Insomnia is a huge issue and affects millions of people’s quality of life. Infact, 15% of the population has chronic unremitting insomnia and women are much more likely than men to experience sleepless nights. Sometimes people resort to pills, alcohol, or other drugs to help. However, non-medicinal approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be the key to reversing this issue once and for all. Dr. Shelby Harris is a clinical psychologist board certified in Behavioral Sleep Medicine, Clinical Associate Professor, researcher on the neuropsychological effects of insomnia, and author of a recently published book “The Women's Guide to Overcoming Insomnia: Get a Good Night's Sleep Without Relying on Medication.” She discusses why insomnia is a problem, particularly for women, how CBT can help, and tangible tips and tricks to answer your most burning questions on insomnia. Connect with her at https://www.drshelbyharris.com/. 

Holistic wellbeing is a hot topic right about now. Your mind, body, and spirit are all integrated and contribute to your healthy lifestyle. During this time, the pandemic may be creating shifts in your wellbeing. This podcast highlights how to find harmony within the possible chaos.

Jaya Jaya Myra is an internationally acclaimed author and motivational speaker. After healing herself naturally from debilitating fibromyalgia, Myra developed the Well Method to teach others how to live a healthy, fulfilled and successful life based on each person’s unique elemental composition. Her approach to wellness and purpose shows why one-size-fits-all solutions don’t work for everyone, and how to find what will work for you. One of her best tips of all is to do something you are passionate about every single day that makes you come alive! Connect with her at https://www.jayajayamyra.com/.

Back in the day we thought the world was flat. Back in the day we also thought the brain and body operated separately, and so we had cognitive approaches and behavioral approaches to therapy. CBT, or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, combines these two worlds to describe the way that we as humans think and act. Chiara Battistello, PhD, LCSW, a clinical social worker and psychotherapist, discusses how our thought patterns or our assumptions of things around us come from underlying beliefs that make us feel and behave in certain ways. The issue is when these assumptions don’t serve us and are not based on current reality. She addresses how these maladaptive or ineffective thoughts, based on fears or past experiences, can lead to depression and/or anxiety and how her work in CBT and various other therapeutic approaches can meet her client’s individual needs and goals. Connect with her at https://chiarabattistello.com/.

On our show today we learn effective ways that new mommas can navigate their journey back into the workplace after giving birth. Robyn DeLuca, a psychologist and postpartum consultant, discusses ways to regulate emotional states, find and transition to childcare, appease struggles with partners, reintegrate into the workplace, and create sanity around it all. She addresses mom guilt and gives us tangible tips that you can implement TODAY. This episode is great for partners to listen to as well, so mommas forward it onwards! Connect with Robyn by visiting https://momsbacktobusiness.com/.

We are not quite in the times where we lived in joint families, where grandmothers, mothers, and the community of women were present to provide birth advice… advice that was passed down through generations. Many women don’t quite know what to do during and after pregnancy. Doulas and birth educators play a unique role in the 21st century.  Lisa Greaves Taylor, LCCE, CCCE, CD(DONA) is a NYC-based childbirth educator, birth doula, founder of Birth Matters NYC, and mom of 2. She talks to us today about the impact that these professions have in the world today. Lisa dives deep into childbirth preparation and what that looks like in today’s age. She also has her own podcast called Birth Matters, which shares birth stories to build the knowledge & confidence of expectant parents. Connect with her work by visiting https://www.birthmattersnyc.com/.

When the “baby blues” turn into postpartum depression (PPD), we have to seek help. Therapists trained in pregnancy and postpartum can guide you through this challenging period as you navigate the changes that a new child brings into your life. Olivia Bergeron, LCSW, is a psychotherapist and Parent Coach who founded Mommy Grooves Therapy & Parent Coaching. She chats with us today about risk factors for PPD, how to get support, and the hopeful fact that PPD is very treatable. She currently has offices in Park Slope, Brooklyn and Union Square, Manhattan. Connect with her at www.mommygroove.com.

Right now about 1 in 5 children are obese. Fast food has become an integral part of people’s daily food habits and it often spirals out of control. Parents don’t want their children to have heart disease and diabetes, so why is this happening? Namitha John Shah is a family nurse practitioner in New York City who specializes in pediatric and adolescent medicine. She urges parents on improving food habits and offers tips that parents can implement today to put their children less at risk.

In a big city like Manhattan, there are dozens and dozens of exercise classes to fit any person’s needs. You’ve got classes offering yoga, hybrid training, boxing, bootcamps, biking, and more. When it comes to the prenatal population, there are several options to continue your fitness journey if you are already active and moving without pain or dysfunction. It’s okay (and very necessary) to workout during pregnancy in a safe and personalized manner. On this show, I sit down with Erin Livingston, a fitness professional certified in prenatal fitness at Physique 57, a barre workout studio with teachers certified in prenatal fitness. Erin discusses what it means to stay strong and flexible during this time. She brings up the importance of maintaining stable, yet supple abs to make room for the baby while preventing back pain and diastasis recti. Erin shares with us how much she loves to explore all the possibilities your body is capable of especially during pregnancy. The ability to keep moving and take care of your body while pregnant is a goal she has for all of her prenatal clients. 

Some people give birth in the backseat of NYC taxis and others... in the woods. Many people give birth in large hospitals. Still others birth in birthing centers. There are few birthing centers in the world, but they exist. Think something in between giving birth to your precious newborn on your own warm couch versus on a hospital bed plugged in with IV drips. Laure Sinnhuber-Giles is a board certified midwife, a certified lactation counselor and a certified childbirth educator. She currently works in Brooklyn Birthing Center (BBC), one of the two birthing centers in New York. She chats with us today on the role of a midwife, what birthing in a center like BBC is like, and your options as a pregnant mother.

“My dearest wish is to pass on to women the gift my midwife gave me when I had my children: an attentive ear to listen to my questions, a vigilant eye to watch over my health, skilled hands to know my baby’s position, a calming presence to sooth me and an unshakable trust in my ability to give birth. She enabled me to find a strength in myself that I never knew I had.”
- Laure Sinnhuber-Giles, Licensed Midwife

What and how much should you eat and drink during pregnancy, while in labor, and immediately postpartum? Learn how to balance your meals with sufficient fats, carbs, and proteins, and more importantly, what that actually looks like on your plate. We get as detailed as what types of fish or cheese you can eat or should avoid. Mary Jane Detroyer, a Registered Dietitian and Exercise Physiologist, tackles some practical questions on nutrition and pregnancy. In our conversation, Mary Jane challenges social media influencers who may talk about getting your “body back after birth” and tells you some truths on the natural way your body recovers postpartum. Her mission is to motivate and empower her clients to improve their health and quality of life by increasing awareness and incorporating mindfulness when making exercise, diet and lifestyle changes.