Episodes
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I chatted with Sustainable Home and Wardrobe Consultant Brittany Webster about how to celebrate the holidays with less overwhelm and clutter.
We talked about:
๐ Multi-functional spaces that adults and children can enjoy
๐How to tune out social media pressure and celebrate in a way that feels authentic to you
๐ Protecting your energy for the things that matter most
๐ Choosing connection over consumer items
๐ How to handle unwanted gifts and how to let go of items in a responsible eco-friendly way
๐ Using the new year to kickstart decluttering
And more! Thanks for tuning in ๐
You can find Brittany on Instagram @consciouslycuratedhome or visit her website www.consciouslycuratedhome.com -
I chatted with certified breastfeeding counsellor and birth educator Luka Zigic on the need for breastfeeding/chestfeeding education and support.
We discuss:
๐ the current gaps in care when we become parents
๐ why we need to be educated on the ways our bodies change from pregnancy to postpartum, including the stages of lactation
๐ the loss of ancestral knowledge and community support for breastfeeding
๐ why it's important to understand chestfeeding before giving birth
๐ the physical and mental benefits of breastfeeding for parents
And more! Thanks for tuning in!
You can find Luka on Instagram at @babysnectar or visit her website www.babysnectar.ca. -
Missing episodes?
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I had the pleasure of speaking with Sharana Ali about her experience as a single mother. We discuss:
๐ฟ how she is bringing so-called taboo topics to the table through her collective BOSS the six edition
๐ฟ the importance of living life outside of the labels and identities that society gives us
๐ฟ her journey through divorce and single motherhood
๐ฟ rejecting stigma and shame in order to live authentically
๐ฟ living in a home with 3 generations of her family and the unique benefits and challenges of this situation
๐ฟ parenting differently to how she was raised
๐ฟ why she values open and honest conversation with her daughter
You can connect with Sharana on Instagram @bossthesixedition
We mention @coloursofmama in this episode which is an amazing resource for parents seeking open dialogues and community support. -
Bernadeth Betchi is a communicator, activist and mother who does things her own way. I spoke with Bernadeth about how she has navigated motherhood while following her instincts. We discussed:
๐ฟ Giving birth at home during the pandemic surrounded by family and love
๐ฟ the effects of colonization on traditional homebirth and breastfeeding practices
๐ฟ her fourth trimester realities and why she shares openly about this period
๐ฟ The loss of community support for parents in general and during the pandemic
๐ฟ society's fixation on baby milestones
๐ฟ bed sharing (โfor safe bedsharing information please visit: www.llli.org/breastfeeding-info/sleep-bedshare/)
๐ฟ breastfeeding and the shaming of parents who nurse children past infancy
๐ฟ the additional challenges black breastfeeding parents face
๐ฟ the freedom of going with the flow as a parent
You can find Bernadeth on instagram @bernadethbetchi. For more information on her consulting group website is sankofaconsultantsgroup.ca. -
I spoke with health coach Mikaela Davis about the importance of mindsets and routines. Specifically I wanted to talk about how these are affected when we are experiencing uncertainty in our lives. This is a timely discussion for anyone who wants to nurture their own well-being including parents.
Mikaela and I discuss:
๐ฟ how to find a routine that works for you even if you don't want to wake up at 5 a.m. and drink lemon water or make your bed every day ๐
๐ฟ why consistency is more important than intensity
๐ฟ how to start small and start again
๐ฟ the importance of self compassion
๐ฟ her practice of looking for 'small joys'
๐ฟ how to avoid the pitfalls of toxic positivity
You can find Mikaela on instagram @mikaeladavis_ or visit her website mikaelajdavis.com. -
CW: miscarriage
Aniya Emtage Legnaro is a visual storyteller and mother of four. She shared with me her journey from raising her first two children as a single mother to having a baby and toddler with her husband Matteo. Her story is one of growth, loss and wisdom gained through experience. We chatted about many aspects of motherhood as well as her work as a photographer including:
๐ฟ her project to capture the importance of sports for teen girls
๐ฟ her personal struggle with miscarriages and why she is passionate about destigmatizing this topic
๐ฟ the importance of relinquishing control when raising kids in partnership
๐ฟ why she loves documenting the beauty of the everyday so-called 'mundane' moments
๐ฟ the aspects of Bajan and West Indian culture she wants to pass down to her kids and those she would like to see change including why it's time to stop saying "children should be seen but not heard"
๐ฟ why mothers need to invest in themselves
You can view Aniya's photography work on instagram @aniyaemtagephotography and reach out to her at [email protected]. -
Mr. Chazz is an educational specialist who has worked with thousands of young children. I invited Mr. Chazz to talk about his views on discipline, and the cultural narratives that inform how we view and interact with our kids.
We discuss: ๐ฑ
Why children deserve to be seen and treated as equals in our society ๐ฑ Why we need to learn to regulate our emotions if we want our children to do the same thing
๐ฑ Why the true meaning of discipline isn’t punishment and the problems with corporal punishment and forced isolation/timeouts ๐ฑ Why forced apologies don’t teach empathy and what to do instead ๐ฑ Why obedience shouldn't be our ultimate goal as parents or teachers.
You can find Mr. Chazz’s parenting and teaching resources at:
www.patreon.com/Mrchazz
www.getvokl.com/mrchazz
www.tiktok.co/@mrchazzmrchazz
www.facebook.com/MrChazz-MrChazz-1715416325189162
You can also find Mr. Chazz’s Leadership, Parenting and Teaching Podcast on podcast platforms. -
I spoke with world-renowned breastfeeding expert, Dr. Newman about common breastfeeding and chestfeeding myths that can interrupt the breastfeeding relationship including:
๐ You shouldn’t breastfeed after a certain period whether that is 6 month or a year
๐ท๐ฟ Parents who breastfeed shouldn't eat certain foods, drink alcohol, or take prescription medication. Dr. Newman also offered his advice on whether it is okay to use cannabis while breastfeeding.
๐ผ Expressing and bottlefeeding is a good way to determine milk supply.
๐ฆท Nursing at night causes cavities
๐คฑ๐ฝ You should only nurse on one side at a time to ensure your baby is getting enough hindmilk.
We also talked about how we would like to see the culture around breastfeeding change with good support, early intervention for problems, and acceptance of public breastfeeding.
If you are looking for reliable breastfeeding information check out www.ibconline.ca for general information or to submit a question. You can also follow Dr. Newman on Facebook at Facebook.com/DrJackNewman -
I spoke with Megan Kelly of Adventure Report about becoming a mother, and how her love of the outdoors supported this transition.
We discuss:
๐ฅพ Her blog and hiking challenge
๐ How the Adventure Report gear lending library is helping make camping more accessible
๐ฑ the benefits of spending time outdoors for herself and her family
๐คณ The polarizing images of motherhood portrayed online
๐ How her perception of motherhood changed when she became a parent
๐ How relying on her support system benefits both her and her daughter
You can find Adventure Report at www.adventurereport.ca. -
Dr. Jodi Pawluski is a neuroscientist who studies the neuroscience of motherhood, maternal mental illness and antidepressant medications. She is also a therapist and the podcaster behind @mommybrain.revisted a podcast about scientific research in the neuroscience of parenting. I spoke to Jodi about her research and the findings of others in her field.
We cover:
๐ง the scientific methods of studying the brain and how her work in animal models translates to humans
๐ง the "fine tuning" process our brains go through to help us care for our children
๐ง Jodi's research on the affects of antidepressant medications on mothers and their children
๐ง the mental health implications of a culture that values the newborn baby above the mother
๐ง research on paternal brain changes
This episode gives a glimpse into the neuroscience of parenting, and shows us how much is still left to learn to help us understand the transition to parenthood. To learn more about Jodi's work visit her website www.jodipawluski.com. -
Nikki Satira is passionate about helping people to create meaningful relationships with the natural world. She has more than a decade of experience in outdoor education and is also studying to be a clinical herbalist. She spoke to me about the numerous benefits of children playing with nature.
Our discussion includes:
๐ฑ Her approach of combining both structured and unstructured play-based learning.
๐ฑ How child-led outdoor play without toys expands imagination and creativity.
๐ฑ Why risky play helps kids to learn their own limits and develop confidence.
๐ฑ Steps Earth Path is taking to make nature experiences more accessible for children of different abilities, economic backgrounds, and races.
๐ฑ How you can incorporate more experiences with nature in your life even if you live in an urban or suburban area.
And much more! I came away from our conversation with an even deeper appreciation for the magic that happens when children (and adults) play outdoors!
You can find Earth Path online at www.earthpath.ca. -
Adonijah Alleyne is a storyteller, accomplished musician, activist for Rastafarian rights and cannabis legalization in Barbados, a father and a grandfather. Because of the passing of his father when Adonijah was just a baby, he charted his own path as a father - a process which he describes as an "awakening".
Our conversation includes:
๐ checking your ego as a parent in order to recognize when you're wrong
๐ why the outdated "children should be seen and not heard" mentality is harmful to children AND parents
๐ what he's learned from his grandson who has Down syndrome
๐ the evolving narrative of the West Indian parent
๐ his fight against racist school rules for himself and his children
๐ his work as an activist for Rastafarian rights and legalizing cannabis
๐ why he has no tolerance for the deadbeat dad narrative.
This episode is an example of the importance of storytelling as a tool for intergenerational learning. Let me know what your favourite takeaway from this episode was. -
I asked my husband Rob to share his experience of becoming a dad and we compare the expectations society puts on mothers and fathers.
We cover:
๐ Some of the joys and challenges of fatherhood
๐ What it's like to bond with your new baby when you work outside the home
๐ง The expectations society puts on mothers compared to fathers. When's the last time you heard a mother being praised for being "involved" or changing a diaper?
๐งฑ the concept of maternal gatekeeping
๐บ How what we see portrayed in the media and online can become our default if we aren't intentional in our parenting choices.
I hope this episode can play a role in expanding and elevating the narratives of fatherhood and look forward to chatting to more dads on the show! -
I spoke with Janelle Headley, the founder and director of a unique performing arts program for kids and teens in Barbados called Operation Triple Threat (OTT) about the creative community and safe space she has created for young people. Janelle shares about how OTT helps kids to thrive with holistic programming which includes everything from nutritious meals to counseling services. Janelle shares the importance of holding space for kids to express their feelings and creating a safe space for them to 'fail forward'. We talk about Janelle's role as a 'mama to many' and how Operation Triple Threat is meeting the needs of the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can learn more about OTT by visiting www.operationtriplethreat.com and contribute to their important work at paypal.me/ottbarbados; you can also follow on Instagram at @operationtriplethreat; and facebook.com/operationtriplethreat
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I asked my friend Kathy Bell, mother to three adult children, to reflect on her journey as a mother. We discuss our roles as parents, questioning the narrative of teaching through telling and we share the qualities that we both try to model for our children.
Kathy shares some of the struggles and triumphs of raising her son Kevin who has special needs due to a rare syndrome called Mowat-Wilson. We talk about some of the challenges families with kids with special needs are facing during covid-19. We also share some of the positive ways the pandemic has changed our perspective on parenting.
Throughout our conversation, Kathy reflects on moments when she saw her children shine as authentic individuals. -
With mother's day having just passed you may have heard the popular: "Thank your mom, you're the reason she pees a bit when she sneezes" joke.
Pelvic floor physiotherapists are working hard to flip the script on this popular narrative by giving women the tools they need to heal their pelvic floors after birth.
I spoke to pelvic floor physiotherapist Monate Praamsma about why and how pregnancy and childbirth affect our pelvic floors. Monate explains why we don't have to accept conditions such as incontinence, pelvic pain and pelvic organ prolapse, as par for the course of motherhood. We talk kegels and scar massage, and Monate explains how she works with women to help them to safely return to the exercise they love.
Resources: Monate Praamsma (monatepraamsmapt.com); Core Connections Physiotherapy (core-connections.ca). Disclaimer: the information presented in this podcast is for general information purposes only and should not replace medical advice and/or treatment from your health care provider(s). -
Lilly Bianchi has 30 years of experience working with new families and babies as a birth doula, midwife, prenatal teacher, postpartum doula, and parenting coach. She started Lilly's livingroom, a free virtual drop-in for new parents, to help meet some of the needs of new parents during the covid-19 pandemic. Lilly shares some of the struggles new parents and their families are facing, and lots of practical advice and resources to support these members of our community. We chat about the postpartum period and how her advice has changed to reflect the current situation. Lilly shares some of the possible mental health implications and offers community resources for parents who are struggling with anxiety or depression. Lilly's livingroom is held every Tuesday and Thursday from 1 - 2.30 p.m. (more information available on Ottawa Childbirth Education Association’s Facebook page). Some of the other resources Lilly mentions are:
Lilly Bianchi's personal website: lillybianchi.ca;
Ottawa Childbirth Education Association
: www.ottawacea.com; Parenting in Ottawa
: www.parentinginottawa.ca; Parent Resource Centre: www.parentresource.ca; Parent Support Line: 613-565-2467x2 -
Personal trainer Jesse Campbell and yoga instructor Katherine Miceli join me to discuss how we can approach pre and postnatal fitness from a healthy and empowering viewpoint. We discuss how the fitness community can help you reach your long term goals; why weight loss doesn't need to be the primary focus, and more. Jesse and Katherine also give us advice for finding movement during this period of self isolation.
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Host Jessica Hinds-Cook talks to Krista Hinds about why parents feel so much guilt and what we can do to let go of some of that pressure. Krista shares some of her struggles as a mother and talks about the magic of heart-centred parenting. She also gives advice to parents struggling with the new reality of parenting during a pandemic.
