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PODCAST

The Mama Circle

Natalie K. Martin

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

kids & family parenting

All Episodes

00:05:52

58. A Christmas Eve check-in

The Mama Circle ·

2025/12/23

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

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00:16:44

57. The honest share I didn’t plan to make, and the...

The Mama Circle ·

2025/12/16

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

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00:24:02

56. Seven motherhood myths keeping you stuck

The Mama Circle ·

2025/12/09

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

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00:39:27

55. My birth story - The birth I planned versus the...

The Mama Circle ·

2025/12/03

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

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00:40:14

54. How to have a fabulous Christmas (even if you're...

The Mama Circle ·

2025/11/25

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

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00:27:39

53. The truth about childcare guilt (and how to stop...

The Mama Circle ·

2025/11/18

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

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01:20:43

52. What postpartum support should really look like -...

The Mama Circle ·

2025/11/11

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 kinderAbout The

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00:43:57

51. My mother-in-law moved in to ‘help’...and made...

The Mama Circle ·

2025/11/04

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 arrivesThe emotional undercurrent of fear, loss of relevance, and controlWhy “you’re too sensitive” is code for I don’t want to take responsibilityHow to hold boundaries without blowing up the relationshipWhat healthy, respectful help can actually look likeBecause sometimes “help”

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00:29:21

50. How to save on groceries - what my family...

The Mama Circle ·

2025/10/28

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 familyWhy constant “top-up shops” are quietly draining your budgetThe small swaps and habits that save money without adding stressHow

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00:35:09

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

The Mama Circle ·

2025/10/21

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

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00:35:42

48. The real reason mums are exhausted - hello, The...

The Mama Circle ·

2025/10/14

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

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00:30:07

47. When having a baby breaks your marriage (and why...

The Mama Circle ·

2025/10/07

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,

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00:33:45

46. Motherhood was my money wake-up call

The Mama Circle ·

2025/09/30

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 thirtiesHow motherhood magnified the gaps in my financial safety netWhy I never want my son to worry about my financial wellbeingThe small shifts I’m making now to build financial independenceThe tools helping me stay on track This isn’t a

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00:20:13

45. When your partner sleeps through the baby cries...

The Mama Circle ·

2025/09/23

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

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00:43:39

44. Going back to work after baby? You're more...

The Mama Circle ·

2025/09/16

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

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00:16:25

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

The Mama Circle ·

2025/09/09

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

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00:44:02

42. I’m financially dependent on my partner… is my...

The Mama Circle ·

2025/09/02

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’tthe

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29:56

41. Back to basics: the self-care hierarchy for...

The Mama Circle ·

2025/08/26

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

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24:14

40. Holidays with kids: how to make them fun (and...

The Mama Circle ·

2025/08/19

It's holiday time! Once you’ve got kids though, they'll look very different to how they used to — but that doesn’t mean they can’t be fun, memorable and even (dare I say it) relaxing. In this episode, I’m sharing tips fresh from my own trip to Spain with my toddler.From flights and airports to naps and meals, I’ll walk you through the small mindset shifts and realistic travel tips for mums that made all the difference. Whether you’re travelling solo with your child, as a family, or with friends,

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24:46

39. Why parenting feels so much harder today - and...

The Mama Circle ·

2025/08/12

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering, “Why can’t I just cope like my mum did?” — this episode will make you feel seen.Nat breaks down the real numbers behind the parenting struggle in 2025, comparing wages, housing, childcare, energy bills, food, holidays, and petrol costs today with those from the 1990s. Spoiler: the maths is brutal. 💥 Jaw-drop stat: In 1990, the average UK family had the equivalent of £2,870 a year in today’s money left over after essentials. In 2025? The same lifestyle

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