AND/BOTH Podcast

Join Ashley and the guests of the AND/BOTH podcast in the brand-new AND/BOTH community! You will get monthly access to the community slack channel, early access to events, and discounted event rates! Today we’re joined by Lori Sugarman, a former marketing executive turned passionate advocate for the value of unpaid labor in the home. Lori shares her transformative journey from a high-level corporate career to a devoted stay-at-home role, only to discover how society systematically undervalues the invisible work of care and home management. Lori reframes the narrative around this labor and its importance to family, community, and overall societal wellness. This episode is packed with thought-provoking moments, actionable ideas, and a call to recognize the inherent worth of every contribution made in and outside the home. In this episode, we discuss:Lori’s journey from marketing executive to stay-at-home mom and community leaderThe pivotal moment when she was denied disability insurance for being “just a housewife” and how it ignited her mission to advocate for the value of unpaid laborThe societal devaluation of caregiving and domestic work and how it reflects in our systems, from insurance policies to GDP calculationsHow families can reframe “chores” and involve kids in a meaningful way to foster connection and lifelong skillsThe role of communication and collaboration in achieving equity in the home and breaking generational cycles of inequityLori's book, aimed at sparking family conversations about shared responsibility and the value of care workConnect with Lori:Website: Our Home, Our PrideLaurie’s Book: Our Home: The Love, Work, and Heart of Family (Amazon link-also available wherever books are sold! This is not an affiliate link)Connect with Ashley:And/Both website: https://andbothpodcast.comAnd/Both Instagram: @andboth_podcastWebsite: https://dovetaildesigns.coSupport AND/BOTH: Help us offset production costs while we're growingDovetail® Schedule Academy: https://dovetaildesigns.co/dovetail-schedule-academyCaregiver by Dovetail® App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dovetail-co/id6449788093Social:Instagram: @dovetaildesigns.coTikTok: @dovetaildesigns.coFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/dovetaildesigns.coLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyblackington/

What do you do when the unimaginable happens? In this conversation, Melissa Saleh shares her profound journey through grief, motherhood, and the challenges of navigating loss. From her experiences as a corporate lawyer to her transition into tech and startups, she discusses the impact of her personal tragedies, including the loss of her first child, and how these experiences have shaped her identity and purpose. Melissa emphasizes the importance of storytelling as a means of healing and the need for a supportive environment for those experiencing loss. She also addresses the challenges faced by women in the workplace, particularly regarding maternity leave and the need for systemic change. Through her narrative, she aims to create a lighthouse for others who are navigating similar journeys, offering hope and understanding.About Melissa:Melissa Saleh is a serial entrepreneur who has spent her career at the intersection of technology and human behavior. Since 2004 she has combined storytelling and bleeding-edge technology to build successful products, companies and brands. In 2020 she cofounded FairPlay AI, the world's first Fairness-as-a-Service company. Prior to that she created and executed narrative strategies for companies including Facebook, Google, Citibank and GE. After founding the content strategy firm Brick Wall Media in 2013, she built up a roster of Fortune 500 clients and worked extensively with early-stage cos to develop their mission, voice and brand narrative, then communicate them powerfully to the world.As a journalist and editor, she launched and ran digital properties for The New York Times, Newsweek, Discover Magazine and others. She began her career as a labor and employment lawyer in New York City, then transitioned to media by founding the internationally-acclaimed blog Opinionistas, which revealed life inside the world's toniest law firms. She has written for The New York Times, The New York Observer, Wired, The Huffington Post, The Daily Beast and others, and has appeared on-air for CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, Fox News, Fox Business and NPR. She received her JD from UVA School of Law and her BA from Dartmouth.Connect with Melissa:https://www.threads.net/@melissa.l.salehhttps://www.instagram.com/melissa.l.saleh/Connect with Ashley:Website: https://dovetaildesigns.coSupport AND/BOTH: Help us offset production costs while we're growingMother Founder RetreatDovetail® AppSocial:Instagram: @dovetailappTikTok: @dovetaildesigns.coFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/dovetaildesigns.coLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyblackington/

In today’s episode, we're joined by Lee Sevier, a former big law lawyer who boldly chose to leave her demanding career and be more present with her children. We dive into her journey of managing career aspirations and family priorities, discussing the trade-offs, challenges, and moments of clarity along the way. Lee also shares her experiences with her son’s developmental needs, revealing the reality of balancing specialized therapies with the everyday demands of family life.Lee’s story is one of resilience, shifting priorities, and the importance of self-compassion, offering insights that any parent, career-driven or not, will find inspiring.In this episode, we discuss:The difficult decision to step away from a big law career to focus on familyLee’s journey navigating her son’s special needs and therapyHow to embrace career pauses without seeing them as gapsTips for balancing career ambitions with the responsibilities of parenthoodConnect with Lee:LinkedInConnect with Ashley:Website: https://dovetaildesigns.coSupport AND/BOTH: Help us offset production costs while we're growingMother Founder RetreatDovetail® AppSocial:Instagram: @dovetailappTikTok: @dovetaildesigns.coFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/dovetaildesigns.coLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyblackington/

In today's episode, I welcome Kate Westlund Tovsen, the founder of the Society of Working Moms, a community designed for moms of all ages and stages to connect and get support. Kate shares insights about the group’s features, including monthly workshops, weekly group coaching, and a low-stakes book club. She also discusses the importance of work-life balance and the challenges she faced as a working mom of two. We dive into the inspiration behind creating the Society of Working Moms and how it has evolved since its inception six months ago. The conversation also touches on the community's approach to fostering connections, setting boundaries, and navigating the complexities of motherhood and career. Lastly, Kate talks about the group's coaching sessions, expert-led workshops, and the invaluable support members receive from each other.Kate Westlund Tovsen is the founder of The Society of Working Moms, a membership community for and by moms of all ages and stages who love their families and their careers but who might not feel fully supported in either. Members enjoy a well-managed and engaged Slack community made up of generous women who provide overwhelming confirmation that we are not, in fact, alone. The group also boasts features such as monthly workshops, weekly group coaching sessions, and a "low-stakes book club." Outside of being the group's community manager and her "real job" as a communications consultant, Kate enjoys doing endless DIY home projects around her kids' schedules and toys, exploring the beautiful lakes and woods that surround her home, snuggling with her family while watching a movie, and building IRL community in her small northern Minnesota town.Connect with Kate: Working Moms Society: Use code ANDBOTH for 50% off your first month of membershipInstagram: @thetovsensLinkedinEmail: [email protected] with Ashley:Website: https://dovetaildesigns.coSupport AND/BOTH: Help us offset production costs while we're growingDovetail® Schedule Academy: https://dovetaildesigns.co/dovetail-schedule-academyCaregiver by Dovetail® App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dovetail-co/id6449788093Social:Instagram: @dovetailappTikTok: @dovetaildesigns.coFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/dovetaildesigns.coLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyblackington/