Show Notes
In this episode of The Corporate Burnouts, Mandy Alt and Mandy Holt take on one of the most emotionally charged topics in modern work culture: can working moms really “have it all”? From corporate careers and high performance expectations to motherhood, mental load, and burnout, this conversation pulls back the curtain on what it actually feels like to try to be everything to everyone. Mandy and Mandy share raw, honest experiences about balancing career ambition with family life, the constant pressure of perfectionism, and the invisible mental load that keeps working moms in a cycle of stress, guilt, and exhaustion. They unpack the truth behind the idea of “having it all,” explaining how many women are unknowingly trying to live two full lives at once—career-driven professional and fully present parent—without the time, energy, or support to sustain either at a healthy level. The result? Burnout, resentment, and a loss of joy in both work and home life. This episode dives into the real reasons behind that feeling, including societal expectations, comparison, fear of missing out, and the pressure to meet unrealistic standards in every role. Most importantly, they challenge listeners to rethink success, redefine priorities, and make intentional choices about where to focus their energy without guilt or judgment. Whether you’re a working mom, considering leaving corporate, or simply feeling stretched too thin trying to do it all, this episode will help you step back, get honest with yourself, and realize that success isn’t about having everything, it’s about choosing what actually matters. If this conversation resonates with you, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs permission to stop trying to do it all.
More from The Corporate Burnouts Podcast
After 85 episodes, this is our final one. In Episode 85, Mandy Alt and Mandy Holt hash it out, live and unscripted: why The Corporate Burnouts Podcast is ending, what it healed for both of them, and why walking away while you still love something beats staying until it runs its course. This show started as a place to pour out every bit of our corporate trauma and burnout. It became our therapy. Now our lives look completely different, and we want to honor the ending as much as we honored the start. In this episode: Why we're ending the podcast after 85 episodes How this podcast became our therapy Our guests were the real therapists When something stops feeling authentic to your life Putting fun first without dropping the ball on work Your accomplishments are not your identity Realizing we'd tied our identity to being podcasters Leaving the room while people still want you there The boat day that started the conversation Why we never told other people's stories on air A possible Corporate Burnouts Facebook group (vote in the poll!)
You picked a career at 18. Did anyone ask what you wanted your life to look like? In Episode 84, Mandy Alt and Mandy Holt dig into why so many people climb the ladder, reach the top and still feel empty. Starting with the college-planning chaos in both of their homes and a viral trend of high achievers walking away from the careers they spent decades building, they unpack why happiness isn't a destination, why midlife feels like a tipping point, and the better questions to ask before (and after) you pick a path. In this episode: Why "what do you want to be when you grow up?" is the wrong question Choosing a career based on the life you want, not just the title Happiness is not a destination Midlife crisis or midlife wake-up call? Reevaluating your career at 25, 30, 35 and 40 The random-Tuesday test Why your job doesn't have to be your passion It's okay to want money (just know the trade-off) Finding your non-negotiables Every career has a cost Future tripping and the "I'll be happy when…" trap Why waiting until retirement to live is a bad plan
Give yourself one task and eight hours, and guess how long it takes? In Episode 83, Mandy Alt and Mandy Holt dig into why you're more productive when you're busy, and slower than molasses when your calendar is wide open. From a viral three-jobs story (that may have been satire) to waiting tables in the weeds, they break down Parkinson's Law, momentum and the voice in your head that negotiates "twenty more minutes." Then they share the simple ways they create a "good busy" on purpose, without burning out. In this episode: Parkinson's Law: why work expands to fill the time you give it Momentum and why sitting down kills your whole evening The self-negotiation trap and procrastination Fake deadlines vs. real commitments Scheduling something every couple of hours and time blocking Asking your boss to hold you accountable How deadlines create clarity and cut perfectionism Stacking errands when you work from home Knowing your next three things A free tip: how AI is finding businesses through blog posts
If working from home was such a problem, why did it take until 2026 for anyone to say so? In Episode 82, Mandy Alt and Mandy Holt break down the real return-to-office timeline: the 2020 shutdown, the 2021–2022 hot labor market that turned remote work into a hiring perk, the messy 2023 "back to normal" push, and the 2024 layoffs that flipped power back to employers. They get into the theories nobody says out loud, what happens to people hired 100% remote who now live nowhere near an office, and what a commute actually costs once you add it all up. In this episode: A real timeline: 2020 lockdowns to 2026 mandates The real estate and power-and-control theories behind RTO What happens when you're hired fully remote and then told to relocate The hidden cost of commuting: gas, time, clothes and childcare Why "be more productive" isn't a real reason without a system behind it How to negotiate before you comply The stats: 91% of Amazon employees unhappy, 80% of companies losing talent
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