The Sustainable Mom: The Podcast about Career, Ambition, & Motherhood

15. Honoring Winter's Pace: Offloading, Resting, Recalibrating

In this episode, Jen shares about stepping into the natural quiet of winter and into a season asking us to slow down, which is in direct contrast to the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. She shares tips to help you honor your body's & the season's natural rhythm by offloading the non-essentials so we can pause, rest, and recalibrate. Consider this episode your invitation to rest without guilt and to honor your own internal knowing of what you need. ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ You don’t have to choose between ambition and motherhood. Jen helps women navigate career transitions after motherhood: whether you’re ready to advance without burning out, explore entrepreneurship, or find clarity when you know your current role isn’t it. 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. Book your private consultation [https://app.paperbell.com/checkout/packages/117113] Not quite ready for coaching? Start with The Working Mom Reset [https://subscribepage.io/reset]—a 7-day email experience to help you recover from overwhelm & 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 [https://www.instagram.com/leadwithjen/] → @thesustainablemompodcast [https://www.instagram.com/thesustainablemompodcast/] Threads → @leadwithjen [https://www.threads.com/@leadwithjen] Substack → The Sustainable Mom [https://thesustainablemom.substack.com/]

14. Small Habits, Big Shifts: Finding Light in Motherhood with Morgan Jackson

In this episode, Jen is joined by Morgan Jackson, founder of Light 56, a framework that helps women rediscover joy, lightness, and motivation through small, meaningful habits that actually stick. Morgan shares her journey from corporate life at Microsoft to becoming a mom and entrepreneur, and how her experiences inspired her to create Light 56. Together, Jen and Morgan explore what it really means to feel light in a season of life that can often feel anything but. They discuss how to start small when everything feels heavy, why “light” looks different in every season, and how to create habits that last without falling into the all-or-nothing trap. Morgan also shares simple, actionable ways to bring joy and calm back into your day without adding one more thing to your to-do list. Listen to learn: * Why we mistake productivity for progress and how you can break that cycle * What “light” really means and how to find it when life feels dark or heavy * How to build habits that last without the pressure of perfection * The power of noticing gratitude, joy, and kindness * Why it’s okay to be imperfect and why rest is part of progress Meet & Connect 🤝 Morgan’s passion is helping women find joy and light in life. With over a decade of experience in small businesses, nonprofits, and at Microsoft, she drew on her background - including being an athlete and parent - to create the Light 56 framework. This approach creates personalized habits that stick, unlocks motivation, and adds fun through unique challenges.  A top speaker at Microsoft Inspire, Morgan now shares her insights at events and on podcasts, covering topics like Redefining Success, Living Lightly, and Ditching Perfectionism. She also founded Light 56 Circle, a community for women who tackle hard things in a light and feminine way! You can find Morgan wakesurfing behind a boat, creating something with her son or in the mountains with her husband training for her next endurance hike. Links: Website: https://www.light56.com [https://www.light56.com/]  Social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightfiftysix [https://www.instagram.com/lightfiftysix?igsh=MW5oczJyem1kbmpjaA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr] ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ You don’t have to choose between ambition and motherhood. Jen helps women navigate career transitions after motherhood: whether you’re ready to advance without burning out, explore entrepreneurship, or find clarity when you know your current role isn’t it. 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. Book your private consultation [https://app.paperbell.com/checkout/packages/117113] Not quite ready for coaching? Start with The Working Mom Reset [https://subscribepage.io/reset]—a 7-day email experience to help you recover from overwhelm & 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 [https://www.instagram.com/leadwithjen/] → @thesustainablemompodcast [https://www.instagram.com/thesustainablemompodcast/] Threads → @leadwithjen [https://www.threads.com/@leadwithjen] Substack → The Sustainable Mom [https://thesustainablemom.substack.com/]

