Motherkind

What happens when a doctor becomes the patient?
This week, Zoe sits down with GP, broadcaster and author Dr Punam Krishan for a powerful conversation about motherhood, health and what happens when we put ourselves last.
Following her recent breast cancer diagnosis, Punam reflects on recovery, the traumatic birth of her first child, severe postnatal depression, and the moment she realised that while everyone was focused on the baby, nobody was asking how she was.
Together, Zoe and Punam explore the "maternal health penalty" - why so many mothers normalise exhaustion, pain and overwhelm - and what needs to change so mothers receive the care and support they deserve.
💡 In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why mothers often ignore symptoms and put their own health last

The hidden long-term impact of birth trauma and postnatal depression

What the "maternal health penalty" means and why it affects millions of women

How motherhood physically changes the brain, nervous system and body

The symptoms mothers should never dismiss as "normal"

How to advocate for yourself and get the healthcare support you need

If you've ever felt exhausted, unseen or wondered whether what you're experiencing is "just part of motherhood", this episode is for you.
Key Topics
Maternal health • Breast cancer • Postnatal depression • Birth trauma • Mental load • Maternal mental health • Women's health • Motherhood burnout • Pelvic floor recovery • Motherhood and identity • Menopause • Perimenopause • Mother's wellbeing • GP advice for mums • Nervous system healing • Parenting
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Loved this episode?
Follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode of Motherkind. It helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing.
If you enjoyed this episode, you might also enjoy Zoe’s conversation with Suzy Reading, The Cost of Being the Selfless One
Feeling like you’re carrying it all? Download your FREE Mental Load Cheat Sheet and learn how to start feeling lighter, even if nothing in your life changes.
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Get Zoe’s Sunday Times bestselling book, 'Motherkind: A New Way to Thrive in a World of Endless Expectations’

This Motherkind episode is sponsored by:
Headline sponsor Wild Nutrition, the brand raising the bar for women’s supplements. Want to feel the Food-Grown difference yourself? Get 50% off for three months at wildnutrition.com/motherkind. Ts and Cs apply.

On paper, Maria Hatzistefanis had everything she had worked for. A hugely successful business, a loving family and a life many people would envy. But behind the success, she was burnt out, running on empty and wondering why she didn't feel happier.
In this powerful Moment, Maria shares the turning point that made her realise something had to change. She opens up about the reality of juggling work and family life, the pressure of always being the organiser, and why joy isn't something that simply arrives when we achieve enough - it's something we have to intentionally create space for.
Maria shares the routines, boundaries and practices that helped her move from surviving to feeling more present, connected and in control. From scheduling "me time" with the same importance as a work meeting to discovering meditation, breathwork and moments of stillness, this conversation is a reminder that our wellbeing deserves a place in the diary too.If you've ever felt exhausted despite having a life that looks good from the outside, or wondered why success doesn't automatically lead to happiness, this episode is for you.
💡 In this Moment, you'll learn:Why success doesn't always lead to fulfilment

The hidden signs of burnout many mothers ignore

How to create more joy and presence in everyday life

Why scheduling time for yourself is essential, not selfish

How breathwork, meditation and spirituality can help restore your energy

Practical ways to feel more in control when life feels overwhelming

Loved this episode?
Watch every full episode on YouTube and subscribe. Follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode of Motherkind. It helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing.
If you enjoyed this episode, you can listen to the full episode: The Rodial Founder on Burnout, Discipline and Why Hustle Culture Fails Mothers

Feeling different since becoming a mother? Get clarity on who you’re becoming now and download your FREE Matrescence Cheat Sheet
Connect with Zoe:
Follow Zoe on Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok

Get Zoe’s Sunday Times bestselling book, 'Motherkind: A New Way to Thrive in a World of Endless Expectations’

This Motherkind episode is sponsored by:
Headline sponsor Wild Nutrition, the brand raising the bar for women’s supplements. Want to feel the Food-Grown difference yourself? Get 50% off for three months at wildnutrition.com/motherkind. Ts and Cs apply.

When was the last time you were completely alone - with nobody touching you, talking to you or needing something from you?
In this episode, Zoe explores why so many mothers crave alone time and why that need isn't selfish - it's essential. If you've ever felt overwhelmed, overstimulated, touched out, exhausted or guilty for wanting space from your children, this episode will help you understand what's really happening in your mind and body.
Zoe unpacks the psychology of modern motherhood, the invisible mental load, emotional labour and the impact they have on a mother's nervous system. She explores why highly sensitive mothers and introverted mothers often experience overwhelm more intensely, how overstimulation can lead to burnout, resentment and mum rage, and why rest is not a luxury but a necessity.
You'll learn why guilt so often accompanies the need for space, how cultural expectations of motherhood keep women trapped in cycles of self-sacrifice, and how protecting even small moments of solitude can help you become a calmer, more present and more connected parent.
If you've ever wondered why you feel constantly needed, emotionally drained or like you've lost yourself in motherhood, this episode is for you.
💡 In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why craving alone time is a healthy response to modern motherhood

