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The Mama Circle
Natalie K. Martin
63 episodes
4 days ago
I love being a mum. What I don’t love is what modern motherhood has become: the overwhelm, the invisible labour, the financial squeeze, the loneliness. The Mama Circle Podcast is where we get real about all of it: the joy and the debt of modern motherhood. Honest talk for women who love their families but want a version of motherhood that feels more sustainable, more joyful and more supported. Hosted by writer and educator Natalie K. Martin, every episode mixes lived experience, social insight and practical permission to do things differently.
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Parenting
Kids & Family
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All content for The Mama Circle is the property of Natalie K. Martin and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
I love being a mum. What I don’t love is what modern motherhood has become: the overwhelm, the invisible labour, the financial squeeze, the loneliness. The Mama Circle Podcast is where we get real about all of it: the joy and the debt of modern motherhood. Honest talk for women who love their families but want a version of motherhood that feels more sustainable, more joyful and more supported. Hosted by writer and educator Natalie K. Martin, every episode mixes lived experience, social insight and practical permission to do things differently.
Show more...
Parenting
Kids & Family
Episodes (20/63)
The Mama Circle
60. This Is Us and the fantasy of modern family life

In the first episode of 2026, Nat reflects on finishing This Is Us and why the show stayed with her long after the final episode.

This isn’t a recap or a spoiler-filled review. It’s a conversation about motherhood, family, and the quiet expectations we absorb from TV.

Nat explores:

  • Why This Is Us feels both comforting and unrealistic

  • How motherhood and family life are idealised on screen

  • The invisible labour behind “magical” childhood memories

  • Why older family structures feel impossible to recreate today

  • What the show gets right about love, connection, and the village

  • And why modern motherhood often feels like failure when it’s actually a lack of support

A reflective episode for any mum who’s ever watched a family drama and wondered why real life feels so much harder.

🫂 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.

We talk about this kind of stuff in It's A Lot. So, 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


👉🏽 Reset from chaos to calm in minutes The Overwhelmed to Grounded Toolkit gives you three simple, real-life tools to help you recalibrate without adding more to your to-do list. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Download it here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠info@nataliekmartin.com⁠⁠

☕️ Support my work: if you’re enjoying my podcast, you can buy me a virtual coffee here! Thank you 🫶🏽 buymeacoffee.com/nataliekmartin⁠⁠

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

New episodes every Wednesday🎧 Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and leave a quick review — it really helps other mums find the show.

Show more...
4 days ago
26 minutes 5 seconds

The Mama Circle
59. A little New Year’s Eve check-in

New Year can feel like magic or heaviness or absolutely nothing at all. In this short New Year’s Eve episode Nat invites you to pause, breathe and gently acknowledge the year you just walked through. No resolutions. No reinvention. No new-year-new-you.

This conversation is a soft reflection space where you’ll explore three grounding questions:

• What surprised you this year
• What challenged you more than you expected
• What did you get through without ever stopping to recognise it

You are not expected to sprint into January or reinvent yourself by midnight. You can walk, limp, sleep or drag yourself into a new phase of life. Nat offers an alternative to pressure: noticing what you want less of, and what you want more of. Not goals. Just truth.

If you need a gentle voice reminding you that what you carried was heavy and what you did this year matters, this is your moment. You’re doing big work. You really are.


🫂 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.

We talk about this kind of stuff in It's A Lot. So, 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


👉🏽 Reset from chaos to calm in minutes The Overwhelmed to Grounded Toolkit gives you three simple, real-life tools to help you recalibrate without adding more to your to-do list. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Download it here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠info@nataliekmartin.com⁠⁠

☕️ Support my work: if you’re enjoying my podcast, you can buy me a virtual coffee here! Thank you 🫶🏽 buymeacoffee.com/nataliekmartin⁠⁠

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

New episodes every Wednesday🎧 Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and leave a quick review — it really helps other mums find the show.

Show more...
1 week ago
9 minutes 54 seconds

The Mama Circle
58. A Christmas Eve check-in

Christmas Eve is here and if you are listening as this episode lands, you are probably juggling excitement, pressure and a to do list too long for one day. This is a short and gentle episode to simply ask how you are, really. Not the polite answer, not the performance, but the truth.

We look at how Christmas amplifies everything. The magic and the mess. The joy and the grief. The overwhelm and the tenderness. Whether Christmas feels beautiful this year or complicated, you are not behind, you are not failing, you are human.

Inside:
• a moment to pause and check in with yourself
• permission to do less even when tradition says more
• a one minute regulation tool for today or any day that spirals
• the reminder that you do not have to perform Christmas

If today feels joyful, soak it in. If it feels heavy, you are not the only one. However this season is meeting you, you are doing an incredible job.

We will meet again for the New Year episode next week.


🫂 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.

We talk about this kind of stuff in It's A Lot. So, 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


👉🏽 Reset from chaos to calm in minutes The Overwhelmed to Grounded Toolkit gives you three simple, real-life tools to help you recalibrate without adding more to your to-do list. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Download it here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠info@nataliekmartin.com⁠⁠

☕️ Support my work: if you’re enjoying my podcast, you can buy me a virtual coffee here! Thank you 🫶🏽 buymeacoffee.com/nataliekmartin⁠⁠

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

New episodes every Wednesday🎧 Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and leave a quick review — it really helps other mums find the show.

Show more...
2 weeks ago
5 minutes 52 seconds

The Mama Circle
57. The honest share I didn’t plan to make, and the truth I’m standing in now

n this week’s episode I share something I hadn’t planned to, but it felt right in the moment. Motherhood has a way of piling a lot onto our minds and our hearts, and sometimes the most supportive thing we can do is speak the truth we’re carrying.

This episode is a very real, present-moment reflection on:

• the end of a ten-year relationship
• why the decision took months
• the complexity of co-parenting under one roof
• the fears and shame that have surfaced along the way
• my little boy’s biting phase and the worries underneath it
• how an unexpected tarot reading gave me a sense of peace
• why sharing honestly has always been part of my healing

If you’re going through something that feels heavy, confusing or hard to name, I hope this episode helps you feel less alone. You are doing big and important work, no matter how messy or uncertain things feel today.

🫂 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.

We talk about this kind of stuff in It's A Lot. So, 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


👉🏽 Reset from chaos to calm in minutes The Overwhelmed to Grounded Toolkit gives you three simple, real-life tools to help you recalibrate without adding more to your to-do list. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Download it here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠info@nataliekmartin.com⁠⁠

☕️ Support my work: if you’re enjoying my podcast, you can buy me a virtual coffee here! Thank you 🫶🏽 buymeacoffee.com/nataliekmartin⁠⁠

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

New episodes every Wednesday🎧 Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and leave a quick review — it really helps other mums find the show.


Show more...
3 weeks ago
16 minutes 44 seconds

The Mama Circle
56. Seven motherhood myths keeping you stuck

Motherhood is full of love and magic, but it also comes with expectations none of us signed up for. In this episode Nat breaks down seven common myths that keep mothers overwhelmed, burnt out, resentful and doubting themselves.

These myths are everywhere in our culture and in the conversations we inherit from generations before us. When we believe them, we push ourselves past capacity. When we question them, everything becomes lighter.

Inside this episode you will hear:

• Why instinct is not the same as skill
• The cost of the “patient and selfless” mother narrative
• Why feeling resentment or overwhelm does not mean you are failing
• Why putting children first every time is dangerous for everyone
• Why trying harder is not the answer
• Why motherhood cannot be your sole source of identity
• Why good mothers absolutely need help

You deserve a version of motherhood that feels human, supported and grounded in truth, not pressure.

🫂 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.

We talk about this kind of stuff in It's A Lot. So, 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


👉🏽 Reset from chaos to calm in minutes The Overwhelmed to Grounded Toolkit gives you three simple, real-life tools to help you recalibrate without adding more to your to-do list. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Download it here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠info@nataliekmartin.com⁠⁠

☕️ Support my work: if you’re enjoying my podcast, you can buy me a virtual coffee here! Thank you 🫶🏽 buymeacoffee.com/nataliekmartin⁠⁠

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

New episodes every Wednesday🎧 Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and leave a quick review — it really helps other mums find the show.

Show more...
1 month ago
24 minutes 2 seconds

The Mama Circle
55. My birth story - The birth I planned versus the birth I had

In this episode, I am finally sharing the full story of how my little boy came into the world. I have hinted at it so many times and mums often ask for it, partly because we do not get many chances to tell our birth stories in full. As I share in this episode, birth is one of the biggest experiences we ever go through, no matter how it unfolds.

I talk about:
• How my pregnancy actually felt behind the scenes
• The unexpected emotions, the exhaustion and the early anxiety about scans
• Choosing a birthing centre, writing a very detailed birth plan and feeling sure about what I wanted
• The long labour, the lack of dilation and the moment everything changed
• Having to ask for an epidural after being certain I never would
• The calm of the epidural and the sudden shift into emergency mode
• The moment the doctor said they needed to operate
• How Jackson finally arrived and how the birth shaped everything that came after

Whether your own birth was smooth, complicated, planned or nothing like the plan, this episode will hopefully give you a moment of recognition, compassion and connection. Birth stays with us. It deserves to be told.


🫂 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.

We talk about this kind of stuff in It's A Lot. So, 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


👉🏽 Reset from chaos to calm in minutes The Overwhelmed to Grounded Toolkit gives you three simple, real-life tools to help you recalibrate without adding more to your to-do list. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Download it here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠info@nataliekmartin.com⁠⁠

☕️ Support my work: if you’re enjoying my podcast, you can buy me a virtual coffee here! Thank you 🫶🏽 buymeacoffee.com/nataliekmartin⁠⁠

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

New episodes every Wednesday🎧 Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and leave a quick review — it really helps other mums find the show.

Show more...
1 month ago
39 minutes 27 seconds

The Mama Circle
54. How to have a fabulous Christmas (even if you're hosting family)

Christmas can feel joyful, cosy and full of magic, especially when you have little ones. It can also feel busy and full of expectations. This week I am sharing how to have a Christmas that feels fabulous for you and your family. One that feels warm, fun and enjoyable rather than something you push yourself through.

Inside the episode I talk about choosing the Christmas energy that feels good for you, creating simple rituals, and setting gentle expectations with family so things stay calm. I also share practical tips on hosting, sharing the workload, planning ahead, gifting without overspending and how to avoid the emotional hangover that so many mums end up with in January.

If you want a Christmas that feels magical, cosy and manageable, this episode will help you choose what to keep, what to skip and how to make the season feel genuinely fabulous.

🫂 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.

We talk about this kind of stuff in It's A Lot. So, 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


👉🏽 Reset from chaos to calm in minutes The Overwhelmed to Grounded Toolkit gives you three simple, real-life tools to help you recalibrate without adding more to your to-do list. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Download it here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠info@nataliekmartin.com⁠⁠

☕️ Support my work: if you’re enjoying my podcast, you can buy me a virtual coffee here! Thank you 🫶🏽 buymeacoffee.com/nataliekmartin⁠⁠

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

New episodes every Wednesday🎧 Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and leave a quick review — it really helps other mums find the show.

Show more...
1 month ago
40 minutes 14 seconds

The Mama Circle
53. The truth about childcare guilt (and how to stop feeling it)

Childcare guilt shows up for so many mums, even when childcare is the thing that keeps the whole family afloat. One comment at a playgroup or one post on social media can send us into a spiral of “am I doing the right thing” and it needs to stop.

In this episode I talk about the real roots of childcare guilt. We look at cultural conditioning, gender expectations, financial realities, and the total lack of village support that modern mums are dealing with. None of this guilt comes from your instincts. It comes from a system that still expects mums to do everything alone.

I also share why childcare can actually strengthen your connection with your child, how children thrive when they learn from multiple caregivers, and why needing support is not selfish. A calm and fulfilled mum bonds more deeply than a burnt-out one, and we need to start saying that out loud.

If you have ever wobbled at drop-off or felt judged for needing a break, this conversation is for you.


🫂 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.

We talk about this kind of stuff in It's A Lot. So, 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


👉🏽 Reset from chaos to calm in minutes The Overwhelmed to Grounded Toolkit gives you three simple, real-life tools to help you recalibrate without adding more to your to-do list. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Download it here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠info@nataliekmartin.com⁠⁠

☕️ Support my work: if you’re enjoying my podcast, you can buy me a virtual coffee here! Thank you 🫶🏽 buymeacoffee.com/nataliekmartin⁠⁠

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

New episodes every Wednesday🎧 Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and leave a quick review — it really helps other mums find the show.

