It's All Connected

I’ve been wanting to chat about this for a while, and honestly, this one feels extra personal. I cozied up with my water, blanket, and sweatshirt for this conversation because it’s one that’s been on my mind quite a bit lately — the whole “do we want another baby?” conversation.

When Chris and I first talked about kids, we were totally those people who said, “Yeah, two under two sounds great.” Like… that’s just what you do, right? Keep yourself in baby mode, give your kid a built-in buddy, and check the box. But after my pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience — which were all way harder than I ever expected — our perspective completely changed.

In this episode, I’m getting real about why we didn’t rush a small age gap, what it’s looked like for me mentally and emotionally, and why I actually love the space we have right now. I talk about the toll pregnancy and postpartum took on me, how hyperemesis and perinatal depression shaped my healing process, and how I’ve seen the mental load hit so many of my patients, too.

There’s also this part of me that’s terrified — of pregnancy loss, of what it means to raise kids in today’s world, of bringing another baby into a time that feels so uncertain. I share how that fear shows up for me, especially living in a red state, and how it’s made this decision even more complicated.

Right now, we’re in a season that feels really good. I feel content in a way I didn’t think I would. And yet, there’s still this little pull for one more. I’m sitting in the in-between — grateful, grounded, and okay with not having it all figured out.

If you’re navigating family planning or feeling pressure about “the right time,” I hope this episode gives you a deep breath. You’re allowed to pause. You’re allowed to heal. You’re allowed to do this your way.

Take the hidden fertility balance quiz: https://motherland-wellness.com/fertility-imbalance-quiz

Let’s Connect:

Learn more about the Flourish Formula here: https://motherland-wellness.com/flourish-formula

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This episode is extra special because I’m joined by one of my closest friends, Kim—the person who hears all the crazy thoughts in my head on a daily basis. She’s a functional nutritionist, founder of Root and Branch Nutrition, and one of the women I admire most in this world. Oh, and she’s also a mom of two, which means she gets it on every level.

We’re diving into burnout, stress, and resilience in motherhood, and let’s be real—this conversation is for anyone who feels like they’re running on fumes. Kim opens up about her own burnout journey, including the mental and physical toll of exclusively pumping for both of her boys. That experience shifted everything for her and changed the way she supports moms in her practice.

We get into why so many of us fall into mom martyrdom, how society glorifies productivity, and the impossible pressure to constantly “do more and be better.” Spoiler: it’s not sustainable, and it’s not your fault.

What I love about this conversation is that it’s not about giving you a giant to-do list of wellness hacks. Instead, Kim shares realistic, functional ways to support yourself that you’re probably already doing in some capacity. Think: eating meals that actually sustain you, getting outside, throwing some heavy weights around, carving out alone time, sipping on mineral mocktails or herbal tea—whatever feels good and doable.

We also dig into why minerals are the foundation for everything (blood sugar, gut health, metabolism, stress response) and how HTMA testing can give you the answers you’ve been searching for. If testing isn’t in the budget right now, don’t worry—Kim gives you easy, low-cost ways to start supporting your body today.

At the end of the day, this episode is a giant permission slip: taking care of yourself isn’t selfish—it’s necessary. When moms are supported, everyone else benefits. So pour that mocktail, pop in your headphones, and let’s talk about what it really looks like to take your power back.

Follow Kim on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rootandbranchnutrition

Follow Kim on Threads: https://www.threads.com/@rootandbranchnutrition

Take the hidden fertility balance quiz: https://motherland-wellness.com/fertility-imbalance-quiz

Let’s Connect:

Learn more about the Flourish Formula here: https://motherland-wellness.com/flourish-formula

Interested in your own HTMA? Click here to learn more.

Click here to apply to work with our team!

Click here to sign up for our weekly newsletter The Squeeze, where we share actionable tips, nourishing recipes, and empowering insights to help you feel at home in your body.

I’ve never shared Rylo’s birth story publicly—until now. This episode feels both vulnerable and freeing, because his birth shaped so much of who I am today and even plays into why we haven’t had another baby yet.

From the moment we started trying to conceive, I was full of hope and anticipation. But by week six of pregnancy, everything shifted. I was hit with hyperemesis gravidarum, and let me tell you, throwing up 12–18 times a day until 34 weeks pregnant was brutal. I couldn’t eat, I could barely function, and the exhaustion, anxiety, and depression that came with it were overwhelming.

Still, I was so grateful for my incredible midwifery team. They held me up and helped me plan for the peaceful home birth I’d always dreamed of. My husband and I worked hard for two years to create a home that felt safe and sacred for bringing Rylo into the world. But as any mom (especially a postpartum nurse and birth doula) knows, birth rarely goes as planned.

On the night of my labor, things took an unexpected turn. My midwives all being unable to attend last minute and we were left calling in backup—a woman I’d never met and actually couldn’t stand. That was a turning point for me. Between the intensity of labor, some pretty wild body reactions, and realizing my plan wasn’t going to unfold the way I even remotely imagined, I had to make peace with transferring to the hospital. (Oh, and yes—there’s a story in here about cinnamon rolls mid-labor that you don’t want to miss. 😅)

The car ride was messy, the hospital was overwhelming, but in the end, I can honestly say my birth experience was still beautiful in its own way. As a postpartum nurse, I’ve learned that babies have their own way of coming into the world, and it rarely matches the “perfect” plan we create in our heads.

If you’ve ever struggled with birth disappointment, changing birth plans, or the weight of postpartum healing, I hope my story reminds you that you’re not alone. Every birth is unique. Every journey is worth honoring. And sometimes the most unexpected paths are the ones that teach us the most.

Take the hidden fertility balance quiz: https://motherland-wellness.com/fertility-imbalance-quiz

Let’s Connect:

Learn more about the Flourish Formula here: https://motherland-wellness.com/flourish-formula

Interested in your own HTMA? Click here to learn more.

Click here to apply to work with our team!

Click here to sign up for our weekly newsletter The Squeeze, where we share actionable tips, nourishing recipes, and empowering insights to help you feel at home in your body.

We made it. Welcome to episode one of It’s All Connected. Not gonna lie, this is actually my second attempt at recording episode one because apparently tech issues are a podcaster’s nightmare and, yep, I already hit it. But here we are — I’m officially a podcaster now!

I was supposed to launch this podcast back in December 2020, right after I found out I was pregnant with Rylo. But then hyperemesis decided to ruin my life (hi, puking 18 times a day). Then came birth, then motherhood, then building a business… and, well, life had other plans.

But I’m here now, and honestly? I want this podcast to feel like you pulled up a chair with your best friend to just shit talk, learn a little, and laugh a lot. Nothing too stiff, nothing too serious, just real talk.

Today, instead of diving into my “origin story” (we’ll save that for later), I wanted to share five things I’m doing right now to support my nervous system — because the world feels heavy as hell and I know I’m not the only one feeling it.

Here’s what’s been keeping me sane lately:

1. Walks – preferably on a crisp fall morning while I’m voice memo’ing my best friend Kim.
   
   
   
2. Baths – with Epsom salts or magnesium, because a hot skin-melt bath equals heaven.
   
   
   
3. Minerals – daily teas, adrenal mocktails, Re-Lyte, all the things.
   
   
   
4. Feel-good TV – because teenage romance drama on The Summer I Turned Pretty is sometimes exactly what my brain needs.
   
   
   
5. Bricking my damn phone – yep, I bought an actual phone brick to lock me out of apps at night.
   
   
   

The point is: no one is going to give a shit about you unless you give a shit about you. So take the damn walk, drink the tea, binge the show. Whatever it takes to care for your nervous system right now.

Take the hidden fertility balance quiz: https://motherland-wellness.com/fertility-imbalance-quiz

Let’s Connect:

Learn more about the Flourish Formula here: https://motherland-wellness.com/flourish-formula

Interested in your own HTMA? Click here to learn more.

Click here to apply to work with our team!

Click here to sign up for our weekly newsletter The Squeeze, where we share actionable tips, nourishing recipes, and empowering insights to help you feel at home in your body.

It’s All Connected is where functional medicine meets real life — no fluff, no fearmongering, just real talk about hormones, fertility, and the kind of life that includes school pickup lines, chaotic mornings, and yes… Oreos before bed.

I’m Kinsey Olson — founder of Motherland Wellness, functional nurse, and your no-BS guide to finally figuring out what the hell is going on with your hormones. I’m here to call out the fearmongering and fads in the wellness world and show you how to actually heal without turning into a full-time celery juicer.

Each Tuesday, we’ll unpack all things hormones, fertility, gut health, mental health, and the not-so-Instagram-perfect realities of motherhood, work, and womanhood. Expect solo deep dives into topics like mineral balance, burnout, PMS, and postpartum — plus real conversations with practitioners, entrepreneurs, and women just like you who are sharing their stories, wisdom, and breakthroughs.

We’ll bust wellness myths that aren’t serving you, talk about why “balance” looks different for every body, and have the honest conversations most people aren’t having — with a little cursing, a lot of compassion, and plenty of side tangents (because… it’s all connected).

Whether you’re here to support your body before trying to conceive, heal your hormones, or just need a chatty big-sister in your earbuds during school pickup, this podcast is for you.

Hit follow so you don’t miss an episode, and let’s make functional wellness realistic, compassionate, and actually doable — together.

Take the hidden fertility balance quiz: https://motherland-wellness.com/fertility-imbalance-quiz

Let’s Connect:

Learn more about the Flourish Formula here: https://motherland-wellness.com/flourish-formula

Interested in your own HTMA? Click here to learn more.

Click here to apply to work with our team!

Click here to sign up for our weekly newsletter The Squeeze, where we share actionable tips, nourishing recipes, and empowering insights to help you feel at home in your body.

Today I am joined with Emily of Emily Cox Wellness. She is a Holistic Nutritionist + Yoga Instructor based out of KCMO! 
She specializes in hormone harmony and gut health while preaching the power of personalized nutrition to folx of all ages, colors, and backgrounds. She believes that with the right guidance, tools, and motivation we can all take back the reigns of our health through sustainable yet systematic practices. It is her mission to provide each person with the unique tools they need to start living their best life and feeling fab, like yesterday!

I think I could chat with Emily through about a million podcast episodes and continue the conversation. Today we dive deep into: 

Follow along with Emily over on her Instagram @emilycoxwellness and her website. She is launching some really beautiful resources for 2021! Go grab her Gut Guide!

As always, we love a good review, subscribe, and a share! Follow us on IG at @motherlandbirthco for all the hormone, wellness, woo woo guru goodness.

Today I am joined with Kate Morton, CEO and Founder of Funk It Wellness. Kate began her journey through wellness as a Registered Dietician. After working in a hospital setting, she moved to New Zealand, stopped her birth control, and found herself really needing to find real solutions to her period probs, not temporary band-aids. 

We chat all about:

You can find Kate on Instagram at @funk.it.wellness and the Funk It Wellness website where she and her team share all the tips and education! You can use the code "MLB15" for 15% off your seed cycling kit or merch! 

If this episode made your heart happy, please subscribe, share and review us! Follow us on IG at @motherlandbirthco for all the hormone, wellness, woo woo guru goodness.