103. Why Isn’t Everyone Taking a Power Pause? with Neha Ruch

Why Isn't Everyone Doing This? with Emily Fletcher

Emily Fletcher

Education

4.9 • 529 Ratings

🗓️ 30 December 2025

⏱️ 79 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

What if stepping back wasn’t failure, but strategy? In this episode of Why Isn’t Everyone Doing This?, I sit down with Neha Ruch, founder of Mother Untitled and author of The Power Pause, for one of the most validating conversations I’ve had about ambition, identity, and motherhood. Neha names something so many women feel but rarely have language for: the tension between wanting a meaningful career and wanting to be deeply present with our children, without burning ourselves out or betraying ourselves in the process. She reframes the idea of a “career pause” as an empowered, intentional choice, not a step backward, but a recalibration. We talk about why motherhood has been intellectually and culturally diminished, how internalized capitalism keeps women stuck in guilt loops, and why the most ambitious thing you can sometimes do is choose what matters most right now. This conversation is honest, nuanced, and deeply relieving, especially if you’ve ever felt like you were failing at something when you were actually just listening to your intuition. If you’ve ever felt pulled between ambition and presence… this episode is for you. In this episode, we explore: • Why motherhood has been “dumbed down” culturally • The concept of the Power Pause, and why language matters • How to make intentional choices without shame or guilt • Ambition vs. intuition (and why it doesn’t have to be either/or) • Internalized patriarchy and capitalism in working motherhood • Seasonality, boundaries, and redefining success • Why presence matters more than hours About Neha Ruch Neha Ruch is the founder of Mother Untitled, a leading platform for ambitious women navigating parenthood, and the author of The Power Pause. Her work is reshaping how society understands stay-at-home motherhood, ambition, and identity. Neha has been featured on Oprah, USA Today, and beyond. Where This Work Continues This episode touches on questions we explore more deeply inside Level 3 — how to redefine success, work with seasons instead of against them, and make choices that actually support the life you’re living now. Level 3 focuses on the inner practices that help those choices feel steady and sustainable. Explore Level 3 here: 👉 https://zivameditation.com/pages/nextlevel More from Emily & Ziva: • Join Ziva Magic: zivameditation.com/pages/zivamagic • Learn Ziva Meditation: preview.zivameditation.com • Free masterclass: learn.zivameditation.com • Get 15% off with promo code WHYTHIS: whythis.zivameditation.com • Follow us on Instagram: @zivameditation

Transcript

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0:00.0	We've dumbed motherhood down in this country, and so women don't want to associate.
0:04.0	Like, it doesn't feel complex enough or interesting enough when what we know about motherhood is it is.
0:10.0	It's like deeply emotional, deeply intellectual.
0:13.0	And so the power pause is language I offer, reclaiming the power in a pause.
0:20.0	Take the power pause and come back stronger.
0:22.6	Right. I'm actively choosing. Right now, I get to focus on this and I'm letting go.
0:28.6	I accept it's a longing.
0:30.6	If you've ever felt the pull between ambition and intuition, then today's conversation is for you.
0:36.6	My guest is Nehavu. She's is Nehah Rosh. She's the author
0:39.4	of The Power Pause. She's been a guest on Oprah, and she made a choice that most women are taught to
0:43.7	fear. She paused her career for parenthood. And today she shares why stepping away from your job
0:48.6	may not be career suicide. It may be strategic. And why the most ambitious thing you can do
0:53.6	might be choosing what matters most
0:55.2	right now. Neha Roche is the founder of Mother Untitled, the leading platform for ambitious
1:00.6	women leading into family life. She's the thought leader and influencer, a sought-after speaker
1:05.7	focusing on women, work, parenting, and identity. Neha's work at Mother Untitled is a catalyzing a shift on how society views stay-at-home motherhood.
1:15.3	Her USA Today bestselling book, The Power Paws, How to Plan a Career Break after kids and Come Back
1:21.1	Stronger Than Ever, change the game around parenting.
1:25.0	She lives in Manhattan with her husband, their two children, and their dog
1:27.9	coconut. So please enjoy this episode that might feel like one giant permission slip.
1:33.4	The two words that gave me so much power, and I tell everyone, is right now. We're making
1:37.8	an empowered choice. Right now, I get to be with my kids. Making sure you feel like you're
	...

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