In this episode, Kim Kimball graciously joins us to share about her journey to parenthood. We talk about how painful it is to diverge from your idealized reproductive story. We reflect on the need to have flexible expectations of yourself and your experience in the perinatal period. In Kim's story, she shares how prioritizing her own mental health and accepting help from a supportive care team helped her get better. We identify systems issues as well as how isolation can present in many ways, increasing risk for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs). We are so grateful to Kim for sharing her experience. We hope it helps listeners feel less alone in the challenges of the perinatal period.

Kim's coaching business: https://www.kimkimballcoaching.com/

In this episode, Jennifer Jenkins-Boitnott, LPC with Sea Glass LLC, helps us demystify Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy (EMDR). This therapy treatment modality has become more accessible and well known, especially as it relates to trauma. Join us as we discuss frequently asked questions about EMDR and Jennifer breaks down what to expect if you're considering it for yourself. Jennifer reminds us you are in the driver's seat during this process that is often viewed as 'woo woo,' but has a strong evidence base for its effectiveness in reducing symptoms. We bust myths about feeling out of control and having to relive traumatic memories. We talk about how beneficial EMDR can be in the perinatal period whether it's for birth trauma, loss, or distress and disproportionate emotions experienced in parenting. Jennifer's expertise and wealth of knowledge allows us to paint a thorough picture of EMDR not only for potential clients, but also for therapists curious about referring clients to EMDR or seeking EMDR training themselves.

Jennifer's practice: https://seaglassrva.com/

Our previous guest, Olga Montgomery, LCSW, returns for our 10th episode to tell us about grief support groups she offers at no cost through Voyager Counseling. We discuss how to register, what to expect, and how rare but important these offerings are. Grief is isolating, yet as Olga reminds us, it also demands a witness. Shame and worries of judgement tend to keep us from showing up. Olga offers permission to 'arrive messy.' Join us as we chat, connecting in our own imperfection with technology issues, kid interruptions, and acknowledgment of just how long this episode recording took to schedule.

Olga's website: https://www.voyager-counseling.com/

On this episode, we are joined by guest Emma Goff, the Fertility Awareness Educator behind Emmamma and Your Cyclical Doula. She shares with us about her work as a Certified SymptoPro Instructor and FACTS speaker. Learn about how empowering it can be to understand what is going on with your body and when throughout your cycle. We talk about how this awareness education can support women with health concerns and in making family planning decisions. Emma reminds us it's never too late to learn about our own bodies and teach the next generation, shame free. Of course, Karli asks about the intersection of mindfulness and fertility awareness education and Emma's answer delivers. Join us for this fascinating episode.

To connect with Emma: https://emmamma.com/meet-emma

FACTS about Fertility: https://www.factsaboutfertility.org/

Joining us for this episode is, Olga Montgomery, LCSW, a radically compassionate women’s grief therapist and owner of Voyager Counseling. She shares with us how participating in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy can support women in learning a new skillset for navigating life with grief. In this episode, we spend time acknowledging that not all grief involves physical loss, that the effects of grief are often unexpected or unnamed, and that we grieve because we love. Olga talks passionately about holding grief, love, hope, and loss all at once. She kindly shares her own experience of grief with us in tandem with what led her to open her practice.

Olga's private practice: https://www.voyager-counseling.com/

In this episode, we reflect on the emotional rollercoaster of returning to work after having a baby—a transition full of contradictions, complexities, and very real challenges. We talk about the push-pull of wanting to return to your career while also struggling with the heartache of leaving your baby in someone else's care. From navigating pumping schedules and finding childcare to juggling shifting priorities on minimal sleep, this season of life demands a whole new level of mental load. We explore why this transition feels especially difficult in the U.S., where structural support is often lacking. With honesty and compassion, we offer loving reminders that it feels hard because it is hard—not because you’re doing something wrong. We discuss the power of managing expectations, setting boundaries, and seeking support, all while holding space for the full spectrum of feelings that come with this deeply personal and societal shift.

In this episode, we dive deep into the emotional and mental health impacts of breastfeeding—what’s rarely talked about but so important to understand. We bust common myths around milk supply and postpartum weight loss, and open up honest conversations about formula feeding stigma and how food allergies can affect feeding choices. From exploring the lesser-known experience of DMER (Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex) to sharing our own stories, we aim to validate the complex feelings that can come with feeding your baby. We emphasize that feeding isn’t all or nothing—your mental health matters, and flexible expectations are key. Knowledge is power, and we believe that gathering information can help reduce anxiety and empower you to make the best choice for you and your baby. Join us for a supportive, judgment-free space where we encourage mindfulness, compassion, and options.

Sarah Kostyukovsky, PT, DPT, OCS joins us for a conversation about pelvic health. Hear how she supports perinatal people in their experience all the way from trying to conceive through postpartum recovery and beyond. We learned it's never too late to care for your postpartum body and that there is choice in what your pelvic exam looks like. We talk about what it may look like for professionals to provide support following perinatal loss. And in keeping with our objectives for this podcast, we talk some about our own experience as well as the mind body connection.

Full Circle Grief Center's Strategies for Providing Trauma Informed Support During and After Perinatal Loss:

https://fullcirclegc.org/trauma-informed-perinatal-loss-training/

This episode is for bereaved parents. Ann shares her knowledge of disenfranchised grief, ambiguous loss, and secondary losses. Her experience working with people who have experienced infertility, miscarriage, termination for medical reason, abortion, and stillbirth allows for a supportive, eye opening conversation to unfold. It may be just what you need to hear this Bereaved Mother's Day. 

In this episode, Karli walks us through her Mindfulness Based Childbirth and Parenting class with Ann's interpretations reflecting how and why this class can be so helpful and important for pregnant people, their partners, and families as a whole. Join us for answers to common questions you may have about this class and learn what practicing mindfulness looks like.

Mindful Birthing website: https://www.mindfulbirthing.org/