All That She Carried: Stories of Motherhood

In this episode, Vandana and Shikha explore the multifaceted journey of motherhood among South Asian women.They interview Aradhana and Rachana, who offer insights into balancing career, family, and cultural expectations, and reflect on the evolving nature of motherhood in the modern world. They reflect on the legacies they received from their mothers, what they value and what they will pass on to their children. All That She Carried: Stories of Motherhood What we inherit, what we pass on, and how it shapes who we become. Motherhood is often spoken of as the greatest gift—a blessing, even sacred. Mothers are placed on pedestals, expected to embody a kind of quiet, unwavering strength… almost godly in their patience, their sacrifice, their love. But we don’t always speak about what it asks of them. The expectations. The invisible labor. The identities they grow into—and sometimes lose along the way.