The Mental Load, Resentment & Reconnecting as a Couple with Dr. Morgan Cutlip
This week, I’m joined by Dr. Morgan Cutlip—psychologist, author, and someone I absolutely love learning from—to talk about one of the most common and complicated parts of relationships after kids: the mental load. You know, the endless invisible checklist running through your head, the nagging feeling that you're doing more, and the challenge of keeping your relationship strong through it all.
We talk about how hard it can be to explain the mental load to your partner without it turning into a fight, why resentment builds (and how to let go of it), and the real link between how supported you feel outside the bedroom… and how connected you feel inside it.
Dr. Morgan also shares what surprised her most while writing her new book, A Better Share, including the role communication plays in keeping couples close—not just as parents or roommates, but as partners who still want to have fun, laugh, and yes, have great sex.
This is one of those episodes that I think every couple can relate to. I hope it makes you feel seen and gives you some tools to take back into your own relationship. Order her book here: https://amzn.to/3ZFrpfd
Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!
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31:51
Budgeting for Baby with Rachel Cruze
Having kids can be expensive, and this week Rachel Cruze joins us to give us all the tips on how to budget for babies and beyond. She starts with how to budget before the baby is here, and how to prioritize what you really need to spend the most money on when prepping for baby. We also cover how to save for the medical expenses that come along with having a baby, and when it might be worth it to pay for extra medical insurance. Rachel also has some money saving tips for when our kids grow up into children and teens, like spending more up front on higher quality toys. She also tackles the issue of budgeting for IVF and fertility treatments for families that are considering those options. Rachel has so much great advice in this episode, and she hopes her work can help parents feel less intimidated by the financial side of raising a family!
Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!
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33:09
Miscarriage, Motherhood, and Mental Health: A Conversation with Dr. Jessica Zucker
In this deeply honest episode, psychologist and author Dr. Jessica Zucker returns to BDA Baby to talk about her new book “Normalize It” and the personal experience that shaped her path. After experiencing a traumatic second-trimester miscarriage at home, Jessica made it her mission to break the silence around pregnancy loss and maternal mental health.
We talk about how stigma, shame, and silence continue to affect women across all stages of life—from girlhood through motherhood—and how storytelling can be a powerful tool for healing. Jessica shares what it was like to grieve while working as a therapist, how her loss led to the viral I Had a Miscarriage movement, and why creating space for women to speak openly is critical.
If you’ve ever struggled with how to support a friend through loss, felt isolated in your motherhood journey, or needed permission to speak the hard truth—this conversation is for you.
Listen now on all podcast platforms and order her books below.
Normalize It: https://amzn.to/44HUni2
I Had a Miscarriage: https://amzn.to/3H3Hp4q
Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video
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25:15
How Hunter McGrady Navigated Grief During Pregnancy
Pregnancy can be hard enough without having to deal with the complexities of grief. Today, Hunter McGrady sat down with us to share some of her experience with losing her brother when she was seven months pregnant. She explains the confusing feelings she felt while trying to process her grief while also being excited to welcome her baby boy. Hunter says her faith and her family got her through. We also touch on the nuances of plus size pregnancy, and Hunter’s experience with body image as a plus size person during and after pregnancy. Hunter hopes that by showing her own honesty and vulnerability, other women will know that they are not alone.
Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!
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33:12
Postpartum Anxiety, Identity Shifts & the Power of Your Brain
In this episode, I’m joined by clinical psychologist and author Dr. Nikki Pensak to talk all about the postpartum brain—what’s really happening neurologically after birth, why it can feel so overwhelming, and how we can shift the narrative from “mom brain” to one of strength and growth. Dr. Nikki breaks down the science behind the brain’s transformation in motherhood, explains why this time can leave us feeling so emotionally rattled, and shares practical tools for calming new mom anxiety. We also talk about postpartum depression, anxiety, and OCD—how to know when something is more than just “baby blues,” and why early mental health support is so crucial.
Whether you're currently postpartum, supporting someone who is, or just curious about the incredible changes that come with matrescence, this episode offers powerful perspective and helpful takeaways.
Listen now and check out Dr. Nikki’s book, Rattled: How to Calm New Mom Anxiety with the Power of the Postpartum Brain here: https://amzn.to/3ERPIzH
Please join us on YouTube for our full conversation and many more on video!
BDA Baby™ (Before, During & After Baby) is an interview-based series hosted by New York Times bestselling author, mother, wife and advocate, Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt. Each week, Katherine has meaningful conversations with experts, notable specialists, and friends, covering topics that resonate with the BDA Baby community surrounding pregnancy, sex, partner relationships, birth experiences, fertility challenges, health and wellness, and so much more.
New Zealand