Motherhood is supposed to be joyful, but for many women it’s also isolating, exhausting, and overwhelming. In this episode of The Expanded MD: Bridging Science and Spirituality, I sit down with clinical counselor Autumn Fowler to explore the realities of burnout in motherhood—what it looks like, why it’s so hard to talk about, and how we can start to lighten the load.

Together we unpack:

• The hidden isolation many new mothers face

• How identity shifts and “shoulding” culture fuel shame and guilt

• Why burnout in motherhood mirrors workplace burnout (but is rarely named)

• The role of the nervous system in how we show up for our families

• Practical steps to move from martyrdom to connection and community

We also share our personal experiences of early motherhood, the guilt of not “doing it all,” and why modeling rest and self-care is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children.

✨ Plus: Hear about our upcoming event, Unburdened: The Experience, on September 28th in Victoria, BC—a half-day retreat designed to help mothers step away from the grind, reconnect with themselves, and find support in community.

In this episode of The Expanded MD Podcast, Dr. Sarah Lea sits down with Kristin Woodford, host of The Routine Queen Podcast, to explore how morning and evening rituals set the tone for the day ahead in more ways that we realize.

Kristin shares her personal journey from feeling lost and exhausted, to achieving vitality through intentional morning rituals. She breaks down how to construct a personalized morning routine, emphasizing the importance of starting with your "why," assessing the time you have, and incorporating activities from physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual "menus."

This conversation is both practical and inspiring - an invitation to rethink how we transition from day to night, and how small, consistent choices ripple into the days and weeks ahead!

🔗 Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod
• The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson
• Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself by Dr. Joe Dispenza
• Atomic Habits by James Clear
• The Routine Queen Podcast with Kristen Woodford
• Instagram: @kristenwoodford

✨ Connect with Dr. Sarah Lea

• Instagram: @dr.sarahlea
• Email: hello@drsarahlea.com
• Website: drsarahlea.com

A confounding feeling: within the joy and freedom of summer, there’s often an undercurrent of guilt and stress. Maybe when you’re relaxing, you feel you should be tackling your to-do list. Or when you’re working, you feel guilty for not being fully present with your family. Sound familiar?

In this heartfelt episode of The Expanded MD, Dr. Sarah Lea speaks directly to the weight of “Mom Guilt.” She teases out the difference between destructive and productive guilt, shares strategies to manage the demands of summer, and reminds you of the power of self-compassion. You’ll also hear about Unburdened: The Experience - an upcoming day retreat for parents designed to offer community, support, and practical tools to lighten the load of modern parenting.

Join Sarah as she tries to find solace in connection and practice self-compassion, and check out Dr. Kristin Neff's website and resources for a deeper dive!