Zen Supermom: The Mental Fitness Podcast
Find Alena's latest videos on YouTube (@ZenSupermom) and take the free 3-minute quiz "Why can't I stop yelling?": https://zen-supermom.circle.so/yelling-quizI'm not a supermom. But I always wanted to be one and have it all: family, career/business that I love, AND the time for myself. But that ambition without proper stress resistance and resilience killed my mom (cancer at 48) and drove me to the edge of burnout twice. Only when I saw the disastrous effects of my anger, stress, and resentment on my little daughter, I knew I had to change... Since then, not only have I...
You Can't Stop Yelling at Your Kids, Even When It's Not Their Fault (Why, and How to Stop Yourself)
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You can stay calm and professional at work: handle a crisis, a deadline, a difficult client. But then you come home, your child whines, clings to your leg or gets hurt… and instead of comforting them, you snap.
In this episode, I talk about why that happens even to moms who meditate, have done years of therapy, and have read every parenting book. Calming yourself down when you're alone and staying calm in the middle of the heat with your kids are two different skills, and nobody teaches th...
Why being successful at work doesn't make motherhood easier
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Many of the moms I work with are incredibly successful.
They're lawyers.
Architects.
Therapists.
Business owners.
Corporate leaders.
They're resilient, disciplined, organised, and exceptionally good at solving problems.
So why does motherhood make so many of them feel like they're failing?
In this episode, I’m exploring why the very strengths that help us succeed professionally can sometimes work against us...
How to deal with a strong-willed child without yelling
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Do you feel like you're constantly stuck between being too nice and suddenly exploding at your strong-willed child?
You're not alone.
In this episode, Alena shares a recent situation with her own daughter and explains why the real challenge wasn't the child's behavior - it was what that behaviour triggered inside her own nervous system.
Together, we'll explore why so many loving parents struggle with power struggles, why parenting techniques often disappear under pressure, and why the answer isn't becoming...
Why is it so hard to say no to your kids without feeling guilty?
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Why does saying "no" to your kids feel so much harder than it should?
You know boundaries are important.
You know your kids need them.
So why do you keep:
explaining one more time,giving one more chance,feeling guilty every time they get upset,and end up exploding anyway?For years, I thought I had a boundary problem.
I didn't.
<...
Why You Swing Between Too Nice and Too Strict With Your Kids (And How to Finally Stop)
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Has anyone ever told you that you are too soft with your kids? And is there a part of you that agrees, but you refuse to go the other direction because you do not want your children growing up scared of you?
So you swing. Nice. Then strict. Then guilty. Then nice again.
In this episode of the Zen Supermom podcast, Alena explains exactly why this pattern happens, why willpower and parenting books will never fix it, and what mental fitness actually is and...
Why Hiding in the Bathroom to Calm Down Is Not Working (And What Mental Fitness Actually Is
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Have you ever locked yourself in the bathroom to avoid losing it with your kids? Only for them to knock on the door two minutes later and make everything ten times worse?
You are not alone. And it is not working because removing yourself was never the real solution.
In this updated episode of the Zen Supermom podcast, Alena revisits the mental fitness topic she first introduced in Episode 18 back in February 2023, this time going deeper with a live exercise you can try right...
Why You Sound Like Your Mum When You Lose It (And How to Finally Stop)
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You swore you would never sound like your mum. And then one day her exact words came out of your mouth. And you stood there wondering what just happened.
In this episode of the Zen Supermom podcast, Alena explains exactly why this happens, what is going on in your nervous system in that moment, and what it actually takes to stop it permanently.
What you will learn in this episode:
Why you sound like your mum when you lose it even...How to Get a Lot Done on No Sleep Without Yelling at Your Kids (3 Steps That Actually Work)
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You did not sleep. Again. And now you have a full day ahead, kids to manage, and a voice in your head already telling you it is going to be a terrible day.
In this episode of the Zen Supermom podcast, Alena shares the 3 steps she uses to get through a productive day even on no sleep, without snapping at her kids and without burning herself out.
This is not about pushing harder. It is not about spa days. It is about understanding why...
Ep 186: Why You Cannot Enjoy Holidays With Your Kids (And It Has Nothing to Do With the Stress)
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You planned the entire summer vacation. Great place to stay. Fun activities. Delicious food. You spent the money, gave up sleep, and organized every detail so your family could have an amazing time and memories.
