🎁 ENTER THE HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY → andreabarr.com/giveaway
[HOLIDAY BEST OF SERIES]
This final Throwback Thursday of the holiday series brings you one of your most-loved episodes about navigating major life transitions. If you've ever loved a career but struggled to make it work after kids—or dreamed of starting your own thing—Mackenzie Forge's story will resonate deeply.
Mackenzie has an incredible story of competition, loss, drive, and raising a family. She went from varsity athlete to thriving in commercial real estate—a career she genuinely loved waking up for on Monday mornings. But after having her daughter Kennedy in February 2020 (hello, pandemic parenthood), and then twin boys 11 months later, everything shifted.
In this conversation, Mackenzie opens up about the guilt of not giving enough to either work or family, the moment she decided to leave her career, and how she channeled her business skills into creating Forge Magnetic Clothing—beautiful magnetic bibs and clothing for babies and toddlers.
This episode is for anyone who's trying to figure out how to honor both their career drive and their family values—and for anyone who needs to hear that leaving doesn't mean giving up.
In this episode, we cover:
About Mackenzie Forge:Mackenzie is a mom of 3 vivacious toddlers and the founder of Forge Magnetic Clothing. She was born and raised in North Vancouver and had a successful career in Commercial Real Estate, which she left in 2022, after finishing her second maternity leave, choosing to spend more time with her children and start a business.
Shop Forge Magnetics:
Website | https://forgemagnetic.com/
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/forgemagnetic/
Special offer for All Figured Out listeners:Use code ALLFIGUREDOUT10 for 10% off your purchase!(Code is limited to one use per customer)
About Andrea Barr, host of All Figured Out:
Andrea is a certified career and life coach for parents. Through her coaching, she supports parents in finding better work-life rhythms so they can continue to grow personally and professionally without sacrificing family time.
Connect with Andrea
Website | https://www.andreabarr.com/
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/allfiguredoutandrea
Resume Shop – Beautiful, customizable resumes to land your dream job
🎁 ENTER THE HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY → andreabarr.com/giveaway
[HOLIDAY BEST OF SERIES]
This Throwback Thursday brings you one of our most impactful episodes on parenting. If you've ever felt overwhelmed trying to raise resilient, well-adjusted children—or if you're working to break cycles from your own childhood—this conversation with Nurse Practitioner Kathleen Sullivan is essential listening.
Raising children can (most of the time) be a mystery and a lot of trial and error. Add to that, trying to figure out how to raise resilient, well-adjusted, happy, and healthy children...and cue overwhelm.
That's why we have Kathleen Sullivan here: she's going to share with us ALL about how we can raise resilient children.
Kathleen is a Nurse Practitioner who, throughout her career, has worked with children in many different clinical settings. Currently, Kathleen works clinically with youth in mental health and substance abuse, and also serves in a leadership role developing education programs. She is part of a Doctors of BC working group focused on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and childhood trauma prevention.
In this episode, we cover:
CONTENT ADVISORY: We will be talking about trauma and adverse childhood experiences in a theoretical sense. Topics include child abuse, neglect, mental illness, and substance abuse. Please do what you need to do to take care of your mental health, and skip this episode if this topic isn't speaking to you right now.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
About Kathleen Sullivan
Kathleen is a family Nurse Practitioner with a clinical practice in a youth mental health and substance use. She recently joined the leadership team as a lead with the Regional Professional Practice NP team with a focus on supporting quality practice environment and excellence in clinic practice for NPs, specifically in urgent care and primary care. After completing a capstone in Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Kathleen joined the provincial ACEs working group with Doctors of BC. Outside of work, she finds balance exploring trails and mountaintops with her partner and giant dog.
About Andrea Barr, host of All Figured Out:
Andrea is a certified career and life coach for parents. Through her coaching, she supports parents in finding better work-life rhythms so they can continue to grow personally and professionally without sacrificing family time.
Connect with Andrea
Website | https://www.andreabarr.com/
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/allfiguredoutandrea
Resume Shop – Beautiful, customizable resumes to land your dream job
🎁 Enter the Holiday Giveaway → https://www.andreabarr.com/giveaway
[HOLIDAY BEST OF SERIES]
This week's Throwback Thursday features one of your most-loved episodes from early in the podcast. If you're navigating the tension between career ambition and new motherhood—or questioning what success really means after becoming a parent—this conversation will resonate deeply.
Trigger Warning: Topics such as disordered eating, infertility, and infant loss do come up in this episode. Please do what you need to do to take care of your mental health, and skip this episode if those topics just won't jive with you today.
Today, I have Meredith MacKenzie on the show sharing her career story. And if there's one thing I've learned from coaching working parents and chatting with Meredith, it's that it's never just a career story—it's a life story.
Our conversation spans Meredith's drive as a high achiever, her fertility challenges, and the current questions she's asking herself as she finishes her maternity leave, juggles her doctorate degree, and decides what to do about her return to work and considerations for family planning. As you can tell, we cover a lot here.
Meredith is a Counsellor and the Founder of Parallel Wellness. Her team provides mental health therapy services to individuals, couples and families throughout British Columbia. Meredith is also a PhD candidate at the University of British Columbia and first-time mom. Meredith supports women in overcoming years of dieting, poor body image, binge eating and emotional eating, so they can reconnect with their body's true needs and find freedom from food and diet culture.
For Meredith, figuring it all out has been understanding herself more deeply, weighing her career, her health, and her family values, and learning to put herself first.
To connect with Meredith MacKenzie:
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/parallelwellness/ | https://www.instagram.com/dr.meredithmackenzie/
YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@dr.meredithmackenzie
To learn about her current offerings and group programs, visit her platforms above
About Andrea Barr, host of All Figured Out:
Andrea is a certified career and life coach for parents. Through her coaching, she supports parents in finding better work-life rhythms so they can continue to grow personally and professionally without sacrificing family time.
Connect with Andrea
Website | https://www.andreabarr.com/
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/allfiguredoutandrea
Resume Shop – Beautiful, customizable resumes to land your dream job
What happens when you have four kids by age 27, right as the women's movement is taking off? Jennifer Manocherian's story reads like several lifetimes woven into one—and at 86, she's not done. From family therapist to divorce mediator to Broadway producer to novelist, Jennifer has reinvented herself more times than most people change jobs.
This conversation touches on resilience, letting go of guilt, and understanding that life is long enough to try again. If you've ever felt like you're running out of time or that you need to have it all figured out by a certain age, Jennifer's going to change your mind.
In this episode, we cover:
(12:17) Creating art from mannequins while recovering from a broken back – Why Jennifer can't stop starting new projects.
(16:01) The cusp of the women's movement – How Jennifer navigated her 30s with four kids, a traditional husband, and a burning desire to work that didn't fit the era's expectations
(19:14) Getting her undergraduate degree at 34, while having her 5th child – Why alternative education programs gave Jennifer the flexibility she needed to finish what she started
(23:41) Creating a PR department out of thin air – How Jennifer built a public relations role through sheer creativity and hustle
(29:21) Walking away from Broadway – The moment Jennifer realized theatre producing was too hard on her family life, and why she had to shift her ambition to save what mattered most
(38:10) "The worst thing is wanting something and not doing it" – Jennifer's philosophy on risk, failure, and why trying (even if you fail) beats regret every single time
(52:45) The arbitrary pressure of "figuring it out by 40" – Jennifer's response to the idea that you need to have your life sorted by a certain age: "You take your temperature as you go along and readjust."
KEY TAKEAWAY
Life is long, and wanting something you don't pursue hurts worse than trying and failing. "I think the worst thing that can happen is wanting something and not doing it. I'm not afraid to risk making a mistake or being wrong."
About Jennifer Manocherian
Jennifer Manocherian, 86, has had more careers than most people have decades. She's been a publicist, family therapist, divorce mediator, Broadway producer, filmmaker, novelist, and screenwriting teacher—often reinventing herself just as she was getting good at the last thing.
Her creative work spans film (Family Blues on Amazon Prime, If I Tell You awaiting release), musical theater (Marry Harry, LULU), and novels (Alpha Bette, with a second in progress). She's also a wife, mother of five, grandmother of fifteen, great-grandmother of one, and a self-proclaimed creator of "weird art pieces."
At 86, she's still teaching, writing, and figuring out what's next—because as she'll tell you, life is long.
Connect with Jennifer
Website | https://jennifermanocherian.net
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/jennifermanocherian
LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-manocherian-2421855/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/jmanocherian
About Andrea Barr, host of All Figured Out:
Andrea is a certified career and life coach for parents. Through her coaching, she supports parents in finding better work-life rhythms so they can continue to grow personally and professionally without sacrificing family time.
Connect with Andrea
Website | https://www.andreabarr.com/
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/allfiguredoutandrea
Resume Shop – Beautiful, customizable resumes to land your dream job
What does it take to walk away from 19 years of federal leadership to start completely over? Yaa-Hemaa Obiri-Yeboah shares her remarkable journey from political refugee to Rhodes Scholar to federal executive—and why she ultimately chose to leave it all behind. This conversation goes deep on career pivots, generational workplace dynamics, the messy reality of transitioning back to work after mat leave, and what it really means to "operate from your power." If you've ever felt successful on paper but unfulfilled in your soul, this episode is for you.
In this episode, we cover:
(04:01) Surviving a political coup as an infant – How Yaa-Hemaa's family fled Ghana when her father refused to participate in a military coup, eventually landing in Canada as political refugees
(18:19) The "public servant by day, singer-songwriter by night" era – How Yaa-Hemaa juggled federal leadership with performing at jazz bars and releasing an EP, all while appearing on CBC radio in the morning and rushing to work for executive meetings
(23:26) Getting promoted while on maternity leave – Yaa-Hemaa passed executive-level exams and interviews when her son was under 3 months old, proving that motherhood doesn't pause ambition (even when you're sleep-deprived)
(27:13) Why the pandemic was actually good for her family – With her parents moving in to create a supportive pod, Yaa-Hemaa had the village most working parents dream of during those early years
(47:17) The return-to-office debate – Why mandating in-office days without intentional connection is missing the entire point (and frustrating everyone in the process)
KEY TAKEAWAY
Success on paper doesn't equal fulfillment in your soul—and it's okay to walk away from what looks good to find what feels right. "I wanna be able to operate from my power."
Connect with Yaa-Hemaa Obiri-Yeboah
Website | https://theyvariable.com/
LinkedIn | Yaa-Hemaa Obiri-Yeboah
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/itstheyvariable/
TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@itstheyvariable
Online Course Career School by The Y Variable: Your First 30 Days…and Beyond
Connect with Andrea
Website | https://www.andreabarr.com/
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/allfiguredoutandrea
Resume Shop – Beautiful, customizable resumes to land your dream job
108. Figuring out your legal rights at work (before you need them) with Erin Brandt
Sometimes you get a sinking feeling when you’re handed a new job offer because you might have no idea what you’re actually signing. Or you’ve found yourself wondering what you can and can't negotiate when you’re going on mat leave.
This episode is the legal safety net you didn't know you needed.
Employment lawyer Erin Brandt breaks down everything working parents need to know about their rights—from signing contracts to navigating mat leaves, getting fired, and everything in between. And she does it in a way that actually makes sense (no legal jargon, promise).
Whether you're accepting a new role, planning a leave, or dealing with a tricky work situation, this is the legal information you wish you'd had years ago.
In this episode, we cover:
Mat Leave & Parental Leave:
Before You Sign:
When Things Go Wrong:
KEY TAKEAWAY:
Communication is everything. Whether you're negotiating a contract, planning a leave, or navigating a termination—clarity, boundaries, and understanding your rights will always serve you better than staying silent.
RELATED EPISODES:
ABOUT ERIN BRANDT:
Erin (she/her) is an employment and human rights lawyer and is passionate about helping people create meaningful employment relationships and assisting to resolve conflict where those relationships break down. Erin is excited by new ideas that increase the value clients receive from legal services and enthusiastic about new technologies that make accessing legal services more convenient. She channels this passion and enthusiasm into solving workplace problems for both employers and employees
Website: portalaw.ca
LinkedIn: Erin Brandt
Instagram: @portalawbc
ABOUT ANDREA BARR, HOST OF ALL FIGURED OUT:
Andrea Barr is a certified career and life coach for ambitious parents and the host of the All Figured Out podcast. She helps parents find clarity, confidence, and career-family alignment without burnout.
Through her coaching, workshops, and podcast, Andrea shares the strategies and mindset shifts parents need to design careers that fit their lives—so they can thrive at work and at home.
Connect with Andrea:
Website: https://www.andreabarr.com/
Instagram: @allfiguredoutandrea
Resume Shop – Beautiful, customizable resumes to land your dream job
LEGAL DISCLAIMER:
This episode is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For advice specific to your situation, please consult with an employment lawyer in your province.
Ep. 107: How to navigate work-life transitions with grace
Join the 2025 Success Luncheon in Vancouver on Nov. 25, 2025
This one’s for the parents at a crossroads. Whether you’re re-entering the workforce, navigating separation, or simply wondering what’s next, this conversation is a reminder that your current challenge is only a snapshot in time.
In this episode, Amanda Sayfy, Executive Director of Dress for Success Vancouver, shares what it’s really like to build a mission-led career while navigating parenthood, ADHD, and major life transitions.
We talk about what resilience actually looks like, why gender equity isn’t just women’s work, and how to find purpose—even when you feel like you’ve lost yourself.
In this episode, we cover:
• The emotional toll and unexpected gifts of career breaks
• How co-parenting helped Amanda redefine balance
• The power of role modelling and social capital
• What true dignity means in career transition
Related episodes:
Ep. 101 : What to do when life looks great on paper but still feels off with Christine Coughlin – Spotify, Apple or YouTube
Ep. 103 : How to stop spiralling and take action when you’re overwhelmed with Joanna Brewster – Spotify, Apple or YouTube
About Amanda Sayfy
Amanda Sayfy is a passionate advocate for women’s empowerment. As Executive Director of Dress for Success Vancouver, she leads with equity at the heart of her work, supporting over 2,000 women annually. A seasoned non-profit leader with 20 years of experience, Amanda brings strategic insight and diverse fundraising expertise to advance equitable employment access across Metro Vancouver.
https://dfsvancouver.ca/
About Andrea Barr, host of All Figured Out
Andrea Barr is a certified coach, speaker, and host of All Figured Out. She helps ambitious parents create clarity, calm, and confidence in their careers and lives—so they can thrive without sacrificing family time.
ALL FIGURED OUT EVENTS: Online & IRL
Let's connect! Instagram • YouTube • Website • LinkedIn
Ep. 106: Figuring out how to shake things up for the last quarter and into 2026
ALL FIGURED OUT EVENTS: Online & IRL
This week, I'm on a solo dive into what it really takes to reinvent yourself—without burning out or blowing up your whole life.
Recorded in early October, this cozy, Q4 check-in is part reflection, part strategy session, and full of practical wisdom for parents who want to feel more aligned heading into the new year.
In this episode, we cover:
How to identify the one area of your life that needs your focus most
The power of the 20% rule
How to quiet your mind in a noisy world
How to invest in the right people (at the right time)
About Andrea Barr
Andrea Barr is a certified career and life coach for ambitious parents and the host of All Figured Out. She helps parents design careers and lives that feel fulfilling—without the burnout. @allfiguredoutandrea
Ep. 105: Figuring out how to harness your story and loss to build a business
Today’s episode is a special, off-schedule release in honour of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day.
After enduring pregnancy losses, including a second-trimester miscarriage during the pandemic, Angel Leung realized she had the tools to advocate for herself—but most people don’t. So she created the kind of support she wished she had: clear, compassionate, personalized care for families going through the unthinkable.
In this episode, we discuss:
Related Episodes
Ep. 95: The emotional journey of surrogacy and parenting with Stephanie Bosello – Spotify or Apple
Ep. 94: How to co-regulate without losing yourself as a parent with Tracy Adams – Spotify or Apple
Ep. 86: How to start a consulting business as a mom: Tiffany Rosik’s career pivot story – Spotify or Apple
About Angel Leung
Angel is the founder of Baby Bean Consulting, created from her passion to walk alongside parents through the heartbreak and hope of growing a family. She supports women and families navigating miscarriage, pregnancy after loss, and birth trauma — helping them feel seen and cared for when it’s hardest to find support.
A Registered Nurse with both clinical expertise and personal lived experience, Angel blends evidence-based care with heartfelt compassion and advocates for better understanding and support around perinatal loss.
📧 angel@babybeanconsulting.ca
About Andrea Barr
Andrea Barr is a certified career and life coach for ambitious parents and the host of All Figured Out—the podcast and associated events for people who want more freedom and flexibility as they juggle work and life as parents.
Andrea leads in-person gatherings across Greater Vancouver and online workshops designed to spark conversation, inspire new strategies, and build community for the messy middle of modern parenthood.
Ep. 104: Figuring out how to feed your family without losing your sanity
If the fridge is empty (again) and you’re spiralling about being a “real” adult - this one’s for you. Food blogger and mom of three, Madison Wetherill of Cook at Home Mom, joins me for a refreshingly realistic conversation about food, family, and finding ease in meal planning.
