Welcome to this episode of The Happy Mama Movement Podcast.

Today, I’m joined by mindfulness teacher and founder of The Compassion Project, Belinda Haan. With warmth and honesty, Belinda shares how perfectionism and self-doubt marked her early motherhood years—and how compassion, not criticism, became her most powerful tool.

We talk about:

• Unrealistic Beginnings

How the "Huggies ad" version of motherhood left Belinda isolated, ashamed, and exhausted in her early years as a mum.

• The Deepest Regret

Why self-criticism is often the harshest parenting voice in our heads—and how seeing her daughter clearly helped Belinda rewrite her own narrative.

• Practising What We Preach

How running honest, real-talk mother’s groups made Belinda realise it was time to embody self-compassion in her own life, not just teach it.

• Barriers to Kindness

The nervous system realities that make self-compassion difficult—and how to gently meet yourself when you feel most undeserving.

• Tender, Not Prescriptive

Why self-compassion isn’t a one-size-fits-all script—and how small, embodied gestures can shift your whole day.

This is a conversation full of quiet revelations and radical permission. I hope it reminds you that you are never alone in this—and that kindness, towards yourself, is not something you have to earn. If this resonates, please share it with a mother who needs to hear it too.

ABOUT BELINDA HAAN

Belinda Haan is a mindfulness teacher, creator and humble guide to the full joy, catastrophe and sacredness of life.

As an Ambassador of Compassion with Stanford University, she founded The Compassion Project—a heartfelt initiative delivering practical, research-backed tools to reduce suffering and cultivate compassion.

Its first resource, The Emotional Support for Mothers Toolkit, provides the missing piece of modern mothering with a practical how-to for nervous system support, emotional self-regulation, resilience and wisdom. Grounded in the day-to-day of parenting, it treats mothers as real people—supporting them to meet all of motherhood with more confidence, ease and self-compassion.

A mother of two, Belinda created this work to offer solace, inspiration, and meaningful tools for families everywhere.

RESOURCES:

Website: The Compassion Project

Instagram: @thecompassionproject.au

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Welcome to this soulful and deeply honest episode of The Happy Mama Movement Podcast.

In today’s solo Mama Rising story, we hear from Dr. Angele Close — clinical psychologist, author, and motherhood coach — as she shares her personal matrescence journey.

What began with the excitement of becoming a mother to three children unfolded into a deeply transformative path through burnout, grief, intergenerational trauma, and ultimately, healing.

We’re invited into her story — one filled with honesty, insight, and a reminder that we can parent with more compassion once we learn to extend that same compassion inward.

In this episode, we explore:

When Motherhood Doesn’t Match the Map

How early expectations about parenting clashed with the emotional intensity of raising three neurodivergent children.

The Invisible Inheritance We Carry

Why our reactions to our kids’ big emotions often reflect unprocessed wounds from our own childhood.

The Name That Changed Everything

How discovering matrescence mid-pandemic gave Angele a framework that lifted years of shame and confusion.

Meeting the Self Within

How Internal Family Systems (IFS) helped her heal deep wounds and show up with more calm and confidence.

Parenting from the Inside Out

Why voicing our mixed feelings and being compassionately witnessed is one of motherhood’s most healing acts.

ABOUT DR. ANGELE CLOSE:

Dr. Angele Close helps moms navigate the transformative journey of matrescence, combining the insights of Internal Family Systems (IFS) to heal old wounds, break generational cycles, and embrace motherhood with more self-compassion, joy, and authenticity. A clinical psychologist, motherhood coach, meditation teacher, and author, Angele works with moms one-on-one, facilitates local mothers’ circles, and has an upcoming book on how to integrate IFS into the matrescence journey. Her work is grounded in personal experience and the belief that motherhood can be a powerful path to healing and wholeness.

RESOURCES

🌐 Website: www.drangeleclose.com

📸 Instagram: @drangeleclose

🎥 TikTok: @cyclebreakingmomma

📘 Free IFS Resource Guide: Available via her website

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Welcome, dear listener, to another honest and heartfelt episode of The Happy Mama Movement Podcast.

Today, I’m joined by the remarkable Stacey Erin — Social Worker, Therapist, Coach and a fiercely loving mother who works with families navigating the social and emotional wellbeing of neurodivergent children. With deep compassion and no-nonsense wisdom, Stacey names the invisible weight so many mothers carry — and offers both fierce truth and tender support in return.

• Why it’s not your fault — how Stacey powerfully names the systemic failures that leave mothers unsupported, and why recognising this truth can be deeply healing.
• Permission and grief in motherhood — the unseen grief that comes with letting go of the motherhood ideals we imagined, and how simple words of validation can make all the difference.
• The power of boundaries and micro-moments — from closing the bathroom door to dancing in the hallway, Stacey shares small, sustainable acts of self-connection for overwhelmed mums.
• Reclaiming the feminine — exploring how modern motherhood is steeped in ‘masculine doing’ and how we might return to being, feeling, and honouring our own rhythms.
• Finding your village — why it’s vital to connect with other parents of neurodivergent children, and how Stacey is creating online spaces for shared understanding and laughter through the hard.

Stacey Erin is a Social Worker, Therapist, Counsellor and Coach for mums, children and adolescents aged 3–16 years. She specialises in therapeutic intervention for the social and emotional health and well-being of neurodivergent (autistic and attention variant) clients and their families. With over 20 years of experience as both a social worker and teacher in educational settings, Stacey now offers support privately and through self-managed NDIS plans. Her approach is deeply informed by both her professional knowledge and her lived experience as a mother.

• Follow Stacey on Instagram: @stacey.therapist.mama
• Learn more and explore her resources: https://www.staceyerin.com.au

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Welcome to this soul-stirring episode of The Happy Mama Movement Podcast.

Today, I’m joined by Jayde Kirchert — mother, writer, director, and Artistic Director of Citizen Theatre. Jayde’s latest work Ripening explores the complex terrain of motherhood and birth through a bold, theatrical lens — and in this deeply honest conversation, she shares her own story of labour, loss, transformation, and creative awakening.

• The Birth They Don’t Tell You About

Why honest preparation matters more than fear — and how education, mindset, and advocacy shaped Jayde’s birth experience.

• Labour as Initiation: Summoning the Ancestors

Jayde shares the powerful moment she reached beyond herself — into something sacred and ancestral — to bring her son into the world.

• Creative Rebirth: Turning Story into Stage

How her personal journey became the foundation for Ripening, and how theatre can reframe motherhood’s truths for a wider audience.

• Breaking the Medical Spell

The intergenerational ripple of over-medicalised birth, and what happens when women begin to trust their bodies again.

• From Girl to Guardian: The Making of a Mother Archetype

How birth shaped Jayde’s spiritual evolution — and how it helped her locate the deep, unwavering strength she brings to both mothering and making art.

This episode is a love letter to informed birth, artistic courage, and the sacred role of mothers as culture-shapers. May it inspire you to remember your own power and share your story — because in the sharing, we begin to shift the collective. If this conversation moved you, please pass it on. Every mother deserves to feel seen.

ABOUT JAYDE KIRCHERT:

Writer. Director. Artistic Visionary. Mother.

Jayde is a mother to a toddler, wife, writer, director, dramaturge, lecturer and Artistic Director of Melbourne-based theatre company, Citizen Theatre. She has directed and written multiple critically acclaimed productions through Citizen Theatre.

Recent projects include The Lyrebird's Voice for Victorian Opera (librettist and lyricist), Mara KORPER for Citizen Theatre (writer and director), When The Light Leaves for Citizen Theatre (director and dramaturge), and Sweet Charity for VCA Music Theatre. She is also completing her PhD, which includes the creation of a new feminist musical, Dangerous.

RESOURCES:

🎭 Ripening is playing May 28–31, 2025, at Gasworks Studio Theatre

– Approx. 90 minutes

– Showtimes: 7pm (Wed–Sat) and 2pm (Sat matinee)

– Tickets available via the Citizen Theatre website or directly through Gasworks Theatre

Follow Citizen Theatre on Instagram: @citizentheatreau

Follow Jayde on Instagram: @jaydekirchert

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Redrawing the Lines: Boundaries, Worth, and the True Value of Motherhood

Welcome to this powerful new episode of The Happy Mama Movement Podcast.

Today, I’m joined by Gifty Enright — wellbeing and diversity expert, author, and internationally respected leadership coach. With her signature wit and wisdom, Gifty challenges the status quo and reminds us that the job of raising the next generation isn’t just important — it’s foundational to our entire society.

