Working Moms Redefined

Do you remember life before kids? For some, it feels like forever ago. For others, it’s as clear as yesterday. New mom Emilie White, President & CEO of The Relish Jar, is soaking up the baby snuggles and giggles with her 4-month-old daughter, Penelope. But alongside the joy, Emilie faced an unexpected challenge- feeling the “loss” of her marriage. Not divorce, but the disconnection many couples experience in early pare...

What do bangs have to do with confidence? A lot more than you think. In this episode, I share a lighthearted story about Sydney’s new haircut that sparked a bigger conversation about confidence, authenticity, and the freedom to show up as who we really are. We’ll talk about how even small changes can unlock a new version of ourselves, why living authentically matters, and how we can help our kids do the same. By the end, y...

Life rarely goes according to plan. Divorce, infertility, loss- some moments shatter us, while others quietly reshape us. In this powerful conversation, our guest with Life UnNested shares how creating a personal vision became her anchor through life’s biggest curveballs. We are invited us to imagine what could shift if we designed our lives not around expectations, guilt, or “shoulds,” but around our truest desi...

Meet Maggie Strong, owner of Strong Consulting. She helps communities achieve positive, sustainable change through planning and public engagement. Maggie also empowers women to lead with clarity, confidence, and courage. She is based in Quincy, IL and brings both local roots and wide-reaching impact to her work.

In this episode, Denise and Maggie dive into: 

• Why justice and authent...

Christmas looks a little different in Denise’s home this year. In this episode of Working Moms Redefined, Denise shares the heartfelt conversation she had with her daughter when the big question finally came: “Mommy, is Santa real?” She opens up about the emotions behind that moment and the lessons that followed, including:

🎅 How she explained the story of St. Nicholas and passed the magic forward in a new way.

✉️ Why she...

In this episode of Working Moms Redefined, Denise sits down with Dr. Lindsey Cormack, political science professor, author, and mom, whose work blends academic insight with real-world parenting. Lindsey’s book, How to Raise a Citizen, offers clear, actionable strategies for helping kids grow into informed, engaged, and empathetic members of their communities. 

In this conversation, you’ll learn: ...

As our kids head back to school, we get a fresh season, too, one we can shape with intention. In this episode, I’m sharing: What I’m saying YES to this fall: Early, structured mornings that help me start strong Midday walks to reset my energy and focus Conversations that build real connection Protecting time for high-priority work and family moments Small, daily habits that bring peace instead of pressure What I’m saying N...

In this episode of Working Moms Redefined, Denise welcomes Niki Nichols, owner of Boki’s Kitchen, wife, and bonus mom to two teenage daughters, for a conversation filled with honesty, heart, and hope. Niki shares her passion for connecting people through wholesome food and her personal journey of unlearning diet culture and reclaiming nourishment. This episode is for any working mom who’s ever struggled with food, guilt, o...

In this episode of Working Moms Redefined, Denise pulls back the curtain on what it really means to live authentically. She shares a personal story from a season when everything looked good on paper, but inside, she felt disconnected, out of alignment, and exhausted from keeping up the act.

You’ll hear:

- Why authenticity is key to building real trust in every relationship

- How pretending chips away at your confidence and...

What does it really take to lead with courage, clarity, and authenticity? In this episode, Denise sits down with leadership coach and founder of Julie Boll Consulting, Julie Boll, to explore the beliefs and practices that shape exceptional leadership, especially for high-performing, deeply caring working moms. Julie introduces the Courageous Leadership Scorecard, a transformative tool designed to help leaders assess and el...

In this episode, Denise shares a personal (and hilarious) moment with her son, Hudson, that sparked a powerful reflection on leadership at home. From literally cutting corners while running around the park during high school volleyball practice (Sorry, Mr. Klusmeyer) to noticing her son not washing his hands with the fun soap today, Denise opens up about how the small choices we make, especially when no one’s watching, rev...

In this episode of Working Moms Redefined, we sit down with Amy Hendrian, business owner & mom of three, for an honest and deeply relatable conversation about divorce, co-parenting, owning a business, and what it really means to be a full-time mom, with or without a parenting contract. Amy opens up about the early days of divorce, the fears she had for her kids, and how she’s rewritten the rules for what showing up loo...

What if the key to unlocking more confidence, better conversations, and stronger connections was as simple as seeing yourself the way others do? In this episode of Working Moms Redefined, Denise explores a powerful and practical activity that helps you gain fresh perspective, from someone else's point of view. Whether you're leading a team at work or managing the daily dynamics at home, this episode walks you through a sim...

As working moms, it’s easy to let our minds race years into the future- wondering how our kids will turn out, questioning if our full plates will leave them feeling full or forgotten. In this heart-centered and hope-filled episode, Denise sits down with Mackenzie Jacobson, a powerhouse in sales and leadership, who was raised by two working parents and credits much of her confidence and success to the example they set. Toge...

In this episode of Working Moms Redefined, Denise talks about something most of us never stop to define: what’s actually enough. Enough money, enough time, enough progress. Without a clear definition, we end up measuring success by someone else’s standards and potentially might never feel like we’re hitting the mark. But when you decide what’s enough, you unlock peace, confidence, and a true sense of accomplishment. Let’s ...

n this episode of Working Moms Redefined, Denise sits down with longtime esthetician Elena Holman of Quincy Medical Group. Elena is passionate about helping women, especially moms, feel confident in their own skin. From chemical peels and laser hair removal to honest conversations about body image and Brazilian waxes, this episode is full of practical tips and personal stories that will make you rethink what self-care real...

In this episode of Working Moms Redefined with Denise, we explore what it means to bring fun back into parenting- not only for your kids, but for you. Denise invites you to challenge the belief that motherhood is all structure, schedules, and seriousness. Yes, routines are powerful. Yes, structure helps. But joy is what makes it sustainable. And yes, Denise needs to hear her words just as much as you! haha She knows her ar...

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Kerri Roberts, a former C-suite executive who traded corporate skyscrapers for country roads to launch her own business from home. Kerri opens up about the motivations behind her bold career shift, the unexpected challenges and joys of rural entrepreneurship, and how the move has transformed her approach to leadership and life. We also dive into motherhood and what work-life bala...

In this episode of Working Moms Redefined, we talk with a remarkable woman whose life of service has not only shaped communities but also deeply influenced the way she raised her daughter. With 15 years of nonprofit leadership and a 24-year parenting journey behind her, Sarah Stephens, Executive Director of Horizons, shares the intentional (and sometimes surprising) ways service became a family value.

From the early days o...