No One Told Us

Episode 55: The Emotional Journey of Childhood Cancer with Danielle & Portia September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month. This week, Rachael speaks with two mothers who have faced the unimaginable.In this emotional episode, Rachael interviews Portia, mom of Leo, who was diagnosed with Cancer as a young child. Portia discusses the initial diagnosis (and the importance of listening to your “mom gut!”), the emotional journey through treatments, and the challenges faced by both Leo and his sister. Rachael also interviews Danielle, another incredible mother who shares her experience with her daughter Angelina's battle with cancer. Daniells shares some incredible stories about making the most of Angelina’s life, and a special surprise that came after her death. Please hear their stories, learn about their experiences, and find out what you can do to help children and families affected by childhood cancer.Inside this episode: The Childhood Cancer Society (CCS) dedication to empowering families who have been affected by pediatric cancer with both emotional and financial support. The impact that organizations like CCS have on providing memorable experiences for families and kids going through pediatric cancer Trusting your gut as a parent  Siblings of children with cancer may also need support and attention to cope with the challenges The Wish Grant program offered by the Childhood Cancer Society allows children with cancer to fulfill their dreams and create lasting memories. What Portia and Danielle want other moms to know Mentioned in this episode: Childhood Cancer Society website: https://www.childhoodcancersociety.org/  Link to donate https://givebutter.com/DD9cyK/rachaelshepardohta  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

Episode 54: Challenging Our Individualistic Culture with Erin Spahr @feminist.mom.therapistIn 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

Episode 53: Simplifying Your Routine & Managing the Chaos of Back-to-School with Beth Rosenbleeth @dayswithgreyIt’s back-to-school for many of our children and that can come with a lot of big feelings, routine changes, and chaos! In this episode, Rachael chats with Beth, educator and creator of Days with Grey, all about simplifying routines, promoting play-based learning for young children, and how to cope with the change that is “back-to-school” (or just starting school!). Here’s what they discuss in this episode: Beth shares her journey from being a teacher to becoming a stay-at-home mom which led to her creating her online platform to teach parents about play, routines and more The concept of “breakfast invitations” and how they can inspire play and learning in the morning! Tips for creating morning and afternoon routines and preparing for back-to-school How to manage the after-school meltdowns The importance of meeting and understanding each child’s individual needs How to set boundaries and provide predictability in routines. And so much more! Mentioned in this episode: Beth’s website: https://dayswithgrey.com/  Beth’s Instagram: @dayswithgrey  Soft Skills activity cards: https://shop.dayswithgrey.com/shop/soft-skill-activity-cards/  40 unbeatable toddler activities: https://dayswithgrey.com/top-activities-two-year-olds/  Supply List for Kids: https://dayswithgrey.com/a-simple-list-of-learning-tools-for-kids/  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

Episode 52: Burn Out, the Invisible Load and Maternal Mental Health with Erica Djossa @momwellThis week Rachael speaks with Erica Djossa- a registered psychotherapist, founder of Momwell and author of new book Releasing the Motherload- all about the challenges of postpartum and beyond, including burn out and the “invisible load” of motherhood.Here’s what they discuss inside this episode: Erica shares her personal journey with postpartum depression How Erica’s postpartum journey led her to create Momwell and write her new book  The concept of the invisible load and the different beliefs that shape the motherload The “invisible load” moms carry, and strategies for sharing the mental load  Navigating social media and comparison traps  Insights and resources for supporting moms' mental health Finding your community as a parent to feel supported  And so much more! Erica Djossa is a registered psychotherapist specializing in maternal mental health with over a decade of experience, and the founder of Momwell. As a mother of three rambunctious young boys, Erica understands first-hand the challenges of motherhood. After her own battle with postpartum depression, Erica realized how difficult it is to seek support, care, and mental health services. She founded Happy as a Mother, which has now evolved into Momwell, to provide mom-centered virtual therapy services and mental health literacy for moms at every stage of their motherhood journey. Erica is also a regular media contributor. Her work has been featured in the Toronto Star, Breakfast Television, Scary Mommy, Medium, Pop Sugar, and Romper. Her graphics have been shared by celebrities like Snoop Dogg, Ashley Graham, Nia Long, Hilaria Baldwin, Christy Turlington and Adrienne Bosh. Erica is passionate about maternal mental healthcare and putting moms back on the priority list. Mentioned in this episode: Erica’s Instagram @momwell Momwell website for Values Sort Exercise and Worksheets to go along with the book! Erica’s Book: Releasing the Mother Load  Erica's podcast episode: Protecting Maternal Sleep Momwell Podcast: https://www.momwell.com/listen  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

Episode 51: Men’s Health: Male Fertility, Vasectomies and Family Planning with Dr. Justin Dubin & Dr. Kevin Chu @themanuppodcastWe often speak so much about women and fertility but it is important that we also begin destigmatizing conversations around men's health! Rachael kicks off this episode with a conversation with her husband Marley about his decision to get a vasectomy several months ago and what that process was like.Next, Rachael has on doctors Justin Dubin and Kevin Chu to discuss all about male infertility, health, and the details of what to expect with a vasectomy procedure!Here’s what they discuss inside this episode: Highlighting the role of men in fertility How common male infertility REALLY is The various factors that can cause male infertility Genetic conditions, anatomy issues, medications, and lifestyle choices impact on men's health Tips for improving fertility outcomes All about the vasectomy procedure: the benefits and who is a good candidate for it Addressing common concerns with pain and recovery for vasectomies Are vasectomies reversible? And so much more! Dr. Justin Dubin and Dr. Kevin Chu are the current co-hosts of the men’s health podcast Man Up: A Doctor’s Guide to Men’s Health. They are fellowship trained urologists with focuses in Male Infertility and Sexual Medicine who bring their passion about men’s health and education with the goal of improving both the lives of men and their partners. Dr. Chu and Dubin have published multiple papers on male infertility and sexual health, and have been quoted in the NY Times, Insider, GQ and Men’s Health. Dr. Dubin is currently the Men’s Health specialist in South Florida and Dr. Chu is a Men's Health specialist in Los Angeles, California.Mentioned in this episode: Man Up Podcast  Dr. Justin’s Instagram: @justindubinmd Dr. Kevin’s Instagram: @kevinchumd 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

Episode 50: Feeding Toddlers: Finding Joy in Family Meals with Nita and Jessica of @happyhealthyeatersHave 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

Episode 49: Creating a Business and a Brand from Home with Tori SprankelWhether you are a stay-at-home mom or a mom who works outside the home, all moms are working hard! This week Rachael and friend Tori Sprankel, a brand expert and business owner, chat all about building a business while taking care of young children at home. They discuss the challenges and gray areas of being a working mom or a stay-at-home mom, and how the lines are blurred for so many of us in a post-pandemic world.Here’s what they discuss inside this episode: Tori shares her personal journey of transitioning from a corporate job to becoming a stay-at-home mom in Hawaii to eventually starting her own business The importance of the people you surround yourself with while building your business Role reversal and who’s the breadwinner?! We discuss our stay at home dad husbands! The challenges and rewards of being a WFH mom Balancing motherhood, finding support, and overcoming mom guilt Creating a business (and a life!) that aligns with your values and goals & so much more! Meet Tori Sprankle! She’s an expert at personal brands for go-to girlies + her obsession is turning that pretty little pinterest board of yours into the brand you’ve always dreamed of. She loves working with women who need that boost of brand magic to back up their killer service suite that the world desperately needs. She specializes in lighting-fast turnaround to help her clients show-up efficiently, confidently and consistently where it matters most these days: online. As a mom to two girls, she believes in showing them that corporate America isn't the only place to make a living - and that having the freedom and courage to change lives through your own dreams is worth more than any traditional career path.Mentioned in this episode: Tori’s website: https://www.torisprankel.com/  Tori’s instagram: https://www.instagram.com/torisprankel/  Check out Tori’s work in action on Rachael’s Instagram, in her Substack Nap Trapped, and on this very podcast (Tori designed our cover art!) as well as the HSB website.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

Episode 48: Sleep Training: What we Know (and what we DON’T KNOW) from the Research with Amanda RuggeriThis week Rachael and Amanda Ruggeri, a journalist specializing in psychology, parenting, and child development, discuss the ever controversial topic: sleep training. Amanda speaks about her articles on baby sleep and sleep training and the research behind them.Here’s what they discuss inside this episode: Understanding biologically normal, healthy baby sleep The problematic messaging around sleep training Are we just extinguishing baby's signaling? Is sleep training truly teaching self-settling skills? Is the sleep quality or duration better for babies who are sleep trained vs not? The importance of providing parents with the full picture & allowing them to make informed decisions The cultural differences in attitudes towards baby sleep, bed sharing etc. Social media misinformation, biases and logical fallacies The problem with overly relying on internet “experts” and “data” for parenting decisions & so much more! Amanda Ruggeri is a multi award-winning journalist specializing in psychology, parenting, and child development. She also covers media and science literacy, including on her Instagram page and in her column for the BBC, "How Not to Be Manipulated". As a triple-citizen who has lived in four countries, she's especially interested in breaking topics down from not only a scientific, but a cross-cultural, anthropological, and historical, perspective. Her stories on infant sleep - including the science of healthy baby sleep and what we do and don't know about sleep training - have been read by more than 3 million people worldwide. You can find her work most frequently on the BBC's science section, Scientific American, New Scientist, and the Jacob Foundation's BOLD.expert, as well as on her Instagram page @mandyruggeri.Mentioned in this episode: Amanda's website: https://www.amandaruggeri.com/  Amanda's instagram: @mandyruggeri  What really happens when babies are left to cry it out?  The Science of Healthy Baby Sleep  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

Episode 47: Parenting Children with Disabilities with Kelley Coleman @hellokelleycolemanThis week Rachael and Kelley Coleman, author and mother, discuss parenting children with disabilities. Here’s what they discuss inside this powerful episode: Hear Kelley’s personal journey with parenting two kids: one with multiple disabilities and one with typical development Kelley shares her story about her son’s diagnosis and how it changed her as a parent Suggestions for parents who just received a diagnosis or are trying to receive a diagnosis for their child Ways for parents to feel empowered to speak up for their child Fostering communication with your child’s school team and others  Grieving the childhood you pictured for your kid  The ways your relationship with your partner can be affected by parenting a child with disabilities   How to talk to your kids about others with disabilities All about her book: Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child The importance of finding community of support and connecting with others who are in similar situations And so much more! Kelley is a feature film development executive turned author and advocate for parent caregivers and individuals with disabilities. Her writing and advocacy draw upon over a decade of experience accessing the necessary supports for children with disabilities to succeed, including her own child. Kelley’s book Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child: Your Guide to the Essential Systems, Services, and Supports is available for preorder and will be released March 12th. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, two boys, and her son’s trusty service dog. Mentioned in this episode: Kelley’s Book:  Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child: Your Guide to the Essential Systems, Services, and Supports Kelley’s website: kelleycoleman.com Kelley’s Instagram: @hellokelleycoleman Welcome To Holland by Emily Perl Kingsley 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

Erin and Stephen Mitchell, a dynamic duo of authors and couples counselors, explore the transformative effects of parenting on relationships. They share personal struggles post-baby and reveal how to manage resentment and connect amidst exhaustion. The conversation touches on intimacy after children and the impact of co-sleeping on marriages. With insights drawn from their book, 'Too Tired to Fight,' they provide tools for effective communication and navigating conflict, showing that even challenges can lead to deeper connections.