Re-Pinked

Okay, so you all loved Taylor as much as I do (no surprises here, she's a bloody 10/10, gold star legend).

So, I've got her back. This time, we aren't talking about poker (sorry) instead we're pivoting to something a little more serious.

Taylor is a woman who exists in a larger body. And, because of this, she has experienced unique challenges in her life and motherhood journey that many of us can't even imagine.

In this chat, we go deep. I start at the beginning. I ask Taylor what it was like growing up, how she feels about her body, how others have treated her, what it feels like to surrounded by skinny culture, and what it was like trying for a baby. Then, we talk about pregnancy and birth.

It's a lot (and it's not even all of it). This is only part 1. Next week, there's more to unpack.

What stood out to me in this chat is Taylor's confidence. She embraces who she is and doesn't spend a lot of time focusing on the number on a scale. Hell, I doubt she even owns a scale.

Why? Because to her, weight is just a number, not a reflection of value.

And, if that doesn't hammer home that Taylor truly is one of the coolest people on the planet, I don't know what will.

Enjoy x

Cal's back this week as I share part 2 of our chat!

I love this part of the chat because it fills me with hope, joy, and gratitude. Listening to how Cal turned her life around and got to where she is today is honestly, inspiring.

We chat about finding God, meeting her now husband, falling pregnant for a second time, and preparing for her next baby. We talk about how drastically different a second pregnancy and birth can feel, and how ultimately letting go of control is the ultimate motherhood hack.

Haven't listened to part 1 yet? Head back a week and catch up first!

Enjoy. x

This week I am joined by Cal Davidson.

After actively deciding to try for a baby at 19, Cal quickly found herself deep in the trenches of severe postpartum depression, facing the reality of doing it all on her own after the repeated infidelity of her then boyfriend.

For a while there, Cal couldn't imagine how she was going to be able to keep going.

But boy, I'm glad she's the warrior she is.

This is part 1 of my chat with Cal, where we talk about her decision to become a young mum, what it felt like to watch her dream of a family unit fall apart, and how she began to turn her life around - all whilst learning to be a mother at the same time.

What shone through the brightest in this conversation is how strong Cal is. She's a deep thinker, reflector, and grower. She owns her story and is anything but a victim.

She reminded me that we are so much stronger than we think.

If you or someone you know is experiencing postnatal depression (PPD), anxiety, or other mental health difficulties after having a baby, support is available and you don’t have to face it alone.

PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia) offers confidential support for parents and carers on 1300 726 306, and speaking with your GP or other health professional can also help you access appropriate care. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 000, or contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Listen with care, but do listen. If anyone can inspire you to build a life you love, it's Cal.

This week I am joined by Erin Keys.

When I did a call out for new and interesting stories on the pod, I was bloody thrilled to hear from Erin. When it comes to matrescence identity shifts, it doesn't get much more dramatic than hers.

Before Erin became a mother, she was a police officer. And, let me tell you, there are VERY FEW careers I am more curious about than policing.

In this chat, I get real nosy about what it's like to be a police officer. I ask Erin what a regular day as a cop looked like, how she handled confronting situations, and how it really felt to jump from from the role of cop to mum.

Together we discuss jumping from traditionally masculine to feminine identities overnight, accepting the dramatic life shift, and recreating a life on the other side that still feels like you (but maybe even better?).

Erin is honest, funny, and open. She says some things out loud in this chat that resonated with me to my core, reminding me, once again, that we are all in this together.

Enjoy this one x

Niki's baaaaccccckk!

But this time, I've decided to get her in not as a co-host but as a guest to share her own very special story.

I remember the night that Niki gave birth to her second son, Harrison. It was a rainy night, and I had 6-week-old Florence in the bassinet next to me. I was still recovering from my elective cesarean.

I was staying up because I was waiting to hear the news of Harri's birth. I had received updates throughout the day from Niki and her mum and knew I wasn't going to sleep until I got the word that everyone was a-okay.

Then, I received a photo. It was Niki with her big bouncing healthy baby boy along with the words:

MAGICAL. Honestly, I still can't really believe it. It was the most amazing experience of my life.

Magical. A word I'd never really heard someone use to describe their birth. Fast, unexpected, hectic, crazy... sure. But never magical.

I felt relief. An absolute wave of joy for my dear friend.

And deep down, I also felt a little bit of envy. Niki's birth was everything I'd ever wanted but genuinely didn't think was possible.

She planned and prepped for her birth, trusted her body, kept her space sacred, and it all went to plan. Something that was completely unheard of to me.

So this is her birth story.

But, so much more than that it's a discussion about why we get weird about sharing positive birth stories, how a great birth doesn't mean it has to be intervention free, and the unshakeable power of women.

Talking this out with Niki reminded me of something important: a great birth doesn't start with goals of how it's going to go or what you do or don't want in terms of interventions.

It starts with a simple goal of maintaining inner power through the avoidance of trauma.

A goal which, I've come to learn, is something that should be accessible to us all, no matter what type of birth we have.

Enjoy. x

In this episode I am joined by my darling husband, Jim.

Jim and I first met in 2013 when I was 17 and he was 21. Quite literally before we crossed paths, neither of us had never had a serious relationship. He was my first ever 'first date'.

After 6 years dating, Jim popped the question in 2018, we got married in 2019, and we had our first kiddo, Leo, in 2023 followed by Florence in 2025.

In this chat we answer your questions about life, identity, and parenting. Along the way we touch on Jim's ADHD diagnosis in 2023, the biggest challenges we've had since becoming parents, and advice we'd give ourselves if we could go back and start all over again.

Jim's insights in this ep remind me of the very real transformation men also go through after becoming parents. It really is big stuff all around, isn't it?

I hope you love this ep and get something out of it. x

This week I am joined by Corrie Sanders.

I first met Corrie when I was running mum clubs. She was attending my teeny-tiny baby group with her newborn Tucker. Then, one day, they stopped coming.

I knew that Tucker had been in hospital. I knew things weren't great. But I had no idea just what was going on behind the scenes.

In this chat, Corrie tells me the whole story. About how Tucker, when he was just 8 weeks old, nearly died from bacterial meningitis. How that same infection resulted in him becoming profoundly deaf. About how the impacts of it have impacted every part of their world - and her life as a mum.

But, don't be fooled. This story isn't one of grief or sadness. Corrie's light, humour, and grit are so clear throughout it all. And she tells me she wouldn't change a thing.

This chat taught me about the true meaning of resilience, the importance of gratitude, and the incredible things mothers (and families) can endure.

Corrie tells me she hasn't re-pinked. And I think that's probably true. But, I think, something even more incredible is happening to her: she's morphing into a new colour entirely. One that is so bright I can't help but feel in awe.

x

Are you in your goop era?

This week I am joined by ICF-accredited motherhood coach and founder of Her Mind Mentor, Tayla. Tayla is a mum-of-2 and has dedicated her postpartum life to helping new mums evolve through matrescence.

To say I was excited to yap about all things identity and matrescence is an understatement - and yap we did.

We talked about:

• Hitting rock bottom
• What it feels like to lose identity as a mum
• Motherhood and matrescence in the modern era
• TOO MUCH INFORMATION ALL AT ONCE
• The stages of Mothermorphosis
• How to embrace a new identity

This chat covers a lot of ground. But, if you're feeling a little lost right now then I think you might get something useful out of it.

Enjoy this one, and be sure to check out Tayla's socials for some more of her wisdom @hermindmentor_

x

Finding identity as a mother is hard. But, what about when you're not only a mother but also a carer?

This week I am joined by Ashlee Wallace. Ash is a mum of two daughters: Audrey (8) and Amari (4) and the owner of ⁠Dragonfly Soul Sanctuary⁠.

Just 3 months into Amari's life, Audrey - 4 at the time - had her first seizure. Shortly after, she was diagnosed with epilepsy. 4 years later and Audrey now requires full-time care and medical support and experiences approximately 100 seizures daily.

This is the story of Ashlee's experience of motherhood in amongst some of the most unimaginable hardships any family can face.

Despite it all, Ashlee is undeniably repinking. She is full of energy and life. She is LIVING.

And a big part of that is thanks to kinesiology - something that she's trained in and shares through Dragonfly Soul Sanctuary. We, of course, talk about that too.

Big one. Important one.

Listen with care.

Cass x

Every year it is estimated that up to 110,000 Australian women will experience a miscarriage.

Around 1 in 4 pregnancies end before they reach 20 weeks gestation. Around 85% of these occur within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

A chemical pregnancy is a loss that occurs very early - often before the 5 week mark.

My guest today has experienced both a chemical pregnancy and a miscarriage. And, those experiences changed everything.

In this conversation we talk about the very real impact that miscarriage has, how it makes you lose trust in your body, and how your body can experience the loss for years to come.

If you have experienced a miscarriage, I hope this conversation makes you feel seen.

Pregnancy loss affects so many families, yet it's often experienced in silence. If this episode has resonated with you and you'd like some extra support, please reach out to your GP, a trusted health professional, or organisations like Pink Elephants Support Network and SANDS Australia.

Help is available, and you deserve support. x