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Today’s guest is actress, singer, and mother Kristen Gutoskie, and we’re having an honest conversation about what motherhood really feels like once you’re in the thick of it. We explore how she’s learned to trust herself, stay creative and find her footing in parenthood.

Kristen opens up about the mental load; the invisible emotional work of keeping a family moving, the vulnerability of sharing her creative projects, and the ongoing challenge of being both a present mom and a whole person with dreams of her own. This episode is a reminder that you’re not alone, and that there’s real beauty in figuring things out as you grow into this new version of yourself.

Kristen Lee Gutoskie is a SAG nominated actor known for her roles in the Emmy winning show The Handmaid’s Tale, Chicago Fire, The Vampire Diaries, Narco’s Mexico, Containment, and Lethal Weapon. She is also a musician and has written and recorded music for projects she has starred in, including CW’s Containment and Hulu film The Dust Storm. Her first music single “Stardust” under her shortened name Lee Gutoskie was released earlier this year.

If you love the Motherlands Podcast, please help us keep it alive by becoming a paid subscriber at keelysemler.substack.com.

3:00 The expectations of motherhood vs the realities

4:12 Gaining control of yourself and surrendering control of everything/everyone else

7:56 Trusting your intuition and instincts

9:28 Connecting parenthood to childhood

10:53 Honesty in creativity and what it means to be seen

14:56 Following joy and passion

17:45 Creative process, intention, and the vulnerability of sharing something you have created

21:11 Legacy and the remembering of art, family, and truth

23:15 What really matters in parenthood

25:18 Navigating comparison

28:15 Holding both being a mom and being your own person

Behind Closed Doors Extended Interview Includes:

31:44 The responsibility of the artist in socially relevant work

33:30 Media representation of intimacy, birth, and motherhood

36:14 Navigating technology, privacy, and family

40:13 The evolution of your connection with your partner

44:41 Sharing the mental load

47:24 Letting yourself flow in parenthood and creativity

Work with Keely

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Connect with Kristen Gutoskie:

Music

IMDB

Social: instagram: @kristenleegutoskie, tiktok: @leegutoskie

Recent film:

https://www.mylifetime.com/movies/i-was-octomom-the-natalie-suleman-story

Next film with Kristen to be released soon: https://takethemoneyandrunproduction.com/million/press/english/

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