Is this clickbait… or the unfortunate truth?

In this episode, Jen digs into the research behind how different countries support (or fail) working mothers. Spoiler Alert: the U.S. comes in dead last.

Inspired by Making Motherhood Work by sociologist Caitlyn Collins, we’ll explore what 135 mothers across Sweden, Germany, Italy, and the United States revealed about the policies, workplace norms, and cultural expectations that shape their lives.

From Sweden’s generous paid leave and affordable childcare to America’s culture of overwork and zero federal leave, this conversation will make you question everything we’ve been told about “having it all.”

You’ll hear:

• How four wealthy democracies treat working moms
• Why the struggles you face as a U.S. mom aren’t personal failings, they’re political ones.
• The emotional and career toll of unrealistic cultural expectations.
• Why “just do more self-care” is not the answer and what actually is.
• How to release the guilt, stop blaming yourself, and opt out of impossible rules.

We’ll also talk about the role of anger, why it’s valid, and how it can fuel the fight for change instead of being silenced. If you’ve ever felt like you’re drowning in work, caregiving, and expectations, this episode is for you!

Resources & Mentions:

• Making Motherhood Work by Caitlyn Collins
• Dr. Sophie Brock's Fishbowl Model of Motherhood

Let’s Connect:
If this episode resonated with you, share your thoughts with me. Did it make you see your own experience differently? Did it spark a little righteous anger? I want to know.

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You weren’t meant to burn out trying to have it all.

Jen helps ambitious mothers in career transition redefine success, on their own terms. Through private, high-touch 1:1 coaching, you can build a career and life that feels as good as it looks, without the guilt, overwhelm, or constant second-guessing.

If you're ready to make a confident career move, set better boundaries, and finally feel in control of your time -- Book your private consultation

Not quite ready for coaching?
Start with The Working Mom Reset—a 7-day email experience to help you recover from burnout and finally feel like you again. Consider it your first step toward a life you enjoy instead of one you’re just getting through.

Stay connected for more honest, curated support:

Instagram → @leadwithjen
Threads → @leadwithjen
Substack → The Sustainable Mom

In this episode, Jen sits down with Melissa Schuetz, a former teacher who walked away from burnout and into a more sustainable life, to talk about what it really takes to reinvent yourself as a working mom.

Melissa opens up about the emotional toll of life in the classroom, the quiet unraveling that so many mothers feel but rarely name, and the courageous decision to pivot into a new career as a virtual assistant. Together, they explore what it means to release an old identity, ask for help without shame, and prioritize nervous system care as a non-negotiable foundation for lasting change.

If you've ever wondered how to honor your ambition without abandoning yourself, this episode is your permission slip.

Meet the Guest!

Melissa Schuetz is a virtual assistant, mom of five, and former teacher who helps small business owners stay organized and consistent by handling administrative tasks and scheduling social media content.

After experiencing burnout, postpartum depression, and the pressure of balancing teaching with motherhood, Melissa made the bold choice to leave the classroom and create a more sustainable life.

Now she supports other moms in finding freedom, peace, and purpose through flexible work and mental wellness.

Learn more here ⬇️

Instagram: @melissaschuetz_

Wellness Quiz: Take the quiz

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You weren’t meant to burn out trying to have it all.

Jen helps ambitious mothers in career transition redefine success, on their own terms. Through private, high-touch 1:1 coaching, you can build a career and life that feels as good as it looks, without the guilt, overwhelm, or constant second-guessing.

If you're ready to make a confident career move, set better boundaries, and finally feel in control of your time -- Book your private consultation

Not quite ready for coaching?
Start with The Working Mom Reset—a 7-day email experience to help you recover from burnout and finally feel like you again. Consider it your first step toward a life you enjoy instead of one you’re just getting through.

Stay connected for more honest, curated support:

Instagram → @leadwithjen
Threads → @leadwithjen
Substack → The Sustainable Mom

When you’re a high-achieving woman in corporate, a mom of three boys, and completely done with trying to keep up the polished act...

In this episode, Jen chats with Angelique, a sales leader and unapologetically imperfect mom, to talk about what corporate motherhood really looks like when you stop pretending. From juggling leadership goals to embracing the beautifully chaotic reality of raising kids. Angelique brings humor and honesty to the conversation around working motherhood.

