Why does the trash matter more than sex? Why do new moms feel like they’re drowning—and new dads feel helpless? And is “mom brain” actually… genius? Erin and Abe go deep with psychologist Dr. Nicole Pensak on what nobody tells you about postpartum life—and how couples can stay close through the chaos.

Maria Shriver's, The Sunday Paper 9 writers, policymakers, and big thinkers on what women really want and need from their village right...

In this episode, I’m joined by clinical psychologist and author Dr. Nikki Pensak to talk all about the postpartum brain—what’s really happening neurologically after birth, why it can feel so overwhelming, and how we can shift the narrative from “mom brain” to one of strength and growth. Dr. Nikki breaks down the science behind the brain’s transformation in motherhood, explains why this time can leave us feeling so emotionally rattled, and shares practical tools for calming ne

Dr. Nicole Pensak is on a mission to rebrand the mommy brain. As a clinical psychologist, author of “RATTLED: How To Calm New Mom Anxiety With The Power Of The Postpartum Brain,” and mother of two, Dr. Pensak knows how difficult the postpartum period can be. She joins Danielle and Simone to dive into the profound changes that occur during matrescence, and how to leverage them to your advantage.

Today I knelt on the floor, changing my son’s diaper. I placed my index finger along the ridges of indentation on his skin, just below his hip, as I loosened the tape. My brain instantly cued me to comfort him, anticipating that he might start to cry. It’s one of the many essential tasks on my unending mental to-do list. 

This week Dr. Kim is talking with Dr. Nicole Pensak. Dr. Nicole Pensak is a Harvard and Yale-trained Clinical Psychologist certified in Postpartum Mental Health and the Author of RATTLED, How to Calm New Mom Anxiety with the Power of the Postpartum Brain.

I thought I was alone navigating this Scylla and Charybdis of modern life—utter surrender to technology on one side or massive resistance on the other-until I talked with fellow psychologist and motherhood expert Nicole Pensak.

I used to treat women suffering from postpartum depression — then I became one. I hadn’t slept for five days when I dropped to my knees and curled up in the fetal position on my newborn son’s nursery room carpet. Maybe on the floor, I’d feel safe.

So many changes happen in the transition to motherhood, and these shifts run the gamut from physical, mental, emotional, and social...