Explore every episode of the podcast Active Mom Podcast: Pregnancy, Postpartum, Perimenopause, Menopause & Beyond
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perimenopause Strength & Protein: What the Research Actually Shows — with Dr. ALYSSA OLENICK | 09 Jan 2026 | 01:16:25 | |
Is Pilates enough? How much is "enough" protein? What does "lifting heavy" ACTUALLY mean? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Alyssa Olenick, PhD, founder of Doc Lyss Fitness and creator of The Lyss Method, to break down what the research actually shows about strength training and protein in perimenopause. As a strength athlete, ultramarathon runner, and certified sports nutritionist, Alyssa bridges the gap between science and real-world training. Together, we cut through fear-based messaging, social-media misinformation, and one-size-fits-all advice to talk honestly about what matters most for women navigating perimenopause, menopause, and midlife fitness. This is a grounded, evidence-informed conversation for women who want to train smarter, feel stronger, and move with confidence—without overcomplicating it or chasing extremes. In this episode, we cover:
If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re doing too little, too much, or just the wrong thing when it comes to training in perimenopause—this episode will bring clarity, perspective, and relief. Time Stamps 1:00 Introduction 2:37 approaching the perimenopause space 5:28 questions women are asking 10:20 hesitancy with women and strength training 14:49 is something better than nothing? 19:54 training to failure 23:54 intensity brings interest 27:20 a place for group fitness 31:49 setting expectations & building confidence 42:26 the protein obsession 54:25 don’t forget fiber! 58:27 the ones question we need to ask 70:00 rapid fire questions CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com CONNECT WITH ALYSSA: Instagram: www.instagram.com/doclyssfitness Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW4CCAMyceAtaGVKhpUqcfQ Podcast: https://doclyssfitness.com/podcast/ The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| Women’s Health Research Made Simple: How to Spot Misinformation (and What Actually Matters) — with DR. RITA DEERING | 02 Jan 2026 | 00:59:31 | |
In this episode of the Active Mom Podcast, I’m joined again by Dr. Rita Deering, PT, DPT, PhD — Associate Professor of Physical Therapy and Director of the Movement Sciences Laboratory at Carroll University. With 18+ years of clinical experience and 15 years specializing in pelvic health, Dr. Deering is a leading researcher in perinatal musculoskeletal health, pregnancy and postpartum exercise, pelvic floor function, and female athlete performance. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone navigating the overwhelm of women’s health information — clinicians, coaches, athletes, and moms trying to get real answers outside the noise. We dig into how to actually interpret research (not just quote it), what different study types really mean, and how to confidently separate evidence-based guidance from trending misinformation on social media. Whether you’re dealing with pelvic floor symptoms, postpartum return to running or lifting, perimenopause changes, or pregnancy athletic performance, this episode brings clarity to the research so you can make informed decisions with confidence. We break down:
Time Stamps 1:00 Introduction 3:15 making research accessible 7:58 what is PubMed 13:50 different types of research 18:20 transferring research to the clinic 22:44 looking at the studies 33:19 different levels of evidence 37:04 systematic reviews and meta analysis 43:10 changing approach to implementing research 48:55 where the funding goes 51:20 rapid fire questions CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com CONNECT WITH RITA: IG: https://www.instagram.com/ritadeeringphd/ Website: https://www.carrollu.edu/faculty/deering-rita-phd The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| Ultrarunning Through Pregnancy & Planning a Strong Postpartum Return— with LEAH YINGLING | 31 Oct 2025 | 00:58:26 | |
In this episode, I sit down with Leah Yingling, an internationally ranked trail and ultrarunner from Salt Lake City, Utah. Leah has achieved multiple top-10 finishes at Western States and UTMB, and has represented Team USA at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships. In addition to her racing career, she’s the co-host of the Trail Network Podcast, works full-time in Population Health, and runs for Lululemon, Osprey, Garmin, and Hydrapak. Leah is also a new mom, recently welcoming her first child, Monte, in July. We dive into what it means to pursue longevity in sport, how she balances full-time work and elite-level training, and what it looks like to plan a sustainable running career while growing her family. Leah shares insights on goal setting through different life seasons, increasing visibility for women in ultras, and the power of building a supportive community. We talk about: -Longevity in running -Balancing full-time work and training -Planning a long sustainable running career -Goal setting with family planning -Increasing visibility of ultras -Building your community Time Stamps 1:00 Introduction 2:32 comparing ultras to parenthood 3:31 moms in the ultra community 9:09 the problem solving aspect of ultras 12:24 deferals for races 20:43 competing while pregnant 24:44 navigating postpartum 29:45 resources for pregnancy and delivery 34:14 mom walks and being outdoors 41:06 winter activities with a baby 48:30 rapid fire questions CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com CONNECT WITH LEAH: IG: https://www.instagram.com/leah_yingling/ Strava: https://www.strava.com/pros/9911694 Tail Network Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-trail-network-podcast/id1738325869 The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| Postpartum Hormones Explained: What’s Normal, What’s Not & What Actually Helps — with DR. ASHLEY WINTER | 09 Feb 2024 | 01:01:51 | |
Today, I speak with Dr. Ashley Winter, Board certified urologist who specializes in sexual medicine and postpartum hormones. After realizing that many of the common concerns that patients were brining to her clinic were not being addressed by the information she was being taught, she decided to do a fellowship in sexual disfunction. After working in managed health for five years following her fellowship, she decided to branch out into the tech side of medicine to help improve sexual health care for everyone. We talk about: -foray into parenthood -normal hormone levels -failures in postpartum care -impacts of estrogen -knowing when it’s something else -topical estrogen and breastfeeding -finding the right provider -the benefits of Telehealth Time Stamps 1:00 Introduction 7:33 parallels of hormones levels in pregnancy and postpartum 16:00 after the baby comes 22:30 genitourinary symptoms in lactation 25:24 barriers to obtaining vaginal estrogen 34:50 finding the right provider 45:02 listening to patients 50:33 rapid fire questions CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com CONNECT WITH ASHLEY Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleygwinter/ Twitter at @ashleygwinter The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| Celebrating 100 Episodes: The 2024 Pelvic Floor State of the Union — with DR. CARRIE PAGLIANO (SOLO EPISODE) | 02 Feb 2024 | 01:07:31 | |
Today, we are celebrating our 100th episode! I’ve been doing the podcast for about two years now, and I’ve have interviewed some incredible guests! But today is my first solo episode. Think of this as a State of the Union” Pelvic Floor edition. I cover what I’m loving about the pelvic floor space right now as well as things I’d love to see change. We talk about: -state of the union -the need for more specialization in pelvic health -from pregnancy to menopause -growing the profession -pregnancy on social media -too much DIY? -high tone versus under activity -listener questions Time Stamps 1:00 Introduction 2:45 current state of pelvic floor physical therapy 10:05 all the way to menopause 13:38 bad things happening in PFPT 18:35 DIY fallout 23:57 biggest impact over the last 5 years 33:49 Top 5 podcast guests 39:47 olympic lifts after prolapse 42:10 exercising in supine in pregnancy 50:00 social media pet peeve 60:55 balancing mom and business owner CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| Postpartum Mental Health, REDs & Returning to Sport — with HOLLY BROOKS, Nordic Ski Olympian and Mental Health Therapist | 26 Jan 2024 | 01:02:47 | |
Today I speak with Holly Brooks, a 2-time Nordic Ski Olympian, twin mom, licensed therapist working at the intersection of performance and mental health. She is also the co-founder of Moms Matter Now, a group focused on empowering, educating, and supporting women from pregnancy to early motherhood so they don’t lose their minds, selves or relationships. Her two passions are athlete & maternal mental health. Holly’s goal is to give moms tools to be models, not martyrs in their motherhood journeys! We talk about: -life after professional sports -the athlete mindset -preparing for the uncontrollable -educating to empower -matrescence -knowing when to pivot -navigating mixed messages of returning to sport -maternal gatekeeping -RED-S in moms Time Stamps 1:00 Introduction 6:08 combining her interests to serve more people 9:17 athletes and first time moms 11:29 ways to guide a mom through pregnancy 17:20 knowledge without anxiety 21:23 dedication and perseverance for athletes and moms 26:30 when to return to sport 31:50 being a mom with goals 36:40 maternal gatekeeping 43:20 be a model, not a martyr 45:30 RED-S 51:12 rapid fire questions CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com CONNECT WITH HOLLY Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hollybrooksllc/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momsmatternow/ Website: https://www.momsmatternow.com/ The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| Navigating Prolapse After Pregnancy: Guidance & Hope — with DR. MARGO KWIATKOWSKI aka @postpartum_pop_pt | 19 Jan 2024 | 00:51:06 | |
Today I speak with Margo Kwiatkowski, an orthopedic and pelvic health physical therapist in Southern California. She has made it her life’s mission to provide valuable, evidence based, and accessible information about pelvic organ prolapse in postpartum people. Margo was diagnosed with pelvic organ prolapse after the birth of her first child in the summer of 2021. She knew all the statistics about pelvic organ prolapse and did “all the right things” but was still taken aback by the diagnosis. She was the most shocked by how deeply this diagnosis affected her physical AND mental health. She quickly realized there was a need for more education and exposure about pelvic organ prolapse and created her Instagram with the hopes of normalizing changes postpartum. Her goal is to help dispel fears about prolapse and help people get back to what they love.
We talk about: -learning about pelvic floor therapy -expectations going into pregnancy -not being heard postpartum -empowering but not scaring -speaking with a mental health professional -common but not normal -reducing symptoms to restore nervous system -shifting organs
Time Stamps 1:00 introduction 2:56 learning about pelvic health 5:40 pregnancy as a PT 10:10 discovering she had prolapse 15:00 validating patients’ feelings 20:30 ah-ha moments from pelvic health 28:19 pessaries 34:25 “Are my organs going to go back?” 40:49 dealing with perimenopause 43:30 rapid fire questions
CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com
CONNECT WITH MARGO Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/postpartum_prolapse/ Website: https://www.p4moms.com/ The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| Postpartum Marathon Push: How Twin Mom, Carter Norbo Chased an Olympic Trials Qualifier Attempt at 4 Months Postpartum | 12 Jan 2024 | 00:36:38 | |
Today I speak with Carter Norbo, a physical therapist, new mom, and member of the Rabbit Elite Team who ran at the University of North Carolina. In August 2023, she had twin boys at 29.5 weeks, but still went for an Olympic trials qualifying time on November 30th, at a marathon in Virginia. Even being so early in her postpartum, she came 73 seconds away from qualifying! Carter is still learning to adjust to life with running, work, and caring for the twins, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. We talk about: -Carter’s start in running -having a twin pregnancy -running during pregnancy -energy deficiency with training and pregnancy -spending time in the NICU -experiencing postpartum -returning to exercise postpartum -the future of her running Time Stamps 1:00 introduction 4:21 ideas of running through pregnancy 6:25 looking for information about activity and pregnancy 9:05 being able to run during pregnancy 11:21 having premature twins 14:15 being newly postpartum 18:20 taking one more shot at a qualifying time 21:35 race day experience 25:50 PRing her marathons time early in postpartum 28:44 favorites for the 2024 trials 30:06 running in the future 32:37 rapid fire questions CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com CONNECT WITH CARTER Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cnorbo/ The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| How to Rehab After a Tummy Tuck: Diastasis, Core Strength & Realistic Expectations — with MUNIRA HUDANI | 05 Jan 2024 | 00:56:35 | |
Today I speak with Munira Hudani, a Pre- and Post-Natal physiotherapist in Canada, and an emerging leader for the management of Diastasis Rectus Abdominis. After years of frustration in landing inconsistent results with her clients, and the dissatisfaction in having to say “we just don’t have enough research right now,” Munira began to challenge the conventional method to managing DRA. She realized that part of the inconsistent results came down to how DRA was being conceptualized. She started practicing with a different set of principles which improved outcomes. She has now compiled all of her knowledge and experience into a new framework that revolutionizes how we conceptualize, assess, and manage DRA. She is passionately committed to transferring this knowledge to both professionals and patients so they can finally make sense of the steps to take when navigating this condition.
We talk about: -learning about diastasis recti -separating DR from back pain and other dysfunctions -DR is not preventable -factors that lead to long-term issues -management of DR -problems with the research -Is the gap bad? -feeling at home in your body -targeting the transverse abdominis -experiencing pregnancy and motherhood -letting go of expectations
Time Stamps 1:00 introduction 7:05 defining diastasis recti 10:50 prevention of DR 13:45 fear mongering in pelvic health 17:30 predicting long-term issues 22:00 what the research says 27:00 explaining distortion 31:20 Is the gap bad? 40:05 creating personalized care 41:00 being a new mom 48:33 rapid fire questions
CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com
CONNECT WITH MUNIRA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/munirahudanipt/ Website: https://www.munirahudanipt.com/ The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| Top 5 Episodes of 2023: #1 The Hip–Pelvic Floor Connection: Strength, Stability & Symptom Relief — with DR. ALISON GRIMALDI | 29 Dec 2023 | 00:41:34 | |
Today I speak with Dr. Aliso Grimaldi, an expert in the management of hip, groin and lumbo-pelvic pain and dysfunction. She is also Principal Physiotherapist at Physiotec and an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at the University of Queensland. Because of her interest in the assessment and optimisation of lumbo-pelvic and lower limb biomechanics, Alison has collaborated with the European Space Agency on research. Alison is passionate about understanding why we develop problems around the hip and pelvis, and what we can do to most effectively prevent and manage these problems. Alison firmly believes research should have practical application, and should be easily accessible to physiotherapists. She established Physiotec in 2005 and continues working with patients with complex hip and lumbopelvic conditions, across a broad spectrum of sports, including elite triathlon, running, dance, cricket, athletics & swimming. We talk about: -establishing collaborative care -relationship between pelvic floor & hip -strengthening the pelvic floor -stress incontinence -using real time ultrasound -“ban the clam” Time Stamps 1:00 introduction 5:19 collaborative care 9:30 dead butt syndrome 11:42 certainties of relationship between hip and pelvic floor 19:40 clinical use of real time ultrasound 23:09 biggest misses by physios 29:34 “ban the clam” 38:30 future research CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com CONNECT WITH ALISON IG: https://www.instagram.com/dralisongrimaldi/ Website (professional): https://dralisongrimaldi.com/ Website: (public): https://hippainhelp.com/ The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| 2023 Top 5: #2 LAURA GREEN (@lauramcgreen): Everything’s Funny: Running, Motherhood, and Physical Therapy | 22 Dec 2023 | 00:49:33 | |
Today I speak with Laura Green, a comedic content creator who loves to stand in front of people and tell jokes. Her brain is a hamster wheel of self deprecating humor focused on the run and fitness industry which she attempts to communicate via short videos and storytelling. She runs a lot. And she also naps a lot. Laura lives in Massachusetts with her husband and two young boys. We talk about Laura’s experiences postpartum and how she handled returning to run after each of her births. Laura tells us about working as a travel physical therapist and how she has now found a niche pointing out the humor in life, making people laugh on social media. If you’re ready for a good laugh, then this conversation is for you! We talk about: -pelvic floor physical therapy -returning to run after baby -working as a physical therapist -identity as an athlete and mom -struggling postpartum -starting slow with running postpartum -finding the humor in motherhood and running -asking for help Time Stamps 1:00 introduction 4:22 being a physical therapist and returning to run after baby 11:15 shifting identities 15:54 planning to get back to running 23:00 differences between kids and pregnancies 25:10 finding humor in motherhood 32:35 comedy on social media 38:41 being a working mom and PTA moms 43:10 advice to her past pregnant self
CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com CONNECT WITH LAURA IG: https://www.instagram.com/lauramcgreen/ Website: https://www.lauramcgreen.com/ The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| 2023 Top 5: #3 Postpartum UK Return-to-Run Guidelines Revisited: What’s Changed 4 Years Later — with EMMA BROCKWELL & GRÁINNE DONNELLY | 15 Dec 2023 | 01:07:21 | |
Today I speak with Emma Brockwell and Gráinne Donnelly. Emma is a Specialist Pelvic Health Physiotherapist. She treats women of all ages with all women’s health related conditions. She is passionate about pre and postnatal rehabilitation and exercise. She specialises in supporting women back to exercise, particularly running, football and netball if they have any pelvic health dysfunction or are postnatal. She has co-authored the first ‘Returning to Running Postnatal Guidelines’ and has spoken about this subject at many medical and exercise conferences. Emma published her first book called ‘Why did no one tell me? How to protect, heal and nurture your body through motherhood.’ She now works privately and is the co-presenter of the podcast, At Your Cervix – the podcast. Alongside Grainne Donnelly and Helen McElroy she co-founded the Athletic Female an evidence based course aimed at healthcare, fitness and medical professionals who work with female athletes.
Gráinne is an Advanced Physiotherapist specialising in pelvic health. She provides pelvic health clinics privately, educates health and fitness professionals about pelvic health and is currently developing her experience in the world of research and academia. She has recently published several papers on postpartum running and diastasis rectus abdominis. Her specialist interests are postpartum exercise, diastasis rectus abdominis and ultrasound imaging in pelvic health.
We talk about: -the importance of 'readying' an athlete during pregnancy -future proof her pelvic health and prepare for motherhood and a return to sport -busting myth around exercise during pregnancy -how pelvic health physiotherapists are integral to all women's perinatal journeys -benefits of social media
Time Stamps 1:00 introduction 3:50 intentions of exercise 6:20 unexpected outcomes from guidelines 18:10 interpreting guidelines for each patient 24:05 discussing guidelines in pregnancy 33:35 feedback from clinicians 40:00 bridging the gap 48:01 social media’s influence 54:40 what’s next
CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com
CONNECT WITH EMMA & GRÁINNE Website: www.physiomum.co.uk Website: https://absolute.physio/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/physiomumuk/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/absolute.physio/ The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| 2023 Top 5: # 4 How to Safely Return to Running After Childbirth: Research-Backed Guidance — with MEGAN JAMES | 08 Dec 2023 | 00:28:52 | |
Coming in at #4 of our top episodes of 2023 is my conversation with Megan James. Megan shares insight from her research and how it can help clinicians better serve their patients. This interview is full of great takeaways! Her e-survey is currently open and she would appreciate responses to help us in this under-researched area! Criteria is over 18, have given birth in the last 2 years and ran for at least 30 minutes per week prior to most recent pregnancy: https://cardiffmet.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cHC95M4ejaiVlki
We talk about: -choosing PhD area of study -uplifting others in pelvic health -rehabing after childbirth -fear of injury -personalized care within the guidelines -educating sooner Time Stamps 1:00 choosing postpartum women & running for PhD studies 6:44 biggest impacts on moms returning to run 12:20 the role running plays in a mom’s life 18:10 biggest gaps between research and patient care CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com CONNECT WITH MEGAN IG: https://twitter.com/meganljames16 The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| What Running Medicine Should Look Like for Moms + Athletes — with DR. KATE MIHEVC EDWARDS | 24 Oct 2025 | 01:01:55 | |
In this episode of the Active Mom Podcast, Carrie Pagliano, PT, DPT, OCS, WCS, sits down with Dr. Kate Mihevc Edwards, PT, DPT, OCS—founder of Precision Performance Running Medicine Clinic in Atlanta, creator of the RUNsource app, and co-host of Interdisciplinary Case Miles. Kate brings over 15 years of experience in running medicine and shares her insights on:
If you’re a runner, postpartum mom, or clinician who wants to better understand how to integrate care, find the right provider, and keep up with the latest research in sports medicine, this episode is for you. Time Stamps 1:00 Introduction 6:15 how to work with other providers 10:01 logistics of running a podcast 18:05 underfeeding for sports 23:05 research-informed versus evidence-based 25:58 the RUNsource app 34:10 when it’s time to see a PT 38:30 unqualified running coaches 43:45 deciding to branch out 50:30 balancing kids in middle school 55:29 rapid fire questions CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com CONNECT WITH REBECCA: IG: https://www.instagram.com/katemihevcedwards/ Fast Bananas: https://www.instagram.com/fbrunsource/ Precision PT: https://www.instagram.com/precisionpt_atl/ Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/interdisciplinary-case-miles/id1837802044 The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| 2023 Top 5: #5 What Postpartum Running Research Actually Says — with DR. IZZY MOORE | 01 Dec 2023 | 00:40:14 | |
Today I speak with Dr. Izzy Moore reader in human movement and sports medicine at Cardiff Metropolitan University. After completing her PhD at the University of Exeter, where she focused on optimising female running gait, Izzy completed a two-year post-doctoral position at Cardiff Metropolitan University working directly with sports governing bodies to inform injury prevention and management policies. Izzy’s current research focuses on female athlete health, sports injury epidemiology and lower limb rehabilitation. Her current projects focus on developing injury prevention strategies in the Women’s rugby game, specifically targeting brain and pelvic health, as well as improving postpartum return to sport clinical guidance. We talk about: -why running research -considering the whole person -view point as a mom -asking more questions -things she wishes moms knew -lack of guidance -conversations in moms groups Time Stamps 1:00 introduction 3:10 diving into running research 5:52 favorite part of postpartum research 8:55 researching as a mom 13:30 details of the survey 18:30 research and high performance athletes 23:50 examples set for us 28:00 doing what you can with what you have 33:32 questions for the future CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com CONNECT WITH IZZY Website: https://ukyoungacademy.org/members/izzy-moore/ The Active Mom Postpartum Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to Postpartum for active moms & the postpartum professionals who help them in their journey. The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| Let’s Get Physical: How Women Discovered Exercise and Reshaped the World — with author, DANIELLE FRIEDMAN | 24 Nov 2023 | 00:52:29 | |
Today I speak with Danielle Friedman, an award-winning journalist and a regular contributor to The New York Times’ Well section, where she has written about everything from the joys of being a slow runner to the importance of pelvic floor conditioning. She is also the author of Let’s Get Physical: How Women Discovered Exercise and Reshaped the World, which was selected as a New Yorker and Amazon Best Book of 2022. She lives in New York City with her husband and their two young sons.
She is a passionate believer in the ways that movement can benefit mental health and instill a sense of strength that extends beyond muscles and into other areas of our lives — and an advocate for making movement inclusive of and accessible to every body. Danielle is also a fierce advocate for speaking openly about women’s bodies and lived experiences, and de-stigmatizing areas of women’s health that have historically been considered too taboo for polite conversation.
We talk about: -history of women’s fitness -leaders of the different fitness movements -exercising for joy -loosing control -the value of community -“back of the pack” athletes -exercise for mental health
Time Stamps 1:00 introduction 2:02 beginning the research for her book 7:40 the idea of a “good body” 11:25 fitness going into pregnancy 16:51 pregnancy loss and subsequent pregnancies 21:21 transitioning to two kids 24:20 the value of community 33:40 biggest impacts and what’s next 38:50 raising boys in a modern world 43:35 rapid fire questions
CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com
CONNECT WITH DANIELLE Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daniellefriedmanwrites/ Website: https://danielle-friedman.com/ The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| Rehab, Surgery & Recovery for Postpartum Hip Pain and Labral Tears — with DR. DEREK OCHIAI, MD | 17 Nov 2023 | 00:25:27 | |
Today I speak with Dr. Derek Ochiai, an orthopaedic surgeon who is board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He specializes in injuries to the upper and lower extremities, including hip, knee, and shoulder arthroscopy. Dr. Ochiai uses both non-surgical and minimally invasive surgical techniques to help his patients return to their active lifestyles. He has been performing cutting-edge hip arthroscopies since 2003. He is currently a physician at Nirschl Orthopedic Center in the Arlington area of Virginia. He was also my surgeon!
We talk about: -hips and pelvic floor -asymptomatic labral tears -physical therapy before surgery -common hip complaints -runners and hip issues -arthritis and impingement -movement strategies learned as a kid -vetting your provider
Time Stamps 1:00 introduction 5:29 asymptomatic labral tears and surgery 7:15 changes in rehab and treatment 10:30 hip complaints in postpartum women 13:55 hips in female runners 17:50 implications of activities as a kid 20:48 integrating pelvic floor physical therapy 22:15 vetting a good hip doctor
CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com
CONNECT WITH DEREK Twitter: @DrDerekOchiai Website: www.NIRSCHL.com The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| Motherhood Movement Patterns: How to Move Well Through Pregnancy & Postpartum — with ANNA DOWNS | 10 Nov 2023 | 00:59:55 | |
Today I speak with Anna Downs, a specialist Pregnancy & Postpartum Movement Coach, Educator, Author and International Public Speaker. Her journey into this work began as a British Army Officer and an athlete with two tough pregnancies and deliveries, during which everything she knew about her body, health and fitness was challenged leaving her in the dark with how to manage to issues such as pelvic organ prolapse, incontinence and Diastasis Recti. Her career taught her how to ignore pain signals, a valuable skill in the military but not really conducive to effective self-care. This led her on a path of education, self-discovery and ultimately, to supporting other parents-to-be in their informed and empowered journey into parenthood. She now lives and works in Bangkok, Thailand with her husband and two children.
Anna shares how her transition into parenthood lead her to discover her vocation. Her goal is to support people to feel empowered and able to be advocate for themselves. She strongly believes that education is key and that no subject should be off limits.
We talk about: -experience in the British military -damage during delivery -mental shifts needed for pregnancy -data and opinions about activity in pregnancy -realistic motherhood movement patterns -differences in pregnancies -journey of self-healing -advice for first-time moms
Time Stamps 1:00 introduction 2:21 entering the military 8:30 her birth experience 12:01 navigating pregnancy as a military officer 17:35 advice from physicians going into birth 20:03 going from home birth to hospital 23:35 first weeks postpartum and second pregnancy 26:53 trying to heal leakage, diastasis recti, and prolapse 34:01 recovery from second birth 37:35 deciding to help others 40:46 things to share in early pregnancy 43:43 life in Thailand 51:35 advice for moms
CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com
CONNECT WITH ANNA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/movewellwithanna/ Website: https://movewellwithanna.com
Pregnancy Journal: Prompts for a Mindful Connection & Reflection. This is a book of journalling prompts designed for two reasons, 1) to help support a calm and considered transition parenthood and 2) to create a beautiful record of your journey to share with your child in the future The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| Postpartum Running Made Practical: Strength, Strategy & RUNSource Insights — with DR. KATE EDWARDS of Fast Bananas | 03 Nov 2023 | 00:50:05 | |
Today I speak with Dr. Kate Edwards, the founder of Precision Performance & Physical Therapy. She has dedicated her life to helping runners feel better and perform better. She is residency trained in orthopedics, a Board Certified Orthopedic Specialist and trained in running medicine. She and her team at Precision Performance treat Elite, collegiate, high school and recreational runners. Her race resume includes several marathons and three Bostons. She has been a running coach, authored books & research articles about running, teaches and lectures nationally & internationally, is the co-host of the More Than Miles podcast and recently launched a new running company, Fast Bananas. She shares her story of nearly dying while running because of a rare genetic heart disease. She has used all she has learned in practice and from her experience to build Fast Bananas, a one stop resource for runners! We talk about: -past running experience -having a rare genetic heart disease -working with pregnant elite runners -RUNsourse and Fast Bananas -managing stress outside of running -collaborating for the best care -authoring books -accessibility of information Time Stamps 1:00 introduction 5:50 dealing with a rare genetic heart disease 11:01 research for elite pregnant athletes 16:04 doing things differently 19:20 mental health support 23:30 collaborative care 28:20 running too early 30:02 writing a book about postpartum running 35:40 increasing accessibility 443:44 rapid fire questions CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com CONNECT WITH KATE Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fastbananasrun/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katemihevcedwards/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/precisionpt_atl/ Website: https://www.fastbananas.com/ Website: https://www.katemihevcedwards.com/ Website: https://www.precisionpt.org/ RUNsource by Fast Bananas! RUNsource the only online resource runners will ever need. Use "CarrieP" for a free month. The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| Yoga, Pilates & Childbirth: Mindful Movement for Pregnancy & Postpartum — with Doula & Yoga Instructor, CAROLINE DEITCH | 27 Oct 2023 | 01:09:58 | |
Today I speak with Caroline Deitch, a yoga and Pilates instructor, a Childbirth Educator and Birth Doula (via Birthing from Within) and a mom of two awesome kids - ages 7 and 5. She has been teaching movement for 15+ years and has acquired thousands of hours in specialized disciplines like Prenatal, Postpartum, Therapeutics, Pranayama (Breathwork), and Meditation and is a lead facilitator for training and continuing education programs. As a former home health Pediatric Speech Therapist she has always had an interest in research, parent education, and improving outcomes.
Whether she is leading a group class, customizing a 1x1 session with a client or supporting birthing parents by preparing them for birth or through labor and delivery, she always aims to provide an interactive, empowering, and supportive environment. She firmly believes that every single person deserves *exceptional* care and that we all have a role in making that possible.
We talk about: -training as a speech therapist -the unexpected struggles in postpartum -Birthing from Within Doula training -turning your birth story into a war story -self-inquiry in yoga -informed consent -collaborative care in birth -preparing for birth with yoga and pilates -finding your village
Time Stamps 1:00 introduction 7:25 her journey into motherhood 11:52 balancing sharing and receiving birth stories 18:40 nuances of childbirth education 26:17 being happy with a “healthy baby” 28:10 advocating as a doula 33:30 slowing down decisions in birth 38:55 considering the pelvic floor 44:30 curating your birth team 58:03 yoga and pilates in postpartum 63:02 rapid fire questions
CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com
CONNECT WITH CAROLINE Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolinedeitchyoga/
The Active Mom Postpartum Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to Postpartum for active moms & the postpartum professionals who help them in their journey. The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| Mythbusting Running Shoes: What the Research Really Says — with DR. CRISTINE AGRESTA | 20 Oct 2023 | 00:47:46 | |
Today I speak with Dr. Cristina Agresta, a physical therapist, Assistant Professor and sports medicine researcher. Her research focuses on developing assessment and monitoring techniques that improve clinical decision-making regarding athlete care and athletic performance. As a former runner, mom, clinician, and researcher, she offers a comprehensive perspective on the topic.
We talk about all the common myths surrounding running shoes and give real, up-to-date advice!
We talk about: -common running shoes choices -carbon plated running shoes -heel drop and stack height -the place for barefoot running -avoiding “right” and “wrong” -working in academia -foot size increasing after pregnancy
Time Stamps 1:00 introduction 4:09 going wrong with running shoes 9:45 prioritizing comfort 13:01 explaining heel drop 15:03 minimalist shoes and barefoot running 23:40 bridging the gap from clinician to academia 29:23 her experience pregnancy and postpartum 38:25 practical advice for choosing a shoe 43:00 rapid fire questions
CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com
CONNECT WITH CRISTINE Twitter: https://twitter.com/AgrestaCristine Website: https://uwdpt-research.rehab.washington.edu/agresta-sportscience
The University of Washington Doctor of Physical Therapy program is a top-notch graduate program that provides exceptional education and unique experiences for those interested becoming a PT (https://www.physicaltherapy.uw.edu). We also have a number of post-professional residencies (https://pt-residencies.rehab.washington.edu) with a sports PT residency in the works! The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| Bike Fitting & the Pelvic Floor: How Saddle Fit Impacts Comfort & Symptoms — wit DR. CHLOË MURDOCK | 13 Oct 2023 | 00:49:45 | |
Today I speak with Dr. Chloë Murdock, physiotherapist and expert bike fitter. Chloë’s clinical expertise treating endurance athletes with orthopedic and pelvic floor dysfunction gives her a unique perspective as a bike fitter, and allows her to comprehensively assess and fit cyclists to their optimal position. As a former D-1 track and cross country athlete, her love for sport runs deep. She is a Slowtwitch and BikeFit certified bike fitter, as well as a Board Certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist, NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and USATF level 1 and RRCA certified running coach.
Chloë shares many useful tips and tricks for both pregnant moms and this retuning postpartum. You don’t want to miss this episode! 1:00 introduction 2:08 pelvic floor and cycling 3:40 discomfort in the saddle 12:25 differences in bike shorts 14:10 triathlon versus cycling shorts 16:20 returning to cycling postpartum 20:30 peloton during pregnancy 22:40 increase in women in endurance sports 26:10 most common issues seen 28:10 ins and outs of a bike fit 35:45 working with pregnant and postpartum athletes 38:28 common mistakes with bike fits 44:20 rapid fire questions
CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com
CONNECT WITH CHLOË IG: https://www.instagram.com/chloe_murdockpt/ Website: https://www.chloemurdockpt.com/ The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| Strength Training Through Pregnancy: Evidence-Based Guidance for Active Moms — with CHRISTINA PREVETT, PhD | 06 Oct 2023 | 01:07:14 | |
Today I speak with Dr. Christina Prevett PT, PhD, researcher in pregnancy and aging, lead faculty at Institute of Clinical Excellence Physio for Pelvic Health & Geriatrics, and Creator of the Barbell Mamas. Christina helps female athletes maximize fitness potential with online programming for pregnant & postpartum CrossFitters & weightlifters. Christina and I talk about how far we have come in supporting strength athlete, both pregnant and postpartum, as well as where the research is headed. If you’re a barbell athlete, you don not want to miss this conversation! We talk about: -lack of research available -affects of resistance training on pelvic floor -breath holding -stress urinary incontinence -listening to your body -ethics issues and pregnancy research -increasing visibility -debunking hormone myths -benefits of strength training Time Stamps 1:00 introduction 4:02 research following experience 9:50 changes in pelvic floor 11:30 unpacking Valsava maneuver 21:03 resistance training in supine 25:30 findings of the research 31:10 averages in the study 37:40 the progress made 43:00 addressing inequity 45:37 addressing menopause 52:40 benefits of strength training 60:25 rapid fire questions
CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com
CONNECT WITH CHRISTINA IG: https://www.instagram.com/dr.christina_prevett/ Website: https://thebarbellmamas.com/ The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| C-Section Recovery & Returning to Workouts: What Moms Really Need to Know — with DR. LASHONDA JONES | 29 Sep 2023 | 01:00:48 | |
Today I speak with Dr. Lashonda Jones, an Ortho and Postpartum Doctor of Physical therapy, certified personal trainer, pre/postnatal corrective exercise specialist, & certified macro nutrition coach with over 17 years of experience. She's also a mom of 2 and fellow C-section mom. Dr. Jones is the owner of Core Elevation Fitness and Wellness, a global online company helping moms and women heal their diastasis, recover after C-section, and safely return to exercise before and after giving birth. She loves helping women bridge the gap between rehab & fitness while promoting the value of wellness and self care. Having had an unplanned C-section herself, she understands both the physical and emotional toll it can have on moms. That's why she’s so passionate about getting this much needed education and resources out there because we deserve so much better. We talk about: -specializing in women’s health -breaking the stigma of c-sections -taking time to recover -dealing with diastasis recti -educate early and often -a “natural” birth -strategies to improve c-section recovery -lifting heavy -helping older moms Time Stamps 1:00 introduction 4:35 previous knowledge of c-sections 6:05 sharing birth stories 10:15 comparing recoveries 12:45 c-section and diastasis 16:55 moms looking for education 20:15 common myths 24:08 stories from patients 28:20 load and diastasis recovery 33:04 coning and doming 38:41 the future for moms 44:30 is it ever too late? 49:59 rapid fire questions CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com CONNECT WITH LASHONDA IG: www.instagram.com/ptrainershonda Website: www.coreelevationfitness.com Coupon code for all your listeners to receive 40% off my Cesarean Recovery and Safe Return to Exercise Guide. Use code: activemompodcast The Active Mom Postpartum Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to Postpartum for active moms & the postpartum professionals who help them in their journey. The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| Are You Struggling with Low Energy, Hormones or RED-S? What Sports Nutrition Misses —REBECCA MCCONVILLE | 17 Oct 2025 | 00:59:24 | |
In this episode, I sit down with Rebecca McConville, a registered dietitian, board-certified sports specialist and IAEDP-approved eating disorder supervisor. Rebecca is an internationally recognized expert on Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs), author of Finding Your Sweet Spot: How to Avoid REDs, and creator of the first-of-its-kind REDs-Informed Provider Certification Program and masterclass for clinicians. With the academic version of her book, REDsolution, set to release in 2026, Rebecca continues to bridge the gap between research and real-world application. We talk about how REDs presents across different life stages—from pregnancy to postpartum to perimenopause—and the complex interplay between hormones, nutrition, and performance. Rebecca shares insight on recognizing symptoms early, removing the stigma around REDs, and the importance of supporting athletes with compassion, context, and collaboration. We talk about: -REDs in different stages of life -removing the stigma of REDs -common symptoms -considering body image -fueling for exercise Time Stamps 1:00 Introduction 4:22 navigating eating as a college athlete 7:57 having more open conversation 9:00 varied symptoms of REDs 13:20 understanding a client’s narrative 16:23 using wearables to get answers 22:45 where things go wrong 26:45 hormones, birth control, and heart health 32:20 getting help from a dietician 41:20 fertility related issues 43:38 being an advocate as a provider 51:17 rapid fire questions CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com CONNECT WITH REBECCA: IG: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccaeddietitian/ Website: www.beccamcconville.com The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| “Why Do My Insides Feel Like They’re Falling Out?” Understanding Prolapse & Breaking the Taboo — with HELEN LEDWICK, author of Why Mums Don’t Jump | 22 Sep 2023 | 00:47:41 | |