Show more...
1 month ago
27 minutes 39 seconds

The Mama Circle
52. What postpartum support should really look like - with Geri Spicer & Hannah Warnes of The 4th

What does real postpartum support look like?


In this episode, I’m joined by Geri Spicer and Hannah Warnes, founders of The 4th, a new London-based service redefining how we care for mothers after birth.


We talk about:

• The gap between birth prep and postpartum reality

• Why “you’ll be fine” isn’t enough for new mums

• How proper rest, nourishment and connection change everything

• What inspired two new mothers to create The 4th

• The small, practical ways we can all make postpartum kinder


About The 4th:

Hannah and Geri, founders of The 4th, are two mothers driven by a shared belief that women deserve better support after birth.


The 4th is a weekly in-person postpartum program designed to support women through the often-overlooked fourth trimester. Inspired by their own experiences of birth and postnatal care, they created

The 4th to fill a vital gap in support for new mothers.


Each program brings together trusted specialists — from midwives and physios to tongue-tie experts and pilates instructors — creating an accessible, community-driven space that empowers women and makes expert care more attainable.


👉🏽Follow The 4th on Instagram

💌 Email for more info the4thcomms@gmail.com


🫂 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.

We talk about this kind of stuff in It's A Lot. So, 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


👉🏽 Reset from chaos to calm in minutes The Overwhelmed to Grounded Toolkit gives you three simple, real-life tools to help you recalibrate without adding more to your to-do list. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Download it here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠info@nataliekmartin.com⁠⁠

☕️ Support my work: if you’re enjoying my podcast, you can buy me a virtual coffee here! Thank you 🫶🏽 buymeacoffee.com/nataliekmartin⁠⁠

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

New episodes every Wednesday🎧 Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and leave a quick review — it really helps other mums find the show.

Show more...
2 months ago
1 hour 20 minutes 43 seconds

The Mama Circle
51. My mother-in-law moved in to ‘help’...and made everything worse

This week we’re diving into the mother-in-law problem: when support turns to control, and when well-meaning advice becomes a slow erosion of your confidence.

We’ll talk about:

  • Why mother-in-laws often overstep after a baby arrives

  • The emotional undercurrent of fear, loss of relevance, and control

  • Why “you’re too sensitive” is code for I don’t want to take responsibility

  • How to hold boundaries without blowing up the relationship

  • What healthy, respectful help can actually look like

Because sometimes “help” isn’t help and it’s a hidden cost of modern motherhood.

🎧 Listen now to My mother-in-law moved in to ‘help’ — and made everything worse.
And if you’ve ever thought, “It’s not just me, right?” then no, it’s definitely not just you.

Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.

We talk about this kind of stuff in It's A Lot. So, 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


👉🏽 Reset from chaos to calm in minutes The Overwhelmed to Grounded Toolkit gives you three simple, real-life tools to help you recalibrate without adding more to your to-do list. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Download it here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠info@nataliekmartin.com⁠⁠

☕️ Support my work: if you’re enjoying my podcast, you can buy me a virtual coffee here! Thank you 🫶🏽 buymeacoffee.com/nataliekmartin⁠⁠

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


Show more...
2 months ago
43 minutes 57 seconds

The Mama Circle
50. How to save on groceries - what my family actually spend in a month

Food prices keep climbing — but what does it actually cost to feed a family right now?

In this episode, Nat takes you through her real grocery numbers (around €550–€600 a month for two adults and a toddler) and the small, realistic shifts she’s making to spend less without losing the joy of a full fridge.

You’ll hear:

  • What a €600 monthly grocery shop looks like for her family

  • Why constant “top-up shops” are quietly draining your budget

  • The small swaps and habits that save money without adding stress

  • How batch cooking and bulk buying stretch food (and sanity) further

  • Why “using what you already have” builds financial confidence

This isn’t about restriction — it’s about feeling more in control of what you spend, using what you’ve got, and bringing intention (not guilt) back into your weekly shop.

Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.

We talk about this kind of stuff in It's A Lot. So, 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


👉🏽 Reset from chaos to calm in minutes The Overwhelmed to Grounded Toolkit gives you three simple, real-life tools to help you recalibrate without adding more to your to-do list. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Download it here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠info@nataliekmartin.com⁠⁠

☕️ Support my work: if you’re enjoying my podcast, you can buy me a virtual coffee here! Thank you 🫶🏽 buymeacoffee.com/nataliekmartin⁠⁠

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


Show more...
2 months ago
29 minutes 21 seconds

The Mama Circle
49. A love letter to my son - The Gifts of Motherhood

In today’s episode, I’m taking a step back to reflect on the gifts motherhood has given me through my son, Jackson.

This is the softer side of the story... the one where motherhood gives more than it takes. From clarity and courage to the kind of love that remakes you from the inside out, these are the lessons that changed me.

It’s not a sugarcoated list, either. Some of these “gifts” came wrapped in exhaustion and tears. But they’ve all shaped me into someone stronger, softer, and more grounded than before.

If you’ve found motherhood to be both a teacher and a test, this one’s for you.

In this episode:

  • The five gifts motherhood gave me

  • Why “barely making it” can still mean you’re winning

    • How love redefines your standards for everything else
    • What it really means when motherhood gives back

  • Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.

    We talk about this kind of stuff in It's A Lot. So, 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


    👉🏽 Reset from chaos to calm in minutes The Overwhelmed to Grounded Toolkit gives you three simple, real-life tools to help you recalibrate without adding more to your to-do list. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Download it here.⁠⁠⁠⁠


    Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:

    Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠info@nataliekmartin.com⁠⁠

    ☕️ Support my work: if you’re enjoying my podcast, you can buy me a virtual coffee here! Thank you 🫶🏽 buymeacoffee.com/nataliekmartin⁠⁠

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


  • Show more...
    2 months ago
    35 minutes 9 seconds

    The Mama Circle
    48. The real reason mums are exhausted - hello, The Mental Load!

    You know that feeling when you’re wiped out but can’t explain why? You’ve been running on autopilot, juggling birthday gifts, nap schedules and meal plans, but it’s not just the doing that’s exhausting. It’s the thinking about everything.

    In this episode, Nat dives into the real reason mums are exhausted: the mental load. She unpacks how it quietly drains mothers, how gender roles and social conditioning created it, and what to do when you feel like the household project manager instead of an equal partner.

    You’ll hear:

    • What the mental load actually looks like day to day

    • Why it’s not about doing too much, but holding too much

    • How gender roles and conditioning keep mums overloaded

    • The resentment loop that creeps into relationships

    • How to start sharing the load without another argument

    🎧 Listen if you’ve ever felt like the manager of your household instead of a partner in it.
    Because it’s not just you, and it’s not what you think.


    🤩 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.

    We talk about this kind of stuff in It's A Lot. So, 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


    👉🏽 Reset from chaos to calm in minutes The Overwhelmed to Grounded Toolkit gives you three simple, real-life tools to help you recalibrate without adding more to your to-do list. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Download it here.⁠⁠⁠


    Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:

    Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠info@nataliekmartin.com⁠⁠

    ☕️ Support my work: if you’re enjoying my podcast, you can buy me a virtual coffee here! Thank you 🫶🏽 buymeacoffee.com/nataliekmartin⁠⁠

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


    Show more...
    2 months ago
    35 minutes 42 seconds

    The Mama Circle
    47. When having a baby breaks your marriage (and why it really happens)

    So many of us feel blindsided by how much motherhood changes our relationships. Nobody warns you how having a baby can completely rewrite the dynamics between you and your partner...the exhaustion, the resentment, the unspoken mental load.

    In this episode, Nat reads two Reddit posts from mums whose marriages started crumbling after having kids and reflects on why it really happens. From the invisible load to unmet needs, shifting identities, and structural cracks that existed long before the baby, this one’s a deep, honest look at why modern motherhood leaves so many couples struggling to stay connected.

    If you’ve ever wondered, “Is it just us?” — you’re not alone.

    In this episode:

    • The difference between structural vs. circumstantial relationship strain

    • Why unmet needs (sleep, rest, connection) turn into resentment

    • How the mental load creeps in and erodes partnership

    • When to question if staying together is helping or harming

    • Why separation isn’t failure, and what rebuilding support looks like

    Listen if you’re:

    • Feeling unseen or unsupported in your relationship

    • Wondering if your marriage can survive early motherhood
    • Craving validation and a reminder you’re not the only one

  • 🤩 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.

    We talk about this kind of stuff in It's A Lot. So, 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


    👉🏽 Reset from chaos to calm in minutes The Overwhelmed to Grounded Toolkit gives you three simple, real-life tools to help you recalibrate without adding more to your to-do list. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Download it here.⁠⁠


    Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:

    Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠info@nataliekmartin.com⁠⁠


    ☕️ Support my work: if you’re enjoying my podcast, you can buy me a virtual coffee here! Thank you 🫶🏽 buymeacoffee.com/nataliekmartin

    ⁠⁠

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



  • Show more...
    3 months ago
    30 minutes 7 seconds

    The Mama Circle
    46. Motherhood was my money wake-up call

    Money is one of those things we don’t talk about enough, especially as mums. In this episode, I’m sharing my own money wake-up call and how motherhood completely changed the way I look at finances.

    I open up about:

    • ​
    • ​The messy money habits I carried into my thirties
    • ​
    • ​How motherhood magnified the gaps in my financial safety net
    • ​
    • ​Why I never want my son to worry about my financial wellbeing
    • ​
    • ​The small shifts I’m making now to build financial independence
    • ​
    • ​The tools helping me stay on track


    This isn’t a “how-to” from someone who’s got it all figured out. It’s a real, honest account of where I’m at and the changes I’m making in the hope that it helps you feel less alone with your own money story.

    If motherhood has been your money wake-up call too, this one’s for you.


    Resources mentioned:

    💸 Financielle: https://www.financielle.com/

    🤩 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.

    We talk about this kind of stuff in It's A Lot. So, 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


    👉🏽 Reset from chaos to calm in minutes The Overwhelmed to Grounded Toolkit gives you three simple, real-life tools to help you recalibrate without adding more to your to-do list. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Download it here.⁠


    Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:

    Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠info@nataliekmartin.com⁠⁠


    ☕️ Support my work: if you’re enjoying my podcast, you can buy me a virtual coffee here! Thank you 🫶🏽 buymeacoffee.com/nataliekmartin

    ⁠⁠

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


    Show more...
    3 months ago
    33 minutes 45 seconds

    The Mama Circle
    45. When your partner sleeps through the baby cries (and what to do about it)

    In today’s Reddit episode, we dive into a post that so many of us will relate to: “My husband slept through the baby crying -right next to her bassinet.”

    This story isn’t just about night wakings. It’s about postpartum exhaustion, resentment when we say “yes” to things we don’t want to do, and how trust in our partner can wobble when we feel like we’re carrying everything alone.

    Inside the episode, I talk about:

    • Why postpartum travel can be so draining (and why “six weeks” really is the bare minimum for recovery).

    • How resentment grows when we override our own boundaries.

    • What might really be going on when a usually-responsible partner suddenly drops the ball.

    • Ways to share the load of night wakings without feeling like you’re left alone in the trenches.

    • Practical tips to make travel and sleep easier for babies, toddlers, and you.

    🤩 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


    👉🏽 Reset from chaos to calm in minutes The Overwhelmed to Grounded Toolkit gives you three simple, real-life tools to help you recalibrate without adding more to your to-do list. ⁠⁠⁠Download it here.


    Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:

    Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠

    Email: ⁠⁠⁠info@nataliekmartin.com⁠⁠⁠

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


    Show more...
    3 months ago
    20 minutes 13 seconds

    The Mama Circle
    44. Going back to work after baby? You're more qualified than ever! Here's why.

    Going back to work after kids can feel terrifying. Will your brain still work? Can you juggle the home stuff as well as job deadlines?

    In this episode, I’m here to remind you that not only can you do it - you’re already highly qualified.

    Motherhood is like running a business. You’ve been project managing, negotiating, crisis handling, and leading every single day. These are not “soft skills.” They’re powerful, transferable, and exactly what employers are looking for.

    Here’s what I cover in this episode:

    - The key skills you’ve developed as a mum (and how they match workplace needs)

    - How to frame your experience for CVs, interviews, and appraisals
    - My best tips for balancing the juggle of work and home life without losing yourself in the process

    If you’re nervous about returning to work or need a confidence boost to see your value clearly, this episode is for you.

