The Pooch

Lorena van der Wiel Baez
  • 5.0 (5)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to The Pooch Podcast, real, unfiltered mum life. This is the podcast for mums who feel like they’ve lost themselves in motherhood and are trying to find their way back. Hosted by an Aussie mum of two, this is your Friday night dinner with friends space where we talk about the things no one says out loud. We get into the mental load, the invisible labour, the identity crisis, the pressure to be everything to everyone, and why “just do more self care” isn’t cutting it. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, behind, or like everyone else has it together except you, you’re in the right place. This podcast is about dropping the ball on purpose so you can finally pick yourself back up. Expect honest conversations about mum life and the reality behind the highlight reel losing your identity after kids and becoming a new version of you self care that actually works in real life the pressure of modern motherhood and the patriarchy building your village and finding your people mental load, burnout and invisible labour raising kids in today’s world including raising boys in the manosphere balancing ambition, motherhood and personal growth Whether you’re a new mum, deep in the chaos, or trying to reconnect with yourself again, this podcast will make you feel seen, understood and less alone. Because no one has their shit together and you don’t have to either. New episodes weekly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 30 APR

    Episode 69 - You will be taking a BREAK by the end of this episode!

    In this episode of The Pooch Podcast, we are talking about something every mum feels but no one really says out loud… why it feels impossible to rest. If you’ve ever looked around your home and thought “I can’t sit down until this is done,” this episode is for you. We dive deep into the real reason mums don’t rest. It’s not because we don’t know we need it. It’s because of the pressure we carry. The beliefs we have about what it means to be a good mum. The guilt tied to mess, to laundry, to takeaway dinners, to sending your kids to school in a crumpled uniform. I share the mental spiral that turns crumbs on the floor into feeling like you’re failing your kids… and why so much of that pressure is coming from expectations placed on women and mothers. We also talk about the truth no one wants to admit You will never be on top of everything There is always a trade off And chasing “having it all together” is what is actually burning you out This episode is your permission slip to stop trying to keep up and start choosing what actually matters. We talk about Why “sleep when the baby sleeps” feels so triggering Why resting can actually feel harder than pushing through How dropping the ball on purpose is the only way to take control And the powerful shift that happens when you start prioritising yourself without waiting for everything else to be done Most importantly, we break down how self care and rest don’t just benefit you… they literally change your capacity to handle the chaos of mum life. Because the mess doesn’t disappear But the way it feels does If you’ve been running on empty, feeling overstimulated, touched out, and constantly behind… this conversation will hit home. This is real mum life This is the mental load This is your reminder that you deserve rest not because it makes you more useful… but because you are a human who deserves a calm nervous system and a good life Come in, grab a drink, and let’s talk about it Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    31 min

  2. 23 APR

    Episode 68 - Mum guilt! My 6 year old tells all!

    In this episode of The Pooch Podcast, I sit down with my 6-year-old daughter for a conversation that is equal parts sweet, funny, and unexpectedly eye-opening… mum guilt, through the eyes of a child. We talk about what makes a “good mum,” what kids actually notice (and what they don’t), and whether all the things we stress about as mums even matter to them. Spoiler: they don’t. If you’ve ever felt guilty for needing a break, for dropping the ball, for not being everything all at once… this episode will hit you. Because hearing it from your child? It changes everything. This is your reminder that the pressure we put on ourselves is often louder than the reality our kids are living in. Real mum life. No filters. No perfection. In this episode: – What a 6-year-old thinks a “good mum” is – Do kids notice when we drop the ball? – Why mum guilt might not be real to them – The moments that actually matter to kids – Letting go of unrealistic expectations If you’re a mum trying to do it all, this conversation will help you breathe a little easier. Subscribe for more real conversations about motherhood, self care, identity, and learning to put yourself back on your own list. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    22 min

  3. 10 APR

    Episode 67 - Lessons from my 6 Year Old! What is a GOOD mum?

    On this school holiday edition of The Pooch Podcast, my 6 year old Luna tells it like it is! - contains SWEARING! What does a 6-year-old think makes a good mum In this episode of The Pooch Podcast, I sit down with my daughter for the sweetest, most wholesome chat about motherhood straight from a child’s perspective. And honestly it is not what you think. We talk about the little things that matter most to kids, the unexpected answers she gives, and the simple moments that define good mum life in her world. Spoiler it is not the clean house, the routines, or doing everything perfectly. This is a light hearted, feel good episode filled with funny, honest and heart melting moments that will make you laugh, reflect and probably rethink the pressure you put on yourself as a mum. If you have been stuck in mum guilt, overthinking whether you are doing enough, or trying to be the perfect mum this episode is your reminder that your kids see you very differently. And maybe you are already exactly what they need. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    24 min

  4. 29 MAR

    Episode 66 - Raising a SON during the MANOSPHERE era!

    After watching the Inside the Manosphere documentary I couldn’t stop thinking about one thing… my son is growing up in this world. This episode is a real and honest conversation about what it feels like to raise a boy in a time where the internet is shaping what masculinity looks like. There is a whole corner of the internet telling boys what makes them valuable, how women work, what they are owed, and how to be a man. And the scary part is… it is working. I talk about the messages boys are being fed about men versus women, high value men, dominance, rejection, and entitlement. Not from a place of blaming boys, but from a place of understanding what they are being exposed to every single day. As a mum, this hits differently. Because I cannot control what my son will see. But I can control what feels true to him. In this episode I share what I am consciously doing to raise a son who does not need the manosphere to tell him who he is. A boy who understands his worth, respects women as people, can handle rejection, and does not feel like he has to prove himself through dominance or control. This is not about raising perfect boys. This is about raising boys who can think for themselves. If you are raising a son, or even just thinking about the kind of men this generation is becoming, this conversation matters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    35 min

  5. 17 MAR

    Episode 65 - How the patriarchy sets mums up to FAIL

    If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything right as a mum and still somehow failing, this episode is for you. Today we’re talking about how the patriarchy sets mums up to fail, from the invisible mental load to impossible expectations and the constant pressure to be everything to everyone. Because the truth is, it’s not that mums aren’t coping, it’s that the system was never built to support us in the first place. In this honest and relatable chat, I unpack why modern motherhood feels so overwhelming, the pressure to be a “perfect mum” while also working and managing a home, the mental load mums carry every single day, and why mum guilt is so common and not actually your fault. We also dive into how society benefits from unpaid motherhood labour and why so many mums feel like they’re falling short. If you’ve ever thought “why is this so hard?” or “why can’t I keep up?” you are not alone, and more importantly, you are not the problem. This is a real and unfiltered conversation about motherhood, identity, pressure, and the expectations placed on women today. Whether you're a stay at home mum, a working mum, or somewhere in between, this episode will make you feel seen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    33 min

  6. 8 MAR

    Episode 64 - The 'ME' we lost after kids... How do we go back?

    Welcome to your Friday night dinner with the girls. The one with kids and all. Its easy, we are not here for elaborate. We are here for a good glass of wine, some easy food, all hands in. Ill hold the baby while you dress the salad. Ill chop up toddler snacks while you order the pizza. This is our time. Let's talk, let's cry, let's change it all. On this episode we talk about why we grieve our pre-baby selves and how creativity can help us find out selves again. Becoming a mum changes everything but what happens when you start feeling like you’ve lost yourself in motherhood? In this episode of The Pooch Podcast I’m talking honestly about something many mums feel but rarely say out loud. The quiet grief of your pre baby life and the identity shift that comes with becoming a mother. So many women say “I lost myself after having kids.” But is that really what happens? In this conversation we unpack the deeper truth behind the motherhood identity crisis. Why so many mums feel disconnected from who they used to be, why we grieve parts of our old life and how we can start finding ourselves again after kids. Because maybe we didn’t actually lose ourselves. Maybe we just lost the space to keep becoming who we were becoming. In this episode we talk about Why mums often feel like they’ve lost their identity after kids The parts of our pre baby life we secretly grieve Why motherhood can make you feel unfamiliar to yourself The identity shift no one prepares you for What actually makes us feel like ourselves again Why creativity, autonomy and expression matter so much for mums How to start rebuilding your sense of self after children If you’ve ever thought “I love being a mum but I miss who I used to be” This episode is for you. Motherhood changes us but it doesn’t mean the woman you were before is gone. She might just be evolving into something new. New episodes of The Pooch Podcast every week. If this conversation resonated with you don’t forget to subscribe, like and share with another mum who might need to hear this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    50 min

  7. 2 MAR

    Episode 63 - Why do some mums love mum groups… and others quietly cringe?

    Feeling disconnected in mothers groups does not mean something is wrong with you. In this episode, I explore the tension between believing in the importance of the village and struggling to feel at home in traditional mothers groups and mums and bubs classes. We unpack Identity loss and identity shifts in early motherhood Postpartum loneliness and modern mum life Why proximity does not always create real connection How nervous system safety impacts social experiences The difference between structured support and organic community Creating a village that supports the whole woman, not just the mother For many women, mothers groups are essential and deeply supportive. For others, they can feel overwhelming, performative, or limiting. Both experiences are valid. If you are navigating postpartum, craving deeper mum friendships, questioning where you belong, or redefining what support looks like in modern motherhood, this episode is for you. You are allowed to want meaningful connection. You are allowed to protect your identity. You are allowed to build a village that reflects who you truly are. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    27 min

  8. 16 FEB

    Episode 62 - You're BURNT OUT not BROKEN! 2 things we need to do differently!

    We cannot self care our way out of a broken system… but we also cannot afford not to. In this episode, I unpack the viral idea that encouraging mums to practice self care is just a bandaid solution to motherhood in the patriarchy. I explore why burnout is not a personal failure, why so many women feel they lose their identity after becoming mothers, and how societal conditioning keeps mums stuck at the very bottom of their own hierarchy of needs. I share my honest thoughts on: – Why self care can feel like just another expectation – How productivity culture has hijacked the concept of self love – Why asking permission to meet your needs keeps you in survival mode – The power of stopping asking – The importance of intentionally dropping the ball – Why mums must come first in their own households This is not about bubble baths. This is about autonomy. This is about reclaiming your nervous system, your identity, and your worth. If you have ever felt burnt out, invisible, resentful, or like you are shrinking inside motherhood, this episode is for you. You deserve to be number one. Not in a cute way. In a fundamental, biological, human needs way. Let the laundry sit. Go fill your cup. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    47 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Welcome to The Pooch Podcast, real, unfiltered mum life. This is the podcast for mums who feel like they’ve lost themselves in motherhood and are trying to find their way back. Hosted by an Aussie mum of two, this is your Friday night dinner with friends space where we talk about the things no one says out loud. We get into the mental load, the invisible labour, the identity crisis, the pressure to be everything to everyone, and why “just do more self care” isn’t cutting it. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, behind, or like everyone else has it together except you, you’re in the right place. This podcast is about dropping the ball on purpose so you can finally pick yourself back up. Expect honest conversations about mum life and the reality behind the highlight reel losing your identity after kids and becoming a new version of you self care that actually works in real life the pressure of modern motherhood and the patriarchy building your village and finding your people mental load, burnout and invisible labour raising kids in today’s world including raising boys in the manosphere balancing ambition, motherhood and personal growth Whether you’re a new mum, deep in the chaos, or trying to reconnect with yourself again, this podcast will make you feel seen, understood and less alone. Because no one has their shit together and you don’t have to either. New episodes weekly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Lorena van der Wiel Baez
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    69
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Lorena van der Wiel Baez
  • Show Website
    The Pooch

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