13. Golden Handcuffs: When Success Starts to Feel Like a Trap

You know that feeling when everyone thinks you’ve “made it” but you not only feel like you didn't make it, in fact, you feel trapped at your job. In this episode Jen is naming one of the most common things keeping moms trapped in their jobs: golden handcuffs. The big salary, the benefits, the flexibility… all the reasons you should love your job except you don’t. In this episode, Jen shares why so many working moms feel trapped in roles that no longer fit after motherhood, and she provides practical ways to loosen the golden handcuffs (even if you never quit) and start moving toward work that actually fits your life. You’re allowed to want more than a paycheck and you’re allowed to redefine success on your terms, without the handcuffs or feeling trapped! ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ You don’t have to choose between ambition and motherhood. Jen helps women navigate career transitions after motherhood: whether you’re ready to advance without burning out, explore entrepreneurship, or find clarity when you know your current role isn’t it. 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. Book your private consultation [https://app.paperbell.com/checkout/packages/117113] Not quite ready for coaching? Start with The Working Mom Reset [https://subscribepage.io/reset]—a 7-day email experience to help you recover from overwhelm & 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 [https://www.instagram.com/leadwithjen/] → @thesustainablemompodcast [https://www.instagram.com/thesustainablemompodcast/] Threads → @leadwithjen [https://www.threads.com/@leadwithjen] Substack → The Sustainable Mom [https://thesustainablemom.substack.com/]

12. Thinking About Quitting Your Job? Ask Yourself These 5 Questions First

If you’ve been repeatedly asking yourself how you'll keep showing up to a job where you feel stuck, and the voice inside tells you the only option is to quit, then this episode is for you. Deciding whether to leave your job as a mom isn’t just a “career decision.” It’s emotional, practical, and deeply personal. Maybe you’re burned out, maybe you’re just done, or maybe you can’t tell the difference anymore. In this episode, Jen shares five powerful questions every working mom should ask before making a big career move. These questions will help you get clear on what’s really going on and whether you’re ready for a change, or simply in need of recovery. You’ll learn: * The difference between burnout and being truly done * How to separate fear from intuition when making a big decision * The hidden stories many moms believe about “quitting” * Why clarity comes from better questions, not overthinking * A simple reframe to see your current season with more compassion Whether you’re fantasizing about putting in your notice, or just craving a life that actually feels good again, this episode will help you take your next step without fear or second guessing yourself. Free Break Free from Burnout Guide: https://theleap.co/creator/Jennifer_Gagnon/digital_download/break-free-from-burnout-free-guide ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ You don’t have to choose between ambition and motherhood. Jen helps women navigate career transitions after motherhood: whether you’re ready to advance without burning out, explore entrepreneurship, or find clarity when you know your current role isn’t it. 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. Book your private consultation [https://app.paperbell.com/checkout/packages/117113] Not quite ready for coaching? Start with The Working Mom Reset [https://subscribepage.io/reset]—a 7-day email experience to help you recover from overwhelm & 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 [https://www.instagram.com/leadwithjen/] → @thesustainablemompodcast [https://www.instagram.com/thesustainablemompodcast/] Threads → @leadwithjen [https://www.threads.com/@leadwithjen] Substack → The Sustainable Mom [https://thesustainablemom.substack.com/]

11. It Shouldn't Be This Hard: The Motherhood Standards That Are Setting Us Up to Fail

Working motherhood feels harder than it should and it's not because of your lack of organization or discipline. It’s the cultural script of intensive mothering. This model expects moms to give 100% at home while we’re also expected to give 100% at work, creating guilt, exhaustion, and the constant sense you’re falling short. In this episode of The Sustainable Mom, Jen unpacks where intensive mothering came from, why it makes working motherhood feel impossible, and how you can start stepping out of its impossible standards. You’ll walk away with a framework for noticing the script, redefining what actually matters to you, and writing a new version of motherhood that’s sustainable—without the guilt. Because the truth is: your kids don’t need perfect. They need you. Let this episode be your permission slip to drop the pursuit of perfection and recognize you're already doing enough! ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ You don’t have to choose between ambition and motherhood. Jen helps women navigate career transitions after motherhood: whether you’re ready to advance without burning out, explore entrepreneurship, or find clarity when you know your current role isn’t it. 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. Book your private consultation [https://app.paperbell.com/checkout/packages/117113] Not quite ready for coaching? Start with The Working Mom Reset [https://subscribepage.io/reset]—a 7-day email experience to help you recover from overwhelm & 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 [https://www.instagram.com/leadwithjen/] → @thesustainablemompodcast [https://www.instagram.com/thesustainablemompodcast/] Threads → @leadwithjen [https://www.threads.com/@leadwithjen] Substack → The Sustainable Mom [https://thesustainablemom.substack.com/]