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110 episodes
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The Good Enough Mother Dr Sophie Brock
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- Kids & Family
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5.0 • 84 Ratings
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The role of being a Mother offers us the potential for incredible expansion, growth, and power, while also being one of – if not THE – most challenging, undervalued, and taken for granted roles in the world. Motherhood Studies Sociologist, researcher, and single Mother, Dr Sophie Brock hosts The Good Enough Mother (TGEM) podcast with an aim to change how Motherhood is culturally defined and individually experienced. TGEM draws its name from a theorist and pediatrician Winnicott, who highlighted the ways ‘good enough’ parenting is actually what is best for our children – not perfectionism. The podcast centres the Mother as the starting point for conversations with experts and change-makers who are passionate about seeing social, cultural, and institutional change to better support Mothers and therefore our families, and communities.
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109. What Play Therapy Can Teach us About Ourselves and Our Children, with Dr Sam Casey
In this episode I speak with Dr Sam Casey, an integrative child therapist who specialises in play therapy, trauma informed practice and maternal mental health. Sam shares her journey into play therapy, which started from an interaction when she was working at a childcare centre, and saw her through to gaining a PhD. You’ll come away with interesting insights and strategies from this episode, regardless of whether you’re a parent who has never heard of play therapist before, or whether you’re a registered play therapist yourself. We talk about the ‘play prescription’ model that Sam has developed that can be used by both parents and professionals to bring the power of play into their lives, relationships and work, to facilitate healing and growth. You’ll hear me share some reflections from my own mothering for us to explore as examples of the power of play in both connecting with our children, that goes beyond the ‘shoulds’ of intensive mothering that are so culturally pervasive.
Connect with Dr Sam Casey further at https://www.drsamcasey.com/ follow her @drsamcasey on Instagram, and check out her upcoming free webinar here - https://www.drsamcasey.com/registration-page -
108. Harnessing Neuroplasticity to Transform Our Mothering, with Dr. Jennifer Hacker Pearson
In this episode, we speak to the PhD-qualified Neuroscientist, psychotherapist, meditation teacher, maternal mental wellbeing consultant, international speaker, author, and host of the podcast ‘Mama, Unleashed!’, Dr Jennifer Hacker Pearson. Within this conversation we delve into the fascinating world of neuroplasticity, the maternal brain, and how all of this information can be relevant in practical ways to our daily lives as mothers. Dr Jen explains how our brains continuously adapt and change in response to both internal and external stimuli. We explore the concept of self-directed neuroplasticity, and how we can begin to reshape our neural pathways. In this episode you’ll hear personal insights and stories that are shared to help explore the practical application of tools shared to help us as mothers in reshaping our experience of mothering and what it means to be a mother, to help us reclaim and push back against the normative ‘shoulds’ and structures of motherhood.
Purchase the mini-course ‘Harness Your Motherhood Brain to thrive: A science-informed introduction to matrescence and the brain’ by Dr Jennifer Hacker Pearson and Dr Jodi Pawluski here - https://matrescencebrain.drjen.com.au and for 10% off, use the discount code SOPHIE - exclusive to The Good Enough Mother podcast listeners.
Website - www.DrJen.com.au
Email - jen@DrJen.com.au
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/drjenhackerpearson/
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/dr-jennifer-hacker-pearson-phd-60293452 -
107. Liberation from Patriarchal Motherhood? Reflections On Power, Agency & Motherhood Studies 2024
*The Motherhood Studies Certification 2024 is open for enrolment until April 19th*
What possibilities exist beyond patriarchal motherhood? How can sociological understandings of motherhood liberate our individual experience and contribute to broader social change? These are the sorts of questions I'll reflect on in this episode, considering the transformative potential of motherhood, liberated from patriarchal norms. I mention an upcoming article examining the outcomes of participants who completed the Motherhood Studies Practitioner Certification in the context of matricentric feminism. I talk about some of the differences between 'empowered mothering' and feminist mothering, and share the term that I use to guide me in my mothering, business, and other aspects of 'self'. I share one benefit I've received from engaging in Motherhood Studies work that I've been hesitant to talk about, talk about maternal ambivalence and mothering as an art and a practice. I finish by sharing some of my favourite quotes on motherhood, liberated.
