Explore every episode of the podcast Bonds after Baby: Rebuild your marriage, reduce postpartum resentment & guard maternal mental health
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Pursue-Withdraw Sex Cycle: Reducing Pressure and Reconnecting in Marriage after Kids | 17 Jul 2026 | 00:17:31 | |
It's a familiar tune: desire discrepancy where one partner pursues sex and the other withdraws to the point where it starts feeling like a dead end...and it begins to define your sexual relationship after kids. Why does sex and emotional intimacy feel so hard after becoming parents? Why do so many couples get stuck in the same frustrating cycle after kids? In this episode, I’m breaking down the common dynamic where one partner pursues intimacy while the other withdraws — and how that cycle can create emotional distance, relationship stress, resentment, and disconnection after kids. This cycle usually stems from unmet emotional needs, attachment fears, natural adjustment as a couple, and parenting stress. I explain why this dynamic is rarely about a lack of love or attraction, and more often about emotional safety and protective behaviors. Inside this episode, I cover:
If you’re navigating postpartum intimacy struggles, relationship burnout, parenting challenges, or emotional disconnection after kids, I hope this episode helps you better understand the cycle you may be stuck in — and how to begin finding your way back to each other sexually with more empathy, safety, and connection. Subscribe for more conversations on emotional regulation, healthy relationships, motherhood, parenting, and relationship health after kids. This is the final part of a 3-part series on sexuality after kids. Sometimes these discussions require extra support from a professional. Connect with me to learn about how I can support you and your couple relationship: This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education. | |||
| Sex after Kids: How Addressing Emotional Safety & Healthy Communication Helps w/ Physical Intimacy | 03 Jul 2026 | 00:12:42 | |
Why does sexual intimacy change for couples after kids? Even when we long to be close? In this episode, I explore the barriers to postpartum intimacy, sexual and emotional connection after kids, and what helps build back a healthy sexual relationships in early parenthood. A list of tips doesn't cut it when there are often deeper blocks or relationship dynamic blocks that need to be addressed first in order to create emotional safety that paves the way for physical pleasure. I cover:
You both deserve to experience desire and pleasure in ways that feel emotionally safe and satisfying. This is Part 2 of a 3-part series on sexuality after kids. Sometimes these discussions require extra support from a professional. Connect with me to learn about how I can support you and your couple relationship: This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education. | |||
| From Relationship Conflict to Emotional Intimacy in Early Parenthood: My Roadmap to Reconnect | 24 Apr 2026 | 00:17:04 | |
Early parenthood rocks relationships and can make it feel like you and your spouse are on opposing teams. Many people think postpartum struggles should be treated individually- But real, long-lasting relief comes from getting marriage support. During a big family transition, exhaustion builds fast. You might even start keeping score without noticing. Over time, that can lead to resentment and emotional distance. This episode will talk about why most advice around postpartum adjustment focuses on the individual, when in reality, this is a “we” problem. What often shows up as personal stress is actually relationship conflict playing out in new ways. If your postpartum relationship has felt more tense than connected, this will help you understand why and show you how to move out of that pattern and back toward each other. Whether you’re facing everyday parenting challenges or just wanting stronger emotional intimacy, this conversation is here to support you. You’ll start to see how small changes can rebuild your couple bond and create the kind of marriage support that makes this season feel less heavy. You don’t have to figure this out alone. Real relationship support starts when you stop treating it like a “you” problem and begin approaching it as a shared experience. Connect with Evie
If you want to start a podcast or grow your existing one, visit https://julianabarbati.com/ and let them know I sent you! This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education. | |||
| From Flooding to Co-Regulation for Parents: How Couples Calm Each Other’s Nervous Systems | 17 Apr 2026 | 00:17:04 | |
How can you and your spouse move beyond solo self regulation to build a parenting partnership where you offer each other lifelines- even when family stress feels overwhelming? You can both choose verbal reassurance, soft eyes and emotional safety, instead of choosing defensiveness or withdrawal. In this episode, I will walk you through how to help your partner return to a green zone by using co-regulation techniques. We cover identifying signs of distress, using a calm tone to soothe the nervous system, the importance of soft eyes and facial expressions, and choosing supportive body posture. We also discuss how physical touch can act as a grounding mechanism and why taking breaks allows for better recovery time and nervous system recovery. Parenting is hard. You both deserve help from one another, so you can be there for your children. So, if you are looking for a more peaceful household using coregulation for parents to navigate emotional contagion, this episode is not to be missed. Connect with Evie
If you want to start a podcast or grow your existing one, visit https://julianabarbati.com/ and let them know I sent you! This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education. | |||
| Managing Reactivity as New Parents: Nervous System Regulation and Emotional Safety | 10 Apr 2026 | 00:16:50 | |
Have you noticed how a simple request at home can quickly turn into tension or defensiveness? When you are carrying invisible labor and going through identity shifts in early parenthood, your system can feel overwhelmed. Emotional dysregulation can take over, and a small conversation can start to feel unsafe. This is common for new parents, especially with new parent anxiety and constant demands. Your body can stay in physiological arousal, which makes it harder to stay calm. These moments can also bring up attachment wounds, especially when support feels inconsistent. Today’s episode, I walk you through nervous system regulation and how to start regulating nervous system responses in real time. This begins with building body awareness so you can catch shifts into reactive behaviors. You will learn to notice externalizing behaviors (snapping) and internalizing behaviors like shutting down, both of which affect relational connection. We also talk about emotional safety and how to support it in everyday conversations. I share simple sensory grounding techniques to help you come back to the present moment, along with ways for managing emotional triggers and understanding how past patterns shape you. The goal is to help you move through tension with more awareness, so you can stay connected instead of turning against each other. I'm here for you and your family, Evie Connect with Evie
If you want to start a podcast or grow your existing one, visit https://julianabarbati.com/ and let them know I sent you! This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education. | |||
| From Marriage Conflict to Shared Ownership: Fixing Division of Labor as New Parents | 03 Apr 2026 | 00:21:31 | |
Are you finding yourself walking on eggshells when asking for help at home? Do simple requests turn into tension or defensiveness? For many couples, conversations about division of labor quickly stop being about chores and start feeling personal. This often intensifies for new parents. When both partners are stretched thin, even small requests can trigger bigger reactions. This is especially true for tired moms, nursing mothers, and overwhelmed mothers carrying both visible tasks and the mental load. There is a way to move out of this cycle and work as a team again. In this episode, I explain why these conversations feel so difficult and why the real block is often defensiveness, not logistics. We look at how invisible labor builds pressure and how deeper relationship triggers from the past can surface in everyday moments. I also share a real example of how a simple request can activate an old wound. This centers on emotional regulation and how to approach these conversations in a way that lowers threat and supports shared ownership. You will hear practical ways to communicate needs clearly, make invisible labor visible, and notice the patterns that keep new dads and exhausted parents stuck in cycles of avoidance or marriage conflict. We also touch on why reciprocal effort matters, especially for young families adjusting to this stage of life. The point is not to make every discussion easy. It is to help both partners move through tension without turning each other into the problem. I'm here for you and your family, Evie Connect with Evie
If you want to start a podcast or grow your existing one, visit https://julianabarbati.com/ and let them know I sent you! This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education. | |||
| Postpartum Relationship Struggles: How to End the Silent Treatment Loop as New Parents | 27 Mar 2026 | 00:18:42 | |
Does your home sometimes feel tense and quiet after a disagreement, as if the silence has taken over the room? For many couples, the silent treatment appears when emotions run high and speaking up feels risky. What looks like distance on the surface often reflects deeper relationship conflict that feels overwhelming to face in the moment. This tension can feel especially strong during early parenthood. When an exhausted parent is balancing a baby, work, and a home, small moments can quickly build internal tension, and even simple conversations may start to feel heavy. There is a way to melt the ice and return to a place of warmth and mutual support. In this episode, I explore how the pressures of the postpartum stage can affect many new parents, and how these moments often trigger deeper attachment fears inside a relationship. We look at how avoidance behaviors and the behavioral signals couples fall into are often protective responses. I also talk about the body’s response to stress, including signs of emotional flooding, and a framework that supports healthier emotional regulation. The goal is not perfection in communication. The goal is learning how to break the ice when distance appears, so you can slowly return to one another with warmth, understanding, and connection. I'm here for you and your family, Evie Connect with Evie
If you want to start a podcast or grow your existing one, visit https://julianabarbati.com/ and let them know I sent you! This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education. | |||
| Struggling with In-Laws & Family Patterns? How to Set Boundaries & Strengthen Your Parenting Team | 20 Mar 2026 | 00:28:18 | |
Why can a family visit sometimes leave you feeling tense as a new parent? Maybe someone comments on how you care for your baby, or your communication preference gets brushed aside when you need emotional support. When you are already exhausted, moments like that can feel heavier than they should, especially when your emotional needs are not being seen. Many parents find themselves navigating family dynamics that suddenly feel more intense after a baby arrives. Things that once felt manageable can start to touch deeper places connected to childhood experiences and long-standing family patterns. In this conversation, I share a few mindset shifts that can help couples move through this stage with more clarity and connection. Becoming parents reshapes the family hierarchy, and learning to prioritize your spouse and your new family unit becomes an important part of protecting marriage during this transition. We also explore how setting boundaries can feel uncomfortable, especially with extended family. Yet creating clear newborn boundaries often helps both partners feel supported. When couples offer each other strong spouse support, they begin to grow into a steady parenting team. Some of this tension also comes from generational parenting differences, which can make conversations with relatives more complicated than they first appear. When couples face these moments together, they begin to build trust and move toward stronger healthy functioning as a family. The goal is not to push extended family away. The goal is to stay connected while protecting the needs of your own household. If you have ever felt pulled between family expectations and the wellbeing of your own home, this conversation will help you approach those moments with more calm, clarity, and care. I'm here for you and your family, Evie Connect with Evie
If you want to start a podcast or grow your existing one, visit https://julianabarbati.com/ and let them know I sent you! This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education. | |||
| How to ask for Parenting Support & Emotional Support in a Way Your Partner Can Actually Hear | 13 Mar 2026 | 00:21:57 | |
Why does asking for help feel so hard as a new parent? You may feel overwhelmed but still hesitate to reach out because past family patterns taught you to keep your emotional needs quiet, or earlier attempts did not bring the emotional support you hoped for. When needs are shared with care, couples can build trust and begin repairing trust. These moments of openness help strengthen bonds and create deeper emotional safety in marriage. In this episode, I talk about why asking for help can feel so uncomfortable during pregnancy and early parenthood, even though this stage puts real pressure on maternal health and relationships. It can feel easier to carry everything alone, but reaching out is actually a healthy bid for connection that strengthens family connection. We also look at how marriage communication can get stuck, especially when one partner fears rejection and the other is overcoming defensiveness. I talk about the everyday reality of sharing the mental load, and how active listening in marriage can turn a request for parenting support into an opportunity for relationship repair. This conversation is an invitation to see your needs differently, not as a burden, but as part of building a more supported postpartum relationship.
Evie Connect with Evie
If you want to start a podcast or grow your existing one, visit https://julianabarbati.com/ and let them know I sent you! This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education. | |||
| Mom Rage: How a Partner's Emotional Availability Can Pull You Out of a Shame Cycle | 06 Mar 2026 | 00:24:39 | |
Have you ever felt like a simmering pot, when the smallest thing is enough to make you boil over? That experience often called mom rage can feel confusing and heavy. You love your family deeply, yet you find yourself reacting in ways that surprise you. Then the guilt sets in, and the shame cycle begins. So many moms think it is a personal flaw, but it is not. This is about your family system, your family dynamics, and the pressure of societal expectations in contemporary society. The postpartum transition is a full nervous system shift. Add uneven division of labor, limited parenting support, and sleep loss, and your body can stay in constant physical tension. In this episode, we slow it down and look at what is really happening. We talk about the internal cycle that keeps this going. Suppressed core feelings build up. Root emotions like grief, anger, loneliness, and even deep love get pushed aside. When there is no space for emotional availability, those feelings do not disappear. They come out as reactivity. We also name something many families quietly carry: motherhood isolation. Raising children today often happens without the extended support humans once relied on. That isolation can intensify stress inside the home. This conversation is about understanding the system around moms. When we see how the family system shapes stress responses, we can move out of self attack and toward repair. If you are a mom, a soon to be mom, or part of a family trying to navigate this season, this episode will help you feel understood. You will walk away with language for your feelings, clarity about what is underneath the anger, and practical ways to shift the dynamic at home. Your nervous system is responding to pressure. And when the pressure is named and supported, real change can begin. I'm here for you and your family, Evie Connect with Evie
If you want to start a podcast or grow your existing one, visit https://julianabarbati.com/ and let them know I sent you! This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education. | |||
| How to Escape Survival Mode and Restore Postpartum Intimacy with One Soulful Question | 27 Feb 2026 | 00:15:00 | |
Does it ever feel like you and your partner are just passing ships in the night, trading a baby for a cup of coffee and a few hours of sleep? Do you find yourself wondering if this heavy parenting stress is just your new normal? When you are in the thick of survival mode, that deep emotional connection you used to have can feel like a lifetime ago. In this episode, I am sharing a simple shift that gets to the heart of your marriage connection without requiring more of your limited energy. We are talking about how to move past the "roommate phase" and back into a spiritual connection that feels natural. You will learn how marriage connection can simplify your life and bring relief. Navigating motherhood and postpartum recovery becomes so much easier when you have a partner who truly sees you and shares the load. Instead of postpartum intimacy feeling like another chore, you can get back to that place where your husband and wife connection is the very thing that recharges your battery. The best part is that real relationship advice should actually take things off your plate by simplifying your family dynamics and making your partnership feel like the safest, easiest part of your day. This conversation is about finding your way back to each other through grace and healthy boundaries. It is about transforming your parenting journey from a source of friction into a path for deeper closeness. There is so much hope for your husband and wife bond or marriage bond, even when you feel completely tapped out. You do not have to settle for resentment in marriage or a permanent sense of relationship burnout. It is possible to move from just getting by to actually feeling seen and supported by your person again. I'm here for you and your family, Evie Connect with Evie
If you want to start a podcast or grow your existing one, visit https://julianabarbati.com/ and let them know I sent you! This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education. | |||
| Postpartum Loneliness: Build emotional intimacy as new parents and feel seen by your partner again | 20 Feb 2026 | 00:23:39 | |
Are you sitting in the same room as your partner while feeling like you are on two different islands? Feeling unseen while you handle the invisible labor of motherhood is a signal that you need more attunement. Distance is often a result of a culture that makes new parents feel isolated. While postpartum recovery is often viewed as a physical process, the actual challenge is navigating shifting family dynamics and postpartum loneliness. This disconnect is a biological signal that you need more emotional intimacy and relationship support during a major life transition. This episode shares relationship advice on how you can build a stronger emotional connection. You will hear why small gestures (like specific appreciation and simple check-ins) often matter more than big romantic gestures. You will also learn how partner support can show up as curiosity instead of defensiveness to create a safer space for both of you. In this episode, you’ll learn how to:
This conversation is your roadmap to mom life and connection strategies in early parenthood. You will leave with a simple framework to express your needs with confidence and create a healthier balance that includes your well-being. I'm here for you and your family, Evie If you want to start a podcast or grow your existing one, visit https://julianabarbati.com/ and let them know I sent you! Connect with Evie
Social Media & Podcast
This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education. | |||
| Postpartum Sex & Intimacy: What New Parents Should Know About Physical Intimacy After Kids | 19 Jun 2026 | 00:13:42 | |
It's easy to feel insecure or confused about your sexual relationship after baby within yourself, and within the couple relationship. In this episode, I explore the biological and emotional realities of postpartum intimacy, sexual desire after baby, and the effects of sexual adjustments in early parenthood. I discuss how feeding, sleep deprivation, hormonal changes, parenting stress, emotional flooding, and nervous system regulation can impact emotional connection, libido, and marriage communication after kids. Postpartum intimacy changes are completely normal, and certainly not a sign of something "wrong" in the relationship. Couples find relief, however, if they know what to expect and have grace and flexibility rather than panic thoughts and rigidity. I cover:
