Roots & Realities: Stories of Motherhood & Marketing

Redefining Ambition: Leading, Parenting, and Letting Go

What happens to ambition when the old definition stops fitting? In this episode, Emma sits down with Lauren Winter, Head of Operations, Advertising at Vox Media, for the kind of conversation that doesn't require any explaining, the kind where two women who get it can finally say the quiet parts out loud. Lauren leads a large operations org, is raising three kids, and has lived through the version of working motherhood that never makes it onto LinkedIn. Together they get into the mental load women carry while still performing at the top of their game, what burnout has actually looked like up close, and the identity shifts nobody warns you about. Lauren opens up about how becoming a mom of three reshaped what ambition means to her, how her definition of success has changed, and the routines, boundaries, and hard letting-gos that are helping her thrive in this season, not the highlight-reel version, the real one. If you've ever held it all together on the outside while quietly wondering how much longer you can keep it up, this one's for you.

Behind the Brand: Emily Brown on Building Maren Made

Emily Brown started Maren Made at 16 during COVID, out of her basement closet, packing orders between classes. She grew it into a brand with over 20,000 customers and a flagship at Keystone Fashion Mall, all while finishing her degree at Purdue. In this episode, we get into the real story behind the brand: the unglamorous beginning, the marketing that actually worked, why community has been the real engine, and what it takes to build something while you're still figuring out who you are. We also talk about the decision to open a physical location, balancing Maren Made with school and her role at Profile, and the lessons she learned the hard way. Find Emily + Maren Made: www.marenmade.com [https://marenmade.com/] @marenmade [https://www.instagram.com/marenmade/]

Showing Up Online Without Burning Out

In this episode of Roots & Realities, Emma sits down with Leanne Miller to talk about what it really takes to show up online consistently without letting your business take over your life. Leanne shares her journey from photography and nonprofit media work to building a content strategy business that supports women-led brands in showing up with clarity and confidence. Together, they unpack the tension between storytelling and selling, the pressure founders feel to be everywhere at once, and how motherhood reshapes both ambition and success. This conversation is honest, practical, and deeply relatable for any woman building something meaningful while raising a family. In this episode, you’ll hear about: * How Leanne built content pillars that feel sustainable, not overwhelming * The most common mistake founders make with social media * Where to focus if you only have 30 minutes a week * Balancing entrepreneurship with motherhood in real life * Boundaries, burnout, and redefining success as your seasons change This episode is for the founder who wants growth that feels aligned, content that feels authentic, and a business that supports her life instead of consuming it. Connect with Leanne Website: www.leannemillermedia.com [http://www.leannemillermedia.com] Instagram: @leannemillermedia [https://www.instagram.com/leannemillermedia/#] If this episode resonated with you, share it with a fellow mom or business owner and leave a review to help more women find Roots & Realities. 💛

Author, Lauren Boss, Of All The Girls I Was Before

In this episode, I chat with Lauren Boss, author of All the Girls I Was Before, about identity, motherhood, and redefining success. We cover the versions of ourselves we grow through, the shifts that come with becoming a mom, and what it takes to claim success on your own terms. Lauren shares encouragement for women who feel stuck in a version of themselves that doesn’t fit anymore. 📖 Get your copy of All The Girls I Was Before [https://a.co/d/itd5QC6] 📲 Follow Lauren on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/all_the_girls_i_was_before/]

When Motherhood Is The Full-Time Job

In this episode of Roots & Realities, I sit down with one of my best friends, Miranda Lehmann, a stay-at-home mom of four boys, to talk honestly about what life at home really looks like. We dig into the decision to step away from teaching and step fully into motherhood, the wins that make it all worth it, and the challenges that don’t always get talked about out loud. From the daily chaos to the quiet moments of joy, Miranda shares the real of day-to-day mom life. We also explore the impact and strength of both stay-at-home moms and working moms, releasing expectations, facing down mom guilt, and the importance of finding your community. This is a heart-to-heart conversation about the hardest job in the world and the women who show up for it every single day.