Shows
Healing After BirthHot TopicsIn this episode of *Healing After Birth*, hosts Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo and Marcia Cole explore the multifaceted journey of motherhood, health, and the societal forces that shape them. Through personal stories and candid reflections, they examine government policies impacting family planning and compare healthcare systems around the world. The hosts also highlight the crucial role of trust in medical professionals during childbirth and shed light on the ongoing challenges mothers face in protecting their health and wellness.
2025-08-1437 minHealing After BirthWe’ve Got Questions: Pregnancy Over 40 Is Rising, Mom’s Multitasking—And the WHO Reduces Age Babies Can Drink Cow’s MilkIn this candid and sharply witty episode of Healing After Birth, Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo and Marcia Cole dive into three hot-button topics that hit at the heart of modern motherhood. First, they unpack the rise in births among women over 40 and the sharp decline in teen pregnancies, asking: is motherhood over 40 the new norm—and are we prepared for the perimenopause overlap? Next, they dig into a viral post about moms on their phones at the playground, sparking a no-holds-barred conversation on multitasking, mom guilt, and the double standards between mothers and fathers. Finally, they show real concern over the WHO gu...
2025-07-3136 minHealing After BirthFrom Survival to Support: Fixing Maternal Mental Health One Mom at a TimeIn this deeply personal and powerful episode of Healing After Birth, hosts Marcia Cole and Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo dig into the recently released 2025 Maternal Mental Health State Report Card and ask: why is mediocrity the standard in a country with so many resources?
Joined by the remarkable founders of the Black Girls Mental Health Collective—Dr. Jaih Craddock, Breea Wainwright, and Dr. Chyna Hill—this episode explores the invisible wounds of the postpartum experience: from maternal rage and sleep deprivation to the generational trauma of being forced to “do it all” alone.
Through their own raw stories and expertise, these women dismantl...
2025-07-031h 07Healing After BirthThis Week's Hot Topics: What's in a Name Meghan Sussex, Positivity in Motherhood, Accountability in Politics, Finding the Joy in Everyday LifeIn this Hot Topics episode of Healing After Birth, hosts Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo and Marcia Cole delve into the public's reaction to Meghan Markle's new Netflix show, discussing the societal backlash against her portrayal of a 'soft life' and the microaggressions she faces. They also explore the concept of toxic positivity in motherhood, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging negative emotions and the impact of societal expectations on women's experiences. In this conversation, Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo and Marcia Cole explore the importance of emotional awareness and expression, particularly in the context of mental health challenges faced in today's society. They discuss the need...
2025-06-1036 min
Glocal CitizensEpisode 266: Defining and Delivering for Women’s Needs in the Fourth Phase with Nana Eyeson-AkiwowoGreetings Glocal Citizens!
On this first day of April, we are trying to fool you, but just slightly. Though herstories month has just ended, we have the treat of catching up with one of featured voices from last week’s compilation episode. Returning with an update on Fourth Phase which was in the launch phase when last we caught up in 2020, is co-founder Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo. Nana is a dedicated social entrepreneur and humanitarian with a strong commitment to advocating for accessible healthcare for under-resourced women, children, and families. As the co-founder of Fourth Phase, she focuses on op...
2025-04-0154 min
Glocal CitizensEpisode 265: Showing and Telling Herstory with Yaliwe Clarke, Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo, Daisry Obal, Tiambi Simms and Aissata Sidibé N'diaGreetings Glocal Citizens!
Every March since launching the podcast, we dedicate the month to women - it’s our Women's Herstory Month series. Closing out this year’s series are excerpts from conversations over the years with Glocal Citizens working to empower, develop, support and uplift women in Africa and beyond.
We’ll hear social development scholar, author and facilitator, Yaliwe Clarke discussing her craft and how feminism has always been native to her being. Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo shares how her NGO, African Health Now inspired the innovative fourthphase box solving for the unspoken and overlooked needs...
2025-03-2551 minHealing After BirthBoundaries, Battles, and Breaking Through: Danya Gillard's Healing JourneyIn this deeply moving episode of Healing After Birth, hosts Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo and Marcia Cole sit down with Danya Gilliard to unpack the complexities of motherhood, healing, and resilience. From navigating pregnancy as a single mother to enduring an emotionally taxing custody battle, Danya shares her raw and powerful story of perseverance. She opens up about the boundaries she set (and the ones that were crossed), the physical and emotional toll of childbirth, and the spiritual and mental strength she cultivated to reclaim her life.
Together, they explore cultural norms around postpartum boundaries, the impact of unconscious bias in maternal...
2025-03-131h 03Healing After BirthMothering the MomIn this episode of Healing After Birth, hosts Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo and Marcia Cole discuss the significance of postpartum nutrition and cultural traditions in maternal health. They are joined by Shafiya M. Monroe, a renowned midwife and author, who shares her insights on the importance of cultural competency in healthcare, traditional birth practices, and the healing power of food. The conversation emphasizes the need for better support for new mothers and the revival of African-American postpartum traditions. This conversation delves into the rich history and legacy of Black midwifery, emphasizing the importance of community support during childbirth, the role of education...
2024-11-211h 02Healing After BirthThe Challenges of PlaydatesThis week’s Hot Topic explores the topic of play dates and how they have evolved over time. Nana and Marcia discuss their own experiences with play dates as children and how they differ from the play dates their children have today. They speculate that the rise of play dates may be due to increased concerns about child safety and the desire for parents to know who their children are playing with. Nana also shares how she uses play dates as an opportunity to observe other parents' parenting styles and determine if their children are a good fit for her da...
2024-11-141h 24Healing After BirthManaging Trauma and Partnerships After Birth with Dr. Jessica S. LewisIn this episode of "Healing After Birth," hosts Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo and Marcia Cole discuss postpartum depression and the role partners play in a new mom's recovery with guest Dr. Jessica S. Lewis, a licensed psychologist, and founder of Becoming the Whole You. The conversation highlights the challenges new mothers face when their partners don't understand or believe the severity of their postpartum struggles. The hosts and Dr. Lewis emphasize the importance of empathy and communication in partnerships during this critical period. They also touch on societal expectations and the need for education and support for both mothers and partners. Dr...
2024-11-0749 minHealing After BirthHealing After BirthIn this episode of Healing After Birth, hosts Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo and Marcia Cole engage in a deep conversation with Laura Ash, a clinical herbalist, about the intersection of integrative medicine and holistic healing. They explore the coexistence of allopathic and holistic practices, share personal birthing experiences, and discuss the importance of herbal remedies in postpartum healing. Laura shares her journey as a mother and herbalist, emphasizing the significance of community support and self-care for single parents. The episode concludes with practical advice on herbal remedies for new moms and the importance of emotional well-being in parenting.
2024-10-311h 20Healing After BirthFinding Peace in Postpartum: Lola Ogunnaike Shares How Boxing, Cookies and the Aisles of WholeFoods Saved Her Sanity After BirthHealing After Birth hosts Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo and Marcia Cole delve into parenting, self-discovery and cultural nuances with award-winning journalist Lola Ogunnaike. Sparked by Iyanla Vanzant's admission of being a "terrible mother" but "great father," they explore parenting stress, cultural gender roles, identity shifts, masculine-feminine energies and redefining motherhood. Discussing the intersection of personal growth, professional ambitions, and societal pressures, Lola, whose family and husband hail from Nigeria, shares insights on cultural differences in parenting and gender roles. Nana and Marcia offer relatable anecdotes on balancing protection and nurturing, embracing vulnerability and building resilience. This enriching conversation blends personal narratives, keen...
2024-10-241h 10Healing After BirthLactation Consultant, Chanel Rene Shares Why Breastfeeding Is Important for Black MothersIn this episode of Healing After Birth, Chanel Rene, a Certified Lactation Education Consultant, joins Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo and Marcia Cole to discuss the importance of breastfeeding support and education, particularly for Black mothers. Chanel shares her journey to providing this type of support for new mothers and how she creates a safe space in her practice by championing evidence-based research. Chanel also gets candid about her own breastfeeding journey--one that ended five years after her son was born.
2024-08-291h 01Healing After BirthHow To Embrace Holistic Postpartum Care with Stephanie Sauer-Pasternak, DONA-Certified Doula and Lactation ConsultantIn this episode of Healing After Birth, Nana Eyeson Akiwowo and Marcia Cole welcome Stephanie Sauer Pasternak, a compassionate Doula and Lactation Counselor, based in Bergen County, New Jersey. Stephanie shares her expertise on the importance of holistic support during the postpartum period, highlighting the benefits of doula care and lactation guidance. She discusses how her unique approach, combining physical, emotional, and spiritual support, empowers mothers to navigate the challenges of new motherhood. Tune in to learn more about creating a supportive environment for a transformative postpartum experience.
2024-06-2740 minHealing After BirthDaddy's Duties During and After BirthThe podcast episode explores the role of dads, husbands, and partners in the healing process after birth. It delves into the experiences of Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo and her husband, Akinola, as they share their perspectives on parenthood, cultural traditions, and the challenges of postpartum recovery. The conversation covers the unexpected challenges and experiences of childbirth, the recovery process, the importance of seeking help, and the role of community in parenting. It also delves into the significance of education and the impact of fatherhood on personal growth and relationships.
2024-06-131h 08
Healing After BirthThe Power of Belly Binding: C-Section Care with Princess McKinney-KirkIn this conversation, Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo and Marcia Cole discuss snapback culture and its impact on mothers. They are joined by Princess McKinney Kirk, the CEO of Bellybind and an expert in postpartum care. Princess explains that belly binding is a postpartum ritual that involves wrapping a long piece of fabric around the postpartum womb space to provide support and contour to the body. They discuss the pressure to snap back to pre-pregnancy bodies and emphasize the importance of self-acceptance and self-love. Princess also shares her personal experience with a C-section and how belly binding helped with her recovery. The conversation...
2024-05-1634 minHealing After BirthFrom Renaissance Tour to Motherhood: Crystal Torres' Inspiring StoryIn this episode of Healing After Birth, hosts Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo and Marcia Cole sit down with musician Crystal Torres, also known as Crystal the Indigo, who recently gained attention for performing on stage during the Renaissance Tour with Beyoncé while fully pregnant. Crystal shares her journey of motherhood, from her how she used telehealth services, to navigating Fourth Trimester life and parenthood. She discusses her stellar career being mentored by jazz greats like Roy Hargrove, her family's influence, and her path to healing and helping others through her music.
2024-05-091h 10
Gentle Touch181 Sea (19) 1 Starting A Luxury Gift Box Business And Impacting African Health On The Go With Nana Eyeson - AkiwowoConnect with Nana Instagram @neyeson
Website : https://www.fourthphasebox.com/
0:00 Intro
2:27 Transition
4:20 Launching in 2006
8:00 Fourth phase
11:20 What did you need the most
13:55 Recovery
14:58 Building a brand
19:20 Post partum depression
38:55 Is it alighned ?
43:40 You are smarter than you think you are
45:30 The alchemist
2024-04-2849 minHealing After BirthHow To Navigate A High-Risk Pregnancy with Dr. PlentyIn this episode, Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo and Marcia Cole discuss the tragic case of Jessica Pettway, a mom and wildly popular beauty influencer whose untimely demise from cervical cancer shook the internet. They are joined by Dr. Nicole Plenty, a double board-certified OBGYN and maternal fetal medicine physician, who sheds light on the importance of proper diagnosis and treatment for women's health, and highlights the need for second and even third opinions.The conversation highlights why the lack of knowledge impacts expectant mothers, unpacks the role maternal fetal medicine plays in high-risk pregnancies, and the challenges faced by Black and brown...
2024-04-1849 min
Birthful[Birth Stories] Why It Mattered That Her Team Prioritized Her Emotional Safety, with Nana Eyeson-AkiwowoNana Eyeson-Akiwowo, co-founder of the socially impactful Fourth Phase aftercare boxes, shares how her expectations of when and how she should bond with her baby tarnished her otherwise wonderfully supported and respected birth experience. She tells Adriana how this hyperfocus on bonding impacted her postpartum, and how her mom helped her shift things with lots of wisdom and laughter. If you liked this episode, listen to this interview about the physical and emotional changes you can expect after giving birth and this episode on how to time your pain relief options.Get the most out o...
2023-12-2335 min
Glocal CitizensEpisode 190: Come Chop with Stanley LumaxGreetings Glocal Citizens!
This week on the podcast I have the pleasure of hosting a social innovator who intersects not only my local experiences in Brooklyn and Accra, he is the husband of my guest on Episode 139, Asmeret Berhe-Lumax and on the Advisory Committee of Episodes 42/43 guest, Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo’s African Health Now. A fellow Ghanaian, Stanley Lumax is currently the Executive Brand Marketing Director at JP Morgan Chase, where he manages the Sapphire and Freedom Unlimited portfolios. Prior to this role, he partnered with Complex Media Networks to create Climate, an agency built to help brands ha...
2023-09-0547 min
Glocal CitizensEpisode 139: Connecting Communities with Asmeret Berhe-LumaxGreetings Glocal Citizens!
This week is all about the "local" in glocal. I'm hosting longtime friend, neighbor and soon to be public official, Asmeret Berhe-Lumax. Asmeret was born in Asmara, Eritrea, raised in Stockholm, Sweden and now calls Brooklyn, New York home. She is a dynamic team player with extensive domestic and international experience, she is a hands-on leader in both corporate and entrepreneurial settings developing and executing strategic plans encompassing client goals and translating them into an efficient and profitable production structure. She channels these skills as founder of the One Love Community Fridge project, a community-based...
2022-08-2342 min
She's Off ScriptEpisode 174: Starting A Luxury Postpartum Care Gift Box Business with Nana Eyeson-AkiwowoBefore today’s guest and her co-founder launched their business, they petitioned Webster’s and other dictionaries to add the word “fourth trimester” to the dictionary. The problem their business is trying to solve is so important they created a campaign to introduce it into our everyday language.
2022-06-0938 min
Shameless LeadershipNana Eyeson-Akiwowo: Overcoming the Societal Neglect of Moms in Their 4th TrimesterNana Eyeson-Akiwowo the co-founder of Fourth Phase aftercare boxes that support women in their 4th Trimester after giving birth. She is a social entrepreneur and seasoned humanitarian with a strong commitment to advocating adequate and accessible health care for all under-resourced women, children, and families. Fifteen years prior, after her dad suffered a heart attack in Ghana, Nana founded African Health Now (AHN), a global public health organization, to provide information and access to primary and maternity health care to women, children, and families living across Sub-Saharan Africa. To date, her work with AHN has serviced over 30,000 people in...
2022-04-2053 min
Cultivating H.E.R. Space: Uplifting Conversations for the Black WomanS14E3: The Fourth Trimester with Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo and Marcia ColeLady, just when you thought you knew everything about postpartum we have new information for you! Join us today as we sit down with Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo and Marcia Cole, the founders of Fourth Phase, a company dedicated to helping mothers across the globe ease gracefully into motherhood. The ladies join Terri and Dr. Dom for an enlightening and inspiring conversation about how one incredible trip to Ghana brought these two friends together to create an important bridge for new mothers’ post-partum. These two are a powerful testament to the impact that vision and sisterhood can have on a community. Tune in...
2022-04-151h 10
The Next Big ThingWhy Perfection Kills Progress with Marcia A. Cole And Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo of Fourth PhaseThe word postpartum makes many immediately think of postpartum depression .. and in Today's episode, our guests are determined to take back that term and give it the respect and care that it deserves. They have even renamed it the fourth phase!
These women believe that the journey does NOT end after the third trimester and women deserve to feel taken care of especially after the baby enters the world. The founders of the fourth phase Marcia Cole and Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo are innovating how the world views postpartum care. These two are paving the road for how postpartum care should look...
2021-11-241h 10
The Period PartyWhat Is The Fourth Trimester and Why Is It So Important with Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo & Marcia A. ColeNana Eyeson-Akiwowo and Marcia A. Cole are two friends and former magazine and digital editors also known for their profound philanthropic work. Their latest venture is Fourth Phase, a company that provides beautifully curated gift boxes that deeply support the mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing of new mothers.The fourth trimester of a new mother's journey is one of the most critical phases of motherhood, yet across the world, women in the postpartum period are often neglected because everyone’s focus is on the newborn baby. These ladies thought of everything a new mother would need and th...
2021-06-0747 min
Start Within w/Coach ColetteFinancial Fridays + Coach Colette UnpluggedDid you know that this week is Black Maternal Health Week? Black Maternal Health Week was established in 2018 by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance and was created to promote education and advocacy around the experiences of Black Mamas. This year's theme is "Black Mamas Matter: Claiming Our Power, Resilience, & Liberation". In this week's episode, Coach Colette refers back to a live Let's Talk episode from March 2020 with Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo and Anthonia Akitunde about Black motherhood (Let's Talk: Black Motherhood). She considers how Black women are particularly vulnerable to both pregnancy-related deaths and complications of COVID-19. Conversations around maternal mortality l...
2021-04-1613 min
The Clever Girls Know Podcast With Bola Sokunbi186: How Nana Started A Business Focused On Post Partum CareOn today’s episode, Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo has a candid conversation with me on the journey to starting and growing her business! Nana is the co-founder of Fourth Phase aftercare boxes, a social entrepreneur, and seasoned humanitarian with a strong commitment to advocating adequate and accessible health care for all under-resourced women, children, and families. Created by moms for moms, the Fourth Phase afterbirth care box helps mothers heal, feel, and be heard and each box is curated with a new mother’s physical and emotional recovery in mind. WHAT WE DISCUSSED: * Why Nana chose to start a business focused on post...
2021-03-2941 min
Glocal CitizensEpisode 43: Impacting African Health on the Go with Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo Part 2Greetings Glocal Citizens!
This week we meet Founder and President of African Health Now, Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo. AHN is a community-based organization that provides primary health care to women, children and families in Sub Saharan Africa. AHN was born out of a family crisis that opened her eyes the realities of the state of basic healthcare information and empowerment in African communities. While selecting models as the Bookings Editor for ESSENCE, Nana ’s father became ill back in Ghana. The support of the local community helped him get back on his feet and Nana was inspired to ensure co...
2020-10-1339 min
Glocal CitizensEpisode 42: Impacting African Health on the Go with Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo Part 1Greetings Glocal Citizens!
This week we meet Founder and President of African Health Now, Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo. AHN is a community-based organization that provides primary health care to women, children and families in Sub Saharan Africa. AHN was born out of a family crisis that opened her eyes the realities of the state of basic healthcare information and empowerment in African communities. While selecting models as the Bookings Editor for ESSENCE, Nana ’s father became ill back in Ghana. The support of the local community helped him get back on his feet and Nana was inspired to ensure co...
2020-10-0643 min
Start Within w/Coach ColetteLet's Talk: Black Motherhood with Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo and Anthonia AkitundeDid you know that women of color have the highest rates of maternal deaths in the developed world? Even in New York City alone, the mortality rate is around 12 times higher for black women as it is for white women, and four times higher, on average, nationally. Black women also are 60% more likely to experience hypertensive disorders like pre-eclampsia, and are more likely to die from as a result.These symptoms are exacerbated by an inescapable atmosphere of societal and systemic racism that can include the dismissal by physicians of their legitimate concerns and symptoms, the pre-conceived...
2020-03-181h 21
Typed Out: The PodcastBridging Worlds LIVE! Podcast with RXR RealtyHow can we connect two seemingly-disconnected worlds to generate better resources, accessibility, and understanding? Three NYC-based entrepreneurs share stories of shaping industry and community through diverse innovation. During our first-ever LIVE podcast recording, I chat with Jyll Hubbard-Salk, Lamont Blackstone, and Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo about making space and building bridges in modern day America & Africa. Spencer Jones co-hosts.
2019-02-2800 min
A Hero for EpilepticsSpecial Guest Nana Eyeson-AkiwowoNana talks to us about being a mother, having her own non-profit and how she is not letting her Epilepsy define her. Learn more about African Health Now at www.africanhealthnow.org
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2018-10-1952 min