Understanding the biological realities and period of adjustment can relieve postpartum anxiety around sexual intimacy and your physical relationship after kids. This is Part 1 of a 3-part series on sexuality. Sometimes these discussions require extra support from a professional. Connect with me to learn about how I can support you and your couple relationship: This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education. | |||
| Postpartum Anxiety: How healthy relationships can help you find relief in the motherhood transition | 13 Feb 2026 | 00:17:33 | |
Does it seem like you are handling motherhood well, looking calm on the outside, while inside you are on high alert, replaying worries, and carrying tension you cannot switch off? Many assume this is just part of being a new mom, but it can be a sign of postpartum anxiety and a cue that your emotional health needs support, especially when the mental load never ends. When your body gets stuck in high-alert mode, trying to power through alone makes the anxiety feel worse. The shift is moving from managing it solo to building emotional safety in healthy relationships, using relationship support and co-regulation to create a calm environment at home. Today we cover tangible ways to support postpartum recovery and reduce parenting stress:
If the motherhood transition has you feeling flooded, you can find relief with clearer communication, shared responsibility, and support that helps you feel grounded again. To being heard and seen, Evie Connect with Evie
Social Media & Podcast
If you want to start a podcast or grow your existing one, visit https://julianabarbati.com/ and let them know I sent you! This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education. | |||
| Struggling With Postpartum Resentment? 3 Ways to Feel Like a Team and Rebuild Family Connection | 06 Feb 2026 | 00:18:58 | |
Have you ever sat wide awake at 2:00 AM feeling a seething rage while your partner sleeps peacefully and you are still waiting for a chance to shower? This heavy sense of postpartum resentment is a sign that you are carrying the mental load and emotional labor entirely on your own. The shift is moving from thinking you are just an angry person to seeing that resentment is a normal response to stress. These heavy feelings are secretly telling you that you have unmet needs. This does not mean your marriage is broken, but it is a call for a better family connection. You can leave this lonely place by learning how to ask for a lifeline during your postpartum recovery. Today we are covering tangible ways to change the climate of your home:
We will talk about the relationship tools you need to end the cycle of self-neglect. You will learn why ignoring these parenting challenges harms your home and how to get back on the same team with your partner. My goal is for you to leave with a clear plan to get your needs met and find the actual relief you deserve. To being heard and seen, Evie Connect with Evie
Social Media Links
This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education. | |||
| Need Help Dealing with Political Stress? How to Calm the Nervous System for Yourself and Your Kids | 30 Jan 2026 | 00:22:32 | |
Pregnancy anxiety and postpartum anxiety isn't getting any easier with the current political climate. Maternal mental health is affected by external stressors and the kind of relationship support we receive through the stress. You're inundated by disturbing and unsettling information and images daily- and you care, AND you also need to be OK for yourself and your kids. In this episode, I'm going to give you concrete tips on how to calm your nervous system for your own sake, and for your kids. I'll:
So you can have an authentic reaction to what you are seeing, while also staying connected to yourself and your kids. I'm here to offer compassion and practical tips during this incredibly stressful time of external stressors. Your nervous system is responding to real stress in a vulnerable season—and support matters! | |||
| What Experts Don’t Tell You About Maternal Health: Pregnancy and Postpartum Support You Deserve | 23 Jan 2026 | 00:23:51 | |
It's Maternal Health Day, and I want women to receive the concrete information that is missing from the conversation (& partners/family members/friends who are helping Moms) as they go through fertility treatments, pregnancy, and postpartum recovery. Moms deserve pregnancy support and postpartum support. Unfortunately, experts aren't discussing one of the biggest protective factors for women as they go through medical treatments and recovery: Relationship Health. In this episode I share how relationships deeply impact Maternal Health, from partner dynamics and family support to isolation and conflict. I break down why emotional safety matters as much as practical help—and how relationship stress can increase postpartum anxiety, depression, and make physical recovery harder. I offer concrete examples on how Moms can be truly supported during medical processes, including fertility challenges, pregnancy or birth complications, postpartum recovery, and medical uncertainty. Relationship support and attunement is extremely protective for mothers. SUBSCRIBE to the podcast & Let me know your thoughts in the comments section! Sign up to my email list on my website for updates & free resources for your family. This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education. | |||
| My Take on the Oprah Podcast re: Family Cut-Offs; I Have Opinions. | 16 Jan 2026 | 00:24:48 | |
Family cut-offs are getting more common these days. There's often strong opinions on either side- either it's awful or it's totally justified. Truth is, the reality is more complicated. Oprah's podcast had a discussion about adult parent-child estrangement, and I want to share what I think was missing from a generally helpful discussion. In this episode I'll:
SUBSCRIBE & Let me know your thoughts in the comments section! Sign up to my email list on my website for updates & free resources for your family. This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education. | |||
| 3 Co-Parenting Tips for the New Year: Tap into the Strengths you Already Have! | 09 Jan 2026 | 00:17:32 | |
In this episode, I'm offering 3 concrete co-parenting tips walking into the New Year. This is, however, an Anti-New Years- New Years post! Let's challenge the idea that we need to be different- but rather that we need to connect more with the strengths we already have inside. Instead of focusing on what we lack or striving for perfection, the episode emphasizes recognizing and building on existing strengths. Drawing from solution-focused therapy, I share three key approaches:
SUBSCRIBE & Let me know your thoughts in the comments section! Sign up to my email list on my website for updates & free resources for your family. This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education. | |||
| Realistic Expectations for Moms & Parents in Survival Mode | 16 Jun 2025 | 00:12:15 | |
Facing realities can spare us pain! Let's face that holding on to unrealistic expectations sets Moms & Couples up for profound disappointment and heartache in pregnancy, postpartum, and co-parenting young kids. This episode offers:
Acknowledging what is actually possible can open up a world of connection- and you and your loved ones deserve this, especially during the tender period of growing your families. Sign up to my email list on my website for updates & free resources for your family and subscribe to my podcast videos on YouTube Channel. *This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.* | |||
| How Shame Spirals Hurt You & Your Relationships | 23 Jun 2025 | 00:17:45 | |
Being hard on yourself and getting into shame spirals is an all-too-familiar state in Moms & parents. Not only is it harmful to us, but it's also harmful to our relationships. I'm Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Evie Mpras specializing in relationship health in early parenthood. In this episode I share:
Giving grace makes it easier to stay accountable to yourself and others. Let this episode help open up another way of relating that isn't so harsh. Sign up to my email list on my website for updates & free resources for your family and subscribe to my podcast videos on YouTube Channel. *This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.* | |||
| Preparing for Baby Checklist: What to Discuss with Your Partner | 14 Jul 2025 | 00:14:03 | |
The nursery design and what brand of baby carrier is part of the fun prepping for baby- but partners often forget that the biggest impact on them and their child post-birth is family dynamics. I'm going to share 8 discussions you and your partner should have before baby comes. Based on my years of professional experience, these discussion topics and logistical details are very helpful in preventing additional stress and helping to foster a more connected home environment when baby comes. You, your partner, and baby deserve peace. Sign up to my email list on my website for updates & free resources for your family and subscribe to my podcast videos on YouTube Channel. I'm developing resources for couples and families preparing for baby, or who are already in the journey, based on my wealth of experience. Stay tuned for updates on that! *This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.*
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| Birth Series Episode 2- The Skills Couples Really Need to Prepare for Birth: Processing Birth Trauma | 22 Oct 2025 | 00:23:52 | |
No Moms should feel alone in traumatic experiences- including birth experiences. Disappointing and Traumatic Birth Experiences are incredibly common and women often go through these experiences and process memories alone. But birth is a family matter and moms and families need support. This is a great episode for pregnant couples, postpartum couples AND parents of older children to listen to. In the second episode of this Birth series, I am sharing:
This is the first episode of a series on birth experiences. Follow to prepare for your experience to make sure you get the support you need (whether it's a smooth or rocky experience), to process what happened for you in the past, or to see how you can show up for birthing moms. Sign up to my email list on my website for updates & free resources for your family and subscribe to my podcast videos on YouTube Channel. *This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.* | |||
| LGBTQ Parenting & LGBTQ Couple Relationships Postpartum: A Conversation with SC Nealy | 05 Jun 2026 | 00:22:32 | |
In this episode, we discuss how queer couples navigate emotional regulation, family dynamics, and relationship conflict after baby arrives. I'm thrilled to be joined by SC Nealy, LPC to discuss the challenges and points of resilience for LGBTQ couples in the transition to parenthood. We cover:
SC Nealy is a therapist, author, and LGBTQ+ advocate. They specialize in trauma/religious trauma, complex PTSD, LGBTQIA+ issues, and couples and family therapy. Outside of their work, SC identifies as gender fluid and queer/lesbian. They’re a parent of three, co-parenting with their wife and ex-husband. Nealy's latest book Healing Sacred Wounds is available for pre-order now! Sometimes these discussions require extra support from a professional. Connect with me to learn about how I can support you and your couple relationship: This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education. | |||
| We Need to Adapt Better- Moms, Couples, & Families Loosening Up | 16 Sep 2025 | 00:12:45 | |
I see Moms, Couples & Families get distressed from their rigid stance on things- and they don't even realize they are doing it! In this episode I will:
There's enough stress with babies, toddlers, and young children- we don't need any more stress by getting stuck in unyielding thought patterns. Sign up to my email list on my website for updates & free resources for your family and subscribe to my podcast videos on YouTube Channel. *This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.* | |||
| Parents Holiday Guide: Make Space for the Joy AND the Pain | 04 Dec 2025 | 00:11:35 | |
This holiday episode is not a guide for gifts or juggling holiday plans- it gets to the core of what truly brings the joy of the season- inner peace and connection. Working with hundreds of couples and parents, I consistently see a tendency to avoid tough feelings in an effort to escape reality and curate an idealized version of the season. The thing is, this usually makes people and relationships more tense. It's not actually helpful. So what is? In this episode, I'll share
This is a shortie but a goodie. SUBSCRIBE & Let me know your thoughts in the comments section! Sign up to my email list on my website for updates & free resources for your family. *This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.* | |||
| My Summer in Greece: What Community Does for Moms | 09 Sep 2025 | 00:18:32 | |
I'm sharing my personal experiences of my 2.5 month long time in Greece with my family- and relating my personal experience to why Momming is so much easier with a solid community of people. I was literally in a village for part of our trip and experienced motherhood so differently there. In this episode I will:
Moms and parents should stop being so hard on themselves- parenting has become much to solitary of an experience in contemporary life. Support should be a built-in part of our parenting journey but it often isn't. It's important to find community where you can if possible. Sign up to my email list on my website for updates & free resources for your family and subscribe to my podcast videos on YouTube Channel. *This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.* | |||
| Birth Trauma Series- Episode 4 Interview with TranquilitybyHehe Doula Hehe Stuart! | 06 Nov 2025 | 00:32:01 | |
