Infertility, Identity & Redefining Motherhood

In this poignant and deeply personal episode, Erica Roelike shares her journey through infertility with honesty, grace, and grounded wisdom. A seasoned HR consultant and business owner, Erica brings us into her world — one where life, loss, hope, and healing coexist.

💡 Key Themes:

• No Playbook for This
  Coming from a family of entrepreneurs, Erica draws a parallel between business and motherhood: neither come with a manual. Her journey through infertility reminded her how unique every path is — full of unknowns, shifting plans, and hard decisions.
• Infertility & Independence
  Married in 2017, Erica and her husband began trying to conceive soon after. What followed were years of IUI and IVF — filled with emotion, injections, schedules, and difficult choices. As an independent woman, Erica bore much of the burden alone, administering shots herself, even at social gatherings. She opens up about the mental weight of doing so quietly and the toll of not sharing in real-time.
• The Room That Stayed Empty
  One of the most moving parts of Erica’s story is her reflection on the room in her home that was supposed to be a nursery — a silent witness to years of hope and heartbreak. While they’ve since closed the door on both IVF and adoption, that room now holds space for a different kind of future — one rooted in peace, not pain.
• Faith, Grief & Growth
  Initially distant from her faith, Erica and her husband slowly found their way back to church, building spiritual strength together — not in pursuit of an answer, but in pursuit of unity. She now leans on her faith not for explanations, but for grounding and gratitude.
• Love Language, Self-Care, and Showing Up
  Whether it’s getting dressed every day, cooking, going to therapy, or hosting loved ones, Erica emphasizes intentionality. Her love language is food and hospitality, and she’s discovered how these small rituals keep her centered.
• The Power of the Village
  From launching her business post-house fire to navigating fertility treatments, Erica has leaned on her inner circle — educating and growing with those willing to truly empathize. She now aims to be that light for others, offering support and insight for women navigating similar terrain.

Advice to Her Younger Self:
Open up sooner. Don’t wait to find your tribe. Your story isn’t a burden.

Advice For Other Women:
You are not alone. Even if your motherhood doesn’t look like everyone else’s — you still belong.

Connect with Erica:

• LinkedIn: Erica Roelike
• Website: Elevate Results Consulting

Are you navigating your own version of motherhood — or redefining what that looks like? Erica’s story reminds us that identity is not dependent on circumstance. It's built in resilience, shaped by faith, and held together by hope.

How did this episode land with you? Let us know. 💛

Contact the Host, Kelly Kirk:

• Email: info.ryh7@gmail.com

Get Connected/Follow:

• IG: @ryh_pod & @thekelly.tanke.kirk
• Facebook: Reclaiming Your Hue Facebook Page
• YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@RYHReclaimingYourHue

Credits:

• Editor: Joseph Kirk
• Music: Kristofer Tanke

Thanks for listening & cheers to Reclaiming Your Hue!

From Billable Hours to Boundaries: Rho Thomas on Redefining Wealth, Motherhood, and Faith

When life nudged Rho Thomas off the traditional path of law firm prestige and into the uncharted world of entrepreneurship, she didn’t run—she researched, reflected, and rebuilt. In this heartfelt conversation, Rho walks us through her journey from practicing attorney to full-time financial coach, revealing the wake-up calls, pivots, and spiritual breadcrumbs that led her to reclaim her hue.

Based in Atlanta but raised in the Northeast, Rho is a mom of two boys (ages 6 and 8) who found herself at a crossroads during her third year of law practice. Though her firm offered a reduced-hours program, the mountain of student debt made it unattainable—so she and her husband got serious about their finances. What started as a blog to document their debt-payoff journey quickly evolved into a calling to help others, especially fellow lawyers, shift their money mindset and reclaim agency over their wealth.

Themes + Turning Points:

Boundaries Before Babies
Even before motherhood, Rho was carving space for herself thanks to wise mentorship. But after becoming a mom, the blurred lines between law and life hit hard. She began waking up earlier, pivoting schedules, and reevaluating what kind of parent and professional she wanted to be.

