More than Milestones

I am so excited to share this conversation with you 🎙️ I sat down with Taylor Kruse, co-founder of Kruse Elite and a strength and mobility coach specializing in applied neurology, and honestly, this episode opened my eyes in ways I wasn't expecting, even as a physical therapist myself. We break down why so many pain and movement issues actually start in the nervous system, not the muscle or j...

Raising highly sensitive children: the neuroscience of big feelings, co-regulation, and supporting sensitive kids. In this episode of More Than Milestones, I am joined by Dr. Aoife Durcan, chartered counseling psychologist, author of Your Highly Sensitive Child , and founder of Highly Sensitive Psychologist, to explore what it really means to raise a highly sensitive child. Roughly 30% of children...

Inclusive playgrounds, accessibility, and why play matters for everyone. In this episode of More Than Milestones, I am joined by Cody Goldberg, co-founder and Chief Play Officer of Harper's Playground, to explore the power of inclusive playgrounds and why accessible play spaces are about so much more than play. Inspired by his daughter Harper's experience navigating the world with a rare...

PMS, painful periods, and how to support your body through nutrition In this episode of More Than Milestones , I am joined by Mariah Berendt , a holistic nutritionist and menstrual cycle educator, to unpack the truth about hormone health, PMS, and why so many women feel “off” for years without real answers. We talk about how common symptoms like painful periods, mood swings, fatigue, and cravings...

In this episode of More Than Milestones , I’m sitting down with Hannah Rein , CPA, mom of three, and co-founder of Financially Engaged, to talk about financial literacy in a way that actually feels doable for real life. Because the truth is, most of us were never taught this. We break down the foundational pieces of personal finance, including budgeting, investing, debt payoff, and long-term finan...

Non-toxic living is everywhere right now, but for most moms it does not feel empowering. It feels overwhelming. In this episode of More Than Milestones, I am joined by wellness educator Samantha Gutierrez to break down what low-tox living actually looks like in real life and how to approach it without fear, perfection, or falling into endless research rabbit holes. We talk about how to make simple...

How do you handle tantrums, big emotions, and discipline without yelling or punishment? In this episode of More Than Milestones , I sit down with parenting researcher & author Jon Fogel to break down what is actually happening in your child’s brain during meltdowns and why so many of us feel triggered in those moments. We talk about the difference between punishment and consequences, why tradi...

What are the early signs of dyslexia in children and how can parents support neurodivergent kids? In this episode of More Than Milestones , I sit down with Dr. Jacob Santhouse, a counselor specializing in dyslexia and ADHD, to break down what dyslexia actually is and why it is often misunderstood. We talk about how dyslexia impacts language processing, working memory, and reading development, and...

Feeling unsure about tongue ties or overwhelmed by conflicting advice? This episode breaks down what actually matters so you can make confident decisions for your child without fear or pressure. In this roundtable conversation, I’m joined by Dr Yvonne LeFort NABBLM-C, Kara Larson CCC-SLP, and Brianna Mulik CCC-SLP—three experts in pediatric feeding, swallowing, and breastfeeding medicine to unpack...

Ancient wisdom has a lot to offer modern motherhood, especially when it comes to supporting our bodies, emotions, and families in a more holistic way. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Felice Chan, a doctor of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine and the founder of Felice Acupuncture and Moonbow. We talk about how using practices from traditional Chinese medicine, like acupuncture, herbal medi...

Preparing for pregnancy, labor, and delivery can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to make informed decisions about testing, birth plans, and the support team around you. In this episode, I’m joined by Lo Mansfield, RN, certified lactation consultant, mom of four, and the voice behind The Labor Mama. With years of experience in labor and postpartum nursing, Lo walks us through an ho...

Feeling stuck when it comes to your child’s development or your own body can be incredibly frustrating, and sometimes the missing piece isn’t where you think it is. In this episode, I’m joined by neuro educator Missy Bunch, who shares how her own career-ending knee injury as a professional dancer led her to discover the powerful connection between the brain, nervous system, and body. Through her w...

Creating a peaceful home doesn’t come from perfect parenting; it comes from practicing presence, compassion, and intention. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Hanaa Ghannoum, parenting coach, mom of three, and founder of Peace Within Home. With a PhD in early childhood and curriculum studies, Dr. Hanaa helps parents raise their children with calm, confidence, and connection while also doing the in...

Hormones influence far more than just our menstrual cycle, yet many women reach adulthood realizing how little they were ever taught about their own bodies. Today I’m joined by Dr. Kerry-Anne Perkins, a board-certified OB/GYN and passionate advocate for women’s health education. Together, we unpack why so many women feel disconnected from their bodies, why female health has historically been overl...

Perimenopause isn’t a sudden switch, it’s a gradual shift that can begin years before most women realize what’s happening. I sit down with Dr. Amy Shah, double board certified MD and nutrition expert, to unpack what perimenopause actually is, why women’s symptoms have historically been misunderstood in medicine, and how to feel empowered instead of blindsided during this transition. Together, we r...

Attachment isn’t just a parenting buzzword. It’s the invisible thread that shapes how we connect, love, and feel safe for the rest of our lives. In this powerful conversation, therapist, author, and the face behind @attachmentnerd, Eli Harwood brings nearly two decades of clinical experience to unpack what attachment really means, why secure relationships matter far beyond childhood, and how paren...

This episode is a fun, rapid fire hot takes roundup straight from my Instagram community, where nothing was off limits and everything from jorts to uninviting kids from weddings made the list. Pineapple on pizza? Pickle potato chips? Taking three kids anywhere in public? We’re covering it all. I share how my perspective has shifted from first time mom to third time mom and how experience has softe...

Alyssa Campbell joins More than Milestones to dive into one of the most overlooked yet critical stages of child development: ages 5 to 12. With a master’s degree in early childhood education, research experience in emotional development, and as the founder of Seed and Sew and a two-time bestselling author, Alyssa helps parents understand why big emotions in big kids are not something to fix, but i...

If you’ve ever felt like your partner turned into a roommate after kids, this conversation is for you. I'm joined by the one and only Vanessa and Xander Marin. Vanessa is a licensed psychotherapist with over 20 years of experience in sex therapy, and Xander left his career at Google to focus on helping couples talk openly about sex. In this episode, we dive into the “roommate phase,” the bris...

Ruth Whippman, author and journalist,  joins us today to unpack America’s obsession with happiness, the loneliness baked into modern motherhood, and what it looks like to raise boys in today’s complicated cultural landscape. Drawing from her books BOY MOM and America the Anxious , Ruth shares why the way we pursue happiness often backfires, how isolation impacts parents, and the contradictory mess...

Motherhood doesn’t usually need another to-do list, it needs support that actually shows up in real life. Today I’m joined by Sharon Pope, founder of Shelpful, an AI-powered task manager created to help moms reduce mental load and make everyday life feel more manageable. Sharon, a mom of two, built Shelpful out of her own experience returning to work after maternity leave and realizing she was exc...

Winter sniffles don’t have to send you spiraling especially when you know what’s normal, what’s not, and when to call for help. In this episode, I’m joined by my dear friend Dr. Anjuli Gans, board-certified pediatrician at CHOP and the voice behind @resilientrascals, to walk us through navigating winter illnesses with newborns and young kids with more confidence and less fear. We cover how to prep...

This episode is a little different. After sharing my 2025 reflections on Substack and intentionally celebrating the small wins I usually overlook, I felt a shift in how I wanted to approach the year ahead. That reflection led me to move away from a traditional vision board and toward something that feels more grounded and sustainable: a becoming board. In this episode, I walk you through how I set...

Brittany Brady is a school social worker with over a decade of experience and the founder of Bright Starts Co. Through her work in schools, Brittany noticed that many children were entering classrooms academically ready, but struggling emotionally, socially, and behaviorally. That insight led her to focus on what truly supports school readiness: strong routines, emotional regulation, independence,...

In this episode of More than Milestones , I sit down with Becki Westover, a certified orthotist with Bloom Kids who has over 20 years of experience working with infants and families. Becki explains what a certified orthotist does and why helmet therapy can feel confusing or controversial for parents. We talk through common concerns about infant helmets, including weight, size, comfort, and whether...