Mrs Mummy PhD®
This podcast is a reflective space for high-achieving mothers navigating scholarly work, home, and identity.
Hosted by Dr Michelle Gibbs — a wife, boy Mama of 3, RD and Dr (of the PhD kind) — the Mrs Mummy PhD® podcast is shaped by lived experience of holding ambition alongside family life, responsibility, and seasons of change. It speaks to the reality that meaningful work does not exist in isolation from the rest of our lives.
Scholarly motherhood is complex and deeply human. It is marked by transitions, pressure, and continual becoming — and without intention, it can quietly pull us away from ourselves.
Through thoughtful conversations and reflections, this podcast invites you to slow down, lead yourself first, and reconsider what sustainable impact looks like in this season of life. Rather than offering quick fixes or productivity promises, it offers insight, perspective, and permission to build a life that includes your work, your family, and yourself.
If you are a mother navigating intellectually demanding work — in academia or beyond — and are seeking steadiness, clarity, and a way forward that does not require self-sacrifice, this space is for you.
So Mama, are you in?
Fabulous!
Let's begin...
These are our journeys of becoming — and you’re welcome here.
Mrs Mummy PhD®
Why Boundaries Feel Wrong When You're Doing Them Right
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You said no to something this week.
And you've been replaying it in your head ever since. Wondering if you were being difficult. Questioning whether you should have just said yes. Feeling guilty for protecting your time/energy.
Here's what no one tells you: That discomfort? It doesn't mean you're doing it wrong.
In this episode, I'm breaking down why boundaries feel so uncomfortable for high-achieving mothers—and why that discomfort might actually be the sign you're finally choosing yourself.
You'll discover:
- The real difference between selfish and self-led (and why you've been confusing the two)
- Why the guilt you feel when setting boundaries is proof you still care—not proof you're wrong
- The one question to ask yourself before setting any boundary (it changes everything)
- How to sit with the discomfort without letting it control your decisions
- What I learned when I quit full-time work and felt like I was disappointing people
This one's for you if:
- You avoid setting boundaries because they feel selfish
- You worry that protecting your capacity makes you difficult or uncommitted
- You've been trained to say yes your entire life and you're tired of it
Fair warning: This episode won't make boundaries easier. But it will make them clearer.
And sometimes clarity is all you need to finally choose yourself.
Listen now.
Want more?
- Check out the Mrs Mummy PhD® website.
- Book your free SEED call.
- Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Threads, Pinterest or TikTok.
- Join the newsletter family at Scholarly Mamas® - The Letter
- 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.