The Breaking Point
After the birth of her second child, Rho hit a low—feeling like she was failing in all areas of life. Therapy gave her the mirror she needed: she’d been showing up for everyone except herself.

The Full-Time Leap
In September 2021, Rho left the legal field to become a full-time financial coach. Guided by faith and intentionality, she now helps lawyers grow their net worth and heal their relationship with money—especially by tackling the emotional barriers of shame, fear, and scarcity.

Faith & Flow
Rho’s business is rooted in her Christian faith. She prays over her clients, her work, and her family daily—and tithes 10% of top-line revenue. She doesn’t hide this part of herself, noting how vital it is to stay grounded and led by something bigger.

Structure Through Seasons
With her kids now in school, Rho reflects on how the structure of their lives has shifted—and how entrepreneurship requires flexibility, especially for mothers. She encourages women to embrace each season and its unique rhythm.

Mic Drop Advice:
"Just jump in. Go for it. And pay closer attention to your money—it really does matter."

A Great Connection for Rho:
Anyone in the legal or personal finance space looking to collaborate, expand impact, or serve mission-driven professionals.

Connect with Rho:
🌐 www.rhothomas.com
🎙 Personal Finance for Lawyers with Rho Thomas
💼 LinkedIn

Contact the Host, Kelly Kirk:

• Email: info.ryh7@gmail.com

Get Connected/Follow:

• IG: @ryh_pod & @thekelly.tanke.kirk
• Facebook: Reclaiming Your Hue Facebook Page
• YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@RYHReclaimingYourHue

Credits:

• Editor: Joseph Kirk
• Music: Kristofer Tanke

Thanks for listening & cheers to Reclaiming Your Hue!

In this soul-filled episode, we sit down with Alexandria Marsolais — founder of HomeFree TC, mother of four, and a woman who built her dream life through intention, pivots, and deep clarity. Alex’s journey is filled with grit, grace, and growth as she shares how she designed a life around both business and motherhood.

Themes + Turning Points:

The Clash of Ambition and Motherhood:
Alex always knew she wanted both. For years, she wrestled with how her dreams could coexist — until she chose to believe they could.

Love + Partnership:
Married on prom weekend to her high school sweetheart, their relationship was built on shared vision. From Alaska to Minnesota, they laid a foundation that echoed throughout her business journey.

The Pivot Moment:
A “God wink” encounter with an unfulfilled coworker sparked her corporate exit in 2015. HomeFree TC was born — with “FREE” symbolizing a life of alignment, not burnout.

Pregnant for Five Years:
Four kids in five years and a growing business meant Alex was always evolving. She pivoted and pruned when needed to stay grounded in her vision.

Values, Boundaries, and Leadership:
It wasn’t until four years in that Alex defined her business’ core values — a discovery from hiring missteps that became her blueprint for growth.

Postpartum and Personal Evolution:
After her fourth child, Alex faced identity shifts, postpartum depression, and a season of intentional solitude. She stepped away from alcohol and leaned into healing like never before.

2025: The Year of Her:
Now, Alex is reclaiming time — from gardening to exploring new business ventures (hello vending machines?). She’s choosing presence over pressure.

The CEO of Her Home:
Alex models emotional honesty and financial transparency for her kids. Her home may be loud and messy, but it’s intentionally filled with joy.

Resources Mentioned:

• Amplify Your Influence by Rene Rodriguez
• Boundaries by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend

Connect with Alexandria:

• Instagram: @homefreetc
• Facebook: Home Free TC
• Website: Home Free TC

Contact the Host, Kelly Kirk:

• Email: info.ryh7@gmail.com

Get Connected/Follow:

• IG: @ryh_pod & @thekelly.tanke.kirk
• Facebook: Reclaiming Your Hue Facebook Page
• YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@RYHReclaimingYourHue

Credits:

• Editor: Joseph Kirk
• Music: Kristofer Tanke

Thanks for listening & cheers to Reclaiming Your Hue!

