Today I’m joined by Stefanie O’Connell - an award-winning journalist who writes about money, power and ambition, and the author of The Ambition Penalty.

Her work challenges a lot of what we’ve been told as women - that if we just work hard enough, lean in, and push through the imposter syndrome, we’ll get there.

But the data tells a very different story.

Stefanie looks at the real cost of ambition for women - financially, professionally and personally and why so many women are feeling burnt out, disillusioned, and stuck… despite doing everything “right”.

And as a mum herself, she brings such an important lens to what this actually looks like in real life.

Find Stefanie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stefanieoconnell/

Find us on instagram: @wearemothertongue

Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mothertonguethepodcast

THE MOTHER TONGUE PODBOOK

The Mother Tongue podbook is a collection of interviews with experts on everything you need to know about parenthood from pre-conception all the way through to when your kids starts school. Over the course of 43+ chapters, the podbook delves into the topics that all mums and mums to be wants the answers to.

Buy yours now: https://mother-tongue.zbooni.com/products/mother-tongue-podbook

Today’s episode is for anyone who has ever had a business idea… and then immediately felt completely overwhelmed by everything that comes next.

Because I think the idea is often the easy part - it’s the ‘how do I actually turn this into something real?’ that stops so many people in their tracks.

I’m joined by Emily Griffiths, who has built and scaled her own business and really understands what it takes to go from that initial spark of an idea through to actually making it work - the research, the planning, the numbers, and all the bits that people don’t always talk about.

In this conversation, we’re breaking it all down in a really honest and practical way - from how to know if your idea is worth pursuing, to what a business plan actually needs to look like, how to think about budgets and P&Ls without feeling intimidated, and how to start something alongside the reality of a busy life.

It’s one of those episodes that feels like a bit of a reset if you’ve been sitting on an idea for a while… or if you’re already building something and just want a bit more clarity on what you’re doing.

I think you’ll take a lot from this one.

Find Emily on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilygriffiths.official/

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Find us on instagram: @wearemothertongue

Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mothertonguethepodcast

THE MOTHER TONGUE PODBOOK

The Mother Tongue podbook is a collection of interviews with experts on everything you need to know about parenthood from pre-conception all the way through to when your kids starts school. Over the course of 43+ chapters, the podbook delves into the topics that all mums and mums to be wants the answers to.

Buy yours now: https://mother-tongue.zbooni.com/products/mother-tongue-podbook

Today we’re joined by a guest who is opening up a conversation that so many of us are quietly having - but rarely saying out loud. Sophie Rose-Arnold is an alcohol-free advocate who shares a refreshingly honest perspective on what it really looks like to step away from drinking - especially as a woman navigating motherhood, friendships, and everyday life.

After nearly two decades of drinking, Sophie made the decision to stop completely - not because she hit a rock bottom, but because alcohol simply stopped working for her. What followed was a journey of unlearning, rebuilding, and redefining what fun, connection, and relaxation actually look like.

In this conversation, we talk about the culture around alcohol - from binge drinking in our 20s to the pressure to keep drinking as adults, especially in social settings. We unpack the anxiety, the sleep disruption, the “just one drink” cycle, how motherhood changes everything and why so many women are quietly rethinking their relationship with alcohol.

We also talk honestly about what makes it hard to stop - the social pressure, the identity shift, and the fear of being seen as “boring” and what changes when you do.

This is not about labels or extremes. It’s about awareness, choice, and understanding what actually makes you feel good.

If you’ve ever found yourself questioning your relationship with alcohol even quietly, this episode will resonate.

Find Sophie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/af.sophierose/

Find us on instagram: @wearemothertongue

Subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mothertonguethepodcast

THE MOTHER TONGUE PODBOOK

The Mother Tongue podbook is a collection of interviews with experts on everything you need to know about parenthood from pre-conception all the way through to when your kids starts school. Over the course of 43+ chapters, the podbook delves into the topics that all mums and mums to be wants the answers to.

Buy yours now: https://mother-tongue.zbooni.com/products/mother-tongue-podbook