Chick Chat

I grew up in the late 80s and 90s. Back then, things were a lot simpler. There weren't any smartphones, and the internet was nonexistent. It didn't feel as fast-paced and loud as it is today. Thinking back to childhood, I remember playing outside a lot and having sleepovers at my girlfriends' houses on the weekends after we picked out a movie at the local Blockbuster store. Life was pretty sweet. I hope that's how everyone feels about their childhood. But maybe I was young, naive, and oblivious to the worries that adults face. Or maybe I was just really lucky that nothing scary had happened to me at that point in my life.

Today, I feel like we have so much more information available at our fingertips. We can know what's going on in every part of the world instantly on our phones. While this technology is amazing, it can also be overwhelming. There is no denying that we all know so much more about the world and what can and does happen to people (good and bad) daily. It has shed light on many things we may have never known. For instance, how we've lately seen headlines about terrible things happening to children during sleepovers. It's upsetting and disturbing and causing parents to debate their kids having sleepovers entirely.

Today's guest, Kristin Andrus, is extremely passionate about this topic. Her family has one big rule: They don't allow their children to have sleepovers. Some people disagree wholeheartedly with this rule, while others agree with her stance because they, too, know of scary stories that can happen and have happened during sleepovers. We had Kristin share her thoughts and experiences advocating for children on the show.

Kristin Andrus is a philanthropist and community champion who advocates for women, children, and refugees within and beyond Utah. Kristin is the driving force behind the impactful Building Bridges non-profit/philanthropy partnership. She also serves as a board member for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Intermountain Area and for UnDEfeated, an organization serving underprivileged youth and single mothers in Uganda. In addition, she holds advisory roles with the First Lady of Utah, Neighborhood House, the Younique Foundation, Utah Valley University, and Women Who Succeed. She is a community activator who believes in building bridges and bringing people together to help communities thrive! Nonprofits count on Kristin for her social media and marketing savvy and supernatural ability to get stuff done. She is also the Chief Culture Officer of her husband and six children and an incredible cook!

In this episode, we chat with Kristin Andrus about the great sleepover debate — should you or should you not allow your kids to do sleepovers — and how to make the best decision for your family when it comes to sleepovers.

This is a very big and passionate conversation. While some of my favorite childhood memories were sleepovers at my girlfriends' houses, hearing Kristin's stories and the stats made me rethink how I might approach this topic with my kids when they reach the age of being invited to sleepovers. This episode really gives us parents information that we need to know and new things to consider. I wonder, where do you stand on this great sleepover debate? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Thank you for listening to this episode! Be sure to follow us on our podcast Instagram page @thebabychickchat. Let us know what you think and if there are any other topics you'd like us to cover. Cheers to informed parenting and advocating for your family!

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One topic that I don't think is talked about enough with expecting and new mothers (or people in general) is pelvic floor health. In my opinion, pelvic floor health should be considered as a form of self-care and a part of us taking care of our overall health. I can't even tell you the number of people I have met who weren't totally sure what their pelvic floor is, what it does, how it affects them, and that everyone has one. And when a woman becomes pregnant and gives birth to her baby, these are the times when she might experience some problems with her pelvic floor and wishes she had known more about her changing body and had support.

Whether you had a vaginal birth or cesarean birth, your body has done some hard, amazing work. Our guest today, Liz Miracle, knows all about this since she has supported hundreds of women as a pelvic floor physical therapist. Today, she is sharing her tips on how to best take care of our bodies after childbirth, including our pelvic floors.

Liz Miracle, PT, MPT, WCS is the Head of Clinical Quality and Education at Origin, the leading provider of physical therapy for maternity, menopause, and sexual health, with deep expertise in the pelvic floor and full body. Liz is a Texas native and graduate of Texas Woman's University School of Physical Therapy. She began practicing pelvic floor physical therapy in 2006 and has since received her Clinical Specialization in Women’s Health from the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. After running her own practice for a decade, she was excited to join Origin Physical Therapy, where she works to implement the highest standards of evidence-based care and help train the next generation of pelvic floor therapists. When not exploring innovative ways to help her patients, she is at home hiking the hills in the North Bay of San Francisco with her husband and daughter.

Check out our SHOW NOTES for details on our discussion and my thoughts!

Thank you for listening to this episode! Be sure to follow us on our podcast Instagram page @thebabychickchat. Let us know what you think and if there are any other topics you'd like us to cover. Cheers to taking care of yourself postpartum!

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I don't know about you, but I always knew, even as a child, that I wanted to be a mom. My dream was to grow up and have kids, create special family traditions, and be a very involved and loving mother. I had hoped that my journey to motherhood would be a smooth one. I knew that my mother experienced some difficulty conceiving my twin brother and me, but I was hopeful.

As an adult, when I entered into the career side of the mom-and-baby world, I quickly learned how much more common it is for people not to have the smoothest start to becoming a parent — getting pregnant and having a child. I've heard thousands of stories over the years from women about "becoming a mother." Each one, like a fingerprint, has her own unique story. Today's guest, Irina Reeves, is no exception. During our chat, I was inspired by her outlook on life and how she took her journey of becoming a mom and turned it into something beautiful.

Irina Reeves is a wife, mother to a beautiful baby girl, and the founder of OliviaR, a jewelry company that celebrates one-of-a-kind connections between loved ones.

Growing up in Russia, Irina was raised in a culture that encouraged very traditional family values: men went to work, and women became mothers and stayed home. But as a teenager in Moscow, Irina quickly recognized that her ambitions and interests often differed from those around her. She felt called to explore the world, travel, go to school, get a degree, have a career of her own, and one day become a mother. She knew she could do both – have a career and be a mom.

Irina first went to university in Moscow, then received her second master's degree in London, and then pursued a third master’s degree in New York. It was in New York when she met her now husband, and her life’s direction became clear and began to unfold. She now lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their 15-month-old daughter, Olivia.

See the SHOW NOTES to learn more about Irina's company, OliviaR, our discussion, and my final thoughts.

*This episode is sponsored by our friends at OliviaR. Visit their website to order your jewelry piece today!*

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We all know that children are the greatest blessings in life. They truly are. Raising them, however, can be quite a challenge for us parents. We want to protect them, mold them, and encourage them to be the best people they can be. But how do we do that without being too permissive or too authoritarian? Many parents struggle to find parenting methods that work for them and their children, especially when generations before us parented so differently. Maybe you're trying to break family cycles that you learned and want to do things differently with your kids. Maybe you want to parent with better boundaries and with more respect. If this is you and you're looking for ways to connect more with your children and parent with compassion, you're going to love today's guest, Janet Lansbury.

Janet Lansbury is a former actress and model, and her passion for parent education began when she became a mother and sought guidance from infant expert Magda Gerber. Deeply inspired and grateful for her wisdom, Janet began training with Magda professionally. For the last 20 years, she has taught RIE parenting classes in Los Angeles and has served on the Board of Directors of Resources for Infant Educarers (RIE) since 1995. Janet is privileged to support hundreds of thousands of parents across the globe, sharing insights gained through her parenting classes and personal experiences as a mother of three. 

In 2009, Janet created her parent education blog, JanetLansbury.com, and she later published two best-selling books, Elevating Child Care: A Guide to Respectful Parenting and No Bad Kids: Toddler Discipline Without Shame. In 2015, Janet launched her podcast, Unruffled, which is the top-ranking parenting podcast about respectful parenting from Wondery.

Janet encourages parents and childcare professionals to perceive babies as unique, capable human beings with natural abilities to learn without being taught, develop motor and cognitive skills, communicate, face age-appropriate struggles, initiate and direct independent play for extended periods, and much more.

Janet Lansbury is someone that I have admired in the baby and parenting industry for years. Her work has impacted me and so many others (including many of my clients) with our parenting and how we think about our children, boundaries, discipline, and more. Hearing her share her personal story and her overall thoughts on respectful parenting was inspiring. I have been interested for a while in learning more about RIE and the work that Janet does, but after this episode, I may just take a course myself. Stay tuned!

If you would like a healthier relationship with your child and want to discover a different way of parenting that can blossom your own parenting skills, I highly recommend listening to this episode and learning more about Janet's work. I believe you will leave inspired, too.

Thank you for listening to this episode! Be sure to follow us on our podcast Instagram page @thebabychickchat. Let us know what you think and if there are any other topics you'd like us to cover. Cheers to parenting with respect!

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If you're a working woman with a job outside of the home, you know that having order and a good routine is essential and sets you up for success in work and in life. Once you throw in pregnancy, like navigating morning sickness, fatigue, and all the other things that may come along with pregnancy while working a highly demanding job, it can be quite a challenge. Not to mention figuring out your new path when you become a new mother and balancing your new role with your career. There's definitely a transition period, but eventually, you get into your groove and figure it out.

But imagine what it must be like for people in the public eye . . . They're trying to navigate pregnancy and new motherhood in the spotlight! There have to be pressures they experience that we are unaware of. Do they have it easier or harder? We had to get the scoop on how Jessica Tarlov, a new mother of two, is staying on top of being a mom and having a thriving career.

Jessica Tarlov joined FOX News Channel as a contributor in 2017 and serves as a co-host of the nation’s highest-rated cable news show, The Five. 

A graduate of Bryn Mawr College with a B.A. in History, Jessica holds two master’s degrees in Political Science and Public Policy and a Ph.D. in Government from the London School of Economics and Political Science. As a new mom to her two daughters, Cleo, and baby Teddy, Jessica shared with the Los Angeles Times that motherhood and parenting have put a whole new column on the board that has made her see the world completely differently. Jessica has also opened up about her postpartum experience and juggling it all as a new mom and co-host of The Five. Jessica is a lifetime New Yorker who grew up in TriBeCa and continues to live there today with her husband and daughters.

As a career mom, listening to Jessica's story as she navigates motherhood with a busy career was completely relatable. While I'm not on cable television and don't have the Fox makeup team to help me out ;), I could relate to a lot of what she said. I heard her genuine love for her family and her career. These are things I feel passionate about in my life, too. Sometimes, women feel like they have to choose — be a "good mom" (however you ideally define that) or have a thriving career. But, as Jessica said in this episode, with a solid support system, a good schedule, time for yourself (self-care), and allowing yourself to feel your feelings (let out a good cry when you need to), you can have both and do them both well. It's like Taylor Swift says, "I cry a lot, but I am so productive." Jessica and I can totally relate to that!

If you're a new mom or someone considering growing their family and you also have (and love) a demanding career, this episode is for you. Listen to Jessica's story and tips and hear how you can continue pursuing your dreams and passions while you also venture through motherhood.

Thank you for listening to this episode! Be sure to follow us on our podcast Instagram page @thebabychickchat. Let us know what you think and if there are any other topics you'd like us to cover. Cheers to navigating motherhood your way!

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Parenting, while wonderful, is tough. Every parent knows that. And while some of the parenting challenges that previous generations faced are still applicable today, there are new challenges we're experiencing that have never been dealt with before. No one knows this better than Mrs. Modern Mom Probs herself, Tara Clark. She has been shedding light (and humor) along the way on what mothers face today since 2017. Her work helps mothers feel less alone and reminds us that we're not failing; we're all just trying to do our best. We had to chat with Tara on the show to hear her thoughts on modern mom probs and her solutions!

Tara Clark is an author, speaker, content creator, podcaster, and the founder of Modern Mom Probs. After becoming a mom and recognizing a hole in the online space for moms to connect authentically, she launched her Instagram account in 2017. She has since built a valued community, solidifying herself as a humorous, trusted voice in the parenting space. Tara holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Villanova University and an MBA in Media Management from Metropolitan College of New York. She currently lives in New Jersey with her husband and son.

In this episode, we chat with Tara Clark about modern mom problems. We wanted to talk to Tara about some of the most common struggles modern moms face and solutions to help us move forward. Here are several of the questions that we covered in our conversation:

Mamas, we are human. We make mistakes. However, we must remember that we are trying our best, and our best is good enough. Give yourself more grace as you navigate this stage of motherhood (and the next stage, and the next). If you're listening to this episode, chances are, you're a very good mother. We hope you feel the love and support you so deserve.

Thank you for listening to this episode! Be sure to follow us on our podcast Instagram page @thebabychickchat. Let us know what you think and if there are any other topics you'd like us to cover. Cheers to thriving as a modern mom!

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Motherhood is, without a doubt, the best thing that has ever happened to me. It has molded me into a better, stronger, more loving, and compassionate person. I never knew how much my heart could love until I had children. Motherhood has also made me very tired, a bit more anxious, and even more of an over-thinker and worrier. If you're a mom reading this, I'm sure you might be able to relate to a few of these.

While we want to do everything we can for our children and be a good mom, sometimes (or oftentimes) we over-extend ourselves because we want to show them (and maybe the world) how much we care. It comes from the very best of intentions, but it can lead us to take on too many responsibilities and commitments. The load that we carry as mothers is heavy. That's why we refer to it as "the mother load." And while, of course, we would do anything for our children, mothers need to remember this . . . all of those things were never meant for one person to carry. Our guest, Erica Djossa, knows all about the mother-load that she literally wrote the book. She talks to us in-depth about this topic and how mothers can make a change for the better.

Erica Djossa is a registered psychotherapist specializing in maternal mental health with over a decade of experience. She is the author of Releasing the Mother Load: How to Carry Less and Enjoy Motherhood More, CEO and founder of Momwell, and the host of the Momwell podcast. As a mother of three rambunctious young boys, Erica understands first-hand the challenges of motherhood. Perfectionism, pressure, and loss of identity fueled her battle with postpartum depression, and she realized how difficult it is to seek care. She founded Momwell to set a standard of care for providers and ensure mom-centered specialized mental health support at any stage of motherhood. Erica has been featured in media publications, including Time Magazine, USA Today, The Toronto Star, Breakfast Television, and Scary Mommy.

In this episode, we chat with Erica about the invisible “mother-load” all moms carry and how moms can learn to carry less and enjoy motherhood more. Here are several of the questions that we covered in our conversation:

Go to the SHOW NOTES for more!

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As I'm currently watching the Olympics as I write this, I am in awe of all of these incredible athletes. Seeing the greatest in the world compete against one another in their sports is truly amazing. You know what's also amazing? Knowing that some of these competitors are mothers. These women have grown, birthed, and continue to sustain life. And they are Olympians. I have wonderful memories watching the Olympics growing up and one athlete that I have admired over the years is Allyson Felix. She has done some amazing things as a track and field star, but her work off the track is just as inspiring.

Allyson Felix is the most decorated track and field athlete in history. That’s right! With a record 20 World Championship medals and 11 medals at the Olympic Games — seven gold, three silver, and one bronze — she ranks among the sport's greats. Throughout her career, Allyson has demonstrated resilience and determination, overcoming setbacks and injuries to achieve greatness on the track. Her dedication to her sport and commitment to excellence have made her a role model for aspiring athletes worldwide. In 2022, Allyson retired from her athletic career after winning her last world championship gold in Eugene, Oregon, ending her career as the most decorated athlete in track and field history.

Beyond her athletic achievements, Felix is also recognized for her advocacy work and leadership in promoting gender equality and diversity in sports. She has been a vocal advocate for maternity rights for athletes, sparking important conversations about supporting women athletes during pregnancy and postpartum. She has also been an advocate for Black maternal health for racial disparities in maternal mortality rates in the U.S. For all of her efforts, Allyson was named one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People twice, in 2020 and 2021.

Allyson is also a wife and mother to her two children. In November 2018, Allyson gave birth to her daughter, Camryn, early at 32 weeks via emergency C-section due to severe preeclampsia. In April 2024, she welcomed her son, Kenneth (Trey), via an unmedicated VBAC. Her journey as a mother has added a new dimension to her career, inspiring others with her ability to excel both on and off the track.

In this episode, we chat with Allyson Felix about her journey through motherhood — from her career as a professional athlete and Olympic champion to embracing life as a mother of two as well as her latest partnership with Pampers. Check out our SHOW NOTES for more details.

Chatting with Allyson was such a pleasure. Her humbleness and genuine care for supporting women and mothers is evident and we are so grateful for all that she is doing to make a difference. Listen to the episode to hear her thoughts and story!

Thank you for listening to this episode! Be sure to follow us on our podcast Instagram page @thebabychickchat.

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In my opinion, as soon as you find out you're pregnant, it heightens everything. You become so much more hyper-aware of your surroundings and everything you do because all of those things are no longer just affecting you . . . they are affecting your growing baby, too. And as mothers, we always want to do and provide the very best for our babies. This is why one of the first things we tend to think about is what we are eating. Because what we are eating is also what we are feeding our babies.

Today's guest, Stephanie Middleberg, is an expert on this topic, and she is sharing her pregnancy nutrition tips with all of us and so much more. Tune in to discover everything you need to know about pregnancy nutrition and what to do to have a happy and healthy nine months and beyond!

Stephanie Middleberg, MS, RD, CDN is a registered dietitian nutritionist, founder of Middleberg Nutrition, and mother of two. Stephanie received her Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition from New York University and lives with her kids, Julian and Remi, and her husband, Andrew, in Brooklyn. She is frequently called upon by media outlets as a nutritional expert and has served as a member of both Health and Cosmopolitan's Health Advisory Boards. She has made appearances on major television networks, including ABC’s Good Morning America, CBS, and Fox. Her bestselling books, The Big Book of Organic Baby Food and The Big Book of Organic Toddler Food have helped countless families feel at ease with the stresses of feeding their little ones. And now, her latest book, The Big Book of Pregnancy Nutrition, guides you on how to nourish yourself and your baby from the first through fourth trimesters. When she isn't working with her clients or media outlets, you can find Stephanie jogging with her husband and son, traveling, or concocting recipes in the Middleberg Nutrition Test Kitchen.

Thank you for listening to this episode! For more details, be sure to go to the SHOW NOTES and follow us on our podcast Instagram page @thebabychickchat. Cheers to a happy and healthy pregnancy!

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Today, we're discussing a subject that plays a crucial role in many people's lives: birth control. I had the pleasure of chatting with our guest, Dr. Bana Kashani, about this topic in great detail. Dr. Kashani provided tremendous medical insights and discussed the various forms of contraception, what to expect with each, and debunked some common myths.

Birth control isn't just about preventing pregnancy—it's about empowerment, choice, and taking control of your health. Whether you're thinking about changing the current birth control you're on, needing to consider your options after you have baby (if you're pregnant), curious about how different methods work, or just looking to understand more about this important aspect of reproductive health, this episode is for you. We navigated through the maze of pills, patches, IUDs, and more so that you can make an informed decision that best suits your lifestyle and needs. Now, let's meet our guest!

Dr. Bana Kashani is double board-certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology as well as Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. She has been treating infertility patients since 2014 and has been practicing in Orange County, where she grew up, since 2017.

Dr. Kashani received her medical degree from the University of South Alabama, College of Medicine, where she graduated at the top of her class, and she completed her residency at the University of Southern California. There, she received tremendous experience in all facets of Obstetrics and Gynecology but specifically had an interest in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. She continued her medical training and pursued a subspecialty in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Rutgers, New Jersey Medical School.

Since Dr. Kashani is focused on providing her patients with the most personalized approach to fertility services and treatments, she opened up her own practice in 2020. Her practice’s mission is to ensure patients feel comfortable and cared for since infertility treatments can be overwhelming.

In this episode, we chat with Dr. Bana Kashani about navigating birth control. In a rapidly evolving landscape of reproductive health, navigating the variety of birth control options can be overwhelming. Here are several of the questions that we covered in our conversation:

We know that it can be overwhelming when navigating the world of birth control, but we hope this episode leaves you feeling more knowledgeable about the different forms of contraception as well as empowered to choose the right form for you.

Thank you for listening to this episode! Be sure to follow us on our podcast Instagram page @thebabychickchat. Let us know what you think and if there are any other topics you'd like us to cover. Cheers to being empowered to make your own choices!

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