#210 — Avni Patel Thompson is the founder and CEO of Modern Village, whose mission is to “lighten the load of raising families through thoughtful, delightful and collaborative technology.” Her most recent build, Milo, is a blend of software, AI, and human supervision that does exactly that.In this episode, Avni discusses her journey to build Milo and how she’s leveraging AI to make modern parenthood feel more manageable. She believes Milo will help promote gender equity by reducing the invisible load that falls predominantly on women. So far, it’s working. Listen to hear her describe the moment she found the missing piece that would make Milo work.Avni talks with Sarah about her experience as a third time founder, raising pre-seed funding, the challenges that came with making money last until a product was developed, and why securing funding from day one was so important.She also shares the difficult decisions she has had to make along the way, like scrapping an early iteration of the project and letting most of the team go so that there was more runway to find a solution that worked.Sarah and Avni discuss: Avni’s goal to empower women by reducing the invisible labor of parenthood. Why solving the problem of the invisible load was so tricky. Making tough choices as a founder, and the role of honesty in decision-making. Leveraging the power of AI, and why it was the missing piece Avni needed to make Milo work. How Avni funded the different iterations of Milo and paid herself. Avni’s mental health journey, and how she got the support she needed to keep going.

#209 — Innovator Avni Patel Thompson is the founder and CEO of Modern Village, a family tool-building company that creates offerings like Milo, “the world's first app built to tackle the invisible load of running and raising a family.” For Avni, running a startup is like conducting the science experiments she did to obtain her undergraduate degree in chemistry: it’s all about the margin of error. On Episode #209, Avni shares the familiar tale of how her career changed when she had children and why being a mom has inspired her — sometimes obsessively so — to build businesses to make parents’ lives easier. Tune in to this episode to hear Avni describe how she bounced back after closing Poppy in 2019, how she plans to continue helping families, and her thoughts on assembling her own village to assist with the mammoth task of raising kids. Full show notes at https://startupparent.com/209

#208 — "Real self care is a verb. It's not a noun," Dr. Pooja Lakshmin tells host Sarah K Peck in this week’s enlightening episode of Startup Parent.As women, we're taught that our value lies in being perfect, selfless mothers. But what if there's more to motherhood than martyrdom?In this episode, Dr. Pooja Lakshmin, founder of Gemma, and Sarah K Peck discuss how to redefine motherhood, overcome mom guilt and prioritize self-care. They explore the intersection of mental health and gender, and how the language of individualism can exonerate poorly designed systems. They also delve into the importance of creating safe spaces for women to have conversations about motherhood. Pooja describes how Gemma is providing a platform for women to redefine wellness and challenge systems of oppression.Dr. Pooja Lakshmin is Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the George Washington University School of Medicine and a psychiatrist specializing in women's mental health. As the founder of Gemma, a digital community focused on women's mental health and equity, she has spent thousands of hours taking care of women who are struggling with burnout, despair, depression, and anxiety. Dr. Lakshmin is a contributor to The New York Times and her work focuses on the intersection of mental health and gender. She is also the author of Real Self-Care: A Transformative Program for Redefining Wellness (Crystals, Cleanses, and Bubble Baths Not Included), which aims to redefine self-care in a way that prioritizes asking ourselves different questions.Where to find Pooja: Website | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | FacebookFull show notes at startupparent.com/208Resources:Gemma at Website | Twitter | InstagramStartup Parent | Substack | SponsorReal Self-Care: A Transformative Program for Redefining Wellness (Crystals, Cleanses, and Bubble Baths Not IncludedWe Don't Need Self-Care, We Need Boundaries.How Society Has Turned Its Back on MothersSaying “No” Is Self-Care for ParentsThis episode is sponsored by WWC

Disclaimer:This episode includes discussions of suicide and suicidal ideation. While we believe it is important to have open and honest conversations about mental health, we also understand that these discussions can be triggering for some listeners.If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. In the US, the number 988 is the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7 in English and Spanish.Si hablas español, llama a 1-888-628-9454. Lifeline ofrece 24/7, gratuitos servicios en español.#207 – "Being able to see how people operate in their mind and body during a crisis is really important because you get to see how they are coping and then you can offer support and help them work through it," says Michelle Stephens in this powerful conversation with Sarah K Peck.Have you ever found yourself mentally falling down the side of a mountain, unable to climb back up?In this emotionally raw episode of the Startup Parent Podcast, host Sarah K. Peck and Dr. Michelle Stephens delve into the dark and difficult topic of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. With vulnerability and empathy, they share personal experiences of sliding down that slippery slope and the importance of seeking help to get back on track.The conversation also touches on the inadequate resources available for those struggling with mental health issues. They discuss the importance of acknowledging and validating mental health struggles, the challenges of being a parent while dealing with depression, and the value of seeking therapy as a way to cope with life's difficulties. Listen in as they explore these topics with vulnerability, insight, and compassion.Michelle was inspired to pursue pediatrics when her brother passed away from a congenital heart defect when she was seven. She is a certified pediatric nurse practitioner. Michelle pursued her PhD at UCSF, where she researched early childhood stress physiology and its connection to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and lifetime health. She realized that the single most effective antidote to childhood stress is for children to have intimate relationships with their caregivers, which led her to co-found Oath Care, a community-based healthcare company that supports new parents and families.Where to find Michelle: Oath Care | LinkedIn | TwitterSHOW NOTESFull show notes at startupparent.com/207Resources:Oath Care on Website | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | FacebookStartup Parent | Substack | SponsorHow to Go to TherapyThis episode is sponsored by WWC

#206 – Dr. Michelle Stephens Michelle (she/her/hers) is clinician, scientist, and entrepreneur who is passionate about mitigating ACEs. She has a PhD in early childhood stress physiology from the University of California, San Francisco. She is the co-founder of Oath Care, a company that provides community-based healthcare to support new parents and reduce childhood stress."When kids experience stress and it's not buffered by a caring adult, the adult and themselves put themselves on a worse health trajectory,” says Dr. Michelle Stephens. “...They're even multiple times more likely to die earlier, like, ten to 20 years earlier."What if the experiences we have as children shape our health outcomes later in life? Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) have been linked to a range of negative health outcomes, from chronic diseases to mental health issues.In this episode of the Startup Parent podcast, host Sarah K Peck talks to Dr. Michelle Stephens, co-founder of Oath Care, a community-based healthcare platform that aims to support parents during the critical time of early childhood. Michelle discusses how her experience as a clinician led her to create Oath Care, and how her team is working to address the impact of ACEs on the health of parents and children.Through a combination of virtual support and in-person care, Michelle believes that Oath Care can help families build resilience and improve health outcomes. Whether you're a parent, a clinician, or someone interested in the intersection of health and technology, this episode offers a fascinating look at the potential of community-based healthcare to transform the way we approach health and wellness.Dr. Michelle Stephens is a clinician, scientist, and entrepreneur who is passionate about mitigating ACEs. She is a certified pediatric nurse practitioner and earned her PhD in early childhood stress physiology from the University of California, San Francisco. Michelle co-founded Oathcare, a company that provides community-based healthcare to support new parents and reduce childhood stress. Her research has shown that intimate relationships with caregivers are the single most well-understood antidote to childhood stress. Through her work, Michelle is on a mission to change the healthcare system to better support maternal and child health.Where to find Michelle: Oath Care | LinkedIn | TwitterResources:Oath Care on Website | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | FacebookStartup Parent | Substack | SponsorCan’t Even: How Millennials Become the Burnout Generation by Anne Helen PetersonConscious Leadership Group This episode is sponsored by WWC

#204 — Marisa Renee Lee is the author of Grief is Love: Living with Loss, a book that guides readers through the pain of loss and offers a unique perspective on what healing truly means. A former appointee in the Obama White House, Marisa has served in various leadership roles, including Deputy Director of Private Sector Engagement and Senior Advisor on the Domestic Policy Council.She is also the CEO of Beacon Advisors, a social impact consulting firm, and the founder of the Pink Agenda, a national organization dedicated to raising money for breast cancer research and awareness. With her expertise in grief and loss, Marisa is a sought-after speaker and contributor to various media outlets, including Glamour, Vogue, MSNBC, and The Atlantic. She lives with her husband, son, and dog in the United States.SHOW NOTESFull show notes at startupparent.com/204SHOUT OUT TO OATH CARE, OUR EPISODE SPONSOR:Are you an exhausted mom trying to get decent fertility, pregnancy, or pediatric support? Oath supports mothers throughout the fertility, pregnancy, and pediatric journey by combining personalized medical advice from a wide array of experts with wisdom from fellow mothers who have been there. Get private care chat and community 24/7. Learn more about Oath Care in the Apple App Store or Google Play.https://www.oathcare.com/

#202 — I'm a believer in ideas. I want more ideas, more insights, and more wisdom in the world. That's why my book philosophy is to buy as many of the ones that spark my intrigue as possible.Sometimes I buy them to donate them to a library.Other times I pretend I'm a book fairy, and I buy copies of books and drop them off at coffee shops to spark conversation and discovery.I buy them as gifts for friends.Here's a quick riff on why we should all buy more books.

#201 — Why are so many mothers screaming? Jessica Grose is no stranger to the struggles of American motherhood. Mothers today are expected to be perfect across all areas of life: the sole childcare providers to their kids, devoted wives and housekeepers, goddesses of the domestic realm, and of course, completely ambitious and driven employees.Jessica Grose is an opinion writer and journalist for The New York Times, a three-time author, and a wife and mother of two. Her first nonfiction book, “Screaming on the Inside: The Unsustainability of American Motherhood” is out December 6, 2022. In it, Jessica dives into the historical background of the unattainable pressures placed on mothers today.In the episode, we cover: The concept of the “ideal mother,” and the historical roots of ideas around motherhood, from the early colonial periods through the centuries up through today. How the work of motherhood and the ideal image of motherhood “has remained consistent” where mothers’ contributions are “insincerely praised, ignored, or actively demonized.” The myth of the “self-sacrificing mother,” that has to put everyone before herself, and if you don’t, you are transgressing in a major way. How the education of children used to be in the father’s realm, but then when it became part of the motherhood realm, it became even easier to blame mothers for all things gone awry, specifically the raising of children. Tune in to this episode to hear Jessica talk about the historical background of these unattainable pressures placed on women and how mother’s today get more and more added onto their plates.📌 SHOW NOTESFull show notes at startupparent.com/201🤯 ARE YOU A MOM THAT NEEDS MORE SUPPORT?Shout out to Oath Care, our episode sponsor!Are you an exhausted mom trying to get decent fertility, pregnancy, or pediatric support? Oath supports mothers throughout the fertility, pregnancy, and pediatric journey by combining personalized medical advice from a wide array of experts with wisdom from fellow mothers who have been there. Get private care chat and community 24/7.Learn more about Oath Care in the Apple App Store or Google Play.https://www.oathcare.com/

#200 — Women have fought for equality in the workplace for a long time. From equal rights to equal pay, equality in the public sphere is a vocal conversation.But what about our not-so-public lives? What about equal partnership in our lives at home?For many women, there is nothing as maddening as coming home and realizing that there is the second shift and an incredible amount of work that disproportionately falls on your shoulders. For women across the country, this includes the domestic labor of the home, caring for children and all of the maintenance required from invisible labor to mental load. Some would call this emotional labor to the organizational and the logistical work. Well, it’s enough to drive people crazy, or to divorce.The hardest part is that once children enter the picture, people who believe that they are in equal partnerships often find that women are still the ones that take on the burden of domestic work. One of the hardest parts is that fathers will take on a lot more work than their fathers did — up to 35% of the domestic load. Because their workload has increased so dramatically, it's infuriating to be told that you're not doing enough. Yet the data show that women take on 65% of the domestic load in even the best partnerships. And often, when women get divorced, they are happier post-divorce than men.On this episode, originally aired in 2019, we invited Darcy Lockman on the show to talk about the unequal load at home. Darcy is a former journalist turned clinical psychologist and the author of a book called All The Rage: Men, Women and the Myth of Equal Partnership. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, Psychology Today and Rolling Stone, among others. She lives with her husband and children in Queens. She joins us to talk about where the breakdown in equal partnership is most apparent, and why parenting tends to throw a wrench in most couples’ plans for equality.FULL SHOW NOTES: https://startupparent.com/119STARTUP PARENT NEWSLETTER: https://startupparent.com/newsletterTHE WISE WOMEN'S COUNCIL: https://startupparent.com/wwcFOUNDERS WITH KIDS: https://startupparent.com/founderswithkids

#199 — When we get pregnant, everybody talks about the baby. But what about the mother?Becoming a mother—even thinking about becoming one—involves complex feelings and emotions. But the “Bliss Myth” idea says that we should feel one note about becoming a parent, and that note is happiness and joy.If we don’t feel joy, and we don’t love motherhood, then are you a bad mom?No! It’s totally normal to feel a huge range of feelings, including ambivalence, anger, regret, disappointment, love, tenderness, exhaustion, frustration, and more. Having feelings, especially multiple conflicting feelings, doesn’t make you a bad mom: it makes you a human being, like the rest of us.Alexandra Sacks, MD is a reproductive psychiatrist who popularized the concept of matrescence, or the period of transition surrounding becoming a mother. Her 2018 TED Talk reached 1.5 million views worldwide, and she wrote a New York Times article called The Birth Of A Mother that was the number one most read piece of 2017 for the Well Family Section.The truth is more complicated, and Dr. Sacks says a huge range of feelings about motherhood is all totally normal. Things like panicking when you find out that you’re pregnant, or feeling ambivalent at first when you see your newborn, or having new feelings about your partner or your own parents are all absolutely reasonable feelings to have during your pregnancy and parenting journeys.In this episode, we talk to one of America’s top reproductive psychiatrists about the range of emotions and feelings that come with motherhood, and why matrescence is totally natural and normal.In this episode we talk about: Matrescence as an extended phase of all women’s lives, including women who choose not to have children or who experience infertility, and Dr. Sacks focused work on the period of pregnancy and the first year of motherhood. The Bliss Myth and other honest stories we’re missing about motherhood. The harmful trope of the “bad mother” as the cornerstone of evil characters in myth and popular culture. The idea of the “Good Enough Mother” as permission and guiding light for mother’s overwhelmed by messages of perfection; that we should aim for not superhuman perfection but providing a safe, stable, loving childhood. How being a “perfect” mother can actually harm our children in the long term, leading to decreased resiliency, slowing the learning process, and interfering with children’s ability to grow and achieve independence. FULL SHOW NOTES: https://startupparent.com/110STARTUP PARENT NEWSLETTER: https://startupparent.com/newsletterTHE WISE WOMEN'S COUNCIL: https://startupparent.com/wwc