The Motherlords

Actor Shanaya Rafaat and Camille Gautier join Heena, Riya and Alisha on Women Actually to talk about becoming single mothers, one through IVF with an anonymous donor and one after an unplanned pregnancy.They talk about what it means to choose motherhood without a partner. They cover explaining their families to doctors, officials and nurseries, being completely open with children about where they come from, and making peace with the parts of the story that will always stay unknown.The wider conversation takes in mum guilt and asking a grandmother for one more favour, how motherhood changed the course of a career, and the privilege behind making this choice at all. There are lighter moments too: a donor request from Kerala and the question of how the world would see a man who chose to be a single dad.Not a case for or against single motherhood. Just two lives, told the way they were lived.Women Actually is The Motherlords' guest series about women, mums and non-mums alike. One woman, one story, start to finish. No advice. No judgement. Just the real version.

Ritika Sinha and Pratyusha Gupta join The Motherlords in Episode 3 of Women Actually to speak about life as working moms: the hours at work, the hours at home, and everything carried quietly in between.Ritika has built her career in the corporate world. Pratyusha is a filmmaker and director. Both are raising six-year-old daughters. They speak about balance as something found across days rather than within them, about the guilt of the early years and how it changes, and about the long road to saying, without apology, that you need to be home for bedtime.The conversation also turns to a daughter's question about why her mother goes away on shoot, a film industry that believes your film is your baby, millennial work culture and the 6:15 gym class, grandparents who change the game, a husband who travels half of every month, a studio closed and perhaps reopened and a meal plan that goes rather differently in the hands of a six-year-old.Every working mother knows a certain kind of arithmetic. Most of it is simply carried, from one day into the next.Women Actually is a series about real women, the choices they make, the moments that change them, and the everyday ways they keep going through it all.

Gayatri Shirke and Nikita Pai join The Motherlords for an honest conversation about choosing not to have children.They speak about being childfree by choice, the quiet certainty that can take years to arrive, being honest with a partner, and the grace of families who support a personal decision without turning it into a negotiation.The conversation moves through relationships, Indian family expectations, women and ambition, work, ageing, friendship, pets, and the assumption that children are a safeguard against loneliness later in life.This is not a conversation against motherhood. Motherhood can be beautiful, deeply loved and meaningful. But womanhood is larger than any one role.Women Actually is The Motherlords’ guest series about women, mums and non-mums alike. One woman, one story, from start to finish. No advice. No judgement. Just the real version.

Sometimes motherhood begins with the life you imagined. Sometimes it asks you to find your way through a life you did not see coming.In the first episode of Women Actually, Pooja Khanna joins The Motherlords to speak about Norah’s birth diagnosis, the feelings that followed, and the slow journey of getting to know her daughter beyond a diagnosis.Pooja shares the things that are not always easy to say out loud. The fear. The questions. The difficult medical conversations. The way other people respond to difference. And the small moments that can quietly change how a parent sees their child, themselves and the life they are living.They also talk about Down syndrome awareness, inclusion at school, explaining Down syndrome to Norah, and the unexpected ways Norah has helped Pooja grow too.Women Actually is a series about real women, the choices they make, the moments that change them, and the everyday ways they keep going through it all.

What if confidence in kids has less to do with being fearless, and more to do with being completely okay with getting it wrong?We’re joined by Neville Bharucha, he teaches creative writing, speech and drama and improv by day and is also an actor and founder of Sandbox. You may also have spotted him as DJ Adam in Netflix's The Ba*ds of Bollywood, which he is quietly praying his students haven't watched.Neville has a refreshingly sensible take on parenting: kids need more opportunities to fail, think for themselves, be silly, get bored and figure things out without an adult hovering over them. Things that feel unheard of these days!We talk about why improv teaches children to handle failure, what yes, and’ actually means in real life, what confidence actually looks like in a child (it isn't the loudest one in the room), why ‘because I said so’ may actually be a useful parenting tool, and plenty more.Find Neville on Instagram @neville19. His website is not functional and he would like you to know that.Neville is funny, opinionated and absolutely uninterested in pretending there is a perfect way to parent which made this a very Motherlords conversation.The Motherlords is an Indian parenting podcast by Alisha, Heena and Riya. Three Mumbai mums, real expert guests, and the conversations nobody has out loud.Follow us on Instagram: @the_motherlordsHit follow so you never miss an episode!CHAPTERS00:00 Meet Neville Bharucha03:25 The pressure parents put on kids04:37 Why improv actually matters06:05 Creative writing & thought clarity08:17 Why kids need to be okay with failure10:34 What confidence really looks like12:12 Learning to be comfortable with discomfort16:12 The kids, the holiday & the F-bomb 😂18:07 Because I said so20:05 When your child hides behind your leg23:21 Kids aren't shy, they're overwhelmed26:06 Letting kids order their own food28:55 Learning to be okay with looking silly29:20 Why we need to put ourselves out there

Every parent has looked at their child at some point and wondered..."Are they just being five?" Or is there something else going on?In this episode in our series on Therapy with Merzia, we're joined by occupational therapist Bindi Vora alongside Merzia Maskati from SDLC to unpack one of the most misunderstood areas of child development, occupational therapy.Turns out, OT isn't just about handwriting or helping children who've already received a diagnosis. It's about the everyday things we often take for granted, like getting dressed, sitting through circle time, joining a game, learning to ride a bike, packing a school bag, or just feeling comfortable in your own body.We talk about why some kids find these things harder than others, what sensory integration actually means (without the jargon), and why therapy often looks suspiciously like play!We also get into picky eating, classroom accommodations, sports, confidence, emotional meltdowns, and why 'they'll grow out of it' isn't always the most helpful answer. As always, this isn't about labelling children, but figuring out how to understand them better.In this episode:• What occupational therapy actually is (and isn't)• Why you don't need a diagnosis before asking for help• How challenges can show up at home, school and on the playground• Hyperactivity, attention and sensory processing• Why some children struggle with sports, handwriting or everyday routines• What OT sessions really look like• Sensory activities you can try at home• Picky eating, textures and when it's more than a passing phase• Why early support mattersAbout our guestsBindi Vora is a paediatric occupational therapist with over a decade of experience helping children build the sensory, motor and functional skills that make everyday life a little easier.Merzia Maskati is a Speech-Language Pathologist, neurodiversity counsellor and founder of SDLC, where a multidisciplinary team supports children and families through speech therapy, occupational therapy, feeding therapy and early intervention.Learn more at their website https://sdlc.co.in and follow them on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/thesdlc/Chapters00:00 Welcome to Therapy with Merzia01:18 What is Occupational Therapy?04:00 Do children need a diagnosis before OT?06:05 Hyperactivity, focus & classroom accommodations10:12 Gross motor vs fine motor skills15:30 Why everyday routines feel difficult19:20 Confidence, behaviour & emotional frustration23:15 Common misconceptions about OT28:40 Sports, low muscle tone & coordination33:45 What Occupational Therapy sessions look like39:05 Sensory integration explained44:10 Older children, organisation & attention47:20 Sensory activities parents can do at home50:40 Picky eating & sensory sensitivities58:15 Food therapy & texture challenges01:03:00 How long does OT take?01:06:10 Parent guilt, early intervention & final advice

Remember when becoming a mum came with a surprising number of disclaimers nobody mentioned?How you may never sneeze the same way again or running for the loo becomes an extreme sport.This week, we’re joined by exercise physiologist and founder of The Fit Moms Project, Raina Gagrat, to talk about the body part most of us only learn about after having children: the pelvic floor.We get into:•⁠ ⁠Why leaking when you laugh, sneeze or run isn’t something you have to “just live with”•⁠ ⁠The connection between pelvic floor health and painful periods•⁠ ⁠Pregnancy, postpartum recovery and body alignment•⁠ ⁠Why Kegels aren’t the whole story•⁠ ⁠The surprising link between your pelvis, hormones, digestion and stress•⁠ ⁠Why by bouncing back is overrated but feeling good in your body isn’t•⁠ ⁠How movement can help you reconnect with a body that feels unfamiliar after motherhoodChapters:00:00 What nobody told us about the pelvic floor00:40 Welcome back to The Motherlords01:00 What is an exercise physiologist?02:00 How Raina reads a body before she designs a workout04:00 Why most workouts start at level 5 (and postpartum needs level 0)06:10 What body alignment actually means07:26 The nervous system trick that makes low-impact hit harder11:00 The many disconnects motherhood hands you12:20 The pelvic floor 101 nobody taught us13:36 Pelvic floor is not just a women's thing14:04 The link nobody talks about: pelvic floor and period cramps15:46 Prenatal body changes and why you tilt without realising17:04 Bladder damage, leakage, and why it happens18:16 Why Kegels are only half the job19:09 The John Mayer concert bladder emergency20:32 Is it too late? (Grandmums fixing it decades later)22:47 The emotional muscle you didn't know you had: the psoas24:47 The vagus nerve, the gut, and Kundalini28:44 How misalignment shows up as pain everywhere30:27 There is no bouncing back. There's a new body.32:12 Why trendy HIIT can hurt if your pelvis isn't ready34:14 What every pregnant woman should be doing36:37 Why this should be taught in schools40:11 The three signs your body is asking for help41:39 Please stop duck-walking in your ninth month43:52 How to actually make time as a new mum45:00 When to start after birth46:59 Raina's one piece of advice to every woman48:53 The Fit Moms ProjectRaina’s approach isn’t about shrinking your body, punishing it, or fitting back into your pre-pregnancy jeans.It’s about understanding how your body works, moving without fear, and discovering that some of the things you’ve accepted as normal… maybe aren’t.Also, Heena confesses to wearing a panty liner on the treadmill, Alisha discovers her pelvic floor is apparently concert-ready, and all three of us leave wondering why nobody teaches this stuff in school.If you’ve ever crossed your legs before a sneeze, this episode is for you.Follow Raina and The Fit Moms Project:Website: www.rainagagrat.comInstagram: @thefitmomsprojectThe Motherlords is real Indian mum talk with real experts. No preaching. No perfect-mum content. Just three Mumbai mums (Heena, Riya, and Alisha) figuring it out with you.Follow us:Instagram: @the_motherlordsYouTube: https://youtu.be/PGCWKY5hX7I#pelvicfloor #postpartumrecovery #themotherlords #thefitmomsproject #indianmums #mumbaimums #diastasisrecti #womenshealth

