Podcasts · Kids & Family · Health & Fitness

Previa Alliance Podcast

Previa Alliance Team

236 episodes

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.

More about the show

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 Parkhurst

Previa Alliance Podcast Co-host; Founder & CEO of Previa Alliance

A 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.

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Episodes page 1 of 5

  1. What If Your Friend Isn’t Toxic… and You Just Had a Really Hard Conversation?

    · 17 min · S1 E236

    In this episode, Sarah Parkhurst and Whitney Gay, LCSW, dive into the world of therapy speak and the ways words like boundaries, triggered, trauma dumping, and protecting my peace can sometimes bring clarity—and…

  2. Previa Playback: "Stop Thinking You Should Pee on Yourself!" with Emily Gilmore

    · 23 min · S1 E235

    Emily Gilmore DPT is back from last week to discuss with Sarah and Whitney what we may all experience but do not want to discuss…yep we are talking about peeing on yourself, painful intercourse, and mama pooch. No…

  3. Previa Playback: "What To Tell Your Best Friend About The Pelvic Floor" with Emily Gilmore

    · 34 min · S1 E234

    October is National Physical Therapy Month, and you might be wondering, "Why would I need a physical therapist as a mom?" Grab your headphones as we replay one of our most valuable episodes featuring Emily Gilmore,…

  4. Grief — How It Changes You

    · 25 min · S1 E233

    Grief doesn’t always arrive when you expect it—or look the way you thought it would. It can sneak into ordinary moments, surprise you years later, and change parts of you that you never saw coming. In this episode, we…

  5. The Five Stages of Grief — Which One Are You In?

    · 23 min · S1 E232

    Grief is something we all experience, but few of us truly understand. In this episode, Sarah Parkhurst and Whitney Gay, LCSW, take a deeper look at the five stages of grief—denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and…

  6. Everyone Needs Me: The Reality of Sandwich Generation

    · 13 min · S1 E231

    You're scheduling pediatrician appointments, packing lunches, answering school emails...and helping your parents navigate doctor's appointments, medications, and life's next chapter. Welcome to the sandwich…

  7. The Maternal Mental Health Expert Most Moms Don't Know Exists — Dr. Claire Smith on Reproductive Psychiatry

    · 40 min · S1 E230

    You've heard of an OB-GYN. You've probably heard of a psychiatrist. But have you ever heard of a reproductive psychiatrist? If the answer is no, you're not alone. In this episode, Sarah sits down with reproductive…

  8. The Lindsay Clancey Trial — What Does a Struggling Mom Really Look Like to You?

    · 24 min · S1 E229

    She scheduled the doctor's appointments. She Googled slime recipes. She packed lunches, answered school emails, signed permission slips, and showed up for her kids. So...how could she possibly be struggling? In…

  9. Hayden Panettiere - Are We Finally Going to Listen?

    · 22 min · S1 E228

    Hayden Panettiere helped bring postpartum depression into the national conversation more than a decade ago. Her story reminds us that postpartum depression doesn't always look the way people expect—and that's exactly…

  10. The Lindsay Clancey Trial — Why Every Mom Can’t Turn Away

    · 40 min · S1 E227

    Sarah and Paige unpack the Lindsay Clancy trial through the lens of perinatal mental health and the gaps in care that can leave maternal mental health crises overlooked. Paige, a licensed clinical social worker and…

  11. Why Back to School is Hard on You

    · 16 min · S1 E226

    Everyone talks about helping kids adjust to a new school year—but what about the parents? Behind the first-day-of-school photos are moms juggling schedules, worrying about teachers, packing lunches, coordinating…

  12. When It Is NOT a Hot Girl Summer

    · 15 min · S1 E225

    Ever notice your patience gets shorter, your anxiety feels higher, and everything seems harder during a heat wave? You're not imagining it. Extreme heat doesn't just make us sweat—it affects our brain, nervous system,…

  13. Outnumbered… When You Feel Like You Can’t Give Enough to Each Child

    · 15 min · S1 E224

    Do you ever feel like you're not giving enough to each of your children? You're not alone. Sarah and Whitney unpack the guilt that often comes with raising multiple kids, what research says children truly need, and…

  14. No Response is a Response

    · 19 min · S1 E223

    Sometimes the healthiest response is no response at all. In this episode, Sarah and Whitney explore why not every action deserves a reaction. We discuss boundaries, emotional regulation, people-pleasing, protecting…

  15. Why Didn't Anyone Explain Birth Like This

    · 13 min · S1 E222

    Nobody should walk into labor, an epidural, or a C-section feeling like the process is a mystery. In this episode, we discuss why clear patient education is often missing, how fear of the unknown can increase anxiety…

  16. Why Moms Are Mentally Exhausted: The Invisible Mental Load of Motherhood

    · 23 min · S1 E221

    Ever feel like your brain has 47 tabs open at all times? Same. This week Sarah and Whitney are talking about the invisible mental load moms carry every single day — the constant remembering, planning, anticipating,…

  17. I Love My Kids... But I Miss My Freedom

    · 18 min · S1 E220

    Motherhood can be beautiful and grief-filled at the exact same time. In this deeply honest episode, Sarah and Whitney talk about something many moms feel but are terrified to admit: missing their freedom,…

  18. Moms Are Mind Readers… Why Aren’t You?

    · 28 min · S1 E219

    From the moment our babies are born, we become experts in them. We notice every pattern. Every cry means something different. Every shift, every need—we just know. We become mind readers. But what happens when…

  19. Why You Saw It and No One Else Did

    · 20 min · S1 E218

    Ever felt like you were the only one seeing the truth? Something felt off. The charm didn’t sit right. The stories didn’t fully add up… But everyone else? Completely pulled in. Almost like they were under a spell.…

  20. Previa Playback: Infertility Awareness with Erin & Stephen Mitchell

    · 54 min · S1 E217

    In honor of Infertility Awareness Week, Sarah sits down with crowd favorites Erin and Stephen Mitchell from Couples Counseling for Parents to discuss how trying to conceive, infertility, and pregnancy loss affect…

  21. Previa Playback: What is Postpartum Rage?

    · 15 min · S1 E216

    The fourth episode we cover during Maternal Mental health month is a topic that is often felt but not talked about, postpartum rage. Postpartum rage is a mood disruption that causes intense anger, aggression, and…

  22. Previa Playback: What is Postpartum Psychosis?

    · 21 min · S1 E215

    The final episode we discuss during Maternal Mental health month is one that is a true medical emergency, postpartum psychosis. This episode comes with a trigger warning as this condition, which is rare, is tough to…

  23. Previa Playback: What is Postpartum Anxiety?

    · 25 min · S1 E214

    The second episode in maternal mental health month is "What is Postpartum Anxiety?" Are you feeling overwhelmed and anxious about your new role? Do you find yourself struggling to cope with the changes in your life…

  24. Previa Playback: What is Postpartum Depression?

    · 41 min · S1 E213

    In this episode, Sarah and Whitney talk about postpartum depression, also known as PPD. They describe signs and symptoms of PPD, risk factors for developing PPD, and what PPD looks like and sounds like in real life. We…

  25. Previa Playback: Anxiety During Pregnancy

    · 16 min · S1 E212

    What if I can't do this? Is the baby, ok? Why do I feel this way? Sound familiar? Pregnancy anxiety is common but often not talked about. Listen in as the ladies break down why you may experience anxiety during…

  26. Previa Playback: Depression During Pregnancy

    · 17 min · S1 E211

    This week, Sarah goes back to a fan favorite episode for Maternal Mental Health Month, Depression During Pregnancy. You know about postpartum depression, but do you know about depression that occurs during pregnancy?…

  27. Burned Out, Not Broken: The Truth About Stress in Moms

    · 24 min · S1 E210

    You’re not “just tired.” You’re overloaded. In this episode, we break down the difference between stress, anxiety, burnout, and depression — and why high-achieving moms often miss the warning signs. We talk about…

  28. The Birthday Tears: Why Watching Your Child Grow Feels So Emotional

    · 25 min · S1 E209

    Why does your child’s birthday make you cry? In this episode, we unpack the unexpected mix of joy and grief that comes with milestones, new phases, and watching your child grow. We explore attachment, nostalgia,…

  29. “I Can’t!” - What to Do When Kids Doubt Themselves with Renee Marie

    · 34 min · S1 E208

    When your child says “I can’t do this”… or starts comparing themselves to others… it can be hard to know what to say. In this episode, Sarah sits down with Renee Marie, founder of My Secret Playbook, to talk about the…

  30. What Is a Child Therapist and Why Would My Child Need to See One?

    · 38 min · S1 E207

    Parenting can feel overwhelming, and sometimes we wonder—would a child therapist help my kid? In this episode, Sarah sits down with Madison Curren, licensed child therapist to share what therapy really looks like, when…

  31. When It’s Not Postpartum Depression: The Bipolar Diagnosis Many Moms Miss

    · 30 min · S1 E206

    Is it postpartum depression—or could it be bipolar disorder? In this episode, Sarah sits down with reproductive psychiatrist Dr. Claire Smith to talk about why bipolar disorder during pregnancy and postpartum is often…

  32. Spring Is Here, but Is Your Engine Check Light On Too?

    · 23 min · S1 E205

    Spring is here, and before we rush into the next season, we’re pressing pause. In this episode, Sarah and Whitney guide a gentle self check-in—asking what you’re carrying, how you’re responding, and what your nervous…

  33. Social Work Month with Paige Bellenbaum

    · 41 min · S1 E204

    What if we trained for maternal mental health the way we train for everything else in medicine? In this powerful episode, Sarah sits down with Paige Bellenbaum during Social Work Awareness Month to talk about the…

  34. Why "Reach Out If You Need Help" Isn't Enough

    · 20 min · S1 E203

    We prepare for so much in pregnancy—but rarely for mental health, even though it’s the most common complication of childbirth. In this episode, we talk about why we don’t think twice about mammograms or colonoscopies,…

  35. Bottle Service with Mallory Whitmore

    · 28 min · S1 E202

    Mallory Whitmore, author of Bottle Service, joins us to talk honestly about formula feeding, motherhood, and the emotional weight parents often carry in silence. She shares why feeding choices are so judged, how…

  36. I Friendship Fade

    · 21 min · S1 E201

    Nobody warns you about the quiet heartbreak of friendship after motherhood — how the texts slow down, the invites change, and suddenly you feel like you live on a different planet than your friends without kids. In…

  37. When the Text Message is Left on Read

    · 22 min · S1 E200

    Sarah and Whitney explore how childhood patterns—like peacekeeping or fearing conflict—can fuel adult anxiety, especially around communication. They break down why delayed texts or unclear responses trigger worst-case…

  38. Eldest Daughter - You can put it down now. You’ve carried enough.

    · 24 min · S1 E199

    Taylor said it best — “I was the chosen one, I was the eldest daughter.” And every eldest daughter everywhere felt that in her bones. In this episode, Sarah and Whitney dive into what it really means to grow up as the…

  39. World Read Aloud Day with Pam Allyn

    · 34 min · S1 E198

    In a world of screens, chatbots, and constant digital input, what still truly matters for our children? In this episode, we go back to basics with Pam Allyn, founder of World Read Aloud Day, to explore why reading—and…

  40. Chat GPT Should NOT Be Your Therapist with Paige Bellenbaum

    · 33 min · S1 E197

    In an age where moms can Google every symptom and ask AI to decode every feeling, it’s easier than ever to confuse information with healing. This episode dives into the growing trend of people turning to chatbots and…

  41. Hey Whitney: Working on Ourselves

    · 23 min · S1 E196

    “New year, new me” sounds great — until you’re a tired mom just trying to survive car line and bedtime. In this Hey Whitney, Sarah and Whitney talk about what working on yourself really means when you’re balancing…

  42. A Green Smoothie Will Not Cure Your PPD

    · 28 min · S1 E195

    Postpartum depression is the leading complication of childbirth — yet moms are constantly told that a smoothie, supplement, or ‘wellness hack’ will make it all go away. In this episode, we sit down with Eszter Kalman…

  43. Previa Playback: New Year, New Mom

    · 21 min

    More like new year, same mom…but you get what we mean. Society has a way of telling us a new year has to be filled with resolutions, and all these changes should have been made yesterday! Instead of thinking of things…

  44. The In-Between

    · 14 min · S1 E193

    The holidays are over, the new year is right around the corner—and this in-between week feels… tough. Routines are gone, exhaustion has set in, and the pressure of resolutions is already creeping in. In this episode,…

  45. Why are you really posting that?

    · 15 min · S1 E192

    The holidays fill our feeds with matching pajamas and picture-perfect trees—but what’s really behind the post? In this episode, Sarah and Whitney unpack why we really post on Instagram, how scrolling impacts mental…

  46. All is Calm (We Hope): A Child Therapist’s Holiday Survival Guide

    · 30 min · S1 E191

    Holiday magic can quickly turn into holiday meltdowns. 🎄 In this episode, Sarah and child therapist Madison Curren share the ultimate survival guide for parents—how to keep kids grounded at family gatherings, prevent…

  47. Why Do I Keep Doing This Every Holiday Season?

    · 31 min · S1 E190

    If the holidays leave you feeling more stressed than joyful, you’re not alone. In this episode, Sarah talks with Kati Morton, licensed therapist and author of Why Do I Keep Doing This? about the real reasons holiday…

  48. Deck the Halls & Dodge the Narcissist

    · 15 min · S1 E189

    Holidays are supposed to be merry—until the guilt trips, boundary-pushing, and “but family!” chorus kicks in. In this episode, Sarah and Whitney get real about navigating narcissistic traits at gatherings: how to set…

  49. Pass the Pie… and "Oh, I Had PPD Too"

    · 30 min · S1 E188

    The holidays bring joy, chaos, and sometimes difficult conversations. How do you respond when a family member shares their postpartum struggles at the dinner table—or when you want to speak up about your own…

  50. Pregnant for the Holidays? What to Tell Your Boss (and When)

    · 36 min · S1 E187

    The holidays are here—and for many moms-to-be, that means sharing pregnancy news with family. But after the excitement comes another big question: when and how do I tell my boss? In this episode, Sarah talks with Aria…

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