Surabhi Veitch interviews Amanda Vecchiola about surrogacy, parenting through a surrogacy journey, and common misconceptions about the surrogacy process. Whether you’re considering surrogacy, have never considered it, are pregnant or plan to be pregnant, listen to this extremely inspiring and affirming episode.

We discuss

Amanda’s own journeys into motherhood

How did she know she wanted to do a surrogate journey?

How did she meet the intended parents?

What are the biggest misconceptions about surrogacy?

Does she get paid to be a surrogate?

How did she find your agency?

How did she match with her intended parents?

What goes into the screening process?

Amanda’s tips for the pregnancy process

Surabhi Veitch interviews amazing teacher, yoga instructor, and human, Wini Linguvic. We discuss how yoga is a tool that can be used to make us feel better, and how it is for everyone - even if you are not flexible, injured or feel like you don’t have enough time. We explore how yoga can be used to reach a state of meditation, where our mind is clear, focused and attentive to our bodies. We highlight that comparing yourself with others and accepting negative labels only hinders your progress in yoga, pregnancy and life. Wini also gives insight into the connection between all humans, and how this can be amplified through yoga.

We discuss:

Three main goals of a yoga class

Shortcomings of the ‘all or nothing’ mindset

How to incorporate yoga into your life

How meditation is NOT a verb but a noun.

Who is yoga for? (spoiler: everyone!)

The issue with comparing yourself with others

The dangers of accepting negative labels

How yoga can connect us with others and ourselves

Transitioning to having any number of kids is hard! In this episode, I share my personal experience and my honest perspective on the transition from 1 to 2 kids. In a society that conditions you to want to have at least 2 kids, I challenge that and invite you to consider whether more kids is something you truly want. I reflect on other common concerns, the mixed feelings (let’s normalize that, ya?), and why the “right time” doesn’t exist.

I also share my experience with transitioning to 2 kids, strategies that helped my older child with the transition, and some of the challenges that I was not prepared for.

Surabhi Veitch interviews pelvic physiotherapist, runner, mom, and former-APTA president, Dr. Carrie Pagliano, on returning to physical exercise postpartum. We bust common myths in the postpartum community that may be stunting your progress. Carrie also explains how ‘experts’ don’t always have the answers, and provides tips to get the most out of your consultation. We explore the importance of personal, and holistic treatment for postpartum issues, as we all have different goals and lifestyles.

We discuss:

Do ‘experts’ have ALL the answers?

A holistic approach to prolapse

Common myths in spread in the postpartum community

Returning to run and exercise postpartum

The importance of collaboration in our communities

Come and join this conversation with Anita Lambert as we discuss pregnancy and the keys to birth preparation. She shares her story about her past pregnancies and the vital lessons she has learnt through her experience as a mother and as a Pelvic Physiotherapist. She shares the tips and tricks she gives her clients, which help prepare your body for pregnancy, birth and beyond. Anita also provides guidance on reaching a state of mindfulness pre-birth to help alleviate discomfort during birth. This state of mind is achieved through meditation, affirmation tracks and more!

In this episode, we explore:

How to reduce pain during pregnancy and detect pelvic floor symptoms

The keys to birth preparation

Proven ways prepare physically and mentally for labour

Anita’s signature Bump to Birth Method

Come and join this conversation with Dr. Shanté Cofield (aka the Maestro), where we discuss how to create your best life! We discuss how making mistakes, taking risks and training our nervous system can help us feel safe, learn and grow! We also explore how to build true inner-confidence through ‘confidence borrowing’, self-acceptance and reflecting upon challenging experiences. Shanté shares their expertise on connecting through social media, urging us to attract others with our own values.

Come and join this conversation with Antony Lo, as we discuss how to navigate through postpartum, return to exercise and your fitness goals. Antony shares his expertise and approach in helping people lift heavy weights and navigate back to their fitness goals postpartum. Antony explores the importance of strength training, highlighting the benefits and surprising results (you’re probably stronger than you think!).

We discuss:

Progressing physically and mentally through postpartum

Finding hope in a prolapse/diastasis diagnosis (it’s more common than you think!)

The consequences of comparing yourself to other Moms

Dangers of fear mongering in fitness/health industry

Strength and aesthetic goals in postpartum

Come and join this conversation with dietician Ahuva Magder Hershkop as we discuss how to reduce family mealtime struggles and encourage the whole family to eat healthy. She shares her expertise on raising intuitive eaters, that listen to their bodies, without you constantly reminding them. She also shares valuable insights on how to seamlessly incorporate healthy eating into our busy and complicated lives, creating opportunities for healthy eating habits.

We discuss:

Mealtime struggles and how to avoid them

Raising intuitive eaters through trust and love

Solutions for fussy eaters

How to handle family gatherings

Travel-friendly meals for the family

On this Valentine’s Day, let’s talk about the greatest love of all (thank you to the late Whitney Houston), self-love! Self-love determines the actions we take for ourselves. Our daily behaviours and actions, and our self-care, show us that we matter. That we love ourselves. If you struggle to rest, exercise regularly, set boundaries, or choose actions that show yourself love, listen to this episode!

