Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast The Well-Nourished Mother: Helping You Thrive in Pregnancy, Birth & Motherhood

After nearly a year away from the microphone, we're back with a life update that (in true Lauren & Nicole style) manages to cover ADHD diagnoses, fractured bones, nursing careers, master's degrees, ear piercings, birth work, and the strange way life only makes sense when you look backwards.

In this conversation, we reflect on the seasons that have shaped us over the past year. Lauren shares what has shifted since receiving her ADHD diagnosis, including the grief, relief, self-compassion, and unexpected freedom that came with finally understanding how her brain works. Nicole reflects on returning to nursing, beginning a Master's in Counselling Psychology, and navigating the tension between unmet expectations and trusting that no experience is ever truly wasted.

We also explore the realities of parenting neurodivergent children, making difficult medical decisions, advocating for our kids, and learning to loosen our grip on identities that no longer fit. Along the way, we share updates on the work we're creating together, including our upcoming prenatal education offering, Weaving Birth, and the deeper questions we're asking about birth, matrescence, self-worth, and what it means to prepare for transformation.

This episode is a reminder that growth rarely happens in a straight line. Sometimes the thing that looks like a detour becomes the path. Sometimes a diagnosis creates freedom. Sometimes the season you're resisting is quietly preparing you for what's next.

Connect with Lauren:
Instagram: @nestandnourish
Podcast: The Well-Nourished Mother

Connect with Nicole:
Instagram: @nicolepasveer
Podcast: REWILD + FREE

If this conversation resonated with you, we'd love it if you'd share it with a friend, leave a review, or send us a message. We always love hearing what lands.

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts and feedback... send a text message directly to the show.

Support the show

Join the Nest & Nourish community over on instagram to connect with your host Lauren @nestandnourish.

Matrescence is finally getting the attention it deserves — but is the conversation actually helping mothers move through it? Naming the transition is a start. But naming it isn't the same as navigating it.

In this episode, Lauren goes deeper into one of her most beloved and most studied topics: matrescence. This is part personal reflection, part teaching, and part invitation — and it's also her final assignment submission as a graduate from Jessie Harrold's Village Apprenticeship.

If you've ever felt like you've lost yourself in motherhood, grieved something you couldn't quite name, or wondered why no one warned you that becoming a mother would shake you to your very core — this episode is for you. What you're moving through has a name, a shape, and an arc. And you deserve a guide who actually understands the terrain.

In this episode, we explore:

• What matrescence really is — beyond the buzzword — and why it matters more than ever
• The history of matrescence and why it took decades for this concept to be taken seriously
• Why naming matrescence isn't enough, and what it actually looks like to be guided through it
• The grief that lives inside this transition — the quiet, accumulating kind that most mothers carry completely alone
• Liminal space: why the messy middle isn't a problem to escape, but where the transformation actually happens
• What a Certified Matrescence Educator actually does (Lauren's version of it), and how somatic, parts-work, and rite-of-passage frameworks weave together into something deeper than education
• Why the final threshold of the rite of passage — being witnessed in who you've become — is almost entirely absent in modern motherhood

This episode is also a behind-the-scenes look into Lauren's journey — the years of training, the certifications quietly accumulated, and the moment she stopped asking "am I ready?" and started asking "what am I waiting for?"

If you're somewhere in the middle of becoming, this one's for you.

——————————————————
Want to go deeper?

Join the waitlist for my upcoming matrescence support space: DM @nestandnourish or sign up to the Nest & Nourish email community The Magic & The Mess to be notified when it's ready for you at www.nestandnourish.ca

Listen to my previous episode with Jessie Harrold here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2145034/episodes/16399758

For the mother-care providers listening:

If this episode lit a fire under your butt to deepen your skills around matrescence, here are two places to go next:

Matrescence & the Nervous System course — built for anyone who works with mothers and wants to understand this transition on a deeper, body-based level.

Jessie Harrold's Matrescence Educator Apprenticeship, The Village — the program that changed how I understand and hold this work... and make sure to mention **Lauren Fortuna-Floch** referred you!

If this episode resonated, please share it with a friend, leave a review on Apple Podcasts, or rate the show wherever you're listening — it helps this little podcast grow and blossom.

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts and feedback... send a text message directly to the show.

Support the show

Join the Nest & Nourish community over on instagram to connect with your host Lauren @nestandnourish.

In this episode Lauren explores what's been quietly lost in the way modern culture approaches birth — and how to begin bringing it back through simple, intentional ceremony. 

Lauren shares about the history of birthing rituals, why they disappeared, the importance of honouring the traditions, cultures, and lineages that have shaped these practices, and the simple, beautiful practice of a Mother Blessing.

If you've ever wanted someone to really, truly show up for you before birth, or you want to be that person for someone you love...

The complete Planning A Meaningful Mother Blessing guide has everything you need to make it happen. Rituals, readings, facilitation tips, ceremony flow, printable tools, and recipes. 

Find it at nestandnourish.ca/motherblessing

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts and feedback... send a text message directly to the show.

Support the show

Join the Nest & Nourish community over on instagram to connect with your host Lauren @nestandnourish.

How can we bring the beauty, wisdom, and deep healing of traditional practices into modern birthwork and motherhood, while honouring their roots?

In this moving conversation, Lauren sits down with Andréa de Keijzer, a doula, photographer, and kinesiologist born in Mexico, whose work is devoted to preserving and sharing the ancestral wisdom of Mexican midwifery. Together, they explore the rebozo—a woven Mexican textile often described as the hug of our grandmothers—and the Closing of the Bones ceremony, a postpartum ritual that invites mothers to be wrapped, witnessed, and restored after birth and other life transitions.

Andréa shares her story of loss, healing, and deep reconnection to her lineage, illuminating how these traditions offer profound nourishment for body, heart, and spirit. She also speaks candidly about what it means to honor cultural roots, practice reciprocity, and integrate ancestral care into our modern context with integrity.

In this episode, we explore:

• The meaning and magic of the rebozo and its role in postpartum and life transitions
• How movement, ritual, and being witnessed in community can restore the postpartum period as a time of true nourishment, not just recovery
• Andréa’s story of “little births,” grief, and how ceremony became a pathway to healing
• What cultural respect and reciprocity look like when engaging with ancestral practices
• Practical ways to find a ceremony guide, choose a fair-trade rebozo, and approach these traditions with intention 

If you’re a mother or birthworker seeking deeper, more embodied ways to support postpartum care—and to do so respectfully—this episode is an invitation to return to the wisdom that’s been woven through generations.

About Andréa de Keijzer:
Alongside Angie Yañez, Andréa is the co-founder of Collective Rebozo. They teach rebozo workshops, offer retreats and facilitate closing of the bones ceremonies, in postpartum and other life transitions. They are passionate about creating spaces of warmth, movement, creativity and ceremony. 

Learn more: collectiverebozo.com

Instagram: @rebozo.collective ENGLISH | @collective.rebozo FRENCH

LISTENER PERKS GENEROUSLY GIFTED BY COLLECTIVE REBOZO:
Use code REBOZO2025 for 10% off November 2025 Rebozo trainings in Toronto or Ottawa.
To purchase a fair-trade rebozo from Oaxaca, email rebozosequitables@gmail.com with code REBOZOLOVE for $10 off.

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts and feedback... send a text message directly to the show.

Support the show

Join the Nest & Nourish community over on instagram to connect with your host Lauren @nestandnourish.

Under September’s full moon, we sit in the messy middle of it all—thresholds, tenderness, and the very human urge to know what’s on the other side. In this episode, Lauren shares the mixed cocktail of grief and excitement as her daughter starts preschool and a whole new chapter of life and motherhood (and schedule) opens up. Nicole reflects on the one-year mark of her child’s autism diagnosis and what softened in their family because of language, support, and self-compassion. 

We also name the messy, nuanced terrain of exploring neurodivergence in adulthood as Lauren moves toward a formal ADHD assessment—the freedom, the grief, and the relief of finally having words for what’s been true all along. 

This episode is a love letter to liminality and a reminder that rhythm beats routine, devotion beats perfection, and identity is allowed to be in flux. If you’re carrying a lot, if you’re crossing a portal you can’t yet see through, or if you just need permission to cry, rest, and still call it forward motion—this one’s for you.

You’ll hear us talk about:

• Thresholds and rites of passage for mothers and families
• Why language (matrescence, autism, ADHD) can create compassion, not boxes
• Time freedom, ambition, and not overloading a new season
• Rhythm over routine, devotion over perfection
• Friendship, grief, and letting the full spectrum be welcome

Thanks so much for hanging out with us, if you enjoy these episodes please share them with a friend, leave a review wherever you’re listening from, and come on over to instagram to continue the conversation.

