How to Advocate for Change Like a Mom with Michele Lampach
Becoming a mom changes you in ways you never expect. For Michele Lampach, it ignited a passion to fight for better support for parents. As a human rights attorney, nonprofit leader, and mom of two, Michele has spent her career advocating for vulnerable communities. Now, as the head of Bobbie for Change, she’s working to shift the conversation around infant feeding and modern parenthood—pushing for better policies that actually support families.In this episode, Michele opens up about her own journey into motherhood, giving birth during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the struggles of balancing work, exhaustion, and the pressure to do it all. She shares how those experiences shaped her advocacy, why every parent’s feeding journey deserves respect, and how judgment-free support can change everything.You can find Michele Lampach on LinkedIn and at BobbieForChange.org.
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Motherhood from the Eyes of a Reproductive Psychiatrist with Dr. Claire Smith
In today’s episode Sarah sits down with Dr. Claire Smith, Reproductive Psychiatrist, to hear Claire’s experience from pregnancy to first year postpartum. As a Reproductive Psychiatrist everyday Dr. Smith treats women who experience depression, loss, infertility, and anxiety during pregnancy and postpartum. But how does being a maternal mental health specialist come to play when you go down your own journey of pregnancy and postpartum. Listen in as Dr. Smith shares her journey.More about Dr. Claire Smith:Dr. Claire Smith is a perinatal psychiatrist in the Women's Reproductive Behavioral Health (WRBH) clinic, which serves to specifically help women who are pregnant or up to one year postpartum. She provides both therapy and medication management in the treatment of mood and anxiety disorders, trauma, grief and loss, substance use disorders, and other mental health concerns.
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Motherhood, Milk & Making It Work
Sarah and Amy, CEO of Pump Spotting, dive into the raw, unfiltered reality of breastfeeding, pumping, and the pressure new moms face. From midnight feedings to workplace struggles, they unpack why support—at home, at work, and in the world—makes all the difference.About Amy VanHaren:Amy VanHaren is the CEO and founder of Pumpspotting, a women’s health technology company. Pumpspotting is closing the gap in maternal health through accessible breastfeeding solutions. Amy created Pumpspotting after struggling to feed both her family and career. Traveling 25,000 miles cross-country on her Breast Express RV she sparked a movement for mothers. Under her leadership, the company has served over 75,000 parents and designed lactation solutions for organizations from Fortune 100 companies to small businesses to NASA. Amy is a Mainer, mother, and fierce advocate for creating support systems for women and families.https://www.pumpspotting.com/tourhttps://www.pumpspotting.com/Amy VanHaren I Entrepreneur, Mainer, Mother
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"Something Just Felt Off": A Real Talk on Preeclampsia
In this eye-opening episode, Sarah and Dr. Kevin Shrestha have an honest conversation about preeclampsia—one of the silent but serious dangers of pregnancy. They share the signs every woman should watch for, why your instincts matter, and how speaking up when something doesn’t feel right can truly save your life. Whether you're expecting, recovering, or supporting someone who is—this episode is a must-listen.Dr. Kevin Shrestha MD, MPH, is board certified OBGYN and currently a Maternal Fetal Medicine fellow.Home - Preeclampsia Foundation
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The Fight for Moms’ Mental Health with Jamie Belsito
1-833-TLC-MAMAWhat if one call could change everything for a struggling mom?In this episode, Sarah is joined by Jamie Belsito, fierce advocate and founder of the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance. Together, they talk about the journey that led to the creation of the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline, why maternal mental health is a policy issue, and how we can finally stop failing mothers one text or call at a time.More about Jamie BelsitoJamie founded MMHLA in 2019 to prioritize national policy on maternal mental health and currently serves as Director of Policy and Partnerships.A key advocate for maternal mental health, she has helped: pass three federal laws, establish the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline, secure funding for state programs, and create the first maternal mental health program for the U.S. military.Jamie represented the 4th Essex District in the Massachusetts general court and is currently the Town Moderator for the Town of Topsfield. She served as: a Trustee of Salem State University, a Commissioner on the Ellen Story Special Commission on Postpartum Depression, and a Board member of the Massachusetts March of Dimes. She is also a former U.S. Congressional candidate, advocating for mothers and families.24/7 Call or text the Maternal Mental Health hotline @ 1-833-TLC-MAMAMaternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance: MMHLA National Maternal Mental Health Hotline | MCHB Fact Sheets — Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance: MMHLA
There are few experiences as universal to human existence as pregnancy and childbirth, and yet its most difficult parts — perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) — are still dealt with in the shadows, shrouded in stigma. The fact is 1 in 5 new and expecting birthing people will experience a PMAD, yet among those who do many are afraid to talk about it, some are not even aware they’re experiencing one, and others don’t know where to turn for help. The fact is, when someone suffers from a maternal mental health disorder it affects not only them, their babies, partners, and families - it impacts our communities.In the Previa Alliance Podcast series, Sarah Parkhurst and Whitney Gay are giving air to a vastly untapped topic by creating a space for their guests — including survivors of PMADs and healthcare professionals in maternal mental health — to share their experiences and expertise openly. And in doing so, Sarah and Whitney make it easy to dig deep and get real about the facts of perinatal mental health, fostering discussions about the raw realities of motherhood. Not only will Previa Alliance Podcast listeners walk away from each episode with a sense of belonging, they’ll also be armed with evidence-based tools for healing, coping mechanisms, and the language to identify the signs and symptoms of PMADs — the necessary first steps in a path to treatment. The Previa Alliance Podcast series is intended for anyone considering pregnancy, currently pregnant, and postpartum as well as the families and communities who support them.Sarah ParkhurstPrevia Alliance Podcast Co-host; Founder & CEO of Previa AllianceA postpartum depression survivor and mom to two boys, Sarah is on a mission to destigmatize the experiences of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), and to educate the world on the complex reality of being a mom. Sarah has been working tirelessly to bring to light the experiences of women who have not only suffered a maternal mental health crisis but who have survived it and rebuilt their lives. By empowering women to share their own experiences, by sharing expert advice and trusted resources, and by advocating for health care providers and employers to provide support for these women and their families, Sarah believes as a society we can minimize the impact of the current maternal mental health crisis, while staving off future ones. Whitney Gay Previa Alliance Podcast Co-host; licensed clinician and therapist For the past ten years, Whitney has been committed to helping women heal from the trauma of a postpartum mental health crisis as well as process the grief of a miscarriage or the loss of a baby. She believes that the power of compassion paired with developing critical coping skills helps moms to heal, rebuild, and eventually thrive. In the Previa Alliance Podcast series, Whitney not only shares her professional expertise, but also her own personal experiences of motherhood and recovery from grief. Follow us on Instagram @Previa.Alliance
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