Mothers & Daughters: Heal The Wound, Break the Cycle

Mothers & Daughters: Heal The Wound, Break the Cycle

Author: Soul Sutras December 18, 2025 Duration: 18:13

Can you ever truly be a "good" daughter while staying true to yourself?

In this episode: understand the the Mother Wound, learn how to stop passing it on.

The bond between a mother and daughter is often described as sacred, but for so many of us, it's a complex battlefield of unspoken expectations, inherited trauma, and deep-seated guilt. In this raw and revealing episode of the Bad Daughter miniseries, I get vulnerable, revealing my own pain around my mother - so you can understand yourself better and start exploring how to heal your own mother-daugher wound.

In this episode, we peel back the layers of the most influential relationship in a woman’s life: the one with her mother/daughter. We go deep into the "Mother Wound"—the intergenerational pain passed down through lineages of women particularly South Asian women—and explore how cultural pressures can turn love into a burden. From the weight of "log kya kahenge" (what will people say) to the silent sacrifices our mothers made, we discuss why this relationship often feels like a tug-of-war between loyalty and liberation.

Inside this episode, we explore:

  • Our emotional triggers: Why the mother-daughter dynamic is uniquely fraught with emotional triggers and high stakes.
  • How we inherit trauma: How we unconsciously carry the unhealed wounds, anxieties, and societal limitations of the women who came before us.
  • The "Bad Daughter" Narrative: Reclaiming your identity when setting boundaries feels like a betrayal.
  • How to Heal: Actionable insights on how to break the cycle of trauma, practice radical empathy, and forge a new path toward reconciliation or self-peace.

Whether you are navigating a strained relationship, grieving a connection you never had, or trying to ensure you don’t pass the same patterns to your own children, this conversation is a vital step toward emotional freedom.

We’re talking about the trauma we inherit without asking for it, and how to set boundaries without feeling like a "bad daughter." It’s time to stop the cycle. 🛑

Enjoyed my book extract? Here's where you can buy my book Bad Daughter:

https://baddaughter.co.uk/about/

Join me on my women only "Anti-Retreat" in tropical Kerala:

https://baddaughter.co.uk/kerala-retreats/

Mentioned in this episode:

The Anti-Retreat in tropical Kerala

Real Kerala spirituality. Real sisterhood. No wellness BS. 8 Days, 7 Nights | 4-11 Feb 2026 | Kerala Backwaters Welcome to The Anti-Retreat. None of the usual yoga babes clutching “chai” lattes here! Just a real reatreat in a beautiful Kerala backwaters resort. You start and end your days with chanting and meditation in sync with the rhythms of Mother Nature. You soak up the energy of this bewitching land land with walking meditations, ancient Kerala rituals & visits to sacred goddess temples. You feast on traditional Kerala food. You connect deeper with yourself every day through a series of daily workshops. You connect with your sisters through a series of practises. The best bit? You connect with local women and women-led businesses (because your money supports them!) You’ll experience things that no tourist ever would. Are you ready?


There's a particular kind of conversation that happens when the formalities drop away and real talk begins-the kind that tackles what's often whispered about but rarely discussed openly in many communities. That's the space Masala Podcast: The South Asian feminist podcast occupies. Created by Soul Sutras, this multi-award-winning series deliberately turns its attention toward cultural taboos, from sex and sexuality to periods, menopause, and the complexities of mental health. It moves beyond surface-level discussions to dissect shame, sexual harassment, and porn through a specific, vital lens. What you'll hear is a rich exploration of intersectional feminism as it's lived and understood by South Asian women, making it a standout in its field. Each episode brings forward the voices and views of some of the world's most inspiring South Asian women, offering stories and analysis that are both deeply personal and broadly resonant. Tuning into this podcast feels like joining a necessary, candid dialogue that challenges silence and redefines narratives. The conversations are as nuanced and varied as the experiences they represent, creating a collective sense of understanding and progress. It’s more than just a listening experience; it’s an immersion into perspectives that are crucial, often overlooked, and powerfully transformative.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Masala Podcast: The South Asian feminist podcast
Podcast Episodes
Menopause & South Asian women with TV Doctor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:52
“The menopause is still taboo in our culture & we talk through the various stages of the menopause, how it affects our bodies & minds and what we can do about it.” The fiercely feminist Masala Podcast continues as Sangee…
Growing up in India as a trans woman: Mridul Wadhwa [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:43
Please note that the topic of this podcast might be triggering for some listeners. Feel free to skip this episode if this is difficult for you. “Mridul shares what it was like growing up in India as a trans woman. She sp…
Surviving sexual abuse in childhood (Trigger warning) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:01
Please note that the topic of this podcast might be triggering for some listeners. “Nina speaks so openly about being abused by her father. I was struck by how eloquently and compassionately she talked about the incredib…
Are South Asian women pressured into motherhood? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:25
“Motherhood and the pressure around it are such important topics for us women. In this episode, we talk about society’s obsession with all women being certain kinds of mothers.” On this episode of Masala Podcast, two fie…
Can brown Indian mums be funny? TikTok star Zarna Garg [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:17
“The funny brown auntie we all wish we had, is taking over the world with her brand of Indian mum comedy.” Season four of the fiercely feminist Masala Podcast returns with Sangeeta Pillai chatting with international come…
Being a South Asian woman in Britain - South Asian Heritage Month [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:29
“I’m sitting in my brown-ness and actually enjoying it…” For this very special episode of Masala Podcast, Masala Podcast interviewed the women behind South Asian Heritage Month (SAHM). On this episode, we talk about what…
Who’s the right sort of South Asian woman? With Anita Rani [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:58
“We’re the pride of our families, we’re the shame of our families. Put a foot wrong and you’re out!“ On this episode, Anita talks about all the pressures & pains of being the “right sort” of South Asian woman. As well as…
From divorce poverty to role-model-lawyer with Vandana Shah [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:46
“My husband kicked me out of the house with less than £10 in my pocket…” Meet Vandana Shah who went through a horrific divorce herself then went on to become an award-winning divorce lawyer, author, columnist and social…
Vitiligo from childhood - why is our idea of beauty so narrow? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:16
“I was told I had Vitiligo at 20 & told there was no real cure for it…” Meet Joti Gata-Aura, a Body Positivity Spokesperson & Social Media Advocate. Joti was diagnosed with Vitiligo at a young age. But she turned a diffi…