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Moms, Mats and Manuscripts is a podcast hosted by Ksenia Volkova Tomaz, a former molecular biologist, yoga teacher and mindset coach for scientists, and mom. This is a space for honest, unpolished conversations about the parts of academia and ambition we don’t talk about enough.
Here, we explore the mental and emotional load of being a young scientist or high-achieving woman: the pressure to constantly produce, the identity crises, the inner critic, the fear of slowing down, the guilt around rest, the invisible labour of motherhood, and the messy process of redefining success on your own terms.
I share personal stories, science-backed insights, and yoga-psychology tools to help you navigate burnout, self-worth, boundaries, and the overwhelming push to “do more.”
Think of this space as a friend's couch, where you can have a cup of coffee, relax, exhale and be seen.
39 Episodes
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In this honest and beautifully chaotic episode, Dr Asya Martirosyan joins me once again for a vulnerable conversation about starting a family in academia: the fears, ambitions, cultural expectations, and the persistent myth of “perfect timing.” We dive into the pressures placed on women in STEM to excel at everything: building a career, being a present mother, running a household, staying balanced and ambitious… often without any real support or open discussion. We talk about: • fears a...
In this episode of Moms, Mats, and Manuscripts, Ksenia sits down with Dr Asya Martirosyan to explore the highs and lows of life in academia, the pressures of PhD and postdoc work, and how she rediscovered her love for science when freed from external expectations. We dive into: The mental and emotional toll of PhD life and academic pressure; How cultural factors affect the way we work, perceive criticism and show up in academia; Rediscovering curiosity and doing science for the sake of sc...
Public speaking, whether in a conference room or on stage, can feel absolutely terrifying. For many scientists, it’s part of the job, yet few of us are ever taught how to really do it: how to command a room, connect with an audience, and share our message with confidence and authenticity. In this episode, Ksenia talks with Emma Gaskin, a former speech therapist and founder of The Speaking Hub, who now helps women in business and leadership find their voice and speak with impact. We dive into...
What makes a great mentor, and how can we create a healthier, more compassionate academic culture? In this episode of Moms, Mats, and Manuscripts, we talk with Dr Liz Berry, assistant professor at New York Medical College and creator behind @dr.lizberry on Instagram and TikTok. Liz shares her honest experiences moving from PhD student to educator, how burnout shaped her approach to mentorship, and why she believes rest and compassion belong in every lab and lecture hall. We explore: The diffe...
In this solo episode, Ksenia is reflecting on two years of motherhood and the 7 powerful lessons it has taught her about life, work, and growth. These are not just parenting lessons; they’re insights anyone can apply in their career, studies, or personal life, especially if you’ve ever struggled with boundaries, perfectionism, or identity in your work. She talks about: 🌱 The importance of mentorship and guidance 🌱 Why community and friendships matter (even when life feels overwhelming) 🌱 Li...
Do you ever feel like rest and self-care have become just another task on your never-ending to-do list? In this solo episode, Ksenia wraps up her 3-part series on rest and slowing down. She shares why so many of us turn self-care into another chore, why hustle culture and perfectionism convince us that we can “fail” at rest, and what that mindset is really costing us. From holidays that feel like assignments to meditation routines that become another checklist item, Ksenia explores the impor...
In this episode, Ksenia is diving deeper into the idea that rest is an act of rebellion. We've all been there: the pressure to constantly hustle, especially in fields like academia and other demanding careers, can be overwhelming. But what if slowing down and prioritising rest wasn't a sign of weakness, but a powerful act of resistance against a system that glorifies burnout? Ksenia shares bits of her personal journey and observations from her time in academia, as well as: Why true resi...
What if slowing down was not a weakness, but a skill? In this solo reflection, Ksenia talks about how she went from constantly rushing (and feeling like rest was something she had to “earn”) to slowly learning the courage it takes to pause, breathe, and choose a different pace, even when the world (and her mind) is screaming “go faster.” She shares: - Why slowing down often feels so uncomfortable - The sneaky guilt that comes with resting or moving slowly - Moments from her own lif...
In this intimate, honest episode, we (two moms and yoga teachers) open up about how yoga supported us through pregnancy, labour, and postpartum - not just in the physical sense, but in how we learned to listen to ourselves, surrender, roar, and recover. We reflect on: 🧘♀️ How our prenatal yoga routines shifted across trimesters 🔁 What we’d definitely do again and what we wish we had done differently 🌀 How yoga helped us stay intuitive, present, and calm during pregnancy &nb...
Stress, overwork, and constant hustle can wreak havoc on your hormones, especially if you're constantly ignoring your natural cycle and your body's cues. In this episode, Ksenia sits down with hormone health expert Emilia Villegas to discuss how modern work culture impacts our hormonal well-being and what we can do to reclaim balance. We cover everything from how stress throws off your endocrine system to menstrual cycle-informed productivity, to simple and practical tips you can start using...
In this honest and open conversation, we reflect on how our relationships with our bodies have evolved over the past decade, from student all-nighters and coffee-fueled burnout to a more attuned, mindful approach shaped by yoga, motherhood, and life experience. We explore: • What “body awareness” really means • How chronic stress, anxiety, and burnout show up physically • Our very different (but equally chaotic) student years • How practising yoga changed the way we treat ourselves • The me...
This solo story gets personal: Ivna interviews Ksenia about the behind-the-scenes chaos (and beauty) of trying to build a meaningful, sustainable yoga business while raising a toddler full-time. We cover what it's like to feel like you're falling behind - and also exactly where you're supposed to be. Plus, we end with a tangent on Zumba, mindful movement, why yoga is the perfect antidote to academic stress, and how it supports scientists beyond just stretching. Listen if you're: → A sci...
What does home really mean when you've lived across half a dozen countries? In this heartwarming and honest episode, we share our personal journeys through Europe and Asia - from summer internships and PhDs to falling in love, becoming mothers, and redefining identity with every move. 💬 We talk about: - The unexpected butterfly effects that changed our lives 🌍 - What it's like to move for love, work, or curiosity - How motherhood reshaped our sense of home and roots - Building rituals and f...
In this powerful episode of Moms, Mats, and Manuscripts, we sit down with neuroscientist and yoga teacher Sylvie Lahaie (aka Synaptic Sylvie) to unpack her journey through burnout, mental health struggles, and finding healing through yoga and mindfulness. Sylvie opens up about the toxic work culture in academia, overworking herself into collapse during her Master’s degree, and how a simple YouTube yoga video became a turning point in her life. We explore the intersection of neuroscience and s...
In this special first interview episode of Moms, Mats, and Manuscripts, Ksenia sits down with Anahita Amirpour - PhD student, performance consultant, and former nurse anaesthetist - to explore how researchers can thrive without burning out. We talk about the culture of overwork in academia, impostor syndrome, setting healthy boundaries, and how Anahita balances her PhD, her business, and writing a book. Whether you're a stressed-out scientist, a recovering perfectionist, or someone juggling t...
We're back with Season 3 - and this time, our guiding word is connection. In this heartfelt episode, we explore how connection ties into the themes of our previous seasons: showing up and being bold and authentic. We share our recent (and not-so-recent) experiences with mental health struggles, particularly around postpartum, loneliness, and identity. From stopping breastfeeding and hitting a low point, to finding unexpected support through Facebook mom groups, we talk about what it really me...
In the final episode of our three-part series on how motherhood changes us - and the last episode of season two - we turn inward to explore the quieter, more personal transformations that happen after becoming a mother. We talk about the shifting landscape of identity, how we’re slowly coming home to ourselves in new ways, and how motherhood reshapes how we approach things like free time, travel, presence, ambition, and rest. We share how our dreams and definitions of success have evolved, ho...
In this deeply reflective episode, we continue our conversation about how motherhood changes us -this time diving into our connections to the past, the unspoken bond between mothers, and the way parenthood makes us confront life and mortality. We explore how becoming mothers has reshaped our relationships with our parents and grandparents, making us more curious about our roots, family traditions, and the many love stories that brought us into existence. We talk about the quiet sisterhood of ...
Motherhood changes us, there’s no doubt about it. But does it mean we lose ourselves? In this spontaneous conversation (sparked by a question from Ksenia's Instagram Live!), we dive into the shifts we’ve experienced since becoming moms and why we see them as a net positive. We talk about what’s had to adjust, what’s stayed the same, and why change doesn’t have to mean giving up parts of ourselves. This is just the beginning of a bigger conversation. In the next episodes, we’ll explore how mot...
Why does change feel so hard - even when we want it and know it would benefit us? In this episode, we dive into the brain’s resistance to change and why we often cling to what’s familiar, even if it’s not serving us. We talk about picking ourselves back up when we falter, overcoming the inner critic that tells us we’re failing, and figuring out what we really need - whether it’s more rest, more support, or just a little push through momentary discomfort. We also explore the fine balance betwe...
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