Thanks for stopping by! We'd love to hear from you.

In this episode, we speak with Wendell Honanie Jr. of the Hopi Tribe about the importance of maternal health in Indigenous communities and the unique challenges facing Native mothers today. Drawing from his experience and community perspective, Wendell shares insights into how cultural traditions, family support systems, and Tribal leadership play a role in supporting healthy pregnancies and births within the Hopi community.

The conversation explores the broader landscape of maternal health across Tribal Nations, including barriers to care, the impact of historical and systemic inequities, and the ongoing work to strengthen culturally grounded healthcare for Native families. Wendell reflects on the importance of honoring traditional knowledge while building stronger health systems that support mothers, babies, and future generations.

Join us for a thoughtful discussion on community resilience, the power of culture in healing, and the path toward better maternal health outcomes for Indigenous families.

Support the show

Thanks for stopping by! We'd love to hear from you.

In this episode, we welcome back Tami Gaines, author of Preemie Parents and mother of micro-preemie twins born at 25 weeks, for Part Two of our conversation—this time focusing on life after the NICU. After months of monitors, medical rounds, and constant vigilance, going home can feel both joyful and overwhelming.

Tami shares candidly about the emotional shift that happens once the hospital safety net is gone: navigating follow-up appointments, managing ongoing medical needs, coping with anxiety, and redefining “normal” as a family. We explore the invisible weight many parents carry after discharge—the hypervigilance, the lingering trauma, and the pressure to simply feel grateful—alongside the profound resilience that continues to grow in this new chapter.

Together, we discuss how families can build support, care for their own mental and spiritual health, and find steadiness in the uncertainty that can follow a NICU stay. Tami’s work has been featured in the New York Daily News, New Jersey News 12, and on dozens of podcasts and blogs, where she continues to offer hope and connection to families navigating life beyond the NICU.

Support the show

Thanks for stopping by! We'd love to hear from you.

In this episode, we’re joined by Tami Gaines, author of Preemie Parents and mother of micro-preemie twins born at 25 weeks. Drawing from her lived experience navigating the NICU, Tami speaks to the emotional and spiritual journey of NICU parenthood—the parts that often go unspoken and can feel invisible amid medical updates and uncertainty. Together, we explore how parents and caregivers can find meaning, resilience, and growth during an experience they never planned for. Tami’s work has been featured in the New York Daily News, New Jersey News 12, and on dozens of podcasts and blogs, offering hope and connection to families walking the NICU path.

Support the show