The Top Knot Squad

Naps are Soul Care Mar 30, 2021

Season 4 is here!!!! Covid is still a cluster fuck but we are leaning in, pivoting, and showing the fuck up as best we can! Join Naya and Alexis to catch up on all they’ve been up to the last few months + an impromptu chat around lots of heavy shit. We are good at doing that, no? 🤣 At the end we review plans for this season, including a fun virtual event coming soooon! We miss you guys!

Careers, Crafting, and COVID Dec 22, 2020

On this episode, the squad talks about post COVID life, specifically navigating running a small business while in the midst of a global pandemic. We’ve all read the stories of small businesses pivoting during this unprecedented time, some with more success than others. As small business owners, we know how shocking the sudden start of the pandemic impacted growth. But what do you do when your livelihood depends on in-person gatherings? Today, we are excited to welcome our friend and supporter, Theresa Haddow.

Theresa Haddow is an artist and mama who lives in Austin Texas. Theresa is passionate about helping parents connect with their children through crafting with her craft subscription box the Create Kit. When she’s not designing, making or packing crafts, Theresa can be found making whimsical pieces of artwork and encouraging others to add a little creativity to their day.

Resources:

Pivoting as Parents Dec 03, 2020

On this episode, the squad talks about post COVID life. We all know that the pandemic has caused us to re-evaluate our schooling, occupational, and financial situations. For some, it was the push they needed to change the way they had been doing everything. On today’s episode, we are excited to bring on our friend and longtime supporter, Jessica Burleson.

After working in nonprofit management and fundraising for the past 15 years, Jessica left the nonprofit world to become a homesteader and homeschool mom. Her family moved from the city to a 4.5 acre farm just outside of Austin, where they now raise three children along with goats, chickens, ducks, and pigs. They are developing our operation and envision Root Awakenings Family Farm being a place that provides a vacation house, wedding venue, music studio, inclusive community-building space, and CSA package in the next 3-5 years. Their farm provides a peaceful space to relax and enjoy their connection to the natural world.

Resources:

Root Awakenings Family Farm on Instagram Partners in Parenting

Tweens, Teens, and Anxiety Nov 18, 2020

On this episode, the squad talks about anxiety and adolescence. While our kiddos aren’t teenagers yet (though Naya’s about to be mom to a tween and Alexis feels like she’s parenting a teen lol), we’re always happy to learn more about ways to help them through tough moments. Okay, that’s putting it lightly - when we think back to ourselves being teens, there’s a lot of cringing and we aren’t looking forward to what’s to come. To learn more about ways to support our older children and teens with anxiety, we’ve brought on our guest, Courtney Harris.

As a Life Coach for Teens and Parents, Courtney (she/her) supports tweens, teens, and young adults in finding their voice and growing confidence. Courtney supports parents in practicing self-care, maintaining personal growth, and developing balanced sensitivity towards the process their rapidly-changing child is creating. Sessions with Courtney lovingly guide families in overcoming isolation, as they develop the trust, communication, and connection that’s crucial for a life of ease.

Courtney is proud to elevate the voices and needs of each client she has the honor of serving. She is dedicated to inclusive, anti-oppressive work in both her personal and professional relationships and in the systems she lives and works in.

Resources:

ADHD in Women Nov 04, 2020

On this episode, the squad talks about mental health, specifically a change in diagnosis. We all know that motherhood is ever evolving: each phase brings new joys and new challenges. But what about how we’re doing? Oh yeah - that changes, too. The same applies to our mental health. As we change from one phase to the next, the same coping mechanisms, medications, and therapies may need to be updated, too. On today’s episode, we will be discussing the mental health journey of one mother who realized she needed to be re-evaluated after seeing signs on TikTok. We are excited to be joined by Katie Crenshaw.

Katie is a mother of three living in Atlanta, Georgia. A bestselling author, maternal mental health advocate and speaker, her work has been featured in The Mighty, Redbook, Good Housekeeping, Scary Mommy, and The Huffington Post.

Resources: Katie’s blog

Katie’s Instagram

https://courage-counseling.com/blog/

Big Election Energy Oct 20, 2020

On today’s episode, we’ll be talking about the November 2020 election and the role that we as parents have in ensuring our future voters understand the importance of casting a ballot. We know that this is a Presidential election year and this year especially, there seems to be a lot at stake - like... everything is at stake! All of the plans and all of the “get out to vote” events have had to pivot in a big way. Our guest on today's episode is one we've had on before. She's full of great information on Texas politics and getting involved at a manageable level. We're excited to welcome back Becky Bullard! Becky Bullard is a co-founder of Rouser—a Texas-based creative civic engagement company—and co-host of the podcast "The Rabble," which they say is like Texas politics but with funfetti. She left a successful career as an advertising copywriter and strategist for some of the world's biggest brands (like Dell and Chipotle) to form Rouser, a company with a mission to bring more Texans into the political process at every level. On "The Rabble" podcast, Becky and her co-host Ashley Cheng are currently focused on helping people understand how important the Texas House is, as well as giving people one actionable thing to do each day leading up to the 2020 election. Growing up as a devout Christian conservative whose views evolved over time to the complete opposite end of the spectrum, Becky brings a unique perspective to Texas politics. Resources:

Birth and Postpartum in a Pandemic Oct 06, 2020

Earlier this year, our squad grew by two feet: Alexis had a baby! Baby Rhys was born in late May and he’s been eating ever since. On today’s episode, we catch up about what we’ve been doing for the last several months. Alexis shares her experience with being pregnant, having a baby, and going through the fourth trimester during a global pandemic. These views are from her experiences as a privileged cis hetero white woman. We also discuss pregnancy and birth as a trauma survivor, so please take the space you need around this topic.

