The PhD Mommy's Journey

How to Stop Being a Know-It-All

Welcome to The PhD Mommy's Journey, hosted by U.S. Navy Sailor, PhD Candidate, educator, and founder Bridgette Ojo. On this podcast, you'll hear how to build discipline, confidence, and consistency while balancing ambition, faith, motherhood, and real responsibility. Each episode breaks down the frameworks, mindset shifts, and hard lessons required to create long-term growth without lowering your standards. Interested in partnering or sponsoring an episode? Click here [https://forms.gle/LzE3C2MRQFjD9ZRx6]. Follow Bridgette Ojo's Socials: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thephdmommylife/] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@Thephdmommy/podcasts] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bridgetteojo/] | The PhD Mommy [https://thephdmommy.com/] Resources mentioned in this episode: * 12 Rules for Life — Jordan Peterson [https://www.amazon.com/12-Rules-Life-Antidote-Chaos/dp/0345816021]

Mindset: The Bold Truth Will Set You Free

Introducing The PhD Mommy's Journey Podcast: The Bold Truth Will Set You Free In Episode 22 of The PhD Mommy's Journey, Bridgette cracks open the raw, unfiltered truth behind Rule 8 from Jordan Peterson's 12 Rules for Life: "Tell the truth – or, at least, don't lie." This episode isn't about surface-level affirmations—it's about radical self-honesty. It's about the lies we quietly tell ourselves just to survive… and how they silently rob us of the life we were born to lead. Bridgette unpacks the internal weight of pretending—how body dysmorphia, mom guilt, and fear of outshining others can keep us stuck, small, and silent. She shares what it looks like to finally stop shrinking, start owning your power, and be bold enough to tell the truth about who you are—even when that truth is messy. Expect hard truths, fierce compassion, and the mindset shifts that helped her go from lose over 140+ pounds, from self-doubt to self-command, and from hiding her light to leading boldly as a Navy Sailor, PhD candidate, and devoted mom. This episode is for the woman who's tired of faking it. Who's done downplaying her greatness. Who's ready to be real so she can be free. In this episode, you'll hear: 1. The Hidden Weight of Lying to Yourself Bridgette reveals how the lies we tell ourselves—about not being good enough, fit enough, worthy enough—pile up like emotional clutter. The truth? They're heavier than any burden the truth will ever bring. 2. How Not Telling the Truth Creates Mental + Physical Fatigue There's nothing more exhausting than living out of alignment. Bridgette shares how this shows up in burnout, bitterness, and self-betrayal—and how telling the truth restored her energy and clarity. 3. Boldness Isn't Arrogance. It's Alignment. She breaks down the difference between ego and embodiment—and why dimming your light to keep others comfortable is spiritual sabotage. It's time to stop apologizing for your greatness. 4. The Lies That Keep Us Small From body dysmorphia to mom guilt to imposter syndrome, Bridgette unpacks the inner stories that almost stole her identity—and how she rewrote the script by facing herself. 5. The Discipline of Truth in Daily Life She shares how journaling, her 30-item gratitude practice, and self-talk rituals help her stay honest—even on days where it's hard to see herself clearly through the fog of pressure. 6. Military Mom Guilt & Dual Realities Bridgette opens up about what it's like to serve her country while raising daughters from afar—and how she's learning that being an amazing mom doesn't mean being physically present 24/7. It means showing up with integrity, love, and purpose. 7. Body Dysmorphia After Weight Loss After losing over 140+ pounds, Bridgette still had to face the truth: her mind hadn't caught up with her transformation. She shares how affirming her new reality was a war she had to fight with truth, not just mirrors. 8. Why Telling the Truth Reclaims Your Power The truth activates alignment. Bridgette explains how living in truth rebuilds trust with yourself, your Creator, and your future. And how lying to yourself—even subtly—is spiritual warfare. 💡 Key Takeaways * Lying to yourself is the real weight—truth sets you free. * Boldness is holy. Stop dimming to make others comfortable. * Body dysmorphia is real, but truth heals perception. * Mom guilt doesn't make you more loving—alignment does. * Truth isn't always pretty, but it's always powerful. 🎁 Free Resource for Listeners: Download your 30-Day Gratitude & Goal-Setting Journal—the same tool Bridgette uses daily to stay grounded in every season of life. 📝 Click here to grab your free copy. [https://stan.store/phdmommy?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAads_kM5JDUMurthCqOZD1WeYuWEAeBcwd1f5c4YxEH1vKE53T8kmudlwWCKdw_aem_wCUGOS7KegVWtQkeQcrBxg] 🎧 Listen and Subscribe to The PhD Mommy's Journey Podcast on 🎧 Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-phd-mommys-journey-a-millennial-mommys/id1669078564] • Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0lpekz7BJRv9En5NDQZ955?si=1db80449449c4996&nd=1] • Google Podcasts [https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5saWJzeW4uY29tLzQ1ODM3Ni9yc3M] • YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@Thephdmommy/podcasts] 📬 Contact & Connect with Bridgette * 🌐 Website: https://thephdmommy.com/ [https://thephdmommy.com/] * 📸 Instagram @Thephdmommylife [https://www.instagram.com/thephdmommylife/] • https://www.instagram.com/thephdmommylife [https://www.instagram.com/thephdmommylife/] * 💌: thephdmommylife@gmail.com [thephdmommylife@gmail.com] | hi@thephdmommy.com [hi@thephdmommy.com] 🤝 Sponsorship & Collaborations: Want to sponsor an episode, send products, or collaborate with Bridgette? Please reach out to thephdmommylife@gmail.com with the subject line: Sponsorship Opportunity. 📣 Share Your Story: If you would like to be a guest and share your story on The PhD Mommy's Journey Podcast, please fill out this form [https://forms.gle/k3ovTf6fs9qTHCFY9]. 📚 Resource Mentioned: Link [https://www.amazon.com/12-Rules-Life-Antidote-Chaos/dp/0345816021] to Dr. Peterson's Book, 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos

Mindset: Discipline Over Drama — Choosing Meaning Over the Mess

Introducing The PhD Mommy's Journey Podcast: Discipline Over Drama — Choosing Meaning Over the Mess In Episode 21 of The PhD Mommy's Journey, Bridgette dives into the gritty, soul-defining truth of Rule 7 from Jordan Peterson's 12 Rules for Life: "Pursue what is meaningful, not what is expedient." This episode isn't about chasing comfort—it's about choosing legacy. It's about doing the hard, monotanous, inconvenient work… on purpose. Bridgette shares what it means to stay ready so you never have to get ready—especially as a Navy Sailor, PhD candidate, and mother of two. She unpacks how writing 30 things she's grateful for every single day for the past two years helped establis a foundation of resilience and helped her reclaim her mindset during those seasons of pressure, pain, and purpose. Through personal stories and fierce insight, Bridgette explains why it's worth it to suffer for something meaningful—and how she learned to stop outsourcing her power. Expect tough love, faith-fueled reflection, and a roadmap to becoming the most disciplined, aligned version of yourself. This episode is for the woman who's tired of circling the drain of quick fixes and is ready to walk boldly into the life she was born to build. In this episode, you'll hear: 1. Why You're Still Going to Suffer Either Way Bridgette breaks down the truth: both paths come with pain—so choose the pain that actually builds you. Because regret costs more than discipline ever will. 2. Chasing Meaning vs. Chasing Noise Jordan Peterson says it plainly: don't chase the expedient. Bridgette explains why being "busy" isn't the same as being "in purpose"—and how to tell the difference. 3. The Pain of Not Showing Up That moment when you know you were called to rise… and you didn't. That's the pain that lingers. Bridgette explains how she learned to show up—especially on the days she wanted to check out. 4. Daily Disciplines That Ground Her From waking up early to training like her life depends on it (because it does), Bridgette shares the routines that sharpen her spirit and anchor her mind—even in chaos. 5. Boss Babe Energy Meets Grit The divine feminine flow meets military-level focus. This is what it looks like to embody both softness and steel—and to live like your future is already watching. 6. Tools for Emotional Toughness and Fierce Focus Journaling, silence, gratitude lists, physical challenge, and spiritual devotion—this section is all about building your internal war chest so you stop quitting on yourself. 7. Redefining Identity Through Meaningful Sacrifice The version of you you're becoming? She requires sacrifice. Bridgette lays it out: you reclaim your identity by choosing structure over chaos—and meaning over the mess. 💡 Key Takeaways: * Suffer with purpose—you're going to feel pain either way, so make it count. * Discipline is devotion, not deprivation—it's how you prove you're committed to your calling. * Busy is noise. Purpose is clarity. Choose meaning over motion. * Gratitude and structure are your armor—they protect your mind, energy, and identity. * You don't need to feel ready—just stay ready. Show up anyway, especially when it's hard. 🎁 Free Resource for Listeners: Download your 30-Day Gratitude & Goal-Setting Journal—the same tool Bridgette uses daily to stay grounded in every season of life. 📝 Click here to grab your free copy. [https://stan.store/phdmommy?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAads_kM5JDUMurthCqOZD1WeYuWEAeBcwd1f5c4YxEH1vKE53T8kmudlwWCKdw_aem_wCUGOS7KegVWtQkeQcrBxg] 🎧 Listen and Subscribe to The PhD Mommy's Journey Podcast on 🎧 Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-phd-mommys-journey-a-millennial-mommys/id1669078564] • Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0lpekz7BJRv9En5NDQZ955?si=1db80449449c4996&nd=1] • Google Podcasts [https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5saWJzeW4uY29tLzQ1ODM3Ni9yc3M] • YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@Thephdmommy/podcasts] 📬 Contact & Connect with Bridgette * 🌐 Website: https://thephdmommy.com/ [https://thephdmommy.com/] * 📸 Instagram @Thephdmommylife [https://www.instagram.com/thephdmommylife/] • https://www.instagram.com/thephdmommylife [https://www.instagram.com/thephdmommylife/] * 💌: thephdmommylife@gmail.com [thephdmommylife@gmail.com] | hi@thephdmommy.com [hi@thephdmommy.com] 🤝 Sponsorship & Collaborations: Want to sponsor an episode, send products, or collaborate with Bridgette? Please reach out to thephdmommylife@gmail.com with the subject line: Sponsorship Opportunity. 📣 Share Your Story: If you would like to be a guest and share your story on The PhD Mommy's Journey Podcast, please fill out this form [https://forms.gle/k3ovTf6fs9qTHCFY9]. 📚 Resource Mentioned: Link [https://www.amazon.com/12-Rules-Life-Antidote-Chaos/dp/0345816021] to Dr. Peterson's Book, 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos

Mindset: Make Your Bed, Make Your Life

Introducing The PhD Mommy's Journey Podcast: Make Your Bed, Make Your Life (The Power of Small Wins) In Episode 20 of The PhD Mommy's Journey, Bridgette dives into the unfiltered, soul-shifting wisdom of Rule 6 from Jordan Peterson's 12 Rules for Life: "Set your house in perfect order before you criticize the world." This episode isn't about being perfect—it's about taking radical ownership of your life, starting with the small things that build trust with yourself: making your bed, taking your vitamins, brushing your teeth… even when no one's watching. Bridgette opens up about how writing 30 things she's grateful for every single day for the past two years transformed her mindset—and how keeping that commitment anchored her through Navy boot camp, mom guilt, and PhD pressures. She also draws lessons from Make Your Bed [https://www.amazon.com/Make-Your-Bed-William-H-McRaven-audiobook/dp/B06XKDM3QL/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9._vCSYQVWCYvnxEVBPNE1lcWTPpxwuyzU5K1QR5iyfRJScjE2XW545qo7CYiz-GKOVgZSbB97uc40XjLLI1hKe3nfzYj6ZCeMflyc2pdjWpgMhgjqZmQabBufRkXv8Ea12PDe2DGBcYpvp6D7GPCzMgOXx5aMdVCvifAaS-9GUqpTT06pDhKp0qpMBKB8EUOE7PptO6UsK4mwEtDdllNKOSSPCwcIo7ST5iZA5ZT4-W0.0XlmD6K8LM_5gvCrCO5ycpv86CaDqMaIGawPDLiaBEk&dib_tag=se&hvadid=695230587037&hvdev=c&hvexpln=67&hvlocphy=9021482&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=15945913935897051081--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=15945913935897051081&hvtargid=kwd-1391251766790&hydadcr=13073_13365439&keywords=make+your+bed+amazon&mcid=7947b769e50b30f88f1ba1eaf59feb55&qid=1757905818&sr=8-1] by Admiral William McRaven and Extreme Ownership [https://www.amazon.com/Extreme-Ownership-U-S-Navy-SEALs-ebook/dp/B0739PYQSS/ref=sr_1_1?crid=20FYG9OR2GYO0&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.KeVcyXIrY-gPOT6F_1CU6Cj1tDDuiEn68U0NI3opdXMi9nxylO5LsBZ89yFwiANSd9akbAbUmsRSjqcHHqO9YUl39nzfuNNob8F_mNDyx6ZEAV3V8969kC4_Is0ud_6-ho_9oDLq95oMWcS4JoWXJLvBiNO-zQQQ0i-XpBJ9U2p_-WLPDkJyHRM2GYLPKdJ6osmAWynOUbQKa6H1bkt2gftsyRgwWXw45c-2nNG0ab4.zLqVEf_0x1gPIcZsWTrSaJCdynpWpcaOK46tJ0nTyfo&dib_tag=se&keywords=extreme+ownership+book&qid=1757905858&s=audible&sprefix=extrem%2Caudible%2C115&sr=1-1-catcorr] by Jocko Willink to show how order, routine, and responsibility aren't just military principles—they're survival tools for every woman trying to rise. In this episode, you'll hear: 1. The Power of Small Wins How making your bed each morning isn't just symbolic—it's a statement. It tells your mind: "We're in control now." And how this one habit can reset your day, even if everything else goes off track. 2. Gratitude as a Discipline Bridgette explains the real reason she writes 30 things she's grateful for every day—and how that small act has kept her grounded through trauma, distance parenting, and self-doubt. 