Out of the Reeds

Natasha Preckajlo

Out of the Reeds is a podcast for those who want honest stories — about motherhood, identity, healing, and what it means to find your way back to yourself. Hosted by Natasha Preckajlo — licensed therapist, poet, and author of The Art of Motherhood — each episode weaves together personal storytelling, poetry readings, candid guest conversations, and healing insights from the therapy room. This is not a parenting tips show. It is a space where the real, unpolished, beautiful truth of womanhood is told with art, honesty, and deep humanity. For every woman who has ever felt unseen, unheard, or simply in need of a story that tells the truth.  

  1. Oct 21

    Out of the Reeds Episode 20 : Build Your Dream Life

    Send us Fan Mail Motherhood, identity, and risk-taking collide in this honest conversation about building a life that actually fits. Cassidy Nicholas shares how becoming a mom changed everything—her priorities, her business, and the way she sees herself—and why she’s now creating The Vault, a homeschool hybrid and family wellness club designed for the kind of community she couldn’t find.Natasha and Cassidy get real about the hidden identity shift that comes with motherhood, the pressure to stay “safe,” and why some of the most meaningful growth happens when you choose discomfort on purpose. If you’ve ever felt torn between caring for your family and staying connected to yourself, this episode will feel like a permission slip. You’ll hear Cassidy break down: How motherhood reshaped her trajectory after a background in competitive obstacle course racing and fitnessWhy she describes herself as “scrunchy” and what that looks like in real lifeThe difference between homeschooling, hybrid schooling, and the community-first model she’s building in NaplesHow she and her husband are turning a shared vision into a real business with education, co-working, fitness, cold plunge, sauna, and family eventsWhy she believes kids should see your “glory days” in real time, not just hear stories about them laterNatasha and Cassidy also explore the tension many parents feel between structure and freedom. Cassidy shares what it takes to build something high-risk, values-driven, and deeply personal while raising four kids. Cassidy Nicholas is a mom, former competitive obstacle course racer, and co-creator of The Vault Naples, a forthcoming homeschool hybrid and family wellness club. Her perspective bridges fitness, parenting, and entrepreneurship in a way that feels both grounded and bold. This one is for moms, parents, and anyone craving a bigger, braver version of family life. If you’re thinking about homeschooling, building a business with your partner, or simply redefining what your prime looks like, don’t skip this episode. Support the show

    Out of the Reeds Episode 20 : Build Your Dream Life
  2. Oct 16

    Out of the Reeds Episode 19: Building Relationships with Nuance

    Send us Fan Mail The advice that relationships should be "50/50" falls apart the moment real life shows up. Joe Rawlins breaks down why equitability matters more than equality, what polyamory actually looks like inside a family, and how consent, grief, and mental load reshape the way we love, parent, and partner. Joe is a clinical social work intern and mental health therapist in Florida, and he works at the crossroads of couples therapy, intimacy, neurodivergence, LGBTQIA+ relationships, and perinatal mental health. He also brings lived experience as a polyamorous queer father, which gives him a rare perspective on the gray areas people are often told to ignore. You'll discover why opening a relationship rarely fixes the problems already inside it, how kids can experience nontraditional families with more stability than people assume, and why "more people to love them" can be a real advantage rather than a threat. Joe also explains the difference between ethical and consensual non-monogamy, and why the language we use reveals more judgment than honesty. We break down his research on fawn responses in kink and BDSM, including how people can say yes out of fear, appeasement, or relationship pressure instead of true consent. Joe also shares how that work translates far beyond kink into everyday relationships, trauma recovery, and the way people negotiate desire, boundaries, and trust. This conversation also goes deep on what new dads face in the first year after birth, how hidden emotional labor lands in relationships, and why so many men struggle more with ownership than execution. If you've ever felt boxed in by black-and-white thinking about family, masculinity, therapy, or intimacy, this episode opens up a much wider, more human view. Perfect for anyone navigating polyamory, parenthood, neurodivergent relationships, or the messy reality of building a partnership that actually fits the people in it. Support the show

    Out of the Reeds Episode 19: Building Relationships with Nuance
  3. Oct 7

    Out of the Reeds Episode 18 : Finding Your Creative Voice

    Send us Fan Mail A poetry collection about motherhood, identity, and the parts of early parenting nobody wants to say out loud - Nicole Zvolinsky’s Motherhead turns the hard, messy, private truths of becoming a mother into something readers can finally recognize themselves in. If you have ever wondered whether you can still call yourself a writer, artist, or creative when life gets swallowed by caregiving, this conversation will land. Nicole and Natasha get into the long arc of her writing life, from childhood poems and ballet to corporate work, parenting two boys, and finding her way back to the page through the chaos of real life.You'll discover how Nicole rebuilt her creative practice in the margins of motherhood, why community changed everything for her, and how she uses poetry to capture experiences that are often left out of the polished version of parenthood. She shares what sparked Motherhead, including a botched epidural, postpartum fear, perimenopause brain fog, and the emotional whiplash of returning to work after a C-section and 12-week maternity leave. They also talk about the power of naming difficult experiences instead of hiding them, why rejection is part of the writing life, and how support from other writers helped Nicole grow her voice. Natasha and Nicole dig into the Motherhead Project, a space for women to share what they wish they had known before having a baby, and why honesty can be a lifeline for someone who feels alone.Nicole also opens up about what’s next, including her manuscript Dresses Without Pockets and Other Disappointments, a possible poetry collection inspired by Mary Shelley, and the challenge of making art while working full time and raising a family. If you are a mother, a writer, or anyone trying to make space for creativity in a crowded life, this one is for you. Nicole Zvolinsky is a poet and mother of two boys whose collection Motherhead explores pregnancy, postpartum, and motherhood with raw honesty and emotional clarity. Her work has appeared in literary magazines, and she is active in the Jacksonville and St. Augustine literary communities. Perfect for anyone who needs permission to make art imperfectly, tell the truth, and keep going anyway. Support the show

    Out of the Reeds Episode 18 : Finding Your Creative Voice
  4. Sep 23

    Out of the Reeds Episode 17: Love Your Body Again

    Send us Fan Mail Pelvic floor care is not just about Kegels, leaking, or postpartum recovery - it is about reclaiming confidence, pleasure, and a body you actually feel good living in. Pelvic floor therapist and sex counselor Dr. Sara Sohn shares why so many people are taught to ignore their bodies until something hurts, and how that silence can show up as pain, shame, disconnection, and missed care for years. If you have ever wondered whether what you are feeling is normal, this conversation gives you a new way to think about healing - one that starts long before pregnancy, and continues through postpartum, perimenopause, menopause, and beyond.We break down: Why pelvic floor therapy is about far more than incontinenceThe surprising link between C-sections, pelvic tension, and painWhat most people are never told about postpartum recovery in the first 6 weeksHow pressure management changes everything for core and pelvic healthWhy body awareness matters even if you are not currently in pain Sara also opens up about the emotional side of this work, including the shame so many women inherit around their vulvas, bellies, and pleasure. Her perspective is refreshing, practical, and deeply human: instead of asking how to “fix” your body, ask how to create more moments where it feels good to live in.This episode is for anyone who wants to understand their body more deeply, recover with more support, or reconnect with pleasure without guilt. It is also essential listening for moms, perimenopausal women, and anyone who has ever felt dismissed by the idea that “this is just what happens.” You will leave with a more compassionate lens on your own body, plus simple ways to start tuning back in today. Dr. Sara Sohn is a pelvic floor physical therapist, sex counselor, and founder of Confident Pelvic Rehab, where she helps people move from pain and disconnection toward confidence, autonomy, and pleasure. She also created the workbook Heart to Heart, focused on bringing joy back to the bedroom and reconnecting with the body. Support the show

