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Previa Alliance Podcast
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Previa Alliance Podcast

NewWhy Am I 15 Again? The Roles We Play in Our Families - Part 2November 9, 2026 · 25 min
Episodes
238
Released
weekly
Latest episode
Nov 9, 2026

About the podcast

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

Episodes 238

  1. Why Am I 15 Again? The Roles We Play in Our Families - Part 2

    25 minSeason 1 · Episode 238

    You tell your family you’re staying home with the baby. One comment about what your cousins did, and suddenly you’re 15 again, defending a decision you’ve already made.In Part 2, Sarah and Whitney unpack the …

  2. Why Am I 15 Again? The Roles We Play in Our Families - Part 1

    16 minSeason 1 · Episode 237

    Here's a version that feels more like the Previa podcast—conversational, relatable, and with a little humor.You pay your own bills, have a career, maybe even kids of your own... so why does one comment …

  3. What If Your Friend Isn’t Toxic… and You Just Had a Really Hard Conversation?

    17 minSeason 1 · Episode 236

    In this episode, Sarah Parkhurst and Whitney Gay, LCSW, dive into the world of therapy speak and the ways words like boundaries, triggered, trauma dumping, and protecting my peace can sometimes bring …

  4. Previa Playback: "Stop Thinking You Should Pee on Yourself!" with Emily Gilmore

    23 minSeason 1 · Episode 235

    Emily Gilmore DPT is back from last week to discuss with Sarah and Whitney what we may all experience but do not want to discuss…yep we are talking about peeing on yourself, painful intercourse, and mama pooch …

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

    34 minSeason 1 · Episode 234

    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 …

  6. Grief — How It Changes You

    25 minSeason 1 · Episode 233

    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 …

  7. The Five Stages of Grief — Which One Are You In?

    23 minSeason 1 · Episode 232

    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 …

  8. Everyone Needs Me: The Reality of Sandwich Generation

    13 minSeason 1 · Episode 231

    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 …

  9. The Maternal Mental Health Expert Most Moms Don't Know Exists — Dr. Claire Smith on Reproductive Psychiatry

    40 minSeason 1 · Episode 230

    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 …

  10. The Lindsay Clancey Trial — What Does a Struggling Mom Really Look Like to You?

    24 minSeason 1 · Episode 229

    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 …

  11. Hayden Panettiere - Are We Finally Going to Listen?

    22 minSeason 1 · Episode 228

    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 …

  12. The Lindsay Clancey Trial — Why Every Mom Can’t Turn Away

    40 minSeason 1 · Episode 227

    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 …

  13. Why Back to School is Hard on You

    16 minSeason 1 · Episode 226

    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 …

  14. When It Is NOT a Hot Girl Summer

    15 minSeason 1 · Episode 225

    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 …

  15. Outnumbered… When You Feel Like You Can’t Give Enough to Each Child

    15 minSeason 1 · Episode 224

    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 …

  16. No Response is a Response

    19 minSeason 1 · Episode 223

    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 …

  17. Why Didn't Anyone Explain Birth Like This

    13 minSeason 1 · Episode 222

    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 …

  18. Why Moms Are Mentally Exhausted: The Invisible Mental Load of Motherhood

    23 minSeason 1 · Episode 221

    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 …

  19. I Love My Kids... But I Miss My Freedom

    18 minSeason 1 · Episode 220

    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 …

  20. Moms Are Mind Readers… Why Aren’t You?

    28 minSeason 1 · Episode 219

    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 …

  21. Why You Saw It and No One Else Did

    20 minSeason 1 · Episode 218

    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 …

  22. Previa Playback: Infertility Awareness with Erin & Stephen Mitchell

    54 minSeason 1 · Episode 217

    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 …

  23. Previa Playback: What is Postpartum Rage?

    15 minSeason 1 · Episode 216

    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 …

  24. Previa Playback: What is Postpartum Psychosis?

    21 minSeason 1 · Episode 215

    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 …

  25. Previa Playback: What is Postpartum Anxiety?

    25 minSeason 1 · Episode 214

    The second episode in maternal mental health month is "What is Postpartum Anxiety?"Are you feeling overwhelmed and anxious about your new role? Do you find yourself struggling to cope with the changes in your …

  26. Previa Playback: What is Postpartum Depression?

    41 minSeason 1 · Episode 213

    In this episode, Sarah and Whitney talk about postpartum depression, also known as PPD. They describe signs and symptoms of PPD, risk factors for developing PPD, and what PPD looks like and sounds like in real …

  27. Previa Playback: Anxiety During Pregnancy

    16 minSeason 1 · Episode 212

    What if I can't do this? Is the baby, ok? Why do I feel this way?Sound familiar? Pregnancy anxiety is common but often not talked about. Listen in as the ladies break down why you may experience anxiety …

  28. Previa Playback: Depression During Pregnancy

    17 minSeason 1 · Episode 211

    This week, Sarah goes back to a fan favorite episode for Maternal Mental Health Month, Depression During Pregnancy. You know about postpartum depression, but do you know about depression that occurs during …

  29. Burned Out, Not Broken: The Truth About Stress in Moms

    24 minSeason 1 · Episode 210

    You’re not “just tired.”You’re overloaded.In this episode, we break down the difference between stress, anxiety, burnout, and depression — and why high-achieving moms often miss the warning signs.We talk about …

  30. The Birthday Tears: Why Watching Your Child Grow Feels So Emotional

    25 minSeason 1 · Episode 209

    Why does your child’s birthday make you cry?In this episode, we unpack the unexpected mix of joy and grief that comes with milestones, new phases, and watching your child grow.We explore attachment, nostalgia …

These are the latest 40 of 238 episodes. You’ll find older episodes in the podcast’s feed.

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