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
Monday May 05, 2025
Monday May 05, 2025
Hello Wonderful Mom!
Are you growing a business while trying to create meaningful time with your young family? Do you feel overwhelmed by endless to-do lists and unexpected interruptions in your day? You will not want to miss this special life coaching episode!
I follow one working mom's journey from feeling overwhelmed to creating an intentional life plan. You'll discover how Lindsey, a successful business owner and mom of a toddler, transformed from constantly playing catch-up to having crystal-clear direction. We talk about why creating systems isn’t enough without first defining your core values and vision, and the importance of making intentional decisions now to create your dream future. This is a good one if you’ve ever been curious about what it’s like to work with me.
If you're ready to stop feeling overwhelmed and create a purposeful roadmap for your future while staying present with your family, hit play and let's solve for Mom!
Episode Highlights
- (0:00): Teaser
- (1:25): Spring 2025 Contest winner
- (2:08): Life coaching for a working mom
- (3:00): Being a business owner while caring for a toddler
- (6:43): Overwhelmed by a long to-do list
- (13:29): Building buffers for flow & flexibility in your schedule
- (15:10): Self-discovery
- (19:14): Building a roadmap to success
- (21:43): Small daily decisions make big decisions
- (25:42): Planning ahead to create a sleep routine & get rest
- (33:25): Wrap-up
Resources Mentioned:
👩💻 Learn about my 1:1 Balanced Mom Coaching - Book a 10 minute discovery call.
⏪ EP 23: Struggling With Self-Discipline? How to Build Habits With Life Planning [Life Coaching]
Let’s Connect!
Free Resources
💌 Become an SFM Insider for FREE twice monthly tips, tools, and exclusives
🟢 Can Life Planning Help You Achieve Your Dreams? Take my Free Quiz!
Cheering squad!
👍🏽 Tap +Follow (it’s free!) and never miss an episode. Leave me a 🤩 rating & review—your support helps other moms find the show!
Let's connect!
❓ Questions? Email me at hello@solveformom.com
➡️ Visit solveformom.com for more science-based life planning strategies
// Work-Life Balance for Ambitious Moms Using Purpose-driven 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 //
Monday Apr 14, 2025
Monday Apr 14, 2025
Hello Wonderful Mom!
Are you tired of watching other moms seemingly do it all while your ideas collect dust? Maybe you're like so many high-achieving moms who have brilliant ideas swirling in their heads, but they live in the land of "someday."
I get it. As a researcher-turned-entrepreneur and mom, I know firsthand how easy it is to get stuck in "idea paralysis" - that space where we have amazing aspirations but struggle to bring them to life.
In today's episode, I'm sharing the game-changing framework that helped me transition from an overwhelmed mom with unfulfilled aspirations to someone who consistently brings ideas to life - all while being present for my family. Whether you're a quick starter who jumps in with enthusiasm, a perfectionist who gets caught in endless planning, or a researcher who loves gathering information but struggles to take action, this episode is for you!
If you’re ready to start putting your ideas into motion, hit play and together we can solve for Mom!
Episode Highlights
- (0:00): Spring into Action Series
- (2:34): Reviewer shoutout
- (3:50): Why moms put their dreams on the back burner
- (5:57): What is your implementation style?
- (9:19): How to turn your ideas into action with the Take Action Cycle
- (9:54): 1. Researching
- (11:26): 2. Pick the next 3 tasks
- (12:39): 3. Address easy tasks to gain confidence
- (13:42): 4. Learning
- (14:38): 5. Momentum and progress
- (15:07): More tips on how to take action
- (15:47): Life planning helps filter your ideas
- (16:49): Pursuing one idea at a time
- (17:45): Prioritizing your ideas
- (18:30): Breaking it down
- (19:07): Organizing resources & support
- (19:50): Planning time
- (21:36): Setting up your environment for taking action
- (22:20): Re-cap
- (23:34): Life coaching for working moms
Resources Mentioned:
🎯 Balanced Mom Coaching Program
⏮️ EP 3: Working on a Home Project? Get it DONE While Focusing on Family Time [Part 1]
⏮️ EP 31: Calm Your Overwhelm by Planning With a Minimalist Mindset [Spring Into Action Series]
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 Apr 06, 2025
Sunday Apr 06, 2025
Hello Amazing Mom!
Are you drowning in the "too much" of motherhood? Do you feel the constant pressure to do it all? Have you been craving a less complicated life or ways to feel more at peace?
We’re kicking off our Spring Into Action series with today’s episode on creating lasting peace in our lives by strategically letting go using a minimalist mindset.
As a mom, I've experienced firsthand how chaos can take over. When multiple priorities compete for attention and distractions multiply, your mind races. Your natural rhythms get disrupted, and establishing any kind of routine feels impossible.
That's exactly why I'm excited to share proven strategies for bringing more peace and calm into your life, starting today. We'll explore how minimalist principles can transform your busy season into one of intention and purpose.
So if you’re ready for a minimalism mindset, then take a deep breath and hit play and together we can solve for Mom!
