Golden Hour

For decades, we've treated birth like the finish line. But what if birth is actually the beginning? In this episode of the Golden Hour , Dr. O sits down with certified nurse midwife Juliet Huntington to talk about the part of motherhood our healthcare system continues to overlook: postpartum. Together we discuss: Why postpartum deserves far more attention than a single six-week visit The conc...

What if the biggest lie we tell pregnant people is that there is a “perfect” way to give birth? In this deeply honest conversation, Dr. O sits down with birth doula and educator Keely Semler to unpack the impossible expectations placed on women during pregnancy, birth, and early motherhood. From social media comparisons and rigid birth plans to the tension between overly medicalized birth and the...

What if some of the biggest challenges of modern motherhood exist because we’ve lost the “village” that once taught us how to care for our bodies and our babies? In this fascinating episode of Golden Hour , Dr. O sits down with Dr. Kate Havens , a biomedical engineer, biomechanist, and researcher studying the science of motherhood — from pelvic pain and postpartum recovery to the biomechanics of b...

What if the biggest transformation of motherhood starts long before birth? In this deeply honest conversation, Dr. O sits down with entrepreneur and new mother Aarti Bhatnagar to explore the emotional, physical, and identity-shifting journey of becoming a parent. From IVF and embryo creation to pregnancy, birth, postpartum anxiety, and the concept of matrescence (the profound transformation into m...

PMOS , formerly PCOS, and endometriosis affect millions — yet most women still struggle to get accurate diagnoses, effective treatment, or compassionate care. In this episode, I’m joined by Rachel Blank, founder and CEO of Allara , and Dr. Heather Huddleston, reproductive endocrinologist, CMO of Allara , and director of the UCSF PCOS Clinic, to break down the truth about these conditions and the f...

Pregnancy care has long relied on a “wait and see” approach — identifying risk only after symptoms appear. In this episode, Dr. O sits down with Carrie Haverty, MS, CGC , Vice President of Medical Affairs at Mirvie , to explore how that model is beginning to change. Carrie is a board-certified genetic counselor and national leader in women’s health diagnostics. She leads clinical strategy for Mirv...

The first weeks after birth are supposed to be tender, supported, and deeply cared for. But for far too many women—especially low-income, immigrant, and asylum-seeking mothers—postpartum becomes a period of isolation, fear, and survival. In this episode, Dr. O sits down with Rachel Scandling , Executive Director of 4th Trimester , a nonprofit transforming postpartum care for the families most ofte...

What do fibroids, fertility struggles, painful periods, IVF complications, and confusing hormone symptoms all have in common? They’re often dismissed, misunderstood, or minimized—leaving women to navigate life-altering symptoms without the answers or support they deserve. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Cheruba Prabakar , a board-certified OBGYN and fellowship-trained minimally invasive surgeon...

Maternal mental health is the #1 complication of pregnancy and childbirth —yet the majority of women still don’t get the care they need. In this episode of Golden Hour , Dr. O sits down with Tina Keshani , co-founder and CEO of Seven Starling , to unpack the maternal mental health crisis—from postpartum depression and anxiety to the systemic barriers preventing women from accessing care. Together,...

Many expecting parents spend months preparing for the baby — but far less time preparing for the birth itself . In this episode, Dr. O sit down with Brittany Pruneau , a birth educator who works closely with families preparing for labor and delivery, to talk about why so many people walk into birth feeling unprepared — and how education can change the entire experience. Brittany shares what she re...

In this episode of the Golden Hour , Dr. O sits down with Dr. Anna Glezer , a reproductive and integrative psychiatrist trained at Harvard and UCSF, where she continues to teach and mentor residents and fellows. She is the founder of Women’s Wellness Psychiatry, creator of the Fellowship in Reproductive & Integrative Psychiatry, and co-founder of the Bay Area Reproductive Mental Health Confere...

Postpartum care in America is failing women. In this powerful episode of The Golden Hour , Dr. O sits down with Boram Nam — entrepreneur, hospitality leader, and co-founder of Boram — to discuss why postpartum recovery is treated as optional in the U.S., while in Korea 84% of women receive structured postpartum support. Boram shares: Her personal experience with postpartum depression (that she did...

Menopause care is finally evolving — and this episode explains what every woman needs to know right now. In this conversation, Dr. O sits down with Dr. Kagan , board-certified OB-GYN, UCSF Clinical Professor, and nationally recognized expert in menopause, hormone therapy, bone health, sexual health, and cancer survivorship . We break down the recent FDA label change for menopausal hormone therapy...

What if postpartum isn’t something to “recover from” — but a profound identity transformation? In this episode of The Golden Hour , Dr. O sits down with Jessie Harrold , doula, coach, author of Mother Shift , and host of the Becoming Podcast , for a deeply honest conversation about matrescence , the fourth trimester, and why the transition to motherhood often takes years — not weeks . Together, th...

In this episode of The Golden Hour , Dr. O sits down with Abby Mercado , co-founder and CEO of Rescripted , the leading global media platform empowering women with science-backed health information. Abby shares her deeply personal journey through infertility, IVF, miscarriage, preeclampsia, and postpartum recovery — and how those experiences revealed just how broken women’s healthcare systems can...

In this episode, Dr. O sits down with Venla Hakunti — entrepreneur, leadership coach, and Finnish Happiness Ambassador — for a deeply honest conversation about parenthood, postpartum support, and why having children feels fundamentally different in the U.S. compared to Europe. Venla shares her lived experience giving birth and raising children in Germany and Finland , where postpartum care, parent...

What if everything you were taught about periods, birth control, and menopause was incomplete — or flat-out wrong? In this eye-opening episode, Dr. O sits down with Dr. Sophia Yen , one of the most influential voices in women’s health today. Dr. Yen is a Clinical Associate Professor at Stanford in Adolescent Medicine, an MIT and UCSF alum, and Founder/CEO of Pandia Health , the only doctor-founded...

In this episode, I’m joined by Lisa Schultz , a Certified Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach based in Los Angeles with nearly two decades of experience in the wellness industry. After a near-death experience in 2011 and years of surgeries and chronic pain, Lisa rebuilt her health through natural healing and lifestyle changes. She later served as the Wellness Director at a physical therapy clinic...

Why is the United States — one of the wealthiest nations in the world — still facing rising rates of maternal and infant deaths? And why are Black mothers impacted the most? In this powerful and solutions-focused episode of Golden Hour , host Dr. O sits down with Dr. Elizabeth Cherot, a nationally recognized OB-GYN with over 20 years of experience in maternal and infant health. Dr. Cherot is the f...

What happens when the doctor becomes the patient? In this intimate and powerful conversation, Dr. Meron Haile—a board-certified ophthalmologist, new mom, and lifelong San Franciscan—shares her deeply personal journey through endometriosis, IVF, type 1 diabetes, and a high-risk pregnancy that tested every part of her resilience. Dr. Haile opens up about navigating the medical system from the other...

In the Season 2 premiere of the Golden Hour, Dr. O sits down with OB-GYN and friend Dr. Nazaneen Homaifar to unpack her powerful birth stories — from a high-risk twin pregnancy to an unexpected, triumphant VBAC. Together, they explore what it really means to hold hope and flexibility in birth, rebuild trust between patients and providers, and navigate the emotional spectrum of postpartum recovery....

We’re closing out Season One of Golden Hour with a guest who embodies everything this show is about: thoughtful conversation, creativity, advocacy, and care. In our season finale, I’m joined by Taylor McKay Smith — a Canadian model, photographer, doula, and women’s health advocate — whose work invites us to reimagine how we see and support mothers. From international fashion runways to birth rooms...

You’ve heard about it—but how much do you really know about your pelvic floor? This week on The Golden Hour , I’m joined by Dr. Sara Reardon—board-certified pelvic floor physical therapist, founder of The V-Hive, and widely known as The Vagina Whisperer . With over 700,000 followers across Instagram and TikTok, Sara has made it her mission to educate and empower people to care for their pelvic hea...

What happens when the moment that’s supposed to be one of life’s most joyful turns into one of the most traumatic? In this powerful episode, I’m joined by Kayleigh Summers — licensed therapist, writer, and one of today’s most important voices in the conversation around birth trauma. After surviving a rare and nearly fatal Amniotic Fluid Embolism, Kayleigh turned her experience into purpose: helpin...

What happens when a journalist dives deep into the world of egg freezing? In this episode, I sit down with award-winning writer and author Natalie Lampert , whose new book The Big Freeze (Random House, 2024) takes readers inside the booming egg freezing industry with unprecedented insight. Natalie shares her personal thought process around egg freezing, what she discovered in years of reporting on...