Podcasts · Kids & Family · Comedy

Big Fat Positive: Pregnancy and Parenting (BFP)

Laura Birek, Shanna Micko

300 episodes

Getting a big fat positive pregnancy test (your BFP!) is just the beginning of a wild, emotional and often funny ride into parenthood, and "Big Fat Positive" is here for you through it all. On this weekly podcast, hosts Shanna and Laura share their pregnancies and parenthood in real time, starting at just eight weeks pregnant.

More about the show

They tell hilarious true stories, tackle tough parenting topics, share favorite tips and products, explore the wild and wacky corners of parenthood, and bring in expert guests for trustworthy insight on pregnancy, babies, mental health and more.

Whether you’re newly pregnant, navigating life with a newborn or deep into the parenting years, "Big Fat Positive" offers a smart, supportive mix of laughter, honesty and evidence-based information, plus the feeling of having two best mom friends in your corner, reminding you you’re not doing this alone.

New episodes are released every Monday.

Episodes page 1 of 6

  1. Spooky Birth Lore and a Terrible PMS Cure - Ep. 434

    · 50 min · Episode 434 · Explicit

    In this week’s “Today I Learned” segment, Laura explains what an en caul birth is and the centuries of strange folklore that grew around it, and Shanna digs up an 1890s doctor whose cure for period cramps involved an…

  2. Man Eyes, Emoji Fails and School Volunteering - Ep. 433

    · 52 min · Episode 433 · Explicit

    In this week's "Out of Context" segment, Shanna and Laura trade screenshots of text messages that need some explaining, including an emoji mix-up from an unexpected sender and a running joke about husbands who can’t…

  3. Sleep Anxiety and Bedtime Routines: Ask-Us-Anything Minisode #13

    · 23 min · Explicit

    Shanna and Laura answer listener questions about lying down with kids at bedtime, how to handle a child’s sleep anxiety, and the systems they use to keep track of every story they want to tell on the show. Shanna…

  4. NeeDoh Squishy Toys and Secret Tween Chat Rooms - Ep. 432

    · 48 min · Episode 432 · Explicit

    In this week’s “Internet Insanity” segment, Shanna breaks down the NeeDoh squishy toy craze that’s led to store fights, police involvement and a 243% spike in poison control calls, and Laura finally solves a…

  5. Homework Battles and Life After a Screen-Time Ban - Ep. 431

    · 55 min · Episode 431 · Explicit

    Homework season starts and goes about as badly as Laura feared, leaving her looking for a way to get it done somewhere other than the kitchen table. Shanna's brutal mornings turn around after an unexpected discovery at…

  6. Morning Routines Made Easier - Ep. 430

    · 43 min · Episode 430 · Explicit

    Shanna's drop-off struggles with her youngest escalate, so she lands on an unconventional solution to improve her family's morning routines. Laura scrambles to find last-minute babysitter coverage so she can attend an…

  7. Choosing a School and ADHD Medication: Ask-Us-Anything Minisode #12

    · 24 min · Episode 429

    Choosing between charter, magnet, public and private schools is overwhelming, and so is the trial-and-error process of finding the right ADHD medication for your kid. In this Ask-Us-Anything minisode, Shanna and Laura…

  8. School Drop-Off Meltdowns and How to Cope - Ep. 429

    · 53 min · Episode 429 · Explicit

    Shanna navigates two school drop-off meltdowns in one week and finds an unexpected way to regulate herself afterward. Laura reports on her boys' first week of school and a surprisingly successful shopping trip, and in…

  9. Puberty Talks and Back-to-School Prep - Ep. 428

    · 50 min · Episode 428 · Explicit

    In this week's "What's in Your Bag?" segment, Shanna and Laura confess the items they've somehow ended up hauling around, including one thing that survived a 102-degree drive across town. Also, Shanna preps her…

  10. Beauty Standards - Ep. 427

    · 49 min · Episode 427 · Explicit

    In this week's "They Said What?" segment, Shanna and Laura cover a bedtime conversation that took a shocking left turn, a sentence Laura never expected to say out loud, and an adult's comment about beauty standards…

  11. Parenting Hacks for Hair Care, Laundry, Bubbles and More - Ep. 426

    · 57 min · Episode 426

    In this episode's "What the Hack?" segment, Shanna and Laura share a laundry trick for linen and gauze, a tip for getting tiny hair bands out without tugging, and a game that teaches kids conversational skills, plus…

  12. Taking Kids on a Rustic Cabin Vacation - Ep. 425

    · 57 min · Episode 425

    In the special segment "Would You Rather?," Shanna and Laura pose hypothetical parenting scenarios involving airplane antics, an irresistible newborn kitten, and more! Also, Laura reports on her 5-year-old's new…

  13. What Gets Easier as Your Kids Grow Up - Ep. 424

    · 52 min · Episode 424 · Explicit

    In the special segment “Just You Wait,” Laura and Shanna share some of the things that get better as children grow up, including delightful developments on the playground, at birthday parties, in the car and more!…

  14. Hard Reset: A Screen Time Wake-Up Call - Ep. 423

    · 49 min · Episode 423 · Explicit

    In the special segment "OMG, I'm Freaking Out," Shanna and Laura share what's currently keeping them up at night, including a dental mystery that may require an unpleasant solution and a screen time wake-up call that…

  15. When Summer Camp Just Isn't the Right Fit - Ep. 422

    · 53 min · Episode 422 · Explicit

    In the special segment "Stump the Moms," Shanna and Laura embark on a tour through history, grilling each other with surprising parenting trivia that takes them from prehistoric cave paintings to a 1974 marketing…

  16. Is the Tooth Fairy Still Exciting to Kids in 2026? - Ep. 421

    · 45 min · Episode 421 · Explicit

    In the special segment "Why Is My Kid Crying?," Shanna and Laura explore the things that have caused their little ones to melt down recently, from snack-related disasters to household accidents. Also, Laura reports on…

  17. ADHD Deep Dive with Mike McLeod

    · 55 min

    Shanna and Laura sit down with Mike McLeod, founder of GrowNOW ADHD, co-host of "The ADHD Parenting Podcast," and author of "The Executive Function Playbook," to learn more about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity…

  18. Solo Travel Without Kids - Ep. 420

    · 49 min · Episode 420 · Explicit

    In the special segment “Mom Wins,” Laura and Shanna share recent parenting successes, including a meltdown intervention 6,000 miles from home and a wardrobe sacrifice that saved the day. Also, Laura reports on her…

  19. Having Another Baby and Sibling Conflict: Listener Q&A

    · 46 min · Explicit

    Shanna and Laura answer listener questions on everything from what your child's personality at 15 months might tell you about who they'll become, to ideas for handling sibling conflict, to whether it's harder to go…

  20. Serious Talks in Silly Places: Explaining Grown-Up Stuff to Kids - Ep. 419

    · 48 min · Episode 419 · Explicit

    In the special segment "Never Have I Ever," Shanna and Laura reveal the unexpected things they've done recently that they never imagined doing before having kids, including navigating an awkward conversation in a…

  21. Kids' Impulse Control and Speech Therapy: Listener Q&A - Ep. 418

    · 1 h 04 min · Episode 418 · Explicit

    In the special segment "Checkin' the Inbox," Laura and Shanna answer listener questions about staving off sickness when you're a parent, managing your child's impulsive behaviors, knowing when your child needs speech…

  22. Dear Past Me: Kids' Haircuts and Balloon Crafts - Ep. 417

    · 49 min · Episode 417 · Explicit

    In the special segment "Dear Past Me," Shanna and Laura turn back time to give their former selves parenting advice based on what they know now, including wisdom about kids' haircuts and handmade crafts. Also, Laura…

  23. Class Pet Drama and Ear-Tube Surgery - Ep. 416

    · 56 min · Episode 416 · Explicit

    In the special segment “What I Googled This Week,” Laura and Shanna reveal the funny and embarrassing things they've asked the internet recently, including questions about an unusual DIY craft project and an unexpected…

  24. Managing Last-Minute School Projects - Ep. 415

    · 48 min · Episode 415 · Explicit

    In the special segment "Gripe Water," Shanna and Laura share the hilariously petty parenting problems that have been bothering them lately, diving into the topics of student-council campaigns and shopping for kids'…

  25. The Mom Who Saved Toy Story 2 (and "Sad Doll Disease") - Ep. 414

    · 52 min · Episode 414 · Explicit

    In the special segment "Today I Learned," Laura and Shanna discuss the fascinating or unusual things they have learned about recently, including the story of how a mom on maternity leave saved a major motion picture…

  26. Mom Confessions: Failing the Sniff Test - Ep. 413

    · 55 min · Episode 413 · Explicit

    In the special segment “Mom Confessions,” Laura and Shanna share the embarrassing or hilarious parenting experiences they have had recently, including an interaction with an unsuspecting stranger, an incident with a…

  27. School-Auction Shockers and Kid Pranks - Ep. 412

    · 1 h 01 min · Episode 412 · Explicit

    In the special segment "Out of Context," Laura and Shanna share random text messages they have sent or received that shed light on their parenting lives, including shocking elementary-school auction items, bizarre…

  28. When Is It Time to Let Kids Quit an Activity? - Ep. 411

    · 50 min · Episode 411 · Explicit

    Laura checks in on her 7-year-old's Little League season, and Shanna reports on a volunteer experience at her daughter's school that is somehow both underwhelming and overstimulating. Also, in the special segment…

  29. Parenting Rage Bait and Starting ADHD Medication - Ep. 410

    · 57 min · Episode 410 · Explicit

    Shanna and Laura talk bizarre pregnancy infographics and shockingly bad mom "hacks" in the special segment "Internet Insanity." Also, Shanna recounts a tumultuous week of getting her 7-year-old started on a new…

  30. Impulsive Decisions: The Consequences of Jumping to Action - Ep. 409

    · 55 min · Episode 409 · Explicit

    Laura reports on her family's rocky journey home from Mexico and the effects it had on her kids, and Shanna talks about how her daughter's adorable Easter egg hunt took an unexpected turn. Also, in the special segment…

  31. Laura's Teenage Club Med Trip (Throwback) - Ep. 408

    · 52 min · Episode 408 · Explicit

    In the special segment "Throwback," Laura recounts a family trip to Club Med in Mexico when she was 13 that involved hypnosis, trapeze and forbidden love. Also, Shanna faces the consequences of packing too many family…

  32. What's Really in a Mom's Bag? - Ep. 407

    · 50 min · Episode 407 · Explicit

    In the brand-new special segment "What's in Your Bag?," Laura and Shanna dig deep to discover the hilarious items that only parents would have lurking at the bottoms of their purses and bags, including a soggy…

  33. Mom Hacks for Homework, Laundry and Lost Keys - Ep. 406

    · 1 h 00 min · Episode 406 · Explicit

    In the special segment "What the Hack?," Shanna and Laura share some of their favorite parenting tips and tricks, including ideas for making household laundry easier, making homework time more engaging and more! Also,…

  34. ADHD in Kids and Parents: Signs, Testing and Treatment - Ep. 405

    · 1 h 15 min · Episode 405 · Explicit

    In the special segment "Big Topic" Shanna and Laura dive into the topic of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). They share their personal experiences with ADHD, including learning about the symptoms of the…

  35. Getting Kids to Do Chores (Without Losing It) - Ep. 404

    · 55 min · Episode 404 · Explicit

    In the special segment "They Said What?!" Shanna and Laura discuss the funny, outrageous or offensive things people have said to them recently, including a surprisingly sentimental comment about Laura's upcoming travel…

  36. My Kid's First Cavity Filling: What Happened at the Dentist - Ep. 403

    · 45 min · Episode 403 · Explicit

    In the special segment "OMG I'm Freaking Out!," Shanna and Laura reveal the current parenting dilemmas that have their hair standing on end, including an unexpected sight on Shanna’s school communication app and a…

  37. Parenting Gets Better: What to Look Forward To - Ep. 402

    · 50 min · Episode 402 · Explicit

    In the new special segment “Just You Wait,” Laura and Shanna flip the usual fear-mongering script about parenting older kids and share some of the things that get better as children grow up. Also, Shanna gives an…

  38. Kid Meltdowns Rooted in Old Memories - Ep. 401

    · 56 min · Episode 401 · Explicit

    In the special segment "Why Is My Kid Crying?," Shanna and Laura explore the things that have brought out the waterworks in their little ones recently, including situations in the distant past that seem to have induced…

  39. 400th Episode: Baby Names, Second Kids and Broken Rules: Q&A - Ep. 400

    · 1 h 00 min · Episode 400 · Explicit

    Laura and Shanna celebrate their 400th episode of "Big Fat Positive" with a very special "Checkin' the Inbox" segment, in which they answer listener questions sent in via voice memo! They dive into the topics of baby…

  40. Breaking Up With Your Mom Group - Ep. 399

    · 54 min · Episode 399 · Explicit

    In the special segment “Internet Insanity,” Shanna and Laura share the wild and wacky content they've found online recently, including a baby name that has risen to fame for a surprising reason and a mom-group breakup…

  41. Embracing "Mom Mode" in Unusual Circumstances - Ep. 398

    · 46 min · Episode 398 · Explicit

    In the special segment “Mom Wins,” Laura and Shanna celebrate their recent parenting achievements, including a clever chemistry-based solution that saved bath time and a surprising moment of jumping into action to help…

  42. Fascinating Facts: Old Pregnancy Tests and LEGO Bricks - Ep. 397

    · 1 h 01 min · Episode 397 · Explicit

    In the special segment “Stump the Moms,” Laura and Shanna quiz each other about old-school pregnancy tests, the shocking resale value of kids' toys, the cost of giving birth in the 1950s and more! Also, Laura reports…

  43. Pulling Off a 7th-Birthday Surprise - Ep. 396

    · 45 min · Episode 396 · Explicit

    In the special segment “What I Googled This Week,” Shanna and Laura reveal the funny and embarrassing things they've asked the internet recently, including a ridiculously juvenile question about astronomy and an…

  44. Stroller Envy and Screen-Time Gripes - Ep. 395

    · 45 min · Episode 395 · Explicit

    In the special segment "Gripe Water," Shanna and Laura share the hilariously petty parenting problems that have been bothering them lately, diving into the topics of stroller envy and screen time. Also, Laura reports…

  45. Advocating for Your Child at the Doctor's Office - Ep. 394

    · 53 min · Episode 394 · Explicit

    In the special segment "Never Have I Ever: Parenting Edition," Laura and Shanna reveal the unexpected things they've never done before having kids, including a desperate attempt to complete a puzzle in inclement…

  46. Are We Creating Second-Child Syndrome? - Ep. 393

    · 58 min · Episode 393 · Explicit

    In the special segment "Dear Past Me," Shanna and Laura give their former selves parenting advice based on what they know now, including wisdom about sentimental baby items and encouragement to advocate for yourself in…

  47. The Surprising History of the Tooth Fairy - Ep. 392

    · 53 min · Episode 392 · Explicit

    In the special segment "Today I Learned," Laura and Shanna discuss the fascinating or unusual things they have learned about recently, including an unexpected baby boom on a remote island in the South Pacific and the…

  48. 2025 Year in Review: Laughs, Struggles and Surprises - Ep. 391

    · 1 h 05 min · Episode 391 · Explicit

    As 2025 comes to an end, Laura and Shanna reflect on their last 12 months of parenting with honesty, humor and insight in the special segment "Year in Review." As they look back on 2025, they share their biggest…

  49. Holiday Q&A: Santa Logistics, Gifts and Sibling Jealousy - Ep. 390

    · 47 min · Episode 390 · Explicit

    It’s Christmas week, and Shanna and Laura get festive answering listeners' holiday-themed questions in the special segment "Checkin' the Inbox!" They answer questions about handling the logistics of Santa, managing…

  50. New-School Jitters and a First Grader's Caterpillar - Ep. 389

    · 59 min · Episode 389 · Explicit

    In the special segment "Would You Rather," Shanna and Laura present hypothetical parenting situations and then discuss which choices they would rather make, diving into the topics of bringing your kids to your own…

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