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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.
| Episode | Date |
|---|---|
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E46 - Due dates & deadlines: pregnancy in the last year of a PhD and figuring out who you are after (with Dr Katerina Danezi)
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May 12, 2026 |
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E45 - Not lost - becoming: matrescence, postpartum recovery, and radical rest (with Munirah Razak)
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Apr 28, 2026 |
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E44 - From PhD to parenthood: on identity, becoming unapologetic and letting go of control (With Dr Lauren A. Mason)
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Apr 14, 2026 |
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E43 - From vague goals to real life: A seasonal reset (and what I'm learning along the way)
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Mar 31, 2026 |
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E42 - Freelance career after leaving academia: freedom, insecurity and finding balance
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Mar 17, 2026 |
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E41 - Academia wasn't worth my life: Leaving academia, not-so-alternative careers and redefining success
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Mar 05, 2026 |
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E40 - Leaving academia without burnout (with Dr Ana Amaral)
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Feb 17, 2026 |
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E39 - I thought I'd be further ahead by now
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Feb 06, 2026 |
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E38 - When you're ambitious but exhausted: a gentle approach to goals
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Jan 20, 2026 |
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E37 - New Year, new podcast (kind of)
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Jan 09, 2026 |
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E36 - (S3E16) Starting a family in academia: a conversation on fears, ambitions and the myth of perfect timing (with Dr Asya Martirosyan)
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Dec 03, 2025 |
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E35 - (S3E15) Science, startups, and sanity: finding balance while wearing many hats with Dr Asya Martirosyan
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Nov 12, 2025 |
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E34 - (S3E14) Speak up: A conversation on finding your voice and confidence with Emma Gaskin
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Oct 30, 2025 |
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E33 - (S3E13) Becoming the mentor you needed: a conversation with Dr Liz Berry about mental health, mentorship and changing academic culture
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Oct 14, 2025 |
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E32 - (S3E12) What 2 years of motherhood taught me about life, work and growth
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Sep 30, 2025 |
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E31 - (S3E11) You can't fail at rest: a solo reflection on letting go of "perfect" self-care
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Sep 16, 2025 |
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E30 - (S3E10) Rest as rebelllion: a solo reflection on how rest is an act of resistance
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Aug 26, 2025 |
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E29 - (S3E9) The courage to slow down: a solo reflection on finding your pace in a world that won't stop rushing
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Aug 13, 2025 |
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E28 - (S3E8) Prenatal yoga: our honest experiences, challenges and lessons
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Jul 29, 2025 |
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E27 - (S3E7) Hormone health, cycle-informed living and productivity: Interview with Emilia Villegas
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Jul 15, 2025 |
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E26 - (S3E6) On hearing our bodies’ messages (and learning to not ignore them)
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Jul 01, 2025 |
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E25 - (S3E5) Building a business and raising a toddler
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Jun 17, 2025 |
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E24 - (S3E4) Academic mobility: Lessons and love stories from the places we’ve lived in
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Jun 03, 2025 |
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E23 - (S3E3) Burnout recovery, rewiring the brain and healing through yoga: Interview with Sylvie Lahaie
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May 27, 2025 |
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E22 - (S3E2) Journey from burnout to balance & sustainable productivity: Interview with Anahita Amirpour
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May 19, 2025 |
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E21 - (S3E1) Welcome to Season 3: Stories of struggles, strength and connection
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May 13, 2025 |
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E20 - (S2E10) How motherhood changes us, part 3: On coming home to ourselves, redefining success and the evolution of friendships
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May 06, 2025 |
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E19 - (S2E9) How motherhood changes us (part 2) - On heritage, the love that made us, and the Motherhood Club
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Mar 03, 2025 |
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E18 - (S2E8) How motherhood changes us (part 1)
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Feb 13, 2025 |
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E17 - (S2E7) Why change feels so hard (and how to keep going anyway)
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Jan 31, 2025 |
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E16 - (S2E6) Intentions, goals and New Year's resolutions
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Jan 17, 2025 |
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E15 - (S2E5) Ksenia's journey through PhD, burnout and starting over
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Dec 10, 2024 |
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E14 - (S2E4) Ivna's thesis story part 3 - Post-defense reflections and future plans
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Dec 04, 2024 |
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E13 - (S2E3) Checking in three days before the defense (Ivna's thesis story pt2)
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Oct 21, 2024 |
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E12 - (S2E2) Managing distractions, mom guilt and a tight deadline (Ivna's thesis story)
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Oct 18, 2024 |
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E11 - (S2E1) The Power of New Beginnings
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Oct 01, 2024 |
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E10 - Showing up imperfectly
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Sep 19, 2024 |
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E9 - Living the Good Times
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Aug 25, 2024 |
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E8 - Self-care and showing up during tough times
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Aug 09, 2024 |
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E7 - Body Image in Pregnancy and Postpartum
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Jul 26, 2024 |
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E6 - Navigating pregnancy and maternity leave in academia
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Jul 12, 2024 |
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E5 - Intuition in Academia - Navigating relationships & career choices
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Jun 28, 2024 |
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International Day of Yoga Special - 6 Lessons from the yoga mat
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Jun 22, 2024 |
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E4 - Intuition & Trusting your body in motherhood
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Jun 14, 2024 |
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E3 - Maternal Mental Health
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May 31, 2024 |
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E1 - How it started
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May 24, 2024 |
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E2 - Mental health crisis in academia
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May 24, 2024 |