Resources:

The Top Knot Squad - Alexis' Birth Story episode (Season 2)

Accessible and Affordable Childcare May 19, 2020

This episode is sponsored by Babysitting Connection. Babysitting Connection is an affordable membership service matching high-quality babysitters with Austin families. Babysitting Connection currently covers the Austin area, from Georgetown to San Marcos. Through their online booking system, members can schedule a babysitter any time day or night. Babysitting Connection offers several different packages, allowing you to choose the package that works best for you and your family. They pride themselves on identifying diverse sitters from a variety of backgrounds to help meet the needs of their members. Learn more about their membership packages at babysittingconnection.com. Stay tuned for a special discount for Top Knot Squad listeners at the end of the episode.

On today’s episode, we talk about childcare. As working moms, we know the challenge of finding reliable, affordable, and safe childcare. But our experience comes from a place of privilege - we are fortunate to have jobs that allow for flexibility and partners who are able to work from home if needed. The average annual child care costs in Texas are around $14,000 a year for center based care. Average annual costs for home-based childcare in Texas is around $10,000 annually. Nearly half of all Americans live in what’s referred to as a “childcare desert” - “any census tract with more than 50 children under age 5 that contains either no child care providers or so few options, that there are more than three times as many children as licensed child care slots.” A 2019 study from the Center for American Progress found that mothers who were unable to find a child care program were significantly less likely to be employed than those who found a child care program, whereas there was no impact on fathers’ employment.So where does this leave single parents or families that do not have the nearly $1,000 per month per child for childcare? Today we are here to discuss accessible and affordable childcare with Taylor Huntley.

Taylor Huntley is a Black millennial mother, a wife, a birthworker and an advocate for accessible and affordable childcare. She is the creative founder of Mama Mangos Care, a platform for millennial motherhood and spiritual self care practices. She works for a local reproductive justice non-profit by day as a program coordinator and facilitator and is a self-studied community herbalist by night. She believes women thrive when supported by birth workers and community advocates that have shared life experiences. Taylor is a trained birth companion, postpartum doula and lactation educator. Her lifework centers around supporting womxn and their families wholistically and she believes an identified need is accessible childcare.

The ATX Community Childcare scholarship was born out of need. The ATXCC scholarship is a grassroots, community based project. From the raising of funds to the process of picking the recipient. Our goal is to be able to pay full tuition for an individual applicant, every month and to have emergency funds for parents that need to attend job interviews, vendor markets and other income driven opportunities.

Resources:

Political Activism as Parents Round Two Apr 24, 2020

On today’s episode, the squad is excited to tackle another episode around political activism as parents. It's a topic we discussed last season with Becky from the Rabble where we focused on getting involved with government, elections, and staying educated, but this time around we are thrilled to interview Sera Bonds on more hands on activism and how to engage the whole family in the good fight for justice!

Sera is a social justice activist committed to working towards balancing the scales of access, equity, and availability in sexual reproductive healthcare. She has training in midwifery, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Women’s Studies, and a Masters Degree in Public Health. Her community organizing background ranges from reproductive rights to violence against women to welfare and poverty issues to pro-immigration campaigns. She has worked on sexual reproductive health actions in over twenty countries spanning North America, Africa, Asia, Central America, the Middle East, and the Caribbean, having raised over 20 million dollars for political actions and public health programs impacting over three million women globally. She is the founder of a leading feminist global aid organization, Circle of Health International, and Co-Founder of Waking Giants, an ATX-based social impact company providing folx with the tools we need to do good.

Resources:

Ethical Non-Monogamy Mar 18, 2020

On today’s episode, the squad will be discussing Ethical Non-Monogamy, a topic that frankly neither of us are fully informed on, but want to understand in more depth. This podcast is constantly tackling the avoided conversations. The ones that bring about discomfort and help us face the bias and unlearning we still need to unearth. As parents we value inclusivity and want our children to live in a world where “othering” can shift and compassion and community can lead us closer to our humanity. We are thrilled to have our friends/colleagues Scout Chavers and Fanny Priest joining us to share their wisdom around today’s topic. We encourage you to listen with an open heart and mind and learn alongside us :)

Scout is a yoga teacher, social justice doula and educational facilitator in Austin, TX. Emerging from a lineage of caregivers Scout had a natural and holistic way of grounding others through her teaching and hands-on social justice work. She uses her education and background in prenatal/postnatal yoga, yin yoga, the biology of birth, life and death.

Resources:

Scout Chavers: Wild Awake Wellness
Fanny Priest: Yin Yoga Magic

Maternal Nutrition and Depletion Mar 03, 2020

On today’s episode, the squad talks about nutrition and maternal depletion. As any birthing person can tell you, pregnancy does a number on our bodies. Not only do organs literally shift their position to make room for growing a tiny human, the effects can linger long after birth. From changes in shoe size to hair texture, it’s safe to say that our bodies are never the same after baby.

Our guest today is Mirelle Leguia of Mother Nutrient. Mirelle is a holistic nutrition consultant based in Austin, TX. She graduated from Bauman College's Holistic Nutrition Program with Honors after completing her Master's in Business Administration from Southern Methodist University and her Bachelor's in Business Administration from UT Austin.

Mirelle's interest in nutrition came after her own health challenges during and after her pregnancies. She left her established career in marketing to pursue her interest in women's health, specifically prenatal and postnatal nutrition. Mirelle has worked with local and international clients, helping them recover their health after having babies and teaching them about nutrient dense foods.She specializes in Paleo, WAPF and other nutrient dense diets.

Mirelle lives in south Austin with her husband Jason, son Nico, puppy Emma, eight happy backyard chickens, and is expecting her second boy via surrogacy in April.

Resources:

Goop: Maternal depletion even 10 years later

Mother Nutrient's Nutrition Quiz

Mother Nutrient on Instagram

Sober Parenthood Feb 18, 2020

On today’s episode, the squad talks about Sober Parenthood. We’ve all read and probably laughed at a meme that jokes about needing to drink to cope as a parent. For years, alcohol has steadily seeped into the social fabric of motherhood, with pitchers of mimosas at morning playdates, Thermoses of “mommy juice” on the soccer field sidelines and Facebook feeds filled with stylized memes declaring it’s not really drinking alone if your kids are home. Studies show that women — especially women in their 30s and 40s — are drinking more than ever before.

It is said to have originated back in the 1960s, when mostly male doctors would reportedly prescribe Valium as a way for women to manage their anxiety, rather than teaching them coping and self-regulation tools, and calling the process “Mommy’s Little Helper”.

About Danielle:

Our guest today is Danielle Park. Danielle (she/her) is a Tarot reader/teacher, massage therapist, and mother of 2 young children in Austin. She uses the Tarot to help people embrace their own agency and develop a practice for self-acceptance and self-awareness. She has been sober for over 2 years and enjoys documenting the proliferation of wine-mom propaganda/merchandise. You can learn more about her on @oakmoontarot or oakmoontarot.com

Resources:

Danielle’s website: oakmoontarot.com

Danielle’s Instagram: instagram.com/oakmoontarot

The “sober curious” movement

Sober Mommies

The Sans Bar Austin

Questioning your alcohol habits or wondering where to get help? Start at https://www.alcohol.org/

The Long Road of Repair Feb 06, 2020

On this episode of the Top Knot Squad, we will be discussing parenting as a survivor of mental health. It is no secret that perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMAD) can wreak havoc on every aspect of our lives. But what about its effects on life after early parenthood? On today’s episode, we will be discussing parenting as a survivor of mental health, the impact that PMADs can have on our relationships, and the prolonged repair we have to engage in with our children and partners to maintain healthy attachment. We’re excited to welcome our guest, Jill Birt.

About Jill:

Jill is a Registered Nurse, Certified Yoga Teacher with advanced training in Yoga Psychology and an essential oil educator for doTERRA essential oils. She began her career as an RN here in Austin in 2001 caring for expectant mamas in labor and delivery. She found herself drawn to yoga and meditation for support as her family grew and life demands thickened, but it wasn't until she was trying to find her way out of the debilitating darkness of severe anxiety and depression that trailed postpartum psychosis, that she really discovered the healing power of yoga. Through study and practice, she has learned yoga is far more than a physical experience. Her study of yoga has deepened her understanding of the human mind, body and spirit and the immense resource of intelligence within. The path of yoga has also led her to discover the vast support nature offers in holistic wellbeing. She believes the most effective form of healthcare is integrative holistic healthcare. She holds a great respect for the power nature offers in healing, values the advancements of modern science, and relies upon the wisdom and spiritual teachings of yoga

Resources:

Jill website: https://mailchi.mp/585e50bc0cdd/prepared

Jill IG: @prepared_motherhood & @jillmbirt

NAMI: https://www.nami.org/

Kids Life Mastery at Austin Yoga Tree: https://widgets.mindbodyonline.com/widgets/class_lists/a713594eae5/class_description?site_mbo_id=188875&class_description_id=148&widget_type=Enrollment&ga_client_id=undefined&source=enrollment_v0&device_id=f1960b7e-e09b-46db-a872-f29ce903db41R

The Monster Under Your Bed Book: https://www.amazon.com/Monster-Under-Your-Just-Story/dp/0692800069 Hey Warrior Book: https://www.heysigmund.com/product/hey-warrior/

Parenting School-Aged Kids Nov 06, 2019

On today’s episode, we’ll be talking about Parenting School Age Children. Between the ages of 5 and 12, children expand their horizons and spend more time away from their parents. It can be tough to see your child go from baby to child – going to school, making friends, and learning more about the world. It’s an exciting time in your child’s development, but can also come with a multitude of stressors as both you and your child learn to navigate new systems, routines, and relationships, not to mention concerns about inclusion, bullying, violence, sex ed, and more. We are thrilled to have Dr. Eboni Lunsford Calbow join us for today's conversation and hopefully provide us with some tips and tricks on surviving the journey through the school years.

Eboni Lunsford Calbow, LCSW, PhD, is a clinical assistant professor in the Steve Hicks School of Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin.

Her current research and teaching interests include school social work, trauma informed care and intervention, educational equity and social justice, multidisciplinary and collaborative practice, and evidence-based interventions for children with disabilities.

Prior to teaching full time at the Steve Hicks School of Social Work, Calbow was a school social worker for almost a decade, working with over twenty school campuses in Austin ISD. She has experience working with children and adolescents ages 3-22 and is a Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) Practitioner. Her professional practice covered topics like trauma informed intervention, culturally responsive practice, drop-out prevention, sociocultural influences on academic progress, school ethics, crisis and critical incidents, non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), and suicide prevention and intervention.

Resources:

Eboni's practice: https://elixirtherapy.co/ Eboni on IG: https://www.instagram.com/elixirtherapy/

Implicit Bias Oct 22, 2019

On today’s episode, we’ll be talking about bias. Bias penetrates all aspects of our lives, from workplace bias to bias in mainstream media to bias in education. TKS has focused on maternal mortality in a previous episode this season, but today we’ll be looking at one of the many factors that impact the high rates seen in the US: bias, specifically bias in birth. This encompasses racial biases, biases based on sexual orientation, and beyond, all impacting marginalized communities already at risk for negative birth outcomes. Our guest today is Jennifer Sarduy, mama, activist, and founder of Re+Birth Equity Alliance.

