The Expecting and Empowered Podcast

By Amy Kiefer + Krystle Howald

We’re Amy and Krystle, sisters, mamas and co-founders of Expecting and Empowered. We built this business because we saw a HUGE gap in information given to women who were pregnant or postpartum. During... more

· Health & Fitness

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FAQs about The Expecting and Empowered Podcast:

How many episodes does The Expecting and Empowered Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 123 episodes available.

Best of The Expecting and Empowered Podcast

The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

Number 1: 122. The Identity Shift of Motherhood: Knowing Your Worth with Dr. Marisa G. Franco
Motherhood can bring a profound identity shift, often bringing insecurities and questions about self-worth to the surface in ways women never expected. Krystle sits down with Dr. Marisa G. Franco, psychologist, professor, New York Times bestselling author of Platonic, and author of Worth: The New Science of Self-Esteem and Secure Attachment, to explore the science behind self-worth, attachment, and our relationships with ourselves and others. Dr. Franco explains the difference between self-esteem and self-worth and why constantly striving to be better, more productive, or more “good” can actually keep women stuck in the belief that they have to accomplish something or be a certain way to feel worthy. Krystle and Dr. Franco dive into how childhood experiences and past relationships can shape the way women see themselves, receive compliments and support, respond to their children’s emotions, and navigate the enormous expectations that come with motherhood. They discuss attachment styles, why the goal isn’t necessarily to become perfectly “secure” contrary to the trend, and how acknowledging anxious or avoidant parts of ourselves with compassion can create greater internal safety. Dr. Franco also shares how working with difficult memories can help reshape the stories we carry about ourselves and create more room for possibility, presence, and authenticity. For moms who have ever felt like they need to do more, be better, or fit a certain version of what a “good mom” looks like, this conversation offers a powerful reminder: worth isn’t something to achieve, it’s something that is already inherent in who we are! If you enjoyed listening to this episode, we would love it if you could share it to your Instagram stories and tag us, @drmarisagfranco and @expectingandempowered. As we like to say, knowledge is power, and we just really want to give more people the information that they may need on their motherhood journey! Follow Dr. Franco on Instagram Dr. Franco’s Website Order Dr. Franco’s newest book, Worth: The New Science of Self-Esteem and Secure Attachment Get your copy of Dr. Franco’s Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make - and Keep - Friends Links & Resources Expecting and Empowered App - Enter code 'PODCAST25' at checkout Expecting and Empowered Website Expecting and Empowered Instagram This episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.
September 30, 202638min
Number 2: 118. Everything a Postpartum Nurse Wants You to Know with Courtney (@lifewithcourtneyrn)
The hours and days after birth are filled with new experiences, questions, and emotions. Yet they're often one of the least talked-about parts of preparing for a baby! Today’s guest, Courtney, a postpartum and newborn nurse, nurse educator, mom of three, and child passenger safety technician, offers an inside look at what parents can actually expect during their stay on the postpartum unit, helping mamas feel more prepared, informed, and confident before baby arrives. While many expecting parents spend months preparing for labor and delivery, Courtney explains why understanding the postpartum experience is just as important. She walks listeners through what happens after birth, from newborn assessments and postpartum recovery to perineal care and newborn safety. Amy and Courtney encourage moms to lean on their postpartum nurses every step of the way - your care team is there to help! She also shares great insight into dealing with hospital visitors, how she helps educate and prepare families for discharge with the skills and information they'll need once they're home, how to help other children with the transition of becoming an older sibling, and tons of breastfeeding troubleshooting tips to help you feel empowered and prepared! If you enjoyed listening to this episode, we would love it if you could share it to your Instagram stories and tag us, @lifewithcourtneyrn, and @expectingandempowered. As we like to say, knowledge is power, and we just really want to give more people the information that they may need on their motherhood journey! Follow Courtney on Instagram Courtney’s Website Links & Resources Expecting and Empowered App - Enter code 'PODCAST25' at checkout Expecting and Empowered Website Expecting and Empowered Instagram This episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.
August 05, 202648min
Number 3: 84. Postpartum Issues They Don't Tell You About with Stacia Scott
Transitioning from pregnancy to postpartum can sometimes leave new moms feeling confused, tired, and depleted. Here at Expecting and Empowered, we feel passionately that every mama should get the care, education, and support they deserve and love sharing the microphone with other women who feel the same. That's where Stacia Scott and her company Postpartum Care USA come in! Stacia is a mother of 3, CEO of Postpartum Care USA, and nurse practitioner. With her root-cause approach using in-depth lab testing, tailored nutrition, and natural treatments at her revolutionary postpartum and postnatal care company, she helps women with things like gut health, cortisol levels, and thyroid imbalances. We will be breaking down some of these common postpartum frustrations on today’s episode and hopefully leave you with an empowered mindset that there are people to help you through your 4th trimester and beyond, and that there is something you can do to improve your mind and body to start feeling better! If you enjoyed listening to this episode, we would love it if you could share it to your Instagram stories and tag us, @PostpartumCare_USA and @expectingandempowered. As we like to say, knowledge is power, and we just really want to give more people the information that they may need on their childbirth journey! Follow Stacia Scott on Instagram Stacia’s Website Links & Resources Expecting and Empowered App - Enter code 'PODCAST25' at checkout Expecting and Empowered Website Expecting and Empowered Instagram This episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.
April 16, 202550min
Number 4: 6. Hey Shayla on Hypnobirth and Preparing for Baby #2
Our special guest today is Shayla from Hey Shayla, a content creator who has gained a loyal following on Instagram and YouTube for her relatable, honest, and hilarious motherhood content. If you aren’t following her already, you definitely should be, because as Shayla says, child development is her jam and she actually likes nerding out and reading about it (she’ll give you the cliff notes so you don't have to)! Full disclosure, Shayla is one of our amazing ambassadors for Expecting and Empowered and we’ve had the honor of getting to know her over the past couple of years. We enjoy her so much, and we’re sure you will too after hearing the valuable advice, tips, and stories and lessons that she shares in this episode! As always, we want to empower you with the tools and information to help you figure out what it is that you want during childbirth, and to help provide you with more clarity in advocating for yourself during this experience, which is why we think that you’ll get so much from this conversation! If you’ve enjoyed this episode and what Shayla shares here, we would be so honored if you shared it and tagged us, @expectingandempowered and @heyshayla on Instagram so that we can see it! We’d also be so grateful if you would rate and review our podcast in your favorite podcast app, because that’s the best way for a new podcast to get more people to listen. MEET Shayla: https://www.instagram.com/heyshayla/ Links & Resources: Shayla’s Website, Instagram & Facebook Her YouTube Channel & Podcast HypnoBirthing Positive Natural Birth Story! FAST! (Video) Expecting & Empowered’s Hypnobabies Store Ina May's Guide to Childbirth: Updated With New Material by Ina May Gaskin The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother by Heng Ou Expecting and Empowered Prepping for Labor + Deliver Course - https://www.expectingandempowered.com/fitness-guides/labor-and-delivery-course Expecting and Empowered on App: Apple Store - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/expecting-and-empowered/id1594936110 Expecting and Empowered App: Google Play Store - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.expectingandempowered.expectingandempowered Expecting and Empowered Website: www.expectingandempowered.com Expecting and Empowered Instagram: http://instagram.com/expectingandempowered
May 18, 202239min
Number 5: 2. Brooke Miller, Registered Dietitian On Fueling Your Body Postpartum
Childbirth, and the time immediately following it, can be a difficult journey for new mothers, so the goal of today’s episode is to give you really understandable and accessible information about nutrition, breastfeeding, and exercise during this time. Our special guest is Brooke Miller, a Registered Dietitian and Certified Lactation Counselor, wife and mom who is passionate about helping other moms and women improve their health without food rules and restrictions. She is the co-host of The Mama Well Podcast, and if you love this conversation with Brooke, you’re going to want to subscribe and listen to their podcast too! It’s so important that our needs are being met as new moms, because when that happens, everyone else in the household is being taken care of a lot better. You can use the tips and strategies that Brooke shares in this episode on your own journey to feel better now! If you’ve enjoyed this episode, we would be so honored if you would rate and review it in your favorite podcast app! That’s the best way for a new podcast to get more people, and we thank you so much. We’ll see you next week! MEET Brooke: https://www.instagram.com/nutrition.for.mamas/ Links & Resources: The Postpartum Shift - Use code EXPECTINGANDEMPOWERED to save! Her Website & Podcast Expecting and Empowered YouTube Channel Expecting and Empowered App - Enter code 'PODCAST25' at checkout Expecting and Empowered Website Expecting and Empowered Instagram
April 13, 202236min