28 episodes
Pandemic Mama Irina Gonzalez from Parenting in Hard Mode
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- Kids & Family
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5.0 • 20 Ratings
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The Pandemic Mama podcast is a limited-series podcast that features honest conversations about having a baby during COVID-19 times. Created and hosted by Irina Gonzalez, a journalist, editor, and bisexual Latina mom with ADHD whose work centers on intersectional identity and its impacts on parenting and mental health. For ongoing conversations about raising Gen Alpha kids and nurturing social justice-minded families, sign up for the Parenting in Hard Mode newsletter at https://irinagonzalez.substack.com/
Listen to interviews with Nathalie Walton (co-founder and former CEO of Expectful—now owned by Babylist), Carmen Perez (civil/human rights activist and co-founder of the Women’s March), Hannah Howard (Editor-in-Chief of ParentCo and author of Feast: True Love in and out of the Kitchen and Plenty: A Memoir of Food and Family), Conz Preti (Parenting + Health Senior Editor at Business Insider), Bre Scullark (model and entrepreneur), Jesus Triviño (Latin Pop Culture Expert and Senior Director at TIDAL), Dr. Erin Watson (family medicine and emergency medicine physician and author of Pregnancy During A Pandemic, We Can Survive This Together: A Pregnant Doctor’s COVID-19 Survival Guide), Kelly Fitzgerald Junco (sober writer and therapist-in-training aka @thesobersenorita on Instagram), Blair Briody (journalist and author of The New Wild West: Black Gold, Fracking, and Life in a North Dakota Boomtown), Maria Piedrabuena (award-winning multimedia journalist and publisher at Tu Prensa Local), Amanda McCraken (freelance writer and host of The Longing Lab podcast), Jenn Chowdhury (multi-platfrom journalist and communications specialist), and more.
irinagonzalez.substack.com
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Pandemic Mama, Episode 28: Navigating Postpartum Body Acceptance with Kelly Fitzgerald Junco
Irina Gonzalez, journalist, toddler mom, and the host talks with three-time return guest Kelly Fitzgerald Junco. She is a writer and sobriety advocate. In her previous two episodes, she talked with us about pregnancy anxiety and postpartum grief. This time, she comes on to give us an update about what the past year of the pandemic has been like while living in Florida, the difficulty of finding a daycare that fits her family's safety requirements, and what it's like to work on accepting your postpartum body during a pandemic.
Please take the Pandemic Parenting in 2022 survey to share what's been going on in your life and don't forget to sign up for the Pandemic Mama newsletter for more.
Plus, make sure you follow us on Instagram at @pandemicmamapod for updates, join the Pandemic Mama Podcast Facebook group to connect with other parents who have had a baby in the past couple of years, and email your questions to pandemicmamapod@gmail.com.
Get full access to Parenting in Hard Mode at irinagonzalez.substack.com/subscribe -
Pandemic Mama, Episode 27: The Grief of Postpartum in the Pandemic with Kelly Fitzgerald Junco
Our first return guest! Irina talks with Kelly Fitzgerald Junco, a writer and blogger behind The Sober Señorita, and a new mom who first appeared in Episode 4 of Pandemic Mama. They talked about her birth story, figuring out breastfeeding, and the many forms of grief she is dealing with today. Plus, how she is getting used to her postpartum body after being an athlete for the past several years.
Join the Pandemic Mama Podcast Facebook group to connect with other parents having babies in 2020 and 2021, follow us on Instagram at @pandemicmamapod for updates, and email your questions to pandemicmamapod@gmail.com.
Get full access to Parenting in Hard Mode at irinagonzalez.substack.com/subscribe -
Pandemic Mama, Episode 26: The Birth of a Pandemic Papa with Adam
Irina talks with Adam, an engineer, amateur podcast editor, new dad, and her husband! They talked about the stress he felt in the last weeks of pregnancy, what happened during the birth from his perspective, and how this last year has been with their baby Rio. Plus, all of the decision fatigue and how they have conquered baby sleep issues. Sort of.
Join the Pandemic Mama Podcast Facebook group to connect with other parents having babies in 2020 and 2021, follow us on Instagram at @pandemicmamapod for updates, and email your questions to pandemicmamapod@gmail.com.
Get full access to Parenting in Hard Mode at irinagonzalez.substack.com/subscribe -
Pandemic Mama, Episode 25: How We Parent in the Pandemic One Year Later
In this very special episode of the Pandemic Mama podcast, Irina asked some of the past guests to share what they have been up to since their episodes aired and reflect on the last year of parenting as we recognize and mourn a full year of living in the COVID-19 pandemic. But not all the stories are sad! There are stories full of grief, longing, some happiness, renewed hope, and even a silver lining or two.
Join the Pandemic Mama Podcast Facebook group to connect with other parents having babies in 2020 and 2021, follow us on Instagram at @pandemicmamapod for updates, and email your questions to pandemicmamapod@gmail.com.
Get full access to Parenting in Hard Mode at irinagonzalez.substack.com/subscribe -
Pandemic Mama, Episode 24: Finding Normal in the Chaos of a Pandemic with a 5th Baby with Nancy Sanchez
Irina talks with Nancy Sanchez. She is a stay-at-home mom of five girls. They talked about her induction on the day after the pandemic was announced last year, how up and down the fourth trimester was, and how it’s been difficult to enjoy this past year. Plus, why homeschooling was the right choice for her and her girls this year.
Join the Pandemic Mama Podcast Facebook group to connect with other parents having babies in 2020 and 2021, follow us on Instagram at @pandemicmamapod for updates, and email your questions to pandemicmamapod@gmail.com.
Get full access to Parenting in Hard Mode at irinagonzalez.substack.com/subscribe -
Pandemic Mama, Episode 23: Dealing with an Unexpected Pregnancy Abroad During the Pandemic with Jenn Chowdhury
Irina talks with Jenn Chowdhury. She is a journalist, writer, and new mom They discussed the crazy story of how she moved in with her boyfriend, celebrated her birthday, went into lockdown, and found out about her unexpected pregnancy — all within a few weeks! Plus, the difficulty of balancing being a working mom with spending time with your baby and your own self-care needs.
Join the Pandemic Mama Podcast Facebook group to connect with other parents having babies in 2020 and 2021, follow us on Instagram at @pandemicmamapod for updates, and email your questions to pandemicmamapod@gmail.com.
Get full access to Parenting in Hard Mode at irinagonzalez.substack.com/subscribe
Customer Reviews
Super Helpful
As someone who had a baby just 3 days before Irina at the beginning of this pandemic, this podcast has been amazing at letting me know that I am not alone in my worries and fears of navigating motherhood during these crazy times. I love having other parents that I can relate to in this unique situation. She’s so open and honest about her experiences. ❤️
I am loving this podcast!
I’m Mom to a four-legged puppy who I adore but I still love this podcast. It’s brave to be honest about stressors: 2020 is full of them. My friends, family, colleagues and neighbors commiserate about our anxiety and depression. I find strength in hearing others talk about how to stay mentally fit in a time that feels like a never-ending sci-fi movie. I love Irina’s voice. I find it soothing to listen to. 💕
Insightful, Smart, Resourceful
I love the resourcefulness of this podcast and how open and honest Irina is with sharing her story. I know many people will benefit from Irina’s voice of reason in these odd times.