Jen is a community organizer with several organizations, working to hold space and encourage accountability with issues that affect her community.

Primarily, she works with Re+Birth Equity Alliance, an organization she co-founded to address disconnection within birth justice. Within Re+Birth Equity she helps to organize mobile mental health clinics and community based adult sex ed conversations. She travels regularly for Re+Birth Equity to train birth and family workers on implicit bias management and systemic racism in birth. She also is involved with a local harm reduction non-profit, working to ensure that people who use drugs are safer and better understood in Fort Worth. In her free time she enjoys making fish faces at the fish in her aquarium in order to seem more relatable, and making up elaborate excuses to avoid school fundraisers.

Resources:

Re+Birth Equity Alliance

Partnering and Parenting Oct 07, 2019

On this episode of the Top Knot Squad, we will be talking about partnering and parenting at the same time and how the eff to keep our relationship healthy. Big things happen to a partnership when you decide to add children to the mix and while parenthood is an exciting time for a couple, it is also guaranteed to bring about some level of stress or strain on the relationship. Today we hope to dive in to everything from communication, mental load, not hating each other, and overall learn a bit more about how to parent without losing touch with your partner. We are thrilled to have our friend and colleague, Genevieve Saenz joining us for this conversation.

About our guest:

Genevieve Saenz, MA, LMFT-Associate (she/her) is both a very silly and a very serious person, who loves gardening, art supplies, ghost stories, and her wild wonderful family. Genevieve created her private practice, PassageWay Arts, in 2013. As a celebrant and therapist, she uses compassionate counseling, the creative arts, and sacred ceremony to create consciousness and ease the pain of change.

Resources:

- Genevieve’s practice, Passageway Arts - Partners in Parenting Austin- Gottman Institute’s Bringing Home Baby Workshops - “Making Marriage Work” lecture by Dr. John Gottman

Parenting as a Survivor Sep 20, 2019

On this episode of the Top Knot Squad, we will be talking about what it’s like to parent as a trauma survivor and how we can discuss right from wrong touch with our kids. According to the National Center for Victims of Crimes , 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys have been sexually abused before 18th birthday. There are 42 million survivors of child sexual abuse in America. 3 million are children, which would fill 46 national football stadiums. 90% of children are sexually abused by someone they know and trust. There are over 747,000 registered sex offenders in America.

Today, we don’t just want to talk about how to eliminate this crisis, but also discuss what happens when a survivor gives birth and faces their own parenting journey. For many survivors of childhood abuse, symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) may re-occur, or never arise, until they become a parent. All of us have struggled with mom guilt at some point or another, but parenting survivors are at an increased risk for internalizing shame and can find themselves feeling triggered while navigating the trenches of parenthood. Today we are thrilled to have our friend and colleague, Lindsay Thomason joining us for this conversation.

Lindsay is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and the owner and founder of The Nanny League, Inc., an elite placement agency that matches affluent families with college-educated nannies. She started the agency in 2010 after pursuing a career in television & film that ultimately led her to taking on a live-in nanny role for a high-profile family in Los Angeles. Lindsay and her team of women behind the brand have successfully built a database of thousands of professional, college-educated nannies, baby nurses and personal assistants, and have matched them with families across the United States. The Nanny League has been featured in PEOPLE Magazine, New York Magazine, US Weekly, My Fox LA, Celebrity Baby Scoop and Lindsay appeared on Austin’s Studio 512 last winter. In 2017, Lindsay was nominated for LA Business Journal 's 2017 Women's Summit CEO of the Year. She proudly serves on the board as an Associate for Stop the Silence: Stop Child Sexual Abuse, Inc.®, and has most recently helped develop an online training program to educate nannies about child sexual abuse prevention and mitigation. The Nanny League is the first-ever nanny agency to mandate this training for its members. Lindsay currently resides is Austin, TX with her husband Eric, their six-month-old twins, Bette & Sarge, and chi-terrorist (Chihuahua Terrier) dog Evvie. She is extremely passionate about educating people on childhood sexual abuse and is dedicated to maintaining The Nanny League's reputation as one of the best nanny matchmaker agencies in the US.

Resources:

Bessel A. van der Kolk, “The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma"

Ellen Bass & Laura Davis, "The Courage to Heal"

The Courage to Heal Workbook

Erin Merryn

The Swimsuit Lesson

The Right Touch

Losing a Child Aug 13, 2019

On today's episode, we'll be discussing a heavy topic (when do we not?), the loss of a child. The loss of a child is generally considered the worst possible grief and a topic that is often ignored because of the immense pain involved. We are grateful to have our friend and colleague, Kim Borchert on the show today to share with us her some of her story and help us bring more awareness on navigating grief as a parent. We know the grieving process is a very individual and personal experience, but we hope Kim can help us understand more about the grieving parent. Please listen with an open heart, but also take the space you may need. Kim is the wife to a pretty amazing Man and Mom of 6, 5 on Earth and 1 Beyond. She has been an unapologetic normalizer of death since her daughter died in 2003. She is a childbirth educator and birth and postpartum doula that specializes in helping families navigate grief, loss, and welcoming their rainbow babies. She owns Austin Doula Care with her Doula Soul Mate and is so grateful for the opportunity to serve Austin families and collaborate with other doulas in Austin. She is a lover of plants, herbs, and making food and medicines from her garden. When she is not doing doula work or playing in the dirt, you can find Kim swimming with her kiddos, reading a book, or watching Outlander. Resources: http://austindoulacare.com/ http://nationalshare.org/ https://www.compassionatefriends.org/

Our Birth Stories, Part 2 Jul 29, 2019

On today’s episode of TKS, join Naya and Alexis for a two-part episode where they take turns sharing their birth stories.

