Wanting in Public: A Mother's Perspective

In this episode of With Both Hands, we explore the complexities of desire, identity and motherhood through the lens of the podcast Wanting in Public by Kaitlyn Kessler & Xanthe Appleyard.Laura and Clare examine why expressing personal wants can feel so uncomfortable for women, particularly mothers, and how deeply ingrained ideas of selflessness continue to shape how women see themselves.Expect reflections on the tension between caregiving and individuality, the guilt often attached to ambition or personal fulfilment, and the cultural narratives that frame maternal desire as indulgent or selfish. The episode questions the expectation that motherhood should require constant sacrifice, and considers what becomes possible when women begin to acknowledge their own needs alongside those of their families. Through thoughtful discussion and lived experience, this episode invites listeners to reconsider the role that wanting plays in a meaningful life and to view self-advocacy not as selfishness but as an essential part of being fully human.