Back to Basics

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77: Ellie Beal BSN, RN - "I think it should be illegal.." The Shocking Facts Behind Infant Circumcision Oct 19, 2026

Show notes

This week, Anna is joined by Ellie Beal BSN, RN for an honest conversation about infant circumcision and what parents should know before making this decision for their baby boy.

Together, Anna and Ellie discuss the function of the foreskin, the dark origins of circumcision in the US, the lack of evidence behind commonly cited medical benefits, potential complications, and the importance of informed consent for newborns. They also explore how cultural norms influence parental decisions and the real numbers behind how common circumcision is today in the US. We hope you enjoy this eye-opening episode!

Our Guest:

Ellie Beal Instagram

Links and resources:

Evidence Based Birth

An Elephant in the Hospital Room

Your Whole Baby

76: Brittany Chambers - You Never Need to Sleep Train Your Child.. Here's What To Do Instead Oct 12, 2026

Show notes

This week Anna sits down with Brittany Chambers of Goodnight Moonchild to discuss everything we’ve been led to believe about infant sleep -- and what the science, biology, and history actually tell us. They discuss what normal baby sleep patterns really look like, why frequent night waking is biologically normal, the myths surrounding cosleeping, and how the modern sleep training industry has capitalized on mothers’ exhaustion and fear.

They also explore why babies aren’t designed to sleep like adults, where our expectations around infant sleep come from, and what it looks like to approach sleep in a way that honors babies’ biological needs rather than forcing them into a schedule (and going crazy yourself). We hope you love this episode!

Our Guest:

Goodnight Moon Child Instagram

Goodnight Moon Child Website

75: Tatiana Mustafa - Tongue Ties, Facial Development, & Why Mouth Breathing Makes Us Ugly Oct 05, 2026

Show notes

What if the way you breathe, rest your tongue, and swallow is influencing the way your face develops?

In this episode, Anna sits down with myofunctional therapist Tatiana Mustafa to explore the often overlooked relationship between oral function, facial development, and airway health.

They discuss why mouth breathing is more than just a bad habit (and how to nip it in the bud early with your kids), how tongue posture influences jaw development (and why proper tongue posture might be the OG looksmaxx), and what parents should know about tongue ties and their potential impact on feeding, breathing, and oral function.

We also dive into the importance of nasal breathing, sleep apnea, the role of myofunctional therapy, and how modern lifestyle factors like diet may be contributing to changes in facial development. We hope you love this episode!

Our Guest:

Tatiana's Instagram

Consult with Tatiana

Our Sponsor:

Thank you to Natural Cycles for sponsoring this episode of Back to Basics. You can use code FEELWELLBYANNA for 15% off your annual subscription + a free NC° Band at checkout at Naturalcycles.com.

Natural Cycles is for 18+ and does not protect against STIs. Always read and follow the instructions for use.

74: Rob McDaniel - Everything You Should Know About American Ranching, Foreign Mystery Meat, Fake Labels, & More Sep 28, 2026

Show notes

What do labels like “grass-fed,” “organic,” “pasture-raised,” and “natural” actually mean when it comes to meat; and which ones are a marketing ploy?

In this episode, Anna sits down with Rob McDaniel, founder of Primal Pastures, to pull back the curtain on how meat is actually produced in America. They discuss the labels that matter (and the ones that don’t), how conventional meat is manufactured in America, the truth about imported beef, voting with your fork, and what changes when animals are raised the way nature intended.

We hope you love this very eye-opening episode!

Our Guest:

Primal Pastures Instagram

Shop Primal Pastures - Code FEELWELL

Our Sponsor:

Thank you to Fig Wellness for sponsoring this week's episode of Back to Basics. Use code BACKTOBASICS at Figwellness.co for 10% off your order of Anna's favorite prenatal and men's fertility multivitamin.

73: Andrea Olson @godiaperfree - Everything You Need to Know About Elimination Communication & Potty Training From Birth Sep 21, 2026

Show notes

This week Anna sits down with Andrea Olson of @godiaperfree to dive deep into elimination communication (EC).

They discuss exactly how elimination communication works, how to recognize your baby’s cues, when and how to offer the potty, what to do when you miss a cue, and how EC can evolve as your baby grows.

