Send us a Text Message. Join us as we uncover the journey of Elise Nicole Kirkpatrick, an internationally acclaimed feminine authenticity and embodiment mentor. Elise shares her powerful birth stories—one marked by trauma, the other by peace. From a challenging 16.5-hour labor at a birth center to the serene home birth of her second child, Elise em…

Kelly Bond is a New Orleans based director, choreographer, performer and teacher. Her and her creative partner, Ellery Burton, recently premiered their latest dance experiment, Fuzzy Bulldozer, at Catapult as part of our Mondo Bizarro Presents series. They'll be doing it again in Philadelphia and New Orleans later this year so follow Kelly on socia…

Send us a Text Message. Discover the extraordinary journey of Amy Suzanne, the founder and CEO of Pink Stork, as she navigates the trials of infertility, debilitating nausea and vomiting, and life threatening sepsis—all while supporting her husband during military deployments. Amy's inspiring tale of resilience and faith takes center stage as she s…

Send us a Text Message. Unlock the secrets to a smoother postpartum recovery with Lynn Schulte, a seasoned pelvic floor physical therapist and the visionary behind the Institute for Birth Healing. In today's episode, Lynn shares her journey from experiencing positive births to developing specialized techniques for postpartum care. Discover how she …

Steve Bailey is a theater artist, teacher, and arts administrator. He was the co-founder and producing director of Jump-Start Performance Co. in San Antonio, TX and has worked internationally with production companies from Peru to Slovakia. We got to talk to him on one of his last days as the Director of Operations for the National Performance Netw…

Send us a Text Message. What if the toughest decision of your life could lead to profound personal growth? In our latest episode, we engage in a heartfelt conversation with Amanda Kingsley, a life and after-abortion coach, who opens up about her deeply personal and multifaceted reproductive health journey. Amanda shares her story of navigating plan…

Send us a Text Message. What would you do if your pregnancy took an unexpected turn? Join us for a heartfelt conversation with Tara Accardo, a first-time mom and grief and transformational life coach, who shares her compelling journey through pregnancy, an emergency C-section, and the early arrival of her daughter, Audrey. Tara’s powerful story not…

Send us a Text Message. When Marcella Jewell, a warrior in the realm of motherhood, shares her story, you can't help but be enveloped by a tapestry of raw emotion and profound strength. Her journey through the complex world of fertility is one that mirrors a mosaic of life's most tender and tumultuous moments: the joy of welcoming children, the hea…

Send us a Text Message. When the waves of parental grief and loss crash upon us, navigating their unpredictable swells can be a journey as unique as our fingerprints. Therapist Jennifer Byrnes, LPC, PMH-C, EMDR certified therapist, joins me to explore these deeply personal experiences, shining a light on the many forms grief can take — from the pai…

Send us a Text Message. When Steph Sellen, a mother of six with her seventh bundle of joy on the way, sat down with me, she didn't hold back. Her first childbirth, marred by a traumatic induction, was a stark contrast to the empowered births that followed. As a real estate dynamo and podcast host, Steph's life is as multifaceted as it gets. Our con…

ashley sparks is a theater maker, engagement strategist, collaboration coach, and facilitator, as well as a long-time friend and collaborator with Mondo Bizarro. You can learn more about her from the links below as well as find some info related to subjects brought up on the show. spark+dive (facilitation & consulting business) mark-n-sparks (colla…

Send us a Text Message. Have you ever found yourself laughing through tears, or smiling despite a wave of sadness? It's a complex emotional dance that Megan MacCutcheon, LPC, and I explore in our latest episode. Megan, a specialist in perinatal mental health, joins us to discuss the profound ability to experience multiple emotions at once and how a…

Hali Dardar is a New Media enthusiast, interaction designer and a member of the United Houma Nation. Her work supports process development, community-based design, language revitalization, indigenous media, and memory documentation. Some links Hali mentions during the podcast are: 10 Words in Uma Houma Language Project Language Keepers For more inf…

Send us a Text Message. As I sat down with Jennifer Schlueter, a certified hypnotherapist who lives and breathes the power of spiritual hypnosis, we unraveled a transformative approach to pregnancy and childbirth. Jennifer offers a sanctuary for expectant mothers to not only prepare their bodies for the journey ahead but to also heal from past trau…

Send us a Text Message. When life handed me the label "elderly primigravida," I didn't just recoil at the term—I redefined it. Embark on a profoundly candid chronicle where I lay bare the trials and triumphs of my journey into motherhood later in life. Coupling professional expertise as a labor and delivery nurse with my visceral personal experienc…

Madeleine Grace Kelly is a visual artist and educator living in New Orleans. She is receiving her MFA from UNO this spring and you can witness her master’s thesis exhibition entitled Temple of Familiars at the UNO Gallery (2429 St. Claude St) from March 9th to April 7th. From the official blurb about her show: Her paintings, etchings, and installat…

Send us a Text Message. Embark on a transformative journey through the landscape of childbirth with our esteemed guest, Gina Mundy, a childbirth attorney and author, whose insights promise to arm future parents with the tools for a safer and more empowered birthing experience. Imagine entering one of life's most significant events, not with fear, b…

Send us a Text Message. When Dr. Michelle Gerbi recounts her transformative birth experiences, it's as if every emotion - from vulnerability to victory - paints a vivid picture for our listeners. Join us as she bridges her journey from unexpected hospital transfers to the very personal decision to fire a bullying doctor, unfolding the resilience an…

Katya Chizayeva is a New Orleans-based Ukrainian American artist, community activist, and acupuncturist. She is currently working on a show with Goat in the Road Productions based on her recent experiences in Ukraine called Top 5 Survival Moves, which gives us "a glimpse of Chizayeva’s ongoing work with Ukrainian soldiers coming back from the front…

Send us a Text Message. When Bianca Sprague, the trailblazing founder of Bebo MIA, shifted her career aspirations from OB-GYN to becoming a doula, the landscape of birth and parenthood began to change. In our heartfelt discussion, Bianca shares the pivotal moments that steered her towards doula work, including her mother's home birth and her own ch…

Nicole Marquez is a dancer, advocate and a survivor of brain and spinal injuries. Approximately 15 years ago she relocated to New York with the aspiration of pursuing a career in dance on Broadway. Her dreams were momentarily deferred following an accident where she fell six stories from the roof of her apartment building. She will be performing he…

Send us a Text Message. When Kiona Nessenbaum, a dedicated doula and birth worker, shares her story, you can't help but feel the room change. As she recounts her own unexpected journey into motherhood at a young age and her evolution into a professional guiding others through the birthing process, it's a reminder of the resilience and transformativ…

Send us a Text Message. When Emmy Kissinger, a birth story listener and mental health professional, gracefully stepped into our studio, she brought with her an air of transformation that many mothers will find familiar. Her journey from the shock of an emergency C-section to the serenity of home births encapsulates the profound impact that childbir…

Send us a Text Message. When the unexpected unfolds during childbirth, how do we navigate the twists and turns with grace and strength? Taylor Nosakhere, birth coach and doula, joins me to share her profound insight into the world of birth and motherhood. This episode peels back the layers of birthing plans gone awry, from aspirations of a serene b…

LIzz Freeman Kelly is the Executive Director of ricRACK, a creative reuse shop and community sewing studio. ricRACK'S main focus is "keeping textiles out of the landfill and teaching all of New Orleans how to sew." Our theme music is by Rotary Downs. For more information about Mondo Bizarro and to donate visit www.mondobizarro.org.…

Send us a Text Message. Feel the warmth and wisdom as Amy Frost, the inspiring co-founder of Baby Cito and a peri-natal yoga teacher, unfolds the tapestry of her motherhood journey with us. With the intimate details of her first child's winter solstice birth, Amy captures the essence of labor's uncertainty and the profound joy found in an unmedicat…

Send us a Text Message. When Mary Adkins, accomplished author and writing coach, graced us with her presence on the podcast, we uncovered the tangled web of motherhood fused with professional life. Her journey, marked by the birth of her son Finn, is filled with the kind of transformative experiences only parenthood can bestow. From the financial c…

Send us a Text Message. When Trishia Plett stepped into the world of motherhood, it wasn't just a birth story she was crafting—it was a testament to resilience, advocacy, and the intimate dance between autonomy and wellness. As a health and wellness ambassador, Tricia opens the doors to her deeply personal journey through the challenges and triumph…

Send us a Text Message. Ever wondered how the stress you're feeling could actually pause the miraculous process of childbirth? I’m peeling back the layers to reveal the unseen effects of stress on labor. This episode takes you through the science of stress and its ability to disrupt the delicate dance of hormones necessary for labor to progress. It…

Send us a Text Message. Discover the intricate dance of midwifery care and the empowering role of patients in healthcare through the expert eyes of Jodilyn Owen, LM, CPM, and Arya Pretlow, MSN, CNM, IBCLC, C-IYAT. For those curious about the meticulous qualifications behind safe home or birth center deliveries and the scenarios that necessitate a h…

Send us a Text Message. Ever wonder how drastically different two births can be? Imagine one which is calm and another being a chaotic rush - that's the compelling narrative of our guest Lindsay Bermudez, co-founder of Babycito. Lindsay takes us on a journey through her two unique childbirth experiences, the support she received, and the subsequent…

Send us a Text Message. How does trauma from sexual abuse affect pregnancy and postpartum experiences? This pressing question forms the crux of our conversation with Jennifer Byrnes, LPC a seasoned therapist certified in perinatal mental health and EMDR. Unveiling some profound insights, Jennifer helps us dissect the complexities of consent, the wa…

Becca Chapmans is a Chalmation, a performer, an educator, a lover of community, and curious human being. She, along with Alex Smith, co-founded a healthcare clowning nonprofit, Prescription Joy, that brings imagination and wonder to pediatric and adult hospitals in the Greater New Orleans area. Our theme music is by Rotary Downs. For more informati…

Send us a Text Message. Prepare to challenge your preconceptions about pregnancy and childbirth as we tap into the expertise of our featured guest, Dr. Betel Aklilu, a chiropractor who passionately champions for chiropractic care during pregnancy. She spotlights how chiropractic adjustments can realign the pelvis and sacrum, creating a more conduci…

Send us a Text Message. Ever asked yourself, how does one juggle the demands of raising four daughters within five years and still maintain sanity? Our special guest, Mary Willcox Smith, not only tackles this question but also uncovers her personal journey to becoming a successful parenting coach. With a childhood marked by trauma, Mary’s story is …

Send us a Text Message. Are you prepared to challenge conventional wisdom about childbirth, armed with knowledge and the power to make informed decisions? Get ready to join us for a compelling conversation with Maja Miller, a first-time mom who waited until 45 to have her baby. As a functional diagnostic nutrition practitioner and metabolic health …

Simone Immanuel is a New Orleans born actor, writer, singer and dancer. We recently presented a work-in-progress showing of her one woman show On My Way: My Ancestors Wildest Dreams at our studio, Catapult, as part of our Mondo Bizarro Presents series. Simone says that the hope of her work is to show that God is with us all. Her goal is to use her …

Send us a Text Message. Ready to master the art of breastfeeding? Join us as we sit down with the brilliant Arya Pretlow, a certified nurse midwife, lactation consultant, and yoga therapist, whose wealth of experience guarantees a comprehensive guide to successful breastfeeding. The conversation takes off right from the hospital setting - preparing…

Send us a Text Message. Dive into the enthralling world of motherhood with Marie Carle, labor and delivery nurse, as she pulls back the curtain on her personal journey through pregnancy, delivery, and raising children. Marie, a mom to three daughters, brings a unique perspective to the table as she harmoniously merges her professional insights with…

Send us a Text Message. Join us in this enlightening conversation on the world of pediatric chiropractic care with the remarkable Dr. Betel Aklilu. Promising a fresh perspective, Dr. Aklilu shares how chiropractic medicine can be a game-changer for your child's health, starting from birth. Starting with the physical trauma that newborns undergo dur…

Send us a Text Message. Ever wondered about the untold, raw stories of childbirth and breastfeeding? Today, we walk hand in hand with Alex Wachelka, a certified International Board Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). Her journey is filled with candid experiences of childbirth, the mystery of cluster feeding, the discomfort of 'brick dust' urine and the d…

Send us a Text Message. Ever found yourself face to face with unexpected health complications during pregnancy, wondering how to navigate the path ahead? I invite you to join me in this special episode, featuring Dr. Amy Tiffany, a board certified physician specializing in internal and lifestyle medicine, and a board certified health and life coach…

Send us a Text Message. Ever found yourself questioning what correct positioning during breastfeeding looks like? How it impacts not only the baby's nourishment but also the mother's well-being? Come join the rich conversation we have with Christina Walsh, a physical therapist specializing in integrative manual therapy, as we unveil the answers to …

Send us a Text Message. Have you ever wondered what giving birth in a foreign country might feel like? We plunge into an engaging conversation with Stefanie Fernandes, a certified parenting coach and hypnobirthing teacher, who courageously navigates us through her intriguing birthing experiences in Denmark. Despite encountering language barriers an…

Send us a Text Message. Unlock the truth behind epidurals and labor anesthesia in our enlightening conversation with Dr. Bella Speight, a board certified anesthesiologist. What are the actual risks? Dr. Speight debunks these myths and lays it all bare, offering a reassuring perspective on the minimal risks involved for healthy patients and the impo…

Synamin Vixen is a dancer, actor, poet, teacher, sex doula, herbalist, and so much more. She is bringing her latest performance called Daughter of a Nymph Devine to our studio, Catapult, this weekend (September 22, 23, 24). Seating is limited so get your reservations here today. Our theme music is by Rotary Downs. For more information about Mondo B…

Send us a Text Message. Welcome to an insightful conversation I had with Megan McCutchen, a therapist who dedicates her career to perinatal mental health. We navigate the murky waters of intrusive thoughts, a common yet unsettling phenomenon among women during pregnancy and after birth. These fleeting thoughts, ranging from harmless fears to catast…

Send us a Text Message. Unpack the mysteries of postpartum mental health with our special guest, therapist Jennifer Byrnes, LPC, PMH-C. Jennifer, an expert in perinatal mental health and trauma, offers clear-cut explanations on the difference between baby blues and postpartum depression – two conditions often misunderstood by many. She helps demyst…

Send us a Text Message. Today, we invite you to join an enlightening discourse with our esteemed guest, Dr. Stephanie Waggel. We discuss the groundbreaking science behind the new medications approved to treat postpartum depression, which are sparking new hope for postpartum depression patients. Dr. Waggel adeptly unravels the science behind these d…

Send us a Text Message. Have you ever wondered about the riveting journey a woman embarks on when entering motherhood? What if you had the chance to hear honest, raw stories from a mother who's experienced it all? Join me as I sit down with Jenna Hodge, a mother to three precious miracles, to hear her tale, filled with unexpected twists and turns, …