Host Dr. Grace Ambrose-Zaken, President and CEO Safe Toddles non-profit discusses safe mobility for learners who were born blind and visually impaired. In 2023 & 2024, I am sharing the over 100 interviews I conducted with adults born blind or mobility visually impaired. I discussed with them their recollections of growing up. and walking before, during and after obtaining orientation and mobility instruction and mobility tools. In 2021/22, I worked with co-host Kelvin Crosby. Together we int ...
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We often enter motherhood envisioning joy, nurturing, peace, and love. But the reality can blindside us. Nobody tells us about Mom Rage, overstimulation, intrusive thoughts, or other mental health struggles. Unfortunately, when we seek help, we might face a lack of support, a system that doesn’t put moms first, and a world that turns a blind eye to the challenges of motherhood. We’re here to change that. We believe that moms deserve access to community, support, and mental health literacy. I ...
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Engineer turned Mama, Jess, meets mothers at the intersection of instincts and evidence to cut through the noise of parenting and wellness advice. On Modern Nurture, we’ll look to experts in thought provoking interviews, we’ll look to our biology to unpack the instincts and processes we’ve forgotten in the modern era, and we’ll have heart to heart conversations with real moms from every background as we seek to build a community where every mother and mom-to-be can find relatability and supp ...
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Mike born 1952, blind due to RLF/ROP a MUST LISTEN for all O&M Graduate Students!: Part 1
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This was one of the very early interviews I had done. Twenty-five years ago, late one evening I sat down across a table in my Hunter College office with good friend, Mike Levy. He had come prepared with written statements of memories and family lore surrounding his travel. I would recommend this interview to every graduate student studying O&M. Mik…
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239: From The Vault: How to Support a Child Going Through Transitions with Jess VanderWier, Founder and CEO of Nurtured First
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This is part 3 of a 4-part back-to-school series that revisits some of our old favorites from the vault! Transitions can be overwhelming for our children and for us. As moms, we want to know how to support a child going through transitions. We might experience our own anxiety, deal with mom guilt, or question whether they are capable of navigating …
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238: From The Vault: How to Help a Child With School Anxiety with Dr. Becky Kennedy, Founder of Good Inside
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This is part 2 of a 4-part back-to-school series that revisits some of our old favorites from the vault! Starting school can be very exciting for many kids—but it can also be scary. We want to protect our kids, so when we see them worrying or anxious, we want to support them. But how do you help your child with school anxiety? Today, I’m revisiting…
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237: From The Vault: Is My Child Ready for Kindergarten? with Susie Allison, Founder of Busy Toddler
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Is my child ready for kindergarten? What should I do to prepare? What skills do they need? More than ever, parents are scrambling to make sure their children have “kindergarten readiness.” But the skills our children really need for kindergarten are far different than we might think they are. Today, I’m joined by Susie Allison, founder of Busy Todd…
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Judy Born 1952 - proof positive you can grow up without safe mobility and enjoy life to the fullest!
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Judy is a poster child of success absent safe mobility. As a child, she had light and color vision – and that means she was mobility visually impaired. In the 1950s, she learned to use the long cane, but she wasn’t allowed to take it home until she was older. She didn’t really start using a long cane until grad school. She and her husband go on gra…
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236: Approaching Infant Feeding with Flexibility with Sarah O'Leary, CEO of Willow and Andrea Ippolito, CEO & Founder of SimpliFed
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The pressures around breastfeeding are strong, but systemic support doesn’t always allow moms to feed the way they want to. That’s why I was so excited to hear about The State of Feeding, a research-driven report designed to shed light on the real feeding experiences moms are going through. Created as a partnership between Bobbie, Willow, SimpliFed…
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235: Emotional Regulation Skills for Moms with Dr. Amber Thornton, Clinical Psychologist
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Developing our own emotional regulation skills isn’t something that happens overnight. It takes a lot of work, learning, and unlearning. The more awareness we can build about what triggers our dysregulation and how it shows up for us, the better we can become at responding and regulating our emotions. This week on The Momwell Podcast, I’m joined by…
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234: Overcoming Anxiety About Introducing Solids to Baby with Jenny Best, Founder & CEO of Solid Starts
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Introducing solids to our babies can feel scary, but it doesn’t have to follow one strict guide. We can overcome anxiety and create an environment around food that establishes healthy long-term eating habits. This week on The Momwell Podcast, I’m joined by Jenny Best, founder of Solid Starts, to discuss how we can rethink our approach to feeding an…
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233: How Intensive Mothering Creates Overwhelmed Moms with Jess Grose, Opinion Writer for The New York Times
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Intensive mothering, unrealistic pressures, and gender norms have created an unattainable ideal of motherhood—one that is taking a toll on modern moms. If we want to break out of this mom overwhelm, we need to recognize those expectations and determine what works for us. This week on The Momwell Podcast, I’m joined by Jess Grose, author and opinion…
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Don McBride born 1936 became blind at age 11, O&M instructor before it was a grad degree. Part II
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In every accomplishment – the O&M instructor in me wishes more value had been placed on his safety. His life is filled with accomplishments and yet- all I can hear is just how freakin’ hard it has been for him to get around safely and he blames himself – not the inferior tools he’s been provided… He taught orientation and mobility (O&M) too – learn…
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232: Fostering Emotional Development in Our Children with Alyssa Campbell, CEO of Seed and Sew
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Fostering emotional development goes beyond validating feelings or sticking to a set script—it takes inner work, nervous system regulation, and plenty of self-awareness and self-compassion. This week on The Momwell Podcast, I’m joined by Alyssa Campbell, CEO of Seed and Sew and co-author of Tiny Humans, Big Emotions. We discuss the importance of em…
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231: A Deeper Look Into Mommy Wine Culture with Amanda White, Author and Founder of Therapy for Women Center
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Mommy wine culture is often viewed as a lighthearted joke—with moms turning to wine or a mimosa to cope with stressful parenting moments. And plenty of moms can enjoy an alcoholic beverage without falling into unhealthy patterns. But alcohol use isn’t always lighthearted—for some moms, there are mental health concerns that are being overlooked and …
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230: Navigating Culture and Mental Health in Motherhood with Sahaj Kaur Kohli, Founder of Brown Girl Therapy
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Our individual upbringing and the culture we were raised in impact the way we show up as parents and the way we approach our own mental health. It’s important to listen to voices in this area who understand firsthand the nuances of culture and mental health, breaking cycles, and carving out individual paths as moms. One of those voices is Sahaj Kau…
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Send me a Text Message, for free! I'd love to hear from you. In this episode of Modern Nurture, we sit down with Anya Dunham, a research scientist and mother of three, to discuss insights from her book, Baby Ecology. Anya talks about the capabilities and development of babies in the womb and in their early years, the impacts of sensory stimulation,…
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229: Understanding Brain Development in Children with Tammy Schamuhn, Psychologist
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Meltdowns, defiance, and other behaviors are signals of needs—and if we can meet those needs proactively instead of punitively, we can support our children while still teaching and guiding them. This week on The Momwell Podcast, I’m joined by psychologist Tammy Schamuhn, co-founder of the Institute of Child Psychology to discuss how to approach our…
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Send me a Text Message, for free! I'd love to hear from you. Hey Mamas! Things are crazy here this summer. Episodes may be slightly irregular for the next several weeks, but I want to take advantage of some family time I have coming up, and I don't want the quality to suffer. Thank you for bearing with me! I have two great episodes coming up. One w…
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228: Overcoming Gender Bias in Healthcare with Dr. Karen Tang, MD and author
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Concerns like PMDD, PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), endometriosis, or even universal experiences like menopause are still underresearched and underdiagnosed. The more we can understand these concerns—and advocate for doctors to take them seriously—the more we can help support women and moms everywhere. Today, I’m joined by gynecologist and repr…
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Babywearing Science: Health, Cognitive, and Emotional Benefits for Baby and Mama
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Send me a Text Message, for free! I'd love to hear from you. Babywearing Science: Health, Cognitive, and Emotional Benefits for Baby and Mama In this video, Jess from Modern Nurture delves into the fascinating world of babywearing. Jess shares insightful research on how babywearing benefits both parents and infants, including increased maternal res…
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Update: What's with the Short Solo Episodes?
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Send me a Text Message, for free! I'd love to hear from you.By Jess
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227: From the Vault: Encouraging Independent Play with Susie Allison, Founder of Busy Toddler
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Today, we’re reaching back into the vault to revisit one of our most popular episodes! What if I told you that you didn’t have to play with your child all day? Moms put a lot of pressure on themselves to entertain their kids. They believe that “good moms” play with their kids as much as possible. But when we learn how to encourage independent play,…
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Send me a Text Message, for free! I'd love to hear from you. The Five S's: A Guide to Calming Your Newborn In this episode of the Modern Nurture Podcast, host Jess explores Dr. Harvey Karp's approach to soothing crying infants, known as the 'calming reflex', through his recommended five steps, or the 'Five S's': Swaddling, Side/Stomach Position, Sh…
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226: Navigating Mom Shaming with Renee Reina, Host of The Mom Room Podcast
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It isn’t easy to feel confident in a world full of mom shaming. When moms are already feeling lonely and unsupported, disconnected from their friends, and unsure about their abilities, this pressure and criticism can take a real toll on their self-esteem and their mental health. Today, I’m joined by Renee Reina, Ph.D, host of The Mom Room Podcast, …
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Out of Sight: The Shocking Discovery of a Teen's Hidden Blindness
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Send me a Text Message, for free! I'd love to hear from you. In this episode, Jess delves into the topic of Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI), a common yet underrecognized condition, through a conversation with Stephanie Deusing, a mother who discovered her son's almost complete blindness due to CVI only when he was 15. Despite a high IQ, academic e…
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225: Encouraging Healthy Screen Time Habits with Dr. Michael Rich
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It can be hard to establish healthy screen time habits for our children. But with the right framework in place, we can let go of guilt and fear and foster a positive relationship with technology within a healthy balance. Today, I’m joined by pediatrician and author Dr. Michael Rich, known as “the Mediatrician,” to discuss how we can set kids up for…
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Navigating Nutrition: From Infant Gut Health to Teenage Athletes
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Send me a Text Message, for free! I'd love to hear from you. The Essential Guide to Nutrition from Infancy to Adulthood for Mothers and Children In this episode of the Modern Nurture Podcast, the host Jess and guest speaker, Stephanie from Food Factor Nutrition, explore comprehensive nutrition guidance starting from infancy to adolescence, includin…
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224: Breaking Away from Mom Guilt with JoAnn Crohn
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Mom guilt is often fueled by intensive mothering ideology—the belief that moms should sacrifice every bit of their time, energy, and resources to their children (and find fulfillment only in motherhood), along with gender norms and social expectations. We can learn to manage mom guilt through awareness, anchoring ourselves in our values, and valida…
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Unmedicated Birth, VBACs, and Postpartum Care with Doula Sarah
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Send me a Text Message, for free! I'd love to hear from you. Unmedicated Births: Your Complete Guide with Doula Insights In this episode of Modern Nurture, host Jess is joined by doula Sarah from Entering Motherhood to explore unmedicated births. They delve into preparation, the birth process, postpartum recovery, and how doulas aid in these phases…
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223: Busting the Dream Job Myth with Lauren McGoodwin, CEO of Career Contessa
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Gender norms, social expectations, and motherhood all become wrapped up in our identities, often leaving us questioning our career paths. But perhaps the answer starts with breaking away from the idea of a “dream job” and focusing instead on empowering ourselves to make active decisions driven by our internal values. Today, I’m joined by Lauren McG…
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222: Understanding and Implementing Responsive Parenting with Dr. Cindy Hovington, founder of Curious Neuron
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As moms, we feel immense pressure to stay calm and peaceful even in the toughest, most triggering moments. And when we fall short, we often beat ourselves up and feel ashamed. But if we want to break this cycle, we need to move away from shame and find a way to offer ourselves the same compassion and understanding that we have for our children. Tod…
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Send me a Text Message, for free! I'd love to hear from you. In this episode of the Modern Nurture Podcast, host Jess, an engineer and mother, debunks common myths surrounding tummy time for infants. Drawing from her three-part framework for evaluating parenting advice against the biological norm, Jess invites listeners to explore whether tradition…
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Send me a Text Message, for free! I'd love to hear from you. Discover the Healing Power of Infant Massage In this episode of Modern Nurture, host Jess and expert Helen Thompson, an infant massage instructor and host of the First Time Moms Chat podcast, delve into the history and profound advantages of infant massage, including enhanced sleep, brain…
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221: How to Maintain Friendships (and Make Friends) as a Mom with Danielle Bayard Jackson, Author
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Maintaining friendships or making new friends as a mom, takes skills, intention, and deliberation. The adjustment to motherhood changes us—and it makes sense that our friendships, along with our values, priorities, and other relationships, might change too. That doesn’t mean we have to leave our old friendships behind, and it doesn’t mean we can’t …
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Nursing, Weaning, and Tandem Feeding Toddlers with Jenna Wolfe IBCLC
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Send me a Text Message, for free! I'd love to hear from you. If you want to know about breastfeeding and trying to conceive, breastfeeding while pregnant, and the unique challenges of breastfeeding a toddler, this one is for you.. Host Jess and guest Jenna Wolfe, a certified lactation counselor and Pure Joy parent coach, offer profound insights int…
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220: How Stressed Moms Can Cope with Amelia Nagoski, co-author of Burnout
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We don’t have to accept stress as our default state of being. When we can learn how stress shows up in our bodies, what our triggers are, and how to break away from the stress cycle we are trapped in, we can improve our well-being and show up the way we want for our children and for ourselves. Today, I’m joined by Amelia Nagoski, co-author of Burno…
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Master Pelvic Floor Health for an Easy Labor with Pelvic Floor Momma
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Send me a Text Message, for free! I'd love to hear from you. Mastering Pelvic Floor Health for an Easy Labor Check out Becca’s course to ELIMINATE YOUR PREGNANCY PAIN! Use Code “MODERNNURTURE” for a discount! https://go.pelvicfloormomma.com/course-sales-page-1399?am_id=jessika731 In this comprehensive discussion on pelvic floor health with pelvic f…
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219: From the Vault: Why Does a Messy House Give Me Anxiety? with KC Davis, Licensed Professional Therapist and Author
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Why does a messy house give me anxiety? Why can’t I motivate myself to clean since I had kids? Am I just a lazy mom? Moms often worry about these things, feeling immense pressure to keep a clean house and experiencing shame when they fall short of those expectations. As moms, we can’t always buy ourselves more time to clean. But we can approach the…
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Menstrual Wellness Hacks You Need to Know with PMS Coach Rebecca Paisely
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Send me a Text Message, for free! I'd love to hear from you. Join host Jess and PMS & Hormone Health Coach Rebecca Paisley in a groundbreaking discussion that challenges the norms around PMS and menstrual health. Discover the roles of key hormones, the power of diet in regulating your cycle, and the holistic approach of Ayurveda to optimizing women…
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Don McBride born 1936 became blind at age 11, O&M instructor before it was a grad degree.
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This week is a real treat- I found Don McBride’s interview, he was born in 1936. He is a great storyteller and gives amazing insight into what it was like to be blind child in the 1940s and 50s- he became blind at age 11, he attend residential school and so had certain advantages – but, there wasn’t white cane safety at the time and his older broth…
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218: Breaking Away from the Invisible Load of Motherhood with Carly Watters, Literary Agent
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The invisible load of motherhood isn’t easy to see, define, or explain. We feel the weight of it, but we often assume that we are just failing or that our partner is the problem. But when we learn to let go of the beliefs that create this “Mother Load,” we can take the steps to release and redistribute the mental and emotional labor in our homes. T…
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Frances born 1952, RLF, prefers her Dog Guide over Long Canes
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We are entering the 1950s with Frances who was born 1952 seven years after the first white cane was taught to a blinded veteran of WWII. She remembered knowing that she had to wait to learn to use a long cane once she became 15. This is a terrific discussion of her dog guide use and paratransit. If you’re curious about the reality of getting around…
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Infant Sleep: What Every Mama Should Know with Holistic Sleep Coach Kim Hawley, IBCLC
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Send me a Text Message, for free! I'd love to hear from you. Dive into the essentials of infant sleep in this episode of "Modern Nurture," featuring Holistic Sleep Coach Kim Hawley. From unraveling the complexities of sleep training to navigating the risks of SIDS, and uncovering the truths behind co-sleeping and bed-sharing, this discussion is pac…
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Mastering Pregnancy Fitness with ATG Coach Amy Hughes
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Send me a Text Message, for free! I'd love to hear from you. Welcome to Modern Nurture, where mothers at the intersection of instincts and evidence. Join host Jess as she engages in an insightful conversation with Amy Hughes, a doula, mother, and personal trainer. Amy shares her unique journey and the development of a comprehensive pregnancy protoc…
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Welcome & My Unconventional Tummy Time Take
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Send me a Text Message, for free! I'd love to hear from you. Welcome and an Unconventional Take on Tummy Time Join Jess on the Modern Nurture Podcast, where mothers meet at the intersection of instincts and evidence. As an engineer turned mom, Jess dives deep into the essence of motherhood, challenging the conventional with a mix of personal anecdo…
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217: How Partners Can Share in the Invisible Load with Zach Watson, Content Creator and Invisible Labor Educator for Men
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When partners take an active role in the invisible load, everyone benefits. It reduces pressure and overwhelm on moms, and it empowers partners to make decisions and parent with confidence. Today, I’m joined by Zach Watson, creator of Real Zach Think Share and invisible labor educator for men, to unpack why partners need to help carry the invisible…
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Taletha born 1951 with no light perception
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If you want some assurances that growing up blind, waiting until school age to get the first long cane can result in a well adjusted, fully employed and outgoing adult- then listen to Taletha. She compares working with O&M specialists who were sighted and blind. Overall, she felt she should have had much more time with either one of them – she had …
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216: Understanding Menopause and Mental Health with Dr. Heather Hirsch, Founder of the Menopause & Midlife Clinic
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Discussing the relationship between menopause and mental health is important. It gives us awareness of what we’re experiencing or what we might experience in the future—and it helps break the stigma, both around mental health and women’s health. Today, I’m joined by Dr. Heather Hirsch, founder of the Menopause & Midlife Clinic and author of Unlock …
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215: Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts About Baby with Dr. Caroline Boyd, Clinical Psychologist
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Intrusive thoughts in motherhood can be scary. But they are not premonitions or signs of deep, hidden desires. They are just thoughts—and the more we try to bury them without understanding what they are, the more they tend to stick around. With awareness and the right plan of action, we can learn to move past these disturbing thoughts more easily. …
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Patricia, born 1951 - To Use or Not To Use the White Cane The conflict is real
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Patricia Montgomery is a terrific example of the seeds the world has sown. People with visual impairments are expected to be visually capable and blind people are expected to be treated as if they are sighted. Blindness and visual impairment are the most blatant form of stereotyping and marginalizing of a disability group out in the open. Consider …
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214: How to Embrace Career Change as a Mom with Jess Galica, Career and Leadership Coach, Best-Selling Author
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Our careers can look different once we become moms—and that doesn’t need to be a bad thing. Many moms are embracing flexibility, considering career changes, and reevaluating what they want from their personal and professional lives. Today, I’m joined by career and leadership coach Jess Galica, best-selling author of Leap: Why It's Time to Let Go to…
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213: Understanding Postpartum Depression in Dads and Non-Birthing Partners with Mark Williams, International Advocate for Perinatal Mental Health and Author
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The postpartum period is a vulnerable time for our mental health—and not just for the person who gives birth. Fathers or non-birthing partners and adoptive parents are all also at risk. And yet, postpartum depression in dads and partners is often overlooked and undersupported—even more so than for birthing moms. Today, I’m joined by perinatal menta…
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