denise gently reminds us, motivation is fleeting and that doesn’t mean anything is wrong with you. It just means you’re human. 

In this episode, Denise talks about the shift from...

Parenting isn’t hard because you’re doing it wrong- it’s hard because it’s deeply emotional work. In this episode, Denise sits down with Todd Sarner, founder of Transformative Parenting, to talk about what really makes parenting feel so challenging- even for smart, intentional, loving moms. 

Together, they unpack why behavior problems are often communication problems, how to stay calm when emotions run high, and where to start when you’re craving more peace and connection at home. Todd also shares practical ways to get your partner on board, build emotional resilience in your kids, and navigate modern pare...

In this episode of Working Moms Redefined, I’m joined by Michelle Stallings, health coach and founder of Ambitious and Fit, who is dedicated to helping women break free from the cycle of putting themselves last. If you are tired of pushing your health to the back-burner, not feeling confident in your own skin, hiding from photos, or thinking you need to restrict, shrink, or punish yourself to feel better, this conversation will speak directly to you. Michelle believes mental clarity comes before physical results, and today she explains why mindset is the foundation of every lasting change. We talk abou...

In this episode, Denise highlights the next five most listened-to episodes of 2025, revisiting the conversations that continued to resonate with working moms as the year unfolded. These episodes captured real-life leadership moments, honest challenges, and the mindset shifts that helped working moms navigate busy seasons with more clarity and confidence. 

As Denise walks through these standout episodes, she reflects on the themes that surfaced again and again: making decisions with intention, letting go of expectations that no longer serve you, and leading with purpose both professionally and personally. Each conversation serves as a reminder that growth does not...

In this episode, Denise highlights five of the most listened-to episodes from this year, revisiting the conversations that resonated most deeply with working moms navigating leadership, motherhood, and everything in between. Each episode featured offered a moment of clarity, validation, or encouragement, and together they tell a powerful story about what working moms needed most this year. 

Denise walks through the themes woven throughout these top episodes, from redefining success and setting boundaries, to embracing growth, confidence, and season-specific priorities. She reflects on how these conversations continue to meet working moms exactly where they are, often landing d...

This week on Working Moms Redefined, Denise walks you through The Ultimate Christmas Checklist for Working Moms- a simple, joy-filled guide designed to help you create meaningful memories without adding more to your plate in the busiest season of the year. 

Instead of trying to do everything, Denise shares how to choose the traditions that matter most: mailing letters to Santa, driving around to see Christmas lights, letting kids pick out ornaments that reflect who they are right now, sibling gift exchanges, Christmas movie nights, cut-out cookies, and more. She even dives into the magic-makers- letters from Santa...

The holidays are supposed to be joyful—but for many working moms, they can feel like a juggling act of stress, sugar, and self-criticism. In this episode, Denise sits down with Dr. Meghan Garcia-Webb, a triple board-certified physician in internal, lifestyle, and obesity medicine, to talk about what it really means to stay healthy—physically and mentally—through the busiest season of the year. 

Dr. Garcia-Webb works with high-achieving professionals who want to feel their best without falling into guilt, perfectionism, or unrealistic wellness expectations. Together, she and Denise unpack how to navigate food freedom during the holidays, m...

In this episode of Working Moms Redefined, I’m joined by Courtney Cecil, CEO, founder of the Working Moms Movement, mom of two, and a woman on a mission to help moms reclaim their time, energy, and identity. After walking through burnout, overwhelm, and the pressure to “do it all,” Courtney built an entire movement to reshape how women think about balance. Today, she shares what work-life balance actually looks like for modern mothers, the most common mistakes we make, and how to build schedules that support our family’s natural rhythm instead of someone else’s version of success. We tal...

Let’s be honest- sometimes gratitude feels hard. Between the morning chaos, reheated coffee, and never-ending to-do lists, it’s easy to miss the small, sacred moments that make our days meaningful. In this episode, Denise shares what fun little things keep her gracious and not anxious. From the comfort of a warm mug (even if it’s been microwaved twice) to the laughter that follows a day gone completely sideways, this is a reminder that gratitude doesn’t have to be perfect or polished. It’s found in the real, messy, beautiful moments of everyday life. Tune in, smile a lit...

Parenting is beautiful and hard. Yes, both can exist at the same time. And as a mom, I’m all about learning from those who have walked the path ahead with grace and grit. Today’s guest, Heidi Allsop, knows that road well. She’s a certified life coach, social worker, and mom of five sons who has successfully navigated the teenage years five times over. As the host of the Raising Boys, Building Men podcast, Heidi helps moms of boys stop arguing and start connecting so they can enjoy meaningful conversations, restore trust, and parent with confidence. With a blen...

So many working moms (and dads) feel like hobbies are a luxury they don’t have time for. In this episode of Working Moms Redefined, Denise sits down for a fun and honest conversation with author AJ Simmons about why carving out “me time” isn’t selfish, it’s essential. 

Through lighthearted icebreakers (like hobbies gone hilariously wrong and dream passions we’d turn into full-time jobs) to deeper reflections on parenting, stress relief, and balance, this episode explores how hobbies can make moms more present, energized, and connected at home and work. 

You’ll hear a partner’s p...