Some big feelings have been coming up for me recently, over Matilda finishing up at primary school in a few weeks time(!).

I wanted to share this topic for my solo episode in case other Mums/parents relate and hearing my honest experience(s) may be somewhat soothing in the solidarity.

WARNING: At 9 minutes 40 seconds to 9 minutes 50 seconds I speak briefly of Father Christmas in case you listen around little ones!

In this episode I speak about:

• parenting, the change for us both and being a sensitive person
• filling our metaphorical cup so that we can give from a better place
• my experience of the first year of secondary school
• the support we've had from school
• 'anticipatory grief' and naming our feelings

Themes: parenting, grief, change, school

I mention Alex Trippier (Episode #10 of Series 2), Susan Cain and Lou Hynes.

At the end, I read a poem by Donna Ashworth called 'Backbones'.

Did you enjoy this episode? If so, I would really appreciate it if you could please leave a review on the platform that you listen.

For more insights and to contact me you can find me on Instagram, and/or on my website: www.lucywyldecoaching.com

I came across Sophie on Instagram, talking about enjoying life after escaping an abusive marriage. I love her openness in what she shares; her recovery, living in Mauritius and thriving after abuse.

It was great to speak to another survivor Mama who speaks openly about her experience. Conversations like this and sharing it can help others know they're not alone in their feelings. And that can both change and save lives!

Please consider sharing this episode with someone you know and/or on your socials.

TRIGGER WARNINGS: We speak about abuse a lot in the episode. Please be mindful in case you may be triggered.

From 49 minutes 10 seconds to 53 minutes Sophie speaks about her experience of miscarriage (aka early pregnancy loss), and post-birth health issues which may be upsetting.

In this episode we speak about:

• why Sophie changed her name and why 'Luminara'
• covert narcissism and leaving an abusive relationship
• the power of sharing stories yet people want us to be quiet about our difficult experiences — we won't!
• how vital nervous system care and education is
• when therapists can let people down...
• grieving, leaving and the court process
• the freedom and truth with which we now get to live
• sharing the messy, fuck 'perfection' and filters

Themes: living abroad, motherhood, narcissism, trauma, neurodivergence, burlesque

We mention Nicky Denson-Elliot, Jenny Evans, Brené Brown

At the end, I read a poem called 'Homes' by Nikita Gill.

To learn more about Sophie and her offering of 'Life Reboot Camp' see here on Instagram.

Did you enjoy this episode? If so, I would really appreciate it if you could please leave a review on the platform that you listen.

For more insights and to contact me you can find me on Instagram, and/or on my website: www.lucywyldecoaching.com

Shame is a huge topic. Not always comfortable to talk about of course, but necessary nonetheless. As well as healing and helpful — transformative even.

Shame is rife in so many ways in society. It always has been. And a lot of the time with/projected onto women for reasons that do not make any f**king sense.

But when shame is aired it has less power. (So says Bréne Brown.) And I, for one, can testify to that, in many ways.

As always, please feel free to let me know what this episode brings up for you; you can contact me on Instagram, and/or at lucy@lucywyldecoaching.com

In this episode I speak about:

• the undue shame of being divorced/separated
• the shame of being 'overweight'
• my experience of acne and skin issues
• feelings around growing older
• burlesque and sensuality
• STI's
• 'just' a MOTHER!?

Themes: shame, motherhood, health, abuse

I mention Mark Groves, Dr Sophie Brock, Ebony Jane Hensler, Rebecca Antonucci, and Paloma Faith.

At the end, I read a quote from Gisèle Pelicot.

Did you enjoy this episode? If so, I would really appreciate it if you could please leave a review on the platform that you listen.

For more insights and to contact me you can find me on Instagram, and/or on my website: www.lucywyldecoaching.com

Zoe Charles is the Founder of 'The Cheek Of It!' School of Burlesque and Cabaret. She is also a Mum of two boys, a Tedx Speaker, a writer, a poet and Feminine Embodiment Coach and most recently became a Flow Dance Meditation Teacher.

Zoe was my first ever podcast guest! And you can listen to our conversation (before I had started burlesque) that aired in January 2024 on Episode #13.

In this episode we speak about:

• Zoe's mission with her work and a bit about her background and training
• starting up in the geezer bird era
• the ins and outs of what 'is' and 'isn't burlesque'... not rules per se but guidance
• the skill of performing and what can give burlesque a bad name
• the art of holding space and what that can mean
• self-expression and a barometer for feeling empowered (LOVE this!)
• running a creative business as a new Mum; the good and the not so good
• what burlesque has done for me!
• what led to the need to dance more and teaching Flow Dance Meditation
• not bypassing the depth of our stories and the human experience

Themes: burlesque, motherhood, matrescence, small business life, dance, birth

We mention Francesca Blechner, Molly Caro May and Lindsay Jay

At the end, I read a poem called 'The Sacred Showgirl Prayer' written by Zoe herself.

To learn more about Zoe see here on Instagram and here for more about 'The Cheek Of It!'.

Did you enjoy this episode? If so, I would really appreciate it if you could please leave a review on the platform that you listen.

For more insights and to contact me you can find me on Instagram, and/or on my website: www.lucywyldecoaching.com

Has the fun side of life slipped into the past a little more than you'd like?

