S1E11 "What Black Moms Need To Know About HIV"

S1E14 "Teen Pregnancy Without The Shame"

Teen pregnancy gets talked about like a warning label, but that story leaves out the truth: shame doesn’t prevent pregnancy, and silence doesn’t keep teens safe. I’m unpacking why “teen pregnancy” (before 20) and “geriatric pregnancy” (35 and up) sit on the same timeline and still invite judgment from opposite ends. When fertility can begin as early as nine, the real urgency becomes consent, honest sex education, and support systems that meet young people where they are. I also share how fear-based messaging shows up in families across generations, and how it can quietly place the entire burden on the birthing person. We talk about the mental load of pregnancy, the way plans and identity shift overnight, and why teens often get stuck between being “the child” and being responsible for a child. Just as important, I expand the conversation to include boys and teen dads, because reproductive health and responsibility are never a solo assignment. From Buffalo, New York’s teen pregnancy rates to policies that reduce economic harm, we get practical about what helps: childcare access, education pathways, and community-led solutions built without punishment. I break down how we turn lived experience into real change through parent advocacy and a people-to-policy pipeline, and I name the gaps that still get ignored, like preterm birth, stillbirth, loss, and inclusive support for all families. Subscribe, share this with a parent or mentor, and leave a review so more people can find these conversations. What would a truly safe talk about sex, consent, and support have sounded like for you? Send us a message if you loved the episode, and share your thoughts. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2547763/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2547763/support] Make sure to subscribe on all platforms where you listen to your favorite podcasts, and make sure to like and share! Become a paid subscriber for exclusive bonus content or become a donating listening supporter. Go to www.melinatedmoms.com/podcast [https://www.melinatedmoms.com/podcast] for individual and corporate sponsorship information.

S1E13 "Turning Teen Pregnancy Into Purposeful Doula Work" w/ Chéna Benson-Davis Pt 2

Teen pregnancy can flip a teen’s whole world in a day but the harshest part is often what happens next: the silence, the judgment, and the feeling that your life is already over. We sit with that truth and then push back on it, using real stories and real language about what teens actually need when pregnancy enters the picture: empathy, a plan, and a support system that doesn’t punish them for being human. We talk through the moment of telling a parent, why some families respond with shame, and how that reaction shapes everything from confidence to safety to access to prenatal care and community resources. We also share what we learned from a teen led Planned Parenthood conference where young parents spoke openly about limitations placed on them and the difference between being supported versus being controlled. A big thread is culture and tradition: when teens ask about reproductive health, body autonomy, and changing bodies, too many adults hear “sex” instead of “curiosity” and shut the door. From an intergenerational lens, we dig into how to take teen parenthood out of the margins by building better language, better parent groups, and better pathways to education, mentorship, and services. We also define what “success” can mean for a teen parent and why advocacy has to be part of the story, not an afterthought. If you care about sexual health education, stigma reduction, and supporting teen parents in Black and brown communities, this conversation is for you. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app, share this with a parent who needs a new script, and leave a review so more listeners can find these conversations. What’s one thing you think every teen should be able to ask their parent without fear? Send us a message if you loved the episode, and share your thoughts. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2547763/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2547763/support] Make sure to subscribe on all platforms where you listen to your favorite podcasts, and make sure to like and share! Become a paid subscriber for exclusive bonus content or become a donating listening supporter. Go to www.melinatedmoms.com/podcast [https://www.melinatedmoms.com/podcast] for individual and corporate sponsorship information.

S1E12 "Turning Teen Pregnancy Into Purposeful Doula Work" w/ Chéna Benson-Davis Pt 1

“Who’s going to help you take care of this baby?” That question can sound small, but it can hit like a brick when you’re 19, pregnant, and trying to prove you belong in a space that already doubts you. We sit down with Chéy Davis, owner of Butta Holistic Doula Services, to talk about what teen pregnancy really feels like when you’re a melanated mom balancing college, family expectations, and the stigma that follows young parents into exam rooms. Chéy shares how she tried to make everything “picture perfect” by picking the best OB and hospital, only to realize that planning doesn’t automatically equal support. We unpack how clinical bias and judgment can creep into prenatal care, why it’s so easy to leave appointments feeling shaken, and how a full spectrum doula can help you prep for tough questions, build backup plans, and stay grounded in your own choices around labor, induction, and pain management. If you care about Black maternal health, birth advocacy, and culturally responsive care, this conversation names what many people experience but rarely say out loud. We also go deeper into family dynamics and the generational weight that teen motherhood can bring. Chéy reflects on how elders may react from fear and self-reflection, and why “trust the process” isn’t just a cute line, it’s a survival skill. And the partner piece matters: Chéy tells a powerful story about her husband showing up early and consistently, reminding us that father involvement in pregnancy and postpartum should never be treated like a footnote. Come listen, then share this with someone who needs a reminder that support can change the whole story. Subscribe, leave a review, and send us your biggest takeaway. Send us a message if you loved the episode, and share your thoughts. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2547763/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2547763/support] Make sure to subscribe on all platforms where you listen to your favorite podcasts, and make sure to like and share! Become a paid subscriber for exclusive bonus content or become a donating listening supporter. Go to www.melinatedmoms.com/podcast [https://www.melinatedmoms.com/podcast] for individual and corporate sponsorship information.

S1E11 "What Black Moms Need To Know About HIV"

HIV still gets treated like a “somebody else” topic, and that stigma has real consequences for Black women, Black mothers, and birthing people. We’re naming the quiet parts out loud: what HIV actually is, how it differs from AIDS, and how fear-based myths can creep into healthcare, relationships, and even the way we parent. If you’ve ever felt awkward asking for an HIV test, unsure what’s included in a routine STI panel, or worried about how a provider might judge you, you’re not alone and you deserve better care. We also get practical about HIV prevention and sexual health. We walk through how HIV can be transmitted and why prevention should start before pregnancy, not only once you’re expecting. Then we break down today’s prevention options in plain language: PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) for people who are HIV negative, and PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) after a potential exposure. We talk about how these tools fit into reproductive health, prenatal care, preconception counseling, and family planning, including real questions you can bring to your OBGYN and ways to start the conversation with a partner. From public health data on HIV rates among Black women to community campaigns that move us from “risk” to “reason,” we keep the focus where it belongs: compassion, awareness, and autonomy. We also reflect on what it looks like to raise kids in a world where stigma creates secrets, and how honest conversations at home can be a form of protection and advocacy. Subscribe wherever you listen, share this with a mom who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find these conversations. What question do you want to ask your provider after listening? Send us a message if you loved the episode, and share your thoughts. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2547763/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2547763/support] Make sure to subscribe on all platforms where you listen to your favorite podcasts, and make sure to like and share! Become a paid subscriber for exclusive bonus content or become a donating listening supporter. Go to www.melinatedmoms.com/podcast [https://www.melinatedmoms.com/podcast] for individual and corporate sponsorship information.

S1E10 "Motherhood Meets HIV Advocacy" w/ Lynette Trawick Pt 3

Raw, honest, and necessary: we sit down for part 3 of our conversation with HIV advocate and mom of a blended family, Lynette Trawick, to talk about what it really takes to plan pregnancy, protect your health, and raise self-aware kids while pushing back on stigma. From preeclampsia and medication changes to breastfeeding limits and delivery planning, we walk through the practical steps that help Black mothers feel prepared, respected, and supported by their care teams. The message lands hard and loving—providers should initiate family-planning conversations, and we deserve the time to ask every question on our list. We explore the “strong Black woman” myth and why retiring the cape is an act of care, not failure. Lynette shares how to hold resources accountable, invite fathers into the work, and teach children consent, testing, and body literacy without shame. We talk social media pushback, why education beats clapbacks, and how sharing links from organizations like The Well Project and Black Ladies in Public Health gives people quiet pathways to learn when they’re not ready to disclose. You’ll also hear about dandelions—people born with HIV or diagnosed early—whose lives reveal the realities of long-term survival and accelerated aging. That perspective reshapes how we think about risk, prevention, and early screening for heart and brain health. Most of all, we underline the power of mixed spaces where HIV-positive and HIV-negative women grow together, trade stories, and watch stigma shrink in real time. Want to connect with Lynette or bring her to your community? We share direct ways to reach her and her nonprofit so you can turn conversation into care. If this resonated, subscribe, share with a friend who needs to hear it, and leave a review to help more moms find this space. Your voice helps the next mother feel seen. Send us a message if you loved the episode, and share your thoughts. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2547763/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2547763/support] Make sure to subscribe on all platforms where you listen to your favorite podcasts, and make sure to like and share! Become a paid subscriber for exclusive bonus content or become a donating listening supporter. Go to www.melinatedmoms.com/podcast [https://www.melinatedmoms.com/podcast] for individual and corporate sponsorship information.