Mrs Mummy PhD®

Imagine embarking on the rigorous path of a PhD journey while cradling the joys and challenges of motherhood. Dr. Sidra Iftikhar did just that - stretching her academic wings in Spain, nurturing her family, and diving into the world of e-learning research. Her compelling story unfolds in our latest episode, where she reveals the motivations for her overseas academic pursuit and the strength found in the camaraderie with fellow researchers. We delve into the nuances of creating a robust support system and the influence of Spain's sunlit environment on her scholarly endeavours, all while weaving the fibres of family life into her tapestry of learning.
Navigating the academic currents amidst a global health storm, Dr. Iftikhar shares the intimate details of balancing childcare with doctoral studies during the pandemic-induced lockdown. We uncover the emotional landscape of motherly guilt, the linguistic blossoms in her daughter's multilingual growth, and the smart strategies that kept the wheels of education turning in Barcelona's schools. This conversation serves as a testament to the unyielding human spirit, highlighting how support systems become lifelines and how adversity can fuel adaptation and time mastery.
We round out this inspiring episode by celebrating the small yet significant milestones of research life and the personal evolution it sparks. Dr. Iftikhar and I reflect on the beauty of cultivating friendships across cultural borders, the courage it takes to tackle bureaucratic mazes, and the enriching impact of raising children in a multicultural ecosystem. Her narrative sends a powerful ripple of encouragement to all scholarly parents navigating their own voyages, showing that with determination, mental well-being, and a community of support, the dual callings of academia and parenthood can indeed flourish together.
Related Blog Post: COMING SOON!

You can also take the Purposeful Scholarly Mama trait quiz and I'll send you some personalised tips for becoming a more purposeful Scholarly Mama!
Want more?
1. Check out the Mrs Mummy PhD® blog.
2. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Tik Tok or Threads
3. Join us inside Scholarly Mamas®!
4. Check out my Doodle Dozen® children's book series!
These are our journeys of becoming!

Please note that this podcast is not a substitute for medical advice/mental health support, please seek professional help if you are struggling with a mental illness or disorder.

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As a Scholarly Mama myself, I understand the challenges of juggling motherhood with the demands of PhD life. But I'm here to share the raw truths of this juggle, the pitfalls of the "do it all" mentality, and the power of embracing our authentic, multifaceted selves. In this episode, I share why doing it all is keeping you stuck and how to break free from this trap.
This episode is a concentrated dose of inspiration and challenge, speaking to the heart of what it means to be a purposeful Scholarly Mama. I reflect on my own journey, the unrealistic pressures that led me to the valley of overwhelm. Join me as I redefine success, encouraging a life that resonates with fulfilment from within, and learn how to navigate the diverse dimensions of Scholarly Motherhood with grace and self-compassion.
Related Blog Post: Why Doing It All Is Keeping You Stuck and How to Break Free

Looking for 1:1 coaching? Book your free OPTIMUM discovery call today and let's explore how we can work together to get you closer to your Scholarly Mama goals!
To learn more about Scholarly Mamas®, please follow the link and sign up for our FREE community.

You can also take the Purposeful Scholarly Mama trait quiz and I'll send you some personalised tips for becoming a more purposeful Scholarly Mama!
Want more?
1. Check out the Mrs Mummy PhD® blog.
2. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Tik Tok or Threads
3. Join us inside Scholarly Mamas®!
4. Check out my Doodle Dozen® children's book series!
These are our journeys of becoming!

Send me a text message.

Support the show

If anyone tells me that they've completed a PhD without ever thinking of walking away from it, they are not being truthful. As Scholarly Mamas, we all have these moments at some point during our PhD journeys, where we realise that no matter how hard we keep working at it... we fall out of love with it... The PhD pressure rises and the passion fades. So, in this episode, I will share some thoughts on what to do when you've fallen out of love with your PhD. I hope you find it helpful. If you do, please consider leaving a 5* review! Oh, and make sure you listen out for the special cameo!
Read the related blog post here: What To Do When You've Fallen Out of Love With Your PhD
Want more?
1. Check out the Mrs Mummy PhD blog.
2. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or TikTok.
3. Join Scholarly Mamas®
4. Check out my Doodle Dozen® children's book series!
By the way, if you want to live a more fulfilling life as you navigate your scholarly journeys of becoming, but are feeling lost and overwhelmed, I've got a fun quiz for you! Take the Purposeful Scholarly Mama trait quiz today and I'll send you some personalised tips for becoming a purposeful Scholarly Mama!
These are our journeys of becoming!
Please note that this podcast is not a substitute for medical advice/mental health support, please seek professional help if you are struggling with a mental illness or disorder.

