Motherkind

What happens when your career is built around fitness and, after having a baby, you realise you don't actually want to rush to get your old body or routine back?This week, Zoe is joined by fitness expert, entrepreneur and WeGLOW founder Steph Williams, just four-and-a-half months after becoming a mother, for an incredibly honest conversation about postpartum recovery, breastfeeding, exercise, body image and the enormous identity shift that happens when you have a baby.Steph shares the reality of breastfeeding and why stopping to return to work left her feeling unexpectedly emotional and guilty. She also opens up about the pressure she felt to “bounce back” after birth — particularly as someone whose career has been built around fitness, strength and her body.But motherhood changed her perspective. Instead of rushing back to the person she was before, Steph realised that exercise would always be there — these first months with her baby wouldn't be.We talk about how to return to exercise after having a baby without falling into an all-or-nothing mindset, why a 10-minute workout still counts, and what “listening to your body” actually means. Steph shares how she's learned to adapt movement depending on what her body needs rather than forcing herself through a rigid training plan.Steph also shares her experience of endometriosis, being dismissed before eventually receiving a diagnosis, and how that experience led her to learn more about women's hormones, menstrual cycles, nutrition and exercise. We explore how understanding your cycle can help you adjust the way you move and eat — and why women deserve far better education about their own bodies.This is a conversation about fitness, but it's really about something much bigger: letting go of who you thought you'd be after having a baby and learning to work with the woman and body you are now.💡 In this episode, you’ll learn:How to approach exercise after having a baby without “bounce back” pressureWhy 10 minutes of movement still counts when you're exhausted or short on timeHow Steph navigated breastfeeding guilt and returning to workHow to move away from all-or-nothing thinking around fitnessHow your menstrual cycle can influence your energy, appetite and approach to exerciseWatch every full episode on YouTube and subscribe. Loved this episode?Follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode of Motherkind. It helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing.If you enjoyed this episode, you might also enjoy Zoe’s conversation with Elizabeth Davies - The ultimate (realistic) guide to fitness in motherhoodFeeling different since becoming a mother? Get clarity on who you’re becoming now and download your FREE Matrescence Cheat SheetConnect with Zoe:Follow Zoe on Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTokGet 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.Key topicsPostpartum exercise • Postpartum fitness • Exercise after having a baby • Postpartum recovery • Post-baby body • Bounce back culture • New motherhood • New mum • Matrescence • Breastfeeding • Breastfeeding guilt • C-section recovery • Returning to work after maternity leave • Working motherhood • Mum guilt • Motherhood identity • Women’s fitness • Women’s health • Hormones • Menstrual cycle • Cycle syncing • Exercise and your menstrual cycle • Endometriosis • Endometriosis symptoms • Pilates • Strength training for women • Postpartum workouts • Body image after pregnancy • Steph Williams • WeGLOW • Period Proof • Motherkind

What happens when you genuinely love your career and desperately want to be there for your children?In this week’s Moment, we explore one of the hardest tensions of working motherhood: the feeling that however much support you have, there are some parts of being a mother you simply don’t want to outsource.After taking on a huge new role with Steven Bartlett while six months pregnant with her third child, Amy Golding shares how motherhood completely changed the way she makes career decisions. Before having children, she thought combining work and family was largely a logistical challenge, something you could solve with enough childcare, money and careful planning. Then she became a mother and realised she'd forgotten something much harder to quantify: love.We talk about the invisible mental load, wanting to be the primary attachment figure, the complicated emotions that can come with childcare, and why loving your work doesn’t make it any easier to miss the school plays, appointments and everyday moments with your children.Because perhaps the tension between motherhood and ambition isn't an equation we're supposed to perfectly solve.💡 In this Moment, you’ll learn:Why working motherhood can feel impossible to get rightHow motherhood can change the way you make career decisionsWhy childcare doesn't necessarily remove working mum guiltThe emotional side of the mental load we rarely talk aboutHow to navigate loving your career and wanting to be with your childrenWatch every full episode on YouTube and subscribe. Loved this episode?Follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode of Motherkind. It helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing.If you enjoyed this episode, listen to the full episode: Steven Bartlett’s CEO: How I Make Career Decisions Around My FamilyFeeling different since becoming a mother? Get clarity on who you’re becoming now and download your FREE Matrescence Cheat SheetConnect with Zoe:Follow Zoe on Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTokGet 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.Key topics: Working motherhood • Working mum guilt • Career after children • Motherhood and career • Mental load • Invisible labour • Childcare • Career decisions • Motherhood and ambition • Maternal guilt • Work-life balance • Working parents • Motherhood identity • Primary attachment • Career change • Women at work • Returning to work after maternity leave • Maternity leave • Ambitious mothers • Modern motherhood • Motherkind 

Motherhood changes so much — including what success, ambition and a fulfilling career actually look like.This week, Zoe is joined by Frankie Bridge for a brilliantly honest conversation about working motherhood, career reinvention, confidence, mental health and letting go of the impossible standards we set ourselves as mothers.Frankie has been working since she was 12, from S Club Juniors and The Saturdays to television and now building her own business, Faves. But becoming a mother forced her to rethink what success actually meant. She shares why having her two boys made her braver and more ambitious, but also far more protective of her time. Now, before saying yes to work, she asks whether it brings her joy, makes financial sense or genuinely moves the needle — because leaving her children has to be for a good reason.We talk about reinventing your career after children and the fear that comes with starting something completely new. Frankie opens up about imposter syndrome as a founder and the important realisation that even the most successful people don't have everything figured out, they're learning as they go too.Frankie also speaks incredibly openly about depression, anxiety and maternal mental health. She was talking publicly about her mental health at a time when those conversations were far less common, and shares why mothers need permission to admit they're struggling without first having to reassure everyone that they love their children.We also explore something I think so many mothers will recognise: how easily the things that bring us joy disappear once we have children. Frankie shares why, after losing confidence in her singing following The Saturdays, she's started vocal training again — not for an audition or career goal, but simply because she loves it.This is such a warm and reassuring conversation about ambition after motherhood, mum guilt, mental health, career pivots and permitting yourself to want something for yourself too.💡 In this episode, you’ll learn:How to redefine success after becoming a motherWhy having children can make you braver and more ambitiousHow to navigate a career change when you don't have all the answersWhy mothers need things that bring them joy outside parentingHow to let go of guilt and impossible motherhood standardsWatch every full episode on YouTube and subscribe. Loved this episode?Follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode of Motherkind. It helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing.If you enjoyed this episode, you might also enjoy Zoe’s conversation with Maria Hatzistefanis - The Rodial Founder on Burnout, Discipline and Why Hustle Culture Fails MothersFeeling different since becoming a mother? Get clarity on who you’re becoming now and download your FREE Matrescence Cheat SheetConnect with Zoe:Follow Zoe on Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTokGet 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.Key topicsWorking motherhood • Career after children • Mum guilt • Motherhood and ambition • Career change • Career reinvention • Working mum • Mental health • Maternal mental health • Depression • Anxiety • Motherhood identity • Confidence • Imposter syndrome • Starting a business • Female founders • Working parents • Work-life balance • Motherhood expectations • Parenting guilt • Self-care for mothers • Finding yourself after motherhood • Frankie Bridge • The Saturdays • Faves • Motherkind

What if the opportunities you’re waiting for aren’t passing you by because you lack experience, but because the right people don’t know what you’re capable of?In this powerful Moment, Zoe is joined by personal branding expert and entrepreneur Amelia Sordell to explore why women need to stop waiting to be picked and start making themselves visible.Amelia explains that your personal brand isn’t simply what you post on social media. It’s the impression you create through your values, behaviour, knowledge, experience and the way you show up in the world. You don’t need to become an influencer or add another overwhelming task to your life—but you do need to take control of your own story.They explore why so many talented women and mothers downplay their achievements, while people with far less experience confidently put themselves forward. Amelia also shares the “big red button” moments that changed her life, from leaving a secure job with two young children to closing the multimillion-pound agency she no longer wanted to run.Her message is simple but powerful: confidence doesn’t arrive before you act. Confidence is built by finding the courage to take a risk, discovering that you can handle it and then doing it again.💡 In this Moment, you’ll learn:Why personal branding is about far more than posting on social mediaHow greater visibility can create career and business opportunitiesWhy women need to stop waiting for permission and choose themselvesHow taking action before you feel ready builds genuine confidenceThis Moment is for any mother who is questioning her value, considering a career change, building a business or waiting to feel confident enough to take her next step.Watch every full episode on YouTube and subscribe. Loved this episode?Follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode of Motherkind. It helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing.If you enjoyed this episode, you can listen to the full episode with Amelia Sordell - It’s Never Too Late to Change Career — The Blueprint from the #1 Personal Brand ExpertFeeling different since becoming a mother? Get clarity on who you’re becoming now and download your FREE Matrescence Cheat SheetConnect with Zoe:Follow Zoe on Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTokGet 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.Keywords: Personal branding • Confidence • Motherhood • Female founders • Women in business • Career change • Starting a business • Career confidence • Women’s confidence • Visibility • Self-belief • Courage • Taking risks • Choosing yourself • Returning to work • Maternal identity • Entrepreneurship • Ambition • Working mothers • Personal development • Amelia Sordell

Feeling stuck in your career, relationship or life and have no idea what to do next? This episode is for you.Eight months ago, I felt completely stuck. Motherkind had slowed down, opportunities weren’t coming in, and I couldn’t work out what direction to take next. I was scared, confused and overthinking absolutely everything.Looking back, I can see that feeling stuck wasn’t the end. It was the beginning of a breakthrough.In this solo episode, I’m sharing the five things that helped me move from feeling lost and full of self-doubt to clearer, more confident and more fired up than I have in years.We’ll explore how to stop overthinking, change the thoughts keeping you stuck, take small actions when you can’t see the bigger picture, and use a simple future-self exercise to get clearer on what you actually want.💡 In this episode, you’ll learn:Why feeling stuck can come before a breakthroughHow to stop overthinking and quieten self-doubtWhy focusing on problems can keep you stuckThe tiny actions that can help you find clarityA future-self exercise to help you work out what you really wantIf you know something needs to change but can’t see what comes next, this episode will help you take that first step forward.Watch every full episode on YouTube and subscribe. Loved this episode?Follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode of 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 SheetConnect with Zoe:Follow Zoe on Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTokGet 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.Keywords:Feeling stuck • How to get unstuck • Feeling lost in life • Career change • Career after motherhood • Overthinking • Self-doubt • Confidence • Mindset • Finding your purpose • Finding yourself again • Motherhood identity • Matrescence • Starting over • Life transitions • Self-belief • Future self • Goal setting • Personal growth • Nervous system • Comfort zone • Fear of change • Career confidence • Working mothers • Ambition after motherhood

After 10 years of motherhood, I’m really glad I did some things in those first few weeks, and plenty I’d do completely differently.Nothing can quite prepare you for becoming a mother. Those early weeks can be full of love and joy while also feeling exhausting, overwhelming and completely identity-shifting. I certainly wasn’t prepared for the emotional whiplash of holding all of those feelings at once.In this special episode, created in partnership with Tesco Fred & Flo, I’m looking back at my first experience of new motherhood and sharing what I got right, what I learnt the hard way and what I wish I’d known before having a baby.We talk about setting boundaries with visitors (including my one rule that I still think was genius!), why new mothers need care rather than being expected to host, and the huge identity shift of matrescence that I knew absolutely nothing about when I had my first daughter.I also share how the mental load began creeping into my relationship almost without us noticing, and the practical change my husband, Guy, and I made to create a more equal division of parenting and household responsibilities. Plus, I share the newborn essentials I genuinely found useful, what I spent time and money on that I probably wouldn't again, and some very practical tips for making those sleep-deprived early weeks a little easier.Because when you're adjusting to life with a new baby, recovering from birth and trying to work out who you are now, the last thing you need is more pressure.💡 In this episode, you’ll learn:What I wish I’d known about new motherhood and matrescenceHow to set boundaries with visitors after having a babyHow to stop the mental load becoming yours by defaultThe newborn essentials I actually used, and what I wouldn't bother withWhy asking for and accepting help matters so much postpartumWatch every full episode on YouTube and subscribe. This episode is created in partnership with Tesco Fred & Flo, whose newly refreshed range of everyday baby essentials is designed to make those early days a little easier. You can discover the range in Tesco stores and online, and Tesco Clubcard members can currently get 4 for 3 across the range.Exclusions apply. Clubcard event ends 7th September 2026. Clubcard or app required. Delivery charges may apply.  Connect with Zoe:Follow Zoe on Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTokGet Zoe’s Sunday Times bestselling book, 'Motherkind: A New Way to Thrive in a World of Endless Expectations’

What if the reason you don’t feel confident isn’t that you lack ability, but because you’ve stopped noticing the evidence of how capable you really are?In this powerful Moment, Zoe is joined by confidence expert and UPFRONT founder Lauren Currie to explore why so many mothers struggle to recognise their value—and the simple weekly practice that can help rebuild confidence and quieten your inner critic.Lauren explains why confidence isn’t something you either have or don’t have. It’s a skill that can be strengthened by gathering real evidence of your progress, achievements and abilities. This is known as the “progress principle”: recording the things you’ve done, learned and handled well so that self-doubt can’t simply dismiss them.They also explore why this matters beyond paid work. Motherhood develops valuable skills, but mothers rarely receive recognition or positive feedback for them. By actively noticing how you have grown, from handling a difficult moment more calmly to managing situations that once overwhelmed you, you can begin to change the story you tell yourself about who you are and what you’re capable of.Lauren also shares the simple ten-minute Friday ritual she uses to build confidence, recognise her progress and quieten the feeling that nothing she achieves is ever quite enough.💡 What You'll Learn in This MomentWhy mothers often struggle to recognise their own skills and valueHow the progress principle can help build confidence and self-esteemWhy recording evidence of your achievements quietens your inner criticHow to identify the skills you have developed through motherhoodWhat to do if acknowledging your own strengths feels uncomfortableThe simple weekly reflection practice that can make your progress impossible to dismissLauren’s three weekly reflection questions:What happened this week?What did I learn?What moves did I make towards my goals?This Moment is for any mother struggling with low confidence, self-doubt, imposter syndrome or returning to work after maternity leave—and anyone who needs a reminder that her skills, knowledge and experience have real value.Loved this episode?Follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode of Motherkind. It helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing.If you liked this moment, listen to the full episode:  Work Series: If you're feeling low in confidence, listen to this - with Lauren CurrieFeeling 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, LinkedIn and TikTokGet 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.

During August, the Motherkind team and I try to practise what we preach by slowing down, taking some time off and making the juggle just a little easier over the summer holidays.So, throughout the month, we're bringing you some of our most listened-to episodes of the year so far.What if becoming a mother didn't make you less ambitious, less capable or less valuable at work,  but actually gave you skills that could make you better at your job?This week, we're revisiting one of our most listened-to Motherkind episodes of the year, and it's a conversation I think every working mother needs to hear.I'm joined by Vanessa Kingori, who became the first woman in British Vogue's history to become Publishing Director and found herself navigating pregnancy and new motherhood while leading one of the most powerful media brands in the world.Vanessa shares the extraordinary pressure she felt when she became pregnant in such a senior position, including being told that her pregnancy was exactly why businesses were reluctant to put women into these roles. Rather than hiding it, Vanessa did the opposite: she became deliberately visible and set out to make things easier for the women who would come after her.We talk about why working mothers so often feel they're failing at both work and home, even when they're actually performing brilliantly. Vanessa explains why motherhood can make women better at time management, decision-making, prioritisation and leadership — and why businesses that underestimate mothers are missing some of their greatest talent.We also get practical about the juggle: asking for help, having honest conversations with your partner about the division of labour, building your village and surrounding yourself with people who support the life you're trying to create.And Vanessa shares a powerful reminder for any mother questioning her career, ambition or identity: you don't have to choose one version of yourself. You can be ambitious and deeply present. A leader and a mother. Career-driven and family-focused. As Vanessa puts it, she's a better mother because she works — and a better business leader because she's a mother.This is a conversation about working motherhood, career confidence, ambition, mum guilt and redefining what success looks like after children.💡 What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhy motherhood can make you better at your jobHow to navigate career ambition after having childrenWhy working mothers often feel they're failing when they're notHow to ask for help and create a more equal division of labourHow to build a career and motherhood around what matters to youWatch this episode on YouTube and subscribe. Loved this episode?Follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode of Motherkind. It helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing.If you enjoyed this episode, you might also enjoy Zoe’s solo - The Problem Isn’t You, It’s Career Advice that Ignores MotherhoodFeeling different since becoming a mother? Get clarity on who you’re becoming now and download your FREE Matrescence Cheat SheetConnect with Zoe:Follow Zoe on Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTokGet 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.

Have you ever felt like one person was supposed to carry the weight of your entire world — your happiness, your moments, your everything?In this Monday Moment, broadcaster and author Anna Whitehouse, also known as Mother Pukka, shares the piece of relationship advice that completely changed how she sees love, family, and what a happy ending really looks like.Anna opens up about the reality of divorce. Why it's one of the hardest things she's ever been through and shares the powerful reframe that helped her stop seeing herself as someone who "broke" her family. Together, Zoe and Anna explore what it really means to build a community around you, why putting everything on one person is quietly exhausting us all, and the simple one-minute practice that works better than any spa day. Whether you're in a relationship, navigating big changes, or just feeling the weight of trying to make one person your everything,  there is so much wisdom in this moment.💡 What You'll Learn in This MomentWhy one person was never meant to be your everythingThe 96-year-old fisherman whose wisdom changed Anna's whole outlook on loveThe honest truth about divorce and why Anna refuses to call herself a "divorcee"How to stop waiting for the Disney ending and start rewriting your own happy endingThe tiny one-minute practice Anna does between every part of her dayWhat Anna would say to herself five years ago standing at the edge of an impossible decisionLoved this episode?Follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode of Motherkind. It helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing.If you liked this moment, listen to the full episode: Anna Whitehouse on Divorce, Burnout and RebuildingFeeling 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, LinkedIn and TikTokGet 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.Jurassic Oceans Exhibition at The Natural History Museum. Kids go half price.

During August, the Motherkind team and I try to practise what we preach by slowing down, taking some time off and making the juggle just a little easier over the summer holidays.So, throughout the month, we're bringing you some of our most listened-to episodes of the year so far.Pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding can be some of the most physically demanding experiences a woman's body will ever go through. So why are mothers expected to simply carry on afterwards?This week, Zoe is joined by nutrition scientist and bestselling author Dr Federica Amati for an eye-opening conversation about what a mother's body actually needs through pregnancy, postpartum recovery and the first years of motherhood.Federica explains why the first 1,000 days aren't only important for our babies — they're a crucial window for maternal health too. Pregnancy draws heavily on our nutrient stores, birth has an enormous physiological impact on the body, and breastfeeding can require significantly more energy than pregnancy itself. Yet this is often the exact moment mothers have the least time, energy and support to properly nourish themselves.Together, Zoe and Federica explore what to eat before and during pregnancy, the truth about pregnancy cravings and morning sickness, and why fertility shouldn't be treated as solely a woman's responsibility.But it's their conversation about postpartum depletion and recovery that every mother needs to hear. Federica shares practical advice for nourishing yourself after birth, why asking for and accepting help matters, and why we desperately need to move away from the expectation that women should simply "bounce back".They also discuss pregnancy spacing, breastfeeding, maternal burnout, the mental load and what happens when postpartum recovery begins to overlap with perimenopause.Above all, this is a reminder that your body isn't supposed to return to the woman you were before children. Motherhood changes us — physically, hormonally and emotionally — and perhaps the goal isn't to fight that change, but to learn how to support the body we're in now.💡 What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhat to eat before, during and after pregnancyWhy mothers can become so depleted after birthHow to nourish your body during postpartum and breastfeedingThe recommended recovery time between pregnanciesWhy we need to stop expecting mothers to "bounce back"Watch this episode on YouTube and subscribe. Loved this episode?Follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode of Motherkind. It helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing.If you enjoyed this episode, you might also enjoy Zoe’s conversation with Feeling different since becoming a mother? Get clarity on who you’re becoming now and download your FREE Matrescence Cheat SheetConnect with Zoe:Follow Zoe on Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTokGet 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.