In this episode of Becoming Both, I’m jumping into a big, chatty gift guide full of last-minute ideas and inspiration you can save for future birthdays, teachers’ gifts, Christmas… all of it. If you’re like me and suddenly realise you need a present tomorrow, this one’s for you.

I’m also sharing a little life update, the new kitchen is finally finished (hallelujahhhh), we’re getting ready for our Port Elliot trip, and I chat about the usual mix of joys, chaos, and emotional whiplash that comes with motherhood.

Then we get into the fun stuff: ✨ Educator gifts, practical, personal, and not another throwaway item. ✨ Kids’ gifts, broken down into ages 2–5 and 5–8, with options that won’t end up ignored in a toy box. ✨ Partner + friend gifts, from useful kitchen bits to cute personalised ideas, with both budget-friendly and more luxe options.

It’s basically a big list of things I love giving, have given, or secretly want for myself ha!

If you have any go-to gifts I need to know about, send them my way.. I love discovering new ideas.

Find me on Instagram @doulamarley and @becomingboth. A review or comment is so appreciated!

In this episode of Becoming Both, I’m getting deeeeep into all the identity shifts that come with motherhood - the physical, the emotional, the mental and spirtual.

I chat through my own experiences of becoming a mum of two and how it’s changed literally every part of my life. My priorities are different, my relationships feel different, and even the way I see myself has completely shifted. Between pregnancy, birth, postpartum, sleep deprivation, and just having a bazillion things to do.. it’s so blooming easy to lose pieces of yourself without even noticing.

I chat all the emotional and physical changes, the hormones, the mum guilt, the body image moments, the questioning, the second-guessing, the EVERYTHING. And then there’s the career side of things… the hobbies we used to have before children took over our entire identities. I still cannot remember what mine were. I know I had them though lol.

And because these identity shifts don’t just happen on the inside, I chat about how your role within your family changes too. Suddenly you’re the planner, the emotional support person, the snack organiser, the routine keeper, the everything-holder. It’s a lot to carry, and sometimes we don’t get enough space to acknowledge it.

I share some journal prompts to help you reflect on your own experience because I know how much it helps for me and sometimes writing it down is the only way to make sense of all the feelings. These prompts are meant to help you reconnect with yourself, honour the version of you before kids, and appreciate the version of you now

And honestly, I just want you to know how grateful I am that you’re here, listening, and sharing this space with me. This little community means so much to me, all the DMs, all the shared stories, all the “me too” moments. I love it all!

If you want to chat more or share what resonated with you from this episode, come find me on Instagram at @doulamarley and @becomingboth. I genuinely love hearing from you.

In this solo episode of Becoming Both, I’m basically just chatting your ear off about life lately! A lil about motherhood, work, and all the chaos in between. I talk about what it’s been like juggling part-time nannying, my own babies, the podcast, my doula work, and this little dream I have of studying to become a counsellor (because clearly I don’t have enough on my plate already).

I share what our family is planning for next year.. which honestly looks like a whole lot of shuffling things around, tightening the budget, and me trying to pretend I’m good at “mindful spending” while also convincing myself that 2 coffees a day count as self-care. Can anyone relate? Cost of living is absolutely unhinged right now, so we’re just doing our best like you all and it's time to tighten the old belts.

I also dive into the weird, invisible pressures that working mums carry (frankly it's bullshit) and that feeling of never doing enough, even when you’re literally doing everything and MORE. And of course, I chat about what’s coming up for the podcast, future guests I’m excited about, and the personal goals I’m trying to hype myself up for.

It’s random AF and basically just me having a yarn with you.

In this episode of Becoming Both, I sit down with Shauna Watson (@Motherly.Doula), a mum of two, to chat about what life can really be like when you end up with two babies under two. It’s one of those conversations where everything is discussed as she opens up about finding out she was pregnant again sooner than she expected, the guilt that hit her hard, and the mix of emotions that came with trying to mentally prepare for another newborn while she was still deep in the trenches with her first.

We talk about her postpartum journey, which was far from easy! She shares how isolating and overwhelming it felt, especially while dealing with a colicky baby who cried constantly and a toddler who was also going through big feelings and big behaviours. She gets really honest about the moments where she questioned herself, the days she cried in the shower, and the nights where she felt like she had nothing left to give. It’s raw and emotional, but in the most relatable way.

At the same time, there’s this beautiful shift in her story. She talks about the pride she feels now, how strong she became without even realizing it, how she learned to show herself more grace, and how touching it’s been watching her kids slowly become each other's little best friends. You can hear how much love she has for them, even in the hardest moments.

We recorded this because so many mums go through these feelings in silence and I have had SO many mums show interest in this story as it was also their reality. This episode is meant to feel like a big exhale, a reminder that if you’re struggling, you’re not broken and you’re definitely not alone, you're just dealing with something bloody hard. Shauna and I hope it brings comfort and validation to anyone who’s been in the thick of newborn-and-toddler life and just needs to hear another mum say, “Yep, this is hard… and you’re doing better than you think.”

Find me over on insta @becomingboth @doulamarley and find the lovely Shuana over at @motherly.doula

I hope you love this episode! Please leave a 5 star review or a comment to share your thoughts x

In this episode of Becoming Both, Tyron and I chat about what it really feels like trying to balance who I am as a person while also being a mum and a partner. We share some very real (and sometimes funny) stories about raising kids, juggling the house, and trying to stay connected in the middle of the chaos.

We get into how our love languages actually play out in real life, what we both need to feel supported, and how we deal with tricky moments without completely losing it. It’s honest, a bit messy, and very us.

I’d love to hear how other couples navigate this stuff too, so feel free to share your thoughts or send through feedback after you listen.

In this episode, I dive into what it’s really like navigating motherhood without a traditional support system or “village.” I talk about the challenges of raising young children with minimal help from family and friends, and I reflect on my own journey—growing up without my mum, having limited support from my dad, and figuring out how to do this whole parenting thing mostly on my own.

I explore how so many modern parents are in the same boat, missing the community support that previous generations had. I chat about what it means to build your own “village,” whether that’s through family, friends, or the people you intentionally bring into your life.

I also share insights from other mums and grandmothers about how parenting has changed, and how much clearer communication and mutual understanding we need across generations. And I get into the importance of both emotional support and practical help—whether that’s asking directly, outsourcing when needed, or connecting through community groups, playgroups, or online spaces.

I wrap up by reflecting on some of the real, practical steps we can take to create a supportive network, and the importance of recognising what we need and actually asking for it.

Find me over at @becomingboth @doulamarley

Would appreciate so much if you could leave me a review!

Got a topic you'd love to hear? Touch base at marley@motheringthemama.com.au

In this episode of Becoming Both, I sit down with my first-ever guest (besides Tyron, who barely counts, soz babe, the lovely Erin Hawksworth, an Adelaide doula and mum of two. And what a wonderful chat it was!

We dive straight into her motherhood story: the highs, the heartbreaks, the healing, and everything in between. She opens up about her first birth, which was traumatic and nothing like what she hoped for and then contrasts it with her second birth, a powerful, transformative home birth that helped her rebuild trust in her body and in herself. She is beautifully open about the dark days that followed her first birth and just how unkind the thoughts in own mind can be when we are suffering with postpartum depression.

We also talk about her miscarriage and how that experience shaped the way she approached pregnancy, birth, and support the next time around. Erin is so refreshingly honest about postpartum depression and what it actually looks like when you're in the thick of it. She also shares why real postpartum planning matters (because “she’ll be right” is not a plan) and how asking for help can literally change everything.

To wrap it up, we chat through the beautiful work she’s doing now, birth support, education, postpartum care, Reiki, all delivered with her signature calm, grounding energy.

It’s raw, real, and such a powerful reminder that every mum’s story is layered and valid. I’m so excited to share this one with you.

In this episode, I’m back on the mic with my favourite reluctant co-host—Tyron. We dive into the beautiful chaos of motherhood, identity, and trying to survive a rainy day trapped inside with kids.

I chat about everything from disastrous family photo shoots to the big, emotional question on my mind lately: do we go for baby number three? My heart is screaming yes, while Tyron is… let’s just say doing the maths and feeling the stress. We unpack what a third child would mean for us, our relationship, our routines, and the two little humans we already adore.

I also open up about my previous pregnancies and the pressure so many mums feel around birth and what our stories “should” look like.

I would love to hear all about your journey when it came to a third or subsequent baby - how did you make the decision? How is it now? As always I love to hear your thoughts, feedback and how you’ve navigated family planning in your own life.

Find me over on insta @doulamarley @becomingboth and I look forward to chatting soon!