Send us a text On today’s episode, we’re sitting down with Dr. Jessica Vernon, a NYC based Board-Certified OB/GYN. She serves as the Membership & Professional Outreach Chair on PSI’s Board of Directors, and is a published author of a brand new book, “Then Comes Baby” (seriously - click on the link in the show notes & go get yourself a copy). Today, we’ll chat all about matrescence, the importance of speaking about the unspoken aspects of parenthood, & debunking the fallacy that pa...

Send us a text On today’s episode, we’re sitting down with the incomparable Divya Kumar - a Perinatal Mental Health-Certified psychotherapist, writer, speaker, co-founder of what is now The Alliance for People of Color & longtime friend of PSI! We’ll chat all about the complexities of perinatal mental health at all kinds of intersections (I’m gesturing vaguely – there are just so many intersections). We’ll touch on the evolution of support systems, the need for cultural sensitivity in men...

Send us a text On today’s episode, we’re doing something … a little different! We’re sitting down with Rachell Dumas, IAO podcast guest from episode 44, who was kind enough to answer some of our burning questions about her hometown of New Orleans - where PSI’s Annual Conference is being hosted this July. For any listeners attending the PSI conference, this one’s for you. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy this light-hearted episode, full of hot tips from a local, all about the Big Easy! (An...

Send us a text On today’s episode, we’re spotlighting PSI’s Perinatal Psychiatric Consultation Program - an incredible & FREE resource (did I mention FREE?!?) for medical providers supporting folks in the perinatal period. To do so, we’re bringing in an expert! We’re sitting down with awe-inspiring Dr. Nicole Taylor, a psychiatrist specializing in perinatal mental health, who (among MANY OTHER roles) serves as the Medical Director for the Psychiatric Consultation Program and as an Executi...

Send us a text On today’s episode, we’re sitting down with Nancy Goh Kelly, a PSI coordinator in the state of Minnesota, a skilled healthcare strategist and operator, and (surprise, surprise!) a massive perinatal mental health advocate! We’ll chat about how parenthood can inspire career change, about the difference that specialized care can make for parents (I’m looking at you, Perinatal Mental Health-Certified advocates and professionals!), & about how striking up a conversation with a p...

Send us a text On today’s episode, we’re sitting down with the incomparable Charlotte Ramberg - a Perinatal Mental Health-Certified Licensed Professional Counselor & advocate in North Georgia, who may just be one of the biggest helpers we know. We’re thrilled that Charlotte was willing to share her experience with surrogacy - specifically as a gestational carrier - for two wonderful families, and soon - for a third and final family who are the latest grant recipients from The Surrogacy Fo...

Send us a text TW: Cancer Diagnosis, Hysterectomy On today’s episode, we’re sitting down with Kaitlyn Gardner, a passionate Perinatal Mental Health-Certified advocate, Licensed Professional Counselor, PSI volunteer, OH - and the founder of a non-profit supporting parents in the perinatal period in her home-state of Arkansas (just to name a few things)! Today, we’ll chat about receiving a cancer diagnosis during pregnancy, an unexpected hysterectomy at the age of 31, and the stigma associated ...

Send us a text TW: Recurrent Pregnancy Loss On today’s episode, we’re sitting down with Rachell Dumas, a registered nurse, keynote speaker, and the founder of A Light After Nine - a nonprofit dedicated to supporting women and families navigating infertility and pregnancy loss. We’ll chat about underserved populations, equity and compassionate care, & how Rachell transformed her personal adversity (of 8 pregnancy losses and one stillbirth) into a mission to empower others. When we he...

Send us a text On today’s episode, we’re sitting down with Nicole McNelis - speaker, writer, therapist-mom & mom therapist. For anyone who attended PSI’s 2024 Annual conference in Washington, DC - you may remember Nicole from the highly-attended session that she led on rage. And if you didn’t attend, I’m sure you heard all kinds of buzz about that session afterward because this is a topic that people are READY to talk about. We’ll chat about compromised needs, violated expectations & ...

Send us a text On today’s episode, we’re sitting down with Aaisha Alvi, Postpartum Psychosis advocate, writer, and she also has a brand new title – a published author! We’ll hear all about her lived experience with Postpartum Psychosis on two separate occasions; we’ll chat about the importance of education and awareness - because Aaisha wasn’t diagnosed until seeing a 6th doctor; and finally, we’ll discuss how Postpartum Psychosis IS treatable and does not have to end in tragedy. If you’re in...

Send us a text On today’s episode, we’re sitting down with Keisha Reaves, a Perinatal Mental Health-Certified Licensed Professional Counselor in North Georgia who has a lot to to say about the state of mental health care for BIPOC parents in the United States. Speaking from personal experience, Keisha is a passionate advocate on a mission to educate parents and practitioners about the myriad of resources that are quite literally at their fingertips. We’ll talk about “Strong Black Woman ...

Send us a text TRIGGER WARNING: Traumatic Birth, Intrusive Thoughts On Today’s episode, we’re sitting down with Lisa McCarty, a women’s health advocate, a mom, and a writer - who has long amplified her voice through words on paper. Today, we’re in for a treat when Lisa’s words will travel straight from her mouth and into our earbuds. We’ll chat about what it felt like to step away from a successful career - something she had never anticipated doing, managing a flood of mixed emotions a...

Send us a text On today’s episode, we’re sitting down with our fabulous friend Courtney Ginder, who works at PSI on the Communications team and who first came onto our radar as a volunteer in The Climb program! We’ll hear all about how the pandemic impacted her entry into parenthood, how access to care and prompt support from her providers got her on the quick road to recovery, and oh, my goodness – please do yourself a favor and listen all the way through the lightning round when Courtney sh...

Send us a text Trigger Warning: Traumatic Birth, Psychosis On today’s episode, we’re sitting down with Kriti Lodha, a successful marketing leader in the business world, whose entrée into parenthood has turned her into a powerhouse of a perinatal mental health advocate! We’ll hear about the dichotomy of feeling both isolated during the pandemic and supported by her South Asian community, and about the importance of raising awareness about Postpartum Psychosis as a treatable diagnosis instead ...

Send us a text TRIGGER WARNING: Traumatic Birth On today’s episode, we’re sitting down with one of our dearest friends and colleague, Stacey Figg. She is a postpartum doula, a PSI staff member in the coordinators program & one of the silliest, funniest, realest people we know. Today you’ll hear about some of the most serious & vulnerable moments from her entry into parenthood, and how her lived experience at an inpatient facility that was poorly equipped to serve the perinatal popula...

Send us a text Trigger Warning: Intrusive thoughts, Pregnancy Loss On today’s episode, we’re sitting down with one of the world’s loveliest human beings, Lynn Turcotte-Schuh - a Certified Birth Educator, a speaker, a perinatal mental health advocate, a long-time PSI volunteer & a mentor for mothers everywhere! We’ll chat about parenting through debilitating anxiety, social media’s impact on both our mental health and overall capacity, and what it means to find and live with Radiant Joy. ...

Send us a text Trigger Warning: Traumatic Birth On today’s episode, we’re sitting down with Claire Hewson, an educator, a counselor & a PhD student at Queen’s University in British Columbia, Canada! Not only that, Claire is the very first PSI intern to hop into the recording studio with us. We’ll chat all about breast, chest and body feeding, trouble with bonding and the grief that followed, how all of this affected Claire after the birth of both of her children, and the full-circle expe...

Send us a text On today’s episode, we’re chatting with the one, the only, Dr. Kat Kaeni - Perinatal Mental Health Certified Clinical Psychologist, current PSI Board Chair, published author, podcast host extraordinaire (coming up on 350 episodes), and overall an incredible human being. Kat is involved in a lot these days. We’re so grateful for this conversation about parenting through the filter of anxiety, how she got involved in volunteering with PSI, & the role that vulnerability ...

Send us a text Trigger Warning: Traumatic birth, Hemorrhaging On today’s episode, we’re sitting down with the lovely Cecily Beane Cullinan - postpartum doula, Kindermusik Teacher extraordinaire and incredible human who used her lived experience with Perinatal Mental Health Disorders to volunteer in PSI’s Peer Mentor Program! (Whisper – that’s where we met!) We’ll chat about not knowing what’s quote-on-quote “normal” as a new parent, falling through the cracks in the healthcare system & a...

Send us a text Trigger Warning: Intrusive Thoughts On today’s episode, we’re sitting down with the one, the only, Lisette Lopez-Rose, Assistant Manager of Support Groups here at PSI and an outspoken perinatal mental health advocate for Latino parents everywhere. We’ll chat about being surprised by postpartum rage, intrusive thoughts, difficulty getting in with a provider, setting a record for attendance at PSI Support Groups in a single week (seriously, you can attend as many as you need!). ...