MOMENT | “I Didn’t Know Who I Was After My Baby” with Michelle Kennedy on Matrescence

About this episode

Who are you now? And why does motherhood feel like it’s quietly rewritten you? Today’s Motherkind Moment is with the incredible Michelle Kennedy, founder of Peanut, who has just launched the powerful “Make Matrescence Mainstream” campaign. Zoe was proud to be part of this campaign and truly encourages you to look it up, watch it, and sit with it. Because matrescence, the profound identity shift we go through when we become mothers, is still something we don’t talk about nearly enough. In this short but powerful clip, Zoe asks Michelle how her identity changed across her two matrescence experiences. What Michelle shares might surprise you. She speaks honestly about not knowing who she was after her first baby. She knew Michelle the professional. Michelle, the friend. Michelle, the daughter. But she didn’t yet know Michelle the mum. She shares how clarity didn’t arrive overnight; it evolved slowly. How motherhood became the best chapter of her life, but not the only chapter. And how realising she is multifaceted changed everything. They also explore trade-offs. The myth of “doing it all.” Why filling your own glass first isn’t selfish — it’s necessary. And why something as simple as a 20-minute shower can be the most humanising act in early motherhood. If you’ve ever felt like you’ve lost yourself… If you’ve wondered why this transition feels so seismic… If you’ve felt guilty for wanting space, ambition, rest or boundaries… This conversation is for you. However, your matrescence has unfolded, whether it felt joyful, destabilising, lonely, clarifying, or all of the above, you are not alone. In this Moment, you’ll hear: Why it’s completely normal to feel like you “lose yourself” after becoming a mother  How matrescence reshapes your identity over time, not overnight Why motherhood can be the most powerful chapter of your life without being the only chapter. How protecting small, non-negotiable moments for yourself is not selfish — it’s foundational. If you liked this moment, listen to the full episode: How to Turn Your Hardest Motherhood Struggles Into a Career With Purpose with Michelle Kennedy Remember to subscribe to 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  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. Start your children’s reading journey with Usbourne Books For a £100 sponsored job credit, visit Indeed.com/ Motherkind Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices