Shows
Whatcha Expecting?Birth PlansThis week, Kate and Claire talk about their approach and/or aversion to birth plans. Claire recalls all the TikToks she used to see marketing anti-science birth plans, and Kate talks about some of the options she saw on MyChart that surprised her. Claire reflects on her birth experience and wishes she’d went in more prepared for different possibilities. Did you know that if you avoid reading up on something, that doesn't prevent it from happening? But also neither will preparing for every scenario? These revelations and more on this week’s episode!Weekly Plugs:2025-07-2429 minWhatcha Expecting?It's In His DNARecorded the week of Kate’s cancerversary, this week’s episode examines what genes Kate and Claire are passing onto their kids. After a highly scientific lesson on Punnett Squares, Claire notes that Rodney has her eyes, and Kate suspects her son will have her judgmentalness. They discuss their experiences surrounding genetic tests, and Kate reflects on her experience with cancer. Kate considers her fears about passing it along to a child, and looks back proudly on her younger self who drew firm boundaries and asserted her emotional needs.Weekly Plugs:Frozen teet...2025-07-1731 minWhatcha Expecting?Mom JeansThis week, Kate and Claire chat about the ways they’re perceived in the world, both in pregnancy and in new motherhood. In both cases, they’ve noticed women who acknowledge them with a knowing “welcome to the club” look — a look Joe will sadly never understand. Claire reflects on whether or not she wants people to think she’s a mom, or whether she prefers that it be a fun, shocking little surprise. Kate thinks about both wanting and not wanting to have people treat her differently as a visibly pregnant person. CW: Body image, weight changes 2025-07-1025 minWhatcha Expecting?"Breast is Best" or "Fed is Best"?In this week’s episode, Kate comes fresh off a breastfeeding class awash with a slew of lessons and/or propaganda to unpack. Claire shares her experience with switching to formula and the shaming attitudes she encountered along the way. Kate prepares for a feeding journey that embraces the grey areas, and Claire and Joe discuss their experiences with lactation consultants. Kate commits to exclusively pump if a certain breast pump wants to sponsor her — to find out which one, listen to the pod!Weekly Plugs: Claire on Lactation Consultants2025-07-0330 minWhatcha Expecting?Separation AnxietyClaire shamefully confesses to being apart from her baby for nearly two weeks and shares what it felt like to be baby-less for 12 days. The highs, the lows, the SEPARATION ANXIETY and, of course, the reunion. Kate talks about the physical reassurance of baby kicks as well as the acrobats she suspects her baby is doing en utero. She also reflects on how that intimate physical reassurance ends with pregnancy as she and Claire look ahead to other milestones where separation anxiety may come into play -- daycare, moving out, going to jail, etc. Weekly Plugs:2025-06-2632 minWhatcha Expecting?NestingThis week, we’re talking about how — and where we build our nests, and what kinds of trees we’ve chosen to root our families’ lives in (while taking the metaphor further than we should). Claire shares big news about where she’ll be living, and Kate discusses her hopes and anxieties for raising kids in New York. They discuss the different factors that go into these decisions, with Joe sharing insights on schools, economic realities, and surprising takes on Bill de Blasio. Weekly plugs:Spending quality time with your partner before baby’s arrival in the third tri...2025-06-1934 minWhatcha Expecting?Father's DayThis week, we’d like to wish our heavily male audience a Happy FATHER’S DAY! Claire shares a sweet surprise she gave Cody in honor of his first Father’s Day, Kate ponders the importance of the holiday, and both co-hosts discuss the roles their own dads have played in their lives. After a couple of poorly-delivered Oedipus complex jokes, the two also share the qualities they admire the most in their partners and how they hope to parent together in the future. Weekly Plugs:Splurging on an apartment/house cleaningFreshly cut pineappleGet tickets for Kate's...2025-06-1232 minWhatcha Expecting?Play DatesThis week, we’re talking about PLAY DATES. What’s it like for Claire to see her baby interact with other kids? How have both Kate’s and Claire’s relationships with socializing changed? We discuss friendship and the role communities play in your life (or not) as pregnancy and parenthood progress. For those wanting to hang out with Kate and Claire, an abundance of PSA’s await you.Weekly Plugs:Cometeer Coffee Capsules - Use code "clairetadokoro" for $20 off your first subscription order. Cancel anytime. Get tickets for Kate's BoogieManja show on June 18th...2025-06-0538 minWhatcha Expecting?Baby NamesThis week, we’re chatting about BABY NAMES. What goes into deciding on one? Do you share the name before they’re born? Do you invite opinions? The stakes feel very high for this early parenting decision, and we all go about it in slightly different ways -- pulling from relatives both dead and alive, childhood crushes, mere vibes, etc. Weekly Plugs:Tummy TimeWind MachinesEmily Herzlin and MalkhutStrawberriesKate’s Insta...2025-05-2935 minWhatcha Expecting?Time ManagementThis week, we’re talking about TIME MANAGEMENT. We discuss the differences in the day during maternity leave and in going back to work, the work day while pregnant, and whether or not you control your time. How does Kate feel about how time is moving during each trimester, and how does Claire feel about how quickly Rodney is changing? And what tool does Joe recommend (or maybe not) for managing time?Weekly Plugs:Opal ApplesBedtimePassion Planner...2025-05-2235 minWhatcha Expecting?Birthdays & Birth DatesThis week, we’re traveling back in time to Kate’s BIRTHDAY (a week and a half ago). We discuss birthday traditions, birthday memories, and we of course bring it back to the most important birthday of all, our actual BIRTH DATES and the birth dates of babies worldwide. Did everything go according to plan? How did we cruise into the world? And what do we remember from our very first day of existence? Weekly Plugs:BabymoonsFrozen PineappleUniversal Bassinet / Stroller Sun S...2025-05-1533 minWhatcha Expecting?Mother's DayThis week on Whatcha Expecting? Kate and Claire discuss MOTHER’S DAY. They chat about their memories of Mother’s Day growing up – flower sales, divorced parents, and the quest for the perfect gift. They discuss fraught connections to the holiday, from childhood experiences to their relationships to it now. They imagine what Mother’s Day might hold for them in the future, and stumble upon a particular New York food insight that Claire discovers her (apparently profound) ignorance of. They share this week’s Highly Original Anxieties, and close out by plugging their own podcast – truly the perfect way to celeb...2025-05-0827 minWhatcha Expecting?Baby Shower RegistriesKate and Claire commiserate over the stress of crafting one's BABY SHOWER REGISTRY. When should you create one? What should you add to your registry? What should you skip? It's information overload between articles, well-intentioned aunties and TikToks – all offering up competing opinions. Then they zoom out to share who they go to for motherhood advice beyond just baby registry goodies!Kate’s Instagram: @KateHerzlinClaire’s Instagram: @ClaireTadokoroEditing, recording, post production and dad insights by Joe Leonardo. Music by Christopher Morucci...2025-05-0131 minWhatcha Expecting?Mom BrainThis week on Whatcha Expecting? Kate and Claire discuss MOM BRAIN. After reviewing some prime listener feedback, they chat about forgetfulness in pregnancy and new motherhood. They discuss what it means to inhabit a “mom brain” and when (or if) they’ve started to feel like a mom. They share this week’s Highly Original Anxieties, one of which is truly, well, highly original."The Mom Brain Phenomenon: Blasting the Myth of the Perfect Mom"Weekly Plugs:RaspberriesBaby BjornsJeep Travel Strollers2025-04-2433 minWhatcha Expecting?Growth Spurts*CW: body image issues related to weight changes, eating disorders, hair loss.This week on Whatcha Expecting? Kate and Claire discuss GROWTH SPURTS. They chat about the fascinating body metrics of a 2 month old as well as the yoga position Kate’s fetus seems to be fond of. They’ll also talk about their own changing bodies – which they’re immensely proud of from a feminist perspective – but not always comfortable in! Weekly Plugs:Town Shop: in the Upper West Side for your bra needs! Ergo Baby 360 on the pricier side, but Claire ch...2025-04-1733 minWhatcha Expecting?Cravings and AversionsIn the second episode of Whatcha Expecting? Kate and Claire discuss CRAVINGS AND AVERSIONS. They share stories of the foods — and lives — they most dream of. They swap stories (and occasional judgments) of the foods and futures they fear for their children and for themselves. Finally, they exchange their Highly Original Anxieties of the week.Tickets here to Kate’s musical, Pages Behind, at The New Media Theatre in Media, PA on April 11th. NYC Motherhood & Family Photographer: @monaandcophotography BabySparks AppKate’s Instagra...2025-04-1028 minWhatcha Expecting?TrailerEpisode 1 is out now! When a notoriously unprepared new mom and her chronically overprepared pregnant friend love each other very much, they make a podcast! Each Thursday, longtime friends Kate Herzlin and Claire Tadokoro discuss various aspects of pregnancy and new parenthood. They’ll chat about cravings and aversions, they’ll grapple with their identities, and they’ll tell a joke or two to offset the terror of their existential fears!With a big sister/little sister dynamic, their philosophies (or lack thereof) may differ when it comes t...2025-04-0400 minWhatcha Expecting?ConceivingIn the first episode of Whatcha Expecting? Kate and Claire introduce each other and then discuss CONCEPTION. What a concept! They swap conception journey stories, reminisce on announcing their pregnancies to each other and exchange their Highly Original Anxieties of the week.--Tickets here to Kate’s musical, Pages Behind, at The New Media Theatre in Media, PA on April 11th. Kate’s Instagram: @KateHerzlinClaire’s Instagram: @ClaireTadokoroEditing, recording, post production and dad insights by Joe Leonardo. Music by Chris...2025-04-0328 min