Claim OwnershipActive Mom Podcast: Pregnancy, Postpartum, Perimenopause, Menopause & Beyond
Subscribed: 31Played: 814
Subscribe
© 2025 Active Mom Podcast: Pregnancy, Postpartum, Perimenopause, Menopause & Beyond
Description
Welcome to the Active Mom Podcast — where real motherhood stories meet real science.
Hosted by Dr. Carrie Pagliano, double board-certified physical therapist, runner, mom of two, and internationally recognized expert in pregnancy, postpartum, pelvic floor, and perimenopause performance.
Whether you’re a mom navigating running with prolapse or leakage, a clinician supporting active women, or a lifelong athlete trying to stay strong through every hormonal season — this show gives you evidence-based guidance and real life mom stories without the fear, confusion, or shame.
Each week, Dr. Carrie brings candid conversations with researchers, clinicians, elite athletes, and everyday moms to explore what it actually takes to run, lift, jump, and live confidently through pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause, and beyond.
We talk about:
• Postpartum return to running & lifting
• Pelvic floor symptoms (leakage, prolapse, pain)
• Pregnancy exercise myths & safety
• Strength training at every age
• Perimenopause performance & hormone changes
• Mental health, identity shifts & motherhood
• The realities of being an active mom in a busy life
Real talk. Real science. Real moms.
Because you deserve to feel strong and supported — at every stage of your active life.
200 Episodes
Reverse
Send us a text Coming in at #4 on our list of top podcasts for 2025 is my conversation with Dr. Susan Clinton. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Susan Clinton—a clinician, educator, and coach with over 40 years of experience helping women move through complex health transitions with clarity and confidence. Susan brings deep insight into the connections between the gut, hormones, and nervous system, and how those intersections can impact women in midlife and beyond. We explore the nuances o...
Send us a text Coming in at #5 on our list of top podcasts for 2025 is my conversation with Lindsey Bomgren. What does fitness really look like for moms? It’s not matching sets and flawless form. It’s stopping mid-workout for a diaper change. It’s navigating diastasis, prolapse, leaking, exhaustion, and a brain that hasn’t slept in three years. It’s figuring out how to move in a body that’s been through pregnancy, postpartum, and perimenopause—without the judgment. In this episode, I sit ...
Send us a text In this powerful season finale, I sit down with journalist and author Maggie Mertens (@maggiejmertens) to unpack the untold history—and future—of women in sport, running, and motherhood. Maggie is a Seattle-based writer whose work spans gender, athletics, and culture. Her book Better Faster Farther: How Running Changed Everything We Know About Women breaks down the myths that held women back for decades and highlights the stories that never made it into the headlines. Aft...
Send us a text In this episode, I’m taking you with me down into the Grand Canyon—21 miles, 13 hours, eight of us ages 44–53 (seven women, one very patient man), and every bit of trail talk you can imagine. What started as “Can we actually do this?” turned into the most honest, hilarious, and wide-open conversation about pelvic health, perimenopause, and how physical therapy for women has completely evolved since we were first told to “just do your Kegels.” Spoiler: the canyon will make...
Send us a text In this episode, I sit down with Sophie Carter, an ultra runner, coach, and mom of five who made headlines for running a 100km ultra while pregnant. Sophie has also co-authored a paper on endurance running during pregnancy, adding valuable insight to a growing body of research that challenges traditional views on what’s possible for women in sport. As a coach, she’s passionate about supporting other women in finding strength, balance, and confidence through movement—no matter w...
Send us a text In this episode, I sit down with Leah Yingling, an internationally ranked trail and ultrarunner from Salt Lake City, Utah. Leah has achieved multiple top-10 finishes at Western States and UTMB, and has represented Team USA at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships. In addition to her racing career, she’s the co-host of the Trail Network Podcast, works full-time in Population Health, and runs for Lululemon, Osprey, Garmin, and Hydrapak. Leah is also a new mom, recent...
Send us a text In this episode of the Active Mom Podcast, Carrie Pagliano, PT, DPT, OCS, WCS, sits down with Dr. Kate Mihevc Edwards, PT, DPT, OCS—founder of Precision Performance Running Medicine Clinic in Atlanta, creator of the RUNsource app, and co-host of Interdisciplinary Case Miles. Kate brings over 15 years of experience in running medicine and shares her insights on: Why an interdisciplinary team (PTs, physicians, coaches, dietitians, pelvic health specialists) is essential for runne...
Send us a text In this episode, I sit down with Rebecca McConville, a registered dietitian, board-certified sports specialist and IAEDP-approved eating disorder supervisor. Rebecca is an internationally recognized expert on Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs), author of Finding Your Sweet Spot: How to Avoid REDs, and creator of the first-of-its-kind REDs-Informed Provider Certification Program and masterclass for clinicians. With the academic version of her book, REDsolutio...
Send us a text She’s the host of the Speaking of Labia podcast, a practicing OB/GYN, business owner, and mom of two. And this past summer, Dr. Lauren Puretz was the top American finisher at UTMB 100. In this episode of the Active Mom Podcast, Lauren shares what it takes to juggle medicine, motherhood, entrepreneurship, and elite ultrarunning. From her start in high school track, to stepping back during med school and residency, to rediscovering running after kids—Lauren’s story is one of resi...
Send us a text If you're from the DC Mero area, you'll definitely recognize our latest guest, former host of @greatdaywash! In this week’s episode, I sit down with @ellenbryan—television talk show host turned wellness entrepreneur, health coach, and mom of 2 (with another on the way!). With 15+ years of experience on major networks in Washington, DC, Dallas, and Lexington, Ellen has built a career in broadcasting while navigating pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and motherhood. Tod...
Send us a text In this episode, I sit down with Laura Fuentes-Aparicio, a physiotherapist who helps women with their pelvic health. She is the Director of the Master’s Program in Specialized Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy and teaches at the University of Valencia. Laura’s mission is simple: to raise awareness, share knowledge, and find the best ways to help women feel and live better. We also dig into her recent research on abdominal and lumbar muscle recovery after pregnancy. Using ultrasound, h...
Send us a text From the clinic to the barbell, Dr. Lamia Zafrani, OBGYN bridges medicine and performance for pregnant and postpartum athletes. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Lamia Zafrani, an OBGYN specializing in high-risk pregnancies and elite athlete health. She works closely with athletes and organizations to retain, support, and maximize female athlete performance during pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond. As both a powerlifter and a recent pregnant athlete, Dr. Zafrani ...
Send us a text In this episode, I’m joined by Helene Moser, PhD, a researcher and physiotherapist specializing in pelvic floor muscle activity and displacement during impact. She brings a unique perspective as a senior teacher in the Franklin-Method®, a shiatsu practitioner, and someone who integrates jumping and impact work into pelvic floor rehabilitation. We dive into how the pelvic floor responds during jumping, running, and impact training, the role of imagery and cueing, and why both ...
Send us a text In this episode, we dive into the world of information overload—especially when it comes to women’s health. With so much advice coming from social media, friends, and even well-meaning strangers, how do you know what’s accurate and what actually applies to you? We explore how to cut through the noise, become better critical thinkers, and recognize when it’s time to change direction if something isn’t working. From handling unsolicited advice to understanding new information a...
Send us a text In this episode, I’m joined by Tina Tang—a former Wall Street trader turned jewelry designer and now strength coach. At age 40, unexpected life changes led her to the gym for the very first time, and by 42 she had completed an intensive personal training course. Since then, Tina has coached over 3,800 sessions, discovered her own love for strength, and created the Return to Strength Mentorship, designed to help women 45+ get stronger, leaner, and more confident. We dive into ...
Send us a text In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Sabine Vesting, a pelvic health physiotherapist and researcher whose work explores how exercise impacts the pelvic floor and abdominal muscles postpartum. Her research dives into common symptoms like urinary incontinence, pelvic girdle pain, and vaginal heaviness, and how they affect daily life for new moms. Now based in Ottawa, Dr. Vesting leads cutting-edge studies at the Motor Function Measurement (MFM) Lab, including research on running-in...
Send us a text In this episode of the Active Mom Podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Brooke Winder, physical therapist and Associate Professor at California State University Long Beach, where she leads the Dance Science program and mentors young dancers on optimizing their health, performance, and injury prevention. Brooke specializes in supporting artistic athletes—including dancers, aerialists, and circus performers—through orthopedic rehabilitation, pelvic floor physical therapy, and hypermobility...
Send us a text No lie...one of my favorite episodes of all time. Sit back and be prepared to learn A LOT (no matter if you're a mom or pelvic floor professional!) This week I’m joined by Dr. Hedwig Neels, pelvic floor physiotherapist at Antwerp University Hospital, professor at the University of Antwerp, and author of The Pelvic Floor Book. Hedwig specializes in pelvic floor and cyclists and real time ultrasound imaging integration into pelvic health. A mom herself, Hedwig b...
Send us a text Nervous about a breech baby or C-section? Think again. Planning a VBAC? It deserves more than a footnote in your chart. In this episode, I’m joined (again!) by Dr. Elliot Berlin, DC — prenatal chiropractor, labor doula, and founder of the Informed Pregnancy Podcast & One Way or A Mother serial podcast. With over 50,000 pre- and postnatal patients treated, and more than 450 podcast episodes featuring celebrity moms, birth professionals, and real birth stories, Dr. Berlin is ...
Send us a text In this episode, I’m joined once again by Laura Green—comedic content creator, runner, and self-proclaimed queen of self-deprecating humor in the fitness world. Laura’s known for her hilarious takes on running culture, her background as a physical therapist, and her ability to make the internet laugh one reel at a time. We dive into Laura’s experiences with postpartum running after each of her births, her transition from travel PT to digital storyteller, and the reality o...
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States
Note : In the first part of this podcast when Rachel mentions eating four Awesome Sauce gels in a one hour workout, it was believed that these gels contained 45g of carbs. Since then, studies have found that these gels actually contain ~18g of carbs which equates to 76g/hour, a very normal amount for an ultra runner like Rachel.