The Maternity Leave Podcast

April is C-Section Awareness Month , and in this solo episode, I’m finally sharing my birth story—something I’ve never talked about publicly before. My first birth experience ended in an emergency C-section. From the moments leading up to delivery, I share what surprised me, what I wish I knew, and how it changed my perspective on birth. ❣️ Whether you're a new mom, a mom-to-be, or simply curi...

Are you feeling exhausted, foggy, or just not yourself after giving birth? This episode might be exactly what you need. In this episode, I sit down with Atara Parkinson —a licensed therapist with a passion for holistic healing—to discuss the often-overlooked importance of mineral replenishment in postpartum recovery. Atara shares how her own personal health struggles sparked a journey of deep heal...

Jess Hilarious recently went live on Instagram, expressing her frustration after returning from maternity leave to find that her replacement, Loren Larosa, was given a permanent role on The Breakfast Club. This brings up a major career dilemma for working moms—what happens when your temporary replacement turns out to be better at the job? In this episode, I talk about: ✅ The harsh reality of mate...

Are you constantly feeling stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed? In this episode, I sit down with Sarah Levy, a Licensed Therapist, Somatic Experiencing™ Practitioner, and Registered Yoga Teacher, to explore the power of somatic healing and nervous system regulation. Sarah shares simple, effective ways to calm your nervous system, get grounded, and feel more present in your daily life. Whether you’re...

In this episode of Maternity Leave, I sit down with Janna Willoughby-Lohr —an artist, poet, musician, and entrepreneur—who proves that making money as an artist is not a pipe dream. Janna turned her love for paper crafting into Papercraft Miracles, a successful handmade paper art business. ✨ We discuss her journey from struggling art student to award-winning entrepreneur, how she created her own...

In this episode of Maternity Leave, I sit down with Jenna Michael , a writer and homeschooling mom of four, to talk about raising children with intention, simplifying gift-giving, and dispelling some misconceptions about homeschooling. ➡ What You'll Learn in This Episode: ✔ How to Align Gift-Giving with Your Family Values (And Avoid Overconsumption!) ✔ The Truth About Homeschooling & Why I...

This episode's #mompreneur is Valerie Recore , a productivity and time management specialist and Certified Fair Play Method Facilitator. Valerie helps busy moms gain control over their time, delegate effectively, and end their days feeling accomplished rather than overwhelmed. In this conversation, we dive into:✅ The Fair Play Method is a game-changing approach to dividing household and family re...

This episode's #mompreneur is Jill Lerman, a play and parenting coach, early childhood educator, and mom to a toddler. Jill is passionate about helping parents create joyful, manageable parenting experiences by fostering meaningful play. From infancy to toddlerhood, she emphasizes the power of connection through simple, developmentally supportive activities. We dive into: ✨ The importance of play...

On his episode of Maternity Leave, I got to sit with the resilient Karen Deulofeu , a fertility, pregnancy, and postnatal coach. After navigating her own infertility trauma and IVF journey, Karen transitioned from a successful career as a lawyer to becoming a certified coach, EFT practitioner, and mindset transformation expert. Karen’s mission is to support women in overcoming the emotional toll o...

In this episode of Maternity Leave, I’m joined by Anna Darlington , a certified Life & Business Coach, and an accredited HR professional turned #mompreneur. Anna is dedicated to helping mothers step into leadership roles—both at work and at home—without sacrificing fulfillment in motherhood or family life. We dive deep into: ✨ Navigating mom guilt and overcoming the emotional challenges of le...

This episode's #mompreneur is Svetlana Robertson , a neuroplasticity specialist and expert in helping children with autism and neurodevelopmental challenges unlock their potential. Svetlana shares her groundbreaking approach to improving communication, behavior, and learning through the power of neuroplasticity—the brain's ability to rewire and grow. We discuss: 💡 How the healthcare system can le...

This episode's #mompreneur is Carissa Moreno, a business coach who helps other coaches transition from 1:1 coaching to group coaching. Her goal? To help mompreneurs regain their time and freedom while building sustainable and profitable businesses. Carissa's journey is one of resilience and transformation. We explored her personal story, from growing up with absent parents to escaping an abusive r...

In this episode of the Maternity Leave Podcast , I sit down with #mompreneur Jill Urbane , an Early Childhood Interventionist and Masters Level Social Worker with nearly 30 years of experience. Jill has dedicated her career to helping parents support their child’s learning, growth, and development in practical, compassionate ways.🎙️ What We Discuss: 🌟 The importance of parental mental wellness in...

In this episode of Maternity Leave , I sit down with a unique type of therapist! Lindsey Konchar is a Certified Financial Social Worker and coach and we discuss all things financial wellness. Lindsey specializes in financial therapy, a transformative approach that combines behavioral therapy with financial coaching to help people make shame-free, intentional decisions about money. 💰 We dive into:...

This episode's #mompreneur is the resilient Dr. Valerie Hertzog—a medical doctor, wellness coach, and mom of three. Dr. Hertzog shares her personal journey with alopecia during medical school, the irony of unhealthy habits in the medical profession, and how her now-husband's unwavering support helped strengthen their relationship. We also dive into her four key pillars of health: nutrition, moveme...

This episode's #mompreneur is Melina Kane, a professional organizer and life coach, who shares invaluable insights into making your home a reflection of your energy and values, organizing for the holidays, and creating more with less. Melina’s philosophy centers on simplifying our homes and routines to cultivate a peaceful, intentional environment, especially during the often chaotic holiday seaso...

This episode's #mompreneur is Dr. Hemapriya Natesan, a doctor-turned-eCommerce entrepreneur who’s making waves with her profitable multi-niche online businesses. "Dr. Hema," a mom of two with ADHD, discusses how she’s built a $2 million eCommerce empire in the kids' food, home decor, and natural skincare niches while only working a few hours each week. She also shares the growing potential in micr...

In this solo episode, I’m sharing my top 5 tips on raising healthy eaters and the lifelong benefits of building nutritious habits early on. Drawing from my background as a dietitian in a national child lunch program, I also share how I’ve applied these successful strategies with my son today. ❣️ If you’re looking for more personalized coaching or want a crash course on child nutrition, book a sess...

This episode's #mompreneur is Gabriella Bores, a licensed therapist and postpartum coach dedicated to helping moms discover their highest selves through compassion. Gabriella specializes in supporting postpartum moms who find themselves overwhelmed by worst-case-scenario thinking, guiding them towards more joy, presence, and relaxation in their motherhood journey. During this insightful conversati...

This episode's #mompreneur is the fun Mitch Blackford, host of the  @funrichmom  podcast. Mitch shares her journey of becoming a mom after 40, homeschooling her children, and tapping into her inner "Fun Rich Mom" to thrive in motherhood and beyond. We covered a range of topics that will resonate with moms who may feel like they’ve lost touch with their fun and adventurous side while juggling the c...

This episode's #mompreneur is the insightful Reesa Morala, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with over a decade of experience supporting parents and couples. We discuss the powerful connection between personal healing and effective parenting, the importance of self-care for moms, and how doing inner work can be key to helping your child thrive. ❣️ What You'll Learn in This Episode: T...

This episode's #mompreneur is the creative, Carrie Brummer, a talented artist and art educator whose work delves into themes of gender norms, perfectionism, and motherhood. In this episode, Carrie and I dive deep into the struggle of maintaining your identity after becoming a mom, societal judgment, #MomGuilt, and more. Carrie's story is a testament to how motherhood can add layers to our...

This episode's #mompreneur is the savvy Manouchka Elefant, a digital marketing expert and coach who's been empowering entrepreneurs for over 15 years. Manouchka shares her passion for helping businesses of all sizes achieve success in the digital world without needing huge budgets. We dive into common marketing mistakes, leveraging #AI as a free assistant, marketing strategies, and more. M...

In this solo episode of the #MaternityLeavePodcast, I share my personal journey of preparing for a second pregnancy at 36. Commonly referred to as a #geriatricpregnancy 👵🏾 in the medical world (ugh!), I’m breaking down the evidence-based practices I’m incorporating into my life to optimize my fertility and boost my egg quality. From nutrition tweaks to supplements and workouts, I’m covering ever...

In this episode of #MaternityLeave, I sat down with the energizing Coach T , the powerhouse CEO of Fyt 2 Live Coaching and a proud US Army Veteran. Coach T shares her powerful story of triumph over adversity, from her challenging childhood in foster care to overcoming a 100% disability after her military career. Her journey is one of true resilience and empowerment that will inspire and motivate a...