AI-Empowered Mom

Sarah Dooley

Parenthood can be heavy. A digital world makes it heavier. But AI for families doesn't have to be complicated.

Each week, AI-Empowered Mom podcast host Sarah Dooley brings parents and caregivers real, grounded conversations about reducing mental load, navigating technology and social media with kids, and using AI tools to support family life. From digital parenting questions to practical AI strategies for busy households, this podcast meets you exactly where you are, without the jargon or tech-speak.

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S2 · E14
May 1 · 28 min
How to Write a Book in 90 Days with Author Wanjiku Kamau
What happens when a Google Cloud layoff becomes the push you needed to finally write your book? Wanjiku Kamau did exactly that, and she did it in 90 days, with AI helping her find her voice every step of the way. Wanjiku is a tech veteran, fractional COO, AI consultant, and now a published author. Her book, "Out of the Loop, Into the Algorithm: How I Finally Made Friends with AI," came out of one of the hardest years of her life and one of the most clarifying ones, too. In this conversation, Wanjiku and Sarah break down what it actually takes to self-publish, why shame is one of the biggest barriers to AI adoption (especially for women), and how families can use AI to lighten the daily load. In this episode: Why Wanjiku gave herself 90 days to write, edit, record, and launch a book (and what she'd do differently) The two self-publishing lessons that changed everything: title testing and cover design Audiobooks, indie bookstores, and why showing up in person with your dog is a valid distribution strategy How to help someone who feels "late to the party" with AI The fifth grade learning level trick you can use today AI's environmental footprint: the Times Square Test and small steps that add up What a data center actually is, explained by someone who helped build them Family AI use cases: homework support, command centers, and calendar chaos Wanjiku's book: "Out of the Loop, Into the Algorithm: How I Finally Made Friends with AI" — available on Amazon and via IngramSpark Follow Wanjiku's weekly newsletter: tealvoice.com Subscribe to the AI-Empowered Mom newsletter: AIEmpoweredMom.beehiiv.comWebsite: AIEmpoweredMom.com
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S2 · E13
April 24 · 13 min
AI vs. the Kids Activity Chaos with JustLiv Founder Nicole Hamlin
Every summer, the spreadsheets come out. Color-coded, multi-tab, shared-by-text-message calendars that somehow still miss a school closure or a registration deadline. This week on , host Sarah Dooley sits down with Nicole Hamlin, the Austin-based founder of JustLiv, a platform built to take kids' activity scheduling off the list of things parents have to manage manually. Nicole spent 17 years in IT services before founding JustLiv after hitting a wall planning her daughter Olivia's first summer outside of full-time daycare. She discovered that while plenty of directories existed, nothing actually helped a parent build a personalized, bookable schedule with real-time updates. JustLiv is changing that, using AI to match activities to a family's schedule, budget, location preferences, and kids' interests, all in one place. In this episode, Sarah and Nicole talk about: What the current landscape of kids' activity scheduling actually looks like for most families How AI can quietly carry more of the coordination weight What it is like to build a company in the same industry you are still living in as a parent Summer planning tips for families who feel like they are already behind Why the mental load of family logistics deserves a real solution JustLiv is free to use during beta. Sign up at justliv.org and follow @JustLivATX on Instagram. Follow AI-Empowered Mom at aiempoweredmom.com Find the AI-Empowered Mom newsletter at aiempoweredmom.beehiiv.com. Chapters: · Welcome and intro · Nicole's family life: two kids, one busy household · The moment she realized activity scheduling was broken · Leaving a 17-year IT career to build JustLiv · How JustLiv named itself (the story involves a seven-year-old) · How JustLiv works: smart calendars, real-time booking, school closure alerts · Building a company while raising small kids · Turning it off when your work is your life (spoiler: it's hard) · Summer planning advice: what to do if you feel behind right now · Chatbot Mode: rapid fire with Nicole Closing thoughts and how to get started with JustLiv
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S2 · E12
April 10 · 25 min
AI, Marriage, and Family Dynamics with Therapist Catia Holm
People are forming romantic relationships with AI. A licensedtherapist is watching it happen in real sessions, with real clients. In this episode, Sarah sits down with Catia Hernandez Holm,licensed marriage and family therapist, conscious parenting coach, TEDx speaker, and founder of Bright Light Marriage and Family Therapy in Wimberley, Texas. Catia works with individuals, couples, and families every week, and AIis showing up in the room in ways that are layered, nuanced, and increasingly common. They talk about what healthy AI use actually looks like, whyhuman relationships are supposed to feel hard, what to tell your kids about AI, and how using AI for the mental ticker might be one of the most meaningful things parents can do for their families right now. WHAT WE COVER Meet Catia: spinning plates in Wimberley, two kids, two dogs, and a life built intentionally Why they left Austin for small-town life and what that taught Catia about what her family actually needed How Catia structured her work schedule around being present, not just available The radio show: how Catia asked a stranger for a hosting slot and got a yes TEDx Talk "Choose Joy or Die": the bold title, the frequency theory behind it, and what she wasreally trying to say AI in the therapy room: what Catia is actually seeing with individual clients Anxiety, OCD, and the black hole of AI reassurance How she supports clients navigating AI use: the Planet Ozarka framework AI in couples and marriages: is it revealing friction or creating it? The relief factor: why AI is filling a real gap in some relationships Romantic relationships with AI and what Catia is seeing Complicated vs. complex: why humanrelationships are not problems to solve Kids and AI: the thinking machine talk, copilot in the kitchen, and what is developmentally appropriate What this moment is asking of parents and how creating margin is the answer Chatbot mode: phone habits, what she would never trust AI with, and her best relationship anti-advice A win worth celebrating and one takeaway for every parent CONNECT WITH CATIA Bright Light Marriage and Family Therapy:https://www.catiaholm.com/ Couch Time with Cat Podcast: https://couchtimewithcat.com/ TEDx Talk: Choose Joy or Die:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEWQSAtmtkw CONNECT WITH AI-EMPOWEREDMOM Website: AIEmpoweredMom.com Newsletter: AIEmpoweredMom.beehiiv.com Email: contact@aiempoweredmom.com If this episode was helpful, a follow or review takes lessthan 30 seconds and helps other parents find this community. KEYWORDS AI and relationships, AI companionship, chatbot relationships,AI in therapy, conscious parenting, AI for kids, kids and technology, mentalload parents, AI emotional support, AI anxiety OCD, therapist AI perspective,Catia Hernandez Holm, Bright Light therapy, Couch Time with Cat, AI-EmpoweredMom, Sarah Dooley, parenting in the AI age, AI and marriage, family therapypodcast
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S2 · E11
April 3 · 24 min
How To Use AI For Your Job Search with Career Coach Kate Crane
If you have ever applied for a job and heard nothing back,there is a good chance AI screened you out before any human saw your name. In this episode, Sarah sits down with Kate Crane, founder ofDirection Over Perfection and a former people leader at DoorDash, Flock Safety, and OpenTable. Kate has spent 10 years in tech hiring and managing teams, andnow coaches job seekers at every stage of their careers. She breaks down exactly what has changed in the hiring process, what you can do to work with it, and why human connection still wins in the end. Whether you are in a search yourself, re-entering after timeaway, supporting a partner, or helping a young person find their next step, this one is for you. WHAT WE COVER Meet Kate: preschool drop-off lifein Austin and what led her to start Direction Over Perfection Career gaps and nonlinear paths:what actually matters to employers right now How AI has changed recruiting fromthe inside out What an ATS (applicant trackingsystem) is and how it screens your resume before any human reads it Where AI stops and humans takeover in the hiring process How to build a master resume andtailor it with AI without losing your voice The prompting tip that keeps AIfrom stripping the detail out of your bullets Using AI to practice forinterviews without having to watch yourself on video Why applying is table stakes and networking is the real game What an informational interview actually is and how to ask for one without feeling like a burden Video interview tips for a world where hiring happens on screen Re-entering the workforce after time away and what your caregiving years actually gave you The shame that quietly follows job seekers and how to separate your emotions from your search Chatbot mode: Kate's favorite AI tools, resume red flags, and the best question to ask in any interview A recent win worth celebrating anda human-powered pep talk CONNECT WITH KATE DirectionOverPerfection.com First 30-minute consultation is always free. CONNECT WITH AI-EMPOWEREDMOM Website: AIEmpoweredMom.com Newsletter: AIEmpoweredMom.beehiiv.com Email: contact@aiempoweredmom.com If this episode was helpful, a follow or review takes lessthan 30 seconds and helps other parents find this community. KEYWORDS AI job search, AI hiring process, applicant tracking system,ATS resume tips, resume writing with AI, career coach for parents, job search for parents, informational interviews, re-entering workforce after caregiving, career gaps, nonlinear career path, job search shame, interview prep with AI,Direction Over Perfection, Kate Crane, AI-Empowered Mom, Sarah Dooley, AI tools for job seekers, career coaching podcast
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S2 · E10
March 27 · 13 min
5 Things Every Parent Needs To Know For National AI Literacy Day
It is National AI Literacy Day. And this morning, before host Sarah Dooley had even sat down with her coffee, her daughters were already practicing it at the breakfast table. In this solo episode, Sarah shares the five things she wants every parent and caregiver to know about AI in 2026. No guests. No interview Just a real, honest conversation about where families actually stand right now. Whether you feel behind, overwhelmed, or like AI keeps arriving before you had a chance to prepare, this episode is for you. The 5 things every parent should know about AI in 2026: AI is already in your home and it arrived without an invitation. AI can reduce your mental load when you use it with intention and care. You are your child's best AI literacy teacher, and it happens in the small moments. Verification and critical thinking are skills worth building early. The risks are real, and you do not have to be an expert to show up for your kids. Sarah also shares a National AI Literacy Day challenge: pick one thing that is draining you today, hand it to AI, and see what happens. Subscribe to the AI-Empowered Mom newsletter at AIEmpoweredMom.com. If this episode resonated, please follow or subscribe wherever you listen. It helps other parents find us.
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S2 · E9
March 20 · 21 min
Self-Care Without Shame with Peacock Parent Founder Christine Landis
What if the real problem isn't that you don't have time for yourself, but that you've never been given permission to want it? This week, host Sarah Dooley sits down with Christine Landis, creator of Peacock Parent and Proxy, for one of the most honest conversations the podcast has had about self-care, mental load, and what your time is actually worth. Christine is a founder, a parent, a partner, and a self-described recovering workaholic who sold her fintech company, stopped, got quiet for the first time in years, and built something entirely new from that experience. What came out of it is a framework, and a tool, for parents and caregivers who are ready to stop doing it all alone. In this episode, you will hear: Why "I could do it myself" is the exact sentence keeping so many of us stuckWhat a weekly 50-minute planning appointment with your partner can actually unlockHow to identify your low joy tasks and start letting them go without guiltWhat opportunity cost really means when applied to your home life, not just your careerWhat burnout, resentment, and the "is this it?" feeling really have in commonWhy we delegate at work without guilt and so often resist it at homeWhy a recent Harvard Business Review study found women are slower to adopt AI, and what Christine thinks is the real reasonWhat Proxy is, how it works, and why it might be the thinking partner you didn't know you neededHow to start small: even texting "I feel overwhelmed and don't know where to begin" is enough Christine also talks about adult coloring as her current anxiety management practice, the Steamboat ski trip where she and her husband looked at each other through their goggles and just knew, and her daughter's upcoming birthday surprise: a pink castle mural painted on her bedroom wall. This is a warm, grounded episode for anyone who has ever canceled something for themselves to make room for everything else. TRY PROXY FREE FOR 3 MONTHS (a $450 value)Christine is offering the AI-Empowered Mom community three months of Proxy at no charge using the code SARAH. Here is how to get started: Visit https://proxy.peacockparent.com/purchase and select the 3-month plan and enter code SARAH Complete a quick 5-minute profile Save Proxy as a contact in your phone, like a new friend Then text Proxy anytime. Get personalized next steps so you can move on with your day. Note: credit card info is collected during setup, but you will not be charged with the code. You will receive notice 14 days before any renewal and can cancel anytime with no penalty. Find Proxy at https://proxy.peacockparent.com/purchase CONNECT AND SUBSCRIBESubscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode.Join the AI-Empowered Mom newsletter for weekly, calm, practical support on reducing the mental load: https://aiempoweredmom.beehiiv.com/
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S2 · E8
March 13 · 24 min
AI Fails and Fun Abroad: Traveling with AI and Dr. Caitlin Sutton
What happens when three adult sisters and their dad pack up their AI tools and head to Ireland to trace their roots? Spoiler: some of it is magical, some of it is genuinely terrifying, and all of it is honest. In this episode, host Sarah Dooley sits down with her sister, Dr. Caitlin Sutton, for one of the most personal and laugh-out-loud conversations the podcast has had. Caitlin is an obstetric, pediatric, and maternal fetal anesthesiologist who shows up for some of the most intense moments in families' lives. She is also a self-described non-planner who does not enjoy travel logistics and cannot drive on the left side of the road. Which made her the perfect travel companion for a trip where AI was doing a lot of the heavy lifting. Together, Sarah and Caitlin walk through the real AI wins and real AI fails from their family trip to Ireland, including itineraries that led them to storytelling caretakers and unexpected courthouse tours, a one-lane cliff road on the Wild Atlantic Way that was fully enveloped in fog, and the moment Sarah quietly put on her shoes in the backseat just in case things went off the rails. They also talk about how AI helped Caitlin figure out how to contribute to a trip she did not plan, the poem she wrote at their first pub, the playlist that kept everyone going on long driving days, and the car dealership visit where a quick AI check cut her bill by more than half. This episode is for anyone who has ever felt both grateful for and skeptical of AI at the same time. It is a reminder that AI does not have to be perfect to be useful, and that keeping a human in the loop, and a sense of humor, makes all the difference. Topics covered in this episode: Using AI for family travel planning, including itineraries, driving routes, and packing lists AI travel planning wins and fails, and what they have in common How to prompt AI better when planning a trip, especially with kids or specific travel preferences What happens when AI underestimates the culture of a destination Using AI to lower the barrier to entry for people who do not enjoy planning How Caitlin used AI to find her role on a trip she did not organize Image generation with DALL-E and why Caitlin needed a very specific nesting doll Why AI plus human curation is a more powerful travel team than either one alone OpenEvidence as an AI tool in medical practice Using AI at the car dealership to review a service estimate in real time The mental load of trip planning and how AI can reduce it for caregivers What Ireland's storytelling culture taught this family about slowing down and staying present Spring and summer travel planning with AI for families Aphantasia, anesthesiology, and why friendly introverts make excellent colleagues New to AI and not sure where to begin? The AI-Empowered Mom free mini-podcast is a low-pressure place to start. Six short episodes designed for parents and caregivers who want to get started with AI without the overwhelm. Find it at aiempoweredmom.beehiiv.com/mini-podcast Want to keep the conversation going? The AI-Empowered Mom newsletter is a calm, grounded read for parents navigating AI at home and at work. No hype, no pressure, just practical perspective delivered regularly. Sign up at aiempoweredmom.beehiiv.com You can also reach Sarah directly at contact@aiempoweredmom.com and find everything at AIEmpoweredMom.com. If this episode made you smile or sparked a question, a follow and a review help other parents find us. It means more than you know.
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S2 · E7
March 6 · 28 min
"I Just Got Copilot... Now What?" with AI Expert Roger Campbell II
So you have Copilot at work. But you are just not sure what to actually do with it... In this episode, Sarah sits down with Roger Campbell II, founder of Gemstack and the AI Business Foundry and one of the country's leading Microsoft Copilot adoption experts. Roger has a background that spans software engineering, coding bootcamps, and enterprise education. He spent years teaching others how to code and now helps teams and organizations actually use the AI tools they are already paying for. The conversation starts with pickleball and ends with a parenting insight neither of them expected. In between, Roger breaks down what Copilot actually is, where to start without the overwhelm, what to watch out for, and why he believes knowledge is still the most powerful thing you can pass on to the next generation. WHAT YOU WILL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE: [00:02] Opening: The Copilot-curious parent [01:02] Meet Roger: 10 nieces and nephews, pickleball, and life in Austin [02:47] How Roger became a Microsoft Copilot adoption expert [03:53] A non-traditional path into tech: Lyft, coding bootcamps, and teaching high schoolers to code [05:35] What Roger tells parents who worry about whether tech careers will exist for their kids [08:09] What Microsoft Copilot actually is and how it differs from ChatGPT [10:16] Where to start if you have Copilot at work: the email case [12:05] A surprisingly powerful use case: finding documents you could never locate [14:38] Can Copilot make sense for personal or family use? [19:08] What to watch out for: three tips for safe, responsible Copilot use [21:36] Advice for leaders rolling out Copilot: start with a problem, not a tool [24:09] Clippy is back: what Roger thinks about Microsoft's new AI character Mico [27:37] Why this work matters to Roger personally [29:04] Chatbot Mode: Word vs PowerPoint, one thing he would never hand to AI, and the myth about training data he wants to bust [36:36] A parenting aha neither of them saw coming: why enterprise AI might be the safest place for curious kids to start FIND ROGER: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/MrRogerCampbell Website: AIBusinessFoundry.com FIND SARAH AND AI-EMPOWERED MOM: Website and newsletter: AIEmpoweredMom.com Free mini podcast: Share your email at AIEmpoweredMom.com to get access to three short episodes on new ways to use AI.
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S2 · E6
February 27 · 23 min
What This AI Moment Actually Means for Your Family with Greg and Danielle Neufeld
Something big is happening right now in the world of AI, in the words of entrepreneur Matt Shumer. And if you've had that low-level hum of "I should probably be paying more attention to this," you're not alone. In this episode, host Sarah Dooley is joined by Greg and Danielle Neufeld, co-hosts of The Most Important Thing podcast and partners in life, parenting, and business. They're venture capital investors, parents of three young children, and two of the most thoughtful people I know when it comes to building intentional family culture. We had one of those conversations that felt like it just kept going somewhere richer around every corner. We talk about: Why Greg compares reading about this moment in AI to the moment Tim Ferriss caught before COVID, and what that framing means for families The concept of "cognitive patience" and how the Neufelds are building it in their kids Their family mission, vision, and values, including a cheer their four-year-old started How Danielle thinks about AI as a tool that actually supports her intuition as a mom The Neufeld family tech stack (including a Tesla full self driving (FSD) deep dive) And a beautiful closing thought from poet Kahlil Gibran that I think will stick with you This one is for any parent who wants to stay grounded while still staying ahead. Find Greg and Danielle at tmitpod.com or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe to the AI-Empowered Mom newsletter at aiempoweredmom.com for more practical, calm guidance on navigating technology as a parent.
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