Mama Making Podcast

Making mom friends sounds simple, right? But so many of us are quietly wondering: Why is this so awkward and hard? In this episode, Jessica sits down with perinatal therapist and founder of Mind Made Well Counseling, Rachel Menge, LCSW, to unpack the real reasons new moms struggle with friendship—and what to do about it. Rachel shares her own journey of rebuilding a social circle after baby #2, pl...

In this episode of The Mama Making Podcast, host Jessica Lamb chats with Katie Moise, pelvic floor physical therapist and founder of ATL Pelvic Health, to break down what every mom actually needs to know about their pelvic floor. They dive into the key phases of pelvic floor care - from preconception and pregnancy through postpartum recovery - including common myths, how to support your body befor...

In this episode of The Mama Making Podcast, host Jessica Lamb chats with certified fertility nurse and infertility doula Laura Wepler about the emotional and ethical complexities of navigating infertility. Laura shares her personal journey and how it inspired her to walk alongside others through one of life’s most tender and trying seasons. They explore the realities of fertility treatments, the w...

In this episode of The Mama Making Podcast, host Jessica Lamb chats with embryologist and IVF educator Jessica Manns about what really happens behind the scenes in a fertility clinic. Jessica breaks down the IVF process - from fertilization and genetic testing to embryo transfer - while sharing her own experience with surrogacy and the emotional realities of infertility. They dive into why educati...

In this episode of The Mama Making Podcast, host Jessica Lamb chats with author and advocate C. Natasha Richburg about the deeply personal story behind her book Married to the Dream. Natasha shares her family’s journey through IVF, highlighting the emotional challenges her daughter faced and the powerful role that love, friendship, and faith played in supporting her through it. They explore the im...

In this episode of The Mama Making Podcast , host Jessica Lamb sits down with Kendra A. Vargas, LCPC, PMH-C, a perinatal mental health expert and therapist with firsthand experience navigating infertility and IVF. Kendra shares her personal and professional insight into the emotional highs and lows of fertility treatment, the power of community, and how to communicate and advocate through it all....

In this episode of The Mama Making Podcast, host Jessica Lamb chats with licensed clinical social worker and infertility advocate Liz Gray about the emotional complexities of navigating infertility and the medical system. Liz shares her personal story, from facing dismissive care to finding trauma-informed providers who offered compassion and understanding. They explore the importance of patient a...

In this episode of The Mama Making Podcast, host Jessica Lamb chats with certified professional dog trainer Corinne Collier of Pet Harmony, about building safer, more harmonious homes with dogs and kids under one roof. Corinne shares her journey into dog training and breaks down the difference between behavior and obedience—plus why both matter when raising a family alongside pets. They dive into...

In this episode of The Mama Making Podcast, host Jessica chats with functional genomic expert Jaclyn Downs about the powerful connection between genetics, nutrition, and reproductive health. Jaclyn breaks down complex topics like MTHFR and histamine intolerance, and how they can impact fertility and overall well-being. They explore how personalized health strategies—grounded in genetic testing and...

In this episode of The Mama Making Podcast, host Jessica Lamb chats with entrepreneur, author, and mom Maria Castellucci Moore about building a life rooted in creativity, intention, and legacy. From launching a wine label that pairs wine with music to writing children’s books that nurture mindfulness, Maria shares how storytelling shapes every corner of her work. They explore the intersection of e...

In this episode of The Mama Making Podcast, host Jessica Lamb chats with Kelly Cox, founder of Share the Drop—an app that connects breast milk donors and recipients in real time. Kelly shares her journey from mental health therapist to doula to app creator, sparked by the gaps she saw in postpartum support. They dive into how Share the Drop is helping build a modern-day village for new parents, co...

In this episode of The Mama Making Podcast, host Jessica Lamb chats with certified nurse midwife Megan Belleavia about the role of midwifery in today’s hospital birth experience. Megan shares how her team supports physiologic birth at Hinsdale Hospital through collaborative, patient-centered care and strong partnerships between midwives, OBs, and family medicine providers. They explore the differe...

In this episode of The Mama Making Podcast, host Jessica Lamb chats with Katie Pschorr, founder of Littles Creative and Connected, about the power of nature-based learning for young children. Katie shares her career journey from mental health to early childhood education and how she built a program rooted in child-led exploration and outdoor play.  They dive into the benefits of seasonal learning,...

In this episode of The Mama Making Podcast , host Jessica Lamb chats with Chicagoland birth photographer Lauren Fallon about the healing power of documenting birth. Lauren shares how her background in therapy influences her approach behind the camera and how birth photography can help mothers process and honor their birth stories. They dive into the emotional depth of capturing these moments, the...

In this episode of The Mama Making Podcast , host Jessica Lamb sits down with ADHD coach Kelly Baumgartner to talk about their shared experience of receiving a late ADHD diagnosis. They explore Kelly’s transition from teaching to coaching, how social media has shaped ADHD awareness, and the real-life challenges faced by individuals with ADHD.  The conversation touches on mindset, self-compassion,...

In this episode of The Mama Making Podcast, host Jessica Lamb speaks with Esmeralda Carrillo, a home birth doula and free birth mom, about her journey from a traditional hospital birth to the empowering experiences of home and free births. Esmeralda shares how mindset, support systems, and informed choices play a crucial role in the birthing process.  They discuss the complexities of birth plans,...

In this episode of The Mama Making Podcast, host Jessica Lamb speaks with Dr. Naha Pandya, founder of the Recovery Method, about the critical gaps in postpartum care. Dr. Pandya shares her personal experiences with postpartum challenges and the lack of support many new mothers face. She discusses her mission to bridge these gaps through education, community support, and an interdisciplinary approa...

In this episode of The Mama Making Podcast , host Jessica chats with Becca Tilton, founder of Mama in Bloom, about her journey in supporting moms through postpartum. Becca shares how her background in public health led her to entrepreneurship and the challenges of leaving a secure job to follow her passion.  They dive into the importance of community, the emotional side of starting a business, and...

In this episode of The Mama Making Podcast, host Jessica sits down with Jackie Graff, a therapist specializing in perinatal mental health, to discuss the importance of understanding and supporting moms through perinatal mood disorders. Jackie shares both personal experiences and professional insights on postpartum depression, anxiety, and intrusive thoughts, highlighting the need for education and...

In this special 100th episode of The Mama Making Podcast, host Jessica Lamb welcomes Heidi back on the podcast as she shares her emotional journey through her third birth experience and the challenges of the NICU.  Heidi opens up about the anticipation before surgery, the overwhelming emotions of birth, and the struggles her newborn faced. They discuss the power of maternal intuition, the support...

In this episode of The Mama Making Podcast , host Jessica sits down with Josyel Santamaria, a Venezuelan native, to explore the cultural differences in parenting and maternity care between Venezuela and the United States.  Josyel shares her experience of becoming a mother during the pandemic, navigating postpartum recovery, and adjusting to new parenting styles. They discuss differences in materni...

In this episode of The Mama Making Podcast , host Jessica chats with Kay Burrows, founder of Core Love, a fitness program designed for women and mothers. Kay shares her postpartum journey, the challenges she faced, and how they inspired her to create Core Love.  They discuss the importance of pelvic floor health, self-care, and how Core Love has evolved to support moms at every stage. Kay encourag...

In this episode of The Mama Making Podcast , Jessica sits down with Taryn Keller, a functional nutrition practitioner, to explore the importance of functional health, especially for postpartum women. Taryn shares her journey from conventional medicine to functional nutrition and highlights the unique health challenges mothers face. They discuss the foundational elements of well-being—nutrition, sl...

In this episode of The Mama Making Podcast, Jessica sits down with Christine Wulbecker, a licensed clinical social worker, to discuss the intersection of the NICU experience and mental health. Christine shares her personal NICU journey and sheds light on the emotional challenges faced by families during a NICU stay. They explore the importance of strong support systems, self-care strategies for pa...

In this episode of The Mama Making Podcast , Jessica talks with Emily Feit, a licensed clinical social worker and author of the heartfelt children's book Before We Held You in Our Arms . Emily opens up about her personal journey through infertility and the inspiration behind her book, which helps families share their stories with children. They discuss the emotional challenges of infertility,...