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I share 5 ways you can show yourself love based on the 5 Love Languages. Listen for ideas on how to best take care of you based on the language of your love!

Words of Affirmation

Acts of Service

Gifts

Quality Time

Physical Touch

Carmen Whitmore as we discuss what it’s like to raise 4 kids, 18 years apart! She shares her story, her adventures and passion, and her approach in raising children with confidence. She shares her wisdom in allowing her kids to be themselves, letting them make mistakes, and accepting them as they are. Could this be the secret to raising confident children?

Carmen also shares what it means to be a MOM - a Motivator, someone who provides Opportunities, and then Moves out of the way. There is so much we can learn from this incredible mom, grandma, and hiking extraordinaire!

Come join this conversation with Dr. Danielle Watson as we discuss pregnancy prep for postpartum, and thriving in motherhood. We discuss supporting how to support yourself during each trimester of pregnancy, and how to best care for yourself in the postpartum phase.

We also discuss:

how to use pregnancy as a time to connect with and listen to your body

postpartum depletion & prioritizing your micronutrients

perinatal mood & anxiety disorders, and how you never think you'll be the one to experience it

impact of Type A high-achieving personalities on how we cope with postpartum challenges

why weight loss isn’t the best measure of postpartum recovery

Dr. Danielle’s The Mother Method program for pregnant and postpartum moms

Having a baby can be terrifying. I remember how it felt before I had my first. But there are ways to reduce your fears and anxieties during pregnancy so that you head into birth with less fear. Tune into this episode to learn 4 strategies to reduce fears, including:

The “I’m awesome” list

Release your fears assignment

Discussions to have with your birth partner, including birth preferences & advocating for you during birth

The power of affirmations and visualization

Do you find yourself leaking? Or having to only wearing black pants? Avoid jumping, running, or even going out with your girlfriends because you’re afraid to pee yourself when you laugh? The answer isn’t Kegels or surgery (for most people).

Tune into this episode where I answer:

✨is leaking normal

✨ the shame associated with leaks

✨main causes of leaks including caffeine, dehydration, constipation, increased tension (eg due to postures, stress, cold, trauma)

✨why too much tension in your pelvic floor can lead to leaks

✨stress urinary incontinence (SUI) - leaks during sneezing and coughing and laughing

✨the Knack to help manage SUI

✨the role of pelvic floor relaxation and full body strengthening in managing leaks

✨some positions to relax and lengthen the pelvic floor

✨the power of breath and unclenching and releasing tension in your pelvic floor

Come join this conversation with Chana Henche Ross as we discuss:

pressures to bounceback, as healthcare professionals working with pregnant and postpartum people

being a huge supporter of women and elevating others around her

running a business as a mom of 4

stepping into the name that you are given and the importance of pronouncing your name properly

the overwhelm of being a mother and taking up time for self-care, even when you know it’s so important to you

thinking about our thinking and where our beliefs come from

Come join this conversation with Melissa Venturuzzo as we discuss how to navigate postpartum when your labour and birth didn’t go the way you planned, breastfeeding struggles, getting the wrong advice, dealing with prolapse postpartum, and the difficulty in getting a pessary. We also talk about the importance of carving out time for self-care as a mother.

Do you often feel like a failure as a mom? Like you’re disappointing your kids? Or do you feel like you've failed at exercise? Like you’re disappointing yourself? There’s a constant feeling of not doing enough, not being enough, and ultimately feeling like a failure. This hits so many aspects of our life including motherhood and fitness.

Learn how to redefine failure for yourself, and get out of the self-shaming rut. Build self-efficacy to help you develop a more positive relationship with yourself, with others, and with exercise.

Aliya Dhalla and Surabhi Veitch discuss the #1 tip to overcoming prolapse, the mental and psychosocial components of prolapse, and shame around prolapse.

We also have a great discussion on martyrdom in motherhood in South Asian and many other communities, people-pleasing behaviours, defining our own identities as mothers, ditching mom guilt, and the journey to practicing self-care.

Come join this epic 2-part conversation with Inemesit Graham where we chat about:

body image in fitness and chasing after the flat abs aesthetic

diastasis recti and how aesthetics don’t determine your athletics

body liberty and getting to root cause of body image issues

umbilical hernia, bullying, and harmful white-centric norms

understanding body oppression and aesthetic norms and the role of colonization, slavery and oppression

growing up Black in a society built on white privilege

snapback culture, white supremacy and patriarchy

the freedom in telling your story

Inemesit Graham and Surabhi Veitch chat about:

body image in fitness and chasing after the flat abs aesthetic

diastasis recti and how aesthetics don’t determine your athletics

body liberty and getting to root cause of body image issues

umbilical hernia, bullying, and harmful white-centric norms

understanding body oppression and aesthetic norms and the role of colonization, slavery and oppression

growing up Black in a society built on white privilege

snapback culture, white supremacy and patriarchy

the freedom in telling your story

Do you have tailbone pain? Soreness with sitting? Find out why tension in your pelvic floor affects your pain, and how posture, stress and breathing can be contributors. Learn ways you can improve your tailbone pain now!