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
Apr 6, 2025
Apr 6, 2025
23 min
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 //
Mar 30, 2025
Mar 30, 2025
22 min
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 //
Mar 23, 2025
Mar 23, 2025
24 min
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 //
Mar 17, 2025
Mar 17, 2025
33 min
Hello Wonderful Mom!
Are you working off an impossible to-do list, and then feel like a failure when you cannot finish it all? Are you frustrated by starting work and then other tasks stealing your time and throwing your whole day off?
Stop what you’re doing right now and hit PLAY NOW!
In today’s episode, I speak with Aubree Felderhoff, professional organizer & time management specialist, about understanding time management for busy moms - the moms who are doing all of the juggling, scheduling, prepping, caring for, cleaning, planning…
This episode is jam-packed with tactical changes that you can make today to reclaim time. She breaks down some of the biggest mistakes and pitfalls that moms make. After experiencing a life-changing chronic illness that stole several years from her motherhood, once recovered, Aubree was had a renewed sense of intentionality in her mom life and family time. In her pursuit to maximize her time with her kids, Aubree implemented simple systems that helped her shift from survival mode to running her home effectively and efficiently. Aubree explains how systems allow you to stop wasting time and help help you from overwhelm.
If you’re ready to feel successful with your time, hit play and together we can solve for Mom!
A few quotable moments:
“Time is really my passion because of my history of feeling as if so much had seeped through my fingers... out of all the resources that God gave us on this earth, time is the only thing we can never make more of."
"If you don't have the systems and the structure set up in the background to help you, you're going to stay trapped in that reactive mode."
"It was just almost an addiction to busyness... we get so much satisfaction of accomplishing so much by being so busy. But so often at the end of the day, we sit down and feel as if we've accomplished nothing."
Episode Highlights
- (0:00): Teaser
- (1:51): Introduction to Aubree Felderhoff
- (5:21): “Invisible” tasks that make time management challenging
- (7:40): Time-saving home management system for reclaiming health & time
- (10:04): Leaning how to be intentional with your time
- (11:40): How to implement plans & systems into your family rhythm
- (14:30): Will time management be your next passion project?
- (16:54): Why time management as moms is different than in our careers
- (19:42): A simple way to prioritize amidst the daily chaos
- (22:32): Intentional living and planning increases freedom as a busy mom
- (26:19): Setting boundaries on your time is a skill
- (29:11): This mama’s definition of success
Aubree’s Links Mentioned
- Podcast: Mom Intentional
- Website: www.momintentional.com
- FB Group: Mom Intentional Club
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!
👩💻 Ask me about my 1:1 Balanced Mom Coaching
// Science-based life planning to excel while prioritizing family time //
Mar 9, 2025
Mar 9, 2025
21 min
Hello Wonderful Mom!
Are you feeling overwhelmed trying to juggle the demands of work, family, and personal time? Do you find yourself constantly searching for that elusive work-life balance, only to feel like you're falling short?
Moms, if work-life balance feels like an impossible dream, this episode is for you! Many moms share this struggle, feeling the pressure to excel in their careers while being present for their families.
We’re diving deep into the real reasons why balance feels so elusive—and spoiler alert: it’s not because you’re not trying hard enough. The truth is, we’re often looking in the wrong places, which keeps us stuck in cycles that don’t actually help. In this episode, I’m revealing the four hidden reasons behind your struggle and, more importantly, how to fix them. Get ready for some major aha moments and practical solutions that actually make sense for your life!
In today’s episode, I expose hidden mistakes moms make when trying to create balance (and what to do instead). I share:
- Why productivity hacks and fancy planners won’t fix work-life balance
- Mistakes moms make when trying to create balance (and what to do instead)
- How to stop focusing on the wrong problem and start making real progress
- Why time management isn’t the whole answer (and what matters even more)
- The powerful shift that will help you reclaim your time and energy
Episode Highlights
- (0:00): Teaser
- (01:59): Update from my live Planning Time for Success workshop
- (03:08): Balanced Mom Coaching
- (03:53): Introduction
- (04:44): 1. You might be solving the wrong problem
- (09:50): 2. You’re approaching balance from the wrong direction
- (11:34): 3. You don’t have a clear definition for success
- (12:22): 4. You’re following someone else’s plan
- (14:00): Solution for sustainable work-life balance
- (18:56): Recap
If you’re ready to approach work-life balance the right way, hit play and together we can solve for Mom!
Links Mentioned:
👩💻 Ask me about my 1:1 Balanced Mom 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!
Connect with Anokhi
// Science-based life planning to excel while prioritizing family time //
Mar 2, 2025
Mar 2, 2025
18 min
Hey Successful Mama!
Are you setting goals for yourself—only to have them derailed by sick kids, last-minute school projects, or the never-ending mental load? Maybe you dream of growing your business, homeschooling with more intention, or simply making time for self-care… but you find it hard to balance your goals with your family’s needs.
I get it. I’ve been there.
If you’ve ever felt guilty, overwhelmed, or stuck when trying to set personal goals, this episode will help you find balance so you can thrive in BOTH motherhood and your passions.
I once took on an exciting new project that challenged me professionally. I was learning, growing—but also missing out on precious family moments. I thought achieving success in one area meant sacrificing another. But the truth? You don’t have to choose between your personal goals and your family. You just need a better way to align them.
In today’s episode, I share how to set goals that fit your season of motherhood (without frustration or burnout) by first defining your family’s core values so your goals don’t pull you in opposite directions. I explain why family-centered time management is the key - not the barrier - to making progress. Listen in to learn how to structure your schedule for flexibility—because, let’s be real, mom life is unpredictable. I also share the secret to choosing goals that create time freedom, not just more hustle.
If you’re ready to make progress on your goals without sacrificing family time, hit play! Together, we can Solve for Mom.
Episode Highlights
- (0:00): Teaser
- (4:40): The real reason moms struggle to make personal goals stick
- (6:46): Strategies focused on your family’s core identity to shape your goals
- (7:06): 1. What are your roles?
- (7:55): 2. What are your family’s values & priorities?
- (9:26): 3. What does success look like for your family?
- (10:44): 4. Integrate your family with your goals
- (11:34): Strategies focused on managing time centered on family
- (11:39): 5. Work around family non-negotiables for goal-setting without mom guilt
- (12:40): 6. Create an adaptable schedule that actually works for busy moms
- (15:05): 7. Lean towards goals that don’t disrupt family energy or harmony
- (17:15): Re-cap
Links Mentioned in This Episode:
📚 The Wild + Free Family by Ainsley Arment
👩💻 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 //
Feb 28, 2025
Feb 28, 2025
5 min
📣You’re Invited to my Free 1-hour Live - Planning Time for Success Workshop!
🗓️ Tuesday, March 4 @ 8 PM EST (5 PM PST / 6 PM MST / 7 PM CT)
🔗 Save your seat! https://solveformom.myflodesk.com/planningtimelive
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 //
Feb 23, 2025
Feb 23, 2025
20 min
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 //