The Re-Imagining Motherhood Podcast
If becoming a Mother (aka matrescence) is an invitation to expand, then why does it feel so restrictive at times? It's "supposed" to be hard, as is any life transition...but "this" hard? This hard is patriarchal Motherhood hard and we NEED to talk about it.
So much of Motherhood feels like a "me problem" when in reality, it is much more of a "we problem". If you've been wondering why Motherhood feels so hard, let this podcast be the validation you need that there isn't anything wrong with you...burnout, depletion, overwhelm etc. are all potential symptoms of being a Mother within patriarchal Motherhood. It's time to stop pathologizing so much of Motherhood and give Mothers the words they need to describe their experiences.
For if Motherhood is oppressive (Rich), then mothering can be empowering.
Join Chelsea Robinson, licensed clinical social worker and founder of Mama's Modern Village, as she has crucial conversations that bridge together the researchers, scholars, changemakers and thoughtleaders in the Motherhood space with Mothers and those that support them, personally and professionally.
Let these episodes be your weekly dose of hope, inspiration and motivation that you need to keep Re-Imagining Motherhood for yourself (and for Mothers everywhere).
The Re-Imagining Motherhood Podcast
Episode 10: Lucy Jones - Matrescence as Resistance
Welcome to episode TEN of the Re-Imagining Motherhood podcast.
I am thrilled to bring you Lucy Jones, investigative journalist and award-winning author of the incredibly inspiring book, “Matrescence”. In this episode, Jones and I explore the theory of matrescence - from both personal lived experience to that of the larger cultural narrative. Jones put the concept of matrescence on a much larger map - she has popularized this term, helping give Mothers the words to finally talk about their otherwise silent experiences. She has helped to normalize the messy, painful, growth-producing and awe-inspiring complex sides of Motherhood. I am so grateful for her contributions to this space. This conversation felt like meeting up with an old friend.
Episode Summary:
Talking about matrescence is something I do nearly every day—I can’t get enough. It's a theory that feels truly alive, continuously inspired and reshaped by each mother’s unique lived experience. I’m constantly moved by the activists, authors, and artists who offer their interpretations, planting seeds of new consciousness and fresh perspectives on what it means to be a mother—and on motherhood as an institution.
The raw authenticity in Jones’s writing is why so many women have been drawn to her book. She has a way of making you feel instantly at home, as if you belong somewhere. Her words don’t just see you—they validate you and, even more importantly, empower you to create your own meaning out of your experience of motherhood. Who would have thought that a book—or even a single word—could have such a profound impact?
From exploring her personal connection to the word "matrescence" to diving into its cultural implications for motherhood, this conversation is rich and thought-provoking. This episode gives me hope that, together, we can reimagine motherhood by embracing the fullness of matrescence and using it as a tool for collective change.
Additional episode resources:
To purchase Matrescence: https://www.amazon.com/Matrescence-Childbirth-Motherhood-Lucy-Jones/dp/0593317319
To learn more about Lucy’s work: https://lucyfjones.com/
Lucy Jones’ full bio:
Lucy Jones is an award-winning author and investigative journalist. Jones was educated at University College London and since has written extensively on culture, science and nature. She is the author of four books. Her first book, Foxes Unearthed, received the Society of Authors’ Roger Deakin Award. In other writings, her articles have been published on BBC Earth and in The Sunday Times, The Guardian and the New Statesman. Jones is a sought after speaker too, having given talks at various organisations, including TATE, LSE, NHS, UBS, Forest School Association, 5x15 and for universities and local authorities. She’s talked at festivals, including Hay, Edinburgh, Cambridge Literary Festival, Greenbelt, End of the Road and many more.
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