

No One Told Us
Rachael Shepard-Ohta
No One Told Us the truth about parenthood. WHY?!Welcome to No One Told Us, the podcast where we uncover the raw, unfiltered truths about parenthood. I'm your host, Rachael Shepard-Ohta, mom of three and founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby. Each week, join me as we dive deep into the joys, challenges, and surprises of raising children with a mix of expert insights, personal anecdotes, and candid conversations.From navigating postpartum anxiety to mastering the art of making mom friends, and from introducing solids to tackling tantrums, we cover it all. Whether you're a first-time parent or a seasoned pro, this podcast is your go-to resource for honest advice, relatable stories, and plenty of laughs along the way.Join me as I sit down with experts in their fields, as well as friends, family, celebrities, and influencers, to share their experiences and wisdom on everything from sleepless nights to rocky relationships. No topic is off-limits, and no story goes untold on No One Told Us.So grab a cup of coffee, pop in your headphones and join the conversation. This is the podcast everyone needed before they had kids- because now that those little ones are here, there's a lot to unpack. So let's pull back the curtain on becoming a first-time mom (or dad!) to share the good, the bad and the ugly. A little education, a little fun, and a whole lot of heart goes into each and every episode of No One Told Us to have you feeling less alone and way more empowered.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 23, 2025 • 51min
Rewind: Reimagining Boyhood with Ruth Whippman
What does it mean to raise boys in a world where masculinity feels impossible to get right? This week on No One Told Us, Rachael is joined by author and cultural critic Ruth Whippman to talk about her powerful new book, BoyMom: Reimagining Boyhood in the Age of Impossible Masculinity.
We’re digging deep into the unspoken challenges of parenting boys today—gendered expectations that begin before birth, the emotional isolation of boys in our culture, and the ways that patriarchy harms everyone, not just women. Ruth brings a compassionate, sharp, and often funny lens to topics like toxic masculinity, feminism, screen time, school struggles, and why our young boys are struggling so much right now.
Inside this episode…..
Ruth’s own experience raising 3 boys as a feminist
Unhelpful stereotypes like “boys will be boys” and how they harm our children
Ruth’s opinion on Netflix’s show "Adolescence" and its portrayal of modern boyhood
Why today’s world is a “perfect storm” for young boys and men to be radicalized
How do we hold young men accountable without sending them into shame and shutdown?
How patriarchy harms both men and women, and Ruth’s recommendations for both #boymoms and #boydads
And what can we do—today—as parents, to change the story for our little boys?
Plus so much more!
This episode is for anyone raising boys, loving boys, or trying to understand them in a culture that so often gets masculinity wrong. 💙
Mentioned in this episode:
Ruth’s Book: BoyMom: Reimagining Boyhood in the Age of Impossible Masculinity
Ruth’s Substack: I Blame Society
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate 5⭐️ and write us a review! ⬇️
✨For sleep support and resources, visit heysleepybaby.com and follow @heysleepybaby on Instagram! 😴☁️🤎✨
Rachael is a mom of 3, founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby, and the host of this podcast.
Instagram | Tiktok | Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 16, 2025 • 42min
Rewind: We Have Good Reason to Be Angry with Yara Heary
Did you feel totally unprepared for just how angry you might feel after becoming a mom? You’re not alone. In this episode, Rachael sits down with psychologist Yara Heary to unpack why anger shows up so often in early motherhood and why it’s not something to feel ashamed of.
Together, they explore the identity shifts that happen postpartum, the strain on relationships, and the nervous system challenges that can leave us feeling triggered. Yara offers compassionate, practical tools to understand your anger, support yourself before it boils over, and move through motherhood with more ease and self-compassion.
Inside this episode:
Why anger is a normal and valid part of postpartum life
How shifting identities and relationship changes fuel resentment
The role of expectations in couples after a baby
Tools to support your nervous system before anger escalates
What to do when you feel triggered by your kids or partner
Practicing self-compassion and connecting with your inner child
How to assume the best of our children and others around us
Mentioned in this episode:
Fair Play by Eve Rodsky
Follow Yara on Instagram
Life After Birth with Yara Podcast
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate 5⭐️ and write us a review! ⬇️
✨For sleep support and resources, visit heysleepybaby.com and follow @heysleepybaby on Instagram! 😴☁️🤎✨
Rachael is a mom of 3, founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby, and the host of this podcast.
Instagram | Tiktok | Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 9, 2025 • 49min
Rewind: How to Fight for Your Rights at Work with Daphne Delvaux
In this episode, Rachael sits down with attorney and women’s rights advocate Daphne Delvaux to uncover what every working parent needs to know about their rights in the workplace. Known as The Mamattorney, Daphne has built her career fighting for fair treatment, equal pay, and family-friendly policies and she’s here to share the essential tools you need to advocate for yourself at work.
Together, they dive into pregnancy and postpartum protections, how to navigate discrimination, and why knowing your rights is one of the most empowering things you can do as a parent.
Inside this episode:
What to line up before and after announcing your pregnancy at work
How and when to share your pregnancy with your employer
Your legal rights around maternity leave, partner’s leave, and pumping accommodations
How to handle discrimination, unfair treatment, or wrongful termination
Negotiating family-friendly policies for better work-life balance
Tips for easing the transition back after maternity leave
Why knowledge is power when it comes to planning your family and your career
And so much more!
Mentioned in this episode:
The Mamattorney Academy membership
Employment Rights Guide
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate 5⭐️ and write us a review! ⬇️
✨For sleep support and resources, visit heysleepybaby.com and follow @heysleepybaby on Instagram! 😴☁️🤎✨
Rachael is a mom of 3, founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby, and the host of this podcast.
Instagram | Tiktok | Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 2, 2025 • 42min
Rewind: Fostering a Secure Attachment with Michelle Charriere
Rachael chats with birth-to-five mental health specialist Michelle Charriere about what it really takes to build (and repair) a secure attachment with your child. They cover the four attachment styles, why repair matters more than perfection, and how to choose childcare that supports connection...plus real talk on daycare and sleep training without the internet drama.
And because they couldn’t resist, they end with a little Bravo TV fun, including Michelle’s pick for the best Housewives franchise to start with and a round of “F**k, Marry, Kill” (Bravo edition).
Inside this episode:
The four attachment styles (and why secure is the goal)
How repair builds trust after ruptures
Choosing childcare that supports emotional connection
Thoughts on daycare and sleep training
What to look for in a caregiver
Bravo TV picks and guilty pleasures
Mentioned in this episode:
@babiesandbrains
Parenting Through Attachment Course
Childcare & Preschool Guide
New Sibling Guide
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate 5⭐️ and write us a review! ⬇️
✨For sleep support and resources, visit heysleepybaby.com and follow @heysleepybaby on Instagram! 😴☁️🤎✨
Rachael is a mom of 3, founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby, and the host of this podcast.
Instagram | Tiktok | Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 25, 2025 • 37min
Rewind: Maintaining Intimacy After Kids with Vanessa & Xander Marin
Maintaining Intimacy After Kids with Vanessa & Xander Marin
Parenthood changes a lot, including your relationship. In this episode, Rachael sits down with New York Times bestselling authors (and real-life couple) Vanessa and Xander Marin to talk about keeping intimacy alive after kids, the infamous “roommate phase,” and why honest conversations about sex matter more than you think.
Vanessa, a sex therapist with 20 years of experience, and Xander, her “regular dude” husband, share how they’ve navigated their own ups and downs while helping millions of couples do the same. They dive into the five conversations from their book Sex Talks, why emotional connection is the real foreplay, and what to do when one partner isn’t feeling ready for intimacy. Plus, they share how couples therapy, online courses, and even their own podcast have helped them, and can help you, build a more connected, playful, and passionate relationship.
Inside this episode:
The inspiration behind Sex Talks and the five key conversations couples need to have
How to break out of the “roommate phase” and reconnect
Tips for navigating mismatched readiness for intimacy
Why emotional connection is just as important as physical intimacy
The benefits of couples therapy (and other resources that work)
How to keep sex and pleasure on the table even when life is hectic
Mentioned in this episode:
Instagram: @vanessaandxander
Vanessa & Xander’s Online Courses
Rediscovering Us: Intimacy and Sex for Parents Course
Pillow Talks Podcast
Sex Talks Book
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate 5⭐️ and write us a review! ⬇️
✨For sleep support and resources, visit heysleepybaby.com and follow @heysleepybaby on Instagram! 😴☁️🤎✨
Rachael is a mom of 3, founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby, and the host of this podcast.
Instagram | Tiktok | Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 18, 2025 • 42min
Rewind: Bridging Separation at Bedtime with Dr. Gordon Neufeld
Bridging Separation at Bedtime with Dr. Gordon Neufeld @neufeldinstitute
This week Rachael has a very special guest, Dr. Gordon Neufeld, to discuss the importance of attachment and the challenges parents face when it comes to bedtime and sleep. Dr. Neufeld is a renowned authority on child development and you will learn so much in this powerful episode!
Here’s what they discuss inside this important episode:
How attachment is a fundamental aspect of child development
Learn all about Dr. Neufeld's Model of the Six Stages of Attachment
The crucial role parents play in providing the necessary conditions for children to grow up and develop their capacity to hold on when apart
Why is society so focused on independence?!
How quick-fix strategies often overlook the importance of preserving the connection between parents and children
Bedtime challenges and separation struggles
How parents can support their children by bridging the separation at bedtime
And so much more!
Dr. Neufeld has accumulated more than 40 years of experience as a clinical psychologist with children and youth and those responsible for them. A foremost authority on child development, Dr. Neufeld continues to be an international speaker, a best-selling author and a leading interpreter of the developmental paradigm. Dr. Neufeld has a widespread reputation for making sense of complex problems and for opening doors for change. While formerly involved in university teaching and private practice, he has devoted the best part of the last two decades to creating courses for parents, teachers and helping professionals. These courses are offered primarily through the Neufeld Institute – an online educational institute and world-wide charitable organization devoted to applying developmental science to the task of raising children. Dr. Neufeld’s life's work has been to help adults provide the conditions for children to flourish. He is a father of five and a grandfather to seven.
Mentioned in this episode:
Free resources from Dr. Gordon Neufeld:
https://neufeldinstitute.org/resources/free/
Online conference with Dr. Neufeld:
The Current Crisis of Well-Being: What's Happening to Our Kids? https://neufeldinstitute.org/conference-2024/
See presentations and talks from Gordon Neufeld:
https://www.youtube.com/@neufeldmedia
Follow Dr. Gordon Neufeld's work on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NeufeldInstitute
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neufeldinstitute/
Dr. Neufeld’s Book: Hold Onto Your Kids
https://neufeldinstitute.org/resources/hold-on-to-your-kids-book/
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate 5⭐️ and write us a review! ⬇️
✨For sleep support and resources, visit heysleepybaby.com and follow @heysleepybaby on Instagram! 😴☁️🤎✨
Rachael is a mom of 3, founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby, and the host of this podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 11, 2025 • 39min
Rewind: Challenging Our Individualistic Culture with Erin Spahr
Challenging Our Individualistic Culture with Erin Spahr @feminist.mom.therapist
In this episode, Rachael interviews Erin Spahr, a licensed therapist, mother, and maternal mental health advocate. They discuss the intersection of feminism and motherhood, the lack of support and systemic oppression faced by women and parents, and the harmful effects of comparison and external validation on social media.
Here’s what they discuss in this episode:
The importance of self-compassion and self-trust in navigating motherhood
The need for inclusive and identity-affirming care for perinatal individuals
Lack of federal paid parental leave in the US and how it is a MAJOR issue for mothers
How harmful the societal ideology of individualism and the expectation that mothers should do it all without support is
All about the tradwife movement and how it glamorizes an unrealistic and oppressive view of motherhood.
Why does feminism have a negative connotation?
And so much more!
Mentioned in this episode:
Erin’s instagram: @feminist.mom.therapist
Listen to The Feminist Mom Podcast here
Inclusive Provider Directory website: https://www.inclusiveproviders.com/
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate 5⭐️ and write us a review! ⬇️
✨For sleep support and resources, visit heysleepybaby.com and follow @heysleepybaby on Instagram! 😴☁️🤎✨
Rachael is a mom of 3, founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby, and the host of this podcast.
Instagram | Tiktok | Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 4, 2025 • 40min
Rewind: Feeding Toddlers: Finding Joy in Family Meals with Nita and Jessica of
Feeding Toddlers: Finding Joy in Family Meals with Nita and Jessica of @happyhealthyeaters
Have you ever struggled with picky eating or stressful mealtimes? This is so common- feeding toddlers can be very challenging! In this episode, Rachael speaks with Jessica and Nita, co-founders of Happy Healthy Eaters, ALL about feeding toddlers to make mealtimes more enjoyable!
Here’s what they discuss inside this episode:
The different challenges of feeding toddlers including “picky” eating or selective eating
How and why it is important to trust your child’s eating preferences
How much food should your toddler actually eat?
Tips for keeping your child engaged and interested in mealtime
Guiding parents on allowing kids to eat when they're hungry and stop when they're full
How valuable family meals can be for modeling eating behaviors and passing on cultural traditions
Ways to adapt meals to fit each family's schedule and preferences
Tips for adapting culturally appropriate meals for babies
Facts about the food supply in North America and it’s safety
When to seek support from professionals if a child's eating habits are severely challenging or interfering with their growth and development
Jessica and Nita are co-founders of Happy Healthy Eaters - a community dedicated to supporting parents in feeling relaxed and confident about feeding their child. They are both Registered Dietitians with a combined 25+ years of education and work. They started Happy Healthy Eaters in 2020 after Nita had her second baby with the hopes of supporting parents through these exciting milestones, minus ALL the misinformation. Their online course - Starting Solids Confidently- launched first and is widely popular and now they have a second course: Feeding Toddlers Confidently- which debuted after more than two years in the making!
Mentioned in this episode:
Happy Healthy Eaters Website: https://happyhealthyeaters.com/
Happy Healthy Eaters instagram: @happyhealthyeaters
Feeding Toddlers Confidently Course here Code for No One Told Us Listeners: HHE15
How to Keep Your Toddler at the Table
Blog Post: How to Adapt Recipes to be BLW Friendly
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate 5⭐️ and write us a review! ⬇️
✨For sleep support and resources, visit heysleepybaby.com and follow @heysleepybaby on Instagram! 😴☁️🤎✨
Rachael is a mom of 3, founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby, and the host of this podcast.
Instagram | Tiktok | Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 28, 2025 • 39min
Rewind: Managing Sensory Overwhelm in Parenthood with Larissa Geleris
Disclaimer: This episode is for entertainment and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please seek immediate care from your physician if you have any concerns about your health.
This week, Rachael sits down with occupational therapist Larissa Geleris of @steadyparents to explore a topic that hits home for so many parents: sensory overwhelm.
Picture this: you're cooking dinner, the oven fan is on, your baby is crying, your toddler is banging a toy, and your partner is asking you a question. You’re overstimulated, overwhelmed, maybe even raging. Sound familiar? You’re not alone—and this episode is for you.
Larissa breaks down what sensory overload really is, how common it is in parenthood, and why it's a completely normal response to an overstimulating environment. She shares her personal story as a pediatric OT who experienced sensory dysfunction after a concussion—and how that shifted her focus to supporting overwhelmed parents just like you.
Here’s what they discuss inside this episode:
What sensory overwhelm is (and why it’s common in parenting)
The “touched out” feeling—why it happens and what to do
Quick, practical sensory strategies to use in the moment
How to reduce the chances of overwhelm ahead of time
Why self-compassion is key to self-regulation
How to co-regulate with your child even when you’re dysregulated
Tools to help you feel more confident and steady in your day-to-day parenting
And so much more!
Mentioned in this episode:
Larissa’s Instagram: @steadyparents
Larissa’s program: Sensing Your Needs in Parenthood
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 21, 2025 • 42min
Rewind: Helping Kids Learn to Read (And Love It) with Miss Beth from Big City Readers
In this episode, Rachael sits down with literacy expert and beloved educator Beth Gaskill, known by her community as Miss Beth, to talk all about how children learn to read. From the science of reading (yep, it’s a science!) to why fun is essential in the process, this episode is packed with practical strategies for parents who want to support their kids' literacy journeys.
They also chat about what it means to "redshirt" kindergarten, how to foster early literacy skills at home, and how to talk to your kids after school in a way that builds connection (not frustration). Plus, Rachael shares her own perspective as a former public school teacher and current parent navigating her child’s first year in the school system.
Inside this episode:
What the science of reading actually means
The Orton-Gillingham approach and multisensory literacy
Why reading should be fun (and how to make it that way)
How to support your child's learning style
Understanding Kindergarten "redshirting"
What to say when your child won’t tell you about their day
Rachael’s reflections from 10+ years teaching reading
Why advocacy matters and how to be your child’s best advocate
And so much more!
Mentioned in this episode:
Big City Readers On-Demand Courses for babies, toddlers, and kids
Beth’s podcast: Play on Words
Podcast: Sold a Story
Follow Miss Beth: @bigcityreaders
✨ For sleep support and resources, visit heysleepybaby.com and follow @heysleepybaby on Instagram! 😴☁️🤎✨
Rachael is a mom of 3, founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby, and the host of this podcast.
Instagram | Tiktok | Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices


