Shows
Surviving Roots: A Crash Course in Turning Pain into PotentialAligning with Alissa Alter: Where Is Your Vagina Pointing?Alissa Alter is also known as The Amy Poehler of Vaginas for her unfiltered and unapologetic approach to destigmatizing the female body and experience. A former Broadway performer and certified classical Pilates, Alissa is the host of the podcast Myth of Motherhood and author of Unstuck: From Understudy To The Study of Your Undercarriage.2024-11-2750 min
Gutsy Chick PodcastHow Women Can Better Understand and Connect with their Pelvic Floor with Alissa AlterSend us a textIn this episode of The Spirit of an Athlete, host Amanda Smith sits down with Alissa Alter, a pelvic health specialist, for an open and insightful conversation about the importance of pelvic floor health. Alissa shares her journey, from experiencing a back injury to navigating the challenges of childbirth, which sparked her passion for advocating pelvic health awareness.Alissa highlights the pelvic floor as a vital part of our core, influencing everything from movement and sex to overall well-being. She breaks down common misconceptions surrounding kegels and stresses the need for...2024-09-2639 min
The Unmeasured Podcast8. Postpartum Body Changes with Alissa AlterSimi is joined by Alissa Alter as they explore: "My body has changed so much in the last few years, from aging to pregnancy to postpartum. My kids are now a bit older and sometimes I look in the mirror and feel like I don't recognize myself. Any advice on making peace with body changes, or maybe even how to enjoy being in my body again? Thank you!" Tune in to hear where the conversation takes them!
Alissa Alter (She/Her) is also known as “The Amy Poehler of vaginas” because of her unfiltered determination to change the...2024-01-1750 min
Nourishing Creativity with Chef Carla Contreras (formerly Show Up Fully)Episode 82: Where is Your Vagina Pointing? Body Alignment with Pilates For Your Privates Founder Alissa AlterWelcome to this week’s episode of Show Up Fully! I’m joined by Alissa Alter, certified Pilates instructor and founder of Pilates For Your Privates. She’s a former Broadway performer, a podcast host, an author, and the co-founder and Content & Community of the media platform, pstprtm.com.Get the Full Show Notes HereIn my conversation, Alissa — also called the Amy Poehler of vaginas — shares her mission to destigmatize people with vagina's experience and body and normalize the conversation. Alissa provides a LIVE demo to help you understand, Where Is Your Vagina Point...2023-10-2630 min
Myth of MotherhoodThe Unflustered Mom: How Anxiety Helps You Flourish with Amber TruebloodYou’ve heard of the five love languages. You’ve taken the quiz and deepened your understanding of how you give and receive love. Now hold onto your panties because your next go-to resource is here…It’s time to get to know your anxiety type!!! In this episode… Getting to know your anxiety and its superpowers The five types of anxiety and how they manifest Alissa’s Self Care Menu available to download for FREE here to manage time of high stress and anxiety Learn more about Amber a...2023-06-121h 04
BlushPREGNANCY, CHILDBIRTH, MOTHERHOOD, BREASTFEEDING, AND MORE WITH ALISSA ALTERYou're in for a REAL treat this week: ALISSA ALTER is BACK ON BLUSH, and this time we have a 2 parter for you! Part I of the conversation is on Alissa's podcast, The Myth of Motherhood, and part II is RIGHT HERE. Before you listen to this conversation, definitely go listen to part I on Alissa's podcast, and then come right back here for part II!
We talk all things motherhood: everything from pregnancy to childbirth & beyond. Your body, how to trust your intuition, things you need, things you don't actually need, and so much more.
2023-05-161h 09
OTs In Pelvic HealthIt Might Be Time To See Another Practitoner with Alissa AlterWhere to find Alissa AlterHer podcast Myth of Motherhood Alissa's Instagram Blog on Substack: Alter Your LifeAlissa's one woman show called, "We Party: #This is Motherhood"Learn more at www.alissaalter.com Resources Mentioned In This EpsisodeLindsey's courseOT Elevate: The Biopsychosocial Approach to Colorectal ConditionsLindsey's Facebook Group OTs in Pelvic Health (live, weekly, free training!)2nd Annual OTs in Pelvic Health Summit 2023____________________________________________________________________________________________Pelvic OTP...2023-04-1045 min
The Bizzimumzi PodcastS2/ E9: Alissa Alter, "The Amy Poehler of Vaginas" Ashley sits down for a bizzi chat with her dear friend Alissa Alter. Alissa Alter (She/Her) is also known as “The Amy Poehler of vaginas” because of her unfiltered determination to change the narrative around the female experience. Integrating her eclectic background as a Broadway performer, a personal trainer, and coach, Alissa’s work guides you back home to yourself with a sense of curiosity, potential, and possibility. Alissa’s work lives at the intersection of physical fitness and emotional fitness. Alissa is the author of Unstuck: From Understudy To The Study of...2023-02-1550 min
Entering Motherhood: Pregnancy, Birth, and Postpartum Support125. You Deserve to Know THIS about your Postpartum Body with Alissa AlterHey Mamas!
In this episode we talk with Alissa Alter about her journey into motherhood and the shocking truths she found out about her own body during the process.
