You might remember Kailyn Lowry from MTV’s hit show Teen Mom 2, but today, she is known for her incredible powerhouse skills in the media world. Kailyn is the ultimate mom boss. She’s published five books including a New York Times bestseller, created the KILLR Podcast Network, starred in three hit shows, has a massive loyal social media fan club, and she’s a mom of seven!
From books to babies, Kailyn is living proof that supermoms truly do exist. CafeMom connected with Kail to discuss how she built an empire while staying grounded, motherhood, and her business endeavors.
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Kail's Journey From Teen Mom to Mompreneur
Kailyn shares that from the start of Teen Mom 2, she knew there would someday be an end.
“I never wanted to be back in a homeless shelter or find myself in another place of desperation so I sought out what I could do next. I started with my degree. Nobody could take my education from me. I was the first mom in the franchise to earn a bachelor’s degree,” Kailyn tells CafeMom.
She tried certain things and failed. But her passion projects like the Coffee Convos podcast quickly became something bigger. Now, it’s become the third-largest show on the podcast network.
Kailyn slowly started to find herself through therapy and other means, which was how she eventually figured out what she liked outside of mothering, which was her love of reading. This self-discovery was both accidental and intentional. She started reading on planes when she was alone and had the time – and the intention to stop scrolling aimlessly on her phone and put her time into more productive things.
On Finding Balance Between Work and Motherhood
Kailyn shares that the biggest growth of her enterprise and the KILLR Network was in 2024. Fortunately, between having present fathers to her children and an equal partner in the home, she’s been able to manage responsibilities both in the home and related to work.
As for Kailyn’s business, her best friend, Kristen Hook, is her solid right hand. They’ve been able to maintain everything on their own up until this year. The KILLR Network recently expanded and hired six new people. They are so excited to see what they will be able to do moving forward.
Kail says that one of the hardest pills she’s had to swallow as a mompreneur was realizing she wasn’t able to make every practice for her kids. For a long time, she was going to literally everything and anything, no matter how big or small. But at the same time, she was missing out on huge work opportunities and it just wasn’t realistic for anyone.
“I had to find a good balance between being physically present wherever I was. If I am with the kids, I need to be completely present, mind and body. And when I’m at work I need to mostly do the same. Because being a parent doesn’t ever actually shut off,” says Kailyn.
“[W]ith KILLR growing so quickly…[it’s hard] to find time to be intentional with my relationship with Elijah. We have toddlers all the way up to teenagers so finding any sort of child care (or energy) after 5 pm isn’t super realistic. So we are trying to be patient so we can make each other priorities in the coming years,” Kailyn tells CafeMom.
Why Kailyn Keeps Her Support System Tight and Close
Kailyn shares that it has not been easy for her to build a support system, and it’s an ever-going work in progress.
“Luckily, I have my best friend and Elijah that I rely on regularly, but I also work with my best friend so it creates blurred lines sometimes. Unfortunately, due to the nature of fame, I’ve run into some trust issues with certain people in my life,” Kailyn says. “I’m very protective of those I love and try to keep a close-knit inner circle, so I know I can trust those around me.”
She’s learned that she doesn’t always attract people with pure intentions. For now, Kailyn’s sticking with those who have been around for 10-plus years, and she’s careful about bringing new people into her life.
Kailyn's Self-Care Routine: At Home and Reading
We asked Kailyn how she stays grounded and what her self-care routine looks like.
“If you asked me this five years ago I would have told you that I would travel for self-care when the kids went with their dads. Now, I travel more than ever for work and wish I could slow down. I don’t have the free time for many hobbies so when I have a minute, I want to be HOME and READING. Those two things mean everything to me right now,” she tells us. “I also recently got a Peloton Treadmill. I’ll circle back and let you know if it gets any use in the coming weeks, LOL.”
On Her Work, Personal and Family Goals
Kailyn would love to see the KILLR Network develop and produce at least five shows over the next five years. She hopes the start and growth of her business inspire her own children to pursue their goals and dreams, whatever they may look like. She hopes that someday her kids will recognize that “doing podcasts” is more than just sitting behind a microphone and that she actually worked really hard to get here.
“I think so often people say they should have gotten pregnant so they could have XYZ that they see me having or doing. But so many people do not recognize a chance to propel themselves in other directions but one thing is for sure – I did. I wasn’t going to sit around waiting for something else to happen. I had to make things happen,” Kailyn shares with CafeMom.
As for Kailyn’s personal goals, she would love to pursue law school when her twins enter kindergarten.
“Unfortunately and fortunately (after not having a single attorney lay eyes on my MTV contracts), I eventually got into the habit of spending money on lawyers who would have my back in future deals. That, along with being in and out of family court (sadly), sparked my interest in pursuing law. The timing just hasn’t allowed for it yet, but I’ll get there,” Kailyn says.
Her family goal is to see her kids happy and growing up to be functioning and contributing people within the community. She wants to continue being a support for her kids in all aspects and guide Isaac onto whatever path is meant for him – whether it be college or something else.
“I hope to continue to co-parent with Javi the best way we know how so that Lincoln can continue to be the best person he can be. I would love to get to a place of productivity with the co-parenting of Lux and Creed. They deserve that more than anything. And lastly, I hope that Elijah and I overcome any and all odds stacked against us for the well-being of our babies,” Kailyn tells us.
