Active Mom Podcast: Pregnancy, Postpartum, Perimenopause, Menopause & Beyond
Welcome to the Active Mom Podcast — where real motherhood stories meet real science.
Hosted by Dr. Carrie Pagliano, double board-certified physical therapist, runner, mom of two, and internationally recognized expert in pregnancy, postpartum, pelvic floor, and perimenopause performance.
Whether you’re a mom navigating running with prolapse or leakage, a clinician supporting active women, or a lifelong athlete trying to stay strong through every hormonal season — this show gives you evidence-based guidance and real life mom stories without the fear, confusion, or shame.
Each week, Dr. Carrie brings candid conversations with researchers, clinicians, elite athletes, and everyday moms to explore what it actually takes to run, lift, jump, and live confidently through pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause, and beyond.
We talk about:
• Postpartum return to running & lifting
• Pelvic floor symptoms (leakage, prolapse, pain)
• Pregnancy exercise myths & safety
• Strength training at every age
• Perimenopause performance & hormone changes
• Mental health, identity shifts & motherhood
• The realities of being an active mom in a busy life
Real talk. Real science. Real moms.
Because you deserve to feel strong and supported — at every stage of your active life.
Active Mom Podcast: Pregnancy, Postpartum, Perimenopause, Menopause & Beyond
Fueling for the Sport of Motherhood: RED-S, Disordered Eating & Energy for Active Moms — with MELANIE SULAVER
Today I am speaking with Mel Sulaver, a registered dietitian working to bridge the gap between women’s health and performance nutrition. As speaker, counselor, and coach, she works primarily with women in sport, focusing on disordered eating, amenorrhea, low energy availability and relative energy deficiency in sport. Mel believes there is an enormous amount of power at the crossroads of “athlete” and “mother” and is looking to challenge the narrative on what is possible throughout the fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum journey.
We talk about:
-the shift in identity from athlete to athlete and mother
-addressing a history of body dysmorphia and disordered eating behavior as part of family planning
-understanding nutrient needs and how they shift during pregnancy and postpartum
-breastfeeding and lactating athletes nutrient needs, support, planning
-advocating for therapy
-eating disorder versus disorder eating
-breastfeeding and weight loss
-realistic expectations
Time Stamps
1:00 Introduction
3:37 experience as a collegiate athlete
9:28 body/food issues that carry into postpartum
15:41 where to begin as a clinician
19:40 expectations going into pregnancy
23:10 navigating food sensitivities with breastfeeding
28:10 postpartum weigh loss & body changes
38:15 unexpected toddler eating habits
46:31 rapid fire questions
CONNECT WITH CARRIE
IG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/
Website: https://carriepagliano.com
CONNECT WITH MELANIE
IG: https://www.instagram.com/nutritionbymel/
Website: nutritionbymel.com
The Active Mom Podcast is A Real Moms' Guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond for active moms & the professionals who help them in their journey.
This show has been a long time in the making!
You can expect conversation with moms and professionals from all aspects of the industry.
If you're like me, you don't have a lot of free time (heck, you're probably listening at 1.5x speed), so theses interviews will be quick hits to get your the pertinent information FAST!
If you love what you hear, share the podcast with a friend and leave us a 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and review. It helps us become more visible in the search algorithm! (Helps us get seen by more moms that need to hear these stories!!!!)