CW: brief mention of sexual assault. 

Have you ever felt the kind of overwhelmed, overstimulated, or triggered that we might call being “all touched out”? Maybe you’ve even felt guilty about not being available to your kids or spouse, or surprised by the intensity of your feelings. 

If you ever wondered why your body doesn’t feel like your own, if you are grappling with how to parent in a post-Roe, post #MeToo world, you might be realizing how much bigger this is than just you.  Amanda Montei is here to talk about the histories we carry in - our culture and in our bodies - themes she discusses in her new book:  Touched Out: Motherhood, Misogyny, Consent and Control. This week, episode 48 of Poised & Powerful Podcast is about why we might feel touched out and how we can understand women’s bodily autonomy. 

Amanda Montei is the author of TOUCHED OUT: MOTHERHOOD, MISOGYNY, CONSENT, AND CONTROL, (now out in September 2023), the memoir Two Memoirs (Jaded Ibis Press), and a collection of prose, The Failure Age (Bloof Books), as well as co-author of Dinner Poems (Bon Aire Projects). She has an MFA from California Institute of the Arts and a PhD from the Poetics Program at SUNY Buffalo. Her writing and criticism explores literary and cultural representations of gender, work, care, sexuality, feminism, creativity, and the body.

In this episode of Poised & Powerful Podcast, Amanda and I discuss the following:

• The heavy gender norms and unrealistic expectations imposed on mothers.
• New parenthood forces us to confront cultural beliefs and unprocessed memories, which can lead to feelings of isolation and overwhelm - but this is also an opportunity for change. 
• The importance of acknowledging and addressing the power dynamics in sexual and romantic relationships, particularly in the context of postpartum and parenthood.
• How our larger social and political context affects us as we cope with the day-to-day of parenting. 

Don’t forget to order Amanda’s new book “Touched Out” today! 

Want to know more about what to do to take care of yourself when you’re tense, stressed, or overstimulated? Bookmark my free Nervous System Slowdown playlist to build some bite-sized bodymind practices into your day. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5dXuxUdFQYYE6xxDZwwxTX?si=KUdjv-cWSNqmKng52Zanjg

CONNECT WITH AMANDA MONTEI:

Website

Subscribe on Substack: Mad Moms

Instagram

CONNECT WITH SARAH MAYHAN:

Facebook

Instagram

Work with Sarah!

LINKS MENTIONED:

Slate: How American Moms Got Touched Out by Amanda Montei

Moms Rising

Chamber of Mothers

Info & action re: the US Black Maternal Health Crisis: 

Black Mamas Matter Alliance

The Momnibus Act<

Have you ever yelled “CALM DOWN”? How effective was it? Today, I’m teaching a simple four-step process: for more ease and less yelling. It works by rebooting your nervous system - and children can learn it too! 

This week, episode 47 of Poised & Powerful Podcast is sharing mindfulness together: easing transitions for yourself and your child with The Ready List! 

Want to know more about what to do to take care of yourself when you’re tense, stressed, or overstimulated? Bookmark my free Nervous System Slowdown playlist to build some bite-sized bodymind practices into your day. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5dXuxUdFQYYE6xxDZwwxTX?si=KUdjv-cWSNqmKng52Zanjg

In this episode of Poised & Powerful Podcast, I discuss the following:

• The importance of self-regulation for adults and children alike.
• The Ready List as a tool for co-regulating with your child and helping them develop their own self-regulation. 
• A variety of practical ways to use The Ready List during hectic days. 
• Using your imagination to help your kids learn - and where kids have an edge over adults in knowledge of their bodies.

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to follow, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!

Learn more about Poised & Powerful and Sarah at https://poisedpowerfulparenthood.com/interviews

CONNECT WITH SARAH MAYHAN:

Website

Instagram

Work with Sarah! 

Stay updated on tips for stress relief by signing up for my newsletter. Find more tips, tricks, and strategies at the resources page on my website. Or you can book a 1:1 customized session to receive the support you need to feel more agency over your body.

LINKS MENTIONED:

The Ready List Hot-To with Printables

The Ready List video for kids

More about the Ready List with Transitions

Co-Regulation From Birth Through Young Adulthood: A Practice Brief

RELATED EPISODES:

How to Unstick Your Shoulders from Your Ears

Becoming Your Child’s First Teacher with Amanda Blair MacDonald

What to Do When You're Losing It With Your Kids with Morgan Rysdon 

Click Below for the Episode Transcript (COMING SOON)

Do you get knots in that area between your neck and shoulders? Well, who doesn't, right? If you are struggling with this, listen up because this one is for you. This will be a guided audio you can do sitting or standing. One of my favorite places to do it is sitting in the car after I drop my kid off at school.

This is a gentle reminder to be gentle with ourselves. It’s a practice we can use to help us unhunch, unscrunch, and take up more space.

Stay updated on tips for shoulders by signing up for my newsletter. Find more tips, tricks, and strategies at the resources page on my website. Or you can book a 1:1 customized session to receive the support you need to feel more agency over your body.

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to follow, rate, and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!

Learn more about Poised & Powerful and Sarah at https://poisedpowerfulparenthood.com/interviews 

CONNECT WITH SARAH MAYHAN:

Facebook

Instagram

Work with Sarah! 

LINKS MENTIONED:

Refer to this for a visual of the trapezius.

Ep 45: Neurodivergent Parenting with Chronic Pain with Graeson Harris-Young

For shoulder pains related to breastfeeding and baby care, refer to:

My guest interview on breastfeeding body mechanics (Milk Minute podcast)

Guided audio: Relax Up for Sitting 

Click Below for the Episode Transcript (COMING SOON)