Faces of Nurture19: Alexandra Bradberry & Chelsie Bruggeman | Burnout, Boundaries, and Building a Village

Jessica Lamb
Jul 17
3 min read

Part 1: Burnout, Boundaries, and Business—The Reality of Modern Motherhood

Motherhood changes everything. And for many moms, that includes how we work, how we lead, and how we care for ourselves (or don’t).

In this bonus episode of The Mama Making Podcast, recorded as part of Nurture 19’s Faces of Nurture campaign, two working moms joined me to get real about what burnout actually feels like—and how they’re learning to build support systems that work.

First up is Alexandra Bradberry, founder of The Sparkle Bar in Scottsdale, Arizona. As a business owner and mom of two, Alex knows firsthand what it means to juggle glam, growth, and motherhood. But her biggest lesson didn’t come from the business world—it came from a health crisis.

“I was burning the candle at both ends. In 2023, I was diagnosed with stage 3C lung cancer. It changed everything for me.”

That moment forced Alex to rethink her approach to business, parenting, and life. She now prioritizes rest, boundaries, and asking for help—without guilt.

She shares tools that help her stay grounded, like:

Meditation apps like Calm
Journaling and sound bowls
Leaning on friends, family, and other entrepreneurs
Scheduling time to do nothing—and actually sticking to it

Letting Go of the Superwoman Myth

Alex talks about how motherhood has shifted her entire perspective. Before kids, she thought she was “busy.” After kids? That word took on new meaning.

“We think we have to carry all the bags in from the car at once. But motherhood taught me—it’s okay to take two trips.”

Her advice? Stop trying to do it all. Build your support network. Accept help. And celebrate the fact that asking for help is strength, not weakness.

Part 2: From Hustle to Healing—Breaking the Burnout Cycle

Next, I sat down with Chelsie Bruggeman, founder of Momentum for Working Moms, who shared her own story of burnout and boundary setting.

Chelsie spent years in higher education leadership, climbing the ladder and collecting “gold stars.” But after having her two sons, she realized that the system wasn’t built for working moms—and she was burning herself out trying to succeed anyway.

“My burnout didn’t look like collapsing. It looked like working harder, hustling more, and ignoring my body until it gave out.”

Her body eventually forced her to stop. She developed chronic migraines and extreme exhaustion before realizing she couldn’t keep going at that pace.

Burnout Recovery Looks Like Rest

Since leaving her corporate job in 2024, Chelsie has been unlearning the hustle mentality. Now, her recovery includes:

Midday naps (guilt-free)
Building Momentum for Working Moms to help other women avoid what she went through
Coaching moms to lead in life and business—without burning out
Reframing rest as leadership, not laziness

The System Needs to Change

Both Alex and Chelsie agree: the problem isn’t moms—it’s the system.

They called out the real issues working parents face:

Lack of accessible, affordable childcare
Insufficient parental leave, especially paternity leave
A culture that tells moms to “bounce back” instead of slowing down
Lack of emotional and logistical support for moms returning to work

Find Your People and Build Your Village

At the end of the day, the best way forward is together. Both guests emphasize the importance of community:

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

Whether it’s joining a moms’ group, starting a business community, or simply texting your friend back, building real connection is the antidote to burnout.

Listen to the Full Conversation

This episode is part of Nurture 19’s Faces of Nurture campaign—amplifying real stories from real parents about what support actually looks like.

Find it now on The Mama Making Podcast.

Guests:Alexandra Bradberry – @thesparklebar, thesparklebar.com

Chelsie Bruggeman – @working_with_momentum, momentumforworkingmoms.com

TL;DR

In this two-part bonus episode of The Mama Making Podcast, recorded in collaboration with Nurture 19’s Faces of Nurture campaign, two working moms share what it really looks like to balance business, motherhood, and burnout.

Part 1 features Alexandra Bradberry, founder of The Sparkle Bar, who shares how her health scare reshaped her views on rest, boundaries, and support.

Part 2 features Chelsie Bruggeman, founder of Momentum for Working Moms, who talks about how hustle culture pushed her to the brink—and how she’s now helping other moms lead without burning out.

This is for anyone who’s tired of pretending they can do it all, and ready to build a better way.

parental burnout

working moms support

motherhood and entrepreneurship

burnout recovery for moms

maternal mental health

mom leadership coaching

mom guilt and boundaries

modern motherhood support

work life balance for moms

asking for help in motherhood

nurturing yourself as a mom

community for working moms

Faces of Nurture campaign

The Mama Making Podcast

Nurture 19