This one’s for the woman navigating the messy middle of ambition and alignment.

In this deeply personal conversation, I sat down with Dr. Alexandra Stockwell, physician, intimacy coach, mother of four, and one of my own mentors, to talk about what happens when your identity evolves in ways you didn’t plan for… but needed.

She shares what it meant to trade hospital hallways for nesting at home, how being visibly pregnant in med school almost made her fear expulsion, and why a vasectomy reversal after training wasn’t just about adding more kids but about honoring the full, wild truth of their family story.

Together we unpack:

• The invisible shifts that happen when you go from doctor to mother—and how to stay rooted in yourself through it
• What it looks like to build a life that’s deeply aligned, even if it doesn’t follow a traditional timeline
• The marriage lessons that unfolded through sleep deprivation, separate bedrooms, and fourth-year rotations with a baby
• Why her childcare choices were more about humanity than perfection and how that changed how she led at home

Dr. Alexandra Stockwell moved through uncertainty with curiosity, not panic - slowing down, shifting gears, and questioning the “shoulds” she once believed.

If you’ve ever felt torn between your professional identity and the softness of early motherhood or wondered how to stay whole while navigating both, this episode is a reminder that it’s okay to rethink your timeline, honor your pace, and trust that an unconventional path can still lead to a deeply meaningful life.

✨ Press play to hear her story.

What did you think of the episode, doc? Let me know!

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Remember to subscribe to "Stethoscopes and Strollers" on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode of encouragement and empowerment.

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If you feel you need direct support or someone to talk through the unique challenges of being a physician mom, schedule a free coaching session.

...

Hey Doc,

In this bonus episode of Stethoscopes and Strollers, Dr. Alexandra Stockwell returns to talk about one of the most vulnerable and underdiscussed parts of motherhood for physicians: inviting someone else into your home to care for your child.

She shares:

• What it was like to welcome a 17-year-old “au pair before its time” into their small apartment
• How she mentored both of her early nannies with warmth, patience, and real expectations
• Why daily appreciation not just correction is a non-negotiable part of how she led at home
• And how those early childcare setups shaped her values around trust, communication, and shared growth

If you’ve ever felt guilty about needing help at home or questioned whether your childcare setup was “good enough”, this conversation will meet you right where you are.

What did you think of the episode, doc? Let me know!

Grab the Nanny Hiring Checklist here!

Thinking about getting an Au Pair? Get the Au Pair Checklist!

Remember to subscribe to "Stethoscopes and Strollers" on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode of encouragement and empowerment.

Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube

Connect with me.

Website | Instagram | Facebook

Join my Email list to get tips on navigating motherhood in the medical field.

If you feel you need direct support or someone to talk through the unique challenges of being a physician mom, schedule a free coaching session.

...

Hey Hubby,

Yep, I said it. This one’s for you. I know most of my episodes are directed toward Physician moms, but this time I’m talking directly to the husbands.

Not to criticize. Not to complain. But to invite you into a deeper understanding of what your wife is going through right now.

Because when you became a dad, everything changed. Not just for your wife, but for you too. And in this season, when the babies are young and the days are long, it’s so easy to feel disconnected, confused, or unsure of how to really show up for her.

So I’m sharing what I wish my own husband had known in those early years… and what your wife probably wishes you knew too.

This episode is not about blame. It’s about connection.

Here’s what I talk about in this episode:

• Why the version of motherhood you think you know might be outdated (and why that matters)
  
  
  
• The invisible pressure your wife is under (and what you’re not seeing)
  
  
  
• How your childhood is shaping your marriage and what to do about it
  
  
  
• Why your wife’s body isn’t “back to normal” and what she needs from you around intimacy
  
  
  
• Real ways to show up and lighten her mental load without being asked

This is a mindset shift, not a to-do list. And if you let it, this episode might just change everything.

What did you think of the episode, doc? Let me know!

Grab the Nanny Hiring Checklist here!

Thinking about getting an Au Pair? Get the Au Pair Checklist!

Remember to subscribe to "Stethoscopes and Strollers" on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode of encouragement and empowerment.

Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube

Connect with me.

Website | Instagram | Facebook

Join my Email list to get tips on navigating motherhood in the medical field.

If you feel you need direct support or someone to talk through the unique challenges of being a physician mom, schedule a free coaching session.

