No Pants No Problem, the Motherhood Penalty, and Why Flexibility is a Myth

Ever been told a job is "family-friendly" only to discover that means absolutely nothing when your kid gets sick on the day of your big presentation? In this episode of Momarchy, we break down the harsh reality of what "flexible" work actually looks like for moms. From mandatory happy hours that conflict with bedtime routines to the unspoken expectation that you'll work nights and weekends to prove your "commitment," we're calling out the systems that set working mothers up to fail. We also discuss the impossible juggle of being the "default parent", why taking six weeks of maternity leave felt like career suicide, and how the lack of real family leave policies in America forces impossible choices on working parents. We even dive into our current comfort watches (Team Conrad forever) and the DGAF mom moments that keep us sane in this beautiful chaos. We Discuss: 02:04 - Shout-outs to our amazing listeners and that one troll who told us to shut up and eat Taco Bell (honestly, sounds like a perfect day) 07:10 - Why we're grateful for Team Moxie Media and hitting #39 in political podcasts 08:22 - Colorado's special session and how Trump's "big beautiful bill" is screwing over families 16:46 - The Summer I Turned Pretty hot takes: Team Conrad vs. Team Jeremiah debate 24:11 - Sick kid chaos and the reality of "flexible" work when you're the default parent 27:19 - Why COVID changed everything about remote work (but not really) 32:16 - Sarah's story: Six weeks maternity leave during a governor's race 35:04 - Why women have to be the ones to change workplace culture 40:28 - The motherhood penalty vs. the fatherhood bonus 44:02 - America's embarrassingly bad family leave policies compared to literally everywhere else 47:23 - Why "just have grandparents help" isn't a real childcare solution 48:34 - DGAF Mom Moments: Pants-free grocery store runs and full Buzz Lightyear costume school days Learn more about: Tanya Nathan is a political campaign and communications strategist with over a decade of experience in progressive campaigns and advocacy. Currently a Principal at a nationally-based grasstops consulting firm, she's a Denver native living with her 8-month-old daughter, husband, and their rescue pets. Her hobbies include crosswords, mezcal tasting, and trying to sleuth out who's going to be on Love is Blind Denver. Sarah Andrews is a political strategist living in rural Colorado with her husband and two young kids. When she's not managing campaigns or chasing toddlers, she's passionate about women's rights, childcare policy, and creating space for honest political conversations that don't end in shouting matches. Website: momarchypodcast.com Substack: https://substack.com/@momarchy Instagram: @themomarchypodcast TikTok: @momarchypod Email: momarchypodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.