We Didn't Turn Out OK with Jennie Monness

This episode is brought to you in partnership with Spring Fertility. What does it really mean to build a family? As someone who went through IVF myself, I know firsthand how emotional, complicated, and deeply personal the journey to parenthood can be. One thing I always realized during my journey was how much all of the conversations, tests and focus naturally centered around me. It made me realize how often fertility is viewed as a woman’s responsibility, when in reality, building a family has always been about both partners. That’s one of the many reasons I was so excited to sit down with Dr. Nicole Yoder, fertility specialist at Spring Fertility. In this conversation, we don't just discuss fertility treatment. We talk about what fertility care actually looks like today, when it’s time to seek support, the emotional weight of deciding whether your family is complete, and the pressure that comes with that decision. We also dive into a conversation that I believe deserves far more attention: male fertility. Dr. Yoder shares why she advocates for evaluating both partners early in the fertility journey and why approaching family building as a shared experience can save time, reduce unnecessary stress, and help couples feel supported from the very beginning. In this episode, we discuss: Why fertility care is about so much more than IVF When to see a fertility specialist and why many people wait longer than they need to The biggest misconceptions about fertility and family building Why evaluating both partners matters, and the often-overlooked conversation around male fertility The emotional process of deciding whether your family is complete Working parent guilt and the myth of “doing it all” Parenting children whose personalities are different from your own What caring for thousands of families has taught Dr. Yoder about becoming a parent A huge thank you to Spring Fertility for partnering with us on this episode and for the work they do supporting individuals and couples through every stage of the family-building journey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Some conversations change the way you think. Others change the way you see yourself. This was one of those conversations for me. When Alexandra Brook Clark first started getting sick, she knew something was majorly wrong. But after doctor after doctor told her everything looked “normal,” she found herself facing a question so many people have had to ask themselves: Do I trust what everyone else is telling me, or do I trust myself? That question became the thread of this entire episode. Yes, we talk about chronic Lyme disease, mold illness, functional medicine, and creating a less toxic home. But what stayed with me most was Alexandra’s relentless self-advocacy, her willingness to keep searching for answers, and her refusal to let her diagnosis become her identity. One of my favorite parts of our conversation was talking about how easy it is to unconsciously become the anxious one, the sick one, the neurotic one and how healing often means letting go of the identity we’ve built around our suffering. We also explore the role psychedelics played in helping her reconnect with herself, release fear, and find the clarity that ultimately led her to create Armur Health. Whether you’re navigating a health journey, learning to trust your intuition, or simply wondering who you are outside of the hardest thing you’ve ever experienced, I think you’ll find something in this conversation. I absolutely loved this episode, and I can’t wait to hear what resonates most with you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on I’m joined by Kim Ross, founder and CEO of ORA, for a conversation about the invisible pressure so many mothers carry: to build, achieve, nurture, optimize, and somehow do it all without dropping a ball. Kim shares what it’s been like building a fast-growing wellness company while raising children, why she had to let go of the belief that she needed to do everything herself, and how entrepreneurship has forced her to become more flexible than perfect. We also unpack perfectionism, not just how it shows up in business, but how it eventually shapes the way we parent. Kim talks about intentionally letting her children see her make mistakes, apologize, pivot, and adapt, because those moments may be teaching them more than getting everything “right” ever could. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re giving enough to your family, your work, or yourself… this conversation is a reminder that maybe the goal was not doing it all and figuring out how not to. In this episode, we discuss: Building a business while raising young children Why asking for help can feel so uncomfortable The myth of “doing it all” Modeling mistakes and resilience for our kids Balancing ambition with presence Redefining what it really means to have “turned out OK” This episode is for every parent who’s ever felt stretched between the life they’re building and the people they love most. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, I’m joined by Jenna Zoe, founder of My Human Design, the Align app and one of the most recognizable voices in Human Design. While Human Design may not be familiar to everyone, this conversation is ultimately about something much bigger: self-trust. Jenna shares her perspective on the shift we’re seeing from a more collective way of living - where success, parenting, education, and even identity were often defined by external expectations - to a more individual one. How more people are finding the courage to question what they’ve been told, explore different paths, and create lives that feel more aligned with who they truly are. We talk about how Human Design can serve as a framework for understanding ourselves and the people we love - not as a label or limitation, but as a tool for greater awareness and compassion. One of the ideas that resonated most with me was how often our suffering comes from trying to be someone we’re not. As parents, we can unintentionally do the same thing with our children. We may push a slow-to-warm child to be more social, encourage a cautious child to be more adventurous, or assume there is one “right” way to move through the world. What if instead we learned to better understand who they already are? Through her Align app, Jenna helps people discover their Human Design type and use that information to better understand their natural energy, decision-making, relationships, and parenting. The goal isn’t to put ourselves or our children in a box, but to reduce the exhaustion that comes from constantly working against our nature. Whether you’re familiar with Human Design or completely new to it, this episode is an invitation to consider what becomes possible when we spend less time seeking validation outside ourselves and more time learning to trust what already exists within. In this episode, we discuss: • The shift from external validation to self-trust • Why more people are questioning traditional paths and expectations • Human Design as a tool for self-awareness • Understanding your child’s unique temperament and needs • The difference between supporting growth and trying to change who someone is • Alignment, energy, and reducing unnecessary mental suffering Whether we’re talking about Human Design, parenting, or personal growth, I think so much of it comes back to the same thing: spending less time looking outside ourselves for answers and more time learning to trust what we already know (and feel) inside. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week’s episode is a little different. After a recent conversation with a guest discussing psychedelic-assisted therapy and healing, many of you reached out with questions about my own experience and what led me down this path. So today I’m scratching the surface on that personal story. In this short solo episode, I talk about the anxiety I’ve lived with since I was a teenager, the healing modalities I explored over the years, and what ultimately led me to pursue psychedelic-assisted therapy as part of my own journey. This episode is not medical advice, a recommendation, or an endorsement that this path is right for everyone. Psychedelic therapies carry risks, are not appropriate for every person or situation, and should only be considered with qualified medical and professional guidance where available. My intention is simply to share my experience honestly and provide context for why conversations about healing, self-awareness, and personal transformation have become increasingly important to me. As always, take what resonates, leave what doesn’t, and make decisions in partnership with trusted medical professionals. Thank you for listening and for being open to these conversations. ⁠The heart openers behind my journey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices