BDA Baby (Before, During and After Baby)

Jessica Diamond is a registered dietitian and breast feeding and weaning expert, and in this episode, we covered the emotional and physical journey of weaning from breast feeding. Jessica shares insights on gentle weaning methods and how to communicate with our children and partners. We also cover how to cope with some of the hormonal changes that come with weaning, and when to transition to other types of milk. Weaning can be a sensitive process, and Jessica encourages moms to remember that this process should follow their schedule, not someone else's.   Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!

Ever wonder how someone wanting to grow their family via a surrogate gets paired up with the perfect surrogate for them? Cue a surrogacy matchmaker like Marly Steinman! So many families in today’s world are built in a variety of different ways. In this episode we talk about surrogacy, whether that path is right for you, and if you choose to go down that route, how you go about finding the perfect surrogate to carry your baby. I sat down with Marly Steinman, a surrogacy and donor consultant who helps guide parents through the world of third-party reproduction. Marley opens up about her own journey through infertility and loss, how she found hope in surrogacy, and why she’s now made it her life’s work to support other families doing the same. We talk about what it looks like to work with a surrogate, what the “job” of being a surrogate is really like, how to prepare emotionally and logistically, and what makes these journeys so incredibly powerful. Whether you’re navigating fertility challenges or just want to better understand this path- this episode is a must-listen. And be sure to share this with someone who might need to hear it. Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video! 

Bri Hepworth of Mini Voyager joined us to share her journey to creating her travel kit brand. Bri was inspired by her own experience traveling as a parent. As her family traveled more, Bri started making travel kits for her kids to help ease the stress of traveling and keep them entertained on long trips. Now, Mini Voyager makes those kits available to everyone! From toddlers to older children, Mini Voyager kits help get keep kids occupied and engaged throughout the travel process.Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!

In this episode, Rebecca Minkoff shared her journey as an entrepreneur and mother. We learn about her journey to starting her business while balancing motherhood along the way. Rebecca emphasizes the importance of overcoming fear while learning from our failures. We also discuss how to set boundaries while working our way through work and family life. Being a working mom can be hard, but Rebecca tells us that with the right support, anything is possible. Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!

When should you start reading to your baby? According to literacy advocate and author Maya Payne Smart, the answer is now. In this episode, we dive into the science and storytelling behind early reading and why those bedtime books (and even the ones they chew on!) matter more than you think.Maya explains how the simple act of reading aloud from day one helps build your child’s brain, supports language development, and lays the foundation for a lifelong love of books. We talk about why it’s never too early, or too late, to foster a love of reading, how to navigate tricky content in kids' books, and the impact of screen time on literacy and connection. She also shares actionable tips for making reading feel fun, joyful, and part of your everyday rhythm, even if you’re short on time or your child wants the same book 100 times.Whether you’re a parent of a newborn or a soon-to-be reader, this conversation is packed with practical advice, reassurance, and inspiration for raising curious, confident, and book-loving kids.Grab her book Reading for Our Lives: https://amzn.to/476Z2veGrab Katherine’s books: https://www.katherineschwarzenegger.com/booksPlease join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video! 

In this episode, Dini Klein of Prep and Rally joined us to share so many great meal prep tips from her cookbook and beyond. Dini has so many great recipes for busy families that make meal prep easy. She also has great advice on how to keep prepped food fresh and keep meals exciting throughout the week. Juggling work, school, and extracurriculars can be a challenge, and Dini shares that meal prepping has helped her streamline mealtime and reduce the stress of deciding what to make for dinner each night. Tune in for great meal prep strategies and recipes that can help you transform mealtime.  Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!

Jenna Johnson—professional dancer, Emmy nominee, and mom—joins me for a heartfelt conversation about motherhood, career, and what it really takes to do both. We talk about the chaotic beauty of raising a child while competing on Dancing With the Stars, how she and her husband Val navigate parenting as a team, and the real emotions that come with being a working mom—like mom guilt, comparison, and the pressure to keep it all together. Jenna also opens up about her journey through infertility and miscarriage, how therapy helped her reclaim her joy, and what she’s learned about listening to her body, honoring her emotions, and letting go of timelines. She shares what it means to compartmentalize as a parent and performer, the role her big family played in shaping her approach to motherhood, and how becoming a mom has changed everything—from the way she works to the way she loves. Whether you’re navigating the early days of parenting, balancing ambition with family, or healing from loss—Jenna’s honesty and strength in this episode is a reminder that you’re never alone. Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video! 

John Kanell of Preppy Kitchen joined us a few years back for this episode all about fatherhood. John shares his and his husband’s journey to fatherhood, and how they chose surrogacy. John and his husband eventually welcomed twins, and we walk through all the highs and lows that come along with parenting twin toddlers. We also get into how John balances work and family, and the joy of baking with kids! He tells us that getting kids involved in the kitchen is a great way to bond while teaching them important skills at the same time.  Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!

Radio and TV personality, author, and podcast host Tanya Rad joins for a deeply personal and refreshingly honest conversation about step-parenting—a role both of us have stepped into and are still learning to navigate. Known for co-hosting On Air with Ryan Seacrest on KIIS FM and podcast Scrubbing In, Tanya opens up about her journey as a stepmom to two boys after marrying her husband. She shares how she built her own support system, found her rhythm in a role with no clear blueprint, and learned to embrace both the beauty and the challenges that come with it. Together, we dive into the emotional complexity of blending families, the lack of resources and representation for stepparents, the power of communication, respecting parental boundaries, working through insecurities, and why it’s time to change the narrative around stepmothers. Whether you’re a stepparent yourself, co-parenting with one, or curious about what this role really looks like, this episode offers a heartfelt, honest look at what it means to show up for a child who isn’t biologically your own. Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video! 

Simon Huck and Soraya Sutherland joined us in this episode to talk all about disaster preparedness. Be prepared for the worst is so important, especially with young children. However, it can be hard to find ways to talk through preparedness with our kids without feeling like we’re scaring them. Soraya’s book A Kids Book About Safety addresses this issue and helps parents have kid friendly conversations about emergency preparedness. Simon and Soraya also stress the importance of creating a go bag, and how to include your children in the process. This episode is full of great tips, and Simon and Soraya hope they can help get more families to start the conversation about their emergency plans. Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!