Momcozy Village - Together We Grow

A lot of people don’t really understand what the postpartum period is like, especially when it comes to self-care. Family, friends, and other caregivers are important during this time, but how can moms figure out what actually helps after having a baby?
In this special Mother’s Day episode of Momcozy Village: Together We Grow, host Natalie Gouché chats with celebrity doula and Mama Glow founder Latham Thomas about what caring for mothers after birth really looks like. Latham shares that seeing a lack of in-person community care led her to start Mama Glow, a Black-led group that has trained over 3,000 doulas on six continents and keeps working for better maternal care.
One of Latham’s main ideas is “mothering the mother.” This means seeing postpartum care as listening closely, being present, and offering support that fits each mom’s needs. Latham challenges society's focus on returning to work and being productive rather than on healing, bonding, and building community. She also says that being isolated or separated, or returning to work too soon, can be hard on both the parent and the baby. Latham encourages everyone supporting moms to care for them the way you would care for a baby, never leaving them alone, making sure they’re fed, keeping them warm, and looking after them in every way.
Latham shares easy and practical self-care tips for new moms, like journaling or recording voice notes, talking with a support group about your daily ups and downs, practicing mindfulness and affirmations, getting outside, and taking breaks from your phone. She also talks about different ways to pay for doula care, including private pay, insurance, FSA or HSA accounts, Medicaid, and free options.

Episode Highlights

03:22 – What does “mothering the mother” actually mean?
07:34 – What are the biggest misunderstandings of post-partum self-care?
11:11 – Treating the mom like a baby.
14:59 – Some realistic ways that moms can care for their bodies day to day.
21:22 – Simple shifts moms can make if they’re feeling overwhelmed.
22:35 – Debunking the cost of post-partum dolas.

About the Guest: Latham Thomas
Latham Thomas is a top women’s health expert, advocate for Black maternal health, entrepreneur, professor, and best-selling author. She started Mama Glow, a global platform for maternal health and education with a community of over 3,000 doulas in the U.S. and around the world, and the Mama Glow Foundation, a nonprofit that works for reproductive justice and birth equity. She serves on several advisory boards, has worked with Mt. Sinai and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield to improve doula access, and in 2022 became a Visiting Professor of Gender and Sexuality Studies at Brown University. Mama Glow’s doula training was the first course of its kind at an Ivy League school.
Latham was named one of Oprah’s Super Soul 100 and has worked with celebrity clients like Alicia Keys and Anne Hathaway. She has written two best-selling books and created the guided meditation program "Peaceful Parenting." She also leads the annual Doula Expo by Mama Glow, which Good Morning America called the "Coachella for Birth Workers." With more than 20 years of experience, she is a respected speaker and advocate for better maternal health around the world.
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Momcozy
Website | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram | Mother’s Day Sale 

Latham Thomas
Mama Glow Website | Mama Glow Foundation Website  Instagram

About the Podcast: Momcozy Village – Together We Grow
Momcozy Village: Together We Grow is a podcast where moms gather to learn, share, and support each other. Hosted by Natalie Gouché, each episode features inspiring conversations on motherhood: from career transitions to mental health and beyond.
Backed by Momcozy, makers of innovative wearable breast pumps and cozy nursing bras, the podcast is part of a movement to empower moms through every phase of early motherhood.

Enjoying the Show?
Subscribe so you never miss an episode. If you’re enjoying the conversations, consider leaving us a 5-star review—it helps us grow the village and support more moms.

Follow Koala Tots for more calming bedtime stories, or listen ad-free with bonus sleepy compilations on Koala Tots Plus  https://koalatots.supercast.com
 
Narrated by Abbe Opher
Music by Sokratis Seirlis
Instagram: @koalakids.fm

By 2026, 14 states and Washington DC will have paid family leave policies. Still, many parents are unaware that they might qualify. Despite this, only two out of five parents actually utilize these benefits.
With so much information out there, how can parents figure out their rights and talk to their employers about taking leave?
In this episode of Momcozy Village: Together We Grow, Natalie Gouché talks with Nina Harstad, Director of PaidLeave.AI. This new tool from Moms First helps answer questions about leave rights at work.
Nina explains that PaidLeave.AI uses artificial intelligence to help parents find out if their state has a paid family leave program, estimate their eligibility, and get support with applications. This is especially helpful for people without strong HR support or those with complex work situations, such as part-time, gig, multiple jobs, or self-employment.
Nina points out that there are often-overlooked benefits for dads and non-birthing partners, such as Colorado’s paid NICU leave and New York’s paid prenatal care time. She recommends asking HR to review all paid and unpaid leave options and using the tool to help draft letters to employers.
She also shares tips on how parents can start the conversation with HR about taking leave and manage the process smoothly.
Episode Highlights

01:09 – What is PaidLeave.AI?
03:28 – How many parents access paid leave benefits, and who qualifies?
05:46 – Which benefits exist that parents might not know about?
08:36 – How to approach HR when you’re thinking about taking leave.
12:20 – How PaidLeave.AI can help with complicated situations or topics.
16:37 – What other resources are available to parents?
18:35 – If you feel like being a parent is impossible right now, you are not alone.
About the Guest: Nina Harstad
Nina has a background in economic mobility, focusing on expanding access to public benefits for underserved communities. Before joining Moms First, she worked directly with families across Alabama on a cash assistance program, where she saw firsthand how eligible families faced significant barriers navigating systems to access benefits like SNAP and WIC. These experiences shaped her commitment to closing the gap between policy and practice, leading her to Moms First and Paid Leave AI. Her work is also deeply personal, informed by her family’s experience navigating disability leave after her husband developed long COVID, which reinforced her passion for making support systems more accessible during times of crisis.
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Momcozy
Website | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram

Nina Harstad
PaidLeave.AI | Moms First | LinkedIn | A Better Balance |  New York City Childcare Navigator

About the Podcast: Momcozy Village – Together We Grow
Momcozy Village: Together We Grow is a podcast where moms gather to learn, share, and support each other. Hosted by Lalaina Rabary, each episode features inspiring conversations on motherhood: from career transitions to mental health and beyond.
Backed by Momcozy, makers of innovative wearable breast pumps and cozy nursing bras, the podcast is part of a movement to empower moms through every phase of early motherhood.
Enjoying the Show? 
Subscribe so you never miss an episode. If you’re enjoying the conversations, consider leaving us a 5-star review—it helps us grow the village and support more moms.

Follow Koala Tots for more calming bedtime stories, or listen ad-free with bonus sleepy compilations on Koala Tots Plus  https://koalatots.supercast.com
 
Narrated by Abbe Opher
Music by Sokratis Seirlis
Instagram: @koalakids.fm

Many people see being an influencer as a real way to earn money, but what does that actually look like for mom influencers or ‘momfluencers’?
The answer is complex, and highlights a bigger issue: how moms set boundaries and find flexibility in their wider work and lives.
In this episode of Momcozy Village: Together We Grow, new host Natalie Gouché talks with Chelsea Clark, the founder of momfluence, an agency that connects mom influencers with brands.
Together, they talk about how the influencer economy has grown and now offers moms what seems like more flexible work. However, Chelsea points out that the online creator world is not for everyone, and without strong boundaries, burnout can happen very quickly. Many influencers feel pressure to post constantly, including in the evenings and on weekends. Chelsea believes the best approach is to treat influencing like a real job with set hours and time off on evenings and weekends.
As a company founder, Chelsea could easily work nonstop, but in reality, she works about 4-5 hours a day. She drops her kids off at school and picks them up, giving her time to spend with them after school. She says being her own boss helps, but anyone can talk with their employer to find more flexibility.
Chelsea emphasizes that being an influencer is not for every mom, especially if you already have a full-time job and childcare responsibilities.
Episode Highlights

00:43 – How much does Chelsea actually work?
01:35 – An introduction to Chelsea’s strong boundaries around work.
02:45 – Is the world of momfluence as flexible as it sometimes appears?
04:45 – Does not posting all the time make momfluencers less competitive or ambitious?
06:53 – At what point should mom’s treat influencing as a job?
10:57 – What kind of boundaries or flexibility do moms need to do influencer work?
15:16 – How Chelsea’s boundaries let her find her inner strength.
17:00 – Why not having a village of support makes boundaries even more important.
19:06 – Chelsea’s golden advice for moms.
21:21 – The bottom line: Being an ifluencer not for everyone.
About the Guest: Chelsea Clark
As the founder and CEO of momfluence, Chelsea Clark works with brands that want their products to become household names in homes across North America.
Chelsea began her marketing journey supporting mom-founded brands as they built stronger relationships with distributors, retailers, and consumers. As a mom and experienced entrepreneur, she developed a deep understanding of how trust influences the family-shaping purchase decisions moms make every day.
This insight led to the creation of momfluence, a company built to leverage moms’ unique ability to make influential brand decisions and serve as trusted voices for all consumers through recommendation-driven campaigns and strategic creator partnerships.
Connect With Us
Momcozy
Website | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram

Chelsea Clark
momfluence | LinkedIn

About the Podcast: Momcozy Village – Together We Grow
Momcozy Village: Together We Grow is a podcast where moms gather to learn, share, and support each other. Hosted by Lalaina Rabary, each episode features inspiring conversations on motherhood: from career transitions to mental health and beyond.
Backed by Momcozy, makers of innovative wearable breast pumps and cozy nursing bras, the podcast is part of a movement to empower moms through every phase of early motherhood.
Enjoying the Show?
Subscribe so you never miss an episode. If you’re enjoying the conversations, consider leaving us a 5-star review—it helps us grow the village and support more moms.

Follow Koala Tots for more calming bedtime stories, or listen ad-free with bonus sleepy compilations on Koala Tots Plus  https://koalatots.supercast.com
 
Narrated by Abbe Opher
Music by Sokratis Seirlis
Instagram: @koalakids.fm

We’re excited to introduce our new host, Natalie Gouché! Natalie is a wife and mom of four. She’s the founder of New Narratives with Natalie, a community for moms working to break generational cycles, and the Gouché Foundation, a nonprofit that helps parents and kids learn about financial literacy. Natalie also works with Momcozy to host events in Los Angeles.
Connect With Us
Momcozy
Website | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram

Natalie Gouché
Instagram | New Narratives with Natalie | The Gouché Foundation | Website

About the Podcast: Momcozy Village – Together We Grow

Momcozy Village: Together We Grow is a podcast where moms gather to learn, share, and support each other. Hosted by Natalie Gouché, each episode features inspiring conversations on motherhood: from career transitions to mental health and beyond.
Backed by Momcozy, makers of innovative wearable breast pumps and cozy nursing bras, the podcast is part of a movement to empower moms through every phase of early motherhood.
Enjoying the Show?
Subscribe so you never miss an episode. If you’re enjoying the conversations, consider leaving us a 5-star review—it helps us grow the village and support more moms.

Everyone has finances, but many of us aren’t sure where to begin with planning them. Now is the time to let go of any fear of numbers and start preparing for the future.
In this episode of Momcozy Village: Together We Grow, host Lalaina Rabary sits down with Adrianna Adams, Head of Financial Planning at Domain Money.
Together, they discuss the key steps moms should take now to secure their future and plan their finances effectively. The first and most critical step is to audit your finances in full. That means ingoings and outgoings, savings - everything needs to be accounted for, and you need a clear and honest picture of your finances before you can thoroughly plan. 
Secondly, what are your long-term and short-term goals? These may involve adding another child to your family or moving to a bigger place, but the main thing is to know what you're dealing with.
Many moms also overlook estate planning, including drafting a will and appointing a power of attorney. This matters because parents want to make sure their children are cared for if anything happens to them.
A common question parents have is: How much does it take to raise a baby? The answer isn’t simple because it depends on your personal situation. Adrianna says that understanding your finances and planning ahead are the best ways to figure out what you can afford when starting or growing your family.
Overall, Adrianna believes it’s important to look at the big picture. Thinking about your ideal situation and planning backwards can help you feel more at ease and clear about your finances.

Episode Highlights

00:42 – What should expectant moms consider when looking at their finances?
04:46 – What are some steps or considerations that moms overlook?
06:45 –What is an estate plan?
09:15 – How much does it actually cost to have a child?
12:01 – It’s easy to be afraid of your finances if you don’t look at them.
13:44 – It's important to realign your financial goals when you decide to have a family.
15:25 – Having open and honest conversations about finances and work expectations is critical in any partnership.
17:02 – Having a financial planner on board can help you a lot.
18:58 – How far ahead should people start planning their finances?
21:31 – There are lots of things moms can do to help reduce the amount of time they spend on their finances.

24:19  – The three key steps moms can take away to help them control of their finances.
About the Guest: Adrianna Adams
Cleveland native Adrianna has spent her entire career empowering individuals through financial planning. Before joining Domain Money in 2023, she honed her expertise at NCA Financial Planners and Morgan Stanley. 
She is passionate about translating complex financial concepts into goal-oriented, personalized solutions. Adrianna received her Bachelor's degree in Financial Planning from the University of Akron.
Connect With Us
Momcozy
Website | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram

Featured Products
Momcozy Ergowrap Postpartum Belly Wrap

Adrianna Adams
Domain Money | LinkedIn

About the Podcast: Momcozy Village – Together We Grow
Momcozy Village: Together We Grow is a podcast where moms gather to learn, share, and support each other. Hosted by Lalaina Rabary, each episode features inspiring conversations on motherhood: from career transitions to mental health and beyond.
Backed by Momcozy, makers of innovative wearable breast pumps and cozy nursing bras, the podcast is part of a movement to empower moms through every phase of early motherhood.
Enjoying the Show? Please subscribe so you never miss an episode. If you’re enjoying the conversations, consider leaving us a 5-star review—it helps us grow the village and support more moms.

Follow Koala Tots for more calming bedtime stories, or listen ad-free with bonus sleepy compilations on Koala Tots Plus  https://koalatots.supercast.com
 
Narrated by Abbe Opher
Music by Sokratis Seirlis
Instagram: @koalakids.fm