How overstimulation, emotional labour and the mental load affect a mother's nervous system

Why highly sensitive mothers and introverted mothers often feel more overwhelmed

The difference between healthy solitude and signs of burnout, anxiety or depression

Practical ways to create guilt-free space and restoration in everyday life

Why taking care of yourself helps you show up more calmly for your children

Watch every full episode on YouTube and subscribe. Loved this episode?
Follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode of Motherkind. It helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing.
If you enjoyed this episode, you might also enjoy Zoe’s solo episode Why Relaxation Feels Impossible for Mothers – and How to Finally Feel at Ease
Feeling different since becoming a mother? Get clarity on who you’re becoming now and download your FREE Matrescence Cheat Sheet
Connect with Zoe:
Follow Zoe on Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok

Get Zoe’s Sunday Times bestselling book, 'Motherkind: A New Way to Thrive in a World of Endless Expectations’

This Motherkind episode is sponsored by:
Headline sponsor Wild Nutrition, the brand raising the bar for women’s supplements. Want to feel the Food-Grown difference yourself? Get 50% off for three months at wildnutrition.com/motherkind. Ts and Cs apply.

This episode is for every mother who's ever felt overwhelmed, resentful, or quietly stretched beyond her limits.
If you're holding everything together, saying yes when you want to say no, and wondering why you're exhausted, this conversation might change the way you think about boundaries forever.
In this powerful moment episode, Zoe explores why boundaries aren't selfish; they're essential. She shares the simple mindset shift that helped her move from people-pleasing to protecting her energy, her time, and her wellbeing, and explains why resentment is often the clearest sign that a boundary is needed.
Through honest stories from early motherhood and practical examples you can use immediately, Zoe shows how setting boundaries isn't about pushing people away - it's about creating the limits that allow you to show up as the mother, partner, friend and person you want to be.
💡 In this Moment, you'll learn:Why boundaries are simply recognising that you are not limitless

The hidden link between resentment, overwhelm and burnout

How motherhood can help you become better at speaking up for your needs

The small boundary shifts that can transform your relationships

Why disappointing other people is sometimes necessary

A simple exercise to identify where you need stronger boundaries right now

If you've been carrying too much, feeling emotionally overloaded, or struggling to ask for what you need, this episode will leave you feeling validated, empowered and ready to make one small change that could make a big difference.
Loved this episode?
Watch every full episode on YouTube and subscribe. Follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode of Motherkind. It helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing.
If you enjoyed this episode, you can listen to the full episode: You are not limitless: How to use boundaries
Feeling different since becoming a mother? Get clarity on who you’re becoming now and download your FREE Matrescence Cheat Sheet
Connect with Zoe:
Follow Zoe on Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok

Get Zoe’s Sunday Times bestselling book, 'Motherkind: A New Way to Thrive in a World of Endless Expectations’

This Motherkind episode is sponsored by:
Headline sponsor Wild Nutrition, the brand raising the bar for women’s supplements. Want to feel the Food-Grown difference yourself? Get 50% off for three months at wildnutrition.com/motherkind. Ts and Cs apply.

Why do so many mothers feel exhausted, foggy and depleted - even years after giving birth?
In this episode, Zoe sits down with nutritionist GQ Jordan to talk about the realities of pregnancy, postpartum recovery and the nutritional foundations that help mothers feel more like themselves again.
Drawing on both her professional expertise and personal experience as a mother expecting her second child, GQ shares practical, reassuring advice on everything from managing sugar cravings and energy crashes to recovering from birth, supporting your mental health and letting go of the pressure to do everything perfectly.
This is a conversation for any mother who feels tired, stretched thin, constantly reaching for sugar, or wondering why looking after herself feels so difficult.
💡 In this episode, you’ll learn:Why so many mothers experience brain fog, exhaustion and sugar cravings - and the simple nutritional shifts that can help

How to support your recovery after birth, including the key nutrients often overlooked in postpartum

Why "bounce back" culture is keeping mothers depleted, and what to focus on instead

The mindset shift that helps ambitious mothers care for themselves without guilt

Watch every full episode on YouTube and subscribe.
Loved this episode?
Follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode of Motherkind. It helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing.
If you enjoyed this episode, you might also enjoy Zoe’s conversation with Dr Federica Amarti - Birth Is The Equivalent of 10 Marathons, And It's Why You're Still Tired (Even Years Later)
Feeling different since becoming a mother? Get clarity on who you’re becoming now and download your FREE Matrescence Cheat Sheet
Connect with Zoe:
Follow Zoe on Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok

Get Zoe’s Sunday Times bestselling book, 'Motherkind: A New Way to Thrive in a World of Endless Expectations’

This Motherkind episode is sponsored by:
Headline sponsor Wild Nutrition, the brand raising the bar for women’s supplements. Want to feel the Food-Grown difference yourself? Get 50% off for three months at wildnutrition.com/motherkind. Ts and Cs apply.