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.
Episodes
S3E16 - Starting a family in academia: a conversation on fears, ambitions and the myth of perfect timing (with Dr Asya Martirosyan)
S3E15 - Science, startups, and sanity: finding balance while wearing many hats with Dr Asya Martirosyan
S3E14 - Speak up: A conversation on finding your voice and confidence with Emma Gaskin
S3E13 - Becoming the mentor you needed: a conversation with Dr Liz Berry about mental health, mentorship and changing academic culture
S3E12 - What 2 years of motherhood taught me about life, work and growth
S3E11 - You can't fail at rest: a solo reflection on letting go of "perfect" self-care
S3E10 - Rest as rebelllion: a solo reflection on how rest is an act of resistance
S3E9 - The courage to slow down: a solo reflection on finding your pace in a world that won't stop rushing
S3E8 - Prenatal yoga: our honest experiences, challenges and lessons
S3E7 - Hormone health, cycle-informed living and productivity: Interview with Emilia Villegas
S3E6 - On hearing our bodies’ messages (and learning to not ignore them)
S3E5 - Building a business and raising a toddler
S3E4 - Academic mobility: Lessons and love stories from the places we’ve lived in
S3E3 - Burnout recovery, rewiring the brain and healing through yoga: Interview with Sylvie Lahaie
S3E2 - Journey from burnout to balance & sustainable productivity: Interview with Anahita Amirpour
S3E1 - Welcome to Season 3: Stories of struggles, strength and connection
S2E10 - How motherhood changes us (part 3): On coming home to ourselves, redefining success and the evolution of friendships
S2E9 - How motherhood changes us (part 2) - On heritage, the love that made us, and the Motherhood Club
S2E8 - How motherhood changes us (part 1)
S2E7 - Why change feels so hard (and how to keep going anyway)
S2E6 - Intentions, goals and New Year's resolutions
S2E5 - Ksenia's journey through PhD, burnout and starting over
S2E4 - Ivna's thesis story part 3 - Post-defense reflections and future plans
S2E3 - Checking in three days before the defense (Ivna's thesis story pt2)
S2E2 - Managing distractions, mom guilt and a tight deadline (Ivna's thesis story)