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What happens when becoming a parent completely changes the career path you thought you had planned? Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin talk with Mikah Goldman Berg, Director of Advocacy at Postpartum Support International, about her personal experience with perinatal mental health challenges and how it ultimately led her to advocacy work. Mikah shares why mental health support needs to be part of preparing for parenthood, how partners and communities can play a critical role, and why lived experience can be a powerful force for changing policies and systems. The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline is available at: 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262). Call or text in English or Spanish 24/7. There is also a chat option on the website. Completely confidential. Dads can reach out too! PSI's Get Help Resources can be found at postpartum.net or on PSI's App: Connect by PSI. All helpseeker resources are free. *** CORRECTION: Mikah will be presenting to the Howard County Health Department, not Prince George's (PG) County Health Department. Connect with Mikah on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikah-goldman-berg-3910b310 Connect with Lori at Mindful Return https://www.mindfulreturn.com/ Connect with Jason at Ready Set Launch https://readysetlaunch.net/

What if becoming a parent is not simply a life event, but a major stage of adult development? Hosts Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin talk with Michael Feigelson, CEO of the Van Leer Foundation and host of the Birth of a Parent podcast, about the science of the parental brain and body. Michael explains how pregnancy and caregiving reshape us, why parents may be among the fastest learners on Earth, and how parenthood develops valuable leadership skills such as patience, empathy, negotiation, and relationship-building. Connect with Lori at Mindful Return https://www.mindfulreturn.com/ Connect with Jason at Ready Set Launch https://readysetlaunch.net/ Birth of a Parent Podcast with Michael Feigelson https://vanleerfoundation.org/publications-reports/birth-of-a-parent-podcast

When your child is diagnosed with cancer, everything changes, including how you parent, work, and lean on the people around you. Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin talk with attorney, speaker, entrepreneur, and working parent Paula Edgar about her son’s childhood cancer diagnosis and the five-year journey that followed. Paula shares how her family navigated fear, treatment, work demands, and uncertainty while building a community of support around them. She also offers practical guidance for helping families facing childhood cancer, from what not to say to the concrete ways friends, relatives, and colleagues can lighten their load. Paula's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulaedgar/ Podcast with Paula's dad: https://www.paulaedgar.com/podcast/beyond-9/11-life-and-legacy-of-joan-donna-griffith-a-conversation-with-my-father-peter-griffith Memorial page for Paula's mom: https://www.paulaedgar.com/a-tribute-to-my-mother Connect with Lori at Mindful Return https://www.mindfulreturn.com/ Connect with Jason at Ready Set Launch https://readysetlaunch.net/

Back-to-school season isn't just a transition for kids. It's a major adjustment for working parents, too. Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin share practical ways to make the shift easier, from treating the first month as an adjustment period and planning ahead for school closures to revisiting household responsibilities, communicating needs at work, and building relationships within the school community. They also explore the importance of boundaries, flexibility, and giving yourself permission to approach the new school year as an experiment. Connect with Lori at Mindful Return https://www.mindfulreturn.com/ Connect with Jason at Ready Set Launch https://readysetlaunch.net/

Family travel isn't always relaxing, especially when your kids are little. In this episode, Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin reflect on nearly 15 years of traveling with their children, from diaper bags, long road trips, and airport meltdowns to confident teenagers navigating Paris on their own. They share practical lessons about giving kids ownership, embracing flexibility, balancing work and travel, and why every challenging trip helped build the independence and confidence they see in their children today. Connect with Lori at Mindful Return https://www.mindfulreturn.com/ Connect with Jason at Ready Set Launch https://readysetlaunch.net/

What if the problem isn't that you don't have enough time, but that you're thinking about time the wrong way? In this episode of Parents at Work, Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin sit down with bestselling author and time management expert Laura Vanderkam to discuss her latest book, Big Time: A Simple Path to Time Abundance. Laura shares practical strategies for overcoming time scarcity, embracing life's complexity, making the most of your "golden hours," and creating a mindset of possibility. The conversation offers working parents a refreshing perspective on balancing career ambitions, family life, and personal fulfillment. Connect with Lori at Mindful Return Connect with Jason at Ready Set Launch Connect with Laura on her website

In this episode of Parents at Work, hosts Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin welcome Julie Talbot, CEO of Lansinoh Laboratories. Julie shares her personal journey through IVF, becoming a first-time mom during the pandemic, and leading a global brand dedicated to supporting families. She discusses the importance of empathy, flexibility, parental leave, and creating workplaces where parents don't have to choose between career success and family life. Connect with Lori at Mindful Return https://www.mindfulreturn.com/ Connect with Jason at Ready Set Launch https://readysetlaunch.net/ Connect with Julie at Lansinoh https://lansinoh.com/