Connect with Nicole on IG (@nicolepasveer) 

Connect with Lauren on IG (@nestandnourish) 

P.S. Are you a birthworker or mother care provider who wants to make a deeper impact with your clients? Join us inside our recent training Matrescence & the Nervous System to understand the maternal nervous system in a way most trainings don’t cover. You’ll learn how to actually meet a mother’s nervous system with compassion and depth in these times. 

Receive instant access for just $66 USD (value $125). No live call. No expiration. Just 12 micro lessons (5-20 min in length) you can take in at your own pace.

Click here to learn more 

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts and feedback... send a text message directly to the show.

Support the show

Join the Nest & Nourish community over on instagram to connect with your host Lauren @nestandnourish.

Concepts like matrescence and the nervous system are getting more attention, FINALLY! But as they become buzzwords, they’re often watered down, overgeneralized, and stripped of the nuance they deserve. 

In this episode, we are sooooooo excited to talk about our new upcoming training centered on the maternal nervous system.

This training will explore why the maternal nervous system is the missing link in most matrescence conversations, and how the information we’re sharing with you will completely change the way you serve mothers. You’ll leave with new knowledge, perspectives, and connections that you can bring into your work to add more IMPACT and a more holistic approach to serving mothers. When you understand the unique nervous system changes that take place in mothers, you can better support them through the wildness of motherhood. 

Receive instant access for just $66 USD (value $125)

No live call. No expiration. Just 12 micro lessons (5-20 min in length) you can take in at your own pace.

Click HERE to learn more and register for Matrescence and the Nervous System 

Thanks so much for hanging out with us, if you enjoy these episodes please share them with a friend, leave a review wherever you’re listening from, and come on over to instagram to continue the conversation..

Connect with Nicole on IG (@nicolepasveer) 

Connect with Lauren on IG (@nestandnourish) 

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts and feedback... send a text message directly to the show.

Support the show

Join the Nest & Nourish community over on instagram to connect with your host Lauren @nestandnourish.

Nicole and Lauren gather just ahead of the full moon to share honest updates and reflections on life, business, and the ever-changing seasons of motherhood. 

Our biggest intention for this episode is to give you a big behind the scenes peek into our process behind launching and refining our latest offering, Held—a community designed for mother-serving professionals. 

We openly discuss the little pivots and  “course corrections” we’ve made, the importance of play and spaciousness in the creative process, and how responding to YOUR feedback and our own needs has shaped our business in a deeply embodied way.

As usual there’s also a sprinkling of so many juicy topics waiting for you from:

• Our usual energy/cycle/life updates (including iron infusions, birthday months, and new kittens!)
• The acceptance of and identity shifts of neurodivergence
• Honoring different seasons in business and motherhood
• Navigating ambition, capacity, and the myth of one-size-fits-all strategy
• Balancing “people pleasing” with true responsiveness and evolution
• Fullness vs. busyness: Reframing your perception of life’s demands
• The importance of slow growth, prioritizing relationships over transactions, and letting action (not overthinking) shape the next right steps in entrepreneurship
• Finally, we’re sharing our biggest piece of advice for any other space holding entrepreneurs out there

You'll find plenty of relatable insights about honoring your own rhythm, letting go of rigidity, and building community in ways that are truly nourishing. Whether you’re here for reflections on motherhood, inspiration for your own creative ventures, or just to feel a little more connected to these 2 silly weirdos, there’s magick in this episode for you. 

P.S. Are you a birthworker or mother care provider who wants to make a deeper impact with your clients? Join us inside our recent training Matrescence & the Nervous System to understand the maternal nervous system in a way most trainings don’t cover. You’ll learn how to actually meet a mother’s nervous system with compassion and depth in these times. 

Receive instant access for just $66 USD (value $125). No live call. No expiration. Just 12 micro lessons (5-20 min in length) you can take in at your own pace.

Click here to learn more 

Thanks so much for hanging out with us, if you enjoy these episodes please share them with a friend, leave a review wherever you’re listening from, and come on over to instagram to continue the conversation..

Connect with Nicole on IG (@nicolepasveer) 

Connect with Lauren on IG (@nestandnourish) 

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts and feedback... send a text message directly to the show.

Support the show

Join the Nest & Nourish community over on instagram to connect with your host Lauren @nestandnourish.

This is probably my number one question I get asked right now as a doula... What does a postpartum doula shift look like? What kind of support of you offer?

And while it can be hard to fully articulate what it feeeeeels like to be cared for by a doula in this vulnerable season of life, I attempt to give you a peak into the flavour of postpartum doula support that I currently offer. Because that's the beauty of doula care... it's as unique as the doula you hire. 

This short and sweet episode will give you an idea of what a postpartum doula shift can look like, but I promise, it's so much more! If only there was an easy way to describe the feeling of being cared for by a doula.... hey maybe that's the next episode idea... interviewing a client and letting them speak for themselves!

Enjoy.

If you're craving this kind of care in your own postpartum season, I’d love to support you. Learn more about working with me here... I offer both in person (Victoria/Sooke, BC area) and virtual services to meet your needs in motherhood.

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts and feedback... send a text message directly to the show.

Support the show

Join the Nest & Nourish community over on instagram to connect with your host Lauren @nestandnourish.

What does it mean to "prune" and "nourish" in your current season of motherhood? Why does it matter?!

In this short and sweet episode I'm sharing some of the wisdom I find myself sharing on repeat with my current doula clients. 

Come explore why it’s important to let go of non-essential tasks, delegate, and intentionally seek support, especially for high-achieving women adjusting to the demands of new motherhood. I also offer real-life nourishment tips—for body, mind and heart—including making time for breakfast and embracing community help. Join me as I reflect on how to make motherhood more nourishing, more sustainable, and more connected to what matters most.

Interested in Doula care with Lauren from Nest & Nourish?? I offer both in-person (Victoria, BC area) AND virtual doula services. Learn more here.

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts and feedback... send a text message directly to the show.

Support the show

Join the Nest & Nourish community over on instagram to connect with your host Lauren @nestandnourish.

Buckle up. This one’s a ride.

We honestly joked that the whole thing could’ve just been a blooper reel LOL but buried inside the Moana 2 quotes, pizza-cupcake metaphors, fat cat analogies, and all the giggles…

There’s something real here. Something tender. Something we both needed to say out loud, and maybe you needed to hear?? 

We hold our usual nuance and throughout this episode of Musings & Magick, we tumble through:

• The guilt and shame around wanting “too much”
• The difference between curated echo chambers and real, messy community
• The tug-of-war between honoring our natural limits and still longing for more
• Letting go of labels like “lazy” or “productive” and just meeting ourselves where we are

If you’ve ever felt like you’re too much or not enough…

If you’ve craved a life or business that doesn’t ask you to hustle through your exhaustion…

If you’ve wondered whether your desires were holy or selfish or both… 

This one’s for you.

Take a deep breath, love.

This conversation is full of real life, big questions, sideways laughter, and sacred tangents. It’s messy. It’s nourishing. It’s a reminder that you’re not alone, and you’re not doing it wrong.

Things We’re Chewing On:

• “Everything can be medicine, everything can be poison.” (Thank you, Quiddist, inspired by her recent Beyond Dogma series)
• The quiet ways we limit ourselves, and the wild permission of Mother energy to want more.
• Why your business has to run through your own filter. (Seriously, are you baking cupcakes with a pizza recipe?)
• Trusting your pace. Even when it’s slower than you expected. Especially then.

This episode is a soft rebellion.

A love song for your enoughness.

A nudge to come home to the wisdom of your body and the truth of your desire.

🌿 HELD is a community membership for mother-serving visionaries—birthworkers, coaches, and space holders—who want to grow their business without bypassing their body. Inside, we blend somatics, embodied strategy, and values-led leadership so your business can nourish you and your clients. Founding member spots are open (only 10 available!) at a deeply discounted rate — we start September 9. Secure your spot now: www.nestandnourish.ca/held

If you’re longing for a coaching space that is relational, embodied, and honours your full humanity (not just your strategic brain), come see if it’s for you! 

We’re so glad you’re here.

Thanks for walking this wild path with us.

We love you.

—Lauren + Nicole

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts and feedback... send a text message directly to the show.

Support the show

Join the Nest & Nourish community over on instagram to connect with your host Lauren @nestandnourish.

We all know about the “shoulds”, but what about the “coulds”? 

In this episode we reflect on this sneaky feeling of always feeling “behind” despite logically knowing that time is just a construct.  We realize what’s actually happening is this feeling of lost potential and disappointment of not getting as much done as we wanted to. Which leads us to explore how we are already shedding the “shoulds” but what about the “coulds”? 

The “I could be doing more”, “I could be working on this”, “I could’ve spent my time getting this done” etc.   As always we weave in our embodied and somatic perspectives into the conversation, and dissect the word ambition–what it actually means and how it’s been tainted by boss babe hustle culture. 

The conversation beautifully gives a glimpse of the essence of living our values and integrity, balancing external pressures, and embracing authenticity in business and invites you to do the same. 

Thanks so much for hanging out with us, if you enjoy these episodes please share them with a friend, leave a review wherever you’re listening from, and come on over to instagram to continue the conversation..

Connect with Nicole on IG (@nicolepasveer) 

Connect with Lauren on IG (@nestandnourish) 

HELD is a community membership for mother-serving visionaries—birthworkers, coaches, and space holders—who want to grow their business without bypassing their body. Inside, we blend somatics, embodied strategy, and values-led leadership so your business can nourish you and your clients. Founding member spots are open (only 10 available!) at a deeply discounted rate — we start September 9. Secure your spot now: www.nestandnourish.ca/held

Additional resources mentioned in this episode: 

The Balanced Woman hormone health program with Dr. Eni DPT

Lunar Cycle Calendar Subscription for Iphones 

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts and feedback... send a text message directly to the show.

Support the show

Join the Nest & Nourish community over on instagram to connect with your host Lauren @nestandnourish.

Join us as we muse on a little bit of everything EXCEPT the full moon (LOL).

In this episode, we dive into a heartfelt discussion about redefining consistency, embodying our values, and navigating life's many moving parts. We reflect on the privilege of consistency, discuss some inspiring insights from Shirin Eskandini, founder of Wholehearted Coaching, and share personal stories of being misunderstood on social media. 

We also share a teaser about our exciting new program, 'Embodied Mother Care,' tailored for mother-serving professionals. This six-month container focuses on internal self mastery, trauma-informed principles and practices, and embodied business strategies. We aim to help you fall in love with your value aligned, integrity based business, and support you to show up as your most embodied self.

Tune in for an enriching conversation- as per usual, where we’re challenging norms and celebrating authenticity in life and business. Thanks so much for hanging out with us, if you enjoy these episodes please share them with a friend, leave a review wherever you’re listening from, and come on over to instagram to continue the conversation..

Resources mentioned: 

This social media post by @loismac_

HELD is a community membership for mother-serving visionaries—birthworkers, coaches, and space holders—who want to grow their business without bypassing their body. Inside, we blend somatics, embodied strategy, and values-led leadership so your business can nourish you and your clients. Founding member spots are open (only 10 available!) at a deeply discounted rate — we start September 9. Secure your spot now: www.nestandnourish.ca/held

Connect with Nicole on IG (@nicolepasveer) 

Connect with Lauren on IG (@nestandnourish) 

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts and feedback... send a text message directly to the show.

Support the show

Join the Nest & Nourish community over on instagram to connect with your host Lauren @nestandnourish.

We’re back!!!

Nicole and Lauren finally press record after a six-month break from recording together. 

In this episode, we share updates on our lives, including meeting in person for the first time, camping adventures, and Lauren’s transition back into nursing. Nicole delves deep into her family's discovery and acceptance of autism, discussing her daughter's diagnosis for the first time publicly,  and the subsequent journey of self-exploration and dismantling ableism. 

The conversation touches on the challenges and beauty of having neurodivergent traits, the personal development that comes with it, and the power of being seen and validated in complex experiences. We explore the significance of community, support systems, and the nuances of navigating life with newfound identities and labels.

This episode invites you to explore what identities or labels you might be clinging onto and guides you to embrace devotion instead of discipline as we continue forward in the new year.

Resources mentioned: 

The Balanced Woman hormone health program with Dr. Eni DPT

HELD is a community membership for mother-serving visionaries—birthworkers, coaches, and space holders—who want to grow their business without bypassing their body. Inside, we blend somatics, embodied strategy, and values-led leadership so your business can nourish you and your clients. Founding member spots are open (only 10 available!) at a deeply discounted rate — we start September 9. Secure your spot now: www.nestandnourish.ca/held

Connect with Nicole on IG (@nicolepasveer) 

Connect with Lauren on IG (@nestandnourish) 

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts and feedback... send a text message directly to the show.

Support the show

Join the Nest & Nourish community over on instagram to connect with your host Lauren @nestandnourish.

Matrescence—the identity transition into motherhood—is gaining recognition, but even though many now understand what it is, most mothers still lack a roadmap for how to navigate it.

Enter, Jessie Harrold.

Jessie has written a beautiful book based on her many years of work supporting women and mothers through radical transformation, which offers practical tools for navigating the complex and sometimes uncomfortable experience of matrescence. It's quite literally a map for your matrescence.

Jessie Harrold is a coach and doula who has been supporting women through radical life transformations and other rites of passage for over fifteen years. She works one-on-one with women and mothers, facilitates mentorship programs, women’s circles and rituals, and hosts retreats and nature-based experiences.  Jessie is the author of Mothershift:  Reclaiming Motherhood as a Rite of Passage (Shambhala 2024) and Project Body Love: my quest to love my body and the surprising truth I found instead.  She is also the host of The Becoming Podcast.  Jessie lives on the east coast of Canada where she mothers her two children, writes, and stewards the land.

"What if losing yourself in motherhood isn't the problem, but the point?"

In this episode, we explore:

• Defining Matrescence: Jessie shares her perspective on matrescence as a time-limited experience, emphasizing its role as a rite of passage
• The Four Elements of Radical Transformation: We explore each element of Jessie's model, discussing simple tools and practices to navigate the identity shift and complicated feelings that can accompany this metamorphosis into mother
• Embracing Grief: Understanding grief as a natural component of matrescence, Jessie outlines the four essential needs of grief and its significance in the transformation process
• The Seven "Motherpowers": Discover the skills and capacities that can be cultivated through matrescence, and how these powers have the potential to quite literally change the world
• Completing the Rite of Passage: Jessie discusses what it means to conclude the journey into motherhood, highlighting the importance of the "return" phase in any rite of passage

If you're a mother in the depths of your own matrescence, feeling like you've lost yourself, this episode will help you navigate the uncharted waters of your matrescence with confidence and compassion.

******
Connect with Jessie:
@jessie.es.harrold
www.jessieharrold.com
BUY HER BOOK! You won't regret it.

If you're interested in deepening your knowledge, wisdom, and guidance around matrescence, check out
Jessie Harrold's Matrescence Educator Apprenticeship, The Village — the program that changed how I understand and hold this work... and make sure to mention **Lauren Fortuna-Floch** referred you!

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts and feedback... send a text message directly to the show.

Support the show

Join the Nest & Nourish community over on instagram to connect with your host Lauren @nestandnourish.

What do biomechanics have to do with birth?!

Everything.

And yet, it's often left out of the birth conversation and pre-natal education entirely.

********************************************

“You’ll never hear me say I trust birth.”

Those are the words that caught my attention last week on social media and ignited my fascinating conversation with this week’s guest Adelaide Meadow, but the conversation goes much deeper than this.

Adelaide is a physiologist, yoga teacher, bodyworker, and homebirth attendant who is passionate about the radical feminist reclamation of the body. Her genius is her ability to read the female body- specifically, women's sacred posture and the magic of the female pelvis. She is passionate about liberating movement practices from biologically inaccurate and harmful bodily teachings that are grounded in male physiology, and rebirthing female movement practices.

Adelaide thoughtfully shares:

• Her deeper perspective and expanded definition around the phrase “I trust birth”
• The need for nuance and humanness in your decisions around what type of birth experience is right for you
• Her definition of "Physiological Womanhood" and the mismatch between what you believe about idealized physiological birth and the common capabilities of your modern body
• The effects of the "hands-off" birth movement and the loss of wise, gentle and skilled hands on care

Adelaide seeks to answer the question "What can we learn from the patterns we see within the births we experience or witness?".

She paints a beautiful picture of the synergy between hormones and body mechanics, giving you a new, deeper understanding of how birth unfolds in the body. She shares some of the modern root causes of pelvic issues and more difficult births and offers a new way forward through a deeper understanding of individual biodynamics and body mechanics. 

Her insights promise to deepen your understanding and preparation for childbirth, and shift your perspective around how birth unfolds within the body whether you're pregnant yourself, or providing care to perinatal women. 

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Follow Adelaide on Instagram: @faithinthebody

Check out Adelaide's newest course, as mentioned in the episode:
Born Through Movement A study of birth biomechanics, prenatal movement, & actionable ways to support baby’s pathway through the pelvis.
(SAVE 100$ off and get one month in her True Core Health Membership FREE if you sign up before September 16, 2024)

Don’t forget to use discount code LAUREN for 10% off any of Adelaide’s courses and programs:

Strength Training for the Female Body

True Core Health

All courses and memberships 

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts and feedback... send a text message directly to the show.

Support the show

Join the Nest & Nourish community over on instagram to connect with your host Lauren @nestandnourish.

Having a baby changes everything. Especially your relationship. It can throw you off guard, but with the right tools, open and honest communication, and a commitment to prioritizing the changing needs of your relationship, you can feel like a rock solid team riding the waves of parenthood, together.
 
In this episode I'm chatting with Autumn Fowler, a clinical counsellor, relationship expert, business owner, wife, and boy mama to two littles. She specializes in helping folks who are preparing for parenthood, or in the trenches of the early years, better their relationships with themselves and others. She does this through individual and couples therapy as well as virtual group programs. 

We're diving into the challenges, triumphs, and transformations couples experience in the transition to parenthood. Autumn serves up so much expert guidance around how to baby proof your relationship, reconnect after a tough season (hello fourth trimester), rekindle intimacy and sex, and realign on the regular to match both of your current levels of capacity and energy. If you've ever asked yourself:
"is it normal we're not having as much sex since baby?" or "how do we find our way back to each other after a stressful season of life?" then this one is for you.

The wisdom, guidance, and simple practical tools Autumn shares are infused with her deep compassion for and understanding of the unique and common challenges faced in relationships through the journey into parenthood.

We dive into:

• the common issues that can come up through the transition into parenthood like sleep deprivation, unfair division of labor, shifting intimacy, feeling like roomates, and what to do about it
• communication (of course!!) with script examples to help you shift from arguing to really communicating effectively
• what everyone's thinking about but no ones talking about: shifting sex and intimacy postpartum- how to navigate the ebbs and flows that take place in early parenthood
• navigating relational conflict in a way that helps you look deeper below the surface (you're not really arguing about the dishes again)
• the foundational qualities you need in your relationship to maintain deep connection through the changing seasons of parenthood
• how to have a "love meeting" and why it's so useful and important

Autumn's advice will empower you to shift from autopilot to conscious relationship in a way that matches your current capacity. 

I hope this episode helps validate and normalize the immense shifts and transitions our relationships go through once baby arrives. You'll leave with practical tips, tools, and scripts to help you nourish your relationship, communicate effectively, deepen trust and all forms of intimacy and feel like you're on the same team.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Connect with Autumn:
www.nestcounselling.ca
@thenestcounselling_

Just for The Well-Nourished Mother listeners, save 15% on Autumn's courses with the code NOURISH15:

Babyproof Your Relationship: A self-paced digital course to help you prepare your relationship for a new baby

Team Parenthood- How to Not Hate Your Spouse After Kids: A virtual course for couples in the early years of parenthood who want to communicate better, enhance intimacy, ditch resentment and feel like they're on the same team again

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts and feedback... send a text message directly to the show.

Support the show

Join the Nest & Nourish community over on instagram to connect with your host Lauren @nestandnourish.

We’re so often given the advice of “more being, less doing” yet what does this actually look like in modern motherhood as busy, potentially high achieving, and conscious mothers or women entrepreneurs? 

It can be easy to enter a shame spiral when we find ourselves betraying our own needs or not following through on things we intend to do. 

In this episode, we uncover the identity of efficiency and discuss how being efficient can be a strong motivator in our day to day actions. We reflect on how societal conditioning and external validation has led to a distortion around self worth and productivity. 

We explore how to show our nervous systems that it’s actually SAFE not to be efficient despite past and current programming, and we talk about different ways we are each personally infusing micro pauses of intention into our day without massive adjustments to our to-do lists.  

This episode invites you to find ways to infuse more being into your doing. 

Some ideas we offer include practicing awareness and strengthening your muscle of discernment. Strengthening awareness and discernment can increase Self trust and Self worth in small, bite sized ways while allowing flexibility for the changing seasons of one’s capacity.  

We set new moon intentions for ourselves and invite you to join us in asking yourself questions like: 

“What does my body need right now?”
And “Have I felt my heartbeat today?” and invite you to either follow through on what comes up in response to those questions, or hold space for what's present without jumping to fix it or take it away. 

Resources mentioned: 

The Healing Power of Pleasure: Seven Medicines for Rediscovering the Innate Joy of Being by Juila Paulette Hollenbury (book)

Connect with Nicole on IG (@nicolepasveer) 

Connect with Lauren on IG (@nestandnourish) 

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts and feedback... send a text message directly to the show.

Support the show

Join the Nest & Nourish community over on instagram to connect with your host Lauren @nestandnourish.

In this episode, we vulnerably reflect on the turbulence we’ve both experienced this past month and how it’s impacting our nervous systems, our creativity, our productivity, and our sense of Self. We share our own journeys of discomfort and fear, and embrace the concept of pausing and slowing down to return in a more authentic way.

As we continue to deepen into cyclical embodiment, we both acknowledge that being in a season of slow down is normal and necessary despite societal conditioning telling us to push through. We share both the discomfort and expansion of paving our own ways.

As always our conversation pulls the threads of many different topics including:

• Seeking so called “balance” between business and the ever changing phases of motherhood
• Body image struggles
• Mom guilt and self worth
• Reframing burnout, shifting priorities, and embracing a season of self-tending
• Redefining procrastination and leaning into your own creative process
• Healing perfectionism and witnessing the embodied growth

We have no doubt that some part of this episode will be relatable or offer language to your own experience as you untangle the messy middle of motherhood or entrepreneurship. As always, we love to hear from you! DM us on IG and let us know what this episode stirs up for you. 

Resources mentioned: 

Find epic copywriting support with our friend Gerry (@itsgerrytait) 

Connect with Nicole on IG (@nicolepasveer) 

Connect with Lauren on IG (@nestandnourish) 

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts and feedback... send a text message directly to the show.

Support the show

Join the Nest & Nourish community over on instagram to connect with your host Lauren @nestandnourish.

Listen in as we redefine consistency, untangle (and embrace) our natural cyclical rhythms, and discuss the delicate balance between desire and obligation and where devotion fits into motherhood and/or conscious entrepreneurship. 

While we are both celebrating the 1 year anniversary of our podcasts, we reflect on our devotion to getting to this point by defining our own rules around consistency. We open up about the challenges of staying dedicated to our vision as entrepreneurs, the societal pressures to be consistently productive, and the impact of podcasting on our lives.

We reflect on the changing capacity within motherhood during the toddler years in contrast to the need for dedication and commitment to business, all while continuing to unlearn from previous programming, and resistance to obligation and mainstream definitions around productivity. 

We dissect how obligation might be tied to self-doubt, lack of self-trust, and people-pleasing behavior, contrasted with desire seen as a more authentic, and feminine embodied driver, and of course what aspects of this are being illuminated to us in this lunar cycle, and inviting us into deeper devotion to our values. 

We have no doubt that some part of this episode will be relatable or offer language to your own experience as you untangle the messy middle of motherhood or entrepreneurship. 

As always, we'd love to hear from you! DM us on IG and let us know what this episode stirs up for you. 

Connect with Nicole on IG (@nicolepasveer) 

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts and feedback... send a text message directly to the show.

Support the show

Join the Nest & Nourish community over on instagram to connect with your host Lauren @nestandnourish.

Join us for another all-over-the-place episode in true Lauren and Nicole style, where we continue to share insights about introspection, practicing self-compassion, and embracing uncertainty from our experience as mother entrepreneurs.

We pull on some pretty thick threads anchored around fear, perfectionism, performance, and productivity, all while orienting back to our values of connection and embodiment.

One of the key themes that emerged from this discussion is the importance of embracing the messy middle. We share our personal experiences and reflections, emphasizing the value of permission to show up imperfectly and the significance of being comfortable with being a beginner or messy.

We also explore the concept of taking small steps to expand comfort zones, highlighting the idea of titration as a gentle approach to facing fears and embracing new challenges. The conversation is rich with insights on the interconnectedness of different aspects of life, and the recognition of the need to tap into slowness and radical responsibility for our own responses to external pressures including the intensity of the current eclipse season.

As we navigate our own journeys, it's essential to recognize the power of noticing and responding to our inner conflicts and fears, without allowing them to dictate our actions. Invitation to allow this episode to serve as a gentle reminder to grant yourself permission to be vulnerable, to slow down, and to be present in the messy, beautiful middle of your own growth.

In the midst of uncertainty and the ebb and flow of life, we hope this episode offers you moments of reflection, inspiration, and the courage to take small steps towards expanding your own comfort zones.

Connect with Nicole on IG (@nicolepasveer) 

Connect with Lauren on IG (@nestandnourish) 

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts and feedback... send a text message directly to the show.

Support the show

Join the Nest & Nourish community over on instagram to connect with your host Lauren @nestandnourish.

Buckle up friend! This is a true glimpse into how our behind the scenes conversations usually flow… a little all over the map, but with so much depth, curiosity, and reflection along the way. 

Join us as we begin this FULL MOON episode by each candidly sharing updates around what’s currently alive in our respective seasons of business and motherhood. 

We then begin to untangle the harsh extremes in the online motherhood, entrepreneurship and healing space and why more nuance is desperately needed. Together we rewrite our stories about business “fails” and get real about our own experiences as mother entrepreneurs. 

We tap into the significance of intention setting, the importance and POWER of ritual and ceremony, and how we’re carving our own paths to step away from some of the belief systems and religious traditions anchored from childhood. 

You’ll hear us express our utter (and hilarious) lack of knowledge of astrology and the full moon energetics, but we bring much needed humor and FUN to the conversation as we attempt to learn in real time and illuminate that which we’re letting go of with the full moon. 


Plus, we touch on:

• The effect of social media consumption on our creation cycles, and the delicate balance between inspiration and comparison
• What having a holistic view of nervous system dysregulation really means
• Our personal experiences of disentangling from Christian and Catholic upbringing, and creating our own traditions, rituals and ceremonies around seasons and holidays 

Together we weave in so much and pull the threads of so many thoughts and interesting topics. Come laugh, learn and reflect with us. 

Connect with Nicole on IG (@nicolepasveer) 

Connect with Lauren on IG (@nestandnourish) 

Resources mentioned: 

The Art of Ritual By Renee Beck & Sydney Barbara Metrick
Wheel of the Year: An Illustrated Guide to Nature’s Rhythms By Fiona Cook
Recalibrate: the mothermind.  An intimate virtual mastermind for mother entrepreneurs hosted by Nicole (Join the waitlist) 

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts and feedback... send a text message directly to the show.

Support the show

Join the Nest & Nourish community over on instagram to connect with your host Lauren @nestandnourish.

What are the essential components to focus on in early postpartum, so you can heal, bond, and thrive as a new mother?

Join Brittany Zeer and I as we explore just how to plan and prepare for a nourished postpartum experience.

Brittany is the creator of Blissful Womb Care where she supports women and mothers through the entire childbearing continuum. She is a certified INNATE Postpartum Care Practitioner, and she's passionate about creating a cultural shift that honors and centers mothers as the foundation for collective healing.
Her work is rooted in the 5 Essentials of Postpartum Care which are really the Essentials for healing and thriving life in general.
It's through integrating many of these practices herself that she healed 7.5 years of daily migraines and fibromyalgia. Now she's on a mission to share tangible ways women and mothers can support themselves and others in their community, so we can all transition from just surviving to thriving.

Brittany shares her incredible story of finding the INNATE Postpartum Care teacher and trainings, and how implementing these essentials have changed her own life.

Brittany dives into each of the 5 cross cultural essentials of postpartum care: what they are, why they're important, and how to set yourself up in simple, practical ways to honour these essentials.

We also have an honest conversation around the societal pressures placed on mothers, the necessity of setting boundaries and asking for support, and why meeting some of these essential needs postpartum is so hard in our modern mothering culture.

In a world where the postpartum period can be fraught with societal pressures and misconceptions, this episode underscores the need to shift our perspectives and practices, embracing a holistic model of care that acknowledges and cherishes the intrinsic worth of mothers. Brittany's wisdom and passion, illuminated through her experiences and commitment to nurturing mothers, serves as incredible inspiration for embracing the transformative potential of the postpartum experience.

By embracing the 5 essentials of postpartum care, mothers can reclaim their innate strength and vitality, fostering long-term health and well-being for both themselves and their families.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Connect with Brittany:
www.blissfulwombcare.com
@BlissfulWombCare

Resources mentioned in the episode:

BeHerVillage: a gift registry platform that helps parents receive gifts of support.
If you're ready to create your own gift registry sign up HERE.
If you're a birthworker wanting to add your services to the platform, sign up HERE.
Mealtrain.com: easily organize meals for yourself, friends, or family

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts and feedback... send a text message directly to the show.

Support the show

Join the Nest & Nourish community over on instagram to connect with your host Lauren @nestandnourish.

WELCOME TO THIS CO-CREATED SEGMENT BETWEEN NICOLE PASVEER AND LAUREN FORTUNA-FLOCH, ANCHORED AROUND CYCLICAL EMBODIMENT AND EXPLORATION OF THE WITCH

This is the first segment of Musings + Magick!!!! ☾

The intention is to meet on the full and new moons of each month to do an energy check in and explore nuanced conversations around big topics related to cyclical orientation, feminine embodiment in biz and motherhood, and our own personal explorations related to reclaiming our inner witch. 

Meet Nicole:  Mom, wife, conscious biz + motherhood coach and host of the ReWild & Free Podcast (she's also my donut obsessed virtual best friend!).

Connect with Nicole: @nicolepasveer 


***********************************

We are excited to announce that we are hosting a virtual women's circle to honour the upcoming Spring Equinox.

Join us for a 1.5-2 hour immersion on zoom to anchor into the energy of spring!

Including a somatic drop in, guided prompts + vision casting, sharing circle and take home ritual.

• When: March 19th at 3pm PDT// 6pm EDT
• Where: On zoom
• Investment: $33usd

Click here to join us and save your seat!

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts and feedback... send a text message directly to the show.

Support the show

Join the Nest & Nourish community over on instagram to connect with your host Lauren @nestandnourish.

Do you believe in this idea that you need to be selfless to be a "good" mom? Maybe you don't fully believe in it, but the cultural narrative and pressure around it tries to take hold of you and pull you under once in awhile. How do we flip that script and learn to be "self-ish"? And why does it even matter?

In this episode I chat with the lovely Samantha Hall. Sam is the creator of the Welcome Mama Journal and Day Planner, a matrescence educator, podcast host, and a student of motherhood studies. Her mission is to create products and content that help moms take care of themselves, be seen, and enjoy, embrace, and capture the fleeting experience of motherhood.

Sam challenges the traditional notion of selflessness as the ultimate marker of a good mother, advocating for mothers to prioritize their own needs and feelings without guilt.

Sam shares her personal experience of navigating motherhood as a high achieving woman, grappling with expectations and feeling like a failure, butting up against bounce back culture and how she began to alchemize it all into a new way of being.

She shares what inspired her to create a journal and day planner that helps you anchor into the present moment and REMEMBER the beautiful moments with your child that you don't want to forget.

In this episode we dive into:

- Bounce back culture and the ridiculuous expectations placed on mothers to remain the same and go back to the version they were before giving birth
- The (what seems like) universal experience of shame and guilt in motherhood around putting ourselves first (or maybe just... not last)
- The importance and benefit of anchoring into the cyclical seasons of motherhood
- What it means to be "self-ish", and HOW to do it in a way that feels good for you
- An interesting conversation around body image: do we really need to always love and appreciate our bodies? Is body neutrality really the answer? Can we look at body image through a cyclical/seasonal lens as well?
- The policing of self care... Sam shares her hot take on what self care really is sometimes and a mindset shift around what self care looks like for you in your current season of motherhood

If you've ever felt guilt or shame around your desire to care for yourself, or maybe you're in the season of realizing just how empty your cup is feeling, than this one is for you.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Connect with Sam:
www.welcome-mama.com
@welcomemama_bysam

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts and feedback... send a text message directly to the show.

Support the show

Join the Nest & Nourish community over on instagram to connect with your host Lauren @nestandnourish.

It's time to deeply nourish and nurture yourself, friend. I know you take such great care of everyone else in your life, but this is a very loving and gentle call out to take stock of where you're putting yourself last.

If you're in the depths of postpartum right now, and feel like you're in a bit of survival mode, listen up! This chat is for you. And if that's not you, well, there's still SO many great tips in here to help you FEEL BETTER. Simple shifts, swaps, and additions to get your body and mind in a healthy state so you can show up as the mother you really want to be. 

In this episode I'm chatting with my friend Katie Galvin. Katie's a women’s health functional diagnostic nutritional practitioner and postpartum doula. She's a wife and (unschooling) mom of two. Katie’s passion is helping guide moms on their healing journey as they learn to deeply nourish and nurture themselves, body, mind, and spirit. 

Katie takes us on a deep dive into her role as a Functional Diagnostic Nutritionist and shares her holistic approach to health and wellness. 

Together we dive into:

• Katie's personal experience with postpartum insomnia and anxiety and her journey of navigating the medical system and eventually healing herself holistically
• How to support yourself through sleep deprivation, mineral deficiencies, and lack of support
• A new framework for understanding symptoms (especially autoimmune conditions) and what your body is trying to tell you (we're shifting from blaming the body, to seeing symptoms as communication!!) FYI, if  you have any kind of thyroid dysfunction this episode is especially for you!
• The power of not DIYing your health and leaning on a coach or aligned practitioner to help hold up a mirror to the gaps and tweaks that could really change your life
• Analysis paralysis! How sometimes knowing too much can cause so much confusion and how to simplify and root back into your intuition and the needs of your body
• stress reduction! but don't roll your eyes... we're talking super simple and practical ways to do this that don't feel like another thing to add to the to-do list

More than anything, this episode shows you how to take control of your health with simple, PRACTICAL tips and ideas, tailored to the unique needs and challenges of mothers. You'll leave with simple things you can implement right away to start FEELING BETTER.

Connect with Katie on instagram: @katengalvin
___________________________________________

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts and feedback... send a text message directly to the show.

Support the show

Join the Nest & Nourish community over on instagram to connect with your host Lauren @nestandnourish.

How do we begin aligning with our biology as women instead of fighting against it? 

In this episode I’m joined by the ever insightful Beth Wood. 

Beth offers integrative life coaching and business strategy for women looking to craft a life honoring their cyclical nature and feminine design.

Her programs are designed to help you learn how to dance with your incredible menstrual cycle that nature has woven into the feminine, so you can tap into abundant creativity, businesses and success, efficiency, attention to detail, better health, glowing skin, and so much more.

She supports her clients in leaning back into their feminine nature, cycle syncing, seasonal living, and feminine-based business. 

Beth passionately shares her wisdom around:

• The energetic and hormonal differences between men and women.
• The 4 different “seasons” of our menstrual cycle and the hormonal, physical, energetic and emotional qualities and “gifts” of each phase (she also shares the different “seasons” of pregnancy and postpartum, so fascinating!).
• How to begin aligning with the different seasons of our cycle, why it matters, and how it shifts the way we move through life.
• “Spermy” energy vs. “eggy” energy (such a great way to explain masculine and feminine energy, don’t miss it!!)
• The masculine/feminine balance and polarity needed in birth.
• The beautiful connection between cycle alignment, nervous system health, and feminine/masculine balance. 

Beth also gives us her 2 very simple first steps to begin embodying the feminine and bringing awareness to and aligning with our cycles and seasons. 

Join us as we explore how we can reconnect to our biology, our creatrix energy, and the wisdom of our bodies to live in balance and reap the gifts of our divine feminine energy. 

Follow Beth on Instagram @rosewoodwoman

Visit Beth’s website: www.rosewoodwoman.com

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts and feedback... send a text message directly to the show.

Support the show

Join the Nest & Nourish community over on instagram to connect with your host Lauren @nestandnourish.

Your body holds the wisdom your mind is searching for.

In this episode I'm finally sitting down to explain what the heck Somatic Coaching is and how it can benefit you, especially as a mother. I share a quick intro about how I found this work and how I now blend it with birthwork. I introduce the concept of somatic work and its approach of connecting with the body's wisdom to create lasting change and healing. This style of coaching is intuitively-led, energetically based, and focused on helping you come home to yourself- to explore your own system, learn the language of your body, and heal and evolve so you can thrive as your most potent and authentic self.

You'll learn:

- What the word Somatic really means and how that translates into coaching
- What is a "bottom up" approach to healing?
- What does Embodiment truly mean?
- How Somatic Coaching can benefit you, especially as a mother.
- What a typical somatic coaching session with me looks like (or...feels like).

This one's short and sweet and to the point. I am so inspired by this work and can't wait to share it with you all.

Remember,

Your body is your greatest tool for transformation, and true transformation happens in the body.

_____________

Listen to my guest episode on The Crunchy Mom Club Podcast to hear more of my story.

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts and feedback... send a text message directly to the show.

Support the show

Join the Nest & Nourish community over on instagram to connect with your host Lauren @nestandnourish.

Does our commercialized view of baby registries prevent mothers from receiving the gifts and support they truly need? 

How do we shift our focus and spending towards supporting parents and caregivers during the postpartum period, instead of just the baby's materialistic needs? 

How can we change the perception of what is truly necessary for a new mother-baby dyad?

We’ll answer all of these questions and more in this juicy episode. 

Today I’m chatting with Kaitlin McGreyes, the Founder of BeHerVillage, a gift registry platform that helps parents receive gifts of support.

Kaitlin is deeply passionate about creating access to the care mothers and parents truly need in birth and postpartum. She is on a mission to make motherhood better and create a culture that celebrates parents and their journey, not just welcoming their new baby. 

In this conversation we dive into:

• The real needs of postpartum women and families
• How the generosity of family and friends has been hijacked by a capitalist culture and commercial greed leaving mothers without what they truly want and need for a well-nourished postpartum
• Our lack of the primordial village, and what the new-age village looks like and requires to create for yourself
• The stigma for some mothers around asking for help and support in our hyper-individualistic society
• Shifting from this overemphasis of supporting the baby’s product needs, to supporting the longevity of your entire postpartum transition

Plus Kaitlin shares more about the BeHerVillage Platform including what it is, how it works, and how it’s helping mothers and families all around the globe ask for and receive what they truly need in birth and postpartum.

This could truly be a tool that helps you plan and prepare for your most well-nourished postpartum.

Connect with Kaitlin on instagram: @BeHerVillage
If you're ready to create your own gift registry sign up HERE.
If you're a birthworker wanting to add your services to the platform, sign up HERE.
Want to connect with and reach more moms in your community?
Start talking to them about their baby registries.
Add a simple service to your offerings by becoming a Gift Registry Expert HERE. 

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts and feedback... send a text message directly to the show.

Support the show

Join the Nest & Nourish community over on instagram to connect with your host Lauren @nestandnourish.

How do we shift from this mentality of trying to “fix” or change our bodies, to partnering with our bodies to work together to heal and grow? 

In this episode, your host Lauren Fortuna-Floch chats with passionate Body Partnership Coach Erika Wirth. 

Erika opens up about her personal healing journey, starting from preconception to postpartum, and reveals the empowering body partnership approach she embraces. Rather than striving to change or fix our bodies, Erika emphasizes the significance of working alongside our bodies in a healing and growth process rooted in self-care and emotional resilience.

Erika shares more on:

• The deeper layers of healing required to overcome mental illness
• Making choices aligned with personal values, despite potential criticism
• Her own transformative experience of a wild pregnancy and freebirth
• The notions of control and surrender within the context of pregnancy and birth, exploring their true meanings and how they shape both the birth experience and the subsequent postpartum journey
• Her role as a body partnership coach and the importance of making this simple shift in your perspective when it comes to holistic health, wellness, and well-being as a mother
• Her daily self-care practices and routines that help her maintain a well-nourished state as a mother (and the importance of prioritizing self-care at all!), plus some techniques for nervous system health and stress reduction

Lauren and Erika also engage in a thought-provoking discussion about the pain-free birth narrative and pose the question “does the pain free birth movement set you up for failure?” 

By sharing the mindset needed and the valuable insights gained from her healing, pregnancy, birth, and motherhood experiences, Erika encourages you to challenge societal norms and trust your inner wisdom. 

Listen now to gain insight and inspiration from Erika's wisdom and unique approach to body partnership, self-care, and holistic well-being as a mother.

Connect with Erika on instagram: @wirthwellnessbyerika
Visit her website: www.wirthwellness.org
Or check out her podcast: The Crunchy Mom Club Podcast

If you love what you hear you can buy Lauren a coffee:

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts and feedback... send a text message directly to the show.

Support the show

Join the Nest & Nourish community over on instagram to connect with your host Lauren @nestandnourish.

The forbidden "D" word!
No one likes talking about death, but this inevitable piece of our natural cycle of life shows us what's truly important.

Join me, your host Lauren Fortuna-Floch, as I share some of the beautiful lessons learned from navigating the recent death of a loved one.

We'll dive into:

- Unsubscribing from masculine hustle culture and instead stepping into a more feminine approach of doing business that's aligned and embodied, especially in my own season of grief.

- How I navigated supporting my toddler through witnessing and being involved in the dying process and the beautiful moments of compassion, connection, and understanding.

- The discovery of unexpected and profound parallels between birth and death.

Having these conversations helps to normalize death in our culture and gives us the tools to help our children navigate the complexities of loss, so they can both appreciate the beauty of the natural cycle of life, and acknowledge and feel through the heartache that comes with our fragile nature.

Join me for fresh perspectives on birth, death, and the connections that bind them.

Resources for talking to children about death, dying, and serious illness:
KidsGrief.Ca
Medical Assistance in Dying Activity Book
The Do's and Don'ts of Talking with a Child About Death

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts and feedback... send a text message directly to the show.

Support the show

Join the Nest & Nourish community over on instagram to connect with your host Lauren @nestandnourish.

"We live in a culture that values the appearance, spontaneity, and hustle of the maiden

but craves the depth, creativity and radiating love of the mother

while ignoring the wisdom and sensitivity of the crone."


In this short and sweet BONUS episode, your host Lauren is diving deep into the heart of the societal values (or lack thereof) placed on the maiden, mother, and crone archetypes, and how this impacts the perception of women's bodies and worth. She explores how these societal perceptions affect the way we see ourselves and others, while challenging ingrained beliefs and calling out unrealistic beauty standards that hold us back.

After you've listened, head on over to our Instagram to discover the original social media post that sparked this conversation. Join the discussion and let's collectively redefine what it means to value and honor women in all stages of life. 

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts and feedback... send a text message directly to the show.

Support the show

Join the Nest & Nourish community over on instagram to connect with your host Lauren @nestandnourish.

Have you ever felt drained or hyper critical of your own life and mothering after scrolling social media?  We're living in the digital age of Mothering where social media can have a huge impact on how you mother, what you believe, and how you view your own life. 

In this episode of The Well-Nourished Mother, host Lauren Fortuna-Floch dives into the impact of social media on the emotional well-being of mothers with special guest Amanda Teixeira, a clinical therapist and mother of 3. They explore how social media can shape our beliefs, influence our views of motherhood, and affect our self-perception. They discuss and critique various motherhood "tropes" or "subcultures" portrayed and perpetuated by social media sharing their unfiltered opinions and perspectives. 

Amanda shares more on:

-The online motherhood culture she personally does and doesn't participate in.

-The difference between what is considered "normal" and what is actually "normalized" in our culture when it comes to birth and motherhood.

-Is “Fed is Best” a condescending statement? Does this normalized statement condition mothers to accept the bare minimum of support? 

-"Mom shaming" and the nature of guilt and shame as communicators of deeper wounds.

- The factors to consider when navigating the overwhelming amount of content available online and offers insights into building a more mindful approach to online consumption. 

By the end of this episode, you'll walk away with a fresh perspective on the power of what we absorb through social media. You'll gain an understanding of how it can shape our experiences, cloud our view, or even change our perception of our own reality.

Join Lauren and Amanda as they critically examine, celebrate, and dissect the various motherhood messaging that bombards us through social media. This thought-provoking conversation will shed light on the influence of digital platforms and empower you to navigate them with greater discernment.

To connect with Amanda, follow her on instagram @free.as.a.mother.
Check out Amanda's Instagram post that inspired this episode HERE.

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts and feedback... send a text message directly to the show.

Support the show

Join the Nest & Nourish community over on instagram to connect with your host Lauren @nestandnourish.

Do you consider yourself a creative woman? How do you balance those creative urges, projects, and ideas while also navigating new motherhood?

This week Lauren chats with multi passionate artist Nikki Hollett. Nikki reflects on her initiation into motherhood and the impact it's had on her creativity and work as an artist. Through the lens of her own personal experiences and healing journey, Nikki shares the nuances of her own relationship with creativity as a mother and artist, offering profound insights around balancing creative urges with mothering. Together, they weave a beautiful web of conversation that centres around creativity, intuition, human design, ancestral healing, and cyclical living.

Nikki shares more on:

- Navigating creative urges without sacrificing connection, especially in the tender early postpartum time
- Birth as a portal to deeper intuition and an initiation into a new creative frequency
- Her experience with ancestral healing, and the effect of our lineage, familial stories, and traumas have on the way we were mothered and the way we mother
- The beauty of our natural hormonal and physiological design postpartum and the effect that has on our energy and creativity

Nikki also shares more about her newest creative project blending fibre arts and her shamanic gifts that celebrate the healing journey so many women are on right now.

This conversation will leave you with a new perspective around the cyclical nature of creativity and how there is a season for everything.

Connect with Nikki on instagram @medicinemother to learn more. 

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts and feedback... send a text message directly to the show.

Support the show

Join the Nest & Nourish community over on instagram to connect with your host Lauren @nestandnourish.

Postpartum is an inherently vulnerable time for your nervous system.

In this episode Lauren chats with Prairie Wolfe, a sexological bodyworker, and Somatic Experiencing practitioner to explore how to navigate postpartum anger and increase your nervous system health.

Prairie starts by giving us a quick and dirty explanation of the nervous system and what regulation really means.

She helps shed light on the these burning questions:

- What does a healthy expression of anger look like?  What are some somatic practices to help move through the 'fight' response? How do we acknowledge and accept anger as a sacred emotion?
- Why is "repair" so important? How do you create a family culture that doesn't disengage with big emotional expressions? What does repair look and sound like?
- What's the single most important postpartum need, that helps nurture your nervous system?

Prairie also highlights the importance of seeking help and support as new parents and emphasizes the lifelong impact of the postpartum period on not only the mother, but on  the child's attachment system and nervous system regulation.

Prairie leaves you with simple, somatic principles and practices to try right away, to help you regulate and thrive as a mother.

Prairie Wolfe is a Certified Sexological Bodyworker, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, and Somatic Sex and Relationship Coach. She was ushered into this work through a difficult birth and postpartum time that left her grappling with physical and emotional trauma, and searching desperately for answers. Prairie has a thriving private practice where she supports folks to reconnect with their vibrancy, reclaim space in their own bodies, recover from pelvic issues, and develop healthy relating patterns with their partners and children. She also regularly hosts group pelvic-mapping workshops as well as relationship development for couples.

Connect with Prairie on instagram @prairie.somaticconnections or on her website www.somaticconnections.org

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts and feedback... send a text message directly to the show.

Support the show

Join the Nest & Nourish community over on instagram to connect with your host Lauren @nestandnourish.

How would slowing down in your day to day change the way you experience motherhood?

In this episode, Rachel Vangstad and I explore the art of slowing down and reconnecting with your true self as a mother. 

Rachel shares more on:

• the importance of prioritizing yourself, your own pleasure, and your needs with really simple, small steps to take to begin
• the self pleasure practice she used as an entry point to shifting to a more present, slow, and intentional way of being
• slowing down as an act of self love
• her perspective on intuition and the small ways you can begin reconnecting to it
• how cyclical living ties in to the art of slow mothering, and the profound impact it can have

Rachel also offers valuable insights on applying the art of slowing down to building a heart-led business as a mother.

Rachel is a mother turned doula, turned intuitive guide for women who are on the path to connecting to their bodies, self worth and fire within. She recognizes women, especially mothers, want to experience pleasure and ease in life and offers simple, actionable plans to find this in their own journey home to themselves. She offers safe containers and energy work to embody one’s truest self.

Tune in to this episode and embrace the power of slowing down for a more fulfilling and present motherhood experience. 

Follow Rachel on Instagram @theintuitiveco_

For more information about Rachel's current group coaching offer "ReOrient", visit her website: www.theintuitiveco.com.

**Interested in birthwork? Check out The Autonomy Mommy's incredible Childbirth Educator training I graduated from last year. This program gives you access to scripts, handouts, content and SO MUCH MORE so you can easily launch your very own childbirth education workshops and courses. It's worth every penny!!! Click Here to check it out.

**For more of the business side of things, join The Autonomy Mommy's Birthworker Membership for high level training, coaching,  and accountability around thriving as an online business owner. This is for birthworkers AND anyone who wants to shift from being on call and super busy with in person work, to a thriving online business. Click Here to check it out. 

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts and feedback... send a text message directly to the show.

Support the show

Join the Nest & Nourish community over on instagram to connect with your host Lauren @nestandnourish.

Are you a new mother struggling to navigate the profound transition into motherhood, feeling lost and disconnected from your previous self? Have you felt pressure to meet societal expectations, leaving you feeling like you're just not measuring up?

Then tune into this episode of The Well-Nourished Mother, where we explore the depths of "matrescence" with licensed clinical social worker, Chelsea Robinson. Discover how to honor your journey and find support in your community, so you can flourish as a mother.

Together, we discuss:

• What "matrescence" is, and how having an understanding of it can shift a woman's postpartum experience
• The pressure to "bounce back" after giving birth and how it can lead to feelings of inadequacy and failure. 
• The physical changes of motherhood as a representation of matrescence and a transition into a new phase of life. 
• Simple strategies for building confidence in your new identity as mother.
• The impact of mothering in our current over-culture and the need for systemic change and support for mothers. 
• The unique role of grief within matrescence as mothers shed their old selves and embrace new aspects. 
• The many ways guilt and shame show up in motherhood as a response to the intense societal pressures and expectations to be a “good mother”.
• The importance of education, identity work, and social support in the mothering experience. 
• The importance of the movement to bring mothers back into focus and value their worth and contribution to society. 
• Lauren also candidly shares more of her own experience of matrescence, and the identity crisis she experienced after leaving her nursing career behind. 

