Perinatal & Reproductive Perspectives
Welcome to Perinatal and Reproductive Perspectives, the podcast that empowers individuals and professionals navigating the complex world of perinatal and reproductive health. Hosted by a healthcare expert, this show dives deep into evidence-based practices, holistic approaches, and personal experiences to help birthing individuals, their partners, and health professionals thrive. Whether you're preparing for parenthood, supporting a loved one, or working in the field, our episodes provide actionable insights, relatable stories, and expert advice. Join us to explore topics like mental health, reproductive and perinatal rights, cultural competence, and the latest innovations in care. Together, we’ll foster understanding, equity, and growth in every aspect of this transformative journey.
Listen, learn, and connect as we build a community dedicated to empowering lives through knowledge and compassion.
Perinatal & Reproductive Perspectives
Jane Honikman: How One Support Group Became a Worldwide Movement
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In 1977, a new mother in Santa Barbara named Jane Honikman couldn't find the support she needed after childbirth — so she built it herself, co-founding Postpartum Education for Parents (PEP). A decade later, on June 28, 1987, that grassroots work grew into something bigger: Postpartum Support International, founded at a landmark conference on women's mental health after childbirth that drew advocates from Canada, Australia, and across the U.S.
In this episode, Jane Honikman traces PSI's evolution from a single support group into a worldwide organization spanning dozens of countries. She reflects on the two decades she spent directing PSI, the stigma she fought to dismantle around postpartum depression and anxiety, and why perinatal mental health is still a fight worth having today. Jane also shares what led her to co-found the Postpartum Action Institute in 2016, and what she'd tell a new parent — or a new advocate — starting out now.
A conversation about grief, grit, and the power of one person deciding no family should go through this alone.