Experienced Doulas get a keen window into the experiences, struggles, and triumphs that Moms, Partners, and Couples go through in the transition from pregnancy to birth and postpartum. In the 4th episode of my Birth Trauma Series, I'm thrilled to welcome Hehe Stuart, owner of Tranquility by Hehe- a maternity concierge service supporting Moms and Couples in their birthing and postpartum journey. Hehe is acutely aware of how couple dynamics affect the experience of pregnancy, postpartum, and long-term parenthood. We discuss our expertise, experiences, and perspectives on what we notice in couples that bring peace to one another in the struggle of processing birth trauma, and what we notice gets in the way. This is a great episode for Moms, Pregnant Couples, Postpartum Couples AND Parents of older children to listen to. Follow to prepare for your experience to make sure you get the support you need (whether it's a smooth or rocky experience), to process what happened for you in the past, or to see how you can show up for parents. Subscribe to my podcast & Sign up to my email list on my website for updates & free resources for your family. *This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.* | |||
| Sharing My Birth Story to Destigmatize Trauma- Birth Series 1 | 02 Oct 2025 | 00:20:00 | |
Disappointing and Traumatic Birth Experiences are incredibly common and women often go through these experiences and process memories alone. But birth is a family matter and moms and families need support. In this episode, I am sharing my birth experience bringing my son into the world 1.5 years ago to:
This is the first episode of a series on birth experiences. Follow to prepare for your experience to make sure you get the support you need (whether it's a smooth or rocky experience), to process what happened for you in the past, or to see how you can show up for birthing moms. Sign up to my email list on my website for updates & free resources for your family and subscribe to my podcast videos on YouTube Channel. *This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.* | |||
| Mom Stress is not a You Issue, It's a Family Issue | 02 Jun 2025 | 00:14:09 | |
Let's take an honest look at how the transition to parenthood is not an individual process- it's a family process. I'm Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Evie Mpras specializing in family functioning in early parenthood. In this episode I share:
Join me in this swing of the curtain so we can take an honest look at why Mom distress is not a solitary issue- it's a family issue. Sign up to my email list on my website for updates & free resources for your family and subscribe to my podcast videos on YouTube Channel. *This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.* | |||
| Welcome to Bonds after Baby! | 02 Jun 2025 | 00:11:55 | |
Welcome to Bonds after Baby! I'm Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Evie Mpras, and I am sharing my expertise and experience in family functioning during pregnancy, postpartum, and parenting young children. In this first episode I’ll be sharing:
Pregnancy, Postpartum and Early Parenthood sets relationships up to struggle. You and your family members deserve to feel loved, understood, and supported-and your child deserves to thrive in a peaceful family environment. I'm here to help you get there. Sign up to my email list on my website for updates & free resources for your family and subscribe to my podcast videos on YouTube Channel. *This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.* | |||
| How Family Relationships Affect Postpartum Anxiety & Depression | 07 Jul 2025 | 00:14:48 | |
Anxiety, depression, & other mood disorders are the most common complication of childbirth. If untreated, the symptoms can last years beyond birth. Even though research has consistently indicated how much relationship satisfaction can lessen such symptoms significantly, not enough professionals are taking about how! In this episode, I will:
Moms are not experiencing distress on an island- we are all affected by our relationships and our relationships affect us. Time to understand how this works to remove shame and see how postpartum distress is a family matter. Sign up to my email list on my website for updates & free resources for your family and subscribe to my podcast videos on YouTube Channel. *This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.* | |||
| One Powerful Mind Shift for Couples! Triumph Through Struggle | 21 Nov 2025 | 00:18:13 | |
Couples face many challenges in pregnancy, postpartum, and early parenthood. Marriage after baby is no joke. I bet you are familiar! After working with hundreds of parents, I've noted that a Simple Mind Shift can make all the difference for couples navigating conflict. When couples make the shift into realizing conflict is an opportunity for Meaning Making, relationships deepen and everyone feels more supported and solid. In this episode, I will share
Subscribe to my podcast & Sign up to my email list on my website for updates & free resources for your family. *This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.* | |||
| Identify Your Family's Strengths & Growth Areas | 30 Jun 2025 | 00:14:32 | |
Get an inside understanding of what family therapists and researchers know about healthy family dynamics. I'm Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Evie Mpras, and I'm here to help you and your family relationships in pregnancy, postpartum, and parenting young kids. In this episode, I'll:
We can't heal something that we aren't aware of- it's very helpful to take pride in our relationship strengths and identify growth areas that we can work on- for our sake's and our children's sakes. Sign up to my email list on my website for updates & free resources for your family and subscribe to my podcast videos on YouTube Channel. *This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.* | |||
| What New Parents Should Know Before Baby: Mindset Shifts, Marriage Tips & the Postpartum Transition | 29 May 2026 | 00:36:11 | |
Preparing for baby is more than cribs, wallpaper, and diapers. Postpartum anxiety, postpartum depression, and marriage conflict can be significantly lessened if couples have awareness and realistic expectations on early parenthood. You shouldn't be blindsided in the transition to parenting and growing your family. Today I'm joined by Anastasia Voron, LMHC, to discuss what new parents should know before bringing home baby. Anastasia is a Maternal Mental Health Therapist, who is launching the motherhood center Doma on June 13th. Doma integrates multi component care for new mothers. She is also mom to a 2 year old daughter. Whether you are in the pregnancy stage or post-birth, we get into topics that are always valuable and helpful to consider:
Whether you are preparing for your baby, navigating the postpartum relationship, or wanting better parenting support and marriage support, this episode offers grounded advice and practical tools from two therapists to help you move from survival mode towards grace, family connection, and a healthier couple bond through the realities of motherhood and parenting. Follow updates for the launch of Doma on Anastasia's IG. Sometimes these discussions require extra support from a professional. Connect with me to learn about how I can support you and your couple relationship: This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education. | |||
| Grandparent Roles: Answering Listener Questions about Tensions with Grandparents | 25 Aug 2025 | 00:20:24 | |
Grandparent relationships bring opportunities for joy and also tension, as families navigate new roles, relationship dynamics, and boundaries. My work with parent-grandparent relationships has shown me how much relief and connection can come of working through the growing pains. In this episode I will:
While addressing tensions can be uncomfortable, there are infinite benefits to you, your children, and your whole family when grandparent relationship dynamics improve. I'll be creating more episodes on grandparents in the future! Sign up to my email list on my website for updates & free resources for your family and subscribe to my podcast videos on YouTube Channel. *This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.* | |||
| Why My Unique Approach is Effective | 02 Jun 2025 | 00:06:33 | |
There's a lot of advice out there. You need to know what research and clinical experience I bring to the table. I'm Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Evie Mpras and In this episode I get right to the point:
No person or family can be fully understood and cared for using only one type of approach. My background in Maternal Mental Health, Family Systems, Parenting, Interpersonal Neurobiology, & Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) is an effective and intentional combination that addresses the core issues of family longings and functioning in early parenthood. It's an honor to be part of your family's journey towards more connection and peace. Sign up to my email list on my website for updates & free resources for your family and subscribe to my podcast videos on YouTube Channel. *This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.* | |||
| Most Common Regrets I Hear From Parents | 21 Jul 2025 | 00:11:54 | |
We have hopes of how our experience of parenthood and family life will be when children come. It's incredibly painful to look back on this special time as lost opportunities for joyfulness and connection. Today I'm sharing:
Let the wisdom of parents on the other side of this stage open your eyes to what to watch out for. Sign up to my email list on my website for updates & free resources for your family and subscribe to my podcast videos on YouTube Channel. *This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.* | |||
| How It Hurts Relationships When We Don't Ask For Help | 18 Aug 2025 | 00:19:13 | |
One of the most common issues I see in parents is discomfort asking for help. We can learn along the way that it's emotionally safer to cope on our own, but how does that affect us and our relationships? Especially at a time in early parenthood when we need and deserve help more than ever! In this episode, I will:
Increasing this comfort level will have profound effects on you and your couple/family dynamic. Sign up to my email list on my website for updates & free resources for your family and subscribe to my podcast videos on YouTube Channel. *This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.*
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| Birth Trauma Series 3- Husband/Partner Experiences with Birth Trauma & Interview with Adam Angel | 30 Oct 2025 | 00:28:27 | |
Husbands and partners also go through their own pain process and struggle after disappointing or scary birth experiences. When partners are struggling, that is a hardship on them and has ripple effects on the birthing Mom and family. No one should be experiencing their pain alone. How can men and partners get more support during this time? What are the barriers to getting help? This is a great episode for Husbands/Partners, Pregnant Couples, Postpartum Couples AND Parents of older children to listen to. This episode of the Traumatic Birth series includes:
This is the third episode of a series on birth experiences. Follow to prepare for your experience to make sure you get the support you need (whether it's a smooth or rocky experience), to process what happened for you in the past, or to see how you can show up for parents. Subscribe to my podcast & Sign up to my email list on my website for updates & free resources for your family. *This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.* | |||
| Stop Avoiding Conflict in Your Family | 09 Jun 2025 | 00:17:56 | |
Today I'm inviting you and your family members to face what often gets avoided: conflict. I'm Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Evie Mpras specializing in relationship health in early parenthood. I'm going to share:
Marriage after baby usually brings more disagreements and conflict to the table. Your family's life will greatly benefit by learning how to navigate disagreements and discord. This leads to closer relationships! Make sure to sign up to my email list found on my website for updates & free resources for your family and subscribe to my videos on YouTube Channel. *This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.*
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| It's OK to Have Mixed Feelings Towards Children & Loved Ones | 28 Jul 2025 | 00:20:39 | |
In my practice I see a lot of resistance and discomfort around having natural mixed feelings towards partners, family members, and especially children. Shoving feelings below the surface ends up causing a lot of distress in Moms and in relationship dynamics. In this episode I'll:
At a time when you are already dealing with a huge adjustment & meeting so many demands, you don't need any more angst from rejecting your human experience. Sign up to my email list on my website for updates & free resources for your family and subscribe to my podcast videos on YouTube Channel. *This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.* | |||
| Family Vacation: Being Intentional about Family Connection, Asking for Help & Cultivating Joy | 04 Aug 2025 | 00:13:00 | |
Family vacations are more than scheduled activities and changing scenery. What do you want you & your family to emotionally experience on your adventures? Do you want to come home feeling more connected? In this episode, I will share:
Make intentional choices together so you can get the most out of these special times as a family. Sign up to my email list on my website for updates & free resources for your family and subscribe to my podcast videos on YouTube Channel. *This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.* | |||
| Postpartum Dads & Partners: What Moms Can Do when their Struggling Spouse Resists Asking for Help | 21 Aug 2026 | 00:13:48 | |
The postpartum (and beyond) stage for Dads and Partners can also be very hard. This is tough for new parents and couple relationships because Moms require significant support at this time, and don't have the same reserves during survival mode to care for spouses during an intense adjustment, hormonal ,and physical recovery. The strain of emotional labor at this time can lead to relationship burnout. At least 10% of Dads or partners struggle with postpartum anxiety, postpartum depression, adjustment distress, or acute stress disorder in the months after a new child comes into the world. In this episode, I answer a listener question on the topic of what to do when your partner is clearly struggling postpartum but resists getting help. When parents don't get the help they need it affects the family dynamic and whole family system. I discuss:
Whether you’re navigating emotional availability challenges, emotional labor, and marriage conflict in parent life, this episode will help you build awareness around navigating partner struggles. Sometimes these discussions require extra support from a professional. Connect with me to learn about how I can support you and your couple relationship: This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education. | |||
| Financial Decisions & Shared Ownership for Stay-at-Home Moms: Financial Conversation Tips | 14 Aug 2026 | 00:12:10 | |
Financial discussions can get hard for couples when roles change in the transition to parenthood. Partners should navigate financial decisions, financial stress, and financial fairness with emotional connection and healthy marriage communication. And there should be an emotionally safe foundation to do so! In this episode, I answer a listener question from a stay-at-home Mom struggling to feel like an equal partner in financial decisions after transitioning to one income. I explain how the postpartum transition, invisible labor, and shifting family dynamics can create emotional distance, resentment in marriage, and tension around shared ownership in parenting and partnership. This conversation dives into the reality many couples relationships face during early parenthood — especially when one parent steps away from paid work to care for children, manage the invisible load, and end up having less say in financial matters. Inside this episode:
Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom, a working parent, or a couple trying to strengthen bonds around money and decision-making, this episode offers practical & compassionate tools for building trust, emotional safety in marriage, and a healthier parenting team dynamic. Sometimes these discussions require extra support from a professional. Connect with me to learn about how I can support you and your couple relationship: This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education. | |||
| Nighttime Wakeups, Marriage Communication with Emotional Regulation for New Parents | 31 Jul 2026 | 00:16:25 | |
Who gets up for nighttime wakeups and feedings is a hot potato topic for most new parents. The division of labor becomes a tit for tat, dead-end conversation loop. Couples can use conversations around labor to build emotional safety, improve marriage communication, and strengthen emotional connection even in exhausting seasons of family life. In this episode, I answer a listener question about how couples can discuss nighttime wakeups without arguing, resentment, or emotional distance. I explain why nighttime conflict is rarely just about sleep — and how invisible labor, emotional needs, parenting stress, and relationship triggers often fuel deeper disconnection between spouses during the postpartum transition. Sleep deprivation in early parenthood can quickly push couples into survival mode, especially when emotional regulation is low and the division of labor feels uneven. I cover:
Whether you’re postpartum, adjusting to life with a newborn, or trying to reconnect after months of exhaustion, this episode offers pragmatic, compassionate marriage tips and parenting support for couples who want less fighting and more teamwork through the challenges of motherhood, fatherhood, and family dynamics. Sometimes these discussions require extra support from a professional. Connect with me to learn about how I can support you and your couple relationship: This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education. | |||
| Division of Labor: Tips for New Parents to Reduce the Invisible Load & Reduce Resentment in Marriage | 15 May 2026 | 00:26:26 | |
Division of labor is a hot potato for couples, especially new parents in survival mode. When every discussion turns to frustration- or when conversations get avoided, resentment in marriage, relationship burnout , and relationship conflict grows. Reducing stress around household chores can also help reduce postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression. In this episode, MJ Harford and I concrete tips for parents to navigate coming together as a team in ways that make these conversations productive instead of frustrating. MJ is a therapist serving individual clients in Virginia & DC, specializing in maternal mental health. She is also the founder of Resilient Returns, where she helps working parents and businesses navigate the transition back to work after parental leave. In last week’s episode, MJ Harford and I got into how couples and new parents can foster emotional support when returning to work after parental leave, and dealing with division of labor. Once you have that emotional support, it’s easier to have talks about mental load, invisible load, and how to share tasks. MJ and I share how couples can make the:
Below are resources and deals for the working parent: MJ’s division of labor exercise: interactive + digital workbook. All Bonds after Baby listeners can use the code BAB50 at checkout to receive 50% off their parent program purchase at Resilient Returns. Connect with Evie and learn about ways she can support your couple relationship: Instagram @ bondsafterbaby This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education. | |||
| Returning to Work after Parental Leave: Get Emotional Needs met through Spouse Support | 08 May 2026 | 00:23:47 | |
How can you and your spouse stay connected in the return to work after maternity leave or parental leave? Adjusting to the transition and re-navigating division of labor can bring significant tension. So how do you get emotional support and stay in each other’s corner when the mental load and invisible load is high, there are identity shifts happening, and you’re both still adjusting to marriage after baby? In this episode, MJ Harford, LPC and I discuss what emotional safety new parents can build together as a foundation to navigate issues that come up with the return to work. MJ is a therapist serving individual clients in Virginia & DC, specializing in maternal mental health. She is also the founder of Resilient Returns, where she helps working parents and businesses navigate the transition back to work after parental leave. MJ and I share how couples can co-create emotional safety and managing emotional triggers around returning to work and division of labor so that you can navigate together without defensiveness, shutting down, and lashing out. So you guys can stay on the same team! Part 2 of our discussion next week will dive into concrete tools and approaches that can help ease the transition back to work after parental leave. Resources and deals for the working parent: MJ’s division of labor exercise: interactive + digital workbook. All Bonds after Baby listeners can use the code BAB50 at checkout to receive 50% off their parent program purchase at Resilient Returns. Connect with Evie Instagram @bondsafterbaby This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education. | |||