What I Wish I Knew : A Podcast About Pregnancy, Parenting, and Women's Health

Dr. Joe Dzierzewski is a clinical psychologist, sleep scientist, and Senior Vice President of Research and Scientific Affairs at the National Sleep Foundation — aka one of the most qualified people we've ever had on the show. We get into everything parents of toddlers, school-age kids, and teens actually need to know about sleep: how much kids really need at every age (spoiler: probably more than...

We sat down with Luba Patlakh — bilingual speech language pathologist, certified myofunctional therapist, mom of three, and founder of Kidology Inc . — and walked away with pages of notes. Luba started out chasing a career in broadcast journalism, worked at Good Morning America and Oxford University Press, and then took a sharp pivot into speech therapy — ultimately building a two-location therapy...

Michaeleen Doucleff is an award-winning NPR science correspondent and bestselling author of two of the most talked-about parenting books in recent memory — Hunt, Gather, Parent and her newest, Dopamine Kids. We dig into the world that today's parents are actually navigating: one where apps, games, streaming platforms, and ultra-processed snacks are engineered by billion-dollar companies specifical...

Kumiko Love — known as The Budget Mom — paid off nearly $80,000 in debt as a single mom and built a multi-million dollar community helping others do the same, but this conversation goes far deeper than budgets and spreadsheets. Kumiko gets honest about her own story and why she believes your finances are deeply personal — that knowing who you are and what you value is the real foundation of financ...

Our favorite nutritionist is back! In this conversation with Haley Miskowiec, we dive into pregnancy nutrition and do our best to bust some myths - are you actually eating for two? What nutrients do you need more of during different trimesters? Is there a normal amount of weight gain to expect? We learned the answers to these questions and many more. Haley breaks down the facts around nutrition wh...

TW: contains content about miscarriages This episode features Dr. Liz Grill, a reproductive health expert who holds many, many titles: Director of Psychological Services at the Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine, Professor of Clinical Psychology at Weill Cornell Medicine, Assistant Attending Psychologist at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, and the current Chair of...

When it comes to feeding your baby, there is no single path that's right for everyone - other than making sure your baby gets the nutrients it needs. This could mean breastfeeding, or pumping, or formula, or any number of combinations of these methods. We spoke with Leah Tribus, a registered nurse, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and Senior Director of Clinical and Strategic Pa...

Attention, women in your 30's and 40's: have you ever looked at your body in the mirror and thought, “What...is....happening?” If so, we'd like to cordially welcome to perimenopause. But don't worry - it's not the beginning of the end. Think of it as a recalibration, a years-long hormonal shuffle that can make your workouts feel weird and your sleep impossible (even without little kids to blame.)...

As women, we can be our own worst enemy when it comes to recognizing our true worth. We're overly critical of our appearance, we prioritize our family's needs over our own, and we judge ourselves more harshly than anyone else. In part 2 of our series with Dr. Cara Reeves, a clinical psychologist and executive member of Girlology, we discuss ways to combat this negative behavior and model authentic...

This episode is dedicated to all those who are (or will be!) raising girls. With all the pressure and societal expectations placed on our collective shoulders about what a girl "should" be and how a girl "should" behave, how do we move forward confidently in the direction we know to be right? How do we model self-confidence, self-love, independence, strength, and respect? We spoke with Dr. Cara Re...

Staying connected to your partner after having kids can be a real challenge. Between busy schedules, erratic sleep patterns, and the added financial & logistical pressure that comes with children....it's no wonder that many couples fall into a cycle of just making it through the day rather than focusing on their relationship. We spoke with J ocelyn & Aaron Freeman , acclaimed marriage coac...

TW: Breast cancer We're kicking off 2026 by talking about BOOBS! We chatted with Dr. Dana Bonaminio, a world-class radiologist, mom of 2, and breast cancer survivor, about all things breast-related. We cover basic breast health must-knows, what mammograms do & why they're so important, and factors that increase your risk of breast cancer. Plus, we may have coined the term "jiggle-ometer"... Fo...

Starting solids can feel overwhelming. From fear around choking to pressure about doing baby-led weaning “the right way,” many parents are left confused, anxious, and unsure where to begin. In this episode of What I Wish I Knew , we sit down with Jenny Best , founder and CEO of Solid Starts , to break down the science and reality of feeding babies real food. Jenny shares evidence-based guidance on...

TW: Pregnancy loss & infertility We sat down with Dr. Jessica Zucker—psychologist, author, and creator of the #IHadaMiscarriage movement—for a conversation about the silence surrounding pregnancy loss, infertility, and grief, among many other experiences that women share. We learned about how deeply conditioned that silence is, and the true cost of carrying these feelings alone. Jessica shares...

We sat down with Dr. Allison Mell - pediatric physical therapist, founder of Tots on Target , and the internet’s favorite “don’t panic, your kid is fine” voice - to talk about baby milestones in a way that was truly no-stressie. Allison has a gift for helping parents understand what actually matters when your baby rolls, crawls, stands, or… refuses to do any of the above on the timeline you have i...

We chat with the co-hosts of The C-Section Experience podcast, Dr. Jen Wagner and Bethany Scott, and dig into what c-sections are really like, why they don't have to be as traumatic as people think, and how to mentally prepare for the experience. Follow The C-Section Experience on Instagram: @thecsectionexperience Follow WIWIK on Instagram: @whatiwishiknew_ Music by Ben Scott Motion Design by Bano...

We sat down with Devon Kuntzman, founder of Transforming Toddlerhood and author of the upcoming book by the same name, to talk about one of the most misunderstood stages of parenting—the toddler years. Devon makes a convincing case that this stage isn’t just about surviving, but about understanding the brain growth, emotional regulation, and learning how to be a tiny human with biiiiiiig feelings....

We sat down for our second session with Dr. Sarah Oreck - reproductive psychiatrist, medical advisor for Natural Cycles fertility tracking app, and mom of three. We tackled the mystical "6-week check-up" for postpartum moms and why it can feel overwhelming and underwhelming at the same time. We discussed how to handle conversations about intimacy during the fourth trimester, and what Dr. Oreck wou...

We sat down with Dr. Corinne Low, economist and author of the new book "Having It All", to unpack what “having it all” actually means for women today and why the BS version society sells us is impossible (and exhausting). Corinne blends data, research, and her own lived experience to show how much of women’s time is squeezed by invisible labor, why men and women aren’t playing by the same rules at...

We sat down with Jessica Rolph, co-founder and CEO of Lovevery, to talk about one of her favorite topics: play. Jessica has spent years digging into the science of early learning, and we yapped about how the simplest moments—turning on lights, banging pots, dropping a ball down a tube—are actually building your child’s brain in big ways. She’s a passionate advocate for making play accessible, mean...

Christina & Amy do a solo episode to discuss why they started What I Wish I Knew, their favorite moments from the season, and what to expect in season 2. Visit whatiwishiknew.life to learn more. Follow WIWIK on Instagram: @whatiwishiknew_ Music by Ben Scott

We sat down with parenting expert Dr. Siggie Cohen to talk about what actually helps when your kid is melting down, how to remain calm in the face of chaos, and why kids lash out in the first place. Her approach is calm, thoughtful, and full of real-life strategies that you can use right away. We covered tantrums, boundaries, emotional regulation...plus why it’s not your job to fix every feeling....

Egg freezing is no longer a whispered secret or a last-ditch backup plan —and Lauren Makler, co-founder and CEO of Cofertility, is leading the charge in changing that narrative. In this episode, Lauren shares her personal fertility journey, how her sister’s egg donation inspired Cofertility’s unique Split and Keep programs, and what every woman should know about their options. We talk about access...

We spoke with Dr. Mona Orady—gynecologic surgeon, women’s health advocate, and total powerhouse—to talk about why so many women are being dismissed, misdiagnosed, and underserved when it comes to their reproductive health. From fibroids and endo to infertility and unnecessary hysterectomies, Dr. Orady breaks down what’s really going on—and how to fight for the care you deserve. Follow Dr. Orady on...

We sat down with Human Design expert Erin Claire Jones to talk about how this personality-meets-energy system can actually make parenting easier . From understanding your own needs as a parent to better supporting your kids' unique personalities (yes, even the wildly independent, nap-fighting toddler), Erin shares practical ways to use human design in everyday life . Here's what we learned in this...