Waves of Joy

Today, we’re deep diving into a life update and everything that’s been going on during my two-month hiatus from recording. We chat about turning 36 and all the thoughts that come with entering another year of life, motherhood, and family planning. We also get into the quest to cure boredom with screens, how it can actually make the problem worse, and the honest truth that sometimes we hand our kid...

There was a time not that long ago where I could feel it coming. That shift. The irritability… the edge… the feeling like I needed to eat right now or everything in me was going to unravel. And I used to think that was normal. I used to think that was just me being busy, or not eating enough, or training too much. But recently, something changed. And I didn’t even notice it at first. I just realiz...

This week, I’m opening up about something that has completely shaken me—our nanny quit. What followed was more than just a scheduling scramble. It sent me into a spiral of stress, tears, and some really hard questions… including whether I can realistically continue pursuing medical school while being the mom and wife I want to be. But the truth is, this isn’t just my story. Finding reliable, high-...

Infertility is more common than many women realize, yet it can feel incredibly isolating when pregnancy doesn’t happen as expected. In this episode, fertility acupuncturist, Annie Vedeler L.Ac dives deep into the most common causes of infertility, what AMH levels actually mean, when it's time to seek help, types and causes of PCOS, what fertility testing looks like and lifestyle factors that...

We schedule date nights. We put work meetings on the calendar weeks in advance. We block time for workouts, studying, client calls, business planning. But we don’t schedule friend dates. Somehow we expect friendships to just… survive. In high school and college, proximity did the work for us. You saw the same people every day. You studied together. Ate together. Walked to class together. Friendshi...

We spent three weeks traveling through four European countries with our seven-month-old, and this episode is an honest reflection of what that really looked like, far beyond the highlight reels. We share the unexpected beauty of traveling with a baby: kind strangers who stepped in without being asked, people speaking to our daughter in languages she’s never heard before, and watching her light up...

This year we are choosing presence over presents. We’re off Europe for the holidays—with a baby—and no, we’re not superhuman, rich, or reckless. We’re just choosing to live our life with our baby instead of waiting for some perfect future version of ourselves. “If part of you is thinking, ‘I could never do that,’ I understand—there was a time I felt that way too.” We’re about to leave for a three-...

“No one tells you how much of yourself you’ll lose and find again in the months after birth — in the hair on the floor, the ache in your neck, the silence between feedings, and the friends who make you feel human again.” From hair loss and neck pain to postpartum migraines, mom friendships, and even the truth about baby formula — this episode dives into the unfiltered realities of the fourth trime...

Today I sit down with Chris Vedeler, my acupuncture professor at Sonoran University — a true wellspring of wisdom — to explore the rich philosophy and practical power behind Chinese medicine. We dive deep into the Five Elements and how they mirror our emotional, physical, and reproductive health, from conception through the postpartum journey. Together, we debunk common myths about acupuncture, un...

Sometimes protecting your peace means losing what isn’t aligned. In this episode, I share a story about setting simple house rules — and what unfolded when those boundaries were met with resistance. It’s not really about a nanny. It’s about the quiet strength it takes to lead your home with clarity and confidence — even when it costs you comfort. We’ll talk about why boundaries aren’t about contro...

The energy in the room matters as much as the credentials on the wall. In this episode, we're talking about a tough but necessary truth: sometimes the person in the white coat isn’t the right one for you or your family. Whether it's a pediatrician, specialist, or any healthcare provider, there are moments when trust is broken, your concerns are dismissed, or your instincts tell you somet...

As I step back into naturopathic school while caring for my baby, one question keeps echoing in my heart: How can I possibly do both? The sleepless nights, the endless studying, the tug between being present in class and present as a mama—it often feels overwhelming, even impossible. But I’m beginning to see that “impossible” is really just fear mixed with uncertainty. With each small step, it sta...

What do you believe you can’t do now, but future-you knows you can? In this episode, I take you on a journey ten years into the future — inspired by Debbie Millman’s “10-Year Plan for a Remarkable Life.” Together, we’ll step into the life waiting for us a decade from now: where we live, the love that surrounds us, the health we embody, the work we’ve mastered, and the happiness we define for ourse...

In this episode, I open up about the invisible weight of motherhood—the emptiness that comes when you pour yourself out day after day until you feel hollow inside. I share a raw and vulnerable moment of nursing struggles, when my baby girl’s cries at the breast left me heartbroken and defeated. When my 4-month-old began screaming during feedings, I felt crushed. I worried it meant something was wr...

Parenting in America often feels like a constant cycle of sleep debates, snack battles, and burnout. But what if it didn’t have to be that way? In this episode, we dive into the European style of parenting — a refreshing philosophy that blends calm authority with respect for both children and parents. Drawing inspiration from Bringing Up Bébé and her own journey as a mother, she explores how princ...

What if the best experiences of your life aren’t meant to wait until retirement? In this episode, I share the story of my unforgettable backpacking trip through Europe — a trip that still pays me “memory dividends” years later. We’ll talk about the Go-Go, Slow-Go, and No-Go years from Bill Perkins’ Die With Zero , and why timing is everything when it comes to creating a life filled with joy, stori...

This week, I unplugged. After a full social media detox, my screen time dropped by 84% — but what I gained was far more meaningful than a number.  I realized I wasn’t being intentional with my time, and it made me ask a hard question: Why did I feel the need to fill the quiet with other people’s lives? Even though I wasn’t mindlessly scrolling, I was still consuming — checking, watching, and stayi...

Everyone thought I was crazy for leaving a secure, successful career as a perinatal sonographer to go back to school and pursue my doctorate. I had built a life in a field I loved, but something deeper kept calling me. A quiet, relentless pull to help people heal from the inside out. In this episode, inspired by the book Grit by Angela Duckworth, we’re talking about interest — the essential, often...

Birthdays have a way of stirring reflection. In this tender, honest episode, I share what I’m choosing to take with me into this next chapter—and what I’m finally ready to leave behind. It’s not about reinventing myself, but about realigning with who I truly am. I’m taking grace, gratitude, stillness, authenticity, empowerment, and a soul-aligned hustle that honors my values. I’m leaving behind fe...

The powerful truth that movement—in both body and soul—is often the medicine anxiety longs for. Whether it’s a brisk walk or a brave step toward the unknown, action gives our minds and hearts a place to land when fear takes over. Drawing from neuroscience, personal stories, and soul-deep reflection, this episode is an invitation to get unstuck—not by waiting for the anxiety to leave, but by moving...

In today’s episode, we’re diving into the tender, often unspoken space between motherhood and becoming — that quiet nudge inside you that whispers, “There’s still more for me.” Inspired by powerful words from one of my favorite books, this conversation is for the new mama who feels the ache for change, the longing for something new, and the quiet hope that it’s not too late to follow her dreams. W...

Welcome to another cozy chat o n The Waves of Joy — where we keep it real, raw, and a little bit glam. In this episode, we're diving into the beautifully chaotic fourth trimester. We’re talking baby blues (and knowing when it’s more), the supplements that might help, and yes — even a little Botox self-care without the mom guilt. We cover the hot-button topic of co-sleeping vs. the Snoo, and h...

It wasn’t the birth story we had planned. It stretched me—physically, emotionally, spiritually—in ways I could have never imagined. But through the discomfort, the surrender, and the stillness, I found something deeper: the quiet whisper that God had a bigger plan all along. This isn’t just a story about birth. It’s about faith. It’s about trusting when you can’t see the end. It’s about how the ha...

“The most powerful medicine is empowering people not to need it.” Today, I’m honored to be joined by a special guest and dear friend as we dive into the world of holistic chiropractic care. We’ll explore what true health really means, discuss raising children without vaccines or antibiotics, and touch on so much more. You won’t want to miss this conversation. Dr. Mike Pierce is deeply passionate a...

With just three weeks until our baby girl arrives, this episode captures a tender season of transition. I reflect on the sacred time spent during our baby moon, the waves of Braxton Hicks contractions, our intentions of co-sleeping and the emotional conversations that are shaping us as parents. It’s a vulnerable look into the beauty, fear, and hope that come with standing at the edge of a brand ne...