Description

In this tender, thoughtful, and deeply introspective episode, we sit down with Lakshmi Madhavan — artist, mother, and visual storyteller — for a raw and beautiful conversation about parenting, creativity, identity, and the surprising wisdom children carry.

Lakshmi shares the transformative experience of raising her son, Eshaan, and how motherhood has reshaped her art, her self-perception, and her entire worldview. Through stories of affirmation rituals, sketchpad games in the car, and profound questions like “Why does the caterpillar feel like he has to become a butterfly?”, she invites us to witness parenting as both a mirror and a creative force.

This episode is not just for parents — it's for artists, seekers, and anyone navigating who they are and who they’re becoming.

🎧 Why You Should Listen

• You’re a parent or caregiver seeking meaning beyond the everyday grind.
• You’re exploring how motherhood or fatherhood shapes identity and creativity.
• You’ve ever asked yourself: “Who am I now?”
• You want to hear honest, soulful reflections on parenting — without filters or perfection.
• You’re curious about raising a sensitive, curious child in a loud and fast world.

💬 Notable Quotes from Lakshmi

• “I’ve really had to embrace this version of who I am in my multiple roles and know that I can't be fulfilling all those to the perfection levels that I want to.”
• “Parenting… it breaks you, it molds you, it rebuilds you, it breaks you again. And there’s a little being always watching.”
• “I’ll never be 100% right. I’ll never be 100% wrong. One way or another, my kid might end up in therapy bitching about me.”
• “This is another human being who looks at me with such pure eyes… I’m so jaded about myself that I don’t think I would put those adjectives for me.”
• “First year of motherhood just destroyed that theory of input equals output… there is no cause and effect to it.”
• “Because I had a child and through his eyes I was watching him view the world, I could view the world again.”

🛠️ Practical Takeaways for Listeners

• Ditch the perfection script. You don’t have to be a “100% mother” or “100% artist” every day. Showing up as your whole (imperfect) self is more sustainable—and more authentic.
• Turn everyday moments into rituals. A sketchpad in the car, affirmations before bed, themed drawings—creativity and connection don’t need structure. Just intention.
• Let your child see you. Whether it’s through your joy, struggle, or passion, children learn most from the way you live—not just what you say.
• Prioritise knowing yourself. Self-awareness is essential. The more you understand your patterns, the better you can parent with presence and intention.

📚 Resources & Mentions

• The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
• Kasavu Fabric (Traditional Kerala textile): Lakshmi’s material of choice in her artwork
• The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
• Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

👩‍⚕️ About the Guest

Lakshmi Madhavan is a visual artist and mother based in India. Her art practice weaves together storytelling, traditional textiles like the kasavu, and explorations of memory, identity, and femininity. As a mother to 6-year-old Eshaan, Lakshmi integrates creativity and conscious parenting in her everyday life — with a sketchpad always nearby.

She brings authenticity, vulnerability, and a rare blend of humor and insight to this episode, making her voice resonate with every listener navigating the path of self and parenthood.

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