In this episode of the Zen Supermom podcast, Alena Gomes Rodrigues explains why moms who cannot enjoy holidays with their kids are not dealing with planning stress or a kid’s behavior problem. They are dealing with a generational pattern that was wired in their nervous system long before their children were born....
Ep 185: Why Nervous System Regulation for Kids Backfires (And What to Fix First)
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You have seen the ads. Cartoon children doing brain activation exercises. A nervous system regulation program that promises to turn your dysregulated, tantrum-throwing child into a calm cooperative little human.
In this episode of the Zen Supermom podcast, Alena explains why buying a nervous system regulation course for your kids will not solve the problem. And why that is actually good news.
Because the real issue is not your child's nervous system. It is yours. And rewiring that changes everything.
...
Ep 184: Why You Feel Invisible on Mother's Day (And How to Stop Needing His Validation to Feel Worthy)
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Every year it happens. Mother's Day arrives. He forgets. Or he buys something last minute that shows he did not think about it at all. And you are left feeling invisible, resentful, and wondering what is wrong with you.
In this Mother's Day special episode of the Zen Supermom podcast, Alena shares the real reason why his forgotten gift hurts so much, and why the answer has nothing to do with him.
Main takeaways from this episode:
The reason you feel...Ep 183: What's Dangerous About Using AI for Parenting Advice (And the Question You Should Be Asking Instead)
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BUZZSPROUT DESCRIPTION
You tried AI parenting advice. It sounded perfect. You still yelled.
In this episode of the Zen Supermom podcast, Alena Gomes Rodrigues breaks down exactly why AI parenting coaching fails in the moments that matter and what is actually happening in the 3 seconds before a mom loses control with her kids.
Main takeaways from this episode:
AI is designed to answer questions and make you feel validated, not to show you the full picture...
Ep 182: Why You Lose It at Home But Stay Calm at Work: The Root Cause Nobody Talks About
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You hold it together at work all day. Then you walk through the front door and completely lose it with your kids. If that sounds familiar, this episode is for you.
In this episode Alena breaks down the real reason professional moms snap at home even when they are perfectly capable of handling pressure at work. It has nothing to do with your parenting skills and everything to do with a pattern that was wired into your nervous system long before your kids ever pushed your buttons.<...
Ep 181: How to Help Your Child Heal From Trauma (Without Losing Yourself in the Process)
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You have read every parenting book. You know it is not personal. You still snap. And then you hate yourself for it.
This episode is for the mom raising a child with trauma who is exhausted from trying to be everything her child needs while running completely empty herself.
In this episode Alena shares 5 steps to help your child process and heal their trauma faster, without becoming their emotional punching bag, without faking patience you do not have, and without sacrificing yourself in the process.
What...
Ep 180: 3 Most Surprising Things Parenting Coaches Don't Want You to Find Out
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If parenting scripts were all you need to make your kids listen, chatGPT would have won "The Parent of the Year" award by now...
But if you're struggling with helping your kids listen (without yelling, bribing or threatening them), it's not a lack of info, it's not a parenting problem, and it's not your kids' fault.
Hold your horses, it's not your fault either.
But let's have a look at what's really going on.
In this Zen Supermom Podcast episode, let's unpack:
What are...Ep 179: Why Can’t I Calm Down Even When I Know Better? (Experiential episode)
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Why can’t you calm down even when you know better?
You’ve read the parenting books.
Learned the scripts.
You know your child’s nervous system is wired to yours.
You know yelling isn’t the answer.
And yet… when your child says no, moves too slowly, ignores you, or pushes one more button, your body takes over.
You snap.
You yell.
You lose access to everything you “know.”
So what’s missing?
In this episode of the Zen Supermom...
Ep 178: How Do I Stop Other People’s Judgment and Unwanted Advice From Getting Under My Skin?
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How do you stop other people’s judgment and unwanted advice from getting under your skin?
Not when it comes from random strangers online.
That’s easier to ignore.
But when it comes from someone close - your mom, a friend, a colleague, someone who should understand you - but their judgmental "well-meant" advice or comment stays with you for hours, days, sometimes even longer.
You replay the conversation.
You feel misunderstood, hurt, and angry.
And no matter how much you try to “just let it...
Ep 177: Why Do I Still Lose My Patience With My Kids Even After Therapy and Parenting Courses?
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You’ve read the parenting books.
Taken the courses.
Tried the scripts.
Maybe even done years of therapy.
And yet… you still lose your patience with your kids.
You wake up every morning promising yourself:
today I won’t yell.
Today I’ll stay calm.
Today I’ll hold the boundaries without snapping, threatening, or exploding.
And then it happens again.
So what’s going on?
In this episode of the Zen Supermom Podcast, I break down <...
Ep 176: How Can I Stop Yelling When I’m Stressed and Overwhelmed? (And Why Stress Isn’t the Full Reason)
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Most moms I meet already know the parenting techniques.
They’ve read the books.
Taken the courses.
Practiced the scripts.
And often, they can stay calm when there’s no pressure.
But when life squeezes you — Monday morning rush, bedtime battles, work deadlines, no support — something takes over.
You snap.
You yell.
You lose control.
And the conclusion most moms reach is:
“It’s because I’m overwhelmed.”In this episode of the Zen Supermom Podcast, we unpa...
Ep 175: Why Parenting Techniques Don’t Work When Your Toddler Hits, Spits, or Throws Food
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How do you stop a toddler from hitting, spitting, or throwing food… without yelling, punishing, or losing control?
Most parenting advice will tell you what to say to your child.
But here’s the uncomfortable truth:
Parenting techniques are often the last thing that actually helps in these moments.
Because when your child spits at you, hits a sibling, or smiles while breaking the rule again…
it’s not just a behavior problem.
It becomes...
Ep 174: Why Knowing Why You Yell Still Doesn’t Stop the Yelling
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You’ve read the books.
Taken the courses.
Reflected on your childhood.
Maybe even done therapy.
You know why you yell.
And yet…
when it’s Monday morning, you’re late, your kids aren’t listening, and the pressure hits,
you still lose control.
This episode explains why knowing why you yell is not enough to stop the yelling - and why awareness alone collapses exactly when it matters most.
We talk about:
why insight and inform...Ep 173: She Looked Calm on the Outside but Was Exploding Inside: Jen’s Story of Rage, Shutdown, and Healing
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Jen was not the mom who yelled all the time.
She was the mom who held it together.
Who stayed composed.
Who looked calm.
Who swallowed the rage until it turned into shutdown, resentment, and emotional distance.
From the outside, everything looked fine.
Inside, her nervous system was on fire.
In this episode of the Zen Supermom Podcast, Jen shares what happened when she realized that not yelling does not automatically mean emotional safety. She opens up about the hidden patterns underneath her reactions...
Ep 172: "I Yelled at My 4-Month-Old”: The Real Story of Traumatic Birth, Postpartum Rage & Healing
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What do you do when your life starts falling apart?
You’re in pain 24/7.
You’re not sleeping.
Your baby won’t settle.
Your nervous system is stuck in survival.
Your marriage feels like it’s breaking.
And everyone has a different “solution”:
pain meds or physical recovery supportpostpartum depression diagnosis + medicationtherapycouple counselingyoga, mindfulness, breathing…But what if you don’t have time to do 10 different things - and none of them are actually fixing the root?
In this Zen Supermom Pod...
Ep 171: Why New Year’s Resolutions Don’t Work for Moms (and What to Do Instead)
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January is the most dangerous month for moms who want to stop yelling at their kids.
Because January convinces you the problem is motivation.
“Try harder.”
“Be calmer.”
“Use better parenting tools.”
“Read the books.”
“Do the courses.”
And if you’re a smart, strong, loving mom… you will try.
Hard.
But then the same cycle comes back:
yelling → apologizing → being nice 1000 times → over-explaining → no boundaries → yelling again.
In this first episode of the Zen Supermom Podcast of 2026...
Ep 170: She Was a Neuroscientist… and Still Yelling at Her 3-Year-Old: Mona’s Breakthrough Story
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She had a degree in neuroscience.
She understood the amygdala, stress responses, emotional regulation…
And yet she was still yelling at her 3-year-old daughter, over and over again.
Yoga didn’t help.
Mindfulness didn’t help.
Positive affirmations didn’t help.
And despite having loving parents and a “good childhood,” Mona found herself stuck in a cycle she couldn’t think her way out of.
In this powerful episode, Mona shares:
Why knowledge alone can’t stop your nervous system from expl...Ep 169: “I Don’t Need More Parenting Tips. I Need the Tools!” How to Stop Yelling Without More Books
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You’ve read the books. You know child psychology. You understand that your kids are supposed to test boundaries, move at their own pace, have big emotions… and most of the time you are the calm, patient mom.
Until you’re tired. Rushed. Overwhelmed. Hungry. Late for school again.
And then you yell. Just like your mom yelled at you – even though you promised yourself you’d be different. You keep thinking:
“I don’t need more theory. I just need the tools!”
In this episode...
Ep 168: “It’s My Responsibility to Make Everyone Happy” - Healing the Generational Pattern That Turns Your Strength Into Pain
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Have you ever told yourself,
“It’s my responsibility to make everyone happy”?
If so, this episode is for you.
Because that sentence isn’t your personality.
It’s not your “strength.”
And it’s definitely not your purpose.
It’s a generational trauma pattern that turned your empathy into over-responsibility…
your intuition into hypervigilance…
and your caring nature into exhaustion.
In this episode, we go deep into the truth behind this pattern:
 Why you feel responsible for ev...
Ep 167: How to Help Your Kids Get Out of Toxic Friendships Without Taking Over
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Your child’s best friend has started crossing lines:
the teasing, the manipulation, the mixed signals... all hidden behind “friendship.”
In this episode of The Zen Supermom Podcast, you’ll learn how to help your kids recognize and step away from toxic friendships without forcing, controlling, or breaking their trust.
You’ll discover: The subtle ways toxic friends blur your child’s boundaries What to say (and what not to say) when they won’t listen How your own emotional patterns influence what they tolerate Why protecting the...
Ep 166: She Promised She’d Never Yell… Until She Did: Charlene’s Empowering Story of Healing
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Charlene thought she was a calm, gentle mom until the night she yelled at her baby.
That “red mist” moment became her wake-up call. The shame. The fear. The realization that she couldn’t control her reactions anymore.
In this week’s Zen Supermom Podcast, Charlene opens up about: The night she became her child’s “first bully” Why trying harder or reading more parenting books didn’t work How her people-pleasing and perfectionism were rooted in childhood What finally helped her heal the “red mist” and stay calm through tantrums The...
Ep 165: Stop Asking AI How to Parent: Why ChatGPT Can’t Fix Your Kids
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You don’t need more parenting tips. You need healing.
In this episode, Alena shares the truth behind why relying on AI or quick fixes won’t stop your yelling, guilt, or emotional burnout.
You’ll discover:Â
Why AI can’t understand your generational trauma
How your childhood shapes your reactions as a parent
The real cost of trying to “save time” while losing connection
Simple practices to break the yelling cycle, for good.
This episode...
Ep 164: Why Even the Best Childhoods Create Reactive Parents
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Parenting techniques didn’t fail us, they broke us.
Even moms with “happy childhoods,” therapy degrees, or calm voices can still find themselves yelling, shutting down, or people-pleasing. Why? Because most parenting methods focus on behavior, not the root: unhealed generational developmental trauma.
In this raw and eye-opening episode, Alena Gomes Rodrigues, creator of Intergenerational Developmental Trauma Repatterning (IDTR) and author of I Yelled, I Cried, I Healed, explains why even the most well-intentioned parents unconsciously pass on emotional wounds and how healing your nervous system...
Ep 163: Parenting Tips Won’t Stop Your Yelling: What You Really Need to Heal
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Are you tired of trying parenting tips, gentle parenting strategies, CBT, or talk therapy, Â and still find yourself yelling, shutting down, or people-pleasing when the pressure rises?
In this episode of the Zen Supermom Podcast, Alena unpacks how to know whether you really need better parenting techniques, anger management, or deeper trauma healing. She introduces her unique method, Intergenerational Developmental Trauma Repatterning (IDTR), and explains why so many moms keep wasting time and money on things that don’t work.
You’ll discover:
...
Ep 162: How Generational Healing Helped Suzanne Stop Yelling in Just 3 Months
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Are you a mom who has tried therapy, CBT, parenting tips, or gentle parenting, and you are still yelling at your kids?
