I’m Back: Motherhood, Faith, & Redefining Success as a Working Mom

Marina Tolentino is back on Work Like A Mother after an unexpected break—and she’s returning with a completely different perspective on motherhood, entrepreneurship, faith, career, and what it actually means to build a successful life. In this comeback episode, Marina gets honest about stepping away from podcasting, balancing motherhood and a real estate career, homeschooling her kids, navigating major family transitions, and growing deeper in her Christian faith. What started as a break from the podcast became a much bigger reset around identity, ambition, purpose, and the pressure so many working moms and women entrepreneurs feel to do everything—and do it well. She shares why Work Like A Mother went quiet, including the pressure to create a perfectly produced show, the financial cost of podcasting, comparison, and the feeling that every episode needed to perform. Now, she’s letting go of chasing charts and perfection to create something more honest, sustainable, and purpose-driven. IN THIS EPISODE: Why Work Like A Mother disappeared—and what finally brought Marina back The reality of balancing motherhood, entrepreneurship, real estate, and family life What a year of homeschooling taught her about parenting, presence, patience, and priorities How changing her kids' schooling changed the rhythm of their entire family Why working moms don't have to pursue success the way the world tells them to Letting go of perfection, comparison, and the pressure to constantly grow How Marina's Christian faith and relationship with Jesus changed during the break Wrestling with identity, calling, ambition, and what God may be asking you to do next Why this new season will include more honest conversations about faith, motherhood, business, marriage, parenting, and purpose Marina also opens up about one of the biggest changes happening behind the scenes: becoming more willing to talk publicly about her faith. As a Christian mom, entrepreneur, REALTOR®, wife, and woman still figuring out what obedience and calling look like in everyday life, she’s no longer interested in separating faith from the rest of the conversation. Because motherhood, business, marriage, parenting, money, career, ambition, and faith don't exist in separate boxes. If you're a working mom, Christian mom, woman entrepreneur, REALTOR®, business owner, or parent trying to balance family and career without losing yourself—or your faith—in the process, this episode is for you. Maybe you're questioning what success looks like now. Maybe you're navigating a career change, homeschooling or school decisions, burnout, motherhood, a new business season, or a calling that feels bigger than your current capacity. Or maybe you simply know the way you've been doing life isn't the way you want to keep doing it. This is the reset. Welcome back to Work Like A Mother—real conversations about motherhood, Christian faith, entrepreneurship, real estate, parenting, marriage, identity, purpose, and building a meaningful life without pretending to have it all figured out. 📖 THE BOOK IS COMING Marina is currently writing The Hidden Deception: Raising Kids Who Don't Drift From Jesus, a book for Christian parents who want to intentionally disciple their children and build a faith that lasts beyond childhood. Want to be the first to know when the book is available? Join the First to Know email list for book updates, behind-the-scenes progress, launch news, and first access when it's time to order. → GET ON THE FIRST TO KNOW LIST: https://marinatolentino.myflodesk.com/thehiddendeceptionbook 🌺 CONNECT WITH MARINA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marinattolentino_ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marinattolentino YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@marinatolentino/ Website: https://www.marinatolentino.com/ Email Newsletter: https://marinatolentino.myflodesk.com/worklikeamother 🏡 Moving to Oʻahu or thinking about buying or selling a home? Connect with Marina and explore her Oʻahu real estate resources here: https://bio.site/marinatolentino 🎙️ WORK LIKE A MOTHER Work Like A Mother is a podcast for ambitious women navigating motherhood, faith, entrepreneurship, career, marriage, parenting, and purpose. Hosted by Marina Tolentino, the show explores what it looks like to pursue your calling, raise a family, build meaningful work, and follow Jesus in the middle of real life. Subscribe or follow so you don't miss the next episode.