Motherhood Feels Too Hard, Evolution Tells Us Why (w/ Elena Bridgers)

In this episode, I chat with Elena Bridgers, science writer and author of Motherhood Until Yesterday to talk about the lie most moms are living under: that motherhood should feel natural, effortless, and fulfilling on its own. Instead, we uncover why modern motherhood feels so hard and why it’s not your failure, it’s the mismatch between how humans evolved to raise children and how we’re expected to do it now. Elena explains how real human parenting used to look, why community and support were the norm, and why isolation and pressure leave so many mothers overwhelmed and exhausted.

We also dive into the narratives many moms inherit from religion, feminist ideals, and internet culture that frame motherhood in ways that help just about no one. Elena’s work blends evolutionary biology, anthropology, and real-life experience to help mothers feel seen, understood, and less alone.

Elena Bridgers Links:

📍 Newsletter — Motherhood Until Yesterday (Substack): https://elenabridgers.substack.com/ 🌍 Website: https://elenabridgers.com/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elena.bridgers/

All the Carah Burrell links 🔗 https://linktr.ee/nuancehoe

Carah Burrell Substack: https://substack.com/@carahburrell?

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