The Motherkind Podcast

Our Most-Listened to Episode of 2025. It resonated so deeply with our community that we knew we had to share it again. If you’ve ever felt torn between who you were before motherhood and who you’re becoming now, this episode will change something in you. We’re re-releasing our number one most downloaded episode of 2025, and it’s easy to see why. In this conversation, I sit down with the incredible Martha Beck, whose wisdom has supported millions of women through life’s biggest transitions. Martha reveals one of the most powerful truths about parenting: your children won’t treat themselves the way you treat them - they’ll treat themselves the way you treat yourself. We talk about why mothers feel so stuck, how cultural expectations pull us in opposite directions, and what it really takes to break free. Martha shares her own extraordinary story, from Harvard to raising a child with Down syndrome, and the moment she stopped living for approval and started living for joy. This episode will leave you feeling seen, soothed and braver in your own motherhood journey. In this conversation, you’ll learn: Why modern motherhood creates impossible pressure and how to step outside it The shift from “stuck” to “free” using Martha’s definition of true freedom A simple self-talk practice that calms anxiety fast and rewires old patterns How self-compassion transforms you and shapes how your children see themselves If you’re exhausted, overwhelmed or craving a gentler way of mothering, this is the episode to revisit whenever you need grounding and hope. Remember to subscribe to Motherkind — it helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing. If you liked this episode, listen to this next: Link to a past episode on a similar topic Feeling different since becoming a mother? Get clarity on who you’re becoming now and  download your FREE Matrescence Cheat Sheet Connect with Zoe: Follow Zoe on Instagram  Get 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. For a £100 sponsored job credit, visit Indeed.com/ Motherkind Get 15% off OneSkin with the code MOTHERKIND at https://www.oneskin.co/  #oneskinpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If your December feels like one long attempt to keep everyone happy, here’s the truth: you never will — and it’s costing you more than you realise. ​​So many mothers are exhausted before Christmas has even begun—pulled in every direction, saying yes to everything, and trying desperately to keep everyone happy. If that’s you, you’re absolutely not alone… and this pep talk is for you. In the third of our December Pep talk series, Zoe unpacks the pressure to please everyone at Christmas, why so many of us fall into this pattern, and how to break free so you can actually enjoy the magic you’re creating for everyone else In this pep talk, you’ll hear: Why it’s literally impossible to please everyone (and why we keep trying anyway) How being raised as “good girls” trained us to put ourselves lastThe real cost of people-pleasing — burnout, resentment, disconnection Three powerful questions to help you reclaim your energyOne simple challenge to start shifting the pattern today You can’t please everyone—and you don’t need to. This Christmas, start by asking yourself: What do I need? What do I really want? What am I doing only because I think I should? Then choose one small change that brings you closer to a calmer, more connected holiday season. You deserve it. Remember to subscribe to Motherkind — it helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing. Feeling 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  Get 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. For a £100 sponsored job credit, visit Indeed.com/ Motherkind Get 15% off OneSkin with the code MOTHERKIND at https://www.oneskin.co/motherkind Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you’ve been carrying the invisible weight of family life, the planning, the remembering, the organising, the worrying, this episode will help you feel understood, validated, and far less alone. When I asked the Motherkind community what felt hardest right now, the same theme kept coming up again and again: The mental load is relentless. And so many of us are quietly drowning under it. So in this episode, I’ve brought together three powerful voices to help us understand what the mental load really is, why it falls so heavily on mothers, and how we can start to rebalance it. First, Dr Samantha Hiew explains why modern mothers feel so overwhelmed — not because we’re failing, but because we’re carrying more cognitive and emotional labour than ever. She breaks down what overload does to our memory, mood and sense of self. Next, Dr Morgan Cutlip shares the five common behaviours that quietly block partner involvement and contribute to resentment. She introduces her “within work” and “between work” framework and offers simple, compassionate steps to shift long-standing patterns. Finally, Eve Rodsky reframes communication in a way that changes everything. She shows how we’re already communicating the load — often indirectly — and why shifting how we talk about domestic life unlocks shared responsibility. Her CPE “mustard” method explains why full ownership (not reminders) is the real game-changer. In this episode, you’ll learn:✨ What the mental load is and why it lands so heavily on mothers The habits that unintentionally shut down partner involvement How to communicate more effectively and reduce friction What “full ownership” looks like and why it frees up mental space This conversation is for every mother who’s ever wondered why she’s so tired, why she holds everything in her head, and why it feels like there’s no space left for herself. You’re not imagining it, and you’re not failing. The load is simply too heavy to carry alone. Remember to subscribe to Motherkind — it helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing If you liked this compilation, you can listen to the full episodes:  ⁠Is it ADHD, or is it the mental load? With Dr Samantha Hiew⁠⁠ Why you're resentful in your relationship—and how to fix it starting today, with Dr. Morgan Cutlip⁠⁠ The new game-changing solution for when you have too much to do with Eve Rodsky⁠ Feeling 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  Get 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. For a £100 sponsored job credit, visit Indeed.com/ Motherkind Get 40% off a Calm premium subscription at calm.com/motherkind Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If December already feels like ‘too much’, this pep talk is your permission slip to breathe again. This month can feel like the mental load Olympics for mothers—pressure, perfectionism, school events, work deadlines, matching pyjamas, curated magic… and somehow we’re meant to smile through it. In the second of our December pep talks, Zoe shares five powerful steps to help you stop being so hard on yourself and bring the pressure down. In this pep talk, Zoe covers: Why you’re not failing – December really is intense How to drop the “Good Mum Myth” and stop comparing yourself to an imaginary perfect motherThe simple mindset shift that reduces self-criticism instantly Why lowering the bar actually raises connection with your children Tiny, nervous-system resets to help you stay grounded through the chaos This December, be softer with yourself. Let something go on purpose. Choose connection over perfection. Your children won’t remember the wrapping paper, the curated Santa visit, or whether you had it all together. They’ll remember how it felt to be with you ♥️ Remember to subscribe to Motherkind — it helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing. Feeling 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  Get 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. For a £100 sponsored job credit, visit Indeed.com/ Motherkind Get 40% off a Calm premium subscription at calm.com/motherkind Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a captivating conversation, Nicola Jane Hobbs, a therapist and author focused on women's relaxation, dives into the complexities mothers face when seeking ease. She discusses how societal pressures and guilt intertwine with rest, and offers practical micro-steps to help retrain the nervous system for safety. Nicola shares her personal journey through motherhood, spotlighting the need for community in overcoming overwhelm and the transformative power of redefining rest. Her insights challenge the superwoman ideal and advocate for guilt-free moments of restoration.

If Christmas already feels like too much, this December pep-talk series is your support system for navigating the mental-load Olympics. Today’s episode is your reminder that you’re allowed to do it differently. The pressure on mothers at this time of year is enormous — the mental load, the expectations, the never-ending lists — and most of it lands squarely on our shoulders. Zoe shares a simple, grounding reframe to help you take the weight off and bring the joy back. In the first of our December pep talks, Zoe breaks down why the festive season can feel overwhelming and how to step out of the “shoulds” that pile up as the year draws to a close. Instead of chasing perfection, she invites you to focus on the feeling you want to create — for yourself and your family — and offers a practical tool to help you get there. In this pep talk, you’ll hear: The explosion of Christmas expectations (and why mums carry the load) How to stop doing everything and focus on how you want the season to feel Zoe’s simple Do / Ditch / Delegate method to cut the overwhelm fast Why real magic comes from presence, not perfection Remember to subscribe to Motherkind — it helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing. Feeling 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  Get 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. For a £100 sponsored job credit, visit Indeed.com/ Motherkind Get 40% off a Calm premium subscription at calm.com/motherkind Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Motherhood didn’t make you lose your confidence - it buried it under the mental load. In this powerful episode, I’m sharing the five exact steps I used to rebuild my confidence from the ground up after becoming a mum. These are simple, practical tools you can use even if you’re exhausted, overwhelmed, and only have seven minutes a day to yourself. Because here’s the truth no one tells us: becoming a mother lowers your confidence and self-belief for up to three years. And yet… we’re never prepared for it. We’re never told why it happens. We’re certainly never shown how to rebuild ourselves from the inside out. In this conversation, you’ll learn: The surprising reason confidence drops in motherhood How to quiet your inner critic The truth about self-worth How to stop comparison spirals Why celebrating tiny wins matters more than big achievements Getting comfortable with being uncomfortable You can listen to the Dr Nicole Le Pera episode that Zoe references here: How to heal yourself with Dr Nicole Le Pera Remember to subscribe to 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 Sheet Connect with Zoe: Follow Zoe on Instagram  Get 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. For a £100 sponsored job credit, visit Indeed.com/ Motherkind Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you’ve ever felt like you’re spinning too many plates, constantly catching up, and running on empty, this Moment is for you. In this short clip, Rachael Twumasi-Corson, entrepreneur, writer, and mum of four, shares two brilliant tools that helped her move from burnout to balance. She talks about doing an honest self-audit, what’s really taking up your time and energy and her simple 5-4-3-2-1 method that brings calm and focus back into busy days. We chose this moment because it’s such a powerful reminder that harmony isn’t about doing it all, it’s about doing what truly matters. Rachael’s approach is so compassionate and practical, and I think it’s going to give you a real sense of relief and possibility. In this Moment, you’ll learn: A five-minute daily ritual to help you feel calmer and more in control How to reset your priorities with honesty and kindness Why scheduling joy and rest is as important as work The mindset shift that helps you become the conductor of your own life This Moment is a gentle invitation to pause, breathe, and remind yourself: you don’t need to juggle everything perfectly, you just need to lead your life with intention. If you liked this moment, listen to the full episode: The Lie of Work-Life Balance (And What Actually Works) with Rachael Twumasi-Corson Remember to subscribe to Motherkind — it helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing. Feeling 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  Get 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. For a £100 sponsored job credit, visit Indeed.com/ Motherkind Get 15% off OneSkin with the code MOTHERKIND at https://www.oneskin.co/motherkind Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you miss the lighter, sillier version of yourself you used to be, this episode will help you find her again — even in the chaos of family life. Across thousands of conversations in the Motherkind community, one theme comes up again and again: fun quietly disappears for so many of us. Playfulness slips away. And most mothers aren’t even sure how to begin getting it back. In this uplifting and deeply reassuring episode, I sit down with play researcher and writer Emma Worrollo to explore why fun matters far more than we realise, not as something extra on the to-do list, but as a powerful support for resilience, regulation and connection. Emma explains how we slowly train playfulness out of ourselves as adults, why that leaves us feeling flat or overwhelmed, and what happens when we start to bring back even the tiniest moments of joy. Her “1% rule” is one of my favourite tools, a gentle, doable way to shift your mood without needing more time, childcare or energy. This conversation is your reminder that joy isn’t frivolous. It’s essential. And you absolutely deserve moments of lightness, even in the seasons that feel heavy. In this conversation, you’ll learn: Why fun disappears in motherhood — and how to bring it back The simple shift from play to playfulness that changes everything How playfulness strengthens resilience, regulation and connection Small 1% tweaks that make everyday life feel lighter Remember to subscribe to Motherkind — it helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing. If you liked this episode, listen to a 2021 episode with Emma Worrollo next: The Power of Play Feeling different since becoming a mother? Get clarity on who you’re becoming now and  download your FREE Matrescence Cheat Sheet Connect with Zoe: Follow Zoe on Instagram  Get 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. For a £100 sponsored job credit, visit Indeed.com/ Motherkind Get 40% off a Calm Premium Subscription at calm.com/motherkind Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There was a time when I thought slowing down meant falling behind. In this short clip, I share one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned about ambition, motherhood and burnout. After years of building Motherkind, growing my family and saying yes to everything, I realised that success means nothing if it costs your wellbeing. I chose this Moment because it’s one so many of us will recognise, that quiet fear that if we pause, everything we’ve worked for might disappear. But I’ve learned that rest doesn’t erase progress. You don’t lose momentum by slowing down; you find yourself again. This reflection is raw and real, about miscarriage, early motherhood, burnout, and how I kept going when I probably should have stopped. My hope is that it helps you feel seen, and maybe even reminds you to give yourself a little more grace in your own busy season. In this Moment, you’ll hear: Why I kept working through one of the hardest seasons of my life The truth about “having it all” and what I wish I’d done differently How fear and scarcity can disguise themselves as drive The mindset shift that finally helped me rest without guilt This Moment is a gentle reminder that your worth isn’t measured by how much you can carry, it’s in how deeply you care and how kindly you treat yourself along the way. If you liked this moment, listen to the full episode: The Work Series: My Biggest Mistakes And Regrets - Zoe’s Story Remember to subscribe to Motherkind — it helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing. Ready to feel like yourself again? Download your FREE Matrescence Cheat Sheet Connect with Zoe: Follow Zoe on Instagram  Get 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. For a £100 sponsored job credit, visit Indeed.com/ Motherkind Get 15% off OneSkin with the code MOTHERKIND at https://www.oneskin.co/motherkind Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices