Mothers talking podcast

School of Dreams with Kimberley Olliff Cooper

We're starting the year off right with this uplifting episode of mothers talking.  Jenna talks to Kimberley, co-founder of ThriveNow Education and mum of three, whose own family tragedy has driven her to redefine education.  Kim is an experienced educator with over twenty years in the field and Kim is reimagining how school can be for young people.  Not only that, she is making this school a reality and it will open it's doors in September 2026 in Kingston-upon-Thames in South West London.  With a holistic approach, Kim is helping shape education to fit the child, not the other way around.  Beautifully warm and so inspiring, Kim tells us about her journey to build her school of dreams.
Kim is also generously open sourcing all the assets so anyone can use them to build their own schools and learning communities without the usual financial barriers to entry.  So if you would like to know more or offer your help please contact 
Kimberley at ThriveNow Education - https://linktr.ee/thrivenoweducation
https://www.youtube.com/@ThriveNowEducation
For anyone who is interested in their child coming to the school, please email us at
admissions@thrive-now.org
 
Thank you so much Kim!
As always, thanks for listening.
Jenna and Natalie
motherstalkingpodcast@gmail.com
@jenna_andjude
@natalie_meddingsdoula
 

Freya's story - Unbecoming, how motherhood shapes our identity

In this festive episode of mothers talking, Natalie and Jenna chat to lovely Freya Haines about everything hair and identity in motherhood. Freya is a mum of two and a hairdresser and in her new video series called 'Unbecoming' Freya is exploring a new mother's identity and how it transforms when they have a baby and how empowering it can be to get a new hairstyle.  Freya chats about how she nurtures new mothers in the postnatal period through their hair and gives them a chance to explore the changes they are going through.  This episode really sheds a light on how important our hair can be to us and how something simple can have a profound effect on our wellbeing.  Thanks so much Freya.
If you would like to contact Freya, her details are below - 
@kaiahairbyfreya
freyaclarehair@gmail.com
Salon - www.sta-studios.com
 
As always, thanks for listening,
Natalie and Jenna
motherstalkingpodcast@gmail.com
www.nataliemeddings.com
www.theminimalistdoula.com
 
 

Jenna's story - Steiner school

As you probably know by now, Natalie can get quite excited about education. So she was especially pleased to have a chance to explore and explain the mysteries of Steiner schooling with Jenna Kim, mother of Cora, Ada and Iris, who are just starting out on that journey. 
If thoughts like 'weird', 'cult', or 'alternative nonsense' are coming to mind, stop right there and have a listen. You may be surprised. 
 
If this episode sparks your interest in Steiner schools, here are some resources;
 
Recommended reading - 
You Are Your Child's First Teacher by Rahima Baldwin Dancy 
All Year Round by Ann Druitt and Christine Fynes-Clinton
The Five Golden Keys by Helle Heckmann
 
Jenna's article -
https://nhmoms.com/school-years/8-elements-of-waldorf-education-i-love/
www.hawthornpress.com for wonderful books 
www.myriadonline.co.uk for natural toys and play
 
and if you are south London based, parent & child groups are held every morning at St Michael Steiner School - www.stmichaelsteier.hounselow.sch.uk or email velikiadimova@stmichaelsteiner.com
 
Thanks as always for listening
Natalie and Jenna
 
motherstalkingpodcast@gmail.com
www.nataliemeddings.com
www.theminimalistdoula.com
 

The best of all possible worlds

In this much needed episode of mothers talking, Natalie (author of Why Home Birth Matters) chats to Alex Smith.  Alex Smith has been a childbirth educator since the 1970s and an observer of the changing attitudes to childbirth during that time. She has had the privilege of attending many home births and believes that this is probably the only setting where truly physiological birth is able to unfold. She regards the rapid escalation of induced labour and caesarean birth as an ecological issue with consequences for mankind that are as grave as the melting ice floes. As a mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Alex wants to see the winds of change shift in a way that will allow future generations of women to have restored faith in the natural process of birth - secure in their trust that medical resources are at hand, if needed, but as a safety net and not a conveyor belt.
This deep dive into the history of birth and how it has shaped maternity care today, is as fascinating as it is reassuring especially about how safe birth actually is when you can trust it.  If you're wondering how to trust yourself when faced with the challenges of the maternity system, well you can use Alex's simple but very effective traffic light system...
Thank you so much to Alex for this wonderful episode.
AIMS (Association for Improvements in Maternity Services)
https://www.aims.org.uk/
Natalie's website where you can buy her books, Why Home Birth Matters and How to Have a Baby
www.nataliemeddings.com
 
As always, thanks for listening.
If you would like to contact us please email
motherstalkingpodcast@gmail.com
 
 

Unschooled with Caro Giles

In this open-hearted conversation of Mothers talking, Jenna chats to Caro Giles, author of Twelve Moons and her latest book, Unschooled, about her journey with her daughters and the school system.  Caro as a single mum and full time carer to two of her four daughters who are autistic, shares how she has had to navigate a broken system while it failed her family and she had to be the one to pick up the pieces.  However with her wonderful book, she is hoping to advocate for a kinder and more supportive conversation around schooling for children who don't fit in from a family who didn't.  Thank you Caro for sharing your story with us.
Caro's instagram   @carogileswrites
Caro's substack      https://carogiles.substack.com/
Caro's latest book 'Unschooled' 
https://www.littletoller.co.uk/shop/books/little-toller/new-books/unschooled-by-caro-giles/
Caro's audiobook for 'Twelve Moons' is also available to accompany the book
Thanks as always for listening
Jenna & Natalie
motherstalkingpodcast@gmail.com
Jenna - www.theminimalistdoula.com
Natalie - www.nataliemeddings.com
 
 
 

Kate's story - 99 days in NICU

In part one of this beautiful conversation between Natalie and Kate Merrick, a psychotherapist and mum, Kate shares her incredible journey with her daughter Eliza and their 99 days in hospital after Eliza was born early at 29 weeks.  This remarkable story is a true testament to the deep knowing of a woman's body, a teeny but mighty baby girl and a mother's unwavering love and trust.  Kate sees the gifts of her experience and also shares how her emergency caesarean birth was utterly sacred.  Part two will follow soon, not to be missed, thanks so much for your openness and honesty Kate.
Kate's IG - @rushmead_farm
Kate's websites - 
www.rushmeadfarm.com
https://www.katemerrickpsychotherapy.co.uk/
Natalie's website
www.nataliemeddings.com
If you'd like to get in touch with Jenna & Natalie please email motherstalkingpodcast@gmail.com
Thanks as always for listening.

Rachel's story - on the road

This month on Mothers Talking,  Jenna is chatting to Rachel Parker Soden about her current living situation, how it came about and how her and her two boys are 'letting the road guide us'.  In this inspiring conversation, Rachel shares how sometimes the best thing we can do, is just to do, not overthink and let fear take over but let action lead you somewhere beautiful.  Rachel is experiencing how staying present can make life so much better and her rare ability to let go, practice deep gratitude and allow her hard feelings is truly refreshing.  Thank you Rachel for your mindful reflections on motherhood.
If you'd like to explore Rachel's beautiful artwork, please go to her website.
https://rachelparkersoden.co.uk/
If you'd like to contact us at mothers talking please email us at
motherstalkingpodcast@gmail.com
Thanks as always for listening
Jenna & Natalie
www.nataliemeddings.com
www.theminimalistdoula.com
 
 

Body led birth

Natalie and Jenna are chatting birth in this month's episode of mothers talking.  We look at the current landscape of birth preparation and explore how we feel about it.  We discuss what we think is more helpful when preparing for birth and how listening and tuning into yourself is much more important than listening to others.  Come with us on this journey to uncover the deep needs of pregnancy and find your way to birth with curiosity and calm.
Natalie's website is below where you can order her book, How to Have a Baby and the walk talk, Gathering your forces.
www.nataliemeddings.com
Jenna's website
www.theminimalistdoula.com
If you would like to get in touch with us please email us at
motherstalkingpodcast@gmail.com
Thanks as always for listening
x

Mum rage with Suzie Vaughan

In this month's episode of mothers talking, Jenna chats to Suzie Vaughan, psychotherapist and breath work practitioner, about our mum rage and what we can do about it.  We discuss the shame and guilt around anger that especially women can feel, we chat about how giving ourselves permission to feel it can help us work with our anger and not suppress it.  Suzie offers great tools and tips to help you process your anger in a healthy way and opens up about her own journey with anger in raising her son.  A brilliant episode to remind us to always be kind to ourselves.
If you would like to contact Suzie her details are below - 
Suzie Vaughan - Breathe in Peace on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/breatheinpeacewithsuzie?locale=en_GB
And instagram
https://www.instagram.com/breathe_in_peace_/
Facebook community group -
Lose your sh!t less as a Mum with Suzie Vaughan
https://www.facebook.com/groups/loseitless?locale=en_GB
As always, thanks so much for listening.
Jenna & Natalie
www.theminimalistdoula.com
www.nataliemeddings.com
 

Laura's story - newborn nonsense

It's very easy as a new mum to be thrown off your beautiful instinct by well meaning but misplaced comments about your baby...in this month's episode of mothers talking, Natalie chats to lovely Laura Hubbard, new mum to baby Bobby, about how she is feeling during these sensitive early days.  As a second time mum, Laura trusts herself more in knowing her baby and is working hard to drown out the voices that make her feel like she doesn't.  
Laura also featured in an earlier episode if you would like to hear more from her.
https://motherstalking.podbean.com/e/laura-lonne-s-story-trust-yourself/
If you would like to get in touch with Natalie and Jenna please email us at
motherstalkingpodcast@gmail.com
Natalie's website is
www.nataliemeddings.com
Jenna's website is
www.theminimalistdoula.com
Thank you as always for listening