Ladies, it's time we look at "fertility" as a life long discussion, not just one around the "trying to conceive" phase. Your period is a vital sign—and it’s time we treated it like one. So I invited double board‑certified reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Sasha Hackman on the pod this week to map the full arc of fertility and a women's reproductive health before thinking about kids, during the "trying" phase, & why it matters most even after having kids. We deep dive into what to track before "trying", when to seek fertility intervention if it's just not happening naturally, why freezing your eggs is an insurance plan if kids aren't in the near future, and why postpartum hormones can both help and hinder the path to baby number two or three (we talk secondary infertility too).

We trace fertility across a woman’s life with Dr. Sasha Hackman, from first period to postpartum, with clear steps to measure, plan, and protect your options. She shares real odds, practical testing, and how to choose treatments that fit your age, goals, and timeline.

MORE OF WHAT WE DISCUSS:

• reframing fertility as lifelong reproductive health

• IVF strategy, IUI limits and realistic success rates

• embryo banking to match bigger family goals

• postpartum hormone shifts and surprise conception

• secondary infertility drivers and endometriosis impact

• male factor basics and the three‑month sperm reset

• cycle tracking tools and luteal phase support

• why your period is a vital sign for long‑term health

• PCOS vs NCCAH and how pills can mask issues

More on Dr. Sasha Hackman:

Website: HERE

Instagram: HERE

Podcast: Trying To Conceive HERE

If you loved Sasha’s episode, would love for you to leave a comment or share this ep. with a friend. Ratings and reviews for the podcast are always greatly appreciated! xx Tayla

Follow The Milk Podcast on all platforms for weekly episodes that remind you you're not alone, you're not crazy, and you're doing way better than you think.

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YouTube: @TheMilkPodcast

Instagram: @TheMilkPodcast_@TaylaBurke
TikTok: @TheMilkPodcast @Tayla_Burke

Happy 2026! If you felt like you hit a wall on January 1st instead of hitting the ground running, this episode is for you. I am planting my flag for the new year -- not with a list of aesthetic resolutions or pressure-filled goals, but with 10 Personal Non-Negotiables designed for a calmer, clearer, and more aligned year.

In this solo episode, we ease into 2026 by ditching the "New Year, New Me" panic. I break down my personal standards for motherhood, partnerships, and ambition - including why I'm done "keeping score" in my relationship, the specific chore systems that saved my mental load, and why "Inner Peace is the New Productivity."

Whether you need permission to lower your daily standards (hello, the "2 out of 3" rule), a strategy to time-block your chaos, or just a reminder that "No" is a complete sentence, grab your notebook (or just listen while you drive) and let's build a year that actually feels good.

In this episode, we cover:

• The "Soft Launch": Why I ignored the January 1st pressure and how to use the "Camera Roll Method" to find your joy.
• Motherhood: My "Two Out of Three" Rule for feeling put together and why 10 minutes of presence beats a perfect schedule.
• Relationship: Why we don't keep score, we keep systems (and the weekly check-in that prevents resentment).
• The Chore Audit: Explicitly dividing household tasks (like the trash vs. the groceries) to eliminate the "Mental Load."
• Ambition: How I time-block my actual priorities and conducting a "High Effort, Low Return" audit on my work.
• Energy & Boundaries: Why "That doesn't work for us" is a full sentence and quitting one-sided friendships.

Connect with The Milk:

• Subscribe on your favorite audio platform for your weekly dose of unfiltered motherhood.
• Review the Show: If this episode resonated with you, please leave a review to help us grow!

Chapter Markers:

00:00 – A Softer Start to 2026: Letting go of Jan 1st Pressure

06:45 – Reflection: The "Camera Roll" Exercise & Finding Joy

17:00 – Bucket 1: Motherhood. The "Two Out of Three" Rule & Presence over Perfection

23:30 – Bucket 2: Partnership. Systems vs. Scorekeeping & The Weekly Check-In

29:00 – The Chore Audit: Reducing the Mental Load

34:00 – Bucket 3: Ambition. Time Blocking & The "High Effort, Low Return" Audit

45:30 – Bucket 4: Me + Energy. 20-Minute Movement & Friendship Boundaries

55:00 – Rapid Fire: "That doesn't work for us" & Scheduling Joy

Follow The Milk Podcast on all platforms for weekly episodes that remind you you're not alone, you're not crazy, and you're doing way better than you think.

Follow & Subscribe For More:
YouTube: @TheMilkPodcast

Instagram: @TheMilkPodcast_@TaylaBurke
TikTok: @TheMilkPodcast @Tayla_Burke

This week I’m sitting down with a very special (and pregnant!) friend — Sami Brooks — and this one felt like the kind of conversation that makes you exhale and go, okay… I’m not alone.

We talk about what it really looks like to grow a family fast: deciding to go for babies close in age, a long labor that ended in a C-section, and the dream that had her convinced she was having a little girl. Sami shares how the hardest nights can either pull you apart or weld you together — and what it looks like to choose “us vs. the problem” when you’re both running on fumes. If you’ve ever wondered how couples stay close between night feeds and nap schedules, this episode is basically a love letter to teamwork (with plenty of humor).

And yes, we get into the real pregnancy stuff — the nausea that won’t quit, the fatigue that makes your bones feel heavy, hormonal surprises like rashes and acne, and the old wives’ tales that are weirdly accurate… until they’re not. Sami also tells the most iconic gender reveal story (it involves sumo suits), plus we talk intuition vs. tracking apps and how postpartum can change what you trust most.

We also get super practical for anyone navigating close-in-age siblings: strollers, car seats, third-row cars, travel/airport logistics, and little ways to include your toddler so jealousy turns into belonging.

And of course, body image gets honest. The unglamorous first trimester, carb-only survival days, jeans that won’t button, and the shift from body perfection to body neutrality. We share simple ways to rebuild strength postpartum — breath work, deep core + pelvic floor basics, and finding trainers/programs that actually understand postpartum bodies.

If you’re pregnant, newly postpartum, a seasoned mom in the chaos, or just trying to feel more normal in this season — this one’s for you.

MORE FROM SAMI BROOKS:

Follow her on Instagram HERE

Follow her on TikTok HERE

Subscribe to her Youtube HERE

If you loved it, follow the show, send it to a mom friend, and leave a quick review so more women can find us. 🤍

Follow The Milk Podcast on all platforms for weekly episodes that remind you you're not alone, you're not crazy, and you're doing way better than you think.

Follow & Subscribe For More:
YouTube: @TheMilkPodcast

Instagram: @TheMilkPodcast_@TaylaBurke
TikTok: @TheMilkPodcast @Tayla_Burke