💡On Travel Guilt, Balance, and Coming Back to Work: My Podcast Series for Working Moms
Three 10-minute conversations about the parts of working motherhood we don't talk about enough
👋🏻 Hello to our community — and a warm welcome to the new followers who’ve joined us in the last few weeks. Mind the Beet is written by me, Helen — executive and career coach, product advisor, and working mom of two — alongside my husband Adam, a VP of Product at Microsoft. Every week we share our slice of life on leadership, product, and parenting. Which is exactly why, when my friend and fellow working mom Hannah Morgan invited me onto her podcast De-Stress the Nest, I said yes. Three times.
Over the last six months, Hannah and I sat down for three 10-minute conversations about the topics I care about most — and frankly, the ones that don’t get talked about enough: what it really feels like to travel for work as a mom, how to keep your head above water when you’re managing a big career and a full life, and how to return to work after parental leave without losing yourself in the process.
Whether you’re in the thick of it or just want to feel less alone in the juggle — these episodes are for you.
🎙️ Listen: My 3-episode series on De-Stress the Nest
Ep. 60 – How to Ditch the Travel Mom Guilt For anyone who has ever texted home from a hotel room at 9pm to check on bedtime. We talk about how to actually let go while you’re away — and why your family can thrive even when you’re not physically there.
Ep. 66 – Top 3 Tips for Working Parents My three most-used strategies for making working parenthood feel sustainable rather than like constant survival mode — including how to implement a weekly night off.
Ep. 73 – Returning to Work After Parental Leave This one is a marathon, not a sprint. I came back from leave twice, and both times it was hard and a relief all at once. If you’re in this season — or supporting someone who is — this episode is for you.
A Plug for Household Management
If you’re at a point where you’re thinking about outsourcing some of the household management mental load, do it. I’ve had both an in-person household manager and a virtual one, and the relief is real. It’s one of the best investments I’ve made in my own sanity as a working parent.
Which is also why I was so excited to be on Hannah’s podcast in the first place. She’s not just a great host — she’s a busy working mom of three who built Heron House Management because she lived this problem herself. If you’re curious about what virtual house management actually looks like, her company is worth a look.
📖 From the Mind the Beet archive — the posts that inspired these conversations
7️⃣ Seven Pieces of Advice for Parents Returning to the “Office” After Parental Leave