We talk about:

• The Lines We Draw Define the Lives We Lead Why setting boundaries starts with self-worth and how mothers can reclaim both.
• Counting the Invisible: The Unpaid Ledger of Motherhood The hidden labour of motherhood and the data-backed case for equitable living.
• Let the Children In: Raising Capable, Not Coddled How children benefit from being part of the household ‘enterprise’ and why it's time they pull their weight.
• From Homefront to Boardroom: The untapped management, negotiation, and crisis skills motherhood builds and how they should translate to the workplace.
• The Rebrand We Deserve: Why Gifty believes motherhood needs a full PR rebrand

This conversation is a call to action and a celebration. I hope it leaves you feeling grounded in your worth and inspired to start drawing clearer, bolder red lines because you're not just doing important work, you're doing essential work. .

ABOUT GIFTY ENRIGHT:

Gifty Enright is a globally recognised expert in workplace wellbeing, diversity, and leadership. As an Author and expert TV contributor with three decades of corporate experience, she has led business transformations, run her own successful business, written a bestselling book, and delivered an impactful TEDx talk. Gifty’s innovative approach blends Western science, Eastern philosophy, and African wisdom, making her a sought-after speaker and coach. She is dedicated to transforming workplaces into havens of creativity, productivity, and responsible leadership. Her holistic coaching addresses physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual wellbeing, providing practical strategies for personal and professional growth.

RESOURCES:

Website: https://giftyenright.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/giftyenright

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Gifty_Enright

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gifty.enright

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/giftyenright

Facebook Group: Women Pursuing Work-Life Mastery

Book: Octopus on a Treadmill – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07J1WD4HR

TEDx Talk: How to Be a Corporate Superwoman Without Losing Your Sanity: https://www.ted.com/talks/gifty_enright_how_to_be_a_corporate_superwoman_without_losing_your_sanity

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A Quiet Moment Together on The Happy Mama Movement Podcast

In this solo episode, we're joined by one of our incredible Mama Rising® Movement Facilitators, Claire Holloway—a devoted guide for women on the journey of matrescence and the founder of The Centre of Bright Beginnings. Claire opens her heart and shares her personal story of becoming a mother, what surprised her, what healed her, and how she now supports others navigating their own bright beginnings.

We talk about:

• Shifting Expectations of Motherhood: When conception doesn’t come easily, even for those who’ve always been surrounded by babies, it can challenge deeply held beliefs about how motherhood begins.
• The Turning Point: Sometimes the journey to parenthood starts with slowing down, letting go of structure, and making intentional space—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
• The Invisible Load of Pain: Chronic pain and isolation in pregnancy and postpartum can go unseen, yet they shape the entire experience of early motherhood—and highlight the need for better support.
• Finding Language in Matrescence: Discovering a name for the transformation of motherhood can be a powerful moment of clarity—finally making sense of the shifts across conception, birth, and beyond.
• The Power of The Village: A supported matrescence is rarely a solo effort—it thrives with the right team in place, whether through professionals, friends, or accessible community resources.
• Yoga as a Lifeline and a Lens: Yoga becomes more than movement; it can be a deeply personal philosophy that aligns with and supports the rhythms of motherhood.
• A Vision for the Future: The dream of a collaborative, whole-person perinatal care space—rooted in physical, emotional, and spiritual support—reminds us how powerful community can be for mothers, no matter where they are on their journey.

ABOUT CLAIRE HOLLOWAY:

Claire Holloway is the founder of The Centre of Bright Beginnings, where she supports people throughout the journey of matrescence. She is an experienced yoga practitioner, facilitator, and movement educator with a special interest in perinatal and pelvic health. Her prenatal, postpartum and parenting programs are shaped by her own experience of becoming a mother and her training as a Matrescence Coach, creating deeply supportive spaces for others to navigate their transformation. Claire’s upcoming offering Yoga for Homebirth will launch in early 2025.

Connect with Claire:

• https://www.yourbrightbeginning.com.au/
• Instagram – @yourbrightbeginning
• Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/yourbrightbeginning

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Welcome to The Happy Mama Movement Podcast.

This week’s guest is Ilana Yahdav — a certified grief educator, storyteller, and advocate for reimagining our relationship with grief, especially during the profound identity shift of motherhood. In this deeply affirming conversation, we explore the powerful intersection between matrescence and grief, and how validating our emotions can lead to profound healing.

We talk about:

• The transformative power of grief: Ilana shares how the loss of her father plunged her into a decade-long journey through grief, and how discovering grief recovery changed the course of her life, helping her validate her feelings and eventually support others through their losses.
• Grief and matrescence as deeply intertwined: Ilana reflects on the layered grief of becoming a mother—especially during the pandemic—and how discovering the concept of matrescence helped her finally name what she was experiencing. She emphasizes that grief is not just about death, but any significant change in life, including motherhood.
• Normalizing grief in motherhood: From the loss of identity to everyday transitions like a child’s first steps or starting school, Ilana explains how grief is a natural part of motherhood. She highlights the importance of language, validation, and grief recovery tools in helping mothers understand and move through these complex emotions.
• Grieving who we were while embracing who we’re becoming: Ilana explores how we can hold both grief and gratitude—acknowledging that it’s normal to mourn parts of our past selves, even while deeply loving our children and the life we’ve built.
• Leaning on community through nonlinear journeys: From motherhood to loss, Ilana reminds us that healing isn’t meant to happen in isolation. We need each other. Both grief and matrescence unfold in unpredictable ways—and having a supportive village makes all the difference.

If this episode resonated with you, please share it with loved ones who might need this reminder today.

ABOUT ILANA YAHDAV:

Ilana Yahdav is a certified matrescence coach, grief educator, speaker, writer, and CEO of The Non-Linear Journey. As a mother of two young children, she combines her expertise and experience to guide moms through motherhood's physical and emotional transformations—from embracing their new identity to grieving the life they've left behind. Ilana makes challenging topics approachable with gentle humor and deep empathy by creating a safe and supportive environment.

RESOURCES:

🌐 Website: https://thenonlinearjourney.com/

Substack: thenonlinearjourney.substack.com

📸 Instagram: @thenonlinearjourneylife

📌 Pinterest: The Non-Linear Journey

📘 Facebook: The Non-Linear Journey

🔗 LinkedIn (Personal): Ilana Yahdav

🏢 LinkedIn (Company): The Non-Linear Journey

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Welcome to this week’s episode of The Happy Mama Movement Podcast.

Today, I’m joined by Gayane Aramyan, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who specializes in perinatal mental health.

With warmth, wisdom, and lived experience, Gayane helps us explore what’s really happening beneath the surface of anger, conflict, and overwhelm in early parenthood and how we can begin to heal and reconnect.

We get deep into the weeds:

• The Calling Shaped by Experience:

How Gayane’s journey into therapy began in her teens, and how her early exposure to anger management and mentorship shaped her path into perinatal mental health.

• The Wake-Up Call of Postpartum:

Why becoming a mother during the pandemic—and navigating exhaustion, depression, and an unexpected diagnosis—deepened Gayane’s understanding of what new parents truly need.

• The Urgency of Prenatal Preparation:

Why so many parents seek help only after things unravel—and how shifting the timeline to include mental health preparation before birth can change the postpartum experience entirely.

• Naming the Overwhelm:

What emotional flooding really is, why it’s so common in early parenthood, and how naming and normalising these states can help parents feel less alone and more empowered.

• The Silence Around Postpartum Struggles:

How cultural silence, unrealistic expectations, and internalised fear keep new parents from speaking up—and why so many mothers later say, “I wish someone had told me.”

ABOUT GAYANE ARAMYAN:

Gayane Aramyan is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) based in Los Angeles, specializing in perinatal therapy. She helps individuals and couples navigate pregnancy, postpartum, and parenthood, offering compassionate support through these profound life transitions. Drawing from her own experiences—marrying her high school sweetheart and balancing working parenthood—Gayane brings a deeply personal understanding to her practice.

She earned her Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology with an Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pepperdine University and has advanced training in Anger Management, Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples (EFT), Grief Processing, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Internal Family Systems (IFS).

Known for her nurturing and validating approach, Gayane creates a safe space for healing and personal growth. Her expertise has been featured in Women's Health, CNBC, Forbes, The Los Angeles Times, and HuffPost, where she shares insights on relationships and self-development. Whether guiding young women through life transitions or supporting couples in parenthood, Gayane is dedicated to helping clients build fulfilling, resilient lives.

RESOURCES:

Instagram: @therapywithgayane

Website: www.therapywithgayane.com

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