Rewrite the Mother Code with Dr. Gertrude Lyons

By Dr. Gertrude LyonsSociety & Culture Education Self-Improvement Relationships Personal Journals

Rewrite the Mother Code with Dr. Gertrude Lyons episodes

November 09250: Rewriting the Holiday Code: Creating a Season That Feels Like Your Own
In this solo episode, I share my own journey of rewriting the holiday code, beginning with the years when my husband, Rich, and I spent Christmas driving all over Michigan, trying to make everyone happy. Caught between family expectations and the fear of disappointing our mothers, we found ourselves repeating old patterns rather than creating the holiday experience we truly wanted. I explore how the holidays can bring us right back into childhood roles, even when we've done so much work to become independent adults.
I share the practical changes Rich and I made over time, from creating a vision for the season and choosing values like gratitude, to establishing new traditions, asking for what we needed, and making space for ourselves as a couple. We began approaching family gatherings with more awareness, noticing the roles we slipped into and learning that we could remain connected to our families without abandoning ourselves. Eventually, we made the bigger decision to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at home, creating a holiday experience that reflected the family we were building.
I also offer a reflection inspired by the VOICE framework in my book, Rewrite the Mother Code, to help you envision the holiday season you want to create. We'll explore what you loved about the holidays growing up, what felt difficult, and the deeper values underneath those experiences. Whether you're ready to make big changes or simply want to approach this season with more awareness, I invite you to include yourself in the experience you're creating and practice mothering yourself along the way.
You’ll also hear about:
(00:17) My experience of trying to make everyone happy during the holidays
(05:27) Recognizing the family roles and expectations we carry into adulthood
(06:40) Creating a holiday vision rooted in connection, meaning, and nourishment
(08:39) Building traditions and spreading the joy across the entire season
(10:46) Observing family dynamics and recognizing when we fall into old roles
(13:15) Asking for what we need and showing up as contributing adults
(15:40) Creating space for ourselves while staying connected to family
(18:28) Making the decision to spend Christmas at home and honoring our own family traditions
(20:07) Using the VOICE framework to begin rewriting your holiday code
(21:00) Reflecting on childhood memories, difficult experiences, and the values underneath them
(25:28) The holidays as the “Olympics” of personal growth and practicing new ways of relating
(27:09) Becoming a grandmother and offering the next generation freedom to create their own traditions
(28:15) Practicing self-mothering and including your own needs in the holiday experience

Don't miss this invitation to rewrite your holiday code, honor what matters to you, and create a season that feels more meaningful and nourishing!
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A Holiday Gift from Dr. Gertrude:
Join me for the Mexico Self-Mothering Retreat, January 30–February 6, 2027. As a special gift to listeners, I'm offering $250 off the retreat for anyone who expresses interest by Cyber Monday, November 30, 2026.
Click here for your $250 Holiday Gift and to learn more about the Mexico Retreat.
You don't have to make a final decision by November 30. Simply reach out by that date and let us know you've listened to the podcast and would like to receive the offer. Your holiday gift will be honored if you decide to join us.
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34 min
November 02249: We’re Not Meant to Go Back: Kimberly Ann Johnson on Motherhood, Menopause, and Embodied Wisdom
In this episode, I speak with Kimberly Ann Johnson, a leading voice in women’s sexuality, embodiment, and nervous system wisdom, about the profound transformations that take place throughout a woman’s life. A sexological bodyworker, birth doula, international teacher, and bestselling author of The Fourth Trimester, Kimberly shares how childbirth challenged her understanding of spirituality, womanhood, and the body. Together, we explore a powerful question: What if the major transitions in our lives are not experiences we need to get through so we can return to who we were, but invitations to discover who we are becoming?
Kimberly reflects on her postpartum experience, the physical and emotional challenges that followed birth, and the realization that many of the spiritual and wellness communities she had been part of did not fully account for motherhood or women’s bodies. She shares how discovering the stories of other women helped her understand that she did not have to choose between her spiritual path and being a mother. We also explore the cultural pressure to regain our former bodies and identities, the importance of being supported through life’s thresholds, and why grief deserves space rather than being rushed or avoided. From the postpartum period to menopause, Kimberly invites us to recognize the wisdom of these transitions and to question the narrow expectations that shape how women experience them.
Our conversation also explores Kimberly’s forthcoming book, Erotic Seasons: Tuning Into the Rhythms of Women’s Sexuality and Spirituality, and the ways our relationship with sexuality, pleasure, and vitality can evolve throughout our lives. We discuss learning to listen to the body, making room for experiences that do not fit familiar narratives, and recognizing erotic energy as something that can nourish creativity, connection, and a deeper sense of aliveness. Kimberly reminds us that we do not need to measure our experiences against someone else’s expectations. By honoring our changing needs, allowing ourselves to grieve what has passed, and becoming curious about what is emerging, we can cultivate a more authentic relationship with our bodies and ourselves.
You’ll also hear about:
(02:32) How childbirth challenged Kimberly’s understanding of spirituality, womanhood, and the body
(06:24) The lack of support for mothers in spiritual communities and discovering that motherhood and a personal spiritual practice can coexist
(08:12) How another woman’s story helped Kimberly release the belief that she had to get everything right to have a meaningful spiritual and personal life
(12:00) The pressures women face around their bodies, postpartum recovery, and the expectation to return to a previous version of themselves
(19:04) Why the postpartum experience can bring unresolved experiences and generational patterns to the surface
(28:03) Rewriting the expectations placed on mothers and recognizing the importance of receiving support rather than doing everything alone
(32:00) Making space for grief and the role of communal rituals in helping women move through significant life changes
(34:04) Menopause as a threshold into a different way of experiencing life, the body, and our sense of possibility
(38:02) An unexpected experience at the hot springs and what it can reveal about our relationship with our bodies and the stories we carry
(42:01) Letting go of rigid expectations about the stages of womanhood and making room for our own experiences
(46:03) Learning to listen to the body and recognize the wisdom that can emerge when we turn inward
(50:01) Understanding pleasure as a foundation for erotic impulse, vitality, and connection
(58:03) Why listening to our own bodies matters in a world full of advice, information, and external expectations
(01:01:02) The relationship between erotic energy and creativity, and how sharing our stories can open new possibilities for other women

