A cuppa with Katy, founder of MIST
Get to know our guests and us, our alternative Q&A! We’re catching up with friends, past and present to ask them about the important stuff in life. Y’know… cake, tea and biscuits.
Here’s Katy Schnitzler from MIST who appears on Episode 32 of our podcast.
Welcome Katy!
Hiya, I’m Katy! I’m involved in quite a few projects at the moment, and enjoy being busy in a beautiful, but sleepy town. Firstly, I run MIST Workshops, a training company helping organisations to better support women and their partners experiencing pregnancy loss, infertility and/or childlessness. My work with MIST is informed by current research (I am pursuing a PhD in this area alongside, which I love). I’m also a lecturer and teach various subjects, including psychology, health and social care, teaching and research methods.
MIST really got off the ground during the first lockdown - don’t worry I wasn’t one of those super productive types, I mostly had days of despair (though in fairness, I did manage to nail banana bread). After the launch we ran a webinar which was well attended. Since then we’ve had interest from organisations who would primarily like to implement miscarriage and infertility policies. We also run training on the issues, the disparities and potential triggers apparent in workplaces. In doing so we highlight the implicit (and often explicit!) pro-natal values and norms, crucially helping employers to tackle these. We also re-write existing policies to ensure employees without children are not receiving unfavourable treatment. Then we match them up so they’re all neat and consistent.
MIST is a very positive part of my life, but it is also bittersweet as it was created after I experienced the loss of my first baby. It was the most devastating experience of my life and I developed debilitating PTSD for a year and a half following the loss. I received unsupportive (well, at times, abysmal treatment) from healthcare staff, and sadly my place of work. I witnessed the taboo first hand, and it was palpable. I felt I couldn’t even tell close friends and watched 24 friends/acquaintances on Facebook/both of my supervisors have babies the year I lost mine. I also experienced discrimination at work upon disclosure and I’d say daily triggers being a childless woman. When I mustered the strength (almost 5 years later), I set up MIST to tackle this equality issue.
My aims for the future - well, on my bucket list I would like to write a book for employers and employees on these topics. (Damn I’m committed now I’ve said it here!). I am actually writing a book chapter currently so almost there :) My ultimate goal is to tackle these reproductive taboos one workplace at a time…
Do tell us about your morning!
I have been thriving working from home if I’m honest. I get so much more done and can take walks during my lunch breaks. I thought it also made my cats happier, but I read an article that dogs enjoy their owners home-working, while cats apparently miss the peace.
Anyway, my day begins with porridge and tea. I then email check and get ready to start my lectures if it’s a teaching day. My students are always a source of inspiration with their fresh ideas, and I thrive transferring knowledge in an accessible way. I wrote the content for a new business psychology module recently and incorporated childlessness into this. The assessment involved a consultancy report on how to change the pro-natal culture - it was fantastic hearing students say they’d never thought of this as a diversity issue.
When I’m not lecturing, I am PhDing and MISTing! This morning I had a meeting with an organisation about the survey we are running for them. They have had 60 responses and we anticipate we will get some more - we are excited to create a report based on the findings shortly. I’ve also been contacting participants to arrange their interviews. These interviews enable participants to elaborate on their personal experiences regarding reproductive taboos at work and how the organisation can better support them. I can’t wait to hear these real stories, and use them to make changes for this company.
Sounds super busy and amazing, can we get you a brew?
Yes please! I like to stay hydrated so I drink red bush tea and water. If we met in a bar, I like a cold, crisp white wine - or a cocktail.
Would you like a biscuit?
When I was vegan, I was so happy to find Tesco’s own dark chocolate digestives are vegan. I’ve continued this habit even though I am now vegetarian.
If I’m being totally honest - I have started a new routine when I’m working from home. It involves going out for a very big slice of cake - there is the most amazing tea and cake place by the river with outdoor seating where I live in Devon. I take a walk there and sometimes do some reading for my PhD if it’s sunny…
Do you stop for lunch?
Always! I used to eat at my desk while frantically email checking in my 20s. Now I like to take time for lunch. My favourite is jacket potato with a huge salad, cheese and coleslaw - no butter but cooked with olive oil and sea salt (diva). When I’m pressed for time, or if it’s too hot for a jacket, I love oatcakes with cheese and cucumber - or an egg and watercress sandwich. Is this TMI?
What can we bake for you?
This talk is making me hungry tbh.
Going back to my earlier comments about my current cake obsession - I love a lemon drizzle, coffee and walnut or a Victoria sponge. Basically any cake, but bonus if it’s a wedge of home made heaven on a plate.
