Plus Mommy Podcast

Dr. Christine Sterling, a board-certified OBGYN, joins the Plus Mommy Podcast to discuss how the healthcare system fails patients and providers. She shares tips on how to advocate for yourself and addresses fat-phobia in the medical community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tired of seeing thin influencers contorting their bodies in ways to appear larger for "body-positive" posts, Raffela Mancuso took to Instagram to share her frustration. She never imagined her post would go viral, but that's what happened! Raffela joins the podcast to share what it was like when her message, shared by many plus size people, exploded. She talks about the good that came from it, the...

Angela Incollingo Rodriguez, Assistant Professor of Psychological & Cognitive Sciences at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, is one of the first researchers to study weight stigma during pregnancy. She joins the Plus Mommy Podcast to discuss her research and how the findings can positively impact maternity care for people of all sizes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Adiba Nelson, author, mother, and disability rights advocate shares her lived experiences to help others feel less alone. She's the subject of the moving Emmy-winning documentary, The Full Nelson , and her debut memoir, " Ain't That A Mother ," drops in May 2022. You'll go from laughter to tears during this unforgettable episode of the Plus Mommy Podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit me...

DeAnna shares her experience as a pregnant pole dancing instructor and how dancing helped her body image during pregnancy and postpartum. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Actor Jen Ponton, best known as Rubi in AMC's Dietland, is as passionate as the characters she plays! Listen as she dishes about how she almost got the role as Kate from This Is Us and why Dietland didn't get picked up for a second season. Jen holds nothing back, speaking openly about sexism, racism, and fatphobia in Hollywood and beyond. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoi...

Weight bias in health care does so much harm. If you're afraid to go to the doctor, I understand entirely. ⁠⁠I was too, but I'm thankful I faced my fears because it turns out I had skin cancer. During this episode, I share not only my experience but also my raw emotions and fears. As a plus size woman, it was a lot to process needing surgery on my face. But I'm so much more than a pretty face! I h...

The idea of walking or running 5K every day might sound like an impossibility. And three years ago, Sandra Mikulic would've agreed with you. Yet, today, she laces up her shoes daily without giving it a second thought! Listen as Sandra shares how this daily task helped shed trauma from her past and transform her relationship with exercise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoi...

Size-friendly lactation consultant Ana Hill, IBCLC, shares her insights on supporting plus size parents preparing to breastfeed/chestfeed. She believes in the importance of meeting people where they are at and validating their choices. Listen in as she shares tips for families and birth professionals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During Kelsey's story, you'll learn about the importance of self-advocacy when becoming a solo mother by choice. Kelsey also shares what someone who is fat (how Kelsey self-identifies) and seeking fertility support might face. Her journey to becoming a solo parent was a fight, but in the end, she found care providers who supported her choice. This is her story!  Learn more about your ad choices. V...

Today, with access to safe and legal abortion going away for many in states like Texas, I can no longer remain silent. I'm ready to tell my story. Not only my abortion story but what it was like to become a mother years after having an abortion.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dana Monique, a semifinalist on season 20 of The Voice, quickly became a fan favorite with her powerful voice and commanding stage presence. She tells her story of going from a struggling single mother passionate about performing to a showstopper on The Voice. Her positive outlook on life is inspiring, and this is an episode you won't soon forget! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone....

Following a summer hiatus, we're back covering a topic that needs to be talked about far more often - how to connect with a fat-friendly doctor! Jen McLellan shares her recent experience searching for a care provider, and the impact size-friendly care makes. You'll learn five tips for connecting with a fat-friendly doctor and tools for self-advocacy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megapho...

Heather Brooker's journey to becoming an Emmy-award-winning journalist and actress began as a young child doing impressions of Carol Burnett for her family. Today, she's appeared in over 40 films and TV shows. Listen as Heather tells her story, thoughts on how Hollywood views plus size people, and her tips for being confident at any size. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoi...

Hi, friends! Today we're celebrating the third anniversary of the Plus Mommy Podcast with so much gratitude for our listeners and guests. We can't believe the show has received over 200,000 downloads! During this episode, Chris and I take questions from the @plusmommy community on Instagram. From parenting to intimacy questions, we remain as transparent as ever! We hope our answers help others fee...

In 2012, Martinus Evans was fat-shamed by a care provider who told him he would die if he ran a marathon. This unlocked something within Martinus, and he set out to prove that doctor wrong. Listen as he shares his journey to starting 300 Pounds And Running. Martinus gives helpful tips for getting started with a fitness routine, explains the difference between values and goals, and so much more! Le...

May is Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month. With that top of mind, we're sharing an older episode you might've missed. Perinatal psychologist, Dr. Kat, joins the show to talk about supporting your mental wellness during pregnancy and postpartum. While the audio on this episode isn't what you've grown accustomed to, the content is so outstanding that it needed to be shared again! Learn more abou...

Hyperemesis gravidarum (extreme morning sickness) is difficult regardless of size. Yet, when you're plus size with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), you're sometimes not believed or praised for weight loss while you're suffering. Alyssa shares her story, what she wishes she would've known, and how she took a different approach with her second pregnancy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone...

Jisela Delgado of MTV'S The Challenge All Stars opens up about body image and reality TV. She looks back on her twenty-year history with MTV, including her first appearance on The Real World/Road Rules Casting Special in 2000. Jisela holds nothing back regarding her relationship with her body and what it's like being plus size on reality TV. She also shares fun insights about The Challenge!   Lear...

On April 6, 2011, following a healthy plus size pregnancy and positive birth experience, I launched my first blog post. I desperately wanted to change the narrative around plus size pregnancy and thought telling my story could make a difference. Ten years and nearly 6.5 million pageviews later, I'm forever thankful I decided to share my story! Hear the full story during this episode, as I (Jen McL...

HAES And LGBTQ inclusive midwife Ray Rachlin joins the podcast to talk about home birth when you are plus size. She covers what qualifies someone for home birth and how pregnancy and childbirth can look slightly different. Ray also discusses providing fertility support for people in the LGBTQ community and those with polycystic ovary syndrome. We address fatphobia in the medical community and obst...

Liesel Teen, well-known as Mommy Labor Nurse on Instagram, shares her journey to starting Mommy Labor Nurse and helpful insights on supporting plus size labor and delivery. She goes in-depth with options around fetal monitoring and how to advocate for yourself. Liesel also talks about cesarean birth for plus size moms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lori, well known as plus size model Loralyee on Instagram, tells her birth story. She shares the role her doula, Denise Bolds, played in helping her feel supported and empowered! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meg Boggs went from creating content exploring motherhood and self-love to stepping into her authentic self as an athlete. With the highly-anticipated launch of her first book, Fitness for Every Body: Strong, Confident, and Empowered at Any Size, Meg helps people worldwide to find their inner athlete. This is her story!   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lola, a short film by Ana Lydia Monaco, tells a story that's all too familiar for many. Lola is a plus size woman of color who is not believed by her close friend, boyfriend, and care provider when having a medical crisis. Everyone only focuses on her weight. Listen as writer and director Ana Lydia Monaco and lead actor Marlene Luna share the behind-the-scenes story of making Lola. Learn more abou...