After twelve years apart, we reunite with Courtney Tanaka, a physical therapist turned entrepreneur who recently launched Renew Me PT—a practice designed to support mothers in reclaiming their bodies, their strength, and yes, even their sense of self.

With over 13 years in the field and a doctorate in physical therapy, Courtney had built a steady career inside the healthcare system. But after the birth of her first child, she began to feel a subtle tug -- a whisper that maybe there was something more. She had always enjoyed her work… until she didn’t. The missed school conferences and sports games began to stack up, and the emotional load of motherhood couldn’t be ignored.

She didn’t set out to become an entrepreneur. It wasn’t until recently that she connected the dots between motherhood and the desire to carve out something that was her own. As she puts it, if she gives her time and energy to something, it had better light her up.

And it does. These days, Courtney doesn’t mind working on a Saturday afternoon or sneaking in a few hours after bedtime—not out of obligation, but because she’s building something that feels aligned, fulfilling, and deeply personal. She’s serving the very community she once needed.

Highlights from our conversation:

• The pain (literal and emotional) of early motherhood—and how even as a PT, she didn’t know help existed for what she was experiencing
• The surprising challenge of patience—and learning to trust the slow build
• Creating her dream support network of doulas, chiropractors, mental health professionals, and fellow practitioners to serve new moms more holistically
• Real talk about marketing, especially learning to speak directly to the one woman she’s meant to serve
• Reclaiming empathy, faith, and purpose after years in a system that often overlooked all three

Courtney opens up about the moment she realized her child was learning kindness not just from school, but from watching her. She talks about setting boundaries with her kids, involving them in the journey, and modeling what it means to pursue meaningful work without sacrificing what matters most.

She’s also refreshingly honest about self-sabotage, boredom, and her Enneagram 7 wiring—and how knowing herself better has helped her lead more intentionally, both at home and in business.

Her guiding philosophy? Everything happens for a reason. It’s a belief shaped by deep personal loss and a quiet but persistent faith that’s carried her through each chapter.

Words of wisdom for other women walking a similar path: start where you have control. Change something small. Don’t wait for the whisper to turn into a shout.

A beautiful, layered, real-life journey of a mother reclaiming her hue—one choice at a time.

Connect with Courtney:

• Instagram: @renew_me_pt
• Facebook: Courtney Tanaka
• Website: ReNew Me PT

Contact the Host, Kelly Kirk:

• Email: info.ryh7@gmail.com

Get Connected/Follow:

• IG: @ryh_pod & @thekelly.tanke.kirk
• Facebook: Reclaiming Your Hue Facebook Page
• YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@RYHReclaimingYourHue

Credits:

• Editor: Joseph Kirk
• Music: Kristofer Tanke

Thanks for listening & cheers to Reclaiming Your Hue!

Building Foundations, Breaking Cycles

Trigger Warning: This episode contains honest discussions around mental health and suicidal ideation. Please take care while listening.

In this episode, Kelly Kirk sits down with Lauren Duke, founder of Core Ops Collective, a powerhouse in operations leadership and real estate systems strategy. From hairstylist and military spouse to multi-business entrepreneur, Lauren’s story is one of grit, grace, and real growth.

Lauren shares her winding journey—from doing hair in Alaska and Italy, to launching a virtual assistant company supported by family, and then an unexpected leap into real estate. After working within a high-powered expansion team that did over 3,000 transactions a year, Lauren saw the cracks in the foundation of hustle culture—burnout, blurred boundaries, and reactive systems. Instead of patching holes, she set out to build something different.

Peaks & Valleys of Her Journey:

• Burnout and Breakthrough: While juggling a high-pressure role and motherhood, Lauren found herself losing presence—especially during pivotal moments like childbirth. A wake-up call came when she realized she couldn’t remember the birth of her second son because she was mentally absent.
• Postpartum Darkness: During her third pregnancy, Lauren faced deep depression, weight gain, and near-hospitalization. It wasn’t until after giving birth that she felt the “clouds lifted,” attributing healing to a mix of support, medication, and faith.
• Mental Health and Boundaries: Lauren now relies on a mix of medication, deep self-awareness, and values-based decision-making to stay grounded. Her mantra: “Core values are the North Star.”
• From Chaos to Clarity: Core Ops Collective was born in May 2023 after a business pivot. She now guides agents in building businesses with a foundation—prioritizing systems, sustainability, and soul.

Powerful Reflections:

• “Someone else’s urgency is not your emergency.”
• “Ask yourself: Do you want comfort or do you want solutions?”
• “If the best-case scenario is better than the worst-case, go for it.”

Lauren is rewriting what it means to thrive in business and life. Her story is a masterclass in resilience, redemption, and rising with purpose.

Connect with Lauren:

• IG: @coreopscollective
• Website: www.coreopscollective.com

Resources Mentioned:

• The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer

Contact the Host, Kelly Kirk:

• Email: info.ryh7@gmail.com

Get Connected/Follow:

• IG: @ryh_pod & @thekelly.tanke.kirk
• Facebook: Reclaiming Your Hue Facebook Page
• YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@RYHReclaimingYourHue

Credits:

• Editor: Joseph Kirk
• Music: Kristofer Tanke

Thanks for listening & cheers to Reclaiming Your Hue!

Power, Passion & Pivoting Toward Women’s Health

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Katie Severt — a woman in her late 50s who has worn many hats, pivoted more than most, and is now fiercely advocating for equity in women’s health. From corporate tech to full-time motherhood, and now to community builder and health activist, Katie’s journey is one of reinvention and deep purpose.

What We Cover:

• Katie’s mission to elevate and amplify voices in women’s health, shining light on the disparities women face — especially as they age and care for others before themselves.
• Her belief that health is a gift back to herself and her generation, especially after witnessing the impact of COVID on vulnerable populations.
• The emotional layers of raising four children — her "older pod" of biological sons and her adopted daughter — and the haze and clarity that came with those early years of motherhood.
• The sandwich generation dilemma: caring for aging parents while trying to grow a business and raise kids.
• Katie’s evolution from IBM and tech startups to launching quarterly women’s health events featuring experts, conversations, and action.
• How an MBA helped her reset, realize the power of networks, and better understand the business of healthcare.
• Her passion for bridging the gap in funding, conversation, and innovation for women’s health — only 2% of philanthropic dollars go toward women or children.
• Why the overhaul needs to begin at every point in the healthcare journey, and how raising awareness is just the start — what’s needed is real action.

Resources Mentioned:

• Team Women
• Diverse Daisies
• Amma Parenting
• WHAM - Women’s Health Access Matters
• Let’s Talk Menopause
• Ready Set Pivot

Upcoming: Don’t Miss Katie’s April Event!
Visit Let’s Talk Women for more info, or connect with Katie directly via LinkedIn, email ( ksevert@gmail.com ), or schedule a call.

Contact the Host, Kelly Kirk:

• Email: info.ryh7@gmail.com

Get Connected/Follow:

• IG: @ryh_pod & @thekelly.tanke.kirk
• Facebook: Reclaiming Your Hue Facebook Page
• YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@RYHReclaimingYourHue

Credits:

• Editor: Joseph Kirk
• Music: Kristofer Tanke

Thanks for listening & cheers to Reclaiming Your Hue!

Lauren Lancaster joins us with a story that blends entrepreneurship, motherhood, and the art of reinvention. With eight years in real estate, her journey began long before her license—shaped by previous careers, a desire to build something lasting, and a calling to be a mom above all else.

She started as a buyer’s agent in 2017, eventually stepping out on her own. Known for her “bougie” taste and systems-driven mindset, Lauren leaned into creating structure early on—something that carried her through chaotic moments like COVID. But real growth came through learning when to let go.

