Active Mom Podcast: Pregnancy, Postpartum, Perimenopause, Menopause & Beyond

Carrie
  • 5.0 (31)
  • Medicine
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to the Active Mom Podcast — where real motherhood stories meet real science. Hosted by Dr. Carrie Pagliano, double board-certified physical therapist, runner, mom of two, and internationally recognized expert in pregnancy, postpartum, pelvic floor, and perimenopause performance. Whether you’re a mom navigating running with prolapse or leakage, a clinician supporting active women, or a lifelong athlete trying to stay strong through every hormonal season — this show gives you evidence-based guidance and real life mom stories without the fear, confusion, or shame. Each week, Dr. Carrie brings candid conversations with researchers, clinicians, elite athletes, and everyday moms to explore what it actually takes to run, lift, jump, and live confidently through pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause, and beyond. We talk about: • Postpartum return to running & lifting • Pelvic floor symptoms (leakage, prolapse, pain) • Pregnancy exercise myths & safety • Strength training at every age • Perimenopause performance & hormone changes • Mental health, identity shifts & motherhood • The realities of being an active mom in a busy life Real talk. Real science. Real moms. Because you deserve to feel strong and supported — at every stage of your active life.

  1. 2d ago

    You don't have to look like a runner to be one — with Melanie Cote (@the.curvy.runner)

    Send us Fan Mail Melanie Cote spent years believing runners were a certain kind of person — thin, disciplined, elite — and she wasn't it. So when a coworker organized a 5K, she showed up to cheer instead of run, too embarrassed to try. A year later, she crossed that same start line. Today she's a half-marathoner who runs as @the.curvy.runner, and her story is for every mom who's ever thought "I'm not a runner." Carrie and Melanie get into starting couch-to-5K in your late 40s, why consistency beats performance, the gear struggles nobody warns curvy runners about, running through perimenopause, and letting go of the diet-culture rules we grew up with. It's a conversation about giving yourself permission — to take up space, to take the trip, to be the mom you're proud of. Time Stamps 0:00 introduction 5:08 how our relationship with running has changed 8:43 separating running from weight loss 11:29 becoming more active as kids get older 14:56 being flexible to be consistent 19:55 being creative with winter running 25:32 finding community in running 29:30 deciding to do a Disney half marathon 34:02 running as a curvy woman 43:13 dealing with hormonal changes 48:40 quick hit questions CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com Course waitlist: https://course.carriepagliano.com/RSAWL CONNECT WITH MELANIE: IG: https://www.instagram.com/the.curvy.runner/ Website: www.thecurvyrunners.com The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey.   This show has been a long time in the making!    You can expect conversation with moms and professionals from all aspects of the industry.    If you're like me, you don't have a lot of free time (heck, you're probably listening at 1.5x speed), so theses interviews will be quick hits to get your the pertinent information FAST!   If you love what you hear, share the podcast with a friend and leave us a 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and review. It helps us become more visible in the search algorithm! (Helps us get seen by more moms that need to hear these stories!!!!)

    55 min

  2. 4d ago

    REWIND The strength work that actually returns you to running — and what's just wasting your time — CHRIS JOHNSON, PT

    Send us Fan Mail Bringing this back because the "what exercises should I actually be doing?" question never gets old. Johnson cuts through the noise on rehab and strength work for runners — the movements that move the needle versus the filler. Practical, specific, and easy to act on this week. Today I speak with Chris Johnson, physical therapist, coach, author, teacher, consultant, and multiple-time Kona qualifier. He is also the creator of The Run Well, an online membership platform and community with a mission to fast-track clinicians, coaches, and trainers, who are looking to specialize in working with runners.  We  talk about: -the love of running -exercises for runners -utilizing the power of walking -slowing down movements to evaluate -altered movement patterns from injuries -figuring out what’s heavy enough -using fundamental movements -hitting benchmarks before returning to running  -similarities in returning to run after injury and postpartum Time Stamps 1:00 introduction 3:55 mistakes everyday runners make 7:40 providing exercises to runners 13:30 moving past the fear of old injuries 17:34 demystifying injury recovery 20:30 figuring out the right weight 27:40 top exercise recommendations 37:00 differences between working with men and women  44:35 Run Well Program  CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com CONNECT WITH CHRIS IG: https://www.instagram.com/chrisjohnsonthept/ Website: https://chrisjohnsonpt.com/ The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey.   This show has been a long time in the making!    You can expect conversation with moms and professionals from all aspects of the industry.    If you're like me, you don't have a lot of free time (heck, you're probably listening at 1.5x speed), so theses interviews will be quick hits to get your the pertinent information FAST!   If you love what you hear, share the podcast with a friend and leave us a 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and review. It helps us become more visible in the search algorithm! (Helps us get seen by more moms that need to hear these stories!!!!)

    55 min

  3. Jul 3

    Can I Run with Prolapse? Solo Episode — with Dr. Carrie Pagliano, PT

    Send us Fan Mail Can you run with pelvic organ prolapse? In this solo episode, Dr. Carrie Pagliano takes on one of the most feared pelvic floor diagnoses… and why prolapse doesn't have to mean hanging up your running shoes. Carrie introduces your "prolapse personality" — because prolapse isn't one experience, it's many. She busts the myths (no, running didn't cause it… no, you don't have to rest until it's "gone"), walks through the three symptom presentations she sees in the clinic, and explains why your anatomy doesn't predict how you feel or what your body can do. You'll hear how she thinks about graded loading and return-to-run dosing, where pessaries and support devices can fit, what "just breathe" really means for runners, and why a prolapse diagnosis is a starting point — not a stop sign. For active moms and the providers who support them. Education, not medical advice — always loop in your own pelvic floor PT or provider. Time Stamps 0:00 introduction 3:33 mythbuster rapid fire 8:06 no on-size-fits-all prolapse 14:25 how symptoms change with activity 18:03 pressure management and breathing 20:54 importance of early activity 25:01 doing too much too soon 27:05 support devices 30:22 returning to run with prolapse CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com Course waitlist: https://course.carriepagliano.com/RSAWL The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey.   This show has been a long time in the making!    You can expect conversation with moms and professionals from all aspects of the industry.    If you're like me, you don't have a lot of free time (heck, you're probably listening at 1.5x speed), so theses interviews will be quick hits to get your the pertinent information FAST!   If you love what you hear, share the podcast with a friend and leave us a 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and review. It helps us become more visible in the search algorithm! (Helps us get seen by more moms that need to hear these stories!!!!)

    39 min

  4. Jul 1

    REWIND // Doing all the pelvic floor work & still symptomatic? Your hips might be the missing piece — DR. ALISON GRIMALDI

    Send us Fan Mail This is the single most-downloaded episode in Active Mom Podcast history… and if you joined in the last two years, you've probably never heard it. Dr. Alison Grimaldi connects hip strength and stability to the pelvic floor symptoms so many women keep chasing in isolation. If you've been faithfully doing your pelvic floor work without the result you expected, this conversation reframes where you might look next. Alison is an expert in hip, groin and lumbo-pelvic pain, Principal Physiotherapist at Physiotec, and Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at the University of Queensland — with research collaborations that even include the European Space Agency. We get into: building collaborative care, how the hip and pelvic floor may relate, what "strengthening the pelvic floor" actually involves, stress incontinence, using real-time ultrasound, and why she wants to "ban the clam." This one's a foundational listen. As always, your own maternity care team and pelvic floor PT are your best guides for your body. Want a follow up listen?  Check out Ep. 210 with Dr. Jenny Lacross and Dr. Laurel Proulx on recent updates in understanding hip & pelvic floor anatomy! 1:00 introduction 5:19 collaborative care 9:30 dead butt syndrome 11:42 certainties of relationship between hip and pelvic floor  19:40 clinical use of real time ultrasound 23:09 biggest misses by physios 29:34 “ban the clam” 38:30 future research CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com CONNECT WITH ALISON IG: https://www.instagram.com/dralisongrimaldi/ Website (professional): https://dralisongrimaldi.com/ Website: (public): https://hippainhelp.com/ The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey.   This show has been a long time in the making!    You can expect conversation with moms and professionals from all aspects of the industry.    If you're like me, you don't have a lot of free time (heck, you're probably listening at 1.5x speed), so theses interviews will be quick hits to get your the pertinent information FAST!   If you love what you hear, share the podcast with a friend and leave us a 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and review. It helps us become more visible in the search algorithm! (Helps us get seen by more moms that need to hear these stories!!!!)

    42 min

  5. Jun 26

    What Load Actually Reaches Your Pelvis When You Run? The Data & a Guide Built for Postpartum Moms — with DR. MEGAN JAMES

    Send us Fan Mail What load actually reaches your pelvis when you run? For years we couldn't really answer that — we just said "wait twelve weeks, then go." Babe, we've come a long way. Dr. Megan James is back — and this time it's Dr. James. She finished her PhD and brought two new papers that quietly shift how we think about returning to running postpartum. First: a graded pelvic loading pathway, built by measuring how much load actually reaches the pelvis across walking, hopping, jumping and running. The surprise star? Grounded running — a gliding, no-flight-phase style that showed consistently lower load at the pelvis than slow running at the same pace. Second: a return-to-run guide co-designed with postpartum runners. Their ask — treat us like mums who run, not athletes who happen to be mums. It's a guide, not a deadline. And if you're not running yet, you are not behind. We talk about: -Returning to running after injury versus after pregnancy -Why the research began with a nulliparous population -Hypervigilance and fear of movement -What impact forces actually reach the pelvis during running -Slow running, grounded running, and perceived impact -Creating a postpartum return-to-run guide -Looking at the whole person, not just the pelvic floor Note: This is education, not a prescription. For a plan built for your body, your birth and your symptoms, see your maternity care team and a pelvic floor PT. Time Stamps 1:00 introduction 6:23 setting up the research 12:28 what they measured through the research 16:45 surprises in the study 21:20 slow running and grounded running 26:42 rate of the perceived impact 32:29 explaining the guide paper 40:23 changing perception with feedback from moms 45:32 the one-size-fits-all trap 52:05 looking at the mom as a whole 54:46 advice to former self 58:12 potential future research CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com Course waitlist: https://course.carriepagliano.com/RSAWL CONNECT WITH MEGAN: LinkedIn: @meganljames16 The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey.   This show has been a long time in the making!    You can expect conversation with moms and professionals from all aspects of the industry.    If you're like me, you don't have a lot of free time (heck, you're probably listening at 1.5x speed), so theses interviews will be quick hits to get your the pertinent information FAST!   If you love what you hear, share the podcast with a friend and leave us a 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and review. It helps us become more visible in the search algorithm! (Helps us get seen by more moms that need to hear these stories!!!!)

    1h 2m

  6. Jun 24

    REWIND // Turns out Atomic Habits is a parenting book — Routines, mindset & making change stick in parenthood— JAMES CLEAR

    Send us Fan Mail Becoming a mom can take your lifelong habits, chew them up, and spit them out. So how do you build new ones when there's no such thing as a typical day in parenthood? In this Summer Rewind — our season one finale — Dr. Carrie Pagliano sits down with James Clear, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Atomic Habits. Carrie picked up the book thinking it was about business... and realized it was secretly written for every mom trying to find herself again after kids. They get into systems over willpower, the four laws of behavior change, identity-based habits (casting a vote for the person you want to be), the two-minute rule, and how to set up your space to outsmart yourself. If you've ever set a goal to get back to movement in postpartum or perimenopause, this one was built for you. Lane note: returning to activity looks different for everybody — loop in your maternity care team and pelvic floor PT as you go. Time Stamps 1:00 introduction 1:35 setting habits for parents 7:20 life as a series of seasons  10:00 comparison on social media 15:22 navigating your identity as a parent  22:20 taking the first step to building the habit 27:25 scaling to build momentum 37:00 mental toughness as flexibility versus rigidity 40:15 James’ experience as a parent CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com CONNECT WITH JAMES IG: https://www.instagram.com/jamesclear/ Website: jamesclear.com  Atomic Habits: atomichabits.com Newsletter: https://jamesclear.com/3-2-1 The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey.   This show has been a long time in the making!    You can expect conversation with moms and professionals from all aspects of the industry.    If you're like me, you don't have a lot of free time (heck, you're probably listening at 1.5x speed), so theses interviews will be quick hits to get your the pertinent information FAST!   If you love what you hear, share the podcast with a friend and leave us a 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and review. It helps us become more visible in the search algorithm! (Helps us get seen by more moms that need to hear these stories!!!!)

    47 min

  7. Jun 19

    High-Altitude Climbing in Pregnancy… Thin Evidence, Loud Opinions, and Trusting Her Own Risk Tolerance — with LOTTA HINTSA

