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.  Together, Denise and Sara talk about:  Why saying no can feel so difficult   How to recognize when our yes is really a no   The difference between kindness and people pleasing   How people pleasing can lead to resentment   Why we can feel responsible for managing other people's emotions   How to recognize our patterns without shaming ourselves   What it looks like to begin making choices from a place of freedom instead of fear   Denise and Sara also talk about Rooted in Freedom, the book Sara wrote with her husband, Max, and how the work of understanding ourselves can help us make different choices.  At the heart of the conversation is a question worth asking: Is this something I truly want to do, or am I saying yes because I'm afraid of what might happen if I say no?  People pleasing doesn't change overnight. But noticing the pattern can be the beginning of something different. 

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:  Perimenopause and some of the changes women may experience as they enter this season  Why our bodies can sometimes begin to feel like the enemy  MCAS (Mast Cell Activation Syndrome) and the symptoms women may be trying to make sense of  How intimacy can change during this stage of life and the difference between intimacy, sex, and love making  “Raw beauty” versus “cultivated beauty” and how our relationship with beauty evolves as we age  Why strength matters as women get older  The surprising importance of grip strength when exercising  How we can begin working with our changing bodies rather than constantly fighting against them  This is a conversation about more than hormones. It's about what happens when the body you thought you understood starts changing — and how we respond to those changes with curiosity rather than criticism.  If you're entering your late 30s, 40s, or beyond and have found yourself wondering, Is this normal? Is this hormones? Is this perimenopause? Or what is happening to me? — this episode is for you. Your body may be changing. That doesn't mean it's failing you. Maybe it's time to start listening to it differently.  Connect with Dr. Kim  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yoonhangkim    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgiaintegrative    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yoonhangkimmd/    LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/yoon-hang-kim-md-mph-6308597/    Website: https://www.directintegrativecare.com/    Book: https://www.amazon.com/Tao-Healing-Georgia-Integrative-Medicine-ebook/dp/B00QFJSFJ8/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2C7EVI69LXMIJ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.qe2QC2rwDohgfjalDW-iGA.UbbWltbBTk5xd4dQ2Q8nbE5CKLjZjcY2_ugYudeZhbg&dib_tag=se&keywords=tao+of+healing+georgia+integrative+medicine&qid=1766488848&sprefix=tao+of+healing+georgia+integrative+medicin%2Caps%2C231&sr=8-1    Connect with Denise of Working Moms Redefined:    Catch full episodes and subscribe to The Working Moms Redefined Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WorkingMomsRedefined    Click here for the 9 Minutes a Day for a Lifetime of Connection Masterclass!     Listen to The Working Moms Redefined Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio and Amazon Music. New episodes drop every Thursday!    Follow Denise on Socials & visit the Working Moms Redefined website:    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/workingmomsredefined2025/    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/workingmomsredefineddenisetallcott    Website: https://www.workingmomsredefined.com    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/working-moms-redefined/posts/?feedView=all    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@denisetallcottleadership  

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 talk about:  How parents can recognize and nurture their child's unique gifts and interests  Why raising a fulfilled child may require a different approach than raising a “successful” one  The subtle ways we can accidentally connect our children's worth to their achievements  How to know when encouragement has crossed the line into pressure  Why it's so difficult, and so important, to let our kids struggle without immediately fixing things for them  What Margot learned from interviewing families who raised creative, resilient entrepreneurs  Simple ways to encourage creativity and independence at home  How to raise ambitious kids without making them feel like they constantly need to do more  Why giving our children permission to define success for themselves matters  What Margot learned from stepping back and trusting her own sons as they grew  For the mom who wants to give her kids every opportunity, this conversation offers an important question to consider: Are we creating the path we think our children should take, or are we giving them the confidence to discover their own? Our job isn't to determine exactly who our kids will become. It's to create an environment where they feel safe enough, supported enough, and confident enough to figure that out for themselves.  Join us!  Connect with Margot  Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/margotbisnow/  Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/raisinganentrepreneur1/?fref=ts  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margot-machol-bisnow-a29550b5/   Margot’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/Raising-Entrepreneur-Children-Achieve-Families/dp/1098377745/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1649777585&sr=8-5   Connect with Denise of Working Moms Redefined:    Catch full episodes and subscribe to The Working Moms Redefined Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WorkingMomsRedefined    Click here for the 9 Minutes a Day for a Lifetime of Connection Masterclass!     Listen to The Working Moms Redefined Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio and Amazon Music. New episodes drop every Thursday!    Follow Denise on Socials & visit the Working Moms Redefined website:    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/workingmomsredefined2025/    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/workingmomsredefineddenisetallcott    Website: https://www.workingmomsredefined.com    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/working-moms-redefined/posts/?feedView=all    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@denisetallcottleadership  

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 the world around them.  At the center of this conversation is one powerful reminder: How we view things is how we do things.  Denise explores:  Why some children face challenges that others may never fully understand  The importance of teaching gratitude, respect, and accountability without losing compassion  How our own attitudes and reactions shape the way our children see the world  The difference between understanding someone's difficult circumstances and excusing hurtful behavior  Why allowing our kids to experience disappointment can help build resilience  The emotional weight of watching people struggle when we can't fix their circumstances  What we can control, what we can influence, and how we can make a difference without carrying everything ourselves  This isn't an episode with all the answers. It's an honest reflection on parenting, perspective, and the kind of people we're raising, while also recognizing the kind of people we're becoming.  Because we can't promise our children an easy life. We can't protect them from every disappointment. And we certainly can't fix every hard thing happening in the world.  But we can teach them how to respond.  And maybe one of the most important parenting questions we can ask ourselves isn't what we're telling our kids about life.  It's what are we showing them?    Connect with Denise of Working Moms Redefined:    Catch full episodes and subscribe to The Working Moms Redefined Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WorkingMomsRedefined    Click here for the 9 Minutes a Day for a Lifetime of Connection Masterclass!     Listen to The Working Moms Redefined Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio and Amazon Music. New episodes drop every Thursday!    Follow Denise on Socials & visit the Working Moms Redefined website:    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/workingmomsredefined2025/    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/workingmomsredefineddenisetallcott    Website: https://www.workingmomsredefined.com    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/working-moms-redefined/posts/?feedView=all    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@denisetallcottleadership  

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:  How to recognize the difference between being busy and living in burnout  What your nervous system has to do with the way you respond to everyday stress  Why some high performers thrive while others eventually run themselves into the ground  How to let go of perfectionism without lowering your standards  What to do when fear and self-doubt start making decisions for you  Health and fitness after 40 and the myths women need to stop believing  Small habits that can create a major ripple effect in how you feel  How to reconnect with yourself when you've gotten lost somewhere between work, marriage, motherhood, and everything else  And we get into the heart of Daffney's message: don't shrink. Don't make yourself smaller to make everyone else comfortable. Don't assume being strong means pushing harder. And don't let the many roles you play become the reason you lose sight of the woman underneath all of them.  This conversation is for the woman who knows she's capable of a lot, but is beginning to ask a better question: How do I build a life where I don't have to run myself into the ground to feel successful?   Connect with Daffney  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daffney-allwein-a5a516214/  Daffney’s Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/30vCPVIj8DeeIG804DOl6n  Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dontfknshrinkpodcast/     Connect with Denise of Working Moms Redefined:    Catch full episodes and subscribe to The Working Moms Redefined Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WorkingMomsRedefined    Click here for the 9 Minutes a Day for a Lifetime of Connection Masterclass!     Listen to The Working Moms Redefined Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio and Amazon Music. New episodes drop every Thursday!    Follow Denise on Socials & visit the Working Moms Redefined website:    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/workingmomsredefined2025/    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/workingmomsredefineddenisetallcott    Website: https://www.workingmomsredefined.com    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/working-moms-redefined/posts/?feedView=all    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@denisetallcottleadership  

