Motherkind

Motherhood changes so much — including what success, ambition and a fulfilling career actually look like.
This week, Zoe is joined by Frankie Bridge for a brilliantly honest conversation about working motherhood, career reinvention, confidence, mental health and letting go of the impossible standards we set ourselves as mothers.
Frankie has been working since she was 12, from S Club Juniors and The Saturdays to television and now building her own business, Faves. But becoming a mother forced her to rethink what success actually meant. She shares why having her two boys made her braver and more ambitious, but also far more protective of her time. Now, before saying yes to work, she asks whether it brings her joy, makes financial sense or genuinely moves the needle — because leaving her children has to be for a good reason.
We talk about reinventing your career after children and the fear that comes with starting something completely new. Frankie opens up about imposter syndrome as a founder and the important realisation that even the most successful people don't have everything figured out, they're learning as they go too.
Frankie also speaks incredibly openly about depression, anxiety and maternal mental health. She was talking publicly about her mental health at a time when those conversations were far less common, and shares why mothers need permission to admit they're struggling without first having to reassure everyone that they love their children.
We also explore something I think so many mothers will recognise: how easily the things that bring us joy disappear once we have children. Frankie shares why, after losing confidence in her singing following The Saturdays, she's started vocal training again — not for an audition or career goal, but simply because she loves it.
This is such a warm and reassuring conversation about ambition after motherhood, mum guilt, mental health, career pivots and permitting yourself to want something for yourself too.
💡 In this episode, you’ll learn:How to redefine success after becoming a mother

Why having children can make you braver and more ambitious

How to navigate a career change when you don't have all the answers

Why mothers need things that bring them joy outside parenting

How to let go of guilt and impossible motherhood standards

Watch every full episode on YouTube and subscribe.
Loved this episode?
Follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode of Motherkind. It helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing.
If you enjoyed this episode, you might also enjoy Zoe’s conversation with Maria Hatzistefanis - The Rodial Founder on Burnout, Discipline and Why Hustle Culture Fails Mothers
Feeling different since becoming a mother? Get clarity on who you’re becoming now and download your FREE Matrescence Cheat Sheet
Connect with Zoe:
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Get Zoe’s Sunday Times bestselling book, 'Motherkind: A New Way to Thrive in a World of Endless Expectations’

This Motherkind episode is sponsored by:
Headline sponsor Wild Nutrition, the brand raising the bar for women’s supplements. Want to feel the Food-Grown difference yourself? Get 50% off for three months at wildnutrition.com/motherkind. Ts and Cs apply.

Key topicsWorking motherhood • Career after children • Mum guilt • Motherhood and ambition • Career change • Career reinvention • Working mum • Mental health • Maternal mental health • Depression • Anxiety • Motherhood identity • Confidence • Imposter syndrome • Starting a business • Female founders • Working parents • Work-life balance • Motherhood expectations • Parenting guilt • Self-care for mothers • Finding yourself after motherhood • Frankie Bridge • The Saturdays • Faves • Motherkind

What if the opportunities you’re waiting for aren’t passing you by because you lack experience, but because the right people don’t know what you’re capable of?
In this powerful Moment, Zoe is joined by personal branding expert and entrepreneur Amelia Sordell to explore why women need to stop waiting to be picked and start making themselves visible.
Amelia explains that your personal brand isn’t simply what you post on social media. It’s the impression you create through your values, behaviour, knowledge, experience and the way you show up in the world. You don’t need to become an influencer or add another overwhelming task to your life—but you do need to take control of your own story.
They explore why so many talented women and mothers downplay their achievements, while people with far less experience confidently put themselves forward. Amelia also shares the “big red button” moments that changed her life, from leaving a secure job with two young children to closing the multimillion-pound agency she no longer wanted to run.
Her message is simple but powerful: confidence doesn’t arrive before you act. Confidence is built by finding the courage to take a risk, discovering that you can handle it and then doing it again.
💡 In this Moment, you’ll learn:
Why personal branding is about far more than posting on social media

How greater visibility can create career and business opportunities

Why women need to stop waiting for permission and choose themselves

How taking action before you feel ready builds genuine confidence

This Moment is for any mother who is questioning her value, considering a career change, building a business or waiting to feel confident enough to take her next step.
Watch every full episode on YouTube and subscribe.
Loved this episode?
Follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode of Motherkind. It helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing.
If you enjoyed this episode, you can listen to the full episode with Amelia Sordell - It’s Never Too Late to Change Career — The Blueprint from the #1 Personal Brand Expert
Feeling different since becoming a mother? Get clarity on who you’re becoming now and download your FREE Matrescence Cheat Sheet
Connect with Zoe:
Follow Zoe on Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok

Get Zoe’s Sunday Times bestselling book, 'Motherkind: A New Way to Thrive in a World of Endless Expectations’

This Motherkind episode is sponsored by:
Headline sponsor Wild Nutrition, the brand raising the bar for women’s supplements. Want to feel the Food-Grown difference yourself? Get 50% off for three months at wildnutrition.com/motherkind. Ts and Cs apply.

Keywords:
Personal branding • Confidence • Motherhood • Female founders • Women in business • Career change • Starting a business • Career confidence • Women’s confidence • Visibility • Self-belief • Courage • Taking risks • Choosing yourself • Returning to work • Maternal identity • Entrepreneurship • Ambition • Working mothers • Personal development • Amelia Sordell

Feeling stuck in your career, relationship or life and have no idea what to do next? This episode is for you.
Eight months ago, I felt completely stuck. Motherkind had slowed down, opportunities weren’t coming in, and I couldn’t work out what direction to take next. I was scared, confused and overthinking absolutely everything.
Looking back, I can see that feeling stuck wasn’t the end. It was the beginning of a breakthrough.
In this solo episode, I’m sharing the five things that helped me move from feeling lost and full of self-doubt to clearer, more confident and more fired up than I have in years.
We’ll explore how to stop overthinking, change the thoughts keeping you stuck, take small actions when you can’t see the bigger picture, and use a simple future-self exercise to get clearer on what you actually want.
💡 In this episode, you’ll learn:Why feeling stuck can come before a breakthrough

How to stop overthinking and quieten self-doubt

Why focusing on problems can keep you stuck

The tiny actions that can help you find clarity

A future-self exercise to help you work out what you really want

If you know something needs to change but can’t see what comes next, this episode will help you take that first step forward.
Watch every full episode on YouTube and subscribe.
Loved this episode?
Follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode of Motherkind. It helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing.
Feeling different since becoming a mother? Get clarity on who you’re becoming now and download your FREE Matrescence Cheat Sheet
Connect with Zoe:
Follow Zoe on Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok

Get Zoe’s Sunday Times bestselling book, 'Motherkind: A New Way to Thrive in a World of Endless Expectations’

This Motherkind episode is sponsored by:
Headline sponsor Wild Nutrition, the brand raising the bar for women’s supplements. Want to feel the Food-Grown difference yourself? Get 50% off for three months at wildnutrition.com/motherkind. Ts and Cs apply.

Keywords:
Feeling stuck • How to get unstuck • Feeling lost in life • Career change • Career after motherhood • Overthinking • Self-doubt • Confidence • Mindset • Finding your purpose • Finding yourself again • Motherhood identity • Matrescence • Starting over • Life transitions • Self-belief • Future self • Goal setting • Personal growth • Nervous system • Comfort zone • Fear of change • Career confidence • Working mothers • Ambition after motherhood

After 10 years of motherhood, I’m really glad I did some things in those first few weeks, and plenty I’d do completely differently.
Nothing can quite prepare you for becoming a mother. Those early weeks can be full of love and joy while also feeling exhausting, overwhelming and completely identity-shifting. I certainly wasn’t prepared for the emotional whiplash of holding all of those feelings at once.
In this special episode, created in partnership with Tesco Fred & Flo, I’m looking back at my first experience of new motherhood and sharing what I got right, what I learnt the hard way and what I wish I’d known before having a baby.
We talk about setting boundaries with visitors (including my one rule that I still think was genius!), why new mothers need care rather than being expected to host, and the huge identity shift of matrescence that I knew absolutely nothing about when I had my first daughter.
I also share how the mental load began creeping into my relationship almost without us noticing, and the practical change my husband, Guy, and I made to create a more equal division of parenting and household responsibilities. Plus, I share the newborn essentials I genuinely found useful, what I spent time and money on that I probably wouldn't again, and some very practical tips for making those sleep-deprived early weeks a little easier.
Because when you're adjusting to life with a new baby, recovering from birth and trying to work out who you are now, the last thing you need is more pressure.
💡 In this episode, you’ll learn:What I wish I’d known about new motherhood and matrescence

How to set boundaries with visitors after having a baby

How to stop the mental load becoming yours by default

The newborn essentials I actually used, and what I wouldn't bother with

Why asking for and accepting help matters so much postpartum

Watch every full episode on YouTube and subscribe.
This episode is created in partnership with Tesco Fred & Flo, whose newly refreshed range of everyday baby essentials is designed to make those early days a little easier. You can discover the range in Tesco stores and online, and Tesco Clubcard members can currently get 4 for 3 across the range.
Exclusions apply. Clubcard event ends 7th September 2026. Clubcard or app required. Delivery charges may apply.
Connect with Zoe:
Follow Zoe on Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok

Get Zoe’s Sunday Times bestselling book, 'Motherkind: A New Way to Thrive in a World of Endless Expectations’

What if the reason you don’t feel confident isn’t that you lack ability, but because you’ve stopped noticing the evidence of how capable you really are?
In this powerful Moment, Zoe is joined by confidence expert and UPFRONT founder Lauren Currie to explore why so many mothers struggle to recognise their value—and the simple weekly practice that can help rebuild confidence and quieten your inner critic.
Lauren explains why confidence isn’t something you either have or don’t have. It’s a skill that can be strengthened by gathering real evidence of your progress, achievements and abilities. This is known as the “progress principle”: recording the things you’ve done, learned and handled well so that self-doubt can’t simply dismiss them.
They also explore why this matters beyond paid work. Motherhood develops valuable skills, but mothers rarely receive recognition or positive feedback for them. By actively noticing how you have grown, from handling a difficult moment more calmly to managing situations that once overwhelmed you, you can begin to change the story you tell yourself about who you are and what you’re capable of.
Lauren also shares the simple ten-minute Friday ritual she uses to build confidence, recognise her progress and quieten the feeling that nothing she achieves is ever quite enough.
💡 What You'll Learn in This Moment
Why mothers often struggle to recognise their own skills and value

How the progress principle can help build confidence and self-esteem

Why recording evidence of your achievements quietens your inner critic

How to identify the skills you have developed through motherhood

What to do if acknowledging your own strengths feels uncomfortable

The simple weekly reflection practice that can make your progress impossible to dismiss

Lauren’s three weekly reflection questions:
What happened this week?

What did I learn?

What moves did I make towards my goals?

This Moment is for any mother struggling with low confidence, self-doubt, imposter syndrome or returning to work after maternity leave—and anyone who needs a reminder that her skills, knowledge and experience have real value.
Loved this episode?
Follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode of Motherkind. It helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing.
If you liked this moment, listen to the full episode: Work Series: If you're feeling low in confidence, listen to this - with Lauren Currie
Feeling like you’re carrying it all? Download your FREE Mental Load Cheat Sheet and learn how to start feeling lighter, even if nothing in your life changes.
Connect with Zoe:
Follow Zoe on Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok

Get Zoe’s Sunday Times bestselling book, 'Motherkind: A New Way to Thrive in a World of Endless Expectations’

This Motherkind episode is sponsored by:
Headline sponsor Wild Nutrition, the brand raising the bar for women’s supplements. Want to feel the Food-Grown difference yourself? Get 50% off for three months at wildnutrition.com/motherkind. Ts and Cs apply.