Send us a text Jessica has been a physical therapist in Portland, OR, since 2002, helping elite athletes—including pros and Olympians—get back to peak performance. With a holistic approach combining pelvic health, core strength, gait mechanics, and orthopedic care, Jessica’s mission is to empower patients to return to what they love most. When she’s not helping others, she’s hitting the trails, roads, and tracks herself! 🌟 In this conversation, we dive into: 🔹 Finding pelvic health 🔹 Becoming...
Jan 17, 2025•1 hr 15 min•Season 4Ep. 153
Send us a text 🎙️ The Active Mom Podcast welcomes Marina Petter Rodrigues, a pelvic health physical therapist and researcher at the University of Ottawa. Currently working at the Motor Function Measurement Lab with Dr. Linda McLean, Marina leads groundbreaking research on urinary incontinence in runners. Topics We Cover: 🏃 Pelvic floor strength and its role in running 💡 Moving beyond Kegels—what really works 🔍 Prevention-focused approaches to urinary incontinence ⚙️ Improving tools for clini...
Jan 10, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Season 4Ep. 152
Send us a text New on The Active Mom Podcast 🎙️We open Season 4 of the podcast catching up with @dr.christina_prevett—pelvic health physiotherapist, competitive weightlifter, CrossFit athlete, mom of two, & total powerhouse for strength training across the lifespan. (rumor has it she bought a Garmin watch & is now a runner too !?!)💪✨ Dr. Prevett is deep in a postdoctoral fellowship studying resistance training in the perinatal space and its impact on pelvic floor health. Spoiler: her i...
Jan 03, 2025•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 151
Send us a text Coming in at #1 on our list of top podcasts for 2024 is my conversation with Dr. Ashley Winter. Today, I speak with Dr. Ashley Winter, Board certified urologist who specializes in sexual medicine and postpartum hormones. After realizing that many of the common concerns that patients were brining to her clinic were not being addressed by the information she was being taught, she decided to do a fellowship in sexual disfunction. After working in managed health for five years followi...
Dec 27, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 3Ep. 52
Send us a text Coming in at #2 on our list of top podcasts for 2024 is my conversation with Munira Hudani. Today I speak with Munira Hudani, a Pre- and Post-Natal physiotherapist in Canada, and an emerging leader for the management of Diastasis Rectus Abdominis. After years of frustration in landing inconsistent results with her clients, and the dissatisfaction in having to say “we just don’t have enough research right now,” Munira began to challenge the conventional method to managing DRA. She ...
Dec 20, 2024•57 min•Season 3Ep. 51
Send us a text 🎙️ Coming in at #3 on our list of top podcasts for 2024! If you’re navigating pelvic organ prolapse after baby, this episode is a must-listen. 💡 I sit down with Margo Kwiatkowski, aka @postpartum_prolapse, an orthopedic & pelvic health PT, to dive into the physical AND mental challenges of POP. Diagnosed after her first baby in 2021, Margo turned her experience into a mission to educate, empower, & normalize postpartum changes. 🌟 We cover it all: 🔹 Preparing for pregna...
Dec 13, 2024•51 min•Season 3Ep. 50
Send us a text Coming in at #4 on our list of top podcasts for 2024 is my solo episode discussing how soon you can get back to workouts after delivery. 🎙️ When Can I Work Out After Baby? 🤔 Postpartum fitness is one of the hottest questions I get—DMs, emails, sidelines at kid activities, you name it. And guess what? There’s no magic “ready date” 🤯 (sorry, not sorry). But don’t worry, I’ve got you covered in today’s solo podcast episode. 🏋️♀️✨ We’ll dive into: 👉 General guidelines to ease ba...
Dec 06, 2024•30 min•Season 3Ep. 49
Send us a text 🎙️ Coming in hot at #5 on our list of top podcasts for 2024: My solo episode tackling one of the most DEBATED postpartum fitness questions: Do you REALLY have to wait 12 weeks to start running after baby? 🏃♀️ After 25 years of experience as a pelvic floor PT working with postpartum moms (& as someone who’s been there postpartum), I've read the research, talked to the experts, & lived the reality. Here’s the scoop: the "12-week guideline” might be helpful for SOME, but i...
Nov 29, 2024•55 min•Season 3Ep. 48
Send us a text 🚨 She’s back! We’re thrilled to welcome the incredible *Dr. Kimberley Johnson, PhD*, aka @wildmatrescence, back to the show for our Season 3 Finale! 🎉✨ Kimberley is a psychologist specializing in perinatal and reproductive health concerns, including: 🌟 Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders 🌟 Perinatal trauma & loss 🌟 Pelvic floor conditions 🌟 Infertility 🌟 Reproductive transitions In Episode 14 (May 2022), she shared her journey navigating postpartum prolapse & a p...
Nov 22, 2024•1 hr 23 min•Season 3Ep. 47
Send us a text 💥 *New Episode Alert!* 💥 Today I’m joined by the incredible Dr. Carey Rothschild, Clinical Associate Professor at @ ucf.edu & lead author of the groundbreaking Clinical Commentary: "Maximizing Running Participation and Performance Through Menopause" (published in @jwphptofficial, April/June 2023). 🙌 With 25+ years in orthopedics & sports medicine, Dr. Rothschild brings expertise in female athlete health, menopause, & running injuries—& she’s recently earned her ...
Nov 15, 2024•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 46
Send us a text What if your postpartum wasn't the picture of straight-forward perfection? Today, we welcome back Amy Leedham, aka @amy_the_punisher former pro trail runner, a sustainability consultant, who recently welcomed her 2nd child! Amy joined us in Season 1 to talk about “The Postpartum Experience No One Wants to Read About but Should,” a piece she wrote in 2021 after the birth of her 1st child, highlighting the physical complications she faced attempting to return to trail running & ...
Nov 08, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Season 3Ep. 45
Send us a text Today, we're thrilled to welcome back @paulina.balboa to the show! A former MMA athlete, PhD student based in Cologne, Germany, owner of @pi.physio, & mom of 2, Paulina just welcomed her second child a few weeks ago! (Don't miss Paulina's first appearance on the podcast, Season 2, August 18, 2023.) Paulina brings a wealth of knowledge on female athletes & cultural differences surrounding pregnant & postpartum athletes. Her quest for information on staying active during...
Nov 01, 2024•55 min•Season 3Ep. 44
Send us a text In today’s episode, I sit down with @drjocelynwallace, a physical therapist, Level 2 @CrossFit Trainer, & toddler mom, to discuss her personal & professional journey through fibroids, high-risk pregnancy, & hysterectomy. Having undergone 2 open myomectomies, a C-section, & ultimately a total hysterectomy, Dr. Wallace shares invaluable insights on healing after major surgery, managing fibroids as a young mom, & navigating early perimenopause. In this episode, we...
Oct 25, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Season 3Ep. 43
Send us a text On today’s episode, I chat with Dr. Tricia DeNardis, aka @burpeesandburpcloths She's a physical therapist, pregnancy & postpartum exercise specialist, & mom of 3! 👶👧👦 (& a zero dark 30 exerciser who shares the ups raising kids while trying to stay fit, strong & sane!) Tricia shares her journey to becoming a pelvic floor PT & how motherhood inspired her mission to help other active moms thrive. Tricia is also a @pregnant.postpartum.athlete certified coach Exc...
Oct 18, 2024•52 min•Season 3Ep. 42
Send us a text In today’s episode, I sit down with Sara Perelmuter, a medical student and future OBGYN, who is already leading innovations in the field of sexual medicine. As president of the Sexual Medicine Research Team and with over seven peer-reviewed publications, Sara’s latest work, "Genitourinary Syndrome of Lactation: A New Perspective on Postpartum and Lactation-Related Genitourinary Symptoms," introduces a new term encompassing genitourinary symptoms related to low estrogen during the ...
Oct 11, 2024•53 min•Season 3Ep. 41
Send us a text On today’s episode, I speak with Dr. Todd Davenport, professor and Chair in the Department of Physical Therapy at University of the Pacific in Stockton, California. He is a scientific advisor to the Workwell Foundation and Chair of Long Covid Physio. His research involves why some people don't get better following an illness. We dive deep into how chronic fatigue, long COVID, & chronic pain impact the pelvic floor, discussing essential tips for a safe return to exercise after ...
Oct 04, 2024•49 min•Season 3Ep. 40
Send us a text On today's episode, I sit down with Dr. Rachel Tinius, an Associate Professor at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky, to discuss her groundbreaking research on the benefits of exercise during pregnancy. Dr. Tinius has dedicated her career to studying the impact of physical activity on maternal & infant health outcomes, developing community-based interventions for pregnant/postpartum women, especially those in marginalized communities. Her innovative work ide...
Sep 27, 2024•53 min•Season 3Ep. 39
Send us a text On today’s episode, I speak with Dr. Jessica Drummond, founder and CEO of The Integrative Women’s Health Institute. Her unique approach focuses on functional nutrition, lifestyle medicine, movement therapies, nervous system dysregulation, trauma, and mindset – essential elements often overlooked in traditional health education. She is passionate about caring for and empowering people who struggle with women’s and pelvic health concerns. She is equally passionate about educating an...
Sep 20, 2024•59 min•Season 3Ep. 38
Send us a text In today's solo episode, I dive deep into the topic of running during pregnancy. Drawing from 25+ years of experience as a physical therapist and addressing listener questions, I aim to provide evidence-based information, clarify common misconceptions, and help you make confident decisions about staying active while pregnant. With so many challenges to navigate during pregnancy, let's make your choices around running a bit easier. Key topics covered include: - Running while pregna...
Sep 13, 2024•55 min•Season 3Ep. 37
Send us a text Today I speak with Dr. Rita Deering, a women's health physical therapist, associate professor of physical therapy, and researcher who investigates postpartum neuromuscular function and perinatal exercise. Her PhD work evaluated postpartum abdominal muscle function and she completed an Advanced Fellowship in Women's Health where she looked at running mechanics and abdominal muscle function in postpartum runners. Dr. Deering has several peer-reviewed publications on postpartum retur...
Sep 06, 2024•1 hr 15 min•Season 3Ep. 36
Send us a text Today I speak with Dr. Ciera Kirkpatrick. She is an assistant professor of advertising and public relations at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's College of Journalism and Mass Communications. Ciera studies how messages in the media — like social media, advertising, and news coverage — influence individuals’ health by affecting their health-related knowledge, attitudes, and behavior intentions. After becoming a mom in 2020, Ciera became especially interested in the media's effec...
Aug 30, 2024•53 min•Season 3Ep. 35
Send us a text Today I speak with Michelle Lyons, a physical therapist for 30 years. She is passionate about women’s health, with a particular focus on hormonal health & its influence on pelvic & musculoskeletal health throughout the female lifecycle. She lives in Ireland and teaches nationally, internationally, and online. She consults for various organizations including Sport Ireland and FIFA and was proud to contribute to their recent publication, the Female Health Project Snapshot. S...
Aug 23, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Season 3Ep. 34
Send us a text Today I speak with Jay Dicharry, MPT, SCS, author of Running Rewired. His career blurs the line between clinical practice, coaching, and engineering to solve problems and optimize performance. Jay literally wrote the book(s) on running gait; he is author of Running Rewired and Anatomy for Runners, writes for digital and print media, and founded MOBO as a tool to improve foot health and performance. Having taught in the Sports Medicine program at the University of Virginia and now ...
Aug 16, 2024•48 min•Season 3Ep. 33
Send us a text Today I speak with Margie Davenport, Professor, Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation in the University of Alberta. As a former national team athlete, her recent work has examined elite sport participation during pregnancy, and return to sport following delivery. This line of research aims to develop more inclusive guidelines and policies for elite pregnant/postpartum athletes. Her principal research interest is the investigation of maternal-fetal health outcomes, and an e...
Aug 09, 2024•58 min•Season 3Ep. 32
Send us a text Today, I speak with Dr. Abby Bales, PT, DPT, CSCS. She is the founder of Reform Physical Therapy in New York City where she specializes women’s health and orthopedics. She is an expert in pregnancy and postpartum pelvic health and sports rehabilitation, as well as strength and conditioning and run programming. Dr. Bales has served as a medical advisor for health and tech start-ups, notably The Mirror and Odela Health, and as scientific advisor for the Olympya app (NIKE Valiant Lab...
Aug 02, 2024•1 hr 21 min•Season 3Ep. 31
Send us a text Today, I speak with Mary Johnson, owner and founder of Lift.Run.Perform, mom of 2, coach, and athlete. A former D1 rower, she ran her first marathon in 2010. She worked in fashion for 6 years after college and left in 2015 to work in strength & conditioning. She founded LRP in 2017 to follow her true passion of running coaching. After giving birth in 2019 and 2021, Mary had a long and extensive postpartum rehab processes. This also lead to FAI/labral repair surgery in 2022 as ...
Jul 26, 2024•58 min•Season 3Ep. 30
Send us a text Today, I speak with Jennifer J. Bagwell, PT, PhD, DPT, an Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at California State University Long Beach. Her overall research objective is to enhance quality of life through the reduction of joint pathology and the promotion of health and exercise. She seeks to understand the relationship between movement, anatomy, and function with respect to perinatal joint loading and pain and to optimize injury prevention and treatment stra...
Jul 19, 2024•52 min•Season 3Ep. 29
Send us a text Today, I speak with Verna Volker, founder of Native Women Running, a source of visibility, inspiration and community of native women runners on and off the reservation/reserve. She is from the Navajo Nation but lives in Minneapolis, MN. Married with four kids, she began her running journey in 2009, and went from a newbie runner to an ultra runner, 94 miles being her longest so far, with plans to run a 100 miler in January 2025! We talk about: -finding running after a lifetime of a...
Jul 12, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 3Ep. 28
Send us a text Today, I speak with Selene Yeager, the host of the Hit Play Not Pause podcast, content manager at Feisty Menopause, and a best-selling professional health and fitness writer, including the co-author of ROAR and Next Level with Dr. Stacy Sims. She lives what she writes as an NASM certified personal trainer, Pn1 certified nutrition coach, and lover of all two-wheeled exploits and adventures. We talk about: -co-authoring two books -talking about menopause -anxiety as part of menopaus...
Jul 05, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Season 3Ep. 27
Send us a text Today, I speak with Dr. Linda McLean, a professor in the School of Rehabilitation Sciences and Chair in Women's Health Research at the University of Ottawa in Canada. Her research program focuses on understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms associated with pelvic floor disorders in women, and on the development of improved intervention approaches. Linda and her team have been studying the underlying cause of urine leakage in runners, and their recent findings may lead to imp...
Jun 28, 2024•59 min•Season 3Ep. 26
