The Algorithm Isn't Your Friend Postpartum with Eva from the Joy Embassy

If you have ever lain awake in the dark, baby in arms, scrolling Instagram and feeling quietly worse with every post you see — this episode is for you.

This week as part of our Maternal Mental Health Month series, Eva sits down with positive psychologist Eva from The Joy Embassy for an honest, warm conversation about what social media really does to new mothers in the Netherlands — and what we can actually do about it. But the conversation goes further than most: into the history of how community itself collapsed when television arrived in the 1950s, into sociology of the forbidden emotions of motherhood, and into what it means to try to build real human connection in the jungle years of early parenthood.

In this episode:

Why seeing happy motherhood online makes struggling mothers feel worse — and the research behind it

How the algorithm actively shapes your postpartum experience without your consent

The history of community collapse — from bowling alleys to living rooms to Instagram

What de tropenjaaren (the jungle years) means, and who reaches back

What positive psychology actually offers a mother in the dark — beyond toxic positivity

Rachael Forester's new community space — real alternatives to scrolling

- Find our more about Rachael's new community space check out her website: RachaelForesterTherapy and scroll to bottom to find a sheet you can fill out. This is not a replacement for crisis, specialist care or therapy. It's an opporunity to find grounding in such a ground shaking moment of parenthood in general.

I am not an expert. I am a parent with questions and a computer, trying to let people overhear conversations that might help them feel less alone. For international mothers in the Netherlands navigating postpartum far from home: you are not alone. And this podcast is my way of reaching back.

If you wan to read articles - check out these ones:

Exploring the influence of social media ‘Mumfluencers’ on postpartum body image

Exploring the influence of social media 'Mumfluencers' on postpartum body image

Why Don’t We Talk About the Joys of Motherhood Anymore?

Effects of Social Media on Motherhood

“I Don’t Want to Be Bad Mommy, but I Also Don’t Want to Be the Bad Mom”: How Mothers Story Their Experiences Navigating Social Media with Their Children