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Have you ever had a moment where someone doubted your instincts—only for science to prove you right years later?When I was applying to my medical residency, a doctor scoffed at my concern for BPA and endocrine disruptors. “You don’t believe in that BPA crap, do you?” he said. Well, here we are, decades later, with research linking BPA to miscarriage and endocrine disruption—even from something as simple as touching receipts or airline tickets.And now, the new frontier: microplastics and nanoplastics.A recent Nature Medicine study revealed that human brains contain a spoonful of nanoplastics. Yes, you read that right. Our brains. Our babies’ placentas. Even our breast milk.But before we spiral—let’s take a deep breath together. This episode isn’t here to terrify you. It’s here to inform, empower, and help you take meaningful, practical action.In this episode, we’ll explore:What microplastics and nanoplastics actually are—and where they’re hiding (spoiler: everywhere).The science on how thes

Most women don’t look like they’re falling apart—even when they’re struggling to stay afloat. We keep it all going: raising kids, showing up for work, taking care of everyone else—while silently carrying stress, grief, trauma, and anxiety. And all that holding it together? It comes at a cost.In this heart-opening episode of On Health, Aviva sits down with UK-based psychotherapist and author Helen Marie to explore:

What if the way we care for new mothers is all wrong?Not just lacking. Not just outdated. But built on a model that misses the heart and soul of what postpartum truly is — and what it could be.When I was a home birth midwife, postpartum care was the care. I'd visit mamas and babies at home five or six times in the first few weeks. We’d talk about everything — from latch to lochia, sleep deprivation to soul shifts. It wasn’t "extra." It was essential.It’s part of why I went into medicine, because as a midwife I saw too often, how in this precious, vulnerable, formative window for mothers and babies -  care just disappeared for the mother after the baby was born. A first visit may have been 6 or 8 weeks after the birth, by which time mothers were struggling alone with overwhelm, breastfeeding challenges, or worse, anxiety, depression, isolation, and sometimes they’d given up breastfeeding because they had no support. And when they did get care, all too often they had to sit in waiting rooms, a baby and tod

In recognition of Maternal Mental Health Month I am re-sharing this 2023 conversation with the founders of The Motherhood Center in NYC. With Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADS) being the #1 complication associated with birth in the US and the #2 cause of maternal mortality, this remains a critical conversation.It’s not just you. You're not crazy. You're not a bad mom. You're not alone. These are words and deep beliefs that resonate through and form the backbone of today’s guests, Catherine Birndorf, MD, and Paige Bellenbaum, LMSW. Catherine and Paige are dedicated to changing the perinatal mental health terrain, and they do it through The Motherhood Center, a place of radical acceptance, nurturance, and individual and group support. On today’s episode, we pull back the curtain on motherhood and redefine what is considered "normal" and "typical". With PMADs (perinatal mood and anxiety disorders) being the #1 complication associated with birth and the #2 cause of maternal mortality, this is a critical

There are the stories we tell out loud, and then there are the ones we keep tucked away—the ones that ache the most, because we’ve carried them in silence.On this episode of On Health, we’re breaking the silence—and the stigma—around some of the most vulnerable, hidden experiences women carry: miscarriage, illness, identity loss, perfectionism, aging, and the loneliness so many of us feel but rarely name.I’m joined by the phenomenal Dr. Jessica Zucker, clinical psychologist and author of the groundbreaking memoir I Had a Miscarriage, and her latest book, Normalize It, which is just what we need: an invitation to stop apologizing for what we’re going through—and start talking about it.Together, we explore:How grief grows in silence—and thrives in stigmaWhat it means when you don’t feel like yourselfWhy midlife isn’t a decline—it’s a reckoningWhat being a “good girl” has cost usWhy loneliness is a serious health issueWhy we are more than what we doHow perfectionism is stealing our joyThis one’s for all the wome

What if you already have what it takes to breastfeed your baby—and just need the right support to unlock it?This question is at the heart of my conversation with Lisa Paladino, Certified Nurse Midwife, IBCLC, and a fierce advocate for women and babies. Lisa has decades of experience helping families navigate the powerful, joyous, and sometimes  confusing, emotional, and occasionally challenging terrain of breastfeeding.  Not just a brilliant clinician, but a graduate of both my Women’s Integrative and Functional Medicine and Herbal Medicine for Women training programs… and now, a lifelong friend.Lisa is the passionate founder of Tongue Tie Experts. She’s spent decades supporting parents through the intense, sacred, and often confusing path of breastfeeding—especially when things don’t go as planned.Lisa’s journey from hospital-based nurse and midwife to fierce advocate for women’s rights and breastfeeding education is one you won’t forget. And what we unpack in this conversation might change how you

Have you ever left a doctor’s appointment feeling more defeated than when you arrived? Perhaps a diagnosis felt like a life sentence, or a well-meaning comment planted a seed of fear that lingered for months. This isn’t just bad bedside manner; it’s a phenomenon I call “medical hexing.” It’s the subtle, and sometimes not-so-subtle, way that language in medical settings can disempower us, shaping our beliefs and even our health outcomes. Today, we’re diving deep into the power of words in medicine – how they can both heal and profoundly harm. In this episode I give you the down-low on:The Concept of Medical Hexing: How negative language and disempowering beliefs, often unintentionally, can act as a "medical hex," influencing our health beyond just our physical symptoms.The Nocebo Effect's Reality: This isn't just "woo-woo." The "evil twin" of the placebo effect, has a neurobiological basis, demonstrating how negative expectations can directly impact our physiology.Words as Physiological Triggers: The lang

What if friendships were just as vital to our health as sleep, nutrition, and exercise? Research suggests they might be. But in our fast-paced, modern world, nurturing deep and lasting friendships can feel overwhelming.In this episode, I sit down with journalist and author Anna Goldfarb to explore the evolving landscape of friendship—why it can be so challenging to maintain meaningful connections as we move through different life phases, and what we can do to strengthen the relationships that nourish us the most.Anna’s book, Modern Friendship: How to Nurture Our Most Valued Connections, gave me so many “aha” moments about why friendships shift, how we can show up for each other in a more intentional way, and how to release the guilt we sometimes feel when friendships change.Join us as we unpack:How relationships have changed over time—why past generations had built-in social structures that kept friendships steady, and how today’s hyper-fluid, fast-paced world has reshaped the way we connect.How understanding

Have you ever felt torn between dreaming big and staying realistic? Between trusting your instincts and wondering if fear is holding you back? In today’s conversation, we’re diving deep into what it truly means to reclaim your personal sovereignty—the ability to stand fully in your own power, free from self-doubt, external expectations, and the weight of comparison.My guest today, Dr. Emma Seppälä, is a psychologist, researcher, and bestselling author dedicated to helping people cultivate happiness, resilience, and self-leadership. As a Yale lecturer and the Science Director at Stanford’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research, she’s spent years studying what actually helps us thrive—not just succeed.Together, we explore:The social science behind self-doubt and imposter syndrome—and how to break free from it.The inner critic: where it comes from, why it keeps us small, and how to find inner quiet.The role of meditation and breathwork in rewiring our nervous systems for resilience.How comparison culture a

“You’re holding your baby too much.” “Just let them cry it out.” “You’ll spoil them if you respond every time they cry.”If you’ve ever heard these words—or wondered yourself whether nurturing your baby too much could backfire—you’re not alone. But the science is clear: responding to and connecting with our babies doesn’t spoil them; it builds their brains for lifelong emotional resilience and mental health.In this episode of On Health, I’m joined by neuroscientist, doula, and infant sleep specialist Dr. Greer Kirshenbaum, author of The Nurture Revolution: Grow Your Baby’s Brain and Transform Their Mental Health. We’re diving into:Why babies need co-regulation, not early independenceThe neuroscience behind sleep training—and why much of it conflicts with infant brain developmentHow small, intentional nurturing acts can buffer against stress and even heal intergenerational traumaAnd because so many parents today are raising children without the village we deserve, we’ll also talk about what it means to nurture

In this episode Felicia Cocotzin Ruiz, known as the Kitchen Curandera, and I explore the profound role of ancestral wisdom in women’s health. Felicia shares her journey of carrying forward her great-grandmother’s curanderismo practices and how food, plants, and rituals can transform the way we heal and care for ourselves across life’s stages.From pregnancy to postpartum to the wisdom years of menopause, this episode is filled with insights on using food and herbs as medicine, as well as creating nourishing rituals that reconnect us to our roots.Whether you're on a hormone healing journey, a new mama, or navigating perimenopausal or menopausal changes, or simply curious about ancestral healing, this episode offers practical wisdom to guide you.What You'll LearnHow ancestral wisdom shapes the way we approach women’s healthFood as medicine: how nourishing traditions support healing in postpartum and beyondHerbs every woman should know for pregnancy, postpartum, and menopauseCreating rituals and honoring transiti

Imagine living with the constant fear of leaking when you sneeze, jump, or can’t find a bathroom in time. Now add in the struggles of constipation, painful sex, or uterine, bladder, or rectal prolapse. These aren’t just occasional annoyances—they’re signs of pelvic floor dysfunction, which affects millions of women every year.This episode of On Health is for every woman—whether you’re preparing for pregnancy, recovering postpartum, navigating menopause, or striving to age safely and independently. Pelvic health isn’t just about avoiding discomfort; it’s about living with freedom, dignity, and resilience.I’m joined by Sara Reardon, aka The Vagina Whisperer, a trailblazing pelvic floor physical therapist who’s breaking the silence around this essential but often ignored topic.We dish on:Why Pelvic Health Matters for Every Woman: Pelvic health impacts so much more than you might realize—intimacy, bladder and bowel control, core strength, and even your ability to stay active and independent as you age.Practical T

I used to believe that for every good thing that happened to me, something bad had to happen as well to even it out, like a universal balancing system. Every time something good was going to happen, I always thought to myself, “What will the payback be?” In my years of experience working with and talking to women, I have learned that lots of women live with this fear, often for a long time.Listen in as I talk about why we have this fear, acknowledge that you’re not crazy for having it, and how to shift out of this kind of thinking so you can live your life with freedom instead of fear. In this episode I discuss:How fear keeps you from taking risks -  and how this protects and hinders usHow negativity bias is a symptom of adrenal overloadThe role of the amygdala in fearHow your brain remembers threatsHow negative emotions get attached to positive emotionsWhat happens when we go into fight or flight modeWhat intuition really isHow to get out of this fearThe power of neuroplasticityThe importance of being a

Why does it feel like no matter how much we do, it’s never enough—Including—and especially—in our mothering? It’s no wonder we feel this way! Societal changes have created a culture that ties worth to performance, often at the expense of our health and happiness, while macroeconomic trends that have shifted the way we think about work, education, and success, making it entirely focussed on external standards of achievement.  In this thought-provoking episode, I sit down with Jennifer Wallace, journalist and author of Never Enough, to dive into the toxic achievement culture that’s shaping our lives—and the lives of our kids.Together, we explore how this relentless pursuit of external success is leaving us exhausted, disconnected, and questioning our self-worth. We also dig into what really matters—connection, purpose, and a sense of belonging—and how we can reclaim these values for ourselves and our families.Join us as we go deep into our own personal journeys as women and moms, and along the wa

Intergenerational trauma refers to the transmission of unresolved trauma and its psychological, emotional, or even physical effects from one generation to another. This phenomenon can manifest in various ways, impacting individuals' mental health, coping mechanisms, and relational patterns. The cycle of intergenerational trauma underscores the importance of acknowledging, understanding, and actively addressing inherited wounds to break free from its influence on future generations.On today’s On Health episode, I’m joined by the incredible Mariel Buque, PhD, author of Break the Cycle: who wants us all to learn to unravel the threads of family trauma, and becoming cycle breakers so we can heal the burdens of suffering carried forward by so many families across generations. In this powerful episode, we explore: What intergenerational trauma is and how it can affect our physiology, mental health, relationships, economics, and more. The profound connections between our individual experiences an

Imagine being told you had a “hostile uterus” and sent home, only to discover later you were on the brink of a life-threatening pregnancy complication.This isn’t fiction. Terms like “hostile uterus” and “irritable uterus” are still in use, and they’re dangerous. In conventional medicine, language like this often subtly blames women’s bodies for medical events, creating a culture where women who advocate for themselves are frequently dismissed—or even labeled “difficult.” Disturbingly, some women, particularly Black mothers, have faced extreme consequences like social services or even police intervention for simply speaking up during labor.The stakes are high. Medical and obstetric trauma are a reality for far too many, and symptoms of PTSD are often brushed off as “just part of the experience” instead of being acknowledged as trauma caused by medical mistreatment. This climate of dismissal causes many women to skip important screenings and healthcare visits, increasing their health risks.In this episode, I si

Could your love relationship use a bit of boost? Some calm in the storm? Or are you looking for love that’s been hard to find? In this On Health for Women episode I’m joined by Dr. Alexandra Solomon, a wonderful couples therapist, professor, author of Love Every Day and the host of the Reimagining Love podcast. Together we explore the real meaning of love and how it can be cultivated through daily practices of self-awareness, self-compassion, and intentional connection. Whether single, in a relationship, or simply seeking a better relationship with yourself, this conversation offers powerful tools to foster a deeper, more resilient connection to yourself and others.Dr. Solomon sheds light on using Relational Self-Awareness (RSA) to build fulfilling partnerships, understand our Family-of-Origin influences, and tackle relationship conflicts as a team. Join us as we unpack the complexities of intimacy and share practical guidance on nurturing love in ways that are both transformative and healing.In thi

Feeling the first tickle of a sore throat? Or maybe you’re dealing with a full-blown cold or flu? In this episode, I’m sharing my top natural remedies to help you get through cold and flu season. From immune-boosting herbs to soothing teas, these are the must-haves I trust to keep my family healthy.I’ll walk you through how to use each one, with practical tips on safety, including what’s safe for kids, pregnancy, and breastfeeding. You’ll learn simple recipes you can make at home, like ginger tea, garlic lemonade, and thyme-honey tea, and I’ll share why these remedies have been trusted for generations to help ease symptoms and shorten the length of your illness.Episode Highlights:Echinacea: Immune-boosting benefits for prevention and early symptom relief.Ginger: Anti-inflammatory and warming, perfect for soothing sore throats and congestion.Elderberry: Sweet and antiviral, can help reduce the severity of flu symptoms.Garlic: A natural antimicrobial, with a recipe for a soothing garlic lemonade.Vitamin C: Clas

Many of us are aware of the ethical minefield of fast fashion—from the labor issues to the environmental damage. But did you know that the clothes in your closet could be making you sick? In this episode, I’m joined by award-winning investigative journalist Alden Wicker, author of To Die For: How Toxic Fashion is Making Us Sick and How We Can Fight Back. Alden’s deep dive into the world of fashion goes beyond the well-known stories of sweatshops and waste to uncover the hidden impact of unregulated toxic chemicals in our clothing on our personal health.From flame retardants and PFAS to endocrine disruptors, Alden and I explore the unseen dangers lurking in everyday garments and how these chemicals are connected to a myriad of health problems, from skin issues to autoimmune diseases, fertility challenges, and even cancer. We’ll talk about why these chemicals are allowed in the first place, what the fashion industry isn’t telling you, and how you can protect yourself and your family—without breaking the bank.Wh

I remember when I first started practicing as a midwife—way back in the '80s—there was barely a whisper about how nutrition could impact pregnancy. I taught my first prenatal nutrition class in 1990, and the hunger for information was almost palpable. It’s amazing to me that, fast forward to today, we’re still facing a gap in understanding just how much food and lifestyle choices affect both mom and baby. But here’s the thing—there’s so much hope and possibility when we’re armed with the right information, and today’s guest has dedicated her life to providing just that.I’m beyond excited to introduce you to Lily Nichols. Lily is a registered dietitian, nutritionist, and certified diabetes educator who is passionate about making pregnancy health both understandable and achievable. Her journey into this work is rooted in a deeply personal mission: she saw firsthand how powerful nutrition could be in preventing complications like gestational diabetes, and she wanted to share that knowledge with as many women as