    Send us Fan Mail Thin evidence. Loud opinions. And a body that still wanted to climb.  That's where professional high-altitude climber Lotta Hintsa found herself when she got pregnant — wanting to stay active and keep doing her job, in an area where the research on altitude and pregnancy barely exists and everyone seemed to have a take on it. In this episode, Lotta walks me through how she navigated her own risk tolerance: gathering what evidence she could find, weighing it against her body and her experience, and making informed calls instead of fear-based ones. It's an honest look at staying active on your own terms when there's no roadmap handed to you. We talk about: -becoming a professional climber -motherhood as an extreme athlete -advice based on evidence instead of fear -losing contracts due to pregnancy -losing followers after getting pregnant -having a plan but not expectations -finding your identity as a mom 🛟 Lane note: altitude and pregnancy is genuinely under-researched, and risk is individual. Decisions like these belong with your maternity care team — Lotta's story is her experience, not a guideline. Time Stamps 1:00 introduction 6:34 thinking about starting a family as an extreme athlete 9:35 deciding where to go to for advice 13:54 concerns with oxygen availability 18:20 reactions of the climbing community and sponsors 27:28 last weeks of pregnancy 32:29 climbing a mountain versus having a baby 36:00 exercise and activity postpartum 43:22 expectations for competing as a new mom 48:59 surprises in motherhood CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com Course waitlist: https://course.carriepagliano.com/RSAWL CONNECT WITH LOTTA: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lottahintsa/ Website: https://youtube.com/@highaltitudexperience?si=WS0EbOlKWiDb1bHx Substack: lottahintsa The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey.     This show has been a long time in the making!      You can expect conversation with moms and professionals from all aspects of the industry.      If you're like me, you don't have a lot of free time (heck, you're probably listening at 1.5x speed), so theses interviews will be quick hits to get your the pertinent information FAST!     If you love what you hear, share the podcast with a friend and leave us a 5 start rating and review. It helps us become more visible in the search algorithm! (Helps us get seen by more moms that need to hear these stories!!!!) The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey.   This show has been a long time in the making!    You can expect conversation with moms and professionals from all aspects of the industry.    If you're like me, you don't have a lot of free time (heck, you're probably listening at 1.5x speed), so theses interviews will be quick hits to get your the pertinent information FAST!   If you love what you hear, share the podcast with a friend and leave us a 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and review. It helps us become more visible in the search algorithm! (Helps us get seen by more moms that need to hear these stories!!!!)

    56 min

  8. Jun 17

    REWIND // How Swim Moms Make Time to Work Out: Real-Life Strategies from Busy Moms from Postpartum to Perimenopause

    Send us Fan Mail This one's for every mom whose week is built around practices, meets, and the pool-deck waiting game. It's honest, real-talk strategy for squeezing your own training into a life that runs on everyone else's schedule — across postpartum all the way to perimenopause. No interview, just usable tactics, and it's landed with way more than the swim crowd. Today I speak with my fellow Swim Moms, Laura and JoAnne. And while you may think this episode is just an excuse to talk with my friends outside of swim practice, Laura and JoAnne share so much valuable intel on how to make time for your own workouts when your shuttling kids to their sports practices and meets. Laura, a mom of 2, is a recovering triathlete and a Commander in the Coast Guard. JoAnne, a mom of 3, has always used sports as a way to stay fit, but fell off the wagon after her daughter was born. When her oldest daughter was 8, she found her way back to fitness. We talk about: -being active as kids -becoming a morning person -different struggles with different age kids -setting the example for your kids -different seasons of the year -done is better than perfect -making family memories Time Stamps 1:00 introduction 5:59 we we stay fit 9:45 changing fitness after each kid 14:10 shifting to get up early 19:05 shifts with older kids 24:50 adapting to different seasons 30:10 advice to your former self 34:45 looking ahead to the next stage 44:00 rapid fire questions  CONNECT WITH CARRIE IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/ Website: https://carriepagliano.com The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey.   This show has been a long time in the making!    You can expect conversation with moms and professionals from all aspects of the industry.    If you're like me, you don't have a lot of free time (heck, you're probably listening at 1.5x speed), so theses interviews will be quick hits to get your the pertinent information FAST!   If you love what you hear, share the podcast with a friend and leave us a 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and review. It helps us become more visible in the search algorithm! (Helps us get seen by more moms that need to hear these stories!!!!)

    51 min
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About

Welcome to the Active Mom Podcast — where real motherhood stories meet real science. Hosted by Dr. Carrie Pagliano, double board-certified physical therapist, runner, mom of two, and internationally recognized expert in pregnancy, postpartum, pelvic floor, and perimenopause performance. Whether you’re a mom navigating running with prolapse or leakage, a clinician supporting active women, or a lifelong athlete trying to stay strong through every hormonal season — this show gives you evidence-based guidance and real life mom stories without the fear, confusion, or shame. Each week, Dr. Carrie brings candid conversations with researchers, clinicians, elite athletes, and everyday moms to explore what it actually takes to run, lift, jump, and live confidently through pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause, and beyond. We talk about: • Postpartum return to running & lifting • Pelvic floor symptoms (leakage, prolapse, pain) • Pregnancy exercise myths & safety • Strength training at every age • Perimenopause performance & hormone changes • Mental health, identity shifts & motherhood • The realities of being an active mom in a busy life Real talk. Real science. Real moms. Because you deserve to feel strong and supported — at every stage of your active life.

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