In this essential episode of And Now Love, Cynthia Marks speaks with Kelly O’Connor, Executive Director of Maternal Mental Health Now, about the reality—and treatability—of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Kelly shares her own early postpartum experience, from feeling disconnected and overwhelmed to the crushing pressure of breastfeeding expectations that left her feeling like she was “failing.” Together they unpack why this isn’t rare: perinatal depression and anxiety affect a significant portion of new parents, yet shame and silence keep many from getting help. Kelly explains common risk factors, and also why even “perfect on paper” support systems don’t guarantee protection. They discuss why the medical system often screens but can’t refer, and how cultural stigma and fear of child welfare involvement can prevent Black and Brown families from speaking up. Kelly outlines how Maternal Mental Health Now is changing the system through provider trainings, free online courses, and peer support programs like Sana Sana, including specialized groups for queer parents and Black NICU moms. The episode ends with a hopeful reframe: the goal isn’t perfection—it’s being a good enough parent, supported by community, education, and love.

00:00 — What This Org Is

05:20 — Kelly’s Story

10:40 — PMADs Basics

16:00 — The Referral Gap

21:20 — Culture & Fear

26:40 — Child Welfare Shift

32:00 — Peer Support Programs

37:20 — Good Enough + Resources (Closing)

In this episode, Cynthia Marks is joined again by Dr. Loren Weiner to explore idealization—the unconscious tendency to see people, institutions, and even leaders as far more perfect than they are. Loren explains that idealization is normal early in life because a baby must experience caregivers as “good enough” to feel safe, but it becomes a problem when we can’t tolerate truth, nuance, or ambivalence. Through Dr. Bernard Bail’s imprint theory, they describe how an infant takes in a mother’s unprocessed material and then wrongly concludes, “I caused it,” which fuels guilt and keeps parents on a pedestal. The conversation shows how idealization spreads beyond family into teachers, celebrities, partners, bosses, and political leaders—and how its flip side, devaluation, creates black-and-white thinking. Cynthia shares how she idealized her parents for decades and how dreamwork helped her open the door to reality without her world collapsing. Loren illustrates the pattern through vivid dream examples—rockstar parents in a limo, a missing phone, and being “too stoned” to feel—revealing how we stay disconnected from ourselves to keep the illusion intact. The takeaway is empowering: when you learn to read your dreams, you gain the flexibility to see the full picture and make healthier choices in love and life.

00:00 — What Idealization Is

06:40 — Making Mom Perfect

13:20 — The Imprint & Guilt

19:55 — Putting It on Everyone

27:05 — Devaluation & Black/White

34:05 — The Limo Dream

40:55 — Missing Phone / Being Stoned

48:55 — Don’t Change (Closing)

In this episode of And Now Love, Cynthia Marks welcomes Rebecca Binny, Vice President of Casa de Los Angelitos, a nonprofit maternity home supporting pregnant women in crisis since 1986. Rebecca explains how Casa began as a community-funded, five-bedroom home and why the need is immediate—many pregnant women facing homelessness, substance use, domestic violence, or trafficking have nowhere safe to go. They talk about what truly helps traumatized mothers in a short window of time: not “fixing” them, but creating a safe, dignified environment where community, mentorship, and consistent care can begin to soften the guardedness. Rebecca shares how Casa supports moms through pregnancy and the first months postpartum, including therapy requirements, sobriety expectations, and practical help like transportation, car seats, and newborn support. A powerful section explores reunification with children impacted by foster care and the deep pain of separation—along with the hope that long-term mentoring can bring families back together. The conversation widens into a bigger cultural message: women deserve respect, education, childcare support, and the confidence to advocate for themselves. They close by connecting empowerment to inner life—how slowing down, listening inward, and even beginning to notice dreams can help people reclaim their authentic selves.

00:00 — Casa Begins

07:15 — Who They Help

14:30 — Safety First

21:45 — Supporting Birth

29:00 — Reunification

36:15 — Empowering Women

43:30 — Finding Your Voice

50:45 — Dreams + Closing