After an unplanned summer break, I’m back with a quick update on the Mother Makes Music Podcast!

This summer looked a little different than planned. Between parenting without childcare, my husband being on the road, and trying to keep up with work, something had to give, and the podcast took a backseat for a bit.

In this mini episode, I’m catching you up on what’s been going on, including finding my own place in the country music industry, taking opportunities that mean leaning on family for support, and getting comfortable putting my voice out there again.

I’m also talking about something that’s been on my mind a lot lately: where do parents and caregivers fit into the music industry? We talk about work-life balance, but what does that actually look like when you’re trying to build a career in an industry that doesn’t always make room for family life?

I share a hopeful story about motherhood and career success in Canadian country music, and why I think maternity leave should be a normal, supported part of the conversation.

I’m happy to be back, and there’s lots more to talk about when it comes to motherhood, music, and figuring out how to make it all work.

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 mothers in leadership know the feeling of trying to hold it all together - supporting a team, building a career, raising a family, and somehow finding space for themselves along the way. For Stephanie Hutchinson, those experiences have shaped not only the way she leads, but the kind of industry she wants to help build.

In this episode, Stephanie reflects on her journey from co-founding Chronograph Records to leading programming and initiatives at the National Music Centre, all while raising two children. We talk about how motherhood changed her perspective on leadership, why creating family-friendly workplaces matters, and how small shifts in policy and culture can make a big difference for working parents.

She shares what she's learned about balancing ambition with family life, the importance of shared responsibility at home, and why having more women in leadership isn't just about representation. It's about creating workplaces where more people can thrive.

We get into:

• Balancing leadership, motherhood, and a career in music
• Building workplaces that support parents and caregivers
• Why flexibility and trust are essential for healthy teams
• Sharing the mental load at work and at home
• How motherhood has shaped her approach to leadership
• Creating meaningful change from within the music industry
• Why representation in decision-making roles matters

Throughout the conversation, Stephanie reminds us that leadership doesn't always happen on the biggest stages. Often, it starts with the choices we make every day, from the way we support our colleagues, advocate for our communities, and create space for others to succeed.

This episode is for anyone leading a team, building a career, raising a family, or wondering how to create meaningful change without sacrificing the things that matter most. It's an honest conversation about leadership, motherhood, and the quiet ways we can shape a more supportive future for the people who come after us.

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 women in music are told, directly or indirectly, that becoming a mother means putting their careers on hold. For singer-songwriter Annika, that hasn’t been the case. Instead, motherhood has become part of the way she approaches her career, creativity, and life as a whole.

In this episode, Annika shares what it’s looked like to build a music career while raising a family, navigating grief, and learning to let go of the idea that success has to follow a certain path. We talk about the realities of balancing creative work with parenting, the mental load that so many mothers carry, and how priorities naturally shift through different seasons of life.

She opens up about the support systems that have helped her continue creating, the importance of working with people who respect her boundaries, and how personal loss has shaped both her resilience and her perspective on what matters most.

We get into:

• Balancing motherhood and a creative career
• The hidden mental load many mothers carry
• Building a team and support system that aligns with your values
• Navigating grief, loss, and major life transitions
• Letting go of traditional ideas of success
• Creating space for both family and creativity
• Why different seasons of life call for different priorities

Throughout the conversation, Annika reflects on how motherhood has deepened her understanding of herself as both an artist and a parent. Rather than seeing family and career as competing priorities, she shares how they've become interconnected parts of a life she's intentionally building.

This episode is for mothers, artists, creatives, and anyone who's ever felt pressured to choose between the things they love. It's an honest conversation about identity, resilience, grief, ambition, and learning that fulfillment doesn't have to fit someone else's definition of success. Sometimes it starts with giving yourself permission to build a life that works for you.

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