...

Hey doc,

This one might sting, but it’s worth staying for.

In this episode I am calling out (with love) the high-achieving physician moms who don’t realize the pattern that you’re part of: weaponized perfectionism. Not because you’re mean or controlling. But because you’re capable. Efficient. An intelligent, successful physician mom who knows how to get things done.

But when those same traits spill into your marriage, they can unintentionally block the very support you’re craving.

In this episode, let’s talk about:

• The ways some of us unintentionally sabotage shared responsibility
• How the word “let” reveals power dynamics we don’t always see
• The difference between “letting” him help vs trusting him to lead
• The hidden consequences for your kids (and your future marriage)
• And one big question I want you to think about: Are you weaponizing perfection against yourself?

You didn’t ask to carry it all, but you also didn’t stop yourself from picking it up.

Let him rise.

What did you think of the episode, doc? Let me know!

Grab the Nanny Hiring Checklist here!

Thinking about getting an Au Pair? Get the Au Pair Checklist!

Remember to subscribe to "Stethoscopes and Strollers" on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode of encouragement and empowerment.

Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube

Connect with me.

Website | Instagram | Facebook

Join my Email list to get tips on navigating motherhood in the medical field.

If you feel you need direct support or someone to talk through the unique challenges of being a physician mom, schedule a free coaching session.

...

Hey doc,

This one’s personal.
In honor of Father’s Day (even though we don’t “do” the holiday), I wanted to take a moment to honor the man who made this podcast possible, my husband, Adé.

Not because he edits the episodes or runs the backend (he doesn’t). But because of the stories I share here and the tools I teach, they come from real work, and a real partnership that wasn’t always this way.

This is my thank you to him.
For being willing.
For doing the work.
For loving me enough to grow with me.
And for letting his story be part of this movement to help physician moms build marriages that actually work.

In this special episode you’ll hear:

• Why none of this would be possible without him
• The personal rule I follow before ever sharing our story
• How his growth made room for mine
• And why healing together is the only kind I believe in
  
  

To Adé, thank you.

And to every partner doing the work quietly in the background, this one’s for you too.

What did you think of the episode, doc? Let me know!

Remember to subscribe to "Stethoscopes and Strollers" on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode of encouragement and empowerment.

Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube

Connect with me.

Website | Instagram | Facebook

Join my Email list to get tips on navigating motherhood in the medical field.

If you feel you need direct support or someone to talk through the unique challenges of being a physician mom, schedule a free coaching session.

Free Coaching Session with Dr. Toya

Hey doc,

In this episode of ✨Stethoscopes and Strollers✨, I’m revisiting a live I did called: "The partner you thought you had😩 How gender roles turned your progressive hubby into a 1950s a-hole"

Because let’s be honest: even the most modern, educated, emotionally intelligent men can slide into outdated gender roles once kids come into the picture.

You’re a physician. A mother. A leader. So why do you feel like you’re living a version of your mother’s or grandmother’s life, except now, you're expected to do it all, with a career too?

This conversation is not about blame. It’s about:

• Why “progressive” partners still default to traditional gender roles
• What socialization, family modeling, and unseen expectations have to do with it
• How resentment builds, even in good marriages
• What to do when the dynamic at home doesn’t feel like a partnership anymore

You didn’t marry the wrong man. And you’re not wrong for being exhausted.

Let’s talk about the invisible pressures, the unspoken assumptions, and the tools you can use to make a change without waiting for him to magically “get it.”

Listen to Episode 23 Spouse Skeptic? Navigating Au Pair Objections for Physician Moms to find some of the communication tools that I discussed in this episode.

What did you think of the episode, doc? Let me know!

Grab the Nanny Hiring Checklist here!

Thinking about getting an Au Pair? Get the Au Pair Checklist!

Remember to subscribe to "Stethoscopes and Strollers" on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode of encouragement and empowerment.

Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube

Connect with me.

Website | Instagram | Facebook

Join my Email list to get tips on navigating motherhood in the medical field.

If you feel you need direct support or someone to talk through the unique challenges of being a physician mom, schedule a free coaching session.

...

Hey Doc ,

This month, I’m doing something a little different. Every episode of Stethoscopes and Strollers in June is for the dads.
Not because they deserve a standing ovation.
But because they’re part of the story. Your story.

And I know, this might bring up some feelings.
Especially if you’ve been carrying more than your share of the load.
Especially if it feels like you’ve had to do the emotional labor for everyone, including the person you thought would be your partner.

In this episode, I’m talking about what I now understand to be the real issue behind so much of the frustration I felt in early parenthood:
The expectation gap.

The quiet but powerful beliefs we carry, about how motherhood would feel, what our partner would do, and what we should be able to handle.
Where those expectations come from.
And why they often go unspoken until we’re already at our breaking point.

This isn’t about letting anyone off the hook.
It’s about giving you the insight (and tools) to make change — not just in your marriage, but in your household, your nervous system, and your legacy.

Inside, I share:
🔹 What I expected from my husband… and why it wasn’t fair (or shared)
🔹 Why we confuse socialization with instinct, and how that skews our view of “good parenting”
🔹 What finally helped us start communicating for real
🔹 And how this one shift can change what your kids learn about love and partnership

This one’s for you if you’ve ever felt like:
“I shouldn’t have to ask.”
“I’ve already said this a thousand times.”
Or, “I don’t even know how we got here.”

You’re not alone.
And it can get better.

🎧 Let’s unpack the load, the gap, and the truth, without yelling. (Promise.)

Listen to Episode 33 Debunking the Myth of Maternal Instinct: Why Education trumps 'Intuition' in Parenting

Listen to Episode 42 Behind the Scenes: A Raw Conversation with My Husband About Our Early Parenthood Journey

What did you think of the episode, doc? Let me know!

Grab the Nanny Hiring Checklist here!

Thinking about getting an Au Pair? Get the Au Pair Checklist!

Remember to subscribe to "Stethoscopes and Strollers" on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode of encouragement and empowerment.

Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube

Connect with me.

Website | Instagram | Facebook

Join my Email list to get tips on navigating motherhood in the medical field.

If you feel you need direct support or someone to talk through the unique challenges of being a physician mom, schedule a free coaching session.

...

Hey Doc—

Let’s talk about what it really costs to perform strength.

Dr. Tolulope Olabintan is a family medicine physician, a private practice owner, and a woman of deep faith. She’s also someone who—like so many of us—was raised to be “the strong one.” The Proverbs 31 woman. The helper. The one who keeps going, no matter what.

Because “strong women” don’t sit still.
They endure. Power through. Serve.

But what happens when that identity clashes with your actual humanity?

In this conversation, Dr. Tolu shares her story of postpartum hypertension, pregnancy complications, hospital escapes (yes, literal), and learning to stop performing the role of the unshakable woman.

We talk about:

• How she envisioned herself as a virtuous woman in motherhood — and how that image evolved
• The cost of silence when systems take advantage of your sacrifice
• How postpartum hypertension, fatigue, and guilt finally led her to rewire everything
• What it means to teach others how to love and support you

Dr. Tolu’s story is full of grace, growth, and hard-won clarity.
And you’re going to feel every bit of it.

Dr. Tolulope Olabintan, MD, FAAFP, DipABLM is a Board-Certified Family Physician, Board certified with American Board of Lifestyle Medicine, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. She also completed a Women’s Health Fellowship and is a certified HIV specialist by the American Academy of HIV Medicine. She is fondly called by her patients as "Dr. O."

Dr. O is also the owner and CEO of Livingspring Family Medical Center, a primary care center located in Mansfield, Texas. She has over 13 years of medical experience. She helps patients live long and well as she believes the quantity of life is just as important as the quality of life. She places emphasis on lifestyle changes that help patients thrive throughout life. Furthermore, Dr. O is a life-enthusiast, a Christian, wife, and mom who enjoys good cuisine and can’t get enough of the colors teal and orange.

For more information about Dr. O, you can visit her website and connect with her on

What did you think of the episode, doc? Let me know!

Grab the Nanny Hiring Checklist here!

Thinking about getting an Au Pair? Get the Au Pair Checklist!

Remember to subscribe to "Stethoscopes and Strollers" on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode of encouragement and empowerment.

Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube

Connect with me.

Website | Instagram | Facebook

Join my Email list to get tips on navigating motherhood in the medical field.

If you feel you need direct support or someone to talk through the unique challenges of being a physician mom, schedule a free coaching session.

...