Out of the Reeds

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The advice that relationships should be "50/50" falls apart the moment real life shows up. Joe Rawlins breaks down why equitability matters more than equality, what polyamory actually looks like inside a family, and how consent, grief, and mental load reshape the way we love, parent, and partner.
Joe is a clinical social work intern and mental health therapist in Florida, and he works at the crossroads of couples therapy, intimacy, neurodivergence, LGBTQIA+ relationships, and perinatal mental health. He also brings lived experience as a polyamorous queer father, which gives him a rare perspective on the gray areas people are often told to ignore.
You'll discover why opening a relationship rarely fixes the problems already inside it, how kids can experience nontraditional families with more stability than people assume, and why "more people to love them" can be a real advantage rather than a threat. Joe also explains the difference between ethical and consensual non-monogamy, and why the language we use reveals more judgment than honesty.
We break down his research on fawn responses in kink and BDSM, including how people can say yes out of fear, appeasement, or relationship pressure instead of true consent. Joe also shares how that work translates far beyond kink into everyday relationships, trauma recovery, and the way people negotiate desire, boundaries, and trust.
This conversation also goes deep on what new dads face in the first year after birth, how hidden emotional labor lands in relationships, and why so many men struggle more with ownership than execution. If you've ever felt boxed in by black-and-white thinking about family, masculinity, therapy, or intimacy, this episode opens up a much wider, more human view.
Perfect for anyone navigating polyamory, parenthood, neurodivergent relationships, or the messy reality of building a partnership that actually fits the people in it.

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A poetry collection about motherhood, identity, and the parts of early parenting nobody wants to say out loud - Nicole Zvolinsky’s Motherhead turns the hard, messy, private truths of becoming a mother into something readers can finally recognize themselves in. If you have ever wondered whether you can still call yourself a writer, artist, or creative when life gets swallowed by caregiving, this conversation will land. Nicole and Natasha get into the long arc of her writing life, from childhood poems and ballet to corporate work, parenting two boys, and finding her way back to the page through the chaos of real life.You'll discover how Nicole rebuilt her creative practice in the margins of motherhood, why community changed everything for her, and how she uses poetry to capture experiences that are often left out of the polished version of parenthood. She shares what sparked Motherhead, including a botched epidural, postpartum fear, perimenopause brain fog, and the emotional whiplash of returning to work after a C-section and 12-week maternity leave. They also talk about the power of naming difficult experiences instead of hiding them, why rejection is part of the writing life, and how support from other writers helped Nicole grow her voice. Natasha and Nicole dig into the Motherhead Project, a space for women to share what they wish they had known before having a baby, and why honesty can be a lifeline for someone who feels alone.Nicole also opens up about what’s next, including her manuscript Dresses Without Pockets and Other Disappointments, a possible poetry collection inspired by Mary Shelley, and the challenge of making art while working full time and raising a family. If you are a mother, a writer, or anyone trying to make space for creativity in a crowded life, this one is for you. Nicole Zvolinsky is a poet and mother of two boys whose collection Motherhead explores pregnancy, postpartum, and motherhood with raw honesty and emotional clarity. Her work has appeared in literary magazines, and she is active in the Jacksonville and St. Augustine literary communities. Perfect for anyone who needs permission to make art imperfectly, tell the truth, and keep going anyway.

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Pelvic floor care is not just about Kegels, leaking, or postpartum recovery - it is about reclaiming confidence, pleasure, and a body you actually feel good living in. Pelvic floor therapist and sex counselor Dr. Sara Sohn shares why so many people are taught to ignore their bodies until something hurts, and how that silence can show up as pain, shame, disconnection, and missed care for years. If you have ever wondered whether what you are feeling is normal, this conversation gives you a new way to think about healing - one that starts long before pregnancy, and continues through postpartum, perimenopause, menopause, and beyond.We break down:

• Why pelvic floor therapy is about far more than incontinence
• The surprising link between C-sections, pelvic tension, and pain
• What most people are never told about postpartum recovery in the first 6 weeks
• How pressure management changes everything for core and pelvic health
• Why body awareness matters even if you are not currently in pain

 Sara also opens up about the emotional side of this work, including the shame so many women inherit around their vulvas, bellies, and pleasure. Her perspective is refreshing, practical, and deeply human: instead of asking how to “fix” your body, ask how to create more moments where it feels good to live in.This episode is for anyone who wants to understand their body more deeply, recover with more support, or reconnect with pleasure without guilt. It is also essential listening for moms, perimenopausal women, and anyone who has ever felt dismissed by the idea that “this is just what happens.” You will leave with a more compassionate lens on your own body, plus simple ways to start tuning back in today. Dr. Sara Sohn is a pelvic floor physical therapist, sex counselor, and founder of Confident Pelvic Rehab, where she helps people move from pain and disconnection toward confidence, autonomy, and pleasure. She also created the workbook Heart to Heart, focused on bringing joy back to the bedroom and reconnecting with the body.

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A Doula, a Corporate Exit, and the Question That Changed EverythingWhat if the life you built on paper is exactly the one that’s keeping you from your real calling? Amanda Saxon, founder of Sunrise Doula in Jacksonville, Florida, shares the raw, surprising journey from corporate success to deeply heart-centered birth work—and the moments of motherhood that forced her to stop performing the “good girl” version of success.Natasha Preckajlo guides a conversation that gets honest about fear, fulfillment, money, intuition, and what it actually takes to leave security behind. Amanda opens up about the pull she felt toward motherhood long before she became a doula, why she secretly hoped to be fired so she could finally make the leap, and how her own birth experiences reshaped the way she supports other women. You’ll discover:

• Why “What would you do if you weren’t afraid?” became a life-changing question
• How Amanda moved from marketing and corporate strategy into doula work
• The emotional truth behind wanting a natural birth and facing an unexpected reality
• Why she now helps mothers prepare for the parts of birth that don’t go according to plan
• How creativity, boundaries, and self-trust became part of her healing and her business

 Amanda also shares the tension so many women know well: how to answer a calling without burning out, how to charge what your work is worth, and how to build a life that supports both your family and your purpose. Her perspective on discernment, sisterhood, and creating systems for sustainable care makes this episode especially powerful for moms, birth workers, and anyone standing at the edge of a big life change.If you’ve been wrestling with fear, wondering whether you’re allowed to want more, or trying to find your own “groove” in the middle of chaos, this conversation will meet you there. Essential listening for women ready to trust themselves, rewrite the rules, and keep going.

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The advice every new parent needs: not every baby symptom is a crisis, but some absolutely are. Megan Spore of First Call Pediatrics breaks down how her in-home pediatric practice helps Jacksonville families know the difference, get answers fast, and feel calmer when everything about newborn care feels overwhelming.Megan is a neonatal nurse practitioner and co-founder of First Call Pediatrics, a physician-led in-home pediatric practice in Jacksonville, Florida. She and her team built the practice after years in the NICU and from their own experiences as parents, realizing how much support families need once they bring a baby home. You’ll hear how a team of NICU and pediatric providers created a modern version of the old-school house call, offering same-day and next-day care, 24/7 access, telehealth, and home visits for newborns, toddlers, teens, and even older kids. Megan shares why being able to text a photo, ask about a strange poop, or get reassurance about a fever can make all the difference when your instinct says something feels off. We also get into the difference between normal new-parent anxiety and real red flags, including the situations that should send a newborn straight to the ER. Megan explains why parents know more than they think, how to trust your gut when your baby is changing faster than you can keep up, and why support after birth matters just as much as support during labor. Beyond the medicine, this episode is also about entrepreneurship, motherhood, and building a family-centered business from the ground up. Megan opens up about launching a practice with her husband, managing imposter syndrome, and creating something her kids can actually see their parents building together. Essential listening if you’re a new parent, expecting a baby, supporting young families, or just want a smarter, more reassuring way to think about pediatric care.

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The cleanest sustainability advice starts where most moms are busiest: in the middle of real life. Janette Spiezio reveals how a lifetime of resourcefulness, motherhood, and hard-earned lessons led her to build Sustainable Haus, a New Jersey storefront and online shop helping people swap plastic, waste, and greenwashing for better, simpler choices.What begins as a conversation about one mom’s journey quickly becomes a practical blueprint for anyone trying to live more intentionally without getting overwhelmed. Janette shares the ingredients rule she wishes every parent knew, why plastic baby bottles are still one of her biggest regrets, and how “healthy people, healthy home, healthy planet” became more than a tagline.

 Janette also opens up about growing up in a first-generation German-American household where gardening, mending, canning, and using what you already have weren’t trends—they were simply how life worked. That mindset now fuels everything from her product curation to her community education, online content, and speaking work.If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by plastic, confused by ingredient labels, or wondered whether sustainable living is actually realistic for a busy family, this episode gives you the clarity and motivation to start.Perfect for parents, eco-curious listeners, and anyone ready to make smarter choices that support their health, their wallet, and the planet.

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What happens when the life you built stops working, and your body forces you to listen? Claudia’s story is a powerful reminder that burnout is not just exhaustion - it can be a full-body wake-up call that changes everything.Natasha Preckajlo sits down with Claudia, founder of Turn the Tables Coaching, to trace her path from dance academy and a career in fashion to a year-long collapse that left her unable to tolerate light, sound, or even speech. What emerged on the other side was not just recovery, but a completely different way of living, coaching, and creating.

 Claudia also shares the story behind her move from the Netherlands to France, where she is building a retreat space in the Champagne region with a tiny house, a yurt, and a vision for back-to-basics gatherings that help people reconnect with themselves and nature. Her message is clear: the answers are already inside you, but modern life is so loud you may need stillness to hear them.This conversation is especially for anyone navigating burnout, career uncertainty, creative identity shifts, or the feeling that life has become too small. If you’ve been waiting for permission to follow your heart, this episode is that reminder.Follow Claudia at Turn the Tables Coaching and listen for a conversation that is equal parts honest, restorative, and deeply human.

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A single knitting habit becomes a lifeline through motherhood, cancer, and starting over in a new country. Natasha Preckajlo talks with Alice O'Connell about how a simple craft turned into a powerful tool for grounding anxiety, rebuilding identity, and finding calm when life felt anything but steady.
Alice shares the unlikely moment an AD on a TV set told her to try knitting, how she went from a lopsided first scarf to teaching classes for more than 20 years, and why her work is about far more than stitches. She explains how knitting helped her navigate imposter syndrome, motherhood, and the mental load of caring for a young child while trying not to lose herself.
You’ll hear the full story of how Alice found the lump that led to a breast cancer diagnosis in 2024, what happened in the nerve-racking days before treatment, and why knitting became a crucial way to regulate her nervous system through surgery, chemo, and recovery. She also shares the practical reminder every listener needs: regular self-exams can save precious time.
We also get into the bigger life shifts behind her story - moving from the UK to Amsterdam, raising a bilingual daughter in a very different culture, and building a life that balances creativity, family, and freedom. Alice opens up about what she’s learned from living between two cultures and why health crises can sharpen your sense of what really matters.
This is an episode for anyone craving steadiness, perspective, or a reminder that small, quiet habits can change everything. If you’ve ever felt untethered by motherhood, change, or fear, Alice’s story will leave you feeling both grounded and inspired.
Alice O'Connell is a self-taught knitter, teacher, and founder of Learn To Knit, where she teaches complete beginners and experienced makers alike. Based in Amsterdam, she’s spent two decades helping people use knitting as a creative practice, a confidence builder, and a calm in the middle of chaos.

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How one woman’s journey from a conservative childhood to living her truth will challenge everything you think about faith, identity, and family.In a world where religious communities often demand conformity, Lauren Pantazi's story of breaking free is a powerful reminder that authenticity is worth fighting for. From growing up with little representation or understanding of queer identities, to rediscovering herself during the chaos of COVID and divorce, Lauren mentalizes her transformation in ways that will inspire anyone feeling trapped by societal expectations or religious programming. Her journey from suppression to celebration, including her decision to leave her faith, marriage, and chapter of hiding her true self, exemplifies radical self-acceptance and resilience.You'll discover:

• How Lauren navigated her evolving feelings about her sexuality within a strict evangelical environment

• The role of TikTok and online communities in her coming out and finding her people

• The emotional process of deconstructing religious trauma and trusting her own intuition

• Practical insights into co-parenting, blended families, and supporting a transgender partner while building authentic community

• The profound impact of shedding societal programming to finally love yourself

This episode is perfect for anyone questioning their faith, questioning their identity, or seeking courage to live authentically. Lauren’s honest storytelling offers hope, empowerment, and a blueprint for navigating complex family dynamics with love and integrity. Her story proves that discovering who you truly are can be messy, painful, but ultimately transformative—opening the door to a life where you can show up fully and free.

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Most new moms are thrown into a whirlwind of emotion, health scares, and chaos—until one young woman’s journey reveals surprising resilience and redefining what motherhood really means. Isabella Gorrie became a mother at 17, navigating the shame, religious expectations, and the scars of traumatic birth—all while proving you can absolutely do hard things. In this raw and honest conversation, you'll discover how she faced her first traumatic birth, managing severe health complications like spinal fluid leaks and brain bleeds that threatened her life—and yet, she still found a way to  bond with her daughter. We break down her story of multiple miscarriages, battling guilt, and the fierce determination to keep going, even when everything seems against you. You'll learn: how early motherhood challenges are not just about parenting but about fighting emotional battles and health crises that can change your life overnight. Isabella shares the importance of giving herself grace and how embracing imperfect moments has transformed her mindset. This episode is perfect for young parents feeling overwhelmed, anyone facing health setbacks, or those questioning whether they can balance their dreams with life's unpredictability. It’s not just a story—it's a testament to strength, resilience, and the power of choosing joy amidst chaos. Guest: Isabella Gorrie is a mother of three in Australia, known for her courageous journey through health crises, early motherhood, and redefining parenthood on her own terms. Her resilience challenges stereotypes and inspires others to embrace their unique path. If you need a shot of understanding, reassurance, or inspiration, hit play now. Isabella’s story reminds us all—yes, you really can do hard things, and sometimes, that’s the greatest gift you can give yourself.

Due to a technical difficulty episode ends at 37:01 not 44:15 as marked on time stamp.

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