Mummafication
38 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 year ago -When you become a mother, the identity shift is colossal, but so is the… silence. There’s talk of the lack of sleep, the challenges of breastfeeding, how tired you'll be. But no one warns you about the hormonal, mental and physical impacts of motherhood. How you might not recognise yourself. How vulnerable you can feel. The transformation you will undergo. The words are hard to find.
It has a name, Matrescence, and we need to talk about it.
After I gave birth to our first baby, I felt such a mix of emotions in terms of who I was. No one had warned me. Women around me have asked "when do I go back to myself?" They’ve expressed a fear of losing themselves after they give birth. They’ve felt lonely. Underprepared. Even crazy. They’re not.
But where’s the discussion about this intense transition? The new version of yourself you have to uncover while navigating parenthood for the first time? How do you keep your relationships intact when there isn't even time to do the dishes, or brush your hair, or notice that stain (there is always a stain, now) on your jumper? Let alone go back to a career... How do you exist in this new reality and reconcile the new you with the old?
Join me as I talk about the personal transformation that happens when women become mums—through discussions with those who have lived it, and professionals who can shine a light on the science behind some of these astronomical emotional and mental shifts.
It’s my hope that the more we talk, the more we’ll be able to express and understand this seismic change, and that in hearing each other’s stories we’ll be able to re-discover and re-center ourselves. Or just feel a little less alone.
Mummafication: a new podcast and safe space for women to discuss all the things we wish we'd been told.
Without judgement.
With honesty, humility, and a ton of compassion.
Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/mummafication.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Episodes
Mum - Clare Bowditch
February 14, 2023 17:00 - 37 minutes - 34.7 MBWhat a joy this conversation was. Clare Bowditch and her husband, Marty, brought their children into the world, living in a community of their own making. No back fences. Individual houses. A real modern day village. From there, they fought hard to make choices about their lives which allowed them to continue working and growing in their creative fields. Clare shares what it was like touring with small humans, dealing with anxiety, and how creativity plays such a big part of parenting for h...
Mum - Dana Stephensen
January 31, 2023 17:00 - 1 hour - 57.8 MBWelcome back! To start off the 2023 season, I chat with Dana Stephensen - Senior Dancer with the Australian Ballet, and mum to Jasper, 6, and 2 year old twins Lulu and Lottie. Dana is a warrior. She gave birth to her twins in the middle of the COVID pandemic. Her partner, Lachie (of Purple Wiggle fame) was based in Sydney for work, and Dana's son Jasper, lives in Melbourne. This caused geographical challenges in a time when travel was not an easy option. Dana shares the story of how they n...
Mum - Liana Quinlivan
October 18, 2022 17:00 - 53 minutes - 48.9 MBA few weeks ago, on International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Day, Liana told me her story. And she blew me away. Liana is mum to Dot, and three year old Hazel. Today, she shares, so honestly and beautifully, her story of infant loss. Of having to make the decision to end her pregnancy for genetic reasons, and of her subsequent pregnancy after loss. We also speak about the breakdown of her marriage, and how along with children's father, they now parent better than ever before. Liana is an i...
Mum - Catherine Mack
September 20, 2022 18:00 - 35 minutes - 32.8 MBSoon after having her baby, Catherine started to feel… off. She had outrageous amounts of energy, she rapidly lost weight, and then she started to shake and became increasingly dizzy. Eventually, she was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease. Here, she tells her story about that journey, and how she continues to look after and maintain her health with a lifelong condition, and a toddler. She tells me about how developing an autoimmune disease has played in to their decision whether or not to t...
Parent Educator / Mum - Katie Parker
September 06, 2022 18:00 - 46 minutes - 42.2 MBKatie is a joy to be around. She is real, honest and full of knowledge about how we can better our relationship with ourselves, and then our families. I found talking to her to be incredibly grounding and peaceful. I hope it has the same affect on you. USEFUL LINKS All things Katie! Women's circles run by Katie? Yes please. Learn more about Katie's friend and my hero, Lael Stone. Listen to the Nourishing The Mother Podcast. Find out about postpartum Doula training. Want to delve in t...
Mum - Kristy Jones Part 2
August 23, 2022 18:00 - 39 minutes - 36.3 MBKristy Jones is an amazing woman. If you haven't listened to part 1 of her story, I highly recommend it. You can listen to that here. In today's episode, Kristy talks about what it's like being a solo mum by choice. How she juggles being the breadwinner and only parent. The challenges. The joys. The village she has created for herself and Eadie. KJ is an inspiration, and the family she has created is proof that you can do things your own way, in whatever way works for you, and it can be gl...
Executive Coach - Ellen Hooper
August 09, 2022 18:00 - 1 hour - 62.8 MBWelcome back! After a longer than expected mid-year break (thanks, Covid) we are back! Grab yourself a giant cup of tea or a bucket of wine, and settle in to be schooled by the outstanding Ellen Hooper. Mum, Executive Coach, Fountain of Knowledge, Annabel Crabb enthusiast. Ellen and I talk about careers, the mental load, how damaging gender stereotypes can be for families, and much, MUCH more. She explains how being counter cultural to design the life that works for YOUR family can be ch...
Me - Brodie Mattner
June 28, 2022 18:00 - 22 minutes - 20.6 MBToday's episode is a little different... I am the one being asked the questions. In the year that I gave birth to our second child, Juniper, several of my closest girlfriends gave birth to their first babies. Through our conversations, and hearing them grapple with entering their Matrescence, it helped me make sense of what I'd gone through after we had our first child, Marlita, several years earlier. I realised I hadn't spoken to my friends about the identity shift I'd gone through. I ha...
Mum - Kristy Jones
June 14, 2022 18:00 - 48 minutes - 44.3 MBWhat. A. Story. Usually when people say "you HAVE to listen to this! It's AMAZING!" I immediately don't want to listen. But I'm not sure how else to say it. You HAVE to listen to this! It's AMAZING! Kristy Jones left New York in a very big hurry, at the beginning of the Covid pandemic, at 31 weeks pregnant. She had made the decision to parent individually from a partner, and she used donor sperm to conceive with IVF. She tells her story with humour, honesty, and a lot of integrity and re...
Parents - Leath & Brodie
May 31, 2022 18:00 - 48 minutes - 44.8 MBRecently, I was offered a job. My husband, Leath, and I, started discussing how we felt about this, and what it would mean for our family. We decided that if we were going to do it, the best thing for us would be for Leath to resign, and be at home with our girls, and for me to work 4 days a week. This episode, is our discussion about this decision. So, if you’d like to listen to a tired, married couple drink a bottle of wine and discuss who stays home with the kids and who goes to work, w...
Mum - Samantha Allemann
May 17, 2022 18:04 - 48 minutes - 44.9 MBIn the very first episode of Mummafication, Nicolette Minster mentions that a woman approached her in the line for IVF drugs... that woman is Samantha Allemann, and in today's episode, Sam generously shares her incredible story. Sam has made a point of being honest and open, in the spirit of making other women feel less alone. She talks about her experience in ways we don't often hear people talk. Her story of long term IVF, and the subsequent postnatal depression and anxiety she experience...
Nutritionist - Melissa Finlay
May 03, 2022 18:00 - 27 minutes - 25.3 MBMelissa is a wealth of knowledge on periods, hormones, adrenal fatigue - burnout - and why hydration is so important. Mel works predominantly with mums, helping them regulate their cycles and hormones, through supplements and diet. In our chat today, she talks about how we can prep to help ourselves, and why it's so important to nourish our bodies with the right foods. Mel offers her knowledge without judgement, and her choice of food for her desert island made me love her instantly. She ...
Mum - Kate Berry
April 19, 2022 18:00 - 43 minutes - 39.8 MBKate Berry brings people together and creates community and connection through her work. She also uses open communication to create connection with her teenage daughters. Kate talks about rediscovering herself as a single parent, how being a mum has shone a light on the parenting she received, and I gush a lot about how much I love her book. Kate is an inspiring and magical woman who does things her way. USEFUL LINKS Learn more about how awesome Kate is. Buy Kate's excellent book! Enjo...
Coach - Cayley Benjamin
April 05, 2022 18:00 - 34 minutes - 31.8 MBWe've made it to Episode 20! Cayley Benjamin brings years of coaching knowledge to her work, helping mums navigate the transition into motherhood. In Episode 20 we discuss motherhood as development, setting boundaries, and Cayley introduces me to the idea that moving forward, instead of looking back, is actually an amazing time where you get to decide who you want to be. Cayley is an experienced and wise Motherhood Coach, and she breaks down her advice into small and achievable suggestions....
Mum - Stephanie March
March 15, 2022 17:00 - 43 minutes - 40 MBStephanie March is a foreign correspondent, journalist, researcher and mum to Harriette, 1. Steph's whole life has been problem solving, and her self worth was very closely tied to her career. Since having Harriette, she’s had a shift in priorities, and she's also found all those years of problem solving are paying off in parenting too. In Episode 19, we discuss how her career has prepared her for motherhood, and now, how motherhood is changing how she works within her career. We also talk...
Mums - Meg & Phil
March 01, 2022 17:00 - 48 minutes - 44.4 MBMeg and Phil took it in turns to carry and birth their babies. Two of their friends are donor dads to their 3 kids. We chat about their birthing experiences, some of the adversity they’ve faced, and why they watched Squid Games with their kids - not the 4 year old. The relationships they nurture with their children and extended family are beautiful and admirable. And they answer my questions - naive and otherwise - with honesty and integrity. USEFUL LINKS For resources, information and ho...
Mum - Penny Moodie
February 15, 2022 17:00 - 44 minutes - 40.7 MBPenny Moodie has been living with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) since she was around 7 years old. It wasn't until after the birth of her first baby, Benji, that she was diagnosed and started specific treatment. In today's episode, Penny and I chat about what it's been like for her over the last 5 years - becoming a mum, being diagnosed and starting treatment for OCD, lockdowns, 2 more pregnancies, and toddler tantrums. Penny is generous, funny and warm while she opens up about topics...
Mum - Sophie Weiss
February 01, 2022 17:00 - 38 minutes - 35.8 MBIt's so good to be back! I've missed you! Sophie Weiss is a gem of a woman, and to kick off the season, she shares her beautiful story of conception, miscarriage, juggling her career, and touring the country. I really love hearing how people do things their own way, and this is exactly how Sophie, her husband Drew, and their baby, Chloe, live their life. As Sophie puts it, "there is no Golden Rule" for how to parent, and she is testament to that. Sophie is currently in Frozen, The Musical...
Dad - Leath Mattner
December 21, 2021 17:00 - 50 minutes - 46 MBThe first Daddafication episode! I sit down with my husband, Leath, and ask what it's been like for him to have kids. Has he gone through an identity shift? What was it like when one or both of us returned to work? How was it for him when I was really struggling? How does working part time vs full time affect his connection with his (our) kids and what does that mean to him? I plan to do more Daddafication episodes with men I'm not married to, but it was so nice to sit down and chat to Leat...
Mum - Tamara Oudyn
December 14, 2021 17:00 - 33 minutes - 30.5 MBTamara Oudyn delivers us our evening news, nightly, on the ABC. She instills trust and professionalism. So sitting down with her, in her house, and having a chat about identity, divorce, maternity leave, and podcasting, was a real treat. Tamara talks about the various stages of identity shift she’s encountered since having kids, and how comfortable she is now, in her own skin. USEFUL LINKS: Listen to The Good Divorce Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/mummafication. Hosted o...
Relationship Expert / Author - Elly Taylor
December 07, 2021 17:00 - 47 minutes - 44 MBRelationship counsellor, expert in parenthood preparation and perinatal relationships, author of Becoming Us: The Couple's Guide to Parenthood. Elly Taylor is a wealth of knowledge and advice on what we can do within our relationship to prepare for having a baby. She also delivers some excellent news, in case you've already got children and you didn't do any relationship preparation... it's never too late. Every new stage of your child's life is a chance for a do-over. To asses what's worki...
Mum - Eliza
November 30, 2021 17:00 - 1 hour - 55.3 MBEliza is a barrister working within the family law court. Her experience working with families helped shape what she wanted from a partner before she had children. However, nothing could have prepared her to have both her babies during the Covid-19 pandemic. She also had gestational diabetes, two planned caesarean births, and a bitch of a time with breastfeeding, to put it mildly. What I love so much about Eliza's story, is how she describes and talks about the deep connection of motherhood...
People and Culture / HR / Mum - Renee Barnes
November 23, 2021 17:00 - 58 minutes - 53.9 MBRenee Barnes is a mum of 2, and a fountain of HR knowledge. If you're considering, or you have, gone back to work after having kids, this episode will be invaluable. Renee shares her story of being made redundant, and how that spurred her on to start her own business. She then talks about the importance of being able to bring your whole self to work, and where the future of work life integration is heading. Renee's passion and drive is incredibly inspiring. USEFUL LINKS To check out mor...
Psychotherapist - Jill Gordon
November 16, 2021 17:00 - 43 minutes - 39.6 MBPsychotherapist, Jill Gordon, covers a huge range of topics in a short amount of time in episode 10. We discuss everything from hormones and where anxiety and fear comes from as a mum, (and what we can do to help ourselves through it) to the impact our own childhood has on us as parents. Jill shares how societal and evolutionary pressures still impact us today, and the need for us to challenge those pressures. We then go on to chat about how to raise resilient, mentally healthy kids. It soun...
Mum - Kalai McDonald
November 10, 2021 01:48 - 50 minutes - 46.7 MBKalai left the father of her child when her baby was 12 weeks old. We discuss what it was like for her to make that decision, some of the challenges she's come up against, and what she's most proud of. Kalai is an incredible woman who puts herself and her son above all else. An inspiring episode full of strength. USEFUL LINKS If you need support, White Ribbon has a 24 hour counselling service, and you can call 1800RESPECT. There's more information here Support this show http://supporter....
Mum - HannaH Findlay
November 02, 2021 17:00 - 44 minutes - 40.8 MBHannaH was hit with one thing after the other from pre-conception, through her pregnancy and then postpartum. The common thread throughout, was that her expectations were vastly different from the reality she found herself in. This took a massive toll on her mental health. Through her instagram account, an upcoming book, and this episode, HannaH speaks openly and beautifully about her experience of matrescence. Having kids changed HannaH's whole way of thinking - about herself and the wor...
Postpartum Doula - Brandi Jordan
October 26, 2021 17:00 - 51 minutes - 46.9 MBBrandi Jordan is an infant sleep specialist, lactation consultant, newborn care specialist and postpartum doula to the stars. She has worked with Mandy Moore, Julia Stiles, and Megan Fox, amongst many more. Yes, we speak about famous people. But most of all, Brandi enlightens and educates me on race, culture, and how that affects women's birth and postpartum experiences in various parts of the world. She shares her own experiences of this, and how it varied for her depending on where she ga...
Mum - Felly D
October 19, 2021 17:00 - 1 hour - 57.6 MBThis episode is for any parent who's gone back to work. For any parent who gave birth during Covid. For any parent who has a best friend. In 2020, my best friend, Fel, and I, gave birth to our babies on the same day, in the same hospital. We were in the middle of stage 4 Covid lockdown in Melbourne. It was my second baby, but it was Fel’s first. She generously and honestly shares what it was like for her navigating the world of new parenthood whilst being completely isolated from friends an...
Mum - Christie Whelan Browne
October 12, 2021 17:00 - 37 minutes - 34.2 MBAfter 3 rounds of IVF, Christie felt pressure to enjoy every aspect of mothering. But she also feels it’s important that we’re honest - and no matter how much we love our babies, motherhood is not always enjoyable. Christie shares how having baby Duke has shaken her confidence and changed her relationship with her own body, amongst many other surprising aspects of becoming a mum. Christie Whelan Browne has graced our stages and screens with her talent, wit and voice for many years, and in t...
