265. How to Make a Career Pause Work for You — Not Against You (with Neha Ruch)

Financial Feminist

Her First $100K

Self-improvement, Education, How To, Business

4.7 • 6.2K Ratings

🗓️ 9 December 2025

⏱️ 56 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

What if pressing pause on your career was actually the smartest, most strategic move you could make? In today’s episode, I’m joined by Neha Ruch, author of The Power Pause, to challenge the myths we’ve all been fed about stay-at-home motherhood, caregiving, and career pauses. We dig into why our culture undervalues care work, how identity gets tangled up in motherhood, and what it actually looks like to take a pause. Whether you’re considering stepping back from work to raise kids, support aging parents, or simply regroup, Neha shares smart ways to protect your finances, keep your skills sharp, and eventually re-enter the workforce on your terms. Neha’s links:Website: https://www.thepowerpause.com/ Visit ⁠https://herfirst100k.com/ffpod⁠ to stay up to date and find any resources mentioned on our show! 00:00 Intro & Identity and Career Breaks 01:06 Myths & Stereotypes of Stay-at-Home Motherhood 04:13 The Financial Realities of Motherhood 08:21 Identity Shifts & The Power Pause Concept 12:27 Making Career Pauses Temporary, Not Permanent 14:53 Building Skills & Staying Connected During a Pause 21:56 Validation & Measuring Success in Caregiving 28:11 Positioning a Career Pause on Your Resume 31:50 Financial Power Dynamics in Relationships 40:09 Elder Care vs. Child Care Pauses 47:04 Reentering the Workforce: Pitfalls & Strategies 49:54 What Does a Successful Power Pause Look Like? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	What if a career break wasn't a step back, but rather a power move, especially if you're a parent?
0:06.0	Today, we're chatting with Nehawrush.
0:07.9	She shares how women can keep their skills sharp, maintain financial dignity, and reenter
0:12.6	the workforce with confidence.
0:13.7	If you've ever wrestled with the idea of an identity shift of caregiving, questioned how to
0:18.6	protect yourself financially during a career pause,
0:21.4	or wondered how to position that experience on a resume, this episode is for you.
0:25.0	And yes, if you're watching on YouTube, and you should be watching on YouTube,
0:27.9	because the videos are great.
0:29.7	My plant needs a drink. I just gave it to her.
0:31.9	Let's get into it.
0:34.1	But first, a word from our sponsors.
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0:44.1	We had a few people who were used to PCs and this was their first foray into Macs.
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0:55.0	Find out how Mac can help you run and grow your business at apple.com forward slash hello vet.
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	...

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