In this episode of the Mindful Mama Podcast, Hunter Clarke-Fields talks with author Abigail Leonard about her powerful book following four women through their first year of motherhood in Finland, Kenya, Japan, and the U.S. They explore the universal emotional experience of becoming a mother—and how cultural context, policies, and beliefs shape that journey. Abby shares insights on global differences in maternity care, parental leave, and support systems, and they discuss the U.S. healthcare system’s shortcomings, the evolving role of fathers, and why systemic change is vital for families. It’s a wide-reaching conversation about motherhood, culture, and what true support really looks like.

ABOUT HUNTER CLARKE-FIELDS: Hunter Clarke-Fields is the host Mindful Parenting Podcast (Top 0.5% podcast ), global speaker, number 1 bestselling author of “Raising Good Humans” and “Raising Good Humans Every Day,” Mindfulness Meditation teacher and creator of the Mindful Parenting Course and Teacher Training.

Find more podcasts, Hunter’s books, blog posts, free resources, and more at ⁠⁠MindfulMamaMentor.com⁠⁠.

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