This is a short and sweet episode to remind you of where more fun can possibly come into play if your life. Also, how much it is needed — to greater or lesser degree — as humans and particularly as grown ups making our way in a stressful world.

In this episode I speak about:

• the joy of burlesque; what it does for me and the ladies I teach
• improvising with things at home and doing what may seem to be 'childlike'
• writing and poetry
• how pets can help with playfulness
• advocating for ourselves and why it matters; both for ourselves and the next generation(s)

Themes: burlesque, parenting, poetry, art, dance

I mention Brené Brown.

At the end, I read a poem written by me.

Did you enjoy this episode? If so, I would really appreciate it if you could please leave a review on the platform that you listen.

For more insights and to contact me you can find me on Instagram, and/or on my website: www.lucywyldecoaching.com

Lou Hynes is a Grief Specialist on a mission to create a more grief literate society and supporting those living with traumatic grief.

It isn't a job for her, it's a purpose, given to her after her incredible husband Pete died suddenly in 2022, leaving her a widow, traumatised, in shock and with three grieving children. Lou re-trained and pivoted her business to supporting others in their grief and making sure the rest of the world know how to compassionately support them.

Lou lives in Leeds with her three children, dog Rosie and was most recently at The Buckingham Palace Garden Party in recognition of her charitable work since her husbands sudden death.

TRIGGER WARNINGS: From 21 minutes 30 seconds to 24 minutes 11 seconds Lou speaks about the decline of her husband's health and consequent passing away.

From 35 minutes to 38 minutes 20 seconds Lou speaks about early pregnancy loss (aka miscarriage).

In this episode we speak about:

• a bit about what Lou does and her vision
• how we dress and the psychology of colour
• the passionate and heart-led why in Lou's work
• some of the awful ways people can treat a grieving person; turning their backs, asking the wrong questions
• the hurdles there can be and how poor some counselling services can be in their onboarding process (re-traumatising people)
• the various types of grief we can experience (and ways our body can hold it)
• Lou's experience(s) of matrescence and the births of her 3 children
• living in survival mode, nervous system health and giving ourselves a break (plus giving less fucks about others' opinions!)

Themes: grief, parenting, emotional literacy, counselling, early pregnancy loss, matrescence, solo parenting, nervous system care

We mention Lou's husband Pete, Jenny Evans and Samantha Murrell (Episode #109)

At the end, I read a poem called 'Dash' by Linda Ellis.

To learn more about Lou see here on Instagram and here for The Grief Lounge. Lou supports grieving people in 1:1 work, through her monthly FREE grief support group The Grief Lounge and is soon to be launching a private membership for those with traumatic grief.

Did you enjoy this episode? If so, I would really appreciate it if you could please leave a review on the platform that you listen.

For more insights and to contact me you can find me on Instagram, and/or on my website: www.lucywyldecoaching.com.

This is a short (and sweet) episode about our new dog, Molly. It's been lovely and something new to adjust to having a big, fluffy, gentle giant of a dog in our lives.

To learn more about Molly, have a listen.

In this episode I speak about:

1. how healing it's been to get Molly after Roly having such a reactive dog
2. Matilda's love of dogs
3. Molly's gentle nature and the settling in process

Themes: dogs, healing

At the end, I read a poem that I don't know the author of.

Did you enjoy this episode? If so, I would really appreciate it if you could please leave a review on the platform that you listen.

For more insights and to contact me you can find me on Instagram, and/or on my website: www.lucywyldecoaching.com

Alex Trippier is a writer, speaker, podcast host, husband and father. He is an emerging voice on parenting and the role of men in family life. Alex has immersed himself in the work of leading mothers and parenting experts, exploring women’s lived experiences, mental load and family life.

Alex brings a compassionate, feminist perspective to a growing international audience and writes regularly for 'The i' as well as having been cited in Grazia and Marie Claire.

I connected with Alex on Instagram and I LOVED this conversation — and the laughs! He is brilliant and admirably honest about himself and his journey.

In this episode we speak about:

• Alex's reels and his activism in the parenting space
• the problem with assumptions
• why so many couples can suffer after having children
• doing the work on ourselves, midlife 'crises' and individuation
• what doing burlesque did for me (on a deeper level than people may think)
• enjoying life as a couple more and Eve Rodsky's book 'Unicorn Space'
• gender norms and how men and women are judged in society
• Alex's (great) observations of matrescence and why self-advocacy matters
• responsibilities and the words we use
• navigating social media, self-worth and ego
• the medicine that tears can hold

Themes: patriarchy, matrescence, patrescence, parenting, self-advocacy, domestic abuse

We mention Charlotte Warne Thomas, Lucy Jones, Martin Amis, Richard Reeves, Eve Rodsky, Carl Jung, Terry Real, Leah Ruppanner and Steve Biddulph

To learn more about Alex see here on Instagram, click here for his writing for 'The i Paper' and Alex's podcast is called 'Be A Happier Parent', available on all platforms.

At the end, I read a poem called 'Guest House' by Rumi.

Did you enjoy this episode? If so, I would really appreciate it if you could please leave a review on the platform that you listen.

For more insights and to contact me you can find me on Instagram, and/or on my website: www.lucywyldecoaching.com.