Not Just A Mum

Adult friendship. Nobody warns you how hard it gets.

In this episode, I'm joined by the incredibly talented Belinda Xia — live illustrator, fellow mum, and one of my own adult friendships that I'm so glad I took a chance on. You might remember Belinda from our November episode on being the breadwinner of the family — and at the end of that conversation we promised we'd come back and talk about adult friendship. Well, here we are.

Belinda brings a wonderfully extroverted perspective and I balance it out from the introverted-extrovert side. Wherever you sit on that spectrum, I think you're going to hear yourself in this one.

We get into why making friends as an adult feels so much like dating, the three pillars of friendship that make it easy as kids and so hard as grown-ups, why time poverty makes us more selective (and why that's actually okay), and the low-stakes ways to make the first move — even when it feels terrifying.

Plus Belinda makes a very passionate case for voice messages. I remain unconvinced. You can decide for yourself.

If you've been craving real connection and not quite knowing how to find it — this one's for you.

🔗 Connect with Belinda:

• Follow her on Instagram
• Check out her website

✨ Links mentioned:

• How Long Does It Actually Take to Make a Friend? Article

• 📦 This month's Reset Box is available now
• 🎟️ More Than A Mum Social Club Wollongong — Saturday 22nd August — grab your tickets here.
• 🏡 Join The Facebook community here.
• Listen to Ep. 6: Redefining Roles: Building a Business & Identity Beyond Motherhood with Belinda Xia

What if the key to feeling more like yourself in motherhood wasn't more me time — but more pleasure in the moments you're already in?

In this episode, I'm joined by Regan Figg — author of A Mother's Pleasure, business coach, the host of The Pleasurepreneur podcast, and former exercise physiologist — for one of my favourite conversations on the pod so far. We get into what actually happens to our sense of self when we take on the identity of "mum," why we conceal the wild, ambitious, rageful, playful parts of ourselves, and how something as simple as tasting your morning coffee can start to change everything.

We cover:

• The "postpartum Pandora's box" of beliefs we unknowingly take on when we become mothers
• The basic needs cup vs the life force energy cup — and why one can't overflow without the other
• Why sensuality has nothing to do with sex and everything to do with presence
• Why self-care as a to-do list will never work, and what to do instead

This one is equal parts practical and perspective-shifting.

🔗 Connect with Regan:

• On Instagram
• Visit her website
• Listen to her podcast: The Pleasurepreneur on Spotify
• Listen to her podcast: The Pleasurepreneur on Apple
• Grab a copy of A Mother's Pleasure
• Listen to a free Audiobook version A Mother's Pleasure

✨ Links mentioned:

• ⁠A Moment For Me Hobby Subscription Boxes⁠ – Monthly, mum-proof hobby boxes designed to help you move from survival to small, soulful self-connection through micro-moments of joy.
• ⁠The Hidden Chapter Facebook Group⁠ – A free, supportive community of women rediscovering who they are beyond motherhood, with early box reveals, behind-the-scenes updates and gentle identity conversations.
• ⁠In-Person Event in Wollongong – Find out more information about the in-person event I'm hosting in Wollongong for mums wanting to reconnect with who they are outside the title of "mum" & make some new friends along the way.

Follow Not Just A Mum on:

• Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠@notjustamum_pod ⁠⁠⁠⁠
• TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠@notjustamum.pod
• Website www.notjustamum.com.au

Early motherhood can feel like pure survival mode — especially when you’re navigating twins, isolation, unrealistic expectations and a complete identity shake-up.

In this episode, I’m joined by Krystal who is an early motherhood coach who helps mums move from overwhelm and burnout into self-connection. We talk about her twin birth during COVID, the invisible pressure on new mums, why postpartum is more than a six-week check-up, and how simple non-negotiables, boundaries and emotional regulation can help you feel like you again.

If you’ve ever thought “I don’t even know who I am anymore,” this conversation is for you.

✨ Links mentioned:

• Connect with Krystal Coaching – Follow Krystal on Instagram for calm, real-talk support in the postpartum and early motherhood seasons.
• A Moment For Me Hobby Subscription Boxes – Monthly, mum-proof hobby boxes designed to help you move from survival to small, soulful self-connection through micro-moments of joy.
• The Hidden Chapter Facebook Group – A free, supportive community of women rediscovering who they are beyond motherhood, with early box reveals, behind-the-scenes updates and gentle identity conversations.
• Who Am I Now? Workshop – A self-paced, 13-prompt self-discovery journey to help you reconnect with who you are beyond motherhood.
• Ep 1: Who Are You Without the Titles? – In this solo episode, I talk about how we’re so much more than “mum”, “wife” or whatever job title we introduce ourselves with — and why learning to see ourselves beyond those labels is the first step back to self-connection. It pairs perfectly with the article “You Are More Than Just a Mum: Unlearning Who You ‘Should’ Be and Embracing Who You Are”, which dives deeper into identity shifts, the four types of women in the NJAM community, and remembering the you beneath the roles you hold.

Follow Not Just A Mum on:

• Instagram ⁠⁠⁠@notjustamum_pod ⁠⁠⁠

• TikTok ⁠⁠⁠@notjustamum.pod

In this episode, we’re redefining what strength really looks like for women and mums — far beyond the glossy “do it all” messaging we’re fed online. Strength isn’t always loud, impressive or Instagram-worthy. Sometimes it’s slowing down. Sometimes it’s asking for help. Sometimes it’s simply getting through the day.

I chat about the invisible labour women carry, the mental load we normalise, and why vulnerability, rest and self-honesty are some of the strongest things we can model for ourselves and our children.

This episode is your reminder that your version of strength is valid — no matter what it looks like from the outside.

✨ Links mentioned:

• NJAM Caps – A symbol of this community and a daily reminder that you’re not just a mum — you’re so much more.
• Who Am I Now? Workshop – A self-paced, 13-prompt self-discovery journey to help you reconnect with who you are beyond motherhood.
• A Moment For Me Hobby Subscription Boxes – Mum-proof hobby boxes designed to help you reconnect with yourself through small, nourishing micro-moments of joy.
• The Hidden Chapter Facebook Group – Our free, supportive community where we share early reveals, identity-focused conversations and behind-the-scenes updates.

Follow Not Just A Mum on:

• Instagram ⁠⁠@notjustamum_pod ⁠⁠

• TikTok ⁠⁠@notjustamum.pod

Motherhood can make it hard to hear your own voice under the noise of routines, expectations and “shoulds.” In this episode, I chat with wayfinder and recalibration coach Sarah Fairnie about setting goals that actually feel aligned, learning to pause, and rebuilding self-trust through tiny, doable habits like breathwork and journaling.

If you’ve ever felt guilty for wanting more, this conversation will help you see that your joy, growth and goals matter too.

✨ Links mentioned:

• Follow Sarah Fairnie on Instagram⁠
• A Moment For Me hobby subscription boxes⁠
• Who Am I Now? Workshop⁠\
• ⁠The Hidden Chapter Facebook Group⁠

It’s okay if you’re learning something new while raising kids. Your growth matters too.

Follow Not Just A Mum on:

• Instagram ⁠@notjustamum_pod ⁠

• TikTok ⁠@notjustamum.pod

This episode kicks off 2026 with a fresh start and a familiar challenge — 12 hobbies in 12 months. I share the lessons learned from last year's attempt (including windstorms, morning sickness, and unexpected hospital trips) and why I’m doing it all again, this time with a newborn in tow.

It's not about finishing, it’s about trying. About making space for joy just for you. If you’ve ever felt like motherhood erased parts of who you were, this episode is your reminder that hobbies aren’t selfish — they’re reconnection.

✨ Links mentioned:

• A Moment For Me hobby subscription boxes
• Free hobby guide
• Who Am I Now? Workshop
• The Hidden Chapter Facebook Group

It’s okay if you’re learning something new while raising kids. Your growth matters too.

Follow Not Just A Mum on:

• Instagram @notjustamum_pod

• TikTok @notjustamum.pod

Motherhood doesn’t have to be the end of your ambitions – sometimes it’s the spark for completely new ones. In this episode I chat with Tru, a mum of two whose career has zig-zagged through admin roles, running an online kids’ business, studying HR in the middle of COVID, being made redundant (more than once), and now stepping into the not-for-profit and youth space – all while writing a novel on the side.

Tru shares what it was like leaving school early and feeling “behind”, navigating FIFO life and long stretches of solo parenting, going back to study as a mature-age student, and learning to pivot when something isn’t the right fit anymore. We also talk about identity, creativity, and why having something that’s just for you can make you a better mum.

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s “too late” to start again, this one’s your permission slip to back yourself and take the next small step.

Links & resources mentioned:

• Join The Hidden Chapter Facebook group

• Shop A Moment For Me hobby boxes

• Follow Tru on Instagram

• Follow Not Just A Mum on Instagram & TikTok: @notjustamum_pod

• Free resources & blog: https://notjustamum.com.au

Motherhood changes everything — your priorities, your body image, your career, even your sense of self. In this raw and honest conversation, Belinda Xia shares how she walked away from stability to pursue her spark, what it’s like to step into the breadwinner role, and how she’s challenging society’s expectations of women and mothers.

We dive into identity, ambition, the invisible mental load, and why mum guilt is really a societal construct. This episode will leave you rethinking what success looks like — and how you can start claiming it for yourself.

🔗 Connect with Belinda

• Instagram: @belindaxiastudio
• Website: www.belindaxiastudio.com

Motherhood doesn’t just change your identity — it changes your independence. In this episode, we explore the loss of autonomy that comes with motherhood, from the little freedoms we took for granted to the bigger choices that now revolve around our kids.

You’ll hear why craving independence doesn’t make you ungrateful, practical ways to reclaim space for yourself, and how autonomy evolves as your kids grow.

Feeling a little lost in motherhood? 💭

You’re not alone — and we’ve created something to help you reconnect with you.

✨ Join our free “Who Am I Now?” Workshop, a 13-day guided journey designed to help you rediscover who you are beyond motherhood. You’ll reflect, reconnect, and rebuild your sense of self — one question at a time.

🧡 Plus — our Not Just A Mum caps are now available! Show your support for the pod and proudly wear your NJAM community hat.

👉 Join the workshop & shop the caps at www.notjustamum.com.au

Follow along on Instagram & TikTok @notjustamum_pod 🧡

Made redundant on maternity leave, Laura Struys turned a setback into the spark for something bigger. In this episode, she shares how motherhood became her driving force to launch Wollongong Women, prioritise her health without guilt, and build a business while raising little ones.

🔗 Connect with Laura Struys:

• Instagram: @wollongongwomen | @thelauraaura_

• Website: wollongongwomen.com.au