Good news from the dentist for once: you don't have to ban sugar.Dr Harsh Vyas is back to make your life easier, not harder. He explains why one ice cream beats a lollipop every time, why three gulab jamuns in one sitting are better than three spread across the day, the innocent biscuit in the snack box that's quietly the problem, what your child's night-time teeth grinding is actually telling you, and when braces should really start.Plus the two things parents panic about that are completely fine: a late first tooth, and gaps in the baby teeth.Part 2 of two. The one that lets you breathe.Dr Harsh Vyas practises at The Pediatric Dentists, Nana Chowk and Bandra, Mumbai. Instagram: @the.pediatric.dentistsOn YouTube: @TheMotherlords_TMLInstagram: @the_motherlordsDrop into our group chat: [email protected] (Part 2):00:00 Back in the chair with Dr Harsh Vyas00:50 How food actually affects your kid's teeth01:50 The golden rule: sticky sugar is the worst sugar03:00 The innocent biscuit in the snack box04:05 Why frequency matters more than amount04:40 Give the sugar all in one go (yes, really)07:20 Jaggery, dates and figs are still sugar08:40 Timing treats around meals, and the cheese trick12:05 Why kids grind their teeth14:06 When grinding is linked to snoring15:00 Night guards: how they actually work18:43 Why some kids need braces19:36 Early treatment at ages 8 to 1021:53 Old-school braces vs invisible aligners25:44 What parents panic about that's totally fine26:08 A late first tooth is no cause for worry27:39 Why gaps in baby teeth are a good thing28:39 Do teething gels like Zytee work?

If you've ever wondered whether the pacifier is ruining their teeth, whether thumb sucking is worse, or how they got a cavity when you brush every night, this episode is for you.Dr Harsh Vyas (MDS, FIAPD), one of Mumbai's leading paediatric and preventive dentists, has spent over thirty years looking inside small, uncooperative mouths, and wrote an international bestseller on it. He talks us through why milk teeth matter even though they fall out, whether the thumb or the pacifier is the bigger habit to break, why cavities still happen when you brush every single night, and why fluoride toothpaste is safe to swallow when everyone told you it wasn't.Part 1 of our two-part conversation on your child's teeth.Dr Harsh Vyas practises at The Pediatric Dentists, Nana Chowk and Bandra, Mumbai. Instagram: @the.pediatric.dentistsOn YouTube: @TheMotherlords_TMLInstagram: @the_motherlordsDrop into our group chat: [email protected]

It's June and we're reading our New Year goals. Yes. We know.One of us actually wrote hers down. The list includes inspiring (read: achievable) stuff like ‘watch more TV’ and ‘learn how to make a picante’. The other two have been making lunches and shouting at people since January. So. We also try to reflect on what kind of mum each of us actually is. One claims balance, and she’s got receipts for it! One announces on camera that she is an emotional swinger. One looks in the mirror and has trouble seeing flaws. Well, mostly! And then there’s the earthquake story. The husband who ran from an earthquake only to return for his phone. While his newlywed wife crawled behind him with a dislocated knee. We’ve heard this story a hundred times and it still gets us every, single time!Plus what marriage after kids actually looks like, (lots of) disappointing date nights, the invisible mental load, a fun Vanity Fair style ‘How Well Do You Really Know Me’ round, and the campaigns we are running for each other this year.No judgement, no preaching, no perfection!CHAPTERS: 0:00 New year, new season, same Motherlords 1:25 Reading Alisha's 2026 goals (the only one of us who wrote any) 7:00 Why Heena and Riya don't write goals 8:30 What kind of mum are we? The full audit. 18:50 The default parent and the invisible mental load 24:00 Karan announces he is checking out of parenting days 25:45 Disappointing date nights (the term we coined) 27:00 The Bali earthquake date 30:30 Other disappointing date nights 33:10 Know-Me round: how well do we actually know each other? 43:30 Campaigns we are running for each other this yearThe Motherlords is hosted by Heena, Riya, and Alisha. Three Mumbai mums in their 40s, figuring it out together.Follow us on Instagram: @the_motherlords Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0mXMotj41zQ2oEpZpiFOhK?si=d5fe5a71edea482c Hit follow so you never miss an episode.#themotherlordspodcast #motherhoodunfiltered #indianmums #parentingindia #realmum #defaultparent #marriageafterkids