This episode was sparked by a comment from a TikTok comment which said, “I stopped saying yes all the time and masking so much - and now I have no friends.” Ooft. I felt that. And my honest response? Were they ever really your friends? Or did they just benefit from you always keeping the peace?

Today, we’re diving into what happens when you stop people pleasing - especially after becoming a Mum - and realise that the “connections” you had might’ve been built on a version of you that was just trying to survive. Because Motherhood? It cracks you wide open. You meet a new version of yourself - protective, powerful, real - and suddenly, all the shit you used to tolerate? You can’t anymore.

I’m unpacking what people pleasing actually is (spoiler: it’s not kindness, it’s a mask), where the conditioning starts, and why so many women feel completely alone when they finally stop performing for acceptance. We’ll explore the grief, the loneliness, the “WTF is happening to my friendships?” moments - and more importantly, what’s waiting for you on the other side.

This isn’t about staying small to keep the peace. This is about reclaiming your voice, your needs, your space - and building connection from a place of truth, not performance.

And if you’re in the thick of this shift and feeling the ache of lost friendships or disconnection, I’ve got something for you: My Free Connection Guide. It’s the starting point to rebuild connection - not just with others, but with yourself.

Send me a message - I'd love to chat!

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In this episode of Can We Fkn Talk?, I welcome back the incredible Lurinda for part two of her story - a no-filter, deeply vulnerable journey through separation, solo parenting, personal growth, and ultimately rekindling her relationship.

We unpack the raw truth of what it really looks like to choose yourself in the messiest seasons - navigating solo Motherhood, facing the possibility of never having your own biological children, confronting past traumas, and slowly rebuilding a new kind of love after heartbreak.

Lurinda shares how shadow work became a pivotal part of her healing and how understanding her own nervous system and identity helped her re-enter her relationship from a grounded and self-aware place.

We also touch on:

• The hard decision to stay when core values start to mis-align.
• Doing the work for yourself, not your partner.
• The messy beauty of rebuilding trust after breakdown.
• Navigating Motherhood, ADHD, PMDD, and intimacy with compassion.
• What healthy co-parenting can really look like - even through a pandemic.

If you’ve ever felt like you’ve lost yourself in love or wondered if there’s a way back after it all falls apart - this episode is for you.

Connect with Lurinda:

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

Retreat: https://www.instagram.com/surrenderretreats/

Send me a message - I'd love to chat!

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In this episode of Can We Fkn Talk?, I sit down with the incredible Lurinda Vollmer, who shares her deeply personal journey into Motherhood - starting as a step-Mum at just 21. We talk about what it’s like to suddenly be parenting kids who aren’t yours biologically, the emotional rollercoaster of navigating trauma and young adulthood at the same time, and how loving two little girls shaped the way she later parented her son.

Lurinda opens up about the heartbreaking moment she was told she might not be able to have children, the complex decision she faced when her partner said he was done having kids, and the shock of finding out she was pregnant when she least expected it. We talk about the grief that comes with fertility uncertainty, the mental load of parenting, and the reality of functional freeze - and how she rebuilt herself from the ground up.

This is a raw, honest, and empowering episode for any parent who’s ever felt like they were figuring it out as they go - and for every woman who’s had to choose herself, even when it felt impossibly hard.

Connect with Lurinda:

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

Send me a message - I'd love to chat!

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In this episode of Can We Fkn Talk?, I sit down with the incredible Bonnie - a Mum, coach, and a mfkn MILF - whose journey into Motherhood was anything but linear. From an unexpected pregnancy to the realities of a shifting identity, breastfeeding trauma, relationship tension, and business burnout, Bonnie brings her raw honesty and wisdom.

We talk about the mindset shifts that helped her transform chaos into clarity, the ways she used self-awareness to stop hiding from her shadows, and why she believes Motherhood is the most transformational journey - if you're open to it. We also dive deep into how to take responsibility for your needs, the power of radical self-honesty, navigating relationship changes, and building a business while raising humans.

This episode is a powerful reminder that you don’t have to settle for hard. You get to evolve. You get to grow. You get to choose differently.

Connect with Bonnie:

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

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bonnieburbury

Send me a message - I'd love to chat!

Want to keep the conversation going?

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Or follow my business page: https://www.instagram.com/_ashscrivener/

In this episode of Can We Fkn Talk?, I sit down with the incredible Rashelle Leahy - mum of three, business owner, and owner of Intuitive Mummas. Rashelle shares her powerful journey of becoming a parent at 22, navigating life overseas, and the identity shifts that come with Motherhood. We get real about letting go of expectations, feeling lost, and finding ourselves again beyond the "Mum" label.

We explore how identity evolves, the pressures of societal norms, and why it’s crucial to give yourself permission to do things your own way. Rashelle opens up about her own turning point, the power of boundaries, building a village (even if it looks different), and how reclaiming joy outside of Motherhood transformed how she shows up in every area of her life.

If you've ever thought, "Who even am I anymore?" or struggled with Mum guilt when prioritising yourself - this episode will feel like a warm, judgement-free hug. You’re not alone. This is your permission slip to explore who you are beyond parenting.

Connect with Rashelle:

https://www.instagram.com/intuitivemummas/

https://intuitivemummas.com.au/

Send me a message - I'd love to chat!

Want to keep the conversation going?

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Every stage of Motherhood brings its own unique set of challenges, whether it’s navigating sleep deprivation in the newborn phase, toddler tantrums and big emotions, or the emotional rollercoaster of raising school-aged kids.

In today’s episode, I’m joined by the amazing Rashelle Leahy - mum of three who opens up about becoming a Mum in her early 20s, just months after getting married, and how she and her husband faced the pressure of juggling financial stress, growing a relationship, and figuring out who they were as individuals - all while raising a tiny human.

We chat about what it’s like to parent without the village - how the support many of us expect from family just isn’t available anymore, and how that affects everything from our mental load to our relationships. Rashelle also shares how her identity as a working woman shifted after giving birth - and why that led her to make the bold decision to move her family to the Middle East.

This episode is real and raw. It’s a reminder that the hard stuff doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. It means you’re doing the work. Whether you’re feeling the tension in your relationship post-baby, struggling to reconnect with yourself, or wondering if you’re the only one riding the waves of change, I promise you’ll feel seen here.

Connect with Rashelle:

https://www.instagram.com/intuitivemummas/

https://intuitivemummas.com.au/

The 5 Love Languages - Gary Chapman

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In this episode of Can We Fkn Talk?, I sit down with the incredible Ashy Anne to dive into the very real, often overlooked truth: parenting is political. From housing affordability and childcare accessibility to tax systems, superannuation, and even the groceries in our trolley - politics shapes every aspect of our lives as parents.

Now before you roll your eyes or switch off, hear me out. Politics isn’t just something that happens in Parliament or on the news. It’s in the cost of daycare. It’s in your maternity leave. It’s in your grocery bill, the roads you drive on, the schools your kids go to, and the support you do or don’t get as a parent.

We talk about why being a parent means you're already impacted by political decisions - so you might as well get informed and involved. From housing to healthcare, from Centrelink payments to why the hell early childhood educators are still so undervalued - we go there.

This isn’t a lecture. It's a real, honest, slightly fired-up convo between two Mums who care. If you’re feeling too overwhelmed, too under-resourced, or too disillusioned to even think about politics right now - I see you. That’s exactly why this episode matters.

And if you want to make an informed choice this election but don’t know where to start, I’ve got you:

🗳 Resources to support your vote:

• ABC Vote Compass: https://www.abc.net.au/news/vote-compass/
• Build a Ballot: https://www.buildaballot.org.au/

Let’s stop saying “I don’t do politics” when politics is absolutely doing us.

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In this solo ep, I’m getting all up in my feels as I reflect on four years of Motherhood. With my daughter’s birthday around the corner, I have found myself comparing who I was in year one - running on no sleep, second-guessing every decision, trying to keep a tiny human alive - to who I am now: a Mum who’s way more solid in herself, who’s done the work, and who’s still learning every single day.

I talk about the difference between reacting and responding, what it actually means to be regulated (hint: it’s not about being calm 24/7), and how finding myself again has made me a better parent. We also dive into the grief of your kids growing up, the pride that punches you in the heart, and why duality matters - because yes, you can love your kids and still find parenting fkn hard.

This one’s for the Mums who are in the thick of it, wondering if they’re doing a good job (you are), questioning if it’s okay to want more (it is), and trying to hold it all without losing themselves in the process (because it is possible).

It’s a big, honest reflection - and I hope it reminds you that you’re not alone, you're not doing it wrong, and you don’t have to fit into anyone else’s box. Let’s chat about what it means to grow with our kids and discover ourselves in the process.

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Season 2 is officially coming to a close, and I couldn’t think of a better way to wrap it up than with a solo episode in my Rewriting the Motherhood Rulebook series. Today, I’m opening up about why I don’t want to be a stay-at-home Mum - a topic that, for the longest time, made me feel like a "bad Mum". I’ll share the mindset shifts that helped me move through the guilt and judgment that came with this decision, the expectations society places on Mothers, and why I believe there’s so much value and fulfillment in being a working Mum. This conversation isn’t about shaming any particular path in Motherhood - it’s about creating space for different choices and normalising the conversations we’re often afraid to have.

I’ll also be diving into the practical side of balancing work and Motherhood without the guilt. From setting boundaries and creating routines to prioritising quality time over quantity, I’ll walk you through the systems and mindset shifts that allow me to thrive in both roles. If you’ve ever felt torn between your career and Motherhood, struggled with judgment from others, or questioned whether you’re “doing it right,” this episode is for you. Let’s dismantle the outdated expectations placed on Mums and give ourselves permission to create a version of Motherhood that truly works for us.

Watch the Permission to Thrive replay here to say goodbye to Mum guilt for good!

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In this episode of Can We Fkn Talk?, I sit down with the incredible Danni Whiley, who went from living a busy, adventurous life with her own business to the unexpected journey of becoming a twin Mum. We dive deep into the identity shift she experienced and how her whole world changed the moment she found out she was expecting twins. Danni shares the emotional rollercoaster of navigating late postpartum depression and anxiety, shedding light on the silent struggles so many Mums face but rarely talk about.

We get real about the pressure to be the “perfect” Mum, the guilt of not being able to do it all, and the raw truth of juggling two babies at once. Danni talks candidly about the challenges of balancing her own identity with the demands of Motherhood, including the emotional toll of letting go of her grooming business to find a new path that aligned with her needs as a Mum.

We also explore the expectations and judgements that come with Motherhood, the reality of needing a strong support system, and the pivotal role childcare played in maintaining her mental health. Danni’s honesty about feeling isolated despite being surrounded by people is something every Mum can relate to, especially when the village you expected doesn’t quite show up the way you hoped.

Find Danni here:

https://www.instagram.com/creativechaos.social/

https://www.tiktok.com/@danni.whiley

Send me a message - I'd love to chat!

Want to keep the conversation going?

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

Or follow my business page: https://www.instagram.com/_ashscrivener/