Neha Ruch—founder and author of The Power Pause, formerly known as Mother Untitled and recent guest on The Drew Barrymore Show—joins Sam and Zara to talk about one of the biggest third-rail topics in motherhood today: what happens when ambitious women choose to pause their careers.
They cover everything from postnups and financial planning to the emotional rollercoaster of second babies, postpartum anxiety, and why the “trad wife” narrative is a distraction from what really matters. Neha doesn’t sugarcoat anything—she reclaims stay-at-home motherhood as a powerful, intentional choice, not a fallback plan.
Whether you’re burnt out, balancing it all, or secretly wondering "Is it okay to shift my priorities?"—this conversation will meet you where you are.
In this episode, we talk about:
How Neha decided to pause her career
The myth of “giving up” your ambition when you pause your career
Practical advice for planning a career pause with your partner (think: postnups, budgets, shared goals)
Why modern feminism must include more than one path for women
How her second baby changed everything—including her views on help, guilt, and mental health
Raising kids in NYC vs. the suburbs
Why having a village isn't just nice—it's necessary
Her experience on The Drew Barrymore Show and the cultural shift happening around motherhood today
Resources & Links:
The Power Pause
Follow Neha on Instagram
Buy The Power Pause
Tovah Klein’s work on parenting psychology
Website: https://www.doyouwantthetruthpod.com
Connect with Sam:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/samanthastrom
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@samanthastorms
Connect with Zara:
Zara Hanawalt https://www.linkedin.com/in/zara-hanawalt/
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@zarahanawalt
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zarahanawalt/