Hey Doc,

Father's Day has me thinking about something we don't talk about nearly enough.

Men can experience postpartum depression too.

In this episode, I'm diving into paternal postpartum depression, why it often goes unrecognized, and how it can show up in ways that look very different from what we typically expect. Because when a husband suddenly becomes withdrawn, irritable, distant, or seems completely disconnected after a baby arrives, the internet is usually quick to label him as lazy, selfish, or worse.

Sometimes that's true.

Sometimes it's not.

As an OB/GYN and perinatal mental health specialist, I was surprised when I first learned that about 10% of new fathers experience postpartum depression, and that number jumps dramatically when their partner is struggling too.

This conversation isn't about excusing harmful behavior.

It's about understanding the difference between a struggling partner and a bad one.

It's about making room for nuance.

And it's about protecting something I care deeply about: your marriage.

In This Episode:

• What paternal postpartum depression actually looks like
• Why men's symptoms often show up differently than women's
• The hormonal changes fathers experience during pregnancy and postpartum
• How social conditioning affects men's mental health
• The danger of labeling every struggling husband as "trash"
• Why understanding creates opportunities for healing
• My philosophy: Self first. Marriage second. Kids third.

This is a conversation about compassion, awareness, and giving families the tools to thrive together.

🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.

What did you think of the episode, doc? Let me know!

Subscribe to ✨Stethoscopes and Strollers✨ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode.

Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube

Connect with me: Website | Instagram | Facebook

Join my Email list to get tips on navigating motherhood in the medical field.

If you are going through a transition -- becoming a parent, leaving a job, figuring out how manage it all, schedule a strategy coaching session and get clarity and strategic next steps for the life and career you want.

Strategy Coaching Session with Dr. Toya

Hey Doc,

As Juneteenth approaches, I've been thinking a lot about freedom.

Not the big, abstract kind we usually talk about. The everyday kind.

The freedom to be a child.

The freedom to love your beautiful brown skin without anyone planting doubt in your mind.

The freedom to be curious, imaginative, and just a little bit weird.

In this episode, I'm sharing some of the moments that make me grateful for the life my husband and I have intentionally created for our children. From my daughter proudly celebrating her beautiful brown skin to my son's innocent toy names that accidentally sparked a conversation about race, this episode is really about what happens when children are given space to simply be themselves.

I also talk about homeschooling, socialization, and why I've never been convinced by the argument that children need more exposure to the world when so much of what adults struggle with comes directly from the messages we've absorbed from it.

This isn't a debate about homeschooling.

It's a celebration of freedom.

And as we honor Juneteenth, that feels especially important.

In This Episode:

• Why I proudly call my children "little weirdos"
• The difference between confidence and conditioning
• The first racist experiences my son had as a preschooler
• What my daughter taught me about beautiful brown skin
• Why the socialization argument doesn't move me
• The surprising lesson behind toys named Blackie and Whitey
• What freedom looks like inside our home

This episode is a love letter to Black childhood, intentional parenting, and creating environments where our children can thrive before the world tells them who they should be.

🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.

What did you think of the episode, doc? Let me know!

Subscribe to ✨Stethoscopes and Strollers✨ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode.

Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube

Connect with me: Website | Instagram | Facebook

Join my Email list to get tips on navigating motherhood in the medical field.

If you are going through a transition -- becoming a parent, leaving a job, figuring out how manage it all, schedule a strategy coaching session and get clarity and strategic next steps for the life and career you want.

Strategy Coaching Session with Dr. Toya

Hey Doc—

If you're looking for an au pair right now and wondering whether all the good candidates have disappeared into thin air, you're not imagining it.

I've had several physician moms ask me how I find au pairs when the agency websites seem completely picked over. And since I'm currently searching for a new au pair myself, the timing felt perfect to pull back the curtain on exactly how I do it.

This is not a conversation about choosing an agency or comparing program fees. This is about creating a process that keeps you organized, efficient, and significantly less likely to lose your mind during the search.

Because if you're anything like me, you already have a career, a family, and approximately 47 other responsibilities. Spending hours scrolling through profiles only to forget who you've already contacted is not the best use of your time.

In this episode, I'm sharing the system I built during our last search, the one that helped us find an amazing au pair who stayed with our family for years. You'll hear why I start outside the agency apps, how I organize candidates, where I actually find people, and the simple preparation that makes the entire process smoother.

In this episode, I discuss:

• Why the au pair apps may not be the best place to start your search
• The simple organizational system that keeps candidates from slipping through the cracks
• How I use Facebook groups strategically without getting trapped scrolling for hours
• What information I track for every candidate
• The message template that saves me time and helps start conversations quickly
• Why preparation matters more than most people realize

Finding childcare support shouldn't feel like a second full-time job.

A little organization on the front end can save you hours of frustration later.

🎧 Listen now and let me show you the system that's making my current au pair search much less painful.

What did you think of the episode, doc? Let me know!

Subscribe to ✨Stethoscopes and Strollers✨ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode.

Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube

Connect with me: Website | Instagram | Facebook

Join my Email list to get tips on navigating motherhood in the medical field.

If you are going through a transition -- becoming a parent, leaving a job, figuring out how manage it all, schedule a strategy coaching session and get clarity and strategic next steps for the life and career you want.

Strategy Coaching Session with Dr. Toya