There’s no sugar-coating it. Most jobs are relentless.

Even greedy.

You’re not imagining it. It’s very real. (In fact, Claudia Goldin won the 2023 Nobel Prize in Economics for her work highlighting the impact of demanding jobs on the careers and earnings of women.)

One potential solution: going part-time.

For many women, this is the holy grail of work arrangements.

A little less pressure at work, a little more space to breathe at home.

It sounds so reasonable.

And when you're running on fumes, it's hard not to dream about a schedule that doesn’t have you overstretched to the point of burnout.

But the reality of part-time isn’t always what it’s painted to be.

Going part-time doesn’t always lead to less stress — and in some cases, it can make work-life balance even harder.

This week on the podcast, I’m pulling back the curtain on what really happens when high-achieving women shift to part-time work. Not to scare you, but to prepare you — so you can make your next move with clear-eyed confidence, not wishful thinking.

Over the years, I’ve coached dozens of brilliant women through this very decision. Some chose to go part-time with no regrets. Others looked at the reality and decided it wasn’t going to be the quick fix they were hoping for.

What made both these groups happy about their choices? Not luck. Strategic decisions.

If you’ve been contemplating (or fantasizing) about going part-time, you’ll want to tune in for this.

What You'll Learn:

• Why part-time roles often don’t reduce your workload — and 2 other common pitfalls

• A decision-making framework to help you assess if part-time is really the right path for you

• What to say (and ask) at work and at home so your “part-time” life doesn’t become “double time” under a different name

• A smart way to go “pretend part-time”, without a single tough negotiation on hours

For more information, visit The Mental Offload.

If you’re a working mother with a demanding job, you’ve probably asked yourself:

Is this sustainable?

Am I doing enough?

How do successful moms make this all work?

One journalist has some answers to share. This week, I’m joined by Joann Lublin, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Wall Street Journal contributor, and author of Power Moms: How Executive Mothers Navigate Work and Life.

Joann has been studying working mothers for decades. She’s seen firsthand how the expectations, demands, and even the guilt have evolved across generations. She’s lived it, too.

In fact, back in 1980, she wrote an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal about her experiences as a working mother. Her piece ruffled quite a few feathers – some hate mail even suggested she should never have had kids – and the blowback almost led her to quit her prestigious job.

The times have changed, but even today, the core struggle remains: How do we build meaningful careers and be present for the people who matter most?

What’s striking about Joann’s work is that she didn’t just speak to one kind of mom. She interviewed high-achieving women across a range of industries, backgrounds, and family setups—along with their adult daughters—to understand what actually helps working mothers work best.

And she’s clear: The idea of “balance” is due for an upgrade.

In this conversation, Joann shares hard-won insights and surprising findings from women who’ve made it to the top—and stayed grounded.

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s possible to build a life that honors your ambitions for your career and your family, listen in.

What You'll Learn:

• Why “balance” is the wrong goal (and what to aim for instead)

• 4 proven ways to ditch the mom guilt

• How today’s ambitious mothers differ from their trailblazing predecessors

This episode is packed with practical takeaways, while staying candid about the systems we’re working within.

For more information, visit The Mental Offload.

As kids finish off the school year, I’m looking back in awe how much they’ve grown and accomplished this year.

And then, the proud reverie is interrupted. It’s like a split screen where I see my own stalled progress. And feel a giant ugh in the pit of my stomach.

I see the goals I meant to prioritize this year — consistent exercise, healthier meals, getting to bed by 10pm. On some of them, I’m doing great. On others…it’s not pretty.

When life is going at full speed — school breaks, work travel, a sudden realization that no one is available for pickup on Thursday — it’s easy to feel like you’re falling short.

But as you try to offer yourself grace, you hear a voice of doubt:

“Am I letting myself off the hook here?”

In this week’s episode of the podcast, I sit down with midlife health coach Elizabeth Sherman to talk about this exact dilemma: how high-achieving women judge themselves when real life gets in the way of their goals.

We get into the cultural conditioning that rewards a “no excuses” mindset—and how that plays out when you’re just trying to get through the week without collapsing by Thursday night.

We unpack why it’s so hard to discern when you're giving yourself a pass...and when you actually need to pause.

If you’ve ever struggled to tell the difference between reasons and excuses, this is one you’ll want to hear.

What You'll Learn:

• A smarter way to think about “no excuses” culture—and how it may be hurting your energy and your goals

• A practical lens to tell the difference between a reason and an excuse (no shame, just clarity)

• What resistance can teach you when your motivation dips

• How to set high standards without running yourself into the ground

This one is honest, compassionate, and a little bit of a reframe.

For more information, visit The Mental Offload.