Moms Off The Record

<p>April West and Katherine Sigblad examine pregnancy, birth, matrescence, and child rearing through a countercultural and unorthodox lens in their thought-provoking, bi-weekly episodes.</p><p><br /></p><p>If you are curious or skeptical about the childhood jab schedule, breastfeeding, sovereign birth, elimination communication, big pHarma, and baby-led weaning— just to name a few "controversial" subjects— then you came to the right podcast!</p><p><br /></p><p>We'll never tell you what to think or what to do— you can leave that up to your favorite TT docs instead. Rather, we unabashedly share our lived experiences and perspectives with a sprinkle of evidence (only when called for), and we always encourage you to make decisions that feel right for your family. <br /><br />Challenging existing perspectives and thinking critically is what we're all about.</p><p><br /></p><p>Thanks for tuning in!</p>

#68: How Our Top Three Core Values Shape Our Parenting Decisions

Feeling inspired after reading Jamie Glowacki’s book “Oh Crap! I Have a Toddler”, the two of us muse on our current top three core values, where these values likely stemmed from, and how, specifically, they shape our parenting decisions. As Jamie so eloquently puts it, nothing a toddler says or does should theoretically trigger an adult to have an unreasonable, extreme reaction. So, if we are having such a reaction, it’s likely due to an unresolved trigger or childhood wound. The values we p...

09-05
01:34:22

#67: The Motherbaby Triad: Mothering Twins Physiologically with Alaina Evangelisto

Alaina faced obstacle after obstacle during her first pregnancy, which happened to be a di-di, identical twin girl pregnancy, and her initiation into motherhood resulted in the first twin being born vaginally and the second via cesarean. Recovering from a c-section plus physical separation for days from her babies due to a NICU stay didn’t deter Alaina from physiologic mothering and tuning into her high nurture intuition. Alaina walks us through about her mindset, values, and support system w...

08-22
01:26:33

#66: Reclaiming Education and Repairing Our Broken "School" System

The two of us philosophize about the distinctions between education versus learning and why even the most prestigious schools are failing today's children. As moms on the homeschooling track, we reveal how we are reclaiming the lost art of lifelong learning and why we are not subscribing to the school system's broken idea of "education" i.e. memorization, regurgitation and rigid metrics. We relish in the endless opportunities to shape our children's worldview and share which values are ...

08-01
01:07:58

#65: Operation Stork Speed: PR Stunt or Public Health Crisis? with Natasha Vargas-Cooper of Radical Moms Union

The #BackOffBobbie campaign lives on, because someone has to say what Operation Stork Speed refused to: the real risk in formula isn’t just seed oils or trace heavy metals (the red herrings distracting the #MAHA moms). It’s cronobacter, a rare but deadly bacteria that continues to fly under the radar while mommy influencers parade USDA organic labels and metal-free test results like gold stars. This week, we’re joined by Natasha Vargas-Cooper of Radical Moms Union to expose the uncomfortable ...

07-11
01:10:31

#64: Motherhood is a Spiritual Calling: How Will You Respond?

Motherhood demands that we see the beauty and the lessons in the micro moments that most people take for granted while mindlessly scrolling on their phones, rushing out the door, or even when they’re physically present but mentally checked out. The magic of motherhood happens in the quotidian, mundane, messy interactions, not in the elaborate, grand gestures. The spiritual calling of motherhood is available to every mother; the question is, is every mother ready to answer its call? When our f...

06-27
01:14:32

#63: The Sleep Episode Every Mom Needs to Hear with Brittany Chambers of Good Night Moon Child

Is your baby actually a “bad sleeper," or have you just been given bad advice? In this eye-opening conversation, we’re joined by Brittany Chambers, the voice behind Good Night Moon Child, to explore what modern sleep culture gets so wrong. From the myth of self-soothing to the importance of nervous system regulation, we unpack how attunement, not control, is the missing piece in most sleep advice. You’ll hear: - Why sleep starts with the caregiver’s nervous system - How mainstream sleep train...

06-13
01:01:07

#62, Bye bye, baby-led weaning! Hello, GAPS! You Can Heal Anything with Kate Pope of @Wildnutritionist

Remember when we were all about baby-led weaning? While many aspects initially appealed to us, and it was admittedly fun to watch our babies feed themselves 100 new foods prior to age 1, our values and priorities have shifted as we have learned what matters most. Kate Pope, mom of two, nutritionist, certified GAPS practitioner, and founder of the Regenerative Cooking School, explains why and how the GAPS diet is crucial for healing and sealing everyone's gut— from baby's to mom's and be...

05-30
01:10:09

#61: Rediscovering Nuance in Pregnancy and Birth: Recalibrating the Swinging Pendulum

In this episode, we call out the problems that have arisen as a result of adoption of and adherence to the Freebirth Society ideology while also holding space for a woman’s legal and moral right to choose to have a Freebirth. Ultimately, this is about the need for leaders to act in integrity and for everyone to remember that rarely two truths exist in extremes. All choices are valid, however in order for them to be authentically empowered, they must be made with true informed consent and a...

05-16
01:12:59

#60: An Orthodox, Jewish Man’s Concerns with Circumcision with Eli Ungar-Sargon of Bruchim

DISCLAIMER: We graciously welcome guests and organizations who may have shared opposing viewpoints on a variety of topics, so as to not perpetuate an echo chamber environment. We recognize we will not align on every topic with every guest we invite. Bruchim does not endorse other stances and philosophies we have shared in various episodes of our podcast. We encourage respectful discourse, and we are grateful for the opportunity to have interviewed Eli. In part two of our Circumcision series...

