Have you ever been told that work-life balance for women in STEM is a myth?
Do you want a meaningful science career and a rooted family life —but you worry that you’re “failing at both”?
Are you running low on time, energy, and sleep, trying to keep up with grant deadlines, conferences, and kids?
Do you wonder if negotiating career shifts, flexible jobs, STEM-adjacent roles, or maternity leave is proof you’re not a serious scientist?
Welcome to Science Careers for Moms — a TOP 2.5% GLOBALLY RANKED PODCAST for women in STEM who want a career path where they can thrive in science without sacrificing their family or personal wellbeing.
Hi! I’m Anokhi Kapasi, a PhD researcher and mom of two boys. I created this show because I know what it is like to feel torn between being a serious scientist and a present mom —and to realize that “trying harder” is not a strategy.
This show is different because it integrates career and life planning strategies designed specifically for science-minded moms in a work culture that was not built for caregivers. Every episode blends interviews with other scientists who have been where you are and career planning deep-dives where you will learn the answer to questions like:
🎯 Are there decision-making frameworks to help me navigate pivots, return-to-work, academia vs. industry…or to even know what the “next right move” is?
🎯 How do I set career goals that allow me to stay ambitious, connect with my family, and feel like myself again?
🎯 Is work–life balance for working moms in STEM actually possible, and what does it look like in practice?
🎯 Can I stay in science & tech without burnout, guilt, or losing sight of myself?
STEM-trained moms, I’ll teach you how to make confident career decisions that align with your whole life —not just professional development.
🎧 FOLLOW this show and never choose between being a good mom or a good scientist again!
🗣️ GUEST INTEREST FORM: https://calendly.com/anokhi-solveformom/guests-on-solve-for-mom
📩 QUESTIONS: hello@solveformom.com
🌐 VISIT: www.SolveForMom.com for more resources & information
Episodes
Sunday Mar 15, 2026
Sunday Mar 15, 2026
Women in STEM: If you want to have both - a meaningful science career and a rooted family life —and you’re done feeling like you’re “failing at both”… this NEW SHOW is for you.
This is a short welcome episode where I’m introducing the new podcast name and focus: Science Careers for Moms.
If you’re a STEM-trained mom who wants to have both: a meaningful science career and a rooted family life (without burning out, second-guessing, or trying to do it all), you’re in the right place.
After listening, you’ll know:
- If this show is for you and what to do next
- The 3 outcomes you can expect from the show: STEM career planning clarity, Decision-making frameworks, and Systems to support work life balance
- How this show creates instant community with women in STEM who share insider stories and experts who offer solutions supporting scientist moms
You don’t need the perfect routine or more willpower—but you do need a framework that fits real constraints of a demanding career and realities of mom life…like maternity leave, childcare logistics when you travel to conferences, sick kid weeks, and grant review deadlines.
Let this show be your key to escaping the cultural trap that forces women in STEM to choose, so you can build a clear path to whole-life success.
SUBSCRIBE / FOLLOW
👍🏽 Add Science Careers for Moms to your playlist
MOMS IN STEM - SHAREABLE QUOTES
- “The culture of science wasn’t built for caregivers.”
- “You should never have to choose between being a good mom and being a good scientist.”
- “Here’s what I learned: ‘trying harder’ can’t be your only strategy. That just leads to burnout, guilt, and living a very fragmented life.”
KEEP LEARNING ON THIS TOPIC
- What work-life balance is (& is not) – ⏮️ EP 108: Work-Life Balance Question: What Does “Being Aligned” Really Mean as a Scientist Mom? (Podcast)
- Career-life integration flips the script – ⏮️ EP 111: Design Your Life, Then Set Your Career Goals: Purpose-Driven Personal Growth for Moms in STEM (Podcast)
MORE WAYS TO CONNECT
💌 Sci-Mom Says newsletter: https://solveformom.com/insider
🙋🏻♀️ Want to be a guest → https://calendly.com/anokhi-solveformom/guests-on-solve-for-mom
🔬Connect with me on my personal LinkedIn as a fellow scientific researcher & consultant.
--------
🌐 Visit solveformom.com for more information and FREE resources
📫 E-mail hello@solveformom.com
Sunday Feb 01, 2026
Sunday Feb 01, 2026
For ambitious moms to turn intuition into a strategy for work-life balance
Are you at a crossroads, wondering how to take the next right action to do what you want?
If you’ve been stuck in analysis paralysis and overthinking every move, this episode explains how to make faster, more confident decisions at work and at home without burning out your brain.
I’m joined by Leah Goldman, host of The Intuition Strategist podcast and creator of Corporate Tarot Cards®, who helps ambitious leaders to use “invisible data” to make aligned moves in career, home, and long‑term life design.
Whether you’re already a high‑achieving mom in STEM overwhelmed by how to make the change you want, Leah is here to demystify how to integrate intuition with logic so decisions feel grounded and right.
In this episode, we tackle why you’re stuck in analysis paralysis, how to tell the difference between intuition vs fear and bias, and what you can do right now to move from overthinking into aligned action towards your values, ambitions, and motherhood.
// Design a life where your STEM career and motherhood finally fit together. Turn your ideal life into your real life with the Designed Life Method. //
LEADERSHIP IN MOTHERHOOD - QUOTABLE MOMENTS
- “A leader is somebody who makes a decision that other people can act on and follow.”
- “Your intuition is your own internal algorithm that is taking in data and information that, yes, of course, is the analytical data and the perspectives.”
- “Intuition without action is a daydream or a fantasy. It's the action that makes it real.”
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- (0:00): Teaser
- (2:08): Subscribe and never miss an episode
- (3:38): Why moms are leaders
- (8:29): What intuition strategy is and how it can help ambitious moms
- (12:41): Leah’s pivot from engineer and consultant using “invisible data”
- (22:48): How action and reflection create clarity
- (24:24): Decision-making tool: VIEW Framework
- (26:53): What is Intuition? (clearly defined)
- (31:42): How to tell the difference between intuition vs fear, bias, and wishful thinking
- (34:23): How to make the right choice with “human AI”
- (36:37): Using “What if?” instead of “should” to escape either‑or thinking and find alternatives
- (38:57): Redefining work‑life balance as being dynamic instead of a static, impossible ideal
- (41:43): Wrap-up & Leah’s info
LEAH’S LINKS
- Podcast: The Intuition Strategist
- Free Downloadable - VIEW Framework Workbook
- Website: https://intuitionstrategist.com
- IG: @LeahIntuition
- Leah’s LinkedIn
- The book that Leah mentioned: Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
KEEP LEARNING ON THIS TOPIC
- Data‑driven decision‑making for moms – ⏮️ EP 104: Decision Making for Moms: 6 Data‑Driven Ways to Prioritize Choices When Everything Feels Important (Podcast)
- Translate decisions into a life plan – ⏮️ EP 66: How Ambitious Moms Can Use Life Planning to Prioritize Work‑Life Balance (Podcast)
- Ready to pivot? - 📖 How to Reset Your Life to Pursue Your Passion Work With Confidence (Blog)
I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
🙋🏻♀️ Question, episode idea, or feedback? Record a message in just one click!
Leave me a 🤩 rating & review—your support helps other moms find the show!
💌 Grab my newsletter for twice-monthly tips, tools, and exclusives—so you can build a life that honors both your ambitions and your family
📫 E-mail hello@solveformom.com
FOLLOW
👍🏽 Tap +Follow and never miss an episode.
🌐 Visit solveformom.com for more information and FREE resources
➡️ Follow @solveformom on LinkedIn for life planning strategies that help you envision, plan, and take action on your big ideas while prioritizing family time.
🔬Connect with me on my personal LinkedIn as a fellow PhD researcher & scientific consultant.
📍Follow Solve for Mom on Pinterest for daily tips for moms in STEM to find balance one micro-step at a time.
Sunday Jan 18, 2026
Sunday Jan 18, 2026
A gut‑check on default career planning, purpose, and life vision
High‑achieving PhD/STEM moms often stay in roles that no longer fit their life vision—driven by sunk costs, fear of wasting their PhD, and pressure to appear grateful. If you’ve ever thought, “I’ve already put in so many years in this job…I don’t want to waste my PhD,” this episode offers a career planning framework to find purpose, protect your work‑life balance, and decide whether your current job truly belongs in your long‑term life plan.
Today I break down a simple, research‑informed process for career planning for PhD moms that can help you separate default planning (path of least resistance) from intentional, purpose‑driven planning. You’ll see how to assess alignment between your inner motivation and your external work output, and how shifting roles and environments (not always fields) can move you closer to meaningful impact without “wasting” your degree.
Whether you're already contemplating a career change or simply wondering, “Does my job still match my purpose in life?” I’m here to demystify why misalignment creates chronic tension even when your CV looks great.
You’ll walk away with a journal prompt, interpretation steps, and next moves so you can start making life planning decisions from vision, not fear.
Episode Highlights
- (0:00): Teaser
- (2:16): Ask me a question
- (2:45): Why so many PhD/STEM moms stay in careers that no longer fit their life vision
- (7:32): Journal Prompt on how to map what truly drives you against what your job actually asks you to do
- (8:20): The science behind why your brain resists career change
- (14:59): How to read your own journal entry for signs of default planning
- (20:16): Next steps for turning self‑awareness into an actual life plan and potential career pivot
→→→ Turn your journal insights into a concrete personalized roadmap for career decisions, work‑life balance, and a life that lets you pursue big goals and protect family time in my private life planning program. 👉🏼 My Designed Life Method empowers moms in STEM with a clear life plan for pursuing their ambitions without sacrificing family time.
P.S. Your first call is free, and I’ll run an Alignment Audit to get your customized life plan started!
Keep Learning On This Topic
Mom-friendly way to explore flexible career options - ⏮️ EP 63: Ready to Return to Work? 3 Career Change Strategies for SAHMs Who Want Flexible, Purpose-Driven Work (Podcast)
A decision-making framework for career changes - ⏮️ EP 92: Career Clarity in 3 Steps Without Losing Work‑Life Balance | Career Change for Moms – Part 5 (Podcast)
Life planning framework - 📖 3 Powerful Ways to Find Purpose as a Mom Beyond the Daily Routine (Blog)
I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
🙋🏻♀️ Question, episode idea, or feedback? Record a message in just one click!
Leave me a 🤩 rating & review—your support helps other moms find the show!
💌 Grab my newsletter for twice-monthly tips, tools, and exclusives—so you can build a life that honors both your ambitions and your family
📫 E-mail hello@solveformom.com
FOLLOW
👍🏽 Tap +Follow and never miss an episode.
🌐 Visit solveformom.com for more information and FREE resources
➡️ Follow @solveformom on LinkedIn for life planning strategies that help you envision, plan, and take action on your big ideas while prioritizing family time.
🔬Connect with me on my personal LinkedIn as a fellow PhD researcher & scientific consultant.
📍Follow Solve for Mom on Pinterest for daily tips for moms in STEM to find balance one micro-step at a time.
// Life Planning Tools for Moms Striving to Balance Ambition and Motherhood //
Monday Dec 29, 2025
Monday Dec 29, 2025
Your work-life balance isn't about doing less—it's about doing what matters most. But when "pushing through" becomes your default, when slowing down feels risky, and when guilt takes over, then burnout isn't far behind.
In this episode, I'm sharing why slowing down with purpose is the most strategic move you can make as an ambitious mom. I'll walk you through the 4 C's that rest creates—Calm, Creativity, Clarity, and Connection—and show you how intentional rest protects your long-term goals instead of derailing them.
This isn't about quitting or falling behind. It's about giving yourself permission to pause so you can show up as your best self—for your family, your work, and yourself.
What You'll Learn in This Episode:
- Why slowing down isn't risky for your goals
- How to know when to change the pace of your work
- The cultural expectations fuel guilt about rest—and why that guilt isn't based in reality
- How to slow down or plan an intentional rest in a way that fuels productivity and growth
- The 4C’s of rest
If you're ready to build a life with both ambition and breathing room, this episode will show you exactly where to start.
