A Message (Payam Banifaz)

Mystical creature Ellie Kovara visited her mom in a dream before her birth. Despite a lifelong fear of water, according to folklore Ellie will never drown because she was born en caul (with her amniotic sac intact.) In this veiled and otherworldly episode, Ellie discusses viking funerals, incompatible grief, pregnant friends, and the surprising effect Griffith Park Travel Town may have had on her own miraculous birth.

In this truly expansive episode, actor, comedian, and Pisces/water monkey Chris Renfro tells the story of being born blue, while reflecting with empathy on his mom's journey from the Philippines. In a parallel reality Chris is a physicist (and possibly dead) and this conversation probes deep questions in the quantum realm, touching on the existence of aliens, consciousness, multiple dimensions, and friend jealousy.

Actor, stand-up, and surprisingly infrequent podcast guest Elaine Carroll grew up Catholic and has some strong thoughts about Jesus, reincarnation, and the failures of modern birth and parenting culture. She also serves as a cautionary tale to any babies who want to eat dirt.

This week writer, podcaster, and only child Shaun Diston reads a tender letter from his mom, and in the process learns some surprising details about a scarier moment from his birth. Shaun also talks about rolling around "a lot" in the womb and being a rude baby at church, and ponders the mystical power behind numerology, the pineal gland, and giving birth at home.

Will Hines is an actor, improv teacher, inside kid, and older brother to not just one, but two boys. On this week's episode Will reveals he was a "serious" baby, reflects tenderly on brotherhood, shares a story about bringing a baby to show and tell, and changes my mind about Ohio.

Actor, comedian, and aspiring "Iranian cowboy" Payam Banifaz fled a war zone as a young boy. This week on Hey Baby, Payam reflects on the lasting impact of war on a child, shares a story of the prophetic dream that led to his name, and discusses how Orientalism shapes our current narrative about violence in the Middle East, all the while demonstrating how resilience, optimism, and gratitude light the way.

Quadruple threat Lilan Bowden is a director, actor, improviser, and new mom. On this week's episode of Hey Baby, Lilan tells a short story about being born long, reminisces on her own deeply chill pregnancy, and highlights a surprising link between giving birth and CrossFit before leaving us with some powerful, pro-choice words of affirmation.

In the inaugural episode of Hey Baby, comedian/podcast producer Matt Apodaca talks about being being a bad grape jelly boy and what happens when you’re born at Disneyland, plus shares some beautiful words of empathy for his mom.