Breaking the Silence on Infertility, IVF, and Miscarriage with Ali Prato

In this candid conversation, Ali Prato, journalist, author, and host of the Infertile AF podcast, opens up about her deeply personal journey through secondary infertility, including several miscarriages before ultimately welcoming her son through IVF. Feeling isolated and frustrated by the lack of honest dialogue and resources around infertility, Ali transformed her experience into advocacy, launching her podcast to share real stories and build a supportive community for others navigating similar paths. She also discusses the creation of the Fertility Rally, a powerful space designed to connect and uplift people facing infertility. Ali and Tara explore why open conversations about fertility are so essential to reducing stigma and helping families feel less alone. Ali also shares how her children’s books aim to normalize discussions around assisted reproductive technology and modern family building. The conversation expands into broader modern parenting challenges, from navigating technology and social media to raising kids in an increasingly high-pressure world, while emphasizing the importance of honesty, empathy, and community support when talking with children about their origins and family stories. If you are experiencing infertility, listen to this episode and remember you are not alone. Links: https://www.infertileafgroup.com/ https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/infertile-af-infertility-and-modern-family-building/id1457516002 https://www.instagram.com/fertilityrally/ https://www.fertilityrally.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this honest and energizing conversation, Tara sits down with Tyler Moore, known online as Tidy Dad, to talk about what it really means to raise a family in a world obsessed with perfection. Tyler opens up about how his own mental health journey led him to organization, and why decluttering isn’t just about having a picture-perfect home. It’s about creating peace. They dive into the pressure modern moms feel to maintain Instagram-worthy spaces, how social media fuels unrealistic comparisons, and why the concept of “just enough” living might be the permission slip so many of us need. Tyler shares practical, doable strategies for overwhelmed parents, starting with a powerful mindset shift, organize yourself before you organize your family. They discuss why communication around clutter matters, how parents must take ownership of what enters their homes, and why decluttering can actually be therapeutic. Most importantly, Tyler reminds us that balance doesn’t come from meeting society’s expectations. It comes from honest conversations, self-awareness, and building rhythms that work for your unique family. If you’ve ever felt buried under stuff (or standards), this episode will feel like a deep, cleansing exhale. Links: https://thetidydad.com/ https://thetidydad.com/qrbook https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tidy-tidbits/id1816271318 tidydad.substack.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Tara sits down with Sydney Quiseng of Echosmith for an honest, grounding conversation about music, identity, and parenthood. Sydney opens up about the joy and anticipation she feels as she prepares to become a mom, and how that season inspired her newest song, “That’s My Baby (On Main Street).” Tara and Sydney talk about the evolution of her sound toward a more coastal-country feel, the role nature plays in her creativity, and how past songs like “Cool Kids” were born from her own journey toward self-acceptance. She also shares her deep love for Japanese culture and language, and how those influences quietly shape her artistry. Sydney doesn’t shy away from the real conversations, what it means to slow down, be present, and intentionally step back from work to bond with her baby. They dive into the complicated role the internet plays for modern parents, both as a lifeline and a source of anxiety, and why tuning into your own instincts matters more than ever. This conversation is a reminder that becoming a mother doesn’t end creativity. It transforms it, and Sydney is just beginning to imagine how this next chapter will show up in her music and her life. Links: https://www.sydneyquiseng.com/ https://www.instagram.com/sydneyquiseng Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Tara sits down with Cameron Normand of Stepfamily Solutions and host of the Stepmom Diaries podcast to unpack the realities of blended family life and why stepmoms face a unique (and often overlooked) emotional load. Cameron shares her own path into stepfamily coaching and explains why stepfamilies aren’t just “nuclear families with extra people.” They’re a completely different dynamic that requires patience, boundaries, and a lot of self-compassion. Together, they explore the mental health challenges stepmoms face, the impact of ex-partners, the emotional weight of transition days, and why striving to be the “perfect” stepmom is a fast track to burnout. This conversation is honest, validating, and full of reminders that doing your best doesn’t mean doing it all. If you’re a stepmom, love a stepmom, or are part of a blended family, this episode will make you feel seen and remind you that you’re not failing, you’re figuring it out. Links: https://stepfamilysolutions.com/ https://stepfamilysolutions.com/podcast/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

FIRST AIRED APRIL 25, 2023 As parents, we often want to shield our children from the realities of the world, but it's ultimately impossible to do so. When children do hear about the news, it's important to have open and honest conversations with them.  In this episode of the "Modern Mom Probs" podcast, Tara interviews Tracy Leeds Kaplan, the founder of Small But Mighty Media and creator of the popular podcast "The Ten News," about how to talk with children about the news. They discuss the importance of age-appropriate news sources for kids, the challenges of discussing sensitive topics, and the need for giving yourself space to be emotional. They also touch on the challenges of parenting in the digital age and finding time for family discussions. Tracy emphasizes the importance of listening and using age-appropriate language when discussing heavy news topics with kids. If you’ve ever been at a loss for words, listen to this episode.  Links: https://www.thetennews.com/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ten-news-news-for-curious-kids/id1514325670 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/for-the-grown-ups-how-to-talk-to-your-kids-about-gun-violence/id1514325670?i=1000607581233 Support the show Follow & DM me @modernmomprobs Pick up my book Leave a review Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

BLAST FROM THE PAST: FIRST AIRED DECEMBER 26, 2023 Tara welcomes Dr. Aliza Pressman, developmental psychologist, author, and host of the wildly popular podcast Raising Good Humans. She shares insights from her groundbreaking new book, "The Five Principles of Parenting: Your Essential Guide to Raising Good Humans." Tara and Dr. Aliza discuss the challenges of modern parenting, what it means to raise good humans, the importance of maintaining strong parent-child relationships, and the concept of repair in relationships. Dr. Aliza explains that rules are not meant to hinder the relationship or sensitivity of caregiving, but rather to ensure safety and provide structure. She emphasizes the importance of finding support that resonates with each individual parent's values and beliefs, as well as filtering out the noise and focusing on what truly matters, which can be difficult given today’s climate of information overload. Dr. Aliza acknowledges that no parent is perfect and through storytelling, she illustrates that it is essential to show children that perfection is not attainable and that being flawed is part of being human. If you want to foster a stronger parent-child relationship and want to tap into the five principles of parenting, listen to this episode! Links: Website: https://draliza.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raisinggoodhumanspodcast/ Newsletter: https://dralizapressman.substack.com/ Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/raising-good-humans/id1473072044?i=1000622613224 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

BLAST FROM THE PAST: FIRST AIRED NOVEMBER 14, 2023 In this episode, Tara welcomes Alyssa Blask Campbell, CEO of Sew and Seed. Alyssa is a trusted expert in emotional development and the host of the popular podcast "Voices of Your Village." The conversation centers around Alyssa's new book, "Tiny Humans, Big Emotions: How to Navigate Tantrums, Meltdowns, and Defiance to Raise Emotionally Intelligent Children." Alyssa shares that the book is based on Collaborative Emotion Processing (CEP), a method for being with and moving through hard things. She and her colleague, Lauren Stauble developed this method after realizing that traditional behavior-focused approaches were not effective in real-life parenting situations. They wanted to create a comprehensive approach that focuses on the adult's self-awareness and self-care, as well as the interaction between adults and children. Tara and Alyssa discuss the importance of emotional intelligence and its impact on daily life. Alyssa shares how her perspective on emotional intelligence shifted when she started envisioning a world where these tools were accessible to everyone, including her own child and future generations. She emphasizes the need for emotional intelligence in adults, especially those in positions of power, so they can support others and model healthy ways of navigating difficult situations. Alyssa explains that emotional intelligence consists of five components: self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, social skills, and motivation. She highlights the significance of self-awareness, as it is the foundation for regulating emotions and accessing the other components. Alyssa uses personal examples, such as a social media backlash, to illustrate the importance of recognizing dysregulation cues and taking a step back before responding. They also touch on empathy and how it is best taught through modeling. Instead of claiming to understand exactly how someone feels in a given situation, she suggests connecting with the emotions someone is experiencing, rather than focusing on why they are feeling that way. If you’re interested in teaching your children empathy, you should listen to this episode! Links: https://www.seedandsew.org/ https://www.instagram.com/seed.and.sew/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Tara Clark sits down with developmental psychologists Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek and Dr. Roberta Golinkoff to talk about what kids actually need to thrive and why so many well-meaning parents are more stressed than they need to be. Drawing from their book Einstein Never Used Flash Cards: How Our Children Really Learn and Why They Need to Play More and Memorize Less, the conversation tackles the pressure cooker of modern parenting and gently reminds us that kids aren’t falling behind because they’re not memorizing enough… they’re learning through connection, curiosity, and play. Together, they debunk some of the biggest parenting myths out there, including the idea that learning has to be forced, formal, or screen-based to count. Kathy and Roberta explain why play and imagination are foundational to child development, how everyday moments can be surprisingly powerful learning opportunities, and why children learn best when they’re ready. They also highlight how games and playful interactions help build crucial skills like self-regulation, social connection, and emotional understanding. The conversation also takes a thoughtful look at technology and its role in family life, encouraging parents to use it as a tool, not a replacement for real human interaction. This episode is a permission slip to relax, tune into your child’s feelings, and enjoy the parenting journey a little more. With practical insights and deeply reassuring wisdom, Kathy and Roberta remind us that caring for ourselves and savoring the small moments may be one of the most impactful things we can do as parents. Links: https://www.instagram.com/drkathyanddrro/ https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/594245/einstein-never-used-flash-cards-revised-edition-by-kathy-hirsh-pasek-phd-and-roberta-michnick-golinkoff-phd-with-diane-eyer-phd/9780593980767/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Tara sits down with popular content creator of @ThatDarnChat, Fair Play Facilitator, and author of the new book No More Mediocre, Laura Danger for an honest, validating, and occasionally uncomfortably relatable conversation about domestic labor, mental load, and why so many partnerships quietly slide into mediocrity. They unpack how the pandemic cracked things wide open exposing just how uneven household responsibilities really are and why so many couples are still struggling to rebalance things years later. Spoiler: it’s not because anyone’s “bad at helping,” it’s because the entire concept of help is part of the problem. Laura and Tara dig into the cultural conditioning that shapes our expectations at home, from who notices what needs to be done to who feels responsible for making sure it gets done. They explore the difference between expectations and standards (yes, they are not the same thing), and how unmet expectations can quietly turn into resentment, disconnection, and even feelings of betrayal. The conversation also touches on why mediocre relationships are so often tolerated (and normalized) especially for women and mothers who were taught to lower the bar and keep the peace. Drawing from her book No More Mediocre, Laura makes a powerful case for intentionality in domestic roles and communication, emphasizing that equity doesn’t happen accidentally. Tara and Laura also reflect on how online conversations have helped name the mental load and bring language to something so many parents feel but couldn’t quite articulate. If you’ve ever felt exhausted by carrying the invisible work at home, or wondered why “just tell me what to do” isn’t the solution, this episode will make you feel seen, validated, and maybe a little fired up (in a good way). Links: https://www.lauradanger.com/ https://www.instagram.com/thatdarnchat/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Tara is joined by Dr. Kim Van Dusen, a marriage and family therapist, founder of The Parentologist, podcaster, and author of Parenting through Play: Creative Strategies for Building Better Behavior, Deeper Connection, and Positive Communication, who specializes in play therapy, for a conversation that feels equal parts validating and practical. They explore why play isn’t just “extra” in parenting. It’s essential. As parents, we tend to reach for conversation to connect, but kids speak a different language, and that language is play. Kim shares how breaking down our own barriers to play (time, guilt, exhaustion, the belief that we’re “bad at it”) can completely shift the parent–child relationship and create real connection, even in short, simple moments. Tara and Kim also talk about how play evolves as kids grow, and how it can be used strategically, even for things like behavior challenges, homework battles, and chore resistance. Kim explains how understanding what’s happening emotionally for our kids can dramatically improve behavior, and how playful approaches can reduce power struggles while lowering stress for everyone involved. The big takeaway? Play doesn’t have to be complicated to create connection. Sometimes the simplest activities have the biggest impact. Links: https://theparentologist.com/ https://www.instagram.com/theparentologist/ https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/parenting-through-play-kim-van-dusen-psyd/1148218068 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.