The Burnout Rebellion Podcast
Parenting in the storm: Talking faith, motherhood and the systems that fail us with Elizabeth Austin
Published: 9 February 2025 at 15:00 Europe/London
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Episode notes
This interview was one of the first interviews I did for the podcast and it made me realise the depth that these conversations were going to go to, and how incredible they would be. I feel very lucky to talk to so many people that are just….wise. It gives me faith in humanity, particularly when times in our lives or collectively can feel dark. Elizabeth Austin is incredibly wise. She has been through something many of us cannot imagine. Her daughter Carolyn was diagnosed with childhood leukaemia and as the events unfolded Elizabeth shares with us what it means to burn out as a parent, while caring for someone and the huge additional pressures the systems we live in put onto us at this time. I learn so much more about the American healthcare system than I ever knew. In her writing Elizabeth talks about the concept of being a bad cancer mum, how do we hold onto ourselves when our bedrock is being shaken and how can we do so with grace?
Bio
Elizabeth's writing has appeared in HuffPost, Today.com, The Sun, Thrillist, Reactor Mag, Write or Die, and others. She is currently querying her memoir about being a bad cancer mom. She holds an M.F.A. from Vermont College of Fine Arts and lives in Bucks County, Pennsylvania with her two children and their many pets.
Links
Website: writingelizabeth.com
Instagram: writingelizabeth
Substack: writingelizabeth.substack.com
I feel so privileged to have been able to listen to this conversation several times. Each time, I have taken away something new. I felt such a deep connection with Elizabeth, perhaps because we are both moving into the unknown and we have those torches in front of that we know will guide us, even if we are not sure how they will. How many of us are making or talking about making big changes and are met with naysayers, disbelievers and those who perhaps do not see that work can be joyful and full of purpose.
It reminds me of a fabulous quote that I heard Brene Brown share. It is from Theodore Roosevelt. He said:
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.”
Let us all dare greatly.
Next week
I hope you loved this episode as much as I did. Next week for Valentines Day it’ll be my turn to put Jane Galloway in the hot seat. Jane is an award-winning coach and Founder of Quiet the Hive, helping you identify a life you love, and arming you with the toolkit and confidence to go get it. She is such a fabulous human and I know it’s one you will enjoy for sure.
Much love,
Anna xx
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