The Motherless Mothers

In this episode we sit down with Helen , an adult counsellor and volunteer with our charity. Helen runs our estrangement drop-in sessions, creating safe, compassionate spaces for those navigating mother loss. We talk about what to look for when choosing a therapist, how to know if it’s the right fit, and why finding someone who understands grief can be so hard. Helen also shares what to expect fro...

Claire is a mum-of-three and became motherless on New Year’s Eve. She lost the mum she always knew and became her carer overnight - a role reversal no one can quite prepare you for, especially when 12-weeks pregnant. We sit down and talk campaigning, teen parenting and changing your whole career so you can pour your grief into something you love everyday. Claire says, "Now I'm a therapist...

Dave and Steph are married. Before that, they were boyfriend and girlfriend. Before that, they were friends who came together in COVID times to support one another. A love story just like the fairytales. But what people don't see is Steph and Dave's heartbreak at grieving Steph's mum (Janet) after a sudden illness, both as individuals and a couple. All while navigating life as newlywed...

What happens when your old grief meets a new season of motherhood? Our guest lost her mum suddenly in her early twenties. Decades later, she’s raising teenage daughters and navigating the emotional storms of adolescence — and her own. In this conversation, we talk about what happens when you find yourself missing your mum all over again, and how grief can resurface in motherhood in surprising ways...

Sit down and get to know the duo behind TMM, Lou and Adina. What are our worst habits? What gives us the ick? What makes us cry without fail? Join us for a relaxed chat as we delve a bit deeper into Lou and Adina’s worlds. Love, Lou & Adina Follow us on IG here Learn more about TMM here. We’re honoured to share these community voices—what’s shared reflects personal views, and we can’t take res...

Losing both parents young shapes every part of you. But what about your relationship as siblings?   Sarah bears all in this episode as she shares her experience of weathering the storm as the middle child of two sisters and how it has changed their family, their sisterhood and the way they have existed together across the last 13 years. Love, Lou & Adina Find out more about TMM ⁠here.⁠ Follow...

In this special holiday episode, the whole TMM team — Adina, Lou, Anne, and Steph — come together to talk about what the festive season feels like when you’re grieving your mum. We share memories, traditions, and coping strategies for navigating a time that can bring both comfort and pain. From creating new rituals to giving yourself permission to skip the celebrations entirely, this is a warm, ho...

In this week’s episode of The Motherless Mothers Podcast , we speak with Zara , founder of Parentless Parenting Club — a growing online space for those navigating life and future parenthood after the loss of a parent. Zara isn’t a mother yet, but she’s thinking deeply about what it means to become one without her mum beside her. We talk about grief, fear, hope, and the longing for maternal guidanc...

What happens when you become a mother without your own mum and with the added weight of grief and mental health struggles? Our guest, Coriann (The Neurodivergent Mama), knows this journey intimately. After losing her mother to suicide in 2013, she is now walking the path of new motherhood, discovering both triggers and healing along the way. She speaks candidly about her story and the striking con...

Do you ever feel like you’re doing all the things for your kids—maybe even too much? From over-the-top birthdays to trying to make every moment magical, Lou and Adina unpack why motherless mothers often feel the pressure to overcompensate. They share their own stories, the fears behind the perfectionism, and how they’re learning to give themselves (and their kids) a little more grace. Love, Lou &a...

Pregnancy after losing your mum is something no one prepares you for. Martine opens up about losing her mum to cancer, finding out she was pregnant months later, and why becoming a mother has deepened her grief. Love, Lou & Adina Follow us on IG here . Check out The Motherless Mothers charity and community on our website here . We’re honoured to share these community voices—what’s shared refle...

In this episode, we sit down with Bonnie — a doula, mother of two, and daughter who lost her own mum in her early 20s. She shares her story of navigating motherhood while grieving, and how her work supporting others at life’s most tender moments — birth and death — has been shaped by her own experiences of loss. Love, Adina & Lou To find out more about Bonnie's work as a doula, check out h...

For anyone who’s had to parent while grieving—or make heartbreaking care decisions for a parent—this conversation is for you. Ann-Marie opens up about the emotional complexity of losing her mum to cardiac amyloidosis while raising a newborn, the challenges of being an only child with no surviving parents, and the gratitude she still holds for the life she shared with her mum. Love, Lou & Adina...

Something monumental is happening, and we can’t wait to tell you about it. In this episode, Lou and Adina share the behind-the-scenes of the very first Mother Loss Awareness Day taking place at the Houses of Parliament. We talk about why this moment matters, what you can expect on the day, and why it feels like Christmas Eve every time we think about gathering our community in person. From hugs an...

Pregnancy is a time filled with expectation—but it can also bring deep fears, especially for mothers who have experienced loss or are navigating motherhood without their own mum. In this episode, we sit down with Heidi, founder of MAMA Academy, to talk about her journey of turning pain into purpose and building a charity that works tirelessly to prevent stillbirth and support families through preg...

You don’t have to be a writer to write. You just need a story, and if you’ve experienced mother loss, you have one. In this episode, Beth—a motherless mother and published author—shares how creative writing can help us cope with grief, find clarity, and even rediscover ourselves after loss. Beth's upcoming creative writing workshop with TMM will take place on November 12th from 8-9pm UK time....

Navigating a relationship with your mother-in-law is tricky enough, but when you don’t have your own mother, it can feel even more complicated. In this episode, Lou and Adina share honest stories about expectations, boundaries, and those moments where you just wish things were different. Whether your MIL is amazing or… not so much, this is a conversation for anyone trying to balance grief, family...

Birth, death, and grief — three words that have defined Jo’s journey in the most profound ways. In this episode, Jo opens up about losing both her parents within 16 months, the lessons learnt through caregiving, and how she’s transforming her pain into purpose. If you’ve ever wondered how to hold joy and sorrow at the same time, this conversation is for you. Love, Lou & Adina To find out more...

What does it really take to break generational cycles and parent differently? In this episode, we sit down with Harriet Shearsmith, host of Unfollowing Mum and author of Unfollowing Mum: Break Unhealthy Habits and Be the Parent You Wish You’d Had. We talk about estrangement, setting boundaries, and why healing your inner child is key to raising the next generation. Love, Lou & Adina Follow us...

We’re back, and we’re glad you’re here. In this first episode of season two, we reconnect — with each other, and with you. We talk about what’s been stirring, what’s shifted, and what we’re hoping for in the months ahead. For every motherless mother listening: you are not alone. You belong here. Love  Lou & Adina We’re honoured to share these community voices—what’s shared reflects personal vi...

It’s hard to believe it’s been a whole year since we started this podcast—and even harder to believe we’ve built all of this without ever meeting in person! In this special season finale, Lou and Adina reflect on an unforgettable year of growth, vulnerability, and community. Together, they share the highs, the raw moments, and the surprising lessons learnt while building TMM across time zones, Wha...

In this deeply moving and vulnerable episode of The Motherless Mothers , Lou and Adina sit down with Vikki, who lost her mum to breast cancer when she was just 11 years old. Growing up, Vikki found herself in a silent grief, her family avoided speaking about her mum, each trying to protect the others from more pain. Now, Vikki opens up about her journey. With her mum’s birthday on July 15th, this...

Friends are the family we choose for ourselves. This could not be truer of co-founder Lou’s friendship with Sacha, a bond spanning over two decades. Their childhood friendship has seen the highest of highs as they welcomed their babies into the world only six weeks apart last summer. But also the lowest of lows - weathering the storm of the loss of both of Lou’s parents at only 20-years-old.  Lou...

In this special episode, TMM Co-Founder Adina sits down with her husband and two teenage children to talk about what it’s really like to be in a motherless mother’s family. This is a conversation for all the motherless mothers, for their partners and children, and for anyone who wants to better understand the invisible layers of grief and resilience that shape so many of our families. You’ll hear...

In this deeply moving conversation, Adina sits down with Katie to talk about what it means to navigate motherhood in the wake of profound, unexpected loss. While the grief is real and raw, this episode is also a tribute to the beauty that can emerge even in heartbreak. Katie shares the incredible story of the unmistakable sign her mum sent at the birth of her second child—an experience that left A...