The needs and goals of working moms are often overlooked, as they dedicate themselves to their families and professions. But two women — one local to Steamboat — are trying to create a support network for moms to turn to.

Greer Van Dyck, a local working mom and professional, has paired with Kara Fresk of Athens, Georgia to create “The Integrated Mom.” The duo aims to form a culture of support for working moms utilizing workshops, coaching, events, resources, programs and a podcast.

“We asked the question, ‘What does working motherhood look like,'” explained Van Dyck. “From there, we set out to provide the people we serve with the resources they need to feel supported.”

Van Dyck, the community relations director for the annual SBT GRVL bicycling event, engages in leadership development and coaching. She seeks to use her skills to help working mothers like herself.

The podcast, launched July 1, is titled, “Can We Say That Out Loud?” It includes interviews with maternal figures who are also professionals of all kinds, including athletes, CEOs and chefs.

“We hope that as moms listen they realize they are not alone and are validated,” said Van Dyck. “We explore topics like maternity leave, reentering the workforce, guilt and fear.”

Two notable athletes interviewed were five-time Olympic-gold medalist Missy Franklin and off-road cyclist Isabel King.

“King was very candid with us about returning to her sport once becoming a mother,” said Van Dyck. “She expressed that she feels guilt, because when she leaves her house, she is competing in a sport that is inherently dangerous.”

Van Dyck’s strategy for the podcast is to pose the question, “What aspect of motherhood and your professional life is most important for you to talk about?”

“What we’ve realized is that many of the mothers share the same experiences as one another,” Van Dyck explained. “By covering these situations, we are helping moms have the conversations they need to have to be the best version of themselves.”

So far, Van Dyck and Fresk have released 12 episodes of the podcast, with another 20 on the way.

“This project has helped me take a step back and evaluate my own life,” said Van Dyck. “I have 4- and 1-year old daughters and this has helped me foster a new sense of motherhood.”

Even though the podcast and network are in their relative infancies, the conversations that already have been set in motion have surprised Van Dyck and her team.

“We are seeing the podcast spark difficult dialogues that have been ignored in the past,” said Van Dyck. “Things like maternal mental health, guilt at having a career and work-life balance are historically taboo.”

The hope is that the podcast grows to be a household name and that Van Dyck and Fresk can host live shows and discussions.

“We have a ton of dreams and visions for where we want the network to go,” Van Dyck said. “We can see this as a safety net for mothers who have devoted so much to motherhood and their careers and have been stretched thin.”

“At the end of the day it’s about creating a safety net, and validating the feelings of mothers,” said Van Dyck. “We can bring a lot of content to these mothers, who can then use it for self-advocation and remove the isolation that often comes with being a working mom.”