The Well Lived Podcast

The Working Mom Reality: More Than Just a Mom (Part 2)

In Part 1 of this two-part conversation on The Well Lived Podcast, Nicole sat down with Stafford House Studio’s operations manager Erica to explore the reality of working motherhood, building a business, and navigating career and family life as a modern working mom. In Part 2, we continue the conversation with co-founder Sydni, offering a different perspective on motherhood, identity, and what it truly means to balance ambition with family life. Sydni shares her personal story of adoption, her experience navigating medical emergencies during pregnancy, and how becoming a mother has reshaped her understanding of identity, resilience, and purpose. She also reflects on the emotional complexity of raising boys in today’s world, and what it means to guide them while continuing to evolve as a woman, entrepreneur, and working mother. This episode adds a deeper lens to the conversation around working moms, motherhood identity, and building a meaningful life while running a business in Toronto’s luxury interior design industry. In this episode we talk about: • Adoption and how it shapes identity and motherhood • Working mom life and balancing career and family • Pregnancy complications and navigating medical emergencies • Identity shifts in motherhood and redefining self beyond being a mom • Raising boys and parenting in today’s world • Emotional resilience and the unseen realities of motherhood • Ambition, entrepreneurship, and motherhood in business ownership • The mental load of motherhood and modern family life • Building a meaningful life as a working mother and entrepreneur Motherhood is not linear and it is not one-size-fits-all. This conversation brings forward two perspectives from the same world, showing how differently and honestly the experience of being a working mom can unfold. To learn more about The Well Lived Podcast @thewelllivedpodcast on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thewelllivedpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://www.thewelllivedpodcast.com/] To learn more about our interior design firm, Stafford House Studio, follow along at: @staffordhousestudio on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.staffordhousestudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://%20www.staffordhousestudio.com]

How to Design a Home That Tells Your Story with Jean Ross

In this episode, we’re joined by interior designer, business owner, and fellow mom, Jean Ross, founder of ROW Design Studio. From her early days in the fast-paced world of television design to building a studio rooted in authenticity and connection, Jean shares the deeply personal journey that shaped her approach to design and life. We talk about what it really means to create a home that reflects who you are, not what trends tell you to love. From embracing vintage and one-of-a-kind pieces to navigating the emotional side of renovation, this conversation goes far beyond aesthetics. We also get honest about motherhood, identity shifts, and the moment you realize you’re finally ready to step into something of your own. This episode is for anyone craving a home and a life that feels layered, meaningful, and entirely their own. Connect with Jean Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://www%C3%A2%C2%81%C2%A0.marmocontracting.com]⁠⁠www.rowdesignstudio.com [https://www.studiosonny.co/] Instagram: @jeanross To learn more about The Well Lived Podcast @thewelllivedpodcast on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thewelllivedpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://www.thewelllivedpodcast.com/] To learn more about our interior design firm, Stafford House Studio, follow along at: @staffordhousestudio on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.staffordhousestudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://%20www.staffordhousestudio.com] Please rate, review, and share The Well Lived Podcast. It helps us reach more women, mothers, creatives, and entrepreneurs navigating the messy, beautiful, and deeply personal journey of building a life well lived.

The Girl Talk You Didn’t Know You Needed: Hot Takes, Laughs & Real Life Moments

Sometimes you just need an episode that feels like catching up with your best friend, and this is exactly that. In this light, funny, and completely unfiltered episode of The Well Lived Podcast, Nicole and Sydni dive into their most hilarious unpopular opinions, real life mom moments, and the kind of conversations that only happen between two best friends who have seen it all. From strong takes on food, yes we are talking sushi, carrot cake, and ketchup drama, to honest conversations about motherhood, business, and everyday life, this episode is full of relatable moments, laughter, and zero pressure. Just real conversation. If you love podcasts about motherhood, entrepreneurship, interior design, and lifestyle, but also want something easy, entertaining, and genuinely funny, this episode is for you. In this episode, you will hear: Unpopular opinions you did not know you had Funny mom life stories and honest real talk Best friend banter that feels like you are in the room Lighthearted lifestyle conversations with real depth Whether you are driving, walking, cleaning, or just need a mental break, press play and spend some time with us. Because creating a beautiful life should feel good, and sometimes that starts with a laugh. To learn more about The Well Lived Podcast @thewelllivedpodcast on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thewelllivedpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://www.thewelllivedpodcast.com/] To learn more about our interior design firm, Stafford House Studio, follow along at: @staffordhousestudio on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.staffordhousestudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://%20www.staffordhousestudio.com]

The Working Mom Reality: More Than Just a Mom

How do you balance motherhood and a career without losing yourself? In this episode of The Well Lived Podcast, we have an honest conversation about being a working mom, building a business, and navigating the reality of modern motherhood. Nicole sits down with Stafford House Studio’s operations manager Erica, who is preparing to become a first-time mom, to talk about what it actually looks like to balance motherhood, entrepreneurship, ambition, and family life. If you have ever wondered whether it is possible to build a successful career while raising kids, this episode is for you. Nicole shares the truth about mom guilt, productivity after kids, balancing motherhood and business ownership, and redefining success after becoming a parent. From the pressure to do it all to learning how to ask for help, this conversation explores the real challenges that many working moms and women in business face every day. Nicole also opens up about losing her mother at a young age and how that experience shaped the way she approaches parenting, resilience, and creating a meaningful life for her own children. If you are a working mom, entrepreneur, expecting your first baby, or trying to balance motherhood and career, this episode will resonate deeply. In this episode we talk about: • How to balance motherhood and a career • The reality of mom guilt and the mental load of motherhood • Building a business as a working mom • Why asking for help and outsourcing support matters • The myth of the perfect mom on social media • How motherhood changes your definition of success • Navigating ambition, career growth, and family life • Parenting after loss and personal trauma • Trusting your instincts instead of parenting pressure online Motherhood is not perfect and neither is balance. This episode is a reminder that you can build a meaningful career, raise a family, and create a life that truly feels like your own. To learn more about The Well Lived Podcast @thewelllivedpodcast on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thewelllivedpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://www.thewelllivedpodcast.com/] To learn more about our interior design firm, Stafford House Studio, follow along at: @staffordhousestudio on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.staffordhousestudio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://%20www.staffordhousestudio.com]

Why You Should Hire an Interior Designer Before Your Contractor: The Renovation Process Explained

Most people think interior designers come in after the renovation is finished to choose furniture and make the space look beautiful. In reality, the design process starts long before construction begins. In this episode, we pull back the curtain on what interior designers actually do and why hiring a designer early can completely change the outcome of your renovation or custom home build. We walk through the real process behind a full-service interior design project. From the very first consultation and concept development to material selections, construction planning, procurement, project management and final installation. You will learn how designers help homeowners avoid costly mistakes, create clear plans for contractors and manage the hundreds of decisions required to bring a home to life. If you are planning a renovation, building a custom home or simply curious about how luxury homes are designed behind the scenes, this episode will give you a new understanding of the role interior designers play in creating beautiful, functional homes. At the end of the day, great design is not just about how a home looks. It is about how it works, how it supports your life and how every detail is thoughtfully considered before the first hammer is ever picked up. Planning a renovation or custom home? Learn more about working with us at www.staffordhousestudio.com