The PedsDocTalk Podcast: Child Health, Development & Parenting—From a Pediatrician Mom

Dr. Mona sits down with cosmetic chemist and science communicator Jen Novakovic, founder of The Eco Well, to debunk common myths surrounding essential oils and explore their true limitations in family care. They dissect the "natural is automatically safer" narrative, address fear-based marketing, and clarify how to approach these products responsibly.

Key Takeaways

The "Natural" Myth: Natural ingredients are not automatically risk-free, and essential oils carry genuine risks, including skin irritation and allergic reactions.

Unregulated & Illegal Claims: Many multi-level marketing (MLM) reps and social media influencers make illegal medical claims that essential oils can treat or cure serious conditions like asthma, cancer, or fevers.

Limited Scientific Evidence: While some studies explore potential therapeutic uses (like tea tree or lavender), the high concentrations required often increase the risk of skin sensitization compared to proven, traditional treatments.

Fear Marketing & Chemical Vilification: Marketing strategies frequently exploit fear of synthetic fragrances and chemicals to promote essential oils, even though regulatory safety backing for these claims is often missing.

Responsible Usage: Essential oils can be used for light, low-risk purposes—such as aromatherapy for relaxation or mild insect repellents—but should never replace evidence-based medical treatment.

Want more? Listen to the full, original episode.

Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠.

Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Shop Dr. Mona’s favorite products: https://shopmy.us/shop/pedsdoctalk (paid link)

And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support.

We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I’m joined by board-certified OB-GYN and mom of three, Dr. Franziska Haydanek. We chat about balancing clinical practice with social media, fighting online medical misinformation, and navigating the unique pressures on physician creators.

We also dive deep into the gaps of U.S. pregnancy and postpartum care. Dr. Fran shares essential advice on self-advocacy in the hospital, the warning signs every new parent should watch for postpartum, and why recovery extends far past the standard six-week mark.

We discuss:

How doctors balance social media algorithms with nuanced medical advice.

Actionable phrases patients can use to advocate for themselves when feeling dismissed.

The systemic flaws of insurance-driven U.S. postpartum care.

Key postpartum red flags: preeclampsia, mastitis, wound infections, and intrusive thoughts.

Why body recovery extends far beyond the arbitrary 6-week checkup.

The game-changing benefits of pelvic floor physical therapy.

How to safely bring social media health trends to your own doctor.

Connect with Dr. Franziska Haydanek on Instagram @pagingdrfran and check out all her resources at https://www.pagingdrfran.com

Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠.

Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Shop Dr. Mona’s favorite products: https://shopmy.us/shop/pedsdoctalk (paid link)

And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support.

We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. Mona revisits a conversation with licensed clinical social worker and childhood trauma educator Patrick Teahan. Together, they unpack how parenthood acts as a mirror, exposing hidden triggers and unhealed wounds from our own upbringing.

Key Takeaways

The Inner Child in Parenting: Unresolved feelings from your family of origin often resurface during everyday interactions with your children, such as playing on the floor or managing toddlers' independence.

Pattern vs. Bad Day: Distinguishing between normal parenting exhaustion and a recurring emotional pattern that signals a need for self-reflection.

Breaking Generational Cycles: Recognizing when your gut reaction comes from an old survival habit or how you were parented, rather than your actual core parenting values.

The Healing Journey: Embracing the continuous work of self-improvement and celebrating the step to actively break toxic or authoritarian family patterns.

Want more? Listen to the full, original episode.

Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠.

Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Shop Dr. Mona’s favorite products: https://shopmy.us/shop/pedsdoctalk (paid link)

And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support.

We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this deeply moving episode, I had the honor of sitting down with Serese Marotta, Deputy CEO of Vaccinate Your Family, to discuss the critical importance of protecting our children as we head into respiratory illness seasons. Serese bravely opened up about her own personal tragedy, losing her healthy, five-year-old son, Joseph to H1N1 influence.

Hearing Serese’s story is a powerful reminder of why we do this work and why evidence-based education is so vital. We dove into real-world barriers families face, why even healthy children need protection against preventable illnesses, and how system-wide burnout in medicine can sometimes drive parents away from trusted doctors.

We discuss:

How physician burnout inadvertently fuels vaccine hesitancy

The reality of flu severity in healthy children

Vaccinate Your Family’s mission to improve vaccine access and education

Dr. Mona’s personal experience with vaccine anxiety as a pediatrician and mom

Common flu shot myths and safety misconceptions

The role of social responsibility and herd immunity in protecting kids

Connect with Serese Marotta on Instagram @vaccinateyourfamily and through vaccinateyourfamily.org

Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠.

Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Shop Dr. Mona’s favorite products: https://shopmy.us/shop/pedsdoctalk (paid link)

And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support.

We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this Follow-Up episode, Dr. Mona draws on her own past experiences with burnout and mental health struggles to offer practical tools for turning around overwhelming, negative days. Acknowledging that bad days are bound to happen, she shares how to break out of a negative spiral, regulate your nervous system, and reset your mindset before a tough day ends—or grant yourself permission to call it a "throwaway day" and start fresh tomorrow.

What’s in this episode:

Accepting Hard Feelings: Why resisting anxiety, sadness, or frustration makes it persist, and how simply acknowledging your emotions helps you move through them faster.

Adjusting Expectations vs. Reality: How to reduce internal friction when a day isn't going as planned, recognizing that difficult seasons are temporary.

The "5-Year Rule": A practical brain hack to determine if a stressor is worth dwelling on, limiting your focus to five minutes if it won't matter in five years.

Deep Core Breathing: How stress causes shallow breathing and how deep belly breaths regulate your body.

Reframing Thoughts: How taking control of your internal monologue breaks the cycle of negative thinking.

Physical & Environmental Resets: Quick actionable steps to shift your energy, including changing your scenery, getting endorphins through music or laughter, and using physical touch like a hug.

The "Cancel Out" Journaling Practice: An end-of-day exercise to reframe tough moments by writing down what caused anxiety alongside a positive counterexample or lesson learned.

Want more? Listen to the full, original episode.

Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠.

Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Shop Dr. Mona’s favorite products: https://shopmy.us/shop/pedsdoctalk (paid link)

And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support.

We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices