Episode 38: Advocating for Parental Leave in the US with Raena Boston @theworkingmomtras Parental leave, or lack thereof, can be such a stressful part of the postpartum journey for new parents. That’s why this week Rachael has guest Raena Boston, co-founder of the Chamber of Mothers, on to discuss the importance of parental leave! Raena tells us about the work her organization is doing to advocate for better policies. She also shares her personal experiences with unpaid leave and the impact...

Episode 37: Splitting the Parenting Load with Betsi Flint @betsiflint This week Rachael has on Professional beach volleyball player, Betsi Flint to talk about juggling motherhood and her demanding athletic career. Betsi discusses the challenges of balancing training and parenting, the importance of sleep for both her and her toddler, and the support she receives from her husband and family.  Find out how splitting the parenting load has been beneficial to her and her family and how she...

Episode 36: Supporting Your Child’s Speech & Language Development  with Katie & Carly of Wee Talkers @weetalkers “Why isn’t my toddler talking yet?” “Should my child be saying more words?” “Is screen time OK for my baby?” If you have ever had these questions, you are NOT alone. Worrying about your child’s speech and language development is very common- and there is SO much scary info out there! Speech and language is such an important and complex piece of your child’s development....

Episode 35: SIDS, Safe Sleep and Bed Sharing: Breaking Down the Stats with Shaelise Tor In this episode, Rachel speaks with Shaelise Tor, a pediatric researcher and clinician, about the data on SIDS, infant sleep and breastfeeding, and bed sharing. The conversation covers the difference between intentional and unintentional bed sharing and the fear of judgment for parents who bed share. They discuss the misinformation and fear mongering surrounding these topics and the importance of breaking...

Episode 34: Starting Solids: Stress Free Baby-Led Weaning & Tackling Picky Eating with Jenny Best, Founder of @solidstarts Starting solids can be so exciting but also so nerve-wrecking as a new parent! Feeding can be just as divisive as sleep these days, and this week Rachael is joined by Jenny Best, the founder of Solid Starts, to talk about the “best” way to begin your little one on solid foods.   Jenny shares her journey of being a mom while building a super successful resource for...

Episode 33: Maintaining Intimacy After Kids with Vanessa and Xander Marin @vanessaandxander In this episode, Rachael Shepard-Ohta speaks with Vanessa and Xander Marin, authors and husband and wife duo, all about intimacy, relationships, and their new book, Sex Talks!  They discuss the inspiration behind the book and the importance of open and honest communication about sex and relationships. They highlight the conversations on emotional connection and pleasure as particularly important. They...

Episode 32: NICU Awareness: The Unique Challenges and Support Needed for NICU Babies and Parents This week, we have our first TWO guest episode! Rachael has TWO amazing guests on to discuss all about the NICU. They offer unique perspectives from both professional and personal experiences.  First, Rachael starts with Dr. Frankie Harrison. Dr.Frankie, a clinical psychologist and mom who had a premature baby, discusses the challenges and emotions associated with the NICU journey. She emphasizes...

Episode 31: Fostering a Secure Attachment with Michelle Charriere @babiesandbrains This week Rachael and guest Michelle Charriere, a birth to five mental health specialist, have a lighthearted but important discussion around attachment theory and its importance in parent-child relationships. Michelle explains the different attachment styles and emphasizes the need for repair in maintaining a healthy attachment relationship. She also addresses two of the most controversial topics on social...

Episode 30: Body Safety and Abuse Prevention: Keeping Kids Safe with Feather Berkower @parentingsafechildren This week Rachael has a very important conversation with Feather Berkower, a leader and well known author in child sexual abuse prevention. Feather educates us on ways we can protect our children when we are not with them both by having tough conversations with adults and teaching them "body safety" and consent from the start. Feather emphasizes the importance of pushing through our...

Episode 29: “Perinatal Mood Disorders Don’t Discriminate” with Jasmine @pearlsofjasmine This week, Rachael and guest Jasmine discuss a very important and often stigmatized topic, postpartum mental health and perinatal mood disorders. Dr. Jasmine is a clinical pharmacist who is incredibly vulnerable and open in talking about her own experiences with postpartum anxiety, depression, and insomnia after the birth of her daughter and how that experience led to her decision to be “one and...

Episode 28: Grandparents: Boundaries, Parenting Differences and Advice with John & Diane, Rachael’s Parents! This week Rachael has two very special people in her life as guests- her mom and dad, John and Diane! Hear their real thoughts on Rachael’s viral "Boomer Advice" Tiktok, stroll down memory lane as they recount sleep and parenting in the late 80s and early 90s, and find out how they used to get their parenting advice. John and Diane share their personal experiences around things...

Episode 27: Understanding Your Fertility with Lisa Hendrickson-Jack @fertilityfriday Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to your body, your period, and your fertility. This week, Rachael and Lisa Hendrickson-Jack, fertility educator and author of a new book,  Real Food For Fertility, chat all about fertility awareness, birth control, using your cycle as your fifth “vital sign”, and how to know if your period is “normal.”  In this empowering episode, you’ll find out what a normal,...

Episode 26: "I Thought I'd Be Sleeping By Now" with Lauren Paley @lauren_paley This week Rachael speaks with toddler mom, musician and content creator Lauren Paley. Rachael and Lauren dive into all things motherhood in this candid conversation, specifically sleep challenges. Lauren shares special glimpses into her experience as a first time mom including sleep (or lack thereof) and cosleeping, her best tips for exclusively pumping, and how she and her husband divide and share the load of...

Episode 25: Friendships: Finding Mom Friends, Friendship Breakups, and Modeling Healthy Friendships for Kids with Dr. Miriam Kirmayer We’ve all heard how important it is to have your “mom circle” but has anyone else ever thought that this is actually really hard to find? If you’ve felt this, you’re not alone. Adult friendships can be really hard especially as new moms. This week Rachael speaks with Dr. Miriam Kirmayer to talk all about adult friendships. Find out why it is so hard to make...

Episode 24: Healing Birth Trauma with Illiyin Morrison of @mixing.up.motherhood This week Rachael and special guest Illiyin Morrison discuss birth trauma and some ways in which pregnancy and birth trauma can manifest. Find out how birth trauma can impact early experiences of parenting and what kinds of support partners, family members and friends can provide to best support someone who has experienced birth trauma. Illiyin even gives us an inside look at her personal journey and experiences...

Episode 23: Car Seat Safety with Jamie Grayson of @thejamiegrayson Have you ever been so overwhelmed by the amount of gear and products out there for your baby? Join Rachael and guest, Jamie Grayson, as they discuss all things baby gear safety. Find out key considerations parents should keep in mind when selecting a car seat, when to switch from an infant seat to a convertible car seat, tips for ensuring a secure installation, as well as some misconceptions about the "best" car seats,...

Episode 22: Nurturing the Infant Brain with Neuroscientist Dr. Greer Kirshenbaum Join Rachael and Neuroscientist, Doula, Infant Sleep Educator, Author and Parent Dr. Greer Kirshenbaum, whose mission is to teach the science and support the art of nurturing infants.  In Dr. Greer's new book The Nurture Revolution, she discusses the act of "nurture" for our children as a revolutionary act, and discusses how nurture is a preventative medicine against mental health issues. She challenges the idea...

Episode 21: How Culture Affects Our Parenting with Melina Gac Levin of @parentpueblo Join Rachael and guest Melina Gac Levin, as they have important conversations around culture and how it shapes the way we view our kids and parent. They discuss what conversations parents should have with each other  before they have kids about how each culture may impact their parenting and hear some advice Melina would offer to parents who come from different cultural backgrounds who are navigating...

Episode 20: Potty Learning and Supporting Your Child’s Pelvic Floor Health with Quiara Smith, Pediatric Occupational Therapist of @alohaintegrativetherapy Join Rachael and guest Quiara Smith as they dive into this much-requested topic and discuss common issues parents face when potty learning- like constipation, poop withholding, bed wetting and more! They also cover Pediatric Pelvic Health Occupational Therapy and how it differs from other forms of OT for children. Learn what parents can...

Episode 19: Teaching Kids to Love Reading with Beth Gaskill of @bigcityreaders  Join Rachael and Miss Beth as they talk all about our children learning to read! Hear some strategies and techniques for fostering literacy skills in kids and the importance of infusing fun into learning to read. You’ll learn about The science of reading (did you know it was a science!?), the evolving understanding of how children best learn to read, and how you can help be an advocate for your child. Rachael...

Episode 18: Emergencies, Injuries, and First Aid with Dr. Nkeiru Orajiaka, Pediatric Emergency Room Doctor Nobody ever wants to take their child to the emergency room, but the reality is, it can happen to the best of us! So this week, join Rachael and special guest, Dr. Nkeiru Orajiaka, a Pediatric ER Doctor, as they discuss all things emergencies and safety for our children. Dr. Orajiaka shares some tips for parents to prevent common accidents and keep children safe at home. You won’t want...

Episode 17: Stay at Home Dad Life with Rachael and her husband, Marley This episode is a sneak peak into the recent decision for Marley to leave his job so that Rachael could run HSB and NOTU full time. Join your host Rachael and her husband Marley as they debrief about the decision for Marley to leave his Social Work job to become a SAHD. Rachael and Marley discuss what ultimately made them choose this arrangement, what Marley did for work before and what he may do in the future, and more....

Episode 16: Navigating Screen time for Your Kids with Ash Brandin of @thegamereducator  We have all done it. We give our kids screen time, and then the guilt sets in. Maybe you even feel like you did something bad by allowing them to use screens. If this sounds like you, you’re not alone. Navigating screen time can be such a challenging part of parenting! This week, join Rachael and Ash Brandin, middle school teacher and educational content creator, as they  chat about how to find a balance...

Episode 15: How to Fight for your Rights at Work with Daphne Delvaux of @themamattorney   Join Rachael and Daphne Delvaux as they talk about women’s rights in the workplace, family leave policies in the US and more. Daphne is an award-winning trial attorney and has even founded her own law firm devoted to women's rights at work. This episode is so powerful and informative for anyone who has a job and is planning on being pregnant, has been pregnant in the past, is back to work and pumping,...