That was Suzanne’s story. She was a healthcare professional praised for her patience and calm before motherhood. But after two kids, sleep deprivation, moving houses, and the stress of the pandemic, she found herself stuck in the same yelling cycle she promised she would never repeat.
The turning point came when Suzanne discovered Intergenerational Developmental Trauma Repatterning (IDTR)...
Ep 161: Finding the Balance Between Gentle Parenting and Boundaries: Sanne’s Transformation
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Can you set healthy boundaries without becoming too strict or too permissive? Can you stop yelling without letting your kids bulldoze over you?
This week’s Zen Supermom Podcast shares Sanne’s powerful journey. She was once a yelling mom stuck in guilt and overwhelm. After joining the Stop Yelling Program, she broke free from the cycle, healed the root of her triggers, and found a way to parent with both love and boundaries.
Sanne’s transformation didn’t stop there. She became the first mom to ask Alen...
Ep 160: How Therapy Didn’t Help — But Monika Finally Stopped Yelling at Her Daughter
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What happens when therapy doesn’t help you stop yelling — but something else does?
This week’s Zen Supermom Podcast shares Monika’s journey. As an expatriate mom of a toddler, she often lost control of her emotions. When her daughter kicked or hit, Monika reacted with shouting, guilt, and frustration. Therapy didn’t help her break the cycle, and she feared she was passing on the same patterns she grew up with.
Everything shifted when Monika discovered Intergenerational Developmental Trauma Repatterning (IDTR) — Alena’s unique method...
Ep 159: Why Even Therapists and Mental Health Pros Struggle at Home: Sanja’s Story
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What happens when a mom who looks “perfect” on the outside is actually drowning inside?
In this episode, Sanja shares her journey from perfectionism, people-pleasing, hyper-achieving, and hidden rage to finally finding peace as a mom. Today she is one of the first Zen Supermom Coaches.
Raised in war, shaped by generational trauma, and later praised as a professional in healthcare and tech, Sanja wore a polished mask. On the outside, she was successful. On the inside, she was burning out and losing her connection with her children.
 I...
Ep 158: Choosing Single Motherhood: Breaking Cycles & Raising with Strength
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Can one emotionally healed parent give a child everything they need?
In this powerful episode, Victoria shares her journey of leaving a toxic relationship, choosing to become a solo mom by choice, and raising her baby with more peace, presence, and authenticity than she ever thought possible.
 You’ll hear:
Why staying in a toxic relationship “for the kids” is never the answerThe surprising patterns Victoria had to heal before becoming a momHow she rewired her inner critic, overcame loneliness, and broke generational cyclesWhy one emotionally safe pa...Ep 157: If Trying Harder Worked, You’d Be Calm by Now
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You’ve tried to stop yelling. You know what to do. So why does it still happen?
If trying harder was the answer, you’d already be a Zen master by now.
In this episode, I break down why willpower, discipline, and even brain science aren’t enough to stop the yelling—and what actually works instead.
You’ll hear the story of a neuroscientist mom who knew exactly how the stress response worked… and still lost it with her daughter. Because yelling isn’t about knowing better...
Ep 156: The Fastest Way Moms Can Stop Yelling (It’s Not About the Kids)
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Are you tired of feeling like your kids are the reason you lose control? Here’s the truth: your yelling isn’t about the tantrums, the morning rush, or even the lack of support at home. The real cause lies in the patterns you’ve been carrying since your own childhood.
In this episode, I’ll show you the fastest way to break the cycle:Â
Step 1: Heal the childhood patterns showing up in your parenting.Â
Step 2: Rewire the automatic habits of yelling, stressing, and snapping.
When you stop f...
Ep 155: “I Had a Happy Childhood—So Why Was I So Angry?” Martina’s Story of Breaking the Cycle
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Martina is a loving mom of three, living abroad with no support network.
She had a “happy childhood.” A caring mom. No big trauma.
So why did she keep yelling at her kids?
Why did every small mess trigger a screaming match?
And why couldn’t she stop—even though she hated how it felt?
In this episode, Martina shares how things spiraled from gentle parenting intentions… to guilt, burnout, and near-daily explosions.
She tried the parenting scripts. The podcasts. The logic. Nothing stuck.
 In her word...