In this episode, we cover:
Related episodes:
Ep. 96: Feel better NOW and find joy in life's little pleasures with Catherine Roscoe Barr – Spotify or Apple
Ep. 89: Want to raise money-smart kids… but still figuring it out yourself? with Jessica Moorhouse – Spotify or Apple
Ep. 59: The 4 pillars of health for parents with Dr. Valerie Hertzog – Spotify or Apple
About Madison Wetherill
Madison Wetherill is the creator of Cook at Home Mom, where she helps busy families embrace wholesome, flavorful cooking. Madison’s blog offers meal plans, grocery tips, and kitchen hacks, proving healthy eating doesn’t have to be complicated.
Madison’s free 5‑day weeknight dinner plan (with sides + grocery list)
Instagram: @cookathomemom
About Andrea Barr, host of All Figured Out
Andrea is a certified career and life coach for ambitious parents, and host of the All Figured Out podcast. She helps parents find clarity, confidence, and career-family alignment without burnout. Visit her website here and follow her on Instagram here.
Ep. 103: Figuring out how to get un-triggered
What happens when your career is thriving, your life looks good on paper… and then everything changes? In this honest conversation, coach and emotional intelligence educator Joanna Brewster shares how a car accident, a lost sense of self, and a spark of purpose from her own son set her on a path of reinvention.
What We Cover:
Related episodes:
Ep. 99: Jealousy, parenting & career changes with Elana Sures – Spotify or Apple
Ep. 101 : What to do when life looks great on paper but still feels off with Christine Coughlin – Spotify or Apple
Ep. 94: How to co-regulate without losing yourself as a parent with Tracy Adams – Spotify or Apple
About Joanna Brewster
Joanna Brewster is an emotional intelligence and leadership coach who helps individuals and organizations move beyond autopilot living and leading, to see new options, and make intentional choices to create success and joy. She’s passionate about deepening self-awareness, conscious communication, and empathy for a deeper connection and understanding with ourselves and others.
She is an ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC) and Emotional Intelligence Coach, with additional training in mindfulness, positive psychology, and neuroscience-backed tools to support lasting transformation.
Beyond her work, Joanna is a mom of two, with a secret, or not so secret, obsession for books and journals and finds her greatest peace and joy sitting by the ocean tuning into the messages of her heart.
Website: www.hearttalks.ca
Instagram: @hearttalks__withjoannabrewster
About Andrea Barr, host of All Figured Out
Andrea is a certified career and life coach for ambitious parents, and host of the All Figured Out podcast. She helps parents find clarity, confidence, and career-family alignment without burnout. Visit her website here and follow her on Instagram here.
Ep. 102: Figuring out the WILDER and family-friendly way to host & start something from scratch
Watch this conversation on YouTube here!
Hosting can feel overwhelming, especially as parents. Between toys on the floor, bedtime chaos, and “not enough” stories running in your head, it’s easy to put off bringing people together. But what if gathering could be simpler—and more meaningful?
In this episode, Emily Shimwell, founder of Dine Wilder, shares how she’s hosted over 540 guests at her immersive long-table dinners in just one year. We talk about connection over perfection, starting before you feel ready, and how to host in ways that feel simple, soulful, and fun.
In this episode, we cover:
October 26, 2025 — @ The Cheakamus Centre in Squamish, BC
Use the exclusive listener code ‘AFO20’ for 20% off your ticket.
Related episodes:
Ep. 65: A (camp)fireside chat about community and self-care with Gillian Behnke – Spotify or Apple
Ep. 96: Feel better NOW and find joy in life's little pleasures with Catherine Roscoe Barr – Spotify or Apple
Ep. 34: Danielle Wiebe on figuring out how to enter the world of entrepreneurship and the power of community – Spotify or Apple
Ep. 91: Feeling off? Use this 8-part check-in to realign your life – Spotify or Apple
About Emily Shimwell
Emily Shimwell is a Yorkshire-born storyteller, experience designer, and lifelong connector. She’s the founder of Dine Wilder and co-founder of Graze Wilder, ventures rooted in her love of beauty, community, and bringing people together.
In just one year, Emily has welcomed over 540 guests to her immersive dinner retreats, each crafted to leave women feeling seen, celebrated, and deeply connected. More than just table settings and candles, Emily’s work is about sparking genuine human connection that makes every gathering unforgettable.
Follow Emily on Instagram at @emily_wilder or @dine.wilder.
About Andrea Barr, host of All Figured Out
Andrea is a certified career and life coach for ambitious parents, and host of the All Figured Out podcast. She helps parents find clarity, confidence, and career-family alignment without burnout. Visit her website here and follow her on Instagram here.
Ep. 101: Figuring out how to pivot when “perfect on paper” still feels wrong
When your life checks every box—marriage, kids, the house—and you still feel off, what then?
Former stay-at-home mom of three turned entrepreneur, Christine Coughlin, gets honest about identity shifts, guilt, and rebuilding a life that actually fits.
We dig into leaving a defining career, stay-at-home-mom life, the hobby-to-business trap, tricky marriage conversations, and how to follow curiosity without blowing up your world.
Watch on YouTube
What we cover:
How to know when “this isn’t it” (even if everything looks good on paper)What it looks like to turn a hobby inuto a business…and then burn it downHard spouse conversations when your dreams disrupt your initial agreementsHow to start a brand before you’ve “figured it out”A realistic take on balance when you’re stepping into something new
Related episodes (add links):
Ep. 96: Feel better NOW and find joy in life's little pleasures with Catherine Roscoe Barr – Spotify or Apple
Ep. 91: Feeling off? Use this 8-part check-in to realign your life – Spotify or Apple
About Christine Coughlin
Christine Coughlin is a former Director of Operations turned entrepreneur, mom of three, and founder of YVR Creatives—a community that supports women building bold, personal brands.
After leaving her corporate career to become a stay-at-home mom, Christine found herself craving more than what traditional roles offered. A midlife awakening and a desire for purpose led her to launch The In Between, and later YVR Creatives, where she now empowers female entrepreneurs to share their passions with the world through events, community and content.
In this episode, Christine opens up about identity shifts, letting go of guilt, and redefining success in motherhood, marriage, and career.
Website: yvrcreatives.ca | the-inbetween.ca
Instagram: @yvr.creatives | @iamchristinecoughlin
About Andrea Barr, host of All Figured Out
Andrea is a certified career and life coach for ambitious parents, and host of the All Figured Out podcast. She helps parents find clarity, confidence, and career-family alignment without burnout. Visit her website here and follow her on Instagram here.
Ep. 100: Figuring out how to celebrate the messy, meaningful path to consistency
One hundred episodes.
Nearly three years.
Countless conversations with parents, experts, and leaders who are redefining what it means to thrive in work, family, and life.
In this rare solo episode, I've turned the mic on myself to reflect on what it’s taken to create All Figured Out—and why consistency isn’t about perfection.
I share behind-the-scenes lessons, big milestones, and even an impromptu interview with a 4-year-old guest.
In this episode, we cover:
About Andrea Barr, host of All Figured Out
Andrea is a certified career and life coach for ambitious parents, and host of the All Figured Out podcast. She helps parents find clarity, confidence, and career-family alignment without burnout. Visit her website here and follow her on Instagram here.
Ep. 99: Figuring out what your envy is really trying to tell you
Jealousy isn’t a dirty word—it’s information.
In this episode, therapist and Open Space Counselling founder Elana Sures unpacks how envy can be a powerful signal pointing toward your values, your longings, and the life you actually want.
We talk about Elana’s own experience navigating the “mom hustle,” career jealousy, and the identity shake-up that led her from public health into thriving private practice—and eventually to building a multi-location clinic.
In this conversation, we explore:
What jealousy is actually trying to show you
How to spot longing underneath comparison
Why moms often carry more of the mental/emotional load around career decisions
Envy as a career compass
How to create your own version of success at a realistic scale
The “scar vs. wound” rule for vulnerable sharing
What to do if you feel triggered by other people’s highlight reels
→ FULL SHOW NOTES & TAKEAWAYS
Related episodes:
Ep. 94: How to co-regulate without losing yourself as a parent with Tracy Adams – Spotify or Apple
Ep. 96: Feel better NOW and find joy in life's little pleasures with Catherine Roscoe Barr – Spotify or Apple or YouTube
Ep. 98: How to rebuild strength and confidence after kids (and feel good naked) – Spotify or Apple
About Elana
Elana Sures is a therapist and owner of Open Space Counselling, a large therapy clinic located in Vancouver and the North Shore. She is also the creator of the clinic’s popular Mom Rage Reset program. With nearly 20 years of experience in maternal mental health, Elana is passionate about helping mothers develop more balanced emotions, rich relationships, and satisfying lives.
Website: openspacecounselling.ca
Instagram: @openspacecounselling
About Andrea Barr, host of All Figured Out:
Andrea Barr is a certified career and life coach who helps ambitious parents take charge of their careers and lives with strategy, intention, and freedom. She rejects the idea that success requires sacrifice—showing parents how to create more time, flexibility, and fulfillment without burnout. Through her coaching, workshops, and podcast, All Figured Out, Andrea shares the strategies and mindset shifts parents need to design careers that fit their lives—so they can thrive at work and at home.
Connect with Andrea via Instagram here or her website here.
Ep. 98: Figuring out how to rebuild strength and confidence in parenthood
This in-person conversation with Shayan Vaghayenegar, owner of Strength Connected is packed with honesty, strategy, and empowerment for anyone feeling, let's say "less strong" after having kids.
We talk about how to reset your expectations (and your ego), find a realistic rhythm with workouts, and truly get strong—not just to look good naked, but to feel capable in every part of your life.
In this episode:
The power of rebuilding from the ground up after parenthood
Why your 20-something fitness mentality doesn’t serve you now
What personalized fitness actually means—and how it’s different from personal training
How stress, sleep, and identity shifts impact your body
The mindset shifts that help you build strength without burnout
Related episodes:
Ep. 96: Feel better NOW and find joy in life's little pleasures with Catherine Roscoe Barr – Spotify or Apple or YouTube
Ep. 91: Feeling off? Use this 8-part check-in to realign your life – Spotify or Apple
About Shayan
Shayan Vaghayenegar is a personal trainer and founder of Strength Connected, a North Vancouver-based gym redefining how parents and professionals approach fitness. A former athlete with a background in human kinetics and OPEX coaching, Shayan helps people build long-term strength and confidence through sustainable, personalized programs that meet you where you are.
Try Strength Connected’s Personalized Coaching Kickstarter: Sign up for $74/week
Follow Shayan on Instagram: @strengthconnected
About Andrea Barr, host of All Figured Out:
Andrea Barr is a certified career and life coach who helps ambitious parents take charge of their careers and lives with strategy, intention, and freedom. She rejects the idea that success requires sacrifice—showing parents how to create more time, flexibility, and fulfillment without burnout. Through her coaching, workshops, and podcast, All Figured Out, Andrea shares the strategies and mindset shifts parents need to design careers that fit their lives—so they can thrive at work and at home.
Connect with Andrea via Instagram here or her website here.
Ep. 97: Figuring out why kids need books that speak their language
Why are Judy Blume’s books still resonating decades later—and what can they teach us about feminism, censorship, and raising readers in 2025?
In this episode, bestselling author and editor Rachelle Bergstein shares her journey as a writer and mom, and what she discovered while researching her latest book, The Genius of Judy.
From literary snobbery to spicy teen novels, this conversation is packed with thoughtful takes on children’s literature, cultural shifts, and the quiet power of books that meet kids where they’re at.
What you’ll hear in this episode:
Related episode:
Ep. 89: Want to raise money-smart kids… but still figuring it out yourself? with Jessica Moorhouse – Spotify or Apple
About Rachelle Bergstein:
Rachelle Bergstein is a lifestyle writer, bestselling author, and editor focused on style, pop culture, and families. Her work has appeared in the New York Post, The New York Times, NPR, and more. She is the author of Women from the Ankle Down, Brilliance and Fire, and The Genius of Judy. She lives with her husband and son in Brooklyn.
Find her at rachellebergstein.com or @rachellewb on Instagram. Subscribe to her Substack, Banner Year, for her take on the book-banning crisis.
About Andrea Barr, host of All Figured Out:
Andrea Barr is a certified career and life coach who helps ambitious parents take charge of their careers and lives with strategy, intention, and freedom. She rejects the idea that success requires sacrifice—showing parents how to create more time, flexibility, and fulfillment without burnout. Through her coaching, workshops, and podcast, All Figured Out, Andrea shares the strategies and mindset shifts parents need to design careers that fit their lives—so they can thrive at work and at home.
Ep. 96: Figuring out how to reclaim your wellbeing through simple pleasures, neuroscience, and self-compassion.
