Finding Your Village

Thank you so much for listening. Today we are talking about play therapy, a treatment modality for children experiencing emotional, behavioral, or adjustment issues. We discuss the benefits of play therapy, how to find a play therapist, and when it might be appropriate for your child. Our guest is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Doctor of Educational Psychology (EDD),  Lindsey Epstein Webster. Lindsey is a therapist who has been in practice now for 12 years. She specializes in working with children and families and has been trained in attachment based non-directive play therapy. She is also the parent t...

In episode 128, we talked about the phases and stages of labor and we mainly focused on the mother’s experience. In today’s episode, we are going to focus more on the baby’s experience and what gets labor going.

In this episode we discuss:

Thank you so much for listening. Today I am talking to Heidi Mills about what we have been noticing on social media in the birth world. There is a lot of division between doulas and OBGYNs and/or clinicians and non-clinicians over spreading misinformation on social media. Heidi and talk about what we have noticed and how it can impact pregnant people. 

Heidi Mills is a Certified Birth Doula, owner of Bloc Births LLC, and content creator at the handle "whatadoulado". As a hospital-based doula, she has had the opportunity to support a wide range of births, f...

Thank you so much for listening. Today I have invited a friend back to talk about why gentle parenting is so hard. Marisa Hughes is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Reparenting and Parenting Coach and mom of 2. She specializes in trauma therapy and is certified in perinatal mental health. Marisa is passionate about helping moms reparent themselves so they can break generational cycles and parent their children with authenticity and intention.

How to get in touch with Marisa:

How to get in touch with me: 

Thank you so much for listening. Today we are talking about the transformation that happens when you become a parent and how that can impact your decision making abilities. Our guest to discuss this is Marin Laukka. 

Marin Laukka is a decision coach and speaker with a Master's Degree in positive developmental psychology and certifications in budget coaching, life coaching, and yoga. As the business owner of Yes&, Marin passionately supports women with 1:1 and group coaching programs to overcome exhausting patterns of perfectionism and self-doubt so they can make confident decisions that lead to authentic meaning and f...

In today’s episode, we are talking about the phases and stages of labor.

What do I mean by phases and stages? There are four main stages of labor, these are the big catagories. Then within the first STAGE of labor, there are 3 phases within that.

So I’ll start with an overview of the four main stages, then I’ll go into detail for each one.

In today’s short episode, we are kicking off season 6 of the podcast. 

I am planning on getting more intentional about the podcast moving forward and trying to align my content into more of a topic based focus. 

One thing I am thinking of incorporating is sharing birth stories. If this is something that interests you, I would love to hear from you. I have created a 60 second survey to go along with this episode, and it will be available in the show notes of this episode and on my website. If you like the idea...

Thank you so much for listening. Today we are talking about communication between couples in the early days of parenting. Our guests to talk about this are Meagan and Jeremiah Conley. They are married with three kids and host a podcast, called The Minivan Years, that focuses on improving family relationships.

This will be the last episode of Season 6! We are taking a short break for the holidays and will kick off Season 7 in early January. Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

In this episode we discussed:

Thank you so much for listening. Today we are talking about baby wearing and our guest is Carly Flemming, who is one of the founders of the Fourth Trimester Foundations. They are registered nurses who found their passion working in the postpartum & newborn speciality. They met working at work and identified that most of their patients, especially the first time moms, were completely uninformed about what would happen to their own healing bodies after birth. They decided to change that narrative together by founding Fourth Trimester Foundations.

They’re also moms of many littles, so they’ve been...

Thank you so much for listening. Today we are talking about alternatives to screen time for toddlers and preschoolers. Our guest to talk about this today is Bradley Morris. Bradley is the founder of Majik Kids (alongside his son, Sauryn). His mission is to raise the Spiritometer on Planet Earth by spreading joy to the world via Majik Kids' magical audio stories, illustrated books, imagination meditations & music (the first ever Fair Trade Publishing company). To date, Bradley has written and published 12 children's books and incredible audio stories . As a homeschooling dad, he believes in fostering imagination, creativity & curiosity in...

Thank you so much for listening. Today we are talking about healing trauma with Holographic Memory Resolution. Our guest to discuss this is Lenora Edwards, who was on the show a couple weeks ago. Our guest to talk about this Lenora Edwards and she is an ASHA Board Certified Speech Language Pathologist

Resources for healing trauma:

How to get in touch with me: 

Thank you so much for listening. Our guest today is Lou-Ann Wattley Belk. As the creator of Well Worth Watering, Lou-Ann's goal is to empower parents with soulfully-curated childbirth education classes and postpartum services that honor each unique birth journey. At the core of Well Worth Watering’s mission is the belief that the birthing year offers seeds of self-discovery that bloom for the rest of our parenting lives. She also believes in creating space for the telling and holding of powerful stories, specifically those of black birthing people as heard on her podcast.

How to follow Lo...

Thank you so much for listening. In today’s show we are going to be talking about making speech therapy more affordable and accessible. Our guest to talk about this Lenora Edwards and she is an ASHA Board Certified Speech Language Pathologist working with Better Speech. She works with individuals of all ages from little toddlers and children who are learning to understand and express themselves.

In this episode we discuss: 

Thank you so much for listening. In today’s show we are going to be talking about why it is so important to vote in the midterm elections in the US, and how  you can do it even if you are a postpartum mom. Our guest to talk about this is Emily Tisch Sussman is a podcast host, women’s empowerment and family policy advocate, leading democratic political strategist, contributor to Marie Claire and Parents,  and mother of three. She  has made over 250 appearances on MSNBC, CNN, Fox News, HLN, and CBS. Season 2 of her podcast She Pivots is set to...

Thank you so much for listening. In today’s show we are going to be talking about a lesser discussed topic, which is Postpartum Psychosis. Our guest to discuss this is Megan MacCutcheon. Megan is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Perinatal Mental Health practitioner who helps overwhelmed moms find a sense of balance while raising young children. As a busy mom of three, Megan knows that motherhood is a juggling act. She loves teaching tools and strategies to help moms de-stress and embrace self-care so they can better navigate challenges associated with parenting.

She is passionate ab...

We are replaying one of my favorite episodes this week...my interview with Dr. Christy Matusiak discussing one of my favorite topics!

In the episode today we are talking about approaching postpartum from a natural and holistic perspective. Dr. Christy Matusiak is a holistically-driven chiropractic physician practicing in Wilmette, IL.  She is writing a book, to be published by July 2021.  This is for the newly postpartum mother, struggling with finding herself and gaining the mental clarity to be present for her growing family.  

In this episode we discuss: 

Christy’s background

Thank you so much for listening. In today’s show we are going to be listening to Angela’s story about her journey to motherhood and how she found her village. 

Angela is the founder and lead doula of Simply Potomac Postpartum, a company that utilizes a holistic wellness approach to all things postpartum. She strives to help mamas and their families function in harmony. With over 15 years of experience in the perinatal field, Angela created this company and its all-encompassing services to fill in the gaps and meet the needs of mamas with children of all ages...

Thank you so much for listening. In today’s show we are going to be talking about using alchemical hypnotherapy to re-parent yourself.. Our guest today to discuss this is Debbie Unterman. Debbie Unterman has seen thousands of clients, and taught hundreds of students in the techniques of Alchemical Hypnotherapy, both at the Alchemical Hypnotherapy Association of Atlanta (AHAA!) and the Alchemy Institute in California. She describes herself as “a private eye for the soul” – helping people find themselves and restore lost dreams. She is well known for her work with survivors of childhood abuse or neglect, her innovative cure for...

Thank you so much for listening. In today’s show we are going to be talking about using a Mother’s Helper as a childcare alternative to a babysitter. Here to talk about this with me is Taran Conwell. Taran is a mom of 3 and she has utilized the help of a Mother’s Helper with her kids as an affordable childcare solution. She also hosts a podcast and writes a blog called the Undomestic Mom and she is on a mission to dismantle the watered-down version of self-care in today's motherhood. She takes millennial moms from survival to thriva...

Thank you so much for listening. In today’s show we are going to be talking about Nourishing Your Postpartum Body with Herbs. Our guest to discuss this is Sara Marie Miller. Sara is a postpartum doula, clinical herbalist, nutritionist., artist and podcast host of Thyme in the Studio. She is passionate about supporting womb wellness and focuses on boosting perinatal wellness with nourishment, rest, creativity and self-compassion. She is also an overnight doula and baby whisperer and is great at helping newborns learn to sleep better.

In this episode we discuss: 

Thank you so much for listening. In today’s show we are going to be talking about intrusive thoughts, particularly during postpartum. Our guest to discuss this is Megan MacCutcheon. Megan is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Perinatal Mental Health practitioner who helps overwhelmed moms find a sense of balance while raising young children. As a busy mom of three, Megan knows that motherhood is a juggling act. She loves teaching tools and strategies to help moms de-stress and embrace self-care so they can better navigate challenges associated with parenting.

She is passionate about spreading awareness re...

Thank you so much for listening. In today’s show we are going to be talking about finding time for creativity during the early days of parenting. This is really important, especially for those parents who are entrepreneurs or who work in fields where creativity is necessary. My guest to talk about this is Jeff Fajans, who is a creative performance & leadership coach who works with creators, entrepreneurs, and business owners to help them bring their biggest ideas to life and become better leaders. Jeff is also an avid music creator & guitar player - creating a new style of “Beas...

Thank you so much for listening. In today’s show we are going to be talking about how to make birth better in our culture. Our guest to talk about this is a fellow Birthing From Within educator, Marissa Mignone. Marissa is also a Birth Doula, Postpartum Doula, and Prenatal/Postnatal Yoga Instructor in the Truckee/Lake Tahoe, CA area

In this episode we discuss: 

How to get in touch with Maris...

Thank you so much for listening. In today’s show we are going to be talking about the validity of all birth stories and the importance of talking about and sharing birth stories. Our guest to discuss this today is Katharina Tolle and she describes herself as a writer of individual birth stories: her mantra is that every story is worth to be told. Every mom should have a safe space to talk about everything that happened -- from orgasmic to traumatic birth experiences. And every mom should have the option to have her story written down as a st...

Thank you so much for listening. In today’s show we are going to be talking about teaching toddlers emotional intelligence. Our guest Alyssa Blask-Campbell, is an emotional development expert with a master’s degree in early education. She is also the founder and CEO of Seed & Sew, an organization committed to giving parents, teachers and caregivers the tools to raise emotionally intelligent humans. 

In this episode we discuss: 

Thank you so much for listening, in this episode we discuss setting compassionate boundaries in the early days of parenting. My guests for this episode are Tina Hallock and Serena Ward. They are both mothers and together they host the No Need to Explain podcast and they call themselves the Mental Health Mamas. 

Setting boundaries is such an important topic, so I really think this episode will have a lot to offer many people. Thank you for listening.

In today’s episode we are discussed: 

Thank you so much for listening, in this episode we discuss setting expectations with your partner when you have a newborn. And I had the pleasure of speaking with Damon and KaToya Sumner about this topic. They describe themselves as, “a couple who’ve been married for fourteen years who desire to laugh and share our experiences with others. Their aim is to empower marrieds to enjoy marriage one convo at a time!”

In today’s episode we are discussed: 

Welcome to Season 5 of the Finding Your Village podcast!

Thank you so much for listening, in today’s episode we are discussing how a difficult birth can impact breastfeeding and my guest to talk about this is Katie James. Katie James is a registered Midwife and Lactation consultant. She has worked for the last 20+ years in clinical practice and education in the UK, Australia, and of course now virtually all over the globe, supporting women through pregnancy and postpartum. Her passion lies in education, whether of women, their families, or student midwives and birth workers. Her specialty li...

I am taking a break for 2 weeks and I will be back with Season 5 on July 10

Please take good care of yourself and be safe. 

Find out more about the 12 week coaching program here: https://reparentingandparenting.com/

Thank you so much for listening to today’s show and Happy Father’s Day to all the Dads out there. Today’s episode is very special to me personally, we are going to be talking about the international event that Postpartum Support International runs each year called Climb out of the Darkness. The event is happening all over the world and in most states, including Georgia, this coming Saturday, June 25th 2022. To talk about this event and the Georgia Chapter of PSI, I have invited my friend and fellow board member, Shontel Cargill to come on as a guest...

Thank you so much for listening to today's episode, we are talking about what it is like to give birth in a free standing birth center. I interviewed Vanessa Treaster, a midwife at the Atlanta Birth Center. Vanessa is a mom of two in addition to being a midwife. I had my second baby at the Atlanta Birth Center, which I have talked about a lot in previous episodes. In this episode, Vanessa talks about how free standing birth centers differ from hospital maternity units and I add a little bit about my experience as a patient at a...

In today’s episode, we are discussing what it means to discipline your toddler and how young you can start. My guest to talk about this is Ann Kaplan, who is a mom of 4, a parent coach and she has a unique holistic approach to parent work that includes emotional support, home management skills AND effective discipline that empowers children while improving behavior.

In this episode we discuss: 

How to get in touch with Ann:

How...

In today’s episode, we are discussing being mentally healthy as a new parent. My guest to talk about this is Dr. John Delony, who is a mental health expert with two PhDs in Counselor Education and Supervision, and Higher Education Administration from Texas Tech University. Prior to joining Ramsey Solutions in 2020, John worked as a senior leader, professor and researcher at multiple universities. He also spent two decades in crisis response, walking with people through severe trauma. Now as a Ramsey Personality, he teaches on relationships and emotional wellness.

In this episode we discuss: 

Thank you so much for listening to today's episode, we are going to be talking about how to set yourself up for success when preparing to breastfeed, especially in light of the current formula shortage. Now, this episode is geared towards people who want to breastfeed, have the ability to and have a desire to. And I'm holding space for all of the moms out there that cannot breastfeed or choose not to breastfeed and are going to be relying on formula. This episode is not to make you feel like you should be breastfeeding. So, I just wanted...

Thank you so much for listening, in today’s episode we are going to be talking about when to start saving for college. 

Brad Baldridge is a financial expert, College Funding Specialist and host of the Taming the High Cost of College podcast who has helped thousands of families plan and save for college with smart and proven strategies to save time, money and stress.

In this episode we discuss:

Episode 100!! Happy Mother’s Day and Introducing Solids to Baby: Interview with Madison Holden

Thank you so much for listening to this very special episode today. Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there and to all of the moms-to-be. I hope you have a wonderful day where you feel honored and recognized for all that you do. Today’s episode is extra special because this is the 100th episode of the Finding Your Village podcast. It is hard to believe that I have created 100 episodes of this podcast and that people listen to the show a...

In this week's episode we are talking about how to prepare your toddler for the arrival of a new baby sibling. Our guest to talk about this is Devon Kuntzman. Devon is the original toddler parenting coach and the founder of Transforming Toddlerhood. As a toddler expert, she is on a mission to transform the myth that toddlerhood is terrible. Devon empowers toddler parents to overcome the challenges of toddlerhood, nurture development and create confidence in their skills by being the Loving Leader & GuideTM through using positive, respectful and developmentally appropriate parenting tools. As a result, parents are able...

I am doing a podcast swap in today’s episode. Laura Froyen and I sat down and talked about the things that don’t get talked about enough regarding perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. This episode is going to air both here and on Laura’s show, The Balanced Parent podcast. 

Dr. Laura Froyen has her PhD in Human Development and Family Studies with a specialization in Couple and Family Therapy. Laura combines trauma-informed practices with the latest in child development research to help families find more peace, calm, & connection. She teaches conscious parenting & communication with heaping doses o...

In today’s episode we are discussing birth photography! Our guest today is Linnéa Geiger. She describes herself as an emotional storyteller rather than a photographer. She captured the real moments of connection, love, joy and sweetness within families. 

In the episode we discuss: 

How to get in touch with  Linnéa:

Hello, thank you for listening to this episode of the Finding Your Village Podcast. My name is Amanda Gorman and I’m your host. My goal for this show is to make the early days of parenting more connected and my mission in life is to help parents who are pregnant or postpartum find their parenting village. I am also a mom and understand how important this is. 

Today’s episode is sponsored by the Pregnancy to Preschool Postpartum Class. I teamed up with my friend, Amanda Israel, to create this class because we know that the first...