Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting JourneyParenting

Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey


Big Fat Positive: Pregnancy and Parenting (BFP)

Ep. 417: Just Say No!

Mon, 29 Jun 2026

In the special segment "Dear Past Me," Shanna and Laura turn back time to give their former selves parenting advice based on what they know now, including wisdom about kids' haircuts and handmade crafts. Also, Laura checks in about the surprising reason her child woke her up in the middle of the night, and Shanna gives updates about her daughter's student council run and talent-show debut. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 7 and 10 years old, and Laura's kids are 7 years old and 5 years old.


Topics discussed in this episode:

• Weird reasons you get woken up in the middle of the night when you're a parent

• Processing emotions about your child's last year of preschool

• When your child runs for student council

• Preparing your child for a talent show

• Whether to give your child bangs

• Handling your child's deep emotional attachment to an object


Products, links, resources mentioned in this episode:

Underwood Family Farms

Vertigo by Beach Bunny


Connect with Us:

• Become a Patreon member to access ad-free episodes, bonus content, live hangouts and more! patreon.com/bfppodcast

• Follow us on social: InstagramTikTok or Facebook at @bfppodcast

• Join our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey.

• Visit our website: bigfatpositivepodcast.com

• Email us: contact@bigfatpositivepodcast.com

• Send us a voice message: speakpipe.com/bfppodcast


If you enjoyed this episode, help spread the word by sharing the show or leaving a review. Thank you!

Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager. a

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.


Ep. 416: Bringing Home the Class Pets

Mon, 22 Jun 2026

In the special segment “What I Googled This Week,” Laura and Shanna reveal the funny and embarrassing things they've asked the internet recently, including questions about an unusual DIY craft project and an unexpected singing technique. Also, Shanna reports on the drama surrounding her family's turn at chick-sitting the class pets, and Laura talks about her 5-year-old's ear tube and adenoid surgery. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 7 and 10 years old, and Laura's kids are 7 years old and 5 years old.


Topics discussed in this episode:

• Taking home your child's classroom pets for the night

• Ear tube and adenoid surgery

• The unexpected how-to videos we Googled this week

• When your child picks up a new hobby

• Two fun films that our kids love watching


Products, links, resources mentioned in this episode:

Lifetimes by Bryan Mellonie

Children's Hospital Los Angeles

Wicked Aviary Plague Doctor DIY Tutorial

Vertigo by Beach Bunny

Matilda (1996)

Matilda the Musical (2022)

Matilda by Roald Dahl

Yodel Beat from Trolls World Tour


Connect with Us:

• Become a Patreon member to access ad-free episodes, bonus content, live hangouts and more! patreon.com/bfppodcast

• Follow us on social: InstagramTikTok or Facebook at @bfppodcast

• Join our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey.

• Visit our website: bigfatpositivepodcast.com

• Email us: contact@bigfatpositivepodcast.com

• Send us a voice message: speakpipe.com/bfppodcast


If you enjoyed this episode, help spread the word by sharing the show or leaving a review. Thank you!

Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.


Ep. 415: Better Late Than Never!

Mon, 15 Jun 2026

In the special segment "Gripe Water," Shanna and Laura share the hilariously petty parenting problems that have been bothering them lately, diving into the topics of student-council campaigns and shopping for kids' clothes. Also, Laura reports on accidentally reaching a parenting milestone, and Shanna recaps her last-minute scramble to help her 7-year-old complete a school project. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 7 and 10 years old, and Laura's kids are 7 years old and 5 years old.


Topics discussed in this episode:

• When is a good time to get rid of your baby monitor?

• Managing deadlines for your kids' school projects

• Helping your kid run for student council

• Where to find plain, unbranded clothes for your kids


Products, links, resources mentioned in this episode:

Good to Go: A Fresh Take on Potty Training for Today's Intentional Parent by Laura Birek and Gia Gamabaro Blunt

Great Big Family Play Day at the Autry Museum

PCIT - Parent-Child Interaction Therapy


Connect with Us:

• Become a Patreon member to access ad-free episodes, bonus content, live hangouts and more! patreon.com/bfppodcast

• Follow us on social: InstagramTikTok or Facebook at @bfppodcast

• Join our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey.

• Visit our website: bigfatpositivepodcast.com

• Email us: contact@bigfatpositivepodcast.com

• Send us a voice message: speakpipe.com/bfppodcast


If you enjoyed this episode, help spread the word by sharing the show or leaving a review. Thank you!

Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.


Ep. 414: Sad Doll Disease

Mon, 08 Jun 2026

In the special segment "Today I Learned," Laura and Shanna discuss the fascinating or unusual things they have learned about recently, including the story of how a mom on maternity leave saved a major motion picture and a disturbing phenomenon involving a beloved children's toy. Also, Shanna navigates her daughter's last-minute wardrobe crisis, and Laura spends Mother's Day doing exactly what she wanted. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week, including events that provided some big laughs. Shanna's kids are 7 and 10 years old, and Laura's kids are 7 years old and 5 years old.


Topics discussed in this episode:

• Planning a Mother's Day outing with your kids

• Validating your child's feelings vs. gaslighting them into positivity

• Reclaiming hobbies after having kids

• How a mom saved Toy Story 2

• Why your Owala (and other plastic items) may be melting

• Surprising your partner: tips for keeping a secret in the age of smartphones

• The Netflix Is a Joke Festival: a good excuse to see live comedy in LA


Products, links, resources mentioned in this episode:

The Next Web article: "How Pixar’s Toy Story 2 was deleted twice, once by technology and again for its own good"

Reddit post about melting plastic Owala water bottle

Sad Doll Disease - article in New Scientist

Owala water bottle

The Handsome Podcast

The Wiltern

Largo at the Coronet

Flight of the Conchords

Netflix Is a Joke Festival


Connect with Us:

• Become a Patreon member to access ad-free episodes, bonus content, live hangouts and more! patreon.com/bfppodcast

• Follow us on social: InstagramTikTok or Facebook at @bfppodcast

• Join our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey.

• Visit our website: bigfatpositivepodcast.com

• Email us: contact@bigfatpositivepodcast.com

• Send us a voice message: speakpipe.com/bfppodcast


If you enjoyed this episode, help spread the word by sharing the show or leaving a review. Thank you!

Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.


Ep. 413: Failing the Sniff Test

Mon, 01 Jun 2026

In the special segment “Mom Confessions,” Laura and Shanna share the embarrassing or hilarious parenting experiences they have had recently, including an interaction with an unsuspecting stranger, an incident with a curious cat and more. Also, Laura celebrates her 10th wedding anniversary with an out-of-the-ordinary trip, and Shanna recaps a nail-biting end to her 7-year-old's softball season. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week, including a piece of office equipment that had to be rationed like screen time. Shanna's kids are 7 and 10 years old, and Laura's kids are 7 years old and 5 years old.


Topics discussed in this episode:

• Taking your first overnight trip as a couple after having kids

• Self-driving cars: would you try a Waymo?

• When your child is facing a big moment and you're a nervous wreck

• Kids with ADHD and visual tracking challenges in sports

• Cats and kids: an unpredictable combination

• Regulating your own emotions on a bad parenting day

• Sleep disruption from enlarged adenoids in kids

• Electric pencil sharpeners: a surprisingly divisive household item

• Face painting at kids' sports events


Products, links, resources mentioned in this episode:

The Line LA - Hotel that Laura and Corey went to for their anniversary

Waymo - Self-driving cars

Hard Fork - podcast that radicalized Laura on self-driving cars

Gwen - Restaurant that Laura and Corey went to for anniversary dinner

Martin Riese - Water sommelier

"Mom" by Meghan Trainor - Cece's walkup song

Spotify Jam

"Mr. Sun" by Raffi

"Grumpy Monkey" - Kid's book Shanna mentions

Robot Electric Pencil Sharpener

Face Paint Pens (Jim & Gloria)


Past BFP episodes mentioned in this episode:

Ep. 407 - Where Shanna first talked about the Savannah Bananas San Diego trip

Ep. 410 - Where Laura first discussed Sebastian's ENT follow-up and upcoming ear tube surgery


Connect with Us:

• Become a Patreon member to access ad-free episodes, bonus content, live hangouts and more! patreon.com/bfppodcast

• Follow us on social: InstagramTikTok or Facebook at @bfppodcast

• Join our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey.

• Visit our website: bigfatpositivepodcast.com

• Email us: contact@bigfatpositivepodcast.com

• Send us a voice message: speakpipe.com/bfppodcast


If you enjoyed this episode, help spread the word by sharing the show or leaving a review. Thank you!

Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.


Send Message to Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey

Unverified Podcast
Is this your Podcast? Claim It!

Podcaster File Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey

Reviews for Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey