The Healthy Baby Show

On this very special episode, Shazi is joined by new mom of twins, entrepreneur, activist, and two-time Academy Award winning actress Hilary Swank following the announcement of Hilary’s new role as HealthyBaby’s Chief Innovation Officer. The duo sit down to discuss their experiences from planning to pregnancy to parenting, talk about what it takes to pioneer new safety standards in babycare, and explore their shared mission to empower parents with the resources and essentials to make informed choices.

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The Healthy Baby Show returns with a very special live episode recorded at the Healthybaby Development and Play Space in Manhattan featuring Tamron Hall and Shazi in a conversation moderated by Abby Cuffey from Women’s Health. In this episode, Tamron and Shazi discuss their own parenting journeys and explore what a healthier, happier, and realistic future looks like for all families and babies.

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For most parents, there’s a lot of stress around diapering and potty training – whether it is because of the “ick factor,” the confusion about the different potty training techniques, or the guilt about the impact of diapers on the environment. In this episode, Shazi speaks with Bethany Van Delft, regular host for The Moth StorySlams and host of the kid’s news podcast The Ten News, about her experience potty training her two very different kids. Shazi also checks in with Andrea Olsen, the creator of “Go Diaper Free,” who has successfully potty trained her kids starting at birth using a technique called “elimination communication” – and coaches other parents to do the same. We also hear from parenting expert, Mariel Benjamin, who breaks down simple potty training methods and techniques, including the three-day method and the shaping method – and reminds parents how diaper changes are the perfect time in our daily routine for brain-building connections with baby.

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As any parent who has been given a health diagnosis for their child knows, it’s a punch to the gut. Shazi opens up about the day her son, Zane, was given his autism diagnosis and was told he may never speak. You’ll hear a candid conversation with her mentor, Lisa Ackerman, Founder of TACA (The Autism Community in Action); Lisa shares the story of her son and why it propelled her to provide education, support, and hope to other families living with autism. We then hear from developmental pediatrician Dr. Stephen Cowan — the doctor who first gave Shazi’s son his diagnosis — on the steps parents can take to move forward and why the future holds so much hope for children with special needs.

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The gut and microbiome is increasingly being referred to as your “second brain,” with fascinating new research linking the microbiome to everything from behavior to skin health. In this episode, Shazi speaks with Dr. Jack Gilbert, Professor in Pediatrics at UCSD and Co-Founder of The Earth Microbiome Project and The American Gut Project, about the development of a baby’s microbiome and what parents can do ensure that their baby’s gut and microbiome is as diverse and healthy as possible, from breastfeeding to beneficial probiotics. He also explains what he’s learned about the link between gut health and behavior, from both his research and his personal experience raising his son, who was diagnosed with autism. Shazi also shares what she’s learned from her own experience with Zane – and what she’s learned about the link between the gut and his behavior. We also hear from Michelle Eggers and Leila Strickland, Co-Founders of BIOMILQ – and their work to create breast milk without the breast, to ensure that future generations of babies are better fed.

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The experiences we create in baby's space have a profound impact on the way our baby’s brains develop. In this episode, Shazi talks to pediatric neurologist Dr. Suzanne Goh, who explains the fascinating way that our brains develop in utero and after birth – how every connection sets the stage for how we learn. Dr. Goh explains the simple and accessible things we can all do, as parents, to create the most optimal environment for cognition and focus. Shazi also speaks with Dr. Michael Leon, professor of neurobiology and behavior at the UC, Irvine, about the latest research on neuroplasticity – the brain’s ability to change and adapt as a result of experience. Dr. Leon also explains what the latest research tells us about the promising potential of sensory enrichment, and how we can use it therapeutically or even proactively. He talks about how exposure to novelty and "just right" challenges can improve cognition, memory, and even emotional regulation. She also checks in with the Founders of Fatty15, who have discovered the first new fatty acid in 90 years, called C-15 – and they discuss what this discovery means for brain health.

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Did you know that those first moments after the birth of your baby offer incredible opportunities to promote health and long-term development? In this episode, Shazi discusses the birth of her daughter Asha with her OBGYN, Dr. Katherine Kohari – and why she made the decision to bank Asha’s cord blood privately. She also speaks with midwife McKenna Eldh, who explains the benefits of delayed cord clamping – which midwives have always traditionally practiced and The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) now also recommends. We also hear from biomedical engineer and CEO of Epibone, Nina Tandon, on the incredible ways that stem cells are being used to repair diseased or damaged tissue later in life.

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The postpartum period is an emotionally exhausting time, full of joy… and apprehension. In this episode, Shazi talks to Sara Haines, co-host of The View, about her struggles with postpartum depression and anxiety. She also speaks with Heng Ou, bestselling author of the First Forty Days and founder of Motherbees, about how cultures outside of the U.S. handle a mother’s postnatal recovery – treating it as a sacred time for the mother to heal and rest. We also hear from women’s health expert and OBGYN, Dr. Jessica Shepherd, about the hormonal shifts new moms undergo, what to do if you or someone you love is experiencing postpartum depression, and what a future – where babies and mothers get the support they need during this critical time – might look like.

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Whether we like it or not, we are exposed to thousands of chemicals everyday — in our air, our food, our water, our household products – and they bioaccumulate, but there is a lot we can do to protect ourselves and our families. In this episode, Shazi speaks to world-renowned pediatrician, epidemiologist, and author, Dr. Philip Landrigan, one of the world’s leading advocates of children’s health, and Jocelyn Lyle, a Senior VP at EWG (Environmental Working Group). They both share why parents need to be cautious about environmental exposures during pregnancy and in baby’s early years, and offer actionable steps parents can take. Shazi also shares what she learned from her two pregnancies and why this is the driving force behind her everyday work to protect children’s health.

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Sometimes the path to pregnancy is harder than people anticipate. Shazi shares what she’s learned from her experience with IVF — and checks in with friend and CNN Entertainment reporter, Chloe Melas, and her husband, Brian Mazza, who share the story of their own fertility struggles, and their realization that infertility is a condition that affects both men and women. We also hear from fertility physician, Dr. Daniel Kort, on what the latest fertility research says, why infertility is on the rise, and how advances in the field may be deployed in the future. 

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