Saint Majella

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:What is 'Aware Parenting'?How to manage our overwhelm, overstimulation during busy seasonsHow to navigate obligations for attending parties, gifts etcHow to get clear on our own boundaries and then hold strong on themHow to stay connected with your children in this busy season Signs of overstimulation in our kids? How to help children navigate overwhelm? How to help kids see the less consumerist parts of Christmas and direct it more to a family-centred time? 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.____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!!____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 NormalContact 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 277GLOW 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 COMMUNITYResourceful 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 MattersRevolutionary MotheringSome YouTube stories to learn more:Interview with Danny Trans-Dad Freddy's Story Ari's StoryContact 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 @drnatalieelphinstoneWe 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_consultingThe episode discusses the following:Dr Natalie Ephinstone's transition from maiden to mother. What drew Nat to study obstetrics? How has Nat's practice changed over her career span? The cascade of intervention's impact on the physiological process of birth.Backlash from from peers in the industryIs any woman suited to obstetric care or should we keep obstetricians for women with ‘risk'?Maternal-Assisted caesarsThe birth stories shared by Nat to her communityBirth traumaContact 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:Eliza discusses her experience with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.Eliza shares her journey into motherhood and how ‘Being a disabled parent is a rebellious act'  We discuss under-representation of disabled parents We talk through Eliza's birth experiences.Eliza shares some blessings of parenting with a disabilityWe talk about the anthology ‘We've got this' - a first of its kind.Eliza explains that it is other people's attitudes, prejudice and outright disapproval that make parenthood harder.Eliza explains what we can do to empower those with a disability and combat ableism? 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

In this episode we chat with artist and mother Bonnita. With many ‘so -called' labels, Bonnita openly and honestly recounts her experiences as a mother of  bi-racial and neuro-diverse children and mother with neurodiversity herself. We move through a plethora of topics ranging from un-schooling, racism, art and the need for women to have ‘a room of one's own'. This conversation is sure to get you pondering… The episode covers the following:Young motheringSingle motheringRaising a biracial child and anti-racismNeurodiversity (in the child)HomeschoolingMothering with ADHD Creativity and motherhoodShow Notes:Bonnita has also kindly shared some further reading on the topics we covered in this discussion1. "Dear White Moms: What I need you to know." An blog post written by Jehava Brown. 2. "Raising anti-racist children. A practical Guide." A book written by Britt Hawthorne.3. "Raising Multiracial Children." A book by Farzana Nayani4. "Unmasking Autism. The Power of Embracing Our Hidden Neurodiversity" A book by Devon Price5. "Women who run with the wolves" a book by Clarissa Pinkola EstesBonnita can be contacted via instagram @mamacitabonnita 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 meet the intelligent and fierce Natalie Kon-yu.  Natalie is a writer, academic and editor whose work has been published nationally and internationally. She is the author of The Cost of Labour and a co-commissioning editor of #Me Too: Stories from the Australian Women's Movement, Mothers and Others and Just Between Us. She lives and works in Naarm. Together we explore and scrutinise societal ideas around pregnancy, birth and motherhood, the patriarchy and today's technocratic Australian medical system. This informative chat will leave you questioning if mothers truly are valued by society and if Australians really are ‘the lucky ones'. Some of the points we discuss:How  the glamorisation of pregnancy and also the secrecy of the first trimester can affect our mental state.Do we really have choice when it comes to abortion in Australia?The disparity in care for first nations birthing people.Private vs public care and the costs and/or implications of each.Is motherhood the ultimate achievement for all female humans? Are we being hoodwinked?Parental leave policies around the world as they compare to Australia's.The lack of value our society/government and culture attributes to "caring" roles, including mothering.Discrimination against fathers with regard to involvement in pregnancy, birth and parenthood.We hope you enjoy this episode. Mel and Cel xContact 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 delve into erotic mothering with the vibrant Orgasmic Mama, Tamica Wilder. Tamica is a somatic sexologist and multi-disciplinary therapist residing in Byron Bay. Tamica brings 20 years of experience in facilitation and group work and guides us through finding pleasure in the mundane, tapping into our eros through motherhood and honoring the season we are in. We talk sex positivity and how we can raise children without shame, equip for an embodied and healthy adulthood. We are sure this chat will have you shifting perspectives and prioritizing pleasure.  In this episode we talk:- connecting to our 'life force energy'- barriers to pleasure- sex in early motherhood- body confidence- the challenging issue of having NO time for sex- imbalance in libido and low libido- vibrators and coffee impacting sex- sex-positive parentingSHOW NOTES:Tamica delivers 1:2 and 1:1 therapeutic support for people from all walks of life. Her online programs "The Orgasmic Mama" and "The O'Mama Circle" are for women who are ready to reconnect with all aspects of their pleasure and sexual embodiment. www.tamicawilder.comIG : tamicawilder.coIf anyone who listens wants to contact Tamica for a session email her direct - tamica@neosoma.com.au and make sure to let her know that you heard this episode. 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 motherhood community!Love, Mel and Cel

