BDA Baby (Before, During and After Baby)

The Speech Sisters, Bridget Hilsberg and Brooke Dwyer, joined us in this episode to delve into the critical topic of speech and language development in children. We go over the various milestones in speech, and when to actually be worried if your child seems to miss a milestone. Bridget and Brook also share great, practical strategies for parents looking to incorporate language building into their routine. Bridget and Brooke also remind us that every child is unique and that understanding communication milestones and what they mean can help us feel a little less anxious.  Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!

For too many women, being told their thyroid labs are “normal” is the end of the conversation — even when their bodies are saying otherwise. Today, we’re diving deep into thyroid health with McCall McPherson, founder of Modern Thyroid Clinic, to unpack why so many women feel exhausted, foggy, or stuck with weight changes despite being told everything looks fine.McCall shares her own turning point after spending 16 hours a day in bed, being dismissed by doctors, and ultimately discovering that standard thyroid testing was missing the full picture. We break down why thyroid issues are so often overlooked in women, the symptoms that shouldn’t be ignored, and how thyroid dysfunction impacts everything from metabolism and mood to fertility, cholesterol, and long-term disease risk.We also cover:Why TSH alone isn’t enough and which labs actually matterThe early signs of thyroid dysfunction most people dismissHashimoto’s, autoimmunity, and why inflammation plays a major roleLifestyle, supplements, and preventative strategies for thyroid healthThe surprising connection between GLP-1 medications, weight loss, and autoimmune thyroid diseaseIf you’ve ever been told to “eat less, exercise more,” felt dismissed by a doctor, or wondered why you don’t feel like yourself anymore, this conversation will help you understand what questions to ask, what tests to request, and how to advocate for your health.Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video! 

In this episode, Courtney Patterson joined us to share how she went about introducing her babies to her don, Tuna. You might know Tuna from his Instagram; Tuna Melts My Heart. Courtney shares her personal experience with introducing her baby to Tuna starting from before her baby was born to when they brought her home. Courtney has practical tips and insights for other new parents who are starting to plan how to introduce their baby to their dog. She emphasizes patience and creating a calm environment for everyone involved.  Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!

Neuropsychologist and author Dr. Zelana Montminy joins me to talk about attention, burnout, and staying present in a world built to distract us — especially as parents.We unpack why successful multitasking between technology and real life is a myth, how constant task-switching dysregulates our nervous systems, and why so many parents feel chronically exhausted. Drawing from her book Finding Focus: Own Your Attention in an Age of Distraction, Dr. Zelana shares practical ways to create healthier boundaries with technology, model focus for our kids, and reframe screen limits as protection — not punishment.A grounded, practical conversation for anyone trying to balance modern life, work, and parenting without losing themselves to the scroll. Read her book Finding Focus here: https://go.shopmy.us/p-37821815Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video! 

Alongside the release of her book Carry Strong, Stephanie Kramer joined us for a discussion all about the complexities of navigating pregnancy in the workplace. Carry Strong offers guidance for working professionals during pregnancy and aims to shift the narrative from “powering through” pregnancy at work to being powerful and pregnant in the workplace. We explore the importance of work-life balance in pregnancy and motherhood, and how workplaces can better support pregnant employees. Whether you’re pregnant at work or about to go back to work as a mom, Stephanie emphasizes the importance of self-care, setting boundaries, and remembers the unique joys of motherhood.  Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!

Screen time and technology addiction is such a hot topic right now, especially when it comes to children. Today, Catherine Price joins us to talk all about the challenges of managing screen time in kids as well as her new book The Amazing Generation. The Amazing Generation is a book aimed at kids and preteens that hopes to empower them to make conscious choices about their technology use. While we chat about Catherine’s new book, we explore the power of making real friendships and how to encourage more off-line behavior in our kids. If we can come together as parents, we can help create a future for our kids without screen addiction. Pre-order her book here: https://amzn.to/44CKOAe Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!

