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/

Join us as we discuss the often unexpected grief and complex emotions that come with pregnancy and postpartum. How do we cope with so many unknowns? How do we balance both grief and joy? Am I experiencing something so different than others? Navigating all this takes support and courage. In this episode, we're here to walk with you through these unspoken struggles.

Bear with us as we get past our nerves on this first episode. Get to know us, personally and professionally, as we talk about all things perinatal mental health and our hopes for this podcast.

Disclaimer: This content is based on views, opinions, and stories of our own and does not represent that of our places of work. This podcast is for informational use only and is not therapeutic advice or a replacement for therapy. Please consult your healthcare provider for any medical questions.