The Truth About: Having it All with Lia Higgins

Send us a text

This episode starts with a simple truth few people say out loud: sometimes the first chapter of parenthood is grief. Leah Higgins joins us to unpack an early miscarriage at 28, the shock of a postpartum hemorrhage, and the quiet ways trauma can delay bonding without diminishing love. From there, we zoom out: what happens when a high-achieving identity built in Big Law collides with a life you actually want to live? Leah talks candidly about trading titles for alignment, why a “soft landing” back from leave turned into a firestorm, and how prestige can masquerade as purpose until you call its bluff.

We also get practical about the myth of “having it all.” Corporate policies help, but not nearly enough when the village has vanished, childcare is fragile, and mental load still defaults to moms. Leah breaks down the limits of outsourcing, the emotional labor no app can automate, and the social cost of saying “I need help.” She chooses transparency over performance: yes, she has a full-time nanny she loves; no, she’s not doing it all alone; and yes, childcare should be a baseline, not a brag. That honesty dissolves comparison and reframes the real question: what support would let more families breathe?

Along the way, we talk community, isolation in self-employment, and the strange mix of freedom and loneliness that comes with flexible work. We close with two anchors: advice for a newly pregnant friend—you don’t have to enjoy every second to be a good mother—and the unexpected joy of watching a partner become a parent. It’s a conversation about loss and agency, ambition and care, and the messy, ordinary beauty of building a life that actually fits.

If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs some honesty, and leave a quick review—your words help more parents find their people.

Support the show

Website: https://www.doyouwantthetruthpod.com

Connect with Sam:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/samanthastrom

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@samanthastorms

Connect with Zara:

Zara Hanawalt https://www.linkedin.com/in/zara-hanawalt/

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@zarahanawalt

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zarahanawalt/