Mind Body Mother

Life Update: Moving, Mental Health + Why the Podcast is Temporarily Pausing

Details on our upcoming move, why the show is taking a temporary pause and reflections on a decade after moving from the East Coast to the Midwest. This episode is a vulnerable solo on what it was like to struggle mentally while moving away from my home city to Louisville, KY and what this next chapter for our family holds.  I share: -Why this podcast started 4 years after the initial idea due to postpartum depression and anxiety and multiple miscarriages -Bro wellness and biohacking culture vs. women’s health/mom experts who often quietly hold the most valuable wisdom  -Shifting from using your brain to using your heart and intuition to make big decisions, especially as an over thinker or people pleaser -Why I moved to Kentucky and how I struggled moving away from my home city, family and friends -What its like to grieve the loss of a place and relationships and how going to therapy for the first time in my life helped -How my frustration for midwest culture transformed into appreciation over time -Details on our current home’s renovations that happened while having a baby, the early covid days and pregnancy losses -Updates on our new home build and why we are choosing to move from a recently renovated home -Figuring out where to build and how we made an aligned decision on location and timing -Why the show is taking a pause and details on when it’s coming back The Mind Body Mother podcast is coming back in August so make sure you’re subscribed to the show so you get access to new episodes as soon as they drop later this year.  Let’s keep in touch! Send me an email to say hi, set up a free 15 minute coaching call or learn more about 1:1 in person or virtual fitness coaching Helene@helenekusman.com Use code PODCAST for 15% off Helene’s 1:1 Integrative Health Coaching [https://helenekusman.com/coaching] This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice.

Fertility Nutrition For Women + Men, PCOS Support and The Truth About Supplements With Registered Dietitian Ayla Barmmer

When it comes to fertility, what truly matters — and what’s just marketing? In this episode, Helene chats with mom of 2, Registered Dietitian and FullWell Founder Ayla Barmmer to break down evidence-based fertility nutrition for both women and men, PCOS support and what you need to know about prenatal and fertility supplements. Whether you’re actively TTC, planning ahead, navigating PCOS or simply wanting to support long-term reproductive health, this conversation will help you focus on what actually moves the needle — without the overwhelm. We discuss: -What nutrition really matters for fertility (for both women and men) -How early to start focusing on fertility support before trying to conceive -Strategic nutrition tweaks that have the biggest impact -The impact of tobacco, alcohol and environmental toxins on TTC -Specific nutrition, lifestyle and supplement recs for PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) -How to choose supplements- which ones are essential versus catchy marketing -The truth about trendy products like greens powders and colostrum -What you need to know about the supplement industry and choosing effective and high quality products -Ayla’s motherhood journey including postpartum depression and running businesses while mothering You’ll learn why you don’t need an overhaul to optimize women’s and men’s fertility, but instead small, consistent, evidence based changes that have the biggest impact over time. Connect with Helene [https://www.instagram.com/helenekusman/] and the Mind Body Mother Community [https://www.instagram.com/mindbodymotherpodcast/]! Use code PODCAST for 15% off Helene’s 1:1 Integrative Health Coaching [https://helenekusman.com/coaching] Connect with Ayla Barmmer [https://www.instagram.com/aylabarmmer/] and FullWellFetility [https://www.instagram.com/fullwellfertility/] Resource mentioned: PSI postpartum support [https://postpartum.net/] This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice.

The Rise of Anti-Wellness Culture, Orthorexia + How to Avoid Healthy Living Burnout

2026 hit and “clean living” is no longer on trend. In a fast-growing culture shift where drinking green juice and tracking sleep is out, while smoking cigarettes is apparently cool again, Helene Kusman weighs in on the rebellion against diet culture, biohacking and healthy living that has the pendulum swinging hard in the opposite direction. Helene breaks down what’s really behind this trend, why so many women feel burned out by wellness, what orthorexia and an unhealthy obsession with clean living looks like and how to find balance between both extremes. Topics Discussed: * What the anti-wellness trend really is—and why it’s exploding right now * Why “just stop caring” isn’t the freedom it seems * How wellness burnout pushes women toward extremes * What orthorexia looks like in real life (and why it’s often praised) * Questions to ask yourself to bring yourself back into balance * The hidden emotional cost of perfectionism and rebellion * What sustainable, realistic wellness actually looks like * Simple steps for when you feel stuck in an extreme If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by wellness, confused by health trends, or tempted to “opt out” completely… this episode is for you. Download your FREE Nutrition + Wellness Journal [https://helenekusman.com/journal] Connect with Helene [https://www.instagram.com/helenekusman/] and the Mind Body Mother Community [https://www.instagram.com/mindbodymotherpodcast/]! Use code PODCAST for 15% off Helene’s 1:1 Integrative Health Coaching [https://helenekusman.com/coaching] This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice.

The Truth About Postpartum Depression, Perinatal Mental Health + Maternal Health Equity with Dr. Karen Sheffield-Abdullah

Perinatal mood disorders affect 1 in 5 women, postpartum depression impacts 1 in 7 and Black women are 3-4 times more likely to die from pregnancy complications. Helene Kusman sits down with the certified nurse-midwife and nationally recognized researcher Dr. Karen Sheffield-Abdullah to explore the truth about postpartum depression, perinatal mental health and maternal health equity. Dr. Karen shares how stress, anxiety and structural inequities impact pregnancy and postpartum outcomes and offers evidence-based recommendations for meaningful change. Dr. Karen also opens up about her personal journey through three very different unmedicated births—with an OB, a midwife and a home birth—as well as her experience with miscarriage in her 40s. We discuss: * How stress, trauma and systemic factors affect pregnancy and postpartum outcomes * Utilizing non-pharmacological integrative approaches in addition to medication for mental health conditions * Understanding trauma and secondary trauma * Maternal health inequities in the U.S. and why Black and Brown communities are at higher risk * Research-backed strategies to improve perinatal mental health care for all * What healthcare providers and moms can do to advocate for better care * An inside look at the MomGenes postpartum depression research study * Dr. Karen’s journey with her 3 births with an OB, midwife and home birth as well as a miscarriage in her 40s * Self-care, mindfulness and nervous system support for busy moms This eye opening conversation paints a picture of the current state of maternal health and what next steps are on both an individual and societal level. Dr. Karen’s calming voice paired with her in depth knowledge and expertise will leave you feeling informed, educated and empowered! Connect with Helene [https://www.instagram.com/helenekusman/] and the Mind Body Mother Community [https://www.instagram.com/mindbodymotherpodcast/]! Use code PODCAST for 15% off Helene’s 1:1 Integrative Health Coaching [https://helenekusman.com/coaching] You can connect with Dr Karen Sheffield Abdullah on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/beingdrkaren/?hl=en] and at https://www.beingdrkaren.com/ [https://www.beingdrkaren.com/You] You can learn more about the Mom Genes study here [https://momgenesstudy.org/] This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice.

The Science of Women’s Metabolic Health: Weight Loss, Blood Sugar + Longevity with Dr. Meredith Sweeney

Helene sits down with Dr. Meredith Sweeney, weight loss surgeon turned longevity expert, to break down the real science behind women’s metabolic health, body recomposition and long-term longevity. Dr. Sweeney explains how women’s hormones impact blood sugar regulation, insulin sensitivity, fat storage and muscle mass. We discuss key differences between women and men and for women at different stages of life when it comes to nutrition and exercise. If you’ve ever wanted to understand the hype behind CGMs, VO₂ max and other longevity lingo from a women’s perspective, this episode is a breath of fresh air in a male dominated space. We discuss: -Metabolic health for women vs. men and for women at different phases of life -How sleep, stress, nutrition, and exercise impact longevity -Debunking “calories in, calories out” and the truth about what drives fat loss, insulin resistance and energy balance -The impact of muscle on insulin and top exercise recs for longevity -Everything you need to know about CGMs (continuous glucose monitors) and how both Helene and Dr. Sweeney utilize them for long term health -How to rewire your brain and dopamine pathways to prioritize healthy habits -Why V02 Max and fasted insulin are the number 1 predictors of longevity and what you can learn from these stats -A full breakdown on weight loss versus body recomposition and what Dr. Sweeney works on with her patients -Dr. Sweeney’s journey from bariatric surgery to longevity medicine, plus her powerful IVF story leading to her two sons -The connection between spirituality and longevity Listen in for how to improve your metabolic markers, build muscle and rewire your brain for long-term health—without counting calories, obsessing over the scale or forgoing your favorite foods this year! Connect with Helene [https://www.instagram.com/helenekusman/] and the Mind Body Mother Community [https://www.instagram.com/mindbodymotherpodcast/]! Use code PODCAST for 15% off Helene’s 1:1 Integrative Health Coaching [https://helenekusman.com/coaching] Get 2 months free on your annual Levels membership here [https://levels.link/HELENEKUSMAN] Connect with Dr. Meredith Sweeney here [https://www.instagram.com/drmeredithsweeney/] and Sano Longevity here [https://www.instagram.com/sano_longevity/] Learn more about Sano Longevity here [https://www.sanolongevity.com/] This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice.