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 Aug 22, 2025
Friday Aug 22, 2025
Your packed schedule feels like one long to-do list with constant overwhelm—saying "yes" to too many commitments until you're completely exhausted with nothing left for yourself or your family.
And somehow you're still supposed to honor your individuality while being the mom you want to be?
➔ This episode is your permission slip to say "no."
I'm walking you through the four strategies I used to break free from overcommitment—going from pulling all-nighters and health issues to finally reclaiming control of my schedule.
You weren't meant to be constantly overwhelmed and exhausted. This mindset shift will help you feel empowered to make conscious choices, create better work-life balance, and finally find time for personal growth without the guilt, stress, or constant feeling of drowning in responsibilities.
If you’re ready to say "yes" to what truly matters, then hit play and together we can Achieve Your Ambitious Mom life!
Episode Highlights
- (0:00): Teaser
- (2:36): Why saying "no" is essential for high-achieving, ambitious women
- (4:43): What happened when I became intentional about my schedule
- (5:55): 1. How the power of journaling helps reveal what truly deserves your time
- (7:18): 2. The life planning method that makes prioritization decisions easier
- (10:42): 3. A visual strategy that helps even children understand time constraints (with a real example from my son's experience)
- (13:29): 4. The simple first step to practice this week for immediate relief
- (14:50): Wrap-up
Resources Mentioned:
Book your Free Exploratory call 📞 with Anokhi now!
Free Resources
💌 Become an SFM Insider for FREE weekly tips, tools, and exclusives
✍🏻 The go-to blog for ambitious moms
📱Life Planning Quiz
📝 Template - Personal Code of Conduct
🌐 Visit solveformom.com for more information
Let's Connect!
👍🏽 Tap +Follow and never miss an episode. Leave me a 🤩 rating & review—your support helps other moms find the show!
❓Questions? Leave me a message
➡️ Tag @solveformom on LinkedIn and Pinterest
📫 E-mail hello@solveformom.com
// Life Planning Tools for Moms Who Want to Make a Difference ay Home & Work //
Monday Aug 04, 2025
Monday Aug 04, 2025
Hello Wonderful Mom!
Are you constantly feeling scattered and overwhelmed by your busy schedule? Do you struggle with finding enough time in your day while still prioritizing your family? Does your to-do list feel never-ending, leaving you with that nagging feeling that you're not doing any one thing really well?
In today's episode, I share my game-changing T.I.M.E. Block Method - a practical framework specifically designed for ambitious moms who want to conquer their busy schedules without sacrificing family time. This method will help you move from feeling constantly distracted to having focused, intentional blocks in your day.
If you're ready to finally gain control over your schedule, then hit play so so you can Achieve Your Ambitious Mom Life!
Episode Highlights:
- (0:00): Teaser
- (1:31): ❓Ask me your question!
- (2:04): Introduction to the T.I.M.E. Block Method
- (2:13): Listener question about traditional time blocking challenges
- (4:43): Why ambitious moms struggle with scattered thinking and constant distractions
- (6:35): What is time blocking?
- (7:20): The mental load of carrying everything in your head
- (8:44): Why time blocking hasn’t work for you so far
- (9:25): Life planning and time audits
- (11:38): T - Tasks & roles
- (12:50): I - Identify priorities first
- (16:46): M - Minimize context switching for better productivity
- (19:52): E - Expect interruptions and plan buffer time
- (21:34): Book your Free Exploratory call 📞 💫with Anokhi now!
- (23:06: Wrap-up & Recap
Links Mentioned in Episode:
⏮️ Learn more about scheduling buffers - EP 46: Want More Time? 3 Easy Time Management Tips to Take Back Your Day
⏮️ Details on the Focus Funnel - EP 19: 4 Rules for Busy Moms - How to Manage Energy, Chaos & Balance
📖 Shantz JA. Battling Parkinson's Law. CMAJ. 2008 Oct 21;179(9):968.
New to Life Planning?
