Motherhood & Ambition Or I'm Not Failing My Daughter

Motherhood & Ambition Or I'm Not Failing My Daughter

What happens when a woman who's built a career at the highest levels of venture capital becomes a mom? This week, we're joined by our friend Mary D'Onofrio—partner at Crosslink Capital, investor, author, and mom to a three-year-old daughter. Mary shares what motherhood taught her about ambition, asking for help, building systems that actually work, and why the goalposts seem to move every time you reach them. We talk about balancing big dreams with family life, supporting a partner through career changes, traveling with kids, writing a fantasy novel after bedtime, and the mindset shift that helped Mary let go of doing everything herself. Plus: a toddler escapes her crib, Mary reveals she peaked at age two, and we reflect on the friendships that carry us through every season of life. Because sometimes the women who seem to have it all together are still figuring it out, too. ✨

Our Backgrounds or We Have Wholesome Bullying!

Ever feel like you know us, but you're not totally sure who's who? Same. 😅 In this special episode, we're introducing ourselves properly—from Detroit roots and Christian school memories to career pivots, motherhood, marriage, and the winding paths that brought us here. Along the way, you'll hear about Rukiya's dream of being both a lawyer and a dentist, Rodneya's eighth-grade career crisis, Tiffany's journey from urban ecology to motherhood, and why our moms deserve a lot of credit for how this friendship started in the first place. Think of this as the origin story episode: who we are, where we came from, and how three girls from Detroit ended up creating Moms Who Pause. Plus: Princeton stories, Pizza Hut reading rewards, Christian school memories, public school pride, and a few questionable life choices that thankfully happened before social media. Thanks for pausing with us. 💜

Communal Spaces or How Do We Exist Together

we’re talking about the unspoken rules of communal parenting spaces: playgrounds, libraries, indoor play cafés, daycare drop-offs… and all the tiny social negotiations that come with them. How involved should parents be when kids aren’t sharing? When do you step in — and when do you let kids figure it out themselves? And why does navigating a library somehow feel like a full emotional workout? From playground politics to “chairgate” at the gym, we unpack the awkwardness, the anxiety, the growth, and the surprising life lessons hiding inside everyday parenting moments. This episode is about motherhood, yes — but also about community, boundaries, confidence, and learning how to exist together in shared spaces. And honestly? We’re all still figuring it out.

SAHM life or Do You Want to Be Friends?

Being a stay-at-home mom is beautiful, exhausting, isolating, healing, and deeply meaningful—all at once. This week, our cousin Tiara joins us to share the realities of motherhood at home: the invisible labor, the identity shifts, and the grace it takes to keep showing up. Sometimes the only plan is to “just keep swimming.” 💛

Grandmas Who Pause Or I was the Puppeteer

This one is special ❤️ In honor of Mother’s Day, we’re joined by the women who made us who we are—our moms. And let’s just say… they did not hold back. From childhood memories and parenting philosophies to sacrifices we didn’t fully understand until now, this conversation is a beautiful, honest look at motherhood across generations. We talk about what’s changed, what hasn’t, and what it really means to be a mom—then and now. There are laughs (of course), a little calling us out (also of course 😅), and so many moments that will make you pause and reflect on your own relationship with your mom… or your role as one. ✨ In this episode: – The sacrifices our moms made that we’re just now understanding – What motherhood looked like before “the village” was trendy – The differences between how they raised us vs. how we’re raising our kids – Why “motherhood never turns off” – And the full-circle moment of watching generations of friendship and family grow Whether you’re a mom, have a mom, miss your mom, or are becoming one—this episode is for you.