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Previa Alliance Podcast

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There are few experiences as universal to human existence as pregnancy and childbirth, and yet its most difficult parts — perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) — are still dealt with in the shadows, shrouded in stigma. The fact is 1 in 5 new and expecting birthing people will experience a PMAD, yet among those who do many are afraid to talk about it, some are not even aware they’re experiencing one, and others don’t know where to turn for help. The fact is, when someone suffers from a maternal mental health disorder it affects not only them, their babies, partners, and families - it impacts our communities. In the Previa Alliance Podcast series, Sarah Parkhurst and Whitney Gay are giving air to a vastly untapped topic by creating a space for their guests — including survivors of PMADs and healthcare professionals in maternal mental health — to share their experiences and expertise openly. And in doing so, Sarah and Whitney make it easy to dig deep and get real about the facts of perinatal mental health, fostering discussions about the raw realities of motherhood. Not only will Previa Alliance Podcast listeners walk away from each episode with a sense of belonging, they’ll also be armed with evidence-based tools for healing, coping mechanisms, and the language to identify the signs and symptoms of PMADs — the necessary first steps in a path to treatment. The Previa Alliance Podcast series is intended for anyone considering pregnancy, currently pregnant, and postpartum as well as the families and communities who support them. Sarah Parkhurst Previa Alliance Podcast Co-host; Founder & CEO of Previa Alliance A postpartum depression survivor and mom to two boys, Sarah is on a mission to destigmatize the experiences of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), and to educate the world on the complex reality of being a mom. Sarah has been working tirelessly to bring to light the experiences of women who have not only suffered a maternal mental health crisis but who have survived it and rebuilt their lives. By empowering women to share their own experiences, by sharing expert advice and trusted resources, and by advocating for health care providers and employers to provide support for these women and their families, Sarah believes as a society we can minimize the impact of the current maternal mental health crisis, while staving off future ones. Whitney Gay Previa Alliance Podcast Co-host; licensed clinician and therapist For the past ten years, Whitney has been committed to helping women heal from the trauma of a postpartum mental health crisis as well as process the grief of a miscarriage or the loss of a baby. She believes that the power of compassion paired with developing critical coping skills helps moms to heal, rebuild, and eventually thrive. In the Previa Alliance Podcast series, Whitney not only shares her professional expertise, but also her own personal experiences of motherhood and recovery from grief. Follow us on Instagram @Previa.Alliance

Latest episodes

Previa Playback: "What To Tell Your Best Friend About The Pelvic Floor" with Emily Gilmore

October is National Physical Therapy Month , and you might be wondering, "Why would I need a physical therapist as a mom?" Grab your headphones as we replay one of our most valuable episodes featuring Emily Gilmore, DPT , a pelvic health physical therapist. Whether you're pregnant, preparing for birth, newly postpartum, or years into motherhood, your pelvic floor plays a vital role in your health.

12 Oct 2026 · 33 min
Grief — How It Changes You

Grief doesn’t always arrive when you expect it—or look the way you thought it would. It can sneak into ordinary moments, surprise you years later, and change parts of you that you never saw coming. In this episode, we talk honestly about the unpredictable nature of grief, the ways loss can reshape us, and what it means to keep living while carrying someone or something we’ve lost. If grief has cau

5 Oct 2026 · 24 min
The Five Stages of Grief — Which One Are You In?

Grief is something we all experience, but few of us truly understand. In this episode, Sarah Parkhurst and Whitney Gay, LCSW, take a deeper look at the five stages of grief—denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance—and discuss what they really look like in everyday life. Whether you're grieving the loss of a loved one, a relationship, a dream, or a season of life, this conversation off

28 Sep 2026 · 23 min
Everyone Needs Me: The Reality of Sandwich Generation

You're scheduling pediatrician appointments, packing lunches, answering school emails...and helping your parents navigate doctor's appointments, medications, and life's next chapter. Welcome to the sandwich generation . In this episode, Sarah and Whitney explore the emotional weight of caring for children while also supporting aging parents—and why so many moms feel like they're being pulled in ev

21 Sep 2026 · 13 min
The Maternal Mental Health Expert Most Moms Don't Know Exists — Dr. Claire Smith on Reproductive Psychiatry

You've heard of an OB-GYN. You've probably heard of a psychiatrist. But have you ever heard of a reproductive psychiatrist? If the answer is no, you're not alone. In this episode, Sarah sits down with reproductive psychiatrist Dr. Claire Smith to explain why one of the most important specialties in maternal mental health remains one of the least known. Together, they discuss what reproductive psyc

14 Sep 2026 · 40 min
The Lindsay Clancey Trial — What Does a Struggling Mom Really Look Like to You?

She scheduled the doctor's appointments. She Googled slime recipes. She packed lunches, answered school emails, signed permission slips, and showed up for her kids. So...how could she possibly be struggling? In this episode, Sarah and Whitney use the Lindsay Clancy trial to examine one of the biggest misconceptions in maternal mental health: we mistake functioning for wellness. Why do we have such

7 Sep 2026 · 24 min
Hayden Panettiere - Are We Finally Going to Listen?

Hayden Panettiere helped bring postpartum depression into the national conversation more than a decade ago. Her story reminds us that postpartum depression doesn't always look the way people expect—and that's exactly why so many mothers go unseen. Sarah and Whitney unpack Hayden's experience, the stigma that still surrounds maternal mental health, and why mothers deserve to be believed before they

31 Aug 2026 · 22 min
The Lindsay Clancey Trial — Why Every Mom Can’t Turn Away

Sarah and Paige unpack the Lindsay Clancy trial through the lens of perinatal mental health and the gaps in care that can leave maternal mental health crises overlooked. Paige, a licensed clinical social worker and founder of the Motherhood Center, explains why conditions like postpartum depression and anxiety often go undiagnosed and how postpartum psychosis, while rare, requires urgent attention

24 Aug 2026 · 39 min
Why Back to School is Hard on You

Everyone talks about helping kids adjust to a new school year—but what about the parents? Behind the first-day-of-school photos are moms juggling schedules, worrying about teachers, packing lunches, coordinating drop-offs, paying activity fees, and wondering if they're doing enough. For many parents, back-to-school brings excitement, but it also brings stress, grief, and an enormous mental load. I

17 Aug 2026 · 16 min
When It Is NOT a Hot Girl Summer

Ever notice your patience gets shorter, your anxiety feels higher, and everything seems harder during a heat wave? You're not imagining it. Extreme heat doesn't just make us sweat—it affects our brain, nervous system, sleep, hormones, mood, and even how we interact with the people we love. In this episode, Sarah and Whitney unpack the science behind why hot weather can leave us feeling exhausted,

10 Aug 2026 · 14 min
Outnumbered… When You Feel Like You Can’t Give Enough to Each Child

Do you ever feel like you're not giving enough to each of your children? You're not alone. Sarah and Whitney unpack the guilt that often comes with raising multiple kids, what research says children truly need, and practical ways to let go of the pressure to be everything to everyone. A must-listen for moms navigating mom guilt, sibling dynamics, and the mental load of motherhood. Follow Previa Al

3 Aug 2026 · 14 min
No Response is a Response

Sometimes the healthiest response is no response at all. In this episode, Sarah and Whitney explore why not every action deserves a reaction. We discuss boundaries, emotional regulation, people-pleasing, protecting your peace, and how choosing silence can be one of the strongest forms of self-care. If you've ever struggled with difficult relationships, conflict, or knowing when to walk away, this

27 Jul 2026 · 19 min
Why Didn't Anyone Explain Birth Like This

Nobody should walk into labor, an epidural, or a C-section feeling like the process is a mystery. In this episode, we discuss why clear patient education is often missing, how fear of the unknown can increase anxiety and contribute to birth trauma, and the real-world challenges providers face in preparing families for delivery. We also share practical ways to advocate for better communication, set

20 Jul 2026 · 13 min
Why Moms Are Mentally Exhausted: The Invisible Mental Load of Motherhood

Ever feel like your brain has 47 tabs open at all times? Same. This week Sarah and Whitney are talking about the invisible mental load moms carry every single day — the constant remembering, planning, anticipating, organizing, managing emotions, and making decisions for everyone around us. From school forms and meal planning to emotional regulation and “default parent” responsibilities, motherhood

13 Jul 2026 · 23 min
I Love My Kids... But I Miss My Freedom

Motherhood can be beautiful and grief-filled at the exact same time. In this deeply honest episode, Sarah and Whitney talk about something many moms feel but are terrified to admit: missing their freedom, independence, identity, and old life after becoming mothers. This is not about regret. This is about the very real identity shift that happens in motherhood. Together they discuss: loss of indepe

6 Jul 2026 · 18 min
Moms Are Mind Readers… Why Aren’t You?

From the moment our babies are born, we become experts in them. We notice every pattern. Every cry means something different. Every shift, every need—we just know . We become mind readers. But what happens when that same mindset shows up in our adult relationships? When we expect our partner to just know what we need… When we don’t say it out loud because it feels obvious… When the expectations go

29 Jun 2026 · 27 min
Why You Saw It and No One Else Did

Ever felt like you were the only one seeing the truth? Something felt off. The charm didn’t sit right. The stories didn’t fully add up… But everyone else? Completely pulled in. Almost like they were under a spell. In this episode, we break down the “narcissist spell”—why some people are so convincing, how they draw others in so easily, and why you were able to see what others couldn’t. If you’ve e

22 Jun 2026 · 20 min
Previa Playback: Infertility Awareness with Erin & Stephen Mitchell

In honor of Infertility Awareness Week, Sarah sits down with crowd favorites Erin and Stephen Mitchell from Couples Counseling for Parents to discuss how trying to conceive, infertility, and pregnancy loss affect relationships. From self-blame to communication breakdown, this honest conversation explores navigating this incredibly difficult journey and having hard conversations with yourself and y

15 Jun 2026 · 54 min
Previa Playback: What is Postpartum Rage?

The fourth episode we cover during Maternal Mental health month is a topic that is often felt but not talked about, postpartum rage. Postpartum rage is a mood disruption that causes intense anger, aggression, and agitation in the weeks and months after giving birth. At Previa Alliance, one of the most frequent questions we get is, “Why do I feel so angry?” Today, the ladies break down what postpar

8 Jun 2026 · 15 min
Previa Playback: What is Postpartum Psychosis?

The final episode we discuss during Maternal Mental health month is one that is a true medical emergency, postpartum psychosis. This episode comes with a trigger warning as this condition, which is rare, is tough to discuss and understand. Our hope for this episode is that you gain knowledge about this little-talked about condition and know to get help. Follow Previa Alliance! Previa Alliance (@pr

1 Jun 2026 · 21 min