If you're interested in diving further into this work for both yourself and your current career or future work aspirations, join us in The Motherhood Studies Practitioner Certification, enrolment for this live round is open until April 19th, 2024 - https://drsophiebrock.com/motherhoodstudies/ Here is the other link mentioned in the episode: https://drsophiebrock.com/thefishtankofmotherhood -
106. Understanding Ourselves & Our Children as Mapmakers: Parenting for Humans with Dr Emma Svanberg
In this episode I speak with Dr. Emma Svanberg, an award-winning clinical psychologist and author of the recently released, "Parenting For Humans." Dr. Emma is the founder of The Psychology Co-operative and co-founder of Make Birth Better CIC. She also facilitates a vibrant parenting community on Facebook called The Village – A Parenting Community For Humans. I ask Dr Emma about the key themes from her book, exploring the beautiful analogy she uses of understanding children as ‘mapmakers’ whose maps are shaped by their temperaments, environments, context, and how we as parents can guide and connect with our children - through understanding our own stories. We talk about the role of play in connection with our children, as well as boundaries in the context of technology. Dr Emma reflects on the pressures parents face today in an information-rich and distracted society, and how we can try to navigate these contexts drawing on a sense of agency and power, and calling in opportunities for presence both for ourselves and our children. You’ll hear us reflect on the role of disappointment and the ruptures that inevitably occur between us and our children, and reflect on ‘good enough’ and Winnicott’s work as part of our parenting practice in fostering connection and growth.
Website - https://dremmasvanberg.com/
Email - emma@dremmasvanberg.com
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mumologist
Buy Emma’s Book: https://ebury.lnk.to/ParentingForHumans
Show notes page: https://drsophiebrock.com/podcast106 -
105. When Community Sparks Creativity: 'The Mum Who Found Her Sparkle' with Jessie & Mary
In this episode, you’ll hear from Jessie Ann Elliot and Mary Sotiropoulos who share their personal journeys through early motherhood and postpartum in building community, finding their power, and collaborating together to birth a book into the world. Jessie and Mary met through a mother-membership I facilitated called Liberated Motherhood. They share their experience of connecting with the work of the sociology of motherhood early on in their mothering journeys, and the passion they each developed in making the world a better place for mothers. Together, they started a kickstarter, and raised over $8,000 to create the children’s book, "The Mom Who Found Her Sparkle”, a testament to their shared experiences encapsulating a mother’s quest to rediscover purpose, identity, and joy. The inclusion of prompts and activities within the book encourages families to engage in meaningful discussions about what brings them joy and makes them feel alive. In this episode, we explore embodiment, presence, connection, and creativity.
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/themumwhofoundhersparkle
https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-mum-who-found-her-sparkle-jessie-ann-elliott/book/9780646886831.html
https://www.amazon.com.au/Mum-Who-Found-Her-Sparkle/dp/0646886835/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=30Z8QMJPRS7VS&keywords=the+mum+who+found+her+sparkle&qid=1700598921&sprefix=the+mum+who+found+her+sparkl%252Caps%252C227&sr=8-3
Show notes: https://drsophiebrock.com/podcast105 -
A little update from Sophie
I share a brief life update of what's been present for me over the last few months, talk about transitions, honouring the stage we're in, taking our time, and orient to what will come this year for The Good Enough Mother podcast.
This is the free training I mention in the episode: https://drsophiebrock.com/patriarchalmotherhood
Here is a link to join the waitlist for The Motherhood Studies Practitioner Certification for 2024 - https://drsophiebrock.com/motherhoodstudies/
Customer Reviews
Extraordinary
Dr Sophie Brock navigates complex and critical conversations with a wonderful array of WILDLY intelligent women, with respect, nuance and wit. I adore this podcast. I have learned so much and found really great questions to ask myself as I listen… check out this podcast if you wish to explore the topic of motherhood in a way that is informative and illuminating.
A feminist must have!
Wow. Just wow. I’ve listened to quite a few episodes now, and I every episode I think to myself that these are the truest words ever spoken - and the next episode I say that again 😆 Sophie and her guests are actively deconstructing patriarchal motherhood and working to provide emotional freedom to mothers (and parents/carers). Thank you Sophie, I look forward to listening as each episode is released.
Wealth of knowledge & information
This podcast is one of my go-to’s podcasts for motherhood, evidence based information and a mix of personal insights from Sophie. Really appreciate the time, effort and value these podcasts hold