Introducing: Making a Mother
AKA: that narrative podcast we've been working on for five years ❤️
What would you be willing to endure to become a mother?
This is the question we’re asking in our first narrative podcast series, which is officially live and streaming wherever you listen to podcasts.
Making a Mother features a collection of raw, honest stories exploring the complex circumstances and unthinkable challenges some women face in the pursuit of motherhood. Through universal themes of loss and redemption, broken dreams and resilience, deep heartache and unwavering love—each episode showcases one woman’s unique story of courage, tenacity, and hope.
In Episode 1, we meet two mothers: Cindy, and Kate. After years of infertility, IVF, and devastating losses, Kate and her paraplegic husband choose to pursue adoption through the foster care system. At the same time, Cindy—battling addiction and homelessness—gives birth to her sixth child, only to have him removed from her care. Content warning: sexual assault and pregnancy loss.
In Episode 2, when Kate receives the call about a newborn boy in need of foster care and a forever home, her heart is ready to open wide. Assured that the baby’s mother is unlikely to regain custody, she dreams of a future with this child. Meanwhile, Cindy begins to see glimmers of hope amidst all her struggles. Fueled by faith and a determination to turn her life around, she begins the hard work of creating a stable home. Against all odds, these two women—once strangers—form an unexpected bond. Together, they navigate the complexities of love, sacrifice, and what it truly means to put the best interests first for the child they both cherish.
“Sometimes it just takes that one person believing
... and I want to be that person.”
- Cindy, Episode 2
If you’d like to support the show, please share these episodes with a friend and consider leaving us a 5-star review wherever you listen to podcasts.
The next three episodes release on January 15, 22, and 29. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to make sure you don’t miss them!
Have these first two episodes impacted you? We’d love to know your thoughts …
In Partnership with Needed
by Ashlee Gadd
Note: Making a Mother is brought to you by Needed—thank you for supporting the brands that made this series possible!
I’ve always been a high capacity person. As a mom, writer, and small business owner, I’m used to having a few dozen tabs open in my brain at all times—balancing everything from work tasks to chores to keeping track of which kid needs new shoes. Despite everything on my plate, I am used to thriving under pressure and like to think I handle my mental load just fine.
Over the past couple of years, though, I’ve noticed my mind wandering a bit more than usual. I’m having a harder time focusing for long stretches of time. The shift’s been gradual, and subtle, but my ability to concentrate isn’t what it used to be. Put simply: I don’t feel quite as sharp and alert as I once did.
I assumed I needed more sleep (probably true), or that all the short-form videos on social media were destroying my attention span (also probably true).
But I never considered taking a supplement.
The first time I looked into Needed supplements, Cognitive Support stood out like a neon sign: ASHLEE, YOU NEED THIS. And I’ll be totally honest: I was real skeptical. A supplement is going to help me focus?
Lo and behold, after two weeks of daily use, I absolutely noticed a difference. I was powering through my to-do list and sitting at my desk for longer stretches of time. I felt less foggy, more clear. Less distracted, more focused. My creative output significantly increased.
I don’t know about you, but I get super overwhelmed with the world of supplements. With a bajillion options on the market and zero free time to dive into the science myself, I love knowing that Needed is a) made by mothers and trained nutritionists, and b) recommended and used by more than 6,000 women’s health experts from nutritionists to midwives, functional medicine doctors and OBGYNs. Talk about peace of mind!
Whether you’re looking for prenatal vitamins, postpartum support, or (like me!) need a little help staying focused as you inch closer to perimenopause (gulp), Needed offers Radically Better Nutrition for women — from conception, to pregnancy, to new motherhood and beyond.
As we explore in Making a Mother, there is so much on the journey to motherhood that you can’t control. But nutrition is a big one you can.
Making a Mother is proudly brought to you by Needed — a brand we use, love, and trust. Use CC20 at checkout to save 20% on your first order of a single product.
If you’re shopping between Jan 6th-20th, check out their New Year’s deal, which offers 25% off your first subscription. The code NEWYEAR will automatically apply at checkout.
P.s. Today is the LAST day to order a print magazine! We’ve got one bundle left, and around 40 copies of Volume II. Once they’re gone, they’re gone! Thanks so much for supporting our work.
I’ve been a foster (and adoptive) mom for 10 years, and these first two episodes brought me to tears. In awe of the Lord’s redemptive work and the selflessness and love both moms displayed in this story 🤍
Wow, this series is so powerful. These women are incredibly brave to share their stories 💛