No One Told Us

Today I’m speaking with Ben Lutz, the dad of The FUNemployed Family! In 2018, after more than a decade of rat racing and corporate ladder climbing, he and his wife realized they were firmly on the hamster wheel of life and feared that they would regret not spending more time with their young daughter!  They quit their jobs, sold their house and most of their possessions and set off on a gap year a...

In this episode Rachael speaks with Elissa Strauss, author of the book 'When You Care: The Unexpected Magic of Caring for Others.' They discuss the societal expectations placed on mothers, the cultural issues surrounding care, and the value of caregiving. Elissa also shares her personal experiences with motherhood and how it has changed her perspective on work and identity.  More inside this episo...

Today we welcome Danielle Bayard Jackson, a certified friendship coach, to chat all about MOM FRIENDS- how to find them, how to keep them, and how to not let small stuff get in the way. We also chat about healthy conflict resolution and modeling strong friendships for our kids! Inside this episode: common challenges Moms specifically face when it comes to making new connections practical ways to f...

This week Rachael welcomes Dr. Ben Miraglia to discuss the importance of early dental care for children, focusing on the connection between dental health, breathing, and overall development. He emphasizes the need for early intervention in pediatric dentistry, particularly between the ages of 3 and 11, to prevent long-term issues. Dr. Ben also introduces Toothpillow, a remote treatment option desi...

We live in the age of "sharenting" where kids are content and there are seemingly no rules. This week, Rachael speaks with Fareedah Shaheed (aka CyberFareedah), an internet safety expert, about the importance of protecting our kids online. They discuss the risks of sharing too much information about children on social media and the potential consequences of oversharing. They also explore the age-a...

Postpartum nutrition is SO important and yet as busy and tired moms, it's hard to prioritize. That's why this week Rachael brings on Allegra Gast, a functional registered dietitian and international board-certified lactation consultant, to talk all about realistic, easy tips for postpartum nutrition and breastfeeding. Inside this episode you'll learn: importance of nutrition for postpartum recover...

This week we're speaking with with Elise Disher, M. Ed all about choosing the right daycare and how to transition your child in as seamlessly as possible. Childcare is such an important topic for parents and we know it can be fraught with worry! Here's what Rachael and Elise discuss inside the episode: Why building relationships and attachment with staff is crucial during the transition into dayca...

In this episode Rachael and guest Kay chat candidly about the postpartum experience. Kayleigh Medeiros, owner at Heritage Baby Designs and postpartum doula and lactation counselor, discusses her journey into the world of baby wearing and the importance of postpartum support. Rachael and Kay discuss: the history and newer "trends" of babywearing physical and emotional benefits of baby wearing, such...

In this episode,, Rachael is joined by an expert to discuss one of her favorite topics- temperament and sleep. Macall Gordon is a sleep researcher and author, and today she and Rachael delve into the complexities of a little-known but hugely important factor when it comes to sleep, parenting, and more: Temperament. Specifically, Rachael and Macall discuss what Macall refers to as “Livewire” childr...

In this episode Rachael welcomes Dr. Elisa Song, an integrative pediatrician, to discuss the importance of a holistic approach to children's health and the need for collaboration between parents and healthcare providers.  Here is some of what Rachael and Dr. Song discuss in this episode: How a holistic approach to children's health, integrating conventional medicine with holistic practices, can pr...

In this conversation, Rachael is joined by Elizabeth Morel, Physical Therapist to demystify "tongue ties". The topic has been hotly debated in both medical and parenting circles, and Beth aims to give parents the knowledge they need to identify an oral tie and to take appropriate steps to address it. Elizabeth emphasizes the importance of early intervention for infants and children, and advocates...

Do you ever feel confused about what "attachment parenting" or "gentle parenting" are? Do you ever feel like you're getting it all wrong, despite learning *all the things* from parenting experts online? You're not alone! This week Rachael welcomes Dr. Vanessa Lapointe- mom, parenting educator, best-selling author, international speaker- to shed light on the misconceptions around this style of pare...

In this episode, Rachel Shepard-Ohta interviews Joanne, a pediatric speech language pathologist and early childhood development expert. Joanne shares her journey into speech therapy and discusses her child-led play-based approach to therapy. Joanne emphasizes the importance of reading books, talking to children, and using music to facilitate language. She also provides tips for choosing age-approp...

Birth trauma is something we may not even realize we experience in the moments during and after birth, and can really cause lasting effects on both the birthing person and their partner. That's why this week, Rachael has a great discussion with Rachel Somerstein, author and associate professor, all about cesarean sections, birth trauma, finding the right care during birth, and postpartum support. ...

Episode 65: Inclusive Ways to Feed and Parent Your Baby with Victoria Facelli @victoria.facelli.ibclc This week Rachael speaks with Victoria Facelli, an IBCLC and author of the book 'Feed the Baby', to discuss the inclusive approach to feeding and parenting. She emphasizes the need to change our mindset and be open to different feeding methods, rather than getting caught up in the breast milk vs....

Welcome back to the pod for this very special bonus episode- Caitlin Wilder of @wilderbeginnings and the On We Go Podcast! For Part 1 of our conversation all about friendships, head over here! In this Part of our live chat we take listener questions including: how to handle if a friend has different political views than you how husband/ partner friendships differ what to do if a friend disciplines...

Episode 64: How to Self Regulate as a Parent with Dr. Amber Thornton @dramberthornton Ever totally lose your cool on your kids and feel SO guilty afterwards? You’re NOT alone! That’s why this week, Rachael speaks with Dr. Amber Thornton, a licensed clinical psychologist and strong advocate for parental mental health, all about self-regulation, overwhelm, and reparenting! Inside this episode: Find...

Episode 63: Creating Safe Spaces for Trans Kids with Ben Greene @psuedo.bro Ben Green, a transgender advocate and author, joins the podcast this week to discuss the important topic of transgender inclusion and support for trans kids! Ben encourages a joy-centered approach to supporting trans kids in your own life and the broader community, and celebrates the resilience and strength of the trans co...

Episode 62: Advocacy after Loss with Ashley Spivey @ashleyspivey Join Rachael this week as she chats with Ashley Spivey, a former contestant on The Bachelor, turned advocate and online content creator! Ashley has used her platform to advocate for various causes, including stillbirth prevention and paid family leave for stillbirth families. Since October is Infant Loss and Awareness month, Ashley s...

Episode 61: In-Laws and Tricky Relationship Changes After Baby with Dr. Tracy Dalgleish @drtracyd Have you ever found yourself navigating a tricky situation with your in-laws? In this conversation, Rachael interviews Dr. Tracy, a psychologist and couples therapist, all about the topic of in-laws and how they can affect relationships with significant others. Dr. Tracy provides lots of tips for comm...

Episode 60: Work-Family Balance: What Can We Learn from Policies Around the World? with Caitlyn Collins  In this conversation, Rachael interviews Caitlyn Collins, an associate professor of sociology and author, about work-family life and how policies affect families in different countries. They discuss the differences between the United States, Sweden, Germany, Italy, and other countries in terms...

Episode 59: Surviving Postpartum Psychosis with Ayana Lage @ayanagabriellelage  In this episode, Rachael has a candid chat with Ayana Lage, writer, influencer and mental health advocate, who shares her experience with postpartum psychosis. Ayana details the devastating toll postpartum psychosis took on her and her family, as well as how it impacted future family planning. She discusses the symptom...

Episode 58: Gentle Parenting like a Teacher with Arielle Fodor aka @mrs.frazzled In this episode, Rachael Shepard-Ohta interviews Ariel Fodor, also known as Mrs. Frazzled, about her experience as a teacher and a parent. They discuss why many teachers are leaving the profession, the misconceptions about gentle parenting, and the importance of representation and social justice issues. Ariel also sha...

Episode 57: Mental Health in the Journey to Motherhood with Dr. Sarah Oreck @sarahoreckmd In this episode, Rachael has a great discussion with Dr. Sarah Oreck, a reproductive psychiatrist and founder of Mavita Health. They talk about the importance of mental health care support during the sometimes long, difficult journey to parenthood. Dr. Sarah highlights the different experiences and challenges...

Episode 56: Unwinding, Easing Anxiety and Falling Asleep using Mindfulness Stories with Goldminds founder, Cynthia Arscott In this episode, Rachael interviews Cynthia Arscott, a certified meditation teacher and the creator of the new GoldMinds app! Rachael and Cynthia talk all about childhood anxiety around sleep, using mindfulness, and how they used both of their knowledge on the topics to inspir...