Mum Mind Unpacked

Ever caught yourself reaching for your phone while your child is trying to tell you something?In this episode, Hugh van Cuylenburg joins Mum Mind Unpacked for a heartfelt, funny and thought-provoking conversation about the simple practices that can transform our wellbeing: gratitude, empathy and mindfulness.Bree shares the deeply personal story of how Hugh's work through The Resilience Project helped her through one of the darkest chapters of her life. What started as scepticism about gratitude became a tool that genuinely changed the way she saw the world.Bree and G also get brutally honest about their own relationship with technology, admitting they often feel addicted to their phones and struggle to be as present as they would like to be.Together, they unpack why our devices are making it harder to slow down, pay attention and connect with the people around us, and the small changes we can all make to be more mindful in everyday life.And because no Mum Mind Unpacked interview would be complete without a little chaos, a rogue microphone makes an unexpected appearance, leading to one of the funniest moments of the conversation.This chat is equal parts inspiring, validating and hilarious.🎧 What You'll Hear• The power of gratitude, empathy and mindfulness• Bree's personal story of resilience and recovery• How Hugh's work changed her life• Why so many of us feel addicted to our phones• The impact phones are having on our attention and wellbeing• Practical ways to become more mindful and present• Why it’s not too late to change habits🗓 New Episodes on WednesdaysPlease follow, share, and leave a review to help more mums find the show and feel seen.🔗 Connect With Us📸 Instagram: @mummindunpacked📧 Email: [email protected]🔗 Connect With Hugh van Cuylenburg & The Resilience Project📸 Instagram: @hughvancuylenburg🌐 The Resilience Project: https://theresilienceproject.com.au⚠️ A Gentle ReminderMum Mind Unpacked exists to inform, support and connect — but it's not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.If you're struggling, please reach out:• Lifeline: 13 11 14• PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia): 1300 726 306🙏 Thanks for ListeningIf this episode resonated, share it with a friend who might need it.And if you loved it, we'd be so grateful for a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review.Until next time — motherhood is hard, but you're not alone. We see you. 🤍🙏 Thank you to our sponsor JNR Food Co🥗 Ready-made, dietitian-approved kids' meals that are high in protein, low in sodium, preservative-free — and loved by kids!👀 Explore the full range: jnrfoodco.au📸 Instagram: @jnrfoodco🙏 Thank you to our sponsor Bronte Co🌊 Your one-stop shop for matching family swimwear in fun neon colours — plus everything you need for a day at the beach. Think fishing shirts, cooler bags, tees, hats and even hoodies for those rugged coastal days.🌐 Shop here: Bronte Co Website📸 Instagram: @bronte_co🔍 KeywordsHugh van Cuylenburg, The Resilience Project, The Imperfects, gratitude, empathy, mindfulness, phone addiction, screen time, present parenting, motherhood podcast Australia, parenting podcast, resilience, mental health, wellbeing, digital overwhelm, connection, attention, parenting in the digital age, Mum Mind Unpacked

So many of us grew up being the “good girl” — the one who stayed quiet, worked hard, kept the peace and held it all together for everyone else.But what happens when that story follows us into motherhood?In this episode, Lael Stone returns to Mum Mind Unpacked for another deeply honest and powerful conversation about the hidden pressures women carry and the emotional toll of always trying to be “good”.We unpack people-pleasing, perfectionism, boundaries, emotional suppression, mum rage and the impossible expectations so many mothers place on themselves.Lael shares why these patterns often begin in childhood, how they shape our relationships and parenting, and what it looks like to reconnect with ourselves underneath all the conditioning.If you loved our hit episode with Lael on mum rage, you cannot miss this one.This conversation is validating, emotional and guaranteed to make so many mums feel seen.🎧 What You’ll Hear• What the “good girl” story actually is• How people-pleasing shows up in motherhood• Perfectionism, guilt and fear of disappointing others• The connection between emotional suppression and mum rage• Learning to set boundaries and use your voice• Raising children without passing these patterns on🗓 New Episodes on WednesdaysPlease follow, share, and leave a review to help more mums find the show and feel seen.🔗 Connect With Us📸 Instagram: @mummindunpacked📧 Email: [email protected]🔗 Connect With Lael Stone📸 Instagram: @laelstone🌐 Lael Stone Official Website⚠️ A Gentle ReminderMum Mind Unpacked exists to inform, support and connect — but it’s not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.If you’re struggling, please reach out:• Lifeline: 13 11 14• PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia): 1300 726 306🙏 Thanks for ListeningIf this episode resonated, share it with a friend who might need it.And if you loved it, we’d be so grateful for a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review.Until next time — motherhood is hard, but you’re not alone. We see you. 🤍🙏 Thank you to our sponsor JNR Food Co🥗 Ready-made, dietitian-approved kids’ meals that are high in protein, low in sodium, preservative-free — and loved by kids!👀 Explore the full range: jnrfoodco.au📸 Instagram: @jnrfoodco🙏 Thank you to our sponsor Bronte Co🌊 Your one-stop shop for matching family swimwear in fun neon colours — plus everything you need for a day at the beach. Think fishing shirts, cooler bags, tees, hats and even hoodies for those rugged coastal days.🌐 Shop here: Bronte Co Website📸 Instagram: @bronte_co🔍 Keywordsgood girl conditioning, people pleasing, perfectionism, motherhood burnout, mum rage, emotional regulation, boundaries for mums, parenting podcast Australia, Lael Stone, motherhood identity, women and mental health, honest motherhood, emotional wellbeing for mums, parenting patterns, motherhood podcast, mental load, self-worth, motherhood and anxiety

Motherhood doesn’t always follow the script… and neither does love.In this episode, we sit down with Lauren Palmer — recently single mum of two, creator of Mental as a Mother, fierce feminist and one of the most refreshingly honest voices in the motherhood space.Lauren opens up about her journey through IVF in a same-sex relationship, the breakdown of her marriage, and what it really looks like to rebuild life as a single mum.We talk about identity, navigating separation, and the realities of getting back on the dating apps — including some truly shocking (and hilarious) Hinge stories 😅Lauren also shares her experience with postnatal depression and how it’s shaped her into a passionate advocate for other mums. She also opens up about her ADHD diagnosis and the parenting challenges that come with it.This conversation is raw, funny, confronting and deeply relatable.🎧 What You’ll Hear• Navigating separation and becoming a single mum• The realities of solo parenting• Getting back on the dating apps (and the horror stories)• Identity, independence and starting again• Postnatal depression and advocacy🗓 New Episodes on WednesdaysPlease follow, share, and leave a review to help more mums find the show and feel seen.🔗 Connect With Us📸 Instagram: @mummindunpacked📧 Email: [email protected]🔗 Connect With Lauren Palmer📸 Instagram: @mental.asamother🎵 TikTok: mentalasamother⚠️ A Gentle ReminderMum Mind Unpacked exists to inform, support and connect — but it’s not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.If you’re struggling, please reach out:• Lifeline: 13 11 14• PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia): 1300 726 306🙏 Thanks for ListeningIf this episode resonated, share it with a friend who might need it.And if you loved it, we’d be so grateful for a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review.Until next time — motherhood is hard, but you’re not alone. We see you. 💛🙏 Thank you to our sponsor Bronte Co🌐 https://www.bronteco.com/📸 Instagram: @bronte_co🔍 Keywordssingle motherhood, IVF journey, same-sex parenting, divorce, dating apps, Hinge dating stories, postnatal depression, starting again after separation, motherhood identity, solo parenting, motherhood podcast Australia, honest motherhood, mental health for mums, ADHD diagnosis, parenting challenges

Dreams don’t disappear when you become a mum… but they can feel further away.In this episode, we sit down with Adelaide mum, high school teacher and Australian Idol Top 8 finalist Simela Petridis to talk about what it really looks like to go after your dreams in the thick of motherhood.Simela’s audition went viral (over a million views 👀), but behind it is a story of stepping away from music, losing a sense of self, and finding the courage to start again.We talk identity, the pressure to “choose” between motherhood and ambition, and why backing yourself matters — not just for you, but for your kids.Simela also opens up about postnatal depression and the realities of early motherhood in a way we know so many of you will relate to.🎧 What You’ll Hear• Simela’s journey from musician to teacher and mum• Why she auditioned for Australian Idol• Losing yourself in motherhood — and finding your way back• Postnatal depression and early motherhood realities• The juggle of kids, career and dreams• Why following your dreams matters for your kids🗓 New Episodes on WednesdaysPlease follow, share, and leave a review to help more mums find the show and feel seen.🔗 Connect With Us📸 Instagram: @mummindunpacked📧 Email: [email protected]🔗 Connect With Simela Petridis📸 Instagram: @simelanatasha🎥 Watch her viral audition:https://open.spotify.com/track/0sT7lRCAvGLVEY9v5BOk7n⚠️ A Gentle ReminderMum Mind Unpacked exists to inform, support and connect — but it’s not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.If you’re struggling, please reach out:• Lifeline: 13 11 14• PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia): 1300 726 306🙏 Thanks for ListeningIf this episode resonated, share it with a friend who might need it.And if you loved it, we’d be so grateful for a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review.Until next time — motherhood is hard, but you’re not alone. We see you. 💛🙏 Thank you to our sponsor Bronte Co🌐 https://www.bronteco.com/📸 Instagram: @bronte_co🔍 Keywordsmotherhood identity, chasing dreams after kids, Simela Petridis, singer, Australian Idol audition, postnatal depression, working mum life, motherhood podcast Australia, parenting podcast for mums, honest motherhood, I don’t want to wait, viral audition

Mum rage.The kind that comes out of nowhere… except it actually doesn’t.In this episode, we sit down with Lauren Novak, author of Meltdown, to unpack what’s really going on when we lose it.We explore why rage builds over the day, what’s happening in our brains and bodies, and why so many of us feel like we’re failing — when actually, there’s a reason we feel this way.From the build-up of tiny daily triggers, to overstimulation, sleep deprivation and the pressure of being the default parent… this conversation will leave you feeling seen, understood, and a whole lot less alone.🎧 What You’ll Hear• Why rage isn’t random — it’s a build-up of constant “micro triggers”• The “sequence of provocations” and why motherhood is the perfect storm• The volcano analogy — and why your lava is already close to the surface 🌋• What’s happening in your brain (fast vs slow pathways)• Why sleep, pain and mental load all lower your capacity to cope• Overstimulation (hello “Mum… Mum… Mum…”) and its impact• The “default parent” dynamic and where resentment comes from• Why this isn’t a personal failing — it’s structural, emotional and physiological🗓 New Episodes on WednesdaysPlease follow, share, and leave a review to help more mums find the show and feel seen.🔗 Connect With Us📸 Instagram: @mummindunpacked📧 Email: [email protected]🔗 Connect With Lauren Novak🌐 Website: https://laurennovak.com.au/📸 Instagram: @laurennovakwrites⚠️ A Gentle ReminderMum Mind Unpacked exists to inform, support and connect — but it’s not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.If you’re struggling, please reach out:• Lifeline: 13 11 14• PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia): 1300 726 306🙏 Thanks for ListeningIf this episode resonated, share it with a friend or someone who might need it.And if you loved it, we’d be so grateful for a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review.Until next time — motherhood is hard, but you’re not alone. We see you. 💛🙏 Thank you to our sponsor Bronte Co🌐 https://www.bronteco.com/📸 Instagram: @bronte_co🔍 Keywordsmum rage, motherhood anger, mental load, default parent, overstimulation motherhood, sleep deprivation mums, maternal mental health, Lauren Novak Meltdown, motherhood podcast Australia, parenting podcast for mums, mom rage