Betty Chetcuti
October 05, 2021 17:00 - 45 minutes - 41.6 MBBetty Chetcuti is a director at the Australian Association of Psychologists, and a psychologist with over 30 years experience. When she became a mother herself, she realised she needed to apply some of the techniques she was using as a psychologist, to being a mother. From here she embarked on research into executive stress and job satisfaction, and applied her findings to create a program to help new mums navigate the colossal changes they’re faced with when they first become mothers. Bet...
Psychologist - Betty Chetcuti
October 05, 2021 17:00 - 45 minutes - 41.6 MBBetty Chetcuti is a director at the Australian Association of Psychologists, and a psychologist with over 30 years experience. When she became a mother herself, she realised she needed to apply some of the techniques she was using as a psychologist, to being a mother. From here she embarked on research into executive stress and job satisfaction, and applied her findings to create a program to help new mums navigate the colossal changes they’re faced with when they first become mothers. Bet...
Beth Stephens
September 28, 2021 18:00 - 44 minutes - 41.1 MBBeth Stephens is one half of the band, the Teeny Tiny Stevies. If you have kids, or even if you don’t, do yourself a favour and listen to their beautiful and helpful music. Beth and her sister Byll, wrote and played wonderful music for adults, in The Little Stevies. After Byll had her first baby, they branched out in to kids music, with the Teeny Tiny Stevies. Beth tells us the story of how and why the Teeny Tiny Stevies were created. We then chat about being a mum when your work doesn't fo...
Mum - Beth Stephens
September 28, 2021 18:00 - 44 minutes - 41.1 MBBeth Stephens is one half of the band, the Teeny Tiny Stevies. If you have kids, or even if you don’t, do yourself a favour and listen to their beautiful and helpful music. Beth and her sister Byll, wrote and played wonderful music for adults, in The Little Stevies. After Byll had her first baby, they branched out in to kids music, with the Teeny Tiny Stevies. Beth tells us the story of how and why the Teeny Tiny Stevies were created. We then chat about being a mum when your work doesn't fo...
Nicolette Minster
September 21, 2021 18:00 - 43 minutes - 40.3 MBComedian and writer Nicolette Minster is hilarious, honest and generous as she shares her story of postnatal depression and anxiety. When I interviewed Nic, I was unaware that she had experienced PND, so I felt honoured that she was so open and told her story with such vulnerability. She talks about her journey with IVF, tells us the things she can look back on and laugh at now (mistaking her urethra for her cervix), and how she feels after receiving help. We laugh, and cry, as Nic tells...
Mum - Nicolette Minster
September 21, 2021 18:00 - 43 minutes - 40.3 MBComedian and writer Nicolette Minster is hilarious, honest and generous as she shares her story of postnatal depression and anxiety. When I interviewed Nic, I was unaware that she had experienced PND, so I felt honoured that she was so open and told her story with such vulnerability. She talks about her journey with IVF, tells us the things she can look back on and laugh at now (mistaking her urethra for her cervix), and how she feels after receiving help. We laugh, and cry, as Nic tells...
Mum - Elle Bullen
September 21, 2021 18:00 - 49 minutes - 90.4 MBElle Bullen is one of Australia's top advertising creatives. A powerhouse. When she was 35 years old, and 6 months pregnant with her second child, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. In this episode, she shares how this experience has changed her as a person, a mum, and how she lives her life. Elle is outrageously strong, and her drink of choice, if stuck on a desert island, would be party punch. It was an honour to hear her story. USEFUL LINKS Let's all check our boobs more. How to, ...
Elle Bullen
September 21, 2021 18:00 - 49 minutes - 90.4 MBElle Bullen is one of Australia's top advertising creatives. A powerhouse. When she was 35 years old, and 6 months pregnant with her second child, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. In this episode, she shares how this experience has changed her as a person, a mum, and how she lives her life. Elle is outrageously strong, and her drink of choice, if stuck on a desert island, would be party punch. It was an honour to hear her story. USEFUL LINKS Let's all check our boobs more. How to, ...
Trailer
September 14, 2021 11:46 - 3 minutes - 7.7 MBWelcome to Mummafication. I'm your host, Brodie Mattner. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/mummafication. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.