Send me a text message.

Support the show

As Scholarly Mamas®, we wear many hats. We are mothers and scholars but many of us are also navigating marriage/relationships outside of all of that.
Black couples, in particular, face many challenges in their journeys of love and marriage. With so many marriages ending prematurely in divorce, we wanted to share our 5 best-kept secrets for thriving in marriage as a millennial black couple.
We believe that if you get the foundations of marriage right, everything else will fall into place.
If you want the inside scoop on making your marriage work, this episode is for you!
NB: This is PART 1 of a 2-part series, so make sure you also tune into PART 2 after this one!
You can read the full show notes here: 5 Best-Kept Secrets for Thriving in Marriage as A Black Couple
Take Our Love Language Quiz!

Fancy a new read? Check out My Bookshelf!
Want more?
1. Check out the Mrs Mummy PhD blog.
2. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or TikTok.
3. Join Scholarly Mamas®
4. Check out my Doodle Dozen® children's book series!
By the way, if you want to live a more fulfilling life as you navigate your scholarly journeys of becoming, but are feeling lost and overwhelmed, I've got a fun quiz for you! Take the Purposeful Scholarly Mama trait quiz today and I'll send you some personalised tips for becoming a more purposeful Scholarly Mama!
These are our journeys of becoming!
Please note that this podcast is not a substitute for medical advice/mental health support, please seek professional help if you are struggling with a mental illness or disorder.

Send me a text message.

Support the show

Hey Mama!
Welcome to the Mrs Mummy PhD® Podcast!
I am your host, Dr Michelle Gibbs, and this podcast exists to help Scholarly Mamas® like you, intelligent and ambitious women navigating the pursuit of their life and academic goals, but who don't want to do so at the expense of what matters most.

Here, we're changing the overwhelm and juggle-struggle narrative around what it means to be a Mama on a scholarly journey to one of empowerment, fulfilment and purposeful success.

We're scholars, yes, but we're also Mamas with whole lives outside of academia that we actually want to enjoy more of.

So how can we begin to embrace this unique blend so that we can truly win where it matters? Because I believe that when a Scholarly Mama® wins where it matters, everyone wins. Well, we begin by saying yes to creating a life that feels as good on the inside as it looks on the outside. Because that's when we truly become purposefully whole.

You see, I went from an overwhelmed new Mama and first-generation student living deadline to deadline to becoming a purposeful, top-performing, Scholarly Mama® with five degrees, including my PhD and many titles and accolades under my belt.

But the best bit was being able to navigate all this without compromising time with the people I love, especially my high school sweetheart turned husband of over 18 years and our three boys, our son-shines. But most importantly, I was able to navigate these journeys without losing myself in the process.

But don't get it twisted. It hasn't always been plain sailing and when I was in the thick of the juggle-struggle, I wish I had a podcast like this one to listen to!

This is why I am fully committed to the change I want to see....one podcast episode and one Scholarly Mama® journey at a time.

This is a space where we're embracing honest conversation, guilt-free family time, unapologetic self-care, consistent academic progress and truly holistic personal growth to help you finally create the scholarly joy and purposeful success you deserve!

So get ready for the most non-traditional, unconventional and purposeful approach to blending work, study and family life as a Scholarly Mama®. Because one thing I have learned as someone who's pursued and achieved huge academic goals as a wife and a Mama is that if you want something different, you have to do something different.

But you must be brave enough to think differently first.

So Mama, are you in? Fabulous. Let's begin.

These are our journeys of becoming!

Want more?
1. Check out the Mrs Mummy PhD blog.
2. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Threads, Pinterest or TikTok.
3. Join Scholarly Mamas®.

Send me a text message.

Support the show