The Motherkind Podcast

Have you ever felt like you’re trying so hard to be a good mum… but somehow it still never feels like enough? In this Moment, Zoe talks about good girl conditioning – the deeply ingrained beliefs many of us carry into motherhood without realising it. The need to be agreeable, to keep the peace, to over-give, and to measure our worth by how much we do. When these patterns come into motherhood, they don’t disappear – they intensify. Suddenly, we’re not just trying to be a good girl, we’re trying to be a perfect mum. And that can leave us exhausted, resentful, and disconnected from ourselves. This episode is about recognising that there is nothing wrong with you. These are learned behaviours – and they can be unlearned. In this Moment, we explore: What good girl conditioning is – and how it shows up in motherhood Why people-pleasing and perfectionism lead to burnout, not fulfilment How meeting your own needs and setting boundaries creates real confidence If you’ve ever felt burnt out from trying to be everything to everyone, this one’s for you. If you liked this moment, listen to the full episode: Breaking Free From Perfectionism and People-Pleasing Remember to subscribe to Motherkind — it helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing. Feeling different since becoming a mother? Get clarity on who you’re becoming now and download your FREE Matrescence Cheat Sheet Connect with Zoe: Follow Zoe on Instagram  Get Zoe’s Sunday Times bestselling book, 'Motherkind: A New Way to Thrive in a World of Endless Expectations’ This Motherkind episode is sponsored by: Headline sponsor Wild Nutrition, the brand raising the bar for women’s supplements. Want to feel the Food-Grown difference yourself? Get 50% off for three months at wildnutrition.com/motherkind. Ts and Cs apply. For a £100 sponsored job credit, visit Indeed.com/ Motherkind Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If confidence feels like something you’ve lost since becoming a mum, this episode is for you. If you’ve been moving through motherhood feeling lower in confidence than you ever expected – second-guessing yourself, feeling like you’re “just surviving”, or wondering where you went, press play on this one. In this episode, Zoe is joined by confidence coach and founder of PepTalkHer, Dior Bediako, for a conversation that completely reframes what confidence actually is, especially in early motherhood. Dior shares why confidence isn’t about feeling fearless or having it all together, but about being willing to feel doubt, fear and insecurity… and still showing up. Zoe and Dior talk about how much motherhood asks of us internally, why survival is not a failure, and how the relationship you have with yourself quietly shapes your confidence, your choices and the example you’re setting for your children. This conversation is grounding, expansive and deeply reassuring, a reminder that you are not behind, broken or failing. You are becoming. In this conversation, you’ll learn: Why confidence often dips in early motherhood – and why that’s completely normal A powerful redefinition of confidence that allows fear and self-doubt to exist How tiny, compassionate actions can rebuild self-belief when life feels overwhelming Why the way you speak to yourself matters more than doing motherhood “perfectly” If you’ve been hard on yourself lately, if your inner critic has been loud, or if you need permission to meet yourself with more kindness, this episode is for you. Remember to subscribe to Motherkind — it helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing. Feeling different since becoming a mother? Get clarity on who you’re becoming now and  download your FREE Matrescence Cheat Sheet If you liked this episode, listen to this next: Work Series: If you're feeling low in confidence, listen to this - with Lauren Currie  Connect with Zoe: Follow Zoe on Instagram  Get Zoe’s Sunday Times bestselling book, 'Motherkind: A New Way to Thrive in a World of Endless Expectations’ This Motherkind episode is sponsored by: Headline sponsor Wild Nutrition, the brand raising the bar for women’s supplements. Want to feel the Food-Grown difference yourself? Get 50% off for three months at wildnutrition.com/motherkind. Ts and Cs apply. For a £100 sponsored job credit, visit Indeed.com/ Motherkind Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“It’s how you were parented that lays the foundation – it sets the blueprint for your own parenting.” This is a short moment from a much bigger conversation on Motherkind. But it tends to stop people in their tracks. In this clip, Harriet and Zoe talk about something so many of us don’t fully look at until we become parents ourselves – the relationship we had with our own parents, and how that quietly shapes the way we show up with our children. Harriet shares what it can be like to grow up in an enmeshed relationship, where you’re very close, but boundaries are blurred, where you might have been the best friend, the emotional support, the one who grew up a little too quickly. And how becoming a mum can suddenly shine a light on things you once told yourself were “fine”. She shares a question she now asks her clients – and it’s a powerful one: Would you want your child to have the childhood you had? This clip gently explores some of the early signs that something might feel off – struggling to say no, feeling guilty for wanting things differently, having your boundaries minimised or dismissed. And how confusing that can be, especially when you rely on your parent for support or childcare. If this resonates, please know you’re not alone. And you’re not ungrateful. And you’re not making it up. This is just one small part of a much bigger, compassionate conversation about awareness, autonomy, and breaking cycles – without blame, and with a lot of kindness. If you liked this moment, listen to the full episode: Generational trauma expert: How to break unhealthy patterns and become the parent you wish you'd had - with Harriet Shearsmith Remember to subscribe to Motherkind — it helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing. Ready to feel like yourself again? Download your FREE Matrescence Cheat Sheet Connect with Zoe: Follow Zoe on Instagram  Get Zoe’s Sunday Times bestselling book, 'Motherkind: A New Way to Thrive in a World of Endless Expectations’ This Motherkind episode is sponsored by: Headline sponsor Wild Nutrition, the brand raising the bar for women’s supplements. Want to feel the Food-Grown difference yourself? Get 50% off for three months at wildnutrition.com/motherkind. Ts and Cs apply. For a £100 sponsored job credit, visit Indeed.com/ Motherkind Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If the word “selfish” makes you uncomfortable… this episode is for you. In this conversation, Zoe is joined by Suzy Reading for a deeply reassuring exploration of what mothers truly need – and why self-care alone is often insufficient. Together, they talk about how so many women have been conditioned to put themselves last, why resting, saying no or asking for help can feel so hard, and how unmet needs often show up as guilt, resentment or snapping at the people we love most. Suzy shares the thinking behind her new book How to Be Selfish, gently reframing “selfishness” as self-advocacy – and offers simple, practical ways to reconnect with yourself, calm your nervous system and let yourself matter too. In this episode, you’ll learn about: Why self-care alone isn’t enough – and how learning to receive care changes everything How motherhood and conditioning pull us away from our own needs (and why that matters) Why guilt, resentment and “shouty mum” moments are signals, not failures Simple, compassionate ways to reconnect with yourself and remember that you matter too 💛 This is a compassionate, validating listen for any mother who feels stretched thin, disconnected from herself, or quietly carrying too much. Remember to subscribe to Motherkind — it helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing. Feeling different since becoming a mother? Get clarity on who you’re becoming now and  download your FREE Matrescence Cheat Sheet If you liked this episode, listen to this next: 100s of self-care practices tested and the ones that work with The Self Care Club Connect with Zoe: Follow Zoe on Instagram  Get Zoe’s Sunday Times bestselling book, 'Motherkind: A New Way to Thrive in a World of Endless Expectations’ This Motherkind episode is sponsored by: Headline sponsor Wild Nutrition, the brand raising the bar for women’s supplements. Want to feel the Food-Grown difference yourself? Get 50% off for three months at wildnutrition.com/motherkind. Ts and Cs apply. For a £100 sponsored job credit, visit Indeed.com/ Motherkind Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you’ve ever felt the pull to do something different with your career and then immediately talked yourself out of it with it’s too risky, I need a safe job, or this isn’t the season – this short episode is for you. In this powerful Motherkind Moment, from Zoe’s conversation with Debbie Wosskow OBE, they talk honestly about risk, motherhood, and why so many women feel stuck at the edge of change. Debbie shares the reality of building a business with young children, why most women start later than we think, and a simple, compassionate way to meet fear and self-doubt without letting them stop you – reminding us that you don’t need certainty to begin. In this Moment, you’ll hear: Why feeling scared is a natural part of change – not a sign you’re doing it wrong How motherhood reshapes your relationship with risk and can actually strengthen your confidence A simple mindset shift to manage fear and start before you feel ready If you’re in the early stages of motherhood and quietly wondering whether there might be another way of working for you, this is your reminder that you’re not behind, you’re not failing, and you don’t need to have it all figured out. Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is take the first small step. If you liked this moment, listen to the full episode: Work Series: How to Finally Find Your Self-Belief and Just Start, with Debbie Wosskow Remember to subscribe to Motherkind — it helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing. Ready to feel like yourself again? Download your FREE Matrescence Cheat Sheet Connect with Zoe: Follow Zoe on Instagram  Get Zoe’s Sunday Times bestselling book, 'Motherkind: A New Way to Thrive in a World of Endless Expectations’ This Motherkind episode is sponsored by: Headline sponsor Wild Nutrition, the brand raising the bar for women’s supplements. Want to feel the Food-Grown difference yourself? Get 50% off for three months at wildnutrition.com/motherkind. Ts and Cs apply. For a £100 sponsored job credit, visit Indeed.com/ Motherkind Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If your body feels tired, foggy or unfamiliar, this conversation might change how you see yourself. January can feel like a strange in-between. The world is telling us to reset, optimise, and transform. But our bodies are often saying something much quieter: I’m tired. I need care. I need kindness. In this episode, Zoe sits down with Dr Mindy Pelz for a conversation that feels less like “health advice” and more like a deep exhale. Together, they explore what’s really going on for mothers beneath the brain fog, the overwhelm, the resentment, the stubborn changes in our bodies – and why so many of us feel like we’re failing, when actually our bodies are doing exactly what they were designed to do. Dr Mindy gently reframes stress, hormones and fatigue, helping us understand why women’s bodies respond so differently to pressure, why putting ourselves last comes at a cost, and why self-care isn’t something to squeeze in once everything else is done. They also talk about fasting – not as a rule or restriction, but as a way of working with the female body rather than against it – and how it can support clarity, calm and energy when done with care and context. And perhaps most powerfully, this conversation reclaims perimenopause and menopause as something rarely spoken about in this way: not an ending, but a powerful rewiring. A time when the brain begins to let go of people-pleasing, external validation and over-functioning – and moves us towards leadership, confidence and deep self-trust. This episode is an invitation to step into the year differently.To stop fixing yourself.To start listening to yourself. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Why stress underpins so much of how mothers feel in their bodies and minds How women’s bodies and brains are uniquely wired through motherhood and midlife What self-care, fasting and strength really look like when done with compassion Why midlife can be a powerful return to clarity, confidence and self-trust 💛 If you’re entering this year feeling depleted, uncertain or disconnected from yourself, this conversation is a reminder that you don’t need to become someone new. You might just need to come back to yourself. Remember to subscribe to Motherkind — it helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing. Feeling different since becoming a mother? Get clarity on who you’re becoming now and  download your FREE Matrescence Cheat Sheet If you liked this episode, listen to this next: MOMENT | Why prioritising yourself IS caring for your children, with Emmy Brunner Connect with Zoe: Follow Zoe on Instagram  Get Zoe’s Sunday Times bestselling book, 'Motherkind: A New Way to Thrive in a World of Endless Expectations’ This Motherkind episode is sponsored by: Headline sponsor Wild Nutrition, the brand raising the bar for women’s supplements. Want to feel the Food-Grown difference yourself? Get 50% off for three months at wildnutrition.com/motherkind. Ts and Cs apply. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Motherhood doesn’t just change your routine – it can completely unravel who you thought you were. In this episode, Zoe is joined by Estelle Bingham to talk about the inner reality of becoming a mother – the identity shift, the loneliness, and the moment you realise the old version of you no longer fits. They explore why the early months can feel so disorientating, why so many mothers hit a point of exhaustion and self-doubt around six months in, and why this isn’t failure – it’s transition. Estelle shares how motherhood brought her to the “ground zero” of herself, surfacing unmet needs and old patterns, and why this cracking open is often an invitation rather than a problem to fix.  At the heart of our conversation is a powerful reminder: compassion isn’t optional in motherhood. It’s what stops shame from taking over and allows us to show up for our children with steadiness and care. If you’ve ever thought, Why does this feel so hard? or What’s happened to me? This episode will help you understand what’s really going on. In this Moment, you’ll hear: Why motherhood can feel like an identity earthquake – lonely, disorientating, and nothing like you expected How your child can surface your own unmet needs, and why that discomfort is a sign of growth, not failure Why compassion, not perfection, is the skill that keeps shame and burnout at bay If you liked this moment, listen to the full episode: You’re Not Lost, You’ve Just Forgotten Who You Are with Estelle Bingham Remember to subscribe to Motherkind — it helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing. Community growing. Feeling different since becoming a mother? Get clarity on who you’re becoming now and  download your FREE Matrescence Cheat Sheet Connect with Zoe: Follow Zoe on Instagram  Get Zoe’s Sunday Times bestselling book, 'Motherkind: A New Way to Thrive in a World of Endless Expectations’ This Motherkind episode is sponsored by: Headline sponsor Wild Nutrition, the brand raising the bar for women’s supplements. Want to feel the Food-Grown difference yourself? Get 50% off for three months at wildnutrition.com/motherkind. Ts and Cs apply. For a £100 sponsored job credit, visit Indeed.com/ Motherkind Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode includes mentions of abortion and some strong language. If you’re starting this year feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or like life has been happening to you rather than with you, this episode will feel like a reset button. Francesca Amber, host of the UK’s biggest self-development book club and author of Manifest Like a Mother, joins Zoe to share the real, lived experience behind manifesting as a mum. Not the polished Instagram version, but the version built in lockdown, with twins, a four-year-old, no childcare, no income, and sheer survival mode. This is manifesting in real life, messy life, where the tools have to work in chaos, not in perfect conditions. In this conversation, you’ll learn: Why manifesting looks different for mothers—and why traditional advice often fails us How to set meaningful goals by working with the season of life you’re in How to overcome limiting beliefs using Francesca’s “courtroom method” Practical ways to weave self-worth, energy, and manifestation into the realities of motherhood You don’t need perfect routines to create change—just small, consistent actions that fit real family life. Your challenges can become your fuel, your self-worth can grow through everyday habits, and you’re always allowed to choose a new, aligned chapter. Let this conversation be your starting point. Remember to subscribe to Motherkind — it helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing. Feeling different since becoming a mother? Get clarity on who you’re becoming now and  download your FREE Matrescence Cheat Sheet If you liked this episode, listen to this next: Manifesting your best self in motherhood with Roxi Nafousi Connect with Zoe: Follow Zoe on Instagram  Get Zoe’s Sunday Times bestselling book, 'Motherkind: A New Way to Thrive in a World of Endless Expectations’ This Motherkind episode is sponsored by: Headline sponsor Wild Nutrition, the brand raising the bar for women’s supplements. Want to feel the Food-Grown difference yourself? Get 50% off for three months at wildnutrition.com/motherkind. Ts and Cs apply. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

January can feel like a strange in-between place — the decorations are down, the routine is returning, and yet so many of us still feel a bit foggy, stretched, or unsure where to begin again. If that’s you, this clip offers a simple, grounding way to ease into the year with more clarity and intention. In this short Moment, I share one of my most loved New Year practices: choosing a word of the year. It’s a beautifully straightforward tool that helps you zoom out, reconnect with the bigger picture, and gently guide your decisions through the year ahead.  I picked this Moment because it cuts through the pressure of resolutions and long to-do lists. Instead, it offers a way to anchor yourself in what truly matters, even when life feels busy or overwhelming. In this Moment, you’ll learn: How to zoom out and get perspective before you set any goals Why one word can guide your whole year better than resolutions The words that supported me through big shifts in motherhood and work A simple way to set three clear, meaningful goals for 2026 It’s a gentle and inspiring way to start the year with focus, ease, and a renewed sense of what you want 2026 to represent. If you liked this moment, listen to the full episode: Resolutions don’t work, but this does - 4 steps to achieving your goals in 2025 (without burning out) Remember to subscribe to Motherkind — it helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing. Feeling different since becoming a mother? Get clarity on who you’re becoming now and  download your FREE Matrescence Cheat Sheet Connect with Zoe: Follow Zoe on Instagram  Get Zoe’s Sunday Times bestselling book, 'Motherkind: A New Way to Thrive in a World of Endless Expectations’ This Motherkind episode is sponsored by: Headline sponsor Wild Nutrition, the brand raising the bar for women’s supplements. Want to feel the Food-Grown difference yourself? Get 50% off for three months at wildnutrition.com/motherkind. Ts and Cs apply. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The first day of a new year can feel… a lot. Full of pressure, expectation, and that whisper of “I should be doing better.” This New Year episode is your antidote to all of that. A gentle reset. A grounding moment. A reminder that you get to set the tone for 2026 — not the world around you. In this six-minute message, I share three simple, powerful ideas to help you step into 2026 feeling supported, hopeful and more connected to yourself, even if life feels messy or overwhelming right now. This isn’t about resolutions, reinventions or “new year, new you”.It’s about choosing ease, reconnecting with who you’re becoming, and making one tiny promise to yourself that actually sticks. In this episode, you’ll hear: Why doing less (not more) might be the key to 2026 How to ease the pressure and make the year feel lighter A simple reframe: “Who am I becoming?” One tiny daily promise to rebuild trust and confidence It’s a soft, steady way to start the year, rooted, intentional, and full of compassion for the real life you’re living. Wherever you are listening from today, tired, hopeful, overwhelmed, excited, or somewhere in between -  you’re not behind, you’re not failing, and you’re doing far better than you think. Here’s to a year of feeling supported, grounded and deeply proud of the woman you’re becoming. Remember to subscribe to Motherkind — it helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing. Feeling different since becoming a mother? Get clarity on who you’re becoming now and  download your FREE Matrescence Cheat Sheet If you liked this episode, listen to this next: Resolutions don’t work, but this does - 4 steps to achieving your goals (without burning out) Connect with Zoe: Follow Zoe on Instagram  Get Zoe’s Sunday Times bestselling book, 'Motherkind: A New Way to Thrive in a World of Endless Expectations’ This Motherkind episode is sponsored by: Headline sponsor Wild Nutrition, the brand raising the bar for women’s supplements. Want to feel the Food-Grown difference yourself? Get 50% off for three months at wildnutrition.com/motherkind. Ts and Cs apply. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you’re going into the new year feeling tired, overwhelmed, or like you’ve lost your spark a little after Christmas, this Moment is for you. In this short clip, we explore why personal growth feels so hard and why every “new level” in life brings its own challenges. You’ll hear Roxie’s honest reflection on burnout, recovery, and the small daily shifts that make the biggest difference when you’re running on empty. I chose this moment because it’s such a compassionate reminder that you don’t need a huge overhaul to feel better,  just a few intentional choices that support your nervous system and your wellbeing. In this Moment, you’ll learn: Why real change starts with a simple, private decision to feel different How meditation and slowing down can help you recover from burnout The underestimated power of genuine time to yourself What boundaries really are — and how to hold them without guilt This Moment is a gentle invitation to begin the year with more honesty, more ease, and more care for yourself, one small step at a time. If you liked this moment, listen to the full episode: How To Build Unshakeable Confidence in Your Children with Roxie Nafousi Remember to subscribe to Motherkind — it helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing. Feeling like you’re carrying it all? Download your FREE Mental Load Cheat Sheet and learn how to start feeling lighter, even if nothing in your life changes. Connect with Zoe: Follow Zoe on Instagram  Get Zoe’s Sunday Times bestselling book, 'Motherkind: A New Way to Thrive in a World of Endless Expectations’ This Motherkind episode is sponsored by: Headline sponsor Wild Nutrition, the brand raising the bar for women’s supplements. Want to feel the Food-Grown difference yourself? Get 50% off for three months at wildnutrition.com/motherkind. Ts and Cs apply. For a £100 sponsored job credit, visit Indeed.com/ Motherkind Get 40% off a Calm premium subscription at calm.com/motherkind Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is a very special Christmas Day episode, a quiet moment just for you, tucked inside the chaos, the noise, the joy and the overwhelm of today. If you’re listening to this hiding in the loo for five minutes… stirring gravy… feeding the baby… or sitting in the car for a breather before going back inside — this message is from my heart to yours. Christmas has a way of amplifying everything. The joy, the expectations, the mental load, the pressure to make it all magical. And so many of us arrive at today feeling stretched, emotional, tired, or holding far more than anyone ever sees. This episode is my love letter to you - doing the invisible work, the emotional labour, the holding-it-all-together. A moment to breathe. A moment to be seen. A moment to be reminded of your worth. This is not an episode to learn from or “do” anything with — it’s one to feel. A moment to pause, breathe, and let yourself be held for once. Wherever you are today, in the noise, the calm, the joy, the heaviness — I am sending you so much love. Merry Christmas Remember to subscribe to Motherkind — it helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing. Connect with Zoe: Follow Zoe on Instagram  Get Zoe’s Sunday Times bestselling book, 'Motherkind: A New Way to Thrive in a World of Endless Expectations’ This Motherkind episode is sponsored by: Headline sponsor Wild Nutrition, the brand raising the bar for women’s supplements. Want to feel the Food-Grown difference yourself? Get 50% off for three months at wildnutrition.com/motherkind. Ts and Cs apply. For a £100 sponsored job credit, visit Indeed.com/ Motherkind Get 40% off a Calm premium subscription at calm.com/motherkind Get 15% off OneSkin with the code MOTHERKIND at https://www.oneskin.co/  #oneskinpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If the thought of being around your family this Christmas makes you feel a mix of excitement… and mild dread, you’re in the right place. For many mothers, Christmas isn’t hard because of the cooking, wrapping or logistics—it’s hard because of the people. The comments, the expectations, the old patterns and the familiar triggers that somehow resurface the moment you walk through the door. In the final of our December pep talks, Zoe shares practical tools to help you stay calm, grounded and drama-free when the family dynamics get intense In this pep talk, Zoe covers: How to stay grounded when family dynamics and old triggers show up What you can control (and what you can’t) when tensions rise Simple, kind ways to set boundaries and protect your energy Practical tools to prepare for tricky moments and avoid drama You are not imagining it—family dynamics at Christmas really can be tough.But with a few simple tools, you can protect your energy, stay grounded and enjoy the moments that truly matter. Have an amazing Christmas, and make sure to tune in on the 25th… there’s something special coming your way. Remember to subscribe to Motherkind — it helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing. Ready to feel like yourself again? Download your FREE Matrescence Cheat Sheet Connect with Zoe: Follow Zoe on Instagram  Get Zoe’s Sunday Times bestselling book, 'Motherkind: A New Way to Thrive in a World of Endless Expectations’ This Motherkind episode is sponsored by: Headline sponsor Wild Nutrition, the brand raising the bar for women’s supplements. Want to feel the Food-Grown difference yourself? Get 50% off for three months at wildnutrition.com/motherkind. Ts and Cs apply. For a £100 sponsored job credit, visit Indeed.com/ Motherkind Get 40% off a Calm premium subscription at calm.com/motherkind Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Most-Listened to Episode of 2025. It resonated so deeply with our community that we knew we had to share it again. If you’ve ever felt torn between who you were before motherhood and who you’re becoming now, this episode will change something in you. We’re re-releasing our number one most downloaded episode of 2025, and it’s easy to see why. In this conversation, I sit down with the incredible Martha Beck, whose wisdom has supported millions of women through life’s biggest transitions. Martha reveals one of the most powerful truths about parenting: your children won’t treat themselves the way you treat them - they’ll treat themselves the way you treat yourself. We talk about why mothers feel so stuck, how cultural expectations pull us in opposite directions, and what it really takes to break free. Martha shares her own extraordinary story, from Harvard to raising a child with Down syndrome, and the moment she stopped living for approval and started living for joy. This episode will leave you feeling seen, soothed and braver in your own motherhood journey. In this conversation, you’ll learn: Why modern motherhood creates impossible pressure and how to step outside it The shift from “stuck” to “free” using Martha’s definition of true freedom A simple self-talk practice that calms anxiety fast and rewires old patterns How self-compassion transforms you and shapes how your children see themselves If you’re exhausted, overwhelmed or craving a gentler way of mothering, this is the episode to revisit whenever you need grounding and hope. Remember to subscribe to Motherkind — it helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing. If you liked this episode, listen to this next: Link to a past episode on a similar topic Feeling different since becoming a mother? Get clarity on who you’re becoming now and  download your FREE Matrescence Cheat Sheet Connect with Zoe: Follow Zoe on Instagram  Get Zoe’s Sunday Times bestselling book, 'Motherkind: A New Way to Thrive in a World of Endless Expectations’ This Motherkind episode is sponsored by: Headline sponsor Wild Nutrition, the brand raising the bar for women’s supplements. Want to feel the Food-Grown difference yourself? Get 50% off for three months at wildnutrition.com/motherkind. Ts and Cs apply. For a £100 sponsored job credit, visit Indeed.com/ Motherkind Get 15% off OneSkin with the code MOTHERKIND at https://www.oneskin.co/  #oneskinpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If your December feels like one long attempt to keep everyone happy, here’s the truth: you never will — and it’s costing you more than you realise. ​​So many mothers are exhausted before Christmas has even begun—pulled in every direction, saying yes to everything, and trying desperately to keep everyone happy. If that’s you, you’re absolutely not alone… and this pep talk is for you. In the third of our December Pep talk series, Zoe unpacks the pressure to please everyone at Christmas, why so many of us fall into this pattern, and how to break free so you can actually enjoy the magic you’re creating for everyone else In this pep talk, you’ll hear: Why it’s literally impossible to please everyone (and why we keep trying anyway) How being raised as “good girls” trained us to put ourselves lastThe real cost of people-pleasing — burnout, resentment, disconnection Three powerful questions to help you reclaim your energyOne simple challenge to start shifting the pattern today You can’t please everyone—and you don’t need to. This Christmas, start by asking yourself: What do I need? What do I really want? What am I doing only because I think I should? Then choose one small change that brings you closer to a calmer, more connected holiday season. You deserve it. Remember to subscribe to Motherkind — it helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing. Feeling like you’re carrying it all? Download your FREE Mental Load Cheat Sheet and learn how to start feeling lighter, even if nothing in your life changes. Connect with Zoe: Follow Zoe on Instagram  Get Zoe’s Sunday Times bestselling book, 'Motherkind: A New Way to Thrive in a World of Endless Expectations’ This Motherkind episode is sponsored by: Headline sponsor Wild Nutrition, the brand raising the bar for women’s supplements. Want to feel the Food-Grown difference yourself? Get 50% off for three months at wildnutrition.com/motherkind. Ts and Cs apply. For a £100 sponsored job credit, visit Indeed.com/ Motherkind Get 15% off OneSkin with the code MOTHERKIND at https://www.oneskin.co/motherkind Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you’ve been carrying the invisible weight of family life, the planning, the remembering, the organising, the worrying, this episode will help you feel understood, validated, and far less alone. When I asked the Motherkind community what felt hardest right now, the same theme kept coming up again and again: The mental load is relentless. And so many of us are quietly drowning under it. So in this episode, I’ve brought together three powerful voices to help us understand what the mental load really is, why it falls so heavily on mothers, and how we can start to rebalance it. First, Dr Samantha Hiew explains why modern mothers feel so overwhelmed — not because we’re failing, but because we’re carrying more cognitive and emotional labour than ever. She breaks down what overload does to our memory, mood and sense of self. Next, Dr Morgan Cutlip shares the five common behaviours that quietly block partner involvement and contribute to resentment. She introduces her “within work” and “between work” framework and offers simple, compassionate steps to shift long-standing patterns. Finally, Eve Rodsky reframes communication in a way that changes everything. She shows how we’re already communicating the load — often indirectly — and why shifting how we talk about domestic life unlocks shared responsibility. Her CPE “mustard” method explains why full ownership (not reminders) is the real game-changer. In this episode, you’ll learn:✨ What the mental load is and why it lands so heavily on mothers The habits that unintentionally shut down partner involvement How to communicate more effectively and reduce friction What “full ownership” looks like and why it frees up mental space This conversation is for every mother who’s ever wondered why she’s so tired, why she holds everything in her head, and why it feels like there’s no space left for herself. You’re not imagining it, and you’re not failing. The load is simply too heavy to carry alone. Remember to subscribe to Motherkind — it helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing If you liked this compilation, you can listen to the full episodes:  ⁠Is it ADHD, or is it the mental load? With Dr Samantha Hiew⁠⁠ Why you're resentful in your relationship—and how to fix it starting today, with Dr. Morgan Cutlip⁠⁠ The new game-changing solution for when you have too much to do with Eve Rodsky⁠ Feeling like you’re carrying it all? Download your FREE Mental Load Cheat Sheet and learn how to start feeling lighter, even if nothing in your life changes. Connect with Zoe: Follow Zoe on Instagram  Get Zoe’s Sunday Times bestselling book, 'Motherkind: A New Way to Thrive in a World of Endless Expectations’ This Motherkind episode is sponsored by: Headline sponsor Wild Nutrition, the brand raising the bar for women’s supplements. Want to feel the Food-Grown difference yourself? Get 50% off for three months at wildnutrition.com/motherkind. Ts and Cs apply. For a £100 sponsored job credit, visit Indeed.com/ Motherkind Get 40% off a Calm premium subscription at calm.com/motherkind Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If December already feels like ‘too much’, this pep talk is your permission slip to breathe again. This month can feel like the mental load Olympics for mothers—pressure, perfectionism, school events, work deadlines, matching pyjamas, curated magic… and somehow we’re meant to smile through it. In the second of our December pep talks, Zoe shares five powerful steps to help you stop being so hard on yourself and bring the pressure down. In this pep talk, Zoe covers: Why you’re not failing – December really is intense How to drop the “Good Mum Myth” and stop comparing yourself to an imaginary perfect motherThe simple mindset shift that reduces self-criticism instantly Why lowering the bar actually raises connection with your children Tiny, nervous-system resets to help you stay grounded through the chaos This December, be softer with yourself. Let something go on purpose. Choose connection over perfection. Your children won’t remember the wrapping paper, the curated Santa visit, or whether you had it all together. They’ll remember how it felt to be with you ♥️ Remember to subscribe to Motherkind — it helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing. Feeling like you’re carrying it all? Download your FREE Mental Load Cheat Sheet and learn how to start feeling lighter, even if nothing in your life changes. Connect with Zoe: Follow Zoe on Instagram  Get Zoe’s Sunday Times bestselling book, 'Motherkind: A New Way to Thrive in a World of Endless Expectations’ This Motherkind episode is sponsored by: Headline sponsor Wild Nutrition, the brand raising the bar for women’s supplements. Want to feel the Food-Grown difference yourself? Get 50% off for three months at wildnutrition.com/motherkind. Ts and Cs apply. For a £100 sponsored job credit, visit Indeed.com/ Motherkind Get 40% off a Calm premium subscription at calm.com/motherkind Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A Most-Listened-To 2025 Episode - If you’ve ever thought, “I don’t think I’ve ever met a relaxed woman”, this episode will show you why and how to finally feel more at ease. To close the year, we’re re-releasing one of our most listened-to episodes of 2025, and it’s no wonder it struck such a chord. Speaking to many of you in our community, one theme comes up again and again: women feel permanently rushed, tense and overwhelmed. Relaxation doesn’t just feel unlikely, it feels unimaginable. And most of us have no idea how to get from “constantly on edge” to “at ease in our own bodies.” In this grounding and beautifully honest episode, therapist and author Nicola Jane Hobbs explores what it really means to become a “relaxed woman” not as a luxury, but as a way of living that’s rooted in nervous system safety, self-permission and gentleness. Nicola shares why relaxation feels so rare, how guilt gets woven into rest, and what begins to change when you start feeling safe in your own skin. She also opens up about her first year of motherhood, the tenderness, the disorientation, the identity shift and how it transformed everything she thought she knew about rest. In this conversation, you’ll learn: Why your nervous system resists slowing down and how to help it feel safe How guilt became tied to rest and why guilt can be a sign you’re growing Tiny, realistic ways to bring rest into your day without more time or childcare Why can’t we become relaxed women alone, and how to build the support you need Remember to subscribe to Motherkind — it helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing. If you liked this episode, listen to this next: MOMENT | Calm your nervous system in seconds with this technique Feeling different since becoming a mother? Get clarity on who you’re becoming now and  download your FREE Matrescence Cheat Sheet Connect with Zoe: Follow Zoe on Instagram  Get Zoe’s Sunday Times bestselling book, 'Motherkind: A New Way to Thrive in a World of Endless Expectations’ This Motherkind episode is sponsored by: Headline sponsor Wild Nutrition, the brand raising the bar for women’s supplements. Want to feel the Food-Grown difference yourself? Get 50% off for three months at wildnutrition.com/motherkind. Ts and Cs apply. For a £100 sponsored job credit, visit Indeed.com/ Motherkind Get 40% off a Calm premium subscription at calm.com/motherkind Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If Christmas already feels like too much, this December pep-talk series is your support system for navigating the mental-load Olympics. Today’s episode is your reminder that you’re allowed to do it differently. The pressure on mothers at this time of year is enormous — the mental load, the expectations, the never-ending lists — and most of it lands squarely on our shoulders. Zoe shares a simple, grounding reframe to help you take the weight off and bring the joy back. In the first of our December pep talks, Zoe breaks down why the festive season can feel overwhelming and how to step out of the “shoulds” that pile up as the year draws to a close. Instead of chasing perfection, she invites you to focus on the feeling you want to create — for yourself and your family — and offers a practical tool to help you get there. In this pep talk, you’ll hear: The explosion of Christmas expectations (and why mums carry the load) How to stop doing everything and focus on how you want the season to feel Zoe’s simple Do / Ditch / Delegate method to cut the overwhelm fast Why real magic comes from presence, not perfection Remember to subscribe to Motherkind — it helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing. Feeling like you’re carrying it all? Download your FREE Mental Load Cheat Sheet and learn how to start feeling lighter, even if nothing in your life changes. Connect with Zoe: Follow Zoe on Instagram  Get Zoe’s Sunday Times bestselling book, 'Motherkind: A New Way to Thrive in a World of Endless Expectations’ This Motherkind episode is sponsored by: Headline sponsor Wild Nutrition, the brand raising the bar for women’s supplements. Want to feel the Food-Grown difference yourself? Get 50% off for three months at wildnutrition.com/motherkind. Ts and Cs apply. For a £100 sponsored job credit, visit Indeed.com/ Motherkind Get 40% off a Calm premium subscription at calm.com/motherkind Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Motherhood didn’t make you lose your confidence - it buried it under the mental load. In this powerful episode, I’m sharing the five exact steps I used to rebuild my confidence from the ground up after becoming a mum. These are simple, practical tools you can use even if you’re exhausted, overwhelmed, and only have seven minutes a day to yourself. Because here’s the truth no one tells us: becoming a mother lowers your confidence and self-belief for up to three years. And yet… we’re never prepared for it. We’re never told why it happens. We’re certainly never shown how to rebuild ourselves from the inside out. In this conversation, you’ll learn: The surprising reason confidence drops in motherhood How to quiet your inner critic The truth about self-worth How to stop comparison spirals Why celebrating tiny wins matters more than big achievements Getting comfortable with being uncomfortable You can listen to the Dr Nicole Le Pera episode that Zoe references here: How to heal yourself with Dr Nicole Le Pera Remember to subscribe to Motherkind — it helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing. Feeling different since becoming a mother? Get clarity on who you’re becoming now and  download your FREE Matrescence Cheat Sheet Connect with Zoe: Follow Zoe on Instagram  Get Zoe’s Sunday Times bestselling book, 'Motherkind: A New Way to Thrive in a World of Endless Expectations’ This Motherkind episode is sponsored by: Headline sponsor Wild Nutrition, the brand raising the bar for women’s supplements. Want to feel the Food-Grown difference yourself? Get 50% off for three months at wildnutrition.com/motherkind. Ts and Cs apply. For a £100 sponsored job credit, visit Indeed.com/ Motherkind Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices