AUGGIE SERIES: Rewriting the Parenting Playbook: Honoring Moms, Empowering Families

For generations, mothers have been asked to carry an outsized share of the unpaid, invisible, and logistical labor that keeps families functioning. From caregiving and mental load to emotional labor and school forms, modern motherhood has been shaped by systems that quietly assume women will fill the gaps — at home, at work, and in society.   But the cultural narrative is shifting — and parents, companies, and communities are rewriting the playbook in real time.   Join us for Rewriting the Parenting Playbook: Honoring Moms, Empowering Families, a conversation about how caregiving expectations are changing, why the old model was never sustainable, and what it looks like to build family systems that honor ambition, equity, and shared responsibility.   Our panel brings together leaders advancing this movement from three distinct but interconnected angles — childcare access, domestic labor equity, and narrative change.   We’ll explore: ✨ Why the traditional parenting model was built around assumptions that no longer match modern family life ✨ How childcare, workplace flexibility, and economic policy shape family decisions ✨ The Fair Play framework and how it changes division of labor at home ✨ The emotional and identity realities of mothers as both caregivers and earners ✨ How storytelling and representation accelerate cultural change ✨ What support actually empowers families — and what remains missing Meet the Panelists: Joan Nguyen, Co-Founder & CEO, Bumo Eve Rodsky, Founder, Fair Play Policy Institute & Author of Fair Play Kanika Chadda Gupta, Journalist & Host, Total Mom Sense Whether you’re a parent, partner, policymaker, or simply someone invested in healthier family systems, this event will offer both clarity and momentum — and remind us that none of this change is happening by accident. WHAT IS AUGGIE? The most trusted community for parents to find the answers. Inside the app, parents get stage-specific guidance, expert content, on-demand events, and a supportive network that reduces the mental load of figuring everything out alone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

She built a community of over a million moms by telling the truth—but this conversation goes even deeper. Libby Ward joins me to unpack the realities no one prepares you for: mom rage, postpartum depression, burnout, and how childhood trauma quietly shapes the way we parent. We talk about what it actually means to break generational cycles, why so many mothers feel overwhelmed and triggered, and how healing yourself might be the most important thing you do for your kids. If you’ve ever felt like you’re failing as a mom… you’re not alone—and this episode will show you why. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it look like to live your dream and then have your world shattered? TODAY Show co-host Sheinelle Jones knew since fifth grade that she was made for morning television. She manifested it, worked for it, and built a life of beauty alongside her Northwestern sweetheart Uche. Then came the nightmare no vision board could prepare her for. In this deeply personal Mom Sense conversation, Sheinelle opens up about growing up surrounded by her mother's affirmations, falling in love on a college campus, raising boy-girl twins while anchoring national television, and walking through the unimaginable loss of her husband to glioblastoma. She talks about her debut book Through Mom's Eyes, the friends who put her back together, and the mantra she holds every single day: I am fighting for my joy. Bring tissues — and leave inspired. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of That’s Total Mom Sense, host Kanika Chadda Gupta sits down with nationally recognized clinical psychologist Rachel L. Goldman to talk about something so many parents silently struggle with: burnout, stress, and the pressure to do it all. Dr. Rachel, a cognitive behavioral therapy expert and author of When Life Happens, shares practical tools for navigating emotional overwhelm, breaking patterns of overachieving, and building healthier coping strategies for everyday stress. Together, they discuss why high-performing parents are especially vulnerable to burnout, how emotional eating and chronic stress are often signals from the body, and what it actually looks like to process trauma while raising children. In this conversation, you’ll learn: • How to recognize the early signs of parental burnout• Why overachievers struggle to slow down—and how to reset• CBT tools to manage stress in real time• Healthy ways to respond to emotional eating triggers• Simple daily practices that help regulate the nervous system If you’ve ever felt like you’re constantly running but still falling behind, this episode will help you pause, reset, and move forward with more compassion for yourself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kanika opens this episode by sharing her personal story living in the “sandwich generation” as a mom of three (including twins) and caregiving for her mother who has dementia. She is later joined by ⁠Danielle Cabral⁠, star of Real Housewives of New Jersey, for an on stage keynote interview to talk about motherhood, fame, and the challenges of being on reality TV. They discuss the importance of support from their tribe and dealing with criticism from fans on social media. Their conversation is real, poignant, funny and heartwarming. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After kids, many parents notice that their bodies don’t respond the way they used to. Weight loss feels harder. Energy fluctuates differently. Hormones, sleep disruption, stress, and the mental load of caregiving all intersect — and the growing conversation around GLP-1 medications has added a new layer of curiosity, confusion, and questions. Join us for GLP-1s & the Post-Kids Body: What’s Different, What’s Working & What’s Next, a nuanced and evidence-informed conversation exploring how bodies change after pregnancy and caregiving — and where GLP-1s fit (and don’t fit) into the bigger picture of health, metabolism, and sustainability. Moderated by journalist and host Kanika Chadda-Gupta, this discussion brings together clinical expertise and structured behavior-change insight to ground the conversation beyond headlines and hot takes. We’ll explore: ✨ Why the post-kids body responds differently than before ✨ The role of hormones, stress, sleep, and mental load in metabolic health ✨ What GLP-1s do, what they don’t, and who they may be appropriate for ✨ How behavior change, nutrition, and support intersect with medication ✨ Common misconceptions and safety considerations parents should understand ✨ What long-term, sustainable health looks like beyond a single intervention Moderator: Kanika Chadda-Gupta, That’s Total Mom Sense Panelists: Dr. Alexandra Sowa (SoWell) + Olivia Ward (Weight Watchers) Whether you’re curious about GLP-1s, navigating postpartum or post-kids body changes, or simply trying to understand why your body feels different now, this conversation will offer clarity, context, and grounded insight — without judgment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hi everyone. I’m Kanika Chadda Gupta. I’m a television journalist, podcast host of “That’s Total Mom Sense,” wife and mom of three. I am having a fangirl moment right now because I am with the beautiful, talented singer, songwriter, actress, and author who has grown up alongside us. She’s been singing her whole life and began her musical career as a founding member of Destiny’s Child and here we are with children of our own. I’m about to “say her name, say her name.” Kelly Rowland is an American singer, performer, songwriter, actress, and television personality. She rose to fame in the late 1990s as a member of Destiny's Child, one of the world's best-selling girl groups of all time. She soon released her debut solo studio album, Simply Deep in 2002, debuting at #1 on the UK Albums Chart and sold over 3 million copies worldwide. Rowland eventually became a judge on the eighth season of The X Factor (UK version), as well as the 3rd season of The X Factor (USA) in 2013. She has continued her television career by hosting Chasing Destiny, and starred as a coach on The Voice (Australia).  Throughout her career, Rowland has sold 40M+ records as a solo artist, and an additional 60M+ records with Destiny's Child. She's won 4 Grammy Awards, 1 Billboard Music Award, and 2 Soul Train Music Awards — she's also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as part of Destiny's Child, and as a solo artist, she has been honored by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers and Essence for her contributions to music. In 2014, Fuse ranked Rowland in their "100 Most Award-Winning Artists" list. Kelly and her husband Tim Weatherspoon have two sons, Titan and Noah. In 2022, she released her children’s book, Always with You, Always with Me. Meet My Guest: INSTAGRAM: ⁠@kellyrowland⁠ TWITTER: ⁠@kellyrowland⁠ FACEBOOK: ⁠/kylierowland529⁠ YOUTUBE: ⁠/kellyrowland⁠ Press MARCH OF DIMES: ⁠March of Dimes Raises $1.4M at 6th Annual Celebration of Babies®: A Hollywood Luncheon⁠ 21NINETY: ⁠Exclusive: Kelly Rowland on Marriage, Money Moves And Advice For New Moms: 'Be Patient With Yourself'⁠ Mom Haul AMAZON: ⁠Always with You, Always with Me Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if regret isn’t something to avoid, but a compass to guide your biggest decisions? In this episode, I sit down with Parul Somani,  business strategist, MIT and Harvard Business School graduate, former Bain & Company leader, cancer survivor, and author of The Path of Least Regret. After being diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer at 31, shortly after the birth of her second child, Parul transformed her personal and professional journey into a powerful framework for resilient decision-making. We explore how to lead through uncertainty, make values-aligned choices, and redefine success beyond conventional achievement. This conversation is about courage, clarity, and choosing intentionally, even when the stakes feel impossibly high. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special episode called Ma Ki Rasoi (from his Mother's Kitchen) to Michelin Star, Kanika sits down with Chef Vikas Khanna at his NY restaurant, Bungalow. The common thread is the letter "M" as they open by admiring a floral mandala and he shares poignant stories about his motherland, mother, Masterchef India, Michelin Star, and manifestation. Meet My Guest: WEBSITE: ⁠www.bungalowny.com⁠ INSTAGRAM: ⁠@vikaskhannagroup⁠ X: ⁠@TheVikasKhanna⁠ Press: ⁠Forbes⁠ ⁠Vogue India⁠ ⁠Gotham Magazine⁠ ⁠MSN⁠ ⁠Eater NY⁠ ⁠The Juggernaut Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The term “mental load” gets thrown around a lot — but what does it actually mean, and why does it so often fall on moms and primary caregivers? Join us for The Invisible Workload: Why 75% of the Mental Load Lands on Primary Caregivers, a candid, expert-led conversation about the invisible labor that keeps families running — and the emotional, logistical, and identity toll it takes. We’re joined by three powerhouse women who are reshaping how we talk about care, support, identity, and the weight parents carry: 🧠 Neha Ruch — Bestselling Author and Founder of THE POWER PAUSE🤖 Sheila Lirio Marcelo — Co-Founder, CEO of Ohai.ai; and Founder of Care.com🎙 Kanika Chadda-Gupta — former CNN anchor and host of That’s Total Mom Sense, the hit parenting podcast loved by millions Together, we’ll explore: ✔️ What the mental load really is — and why it’s so hard to offload ✔️ Why it disproportionately impacts moms and default parents ✔️ How identity, ambition, and self-worth get tangled up in caregiving ✔️ The role of tech, AI, systems, partnership, and communication in rebalancing the load ✔️ How to start the hard conversations — with partners, with kids, and with yourself Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices