The Expecting and Empowered Podcast
Amy Kiefer + Krystle Howald
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Amy Kiefer and Krystle Howald, sisters and co-founders of Expecting and Empowered, host this podcast addressing the gap in information for pregnant and postpartum women. They create a supportive space for women to learn and grow during early motherhood, sharing professional insights, personal experiences, and birth stories. The podcast aims to empower women with knowledge and resources for their motherhood journey.
Episod
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116. Why Baby Wearing Is About More Than Just Carrying Your Baby with Jordan 08.07.2026 42minBabywearing can be a powerful tool for connection, confidence, and supporting both parent and baby through the early years. Today, Amy is joined by Jordan, a perinatal health occupational therapist and certified babywearing consultant who has helped thousands of families around the world feel confident carrying their babies. Drawing from both her professional expertise and personal experiences, Jordan shares practical guidance to help parents navigate the world of baby carriers, babywearing, ...
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115. Big Sister Advice Our Expecting and Empowered Team Has for Every Mom 24.06.2026 16minMotherhood comes with plenty of advice, but some of the most meaningful wisdom often comes from women who are living it every day. In this short and heartfelt solo episode, Amy shares advice gathered from the incredible women behind the scenes of Expecting and Empowered. Beyond creating workouts and supporting the E&E community, these women are moms themselves, each with unique experiences and lessons learned along the way. This special episode is dedicated to the mothers coming behind th...
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114. How to Stay On The Same Page with Your Partner During the Little Kid Years with Therapist Eli Weinstein 10.06.2026 44minAmy is joined once again by fan-favorite guest Eli Weinstein, making his second appearance on the Expecting & Empowered podcast! A longtime supporter of the show and author of From I Do to We Do, Eli brings his signature blend of honesty, humor, and practical wisdom to a conversation about marriage during the busy years of raising young children. Together, Amy and Eli explore what it takes to stay connected as a couple when life feels all-consuming with its never ending mental load of par...
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113. What Every C-section Mom Needs to Know the First Month After Birth 27.05.2026 30minThe first month after a C-section can play a major role in how a new momma heals and feels long term. In this episode Krystle shares what every C-section momma needs to know to support recovery during those early postpartum weeks! As a three-time C-section mom herself and a pelvic floor physical therapist who has worked with countless postpartum women, Krystle combines professional expertise with lived experience to offer practical, encouraging guidance for healing after cesarean birth. Kryst...
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112. Two Decades of Birth Knowledge in One Episode with Doula Erica Paulson 13.05.2026 33minBirth is more than just a physical event - it’s a deeply transformative experience that can shape a woman’s memories, relationships, and mental health for years to come. In this powerful conversation, Amy sits down with Erica Paulson, founder of Nurture, doula, trainer, and childbirth educator with nearly two decades of hands-on experience. Known for her integrative and compassionate approach, Erica is passionate about giving individualized, intentional support to help women feel truly seen, ...
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111. 4 Things That Help Me Manage My Time (so I can get my workouts in!) 29.04.2026 28minHow do you become a person who works out? How do you stay consistent with your workouts? And how do you actually make the time to work out? You’ve asked, so Amy is going in depth into how she actually makes the time to get in her 3 strength training workouts a week! We love bringing you real, tangible tools to help you feel empowered and today is no different! Amy introduces her technique of “time chunking” - planning her day into chunks, dedicating specific time for things like housework, in...
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110. Why Pilates Could Change Your Life for the Better (WE LAUNCHED IT INSIDE OUR APP!) with Jacquelyn Brennan 15.04.2026 33minKrystle takes the mic solo to share big news: Pilates is officially coming to the Expecting and Empowered workout app! Joined by a familiar face to the Expecting and Empowered community, Jacquelyn Brennan, this episode gives listeners an inside look at her history with Pilates and how her version will be such a huge asset to the app. Krystle and Jacquelyn dive into Jacquelyn’s journey to Pilates and why she believes it is such a powerful tool for women, especially during pregnancy and p...
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109. The Inside Scoop on Labor and Delivery 01.04.2026 29minWhen preparing for birth, many mamas focus on physical preparedness, which makes sense! Putting together a nursery and the perfect registry list is a lot of fun. But labor can be a long, physical task that requires mental perseverance. Surprise guest host and running coach in the Expecting and Empowered app, Abby Green, joins Amy to discuss why preparing your mind is just as important, no matter your birth plan. Amy shares her experience giving birth unmedicated three times and the type...
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108. Perinatal OCD: The Often Missed or Misdiagnosed Perinatal Mood Disorder 18.03.2026 35minMaternal mental health is a critical yet often misunderstood part of the postpartum experience, and this conversation shines light on an important topic many parents may not fully understand: perinatal and postnatal OCD. Amy is joined by Betty Flores, LCSW, PMH-C, and Justine Rae Murray, LCSW—two therapists who specialize in perinatal and postnatal mental health and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Betty and Justine share how their own postpartum experiences led them to pursue additional traini...
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107. How to Stay Consistent with Your Workouts 04.03.2026 16minThis week Amy is solo for a short and encouraging episode focused on one common challenge in motherhood: staying consistent with workouts. As a follow-up to the conversation about finding time to exercise with little kids, this episode is designed to be simple, practical, and motivating for moms navigating busy seasons of life. Amy shares why consistency in movement matters during motherhood and how this habit will continue lifelong. She encourages listeners to stay goal-oriented by keeping f...
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106. What a Labor and Delivery Nurse Needs You to Know with @nurse_sydney 18.02.2026 40minIn today’s episode, Amy is joined by Sydney, a labor and delivery nurse with over five years of bedside experience and a deep passion for women’s health. As the creator of the platform @Nurse_Sydney and co-host of The Push Pod, Sydney is dedicated to empowering women with evidence-based information so they can feel confident throughout pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and beyond! This episode dives into the nitty-gritty of birth plans and what expecting moms should actually consider including wh...
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105. Having Trouble Getting Your Workouts In? Listen to THIS Episode 04.02.2026 24minWhile balancing motherhood, work, and daily responsibilities can make prioritizing fitness feel impossible, this episode is a reminder that self-care isn’t selfish — it’s essential. Amy shares honest reflections from her own seasons of motherhood alongside real-life insight from other moms in the Expecting and Empowered community who are finding creative ways to make their health a priority. This episode focuses on practical tools and mindset shifts to help moms adjust when needed without gui...
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104. Navigating Friendships as an Adult AND Mom with Dr. Marisa G. Franco 21.01.2026 38minIn today’s episode, Amy is joined by Dr. Marisa G. Franco, psychologist and friendship expert, for an honest and refreshing conversation about navigating friendships in motherhood. This episode explores why friendship truly matters and why maintaining meaningful connections deserves intentional space through every season of life, even when your day feels full. Dr. Franco discusses how challenging it can be to both maintain existing friendships and form new ones as a mom. She emphasizes ...
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103. Preventing Perineal Tearing with Krystle & Sarah Rubatt, Women's Health Physical Therapists 07.01.2026 45minFear of tearing is one of the most common concerns women have as they prepare for birth, yet many leave the experience saying, “I wish someone would have told me this sooner.” In this episode, we break down perineal tearing with evidence-based education so you can head into labor feeling informed, prepared, and confident. We’re joined by Sarah Rubbatt, lead women’s health physical therapist at Empowered Movement and Physical Therapy, who works closely with Krystle and has helped countless wom...
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102. Greatest Hits: What a Labor + Delivery Nurse Wants You To Know About Labor With @mackenzie.on.motherhood 24.12.2025 54minAs we are celebrating the holiday season here at the Expecting and Empowered Podcast community, we are revisiting one our most popular episodes ever! Mackenzie from @mackenzie.on.motherhood was on this episode to talk about all things labor and delivery and answers our questions on what the role of a labor and delivery nurse is, the sometimes controversial subject of Pitocin, and what cervical checks are and why they’re performed. Whether you’re expecting your first baby, or a seasoned mama, ...
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101. Are You Going to Have a Repeat C-section? This Episode Has Everything You Need to KNOW 10.12.2025 39minFor this episode of Expecting and Empowered, Amy and Krystle are together to dive into healing as a mama of multiple c-sections. With two (or more) little ones to care for, potential for increased scar tissue, and necessary modifications needed after surgery, the sisters explain why every C-section deserves its own thoughtful recovery plan. They walk us through the most important priority—respecting the healing timeline—and stress that new parents do not need to “do it all” while their body i...
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100. Fertility, Pregnancy, and Postpartum Nutrition with Registered Dietitian McKenzie Caldwell 26.11.2025 36minFor the 100th episode of the Expecting and Empowered podcast, Amy is bringing on a powerhouse in the world of reproductive nutrition. Today’s guest is McKenzie Caldwell, MPH, RDN - a registered dietitian specializing in nutrition for fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, and overall reproductive health. As the founder of Feed Your Zest Nutrition & Wellness, McKenzie supports women navigating PCOS, endometriosis, gestational diabetes, lactation concerns, and more, helping them feel fully nouri...
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99. You Don’t Have to Labor or Birth on Your Back! 12.11.2025 31minThe sister duo, Amy and Krystle, are back on the Expecting and Empowered podcast to bust one of the biggest birth myths out there — that you have to give birth on your back! This common misconception, often fueled by TV and movie portrayals of labor, doesn’t reflect what’s truly best for many birthing moms. In this episode, Amy and Krystle break down why pushing on your back might not be the most ideal position and dive into the science and strategy behind movement during labor. Krystle, a wo...
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98. Everything You NEED to Know About VBACS with VBAC Educator Meagan Heaton 29.10.2025 42minNo matter which way you bring your baby into the world, you are incredible! If you had a cesarean birth with your first baby, that doesn’t automatically mean you need to have another c-section if you choose to have more children. Today’s guest Meagan Heaton, co-founder of the VBAC Link, doula, and c-section educator had a successful VBAC with her third child after two previous cesareans. That third birth sparked a drive in her to help other women like herself feel educated, supported, and emp...
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97. What I Wish I Would’ve Known About Labor and Delivery 15.10.2025 33minAmy is solo for today’s episode sharing what she wishes she would have known about labor and delivery. Amy has always been interested in birth and while her nursing career ended up taking a different route, her passion for birth did not end there. After having her 3 boys, Amy decided to further her knowledge and train as a doula. Every part of Amy’s professional and personal life has led to her sharing all things pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum with the Expecting and Empowered audi...