Previa Alliance 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
211 episodes
Previa Playback: Depression During Pregnancy
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 pregnancy? Listen in as Sarah and Whit...
Burned Out, Not Broken: The Truth About Stress in Moms
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 chronic corti...
The Birthday Tears: Why Watching Your Child Grow Feels So Emotional
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, ambiguous loss, and ...
“I Can’t!” - What to Do When Kids Doubt Themselves with Renee Marie
When your child says “I can’t do this”… or starts comparing themselves to others… it can be hard to know what to say.In this episode, Sarah sits down with Renee Marie, founder of My Secret Playbook, to talk about...
What Is a Child Therapist and Why Would My Child Need to See One?
Parenting can feel overwhelming, and sometimes we wonder—would a child therapist help my kid? In this episode, Sarah sits down with Madison Curren, licensed child therapist to share what therapy really looks like, when it can make a difference,...
When It’s Not Postpartum Depression: The Bipolar Diagnosis Many Moms Miss
Is it postpartum depression—or could it be bipolar disorder?In this episode, Sarah sits down with reproductive psychiatrist Dr. Claire Smith to talk about why bipolar disorder during pregnancy and postpartum is often missed, especially b...
Spring Is Here, but Is Your Engine Check Light On Too?
Spring is here, and before we rush into the next season, we’re pressing pause. In this episode, Sarah and Whitney guide a gentle self check-in—asking what you’re carrying, how you’re responding, and what your nervous system might be trying to t...
Social Work Month with Paige Bellenbaum
What if we trained for maternal mental health the way we train for everything else in medicine?In this powerful episode, Sarah sits down with Paige Bellenbaum during Social Work Awareness Month to talk about the truth behind social work—...
Why "Reach Out If You Need Help" Isn't Enough
We prepare for so much in pregnancy—but rarely for mental health, even though it’s the most common complication of childbirth. In this episode, we talk about why we don’t think twice about mammograms or colonoscopies, why mental health deserves...
Bottle Service with Mallory Whitmore
Mallory Whitmore, author of Bottle Service, joins us to talk honestly about formula feeding, motherhood, and the emotional weight parents often carry in silence. She shares why feeding choices are so judged, how formula can actually pr...
I Friendship Fade
Nobody warns you about the quiet heartbreak of friendship after motherhood — how the texts slow down, the invites change, and suddenly you feel like you live on a different planet than your friends without kids.In this episode, Sarah and...
When the Text Message is Left on Read
Sarah and Whitney explore how childhood patterns—like peacekeeping or fearing conflict—can fuel adult anxiety, especially around communication. They break down why delayed texts or unclear responses trigger worst-case thinking and share simple,...
Eldest Daughter - You can put it down now. You’ve carried enough.
Taylor said it best — “I was the chosen one, I was the eldest daughter.” And every eldest daughter everywhere felt that in her bones.In this episode, Sarah and Whitney dive into what it really means to grow up as the re...
World Read Aloud Day with Pam Allyn
In a world of screens, chatbots, and constant digital input, what still truly matters for our children? In this episode, we go back to basics with Pam Allyn, founder of World Read Aloud Day, to explore why reading—and reading aloud—builds child...
Chat GPT Should NOT Be Your Therapist with Paige Bellenbaum
In an age where moms can Google every symptom and ask AI to decode every feeling, it’s easier than ever to confuse information with healing.This episode dives into the growing trend of people turning to chatbots and “AI therapy” for emot...
Hey Whitney: Working on Ourselves
“New year, new me” sounds great — until you’re a tired mom just trying to survive car line and bedtime. In this Hey Whitney, Sarah and Whitney talk about what working on yourself really means when you’re balancing motherhood, mental he...
A Green Smoothie Will Not Cure Your PPD
Postpartum depression is the leading complication of childbirth — yet moms are constantly told that a smoothie, supplement, or ‘wellness hack’ will make it all go away. In this episode, we sit down with Eszter Kalman of Golden Tears Therapy<...
Previa Playback: New Year, New Mom
More like new year, same mom…but you get what we mean. Society has a way of telling us a new year has to be filled with resolutions, and all these changes should have been made yesterday! Instead of thinking of things you must fix, try focusing...
The In-Between
The holidays are over, the new year is right around the corner—and this in-between week feels… tough. Routines are gone, exhaustion has set in, and the pressure of resolutions is already creeping in. In this episode, Sarah and Whitney talk abou...
Why are you really posting that?
The holidays fill our feeds with matching pajamas and picture-perfect trees—but what’s really behind the post? In this episode, Sarah and Whitney unpack why we really post on Instagram, how scrolling impacts mental health, and the pres...
All is Calm (We Hope): A Child Therapist’s Holiday Survival Guide
Holiday magic can quickly turn into holiday meltdowns. 🎄 In this episode, Sarah and child therapist Madison Curren share the ultimate survival guide for parents—how to keep kids grounded at family gatherings, prevent stress from boiling over, a...
Why Do I Keep Doing This Every Holiday Season?
If the holidays leave you feeling more stressed than joyful, you’re not alone. In this episode, Sarah talks with Kati Morton, licensed therapist and author of Why Do I Keep Doing This? about the real reasons holiday anxie...
Deck the Halls & Dodge the Narcissist
Holidays are supposed to be merry—until the guilt trips, boundary-pushing, and “but family!” chorus kicks in. In this episode, Sarah and Whitney get real about navigating narcissistic traits at gatherings: how to set (and keep) boundaries, use ...
Pass the Pie… and "Oh, I Had PPD Too"
The holidays bring joy, chaos, and sometimes difficult conversations. How do you respond when a family member shares their postpartum struggles at the dinner table—or when you want to speak up about your own experience?In this episode, S...
Pregnant for the Holidays? What to Tell Your Boss (and When)
The holidays are here—and for many moms-to-be, that means sharing pregnancy news with family. But after the excitement comes another big question: when and how do I tell my boss?In this episode, Sarah talks with Aria Allen, a...