Episode 221 · March 3, 2026
Jenna Worthen: Mom Who Works
with Jenna Worthen, Founder & Author, Moms Who Work
26 min
Jenna Worthen: Mom Who Works
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In this episode
In this episode I sit down with Jenna Worthen — founder and author of "Moms Who Work" and the heart behind a movement that's redefining what it truly means to be a working mom. I've followed Jenna online for a long time (we even crossed paths once at a QuikTrip!), and I love how down to earth she is. She gives real, practical tips and somehow always leaves room for grace.
We talk about the catalyst behind Moms Who Work, which started back in 2018 on a run, when Jenna realized the ordering of the words "working mom" actually matters — it can imply the work comes before the mothering, and even before the mother herself. We dig into the unique pressure of being the first generation of moms raising kids with social media, and why the same places we go for connection can quietly shift our heart posture if we're not careful.
Jenna also gets honest about her word for the year — "crucial" — and how it's helped her say no, ask for help, and protect the things that actually move the needle. As an empty nester talking with a mom in the thick of it with three littles, I found so much wisdom here for any of us trying to live in our God-given gifts and talents without burning out. Keep going — this one's worth your time.
Key takeaways
- The ordering of the words matters. "Working mom" can imply that the work comes before the mothering — and before the mother herself. Jenna reframes it as being a "mom who works."</n>
- February is the new January. January can be a recovery month for the moms who made all the holiday magic — you don't have to have every goal crystal clear by January 1.
- We're the first generation of moms raising kids with social media, and we rarely talk about its impact on moms — the constant images of what we "should" be doing. Be intentional about what you let shape your heart posture.
- Use online community as a starting point, then move it offline. Isolation is a real danger, and the cost of in-real-life community is inconvenience — go even when you don't feel like it.
- Pick a guiding word or "north star" instead of an overwhelming list of goals. It's easy to return to and helps guide your calendar — because where you put your time is where your life goes.
- Define your own "all." Ask what is crucial in this season — it can be as small as staying off your phone from 7 to 8am while getting the kids ready for school.
- Accept the help. Letting a friend handle carpool or lean in during a busier season isn't failing to pull your weight — it's part of the village, and you'll return it later.
- Don't let perfect be the enemy of good. There's a real cost to delaying the things you say you want — small steps each day and week add up more than we realize.
Chapters
- 00:00Sponsor: Tulsa Garden Center at Woodward Park
- 01:30Welcome and intro to the podcast
- 02:30Meeting Jenna Worthen (and a QuikTrip run-in)
- 04:00The catalyst behind Moms Who Work
- 07:00Why "mom who works" — the ordering of words
- 09:00February is the new January, and giving moms grace
- 11:00The first moms raising kids with social media
- 14:00Building your whole village and moving community offline
- 18:00How Jenna gets it all done: the word "crucial"
- 22:00Defining your "all" and small steps that move the needle
- 26:00What Jenna does to thrive: weights, friendship, boundaries
- 29:00Accepting help and carpool blessings
- 31:00What's next: an in-person meetup this fall
“The ordering of the words matter. If you say working mom, it implies that the work comes before the mothering — and it also implies that the working comes before the mother herself.”
“February is the new January. January is recovery month for moms who made all the holiday magic.”
“Stick to your plan, not your mood. I want to be the Jenna I was when I made these plans.”
“The distance between where you are and where you want to go might not be that far — but taking the long way to get there is also painful.”
Resources mentioned
About Jenna
Founder & Author, Moms Who Work
Jenna Worthen is the founder and author of Moms Who Work and the heart behind a movement redefining what it means to be a working mom. A 39-year-old mom of three in the Tulsa area, she leads an online community, hosts the Moms Who Work podcast, and balances her work alongside her mission to help moms build real, in-person community.
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