Active Mom Podcast: Pregnancy, Postpartum, Perimenopause, Menopause & Beyond
Welcome to the Active Mom Podcast — where real motherhood stories meet real science.
Hosted by Dr. Carrie Pagliano, double board-certified physical therapist, runner, mom of two, and internationally recognized expert in pregnancy, postpartum, pelvic floor, and perimenopause performance.
Whether you’re a mom navigating running with prolapse or leakage, a clinician supporting active women, or a lifelong athlete trying to stay strong through every hormonal season — this show gives you evidence-based guidance and real life mom stories without the fear, confusion, or shame.
Each week, Dr. Carrie brings candid conversations with researchers, clinicians, elite athletes, and everyday moms to explore what it actually takes to run, lift, jump, and live confidently through pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause, and beyond.
We talk about:
• Postpartum return to running & lifting
• Pelvic floor symptoms (leakage, prolapse, pain)
• Pregnancy exercise myths & safety
• Strength training at every age
• Perimenopause performance & hormone changes
• Mental health, identity shifts & motherhood
• The realities of being an active mom in a busy life
Real talk. Real science. Real moms.
Because you deserve to feel strong and supported — at every stage of your active life.
Active Mom Podcast: Pregnancy, Postpartum, Perimenopause, Menopause & Beyond
Hiking, Hormones & Pelvic Health: Real Talk from the Trail — SOLO EPISODE with Dr. CARRIE PAGLIANO
In this episode, I’m taking you with me down into the Grand Canyon—21 miles, 13 hours, eight of us ages 44–53 (seven women, one very patient man), and every bit of trail talk you can imagine.
What started as “Can we actually do this?” turned into the most honest, hilarious, and wide-open conversation about pelvic health, perimenopause, and how physical therapy for women has completely evolved since we were first told to “just do your Kegels.”
Spoiler: the canyon will make you talk about everything.
Is it sweat or is it pee? Might be both.
Bladder habits on switchbacks? Yep.
Hormones while you’re sweating through a sunset climb back to the rim? Absolutely.
The stuff we wish someone told us 20 years ago? All of it.
We get into:
- How women’s health PT grew from basic kegels to running, lifting, sport, pregnancy → postpartum → peri/menopause care
- Why it always comes back to the bladder (and why that’s not a bad thing)
- The real story on preventative peeing + hovering on trail bathrooms
- What you should actually know about menopause hormone therapy (without the online panic spiral)
- Navigating peri/menopause with confidence, support, and a sense of humor
If you’ve ever wondered what happens when seven midlife women (& one very patient younger brother) take on the Grand Canyon… it’s this.
And it’s so, so good.
Time Stamps
1:00 Introduction
3:57 getting informed early
5:20 taking a nature break on trail
14:28 urine frequency and output
19:39 unexpected leakage
22:52 what we don’t know about perimenopause
28:40 weighted vests, walking, and yoga
33:46 supplements
38:00 exercise in pregnancy and postpartum
CONNECT WITH CARRIE
IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/
Website: https://carriepagliano.com
The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey.
This show has been a long time in the making!
You can expect conversation with moms and professionals from all aspects of the industry.
If you're like me, you don't have a lot of free time (heck, you're probably listening at 1.5x speed), so theses interviews will be quick hits to get your the pertinent information FAST!
If you love what you hear, share the podcast with a friend and leave us a 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and review. It helps us become more visible in the search algorithm! (Helps us get seen by more moms that need to hear these stories!!!!)