In this episode of the Real Life Real Kitchen podcast, host Zoe Willis speaks with Serena Dodd, the Aliveness Coach, about the transformative power of coaching and creating personal boundaries (especially for busy mums!) during the Christmas season.

They explore the differences between coaching and therapy, the importance of self-worth, and how to identify and manage energy drains in relationships. Serena emphasizes the need for clients to engage actively in their growth and the significance of setting boundaries to protect one's energy, especially for mothers balancing multiple responsibilities.

In this conversation, Serena and Zoe explore the complexities of managing family dynamics, particularly during the holiday season. They discuss the importance of mindfulness, personal power, and the ability to observe relationships with compassion. The dialogue emphasizes the significance of curiosity in communication, the practice of letting go of expectations, and the empowerment that comes from delegation.

They also touch on the evolving roles of women in both family and career contexts, highlighting the need for choice and flexibility in navigating these dynamics.

Welcome to the Real Life. Real Kitchen Podcast with your host, Zoë F. Willis, English mother-of-many, Mum Mentor, and your host at this weekly gathering of real talk, real food, and real family life.

Each week I sit down with someone whose work nourishes minds, bodies, or communities. From the kitchen table to the wider world, these are the quiet voices making a loud difference.

I’m Serena Dodd, known as The Aliveness Coach. I work with people who look successful on the outside but quietly feel stuck, disconnected, or like they’ve lost their spark. My focus is on moving them out of autopilot and back into a life and business that feel alive, purposeful, and energising.

I’m also the founder of Fly – The Coaches Network, a community for established coaches who are tired of figuring it all out alone. Fly gives them the connection, confidence, and clarity to grow their business while staying true to the work they’re here to lead.

My background spans 20 years in global events and television before I made a bold shift into coaching. I now combine performance coaching, positive psychology, and breathwork with a direct, practical approach to create real change.

• Website: https://www.serenadodd.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamserenadodd/
• Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/serenadodd/

📝 Command the Chaos – The Mum Life Management Planner

https://realliferealkitchen.com/mum-life-management-planner/

💌 Join The Kitchen Correspondence – my weekly letter with episodes, reflections & family food wisdom

https://realliferealkitchen.myflodesk.com/socials

☕ Support the Show – help keep the kettle on and the podcast going

https://the-real-life-real-kitchen.captivate.fm/support

📗The Let Them Theory, by Mel Robbins

https://amzn.to/4iZvR0V

In this Christmas Survival Guide edition, Zoe Willis shares practical tips and strategies for parents to maintain peace and joy during the busy holiday season. She emphasizes the importance of saying no to overwhelming commitments, organizing gift giving early, managing overstimulation from festivities, and setting boundaries to ensure a tranquil Christmas experience for families.

with Zoë F. Willis, English mother-of-many, Mum Mentor, and your host at this weekly gathering of real talk, real food, and real family life.

This is one of my short Mum Chats — a personal musing on various aspects of motherhood.

If you’ve ever reheated your tea three times before drinking it, you’re in the right place.

Whether you’re folding laundry, wrangling dinner, or just carving out five minutes of calm then this one’s for you.

📝 Command the Chaos – The Mum Life Management Planner

https://realliferealkitchen.com/mum-life-management-planner/

💌 Join The Kitchen Correspondence – my weekly letter with episodes, reflections & family food wisdom

https://realliferealkitchen.myflodesk.com/socials

☕ Support the Show – help keep the kettle on and the podcast going

https://the-real-life-real-kitchen.captivate.fm/support

If this episode made you nod, laugh, or breathe a little deeper — please:

• Follow or subscribe to the show
• Leave a short review (it really helps!)
• Share this episode with a fellow mum who might be quietly asking the same questions

• 📸 Instagram – @realliferealkitchen
• 👩‍👧‍👦 Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/realliferealkitchen
• ▶️ YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/@Realliferealkitchen
• 🏡 Website – www.realliferealkitchen.com

Takeaways:

• In the lead-up to Christmas, it is imperative for mothers to prioritize their peace, allowing the option to decline excessive commitments that may lead to overwhelm.
• The importance of early gift planning cannot be overstated; organizing presents in advance can significantly alleviate last-minute stress.
• Families are encouraged to minimize the quantity of gifts received, focusing instead on meaningful experiences that foster connection and joy among loved ones.
• Maintaining a consistent routine during festive occasions is essential, as it helps children navigate excitement while avoiding meltdowns due to overstimulation.
• When it comes to holiday meals, preparing simple, familiar foods can make gatherings more enjoyable for children amidst the chaos of traditional celebrations.
• Establishing boundaries around gift-giving and social expectations during the holiday season is crucial for maintaining one's mental health and overall well-being.

In this episode, Felicia Linsky, a Hollywood makeup artist and mindfulness coach, shares her journey from aspiring pre-med student to successful makeup artist. She discusses the evolution of Hollywood, the importance of inner beauty, and practical tips for busy mothers to enhance their beauty routines. Felicia emphasizes the significance of self-care, authenticity, and the power of community, encouraging listeners to embrace their unique paths and prioritize their well-being.

Welcome to the Real Life. Real Kitchen Podcast with your host, Zoë F. Willis, English mother-of-many, Mum Mentor, and your host at this weekly gathering of real talk, real food, and real family life.

Each week I sit down with someone whose work nourishes minds, bodies, or communities. From the kitchen table to the wider world, these are the quiet voices making a loud difference.

Felicia Linsky is an award-winning Hollywood Makeup & Hair Artist, Lifestyle Designer, Mindful Intuitive Healer, Podcaster, Best-selling Author , five-time cancer survivor, creator of The Well-Being Whisperer and The Conscious Beauty Lounge.

After three decades of designing and working with A-list actors on film and television, Felicia now helps design clients lives, helping high-achieving women and a few smart men reclaim their radiance, voice, and well being. Blending clean beauty, lifestyle design, science-backed wellness, frequency-based supplementation, intuitive healing, and real-talk leadership, Felicia guides clients to rebuild their lives from the inside out. Her signature approach empowers people to rise, feel seen, lead with clarity, authenticity and power.

Felicia is aligned with several award winning brands:

• Korean Skincare Company, Riman: http://Felicialinsky.Riman.com
• Lash Serum, Borboleta: www.borboleta.com
• Organic Mushroom Suplement, Frequense : www.frequense.com
• 3d Creme Makeup, Seint : www.seintofficial.com

• Website: www.felicialinsky.com
• Instagram: @felicialinsky
• Facebook: @felicialinsky

📝 Command the Chaos – The Mum Life Management Planner

https://realliferealkitchen.com/mum-life-management-planner/

💌 Join The Kitchen Correspondence – my weekly letter with episodes, reflections & family food wisdom

https://realliferealkitchen.myflodesk.com/socials

☕ Support the Show – help keep the kettle on and the podcast going

https://the-real-life-real-kitchen.captivate.fm/support

If this episode made you nod, laugh, or breathe a little deeper — please:

• Follow or subscribe to the show
• Leave a short review...

This episode delves into the pervasive sentiment among mothers of "I Miss My Old Self", an experience that often arises during the transformative journey of motherhood. This episode explores the historical context in which women were surrounded by supportive communities, contrasting it with the modern-day isolation many face as they navigate the complexities of parenting. The discussion highlights the fragmentation of familial and social networks, which has rendered the experience of motherhood increasingly solitary and challenging. We also contemplate the necessity of creating nurturing communities and the importance of allowing oneself moments of respite—what we refer to as "running away time." Ultimately, this episode serves as a poignant reminder of the need for connection, support, and self-care amidst the demands of motherhood.

Welcome to the Real Life. Real Kitchen Podcast with Zoë F. Willis, English mother-of-many, Mum Mentor, and your host at this weekly gathering of real talk, real food, and real family life.

This is one of my short Mum Chats — a personal musing on "I miss my old self" and it was a real blessing to be joined by Nina Evans, homeopath and mother of four, of www.holistichealthwithnina.co.uk.

If you’ve ever reheated your tea three times before drinking it, you’re in the right place.

Whether you’re folding laundry, wrangling dinner, or just carving out five minutes of calm then this one’s for you.

📝 Command the Chaos – The Mum Life Management Planner

https://realliferealkitchen.com/mum-life-management-planner/

💌 Join The Kitchen Correspondence – my weekly letter with episodes, reflections & family food wisdom

https://realliferealkitchen.myflodesk.com/socials

☕ Support the Show – help keep the kettle on and the podcast going

https://the-real-life-real-kitchen.captivate.fm/support

If this episode made you nod, laugh, or breathe a little deeper — please:

• Follow or subscribe to the show
• Leave a short review (it really helps!)
• Share this episode with a fellow mum who might be quietly asking the same questions

• 📸 Instagram – @realliferealkitchen
• 👩‍👧‍👦 Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/realliferealkitchen
• ▶️ YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/@Realliferealkitchen
• 🏡 Website – www.realliferealkitchen.com

Takeaways:

• The podcast emphasizes the importance of community in navigating the challenges of motherhood, highlighting how historical support systems have diminished over time.
• This episode discusses the feeling of losing one's identity in motherhood, suggesting that many mothers grapple with missing their pre-motherhood selves.
• Listeners are encouraged to embrace vulnerability and seek support from others, recognizing that shared experiences...

Welcome to the Real Life. Real Kitchen Podcast with Zoë F. Willis, English mother-of-many, Mum Mentor, and your host at this weekly gathering of real talk, real food, and real family life.

If you’ve ever reheated your tea three times before drinking it, you’re in the right place.

Whether you’re folding laundry, wrangling dinner, or just carving out five minutes of calm then this one’s for you.

This is one of my short Mum Chats — a personal musing in this episode on "I'm So Bored of Cooking The Same Thing" — the kind of thing that’s often simmering in a mum's mental background while the chaos unfolds.

📝 Command the Chaos – The Mum Life Management Planner

https://realliferealkitchen.com/mum-life-management-planner/

🍝 The Pantry Reset Mini Course

https://realliferealkitchen.com/product/the-pantry-reset-mini-course/

👩‍🍳

https://realliferealkitchen.myflodesk.com/fromfridgetofeast

💌 Join The Kitchen Correspondence – my weekly letter with episodes, reflections & family food wisdom

https://realliferealkitchen.myflodesk.com/socials

☕ Support the Show – help keep the kettle on and the podcast going

https://the-real-life-real-kitchen.captivate.fm/support

If this episode made you nod, laugh, or breathe a little deeper — please:

• Follow or subscribe to the show
• Leave a short review (it really helps!)
• Share this episode with a fellow mum who might be quietly asking the same questions

• 📸 Instagram – @realliferealkitchen
• 👩‍👧‍👦 Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/realliferealkitchen
• ▶️ YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/@Realliferealkitchen
• 🏡 Website – www.realliferealkitchen.com

Takeaways:

• The podcast emphasizes the importance of maintaining a consistent meal rhythm for family stability.
• Mothers often experience cooking fatigue due to the demands of busy family life.
• Utilizing leftovers creatively can alleviate the monotony of meal preparation and enhance culinary variety.
• The 'From Fridge to Feast' checklist is a valuable tool for quick meal inspiration during hectic times.
• Accepting repetitive meals during busy seasons can contribute to overall family happiness and contentment.
• Engaging in batch cooking when feeling energized can facilitate more creative meal preparation later.

In this episode of The Real Life. Real Kitchen Podcast :

I speak with Vanessa Coultas, Life Coach of more than a decade's experience supporting women become the mums they always wanted to be.

Together we bring our own insights and observations onto the topic of Mum Guilt as well as tips on how best to manage, if not out right banish it!

Links & Resources Mentioned:

Command the Chaos || The Mum Life Management Planner

https://realliferealkitchen.com/mum-life-management-planner/

Find Vanessa in the following corners of the internet:

https://www.lifementoringnz.com/

https://www.facebook.com/vanessa.coultas

Join The Kitchen Correspondent:

Subscribe to my weekly letter for new episodes, reflections, and family food wisdom.

https://realliferealkitchen.myflodesk.com/socials

Share the Love:

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show, leave a review, and share it with a fellow mum who might be quietly asking the same questions.

Takeaways:

• The pervasive feeling of guilt among mothers is a common experience that many share.
• Mothers often feel pressured to fulfill multiple roles, leading to feelings of inadequacy.
• Comparison with other mothers can diminish one's joy and self-worth significantly.
• Finding moments of self-care is essential for mothers to maintain their well-being and sanity.
• Establishing community support is crucial for mothers to navigate their parenting journey effectively.
• Recognizing personal strengths as a mother can help to redefine one's approach to parenting.