Many expecting parents spend months preparing for the baby — but far less time preparing for the birth itself.

In this episode, Dr. O sit down with Brittany Pruneau, a birth educator who works closely with families preparing for labor and delivery, to talk about why so many people walk into birth feeling unprepared — and how education can change the entire experience.

Brittany shares what she regularly sees when working with expecting parents: many arrive at the hospital without fully understanding the range of decisions that may come up during labor, the interventions that might be offered, or how quickly circumstances can change.

We talk about why birth is not something you can simply “wing,” and why understanding your options ahead of time can make a significant difference in how people experience labor.

Brittany also explains how expectations shape birth experiences. When someone believes there is only one “right” way for their baby to be born, any deviation from that expectation can feel overwhelming — even when both parent and baby are healthy. In many cases, it’s the gap between expectations and reality that leads people to feel disempowered or distressed about their birth experience.

This conversation explores how preparation, information, and realistic expectations can help parents approach birth with greater confidence and clarity.

In this episode we discuss:

• Why many parents feel unprepared for labor and delivery
• The role of birth education in decision-making during labor
• How expectations influence birth experiences
• Why flexibility and knowledge can reduce fear around birth
• What expecting parents should understand before going into labor

If you’re expecting a baby — or supporting someone who is — this episode offers an honest look at why birth preparation matters.

#birthprep #birtheducation #pregnancy #laboranddelivery #newparents #mom #momlife #motherhood #mother #pregnancyjourney #postpartum #postpartumjourney

Thank you for listening ❤

PODCAST LINKS:
- Podcast Website: ⁠https://goldenhour.fm⁠
- YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@GoldenHourFM?ref=bs
- Apple: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/golden-hour/id1768847425?ref=bs
- Spotify: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/goldenhourfm?ref=bs
- RSS: ⁠https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2401875.rss?ref=bs

SOCIAL LINKS:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/goldenhour.fm?ref=bs
- Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@goldenhour.fm?ref=bs

#podcast #postpartum #mom #mother #momlife #motherhood #postpartumjourney

In this episode of the Golden Hour, Dr. O sits down with Dr. Anna Glezer, a reproductive and integrative psychiatrist trained at Harvard and UCSF, where she continues to teach and mentor residents and fellows. She is the founder of Women’s Wellness Psychiatry, creator of the Fellowship in Reproductive & Integrative Psychiatry, and co-founder of the Bay Area Reproductive Mental Health Conference. Through her clinical work, teaching, and national leadership, she has helped shape how we understand women’s mental health across the reproductive lifespan.

This conversation moves beyond isolated diagnoses and instead examines women’s mental health as a longitudinal experience — from preconception and pregnancy through postpartum and into perimenopause.

We explore:

• The misconception that pregnancy is protective for mental health
• Why symptoms of postpartum depression and anxiety often begin during pregnancy
• The role of shared decision-making when discussing SSRIs in pregnancy
• The concept of matrescence as a profound identity and neurobiological transition
• The statistic that 1 in 5 women experience perinatal or postpartum depression — and why anxiety, OCD, and trauma are often underrecognized
• Why approximately 40% of birthing people describe birth as traumatic, even when nothing “medically went wrong”
• How loss of locus of control contributes to birth trauma
• Why perimenopause can last 5–15 years and frequently manifests through mood swings, irritability, insomnia, and brain fog
• The integrative approach to mental health in midlife, including hormone therapy, CBT, exercise, sleep, micronutrients, and lifestyle medicine
  
  
  

At its core, this episode reframes women’s health around one central principle:

Mental health is health.

From pregnancy through midlife, women deserve to feel informed, seen, and supported — not dismissed, minimized, or told to “grin and bear it.”

If you work in women’s health, psychiatry, primary care, or are navigating these transitions yourself, this conversation offers both clinical depth and practical insight.

#reproductivepsychiatry #womensmentalhealth #birthtrauma #perinatalmentalhealth #perimenopause #postpartum #postpartumdepression #postpartumanxiety #mom #momlife #pregnancy #motherhood #motherhoodjourney #postpartumjourney

Thank you for listening ❤

PODCAST LINKS:
- Podcast Website: ⁠https://goldenhour.fm⁠
- YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@GoldenHourFM?ref=bs
- Apple: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/golden-hour/id1768847425?ref=bs
- Spotify: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/goldenhourfm?ref=bs
- RSS: ⁠https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2401875.rss?ref=bs

SOCIAL LINKS:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/goldenhour.fm?ref=bs
- Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@goldenhour.fm?ref=bs

#podcast #postpartum #mom #mother #momlife #motherhood #postpartumjourney

Postpartum care in America is failing women.

In this powerful episode of The Golden Hour, Dr. O sits down with Boram Nam — entrepreneur, hospitality leader, and co-founder of Boram — to discuss why postpartum recovery is treated as optional in the U.S., while in Korea 84% of women receive structured postpartum support.

Boram shares:

• Her personal experience with postpartum depression (that she didn’t recognize at the time)
• The guilt, rage, and exhaustion no one warned her about
• Why the “supermom” narrative is harming women
• How Korea’s postpartum retreat model inspired her to build Boram
• What true postpartum support should look like
• Why parental leave and postpartum infrastructure are policy issues

Together, they explore:

• Matrescence and identity shifts
• The invisible labor of new motherhood
• Why postpartum doulas and lactation consultants are undervalued
• How to build your village — even if you don’t have one
  
  

If you are pregnant, postpartum, supporting someone who is, or simply care about women’s health equity — this conversation is essential.

Postpartum isn’t six weeks. It’s a transformation.

#postpartumcare #maternalhealth #postpartumdepression #fourthtrimester #workingmoms #parentalleave #womenshealth

Thank you for listening ❤

PODCAST LINKS:
- Podcast Website: ⁠https://goldenhour.fm⁠
- YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@GoldenHourFM?ref=bs
- Apple: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/golden-hour/id1768847425?ref=bs
- Spotify: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/goldenhourfm?ref=bs
- RSS: ⁠https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2401875.rss?ref=bs

SOCIAL LINKS:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/goldenhour.fm?ref=bs
- Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@goldenhour.fm?ref=bs

#podcast #postpartum #mom #mother #momlife #motherhood #postpartumjourney

Menopause care is finally evolving — and this episode explains what every woman needs to know right now.

In this conversation, Dr. O sits down with Dr. Kagan, board-certified OB-GYN, UCSF Clinical Professor, and nationally recognized expert in menopause, hormone therapy, bone health, sexual health, and cancer survivorship.

We break down the recent FDA label change for menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), why vasomotor symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats are more serious than we once believed, and how untreated symptoms are linked to cardiovascular disease and brain health.

Dr. Kagan also explains the two newly approved non-hormonal treatments for hot flashes, including how neurokinin B receptor antagonists work by targeting the brain’s thermoregulatory system — a major shift in menopause treatment options.

This episode covers:

• The truth about menopausal hormone therapy today
• Why hot flashes are not “just annoying”
• New FDA-approved non-hormonal treatments
• Who should (and shouldn’t) consider hormones
• Why menopause is still under-treated
• How women can advocate for better care

Whether you’re approaching menopause, in the thick of it, or caring for women who are — this episode brings clarity, evidence, and empowerment to a stage of life that has been misunderstood for far too long.

#HotFlashes #MenopauseCare #MidlifeHealth #MenopauseAwareness #WomenHealth #MidlifeMatters

Thank you for listening ❤

PODCAST LINKS:
- Podcast Website: ⁠https://goldenhour.fm⁠
- YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@GoldenHourFM?ref=bs
- Apple: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/golden-hour/id1768847425?ref=bs
- Spotify: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/goldenhourfm?ref=bs
- RSS: ⁠https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2401875.rss?ref=bs

SOCIAL LINKS:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/goldenhour.fm?ref=bs
- Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@goldenhour.fm?ref=bs

#podcast #postpartum #mom #mother #momlife #motherhood #postpartumjourney

What if postpartum isn’t something to “recover from” — but a profound identity transformation?

In this episode of The Golden Hour, Dr. O sits down with Jessie Harrold, doula, coach, author of Mother Shift, and host of the Becoming Podcast, for a deeply honest conversation about matrescence, the fourth trimester, and why the transition to motherhood often takes years — not weeks.

Together, they explore:

• Why postpartum is a developmental stage, not a pathology
• The difference between the fourth trimester and matrescence
• Why so many mothers feel “lost” after birth
• The role of grief, body change, and identity shifts in early motherhood
• How lack of community and maternity leave impact maternal mental health
• Why “bouncing back” is the wrong goal

This episode is essential listening for:

• Mothers and birthing people
• Women considering motherhood
• OB-GYNs, midwives, doulas, and women’s health providers
• Anyone supporting someone through postpartum

🎧 Listen, reflect, and share with someone who needs this reminder:
You’re not broken — you’re becoming.

Takeaways

• Motherhood is a rite of passage that changes everything.
• Matrescence is a developmental process similar to adolescence.
• The transition to motherhood can take two to three years.
• Community support is essential for new mothers.
• Grief is a natural part of the motherhood journey.
• Body image changes significantly during and after pregnancy.
• It's important to honor and validate feelings about body changes.
• Societal pressures can exacerbate feelings of inadequacy in mothers.
• The healthcare system often fails to support the postpartum period adequately.
• Transformation in motherhood is messy but ultimately empowering.

Keywords

#motherhood #matrescence #postpartum #transformation, #identity #community #bodyimage #grief #ritesofpassage #support

Thank you for listening ❤

PODCAST LINKS:
- Podcast Website: ⁠https://goldenhour.fm⁠
- YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@GoldenHourFM?ref=bs
- Apple: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/golden-hour/id1768847425?ref=bs
- Spotify: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/goldenhourfm?ref=bs
- RSS: ⁠https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2401875.rss?ref=bs

SOCIAL LINKS:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/goldenhour.fm?ref=bs
- Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@goldenhour.fm?ref=bs

#podcast #postpartum #mom #mother #momlife #motherhood #postpartumjourney

In this episode of The Golden Hour, Dr. O sits down with Abby Mercado, co-founder and CEO of Rescripted, the leading global media platform empowering women with science-backed health information.

Abby shares her deeply personal journey through infertility, IVF, miscarriage, preeclampsia, and postpartum recovery — and how those experiences revealed just how broken women’s healthcare systems can be.

Together, they explore:

• Why fertility care is so complex and inaccessible
• How misinformation dominates women’s health online
• The dangers of relying on AI and social media for medical advice
• Why women weren’t included in medical research until 1993
• How Rescripted and its women’s-health-focused AI, Clara, are changing the future

This conversation is honest, urgent, and hopeful — a reminder that women are turning pain into purpose and building a better system from the inside out.

🎧 Listen now and join the movement redefining women’s health — from first period to last.

Keywords

#womenshealth #fertility #fertilityjourney #motherhood #mother #pregnancy #pregnancyjourney #health #healthinformation #womenshealth #Rescripted, #misinformation #healthcareinnovation #personalstories #communitysupport

Takeaways

• The internet can be a scary place for women's health information.
• Sharing personal stories helps normalize women's health experiences.
• Women often face misinformation about their health, especially online.
• Access to reliable health information is crucial for women.
• The healthcare system often lacks adequate support for women's unique health needs.
• Innovations in women's health are emerging to address these challenges.
• Community support is vital for women navigating health issues.
• Personal experiences can drive passion for change in healthcare.
• Education about women's health is still lacking in many areas.
• The future of women's health looks promising with new technologies and advocacy.

Thank you for listening ❤

PODCAST LINKS:
- Podcast Website: ⁠https://goldenhour.fm⁠
- YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@GoldenHourFM?ref=bs
- Apple: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/golden-hour/id1768847425?ref=bs
- Spotify: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/goldenhourfm?ref=bs
- RSS: ⁠https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2401875.rss?ref=bs

SOCIAL LINKS:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/goldenhour.fm?ref=bs
- Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@goldenhour.fm?ref=bs

#podcast #postpartum #mom #mother #momlife #motherhood #postpartumjourney

In this episode, Dr. O sits down with Venla Hakunti — entrepreneur, leadership coach, and Finnish Happiness Ambassador — for a deeply honest conversation about parenthood, postpartum support, and why having children feels fundamentally different in the U.S. compared to Europe.

Venla shares her lived experience giving birth and raising children in Germany and Finland, where postpartum care, parental leave, and childcare are treated as societal responsibilities — not personal luxuries. Together, they unpack the emotional and financial realities of parenting in America, where many families are forced to ask a question rarely heard elsewhere: “Can we afford to have a child?”

This conversation explores:

• Why parenthood in the U.S. often becomes a financial calculation
• What Europe gets right about postpartum care and parental leave
• How systemic support (or lack of it) shapes maternal mental health
• The “power of the pause” — and why time off after birth isn’t lost time
• What true choice looks like when families are actually supported

Venla Hakunti is an entrepreneur and leadership trainer with a diverse background across multiple industries. She is the co-founder of several early-stage startups, a strengths coach, and a workshop facilitator currently leading major projects in AI education and facilitator training. Originally from a small village in northern Finland, Venla has lived in Spain and Germany and now resides in Helsinki with her partner and their two children.

This episode is not about idealizing Europe — it’s about re-imagining what’s possible when we invest in parents, birthers, and families.

🎧 Subscribe for more conversations on maternal health, identity, and systems that shape our lives.

#MaternalHealth #PostpartumCare #PostpartumSupport #ParentalLeave #Motherhood #ParentingInAmerica #ParenthoodInEurope #USvsEurope #HealthcareSystems #FamilyPolicy #PostpartumMentalHealth #MaternalMentalHealth #WorkingMothers #WomenAndWork #ThePowerOfPause #WomensHealthPodcast #MaternalHealthPodcast #HealthcarePodcast #LeadershipAndMotherhood #WomenInMedicine #BecomingAMother #LifeAfterBirth #ParenthoodConversation #ModernMotherhood #GlobalParenting

Thank you for listening ❤

PODCAST LINKS:
- Podcast Website: ⁠https://goldenhour.fm⁠
- YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@GoldenHourFM?ref=bs
- Apple: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/golden-hour/id1768847425?ref=bs
- Spotify: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/goldenhourfm?ref=bs
- RSS: ⁠https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2401875.rss?ref=bs

SOCIAL LINKS:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/goldenhour.fm?ref=bs
- Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@goldenhour.fm?ref=bs

#podcast #postpartum #mom #mother #momlife #motherhood #postpartumjourney

What if everything you were taught about periods, birth control, and menopause was incomplete — or flat-out wrong?

In this eye-opening episode, Dr. O sits down with Dr. Sophia Yen, one of the most influential voices in women’s health today. Dr. Yen is a Clinical Associate Professor at Stanford in Adolescent Medicine, an MIT and UCSF alum, and Founder/CEO of Pandia Health, the only doctor-founded birth control delivery company. She’s spent her career fighting for reproductive justice, better patient education, and healthcare that truly centers women.

Together, Dr. O and Dr. Yen dive into:

✨ #PeriodsOptional — why most women don’t need to bleed every month
✨ The real science behind hormonal birth control (and what reduces cancer risk)
✨ Perimenopause: symptoms, misconceptions, labs you shouldn’t order, and why women feel so confused
✨ FDA-approved uses of hormone therapy — and what emerging research is showing
✨ How to reduce UTIs, protect bone health, and support cognitive aging
✨ Why comprehensive sex ed and empowered contraceptive counseling matter more than ever
✨ Dr. Yen’s mission to reshape women’s health: access, accuracy, autonomy

From high-yield education to myth-busting to the kind of clarity most women never get in a 15-minute clinical visit — this conversation is bold, evidence-based, and deeply empowering.

If you’ve ever had a period, plan to stop having periods, are navigating perimenopause or menopause, or simply want to understand your body with more confidence — this episode is for you.

Thank you for listening ❤

PODCAST LINKS:
- Podcast Website: ⁠https://goldenhour.fm⁠
- YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@GoldenHourFM?ref=bs
- Apple: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/golden-hour/id1768847425?ref=bs
- Spotify: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/goldenhourfm?ref=bs
- RSS: ⁠https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2401875.rss?ref=bs

SOCIAL LINKS:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/goldenhour.fm?ref=bs
- Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@goldenhour.fm?ref=bs

#podcast #postpartum #mom #mother #momlife #motherhood #postpartumjourney