Moms, how did you know you were done having kids? Or maybe you’re still deciding if your family is complete. Truth is, there is no one who can answer that question but you. 

Frances Largeman-Roth had three kids in her 30’s, along with a booming career as a registered dietician nutritionist, an author, and a TV contributor. Even with a very full life, the pull to have another child never left and she gave birth to her fourth baby at the age of 50! We chatted with Frances about what it took, both physically and emotionally, to bring her dream baby earthside. She also teaches us how to stay healthy and vibrant so we can all keep up with our growing kids. Frances is an open book and shares:

- the process of choosing an egg donor to become pregnant 

- her daughter’s unexpected birth story that included surgery at just 2 days old

- the (priceless) self-assuredness that comes with being an experienced mom

- the shift in family dynamics as her older kids adjusted to a new baby (hint: it got rocky!)

- Frances’ strategy for longevity in our 40’s, 50’s and beyond-from sunscreen to fiber intake to the supplements she swears by

Be sure to follow Frances @franceslrothrd and check out her website franceslargemanroth.com

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Moms, if you have a passion for something, don’t let anything get in the way of sharing it! That’s the advice of Ereka Vetrini, a foodie turned recipe creator whose personality, and warmth helped her surpass a million followers on Instagram over the last year! Gen X and Millennials probably remember Ereka from Season 1 of The Apprentice that debuted 20 years ago! 
This mom of two teens is a breath of fresh air and is unabashed in pursuing her passion for food and connection. Leaning on her Italian roots, Ereka puts her own twist on cooking and parenting-with no gatekeeping!
Ereka first chatted with host Demetra Ganias last year and she is a must-listen if you missed it. 
As you’ll hear in this endearing conversation, Ereka is honest and invigorating.

Hear her takes on:
*why now is still the perfect time to jump into the creator economy and grab your slice of the audience…2 billion users and counting!

*why her age (late 40’s and loving it!) is an asset to her success

*asking your partner to take on more at home so you have space to pursue your career (with inspiration from Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg)

*how to get picky eaters to give new meals a try

*all of Ereka’s beauty must-haves and splurges, from skincare to workouts

Ereka has a special discount code for MomCast listeners for her line of beautiful aprons-a kitchen staple that is both fashionable and functional!
Visit her brand By Ereka and use code FRIENDS20 for 20% off your favorite apron.

Don’t forget to follow her @erekav and check out her website cookingwithereka.com

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Moms, feeding our kids can be the most basic and most mind-boggling task we have as parents. What seems simple and intuitive can be stressful! After all, our approach and habits literally teach a child how to eat.
Exclusive breastfeeding or introducing foods?
When do we start foods?
Purees or solids?
On top of all the questions, we have to discern between science and chatter.
That’s why Dr. Krupa Playforth is such a saving grace!
A board-certified pediatrician, Dr. Playforth is also co-author of the acclaimed book “Baby Leads the Way: An Evidence-Based Guide to Introducing Solid Foods.”
She sets the records straight with so much powerful wisdom, like:

*staying away from rigid choices, allowing you to experiment and react to your child’s specific needs

*the difference in approaches between starting with purees and smaller whole foods

*the important distinction between gagging and choking

*why Dr. Playforth calls out the children’s vitamin industry and encourages parents to beware

*manageable nutrition goals for older kids too (think big picture!)

You can find more on Dr. Krupa Playforth on her website thepediatricianmom.com and make sure to follow her on IG @thepediatricianmom 

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Moms, this may be controversial, but it’s a fact: pushing a child to succeed can put their mental health at risk.
It’s all outlined by Jennifer Breheny Wallace in her breakthrough book Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic-and What We Can Do About It. 
Today’s episode is a wake-up call to draw the line between encouragement and pressure.  
We spoke with Jennifer when MomCast first launched and this encore presentation deserves not only a second listen, but ongoing conversation with our spouses and partners.
An award-winning journalist and author, Jennifer uncovered links between children at “high achieving schools”-both public and private-and mental health issues like anxiety and depression.
Most importantly, she offers hope! 
She reframes how we talk to our children about their role in their family and in their community, and answers the looming question that parents have to answer: “so what now?”
Wallace insists this is not an anti-achievement book.
In this must-hear episode she shares her trademark tips for how to frame success, including:


*teaching parents what “mattering” means
*specific steps to then help your child matter beyond their grades, skills, and talents

*the vocabulary to help disconnect a child’s achievement from their self worth

*why household chores are critically important and how to link chores with your child’s individual strengths

*how we moms can bolster ourselves, in turn boosting our child’s knack for resilience  

The studies Jennifer sources in her book include a 2019 government report and further research by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
You can follow her @jenniferbrehenywallace or learn more at jenniferbwallace.com
Join us!

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Moms, I have a teenager! All the cheesy cliches feel so appropriate right now (Time has wings! They grow up so fast! Blink and they’re big!). In fact, all three of my kids have summer birthdays so it’s a reflective season. Learning to be a better mom hasn’t been easy, but I’m here and I’m wiser. And who would have thought the mom who once wished her kids would grow up just a bit faster is desperately clinging onto the little kid phase! Today I’m opening up about:

* celebrating my “momiversary” and the perspective that passing years bring 
* my textbook case of “infantalizing” my youngest kid (don’t come at me!)
* how spoiling my kids and breaking generational habits can look eerily similar
* the IG trend that proves you’re a great mom! Who knew social media could be this reassuring??

As Season One of MomCast nears an end, we’re so grateful for all of the amazing guests who have fed our mama souls. Their wisdom, humor, and resilience are EVERYTHING!

Help us spread the word! Rate and review MomCast and share an episode with a mom who needs it. Remember, when we know better, we do better.

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Moms, making a baby is not for the faint of heart! Conceiving, carrying, and delivering a baby is so difficult...and it's just the beginning of finding health for a baby and for US. This episode is an encore presentation that, truly, is lifesaving for moms. Do I have baby blues or postpartum depression?
Do I need medication to ease my anxiety and is it safe during pregnancy?
Questions like these are completely normal-and the exact reason why motherhood and mental health should always be in the same sentence.
Dr. Jennifer Okwerekwu has dedicated her career to this synergy!
Dr. O, as patients affectionately call her, is a Harvard-trained reproductive psychiatrist who sees patients from before they conceive to long after they become moms. She is most passionate about erasing the “white-knuckling” that can sometimes define motherhood.
As a mom of two young girls herself, she knows the stress and expectations we carry from both society and ourselves.
In this incredible conversation, Dr. O brings agency and tranquility to our evolution. She reframes some of the most common concerns, like anxiety and judgment, and erases any possible stigma about reaching out for professional help. 
Whether you’re struggling or not, Dr. Okwerekwu is the boost that moms need as she 
- teaches us the definition of matrescence and the emotional stages of becoming a mother 

- validates the notion of birth trauma and birth disappointment and how to move forward with the stress that it leaves behind

- nudges us to step out of the “stress soup” that is dangerous to ourselves and our children, both inside and outside of the womb

- explains the changes in our brain that persist for years after having a baby, negating the idea of the “snap back” after delivering

You can find Dr. O on IG @drjennifer_o or at her website coralpsych.com
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Trigger Warning: Adult Topics

Moms, raising kids takes courage and the tween & teen years make that clear really quickly. If conversations about drugs make you cringe and the thought of discussing sex has you delaying the conversation, today’s episode is for you. As Vanessa Kroll Bennett tells us, we can absolutely share with our kids just how nervous and uncomfortable we are! Vanessa is the co-author of a book and the co-host of a podcast called “That’s So Awkward!” Along with Dr. Cara Natterson, they teach parents how to handle the challenges of puberty. This episode-which is Part 2 of our far-reaching conversation-explains smart strategies to begin brief and effective conversations.
Vanessa walks us through:

* what fentanyl is and the strong boundaries we need to place around pills and powders
* how Narcan is used to prevent possible overdoses
* distinguishing between “where do babies come from?” and “the talk”
* how to begin teaching consent at a young age
* why anatomically correct names for body parts creates safety for children

And if you missed Part 1 of our conversation with Vanessa, be sure to go back to Episode 39. You can find more wisdom from Vanessa @vanessakrollbennett and @less.awkward as well as lessawkward.com

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TIGGER WARNING: ADULT CONTENT
Moms, if you have teens and tweens you’ve likely thought, “Yikes! This is SO awkward!” We totally get it. That’s why we’ve called in expert help on how to make cringey conversations more manageable. Our guest is Vanessa Kroll Bennett, whose book and podcast are called This is so Awkward! Vanessa is half of the duo behind an incredible platform (along with Dr. Cara Natterson) that tackles all things puberty.
The list of hot button topics is long and nuanced, so we split this conversation into two parts. In this first half, we cover:

* the Third Pancake Theory-what it means and why it’s so accurate
* what an ACE (Adverse Childhood Experience) is and why they matter
* guidance for locking up alcohol and prescription/OTC drugs in your home
* when to start talking about safe sex and strategies to keep the conversation brief but effective
* why good kids will make bad decision…and why it’s ok

You can find more wisdom from Vanessa @vanessakrollbennett and @less.awkward as well as lessawkward.com

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Moms, when your kid’s next meal could send them to the ER-or worse-every bite matters. This is the reality for children with life threatening food allergies and the parents who spend every waking moment trying to keep them safe. 
May is Food Allergy Awareness month and our guest this week is Hillary Tolle Carter, a food allergy mom and passionate advocate. Her two sons were diagnosed with 35 and 14 allergies, respectively. While Hillary once felt overwhelmed and anxious navigating the daunting list of dangerous foods, she is now celebratory and encouraging thanks to her boys’ progress with OIT, or Oral Immunotherapy.  
Hillary isn’t a doctor and does not offer medical advice. What he shares is her own family’s experience with OIT and her subsequent decision to invest in the food allergy treatment center called Latitude. Our conversation includes:

* why Hillary is adamant that caregivers find their own support system and outlet
* how the chronic stress of navigating allergies left her devastated and physically ill
* the reason why OIT has been transformational for her sons and the independence treatment has given them
* why Hillary now considers allergies a gift for her family and how she found a new purpose because of them
* the delicate balance between accepting our kids’ limitations and fighting fiercely to change them

The resources that Hillary champions for allergies are FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) and FAACT (Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Connection Team). 

Hillary is an investor and Board Member at Latitude Food Allergy Care. Follow her on IG @hillarytollecarter and learn more at hillarytollecarter.com

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Moms, doesn’t it feel so good when someone lets us off the hook?! Like when someone tells us that being perfect really isn’t the goal…or that loving ourselves first does, in fact, make us a better parent? This is the liberating conversation we’re been looking for! I’m honored to sit down with Dr. Shefali, world-renowned clinical psychologist and New York Times bestselling author for Part 2 of our conversation. As the preeminent voice in modern parenting, Dr. Shefali unpacks key truths from her groundbreaking work to challenge cultural norms and inspire authentic connection between parent and child. In this episode we explore:
*why being your child’s “best friend” is a one-way street when they’re young—and why that’s okay
*the surprising truth that unconditional love isn’t required to be a great mother (phew!)
*how to stop people pleasing and show up for your kids and yourself with presence
*what it looks like to reclaim your identity in the midst of motherhood, even if you’re living in the fog or feel like a “hot mess”
*how perfectionism is rooted in ego, not love—and why letting go is the key to true connection
Make sure to follow Dr. Shefali on IG @doctorshefali, connect with her on her website drshefali.com and listen to her podcast "Parenting and You" 
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