Bump + Thrive

Lauren Seib + Dr. Danielle Shepis
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Health & Fitness
  • Bimonthly

Hosted by pre- and postnatal fitness coach Lauren Seib and pelvic floor physical therapist Dr. Danielle Shepis, this podcast is a space for honest conversations about pregnancy, postpartum, wellness, fitness, relationships, identity and modern motherhood. Through expert insight, real-life experience and inspiring guests, we explore what it means to feel strong, supported and empowered in every season of life. No fluff. No perfect-mom pressure. Just real conversations about strength, wellbeing and becoming.

Episodes

  1. 5d ago

    The Mom Glow-Up: What's Worth It, What's Hype & What Actually Works with Emily McSeveney, FNP-BC

    Botox, collagen, peptides, red light therapy. The beauty and wellness world has no shortage of promises, but what's actually worth your time (and money)? This week on The Bump + Thrive Podcast, I'm sitting down with my dear friend Emily McSeveney, FNP-BC, board-certified nurse practitioner, mom and founder of Skin Studio in Darien, Connecticut, to talk all things the mom glow-up. Because let's face it: Pregnancy, postpartum hormones, sleepless nights and the demands of motherhood can leave us looking in the mirror wondering when we stopped recognizing ourselves. We're breaking down the treatments, products and wellness trends that are actually worth exploring, from Botox vs. Dysport and collagen-stimulating treatments to melasma, microneedling and the skincare staples every mom should know about. Plus, we're playing a little game of worth it or overhyped, tackling everything from LED masks to gua sha, and getting into the buzzy world of peptides, NAD+ and wellness injections. But beyond the aesthetics, we're talking about something bigger: the desire to feel like yourself again after having kids, why investing in yourself isn't something to feel guilty about and how two mompreneurs are navigating the balance between building businesses and raising babies. Because the best glow-up isn't about looking like someone else. It's about feeling like YOU again. In this episode: Botox vs. Dysport: What's the difference?Postpartum skin changes, melasma and hormonal pigmentationWhy collagen stimulation is having a momentFiller, microneedling and lasers: What's worth the investment?The skincare products Emily actually recommendsPregnancy and breastfeeding skincare considerationsLED masks and gua sha: Worth it or overhyped?Peptides, NAD+ and the growing world of wellness injectionsMotherhood, entrepreneurship and finding your way back to yourselfConnect with Emily: Founder of Skin Studio | Darien, CT Website: skinstudioct.com Connect with Lauren: Founder of Bump + Thrive | Pre- and Postnatal Strength Specialist Follow along @bumpandthrive

  2. Oct 14

    Are We Raising Kids or Performing Motherhood with Ingrid Bretschger, LCSW, Ph.D.

    Are we raising our kids—or trying to keep up with everyone else? From Instagram-perfect first days of school and over-the-top birthday parties to packed activity schedules and the never-ending pressure to do MORE, motherhood can start to feel like a competition nobody signed up for. This week, Lauren sits down with her dear friend Ingrid Bretschger, LCSW, Ph.D., a licensed clinical social worker with a doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy, for a refreshingly honest conversation about the invisible pressures of modern motherhood. Together, they unpack the comparison trap, working-mom guilt, social media, the pressure to do it all, and that nagging question: Am I doing enough? Ingrid shares her professional insight and practical tools for setting boundaries, breaking the comparison cycle, and redefining what "enough" actually looks like. With plenty of laughs, relatable mom confessions, and a little tough love, this episode is your reminder that being a great mom isn't about doing it all—or doing it better than everyone else. Because motherhood isn't a competition. And there's no gold medal for doing the most.

  3. Sep 30

    The Mother You Become: Grief, Growth and Gut-Knowing with Victoria Nielsen

    With every child, you’re reborn. Lauren sits down with intuition teacher Victoria Nielsen to talk about the identity shift of motherhood—beyond the advice overload and “bounce‑back” pressure. They unpack postpartum anxiety, eldest‑daughter expectations, and the “mother wound” we inherit and can consciously break. Victoria shares how to hear your inner voice under the noise, the sensory ways intuition speaks (gut, knowing, sound, sensation), and why mom comes first without guilt. They also explore grief as a doorway to growth, practical integration tools (breathwork, journaling, movement, ritual), and why chasing your “old self” keeps you stuck. Plus: real‑life stories from COVID‑era parenting, setting kids up for success on their terms, cacao as a grounding practice, and what Victoria would tell her brand‑new‑mom self. If you’ve ever felt like you “should” have it all figured out—or you’re ready to trust yourself more than the mommy blogs—this one’s for you.

  4. Sep 2

    The Motherhood Mental Load with Dr. Julie Brownley: Hormones, Identity + Finding Yourself Again

    Motherhood changes everything — your body, your hormones, your relationships, your routines and, sometimes, your entire sense of self. This week, Lauren sits down with reproductive psychiatrist Dr. Julie Brownley to talk about the mental health side of motherhood that we simply aren’t talking about enough. They unpack the difference between the “baby blues” and postpartum depression and anxiety, why the hormonal shifts around breastfeeding and weaning can hit some women so hard, the immense pressure surrounding breastfeeding and why sleep may be one of the most important pieces of postpartum mental health. They also get into the identity shift that comes with becoming a mom — especially when adding a second (or third) baby — body image, mom guilt and why wanting to feel strong, capable and at home in your body again isn’t something you should have to apologize for. And ultimately, they land on a message every mom needs to hear: taking care of yourself isn’t selfish. Your kids are watching what it looks like to live a full, healthy life — and when you take care of yourself, you’re building a stronger foundation for your entire family. An honest, validating conversation about hormones, mental health and finding your way back to yourself in motherhood. 🤍

  5. Aug 20

    When the Expert Gets Pregnant: Danielle's Honest First Pregnancy

    Surprise! 🎉 Danielle is pregnant. After years of helping women through pregnancy and postpartum as a pelvic floor physical therapist, she's finally experiencing it herself—and let's just say...it's been humbling. In this episode, Danielle shares what surprised her most about pregnancy, from debilitating first trimester nausea and scaling workouts to body image, identity shifts and the symptoms nobody warned her about. Lauren and Danielle also dive into how pregnancy changed the way Danielle coaches her own clients, why preparing your body before pregnancy matters and the mindset shifts that every mom experiences long before baby arrives. Whether you're pregnant, trying to conceive or simply curious about what pregnancy is really like, this conversation is equal parts educational, validating and refreshingly honest. In this episode: Danielle's pregnancy announcementWhat pregnancy has been like as a pelvic floor PTWhy even fitness professionals struggle during pregnancyThe biggest physical and mental surprisesSymptoms nobody talks aboutHow pregnancy changed the way Danielle treats patientsWhy preparation starts before pregnancy ever beginsStay tuned for future episodes where we'll cover labor prep, registry must-haves, postpartum recovery and, of course, Danielle's birth story.

  6. Aug 6

    Pelvic Floor 101: Why More Kegels Aren't Always the Answer

    Think your pelvic floor is weak? Think again. In this episode of The Bump + Thrive Podcast, Lauren Seib, pre/postnatal exercise specialist, and Dr. Danielle Schepisi, pelvic floor physical therapist, break down one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding pelvic health: why "just do more Kegels" isn't always the answer. Whether you're pregnant, postpartum or years beyond having babies, this conversation will help you better understand how your pelvic floor actually works, why symptoms like leaking, pressure, painful sex and low back pain aren't simply "normal," and how breathing, movement and pressure management all play a role in healing and performance. In this episode, we discuss: What the pelvic floor actually is and why it mattersThe biggest myths about pelvic floor dysfunctionWhy more Kegels aren't always the answerTight vs. weak pelvic floorsPregnancy and postpartum changes you should know aboutWhy leaking during exercise isn't something you just have to acceptHow breathing impacts your core and pelvic floorSimple strategies to start reconnecting with your body Ready for more support? ⁠🤍 The Comeback Code⁠ An 8-week self-paced strength program designed to help postpartum moms safely rebuild strength, reconnect with their core and pelvic floor, and confidently return to lifting, running and the activities they love. 💻 Learn more about Bump + Thrive 📲 Follow along on Instagram: Lauren: @lauren_seib Danielle: @drdanielle.dpt Bump + Thrive: @bumpandthrive If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the show, leave a rating and review, and share it with another mom. It helps us reach more women with evidence-based education and support.

    Pelvic Floor 101: Why More Kegels Aren't Always the Answer

  7. Jul 21

    Meet Your Hosts: The Story Behind Bump + Thrive

    Welcome to the very first episode of The Bump + Thrive Podcast. Before we dive into pregnancy, postpartum recovery, pelvic floor health and strength training, we wanted to introduce ourselves and share the story behind why this podcast exists. Lauren Seib, founder of Bump + Thrive and a pre/postnatal exercise specialist, and Dr. Danielle Pasquale, pelvic floor physical therapist, discuss: • How they met through CrossFit • Why traditional advice for moms often misses the mark • Danielle's journey into pelvic floor physical therapy • Lauren's experience navigating pregnancy during COVID • How motherhood completely changed their perspective on fitness • Why women deserve evidence-based support through every stage of motherhood Whether you're trying to conceive, pregnant, postpartum or simply want to feel stronger in your body, this podcast is for you. New episodes every other week.

    Meet Your Hosts: The Story Behind Bump + Thrive
  • 7 Episodes

About

Hosted by pre- and postnatal fitness coach Lauren Seib and pelvic floor physical therapist Dr. Danielle Shepis, this podcast is a space for honest conversations about pregnancy, postpartum, wellness, fitness, relationships, identity and modern motherhood. Through expert insight, real-life experience and inspiring guests, we explore what it means to feel strong, supported and empowered in every season of life. No fluff. No perfect-mom pressure. Just real conversations about strength, wellbeing and becoming.

Information

  • Creator
    Lauren Seib + Dr. Danielle Shepis
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    7
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Lauren Seib + Dr. Danielle Shepis
  • Show Website
    Bump + Thrive

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