3. The Navy, Routine, and Mental Clarity What being a warfighter taught her about staying ready—and how that mindset helps her "keep her house in order" physically, mentally, and emotionally. 4. Extreme Ownership in Everyday Life Borrowing from Jocko Willink's approach, Bridgette shares why owning everything in your life (even what's not your fault) is the key to building self-respect and personal power. 5. Why Criticizing the World Without Cleaning Your Room Doesn't Work A bold message on accountability, emotional leadership, and the trap of blaming systems without building structure within yourself. 6. Order Before Ambition Why the next level of your life requires more structure, not just more vision—and how to clean up the mess inside before you try to change the world outside. 💡 Key Takeaways: * Making your bed = micro-habit, macro-shift. * Order creates safety. Structure creates sanity. * Daily gratitude isn't a vibe. It's a weapon. * You can't change the world if your mind, heart, and habits are in chaos. * Start where you are. Control what you can. Clean your space. Own your choices. 🎁 Free Resource for Listeners: Download your 30-Day Gratitude & Goal-Setting Journal—the same tool Bridgette uses daily to stay grounded in every season of life. 📝 Click here to grab your free copy. [https://stan.store/phdmommy?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAads_kM5JDUMurthCqOZD1WeYuWEAeBcwd1f5c4YxEH1vKE53T8kmudlwWCKdw_aem_wCUGOS7KegVWtQkeQcrBxg] 🎧 Listen and Subscribe to The PhD Mommy's Journey Podcast on 🎧 Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-phd-mommys-journey-a-millennial-mommys/id1669078564] • Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0lpekz7BJRv9En5NDQZ955?si=1db80449449c4996&nd=1] • Google Podcasts [https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5saWJzeW4uY29tLzQ1ODM3Ni9yc3M] • YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@Thephdmommy/podcasts] 📬 Contact & Connect with Bridgette * 🌐 Website: https://thephdmommy.com/ [https://thephdmommy.com/] * 📸 Instagram @Thephdmommylife [https://www.instagram.com/thephdmommylife/] • https://www.instagram.com/thephdmommylife [https://www.instagram.com/thephdmommylife/] * 💌: thephdmommylife@gmail.com [thephdmommylife@gmail.com] | hi@thephdmommy.com [hi@thephdmommy.com] 🤝 Sponsorship & Collaborations: Want to sponsor an episode, send products, or collaborate with Bridgette? Please reach out to thephdmommylife@gmail.com with the subject line: Sponsorship Opportunity. 📣 Share Your Story: If you would like to be a guest and share your story on The PhD Mommy's Journey Podcast, please fill out this form [https://forms.gle/k3ovTf6fs9qTHCFY9]. 📚 Resource Mentioned: Link [https://www.amazon.com/12-Rules-Life-Antidote-Chaos/dp/0345816021] to Dr. Peterson's Book, 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos

Mindset: Raise Children You Can Respect (And Who Can Respect You Back)

Introducing The PhD Mommy's Journey Podcast: Raise Children You Can Respect (And Who Can Respect You Back) In Episode 19 of The PhD Mommy's Journey, Bridgette dives into the fierce, honest, and heartfelt truth behind Rule 5 of Jordan Peterson's 12 Rules for Life: "Do not let your children do anything that makes you dislike them." This powerful conversation isn't just about parenting—it's about responsibility, emotional regulation, leadership, and legacy. As a service member and a mom, Bridgette shares what it looks like to raise daughters with love and structure—even when she's thousands of miles away chasing her goals in the Navy and finishing her PhD. She unpacks the weight of generational healing, the pull to overcompensate, and how self-respect and boundaries shape how we parent and who we become. Episode 19 challenges listeners to rethink what it means to raise children and raise themselves—with fierce love, intentional limits, and emotional maturity. You'll hear real talk on: 1. Parenting Without Apology Why loving your kids doesn't mean pleasing them—and how to break free from guilt-based parenting. 2. Emotional Discipline in Leadership and Motherhood The difference between reacting and responding—and how discipline, not domination, builds trust and growth. 3. Respect is a Two-Way Street How raising children you admire starts with becoming someone you admire—and why the example you set matters more than the rules you enforce. 4. Overcompensation as a Military Mom What it feels like to parent from a distance—and how Bridgette wrestles with (and redefines) what it means to be enough. 5. The Power of Support Systems From family to school systems—how the right village makes it possible to chase your purpose while your children thrive too. 6. Leadership at Home and in the World Parenting as a leadership model: cultivating self-respect, authority, and strength—both in your home and in your own life. Key Takeaways: * You're not failing if you're not always present—your presence is also in your purpose. * Parenting with structure and boundaries is a gift, not a punishment. * Emotional regulation is one of the greatest leadership tools you can model for your children. * Overcompensation isn't the answer—trust, discipline, and support are. * Respectful parenting starts with self-respect. 🎧 Listen and Subscribe to The PhD Mommy's Journey Podcast on 🎧 Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-phd-mommys-journey-a-millennial-mommys/id1669078564] • Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/0lpekz7BJRv9En5NDQZ955?si=1db80449449c4996&nd=1] • Google Podcasts [https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5saWJzeW4uY29tLzQ1ODM3Ni9yc3M] • YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@Thephdmommy/podcasts] To Contact Bridgette: Instagram @Thephdmommylife [https://www.instagram.com/thephdmommylife/] • https://www.instagram.com/thephdmommylife [https://www.instagram.com/thephdmommylife/] Email: thephdmommylife@gmail.com If you would like to be a guest and share your story on The PhD Mommy's Journey Podcast, please fill out this form [https://forms.gle/k3ovTf6fs9qTHCFY9]. Link [https://www.amazon.com/12-Rules-Life-Antidote-Chaos/dp/0345816021] to Dr. Peterson's Book, 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos