Myth of Motherhood

Alissa Alter

A podcast by, for, and about moms and those who love them. This is a show devoted to calling out the idealism and perfection that our society places on mothers, while also discussing the often taboo topics that come with transitioning into motherhood. It’s time for us to stop beating around the bush or hiding our struggles so that we can be seen, heard, and way less alone. There’s no one right way to be a mother, there is only YOUR right way. Join me, Alissa Alter | women’s health expert & motherhood advocate to share our stories, let go of mythical expectations, and write our own rules. Also-- can we all agree that showering, going to the bathroom, and being by yourself are NOT luxuries, but basic needs for us to not only survive, but thrive? I think it’s time. read less
Kids & FamilyKids & Family

Episodes

Creating A Hospitable Environment For Pleasure with Danielle Savory
Apr 17 2024
Creating A Hospitable Environment For Pleasure with Danielle Savory
Pleasure doesn’t just show up. You need to invite her to the party. And if your party sucks, she’s gonna be a hard no. See what I did there? Let’s figure out what we need to let go of or leave behind in order to create a hospital environment for pleasure. Let’s plan a panty dropping party she can’t wait to get to.  CLICK HERE to download your FREE workout to find out where your vagina is pointing and get started on your path to confidence, continence, and connection to your body! In this episode: How Danielle recovered from being so ill she was bedridden through healing her deep, inner emotional trauma to live the life she’s meant to live.  Using movement to connect to physical sensations and how that translates to emotional sensations to cultivate safety in your body. Why we need to unwire learned experiences in order to rebuild with intention, safety, and pleasure. Danielle Savory is a Master-Certified coach and pleasure expert helping women use their largest sex organ—their brain—for better sex and a more pleasure-filled life. The host of the “It’s My Pleasure” podcast, Danielle weaves together her background in neuroscience, her expertise in mindfulness and skills as a coach to help women rewire their brains and connect with their bodies for an empowering approach to their sexuality. Learn more about Danielle here and her online membership Turned On Woman here. For more follow her on IG @danielle.savory. This episode is brought to you in partnership with Oh Nut!  You know how when you’re learning to bowl, you can choose a lane with bumpers. These create a physical boundary that help you learn to play the game. To improve whatever the term is for skillfully throwing the ball down the lane. That’s a lot like hat Oh Nut does but which penetration! These silicone donuts do! They are made of 4 interlocking rings, you can customize the depth—without sacrificing sensation.)!!! Ohnut is a simple and convenient way to adjust when penetration feels too deep (eep!).  Explore adding and removing rings at any time with any position, so that both you and your partner can focus on what matters most—each other :)  LEARN MORE HERE and use code ALISSA7 to save $7! If you’re picking up what I’m laying down… SHARE this episode with a friend!  CLICK HERE to download your FREE workout to find out where your vagina is pointing and get started on your path to confidence, continence, and connection to your body! As always I’ve got your back, I’ve got your front, and I’ve got your undercarriage. Follow along on IG @alissaalter
Make Painful Sex A Thing Of The Past with OhNut Founder Emily Sauer
Feb 19 2024
Make Painful Sex A Thing Of The Past with OhNut Founder Emily Sauer
Ever wonder what a penis would look like wearing a pink donut? Me too. Wonder no more because the OhNut is here! And no, it’s not just for decoration! It’s function is even hotter. The OhNut is a wearable silicone sleeve that works like a bumper to control and limit depth of penetration. It’s made up of stacking rings so you can decide what works best for you.  If you’re picking up what I’m laying down…SHARE this episode with a friend!  I’ve been recommending OhNut to clients for years and everyone has been happy with the results. Because the OhNut allows you to relax, knowing that you are safe, and start to explore the possibility of pleasure between the sheets. Whether with a partner or flying solo. Emily has gracious shared a discount code ALISSA7 with us which you can use at www.ohnut.co for $7 off! CLICK HERE to download your FREE guide to the 3 Things You Deserve To Know About Your Vag! In this episode… Options to heal painful sex and how the OhNut works to fascilitate that Finding a sense of safety and control in your body again Getting lost in the cracks of the medical system & creating a holistic approach to care in a divided system Take an active role in your solution to painful sex and include your partner Emily is a spritely entrepreneur who has always been passionate about creating catalysts that spark human connection. While developing Ohnut she co-founded the Lady Bits League, the Pain Perception Project, and Pelvic Gym to connect people and professionals from all over the pelvic health world, through education and story. Emily has redefined her life as a proud entrepreneur, maker, community leader, and patient advocate. Learn more at www.Ohnut.co and follow on IG @ohnutco As always I’ve got your back, I’ve got your front, and I’ve got your undercarriage.
Incontinence Is Common, Not Normal. Here’s What You Need To Know with Urogynecologist Dr. Allison Polland
Jan 22 2024
Incontinence Is Common, Not Normal. Here’s What You Need To Know with Urogynecologist Dr. Allison Polland
Download your free guide to the 3 Things You Deserve To Know About Your Vag here! Despite what Billy Madison said, peeing your pants isn’t cool. And it certainly doesn’t make you Miles Davis. Now, unclench your butt because we are going there! In this episode we cover… What incontinence is and what you can do it about it! You have more options than you think when it comes to treatment and quality of life! What pelvic organ prolapse (aka POP) is and how to get the care you need. You may not need to drink as much water as you think! And other lifestyle and dietary modifications you can explore to support your pelvic health. This renowned Urogynecologists #1 tip on how to care, advocate, and embody your body! Hint: this is where I come in  Dr. Allison R. Polland, is board certified in both urology and urogynecology. She is director of the Maimonides Pelvic Floor Center. Dr. Polland completed her undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering at Yale University before going on to medical school at Columbia University. She completed her general surgery internship and urology residency at Mount Sinai Hospital, before going on to fellowship at Georgetown University.  Dr. Polland is one of the few urologists in the country with cross-specialty training in a gynecology-based Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery fellowship. She performs reconstructive urologic surgery for both women and men, and treats all urologic and urogynecologic issues, including pelvic organ prolapse, urinary and fecal incontinence, pelvic floor disorders, urethral strictures, fistulas, hematuria and recurrent UTIs. Dr. Polland has extensive training in minimally-invasive surgical techniques, including vaginal, laparoscopic, and robotic-assisted surgery.  Dr. Polland has a strong research background with a special interest in women’s sexual health. She has received grants from the Sexual Medicine Society of North America and the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health. She has given lectures in this area of expertise at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and the Mount Sinai Hospital. She has also been recognized for her research on a national level with multiple presentations at national scientific meetings. Learn more about Allison here. Does all of this make you feel a certain way? Download your free guide to the 3 Things You Deserve To Know About Your Vag here! If you’re picking up what I’m laying down go ahead and follow, subscribe, rate, review, and SHARE this episode! Learn more at www.alissaalter.com Follow along on IG @alissaalter As always I’ve got your back, I’ve got your front, and I’ve got your undercarriage.
Trusting Your Center While Mothering a Preteen with Abigail Rasminsky
Nov 27 2023
Trusting Your Center While Mothering a Preteen with Abigail Rasminsky
CLICK HERE to download your FREE guide to the 3 Things You Deserve To Know About Your Vag! This is the first time we’ve brought a guest BACK onto the show! And I’m so happy about it! Abby is a brilliant writer and teacher who I invited on the show because I am a huge fan. We quickly became BFF and now she’s a client of MINE! How do I get so lucky to work with such INCREDIBLE humans?! In the episode… What Pilates For Her Privates has meant to Abby The power of knowing your center, your core while living in the tumultuous environment that is preteen life The impact of finding things for yourself in motherhood Waking up from The 10 Year Nap Abigail Rasminsky is a writer and teacher who works as a Lecturer in the Program in Narrative Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, where she also teaches creative writing to medical students and faculty. Abby runs her own teaching business, where she offers weekly writing classes for women, as well as a popular summer program over Instagram called Abby's Secret Summer School. She holds an MFA in nonfiction writing from Columbia University and a BA from Oberlin College. You can find her writing in the New York Times, Cup of Jo, The Cut, the Washington Post, Food52, Epicurious, Longreads, Dance Magazine, O: The Oprah Magazine, and more. She also writes a beloved weekly newsletter called People + Bodies. A native of Montreal, she lived in Brooklyn for 12 years before moving to Vienna, Austria. After four years as an expat, she now lives in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter. Learn more at www.abigailrasminsky.com and follow on IG @abbyras If you’re picking up what I’m laying down… Follow, subscribe, rate, review, and SHARE this episode!  CLICK HERE to download your FREE guide to the 3 Things You Deserve To Know About Your Vag! As always I’ve got your back, I’ve got your front, and I’ve got your undercarriage.
Managing Overwhelming Moments & Birth Smarter with Ashley Brichter
Oct 30 2023
Managing Overwhelming Moments & Birth Smarter with Ashley Brichter
Managing Overwhelming Moments & Birth Smarter with Ashley Brichter In this episode we dive into using the lessons we learn in pregnancy and childbirth prep to set us up for a more successful postpartum and parenting experience. What I’m saying is, the lessons you learn in pregnancy don’t stay in pregnancy, they come with you! And you can leverage the information you gain from every facet of your life to play to the top of your intelligence and make YOUR best decisions. In this episode… How to manage overwhelming moments Being a recovering perfectionist and using it to your advantage The NYC marathon and the marathon of pregnancy/birth Relating to and navigating a system that isn’t built for you Handling negative feedback What are you/your household/your family optimizing for? Ashley Brichter is a birth and parenting educator, a family strategist, Fair Play facilitator, and entrepreneur. Despite her experience with hundreds of families as a doula and birth educator – like so many, her first birth did not “go as planned.” Better for it, she founded Birthsmarter in 2019, which provides unbiased, inclusive, and award-winning practical wisdom and guidance to the next generation of families. Ashley was born and raised in New York City, though she’s currently living in Salt Lake City with her husband and two amazing kids. Learn more at www.birthsmarter.com and on IG @birthsmarter Does all of this make you feel a certain way? Download your free guide to the 3 Things You Deserve To Know About Your Vag here!   If you’re picking up what I’m laying down go ahead and follow, subscribe, rate, review, and SHARE this episode!   Learn more at www.alissaalter.com   Follow along on IG @alissaalter   As always I’ve got your back, I’ve got your front, and I’ve got your undercarriage.
Lube Your Life: Why You Need To Read Romance Novels STAT with Caro Chambers
Oct 2 2023
Lube Your Life: Why You Need To Read Romance Novels STAT with Caro Chambers
If you’re a mom and you’d like to WANT to bang your partner again, this episode is a MUST! We are chatting with the INCREDIBLE Caro Chambers (recipe developer, mom of 3 under 5, romance novel enthusiast extraordinaire) about how reading or listening to slutty books provides the perfect lubricant to help you WANT to get busy again.  Does reading this make you feel a certain way? Download your free guide to the 3 Things You Deserve To Know About Your Vag here! In this episode… The impact of context switching from mom to lover keeps you from connecting to your partnerSometimes you simply need to bang it out and resetHow Caro’s Substack What To Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking helped me postpartum (I made and froze multiple recipes of hers) and how she DARES to make it so easy to make seriously delicious meals Caroline Chambers is a professional recipe developer and cookbook author who got a lot better at her job after having kids. She is a master of developing recipes that dirty minimal dishes, require minimal brainpower, use fewer ingredients, and require less time - but still absolutely rock. She shares lots of mom tricks and recipes on Instagram, but her Substack, What To Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking, is a weekly recipe subscription built for busy people who want to eat delicious food. Each recipe is a complete dinner that takes under an hour (usually WAY under) to complete, and is written in simple, easy to follow language. Learn more at www.carolinechambers.com and follow her on IG @carochambers   If you’re picking up what I’m laying down go ahead and follow, subscribe, rate, review, and SHARE this episode!   Learn more at www.alissaalter.com   Follow along on IG @alissaalter   As always I’ve got your back, I’ve got your front, and I’ve got your undercarriage.
Emotional Regulation and Addiction: A Human Experience with Erin Khar
Sep 4 2023
Emotional Regulation and Addiction: A Human Experience with Erin Khar
Follow, subscribe, rate, review, and SHARE this episode! If you prefer watching episodes, you can now do that on YouTube! Learn more at www.alissaalter.com IG @alissaalter As always I’ve got your back, I’ve got your front, and I’ve got your undercarriage. If you haven’t read Erin’s memoir Strung Out, it’s not too late! Erin paints the human picture of addiction and how our assumptions and judgment of addicts are influenced by you guess it, the patriarchy, and not humanity.  In this episode… We are all learning from our mistakes, always. As children and as adultsAddiction is tied to emotional regulation. The best thing we can do to help future generations avoid addiction is self-efficacyAddicts are human beings struggling with the human experienceBoundaries vs tough love. We all need boundaries with everyone, but that doesn’t mean excommunication… Erin Khar is an author and advocate known for her writing on addiction, recovery, mental health, parenting, and relationships. Erin knows first-hand the challenges of addiction recovery. At just 13, she began a 15-year struggle with heroin addiction. With 19 years of recovery, she has established herself as a respected voice in the national conversation about the overdose epidemic. Erin’s debut memoir, Strung Out, appeared on most anticipated lists from Apple Books, Goodreads, SELF, The Rumpus, Bitch Media, and others. Of the book, The New York Times writes, “Khar’s buoyant writing doesn’t get mired in her dark subject matter. There is an honesty here that can only come from, to put it in the language of 12-step programs, a ‘searching and fearless moral inventory.’ This is a story she needed to tell; and the rest of the country needs to listen.” She writes the popular weekly advice column on Substack, Ask Erin, and her personal essays have appeared in SELF, Marie Claire, Salon, The Times of London Sunday Magazine, HuffPost, Esquire, Cosmopolitan, and others. She lives in New York City. Learn more at www.erinkhar.com and on IG @ErinKhar