This week, Brittany and Aleen are joined by mom-to-be and host of the Big Kid Problems podcast, Sarah Merrill Hall! She’s here to talk all about her pregnancy journey thus far, some of the toughest things she’s experienced, and how her second trimester has been. She also shares what it was like building her brand, Big Kid Problems, the inspo behind it all, and how that eventually led her to start her pregnancy podcast, Bottle Service. Then, they chat about Sarah’s birth plan, her experience with...
Mar 14, 2022•50 min
This week, Aleen and Brittany are joined by sleep coach and best-selling author of 12 Hours of Sleep By 12 Weeks, Suzy Giordano AKA “The Baby Coach.” They start by learning about Suzy’s journey to becoming a sleep coach and she gives us a rundown of the 12x12 method. She shares all the trials and errors she went through when introducing the method and how it actually works. Next, Suzy discusses transitioning from a bassinet to a crib, and her new book Room To Grow. We then read listener question...
Mar 07, 2022•54 min
Brittany and Aleen are back, this week to chat all about traveling with kids — is it really as scary as we think?! But first, they start off with how Brittany’s recent trip to the Bahamas went, and whether going away with kids actually feels like a vacation. They run through the must-have travel essentials for a baby and toddler, practical tips while flying, and baby gear rentals (yes, those exist). Then they get into listener questions, including going through Covid testing requirements, sleepi...
Feb 28, 2022•57 min
This week Aleen chats with Betches’ very own Sr. Manager of People and Community, Keisha Toussaint to talk all about her incredible birth story. To start off, Keisha shares just why she chose an at-home birth and how so much of her decision came from the prejudice Black women face during childbirth and postpartum. She also touches on maternal mortality and the lack of quality care Black women receive from the medical community. Keisha then gets into the whole process: finding the right doula and...
Feb 21, 2022•49 min
This week Aleen and Brittany are joined by Peloton’s Head Instructor and VP of Fitness Programming, Robin Arzón—are you as excited as we are?! To kick off the convo, Robin explains her decision to be *the first* instructor in Peloton history to go out on maternity leave. They then chat all about boundary setting, learning to just say no (it’s hard, but you can do it), and not feeling guilty for taking a much needed step back. Robin gets into all the details of her return to work and shares some ...
Feb 14, 2022•42 min
Aleen and Brittany are back with some big updates (although honestly, every week as a mom is big). Aleen talks about what it was like consulting with a sleep coach, why she had to make that decision and everything she’s learned so far. Brittany’s update is more chaotic — after making the switch from daycare to nanny, her nanny quit! Now she’s deep into the new nanny interview process. They then dive into Brittany’s parenting journey, including the struggle of gentle parenting, how practicing it ...
Feb 07, 2022•45 min
In this week's episode, Aleen and Brittany are joined by IVF, NICU, and surrogacy mom, Ashley Gildin Spitzer. Ashley is here to share all about her bumpy and emotional infertility journey. To start off, Ashley shares her experience with IVF and IUI, eventually making the decision to go through surrogacy, and just how expensive and emotional it can all be. She talks about the moment she realized her first surrogate match was actually not a match, and even taking matters into her own hands to find...
Jan 31, 2022•1 hr 10 min
Aleen and Brittany are back this week, starting off with some updates including Brittany’s decision to hire a nanny for Jack, Aleen introducing solids to Mila, and Mila’s very first giggle. Next, they dive into a discussion all about how their experience has been introducing their dogs to their babies, what they did before their babies’ arrivals, and some of the biggest challenges along the way (including the relatable feeling of dog mom guilt). Plus, Brittany shares some pointers she learned fr...
Jan 24, 2022•49 min
Today, Brittany is joined once again by psychiatrist, author, and founder of Gemma, Dr. Laskhmin. Dr. Lakshmin is back to chat all about postpartum mental health, starting off with a recap of what postpartum depression and anxiety are (and just how common they really are). They also discuss the relatable struggle of getting past the guilt of postpartum depression and why it’s time to let go of that that shame. Plus, Dr. Lakshmin shares her thoughts on the fight for paid family leave, and just ho...
Jan 17, 2022•47 min
This week, Aleen and Brittany are back, starting off with a catchup chat about Brittany's quarantine with the kids, and Aleen's Covid scare during the holidays. Next, they dive into a discussion all about Aleen's return to work, catching up to speed, and the relatable feeling of just wanting to relax (don't we all?). They get into a brand new segment called "Go Ask Your Mom" about a listener who wants to know the best way to be there for her sister-in-law after giving birth. Then, it's time for ...
Jan 10, 2022•44 min
This week, Brittany is joined by registered dietician-nutritionist, wellness expert, and founder of Rooted Wellness to chat all about postnatal care and nutrition. They start off with Sarah’s journey to becoming a mom of 2 and how she founded Rooted Wellness, a nutrition counseling practice dedicated to maternal and family health. Sarah shares what her personal postnatal journey was like, the lessons she learned along the way, and offers tips on the best foods to eat postpartum (including foods ...
Jan 03, 2022•37 min
Aleen and Brittany are joined by Sarah Nicole Landry (aka @thebirdspapaya) to talk about motherhood, body image, and learning to love your body. They first talk about Sarah's jump into the whole world of blogging, her transition from dieting to embracing body positivity, and what that recovery process felt like. They discuss the impact of pregnancy on our bodies and our self-image, how our own body issues can impact our children, and the importance of being vulnerable with our kids. Plus, Sarah ...
Dec 28, 2021•53 min
This week, Brittany hosts behavioral analysts Tess Kaner and Lisa Linden from NY Behavioral Therapy to discuss the intimidating process of dealing with child behavioral issues. They break down the myth that there is a one-size-fit-all approach to dealing with behavior, and why individualized approaches are much more effective at taking your child down the right path. They also discuss what to look out for if you are considering seeking out help, and how to go about that process if you decide to ...
Dec 20, 2021•39 min
This week, Aleen and Brittany are finally back together for this catchup episode to tell us how their prenatal expectations compare with reality after giving birth. They start with some of their recent challenges of parenting, like figuring out babies’ sleep schedules (and the physical toll it can take on the body). Plus, Aleen tells us how her mental health has been, moving Mila into her own bedroom, and how creating healthy (and guilt free) separations has helped. Then Brittany shares a breast...
Dec 13, 2021•56 min
Brittany is back this week, this time joined by certified infant feeding tech and founder of The Formula Mom, Mallory Whitmore. They start off with a discussion about why there is such a negative stigma behind formula feeding and if there really is a difference in formula vs. breastfed babies. Next, Mallory offers tips on how parents should go about finding the right formula for their baby and what labels you should ignore and actually don't matter (is European formula really any better?). Then,...
Dec 06, 2021•49 min
Brittany is joined by financial hype woman, speaker, and host of the Money Please podcast, Berna Anat to talk all about money and budgeting. To kick off, they chat about everything we weren't taught about money growing up, and just how to start the conversation around money with kids. Next, Berna offers some practical tips and some of the most important money lessons when you're first teaching your kids about money. Then, Berna breaks down the best savings accounts for kids (and also explains WT...
Nov 29, 2021•53 min
This week, Brittany is joined by Rebecca Minkoff, co-founder and designer of the Rebecca Minkoff global fashion brand. To begin, Rebecca shares what it’s like being a mom of three while also running a business at the same time. She tells us how she got into the fashion industry, including some of the most valuable lessons from when she first started out. Next, they discuss how she empowers her kids to work hard, and the moment she felt like she was failing as a parent. Plus, they talk about her ...
Nov 22, 2021•40 min
On this episode, Brittany is joined by reality TV star and entrepreneur, Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi. To start, they chat and reflect about Snooki's time on Jersey Shore, and why she decided to take some time off for herself. They also chat about Snooki's thoughts on Sissy and Meilani becoming reality TV stars in the future, and being mini-me versions of her and JWoww. Next, they talk all about her brand new wine line, 'Messy Mawma.' Snooki shares how she got into the liquor and wine business, the p...
Nov 15, 2021•27 min
Aleen is back to continue sharing how life has been since the birth of her daughter Mila. First, Aleen talks about the impact of the amount of support she received after last week’s episode. Then she discusses her current experience with postpartum anxiety and how she’s managing to navigate through it all. She talks about her struggles with leaving the house, sleeplessness, and just a general feeling of being down. Brittany also shares her experiences in this difficult period, and how she manage...
Nov 08, 2021•1 hr 4 min
It’s been two months since the birth of her baby, Mila, and Aleen is back to share her birth story! They dive right into Aleen’s labor and delivery experience, with details on just how chaotic (and not so easy) it was. Plus, she shares a story about her mom taking charge in the delivery room and the final push (with the help of Rusty’s playlist). Then, Aleen tells us about the postpartum challenges she’s been struggling with, including coming to terms with the struggle of breastfeeding and decid...
Nov 02, 2021•1 hr 7 min
This week. Brittany is joined by pediatrician, best-selling author, and medical correspondent, Dr. Tanya Altmann to chat all about infant gut health. To start, Dr. Tanya shares her background and focus in preventative health, nutrition, and sleep. She discusses signs of newborn gut deficiency in babies, what to ask your pediatrician if you see those signs, and steps parents can take to protect their baby's gut microbiome. They get into some practical nutrition tips, common allergies in babies, a...
Oct 25, 2021•50 min
It's been two weeks since Brittany has officially returned for maternity leave and this week, she is joined once again by Shira Dreksler for this special welcome back episode. To start, Brittany shares how she's feeling and what's been going on now that she's back to work. They also chat about Brittany's difficulty with breastfeeding, parenting without Noah in the house, and getting into that postpartum slump. Shira offers some advice on what she's learned after a year of returning back to work,...
Oct 18, 2021•52 min
Aleen is joined by her sister-in-law & Director of Talent and Community at Betches, Shira Dreksler, to answer all your questions on paid family leave. To start, they discuss what working moms should know about maternity leave, what moms are entitled to, and the right questions to ask about during a job interview. Next, they share their thoughts on how f*cked up paid family in the U.S. really is, and even the stigma with men and paternity leave in the workplace. Then, it’s time for listener q...
Oct 11, 2021•48 min
This week, Brittany is joined by Laura Chambers, CEO of Willow, and Annie Sartor, Senior Director of Business Partnership at PL+US (Paid Leave for the US) to talk all about paid family leave, why it is so critical, and how Willow is helping to empower moms through their advocacy and product. They start off discussing the upcoming vote in the Senate that will decide the future of paid leave in the US, and how we can all get involved to make sure it is passed. They also get into the steps that Wil...
Oct 04, 2021•33 min
This week, Aleen is joined by two-time author and first dad on Betches Moms, Jordan Shapiro. To start, they chat about his story as a dad and stepdad, before diving into his newest book Father Figure: How To Be a Feminist Dad. Jordan shares his reason for writing his book, the meaning behind being a “feminist dad”, and why so many books about parenting are about what it’s like to be a mother. Next, they discuss navigating the world of technology with kids, how technology affects parenting, and h...
Sep 27, 2021•59 min
Aleen and Brittany are joined by Pregnancy Counselor and Clinical Support Specialist, Sami Albert, to talk all about the adoption process for adoptive parents and birth parents. To kick off, Sami shares how she works with birth parents to make sure they are informed throughout the entire process of adoption. They talk about the first steps to take once you know adoption is the right choice for you, the different pathways to adoption, and some of the disqualifying pieces for adoptive parents. The...
Sep 20, 2021•47 min
Brittany is joined by actors Kristen Bell and Jackie Tohn (screaming!) to talk about parenting, the importance of music in a child’s life, and their new animated series Do, Re & Mi. They start by telling us how they created the show, including why they wanted to give children a new way to learn to love music. They also explain how their friendship and time spent with Kristen’s children impacted the show’s creation. Then Brittany asks whether or not Kristen’s own kids appreciate how cool it i...
Sep 13, 2021•23 min
Aleen is joined by Betches co-founder Sami Sage to talk about her decision to freeze her embryos. They chat about waiting to have kids, fears around parenting and actually being “ready”, and how much our lives really change after starting a family. They also discuss when she started thinking about her fertility options, and the actual costs of embryo freezing. Sami shares more on the process so far, including her first consultation, genetic testing, and ultimately choosing embryo freezing over e...
Sep 06, 2021•41 min
Today, Aleen and Brittany are joined by parent & child educator and play expert Jennie Monness (aka Mo’Mommies). They start off with a conversation about why Mo’Mommies was created, how Jennie helps educate new parents on play, and the real struggles of being a new mom of two. They chat about the importance of promoting healthy child development, why it really matters, and where parents can start. Plus, they discuss ways to encourage independent play and why you might want to start teaching ...
Aug 30, 2021•46 min
Aleen and Brittany are back together once again, and with only a few days to go before Aleen’s due date they’re talking all about the third trimester. First, Aleen shares the things she never expected to experience during her third trimester, including some of the biggest challenges along the way. Plus, she explains what it’s like dealing with the overwhelming anxiety of not feeling like herself and taking steps to enjoy the rest of her pregnancy. Finally, it’s time for a No Mom Guilt, where Bri...
Aug 23, 2021•41 min