In this episode we sit down with the spectacular Rachel Yoder, writer and mother. Rachel is the author of the novel Nightbitch. Selected as an Indie Next Pick in August 2021, Nightbitch has gone on to be named a best book of the year by Esquire and Vulture and has been translated into 13 different languages. Nightbitch personally inspired both of us, as Rachel delves into the truly feral and raw parts of motherhood. In this conversation we dig into Rachel's experience of motherhood and how Nightbitch showed up on her doorstep one day demanding to be written. SHOW NOTES:Rachel mentions the book Fair Play by Eve RodskyContact Rachel Yoder - via her website: https://www.racheljyoder.com/ - on twitter  https://twitter.com/RachelYoder- on instagram https://www.instagram.com/raijoy/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 motherhood community!Love, Mel and Cel

In this episode we chat with the articulate and passionate Lucinda from the Ready or Not podcast. Lucinda, mother of 1 year old Ray has an impressive career history and after giving birth to a child of her own has made it her mission to document the complexities of motherhood and working. We delve into gender roles in the home, highlight the disparities across the world in maternal and paternal leave and so much more. This chat got us inspired as well as fired up, we hope this listen stokes the feminist fire within.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 motherhood community!Love, Mel and Cel

Welcome back, it has been a while between chats and life has been full. We are so excited to be back for Season 3 of Saint Majella. In this episode with Mel and Cel, we let you in on all that is to come for SM in 2023. We chat about our latest offerings, that have been brewing in our cauldron for months, even years are finally taking shape. You can expect community, disruption and empowerment as we move into our next chapter. This evolution of the business, the brand and our friendship didn't come without some upgrading on all fronts. It, in fact, required a week of Mel and Cel not talking (the longest we have ever had in our friendship) and of course a good olde make-up-hug. To hear where and how we battled it out you will just have to listen… Enjoy ReferencesFair Play - Eve RodskyNight crawling - Leila MottleyThe Book of Goose - Yiyun LiMatricentric Feminism - Andrea O'Reilly Our re-brand was artfully designed by Holly from Apartment 12. 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 motherhood community!Love, Mel and Cel

In this episode we met with the incredibly wise Lisa Marchiano. Lisa is a mother, writer, jungian analyst and fellow podcaster (see her poddy This Jungian Life here)Lisa is well known for her book “Motherhood - Facing and Finding Yourself” - which personally changed both our perspectives. Lisa sheds a new light on the depths that motherhood can take you to and in this episode we explore the challenges of motherhood that force you to look within. We are reminded yet again that surrender is the key to successful mothering, if there is such a thing!As huge fan-girls of Lisa's, we were so humbled to have this open and honest chat where we cover topics such as mum rage, childhood wounds, complexities surrounding toddlers and teens, trusting your instincts and intuition and meeting our shadows. And we can't recommend her work enough: If you haven't already, we highly suggest you pick up Lisa's book “Motherhood - Facing and Finding yourself”. Go deep mamas, and Enjoy. SHOW NOTES:the following books are referenced in this podcast:Maternal Desire : on Children, love, and the inner life  by Daphne Dee MarneffeOn The Way To The Wedding by Linda LeonardContact Saint Majella Slide into our DMs via insta @saintmajella Email us for collab opportunities saintmajella@gmail.com See upcoming events, recipes and more on our website www.saintmajella.com Thanks for listening and pls share us to your mama friends!Love, Mel and Cel

Meet the Queen of Pleasure Rachael White. Rachael is a holistic sex coach, yoni massage practitioner and lover of all things pleasure. Recorded from Mel's bed we delve into sex and intimacy with yourself and your partner. The importance of accepting your season and your body for all its beauty. And what we can do when there is an imbalance in partners sex drive and libido (hello parenthood!).We learnt about yoni and cock massage and how this could crack you right open, hint it's all about being present! Rachael is not yet a mother but offers us some fantastic tips to bring intimacy back into our relationships and the importance of switching up masculine and feminine energy in order to break down any power/control battles. This open, sexy chat had us looking deeper and excited to make pleasure a priority. We hope this helps you connect to yourself and your lover and reaffirms to you that every pussy and cock is beautiful and deserves to be loved SHOW NOTES:Rachael refers to the following books during our chat1. Pussy - A Reclamation by Regina Thomashauer aka Mama Gena - find her on instagram here2. Women's Anatomy of Arousal by Sheri Winston3. Come As You Are  - by Emily Nagoski 

In this episode of Saint Majella we chat with the inspirational Anna Commons from @theautism_collective. Anna is raising two boys, one with autism. Anna is a motherhood mentor and coach and works exclusively to hold space for special needs mums.As always this chat was more than we could've imagined as we delved into Anna's personal story of growth, her individual experience with her autistic son Jackson, his diagnosis and the day to day life of a parent with a non verbal child. We learnt about the NDIS, support workers and Jackson's service dog Orbit. But most of all we got to be in the presence of Anna and her infectious positive energy! It is evident that Anna has worked her butt off to get where she is today and we were inspired. Our very first guest of the season did not disappoint, we hope this episode opens your mind and heart to start doing the soul work you need! Happy listening!

Hi mamas, Today we cancelled on our upcoming guest for what felt like the tenth time. We have been trying our best to get an episode out but struggling with the absolute ENORMITY of motherhood and the mother load. Cleaning.Cooking.Caring for Children.Caring for sick children.Death in the family.Family Business Management.Teething.Starting Solids.Paying the bills.Low libidosRelationship maintenance.The mental load of ensuring you're getting your self-care in.Thats only the tip of the iceberg. We are in the thick of it and in this episode we vent, share our best tips but mainly want to let you know that we're still here, we are here in the trenches with you, beside you in solidarity!  

Welcome to Season 2 of the Saint Majella Podcast. With 2 new groupies in our gang we are so excited to be back behind the mic. And with many exciting guests lined up...!In our first episode back Mel and Cel relive and relish in their two amazing home-births (2 days and 180m away from each other!!) We chat pregnancy, labour and birth with our toddlers by our side, home birth and the golden postpartum. It was so nice to step back in time and reflect on the challenges, the intensity and the sacred place that is the labour and birth portal. We hope you love this episode as much as we loved birthing our babes. If you haven't already listened to Season 1 Episode one, check that out to be up to date.Show Notes:1. 'The Red Tent' is a historical novel by Anita Diamant,2. Call Me by Your Name is a 2017 coming-of-age romantic drama film directed by Luca Guadagnino.3. 'Hello Baby' A very realistic and moving portrayal of the birth of a baby at home by Jenni Overend.4. The famous Meal Train website: https://www.mealtrain.com/

In our season finale, we have an exciting guest: Mason Taylor, founder of Superfeast - your tonic herbs and medicinal mushroom superstore. In this episode we ask Mason to consider his encyclopaedic knowledge (think Daoist Philosophy, Adaptogens, Medicinal Mushrooms, Tonics... the list goes on) and provide his best advice for mothers. We discuss how a woman can support herself through conception, pregnancy and post-partum with a number of strategies, as well as specific herbs, discussed. We learnt what Jing, Qi and Shen is and reflect that the Daoist modalities are more a way of life that allow you to be your best self. This is in contrast to western medicine that is often turned to once symptoms arise. Perhaps this interview will encourage you to support yourself BEFORE you experience depletion, brain fog and other motherhood woes.

In todays episode we turn the spotlight onto the dads - we interview our partners Nick and Tim and ask them their thoughts on fatherhood, shifts in relationships and their sense of identify. At times we were surprised by their answers, at other times we had predicted their responses perfectly - but they definitely had us laughing and hopefully will encourage a giggle from you too. Also an apology from us; this episode kept getting interrupted by our children, but hey that's parenting, you know the drill. Enjoy… 

