Moms, Mats and Manuscripts
Moms, Mats and Manuscripts is a podcast hosted by Ksenia Volkova Tomaz, a former molecular biologist, yoga teacher and mindset coach for scientists, and mom. This is a space for honest, unpolished conversations about the parts of academia and ambition we don’t talk about enough.
Here, we explore the mental and emotional load of being a young scientist or high-achieving woman: the pressure to constantly produce, the identity crises, the inner critic, the fear of slowing down, the guilt around rest, the invisible labour of motherhood, and the messy process of redefining success on your own terms.
I share personal stories, science-backed insights, and yoga-psychology tools to help you navigate burnout, self-worth, boundaries, and the overwhelming push to “do more.”
Think of this space as a friend's couch, where you can have a cup of coffee, relax, exhale and be seen.
Moms, Mats and Manuscripts
S2E10 - How motherhood changes us (part 3): On coming home to ourselves, redefining success and the evolution of friendships
In the final episode of our three-part series on how motherhood changes us - and the last episode of season two - we turn inward to explore the quieter, more personal transformations that happen after becoming a mother.
We talk about the shifting landscape of identity, how we’re slowly coming home to ourselves in new ways, and how motherhood reshapes how we approach things like free time, travel, presence, ambition, and rest.
We share how our dreams and definitions of success have evolved, how certain friendships have deepened or faded, and how motherhood gently (and sometimes not-so-gently) rearranges what really matters.
This is a conversation about change, clarity, and the unexpected gifts of becoming someone new - while still holding onto the core of who we've always been.
Let's hang out! 🎙️ Follow Moms, Mats, and Manuscripts for more conversations on academia, motherhood, and mindful living. And if this episode sparked something in you, don't forget to like and share our podcast so that more people can join our coffee-fueled chats!
I'd also love to hear your thoughts and questions, and if you have ideas for future episodes, drop us a line.
We're also on Instagram:
@moms.mats.manuscripts
@shantiscience_yoga
Reach out: moms.mats.manuscripts@gmail.com
