In this solo episode of Feminist Founders’ summer series on women’s invisible labor, Becky shares a deeply personal practice she’s relied on for years: quarterly solo hotel retreats.

Recorded across two days in real time, Becky opens up about why she prioritizes this ritual, the family grief and financial stress that made this one especially necessary, and how these retreats help her reset from the relentless invisible labor of parenting, partnership, and work.

From perimenopause symptoms to parenting burnout, from the quiet joy of lowering a thermostat to 60 degrees to the relief of binge-watching shows alone in peace, this episode is an intimate reminder that self-care isn’t selfish — it’s survival.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:
• Why Becky takes solo hotel retreats every quarter (and why two nights are non‑negotiable)
• The invisible labor women carry in parenting, marriage, and caregiving
• The guilt that arises when prioritizing your own needs — and how to work through it
• How grief, perimenopause, and financial strain compound emotional labor
• Small ways to carve out restorative space, even if a hotel isn’t possible
• Why granting yourself permission to rest can be revolutionary

Resources & Links
• Join the Messy Liberation Coaches Circle
• Heather Vickery's episode on retreats

🎤 PROUD MEMBERS OF THE FEMINIST PODCASTERS COLLECTIVE

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