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 Jun 15, 2025
Sunday Jun 15, 2025
❓I’m collecting questions for a Q&A episode! Send me your questions or email me at hello@solveformom.com
Hello Successful Mom!
If you an ambitious mom that’s feeling lost in the daily juggle of motherhood and missing those passions and interests that used to light you up, then today's episode is for you! It’s also for those of you who find themselves dreaming about creating your own success and getting back some of your financial freedom.
This episode outlines a practical 4-step framework to help you rediscover your passions which you can turn into potential income streams that fit into your busy mom life.
If you’re ready to reignite your interests and create some side-hustle fire, then hit play and together we can Solve for Mom!
Episode Highlights:
- (0:00): Introduction
- (2:03): Listener review
- (2:34): Experiment with your passions
- (4:46): 1. identify & prioritize your passions
- (12:13): 2. Plan out the project
- (14:01): 3. Take meaningful action
- (15:24): 4. Two paths to monetizing your passions
- (22:08): Recap
References Mentioned:
⏮️ EP 1: Busy yet Restless? 3 Ways to Find Purpose as a Mom
⏮️ Working on a Home Project? Get it DONE While Focusing on Family Time [Part 1 & 2]
Tools & Resources:
💌 Unlock exclusive time-saving tips and insider secrets every ambitious mom needs - join the SFM Insider newsletter for FREE today!
📝 Free Life Planning Quiz
🎯 Book a complimentary Exploratory call to discover how personalized life planning can help you create the balanced mom life you deserve!
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
// Meaningful Work by Aligning Your Time With Who Your Are //
Sunday May 25, 2025
Sunday May 25, 2025
Hello Ambitious Mom!
Ready to explore flexible work arrangements that could transform your work-life balance? In today's episode (Part 2), I'm diving deep into creative work setups that give you more control over your time while maintaining your professional growth.
As a mom who's experienced it all - from part-time work to homeschooling while running a business - I'm sharing the real insights about less traditional work arrangements. You'll discover practical strategies for making each setup work, including part-time options, contract positions, and home business opportunities.
Make sure you are caught up on last week’s Part 1: EP 39: I Tried Every Mom Work Set-up - Here's What You Need to Know Before Planning Your Career [Part 1]
If you’re ready to craft a meaningful career that works for YOU, then hit play and let’s solve for mom!
Episode Highlights
- (0:00): Introduction
- (1:56): Subscribe to this podcast (it’s free!)
- (2:08): Flexible work arrangements
- (2:43): Why I chose a career shift to part-time WAHM
- (3:18): How be a successful part-time working mom
- (7:51): Daytime vs. Nighttime WAHM
- (13:40): Contract work and maintaining professional growth
- (18:56): Running a home business while balancing family life
- (22:34): 🎯 Career planning sessions with Anokhi
- (23:30): My take on being a homeschooling mom
- (30:14): Don’t overlook an internship during motherhood
- (34:24): Recap Success factors for flexible jobs
- (32:28): Become an SFM Insider
Resources Mentioned:
💌 Become an SFM Insider for FREE weekly tips, tools, and exclusives
📞 Complimentary Exploratory Call
Let’s Connect!
👍🏽 Tap +Follow and never miss an episode. Leave me a 🤩 rating & review—your support helps other moms find the show!
🎁 FREE RESOURCE: Take our Life Planning Quiz to discover your ideal work arrangement: solveformom.com/quiz
🎯 Balanced Mom Coaching Program
📱 Solve for Mom group on LinkedIn
❓ Questions? Email me at hello@solveformom.com
// Meaningful work by aligning your time with who you are //
Sunday May 11, 2025
Sunday May 11, 2025
Hello Amazing Mom!
Do you ever feel like your worth is measured by the number of checkboxes ticked off on your to-do list? Are you constantly battling the guilt of unfinished tasks while trying to maintain your sense of self?
We all know that feeling - our to-do lists have somehow transformed from a simple organizational tool into a harsh judge of our value as mothers.
In today's episode, I share powerful strategies to help you break free from the task-based identity trap and reclaim who you truly are beyond your daily responsibilities. You’ll understand values-based systems, the importance of getting family involved with tasks, how to take conversations with friends beyond the tasks that keep us busy, and much more. Remember: You are not defined by your task list. Your worth extends far beyond what you accomplish in a day.
If you're ready to reclaim your identity beyond your to-do list, hit play and together we can solve for Mom!
Episode Highlights
- (0:00): Teaser
- (2:02): Free invitation to the SFM Newsletter
- (2:57): Modern homemakers intertwine identity and responsibilities
- (4:14): Understanding who you are vs. what you do
- (7:20): Don’t let your tasks control you
- (10:16): Make a fair assessment on your productivity
- (11:39): Prioritize - not all tasks are equal
- (12:28): Plan buffers into your schedule
- (13:11): The self-worth toll of task-based identity
- (17:31): Converse deeply with friends about who you are beyond your responsibilities
Resources Mentioned:
⏮️ Description of the Focus Funnel
⏮️ EP 31: Calm Your Overwhelm by Planning With a Minimalist Mindset
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
// Meaningful work by aligning you time with who you are //
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 Mar 23, 2025
Sunday Mar 23, 2025
Hello Amazing Mama!
Imagine waking up knowing exactly what you need to do, how much time it will take, and having a clear path to get it all done. Planning is essential to simplify our overwhelming responsibilities and hectic schedules.
Do you find that it’s hard to create plans that work for your specific rhythm? Why don’t traditional planning methods work well for busy moms? If your day is in constant fluctuation - whether it be waves tiredness, unpredictable schedules, or too many moving parts - then you’ll want to listen in on how you can make any plan work for you!
In today's episode, I share 5 essential optimizations that can transform how you approach planning as a busy mom. I'll break down my clear method for customizing my plans to work with our chaotic mom lives.
If you’re ready to level up your planning game, hit play and together we can solve for Mom!
Episode Highlights
- (0:00) Teaser
- (02:48) The overwhelm of scattered days and lost productivity
- (04:19) Balanced Mom Coaching
- (07:10) Optimization #1: Planning for the Outcome
- (08:50) Optimization #2: Information Management
- (11:52) Optimization #3: Incorporating Your Environment
- (14:21) Optimization #4: Your Specific Time Needs
- (16:38) Optimization #5: Energy Considerations
- (19:30): Re-cap
Resources Mentioned:
🎯 Balanced Mom Coaching Program
EP 10: Why Planning is the Key to Time Freedom for Moms
EP 4: Working on a Home Project? Get it DONE While Focusing on Family Time [Part 2]
📖 Planning is a predictor of lower stress
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
📱 Connect 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 //