Join Lauren and Chelsea as they dive deep into the complexities of motherhood, offering insight, support, and strategies for navigating the transformative experience of matrescence.

Chelsea Robinson, LCSW, is a motherhood therapist, matrescence coach, village builder and founder of Mama’s Modern Village. With over 10 years of experience in the field of mental health, she supports women on their motherhood journey at the intersection of modern motherhood culture and a woman’s matrescence, her transition from woman to mother. Chelsea is not a parenting expert, rather an expert on the mama, whose work centers on bringing the mother back into focus. Chelsea has created "Becoming Mama", a 12-week program designed to support women all along their motherhood journey in decreasing their burnout, stress and overwhelm, while increasing their confidence, joy and understanding of their matrescence. 

Connect with Chelsea on instagram @mamasmodernvillage or on her website www.mamasmodernvillage.com

CLICK HERE to view and download Chelsea's Values Clarifying Exercise Worksheet mentioned in the episode.

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If these topics and conversations resonate, please rate and review the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening from. Your feedback helps this podcast grow and blossom, and I’m ever grateful for your support.

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts and feedback... send a text message directly to the show.

Support the show

Join the Nest & Nourish community over on instagram to connect with your host Lauren @nestandnourish.

What do you do when your primal instincts clash with the narratives you've woven around motherhood?

In my very first solo episode,  join me as I delve into the depths of my own weaning journey. I’m sharing personal insights and experiences through 5 lessons I’ve learned from 2 years of breastfeeding. 

In this episode, I dive deeper into:

• the importance of listening to intuition, challenging fixed expectations, and embracing the ever-evolving nature of the mother-baby dyad (and of motherhood itself)
• the primal instincts we often overlook and the significance of self-nourishment
•  the power of confidence and self-trust in decision-making as an antidote to shame
• the transformative nature of breastfeeding as a right-brained, intuitive process

And you'll hear me go off on a serious tangent about what I really dislike about the online birth world right now and my vision for a better approach to birth prep that shifts from mind to body,  or from head to heart. 

Join me on this enlightening journey as we challenge societal constructs, embrace our instincts, and honour the profound and complex experience of motherhood. 

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If these topics and conversations resonate, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening from. Your feedback helps this podcast grow and blossom, and I’m ever grateful for your support.

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts and feedback... send a text message directly to the show.

Support the show

Join the Nest & Nourish community over on instagram to connect with your host Lauren @nestandnourish.

Postpartum intimacy, sex, desire, connection- these areas can feel under nourished amidst the whirlwind of change, evolution, and growth a new baby brings.

In this episode, we dive deep into this often neglected aspect of postpartum life with the incredible Ashley Mariani, a Clinical Social Worker specializing in couples perinatal mental, emotional, and sexual health. Ashley brings her expertise and compassionate understanding to shed light on the common barriers couples may face when it comes to postpartum intimacy and reigniting their sexual identity.

Ashley shares her powerful insights on how to navigate shifting love languages and intimate needs, providing practical tools and strategies to foster deeper connection and intimacy. 

We also chat about:

• How the balance of masculine and feminine energy within the dynamic of your relationship plays into intimacy and experiences of sexuality
• The physiological and hormonal blueprint responsible for lower sex drive in early postpartum 

Ashley emphasizes the importance of communication, consciously re-evaluating expectations, and taking radical self-responsibility as key factors in rebuilding and deepening postpartum intimacy.

Ashley's compassionate and informative insights will empower you to navigate the complexities of postpartum intimacy, connect with your partner on a deeper level, and reclaim your sexual identity with confidence.

Connect with Ashley on Instagram:
@therougue.therapist
@mindonline.ca
or on her website:
www.mindonline.ca

If these topics and conversations resonate, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening from. Your feedback helps this podcast grow and blossom, and I’m ever grateful for your support.

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts and feedback... send a text message directly to the show.

Support the show

Join the Nest & Nourish community over on instagram to connect with your host Lauren @nestandnourish.

Motherhood has a way of illuminating all of the areas of life that need reconciliation and attention. This is Motherhood as Medicine. 

In this episode, Nicole Pasveer and I dive into all things Good Girl Conditioning. 

Nicole shares openly and honestly about her personal experience healing her inner “good girl” while diving into some of the many other related layers: life pausing perfectionism, lack of boundaries, low self-worth, codependency, and fear of abandonment. 

Nicole shares:

• How good girl conditioning shows up in pregnancy, birth, and the tender postpartum period, with raw and relatable examples from her own postpartum experience
• Her strategy of “catching the shoulds” for discerning between a true desire/need and a conditioned response
• The difference between internal boundaries vs. external boundaries
• The importance of storytelling, community, and a village of support to help make meaning from our experiences
• And we discuss the #1 most important first step to begin healing the inner good girl, plus a couple super simple practices to begin to reconnect to your body

Nicole Pasveer is a former RN, current birth educator and motherhood coach. She’s also a mom on a mission to rewrite the narrative and help mother’s unlearn and heal from deep societal conditioning so that they can reclaim their instincts and smash generational cycles! 

Follow Nicole on Instagram @nicolepasveer

If these topics and conversations resonate, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening from. Your feedback helps this podcast grow and blossom, and I’m ever grateful for your support.

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts and feedback... send a text message directly to the show.

Support the show

Join the Nest & Nourish community over on instagram to connect with your host Lauren @nestandnourish.

Following your heart, carving your own path, and redefining success can be HARD. But for those that listen to the call, the rewards are endless.

Michelle Williams shares her story of discovering her purpose early on in life and the winding road she followed through nursing school, to eventually trust the call of her heart, leave the medical system behind, and create her own heart centred business as a traditional birthkeeper. 

Michelle shares more on:

- connecting to your true desire and purpose outside of cultural and societal pressures and conditioning 
- what's missing from the medicalized treatment of birthing women in hospital
- using your voice to connect to your womb (listen to the end for a beautiful vocal practice to try for yourself, especially if you’re pregnant or calling in your future babies)
and so much more...

Michelle is a Traditional Birthkeeper and Educator at ISLA MAMA, a space devoted to inviting women into deeper reverence and trust in themselves. Michelle is in service to the continuum of life - moving in flow between birth, death, and all that is present in between. Transitioning from clinical Nursing, she is now serving women in her community on Vancouver Island. Attending births, providing family support, and offering womb and birth education. Michelle, the ISLA MAMA is here because of her unwavering faith in Women.

Connect with Michelle on Instagram: @Isla__mama

Visit the ISLA MAMA website: www.islamama.com

If you enjoyed this conversation please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening from to help this podcast blossom & grow. I’m ever grateful for your support!

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts and feedback... send a text message directly to the show.

Support the show

Join the Nest & Nourish community over on instagram to connect with your host Lauren @nestandnourish.

How do you develop self-trust as a mother, and why does it even matter? 

In this episode, Briana Faust shares her stories of becoming a mother and the beautiful insights and realizations that have led her to the creation of Hohmcoming- a community and digital studio for women who desire to go back to basics and experience pregnancy with more ease, intuition, and trust. The way it was designed to be experienced.

We chat about intuition, trust, and what it means to come home to yourself as a mother. 

Briana Faust is a woman who was totally rocked by the primal experiences of pregnancy, birth and motherhood. Her course changed completely when she became a mom and she was reminded of what being a woman is truly supposed to be, and began the journey to reconnect to her primal essence to mother from a more natural, grounded place. She had given away so much of her experience in her first pregnancy and was looking for all the answers outside of herself, so she was determined to do it differently for her next. Fast forward 3 years, and she’s now a free birthing, intuition-led "son of a B" who can’t help but want a more intuitive experience for ALL women.

Get comfy and tune in, so you can be inspired by Briana’s story and heartfelt insights, and learn how to start creating the space needed to hear the call of your own intuition. 

Connect with Briana on Instagram: @hohmcoming

Visit the Hohmcoming website: www.hohmcoming.com

If you enjoyed this conversation please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening from to help this podcast blossom & grow. I’m ever grateful for your support!

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts and feedback... send a text message directly to the show.

Support the show

Join the Nest & Nourish community over on instagram to connect with your host Lauren @nestandnourish.

The Well-Nourished Mother is a space of deep reverence for the rite of passage that is the maiden to mother journey.

Join Lauren Fortuna-Floch for unfiltered and inspiring conversations with experts, mothers, and all around badass wise women, where we’ll explore all the ways we can nourish ourselves- body, mind, and heart. We're blending the head and the heart, the mind and the body to help you cultivate the knowledge, practices, and resources you need to be the most aligned and radically well-nourished mother you deserve to be.

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts and feedback... send a text message directly to the show.

Support the show

Join the Nest & Nourish community over on instagram to connect with your host Lauren @nestandnourish.