Together they unpack:

• Why “good enough” isn’t settling—it’s liberating
• The "real" side of social media & how most of us aren't living perfectly curated lives
• Working from home with kids- is it possible?
• How ambition doesn't disappear after kids... it's just different
• What it means to “zoom out,” check in with yourself, and redefine what success looks like now

If you're a working mom wondering how the heck you're supposed to excel in your career & be the perfect mom, this conversation will remind you that perfection is out, and authenticity is in.

Meet Angelique

Angelique is a Northern Virginia mom of three boys (8, almost 6, and 3), a sales team leader, and the creator of Motherfussing on Instagram. Originally from Maine, she’s spent her entire career in advertising sales after landing her first DC job through her PSU alumni network in 2009.

A late-diagnosed ADHD adult, work-from-home parent, and sometimes business traveler, she’s on a mission to normalize the messy, unfiltered, and imperfect parts of corporate motherhood; sharing her real life to fill the gap she didn’t see in her own feed.

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You weren’t meant to burn out trying to have it all.

Jen helps ambitious mothers in career transition redefine success, on their own terms. Through private, high-touch 1:1 coaching, you can build a career and life that feels as good as it looks, without the guilt, overwhelm, or constant second-guessing.

If you're ready to make a confident career move, set better boundaries, and finally feel in control of your time -- Book your private consultation

Not quite ready for coaching?
Start with The Working Mom Reset—a 7-day email experience to help you recover from burnout and finally feel like you again. Consider it your first step toward a life you enjoy instead of one you’re just getting through.

Stay connected for more honest, curated support:

Instagram → @leadwithjen
Threads → @leadwithjen
Substack → The Sustainable Mom

If you’ve ever felt like the world is screaming at you to do more, be more, and wake up before your kids to finally “get it together”... this episode is your permission slip to ignore the screams.

In a culture obsessed with productivity, it’s no surprise that moms often feel like they’re falling short. And when the advice we hear boils down to “just get up earlier” or “organize better,” it can feel like we’re the problem—when really, the problem is the impossible expectations we’ve been handed.

In this episode, I’m sharing why I don’t coach moms to squeeze more into their day. I coach them to redefine success on their terms.

We’ll unpack:

• Why “just be more productive” is a lazy answer to a deeper issue
• The invisible expectations working moms are carrying
• What productivity even means when you're raising tiny humans
• How my coaching approach creates space for you to reconnect with your values, goals, and identity—outside of the roles you play

This episode invites you to stop chasing someone else’s version of “doing it all” and start creating a version of life that actually works for you.

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You weren’t meant to burn out trying to have it all.

Jen helps ambitious mothers in career transition redefine success, on their own terms. Through private, high-touch 1:1 coaching, you can build a career and life that feels as good as it looks, without the guilt, overwhelm, or constant second-guessing.

If you're ready to make a confident career move, set better boundaries, and finally feel in control of your time -- Book your private consultation

Not quite ready for coaching?
Start with The Working Mom Reset—a 7-day email experience to help you recover from burnout and finally feel like you again. Consider it your first step toward a life you enjoy instead of one you’re just getting through.

Stay connected for more honest, curated support:

Instagram → @leadwithjen
Threads → @leadwithjen
Substack → The Sustainable Mom

Welcome to The Sustainable Mom Podcast, hosted by Jennifer Gagnon, a certified Leadership Coach.

Join Jen as she explores how a woman's career may change after becomes a mother. We'll discuss the myths, the expectations, and the realities of what it means to be a modern mother in the workforce. Plus you'll hear guests share their experience with career, ambition, and motherhood.

Please join us!

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You weren’t meant to burn out trying to have it all.

Jen helps ambitious mothers in career transition redefine success, on their own terms. Through private, high-touch 1:1 coaching, you can build a career and life that feels as good as it looks, without the guilt, overwhelm, or constant second-guessing.

If you're ready to make a confident career move, set better boundaries, and finally feel in control of your time -- Book your private consultation

Not quite ready for coaching?
Start with The Working Mom Reset—a 7-day email experience to help you recover from burnout and finally feel like you again. Consider it your first step toward a life you enjoy instead of one you’re just getting through.

Stay connected for more honest, curated support:

Instagram → @leadwithjen
Threads → @leadwithjen
Substack → The Sustainable Mom