In the 14th Episode of Saint Majella, we have a very special guest, Hannah Oppy. She is a mother, midwife and nurse that works in a tertiary hospital in Melbourne caring for women with significant mental health issues, drug and alcohol addiction, adolescents and women with intellectual Disabilities. Hannah's role encompasses the antenatal and immediate postpartum time. We chatted to Hannah about the support available, identifying mental illness, myth-busted about medication in pregnancy and offered ways that a loved one can support a mother through Post Natal Depression. Hannah herself has battled mental health, pregnancy loss and 3 wildly different birthing journeys as her time as a mother, so her devotion and admiration she holds in her role is so obvious. We hope you enjoy this episode. SHOW NOTES:Glow Clinic: GLOW is a unique, perinatal emotional health and wellbeing clinic and model of care based in Berwick, VIctoria.Raphael Services: A free service supporting parents through the emotional challenges of early parenthood, so their families can thrive. Gidget House: Gidget House provides free individual psychological counselling services delivered face-to face from 16 locations in three states. Gidget Houses are accessible and provide compassionate holistic care for expectant and new parents and their families.ICOPE: A wealth of information here - Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE) is a not-for-profit organisation devoted to reducing the impacts of emotional and mental health problems in the pre and postnatal periods.

In this episode we meet with Tessa Weadman, a paediatric speech pathologist. Tessa has a Bachelor of Health Sciences and a Master of Speech pathology. She is currently completing her PhD part-time and will finish towards the beginning of next year. She works as a speech pathologist in Melbourne with preschool and school-aged children.We chat about stutters, tongue, lip and cheek ties, the interference of dummies and thumb sucking and heaps more. There is also a tonne of useful information for parents to consider in preventing speech delays... We hope you enjoy this episode. 

Today we speak with Alex Sinickas - engineer, mother and creator of  Milkdrop breast pump silicone cushions. Alex experienced a traumatic start to motherhood with a stillbirth at 20 weeks and openly shares her dark journey through grief and how it has shaped her today. Becoming a mother to daughter Greta, Alex then struggled with breastfeeding and pumping which led her to create a product to empower breastfeeding women. Alex is super clever and gave us a different perspective on motherhood as she challenges the ‘stay at home' mother paradigm. This is a trigger warning - in this episode we discuss sensitive topics such as stillbirth and intrusive thoughts, so please listen mindfully and reach out for support if you need. We've put some helpful resources in the show notes.This episode is sponsored by The Plant Fam, a family owned business on the Mornington Peninsula that offers a wide range of indoor and outdoor plants.SHOW NOTES:1. For information or support relating to miscarriage, stillbirth and grief we recommend contacting SANDS.  Sands is a volunteer-based organisation providing individualised care from one bereaved parent to another, giving them support and hope for the future, following the death of a baby. 2. An ever helpful resource, PANDA - Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia supports women, men and families across Australia affected by anxiety and depression during pregnancy and in the first year of parenthood. 3. For further info on the breast pump silicone cushions, Milkdrop can be contacted on support@milkdroppumps.com4. Alex mentions author Virginia Woolf and recommends reading on of her books entitled 'A Room Of One's Own'. This is about women that need their own space to able to create things of worth. And back in the 20's, when this was written, they couldn't really do that! 

In this weeks episode we chat with Amy (known as @bushrat_ in the instagram world), a birthkeeper (doula) who works with home birth and freebirthing families in northern NSW. A mama of three beautiful babes all born at home: Sylvester (6), Essie (2) and Solomon (5 months). Amy experienced a wild pregnancy and freebirth with her son Solomon and it was easily the most incredible experience in her life. She talks through her three births and also shares her experience of a lotus birth.SHOW NOTES:Amy refers to a few books and resources in this episode1. Home Birth On Your Own Terms - A Book by Heather Baker available here2. Placenta - The Forgotten Chakra - A Book by Robin Lim available here3. Sacred Birthing: Birthing a New Humanity - A Book by Sunni Karll4. Blissful Herbs - Amy purchased the lotus birth herbs available online here

This weeks episode we are turning the spotlight back to us, to Mel & Cel.  As most of Australia, including Victoria is in lockdown,  we're unable to meet with the lovely guests we have lined up for you. On our instagram we asked you what you wanted to chat to us about, what you wanted to ask us both and your questions definitely got us talking! Listen in to hear our answers: what we plan for in our upcoming births, our fears, our relationships, how to keep love alive, what equality means in parenting, toilet training tips and much more!! We actually didn't hold back, and shared our real thoughts on all of these topics, in the hope that it resonated with at least one mama out there.SHOW NOTES:1. We mention the love languages - essentially the ways in which an individual prefers to be shown love. Learn your love languages by taking the quiz here: https://www.5lovelanguages.com/learn2. Is your child refusing to poo on the potty/toilet? Try the online book "The Adventures of Plopsy" by Di Collis : This book is a clinical resource written for young children, between 3-5 years of age, who are having difficulty using the toilet for bowel movements.

In this weeks episode we catch up with Rachel Maksimovic; single mama and self employed boss bitch who wrangles two year old Lenny and full-time work SOLO. Rachel shares her beautiful water birth story and the challenges and joys of being a single mama. We get along so well with Rachel who is such an intuitive and inspiring mother, we just know you'll love her too.Our chat was interrupted by a family emergency, which was captured during the recording: Celeste's daughter Mazzy was having a low blood sugar and an ambulance had to be called. We kept this in the episode as an opportunity to share a real-life example of the challenges facing some mothers of children with chronic illness.  It's also a chance to explain what Febrile convulsions are, the signs and what to do. We hope you enjoy this episode, please share with any mama facing the circumstances of single-parenting! Thank you for listening.SHOW NOTES:1. Rachel's full birth story can be heard here on Australian Birth Stories .2. A febrile seizure is a fit or convulsion caused by a sudden change in your child's body temperature, and is usually associated with a fever. Find more details in the fact sheet from the Royal Children's Hospital3. There is also a lot of helpful information for single-mums on the singlemum.com website, including information on government support, a family-law directory and forums. Also some help available on the raisingchildren government website. 

In this week's episode of the Saint Majella Podcast we speak to Jossie from @playrightsleeptight. Jossie is a woman of many talents; a nurse and midwife, mother of two AND sleep and settling enthusiast. In this episode Joss gives us so much holistic wisdom around sleep, settling, parenting and play and how they all interact together. You, the listeners,  sent in many questions and Joss helps us answer them in the least polarising way. You can also find Jossie on insta @playrightsleeptight for many tips and tricks! We hope you enjoy this special listen! SHOW NOTES:This episode delved into a few interesting things that you may want to follow up on yourself. Here are some of them:1. Microbirth - the film :  a  60 minute documentary looking at the latest scientific research about the microscopic events happening during childbirth.2. Breath - a book by James Nestor: No matter what you eat, how much you exercise, how skinny or young or wise you are, none of it matters if you're not breathing properly.3. Red Nose advice on Co-Sleeping: sharing tips for safer co-sleeping.

In today's episode, we meet with Emma Park, a passionate Functional Medicine Nutritionist that believes wholeheartedly in the power of Food as Medicine. Creator of ‘The first 1000 days' which focuses on optimising the health and wellbeing of new humans from conception to 2yrs of age.  Emma's website offers self paced online programs for mums and dads to have backstage access to her magical brain, as well as a free online facebook community. Em is a gut microbiome wizard and we LOVED this chat. SHOW NOTES:1. Emma can be contacted via instagram or you can view more information from the following linktree 2. Here are the 2021 Dirty Dozen: StrawberriesSpinachKale/Collard/Mustard greensNectarinesApplesGrapesCherriesPeachesPearsBell and hot peppersCeleryTomatoes3. Here are the items on the Clean 15: AvocadosSweet CornPineapplesOnionsPapayasFrozen sweet peasEggplantAsparagusBroccoliCabbageKiwifruitCauliflowerMushroomsHoneydewCantaloupe

Kirilly Dawn is a Barkindji woman, a full spectrum doula, birth advocate and somatic movement instructor that resides in Byron Bay.  She also co-hosts an informative podcast called Pregnancy Birth and Beyond. In this inspirational episode we learn about Kirilly's role as a doula. We chat about orgasmic birth and how this is possible for a birthing person in any setting, as long as they are in their safe place. Kirilly shares her insight on being culturally sensitive to an indigenous birthing woman in the birth space as we delve into the colonisation of so-called-Australia and the impacts of this to the first peoples. We ask Kirilly what it means to birth "on country" and how to connect with The Boonwurrung people that reside locally on the Mornington Peninsula.We also discuss Kirilly's work in Somatic Movement and how we can integrate this to support birth and the post partum period. Show Notes:  Kirilly currently offers a 5 week "Into the sensuous" embodied movement course that can be found here We discuss the documentary "Orgasmic Birth" which can be read about here.The birth centre in Hyderabad, India that Kirilly refers to is 'The Sanctum' 

Episode 5 delves into the current Maternity Care Options in Australia. We speak with Marnie Icim, midwife and mother. Together we pick apart the various options available to women through their pregnancy, birth, labour and postpartum, and how these choices can impact this special season of life. This episode is an absolute must-listen for first time mums and is incredibly relevant to all mums whether it be your 2nd or 5th babe. Marnie is nothing but empowering and extremely knowledgeable when it comes to evidence-based maternity care. By the way, we kick this episode off with some juicy goss!! Strap in.Show Notes:For information and support relating to Birth Trauma  - visit the Australian Birth Trauma Association website here. Marnie's previous business (now under new ownership) reopening in August is Virago Midwifery which can be contacted via instagram or facebook. 

