Perinatal & Reproductive Perspectives

Thanks for stopping by! We'd love to hear from you. When a pregnancy is anything but typical, the emotional weight can be overwhelming, and yet mental health support is often the last thing families are offered. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Kari Millican, PsyD, LPC-S, PMH-C, Division Manager of Mental Health Therapy at Phoenix Children's Hospital, to talk about what it means to c...

Thanks for stopping by! We'd love to hear from you. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Leonard Lopoo to explore the concept of wantedness and its implications for reproductive health, policy, and well-being. What does it mean for individuals to achieve their reproductive goals, and how can systems, programs, and policies better support those aspirations? Drawing on his research, Dr. Lopoo d...

Thanks for stopping by! We'd love to hear from you. What does it mean to build a family through openness, transparency, and connection? In this episode, we sit down with Daniel Bayen, an open sperm donor, fertility advocate, and donor-conceived entrepreneur who is helping reshape the future of donor conception. Having grown up knowing he was donor-conceived and connected with more than 20 half...

Thanks for stopping by! We'd love to hear from you. Aaisha Alvi is a writer and leading advocate for postpartum psychosis (PPP) awareness, and the author of A Mom Like That: A Memoir of Postpartum Psychosis . Her memoir has earned acclaim from reproductive mental health experts and organizations including Postpartum Support International (PSI), Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP), and Library...

Thanks for stopping by! We'd love to hear from you. Pleasure during pregnancy and after birth is one of the least talked-about parts of the perinatal experience—yet it’s something so many people quietly struggle to understand or reconnect with. In this episode, Jordin Wiggins opens up an honest, judgment-free conversation about pleasure, intimacy, and the physical and emotional shifts that hap...

Thanks for stopping by! We'd love to hear from you. What really happens to your body after birth—and why don’t we talk about it more honestly? In this episode, we take a “Peter Lap” approach—slowing things down, taking it all in, and moving through the postpartum body with curiosity instead of judgment. From physical recovery and hormonal shifts to body image, identity, and the pressure to “bo...

Thanks for stopping by! We'd love to hear from you. Kristin Revere is the founder and owner of Gold Coast Doulas in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She is an elite certified birth and postpartum doula, newborn care specialist, and childbirth educator dedicated to supporting families through every stage of the parenting journey. Kristin is the co-author of Supported: Your Guide to Birth and Baby and th...

Thanks for stopping by! We'd love to hear from you. In this episode, we explore the complex, beautiful, and often overwhelming transition into motherhood through a neurodivergent lens. Joined by guest Emily Beecher, we dive into the realities that don’t always make it into parenting books or social media feeds—sensory overload, shifting identity, emotional regulation, and the pressure to meet...

Thanks for stopping by! We'd love to hear from you. In this episode, we speak with Wendell Honanie Jr. of the Hopi Tribe about the importance of maternal health in Indigenous communities and the unique challenges facing Native mothers today. Drawing from his experience and community perspective, Wendell shares insights into how cultural traditions, family support systems, and Tribal leadership...

Thanks for stopping by! We'd love to hear from you. In this episode, we welcome back Tami Gaines, author of Preemie Parents and mother of micro-preemie twins born at 25 weeks, for Part Two of our conversation—this time focusing on life after the NICU. After months of monitors, medical rounds, and constant vigilance, going home can feel both joyful and overwhelming. Tami shares candidly about t...

Thanks for stopping by! We'd love to hear from you. In this episode, we’re joined by Tami Gaines, author of Preemie Parents and mother of micro-preemie twins born at 25 weeks. Drawing from her lived experience navigating the NICU, Tami speaks to the emotional and spiritual journey of NICU parenthood—the parts that often go unspoken and can feel invisible amid medical updates and uncertainty. T...

Thanks for stopping by! We'd love to hear from you. Postpartum psychosis is a rare but severe psychiatric emergency that requires rapid recognition, coordinated care, and clear clinical protocols. In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Susan Feingold for an in-depth discussion on the presentation, risk factors, and evidence-based management of postpartum psychosis. Dr. Feingold examines how pos...

Thanks for stopping by! We'd love to hear from you. We’re thrilled to welcome back Lynn Ingram of Ingram Screening for a special second interview, celebrating the one-year anniversary of our podcast! Lynn dives into the importance of perinatal mental health screening, sharing insights on identifying early signs of anxiety, depression, and other challenges during pregnancy and postpartum. We di...

Thanks for stopping by! We'd love to hear from you. Part Two of Motherhood, My Way continues the conversation with Cheri Bergeron, moving deeper into the realities of choosing yourself while navigating fertility and the path to motherhood. In this episode, Cheri reflects on what comes after the decision—the emotional weight of waiting, the strength required to keep going, and the inner shifts...

Thanks for stopping by! We'd love to hear from you. In this episode of Motherhood, My Way , we sit down with Cheri Bergeron for an honest and compassionate conversation about fertility, hope, and pursuing motherhood on your own terms. Cheri shares her insights on navigating the emotional and physical realities of the fertility journey—especially for women walking the path solo. Together, we ex...

Thanks for stopping by! We'd love to hear from you. In this special episode, we turn the mic toward the voice behind Perinatal & Reproductive Perspectives . Host and founder Becky Morrison Gleed, LMFT , shares the story of how this podcast came to be—rooted in her clinical work, her deep commitment to perinatal mental health, and her desire to elevate thoughtful, compassionate conversation...

Thanks for stopping by! We'd love to hear from you. In this enlightening episode, we sit down with Dr. Lucy Chen , a renowned reproductive endocrinologist to unpack the science, emotions, and evolving landscape of modern fertility care. Dr. Chen shares her expert perspective on the most common fertility challenges she sees today, how reproductive medicine has advanced in recent years, and what...

Thanks for stopping by! We'd love to hear from you. In this heartfelt episode, Lana Manikowski opens up about her deeply personal journey through infertility — from years of hope and disappointment to ultimately redefining what it means to live a fulfilled life without children. Lana shares how she turned grief into growth, creating a space for women who feel left behind by infertility treatme...

Thanks for stopping by! We'd love to hear from you. Motherhood is often portrayed as pure joy and unconditional love—but what about the moments of doubt, frustration, or even resentment that many parents quietly experience? In this insightful conversation, Dr. Margo Lowy , psychoanalytic psychotherapist and author of The Maternal Experience: Encounters with Ambivalence and Love , explores the...

Thanks for stopping by! We'd love to hear from you. In this powerful episode, we sit down with Dr. Brandy Cummings, DCN—a former blackjack dealer turned clinical nutritionist who's anything but conventional. Dr. B shares her deeply personal journey through illness, infertility, and being overlooked by the medical system—experiences that ultimately fueled her passion for root cause-focused...

Thanks for stopping by! We'd love to hear from you. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Sheehan Fisher, an Associate Professor and perinatal clinical psychologist at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Dr. Fisher, who also serves as the Associate Dean for Academic Environment and Success at The Graduate School, dives deep into his groundbreaking research on the mental health...

Thanks for stopping by! We'd love to hear from you. Becoming parents is one of life’s most joyful—and most challenging—transitions. Research shows that two-thirds of couples experience a significant dip in relationship satisfaction after the birth of a child. The Bringing Baby Home program, developed by world-renowned relationship experts Drs. John and Julie Gottman, offers practical, research...

Thanks for stopping by! We'd love to hear from you. In this episode, we're joined by the remarkable Dr. Ruchi Garg, newly appointed Chief Medical Officer of Fairview Park Hospital, part of the HCA Healthcare system. With over 25 years of clinical experience, Dr. Garg brings deep expertise in gynecologic oncology, women’s health, and digital health innovation. Previously the Chair of Gynec...

Thanks for stopping by! We'd love to hear from you. In Part Two of our conversation with Debbie, we delve deeper into the emotional aftermath of involuntary childlessness and what it means to reclaim identity and purpose beyond motherhood. Debbie shares how her healing journey evolved over time—from silent grief and societal pressure to finding empowerment through community, advocacy, and stor...

Thanks for stopping by! We'd love to hear from you. After coming to terms with the end of her journey to motherhood, Debbie has spent years processing the emotional impact of being labeled “childless” in a society that often idealizes parenthood. Her recent work focuses on sharing her personal experience and raising awareness about the prevalence and influence of pronatalism in modern culture....