Most touring musicians are juggling a lot, but when you add kids into the mix, it becomes a whole different kind of balancing act. Amber Bauer, a Canadian musician and mom of two, is right in the middle of it. She’s living proof that motherhood and a music career don’t have to cancel each other out, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy.

In this episode, Amber gets real about what it actually looks like to bring your kids on the road, and the trade-offs that come with it. From postpartum anxiety while touring to the everyday weight of mom guilt, she shares the parts people don’t always talk about.

We get into:

• What it’s really like managing babies on the road (spoiler: it’s a bit chaotic)
• The reality of childcare when your job doesn’t stay in one place
• How her career unexpectedly grew after becoming a mom
• Her unconventional path into music
• Why having a strong support system makes all the difference
• And what she’s dreaming up next, including overseas living and online teaching

Amber also challenges a lot of the assumptions around working moms in music. Instead of framing it as choosing between career or family, she talks about making decisions that actually line up with your values, even when they’re hard.

This one’s for:

• Musicians who want a family but aren’t sure how it fits
• Parents trying to make a non-traditional career work
• Anyone craving an honest take on chasing big dreams while raising kids

At the end of the day, Amber’s story isn’t about doing everything perfectly. It’s about figuring out what works for you, leaning on your people, and being okay with a little chaos along the way.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you can build a life that holds both your ambitions and your family, this episode might shift how you see it.

Thanks for being part of this conversation. Mother Makes Music is all about honesty, connection, and reminding each other that we’re not doing this alone. If this episode spoke to you, we’d love for you to share it and keep the conversation going.

Follow along on Instagram and TikTok @mothermakesmusic

Mother Makes Music is hosted by Megan McKay
Podcast Artwork by Emily Pond
Podcast Theme by Matty McKay
Funding generously provided by Calgary Arts Development

A lot of moms in music (and honestly, in any demanding career) know the feeling - you’re constantly juggling. Ambition, guilt, love for your work, love for your family… and somehow trying to hold it all together without dropping anything important.

In this first episode of Mother Makes Music, Megan McKay gets real about what that actually looks like. Not the polished version, but the messy, in-between moments. From traveling with artists to missing big milestones at home, she shares what it feels like to live in that constant push and pull, and the quiet loneliness that can come with it.

This conversation digs into the pressure to “do it all,” and how that expectation can leave you feeling like you’re never quite enough, at work or at home. Megan opens up about the guilt, the second-guessing, and the moments that stick with you long after the day is done.

Inside the episode, she talks about:

• Figuring out which things really matter, and which ones can wait
• What it’s like to feel pulled between two versions of yourself
• Navigating mom guilt in an industry that doesn’t run 9–5
• How sharing these experiences can actually create connection instead of isolation
• And how we might start redefining success in a way that actually includes motherhood

At the heart of it, this episode is a reminder: if you’ve ever felt torn, stretched thin, or like you’re falling short somewhere, you’re not the only one.

This is for the moms in music, the people who support them, and anyone trying to balance big dreams with real life. It’s not about having it all perfectly. It’s about figuring it out as you go, and maybe feeling a little less alone along the way.

Thanks for being part of this conversation. Mother Makes Music is all about honesty, connection, and reminding each other that we’re not doing this alone. If this episode spoke to you, we’d love for you to share it and keep the conversation going.

Follow along on Instagram and TikTok @mothermakesmusic

Mother Makes Music is hosted by Megan McKay
Podcast Artwork by Emily Pond
Podcast Theme by Matty McKay
Funding generously provided by Calgary Arts Development