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
Friday May 23, 2025
Friday May 23, 2025
Hello Amazing Mama!
Do you keep saying "someday" to your dreams? Are you putting your personal goals on the back burner while helping everyone else with theirs? If you're tired of waiting for the "perfect moment" that never seems to come, you’ll want to listen in on today’s mini-episode!
Since "someday" isn't a real date on your calendar, I share why planning for a vague “later” can only get you so far and how it's actually stealing from your identity. I drop some truth bombs about the real reasons we procrastinate on our personal goals. I also provide practical strategies to take action without waiting to feel “ready.”
If you’re ready to transform those dreams into reality, hit play and together we can solve for Mom!
Episode Highlights
- (0:00): Introduction and exciting news about our new Friday mini-episodes
- (1:54): Understanding why we put our dreams on hold
- (2:26): Why the "one day" strategy doesn't work
- (2:37): 1. Overwhelm
- (3:06): 2. Perfectionism
- (3:53): 3. Fear & uncertainty
- (4:17): 4. Imposter syndrome
- (4:32): Sign-up for the free newsletter
- (4:50): 5. Procrastination
- (5:21): How to take action without waiting to feel "ready"
- (9:05): 🎯 Strategy sessions with Anokhi (start with a free exploratory call)
Resources Mentioned:
📞 Complimentary Exploratory Call
💌 Become an SFM Insider for FREE weekly tips, tools, and exclusives
Let’s Connect!
👍🏽 Tap +Follow and never miss an episode. Leave me a 🤩 rating & review—your support helps other moms find the show!
📱 Solve for Mom group on LinkedIn
❓ Questions? Email me at hello@solveformom.com
// Work-life balance for ambitious moms through purposeful planning //
Sunday Apr 20, 2025
Sunday Apr 20, 2025
Hello Ambitious Mama!
Are you rushing through your days, feeling like you're just surviving instead of truly living? Maybe you've lost sight of what brings you joy amidst the constant demands of motherhood. Do you ever look at your life and think, "Is this all there is?"
I hear you. I know firsthand how it feels to have everything look perfect on paper - the loving family, the successful career - yet still feel like something's missing. I wanted to know that each day I was improving the quality of my family’s life and making an impact in my world, but instead I felt stuck with obligations and mundane tasks. Everything changed when I stopped waiting for life to happen and started intentionally designing it.
In today's episode, I'm sharing 5 essential strategies to help you to live a high-quality. If you’re ready to get back into the driver’s seat and set the quality standards in your life, hit play and together we can solve for Mom!
Episode Highlights
- (0:00): Teaser
- (2:39): SFM listener shout-out
- (6:31): Defining what a high quality of life is in mom life terms
- (8:16): 1. Freedom is the foundation of a high-quality life
- (11:03) 2. Reconnect with activities that light you up
- (15:15) 3. Make an impact through purposeful living
- (16:22) 4. Set standards that elevate your daily experience
- (18:30) 5. Experience the transformative power of slowing down
- (20:41): Re-cap
- (21:33): 🎯 Private coaching - create a high-quality mom life
Resources Mentioned:
⏮️ The relationship between planning and freedom
⏮️ A guide to rediscovering your passion and purpose as a mom
⏮️ Implementing minimalism to create peace in your mom life
Let’s Connect!
👍🏽 Tap +Follow and never miss an episode. Leave me a 🤩 rating & review—your support helps other moms find the show!
💌 Become an SFM Insider for FREE weekly tips, tools, and exclusives
📱 Solve for Mom group on LinkedIn
❓ Questions? Email me at hello@solveformom.com
// Science-based life planning to excel while prioritizing family time //
Sunday Mar 30, 2025
Sunday Mar 30, 2025
Hello Awesome Mom!
Do you sometimes look in the mirror and barely recognize the woman staring back at you? Maybe you're so consumed by daily mom duties that you can't remember what lit that spark inside you. Or perhaps you're caught in that endless cycle of diaper changes, meal prep, and bedtime routines, feeling more like a robot going through the motions than the vibrant person you know you can be.
In today's episode, we explore how to reconnect with your dreams and prioritize your individuality. This episode is especially for you if you're struggling to balance nurturing your family while reclaiming time for your own growth and joy.
Your past achievements are still part of your story - those talents and capabilities didn't disappear when you became a mother. I talk about how to overcome imposter syndrome, engage in self-discovery, and align your goals to your time & energy. I explain how life planning can be your personalized roadmap that helps you set goals with your deepest values. Creating goals isn't about adding more to your plate - it's about making intentional choices that honor both your role as a mom and your individual dreams.
If you’re ready to to get a proven path to reconnecting with that ambitious, hopeful part of yourself that’s been waiting to emerge, hit play and together we can Solve for Mom!
Episode Highlights
- (0:00): Teaser
- (03:01): Listener review
- (03:54): The difficulty moms face in setting meaningful goals
- (05: 10): Identity crisis in high-achieving moms
- (05:10): 1. Imposter syndrome - Your past achievements are part of your story
- (05:10): 2. Self-discovery - Reconnect with yourself
- (14:28): 3. Life planning - Finding your true dream
- (16:38): Free Life Planning Quiz
- (16:56): 4. Master your time
- (18:38): 5. Following your dreams using the Goal Journey Framework
- (20:35): Re-cap
Resources Mentioned:
🎯 Balanced Mom Coaching Program: Ready to rediscover what makes you YOU?
📝 Can life planning help you achieve your dreams? Take my Free Quiz
⏮️ 5 Mindset Secrets to Mastering Personal Growth Goals in Your Mom Life (Think Chemistry)
📖 Why moms are stepping down from work
Let’s Connect!
👍🏽 Tap +Follow and never miss an episode. Leave me a 🤩 rating & review—your support helps other moms find the show!
💌 Become an SFM Insider for FREE weekly tips, tools, and exclusives
📱 Solve for Mom group on LinkedIn
❓ Questions? Email me at hello@solveformom.com
// Science-based life planning to excel while prioritizing family time //
Sunday Jan 19, 2025
Sunday Jan 19, 2025
Hello Ambitious Mama!
Do you wish you had more hours in the day to dedicate to your hobbies or passions? Are you struggling to balance your individuality with family time?
As moms, we often put our dreams and goals on hold, juggling family responsibilities, careers, and the nagging guilt of taking time for ourselves. But here’s the thing: pursuing what you love doesn’t make you less of a mom—it makes you a more fulfilled, joyful one!
In today’s episode, I’ll share eight barriers that might be stopping you from doing what lights you up—and, more importantly, actionable solutions to help you overcome them! After this episode you are going to have the exact playbook for these “biggies” that block you from doing things that add meaning to your life.
By tackling these barriers with simple, effective solutions, you’ll feel confident carving out time for your passions—without sacrificing family priorities. You will have mental clarity, be emotionally resilient, know how to build consistency, and learn how to garner support. It’s all about finding that sweet spot between productivity, individuality, and family flow!
If you’re ready to find out the secret to balancing productivity and flow while prioritizing family time, hit play and together can solve for Mom!
Episode Highlights
- (00:00): Introduction
- (02:34): Common barriers that moms face
- (04:29): Become an SFM Insider
- (06:05): 1. Not enough time
- (06:36): How to reclaim your time
- (08:52) 2. Guilt
- (09:07): A simple mindset reframe
- (10:28): 3. Fear or lack of confidence
- (10:42): Borrowing from CBT techniques
- (12:00): 4. Lack of knowledge
- (12:48): Simple skills-building
- (13:17): 5. Perfectionism
- (13:55): Meaningful progress
- (15:26): 6. Overwhelm
- (15:54): Solving complex problems
- (17:56): 7. Lack of discipline or consistency
- (18:10): Building sustainable habits
- (20:03): 8. No support system
- (20:28): Support is closer than you realize
- (21:54): Re-cap
Links Mentioned in This Episode
- Episode on Time Thieves
- Simple Skill-building
- Episode on Reframing Mom Guilt
- Life Planning is the key
Stay in Touch
Tap +Follow (it’s free!). Leave me a rating & review (thank you!).
Share this episode with a mom friend who needs a little encouragement today.
Become an SFM Insider for free to receive my twice monthly newsletter: https://solveformom.myflodesk.com/bpj5yvdu3q
E-mail me at hello@solveformom.com and your question could be the topic of an upcoming episode!
Visit www.solveformom.com
// Science-based Life Planning to Excel While Prioritizing Family Time //
Sunday Jan 05, 2025
Sunday Jan 05, 2025
Hello Successful Mama!
Are you feeling like all the work you do as a mom is hard to define, let alone measure? Do you miss the clarity of progress you have in your career, where promotions, metrics, and feedback loops are part of the equation?
In today’s episode, we’re tackling how to balance data-driven and qualitative personal growth goals to celebrate your unique journey as a mom. I talk about why it’s so hard to measure success as a mom and why traditional metrics don’t always apply. I outline a framework for tracking progress on quantitative and qualitative goals that align with your purpose and vision. I teach you how to reflect on patterns and trends to guide intentional growth.
Whether you're the COO of your household or juggling homeschooling, work, and passions, this episode will give you actionable tools to recognize your value and track your progress in a way that feels meaningful and empowering.
Episode Highlights
- (00:00): Teaser
- (02:29): Become an SFM Insider
- (03:19): Success as a mom is hard to measure
- (06:51): GRowTh Up framework for tracking goals
- (07:16): A comment about SMART goals
- (08:30): 1. Give
- (09:21): 2. Reflect on wins
- (10:25): 3. Themes
- (11:34): 4. Upward
- (12:09): GRowTh Up example
- (14:34): Re-cap
If you’re ready to start tracking progress in ways that feel meaningful and actionable, hit play and together can solve for Mom! 💡
Resources
EP 1: Busy yet Restless? 3 Ways to Find Purpose as a Mom
EP 8: Life Planning 101: Follow the Right Trajectory For YOU
Let’s Connect!
- Tap +Follow (it’s free!) to stay updated on future episodes.
- Leave me a rating & review (thank you!)—I read every comment and your support helps other moms find the show! 💕
- Become an SFM Insider for weekly tips, tools, and exclusives: https://solveformom.myflodesk.com/bpj5yvdu3q
- Got a question or story to share? E-mail me at hello@solveformom.com—your topic could be featured in a future episode!
- Visit www.solveformom.com for more science-based life-planning strategies.
- Join Solve for Mom on LinkedIn and Pinterest
Sunday Dec 29, 2024
Sunday Dec 29, 2024
Hello Ambitious Mom!
Are you tired of setting goals that feel impossible to achieve? Do you find yourself starting a goal with excitement, only to lose momentum and feel like giving up? I’ve been there too — stuck in the cycle of trying and failing until I realized something powerful: the problem wasn’t my schedule; it was my mindset.
Motherhood doesn’t mean putting your dreams on hold — but achieving your goals takes more than just a plan. In today’s episode, I share 5 mindset secrets that will help you shift your thinking to tackle your goals with confidence and clarity, break free from self-limiting beliefs and guilt, and align your goals with what truly matters to you, all while navigating mom life. I’ll show you how the right mindset can act as a catalyst for turning your goals into reality. From overcoming self-doubt to building habits that stick, you’ll learn actionable strategies to craft the life you want without sacrificing your sanity.
Episode Highlights
- (00:00): Teaser
- (02:37): Mindset is a catalyst
- (05:04): 1. A life-long learner mindset
- (06:23): 2. An empowered mindset
- (08:39): 3. Keep the big vision in mind
- (09:40): 4. A positive mindset
- (10:23): 5. A problem-solving mindset
- (12:15): Re-cap
- (13:24): Become an SFM Insider
If you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels, crush your goals, and live with intention, hit play now! Together, we can Solve for Mom.
References:
- Norcross JC, Mrykalo MS, Blagys MD. Auld lang syne: success predictors, change processes, and self-reported outcomes of New Year's resolvers and nonresolvers. J Clin Psychol. 2002 Apr;58(4):397-405.
- Be a life-long learner: EP 13: 3 Personal Growth Tips for Moms to Transform from Overlooked to Impressive
- Learning skills as a mom: EP 2: 5 Things Moms Can Do to Learn a New Skill [15-min or less]
- Life Planning: EP 8: Life Planning 101: Follow the Right Trajectory For YOU
✨ Connect with Me:
Tap +Follow (it’s free!). Leave me a rating & review (thank you!).
Become an SFM Insider to receive my weekly newsletter: https://solveformom.myflodesk.com/bpj5yvdu3q
E-mail me at hello@solveformom.com and your question could be the topic of an upcoming episode!
Visit www.solveformom.com
// Grow Your Individuality While Prioritizing Family Time //
Sunday Nov 24, 2024
Sunday Nov 24, 2024
Hello, Skilled Mama! Are you worried that the holiday hustle might derail your personal growth journey? Do you want a way to stay grounded and feel like yourself throughout the festivities?
In this episode, we dive into why habits are crucial during chaotic times and how to maintain your habits to continue your self-improvement during the busiest time of the year. Maintaining your habits during the holidays sets an example for your family, reduces stress, and ensures you don't lose sight of your purpose amidst the festivities. I share 6 mom-centered strategies to maintain habits in 15 minutes or less.
Timestamps:
- (0:00): Mom life during the holidays (Teaser)
- (02:43): Become an SFM Insider
- (03:24): Don’t pause your habits during the holidays
- (06:33): Types of disruptions to our daily rhythm
- (07:01): What is a habit?
- (07:53): The importance of maintaining our habits
- (09:02): 1. Bundling habits
- (09:49): 2. Habit stacking
- (10:32): 3. Having a non-negotiable 15 minutes
- (11:54): 4. Make your habit a part of family time
- (12:25): 5. Establish a strong morning routine
- (13:17): 6. Track your habits
- (13:54): Re-cap
For more on skills bundling: EP 2: 5 Things Moms Can Do to Learn a New Skill [15-min or less]
Take Action Now to Holiday-proof your Habits
- Plan a consistent morning routine.
- Choose 1 non-negotiable habit to focus on for 15 minutes daily this holiday season. Use one of the 6 strategies discussed.
- Sign up for the SFM Insiders newsletter for extra tips & support.
Remember, moms, the holidays don't have to mean pressing pause on your personal growth. With these strategies, you can find the balance between family time, holiday planning, and your passion projects or hobbies.
Tap +Follow (it’s free!). Leave me a rating & review (thank you!).
E-mail me at hello@solveformom.com and your question could be the topic of an upcoming episode!
Become an SFM Insider to receive my weekly newsletter: https://solveformom.myflodesk.com/bpj5yvdu3q
Visit www.solveformom.com
// Grow Your Individuality While Prioritizing Family Time //
Sunday Oct 27, 2024
Sunday Oct 27, 2024
Hello Wonderful Mom! Are you feeling lost, anxious, or unsure about your life's direction or your next passion project? Do you want to take control of your future and identity while balancing your role as a mother?
In today's episode, I share the essentials of life planning from a mom life perspective, the best time to start your life plan (spoiler: it's now!), and how you can life-craft a roadmap for personal growth and success that aligns with your values and goals. You are going to find that this process will bring back some of your time wasted on less meaningful activities,
Timestamps:
(00:00): Teaser
(02:11): Knowing how the story ends
(04:37): What is life planning?
(06:20): Why is life planning important?
(07:33): When is the best time to create a life plan?
(08:10): Who needs a life plan?
(08:42): Where is the best place to create a life plan?
(09:59): How do you create a life plan?
(10:52): 1. Plan your vision
(11:25): 2. Plan your mission
(12:08): 3. List your top values
(13:58): 4. Identify your goals & decisions
(18:03): Re-cap
If you're ready to take control of your life's trajectory and create a future that excites you without ignoring family time, hit play and let's Solve for Mom!
Learn about the Chunk & Check method as a strategy for achieving your goals by working through a problem in reverse in EP 4: Working on a Home Project? Get it DONE While Focusing on Family Time [Part 2]
Start creating your mission statement as described in EP 5: Reset to Pursue Your Passion Work With Confidence
Tap +Follow (it’s free!). Leave me a rating & review (thank you!).
Become an SFM Insider to receive my weekly newsletter: https://solveformom.myflodesk.com/bpj5yvdu3q
Blog: Life Planning – How to Design & Achieve a Life That’s Right for You
E-mail me at hello@solveformom.com and your question could be the topic of an upcoming episode!
Visit www.solveformom.com
// Grow Your Individuality While Prioritizing Family Time //