A Double Life

Trigger warning: sexual abuse and childhood trauma

Jessica Ella reveals how years of abuse by her father from age three reshaped her idea of love. At thirty, a guided meditation brought back memories she had long pushed aside and began the process of healing. She speaks about generational trauma, the fear that followed, moments of hearing him when he wasn’t there, and the steady support of her mother.

Now a women’s trauma expert and mother to River and Banjo, Jessica shares how she broke unhealthy patterns in relationships, found safe love with her partner Gav, and rebuilt her identity step by step. Her story is raw and deeply hopeful, showing that even after profound pain it is possible to heal, reclaim your life, and create real love and purpose.

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After two later stage miscarriages and the relentless pressure of retail buying, Ariel knew something had to change. One morning in her bathroom, she decided to walk away and instantly felt a weight lift.

In this episode, Ariel reflects on her best 20s spent in New York, partying, travelling and living life to the fullest, before building a new chapter in Australia. Over time, her career collided with the reality of motherhood, IVF and the toll of trying to balance it all.

Ariel shares the moment she chose to walk away from her career, the guilt and relief of IVF, and how these experiences led her to co-found From Day One, a positive safe space for mums to connect.

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Fatima Yusufi’s journey is one of courage, defiance and relentless hope. Growing up in Afghanistan, she fought against deep rooted beliefs that girls could not play sport, challenging her own father’s mindset before taking on society’s. As the goalkeeper and captain of the Afghan women’s national soccer team, Fatima risked her life for the right to play, facing threats, bombings and the constant fear of Taliban retaliation.

In a desperate and dangerous escape, she left with her siblings, suddenly responsible for their safety and with no idea where they were going or what their future would hold. She is now using her second chance to pursue her dreams and share a powerful message to girls everywhere: believe in yourself, even when the world tells you no.

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In this real, raw episode Elizabeth, founder of Australian natural skincare brand SODA & Co, opens up about navigating motherhood, business, and resilience.

Becoming a mum at 19, Elizabeth faced judgment and immense pressure, but her inner confidence and determination carried her through. She shares how motherhood shaped her, why she started SODA & Co for her daughter with allergies, and how building the brand became a family journey with her girls by her side.

Elizabeth also reflects on one of the hardest times in her life. Her marriage breaking down during COVID. She speaks candidly about mother guilt, rediscovering herself, and learning to put herself first. Now standing on her own two feet, she encourages others to never lose hope, sharing how challenges shaped her strength and the woman she is today.

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In this powerful and deeply vulnerable episode, Stephanie Easton shares her journey of surviving decades of drug and alcohol abuse, trauma, eating disorders, and the failures of the mental health system. A mum of three and the founder of Melbourne’s first holistic rehab facility, Steph opens up about the years she spent stuck in cycles of addiction, medicated into numbness, and trying to find help in a system that was never designed to truly heal.

Her turning point came when she began reconnecting with her body. Through somatic therapy, yoga, subconscious healing, and a deep commitment to self-inquiry, Steph slowly found her way back to herself. Not through labels or diagnoses, but by learning how to feel again, how to sit with pain, and how to rebuild from the inside out.

This conversation is a powerful reflection on healing, self-awareness, and starting again. Steph reminds us that it is never too late to change your story.

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Alana had just gotten married and was planning her honeymoon when she found a lump in her breast. After being dismissed by a GP, a second opinion changed everything. At 27, she was diagnosed with two grade three tumours.

In this episode, Alana shares the shock of her diagnosis, how she broke the news to her husband, and what it was like navigating treatment. She opens up about the hardest part, losing her hair, and the emotional toll of watching friends fall pregnant while her own plans were put on hold.

But in the middle of all the unknowns, there was hope. Alana shares the moment her period returned, the day she found out she was pregnant, and what it meant to welcome her son into the world.

Now 33, Alana is a breast cancer survivor. This is her story of fear, resilience and finding light again.

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In this episode, Nartarsha talks about becoming a teenage mum and how that was the start of her identity crisis and the beginning of everything falling apart. She shares how she thought she had experienced love before, but it was never true love, until she had her first baby and her life was exploded with love. At the same time, her partner left, and she experienced the deepest grief alongside all of this love. This marked the beginning of her “new me.”

Nartarsha deeply understands the journey of women and motherhood. She shares the fears she felt as she was about to have her baby, the judgement she faced as an Aboriginal woman, the disconnection she experienced, and the lack of confidence she carried within herself.

Nartarsha shares her powerful story of becoming a mum as a teenager, navigating heartbreak, identity crisis and generational trauma. She opens up about the pressure she placed on herself to get it right, the fear of losing her child to the system, and the weight of generational trauma. Becoming a mum became the beginning of healing. This is her story of breaking cycles and raising her son to be whoever he wants to be.

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In today’s episode, I’m joined by Ariel and Keshia, the founders of From Day One, a mothers group that is anything but traditional. Born from a shared experience of loneliness and a desire for something more meaningful in the postpartum journey, they’ve created a space where mums feel heard, seen, and genuinely supported.

Unlike the typical mum group stigma, this space is different. It brings together like minded women who’ve had babies around the same time, sharing honest conversations without the pressure or comparison. It’s a community that truly focuses on mums, their mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing, and the beautiful connections built along the way.

We dive into what inspired them to create a physical space that is not about baby milestones or checklists, but about the mums themselves. From mental health and relationships to the messy, beautiful chaos of early motherhood, Ariel and Keshia have built something that removes the pressure and encourages real connection.

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Anaita Sarkar shares her journey, growing up feeling ashamed of her Indian roots, desperate to fit in, and resenting her parents for simply being who they were. But it was their courage, sacrifice, and resilience that shaped her into the person she is today, wanting nothing more than to make them proud. And now, as a mother of three, she’s breaking the cycle, teaching her girls that being different is so powerful.

From corporate burnout to building a purpose-led brand with $1k in shares her mum once gave her instead of a birthday gift. This episode is a reminder of what it means to find your identity, honour your roots, and create a life you love.

This podcast is proudly presented by Meke Baby & Oli6

Website: ⁠⁠https://mekebaby.com⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/mekebaby.au⁠⁠

Connect with Oli6:

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.oli6.com⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/oli6toddler⁠

Connect with Anaita: 

https://www.sellanythingonline.com.au

https://heropackaging.com.au

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DISCLAIMER: This episode contains discussions of domestic violence, which may be distressing or triggering for some listeners. Please take care while listening.

This is a story I’ve rarely shared, one that’s stayed with me for years.

I once hired a woman who, at first glance, looked like she’d come off the streets but she was kind, brilliant, and incredible at her job. Over time, she opened up about being in an abusive relationship and later admitted she was homeless, living in a shelter. I didn’t know how to help, but I knew we had to try.

As a team, we supported her. We helped her find a safe home, and slowly, her life began to change. She was happy.

Then one day, she didn’t show up. No message. No call. We went to her house and saw her cat distressed in the window. We called the police. When they entered, they found she had passed away. Her death remains a mystery, and the grief has never left me.

This experience is part of what drives Meke Baby and A Double Life. We want to honour and support the unseen mothers—those facing crisis alone. We’re using our platform to raise awareness and ask for your help, so no one in that position feels invisible again.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence (DV), it's important to access the resources and support available. 

Here are important details regarding 1-800 RESPECT, which is the national sexual assault and domestic violence counseling service in Australia:

1-800 RESPECT Details

Phone Number: 1-800-737-732 (1-800 RESPECT)

Website: 1800respect.org.au

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