In this episode of the Mrs Mummy PhD® podcast, Michelle explores boundaries as an act of self-leadership rather than selfishness. She unpacks why high-achieving mothers struggle to say no and how over-functioning can quietly lead to burnout. Michelle offers practical strategies for establishing boundaries based on capacity, values, and identity, encouraging listeners to reflect on their own commitments and make intentional choices that align with their goals and well-being. This episode offers reflection, reassurance, and a new way to think about success without self-sacrifice.

Read the related blog post here: The simple truth about boundaries as self-leadership (not selfishness)

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These are our journeys of becoming.

Disclaimer: All views are my own. Nothing shared on this podcast should be considered a substitute for medical/clinical advice or mental health support. Please seek assistance from a qualified professional who can help you if you are struggling or in need of advice/intervention.

In this episode, Michelle discusses the subtle yet significant issue of quiet burnout among high-achieving mothers. She explores three hidden reasons why mothers may quietly burnout without realising it. Michelle emphasises the importance of recognising these factors and offers practical strategies to help you begin to lead yourself first, differently.

Read the related blog post: The 3 Hidden Reasons High-Achieving Mothers Experience Quiet Burnout

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These are our journeys of becoming.

Disclaimer: All views are my own. Nothing shared on this podcast should be considered a substitute for medical/clinical advice or mental health support. Please seek assistance from a qualified professional who can help you if you are struggling or in need of advice/intervention.

In this episode of the Mrs Mummy PhD® podcast, Dr Michelle explores self-leadership for high-achieving mothers and why rest alone won’t resolve burnout if the way we lead ourselves doesn’t change. She unpacks the internal rules that keep ambitious mothers in survival mode and shares how quiet burnout often hides behind productivity and responsibility. This episode invites mother scholars to rethink success, shift from coping to choosing, and create a more sustainable way of learning, leading, and living.

If you’re an ambitious mother seeking sustainable success without self-erasure, this episode is for you!

Read the related blog post here: Self-Leadership for High-Achieving Mothers: Why You Need More Than Rest

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4. Check out my Doodle Dozen® children's book series

These are our journeys of becoming.

Disclaimer: All views are my own. Nothing shared on this podcast should be considered a substitute for medical/clinical advice or mental health support. Please seek assistance from a qualified professional who can help you if you are struggling or in need of advice/intervention.

In this episode of the Mrs Mummy PhD® podcast, Dr Michelle discusses the critical distinction between success and survival, particularly for high-achieving mothers. She shares her personal experiences with quiet burnout and emphasises the importance of sustainable success that prioritises well-being. Michelle advocates for purposeful self-leadership and creating space for reflection to redefine success, ultimately encouraging burnt out mother scholars to lead themselves gently and avoid sacrificing their health and happiness for achievement.

Read the related blog post here: Quiet Burnout: The Hidden Exhaustion of A High-Achieving Mama

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Support the show

Want more?

1. Check out the Mrs Mummy PhD website.
2. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Threads, Pinterest or TikTok.
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4. Check out my Doodle Dozen® children's book series

These are our journeys of becoming.

Disclaimer: All views are my own. Nothing shared on this podcast should be considered a substitute for medical/clinical advice or mental health support. Please seek assistance from a qualified professional who can help you if you are struggling or in need of advice/intervention.

In this return episode of the Mrs Mummy PhD® podcast, Dr Michelle Gibbs reflects on burnout in high-achieving mothers and why survival mode is not the same as success.

After stepping away from the mic for 6 months, Michelle shares what led her from constant striving to a season of restoration — and how self-leadership, not self-sacrifice, became the turning point.

This episode marks an evolution of Mrs Mummy PhD®, expanding beyond the PhD journey to support mother scholars at any stage — pre-PhD, PhD, or postdoctoral — who want more sustainable ways of learning, leading, and living.

If you’re ambitious, thoughtful, and quietly exhausted, this conversation invites you to pause, reflect, and redefine success on your own terms.

If you'd prefer to read the related blog post, you can here:

Burnout in High-Achieving Mothers: From Survival to Restoration

You're also invited to join Scholarly Mamas® - The Letter, a monthly newsletter for thoughtful reflections on ambition, motherhood, and leading yourself first as a purposeful Scholarly Mama®.

Send me a text message.

Support the show

Want more?

1. Check out the Mrs Mummy PhD website.
2. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Threads, Pinterest or TikTok.
3. Join the newsletter family at Scholarly Mamas® - The Letter
4. Check out my Doodle Dozen® children's book series

These are our journeys of becoming.

Disclaimer: All views are my own. Nothing shared on this podcast should be considered a substitute for medical/clinical advice or mental health support. Please seek assistance from a qualified professional who can help you if you are struggling or in need of advice/intervention.

ANNOUNCEMENT: We're on break!

Tune into the episode to find out why!

While I'm on break, be sure to tune into the archives - I'm sure there's an episode there with your name on it!

Make sure you also subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss when my next new episode drops!

You can also sign up here to receive periodical check-ins from me by email as I will be touching base there in between...

See you soon!

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4. Check out my Doodle Dozen® children's book series

These are our journeys of becoming.

Disclaimer: All views are my own. Nothing shared on this podcast should be considered a substitute for medical/clinical advice or mental health support. Please seek assistance from a qualified professional who can help you if you are struggling or in need of advice/intervention.

Thinking about quitting your PhD? You’re not alone—I've been there.

But before you make that call, this episode walks you through 7 powerful questions and mindset shifts that could change everything...

What if there’s still a way forward that honours both your ambition and your motherhood?

In this episode, I’m sharing what I wish someone had told me when I was ready to give it all up. Whether you decide to stay or go, let’s make sure it’s your choice—not one made in exhaustion or isolation.

Tune in and let’s talk about the real stuff behind the decision.

Plus, if you'd like support from someone who’s lived this journey, I'd love to help you finish well—join me inside Scholarly Mamas® to find out how.

Send me a text message.

Support the show

Want more?

1. Check out the Mrs Mummy PhD website.
2. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Threads, Pinterest or TikTok.
3. Join the newsletter family at Scholarly Mamas® - The Letter
4. Check out my Doodle Dozen® children's book series

These are our journeys of becoming.

Disclaimer: All views are my own. Nothing shared on this podcast should be considered a substitute for medical/clinical advice or mental health support. Please seek assistance from a qualified professional who can help you if you are struggling or in need of advice/intervention.

This week on the podcast, I’m joined by an incredible guest: a Zimbabwean-born academic, content creator, and mother - Dr Nonhlanhla Dube (a.k.a. Dr Noni) - whose path to a PhD took her across continents, through two undergrad degrees, a prestigious scholarship, and finally, a research post in the Netherlands.

We talk about:

• How rejection redirected her toward purpose
• What it was really like finishing a PhD as a new Mama
• Why she’s now showing up on TikTok to help others find joy in academic writing
• And what she wishes more people actually said out loud about being a Mama in academia

Whether you're deep in your PhD or just figuring out how to hold it all together as a parent in academia—this one is for you.

Make sure you subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode about the real, raw, and beautiful mess of PhD Motherhood. And if you love what you hear, leave a kind review—it helps more Scholarly Mamas® find us!

Follow Dr Noni on Tik Tok or YouTube for more :-). Find her co-founded SWAN community here.

Send me a text message.

Support the show

Want more?

1. Check out the Mrs Mummy PhD website.
2. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Threads, Pinterest or TikTok.
3. Join the newsletter family at Scholarly Mamas® - The Letter
4. Check out my Doodle Dozen® children's book series

These are our journeys of becoming.

Disclaimer: All views are my own. Nothing shared on this podcast should be considered a substitute for medical/clinical advice or mental health support. Please seek assistance from a qualified professional who can help you if you are struggling or in need of advice/intervention.