All Episodes

October 8, 2025 44 mins

Have you felt like a completely different person since becoming a mom? There’s actually a word for that transformation: Matrescence.

In this episode, Hav and Aleea unpack this powerful identity and emotional shift that happens during motherhood. From the science behind maternal changes to the emotional highs and lows of new mom life, they explore how this season impacts your sense of self, relationships, and work-life balance.

They also dive into the importance of honest communication, finding support from other moms, and embracing the duality of emotions—because joy and overwhelm can coexist.

Listen in for a real, honest conversation that reminds you: it’s okay to embrace the messy parts of motherhood. Your journey is valid, and it’s yours.


RESOURCES

    • Research on Matrescence: article 1 and article 2
    • Episode on invisible labor: bit.ly/MOMFilesEp2
    • Episode on who am I now? bit.ly/MOMFilesEp4

  • CHAPTERS

    00:00 What Matrescence Really Means

    02:09 The Science of Matrescence: How Motherhood Transforms You

    05:20 Emotional Rollercoaster: The Hidden Challenges of Motherhood

    07:59 How Motherhood Shifts Your Relationships (Even the Strong Ones)

    10:37 Balancing Career and Motherhood

    13:35 Identity Shifts & Societal Pressure: Who Am I Now?

    16:30 Touch, Intimacy & Connection: What Changes After Baby

    21:29 Marriage After Baby: Navigating New Dynamics Together

    27:07 Rediscovering You After Becoming a Mom

    32:49 Communication Challenges in Parenting

    36:30 Embracing the Messy Parts of Motherhood

    Mark as Played

    Advertise With Us

    Popular Podcasts

    On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

    Stuff You Should Know

    Stuff You Should Know

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Dateline NBC

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

    Connect

    © 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.