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
8 hours ago
8 hours ago
STOP OVER-GIVING & UNDER-EARNING
Women in STEM can earn more money—without sacrificing time or energy. If you’ve ever felt the “motherhood penalty” at work or wondered why you’re still underpaid even while over-delivering, this episode is your permission slip.
Today’s guest is wealth consciousness advisor, Sarah Walton, and she breaks down why moms in demanding careers like STEM often under‑earn + over‑function—and how to unapologetically set boundaries with higher standards and clean asks.
Join us as we uncover the Over‑Giver Tax, how to spot when you’re “paying to work,” and practical ways to advocate for pay and flexibility—so your success doesn’t cost your health or family.
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EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
💰 (0:00): Teaser & Introduction
💰 (4:45): Why high-achieving women end up under-earning + over-functioning
💰 (6:11): High Functioning Codependence and the conditioning behind people-pleasing
💰 (14:36): The hidden cost of being praised as “selfless”
💰 (16:35): Stop apologizing (and stop managing other people’s reactions)
💰 (18:50): Finding the “third door”
💰 (20:07): Sarah’s famous Grocery Store story
💰 (32:12): The Over-Giver Tax and how to reset standards without guilt
💰 (38:27): Money is feedback for alignment (congruence between love and compensation)
💰 (39:30): Sarah on Wealth Consciousness
💰 (43:05): Clarifying the relationship between money and time
💰 (45:43): A simple approach to getting your ideal pay, role, or job flexibility
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NEXT STEP
➡️ Share this episode with another gal pal who could use a pay boost!
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ABOUT SARAH WALTON
Sarah Walton is a wealth consciousness advocate who helps high-achieving women stop negotiating against themselves. As host of The Game On Girlfriend Podcast (323+ episodes), she helps put more money in the hands of more women through her mindset coaching on pay, role scope, and work flexibility.
- The Game On Girlfriend Podcast - https://sarahwalton.com/podcast/
- Freedom Calculator (free download): https://sarahwalton.com/freedom/
- Website: https://sarahwalton.com/
- IG: https://www.instagram.com/thesarahwalton/
- FB: https://www.facebook.com/sarahwaltonpage
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSarahWalton
- Tik Tok: www.tiktok.com/@thesarahwalton
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QUOTABLE MOMENTS ON MONEY FOR WOMEN IN SCIENCE
- “Wealth consciousness doesn't always mean money. I'm talking about wealth in love, wealth in health, wealth in relationships, wealth in life, wealth in living.”
- “We don't apologize anymore. We say, ‘I've got to go.’ You don't have to say why. It's none of their business.”
- “These years fly by so fast. And not one of us looks back and says, ‘Yeah, but I wish I had made that marketing meeting.’ …Nobody, nobody thinks that. And so to do that to ourselves in the moment is such a disservice.”
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KEEP LEARNING ON THIS TOPIC
- Book Sarah Mentioned: “Boundary Boss” by Terri Cole – 📚 https://boundarybossbook.com
- Is guilt causing you to over-give? – ⏮️ EP 116: How To Pursue Career Goals in Science Without Mom Guilt | Work Life Balance Tips (Podcast)
- False narratives that trip up women in STEM – ⏮️ Women in STEM: 6 Work‑Life Balance Traps Disguised as “Helpful” Advice (Podcast)
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HELPING MOMS IN STEM
🎙️Interested in a guest interview on Science Careers for Moms? → Apply Here
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STAY CONNECTED
🌐 Visit solveformom.com for more information and FREE resources
👍🏽 Tap +Follow and never miss an episode
💌 Grab my free Sci-Mom Says newsletter
📫 E-mail hello@solveformom.com
🔬Connect with me on LinkedIn as a fellow PhD researcher & scientific consultant
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.
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🌐 Visit solveformom.com for more information and FREE resources
📫 E-mail hello@solveformom.com