    🤩 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: ⁠⁠info@nataliekmartin.com⁠⁠

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


    Show more...
    3 months ago
    43 minutes 39 seconds

    The Mama Circle
    43. I have an easy baby… so why do I feel guilty?

    Have you ever felt guilty because motherhood is easier than you thought it would be? Maybe your baby sleeps well, rarely gets sick, and you’re actually enjoying this season but instead of celebrating, you feel bad about it.

    In this episode, Nat unpacks a Reddit post from a mum who admitted she was finding things surprisingly smooth, and the guilt and isolation that came with it.

    We'll hear:

    - why mums often expect only the hard parts of motherhood

    - how comparison and guilt creep in when things feel “too easy”

    - why every phase brings its own mix of challenges and ease

    - the importance of celebrating the good moments without shame

    - how to find safe spaces to share your real experience


    🤩 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT - free for 30 days, then just 5€ per month


    If you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share to 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: ⁠subscribepage.io/overwhelmbingo⁠


    Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:

    • ​Instagram: ⁠@natalie.kmartin ⁠
    • ​Email: ⁠info@nataliekmartin.com⁠


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

    Show more...
    4 months ago
    16 minutes 25 seconds

    The Mama Circle
    42. I’m financially dependent on my partner… is my family safe?

    This week I’m opening up about something that feels raw but vital: financial independence for mums. It started with a viral comment I left on a reel by Tori Dunlap (Her First $100K). The conversation that followed showed me how many women still believe 'my partner handles the money, so I don’t need to worry.'

    But is that really safe? What happens if life changes through divorce, illness, job loss or widowhood?

    you’ll hear:

    • why 'my partner handles the money' feels safe, but isn’t

    • the truth behind the 80% of divorces initiated by women

    • how history still shapes our finances today

    • the motherhood penalty and why mums retire with less

    • a step-by-step guide to becoming financially independent (without shame)

    Resources to help:

    • Tori Dunlap @herfirst100K

    • Ramit Sethi’s Money for Couples podcast

    • Books: Profit First, Overcoming Underearning

    🤩 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT - free for 30 days, then just 5€ per month

    If you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share to 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: subscribepage.io/overwhelmbingo

    Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:

    • Instagram: @natalie.kmartin 
    • Email: info@nataliekmartin.com

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

    Show more...
    4 months ago
    44 minutes 2 seconds

    The Mama Circle
    41. Back to basics: the self-care hierarchy for overwhelmed mums

    In this episode of The Mama Circle Podcast, Nat gets real about self-care — not the glossy Instagram version, but the kind that actually keeps you functioning as a mum.

    She shares her take on the self-care hierarchy — a simple triage approach inspired by Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. At the base are the survival basics: water, sleep, food, movement. Once those are in place, you can layer on soothing practices (like a shower or clean clothes), restorative extras (like meditation or journalling), and finally self-development and expansion.

    This episode is a reminder that self-care isn’t indulgence, it’s maintenance. And when you feel overwhelmed or burnt out, you don’t need a bubble bath — you probably just need a glass of water and an early night.

    ✨ Inside this episode:

    • Why so many mums skip the basics of self-care (and why that backfires)

    • The four levels of the self-care hierarchy and how to use them as triage

    • Quick, doable ways to build a foundation of care when time is short

    • How small shifts (like drinking water or going to bed earlier) create space for bigger ones

    Self-care doesn’t have to be complicated. It starts with one basic step.

    🤩 Join IT'S A LOT - free for 30 days, then just 5€ per month

    If you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share to 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: subscribepage.io/overwhelmbingo

    Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:

    • Instagram: @natalie.kmartin 
    • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motherhoodandempowerment
    • Email: info@nataliekmartin.com

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

     

         
    Show more...
    4 months ago
    29 minutes 56 seconds

    The Mama Circle
    I love being a mum. What I don’t love is what modern motherhood has become: the overwhelm, the invisible labour, the financial squeeze, the loneliness. The Mama Circle Podcast is where we get real about all of it: the joy and the debt of modern motherhood. Honest talk for women who love their families but want a version of motherhood that feels more sustainable, more joyful and more supported. Hosted by writer and educator Natalie K. Martin, every episode mixes lived experience, social insight and practical permission to do things differently.