Episode 9 - Jessie Harrold: Matrescence as a Rite of Passage

The Re-Imagining Motherhood Podcast

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Welcome to episode NINE of the Re-Imagining Motherhood podcast.

I am thrilled to bring you Jessie Harrold, coach, doula and author of her most recent book, “Mothershift - Reclaiming Motherhood as Rite of Passage”. In this episode, Harrold and I explore the concept of matrenscence - both personally and professionally. Harrold shares personal experience and professional expertise that leaves me feeling inspired that we can re-imagine Motherhood together - if only we center the Mother and bring this one word, “Matrescence” to every Mother (and human) we know.

Episode Summary:
This is one of my most favorite topics - matrescence. It’s a gamechanger; it’s amazing the power that one word can have on a Mother’s experience and self-definition. That’s this conversation and we geek out as much as two matrescence educators can. In this episode, Harrold and I explore her own journey of discovering the theory and where it has taken her in her work supporting Mothers through this lens. Harrold’s background as a doula makes her perspective on the theory come alive - for it isn’t just about the birth of the baby; the birth of the Mother matters too. From discussing the importance of Rites of Passage and grief in Motherhood to MotherPowers, this episode gives me hope that we can re-imagine Motherhood together.

Additional episode resources:
To purchase MotherShift: https://www.jessieharrold.com/mothershiftbook/
To learn more about Jessie’s work: https://www.jessieharrold.com

Jessie Harrold’s full bio:
Jessie Harrold is a coach and doula who has been supporting women through radical life transformations and other rites of passage for over fifteen years. She works one-on-one with women and mothers, facilitates mentorship programs, women’s circles and rituals, and hosts retreats and nature-based experiences.

Jessie holds degrees in Neuroscience and Health Promotion, and her research on women’s experiences navigating health and wellbeing has won multiple awards and been published in peer-reviewed journals internationally. Her writing and work has been featured in Spirituality & Health, Green Parent, Expectful and Explore Magazine, among many others.

Jessie specializes in matrescence, or the transition to motherhood. She is the founder of the internationally acclaimed matrescence support program MotherSHIFT, and its sister program for postpartum professionals, The Village. She is the author of Mothershift: Reclaiming Motherhood as a Rite of Passage (Shambhala 2024).

Jessie is also the author of Project Body Love: my quest to love my body and the surprising truth I found instead, and the host of The Becoming Podcast. Jessie lives on the east coast of Canada where she mothers her two children, writes, and stewards the land.

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