On part one of two, tune in as Alexis shares about the birth of her son Rory and then her daughter Rowan.

Our Birth Stories, Part 1 Jul 15, 2019

On today’s episode of TKS, join Naya and Alexis for a two-part episode where they take turns sharing their birth stories.

On part one of two, tune in as Naya shares about the birth of her oldest son Ethan and then the birth of her younger son, Rohan. Then be sure to stay tuned for part two next week to hear as Alexis shares about the birth of her son Rory and then her daughter Rowan.

White Washing of Motherhood Jun 25, 2019

On today's episode we'll be discussing the white washing of motherhood. This topic is sure to bring up some discomfort, but that’s what we do here. We talk about the things not always prioritized in conversations around parenting. So let’s open our hearts and minds and take some time to listen, reflect and grow! We are thrilled to have our friend and colleague, Courtney Butts back on the squad to dive into this topic with us. Courtney joined us last season as we discussed maternal mortality and we are looking forward to hearing her viewpoint on today’s topic as well.

Courtney Butts is a Licensed Master Social Worker and Certified BEST Doula in Dallas, TX. She has a BS in Psychology and a MS in Social Work. Courtney has over 10 years of experience educating and supporting individuals and families. After the birth of her son, Courtney knew she wanted to serve as a support to other families as a doula and childbirth educator. This work has allowed Courtney to bring together two things she is passionate about- working with trauma survivors and her love of all things pregnancy and postpartum. Her goal is to provide a safe and compassionate space for families to bring life into the world. Courtney also provides therapy with a focus on maternal mental health.

Courtney’s Intro:

The Father's Day Special: #dadlife with the TKS dads! Jun 11, 2019

Here at TKS, we talk about all things related to mom life: pelvic floor health, juggling work and motherhood, and transitions throughout motherhood. Today we interrupt our regularly scheduled topics to bring you an episode all about Dad Life! Last season, we brought our partners on the podcast to play an edition of the Newlywed Game. Today we’re here for less competitive reasons. We’re going to ask then no holds barred questions about fatherhood, how they parent, and how it feels to be married to such amazing powerhouse women *cough* Lets reintroduce our guys! Dave Weber is a software development engineer for a top four tech firm. He enjoys a good glass of whiskey, bike rides, and cruising Reddit for hours. A self-described geek, he’s a big fan of gadgets and his latest passion is perfecting the pH of our backyard swimming pool. Ben Edwards is the chief technology officer at a digital music company. He enjoys red wine, telling bad jokes, and watching Liverpool win. Often mistaken for a lumberjack, he loves plaid, Irish/Scottish culture, and all things Star Wars. He recently lost his mind when he got to meet his childhood idol Chewbacca. Resources: Grace Hopper Celebration: https://ghc.anitab.org/

Political Activism as Parents May 21, 2019

On this episode of the Top Knot Squad, we will be discussing political activism as parents. There are many ways to be an activist. You can donate time, expertise, funds, or become a volunteer. Sometimes it’s just about staying true to your beliefs, staying informed on topics you feel passionate about, and sharing what you know with others in your life. Today we are excited to explore this topic in more depth with mom and political activist, Becky Bullard.

Becky Bullard is a co-founder of Rouser—a Texas-based progressive media company—and co-host of the podcast "The Rabble: Texas politics for the unruly mob." She left a successful career as an advertising copywriter and strategist for some of the world's biggest brands (like Dell and Chipotle) to form Rouser, a company with a mission to bring more Texans into the political process at every level. She likes to think of Rouser as the “kale brownie” of Texas politics—real substance that feels like a treat. On "The Rabble" podcast, Becky and co-hosts Ashley Cheng and Kristen Gunn weave in their personal experiences with everything from miscarriage to immigration alongside policy lessons and interviews with a wide range of folks, from high schoolers creating change to presidential candidates. Growing up as a devout Christian conservative whose views evolved over time to the complete opposite end of the spectrum, Becky brings a unique perspective to Texas politics.

Resources:

Teen Parenting May 07, 2019

On this episode of the Top Knot Squad, we will be discussing the topic of teen parenting. According to the CDC, while teen pregnancy rates have been on the decline, the U.S. teen pregnancy rate is still substantially higher than in other western industrialized nations. We also know that access to evidence-based prevention programs and/or youth-friendly contraceptive and reproductive health services do not exist in all states, making this topic even more complex. Parenting is hard, but parenting teens brings on a new range of concerns for parents as they navigate the best way to help teens make healthy choices about relationships, sex, birth control and beyond.

We didn’t want to tackle this topic alone, so today we are excited to have our friend (and official TKS photographer!!), Jessica Rockowitz joining the conversation. Jessica was herself a teen mom and is passionate about supporting teen parents and creating space to discuss this sensitive issue. Jessica is a mom of three kids, ages 14, 5, and 3. She is originally from Boston but relocated with her family to the Austin area three years ago. She is a former OB/GYN Nurse Educator but left the profession in 2015 to pursue marketing and digital media. She purchased a DSLR to take better photos for her clients, fell deeply in love, and has now taken the leap into a full-time photography business. Jessica is passionate about writing, travel, supporting young parents, and drinking iced coffee.

Learn more by visiting the Top Knot Squad blog.

Resources:

Jessica Rocowitz Photography & Film

Planned Parenthood

It’s NOT the Stork

AISD Elementary Lesson Overviews (Grades 3-5) Human Sexuality Curriculum

AISD Elementary Lesson Overviews (Grades 6-8) Human Sexuality Curriculum

AISD High School Sexuality and Responsibility

Transitions Apr 24, 2019

On this episode of the Top Knot Squad, we will be tackling all things transitions. The transition to parenthood is hard enough, let alone when we navigate that on top of other life transitions and challenges.

Today we hope to dig deep and hear from each other on our own transitions and challenges in motherhood, what that felt like, the impact on us as women, our relationships, and more! Joining us for today’s conversation are Jacqueline Chandler and Anne Clary, ⅔ of the brains behind La Mama Care, a brand dedicated to curating postpartum care kits for the new mom’s fourth trimester.

Jacqueline is a birth and postpartum doula in Austin, Texas. She is mama to two littles and has a special place in her heart for NICU parents as her daughter spent 10 days in intensive care after she decided to make an arrival at 34 weeks gestation. Anne is the mama of TWINS and feels fortunate to have lots of help from her parents and sister who live nearby. This support network has been crucial for everyone's sanity (and sleep!) and is something Anne hopes to recreate through La Mama Care's services.

Learn more by visiting the Top Knot Squad blog.

Resources:

The Lost Art of Cooking at Home Apr 09, 2019

On today’s episode, TKS discusses the lost art of cooking at home. Thanks to a food television and social media culture that aims for Pinterest worthy perfection, cooking at home has become yet another stressor on the exhausted parents to-do-list. According to The Washington Post, fewer than 60% of meals that are eaten at home are prepared at home. Today the squad will discuss the struggle with meal planning and prepping, but more importantly the ways that moving away from the kitchen can impact our ability to gather with the ones we love. Today we are excited to learn from chef and spice girl, Anne Milneck on how to embrace home cooking so we can slow down, savor the moment, and prioritize our need for connection.

Anne’s Intro:

Anne Milneck is the owner of Red Stick Spice Company in Baton Rouge, LA. Originally from LaPlace, Louisiana, Anne has lived in Baton Rouge for more than 20 years. She studied journalism at LSU and earned a culinary degree from the John Folse Culinary Institute at Nicholls State University.

Helping customers make the most of their purchases and their time in the kitchen is Anne's main goal. Whether it's taco night for the family or a six-course dinner party, every meal deserves quality ingredients. Little Cooking 101 lessons go on each day in the store--it's Anne's favorite part of the job. Anne says, "Cooking disasters are inevitable, but you can't let the mishaps derail your efforts. Press on. Tomorrow is a new day with new ingredients and a new shot at deliciousness."

For Anne, cooking represents happiness and family and comfort and joy. She wants everyone to feel the same way when they step up to the stove.

Anne serves as Board President of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation LA/MS Chapter and hosts the annual Guts & Glory Popup Dinner. She served on the board of the Greater Baton Rouge YWCA as well as Runnels School fundraising committees and was a volunteer with Baton Rouge Magnet High. She currently donates her time as a cooking instructor to LSU Health’s Diabetes program.

Resources:

Red Stick Spice Company

Salt Fat Acid Heat

Cooked

Cooks Illustrated

Life After Loss Mar 26, 2019

**trigger warning**

On this episode, TKS discusses the heavy topic of grief, including things we often overlook in our day to day lives and approaching the topic with your children. This topic can be difficult so please be kind to yourself and take the space you need.

As mothers, we want to do everything we can to protect our little ones from things that hurt, both physically and emotionally. While we do a pretty good job, there are life events that rock our world. One of those life events is death: whether it’s the passing of a beloved pet, friend, or family member, trying to speak to children about it seems unthinkable. In addition to speaking to our children about it, we also need to think about life beyond loss. Having this conversation with your spouse, partner, and other family members can be difficult - it’s definitely one that no one wants to think about, let alone discuss in detail, but today we are lucky to have Cheyenne Bell in the studio to help us navigate this often avoided topic with compassion and tenderness.

About Cheyenne:

Cheyenne Bell is a young widow, a mama to two littles, an attorney, writer, speaker, and blogger at Sense & Serendipity, a website focused on inspiring others to create a home well loved and a life well lived. A lover of home decor, vintage finds, yoga, coffee, red wine and sarcasm, Cheyenne lives in the Austin area with her two sweet kiddos. You can find her at www.senseandserendipityblog.com, or on Instagram and Facebook at @senseandserendipityblog.

Resources:

Austin Center for Grief & Loss: https://www.austingrief.org/

Hope Hospice: https://www.hopehospice.net/

State Bar of Texas: https://www.texasbar.com/

Dougy Center: https://www.dougy.org/

What’s Your Grief? Website and podcast: https://whatsyourgrief.com/grief-podcast/

Learn more and visit the Top Knot Squad blog here.

The Sex Episode Mar 12, 2019

Sex: (Almost) everybody does it and (almost) nobody talks about it, except for the squad of course! We tackled this topic in Season 1 when the squad shared their personal experiences with sex after baby, but today we are ready to dive in deeper than ever before! Today we are thrilled to have Miranda Wylie in the studio with us to help us unravel all things sex, sexuality, body image, feminism and beyond!

Miranda is the co-founder and producer of BedPost Confessions, a live storytelling series here in Austin and also programs content for SXSW. Stay tuned this March for sessions on women's health, body hair, cultural appropriation and as many conversations on intersectionality as possible. The ex-New Yorker turned Austinite is a storyteller who advocates for sexual literacy and emotional justice, and whose feminist lens serves her in parenting away from the "boys will be boys" mentality. Miranda's latest project, the SEEN podcast, asks people to reflect on the ways they are seen, or rendered invisible by loved ones, strangers, and most of all themselves.

Resources:

Learn more and visit the Top Knot Squad blog here.

PT Below the Waist Feb 26, 2019

Naya and Alexis were so excited to be joined by Jamille and Jessica of Sullivan Physical Therapy in the studio! We talked about painful sex after pregnancy, diastasis recti, and why we shouldn't have to pee ourselves with every sneeze.

Jessica and Jamille both specialize in pelvic floor health and also co-host a podcast about pelvic floor physical therapy called PT Below The Waist. They are passionate about spreading knowledge about pelvic health and normalizing the way we talk about our bowel, bladder and sexual health. You can subscribe to their podcast on iTunes, follow them on Twitter, and like them on Facebook.

Thank you to Sullivan Physical Therapy for sponsoring today's episode! Sullivan Physical Therapy is a private practice clinic in Austin, Texas that specializes in women's and men's health. They address impairments of the low back, pelvis and pelvic floor including conditions such as:

Cesarean, Episiotomy and Scar Pain
Constipation and Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Incontinence
Low back, Sciatica and Tailbone Pain
Painful Sex and Menstruation
Pre/Post Natal Pain and Weakness, Diastasis Recti
Prolapse and more!

Sullivan PT’s physical therapists have advanced training in women's and men's health. Each appointment is one-on-one with a physical therapist allowing them to offer individualized treatment plans for each patient designed around the diagnosis and patient's goals. If you are interested in more information please visit their website at www.sullivanphysicaltherapy.com.

Jessica Chastka, PT, DPT

Jessica earned her Bachelor’s in Exercise Science from the University of Louisiana at Monroe, while playing softball. She received a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston in August 2015 and currently has about 6,500 hours experience treating patients with pelvic floor dysfunction.

Jessica became interested in women’s and men’s health after participating in mission trips and clinical rotations where she treated patients with pelvic floor dysfunction. She became inspired to help people who didn't think anything could be done for their problems or felt that they were alone in what they were experiencing. While she loves to treat any and all pelvic floor dysfunction, she especially enjoys getting postpartum women back to exercise and treating chronic pain conditions.

Jamille Niewiara, PT, DPT

Jamille Niewiara received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. She received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Northwestern University in Chicago, IL. During her last clinical rotation, Jamille had a 3 month internship at Sullivan Physical Therapy. She gained interest and knowledge working in women’s and men’s health conditions and continued working at Sullivan Physical Therapy after graduation. She has over 5000 hours experience in treating patients with pelvic floor dysfunction.

Jamille is passionate about treating patients with pelvic floor conditions and providing them with the tools and support they need to improve their overall well being. She strives to make her patients feel comfortable and assure patients they are in the right place to address their symptoms.

Learn more and visit the Top Knot Squad blog here.

Season 1 Finale: The one with our partners! Nov 19, 2018

Today is the final episode of season one of TKS, but don’t fret, season two will be here before you know it! We have some amazing things planned for early next year including loads of kickass content, guests, and even an in-person Galentine’s event!!! Be sure to follow us on social to stay up to date.

Today we have the best of the best as far as episode guests...OUR MEN!!!! We wanted to give our audience a glimpse of who TKS is so what better way to share some of our quirks than to bring on our partners! Join TKS as they laugh through a newlywed style game full of silly and sometimes awkward questions about our habits, fears, first dates, you name it!

Patreon:

If the Top Knot Squad’s content makes you laugh, nod in agreement, or makes you feel less alone, we’d love your support in the cost of producing this podcast. Visit patreon.com/topknotsquad to learn more about our budget-friendly sponsorship tiers and how you can help ensure that TKS has a future. Every little bit helps!

The Enneagram + Relationships Oct 30, 2018

On today’s episode, the squad will be discussing the enneagram with local enneagram expert Abi Robins! Abi is a yoga teacher, yoga therapist, enneagram coach, and fellow podcaster over at Conscious Construction! Abi helps people incorporate both practices (yoga + enneagram) into healing and growth. We asked Abi to join us today to give us and our listeners an intro to enneagram and more importantly how it can be helpful in our parenting and relationships. As you can imagine, 3 mamas running one show may need a little help navigating the dynamics of not only friendship but also the ins and outs of a working relationship. Today we hope to explore a bit around each of our TKS types and get feedback on how to share space outside of our own worldviews.

Resources:

Where to find Abi:

Abi’s website: https://www.abirobinsyoga.com/
Abi’s podcast: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/abi-robins/conscious-construction
Abi’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/consciousenneagram/

Overview of types: https://www.enneagramworldwide.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Enneagram_101.pdf

Test to take: http://exploreyourtype.com/details

Perinatal Loss Oct 09, 2018

*Trigger warning* On today’s episode the squad will be discussing perinatal loss which we know is a sensitive and difficult subject. Please take the space you need and step away from the episode if needed

We know 1 in 4 pregnancies end in loss, and like many of the topics we tackle, our hope is that by talking more openly about the experience, we can feel less alone on the journey. We would also like to recognize that October is Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month. The loss of a child stays with a parent forever, but it can be challenging for others to truly understand the emotional and physical impact. Events across the country take place each October in order to educate and help people better empathize and support parents through their grief journey.

Resources:

Hand to Hold: https://handtohold.org/

Austin Center for Grief and Loss: https://www.austingrief.org/support-groups

Ronald McDonald Healing Hearts HOPE support group: https://rmhc-ctx.org/what-we-do/healing-hearts-program/

Austin Doula Care: Loss Doulas & Healing Group: https://austindoulacare.com/the-healing-group/

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep (remembrance photography): https://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org/

Still Birthday (bereavement doula training): https://stillbirthday.com/

The Maternal Mortality Crisis Sep 18, 2018

*trigger warning: we know this is a heavy topic so please take the space you need for self-care*

On today’s episode, the squad will be discussing the maternal mortality crisis in the U.S. The United States has the worst maternal mortality rate of all developed nations and sadly this trend is not an emerging issue. For the past THREE DECADES, the CDC has documented a rise in the national pregnancy-related mortality ratio. We also know that Black mothers are 3 to 4 times more likely to die in childbirth than white women and even more shocking, that 50% of all maternal deaths are considered preventable. Join us as we break down some of the reasons mothers are dying, how our nation is responding, and what we can all do to make birth and postpartum safer for women and babies.

We didn’t want to tackle this topic alone so we have brought in our very first TKS guest to help us explore this important issue! Courtney Butts is a Licensed Master Social Worker and certified doula in Dallas TX. Courtney is the Programs Director at an area Domestic Violence agency where she is responsible for the development, planning, and coordination of violence prevention services. Courtney has coupled her passion for working with survivors of domestic violence with her love of pregnant women and is on a mission to lower the maternal mortality rate of Black mothers.

Resources:

Where to find Courtney:

Website: https://www.soulfullyrootedbirth.com/

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

FB: https://www.facebook.com/SoulfullyRootedBirth/

Trauma-informed care training for birth and postpartum professionals: https://www.facebook.com/events/244790129492801/

March for Moms Take Action Page: http://www.marchformoms.org/takeaction/

Kira Johnson’s Story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05uBCBfrY4g&feature=youtu.be

Black Mamas ATX: www.blackmamasatx.com

Barbara Vernéus🇭🇹 (Dope Moms Need Dope Moms Tee): https://www.instagram.com/tinyandbrave/

Abide Women’s Health (Dallas resource Courtney shared): https://www.abidewomenshealth.org/

The Sleep Episode Aug 23, 2018

Sleep seems to be one of those topics that is a common denominator for parents (we ALL lose sleep in parenthood!) yet it is also a source of disconnection since so many opinions and “shoulds” exist that ultimately make us question if we are doing it “right”. Listen as the Top Knot Squad breaks down all things sleep-related, from theories surrounding sleep and its link to mental health, to our own experiences with or without sleep plus a few tips, tricks, and resources that might be helpful!

Resources:

Realistic Sleep Expectations

Postpartum Sleep Hygiene

Insight Timer App

Conscious Baby

Mommy Facebook Groups and Social Media Aug 06, 2018

Facebook Mommy Groups can be some of the most brutal arenas for everything and anything a mom needs to know about. From breastfeeding to relationship advice -- everyone has an opinion and somehow, we're all doing it wrong. Listen as the Top Knot Squad breaks down the pros and cons of mommy facebook groups and social media.

Sex After Baby and Beyond / Body Image Jul 20, 2018

Postpartum intimacy can be the last thing on either parent's mind after baby. So how do you connect or just weather the season until it passes? The Top Knot Squad discusses sex after baby, their own experiences with it, and the importance of body image.

If you or someone you know would like more information on pelvic floor therapy, check out Sullivan Physical Therapy.

Parenting in a World of Violence Jul 02, 2018

***Trigger warning***

This week, TKS covers the heavy topic of gun violence and how to talk to our kids when a tragedy occurs. This topic can be difficult, so please be kind to yourself and take the space you need.

There have been 23 mass shootings in 2018 alone. That averages to out to more than one a week. The news, schools, friends, neighbors – everyone is talking about it. How do we address violence so prolific when parenting toddlers, school age children and beyond? Join us while we break it down and weigh in on options to address heavy topics with our littles.

Important Links:

Austin Child Guidance Center

https://www.austinchildguidance.org/

Communities in Schools

https://www.communitiesinschools.org/

The Feeding Episode: Babies, Kids and Food Jun 19, 2018

Food is a part of our daily lives, and very much necessary for our survival. With that being said, why is it so darn hard to get our littles to eat the right stuff?! We’ll talk about what we all did and Naya will chat a little about breastfeeding and bottle feeding.

Sponsored by: www.rootedbaby.com Important Links:

Formula Preparation

https://www.cdc.gov/cronobacter/prevention.html

Paced Bottle Feeding

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoBVtE6S1dk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGPm5SpLxXY

https://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/feeding-tools/bottle-feeding/

Parenting in a World of Gender Boxes Jun 04, 2018

In their latest episode, the Top Knot Squad discusses sexuality and gender within their families and the challenges faced as they prepare their children for public school and the expectation of falling into gender roles.

Visit TheTopKnotSquad.com to listen to every episode of the podcast.

Subscribe to the podcast via:

Mom Dating and Self Care May 21, 2018

In episode 3, Alexis, Naya, and Adriana discuss the challenge of meeting other mom friends, ways to meet other moms, and managing self-care. From the awkwardness of mom business cards to managing to pee when you need to, listen in and join The Top Knot Squad as they passionately maneuver through parenthood.

Visit TheTopKnotSquad.com to listen to every episode of the podcast.

Subscribe to the podcast via:

Tully, Motherhood, and PMAD: A Critique May 07, 2018

The hotly debated movie Tully was released Friday and The Top Knot Squad weighs in with their own review.

From accusations of falsely labeling the movie genre to the difference between a night nanny and doula, the conversation gets intimate between Naya, Alexis, and Adriana.

For tickets to "Cry It Out" go to theatreenbloc.org and use code CRYBABY at checkout for discount.

If you or someone you know needs help here are some resources:

National Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
National Perinatal Hotline: 1-800-PPD-MOMS (773-6667)
PSI Warmline (English and Spanish) 800-994-4PPD (4773)

Visit TheTopKnotSquad.com to listen to every episode of the podcast.

Subscribe to the podcast via:

Mommy Juice Apr 15, 2018

Has drinking in motherhood become its own culture? In the first episode of Top Knot Squad, Naya, Alexis, and Adriana discuss drinking and motherhood. From perinatal mood disorders and coping to socializing and cultural stigmas - join us as we break down mommy juice culture.

To use Alexis's 'My Village' worksheet go here.

If you think you may be experiencing problems with addiction or need someone to talk to please seek help.