Selfdom

On the 9th of October 2026, our little girl Gia came into the world. It was a hard and fast labour, the most intense day of our lives, but also the best day of our lives. I feel so incredibly grateful for how it all played out.
I recorded this episode just three days postpartum, sitting in my pyjamas with no makeup on, because I wanted to capture every little detail while it was still fresh in my mind. I'd heard how quickly you can forget the details of birth, and I'm so happy I took the time to record it.
So today, I'm sharing the full rundown of my unmedicated birth story with you as we wrap up our Next Self series on Selfdom. From the first signs of labour to the moment we met our little girl, this is a day I will never forget.
Thank you for following along on this journey into motherhood. If you have any questions about my birth experience, leave them in the comments below and I'll do my best to get back to you.
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In this episode of Selfdom, I’m joined by my personal trainer Janis Blums to explore the importance of strength and carbohydrates for women’s health. We dive into how muscle supports metabolism, why carbs are essential for hormone balance and energy, and how to train in sync with your cycle to feel stronger, balanced, and more in tune with your body.
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What actually happens to a woman’s brain when she becomes pregnant, and why are we still calling it “baby brain”?
In this episode of Selfdom, I’m joined by neuroscientist and author Dr Sarah McKay to unpack the incredible neuroscience of pregnancy, matrescence and motherhood.
We explore how the brain physically changes during pregnancy, the role hormones play in rewiring the maternal brain, why emotions and protective instincts can become heightened, and whether “maternal instinct” is something we’re born with or something our brains develop.
We also dive into why your priorities and identity can begin to shift, how long these neurological changes last, and the empowering truth about what the maternal brain may actually be becoming better at.
This conversation completely changed the way I think about pregnancy. Rather than seeing these changes as something we lose to motherhood, the science shows just how extraordinary and adaptive the female brain really is.
Whether you’re pregnant, already a mother or simply curious about the female brain, this is an episode every woman should hear.
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Enjoy this special interview of Dominique Elissa on The Balance Theory podcast. You are allowed to let go of the rules and routines that no longer fit your healthiest self, and this episode might just be the permission slip and re-evaluation you've been waiting for.
In this episode of The Balance Theory, I sit down with Erika for a conversation that moves through pregnancy, body image, grief and gratitude, and keeps landing on the same question: what does it actually mean to be well when your body, your routine and your world are all changing at once?
This is not another conversation about doing more, optimising harder or adding one more rule to your routine. It is an honest look at why flexibility, not discipline, is what actually makes you well. If you have ever caught yourself thinking: "I am doing all the right things and it still is not enough" "My body is changing and none of this feels like mine anymore" "I want to trust what my body is telling me instead of following another rule" "I know gratitude is supposed to help, but some days it feels impossible to even try"
Then this episode is for you.

How much choice do we actually have when it comes to giving birth?
In this episode of Next Self, I sit down with Dr Melanie Jackson, better known as Melanie the Midwife, to unpack the birth options every woman deserves to understand.
We talk physiological birth vs medical intervention, choosing between midwifery and obstetric care,  C-sections, birth plans, informed consent and how to advocate for yourself during labour.
This isn’t about there being one “right” way to give birth. It’s about understanding your options, asking better questions and feeling empowered to make informed decisions for you and your baby.
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