Hi, I’m Elena
I am a science writer and content creator focused on maternal wellness and mental health. Drawing on my background as a social entrepreneur in global women's and children's health, spanning many continents and cultures—my work is rooted in the concept of evolutionary mismatch—a theory that examines how contemporary lifestyles diverge from those our ancestors evolved to thrive in. I apply this lens to maternal mental health, exploring how the child-rearing practices and social structure of hunter-gatherer societies contrast with the expert-driven and isolated nature of modern motherhood. I have published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, I have a popular Instagram account where I publish short, educational videos, and I am currently working on a book.
I am the mother of two children, Viggo and Gaia, who are five and three years old, and my writing and research is first and foremost grounded in my day-to-day experience as a mother.
This is my podcast and newsletter, Motherhood Until Yesterday, where I explore these topics in depth. Here are some of my most popular articles to get you started:
Why I'm Not A Fan of Gentle Parenting
What the Best Research on Daycare Really Says
How to Actually Increase the Birth Rate
Did I Just Solve Picky Eating???
On the podcast side, I’ve been fortunate enough to have some pretty big-deal guests, including:
Michaeleen Doucleff, best-selling author of Hunt, Gather, Parent
Cat Bohannon, best-selling author of Eve
Ruth Whippman, NYT columnist and author of Boy Mom
Rachel Yoder, author of Nightbitch
and many more…
I hope you enjoy reading and listening, and I am always here if you have questions and always interested in what you have to share (I do my best to keep up with DMs and comments, especially here on Substack). I love hearing from my community.
Stay tuned for more exciting content to come.
So glad to have you in the club.
Best,
Elena
