In this episode, Dr. Whitney Casares sits down with Dr. Jay Gargus and Dave Justus from NeuroQure to discuss the power of early clarity when it comes to autism detection and why earlier intervention can fundamentally change outcomes for children and families.

Dr. Gargus explains the science behind early behavioral therapies and why their impact goes far beyond short-term skill-building. Research shows that early, evidence-based interventions can lead to measurable, lifelong improvements in IQ, social skills, independence, and educational placement, often determining whether a child can thrive in mainstream education or requires ongoing specialized support.

The conversation also tackles a critical and often overlooked issue: access. Dave Justus shares the personal motivation behind NeuroQure’s work and explains why the test is being launched at cost, with installment plans and employer subsidies, while the team works toward insurance coverage. The goal is to prevent families from losing precious years waiting for answers.

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Our kids are growing up surrounded by misinformation about health, beauty, and worth. My new book, My One-of-a-Kind Body, helps kids ages 7–12 understand how their bodies work, what real health means, and how to build body confidence grounded in science, not social media. It features kids of all races, sizes, abilities, and family backgrounds, so every child feels seen and respected.

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What if the stories we struggle to share are the very ones that could help someone else feel less alone?

In this deeply moving episode of the Modern Mommy Doc Podcast, Dr. Whitney sits down with physician and author Dr. Rebecca Thompson to talk about her powerful collaborative memoir, Held Together: A Shared Memoir of Motherhood, Medicine, and Imperfect Love. The book weaves together the real-life stories of 22 women navigating infertility, pregnancy loss, adoption, medical trauma, foster care, grief, and the countless unexpected turns that shape family life.

Dr. Thompson shares the origin of the book—born from her own life-threatening pregnancy complications—and why preserving women’s stories felt essential in a culture that often pushes these experiences into silence. Together, Whitney and Rebecca explore themes of isolation, vulnerability, grief, flexibility, and the emotional complexity of becoming—and being—a parent.

Throughout the conversation, they unpack what it means to:

• Feel deeply alone in motherhood, even when surrounded by others
• Let go of rigid expectations and grieve the family life you thought you would have
• Navigate identity when medical knowledge doesn’t protect you from fear or uncertainty
• Face the guilt and self-blame that often show up when our children struggle
• Redefine family beyond biology through adoption, fostering, step-parenthood, and chosen family
• Hold grief and joy at the same time, especially when honoring lost parents and imperfect relationships

Purchase the book here.

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Our kids are growing up surrounded by misinformation about health, beauty, and worth. My new book, My One-of-a-Kind Body, helps kids ages 7–12 understand how their bodies work, what real health means, and how to build body confidence grounded in science, not social media. It features kids of all races, sizes, abilities, and family backgrounds, so every child feels seen and respected.

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In this episode of The Modern Mommy Doc Podcast, Dr. Whitney sits down with Kishshana Palmer, speaker, coach, and author of Busy Is a Four-Letter Word: A Guide to Achieving More by Doing Less. Together, they dive into what happens when moms finally decide to step off the hamster wheel of over-functioning and start living with more intention, joy, and rest.

You’ll hear:

💡 Why busyness has become the new badge of honor and how it’s isolating us

🧘🏾‍♀️ Kishshana’s Five-Star Wellness Plan to help you identify where you’re out of alignment (physical, emotional, spiritual, financial, and community)

💤 The real reason moms struggle with sleep and how Kishshana created bedtime rituals that actually work

🗓️ How to use time-blocking and “buffer blocks” to reclaim your schedule and your sanity

🚫 Why multitasking doesn’t make you more productive and how to practice doing less so you can achieve more

💬 Real talk about canceling plans with integrity, managing guilt, and redefining success beyond everyone else’s expectations

This conversation is honest, empowering, and packed with practical strategies for any mom who’s ever thought, “If I slow down, everything will fall apart.” Spoiler: it won’t( and Kishshana shows you exactly why).

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Whitney and Jordyn also share personal stories, expert insight, and practical tools to help parents replace pressure with presence at mealtimes — and raise confident, curious eaters for life.

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Our kids are growing up surrounded by misinformation about health, beauty, and worth. My new book, My One-of-a-Kind Body, helps kids ages 7–12 understand how their bodies work, what real health means, and how to build body confidence grounded in science — not social media. It features kids of all races, sizes, abilities, and family backgrounds, so every child feels seen and respected.

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In this episode of The Modern Mommy Doc Podcast, Dr. Whitney sits down with Jordyn Kovaleski Gorman, a licensed pediatric feeding specialist, speech-language pathologist, and founder of Eat Play Say, a global parenting resource reaching families in over 100 countries.

Together, they unpack one of the most stressful parts of early parenthood: feeding babies and toddlers — and how to do it with less anxiety and more confidence.

You’ll hear:

🍎 Why starting solids feels so overwhelming (and how social media makes it harder)

🥕 The truth about iron, variety, and “healthy fast foods” that actually work

🧠 What parents should really know about probiotics and gut health

😬 How to tell the difference between gagging and choking — and how to stay calm when your baby gags

🥣 The real deal on baby-led weaning vs. purees (and why you don’t have to pick a side)

💛 Simple ways to help your child develop a healthy relationship with food from day one — without diet culture sneaking in

Dr. Whitney and Jordyn also share personal stories, expert insight, and practical tools to help parents replace pressure with presence at mealtimes — and raise confident, curious eaters for life.

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Our kids are growing up surrounded by misinformation about health, beauty, and worth. My new book, My One-of-a-Kind Body, helps kids ages 7–12 understand how their bodies work, what real health means, and how to build body confidence grounded in science — not social media. It features kids of all races, sizes, abilities, and family backgrounds, so every child feels seen and respected.

GRAB YOUR COPY

In this episode of the Modern Mommy Doc Podcast, Dr. Whitney is joined by Kahlila Robinson and Sarah Gertzenzang, co-authors of The Self-Regulation Workbook for Children Ages 5–8. Together, they dive into the critical role self-regulation plays in kids’ emotional well-being—and how parents can support it at home.

Dr. Robinson and Sarah share why they created a resource that’s accessible, practical, and ready-to-use—a workbook parents can read one night and apply the next morning. They explain why self-regulation isn’t just about what kids learn at school, but about what’s modeled at home—and how parents’ ability to stay calm and reflect directly shapes their children’s resilience.

You’ll hear:

• Why social-emotional learning in schools is important—but not enough on its own.
• The crucial role of parent self-regulation in helping kids develop healthy coping skills.
• A refreshing reminder that parents don’t need to be perfect—just consistent about 60% of the time.
• How to find middle ground between strict, rigid parenting and letting emotions run wild.
• Evidence-based strategies distilled into approachable exercises for both kids and parents.

Dr. Robinson and Sarah also share their philosophy: parenting isn’t about outsourcing regulation to schools or therapists. It’s about connection, repair, and reflection at home—and giving ourselves grace along the way.

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Our kids are growing up surrounded by misinformation about health, beauty, and worth. My new book, My One-of-a-Kind Body, helps kids ages 7–12 understand how their bodies work, what real health means, and how to build body confidence grounded in science — not social media. It features kids of all races, sizes, abilities, and family backgrounds, so every child feels seen and respected.

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In this episode of the Modern Mommy Doc podcast, Dr. Whitney Casares sits down with pediatric psychologist, author, and parent coach Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart to talk about how to actually love the teen you have, not the one you imagined, hoped for, or thought you’d get. Together, they unpack how to stay connected to your teen through the chaos, what to do when your kid calls you “bruh,” and how to manage your own emotions when your child’s behavior pushes every button you have.

Dr. Lockhart shares stories from her own life, including her rocky teen years and her now-healed relationship with her mom, to remind parents that rebellion often hides pain—and that curiosity, compassion, and boundaries can coexist. She and Dr. Whitney also explore what individuation really means (and why it’s actually a good thing), how to support neurodivergent teens, and how parents can care for themselves so they can show up grounded, not reactive.

Read more.

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Our kids are growing up surrounded by misinformation about health, beauty, and worth. My new book, My One-of-a-Kind Body, helps kids ages 7–12 understand how their bodies work, what real health means, and how to build body confidence grounded in science — not social media. It features kids of all races, sizes, abilities, and family backgrounds, so every child feels seen and respected.

GRAB YOUR COPY

In this episode of the Modern Mommy Doc Podcast, Dr. Whitney reconnects with longtime friend and colleague Dr. Ann-Ming Yeh—Stanford-trained pediatric gastroenterologist, integrative medicine specialist, and author of Constipation Conquered: A Holistic Guide to Your Child’s Constipation.

Together, they tackle a surprisingly common (and often frustrating) parenting challenge: constipation in kids. Dr. Yeh shares why she wrote her new book, how she blends evidence-based medicine with integrative approaches, and what parents can realistically do to help their kids—from picky toddlers to neurodivergent kids with unique needs.

You’ll learn:

• The truth about common constipation myths (spoiler: laxatives aren’t evil).
• How to know whether your child’s constipation is mild, moderate, or severe—and when to seek specialist care.
• Simple prevention tips: the right balance of fluid before fiber, why leafy greens act like a “broomstick for your gut,” and how bananas might be binding.
• Why the gut-brain connection matters, and how small daily rituals (from tea time to affirmations to Snoop Dogg’s kids’ album!) can actually support digestion.
• The difference between “mush” (softening stool) and “push” (helping the colon’s muscles coordinate), and why some kids may need specialized therapies like biofeedback.
• Why integrative medicine is about both/and—using food as medicine when possible, and leaning on safe medications when necessary.

This conversation is practical, reassuring, and yes—sometimes even funny. It’s a reminder that while poop may not be a glamorous parenting topic, helping kids feel comfortable, confident, and healthy in their bodies is always worth it.

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This episode is brought to you by Suvie:

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In this episode of the Modern Mommy Doc Podcast, Dr. Whitney Casares sits down with Liat Ron, filmmaker and producer of the new documentary Fear and Now. The film shines a light on how fear and trauma often shape the birthing experience—and how tools like hypnobirthing can transform it into something calmer, safer, and even enjoyable.

Liat shares her own journey of discovery as she dove into the world of birth work, learning that women don’t have to choose between medicine and empowerment. Instead, it’s about reframing birth as an experience where parents can feel informed, supported, and free from unnecessary fear.

You’ll learn:

• Why fear and trauma are so common in modern birth stories—and how they can be addressed.
• What hypnobirthing actually is (and what it isn’t).
• How parents can prepare for a more calm, confident, and fear-free birth.
• Why this movement isn’t “anti-medicine”—but rather about combining safety with empowerment.
• Liat’s behind-the-scenes experience making Fear and Now and what she hopes parents, providers, and birth workers take away from it.

This conversation is an invitation to imagine birth differently: with less fear, more connection, and the possibility of joy in one of life’s most powerful transitions.

Find out more here.

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This episode is brought to you by Suvie:

If dinnertime is your daily chaos hour, I’ve got something game-changing.

It’s called Suvie. It’s a smart countertop appliance and meal delivery service that makes effortless home-cooked meals. And here’s the coolest part - The Suvie Kitchen Robot that refrigerates your food all day, then cooks it automatically—roasting, slow cooking, even air frying—so dinner’s ready exactly when you need it.

I use it because I don’t have time to meal prep every Sunday. I need something that works with my actual schedule. Suvie does.

You can load it in the morning, set it, and forget it. No stress. No last-minute drive-thru.

Suvie makes dinner one less thing to worry about.

Check it out at suvie.com/modernmommy and get 16 free meals with this link.