Amanda is joined by her long time friend and co-worker Ivana Gustin. Ivana is a mother who resides here in Hamilton and is a mental health advocate herself. She is here to share her story and to break the stigma that is still surrounding mental health, especially when it comes to mothers.

Included in this episode:

• Ivana shares that she struggled with depression before she had children, what it felt like to her, how she asked for help and what she did to support herself through this chapter.
• PTSD - How this diagnosis became a part of Ivana's life.
• Medication during pregnancy - How Ivana decided what was best for her and her baby.
• How Ivana advocated for herself to keep her mental health a float during her pregnancy.
• What her postpartum period looked like and how Postpartum depression presented for her.
• Real Mom Talk is alllllll inside this episode. Get ready to feel seen and heard with this one.

Follow Ivana on IG @ivana.gustin

Don't forget to grab your at home meal kit with SPATULA Foods!

Head to www.spatulafoods.com and use the code HONEST for $40 off your first order!

Amanda is joined by Megan Martin who is another author inside the Honest as a Mother Book 3 to chat about teen pregnancy and adoption.

Included in this episode:

• Megans experience as a co-author and why now was the right time for her to share her story.
• How Megan started healing herself and ridding herself from the stigma and shame attached to adoption.
• How writing helped Megan heal.

Follow Megan on IG @megatwinmom

Purchase the EBOOK on Amazon and donate to Floras Walk here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CX57PL55?ref_=pe_93986420_775043100

Amanda is joined by Kayla Huszar who is a therapist who specializes in Expressive Art Therapy for Moms to share her story to shed more light on Maternal Mental Health.

Included in this episode:

• Kayla shares her story of when she became a mother and how is was nothing as she expected.
• Her struggles with Postpartum Depression and how this manifested for her.
• How she started to heal, and how she had to give herself the permission to get better - you know you relate to this one.
• Advice for moms who are also struggling.

Follow Kayla on IG kayla.huszar

Purchase a copy of Honest as a Mother Book 3 here: https://www.amazon.ca/Honest-Mother-Personal-Essays-Motherhood-ebook/dp/B0CX57PL55/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1F4YIKU3NWPEJ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.YCbbKWg_M6CjRrfrNE4-RkpioF_ATcFSaVECQ3chP3J62Kv5SHGCvQhANeHJO66CU3NVzubTiHPCPF-zQR01u1wgHpTrAbKv64d0oyeS-GfJn41DMp6kkQOJlio811S_xVpF5oElbwsVKQ5pJcOXVEt9iteS1UnuhpJC0q1GyBaRWj_xFs4wh21iHG5qAMZ9wmbbBPMQR3sfyl9SI0g-cLixHmnxpV7wQ27UA0jG-jhwbeQZfgz39JpRy5GxaQmSz9x17nks3yxKDJ4FCVdfN-3nQ8V_gn6woKx5YV0kMsg.gz240IydeyHaiVnpMC7Zq5AGKafYcxicYvqiJ6sJtKI&dib_tag=se&keywords=honest+as+a+mother+book+3&qid=1714348523&sprefix=honest+as+a+%2Caps%2C104&sr=8-1

Amanda is joined by Lisa Wright who is one of the authors in Honest as a Mother Book 3 to share her story and her experience as a co-author.

Included in this episode:

• Lisas experience as a co-author and why she feels that this was the right time to share her story.
• Gender disappointment. What is it? Why is it so "taboo"? and Lisa's experience with it.
• Moms mental health, why we need to speak more freely about our feelings.

Follow Lisa on IG @momofthreepodcast

Preorder your EBOOK copy of Honest as a Mother Book 3 here: https://www.amazon.ca/Honest-Mother-Personal-Essays-Motherhood-ebook/dp/B0CX57PL55/ref=zg_bs_g_5790834011_d_sccl_100/140-8685367-6972761?psc=1

**All proceeds of this Ebook preorder will be donated to Flora's Walk in support of Maternal Mental Health**

Amanda is joined by Eleni Opperwall, who is a social worker here in Hamilton Ontario to talk about Flora's Walk, and the importance of maternal mental health.

**TRIGGER WARNING**

This episode included conversation of postpartum psychosis and suicide.

Included in this episode:

• Flora's story - Eleni beautifully lays out what happened with Flora and how Flora's Walk came to be.
• The importance of Flora's Walk and the message behind it all.
• A beautiful and honest conversation about mental health supports here in Canada and what Flora's Walk and CPMHC are aiming to do with our federal government.
• The importance of community and motherhood and why so many mothers have not been able to move forward post COVID.

Come participate in Flora's Walk on Wednesday May 1 at 9:30 am @ Hamilton City Hall.

Purchase a copy of Honest as a Mother Book 3, The E book, and ALL proceeds will be donated back to Flora's Walk in support of Maternal Mental Health. Purchase your copy here: https://www.amazon.ca/Honest-Mother-Personal-Essays-Motherhood-ebook/dp/B0CX57PL55

Follow Flora's walk on IG @floraswalkhamilton

Follow Eleni on IG @eleniotherapy

Donate to Flora's Walk: https://floraswalk.ca/en/t/team-hamilton

Check out the Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative: https://cpmhc.ca/

Work with Eleni: https://www.eleniopperwallcounselling.com/

Amanda is joined by another incredible author from the Honest as a Mother Book 3 series which is launching MAY 1!!!

Included in this episode:

• Jacquelyn shares why now was the right time for her to share her story.
• She shares some of her experience with anxiety as well as Postpartum Anxiety and how it shaped her fourth trimester.

Follow Jacquelyn on IG @crafttableco

Follow Amanda on IG @amanda.gurman

Amanda is joined by Psychologist, and author of the book "Solving the ADHD Riddle", Connie McReynolds to chat about ADHD, and diving deeper into what is going on inside our children's brain.

Included in this episode:

• Connie explains what audio and visual processing is, and what red flags we may see in our children if there is a processing issue.
• Why the "label" may not always be supportive to our children and why we should look deeper.
• Connie shares experiences from past and current clients, how solving this ADHD riddle has changed the lives of many people.

Work with Connie and purchase her book : https://www.conniemcreynolds.com/

Amanda is joined by Holistic Trauma Recovery Coach Emily Cleghorn to talk about how the body stores trauma, and why it tends to come bubbling to the surface once we become mothers.

Included in this episode:

• Emily shares with us what Trauma can look like inside our bodies.
• Cortisol - what is it and why is it so important to understand the impacts it can have.
• Why Motherhood seems to be the "reason" our trauma shows back up.
• How can a Trauma Recovery Coach help people who are trying to work through their journey.

Follow Emily on IG @emily.cleghorn.coach

Work with Emily here: https://home.mendedmamalife.ca/