3 Postpartum Freebies
LoveHeld Ring Sling Carriers
Postpartum University - Nutrition Plan
Connect more with Alissa Alter:
Website: alissaalter.com
Instagram: alissaalter
Facebook: Mom's Club
Podcast: Alter Your Life and Myth of Motherhood
Connect more with The Entering Motherhood Podcast:
Instagram: ente...2023-02-1341 minMyth of MotherhoodMomfluenced: How Social Media Feeds The Pressure & Performance of Motherhood + What We Can Do About ItSara Petersen (she/her) has written about feminism and motherhood for Harper's Bazaar, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Cut, and elsewhere. Her first book, Momfluenced: Inside the Maddening, Picture-Perfect World of Mommy Influencer Culture comes out in April 2023 and is available for preorder now. She also writes a newsletter about momfluencer culture and the myth of the ideal mother, In Pursuit of Clean Countertops ← That’s her substack, subscribe like I do! You can also follow Sara on IG & twitter @slouisepetersen In this episode… The definition of a momfluencer and the impact momflu...2023-02-1347 min
Alter Your LifeBoundaries, Eyelashes, & Pubic Hair Have This In Common: Being Picky Is GoodReady to Alter Your Life? Then you’re in the right place! Learn more about your host Alissa Alter and how she integrates her experiences as a professional Broadway performer, certified Pilates instructor, and coach to harness the physical and energetic powerhouse hidden between your legs aka your pelvic floor. If you’re picking up what I’m laying down… Follow, subscribe, rate, review, and SHARE this episode! If you prefer watching episodes, you can now do that on YouTube! And don’t forget to chec...2023-01-2333 min
Labor LessonsE18 Alissa Alter: We Do Not Have To Tolerate Unnecessary Pain- posterior baby, stalled labor, 4th degree tear, ptsdAlissa Alter is also known as the "Amy Poehler of Vaginas" for her unfiltered and unapologetic approach to exploring the female experience. She is a former Broadway performer, certified pilates instructor, pelvic health expert, comedian, author, host of the podcast Alter Your Life, and co founder of pstprtm.comWhile in labor at the hospital, Alissa knew that something didn't feel right. She was feeling an incredible amount of pain in her back while laying in bed. Alissa didn't know it at the time, but she was having back labor. Instead of being supported with...2022-11-0959 min
Alter Your LifeSeason 1 Wrap Up + BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!!Big, huge, HUGE! (cue Julia Roberts walking out of that store on Rodeo Drive with SO MANY BAGS!) I’m not going to spoil the surprise here, you’ll have to listen to the episode for that, but I will share some of the other things discussed in the episode… Highlights from conversations through season one of Alter Your Life Reflections on how these interviews evolved leading us to the focus of season 2 A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT and what that means for season 2 Why it’s time to let go of shame and start learning about the physical...2022-10-3132 min
BlushTABOO CONVERSATIONS WITH ALISSA ALTER, AKA THE AMY POEHLER OF VAGINASThis week, Alissa Alter joins host Hiwa Alaghebandian on the podcast. Alissa is a former Broadway performer, a personal trainer, coach, women's health expert and advocate, and host of the Alter Your Life podcast, where she discusses the intersection of physical fitness and emotional fitness. She is an expert in the mind-body connection and empowers women to step into the best version of themselves.
Alissa and Hiwa have a hilarious conversation that goes into everything from vaginas, poop, sex, motherhood, childbirth, and everything else that might be considered taboo or TMI. You definitely don't want to miss...2022-09-271h 23
Alter Your LifeFrom Disordered To Empowered Eating & How To Give A Great BJ with Hiwa AlaghebandianSomething Hiwa and I have in common is that we are multi multi multi hyphenates. So it’s no surprise that this episode had a WIDE range of storytelling, wisdom, and insight. In this episode… Leaving behind perfectionism and a legal career for a life of creative flexibility Healing disordered eating and finding pride in empowered food choices Calling out her own BS in order to live the life she is meant to live #1 tip for great BJs, relationships, and career moves. Hiwa is a lawyer, vegan recipe creator & food stylist, and host of the Blush...2022-09-2639 min
Resting Bliss Face PodcastThe Power Of Knowing WTF Is Going On With Your Vag - Destigmatizing the female body with Alissa AlterAlissa Alter is the "Amy Polar of vaginas" and let me tell you...she is HILARIOUS and informative, smart, thoughtful and humble. I smiled this entire interview and I think you will too as we discuss "the pee hole, the v hole and the b hole". Super empowering convo that will help demystify and destigmatize the female bod. Hope you enjoy! Find Alissa here! pstprtm.com 2022-09-211h 01
Alter Your LifeIncontinence Is Common, Not Normal. Here's What You Need To Know with Urogynecologist Dr. Allison PollandDespite what Billy Madison said, peeing your pants isn’t cool. And it certainly doesn’t make you Miles Davis. Now, unclench your butt because we are going there! In this episode we cover… What incontinence is and what you can do it about it! You have more options than you think when it comes to treatment and quality of life! What pelvic organ prolapse (aka POP) is and how to get the care you need. You may not need to drink as much water as you think! And other lifestyle and dietary...2022-09-1936 min
The Golden Hour Birth PodcastAlissa Alter: Postpartum Healing from Fourth Degree Tear, PTSD, Birth TraumaSend us a textAlissa Alter aka “The Amy Poehler of vaginas” shares the second half of her story.Alissa suffered from a 4th degree tear (an extensive tear that goes from the vagina to the rectum). She had an extremely tough postpartum not only physically but emotionally and mentally as well. She was very disappointed in the lack of support and education on how to handle her recovery. Due to her previous education in pelvic health, her tear healed well and she had a successful recovery.As a result of her experiences, she...2022-09-1942 minThe Golden Hour Birth PodcastAlissa Alter: Sunny-Side Up Stalls Labor, Fundal Pressure, Heavy Bleeding and a 4th Degree TearSend us a textAlissa Alter aka “The Amy Poehler of vaginas” joins us this episode to tell us all about her birth and journey to working as a women's health expert and motherhood advocate, with a side of humor. This is part 1 of 2. Alissa found herself stuck in a bad marriage and an unfulfilling career when she decided she was done suffering in silence. She began learning more and more about women's health and encouraging other women to be open and unapologetic about their own bodies and what they go through during pregnancy and post...2022-09-1247 min
