Redefining Success After Motherhood with Ilana Cohn

What does success look like after becoming a parent—and when the career you love doesn't always go according to plan?

This week, Emily sits down with writer, director, actor, comedian, and podcast host Ilana Cohn for an honest conversation about navigating motherhood while building a creative career in Hollywood.

Ilana opens up about the reality of raising two kids while wearing countless creative hats, redefining success after motherhood, surviving the entertainment industry's constant ups and downs, and why creating your own opportunities has never been more important. She also shares her mental health journey, the unexpected path that led her to sobriety, how becoming a mom shifted her perspective on ambition, and why she hopes her kids grow up knowing that creativity is always worth pursuing.

Plus, they chat about working alongside their actor husbands, parenting in the age of AI and smartphones, balancing stability with artistic fulfillment, and—because this is motherhood—a very memorable conversation about battling lice.

Whether you're an actor, a creative, or simply a parent trying to hold onto your dreams while raising tiny humans, this episode is a reminder that success doesn't have to look the way you imagined—it can evolve right alongside you.