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 Crashing the Political Party, for a conversation about parenting in a politically divided world.  And this isn't a conversation about telling you what to believe politically. It's about how we raise kids who are curious, thoughtful, informed, and capable of forming their own opinions.  Together, Denise and AJ talk about:  Age-appropriate ways to explain elections, government, and politics to kids  The danger of teaching children to view politics through a simple “good people versus bad people” lens  Why relationships with people who think differently can be valuable for kids  What to do when political conversations with family or friends get heated  How to raise curious kids when the world around them can feel incredibly divided  AJ also brings the perspective of a dad raising four curious kids of his own, which makes this conversation about much more than political science. It's about what happens when politics enters our homes, our relationships, and the questions our kids are asking. We don't have to give our children every answer. Maybe one of the most important things we can give them is the ability to ask good questions, listen to people they disagree with, think critically, and eventually decide what they believe for themselves.  Link to Election Cake Recipe: https://hylandhouse.org/at-home-activities/bake-a-historical-election-cake/ Connect with AJ  Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/ajsimmons1987/  Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ajsimmons1987    Crashing the Political Party: Crashing The Political Party | Podcast on Spotify  Book: https://www.amazon.com/Space-Time-J-Simmons-ebook/dp/B0FW3YQB6Y/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=MJBP32V8JVYD&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.PKgTta0gipcKel6zyyHq3Q.8VrpQnNPa-zaYYrO6PAB61QzY61xBLQEZn1DAgI2UxM&dib_tag=se&keywords=aj+simmons+space+and+time&qid=1760663758&sprefix=aj+simmons+space+and+time%2Caps%2C92&sr=8-1&dplnkId=4ad5a480-8c54-40e6-9e6a-e2cd3f5e862e&nodl=1   Connect with Denise of Working Moms Redefined:    Catch full episodes and subscribe to The Working Moms Redefined Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WorkingMomsRedefined    Click here for the 9 Minutes a Day for a Lifetime of Connection Masterclass!     Listen to The Working Moms Redefined Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio and Amazon Music. New episodes drop every Thursday!    Follow Denise on Socials & visit the Working Moms Redefined website:    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/workingmomsredefined2025/    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/workingmomsredefineddenisetallcott    Website: https://www.workingmomsredefined.com    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/working-moms-redefined/posts/?feedView=all    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@denisetallcottleadership  

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:  What Amy is seeing kids and families need most right now  Why play is doing far more developmental work than parents may realize  How play builds confidence, communication, problem-solving, and emotional resilience  What healthy socialization actually looks like and why it won't look the same for every child  How to support quieter kids or children who have a harder time socially  Why unstructured play still matters alongside sports, activities, and busy family schedules  How to navigate screens while still making room for real-world interaction  Why the early years of brain development matter without turning that knowledge into more pressure for parents  How simple things like talking, reading, playing, and doing life together support our kids in meaningful ways  This conversation is a reminder for working moms that helping our kids thrive doesn't have to mean adding more to the calendar or creating Pinterest-worthy childhoods. Sometimes what they need most is room to play, opportunities to figure things out, people who engage with them, and parents who are present for the ordinary moments. Because play isn't “just play.” Our kids are learning how to navigate the world through it. Connect with Amy  Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/imamypeters/  Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/amy.peters.965928   LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/amypetersquincy/   Follow the Quincy Children’s Museum  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/quincychildrensmuseum   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quincychildrensmuseum/   Website: https://www.quincychildrensmuseum.org/   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/quincychildrensmuseum/posts/   Connect with Denise of Working Moms Redefined:    Catch full episodes and subscribe to The Working Moms Redefined Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WorkingMomsRedefined    Click here for the 9 Minutes a Day for a Lifetime of Connection Masterclass!     Listen to The Working Moms Redefined Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio and Amazon Music. New episodes drop every Thursday!    Follow Denise on Socials & visit the Working Moms Redefined website:    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/workingmomsredefined2025/    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/workingmomsredefineddenisetallcott    Website: https://www.workingmomsredefined.com    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/working-moms-redefined/posts/?feedView=all    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@denisetallcottleadership  

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 style in a traditionally male-dominated industry.  Together, they discuss:  Why motherhood can make you a stronger leader—not despite being a mom, but because of it  How to manage the invisible mental load at work and home  The leadership value of emotional labor and emotional intelligence  Building confidence without feeling like you have to lead like everyone else  Mentoring the next generation of female leaders  How Beth's definition of success has evolved throughout her career  The perspective shift that came with turning 50  Encouragement for working moms who constantly feel pulled between their careers and their families  Whether you're leading a company, a classroom, a team, or your family, this episode is a reminder that leadership isn't about having all the answers—it's about showing up with courage, authenticity, and a willingness to keep growing.  Because some of the most valuable leadership lessons aren't learned in the boardroom... they're learned around the dinner table.  Connect with Beth Goff-McMillan  Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/bethgoffmcmillan/   Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/bethagoff   LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-goff-mcmillan/    Website: https://skgtexas.com/about/team-bio-beth-goff-mcmillan/   Connect with Denise of Working Moms Redefined:    Catch full episodes and subscribe to The Working Moms Redefined Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WorkingMomsRedefined    Click here for the 9 Minutes a Day for a Lifetime of Connection Masterclass!     Listen to The Working Moms Redefined Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio and Amazon Music. New episodes drop every Thursday!    Follow Denise on Socials & visit the Working Moms Redefined website:    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/workingmomsredefined2025/    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/workingmomsredefineddenisetallcott    Website: https://www.workingmomsredefined.com    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/working-moms-redefined/posts/?feedView=all    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@denisetallcottleadership  

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. Together, we unpack what she calls the “Motherhood Matrix”, and why so many women don’t even realize they’re trapped in it.  In this conversation, we explore:  The hidden beliefs and expectations keeping women stuck in overwhelm  Why pushing harder stops working long-term  Signs a woman has lost connection with herself beyond motherhood and achievement  The difference between leading from obligation versus alignment  How redefining success can create more freedom, energy, and peace  Practical ways women can begin reconnecting with themselves again  This episode is for the mom who feels like she’s constantly giving, constantly doing, and still wondering why she feels so far from herself. Because maybe the answer isn’t becoming more. Maybe it’s finally allowing yourself to come back to who you already are.   **MAKE SURE TO USE HER BJOYED.COACHING Instagram handle and not her podcast account. Thanks!   Connect with Amber  Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/bjoyed.coaching?igsh=MWI1ajk0MGZ5OWRkcg%3D%3D Direct Message Amber on Instagram @bjoyed.coaching and she will send you two free resources: 1. Quiz: Are you stuck in the Motherhood Matrix?  2. Overstimulated Mom Reset to integrate the 4 P's framework (without adding more to your to-do list)  Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/amber.pecoraro.3   LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/amber-pecoraro-bjoyed/   Website: https://www.bjoyed.com/  Purchase Escape the Motherhood Matrix:  United States: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GXLF7ZL6     Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0GXLF7ZL6    Connect with Denise of Working Moms Redefined:    Catch full episodes and subscribe to The Working Moms Redefined Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WorkingMomsRedefined    Click here for the 9 Minutes a Day for a Lifetime of Connection Masterclass!     Listen to The Working Moms Redefined Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio and Amazon Music. New episodes drop every Thursday!    Follow Denise on Socials & visit the Working Moms Redefined website:    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/workingmomsredefined2025/    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/workingmomsredefineddenisetallcott    Website: https://www.workingmomsredefined.com    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/working-moms-redefined/posts/?feedView=all    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@denisetallcottleadership  

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, the moments she wants to remember, and the things she wants to do differently moving forward.  She talks about:  What happened when the family loosened some of its normal routines  Letting the kids have iPad time without turning it into a motherhood guilt spiral  Teaching kids that they don't need to constantly ask for the next thing  The trips, sports, ordinary days, and unexpected highlights that made up their summer  Why slowing down became one of the most important parts of the season  Looking honestly at both the really good moments and the hard ones  Why reflection matters before we immediately move on to the next season  And Denise has a challenge for you: pull out your calendar and actually look back. Look at where you went. What you did. What made you laugh. What exhausted you. What worked for your family. What didn't. What you survived. What you loved. And maybe even what you want to leave behind.  As working moms, we're really good at looking ahead to the next practice, meeting, school event, deadline, or season. But sometimes we need to stop long enough to recognize the life we've already been living. Season 2.5 starts there: not with doing more, but with noticing more.    Connect with Denise of Working Moms Redefined:    Catch full episodes and subscribe to The Working Moms Redefined Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WorkingMomsRedefined    Click here for the 9 Minutes a Day for a Lifetime of Connection Masterclass!     Listen to The Working Moms Redefined Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio and Amazon Music. New episodes drop every Thursday!    Follow Denise on Socials & visit the Working Moms Redefined website:    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/workingmomsredefined2025/    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/workingmomsredefineddenisetallcott    Website: https://www.workingmomsredefined.com    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/working-moms-redefined/posts/?feedView=all    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@denisetallcottleadership