Motherhood, Loss and the Healing Power of Community with Kelly Zajfen
This week on the podcast, we sit down with the beautiful Kelly Zajfen, mama to twins George and Lily. Kelly takes us back to those raw early days of postpartum life with two newborns, sharing how she balanced a tight schedule with leaning on support, and how normal it is to feel lost in that early fog.
She also opens up about navigating the unimaginable sudden loss of her son George in 2022, the “landmines” of everyday life, the burn book she keeps, and the grace she extends to well-meaning but sometimes off-the-mark comments. We talk about George’s way in the world, his beautiful outlook on life, his inherent kindness and light, and how she keeps his spirit alive within their family. We also explore the connection she still feels to him on the other side, the catharsis she has found in her incredible online community, her work with Alliance of Moms, and her conscious choice to seek moments of happiness and meaning every single day as she shows up for her daughter Lily
Resource links:
allianceofmoms.org
atomicmoms.com
Signs: The Secret Language of the Universe - by Laura Lynne Jackson
The George Zajfen Tournament
Follow Kelly on IG: @_heartmom_
This episode is proudly sponsored by Branch Basics!
Follow Sarah Wright Olsen: IG: @swrightolsen
Follow Teresa Palmer: IG: @teresapalmer
FB: https://www.facebook.com/teresamarypalmer/
DISCOUNT CODES: • Go to www.baeo.com and get 20% when using the code MOTHERDAZE20 • Go to www.lovewell.earth and get 20% when using the code MOTHERDAZE20
More about the show! • Watch this episode on YouTube here • Co-founders of @yourzenmama yourzenmama.com • Read and buy our book! "The Zen Mama Guide To Finding Your Rhythm In Pregnancy, Birth, and Beyond" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Just the gal pals this week and it’s another yummy catch up. We’re deep in convo about 6 week old baby Ocean. Sarah shares about the slow days and soft transitions, gently introducing Ocean to the big wide world, with the help of her siblings and finding their own rhythm and language together. We chat postpartum bodies, the reality of shifting dress sizes, and trying to meet ourselves with grace through it all.
Tez talks about getting closer to her homebirth, prepping the space (and her head) for the ride and how she somehow has enough hand-me-downs to clothe a small village of babies. We also reflect on the dance between being the earthy, hands-off, let-nature-lead kind of mama… and the scan-loving, overthinking, is-everything-okay deep diver. Aaaand spoiler alert: we are deffo both!
Resource links:
NAGNATA
ROWIE The Label
Follow Sarah Wright Olsen: IG: @swrightolsen
Follow Teresa Palmer: IG: @teresapalmer
FB: https://www.facebook.com/teresamarypalmer/
DISCOUNT CODES: • Go to www.baeo.com and get 20% when using the code MOTHERDAZE20 • Go to www.lovewell.earth and get 20% when using the code MOTHERDAZE20
More about the show! • Watch this episode on YouTube here • Co-founders of @yourzenmama yourzenmama.com • Read and buy our book! "The Zen Mama Guide To Finding Your Rhythm In Pregnancy, Birth, and Beyond" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
--------
57:21
--------
57:21
Shoulder Dystocia, Epidural & Integrated Birth Support with Sarah’s Birth Team, Dr Melissa Drake & Anastasia Stone
This week on The Mother Daze, we’re joined by two powerhouse women redefining what birth support can look like, Anastasia Stone, mother of five and deeply intuitive doula, and Dr. Melissa Drake, soulful OB-GYN. Together they co-founded ‘The Collective’ in Santa Barbara, California. As a team, they’re flipping the traditional model of care on its head, blending house calls, continuity, and deep, respectful presence to rewrite the birth experience.
We dive into the story of Sarah’s birth with baby Ocean, including the moment a shoulder dystocia changed the energy of the room and how this team navigated it with calm, trust, and connection. From home to hospital, they held Sarah through the intensity, honoring her choices and helping her stay rooted in her joy even amidst big unknowns.
This episode is all about intuitive birth work, integrated care, how they came to be such a dynamic duo and what’s possible when women are surrounded by providers who trust the process as deeply as they trust the birthing person.
Follow Sarah Wright Olsen: IG: @swrightolsen
Follow Teresa Palmer: IG: @teresapalmer
FB: https://www.facebook.com/teresamarypalmer/
DISCOUNT CODES: • Go to www.baeo.com and get 20% when using the code MOTHERDAZE20 • Go to www.lovewell.earth and get 20% when using the code MOTHERDAZE20
More about the show! • Watch this episode on YouTube here • Co-founders of @yourzenmama yourzenmama.com • Read and buy our book! "The Zen Mama Guide To Finding Your Rhythm In Pregnancy, Birth, and Beyond" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
--------
1:21:51
--------
1:21:51
One’s Preggo, One’s Postpartum, and Both Are All the Feels! With Sarah and Teresa
This week on The Mother Daze, we’re diving headfirst into the wild, sweaty, beautiful mess that is postpartum. We’re chatting about real-deal community care (bring it on!), baby sprinkles, what’s actually worth buying for your newborn, and the so-called “must-haves” that end up buried in the back of a drawer.
We’re getting into the nitty gritty; hormone rollercoasters, night sweats, chafing, bodily odors and aaaaall the comments about our bodies, both pregnant and postpartum.
We also talk about “the slow down” and how to honour the magic of the first 40 days. Those sacred weeks of rest, healing, and soft landings. Also we get cute baby Ocean noises at the start too swooooooon
This episode is proudly sponsored by Acorns Early!
Follow Sarah Wright Olsen: IG: @swrightolsen
Follow Teresa Palmer: IG: @teresapalmer
FB: https://www.facebook.com/teresamarypalmer/
DISCOUNT CODES: • Go to www.baeo.com and get 20% when using the code MOTHERDAZE20 • Go to www.lovewell.earth and get 20% when using the code MOTHERDAZE20
More about the show! • Watch this episode on YouTube here • Co-founders of @yourzenmama yourzenmama.com • Read and buy our book! "The Zen Mama Guide To Finding Your Rhythm In Pregnancy, Birth, and Beyond" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
--------
1:08:59
--------
1:08:59
Sisterhood, Growing Up & Finding Your Voice with Phoebe Tonkin
This week on the pod we welcome the one and only Phoebe Tonkin; actress, producer, fashion icon, and all-round mega babe.
Tonks has captivated audiences for years; whether she’s splashing onto our screens as a mermaid in H2O, romancing the undead in The Vampire Diaries, casting spells in The Secret Circle, dominating Aussie TV with her award-winning turn in Boy Swallows Universe, or lighting up the pages of Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Marie Claire. She joins her bestie Tez and our gal Sarah for a juicy, joy-filled chat that goes everywhere.
We dive into the early days of Your Zen Life, the swirl of the wellness world, and the intense pressure of being a 20-something in Hollywood. The girls reflect on championing each other through the industry, learning from their younger selves, finding your voice (and losing it along the way), and why being each other’s biggest cheerleaders matters more than ever.
Phoebe also spills on her stunning NYC wedding, the epic new show she’s leading, and the full-circle moment of presenting each other with recent acting awards. Sisterhood and Soul chats, just how we like it!
This episode is proudly sponsored by Cookie Jam, Branch Basics and Wayfair.
Follow Sarah Wright Olsen: IG: @swrightolsen
Follow Teresa Palmer: IG: @teresapalmer
FB: https://www.facebook.com/teresamarypalmer/
DISCOUNT CODES: • Go to www.baeo.com and get 20% when using the code MOTHERDAZE20 • Go to www.lovewell.earth and get 20% when using the code MOTHERDAZE20
More about the show! • Watch this episode on YouTube here • Co-founders of @yourzenmama yourzenmama.com • Read and buy our book! "The Zen Mama Guide To Finding Your Rhythm In Pregnancy, Birth, and Beyond" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
About The Mother Daze with Sarah Wright Olsen & Teresa Palmer
Sarah Wright Olsen (American Made, Parks and Recreation) and Teresa Palmer (Warm Bodies, Hacksaw Ridge) are two moms, from opposite ends of the world, meeting for an hour every week to discuss the mayhem, magic and madness of raising their 8 children between them. Motherhood can feel overwhelming, exhausting and isolating but you don’t have to do it alone! Follow along as they attempt to navigate, ask questions, share stories, break down the everyday challenges and hopefully keep you from googling phrases like “What does it mean when my baby’s poop is green?” Grab your coffee, tea, Kombucha or favorite libation and join as they discuss mom fails, poop talk, pillow talk, and much more. These moms will engage in some brilliant interviews with celebrity friends, parenting experts and listeners like you! From the creators of the celebrated Your Zen Mama community, Sarah Wright Olsen and Teresa Palmer bring you “The Mother Daze”, a refreshing and real look in to the wild and wonderful days of Motherhood. Subscribe so you never miss an episode, whether you’re listening sitting in your minivan or taking some me time in the tub.
Listen to The Mother Daze with Sarah Wright Olsen & Teresa Palmer, Calm Parenting Podcast and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app
South Africa