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
Jul 13, 2025
Jul 13, 2025
17 min
Hello Amazing Mama!
Are you feeling lost in the daily chaos of motherhood? Are you struggling to balance family responsibilities while trying to follow your own dreams? Do you often find yourself putting your personal growth aside because you are too busy with everyone else's needs?
In today's special rerun episode, I'm sharing the complete framework for life planning. This framework has helped many dedicated moms move from feeling overwhelmed and lost to creating meaningful, fulfilling lives that reflect both their family values and personal goals.
This episode (originally aired as EP 8: Life Planning 101) breaks down exactly what life planning is, why it's essential for moms who want to reclaim their identity beyond motherhood, and how to create a custom roadmap that aligns with your unique values and vision.
I'll walk you through my proven, step-by-step approach to creating your personal life plan. - We will cover everything from defining your vision and mission to identifying your core values and setting meaningful goals that actually stick. You will see how this framework reduces decision fatigue and creates more time for what really matters in your life.
For a deeper dive into this topic, check out the comprehensive blog post at where I expand on these concepts with additional practical tips and exercises.
Ready to create a roadmap for your most fulfilling life? Grab your favorite planning tool and let's Achieve Your Ambitious Mom Life!
Episode Highlights
- (0:00): Welcome
- (02:01): Background
- (02:11): What is life planning? Your personal roadmap for success
- (04:43): What is life planning? Your personal roadmap for success
- (06:14): Why intentional life planning is crucial for ambitious moms
- (07:17): When to start your life planning journey (hint: now!)
- (07:49): Who needs a life plan? Every mom feeling "stuck in survival mode"
- (08:18): Where to create your life plan for maximum results
- (09:24): How to develop your custom life plan (step-by-step framework)
- (10:10): 1. Vision - Planning your destination first
- (10:39): 2. Mission - Aligning your actions with your purpose
- (11:17): 3. Values - The foundation that guides every decision
- (12:53): 4. Goals & Decisions - Eliminating overwhelm and creating focused action
- (16:26): Recap and your next steps for implementation
Resources Mentioned:
✍🏻 Blog: Life Planning – How to Design & Achieve a Life That’s Right for You
⏮️ Learn about the Chunk & Check method in EP 4: Working on a Home Project? Get it DONE While Focusing on Your Family [Part 2]
⏮️ Start creating your mission statement with EP 5: Reset to Pursue Your Passion Work With Confidence
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 → Book your Free Exploratory call 📞 with Anokhi now!
📱 Solve for Mom group on LinkedIn
❓ Questions? Email me at hello@solveformom.com
🌐 solveformom.com for more resources on life planning and personal growth
// Meaningful Work by Aligning Your Time With Who Your Are //
Jul 11, 2025
Jul 11, 2025
19 min
Hello Intentional Mom!
Are you feeling like you're constantly breaking promises to yourself? Do you set goals for how you want to live your life, only to let them go when you feel tired or when life gets busy?
In today's episode, I share a strong framework that helps ambitious moms set personal standards through a Personal Code of Conduct - a 6-step accountability plan that connects your daily actions with your life plan.
This episode is about creating balance across all your roles as a purpose-driven mom. I’ll show you how a Personal Code of Conduct can help you stop feeling overwhelmed and reclaim your identity while showing up as your best self. Keep listening to get a free companion resource to this episode!
Episode Highlights
- (0:00): Teaser
- (2:49): My personal story of breaking promises to myself
- (6:01): How a Personal Code of Conduct fits into the self-discovery to achieve (SPA+) framework
- (7:44): Ambitious moms who want to fill the gap between their goals and their habits
- (10:58): The 6-step process to create your own personal code & accountability plan
- (16:29): Recap
- (17:38): 🎁 Make your Personal Code today
If you're ready to stop drowning in your day-to-day so you can feel like yourself again through values-based systems, hit play and together we can solve for Mom!
Resources Mentioned:
🎯 Balanced Mom Coaching Program
💌 Become an SFM Insider for FREE weekly tips, tools, and exclusives
📝 Free Template - Personal Code of Conduct
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
// Create Impact at Home & Work Through Values-based Systems //
Jul 6, 2025
Jul 6, 2025
25 min
Hello Amazing Mom!
Are you constantly finding yourself deep in your email inbox or scrolling social media without knowing why you’re there? Do you feel like your brain is in one place and your body is going through the motions of something else? If you're are struggling with distractions and want to reclaim focus, this episode is for you!
As high-achieving moms, we often experience what feels like a constant state of distraction. The good news? It's not a character flaw - it's a common experience with scientific roots in how our brains change through motherhood.
In today’s Part 1 of the Stay Focused two-part series, I share why your brain seems hardwired for distraction and provide 5 practical fixes that will help you reclaim your focus, boost your productivity, and preserve your energy. You will learn how to eliminate common distraction triggers so you can finally stop feeling like you're drowning in your day-to-day.
If you're ready to stop overthinking and conquer distraction, then hit play and together we can RECLAIM FOCUS to Achieve Your Ambitious Mom Life!
Episode Highlights
- (0:00): Teaser
- (2:49): The distraction cycle many high-achieving moms experience
- (4:27): The science behind "mom brain" and why our focus changes
- (6:05): Why multi-tasking is actually draining your energy
- (9:10): The 5 common distraction triggers for ambitious moms
- (9:33): 1. How to stop your devices from distracting you
- (12:09): 2. Have a system for capturing & organizing your ideas
- (14:39): 📞 Schedule a free call with Anokhi
- (15:54): 3. Set boundaries on opinion overwhelm when you are distracted
- (18:59): 4. Use an “intuition-first approach” so you can focus on your purpose
- (21:29): 5. How to beat perfectionism when the details distract you from taking action
- (23:09): Recap
Resources Mentioned:
⏪️ EP 31: Calm Your Overwhelm by Planning With a Minimalist Mindset [Spring Into Action Series]
⏪️ EP 3: Working on a Home Project? Get it DONE While Focusing on Family Time
📖 Pritschet, L., Taylor, C.M., Cossio, D. et al. Neuroanatomical changes observed over the course of a human pregnancy. Nat Neurosci 27, 2253–2260 (2024).
📚 “The Opt-Out Family: How to Give Your Kids What Technology Can't” by Erin Loechner
🎯 Balanced Mom Coaching Program - Create personalized systems to help you stop drowning in your day-to-day
💌 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!
📱 Solve for Mom group on LinkedIn
❓ Ask me a life planning question
📫 Email me at hello@solveformom.com
// Create Impact at Home & Work Through Values-based Systems //
Jul 4, 2025
Jul 4, 2025
24 min
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 //
Jun 29, 2025
Jun 29, 2025
26 min
Hello Goal-driven Mama!
Do you often feel like you don't have time for fitness? Are you torn between taking care of your family and yourself? Have you tried intense workout programs only to abandon them when life gets hectic?
So many high-achieving moms struggle with the same challenge – including me! We want to prioritize health without sacrificing precious family time.
In today's episode, I talk with Rachel DeSonier, a registered dietitian, certified personal trainer, and mom of 5 who specializes in helping women build confidence through simple, effective strength training routines. Rachel shares practical advice for moms who want to get stronger and feel better without spending hours at the gym.
Our conversation is full of topics that I was surprised to find were related to fitness:
- How to deprioritize
- Honesty & purpose
- Black & white thinking
- Being a steward of your body
- Boundaries
- Building huts
- Emotional eating
If you're ready to find a no-guilt, sustainable system to fitness that fits into your busy mom life, hit play and together we can Achieve Your Ambitious Mom Life!
Selected Quotable Moments
"I think that a really great way to have fantastic fitness - whether you need weight loss, you're wanting to get strong, or your wish to be more functional as you age - is to really start small and be really strategic with what you choose to implement.”
"The mindset shift that I take is making sure that what we say aligns with what our schedule goes to."
"All exercise is, is communicating what sort of adaptation you want your body to develop. Strength training signals to your body that we need bigger muscles to move this load next time."
Episode Highlights
- (0:00): Teaser
- (2:31): Greeting
- (4:09): Rachel shares the exciting trend of moms focusing on fitness for long-term health
- (6:02): Why the all-or-nothing approach fails most women and what to do instead
- (11:06): A mindset shift to prioritizing healthy habits & modeling for your family
- (12:48): Life planning is a simple system for aligning your core values
- (15:49): How to start small with strategic fitness implementations & adapting to challenges to build confidence and mental resilience
- (19:30): How strength training can be more time-efficient than other workouts
- (20:13): A holistic approach to health includes nutrition & meal planning to support strength training
- (21:20): How to tackle overwhelm related to individualized health goals
- (23:48): Wrap-up & Rachel's plan to create impact
Rachel’s Links Mentioned:
- 🎧 Podcast: Effective Weight Loss for Moms
- FB Group: Strength Training for Moms
- IG: @effectivefitnessforwomen
- 🏋️♀️ Downloadable freebie: No Fear Weight Room Tour
Connect with Anokhi:
👍🏽 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
// Optimize Daily Decisions By Aligning Your Time to Your Values //
Jun 27, 2025
Jun 27, 2025
22 min
📣 Achieve Your Ambitious Mom Life podcast was formerly the Solve for Mom podcast. It’s a bold, new title but includes the same great content that you’re used to! ✨
Hello Wonderful Mom!
Do you remember that woman who had passions, dreams, and a spark in her eyes before motherhood took over? Are you overwhelmed and disconnected from yourself while constantly trying to live up to society's expectations?
As a PhD researcher who built a successful career only to find myself completely lost becoming a mom, I know exactly what it feels like when life is just happening to you and you are desperately searching for purpose beyond the daily grind.
In today's milestone 50th episode, I'm getting vulnerable and sharing my personal journey of how I went from feeling stuck in the most challenging stage of my motherhood to rediscovering my authentic self through intentional self-discovery.
This is not just my story - it's a roadmap for anyone who's thinking, "I want to feel like myself again…" or struggling to rediscover your identity while balancing family responsibilities.
You'll learn how I transformed from constantly putting everyone else first to creating a life plan that helped me reconnect with what makes me feel like me again. No more waiting for later to pursue your dreams or neglecting your time for personal growth!
This is a show about finding yourself again in motherhood, and it's powerful because I'm showing you how life planning can help you transition from feeling like a shell of a person, stuck in a work-parent-sleep cycle to confidently creating a life where you can do things for yourself while still being an amazing mom.
If you're ready to break free from putting your dreams on hold and start your own journey back to purposeful living, hit play and together we can Achieve Your Ambitious Mom Life!
🩷 Sending you a big hug and permission to rediscover yourself today! You've got this, mama!
Episode Highlights
- (0:00): Teaser
- (3:03): Listener review
- (4:07): Accomplishment as a career woman
- (8:16): Identity crisis in motherhood
- (12:40): Applying my professional strategic thinking to my personal life
- (15:15): Becoming the CEO of my life through intentional life planning
- (16:11): How you can start your own self-discovery journey to find purpose in motherhood
- (20:12): Rediscovering my passions while prioritizing family
- (20:44): Why I renamed this podcast
Resources Mentioned:
📞 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 Insider for FREE weekly tips, tools, and exclusives
📱 Solve for Mom on LinkedIn
❓ Questions? Email me at hello@solveformom.com
🎯 Balanced Mom Coaching Program
// Life Planning Tools for Moms Who Want to Make a Difference //
Jun 22, 2025
Jun 22, 2025
14 min
❓I’m collecting questions for a Q&A episode! Please send me your questions or email me at hello@solveformom.com
Hello Amazing Mom!
Are you feeling torn between your identity as a high-achieving professional and your role as a mom? Have you heard people say that work-life balance is impossible and that you have to choose between career success and being present for your family?
I believe this "work-life balance is a myth" message is actually the real lie that's holding too many capable moms back. When I became a mom, my identity was deeply intertwined with my accomplishments, and I struggled with the pressure to put all my professional dreams on hold. (Maybe you can relate!)
In today's episode, I'm sharing why work-life balance is absolutely achievable for high-achieving moms and how you can create a life that honors both your ambitions and your family. We'll explore how to stop feeling guilty about wanting both a meaningful career AND quality family time.
You’ll learn:
✔️ The true meaning of work-life balance
✔️ Why high-achieving moms need both family fulfillment and achievement to feel complete
✔️ The 5W+1H problem-solving framework for work-life balance
✔️ How to create systems to methodically build a balanced lifestyle
If you're ready to stop feeling overwhelmed and instead find the right work-life balance for YOU, hit play and together we can Solve for Mom!
Episode Highlights
- (0:00): Teaser
- (1:58): My personal journey with work-life balance as a high-achieving mom
- (3:05): Why the "work-life balance is a myth" message is harmful
- (5:32): Understanding what work-life balance truly means
- (8:41): How being intentional with your time creates sustainable balance - 5W+1H framework
- (12:19): Wrap-up on building your ideal, balanced life
Resources Mentioned:
📞 Schedule a free call with Anokhi
💌 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!
📱 Solve for Mom group on LinkedIn
❓ Questions? Email me at hello@solveformom.com
🎯 Balanced Mom Coaching Program
// Meaningful Work by Aligning Your Time With Who Your Are //
Jun 20, 2025
Jun 20, 2025
18 min
❓I’m collecting questions for a Q&A episode! Send me your questions or email me at hello@solveformom.com
Hi Goal-Setting Moms!
Are you struggling to achieve your dreams? Discover how to overcome decision fatigue and finally reach your goals using proven psychology and consulting strategies.
In this powerful episode, learn a game-changing reverse-thinking technique that helps busy moms break through goal-setting barriers. Using science-backed methods, you'll discover how to increase motivation, eliminate obstacles, and create an actionable success plan that fits your life as a mom.
Ready to transform your goal achievement journey? If you’re ready to unlock your potential with this step-by-step strategy, then hit play and together we can Solve for Mom!
Episode Highlights
- (0:00): Introduction to reverse thinking for goal achievement
- (2:08): Professional consulting strategy for busy moms
- (5:05): Science-backed goal planning technique
- (7:32): Benefits for goal-oriented mothers
- (7:50): Step 1: Problem clarity framework
- (8:53): Step 2: Strategic obstacle identification
- (10:13): Step 3: Solution transformation method
- (11:43): Step 4: Action plan development
- (12:26): Real mom examples
- (15:00): (Wrap-up) Implementation guide
References Mentioned:
📞 Schedule a free call with Anokhi
📖 Norcross JC, Mrykalo MS, Blagys MD. Auld lang syne: success predictors, change processes, and self-reported outcomes of New Year's resolvers and nonresolvers. J Clin Psychol. 2002 Apr;58(4):397-405.
📖 Park J, Lu FC, Hedgcock WM. Relative Effects of Forward and Backward Planning on Goal Pursuit. Psychol Sci. 2017 Nov;28(11):1620-1630.
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
// Create a meaningful life at home and at work //