A lot of mothers in leadership know the feeling of trying to hold it all together - supporting a team, building a career, raising a family, and somehow finding space for themselves along the way. For Stephanie Hutchinson, those experiences have shaped not only the way she leads, but the kind of industry she wants to help build.

In this episode, Stephanie reflects on her journey from co-founding Chronograph Records to leading programming and initiatives at the National Music Centre, all while raising two children. We talk about how motherhood changed her perspective on leadership, why creating family-friendly workplaces matters, and how small shifts in policy and culture can make a big difference for working parents.

She shares what she's learned about balancing ambition with family life, the importance of shared responsibility at home, and why having more women in leadership isn't just about representation. It's about creating workplaces where more people can thrive.

We get into:

• Balancing leadership, motherhood, and a career in music
• Building workplaces that support parents and caregivers
• Why flexibility and trust are essential for healthy teams
• Sharing the mental load at work and at home
• How motherhood has shaped her approach to leadership
• Creating meaningful change from within the music industry
• Why representation in decision-making roles matters

Throughout the conversation, Stephanie reminds us that leadership doesn't always happen on the biggest stages. Often, it starts with the choices we make every day, from the way we support our colleagues, advocate for our communities, and create space for others to succeed.

This episode is for anyone leading a team, building a career, raising a family, or wondering how to create meaningful change without sacrificing the things that matter most. It's an honest conversation about leadership, motherhood, and the quiet ways we can shape a more supportive future for the people who come after us.

Thanks for being part of this conversation. Mother Makes Music is all about honesty, connection, and reminding each other that we’re not doing this alone. If this episode spoke to you, we’d love for you to share it and keep the conversation going.

Follow along on Instagram and TikTok @mothermakesmusic

Mother Makes Music is hosted by Megan McKay
Podcast Artwork by Emily Pond
Podcast Theme by Matty McKay
Funding generously provided by Calgary Arts Development

A lot of women in music are told, directly or indirectly, that becoming a mother means putting their careers on hold. For singer-songwriter Annika, that hasn’t been the case. Instead, motherhood has become part of the way she approaches her career, creativity, and life as a whole.

In this episode, Annika shares what it’s looked like to build a music career while raising a family, navigating grief, and learning to let go of the idea that success has to follow a certain path. We talk about the realities of balancing creative work with parenting, the mental load that so many mothers carry, and how priorities naturally shift through different seasons of life.

She opens up about the support systems that have helped her continue creating, the importance of working with people who respect her boundaries, and how personal loss has shaped both her resilience and her perspective on what matters most.

We get into:

• Balancing motherhood and a creative career
• The hidden mental load many mothers carry
• Building a team and support system that aligns with your values
• Navigating grief, loss, and major life transitions
• Letting go of traditional ideas of success
• Creating space for both family and creativity
• Why different seasons of life call for different priorities

Throughout the conversation, Annika reflects on how motherhood has deepened her understanding of herself as both an artist and a parent. Rather than seeing family and career as competing priorities, she shares how they've become interconnected parts of a life she's intentionally building.

This episode is for mothers, artists, creatives, and anyone who's ever felt pressured to choose between the things they love. It's an honest conversation about identity, resilience, grief, ambition, and learning that fulfillment doesn't have to fit someone else's definition of success. Sometimes it starts with giving yourself permission to build a life that works for you.

Thanks for being part of this conversation. Mother Makes Music is all about honesty, connection, and reminding each other that we’re not doing this alone. If this episode spoke to you, we’d love for you to share it and keep the conversation going.

Follow along on Instagram and TikTok @mothermakesmusic

Mother Makes Music is hosted by Megan McKay
Podcast Artwork by Emily Pond
Podcast Theme by Matty McKay
Funding generously provided by Calgary Arts Development

For a lot of working parents, balance can feel more like a moving target than something you ever fully achieve, especially in an industry as demanding and unpredictable as music. For Carly Klassen, executive director of Alberta Music and mom of two, motherhood completely reshaped the way she approaches both work and life.

In this episode, Carly opens up about navigating postpartum depression during the pandemic, returning to work after maternity leave, and learning how to build a career that works with her family instead of against it. We talk about the pressure to constantly be available, the emotional weight of leadership, and the ongoing challenge of setting boundaries in careers that rarely slow down.

She shares how becoming a parent changed her definition of success, why flexibility has become essential in both her work and home life, and how community and support systems can make all the difference.

We get into:

• Navigating motherhood while leading within the music industry
• Returning to work after maternity leave
• The reality of mom guilt and work-life boundaries
• Building flexibility into demanding careers
• How COVID shifted perspectives on parenting and productivity
• Overcoming imposter syndrome and redefining success
• Why supportive workplaces matter for parents in music and the arts

Throughout the conversation, Carly reflects on how motherhood has influenced her leadership style and strengthened her desire to create more inclusive, sustainable spaces within the industry.

This episode is for working parents, industry professionals, creatives, and anyone trying to build a career without losing themselves in the process. It’s an honest conversation about ambition, boundaries, mental health, and learning that balance doesn’t have to look perfect to still work for you.

Thanks for being part of this conversation. Mother Makes Music is all about honesty, connection, and reminding each other that we’re not doing this alone. If this episode spoke to you, we’d love for you to share it and keep the conversation going.

Follow along on Instagram and TikTok @mothermakesmusic

Mother Makes Music is hosted by Megan McKay
Podcast Artwork by Emily Pond
Podcast Theme by Matty McKay
Funding generously provided by Calgary Arts Development