Holidays are supposed to be merry—until the guilt trips, boundary-pushing, and “but family!” chorus kicks in. In this episode, Sarah and Whitney get real about navigating narcissistic traits at gatherings: how to set (and keep) boundaries, use gray rock without losing your mind, protect your peace during gift and photo ops, and create exit plans that don’t require a scene.

The holidays bring joy, chaos, and sometimes difficult conversations. How do you respond when a family member shares their postpartum struggles at the dinner table—or when you want to speak up about your own experience?

In this episode, Sarah talks with reproductive psychiatrist Dr. Claire Smith about navigating maternal mental health conversations. They discuss how to share your own experience, support loved ones through theirs and understand family risk factors without succumbing to fear. You'll learn practical strategies for protecting your mental health during the holidays, what having risk factors actually means, and how to prepare if you've previously experienced postpartum depression or anxiety. Consider this your holiday survival guide for these important conversations.

About Dr. Claire Smith:

Dr. Claire Smith is a perinatal psychiatrist in the Women's Reproductive Behavioral Health (WRBH) clinic, which serves to specifically help women who are pregnant or up to one year postpartum. She provides both therapy and medication management in the treatment of mood and anxiety disorders, trauma, grief and loss, substance use disorders, and other mental health concerns.

The holidays are here—and for many moms-to-be, that means sharing pregnancy news with family. But after the excitement comes another big question: when and how do I tell my boss?

In this episode, Sarah talks with Aria Allen, attorney and workplace rights advocate, about what every pregnant employee should know. From timing your announcement to accommodations and maternity leave, this conversation will leave you feeling prepared and confident heading into the season.

Filing A Charge of Discrimination | U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

The holidays can be magical—but they can also bring out family drama, money stress, and fights over whose parents to visit first. Sound familiar?

In this episode, Sarah sits down with Erin and Stephen Mitchell from Couples Counseling for Parents to talk about the most common conflicts couples face this time of year. From juggling in-laws to setting boundaries and keeping your partnership strong, they share practical tools to help you stay on the same team and actually enjoy the season together.

More about Erin and Stephen:

Erin and Stephen are the co-founders of Couples Counseling for Parents, a company focused on providing access to research-informed, psychologically sound online education for couples. Both have a clinical education—Stephen, a PhD in medical family therapy, and Erin, a master’s degree in counseling psychology—and they have a combined 23 years of experience providing counseling and education. They have been married for 16 years and have three kids.

Visit them on Instagram @couples.counseling.for.parents

Visit their website at https://couplescounselingforparents.com/.

Do you find yourself saying yes when you really want to say no? Feeling guilty for setting even the smallest boundary? You might be a people pleaser. In this pre-holiday episode, Sarah and Whitney unpack why people-pleasing is so common, how it impacts moms especially, and share practical tools for saying no, setting boundaries, and showing up as your authentic self this season.

When we think of perimenopause, we hear about hot flashes—but what about the mood swings, anxiety, and depression no one talks about?

In this episode, Sarah sits down with Reproductive Psychiatrist Dr. Lindsay Standeven to break down the mental health side of perimenopause. They talk about why women are more likely to face depression during this stage, what it means if you’ve struggled in pregnancy or postpartum, and—most importantly—what you can do now to protect your mental health.

About Dr. Lindsay R. Standeven:

Dr. Lindsay R. Standeven is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and Adjunct Faculty at Johns Hopkins. After completing her residency training at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Dr. Standeven completed a two-year research and clinical fellowship specializing in reproductive psychiatry. Dr. Standeven spent the earlier part of her career on the faculty at Johns Hopkins, serving as the clinical and education director for the Johns Hopkins Reproductive Mental Health Center, where she oversaw clinical staff and taught psychiatry residents in reproductive psychiatry.

She is passionate about teaching and advocacy in women’s mental health and serves as a member of the National Curriculum in Reproductive Psychiatry, where she helped spearhead a training program in women’s mental health for psychiatrists across the country. Her clinical expertise is in helping individuals struggling with mood-related changes due to pregnancy, postpartum, infertility, reproductive loss, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, premenstrual syndrome, and perimenopause.

Feeling like you hit a wall this month? You’re not alone.

In this episode, we’re talking about the October Crash—that moment when the back-to-school adrenaline wears off, the calendar fills up, the weather shifts, and your nervous system finally says, “I’m done.”

Sarah and Whitney unpack why October can feel so heavy for moms, how the invisible load catches up with us, and what to do when burnout, irritability, and emotional whiplash set in.

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. In this episode, Sarah Piasecki—founder of Izzy Lee’s—shares the story of her daughter Izzy, the heartbreak of stillbirth, and the healing that followed. If you’ve walked this road—or love someone who has—this conversation is for you. Together we talk about love, loss, and how Izzy’s memory inspired a movement to remind parents they don’t have to carry grief alone.

Visit IzzyLee's: Best Organic Baby Blankets, Hats, Bibs, and Burp Cloths.

Follow IzzyLeesKids on Instagram.

Monitor your baby's movements with Count the Kicks.

Find support and resources at Pregnancy after Loss Support (PALS).