Season 10 is here! What I Wish I Knew dives deep into the wisdom and hard-won life lessons parents and experts learned and now want to pass along to you. Our guest lineup includes a diverse group including a NICU nurse, pediatrician, special needs mom, bereaved mom, billing expert, birth trauma expert, twin mom, military NICU mom, and a professional photo organizer. Each episode highlights practical tips, emotional wisdom, and critical support for navigating life during and after a NICU stay. From understanding hospital bills to processing grief and trauma, season 10 brings honesty, empowerment and hope to NICU families. The guidance you wish you had from the start, is here.

💚 Connect with the host, Kathryn Whitaker:

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📺Socials 📺

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Music:

Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

As NICU parents, we’re all healing from a trauma. So when today’s guest, Savannah O’Malley, sought her own healing she found it in a beautiful place, her art. And that healing didn’t just benefit her own stories but the stories of thousands more NICU families. Listen in as Savannah shared how her gift is helping other families feel seen, and loved.

💚 Connect with the host, Kathryn Whitaker:

Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Website

💚 Connect with the guest, Savannah O’Malley:

Instagram  |  Facebook  |  TikTok  |  YouTube  |  Website

📺Socials 📺

Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Pinterest

Music:

Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

In this episode, we sit down with Candace Blair Cronin, Ph.D.—a full-time working mom of four and a passionate advocate for children in the foster care system. From fostering and adopting to mentoring families and serving as a CASA, Candace shares her deeply personal journey and the many ways she’s working to support vulnerable children and the families who care for them.

💚 Connect with the host, Kathryn Whitaker:

Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Website

💚 Connect with the guest, Candace Cronin:

Instagram

📺Socials 📺

Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Pinterest

Music:

Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Identical quadruplets. You read that right. The girls, born to Jonathan and Mercedes Sandhu, joined two other siblings, making six kids under the age of three. In this episode, they share about that first ultrasound appointment, how they prepared for the impossible, and what daily life looks like in a home where four babies are the same age—and somehow still have completely different personalities. This conversation is real, raw, and awe-inspiring. If you’ve ever wondered how anyone survives—let alone thrives—with six tiny kids, this one’s for you.

💚 Connect with the host, Kathryn Whitaker:

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💚 Connect with the guests, Mercedes and Jonathan Sandhu:

Instagram

📺Socials 📺

Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Pinterest

🔗Links

Texas Monthly article

Today Show

People magazine

Music:

Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

When parents get the call about a baby ready for adoption, they don’t often expect it to be accompanied with a NICU stay. Adoptive mom, Shannon Donnelly, shares how life changed for her and her husband, how they navigated an out-of-state adoption and NICU stay and how they found peace with her daughter’s birth parents.

💚 Connect with the host, Kathryn Whitaker:

Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Website

💚 Connect with the guest, Shannon Donnelly:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shannonwdonnelly0110 

📺Socials 📺

Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Pinterest

Music:

Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

“Is this normal?” is something almost every NICU parent asks about their baby at some point. In this episode, popular social media ER doctor, Dr. Meghan Martin aka drbeachgem.10, shares her own NICU story, how to be a good advocate for your child and encourages parents to always listen to their parental instincts.

💚 Connect with the host, Kathryn Whitaker:

Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Website

💚 Connect with the guest, Dr. Meghan Martin:

Instagram  |  Facebook  |  TikTok  |  YouTube

🔗 Links to resources:

Newborns do weird stuff reel

Dr. Martin’s NICU story

My Mejo (online medical journal)

📺Socials 📺

Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Pinterest

Music:

Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

NICU parents worry about a lot, but we know that education is power. If your child is at risk for eye abnormalities like retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), or has been diagnosed, pediatric ophthalmologist and popular podcaster, Dr. Rupa Wong allays some of the common fears and gives you tools to be a better advocate for your child’s eye health. 

💚 Connect with the host, Kathryn Whitaker:

Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Website

💚 Connect with the guest, Dr. Rupa Wong:

Instagram  |  Facebook  |  TikTok  |  YouTube  |  Website  |  Threads

🔗Links to resources:

Podcast: It's Good To See You

Pinnacle Conference and Podcast

📺Socials 📺

Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Pinterest

Music:

Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Valerie Rodriguez wasn’t planning on a lot of things: another pregnancy, multiples, a NICU stay or even having to say goodbye to one of her boys. In this episode she shares how she found her new normal, navigating grief, special needs and her evolving role as a mom and wife. 

Trigger warning: in this episode we talk about death and suicide. If you need to talk to someone, please call 988 or visit Lifeline

💚 Connect with the host, Kathryn Whitaker:

Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Website

💚 Connect with the guest, Valerie Rodriguez:

Instagram  |  TikTok 

📺Socials 📺

Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Pinterest

Music:

Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Her daughter was diagnosed with spina bifida during a tenuous spinal surgery and then she was diagnosed with breast cancer. As the mom of eight, Britt Fisk knows a thing or two about surrendering control. Her perspective was hard won and in this interview, Britt shares how laying down hard things helped her pick herself back up, and live again.

💚 Connect with the host, Kathryn Whitaker:

Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Website

💚 Connect with the guest, Britt Fisk:

Instagram  |  Facebook

📺Socials 📺

Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Pinterest

Music:

Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Everyday, 3,000 parents find out their child may have a NICU stay. They may start by logging on to the Hand to Hold website, but Founder and CEO of Hand to Hold, Kelli Kelley, and Executive Director, Katrina Moline, hope that NICU parents receive a plethora of support before, during and after their child’s hospital stay. Whether you listen to the podcast, ask for a peer mentor, receive free counseling, find loss and bereavement support, read our blog or find a support group, Hand to Hold offers it all.

💚 Connect with the host, Kathryn Whitaker:

Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Website

💚 Connect with the guests, Katrina Moline & Kelli Kelley:

Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Pinterest

📺Socials 📺

Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Pinterest

Music:

Thriving Together [Full version] by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10332-thriving-together-full-version

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Bright Colors Of Life by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7855-bright-colors-of-life

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license