In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I am joined by coach, doula, and author Jessie Harrold for a rich and deeply validating conversation about matrescence, the profound identity transformation that unfolds as we become mothers.

Together, we explore motherhood as a rite of passage rather than a pathology. Jessie shares her four elements model of radical transformation and helps us name what so many parents feel but rarely have language for: the grief, anger, ambivalence, and disorientation that accompany this becoming.

We talk about why losing yourself in motherhood is not failure but part of the developmental arc of transformation, how adult development theory helps us hold paradox with more skill, and why reclaiming motherhood from cultural extremes matters.

This episode invites you to honor both the unbecoming and the becoming, and to remember that you are not broken. You are becoming.

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In this episode of Transformed by Birth, I'm joined by somatic trauma consultant, author, and maternal health advocate Parijat Deshpande for a deeply grounding conversation about high-risk pregnancy, preterm birth, and the NICU experience.

Together, we explore what the term "high-risk" actually means, how it is often misunderstood, and why hearing that label can be so destabilizing to the nervous system. Parijat brings clarity to the psychology and physiology of stress in pregnancy, helping us understand how fear, uncertainty, and incomplete stress responses affect the body and the birth experience.

This episode centers the lived experience of parents. We talk about trauma, grief, self-blame, and the often unseen emotional toll of high-risk pregnancy and NICU stays. We also explore practical, embodied tools for working with stress, supporting the nervous system, and reclaiming agency in moments when parents feel powerless.

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In this episode, I'm joined by licensed therapist and author Vanessa Bennett for a powerful conversation about the stories we've inherited about motherhood, identity, intimacy, and worth.

Together, we explore what Vanessa calls "the motherhood myth," the cultural narrative that tells parents they should feel endlessly fulfilled, selfless, and complete through parenting alone. We unpack how patriarchy, capitalism, and shame-based conditioning shape modern family life, why so many parents feel isolated and overwhelmed, and how reclaiming agency and selfhood becomes part of the rite of passage into parenthood.

This conversation is honest, layered, and deeply validating. It invites you to question what you've been taught, reconnect with your inner authority, and remember that feeling stretched, disoriented, or dissatisfied is not personal failure — it is a response to a system that was never built to truly support families.

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In this episode of Transformed by Birth, we explore the pelvic floor as a powerful and often misunderstood center of physical, emotional, and relational health with pelvic floor physical therapist, educator, and author Dr. Sara Reardon.

Together, we unpack why pelvic floor care matters not only during pregnancy and postpartum, but across the entire lifespan. We talk about the deep connections between the pelvic floor and identity, sexuality, confidence, movement, and healing, and why so many people are left without education or support during some of the most transformative seasons of life.

This conversation invites you to step out of shame and silence, reclaim agency in your body, and understand pelvic floor health as essential, not optional. Whether you are pregnant, postpartum, navigating midlife changes, or supporting families professionally, this episode offers clarity, compassion, and practical wisdom.

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In this episode, we explore the neuroscience of nurturing, connection, and early brain development with neuroscientist, author, and mother Dr. Greer Kirshenbaum. Together, we unpack why the first three years of life are such a critical window for mental health, emotional regulation, and relational resilience.

We talk about how modern parenting culture often pulls families away from what babies actually need, and how understanding the science of nervous system regulation, co-regulation, and attunement can simplify parenting rather than adding more pressure.

This conversation is an invitation to slow down, reconnect with your instincts, and remember that nurturing is not about perfection. Whether you are pregnant, postpartum, parenting young children, or supporting families professionally, this episode offers clarity, compassion, and a powerful reframe for what truly supports both babies and parents.

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In this episode, we explore pregnancy and parenthood through the lens of identity, embodiment, and the ways our relationship to strength is reshaped during profound life transitions. In conversation with Peloton instructor, author, and advocate Robin Arzón, we reflect on how pregnancy interrupts productivity culture and invites a deeper redefinment of worth, power, and presence.

Together, we talk about ambition, performance, and the pressure to "optimize" every stage of pregnancy and recovery, and what happens when the body asks for something different. Robin shares candidly about slowing down, listening to the body, and meeting the discomfort of change without trying to muscle through it.

This conversation is an invitation to soften rigid expectations, honor the identity shifts that accompany pregnancy and parenthood, and remember that strength is not always loud or visible. Whether you are pregnant, postpartum, or navigating another season of becoming, this episode offers perspective, honesty, and permission to redefine what resilience looks like from the inside out.

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In this episode, we explore pregnancy and early parenthood as profound inner transformations, not just physical or logistical milestones. In conversation with Vedic meditation teacher, veteran doula, and dear friend Patti Quintero, we look at how the nervous system shapes our experience of conception, pregnancy, birth, and life with a new baby.

Together, we talk about stress, regulation, and the quiet but powerful practices that help us meet change with more adaptability and self-trust. We explore meditation as a form of non-doing, the importance of creating space to de-excite the body, and why tending to our inner world is not another task on the to-do list, but a foundation for navigating this rite of passage.

This episode is an invitation to slow down, listen inward, and remember that there is no one right way. Whether you are preparing for birth, newly postpartum, or supporting others through this season, this conversation offers grounding, perspective, and permission to begin again.

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In this solo end-of-year episode, I share the story of La Loba, the Bone Woman, as a guiding metaphor for times of transition and reflection. Through this myth, we explore what it means to gather the bones of our lived experience, to honor the pause before change, and to wait for the song that brings vitality back into what we have built.

This episode invites you to slow down at the threshold of the year and reflect on where you are in your own unfolding. Whether you are navigating pregnancy, postpartum, parenthood, or another season of becoming, this is a reminder that not all phases are meant for forward motion. Some are for listening, waiting, and remembering what animates us from within.

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