Episode Highlights
- (0:00): Teaser
- (3:16): Share your favorite SFM episode with a friend
- (3:50): Minimalist mindset
- (9:05): 1. Simplify your routines
- (11:30): 2. Intentional use of resources
- (13:01): Free Life Planning Quiz
- (13:26): 3. Declutter your space
- (17:57): 4. Digital minimalism
- (20:46): Re-cap
Resources Mentioned
⏮️ Learn how to stop clutter creep: EP 15: No Time for You? 5 Surprising Solutions for Moms
📖 “Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World” by Cal Newport
📖 “The Opt-Out Family: How to Give Your Kids What Technology Can't” by Erin Loechner
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
🎯 Balanced Mom Coaching Program
📱 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 Feb 23, 2025
Sunday Feb 23, 2025
Hello Successful Mama!
Do you ever feel like you’re always busy, yet never really accomplishing what truly matters to you? You’re juggling work, housework, and about a million other things—only to crash at the end of the day wondering whether it was time well-spent.
If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking, I just need better time management strategies… but still end up overwhelmed, this episode is for you.
Today, we’re breaking down how to shift from obligation-driven busyness to intentional, fulfilling productivity**.** Because being busy isn’t the problem—the problem is being busy with the things that don’t serve your values and priorities.
In today’s episode, I share 5 practical strategies to design a schedule that actually works for you. I also discuss the difference between being busy by default and purpose-driven productivity. I point out how societal pressure and mom guilt keep you overbooked.
Mama, you don’t have to do it all to feel accomplished. Let’s redefine busyness and create a life you love living—without the burnout…
If you’re ready to ditch the chaotic to-do list and start structuring your time around what truly matters, hit play! Together, we’ll Solve for Mom.
Episode Highlights
- (00:00) Teaser
- (02:37) Many moms identify themselves as busy
- (2:53) The difference between busyness & productivity
- (5:03) Mom guilt
- (8:14) 1. Time management self-awareness
- (9:15) 2. Life planning: Align your time to what is important to you
- (10:47): - Time audit tips
- (11:57) - Incorporate time minimalism into your schedule
- (12:09) 3. Boundaries on saying “Yes”
- (13:13): - Practice pausing to make intentional purpose-driven decisions
- (13:40): 4. Time blocking strategies & mistakes
- (17:02) 5. Review your time alignment
- (17:46) Recap
Links Mentioned in This Episode:
🎙️EP 1: Busy yet Restless? 3 Ways to Find Purpose as a Mom
🎙️EP 9: Why Making Time to Prioritize Yourself IS Serving Your Family
🎙️EP 19: Laws of Mom Life Dynamics - Managing Energy, Chaos & Balance
📖 Women spend less time on leisure & sports than men
👩💻 Ask me about my 1:1 Balanced Mom Coaching
Let’s Connect!
Become an SFM Insider for FREE twice monthly tips, tools, and exclusives
Cheering squad!
🙌 💕 Tap +Follow (it’s free!) and never miss an episode. Leave me a rating & review—your support helps other moms find the show!
Connect with Anokhi
// 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 12, 2025
Sunday Jan 12, 2025
Hello Amazing Mom!
Are you struggling to balance what you want to do with the responsibilities that you have to do? Do your days feel too chaotic and overwhelming? If you’ve ever wondered how to create energy, organization, simplicity, and balance, today’s episode is for you!
I share how the laws of thermodynamics can teach us about creating energy, flow, simplicity, and balance in our mom life! Yes, we’re getting a little nerdy—but trust me, this science-style approach will leave you feeling empowered, energized, and equipped with tactical strategies to handle any kind of day.
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Energy: Learn how to conserve and transform your energy to focus on what matters most. Find ways to stop wasting energy on things that drain you and start channeling it into things that fuel your goals and passions.
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Flow: Build systems that help you manage the unavoidable chaos of mom life, so your days feel smoother and more predictable.
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Simplicity: Why simplifying your commitments, environment, and goals can make life feel lighter and easier to manage.
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Balance: Redefine what balance means for you, then align your needs with your duties.
Episode Highlights:
- (00:00): Teaser
- (02:13): Become an SFM Insider
- (03:04): What moms can learn from thermodynamics about energy, simplicity, and balance
- (06:04): 1. The First Law: Energy conservation and transformation in your day
- (07:22) Life planning for energy redistribution
- (09:17): Time-blocking & strategic planning
- (09:31): Types of energy in our day
- (10:28): 2. The Second Law: Embracing chaos and building systems to manage it
- (11:03): Building systems
- (13:04): 3. The Third Law: How simplifying leads to more time and mental space.
- (14:27)): Minimum viable day
- (15:34): Focus funnel
- (16:31): 4. The Zeroth Law: Balancing individuality with family time
- (19:40): Re-cap of the tactical tips to put these laws into action
If you’re ready to wrangle your untamed mom life, hit play, and together we can solve for Mom!
References:
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
// Science-based life planning to excel while prioritizing family time //