This is a milestone episode—it’s my first-ever in-person podcast recording! You can watch the beautiful set and full conversation over on YouTube while you’re tidying up, doing dishes, or getting ready for your day.
My guest, Catherine Roscoe Barr, is a neuroscience-based wellness coach, lifestyle journalist, veteran fitness professional, founder of The Life Delicious, and bestselling author of FEEL BETTER NOW: The Life-Changing Power of Simple Pleasures. She helps people merge science-backed tools with mindfulness-based practices to create sustainable health, joy, and empowered living.
→ FULL SHOW NOTES & TAKEAWAYS
In this conversation, Catherine shares:
+ How her personal journey from burnout and depression led to a revolutionary approach to wellness
+ The surprising science of the vagus nerve and how to activate it for calm and connection
+ Why simple pleasures and “micro moments” can make the biggest difference in your wellbeing
+ Her “flexible framework” for self-care—designed for real life, not perfection
+ The role of self-love in bridging the gap between knowing and doing
Whether you’re feeling stretched thin, craving more balance, or simply ready to feel better now, this episode is packed with practical, inspiring strategies you can start using today.
Related episodes:
Ep. 91: Feeling off? Use this 8-part check-in to realign your life – Spotify or Apple
Ep. 94: Co-Regulation Without Burnout: A Practical Guide for Ambitious Parents– Spotify or Apple
About Catherine Roscoe Barr:
Website: thelifedelicious.ca
Instagram: @catherineroscoebarr
Facebook: The Life Delicious
LinkedIn: Catherine Roscoe Barr
Book: FEEL BETTER NOW
Retreats: Upcoming Wellness Retreats
About Andrea Barr:
Andrea Barr is a certified career and life coach for ambitious parents. Through her coaching, podcast, and resume shop, Andrea helps parents thrive in their careers without sacrificing family life.
Shop the Resume Shop → Beautiful, customizable, plug-and-play resumes to land your dream job interviews
Welcome to All Figured Out.
This is the podcast for ambitious parents who are navigating careers, life, and family with equal parts strategy and humour.
I’m Andrea Barr, career and life coach, mom of two, and your guide to building a life that actually works for you.
Each week, we dive into conversations about career moves, parenting wins (and fails), and the messy middle of figuring it all out—so you can lead with confidence at work and at home.
Follow now so you don’t miss your next “aha” moment. Let’s figure this out together.
Visit Website: andreabarr.com
Follow on Instagram: @allfiguredoutandrea
Connect on LinkedIn: Andrea Barr
Watch Episodes on YouTube: All Figured Out
Ep. 95: Figuring out the emotional, legal, and personal side of becoming a surrogate
Stephanie Bosello never imagined she’d become a surrogate—until a family member’s fertility journey intersected with her own deep sense of purpose.
In this powerful and personal episode, Steph shares her journey with surrogacy, the layers of support required, and what it means to give such a profound gift, even when the outcome doesn’t go as planned.
We dive into everything from counselling and legal prep to the emotional rollercoaster of embryo transfer, the unexpected heartbreak that followed, and how Stephanie’s background as a school counsellor and parent shaped her outlook on the entire experience.
Conversation takeaways:
Surrogacy is a gift and a privilege—but also an emotionally demanding experience
Your childhood can shape how you parent and what kind of support you seek
Open, honest communication with your partner is essential when making big life decisions
The legal and logistical side of surrogacy is complex and crucial
You don’t need to be a “risk taker” to do brave things
Even when the outcome isn’t what you hoped, the impact and connection remain real
Related episodes:
About the guest:
Stephanie is a Registered Clinical Counsellor and school counsellor with a background in developmental and counselling psychology. She's passionate about supporting youth and families, navigating school and health systems, and helping others feel seen and supported. She's also a proud mom of two high-energy kids who tear around the neighbourhood on bikes.
Connect with Stephanie via LinkedIn here.
About Andrea Barr, host of All Figured Out:
Andrea Barr is a certified career and life coach who helps ambitious parents take charge of their careers and lives with strategy, intention, and freedom. She rejects the idea that success requires sacrifice—showing parents how to create more time, flexibility, and fulfillment without burnout. Through her coaching, workshops, and podcast, All Figured Out, Andrea shares the strategies and mindset shifts parents need to design careers that fit their lives—so they can thrive at work and at home.
Connect with Andrea via Instagram here or her website here.