Claim OwnershipActive Mom Podcast: Pregnancy, Postpartum, Perimenopause, Menopause & Beyond
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© 2026 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.
207 Episodes
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Send us a text In this episode, I sit down with Shannon Rowbury—Olympic bronze medalist, one of the most accomplished middle-distance runners in U.S. history, and Emmy Award winner for her work with NBC’s 2024 Olympic coverage—and Jessica Dorrington, a pelvic floor physical therapist, runner, and all-around grounded voice in pregnancy and postpartum fitness. Together, they co-authored Strong as a Mother and founded 4Two, a platform built to give moms what so many of us were searching for: cle...
Send us a text Is Pilates enough? How much is "enough" protein? What does "lifting heavy" ACTUALLY mean? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Alyssa Olenick, PhD, founder of Doc Lyss Fitness and creator of The Lyss Method, to break down what the research actually shows about strength training and protein in perimenopause. As a strength athlete, ultramarathon runner, and certified sports nutritionist, Alyssa bridges the gap between science and real-world training. Together, we cut ...
Send us a text In this episode of the Active Mom Podcast, I’m joined again by Dr. Rita Deering, PT, DPT, PhD — Associate Professor of Physical Therapy and Director of the Movement Sciences Laboratory at Carroll University. With 18+ years of clinical experience and 15 years specializing in pelvic health, Dr. Deering is a leading researcher in perinatal musculoskeletal health, pregnancy and postpartum exercise, pelvic floor function, and female athlete performance. This conversation is a must-l...
Send us a text Coming in at #1 on our list of top podcasts for 2025 is my conversation with Christina Prevett. We close 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...
Send us a text Coming in at #2 on our list of top podcasts for 2025 is my conversation with Lauren Colesco-Semple. What if most of what you’ve been told about fitness, hormones, and nutrition as a woman… isn’t actually true? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple, PhD aka @drlaurencs1—muscle physiology researcher, science communicator, and co-owner of the MASS Research Review—to set the record straight on what actually matters for women’s health and fitness. Whether you’re...
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 fol...
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 ...
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...
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: 👉 Gen...
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 ...
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 j...
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 recen...
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 run...
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...
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 episo...
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 certi...
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 t...
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 t...
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 in...
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...
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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.