    Out of the Reeds Episode 17: Love Your Body Again
  5. Sep 16

    Out of the Reeds Episode 16 : Answer Your Calling

    Send us Fan Mail A Doula, a Corporate Exit, and the Question That Changed EverythingWhat if the life you built on paper is exactly the one that’s keeping you from your real calling? Amanda Saxon, founder of Sunrise Doula in Jacksonville, Florida, shares the raw, surprising journey from corporate success to deeply heart-centered birth work—and the moments of motherhood that forced her to stop performing the “good girl” version of success.Natasha Preckajlo guides a conversation that gets honest about fear, fulfillment, money, intuition, and what it actually takes to leave security behind. Amanda opens up about the pull she felt toward motherhood long before she became a doula, why she secretly hoped to be fired so she could finally make the leap, and how her own birth experiences reshaped the way she supports other women. You’ll discover: Why “What would you do if you weren’t afraid?” became a life-changing questionHow Amanda moved from marketing and corporate strategy into doula workThe emotional truth behind wanting a natural birth and facing an unexpected realityWhy she now helps mothers prepare for the parts of birth that don’t go according to planHow creativity, boundaries, and self-trust became part of her healing and her business Amanda also shares the tension so many women know well: how to answer a calling without burning out, how to charge what your work is worth, and how to build a life that supports both your family and your purpose. Her perspective on discernment, sisterhood, and creating systems for sustainable care makes this episode especially powerful for moms, birth workers, and anyone standing at the edge of a big life change.If you’ve been wrestling with fear, wondering whether you’re allowed to want more, or trying to find your own “groove” in the middle of chaos, this conversation will meet you there. Essential listening for women ready to trust themselves, rewrite the rules, and keep going. Support the show

    Out of the Reeds Episode 16 : Answer Your Calling
  6. Sep 9

    Out of the Reeds Episode 15 : Care Comes Home

    Send us Fan Mail The advice every new parent needs: not every baby symptom is a crisis, but some absolutely are. Megan Spore of First Call Pediatrics breaks down how her in-home pediatric practice helps Jacksonville families know the difference, get answers fast, and feel calmer when everything about newborn care feels overwhelming.Megan is a neonatal nurse practitioner and co-founder of First Call Pediatrics, a physician-led in-home pediatric practice in Jacksonville, Florida. She and her team built the practice after years in the NICU and from their own experiences as parents, realizing how much support families need once they bring a baby home. You’ll hear how a team of NICU and pediatric providers created a modern version of the old-school house call, offering same-day and next-day care, 24/7 access, telehealth, and home visits for newborns, toddlers, teens, and even older kids. Megan shares why being able to text a photo, ask about a strange poop, or get reassurance about a fever can make all the difference when your instinct says something feels off. We also get into the difference between normal new-parent anxiety and real red flags, including the situations that should send a newborn straight to the ER. Megan explains why parents know more than they think, how to trust your gut when your baby is changing faster than you can keep up, and why support after birth matters just as much as support during labor. Beyond the medicine, this episode is also about entrepreneurship, motherhood, and building a family-centered business from the ground up. Megan opens up about launching a practice with her husband, managing imposter syndrome, and creating something her kids can actually see their parents building together. Essential listening if you’re a new parent, expecting a baby, supporting young families, or just want a smarter, more reassuring way to think about pediatric care. Support the show

    Out of the Reeds Episode 15 : Care Comes Home
  7. Sep 2

    Out of the Reeds Episode 14 : Small Changes, Big Impact

    Send us Fan Mail The cleanest sustainability advice starts where most moms are busiest: in the middle of real life. Janette Spiezio reveals how a lifetime of resourcefulness, motherhood, and hard-earned lessons led her to build Sustainable Haus, a New Jersey storefront and online shop helping people swap plastic, waste, and greenwashing for better, simpler choices.What begins as a conversation about one mom’s journey quickly becomes a practical blueprint for anyone trying to live more intentionally without getting overwhelmed. Janette shares the ingredients rule she wishes every parent knew, why plastic baby bottles are still one of her biggest regrets, and how “healthy people, healthy home, healthy planet” became more than a tagline.  Janette also opens up about growing up in a first-generation German-American household where gardening, mending, canning, and using what you already have weren’t trends—they were simply how life worked. That mindset now fuels everything from her product curation to her community education, online content, and speaking work.If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by plastic, confused by ingredient labels, or wondered whether sustainable living is actually realistic for a busy family, this episode gives you the clarity and motivation to start.Perfect for parents, eco-curious listeners, and anyone ready to make smarter choices that support their health, their wallet, and the planet. Support the show

    Out of the Reeds Episode 14 : Small Changes, Big Impact

About

Out of the Reeds is a podcast for those who want honest stories — about motherhood, identity, healing, and what it means to find your way back to yourself. Hosted by Natasha Preckajlo — licensed therapist, poet, and author of The Art of Motherhood — each episode weaves together personal storytelling, poetry readings, candid guest conversations, and healing insights from the therapy room. This is not a parenting tips show. It is a space where the real, unpolished, beautiful truth of womanhood is told with art, honesty, and deep humanity. For every woman who has ever felt unseen, unheard, or simply in need of a story that tells the truth.  

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