BDA Baby (Before, During and After Baby)

Latest Episodes:

Rebecca Minkoff’s Journey as an Entrepreneur Aug 25, 2025

Show notes

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!

Raising Readers: How Early Literacy Shapes a Child’s Future with Maya Payne Smart Aug 21, 2025

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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/476Z2ve
Grab Katherine’s books: https://www.katherineschwarzenegger.com/books
Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!

Demystifying Meal Prep with Prep and Rally’s Dini Klein Aug 18, 2025

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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 on Mom Guilt, Infertility, and Finding Balance in the Chaos Aug 14, 2025

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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’s Journey to Fatherhood Aug 11, 2025

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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!

Redefining the Role of a Stepparent with Tanya Rad Aug 07, 2025

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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!

Soraya Sutherland and Simon Huck on the Importance of Disaster Preparedness Aug 04, 2025

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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!

All Things Step-Parenting with My Coach and Therapist Ashley Graber Jul 31, 2025

Show notes

Like parenting, step-parenting doesn’t come with a manual—but unlike parenting, your role is much less defined. You’re not a parent, nanny, or assistant, but you might share responsibilities in those areas. At the end of the day, though, you’re none of those roles.
I feel very lucky that I get to experience both step-parenting and parenting. One of the best decisions I’ve made was seeking out the help and guidance of a step-parenting therapist, whom I sit down with in this episode: Ashley Graber, LMFT. Together, we talk about a role that so many of us are navigating and one that often comes with more questions than answers.
Six and a half years into this journey, I’ve learned that being a step-parent can feel like parenting, assisting, supporting, and sometimes stepping back all at the same time. I’ve also learned that there just aren’t enough resources or real conversations out there for those of us in this role. That’s why I opened up the conversation to all of you and I’ve never received more questions for a single topic.
Ashley and I dive into the big and most commonly asked topics: discipline, defining your role, communicating with co-parents, and the emotional gymnastics of blending families. We talk about the importance of putting the child first, but also how to honor your own experience and feelings along the way.
This is a conversation I wish I could have listened to years ago, and I hope it offers support, perspective, and maybe even a little peace for anyone walking this path.
Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!

Carrying the Mental Load with Mama Psychologists Chelsea Bodie and Caitlin Slavens Jul 28, 2025

Show notes

Caitlin Slavens and Chelsea Bodie of Mama Psychologists joined us in this episode and shared great insights into balancing mental health with being a mom. Caitlin and Chelsea explain that mothers often carry a huge mental load, and it is important to emphasize self-care and open communication. We also get into managing mom guild, and how we can manage the complex emotions that come up around being a busy mom. Chelsea and Catilin encourage all moms to practice self-compassion and self-care. Even small steps can make a big difference!
Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!

Supporting Families from the Start: Special Olympics, Early Childhood, and the Power of Play Jul 24, 2025

Show notes

This week’s episode is deeply personal and incredibly meaningful to me. I’m joined by Rebecca, an early childhood expert at Special Olympics, and Jennifer Pittman, a Special Olympics parent and manager of Healthy Families, for a conversation about the organization closest to my heart.
We talk about how Special Olympics is changing the game in early childhood development, providing crucial support to kids with intellectual and developmental disabilities before they even receive a formal diagnosis. We also dive into their new Young Athletes app, which empowers parents to support their child’s growth through play, wherever they are.
Jennifer shares her powerful story of navigating her son Shalom’s early diagnosis and how Special Olympics became a place of community, support, and strength for her whole family. This conversation is filled with practical advice, hope, and a reminder that none of us are alone in this journey.
Whether you're a parent, educator, or someone who cares about inclusive communities, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.
Download theYoung Athletes App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/young-athletes/id1629555324
Learn more at specialolympics.org
Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!

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