This week we talk to Jess Ainsworth. Jess is a mother of two delightful boys and inspirational business owner of Aaruka healing. Aaruka is a fast, effective and powerful healing modality that teaches people to work with energy and reprogram belief systems, based in the Mornington Peninsula. Aaruka means to find paradise within, and this is exactly what Jess does, helping people in 1:1 sessions to shift their beliefs and energy to find paradise within themselves. This episode talks about beliefs and the power of beliefs - particularly those typical narratives that mothers share. We discuss trauma and how this can affect children and other interesting and intense topics. JESS is an amazing resource and her contact details are belowJust a note that throughout this episode we discuss sensitive topics such as trauma, childhood trauma and abuse.. if this brings anything up for you please seek support through friends or other resources such as  Beyond Blue and PANDA (details below).Show Notes:Jess can be contacted at Aaruka via instagram http://www.instagram.com/aarukahealing, her website https://www.aaruka.com.au/ or via email: hello@aaruka.com.au.Beyond Blue is an Australian mental health and wellbeing support organisation. They provide support programs to address issues related to depression, suicide, anxiety disorders and other related mental illnesses. Access their website here for contact information.PANDA - Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia supports women, men and families across Australia affected by anxiety and depression during pregnancy and in the first year of parenthood. PANDA operates Australia's only National Helpline for individuals and their families to recover from perinatal anxiety and depression, a serious illness that affects up to one in five expecting or new mums and one in ten expecting or new dads. View their website here for contact information.Jess recommends viewing the Ram Dass documentary 'Becoming Nobody' which can be viewed on Gaia.com.

This week we chat with Jess Kahan, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, Midwife, mama and all round boob guru. This episode covers the basics of breastfeeding, where to start your journey and where you can find support when you run into challenges. We chat about how nipple shields can cause more damage and pain and how dummies can impact your fertility/contraception. We were absolutely filled to the brim with useful  knowledge after this chat and we hope you are too!Show Notes:Jess is a Lactaction Consultant that services the Frankston, Mornington Peninsula and Melbourne's South East. Learn more about her services and how she can help at https://www.holisticlactationconsulting.com.au/. She can also be found on instagram @holistic_lactation_consultanting We talk about Qiara probiotic - learn more about that here

This week we chat with Amanda Hill, a pioneer of a new landscape for mothers - a place where they are invited to thrive whilst setting their boundaries and ditching guilt and overwhelm.Amanda is studied in Psychology, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Reiki, and Yoga and combines this to provide life coaching, short courses and other pieces of magic. In our interview we chat about what self-care means for Amanda, or Mandy, and how important it is to invest in yourself. Mandy openly shares her journey to home birthing daughter Sophie (who also features on the podcast!)  and how she would spend $100,000 to do it again! She describes her nourishing postpartum period that was meticulously planned and explains the creative burst of energy that she felt after this. Our discussion today took us far and wide and left us feeling energised and absolutely empowered. Mandy's perspective felt like a key had been turned in a rusty lock (aka the old birth paradigm) to unleash a dragon! We hope you feel this also… Amanda's Magic can be found on her website www.amandahill.com.au or via instagram www.instagram.com/amanda._hillShow Notes and references:Amanda's short courses that are referenced in this podcast are available online: 'Boundaries are Beautiful', and 'Claiming Sensitivity as a superpower' Amanda recommends the podcast 'Nourishing the Mother' available where all good podcasts can be found.Our bible:  The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother. A book by Amely Greeven, Heng Ou, and Marisa Belger

Hello all and welcome to our first episode! We recorded this episode back in September 2020 and finally, with wild toddlers in tow,  a busy summer on the Mornington Peninsula and the general motherhood blur, we have launched. Our first episode introduces your hosts Mel and Cel as they chat about their journeys from Maiden to Mother. We hope you enjoy this episode and look forward to releasing more soon.