The Motherkind Podcast

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

If you’ve been spinning in survival mode, holding it all together while slowly running on empty, this episode will help you find your way back to yourself. When I called over 100 Motherkind listeners recently, burnout came up again and again. It’s become such a common part of motherhood, but it doesn’t have to be this way. So in this episode, I’ve brought together three incredible voices to help us understand burnout, spot the signs early, and start to heal from it. First, Dr Claire Ashley, known as The Burnout Doctor, shares her own story of burnout, the signs she missed, the science behind what’s really happening in our bodies, and the steps she took to recover. Then, Rhiannon Lambert, one of the UK’s leading nutritionists, opens up about her own experience and what true nourishment looks like when you’re completely depleted. And finally, I share the tool that changed everything for me, how to complete the stress cycle, so your body and mind can finally rest, reset, and recover. This conversation is for every mother who’s ever felt like she’s running on empty. Burnout isn’t who you are; it’s a sign that something needs to shift. And you deserve to feel better. In this episode, you’ll learn: The early signs of burnout and how to catch them before you crash What’s really going on in your body when you’re burned out How food, rest and self-compassion support recovery The simple tool to complete the stress cycle How to take small, doable steps towards balance again Chapters: (00:00:00) Intro - Why Burnout Matters (00:05:01) Expert 1 - Dr Claire Ashley (00:06:17) The Six Triggers of Burnout (00:08:46) Expert 2 - Rhiannon Lambert (00:10:44) Listening to Your Body (00:12:28) Rebuilding Your Energy (00:15:38) Expert 3 - Zoe Blaskey (00:16:10) Complete the stress cycle 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:  The Burnout Doctor: It takes 1-3 years to recover from burnout - here's how to avoid it Recovering from burnout, prioritising yourself and managing the motherhood juggle - how nutrition can help you with Rhiannon Lambert Five vital warning signs that you are heading to end-of-year burnout - and what you can do about it Ready to feel like yourself again? Download your FREE Mental Load 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 pressing pause on your career made you less ambitious, this Motherkind Moment will help you see it differently. In this short but powerful clip, author and founder of Mother Untitled, Neha Ruch, explains why stepping back from paid work doesn’t mean stepping away from growth. She reframes motherhood as a “power pause”, a chapter that can expand your sense of self, deepen your values, and open new possibilities, rather than close them. I chose this moment because it captures one of the most freeing ideas from our full conversation: that ambition doesn’t disappear in motherhood, it just evolves. Neha reminds us that caring for others is still work, that our worth isn’t tied to a job title, and that pressing pause can be an act of power, not loss. If you liked this moment, listen to the full episode: Work Series: The Truth About Stepping Back from your career — And Coming Back even Stronger, with Neha Ruch 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 40% off a Calm premium subscription at calm.com/motherkind Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you’ve ever felt torn between ambition and exhaustion, or wondered what success really looks like in this season of motherhood, this episode will help you redefine it on your own terms. After interviewing hundreds of extraordinary women, from billion-pound founders and campaigners to working mums balancing family life, Zoe noticed a pattern. The women who thrive, no matter their path, share a handful of powerful habits that anyone can learn. In this solo episode, Zoe brings together wisdom from years of conversations, her own research, and lived experience to reveal the 5 habits of highly successful mothers, not “success” as the world defines it, but success on your terms. Zoe also shares practical micro-habits, from two-minute rules to time-blocking and burnout prevention, that help you feel calmer, more in control, and proud of the woman you’re becoming. This episode is an empowering reminder that success isn’t luck, it’s built, moment by moment, through small daily choices that align with what matters most. In this conversation, you’ll learn: The one question to ask yourself before defining success Simple time-management shifts that free up mental load Why hyper-organisation creates more space for joy and creativity How to grow confidence by acting before you feel ready The truth about energy management and burnout prevention The episodes Zoe recommends listening to:  Work Series: If you're feeling low in confidence, listen to this - with Lauren Currie The Burnout Doctor: It takes 1-3 years to recover from burnout - here's how to avoid it 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 40% off a Calm premium subscription at calm.com/motherkind Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ever feel guilty no matter what you do, like you’re failing at something, somewhere, all the time? You’re not broken. You’re just living inside impossible expectations. In this week’s Moment, Dr Sophie Brock, a motherhood studies sociologist (yes, she literally has a PhD in motherhood), shares why so much of our guilt isn’t truly ours at all. Sophie explains that guilt often comes from the shoulds we’ve absorbed from society, not from our own values. The real power lies in holding that guilt up to the light and asking: Is this mine to carry, or something I’ve been taught to feel? This short clip is a reminder that guilt can be a guide, but only when it serves you, not the story you’ve been told about what a “good mother” should be. Listen, reflect, and maybe let a little bit of that guilt go this week. If you liked this moment, listen to the full episode: The Surprising Secret to Feeling Less Guilty and More Empowered with Dr Sophie Brock Remember to subscribe to Motherkind — it helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing. Need a hand managing the mental load? Download your FREE 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

If you’ve ever felt like returning to work after having a baby broke something in you or that the system simply isn’t built for mothers, this episode is for you. Joeli Brearley, founder of Pregnant Then Screwed, joins me to talk about the truth so many of us live but rarely say out loud – how hard, lonely and overwhelming it can be to return to work after having a baby. Joeli started Pregnant Then Screwed from her kitchen table while bouncing her baby on her knee. What began as a blog for women to share their stories of discrimination became a decade-long campaign that changed government policy and the national conversation around motherhood and work But it came at a huge personal cost. Joeli shares honestly about the burnout, the pressure, and the toll of fighting for change while raising two young children. It’s a powerful reminder that even the strongest women need rest, support and community. Now she’s channelling everything she’s learned into her new project, Growth Spurt — helping mothers navigate one of the most forgotten transitions of all: returning to work. In this episode, you’ll hear: Why the return to work is one of the hardest and least supported parts of motherhood What good employers do differently to support parents truly How to protect your mental health and spot the signs of burnout early Simple ways to share the load more equally at homeWhy connection and community are the antidote to loneliness Joeli’s story is both heartbreaking and full of hope. It’s a conversation about what it really means to care for others, for the system, and for ourselves. Remember to subscribe to Motherkind — it helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing. Need a hand managing the mental load? Download your FREE cheat sheet. If you liked this episode, listen to this next: Work Series: The Ultimate Guide to a Successful Return Post-Maternity - the proven formula that's helped thousands, with Jessica Chivers 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 Explore thefamilysuite.co.uk and discover luxury hotels around the world that truly welcome families, without compromise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What happens when life doesn’t go to plan? When the picture you imagined – the relationship, the family, the future – changes, and suddenly you’re doing it all on your own? This week’s Moment is with Rebecca Cox, co-author of How to Be a Happy Single Parent. It’s a beautifully honest conversation about single motherhood, money, and letting go of the life you thought you’d have. Rebecca shares the reality behind closed doors – the budgeting, the exhaustion, the pressure to hold everything together – and the quiet strength it takes to keep going. We also talk about shame and pride, and how asking for help can feel so hard, yet so freeing once you do. She reminds us that community can change everything. Finding others in the same season of life can bring connection, comfort, and even new versions of “family” that look different but feel deeply right. If your life looks different from what you imagined, this episode is a gentle reminder that it can still be full, beautiful and deeply meaningful – just in a new way. To listen to the full episode with Rebecca Cox, listen here. 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

**Trigger warning: this conversation covers addiction and makes reference to sexual assault. Please be mindful of this before hitting play** If you’re tired of doing it all, this episode will change how you see your relationship.  Cat Sims reveals why you can’t fix your partner – but you can change the dynamic – through honesty, communication, and the unexpected power of letting go. We’re diving deep into the mental load – that endless, invisible checklist running in your head to keep everyone and everything afloat. It’s the 3 a.m. jolt when you realise it’s book character day at nursery or that you forgot the doctor’s appointment (again). The mental load is relentless, unfair, and exhausting – and most of it still falls on mothers. This week’s guest, Cat Sims, knows it all too well. It almost cost her marriage. Now, she’s written The Mental Load Diaries: How I Learned to Juggle Life, Love and the Never-Ending To-Do List – a raw, funny, and deeply relatable guide to reclaiming your sanity. In this conversation, you’ll learn: What mental load really is and why it’s so damaging The moment Cat realised her marriage was breaking under its own weight How to communicate the load with your partner (without it ending in a fight) What to do if your partner just doesn’t get it Remember to subscribe to Motherkind — it helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing. Need a hand managing the mental load? Download your FREE cheat sheet. If you liked this episode, listen to this next: Why you're resentful in your relationship—and how to fix it starting today, with Dr Morgan Cutlip Connect with Cat Sims: Instagram SubStack  You’re Never the Only One Podcast Cat Sim’s photo credit: Tash Busta Photography 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 Explore thefamilysuite.co.uk and discover luxury hotels around the world that truly welcome families, without compromise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Motherkind Moment is your place for calm, connection, and a shift in perspective before the week ahead.  This week’s Moment: The neuroscience behind journaling with Dr Tara Swart This week’s Moment is with the wonderful Dr Tara Swart. Tara is a neuroscientist, psychiatrist, executive coach and the bestselling author of The Source. In this short but powerful clip, we dive into one of my all-time favourite tools for wellbeing – journaling. If you’ve been listening for a while, you’ll know how much I love journaling. It’s one of the simple, foundational practices that helps me stay balanced and connected every day. Tara explains the fascinating neuroscience behind why putting pen to paper is so effective. She shares how journaling helps to reduce cortisol (our main stress hormone), process emotions, and even support recovery from trauma. I found it so interesting when she described how writing – or even speaking – our thoughts out loud helps release them from our “brain-body system”, allowing us to feel calmer and clearer. We also talk about intuition, self-trust, and why we’ve become so conditioned to outsource our wisdom rather than tune in to our own inner knowing. As Tara says so beautifully, “We are all such powerful guides for ourselves – we just have to listen.” I hope this Moment inspires you to grab your pen, release those swirling thoughts onto the page, and reconnect with your intuition. Trust me, it makes a massive difference. To listen to the full episode with Dr Tara Swart, listen here. Click Here to order your copy of 'Motherkind: A New Way to Thrive in a World of Endless Expectations’ Motherkind is sponsored by 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 Continue the Conversation: Join our community over on Instagram for inspiration, tips, and sometimes a bit of humour to get us through our day - @zoeblaskey Join our mailing list to receive news, updates and new episode releases Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices