What Ancient Greece Teaches Us About Making Home a Refuge
Sz 2 Ep 10 | What if the greatest act of heroism isn't conquering the world—but creating a home worth returning to?
Elle explores the ancient art of homemaking as sacred work. Drawing from Homer's Odyssey, the Hero's Journey, and hospitality traditions spanning Greek xenia to Japanese omotenashi, she reveals how mothers and matriarchs don't just decorate spaces—they shape culture itself.
Elle breaks down six powerful elements of creating refuge: rhythm, presence, peace, cultivation, welcome, and spirit. Through personal stories—from her grandparents' healing weekly routines to a friend's mother finding peace while caring for a non-verbal son—she shows how the work of tending a home ripples outward to repair the world.This isn't about Pinterest perfection. It's about meaning-making in a distracted world.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Home as sacred act
02:33 - The Odyssey and xenia05:35 - Mother vs. Matriarch archetypes
10:41 - Element #1: Rhythm
13:45 - Element #2: Presence
16:19 - Element #3: Peace
20:22 - Element #4: Cultivation
23:25 - Element #5: Welcome
30:32 - Element #6: Spirit
34:09 - Closing thoughts
Show links:
Wall Street Journal / Wealthy Family Mission Statements / https://www.wsj.com/finance/investing/wealthy-family-mission-statements-e08faabd?g[…]SW0O3ESdqHJbt2aaLeE01RCfIa0rUvSg7rl36cN69DHoBl2ARVmr2ySQQ%3D%3D
Systematic Review: Routines and Child Development / https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jftr.12549?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Down The Well Links:
Check out Down The Well on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Down-The-Well
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
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35:29
Why Moms Feel Bad About Feeling Bad (And How to Stop)
Sz 2 Ep 9 | What if the hardest part of motherhood isn't the emotion itself—but what we do to ourselves after we feel it?
In this solo episode, Elle unpacks one of the most invisible sources of suffering in motherhood: the pattern of feeling bad about feeling bad. She reveals how we take a natural human emotion—frustration, sadness, overwhelm—and then bury ourselves under layers of guilt, shame, and judgment.
This isn't about toxic positivity or pretending hard emotions don't exist. It's about learning to recognize when we're digging ourselves deeper into the well... and how to stop.
Elle shares personal stories from her early motherhood, a powerful moment teaching emotional skills to young girls, and a real coaching example that shows how one woman's "mess in every area" was actually just one emotion hiding under a mountain of self-judgment.
You'll walk away with a simple three-step practice to drop the unnecessary suffering and befriend the emotions that actually hold the key to your growth.
Timestamps:
01:34 - Feeling bad about feeling bad
04:37 - Primary vs. secondary emotions
06:39 - Something is wrong with me
07:40 - The three-step practice
10:43 - Case study: Coaching a friend
12:45 - Befriending your emotions
Down The Well Links:
Elle's Substack - https://substack.com/@ellerowley
Elle's Instagram - instagram.com/ellerowley
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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
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14:19
Why Moms Miss Their Own Joy—and How to Get It Back
Sz 2 Ep 8 | Elle invites us to pause... to breathe... to stay for the exhale.
As the leaves turn and the holidays begin, she explores a deceptively simple yet profound concept: truly experiencing the moments we create. It's not about doing more—it's about being more present in what we're already doing.
Elle shares her journey from frantic holiday-maker to intentional memory-creator, offering a mini masterclass in emotional presence. She challenges us: Are we confusing participation with presence? Are we unconsciously fleeing from joy?
From yoga mats to dinner tables, Elle provides practical wisdom for savoring life's exhales. It's time to linger, to ask one more question, to offer our full gaze.
This isn't just about slowing down—it's about showing up fully for the life we're living.
🍂 Ready to transform your fall from frantic to fulfilling? Listen now.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Fall reflections and the nurturer's season
04:06 - The "stay for the exhale" revelation
09:44 - Embracing the matriarch's wisdom
12:17 - The surprising challenge of tolerating joy
17:22 - Practical ways to linger in life's moments
Down The Well Links:
• YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN6YKPAhI1Rstsc4dT2N86w
• 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 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
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Replenish Your Well: Waking Up to The Need for Authentic Friendships in Motherhood | Andrea Faulkner Williams
Sz 2 Ep 8 | Elle sits down with her longtime friend and fellow entrepreneur, Andrea Faulkner Williams, to share real and heartfelt reflections on nurturing friendship through the busyness of motherhood.
Ever felt like you're drowning in the demands of life? You're not alone.
Elle and Andrea share raw, honest truths about:
• The tender challenges that shape motherhood
• Keeping friendships strong when life feels busy
• Championing each other's dreams
• Turning comparison into inspiration
Take a moment to laugh and cry along with Elle and Andrea as they show you the positive difference friendship can make in motherhood.
🔔 Subscribe for more soul-nourishing conversations that remind you: You're not alone in this beautiful mess of motherhood and life.
💬 Comment below: In what was is friendship a lifeline for you?
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro: First in-person podcast with Andrea
5:40 Motherhood: The most challenging job ever
11:16 Friendship challenges in adulthood and mothering
19:56 Non-comparative support in friendships
25:43 Handling emotional mismatch in friendships
31:25 How to be a good friend
37:05 Creating a joy list for happiness
42:38 Championing each other's callings and dreams
49:26 Rapid-fire questions about their friendship
55:54 Dealing with insecurities and teen gossip
59:19 Closing thoughts and appreciation
Show Links:Andrea's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreafaulknerwilliams/?hl=en
Tubby Todd: https://tubbytodd.com/?brand_general&tw_source=google&tw_adid=764490404375&tw_campaign=22807709662&t...
Solly Baby: https://sollybaby.com/collections/wraps?wickedsource=google&wickedid=CjwKCAjwu9fHBhAWEiwAzGRC_7SVVjW...
"Present over Perfect" by Shauna Niequist
"What in the World?" by Leanne Morgan
Down The Well Links:
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN6Y...
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? On Down the Well, Elle Rowley explores the mother's hero's journey—a path different from what you've read in books. It's a descent into the soul, where transformation is inevitable. Let's ensure it's for the better.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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1:00:05
Impossible Standards in Motherhood: Letting Go of the Good Mother Myth | Lisa Marchiano
Sz 2 Ep 6 | We have the pleasure of hearing from Lisa Marchiano for the second time on the Down The Well Podcast, a Jungian analyst and author of "Motherhood: Facing and Finding Yourself." Lisa and Elle peel back the layers of the "Good Mother" myth and dive deep into the transformative power of shadow work in motherhood.
Are you ready to confront the shadow side of mothering? To embrace the parts of yourself you've been told to hide?
Lisa reveals how the "good mother myth" sets impossible standards, leaving us feeling inadequate and disconnected from our true selves. But here's the kicker—what if those "negative" aspects we try to suppress are actually the key to our growth?Elle and Lisa explore:
• The liberating truth about the "Good Mother" myth [1:27]
• Why your anger might be your greatest teacher [19:44]
• The golden nuggets hidden in your shadow [41:52]
• How to parent from wholeness, not perfection [30:51]
Prepare to be challenged, inspired, and ultimately freed by this raw and honest exploration of motherhood's deepest truths.
🔔 Subscribe for more soul-stirring conversations that light the path to authentic motherhood.
💬 Comment below: What part of yourself are you ready to reclaim in your mothering journey?
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro: The good mother myth
5:34 How the good mom image affects women
8:28 Disempowering effects of perfect parenting ideals
14:11 Letting go of the good mother myth
21:15 Working with difficult emotions in motherhood
28:43 Understanding and integrating your shadow
37:38 Identifying shadow qualities in yourself
44:33 Practical steps for shadow work
49:22 Reintegrating positive aspects of younger self
54:12 Advice for different stages of motherhood
Show Links:
• "Motherhood: Facing and Finding Yourself" by Lisa Marchiano
• Lisa's website: https://lisamarchiano.com/
Down The Well Links:
• YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN6YKPAhI1Rstsc4dT2N86w
• 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 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
Motherhood should be full of joy and meaning. But it often isn't. Why is that? On Down the Well, Elle Rowley, talks about how mothers can achieve that meaning and joy by going on their own hero's journey.
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.
Österreich