{"podcast":{"title":"The Breadwinners Podcast","slug":"the-breadwinners-podcast-7566806","podcast_index_feed_id":7566806,"rss_url":"https://feeds.megaphone.fm/thebreadwinners","website_url":"https://thebreadwinners.co/","image_url":"https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/de2afeea-b8f8-11f0-afb4-dfc49638fbb1/image/30d33e19b529a190b2ab3ebdc10753e2.png?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress","author":"Alexis Contos","episode_count":32,"summary":"They say you can't have it all — that mothers must choose between ambition and presence. But what if we're asking the wrong question? On The Breadwinners Podcast, Alexis Contos redefines what it means to be a Breadwinner in modern culture, moving it far beyond the paycheck. Through raw, honest conversations with women like Morgan Zanotti (CEO of Primal Kitchen), Nicole Trunfio (CEO of Bumpsuit), and Eve Rodsky (Author of Fair Play & Find Your Unicorn Space), we explore what it really takes to bring financial richness, emotional richness, and systemic change to our families. This isn't about balance, it's about integration. Not perfection, but wholeness. Whether you're already navigating motherhood and career, building your empire before kids arrive, or reimagining what family leadership looks like, these conversations will challenge everything you've been told about what's possible. The Breadwinners: Where ambitious mothers aren't just earning a living, they're pioneering a new era for themselves, and everyone who comes next. Learn more at thebreadwinners.co.","last_synced_at":"2026-07-14T22:17:08.536044+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-breadwinners-podcast-7566806"},"episode":{"title":"EP. 12 | Mel Strong on Why Motherhood Has Never Been One-Size-Fits-All","slug":"ep-12-mel-strong-on-why-motherhood-has-never-been-one-size-fits-all","published_at":"2026-02-23T12:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-breadwinners-podcast-7566806/ep-12-mel-strong-on-why-motherhood-has-never-been-one-size-fits-all","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-breadwinners-podcast-7566806","url":"https://traffic.megaphone.fm/WRTNB2739613031.mp3?updated=1774208411","audio_url":"https://traffic.megaphone.fm/WRTNB2739613031.mp3?updated=1774208411","summary":"What does it take to walk away from 17 years of corporate security — stock options, healthcare, a VP title at Nike — and bet on yourself? In this episode, Alexis sits down with Mel Strong, co-founder of Next Ventures, a health and wellness-focused venture fund. Mel's path has been anything but linear: first-grade teacher, journalist, marketing executive, interim CMO of Oura Ring, and now fund manager — and she's candid about every messy step it took to get there. In this conversation: Why women at the same income level as men weren't investing the same way — and what Mel did about it The athlete mindset and using fear as a compass instead of a stop sign Growing up as a caregiver to a sister with disabilities — and becoming a \"mom\" in 4th grade What it was really like when her husband became unemployed and she became the Breadwinner Her early investment in Oura Ring and what she saw before anyone else did Why women are the chief medical officers of their families — and what that means for the future of health tech The loneliness epidemic, human connection, and why community is the truest form of technology Mel's story is a masterclass in reinvention, resilience, and building wealth on your own terms. 🎙️ The Breadwinners Podcast — where ambitious mothers don't just earn a living, they're pioneering a new era. 📩 Join the Breadwinner community: wearethebreadwinners.substack.com 🌐 Next Ventures: nextventures.com | Substack: https://nextventures.substack.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices","meta_description":"What does it take to walk away from 17 years of corporate security — stock options, healthcare, a VP title at Nike — and bet on yourself? In this episode,…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":4312,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-breadwinners-podcast-7566806/episodes/ep-12-mel-strong-on-why-motherhood-has-never-been-one-size-fits-all/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-breadwinners-podcast-7566806/ep-12-mel-strong-on-why-motherhood-has-never-been-one-size-fits-all.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}