They also unpack why the average age of potty training has increased so dramatically over the past several decades, where the idea of “readiness” came from, and the "research" commonly used to support waiting until children are older. We hope you love this episode with Andrea!

Our Guest:

Andrea's Instagram

Andrea's Website

Elimination Communication Book

Buy Tiny Undies & Top Hat Potties

Our Sponsor:

Thank you to Fig Wellness for sponsoring this episode. You can use code BACKTOBASICS for 10% off your order at Figwellness.co and enjoy Anna's favorite prenatal vitamins!

72: Lina Bardovi, L.Ac. - Western Culture Has Gotten Postpartum Totally Wrong.. Here's What To Do Instead Sep 14, 2026

Show notes

This week, Anna sits down with LA acupuncturist Lina Bardovi, L.Ac. to unpack the ancient postpartum practices that modern women have largely forgotten: from the importance of 40 days of deep rest to what you should actually be eating to rebuild your body after birth.

They talk about the Traditional Chinese Medicine approach to postpartum, why new mothers need a “newborn bubble,” how to protect your recovery in a culture that expects you to bounce back immediately, and the simple practices that can support healing for years to come. We hope you love this episode!

Our Guest:

Lina's Instagram

Book with Lina

Lina's Motherhood Course

Our Sponsor:

This episode is brought to you by Fig Wellness. You can head to Figwellness.co and use code BACKTOBASICS for 10% off your order for Anna's favorite prenatals and men's TTC multivitamin.

71: Natalie Smith - Pregnant Girls Catching Up on TTC, The First Trimester, Body Changes, Birth Plans & More Sep 07, 2026

Show notes

This week Anna sits down with friend of the pod Natalie Smith -- personal trainer, entrepreneur, and Instagram bestie. They discuss both being pregnant, her journey with Ureaplasma, the first trimester, birth plans, pressure to do everything perfectly "crunchy", body changes, and more. We hope you love this episode!

Our Guest:

Natalie Smith First Back to Basics Episode

Natalie Smith Instagram

Thank you to Fig Wellness for sponsoring this episode of Back to Basics! Use code BACKTOBASICS at checkout at Figwellness.co for 10% off your order.

70: Mary Haseltine (@madeforthisbirth) - How God Can Meet You In Childbirth And Pregnancy Aug 31, 2026

Show notes

This week Anna sits down with Mary Haseltine of Made For This Birth. Mary is a birth doula, theologian, mother of seven, and author of Made For This: The Catholic Mom's Guide to Childbirth and the Made For This app. They discuss physiological childbirth, unnecessary interventions, breech, and most importantly how Mary has seen God meet women in pregnancy and birth. We hope you love this episode!

Our Guest:

Mary's Instagram

Made For This book

Made For This app

Made For This Website

69: Cloe Parker - The Untold Truth About The Meat Industry, Hardships For American Ranchers, & More Aug 24, 2026

Show notes

This week Anna sits down with Cloe Parker of Parker Pastures, a family-owned ranching operation that produces 100% grass-fed and grass-finished beef, lamb, bison, and pasture-raised chicken. They discuss the dire situation facing American Farmers, Trump's subsidies on foreign meat, labeling in the grocery store, how to properly vet your food, and more. We hope you love this episode!

Our Guest:

Parker Pastures Instagram

Parker Pastures Website

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY - Parker Pastures is giving away two boxes of meat exclusively to Back to Basics listeners. Fill out this link to join! Winners will be announced 08/27/26.

68: Sophia Rudy - Training For Longevity In A Skinny-Obsessed World Aug 17, 2026

Show notes

This week Anna sits down with Sophia Rudy, personal trainer and nutrition coach. They dive deep on how to train for longevity, counting macros, fertility as a vital sign, and so much more. We hope you love this episode!

Our Guest:

Sophia Rudy Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sophiaarudy/?hl=en

Align Her Wellness Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alignherwellness/?hl=en

Our Sponsor:

Thank you to Natural Cycles for sponsoring this episode of Back to Basics. You can Use code FEELWELLBYANNA for 15% off your annual subscription and a free NC° Band at checkout. Natural Cycles is for 18+ and does not protect against STIs. Always read and follow the instructions for use.

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