This is part 2 of a 4-part back-to-school series that revisits some of our old favorites from the vault! Starting school can be very exciting for many kids—but it can also be scary. We want to protect our kids, so when we see them worrying or anxious, we want to support them. But how do you help your child with school anxiety? Today, I’m revisiting my episode with clinical psychologist Dr. Becky Kennedy, founder of Good Inside. We discuss anxiety about starting school, our role in it, and how to...
Aug 14, 2024•47 min•Ep. 238
Is my child ready for kindergarten? What should I do to prepare? What skills do they need? More than ever, parents are scrambling to make sure their children have “kindergarten readiness.” But the skills our children really need for kindergarten are far different than we might think they are. Today, I’m joined by Susie Allison, founder of Busy Toddler, to break down how to really prepare your child for kindergarten. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3yimdUp Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapi...
Aug 07, 2024•44 min•Ep. 237
The pressures around breastfeeding are strong, but systemic support doesn’t always allow moms to feed the way they want to. That’s why I was so excited to hear about The State of Feeding, a research-driven report designed to shed light on the real feeding experiences moms are going through. Created as a partnership between Bobbie, Willow, SimpliFed, and Emily Oster, this report reveals so much about expectations, pressure, and the reality of infant feeding. This week on The Momwell Podcast, I’m ...
Jul 31, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 236
Developing our own emotional regulation skills isn’t something that happens overnight. It takes a lot of work, learning, and unlearning. The more awareness we can build about what triggers our dysregulation and how it shows up for us, the better we can become at responding and regulating our emotions. This week on The Momwell Podcast, I’m joined by clinical psychologist Dr. Amber Thornton, host of Dr. Amber’s Know and Grow Podcast, to discuss how we can strengthen our emotional regulation skills...
Jul 24, 2024•59 min•Ep. 235
Introducing solids to our babies can feel scary, but it doesn’t have to follow one strict guide. We can overcome anxiety and create an environment around food that establishes healthy long-term eating habits. This week on The Momwell Podcast, I’m joined by Jenny Best, founder of Solid Starts, to discuss how we can rethink our approach to feeding and learn how to trust ourselves and our baby. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4cWPRNo Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: momwell.com Follow Mo...
Jul 17, 2024•56 min•Ep. 234
Intensive mothering, unrealistic pressures, and gender norms have created an unattainable ideal of motherhood—one that is taking a toll on modern moms. If we want to break out of this mom overwhelm, we need to recognize those expectations and determine what works for us. This week on The Momwell Podcast, I’m joined by Jess Grose, author and opinion writer for The New York Times. We discuss why moms are so overwhelmed and what we can do to create more support. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4cuZkMh B...
Jul 10, 2024•58 min•Ep. 233
Fostering emotional development goes beyond validating feelings or sticking to a set script—it takes inner work, nervous system regulation, and plenty of self-awareness and self-compassion. This week on The Momwell Podcast, I’m joined by Alyssa Campbell, CEO of Seed and Sew and co-author of Tiny Humans, Big Emotions. We discuss the importance of emotional intelligence, the role our own upbringing plays, and how we can foster positive emotional development for our children. Show Notes: https://bi...
Jul 03, 2024•55 min•Ep. 232
Mommy wine culture is often viewed as a lighthearted joke—with moms turning to wine or a mimosa to cope with stressful parenting moments. And plenty of moms can enjoy an alcoholic beverage without falling into unhealthy patterns. But alcohol use isn’t always lighthearted—for some moms, there are mental health concerns that are being overlooked and coping mechanisms that aren’t healthy. This week on The Momwell Podcast, I’m joined by Amanda White, author of Not Drinking Tonight and founder of The...
Jun 26, 2024•53 min•Ep. 231
Our individual upbringing and the culture we were raised in impact the way we show up as parents and the way we approach our own mental health. It’s important to listen to voices in this area who understand firsthand the nuances of culture and mental health, breaking cycles, and carving out individual paths as moms. One of those voices is Sahaj Kaur Kohli, founder of Brown Girl Therapy—the first and largest mental health and wellness community organization for adult children of immigrants. This ...
Jun 19, 2024•55 min•Ep. 230
Meltdowns, defiance, and other behaviors are signals of needs—and if we can meet those needs proactively instead of punitively, we can support our children while still teaching and guiding them. This week on The Momwell Podcast, I’m joined by psychologist Tammy Schamuhn, co-founder of the Institute of Child Psychology to discuss how to approach our children’s behavior from a brain development perspective. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3KDY2lI Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: momwell...
