In celebration of Black Maternal Health Week, I sit down with the incredible, Mica Whitfield. We chatted the week before the Black Maternal Summit where she was presented with the Advocate of the Year award. Mica Whitfield is a nonprofit leader and women’s advocate with more than a decade of experience in program development and advocacy. She is fiercely passionate about improving the quality of life for women across the State of Georgia. In her previous position, she served as the Director of Programs for Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Georgia (HMHBGA). There she managed several programs, grants, advocacy initiatives, and policy-level workgroups for the organization. In addition, she served as the Vice President and Advocacy Chair for Postpartum Support International- Georgia Chapter. In this role, she coordinated advocacy efforts to enshrine Maternal Mental Health Day in the Georgia Code, and secured 1.05 million in appropriations to establish the State’s first Maternal Mental Health Telepsychiatry Line.

During our chat, Mica and I talk about black maternal mental health and the disparities in the state of Georgia. She talks about her own birthing experiences with both of her children and how maternal health became her calling. She also shares tips on how those in the community who want to become involved on a legislative level can and how someone can be an advocate for an incredible cause. #bmhw

Intro: Cozy by Peter Kuli

Outro: Be Alive by Beyonce

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Several mothers and birthing parents struggle with their postpartum bodies and being able to accept their changing bodies through pregnancy and afterwards. In this episode, I sit down with therapist, certified intuitive eating counselor and holistic health coach, Katie Raskin, to talk about the challenges associated with many mothers attempting to "snap back". Several mothers may greatly dislike their postpartum bodies and it can have an effect on their self-esteem and their ability to be intimate with their partners. Katie shares several tips and resources to help birthing parents push through the negative self talk, give grace, and develop a better relationship with their bodies and food.

Find Kate at www.katieraskin.com

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Intro: Peter Kuli "Cozy"

Outro: Sam Gendel & Sam Wilkes "BOA"

In this week’s episode of the Push Thru Podcast, I sit down with Brandy Miller. She’s a fashionista that I’ve faithfully followed on IG for several years now and I’ve finally had the opportunity to sit down with her and talk about her sassy fashionable style. In addition to her great fashion tips, Brandy gets candid about dealing with grief, suddenly having her vision of motherhood turned upside down and how her supports literally held her up in order for her to get through it. She talks friendships, living life to the fullest, and the gift of being a mother to her beautiful son. Sit back and listen to this style icon give tips on shape wear and how she was able to push through during her most difficult times.

Follow Brandy @thebeemiller

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Intro Peter Kuli -Cozy

Outro Doja Cat -Woman

In this week’s episode of the Push Thru Podcast, I sit down with the incredibly intelligent and ultra amazing, Kortney F. James. She’s definite a highlight for Women’s History Month because she is a woman making history (I’m so grateful to have been able to virtually meet her lol).

Dr. Kortney Floyd James is a nurse scientist and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. She holds a Ph.D in Nursing from the Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing & Health Profession at Georgia State University. She holds an MS in Nursing, specializing in Pediatric Primary Care, also from Georgia State University. Her BS in Nursing is from the University of South Carolina in Columbia. We sit down and discuss her dissertation on racial identity of Black mothers and its relationship with their maternal functioning, postpartum depressive symptoms, and bond with their infants. I feel like I could talk to her for hours on this topic.

Sit back and listen to two mothers passionate about black maternal mental health discuss the disparities and gaps in research.

Follow Kortney on IG @blackmamaswellness

https://www.kortneyfloydjames.com/

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Intro Peter Kuli "Cozy"

Outtro Tony Toni Tone "It Never Rains In Southern California"

In this week’s episode of the Push Thru Podcast, as we wrap up Black History Month, I sit down to have a chat about pop-culture with Candace Johnson. We give our thoughts on the new Bel-Air show on Peacock. We discuss Riri’s expanding empire, the trending topic of friends staying the night at married friends’s houses, our absolute fave Jasmine Sullivan, and Color Purple the musical heading to the big screen. I also recap my heartwarming thoughts on the incredible Black Maternal Mental Health Summit that happened this past Saturday. It was nothing short of amazing. Grab a snack and kick back for a laugh or two.

(pardon the background noise in this week's episode. I did my best to cancel it out. I'm amping up my tech quality for the upcoming episodes, promise)

Intro by Peter Kuli "Cozy"

Outtro by Jasmine Sullivan "Pick up Your Feelings"

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In this episode I discuss how to evaluate when you are mentally and physically burnt out and how to listen to your body. I also share with you a new book, I Own My Magic: Self Talk for Black Women by Michelle Goodloe. Michelle is the owner and psychotherapist with The Essence of Healing LLC, a private therapeutic practice based in Atlanta, Georgia. She is the creator two self-care resources, Self Explore, Self Restore journal and The Self Care Investment workbook, and the host of the wellness-resource website, gmichelle.com. Gmichelle.com offers busy, caring people the opportunity to make self-care a practical part of their lives. Michelle facilitates interactive workshops for non-profit and private organizations that experience challenges with addressing self-care, compassion fatigue and professional burn out.

In I Own My Magic: Self Talk for Black Women, Affirmations for Self-Care and Empowerment, the book shares how to practice self-love, embrace mindfulness, and how to build a positive daily ritual with inspiring prompts, meditations, and reflections just for black women. We dive into how to implement these practices on a daily basis and I also share a short insert from the book.

Intro: Peter Kuli - "Cozy"

Outro: Pip Millet - "I LIke it Like That"

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website: www.pushthrumom.com

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Gratitude is defined as being the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. I am in that space and I am full. In today's episode, I reflect on the year and the current space that I'm in. I also share some exciting, upcoming things within the new year. As well as share some BIG NEWS! This is the final episode of the season and we'll be taking a short break. I'll be seeing you guys early 2022. I look forward to the many conversations we'll be having and stay pushin'!

In this week’s episode, I sit down with interior designer extraordinaire, Jaye Nibbs, and we chat about the balance of entrepreneurship and motherhood. She shares how she pushes through mom-guilt, fears of growth, and how people assumed she was a kept woman versus a business boss. In the words of 2Chainz, “I work for myself, so I guess I work for a boss”.

Jaye has been designing spaces for six years beginning with the end of her lifestyle blog where her interests in interior design ultimately transcended her regard for the complete lifestyle vignette. She is the owner and principle designer of, Jaye Nibbs Interiors.

Sit back and listen to our chat about finding balance, self-care and betting on yourself!

Website: https://www.jayenibbsinteriors.com/

Follow Jaye @jayenibbsinteriors

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Intro: Cozy by Peter Kuli

Outtro: Bossy by Kelis feat. TooShort

In today's episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Nigerian-American father, Chiedu Areh. We discuss how he's always wanted to be a father and when granted the opportunity with his daughter, he was up for the challenge. It was the unexpected birth of his second child that caught him off guard and put him in a place of growth, reflection, and vulnerability. According to Postpartum Support International, one in ten dads gets postpartum depression, and up to 18% develop a clinically significant anxiety disorder such as generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder at some point during the pregnancy or the first year postpartum. The challenges of black fatherhood aren't always discussed and I'm fortunate to have the chance of interviewing an amazing one.

Sponsor of this episode:

Antonia & Grace

https://www.antoniaandgrace.com/

If you are a father needing more support, contact

https://www.postpartum.net/get-help/help-for-dads/

Intro

Cozy by Peter Kuli

Outro

Kanye West - Hurricane

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website: www.keishareaves.com

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In today’s episode I talk motherhood with Ebony Foreman, a boy mom of two. Ebony shares the challenges she face with trying to conceive and how anxiety was a thief of job during her first pregnancy. After having two babies, she took a moment to re-evaluate her needs and how she could get to being the healthiest version of herself. Discipline, dedication, and grace assisted Ebony to make her workouts apart of her day-to-day routine. We so often lose ourselves in motherhood, but its so important to remember the woman that we were before becoming a parent. Keeping our goals, our self-care, and our own desire in the forefront is so important in order to show up as the best parent that we can be.

Check out Ebony at @ebonybridalexperience @carriebridalcollection and @f.itpodcast

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Website: www.pushthrumom.com

Email: [email protected]