Nearly 40% of American mothers are now primary earners, but the culture hasn't fully caught up with what that actually requires.
In this episode, I'm joined by Alexis Contos, founder of The Breadwinners, a community built around the realities of building a career while raising a family. Alexis shares why she walked away from a 20-year corporate career, how one dinner at South by Southwest turned into a growing movement, and what she's learning about creating a different path for working mothers.
We also talk about guilt, ambition, integration, personal agency, and why we need to stop trying to do everything perfectly.
Show Highlights:
What Alexis was like growing up and how relationships shaped her. [02:30]
Why Alexis left her 20-year corporate career without knowing what she'd do next. [07:10]
How one dinner at South by Southwest became the beginning of The Breadwinners. [10:05]
Why women showed up to the dinner and why they needed that community. [13:05]
Why Alexis prefers "integration" over "balance." [19:00]
How Alexis defines a breadwinner as someone who brings important things into the home. [25:00]
Why ambition is about aligning your time with your values. [27:15]
How to replace guilt with confidence, agency, and community. [28:30]
How Alexis structures her day to make space for both work and family. [34:00]
Why aspiring breadwinners are joining the community and helping write a new playbook for working mothers. [38:00]
Resources Mentioned:
Find Alexis on Substack (and get a discounted subscription) at: https://wearethebreadwinners.substack.com/738ea8e9
Find Alexis on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/wearethebreadwinners/
Learn more about The Breadwinners: https://thebreadwinners.co
To book an exploratory call and learn about coaching options: http://brilliant-balance.com/explorecoaching
Join The Coaching Circle to apply what you learn on the podcast with structure & support: https://brilliant-balance.com/coachingcircle
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