Alter Your LifeBuild For Tomorrow with Jason FeiferDo you ever wonder what my name and Jason’s book have in common? Change. Change is not only important, it’s inevitable. Our brains need change in order to create memories and organize information and teach us how to navigate and handle life! Because…change is inevitable! In this episode we also discuss… Becoming a person who wears a watch with a reminder to move during the day and the correlations Jason has found with this data. The 4 phases of change and which seems to be the hardest. The question that helps clar...2022-09-1243 min
Alter Your LifeCreating A Hospitable Environment For Pleasure with Sex Coach Danielle SavoryPleasure doesn’t just show up. You need to invite her to the party. And if your party sucks, she’s gonna be a hard no. See what I did there? Let’s figure out what we need to let go of or leave behind in order to create a hospital environment for pleasure. Let’s plan a panty dropping party she can’t wait to get to. In this episode: How Danielle recovered from being so ill she was bedridden through healing her deep, inner emotional trauma to live the life she’s meant t...2022-08-2939 min
Alter Your LifeListen and Live With Your Whole Body with Broadway's Rachael FerreraShhhh, don’t say anything, take a deep breath and notice what you hear. With your ears you hear my delicious, comforting, safe, hilarious voice, but what do you hear with your body? In this episode: Listening with our body is the KEY I mean it, the KEY to living your best life. Like literally YOUR best life. It's the key to knowing what it is YOU want, not what someone or something else wants you to want, but what you actually want. And ooooh once you hear your body’s sweet sweet voice, you’ll turn u...2022-08-2232 min
Alter Your LifeEven In Our Modern World, Health Takes Time with Stephanie Tan founder of NoociIn this episode: How and why integrating TCM into our modern lives can help us find optimal health, balance, and energy. Stephanie’s persistent nasal allergies led to her founding the first company to modernize TCM and make the benefits of herbs accessible to women worldwide. Where the name Nooci comes from, hint: it’s really good ;) Stephanie Tan is on a mission to bring Traditional Chinese Medicine into the present. With the creation of NOOCI (noo-chee), a range of plant-based supplements steeped in centuries-old herbal wisdom, Stephanie is making TCM accessible to a new g...2022-08-1529 min
Alter Your LifeThe Choice Is Yours: This Question Changed EverythingIn this unplanned BONUS solo episode, Alissa shares some recent thoughts and musings inspired by…you! In this episode: Response to a listener email about taking time for herself. Insights uncovered during my 8-week program MOVE like why scooping poop multiple times a day is something I willingly do and pay for parking in a garage in NYC. Reexamining internalized ideas around marriage, marriage vows, and the promises we make The idea that completely changed my relationship with myself and others. Join host Alissa Alter (She/Her) aka “The Amy Poeh...2022-08-1118 min
Alter Your LifeFinding Pleasure At The Barre with Simi BoticIn this episode: From Bar Exam to Ballet Barre Simi not only changed careers, she healed her disordered relationship with her body and food by finding pleasure in movement at the barre. How her membership Movement Unmeasured was born from releasing her punishing approach to exercise and finding pleasure in movement. Not all pleasure is about sex! You can find pleasure in a quad stretch, connecting with your breath, and luxuriating in a delicious, cozy meal. AND also during sexual intimacy ;) Finding safety in your body makes room for pleasure in and out of the bedroom. 2022-08-0836 min
Alter Your LifeYour OWN Owner's ManualYou know that manual from your first vacuum cleaner with the extra parts all in a ziploc bag so you don’t lose any important parts that you never looked at or used? You have and hold onto owner’s manuals for appliances, vehicles, and whatever else comes with one, but when it comes to yourself? You struggle to remember to meet your own basic needs! A drive to Connecticut in a fancy car opened up my eyes to my own needs I never knew I had. How learning my warning signals like on the dashboard of a car help...2022-07-1118 min
Alter Your LifeDating Doesn't Have To Be Trash with Bronwyn Tarboton Bronwyn is a NYC based performer, musician and lover of trash! Pre-pandemic Bronwyn was performing on Broadway in Disney's Frozen. When Broadway shut down she began finding more furniture and home decor being thrown out in her neighborhood than she could keep. She began re-imagining, selling, and sharing her "highly curated trash" on social media. Bronwyn currently lives on the UWS with her fiancé (thank you, Alissa!) Find her on instagram or TikTok @nyctrashtotreasures to follow along! The dating advice Alissa gave Bronwyn that streamlined dating and landed her a fiance! Minimize messaging back a...2022-07-0440 min
Alter Your LifeIt's Time To Sculpt Your FeelingsI believe that if we spend as much time, energy, and discipline on our insides as we do our outsides, we will be unstoppable. In this episode I explain… How to leverage what we know about building physical strength in the gym/studio to strengthen our emotional body. What hypertrophy is and how it works (that’s the process of building and growing muscle mass). STRENGTH IS BUILT DURING REPAIR and repair happens during rest. Delayed onset muscle soreness (aka DOMS) and how that shows up emotionally AND physically. And tha...2022-06-3017 min
Alter Your LifeNoticing and Adjusting Trauma Drama with Dr. Lynyetta WillisAs a psychologist, family empowerment coach, and award-winning author, Dr. Lynyetta Willis, helps frustrated families stop Stable Misery® cycles or unhelpful patterns that keep them stuck, so they can create more joy in their parenting or partnerships. Her Triggered to Transformed® Parent Coaching Program has helped parents all over the world to confidently deal with their triggers so they can pass on the best parts of themselves and enjoy parenting more. Be sure to visit www.drlwillis.com and follow on IG @drlwillis. In this episode we discuss: Transparency being an important step...2022-06-2738 min
Alter Your LifeThe Family Solar System Remember learning about solar systems and oblong spheroids and orbit patterns and ellipses? So fun, right?! Well, today we are talking about solar systems and how they are my new favorite metaphor for ever shifting and changing family dynamics. Are there retrogrades? Maybe! Or are those more astrology than astronomy? Anyway, this will be more philosophical than scientifically accurate, but all of this is based on theories and laws that do actually exist even if my understanding of them is incomplete and surface level. If you’re picking up what I’m laying down...2022-06-2018 min
Alter Your LifeMuscle Memory For Your Spirit with Rachel Chase ShurRachel is a wife, mom, Broadway actress, social media manager, dog mom, and lover of pasta. Her passion lies in finding a successful balance between work life and home life. Family first, and then figure out the rest! Learn more on IG @itsrachelchase In this episode we discuss: Finding comfort and safety in the dance studio. How this gave her ADHD welcome structure and boundaries. To go after your dreams, you have to get uncomfortable. How Rachel reached her biggest career accomplishment after 20 years with an eight month baby. Why it’s so important to...2022-06-2036 min
Lighten Up, Ladies!The Vagina Dialog - with Alissa Alter, Author & Speaker012You can't heal what you don't talk about.One in 3 women experience issues with their pelvic floor but many suffer in silence and are left to just "deal with it."Luckily, we have women like today's guest, Alissa Alter, to revolutionize how women receive care about our pelvic floors and vaginas- and how we care for ourselves!Join me for a lively and fun conversation about something also women should be able to talk about without shame so we can understand ourselves better and be empowered to take charge of our...2022-06-151h 02
Alter Your LifeBuilding Your Empire NOT According To Plan with Zibby OwensZibby Owens is an author, podcaster, publisher, CEO, and mother of four. Zibby founded Zibby Owens Media, a privately-held media company designed to help busy people live their best lives by connecting to books and each other. One division is Moms Don’t Have Time To, the home for Zibby’s podcasts, publications (including two anthologies), and communities. The other is Zibby Books, a publishing home for fiction and memoir which she co-founded with Leigh Newman. Her award-winning podcast, Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books, has been downloaded millions of times. She is a regular columnist for Good Mornin...2022-06-1035 min
Alter Your LifeWe’re Not Called Human DOings Why I’m running a special deal on all of my online courses right now. Message Alissa to learn more! Growth and change are not a process of replacement. It’s a process of amalgamation. It’s an augmentation, combination, and integration. BEing includes some DOing, but it isn’t exclusively DOing. We need balance. I’m not into big, huge, drastic changes. Because I can’t sustain that. I’m in favor of small (are you ready for this) alterations. Because small shifts yield substantial and most importantly SUSTAINABLE change. If you’re picking up what I’m laying...2022-06-1032 minAlter Your LifeWhat's Inside A little bit more about me, what I do, and why I do it. How my divorce catapulted me into expansive growth and renegotiating my agreement with the world and myself. How taking ownership of my past decisions created my current reality. How instead of punishing my past self, I used the information to make better decisions moving forward and create the life I am born to live. A taste of what we are going to explore together on this podcast. If you’re picking up what I’m laying down… Download your FREE 5 minute meditatio...2022-06-1018 minAlter Your LifeI Believe YouWe haven't officially launched yet, but fueled by holy rage, the recent war on reproductive rights, domestic terrorism murdering children, a well intentioned yet poorly executed comment from her partner, and the clarity obtained only after an amazing therapy session, Alissa is coming in hot about screaming into the void. This episode is raw, unscripted, and a must listen if you ever wondered "I cannot be the only one who feels this way." And if like Alissa you need to calm the eff down, download your FREE 5 minute meditation to check on WTF is going in...2022-05-3118 minAlter Your LifeAre You Ready To Alter Your Life?Are you ready to Alter Your Life? Then you’re in the right place! Learn more about your host Alissa Alter and how she integrates her experiences as a professional Broadway performer, certified Pilates instructor, and coach to help you remember the life you were born to live! If you’re picking up what I’m laying down… Download your FREE 5 minute meditation to start your day with confidence and ease. Learn more at www.alissaalter.com Follow along on IG @alissaalter As always I’ve got your back, I’...2022-05-2603 min
Myth of MotherhoodFinding AlignmentToday’s episode is about alignment. Alignment inside our bodies, but also alignment in terms of what’s happening outside our bodies. In the world. This is also a big episode because I have some news that I share at the end of the episode. In my 35+ years of dance, yoga, Pilates training and 20+ years of teaching in the world’s most elite gyms and boutique studios. Working with thousands of other smart, motivated, disciplined women like yourself, hearing your feedback and feeling my own shifts as I practice what I preach, I’ve developed a method that sho...2022-05-1629 minMyth of MotherhoodFreedom In MotherhoodI hate not being in control. And being a mom means I am not in control. In fact, I’m completely out of control. Oof. Just saying that makes me nauseous. Want to know something really cool that I do when I feel scared and out of control? I become extra controlling. It’s awesome. Truly. Ask my husband how awesome it is, he will tell you it’s the best. It’s this vicious cycle I get caught in. A spinning hamster wheel I can’t get off so I stay on even though it makes me motion...2022-05-0925 minMyth of MotherhoodWhere Are You Investing Your Relationship Capital? With Amy KingmanBack in December we had our first dad on the show, Andy Kingman, the husband of my dear dear friend Amy Kingman who is with us today! Andy is the one who first shared the idea of relationship capital with me which is something I haven't stopped thinking about. And today Amy and I talk more about how we invest our relationship capital with our families and most importantly ourselves. Which is so hard. Because any time, energy, money we put into ourselves takes away from our family right? That’s what we’ve been told! But we say THAT”S TRAS...2022-05-0234 minMyth of MotherhoodYour Pelvic Floor Needs LoveSo our pelvic floor is a hammock of voluntary, skeletal muscles as the base of our pelvis that houses and supports our digestive and reproductive organs. And it gets quite the workout during pregnancy and postpartum, no matter how you birth your baby. Let’s get specific on why we need to talk about, learn about, and connect with the pelvic floor. All of us. Not only for those who had a vaginal birth! What? I know. I believe that we all deserve to feel safe, knowledgeable, and at home in our bodies which is why I talk ab...2022-04-2529 min
Myth of MotherhoodIt's 50/50 Not 1950 with Michael PerryOur second DAD on the show! Have you ever wondered why we see more action toward equality in the workplace than we do at home? That we find it easier to navigate these discrepancies with HR than our partner? That parenting feels like 1950 instead of 50/50? This week’s guest Michael Perry, the founder of Maple, felt that way too. So yea, it’s not in our heads, a MAN felt it too! Michael Perry (He/Him) is the Founder and CEO of Maple, a company focused on building a better world for all parents. Prior to f...2022-04-1837 min
Myth of MotherhoodMom Brain Is Basically Adult Adolecense aka MatrescenceSo why is no one throwing us a party?! I got a Bat Mitzvah when I got my period and my brain and body changed and became fertile. And when I gave birth and my brain and body changed again, I got…a baby. Where was the party? The theme? The dancers? The reverence? The recognition? The celebration? Becoming a mother aka Matrescence is basically an adult puberty. Our hormones, minds, and bodies go haywire as everything changes. It’s not all in your head, it’s in your body too! Learn more about Matrescence here and bu...2022-04-1114 min
Myth of MotherhoodChildren Are Catalysts For ChangeChange is…hard. Change is also literally my last name. And as often as I say I hate change, I don’t really. I am made for it. And if we are living a full, vibrant life we are changing all the time. Each experience, lesson, day brings new information that we can use to grow and change or ignore and stay the same. Taryn Lagonigro is a wife and mom of four daughters, the youngest of whom was born with Down syndrome in 2020. Taryn is a passionate advocate and business owner through Extra Lucky Moms and Iris...2022-04-0433 min
Myth of MotherhoodFinding Stability Again After BirthEverything feels unsteady postpartum: your legs, your balance, your hormotions (that’s hormones and emotions mixed together). This is happening as a result of the havoc pregnancy runs on our bodies physically and the fact that you and everything in your life has now changed! Because you had a baby! Which is exactly how the story goes. But instead of staying unsteady and feeling unsafe, I’m sharing tips and tools to help you find stability physically and emotionally after baby. You can read the article I wrote about this here and follow me on IG f...2022-03-2822 min
Myth of MotherhoodConstantly Calculating Motherhood with Erin PasquetWe’re talking pinterest goals & instagram dreams and how that’s never how it shakes down in motherhood. Like everything else in life, adventures in parenting are rarely linear. There are twists and turns, checks and balances, risks and rewards that we are constantly calculating. This week’s guest is Erin Pasquet. A NYC based birth and postpartum doula, lactation counselor, childbirth educator and pre/postnatal yoga and fitness instructor. She’s a mom to a (silly, active and adventurous) little boy and is passionate about educating and empowering birthing people and families to make informed choices that are...2022-03-2129 min
Myth of MotherhoodTaking Up Space PostpartumThere’s so much pressure after having a baby to look like you didn’t have a baby. Even though you definitely just had a baby. We are supposed to bounce, snap, fit right back into our old jeans and our old lives when everything about us is new. In this week’s episode Alissa shares about how we can reframe our experience of taking up more space, being held more fiercely by gravity, and owning our mom bods can change our experience. And hopefully influence societal expectations, pressures, and ideals placed on women’s postpartum bodies. 2022-03-1420 min
Myth of MotherhoodIdentifying Your Blind Spots with Jenny JacksonThis week we are talking about identifying our blind spots in life, business, and parenting, how having adult tantrums is just like our kids’ tantrums, and how modeling a life of integrity and sustainability doesn’t have to be all or nothing. I met today’s guest Jenny Jackson who is the founder of Ave-Lumi and a mama on a mission to improve the sustainability of the fashion industry at a launch event in 2021. It was my first event of that kind and I knew nobody. If this had been a sorority party, Jenny quickly became my Big Si...2022-03-0734 min
Myth of MotherhoodMarriage After Baby: I'm A Mom, But I'm Not YOUR MomThere’s this assumption that after we give birth, we spontaneously download a complete, updated guide on everything motherhood/parenting/baby. Suddenly everyone asks us to feel our foreheads, what type of jacket we need, and what’s for dinner. I don't know about you, but this made me furious. The automatic status of lead or default parent. Like I suddenly knew everything even though we were both new parents. This episode is based on my interpretation of these events. My experiences as a new, hormonal mom. Objectively speaking, my husband was incredible. That doesn’t chan...2022-02-2815 min
Myth of MotherhoodAll Children Are Hard and Easy with Jess QuarelloNeurodivergent or neurotypical, all children present their own unique challenges. This week’s guest Jess Quarello, born in Sweden and raised in North Carolina, talks about the differences and similarities in her two daughters. Her second daughter was born with Down’s Syndrome propelled her into a life of advocacy and community. Because we talk about everything here, we discuss social assumptions and ignorance around children with disabilities and their parents, gory childbirth, and hemorrhoids. Jess began her career in Musical Theater before transitioning to modeling and fashion. She now lives in Hoboken, NJ with her husb...2022-02-2135 minMyth of MotherhoodWhy Am I Scared to Shine?Picture this: Your dream comes true, you’ve been chosen to stand center stage for the dance recital. You know all the steps, your costume fits great, you are the shortest kid in class, and now you are exactly where you were born to be. Center stage. After the teacher writes down the formation for next week when inevitably half the class forgets their spots – not you, of course. You turn to your friends and they cross their arms and turn their backs. They’re mad at you for being placed center stage. Has this ever h...2022-02-1423 min
Myth of MotherhoodAvoiding Stress Blue Balls With Optimal Pelvic Floor Function with Lindsey VestalIn this episode Alissa realizes where the source of her feeling responsible for her partner’s erections based on Lindey’s explanation of how stress accumulates in the pelvic floor. Yea, we are making CONNECTIONS people! We are built to experience cycles. Life cycles, menstrual cycles, and stress cycles. And it’s that last one that gets really sticky – see what I did there? Lindsey Vestal is the founder of The Functional Pelvis, the first in-home pelvic health practice in New York City run by an Occupational Therapist. She has helped thousands of people overcome chronic pelvic health c...2022-02-0735 min
Myth of MotherhoodSoft vs Hard2022-01-3122 min
Myth of MotherhoodWe're All Going To F*ck Up Our Kids with Susanna MerrickAs much as we will try to be the generation that does it perfectly, we are all going to f*ck up our kids somehow. I know I’m dedicated to doing it differently than my parents did, but I’m not denying it will happen. And today’s podcast guest Susanna Merrick, founder of Aura Wear, agrees. In this episode she shares about her upbringing as the only girl of six children raised in a culty household with a mother who ruled with an iron fist. And now as Susanna approaches motherhood herself, she’s bringing herself...2022-01-2437 min
Myth of MotherhoodWTF Do We Do Next?We’ve been playing this pandemic game of life for a while now. And I feel numb inside. I’m hungover and I’m pissed. I’m tired of having the same conversations on repeat. I’m tired of assessing risk. I’m numb from numbing and wondering WTf do we do next? Where do we go from here? In this episode I talk about how all of this relates to my relationship with alcohol and how we are on a break right now and what I’m doing to counteract feeling dead inside. Hint: It has somethi...2022-01-1726 min
Myth of MotherhoodFinding Your Worth with Ryanne Tanae GlasperThis keeps coming up and we can’t talk about it enough; why do we so often wait until motherhood to find and own our worth? I mean, we know why (hint: all of the systems in place to keep women small and quiet) and still, it is our work now to create new systems for the next generation. And what does that require? It required us to opt out of garbage, reparent ourselves, and own our f*cking worth. Warning: I say at least TWO very smart things in this episode. Ryanne, our guest, sa...2022-01-1030 min
Myth of MotherhoodTransitions Are ExpensiveI was 16 the first time I had a teacher talk about transitions. The way that we connect movements, steps, positions are what make dancing dancing and not classroom exercises. The dancing happens in the transitions. In this episode I share a few words of wisdom from my beloved ballet teacher Kat Wildish including, “Transitions are expensive.” They’re expensive because to have the control, musicality, sensitivity, and awareness to make them seamless takes years of training. Time, discipline, blood, sweat, and tears. And she’s so freaking right. Our breath naturally transiti...2022-01-0328 min
Myth of MotherhoodBuilding An Epic Partnership with Paula Espinosa ValarezoAnyone else get married feeling like check! Did it! Now that that’s taken care of, can we carry on? A real air of “my work here is done”? I know I did. In hindsight, I see that is exactly how I entered into my first marriage. We had built the house, moved in, and then never took care of it. Ignored cracks in the walls, peeling paint, a leaking roof, water in the basement, etc. You get the picture. Today we talk to Paula Espinosa Valarezo about how she and her husband are bo...2021-12-2735 min
Myth of Motherhood(Un)Remarkable: What Are We Not Noticing?I love feedback. I love seeing and hearing how I show up in the world. Because I can’t see myself. I know what’s going on inside me, but have no clue what that looks like in action. In my writing class I told a story about my fears and anxieties before my second wedding and how the stress led to an eye injury that’s hilarious. I thought that was the part of the story that was special. But after sharing in class, it was reflected back to me that the part of the st...2021-12-2020 min
Myth of MotherhoodBuilding Relationship Capital Building Relationship Capital & Gender Roles with Andy Kingmanwith Andy KingmanWe’ve got our first DAD on the show! Andy Kingman and I talk about the effects of becoming parents on marriage, friendships, and gender roles. I’ve known Andy since college so having this open conversation felt so good and so safe. He and his wife Amy (one of my best friends) were together for ~10 years before having their daughter. Andy shares on how the relationship capital they had built over that time gave them a bit of a cushion to support their postpartum experience. We come from a similar perspective of wanting to change internalized, perc...2021-12-1330 min
"Cut Loose" by Uncut.fmAlissa Alter from "Myth of Motherhood"Today we speak with Alissa Alter from "Myth of Motherhood." But if you think this episode is just about motherhood, you're in for a surprise. Find Alissa at: www.alissa-alter.com2021-12-0746 min
Myth of MotherhoodWhat Stories Do You Tell?There is an old popular legend attributed to the Cherokee or Lenape tribes called “The Story of Two Wolves.” Do you know it? Basically A grandfather explains to his young grandson that within us there live two wolves. One is evil. It is anger, aggression, hate, arrogance, and lies. The other is good. It is hope, humility, empathy, generosity, truth, and compassion. These two wolves are constantly fighting inside all of us. And when the grandson asks which one wins, the grandfather replies “The one you feed.” On this week’s episode I go deep on the power of t...2021-12-0626 min
Myth of MotherhoodIncontinence + Hemorrhoids = Hot Mess with Joanne AdamsOk, you know that if you’re in my space, we are going to talk about buttholes at some point, right? Right. If you’re new around here, I will talk about my bhole a lot. Because when your butthole has been torn in half and then repaired, it changes you. And when it comes to childbirth SO many people sugar coat thing, or “don’t remember,” or are afraid to speak openly because they are nervous about what they'll say. Today’s guest Joanne Adams is my people. She blew me away when she submitted her hilarious ar...2021-11-2938 min
Myth of MotherhoodThe B Word... BoundariesWhen I say boundaries, you say….? For many of us an image of an invisible, electric fence pops up meant to keep some people out and keeps others in. They are rigid and stationary. But the truth is... are you ready for this? Boundaries are actually the #1 way to love and care for yourself and allow others to do the same. Having clear boundaries and communicating them with care sets up everyone for success. Because people will keep stepping up to that electric fence and getting shocked and not know where to turn to for safety. So th...2021-11-2229 min
Myth of MotherhoodWhat Is My Highest Priority Right Now? With Chef Carla ContrerasHave you ever been in the midst of a long to-do list or a big project, struggling to go on, knowing you have so much to accomplish, but what you really need in that exact moment is a nap? What if you honored that knowing and took the damn nap? I know. Revolutionary. Today’s guest Chef Carlas Contrereas has become fierce with her boundaries and honoring her highest priorities since becoming a mother. Sometimes those priorities are snuggles or food prep. And other times it’s a nap and a Pilates session. She...2021-11-1534 min
Myth of MotherhoodThe Art of Doing LessIn our fast paced, modern world it’s constantly a race to keep up. It feels like there’s never enough of whatever it is we need, and we simply need to keep doing more. I definitely get caught in that rat race. Often. Which is why I’m exploring The Art of Doing Less. This is not an argument to do nothing. It’s an invitation to do less. Create space in your life, rest. In this week’s episode I talk about how a trip to Miraval Berkshires shifted my perspective on my fast paced life and n...2021-11-0821 min
Myth of MotherhoodMy Type A-Ness with Kelly DonahueToday’s guest Kelly Donahue is a mega badass. She is a surf instructor, life coach, and literally a certified Badass Mom. After having her first daughter, life in the suburbs felt off, so she went on a mission to create joy again. And Voila! Her company Badass Moms was born. Badass Moms is a revolution for type-A overachiever moms ready to prioritize fun again. I actually had the joy and honor of going surfing with Kelly this past summer and I can testify, it’s badass. And that means a lot coming from me because I don’...2021-11-0134 min
Myth of MotherhoodMyth of MotherhoodThis week we dive deep into the meaning of the word myth. How it relates to motherhood, religion, and mythology. And how all of it is kind of really culty. A myth, by definition, is an explanation for something inexplicable or an agreed upon truth to explain something that didn’t really happen. It’s a lie. And I feel like we were handed a big sack of lies on what motherhood would look like. And while it may have been a lie by omission, it’s still a lie. And I’m all about the truth! So we ar...2021-10-2526 min
Myth of MotherhoodThrow Out The Script and Make Your Own Rules! with Kiki MikkelsenOooh are you in for a treat! Postpartum doula, childcare provider, improviser, runner, future queer parent, and diet culture dropout Kiki Mikkelsen joins us to talk about caring for others, operating with integrity, tuning out all of the voices around you, listening to your gut, navigating family planning as a queer couple, and throwing out the script and deciding what’s best for you. What feels right in your body. Kiki lives in Brooklyn with her wife and their 2 cats, Finnigan and Dad. Learn more at www.kikithedoula.com. Check out the shownotes for more info on...2021-10-1834 min
Myth of MotherhoodThree Things That Actually Prepared Me For MotherhoodThis episode is all about the three things that ACTUALLY prepared me for motherhood. And they’re not parenting books. They’re not baby books. They’re not books at all. They're not birthing or breastfeeding or CPR classes. These three things do not include the “motherly intuition” that is apparently spontaneously downloaded into our brains as our babies exit our bodies. There was no spontaneous download of some sort of comprehensive, exhaustive manual that made me know how to feel that he’s warm, or tell that he’s hungry not tired, or understand that hekipokter means helicopter. No, toda...2021-10-1123 min
Myth of MotherhoodThe Sacred Work of the Mother Artist with Elana BellIt takes a lot to leave me speechless. I'm a talker. And today’s guest Elana Bell did it twice. Today she shares her empowered cesarean story and how she took something so medicalized and made it sacred. How she created space to grieve the birth she’d wanted and the version of herself who had to die in order for her to be reborn in motherhood. Elana Bell is the author of Mother Country (BOA Editions 2020), poems about fertility, motherhood, and mental illness. Bell is also the founder of the Mother Artist Salon. In addition to faci...2021-10-0434 min
Myth of MotherhoodWhy We Need To Stop Asking "When Are You Having A Baby?"We have to stop leaving the mother out of the equation. That is exactly what happens when we ask "When are you having a baby?" This simple question, often well intentioned, completely removes and ignores the birthing person. You never know where someone is on their fertility journey, their marital satisfaction, or emotional and physical recovery from birth trauma. Today's episode provides an update on my physical and emotional recovery from my traumatic birth two years ago and an invitation into how I'm considering a second pregnancy. It's big, it's juicy, and I definitely start crying. I...2021-09-2721 min
Myth of MotherhoodWhy is it all on me? with Gemma Hartley“If you feel like you’re doing everything, you’re doing too much.” -Gemma Hartley. Have you ever been reading a book and got mad at the protagonist? Because you can’t believe they are tolerating what they are tolerating and not advocating for themselves? I felt that way when I started Fed Up: Emotional Labor, Women, and the Way Forward written by today’s guest Gemma Hartley. It didn’t take long for me to realize I wasn’t mad AT her, I was mad WITH and FOR her. Her writing, her story, is so beyond relatable it feels like you’r...2021-09-2023 min
Myth of MotherhoodReview & RenewThis week’s solo episode honors the Jewish New Year and the opportunity to reflect, repent, and recommit to creation. This past year has taught me a lot about my white privilege, my Jewish identity, and how I tend to put my head down, work myself into the ground, and then look up not knowing where I am. Sometimes somewhere I definitely don’t want to be. It happened with my first marriage, it happened with my theatrical career, and it almost happened again recently. Thankfully I’m beginning to see the patterns, catching myself before complete and total meltdo...2021-09-1324 min
Myth of MotherhoodThe Power of The Pause with Blair BadenhopWelcome back! I met today’s guest Blair Badenhop through mutual friends before signing up for her incredible business mentorship program Your Wellness Brand. Well, we hit it off in a big way and she is now my co-founder along with Anne (our other co-founder and guest on episode 21 who ALSO did YWB with Blair). Blair is a global Brand & Messaging Strategist with over a decade of experience supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses. Her clients have included Emmy Award Winners, New York Times Best-Selling Authors, and hundreds of coaches and content creators from Australia to the Netherlands. Sh...2021-09-0623 min
Myth of MotherhoodIntimacy > SexSex changes things. It escalates good things and bad things and I want to make sure our emotional intimacy is at the point where sex is our right next step to be to grow our intimacy. Does that make sense? This episode is not graphic, so you don’t need to be nervous. I promise this is a safe space. I do use anatomical correct names for a few body parts, but our conversation today is really more about intimacy and how/when/why we choose to express and share that. And how/when/why we choose to...2021-08-3030 min
Myth of MotherhoodLosing Your Sh*t & Getting It Back with Anne OmlandToday’s guest is a magical mermaid maiden that I am honored to call cofounder of pstprtm Anne Omland. We met through our other cofounder Blair Badenhop and immediately sparks flew. We are so aligned and so different and seriously, she has mermaid hair. Today we are talking about losing your shit as a mom and trying to find it again. And I urge you to listen until the end. Her definition of motherhood is...beyond. Anne is a co-founder and CXO of pstprtm, a media company and community space on a mission to revolutionize the postpartum ex...2021-08-2328 min
Myth of MotherhoodThe Three Things You Need To Know About Your BodyIn honor of our 20th episode I want to share with you the three things you need to know about YOUR body. Because you only get one, let’s honor her well. I believe that movement, self expressions, and good old fashion education empower us to feel safe, confident, and knowledgeable in our bodies. And we need to get in touch with OUR bodies. Not someone else’s, but our own. And when you want to share your body with someone else, you need to know what you’re up to!!! And in...2021-08-1613 min
Myth of MotherhoodNatural vs Ideal In Birth and Motherhood with Chloe S. CampbellLike many pregnant people, Chloe Campbell (She/Her) spent a lot of time and energy connecting to her body and her baby. Culturally we idealize “natural” birth when we mean an unmedicated, vaginal birth. In this episode we talk about this ideal and how it morphs and changes once we give birth, and all along the way no one really considers the pregnancy. It’s all about the baby. Speaking of babies, you may hear some backup vocals from Chloe’s incredible one year old daughter Campbell during the episode. Chloe hails from London, UK. She has lived in...2021-08-0924 min
Myth of MotherhoodEmotional Weight TrainingIn theater, when there are children in a show the company hires a “Child Wrangler.” This person manages the children to make sure they are in costume and make their entrances on time. That they have snacks and water. And that they know all of their lines and choreography. When you become an adult, the Dance Captain and Stage Manager fill this role. It wasn’t until after I semi-retired from the biz that I realized I’ve been “wrangled” or “managed” my entire life. I was left a completely disempowered woman unable to carry the weight of my own life. And wh...2021-08-0223 min
Myth of MotherhoodRadical Motherhood with Ariana Witkin MDWhen it comes to motherhood it’s time for radical change. To let go of antiquated ideals and expectations and step into our truth. Dr Ariana Witkin MD (She/Her) joins us today to talk about how being a pediatrician did nothing to prepare her for childbirth, postpartum, and being a new mom. And how there needs to be some radical changes in our healthcare system to support moms postpartum. Ariana Witkin AKA Mama MD is a Pediatrician, Postpartum Coach and Motherhood Mentor. She started her business after the birth of her daughter and experiencing firsthand the la...2021-07-2627 min
Myth of MotherhoodPain Is Our Call To ActionWe are conditioned to avoid pain at all costs. But what if staying so safe for so long is actually holding us back. In this week’s episode I share some lessons I’ve learned through painful experiences. Physically and emotionally. Pain isn’t the enemy. It is the messenger to our brain to pay attention, be careful, and send healing. And if we keep ignoring it, which I am so good at doing, the pain will increase until it knocks you to your knees. Can we instead challenge ourselves to listen to our pain and soothe it before making...2021-07-1914 min
Myth of MotherhoodOne Mom + Two Babies + Three Cultures = F*ck it with Kate WoskaDid you ever wonder what happens when you’re an American in Paris getting mixed messages from two different cultures and your husband is Italian so there’s a third culture at play and you’re expecting twins? I don’t know, but Kate does! In this episode we talk about utilizing what resonates from all of the information available. How different cultures can inform our experiences in positive and negative ways. And how we get to pick and choose what works for us to create OUR right way. Kate and I met because our dogs fell in love...2021-07-1233 min