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No One Told Us — Kids & Family
No One Told Us

No One Told Us the truth about parenthood. WHY?!
Welcome to No One Told Us, the podcast where we uncover the raw, unfiltered truths about parenthood. I’m your host, Rachael Shepard-Ohta, mom of three and founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby. Each week, join me as we dive deep into the joys, challenges, and surprises of raising children with a mix of expert insights, personal anecdotes, and candid conversations.
From navigating postpartum anxiety to mastering the art of making mom friends, and from introducing solids to tackling tantrums, we cover it all. Whether you’re a first-time parent or a seasoned pro, this podcast is your go-to resource for honest advice, relatable stories, and plenty of laughs along the way.
Join me as I sit down with experts in their fields, as well as friends, family, celebrities, and influencers, to share their experiences and wisdom on everything from sleepless nights to rocky relationships. No topic is off-limits, and no story goes untold on No One Told Us.
So grab a cup of coffee, pop in your headphones and join the conversation. This is the podcast everyone needed before they had kids- because now that those little ones are here, there’s a lot to unpack. So let’s pull back the curtain on becoming a first-time mom (or dad!) to share the good, the bad and the ugly. A little education, a little fun, and a whole lot of heart goes into each and every episode of No One Told Us to have you feeling less alone and way more empowered.

Copyright: © 2023

Latest Episodes:

Episode 50: Feeding Toddlers: Finding Joy in Family Meals with Nita and Jessica of Happy Healthy Eaters Aug 01, 2024

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Episode 50: Feeding Toddlers: Finding Joy in Family Meals with Nita and Jessica of @happyhealthyeaters

Have you ever struggled with picky eating or stressful mealtimes? This is so common- feeding toddlers can be very challenging! In this episode, Rachael speaks with Jessica and Nita, co-founders of Happy Healthy Eaters, ALL about feeding toddlers to make mealtimes more enjoyable!

Here’s what they discuss inside this episode:

The different challenges of feeding toddlers including “picky” eating or selective eating
How and why it is important to trust your child’s eating preferences
How much food should your toddler actually eat?
Tips for keeping your child engaged and interested in mealtime
Guiding parents on allowing kids to eat when they're hungry and stop when they're full
How valuable family meals can be for modeling eating behaviors and passing on cultural traditions
Ways to adapt meals to fit each family's schedule and preferences
Tips for adapting culturally appropriate meals for babies
Facts about the food supply in North America and it’s safety
When to seek support from professionals if a child's eating habits are severely challenging or interfering with their growth and development

Jessica and Nita are co-founders of Happy Healthy Eaters - a community dedicated to supporting parents in feeling relaxed and confident about feeding their child. They are both Registered Dietitians with a combined 25+ years of education and work. They started Happy Healthy Eaters in 2020 after Nita had her second baby with the hopes of supporting parents through these exciting milestones, minus ALL the misinformation. Their online course - Starting Solids Confidently- launched first and is widely popular and now they have a second course: Feeding Toddlers Confidently- which debuted after more than two years in the making!

Mentioned in this episode:

Happy Healthy Eaters Website: https://happyhealthyeaters.com/
Happy Healthy Eaters instagram: @happyhealthyeaters
Feeding Toddlers Confidently Course here Code for No One Told Us Listeners: HHE15
How to Keep Your Toddler at the Table
Blog Post: How to Adapt Recipes to be BLW Friendly

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate 5⭐️ and write us a review! ⬇️

✨For sleep support and resources, visit heysleepybaby.com and follow @heysleepybaby on Instagram! 😴☁️🤎✨

Rachael is a mom of 3, founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby, and the host of this podcast.

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Episode 49: Creating a Business and a Brand from Home with Tori Sprankel Jul 25, 2024

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Episode 49: Creating a Business and a Brand from Home with Tori Sprankel

Whether you are a stay-at-home mom or a mom who works outside the home, all moms are working hard! This week Rachael and friend Tori Sprankel, a brand expert and business owner, chat all about building a business while taking care of young children at home. They discuss the challenges and gray areas of being a working mom or a stay-at-home mom, and how the lines are blurred for so many of us in a post-pandemic world.

Here’s what they discuss inside this episode:

Tori shares her personal journey of transitioning from a corporate job to becoming a stay-at-home mom in Hawaii to eventually starting her own business
The importance of the people you surround yourself with while building your business
Role reversal and who’s the breadwinner?! We discuss our stay at home dad husbands!
The challenges and rewards of being a WFH mom
Balancing motherhood, finding support, and overcoming mom guilt
Creating a business (and a life!) that aligns with your values and goals
& so much more!

Meet Tori Sprankle! She’s an expert at personal brands for go-to girlies + her obsession is turning that pretty little pinterest board of yours into the brand you’ve always dreamed of. She loves working with women who need that boost of brand magic to back up their killer service suite that the world desperately needs. She specializes in lighting-fast turnaround to help her clients show-up efficiently, confidently and consistently where it matters most these days: online. As a mom to two girls, she believes in showing them that corporate America isn't the only place to make a living - and that having the freedom and courage to change lives through your own dreams is worth more than any traditional career path.

Mentioned in this episode:

Tori’s website: https://www.torisprankel.com/
Tori’s instagram: https://www.instagram.com/torisprankel/

Check out Tori’s work in action on Rachael’s Instagram, in her Substack Nap Trapped, and on this very podcast (Tori designed our cover art!) as well as the HSB website.

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate 5⭐️ and write us a review! ⬇️

✨For sleep support and resources, visit heysleepybaby.com and follow @heysleepybaby on Instagram! 😴☁️🤎✨

Rachael is a mom of 3, founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby, and the host of this podcast.

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Episode 48: Sleep Training: What we Know (and what we DON’T KNOW) from the Research with Amanda Ruggeri  Jul 18, 2024

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Episode 48: Sleep Training: What we Know (and what we DON’T KNOW) from the Research with Amanda Ruggeri

This week Rachael and Amanda Ruggeri, a journalist specializing in psychology, parenting, and child development, discuss the ever controversial topic: sleep training. Amanda speaks about her articles on baby sleep and sleep training and the research behind them.

Here’s what they discuss inside this episode:

Understanding biologically normal, healthy baby sleep
The problematic messaging around sleep training
Are we just extinguishing baby's signaling?
Is sleep training truly teaching self-settling skills?
Is the sleep quality or duration better for babies who are sleep trained vs not?
The importance of providing parents with the full picture & allowing them to make informed decisions
The cultural differences in attitudes towards baby sleep, bed sharing etc.
Social media misinformation, biases and logical fallacies
The problem with overly relying on internet “experts” and “data” for parenting decisions
& so much more!

Amanda Ruggeri is a multi award-winning journalist specializing in psychology, parenting, and child development. She also covers media and science literacy, including on her Instagram page and in her column for the BBC, "How Not to Be Manipulated". As a triple-citizen who has lived in four countries, she's especially interested in breaking topics down from not only a scientific, but a cross-cultural, anthropological, and historical, perspective. Her stories on infant sleep - including the science of healthy baby sleep and what we do and don't know about sleep training - have been read by more than 3 million people worldwide. You can find her work most frequently on the BBC's science section, Scientific American, New Scientist, and the Jacob Foundation's BOLD.expert, as well as on her Instagram page @mandyruggeri.

Mentioned in this episode:

Amanda's website: https://www.amandaruggeri.com/
Amanda's instagram: @mandyruggeri
What really happens when babies are left to cry it out?
The Science of Healthy Baby Sleep

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate 5⭐️ and write us a review! ⬇️

✨For sleep support and resources, visit heysleepybaby.com and follow @heysleepybaby on Instagram! 😴☁️🤎✨

Rachael is a mom of 3, founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby, and the host of this podcast.

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Episode 47: Parenting Children with Disabilities with Kelley Coleman Jul 11, 2024

Show notes

Episode 47: Parenting Children with Disabilities with Kelley Coleman @hellokelleycoleman

This week Rachael and Kelley Coleman, author and mother, discuss parenting children with disabilities.

Here’s what they discuss inside this powerful episode:

Hear Kelley’s personal journey with parenting two kids: one with multiple disabilities and one with typical development
Kelley shares her story about her son’s diagnosis and how it changed her as a parent
Suggestions for parents who just received a diagnosis or are trying to receive a diagnosis for their child
Ways for parents to feel empowered to speak up for their child
Fostering communication with your child’s school team and others
Grieving the childhood you pictured for your kid
The ways your relationship with your partner can be affected by parenting a child with disabilities
How to talk to your kids about others with disabilities
All about her book: Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child
The importance of finding community of support and connecting with others who are in similar situations
And so much more!