Jun 12, 2024•55 min•Ep. 229
Concerns like PMDD, PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), endometriosis, or even universal experiences like menopause are still underresearched and underdiagnosed. The more we can understand these concerns—and advocate for doctors to take them seriously—the more we can help support women and moms everywhere. Today, I’m joined by gynecologist and reproductive health specialist Dr. Karen Tang, MD, author of It’s Not Hysteria, to discuss how we can collectively and individually overcome gender bias i...
Jun 05, 2024•50 min•Ep. 228
Today, we’re reaching back into the vault to revisit one of our most popular episodes! What if I told you that you didn’t have to play with your child all day? Moms put a lot of pressure on themselves to entertain their kids. They believe that “good moms” play with their kids as much as possible. But when we learn how to encourage independent play, we not only remove that pressure—we also give our children room to create, grow, and blossom. Today, I’m joined by Susie Allison, founder of Busy Tod...
May 29, 2024•45 min•Ep. 227
It isn’t easy to feel confident in a world full of mom shaming. When moms are already feeling lonely and unsupported, disconnected from their friends, and unsure about their abilities, this pressure and criticism can take a real toll on their self-esteem and their mental health. Today, I’m joined by Renee Reina, Ph.D, host of The Mom Room Podcast, to discuss mom shaming, toxic mom culture, and how we can break away from the pressure and carve our own path in motherhood. Show Notes: https://bit.l...
May 22, 2024•55 min•Ep. 226
It can be hard to establish healthy screen time habits for our children. But with the right framework in place, we can let go of guilt and fear and foster a positive relationship with technology within a healthy balance. Today, I’m joined by pediatrician and author Dr. Michael Rich, known as “the Mediatrician,” to discuss how we can set kids up for digital wellness. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4dGAF8v Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: momwell.com Follow Momwell on Instagram: instag...
May 15, 2024•51 min•Ep. 225
Mom guilt is often fueled by intensive mothering ideology—the belief that moms should sacrifice every bit of their time, energy, and resources to their children (and find fulfillment only in motherhood), along with gender norms and social expectations. We can learn to manage mom guilt through awareness, anchoring ourselves in our values, and validating our needs and emotions. This week on The Momwell Podcast, I’m joined by JoAnn Crohn, founder of No Guilt Mom, to discuss how we can move past sha...
May 08, 2024•56 min•Ep. 224
Gender norms, social expectations, and motherhood all become wrapped up in our identities, often leaving us questioning our career paths. But perhaps the answer starts with breaking away from the idea of a “dream job” and focusing instead on empowering ourselves to make active decisions driven by our internal values. Today, I’m joined by Lauren McGoodwin, CEO of Career Contessa, to discuss how women and mothers face barriers in the workplace and how they can start creating power moves to achieve...
May 01, 2024•49 min•Ep. 223
As moms, we feel immense pressure to stay calm and peaceful even in the toughest, most triggering moments. And when we fall short, we often beat ourselves up and feel ashamed. But if we want to break this cycle, we need to move away from shame and find a way to offer ourselves the same compassion and understanding that we have for our children. Today I’m joined by Dr. Cindy Hovington, founder of Curious Neuron, to discuss what responsive parenting really looks like and how we can move away from ...
Apr 24, 2024•59 min•Ep. 222
Maintaining friendships or making new friends as a mom, takes skills, intention, and deliberation. The adjustment to motherhood changes us—and it makes sense that our friendships, along with our values, priorities, and other relationships, might change too. That doesn’t mean we have to leave our old friendships behind, and it doesn’t mean we can’t find ways to make new ones. Today, I’m joined by Danielle Bayard Jackson, founder of Friend Forward and author of Fighting for our Friendships to disc...
Apr 17, 2024•59 min•Ep. 221
We don’t have to accept stress as our default state of being. When we can learn how stress shows up in our bodies, what our triggers are, and how to break away from the stress cycle we are trapped in, we can improve our well-being and show up the way we want for our children and for ourselves. Today, I’m joined by Amelia Nagoski, co-author of Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle, to discuss how our society sets moms up to be stressed, why it leads to burnout, and how moms can break ...
Apr 10, 2024•58 min•Ep. 220
Why does a messy house give me anxiety? Why can’t I motivate myself to clean since I had kids? Am I just a lazy mom? Moms often worry about these things, feeling immense pressure to keep a clean house and experiencing shame when they fall short of those expectations. As moms, we can’t always buy ourselves more time to clean. But we can approach the concept of cleaning differently, learn to overcome our anxiety around cleaning, and develop simple tips for keeping the house functioning without get...
Apr 03, 2024•57 min•Ep. 219
The invisible load of motherhood isn’t easy to see, define, or explain. We feel the weight of it, but we often assume that we are just failing or that our partner is the problem. But when we learn to let go of the beliefs that create this “Mother Load,” we can take the steps to release and redistribute the mental and emotional labor in our homes. That’s why I wrote the book Releasing the Mother Load: How to Carry Less and Enjoy Motherhood More. Today, I’m joined by my literary agent, Carly Watte...
Mar 27, 2024•53 min•Ep. 218
When partners take an active role in the invisible load, everyone benefits. It reduces pressure and overwhelm on moms, and it empowers partners to make decisions and parent with confidence. Today, I’m joined by Zach Watson, creator of Real Zach Think Share and invisible labor educator for men, to unpack why partners need to help carry the invisible load and how they can start. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/49ZNKr6 Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: momwell.com Follow Momwell on Instag...
Mar 20, 2024•55 min•Ep. 217
Discussing the relationship between menopause and mental health is important. It gives us awareness of what we’re experiencing or what we might experience in the future—and it helps break the stigma, both around mental health and women’s health. Today, I’m joined by Dr. Heather Hirsch, founder of the Menopause & Midlife Clinic and author of Unlock Your Menopause Type to talk about the relationship between menopause and mental health, how to identify your symptoms, and how to advocate for tre...
Mar 13, 2024•57 min•Ep. 216
Intrusive thoughts in motherhood can be scary. But they are not premonitions or signs of deep, hidden desires. They are just thoughts—and the more we try to bury them without understanding what they are, the more they tend to stick around. With awareness and the right plan of action, we can learn to move past these disturbing thoughts more easily. This week on The Momwell Podcast, I’m joined by clinical psychologist Dr. Caroline Boyd, author of Mindful New Mum, to discuss how moms can overcome u...
Mar 06, 2024•57 min•Ep. 215
Our careers can look different once we become moms—and that doesn’t need to be a bad thing. Many moms are embracing flexibility, considering career changes, and reevaluating what they want from their personal and professional lives. Today, I’m joined by career and leadership coach Jess Galica, best-selling author of Leap: Why It's Time to Let Go to Get Ahead in Your Career, to discuss how moms can overcome fear and guilt and embrace career change. Show notes: https://bit.ly/3uF8V2q Book a Free 1...
Feb 28, 2024•52 min•Ep. 214
The postpartum period is a vulnerable time for our mental health—and not just for the person who gives birth. Fathers or non-birthing partners and adoptive parents are all also at risk. And yet, postpartum depression in dads and partners is often overlooked and undersupported—even more so than for birthing moms. Today, I’m joined by perinatal mental health advocate Mark Williams, co-founder of International Father’s Mental Health Day, to discuss postpartum depression in dads and partners, and wh...
Feb 21, 2024•53 min•Ep. 213
There are so many factors at play in our sex life after baby, from resentment and conflict to the invisible load to a lack of time for emotional intimacy. But when we learn how to talk openly about sex we can overcome those factors and rekindle the spark in a way that feels good for both partners. This week on The Momwell Podcast, I’m joined by Vanessa and Xander Marin, hosts of the podcast Pillow Talks and NYT bestselling authors of Sex Talks to discuss why our sex lives change so much after ba...
Feb 14, 2024•57 min•Ep. 212
Research suggests that at least 32% of women struggle with pelvic floor health. But between stigma, a complex healthcare system, and a persistent myth that pelvic floor concerns are “just a part of life” after having a baby, many moms don’t seek the care they need. Today, I’m joined by Carine Carmy, Co-Founder & CEO of Origin—a pelvic floor therapy startup—to discuss why pelvic floor health is so important and how moms can seek support. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3SMIbWQ Book a Free 15 min C...
Feb 07, 2024•44 min•Ep. 211
Overwhelmed moms often find themselves experiencing anger and irritability. But is this a sign of a mental health concern or a justifiable response to unreasonable social expectations? Today, I’m joined by clinical psychologist Dr. Ashurina Ream, founder of Psyched Mommy, to unpack the differences between postpartum rage and parental anger due to societal pressure and expectations. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3Ok6vws Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: momwell.com Follow Momwell on I...
Jan 31, 2024•51 min•Ep. 210
None of us set out to become angry moms. We likely envisioned responding with warmth, patience, nurturing, and understanding. So when we experience mom rage, we wonder if something is wrong with us. But maybe we’re not the problem. Maybe the problem is the unrealistic pressure, expectations, and overwhelm modern moms carry. Today, I’m joined by Minna Dubin, author of Mom Rage: The Everyday Crisis of Modern Motherhood to unpack how to stop viewing ourselves as “angry moms” and how to use our emot...
Jan 24, 2024•56 min•Ep. 209