Motherhood didn’t follow the script. After having her son August, she expected her best business year yet. It wasn’t. Instead, she learned that entrepreneurship, like birth, requires flexibility and grace. Where she allowed her birth plan to shift, she held too tightly to business expectations—and that contrast taught her the value of being fluid.

Relationally, she shares the tug-of-war real estate brings—boundaries, communication, and the need to align your energy with your season of life. She began protecting Sundays and reassessing how her time was spent, especially as a new mom.

A pivotal shift came when she leaned into her local mom community—playdates, classes, connections—and unexpectedly found fulfillment outside her business. After parting ways with her business partner, she launched “Hey Mama,” a passion project turned business foundation. What started as a newsletter and meet-ups completely uprooted and rebuilt her brand.

Lauren speaks to the slow, often non-linear evolution of self. She reminds us that there’s no race to figure it all out. You write the story. Sometimes you rewrite it. And sometimes, you discover chapters you didn’t plan for.

Looking ahead, she envisions supporting other entrepreneurial women, blending her coaching heart with a long-term vision that allows her to say yes to both her business and her son.

Her advice? Trust yourself more. You don’t need it all figured out. You just need the courage to begin—again and again.

Connect with Lauren:

• IG
• Website
• Newsletter

Contact the Host, Kelly Kirk:

• Email: info.ryh7@gmail.com

Get Connected/Follow:

• IG: @ryh_pod & @thekelly.tanke.kirk
• Facebook: Reclaiming Your Hue Facebook Page
• YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@RYHReclaimingYourHue

Credits:

• Editor: Joseph Kirk
• Music: Kristofer Tanke

Thanks for listening & cheers to Reclaiming Your Hue!

For Jaime Gaard Chapman, entrepreneurship has always been second nature. From a childhood babysitting calendar to launching Gaard Performance Academy, she built a business centered on grit, discipline, and character. Unlike traditional sports models that preyed on parents’ fears, she envisioned something deeper—an academy that would shape both athletic skill and mindset.

Balancing Business and Motherhood

By 2015, business was thriving. But when motherhood entered the equation, wearing all the hats became unsustainable. She pivoted to camps and clinics, allowing her to maintain impact while reducing hours—a recalibration, not a retreat.

Then came another realization: her family needed more of her.

Jaime and her husband, both coaching, saw the toll on their children—the shifting caretakers, unpredictable schedules. In an honest conversation, they chose to step away from basketball coaching, creating space for their family.

Self-Care & Letting Go of Perfection

Jaime’s approach to self-care is rooted in simplicity—lemon water, long walks without a phone, stacking small habits. She challenges the myth of balance, recognizing that some seasons are 90/10, others 50/50. What matters is being adaptable.

She also believes in starting before you’re ready. The first draft does not have to be perfect—just begin.

A Setback That Led to Purpose

At 26, Jaime faced her first true professional failure—not getting a job she had worked for. Up until then, success meant achievement and recognition. But that rejection led to Gaard Performance Academy, proving that sometimes the best doors are the ones that close.

Lessons for the Mompreneur

• True success isn’t relentless hustle; it’s alignment.
• Double vision: seeing people as they are while recognizing who they can become.
• Community matters. The deepest friendships are built on virtue, not just convenience.

Resources Mentioned:

• Aristotle's Three Types of Friendships
• Digital Detox on Hallow

Connect with Jaime
IG: @gaardperformanceacademy
Website: Gaard Performance Academy

If this conversation resonates, share it with a friend. Every mompreneur deserves a seat at this table.

Contact the Host, Kelly Kirk:

• Email: info.ryh7@gmail.com

Get Connected/Follow:

• IG: @ryh_pod & @thekelly.tanke.kirk
• Facebook: Reclaiming Your Hue Facebook Page
• YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@RYHReclaimingYourHue

Credits:

• Editor: Joseph Kirk
• Music: Kristofer Tanke

Thanks for listening & cheers to Reclaiming Your Hue!