Kelley is a feature film development executive turned author and advocate for parent caregivers and individuals with disabilities. Her writing and advocacy draw upon over a decade of experience accessing the necessary supports for children with disabilities to succeed, including her own child. Kelley’s book Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child: Your Guide to the Essential Systems, Services, and Supports is available for preorder and will be released March 12th. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, two boys, and her son’s trusty service dog.

Mentioned in this episode:

Kelley’s Book: Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child: Your Guide to the Essential Systems, Services, and Supports
Kelley’s website: kelleycoleman.com
Kelley’s Instagram: @hellokelleycoleman
Welcome To Holland by Emily Perl Kingsley

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate 5⭐️ and write us a review! ⬇️

✨For sleep support and resources, visit heysleepybaby.com and follow @heysleepybaby on Instagram! 😴☁️🤎✨

Rachael is a mom of 3, founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby, and the host of this podcast.

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Episode 46: “I Feel Like My Life has Changed and Yours Hasn’t” with Erin & Stephen Mitchell Jul 04, 2024

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Episode 46: “I Feel Like My Life has Changed and Yours Hasn’t” with Erin & Stephen Mitchell @couples.counseling.for.parents

Having kids changes your relationship. If you have ever felt misunderstood, disconnected, exhausted, and resentful towards your partner- you’re not alone- and this episode is for you! Join Rachael and Erin & Stephen Mitchell, husband and wife duo & authors of the new book Too Tired to Fight, as they talk all about relationships, specifically relationships AFTER kids.

Here’s what they discuss inside this episode:

How and why having kids can change your relationship
Erin & Stephen share about their own relationship experience and struggles after kids
The biggest struggles people have right after having a baby and why
How to regulate your own emotions so you can communicate effectively with your partner
Resentment- how to handle it and what to do about it
How to connect when you’re feeling exhausted & disconnected
Does all conflict have to be “bad”? When might it be time for therapy?
Reshaping your frame of what connection is
Sex & intimacy after kids
Will bed sharing ruin your marriage?
The inspo behind their new book- Too Tired To Fight and how they wrote it together
And so much more relationship advice!

Erin and Stephen are the cofounders of Couples Counseling for Parents, a company focused on providing access to research-informed, psychologically sound online education for couples. Both have a clinical education—Stephen, a PhD in medical family therapy, and Erin, a master’s degree in counseling psychology—and they have a combined 23 years of experience providing counseling and education. They have been married for 16 years and have three kids.

Mentioned in this episode:

Too Tired to Fight: PREORDER NOW!

Couples Counseling for Parents: The Podcast

Erin and Stephen’s website for their workshops & membership: https://couplescounselingforparents.com/

Erin’s Instagram: @couples.counseling.for.parents

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate 5⭐️ and write us a review! ⬇️

✨For sleep support and resources, visit heysleepybaby.com and follow @heysleepybaby on Instagram! 😴☁️🤎✨

Rachael is a mom of 3, founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby, and the host of this podcast.

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Episode 45: Bridging Separation at Bedtime with Dr. Gordon Neufeld Jun 27, 2024

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Episode 45: Bridging Separation at Bedtime with Dr. Gordon Neufeld @neufeldinstitute

This week Rachael has a very special guest, Dr. Gordon Neufeld, to discuss the importance of attachment and the challenges parents face when it comes to bedtime and sleep. Dr. Neufeld is a renowned authority on child development and you will learn so much in this powerful episode!

Here’s what they discuss inside this important episode:

How attachment is a fundamental aspect of child development
Learn all about Dr. Neufeld's Model of the Six Stages of Attachment
The crucial role parents play in providing the necessary conditions for children to grow up and develop their capacity to hold on when apart
Why is society so focused on independence?!
How quick-fix strategies often overlook the importance of preserving the connection between parents and children
Bedtime challenges and separation struggles
How parents can support their children by bridging the separation at bedtime
And so much more!

Dr. Neufeld has accumulated more than 40 years of experience as a clinical psychologist with children and youth and those responsible for them. A foremost authority on child development, Dr. Neufeld continues to be an international speaker, a best-selling author and a leading interpreter of the developmental paradigm. Dr. Neufeld has a widespread reputation for making sense of complex problems and for opening doors for change. While formerly involved in university teaching and private practice, he has devoted the best part of the last two decades to creating courses for parents, teachers and helping professionals. These courses are offered primarily through the Neufeld Institute – an online educational institute and world-wide charitable organization devoted to applying developmental science to the task of raising children. Dr. Neufeld’s life's work has been to help adults provide the conditions for children to flourish. He is a father of five and a grandfather to seven.

Mentioned in this episode:

Free resources from Dr. Gordon Neufeld:

https://neufeldinstitute.org/resources/free/

Online conference with Dr. Neufeld:

The Current Crisis of Well-Being: What's Happening to Our Kids? https://neufeldinstitute.org/conference-2024/

See presentations and talks from Gordon Neufeld:

https://www.youtube.com/@neufeldmedia

Follow Dr. Gordon Neufeld's work on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NeufeldInstitute

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neufeldinstitute/

Dr. Neufeld’s Book: Hold Onto Your Kids

https://neufeldinstitute.org/resources/hold-on-to-your-kids-book/

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate 5⭐️ and write us a review! ⬇️

✨For sleep support and resources, visit heysleepybaby.com and follow @heysleepybaby on Instagram! 😴☁️🤎✨

Rachael is a mom of 3, founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby, and the host of this podcast.

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Episode 44: Q&A with Rachael and her husband, Marley Jun 20, 2024

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Episode 44: Q&A with Rachael and her husband, Marley

Join Rachael and her husband Marley as they answer some of YOUR most asked questions this week, share a glimpse into their life at home, and more!

Here is what they discuss In this fun episode:

Marley gives an update on his recent stay-at-home dad life transition
Rachael and Marley share how they decided to have a third baby
How Marley handles Rachael’s trips away when he is solo with kids overnight
How to gain confidence taking kids out solo

Marley is an LCMSW from San Francisco, CA and now a stay-at-home dad of three!

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate 5⭐️ and write us a review! ⬇️

✨For sleep support and resources, visit heysleepybaby.com and follow @heysleepybaby on Instagram! 😴☁️🤎✨

Rachael is a mom of 3, founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby, and the host of this podcast.

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Episode 43: Food Allergies and Sensitivities in Babies and Toddlers with Dr. Trillitye Paullin Jun 13, 2024

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Episode 43: Food Allergies and Sensitivities in Babies and Toddlers with Dr. Trillitye Paullin

If you have ever had a baby with food allergies, chances are you experienced many challenges with feeding your baby. This week Rachael is joined by Dr. Trillitye Paullin, a molecular biologist and mother of two. Rachael and Dr. Trill discuss food allergies and sensitivities in babies and children.

Here’s what they discuss inside this informative episode:

Dr. Trill’s personal experience with infant food allergies
Find out how proteins from breastmilk transfer to babies
The different types of formula available and the reasons WHY your baby may need a certain formula
Guidance for parents on when and how to switch formula
Looking for food reactions in your child
The difference between food allergies and intolerance
The symptoms of food reactions in toddlers and older children
Whether or not your child may grow out of an allergy
How to find support resources available for navigating feeding challenges
And so much more!

Dr. Trill Paullin is a molecular biologist and mother to two beautiful daughters who had severe infant food reactions to proteins transferred from her diet to breast milk. While struggling through elimination diets to continue breastfeeding, she discovered that many parents experience the same troubling situation. Dr. Trill wanted to create a place for parents to find answers to their questions about infant food reactivity and empower them to reach their feeding goals. Her online platform Free to Feed was born to provide the research, resources, and support she wished they had early on. They have started this mission by creating an educational support package, tracking app, personal consultations, and an allergy friendly postnatal multivitamin. Free to Feed’s team is working hard towards launching an at-home test kit that will allow parents to analyze their breast milk for allergens.

Mentioned in this episode:

Dr. Trill’s Website

Diaper Decipher resource

Free to Feed Ap

Instagram: @free.to.feed

COUPON CODE SLEEPYBABY for 20% off anything!

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate 5⭐️ and write us a review! ⬇️

✨For sleep support and resources, visit heysleepybaby.com and follow @heysleepybaby on Instagram! 😴☁️🤎✨

Rachael is a mom of 3, founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby, and the host of this podcast.

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Episode 42: Motherhood: Finding Joy and Authenticity with Caitlin Wilder Jun 06, 2024

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Episode 42: Motherhood: Finding Joy and Authenticity with Caitlin Wilder @wilderbeginnings

Motherhood can feel so exhausting, isolating, and divisive! It’s also portrayed on social media as just… not fun. Enter Caitlin Wilder. This week, Rachael is joined by Caitlin, a certified doula and mom of two turned social media “mom influencer” to have an open and honest conversation all about motherhood and postpartum realities. Caitlin created her following through sharing her journey of postpartum reality on Instagram and has taken off thanks to her refreshing blend of reality and positivity.. Rachael and Caitlin really MENTION IT ALL in this super cool (not uncool) episode:

Here’s what they discuss inside this insightful episode:

How Caitlin’s authenticity and positivity about motherhood has created a strong & supportive community on social media.
Her experience working at Bravo (!! my dream) before transitioning to the parenting and childbirth space as a doula, and the decision to not return to corporate work after having a baby
The benefits having a doula can have on your birth experience
How to trust your instincts and not be too hard on yourself as a parent
All about feeding choices, sleep etc. as parents- what’s with the divide?
How to have “Second Time Mom Energy” the first time around!
Of course- a little Bravo TV tea… we had to! Hear her behind the scenes opinions and find out what our favorites are and where to begin if you’re just starting your Bravo ✨journey!✨

Caitlin is a certified doula, childbirth educator, and mom of 2 who is doing her best to show the reality of postpartum on social media (the fun/difficult/unhinged and unwashed reality) all while encouraging others to shut out the noise and listen to their own parenting intuition! She started her account as a doula sharing realistic pregnancy advice, and has managed to build the most amazing community on Instagram. It's a mix of fun, education, mayhem, community, inspiration, and emotional violence (She can get very sappy). But all in all - it's a good time!!

Mentioned in this episode:

Caitlin’s instagram: @wilderbeginnings

Book Caitlin as your Doula (LA area) here!

Caitlin’s Merch here- Bad Moms + Babies Club

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate 5⭐️ and write us a review! ⬇️

✨For sleep support and resources, visit heysleepybaby.com and follow @heysleepybaby on Instagram! 😴☁️🤎✨

Rachael is a mom of 3, founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby, and the host of this podcast.

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Episode 41: Highly Sensitive Children: Tips for Parenting, Nurturing and Co-Regulation with Natalie Brunswick May 30, 2024

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Episode 41: Highly Sensitive Children: Tips for Parenting, Nurturing and Co-Regulation with Natalie Brunswick @highlysensitivefamily

We hear the term “highly sensitive” a lot these days- but what does being highly sensitive or having a highly sensitive child really mean? This week Rachael and Natalie Brunswick, a psychotherapist OT and parenting educator, dive deep into the characteristics of highly sensitive children (and parents!). You’ll learn all about the importance of understanding and supporting highly sensitive children, as well as the need for parents to do their own inner work.

Here’s what they discuss inside this insightful episode:

Natalie’s challenges with her colicky and sleepless baby, which led to her own postpartum PTSD diagnosis and a journey towards helping others
All the amazing & unique characteristics of highly sensitive children
How to help co-regulate and release stress for parents AND children
Some of the challenges and difficult experiences that can come with parenting highly sensitive children
Some potential ways to support highly sensitive children in school and social settings
Tools for sensitive & neurodivergent parents to support the needs of their sensitive children
Ways for parents to creatively meet their own needs
The grief that may arise during parenting
How to decide if and when you are ready for more children, particularly if your first was highly sensitive or you had a difficult time postpartum

Natalie is a psychotherapist, occupational therapist, parenting educator, mental health advocate, and mother of two exceptional boys. Like so many of us, she came into parenthood with an idea of what it would all look like. And, well, spoiler alert, it looked nothing at all like what she imagined! And so The Highly Sensitive Family was born. The Highly Sensitive Family is an online community with courses, workshops, and support for educating parents and helping others better understand their experiences, their stories, their nervous systems, their families, children & relationships, their dreams & passions.

Mentioned in this episode:

Natalie’s Instagram: @highlysensitivefamily

Natalie’s Website: https://highlysensitivefamily.com/

Natalie’s courses:

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate 5⭐️ and write us a review! ⬇️

✨For sleep support and resources, visit heysleepybaby.com and follow @heysleepybaby on Instagram! 😴☁️🤎✨

Rachael is a mom of 3, founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby, and the host of this podcast.

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Episode Sponsored By:

Mysteries About True Histories Podcast:

Tune in every Thursday for a brand new episode of Mysteries About True Histories! This series is perfect for kids ages six and up. Even if your child hasn’t learned some of these concepts yet in school, the storytelling seamlessly plants the seeds for all kinds of math, history, geography and science lessons that will keep your little ones curious and excited to learn. Listen to the podcast here.

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