Moms, Mats and Manuscripts
Moms, Mats and Manuscripts is a podcast hosted by Ivna, a PhD student in biomedicine, a yoga teacher and a mom, and Ksenia a former molecular biologist, a yoga teacher for scientists and a mom, too. This is a space to talk about all things academia, motherhood and yoga with humour and vulnerability.
We chat about mental health in academia, mindful productivity, and surviving and enjoying early motherhood while bringing yoga wisdom into our lives, share our stories and offer tips on navigating life's chaotic adventures.
Episodes
20 episodes
S2E9 - How motherhood changes us (part 2) - On heritage, the love that made us, and the Motherhood Club
In this deeply reflective episode, we continue our conversation about how motherhood changes us -this time diving into our connections to the past, the unspoken bond between mothers, and the way parenthood makes us confront life and mortality.<...
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Season 2
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Episode 9
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33:03
S2E8 - How motherhood changes us (part 1)
Motherhood changes us, there’s no doubt about it. But does it mean we lose ourselves? In this spontaneous conversation (sparked by a question from Ksenia's Instagram Live!), we dive into the shifts we’ve experienced since becoming moms...
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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17:03
S2E7 - Why change feels so hard (and how to keep going anyway)
Why does change feel so hard - even when we want it and know it would benefit us? In this episode, we dive into the brain’s resistance to change and why we often cling to what’s familiar, even if it’s not serving us. We talk about pick...
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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34:38
S2E6 - Intentions, goals and New Year's resolutions
🎙️ In this first episode of 2025, we dive into New Year’s resolutions, intentions and the art of mindful goal-setting. We share our personal goals for the upcoming year, reflect on our approach to goal setting and how it has evolved over time, ...
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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29:55
S2E4 - Ivna's thesis story part 3 - Post-defense reflections and future plans
We're back after a month-long hiatus with a special in-person episode, recorded during a surprise podcast retreat! 🎙️ Here we talked about a pivotal moment in Ivna's academic journey: her thesis defence. She shares her reflections on t...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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17:54
S2E3 - Checking in three days before the defense (Ivna's thesis story pt2)
In this spontaneous episode of Moms, Mats, & Manuscripts, we check in with Ivna just 3 days before her PhD defence! 🎓😱 We dive into how she’s feeling, her writing and preparation process, and what strategies helped her stay consistent and (...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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22:46
S2E2 - Managing distractions, mom guilt and a tight deadline (Ivna's thesis story)
In this special episode of Moms, Mats, & Manuscripts, we sit down in person (this episode was recorded quite some time ago while we were together on our podcast retreat 😊) to chat about one of the most intense balancing acts we’ve ...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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32:33
S2E1 - The Power of New Beginnings
Welcome back! Season 2 of Moms, Mats, & Manuscripts kicks off with an empowering conversation all about fresh starts, bold moves, and authentic living. In this episode, we dive into the significance of turning the page, embracing change, an...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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16:37
E10 - Showing up imperfectly
In this special finale of Season 1, we come together in person for the first time during our mini podcast retreat! 🎉 We share our gratitude to everyone who has listened and supported us on this journey, reflect on how the retreat idea blossomed...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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15:44
E9 - Living the Good Times
In this episode of "Moms, Mats, and Manuscripts," we celebrate the "good old days" and reflect on what it means to truly live in moments of happiness and wellbeing. We chat about how we recognize when we're in these great times and how they imp...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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25:14
E8 - Self-care and showing up during tough times
In this deeply personal episode of "Moms, Mats, and Manuscripts," we open up about dealing with the challenges we're facing in our lives right now. Amid these tumultuous times, we have a brutally honest conversation about self-care and showing ...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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32:49
E7 - Body Image in Pregnancy and Postpartum
In this heartfelt episode of "Moms, Mats, and Manuscripts," we chat about body image during pregnancy and postpartum. We share our personal experiences, reflecting on the awe we felt at the miracle of growing a human and the changes our bodies ...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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45:49
E6 - Navigating pregnancy and maternity leave in academia
In this episode of "Moms, Mats, and Manuscripts," we tackle the topic of family planning while pursuing an academic career. Ivna, a PhD student and new mom, shares her journey of having a baby during the final year of her PhD. We explore her de...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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41:37
E5 - Intuition in Academia - Navigating relationships & career choices
In this episode of "Moms, Mats, and Manuscripts," we discuss the role of intuition in the highly rational, fact-oriented world of academia. We share personal stories of listening to our intuition when choosing our next career steps, navigating ...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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50:51
International Day of Yoga Special - 6 Lessons from the yoga mat
This is a replay of an Instagram Live we hosted to celebrate the International Day of Yoga on June 21. In this special episode, we talked about ways yoga practice can be a great support for people navigating the challenges of their academic jou...
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Season 1
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25:04
E4 - Intuition & Trusting your body in motherhood
In this episode of "Moms, Mats, and Manuscripts," we explore the role of intuition in motherhood. We share personal stories from our pregnancies and birth experiences, as well as our early postpartum journeys. We discuss how intuition felt powe...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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48:38
E3 - Maternal Mental Health
In this episode of "Moms, Mats, and Manuscripts," we spoke about the crucial topic of maternal mental health. We provided a brief overview of common postpartum mood disorders, shared our personal experiences with baby blues and postpartum anxie...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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49:21
E2 - Mental health crisis in academia
In our second episode of "Moms, Mats, and Manuscripts," we honour Mental Health Awareness Month with an open discussion on the challenges and pressures of academia. We opened up about the mental health struggles we faced as PhD students, stemmi...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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41:38