05-02
01:14:03

#59: The Case Against Circumcision with Intactivist Georganne Chapin, MPhil, JD

We kick off our two-part Circumcision series— a topic you all have been begging us to cover for the last two years!— with none other than the Executive Director and Chairperson of Intact America, Georganne Chapin MPhil, JD. There is nothing we shy away from in this episode. Don't worry, we don't walk on any egg shells. While debunking common circumcision myths, like how this surgery helps to prevent UTIs, STDs, and HIV, is fun and intriguing, Georganne reminds us that it's important to shift...

04-18
01:12:59

#58 Finding Rhythm with Four Littles and Prioritizing Marriage with Mom of Many, Nicki French

Nicki French is a twenty-seven-year-old, stay-at-home, freebirthing mom of four little ones. In today's chat, we learn about the art of prioritizing the intimacy in your marriage in tandem with moving through the daily rhythms as a young mother juggling multiple littles. We learn about what it takes to keep the flame alive after years of marriage while in the thick of it, how to reframe our mindset amidst the chaos, and we get the scoop on all the most fascinating logistics such as hacks for ...

04-04
01:07:48

#57: Raising Cooperative, Kind and Compassionate Children with Michaeleen Doucleff of "Hunt, Gather, Parent"

What can we Westerners learn about raising intrinsically happy, self-sufficient, and helpful children from the Maya of Mexico, the Inuit of the Arctic Circle and the Hadza of Tanzania? Well, it turns out, a lot! WEIRD cultures (Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic) have been making parenting unnecessarily more difficult than it was designed to be. From helicopter and free-range parenting, to distracting children instead of intentionally involving them in quotidian household...

03-21
01:29:29

#56: Can You Be Friends if You Don’t Share The Same Values or Beliefs?

Back in our original fashion exchanging our uncensored opinions between just the two of us, we examine whether it is possible to maintain friendships with people who see the world through a different lens. We analyze when it is possible and even encouraged to maintain friendships with people who have opposing viewpoints versus when this feat proves to be a fruitless effort. We share personal anecdotes which illustrate when our differences with others have brought us closer together and when t...

03-07
01:00:49

#55: The Bioethical and Medical Risks of Big Fertility: Surrogacy, IVF, and Sperm Donation with Jennifer Lahl

Today’s guest, Jennifer Lahl, is the founder of The Center for Bioethics and Culture Network. Lahl couples her 25 years of experience as a pediatric critical care nurse, a hospital administrator, and a senior-level nursing manager with a deep passion to speak up for those who have no voice. Women are often sold on surrogacy, IVF, and sperm donation as either a beautiful way to help a family in need or the best solution to their fertility issues. The problems with the solutions Big Fertility p...

02-21
01:09:09

#54: What The “Experts” Won’t Tell You About Vaccines and Natural Immunity with Toxicologist Ashley Everly

Mom of two (including one who experienced a vaccine injury), toxicologist, and creator of the *must read*, comprehensive Vaccine Guide drops some jaw-dropping bombshells that will make you think twice about the safety, efficacy, ethics, and necessity of these routine shots. We talk about the tragic human sacrifices who were callously exploited for the sake of growing viruses in aborted fetal cells. The ingredients in vaccines will make your stomach churn— and no, we’re not just talking about ...

02-07
01:27:33

#53: No Child Is Born In The Wrong Body with Pamela Garfield-Jaeger, LCSW

Pamela “came out” as “the truthful therapist” a few years ago on the basis of her simply speaking the truth. Not HER truth, but rather the truth. This of course offended many (unsurprisingly); however, through her commitment to bust myths propagated by the transhumanist agenda which preys upon our vulnerable and impressionable youth, she has successfully forged her own path as a trailblazer for other therapists who are not woke and equally committed to helping children accept the body they we...

01-24
01:32:37

#52: Infant Formula is Literally Killing Babies in Nigeria with Mandolyn Crotts of Carry Them Ministries

Mandolyn Crotts, mom of two and founder of Carry Them Ministries in Nigeria, revealed the horrifying, fatal obstetric practices, fear of breastfeeding and dangerous promotion of infant formula which is responsible for the demise of so many babies. Here in America we often hear trite slogan such as “fed as best!” to make women feel better about formula usage. However in a place like Nigeria, formula feeding is actually killing babies, and breastfeeding saves lives. We learn about the heartbrea...

01-10
01:05:54

#51: Our Annual Retrospective on Motherhood - Year 2!

In similar fashion to last year, your two favorite moms reminisce and unpack big lessons learned from our second year of motherhood. A couple of big highlights to call out are April’s departure from the corporate world and into her dream role as full-time, stay-at-home mom to Eden and Kat’s transition from one to two children. This reflection is all about humility and recognizing the true fruits of motherhood. Tune in if you want to hear the rawness and realness from our 2nd year as m...

12-27
01:25:48

#50: Matrescence: Surrendering to Motherhood with Holly Hunter, RN

Matrescence is defined as the process of becoming a mother, however this is a term that hardly anyone has ever heard of; even women who have recently become mothers. Holly, mother of two, women’s circle leader, and former ICU nurse reflects on the experiences that led to her deep appreciation for and curiosity of matrescence. Our fast-paced, modern, industrial, Western culture tells us to snap back just weeks after giving birth, however brain scans will tell us this is actually physically i...

12-13
01:08:38

#49: Being Healthy Doesn’t Have To Be Hard with Corey Dunn

Corey Dunn is a second-generation homeschooling mom of four, lover of homemade sourdough, and co-host of The Modern Ancestral Mamas podcast. We talk about: The differences between the parent’s role and the child’s role at the dinner table. Who is responsible for what?How to make mealtimes less stressful and more fun.How to handle picky eating among children.Why Corey could care less about veggies and instead prioritizes meat.How to simplify food shopping and meal prepping on any budget...

11-29
01:21:58

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