What’s it really like to balance the demands of academia with the responsibilities of fatherhood? In this engaging episode of Parents at Work, Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin sit down with professors Eric Chitambar and Lee Pinkowitz to discuss parenting, tenure, flexibility, career growth, and the lessons they’ve learned raising children while pursuing academic excellence. Along the way, they share thoughtful insights, memorable stories, and even a few outstanding dad jokes. Connect with Lori at Mindful Return https://www.mindfulreturn.com/ Connect with Jason at Ready Set Launch https://readysetlaunch.net/ Connect with Eric on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-chitambar-50a4b5362/ Connect with Lee on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-pinkowitz-a1525413/

What does it really look like to build a career in academia while raising children? In this thoughtful and often hilarious episode of Parents at Work, Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin sit down with professors Elizabeth Grimm and Catherine Leimkuhler Grimes to talk about parenting, ambition, research, flexibility, ADHD, planning, self-compassion, and the evolving realities of working motherhood in higher education. From grant funding and tenure to strategic planning and family adventures, this conversation is packed with wisdom, honesty, and practical insights for working parents everywhere. Connect with Lori at Mindful Return https://www.mindfulreturn.com/ Connect with Jason at Ready Set Launch https://readysetlaunch.net/ Links mentioned: https://www.mindfulreturn.com/academia/ https://www.udel.edu/content/dam/udelImages/grad-college/graduate-college-pdfs/GraduateStudentParentalLeaveTrailGuide.pdf. https://www.ncfdd.org/

Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin explore the realities of work travel as parents, from the emotional challenges of leaving young children to the logistics of preparing, managing time away, and reintegrating at home. They share personal stories, practical strategies, and mindset shifts that help working parents navigate travel with more confidence and less guilt. Connect with Lori at Mindful Return https://www.mindfulreturn.com/ Connect with Jason at Ready Set Launch https://readysetlaunch.net/

In this powerful episode of Parents at Work, Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin sit down with Dr. Lucy De La Cruz, a breast surgeon whose care played a pivotal role in Lori’s cancer journey. They explore the intersection of medicine, motherhood, resilience, and early detection, while Dr. De La Cruz shares her remarkable story of perseverance, failure, and purpose. The conversation offers both practical guidance and deeply human insight into navigating work, parenting, and life’s hardest moments. Connect with Lori at Mindful Return Connect with Jason at Ready Set Launch Connect with Dr. Lucy De La Cruz on LinkedIn

In this episode of Parents at Work, Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin talk with Beth Wanner of MotherCover and Kyle Robisch of Latitude about parental leave fill-in talent and why it’s becoming essential for modern workplaces. They explore how thoughtful coverage supports both business continuity and employee well-being, while redefining what it means to take leave without guilt or career risk. Connect with Lori at Mindful Return https://www.mindfulreturn.com/ Connect with Jason at Ready Set Launch https://readysetlaunch.net/ Connect with Beth at Mother Cover https://www.mothercoveragency.com/our-story Connect with Kyle at Latitude https://latitudelegal.com/about/leadership/kyle-robisch/

Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin welcome Lisa Tan and Martin Rawls-Meehan, partners in both business and parenting, to explore what it really takes to work and raise a family together. From building a company to raising bilingual kids, they share candid insights on trust, flexibility, and redefining balance as working parents. Connect with Lori at Mindful Return https://www.mindfulreturn.com/ Connect with Jason at Ready Set Launch https://readysetlaunch.net/

After years of sleepless nights, split shifts, ADHD diagnoses, and even cancer recovery, Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin reflect on how their relationship to sleep has evolved through every stage of parenting. From baby wakeups to middle school melatonin routines to perimenopause and pillow replacements, this episode explores why adult sleep deserves as much attention as our children’s—and how protecting it can transform mental health, resilience, and partnership. Connect with Lori at Mindful Return https://www.mindfulreturn.com/ Connect with Jason at Ready Set Launch https://readysetlaunch.net/

In this Olympics-inspired episode of Parents at Work, Lori Mihalich-Levin and Jason Levin explore what working parents can learn from elite athletes about teamwork, coaching, mental health, and going after dreams. From building a “babysitting bench” to hiring coaches and supporting each other in marriage and career, they unpack why success in parenthood and work is never a solo sport. The takeaway is clear: build your team, care for your mental health, and don’t stop chasing your own dreams. Connect with Lori at Mindful Return https://www.mindfulreturn.com/ Connect with Jason at Ready Set Launch https://readysetlaunch.net/