Down The Well

Szn 3 Ep 1 | What if the biggest obstacle to joy isn’t your circumstances—but the stories you unknowingly tell yourself?

In this season opener of Down The Well, Elle Rowley unpacks the true meaning of transformation, inviting listeners to bravely reexamine the narratives shaping their motherhood—and their lives. Through vulnerable storytelling and thought-provoking wisdom, Elle shares her own journey from feeling like “the party pooper” mom, always overshadowed by her husband’s fun energy, to intentionally rewriting her identity and rediscovering the magic she brought to the table.

Whether you’re stuck in a cycle of self-doubt, feeling “blah” about mom life, or just hungry for real growth beneath the overwhelm, this premiere marks the start of a transformative six-part series dedicated to helping you reclaim authorship of your own story. You’ll leave with not only inspiration, but actionable questions and gentle encouragement to mother yourself as thoughtfully as you mother your children.

If you’re ready to stop letting old stories run the show and begin a year of true, lasting transformation, this is the episode for you. Down the well we go—together.

Show Links:
Narrative Coaching by David B. Drake - https://www.amazon.com/Narrative-Coaching-Definitive-Bringing-Stories/dp/0996356312

Down The Well Links:

Elle's Substack - https://substack.com/@ellerowley
Elle's Instagram - instagram.com/ellerowley
Schedule a free coaching consult with Elle - [email protected]

Support families in Guatemala by purchasing a 'World Peace Begins at Home' tee - https://www.the-humble-village.org/shop

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About Down The Well:

Motherhood should be full of joy and meaning. But it often isn't. Why is that? On Down the Well, Elle Rowley talks through the mother's hero's journey, and why it's different from the one you might have learned in school or books.

Unlike the traditional hero's journey, mothers have to descend into the depths of their own soul. No one comes out of motherhood the same, and with the right perspective and resources, we can make sure that transformation is for the better.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sz 2 Ep 15 | What if you could rewrite your story, and finally step into the life you’ve been hoping for?

In this end-of-year solo episode, Elle Rowley brings you her “25 Lessons from 2025”—equal parts practical wisdom and raw honesty. From the highs of parenting teenagers to the everyday struggles with self-judgment and comparison, Elle shares the insights she gained by analyzing her year with the help of ChatGPT (yes, really!) and looking back at how far she’s come.

This isn’t just about resolutions or superficial transformation. It’s about the deeper work of noticing where you’re lying to yourself, wasting time, or letting someone else frame your story. Whether it’s learning to track your sleep, finding the courage for hard conversations, or finally embracing the goodness you’ve worked so hard for, Elle gets real about growth, marriage, motherhood, and the quiet power of optimism.

You'll hear stories on how small shifts—like prioritizing family dinner, laughing more with your kids, or keeping teenagers off social media—make the biggest impact. Plus, Elle reveals how she’s learning to drop her survival mindset and lead with joy, not just fear.

Simple, heartfelt, and game-changing—this episode will push you to take back the script of your life and let the chips fall where they may. Join Elle Rowley as she closes out the year and invites you to step into 2026 with clarity, courage, and hope.

Down The Well Links:

Elle's Substack - https://substack.com/@ellerowley

Elle's Instagram - instagram.com/ellerowley

Support families in Guatemala by purchasing a 'World Peace Begins at Home' tee - https://www.the-humble-village.org/shop

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About Down The Well:

Motherhood should be full of joy and meaning. But it often isn't. Why is that? On Down the Well, Elle Rowley talks through the mother's hero's journey, and why it's different from the one you might have learned in school or books.

Unlike the traditional hero's journey, mothers have to descend into the depths of their own soul. No one comes out of motherhood the same, and with the right perspective and resources, we can make sure that transformation is for the better.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sz 2 Ep 14 | What if emotional overwhelm isn't coming from your life circumstances—but from the sentences running through your mind?

In this intimate, practical conversation, Elle Rowley sits down with master coach Jody Moore to explore the roots of emotional suffering for mothers, especially in life's toughest seasons. Together, they bust the myth that overwhelm, anxiety, and guilt are caused by what’s happening outside of us, and instead reveal how our thoughts—and the judgments stacked on top of them—create our hardest moments.

Jody Moore shares how practicing self-compassion, curiosity, and letting go of perfectionism transformed her experience as a mother, coach, and woman. She explains why striving to be a “good mom” can be counterproductive, and why embracing your “world’s okayest mom” moments might be exactly what you and your kids need.

You'll hear real stories from Elle about navigating complicated grief, her early struggles with self-judgment, and how thought awareness opened the door to healing. Jody dives into practical concepts—from emotional adulthood and curiosity in hard conversations, to the power of raising your “minimum baseline” and owning your choice to stay connected, even when you want to quit.

This episode is a compassionate guide to befriending your emotions, shedding unnecessary suffering, and building stronger relationships—starting with the one you have with yourself.

Timestamps

00:00:00 - Emotions driven by self-compassion.

00:03:00 - Podcast helps mothers in grief.

00:07:00 - Overwhelm comes from our thoughts.

00:12:00 - Handling teen anxiety with validation.

00:16:00 - Bad days versus rough seasons.

00:21:00 - Celebrating "okayest mom" mindset.

00:27:00 - Set practical minimum baselines.

00:33:00 - Moments of connection over work.

00:40:00 - Embracing compassion and self-acceptance.

01:07:00 - Aspirations for matriarch phase.

Episode Links:
Jody's Website - https://jodymoore.com/

Down The Well Links:

Elle's Substack - https://substack.com/@ellerowley

Elle's Instagram - instagram.com/ellerowley

Support families in Guatemala by purchasing a 'World Peace Begins at Home' tee - https://www.the-humble-village.org/shop

-----

About Down The Well:

Motherhood should be full of joy and meaning. But it often isn't. Why is that? On Down the Well, Elle Rowley talks through the mother's hero's journey, and why it's different from the one you might have learned in school or books.

Unlike the traditional hero's journey, mothers have to descend into the depths of their own soul. No one comes out of motherhood the same, and with the right perspective and resources, we can make sure that transformation is for the better.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sz 2 Ep 13 | What if the true power of motherhood isn’t just surviving the day-to-day—but embracing the descent, the grief, and the transformation that follows?

In this solo episode, Elle Rowley invites you to journey down the well of motherhood’s deepest myths, drawing wisdom from three iconic divine mothers: Mary (the mother of Christ), Demeter (Greek goddess), and Isis (Egyptian goddess). Through story and reflection, Elle reframes the narrative that so often reduces motherhood to mere busyness and duty, showing how our real growth comes when we allow ourselves to descend into uncertainty, pain, and mystery.

This is not an episode about sugarcoating the hard parts of mothering. It’s about recognizing the sacredness of our struggle—the cycles of descent and rising, grief and renewal. Elle highlights five powerful lessons for mothers everywhere:

Lesson 1: The mother brings forth the bridge between worlds

Lesson 2: The mother must descend

Lesson 3: Descent awakens the fierce mother

Lesson 4: Death, loss, and the rhythm of return

Lesson 5: Through suffering, the mother reshapes the world.

Share this episode with a mother who may need it, and join the movement to reclaim an empowering, truthful narrative of motherhood.

Timestamps:

00:00:00 – Descent Is Part Path

00:00:49 – Memorable Thanksgiving Recap

00:02:30 – Purpose: Mothers’ Transformation

00:04:31 – Mary’s Hero’s Journey

00:06:57 – Demeter: Mother’s Grief

00:10:55 – Isis: Restoration After Loss

00:13:47 – Five Lessons from Myths00:22:14 – Embracing Motherhood’s Seasons

Down The Well Links:

Elle's Substack – https://substack.com/@ellerowley

Elle's Instagram – instagram.com/ellerowley

Support families in Guatemala by purchasing a 'World Peace Begins at Home' tee - https://www.the-humble-village.org/shop

About Down The Well: Motherhood should be full of joy and meaning. But it often isn't. Why is that? On Down the Well, Elle Rowley talks through the mother's hero's journey, and why it's different from the one you might have learned in school or books.

Unlike the traditional hero's journey, mothers have to descend into the depths of their own soul. No one comes out of motherhood the same, and with the right perspective and resources, we can make sure that transformation is for the better.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Szn 2 Ep 12 | What happens when the life you imagined disappears—and you say yes to what’s next, one small step at a time?

In this deeply moving Portrait of a Matriarch episode, Elle sits down with Yvonne Sinclair, founder of Naru in Guatemala, whose story is part adventure, part quiet revolution.

Yvonne’s life began in London’s marketing world, where stability looked perfect from the outside. But when her family life didn’t unfold as planned, she found herself stepping into the unknown—first through solo travel in Egypt, and then, unexpectedly, in the rural mountains of Guatemala.

What started as a six-month commitment to help coffee workers became over two decades of living amidst cloud forests, serving thousands of malnourished children, and building bridges between worlds. Yvonne and Elle unpack the inner and outer journeys: from crafting an “escape bottom drawer” to discovering true purpose through service, simplicity, and relentless pragmatism. They discuss finding “enough,” releasing self-judgment, and the freedom that comes with aging and letting go.

This episode is about transformation—not by grand design, but by answering one ordinary yes after another. You’ll hear about the joys and heartbreaks of living and working in remote Guatemala, the realities of sustainable change, and the deep meaning that comes from steady, grounded leadership.

Whether you’re in the midst of personal loss, stuck in the waiting, or longing for purpose in unexpected places, Yvonne’s story will both comfort and challenge you.

Timestamps:

00:00:51 – Episode Introduction

00:04:14 – The Turning Point

00:07:23 – Arriving in Guatemala

00:11:21 – Yvonne's Hero’s Journey

00:18:23 – Why Guatemala?

00:21:34 – The Malnourished Children

00:28:50 – Life in Guatemala

00:50:59 – The Wisdom of Enough

Episode Links:

Naru Guatemala's Website: https://naruguatemala.org/

Support families in Guatemala by purchasing a 'World Peace Begins at Home' tee - https://www.the-humble-village.org/shop

Down The Well Links:

Elle's Substack - https://substack.com/@ellerowley

Elle's Instagram - instagram.com/ellerowley

-----

About Down The Well:

Motherhood should be full of joy and meaning. But it often isn't. Why is that? On Down the Well, Elle Rowley talks through the mother's hero's journey, and why it's different from the one you might have learned in school or books.

Unlike the traditional hero's journey, mothers have to descend into the depths of their own souls. No one comes out of motherhood the same, and with the right perspective and resources, we can make sure that transformation is for the better.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices