In this deeply human episode of The Inner Room, host Vanessa Spinarsky sits down with New York-based therapist Lauren Larkin (@leltherapy) for an honest conversation about eating disorders, what recovery actually looks like, and why healing is never a solo act.

Lauren shares her personal journey through disordered eating, the familial and cultural forces that shape our self-image, and the unique pressure of living in a city like New York...where comparison and performance can feel like a second skin.

Together, Vanessa and Lauren explore the truth that therapists are humans first and how their own wounds, identities, and lived experiences shape the way they sit with clients. They discuss the importance of relational therapy, the messy middle of balancing work and life, and the courage it takes to name the unspeakable parts of our struggles.

Lauren also gives us a first look at her upcoming Eating Disorder Recovery Workbook, arriving July 2026, designed for those who want deeper support, reflection, and structure in their ongoing healing journey.

This conversation is a reminder that recovery isn’t linear, perfection isn’t the goal, and being a “work in progress” is not a flaw...it’s proof of your humanity.

Connect with Lauren:

• Instagram & TikTok: @leltherapy

• Website: leltherapy.com

• Eating Disorder Workbook: Coming July 2026

Our bodies. Our timing. Our emotions. Ourselves.

In this episode, host Carrie Parker sits down with Kelsie Schlese from @maidentomothertome for a deeply honest conversation about infertility, postpartum mental health, and the quiet pressure mothers carry to “stay positive” while navigating uncertainty.

Kelsey shares her fertility journey, including what it meant to release control and shift toward trusting to conceive .. not as a mindset hack, but as a relational process with her body and nervous system.

Together, they explore how language shapes our fertility and motherhood experiences, why online communities can either harm or heal, and how intentional use of social media can support (rather than drain) mental health.

They also name the realities many mothers feel but rarely say out loud: seasonal depression, postpartum anxiety, and mom rage .... not as personal failures, but as nervous-system responses to overwhelm and isolation.

This episode is an invitation to slow down, soften self-blame, and remember that motherhood was never meant to be navigated alone.

If you’re craving more trust, less noise, and a community that meets you where you are .. this conversation is for you.

Follow @madeintomotherhood for more honest motherhood conversations.

Looking for community?

The Mama Healing Hub is always open.

In this powerful episode of The Mama Healing Hub Podcast, Carrie and Alyssa sit down with Sophia Ashley, founder of Intimacy After Kids, for a conversation every parent needs to hear.

Together they unpack what really happens to intimacy, identity, libido, and emotional connection after kids — and how couples can rebuild something deeper, softer, and more alive.

Sophia shares her own journey from personal struggle to sex coaching and breaks down the nervous system science behind why intimacy feels harder after children. This episode is filled with practical, relatable insights on creating micro moments of connection, navigating dysregulated nervous systems, communicating desire, and rekindling intimacy in a season of life where everyone is tired, touched-out, and overwhelmed.

And yes… you’ll hear why she believes we all need to “throw our libido a party.”

Sophia will also be joining us for a live drop-in in the Mama Healing Hub on January 15th 2026, and you can join for free.

Join The Mama Healing Hub & Start Building Your Mom Circle Today!

Our therapist-led online community is a sanctuary for mothers who crave real connection, emotional support, and space to breathe. Inside, you’ll find:

• Monthly live therapeutic gatherings (art therapy, coffee talks, and expert-led workshops)

• Drop-in sessions to process emotions and reconnect with yourself

• A book club centered on growth and motherhood

• Gentle monthly reflections and prompts to guide your healing journey

• A private ad-free space filled with moms who get it—because they’re living it too

Join today and receive 30 days free → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠themamahealinghub.com/join⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🌿 Follow along on Instagram:Stay connected with our community conversations, reflective art sessions, and upcoming events at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@themamahealinghubinc⁠

Connect with Sophia:

• Instagram: @intimacyafterkids

  Her podcast: Intimacy After Kids — listen here: https://open.spotify.com/show/7kv3GupPsb2RjsYx98lDNC?si=laGuwd89TIiQhcWiTIsCKQ