The Momversations Project

Johannah talks to Stephanie Martignetti, an abortion rights activist and Broadway performer about her experiences advocating for reproductive justice, the challenges she faced as a parent artist acting in a Broadway show while pregnant, and how our parenting choices as millennials can differ so substantially from previous generations.

Content disclosure: This episode features frank discussion about reproductive justice, including our support of a woman’s fundamental right to bodily autonomy. We discuss our views of abortion as essential healthcare.

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Molly Claassen speaks with women who have struggled with lactation and breastfeeding/chestfeeding/bodyfeeding about the issues they have faced; and then with experts on lactation about the way forward to ensure that every person who wants to has the right to feed their baby their milk.

Our Momversationalists:

Christina Baal-Owens, momversationalist on Episode 3

Katie Mohammadian, momversationalist on Episode 2

Lauren Morris, a HELLP syndrome survivor and NICU mom

Our Experts:

Katie DiMarco Ruck, an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and certified breastfeeding specialist

April Castillo, momversationalist on Episode 5 and a physician doing a second residency in preventive medicine focusing on breastfeeding as medicine and maternal and infant health)

Content disclosure: This episode contains discussion of the birth of a premature infant, as well as detailed and frank discussion of issues relating to breastfeeding/chestfeeding and discussion of racial and income-based disparities.

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For more about toddler and infant nutrition, follow April Castillo, MD on Instagram at @cabbagepatchdocs

Molly and Emily interview April Castillo, a physician doing a second residency in preventive medicine focusing on breastfeeding as medicine and maternal and infant health. April shares the harrowing story of the loss of her son due to doctors dismissing her concerns. She also shares her experience as a mother in a multiracial family.

Content disclosure: This episode contains a detailed description of a stillbirth, preeclampsia, near death of a mother postpartum, medical misogyny and racism.

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Molly interviews Tracy Ward about her motherhood journey as a single mom by choice.

Content disclosure: This episode contains conversations about the stigma of single motherhood, minoritzed identity, infertility, and adoption.

Johannah interviews Christina Baal, founding executive director of public wise a national voting rights organization that fights for equity in Democracy. She served as the New York state organizing director on the Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign while pregnant with her first daughter.

Content disclosure: This episode contains conversations about fertility, nursing, pumping, challenges of the pandemic, loss of income, racial disparities, political advocacy, the January 6th insurrection, and immigration. 

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Molly interviews Katie Mohammadian, a teacher and mom of two, about her experience going into labor 18 weeks early, as well as her journey as a long-term NICU mom.

Content disclosure: this episode contains frank discussion of the life or death choices involved in the delivery of and care for an extremely premature infant. The infant in question is now a healthy toddler. Medical procedures, such as labor and delivery, intubation, operations on infants, and cerclage, are discussed in detail.

The Momversations Team introduce themselves and their relationship to the word “mom.”

Content Disclosure: This episode centers on gender identity and parenthood identity. We discuss the different names our children call us and our partners. We mention parental preference, developmental milestones, traumatic childhood experiences, death of grandparents, birth, and breastfeeding/chestfeeding.

This podcast is the FIRST STEP in a much larger project!

We're raising funds to produce The Momversations Project, our first company-created multi-format devised work created by, with, & for Mothers!

Using interviews with Mothers, Birthing People, & those who work with them, we are creating:

– The Momversations Project Podcast

– The Momversations Project Touring Theatrical Production

– The Momversations Project: Digital Edition

Our next stage of project development involves getting to a performance draft of the script through a devising and workshopping process.

In order to achieve our first workshop production at the National Women's Theatre Festival from July 28-31, we need to raise at least $10,000 more, but our initial crowdfunding goal is to raise $4000 to pay stipends to a cast of 5 Mothers and a stage manager.

Nothing will stop us from bringing The Momversations Project to fruition. It's too important, BUT lack of funding will slow us down. We believe it's important to compensate artists and collaborators while assisting with their family needs. To do that, we really do need your help!