Don't miss Kimberly’s inspiring perspective on embracing the changing seasons of womanhood, making space for grief and pleasure, and discovering who we are becoming through life’s most
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Learn more about Kimberly Ann Johnson:
Learn more about Kimberly on her Website
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Order her Books

Books mentioned this episode:
Die Wise: A Manifesto for Sanity and Soul
Feeding Your Demons: Ancient Wisdom for Resolving Inner Conflict
Women of Wisdom

Follow Dr. Gertrude:
Learn more on Dr. Gertrude’s Website
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Stay in the loop and sign up to Dr. Gertrude’s Substack
Order Dr. Gertrude’s new book “Rewrite the Mother Code”
1 hr 11 min
October 26248: Rewriting the Good Girl Code: Finding Your Voice and Reclaiming Yourself
In this episode of Rewrite the Mother Code, I’m joined by Cari Fund, writer, podcast host, mother, and author of Autopsy of a Good Girl. Through humor, honesty, and deeply personal stories, Cari explores what it means to be a “good girl,” how that identity is often shaped by childhood conditioning, and what happens when the roles we learned to play no longer serve us.
Cari shares how people-pleasing, perfectionism, and constantly reading the emotions of others became ways to navigate a difficult childhood. She reflects on the coping mechanisms that followed, including body image struggles, bulimia, alcohol, and workaholism, as well as the childhood diary that helped her recognize how much she had learned to hide her true feelings. We also explore three pivotal moments in her life: choosing to stay with her father at 14, becoming estranged from her mother at 31, and becoming a mother at 36. Each brought its own lessons about boundaries, identity, and the patterns we carry into our relationships.
Together, we discuss the grief that can come with recognizing what we didn’t receive as children, the complicated process of setting boundaries with family, and the work of breaking generational cycles as parents. Cari shares what she wants her children to know about self-worth, why we don’t need to feel ashamed of the ways we learned to survive, and how sitting in silence, journaling, and listening to our intuition can help us reconnect with ourselves. Her story is a reminder that healing isn’t about becoming someone new to please others; it’s about meeting ourselves more honestly and choosing how we want to live and love.
You’ll also hear about:
(04:07) What being a “good girl” really means, and how shame, silence, and labels can shape our identity.
(07:10) How people-pleasing, perfectionism, and shapeshifting can become childhood survival strategies.
(08:01) The coping mechanisms Cari developed, including body image struggles, bulimia, alcohol, and workaholism.
(12:20) Learning to keep family secrets and the impact of being told what a good daughter should be.
(16:09) Finding a childhood diary and recognizing the difference between the story she told about her family and what she really felt.
(19:34) Three pivotal moments: choosing to stay with her father at 14, becoming estranged from her mother at 31, and becoming a mother at 36.
(28:32) The grief of acknowledging what was missing in childhood, setting boundaries, and navigating estrangement without treating it as a one-size-fits-all answer.
(37:42) What Cari wants her children to understand about self-worth, love, and not having to earn their value through achievement.
(40:16) Simple ways to begin questioning the identity we’ve inherited, including silence, journaling, and honest self-reflection.
(42:53) Why we don’t need to add shame to the coping mechanisms that helped us survive.
(43:24) What becomes possible when the “good girl” identity falls away and we begin to meet ourselves with confidence, love, and respect.
(46:40) Self-mothering, honoring our journey, and learning to trust our intuition.

Don't miss this powerful conversation about breaking free from inherited expectations, reclaiming your voice, and choosing a more authentic way of living and loving.
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Learn more about Cari Fund:
Learn more about Cari on her Website
Listen to Cari’s Podcast
Order Cari’s Book

Follow Dr. Gertrude:
Learn more on Dr. Gertrude’s Website
Follow Dr. Gertrude on Instagram
Stay in the loop and sign up to Dr. Gertrude’s Substack
Order Dr. Gertrude’s new book “Rewrite the Mother Code”
54 min
October 12247: Keeping the Bond Alive: Sara Rian on Grief, Motherhood & Healing
In this episode, I speak with Sara Rian, a poet, licensed therapist, sex therapist, and mother, about the deeply personal ways grief and loss have shaped her life, her relationship with motherhood, and her creative journey. Sara shares how losing her mother to suicide in 2018 transformed her poetry and became a way to process trauma, honor her grief, and maintain a connection with someone she loved. She also reflects on the profound impact of losing her oldest son and how these experiences have shaped her understanding of love, loss, and what it means to keep moving through life while carrying grief.
Sara opens up about the vulnerability of writing through grief, why she eventually chose to remove her first two books from publication, and how poetry has become a way to honor the people she has lost. We explore how grief can remain part of our lives rather than simply diminish with time, why there is no single right way to experience loss, and how allowing ourselves to feel deeply can create space for healing and self-discovery. Sara also shares how her experiences have challenged cultural expectations around grief and the pressure to move on or return to normal.
We delve into how loss intersects with motherhood, including Sara’s reflections on becoming a mother after losing her own mother, the generational patterns she wanted to understand before having children, and the ways grief can resurface through major life transitions. Sara shares how she continues her relationship with her mother through poetry, family rituals, and conversations with her daughters about the grandmother they never met. Our conversation explores the complexity of loving and grieving, the importance of mothering ourselves, and how we can honor those we have lost while creating new experiences and relationships for ourselves and the generations that follow.
You’ll also hear about:
(02:08) Sara’s journey as a therapist, mother, and poet, and how writing became part of her life
(03:12) How losing her mother to suicide transformed her poetry and became a way to process trauma and grief
(05:34) Why Sara chose to remove her first two poetry books and protect the vulnerability of her earliest grief
(08:12) The courage it takes to share deeply personal experiences and allow others to witness our pain
(10:43) How grief has become part of Sara’s identity and why she has learned to honor rather than suppress it
(12:17) Challenging cultural expectations about the “right” way to grieve and move through loss
(13:08) Why pain can become a portal for growth, transformation, and deeper self-awareness
(15:33) How Sara’s mother’s childhood experiences shaped their conversations about motherhood and generational patterns
(17:10) Becoming a mother after losing her own mother and carrying forward the parts of their relationship she wanted to preserve
(22:11) How motherhood can bring new layers of grief to the surface and change our relationship with loss
(28:03) Preparing for motherhood through therapy, self-reflection, and understanding the experiences that shape our choices
(30:06) How different childhood experiences influence our understanding of parenting, family, and emotional connection
(35:13) Why poetry has remained a consistent part of Sara’s life and how her relationship with writing continues to evolve
(37:21) Releasing perfectionism and allowing creativity to become a practice of self-expression and self-care
(40:25) Continuing bonds and how poetry can help us maintain a relationship with loved ones who have died
(42:05) Keeping her mother’s memory alive for her daughters through family stories, rituals, and the name “Ladybug Grandma”
(45:14) How Sara’s experiences of loss have shaped her understanding of love, motherhood, and the importance of allowing grief to exist alongside life

Don't miss Sara's moving perspective on honoring grief, continuing our relationships with those we've lost, and rewriting the inherited beliefs that shape how we love, mother, and heal!
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Learn more about Sara Rian:
Find Sara’s poetry books on Amazon
Follow Sara on Instagram
Learn more on Sara’s Website

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Learn more on Dr. Gertrude’s Website
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Stay in the loop and sign up to Dr. Gertrude’s Substack
Order Dr. Gertrude’s new book “Rewrite the Mother Code”
58 min
October 05246: Rewriting the Mother Code: Sara Daves on Sovereignty, Purpose & Family Patterns
In this episode, I speak with Sara Daves, founder of the Sigma Femme Society and creator of Relational Field Intelligence and the Sovereignty Framework, about the inherited patterns, emotional conditioning, and family dynamics that shape who we become and the choices we make. Sara shares the deeply personal experience of losing her son and how that loss became a catalyst for reexamining purpose, freedom, and what it means to live a life aligned with who we truly are.
Sara explores the distinction between purpose as something we do and purpose as who we are, sharing how she came to define her own purpose and translate it into missions that serve a larger vision. We also delve into conflict resolution, unity consciousness, and the importance of making choices that align with our values. Sara shares how her work has evolved through purpose coaching, feminine embodiment, and Family Constellations, ultimately leading her to develop a deeper understanding of how we are constantly influencing one another within the relational field.
We explore the unconscious loyalties and family patterns that can keep us from experiencing true sovereignty, including the mother wound, caretaking, achievement, and the adaptations women develop in response to their environments. Sara introduces the alpha and beta archetypes as different adaptations and discusses the importance of integrating rather than over-identifying with either one. Together, we look at sovereignty not simply as the freedom to do whatever we want, but as the ability to make conscious choices, take responsibility for our impact, and remain aligned with our values even when it is difficult.
You’ll also hear about:
(05:34) Sara’s experience of losing her son and how his life and death became a catalyst for her work around purpose and sovereignty
(08:32) How grief led Sara to leave her corporate career and begin supporting others in discovering their purpose
(13:46) Redefining purpose as who we are rather than simply what we do
(15:55) Moving beyond blame and punishment through conflict resolution and recognizing our shared humanity
(18:27) Aligning our missions and everyday choices with our values, vision, and who we choose to be
(20:46) Family patterns, the knowing field, and the importance of bringing unconscious patterns into awareness
(21:43) The mother wound, unconscious loyalties, and the ways inherited conditioning can interfere with sovereignty
(25:11) The alpha and beta adaptations and the different ways women learn to navigate safety, achievement, and responsibility
(26:13) How the pursuit of equality can lead to confusing equality with sameness and devaluing feminine qualities
(30:25) The cultural tension between masculine and feminine and the possibility of honoring both forms of energy
(34:05) The patterns Sara inherited from watching women achieve, manage everything, and carry responsibility
(35:27) Relational Field Intelligence and understanding how every choice, word, and action impacts the people around us
(36:51) Agency, autonomy, sovereignty, and the freedom to make conscious choices
(38:21) Why sovereignty includes responsibility and self-governance rather than simply doing whatever we want
(42:29) Family Constellations, unconscious loyalties, and the process of returning responsibility to where it belongs
(45:00) A powerful example of an ancestral pattern and the way an unconscious family loyalty can move across generations

Don't miss Sara's inspiring perspective on purpose, sovereignty, family patterns, and the possibility of bringing what we inherit into conscious awareness so we can choose what continues with us!
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Learn more about Sara Daves:
Learn more on Sara’s Website
Listen to the Sigma Femme Podcast
Follow Sara on Substack
Follow Sara on Instagram
Buy her book
Learn about Sara’s Relational Field Intelligence Program

Follow Dr. Gertrude:
Learn more on Dr. Gertrude’s Website
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Stay in the loop and sign up to Dr. Gertrude’s Substack
Order Dr. Gertrude’s new book “Rewrite the Mother Code”
1 hr 1 min
September 28245: Reclaiming Womb Wisdom: Deborah Stanley on Feminine Power and Healing
In this episode, I speak with Deborah Stanley, founder of Deva Pathways, about her deeply personal journey of reconnecting with the womb, feminine wisdom, and the cyclical nature of women’s lives. Deborah shares how years of spiritual exploration, travel, motherhood, living off-grid, and eventually moving through perimenopause led her toward a deeper understanding of the womb as a source of embodied wisdom and feminine power.
Deborah opens up about the ways women can become disconnected from their bodies through cultural conditioning, shame, and inherited patterns. We explore the different archetypes and energetic qualities she associates with the womb, the relationship between the menstrual cycle and the seasons, and the importance of recognizing ourselves as cyclical beings. Deborah also shares how tracing the stories and experiences of mothers, grandmothers, and previous generations can illuminate patterns that continue to shape our lives.
We delve into motherhood, birth, attachment, intuition, and the pressure to find the “right” way to mother. Deborah reflects on raising her children in an off-grid woodland community, the importance of having a village around mothers, and the freedom that comes from giving ourselves permission to get things wrong. Together, we explore how reconnecting with our womb wisdom can help women trust their intuition, reclaim forgotten rites of passage, and create new patterns for the generations that follow.
You’ll also hear about:
(02:28) Deborah’s spiritual journey, travel, and the experiences that led her toward womb awakening
(04:21) Living off-grid, birthing her children, and discovering the wisdom of living in rhythm with the seasons
(05:40) Her five-year apprenticeship in womb awakening and the emergence of a deeper feminine power
(06:07) Perimenopause as an initiation and the process of recognizing where she had been putting others’ needs before her own
(07:12) Reconnecting with the womb as a source of creation, power, and feminine wisdom
(08:17) Exploring womb stories and generational patterns through mothers, grandmothers, and the women who came before us
(11:55) The ways women have become disconnected from their bodies and the deeper implications of patriarchal conditioning
(16:17) The feminine archetypes, initiation portals, and different forms of feminine power
(20:53) Breaking out of the “hamster wheel” of constant doing and learning to listen to the body’s natural rhythms
(23:57) The womb as a gateway and the deep stories carried within our bodies from the beginning of life
(26:59) How womb and lineage stories can influence belonging, safety, love, and our sense of being wanted
(35:56) Deborah’s experience of motherhood, living off-grid, and creating a different relationship with nature and community
(38:59) Early attachment, being carried, and how Deborah’s own childhood experiences shaped her approach to motherhood
(42:00) The importance of community and having other women around mothers to provide support and wisdom
(44:54) Letting go of the pressure to get motherhood “right” and giving ourselves permission to make mistakes
(50:56) Reclaiming menstrual blood, honoring the menstrual cycle, and reconnecting with feminine bodily wisdom
(54:02) Reclaiming rites of passage and bringing forgotten feminine wisdom into the lives of future generations

Don't miss Deborah’s powerful perspective on reconnecting with the womb, reclaiming feminine wisdom, and trusting the intuitive knowledge that has always been within us!
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Learn more about Deborah Stanley:
Follow Deborah on Instagram
Learn more about Deva Pathways

Follow Dr. Gertrude
Learn more on Dr. Gertrude’s Website
Follow Dr. Gertrude on Instagram
Stay in the loop and sign up to Dr. Gertrude’s Substack
Order Dr. Gertrude’s new book “Rewrite the Mother Code”
1 hr 8 min
September 21244: Rewriting the Fertility Code: Intuition, Healing & Motherhood with Aumatma Simmons
In this episode, I speak with Dr. Aumatma Simmons, founder of the Holistic Fertility Institute, about the deeply personal and professional journey that led her to a holistic approach to fertility. Aumatma shares how her early exposure to meditation and spirituality shaped her understanding of health, eventually leading her away from a traditional pre-med path and toward naturopathic medicine and the integration of mind, body, and spirit.
Aumatma opens up about how her own relationship, intuition, and desire to become a mother became the catalyst for her fertility work. Her personal questions led her to challenge some of the messages women receive about fertility and to explore the ways physiology, emotional experiences, trauma, beliefs, and intuition can intersect throughout the fertility journey. She shares how working with clients revealed patterns that helped shape her approach and why she believes fertility care can involve much more than simply pursuing a positive pregnancy test.
We delve into the cultural messages women receive about their bodies and fertility, including the expectation that conception should happen easily and the tendency to place the responsibility for fertility challenges primarily on women. Aumatma discusses the emotional impact of repeated disappointment, the importance of addressing trauma and belief systems, and the process of creating new messages for the body. We also explore how the idea of fertility can extend beyond conception, into leadership, creativity, business, and everything we seek to bring into the world.
You’ll also hear about:
(06:25) How meditation and spirituality shaped Aumatma’s approach to medicine
(07:59) The moment she discovered naturopathic medicine and knew she had found her path
(09:34) How her own intuition and desire for motherhood led her into fertility work
(12:04) The patterns Aumatma began noticing while working with people experiencing infertility
(15:30) Why fertility cannot always be understood through physiology alone
(20:08) The messages women receive about their bodies and the expectations surrounding conception
(23:18) Reframing the belief that the body is failing when conception doesn't happen as expected
(25:29) Releasing accumulated trauma, shifting what is happening in the body, and finding surrender
(30:29) Aumatma’s mind-body approach to peeling back layers of trauma
(35:42) Dr. Gertrude’s own fertility journey and the generational beliefs that surfaced through it
(47:22) The belief that fertility challenges are primarily the woman’s responsibility
(53:43) How Aumatma’s own experiences shifted the way she wanted to show up in motherhood
(55:37) Healing generational patterns and creating change that can extend beyond ourselves
(58:03) Madre Fertility and understanding potential root causes of fertility struggles
(59:44) Aumatma’s book, Fertility Secrets: What Your Doctor Didn’t Tell You About Baby Making
(01:00:55) The idea of the “fertile leader” and how fertility concepts can apply to leadership and creation

Don't miss Aumatma's inspiring perspective on fertility as a journey of self-discovery, healing, and creating fertile ground for what we want to bring into the world!
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen to podcasts!
Learn more about Aumatma Simmons:
Connect with Aumatma on LinkedIn
Follow Aumatma on Instagram
Learn more about Holistic Fertility Institute
Learn more about Madre Fertility
Order her Book

Follow Dr. Gertrude
Learn more on Dr. Gertrude’s Website
Follow Dr. Gertrude on Instagram
Stay in the loop and sign up to Dr. Gertrude’s Substack
Order Dr. Gertrude’s new book “Rewrite the Mother Code”
1 hr 11 min
September 14243: The Gift of Being Witnessed: Motherhood, Grandmotherhood & Self-Compassion
In this episode, I reflect on a recent weekend spent with my daughter Morgan, her close friends, and their spouses at our home in Ireland to celebrate her 30th birthday. What began as a birthday gathering unexpectedly became a mini retreat for me, bringing together women and couples standing at very different thresholds of motherhood, partnership, and family life.
Watching a young mother care for her nine-and-a-half-month-old brought me face-to-face with memories of my own motherhood — including the parts I had forgotten, the overwhelm I remembered, and the old questions about whether I had been enough. As I witnessed her navigating the daily realities of new motherhood, I realized how easily we can see the beauty, thoughtfulness, love, and care in another mother while being unable to recognize those same qualities in ourselves.
We explore the power of witnessing rather than fixing, correcting, or offering advice. As I prepare to become a grandmother, I share how this experience helped me imagine a different role — one rooted not in expertise, but in seeing the mother and reflecting back what she may not yet be able to see for herself. In doing so, I also discovered an opportunity to offer that same compassion to the younger mother I once was.
You’ll also hear about:
(02:15) Celebrating Morgan’s 30th birthday and the unexpected layers of motherhood it brought forward
(03:15) The different thresholds of motherhood and partnership represented during the weekend
(06:21) Feeling unexpectedly inadequate while watching a new mother care for her baby
(08:42) Why motherhood memories often preserve major milestones while losing the thousands of ordinary acts of tending
(09:18) The old wounds and questions about whether we were present enough or did motherhood “right”
(13:59) Seeing a young mother’s thoughtfulness, love, and discernment from the outside
(15:14) Choosing curiosity over judgment when witnessing another mother’s choices
(17:38) Why mothers are so hungry to be seen and why motherhood is such a vulnerable experience
(19:17) The cultural expectations that leave mothers constantly wondering, “Am I doing this right?”
(23:48) The connection between grandmotherhood and finally mothering the mother we once were
(25:42) Who is holding up the mirror for you, and whose face might change if you held one up for her?
(28:39) How being stirred up by what we see in others can become an invitation to curiosity, growth, and self-discovery

Don't miss this deeply personal reflection on motherhood, grandmotherhood, self-compassion, and the transformative power of truly witnessing one another!
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen to podcasts!
Follow Dr. Gertrude
Learn more on Dr. Gertrude’s Website
Follow Dr. Gertrude on Instagram
Stay in the loop and sign up to Dr. Gertrude’s Substack
Order Dr. Gertrude’s new book “Rewrite the Mother Code”
32 min
September 07242: Rewriting the Confidence Code: Leading Without Changing Who You Are
In this episode, I speak with Jennifer Marcou, international leadership coach, author, mother of three, and former Microsoft and American Express executive, about what it means to lead with confidence without changing who you are. Jennifer shares her journey from a career in corporate leadership to coaching introverts and ultimately writing her first book, Lead with Quiet Confidence.
Jennifer and I explore the often-misunderstood experience of introversion and the ways that workplace culture can favor extroverted behaviors. We talk about how introverts can learn new behaviors without becoming someone they are not, and how small, intentional actions can build confidence over time.
We also connect these ideas to motherhood, exploring the pressure women experience to follow inherited expectations about how they “should” mother. Jennifer shares how trusting your own wisdom, quieting the critical voices, and becoming clear about your own values can help you make decisions that feel authentic to you.
You’ll also hear about:
(01:56) Jennifer’s journey from corporate leadership to coaching introverts and writing her first book
(06:00) Why introverts can feel underestimated in the workplace
(13:59) Understanding introversion, extroversion, and the difference between shyness and social energy
(21:58) How introverts can practice speaking up without changing who they are
(30:33) Building confidence through small, intentional steps
(34:00) Motherhood, self-trust, and finding your own way of parenting
(36:03) Quieting the inner critic and listening to your “wisdom within”
(38:07) Making values-based decisions as a mother and a leader
(42:57) The three-part “Lead with Quiet Confidence” bridge: awareness, confidence, and action
(44:16) Why women and introverted women in particular need to make their accomplishments visible

Don't miss Jennifer's inspiring perspective on embracing introversion, trusting your own wisdom, and building confidence without becoming someone you're not!
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen to podcasts!
Learn more about Jennifer Marcou
Learn more about Jennifer on her Website
Connect with Jennifer on LinkedIn
Buy her book

Follow Dr. Gertrude
Learn more on Dr. Gertrude’s Website
Follow Dr. Gertrude on Instagram
Stay in the loop and sign up to Dr. Gertrude’s Substack
Order Dr. Gertrude’s new book “Rewrite the Mother Code”
59 min
August 24241: Rewriting Legacy: Laurette Rondenet on Family Business, Motherhood, and Authentic Leadership
In this episode, I’m joined by Laurette Rondenet, CEO of Edlong, host of Owning Your Legacy, and a mother of five, for a deeply moving conversation about what it truly means to lead with authenticity. Laurette shares the remarkable journey of becoming the unexpected leader of her family’s business and how embracing both strength and vulnerability transformed the company’s culture.
Together, we explore the unique challenges of balancing motherhood with executive leadership, navigating grief while raising young children, and making the heartbreaking decisions that sometimes accompany leading with integrity. Laurette reflects on the lessons she inherited from both of her parents, revealing how freedom, trust, and values became the foundation of her own leadership philosophy.
We also dive into the concept of authentic belonging, creating environments where people feel genuinely seen, heard, and empowered. This conversation is a beautiful reminder that our greatest legacy isn’t what we build, but how we make others feel along the way.
You’ll also hear about:
(06:30) Growing up as the youngest of seven and finding her own path
(11:35) Saving the family business during its biggest financial crisis
(16:00) Motherhood, leadership, and learning to ask for help
(19:30) Grief, resilience, and leading through profound personal loss
(39:20) The family values exercise that led to “Authentic Belonging”
(49:00) Why every emotion has wisdom—and how curiosity changes everything

Don’t miss this inspiring conversation about legacy, courageous leadership, and the transformative power of authentic belonging.
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1 hr 10 min

About Rewrite the Mother Code with Dr. Gertrude Lyons

From the publisher's feed

Mothering isn't just a role—it's an energy, a transformative experience that transcends traditional definitions. Whether as a noun, a verb, or a profound force, mothering is accessible to everyone who embraces it. Dr. Gertrude Lyons' groundbreaking work celebrates this essence, providing the tools and support to lead more authentic, joyful, and fulfilling lives - whether you’re seeking greater intimacy, more job satisfaction, or something else, you’re in the right place. Dive into this revolution with the Rewrite the Mother Code podcast and awaken the mothering spirit within you.