In our final episode of the season we got the pleasure of sitting down with the playful and nurturing Marion Rose. You may know Marion from her work on the Aware Parenting Podcast with over 3 million downloads.. With 36 years of experience in psychology and psychotherapy, 18 years as an Aware Parenting instructor and mother to two children, Marion is a wealth of knowledge and lived experience. 

In this episode we hone in on the silly season, aka christmas-time. Marion teaches us how we can get more present with both ourselves and our children in this crazy time when everything feels a little too fast. We talk about how we can move through overwhelm and why crying and raging are not things we need to stop. We nodded and giggled along with Marion the whole time and rushed home to roar like lions with our kids, we know you will find some words of wisdom in here as we did. Enjoy 

In this episode we covered:

1. What is 'Aware Parenting'?
2. How to manage our overwhelm, overstimulation during busy seasons
3. How to navigate obligations for attending parties, gifts etc
4. How to get clear on our own boundaries and then hold strong on them
5. How to stay connected with your children in this busy season 
6. Signs of overstimulation in our kids? 
7. How to help children navigate overwhelm? 
8. How to help kids see the less consumerist parts of Christmas and direct it more to a family-centred time? 
9. Santa, pressure of naughty and nice? How to deflect strangers' comments of ‘have your being good this year’ ? 

Marion's latest book: ‘I’m here and I’m listening’ is coming to shelves soon so keep your eyes peeled.
 
Thank you Marion for your amazing guidance and wisdom.
Listeners can find Marion via her website and podcast linked above or via her personal instagram @_marion_rose_

The sponsor of this episode is Tasara, The Queer Doula. Tasara is a full-spectrum doula for Queers and Allies. Tasara provides care, education, and advocacy for individuals and their families throughout their reproductive journey, including conception, pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and early birth experiences such as miscarriage and abortion. Tasara's extensive experience, knowledge, skills, and intuition bring a calming and grounded presence to childbirth, postpartum, and the various services they offer. We also applaud all the work Tasara does for the queer community in making this world a safe and inclusive place. 

If you need a doula, look no further! Tasara can be found via their website linked above, or via instagram @thequeerdoula_

Contact Saint Majella

• Slide into our DMs via insta @saintmajella
• Email us for collab opportunities hello@saintmajella.com
• See upcoming events and more on our website www.saintmajella.com

Thanks for listening and pls share us with your mother community!
Love, Mel and Cel

In this episode Mel and Cel sit down and have a raw and authentic conversation together about their time away in Brisbane. How this 4 days child free was expansive, enlivening and allowed them to reconnect to their other identities that are not centred around mothering. 

The sponsor of this episode is Sage Mamma, run by Narelle Melnick. This postpartum service is centred around individualised care as unique as the woman herself. Narelle honours traditional cultures across the world providing time-tested pillars and modalities of care to ensure the new mothers whole and complete postpartum recovery. 

Narelle is based on the Mornington Peninsula and works with only one family at a time to ensure you have the attention and care you deserve. Weaving ayurvedic knowledge, yoga training and doula work together Narelle places emphasis on very specific postpartum foods, warm oil massage, belly wrapping, herbal vaginal steaming, sitz bathing, womb warming treatments, baby massage training and household support to ensure a nourished and exalted postpartum time.

You can find her on instagram @sagemamma and www.sagemamma.com. 

Contact Saint Majella

• Slide into our DMs via insta @saintmajella
• Email us for collab opportunities hello@saintmajella.com
• See upcoming events and more on our website www.saintmajella.com

Thanks for listening and pls share us with your mother community!
Love, Mel and Cel

In today’s episode we sit down with the articulate and aspirant Alannah Batho from the Parents Work Collective. Alannah is a parent to two girls, an employment lawyer and alongside Virginia Tapscott has founded the not-for-profit advocacy organization Parents Work Collective. You may have seen their t-shirts out in the wild with the bold red words reading “ALL MOTHERS WORK”.

Parents Work Collective are working to change the narrative and policies around the value of unpaid care work aka parenting. Alannah is passionate about more value being ascribed to, and more support provided for, the joyful, challenging, meaningful work that is caring for one’s own children. Throughout our chat we discuss the culture in Australia that has devalued care-work, how feminism left mothers behind, the impacts of increasing paid support for both parents and how this is in fact an investment in the future. Because yes parenthood is a choice, but it is essential for the continuing of the human species and the health of the economy as well. So why in this country are we being penalized for becoming parents? Listen in and see how we can make simple and effective changes.

Sign up to the Parents Work Collective mailing list at the bottom of the page here to join their cause.

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The lovely sponsors of this podcast are Mt Eliza Family Chiropractic Clinic. Mt Eliza Family Chiropractic has been providing care to families of the Mornington Peninsula for over 35 years. They pride themselves in taking care of people in all stages of life. Through communication and education, the team will empower you with the wonderful potential of chiropractic so you can reach your maximum health potential. Mt Eliza family chiropractic can support women through their pregnancy journeys so they can achieve the birth they want and we also support them through their all important 4th trimester by taking care of their bodies and minds, and of course their beautiful new babies!!

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Show notes:

You can follow Parents Work Collective on Instagram here. Their website is www.parentsworkcollective.org.au

Men at Work, an essay by Annabel Crabb 

Gabor Mate - The Myth of Normal

Contact Saint Majella

• Slide into our DMs via insta @saintmajella
• Email us for collab opportunities hello@saintmajella.com
• See upcoming events and more on our website www.saintmajella.com

Thanks for listening and pls share us with your mother community!
Love, Mel and Cel

In this episode we chat with the wise and wonderful Charlotte Squires, The Living Doula. Our friend Charlotte is a mother of two, lover to Jack, cancer survivor and doula. Charlotte who speaks as though she has lived hundreds of lifetimes before dedicates her life work to helping people explore the light and darkness within them. We could talk on numerous topics with Char, but today our focus of the ep is the transition from 1 child to 2, which shocked all of us more than we expected. We go through the highs and lows of transition from 1 to 2 children alongside a pandemic. How relationships have shifted, most dramatically our relationship to ourselves. The way Charlotte and her partner Jack have built their family unit on shared values is inspirational and it is no wonder that they are enjoying parenting SO much now. This listen is for all the parents who thought they were going mad when they suddenly had both hands full and all the parents yet to walk this journey. Enjoy.


You can find more on the incredible Charlotte and her work in this world at
@thelivingdoula and https://www.thelivingdoula.com/


Resources if you are in the thick of it and need to speak to someone -
PANDA: https://panda.org.au/
Relationships Australia 1300 364 277
GLOW CLINIC: https://glowclinic.com.au/

This episode is sponsored by the Peninsula Women's Physio, Tori Everard. 

Tori is a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist whose passion for all things female came about after the birth of her first child. She has made it her mission to ensure all women are empowered to feel the best they can. She believes that Physiotherapy can really change your life.

Peninsula Women’s physio helps and supports women during their childbearing years to recover and return to activities they enjoy (especially after birth trauma, instrumental deliveries and obstetric tears), breastfeeding support, and management of abdominal separation.

 It is her goal to help all women achieve their goals and return to happy and active lives. Thriving mums = thriving world!

Peninsula Womens Physio is located upstairs at the sorrento medical centre. Head to www.peninsulawomensphysio.com for appointments or visit Toris instagram on
@peninsulawomensphysio to learn more. 

Contact Saint Majella

• Slide into our DMs via insta @saintmajella
• Email us for collab opportunities hello@saintmajella.com
• See upcoming events and more on our website www.saintmajella.com

Thanks for listening and pls share us with your mother community!
Love, Mel and Cel

In today's episode we speak with the compassionate and welcoming Tasara, The Queer Doula. Tasara is a full-spectrum doula for Queers and Allies. They provide care, education, and advocacy for individuals and their families throughout their reproductive journey. Tasara's extensive experience, knowledge, skills, and intuition brings a calming and grounded presence to childbirth, postpartum, and the various services they offer. Celeste first hand experienced Tasara’s love and care through her pregnancy and postpartum with Iggy. The Queer Doula is driven by a profound commitment to affirming and championing queer identities and the distinct paths the LGBTQIA+ community takes in creating their families.

In this chat we cover a vast array of topics surrounding queer and non conforming identities, Tasara’s personal journey to their identity  and the importance of inclusive language. We also cover topics of early birth, abortion, the patriarchy and the gender binary in this in deep conversation. There is so much to unpack we will need another episode next season to dig deeper and learn more.

The Queer Doula has created this Go Fund me to raise money to give the necessary pregnancy, birth and postpartum care to this Trans Masc birthing parent and their Queer family. Please help Tasara reach their target to ensure this queer family is LOVED and SUPPORTED by them and their COMMUNITY

Resourceful reads to learn more:

How We Do Family - From Adoption to Trans Pregnancy, What We Learned about Love

He/She/They: How We Talk About Gender and Why It Matters

Revolutionary Mothering

Some YouTube stories to learn more:

Interview with Danny Trans-Dad 

Freddy's Story
 
Ari's Story

Contact Saint Majella

• Slide into our DMs via insta @saintmajella
• Email us for collab opportunities hello@saintmajella.com
• See upcoming events and more on our website www.saintmajella.com

Thanks for listening and pls share us with your mother community!
Love, Mel and Cel

In this episode we sit down with the intelligent and driven author, doula, community-maker and mother of three Gabrielle Nancarrow. Over her motherhood journey Gabrielle has evolved from a full-time editor for Victoria Secret in New York City, to owning her own business in the community oriented Seddon, Victoria.

Gabrielle is a pioneer in our eyes, having created a space for community and women called 'Gather Women Space' which is worth checking out.  Her most recent achievement  after writing “The Birth Space’ is just hitting the shelves on October 4, “The Motherhood Space’. In “The Motherhood Space’ Gabrielle articulately combines the motherhood experiences of over 50 people, finding many common threads that bind us all together. 

In this chat we speak on birth, the patriarchy, writing a book whilst mothering and the complexities of mothering. 

The Motherhood Space by Gabrielle Nanncarrow will be available to purchase this Saturday at the Mother of all Fairs. We have already snapped up two copies of this beautiful book so get down early so you don't miss out. 

Episode Sponsor:
HOWL, is a bi-annual print magazine featuring artwork, photography, interviews, prose and essays that explore the intersection of creativity and motherhood. Issue 2 has just been released to preorder now, and will be available to purchase in the flesh at the Mother of all Fairs. When I first saw the HOWL instagram I was literally drawn to every image and post, I ordered the magazine as soon as it was printed. When this bewitching piece of art reached my hands it was like someone had opened up my brain and printed it into a magazine alongside stunning imagery. This magazine is a pillar of modern motherhood, revolutionary motherhood. 

SHOW NOTES:

Get in touch with Gabrielle Nancarrow via her website  or via. her business instagram @gatherwomenspace.

Contact Saint Majella

• Slide into our DMs via insta @saintmajella
• Email us for collab opportunities hello@saintmajella.com
• See upcoming events and more on our website www.saintmajella.com

Thanks for listening and pls share us with your mother community!
Love, Mel and Cel

In this episode we sit down with the inspirational and warm Dr Natalie Elphinstone. Mother of four and experienced obstetrician, Nat opens up frankly and honestly about her journey into motherhood alongside her obstetric career. She explains to us how her practice has changed over time. Natalie’s perspective on birth and obstetric intervention is refreshing and looks at it from a holistic point of view. We also discuss Maternal-Assisted Caesareans as a mode of birth and the benefits of having this option. We couldn’t stop talking with the bubbly and deeply knowledgeable Nat, we know you will get A LOT from this episode.
Get in touch with Nat via instagram @drnatalieelphinstone

We apologise that this episode contains glitches.  It was recorded over zoom and the program cut out a few words here and there. 

We are proud to announce that the episode is sponsored by Holistic Lactation Consulting. Founded by Jessica Kahan, Holistic Lactation Consulting services the Mornington Peninsula and Bayside suburbs. Jess provides breastfeeding support to women from pregnancy all the way through to weaning. Jessica is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and a Registered Midwife and a mother of two. Jess can provide both in person and zoom consultations to families in need. In Addition to her LC work, Jess is trained in gentle sleep and settling supports using the Possums approach (developed by Dr Pamela Douglas). Get in touch with Jess on instagram http://www.instagram.com/holistic_lactation_consulting

The episode discusses the following:

1. Dr Natalie Ephinstone's transition from maiden to mother. 
2. What drew Nat to study obstetrics? 
3. How has Nat's practice changed over her career span? 
4. The cascade of intervention's impact on the physiological process of birth.
5. Backlash from from peers in the industry
6. Is any woman suited to obstetric care or should we keep obstetricians for women with ‘risk’?
7. Maternal-Assisted caesars
8. The birth stories shared by Nat to her community
9. Birth trauma

Contact Saint Majella

• Slide into our DMs via insta @saintmajella
• Email us for collab opportunities hello@saintmajella.com
• See upcoming events and more on our website www.saintmajella.com

Thanks for listening and pls share us with your mother community!
Love, Mel and Cel

In episode seven we chat with the grounded and creative Eliza Hull.

Eliza among many things is a mother of two, musician, editor and avid disability advocate. Eliza created the anthology ‘We’ve got this’ which shares real stories about parenting with disability.

In this conversation we discuss Eliza’s disability Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, alongside her journey into motherhood. Eliza recalls a total lack of support when preparing to become a mother and explains how the world is, in fact, what makes her feel disabled.

Eliza’s lust for life is a beautiful confirmation that difference is essential and perspective is everything. We trust you will enjoy this chat.

This episode is sponsored by POHSS studio. Pohss offer a unique spiritual practice of movement, music, and nature therapy, all experienced through the immersive world of silent disco headphones. Be held in community and join a Pohss session to experience the liberation of moving your body your way.  Events held at Seaford, Rosebud, Balnarring, Somers & Frankston. Escape the ordinary & move your way into transformation at Pohss Studio. Find out more www.pohssstudio.com

In the episode:

1. Eliza discusses her experience with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.
2. Eliza shares her journey into motherhood and how ‘Being a disabled parent is a rebellious act’  
3. We discuss under-representation of disabled parents 
4. We talk through Eliza's birth experiences.
5. Eliza shares some blessings of parenting with a disability
6. We talk about the anthology ‘We’ve got this’ - a first of its kind.
7. Eliza explains that it is other people’s attitudes, prejudice and outright disapproval that make parenthood harder.
8. Eliza explains what we can do to empower those with a disability and combat ableism? 
9. We discuss the importance of educating children on the diversity of humans.

Notes:

Eliza can be reached via instagram @elizahull or via her website 

Contact Saint Majella

• Slide into our DMs via insta @saintmajella
• Email us for collab opportunities hello@saintmajella.com
• See upcoming events and more on our website www.saintmajella.com

Thanks for listening and pls share us with your mother community!
Love, Mel and Cel