In this episode, I sit down with Neha Ruch — founder of The Power Pause (formerly Mother Untitled) and author of the USA Today bestselling book, The Power Pause: How to Plan a Career Break After Kids — and Come Back Stronger Than Ever.

Neha’s work is transforming how we think about motherhood, ambition, and identity in a world that often asks women to shrink themselves into boxes that no longer fit.

We explore what it means to claim agency, reconnect to self-worth, and expand the narrative for modern mothers — whether you’re working full-time, taking a pause, or figuring it out one step at a time.

This one will resonate deeply if you’ve ever felt caught between “doing it all” and wanting to do it your way.

🔑 Key Takeaways / Topics Covered:

• Neha’s journey from Silicon Valley to starting Mother Untitled and why she rebranded to The Power Pause
• What it really means to take a career pause — and why it’s often misunderstood
• The emotional cost of invisible labor and the pressure to justify your choices as a mom
• Why ambition doesn’t go away in motherhood — it just shifts form
• The impact of societal judgment and lack of supportive structures (like paid leave and childcare) on working mothers
• Powerful reframes for redefining success through each season of motherhood
• How to return to work in a way that feels empowered and aligned — not apologetic
• Reflections on redefining productivity, ambition, and enoughness in a culture that often measures us by outdated metrics

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Episode Resources:

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Sign up for her newsletter and check out her free resources on www.motheruntitled.com

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So you finally choose truth over comfort…

You walk away from what no longer fits—

The job, the relationship, the way you’ve been performing in the world—

And then what?

In this raw, unfiltered solo episode, I take you inside the messy, often invisible chapter that comes after choosing yourself. The part no one warns you about. The abyss. The unraveling. The awkward, unglamorous rebuild.

This is the part where you’re no longer who you were, but not quite who you’re becoming. And it takes everything: trust, discernment, patience, nervous system resilience, and a deep honoring of your own pace.

We talk about:

• The emotional whiplash of the “trust fall”
• Why choosing truth often makes life harder before it gets easier
• The sacred pause of the abyss (and why it matters)
• How to navigate the urge to “go back” just for comfort
• Reclaiming your voice and creative expression after burnout
• The real work of rebuilding in alignment—not urgency
• Creating a shame-free space for women to be witnessed in the in-between

This episode is for the woman standing at the edge, the one who already jumped, or the one wondering if she’s the only one who feels like everything got harder after doing the “right” thing.

You're not broken. You're becoming.

🔗 Links & Resources:

• 📬 Join the Substack: Your Well Village on Substack – for weekly Soul Spills & sacred storytelling
• 🎧 Listen to my episodes with Coss Marte + Jaclyn Shaw for more stories of trust, resilience, and nonlinear success
• 💌 Submit a question to be answered on the show: Leave me a voice note
• ⭐️ If this episode resonated, please rate + review—it helps so much.

Episode Resources:

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In this soulful episode, Misha reconnects with intimacy coach and tantra practitioner Sarah Chizek for a deep and juicy conversation on emotional alchemy, intimacy in relationships, and syncing with the natural rhythm of your cycle.

They explore how emotional release work can be a powerful tool for healing, how to communicate desires openly in long-term partnerships, and how cycle syncing can support energy, clarity, and overall well-being. Sarah weaves in practical tips, personal stories, and client insights that make these practices feel both accessible and transformative.

This episode is your permission slip to tune into your body, speak your truth, and live in sync with your inner wisdom.

Episode Highlights:

• 00:00 – A warm welcome and catching up with Sarah
• 02:30 – Emotional release work and how it’s transformed us
• 04:56 – Processing painful emotions in safe, healthy ways
• 10:11 – Creating intimacy and staying vulnerable in long-term love
• 14:29 – A look into erotic blueprints and how they shift relationships
• 30:50 – Tapping into self-connection and everyday pleasure
• 38:12 – Navigating the ups and downs of relationship dynamics
• 39:52 – Understanding trauma responses in yourself and others
• 43:23 – Balancing masculine and feminine energy in parenting
• 45:17 – Sarah’s intro to cycle syncing and why it’s a game changer
• 47:39 – Real-life ways to align your schedule with your cycle
• 52:06 – Embracing rest, redefining self-care, and slowing down
• 01:03:40 – Releasing shame and cultivating body love
• 01:08:10 – Final thoughts and Sarah’s current offerings

Episode Resources:

Sara offers in-person tantric healing sessions and online coaching for women, men, and couples on their journeys to deeper intimacy and self-discovery. You can book a free discovery call with her at sarachizek.com

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