Today I speak with Helen Ledwick, the creator of Why Mums Don’t Jump - dedicated to dismantling the taboo around pelvic floor problems after childbirth. By sharing personal stories and expert knowledge, the former BBC journalist has helped thousands of women to access reliable information and support for issues like incontinence, prolapse and pelvic pain. Her groundbreaking book, Why Mums Don't Jump: Ending the Pelvic Floor Taboo, was published by Allen & Unwin in 2023, and builds on the success of her ARIA-nominated podcast, which recently concluded its fourth season. Inspired by Helen’s own struggle with pelvic organ prolapse, Why Mums Don’t Jump has blossomed into a vibrant Instagram community, where women describe feeling empowered and hopeful. Helen lives in Manchester, UK, with her husband and two children. We talk about: -the evolution of WMDJ -discovering prolapse -lack of information available -creating a community -creating space for moms to share -mom survival mode -combating misinformation Time Stamps 1:00 introduction 6:55 information available now 9:20 experiencing prolapse postpartum 13:35 standards of practice 18:20 stories from the book 26:35 calming the nervous system 30:40 lessons learned in growing WMDJ 38:04 having ownership over your body 43:00 rapid fire questions CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com CONNECT WITH HELEN IG: https://www.instagram.com/whymumsdontjump/ Website: https://whymumsdontjump.com/ The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| Navigating Pelvic Floor Problems in Equestrian Sport & CrossFit: Strength, Strategy & Support — with TERESA WASER | 15 Sep 2023 | 00:47:43 | |
Today I speak with Teresa Waser, a passionate educator driven to help healthcare and fitness professionals reignite their curiosity, challenge what they believe, and strive towards a truly biopsychosocial approach. She developed TIIPPSS-FC, a framework for creating change in how we help those with pain, pelvic health issues, and/or performance concerns. Teresa is a pelvic health and orthopedic physiotherapist, based out of RX Physiotherapy in Leduc, Canada, and has previously coached running, as well as CrossFit for kids through to older adults. She blends her experiences as physio, coach, and educator to help empower clinicians and clients alike to redefine their possible. Teresa is also a mom of 3, including a set of twins. She loves traveling, horseback riding, and lifting heavyish barbells repeatedly
We talk about: -getting into CrossFit -being active with diastases recti -embracing uncertainty -sharing the journey -challenging what’s possible -avoiding the “should” and “shouldn’t” -growing up riding horses -postpartum considerations for riders
Time Stamps 1:00 introduction 2:05 early days of CrossFit 7:30 the affects of diastases recti 12:50 the desire to learn 17:55 being open about your experience 22:50 postpartum and CrossFit 29:30 honoring where each person is on their journey 32:04 riding horses and postpartum correlations 42:48 rapid fire questions
CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com
CONNECT WITH THERESA IG: https://www.instagram.com/rxphysio/ Website: https://rxphysiotherapy.com/
Teresa teaches both live online and face-to-face course options. Courses include TIIPPSS-FC: Reframing our Approach to Pain, Pelvic Health and Performance (both live online and face-to-face Masterclass versions), and Beyond the Pelvis: Exercise for the Whole Body and Everyday Person (live online), and others You can find her most up-to-date course listing here: https://rxphysiotherapy.com/courses/
For Teresa's online self-paced seminar on "Pelvic Health in Equestrians" that was mentioned in the podcast, you can find that here: https://mypteducation.com/courses/pelvic-health-and-the-equestrian/ The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| Navigating Postpartum Depression: One Mom’s Story of Healing & Hope — with SUZANNE ASLAM | 08 Sep 2023 | 00:54:22 | |
Today I speak with Suzanne Yatim Aslam, a former actor and Miss Arab USA turned writer. Her personal experience with postpartum depression and anxiety left her feeling alone and confused. In her book Post Pardon Me, she addresses the dark thoughts that so many mothers have but are too scared to say out loud. She's thrilled to get this book into the hands of mothers who may be struggling with postpartum depression and anxiety. This conversation with Suzanne is so real, but also hilarious. You don’t want to miss this episode! We talk about: -deciding to have kids or not -struggling with finding maternal instinct -going through the motions -dealing with mom guilt -physical symptoms of depression -ancestral muscle memory -ways to cope -going to therapy Time Stamps 1:00 introduction 3:15 pregnancy expectations 5:05 life before kids 6:30 signs of depression 11:29 struggling with the bad days 16:05 warning signs of a bad day 18:03 cultural expectations 24:45 writing her book 28:30 being an advocate for yourself 31:40 finding help, trying therapy 38:30 learning about yourself through parenting 43:41 deciding to write her book 47:25 rapid fire questions CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com CONNECT WITH SUZANNE IG: https://www.instagram.com/suzyatimaslam/ Website: https://www.suzanneyatimaslam.com/ The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| The Pelvic Floor–Voice Connection: Singing, Postpartum Recovery & Finding Solutions — with DR. GINGER GARNER | 01 Sep 2023 | 01:05:24 | |
Today I speak with Dr. Ginger Garner, PT, DPT, ATC/L. She is a clinician, author, educator, and longtime advocate committed to improving access to physical therapy services. She is the CEO of Living Well Institute, which has trail blazed interdisciplinary training in Therapeutic Yoga and Functional and Lifestyle Medicine since 2000. She also owns Garner Pelvic Health, a private practice located in Greensboro, NC. Dr. Garner specializes in chronic pelvic pain including endometriosis, interstitial cystitis, prolapse, incontinence, peri- and menopause, and also serves the performing arts and public speaking community with “voice to pelvic floor” therapy, as well as post hip arthroscopy rehab. Ginger tells us about her experience as a singer and how her pregnancies and postpartum periods affected her abilities. You don't what to miss what she has to say! We talk about: -finding pelvic floor physical therapy -the voice and the pelvic floor -how singing changes with pregnancy and postpartum -recovering from a birth injury -connection to sounds and pelvic floor symptoms -post hip surgery horseback riding -coming back better after childbirth -evidence based practice Time Stamps 1:00 introduction 2:50 first pregnancy expectations 6:30 getting into care with a pelvic floor PT 11:29 connection to singing and pelvic floor 16:50 common patterns with singing 19:40 working towards function patters 25:55 birth injuries and riding horses 33:34 early pelvic floor physical therapy 39:40 walking moms through the process 48:01 learning from those who went before us 57:00 rapid fire questions CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com CONNECT WITH GINGER IG: https://www.instagram.com/drgingergarner/ Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/living-well-podcast-with-dr-ginger-garner/id1678127480 The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| KRISTAL LAU- Postpartum Rest | 25 Aug 2023 | 00:52:27 | |
Today I speak with Dr. Kristal Lau, a Physician-turned-Postpartum Wellness Consultant and the author of 'Postpartum 30'. She brings over 10 years of collective experience in clinical medicine, scientific research, and public health along with her personal experiences of navigating postpartum and motherhood as a mom of 2, an Asian expat in the West, and a U.S. military spouse. Dr. Lau delivers insights and actionable strategies for postpartum wellness, including balancing traditions and cultural practices with modern postpartum care. Kristal shares her experience with her first confinement practice, and how it lead her to finding ways to respectfully modernize this postpartum practice that is sacred to her culture while incorporating her medical background. We talk about: -confinement in Asian cultures -massage as part of postpartum care -herbs in pregnancy and postpartum -Traditional Chinese Medicine -exclusions of birth partner -confinement centers in Asia -roll of family in postpartum -struggles with postpartum depression -life of a military family Time Stamps 1:00 introduction 2:20 postpartum period in Malaysia 8:03 trusting pregnant moms 12:38 living in Alabama 17:50 Traditional Chinese Medicine and postpartum recommendations 21:00 what happens after second child 26:45 transitioning out of confinement period 30:19 parental leave & supporting moms 39:40 military moms and families 44:50 rapid fire questions CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com CONNECT WITH KRISTAL IG: https://www.instagram.com/mamaswingwoman Website: https://mamaswingwoman.com/ 'Tea Time with Kristal' package. Get 20 euros off the package price with the coupon code "mwwcarrie". Get this intimate meet the author experience bundle where you'll receive a signed hardcover copy of Kristal's book (plus the e-book as a bonus!) and chat with Kristal about anything you desire, especially about postpartum and motherhood. The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| Postpartum Recovery for Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Athletes: Strength, Identity & Motherhood — with DR. PAULINA IOANNIDOU | 18 Aug 2023 | 00:53:46 | |
Today I speak with Paulina Ioannidou, a former MMA athlete, PhD student in Cologne, Germany, owner of a physio facility, and mom. She educates on female athletes, as well as cultural differences of pregnant and postpartum athletes. She last competed in 2019 and then got pregnant with her son, who is now 3. Her own search for information about activity during pregnancy lead her to research how different cultures handle athletic pregnancies. Paulina shares about pregnancy and postpartum in Germany and what it’s like to get physiotherapy. We talk about: -being a professional MMA athlete -lack of information about exercise and pregnancy -postpartum information in Germany -improving education -diastasis recti -setting realistic expectations -returning to activity Time Stamps 1:00 introduction 6:01 searching for information on active pregnancies 10:19 social media backlash 15:58 pregnancy care in Germany 22:15 getting women care earlier 26:45 how patients find Paulina 29:05 expectations versus reality 34:15 biggest challenges for postpartum moms 40:01 returning to activity postpartum 46:10 talking about possible scenarios 48:00 rapid fire questions CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com CONNECT WITH PAULINA IG: https://www.instagram.com/paulina.balboa/ Website: https://www.pi-physio.de/ The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| ANNIE CREE- Staying Active as Mom in the Mohawk Tribe | 11 Aug 2023 | 00:35:41 | |
Today I speak with Annie Cree, a mother of director of outdoor programming for Iakwa'shatste Youth Fitness, and a member of the Mohawk Nation. Her goal is to to help encourage and motivate families with little ones to try new things. She created an activity book for Indigenous Sports and Wellness Ontario, in addition to providing an in-school running program to prepare students for the Ottowa Kids Marathon. Annie is a member of the Akwesasne Suicide Prevention Committee, and offers her services and support to their programs.
We chat about the differences between having kids in your 20’s versus your 30’s, and how finding activity, like hiking can be helpful for self-care and mental health in the postpartum period.
We talk about: -growing up in the Mohawk Nation -breaking cultural norms -self-care through activity -struggles with breastfeeding -growing a hiking group -carrier options for hiking
Time Stamps 1:00 introduction 3:55 generational pregnancy advice 6:45 differences with later pregnancies 9:10 finding hiking 11:53 reaching out after postpartum struggles 16:25 finding happiness in hiking 20:53 helping new hikers 26:25 rapid fire questions
CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com
CONNECT WITH ANNIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/anniecree/ Email: acree@iakwashatste.com The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| Fertility Struggles, Pregnancy & New Mom Life: A Pelvic Health Physio’s Story — with DR. NICOLE COZEAN, Founder of Pelvic Sanity | 04 Aug 2023 | 00:55:45 | |
Today I speak with Dr. Nicole Cozean, founder PelvicSanity in Southern California, with the belief in putting patients first. She also hosts the Pelvic PT Rising podcast and co-founder of PelviCon. She is also the mom of a six month old! Nicole now spends much of her time training and mentoring her dedicated staff, enabling far more people to receive expert care at PelvicSanity. Our conversation delves into her experience as a long time pelvic floor PT and a new mom! Nicole shares her journey to motherhood under the lens of being a pelvic health specialist, as well as fertility struggles. We talk about: -finding the “why" behind symptoms -functional & dynamic pelvic floor assessments -seeing the full picture/full body -mom guilt & and working -meeting people where they are -different priorities for different seasons Time Stamps 1:00 introduction 1:37 journey to motherhood 7:30 dealing with pregnancy lost 10:40 doing versus resting 13:50 postpartum expectations 19:55 advocating for yourself postpartum 25:49 physical changes postpartum 28:50 taking your time postpartum 36:00 comparison traps 42:40 challenges of different seasons 50:40 rapid fire questions CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com CONNECT WITH NICOLE IG: https://www.instagram.com/pelvicsanity/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/nicolecozeandpt/ Website: www.pelvicsanity.com Website: www.pelvicptrising.com The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| How Swim Moms Make Time to Work Out: Real-Life Strategies from Busy Moms from Postpartum to Perimenopause | 28 Jul 2023 | 00:49:33 | |
Today I speak with my fellow Swim Moms, Laura and JoAnne. And while you may think this episode is just an excuse to talk with my friends outside of swim practice, Laura and JoAnne share so much valuable intel on how to make time for your own workouts when your shuttling kids to their sports practices and meets. Laura, a mom of 2, is a recovering triathlete and a Commander in the Coast Guard. JoAnne, a mom of 3, has always used sports as a way to stay fit, but fell off the wagon after her daughter was born. When her oldest daughter was 8, she found her way back to fitness. These ladies share practical tips on how they balance all of the things that come along with being a mom, while still making time for themselves. We talk about: -being active as kids -becoming a morning person -different struggles with different age kids -setting the example for your kids -different seasons of the year -done is better than perfect -making family memories Time Stamps 1:00 introduction 5:59 we we stay fit 9:45 changing fitness after each kid 14:10 shifting to get up early 19:05 shifts with older kids 24:50 adapting to different seasons 30:10 advice to your former self 34:45 looking ahead to the next stage 44:00 rapid fire questions CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| Pelvic Pain Solutions: Vaginal Dilators, Pelvic Wands & Running — with DR. AMANDA OLSON, Founder of Intimate Rose | 21 Jul 2023 | 00:39:55 | |
Today I speak with Dr. Amanda Olson, DPT, PRPC, a pelvic health specialist, certified Stott Pilates instructor, and RRCA certified running coach. She is the president and chief clinical officer of Intimate Rose where she develops pelvic health products and education. Amanda is passionate about empowering women and men with pelvic health issues including pelvic pain, incontinence, pregnancy, and post-partum issues. Dr. Olson teaches internationally on various pelvic health topics including pelvic floor dysfunction in runners. She has written newspaper and magazine articles on pelvic floor dysfunction, and running and also authored the book Restoring the Pelvic Floor For Women. We talk about: -getting into making devices -all pregnancies are different -judgement in pregnancy -the changing body -continuing the research -overactivity causing symptoms -doing what brings you joy Time Stamps 1:00 introduction 2:57 the evolution of pelvic devices 6:30 experience in pregnancy & postpartum 10:40 second guessing yourself 11:56 returning to running 15:39 issues with second pregnancy 19:40 authoring a paper 23:45 gaps in the research 28:45 going past keels 31:53 rapid fire questions CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com CONNECT WITH AMANDA IG: https://www.instagram.com/aolsondpt/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/intimaterose/ Website: www.Intimaterose.com The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| OB/GYN to Ultramarathoner: What Pregnancy & Endurance Teach Us — with DR. LAUREN PURETZ | 10 Oct 2025 | 00:40:14 | |
She’s the host of the Speaking of Labia podcast, a practicing OB/GYN, business owner, and mom of two. And this past summer, Dr. Lauren Puretz was the top American finisher at UTMB 100. In this episode of the Active Mom Podcast, Lauren shares what it takes to juggle medicine, motherhood, entrepreneurship, and elite ultrarunning. From her start in high school track, to stepping back during med school and residency, to rediscovering running after kids—Lauren’s story is one of resilience, grit, and grace. We dive into:
🎧 Tune in to hear how Lauren balances motherhood, medicine, and endurance—and what she’s learned along the way. #UTMB #UltraRunning #WomenInMedicine #WomensHealth #FemaleAthlete #PelvicHealth #StrongMoms Time Stamps 1:00 Introduction 3:10 competing at UTMB 8:16 competing at a high level as a mom 11:00 treating runners and athletes 17:40 considering pre-pregnancy fitness 20:45 navigating return to exercise 27:36 runners in perimenopause & menopause 32:28 starting a podcast 34:59 rapid fire question CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com CONNECT WITH LAUREN: IG: https://www.instagram.com/lauren1642/ Website: www.MountainViewobgynclinic.com Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-speaking-of-labias-podcast/id1802290856 The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| KALLISTA ANDERSON- Preparing to be a New Mom | 14 Jul 2023 | 00:33:47 | |
Today I speak with Kalista Anderson, a Registered Nurse, Certified Lactation Counselor, and mom of three. Kallista helps pregnant mamas get ready for their baby by preparing their self, space, and significant other. She does so through her podcast, The New Mom Boss Podcast, as well as coaching, and online course New Mom Prep School. Her dedication to helping first-time moms was born when she had her first 2 kids 13 months apart -- experiencing the new mom phase back to back. It is her mission to make preparing to be a new mom simple and thorough so that women can enter motherhood with confidence and joy so that they can build a strong bond with their baby. We talk about: -having a section Tim experience the first time around -experiencing postpartum depression -sleep training -sleep for mental health -getting your body back postpartum -seasonal affect disorder -helping moms through podcast and coaching -collect and select -embracing the virtual community Time Stamps 1:00 introduction 4:45 expectations versus reality 7:20 having babies back to back 8:55 changes with the third pregnancy 13:30 importance of sleep 15:18 urgency to return to normal 20:30 podcast and programming 25:08 5th trimester 28:15 rapid fire questions CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com CONNECT WITH KALISTA IG: https://www.instagram.com/newmomboss/ Website: www.newmomboss.com The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| What New Parenthood Really Looks Like: A Candid Conversation — with JEN & DOM FRABONI (@docjenfit & @drdompt) | 07 Jul 2023 | 00:51:16 | |
Today I speak with Dr. Jen Fraboni, PT, DPT, and Dr. Dom Fraboni, DPT, CSCS. Together, they co-host The Optimal Body Podcast.
Dr. Jen is an internationally-renown physical therapist who specializes in helping people overcome chronic pain and maximize physical performance. As the founder of the new platform and app, “Jen.Health,” she brings a unique, whole body approach to strength, mobility and pain-free living.
Dr. Dom is an active advocate for the advance of national healthcare quality and access to care in the USA. He was an avid coach, unified partner, and volunteer coordinator for Special Olympics, assisting in coordinating events nationally for NCAA and APTA. Domenic believes that true human healing happens through empowering individuals to independence in their journey.
We talk about: -authenticity on social media -changing birth plans -realities of postpartum -finding yourself postpartum -experiencing postpartum as a physical therapist -sharing information -doing what you can with what you have -actionable and easy workouts
Time Stamps 1:00 introduction 4:45 being open on social media 8:11 expectations of early postpartum 14:20 returning to exercise after baby 17:01 changing standards of practice 24:52 gaps in the available information 29:45 challenges getting in workouts with a newborn 36:30 planning ahead for workouts 40:19 rapid fire questions
CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com
CONNECT WITH JEN & DOM IG: https://www.instagram.com/docjenfit/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/drdomdpt/ Website: https://Jen.health Physical therapy in your back pocket with 11 plans, 3 courses and endless quick tips. The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| ARIELE FOSTER- Dispelling Yoga & Pelvic Floor Myths | 30 Jun 2023 | 00:47:19 | |
Today I speak with Ariele Foster, a (whole body) doctor of physical therapy, a multi-disciplinary yoga and movement teacher since 2001, founder of Yoga Anatomy Academy (online continuing education for yoga teachers) and a former work colleague of Carrie. Ariele has a particular interest in helping yoga practitioners and those with hip injuries recover from injury. She considers herself a nonsense slayer in the "Wild West" that is wellness on the internet. A yoga injury led her to physical therapy, and in the nearly 2 decades since, she’s developed a keen sensitivity to the falsehoods spread in the yoga world, anatomy-related and otherwise, as well as the wellness and sometimes physical therapy worlds. We talk about: -relaxation and the pelvic floor -unpacking Yin yoga -pregnant moms and hip openers -mind-body connection -expecting too much from yoga -prevalent voices in yoga -making time for yoga -yoga teachers talking about the pelvic floor Time Stamps 1:00 introduction 3:17 yin yoga and the pelvic floor 8:52 yoga for hip openers 12:22 helping moms relax through yoga 14:30 history of yoga in the USA 20:02 yoga being strenuous 25:05 finding your space in yoga 31:15 mula banda and the pelvic floor 41:53 resources CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com CONNECT WITH ARIELE IG: https://www.instagram.com/dr.ariele.foster/ Website: https://wellilo.com/ Website: https://yogaanatomyacademy.com/ DISCOUNT: https://my.yogaanatomyacademy.com/courses/carrie Today I speak with Ariele Foster, a (whole body) doctor of physical therapy, a multi-disciplinary yoga and movement teacher since 2001, founder of Yoga Anatomy Academy (online continuing education for yoga teachers) and a former work colleague of Carrie. Ariele has a particular interest in helping yoga practitioners and those with hip injuries recover from injury. She considers herself a nonsense slayer in the "Wild West" that is wellness on the internet. A yoga injury led her to physical therapy, and in the nearly 2 decades since, she’s developed a keen sensitivity to the falsehoods spread in the yoga world, anatomy-related and otherwise, as well as the wellness and sometimes physical therapy worlds. We talk about: -relaxation and the pelvic floor -unpacking Yin yoga -pregnant moms and hip openers -mind-body connection -expecting too much from yoga -prevalent voices in yoga -making time f The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| Getting Fit Postpartum: Strength, Confidence & Real Talk from Former Ms. Olympia, NATHALIA MELO (@nathaliamelofit) | 23 Jun 2023 | 00:52:42 | |
Today I speak with Nathalia Melo a wife, mother of two, and a business owner. She has featured on the cover of major magazines like Muscle & Fitness Hers, Shape Magazine, Fitness RX. In 2012, she won the biggest bodybuilding competition in the world- The Olympia, which allowed her to traveled to over 30 countries hosting fitness seminars for the general population as well as to fitness professionals. Once she became pregnant, she realized everything she knew of fitness would need to be adjusted. Learning to navigate pregnancy, postpartum, and motherhood while taking care of her health and fitness was an incredibly eye opening and humbling experience, which then led her to find her passion: Helping busy working moms regain their fitness and feel sexy AF! We talk about: -moms putting themselves last -rushing the process -using social media responsibly -preconceptions around birth and postpartum -working with the right people -changing your mindset -the Four Pillars -finding sustainability -setting the example for your kids Time Stamps 1:00 introduction 1:25 starting to help other moms 8:10 experience with birth 11:15 coaching style 12:45 victim mentality 15:05 common priorities with moms 21:35 helping moms through their programs 28:40 vetting your sources 32:00 genetics versus hard work 36:05 being a martyr as a mom 46:50 rapid fire questions CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com CONNECT WITH NATHALIA IG: https://www.instagram.com/nathaliamelofit/ Website: www.nathaliamelofit.com The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| The Science of Women Athletes: What We’ve Been Missing — with CHRISTINE YU, Author of Up to Speed | 16 Jun 2023 | 00:47:55 | |
Today I speak with Christine You, a writer who investigates the intersection of sports science and women athletes. Her writing has appeared in Outside, The Washington Post, Runner’s World, and other publications. She’s a lifelong athlete and yoga teacher who loves running, surfing, and skiing. She lives in Brooklyn, New York. Christine is a mom of two boys (ages 13 and 16) and physical activity and sports have always been a part of her life. Going into pregnancy and postpartum, she felt like she had zero guidance, which was a big part of the reason why she wanted to address specific life stages in her book, Up To Speed. We talk about: -her experience running during pregnancy and postpartum -writing about women in sports and the intersection with science -lack of research about women in sport -educating youth coaches -accommodating developmental stages in youth athletes -expectations for 6 week postpartum visit -lack of research for perimenopause and menopause Time Stamps 1:00 introduction 3:40 returning to running postpartum 4:50 deciding to write about women in sports 10:03 needing women researchers 14:15 intervention with young athletes 18:55 the business of youth sports 24:30 disparity between girls and boys rules in sports 26:30 interviews in the book 29:44 diving into the chapters 33:25 previous research in pregnancy 36:45 perimenopause and menopause 43:15 biggest takeaway from writing the book CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com CONNECT WITH CHRISTINE IG: https://www.instagram.com/cyu888/ Website: https://www.christinemyu.com/ The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| The Real Cost of the Fourth Trimester: Care, Gaps & What Families Deserve — with DR. SONAL PATEL | 09 Jun 2023 | 00:41:34 | |
Today I speak with Sonal Patel, MD. She is a pediatrician, neonatologist, & breastfeeding specialist who founded NayaCare in 2018. NayaCare is a home health clinic focused on improving postpartum care. She wrote her first book, The Doctor and Her Black Bag that examines maternal mortality in historical and personal context and solutions to reduce maternal mortality. She is also a co-founder and co-executive director of Center for 4th Trimester Care, a national physician-led non-profit with the mission of improving postpartum care. Having four kids, her message is for people to understand why the 4th trimester is so important and why we are losing more moms in this trimester than the first three combined. We talk about: -personal experience with birth and the 4th Trimester -things that change, but stay the same -expanding accessibility -moms getting lost in the 4th Trimester -correlations with mother’s mental health -over tracking everything -cultural differences in the 4th Trimester -the value of home services -being okay asking for help -the dangers of birth in the US Time Stamps 1:00 introduction 3:12 4th Trimester expectations versus realities 5:45 how postpartum has evolved 9:30 expanding pelvic health care 10:34 common challenges for moms 14:30 impacts of mother’s mental health 18:35 breastfeeding apps 21:42 the comparison trap 29:26 making an impact on change 33:20 Center for 4th Trimester Care 35:55 moms not knowing what they need CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com CONNECT WITH SONAL IG: https://www.instagram.com/nayacare/ Website: www.nayacare.org The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| Breastfeeding in Real Life: Early Postpartum Struggles & Returning to Exercise — KELLY KENDALL, RN aka @thebalancedboob | 02 Jun 2023 | 00:45:37 | |
Today I speak with Kelly Kendall Kelly, a nurse and lactation consultant and founder of the Balanced Boob, which focuses on education and support for breastfeeding families. She started The Balanced Boob so she could give moms what she desperately needed and couldn’t find: a balanced approach to breastfeeding that provides both education and on-going support. This is Kelly’s second time on the podcast, so make sure you go back and listen to her first episode, linked below! We talk about: -the evolution of breastfeeding support -letting go of control -common but not normal -having community around breastfeeding -breastfeeding and exercise -promoting self-compassion Time Stamps 1:00 introduction 3:02 the why behind The Balanced Boob 6:15 lessons learned during first pregnancy 8:44 questions moms ask 12:55 real life breastfeeding 18:19 hospital breastfeeding advice 22:20 deciding not to breastfeed 25:14 breastfeeding and exercise 29:15 putting pressure on yourself 35:23 relating to new moms 41:54 finding resources CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com CONNECT WITH KELLY IG: https://www.instagram.com/thebalancedboob/ Website: https://www.thebalancedboob.com/ First Episode: https://youtu.be/dIcbF8aUpZE The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| LARA COSTA- Doing ALL the things as an active mom | 26 May 2023 | 00:41:52 | |
Today I speak with Lara Costa, ultramarathoner, powerlifter, and mom of two…and also my podcast manager! Lara is that friend who’s always up for anything and has continued to be active throughout all stages of postpartum. Join us as we hear about Lara’s journey as lifelong athlete looking for new challenges as an active mom, raising active kids, and running a business! We talk about: -doing all the things -support during pregnancy -unexpected experiences postpartum -challenges going from one to two kids -balancing your needs as a mom -adapting your training -training with your kids Time Stamps 1:00 introduction 2:37 staying active during pregnancy 6:57 expectations for staying active in pregnancy 9:05 postpartum surprises 13:48 bridging the gap to normal activity 15:41 finding time to focus on yourself 19:36 big time commitments 24:20 having a coach who works for YOU 25:43 navigating bikini prep and motherhood 30:46 being active as a family 35:37 rapid fire questions CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com CONNECT WITH LARA IG: https://www.instagram.com/lararunningwild/ The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| Becoming @thevaginawhisperer: Journey from Pelvic Health PT to Viral Educator -- with Dr. SARA REARDON | 19 May 2023 | 00:47:04 | |
Today I speak with Dr. Sara Reardon, a doctor of physical therapy and board-certified pelvic floor physical therapist specializing in the treatment of bowel and bladder issues, painful intercourse, pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and menopause. She is the founder of The Vagina Whisperer, an online platform with pelvic floor and core exercise programs for pregnancy, postpartum, painful sex and pelvic floor strengthening. Sara is passionate about normalizing the conversation around pelvic floor health and increasing awareness of pelvic floor physical therapy as a treatment option to prevent and overcome pelvic health issues. Sara shares her experiences as a new mom and how being a physical therapist informed those early days. We talk about: -Pelvic Floor PT -Postpartum exercises -preparing for breastfeeding -listening to your instinct -slowing downtime postpartum return to exercise -doing exercise you love -seasons of motherhood -having patience with yourself Time Stamps 1:00 introduction 2:19 experience going through pregnancy and postpartum 4:43 what she would do differently 10:30 you don’t know what you don’t know 12:10 giving ourselves grace 14:05 Peleton love 15:30 going through different seasons 21:15 overextending ourselves 30:07 continuing to evolve postpartum 33:10 being the Vagina Whisperer 41:55 Rapid Fire questions CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com CONNECT WITH SARA IG: https://www.instagram.com/the.vagina.whisperer/ Website: www.thevagwhisperer.com Free Guide 6 exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor: https://thevagwhisperer.com/strengthening/ The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| KATE JOHNSON- postpartum return to HIIT/CrossFit | 12 May 2023 | 00:57:29 | |
Today I speak with Kate Johnson, CrossFit Level 2 Trainer who works 1:1 providing customized programming for athletes and core/pelvic floor considerations. She’s also a Pregnancy & Postpartum Coach at Street Parking. Kate share her story of returning to the gym after an emergency c-section with her first son and feeling like there was something wrong with her because of the symptoms she was experiencing. During her second pregnancy, she connected with Brianna Battles, and that changed the trajectory of her life. Since then she has worked with 100s of people to help them educate and navigate their core/pelvic health regardless of what season of life they are in. We talk about: -being a CrossFit coach -figuring it out as you go -being a collegiate athlete -CrossFit during pregnancy -HELLP syndrome -feeling like you have something to prove -working with Street Parking Time Stamps 1:00 introduction 7:08 starting in CrossFit 11:55 thoughts after getting pregnant 16:00 first bird experience 19:15 returning to the gym too soon 24:40 needing more research 27:48 second pregnancy 35:50 becoming the provider you need 43:37 evolving in coaching 51:08 rapid fire questions CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com CONNECT WITH KATE IG: https://www.instagram.com/coach_katejohnson/ Website: www.TulaFit.com The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| Finding Your Community Through Pregnancy & Postpartum —with ELLEN BRYAN | 03 Oct 2025 | 01:09:53 | |
If you're from the DC Metro area, you'll definitely recognize our latest guest, former host of @greatdaywash! In this week’s episode, I sit down with @ellenbryan—television talk show host turned wellness entrepreneur, health coach, and mom of 2 (with another on the way!). With 15+ years of experience on major networks in Washington, DC, Dallas, and Lexington, Ellen has built a career in broadcasting while navigating pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and motherhood. Today, she’s following her passion for women’s health, lifestyle, and community wellness, bringing the same storytelling skills she honed on TV to help moms feel stronger and more supported. She’s the author of A Work in Progress, a @nutritionschool certified health coach and @fit4mom_dc instructor In this conversation, Ellen opens up about: Ellen’s journey is a powerful reminder that you can honor your ambition while embracing motherhood, and that resilience, pivots, and self-care are essential at every stage.
Time Stamps 1:00 Introduction 4:47 initial experience as a mom 7:55 being pregnant on air 10:45 changes from first to third pregnancy 14:55 being active during pregnancy 18:28 doing too much too soon 20:51 becoming a FIT4MOM coach 24:30 finding community as a new mom 28:18 being more active 31:45 adapting to change 38:00 talking about perimenopause 45:41 plan for baby 3 56:09 rapid fire questions CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com CONNECT WITH ELLEN: IG: https://www.instagram.com/ellenbryan/ Website: www.ellenbryan.com The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| JUAN MICHELLE MARTIN @thepelvicperspective- Postpartum Sex | 05 May 2023 | 00:37:25 | |
Today I speak with Dr. Juan Michelle Martin, PT, DPT, a pelvic floor physical therapist, sex counselor and doula. She is the owner of JMM Health Solutions, a concierge pelvic health practice in the Atlanta Metro area where she brings over 15 years of clinical experience as a physical therapist. As a pelvic PT and sex counselor she enjoys speaking about sex from the perspective of health, healthier bodies and healthy relationships. It’s important for individuals to recognize that you can have great sex and be healthy as you age- even some of your best years. We talk about: -experiences as a mom and PT -providing a holistic approach -being a sex counselor -working as a doula -tracking your data -doing things with your kids -giving yourself grace Time Stamps 1:00 introduction 2:15 how she got started 6:25 moms wanting to do too much 8:40 people’s need for sex counseling 12:03 early education for kids 15:50 working with patients as a doula and PT 23:30 using simple things to improve outcomes 27:52 rapid fire questions CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com CONNECT WITH DR. J IG: https://www.instagram.com/thepelvicperspective/ Website: www.jmmhealthsolutions.com The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| LINDSEY HEIN- Running, Motherhood, & Podcasting | 28 Apr 2023 | 00:46:18 | |
Today I speak with Lindsey Hein is a 17X Marathoner and mom of four. She is the host of the two podcasts; “I’ll Have Another" and "Why is Everyone Yelling?" where she has refreshing conversations with Olympians, everyday runners and parenting experts. Lindsey is the Founder of the podcast network SandyBoy Productions and in her spare time loves to coach runners, read, run, go to spin class and pilates and connect with neighbors and friends. We talk about: -simple days of running -running after kids -having a VBAC -overdoing things -getting back to training -planning workouts as a mom -asking for help Time Stamps 1:00 introduction 8:23 running before kids 10:50 running through pregnancy 12:15 experiences with OB/GYNs 18:55 you don’t know what you don’t know 23:45 training after each pregnancy 27:39 after school things with older kids 29:02 scheduling workouts & planning 36:05 support from parents 39:08 rapid fire questions CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com CONNECT WITH LINDSEY IG: https://www.instagram.com/lindseyhein626/ Website: https://lindseyhein.com/ The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||
| SÖÖMA NUTRITION- Postpartum Nutrition | 21 Apr 2023 | 00:49:56 | |
Today I speak with Annyck Besso, RD. and Stefanie Rosser, RD. From Sööma Nutrition. Stefanie specializes in intuitive eating and eating disorders and believes in an integrative approach to treating eating disorders and disordered eating. Annyck has expertise treating eating disorders in both private and academic medical center settings. She also specializes in treating Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport, micronutrient deficiencies in sport, and fueling to optimize recovery and performance. Annyck and Stefanie both apply principles of Health at Every Size® and Intuitive Eating to their nutrition interventions. We talk about common challenges postpartum moms face with nutrition and the pitfalls of under-fueling your body. We talk about: -moms and disordered eating -getting your “body back” -the comparison trap -figuring out how much you need to eat -flexibility and balance -eating enough protein -getting guidance Time Stamps 1:00 introduction 4:40 biggest nutritional challenges for postpartum moms 11:25 RED-S in postpartum 16:22 determining fueling needs 22:40 struggles with kids’ food sensitivities 28:05 changed with a second kid 30:34 protein needs 35:52 where to start 39:39 rapid fire questions CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com CONNECT WITH IG: https://www.instagram.com/s.0.0.m.a/ Website: https://soomanutrition.com/ The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey. | |||