What if your anger isn’t the problem, but a sign that something in your life or relationships needs to change?

In this voice memo, I share the book that completely changed the way I understand anger: The Dance of Anger by Harriet Lerner. I found it while my relationship was at crisis point, and it helped me recognise why I had been feeling so angry and what those feelings were trying to tell me.

The book explores how anger can reveal unmet needs, unspoken feelings and boundaries that aren’t being respected. It also looks at the relationship patterns and drama triangles that can keep us stuck, particularly in our relationships with partners, parents, siblings and other people close to us.

This isn’t a complete summary of the book. It’s a recommendation from somebody who listened to it at exactly the moment she needed it and felt something finally click.
Read the book 👉 The Dance of Anger by Harriet Lerner 
🎧 Also available as an audiobook on Spotify.

Share your thoughts with me:

• Instagram: @natalie.kmartin 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motherhoodandempowerment
• Email: [email protected]

🤩 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.If you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it – this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

👉🏽 Overcome those moments of overwhelm with some light hearted fun! ⁠⁠Download my Overwhelm Busting Bingo sheet here⁠⁠

Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📢 Don’t forget to follow the podcast so you never miss an episode

What would it take to leave your career, sell everything you own and travel the world with your five-year-old?

In this episode, I’m joined by Janina Breitling, a mum, adventurer and entrepreneur who spent six years travelling with her son and giving him an education built around experience, connection and the world around him.

We talk about how Janina prepared to travel with a young child, what worldschooling actually looked like in practice and what it meant to build a completely different kind of childhood and family life.

Janina also shares how she started the sustainable menstrual product brand Nookees from a kitchen table in Bali, created the Nookees Foundation and began working to tackle period poverty across three continents.

This is an honest conversation about travelling the world with children, alternative education, motherhood, identity and trusting your instincts when the life you want doesn’t look like the one everybody expects you to choose.

📲 Follow Janina @janina.breitling and Nookes @nookes_ on Instagram
🩸 Curious about Nookees? Explore Janina’s foundation and products https://nookees.com/?srsltid=AfmBOooZj__VlNCrVkOAC557z7N1aIpR-RWz8LUuZ7j0MG2m5ir0ZdEw 

🤩 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.If you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it – this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

👉🏽 Overcome those moments of overwhelm with some light hearted fun! ⁠⁠Download my Overwhelm Busting Bingo sheet here⁠⁠

Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📢 Don’t forget to follow the podcast so you never miss an episode

What could you possibly have in common with Rihanna, besides both being mothers? More than you might think.

In this short episode, I talk about Rihanna’s honesty around adjusting to motherhood, changes to her body and identity, and the conflicting emotions that can come with working or spending time away from your children.

It can be easy to assume that motherhood must feel easier for women with money, support and access to every resource imaginable. Those things undoubtedly make a difference, but they don’t remove the enormous identity shift that can happen when you become a mum.

If you’ve been struggling with who you are since becoming a mother, feeling guilty about doing something for yourself or comparing your life to mums who appear to have everything together, consider this a little reminder: even Rihanna is finding her way through it.

Here's my Good Vibes playlist  including Ella, Ella, Ella! ☔️ 

🤩 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.If you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it – this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

👉🏽 Overcome those moments of overwhelm with some light hearted fun! ⁠⁠Download my Overwhelm Busting Bingo sheet here⁠⁠

Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📢 Don’t forget to follow the podcast so you never miss an episode

We know babies are expensive. But before having one, I didn’t fully understand how becoming a mum would affect my income, maternity pay, work and everyday household costs.

In this episode, I share what I wish I’d considered financially before having a baby. From increasing my income and building savings to preparing for maternity leave and understanding what self-employment could mean for my parental pay.

I also share some of the ways we kept the cost of having a baby down, including buying second-hand baby clothes and furniture, waiting before purchasing all the supposedly essential baby equipment, using gift lists, rotating toys, choosing free activities and deciding which things we were happy to spend more on.

We also talk about meal planning, loyalty schemes and the small changes that can make family life more affordable during a cost-of-living crisis.

Some of my experience is specific to living and working in Germany, particularly the discussion of Elterngeld and ElterngeldPlus. Maternity and parental leave rules vary and can change, so please check the current guidance for your own country and circumstances.

Links mentioned:

• Dirty Dozen list for organic food
• Free Meal Planning Spreadsheet and ChatGPT prompt 

Don't forget...
🤩 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.If you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it – this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

👉🏽 Overcome those moments of overwhelm with some light hearted fun! ⁠⁠Download my Overwhelm Busting Bingo sheet here⁠⁠

Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📢 Don’t forget to follow the podcast so you never miss an episode

After taking a short break from the podcast, I realised something needed to change. Life felt hectic, everything was competing for my attention and I desperately needed some time that belonged to me.

In this episode, I share how rearranging my routine helped me create space for movement, breathwork, meditation, journalling and focused work. For me, that meant getting up at 5am three mornings a week, going to bed earlier and working with the changing energy of my menstrual cycle.

This is absolutely not me telling you to join the 5AM club. It’s an honest look at what happened when I stopped trying to squeeze everything into the end of an exhausting day and started asking when I actually had the energy and support to do the things that mattered to me.

If motherhood feels overwhelming and you never seem to have time for yourself, this episode might help you look at your routine differently and find a little space that works for your life.

I also mention menstrual cycle awareness and cycle syncing. Listen to Episode 5 for a deeper introduction to understanding and working with your menstrual cycle.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Sandy’s YouTube breathwork sessions: https://www.youtube.com/breathewithsandy

🤩 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.If you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it – this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

👉🏽 Overcome those moments of overwhelm with some light hearted fun! ⁠⁠Download my Overwhelm Busting Bingo sheet here⁠⁠

Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📢 Don’t forget to follow the podcast so you never miss an episode

After 20 episodes of The Mama Circle, I’m taking a short pause to regroup and reground because life has been a LOT.

This isn’t goodbye. I already have some wonderful conversations recorded and I can’t wait to share them with you when the podcast returns.

Thank you for being here for the first 20 episodes, my loves.

➡️ In the meantime, don't forget to hit FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE to get the latest episode automatically when I return.
🤩 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.If you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it – this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

👉🏽 Overcome those moments of overwhelm with some light hearted fun! ⁠⁠Download my Overwhelm Busting Bingo sheet here⁠⁠

Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📢 Don’t forget to follow the podcast so you never miss an episode

This topic gets people fired up: co-sleeping vs sleep training. Which is better? Which is “right”? In today’s episode, I dive into the real conversation around these parenting choices, sharing my personal experience and the bigger picture that often gets missed.

We explore:

• The problem with black and white thinking in motherhood
• Why guilt-based messaging can do more harm than good
• What happened when we transitioned from co-sleeping to a crib
• How to make the right decision for your family without shame

As always, there’s no one-size-fits-all in motherhood. This is a space for nuance, for sharing, and for reminding yourself that you’re doing your best.

📲 What has YOUR sleep journey looked like? Share with me here in the comments or:

• Instagram: @natalie.kmartin 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motherhoodandempowerment
• Email: [email protected] 

🤩 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.If you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it – this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

👉🏽 Overcome those moments of overwhelm with some light hearted fun! ⁠⁠Download my Overwhelm Busting Bingo sheet here⁠⁠

Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📢 Don’t forget to follow the podcast so you never miss an episode

Do you miss the woman you were before becoming a mum? The freedom, spontaneity and ability to make decisions without organising your life around somebody else?

If you’ve been wondering, “Who am I now?”, you may be experiencing matrescence: the enormous physical, emotional and identity shift that happens when you become a mother.

In this episode, I explore matrescence through the archetypes of the maiden and the mother. We talk about why becoming a mum can leave you feeling caught between who you were and who you’re becoming, and why it’s possible to love your child while still grieving parts of your old life.

I share ways to acknowledge this transition, honour the identity you had before motherhood and reconnect with the parts of yourself you miss. Because the old you hasn’t disappeared. She may no longer be driving, but she’s still coming with you.

An honest conversation about identity loss after motherhood, missing your pre-baby life and making space for the woman inside the mum.

Resources & mentions:
🎶 My Inner Maiden Playlist

🤩 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.If you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it – this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

👉🏽 Overcome those moments of overwhelm with some light hearted fun! ⁠⁠Download my Overwhelm Busting Bingo sheet here⁠⁠

Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📢 Don’t forget to follow the podcast so you never miss an episode

What does self-care actually look like when you’re a mum with limited time, energy and space for yourself?

In this episode, you’ll hear voice notes from real mums sharing the self-care practices that genuinely help them feel better. From quick morning routines and movement to spa days, reconnecting with friends and simply finding a little time alone, every answer looks different.

These aren’t perfect routines or another list of things mothers should be doing. They’re honest, real-life self-care ideas from women finding ways to recharge within the lives they actually have.

If you’ve been struggling to make time for yourself since becoming a mum, this episode might give you an idea that feels enjoyable, realistic and possible.

What does your self-care look like? Share with me here in the comments or:

• Instagram: @natalie.kmartin 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motherhoodandempowerment
• Email: [email protected] 

🤩 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.If you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it – this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

👉🏽 Overcome those moments of overwhelm with some light hearted fun! ⁠⁠Download my Overwhelm Busting Bingo sheet here⁠⁠

Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📢 Don’t forget to follow the podcast so you never miss an episode

If you feel like motherhood has completely rewired your brain since giving birth, you're right! Science proves that pregnancy and postpartum change your brain in ways that affect memory, emotions, and even your sense of self. This transition, called matrescence, is as real as puberty, but no one talks about it.

In this episode, I dive into the real, biological shifts that happen in your brain after having a baby, why you might feel different (or even unrecognisable to yourself), and how to navigate this identity shift with more self-compassion.

What we cover in this episode:
✔️ Why your brain is scientifically different after motherhood
✔️ How these changes impact your emotions, memory, and identity
✔️ Why society expects mums to ‘bounce back’ when that’s impossible
✔️ How to embrace matrescence instead of resisting it

👉 Let’s chat! Did matrescence hit you hard, or did you ease into it? Comment on the episode or DM me on Instagram @natalie.kmartin

Resources & mentions:
📌 Research on how pregnancy changes the brain https://www.science.org/content/article/pregnancy-resculpts-women-s-brains-least-2-years

🤩 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.If you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it – this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

👉🏽 Overcome those moments of overwhelm with some light hearted fun! ⁠⁠Download my Overwhelm Busting Bingo sheet here⁠⁠

Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📢 Don’t forget to follow the podcast so you never miss an episode