🧩 Free Life Planning Quiz
🎯 Life Planning – How to Design & Achieve a Life That’s Right for You
Free Resources
💌 Become an SFM Insider for weekly tips, tools, and exclusives
✍🏻 The go-to blog for ambitious moms
📝 Personal Code of Conduct Template
🌐 Visit solveformom.com for more information
// Meaningful Work by Aligning Your Time With Who Your Are //
Let's Connect!
👍🏽 Tap +Follow and never miss an episode. Leave me a 🤩 rating & review—your support helps other moms find the show!
📧 [hello@solveformom.com](mailto:hello@solveformom.comhello@solveformom.com)
➡️ Tag @solveformom on LinkedIn and Pinterest
// Optimize Daily Decisions By Aligning Your Time to Your Values //
Friday Jul 04, 2025
Friday Jul 04, 2025
Hello Ambitious Mom!
Has summer break thrown your carefully crafted routines into complete chaos? Do you feel like your personal goals get completely lost in the summer shuffle?
Many ambitious moms find themselves scrambling to make the most of the time with their kids and family while desperately wanting to double down on projects that have gone to the wayside. When your days become jam-packed with managing everyone else's summer activities, your own goals keep getting pushed to the bottom of your to-do list, leaving you feeling scattered and disconnected from yourself just when summer should be bringing you freedom, lightness, and joy.
In today's episode, I share how to create a 3-step vision for summer break that actually fills your cup instead of draining it. You'll discover how to create harmony between family time and personal needs, find those precious pockets of time for your own refreshment, and use summer's different rhythm to reconnect with your personal goals and identity.
This is a show about vision casting for your summer, where I teach you how intentional planning will help you transform from surviving to thriving during these precious summer months.
If you're ready to stop dreading summer and embrace all the awesomeness that comes with summer break, hit play and together we can Achieve Your Ambitious Mom Life
Episode Highlights
- (0:00): Teaser
- (2:21): Submit questions for Figure It Out Friday episodes
- (3:00): Why ambitious moms struggle during summer break
- (6:09): Understanding vision casting for seasonal planning
- (7:50): It's never too late to implement your summer vision plan!
- (9:24): Step 1: Reconnect with yourself
- (12:59): Step 2: Connect during family time
- (14:33): Step 3: Schedule personal development and career growth to synchronize with the summer rhythm
- (17:59): Treat summer break as a change in your “scheduling environment”
- (21:34): How these three components work together to create a fulfilling summer
Resources Mentioned:
❓ Ask me a life planning question
📞 Schedule a free call with Anokhi
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 and exclusive content
🎯 Balanced Mom Coaching Program
📱 Join our community on LinkedIn
📫 Email me at hello@solveformom.com
// Optimize Daily Decisions By Aligning Your Time to Your Values //
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 //
Monday May 19, 2025
Monday May 19, 2025
Hello Ambitious Mom!
Are you feeling torn between your career ambitions and family time? Wondering if there's a better work setup that could give you more flexibility without sacrificing your professional growth?
In today's episode - Part 1 of two episodes, I'm sharing my extensive experience with different work arrangements as a mom. As someone who's tried everything from full-time office work to remote positions, stay-at-home mom life, and running my own business, I'll help you understand the real freedoms and limitations of each setup. You’ll discover why there's no one-size-fits-all solution for working moms and how to factor in your financial needs, career goals, and family's unique situation to find the best work set-up that fits your lifestyle and values.
If you’re ready to experience your career transformation, hit play and together we can solve for Mom!
Tune in next week for part 2: EP 41: I Tried Every Mom Work Set-up - Here's What You Need to Know Before Choosing a Flexible Job [Part 2]
Episode Highlights
- (0:00): Introduction
- (2:05): Listener review
- (2:57): Caveat to this conversation
- (4:40): My career shifts
- (12:05): Working mom with a traditional full-time office job
- (16:51): Full-time remote working mom - How to make it work for you
- (22:01) Stay-at-Home Mom Life - The real truth about this setup
- (27:57): Recap
- (32:28): Become an SFM Insider
Resources Mentioned:
⏮️ EP 18: How to Measure Success as a Mom: Balancing Numbers & Narratives
💌 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!
🎯 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 //
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 //