Dr. LA Thoma Gustin joined us to tell her story in dealing with Hyperemesis Gravidarum. LA got pregnant after a struggle with fertility, and she tells us the story of her fertility journey to eventually becoming pregnant with her daughter. LA struggled with Hyperemesis in early pregnancy which can have a profound mental and physical toll on an expecting mother. She highlights the importance of having a support system and healthy coping mechanisms to make it through when pregnancy doesn’t go how we envisioned it might.   Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!

In this powerful conversation, I sat down with Mary Farrelly, a NICU nurse and NICU doula behind the Instagram community "The NICU Translator." With over 13 years of experience caring for the tiniest patients and their families, Mary shares the realities of NICU life that most people never see as well as the critical gaps in care that exist when families finally go home. We explore the unexpected journey that leads families into the NICU, the overwhelming medical jargon that becomes their new language, and the tight-knit community that forms in those hospital rooms. Mary opens up about the staggering statistics: up to 70% of NICU families experience perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, and 40% show clinical PTSD symptoms. These numbers far higher than the general postpartum population. But this isn't just about the challenges. Mary discusses the incredible work being done to bridge the gaps in NICU care, from her role as a NICU doula supporting families through discharge and beyond, to the community she's built online where parents find translation, understanding, and solidarity. We talk about why partners and siblings are also deeply affected, how trauma shows up months or even years later, and why specialized mental health support is essential for healing. Whether you've experienced the NICU yourself, supported someone through it, or simply want to understand this hidden world of healthcare, this episode offers an eye-opening look at the resilience of NICU families and the angels who walk alongside them. Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video! 

Kelly Stumpe, aka the Car Mom, joined us for a conversation all about choosing the right vehicle and car seats for your family. She emphasizes the importance of safety, practicality, and long-term planning. We get into what the different safety ratings mean and how to decide what are the right priorities for your specific family. We also touch on car seat safety and the best practices for keeping kids safe while we travel!  Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video! 

We sat down with Justine Marjan to talk all about her experience giving birth. At the time, we were in the height of the COVID pandemic, and many were having to shift their expectations for what birth would be for them. Justine shared her own experience, explaining how she prepared for childbirth and adapted to COVID precautions for her birth team. Justine also shares how she relied on her midwife and doula and their role in her birth. No two births are the same, and Justine encourages all moms to lean into the experience and trust their instincts.   Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!

In this episode, Mike Rosenthal joined us to discuss his and his wife’s journey to parenthood through surrogacy. Mike shares the decision-making process behind choosing surrogacy, and all the highs and lows along the way to welcoming their new baby. Mike gets to share the dad’s perspective of becoming a parent, and how he has felt stepping into fatherhood. Each path to parenthood in unique, and Mike shares his story to show other parents that they are not alone in their unique journey.   Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!

Fertility isn’t one-size-fits-all—and in this episode, we’re diving into the real conversations many women are having when it comes to planning for a family. Whether you’re considering freezing your eggs or embryos, navigating a PCOS or endometriosis diagnosis, or facing sperm-related challenges with a partner or donor, this episode offers clarity, compassion, and science-backed insight.  Dr. Lucky Sekhon, a leading fertility specialist and reproductive endocrinologist, joins us to break down the latest research and help debunk the myths running rampant online. We also explore how hormone imbalances, insulin resistance, and even new medications like GLP-1s (Ozempic, Wegovy, etc.) can play a surprising role in reproductive health.    It’s the kind of candid, informative chat we all wish we had before hitting “follow” on another fertility myth. If you’re thinking about your reproductive future or just want to better understand your body, take a listen!  Buy The Lucky Egg here: https://amzn.to/3JZ9pbg Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video! 

Jessica Murnane joined us alongside the release of her book Know Your Endo to talk all things endometriosis. Jessica shared her own experience with endometriosis and her journey to diagnosis. Endometriosis is often misdiagnosed but is so important to recognize and address. We covered everything including key symptoms, how to get diagnosed, and finding the right doctor. Make sure to check out Know Your Endo to learn more!  Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!

Going back to or starting school can be quite the struggle with little ones. In this episode, we sat down with Jess VanderWier of Nurtured first to talk all about making that transition to school a little easier. Jess is a psychotherapist and parenting expert, and she had great tips for helping your child ease into school. She also emphasizes the importance of managing our own emotions as parents. Jess covers it all from separation techniques to conflict resolution so make sure to tune in and take notes! Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!

Tan France joined us for a conversation about his journey into fatherhood and shared the story of the early arrival of his son Ismail. Tan reflects on the isolation new parents feel and the importance of taking care of our mental health. He also addresses the guilt some parents feel when going back to work. Tan tells parents not to be afraid to rely on their support systems and to make sure to keep communication open in your relationship. When entering into parenthood, Tan tells us it’s so important to build a supportive community.  Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!

Teresa Palmer joined us for a discussion of all thing's childbirth and pregnancy. Teresa shares her journey through multiple pregnancies and some of her unique experiences with each birth. She shares what she learned along the way like the importance of surrendering to the experience and how each birth can be vastly different. Teresa emphasizes that maternal instincts are real, and no mom should feel pressured to ignore their gut. Whether you’re expecting or looking for birth experiences to relate to, Teresa has so much to offer in this conversation.   Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video! 

If you're deep in the toddler years—or bracing yourself for them—this episode is for you. I’m joined by toddler expert and coach Devon Kuntzman, founder of Transforming Toddlerhood and author of a new must-read parenting book. We talk all things tantrums, meltdowns, big feelings, power struggles, and why every age in the toddler stage seems to come with a negative label (“terrible twos,” “threenager,” “f***ing fours”… you get the idea). Devon explains what’s really going on in your toddler’s brain, why quick-fix hacks don’t work, and how to parent with connection, calm, and confidence—even in the middle of Target. We also talk about parental guilt, social media overwhelm, and why kids don’t need a perfect parent—they need a human one. Whether you're handling back-to-back meltdowns or wondering how to support your toddler's emotional growth without losing your own mind, this episode is a deep breath and a warm hug in podcast form. Order her book here: https://amzn.to/4ors0eC Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video! 

Matthew and Elliot Dürt joined us to share all about their unique journey to parenthood. They told us how to eventually chose surrogacy and egg donation with Elliot’s sister donating her eggs and Matthew’s mother serving as the surrogate. Their surrogacy journey brought them their daughter Uma! Matthew and Elliot are now dads in the thick of parenting, and they go over the joys and challenges of parenthood. Family, intentional living, and spirituality ground them as a family, and they hope they can provide hope to others that want to start a family of their own! Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!

What if feeding your baby didn’t come with pressure, shame, or judgment? In this episode, I’m joined by Laura Modi, founder and CEO of Bobbie, the formula company that’s rewriting the rules on how we nourish our babies and ourselves. We talk about: - The cultural expectations around feeding and the rise of combo feeding - The emotional toll of feeding expectations on new moms - Why formula shouldn’t be treated like a dirty word - What makes Bobbie different from ingredient standards to that viral poop Slack channel (yes, really) - Why no one should feel the need to smuggle formula from Europe Whether you're breastfeeding, formula feeding, combo feeding, or just curious — this one’s for every parent who's ever asked: Am I doing it right? Explore their products here: https://go.shopmy.us/p-27927499 Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video! 

In this episode, we talked to Aliza Carr and Candice Echeverria about their experiences with Haakaa and breastfeeding. Aliza is a midwife and shares some of the reasons she recomends Haakaa products to new moms. Candice is a lactation consultant and has such great insight on the breastfeeding process. Both women remind us that feeding our babies is a very personal journey. What works for one mom might not work as well for you and your baby. Having the rights tools can make the whole process that much smoother and enjoyable for you and your little one!  Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!