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
44 episodes
E43 - From vague goals to real life: A seasonal reset (and what I'm learning along the way)
E42 - Freelance career after leaving academia: freedom, insecurity and finding balance
E41 - Academia wasn't worth my life: Leaving academia, not-so-alternative careers and redefining success
E40 - Leaving academia without burnout (with Dr Ana Amaral)
E39 - I thought I'd be further ahead by now
E38 - When you're ambitious but exhausted: a gentle approach to goals
E37 - New Year, new podcast (kind of)
E36 - (S3E16) Starting a family in academia: a conversation on fears, ambitions and the myth of perfect timing (with Dr Asya Martirosyan)
E35 - (S3E15) Science, startups, and sanity: finding balance while wearing many hats with Dr Asya Martirosyan
E34 - (S3E14) Speak up: A conversation on finding your voice and confidence with Emma Gaskin
E33 - (S3E13) Becoming the mentor you needed: a conversation with Dr Liz Berry about mental health, mentorship and changing academic culture
E32 - (S3E12) What 2 years of motherhood taught me about life, work and growth
E31 - (S3E11) You can't fail at rest: a solo reflection on letting go of "perfect" self-care
E30 - (S3E10) Rest as rebelllion: a solo reflection on how rest is an act of resistance
E29 - (S3E9) The courage to slow down: a solo reflection on finding your pace in a world that won't stop rushing
E28 - (S3E8) Prenatal yoga: our honest experiences, challenges and lessons
E27 - (S3E7) Hormone health, cycle-informed living and productivity: Interview with Emilia Villegas
E26 - (S3E6) On hearing our bodies’ messages (and learning to not ignore them)
E25 - (S3E5) Building a business and raising a toddler
E24 - (S3E4) Academic mobility: Lessons and love stories from the places we’ve lived in
E23 - (S3E3) Burnout recovery, rewiring the brain and healing through yoga: Interview with Sylvie Lahaie
E22 - (S3E2) Journey from burnout to balance & sustainable productivity: Interview with Anahita Amirpour
E21 - (S3E1) Welcome to Season 3: Stories of struggles, strength and connection
E20 - (S2E10) How motherhood changes us, part 3: On coming home to ourselves, redefining success and the evolution of friendships
E19 - (S2E9) How motherhood changes us (part 2) - On heritage, the love that made us, and the Motherhood Club