Episode Highlights
- (0:00): Teaser
- (2:39): 🌟 Listener Review 🌟
- (3:32): Why pushing through backfires
- (14:38): Where guilt about pausing work really comes from
- (22:10): How to slow down with purpose and during a busy season and what this means for your long-term goals
- (28:23): The 4 C's of rest
- (32:05): Recap
Resources Mentioned:
🎧 Minimum viable day: (Jump to 14:27) EP 19: 4 Work‑Life Balance Rules for Ambitious Moms Who Refuse to Choose Between Goals and Family Time
🎧 Information management system: EP 64: 3 Systems to Turn Cluttered Notes into Productive Learning & Decision Making
→ → → Ready to turn your ideal life into real life with a clear plan? My Designed Life Method is what you need. This is a 1:1 coaching program designed specifically for women in STEM who want a roadmap for pursuing their big ideas while prioritizing family.
Claim your Free Alignment Call 📞 with Anokhi now!
I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
🙋🏻♀️ Question, topic idea, or feedback? Record a message in just one click!
📫 E-mail hello@solveformom.com
💌 Grab my newsletter for twice-monthly tips, tools, and exclusives—so you can build a life that honors both your ambitions and your family
FOLLOW
🌐 Visit solveformom.com for more information and FREE resources
👍🏽 Tap +Follow and never miss an episode. Leave me a 🤩 rating & review—your support helps other moms find the show!
➡️ Follow & Tag @solveformom on LinkedIn and Pinterest for daily tips to find balance one micro-step at a time
// Life Planning Tools for Moms Striving to Balance Ambition and Motherhood //
Friday Dec 12, 2025
Friday Dec 12, 2025
Your days are jam-packed with endless to-do lists and unfinished tasks—managing pickups, projects, and everyone else's schedules. And somehow you're still supposed to plan a career change?
This episode is your reset.
I'm walking you through the exact life planning tools I use to reclaim control of my day and make consistent progress toward the career I want without feeling like I'm constantly putting my own needs and dreams on hold.
From shifting your mindset about time to using a simple 3-column life-planning framework to creating color-coded calendar blocks, these are the strategies that will help you regain control of your day, prioritize your dreams, and blend success and motherhood.
If you cannot find even 5 minutes for yourself in your packed schedule and you're experiencing overwhelm at the thought of learning new skills while managing family responsibilities, this episode will show you how to take strategic action in the time you already have.
You'll learn how to:
- Reframe "I don't have time" into "I choose how my time serves me"—putting yourself back in the driver's seat
- Use a Reality Check exercise to turn big career goals into doable steps that fit your real schedule
- Schedule your time correctly so progress becomes consistent, not accidental
You don't need a perfect schedule to make career change momentum—but you do need a life planning tools to help you take time for yourself and your goals. This episode will give you the clarity and confidence you've been craving to finally move toward the career you want.
Episode Highlights
- (0:00): The “no time” dilemma for career planning
- (2:11): 🙋🏻♀️ Question, topic idea, or feedback? Record a message in just one click!
- (2:41): Why it feels like we don’t have time to work on career development
- (6:54): The mindset shift to help you choose your time
- (9:54): A quarterly reality check on your career goals
- (14:05): Aligning your time with your life plan
- (17:36): Quick recap & mental reframe to schedule your career shift
Links Mentioned in Episode:
⏮️ EP 61: TIME Block Method to Finally Manage Your Ambitious Schedule [Community Question]
⏮️ EP 19: 4 Work Life Balance Rules for Ambitious Moms
Book your Free Exploratory call 📞 with Anokhi now!
I Want to Hear From You!
📫 E-mail hello@solveformom.com
💌 Grab my newsletter for twice-monthly tips, tools, and exclusives—so you can build a life that honors both your ambitions and your family
➡️ Tag @solveformom on LinkedIn and Pinterest for daily tips to find balance one micro-step at a time
👍🏽 Tap +Follow and never miss an episode. Leave me a 🤩 rating & review—your support helps other moms find the show!
🌐 Visit solveformom.com for more information and FREE resources
// Life Planning Tools for Moms Striving to Balance Ambition and Motherhood //
Friday Dec 05, 2025
Friday Dec 05, 2025
Your resume gap isn't the problem. Your skills gap isn't the problem. Career change during motherhood isn't the problem.
The problem is that you don't know which skills to prioritize or how to find time to develop them while managing family responsibilities.
In this episode, I'm sharing how to transform skill development overwhelm into strategic career momentum. From identifying transferable skills you already have to creating a micro-learning approach that fits your busy mom life—you'll learn to develop the 1-3 core skills that matter most for your career change.
And the best part? You can do this without burning out or sacrificing what matters most to your family.
I'm walking you through the exact 3-step process: the Hidden Skills Audit to uncover capabilities you've developed through motherhood, strategic research to identify your core skills gap, and a micro-learning approach that works within 15-30 minutes daily.
These strategies won't just help you learn new skills. They'll empower you to:
- Finally tackle the career change you've been avoiding for months
- Shift from "my skills are outdated" to "I have transferable strengths" and "I have a capacity to learn"
- Make consistent progress without overwhelming yourself
- Build demonstrable competency in core skills within 3-6 months
- Gain the confidence in your target field
- Stop cycling through ideas and start taking action
If you're ready to stop letting life just happen to you and want to confidently take your first step toward meaningful work that aligns with who you are now, this episode is for you.
Episode Highlights
- (0:00): Teaser
- (2:01): 🤩 Listener shoutout
- (3:01): Feeling unqualified and self-doubt after a career pause
- (7:26): 1. Discovering your hidden transferable skills
- (12:03): 2. Understanding skills gap and self-doubt
- (12:41): 3. The skills development roadmap approach
- (14:05): Micro-learning and practice
- (18:19): Your next step & Recap
→ → → Ready to fast‑track your ambitions during motherhood with a clear plan? Use science-based Designed Life Method and get a custom action plan that fits your busy schedule—spots are limited, so claim yours at solveformom.com/book-life-planning
👀 Want a sneak peek? Book your Free Life Audit call 📞 with Anokhi now!
Career Change Series
⏮️ EP 86: Career Change for Moms: Get Unstuck from the Wrong Job [Part 1]
⏮️ EP 88: How to Test Your Career Change Without Risking Family Stability [Part 2]
⏮️ EP 92: Career Change Clarity in 3 Steps Without Losing Work‑Life Balance [Part 5]
⏮️ EP 94: Feeling Selfish About a Career Change? Try This 3‑Step Leadership Reframe [Part 6]
Free Resources
💌 Grab my newsletter for twice-monthly tips, tools, and exclusives—so you can build a life that honors both your ambitions and your family
✍🏻 The go-to blog for ambitious moms
📱Free Life Planning Quiz
🌐 Visit solveformom.com for more information and FREE resources
I Want to Hear From You!
🙋🏻♀️ Question, topic idea, or feedback? Record a message in just one click!
📫 E-mail hello@solveformom.com
➡️ Tag @solveformom on LinkedIn and Pinterest for daily tips to find balance one micro-step at a time
👍🏽 Tap +Follow and never miss an episode. Leave me a rating & review—your support helps other moms find the show!
// Life Planning Tools for Moms Striving to Balance Ambition and Motherhood //
Friday Nov 28, 2025
Friday Nov 28, 2025
→ → → Ready to fast‑track your ambitions during motherhood with a clear plan? Use science-based Designed Life Method and get a custom action plan that fits your busy schedule—spots are limited, so claim yours at solveformom.com/book-life-planning
👀 Want a sneak peek? Book your Free Life Audit call 📞 with Anokhi now!
Your struggle with guilt for wanting a career change (and to be more than "just" a mom) isn't the problem.
Feeling torn between loving your kids while wanting to do things for yourself isn't the problem.
Your heart calling out for more isn't the problem.
The problem is that society glorifies self-sacrificing motherhood while sidelining women's ambitions—making you question if pursuing a career change is selfish.
In this episode, I'm sharing how I went from constantly putting my own needs and dreams on hold…to finally creating a career that works for me instead of the other way around. From reframing ambition as leadership to life planning—I've built a life where I can be everything I need to be for my kids, my career, and myself.
And the best part? You can do this too.
I'm walking you through what I call the 3-step leadership mindset, what makes this reframe so powerful, and the exact strategy that transforms career guilt into confident decision-making—so you can blend success and motherhood without choosing between them.
Episode Highlights
- (0:00): Teaser
- (2:41): 🤩 Listener shoutout
- (3:37): The guilt of wanting a career change as a mom
- (7:30): Leadership mindset
- (9:00): Step 1: Reframe
- (12:19): Step 2: Anchor
- (16:05): Step 3: Leadership
- (16:53): How to confidently pursue career change without guilt
- (18:24): Wrap-up & How to take action
Links Mentioned in Episode:
❇️ Stuck in a career that doesn't align with your values? Grab my Free Values Alignment Workbook to gain clarity on whether to stay or pivot. Download instantly 👉 https://solveformom.com/core-values
Career Change Series:
⏮️ EP 86: Career Change for Moms: Get Unstuck from the Wrong Job [Part 1]
⏮️ EP 88: How to Test Your Career Change Without Risking Family Stability [Part 2]
⏮️ EP 92: Career Change Clarity in 3 Steps Without Losing Work‑Life Balance [Part 5]
Free Resources:
💌 Grab my newsletter for twice-monthly tips, tools, and exclusives—so you can build a life that honors both your ambitions and your family
✍🏻 The go-to blog for ambitious moms
📱Free Life Planning Quiz
🌐 Visit solveformom.com for more information and FREE resources
I Want to Hear From You!
🙋🏻♀️ Question, topic idea, or feedback? Record a message in just one click!
📫 E-mail hello@solveformom.com
➡️ Tag @solveformom on LinkedIn and Pinterest for daily tips to find balance one micro-step at a time
👍🏽 Tap +Follow and never miss an episode. Leave me a rating & review—your support helps other moms find the show!
// Life Planning Tools for Moms Striving to Balance Ambition and Motherhood //
Friday Nov 21, 2025
Friday Nov 21, 2025
If you're feeling the urge to gain career change clarity, this episode is for you. I'm pulling back the curtain on how I personally help moms identify their next best step through vision mapping—and how you can do the same without decision paralysis, overwhelm, or needing to have your entire future figured out.
This isn't about picking one perfect path forever or betting your entire life on a single decision. It's about exploring multiple possible futures, building clarity through small steps, and taking aligned action toward a career with your values in the forefront, so you can shift into a new career without fear of making the wrong choice.
In this episode, I walk you through how to:
- Future Cast – Explore three different versions of what your life could look like if you pursued different paths
- Explore – Identify one small step you could take in the next week to test one scenario and start gathering information
- Iterate – Continue taking small exploratory steps without committing to one rigid path, building momentum through action
If you're experiencing uncertainty or confusion about your career direction, and you are ready to pivot to meaningful work using a simple decision-making framework, then this episode is a must-listen.
>>> Ready to get a clear plan to build right career & home life for you? My Designed Life Method is the right step for you. Together we’ll envision your ideal future, and create a customized roadmap to get you there. Let's design your future together! 📞 Book your free exploratory call with me now!
Episode Highlights
- (0:00): Teaser
- (2:22): Analysis paralysis during career shifts
- (7:35): Why traditional career planning fails professional moms
- (8:01): Step 1 - Future casting and exploring multiple scenarios
- (13:16): Step 2 - How to take steps towards a new career
- (15:45): Step 3 - Building momentum for a career pivot
- (18:42): Wrap-up
- (20:55): 💌 Grab my newsletter for twice-monthly tips, tools, and exclusives —including journal prompts —so you can build a life that honors both your ambitions and your family
Career Change Series
⏮️ EP 86: Career Change for Moms: Get Unstuck from the Wrong Job [Part 1]
⏮️ EP 88: How to Test Your Career Change Without Risking Family Stability [Part 2]
I Want to Hear From You!
🙋🏻♀️ Question, topic idea, or feedback? Record a message in just one click!
📫 E-mail hello@solveformom.com
👍🏽 Tap +Follow and never miss an episode. Leave me a 🤩 rating & review—your support helps other moms find the show!
➡️ Tag @solveformom on LinkedIn and Pinterest for daily tips to find balance one micro-step at a time
🌐 Visit solveformom.com for more information and FREE resources
// Life Planning Tools for Moms Striving to Balance Ambition and Motherhood //