Episode #119
119 | Matrescence: The Life Transition We Didn't Know We Lived Through, with Claire Tonti, Indie Folk Artist, Podcaster & Matrescence Activist
We all know about adolescence. And we’re finally talking more openly about menopause. But there’s another enormous life transition many of us have lived through without even knowing it had a name. Matrescence. The becoming of a mother. In this episode, I’m joined by Australian indie folk artist, podcaster, filmmaker and matrescence activist Claire Tonti for a conversation about this life transition and the profound impact it can have on our bodies, brains and identities. Claire shares her own experience of matrescence and how it led her to write an album called Matrescence , co-found the Matrescence Festival, and spend the past two years making the documentary Matrescence: The Hidden World of Motherhood . In this episode, we explore: What matrescence actually is, and why so many of us have never heard the word What happens to our brains, bodies and identities when we become mothers Why we shouldn’t expect to simply “go back” to the woman we were before motherhood The grief that can accompany motherhood, even when we deeply love our children Birth trauma and the experiences women can carry silently for decades The intersection between matrescence, perimenopause and menopause Why rest, nourishment, connection and community matter so much Oxytocin, play and the importance of intergenerational spaces How we can create a village of care around mothers rather than expecting them to do it alone Creativity as a way to process our experiences and reconnect with ourselves Making space to listen to what feels good in our bodies and what sings to our soul This conversation is for all women. We all need to understand more about this important life transition, how little we have been told about it, and the impact that has had on generations of women. It’s also an invitation to take what we know now and offer something different to the women going through Matrescence. Connect with Claire Website: clairetonti.com Documentary: matrescencefilm.com Podcast: Tonts Album: Matrescence Connect with Me Instagram: @pennyvandersluys Website: pennyvandersluys.com If this episode resonated with you, please share it with another woman and keep the conversation going. You never know who might hear the word matrescence for the first time and finally have language for something she’s been carrying for years.
