What happens when a solo business owner hits the wall—and actually stops? In this candid conversation, Becky Mollenkamp talks with copywriter and branding expert Paige Worthy about her two-month sabbatical, why she took it, and what she learned about labor, self-worth, and the sneaky grip of capitalist productivity culture.

Paige opens up about the emotional toll of juggling clients, living in a world on fire, and the myth that stepping away is a luxury or a failure. From the privilege that made her time off possible to the inner voices that almost stopped her, she shares a raw and honest look at what real rest looks like (hint: it's not always pretty or peaceful).

Whether you’re a burned-out entrepreneur, a therapist who needs their own therapist, or someone dreaming of hitting pause but unsure how to give yourself permission, this episode is your invitation to imagine something different.

Paige Worthy (she/her) is a writer, editor, and brand messaging strategist for progressive entrepreneurs. Known for her spicy takes, thoughtful wordcraft, and zero tolerance for misogynist bullshit, Paige shows up in business and life as a truth-teller and cat-loving rage queen. She’s currently on sabbatical—joyfully making pottery, resisting capitalist productivity, and embracing rest as rebellion.

🌐 paigeworthy.com

Discussed in this episode:

• Why Paige took a two-month sabbatical—and what finally pushed her to it
• The privilege and emotional labor baked into taking time off
• Capitalist conditioning and the pressure to make rest "productive"
• How it felt to step away from multiple clients—and why she didn’t lose them
• The myth of constant urgency in client work
• Learning to treat work as part of life—not the center of it
• Reentering work with clarity and choosing a “hell yes” client
• Letting go of hustle culture, scarcity thinking, and shame
• What labor really means in a system that doesn’t support being human
• The value of reclaiming time, even if it’s just a weekend alone

Resource mentioned:

• Burnout coach Nicole Havelka

🎤 PROUD MEMBERS OF THE FEMINIST PODCASTERS COLLECTIVE 🎤

Dr. Giavanni Washington joins Faith Clarke for a raw and powerful conversation about the invisible labor women perform—especially Black women, immigrant daughters, eldest daughters, and overachievers—and the cost of sacrificing ourselves in the name of love, family, and professionalism. Giavanni unpacks her personal reckoning with worthiness, the structures that normalize our overwork, and the generational pattern-breaking required to reclaim joy and liberation.

Together, they explore how systems of white supremacy and patriarchy have conditioned us to be complicit in our own exhaustion—and what it takes to step out of those systems. From motherhood to work, partnership to family caregiving, this episode is a must-listen for anyone rethinking what it means to show up without self-abandonment.

Discussed in this episode:

• Giavanni’s journey from overachieving to awakening
• What it means to “stop participating in your own sacrifice”
• Invisible labor in families, especially for eldest daughters
• How patriarchal structures hide in modern partnerships
• The spiritual toll of being the family fixer
• Reorganizing life around joy and rest—not guilt and obligation
• How language and frameworks (like “invisible labor”) can set us free
• Why burnout isn’t about better systems, but better values

Resources Mentioned:

• The Overachievers Oracle podcast with Giavanni Washington
• Black Goddess Within: Giavanni’s spiritual liberation practice

🎤 Proud members of the Feminist Podcast Collective

In this raw and resonant conversation, transformation coach Heather Vickery joins Becky to talk about burnout, invisible labor, and why choosing yourself is a radical act of resistance. They unpack the emotional and physical toll of carrying the weight of the world—especially for women and non-binary folks socialized to perform and produce. Heather shares how retreats (from solo hotel stays to facilitated group gatherings) can serve as powerful tools for reconnection, rest, and radical reclamation.

She breaks down the science behind healing modalities like NLP and Human Design, and why well-resourced women are dangerous to the systems that aim to keep us small. If you've ever struggled to give yourself permission to rest, this episode will remind you why your liberation matters—and how rest isn’t just self-care, it’s strategy.

Heather Vickery’s website: vickeryandco.com
Costa Rica Retreat (Jan 21–26, 2026): https://vickeryandco.com/costa-rica

📝 Discussed in this Episode

• Why invisible labor leads to burnout—and why that’s by design
• The myth of the “good girl” and how it traps women in unsustainable patterns
• Heather’s journey from conformity to radical self-trust
• How retreats help disrupt autopilot and create space for healing
• The power of NLP, Human Design, and somatic tools for personal transformation
• Why resourced women are a threat to patriarchal, capitalist systems
• The difference between a vacation and a retreat
• Tips for deciding what kind of retreat you need based on your season of life
• The importance of investing in yourself without guilt
• How retreating helps you return more whole, grounded, and effective

💪 PROUD MEMBERS OF THE FEMINIST PODCAST COLLECTIVE: http://feministpodcastcollective.com/

In this powerful solo episode of Feminist Founders, Faith Clarke shares a deeply personal reflection on what it means to carry invisible labor as a woman, especially as a solo parent, a nonprofit consultant, and a woman of color navigating systemic inequity. From her lived experience of parenting through hypervigilance to her professional insights into underfunded organizations and the cost of over-functioning, Faith names what so often goes unnamed—and offers a call to reimagine leadership and community care.

She examines the praise women receive for being the ones who “carry it all” and challenges us to question why we accept that role in the first place. She doesn’t just talk about asking for help—she explores what it would take to build systems of collective leadership and shared responsibility.

This is an unfiltered, heart-led exploration of burnout, vigilance, scarcity, and liberation. If you’ve ever felt like Atlas with the world on your shoulders, this episode is your permission slip to set it down.

Discussed in this episode:

• The hidden costs of hypervigilance, especially in parenting and solo caregiving
• How race, gender, and nonprofit hierarchies intersect to under-resource women
• The emotional toll of being the go-to person (the “Luisa” of your world)
• Why naming invisible labor is a radical act
• How we begin moving from lone heroism to collective leadership

💪 PROUD MEMBERS OF THE FEMINIST PODCAST COLLECTIVE: http://feministpodcastcollective.com/

In this candid conversation, burnout coach Nicole Havelka joins Becky Mollenkamp to explore the systemic roots of burnout, especially for women, mothers, and caregivers. They discuss why rest is more than sleep, how women’s invisible labor adds up, and why the “just get a new job” advice is bullshit in a culture designed to drain us dry. Nicole brings a trauma-informed, embodied approach to healing burnout—one that doesn’t start with productivity hacks but with reclaiming your nervous system, your spaciousness, and your humanity. This episode is part of our special Feminist Founders summer series focused on women’s labor.

Nicole Havelka's Website | Newsletter

💬 Discussed in This Episode

• What burnout really is (and why it’s more than just being tired)
• How gendered expectations and invisible labor feed chronic overwhelm
• The critical role of embodiment and nervous system work in healing
• Why capitalist and white supremacist systems depend on our burnout
• The illusion of spaciousness and what it means to actually rest
• How meditation doesn’t have to look like sitting still and saying "om"
• The power of giving yourself permission to not volunteer at the damn PTO
• How to plan your schedule to not be a human version of a doctor's waiting room
• Why moms get guilted and dads don’t—and what that says about our systems

📚 Resources Mentioned

• "Burnout" by Emily & Amelia Nagoski
• "Fair Play" by Eve Rodsky
• "Sacred Rest" by Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith
• "Essentialism" by Greg McKeown
• "Rest is Resistance" by Tricia Hersey
• The Nap Ministry on Instagram

🎧 This show is part of the Feminist Podcast Collective, a community of progressive creators reclaiming media through storytelling and solidarity.

In this candid conversation, Becky Mollenkamp and Faith Clarke kick off their summer series exploring women’s labor—visible, invisible, paid, unpaid, emotional, and generational. They dive into what’s been stirring beneath the surface: the overwhelm of trying to do it all, the cultural myths of "having it all," and the shame and guilt baked into simply needing rest.

Faith opens up about her reflections on the Paris Paloma song and her own poetry as a way to name what’s often unspoken. Becky shares the seasonal stress of parenting, running a business, and feeling like she’s always supposed to keep pushing. Together, they name the collective weight women carry and offer an alternative path rooted in pleasure, community, and ease.

This episode kicks off a looser, more spacious summer format—one that resists perfectionism and honors capacity. Expect solo musings, guest conversations, and whatever else feels good, all orbiting the theme of labor and liberation.

Discussed in this episode:

• Why emotional labor is real—and disproportionately carried by women
• How systems reinforce impossible expectations, especially for mothers
• Faith’s reflection on being “the Black woman holding up the Earth”
• Becky’s struggle with summer parenting vs productivity
• The guilt/shame spiral of rest and how to rebel against it
• Why letting systems break is sometimes the most powerful choice
• How joy, rest, and pleasure are radical strategies for change
• What to expect in this summer series shift
• Paris Paloma’s song “Labour”

🎧 PROUD MEMBERS OF THE FEMINIST PODCAST COLLECTIVE 🎧

What does it really take to build a business rooted in your values—without burning out, selling out, or sacrificing your sanity?

Becky Mollenkamp and Faith Clarke introduce a new 6-month group container designed for feminist entrepreneurs who are done with toxic business culture and ready to lead in a way that feels nourishing, not extractive.

We unpack:

• Why traditional masterminds and coaching programs don’t work for liberatory leaders
• What makes this group different (hint: no formulas, no gurus, no performance required)
• Who this is really for—and why you're not "too much" or "not enough"
• What you'll leave with: self-trust, spaciousness, and a community that gets it

This episode is full of real talk about building a values-aligned, human-first business in a world that’s obsessed with productivity, hustle, and hierarchy.

If you’re wondering how to run your business differently—but aren’t sure where to begin—this episode will feel like a warm, radical permission slip.

📝 Apply for the group program here: https://feministfounders.co/group

📩 Got questions? Email us at feministfounder@gmail.com

🌈 Subscribe to the Feminist Founders newsletter: https://feministfounders.substack.com

In the final episode of this five-part series on the Feminist Founders framework, Becky Mollenkamp and Faith Clarke explore what happens after the strategy sessions are over. This conversation is about the often-overlooked work of integration—how to actually live your values in the everyday reality of your business.

They share personal stories, client examples, and real-world tools to show how feminist business values like transparency, consent, curiosity, and co-regulation can show up in your systems, your leadership, and even your Zoom meetings.

Listen in to learn:

• What changes on Day 2, after you’ve reimagined your business
• Why discomfort is a sign you’re doing the work, not failing
• How to practice your values in meetings (yes, even as a solopreneur)
• The role of leadership in modeling accountability and co-regulation
• What to do when team members resist your evolving culture
• How to create rhythms for revisiting and refining your business framework

Spoiler: The real magic isn't in the vision—it’s in the practice. And the practice will be messy.

🎧 Plus, get a sneak peek of the supportive container Becky and Faith are building to help founders like you do this work with structure and community.