About Progress

(This episode is a special shortened preview from More Personal, Monica's premium, private, ad-free podcast for the Supporters Club, starting at just $5 a month. Join the HERE TO STAY: 250 SUPPORTERS DRIVE and help ensure About Progress doesn't just make it to its 10 year anniversary this Fall, but make it so it's here to stay. Join the club ⁠HERE⁠.)

In this candid "Working on Things" episode, Monica shares her 10 personal goals for 2026 as she approaches her 40th birthday. 

You'll hear about her complicated relationship with goal-setting, ways she makes goals doable but motivating,  and how she's learning to celebrate milestones instead of bouncing right over them.

Monica also gets real about the challenges: feeling like two ships passing in the night with her husband, struggling with tech boundaries while running a business, the endless cycle of high-conflict children, and the weight of launching a book on a shoestring budget. But she also shares what's lighting her up—her hobby year (including returning to ballet!), plans for adventures, and her word of the year: reclamation.

Listen if you:

Want to hear an honest take on goal-setting that isn't about hustle culture

Are navigating the chaos of responsibilities and trying to feel like your life is your own

Need permission to do goals differently—broader, more flexible, more human

Are approaching a milestone birthday and want to make it meaningful

Appreciate messy, real conversations about personal growth

This isn't a polished how-to. It's a real-time look at someone figuring it out.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Cedric Howard about a topic that resonates deeply with many moms in our community: returning to school later in life. Dr. Howard shared powerful stories from his own family, illustrating the generational impact of pursuing higher education. We talked about the importance of embracing your role as a mom in the classroom and how those experiences can be your greatest asset, not a hindrance.

Our conversation left me with a profound realization: education is not just for personal growth but can transform family legacies. If you've ever considered going back to school, take this as your sign to explore the possibilities. The journey may require some adjustments, but as Dr. Howard emphasized, it’s okay to be a little selfish with your education after years of being selfless. If you're ready to take that step, start by telling your story and showcasing the resilience and skills motherhood has instilled in you.

Dr. Howard's book

Here to Stay Drive: join the Supporters Club to keep About Progress around for good + participate in a whole month of special prizes. A little from many makes this work sustainable!

Sign up as a Supporter to get access to our private, premium, ad-free podcast, More Personal. Episodes air each Friday!


More for Moms Conference use code “LISTENER” for $20 off

Leave a rating and review

Check out my ⁠workshops⁠!

Follow About Progress on YOUTUBE!

Book Launch Committee

Full Show Notes

Transform your space now. Go to https://www.quince.com/monica for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns; Get organized, refreshed, and back on track this new year for WAY less. Head to Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home; Join Masterclass for 15% off at masterclass.com/progress
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a recent coaching call with Janie, a mother navigating the shift from a professional career as a social worker to a stay-at-home mom, we delved into the deep-seated challenges that accompany such a monumental transition. Janie, like many, found herself yearning for personal connection and a sense of self amid the continuous tasks of motherhood.

Throughout our discussion, we addressed practical strategies to help Janie reclaim her identity while embracing her chosen responsibilities as a mother. By exploring pressure-free mindset shifts and grounding habits, Janie is starting to balance self-care with motherhood. The journey towards progress involves small, consistent steps, focusing on what resonates personally rather than rigid routines.

Here to Stay Drive: join the ⁠Supporters Club⁠ to keep About Progress around for good + participate in a whole month of special prizes. A little from many makes this work sustainable!

Book Launch Committee ⁠aboutprogress.com/bookcommittee

Sign up as a Supporter to get access to our private, premium, ad-free podcast, More Personal. Episodes air each Friday!


More for Moms Conference use code “LISTENER” for $20 off

Leave a rating and review

Check out my ⁠workshops⁠!

Follow About Progress on YOUTUBE!

Book Launch Committee

Full Show Notes

Transform your space now. Go to https://www.quince.com/monica for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns; Get organized, refreshed, and back on track this new year for WAY less. Head to Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home; Join Masterclass for 15% off at masterclass.com/progress
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if feeling happier didn’t require more control, stricter rules, or perfect habits? In this powerful conversation, we explore how personal development, daily habits, and self-compassion intersect with our relationship to food and our bodies. Beth Summers breaks down why fear, perfectionism, and self-distrust keep so many women stuck—and how personal growth and development can begin by learning to trust yourself again. A grounding listen for anyone craving more peace, self-care for mothers, and a gentler path to self-improvement.

Listen to the full episode here: https://www.aboutprogress.com/blog/why-you-dont-need-to-be-afraid-of-intuitive-eating

Sign up as a Supporter to get access to our private, premium, ad-free podcast, More Personal. Episodes air each Friday!


More for Moms Conference use code “LISTENER” for $20 off

Leave a rating and review

Check out my ⁠workshops⁠!

Follow About Progress on YOUTUBE!

Book Launch Committee

Full Show Notes

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Monica and Taylor for a thoughtful (and surprisingly layered!) chat about the "not like other girls" conundrum. What started as a casual comment during recording turned into a fascinating exploration of how we as women pit ourselves against each other—and for what?

In this episode, we unpack:

The origins of the "not like other girls" trope and how it shows up in our lives

Our own experiences with feeling pressure to either stand out OR fit in (spoiler: we had opposite journeys!)

How this connects to mommy wars, feminism, and those impossible gender roles we're all trying to navigate

Why Gen Z might actually be doing this better than we did

The beautiful messiness of self-acceptance

Plus: We get real about raising daughters, the cafeteria-style approach to life choices, and why "let people like what they like" might be the most important phrase ever.

Bottom line? We're all just humans having individual experiences. The sooner we accept ourselves (and each other), the better off we'll all be.

This episode is a special shortened preview from More Personal, Monica's premium, private, ad-free podcast for the Supporters Club, starting at just $5 a month. Join the HERE TO STAY: 250 SUPPORTERS DRIVE and help ensure About Progress doesn't just make it to its 10 year anniversary this Fall, but make it so it's here to stay. Join the club ⁠HERE⁠.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices