Mom Brain, Big City

This week on Mom Brain, Big City, I’m talking with Megan Kiefer — mom of two, media literacy educator, founder of Take Two Media Initiative, and author of the upcoming book The Take Back.We talk about screen time, dopamine, overstimulation, boredom, and what it actually looks like to raise kids in a world that is literally designed to keep us glued to our phones.This conversation gets into:the addictive design of social media and technologywhat Megan started noticing in students around 2018how screen time affects kids (and adults)why boredom is actually important for childrenfinding balance without fear-mongering or shamewhat “healthy” technology use can realistically look like for familiesWe also talk honestly about the reality of modern parenting — because sometimes the iPad is survival mode, and sometimes the TV is on so you can unload the dishwasher in peace.Whether you’re super strict about screens or just trying to figure it out as you go, this episode is such an important and nuanced conversation for parents right now.🎙️ Follow Megan:Instagram: @megankiefTake Two Media Initiative: @taketwomediainitiativeAnd if you enjoyed today’s episode, don’t forget to follow, rate, and share Mom Brain, Big City with another parent who’d love this conversation.

This episode is such a special one.This week on Mom Brain, Big City, I’m joined by Angela Gilmore — a military spouse, mom of two, and incredibly talented photographer who is currently living in Japan with her family.We talk about what it actually looks like to raise kids while moving around the world, navigating long stretches of solo parenting during deployments, and building a life (and a business) in the middle of constant change.Angela shares what surprised her most about military life, what it’s like raising kids overseas — including the parts of Japan’s culture that completely changed her perspective on parenting — and how she’s built and rebuilt her “village” in different seasons of life.We also talk about:parenting without a traditional villagethe reality of solo parenting during deploymentsraising independent kids in a different culturebuilding a photography business while moving frequentlyhow motherhood has shaped her identity and prioritiesThis conversation is honest, eye-opening, and such a good reminder that there’s no one way to do motherhood.

This episode is for every mom who’s ever had an idea and thought, “When would I even have time to do that?”This week on Mom Brain, Big City, I’m joined by Jenn Cruzado — mom of two, full-time educator, and now children’s book author.We talk about what it actually looks like to write a book while raising kids, working full-time, and navigating the chaos of everyday life. Jenn shares how the idea for her book Coco! Cherry! Mango! came to life, what surprised her about the self-publishing process, and how motherhood shaped both her creativity and her perspective.We also get into something I didn’t expect to hit so hard — the stories we tell (and don’t tell) about New York City. From Harlem to Washington Heights, Jenn talks about why it matters to show kids that these neighborhoods are still vibrant, creative, and full of life today — even if that’s not always what they see.In this episode, we talk about:Writing a book while raising two kidsFinding time for creativity as a working momThe realities of self-publishingMotherhood and identityThe importance of representation in children’s booksWhy you should explore your own city moreIf you’ve ever felt like your ideas had to take a backseat to everything else — this one’s for you. You can follow Jenn's work on Instagram @authorjenncruzado, and you can find her book in your local bookstores and libraries!

In this solo episode of Mom Brain, Big City, I’m sharing a heavier story about grief, postpartum, and learning how to hold joy and loss at the same time.Two weeks after Mateo was born, I lost my Granjo, my grandma, my confidant, my hype girl. A month later, I also had to say goodbye to my soul dog, Athena, in a way I never expected. All while navigating the physical recovery, hormone crash, sleep deprivation, and emotional whiplash of early postpartum.This episode is about what it feels like to grieve when the world expects you to be “so happy.” About missing the people and pets you want to call when something big happens and realizing you can’t. About making impossible decisions while freshly postpartum. And about the quiet, complicated ways grief shows up when you’re becoming a mom.If you’re in a season of loss, if postpartum felt heavier than you expected, or if you’ve ever had to grieve while still showing up for someone else, I see you.Please take care of yourself while listening, and come back to this episode when it feels right.As always, thanks for being here. I’ll see you soon, after bedtime.

It’s been a minute, and today’s episode is basically a long, overdue voice note from me to you.In this surprise solo ep, I’m catching you up on everything: officially weaning, the emotional whiplash of ending my pumping journey, sleep regressions + separation anxiety kicking my ass, and the very real feelings that came with Mateo turning ONE (tears were shed LOL).We’re talking identity shifts, hormones, leaking boobs, gentle sleep training still working and still being hard, and the strange pressure of feeling like you need to “perform” on social media just to share something you love. I get honest about why I went quiet, why this podcast is still for me, and why I’m done forcing content that doesn’t feel authentic.I also touch on the Cardi B x Bobbie formula ad drama, with nuance, because feeding babies is not a one-size-fits-all conversation and privilege plays a bigger role than people want to admit.If you’ve ever felt proud and heartbroken at the same time, burned out but grateful, or like motherhood cracked you open and rebuilt you into someone new… this one’s for you.Thanks for being here. More to come — see you after bedtime 🤍

What if we talked about feeding without the pressure, guilt, or judgment?This week, I’m joined by Shelby Nelson, mom of two, almost-IBCLC, and the creator behind @supportivebreastfriend — the Instagram page that’s helping moms feel seen in their breastfeeding, pumping, and formula-feeding journeys.We talk about Shelby’s own experiences with feeding, the myths she’s constantly debunking online, and why every feeding story deserves to be celebrated — no matter what it looks like. Plus, she shares more about her new podcast, Supportive Breast Friend, where she interviews moms about their unique feeding challenges and triumphs.Grab your pump parts or your coffee and listen in — this one’s for every mom doing her best to feed her baby her way. 💕

If your baby isn’t sleeping through the night and you’ve found yourself wondering, “What am I doing wrong?” — this episode is your reminder that the answer is: nothing.I’m joined by Samantha from Hello Little Sleeper, the sleep consultant who helped us after Mateo hit a major regression post-illness. We talk about what sleep training actually looks like when it’s responsive and tailored to your baby — no harsh rules, no cry-it-out pressure, and no mom guilt.Samantha shares why baby sleep isn’t linear, why regressions are normal (but exhausting), and why you’re not a bad parent if you need help figuring it out.We also get into:💤 What it’s like to work with a responsive sleep consultant🍼 Why every baby (and family) needs something different🤯 Late-night Google spirals and sleep-anxiety panic🫠 Why you are not a failure if your baby isn’t sleeping “perfectly”—Connect with Samantha:📲 Instagram: @hellolittlesleeper🌐 Website: hellolittlesleeper.com—Follow along @mombrainbigcity for more honest convos about motherhood, sleep, identity, and everything in between — straight from a tired NYC apartment.

What actually matters when it comes to baby milestones? And what can we stop spiraling over?This week, I’m joined by Kelsey McDonald from Playful Movements, a pediatric physical therapist and mom of two, to talk about all things motor development — what’s normal, when to worry, and how to support your baby without buying another $200 item. We also chat about the wild ride of parenting two kids, what PTs wish more moms knew, and the pressure to hit milestones “on time.”Also... warning: Mateo had a lot to say this episode — you’ll hear him chiming in — and we get a surprise guest appearance from one of Kelsey’s daughters, because babies make the rules around here.Let’s get into it 💗

They say it takes a village… but sometimes that village is a group chat full of internet strangers who now know more about your boobs and your baby’s poop than your own family.In this episode, I’m sharing the story of how a random Facebook group turned into a 13-person lifeline of moms who’ve carried me through postpartum — from sleep regressions and pumping panics to late-night voice notes and “is this toast okay?” questions.We met over due dates. We stayed for the real talk, the emotional support, and the daily chaos of motherhood.If you’ve ever felt alone in this season, this one’s for you, too. 💗

Postpartum identity crisis? I’m in it.This week, I’m talking about the weird in-between space of becoming a mom and still trying to feel like me. We’re getting into body image, biker shorts, breastfeeding logistics, and the emotional whiplash of seeing old pics of yourself and thinking, “Damn… she had no idea.”Plus:🍼 A Cribside Confession involving rectal thermometers and pee (don’t ask)🔍 What I Googled: goat milk formula + daycare prep spiral🎤 And the concert no one asked for: my personalized Bingo remix, performed live from the hallway at workIf you’ve ever looked in the mirror and wondered who you are now — you’re not alone. And you’re not doing it wrong.

I’ve been quiet the past couple of weeks. Not because I didn’t have stories to share, but because the world has felt too heavy to ignore. This isn’t a regular episode — it’s a pause. A moment to sit with what’s happening in Gaza, across the U.S., and around the world… and how it hits differently now that I’m a mom.I talk about the emotional whiplash of stressing over my milk supply while watching other mothers have nothing to feed their babies. I read a poem by Rachel Beachy that’s been living in my head rent-free. And I remind myself — and you — that this isn’t political. It’s human.Mentioned in this episode:🕊️ Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund – https://www.pcrf.net/✍️ Poem by @rachelbeachywrites on InstagramRegular episodes will be back soon. But I couldn’t move forward without first saying this.

This week, I’m unpacking the emotional tug-of-war that is being a working parent — and the identity shift no one prepares you for. I talk about my all-in relationship with work before Mateo, how becoming a mom changed my entire sense of purpose, and the bittersweet reality of loving both my job and my baby so deeply it hurts. Plus: Matt went back to work after paternity leave and I’m not okay, Mateo added a plot twist to diaper changes, and yes — I Googled if Ms. Rachel counts as screen time. Don’t come for me.Let’s normalize the mess, the love, and the invisible string that connects us to our babies even when we’re away from them.Follow along on IG: @mombrainbigcityAnd TikTok: @mombrain.bigcity 💕Rate & review if you’ve ever cried on your commute 🫠

Your baby outgrows their clothes, the bassinet, the swing — and you’re just supposed to be okay about it?? In this episode, Morgan gets real about the emotional gut-punch that comes with your baby suddenly not feeling like a newborn anymore. From packing away tiny onesies to transitioning out of the bassinet to watching her baby babble, belly laugh, and hold his own bottle — it’s equal parts beautiful and brutal.She shares a Cribside Confession about letting someone else help during dinner (and the mom guilt spiral that followed), why she’s feeling all the feelings about possibly spending her first night away from Mateo, and what happened when her breast pump broke mid-trip in Key West.If you’ve ever cried over baby clothes, checked the monitor while on date night, or Googled “can a 6-month-old eat french fries?” — this one’s for you.💗 Follow @mombrainbigcity on IG & TikTok💬 Share your Velcro mom moment in the DMs⭐️ Don’t forget to follow + rate the show — it helps more exhausted moms find Mom Brain, Big City (and feel a little less alone).

This week’s episode is a mini one, because I’m currently recovering from traveling with a baby on two hours of sleep.Highlights include:– Two blowouts (one mid-air, one just as the plane pulled away from the gate)– Mid-flight pumping on both flights– A broken window shade that ruined any hope of a nap– Mateo saving his loudest screams for landing (thanks, buddy)We’ve flown with him before, back when he was two months old and just slept the whole time — and we thought, wow, we’re really good at this. LOL. Fast forward to this trip and yeah… we were the people with the screaming baby. Even Ms. Rachel couldn’t save us.Full Episode 4 — all about the emotional chaos of outgrowing the bassinet and packing away the tiny clothes — drops next week 💗

In this episode, I’m talking all things feeding: the plan I made, the chaos that followed, and how I found a rhythm (kind of) somewhere between nipple butter and school storage closets. From the first latch in the hospital to pumping during a concert, I’m sharing the real story behind my breastfeeding and pumping journey — including the wrong flange size, the wearable pump that saved me, and the moment I realized breastfeeding is definitely not free.Plus: wild listener-submitted Feeding Friday confessions, my most unhinged Google searches, and a reminder that however you’re feeding your baby… you’re doing amazing. Even if your boobs hurt and your freezer stash is a myth.

I thought I was walking into a calm induction with snacks packed and a birth playlist queued up. What actually happened? A stat C-section, a miracle baby, and one of the scariest, most surreal moments of my life.In this episode, I’m sharing Mateo’s birth story — the one that didn’t go remotely according to plan. From the moment my OB said “We’re inducing,” to being rushed into the OR surrounded by a dozen people, to meeting my son while feeling everything… this is the raw, unfiltered story of how it all unfolded.It's part medical drama, part love story, and a whole lot of "what just happened?"If you've ever had a birth plan go out the window or just want to hear how one mom made it through the most intense six minutes of her life, this one’s for you.

Welcome to the very first episode of Mom Brain, Big City — where motherhood meets mayhem in a NYC apartment. I’m Morgan: first-time mom, chronic overthinker, and currently running on hours-old coffee and vibes.In this debut, I’m sharing how a comment from my boyfriend turned into the podcast you’re listening to — and why I needed a space to be real about motherhood. Spoiler: there’s pee, pumping tears, and panic Googling.If you’ve ever panic-Googled baby poop at 2 a.m., cried while pumping, or wondered if you’re doing a good job… this one’s for you.🎧 Follow for weekly episodes filled with humor, honesty, and a little chaos.📲 IG: @mombrainbigcity💌 DM your Cribside Confession for a chance to be featured!