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Most moms hit a point where they feel completely lost in motherhood—then discover the sacred art of reclaiming themselves. In this raw, heartfelt episode, Natasha shares her intimate journey from postpartum overwhelm to rediscovering her identity on her own terms. Whether you’re in the trenches or emerging on the other side, this is the story of resilience, self-love, and the healing power of creative rebirth.You’ll hear Natasha’s honest reflections on the darkest moments of early motherhood—feeling nap-trapped, lonely, and questioning if she’d ever have an adult conversation again.

Why does this matter? Because many women silently suffer through the lowest moments of motherhood—missing the chance to heal, grow, and truly come back to themselves. Missing out on that renewal can deepen loneliness and burnout. But this episode offers a hopeful perspective: that the hardest phases are temporary, and healing is possible with intentional self-care.Perfect for new moms, mental health advocates, and anyone seeking to understand the deeper journey of motherhood, this episode reminds you that you’re not alone—in fact, your transformation is already underway. Natasha’s story will inspire you to embrace your own rebirth, nurture your soul, and trust that the woman you’re becoming is worth every moment of the struggle.Join Natasha as she shares her most vulnerable truths — and her biggest lessons — on the art of coming back to yourself. Because after the storm, there’s clarity, strength, and a version of yourself waiting to be found again.

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Tatiana Gonzalez shares her journey from professional dancer to resilient military spouse and mother of a neurodivergent child. Discover how she navigates the challenges of long deployments, raising an autistic son, and redefining stability in her marriage. In this episode, Tatiana offers insights on managing family boundaries, feeling safe in partnerships, and adapting to life's unpredictability. Her story highlights the power of love and resilience forged through adversity, providing practical lessons on patience and emotional self-awareness. Perfect for anyone juggling multiple roles or facing uncertainty, this episode inspires with real stories of strength and growth. Tatiana Gonzalez exemplifies authenticity and strength, turning life's unexpected turns into opportunities for empowerment.

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Discover the hidden truths of motherhood that many overlook. Melissa shares her journey through unexpected postpartum challenges, revealing insights that can transform your approach to motherhood. From surprising labor responses to postpartum symptoms like hair loss, this episode empowers you to listen to your body and embrace its wisdom.Explore the healing power of rituals and traditional postpartum care, as Melissa discusses nurturing practices that help women feel whole. Perfect for new moms and birth workers, this episode invites you to honor your body's resilience and transform pain into power.Join us to reframe postpartum stories and celebrate the sacred experience of motherhood.

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Join host Natasha Preckajlo and Kristin Cronic as she goes into her journey from military officer to mother to full-time artist shows how life’s chaos can fuel creativity. In this episode, she shares how motherhood became a catalyst for deeper artistic expression, transforming setbacks into inspiration for her luminous paintings.

Discover how Kristin navigated leaving the military, a flooded home, and societal expectations to carve out her creative space. Her story challenges the myth that life’s challenges diminish creativity; instead, they deepen it.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking resilience and permission to create without apology. Kristin’s insights illustrate that creativity is a vital part of our humanity, ready to flourish even when life is messy.

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Join Natasha Preckajlo and guest Jacqui Garcia, founder of Create Yourself Co., as she shares her journey from motherhood to self-empowerment. Discover how embracing neurodivergence and shedding societal expectations transformed her life. This episode offers insights into reconnecting with your essence and creating the life you crave.

Explore how motherhood reveals our deepest truths, why neurodivergence can be a gift, and the importance of radical acceptance. Learn practical tools for unlearning societal conditioning and embodying your authentic self.

Perfect for women navigating motherhood and identity, this conversation is your catalyst for change. Listen, reflect, and start creating yourself anew.

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Why I Started Out of the Reeds: Motherhood, Creativity, and Transition

Natasha Preckajlo, LCSW introduces her podcast Out of the Reeds and explains why she created it. Drawing from her postpartum journey and her book The Art of Motherhood, which blends art, poetry, and memoir after her first son’s birth in 2018. A licensed clinical social worker with yoga, and energy work training, she shares how creativity helped her process identity shifts, sleep deprivation, anxiety, and the magnitude of parenting. She reads her poem “The Fire That Forged Me,” reflecting on the primal intensity of early motherhood. The podcast aims to feature diverse guests and real stories without prescriptive advice, exploring creativity, spirituality, and life transitions. She explains the title’s symbolism and previews next week’s first guest, Jacqueline Garcia.

00:00 Welcome to the Show
00:11 Why I Started
00:45 Motherhood to Art
03:26 From Poetry to Book
04:38 Therapy and Yoga Roots
05:55 Creativity in Transition
06:36 Poem The Fire
08:13 Sleep Deprivation Truths
09:58 Rethinking Parenthood
12:09 What the Podcast Offers
14:04 Everyday Creativity
19:24 Spirituality and Shifts
22:16 Why Out of Reeds
24:52 Guests and Community
26:35 Closing Thanks

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