Claim OwnershipThe Motherless Mothers
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© Hosted by Adina and Lou, Founders of TMM Community
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Welcome to The Motherless Mothers Podcast, where we explore the unique and often untold experiences of women navigating motherhood without the support of their mothers.
Hosted by Lou and Adina, our podcast features everything from our community of motherless mothers to experts in psychology, grief, and personal development. We offer a space for heartfelt conversations, shared stories, and expert insights. We discuss the challenges, triumphs, and emotional complexities of raising children while healing from the loss of your mother, whether by circumstance or by choice.
Hosted by Lou and Adina, our podcast features everything from our community of motherless mothers to experts in psychology, grief, and personal development. We offer a space for heartfelt conversations, shared stories, and expert insights. We discuss the challenges, triumphs, and emotional complexities of raising children while healing from the loss of your mother, whether by circumstance or by choice.
36 Episodes
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Claire is a mum-of-three and became motherless on New Year’s Eve. She lost the mum she always knew and became her carer overnight - a role reversal no one can quite prepare you for, especially when 12-weeks pregnant. We sit down and talk campaigning, teen parenting and changing your whole career so you can pour your grief into something you love everyday. Claire says, "Now I'm a therapist specialising in grief and bereavement, and my work continues to be influenced by my mum every single day. Being a mother without a mother is a journey I’m still on, sometimes strong, sometimes messy, always shaped by love and absence in equal measure."Love,Adina & LouTo find out more about TMM, visit our website here.To find out more about Claire's private practice and get in touch with her, check out her website here.
Dave and Steph are married. Before that, they were boyfriend and girlfriend. Before that, they were friends who came together in COVID times to support one another. A love story just like the fairytales. But what people don't see is Steph and Dave's heartbreak at grieving Steph's mum (Janet) after a sudden illness, both as individuals and a couple. All while navigating life as newlyweds and growing their family. What is Dave's take on supporting a motherless mother? How is Steph's mum's presence felt through his eyes? What has their relationship looked like pre and post Janet’ss death? The partners who support us to keep going, but also the partners who are grieving too. Dave and Steph bear all in this honest, emotional chat about love, loss and heartbreak through the years. We hope you enjoy this episode!Lots of love,Lou & AdinaCheck out TMM's website here.Find us on IG here.
What happens when your old grief meets a new season of motherhood? Our guest lost her mum suddenly in her early twenties. Decades later, she’s raising teenage daughters and navigating the emotional storms of adolescence — and her own. In this conversation, we talk about what happens when you find yourself missing your mum all over again, and how grief can resurface in motherhood in surprising ways.Love,Adina & LouFind out more about TMM here.Follow us on IG here.
Sit down and get to know the duo behind TMM, Lou and Adina. What are our worst habits? What gives us the ick? What makes us cry without fail? Join us for a relaxed chat as we delve a bit deeper into Lou and Adina’s worlds.Love,Lou & AdinaFollow us on IG here Learn more about TMM here.
Losing both parents young shapes every part of you. But what about your relationship as siblings? Sarah bears all in this episode as she shares her experience of weathering the storm as the middle child of two sisters and how it has changed their family, their sisterhood and the way they have existed together across the last 13 years.Love,Lou & AdinaFind out more about TMM here.Follow us on IG here.
In this special holiday episode, the whole TMM team — Adina, Lou, Anne, and Steph — come together to talk about what the festive season feels like when you’re grieving your mum. We share memories, traditions, and coping strategies for navigating a time that can bring both comfort and pain. From creating new rituals to giving yourself permission to skip the celebrations entirely, this is a warm, honest, and deeply relatable conversation for anyone missing their mum this December. You are not alone in this.Love,Lou, Adina, Anne & StephTo find out more about TMM, go to our website here.
In this week’s episode of The Motherless Mothers Podcast, we speak with Zara, founder of Parentless Parenting Club — a growing online space for those navigating life and future parenthood after the loss of a parent. Zara isn’t a mother yet, but she’s thinking deeply about what it means to become one without her mum beside her. We talk about grief, fear, hope, and the longing for maternal guidance that doesn’t fade — even as we grow up. From starting her Instagram community to writing a book on the subject, Zara’s story is a reminder that healing is a journey — and that we can mother ourselves, and each other, along the way.Love,Adina & LouTo follow TMM on IG go here.Check out TMMs website here. Follow and connect with Zara here.
What happens when you become a mother without your own mum and with the added weight of grief and mental health struggles? Our guest, Coriann (The Neurodivergent Mama), knows this journey intimately. After losing her mother to suicide in 2013, she is now walking the path of new motherhood, discovering both triggers and healing along the way. She speaks candidly about her story and the striking connection between parent loss and perinatal mental health struggles.Trigger warning: This episode includes discussion of suicide and mental health struggles. Please take care of yourself while listening. If these topics are difficult for you, you might want to pause, come back later, or listen with a friend. And if you are struggling right now, we encourage you to reach out for support. Love, Lou & AdinaFollow TMM on IG here.Check out the TMM website here.Follow and connect with Coriann here.
Do you ever feel like you’re doing all the things for your kids—maybe even too much? From over-the-top birthdays to trying to make every moment magical, Lou and Adina unpack why motherless mothers often feel the pressure to overcompensate. They share their own stories, the fears behind the perfectionism, and how they’re learning to give themselves (and their kids) a little more grace.Love,Lou & AdinaFollow us on IG here.Find out more about TMM here.
Pregnancy after losing your mum is something no one prepares you for. Martine opens up about losing her mum to cancer, finding out she was pregnant months later, and why becoming a mother has deepened her grief. Love,Lou & AdinaFollow us on IG here.Check out The Motherless Mothers charity and community on our website here.
In this episode, we sit down with Bonnie — a doula, mother of two, and daughter who lost her own mum in her early 20s. She shares her story of navigating motherhood while grieving, and how her work supporting others at life’s most tender moments — birth and death — has been shaped by her own experiences of loss.Love,Adina & LouTo find out more about Bonnie's work as a doula, check out her site here. The Motherless Mothers website is here. Follow TMM on IG here.
For anyone who’s had to parent while grieving—or make heartbreaking care decisions for a parent—this conversation is for you. Ann-Marie opens up about the emotional complexity of losing her mum to cardiac amyloidosis while raising a newborn, the challenges of being an only child with no surviving parents, and the gratitude she still holds for the life she shared with her mum.Love,Lou & AdinaFor more info on TMM check out our website here.Follow TMM on IG here.
Something monumental is happening, and we can’t wait to tell you about it. In this episode, Lou and Adina share the behind-the-scenes of the very first Mother Loss Awareness Day taking place at the Houses of Parliament. We talk about why this moment matters, what you can expect on the day, and why it feels like Christmas Eve every time we think about gathering our community in person. From hugs and shared stories to making sure MPs, policymakers and businesses hear our voices, this day is about connection and change. With our partners at Peanut, we’re putting mother loss on the map in a way that’s never been done before. Over 70 of you are already signed up, and there’s still space for more. Will you join us?Love,Lou & AdinaFind out more about TMM here.
Pregnancy is a time filled with expectation—but it can also bring deep fears, especially for mothers who have experienced loss or are navigating motherhood without their own mum. In this episode, we sit down with Heidi, founder of MAMA Academy, to talk about her journey of turning pain into purpose and building a charity that works tirelessly to prevent stillbirth and support families through pregnancy after loss. We explore grief, what every parent should know about safer pregnancy, and the power of community in the hardest moments.It's Baby Loss Awareness Week here in the UK, and TMM wants to shine a light on the incredible work Heidi is doing at MAMA Academy to reduce stillbirth and promote safer pregnancies.Love,Lou & AdinaTo find out more about Heidi and MAMA Academy, check out the website here. Find The Motherless Mothers website here. Follow TMM on IG here. Email us at themotherlessmothersuk@gmail.com
You don’t have to be a writer to write. You just need a story, and if you’ve experienced mother loss, you have one. In this episode, Beth—a motherless mother and published author—shares how creative writing can help us cope with grief, find clarity, and even rediscover ourselves after loss.Beth's upcoming creative writing workshop with TMM will take place on November 12th from 8-9pm UK time. To find out more, sign up to our newsletter on our website .Love,Lou and Adina
Navigating a relationship with your mother-in-law is tricky enough, but when you don’t have your own mother, it can feel even more complicated. In this episode, Lou and Adina share honest stories about expectations, boundaries, and those moments where you just wish things were different. Whether your MIL is amazing or… not so much, this is a conversation for anyone trying to balance grief, family dynamics, and motherhood.Love,Lou & AdinaFollow us on IG here.Find out more about TMM here.
Birth, death, and grief — three words that have defined Jo’s journey in the most profound ways. In this episode, Jo opens up about losing both her parents within 16 months, the lessons learnt through caregiving, and how she’s transforming her pain into purpose. If you’ve ever wondered how to hold joy and sorrow at the same time, this conversation is for you. Love,Lou & AdinaTo find out more about Jo and her work, check out her IG here. Want to connect with TMM? Have a look at our website here. Follow TMM on IG here.
What does it really take to break generational cycles and parent differently? In this episode, we sit down with Harriet Shearsmith, host of Unfollowing Mum and author of Unfollowing Mum: Break Unhealthy Habits and Be the Parent You Wish You’d Had. We talk about estrangement, setting boundaries, and why healing your inner child is key to raising the next generation.Love,Lou & AdinaFollow us on IG here.Find out more about TMM here.Follow Harriet on IG here.Find the Unfollowing Mum Podcast here. Harriet's book is available on Amazon here.
We’re back, and we’re glad you’re here. In this first episode of season two, we reconnect — with each other, and with you. We talk about what’s been stirring, what’s shifted, and what we’re hoping for in the months ahead. For every motherless mother listening: you are not alone. You belong here.Love Lou & Adina
It’s hard to believe it’s been a whole year since we started this podcast—and even harder to believe we’ve built all of this without ever meeting in person! In this special season finale, Lou and Adina reflect on an unforgettable year of growth, vulnerability, and community.Together, they share the highs, the raw moments, and the surprising lessons learnt while building TMM across time zones, WhatsApp voice notes, emails, and countless Zoom calls. From hosting their first event at the Houses of Parliament to seeing over 90 countries engage with their work, this milestone is a testament to the power of connection.They’ll chat about their favourite moments, the stories that changed them, the wildest things they Googled while figuring out how to run a charity, and their biggest, boldest dreams for the year ahead. Whether you’ve been here since Episode 1 or this is your first listen, thank you for being part of this growing, global movement of motherless mothers.We’re just getting started.Love,Lou & Adina To find out more about TMM check out our website here.
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