The Motherkind Podcast

Who are you now? And why does motherhood feel like it’s quietly rewritten you? Today’s Motherkind Moment is with the incredible Michelle Kennedy, founder of Peanut, who has just launched the powerful “Make Matrescence Mainstream” campaign. Zoe was proud to be part of this campaign and truly encourages you to look it up, watch it, and sit with it. Because matrescence, the profound identity shift we go through when we become mothers, is still something we don’t talk about nearly enough. In this short but powerful clip, Zoe asks Michelle how her identity changed across her two matrescence experiences. What Michelle shares might surprise you. She speaks honestly about not knowing who she was after her first baby. She knew Michelle the professional. Michelle, the friend. Michelle, the daughter. But she didn’t yet know Michelle the mum. She shares how clarity didn’t arrive overnight; it evolved slowly. How motherhood became the best chapter of her life, but not the only chapter. And how realising she is multifaceted changed everything. They also explore trade-offs. The myth of “doing it all.” Why filling your own glass first isn’t selfish — it’s necessary. And why something as simple as a 20-minute shower can be the most humanising act in early motherhood. If you’ve ever felt like you’ve lost yourself… If you’ve wondered why this transition feels so seismic… If you’ve felt guilty for wanting space, ambition, rest or boundaries… This conversation is for you. However, your matrescence has unfolded, whether it felt joyful, destabilising, lonely, clarifying, or all of the above, you are not alone. In this Moment, you’ll hear: Why it’s completely normal to feel like you “lose yourself” after becoming a mother  How matrescence reshapes your identity over time, not overnight Why motherhood can be the most powerful chapter of your life without being the only chapter. How protecting small, non-negotiable moments for yourself is not selfish — it’s foundational. If you liked this moment, listen to the full episode: How to Turn Your Hardest Motherhood Struggles Into a Career With Purpose with Michelle Kennedy 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. Start your children’s reading journey with Usbourne Books For a £100 sponsored job credit, visit Indeed.com/ Motherkind Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What if “manifesting” isn’t about vision boards and wishful thinking… but about brave, uncomfortable action? In this deeply personal solo episode, Zoe shares - for the first time - how she built Motherkind and manifested her dream career alongside early motherhood Not through magic.Not through overnight success.But through clarity, courage and trusting the nudges. Zoe breaks down the three-part framework that changed everything for her: How to get clear on what you actually want (even if all you know is what you don’t want) Why tiny, 1% brave steps build unstoppable momentum The truth about “paralleling” careers and why most transitions aren’t dramatic leaps What it really means to “trust the process” - and how to spot the breadcrumbs She shares the uncomfortable early days: buying a £50 microphone from Currys, consulting with clients to fund the dream, working late nights with a baby waking at 4 am, and the moments of flow that signalled she was on the right path If you’re sitting in a career that feels fine but not fulfilling…If you have an idea you can’t quite shake…If you’re wondering whether it’s too late, too risky, too unrealistic… This episode is your permission slip. Motherhood doesn’t end ambition.It can clarify it. Know what you want.Take one small brave step.Trust what flows. Listen to the episode Zoe references in this episode here: The Manifestation Expert Who Teaches Mothers How to Transform Their Lives — Even With No Time. 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 If you liked this episode, listen to this next: The Work Series: My Biggest Mistakes and Regrets - Zoe’s Story 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 Start your children’s reading journey with Usbourne Books Sonic Rooms from Pop That Mumma is a guided audio album designed to help mums find moments of calm in everyday life – use code MOTHERKIND for 30% off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There’s a quiet moment after you become a mum where you realise your life will never look the same again and neither will your career. In this Motherkind Moment, Zoe Blaskey is joined by Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis, co-founders of Squiggly Careers, bestselling authors, and two of the UK’s leading voices on modern careers, learning and development. Together, they explore the reality so many mothers quietly hold: how becoming a parent doesn’t switch off your drive – but it does force you to make sense of it. They talk about the idea of a squiggly career, and why motherhood often accelerates that squiggle. There’s a clear before and after when you become a mum, and suddenly your life, priorities and decisions can’t look the same as they did before. But that doesn’t mean you stop wanting to grow, achieve, or do meaningful work. This Moment speaks directly to the judgment many working mothers experience – the head tilt, the comments, the unspoken assumptions about what you should want after having children. Zoe, Helen and Sarah talk honestly about returning to work by choice, feeling judged for it, and learning to make intentional decisions that work for you, even when they look different to everyone else’s. At the heart of the conversation is the power of values, not as a buzzword, but as a practical filter for navigating motherhood, work and identity. When you know what truly drives you, you can make choices with more confidence and less guilt, even in a season that’s noisy, exhausting and full of comparison. This Moment is a reminder that there is no one right way to do motherhood or ambition, only what works for you. In this Moment, they explore: Why motherhood often makes careers feel more “squiggly” How ambition can stay alive after becoming a mother Using values to make confident, intentional decisions If you’ve ever felt judged for what you want after having children or are unsure how to honour both your ambition and your family, this Moment is for you. If you liked this moment, listen to the full episode: Success Isn’t Linear: 5 steps to Finally Start Defining Your Own Path with The Squiggly Career Experts 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

What if motherhood hasn’t set you back… but actually made you more powerful? We’re told we lose things when we become mothers - sleep, freedom, career momentum. But what if we’ve also gained something extraordinary? In this solo episode, Zoe shares the five “superpowers” she believes every mother develops - often without even realising it Because motherhood isn’t a step away from leadership. It’s one of the most intense leadership trainings you’ll ever experience. In this episode, you’ll learn: The 5 core superpowers motherhood builds - from empathy to creative problem solving Why time constraints and micro-decisions are sharpening your leadership daily How to stop apologising for nursery pick-up and start owning your efficiency A simple strength-based exercise to help you recognise and use your new skills If you’ve ever wondered what this season is building in you, this episode is your reminder. 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 If you liked this episode, listen to this next: How to Build Confidence + Self-Belief in Yourself Again (Even When You’re Knackard) 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 Sonic Rooms from Pop That Mumma is a guided audio album designed to help mums find moments of calm in everyday life – use code MOTHERKIND for 30% off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What if staying on top of home life didn’t require doing more, but doing a few small things consistently? In this Motherkind Moment, Zoeis joined by Ingrid Jansen, co-founder of The Declutter Hub, to talk about daily resets and non-negotiables – a simple, realistic way to stop life at home from constantly tipping into overwhelm. Ingrid shares why having a handful of everyday tasks that always get done – like clearing the sink, loading the dishwasher, or running one load of laundry – can completely change how your home feels. Not because everything is perfect, but because you’re no longer starting each day already behind. They talk about how short, regular resets (just 10–15 minutes, once or twice a day) can support tired mums, especially in busy seasons where decision fatigue is high, and energy is low. This isn’t about rigid routines or unrealistic standards – it’s about doing small things that make life feel calmer for your future self. The conversation also explores toys, clutter, and the mental load of “stuff” – from organising play spaces in age-appropriate ways, to decluttering gently over time, to managing the constant influx of gifts. Ingrid shares why less really can be more for both children and parents, and how involving kids (and partners) builds shared responsibility rather than burnout. This is a compassionate, practical conversation for any mother who feels overwhelmed by the never-ending to-do list – and wants things to feel just a little lighter. In this Moment, they explore: Daily resets and non-negotiables that reduce overwhelm Why small, consistent habits help your future self Toys, clutter, and creating calmer spaces at home If you’ve ever thought, “I just want things to feel more manageable,” this Moment is for you. If you liked this moment, listen to the full episode: Toys Everywhere? They’re making you Stressed - Here’s How To Finally Tackle The Kid’s Clutter with Decluttering Expert Ingrid Jansen 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Default parenting doesn’t start with a conversation – it creeps in quietly, until one day you realise you’re carrying the mental load, the guilt and the responsibility almost entirely alone. In this powerful Motherkind moment, Zoe is joined by Lou Beckett, author of The Default Parent, to name something so many mothers feel but rarely have language for. Together, they unpack the emotional, physical and invisible weight of being the default parent – the one who carries the responsibility, the mental load, and the constant background hum of guilt. Lou shares the moments that pushed her to write the book, the research that confirmed it’s not “just you”, and why so many women feel lost in motherhood even when they’re doing an incredible job. This is an honest, funny, rage-inducing and deeply validating conversation for anyone who’s ever felt unseen in the day-to-day reality of parenting – and especially for those who are carrying more than their fair share. In this conversation, you’ll learn: Why becoming the “default parent” often happens quietly – and why it’s so hard to undo once it’s set The invisible labour of motherhood, and why it’s exhausting even when you “have support” How guilt, comparison and unrealistic expectations keep mothers stuck – and how to start letting them go If you’ve ever thought, “Why does this feel so hard when everyone else seems to cope?” – this conversation is for 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. If you liked this episode, listen to this next: Why the Mental Load Causes So Much Tension and how to Communicate Your Way Out Of It 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. Usbourne Books For a £100 sponsored job credit, visit Indeed.com/ Motherkind Sonic Rooms from Pop That Mumma is a guided audio album designed to help mums find moments of calm in everyday life – use code MOTHERKIND for 30% off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this Motherkind Moment, Zoe Blaskey is joined by broadcaster and journalist Emma Barnett for a deeply honest conversation about early motherhood, identity, and what really happens to us when we become mothers. Emma shares the reframe that changed everything for her: moving from the idea of maternity leave to maternity service. A season where you are always on call, constantly adapting, sacrificing parts of yourself, and often expected to carry on without much language for how profound that experience really is. Together, Zoe and Emma talk about those early months – the walking, the exhaustion, the heatwaves, the survival mode – and the surprising way creativity can sometimes re-emerge in the middle of it all. Not because motherhood is easy, or beautiful, or calm – but because so much else has been stripped back. They explore the tension so many mothers feel: how maternity can be deeply depleting and, at the same time, quietly expansive. How there can be grief for who you were, uncertainty about who you’re becoming, and moments of clarity that feel almost shocking when you’re in the trenches. This is also a conversation about what we’re missing culturally – the lack of space, language and stories for matrescence. Not parenting advice. Not baby manuals. But an honest reflection on the inner shift of becoming a mother. Because motherhood doesn’t just add something to your life. It changes you. In this Moment, they explore: Reframing maternity leave as maternity service Creativity, identity and thinking again in early motherhood The loss, rebirth and in-between space of matrescence If you’ve ever felt changed by motherhood in ways you couldn’t quite explain, this Moment is for you. If you liked this moment, listen to the full episode: Maternity Service, Not Leave: A New Perspective with Emma Barnett 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What if motherhood wasn’t meant to be this hard – or this lonely? In this episode of Motherkind, Zoe is joined by journalist and bestselling author Helen Russell to explore how culture shapes the way we experience motherhood. After becoming a mother in Denmark, Helen shares how living in a Nordic system gave her “permission to live differently” – with more rest, trust, parental support and far less guilt. Together, Zoe and Helen unpack why so many mothers in the UK feel under pressure to cope alone, and how much of that is cultural rather than personal. In this conversation, we explore: Why vulnerability in motherhood is normal – not a failure How parental leave, childcare and systems reduce guilt and burnout What Denmark gets right about raising children and supporting mothers Why happiness doesn’t mean feeling good all the time The power of community during big life transitions This episode is a gentle but powerful reminder that if motherhood feels overwhelming, it’s not because you’re doing it wrong – it’s because you were never meant to do it alone. 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 If you liked this episode, listen to this next: Motherhood transformed me into who I was meant to be all along | Megan Rose Lane 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 Sonic Rooms from Pop That Mumma is a guided audio album designed to help mums find moments of calm in everyday life – use code MOTHERKIND for 30% off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you ever felt like you’re trying so hard to be a good mum… but somehow it still never feels like enough? In this Moment, Zoe talks about good girl conditioning – the deeply ingrained beliefs many of us carry into motherhood without realising it. The need to be agreeable, to keep the peace, to over-give, and to measure our worth by how much we do. When these patterns come into motherhood, they don’t disappear – they intensify. Suddenly, we’re not just trying to be a good girl, we’re trying to be a perfect mum. And that can leave us exhausted, resentful, and disconnected from ourselves. This episode is about recognising that there is nothing wrong with you. These are learned behaviours – and they can be unlearned. In this Moment, we explore: What good girl conditioning is – and how it shows up in motherhood Why people-pleasing and perfectionism lead to burnout, not fulfilment How meeting your own needs and setting boundaries creates real confidence If you’ve ever felt burnt out from trying to be everything to everyone, this one’s for you. If you liked this moment, listen to the full episode: Breaking Free From Perfectionism and People-Pleasing 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 confidence feels like something you’ve lost since becoming a mum, this episode is for you. If you’ve been moving through motherhood feeling lower in confidence than you ever expected – second-guessing yourself, feeling like you’re “just surviving”, or wondering where you went, press play on this one. In this episode, Zoe is joined by confidence coach and founder of PepTalkHer, Dior Bediako, for a conversation that completely reframes what confidence actually is, especially in early motherhood. Dior shares why confidence isn’t about feeling fearless or having it all together, but about being willing to feel doubt, fear and insecurity… and still showing up. Zoe and Dior talk about how much motherhood asks of us internally, why survival is not a failure, and how the relationship you have with yourself quietly shapes your confidence, your choices and the example you’re setting for your children. This conversation is grounding, expansive and deeply reassuring, a reminder that you are not behind, broken or failing. You are becoming. In this conversation, you’ll learn: Why confidence often dips in early motherhood – and why that’s completely normal A powerful redefinition of confidence that allows fear and self-doubt to exist How tiny, compassionate actions can rebuild self-belief when life feels overwhelming Why the way you speak to yourself matters more than doing motherhood “perfectly” If you’ve been hard on yourself lately, if your inner critic has been loud, or if you need permission to meet yourself with more kindness, this episode is for you. 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 If you liked this episode, listen to this next: Work Series: If you're feeling low in confidence, listen to this - with Lauren Currie  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